STF

Deck Four- A Garden in the Works

Posted Oct. 19, 2020, 3:42 p.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kiama Naim (Science Officer) (Silke Fahl)

Posted by Ensign Kaia (Engineering Officer) in Deck Four- A Garden in the Works

Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Deck Four- A Garden in the Works

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kiama Naim (Science Officer) in Deck Four- A Garden in the Works
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Faye looked over at Kaia. “Can you get me readings on the rate and record them for each area? I don’t want to just rely on visual assessment. We’re going to have to calculate total water usage for each bed to we can tailor that as necessary,” she said as she turned the system on. They would have to go bed by bed now. It was going to take awhile.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

“Do you want me to continue with the visual assessment or shall I help Kaia with getting readings and recording them?” Kiama asked as she looked from Kaia to Faye.

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

Faye shook her head. “No, stay on visual, I’ll be controlling the zones, so I need you both to give me feedback and where we are at.” Sitting back on her heels, Faye was suddenly rather amused. “And because of you both, this will go pretty fast, rather than the hours it would have taken me otherwise. So thanks,” Calloway said casually.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

“No problem and my pleasure,” replied Kiama with a wide smile. “Where would you like to continue?” She let her eyes wander once more through the Arboretum in making and in front of her mind’s eye she saw what it might look like in the end. If possible her smile grew even wider and the expression on her face became dreamy and absent minded.

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

Faye gestured absentmindedly to the next bed. “One at a time, in turn until we’re done.” She looked up, her expression light. “You both don’t have anywhere to be for the next while, do you?” A part of her wanted to sneak down to the lab to check on a couple scripts but in truth she knew that because this project was so important to her on a personal level, she needed to be present while she was here. Given how consuming her work was, she needed this change of pace more than ever.

“No, I don’t,” Kiama replied with a smile as she walked over to the next bed.

Moving over to the next bed, it was a rinse-and-repeat situation. But that meant they could chat while they worked. But Faye was pretty terrible at small talk. Well.. maybe that was a lie. It was just the three of them after all. “What interests you about this garden so much?”

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

Tilting her head slightly to the left, Kiama considered that question for a bit. “As, I think, I’ve mentioned before, I don’t really have any experience with gardening. I mean, I can keep a potted plant alive, but that is the extend of my gardening experience,” she chuckled a little sheepishly. “However, I’ve always enjoyed being in nature. And while I haven’t been on board very long, I already find myself missing being able to go outdoors at times. Sure there is the holodeck, but it just isn’t the same. It looks real, but it doesn’t feel real. Do you know what I mean?”

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

Faye nodded as she assessed the water pressure on the next bed. “I rarely do the holodeck. I have enough time with reality some times that added an altered reality environment doesn’t help. I need to ground myself in what is real, more often than not.” It wasn’t that she never went on the holodeck, but it was rare. “And gardens have been long proven to be very therapeutic.” She gestured to the space around them. “That’s what this is for me: a form of therapy.” One of many she needed on a regular basis.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

Kiama nodded thoughtfully and smiled tenderly. “I can see that. Being in nature has very anchoring and calming effects. I find that being in a park, garden or the forest for a even a few minutes at the end of a stressful day does so much for me. It helps me relax and I know of all the scientifically proven benefits of being outdoors.” While talking she kept a close look at the water flow in the bed they were currently checking.

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

Faye chewed on her lower lip as she rose and moved over to the next bed. “It’s one of the few things that brings back good memories of home. Or what was home. The Manhattan is home now and I…” How could she explain it? “Like, this garden is not just for me. As silly as it sounds, I wanted to give something special to the crew. A gift I guess.” It was hard to formulate the right words- the ones that would convey her gratitude for finding a place she could call home. At its core, this was Faye putting down roots (figurative and literal) and she was even aware of it too.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

Kiama felt like physical affection wasn’t something that Faye felt exactly comfortable with, yet in this moment she couldn’t help but lightly rest one hand on the other woman’s shoulder for a short moment. “It doesn’t sound silly at all,” she said softly. “I don’t know you very well yet, but I can tell how much this garden means to you and what a deep and meaningful gesture it is to build it not only for yourself, but for everyone aboard. And correct me if I’m wrong, but with the majority of your other work having to happen behind closed doors, hardly anyone knows how much you are doing for all of us on a daily basis. And I feel like the nature of your work keeps you a little separated from most of the crew. But this garden shows how much you belong here and how much you care for this ship and her crew.”

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

Surprisingly, Faye didn’t flinch at the touch, though she briefly looked at the hand before gazing into Kiama’s eyes. “Yeah,” she said softly. “That about sums it up. And I’m never going to be a social butterfly and I don’t even want to try, but you’re right, out of necessity I’m hidden away. It’s okay most of the time because I like working on my own. I get computers better than I get people,” she said with an actual laugh. “But I don’t plan on learning how to actually live stuck on Deck Fourteen,” she said with a lopsided smirk.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

Kaia popped up from the tubing she had been checking for quality, then popped back down upon noticing that the two were having a friendship moment.

Kaia, Eng

“Good,” Kiama replied with a warm smile. “I like you and would like to spend more time with you. But not with each of us sitting on either side of the door to your lab,” she continued with a wink and a soft laugh as she dropped her hand. What she really wanted to do right now was to give Faye a hug, but she had a feeling that that would be too much. As impulsive and affectionate as she tended to be, she also knew how to respect people’s boundaries. Giving Faye the chance not to reply to her last words without making things awkward, she asked, “Where did we leave off with checking the watering system?”

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO


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