STF

SB 157 Arboretum

Posted July 12, 2020, 2:56 p.m. by Lieutenant Commander Ever Zeanar (Chief of Psychiatry) (Ty Napier)

Posted by Ensign Iyun Riani (Scientist) in SB 157 Arboretum

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Ever Zeanar (Chief of Psychiatry) in SB 157 Arboretum
SNIP

“You are sorry for what Ensign?” Ever said glancing sideways for a brief second. Breathing stopped momentarily as  she exited the arboretum as the cooler air of the starbase mixed with humid dry air of the greenhouse. Catching hold of the closest bulkhead, she leaned, bending her arm at the elbow, closing her eyes. Deep within her chest, lungs constricted, heart and pulse raced competing to an invisible finish line. Small beads of perspiration pushed through the pores of skin above her lip and eyebrow. Some stories never had a resolution. Stifling darkness, suffocating not just her body, but soul. Craving to scream and out shout the voices, sounds and smells that lived only in her head, Ever pushed back before the darkness could pull her in and drown what remained of her spirit. Denial always came with massive repercussions. Twilight would come. Not now. Not today. Opening her eyes, she was once again standing outside the arboretum. Riani’s thoughts and feeling pressed and weighed in, dismissing and replacing old nightmares. The poor girl’s mind never seemed to stay still, always running from one thought to the next. No wonder she was filled with worry. This intrusion was welcomed and gave Ever somewhere else to focus.   

“Everything,” Riani mumbled meekly. When Ever leaned against the bulkhead, concern for the other woman flooded her and Ria hurried to her side. “What’s wrong?” she asked anxiously.

“Nothing. Just a little hot from being in the arboretum. Would think I was a little bit more acclimated from the years I spent in the hills of Bajor. Some of the flowers reminded me of Bajor. Must have you as well. Don’t worry about the plants. I know the gardener. I will get it sorted out for you, I promise.” Ever didn’t explain any more as she started moving once again down the corridor. “What makes you think I have an awful impression of you? Or that I was even thinking about you for that matter?”

Ria just started at her, her eyes wide, reminiscent of a deer in headlights. In a slightly chocked and barely audible whisper, she asked, “How do you-?”

Ever widened her eyes and pointed a finger to the unmistakable dark iris that were common in Betazoids. “Every telepath on the base heard you. I am going to have to teach you to think in a quieter voice if we are going to continue regular therapy sessions. Or I will be having pounding headaches for two days after. Not your fault. A lot of people do that when they are nervous. Which seems to be a normal state for you.”

“Oh,” Ria said softly, feeling not only stupid for not realising that the other woman was a Betazoid, but she also felt horrible for giving her a headache. “I’m really sorry.”

Ever increased the speed of her steps. filling her energy return to normal. Taking turns and corridors that seemed in a random pattern, one hall looking the same as the next, seeming to go in a circle. However, their paths never crossed with the arboretum again. Finally, Ever stopped outside a door that had only the number 224 on it, like any other guests quarters on the starbase. Waving her hand across the security panel. Ever waited patiently for the door to open and then stepped through. 

Hurrying to keep up with her, the young officer was wondering where they were going and whether or not it was actually a good idea to follow a completely stranger who knew where; even on a starbase. As she found herself out side of private quarters, she felt decidedly awkward and uncomfortable. Yet also thought it would be rude to say that she’d prefer a more public place. So she followed Ever inside, but remained close to the door.

As the lights flickered and came to life, the quarters were indeed standard. Neatly stacked in the far corner were four medium sized crates which held all of Ever’s worldly possessions. Nearly half were clothes and shoes. Goddesses she loved shoes. Nothing save the cylinder brought from OED, held any interest to an outsider. No souvenirs. Crossing the room, Ever kicked off her shoes and sat on the only couch in the room. As she poured a  glass of water from a tall thin blue beaker, she glanced at Riani as though she suddenly remembered she was not alone. After pouring a second glass, she held one out to her guest. “Andorian. Much better than the water on Bajor any day.” 

Lt Commander Zeanar, CoP

Even if Ever wasn’t a Betazoid, it would be hard to miss how uncomfortable Riani felt. Her body language and facial expression left no doubt about that. Not that she believed the other woman would do anything to her or that she was afraid of her or anything. But being in the quarters of someone she had only just met for the first time? It felt too private, too intimate. And yet she didn’t want to be rude or cause any trouble. So she stepped forward and took the glass Ever offered. Yet she remained standing and with her free hand fiddled with the top layer of her skirt.

~Ensign Iyun, Scientist

Ever ignored Iyun’s discomfort both in her mind and body language. “You are the one who was stalking me. I should be nervous. Sit. Let’s talk. Tell me, Ensign, what was it about me that attracted your interest? “

Zeanar, CoP

Feeling beyond awkward and self-conscious, Riani walked over to the couch and sat down in the furthest corner from Ever. “I honestly didn’t mean to stalk you. I’m sorry, Ma’am. I’m not even sure I can say way. It wasn’t a conscious decision,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. All the while she fidgeted with the tips of her hair while looking down at her lap.

~Ensign Iyun, Scientist

“Well never mind. Here you are and it seems something is bothering you Ensign.  I am not exactly on duty yet, but I don’t mind having a chat for a few minutes. Though I think once the Ogawa is underway, you need to make an appointment with Dr. Grayson on a regular bases,” Ever said softly. It wasn’t her intentions to make the woman uncomfortable, but then, Iyun would likely appear uneasy in about any situation. “So what is troubling you?” 

Zeanar, CoP


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