LtCmdr Jovenan – Evaluation of subconsciousness
Jovenan
((Arboretum, First Promenade, Deck 225, DS224))
One of the downsides of serving in space was the separation from the nature. From a certain point of view, the space was part of the nature as well, but the dead chasm of nothingness nor the rocks floating by were a poor substitute to the living, growing, nurturing ecosystem that embraced one planetside. One can’t run across the space until legs tired and then stop and roll on it, feel the dewdrops and the sharp blades of grass on one’s skin nor the warmth of the sun nor the chill of a wind. A starship was a cage, a golden one, but a cage nonetheless.
For Jovenan, the arboretum was an oasis. The green space on the Artemis resembled a real nature site almost to a point where if she didn’t think about it, she could forget the void behind the bulkheads. Still, it was small; despite occupying a large part of the Deck 3, it was limited by the fact that there just wasn’t that much deck on Deck 3.
The Federation’s stronghold in the Borderlands wasn’t restricted so. It was still artificial and confined to a section of a deck, but when Jovenan entered the Arboretum on DS224, she was pleasantly surprised by how it felt like a real park. She had a deep breath – it was recycled like everywhere, but the smells of flowers, pollen and moss mixed in and, when she closed her eyes, made her believe, if just for a moment, that she had been transported to somewhere else, a distant planet. Ignoring the nagging voice in her brain that others will look her weird, she started running.
Along the paths, she went past large trees and patches of wildflowers, a blooming leathery-leaved bush she recognized from Meranuge IV, and plants she had never seen and couldn’t place anywhere. The path turned and started following a small stream, and Jovenan could feel the coolness the water emitted flowing across the room. She kept running by it, until she reached a wooden bridge. There, she slowed down to a walking speed and stepped onto it. Stopping and leaning over the railing, she watched the water course, ripple and riffle as it hit the rocks and the various aquatic plants. Its surface glimmered when the rays of the artificial sun hit it.
Jovenan didn’t know for how long she had been captivated by the flow of the river when she heard steps on the wooden deck of the bridge. Instinctively, she turned her head towards the origin of the sound, finding the Captain approaching her. The Captain shot her a smile, which she responded to with one just as friendly, though she also heard her subconsciousness whisper repeated prayers wishing that the Captain walked past and away. However, the part of her that was less cordial than her conscious mind was disappointed as the Captain stopped very near to her, leaning against the railing with her. For the brief silent moment, it kept asking for how long she should wait before leaving so not to appear rude.
MacKenzie: You know, I’ve been on this base countless times and this is my first time visiting the Arboretum.
Jovenan wasn’t afraid of the Captain, not any more, not to the same extent at least. They had worked together several times successfully. Jovenan respected the skilled and determined Captain; the Commanding Officer had both a clear sense of morality and the will and intention to do whatever required. She was masterful in fitting the two aspects together, something Jovenan struggled with. It was not that which made Jovenan uneasy: she just didn’t know the Captain, at all, unlike Genkos, Talos or other high-ranking officers, whom she had accepted as her friends a long time ago. She didn’t even know how to talk to her superior without ending each sentence with “Captain” or “sir”.
Jovenan: Is that so, sir? It’s my first time too, I wanted to see how much more they can add when the space isn’t as limited as in ours.
MacKenzie: Do you visit often?
Jovenan: At the Artemis’ arboretum? A few of times a week on average, I think. To calm down and have a breather.
The Captain smiled and turned her face back to the flowing water beneath them. As far as Jovenan could tell, her boss was being genuine in her friendly mannerism. Jovenan wished she could drown her own doubts and stop expecting the discussion to turn to work matters or something she had failed to do.
MacKenzie: So, how are you finding your service on the Artemis, Commander?
Jovenan’s eyebrows rose a little as she blinked. That was an unexpected question to ask after almost two years of service on the same ship. Maybe it was for the crew evaluation? At least the use of the rank titles permitted Jovenan to hide again behind the protocol, conceal both her discomfort and thoughts of personal growth behind the glossy exterior of a response the Captain expected to hear.
Jovenan: It has been fascinating, Captain. Obviously, there has been challenges, but I’m proud that we’ve been able to overcome them together.
oO That’s stupid. That’s not how I talk. Oo
MacKenzie: Response
Jovenan: Things are starting to return to normal. We lacked resources already, but we didn’t suffer as grave losses as the other departments. Scientist tend to be a bit older and know how to stay out of trouble, I guess. With the, um, replacement personnel arriving steadily, we’ll soon reach the same level of efficiency we had before the Frontier Day.
MacKenzie: Response
Jovenan: Actually, I was just about to forward a research proposal from Lieutenant Edgington for your consideration. It concerns a comet carrying biological matter expected to crash onto a planet later this year near the Azure Nebula. ::pause:: If… if I may still presume we still have time for purely scientific diversions in our current tactical situation, sir?
MacKenzie: Response
TAG/TBC
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11