Lieutenant (J.G.) Sierin Ikaixar - Petals Like Porcelain
Ryan Fender
(( Hydroponics Bay - Deck 9, USS Artemis-A ))
0.04 millimeters, half the width of a normal strand of hair. It was strange to think how much of a difference that truly made, especially when such a small number was multiplied by thousands, if not millions. This plant was a behemoth of a thing, sprawling vines in deep greens that laid as still as a corpse— a deceptively quiet beast. Could she even call it a ‘beast’? As Breys and Sierin sat and talked, ideas snowballed and theories spun to motion as surely as this ship did, an idea that was ever evolving— well, more a suspicion. Better understanding this plant was the best way to ensure the safety of the crew, but even Sierin could admit that rush of excitement that came from walking untread roads.
They stood over the console, thoughts and theories rallying like a match of racquetball. Sierin’s eyes, while impassive, like counting the bugs hiding under a rock, wariness had faded with understanding.
Ikaixar: It’s an excellent theory, we’ll have to test it and find out. If it’s olfactory, the small diameter would make sense, more surface area to catch a ‘scent’.
Breys: I think I have an idea. Let me grab a few things.
As Breys quickly slinked towards the replicator, Sierin looked over the scans once again. Busying herself as if she had missed something. They needed to test their theory— motion was a likely candidate, but the fact that this thing might potentially be able to recognize smell made her wonder just how acute that sense was. Could it recognize types of blood? Distinguish between animals and humanoids? Did it have a preference?
Breys: Computer, cup of blood.
Sierin looked back to Breys, watching her produce a metal cup from the replicator, placing it into a mister. The clear bottle sloshed with the crimson liquid, the colour clearly painting its sides and spatters that fell like rain droplets inside.
Ikaixar: Okay— I like this idea, what’re you planning?
Breys: I’m going to give it something to smell! If we run a continuous scan we might see it enter one of the hairs.
Sierin supposed it held water. Plants breathed like any other, many didn’t tend to fare well without an environment that allows it to take in air. Perhaps this was a good idea. Sierin initiated the scans once again, watching Breys spray the mist, watching that scarlet haze slowly drift and fall. It coloured the vines, the green-y splotches were like a canvas that had been flicked at with bared bristles of red paint. She ran as quickly as the mist had hit the air, the smell of iron tinging that scent of fertilizer.
The scans showed something interesting— it was ‘inhaling’ the vapors. Another thing, a small thing, but for a fraction of a moment the hairs twitched slightly in response. No major movement was registered just yet, however.
Ikaixar: Perhaps… it needs something more. Maybe that initial theory we had was correct?
Just looking at Breys, it was like a light flicked on behind her eyes.
Breys: I have one more idea!
An empty sprayer sat vacant on the desk. As another mist of blood filled the air, Breys waited a moment before launching the empty mister, and with less than a second to wait, the vines snapped to life. Sierin visibly flinched as a vine lashed upwards, a sound like cracking thunder filled the room as in an instant the mister had shattered in its grip. Clattering to the ground harmlessly.
The Betazoid stayed very still as it moved, turning very slowly to Breys.
Ikaixar: ::slowly:: I think you’ve found one of Bajor’s apex predators.
Breys: Response?
She gestured to the screen, isolating that fraction of a moment it recognized the blood. That brief twitching from the hairs.
Ikaixar: It seems to me like it works with both; motion and scent. Which does explain quite a lot about how it hunts. It’s good you keep it fed, have you managed to find a way to prune the thing? If it can take in scent, perhaps next you’ll have to see if it can take in sedatives of a sort.
Well now she was just plainly talking nonsense. Sedating plants was far outside the wheelhouse of modern medicine, given how plants don’t exactly have a bloodstream that works things into the body. A plant’s immune system was limited to cell death and whatever chemicals it mustered up to kill off would be attackers.
Breys: Response?
Ikaixar: Well— maybe a carefully modulated phaser— to limit burns.
Breys: Response?
Sierin moved herself away from the console, looking around and taking in the walls of green that filled the open air. She could feel the aches in her feet beginning to grow more and more vile with every second she stood still, her body was reminding her to rest.
Ikaixar: I appreciate you sharing this with me for a little while. If there’s more that needs doing down here, I’m always happy to volunteer.
Breys: Response?
Ikaixar: I’ll be seeing you, Ensign. And I’ll grab that Aluvinian snow bush on my way out. That’ll make some excellent tea.
She tried desperately to make that sound less like an order and more like a request, but it felt so strange. Breys ran this place like she was a florist, and Sierin didn’t mind that one bit, the Ensign knew this place from root to stem. Sierin handled the delicate pinwheeled flowers like they were made of the thinnest panes of porcelain, a treasure in her mind to be sure. Stark white blooms bounced with each step, a sibling in looks to oleander, the petals sat tipped with pale pinks.
TAG/End of Scene for Sierin
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Lieutenant JG Sierin Ikaixar
Medical Officer
U.S.S. Artemis-A
G239409EK0