Lt. Cmdr V'Len Kel - Blue Tumors
5 views
Skip to first unread message
Don K
Dec 7, 2025, 2:03:28 PM12/7/25
to sb118...@googlegroups.com
((Arboretum, Deck 05, USS Ronin))
The arboretum was a place that V'Len failed to appreciate enough. Unlike the sterile sickbay and the various labs, the arboretum teamed with life. The smell of dampness and soil was heavy and yet sweet at the same time. Though the air was likely little different than in the rest of the ship, it smelled fresher and V'Len was sure there was more oxygen present. He began wandering the various paths. He was confident he could hear someone speaking, but the small woods blocked site of the speaker.
He came upon several stepping stones and decided to follow them. Sure enough they lead to a figure, hunched over several small plants.
Kel: Excuse me are you Lt. Rhodium Wells?
The woman took some soil in her hand and placed it in a pocket before responding to his query.
Wells: Depends on who seeks her.
V'Len cocked his head to one side. It seemed a very cryptic response. He felt awkwardly like he needed to explain himself.
Kel: Well, I was hoping to meet the newest member of our scientific team. I can come back later of course.
In a fluid and graceful motion the woman rose to her feet and turned to face him. She had soil across the brow of her forehead, but a pleasant look on her face. V'Len remembered her biography, El-Aurian. The El-Aurian people had a grace and presence unlike any other. T'Ama was only partly El-Aurian but he'd seen her move in a similar manner.
Wells: Ah! Then you have found her, mon chéri. And she is very busy being unbusy.
oO Definitely El-Aurian. Oo
V'Len gave the woman a warm smile and soon found his hand tightly embraced by her small ones in a gentle yet firm handshake.
Wells: And you are Commander V’Len Kel. Head of the infamous Ronin science department. I am honoured to meet you and to join your department. Science officer Rhodium Wells, reporting for duty.
V'Len gave her a sly smile.
Kel: You stay one step ahead of me like this and you'll soon have my job.
Wells: Non! One such as I is a listener—we do not take command. We merely live our long lives on the edges, drawn to important places… and interesting people throughout history. Your position here on the Ronin is quite safe, mon ami.
Kel: Of course, welcome to the Ronin. I see you've found your arboretum. I've never had the pleasure of working with a Xeno-botanist.
Wells: Then I am your first. Lucky you! It is an underappreciated scientific discipline. ::wagging a finger, preaching gleefully:: The medicinal, therapeutic and aesthetic developments aside, the study of how alien flora and fauna interact—and interfere—with ecological and evolutionary development is fascinating. Even after four centuries, give or take a century it still keeps me suitably… diverted.
Kel: Impressive. I wish you'd been with me 2 years ago. I made first contact with the Esse, a species of sentient trees. You'd have loved it.
Wells: Wells: Ah, that would have been remarkable to experience, but all plants are sentient to a botanist, non? ::dropping to one knee, stroking the soil and plants with a root-like hand:: Take this arboretum. This one complains of thirst, and this one is ‘putting out’ for the insects that bring it pollen. They gossip about everyone, Commander. Even you! And yet…::pause, shaking her head, exclaiming dramatically:: Elle chante faux! She sings wrongly. Something is out of balance.
V'Len took a moment to look around, his antennae wiggling to sense what might be amiss.
Kel: What's wrong with this forest?
Wells: Not dangerous. Not yet.
Wells plucked a fallen frond, examining it with her fingers. V'Len smelled the air once more. He'd been very careful to ensure that his fungal collection remained isolated in the lab. There were nearly 300 species from nearly 120 worlds. This ecosystem was well balanced so any organism that had an unfair advantage would be a problem.
Wells: But left alone, hm…? Then perhaps we grow something unusual. ::fanning herself with the leaf:: Very fashionable, very deadly. Don’t misunderstand, Ops has done their best, but this place needs someone who listens, not merely a gardener, to check for unforeseen interactions.
Kel: Are the plants sick?
He immediately began to think of treatment she might offer, particularly if the infection was the result of his collection. Wells seemed to take little notice, but grasped his hand and rose to her feet in a fluid, fountain-like movement.
Wells: They are simply surviving, growing and changing as we… and sometimes we are in the way. Come—let us save your forest, Commander. Before it decides to eat someone important. Allons-y.
At once they were moving quickly along the stone path, her hand continued to hold his until he weas moving at the same speed she was. Then she let go and V'Len noticed how cool his skin was once she let go. He felt like he was running through the woods as a child, rather than as a senior member of a starship crew. With each step he tried to take in as much as his senses could to see what he could detect about the problem they were facing. Finally the stopped
Kel: ::looking up and down:: Are we here? Is this where the problem is?
Wells: Something that does not belong, imported… and awakened.
V'Len felt sure that some strain of fungi might be responsible for the problem and Wells moved to a nearby tree. Pulling back the foliage she revealed a large mass swelling from the trunk. A faint aqua-marine bioluminescence pulsed beneath the surface like a slow heartbeat.
Kel: ::furrowing his brow:: Is that some kind of tumor?
Wells: Call your most steady scientist, mon ami. :: Flashing a grin:: Because this is going to be fun.
V'Len reached up and tapped his comm badge.
Kel: =/\= V'Len to Om-Zora, Poagie and k'Oar-€l. If you're available I could use your help in the Arboretum. Our new Xeno-botanist has found something highly unusual. =/\=
Om-Zora, Poagie and k'Oar-€l: =/\= Response? =/\=
V'Len sniffed the air and reached out to place a hand on the large mass.
Kel: It's warm. Seems unusual.
Wells: Response
He knelt down closer to the ground and sniffed again. Rising he sniffed once more.
Kel: There's a smell, sweet like a flower. Is that coming from this mass? Seems more concentrated up here rather than lower down.
Wells: Response
Kel: ::shuffling:: I have an extensive collection of fungi from several quadrants. I've worked hard to keep in quarantined, but fungi, like all life, finds a way. Any chance this could be a fungal issue?
Wells: Response
Tags/TBC
--
The arboretum was a place that V'Len failed to appreciate enough. Unlike the sterile sickbay and the various labs, the arboretum teamed with life. The smell of dampness and soil was heavy and yet sweet at the same time. Though the air was likely little different than in the rest of the ship, it smelled fresher and V'Len was sure there was more oxygen present. He began wandering the various paths. He was confident he could hear someone speaking, but the small woods blocked site of the speaker.
He came upon several stepping stones and decided to follow them. Sure enough they lead to a figure, hunched over several small plants.
Kel: Excuse me are you Lt. Rhodium Wells?
The woman took some soil in her hand and placed it in a pocket before responding to his query.
Wells: Depends on who seeks her.
V'Len cocked his head to one side. It seemed a very cryptic response. He felt awkwardly like he needed to explain himself.
Kel: Well, I was hoping to meet the newest member of our scientific team. I can come back later of course.
In a fluid and graceful motion the woman rose to her feet and turned to face him. She had soil across the brow of her forehead, but a pleasant look on her face. V'Len remembered her biography, El-Aurian. The El-Aurian people had a grace and presence unlike any other. T'Ama was only partly El-Aurian but he'd seen her move in a similar manner.
Wells: Ah! Then you have found her, mon chéri. And she is very busy being unbusy.
oO Definitely El-Aurian. Oo
V'Len gave the woman a warm smile and soon found his hand tightly embraced by her small ones in a gentle yet firm handshake.
Wells: And you are Commander V’Len Kel. Head of the infamous Ronin science department. I am honoured to meet you and to join your department. Science officer Rhodium Wells, reporting for duty.
V'Len gave her a sly smile.
Kel: You stay one step ahead of me like this and you'll soon have my job.
Wells: Non! One such as I is a listener—we do not take command. We merely live our long lives on the edges, drawn to important places… and interesting people throughout history. Your position here on the Ronin is quite safe, mon ami.
Kel: Of course, welcome to the Ronin. I see you've found your arboretum. I've never had the pleasure of working with a Xeno-botanist.
Wells: Then I am your first. Lucky you! It is an underappreciated scientific discipline. ::wagging a finger, preaching gleefully:: The medicinal, therapeutic and aesthetic developments aside, the study of how alien flora and fauna interact—and interfere—with ecological and evolutionary development is fascinating. Even after four centuries, give or take a century it still keeps me suitably… diverted.
Kel: Impressive. I wish you'd been with me 2 years ago. I made first contact with the Esse, a species of sentient trees. You'd have loved it.
Wells: Wells: Ah, that would have been remarkable to experience, but all plants are sentient to a botanist, non? ::dropping to one knee, stroking the soil and plants with a root-like hand:: Take this arboretum. This one complains of thirst, and this one is ‘putting out’ for the insects that bring it pollen. They gossip about everyone, Commander. Even you! And yet…::pause, shaking her head, exclaiming dramatically:: Elle chante faux! She sings wrongly. Something is out of balance.
V'Len took a moment to look around, his antennae wiggling to sense what might be amiss.
Kel: What's wrong with this forest?
Wells: Not dangerous. Not yet.
Wells plucked a fallen frond, examining it with her fingers. V'Len smelled the air once more. He'd been very careful to ensure that his fungal collection remained isolated in the lab. There were nearly 300 species from nearly 120 worlds. This ecosystem was well balanced so any organism that had an unfair advantage would be a problem.
Wells: But left alone, hm…? Then perhaps we grow something unusual. ::fanning herself with the leaf:: Very fashionable, very deadly. Don’t misunderstand, Ops has done their best, but this place needs someone who listens, not merely a gardener, to check for unforeseen interactions.
Kel: Are the plants sick?
He immediately began to think of treatment she might offer, particularly if the infection was the result of his collection. Wells seemed to take little notice, but grasped his hand and rose to her feet in a fluid, fountain-like movement.
Wells: They are simply surviving, growing and changing as we… and sometimes we are in the way. Come—let us save your forest, Commander. Before it decides to eat someone important. Allons-y.
At once they were moving quickly along the stone path, her hand continued to hold his until he weas moving at the same speed she was. Then she let go and V'Len noticed how cool his skin was once she let go. He felt like he was running through the woods as a child, rather than as a senior member of a starship crew. With each step he tried to take in as much as his senses could to see what he could detect about the problem they were facing. Finally the stopped
Kel: ::looking up and down:: Are we here? Is this where the problem is?
Wells: Something that does not belong, imported… and awakened.
V'Len felt sure that some strain of fungi might be responsible for the problem and Wells moved to a nearby tree. Pulling back the foliage she revealed a large mass swelling from the trunk. A faint aqua-marine bioluminescence pulsed beneath the surface like a slow heartbeat.
Kel: ::furrowing his brow:: Is that some kind of tumor?
Wells: Call your most steady scientist, mon ami. :: Flashing a grin:: Because this is going to be fun.
V'Len reached up and tapped his comm badge.
Kel: =/\= V'Len to Om-Zora, Poagie and k'Oar-€l. If you're available I could use your help in the Arboretum. Our new Xeno-botanist has found something highly unusual. =/\=
Om-Zora, Poagie and k'Oar-€l: =/\= Response? =/\=
V'Len sniffed the air and reached out to place a hand on the large mass.
Kel: It's warm. Seems unusual.
Wells: Response
He knelt down closer to the ground and sniffed again. Rising he sniffed once more.
Kel: There's a smell, sweet like a flower. Is that coming from this mass? Seems more concentrated up here rather than lower down.
Wells: Response
Kel: ::shuffling:: I have an extensive collection of fungi from several quadrants. I've worked hard to keep in quarantined, but fungi, like all life, finds a way. Any chance this could be a fungal issue?
Wells: Response
Tags/TBC
Lieutenant Commander V'Len Kel
Chief Science Officer/Second Officer
USS Ronin NCC-34523
T239811VK2
He/Him (player/character)
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages