Buzz Off

Posted on Fri Jun 5th, 2020 @ 4:48am by Crewman Recruit Zeria & Petty Officer 3rd Class Tox Chara

Mission: Cruel Meridian
Location: Hydroponics/Aeroponics lab
Timeline: MD 5
1262 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Tox brought the shielded metal case into the plants lab and laid it on the work table off to one side. She got out her PADD and starting making programming notations and going over the hydroponic's lab production numbers.

"Good morning little ones," Zeria said as she entered, not realizing that someone else was already there. It was her usual morning routine to speak to them in cheerful tones, not that they could understand her but because they actually responded to the vibrations on her voice. "Oh, sorry, I didn't know someone was here."

The Bolian science officer looked up at the woman and smiled. "And I had no idea you'd be here so early. Are you always here early? And do you always talk to them?"

"Yes . . . I leave when Dom does. Sometimes he takes very long days so it makes me want to be up and doing something and then I can relax in the evenings and yes again. They're just like people, they need attention, love and affection. And I don't think we've met. I'm Zeria."

"Tox," the Bolian said in reference to her own name. "I've seen you around. I know who you are." She didn't seem unkind, but she was the ship's botanist and though she'd given Zeria wide berth with the lab, she still needed to do some work in here. "They're not really like people, but I think it's a quaint idea."

"Well they feel things and they respond to the tones in my voice. That's enough people like to me," Zeria shrugged. "Anyway, did you need something?"

Tox referenced the case with the tip of the PADD. "Oh, I have pollination drones," she sounded much more upbeat now. "Think space bees. Bees hate space. Their navigation is all thrown off and the constant hum from the warp core is pretty detrimental to their little brains. But these!" She put down the PADD and opened the case to reveal about three dozen hummingbird-sized winged robotic droids, each nestled in their own padded compartment. "These take care of all that for us. It's a huge time-saver."

"Space bees." Zeria repeated with this look on her face as if she couldn't quite tell if Tox was joking or not. But when the case was open she could see that Tox was not. She took a step back. "Those things are big. And . . . you're sure they're uh trained right?"

"I'm positive! They're fool proof. You open the case, you activate them," Tox said as she demonstrated on the PADD. When she pressed the button, they stretched upward on tiny little leg-like struts and unfolded their synthetic wings. Suddenly a hum filled the air as each one started up and rose into the air before darting off like bullets in various directions. "They'll go about and do their business, getting all up-close-and-personal with each plant, and then they'll return home. Easy peasy." She passed the PADD to Zeria.

"Oh I think you better handle that part. I'm not so good with technology. Used to doing things with my own two hands. I might press the wrong button and blow up the ship. I actually dreamed of that once. I've been assured that could never happen . . . but still." Zeria, who was not often fearful, took another step back.

"You can't possibly blow anything up with these," Tox giggled, but then shrugged. "But I understand. I can still come and run the bees every few days. Has to be done."

"I would greatly appreciate that. Can I do anything in return for you? Perhaps we can make a trade, that's how things worked where I'm from," Zeria eyed the woman carefully feeling more relaxed than when she'd realized she wasn't alone.

Tox thought for a moment, stroking an invisible beard as she did. "Humm. I really can't think of what that you'd have to trade that I'd want... unless you know how to make my grandmother's Bimeelian Hornet stew."

"Uh no. But I could try to make you something. I think I'm a pretty good cook at least where I come from. Dom's never complained but then again he's going to marry me so maybe that's required that he not do it." Zeria shrugged. "Think on it, I don't like being in anyone's debt."

"I didn't realize you and the Commander were engaged. Congratulations," Tox said sincerely with a warm smile. "I've worked with him on a couple of projects. He seems like a nice person."

"Thank you, yes, he's very sweet. We've actually known each other a while, after that mission where they got stranded on Marga III for five years our time when it was only a couple of days on the ship. It took him forever to admit that he liked me. He's been through a lot of emotional pain at the hands of someone else."

"Oh, well, that's probably more information about the Commander than I needed..." Tox admitted honestly, but lightly, and then trailed off a bit as she glanced across the lab. "Interesting fact. The Commander and I found the most interesting flower when we were surveying an area of Marga III. Perhaps you're familiar with it. Small red spore flower growing from a fungal growth? We found it near the ocean. It was most unusual because there were no leaf structures, so I started to theorize that perhaps one of its primary modals of energy production was super-ionized air present right before a thunderstorm." She sighed dramatically. "Sadly, we were forced to evacuate the area before we got a sample to bring back."

"I'm so glad that was the case. It's called a virmbal. And they're quite deadly to most humanoid species. Breathing in the spores causes an infection which the body cannot fight off in time. Of course with Starfleet's medicine perhaps it wouldn't have been as serious. They grow for miles underground as part of one plant and shoot out several of the flower like pods that release the spores. Luckily they don't have a very big range so you have to be down close to one to suck it in. Still . . . ." Zeria shrugged. "Not fun."

"Oh... well, that does sound unfortunate, but also kind of intriguing," Tox replied, sort of glad they didn't have to test the contamination protocols. But still, she would have liked to have studied one in safe laboratory conditions. "Maybe someday we'll go back to Marga III. Would you be happy to visit your home again?"

Zeria paused in what she was doing and looked at the other woman. "I suppose so. I miss my house and my garden but I'm much happier here with Dom. I didn't exactly have a lot of friends there, I was a bit of an outcast for various reasons."

"I suppose that makes sense," Tox admitted hesitantly as she picked up the PADD to check the status of her pollinators. "Bolian society tends to be more social so I'm a little perplexed at how one could be a willing outcast. Do you just never get out? We should do drinks sometime. Maybe a little engagement party before your nuptials? I know all the people in the science department. I'm sure they would be thrilled."

"Oh . . . . sure," Zeria had been an outcast because of her birth but she didn't really feel like explaining that at the moment. "That would be lovely."

"Really? Great! We'll do it before we all get too busy and forget," Tox promised.

---

PO3 Tox Chara
Science Officer, Botany, USS Majestic

Crewman Zeria
Hydroponics
USS Majestic