Posted by Commander Aaron Foley (Executive Officer) in Arboretum - Cadet Dawes Gardens on USS Challenger (Open)

Posted by Cadet P’Mala Dawes (Doctor) in Arboretum - Cadet Dawes Gardens on USS Challenger (Open)
Finally off shift, but not quite ready to return to her quarters, Cadet P’Mala Dawes blended in rather well as she explored the ship. She didn’t know what to expect on her first posting, but one fact that surprised her about active duty was the inevitable downtime. Of course, after her duties ended, she’d inevitably return to her room. Maybe send a message or two. Practice playing the ka’athyra, the Vulcan lute she’d replicated on her second day aboard. She was terrible.

But today, she explored Deck 5–past the astrometrics lab and away from the wing with the junior officers’ quarters. She knew that the scientists and folks who ran the kitchen must be growing something on this ship and at last she’d found it–the arboretum.

Small, cultivated fruiting and flowering trees grew from floor-height planters, each temperature controlled to mimic the habitat of their indigenous growing locations. An NC trimmed a small shrub with a pair of pink scissors and quietly left. To a lab, perhaps–P’Mala didn’t know. Fruiting plants sat in planters on shelves under lamps expertly set to mimic the light of dozens of different suns–a fitting metaphor for the ship itself.

Though the half-Vulcan admired her own self-sufficiency, she knew she’d never been great at reaching out to others. Sometimes she even regretted it.

P’Mala scanned the room for something familiar, wanted to put her hands into some soil, if there were space. Even replicated seeds would grow into a plant–maybe a patch of personal eating veggies would be just the thing to make the Challenger feel like home.

Cadet P’Mala Dawes

“There is something uniquely relaxing about being in here. Perhaps it’s the fact that we are on a very rigidly built ship, speeding at incredible speeds throughout the galaxy, but there is a comforting randomness to plant life that just can’t be replicated,” Aaron said walking up next to P’Mala. “What do you think Cadet?”

“Commander!” P’Mala jumped a little, straightening her back. “I agree, sir.”

She softened somewhat. “Plus it’s nice to see something growing in space–something that should be impossible.”

Having a few spare minutes of time between his routine check-ins with different departments, Aaron had decided to take a moment to detour through the Arboretum.

Cmdr. Foley - XO

“I’m just exploring the ship in between duty shifts. Are cadets allowed to plant in here, even if they aren’t Science officers? I’d like to grow something–reminds me of home.”

P’Mala thought about her human grandparents’ farm in rural Kentucky. They lived without a lot of the modern conveniences by choice–her papaw still grew a garden with seeds generations old–varieties of jewel-colored heirloom tomatoes.

-Cadet Dawes