Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Joseph Rainns (Incoming Chief of Security) in Side Sim- A quiet dinner moved to the Arboretum

Posted by Cadet Sharah Fayth (Doctor) in Side Sim- A quiet dinner moved to the Arboretum

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Joseph Rainns (Incoming Chief of Security) in Side Sim- A quiet dinner moved to the Arboretum
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
“You wouldn’t have recognized me at home. On Betazed no one is afraid. We are all rather honest about everything. I had friends, not a lot, it was too much, but I did. I even had a few when I first joined the Academy, but then there was an incident, and well that changed. ” She actually blushed a little at the praise he gave her. She really never saw it that way, she simply did what had to be done. Sharah easily picked up his attraction, and flinched a bit. It was a rather powerful push. “You don’t have to push so hard with your thoughts. You have a rather formidable mind. You seem to have some natural skill, besides I like you too.” She sat with her head back and eyes closed for a moment and then groaned, “I did it again....”

Cadet Fayth, Doctor

Joseph smiled at the comment that his mind was formidable, he should hope so, after taking so much time in his life to make it as such. He felt slightly embarrassed as she blushed to his comments but noticed her frustration at reading his mind, which made himself even more embarrassed. “You’re a Betazoid, its who you are, don’t be sorry,” he smirked, “besides, gives me a good reason to make my mind even sharper. ”

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

Sharah laughed, “You’ll have to get a whole lot sharper.” It was the first real spark of confidence she had shown. She knew who at what she was, even if it scared others. “It’s just painful most of the time. The world is never quiet, never peaceful. I hear and feel it all. There is no…privacy, no matter how hard I try.” More people were coming in and not only were they physically noisey they were mentally as well. Sharah really didn’t want to end the evening, but there were too many people. Her first week had gone well, she didn’t want to get sick, again. Maybe a few more minutes? She started rubbing her temple again. “I’m sorry…I…” she ground her teeth, “he should just tell her already.” Her hand waived over towards a young man having a conversation on a PaDD with a young woman. “If he would just tell her about his transfer she wouldn’t be so mad.”

Cadet Fayth, Doctor

Rainns followed her hand to the couple sitting at an adjacent table, “You will find,” he said turning back to the cadet sitting across from him, “That I relish a challenge. What makes a thought louder to you?” before Sharah had a chance to answer Joseph snickered “You know something, you and I could make a killing playing poker sometime,” he said with a grin. “We could win a lot of latinum.”

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

Sharah looked appalled at first and then realized he was teasing her. No one teased her, not even her parents or her older brother. She laughed, really laughed. “You know I never thought about that. We could be REALLY rich.” She looked at the young man again who was now obviously angry as well. “I guess the strength of the emotion or conviction behind the thought. Take him,” she nodded at the young man, “before he was quite happy with himself for teasing her and making her squirm despite he knew how upset she was. Now he’s angry because she cancelled the call on him. That cadet over there is quiet, not loud or boisterousness, but her intensity of disappointment makes her louder than him. You, your clarity and strength of mind come in like a clear channel on an old radio where everything else is static.” Sharah rubbed her head again, “I’m sorry Joseph. I need to leave.” She closed her eyes against the bombardment, “Could we go somewhere else to keep talking?”
Cadet Fayth, Doctor

Joseph nodded, “Of course, although I’m not sure what parts of the ship will be quieter for you.” He was glad the evening hadn’t fallen apart and that Fayth seemed to trust him. As for where to go from here, he genuinely had no idea, her telepathic range seemed to extend over the entire ship.

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

“No where really, but some times the illusion of isolation helps.” Sharah stood up, careful to keep a hand on the wall just incase she got dizzy. “How do you feel about getting your hands dirty? My doctors and I discovered a long time ago that physical work can help me refocus and block out the static. Did you know we have an arboretum? I’ve been meaning to go see it, but haven’t had time. Plants actually have their own thoughts and feelings. Very different from huminoid species. It’s very calming actually. Would you mind?”

Cadet Fayth, Doctor

Joseph shook his head, “Not at all, but I’m afraid you’ll have to lead the way, I’ve never been down there before and I don’t quite know the way I’m afraid.”

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

“Well hopefully we don’t get lost, the ship is only so big. I’ve never been their either. It’s on deck 5 and we are on 6.” Sharah led the way towards a turbolift. She felt like Joseph towered over her. At 5‘2” most people did, but he was very tall. Probably almost 6’. In an effort to continue their conversation, “So, if the Arboretum is crowded what should our contingency plan be?” She smiled up at Joseph conspiratorially. “I guess we could take a shuttle to the nearest casino.” Once on deck 5 she moved down the corridor without knowing where it was, and eventually they found it. “Oh no.” The arboretum was in horrible condition. Obviously no one had been down here for awhile. She heard plants as humming and it was very sad. She grabbed some tools from one of the storage lockers and knelt down in the first flower bed. Tears began to flow down her face from the sorrow being emitted from the plants. One of the flowers was bent double at the stem from lack of water, the leaves wilted and the petals a very sad muted brownish yellow. She was very single minded as she worked turning the soil, removing seedlings into a separate container to remove the over growth, watering the roots and turning on UV lights. She works silently for the most part except to murmur little reassurances to the plants occasionally. She was aware of Joseph and would occasionally ask for water, or fertilizer from him.

Cadet Fayth, Doctor

As they rode in the turbolift Joseph laughed at her joke, “Yes, I suppose we could do that. As for a plan, I doubt anybody will be down there at this time in the evening. Eventually making his way into the Arboretum Joseph observed the state of disrepair of the Arboretum, “I guess we don’t have many Botanists on board.” He quipped, turning to where Fayth had been standing, only to notice her getting equipment from the storage locker and tending to the plants, visibly distraught. As she asked him to collect materials he brought them up to her as she worked, “What’s bothering you?” he asked with a mix of confusion and concern, sure the Arboretum was not in great condition, but he wasn’t going to cry about some plants.

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS
Sharah sat back against a rock. She had allowed herself to become too interested. “I am so sorry Joseph. I know it probably seems so insignificant to you. They are hurting, in pain. I feel it.” She pointed right over her stomach and then her back. “I told you. I feel and hear Everything,” she emphasized her point. “I’m sure this wasn’t your idea of how dinner would go.” She had to work at it but she was able to pull away enough to focus fully on Joseph.

Joseph had to admit, sitting in the arboretum was not where he had planned to be, but he hadn’t minded coming down. “How can plants express pain?” He asked curiously, sitting down next to Sharah, “they don’t have any way to process sensations do they?” The young man began to understand why Sharah felt so overwhelmed all the time. If he couldn’t get an ounce of quiet time, he would be on edge all the time as well.

LT. J.G Joseph Rainns- CSO
The question helped Sharah to focus more. He had a good question. “I’m not sure. All feelings emotional or physical are processed by chemicals in the brain. Thoughts or at least memories are stored the same way in the brain. It has been known for centuries that plants communicate with each other through chemicals. They emit chemicals into the soil that is picked up by the roots of others. They will share nutrients and change even change the soil to maneuver water. I hear them as humming. Usually it is very calming, but when we came in it was very sad. They couldn’t help each other and so together they were morning. Or that is how it seemed to me. Maybe telepathy is simply the ability to pick up those chemical signals and interpret them?” Sharah was calmer now.
Cadet Fayth, Doctor

Joseph took a deep breath, “ That’s one hell of an interpretation my friend.” He said. Rainns honestly had very little knowledge of plant physiology, and he accepted Fayths explanation at surface value, since he had no knowledge to think she was incorrect. “If you can every living thing on the ship,” he asked, “ how do you get rest at night? “

LT. J.G Joseph Rainns- COS

Sharah attempted humor, “Like everyone else. With my eyes closed.” She glanced at Joseph, “Not buying it huh? It’s hard. Betazoid REM sleep is on a different wave length from most other humanoids so that helps some. Usually though, when it’s really bad I can use an Alpha wave inducer, but it’s not safe for prolonged use.” Sharah shrugged. “I’m used to it, I guess. I should warn you I can be irritable when I’m tired.”
Cadet Fayth, Doctor

Joseph smiled at Sharah’s little joke, he felt more comfortable around her as the night progressed. ” Everybody gets cranky when they are tired Sharah, that’s not just a you problem, we all get irritable when we are tired, at least I do.” He sat for a moment and pondered for a moment. “Besides exobiology, what are your other hobbies?”

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

Her face lit up, “Books. I LOVE books. Real over PaDD but I’ll take either. They’re like friends that have no expectations of me or I of myself. I’ll read anything. I spent a lot of time as a kid in the hospital, so I had a lot of time. I also love folk medicine. I think that is what my cadet project will be on.” She reached over and squeezed his hand with excitement. “What about you? What hobbies do you have? Old Earth books? Or just 1984? What about your project?”

Sharah’s excitement was contagious, and Joseph felt a wave of enthusiasm come over him as she spoke. “I myself was quite the bookworm when I was a kid,” Rainns said, feeling a rush of excitement as Fayth gripped his hand. “Still am when I can find time to read, but I’m an old soul at heart. I love old board games, spending time with a small group of friends and writing for leisurely purposes.” When thinking about his project that young man stopped and pondered, “I actually have no idea yet.”

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

Sharah let his contentment wash over her and it was extremely peaceful. Joseph was very honest in a way most humans weren’t. They wanted privacy. A concept that was very different on Betazed. “I really like being here with you. Thanks for not abandoning me.” She waved over at the flower beds the gesture incompasing her total emersion in the plants. “Can I share something with you?” Joseph had said he didn’t mind her telepathy and had even enjoyed it.
Cadet Fayth, Doctor