Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kiama Naim (Science Officer) in Deck Four- A Garden in the Works

Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Deck Four- A Garden in the Works

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kiama Naim (Science Officer) in Deck Four- A Garden in the Works
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Kiama nodded here and there as she listened closely.

Kaia grinned. “Sure, what exactly do you need me to do to help?” she asked, clambering over to look at what Faye and Kiama were working on.

• Kaia

Faye looked over at Kaia. “Can you get me readings on the rate and record them for each area? I don’t want to just rely on visual assessment. We’re going to have to calculate total water usage for each bed to we can tailor that as necessary,” she said as she turned the system on. They would have to go bed by bed now. It was going to take awhile.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

“Do you want me to continue with the visual assessment or shall I help Kaia with getting readings and recording them?” Kiama asked as she looked from Kaia to Faye.

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

Faye shook her head. “No, stay on visual, I’ll be controlling the zones, so I need you both to give me feedback and where we are at.” Sitting back on her heels, Faye was suddenly rather amused. “And because of you both, this will go pretty fast, rather than the hours it would have taken me otherwise. So thanks,” Calloway said casually.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

“No problem and my pleasure,” replied Kiama with a wide smile. “Where would you like to continue?” She let her eyes wander once more through the Arboretum in making and in front of her mind’s eye she saw what it might look like in the end. If possible her smile grew even wider and the expression on her face became dreamy and absent minded.

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

Faye gestured absentmindedly to the next bed. “One at a time, in turn until we’re done.” She looked up, her expression light. “You both don’t have anywhere to be for the next while, do you?” A part of her wanted to sneak down to the lab to check on a couple scripts but in truth she knew that because this project was so important to her on a personal level, she needed to be present while she was here. Given how consuming her work was, she needed this change of pace more than ever.

“No, I don’t,” Kiama replied with a smile as she walked over to the next bed.

Moving over to the next bed, it was a rinse-and-repeat situation. But that meant they could chat while they worked. But Faye was pretty terrible at small talk. Well.. maybe that was a lie. It was just the three of them after all. “What interests you about this garden so much?”

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

Tilting her head slightly to the left, Kiama considered that question for a bit. “As, I think, I’ve mentioned before, I don’t really have any experience with gardening. I mean, I can keep a potted plant alive, but that is the extend of my gardening experience,” she chuckled a little sheepishly. “However, I’ve always enjoyed being in nature. And while I haven’t been on board very long, I already find myself missing being able to go outdoors at times. Sure there is the holodeck, but it just isn’t the same. It looks real, but it doesn’t feel real. Do you know what I mean?”

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

Faye nodded as she assessed the water pressure on the next bed. “I rarely do the holodeck. I have enough time with reality some times that added an altered reality environment doesn’t help. I need to ground myself in what is real, more often than not.” It wasn’t that she never went on the holodeck, but it was rare. “And gardens have been long proven to be very therapeutic.” She gestured to the space around them. “That’s what this is for me: a form of therapy.” One of many she needed on a regular basis.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

Kiama nodded thoughtfully and smiled tenderly. “I can see that. Being in nature has very anchoring and calming effects. I find that being in a park, garden or the forest for a even a few minutes at the end of a stressful day does so much for me. It helps me relax and I know of all the scientifically proven benefits of being outdoors.” While talking she kept a close look at the water flow in the bed they were currently checking.

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

Faye chewed on her lower lip as she rose and moved over to the next bed. “It’s one of the few things that brings back good memories of home. Or what was home. The Manhattan is home now and I…” How could she explain it? “Like, this garden is not just for me. As silly as it sounds, I wanted to give something special to the crew. A gift I guess.” It was hard to formulate the right words- the ones that would convey her gratitude for finding a place she could call home. At its core, this was Faye putting down roots (figurative and literal) and she was even aware of it too.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist