Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Arboretum 3- An Offer You Can’t Refuse

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Liam Madison (Chief Science Officer) in Arboretum 3- An Offer You Can’t Refuse

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Liam Madison (Chief Science Officer) in Arboretum 3- An Offer You Can’t Refuse
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“Enough,” she said with a smile. “Lucky for you I am good at asking questions if you’re not.”

“So negative emotions with an energetic output. Have you investigated ways of keeping your hands cool in an emergency? Like special gloves or something?” It was a simple question, but right now she wanted to get the gist of what hd and hand’t been explored and his reactions would reveal a lot.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Liam’s eyes turned to the counselor. Her smile was endearing and encouraging at the same time. Deep down, it gave him hope though he aired on the side of caution with it. His experiments had yielded promise only to shatter into failure a few times.

With a heavy inhale, he moved on to the answer.

“We’ve discovered materials with fire, and heat-resistant or proof properties work well. As for gloves, I find them less than comfortable. In short, I’ve dropped a few things in the lab.”

His voice was sour upon recalling the incidents and even more by revealing them. It made him look less than professional, striking at his inner pride. Liam moved on to the next point in his mind.

While he was moving on, Kingston made a note to circle back to this topic. There was more there to discuss for sure.

“Another challenge is the wear and tear. I doubt even fireproof materials will last long under continual stress. The only proven solutions are remaining calm and keeping LB fed.”

He straightened up, bringing his hand to rub the back of his neck.

“At this point, I will admit my mind has been focusing more on removal than co-existence.”

-CSO, Liam J. Madison, Sci.

Janna nodded slowly. “And what are your options in that regard? Is it possible?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Liam grew silent when she asked. His eyes glanced into the distance and lingered on the plants surrounding them. It was possible, but it wasn’t what he wanted.

“I rather not learn if it is. It causes too much issues from disrupting normal routines to being dangerous. I see little benefit in keeping it. A parasite only exists to siphon off a host, not help it thrive.”

He couldn’t stop the irritation that oozed from his point of view.

-CSO, Liam J. Madison, Sci.

Janna regarded their surroundings with a quiet thoughtfulness, waiting until the right words came to mind, and not speaking before then. She was not one to rush these sorts of sessions. “I don’t doubt that removal is the preferable option, but sometimes the ideal solution to our problems isn’t the one available to us. In that instance we have to either find another solution, or accept the circumstances as they are.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Liam was quiet for a moment. Reflective and withdrawn into his thoughts, which quickly declined into negative ones. Presently, the man failed to look past the harm and danger the creature presented. It would make adaptation so much easier if he knew he wasn’t just a threat.

“At this point, the only thing I can do is suppress the creature and accept that this might be my new normal.” Liam’s voice was resigned to his grim fate.

“I believe that at least fits into the latter.”

-CSO, Liam J. Madison, Sci.