Posted by Captain Willow Taylor (Commanding Officer) in Side Sim: Arboretum

The noise of footfall synchronised with the steady beat of her heart rate as she rounded the corridor. If she focused she liked to imagine that the hum of the ship also fell into line with the rhythm of her run but that wasn’t really likely. Still, the thought of it turned the corner of her mouth up slightly. Third shift was ending as it normally was into her early morning run. Like clockwork, NE Ecnaraeppa and NE Emit-No emerged from the turbo lift and paused in their movements as she looped around them returning their good mornings with a hand raise in acknowledgement.

She was a few paces away from the arboretum now and on a whim deviated from her normal route to enter the space. Even at this time there were people dotted here and there. She did a loop before pausing to catch her breath. Sweat stained the tips of her dark red hair at her neck, she huffed and shook out the baggy vest where it clung to her.

Willow Taylor
CO

Alexis was out running in the arboretum. She’d intended to go to the gym, run on the treadmill so she could read while she ran. Given recent events she was behind on keeping up with the latest publications. But Frigga had other ideas. She’d started whining as Alexis got up and quietly moved around. She tried not to wake Solomon up, though he was a light sleeper. She was having trouble sleeping, and needed to work on something, let her brain focus, but there was no work at the moment. Not with switching departments again. In the end she took Frigga with her, so that the pup wouldn’t wake him up after she left. So with Frigga beside her they went running in the arboretum. Dressed in loose yoga pants and a crop top shirt, her hair in a bun that was falling out from her run, Alexis set a steady pace, Frigga trotting along next to her.

Alexis didn’t particularly like running, but she did it because exercise was part of a healthy life style and she couldn’t exactly tell her patients to exercise more if she didn’t. She and Frigga ran a lap of the main path, and then still feeling edgy and her mind a blur, she started taking side paths. Frigga eventually left her to explore, coming back every few minutes. Coming back to the main path they rounded a bend and Frigga pushed into her leg and whined. Just in time to stop Alexis, since she was busy running simulations in her head, from running into Cpt. Taylor. She came to a quick stop, jogging in place a moment. “Oh…” a few deep breaths to slow her heart rate, “Good morning Cpt. Taylor.”

Bonner, AMO

Willow blinked in surprise at the sudden arrival then gave a smile. “Good morning Doctor Bonner. Sorry I didn’t mean to get in your way I was just catching my breath. “ she held up her water bottle as an indication and gave her vest another shake out before turning to Frigga. “And good morning to you too. Aren’t you a lovely girl.”

Willow Taylor
CO

Alexis shook her head, “Not at all Cpt. I go into my head when I run and don’t pay attention. Good thing for Frigga. She keeps people safe from my distraction.” The was the whole reason the counselor on the Hathaway had her get a dog. Help Alexis be more present and less in her own head. Poor Frigga really had her work cut out for her.
Frigga didn’t mind, she loved Alexis and with the Steak Keeper around, Alexis was much better. Frigga loved him too, her favorite person ever AND he knew how to throw a ball!

“Oh I know that one only too well, running helps me process.”

Frigga wagged her tail and then sat, very politely and raised a paw at Taylor, waiting. Yes I am a lovely girl, and I know it. Hello! Alexis shook her head, “She likes meeting new people.”

Bonner, AMO

With a laugh the red haired woman took the paw and gave it a gentle shake. “Well Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you properly Frigga. I hope you’re enjoying things here on the owie.” She smiled and looked at Alexis for permission before patting the dog.

Frigga sniffed the Captain’s hand as she shook her paw. The scent was familiar, Frigga had picked it up all over the ship, even though she had not actually met Taylor yet.
Alexis nodded, “By all means, she loves the attention. She really enjoys the ship I think. She did some assistance and therapy work on the Hathaway, but she gets to do more here. Her schedule is busier than mine. And with GALEN she is never stuck. We’ve programmed him to use dog whistles to guide her through the ship. That way if someone needs her, but I can’t escort her to the PT gym or counseling deck she still gets to work. She loves to work.”

Willow bent down and using both hands gave Frigga a gentle scratch and pat. “I’ve heard great things so far.” She smiled. “Yes I have heard great things about you and your work. I’m going to have to promote you if you keep this up. Yes I am”

Frigga leaned heavily into the attention and then spun a happy circle. She had no idea what a promotion was but the tone told her it must be something amazing. Maybe a new ball with more bounce? She sat and whined looking at Alexis, “Oh alright, go get it.” Frigga took off like a cannon shot. “They keep a small bin of toys here for her. The counselors and PTs sometimes have session down here and when they bring Frigga too it helps. She’s really good at getting people to play with her. Even when she’s not working.” Alexis’ demeanor was much more relaxed and though her mind was still processing endless projects she was less academic when she talked, compared to when she first met the Captain.

Stretching off slightly Willow looked around. “I normally stick to the corridors but this morning the arboretum called to me as it were.”

Willow Taylor
CO

“I prefer the treadmills in the gym, but Frigga wasn’t to be left behind this morning and no matter how much I try she refuses to get on a tread mill.”

Bonner, AMO

“Well when we have this lovely space who could blame her.” Willow grinned. “ care for some company or are you finished?” She asked.

“Dogs need natural spaces and Frigga would stay here all the time if I let her. Unless we’re having steak, then she will always choose steak.” Most people would say it with some humor almost making a joke, but Alexis was simply stating fact. Alexis considered the last question. She’d run enough for a workout but she was trying to calm her mind and so she could keep going. “I can keep running, Frigga has a long day so the extra run would probably be good.”

A small chirp sounded then from the badge stuck to the band around Willow’s arm band. The voice of GALEN stated =^= Captain, Doctor, please be aware your heart rates have dropped from their pervious levels. Shall I mark your work out complete or do you both need assistance, I can activate the EMH.=^=

Willow Taylor
CO

Alexis sighed, “No GALEN we are fine. We don’t need the EMH.” =^=Thank you Dr. Bonner.=^= Really, Alexis would know before GALEN even registered the bio readings if something was wrong. It was like the hazmat incident in the R&D lab. That reminded her to reprogram the EMH in secondary sickbay when her first shift started down there. “Even though I interact with GALEN every day, sometimes I forget how smart he is.”

Bonner, AMO

Willow laughed. “Well, maybe that’s the nice way of GALEN telling us to get a move on.” She stretched off and moved so both Alexis and herself were side by side. “It…certainly takes some getting used to having him.”

Alexis nodded, “Between him and the EMH they certainly kept me on time. They created more interruptions than psychedelic fungus.” It seemed so long ago to Alexis that she’d been in secondary sickbay setting up the protocols and syncing everything to GALEN’s program. She’d spent several hours discussing the latest medical research with GALEN and the EMH. She’d much preferred the AIs to real people then. She could discuss research and medicine to her hearts content and they didn’t get bored. Though they were only able to stretch their imaginations so far. So much had changed in such a seemingly short time.

As they moved off and settled into a rhythm Willow asked. “How are things?”

Willow Taylor
CO

“The work on the titanium slips has stalled. There was a problem with the programming. The sutures worked wonderfully, but we couldn’t turn them off and well they started stitching things they shouldn’t. The work I’ve been consulting on with the Betazoid Medical Commission is showing promising results for healing. I haven’t figured out how to stimulate new neuron creation though. There might be a solution in stem cells, their researchers are looking into that, but what Crell Moset used to remove the living tissue has made it impossible for the cells and tissue to heal naturally. It’s a shame that such brilliance was allowed to become so twisted.” Alexis ran for a few moments in silence, she wasn’t used to talking and running. “Most of my experiments have completed and I’m holding off on adding new ones until I’m settled back into secondary sickbay. I did my interview with Mr. Golfink.” Alexis sighed, “I’m horrible with such things, always have been. I hope it reflects well.”

Willow listened as she ran. She nodded slightly in acknowledgment of the twisted comment then made a face. “I have managed to avoid mine so far…Uhh…other ‘duties’ called me. How’d it go?”

“I showed him the holo projectors in the labs and how we can use them run test simulations and some of the more benign projects we’re working on. I don’t think he liked my answers too much. He was very sarcastic when he told me not to simplify it for him. He wanted me to say something to the ‘children’. I’m not great with that, that’s why I have Frigga. So I didn’t. I think he was very disappointed I didn’t have more…colorful stories to tell. He was done with me in about 5 minutes. I’ve been attempting to avoid him since I’ve been transferred back to medical.”

Frigga came bolting past them then turned and skidded to a halt and dropped her ball. Alexis picked up it and threw it into the bushes and it bounced around a bit. But it was obvious Frigga didn’t find it impressive. “I know, but no one is as good as him as far as your concerned. Go get it.” Frigga took off into the bushes. “It’s a good thing the botanists like her.”

Bonner, AMO

She gave a chuckle. “If that changes I may be able to lose the paperwork on that complaint.”

Willow Taylor
CO

Frigga ran back up and dropped the ball again and bounced back and forth in front of them, working her way backwards. Her agility never ceased to amaze Alexis. Being able to walk backwards and support a patient was one of the things the dog had had to learn, but watching Frigga made Alexis want to attach electrodes to her head and monitor her brain waves. “I’m sure Frigga would appreciate that. Of course I know one of the staff has gotten her to dig on command for them. She came home covered in so much dirt I was afraid it would clog the shower.” She reached down left handed and snagged the ball before it rolled out of reach and then chucked it behind them.

Bonner, AMO

Again Willow chuckled as she ran. As the ball flew off overhead Willow caught sight of a glint in the light. She cast sideways glances at Alexis’ hand. “Some exciting news?” She asked gesturing to the source of the glinting.

Willow Taylor
CO

Alexis followed Willow’s gesture to the solitaire on her hand. It wasn’t real, well it was, but it wasn’t actually her engagement ring, was it? Alexis remembered what Solomon had said when he told her to put it on. She was supposed to be comfortable with it. This wasn’t her ring though. That was locked in his desk for when she wanted it, when she was ready. She really couldn’t talk about it where someone might listen. She hated all this subterfuge and tricks and secret agent crap. If Solomon was there he’d probably ask her how she felt not what she thought. “Um…yeah I think so.” The reply was strange and Willow might realize that Alexis was still young and given everything else about her she was probably unbalanced even if Alexis didn’t realize it.

Bonner, AMO