Posted by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Eela’s Apartment- Compelling Things to Grow

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Eela’s Apartment- Compelling Things to Grow

Posted by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Eela’s Apartment- Compelling Things to Grow

(snip)

“We can set up planters, but I don’t have any here. Not enough room in my bags,” Sharah tossed out with a grin. She tapped out on a PaDD she had in her pocket and then passed it over. “These are what we have available as already grown plants.”

Scrolling through her options, her eyes lit up. “Oh, that golden yew is lovely. It would look great and be a nice contrast in colour and texture. And that firebush. I love the changes in colour and that slight pink tone the leaves have to begin with. They would complement all the green out here.”

“Oh those are lovely! You can come pick the ones you want, or I can if you don’t have time.” Sharah offered. She enjoyed picking out her own plants but she also knew Eela had a very busy schedule and may not have the time.

“Ahhh… we’ll see,” Dasca said before chuckling. She had no idea just yet, but she would sort it out. “I’ll let you know once i figure it out.”

“When I was 10 my parents felt we had exhausted all the possible…treatments…for my condition on Betazed. So they decided to seek help elsewhere. we got transport on a little Discovery class called the Galileo. I met a science officer there, a botanist, who was very kind to me. He let me play in his arboretum and gave me a safe place to hide from all the noise and confusion. His name was Oliver Loughty. It was from Uncle Olly that I learned that plants were used to make medicines.” Sharah paused and looked out across the view for a moment before turning back to the work. “I asked him if he knew of a plant that would cure me, that would make me better. He didn’t of course, but he showed me how to take care of the plants. He taught me everything he knew, and how to use that care as a type of meditation. To give me focus when the universe is chaotic. Over the years my…attachment to plants and their ability to help heal us grew into a connection with my medical training. It’s not so much a choice between the two as blending them together. Though I did serve briefly as the Botanist and then CSO on the Ark Angel before returning full time to medicine.”

Fayth, SFCMO

“I understand,” Eela said, brushing dirt off her hands. “I was a counsellor first, long before I decided to switch to command. The blending of two different skill sets was not always easy but I quickly found my insight into people helped me navigate decision making more easily. More compassionately. I fully believe the type of counsellor I was directing impacted the kind of Captain I ultimately became.” She smiled warmly at Sharah. “I’m glad you found a way to make it all blend together and that you find peace with the plants.” She herself was still looking for that thing that could provide a bit of peace in her life and right now these plants might just be a good start.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Sharah had a secret about plants. Well maybe it wasn’t really a secret, others probably knew and realized. There was plenty of scientific evidence to support it, but it was to her it was a precious secret. The plants sang and she could hear it. “Their life is very simple. They have only basic needs and live in harmony with what is around them. They find joy and sorrow together. They emit and absorb chemicals in symbiotic cycles with the soil and what else lives there. It’s idyllic.”

Fayth, SFCMO

“All living things communicate- you just have to be able to listen,” Eela said softly as she went to get a watering can to water in the transplants. The automatic system was great for regular watering, but she knew that there could be air pockets and wanted to settled the soil and see if it needed topping up more.

“I miss the waterfalls back on Halii. There’s something magical about the environment around them. I’m not a biologist but apparently there are particular organisms that emit a soothing vibration on a frequency that Hallians are tapped into. It’s…” Eela shook her had, at a loss for any word to describe it.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Sharah had at one time missed Betazed, and in some ways she still did. She missed the planet. She did not miss the people. She missed her parents and her brother. She wished she could see them, but they were a long ways away.

There was a pensiveness and something a little deeper in Sharah, but Eela didn’t probe. She just noted the shift in emotion.

She pulled over several more planters of various sizes and depths along with seedlings. “So these are purely decorative. They will all bloom at different times so you will have color and growth all year. Some are even winter blooming plants.” She set up several seedling trays on a table so Eela could sit more comfortably if she wanted, “Okay, and over here are all vegetable seeds I noticed you bought at the market. We need to start the seedlings and once they sprout we can move them to bigger planters.” Sharah got to work and was soon covered in a halo of loam. She was having fun.

Fayth, SFCMO

With a grin, Eela moved over to the table, grateful for the change in position. “I know about planting seeds, but it’s been awhile.” She herself was having a lovely time and was glad once again to have made this connection with Fayth. These seemingly small things were the threads that would weave into the tapestry that was Oed and it helped her feel like she had a place here.

“This part is fairly easy. Take this scoop and get the potting mix, loosely, packing it is bad. And dump a scoop in each section. Then spri kle about 5 seeds in each and push them gently into the soil. Then we will spray with water. Keep them moist.” Sharah started on her own trays, adding dirt to her hands and under her nails. She was thoroughly enjoying herself, even humming softly different random tunes as she worked.

“Yes, ma’am,” she said with a find teasing grin. After years of being in charge, it was rather nice on occasion for someone else to be giving the instructions and to just follow them.

“Once we’re done, how about a cup of tea or coffee after we wash up? I could use a rest before I get ready to go into the office,” Dasca said.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“That sounds lovely. I was never one for tea when I was younger, but on my first duty assignment I had a CMO who was certain that any and all ailme ts could be treated with the right blend of tea.” Sharah grinned and then shrugged. “I think some ailme ts cured themselves so the crew didn’t have to drink the tea.”

Fayth, SFCMO

Eela grinned as she planted the seeds. “I have those dried jestral leaves and I have special blend of things I like to add to the infusion. It’s soothing, but also rejuvenating.”

Trays became filled, seeds planted and labelled and Eela brought over the watering can to gently water them in wearing a self-satisfied grin despite dirt being everywhere. “I’m really glad we got to do this. I’m having to force myself to carve out time for small things that bring calmness to my day. So I’m grateful, thank you Sharah.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.