Who Doesn't Love Trees?

Posted on Sun Nov 18th, 2018 @ 8:11am by

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: Arboretum
Timeline: en route
1593 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

While underway to the site of the disaster the Elysium had been called to relieve, Estelle came back from her shift in sickbay and was about to return to her cabin when she saw a familiar backside walking in front of her. Or rather, she recognised the small frame. Nobody else was this short, Estelle figured, so she caught up to her, tapped the other woman’s left shoulder and then fell into step with her on the right.

The sudden, unexpected touch made Anje scream, she spun and turned ready to defend herself against…. ESTELLE? “Estelle, what in the galaxy?” She panted, her breath as short as though she’d gone on a run with full pack, “You scared me half to death!”

Estelle grinned. “Good. It rarely ever works that well. But what has you so jumpy?” she wondered.

“Guess I’m still not adjusted to my new surroundings.” She answered, it was definitely true, she’d never had a harder time adjusting to a new assignment. ~Maybe it’s because my last assignment was so much like home…~

“As ugly as this ship is on the outside, she really is beautiful inside”, Estelle smiled. “I got used to this place immediately after getting my quarters fully set up. Where are you heading?”

“Umm, back to my quarters, I suppose.” Anje shrugged, she hadn’t precisely made a social life for herself here…. Okay, anywhere.

“Want to divert somewhere for supper?” Estelle asked. “I haven’t checked out the arboretum yet.”

“Ummm... sure.” Anje nodded; she was seriously hungry, having worked through lunch and an arboretum sounded like a nice place to eat, not to mention being safe enough, “I haven’t seen it, either. Well, not in person, but I’ve seen pictures.”

“I’ve yet to meet a human being who doesn’t like trees”, Estelle said as she approached a wall terminal and asked the computer for directions. “I’ve heard from our mutual friend, by the way. She’s had all the necessary treatment in Deep Space Nine’s infirmary, including immunisations and vitamins.”

“That’s wonderful!” Anje smiled, “She’s so lucky to have you seeing to her care, even if it’s long distance.” The Doc was a little out there, but she genuinely cared for her patients, reminded Anje of her mom in a lot of ways.

“She’ll do well now, I’m sure”, Estelle said. “I wonder when she’ll finally accept a new ear, though.” Her logic might be sound, Estelle thought, but she didn’t think it was worth it.

“If she’s as determined as she appears, not until something is at least in the works for her people.” Anje replied honestly, “She’s got such a fire burning inside of her, I wish everyone had such passion to make the lives of others better.”

“I can’t claim that same spirit for myself”, Estelle said, in a rare, reflective mood. “I mean, yes, treating people does improve their lives, but it’s far less heroic if you’re having fun doing it. I doubt I’d persevere at it if I didn’t enjoy it.”

“Just because you enjoy something that doesn’t make it any less heroic or worthwhile.” Anje said quickly, “You don’t always have to be suffering the pains of the damned to be a hero.”

“Oh, I’m not saying it’s not worthwhile”, Estelle said, stepping into the lift and giving direction. “The thing is… I know plenty of other people my age who are… well, they’re adults. You won’t believe how careful I have to be just to make sure that won’t happen to me.”

“Being an adult is overrated anyway.” Anje laughed, “You can take that from a woman of over hundred. Technically….”

“No no no, you’re cheating. Doesn’t count”, Estelle shook her head.

“Why not? I WAS conceived in the 23rd century after all…” Anje protested playfully, then turned solemn, “I should have children, grandchildren by now, looking back on an amazing career.”

“I’ve been told by a young Ensign that the XO here was kind of cute, for an ‘older man’”, Estelle smirked. “Felt good hearing that, since he’s my age and all that.”

“Oh, honey, she didn’t mean it that way.” Anje reassured her, adding, “Though he isn’t exactly a bad looking guy, like not at all. Neither is that lovely Deltan Petty Officer with whom a certain lovely blonde doctor’s been keeping company of late.”

“Who, incidentally, is even older”, Estelle winked. As they entered the arboretum, Estelle turned left and retrieved a picnic basket from the replicator. “No, I didn’t take it that way. But I can’t quite let it go either.”

“Well, your lady is beautiful , no matter what age.” Anje complimented, feeling a little self conscious about her own appearance now in comparison to the Deltan woman, “And why let it bother you? Who is this Ensign who somehow has the power to hurt you this badly?”

“Ah, nonsense, I’m not hurt”, Estelle chuckled. “She’s my partner in crime. She and I have been ducking around.”

“The redhead.” Anje smiled, happy to have somehow redeemed herself in the Ensign’s eyes through her archery skills, “She’s what? Twenty one? She probably thinks I’m old. Hell, every time I see her I have to fight the urge to ask ‘Little girl, does your mommy know you’re out here playing Engineer?’ Seriously, I’ve been on more ships than that kid has had hairstyles...”

“Don’t”, Estelle said. “Seems funny, but her parents are both dead. I don’t think she’d take it well.” She carried the basket over to an ancient-looking oak tree, probably aged artificially and planted here when the ship was built.

“That’s a shame.” Anje lowered her eyes, that reminded her a lot of her mom and dad, she’d always wondered how that felt for them, emerging from the rift and finding out that not only are you over eight decades into the future but that almost everyone you loved was long gone...

“And she’s also caring for an Andorian baby, her sister’s, who was killed in front of her”, Estelle added. “This woman has had some tough luck. It’s surprising to me how she remains so cheerful most of the time.”

That instantly made Anje feel deep shame. Here she was, bemoaning the loss of a life she’d never had, when Norris was trying to pick up the shattered pieces of a life stolen from her by violence. She wiped a tear she felt running down her cheek away, saying only, “That’s awful.”

“I guess that’s the kind of experiences that turn people into adults”, Estelle mused.

“She’s even more remarkable than I realized.” Anje stated, “I understand why you’re so fond of her now.”

“And she builds some amazing miniatures”, Estelle said to change the topic and the mood. “I could not have pulled off the ducking without her.”

“Ducking?” Anje raised an eyebrow, “Okay, I’m going to hate myself, but I’ve got to know… Ducking?”

“Yes, it’s just what it sounds like”, Estelle grinned, then gave her a quick summary of what they’d done to the XO.

Anje threw her head back and laughed hard, harder in fact than she could remember laughing in a very long time, “Oh, that is wonderful.” She said between peals of laughter, “You two are genius jokers.”

“Thank you”, Estelle agreed, not without some pride. She opened the picnic basket and unceremoniously took out sandwiches, handing one to Anje and biting into the other. Then she planted her butt on one of the oak’s roots, using the trunk as a backrest. “Depending on how this disaster relief mission goes, I should be able to come up with another one before we’re back on Deep Space Nine.”

“Oh geez.” Anje laughed nervously as she bit into her sandwich, “I guess I better be looking over my shoulder, huh?”

“I didn’t say I was going to target you”, Estelle grinned.

“You also didn’t say you weren’t.” Anje chuckled gently, “And I’ve got to figure if you went after the XO, anybody is fair game.”

“I was going to go for the skipper first”, Estelle admitted. “But her security’s so tight, I couldn’t even get anything up her bloody sewage pipe.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll figure out some other way.” Anje reassured her, “This is a good sandwich. Great for replicated.”

“If only I knew someone with access to operational controls”, Estelle mused, giving Anje a sly look.

“Subtle.” Anje giggled, “Okay, I’ve got you, just tell me what you need.” ~She’s very persuasive, without even trying. This is how she hooks people. Clever.~

“Thank you. I will”, Estelle smiled. “Now all I need is a suitable idea which won’t land us in the brig. I hear all those cots are good for is causing back trouble.”

“Hoo boy.” Anje laughed, =A= Computer, play Anje-mix track 137.=A= Seconds later the arboretum was filled with the sounds of Taylor Swift singing, ‘I knew you were trouble when you walked in…’

“You’re almost as nuts as I am”, Estelle concluded matter-of-factly.

“You know, Louie…” Anje began, doing a seriously bad Bogart impression, “this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship…”