Arborecultural - Part 2

Posted on Fri Apr 11th, 2025 @ 9:23am by Lieutenant JG Aurania (Rani) Anderson MD & Major Kett V'Laass

Mission: Season 6 - 5.5 - Day to Day
Location: The Ship's Arboretum
Timeline: (Backpost)
1337 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Previously:

"It sounds delightful!" Rani sighed, imagining the picture that Kett's words were painting so beautifully.

Continued:

"Did you leave to join Starfleet?" she asked.

"I did" said the Vulcan as he continued to poke the ground thoughtfully with his stick. "Many of my Family are politicians or work in politics in someway. I was the youngest and as such left to my own devices under the watchful tutelage of a friend of my fathers, he was a former starfleet officer and taught me to fly. So it was logical to follow a career in something i was good at. How about you? How did you get into medicine?"

"I wanted to fix people.... sentient beings..... ever since I was a little girl. My Terran, Maternal Grandfather was determined I should join Starfleet and I was fine with that as long as I could study medicine so that's how I joined." she summarised. "I did a lot of medical studying and got some experience that set me up well but lately I've got into doing research. I really love finding out about conundrums, or just plain progress. It makes me feel like I'm making lives better. I like to feel that kind of success." she admitted honestly.

Kett nodded understandingly and with approval "Admirable" responded the Vulcan. "What research are you researching at the moment?"

"I spend a lot of time learning with Commander Sthilg but when I am free to do more Research I revert to my former work on robotics - I'm trying to improve artificial parts, you know, limbs, hearts, that sort of thing." Rani explained.

"Fascinating. Though pardon my ignorance on such things but would one not just be able to replicate a real arm and re-attach it?"

"Its the attaching part that gets the most complicated, you see!" she explained. "Heavy, inanimate prostheses are too clumsy and primitive nowadays, and the most recent developments are all about nerve endings, nerve connections and nerve pathways - a web of tiny slithers of electrically conductive message routes in a whole system that has to connect with so much circuitry of neural intricacy reforging the transfer of controls. The fluids that conduct also have to be exactly matched to the individual's system balance and brain and of course, all the tiny veins, as well as the main arteries etc, all the joints coordinating as the brain is already accustomed to anticipate from former patterns - left or right handed bias etc. Every miniscule detail and combination needs to be synchronised for each patient. It's a demanding science." She explained.

"And a very worthy one indeed." Kett stood up, brushed the dirt, mud and twigs off himself and offered out a supporting hand to the Doctor to help her up suggesting as he did so "Lets continue this conversation somewhere else" he looked around "at least somewhere with chairs rather than than sitting on the ground."

Rani stretched as she rose, thanking Kett for his assistance as she did. "I was getting slightly stiff" she admitted. "Its a deal! There's an Educational Centre near to the Starboard Entrance where there's a refreshment area. Should we head that way? I don't think it's too far from where we are here." she suggested, looking about and upwards, hoping to see some 'landmarks' or signposts.

"Indeed" responded the Vulcan without feeling as he walked off in a port side direction. It was a few moments before he realised he was going the wrong way. He turned around on the spot to head Starboard "This way i believe" said the Vulcan as he walked back past Rani without looking up.

Rani went as if to follow Kett as he first set off, but stopped short of actually doing it. She stood, looking confused and hesitating to say anything as she was thinking hard about how to phrase it. Fortunately the Captain turned suddenly and returned, passing Rani with a neutral comment as if he'd never made any initial movement at all, and marched off in a business like manner in the correct direction.

It was funny and Rani wanted to laugh and joke with Kett about it but he looked so dignified and serious as he sailed elegantly past her, that she bit her lip hard to stop her face grinning or her chuckle escaping her. She regretted that option as she tasted blood from her lip inside her mouth but she set off at a pace, attempting to keep up with the Vulcan and lick her sore lip as she hurried along. However, simple jogging would have been easier as she could have run slowly and established a rhythm with her breathing but as his legs were longer than hers and his swift pace forced her to skip along , almost frog-marching to keep pace, she was a little out of breath before long.

"Erm.... Captain?" Rani asked. "I would be better able to enjoy not only these beautiful, serene surroundings, but also a nice conversation with yourself, if we might slow down a little please?"

"Indeed" apologised the Vulcan. "Are you alight Rani? I hope i have not exhausted you?" Replied the Vulcan. "I do enjoy the outdoors when given the opportunity. I find it quite invigorating."

"Oh no, I'm not exhausted, just a little bit out of breath, but I too love..... er.. enjoy coming here to be amongst the trees and nature." Rani replied catching up as Kett slowed his pace.

"It is ok to say love to a Vulcan.....I understand the concept and Vulcans can love things and people in their own way" The Vulcan did not make eye contact, instead focusing on a particular shrubbery.

"Ah, that's good to know, thank you." Rani replied, warmed by the fact that he had taken the trouble to tell her that, and she imagined it would have been quite difficult for him to come out of his comfort zone to do it. "I appreciate you telling me about it." she added thoughtfully and reached to touch his forearm but just stopped herself in time. "Oh, sorry... that was close!" she tried to smile widely in an attempt to ease the awkwardness that was so quick to return between them.

"Not at all Rani. I understand that some lesser species have the need for physical touch. It is not your fault. Simply part of your evolution." He patted Rani on the head reassuringly.

~Lesser species!?~ Rani thought, cringing at the patronising pat on the head that went with it.

"I personally feel that to evolve into a higher species that can't process emotions or friendly tactile gestures, but yet can deliver a demeaning pat on the head freely, without any embarrassment or empathy, isn't actually an upward developmental slope, but that's just my humble opinion" she commented with a good impersonation of an emotionless Vulcan diatribe.

Kett gave an affirmative nod "Indeed. There is hope for you yet Rani" responded the Vulcan with an absolute logical sincerity, that totally and absolutely cluelessly missed the sincere point she was trying to make.

Rani sighed and gave up. It wasn't much longer before they found themselves in sight of the clearing with the refreshment facilities, just as reputed. "Ah, here we are, almost there" Rani exclaimed, pleased to have something new to talk about.

"Excellent" Kett said flatly. The refreshment facilities, were on raised, split oak decking, The tables looked like rooted tree stumps. But each had a small touch screen LCARS display built into it to order food. At the centre of each tree stump was a small replicator disc padd to replicate drinks and small food orders. Kett sat down on a log "What would you like to drink?"

"Deltan Dewberry Lemonade please!" Rani replied. "I really have worked up a thirst. What are you having Captain. "

"Water Room Temperature please." He watched as he doctor ordered the drink "Yes I do find a vigorous activity can create a pressing need for hydration."

TBC