Imaginary Friends!

Posted on Mon Jul 28th, 2025 @ 12:17pm by Skylah McBride [Lalor] & Zyrani & Staff Sergeant Leilani Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Kerilia Dosivi & Hendor Charles [Reece]

Mission: Season 6: Echoes of the Zynari
Location: Quarters
658 words - 1.3 OF Standard Post Measure

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It didn't take long for Kerilia to realise that Hendor was a shy kid. This was her third time babysitting on the Elysium, and she felt like she was getting the hang of it. It helped that she saw a lot of the kids at school, so there was at least some familiarity with faces and personalities. After some polite conversation with Hendor's parents and the usual farewell hugs between them and Hendor, the teenager took a breath as she gave the kid a smile. "What is something you'd like to do, Hendor?" she softly asked him. "I heard you like the Arboretum, or that you might have some favorite games you like to play?"

Hendor considered the question. He then looked up at Kerilia as he replied. "Skylah and I usually go to the arboretum on Tuesdays. Can we take her too?"

Kerilia smiled at the boy. "Sure! Let's go ask!"

About ten minutes later, Kerilia was escorting two five year olds into the arboretum.

As they approached the wide, double doors that led into the massive space that held the arboretum, Hendor grinned and reached out, taking gentle hold of Skylah's hand. When the doors slid apart, the look of wonder on Hendor's face was unmistakable. "Everytime I see this place, it feels like first time!" He giggled excitedly. "C'mon! Let's go to your tree, Sky!" He started to pull her along, as they stepped into the enormous eden-like park area.

There were numerous forms of flora everywhere, with dozens of different trees giving shade from the artificial sunlight that shone from the ceiling. Up on the second deck balcony, which circled the entire area, there were sections of potted plants that had been collected from the various places that the crew has thus far visited in Circinus.

Along with the flora, there was also a good selection of fauna, all real animals and insects. Off in the aft section of the large compartment, there was even an actual timberwolf den. During the day shift, the small pack of wolves were kept in the den, behind a physical fencing structure. During the overnight shifts, however, while the main level of the arboretum was locked and made off-limits to everyone, the wolves were allowed to prowl their territory. During this time, the only personnel allowed on the second deck balcony, were various science officers and crewmen, who studied both the wolves, and the forest park itself.

Currently, the ship's artifical weather was set to early spring, so the air was cool, the artifical sun was warm, and there was a slight level of humidity present. Throughout the year, the weather programs shifted to how the weather was normally, back on Earth, in the Northern Hemisphere of the planet.

Kerilia smiled as she watched the two kids run off, following at a respectful distance so she could keep an eye on them without being in their way. The temperature was nice, and the humidity made her senses tingle. There was also a mix of floral scents that were unlike anything she had smelled before. "Wow..."

tag to kids - as many or as few as you want

Something caught Kerilia's attention, and she turned her focus away from the kids. There, behind the bushes. It was almost like a mist that moved strangely. Glancing at the kids again to make sure they would be fine, she took a few curious steps toward the bushes, craning her head to see what might be there.

Blue wil-o-wisps flitted around the bushes.

Hendor saw Kerilia turn towards the bushes. When he looked there, he saw a soft blue mist floating among the leaves. Remembering that he had been training with Doctor Sthilg recently, to learn how to use two more types of vision, he blinked, switching his implant from normal vision to infrared first.

More and more wil-o-wisps joined the others these were green though. There was no heat from them.