Home away from home. Open

[kate]

Rayne hadn't been on the Enterprise that long actually this would be only her second day on the ship. She hadn't met a lot of people which to her was a good and a bad thing. True she was worried that her empathic abilities might go a little haywire. That didn't mean she wanted to totally be isolated and feel all alone on a ship. Making her way down the halls she nodded her head to people as they past by. Giving them a small smile trying to seem friendly wondering if anyone would say something to her while she was walking past.

Finally making her way to room called the Arboretum. She felt herself smile in anticipation. She couldn't wait to explore this room and see what it all had. Slowly making her inside the room she heard the door slowly swish open and she stepped inside. Letting out a small scream she jumped up and down. This room was everything she could have hope for and more. She loved that the room was pull of plants and sunshine. Slowly making her way over to a place to sit she sat down and closed her eyes just letting the peace and beauty of the room sink in.

Opening her eyes she sat up and gently ran her hands over the plants. She couldn't wait to study these plants and learn more about them and how they came to be and the science and body structure that made them. She wondered if anyone else had been inside the arboretum and experienced the beauty and relaxation that she is feeling now. She hoped other people did.

Looking down at the plant her hand was gently resting on she wondered what type it was. It looked like a fern from what she had read about in books but it seemed different somehow she wasn't quite sure yet but she would make sure she studied about it.

[koko]

The beauty of plant life was something that Koko appreciated but had never been fanatical about. They were unique in their own pretty little ways, from a delicate blade or grass to a towering, fruit-bearing tree. She acknowledged and respected what foliage provided for planets no matter where they were located, but she also enjoyed the simple serenity that always seemed to walk hand in hand with the flora. The scents could be a bit overwhelming at times, fragrances of all shapes and sizes permeating the air in a gentle wave of motion that could be so easily disturbed and distributed.

But the arboretum was neither overwhelming nor suffocating. It was something that Koko might have described as perfection had she believed that such a notion was possible. The calmness around her was well needed, and the silence was soothing after a hard day of avoiding having to do any actual work. From slipping out of the room as the Good Doctor was coming in, to hiding in a stranger’s dormitory, the life of the lazy person could be extremely tiring. But why bother going through the trouble of avoiding work, when doing your job is far easier? Simple. This way was much more fun.

So to relax from her exhausting day, Koko headed to the one place that she figured no one would visit. The arboretum. It was a beautiful place, no one could deny that. But the majority of the people she knew preferred the socialization of the other recreational facilities, the lounge or the gymnasium, and so they failed to experience the wonders that this green place had to offer. For now, that was all very well. Koko, the person who was always able to find someone to laugh with, had no desire for a loud, rambunctious conversation. The best part of it was that no one would even bother to look for her there.

Hiding in the bushes was the perfect way to spend a short period of time before retiring to her room.

With one of the books from the Sick Bay library under her arm, Koko wandered through the scenery for a good while before settling on a spot in which to enjoy her time alone. There were many places to choose from: high, low, and various heights in between. She chose a fruit tree in full bloom, climbing nimbly up into the leafy branches where, she hoped, she was hidden from the world around her.

It was better than the holographic room, so she thought. This was the real thing, completely natural, while the simulation was nothing more than light particles zipping around through space. At least she thought that was what it was. The technological part of science had never been her fancy, so she avoided most of those classes. But this was wonderful and exhilarating, being able to sit in a tree and pick the fruit as she pleased. Well, she probably should not have taken the fruit. But who was going to know?

No sooner had she opened her book and was munching happily on what looked like an apple, than the door opened and a little bout of delighted squealing came from the entrance of the room. So much for getting the place to herself. But the other girl, for Koko did look to see that it was a girl, seemed to be too absorbed in fingering the different plants to notice that she was being watched. The tree-dweller pulled back a few of the branches to get a better look, wiping a trail of juice from her chin, and smiling shortly at the sight.

“Ah, she’s cute,” she muttered, a sheet of self-consciousness wrapping itself around her, “And a guest too. How long will this one stay?”

[kate]

Quickly standing up she looked around she suddenly felt another emotion what wasn't hers. She knew she shouldn't be projecting or trying to pry into people's emotions but she didn't think anyone else beside herself was in this place but apparently she was wrong. Standing up she looked around sighing softly she spoke." Hello is anyone else there. I know someone is there I can sense you."

She hoped that the person wasn't to freaked out by what she was saying. Then again it wasn't everyday that people were told that there emotions were being sensed. She really didn't want to cause a conflict but it was to late to take back what she said. Sadly they haven't invented a way to turn back time from saying something stupid. " Listen I don't mean to freak you out if I did. I am a betazoid I have the power to read other people's emotions and there minds." She kept looking around and didn't see anyone. It was like she was talking to herself which made her feel even more crazy but oh well she couldn't do much about it now.

Sighing to herself she looked around some more she didn't know if the person in here was going to answer but it didn't hurt to still explore the place while waiting.Noticing a fruit tree near by. She grabbed a piece and bit into it letting out a soft moan. She felt juice slowly run down her chin the flavor of the fruit tasted amazing. Looking down at it she noticed it was a nice orange color she didn't know what it was exactly but she didn't care it tasted amazing and that all that mattered to her. She would have to look into what type of fruit it was later.

Looking around she sighed softly she now would just have to wait and see if the person showed themselves. She had no idea what type of person it would be male female human non human. It didn't really matter to her all she hoped for was that the person was nice and didn't want to cause any trouble. But when again you can never tell how people will react when meeting each other.

[koko]

The only thing that could have improved the place would have been a slight breeze. Of course, it was possible for the air vents to emit a soft circulation of air, but it was nothing like the wind. Ships could only be programmed to do certain things, and so far, no matter how many times she had entered this place, there was no breeze. There was only a constant state of air, circling unnoticed through the room, high above their heads where it made no difference whether or not it existed. But with the lack of motion, seeing how the flowers and ferns and braches could not wave to each other, or how the movement caused them to whisper soft lullabies in languages that no human could even think to understand, air conditioning could not compare to a real life breeze.

Ah, so Koko had been noticed. She cocked her head, surprised that her movement had been heard. But it had not. No, this girl had sensed her. “What an oddity,” she spoke lowly, chuckling to herself a moment. While she laughed, she pondered what it was like to sense somebody. Or even how it worked. There were humans who claimed to have the ability to sense when others were near. People who shared strong bonds tended to relate of how they knew exactly where one another was and what the other person was doing. But actually being able to sense a person that was a complete stranger, with no indication of a presence…it was something inhuman.

But it was emotion and thought process that the girl was sensing. So there was something there that Koko had failed to notice. There were races, she had read, who were able to harness the strange abilities. Empathy, telepathy, telekinesis. The structure behind the mind of these races was completely beyond her comprehension, but the concept still interested her. To be able to have such an ability must have been an amazing thing, so long as it was not taken for granted. And beings were always taking things for granted.

Koko had to step back for a minute to analyze the situation she was caught in. Curious by nature, she wanted to start up a conversation with this, what did she call herself, Betazoid. But that would cause a disturbance in the peace. Then again, the peace had already been disturbed. There was no point in turning back now.

She giggled wickedly, peering through the leaves at the girl below her, her excitement giddy in her already thick, Welsh accent, “So you’re a Betazoid? Don’t think I’ve met one of your kind before. You can read emotions and thoughts, but you can’t sense when you’ve drawn closer to that individual? Pity. You could have the greatest time playing hide-and-seek. Up here.”

And she swung her legs down, dangling them childishly from her spot on the branch, and pulling back the branches so that the Betazoid girl could get a good look at her.

[kate]

Turning around she noticed what looked like a young woman sitting in a tree across from here. She have never climbed a tree before looking at the girl in the tree it looked liked it was a fun activity to do. she would have to try it one of the days she was on the enterprise. Looking up at the woman when she was speaking she nodded her head." Yes I am is that going to be a problem for you." She knew that some people weren't to thrilled with people like herself but that was just the way the world works these days and she wasn't one to fight it

Nodding her head she was happy she understood what her people could do. Although Rayne would imagine that a lot of people knew of her kind." Yes you are right about what we can. And as for sensing people. I try not to pry into people's thoughts or feelings. I like to give them privacy so I usually don't try to sense for people. Does that make sense."
She hoped that it wasn't too confusing about what she explained.

Walking closer to the woman so she could look at her better she noticed that she was kicking her legs back and forth and smiling. " You look like you are enjoying yourself up in that tree. Is climbing a tree difficult I have never climb one before." She wondered how long she had been up in that tree or how long she had been in this room period. It wasn't like Rayne to not realize someone else was in a room with her. But she was happy that she meet someone else who enjoys the love of plants like she does." Can I ask you for your name. It would be nice to know who I am talking to."

[koko]

Of all the varieties of plants, trees had always been Koko’s favorite. To begin with they did not make her sneeze, and the flowers were too high for a child to put her nose in and get stung by a bee. But there was ore than that. While bushes just sat there, flowers pranced about the garden in their colorful glory, trees stood tall with a dignity all of their own. They were welcoming, quietly looking upon their domain and ensuring that everything was at peace. Sometimes they could not control the happenings around them and people got hurt. There was always a sadness that lingered in their branches then, their leaves darkening in sorrow and their roots quivered in mourning. Trees could feel what other plants could not. Trees were, in a sense, the most motherly of all floras. They sheltered, protected, enriched, and embraced with all the devotion possible.

Koko had been taken in by the trees since she was barely walking, playing under the shade or trying to follow her older brothers into the high up branches. Thinking of it, and staring at the young woman, brought back the warm memories and a soft feeling of happy homesickness began to rise. Of course, both of her brothers were on the ship, though she rarely got to see them. But her sister and father were on Earth, her sister a teacher and her father, last she had heard, had returned to the Welsh countryside to help his failing health.

But enough about her. Koko was not that interesting of a person. Not nearly as interesting as an emotion-sensing Betazoid. She looked the woman over in a quick, studying glance. Humanoid in form, but extraordinary in mind.

“No problem at all, love,” she smiled, swinging her feet even more, “That would be like you having a problem with my being a women. It’s who I am, can’t change it.” She blinked, realizing the loophole of the argument, “Bad analogy. I could get a sex change if I wanted.”

It made Koko more comfortable to know that this woman did not like to pry, and felt that people deserved their privacy. Not that she had been worried, but there were many things inside her head that she did not want disclosed, most of all to a stranger, “No worries. Blinding sense. And yes, I am enjoying myself. Climbing a tree is a cinch. Just grab a branch, hoist a leg up, and bam! you’re up. Nothin’ to it.”

She slid down from the tree, landing a little less than gracefully, hopping a short ways to regain her balance while she refused to drop her fruit or the book. What was the last question? Oh yes. Name. “Emerson. Branwen Emerson. Nurse. And you?”