Green thumbs

Posted on Wed Aug 26th, 2009 @ 9:43pm by Walter Jones & Hank Tasco & Lee Pierce

1,481 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Session One - Jailhouse Rock
Location: Aft Cargo bay 17
Timeline: Current

OOC: Just a fun little jp to pass the time.

Jones had been thinking about the plant situation quite a bit, he didn't know anything about them other then some of them tasted good and that they needed water and sunlight. Other then that, nothing else. Walter knew that James was more of an amateur botanist then an actual plant biologist, but he was the best that they had. Jones climbed down one of the ladders leading to the cargo hold and looked, this particular hold was one of the ones that contained bio-matter and by the smell, not all if it had been cleaned up. The captain walked over to the comm panel and pressed the button.

"James come down to Aft compartment 17, Lee you come down too." He didn't know if Lee knew the first thing about plants but she was proving to know more then she ever let on.

***
Lee was at the mess hall once again attacking the kitchen when the captain's voice interrupted her sandwich making. She bit her lip and looked at the half done sandwich. "Later pretty," the orion girl said with a sigh and wrapped the sandwich to store for later.

The nurse hurried out of the kitchen and mess hall headed to the compartment 17. Upon arrival, she looked about until she found the figure of the captain looking at some cargo. "Captain sir..." Lee called with a genuine smile as she climbed down the stairs to meet up with him, giving him a loose salute.

"Nice to see you Lee" He returned the salute and smiled at her. "Are you eating me out of ship and home?" He chuckled a little bit at her.

Lee flushed a little, feeling her cheeks warming up slightly. "Maybe?" her voice trailed off and she grinned at him. She bit her lower lip and just stood back as they waited for James to show up.

Hearing his name and Lee’s over the comm. James headed to compartment 17. On his way there Lee popped back into his head he seemed to be seeing more of her lately, though on a small ship that wasn’t uncommon. He wondered to himself that maybe it was a sign that he kept running into her, however before he could dwell on the subject any longer he arrived at compartment 17.

“Cap’n, Lee,” Miller said addressing them both, however he watched Lee to pick up any emotions she might be giving off at his arrival.

"Mr. Miller..." Lee acknowledged with a weak wave and a shy smile. The Orion girl had to admit to herself she found him way too cute for his own good but considering her pheromones and how things could get out of hand too fast too soon when it came to them she made her best to be as professional as possible. She usually do that with every man. It was safer that way..for everyone.

"Alright here is the story, from what the doc tells me this plant needs very strict tolerances to live in." he produced a padd and handed to to James. "You'll have to share with Lee, I've only got one of those, I figure that we could convert this hold perhaps to some kind of botanical something or another." Jones turned to Lee. "I know you are trained more in medical arts but, since our "science officer" has decided not to take part in our clandestine activities you are the closest thing we have. There are some things that have to be done once we get it on board. They are in that padd there."

Lee was surprised to know they had lost someone already...well, someone had left and she wondered whom that was? She didn't remember meeting a science officer but maybe it was the Starfleet officer? The green skinned girl never understood why an officer was doing aboard a vessel like this. It was just not their place.

Quickly scanning the padd Miller handed it to Lee. “I can change this compartments environmental systems to make it more moist and cool for the plants. I can also replicate soil and water for the plants, however I would suggest we also get some soil from the planet itself because there may be nutrients in the soil that the plants need to survive.”

Lee took the padd in her hands and examined the information. She wasn't a botanist, far from that but she understood the needs of living beings so she could think of something to help. "I guess we need a greenhouse," the Orion said after agreeing with everything James had said. "Like with all that Mr. Miller mentioned plus artificial light to maintain the temperature in the right range," Lee added on. "It'll take time and work but I'm sure we can make it work for you captain." She hoped so anyway. Lee had never built a greenhouse before. She never had a plant before.

"Well, I think we could probably replicate some of what we need, the rest of it we might have to jerry-rig it from the spare parts down in engineering."Jones looked at the two of them. He gave them a little smile. "I'm glad that you guys are here on my crew." Jones took the padd back from Lee and scanned through the document. "Ohh" he paused for a moment. "There is one other thing about this job well before it, we are going to have some free time before we actually go in to get this thing. I'll make sure that your cut of the money we've been fronted gets deposited in your account so you can have some fun while we are down there... Sky tells me it is a pretty nice place.."

"I'm sure the place is great," Lee commented thoughtfully, a little unsure if they would have time actually enjoy what the planet had to offer. Both James and Lee would have a lot work to do in order to make that compartment 'plant friendly'. Plus, she'd like to save her cut if possible. Lee didn't like to be broke and she had been broke lately. "And if we are done with this work," she glanced at Miller. "Well, Mr. Miller will decide what he wants to do of course," she looked between the two men. "But if I'm done with my part I'll happily take in the sights...the cheap sights that is," the orion girl concluded half-joking and flashed the captain a smile.

“Well I for one look forward to having some fun on the planet to see if it’s as good as they’re saying it is.” Miller said “Besides this could be your last chance to have some fun if things go sideways when we’re getting the plants, so why not enjoy it right.”

Lee pursed her lips and assented. James had a point, a very good one and maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to mix up business...well, work with some pleasure. Enjoying the sights and the locals...local stuff wouldn't cause any harm. She just had to stay out of trouble.

"Very true, well I'm going to go and try and catch some sleep, I'll leave you two to have at it. I'm sure you guys will be able to come up with something, if we need to buy some stuff when we get to the planet we'll just take it from the ship fund." Jones smiled at the two of them and started to climb back up the ladder leading out. "Yell if you need anything."

“Understood Skipper, P.S. check for bed bugs before you sleep!” Miller shouted, meaning it to because it wouldn’t have surprised him if creatures like that were running around on the ship.

"Aye sir. Night," the green skinned nurse told the captain as he made his exit. She looked at Miller then and sighed. "So, how about we meet up here first thing in the morning?" Lee suggested and offered him a tight-lipped smile. "I need to go and finish something I was doing..." she was trying to eat again. "But if you don't want to wait I can go back," she added as she step back towards the stairs.

“Yea tomorrow is good.” Miller said as he watched Lee edge closer to the ladder. She clearly wanted to go finish her thing so why force her to do something she didn’t want to do. “How’s 09:00 sound?”

"Perfect!" Lee remarked with a broad smile and a firm nod. "See you then. Night Mr. Miller," she added as she reached the ladder. "Sweet dreams," she wished him and left.

Standing alone in the compartment for several seconds Miller decided he too should go to bed, for tomorrow was probably going to be a tiring day getting the compartment plant friendly.

 

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