Assessing the Arboretum (Part I)

Posted on Tue Aug 19, 2025 @ 11:12am by Lieutenant JG Brianthe Oaxaca & Civilian Paula Pendergast & Lieutenant Bronwyn P’ril & Ensign Matilda Cromwell

1,270 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Time After Time
Location: Engineering/Arboretum
Timeline: TBD

It was time for work, and Matilda walked into main engineering, on time. She had something she wished to do but wanted to get P'ril's permission. "Lieutenant P'ril, I was wondering if we can go take a look at the Arboretum, and check on the repairs. I had a certain someone by the name of Lieutenant Cannon, tell me that I couldn't go in there, and that it was his pet project. As cute as he can be, I don't appreciate someone telling me to stay out of the Arboretum."

P’ril’s brow wrinkled. Why would he want to keep anybody out of the arboretum? It didn’t really make much sense to her and it roused her curiosity to boot. “Did he say why he wanted you to stay out?” she asked.

"For some reason he says that it is his special project and maybe he doesn't want me to meet this lady named Paula who tends to the Arboretum. He hates her and really didn't want to say much more about what was happening. I for one will not let him keep me from going there." Matilda crossing her arms over her chest.

Now P’ril was very intrigued. Who was this Paula, why did he hate her, and what was going on in the arboretum that he felt Ensign Cromwell should be kept from? It was decidedly suspicious, even if only mildly so. “It might take two people to check it out,” she added with just a hint of slyness. “We would not want to miss anything, after all.”

An answering smile from Matilda. "I agree." walking alongside of P'ril. She was looking forward to seeing the arboretum and meeting the infamous or famous Paula.

Paula was in what she liked to call the main arboretum. It was thirty feet high--not counting the soil for the trees--with hidden gardens, walkways, and lots of trees and flowering bushes. With Brianthe spending half her time on the station and half on the planet, Paula had come to think of it as hers.

As she and Ensign Cromwell entered the Arboretum, P’ril looked around appreciatively. Like everything on the station, it was unnecessarily large and ornate. Or maybe it was necessary. After all, the station population was large. If even 10% of them decided to visit the arboretum at the same time, it would be awfully crowded. “This place is remarkable,” she commented in a typical ‘Vulcan’ tone.

Paula smiled. "Thank you. A number of botanists have worked on this place. Brianthe and I are only the latest. She's down on the planet right now, working on another type of garden. Can I help you with anything?"

“We are here to perform routine maintenance and a simple diagnostic of the systems,” P’ril answered, giving a believable excuse for them to be here. “We will try to stay out of your way.”

Paula frowned. "Are you from operations?" If Ace sent them, she would tell them to get out because if he did send them, it would be for no good reason.

“Engineering” replied P’ril. “I am Lieutenant P’ril, chief engineer and this is Ensign Cromwell.”

Paula nodded. "Good. Cannon isn't welcome in here, or anyone he sends."

"Well now, I have heard him say that this place is his own special project and that no one is allowed to come into the arboretum. Only he can. The audacity of the man." Matilda groused. " Who has the right of telling someone to stay out of the Arboretum!"

"Audacity is one way of putting it. Abuse of power is another," Paula groused. "Did he tell you he rerouted torpedo controls here? Because he thought it would be a good idea? It didn't matter that this is a safe space, and should have been somewhere families could go to avoid the Cardassians. No. 1500 decks and he had to choose this because he thinks it will get Brianthe to fall for him. But she won't. She has better taste than that. Not to mention his stupid covert operations. Even I know you went to The Box of Delights or put a message in a book in The Evil Librarian. Why did you need to add the arboretum? That fool isn't welcome here at any time."

Silently, P’ril agreed with Paula. Out of all the places on the entire station, why the Arboretum? Sure, it had the advantage of being unlikely, but it wasn’t the least likely place by far. The least likely place would be some random enlisted officer’s quarters, preferably a Private First Class who could keep his or her mouth shut about it. But she very diplomatically did not say any of that. While Cannon had made quite the impression on her at their first meeting, it wasn’t a very good impression. Still, it would be prudent to reserve judgement until hearing his side. “Well then, it is good that he did not send us,” she replied. “And I will make sure torpedo control is completely removed while we are here.”

"Thank you." Finally, Paula had someone on the station she could go to for help.

"He... did... what???!!! That doesn't make sense! I would have rerouted that in a different spot not here where the relays wouldn't mess with the water for the plants and, the PH balance of the water with the electrical emanations from the feed would in essence poison the plants. There is a bleed over at least from what I have found out. You can have some electrical feed but... there has to be a balance, something not so intrusive. That, that" Matilda was fuming, then calmed down suddenly. "Lieutenant, Miss Paula, I will be quite happy in helping in the endeavor of getting rid of this intrusion to the arboretum."

Paula nodded to Matilda. "Exactly. But he doesn't listen."

"He does seem to only hear what he wants to hear, as long as it serves him." Matilda thinking over things. "When shall we begin Lieutenant P'ril and Miss Paula?" the ensign being rather eager to get started.

"We can begin now. There are four levels to the arboretum, even though it covers ten decks. This is what we call the main arboretum, even though it's technically the second level."

P’ril blinked in a slightly human show of surprise. “There is more?” she asked, the barest hint of incredulity in her voice.

Paula smiled. "Yes. The station is large enough to accommodate it. This is what we consider the main arboretum. It has trees, flowers, shrubbery, walkways, fountains, ponds, and a maze in the center. The level below has recreational areas, a water park, a river, and fields for different ports. The level above us has an area for family gardens, plus space to work with hanging gardens and vertical gardens. Mostly to combine fresh produce with economy. Then the top level has several areas covering different environmental habitats for people to study or just to learn about. We change them from time to time for variety."

Matilda was very impressed. "This is very amazing I am so glad I was assigned here." gazing about. "And I am certainly going to be careful when we remove those unwanted equipment." Matilda drawing in a breath. "I do love working with plants, one of my side passions."

(To be continued...)

A post by

Ensign Matilda Cromwell
Engineer
Deep Space Five

Lt. Bronwyn P’ril
Chief Engineer
Deep Space Five

Paula Pendergast
Botanist
Deep Space 5

 

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