Forensic Botany
Posted on Sat Jul 13th, 2024 @ 8:53pm by Lieutenant Maya Canak & Ensign Nala Rider
Edited on on Mon Jul 15th, 2024 @ 9:17pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2 - The Sins of History
Location: Facial Reconstruction Lab - Deck 11- USS Artemis
Timeline: MD009 1100 hrs
When Maya had some free time, she checked the main computer and went to talk to Nala about the forensic botany lab. Ever since her tea with Siadra, she'd become more and more interested in the lab and its possibilities for both science and medicine.
Nala was crawling around under a counter trying to retrieve pieces of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skull she was reconstructing that had slipped off the counter and shattered, sending pieces all over the room.
The doctor walked in the lab and looked around. "Oh, my. Do you need help?" She wouldn't know how to put most of the pieces together, but she could help pick them up.
"BANG! DANGNABIT! Wh...oh...hi, Lt.. Um...sure. I'm still missing six teeth and his...aha! Got it!" Nala popped up with a piece of jawbone as long as her arm.
"I was almost done with it too...then my coat flipped back and got caught on the teeth and...crash," Nala grumbled softly as she set the piece on the central counter.
"Yes, that's the problem with lab coats. I love the pockets, but they can cause problems." Maya squatted down to help look for the teeth. "My, they did scatter, didn't they?" She found one nestled next to a counter leg and set it next to the jawbone. "There's one." Then she squatted again to help find the others.
"Yeah they did. What's worse is I was turning to get the glue so they'd stick together!" Nala laughed as she spied another tooth in the far corner.
"I think this constitutes an application of chaos theory." Maya chuckled. The scatter pattern was definitely chaotic. She crawled over to a nice, dark spot between two cabinets. Sure enough, there was another tooth.
"Along with: 'If it can go wrong, it will,'...now how the Dickens did those two get back THERE?" Nala wriggled into a very tight spot and retrieved a chipped tooth...along with a dust bunny.
"Blek! I HATE dust bunnies! They're so...so..." Nala shuddered and stuck out her tongue.
"Dusty?" Maya suggested, chuckling. "They are at that. Now, how many more are you missing?" She looked around to see if she could find any more.
"Yeah...yucky! Hm, looks like I'm still missing two. Seriously, HOW did they go so stinking far? The lab's not even that big from what I've been told of other ship's labs. Not that I'm complaining you understand! I've just heard rumors," Nala mentally face palmed at her blathering on and got back down on her hands and knees to check the far end of the lab again...and to hide her embarrassed flush.
"Well, there's one of them...GROSS!! Ok, WHO was supposed to be cleaning this place!? I KNOW before I leave I do a run through of every corner, so this shouldn't be here!" Nala was practically spitting flames as she came out from under a corner counter with a wad of gum, that had somehow started to mold, attached to one of the missing teeth.
"How is that gum still soft enough to do that?" Maya asked, glancing at the gum and tooth. "That's odd. As is the dust. I thought the labs were cleaned regularly." At least, they were supposed to be cleaned regularly. She'd have to take a second look at the medical labs. Hygiene was vital to healthcare. She put her hand down to move into a new area and found something hard. "Found another tooth."
She put it on the counter with the rest and dusted herself off. "There."
"Thanks, Lt.. I have no idea! I'm telling you, EVERY single time I get ready to leave, I give this place a THROUGH cleaning! Who knows what a dust bunny...or GAG that, could do to an experiment...or person for that matter!" Nala shuddered as she cleaned the tooth she was holding, then her hands, and finally placed the tooth with the others on the counter.
"That's a valid point. Cleanliness is always important, but especially so in some departments. Perhaps you can ask operations about it and see if there's a reason for the dust. It shouldn't be this heavy if you clean it regularly yourself." She brushed herself off a second time to be sure she got as much dust as she could off her uniform. She'd likely have to change before she went back to sickbay anyway. "Now, if you have a few moments, I'd like to talk to you about the forensic botany lab."
"Definitely! There's WAY more dust in here than there should be...anyway, so what specifically do you want to know?" Nala asked, also brushing dust from her clothes.
"This is ridiculous! Something is SUPER wrong!" Nala snarled, brushing her clothes again.
"I had tea with Lieutenant Molaur and the subject came up. She said it was your idea because you wanted fresh fruit. She also said I could use part of it for medicinal plants," Maya began. "My question is, how involved are you in the lab? Do you actually take care of the plants, or did you simply make the suggestion?"
"I've been caring for those three for about two weeks...they're kinda an experiment/I'm not sure I want plants in my living quarters yet," Nala pointed to a corner where three strange plants stood in three pots. They were vines tied to stakes to keep them contained, had yellow and black spots, resembling cheetahs, with purplish green blobs hanging from random places all along their length.
"I have plants in my office, and I plan on repurposing a medical lab to grow more, so I wanted to see what you had here. I'm from a jungle area and I love plants," Maya explained.
"Oh! Where from?" Nala asked, grabbing a watering can and watering the vines. A soft 'PUFF was heard, and dust flew into the air from the blobs, then slimy gunk oozed from the blobs and fell to the floor, resembling gum that had molded.
"Oh...well then...I guess we found the source of the problem," Nala was embarrassed.
"I'm from Central America on earth. The Yucatan." She understood how easy it was to have time go by and forget to do things like watering plants. "You can set up an automatic irrigation system. Use a long trough for the plants and have them irrigated with nutrients. That will allow them to flourish while you work." She smiled at Nala. "I've killed my share of plants. I can help you set that up, if you like."
"That's so cool! I'm from Colorado myself. Could you, please? I have a hard time with consistency when it comes to plants," Nala grinned sheepishly.
"I'd be happy to. I need to speak with operations about my forensic garden. I can also ask for a setup like mine for your lab at the same time. Once that's in place, I'll help you get it set up. In fact, you're always welcome to stop by my office for a cup of tea and a look at the plants I have."
"That'd be great! Thank you!" Nala smiled, excited by the prospect of tea and plant talk!
"You are very welcome." Maya smiled again. She liked Nala's enthusiasm. "I should go visit operations. Would you like me to send someone to help you clean up, or would you rather call them yourself?" She knew it was a simple matter of a call, but she liked to be helpful, and she was going there next.
"Would you? I want to start cleaning up this T-Rex skull scattered all over the counter...don't want it running away again," Nala chuckled softly as she started organizing the pieces.
"Absolutely. See you later!" Still smiling, Maya left her to her teeth and headed for operations.
A Joint Post By
Ensign Nala Rider
Facial Reconstruction Specialist, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Lieutenant Maya Canak
Chief Medical Officer/Medical Examiner, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal INvestigations Unit
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