Floral Deliverance

Posted on Tue May 12th, 2015 @ 11:30am by Ensign Corrine Steiner
Edited on on Sun Jul 12th, 2015 @ 3:53pm

Mission: Blooming Friendships
Location: Quarters, Starbase 332

[ON]

Corrie sat staring at the bouquet that she had just been given. Emotions stirred in her that she hadn't felt in years. Her eyes went back and forth between them and the console image of Marine Captain S'er'in'e. One conditioned to avoid eye contact and the notice of others, it was rare for her to study someone's eyes. This was made even more scary for her because he was a xeno. She repeated to herself again, "He was just being courteous. That's all."

Not all of her stirrings were pleasant ones, though. Her first bouquets and warm smiles came from a beautiful young man who turned out to be a black ops plant. Yet, her resulting swearing off of future relationships didn't seem to prevent current feelings. "This is childish! Jasmine, why can't you just shut up?"

Corrie almost began to daydream about a relationship when more memories pulled her down. Years ago, her heartbroken mother and father sat with her and took hold of her hands.
"Corrie, we are so sorry. This is going to hurt, but it must be said. The darksuits will come at you through anybody with whom you become close. Through them directly or through people in their lives, they'll pressure and manipulate. You won't be safe and they won't be safe." Her mother grasped her hand tightly, "You can love others. You must love others! But until you find a sanctuary, or unless your love can defend itself, then danger follows you."

Corrie dropped her head back with closed eyes and sighed deeply. Then, after wiping tears away, she stared at Capt. S'er'in'e's image. "My mind can't go there." She switched off the console. Suddenly feeling tired, she settled down on her side on the bed. She felt at the covers and managed a giggle, "Sleep well on your new bed, Captain Kitty."

The next thing of which Corrie was aware, she was tinkering with her newly purchased Phantom racer. The sleek speedster still brought a smile to her every time she saw it. Other thoughts about starbase and operations were distant from her mind. It was a timeless moment finally interrupted by a visitor. A woman in full, elegant gown stood a short distance away. Startled, Corrie looked around at the darkness. "I'm dreaming." Pent up defenciveness vented, "I'm not making you up. You're a telepathic visitor!"

"I am."

Corrie restrained herself because the visitor didn't look quite human. "In my culture, there's a little thing called permission!"

"This is how I travel. This is how I communicate."

The frustrated woman gestured up her hands, closing her eyes, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry."

The visitor stepped closer, "You allow yourself to be tormented badly by your gift."

"GIFT?" Corrie stepped up to her, "These dreams are no GIFT! They have been a living HELL for me ever since I was a little girl!"

The visitor remained sympathetically tranquil, "I know. But if you could learn to embrace your gift, then it wouldn't be so bad-"

"EMBRACE? I have only one wish, to be RID of it! Are you responsible for having inflicted this 'gift' on me?"

She shook her head lightly, "No. I simply want to help you adjust to-"

"NO! Don't you dare! Don't even start. The only thing I want from anyone is freedom from it. Give this curse to someone who wants it. Hell, I know people who would give anything for it! You want to visit me and this is your way of doing it? Fine. We'll have tea and crumpets. But you leave my visions at the door. Otherwise, I don't want to see or hear from you until then!"

The visitor stared pensively. At length, she had to accept Corrine's ultimate decision. Fading away, her voice was tender, "At least you don't need to suffer so much, now."

Corrie stood alone in the darkness for a time. Her conscience felt pricked, being so defiantly closed to someone she sensed would not be seen again. The pungent aroma of flowers then enshrouded her. She awakened in her cabin. To her surprise, however, it wasn't to the blare of a clock-alarm or the buzzing of crewmen at her door. It was a full two hours before duty shift.

Something else surprised her, to the point of startlement. She didn't have a low agony headache. Corrie actually felt relaxed. That had never happened after a special dream. Astonished, she realized, "The flowers!" Whatever combinations of pollens and nectars that they had, they stabilized her brain. Careful to breathe in not too much of the scents, she felt even better. A praying soul, tears poured out of the corners of her eyes. "My God... Thank you!"

After a few minutes, Corrie switched on her console. "Computer, create a new personal research file." A beep confirmed the action. "Scan all of the flora in my bouquet. I need to know species, origins, and botanical methods for growing them."

==COMPLETE SCANS WILL REQUIRE SCIENTIFIC TRICORDERS==

"Acknowledged. Submit requisitions for them. I shall consult with SciLab for whatever else they recommend." Another beep confirmed.

Emotions overcoming her, Corrie couldn't proceed any more with it right now. She closed out the file an laid back with tears flooding. "All the kings doctors and all the kings men, couldn't put Corrie together again..." She ever so lightly traced her finger up a flower stem, "But the glory of simple flowers can."

She started to smile, about to close her eyes and enjoy restful sleep that she had rarely known. Years of suffering caught up with her, however. Her smile gave way to long, deep sobbing.

[OFF]

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Ens. Corrine Steiner
Starbase 332
Pegasus Fleet