"En Garde!"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

November 20, 2397

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“En Garde!”

 

Tactical Officer JoNs stood in the corridor outside of Science Officer Richardson’s quarters. She held what remained of a sickly looking potted plant. She’d been standing there for about five minutes, wondering about how to approach this situation. She had no tactical options to draw on, and was starting to get odd looks from passers by.

 

With a determined shake of her head, she spoke quietly to herself. "Get ahold of yourself JoNs. You need to talk to Syd about the plant." The Caitian had a feeling that a combination of over watering and missing a couple plant food feedings had contributed to the plants current state. She now knew she had to be more careful with the little mood plant.

 

With a determined sigh, she pressed the door chime.

 

Inside Syd was standing with one of her swords. She had been swinging it back and forth for a while, enjoying the "swish, swish" sound it was making. When the chime sounded she spun around to quickly, chopping one of her roommate's candles in two. With a slight cringe she placed the sword behind herself and said, "Enter?"

 

Kansas placed the little plant behind her back and with head held high entered Syds quarters. "Hello Sydney. I hate to impose when we’re both off duty like this...but I need a bit of help." She looked a bit vexed, which was unusual for the usually calm and soft spoken Caitian.

 

Here they stood, both with something behind their back. Syd stood there for a full ten seconds, overcome with curiosity. Finally she asked, "What is it that you require assistance with?"

 

Kansas took a deep breath and plunged ahead. She placed the little plant on the table and points. "I need help with the plant. I screwed up a bit with it." Ears are half way down with sorrow over the matter.

 

Syd placed her large sword on the table next to the plant and looked closer at the little pot. "Oh my gosh. Kansas! Did you even read the stuff I gave you to read?" Lying down on the table, eye level with the plant, she muttered, "I'm so sorry little one. It's going to be okay..."

 

The sword throws Kansas off a bit. She had heard that the sciences officer collected them; apparently the ship scuttlebutt had been on the credits. "Errr. Okay. Yes, I read the instructions, but not them all...probably the part about over watering. I dropped the ball with the homework Sydney. "Can we bring it back Syd? I really hope we can......"

 

"Kansas. Plants grow. Pots do not." She stood, picking up her sword and walking over to a large pot. "See this large pot?" she asked, pointing at it with her sword. "That is what my mood plant thing lives in." Pointing at Kansas with the sword then, she added, "What you need is a bigger pot!"

 

The Caitian’s ears perk up at the stern tone employed by Sydney…and the sword now pointed at her was a dead giveaway too. "Uh...yes" (Backs up a few paces) "well no. I didn’t think. Obviously. There wasn’t any problem that I could tell, I was pruning regularly and everything seemed fi...uh Syd...why are your eyes gleaming with a somewhat fanatical light? "

 

The TAC officer suddenly recalled the conversation that Sydney a few weeks back. Something about confronting someone in the mess over a non-watered plant...oh dear. Sydney tossed the sword onto her bed (which caused Kansas to back up flat against the bulkhead to avoid the sword), and quickly walked over to Kansas' plant. Taking the pot in her right hand, and the plant between two fingers, she flipped the plant over and popped it out of its pot. "Behold, the root-boundness. The bane of my very existence!" Syd flashed Kansas the most scowly type look she could muster.

 

The Caitian sags against a nearby table as the sword remains on the bed, and immediately stands ramrod straight as Syd's gaze impales her. Oh wait no....not impale...no references having to do with piercing...and sharp objects. "I can see where yes, that can be a problem..." Sighing sadly, Syd said, "Thankfully, I just happen to have a pot here ready for such an occasion." She then reached under her bed a pulled out a pot, quickly sticking the little plant in it and squishing the dirt around it in a protective way.

 

Kansas cautiously approaches the annoyed sciences officer. "I really apologize. I’m normally much more careful with any kind of personal possessions." She surreptitiously reaches down behind her back and moves the sword further out of Syds reach, toward the head of the bed. Syd nodded. "It's okay Kansas. It's... it's just a plant. I was probably just overreacting." She slowly handed the larger pot to Kansas.

 

“Well, I admit you had me going over unarmed methods of defense in my head...when I wasn’t watching the sword swish around that is." Kansas smiles. "But, I know you do love plants. It’s understandable when you’re really passionate about something." She continued, "I will really read everything you downloaded on that PADD. To quote the old Earth saying - cross my heart and hope to die...uh, wrong phrasing choice. Regardless, I’ll be more successful this time around. "

 

She gasped, "Did I swing the sword at you? Oh gosh I'm so sorry." (Gives Kansas a quick hug) "I'm sure you'll do just fine. However... I will be checking up on you when the next pot size change comes." Syd smiled sweetly.

 

Kansas eyed the sciences officer. "Minus the sword, right?”

 

Lt.jg Sydney Richardson

Assistant Science Officer

 

Lt. M’rrett “Kansas” JoN’s

Tactical Officer