Flowers, Thoughts, and Moments

[Apollo 0]

Apollo wandered back into the seclusion of the botany labs of the Republic. With all the hubbub of the Romulan adventure, he could get some work finished—uninterrupted. Granted all he’d done since the whole Wadi game disaster was keep locked up working on his precious plants, it was still more constructive and less dangerous than venturing out. At times he really thought this crew, and this ship was cursed.

 

At least for the moment though, all was quite on the northern front. Famous last words. He thought to himself as he turned the corner into expansive rows of plants; the scent of various exotic flowers filling his nostrils with the sweet smell of nature.

 

One in particular caught his eye. A flowering violet from the moon of Indiris VII, it grew tall and iridescent, save for the in the rays of a fourth sun of that system. Something in the soil reacted with the light from a very specific sequence-star and caused the violet to burst into an array of colors unparalleled by even rainbows.

 

Among the most rare in the galaxy, they’d been amazing difficult to keep alive, even in Apollo’s expert care. But he’d managed to coax four of the plants into flowering, and now as he walked into the bay, the simulated light bathed the pedals and the sparking prisms formed. Apollo’s own eyes glimmered as the light danced off his face.

 

It was moments like this one, a simple, pure moment where time seemed to stay still, where the waters of time stopped flowing, that he most enjoyed himself. Alone and secluded. His mind untroubled by the affairs of others, or even his own troubles.

 

As a child, growing up with his twin brother, he could have never imagined getting so much joy out of seclusion. They had always begin together, he and Xeno, as if they were joined at the hip. But when Apollo got into the Academy, and Xeno had not—things changed. And so did Apollo. Until then, he’d never been alone…ever. He’d never finned for himself. Always he had a faithful companion to share in whatever trouble he got himself into, but after that…he found himself in exile. Alone and confused.

 

The Academy had been almost unbearable in that respect. He’d longed for home, far away on distant shores. Yet he knew his path lay before him. Destiny led him to that place. But all of his fears stayed deep inside.

 

And he’d grown so far apart from Xeno. There was a time, when he and Xeno were inseparable. When they told each other everything, but now they barely spoke. And that was on the rare occasions that they were in the same Quadrant.

 

The last Apollo had heard, Xeno was stationed somewhere near the Sheliak border on the USS Aida as a tactical officer. That had been had for everyone to swallow. A Link…serving as a…tactical officer? But it was he’d wanted to do, and supposedly he was good at it. He’d even heard that Xeno had earned a few medals, and was the pride of the Captain. Apollo tried to imagine himself being the pride of the Captain, he simply shook his head. Xeno had always been the follower of the two brothers.

 

As he went deeper into the botany lab, he pushed those thoughts out of his head, the peaceful and serene moment of the violet long since passed. It was back to work. He much of it to do, and reports to file. Not to mention a few new crewmen. He supposed he should go introduce themselves, before they started thinking the blob was the department head.