Shayhiloosh

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Shayhiloosh the Arborian
Name:	Shayhiloosh
Rank:	Ensign (jg)
Gender:	Asexual
Species:	Arborian
Age:	Youthful at 100 human years
Position:	ACSO
Ship:	USS Nimitz
Status:	Active: For a Friend

Character Info

Character's Full Name: Shayhiloosh

Species: Arborian

Gender: Asexual

Age: Youthful at 100 human years

Place of Birth: Arboria Prime

Height: 7-7.2 feet depending on current foliage

Weight: 175 pounds

Eyes: 3 Blue eyes on vine-like stalks that can extend approximately 1.5 feet in any direction from the inside of main branch crotch.

Skin: Brown black

Blood Color: Golden Amber

Hair: None but leaf color is silvery green

Physical Description

Tough, durable, rubbery, skin, slightly wrinkled brown black skin similar to that that found on dolphins or elephants covers Shayhiloosh’s body and limbs. Despite hir’s treelike characteristics, s/he does not have ‘bark’ as does a tree. S/he has many root legs, which join together at a ‘trunk’ in an area approximately equivalent to the middle of the thigh on the average human. Hir upper part is composed of branches, with round, silvery ‘leaves’ with tiny jagged looking edges, the ends of which come to a point, similar to those of a quaking asp, that shake and rustle when speaking. Hir main trunk is roughly 2.5 feet. Shayhiloosh has 5 main branches that project from hir’s trunk at about 90- 135 degrees when at rest. Hir three blue, almost human-looking eyes are extended from his main upper branch crotch, about five feet from hir roots, on thick vine-like stalks about 2.5 feet long. S/he has three self-grown, hand-like appendages in hir upper branches. These appear as twigs up above hir main arms, and consist of three flexible “fingers” with a flexible opposing twig which serves as a thumb.

Family and Background

Shayhiloosh was raised in a nursery or young ‘grove’ of sorts, where he was planted in rich loamy soil. Rooting hirself in soil at night and looking at the starts at night after hir studies were done for the day became a favorite pastime.

Hir was one of the few Arborians that enjoyed talking and interacting with Federation ambassadors and other off world visitors. After hir species was contacted and a Federation Embassy established, Shayhiloosh was chosen by the Arborian elders to go out and gain experience within the context of the Federation, to encourage understanding and gain perspective on other species. Enrolling in Starfleet seemed the most obvious way to learn and gain experience with other cultures, and to explore and see what else was in the universe.

History, Education and Skills

As for many Arborians, Shayhiloosh was taught by local elders. His people have a natural predilection for understanding of the ecological sciences. After completing the highest level of education his people could offer, he was immediately enrolled in Starfleet, where he majored in Science with an emphasis on xenobotany. Hir also enjoyed studying stellar cartography and astronomy.

Pre-Starfleet History: In hir youth, as a part of hir training, Shayhiloosh spent a decade or so traveling extensively within Arboria’s solar system along with one of hir elders, old Hannahlish, taking surveys of the system’s sun and analyzing solar activity. During that time, Shayhiloosh conducted many experiments to study the effects of sunspot activity upon various species of plant growth. S/he also helped to set up the Starfleet Embassy on Arboria, where hir specialized in security.

Medical History

Species: Shayhiloosh and other Arborians have both plant and animal characteristics. Chemically and physiologically Arborians resemble yeast with chlorophyll. Overall height at full growth can reach approximately 7 feet tall, but an individual might look a bit taller if in proper full leaf. Individual Arborian’s ‘leaves’ can be found in a variety of shapes, and the appearance of one individual compared to another is often far more pronounced than in humans. They can, if they wish, grow extra appendages, but it takes time and energy, and most do not consider the effort necessary.

Arborians need rich loamy soil with plenty of mineral content. They ‘eat’ through the root tips on their ‘feet’, which can open or close via large pores. Without adequate species-appropriate nourishment, they may potentially suffer from a variety of health problems, including leaf wilt, leaf loss, swelling of joints, general withering of the body, and loss of vision. They require a few hours of exposure to UV rays in which to rest, root, eat, and conduct photosynthesis each day. Natural sunlight is preferable, but ship-generated UV rays suffice under normal conditions. A horticultural or botanical area would be perfect quarters for an Arborian.

Personal: Nothing of note. Shayhiloosh is normally in good general health as per his species. S/he did take the time to grow extra branches, as s/he felt that two were not enough to do the specialized tasks required by hir service in Starfleet, but that more than three extra hands were too many. S/he can use hir stong prehensile roots to grip or pick up things as needed.

Starfleet History

The first day of Shayhiloosh’s first assignment was a major catastrophe. The USS Boudicca, to which s/he had been assigned, was attacked and boarded by enemy marines from the USS Exeter. Shayhiloosh attempted to protect hirself and hir collogues in sickbay, only to discover belatedly that these Marines were provided with “superman” BDU body armor. S/he was severely injured in the attempt, and was subsequently deposited on Starbase Geneva to receive care. When hir condition was assessed, s/he was sent to Cait to recover, due to the excellent quality of medical care available there, and the need for a naturally sunlit environment in which to heal.

Skills

Due to hir off-planet experience, Shayhiloosh has become more adaptable than is the norm for hir species. S/he is quite clever when it comes to meeting hir special needs in a shipboard environment.

Hand-to-root-and-branch combat is hir specialty. S/he is not especially martially oriented, but when threatened at close range, s/he is a formidable opponent, if properly prepared for the nature of the attack. S/he can carry several weapons at once in hir multiple limbs, and use them all simultaneously. Also, considering both the training s/he received as a security consultant while setting up the Starfleet embassy on hir home planet, together with hir three flexible eyestalks, s/he is very difficult to take by surprise.

Other Information

Hobbies: Shayhiloosh enjoys singing, Arborian styles of dance, and rooting hirself in interesting places.

General Notes: Correct pronoun usage for an androgynous species such as Shayhiloosh is as follows: s/he as subject (S/he is walking), ‘hir’ (pronounced as heer) as the possessive, and ‘hirself’ (pronounced heerself). Examples below.

Speech: Arborians use their leaf-like bladders in a breathy, breezy almost whispery voice which rustles.

Hearing: Arborians can hear by detecting vibrations through touch and through the air. They can detect and generate tones and sounds outside human hearing range, including subsonic and ultrasonic ranges. These can be used to communicate long distances. No ears are visible.

Sitting: Though Shayhiloosh can bend easily and curve hir trunk, hir natural stance is to remain upright. Hir preferred method of ‘sitting’ is to gracefully spread out hir roots, in a manner like what humans call doing the splits. After sinking down in this fashion, Shayhiloosh then curls up hir ‘feet’ or root ‘legs’ in a nice neat circle around hir lower trunk. S/he finds this preferable to bending hir trunk, as would be required to sit in a manner common to humanoid species. Hir is then short enough to access tables, consoles and any other equipment built primarily for humanoids. For better stability, if there is room, Shayhiloosh can and will spread hir roots out as far as they will go, regardless of the surface.

Psychology: Arborians have a strong code of ethics, and will not cheat, steal, murder, or lie. They will act to defend themselves in instances of life threatening danger, and are dangerous when provoked. They can prevaricate and omit the truth when the situation deems necessary for secretiveness and discretion. They tend to be resistant to change.

Shayhiloosh personally feels that most species are a bit on the small side, and have far too few limbs. S/he is also unusually open-minded, as Arborians go.

Special Traits: When at rest, usually for at least a few hours each daylight cycle when Arborians are able to conduct photosynthesis, they share a type of group telepathy. Arborians are able to access something they refer to as the Dreamplane. For the uninitiated, the Dreamplane can be a dangerous place as besides mirroring whatever happens in reality, it can manifest people’s sorrow, fear, joy, and anger.

Shayhiloosh Post #1

Mission: Reflections of Van Helsing and the Dragon, Day 4

Mission: Available Light, Day 16

Stardate: 2407.02.03

(Starbase Geneva – Botanical Gardens – Botanist Ensign Shayhiloosh – 2000)

Shayhiloosh sighed from hir leafy boughs. It was quiet now in the Botanical Gardens. S/he could relax and do a bit of exploring. In waking, s/he felt refreshed, and had fed all day in the fertile soil amidst the small grove of trees far off of the much traveled pathways. Shayhiloosh stretched hir sleep stiffened boughs and rustled appreciatively.

With the coming of the night cycle, the birds and other small animals settled down to rest. Shayhiloosh felt almost overfed between photosynthesis and rooting in the rich soil for such a long period of daylight hours. S/he was certainly bursting with energy and needed to put that into movement or budding and new growth. As s/he already was as tall as was possible, yet still able to function and fit easily into this mainly humanoid society, movement was preferable. Extending hir roots on top of the soil and hir eyestalks to look about, Shayhiloosh began to meander through the Geneva’s Botanical Gardens, under what s/he knew to be simulated starlight and a simulated full moon, but thankful to the Great Elders to be alive and exulting in hir present environment. It seemed an eternity since hir had last rooted in such an idyllic setting. Starbase Geneva had a well balanced ecosystem in their Gardens, complete with water reclamation, many smaller flowering deciduous trees, a few of the larger pines and conifers, and flowering plants and shrubs. Shayhiloosh found the small lake at the center of the Gardens after wandering for quite some time on the stone pathways. S/he sighed all the way from hir tiniest rootlets to the tips of hir highest leaves at such luxury so far from home in space. The tiny points of starlight and moonlight from overhead reflected in the water surface, sparkling and twinkling.

The small lake contained the largest collected amount of water on the station and was a significant reservoir. Shayhiloosh dipped a single rootlet into the water to check for purity and found it palatable though with a slight metallic overlay of flavor. He estimated .00000231 percent of metals in the water. ~It is contained in a metal station and is therefore to be expected.~ S/he thrust a few larger roots into the water to drink deeply. The garden soil, though fertile and damp, had not supplied enough moisture and Shayhiloosh was parched.

As s/he was about to withdraw from the water, Shayhiloosh heard a noise. One of the entrances was some way off and the staff kept their machinery well lubricated. S/he had heard no squeaking of the portal doors parting. At the approaching footsteps Shayhiloosh froze as s/he was, fearful of discovery. Though s/he had been warned, Shayhiloosh was undeterred in hir quest for interspecies understanding and the truth about the Federation’s civil war. So in cautious determination, s/he withdrew hir eyestalks into hir upper boughs, peeking out from hir leaves quietly, remaining motionless.

A small humanoid approached the lake, a human male walking with a smaller four legged creature. The two were connected by a flat looking finely woven vine. From pictures and holograms Shayhiloosh had seen back at the Academy, s/he guessed it was a variety of canine, one of those referred to as terriers. Though canines were pre-sentient, they could be lethal creatures if frightened or provoked.

Oddly, the canine seemed to be leading the human, sniffing industriously and constantly, following some type of scent. With a dawning horror, Shayhiloosh realized the canine was following where s/he had walked through the Gardens. In what Shayhiloosh perceived as a deliberate show of defiance, the canine trotted to a nearby bush, and lifting a back leg, proceeded to urinate on the plant. Disgusted by such behavior, Shayhiloosh hoped the animal would not attempt such an action toward hirself. The creature then proceeded to dig all four feet into the ground, marring the thick turf and flinging grass, leaves and soil everywhere.

Putting its snout to the ground again, the canine followed the meandering path Shayhiloosh had taken toward the lake. It approached hir roots and stopped staring straight at Shayhiloosh, bared sharp wicked looking teeth and began growling aggressively.

“What is it, Fling?” asked the small human, looking about for the source of the creature’s discomfort. “What’s the matter boy? There’s nothing here but a tree and the lake, just like always.” He looked around and then back toward the motionless dark tree. “I haven’t seen that tree here before. They must have planted it since I have been here. But they didn’t do a very good job.” The human poked at hir roots. The canine continued growling and snarling toward Shayhiloosh, bounding about the boy aggressively. “Hey there Fling, it’s alright. There isn’t anyone here but us,” said the boy. He stooped to pet the animal, stroking its white wiry coat in a failed attempt at reassurance. “Look I’ll show you.” Caught by surprise, Shayhiloosh could only watch in astonishment as the youngling shimmied up his body and levering up Shayhiloosh’s main branches, proceeded to put a hard booted foot into hir branch crotch.

“That hurts!” said Shayhiloosh emphatically. Hir main branches bent quickly to catch the human who had let go in fright. Shayhiloosh caught the boy before hitting the ground, knowing of humans’ frailty. The canine, barking wildly, reached a new crescendo.

Extending hir eyestalks, Shayhiloosh gently deposited hir small burden to the ground. The youngling was sitting and backed up quickly, eyes wide in a frightened pale face. “Come here Fling,” said the boy, hauling the growling dog close and enfolding it in shaking arms. The human stared up at the gently swaying eyestalks in amazement.

“Are you injured?’ inquired Shayhiloosh. At the boy’s negative headshake, Shayhiloosh spoke again in his breezy whispery voice. “I will not hurt you, but your foot hurt me in my crotch.” Shayhiloosh paused and until this moment hir had not realized how lonely the Gardens now seemed. “I would like your company. I am only staying for a short time. I am sorry I frightened you.”

S/he looked at the boy with concern and drooped in sorrow. There were no elders of which to ask endless questions, or sprouts to teach, and no visitors with which to converse. For one daylight shift and this night cycle Shayhiloosh had stayed quiet, hidden from prying eyes in a more remote area of the Gardens, waiting until the Security Chief would let hir know that hir transport had arrived. But now hir presence was known and there could be trouble. “If any other than the Security Chief or the commanding officer know of my existence, my life may be at risk. Please do not betray me,” pleaded Shayhiloosh.

The human’s face blanched, and then like a ray of sunlight from behind a cloud, a charming look came across the boy’s face. “I won’t tell anyone. You want to talk to me? Nobody ever wants to talk to me. They always tell me to go away and to be quiet. You are the first one who ever wanted me to talk!” said the boy in amazement. Then his face changed, wrinkling in worry. “You’re not here to invade us, are you?”

“No, young sprout, I have no such plan of conquest.” Shayhiloosh laughed breezily through hir quaking leaves. “I am a newly graduated Ensign from Starfleet Academy. My name is Shayhiloosh and I am traveling to my assignment in the science department on the USS Boudicca. I will leave soon.” Hir branches, leaves and trunk drooped again. “I have had to remain hidden. But I am alone.”

The boy nodded and hugging the dog spoke reassuringly. “It’s alright boy. This is a friend.” The youngling reached into a pocket and pulled out a brightly colored ball. The dog, distracted, became excited and wagging its short tail leaped out of the boy’s arms. It jumped around the boy in wild abandon, barking maniacally. The human threw the ball and the canine went racing after it, voicing its excitement.

“My dog loves to play. If you throw the ball for Fling, you’ll have a friend for life,” laughed the human sprout with bared teeth.

”How old are you and what are you called?” asked Shayhiloosh. The sprout proudly stood and said, “My name is Piotr Iosovich. I live on Deck 8 with my mother and father. I am in my second year of grade school and I’m seven. My father is in the science department.” Piotr paused, considering. “You’ll have to leave the Gardens if you want to board a ship.” Just then Fling came bounding back holding the ball in a drooling happy mouth and dropped it at Piotr’s feet, jumping and wriggling in energetic motion. Piotr picked up the ball to the Fling’s rapturous delight. “Here sir.” Handing the ball to Shayhiloosh, the boy grinned again. “Throw it, sir. Fling will love it.” Shayhiloosh doubted that, judging by the number of teeth in Fling’s mouth s/he had seen recently, but obligingly threw the ball. In a few moments Fling brought the ball back and happily dropped it at hir roots. When Shayhiloosh bent down to pick up the ball, the dog reacted, intimidated, and backed away barking noisily.

Shayhiloosh threw the ball again in an effort to quiet the noisy creature. Off it leaped to find the ball. It seemed very excitable for a companion. “I think Fling likes you now,” said Piotr. “I hope so,” answered Shayhiloosh, thinking of the high number of sharp teeth in its mouth. “Is school enjoyable?” asked Shayhiloosh. “I hate school,” said Piotr kicking the ground disconsolately. “They make me write and spell when I want to know how stuff works. I like to take stuff apart, only Mama doesn’t like that. Papa just laughs and says I will be a good engineer some day. Why should I do spelling? It’s so hard!”

Reaching down, Shayhiloosh gently picked up Piotr and after sitting the boy on a main branch angled at ninety degrees, hir began to walk along the lake shore. Piotr was surprised but looked thrilled by the scenery change. One eyestalk looked at Piotr closely. “Communication between you and others should be very clear, Piotr Iosovich. For example, if you wish to accomplish putting together a warp engine assembly on a ship of any kind, you must know what the names of the pieces are and how they go together. You will need to help coordinate with others to do this type of work. Either you must learn to communicate easily and fluently, or give up what you enjoy doing best to do something else you may not like as well. One must do something with one’s lifetime, as life is precious.”

Fling caught up with them, holding the ball in a sloppy wet mouth, and walked happily alongside.

“I suppose,” said Piotr reluctantly. “I guess I better start working on learning how to spell warp engine parts.”

“That is the idea,” agreed Shayhiloosh leaves quaking with laughter. “I commend you on your choice.”

Just then a voice came over the commbadge Shayhiloosh was wearing. =^=Security Chief to Ensign Shayhiloosh.=^=. Shayhiloosh halted. “Yes Chief? Is my transport here?” =^=Yes Ensign, it has arrived. We will be down with the big box to load you up and sneak you off the station.=^=

“I understand sir. Thank you, sir.” Shayhiloosh began to walk back quickly toward hir little grove to obtain hir few hidden possessions. “I will be leaving very soon, Piotr. You must go. You were not to know of my existence here. Do not forget your companion and the ball.” Shayhiloosh put the boy back down on the ground on his feet.

The boy, moving the few steps toward the tall ensign, stumbled trying not to step on any roots. He hugged Shayhiloosh around the trunk to hir startled but delighted surprise. “Goodbye. Thank you for talking to me.” Gently Shayhiloosh bent down a bough to place an appendage against the boy’s back. “You have brought a bright light to this lonely heart today, Piotr Iosovich. We Arborians live a long time and I will not forget you.”

(Reply none)

(Posted by Sheila Mayer)

Shayhiloosh Post #2

Mission: Reflections of Van Helsing and the Dragon, Day 3 Mission: Available Light, Day 16 Stardate: 2407.02.09

(Freighter Stephanie Lou, Deep Space – Primary Cargo Bay – Botanist Ensign Shayhiloosh (jg) – 2039)

As cramped as the crate was, Shayhiloosh did what s/he could to rest quietly. The original plan was that someone would come and let hir out of the box after leaving Geneva. But something must have gone wrong; no one ever came.

Shayhiloosh couldn’t tolerate being in the box any more. The crate corners did not allow room to stretch out hir boughs with any comfort. The dark time seemed eternal, plodding along endlessly. Though s/he had listened carefully, there had been no sound to indicate any being in the freighter’s main cargo hold for a very long time.

~Enough! It is time,~ thought Shayhiloosh impatiently. Breaking out of the crate would prove no problem, although it would be destroyed in the process. It was made out of a heavy corrugated plastic with a few small slivers of cracks for air on one upper edge. But it had not been designed for permanent residence.

Shayhiloosh began to push. Arborians were amazingly strong, due to thier trunks and branches being made of long slender muscular tubes bound up in bundles in a highly efficient manner. The top of the crate began to creak and split open in protest. Shayhiloosh kept pushing and worked up a main branch through the open edge. Gripping the open edge with strong rubbery like tendrils and straightening hir boughs, the plastic crate roof could stand no more strain. With a loud crack it popped off and several pieces went flying outward into the murky cargo hold.

~Oh, to stretch upward again!~ Shayhiloosh reached up and out in joy, relishing the fresher air of the dark hold. The confining walls were easier once the top was off. All Shayhiloosh had to do was to break two corners apart and s/he was free and could stretch out hir roots as well.

~Now, I must find light, food and water~ s/he thought. S/he began moving about in the darkened hold, trying to find an exit or even a wall.

Moving about proved to be difficult, but not impossible. The cargo was strewn about haphazardly and much of it wasn’t fastened down, but in the total darkness it was difficult to move around on the floor. Shayhiloosh began to climb some of it as a last resort.

Finding a wall, Shayhiloosh moved only a few yards before s/he came across a panel. Brushing a strong flexible hand against it, s/he saw the portal doors part. Blinking against the light after such a long incarceration in darkness, Shayhiloosh moved with determination. The need for water was becoming dire.

When Shayhiloosh cautiously stuck out an eyestalk to look about, s/he found that the corridor was clear. S/he moved quietly through the portal and it closed behind hir. Shayhiloosh crept quietly through the hallway and straightened instinctively into leafy stillness when voices began echoing nearby.

Two beings came around a corner near Shayhiloosh. They were arguing about money, something about which many humanoids seemed overly preoccupied. They stopped upon seeing a tree in the dim corridor.

“Take me to your captain,” said Shayhiloosh. “I need to speak to your captain.”

The humans, startled, backed away. They whispered to each other. One, a taller dark skinned man, stepped forward and gestured toward Shayhiloosh. “Who are you?” he asked his eyes wide. The Arborian’s eyestalks peered out from hir leafy boughs. The two humanoids seemed fearful and Shayhiloosh sought to take advantage of that. “I am Shayhiloosh. I was boxed up for transport in the cargo hold and left to die. This was not our arrangement. I wish to speak to the Captain.”

Ten minutes later, Shayhiloosh found hirself addressing a portly human woman who had kind eyes. “I am sorry that is what happened to you, Ensign Shayhiloosh. My instructions were to deliver a large box of supplies to the USS Boudicca. I had no idea there was anyone alive in that crate or in our cargo hold.”

“Could I have a bucket of fresh water? I am beginning to wilt extensively. I would also like some sort of soil or minerals if you have any.” The human captain smiled reassuringly and said, “I am sure we can find something you can eat.”

(Reply none) (Posted by Sheila Mayer)

Shayhiloosh Finding Hir Can Be a Covert Spy

Mission: Reflections of van Helsing and the Dragons, Day 4

Mission: Available Light, Day 16

Stardate: 2407.02.10

(USS Boudicca – Sickbay – Botanist Ensign Shayhiloosh (jg) – 1538)

Shayhiloosh drifted in and out of consciousness, barely aware of Dr. Jahlen attending to hir wounded parts. Hir was in agony and was weak enough that at one point hir became vaguely aware hir was propped up against a wall in Sickbay.

(Reply Jahlen)

Upset that the hostile Marines had hit one of the doctors hard enough to send her flying across the room, Shayhiloosh had been reluctant to obtain much care, hir concern for the bloodied doctor who was being threatened outweighing concern for hirself, but the grave extent of hir injuries soon gave hir little choice. He had lost a lot of ichor and was having difficulty remaining alert due to the throbbing agony from hir many wonds. Hir main branches began to droop and leaves began to wilt, and in bleak despair hir fled, seeking solace in the Dreamplane of the ship.

(Reply Jahlen, any in Sickbay)

(USS Boudicca - Dreamscape, The Grey Plain – Botanist Ensign Shayhiloosh (jg) – 1539)

Again, as before, Shayhiloosh found hirself on the dull grey metal plain, hir pain a pulsing throb but a more bearable background to the scene before hir. Hir entire trunk was trembling with weakness, and the scene that greeted Shayhiloosh gave no comfort.

S/he watched as large dark shapes scuttled across it, busily hurrying elsewhere. One approached and Shayhiloosh shuddered as the dark enraged looking insect-like shape scurried through hir ephemeral self. A muted roaring buzzing sound filled the atmosphere.

Shayhiloosh had hoped to draw solace from the eternal stars, but found much of the overhead vastness to be covered by a large shadow. Studying it warily, s/he realized this must be the enemy ship. As s/he watched, smaller shapes descended from ropes or tendrils from the gargantuan shape that blocked most of the star field. ~They must be the hostile forces, boarding the Boudicca.~ Wondering if s/he could effect anything here in hir weakened state, Shayhiloosh could only watch helplessly as more climbed down from the ship.

As more of the large, dark, scuttling things scampered past, s/he remembered the small scruffy creature with concern. It was aware of hir, knew hir and might even feel safe with hir. S/he could use the company as s/he didn't feel too brave right now either. Leaf bladders shaking with fright, s/he felt fear welling up as a sinister shadow inside, threatening to overwhelm.

S/he began following, shambling along unsteadily, after the dark shapes. S/he couldn't hope to stop them, but maybe s/he could contact someone who could. Hope gave Shayhiloosh more courage once again and s/he drew against that, in an effort to marshal hir strength.

Moving with the thin scattered tide of dark creatures, Shayhiloosh worked to reach whatever point they were all moving toward, dreading what s/he might find. The plain wasn't so barren. Now it was littered with debris; a large piece of stone here, a large conical shape there, bits of smaller rock and shattered pieces, of what Shayhiloosh could not guess. S/he suspected it to be parts of the ship's consoles, furniture, or even bodies, and knew hir mind must be protecting itself from grief and shock in an effort to stay strong enough to function, so Shayhiloosh did not investigate the rock-like objects closely. Instead s/he moved past them, carefully going around or avoiding them altogether, attempting no tactile contact.

Perched atop one large rock was the little scruffy being, frightened, trying to make itself small and hide. It trembled in fright and was hunched in a ball of fear, radiating terror. So far the dark creatures around them seemed unaware of them as they scurried about moving generally in one direction in their unstoppable tide.

Shayhiloosh stopped beside the large rock. ::Hello again, small one. I see you are frightened. I am frightened too. Would you like to stay with me?::

Until now, amidst all this trouble and pain, s/he had no idea how much s/he missed home. Home, with its peaceful vales and hills, meadows and lakes was so quiet and happy by comparison with the present situation. Arboria Prime with its muttering elders, classes of younglings, and gentle rains, seemed incredibly, wonderfully, joyous and idyllic, compared to the place s/he was in now.

The creature looked up blinking large round dark eyes wide with anxiety, whooped with loud relief, and sprang eagerly toward Shayhiloosh's upper trunk. It didn't hurt much to have the creature leap like that; it was relatively small and light. Shayhiloosh felt hir could bear it as long as hir wasn't alone. He scuttled about to sit on one of hir main branches, clinging tightly with long fingers.

An odd thing occurred. Shayhiloosh, already unsteady, brushed against the stone with some of hir roots. S/he froze in astonishment as the rock like shape opened to show a room with a brown haired human female holding the hand of a tiny youngling. Startled, the Arborian pulled away. The scene of the room disappeared.

The creature, gripping Shayhiloosh tightly wrapped its limbs around the branch and stared with fright into one of Shayhiloosh's eyestalks. ::Bad things,:: it told him. ::We are together and we will help each other:: Shayhiloosh told the little creature. S/he very privately, deep inside, hoped that it was true.

(Reply none)

(Posted by Sheila Mayer)

Shayhiloosh Rooting Trying to Get Well

Mission: Reflections of van Helsing and the Dragon, Day 4

Mission: Available Light, Day 16

Stardate: 2407.02.10

(USS Boudicca – Ship Dreamplane – Botanist Ensign Shayhiloosh - 1650)

Drowsing under the quiet beauty of the stars overhead in the majestic sky, Shayhiloosh became aware that the little scruffy creature was cuddled up sleeping on one of hir studier and fortunately uninjured main branches. S/he had too many aches and pains all over, but they had receded and were more bearable.

The brilliant colorful world of the Arborian Prime Dreamplane contrasted strongly with this dull grey metallic plane, possibly because of the Boudicca's metallic structure and content, and the fact that a single Arborian was here with only this small creature for company. It was possible that more shared perceptions together could create a less barren and vital Dreamplane here, but Shayhiloosh knew no way of doing that unless they began housing more graduates of the Academy that were Arborians.

Peering with gratitude through hir branches at the little fellow who had shown such bravery, Shayhiloosh noted sadly that hir branches were now bare; s/he would be mute and it would be a day, maybe several, before more leaf bladders could grow large enough to allow hir a voice. But with sustaining so many injuries, hir wasn't sure how long it might take. If s/he could concentrate on only growing a few, that might allow him better assignment of energy to heal the rest of hirself. But hir voice would be softer and more difficult for most humanoids to hear. S/he sighed mentally in resignation to that.

As long as s/he could communicate, s/he would not feel so alone. Other than hir present companion, the ship Dreamplane seemed bereft and empty, a desolate place, but one that presently afforded Shayhiloosh quiet to recuperate. Again Shayhiloosh missed the hills, meadows, valleys, and lakes of home. But most of all s/he missed hir people. Perhaps they might stop by hir planet for a visit so the elders could meet the crew and understand for themselves more about the conflict the rebels were fighting. It would afford some time for Shayhiloosh to visit with hir people and bask in the Dreamplane of hir planet.

Shayhiloosh hirself had always understood what the rebels were fighting for; freedom. S/he had begun to fully understand that concept better all the time. S/he felt that freedom to have one's opinions that might differ from the elders, ancient and revered though they might be, should be a freedom for all sentient species across the galaxy, as long as it refrained from hurting or taking advantage of anyone else. Freedom to trade safely, to make internal decisions without interference, and to uphold the individual rights of sentient beings were concepts fundamental to the original foundation of the Federation. Though these concepts were new to Shayhiloosh, they were not difficult to entwine in one's roots.

Though Shayhiloosh knew that the tradition based culture that hir had been brought up in allowed for great beauty and wisdom, it did not always allow for adaptation to changes. Shayhiloosh knew that survival for hir people and planet would require growth to accommodate new concepts and ideas, instead of being mired in the sticky muck of habit and convention. Just because an idea was new did not mean that it should immediately be discarded. To Shayhiloosh that was the same as flinging away the good soil with the rocks. One might miss out on some extremely tasty part of the soil, just as hir people might miss something that they really would need, to deal with the changing situations of the interplanetary community.

Shayhiloosh mentally rustled hir branches and stretched out hir roots, and knew that one day on the Dreamplane would not solve all the problems for hir culture. But eventually s/he hoped to realize and dream better choices for the Arborians. S/he settled back to drowsing under the calm and silent stars, hope for the future and hirself settling in hir roots, trunk and limbs.

(Reply Winston, any)

(Posted by Sheila Mayer)

Credits

Completely made up by herbalsheila with a nudge or two from my spouse Jim who plays Thom Hania and GrannyGM who plays Brianna Frazier.