Dangerous Pets

Posted on Wed Sep 3rd, 2025 @ 4:35pm by Lieutenant Commander Deanna Celes

750 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Holding Pattern Hijinks
Location: USS Washington

Deanna returned to her quarters after looking over what Inara had found from the scans of the device Brigid had let them see. The Aeon hologram was interesting, but it concerned her. She didn't like anything that could shield itself from her telepathic abilities. It was probably why she generally didn't like Ferengi, though she did know a few that she got along with. She felt a tug at her leg and looked down, seeing the loonduck she had originally taken from the planet they had encountered that had been ravaged by a war with AI. "What's the matter Quackers?" she asked the creature.

"Quack. Quack" the duck responded.

Deanna picked up on the psionic signal and nodded. "Hungry. I'm sure all your friends are as well. Perhaps a trip to the holodeck in a bit, or maybe the arboretum." She walked to the replicator and produced the foodstuffs. She gave Quackers his food, which he gratefully accepted. She looked around for the others, found them, and gave them their food.

While they ate Deanna took the opportunity to get out of uniform and into something a bit more comfortable. She put on a sundress made of Tholian silk that was a beautiful lavender in color. Coming back into the main living space she looked at the three psionically capable creatures, "So, I promised some time out in nature. How about a trip to the arboretum? Get back to nature a bit."

The tiny owl creature seemed to like the idea of the arboretum, spinning in the air as it offered some soft hoots. The duck was equally happy with the idea as it offered enthusiastic quacks. The large mouse was somewhat indifferent, though it looked ready to get out of Deanna's quarters.

She opened the door, and they exited out into the corridor and made their way down to the turbolift. Entering the turbolift Deanna ordered it to take them to Deck 11, and the lift hurried them along to their destination. Reaching Deck 11, they exited the lift and made their way past the hydroponics bay and into the arboretum.

The three animals each sounded happy as they entered the nature preserve. The tiny owl flew from Deanna's shoulder up into the Japanese Sakura tree, which was in full bloom. There was a gentle breeze that permeated the scent of the different flowers like a fine perfume, and the sound of the small stream bubbling past the stones gave the whole experience a truly tranquil feel.

The duck waddled over to the stream and then happily entered the water, floating and swimming in a circular pattern. Meanwhile, Deanna took a seat on the small grassy knoll and simply took in the beauty, the yellow cuddling up into her lap and getting cozy as it napped safely.

An hour passed quickly, and despite enjoying the relaxing ambiance of the arboretum, Deanna needed to get these fun but still relatively unknown creatures back to the safety of her quarters. She opened her mind and sent a telepathic signal to each of the creatures. Two of them returned to her side without fail, but the owl, or as it was known on its native world, rowlet, remained perched in the tree, sound asleep.

"Hoot!" Deanna gently called out. "Hoot!" she yelled a little stronger. The rowlet remained sound asleep in the tree. Deanna sighed, trying to think of the best way to retrieve it.

The electromouse jumped from her grasp and made its way up the tree. Deanna called out as she reached for the yellow creature, "Pika, no. Come back here." She couldn't get to it and watched as it raced up the tree.

It reached the branch near the top of the tree where Hoot was sleeping. "Don't do it Pika" she said gently. The sound of nervous quacking rang in Deanna's ears, and she looked to see Quackers pacing in a circle nervously. Then suddenly it happened, an electric bolt streamed outward and shocked Hoot awake. His feathers stood on end as its eyes sprung wide open and he fell to the ground with a thump.

Deanna raced to him, "Hoot?" She reached for the rowlet and felt the residual static charge. She pushed past the pain and grabbed the little owl. She looked it over, and then suddenly it began to blink its eyes again and hoot in a panic.

"It'll be alright Hoot. We'll take you back to my quarters, get you all fixed up" Deanna said softly.

 

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