The room in which housed the plant life wasn't wholly different to the room which was back on Earth; only smaller, the plants still grew in the same categories as they were in back at base, minus the trees. They didn't seem to have been transferred over. The smaller varieties were still saplings at the moment, but even the smallest tree could still grow to be something much bigger.
Small domed spheres kept the plants within hydrated soil, along with being monitored and with daily doses of sunlight, supplied to them by a light to imitate the bright star. So far, the plants seemed to be doing good. Onora knelt and looked in a few domes to see how life was going, and she gave a content nod at what she saw.
She didn't actually know what she was expecting to see. Half wilted plant life? No, maybe. Her eyes did flick up to Walter though, he stood nearby watching her with a rather blank expression. She smiled slowly, tucking her hands behind her back she lightly walked over, bouncing slightly on her heels as she stopped in front of him. Walter's facial expressions changed to one of confused curiosity then.
"What is it?" He asked, thinking something was wrong. He even gave a glance around the room, all was as it was last time he was in here. Which would've been before everyone came aboard.
"You've done well looking after this little garden, Walter." Onora smiled lightly, she figured someone had been keeping track on progress here, and who else would it be other than him?
Walter blinked, tilted his head for a moment and then just nodded. "Yes, it was an experience." He said rather simply, Onora looked a bit confused over his choice of words. "I know how to look after everything here. However, it's an experience to see something that I've helped plant to grow."
Onora scratched her neck in thought, she hummed and waved a hand to the domes around them. "You've done a good job, Walter. Honestly, you have." But then considering he had nearly everything programmed into his head, what else was she expecting? Other than possible wilting plants? Maybe, that was still a maybe. It wasn't that she didn't trust Walter to know what he was doing, rather, she had a little bit of a tricky time figuring out how synthetic life could bring actual life into the world. But regardless, Walter had achieved that, whether he knew it or not.
The small poky room really was quite cramped, clearly because their new home was basically a replica of Earth, in some ways, it would already have vegetation. It technically shouldn't need these resources. There would be no need to replant these and wait for them to spread and grow throughout the planet. Onora had to carefully shuffle past Walter to try and find a dome within room. The spaces in the aisles was so non-existent it was a bit ridiculous. Considering there was two biologists on the ship, surely the engineers and builders of this ship would've registered there would've been two people in this room at a given time. Apparently not. Onora had to place her hands on Walter's shoulders and just edge past, he just stood there rather unhelpfully, even if he did gauge her slightly awkward expression.
There was only a few domes really, unlike the base back on Earth, plant groups which coexisted were together. Onora peered through the glass to spot a space, knowing that the seeds she had sent to Walter were of the small primrose variety it was easy enough to find other small flowers to plant them in with.
She waved a hand his way, Walter turned and walked towards her. Slowly lowering himself down too, he looked at the control pad which allowed the dome to open and shut, along with the other functions which controlled the basic stability of the plants within. The hinges gave a small hiss as they opened, and Walter watched Onora as she leaned forwards and inhaled slowly. He frowned, totally confused, he didn't get it.
She laughed quietly, "Sorry, just, there's something comforting about the smell of dirt. It sounds weird, I know. But...it's just, I don't know, homely?" She sounded miffed by her own words as she looked up at the bright lights shining down from above them. Shrugging she shook her head, "Have you got the seeds, Walter?" Though he had returned them to her when she came aboard, when she went to collect them she gave them back to him. He had stashed them away in his hooded jumper pocket.
"You are still homesick," Walter observed rather obviously as he pulled his hand out from his pocket and turned his hand over. Opening slowly he looked at the small see-through packet in his palm. The seeds looked so small, and so bland. It was strange really that from something so small, things which could be so visually pretty could grow.
"I'm getting better though." Onora said a little defensively. For all she knew, the others onboard were used to travelling about, even in space. She wasn't. This was a first time thing, first and only time. Once settled in their new home, she'd have no intentions of leaving.
Walter frowned, "Baby steps." He said quietly, his eyes flicked sidelong at her as he opened the packet up. Onora smiled and nodded, she guessed as homely as she made this ship, the better she'd feel. Kneeling up more she parted the soil and made a little well for the seeds to sit in. Nodding at Walter, he got the message and placed them in before patting the soil back over them. Reaching up, he shut the dome and returned to looking at the control panel. Pressing a few buttons he sat back with Onora and watched as a small sprinkler system activated. The water trickled slowly and quietly down onto the plants below, the leaves of those which had already grown shook a little from the water droplets hitting them. It was strangely relaxing to sit and watch, both were silent, now sitting on the floor looking in and looking at the spot where their seeds were going to grow from.
"What's on the agenda for tomorrow?" Onora asked quietly, this room was so peaceful she didn't want to speak too loudly.
Walter turned his head, the water had stopped by now and all that remained was a slightly condensation stained dome. "Checking equipment, need to give it all a once over to make sure everything is all right before you go to sleep."
Walter said it so frankly, that Onora couldn't help but double take. She hadn't even thought of the awaiting hypersleep, to be honest it was something that she had tried - and somewhat successfully - pushed from her mind. She'd never done that, the thought of being shut away in a small capsule was causing claustrophobia to creep in. Sure, the time of being awake would last minutes, seconds even before sleep crept in. But that was enough.
"I'll be there," Walter's voice piped up again, he had sat and watched as she paled quite a bit and turned more than a little distant. She blinked and looked up at him, Walter thought it was the type of thing she wanted to hear, a little bit of reassurance. Onora smiled, she leaned forwards and rested her head against his shoulder. Walter just looked down at her, she still seemed tense as she leaned against him. But at least she didn't look pale and close to fainting.
"Thank you, Walter. Even though that's part of your requirements on this ship." Onora said, though she was thankful of his attempt to make her feel a bit better. It did. Knowing that not everyone would be laying asleep in chambers. So that if something did happen, someone was out there to help. She peeked up at him, though she smiled sadly, "You'll be alone." Walter raised an eyebrow at that. "You surely don't like being left alone for all this time? I mean, we're going to sleep for a long time..."
"I don't get lonely," Walter didn't seem to wish to state it, even though she looked sadly up at him. "But I will miss your company." He said while inclining his head slightly, she reached up slowly and pulled him closer for the sake of gently nudging her forehead against his. "May I make a suggestion?" He watched as Onora's eyes opened slowly, "Perhaps relocating is a good idea? Sitting on a cold, hard floor is not going to do you any good." She couldn't help but quietly laugh, she did agree though, already she could feel her muscles starting to cramp up from kneeling, to sitting, and now just being motionless leaning against him. She nodded, relenting that he was right, even if this room was peaceful and comforting. Walter merely nodded in return before turning and managing to get a gentle grip on her. Standing, he pulled her fully into his arms and against his chest. He could only guess that everyone else had returned to their rooms, seeing as how Onora hadn't said that she wanted to go to another part of the ship, he just walked steadily and slowly back there.
Rubbing her eyes, she looked up at him. "I bet you didn't think there'd be so many lazy days when out here, hm?"
"I did think everyone would be a little proactive, considering how cabin fever seemed to kick in back on Earth. But then, I suppose, the same could happen here." Walter mused, they were still all shut in, even if there was more to do on the ship.
Onora laughed quietly and leaned against his shoulder. "All our objectives have been met, Walter. We don't have any other tasks to do. You said it yourself, our last one is making sure everything is up to scratch before we go to sleep."
YOU ARE READING
Singularity
Fanfic"Everything that is alive, can love; it can feel. Even if you think you can't, doesn't actually mean you can't, Walter." Onora Price smiled from behind one of the many trees which were stashed away onboard the USCSS Covenant at the brunette syntheti...
