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 Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2025 7:26 pm
“I think, if that is what you would like to do, I agree.” He spoke only somewhat absentmindedly, obviously invested in his project. His hands worked quickly and he lit up like this was all he’d ever dreamed of.
A few samples later, he seemed to snap back into that moment.
“Oh, I mean–yes, that sounds like a good idea. But you should determine if any of these are an invasive species–or a weed–first. It would be wise to see which of these plants are symbiotic, and which ones are competing for resources. But I can run some scans. Regardless, any plants growing into foundation or infrastructure should be removed to clean up the public spaces. Is that what you meant? I can help.”
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Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2025 8:26 pm
"Sounds like a plan. Depending on how difficult the plants in foundations are to remove, anything that survives might be worth planting in proper soil for study too..." Dubhe rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "This... Will defionitely take several trips. But plants also need time to grow, so we can easily meet up once a month to compare notes and get more samples." She was considering now, eyes closing. "Some plants might be extinct or seeds-only because of a lack of pollinators. Depending on if anything like bees turn uop, it might be worth looking into compatibility of plants from Earth in Dubhioan soil. If they're compatible with risk of crosspollination--" She ruled nothing out, given magiuc was real.... "- it might help fill some plant-based ecological gaps." It was a thought, anyhow. "Definitely no mint, IO know that. Or laVender,. They're related and those can overpropegate and smother other plants." For once,m her grandfathjer's garden was u8seful. ... Maybe she needed more gardening advice from the old maN. With a chill, shye felt a weekend visiting her grandfather loomiong and shook her head. "My grandfather gardens. I might try asking him for tips on planting foreign plants."
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 6:15 pm
Andreiya found himself nodding along quickly, but he might have done that regardless of what Dubhe was saying. He was only half listening anyway. His mind had already charged down a different train of thought, racing as he formulated a hundred different plans.
Too many at once; he needed to just stick to one and go with it..
“Once a month is good, yes. I will make time for you.” She was talking a lot, but that was the most important.
“Does your grandfather know about this?” he asked, gesturing vaguely to her homeworld even as his eyes settled on a cluster of plants that looked like two weeds fighting for dominance. He wanted samples of both of them.
“I can make you artificial pollinators. I’ve already got prototypes,” he piped up quickly. “They’re solar powered. Mini-drones. I’m still working on the programming. The sensors only work eighty two percent of the time. I can also run a soil analysis when we get back to Earth and give you the results when we meet up again. If you let me take a few more samples today I can get a basic biological profile and some recommended Earth plants. It’s not much, because I think these are weeds, but.”
Andreiya shrugged.
“The point is, I will be able to find if there are complimentary plants you might be able to work with. Crossbreeding is of great interest to me, I’ve been studying it. We can compare your grandfather's notes to mine and make a plan,” he said, but a hundred different plans were quickly turning into two hundred, and more.
He hadn’t felt so inspired, so eager, in ages. Energy practically radiated from him as he hurried to collect what he could.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 6:51 pm
"Grandfather?" Dubhe had to pause. To think of her grandfather a moment. "No. He doesn't even suspect. Though I do think despite things... Ah. If he knew the war was happening he'd probably pick fights with the Negaverse. He's an ah. He's not pleasant, he cheated on my grandmother constantly, but he loves us all in his way. Well, not oine of my uncles but ugh. Complicated family drama. He just - he's boith terrible and he cares a lot? It would be like making friends with an Earth honeybadger or ratel. He can be good, or he can be awful." Dubhe sighed. But Hadrian did care. Did love his family, even if he got her mother killed. She listened, and then he lit up. She was already interested in the project, but this? He mentioned drones and Dubhe's eyes sparked in excitement. "Artificial Pollination drones? That's brilliant." Dubhe admitted, and she perked, looking excited. Drones she knew., Drones she dabbled in. For fun! Moreover -- she could get information on all kinds, and her degree still covered a course in drones she took for fun, and Dubhe motioned excitedly. "I know drones. Maybe I can help find where they're failing? My work lets me look into all sorts of declassified drone information and details. Maybe there's some kind of gap we might find in the sensors, or---" Now Dubhe was practically cibrating. "Ah - anyhow. Soil results would be good. It lets me identify plants suited to the plants might thrive most." Dubhe noticed the weeds Andreiya was eying and slowly, she moved, kneeling and began to carefully, neatly dig the plants up, long fibery roots protruding as she carefully extracted them for him, fetching cloth. Soon the roots and soil were both bundled in soft, ancient linen, Dibhe careful and she offered them with a smile.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 6:13 pm
Andreiya accepted with no protest, and he even bit down on his tongue to prevent himself from saying something disparaging about accepting help with his drones. Truthfully, he was just very protective of his work. He didn’t want to share.
Or, maybe, he didn’t want someone else to see where he was making mistakes. He worked very hard to be an impressive member of the Vanguard. Maybe it would have been easy to impress a human–maybe–but it was significantly more difficult to convince the Commodore.
Even now he wasn’t quite sure how Lyndin would feel if he knew exactly what Andreiya was doing–but would it matter, if he got good research out of it? If they could restore Velenia?
No, probably not.
Andreiya sucked in a deep breath and managed an awkward, but honest, smile. He accepted the plant carefully. “I will be more prepared next time,” he assured. He was already grappling with a landslide of ideas. He didn’t want to forget anything. A hundred open projects–what were a few more?
Or maybe he could work on closing some of them. He couldn’t help that he just kept getting more ideas.
“Thank you,” he said, for the weeds, for the soil, for this, for everything–
Andreiya didn’t much believe in luck, but this felt lucky.
He wanted to stay on Dubhe’s good side.
Especially because she was calling his work brilliant already–and he hadn’t even scratched the surface with her.
Whatever this was, he was glad for it.
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