=/\=

As their visitors departed, the two beings who looked exactly alike in every way, except for their clothes, turned towards each other and, it must be said, eyed each other closely for several seconds. Finally, the gardener said, "So tell me more about this Fluidic space of yours, since you've learned so much about our Dry space. Do you have stars and planets floating around in there? Plants? Animals?"

"No, it's just our 'liquid of life' and us. And our bioships, of course. All sorts of enzymes and particulate matter are dissolved in our fluid, but we're the only life forms we know of. We grew in it somehow, and then we grew our ships. Don't really know much more about how we started, but we did. Your archeologists and paleontologists have something to work with, digging in the ground to see what preceding generations have left for them to find and interpret. Just like young Mr. Icheb mentioned about 'time traveling' in your Grand Canyon. If we've got anything like that in our realm to study, we haven't found it yet. Until the Borg invaded us, we didn't even know there was anyone or anywhere else. We were a bit belligerent during that first contact with the Borg, and then with Janeway and Voyager. I must admit that.

"A 'bit?'"

Harrumphed the Ambassador, "A lot, I suppose."

"The Borg have always been good at bringing out the worst in people. Desperation to survive makes you do things you might never dream of doing otherwise."

"Exactly. You've put your finger right on the problem. Is that the right way to express that?"

"More or less," the gardener agreed.

"Thought I knew everything there was to know about this Federation of yours. Thought I knew everything there was to know about you, but I was wrong, wasn't I?"

"When you talked to Chakotay?"

"I'm not talking about the Federation now. I'm talking about you. I thought I knew how to impersonate a human gardener without any problem, but there's more to you than meets the eye, or what the 'omniscient observer' we sent here noticed, at any rate."

"Ah. You thought you knew all about me?"

"I did. But when I got here and poked around a little, I realized you had a secret bigger than we did with our 'listening stations' in Dry Space. You're older than you look, aren't you?"

"I doubt that. I look like I'm older than Methuselah."

"So that snooping we did in that android officer's files was correct? You really have been around for thousands of these folks' years?"

"More or less."

"How many, may I ask?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out. That is, if you insist on looking. I'd prefer you didn't. I have a history of slipping away unnoticed and starting over someplace else when I'm supposed to have died, you see. With Picard and Chakotay both knowing about me now, I'd already been thinking about doing a bunk. That means leaving quickly, by the way." His counterpart nodded thoughtfully at the lesson in idiomatic communication. "I do like it here, though. Before I 'die' again, whether it's a permanent death this time or another 'life changing event,' I'd like to see a few more classes graduate and watch them go on as officers, especially if they don't all have to face the Borg."

"They won't. We've searched. They're not coming anytime soon. It would take hundreds or even thousands of your years for them to recover, if at all. It won't hurt for your people to be prepared, but the Borg don't know how to create another queen. That Janeway - the admiral one, mind you - really did a number on them. That's a good way of putting it, isn't it?"

"From what I hear, she certainly did do a number on them. I always knew she'd be a good one, but even I underestimated her. She's a great one. And I'm glad she seems to have taken my advice. Chakotay, too. The two captains are getting along quite well. I trust they'll find a way to work it all out from now on."

"How do you know who the 'good ones' are, Gardener?"

"Can't tell you. I've never really thought much about it. Maybe it's experience? I've been around so long, there's not a lot that gets by me. I observe the way they treat someone who isn't as gifted as they are, or the way they relate to the ones who seem to be at the top of the heap. Showing compassion for the first and refusing to kiss the asses of the second - that can tell you a lot. The way they use language can tip you off, too. Sometimes, it's just a gesture, or a look in the eye. I just seem to know, or maybe I recognize it when I see it. So much history has unfolded before me, particularly on this planet, that I don't need a lot of time before I can come to a conclusion about someone. Usually, I'm right. What about you? Can you do that with your people?"

"We say we can 'taste the waters' about someone. We've got more senses than you do. Or maybe you've got some of them and don't even know it. From your reputation, that wouldn't surprise me a bit."

"Maybe with me it's the smell. I'm always digging into the dirt. I've gotten to know if it needs a little bit of ash, or a maybe little more compost. Maybe I can sniff a cadet and sense if he's too fearful to make the tough decisions. I know that's happened a few times. Fear has a really sharp, unpleasant odor."

"Ah, smell. Didn't know that much about it until I discovered air."

"Do you like it?"

"I do. The perfume in the air of this garden this morning is downright intoxicating!"

"Why don't we follow those folks' lead and wander down one of the other garden paths, then. Lots of beautifully scented flowers along that path. I've also got some hydrangea over there I'm coaxing to bloom either blue or pink. You put different minerals in the soil around them, you see, and they change colors. Nature is amazing. Mother nature, we call her."

As they stood up, the Ambassador showed a fluid grace the other man could not match. The words 'Old Bones' briefly crossed the mind of Boothby the gardener as he heard his joints creaking when he came to his feet.

The Ambassador, meanwhile, was obviously still thinking of their previous conversation. "You know, smell is one of the highlights of being one of you for a while. The last time I went home to Fluidic Space I tasted our fluid, and I realized it was like breathing in odors. I never noticed how varied the fluids can be from one location to another before. I suppose our currents carry different types of particulate matter and enzymes from place to place. It may be tough to walk on two legs, since I'm basically a tripedal being, but spending time in your space does have its compensations. My senses as a whole have been sorted out. Sharpened."

"So, do you think this alliance is going to work? We haven't exchanged enemies, have we? Swapping the Borg for Species 8472?"

"Please! Forget about that Borg designation and stick with the label your Lieutenant Paris suggested."

"He's a lieutenant commander now."

"I stand corrected. Doesn't change the fact I've studied the naming conventions you people use, and he's right. Fluidian is a much better name for us. And yes, it's going to work because it's got to work. Now that we know about each other, it's the only way we can all survive."

"And Axum and his fellow former Borg, like Annika Hansen and her son Icheb?"

"As long as they stay individuals, they'll be fine. There's one group out in the Delta Quadrant that calls itself a 'Cooperative.' Captain Chakotay met up with them on Voyager's way home. This group of ex-Borg linked themselves up to share one mind, but they seemingly have no desire to venture off the surface of that planet they're on. They're more interested in maintaining a stable life on a planetary scale, rather than galactic domination. They had one who might have caused trouble if she ever tried to become their queen, but she's dead now. Mining accident. We'll keep an eye on them, just in case, but they seem to be like the Unimatrix Zero drones, or this Annika Hansen. The memory of what they did when they assimilated others and destroyed whole planets weighs on their consciences."

"That's good to know. There are many fine people in 'Dry Space.' Some not so fine, of course. I never have taken to the Romulans, and the Cardassians can be very tricky. The Andorians may be old allies, but they can be quick to take offense sometimes. Take care around them and you'll be fine. But the Breen! Terrible beings. They got their noses smashed during the Dominion War, but they did a lot of damage before that happened. And from what Chakotay and Janeway have told me, there are a lot of folks in that Delta Quadrant who bear close watching. I hope those listening posts of yours are out there doing just that, and sharing what they learn with our Federation people."

"That's already happening. It was part of our agreement. You share with us, and we share with you. And I'm not very happy with those Cardassians or Romulans either. We'll keep an eye out. We need to be on our guard to protect ourselves, too."

The two Boothbys had maintained a slow but steady pace on the walkway. Eventually, their stroll brought them close to where Cadet Icheb was standing with his mother and her friend Harry Kim.

"Your garden is beautiful this time of year, Boothby," Harry commented.

"It's beautiful every time of year in its own way, Mr. Kim. But I agree. It's especially nice right now. Thanks for the visit. As long as you're still in the area, come again."

"I'd love to," Harry said with enthusiasm. Icheb and Annika merely nodded their heads, but the gardener understood that this was still a primary way for them to show their agreement with a request or an offer.

"Thanks for sharing some of your discussion with us. It was very . . . illuminating, I guess you'd say. We'll be on our way now, though," Harry said.

"Since there's no telling when we'll all be together again, let me give you a little something to remember me by, Ms. Hansen." Removing a pair of clippers from the small pack on his hip, the gardener took two steps to his right and cautiously separated one branch from the rest of the bush. Clipping the half-opened bloom from the end, he handed the yellow rose to Annika, saying, "Place this in water as soon as you can and it will open all the way for you. Just smell that fragrance! But be careful of those thorns. Your nanoprobes may be able to heal any puncture wounds you sustain, but it's better to avoid an injury if you have the choice."

Annika accepted the rose with her left hand, which was partially protected by her remaining exoskeleton. "I agree. Thank you for the gift. It's beautiful."

"No need to thank me, Missy. A flower is a gift of nature. I only help them along."

As the three visitors left the two old men, the Ambassador called out to Annika, "Say hello to Axum the next time you see him."

Annika looked back over her shoulder at him. Her smile was much broader this time. "I certainly will."

As the two watched the larger group walking away on the paved walkway, the Ambassador could not resist saying to the gardener, "Helping them along. Not only the flowers, I take it. That's what you do all the time, isn't it?"

"It is. And I'll keep on doing it, for as long as I have. I hope you'll do the same. I'll be gone someday, sooner rather than later, or so I'm told. We could use your help."

The Ambassador's expression mirrored the grin on his companion's face. "I'll do my best," he replied.

=/\=

End

=/\=

Dedicated to the memory of Ray Walston, who was so great portraying both versions of Boothby. A big thanks, also, to mabb5, who said in a review of "Log Entries: Chief Helmsman of Voyager" that she would have loved to see the two Boothbys meet each other after the Peace Accord in that story. I kept coming back to that comment, and so, here we are.

Of course, Paramount owns all of Star Trek (although they seem to be sharing with CBS right now). I don't. No copyright infringement is meant. Etc. Etc. Etc. ;-)