Primary Force - Chapter 14 - Cross Pollinization

Cross Pollinization

Sending Violet Haze and his team off world left a void in the daily routines of Team Rainbow Super Force. Since the criminal element might try to take advantage of their reduced manpower, Ebon Huntress knew that her team could not afford to relax in their vigilance in the slightest. This left her with the task of reassigning the morning patrols amongst the remaining members. Despite the increased responsibilities, Emerald Guardian welcomed this change as an opportunity to get away from his lab for a while and enjoy the natural beauty of the world.

On his second morning patrol, Emerald was surprised to discover a florist shop that he had never noticed before. Approaching, he saw a multitude of flower arrangements through the windows, with several citizens perusing the selections.

Walking inside, he watched as patrons made selections and left with their purchases. For what he surmised was a new business that seemingly took root overnight, it already seemed off to a good start.

Moving closer to the display shelves, he carefully studied each arrangement. Emerald appreciated how expertly put together the selections were. The proprietor had arranged them not only by aesthetic appearance but by most pleasing aroma as well. There were even subtle fragrances that Emerald could smell that most people would never even notice.

Waiting for a break in the customers, Emerald approached the proprietor to learn more about their technique. He was surprised to find one of the most unusual women he had ever laid eyes on. She introduced herself as Garanti Tulseir and thanked Emerald for personally seeing to the well-being of her establishment. Emerald began commenting how amazing her floral arrangements were and started to ask her about her process when she explained that she was rather busy tending her shop and asked if he could come back after closing time. Though a little surprised by her manner, Emerald agrees that he would meet her later.

Upon Emerald's return, Garanti apologized for her earlier rudeness. Emerald explained that it was not necessary as he understood that she had a business to run.

"It's a lot harder than I expected," Garanti explained. "I came to this world looking to start a new life. However I thought I would still have time to continue my research."

"Your research?" Emerald asked.

"Yes. On my world I was one of the leading botanists, although being a botanist is a rare trait among my people. In fact, most don't even like plants."

"Don't like plants? But all worlds require some form of vegetation to provide a stable ecosystem."

"Well, if you would like to join me for a drink, I'll be happy to explain the situation in more detail."

Emerald Guardian followed Garanti into the back of her shop where she had complete living quarters. It came as no surprise to Emerald that her accommodations were sparse, as most scientists seldom had need or desire for non-essentials. He sat down at a nearby table and patiently waited as Garanti brought him a drink.

"This is a special brew of tea I created myself," Garanti explained as she handed him the cup. "I hope you enjoy it." Emerald to a sip and was pleasantly surprised to find in very rich in flavor. He even detected trace amounts of the various fauna found just around the neighborhood.

"This is great," Emerald exclaimed. "Most of the teas I have sampled on this world are very pale and drab. In fact, I dare say this is the best tea I have ever had."

"You are too kind," Garanti blushed. "I bet you say that to all the girls that give you tea."

"Well, uh, no actually."

"I'm just teasing. Anyway, you wanted to hear about my world?"

"Yes, where are you from, and why don't your people like plants?"

"I am from a world called Seti Rolato. Are you familiar with it?"

"I am. It's a world almost completely covered by vegetation including a wide variety of trees and other plants. What makes it really interesting is that it is a heavy gravity world. The theory is because of the heavy gravity, most trees never get taller than a couple dozen meters. This in turn forces the roots to expand through the ground over a larger area. I believe some roots have even been found several kilometers away."

"They have indeed. You are very knowledgeable about my home."

"It is still kind of a mystery waiting to be solved in some circles at the Galactic Science Academy. When I was a research assistant, I spent 6 months with a survey team trying to unravel the conundrum. Speaking of which, I don't think I saw anyone like you on the planet. In fact, I don't remember seeing any sentient life forms at all while I was there."

"Very few visitors ever have. We live mainly underground in caves, and because of the situation on our world, we like to keep our whereabouts hidden. What you probably didn’t know was our people were watching you. Closer then you may have realized. Have you noticed how smooth my skin is, almost polished in appearance?"

"No, I hadn't," admitted Emerald. He took her hand across the table and began to run his fingers over it. "This is strange. It is very smooth yet I can still feel the tiny pours in your skin. But this surface is very familiar to me. Are you made out of rock?"

"Not exactly, but close enough. Our skin is very dense, due to the heavy gravity of our world. I had a lot of my exterior features chiseled away, so to speak, so I would look more humanoid and blend in better on this world. However, in our natural state, we can curl up in a ball, and you wouldn't be able to tell us apart from an ordinary boulder."

"So what is this situation you keep alluding to?"

"Well, the problem is, the plants can't tell the difference between us and a rock either. They kill thousands of our young each year while they sleep. It's the roots that are the problem. They grow very fast. Some of the more aggressive foliage can burrow through 10 centimeters of solid rock in just a few seconds. Despite the best precautions, one of these roots can easily bore through a child while he sleeps before anyone has a chance to do anything about it. I have seen this happen to members of my family. It is not pretty. So there is a general hatred of the plants on my world. So much to the extent that some circles of our government have declared war on the plants themselves, and actually entertain any idea that will completely sterilize them from the planet. That was why I left. I discovered my research was being used to further weapons development."

"So, you actually like plants?"

"Oh, yes. I was constantly looking for ways to limit their growth, or studying the growth patterns of the roots. I was even working on a theory that by lining our walls with chemicals and minerals that taste bad to the plants, we could get them to bore around living structures. I don't blame them for what happened to my family growing up. After all, it's not like they actually knew what they were doing."

"You would find my world very interesting then. I am from Geroeni Prime. "

"Wait! You're a sentient plant?" blurted Garanti.

"Yes I am. And I must say you certainly seem to have a gift for finding what tastes good to a plant, not just personally, but by examining your beautiful displays in the windows and shelves. So I hope you aren't planning on trying to kill me now?"

"No," laughed Garanti. "But I must say, all of a sudden, you are looking quite delectable."

"Uh, thanks," Emerald gulped.

Emerald made sure to stop in briefly each day at Garanti's shop just to say hi and see what new arrangements she had come up with. Everyday more and more people would be in the shop trying to purchase her latest creations. However, Garanti would always take a few seconds to smile and wave to Emerald as he came through before she went back to taking care of her clientele. After Violet Haze and his team returned, Emerald asked if he could continue the patrol route on a daily basis. Everyone agreed would be a good thing for him, as it got him out of his lab more often. It was on the third day after Violet's return that Emerald approached a closed floral shop. Finding this highly unusual he walked in searching for the wayward proprietor.

He soon found Garanti at her arranging station working on a new batch of flowers.

"Emerald," Garanti smiled looking up from her flowers. "What a pleasant surprise. I didn't hear you come in."

"I'm sorry if I startled you," Emerald apologized. "When I saw the shop wasn't open, I was concerned."

"Oh you are such a sweetie. My own personal hero. Well, it's nothing drastic. Business has really taken off. It's more than I can handle now. I called a temp agency last night to send someone over this morning to help out, but they called in sick. So I have been stuck here all morning trying to make enough displays just for the daily crowd. I have a lot of special orders that need to be completed before this evening as well."

"Well, then I shouldn't disturb you."

"Nonsense," exclaimed Garanti. "It's been forever since I had a chance to talk to you. I just finished this batch, which should be all I need to get me through the day. Why don't you come into the back with me for a quick drink. I could use a refreshing break before I open store."

"Thank you but I am afraid I'll have to decline." Garanti's smile quickly disappeared and for a moment Emerald thought she was going to cry. However just as quickly she straightened back up and a slight smile formed once again in his direction.

"It's alright," she exclaimed. "I should probably go ahead and open the store anyway."

"Garanti, it's nothing personal, it's just that I have my work as well. This morning I started on a very critical experiment and I can't wait to see the results. They should be complete by the time I get back to my lab."

"Well, why didn't you say so, you silly daisy. We'll have that drink next time, okay?"

"Alright. Sure thing."

Back at the East Side Center, Emerald approached Ebon Huntress and expressed his concerns that Garanti may be overworked. When asked how he came to such a conclusion, he explained that she seemed to be more than interested in him lately, in ways that were starting to make him feel uncomfortable.

Ebon Huntress gave a slight laugh and told Emerald that he is probably the one overworked. But if it was such a concern that maybe he should invite her over, and the rest of the team could check her out discretely, in person.

Emerald agreed this was an excellent idea and quickly called Garanti and asked her to come over. She was delighted at the prospect and indicated she would be over as soon as she could close up the shop. Within an hour, Garanti happily approached the East Side Center where Emerald Guardian stood waiting to greet her.

Emerald started the tour by taking her out to the pool area where the resident members of Team Rainbow were relaxing. He introduced each one to her and briefly went over their talents and their home worlds. Garanti was most impressed that Tangerine Mistress was from another dimension, and that somehow Choral Blush was the product of Tangerine and Tawny Bimbo.

"Well, thank you, Emerald," Garanti said. "I don’t think I have been introduced to such a diverse family before."

"Family?" Emerald queried. "Oh, no we're not like that. Well, I guess in a way we are, but..." Emerald found his thoughts interrupted by the sudden outburst of laughter from the women.

"Don't mind his stuffiness," Choral informed. "He just needs to get out more."

"I couldn't agree more," affirmed Garanti. "I'll just have to see what I can do about that. But I can imagine why he'd never want to leave with so many attractive women around."

"What?" blurted Emerald. "It's not like that at all." Once again Emerald found himself amidst a circle of laughing women.

"Garanti, I have been told you make the most beautiful floral arrangements," spoke Tawny.

"I'll just have to make sure I send a few bouquets home with Emerald when he stops in next. I'll make them especially for you."

"If I stop in again," mumbled Emerald.

"What was that, hun?" asked Garanti.

"I was saying I think it's getting a little warm out here. Why don't I show you to my lab. There's someone special there I'd like for you to meet."

Inside his lab, Emerald introduced Garanti to Chromed Avenger.

"Incredible!" exclaimed Garanti. "I've never met an android as sophisticated as you."

"No one has, to my knowledge," informed Chromed. "From what I have been able to gather, I am unique."

"And you have no idea where you are from or who created you?"

"None at all."

"Recently I have begun to theorize that he was created as an interactive teaching machine," explained Emerald. "He has an uncanny knack for being able to explain just about anything to anyone, no matter their age or the education. He also has highly deductive reasoning skills and a processing capacity higher than most sentient brains."

"But this is still a theory," informed Chromed.

Emerald then proceeded to show Garanti his primary workstation, a super computer Chromed Avenger had designed capable of manufacturing almost any chemical compound.

"Sit down and give it a try," instructed Emerald. "The interface is very intuitive." Garanti sat down and began to enter in a number of complex formulas and equations. Within minutes she had the machine constructing a chemical compound that intrigued bother Emerald and Chromed alike.

"You're equations are highly refined," commented Chromed. "Based on the few minutes you've worked with the interface, I can already surmise a number of upgrades I will need to implement in my next revision. May I ask what you have created?"

"It's a super nutrient for plant growth I invented," Garanti informed. "This machine is incredible. It would normally take me several days to collect the necessary components and produce this myself. But if I am reading the displays correctly, this machine will have it done in about an hour. Having one of these at my shop would certainly increase my production levels."

"Well, since we have an hour, would you mind if we ran some tests on you? Nothing complex. But the Galactic Science Academy knows almost nothing about your species."

"And it may help uncover some new insights into your research as well," added Emerald. "Maybe there is something in your chemistry that attracts the plants on your home world."

"I was wondering how long it would take you to try and undress me," Garanti teased.

"Uh, um. No that's not..." started Emerald.

"Relax, Emerald. I'd be happy to."

Meanwhile, Ebon Huntress was playing hostess to a very distressed Charise Yun Wah, nightclub owner of Le Club de Chats. Charise expressed her concern that she hadn't seen Emerald stop by her establishment in the past few days.

"It's not like him," Charise explained. "He usually comes by every day, and we sit and have drinks for a while. I'm not in any trouble or anything. I just wanted to make sure he's alright."

"He's fine, Charise," Ebon reassured. "I know he's been working on some special projects for the past couple days for the Galactic Science Academy. You know how serious he takes that responsibility. But he's not doing anything important right now other than entertaining a guest. Why don’t you go see him over in his lab?"

"Thanks, Ebon. I will."

Garanti was lying comfortably on the examination table as Emerald began scanning the readouts on the wall. Chromed was adjusting the controls when Charise walked in unexpectedly.

"Oh, my!" Charise exclaimed.

"Charise," responded Emerald. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. But it looks like you’re busy. I'll leave you alone. Sorry to bother you." With her parting comment, Charise turned and walked back out the door. Emerald and Chromed stared at each other speechless when Garanti broke the silence.

"What's the matter, Emerald? Did you forget to tell your girlfriend about us?"

"Us? What us? What girlfriend? Is this more of your teasing?"

"Oh you know it is," laughed Garanti, and then added under her breath, "But it soon won't be." And with that last thought, Garanti closed her eyes and let a soft smile form on her lips as Emerald and Chromed began their examination.

The next morning, Emerald made it a point to stop by Le Club de Chats and see Charise before doing anything else for the day. Ebon had explained later the prior evening that Charise had come by just to make sure he was okay. He figured the least he could do was stop in apologize and have a drink. Upon arriving, however, Charise was no where to be found. When he asked the employees if they knew of her whereabouts, they informed him she had gone to Garanti's floral shop. It seemed Garanti had made a special batch of arrangements for the evening’s festivities. A solemn expression appeared upon his countenance as he quickly thanked them for the information and headed out the door.

Emerald was not surprised to find Garanti’s establishment one again closed to the public. Garanti, now wearing a lab coat, greeted him as he entered the store.

"Emerald Guardian, so nice of you to stop by," greeted Garanti.

"Enough with the pleasantries, Garanti," Emerald instructed. "What have you done with Charise?"

"Charise is fine, darling. We've been having such a lovely conversation all morning."

"Then show her to me."

"In a minute, my love," Garanti started as she began to pace around the room. "You know, I really do love plants. I love their scent. I love their colors. And I love the effect they have on other people. But you know what the biggest problems with plants are? They don't know how to return the love so freely given to them.

"And that's your problem, Emerald. You don't know how to love someone who loves you. You can't help it, really. You're a plant."

"I can love. You've got me all wrong."

"Really, Emerald? Would it kill you to hang around for a bit every now and then? Maybe spend some time with someone who cares about you? Let them know that they are special and mean something in your life?"

"I have responsibilities and duties."

"Yes, you do. You have a responsibility be a part of the lives of the people you associate with, not just be a footnote in their daily activity."

"Fine. When do you want to go out?"

"Me? Oh, no, Emerald. This time you got me all wrong," laughed Garanti. "I'm not interested in you that way."

"But, the things you've said. The subtle little hints. The teasing..."

"Emerald Guardian, I had you pegged from the first time you stepped in my shop as someone who needed a little more excitement in his life. But I didn't realize until last night that you already had someone to stimulate your life. But it's like I said, you are a plant and therefore don't know how to return her love."

"Who's love?"

"Why, Charise, of course. She came all the way over from downtown yesterday to make sure you were alright. Like I've said, we've had a good talk this morning. She is really enamored with you. But I can't let you see her in good conscience until I know you can return the love to her she's feeling towards you. She's too good for you right now, but she doesn’t have to be, if you can change. And that's where I come in."

"Please explain?"

"Follow me into my kitchen and I'll explain."

"I was up all night working on this solution," Garanti explained as Emerald followed her into the kitchen. "There were several things I had to take into account to make this work, some of which I had to get from Chromed Avenger during the night. He was reluctant of course, but when I explained everything that I planned to do, he agreed to give me the information I requested, provided he could monitor the procedure. So he gave me your age, weight, what you routinely eat, and all that other good stuff. And as you pointed out, he made sure my formulas were correct, and even corrected me when making a few minor mistakes here and there. But in the end, the result was worth it. A love potion specifically made for you, to give you the ability to love."

"And what makes you think I'll drink it?"

"Well, if you don't, you can go about being miserable and lonely, and making people that love and care about you the same way. Seriously, in the name of science, it can't hurt to try, can it? It's right here in the coffee cup. All you got to do is drink it, and Charise will come out. It's that simple."

Emerald slowly walked over to the counter. He picked up the cup and brought it up to his face. He could smell nothing out of the ordinary in the container. There was no special coloring in the fluid, and it gave off no special aroma. He contemplated for a moment not drinking it and began to put it back down on the counter when he finally conceded and drank the contents.

"Excellent," cheered Garanti. "Now, look into the other room."

Emerald turned around to find Charise standing in the other room completely safe and unharmed.

"Charise!" Emerald shouted and he rushed over to hug her. "I was so worried about you. Are you sure you are alright?"

"Yes, Emerald, I'm fine," Charise replied. "Even better now that I know you really care about me. All this time I wasn't sure, but now at this moment, I know you really do have feelings for me."

"But, they're artificial," said Emerald taking a step back. "They are induced by a potion that Garanti created."

"Actually, no they're not," informed Garanti. "There was no potion. All you drank was ordinary water."

"It's true," Charise added. "I would never have agreed to be a part of this otherwise."

"You see, Emerald, I knew you needed a catalyst as an excuse to show your real feelings," Garanti explained. "Most devout scientists need an excuse or a reason outside of their normal behavior in order to be with the people they really care about."

"And I knew what to expect when we first started spending time together as well," Charise responded. "I was embarrassed at first as well, but I wanted to give it a try and see if we could make a relationship work. I am willing if you are."

"I am willing," Emerald smiled as he put his arms back around Charise. "What's one more experiment to try."

"Well, it sounds like you two have a lot to discuss," said Garanti. "And I have a shop to get open and orders to fill. Stay as long as you both want. I think the two of you will be very happy together."

So concludes the fourteenth chapter of Team Rainbow Super Force. Stay tuned for Chapter 15: Strangers In A Strangertown

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