Not Your Common Garden Variety

Posted on Wed Mar 18th, 2026 @ 9:42pm by Ensign Rishi Chabbra & Lieutenant Commander Aaron Marcus

1,567 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: USS Ontario | Sickbay

The Ensign hummed softly as he worked, uncharacteristic if who he usually was, but when stressed, it helped. Ensign Rishi Chabbra leaned over the containment field, his eyes fixated on the suspended vial. Inside, the viscous, amber fluid swirled in microgravity suspension. It had been a collected sample. Initially believed to be a singular enzyme, Rishi had recanted. It was several enzyme.

Recording everything that he was doing he began his assessment. "Computer activate science log," he prefaced. "Volatile organic compounds are present… there are high concentrations of putrescine and cadaverine,” he muttered, "Consistent with advanced tissue decomposition. I can see why the soil is doing so well." He had more or less confirmed his suspensions that the scientists, the people on the planet had become one with the soil, and these enzymes were responsible.

He took a deep breath. The enzymatic profile was unlike anything in the Federation database. Proteolytic chains rivaled those of Terran gastric acids, but the molecular structure was entirely different... long branching catalytic arms stabilized by metallic ion cofactors. Iron. Vanadium. Magnesium. It matched the plant’s known substrate requirements.

Rishi then initiated the replication procedures. The synthesized enzymes formed rapidly, activating only under acidic thresholds. He adjusted the pH. The solution hissed faintly as it began breaking down a protein substrate sample at an alarming rate. "What are you?" he whispered. “Definitely digestive,” he breathed. “But not animal derived" he muttered. "I need another set of eyes on this, ir a brain. Computer pause recording and save."

He was extremely careful transporting the substance from the science labs to Sickbay. He had sealed the replicated enzyme sample inside a biohazard transport cylinder and hurried through the corridor toward Sickbay.

No sooner had the doors opened did he lock eyes onto the Chief Medical Officer. "Doctor, I need your expertise!" he proclaimed. "And bio-mimetic gel if you have any. I have isolated and replicated a digestive enzyme cocktail. It’s capable of rapid protein and calcium breakdown, I suspect pur missing scientists... everyone that should be on the planet is still there... they are just kind of... dead, Doctor. Dead and decomposed by this."

Aaron stood there and leaned on his cane as the man spoke. He had not met the Anthropologist, had no reason to. However, Aaron had arrived at a similar conclusion after evaluating the sample that the Doctor sent to him. "Well then my friend it seems that you have a real puzzle on your hands. I can take a look if you want. The question remains though if they are all dead. Why should we bother?"

"Because Counselor Rose is missing, and I do not want her or any of the crew to end up like the people that were on this planet," replied Rishi. "Doctor, we have an opportunity to solve this puzzle. That may be important."

Aaron tilted his head as he thought about what the other man had just said. Rishi didn't know it but he had just hit upon the Doctor's weakness. Aaron could never refuse the prospect of solving a good puzzle, even if it meant helping Amanda Rose. "Right then let's get to work. Do you have any ideas of what could have caused this decomp. If we know that there may be a way to bring them back. Albeit that is a long shot. What do you need the bio-mimetic gel for?" Aaron took the sample and placed on the medical sample scanner. He looked through the eyepiece to see what the hell this could be.

"What has caused the decomposition? That!" stated Rishi gesturing to the sample Aaron took. "Its a cocktail of digestive enzymes. I wanted bio-mimetic gel because I want to observe it in action but I much prefer to keep my own flesh" explained the science officer.

He approached Dr. Marcus "Doctor it brakes down tissues, bones, all of it quite rapidly. At least thats my hypothesis. My problem is I'm not finding any indication of animal origin, not mammal, reptile, amphibians, avian, inspect, arachnid. I don't know what produces it."

"Have you thought that the planet itself is alive?" Aaron posed the question as a genuine query. For once there was no sarcasm or any ill intent in his voice. This was an idea that just struck him and he was curious if the other doctor had thought the same. "Have you confirmed that the decomp you have is in fact some of the missing people?"

"Nothing from geological scans would seem to indicate the planet itself alive, at least not any different than how all are 'alive,' but you could be on to something, Doctor" stated Rishi. "We are definitely looking at decomposed bodies. I could not determine if these were in fact the missing people, but my theory is yes. If we had cadaver dogs, they would be signaling."

"Right then let's get our own cadaver dogs. All decomposed matter still has some traces of DNA. Lets run a DNA scan and compare the DNA of your sample to the all known DNA scans in the system. If it is someone it will show us a hit. While that scan runs we can investigate the idea of an inside out organism. Hypothetically speaking if the planet was alive, and what we call the surface is actually the digestive organs and what is below is the skin etc. Is that something that is possible, and if it is possible is it something we are dealing with." Aaron paced while he spoke, as he used his cane to walk. He was animated and even excited about the prospects that they discussed.

Rishi was not entirely ready to get on board with living planet theory, but all theories were worth entertaining for the time being. "Doctor, that is... fascinatingly disturbing. DNA scans seem like a good route to go. Do you have access to medical records from the population to compare what we have?"

Aaron was a few steps ahead of Rishi. As the other man spoke Aaron worked a computer terminal. He not only had access to the records but as the Chief Medical Officer of the Ontario he had access to basically everything medical from the population. "Viola! Let us set about the work. This is one hell of an idea. And if it is true holy..." Aaron Marcus was excited and actually smiling as he limped on his cane to the scanners. Anyone who knew Aaron would be shocked to see him like this. However, the mystery unravelled and that was something he lived for.

"Two hypothesis, Doctor, and dare I say, what if neither is wrong? I believe plants may be responsible. You think the planet is alive somehow. Could we both be right? Each with a piece of this puzzle." Rishi, like Marcus was not usually this lively, but mysteries really got Rishi's creative juices flowing.

"Not could be my friend. We ARE right. The planet could be plant, that is alive. I giant venus flytrap floating through space and the Ontario just got caught. Now we need to figure out how to get out. But first things first, we need to prove we are right so all the other ants on this ship will believe us." Aaron's voice had the tone that one would imagine Sherlock Holmes would have when he spoke to Watson. Aaron knew he was right, now he had to make sure that everyone else knew.

Rishi Chabbra was not a Botanist, that was Percy's avenue. Rushi studied the stars, planets, astrological things that were interesting. "A planet that is a plant. Is it truly a planet then, or some gigantic space organism with an atmosphere? Did we colonize the belly of a whale?"

All of this was utterly disturbing. "Assuming we are correct, and having spent time with Doctor Bálor, we should be looking for subterranean activity, not volcanoes, not geothermal, but something most plants need. It almost certainly would need a continuous root-rhizome system which may mean bioelectric signals...a nervous system."

"We may have. I agree that is a very good place to start. So, I would recommend a in depth sensor scan of the planet. Penetrate the proverbial crust as far as the sensors will allow. Medically speaking there is not much there. But, if the venus flytrap concept holds true then it has to have a digestive system of some kind." Aaron leaned on his cane as he spoke. There was so much here, so much to learn and process.

Rishi couldn't argue with that. It would have some sort of digestive system. "And if what ive been thinking is correct. The colonists have been its nutrients, its fertilizer... do we present this to the Captain, or do we need to get our ducks in a row before then?"

"Lets get some proof and then we can take it to the Lady In Charge. Who knows my friend, we may get in the history books for this." Aaron shot Rishi a sarcastic wink and returned to the scanner.

Rishi smiled and nodded. This would indeed be a phenomenal discovery. It would put them in so many science and medical journals. They'd be regarded with honors. Rishi blushed, but tried to conceal any spark of excitement.

Lieutenant Commander Aaron Marcus
Chief Medical Officer
USS Ontario

Ensign Rishi Chabbra
Science Officer
USS Ontario

 

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