SANI
You ascend the metal grating steps to level four, and as you approach the door of the arboretum, it hisses open.
The arboretum is not a massive chamber. It's maybe a little over 40 ft/12.2 m in diameter and designed in the shape of a perfect circle. As you walk in, you are struck by the fragrance of blood lily, red acacia, jasmine, and white iris. Around you are a number of large flower beds integrated into the floor of the ship, and they hold a dark, nutrient-rich mixture of soils and mulch imported from Kua. The beds are divided by a pathway that snakes around the chamber.
The room is teaming with an assortment of plant life: dozens of varieties of brightly colored flower species, both annuals and perennials, as well as several types of ferns, shrubs, and flowering vines. Some of the plants are varieties native to Al-Ardha (Earth), others are indigenous to certain planets in the Third Horizon, and others still are entirely new breeds biosculpted via genetic splicing. Towering over the colorful torrent of blooms are a handful of trees, mostly cedar and Kuan palm trees, and all are breeds that grow no higher than 20 ft/6.1 m. Automated systems are regularly spraying the plants with water, and lamps project artificial sunlight to keep the plants fed in the absence of real sunlight.
The arboretum has an open space to sit and relax, and relaxing it is, indeed. Like many gardens in the Third Horizon, the arboretum of the Riyad is designed in accordance with Firstcome horticultural principles. Nine flower beds for nine Icons, each accentuated by an Iconic rock garden or vine-clad trestle. Sensory experience is used to enhance rest, reflection, and contemplation, and so a majority of the plants in the arboretum were selected for aesthetic purposes; because they are attractive and aromatic. Still, the chamber is not without its practical utility, and several crew members, including Riya, have introduced fruit-bearing plants, roots, and vegetables to supplement the ship's food stores. The speakers in the room play ambient sounds in the form of birds, wind, and bubbling water.
Around and above you is the clear dome that encloses the arboretum. When not inside a docking bay, this dome normally provides an unobstructed view of the top of the Riyad and the heavens beyond. It's undoubtedly the best view on the ship.
A quick glance reveals that Sa'id is not in the arboretum. As you prepare to leave, you hear Riya's voice pipe up over the intercom. "Sani, where's the captain? I need to speak to her immediately. I've pinged her commlink but she hasn't responded. Are we actually going to Jina or is this a human joke?"
