Back to the Lab Again, Yo

Posted on Sun Mar 31, 2019 @ 5:03pm by Lieutenant Nicole Anderson & Lieutenant JG Camille Lévesque PhD

1,301 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Plaga Navis
Location: Quarantine Lab

Camille hovered over her console, studying the data from the night’s simulations. “I don’t think number two will work,” she said to those present. “I know the simulations suggested it should, but my instinct tells me in vitro tests will fail. Like maybe the reshaped surface proteins of the virion particles won’t actually offer new antigens for the patient’s immune system. Numbers one and three look better. What do you think?”

"I would concur with number three," Thomas said, looking into his own scanner. "Four through seven look like complete dead ends, I think. Eight through eleven can be good."

"I think we should try seven," Nicole said. "I think it has potential."

"I'll add it," Thomas said. "What about twelve through eighteen?"

"We'll save those for the second batch," Nicole said. "We have over half a dozen to start with. Let's begin there."

Camille nodded. She began to type commands on her console. “Synthesizing prions one, three, seven, eight, nine, ten, and eleven now.” Seven small vials were suddenly replicated inside a maximum containment chamber that was up against the exterior bulkhead of the lab. The chamber had four gloves installed to permit manipulation of the samples, and a number of tools were already inside. Inactivated samples of the virus were already there, too, as were some live tissue samples, barely more than cells on a plate that still had immune system functionality. “This chamber is equipped to vent into space if anything bad happens,” Camille explained. “If containment fails, the lab goes out too. But with all we did to those viral particles, the prions might actually be the bigger danger.”

Thomas smiled. "It's okay to be nervous, Lieutenant."

Camille smiled weakly. She was a bit nervous about the prions. So was Captain Kennit. And this was her lab. Her responsibility. Plus she didn’t want to rely on the Transporter catching them before the room was blown out into space.

"When I was your age, working on a project that made me nervous, I'd recite the safety protocols, the backup protocols, the evac protocols, whatever it took to reassure me as I worked," Thomas said. "It'll be fine. As you said, we've taken precautions. We'll take it one step at a time and keep it secure."

“A good technique, Thomas,” Camille said. She stepped up to the containment unit and put her hands into the built-in gloves. “Someone should join me in Station Two. Nicole? Thomas?”

"I'll take it," Nicole said, sitting next to her.

Camille smiled as Nicole sat next to her. She playfully nudged Nicole with her shoulder before looking back to the containment unit. “If you prepare the viral samples, I’ll prepare the prions, starting with number one. Sensors in the unit will tell us whether and how the prions work.”

If Nicole's mood had been better, she'd have glowed at Camille. As it was, she cracked half a smile. "Sounds good to me," she said, setting to the task.

Thomas monitored their work from his station, but smiled at the two of them privately. One of his favorite quotes was of Mark Twain: "History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes." *Naturally she'd fall for a scientist,* he thought.

"Replication proceeding as expected," he said from his station.

"Parfait," said Camille. Through the glove box, she retrieved the first replicated prion in its small vial, took a pipette, and withdrew the saline solution in which the prion floated. She held it up towards the first plate containing the virus and cells that Nicole had prepared and applied the prion solution widely. "We'll find out shortly if the viral envelope proteins reconfigure, or if the neuronal tissues are affected."

Nicole sat back and checked the chronometer. "Not necessarily shortly," she said. "We should break for lunch, and I should get to Sickbay."

"I'll stay here," Thomas said. "I'd like to monitor the reactions. I'll call if anything happens."

Nicole nodded. "All right, we'll reconvene in four hours to check in, sound good?" she said, looking to Camille.

Camille nodded assent and carefully pulled her hands out of the gloves. “I need to get something to eat. It’s been a long morning. I’ll need to check in on my other staff, too. I’ve been neglecting them for this virus problem. See you both in four hours.” She gently touched Nicole’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Come find me if you need anything?” she said softly.

Nicole took her hand and kissed it. "Promise."

As Camille left, Thomas watched her go, smiling. "Whatever you did to win her over, keep doing it," he said after the doors closed behind her.

Nicole went stiff as a board. It dawned on her that this was the first time they'd been alone together. She suddenly was torn between wanting to bolt from the room, and wanting to take advantage of the lack of witnesses. "I'll thank you not to comment on my love life," she said, not turning around. "Or my life in general, for that matter."

"Are you two working towards something long-term?" he asked, casually.

"What did I just say?" Nicole growled.

"That was a question, not a comment," Thomas said. "I understand you've told her about your condition?"

"Told, yes," Nicole said. "She hasn't seen me in action yet." She took her flask out and uncapped it, taking a swig.

"Another heirloom?" Thomas said.

"A gift from my Godfather," Nicole said.

"I assume your elixir is inside?" Thomas said gently.

"Yes...a refined version," Nicole said.

"Really? And how fast are you consuming it?" he said, turning around, now interested.

"I'm consuming as much as I need, as usual," she said.

"All right," he sighed, sitting back and rubbing his eyes. "You know, it wouldn't kill you to simply look me in the eye and talk to me."

"Perhaps, but why take the risk?" she said, keeping her back to him. She was somewhat surprised at the lack of an immediate comeback, then doubly surprised by hearing him chuckle. In spite of herself, she turned around. "Sorry, did I say something funny? Did I miss a funny thing?"

"Sorry," he said, grinning. "Your mother used to say that to me whenever I offered to cook dinner. It's nice to hear again, even if you meant it differently."

Nicole shook her head. "I cannot imagine the two of you married," she said.

"The best ten years of my life," he said, solemnly. "It's something special, to be married. It's nice to have someone to come home to, to hold and talk your troubles to. It's nice to have someone to confide in, and to share your life with."

"Then why haven't you remarried, if it's so wonderful?" Nicole said, glancing at him. The look on his face caught her eye and she paused. He looked both extremely sad, yet extremely patronizing, as if a child had asked him the most obvious question in the world.

"Your mother," he said, quietly, "is over five centuries old. She's seen the world and beyond, lived, loved, had adventures I can only dream of, and been among people who have steered the course of history. Imagine not only falling in love with, but also capturing the heart of a creature as magnificent as that. How could I ever find a woman who could compare?"

Nicole didn't have a response for that. His voice hadn't wavered, or changed in pitch or volume, but she couldn't ignore the love that was in his voice. *Monsters don't love,* her mind reminded her.

He sighed, stood up, stretched and walked to the door. Nicole watched him go and felt her stomach turn. She turned back to her scanner, watching the prions go to work.

 

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