Posted by Lieutenant Dr. Solomon Kane (Chief Science Officer/Research & Development) in When the Chemistry is Right

Posted by Lieutenant Alexis Bonner (Scientist, Medical Researcher) in When the Chemistry is Right

Posted by Lieutenant Dr. Solomon Kane (Chief Science Officer/Research & Development) in When the Chemistry is Right

(snip)

Inside the box were two rings. One: a brilliant blue solitaire diamond in a white gold setting. The other: a piece of deep green jade carved into the shape of a c9met with he tail wrapping around the hole for the finger, and scattered throughout the tail were small sapphires and diamonds.

They were beautiful. She adored the jade. She wasn’t one for jewelry but she really liked that one. It was jade. She expected that if she took either out and looked he probably had some Mandarin on it somewhere.

“The diamond is for now. You can put it on. I inserted a micro-transporter scrambler in the setting so if he tries to beam you out, he’ll go and you’ll stay. I also put a radiographic isotope in the crystalline structure so if he does manage to get you off the ship, I can track you.”

Kane

Just like with the light, Alexis simply couldn’t…she looked from the box to Solomon. Then very carefully put the box down, before she dropped it, little shocks running down her back and her arms to her fingers, making them shake slightly. She opened her mouth once or twice but no sound came out.

Bonner

Kane smiled and chuckled. “It’s part of the ruse, Lex. Diamond solitaire engagement ring? Really? Like I’d go with something like that. So go ahead, put it on. May as well get used to wearing it. When he shows, you need to be natural with it on. Like its always been there.”

Kane

The hard won calm and order the hours of work had granted her was so precarious. “It’s not the pressurized carbon....it’s the rest of it. You wouldn’t have made it if you didn’t think he’s going to take me too.” She wasn’t sure if it made her feel safe or terrified. She supposed the ring itself made her feel safe but knowing she needed it…games, it was all games she didn’t know how to play, but Solomon did. She took it out of the box and slipped it on her finger and fidgeted a bit with it and then slipped it off. “It’s too big, not by much but enough it could fall off.”

Bonner

“I made because I don’t believe in leaving things to chance if it can be avoided. Period. And no, I don’t think he is going to take you… but I’m not so arrogant as to think that isn’t a possibility. Now give it here.”

He took the ring and went to his bench and brought out some tools. A few minutes passed, and then he returned and said “Here, try it on now.”

Kane

Alexis took the ring and slipped it onto her finger. Again she fidgeted with it, testing the fit, even spreading her fingers apart and shaking her hand making sure it wouldn’t fall off. Satisfied it fit well and wouldn’t slip off while she was walking down the corridor she nodded, “That’s better, it doesn’t spin around on it’s own or try to slip off.” She resisted the urge to continue to play with it simply because she wasn’t used to it. She set her hands in her lap like she normally would and then looked at him. “Okay, what’s next?” Then she realized there was a small detail she’d forgotten to give him, “Once he’s injected keep medical away from him for at least 20 minutes. The Pneumolysin will return to its original configuration after 100 reproduction cycles. In the frenzied state it needs 15 minutes to complete that, 20 to be safe. After that no one will know it’s been modified.”

Bonner

Kane cocked his head to the side and his eyes narrowed slightly. “Shouldn’t be an issue. But good to know. Anything else we need to talk about?”

Kane

Alexis ran it all back through her head. His questions she hadn’t known how to answer, what had been bothering her, the completed file, the logs, the other altered paper trail for Taylor, the Pneumolysin…she shook her head slowly as she thought. “No, unless there is something in the logs you need me to fix or adjust or add.”

Bonner