Prion On My Mind

Posted on Fri Aug 6th, 2010 @ 7:25pm by Commander Michael Evans M.D.

Mission: Episode 1.2 - "A House Divided"
Location: Science Lab
Timeline: MD16, 1945 hours

ON: [[USS Pandora, Science Lab, MD16, 1945 hours]]

Michael had not yet been to the science labs aboard the Pandora, but was eager to see them. He'd heard that they boasted the latest in analytical and experimental sciences facilities. One of the primary functions of the Pandora was scientific exploration, so it was only fitting that the science labs were a jewel in the Pandora's crown. He stepped over the threshold entering the main lab and was not disappointed in his expectations. In fact he thought "dazzled" might be an appropriate way to describe his reaction, and he stood simply looking.

T’ben cocked his head, listening. He’d heard the door open but no one announced themselves, and no one was expected. He flicked his workstation to standby and walked toward the door. He found a man with pointed ears like his own gawking about him. He quirked an eyebrow, not quite sure what to make of him. “Can I help you, sir?” he queried, noting the pips on his collar and recognizing him as the Second Officer.

Michael jumped but quickly recovered, then checked himself as he was briefly startled to see a vulcan before him. “Er…” he stammered, “I was looking for Lieutenant Mia Drake?”

The dark-eyed vulcan blinked. “She is off duty at the moment,” he said in a baritone. “May I be of assistance, sir?” What could this strange man want? He peered a little more closely at his superior. His ears looked vulcan, but his manner was distinctly not. He restrained a note of disdain that threatened to creep into his voice, remaining impassive.

Michael glanced around quickly. “Well, I was really hoping… maybe not. Unless you happen to be an exobiologist?” It was asked half-jokingly and half-seriously. The chances were greater than he chose to calculate that he’d found one of only two in the ship’s whole Sciences department, and he really didn’t want to start conspicuously nosing around for one.

“I am,” T’ben said, his expression deadpan.

“Uh… am what?” Michael asked.

“An exobiologist,” T’ben said with a patient air.

“Oh,” Michael blinked. He had seriously not expected to find one straight away, Lt. Drake being absent. “Um, I have something I’d like you to take a look at then,” he said, indicating the samples and PADD.

T’ben nodded, suppressing his curiosity with the usual effort. “This way,” he said, and led the man to one of the alcoves in the lab.

Michael followed the vulcan and deposited his load where indicated. “I’m Michael, by the way,” he said, introducing himself.

The vulcan blinked. “Ensign T’ben,” was all he said. There was a moment’s pause. Apparently something else was supposed to be said; probably some meaningless human small talk. He was quite familiar with the command structure on this ship and knew full well that he was speaking to the Second Officer and Chief Medical Officer. Humans were so strange sometimes. “You had something you wanted me to look at, sir?” he prompted.

Michael nodded. He took a breath. “These neural tissue samples are infected with a particularly nasty prion. I was wondering if you’d take a look and give me your opinion of them.”

T’ben took a deep breath as if to sigh. “Excuse me, sir, but isn’t physiology and pathology your area of expertise?” He wondered briefly what kind of idiot human CMO this ship had been assigned.

Michael looked carefully at T’ben. “Yes, but there’s something particularly unusual about these prions that I noticed when attempting to analyze them for devising a treatment,” he said as though explaining to a four-year-old. Vulcans were so maddening sometimes. “I wanted an opinion from someone outside of the field of medicine.”

T’ben was forced to admit to himself that this was a logical approach to the matter. His opinion of Michael improved slightly, but just slightly. He nodded an assent to the doctor.

Michael grabbed the first sample and slipped it into the scanner and began bringing this somewhat frustrating Ensign up to date on his findings so far. The two worked together very professionally, their conversation remaining very formal. It wasn’t quite how he liked to collaborate, but this vulcan did seem to know his stuff; though he should hardly have expected less.

“So I noticed these sequences here, here, and here,” Michael said, pointing to the data, “and wondered if they might be… I dunno,” he gesticulated, trying to express himself, “not originally propagated from neural tissue, or even animalia tissue as is usual.”

“You are correct,” T’ben said. “If I am not mistaken,” and he spoke as if there were little doubt that he could be, “it appears that these were designed to be synthesized by plant life.”

It didn’t strike him at first, but then hit like a ‘one-two’ punch to the face. “Wait,” Michael said, “plant life? Like trees or grass or something?”

T’ben nodded.

“And did you use the word ‘designed‘?” Michael asked, not quite daring to believe what he was sure he heard.

T’ben nodded. Michael could have sworn that the vulcan was rolling his eyes.

“Somebody designed this?” he asked again to confirm.

T’ben sighed. This human seemed to be particularly dense about some things. “Yes. This prion was engineered. You can tell be the presence of this structure here and here,” he said, pointing out bits of the complex molecule on the display. “They are commonly used in engineered protein matrices.”

Michael stood up rather abruptly and began gathering the data and his samples. “I should’ve known,” he muttered. “Thanks, T’ben, you’ve been a great help,” he said quickly as he juggled his load. “Oh, and this information is ‘Classified’ until further notice, understood?”

“Yes, sir,” T’ben said. He stood and watched as the doctor practically ran out the door. Though certain pleasantries and polite rituals were usually expected, none were offered in this instance. One might even consider that Evans had been quite rude. T’ben just shook his head and returned to his work. “Humans.”

OFF

A post by:
Lt. Commander Michael Evans
2XO / CMO
USS Pandora

and

Ensign T’ben (NPC)
Science Officer
USS Pandora
Played by: Lt. Commander Michael Evans