Answers...at Last (part 7)

Posted on Wed Jan 20th, 2021 @ 11:51am by Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn & Lieutenant Remy Boudreau & Lieutenant Zuub & Lieutenant JG Tessa Nicoles

1,144 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Caverns of the mind

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

Zuub's antennae drooped. "Yes, there is a decrease of activity in the prefrontal cortex and frontal lobes. This generally means that the higher order of brain functions will be reduced. They will operate more on instinct."

[NEW]

'Alright - do you have their current readings? We can compare them with their baseline records and see what's different - perhaps isolating what's affecting them then?' Boudreau flashed them both a wide smile, 'if not, we can set the scans to run while we're chowing down.'

"I have already set the scans," Zuub informed them. "At this time, there is little variation. It could be that lack of exposure is restoring them or it could just be variations in the symptoms. And even if there is a decrease in the effects, it is unknown how long natural withdrawal will take or what the long term effects might be."

'Alright. If we set a notification we can go over the results ourselves - I'd like to see if we can synthesize an antidote and preventative blocker. We still have the science team to bring out of the caves. Some readable medical data will go a long way in helping that goal.' Boudreau folded his arms firmly, it was 'his' away mission after all, 'now it's time to eat and take some r-and-r, we'll be no good if we're tired.'

"That would be my intention, Lieutenant." Zuub pulled her suit helmet off and her antennae started to whirl around, feeling the freedom from the confines of the helmet. "These were not made for Andorians," she complained, as her antennae leaned back nearly against her head, a sign of anger.

"We can ask the Commander as she was going over the records." Nicoles suggested. "The dates and time stamps can give us a rough idea of exposure time and since Hadrin was bitten 'In' the cave might it be said that is different? Maybe in affects the humanoids but not lower life forms as they already operate in the Primal Brain and the symptoms are more bioactivity might we try evening the patients we have and see is it works?" She shrugged. "Why not try simply evening their biochemical imbalances and see if that will cure; then backtrack for what caused it? Doctor Zuub, that kind of thing is above my Pay Grade, Yew think we could fix them?"

"Right now, higher orders of thinking are being inhibited and I cannot safely tell how or how to reverse it. Yes, the timelines will give us an idea of how long it takes to effect. And perhaps if I can figure out the concentrations, I might have a better chance. But there is hope to believe that we can do something."

Boudreau smiled gently to hide his frustration, his accent becoming stronger being the only physical manifestation of it, 'you don't need to do the work on your own, Doctor. I'm quite capable of lending a hand.'

"Very well," Zuub replied to the Chief Science Officer, "Dig through the data and see if you can find a correlation for the speed of the infection. Is inhalation slower onset than something like a direct injection? I'll sift through for anything that may indicate that time will cure or any potential remedies to remove the inhibitors."

Boudreau nodded at the comment, 'works for me - I can get the research we've previously done aboard ship as well, it should be able to inform the result.'

"Before you went on board the ship, did you find any evidence that this could be communicated from person to person? It does not appear so, but the concern remains."

'That it could be aerosolised?' Boudreau shook his head, 'every indication from our work strongly suggested a bond at cellular level in the brain, and that's what's causing the suppression of higher functions. I don't know yet how it crossed the blood/brain barrier, but once it did, it didn't seem to cross back.'

"I am reading a very high monoamine oxidases in the brain chemical analysis." Nicoles was cross referencing the data accumulated thus far. "Also with the exponentially brain chemical imbalance is like a Virus and is causing reaction more in the primal brain." She looked up. There is an Inhibitor for Monoamine that is used in depressive chemical imbalances and with the Crash dive of the Vitamin -D count we could supplement that with Omega 3 amino acids and hopefully counteract the growing chemical virus and the balance should reverse the effects?"

"Treating the symptoms to delay?" Zuub inquired. "It may not be a bad idea. Start with that and I'll continue to look for something more permanent."

'Sounds like a good idea,' replied Boudreau, 'let the programmes run. We need to eat before we carry on.'

Zuub shook her head. "You go ahead and eat. I have to think through this a little more. Something is tickling the back of my antennae.... I don't want to lose the thought." Her antennae started to whirl thoughtfully, slowly in circles.

'It's important to take breaks, Doctor,' Boudreau shrugged, 'but suit yourself. I'm content to let the machine do the thinking for a little bit. If you need me, I'll be talking to the Commander.'

Zuub simply nodded and said, "Go ahead. I feel something tickling my antennae."


[Elsewhere]

While the doctors checked Trei, Azusa, and the lizard, Amber decided that vegetable beef soup would probably work best. She could feed everyone with the least amount of fuss.

Stepping back in to the main chamber, Boudreau decided, at last, to crack the helmet of his suit, breathing in fresh, unfiltered air for the first time in many hours. It was refreshing. Tucking the suit helmet under his arm, he wandered over to Quinn who was at the stove. 'Smells good, Commander.'

"Thanks. So, what is your opinion of the caves and the people there?" She took a clean spoon and sampled the soup and nodded. "A few more minutes and it'll be ready."

'My opinion ...' He shrugged, 'objectively it's fascinating of course. I've heard and read about civilisations regressing after societal collapse - look at our own history in point of fact. But regression due to natural suppression of higher functions?' He considered his words a moment, 'or suppression of development of higher functions, through a natural chemical process? That's exceedingly rare.'

Boudreau then sighed, 'the human part of me just thinks it's horrifying. There's actually no data collected yet to suggest that they were all primitive to begin with. The same thing may have happened to them as happened to the scientists.'

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Zuub
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Remy Boudreau
Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant JG Tessa Nicoles
Medic

Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn
Executive Officer

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