What About the Scientists? (Part 3)

Posted on Tue Mar 16th, 2021 @ 8:59am by Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn & Lieutenant Zuub & Lieutenant JG Paris Deville & Lieutenant JG Tessa Nicoles

1,120 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Caverns of the mind
Location: Conference Room

[PREVIOUSLY]

"Ah have been in the caves and closest to the dwellers with a tricorder." Nicoles spoke up. "It would seem that while the Cave Dwellers are indeed Humanoid; there is a genome that does not react well with human Biochemistry." She almost blushed. "It could be the of the gas in their system but while it mentally affected the team .... and personnel. There is evidence that the in-digenous population would reject the Human DNA of the Science team there is an acidic aspect that would cancel the Human DNA strain from taking root. so they are not comparable for procreation at this time. Perhaps if the team had more of it in their system that could change but the time to balance the exposure would take a year or more to convert the Humans the same genetic levels."

[CONTINUED]


Zuub nodded. "You were down there longer than I and had more time to study it, so I defer to you on that point."

Boudreau shrugged, 'there should be very little fallout, then, from a genetic point of view - I'm not even sure that there was enough cultural contact between the scientists and the indigenous population to contaminate their rudimentary culture either.'

'So I would second the XO's recommendation: retrieve the scientists and mark the planet down for close observation,' the scientist concluded.

"I'd like to talk with each of those affected before they're cleared for duty," Kym said. "To ensure there's no lasting emotional trauma." She glanced from Trei to Azusa to Tessa. The medic was acting oddly and the counselor was concerned.

"Hold on..." Paris said, putting down his PADD, before sitting up in his seat. He placed his arms on the table and looked around, showing a more serious look and tone than what others were used to. "I just need to wrap my head around this, but are we saying we are certain that this is a naturally occurring event on this planet and not something that's just segregated to this one cave?"

Amber shook her head. "From what we can tell, it's a gas contained in the caves. The effect wears off with time--except for the natives who seem to be unaffected."

"Do we have any actually proof that this gas is a by product of anything natural or if it serves some kind of purpose?" Paris asked, against keeping to his oddly out of character serious tone. "Can we all say, for certain, this is a natural thing that the planet does for a specific purpose and this just happens to be an unforeseen side effect?"

"Not yet, but we're going to run some tests now that we've isolated it. From what we can tell, it's mostly harmless," Amber said, looking to Remy and Zuub for their input.

Pursing his lips, Boudreau took a moment to think of his answer. Paris had lost his characteristic affected nonchalance, and that didn't sit too well. 'The generation of the gas is natural, in all likelihood, no artificial markers have appeared in the analysis of it,' he said flatly. 'In this case whether it's restricted to this particular cave system or not is of a lesser relevance. Chemical reactions don't necessarily have a purpose. In this case it has reacted with off-worlders who aren't a part of the natural order on the planet, which is why they regressed to the point they have. That's our relevant area of investigation unfortunately.'

'As we've also been saying, had you decided to pay attention, we're recommending the planet be observed further. It could take decades to work through what's going on on the planet's surface and why the indigenous peoples seem unaffected. Our mission remit is unfortunately narrow in this respect. We don't have the time or resources to apply to a planetwide intensive survey that a permanent team would have.'

"The research station will likely be expanded to allow more scientists to observe the natural progression of the cave dwellers and do a more detailed exploraton of the planet. That may or may not involve another research station," Amber added. She wondered why Paris was suddenly so interested in the nature of the gas.

"Now... hold on a sec. Maybe to you it may not seem relevant, but I see it differently. Bigger picture, Remy." Paris said slightly, holding out his hands a bit, before motioning to him. "Would you indulge me a bit? At least to see where my head is at and maybe help me if I am wrong somewhere in my thinking."

Considering a moment, Boudreau nodded. 'Alright Lieutenant, why don't you lay out why rescuing the scientists isn't the relevant area to focus on.'

Paris looked at him oddly before replying. "I thought we were talking about the gas, because you all have already decided on how to help the scientists? Did you forget that part of the conversation you were involved in?" He raised a brow slightly, shock mock concern, before asking. "Do you need to see a Doctor for your sudden memory loss?"

'To my mind, the gas and the scientists are intertwined,' Boudreau shrugged. 'I'm sure Doctor Zuub will check me over once this briefing is done, if you would care to explain where your head's at.'

"I was more thinking of afterwards, which is why I spoke of the bigger picture referring to more than just the one thing." Paris said as he gestured a big with his hands before saying. "It's okay, brah." A term New Orleans natives, specially the males, would use when speaking to each other. "I understand you may only be a focus on the problem, kind of cat, so I'll take it slow so as not to confuse you more."

Paris cleared his throat, as if preparing for a big presentation, before looking back to Remy, as he spoke slowly going back to his more serious tone. "Nicoles here..." he pointed to her while his focus was still on Remy. "Not that long ago, just said that the people in the cave have developed a tolerance to the gas from living with it for to long. This gas, whether cave specific or in every cave, seems to be just in the caves. Its not in the atmosphere, so it's safe to assume only the cave dwellers, have developed this tolerance for it. Yes?" He motioned to Remy as he asked the question.

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant JG Tessa Nicoles
Medic

Lieutenant Zuub
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant JG Paris Deville
Chief Flight Control Officer

Lieutenant Remy Boudreau
Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn
Executive Officer

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