Posted Aug. 5, 2021, 4:46 p.m. by Lieutenant Alexis Bonner (Scientist, Medical Researcher) (Jennifer Ward)
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
Kane smiled and said “So you aren’t going to ask about the other ring, then? Well… suit yourself.” and he reached forward and snapped the box shut and then grinned at her. “For another time, then.” and he turned to head back to his work station.
Kane
“You asked was there anything else we need to talk about. You didn’t say anything about questions I wanted to ask.” She grinned shyly, “What’s the Jade one?”
Bonner
Kane feigned shock and said “What? Was that Lex being cheeky?! Oh my the end times are upon us…” and he winked at her.
“N…no,” She flushed pink. “Stop…”
“The jade one is your actual engagement ring. See, here’s the thing… no matter what anyone has told you, no matter what anyone says going forward… our lives are our own. I don’t care if I get thrown in a hole because I know I will get out and find you. I don’t care if they yank you away and try to get you to do whatever… they can’t keep this-” and he gestured between them, “- from happening. So… thats your ring. When all this random crap is dealt with, you can have it whenever you want.” He bent down and kissed her on the lips and then walked away to his station and put the ring box back.
Kane
Whenever she wanted, when this was over. She kissed him back and watched him put the box away. His words were reassuring despite her fear. She was focused enough now to realize it and be able to admit it. The man she knew as Soulis on the Hathaway was ultimately self centered and disparaging, and even charming and considerate when he felt it was needed. But the man she had seen at Intel was cruel, harsh, and terrifying. And the need to hide from him was almost overwhelming. She was suddenly and simply exhausted…and hungry. She had been in the lab for just under two shifts after working a regular full shift. But it wasn’t the long shifts making her tired. She smiled tiredly at him. “Do you think the lab supervisor will give me the rest of the day off?”
Bonner
Kane locked the drawer and said “The Lab Supervisor already marked you as off for the rest of today and told GALEN to not let you back in after you leave. So yeah, I think the odds are good you get the rest of the day off.” He looked down at his current dress and said “But they, on the other hand, have to go shower and get dressed. So let’s go home, Lex.”
Kane
While he talked she did a visual scan of the lab, just to make sure, one more time, that everything was put to rights. It never hurt to double check and she’d been working with dangerous biocontainments. She side-eyed him, “You denied me access to the lab? For how long?” Okay so it wasn’t the first time Alexis had been locked out of a lab or sickbay to stop her from working, but it didn’t usually happen till after weeks worth of work. A few short weeks ago she would have rathered stayed in the lab than go back to her quarters, but home sounded so much better. She walked over to the door waiting for him. “Yeah, okay. Let’s go home.”
Bonner
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