Medicine is a real Science

[atadiscoverer]

[Medical Labs / Sickbay - Multiple Days]

So, it's been a busy few days, and a few days where a certain Dr. Beckett has basically been a permanent fixture in Sickbay and the labs adjacent. He'll have been seen bustling in and around, always with a PADD, Tricorder, hypospray or specimen vial in his hand.

He's running tests, comparisons, air screenings, water screenings, filter screenings, asking other people for their advice on terms and systems he knows not a thing about... He's quite the dilligent worker... or obsessed, whichever you prefer.

He always has time to answer questions, though, even though he has few answers at this point. People can catch him in Sickbay, or on the way to the labs. When in the labs, he can be seen hunched over equipment, asking the computer questions, and, sometimes, even holding what seems to be a non-Federation scanning device. When he's using this piece of equipment, he's physically writing things down in an odd-looking language.

He may seem tired, but one thing that never fails is his professionalism and dedication.

Comments

[atadiscoverer]

"Could it be... synthetic?" Carson asks, putting a hand on his chin, rubbing at it as he thinks. "A nanovirus? We had one on Atlantis... a nasty wee bugger. Tormented the victims before causing a brain aneurysm." That would explain the lack of lifesigns.

"Computer... Scan all samples in medical lab 2 across the range of electromagnetic signals... Also, for any foreign elements or compounds." Another acknowledgement, another few hours.

[ethnobotany]

"It might be," she muses, thinking that she's glad it isn't like the nanites Wesley was studying that got into the computer system the year she returned from Starfleet Medical. "I can imagine that would have been a problem. Did you manage to stop it?"

Talking about something different but related might help. Or it might just keep them both from pulling out their hair in frustration.

[atadiscoverer]

"Aye, we did." He replies, grimly. "An EMP pulse from an overloading generator with the explosive power of 20 kilotons." He pauses. "We... lost a few people." He looks down at the console again.

"It's affecting non-humans." He points out, remembering Todd. "So, we're looking for something a bit more wide-spread."

[ethnobotany]

Beverly glances away at that admission, managing to hide her distaste but not her wince. That isn't an option they would consider acceptable here and she won't even think about it unless there is literally no other choice and this virus is proving life-threatening. Right now, it's only an inconvenience.

He doesn't need to hear her condolences, so she lets that pass by, as though he might understand without her saying anything. Instead, she focuses on the rest. "So did the Psi 2000 intoxication. If I remember correctly, even Data was affected."

Which just makes their job that much harder.

"I don't think he's been affected this time, but that might be something to keep an eye on while we work."

[atadiscoverer]

"Data? The android?" He frowns slightly. "He may be immune... Does he even have a childhood to revert to?" An important question. "There may be some people who are simply unaffected by this phenomenon."

He leans against the desk, frowning.

"Even the Ancients haven't come across something like this... At least, as far as I'm aware."

[ethnobotany]

Beverly shrugs almost helplessly at that idea. "Your guess is as good as mine," she admits. She knows he has something like a childhood, where his "parents" had to teach him about modesty and how to act around humans, but it isn't quite the same. So who really knows what might happen to him?

Whatever the case, it's something to consider. She glances up at her fellow doctor, head tilted a little in mild curiosity. "Ancients?"

[atadiscoverer]

"Yes," Perhaps a bit of a topic change will help rest his brain... and, besides, this is a topic he actually knows about. "The first evolution of humanity, in my world. So-called because they're a race that has existed for millennia. They... Well, they were powerful, highly intelligent. They were responsible for the evolution of humans in the Milky Way and Pegasus Galaxies in my home universe."

[ethnobotany]

The name Pegasus brings forth memories of the starship by the same name and all the difficulties it and its captain had provided so long ago. She knows it isn't the same situation at all, but the memories give her pause anyway.

At least until the galaxy sinks in and she frowns a little. "You have access to another galaxy?"

[atadiscoverer]

"Aye, we do. Several, actually." He leans back a bit, still resting on the table. "We have access to the Pegasus Dwarf Galaxy and the Ida galaxy. It's through a device called the Stargate."

He shifts, frowning a bit. "I'm not too sure how it works, but it creates a stable wormhole between two gates where we get dematerialised and passed through to the other end in a matter of seconds."

[ethnobotany]

If she looks impressed, she is. The idea of another galaxy... though at least they had a quick way to get there. Without the Bajoran wormhole, a trip into the Gamma Quadrant would take dozens of years. The USS Voyager was declared lost for that reason.

"Sounds like a good use of transporter technology," she comments easily. "I can't imagine all your people have seen and learned because of that."

[atadiscoverer]

"From the way your transporters have been described, aye. They do seem to work similarily." Don't ask him to explain it, he's no McKay. "The Stargate has a wee bit extra distance to it."

He smiles slightly, perhaps a bit wistfully. "Aye, we've learned a lot... but there's still plenty we don't know." And a frown. "That nanovirus, for example. It was specifically designed to target and kill humans. There are plenty of other examples of Ancient technology on Atlantis that do the same."

Like, say, a device that creates exploding tumours.

[ethnobotany]

"A lot more distance from the sound of it," Beverly corrects, smiling wryly. Something like that would certainly help against the Dominion. But if it got into Dominion hands instead? It would be catastrophic.

"How delightful." Add both to the list of things she's glad they don't have here. "I'm guessing humans weren't well-liked by whoever made those."

[atadiscoverer]

"On the contrary, humans were created by the Ancients." Carson frowns. "It's a wee bit complicated, but the Ancients were the first evolution of this form, and they were dying because of a plague." He folds his arms. "In order to make sure life survived, they reseeded the Milky Way galaxy with life in their image; Us. Well. Earth Humans. After that, they fled to the Pegasus Galaxy on Atlantis, a giant cityship, and seeded Pegasus with human life, too."

And then he frowns slightly.

"Although we never confirmed this, we suspect the nanovirus was made in response to a threat in the Pegasus Galaxy. The Wraith. They're a vampire-like species that suck the life energy out of humans to feed, so the nanovirus could have been made to cull the Wraith's feeding ground."

[ethnobotany]

In this case, it's actually nice that she was wrong in her assumption. She doesn't like to be right in cases of assault or battery and certainly not genocide. This, though, isn't a perfect solution, but it is a better one.

"Whatever the reason, I hope it never finds its way here or we'll be studying the different species it does and doesn't affect," Beverly muses. That is one scientific study she would rather never have.

[atadiscoverer]

"I shouldn't think so. Not unless the creators of the nanovirus show up here."

Which they might. They never confirmed this, either, but it was suspected the nanovirus was a precursor to the Asurans; a race of intelligent, self-replicating machines that could assume human form. They were created by the Ancients.

"Besides, we only have one Wraith on-board. It's not like he's a threat to the entire galaxy."

[ethnobotany]

"Let's hope not." The very idea leaves a bad taste in her mouth. Few things could be worse at this point.

Though the idea of a Wraith being here jogs some sort of familiarity. Doubtless it would trigger more than just that if she were an actual member of sickbay again. "What's he like?"

[atadiscoverer]

"The Wraith?" Oh, god. How to explain Todd to Beverly. "He's... different from most of his species. Older." He frowns. "It seems he's from a point in my future, after I..." He trails off, not really wanting to finish that sentance.

"Anyway, he's worked with us before. And Colonel Sheppard seemed to trust him, before he disappeared." And if there's one thing he's learned, it's to trust Sheppard. "I'm... wary. But... he doesn't seem to be wanting to harm anyone."

[ethnobotany]

"Then I guess we'll have to hope he remains on our side," she offers, hoping that it goes without saying that she'd like to know if something starts going weird with this Wraith. Or at least that she would like someone to know. "Until then, we have our work cut out for us here."

The computer is still running the analyses, but there's time for coffee or tea or some sort of drink to cool off with. She's starting to get a headache with all of this work, mostly because they keep hitting dead ends. Maybe one of the analyses will come up with something.

[atadiscoverer]

"He seems fixated on survival." Carson remarks. "He's even altered his own biology, allowing himself to metabolise normal food whilst on-board." But, yes, Carson is still keeping as close an eye on "Todd" as he can. "But, aye... Bigger problems... Or, should I say, smaller?"

A little joke, trying to break the tension as he looks back to the monitor. Of course, he looks as exhausted and beleagured as many of the Sickbay Staff.

[ethnobotany]

It works. A little, but a little is better than not at all. Beverly offers a small, tight-lipped smile for the joke.

"Something like that," she answers tiredly. "Though with the computer busy with our analyses, we might want to take the time to rest. Hard to do in the middle of a crisis, but..." Her voice trails off, her thoughts wandering to Zelien. How many times had she dealt with exhaustion there? Too many to count. In fact, she had lost count of the sleepless hours during the last... week or so she was in Zelien. It was all a sleepless blur. Funny that the same should happen here.

[atadiscoverer]

Carson watches for a moment, quietly, before shifting and putting a hand on Beverly's shoulder.

"Then I think we should go have something to eat, then get a few hours' sleep. I think that's a sensible prognosis, do you agree, doctor?"

[ethnobotany]

"Agreed," Beverly answers with a tired smile, pushing herself to her feet. "We can at least try." She won't be getting any sleep, but she can promise she will at least try. "Thanks for your help. It's nice to have extra hands in here."

[atadiscoverer]

"It's my pleasure." Carson smiles, warmly. "I'm glad I'm able to help... There's so much about this place I don't know... I feel a wee bit like a dinosaur at times."

[ethnobotany]

"I know I'm still displaced myself, but if there's ever anything I can do to help you settle in more, please ask," Beverly offers with a small smile. "Believe me, I know it's hard to adjust."