Endgame: The Cure

[Xander Dorset]

OOC Note: This thread takes place at the end of Season 2, Episode 11: Endgame. It is open to any and all crew members of the Starbase who wish to expand upon the development and distribution of the cure for the nanovirus.

* * *

[Secue Science Lab]

Xander precariously hopped over to the incubation racks, one leg entangled in the EV suit he was in the process of putting on, and entered the command for the computer to rotate the bacteria plates. The first batch was just about ready; all that was left was to prepare the mature colonies for the treatment. Xander spun around to face the far counter and started towards it, then nearly pitched forward as he tripped over the trailing suit leg.

Mumbling under his breath, Xander forced himself to slow down long enough to properly finish putting the suit on his lower half. He left the top off for now for the simple sake of handling ease as he worked. Crouching down, Xander nearly crawled into the cabinet as he dug out all of the sterile syringes they had in storage.

The creature in the tank behind him wuffled in the water, having journeyed to the near side of the glass to get a better look at him. "Thank you for your comment," Xander drawled, still buried in the drawer. "I'll be sure to take your feedback into consideration." He didn't particularly care that he was having a one-sided conversation with a creature that didn't speak human. It was difficult to care about anything other than getting the cure to the patients waiting all over the station - and especially Sickbay.

His hand tightened around the box in his hands at the thought, and Xander closed his eyes, forcibly exhaling. "You could at least try to be helpful," he snapped at the waterbear which was still innocently watching him. He distantly recognized that this was a sign he was mentally snapping, but he just needed to keep going a little longer.

[Felicity Ellis]

[Dr. Marianne White - SBC Secure Science Lab]

Mari had carved out an area for herself to work in the Secure Lab on the Columbus, but admittedly the environment was nothing at all like anything she'd ever experienced before. For one, she was surrounded by tanks full of of what looked alarmingly like tardigrades, which shouldn't be possible, as they were supposed to be micro-animals.

For another, the Lieutenant Dorset they'd pledged to assist was a little... different. Eventually she decided that the creatures in his tanks were in fact telepathic, and that's how he was holding conversations with them. She returned her attention to the adjuvant solution she was preparing for use with the first round of mature colonies.

The atmosphere felt charged and heavy to Mari, with a palpable tension that she found a little discomfiting. "Just about ready here," she announced, breaking her thoughtful silence.

***

[Primary Sickbay]

At some stage someone had put Felicity in a chair. And someone had removed the jacket of her uniform. The undershirt felt as though it was stuck to her, clinging to her back, though she didn't feel all that warm. Behind her she knew that Rinata and Lunn were administering hyperzine to Maggie, and that the harsh, chesty sounds she was hearing from all directions were steadily worsening.

The last update they'd had confirmed a potential cure, but she couldn't remember exactly when that had been. She rubbed her eyes in attempt to clear them and then stared determinedly at the PADD in her hand, trying to make out the report from their secondary Sickbay. Nearby a nurse was laying out a barely conscious patient on the floor. "Have the counselor's office and all medical suites been cleared out?" She managed to force out; the pain in her throat when she spoke almost bringing tears to her eyes.

The nurse nodded, but seemed intent on maintaining her concentration on the task at hand. "They're all full."

Felicity suppressed a groan. She leaned over, resting her forearms on the biobed next to her chair, and cast a worried glance over Ensign Edair's still form and out over Sickbay. After a few moments her eyes began to slide shut of their own accord.

[Xander Dorset]

[Dr. Marianne White - SBC Secure Science Lab]

Mari had carved out an area for herself to work in the Secure Lab on the Columbus, but admittedly the environment was nothing at all like anything she'd ever experienced before. For one, she was surrounded by tanks full of of what looked alarmingly like tardigrades, which shouldn't be possible, as they were supposed to be micro-animals.

For another, the Lieutenant Dorset they'd pledged to assist was a little... different. Eventually she decided that the creatures in his tanks were in fact telepathic, and that's how he was holding conversations with them. She returned her attention to the adjuvant solution she was preparing for use with the first round of mature colonies.

The atmosphere felt charged and heavy to Mari, with a palpable tension that she found a little discomfiting. "Just about ready here," she announced, breaking her thoughtful silence.

[Secure Science Lab]

Xander jerked at the other voice and hit his head on the top of the cabinet, muttering under his breath and rubbing at the sore spot as he scooted out. In his panic to prepare the cure, he had nearly forgotten the other scientist was there; he had been completely absorbed by his mental checklist, almost obsessively focused on completing one task after another. Pushing to his feet, he wasted no time in striding over to the woman. "What are we waiting for then? Let's assemble the first batch of doses, so I can start distributing them."

His mind immediately shifted back to Sickbay and the people waiting there. Waiting for him and this cure. They were all relying on it, and if he took too long... If the cure failed... He shook his head to clear the unproductive thoughts from his mind and focused on the syringes in front of him. They were technically meant for inserting solutions into airtight bacterial colonies, but they'd do the trick with delivering the cure. A hypospray would be preferable, but Xander didn't have any in the lab, and with the replicators down, they'd have to work with what they had - at least until Xander could retrieve some better materials from Sickbay.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his PADD, hurriedly typing a message to Felicity, Helena, and Mormor: The cure will be there soon.

[Primary Sickbay]

At some stage someone had put Felicity in a chair. And someone had removed the jacket of her uniform. The undershirt felt as though it was stuck to her, clinging to her back, though she didn't feel all that warm. Behind her she knew that Rinata and Lunn were administering hyperzine to Maggie, and that the harsh, chesty sounds she was hearing from all directions were steadily worsening.

The last update they'd had confirmed a potential cure, but she couldn't remember exactly when that had been. She rubbed her eyes in attempt to clear them and then stared determinedly at the PADD in her hand, trying to make out the report from their secondary Sickbay. Nearby a nurse was laying out a barely conscious patient on the floor. "Have the counselor's office and all medical suites been cleared out?" She managed to force out; the pain in her throat when she spoke almost bringing tears to her eyes.

The nurse nodded, but seemed intent on maintaining her concentration on the task at hand. "They're all full."

Felicity suppressed a groan. She leaned over, resting her forearms on the biobed next to her chair, and cast a worried glance over Ensign Edair's still form and out over Sickbay. After a few moments her eyes began to slide shut of their own accord.

Mormor bent over as another set of coughs tore through her aged body. By the time she finished, her head was spinning, and she felt simultaneously faint and nauseous. She leaned over, to the side, waiting to see what her body decided to do as she listened to Flick's own worryingly pained voice questioning a nurse. As soon as she was sure she wasn't going to be sick again, Mormor straightened and looked over to Felicity across Helena's biobed. "There's not much else you can do, dearie. You need to take care of yourself now."

Mormor's hair had mostly fallen out of her elegant bun at this point, and loose strands of her white hair were plastered to her face with sweat. She knew she was a mess and her skin was clammy, but she reached across and patted Felicity's bare arm, regardless. "Alexander will come up with something, don't you worry. He's always been one of the brightest boys I've known - and I'm not just saying that as his grandmother."

[Felicity Ellis]

[Secure Science Lab]

Xander jerked at the other voice and hit his head on the top of the cabinet, muttering under his breath and rubbing at the sore spot as he scooted out. In his panic to prepare the cure, he had nearly forgotten the other scientist was there; he had been completely absorbed by his mental checklist, almost obsessively focused on completing one task after another. Pushing to his feet, he wasted no time in striding over to the woman. "What are we waiting for then? Let's assemble the first batch of doses, so I can start distributing them."

His mind immediately shifted back to Sickbay and the people waiting there. Waiting for him and this cure. They were all relying on it, and if he took too long... If the cure failed... He shook his head to clear the unproductive thoughts from his mind and focused on the syringes in front of him. They were technically meant for inserting solutions into airtight bacterial colonies, but they'd do the trick with delivering the cure. A hypospray would be preferable, but Xander didn't have any in the lab, and with the replicators down, they'd have to work with what they had - at least until Xander could retrieve some better materials from Sickbay.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his PADD, hurriedly typing a message to Felicity, Helena, and Mormor: The cure will be there soon.

[Dr. Marianne White - SBC Secure Science Lab]

Mari heard the thump before she saw the Lieutenant again. Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline at his all-business tone, though she didn't feel all that put-out. She'd spent enough time during her university and Academy years with certain scientific types. Besides, she wasn't there to socialise, she was there to help stop the spread of a deadly nanovirus.

She let out a long-suffering sigh and began measuring out the solution in preparation for transferal to the barrels of the syringes.

***

Mormor bent over as another set of coughs tore through her aged body. By the time she finished, her head was spinning, and she felt simultaneously faint and nauseous. She leaned over, to the side, waiting to see what her body decided to do as she listened to Flick's own worryingly pained voice questioning a nurse. As soon as she was sure she wasn't going to be sick again, Mormor straightened and looked over to Felicity across Helena's biobed. "There's not much else you can do, dearie. You need to take care of yourself now."

Mormor's hair had mostly fallen out of her elegant bun at this point, and loose strands of her white hair were plastered to her face with sweat. She knew she was a mess and her skin was clammy, but she reached across and patted Felicity's bare arm, regardless. "Alexander will come up with something, don't you worry. He's always been one of the brightest boys I've known - and I'm not just saying that as his grandmother."

[Primary Sickbay]

Felicity kept her eyes closed, but she moved her hand slowly to rest over Nora's. She closed her fingers around the other woman's hand and gave it a very weak squeeze, hoping to communicate her appreciation for the reassurance. "He will," she agreed in a raspy voice, but the beginning of a small, lazy smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "And if I didn't already know just how bright he was, he wouldn't be long telling me."

The chirp from her PADD gave her some incentive to force her eyelids open. Just enough to read the incoming message. She released Nora's hand to access the short note.

The cure will be there soon.

"It's coming," she said aloud. "Rinata, Lunn, one of you." Whoever is still standing. "Please mark each confirmed mutation on the associated biobed monitor."

Another fit of coughing wracked through her chest and she held her forehead in the palms of her hands until it stopped. Once it subsided, she continued talking to Nora as though they weren't surrounded by absolute chaos. It was the only thing keeping her conscious. "You know the first time I ever saw your grandson? We'd been called to a meeting by the Captain at the time. Xander arrived really late, soaking wet and not once did he offer any explanation. I was beside myself trying to figure out why he'd come to a meeting dripping all over the floor." She'd have laughed, maybe offered up a shrug if she'd had the energy to. "Still am."

[Xander Dorset]

[Primary Sickbay]

Felicity kept her eyes closed, but she moved her hand slowly to rest over Nora's. She closed her fingers around the other woman's hand and gave it a very weak squeeze, hoping to communicate her appreciation for the reassurance. "He will," she agreed in a raspy voice, but the beginning of a small, lazy smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "And if I didn't already know just how bright he was, he wouldn't be long telling me."

[Primary Sickbay]

Mormor couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped her throat - or the fit of coughing that followed it. Luckily, this one was shorter than the last, and once she caught her breath, she turned to Felicity with a weak smile. "I don't suppose he's ever been the most humble sort. He's very proud of his degrees, his work. Sometimes it's all he talks about." She waited as Felicity opened her eyes to check the message on her PADD. Mormor had misplaced her own at some point during the chaos of the past few hours, but she couldn't be bothered to look for it right now. "Well? What does it say?"

The chirp from her PADD gave her some incentive to force her eyelids open. Just enough to read the incoming message. She released Nora's hand to access the short note.

The cure will be there soon.

"It's coming," she said aloud. "Rinata, Lunn, one of you." Whoever is still standing. "Please mark each confirmed mutation on the associated biobed monitor."

Another fit of coughing wracked through her chest and she held her forehead in the palms of her hands until it stopped. Once it subsided, she continued talking to Nora as though they weren't surrounded by absolute chaos. It was the only thing keeping her conscious. "You know the first time I ever saw your grandson? We'd been called to a meeting by the Captain at the time. Xander arrived really late, soaking wet and not once did he offer any explanation. I was beside myself trying to figure out why he'd come to a meeting dripping all over the floor." She'd have laughed, maybe offered up a shrug if she'd had the energy to. "Still am."

Leonora let out a sigh of relief as Felicity shared the good news and spurred the few remaining medical personnel into action so they'd be ready to administer the cure as soon as it got here. Her eyelids fluttered open in concern when Flick began coughing, but they were so heavy, and she wanted nothing more than to let them slide shut. She glanced over at Helena's unconscious form as Felicity began talking, but her eyes became unfocused and a wistful smile spread across her face as she imagined her grandson through this young woman's eyes.

"That certainly sounds like Alexander. Over the years, I've learned that if you want an explanation from him, you need to ask for it - and even then there's a chance he won't give one. He once told me that 'a splash of mystery was good for the soul' when I asked him how my kitchen window was broken. And punctuality has never been one of my grandson's strong-suits."

She started shaking her head in loving exasperation, but winced and closed her eyes when she accidentally sent the world reeling as a wave of dizziness hit her. She kept her eyes closed as she continued talking, lowering her head to rest on her crossed arms. "Here's hoping that today is the exception - he doesn't have time to be late."

[Felicity Ellis]

[Primary Sickbay]

Leonora let out a sigh of relief as Felicity shared the good news and spurred the few remaining medical personnel into action so they'd be ready to administer the cure as soon as it got here. Her eyelids fluttered open in concern when Flick began coughing, but they were so heavy, and she wanted nothing more than to let them slide shut. She glanced over at Helena's unconscious form as Felicity began talking, but her eyes became unfocused and a wistful smile spread across her face as she imagined her grandson through this young woman's eyes.

"That certainly sounds like Alexander. Over the years, I've learned that if you want an explanation from him, you need to ask for it - and even then there's a chance he won't give one. He once told me that 'a splash of mystery was good for the soul' when I asked him how my kitchen window was broken. And punctuality has never been one of my grandson's strong-suits."

She started shaking her head in loving exasperation, but winced and closed her eyes when she accidentally sent the world reeling as a wave of dizziness hit her. She kept her eyes closed as she continued talking, lowering her head to rest on her crossed arms. "Here's hoping that today is the exception - he doesn't have time to be late."

[Primary Sickbay]

A splash of mystery is good for the soul... Felicity snorted with amusement. Always headstrong, then. "I must remember that one," she muttered, it would be a useful line for when she didn't feel like writing incident reports. "The smart ones are always the hardest to stay angry with."

She felt a pang in her stomach then, a sensation not related to the illness tearing through her body. She wondered for a moment if her mother knew what was happening on Columbus, but almost immediately concluded then that she must, given her station at the Medical Academy. Felicity knew it was more likely that her mother wasn't aware that her eldest was also in the vicinity. Greg might speak more often to their mother, but he usually said much less.

The last conversation she'd had with the woman had not been pleasant. But then, Felicity groggily thought, their conversations were very rarely anything else, and there was really nothing she could do about that fact. Particularly not when, much like Nora, her eyelids were becoming far too heavy for her face and each blink was a flutter closer to sleep.

As Nora rested her head on her arms, Felicity was tempted to follow suit. Instead, she rested her chin in her palm, and began considering all of the things she was going to do once this was all over. "Once we get out of here, Nora, I'm going to sleep for a week. Then I might take some shore leave, I'm definitely due. Have you ever been to Pacifica? All those warm seas and white beaches. We should go."

She rambled on for another minute or so, but it wasn't long before her eyes closed again, eager for darkness. Just five minutes... She repeated to herself.