A most inconvient observation

Posted on 26 Sep 2014 @ 3:49pm by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D.
Edited on on 26 Sep 2014 @ 3:57pm

1,223 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo, Deck 3, Sickbay
Timeline: MD 09 - 0600

ON:

Allyndra was in the medical lab. She was looking at samples from several tribbles to verify how well the compound was holding the tribbles in check from continuing to make more of themselves. The metabolite was remarkably stable in the tribble but while that was good, Allyndra did not want to kill the things by having a toxic molecule stay too long. Eventually even something like this would eventually be eliminated and at what point did the effectiveness go away.

Thus she was busy studying the pharmacokinetics of the metabolite and figuring a way to balance the break through between too much and too little. Her bandaged left hand itched and she absently scratched at it but was reminded just how tender it still was though she had gotten rid of the bandaging many hours ago as her body began the process of rebuilding the lost members.

"How goes the research," asked Tuula, rolling into Allyndra's lab. She was having trouble sleeping and decided to check in. A couple of tribbles that were resting on her lap immediately started scurrying around, trying to get away from Allyndra. Napping in Allyndra's office, she was practically covered in them, and found that she had to be careful getting around so as to avoid running over any little speedbumps. Immediately, she noticed the bandage around Allyndra's left hand. "But more importantly, how is your hand doing?"

"Hmmm........, oh, sorry, that metabolite is interesting. While it will work I have looking at seeing if a long term stable molecule can be formed so that those who would like to keep the little things as pets can do so without problems." Allyndra deliberately avoided the question of her hand.

Tuula nodded along, staring at the bandage on her hand the whole time while she gently removed the tribbles form her lap. "And your hand?"

"It is fine. Though it itches abominably where the fingers are growing," Allyndra replied absently more focused on the biochemistry of the molecule before her.

"You're sure I can't-- wait, fingers are growing?"

"Hmm....," Allyndra was still looking at the monitor. "Yes.....," she replied and then it struck her that she had been absently answering. She turned and then looked at the hand. "Yes, we regenerate. It was a gift given to us long ago by certain A'ksu...," Allyndra knew Tuula would not understand the word, but did not give a real translation, "scientists."

"Fascinating," replied Tuula. "I've heard of something like that in newts, but never in humanoids. You said it was a gift?"

"Yes, it is not a natural thing that was evolved. Are you familiar with Lieutenant Kohl?" Allyndra asked and nodded. "He sustained a serious injury," Allyndra did not want to say spinal but Tuula would be able to look at the records. "To his spine from a Borg attack. I got permission from my government to look into the old files on how this was achieved in order to allow him to regenerate. The procedure," Allyndra made a face. "Was not entirely successful. His body rejected the Akkadian genes."

"Oh, that's too bad. It sounds like it could be quite the medical breakthrough." Though her voice was calm and her response deadpan, she could feel her heart begin racing. Qucikly, she brushed that little flutter of hope aside. There were times when she met doctors who promised her that with their new radical treatments, that they might be able to restore her motion and feeling in her legs. But invariably, the plans of these snake oil salesmen wouldn't materialize.

Quacks, the lot of them. After her last experience as a guinea pig, Tuula resolved to stop putting hope in some miracle cure waiting in the wings and to simply accept her condition and own it. Of course, it didn't stop other doctors from seeing her as someone who was broken and needed fixing.

Sometimes, she really hated other doctors.

"Any plans for future research?" Tuula asked, nonchalantly.

"I am not certain at this point. Kohl regained about seventy percent of full function but he has not approached me since and tell the truth I am not sure I would want to subjugate him as a continuing experiment." Allyndra replied. She then looked hard at Tuula.

"I am sorry," she said now looking at the new growth on her hand, "I did not want you to know and also know that I tried to transfer the ability to another. I thought that by saying nothing it would not give false expectations."

"False expectations?" Tuula's voice betrayed a slight indignation at the fact that Allyndra was intentionally keeping something from her, as though she was too fragile to handle the information. "I've been down that road before, doctor." Her voice had turned serious. "Allyndra, if you want to further your research on this subject, go ahead. I'm sure it's valuable medical research. Just... don't do it because of me, okay? I'm sick of my colleagues seeing me as their own little personal project, like a piece of broken furniture that needs fixing."

Allyndra shook her head in frustration. "No you misunderstand. I never did want to use you or anyone else as a test subject. The whole episode with Kohl reminded me that we leap too fast sometimes. What I was concerned about was that knowing would give false hope." She looked at the hand and the regrowing appendages turning it this way and that.

"I thought I had the skills, but the ancient A'ksu were beyound me. If Kohl had been a complete success...." Allyndra trailed off. "I failed to return him to complete health. I will not try it again."

"Don't give up," started Tuula. "It sounds like your research has potential here; you think Salk got everything right the first time they tried out the Polio vaccine? Or that Pyong Ko cured cancer on his first attempt?"

Allyndra looked at Tuula carefully. "Perhaps, but then as you yourself indicated a moment ago, who would be the test subject. I offered hope that turned out to be a falsehood. I would not do so again. Tests can be made in simulation but in the end it comes down to using a person. The A'ksu had little compunctions and restraint for what they did. I would like to think myself different from my long gone ancestors."

Tuula took a deep breath. She couldn't believe what she was about to do. "You know what? If it will help the cause of science, you can use me," she said, reluctantly. "When you feel your research is ready for human experimentation, I'll be your guinea pig."

Allyndra cocked her head. She had just heard Tuula say she did not and yet now she was offering. Perhaps, she wondered, was it the approach. Many would try thinking they had something over and over but one taste of partial failure had changed her outlook. She took a deep breath.

"You have a scientific head, tell you what, if after more work and simulations and you look at all the work you feel it is ready then we shall try again. Are we agreed?" Allyndra asked.

"It's a deal."

OFF:

Lt Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Gallileo

Lieutenant (J.G.) Tuula Voutilainen, M.D.
Medical Officer
USS Galileo

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