I See Fire, Hollowing Souls

Posted on Sat 2nd Feb, 2019 @ 1:15am by Lieutenant Commander Lanis Dhuro MD
Edited on on Sun 3rd Feb, 2019 @ 9:40pm

405 words; about a 2 minute read

Mission: A Diplomatic Affair
Location: Infirmary, Chief Surgeon's Office
Timeline: MD-2

The more Lanis read of Dr. Holly Ng-Day's papers, the more convinced he felt that she was not involved in scientific work related to creating Federation Borg. Her line of research into viruses was entirely different from that--at least, given what he had read of her papers.

He opened an encrypted log entry.

I suppose some bright young mind with a bent for evil could work out a way to pervert this research somehow, but I'm just not seeing it. It would be more difficult than it's worth, to adapt Dr. Day's work to use it for what was done to Commander Breaux. I suppose you could use nanites to transport viruses, but I don't see how that would produce the dermal plating and costal attachments I dissected. I just don't think this is it.

"Computer, close file of research paper written by Dr. Holly Ng-Day, and delete it from my device. Show me the list of Admiral Adrian Dobbs' papers that I have not yet read."

His computer... hesitated. It took a couple of seconds longer than usual for the list to appear. Lanis gave a low groan from deep in his throat.

"Computer, don't start this up with me again." He sighed and read down the list of Dobbs' papers. The man's body of work was impressive. Too bad he couldn't have put certain aspects of it to more humane use. And then Lanis saw a title that grabbed his attention. "Computer, display the following paper by Admiral Adrian Dobbs: 'Facilitation of Cellular-Molecular Fusion in the Construction of Biosynthetic Prosthetic Limbs with Nanites.'"

The text of the paper appeared on Lanis' computer screen--and then the image multiplied, as if the computer were showing numerous frames of a video presentation. Then the corners of the image on Lanis' computer screen began to burn.

"What in the Celestial Temple?!" Lanis stared, incredulous, at the image on his computer screen. Horror spread through him as the edges of the paper appeared to scorch and burst into flames all around the margins.

"Computer, take a screenshot of the current image displayed, and save to my working files!" His voice sounded harsher than it normally would have. He slapped at his combadge, not taking his gaze off the screen. "Lt. Baro, this is Dr. Dhuro. Come to my office as soon as you can, please. My computer is... I--I don't know what to tell you."

 

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