Through Time, Darkly

[Pryce]

Pryce.Research.N101
Main Hangar Bay


S...rations? Doctor Marcus Owens opened his mouth to add his answer, as Angela exclaimed; "Great! I'll get started!" Something...Old-fashioned. Pancakes maybe? She thought. Beaming, she walked quickly out of the hangar, apparently having forgotten Owens.


Owens stood silently a moment, then muttered under his breath; "Odd girl." He adjusted his labcoat uncomfortably, and turned to Doyle. "Right then. If you would kindly follow me Lieutenant. The tests we are looking to conduct at present, won't take more than a few minutes. The medlab is this way." At that, he began to walk towards the hatch, pausing for Doyle.



<span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%][color=#FFCC00]Sickbay

The present Sickbay on this Pryce vessel had been added almost as an afterthought. After so many refits in its relatively short history, the space alloted to Medical facilites had gradually gotten smaller and smaller, until Captain Wells had finally pushed for increasing emergency capacity. The result had been the refit of what once been a storage room for mining machinery. Cramped, with three beds, counters along every bulkhead, it contained a fairly correct set of medical equipment, to treat most light ailments and injuries, but as of yet, lacked a dedicated medical Doctor; though there were two crewmen with good emergency training.


Doctor Samantha Ross, technically the scientist in charge of this project, was having a conversation, and trying her best not to lose her calm.


"We just don't know enough yet. We've really only just gotten started with the man himself."


Professor Ulysses Morris spoke as if he was addressing a first year assistant, as he did with most everyone he met, a patronising, indeed sarcastic, tone wrapped in a layer of impatience; "If you force me to take charge of this project Samantha, I'm afraid that it shall leave you with nothing to do, no reason to be with us at all. That would be quite a shame, as I was led to believe you have a reputation for expedient progress. Such a pity that it appears to be unfounded."


Ross fought to keep her voice even. So few had the power to draw her ire as Morris did. Most especially when he was in one of his moods. "Professor, in just a few minutes, we're going to draw a sample of Doyl..."


"I am quite weary of hearing what you *intend* to do Samantha. I want the full results, and I want them soon. The Instiute needs results. We don't have the resources for a ten year study here, and we need something that I can use to.." Morris paused. "Send me everything that you have so far."


Ross hesitated. "Incomplete data can be harmful Professor, I trust you recall Doctor Pryces' last survey in the Kansas system?"


Morris didn't respond for a moment. Then; "I want everything you have transmitted to the N102 by the end of the day, or I will come over there and obtain it myself. "


The communication cut off abruptly, and Ross was alone in the sickbay. She was used to Morris' unpleasant demeanor, and knew her friendship with Doctor Pryce was all that kept him in check. But lately, she'd noticed somewhat unsettling changes in his behavior, his directives. This odd directive to obtain a fairly large amount of unrefined gold ore, for example. The requirement to do so specifically with the use of a third party, also something that had begun to make her worry. She would have to have a talk with Wesley when they got back to the Institute. It was something she didn't want to do. The old man had quite enough to worry about.

She glanced at the door, then at the time. What's keeping them?

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