Fandom Into the fire (1x1 MzHyde/Gallifrog)

[_gallifrog_]

"They really are" John had to smirk at the antics of the two. Paradoxically Rinaa seemed more relaxed on Attil than she had been on the ship, unlike the rest of them, who were far more uneasy on Attil, knowing the dangers it could bring to them. Even if they had seen next to nothing of the teenager in that time, the difference was noticeable "she seems to like it here, which make sense if she partially grew up here." Chas remarked,catching Cal's attention. "The kid grew up here?" she questioned, turning to look at the cabbie, who simply nodded.

"Well that explains how she knows the best pizza place around, and that prawn crackers on a pizza is the best topic possible from that place." Cal remarked, prompting an eye roll from Cliff. "There's more important questions than food here Cal" "Such as?" "who raised her? Why here? Does she play? And if so is she any good?" Cliff questioned, more to herself than anybody else. "Well clearly she knows you in the future Cliff, she was the one who knew you were the person to contact to get us onto Attil without creating a giant diplomatic incident."

 

[MzHyde]

The difference was indeed noticable in Rinaa. She was glad Rinaa was showing signs of being happier, now that the word was out. Kay also thought how it was over the top moments like this that meant she could bond with Jay in a more relaxed fun manner, and clearly Jay needed it aswell. The shock from Cal upon hearing she grew up here on Attil didn't surprise her. They all went through that shock when they first heard it. Though hearing about prawn crackers on pizza did make her grimmace by wrinkling up her nose, it sounded absolutely vile to her and considering her current state, did not help matters. It even made run her free hand in a circular motion over her stomach, mentally pleading with her body to not let her be sick again.

As Cliff started asking questions, she let John explain the whole how they got in touch with her in particular to get on the planet. As Kay thought back on that moment, she remembered how no one blinked an eye or questioned how Rinaa knew Cliff, just took her word for it. Now they had spent some time together, it now made sense to Kay. Of course Rinaa would know her in the future if she's the soon to be wife of Cal.

 

[_gallifrog_]

"I'm pretty sure a giant diplomatic incident is going to be created regardless of how sneakily you got yourselves onto the planet." Cal remarked, resulting in nods, chuckles and admissions of you're right about that from the rest of the group. Jay and Rinaa were waiting at the bottom of the steps, leaning against the wall in identical what took you guys so long? postures. It appeared to Chas that Jay had gotten over the initial shock of Rinaa's existance, and now the two were at least attempting to bond properly.

Cal's apparent block was located in a complex of other similar blocks. It was all barracks staff accomodation, and within the surrounding walls of the training base. The group headed out, away from the living complexes and towards the main area. Cal was the first to leave the group, kissing Cliff quickly, before heading in the direction of amphitheatre, as the forge was located near by. Cliff continued in the opposite direction, towards the ship parking bays. "Robotics, medicine and most of the other labs are all in the same complex. Having them near to the hospital and the ship docks makes life easier" She pointed out the complex in question, which was located right beside the wide flat emergency landing bays.

 

[MzHyde]

Like the others, the little comment of Cal's did indeed make Kay chuckle. She had a point and she just felt it in her gut along with everything else that things were t going to stay so quiet and relaxed, when it came to getting Elliott out tonight. She just hoped that whatever was wrong with her, it didn't cause a problem. She didn't want to hold people back. She also had noted when they reached the bottom of the stairs, how Jay was around Rinaa.

She found it so sweet how Cal was so open with Cliff as she left too. She listened to Cliff explain where the med lab was and why they were all so close to each other. It did make sense to her, especially the hospital and med lab being so close to the landing bays. With all the kinds of incidents that could happen out in space, needing help close by when you land makes sense. "Makes sense" she commented in response, her mind not really there but not really elsewhere either.

 

[_gallifrog_]

Once again, the building was swipe card and scan protected. Which posed no problem to Cliff, who already had the clearance. Inside she grabbed five guset lanyards "There shouldn't be any problems, but if just in case anything does arise, you are idenpendent researchers working with me on a classified reaserch programme. And if they ask for details, just spout the usual 'what part of classified do you not understand?' spiel until the back off." Seeing the looks on the others faces she reiterated " Worst case scenario, expect the best, but prepare for the worst."

Cliff grabbed a lab coat and a set of goggles from a hook, they were clearly hers judging by the fit and the fact that her name was written on it. She passed a set of goggles to Rinaa, Jay and Chas. "I take it you know where the robotics lab is?" Rinaa nodded. "If you need me, tell Deke to make himself useful and call me." without even needing to be told, she'd spilt the group, knowing who wanted to be with who, in order to make things less awkward.

 

[MzHyde]

Reaching the building, Kay took notice of the locking system even though she didn't need to. It was none of her business after all. Walking in with everyone, she listened to what Cliff told them, making sure to remember that but hoped it wouldn't come to that whatsoever. As Cliff handed them the guest lanyards, she took hers and put it on. Unlike the others who gave her varying looks to her instructions, Kay didn't, instead just looking between them all but not really paying attention to them- only what Cliff told them all.

Kay also noted how Cliff handed Jay, Rinaa and Chas the goggles, and pretty much informing them in her own way to go elsewhere. "They weren't joking about how good an observer Cliff is" Kay thought to herself, actually feeling glad that she easily noted how Kay just wanted John around. As much as she liked Chas, and tolerated the girls, she didn't want to be gawked at the whole time. It was bad enough at Cal's place in the bathroom. She had a feeling Chas would get informed later on when they had answers anyway, considering he was John's best friend and Kay herself considered Chas a friend as well. It was just easier for her to deal with what was coming up with only John and Cliff around.

 

[_gallifrog_]

"Robotics lab?" John asked. Alien tech wasn't really his thing, it was more up Chas's alley, but regardless, it still sounded pretty awesome. Like being let lose inside a NASA facility or something. "The kid needs a favour from Deke, and that's where he hangs out, he's our resident mad scientist guy. She was going to be going there anyway, but since you could get dsitacted by the lab for hours on end, so they'll be out of your hair for as long as necessary." She replied, leading them along the ground floor corridors. The med lab was through another set of doors.

"How did you know how to split us?" John was curious as to how exactly Cliff knew to divide them. "Being deaf means I don't trust what people say, I rely on my other senses more than my ears. I'm extremely observant of stuff and people, which is why the crew call me a lie detector as a joke. I see what others miss."

 

[MzHyde]

Kay glanced at John when he asked about the robotics lab. For someone who was all about the old books and such, she was the tiniest bit surprised that he sounded curious about such a lab. Yet this is what she loved, she loved learning new things about him the longer they were together. As Cliff explained, Kay with John, followed her to the med lab on the ground floor through the doors. Then came the question of how she knew how to split them up. Kay out to down to the fact Kay had mentioned John during their private chat and none of the others, and the fact she hadn't let go of his hand the entire time but remained distant from the others.

She noted Cliff's reply and a small smile appeared on her mouth. "probably not that difficult to figure out either...pretty sure everyone could figure out I don't want them around..as much as I like Chas... The previous group staring at me freaked me out. Combining that with me not letting go of you John, it's pretty easy" She added after Cliff's statement. Her tone had no negative connotations to it, it was just quiet like it had been all morning. Except when she made the comment about Jay and Rinaa. She didnt feel like she had to pretend so hard now it was just the three of them.

 

[_gallifrog_]

"There is that too" Cliff smiled, nothing had escaped her notice, even though she'd been around them for so little time. "And it makes life easier for me too, not having to deal with the entirety of....whatever collective noun you guys use to describe yourselves." Part of that seemed from being deaf, Cliff had problems with dealing with large groups unaiddd, but with one or two people, she could usually get along perfectly fine. She swiped into the lab as she spoke. The air noticeably changed from the corridor to the lab. The lab air was filtered, not to full clean room levels, but the difference was noticeable.

The lab was nothing impressive, just the stanadrda collection of large machinery, computer screens, devices that beeped in some way or another, and the occasional doctor working on whatever they were doing, some with patients, some not. Nobody payed any attention to Cliff and the others, just like she said they would. Cliff lead them towards her favoured work area, which was near the windows looking out.

 

[MzHyde]

Kay couldn't help but smile slightly when Cliff did. She definitely had that aura that made things like breaking into a smile contagious, only solidifying why Cal loved her so much. "don't think we really have a collective noun for us lot..we all seem to call ourselves various things. Me personally? Favour the 'motley crew' term" she replied. Kay could also respect how Cliff preferred to work and be around less people than more. Something that had recently been a thing with Kay as well.

Walking into the lab, the air difference was the first thing that she noticed. It may not have had that clinical cleanliness level of difference about it, but it was close in Kay's mind. Then she noticed how other staff were working on one thing or another or a patient as she followed Cliff to her favoured work area. Kay noticed how it had a window that looked out to the outside world and saw why Cliff liked it. She didn't just sit down either, and instead waited to be told where to sit. She knew she'd have to also let go of John's hand at some point but was still hesitant to do so.

 

[_gallifrog_]

"I personally favour Morons United, but that sounds like a sports team." John commented. "But motley crew works too." Cliff had to laugh at that "There is actually a sports team called Morons United, they aren't much good as sports players, and spend their time taking this piss out of sport." "Seriously?" John couldn't tell if Cliff was taking the piss or not, Cliff's answering smirk told him all he needed to know. "They're a real thing alright, people have pretty weird ideas sometimes."

"Sit wherever, just not on any equipment or files" Cliff added, pulling out a vial of blood from her pocket. It was encased in ice, which strangely wasn't melting. But even through the opaque ice, it was clear the blood belonged to Rinaa. The ice vanished as she touched the vial, seeping into her body. She put it in the fridge, then started prepping a clean syringe.

 

[MzHyde]

Kay smirked at John's contribution of his favoured name for their little group that seemed to always be growing. When Cliff said there was a real sports team called morons United, she had to believe Cliff was joking but like John, her smirk told her she wasn't joking at all. Kay thought she couldn't hear anything weird, then Cliff came long and proved her wrong. When she got told to sit anywhere, she glanced around and sat down on a chair.

It was only then did she gain the guts to let go of John's hand which was only so she could take her jacket off to make things easier for Cliff to get the blood tests done. She draped her jacket over the back of the chair behind her in a manner that meant she could just slide her arms back in and pull it on easily. She watched as she pulled the vial of blood she had from someone else and how it was encased in her ice. She found it mesmerising how her power just seeped back into her when she touched it.

Then came her nerves again as Cliff prepared another syringe for her. She seriously hated being so shit with needles. The only giveaway she was nervous was the fact she was pressing her right thumb into her left palm hard.

 

[_gallifrog_]

Seeing that both were staring at the blood vial, Cliff added the context. "Jay asked me to re-run her DNA match tests since there's better equipment here. And it has dealt with both lynacthropes and chimeras before, so the results shouldn't be corrupted." John found it strange that despite knowing Rinaa was Elliott's and Jay's, she wanted to run the test again, maybe it was confirmation she wanted, or maybe there was something else.

Cliff had taken many, many, many blood samples in her life, so she knew when somebody had a fear of needles. She had drawing blood down to an art. Cliff located her oerfered vein of choice and less than ten second elapsed before she withdrew with the blood sample.

 

[MzHyde]

Kay nodded when Cliff gave context to the vial at hand. She also found it strange that Jay would want it to redone but she wasn't going to question Jay's reasons or motives for the request. It was sort of none of their business anyway, even if they were both incredibly curious.

Kay relaxed her hand when Cliff came over and she refused to look down at the needle. When she noticed Cliff turn back after doing it, she was surprised how quickly she had done it with Kay barely noticing. When it was okay to do, she pulled back on her jacket, which had rapidly become a comfort thing to her. The fact it was too big on her helped her get that comforting vibe. "So..what happens now? How long will it take for example?" She asked Cliff.

 

[_gallifrog_]

Cliff measured out the necessary amounts of each blood, labelling the tubes to ensure she didn't suddenly declare Kay was a chimera by accident and that was why she was getting sick. Two vials, two different machines, that was all it took. "Now we wait. I doubt these machines have ever run pheonix blood, which must have some general differences to human blood, Devra blood etcetera. Usually I'd run the blood against a basic template to look for irregularities, but since I don't have a template, I'm going to see how the machine and programming copes on its own"

Cliff sat down, opened the laptop and connected it up. "Usually it doesn't take longer than an hour. It'll run the standard program, nothing special, just the genarl screening I'd use for a case like this when I'm working. It'll do the basic stuff first, flu strains, anemia, vitamin defiency, allergies that sort of stuff, then it'll go the more complex stuff"

 

[MzHyde]

Kay watched Cliff the whole time. Her old habit of needing to see how things work showing itself again. She was pretty sure the last time she was like this when was John,Chas and Elliott trained her in various things to protect herself. Listening to Cliff give her the answer of what was to happen now, she wondered when she figured out Kay was a phoenix. She didn't recall telling her that, but did remember telling Cal. So she put it down to possibly Cal or Jay telling Cliff what she was.

She continued to watch as Cliff sat down and opened the laptop to kick things off and get the tests to start running. She felt so glad she wasn't here alone with Cliff, as it was now she'd need John because the waiting game was always the worse part for her. "Gotta ask..how do you know what I am?" She couldn't keep the question to herself anymore.

 

[_gallifrog_]

"I didn't deduce it, if that's what you are wondering" Cliff answered, not looking up from setting up the systems. "Cal was told by Qui..... Elliott....whatever he goes by now." she was still uncertain as to what exactly to call him, she'd never been formally introduced, but that was Cal's plan for later, now that he brother knew. "And then she told me earlier, when she realised I'd need to know this for running tests."

John nodded, the explanation made sense, Elliott had told Cal all about them, no idea how much, but presumably the important things like Chas being kind of immortal, Kay being a Pheonix, Jay being an Isogrii warrior assain pilot person.

 

[MzHyde]

Kay listened to Cliff's answer, finding her presumption was sort of correct. It also made sense as to why Cal wasn't phased one bit when she brought it up. It also surprised her slightly that Elliott said as much as that about her. She didn't think he would, not that she had any idea how he would talk about her and her role in the group. "Makes sense" she replied.

Kay glanced out the window as she waited, feeling restless with nerves about what the answer could possibly be. The only thing stopping her from getting up and pacing constantly to the point it'd be irritating, was John's presence. If it was just her and Cliff she most definitely would be pacing, to the point Cliff would have tie her to the chair to stop her getting up again. Her right leg started bouncing as she waited, and she tried to make it stop by placing her hand on her knee, but it didn't help whatsoever.

 

[_gallifrog_]

John started idly chewing on the hang nails on his thumb. It was something he rarely ever did. In fact he hadn't done it for a very long time. If Chas was there he would know that John was stressed about something. Hang nail chewing was a childhood habit of his. Strangely he never bit his nails. Outwardly his face showed no other signs of anything other than concentration and thought. The foot tapping didn't affect Cliff, if it did she would simply have turned down (or off) her hearing aids. John placed his other hand on Kay's knee, and squeezed gently.

Cliff stayed on the laptop, mainly shifting through other stuff not directly related to Kay. Her eyebrows raised in surprise at something on screen. "Huh?" She muttered to herself more than anybody else.

 

[MzHyde]

Seeing John chew on his nail was something she had never seen him do, which just showed how equally nervous he was. She never wanted to be the cause of making him nervous. She looked down at her knee when he placed his hand and squeezed her knee, which made her stop bouncing it. He seriously had an effect on her that was great. She grabbed his hand with her free hand, placing it on top of his. The action alone conveying she was thankful.

When Cliff reacted out loud to something, Kay's attention turned to her, but she thought it'd be too soon to be anything to do with her. "Everything alright?" She asked anyway, even though she could tell it was stuff not linked to her.

 

[_gallifrog_]

John interpreted her gesture of thanks, with a half smile, before returning to chewing. When Cliff reacted, he too looked up, seeing the expression of surprise and confusion on her face. "It's Rinaa's DNA, it's..." she tailed off, looking at the computer again, to assure herself that yes this was indeed what she was seeing infront of her. "not typical, even for a chimera." "How so?" John asked, he didn't posses the greatest knowledge of biology or anatomy, but he did know that normal human DNA was a double helix.

"Her DNA has far more helixes and add ons than I'd expect for a chimera, maybe too many, but I haven't dealt with a lot of chimeras. Her genetic structure is a mess, due to the lycanthrope stuff mainly. How much do you know about the species that bit her?" " Next to nothing"

 

[MzHyde]

Kay kept her hand on his when she asked Cliff if everything was alright. She was aware that John also looked over. Kay's curiosity got piqued when Cliff stated it was about Rinaa's DNA. Like John, biology was not a strong point of hers in any manner. She knew like he did about the human helix being a double helix but that was literally all. Even at school, the sciences were her weakest subjects. To no surprise, art was her strongest next to English.

She took in what Cliff continued to say, stating how Rinaa's DNA was different and extremely unusual, even for a chimera. She nodded in agreement when John said they knew next to nothing to what bit her. "She doesn't really talk to us so we have no idea. When she started to turn on the ship, she was alone with Jay" she added to the information. "So I'm guessing if anyone is to know anything it'd be her" she finished saying.

 

[_gallifrog_]

"I'll ask her later. I don't know a lot either, but for the meantime I do have access to a data base, which just so happens to have information about Astras wolves." She pulled up the relevant pages on the laptop. "I won't go into the mad scientist stuff in this but the gist of it is that Astras aren't a natural race. They were created when some scientists in a lab got too cocky with their gene therapy...modification, or whatever other illegal gene mainulpation they were doing. They were experimenting on wolves, presumably trying to weapon ise them or whatever else is the end goal of evil mad scientists with no morals."

Cliff clearly had no respect for people who abused science. " What they nded up creating was a super smart hybrid wolf, viscious, deadly and fast. Naturally they escaped and made it into the wild. Somewhere along the way they interbreed, gaining the ability to turn people. The process isn't fatal...normally." As Cliff spoke, she referred to the notes and documents on the laptop.

 

[MzHyde]

Kay watched as Cliff said about having access to a database that might help her out. She watched as Cliff opened up what she needed and then she listened as Cliff explained what she was reading and the history of Astras wolves. Hearing her lack of respect for those scientists was evident and Kay couldn't blame her whatsoever. They sounded like utterly vile people to do that to animals and eventually other people.

Kay hated the fact that there beings out there that treated others so poorly. It made her think back to the mysterious beings that wiped out her kind. She really had no time for those kinds of people. "But clearly with Rinaa something is different"

 

[_gallifrog_]

John listened, he had to agree with Kay. Once again Rinaa was a special case when it came to this. "She's not normal, hence the process isn't affecting her normally" "My thoughts exactly." Cliff agreed, scanning through the data. There wasn't much of it, due to the danger of studying the creatures, nobody was willing to do it. So the only information we're from cases like Rinaa- people who got bitten by accident. "From what I can tell, the transformation process seems to involve the DNA being rewritten. The code seems to change from regular race to Astra, or at keast Astras hybrid." Cliff's eyebrows furrowed together as she spoke, skim reading from her laptop.

"But Rinaa doesn't have normal DNA, she has multiple sets combined doesn't she?" John asked, pretty sure he was right, but not wanting to sound totally clueless. "Best I can tell the process is working as it was designed to, changing and destroying DNA, but with the multiple sets. She's destabilising. The extra sets are being eradicated. She is being rewritten from the inside out and it's killing her." Neither Cal nor Cliff had known Rinaa was dying, the only people who knew had told them the bare minimum about Rinaa. Cliff could tell that this wasn't news to John or Kay. "But you knew this already."