Ganymede Station by D. M. Pruden

Author:D. M. Pruden
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Fuzzy Slipper Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Five of us crowd into Requiem's medical bay. Chloe sits on the examination table, her face pale and drawn. Chambers hovers beside her like a protective older brother interposing himself between her and Willis, who leans against the wall.

There is not enough space for Donovan, so he stands outside the open door with Schmaltz and the rest of the ship's crew. The rapt audience is silent as Ephram Corvis works.

If I had doubts about his genius, they evaporated shortly after we returned. He absorbed my extensive notes in a matter of minutes and followed up with complex questions that were damned difficult for me to answer. I felt like an undergrad explaining my faulty thought processes that led to inevitable failed results.

To his credit, he wasn't a jerk about it, but the probing nature of his inquiry and the insight he displayed was intimidating.

Now versed in everything I thought I knew about the nanovirus, he is hunched over the computer interface, entering complicated coding instructions.

Risking a peek over his shoulder rewards me with further reason to question my professional competence.

"I'm not familiar with this programming language.”

He doesn't glance up. "It is my own invention. You could never fully decipher it, but I must say, I am impressed by your efforts. You almost cracked it."

From anyone else, it would sound condescending, but from Corvis it was an indisputable fact stated with utter candour.

He puts the final coding in place, and it is like a brick wall collapsing before me. The solution is so simple; I'm an idiot for not having seen it.

He sits straight, wearing a satisfied smile. "That should be it. You can begin synthesizing the counteragent immediately. Testing won't be necessary; it will work."

Twenty anxious minutes later, I hold the small vial containing the long sought-after cure for Chloe's terrible affliction.

"I really should test it," I say. Then, turning to Willis, I smile insincerely. "Roll up your sleeve."

He looks to Corvis, who smiles and shakes his head.

"It is perfectly safe, Carson."

Not seeming reassured, he reluctantly obliges me and presents his bared arm. As I prepare the hypo spray, I whisper for only him to hear, "I really hope your friend fucked up."

Before he can respond, I inject the compound into him and then step back quickly. We are both motionless, staring at each other and waiting to see what happens. After a few seconds, I say, "Hmm, that's encouraging."

Willis scowls. "What did you expect would happen?"

"I dunno. A cold sweat; perhaps convulsions. You don't feel the urge to foam at the mouth or shit yourself, do you?"

"I believe she is pulling your leg, Carson," says Corvis. "Nothing like that will occur."

Willis relaxes. "Very droll, Doctor."

"The expression on your face was worth it. Anyway, I need a blood sample from you to verify the results. I should only require two or three litres from your femoral artery."

This time his reaction is to smile and extend his other arm. "You are amusing, Melanie."

I shrug and retrieve the collection kit from the drawer.

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