Lt. Commander Tahna Meru - Time, The Enemy Of All Things

[Tahna Meru]

((Medical Laboratory, Gibaria Outpost)) 

Meru reviewed the results herself. They were promising, though far from definitive. If they could copy the moss’s method of binding the radiation with fortifying minerals and metals (in small enough amounts to be safe for humanoids), then they could halt the cellular decay. And it ought to work in advance, too; take a dose before you come into contact, and you’re not playing catch up when the decay hits you. 

Tahna: The Gorkon’s on standby to begin replication of the inoculant as soon as we have one. 

V’Lar: Once the simulations have verified the shielding mechanism, I must still establish a method of safely duplicating it.

Pace: Response

Meru paused. There were no further changes in the moss, and the simulations were running as fast as they could. She left her workstation, going to stand beside the doctor, and lowered her voice slightly. 

Tahna: How are you holding up? Anything I can do on the patient side of things? 

V’Lar: ::Lowering her voice:: My cognitive and physiological metrics are within optimal parameters. As for the patients... at this juncture, the rate of cellular decay has outpaced our conventional medical resources.

“Within optimal parameters”... That was as close to a confirmation that the Vulcan was managing fine as Meru was going to get. She could parse the meaning of V’Lar’s second sentence, also. They were losing, and badly. Meru knew laying blame was useless, but it was impossible to face the dreadful reality of their situation without wondering how many patients might have been saved if she were smarter, or if they were better prepared for threats like this. But they couldn't alter these variables. There would always be threats they couldn't possibly anticipate. 

Tahna: Do you think we'll be able to save any of them?

V'Lar: ::Maintaining a low tone:: The exotic radiation is proving terminal to all admitted subjects. Statistically, only a minor percentile may survive long enough for an effective treatment to be synthesised and administered. Given that the civilian medical staff cannot arrest the cellular decay, I am focusing resources on those who are likely to survive the longest.

Tahna: Understood. 

Meru nodded slowly. So…maybe they could save a few. Maybe they were all lost, and all treatment was just delaying the inevitable. But they had to do whatever they could. They weren't here to just give up. 

V’Lar: ::Lowering her voice further:: The civilian medical personnel next door are experiencing acute emotional distress. They are not equipped for the psychological strain of witnessing their colleagues expiring in such a manner. I propose I trade places with them. I am biologically equipped to administer terminal care without succumbing to psychological strain; furthermore, I can still contribute remotely to the development of an inoculant.

Tahna: No one is equipped for that psychological strain, but we need you here. The best thing we can do for everyone is finish an inoculant. 

It sounded cold as she said it. V'Lar was an invaluable asset, even with her attention split by remotely managing the patient crisis. But any delay in developing the inoculant could cost them even more lives. They needed the doctor's help here, the others…would just have to make do with years of therapy after, she supposed. It was true, no one could really be equipped for what they'd seen. 

Pace: S-sorry to interrupt, sirs. The simulations are about a quarter complete now and are currently corroborating our hypothesis.

Meru moved, turning to face the Elaysian scientist, ignoring the sinking feeling in her chest from her talk with V’Lar. 

Tahna: That's good news. 

V’Lar: Response

Pace: I could try and start finding equivalent options from our universe to use in the inoculant if that would be helpful, sirs? I mean, nothing will be solid until the end of the five minutes, but having options may at least speed up the inoculant process, right?

Tahna: Do it. 

Pace / V’Lar: Response

Meru returned to her workstation. She resisted the urge to pace, flexing her fingers instead to release some of the built-up nerves while she thought. Minerals, metals, and polysaccharides…they should be able to work with that on a cocktail to prevent further degradation. It almost seemed too simple (though she wasn't complaining).

Tahna: I wonder if the moss is able to recognize those elements in other creatures. 

Pace / V’Lar: Response

Tahna: We have no idea its level of intelligence, and we won't really have time to look into it. But I wonder if it's possible that those elements you found don't just inoculate it against its own digestive effects…maybe they're common to flora from this other universe. They don't seem to be digesting each other as readily as…us. I bet, on some level, the plants can tell their kind from ours. 

Pace / V’Lar: Response

--
Lt. Commander Tahna Meru
First Officer
USS Gorkon (NCC-82293)
G239801TM4