Play@YSDC

The following day, you're back at the UCLA, carrying with you the small sample of Nectar that Ian left in the vial. Hopefully, it will be enough to understand the nature of this substance. But first, you need to gain access to a lab.

OOC:   So, how do you proceed?

"Let's go visit Dr. MacDunn," says Holly. "I'm sure he'll be of help in getting us access to a chemistry lab, at least if he knows what's good for him. We can make it clear that he'll never see us again after this if he helps us out, which will give him another incentive."

McDunn is understandably not happy to see you again so soon. It requires some pushing and pulling on your side to finally convince him. "All right, all right. I'll ask a favor from a friend at the chemistry department, but that's it. I don't want to see you again, and I won't be responsible for any trouble you'll end up causing there".

OOC:   I'll take a 1-point Bargain spend from Holly.

Half an hour later, you are inside the new and clean laboratory of the chemistry department. Holly carefully places the few drops of Nectar you have under the microscope, and begins her analysis. The drug is not similar to any known biological or chemical compound. It's possible that it's alive, but not in any known pattern, and it's not clear whether it would be best classified as animal, plant, fungus, or something else entirely.

Holly,Roll against a stability loss.

While Holly is disturbed by the apparent defiance of known science, she assures herself that there must be an explanation. "It's...organic," she says, peering into the microscope. "I think."

OOC,I spend the point of Bargain. Can I also use Biology, Chemistry, and or Pharmacy to help with the analysis? Stability roll (no points spent): [dice]0[/dice]

Holly is confused by what she's seeing... but she's sure she can get more information out of the sample, working on it a couple more hours...

Holly,No stability loss for you. No spend is available for this, all the information you can get, you'll get simply by having the required ability.

Holly continues to study the substance, determined to find out what this stuff is and how it works.

OOC,Thanks. I'll definitely take the needed time.

You think that the substance might react to light, perhaps to different segments of the electromagnetic spectrum. In particular, you know ultraviolet has a sterilizing effect. It might be worth checking that out.

Once again, you get contradictory results. Sometimes it seems light intensifies the activity of particles inside the substance... yet a few seconds later, it just slows down without apparent reason. You almost feel like it's making fun of you.

Again, you feel you're nearing a breakthtrough. But you would need some more time...

Holly,Another Stability roll for Holly.

"Sorry to disturb you Doc, but is there anything I can do to help in any way? Other than watch your back that is."

Clarence does anything Holly asks, fetching and carrying as well as lifting equipment as she asks for it.

The bizarre properties of this substance are starting to get to Holly.

OOC,Stability roll (no points spent) continuing to analyze the Nectar: [dice]0[/dice]

There seems to be some pattern to the movement of the particles. Some kind of rhythm, too? Perhaps it follows some mathematical laws, or has a regolar structure, like music. You try to sketch the particles's path inside the liquid, but just a couple won't be enough. You need to study more of them, but you feel you're almost there. Just a couple more hours...

Holly,You lose 2 Stability for your failed roll. And you need to check one more time :D

Clarence,You think there's something... obsessive... about Holly's behavior right now. She barely answers your questions, and looks lost in her work. Her eyes have a distant look that scares you a little.

Overlord87,Does the way Holly is acting remind me in any way Ian was when he was under the influence?

"Here Doc have a coffee, surely a break for a few minutes will help you gather your thoughts, maybe give you a bit of a different angle to see this from. I normally use bourbon myself, when I have a difficult case to work through, but all I can rustle up here is a coffee I'm afraid." Clarence says peering intently at Holly.

"Thank you," says Holly, "but we shouldn't have any food or drink in the lab, for safety reasons. I don't dare leave the sample unattended either. I can have the coffee when I'm done. I'm this close to understanding what's going on with this stuff." She continues her work, now obsessed with unraveling the mystery.

OOC,Stability roll (no points spent) to finish the analysis: [dice]0[/dice]

"Doc, I really think you need to take a break - you've been at it for ...almost five hours now... non-stop, If you won't allow coffee in the lab, then let's step away for a few minutes to the canteen. It will give you time to gather your theories together. Sometimes a step back can show something you are missing when you look at a problem too closely.

OOC:   Overlord87,Although Clarence would probably be unaware of the protocols with regard to this kind of research, could he get a chance at guessing that she is under the influence, probably though breathing in fumes, or skin contact obviously he has not see the results of the compound under the scope either. Yet!

"Thank you, but I assure you I'm all right," says Holly. "During my internship, I routinely worked 36 hours in a row. I'm almost done anyway, and I don't want to leave the sample unattended, as I said."

Holly sketches down the movement pattern of the particles, in search of more clues. There seems to be some regularity to it,and she finds herself mapping the particles's position in space through mathematical equations. She seems to be remembering complicated mathematical concepts she has studied once and not used for years, but they come back clearly as she delves deeper into this work. As she finishes writing the equations, she recognizes a closed system. Now, she needs to solve it... almost there...

Holly,Another Stability roll please ;)

Clarence,You don't know much about the work she's doing, and have no idea if she might have come in contact with the substance (or its fumes or something). If so, she's showing different symptoms than Ian did. Still, she's now writing down numbers as some crazy scientist would. It doesn't seem normal to you.

Holly takes a step back, disturbed. "Maybe you're right," she says. "I do need a break."

OOC,Stability roll (no points spent) continuing the analysis: [dice]0[/dice]

Holly squeezes her eyes shut, wincing. "In fact, maybe I'd better stop altogether," she says, taking a deep breath. "I...I can feel a headache coming on."

"Right that does it then Holly, lets wrap this up for a while - you need to clear your head, and the fact that you are getting a headache will not be helping you to concentrate now will it? Let's grab that coffee, unless you'd prefer something else of course - it's on me."

Holly nods, numbly allowing Clarence to escort her to the cafeteria.

Clarence watches Holly closely before asking solicitously;

"Do you want something to eat Doc, what do you want? You really need to have something you know." Whatever she wants, I'll get two of them, one each, and sit her down by a window.

"Now you know I ain't the scientific type here Doc, but what have you found so far? Try and keep it simple for this ol' addled brain of mine." he adds with a smile on his face.

"Thank you," says Holly, "I'll take you up on that. I'd like a nice, thick, juicy steak - if they've got that here. If not, I'll settle for a hamburger. As to the substance, I'm not entirely sure what to make of it myself. It seems to defy analysis, and I mean that literally. It's as though it's deliberately trying to keep me from uncovering its secrets, if that makes any sense."

Holly feels better after a cup of coffee and something to eat. It's still early afternoon, so there would be some time to proceed with the analysis, although just thinking about it it's enough to make Holly nauseous.

"I don't feel up to continuing the analysis, to tell you the truth," says Holly. "Maybe we should just destroy the sample."

Clarence looks worriedly at Holly before saying;

"Whatever you say goes Doc, you know what's best in this case I'm sure. How could we destroy it though? I doubt pouring it down the sink would not be a good idea I reckon eh?" He adds nudging her elbow. "But seriously though, what's the plan?"

OOC:   Even incineration may not be a good idea - remember the ending of Day of the Dead (?) when all the ash fell ...

"Destroying it would be simple," says Holly, focusing on the practicalities so that she doesn't have to think about the disturbing things her analysis has uncovered. "All we have to do is run it through the autoclave."

"OK then Doc, let's do this; but before we do are you sure this is the right path? I mean, and I know I'm stating the obvious here but, once it's gone there is no going back."

"Well, there's still some time to try again," says Holly. "I'm not expecting any further results, and just the thought of continuing to poke at this stuff makes me sick to my stomach. I'd really rather not lose my lunch, but I just don't know. I guess we can always hold on to the sample and guard it carefully."

Clarence looked at Holly as though he were at a loss for words, after all scholarly mysteries are something he has little to no experience. Yet, he also thinks that it would be unwise to destroy the nectar.

"I get the feeling something isn't right, but we should find a way to stash the sample. Maybe a bit of time is all we need to figure out how this stuff works."