ISO- Beyond the solar system

by Travis Sande

  “Sorry, just got caught up in the moment, didn’t mean to snap at you.” Ben apologized for his outburst in the decon room. Without saying a word, Sian gave Ben a frustrated look and moved toward the exit.

  Derrick followed her back out and into the corridor. His main concern was getting get back inside to help Luke finish securing the vent. Derrick ran back to the rec area entrance and prepared the entrance cycle as Sian arrived. Once they were back inside, he left Sian behind. Luke could be seen where Derrick left him, sparks flew from the area.

  "You need a hand, Luke?" Derrick yelled as he approached.

  "No, I am good, just waiting on Sian to clear the section so I can seal it up." Luke said. "Actually, you could help me hold the vent in place until Sian finishes." Luke looked like he was starting to struggle a bit.

  "No signs of living bacteria anywhere in the corridor or rec area. Allow me to do a specific sweep of the healthy membrane before you seal it." Sian moved past Derrick and to the hole Luke had cut. "Looks good, secure the vent and we can restore ventilation."

  Derrick grabbed an end of the vent replacement and held it in place as Luke secured it. During Derrick's absence, Luke had prepared the healthy membrane with a sleeve of some kind. The sleeve disappeared inside the membrane and a section about six inches long exited the end on both sides. Luke was going to use that six-inch section to weld the replacement vent into place.

  "How is that sleeve secured inside?" Derrick asked.

  "It's the same adhesive we use to attach the membrane to the surrounding panels. It isn't the strongest, but it is airtight. I am hoping the rigid nature of the sleeve and vent will hold it in place. I am also going to tack the vent in several places to the surrounding metal. That should remove any stress on the adhesive holding the sleeve in place within the membrane." Luke began welding the vent into place.

  Derrick was surprised at just how comprehensive Luke's plan was. He had planned for every aspect of it. He knew Luke was capable, but his attitude and demeanour sometimes undermined his genius. Derrick was happy to see him in his element. Sparks flew past his head as Derrick averted his eyes from the section Luke was working on.

  "I’m going to check on Ben." Sian said as she retreated from the room.

  Luke continued to weld the vent into place. Before allowing Derrick to release his hold, Luke made several tack welds to hold the section in place.

  "Ok, you can let go." Luke said as Derrick released his hold on the venting. "I am just going to stay here and strengthen these welds to prevent any movement when we fire the vents up. You can head in with them if you want."

  Derrick jumped at the opportunity and took off for the bio lab. Curious what the others were doing with the infected piece of membrane, he broke into a jog. His excitement was boiling over as he felt the situation was finally concluding. The decontamination process seemed to take forever, as he wanted to burst inside and see the source of all his stress.

  The door finally opened, and he saw Ben and Sian already working on it. Ben was reaching inside the quarantine compartment with gloves affixed to the sides. They allowed him to manipulate the objects inside without breaking the seal. Derrick moved closer to look as Ben removed the membrane from the bag. It looked disgusting to Derrick as it still pulsated.

  The compartment had a section of tools hanging inside. Ben reached for a scalpel and began cutting the length of the membrane to open it up. Derrick huddled closer, like a child overturning a rock, he wanted to see every squirming detail hidden within. As the membrane opened he saw an organic carpet of little hair-like structures.

  "It looks surprisingly normal." Ben had confusion in his voice as he continued manipulating the membrane.

  "Yes, very little macroscopic change has occurred. The readings definitely show that it has been changed on a genetic level." Sian was nearby, examining a sample under the microscope.

  "It's supposed to look like that?" Derrick’s face contorted with disgust.

  "Yes, all these little fibres are the natural filtration surface.” Ben ran a tool over the fur-like surface of the internal membrane structure. “It specializes in destroying airborne pathogens. It's really quite remarkable when it's working as intended." Ben said.

  Ben took a small piece of the membrane and sliced it free from the mass. He dropped it into a small dish on one end of the containment unit. The dish appeared to be a scanner of some kind as Sian moved over to a small readout. She took a few moments to process the results. Ben pulled his hands out of the gloves and moved over to her side. Derrick glanced back at the membrane inside and noticed what he thought was a movement separate from the pulsing he saw earlier.

  "I think the membrane just moved." Derrick recoiled from the container.

  "That's just the pulsing of the muscle tissue. Since it is cut open the pulsing can cause it to move in an unsettling manner. The membrane has no brain or tactile nerves to process complex movement. Everything you see is simply the bio programming at work." Ben turned his attention back to Sian.

  "The system recognizes the membrane tissue as bacteria. This is very strange indeed." Sian said as she lifted her head from the readout. Looking at Ben with a confused look on her face, she continued. “Take a look.”

  Ben leaned over Sian’s shoulder and got a closer look at the readout. "If the membrane itself is made up of material genetically identical to the bacteria, how is it still functioning as the membrane at all? Shouldn't this be messing with the bio programming? My understanding is that they were all programmed via DNA. Logically if that DNA is fundamentally changed then none of the functionality should remain. Yet, if we observe it we can clearly see it still contracting." Ben was just as puzzled as Sian.

  "Wait, isn't the membrane created from Vryl tissue? Should we be concerned with how this might interact with Eilik." Derrick hadn’t considered that possibility until just now.

  "Actually, when we first saw the membrane interaction we decided to keep Eilik in a flight-suit at all times. He has restricted most of his time to the bridge. He has been effectively quarantined since the discovery. We didn't want to alarm the crew." Ben barely took his attention away from his current task to respond.

  Derrick was offended that he thought so little of the issue. "Wait, if you have had this concern the whole time, why I have been allowed to visit him, I was infected at one point." Derrick asked.

  Ben lifted his head to properly address Derrick’s concerns. "You were cleared by the bio-scan in the infirmary when Sian treated you originally; then again the next morning before you were allowed to schedule interaction with Eilik. As an added precaution we deemed it necessary that Eilik wear a flight suit.".

  "Is there anything else I should be aware of?" Derrick asked, frustrated at all the secrecy.

  "No, and now that we have this here and the rest of the ship is clear of the bacteria, Eilik should be able to rejoin us." Ben went on. "With Luke's help we will do one more complete sweep of all sections before officially recommending the quarantine lift for Eilik."

  "So, if this membrane is all bacteria on a genetic level, yet it's still functioning as membrane, is it possible that Eilik is all bacteria and still functioning as Eilik? This seems like a much larger concern than we were led to believe." Derrick was concerned for Eilik's well-being and the safety of the mission.

  "We have been testing Eilik daily for any signs of infection, he is clear. This has been our top priority since this outbreak as he is the only one capable of properly maintaining the Rift matrix. As it stands now I believe it is totally under control. Once we gather a little information from this thing we will be destroying it." Ben returned his focus to the membrane in front of him.

  "Hmm." Sian broke the discussion with a curious sound. "It would appear that the membrane is not functioning properly as a filtration device. It's merely mimicking it. The surrounding membrane must have been filtering the treatment, not this section. I have never seen anything like this." Sian's confusion was not settling Derrick's n
erves. "This could be an incredible discovery."

  "When you talk like that, you worry me, Sian. That doesn't sound like someone intent on destroying it, Ben." Derrick knew Sian would have a very scientific approach to the whole ordeal. Derrick was hoping that basic safety would overrule any fascination with the sample.

  "Destruction is still a must, I am simply stating how interesting it is. Presumably they would be able to replicate this in a lab on earth. Further study can take place there. I would never put the ship, crew, or mission at risk to satiate my curiosity." Sian defended her curiosity.

  "That sounds better." Derrick pointed to the membrane. “I want this thing gone as soon as possible.”

  Derrick’s attention was ripped away as the door to the lab opened. He could see Luke going through the decontamination process. He must have finished securing the vent and was coming to join them. Ben and Sian were still prodding and cutting the membrane. Derrick wanted to see it destroyed but their curiosity was quite evident. He heard the entrance procedure behind him complete and Luke entered.

  "Ok, we are ready to reactivate the rec area. Vent replacement is complete." Luke was excited to test his work. Once passing Derrick he noticed the membrane in the box. "What the hell are you guys doing in here?"

  "I think they are preparing dinner, Ben said he had a nice meal idea." Derrick attempted to lighten the mood.

  "Oh, it looks delicious." Luke didn’t miss a beat. "What is that, pulsating slime? I think that's a delicacy."

  "We are gathering a little information before we destroy this thing." Sian put an end to the levity.

  "Ok, well it looks like we have gathered enough, so where's the destroy button?" Derrick feigned a search around the room.

  "Derrick, please." Sian’s frustration was becoming more and more evident.

  "Guys, we have finally dealt with this situation I don't want to drag this out." Derrick said, getting increasingly more impatient to destroy the membrane. Two weeks dealing with this issue, he didn’t want to waste any time putting it completely behind them.

  "The commander is on his way here and once he is satisfied we will conclude." Sian reassured Derrick, putting her hand on his shoulder. “It’s fine, trust me.”

  "Are there enough suits for him to join us?" Luke turned back to the entrance, attempting to look through the glass.

  "The bio lab is equipped to handle the entire crew if necessary." Ben said. "I would appreciate it if Sian and I could continue uninterrupted for a moment."

  "Of course." Derrick hesitated before complying with the request. “I will do my garden check for the day.”

  Derrick and Luke gave them some space and moved toward the greenhouse. Derrick went through the entrance and started into his routine of checking the soil pods. The garden was really coming into its own, and sprouts had given way to full blown plants.

  "Wow, so this is what you've been doing up here." Luke followed him through the humidity barrier and into the greenhouse.

  "Yeah, it's coming along. I forgot you haven’t been in here at all." Derrick said, still concerned about the rec area, he forwent any segue and pressed Luke for details. "So, you got that all secured in there and we might have access again soon?"

  "It looks good and I think it will hold. The venting is probably more resilient than the surrounding membrane. The only thing I am not one hundred percent on is the adhesive within the membrane. It was designed for the limited airflow on the exterior. I did some simulations and I am confident it will perform well." Luke nodded, acknowledging Derrick’s question.

  "I’m just glad to get this entire thing behind us. Hopefully those two actually destroy it, they seem pretty enthralled." Derrick openly admitted his skepticism to Luke.

  "It's a unique situation so I understand the curiosity, they will get rid of it." Luke quickly changed the topic. "Is any of this ready to eat?" He ran his fingers over some of the plants.

  "We could harvest and eat a few now if we had to, yes. The idea is to create a sustainable crop and Ben has a schedule for everything. I basically just monitor and replenish the nutrient content of the soil. Sometimes I have to remove some dead tissue or adjust the irrigation system." Derrick said. "Pretty mundane, but relaxing."

  "Yeah, feels peaceful in here. What's that light hum I can hear and kind of feel?" Luke closed his eyes.

  "That is the misting system for the port side summer squash and spinach. It has a slight vibration to it I've noticed." Derrick could see that Luke needed a moment of relaxation. It was difficult to keep the rest of the crew in perspective sometimes. Seeing Luke engrossed in the calming nature of the greenhouse was rewarding. Derrick was happy to share the experience with him. The moment served to highlight how desperately they needed the rec area back.

  "Are they the only section that receives mist?" Luke kept his eyes closed as he spoke.

  "No, all the above ground vegetables get misted. There's a rotation to maintain relative humidity in here." Derrick enjoyed being the source of knowledge for a change.

  "Who knew gardening could be so boring?" Luke opened his eyes and looked back down to Derrick, smiling.

  "I did, I knew." Derrick laughed.

  Just then, the door to the bio lab opened and revealed commander Lorn. Derrick and Luke noticed him inside the decon chamber. They looked at each other and then hustled to exit the garden area. Once back into the main lab, Derrick saw Ben and Sian at the microscope and no longer probing the membrane. He found himself concerned that they were potentially taking tissue out of the containment chamber. Having already voiced his concern, he decided to defer judgement to the professionals in the field. Commander Lorn finished getting into his bio-suit and entered the lab.

  "Brief me quick because I want this thing gone." Lorn clearly had little patience for the situation. Derrick fully agreed with his stance.

  "The good news is that the infection is harmless to us given our treatment. The infected membrane is not actually filtering or protecting itself from the treatment as we suspected. The surrounding membrane must have been doing that through normal processes. The strange thing is the complete DNA overhaul of the membrane; it doesn't seem to physically change the host on a macro level. The membrane is still mimicking normal activity." Ben sounded almost impressed by what he was saying. Derrick felt as if Ben was developing respect for the bacterial interaction with Vryl physiology.

  "File a report, recommend further research on earth, and destroy the specimen." Lorn ordered.

  "I believe we could safely extract small samples for further research onboard." Sian stepped in. Derrick was deeply troubled by her comment. Her words suddenly justified his earlier concerns.

  "My orders are clear." Lorn reiterated

  "Yes, sir." Sian replied, accepting that she was overruled.

  "Sian, I would like you to return to your office and begin filling the report for Earth. Ben, I trust you can handle destroying the sample." Lorn turned to Luke. "Luke, how are we looking in the rec area?"

  "Repairs are complete and we are ready to restore power to the area. I would like to be inside to monitor the fix." Luke grabbed a small bag of equipment and readied himself to exit.

  "You and Derrick can head inside, I will get Eilik to restore power. Once power is restored, I will activate the ventilation system from the exterior." Lorn wasted no time taking control of the situation and accelerating their progress.

  "Got it." Derrick helped Luke with some of the gear.

  Luke and Derrick moved toward the exit of the bio lab, Sian was just finishing her decon cycle. Derrick, Luke, and commander Lorn all entered the decon room upon Sian's exit. Ben was left behind to finish dealing with the infected membrane sample.

  Once in the corridor the commander remained at the rec area entrance panel to cycle the ventilation start-up procedure. Derrick and Luke proceeded inside and to the repaired panel section. Derrick wasn't exactly sure what preparation, if any, he could do before power was restored, so decided to follow Luke's lead.<
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  "Ready?" Lorn’s voice came over the intercom in the bio-suit.

  "Standing by." Eilik's robotic voice joined the conversation.

  "Fire it up." Luke reached into one of the bags and grabbed several instruments to take readings.

  "Reinstate power to the area, Eilik." As the commander gave the word, Derrick could hear the hum of electricity building around him. Lights began to flicker and overtake the yellow hue of the emergency lighting. As the return of electricity fought back the encroaching shadows, Derrick could see the extent of the damage to the bio matter. Contrary to his previous assessment, the room was still in pretty good shape and much of the vegetation could be saved.

  "How are we looking?" Luke asked.

  "Power has been restored and awaiting reactivation of the ventilation system." Eilik could be heard once again.

  "Activating ventilation system." Lorn confirmed.

  A loud buzz could be heard as the fans started to turn. Derrick could feel the air around him begin to move. He could see the air starting to circulate, as the surrounding foliage began swaying with the membrane returning to form. It was a refreshing feeling to see the room return to life. The value of entertainment could not be overstated at this point in Derrick's mind. Looking around the room at all the computer interfaces, he was mentally salivating at the opportunity to jump into a game of some kind.

  “Readings are nominal, what’s the status?” Luke said, holding out a small monitor over the section of repaired membrane.

  "Looks good in there," Lorn came over comms. "Ventilation is operating at 93% efficiency. Better than I had expected, well done, Luke."

  "Thank you, sir." Luke proudly replied.

  "Today is turning out to be a pretty good day." Derrick smiled through the face shield of the bio-suit.

  "I can't wait to see the reaction from everyone else when they wake up." Luke agreed. “Finally!” He shouted and smacked Derrick on the shoulder.

  "I was just thinking the same thing, I sent an alert out. I think the early wakeup call will be worth it." Lorn said. "Great job, everyone. Now we can clean the galley."