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Sabin Duvert Vice Captain
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 Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:44 pm
"Of course, I'll make this as smooth and quick as possible to avoid taking too much of your time. We'll have you to your new home and settled in in no time Ms. Frangipani."
He led her into the elevator - which also opened without pushing any buttons. As soon as they entered, Sabin looked over her files, and without looking up vocalized a command "Floor 8" aloud. The elevator slid upwards immediately.
"Mmm...yes... You've got injections for malaria... hepatitis... rabies even - that's good - but I don't see Dengue." He looked up to her with a smile as the Elevator dinged and the ascention came to a stomach-lurching stop. "That seems to be the case with most of our arrivals - that's why we try to take the precaution."
He stepped out of the elevator into a pristine medical laboratory with a metal "bed", a few chairs, and smoked-glass cabinets. "If you'll just take a seat for a moment, I'll get you the vaccination, and then we'll get you settled into your new home."
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:47 pm
"Alright, I certainly don't want to get ill... go ahead, Doctor." Anjali sat down gingerly on the 'bed', and carefully tucked her flowing sari-inspired top out of the way so that it wouldn't impede the injection. "Does this vaccination have any side effects I should be aware of, like, oh, the tetanus vaccine for example?"
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Sabin Duvert Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:51 pm
Sabin waved his hand in front of one of the frosted cabinets, which slid open revealing a series of vials and tubes containing cryptically labeled liquids of various colors. The clinking of glass was heard as Sabin gingerly looked over the names of several of them, looking deep in contemplation. He eventually pulled out three very small tubes that contained greenish liquids. Finally, he picked one, replacing the other two carefully and pulled a needle out of a drawer, pulling the liquid into the syringe.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you got a mild fever tonight or expierenced some discomfort in your arm for the next day or so. Very much like tetanus actually."
He approached, swabbed her arm with some alcohol and deftly inserted the needle. A warm, pinching sensation followed as the liquid filled her arm, and then he removed the needle rather painlessly, swabbing the area with another cottonball afterwards.
"And you're done" He smiled, tossing the used needle into a recepticle.
"If you do get a headache or feverish, you can get some medicine from the "town hall" if you didn't bring any with you.
"And now, if you're ready, I can take you to your residence."
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:54 pm
"Ah, well," she sighed. "With luck, I shall sleep through most of it. Do you have a schedule for when you'd like me to begin work?" Anjali gingerly flexed the arm that had been injected, fancying she could almost feel a warm tingle beginning to work through her veins... although, really, that was probably her imagination. Gods, she was tired. "You, or whoever my immediate superior is... or whoever I must go to for requsitions. I would like to begin surveys and planning as soon as I'm well again."
The next yawn made a break for it and escaped at the end of her sentence, and she let out an apologetic sigh.
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Sabin Duvert Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:59 pm
Sabin spoke as he lead her back out to the same jeep, tracing the path that they entered.
"Take it easy the next day - recouperate from the plane trip and the injection. After that, go by the town hall to get any extra supplies that you're going to need. Just ask Delia - she's the woman who runs it."
He hopped back in the jeep after holding the door open for her. "We want you to start with the area immediately around the village you're staying in. It should be the area that needs it the most" And the area that will keep you out of trouble as opposed to near the facilities He thought to himself as an afterthought. "If you need to get in touch with any of your superiors, just dial "0" on the intercom in your room, but it's very much a work at your own pace kinda thing. You came highly recommended and the Doctor trusts in your abilities. You're weekly paychecks will be direct deposited, and we'll deliver the pay stubs to you, if that's alright?" He smiled, shifting the jeep into gear and driving towards the other side of the complex, where another gate swung open for them.
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 11:02 pm
"Thank you," Anjali said politely, "for the care and directions both. I'll begin my surveys as soon as I can... the village area sounds like a good starting point. Proper human habitation should melt seamlessly into the environment..." And, Anjali realized as they approached, the Village duplexes certainly didn't do that. Goodness, it was as bad as any plowed field with houses shoved onto it, made even more disconcerting by the lurking background of jungle, still a bit singed and frayed at the edges. "I have my work cut out for me," she said, wryly. "But I assume that's why I am here. I do believe I will enjoy it, once I get my bearings and some rest..."
She was babbling, she realized, and managed to turn her mouth off. Ugh.
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Sabin Duvert Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 11:05 pm
Sabin laughed and nodded as they pulled up to one of the sets of stacked duplexes - labeled 15 and 16. "Yess... I don't know much about plants, but even I can see that this area is literally cut out of the jungle. ALl of this used to be one seamless part of the woods, and ... well... you can tell that they just plopped the buildings down here. I figured that this would be a good place to start" He grinned, sliding the jeep into park.
"Lucky us, you've got the downstairs duplex, number 15. So no hauling supplies up and down stairs" He grinned and hopped out, grabbing one of her large duffle bags as he opened the door for her. He then pulled out a key ring and handed her a small silver key. "This is you" He smiled.
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 11:08 pm
"Thank goodness," Anjali said with obvious relief... but ugh, what a front. She'd need to have some landscaping done in the 'yards' as well, and flower boxes, and...
No. This wasn't the time. She rubbed at her temples for a moment before carefully lifting one of her own plant boxes and carrying it to the door, where she fumbled the small silver key into the lock and shoved the door open with her foot. Within was utliltarian and basic, like a nice but rather plainly decorated hotel room - but it had a BED, oh gods, a big bed. She had to resist the urge to throw herself on top of it.
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Sabin Duvert Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 11:13 pm
Sabin helped her get all of the boxes out of the jeep and into discrete corners of the room. Finally, he dusted off his hands and smiled to her with a shrug of his shoulders.
"You've got about a dozen neighbors about if you feel like acquainting yourself... but in the meantime, I suggest rest and recouperation before worrying about the work."
He looked around, trying to think if there was anything else to add. "Delia should be able to answer any basic questions... and there's instructions on the intercom pad if you want to make a call to one of the people on the Island. No outside phones I'm afraid. And.... other than that... you've got free reign of the non-laboratory segments of the Island. We can arrange acces to the laboratory area when you get to that point in your landscaping."
He tipped his nonexistant hat. "Have a good rest, Miss Frangipani. And good luck!"
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 11:15 pm
"Thank you very much for your assistance, Dr. Duvert... I greatly appreciate it," Anjali said with genunine thanks in her voice. "I fear I must bid you good-night lest I collapse on the doorstep. I will see you later."
As soon as the door was closed and locked behind her, she walked over to pull the front window curtains, adjusted the room thermostat to her liking... and then, THEN looked longingly at the bed.
No. Bathroom first. She forced herself through the motions, the weariness descending rapidly now that the time was at hand, and tottered out of the bathroom to flop on the bed without bothering to change her clothes. She kicked her sandals off without caring where they landed, and closed her eyes. Sleep came within moments, deep and still.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 2:34 pm
Attached to the front of your duplex door is a handwritten note with the Feral Labs logo in the top left corner.
In a flowery script, the following message is written:
The Invitation You are cordially invited to a meet and greet Halloween costume party to take place Halloween night. The staff will be setting up a tent just for this occasion and will be catering, of course. We know that you most likely did not pack costumes, so if you will just leave a message with the staff (through the intercom) to let us know what you would like to dress as, we will be able to procure a costume for you. ~Aubrey heart
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:53 pm
September 11th, 2005 - A Fruitful Conversation
Anjali frowned as she walked around the Village, surveying her new domain and making mental notes as she did so. There would be time to visit the beaches and explore once she'd laid out some plans - it was important to show her employers that she was serious about her profession, not just here to goof off on the beach. Other than passing glances at others, she hadn't really met any of the visitors here. Only the staff.
She stopped next to one of the spindly trees that SOMEONE - someone stupid - had planted around the Village and gave it a look of utmost disapproval. No wonder they needed help.
The Dude walked out of the cafeteria, toothpick in his mouth, a satiated look on his face. There, in the middle of the makeshift "square" by the lake there was a new girl. She looked Indian and had long pretty black hair. Curious about who this was, the Dude put his flipper hand in his pockets and walked up to her.
"Yo!" - he grinned, hoping the whiskers weren't too obvious.
Anjali turned around immediately, one eyebrow raising when she realized the person talking to her wasn't one of the staff she knew. "Good day," she said, politely, absently pulling a leaf off of the tree and rolling it between her fingers. "Ardisia elliptica," she said, tapping at the tree with her other hand. "Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Are you one of the guests here?"
He certainly looked like a beach bum, but it would be a good idea to talk to one of the visitors anyway. Give her an idea of who'd be living in the homes she would be gardening for.
"I suppose so" - the Dude shrugged. "I think we are all guests here." - he added. "When did you arrive?"
"A few days ago. The jet lag was atrocious, but now that that's done with..." Anjali tucked the leaf into her pocket and held out one hand to the Dude. "I am Anjali Frangipani, the new groundskeeper here under the manager's employ. And you are?" There was a soft lilt to her vowels underneath the British accent, friendly and cultured.
Erm ... there we go again. Putting on a wining happy smile, the Dude took out his flipper hand from his pocket and shook Anjali's before she could jerk hers away.
"Nice to meet ya, Anjali. Here, I am known as the Dude. I'm part of the study, too."
Yeah, confuse them first, that way one can take it step by step as opposed to having to blurt out the whole sad truth right away.
"Study?" Anjali's forehead wrinkled slightly in brief confusion, then she smiled. "Ah, at the laboratories. I knew this housing was not exactly for a tropical resort... and it certainly doesn't look like it now." Anjali gestured at the clear-cut area where the Village now rested, her face once again taking on an expression of distaste. "But once my plans are laid and approved, it will be quite a bit more pleasant here, I am sure."
After indicating all the work she had cut out for her, Anjali moved back to shake the Dude's hand - and paused. That... was not right. So not right that there had to be another explanation, and Anjali lept on the first one that presented itself to her mind. "Oh, you scuba dive?" she said, a little too brightly. "The strides they've made in waterplay equipment, I must say."
"Yeah, I dive." - the Dude nodded, then trusted his flippers into Anjali's face so that it was very obvious that they were part of him. "And you are right. The genetic manipulation of humans that they do on this island is really amazing. I'm gonna be a sea lion."
Anjali stumbled backwards reflexively as the man stuck his... his FLIPPER in her face. "You... that's ridiculous..." A sweet scent caught her nose then, an unmistakable one. Cannabis....? "You've been smoking cannabis, haven't you?" she said - not quite accusingly. A wash of relief hit her. Surely they really were just diving gloves, and this man was... confused by the drugging effect of the leaf he'd been smoking. "Try taking the gloves off before you do your next joint," she told him with a sigh, shaking her head and straightening up. Phew. For a second there, he'd really scared her....
The Dude's eyebrow furrowed. Man, did her really stick so bad? Maaaan. Glad it wasn't in Florida, he'd be in trouble now. Mokey ... so he didn't look like the most respectable representative here. Maybe he should just stop bothering and leave the lady to her blissful ignorance. She'd figure out soon enough anyway ...
"M'okey, Anjali. We'll talk about my flippers later. I got a different question for you. Do you like it here?"
Anjali resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Well, if he liked the high, whatever, it wasn't her business - although she'd think if he was here for a study, they wouldn't want an element like cannabis involved. Unless that was the subject...? No, wasn't her business.
"It's pleasant enough, blatant idiocy aside," she said, her apparently pleasant demeanor restored. "Whoever thought to plant these trees here... I'll be having some words with them. But the job seems pleasant enough. Solitude on a tropical island, free reign for design and an excellent budget for my work... and, well, it will be a challenge." She sighed and surveyed the area around the duplexes again.
"Oh good" - the Dude smiled at the woman. "So, like, you don't mind being here for a while, then? Cuz there are lots of plants here ... I bet there are orchids in the mangroves along the river ..."
"Mangroves? Ah, lovely." Anjali smiled genuinely at him. "No, I came here knowing it would be a long term project, for my private research as well as the groundskeeping position, Mister....? I'm sorry, I don't beleive I caught your last name."
"Well, my name is Sean, if you must know. But I'm really just a Dude. Ya know? I've been called that since forever. So I'd rather you call me Dude, Anjali. Unless, it's like, against your religion or something." - he grinned amicably.
"Dude, then." She shrugged. How could he tolerate having those flippers on for so long, she wondered? didn't they get hot? "How long are you here for? And which duplex is yours - any suggestions from the common man about the gardening? Unfortunately, I don't want to introduce cannabis to the local ecosystem, so I can't allow you to plant that in your future flower box." She grinned at him, pleased with her joke and that she was relaxing a bit more. He seemed nice enough, that... joke earlier aside.
"Me? Well, I think I'm here forever" - the Dude smiled. "And I'm in Duplex #12. Hmmm ... and in terms of weed - the Doc supplied me. So no worry. Best s**t I've ever had, too." - he added with an even wider grin. "So as long as you don't plant lawns here - I'm all good."
"So do you have much family left back home? You British?" - he switched topic.
"Half British, half Indian," Anjali replied, walking around the tree again so that she could get some assesment done while she chatted. Recently planted, shouldn't be too hard to dig up without having to resort to poison to kill the roots, likely hadn't seeded yet... hmm. "My parents exist, and presumably care about me." She shrugged. "We don't interfere in each other's lives often. It suits us well enough. A call and a card at Christmas and birthdays; otherwise, perfect freedom."
"Oh, Moreau must be thrilled about that." - the Dude shrugged a bit grimmly. "So the plants are your children, huh?" - he was following her, looking sidelong at the dark skinned woman.
"Moreau... the head of the laboratories? Why should he care?" She shrugged. "It's my own business and none of his." Anjali did, however, smile fondly at his mention of plants. "I'm a botanist, yes... although I prefer to call myself a gardener, or a caretaker. Lab work was far too sterile and empty for me. Plants need dirt, and sun, and.... not white cold walls. I prefer traditional methods to raise my stock."
"Cool. I bet you'll be good friends with Greer. She has a similar passion for her work. Except in her case it's bugs. She is an entemologist. I think that's how she called it."
There was a quite pause, as the Dude though how he should bring up the subject again.
"So what do you think about animals?" - he finally asked.
"Sounds like you have quite the little community here - that's good." Anjali kicked at one of the tree's roots and noted how it moved under the blow, then folded her arms and looked back at the Dude. "Animals? That's a broad category indeed, sir. Care to narrow it down just a bit?"
"Well, I don't 'really know which one it'd be for you. But generally - you don't hate animals, right? Like, what if someone was turning you into one - would you terribly mind?" - he looked at her curiously then watched her fuss wiht the tree.
"Do you need my help with any of this ... redecorating?" - the Dude offered. "I can wield a shovel with the best of them, even with these hands of mine." - he added with a wide grin.
"Turning me into one?" Anjali raised one eyebrow at him. "I assure you, even if such a thing were happening, I am groundskeeper here. I hardly signed up for any medical or laboratory studies. I am here to do my job, and unless they think a... what was it, a sea lion? can do better with a shovel than a human..." She laughed.
"Well maybe not a sea lion. Errrr ... anyway, Anjali, I am really not trying to pull some practical joke on you and I am not stoned out of m y mind. Seriously" - he pulled his hand out of his pocket and stretched it towards Anjali.
"If this is a glove, try pulling it off."
Anjali sighed and shook her head. "Very well," she agreed, wondering how much he'd smoked earlier, and reached forward to pinch at the webbing, trying to pull it towards her and off the Dude's hands (which, she was sure, were underneath the odd finned glove. Right?).
The Dude cringed from the forceful pull. Man, this lady was strong. The "glove" obviously wasn't coming off, no matter how hard Anjali was pulling.
Anjali let go and stumbled backwards, staring, eyes wide. It had felt like flesh, been warm between her fingers, and definitely wasn't coming off. "You're serious," she managed, after a moment.
The Dude nodded energetically then stepped closer to Anjali, so that he could grab her in case she decided to flee from this nightmare.
"Don't panic. Let me tell you the whole story, Anjali. then you can panic." - he tried to smile, making this sound like a joke.
"I'm not panicking," Anjali said stiffly, and since she'd said it had to be true, right? Right. She straightened up and met the Dude's gaze with her own. "Fine. Tell me."
"So this Island belogn to Doctor Moreau and he lures people to it under various premises. Like he lured you to be his gardener. When people arrive on the island, the first thing that happens is that they receive an injection. The reason for injection is not to prevent you from Dengue fever or tetanus, but to turn you into an animal human. Er... I am unsure on the science there, but this injection is the first in a series of injections. Each time you receive an injection you are supposed to start growing stuff, like flippers and fur. Except for the first injection - that doesn't seem to do anything to us. Moreau told us that as soon as we are injected the first time we cannot leave the island because we will die of cancer. Like - we have to be injected regularly. There are at least three of us with 2 injections by now, so it's not just me. There is Ambrose, and Pyroth. They've grown fur."
He paused letting her digest the information.
Anjali laughed, once, without any humor in it - a harsh sound. "I... I see. Well, that is... interesting." She turned around and examined the tree again. "However, I assure you that I was hired here as groundskeeper. I have a title, a paycheck, requisitions and a JOB, sir. So while I'm sure I sympathize with your little plight, obviously I must do so as an outsider. Not as a fellow... whatever you are."
"Well, Anjali, that's fair enough. When they inject you the second time, be sure to ask for pain killers, because it'll hurt like hell when your bones start growing into claws."
What he was telling her was so off the wall that he probably wouldn't believed her as well. And this rejection was easier to deal with then having her fall apart and cry. The Dude wasn't good with the handling the tears and he had seen far too many in the past few days.
"So" - he rubbed his flippers together. "Do you want my help here or should I be minding my own business?"
"Why would you presume I would be involved in this, anyway?" she snapped at him, turning aroudn to face him, arms akimbo. "Don't act so flippant. What you tell me is all but unbelievable, and yet you stand there and... and just say what you're saying with a straight face? Preposterous." She dismissed him with an angry wave. "Whatever you've gotten yourself into, leave me out of it. I am here to WORK, if your cannabis-eaten brain can comphehend the meaning of the word."
"Wow there, lady. Don't kill the messenger. 'Sides, if you really were here to "just work" - are you really cold blooded enough to see innocent people around you be turned into beasts against their will? We might not be flowers, but you know - we got feelings too." - he sounded apologetic and a bit hurt.
"Fight it then," she snapped back. "Sue them. The staff I've spoken to have been nothing but polite. Perhaps the drugs fogged your memory of signing wavers... or maybe you were high at the time? What you suggest, mass kidnappings? Feh. It simply could not happen." She dismissed it with another wave of her hand and tugged hard at the tree, needing to channel her nervous frustration into something. It wasn't like she wanted it around anyway - with a crack, one of the large branches broke off.
The Dude put his flippers into his pockets and furrowed his eyebrows. Yeah, okey, he was a pothead, and he did sign that contract while under "influence" but it's not like he didn't know what he was doing. It was weed, man, not heroine. But he decided not to discuss the finer points of drug abuse with the pissed off lady.
"Well, it's not just me, ma'm. And the rest of us aren't, ya know, disgusting dead beats like me. We got strappy college students with fur over here, if you'd rather talk to them ... " - he sighed. Then, feeling a bit defensive for his favorite plant, he did break down and continued.
"And there is really nothing wrong with smoking up, I say. We are not in the US here. It's NOT an illegal substance on this island. And 'sides, Holland legalized marijuanna, and the sky didn't fell over there." - he said quietly, looking down. He was not much of an "offense" person. Maybe only when it came to Moreau.
"I didn't say there was anything wrong with it," Anjali muttered. "Just that it's not wise to sign important documents. I study plants, for the love of... oh, forget it." She threw up her hands and the branch she'd torn off the tree clattered to the ground. "How do you expect a sane person to react to what you're saying? What do you want me to do, accept your... your explanation perfecly calmly and then invite you over for tea, and bring your walrus friend with you?!"
Errr ... she did have a point there. The Dude looked down, scratching his cheek with the snake bite scabs.
"Wll, maybe you should talk to the guy in Duplex #1. His name is Ambrose. Maybe he'll be better at this. Or Greer. She's in Duplex #4."
Then he looked up with a smirk and a sparkle in his eyes: "But tea would be great! Never had a real British lady make tea for me."
Anjali stared at him for a moment, then broke down into helpless laughter. "If you really do bring a walrus, then so help me..." She shook her head. "Very well, I'll have you for tea when my things are all unpacked, but..." She calmed down some and gave him a serious look. "I need time to think about what you've said, Mr... Dude. And to do my own research..."
"Oh, sure thing, Anjali! I'm glad you are not mad at me for telling you all this heavy s**t. Yeah ... erm ... this messenger might be a dead beat, but my screws aren't loose yet. Should I just let you work, then, Think about it and stuff?" - he smiled encouragingly down at her.
"I need to think," she repeated. "Thank you for telling me, though. I suppose." Her voice snapped back to all business... maybe she couldn't deal with what the Dude had said, but she could deal with plants. "I need to go requisition some tools to remove these," she said, finally, after giving the Dude another long look. "I suppose I will see you later..." With another look, she turned on one heel and headed towards the administration buildings at the center of the Village.
The Dude watched Anjali leave, thoroughly impressed with this feisty lady. She really did give him the run for his money and no crying at all. Granted she didn't even believe him, and maybe she'd cry later, but the Dude felt that this one was too stubborn for even that. Man, what was it with him and the ladies nowdays? Emelyn made him blush like a teenager, Thorn knocked him out and this new chick called him a reefer to his face. After Anjali dissapeared in one of the buildings, he grinned, then headed for the beach.
Life was always better under the sea. No women.
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:55 pm
September 12th, 2005 - Rotten to the Roots
Anjali walked up the path towards the laboratory gates, her hands only shaking a little bit as they clutched the strap of her messenger bag. Inside were her own copies of her medical records... and some damning evidence. She was hoping it didn't mean what she feared. Surely such things didn't happen in a civilized world. Her immunization had probably been too old, perhaps...
She stepped up to the gate and looked around for a keypad of some sort. "Hello?" she called out, just in case.
Meanwhile, Sabin had somehow managed to land himself doing "monitor duty" again.... he had some suspicions that it probably had something to do with the fact that he hadn't exactly held back much when speaking to Aubrey or Moreau. And if they had a problem with bluntness... then they needed to learn to deal with it.
But it wasn't so bad. He could deal with watching the subjects interact. Like that new one, Anjali, walking towards the gate with a purposeful stride.
It was then that her voice came through over the intercom. More to deal with. But he was certainly curious about what she might have to talk about. He leaned forward and pressed the intercom button. "Hello there, Anjali. What can we do you for?" A familiar voice called back surprisingly clear over the intercom.
"Ah... Doctor Duvert?" Anjali straightened and willed her hands to stop shaking; fortunately, they complied, making her instantly feel more in control of the situation. No, surely it was all a mistake.
But if it's so sure, why are you here? a niggling voice in the back of her head asked. She brushed it away. "I'd like to speak with you, if I may," she asked, politely as usual.
Sabin glanced at his watch and tapped a code into the keyboard to pull someone else over to watch the screens. "No problem, Anjali. I'll meet you in the lobby." With the press of another button, the gate swung open before Anjali. He slid on his flip-flops and made his way over to the lobby.
Anjali squared her shoulders and walked in, her sandals beating lightly on the ground and then on tile as she entered the lobby area. "Ah, doctor.. can I speak with you privately, please?" she said, dropping her voice down to a low tone. "It's about a rather urgent matter." Her forehead wrinkled in concern.
Sabin's expression looked open as he walked through the doors into the lobby. His hands were in the pockets of yet another pair of vibrant shorts, and he wore a simple white shirt... albeit with an equally loud button-down tropical shirt open over it.
He glanced around the empty lobby. "No problem, Anjali. We can speak here - there is no one around nor due to be around for some time. Or I could bring you back to one of the offices?"
"One of the offices, most likely - it concerns my medical records and, ah, a possible discrepancy..."
"Discrepancy?" Sabin said with a note of hesitance. "Of course. If you would just follow me?" He led her out of the office and down the immaculate hallway to one of the identical doors. He turned the handle and gestured for her to enter. The room was small, and looked like an office that had yet to have anyone use it. There was a simple, functional desk, shelving, and a filling cabinet - all completely devoid of personality.
Anjali sat down awkwardly on the edge of the desk, and then produced her own copy of her medical records. "Doctor... you said I hadn't been innoculated against dengue fever. However, I noticed here..." She held up the paper and pointed to a clear notation that Anjali had, in fact, been vaccinated against the disease. "Was this not listed on the primary records? If there is some confusion in the documents, I'd like it addressed as soon as possible." Her tone was crisp, businesslike.
Sabin took the document from her hands and pored over it, tapping on the noted vaccination with a fingernail. "Hrmmm..." He murmured, his brows furrowing as if in thought before his expression cleared and he looked back up to her.
"Ah, of course. You received this injection regarding a trip to India, correct?" He leaned back against the desk. "The innoculation you received here is for a particularly nasty strain that has been circulating the Carribbean. It's particularly resistant against some of the standard Dengue innoculations, and so a new one had to be devised."
"Not a trip - I've lived there much of my life," Anjali corrected, then sighed. That didn't matter. "Doctor, I came because I met someone while doing my surveys, someone who claimed to be part of a study here...?" She left teh obvious question dangling and just looked at Sabin, one eyebrow raised inquisitively.
Sabin looked back to her with a raised eyebrow. "Study? Ah, yes, we are primarily a medical facility here, and we have a few ongoing research projects."
He shook his head, his face blank. "Although I'm not sure what that has to do with..." he gestured to the papers.
"He seemed to think I was a part of it." She frowned slightly. "That the injection you gave me was related to this study... and not in fact for dengue fever... I told him he had to be crazy, he smelled of cannabis all over, but he had... he had flippers, I'll swear to it."
She shook her head. "Just what kind of company am I working for here?" Anjali looked up and firmly met Sabin's gaze. "As long as you aren't... oh, perpetrating genocide or something, I won't go. I can deal with cooked books and the like, it doesn't bother me so long as I don't get dragged into it. Plants are my business and it's obvious that care is sorely needed here. I mean no interference, but I must know." Again, strictly business... and firm.
Sabin shook his head, listening to her words and trying to carefully choose his. This wasn't a part of his job description, and he wished that Moreau or Aubrey had been the ones on call when she came in instead of him.
"It sounds like you spoke to Mr. Carroll, by the description," Sabin commented, trying to judge her reaction and wondering how much he told her. "Yes, he is one of the participatns of the study here. He needed money for his fishing boat or something of the like. And no no - of course nothing like Genocide or anything like that. The goals of this project are actually rather noble" Or... at least so Moreau was telling everyone - whether or not that was accurate. "Genetic manipulation, and control over the genome. With a fuller understanding of gene therapy even cures for cancer and the like is possible."
He attempted to not answer the imbedded question.
"Is that so. How... fascinating. He claimed he was turning into an animal. He claimed... I was turning into an animal." Her eyebrows arched in Sabin's direction again. "Is this true, doctor? Am I only your groundskeeper, or am I something else? Don't you dare lie to me." She drew herself up, eyes cold and stern. Anjali had had a prodigious governess when little, and she was doing an excellent impersonation of that powerful personality now.
Sabin nodded, his eyes a lot sharper than his casual mannerisms and eccentric clothing and hair might suggest. "Sean's DNA is indeed being intermingled with animal DNA, however he is not being "turned into an animal." That sounds like wizardy" His mouth widened into a smile, but his eyes remained fixed on her. "And your own genetic makeup is untouched with nonhuman animal DNA." He responded honestly.
Anjali frowned at that. "But.. is it untouched completely, sir? Why the qualification there?" She sat down on the edge of the desk again with a small thump.
He dithered. Moreau made it no secret to those who had already received their first innoculation that they were a part of the experiment. It was a fruitless endeavor short of isolating them from the older subjects. And while he made no effort to tell them personally, he knew that Moreau wouldn't have a distinct problem with letting Anjali in on this not-so little secret... and a part of him clamored to seeing her reaction personally. How would she take it.... would it frighten her? A small smile crept onto his face.
Sabin tapped a fingernail on the desk. "I'm not sure if I could say 'untouched.' " His eyes flicked back to hers and the smile on his face turned a bit more smug.
Anjali's throat tightened, but that determination she'd summoned up earlier rose again to carry her through. "Oh you aren't, are you, doctor? Just what did you do to me?" Her voice was clipped, cold.
Sabin leaned forward from his leaning position from the desk and straightened to a stand in a very fluid motion. His mannerisms seemed to shift ever so slightly as a distinctly 'off' look settled into his eyes without loosing any of the sharpness. While his accent was usually faint, it seemed even more so as he spoke in an even purr. "Most of our 'guests' here are here for multiple reasons, but one underlying common purpose. It is rather fascinating, as I'm sure you'll come to find, Ms. Frangipani. Both objectively... and personally. The contract you signed when we offered you your job... I suppose you didn't go over the fine print with quite a fine-enough comb...." He gave an obviously mock sympathetic smile.
"Let's cut through the frippery, Doctor Duvert," Anjali said, doing her best not to be intimidated. "In plain language, if you please?"
"Of course," he soothed. "If you do care to know, you have been welcomed as a part of the community we have going on here, and the research along with it. The secrecy that we have going on here is absolutely vital. And your work as a... landscaper is certinaly needed as well, however we can't exactly hire people on a temporary basis considering the work. Moreover, we need.... a certain loyalty from our employees, and along with that a tie to the work here. You have become a part of the experiment, and the community, Ms. Frangipani."
He sighed, gesturing. "Or, if that is not simple enough for you to understand. Yes, you have been injected with foreign DNA. Or at least the prepatory injection. I doubt that you will notice any changes of the like that Mr. Carroll has for some time."
Anjali looked down at her hands, forcing herself to keep her breathing under control. "And what am I to become, then? What being have you judged better suited to my work than this? So help me, if I lose my capacity to do my work I can promise you I WILL lose my mind... and I doubt that would be conducive to your study. How many random factors would that introduce?" Her voice was businesslike again, that practiced method of speech she could force through even in shock. If nothing else, even if she wasn't bloody human, she could still be professional, and she was clinging to that right now.
He smiled cryptically. "I believe that the injection selected for you will in truth be quite appropriate for your work. And I doubt that - given our research - that it will hinder you from your job. It was within our capacity to select some sort of destructive herbivore, but no. We do value your utility on this Island, and your insight. As far as the specific serum... I presume you have heard of Drosera?" He smiled, folding his hands across his chest.
"Drosera... what? That's the Sundew family, but there are many individuals in that..." The response began as a scholar's rapid regurgitating of informatin, then slowed as she realized the implications of what he was saying. "A... but that man, Dude, whatever, said animals..."
Sabin nodded. "Well, he isn't one of the scientists, and he was told what is directly pertinant to him. With the plant serum, given the wide margin of difference from mammalian - particularly human DNA, we used a blending of various types of Drosera." He answered simply, as if someone might have asked him what he had for lunch that day.
"Plant... serum? You mean, I'm going to turn into a... a... plant?! How is that even possible? I can see mammilian merging being theoretically possible, but plant DNA is so wildly different..."
Sabin shrugged. "That's not my department. And I'm not sure how complete it's going to be. That's part of the experiment." the smile flitted across his face again. "For instance... will your cells develop walls? I can't say."
"And I'm your guinea pig... and apparently by my own consent." Anjali laughed, but there was no humor in the harsh sound. "And I told that man, the Dude, to read the fine print while not under the influence of drugs... while underneath the influence of my own excitement I have fallen into the same trap...."
Only then did she shudder, once, all up and down, almost like a dog shaking itself, or as if something was crawling all over her. One violent shudder.
"A plant, huh?" She looked up at Sabin, her eyes wide with an emotion he couldn't quite place. "Drosera... sundew..."
Sabin barely masked the smile that widened as the shudder seized her body, and his hand squeezed the edge of the desk a bit harder. "Apparently so." He spread his hands. "But I can assure you that other, more sobrietous individuals have followed a similar course of action, Miss Frangipani."
"I... see." She lowered her eyes for a moment and sorted through her emotions methodically, feeling detatched. Yes, there was loss, there was anger... but there was also curiosity. Frantically, she latched onto that emotion, since it was hte only one with an element of positivity to it. "And... what will happen? Will I root into the ground? Will I remain mobile at all, or shall I bask in the sun all my days? Eating insects, I suppose, as the sundew is wont to do?" She looked up and smiled crookedly at him.
Sabin leaned back against the desk. He wasn't sure if he was releived or disappointed that she appeared to be settling into this idea remarkably well. "While we cannot be completely sure - and while I am probably not the individual most knowledgable, we do predict that you will be at least primarily mobile. You should still be yourself mentally, and have the capacity for speech and manipulation. Although I don't know the specifics."
"That's... reassuring, inasmuch as anything can be." Anjali seemed resigned to her fate; indeed, inside she was blaming herself far more for not reading the fine print as she would have. Though she doubted it said "person agrees to be turned into a plant" in such plain terms, surely there had been something that should have given her pause... somewhere...
Sabin nodded. "Why don't you let me escort you back to the gate..." He stood again, walking towards the door with a backwards glance.
"If more questions or... concerns... come to mind, you know how to reach us."
"It is a fascinating experiment," she admitted, finally. "The scientist in me is excited, though the... human in me is somewhat... horrified at her own lack of foresight...?"
Sabin nodded, looking honestly sympathetic at this analysis. "I understand. I hope that you can focus on the primary perspective. It truly is something amazing. I can only imagine the repercussions once The Doctor does go public."
"Repercussions of many kinds," Anjali said, wryly. "Do you think the benefit to science will outweigh the deception?" She seemed genuinely curious, and not accusing, though her voice was shaky.
"Only time can tell." Sabin said honestly, walking with her. "But most benefitial researches are controversial. Only by truly risking can someone truly gain."
"Ah, but who is carrying the risk here... I see no needle marks in your arm," Anjali said, shaking her head. "But clearly it will do me no good to rise up in anger. I am sure those before me have tried?" She looked impassively at Sabin.
Sabin's expression was passive and veiled. "I would have to confirm your assumption that force will get you nowhere. And I have made my own sacrifices that are none of your concern. It is not exactly an unbiased test were the researchers themselves to participate. It could skew our objectivity further than is already necessary by the nature of the experiment itself." Sabin opened the door back to the lobby area and gestured for the front door.
"You will be well provided for during the project. If you have need for anything, ask and we shall see if it can be requisitioned."
"And I am to continue my work? And continue receiving pay? I do wish to... do what I came here for. Whatever that is."
"By all means!" He smiled widely. "You will continue to receive your salary, as well as amenities that you need. And I am certainly under the impression that the village in particular could have been handled with a much more even hand in respect to carving it out of the jungle."
"Indeed... well. Perhaps this metamorphasis will increase my... understanding of my favorite beings." Anjali mused aloud. She was still in shock, but holding up rather well, considering.
"There's the spirit!" Sabin grinned. "Consider it a... unique opportunity. It's not exaclty one we can advertise you must understand. We merely try to locate individuals whom we think will be more open to the situation given their backgrounds." Sabin's amiacable nature seemed to be returning.
"I see. I do hope I was chosen for... being amicable, rather than being a dupe as I assume that... what is it they call them, 'reefers'? That man was..." Anjali shook her head. And here she was, in the same boat. Well, sort of.
"I will be continuing my work, of course. I cannot drop a contractual obligatin, and since this change seems to be a part of it..." She spread her hands and shrugged in defeat. "I appear to have no choice in the matter. A tropical island is a good home, then, and I would hardly wish to be... pruned by some frightened colleague in some forest somewhere..."
Sabin laughed outright at her final comment. "This is indeed true. And I doubt that it would ever get to that level, anyway." Sabin reassured.
"We do not seek 'dupes' as you say, Miss Frangipani. Mr. Carroll was a rather unfortunate addition when his ship wrecked on the Island."
Sabin paused in the lobby, speaking with her.
"Ah, I see... unfortunate?" She raised one eyebrow at that. "Well... I must consider this. But." She dug in her messenger bag and thrust a list at him. "I require these tools and the plants listed; they are all native to this island and I wish fresh seedling stock rather than waiting to raise my own... also, window-boxes for the duplexes. And permission to raze the trees in the Village... they are quite invasive and I'd like them down. Otherwise they may choke out their native brethren."
Sabin paged through the lists, nodding as he glanced over them. They seemed like reasonable requests for the most part. "I think that none of these will post a problem" He looked back up to her with a smile. "I shall forward the list to the Doctor, and we'll get your equipment to you as soon as we can."
He paused for a moment before nodding. "And I don't see a problem with removing the foreign vegetation. You were hired for the landscaping after all."
"Good. Thank you," Anjali said, shortly. The stress was beginning to get to her, in the form of a headache. "And... about this change. How will it happen... to me?" she asked, finally confronting the subject directly.
"How?" Sabin blinked, a bit of confusion. "You will receive a second injection when your system is prepared for it. Following that, there will be a short period of change. We can provide you with some pretty heavy painkillers like morphine if you find it necessary."
"I see... and when will that be? So I have warning. I would prefer to come in on my own free will, not stuck from behind like a child," she said, bluntly.
Sabin nodded. "The date honestly depends on how your system is reacting to it. It usually is a matter of a few weeks from the initial injection. And we can certainly send notice to you when we are ready for you."
"Very well. I won't run, and I suspect you could find me if I did anyway." She shook her head. "Well, this has all been very educational." Anjali quirked one eyebrow at the doctor again. "And I suppose I won't need an additional injection for that dengue fever strain, hmmm?"
Sabin shook his head with a touch of a bemused smile. "No. You have nothing to fear from Dengue here. And I am glad that you found our conversation enlightening." He held out his hand in a friendly gesture to shake.
Anjali looked at the hand, but made no move to shake it. "I'm not sure if I shoudl thank you or slap you. I am tempted to do both, to be perfectly honest. Good day to you, Doctor." She bowed slightly to him, then spun on her heel and walked away.
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:56 pm
Turn, Turn....
She saw no-one.
Well, that was a bit overdramatic. Naturally, she saw people, but seeing and communicating, conversing and belonging are completely different things.
Under the shock and strain of what the 'good' doctor had told her, Anjali threw herself into her work, into the world that had always made the most sense to her and always been a comfort. How strange to think that she would be a part of it more deeply than had ever been possible before... and more literally than any had ever been.
Hours spent inside over tea leaves, steam rising unheeded around her face; long soaks in the tub while thinking of absolutely nothing, or trying to. Days full of digging and surveying, and of placing requisitions for plants and making blueprints - a flurry of busywork, all designed to keep her mind off of things.
She avoided the other 'experiments' especially. It was not something she wanted to see. Not now. Not yet.
The month passed by in a daze. Anjali checked herself in the mirror after showering each day, turning around naked and scanning her brown skin for any abberations. Every day there was nothing.
It was easy to forget for a while, lose herself in the sun and the feel of good earth between her fingers - but a sight of the Dude across the dining hall, or of others bearing tufts of fur, elongnating noses and claws...
... but she wouldn't be like that, would she? she was different. Another kind of alone.
And so, time passed...
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:57 pm
October 3rd, 2005 - Sunrise AwakeningAnjali stepped outside dressed in work pants as usual, peering up at the sky. October already by her calendar, and yet you'd hardly know it here. Still as warm and humid as ever, close to changeless. She was running out of things to busy herself with, until her supplies came. They'd been delayed by hurricane activity, or so she was told. She supposed they were lucky a great storm hadn't hit them. But it all added up to Anjali rapidly approaching her wit's end, the end of distractions and of other things. And nothing to do but sit and think and imagine that leaves were bursting through her skin and oh, no, no. She scratched convulsively at her arms as psychosomatic prickles crawled up and down them. As Anjali closed the door, she realized there was a note taped to it. Huh. The Invitation You are cordially invited to a meet and greet Halloween costume party to take place Halloween night. The staff will be setting up a tent just for this occasion and will be catering, of course. We know that you most likely did not pack costumes, so if you will just leave a message with the staff (through the intercom) to let us know what you would like to dress as, we will be able to procure a costume for you. ~Aubrey heart ... Halloween? A custom from the United States, as she remembered - a celebration of ghouls and haunts, how droll. But who was this Aubrey? A faint memory rose in the back of her mind, the staff roster she'd seen... Doctor Aubrey Lockheart? Yes, that must be it. Organizing a little get-together on a night of monsters, for those who were BECOMING monsters. Anjali snorted and crumpled the note half-heartedly, then thought better of it and smoothed it out, folding it to save in her pocket. This change would be worse if taken alone, she thought, with a sigh. Maybe it was time to go out and seek her fellow... experiments.
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