Ian Johnson

"Why do they want you to assist with that project on Avalon? I mean seriously, a toxicologist?" Katy watched Ian pack up a few of his personal belongings and ranted about how illogical his new orders were. Grabbing a few uniforms he had put on the bed earlier Ian turned around briefly to look at Katy. "I already told you that I've got no idea what they need me for but I've got my orders." When he saw the expression on his fiancée's face he walked over to her, took her hands in his and kissed her. When they broke apart Ian ran a hand gently along Katy's cheek. "Listen, I'm sure this won't take long. I'll be back in no time." Katy didn't reply. She just stood there and looked into Ian's green eyes. After what seemed an eternity Ian turned around and stuffed a few more things into his bags. "I need to go to sickbay and notify Commander Xavier that we've found an antitoxin. The timing couldn't have been better, just before this mission." "You know, I should have listened to Johnny," Katy said with a smirk. Ian chuckled. "Let me guess. He told you not to run off with one of these Starfleet punks. He never liked me." The memory made Ian smile. Johnny was Katy's cousin and he had never liked 'this Doctor Johnson'. Johnny had actually tried to set Katy up with several of his friends. "Maybe he was right. I mean look where it has landed you." Katy's grin widened. "It has landed me exactly where I want to be. Besides, Paige was a bit sceptical, too." She moved up behind Ian and put her arms around him. Then she leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "I think she was just jealous." Katy kissed Ian just below his right ear. "Paige, jealous?" Ian asked incredulously while turning around in Katy's embrace. He grinned broadly, wrapped his arms around her and let himself fall backward onto the bed. Katy lay her head onto Ian's chest and Ian tightened his embrace. After a few minutes Katy rolled herself on one side and lay beside Ian. She slapped him playfully. "You had better get going. I bet you still want to say goodbye to your mistresses you keep locked up in your lab. I'll finish packing for you." Ian got up slowly and walked towards the door. Just before leaving the room he turned around. "I'll be back to get my bags and maybe we'll even have enough time to have lunch together. I can't promise anything, though." Katy just nodded. She knew Ian would take at least an hour in the labs with his animals. He'd pretend to give some last minute instructions about the care of spiders, scorpions, snakes and whatever else he kept in the tanks and terrariums. She also knew that Commander Xavier would have to wait until Ian had finished in the labs before he'd get his treatment. Katy herself was most likely the only living being Ian cared more about than latrodectus mactans mactans* and all those other poisonous animals. Ian slowly made his way to his lab. He knew his staff was more than able to take care of the animals while he was gone but he wanted to leave a PADD with instructions anyway. He got into the Turbolift and leaned against the bulkehead, hoping the mission on alavon wouldn't take very long. *Black Widow Spider

"Ian!?" The woman who had called out was quickly making her way to a red-haired man who was bent low over a console. He had obviously not noticed her presence yet. "Ian," she repeated louder than before, trying to catch his attention. She smiled and knew the man standing just a few feet away was not being impolite. He was so absorbed in his work that he would probably not notice if the whole station broke apart. So she simply walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. He gave a start and turned around to face the woman. "Katy! Man, you almost gave me a heart attack." To emphasise his last words he clutched at his heart, breathed quickly and grabbed the console for support. "Couldn't wait to see me again?" he asked grinning broadly. Katy rolled her eyes and sighed. "You're so full of yourself." Ian's grin merely broadened when he replied, "I've heard that before. Now seriously, how can I help you?" While he waited for a response he looked her up and down. She was as attractive as always. Her dark hair fell loosely on her shoulders and her soft features were turned into a smile. Her dark brown eyes examined him carefully before she spoke. "I think I can help you this time. I've done some additional research on that toxin you were working on earlier, remember?" The question was unnecessary. She knew he'd most likely been working on exactly that toxin ever since he had left her lab. Ian nodded. "If you've come to tell me that it's similar to the toxin of a scorpion that is found on Earth you are too late. I've found that out myself... ran a search of the structure. And now guess what..." He jerked his head in the direction of a worktop. Katy turned to look in that direction and smiled. "Good job. I had hoped I'd beaten you this time but it looks like you've been faster again. So what've you got?" Together they walked over to the worktop. On top of it stood a transparent container holding a single yellowish scorpion. Ian spoke first. "Clade: Arthropoda, well Chelicerates to be correct; Class: Arachnids; Order: Scorpiones; Family: Buthidae; Genus: Androctonus; Species: Androctonus Australis also known as the Fattail Scorpion. They live in arid areas on Earth. LD 50 value is .32mg/kg. Isn't she beautiful?" Katy observed the scorpion with mild interest but she kept her distance. She was not quite as fond of venomous animals as Ian was. Her caution had served her well. She had stopped counting the times Ian had been rushed to sickbay because he had been stung or bitten by something whose venom could kill a grown man within seconds. Only thanks to the rigid precautions Ian usually took was he still among the living. He never got too close to any potentially lethal animal without an assistant nearby who had a hypospray with the antitoxin within easy reach. She got the feeling that today she would be that assistant. "LD 50, what's that?, she asked as she looked around for the hypo. Ian removed the lid of the container. Before reaching inside he indicated a vial that was lying a few inches to the right of him. "If you'd just put that vial with the antitoxin in one of the hypos and keep it ready. You never know." When he saw the worried expression on Katy's face Ian smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. If something happens you just have administer the hypo and notify sickbay. They'll know what to do." Katy smiled back at him. Her eyes, however, betrayed the uncertainty she felt. "Ian, please, do you really have to do this?" He nodded. "I need some more venom to work with. Anyway, back to your question. LD 50.... LD stands for lethal dose. So the LD 50 value specifies the single dose of a substance which, when administered to a batch of animals, kills 50% within a preset time frame. Anything below 1mg/kg is classified as extremely toxic." At these words he indicated the scorpion. Katy inserted the glass vial into the hypospray and grabbed it firmly. She watched Ian put his hand in the container and carefully pick up the scorpion by its tail. Ian's new love did not seem to like it and writhed, trying to free itself and probably hoping to sting its presumed attacker. He didn't seem in the least impressed. Picking up something that looked like a jar Ian let the scorpion sting into its lid and after a while two tiny drops of a clear liquid ran down the side. Katy's palms were wet. She held her breath and on her forehead glistened sweat. She couldn't help but be impressed with how calm Ian seemed. "Aren't you afraid?" Ian just shook his head and put the scorpion back into its container. Only when he replaced the lid did he speak. "No, at least not while I'm doing this. It has happened though that after I was stung and the chief told me just how close a shave it had been again I realised how dangerous this job can be. But someone has to do it and I enjoy it. I'm good at what I do and I can save people's lives." He shrugged and then went on, "Besides, I get the chance to work with these beautiful animals. In some ways it's better to work with them than actual patients. Spiders, scorpions and snakes don't talk back and they don't expect you to work miracles." Katy frowned. "No they just try to kill you, which is so much better." She'd never understand what went on in this twisted mind of his. He turned around and looked at her. She still had the hypospray clutched tightly in her hand. He reached out and took her hands in his. He removed the hypo from her grip and looked at her. "We've had this discussion before. There is no need bringing it up again." Katy averted her eyes. "It's just that... I care, you know?" "I know." Ian sighed. "There's someone out there who cares for that guy from Excalibur, too. I can help him... well I hope." She turned around and walked back to the console to read the data that was displayed there. She knew it was useless trying to persuade Ian to go back to his regular job in sickbay. Katy would just have to accept that she'd keep getting calls from sickbay telling her her fancé had almost died. She'd just have to keep hurrying to the ICU, sick with worry, hoping he'd still be breathing when she arrived. She dismissed these thoughts quickly. With a tone, a bit too light to fool Ian, she asked, "So you know the venom is similar to that of the Fattail Scorpion. The antitoxin is Twyford Scorpion Antivenom and the antibodies are homologous. How does that help?" Ian shook his head briefly and ran his hands over his face. He decided that right now was not the time to reassure Katy that he'd live quite as long as anyone else. He'd make up for this lapse later. "Well since it's similar we can now make a few educated guesses as to what we need as an antitoxin. It's not that much but it's definitely a first step and better than nothing." Katy nodded. "Well, I'll leave you to your 'Beauty' then. Just make sure your flirtation isn't too intense. It's Lady's Night on the promenade today so I won't have time to come running to sickbay in case they call. You'll have to die alone this time." Despite the teasing tone Ian didn't miss the reproach that was hidden in those words. "I promise I won't touch," he retorted. Katy smiled at him and turned to leave. He watched her walk toward the exit. "I love you, Katy," he called after her just as the doors slid open. Katy turned around and flashed him a last smile before leaving the lab.