The Beauty and the Beast

[Ian Johnson 0]

"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.