Being of the Field Read Online Free PDF Page B

might actually get to see before I leave AMIE, right?’ Taren joked, foreseeing much work in her immediate future.
    The cryogenic vacuum trap was being transferred into a biomolecular quarantine room. This was an observation area isolated from the main lab by a couple of sets of shield windows which had a biomolecular scanning area in-between. The sample was ejected into a transparent containment tube; it could be observed from the lab visually, and could also be monitored by the computer systems in the lab that would be analysing it.
    Lucian smiled at Taren’s jest. ‘It will take a while for the sample to adjust after the cryo-containment, so I could show you around now if you like?’
    Taren looked horrified by the notion. ‘You don’t want to leave an unanalysed sample hanging around your ship, surely?’ She was concerned that it might leak, or that some spy might attempt to nick some of the sample. She began searching through her cases for the equipment that she needed.
    ‘That observation room is constantly monitored by AMIE’s systems and will be ejected from our craft at the slightest indication of a leak,’ Lucian advised her with a proud twinkle in his eye.
    Taren was impressed. ‘Who has access to this lab?’
    ‘You can register the entry code on your way out,’ Lucian assured, as Bonar and his crew stepped into a biomolecular scanning room, situated between the observation facility and the lab, which scanned the crew for any biohazardous chemicals that may have escaped during the transfer. ‘Whoever you give that code to has access.’
    Obviously getting a negative for viruses, parasites, radiation, and similar dangers, the tech crew moved into a de-suiting room, dragging their trolley containing the empty trap behind them.
    Taren had found her hard drive containing the programs that would give her an initial analysis. ‘Just give me a couple of minutes to plug in my system and I’ll run a spectrograph while we’re away. I want to know what kind of quanta we’re dealing with. My system will beep me when it’s completed graphing the molecular activity of the sample.’ She plugged her hard drive into the lab’s system and proceeded to initiate her program.
    ‘I can see why you’ve come so far so fast, Dr Lennox.’
    Taren’s typing slowed as she absorbed his flattery. ‘In my field, wasting time can cost you proof of a miracle. If you’re not onto it, you miss out.’
    ‘All too true. And on the subject of miracles, I want to discuss your FFRD reading during the mission today.’ Lucian raised the subject somewhat warily.
    ‘I expected you might want to forget it,’ Taren proffered. ‘Unless, of course, you wish to discuss it in order to find a way to dismiss the incident?’
    ‘On the contrary!’ Lucian’s tone appealed for her to have a little more faith in him. ‘When you analyse the data on the FFRD, I want a copy of the report. I’ll reserve any argument until we have some data worth arguing about.’
    Good comeback, thought Taren. Lucian Gervaise was certainly a lot more open-minded than any of her associates to date. ‘Of course.’ She pressed the ‘run’ button and rose. ‘I’m ready for the tour now.’
    Lucian motioned to the door that Bonar and his crew were now exiting through. ‘Then let’s start with how to program your entry code and go from there.’
    Taren was truly impressed with her living quarters—her rooms were large with breathtaking views of space.
    ‘Even royalty would be happy staying here,’ she commented, as Lucian demonstrated all the mod cons.
    ‘When confined to a vessel, people need their own space,’ Lucian explained. ‘This may seem like a large area right now, but in six months it could feel all too small.’
    ‘Best accommodation I’ve ever had,’ Taren complimented the captain. ‘Good luck getting rid of me.’
    ‘Having you aboard is a welcome diversification for the project. I doubt we shall be in any hurry to kick you