[CLOSED] we steal the molecules from the dead

[flowerette]

WHO: Raina and Harrison Wells
WHERE: ImPort Cellular Research Center
WHEN: November 13th; evening
WHAT: Dealing with the projects and unforeseen complications outside of their projects.
WARNINGS: Human experimentation, science, general lack of remorse for humanity. Will update more as needed.

[ Friday; their day to meet up. Raina had gotten to the lab a little earlier than Harrison's given time, if only because she found her projects therapeutic and she certainly needed the distraction. Strapped to two separate tables and under a sedative were two gentleman both in their mid-thirties. Their vitals were being monitored at rest -- and Raina recorded a slightly accelerated heartrate, heightened blood pressure, and higher lung capacity. But so far, nothing had reached instability.

Whenever Harrison arrived, he would find Raina at a desk -- analyzing blood on a microscope. And without even looking up from what she was doing, she spoke to her colleague. ]

Take a look at this.

[ She pulled the slide up on a much larger screen, pointing to the red blood cells that had seemingly fused with the serum. They appeared stronger, more durable, and far more efficient at their job. ]

The centipede serum has completely bonded with eurythrocytes. All vitals are strengthened, and so far, there are no signs of instability. Our two test subjects have been doing extraordinarily well since their first injection. And I anticipate they will continue to do so for at least a month before they body begins to wear down. But as they are, they will be at the height of their strength and stamina.

If you had any ideas, I thought perhaps we could take them out for a real test. See what they can do out on the field.

Comments

[hsalf]

[He arrives just on the time he normally comes in, slipping his yellow beanie hat (all Will Graham's fault) off, removing his coat, his glasses and leaving them all upon a stray lab chair before he makes his way to Raina. His eyes are immediately drawn to the men sedated on the lab tables, recognizing them as the people Raina was able to recruit, but they don't stop his stride over to Raina's side at the desk. They're only oversized lab rats.

He stops as the slide comes up on the screen and follows her finger, analyzing the data and making a gentle hum at it.]

I agree. They're certainly in good health and it doesn't seem like the side-effects have begun to take yet.

[However a small pause hangs in the air and he rubs the side of his face in thought.]

How much at risk are they if they go out? In theory it isn't a bad idea to let them stretch their legs, but if imPorts find out then there could be an issue. We don't want anyone finding out about this too soon. [His eyes dart to her in the chair.] Especially when you have eyes on you right now.

[flowerette]

I'm thinking a bit of benign target practice. A secluded training ground where they could test their new abilities in a space that isn't quite so confined. It would be harmless and though Skye is good, she's not that good. It isn't as though she'll be tailing me.

[ She rises to her feet, heading over to the test subjects and checking a few things before she glances back at Harrison. ]

We have another body. Healthy, for the most part. Though mentally damaged. Earlier last month, I went out with a friend of mine. We were assaulted by an attacker. And she made use of her extraordinary ability. She could erase memories and wipe the mind clean. But afterward, rather than dispose of the problem -- I took him in. I have him staying off site, carefully monitored.

But I was wondering if you had an idea of what to do with him? I could always turn him to you, as your own personal project if that's something you'd be interested in.

[hsalf]

[Oh, well, that sounds incredibly dull. Safe and reasonable, but dull nonetheless. Better to be safe right now though in the early stages. He crosses his arms and keeps filing the data on the screen away into his memory, even as Raina moves away. His head only turns over to her when she speaks, the question peeking his curiosity.

He steps away from the desk and walks over to the sedated men, hands behind his back and eyes on them.]

You want target practice, huh? He could be the target then. Something moving and durable - with an instinctive will to live. [He grips his hands over the rail of a lab table, idly staring at the features of the man on it.] These men are going to go up against powerful people one day. They need to learn how to hunt properly.

[He had no need for any projects of his own, as far as human experimentation went. Maybe on an imPort it would be a different story, but an ordinary man is no use to him.]

[flowerette]

[ She looks over at Harrison and a grin slowly forms on her lips as he offers the suggestion. What a brilliantly wicked plan. And it would be incredibly fascinating to see how their enhanced senses caused them to catch their prey. ]

I would say that's an excellent way to destroy the evidence. I've collected all the data I was interested in from him -- blood tests, brain scans, and a variety of other examinations all to understand Pakunoda's power. Unfortunately, she ported out shortly afterward, so it makes little sense to keep him around in her absence.

Do you think if we tried to inject nanites into the blood of our projects that it would take? I wonder if they're something unique to us and us alone, or if anyone can reap the benefits.

[hsalf]

[A good question. He's certain the nanites are specially designed for imPorts, but there's nothing to support that as the truth apart from conjecture.]

I'd say it's worth a test on at least one of them. [He breathes out and scratches his neck idly, stepping around the metal table and walking to his lab table.] Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If you can acquire the nanites, I can take a look at them and see for certain if something in them is geared specifically to imPorts.

Regardless, we should start set-up for the next phase. I rather we not fall behind. Once we hit mid-December I can come in on a daily basis thanks to my job being out for a month - if we can get things rolling out around that time, I can be here to supervise when you cannot.

[flowerette]

It would be good to have someone overseeing the project at all times as we move further. With any luck, Skye will port out before that time and we will be free to do as we please.

[ Raina says this as she's walking toward one of the refrigerated storage units. Opening up a glass door, she pulls out a tray of samples and plucks up a single vial from it. Then, she heads over to Harrison, offering it to him. Contained therein is a clear solution. ]

All of the nanites one can ask for. There's a young girl named Hazel who has no blood in her body -- only nanites. She's requested that I find a way to remove them from her entirely and has offered to provide as many as I need to help with the research.

[hsalf]

[He whistles lowly when she mentions the lack of blood, turning the vial in his hand as he grips it firmly with the pads of his fingers.]

That must be exhausting. I doubt they can all be removed. It may be possible, in her case, that they just replicate to replace any removed. We actually need our blood, but her - I think the government would want to make a failsafe to ensure she can't just drain all the nanites out of her system.

[He offers the vial back to Raina and smiles.]

If you got enough, we may as well inject them in now to see what happens. No need to tell them what's going on - a fun little experiment, in addition to the one ongoing.

[flowerette]

We could try it with the target. The nanites are notorious for enhanced healing and revival from death. It would be interesting to see if it had any effect after they've captured and presumably injured him. And it isn't as though there's a shortage in the supply.

[ Raina is a little reluctant to inject it into their projects. Although their metabolic rates and immune system functions are at an all time high, she doesn't want them to break down so soon. Who knows how the nanites would react to the serum. And perhaps that could be another test they could try out on their third party...

If he survives the evening, that is. ]

[hsalf]

[He can sense a little bit of caution in Raina and perhaps he's being a bit jumpy. Patience is an easy thing to practice, but he doesn't enjoy it.]

It's your experiment. [He says in reminded agreement, acknowledging that he is not nearly as involved or attached to this as she is. He is the help, not the lead, and it's a role he is fine with assuming.] It could help with preservation.

[He sniffs and moves back over to the bodies, crossing him arms in thought.]

Raina, just out of curiosity - who else knows about what we're doing here?

[flowerette]

When we get to the point where we have more at our disposal, I would be more than happy to test those sorts of outcomes. But these two.

[ Raina stares down at the men about as fondly as if they were her own children. And in a sense, they are the closest she'll ever come to it. Her beautiful pet projects who are doing extraordinarily well. They would break down on their own eventually and could be discarded in favor of shinier, newer toys. But she doesn't wish to enhance the break down process until they truly see how long her serum will last on its own.

She glances up at Harrison after his second question, a more unsettled look on her face. This wouldn't even be a problem if Skye had never shown up in this world. ]

The director of the imPort cellular research project in this building and two of my most trusted colleagues. I know for certain they won't be the issue if there is to be any.

[ Those three are her most trusted allies because they practically worship the ground she walks on. They would sooner die than see her leave their facility. ]

Norman Osborn has provided us with funding and continues to do so, finding our project fascinating. And... Frederick Chilton knows as well. That is all. Unless you count Skye, who has an idea of the nature of my projects but no proof I'm actually doing them here. If death was a permanent solution in this world, I would slit her throat without question just to never see her face again.

[ It's nice to at least be able to say these things and not get judged for them. Oh that villain life. ]

[hsalf]

So, not including us, five people know for certain. Three are natives, who likely don't know all the details of what goes on, one is a benefactor and the other...your boyfriend I'm guessing? [She's never brought up the man in conversation before, but he can't imagine someone as pragmatic as Raina would disclose this information to anyone she doesn't fully have trust in. A lover fits that slot well.] Five. Maybe six if we count Skye, but let's just leave it at five for now. I haven't disclosed any of...this, not to anyone. I was serious when I said I wanted to keep this off record.

[As far as everyone knows, he only works in the university. Unless someone has been tailing him, there should be no reason anyone knows about his work at the center.]

I think that's a good number, given the circumstances. I'm not bringing this up to worry you or encourage paranoia, but as this project advances I predict it will become harder to shroud it. The less people who know, the better off we are from any potential fallouts that may arise.

[And, though he doesn't doubt Raina herself, people can be unpredictable things.]

Regards to Chilton - you're positive he won't disclose this information to anyone. Not even if interrogated.

[flowerette]

Yes. I don't intend to expand it beyond those I've mentioned. Unless someone with a mindset like ours arrives and would be perfectly suited for our team. But as it is -- with the complication, it's safer for the two of us to move forward as we are.

[ She pauses when the topic is shifted to Chilton, finally looking up from the experiments to make eye contact. ]

Frederick is a psychiatrist. As such, he knows fully the importance of discretion and even if interrogated, he would not disclose the details of my projects. Frederick won't betray me. Because he's well aware, at least on some level, if he did -- I would cut out his tongue and make sure he can never betray anyone again.

[ Her words are loving as she says it, though. Raina is such a great girlfriend for anyone to have. ]

[hsalf]

[A small, yet vicious smirk breaks out when she makes her unheard threat upon Chilton, feeling almost sorry for the guy for crossing paths with someone like Raina.]

Love hurts, as they say. [It's a short candid remark, as his smirk wanes into an amused smile.] Though I must admit, I do have a reason to bring this up. There's...something about me that I think you should know of. A potential complication, though not anything I can't control.

You know, of course, of Crane. Good ol' Scarecrow. There is a group of people he is not so friendly with and those same people...well, let's just say they have more reason to not be so friendly with me.

[flowerette]

[ As Harrison begins, Raina becomes more intrigued by what he's saying. She turns to face him fully, her attention no longer divided between their makeshift soldiers and him. And as he goes on, she can only think of one person who was largely Crane's enemy. ]

Batman?

[ It sounds so ridiculous coming off her tongue. That name. At least Ironman, The Hulk, and even Captain America sound a bit less bizarre by comparison. But none of that really matters. Not with how wide her eyes become and how interested she suddenly seems at the prospect of being given this information. ]

What is their reason for disliking you?

[hsalf]

Not him, no. Just the people he associates himself with.

[Batman can have fun fighting against psychopaths like Crane on the stormy night streets, because he would never stand a fighting chance against the man in yellow.]

I have a debt to pay to one of their heroes. They aren't keen on me wanting to repay it either. It's really...tedious, to deal with them, but a number of them are aware that I am here. How many and who in particular I can't say, but if they see me doing wrong they will come for me. And after Crane's debacle, they would be wise to not be foolish about it.

I feel you should know, as we progress, the risks that will come. None of them have approached me in person, likely to keep me in the dark as to what they know, so it's hard to aim and fire here.

[flowerette]

[ She listens and considers his words. And the only thing she can think is Heroes. They're so obsessed with doing the right thing, interfering in things that they have no business interfering in. Her arms cross, and she tilts her head thoughtfully. ]

It's irritating that they have their alliances. And even more irritating that you have to watch yourself every step of the way.

[ Raina takes a step closer, sauntering toward him with a slow forming smirk. ]

But you also have allies. In this world, there's little they can do against you unless you provide them evidence of your wrongdoing. But if the evidence points to someone else? One of them, perhaps? They would have a hell of a time explaining that to the natives and fellow imPorts.

I mean, it's a shame we can't just kill them. But we will always be more intelligent than them, more clever. If you help me with Skye, I'm more than happy to help you with your enemies.