First Chapter - When Man is Monster.
by
Karen Fainges
Annalisa stood at the front desk filling in the last box on her form. 'If humans could ever dispense with paperwork, they could rule the Galaxy. Maybe it is good that they have not.' She smiled to herself and signed off on the form. Passing it to the registrar, she prepared to leave. Working at the Mount Sinai Medical Research Center meant hard work, long hours and dealing with grumpy researchers, but it had its benefits. Access to medical supplies and the money was good. And, of course, there were always young medical students eager to learn anatomy.
Speaking of which, there was a new possibility just walking in the door. A face she had not seen before. She gave a sniff, careful not to be obvious. That was strange, he smelt different somehow. "Who is the new face?" she leaned across to Genine on the desk.
Genine looked across, always eager to indulge in some gossip. "Oh him. He's some young hot shot from California. Started with the genetics lab."
Annalisa's nose wrinkled, "Oh, genetics." Her interest took a rapid nosedive. He seemed handsome enough, young, no more than 23-24, a bit shorter than her, at about 5"8'. He had an athlete's body, short-cropped brown hair and blue eyes. The watch and shirt cuffs peeping out from under the ubiquitous lab coat, showed a wealthy background. But there was something else, something that intrigued her and repelled at the same time. Returning her attention to Genine, Annalisa said, "Oh well, I will see you at the party?"
"You bet, I'll be there, free bar."
Annalisa shook her head at Genine's inevitable drinking and waved goodbye. Just as she stepped towards the door, a patient trolley slipped from a wardsman's grip and headed towards her. She grabbed for it, steadily slowing it so the patient would not be shaken even further from his bed. The corner swung out and clipped a nearby figure. It wasn't until Annalisa had assured herself the patient was all right that she was free to help the fallen man.
It was the young geneticist. He had regained his feet and was holding his hip. Something looked wrong. Something about his stance, then it clicked he was faking it. The trolley weighed enough to do real damage to a human. He had been knocked off his feet, but not the way a normal human would be.
"Are you all right?" she asked nodding towards his hip.
He glanced down as if noticing the injury for the first time. "It's bruised, but it's all right." His tone was detached as if he was talking about a patient and not himself.
A look of concern crossed Annalisa's face. On anyone else she would put his reaction down to shock. The tone was wrong and his irises were perfectly normal. He just did not seem to deem it worth the worry. Annalisa was still concerned though. "If you are sure. I could examine it to make sure. There is bound to be a form to fill out."
He smiled slightly, "Yes, there is always a form, Dr.?"
"Annalisa, Annalisa Mara Dr.?"
"Erikson, Jonathon Robert."
"Ooh, two names, how exotic." Annalisa laughed.
"I'm named for my father & grandfather. So it's almost obligatory that I have to say them both." A small note of humour crept into his voice matching hers.
Annalisa shook her head, "It must be interesting to know your father that well, or your grandfather."
"Unfortunately my father died unexpectedly when I was 11." The humour faded into an almost wistful sadness.
'Nothing like getting a conversation off to a good start, 'Annalisa thought to herself. Aloud she murmured the compulsory, "I am sorry." He waved the concern off.
"Please don't, it was some time ago". In an obvious effort to change the conversation, Dr Erikson continued, " I haven't seen you around before, are you on staff?"
"I work with Dr Langburg, Obstetrics. I tend to float around a lot though, going where ever they need an extra pair of hands." Jonathon gave a small laugh. Annalisa raised an eyebrow.
Jon explained, "I didn't mean it as an insult. I got hired for my research, not my bedside manner."
"A common hiring practice here at times. Do not worry, you are among friends, especially in genetics."
Jon laughed again louder this time. "More like competitors. In this field, whoever crosses the line first gets the glory."
Annalisa shook herself, "Eww." It was Jonathon's turn to raise an eyebrow. Annalisa explained, "The thought repulses me. Medicine is to help, not to race. In any race the loser is often humanity."
"The winner is the funding for the Research Center and there is a lot of demand a the moment." Annalisa gave a non-committal grunt. "It's the way of things. Ever since the legislation went through to allow us to work in this area, its become the most funded area in research that I know of."
She gave another grunt, then Annalisa said, "Maybe we should change the subject before I risk offending you. Are you going to the benefit tonight?"
Jonathon smiled, "There's nothing you could say that would offend me that hasn't been said by someone or another. But yes, I am going."
"Good, maybe I will see you there. I have a clinic to get to, but I will be there eventually."
He nodded, "It won't be hard to find me, I'll be the one with the corporate sponsors looking bored."
Annalisa laughed, "That is one good thing about Obstetrics, a never ending supply. No need to run around after money. There is always baby food & nappies."
He made a mock look of disgust, "Eww."
"I am sure you needed them at some time Jonathon Robert."
"Please, just Jon."
"Very well Jon, I will see you tonight."
"With any luck." She could feel his eyes on her as she left. Whether it was an attraction or curiosity, she could not tell. Her earlier disinterest was waning. Jonathon Robert may turn out to be worth a second look after all.
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'Interesting' Jon thought to himself as he signed in. 'She is certainly exotic. And her speech, there is something about her accent. I'm sure I could place it given a chance.' He thought he would get that chance later that night. In the back of his mind, he began a list of comparisons.
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It was nine o'clock before Annalisa found herself pushing through the crowd towards the bar. Everyone seemed to be there. It was not surprising; attendance had been listed as 'highly recommended' on the staff notice board. Still, Annalisa didn't mind, a party was a party. The swirl of people in bodies was always intoxicating. The good thing about a medical party was that there was always a certain portion that had to stay sober before going on duty. Of course there was always the element that more than made up for them. The undesirables were easily avoided. Finally securing her mineral water, she looked around for someone to do. True to his word, she spotted Jon standing surrounded by suits and looking bored. Gaining eye contact with him, Annalisa held it as she crossed over to the group. "Gentlemen, I have come to steal away your new toy. I wish to play with him myself."
A couple of suits laughed knowingly. "Lucky bastard" came a quiet mutter.
Jon smiled at the comment, "Sorry gentlemen, but there's less confusion over who leads when dancing with her."
"Yes, it's her every time," came another mutter. Annalisa ignored them as she linked her arm through Jon's and lead him on to the dance floor.
"Hip feeling better?" Annalisa enquired. He seemed to have no limp or stiffness.
"Depends, are you leading?"
Annalisa laughed, "No, by all means you lead, I am intrigued as to where we would end up."
"I am intrigued as well". At Annalisa's questioning glance, he continued, "You are an unusual woman. Not many are prepared to interrupt that particular group even at a social gathering. They are some of the most influential men of our time."
Annalisa rolled her shoulders in a way that showed off her strapless dress to advantage. "They admire my forthrightness."
"Is that all?"
"No." She realised Jon's charm was working at full steam. She found herself enjoying it and wondering why at the same time. Still there was no harm in playing along. He was still sober. And she had to admit; she was still curious why he smelt so different. He was human, but…
Jon broke into her thoughts, "So how long have you been at the Center?"
"A fair while. I hear on the grapevine you are new?"
"More or less, the Director of Genetic Research has been trying to get me here for a while."
"Crossed a few finish lines first?" Annalisa alluded to their previous conversation as she swayed in time with the music.
"Something like that."
"Should I be impressed?"
"Depends, do you want to be?" The tone of Jon's voice hinted that he suspected that she would not be.
"I tend to be impressed by other things." She gave a quick glance down and winked. Then she laughed, "Sorry, it is the party. I love the feelings of so many in one room. It is… intoxicating."
"I prefer the feelings of just two people in one room."
Annalisa raised an eyebrow and laughed, "So fast Dr? I took you to be the more standoffish type."
"Consider it field research. And I like to get to the finish line first."
"Not a good thing. I do not like the idea of being a genetics experiment. Or having a partner that always likes to finish first. It could be construed as greedy."
"And there is something wrong with that?" He laughed, "But I agree with you. You are not a genetics experiment. More of a refresher course in anatomy."
Her earlier thoughts came back to her and Annalisa laughed. "Are you allowed to do extracurricular study when you should be pandering to the bigwigs?"
"I have enough of my own resources that they can wait. The Center merely offers more variety in resources than I have myself." Annalisa could not suppress a shiver as she wondered if he was referring to the equipment, or the tissue bank that she knew was held in the genetics labs. The number of times she had been tempted to destroy that lab played through her mind. Only her need to stay hidden from general view prevented her.
Seeing her reaction, Jon said, "Oh, I'm sorry we are not meant to talk about this. It is a controversial issue."
"Amongst my own people it is death to speak of it." Her accent became slightly thicker as she reacted.
"People? I've done a few cultural studies, and I don't know of any taboos on such things."
"It is a small place, you would not have heard of it." The answer came off as too pat, as if it was rehearsed and used often. "And there are many who feel as I do, even amongst the Americans."
"It's a changing world, an evolving world and some people are not prepared to wait."
"Does that include yourself?" Annalisa became aware of a strange feeling, as if she would remember this conversation in future years.
"I wouldn't be the first scientist that thought science could cheat death. But it's a fascinating field, and I want to be remembered. Who doesn't?"
"I could do with being forgotten." Annalisa said almost to herself. For a moment she seemed far away.
"That sounds like a subject best left not discussed. Rather like genetics."
Annalisa laughed, glad to get back to the earlier feeling of gentle flirting.
The evening whirled on in a series of dances and verbal parrying. They ended up in his penthouse, sipping mineral water. "Well, I think that race was at least a tie." Annalisa laughed and toasted him with her glass.
The next morning she left early for the clinic. Jon wrapped himself in a dressing gown and moved into a private room. There, in a private lab of his own, he placed a slide under the scope. "Well Dr Mara, let's see what we have here." It was hours later and he had pages full of notes when he finally decided to quit for breakfast. He slid the microscope slide into a holder and put it into a rack against the wall. Dozens of slides filled the containers a work of a lifetime. This time though he had found something really interesting. Even a conservative estimate placed Annalisa's genetic material at a couple of million research dollars. He could see the possibilities unfold. He might even add it to his personal file. "She could pass a lot of that strength and long life to me," he said out loud with a laugh.
Ends