Later in sickbay { BACKPOST }

Posted on Tue Mar 28th, 2023 @ 4:58am by Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant Commander Rutherford (RJ) Milton

Mission: Traitor amongst us?
Location: Sickbay

Milton had his chair reclined in the office as he went over the preliminary scans he had taken at Tony's quarters; not as in depth as he would like but enough to give him a new current condition to compare to his baseline of Tony's medical records of the last physical. The first scans are not detailed as the lab results yet he could note the progression of the symptoms and with some reverse diagnosis get a time frame in which this happened?

"Anything yet, sir?" Kay came into his office. She was not known for her patience at the best of times and now that Tony was so ill it was very hard to sit still and do nothing.

Sky wasn’t far behind Kay, she’d been on her way to Sickbay anyway, so she’d followed knowing Kay was worried about Tony. “I think Rutherford would have called if there was anything concrete.” She offered a friendly smile.

Milton looked up from his PADD.

"They are called chemical Dwell times." Milton said with a grin. "You would not do well in research where most of your time is waiting chemical reactions for results and culture growths." He glanced at his PADD. "The preliminary results are that there are a higher number of enzymes in the culture, not sure how many or what the break-down yet. The fact there are extra does point at artificial enzyme as an activator for these chemical reactions." He admitted. "The break-down will give me an idea what is becoming toxic in her system?"

"I would kill myself if I had to work in research." Kay said. "So something is seriously wrong then?" It was a relief to know she had been right but a big worry that there actually was something wrong with Tony.

Sky gave Rutherford a concerned look. “So if Tony is somehow coming into contact with something that’s harming her, why hasn’t it affected those of us around her? I’ve eaten and drunk from the replicator in her quarters, and I’m not ill.” She paused hoping that statement wouldn’t come back to haunt her.

"I suspect those enzymes will tell the tale." Milton was reading the progression of the testing Live-Time. "There are two medicines that I would not prescribe in her system and these 3 strangers are what I think then it will explain why no one else affected?" He looked to Sky. "I think it is amino acids that are part of DNA and thus customizing the toxin administration to people of Tony's DNA; or family, as the target. SO you would not be affected only ... her." He kept reading. "But I need confirmation of a serious suspicion that could have wide spread ramifications."

"Shit!" Kay said. "So uncle Richard and aunt Aleck and Nick could also be in danger? How could they get it onto the ship?"

Sky shook her head. “I dread to think. It’s not good though.”

"Oh ye of little faith." Milton said calmly. " I know the formula of ingredients so I can give the other members a hypo to keep the toxins from taking hold; where I am with Tony is stabilizing her present condition and get it out of her system. Healing the damage then set her to healing. The others are so little of effect I can keep them from getting sick by building their immunity to the poison's base, then no affects afterward."

"That's a relief." Kay said. "I could not cope with losing more loved ones right now."

Sky nodded. “That just leaves us with the problem of finding out who got it onboard in the first place.”

"Hell yes. I want to give them a piece of my mind." Kay nearly growled.

"You have to do that the hard way, since this is specialzed to Tony anyone can be the carrier; you might say that everyone with exception of Tony and I are potential suspects." Milton said calmly. "As I a the one uncovering and curing her I would hope to be excempt from the list as I am doing what I can to save her and can tell you the delivery system has to have skin to skin contact to Administer; and as she does not recall a hypo I can say it was through contact. Set to Tony means the administrator is also immune to it."

"Is there some way you could use that." Kay asked as she did have a medical degree as well as a psychiatrist. But not at all in research. "To find out who did it. The fact that they are immune. And don't worry doc, you have done enough for Tony and my family, I would never see you as a suspect."

“So it could be any of us?” Sky looked at Rutherford. “Could someone be carrying this poison around on their skin and not know it? Or would it require someone who is totally immune?”

"Most likely it is something applied to the skin, but the residue of said toxin will linger on the host for a bit and a tricorder could get exact, maybe interior sensors could detect faint hints and narrow to a deck but not exact. It is a precise formula of chemicals and Copper based lifeforms would not be able to carry it, it would irritate their skin or worst. SO more average humanoid carrier and the chemicals involved can be detected on the host that applied it I would guess."

Kay looked at Milton and Sky. "Who do we have to ask to do this? I am still learning my way around the ship."

“I suggest we take what Rutherford has found to Security, they’ll sort it from there.” Sky offered an understanding smile.

Kay nodded. "Good idea."

{OFF}