AN: Hello everyone! Welcome to the penultimate story of my page so far. I am very excited to get working on this new idea. It incorporates the best of my characters from Crash, and all that I have learned about storyline and consistent writing through my previous story attempts. Thanks to one of my loyal readers, OfficialWeedTesterGuy, for your help in the idea for this story and your support! Please follow, favorite, and review! Even just to say a few words, it means a lot. Now, without any more introduction… let's begin…

Chemistry

Excerpts from The Concise History of Mankind: Vol. 7; Pages: 327-339: History of the Development of Medi-Gel

2129 CE: Dr. Cole Hartford is born in the state of Missouri on Earth.

2146 CE: Cole Hartford graduates High School early, at the head of his class, and begins his time at Johns Hopkins University as a Biology and Psychology major.

2148 CE: Having received his two degrees with honors, Cole Hartford starts his medical school career at Washington University in St. Louis, where he also spends time in a genetics research lab working on regenerative substances.

This same year, a data cache is found on planet Mars left by a civilization known as the Protheans. The following year an expedition is led through a relay discovered as a result of this cache.

2152 CE: Graduating medical school as valedictorian, Cole accepts a surgical residency at the St. Louis Institute of Health and assumes a place at the head of his genetics lab, working on a supposed cure-all regenerative product.

2157 CE: Cole Hartford finishes his time as resident, starting a fellowship in general surgery while still at the helm of his lab. He has claimed to be close to a massive breakthrough that will "change the face of medicine".

First contact is made with a race known as the Turians. After a short misunderstanding, including a costly space engagement and blockade of a Human world, peaceful negotiations and the exchange of information begin. Humanity is introduced to the group of races known as the Citadel Species. Turians, however, are not as eager to trust these newcomers.

August 13, 2159 CE: Completing his fellowship, Dr. Hartford moves his lab to the Citadel, and accepts a position at Huerta Memorial Hospital to accommodate Human patients now living on the Citadel.


August 24, 2159 CE – Genetics Laboratory within Huerta Memorial

"Shit!" I slam my palms down onto my desk, the impact causing my holo-station to shake, and the negative test results displayed there to lose focus for a few moments. Not like I cared, my damn holo had been spewing the same, God-forsaken results for the past weeks. Getting up and pacing to clear my head, I resigned myself to the fact that one of these moments, I would have to get back a formula that would work. It's easy, I thought. Only have to come up with a miracle chemical that regenerates tissue, seals wounds, and anesthetizes all at once without causing instant cancer, death, paralysis, organ failure, rejection, or mutation. I was definitely wrong. Who would've freaking guessed that the angle of a single Hydrogen atom causes so much pain and suffering rather than my miracle salve? Lucky me, for falling down this rabbit hole and digging so much deeper that there's no where to go but down. I have to finish this. Think of the lives that could be saved! Soldiers can keep fighting and live after taking previously deadly wounds, everyday cuts can be healed in seconds, everyday people can prevent the loss of life of injured people before help even arrives. Maybe if I had had this sooner, Carrie might still be…

"Get back on track, Cole…" I tell myself, "Back to work, don't dwell on the past…". So, back to my life of trial and error I go, mentally prepped for yet another failure. What's next to try… rotate Hydrogen 137 .5% up along the y-axis… alright screw it let's see what happens. "Run simulations, all possible outcomes display" My holo shifts as my VI gets to work setting up the virtual trials.

"Beginning simulations: time to completion, five minutes" The monotone lab assistant VI program responds as I settle back into my leather swivel chair. It cost a fortune, but hell was it worth it for my back. It's worth is being the forefront human physician on the Citadel, but my body pays the price, running this way and that, consulting on nearly every single patient, speaking at tons of different conferences, because every species wants to hear about human medical practices. Except the Turians, they still don't seem to give a shit.

A ping from my omni-tool brings me out of my own head. Seeing the name of one of the nurses from the surgical floor, I accept the vid-call instantly, forgetting about my research for the moment. "Aeyla, what do we have?" I ask the Asari nurse on the other end.

Dr. Hartford, a human patient just came in. Victim of a shooting on the wards, we think the round ripped through multiple abdominal organs. We need you up here stat. Damn, there goes my hopes for working down here in peace, and a good few hours of trials…

"Alright, I'll be on my way. Prep him for surgery, you know what to do" I see my top nurse nod before the connection ends. With a groan, I stand and make best speed for the elevator, cursing my thirty-year-old body for feeling like it's going to fall apart. Damn my lack of real sleep. As soon as the elevator opens, I slap the holo for the surgical floor, and the horrible Citadel elevator is making its way upward.


"Nice work doctor." Aeyla says with a smile, pulling the surgical mask from her face. Seven hours of my patient slipping away, then me pulling him back kicking and screaming. Finally, the metaphorical clouds broke, the patient's bleeding stopped, and the team and I were able to repair his organs and close him up.

Nodding, I look up at her, my surgical optics still on my face, "I appreciate all the help as usual, Aeyla, thank you." I know it isn't what she had in mind for a response, she's been trying to get us into a full conversation for the few days I've been working here, but to be honest, I couldn't really care less. I had better things to do right now than indulge my coworker.

I scrub out and rush back down to my lab in record time, knowing that the results of the newest study are going to be waiting for me, but feeling dread at the inevitability of having to start another round of testing. Falling unceremoniously back into my amazing chair, I roll myself back up to my desk and spin around to read another bad report.

Results for Simulation Round 163A:

Compound stability – 100%

Potential for Rejection; Levo DNA – 0%

Potential for Rejection; Dextro DNA – 0%

Overall Trial Success – 100%

"Wai- wha… the hell?" I look over every letter again, making sure I wasn't hallucinating. Sure enough, it was a successful trial. "It WORKED! IT WORKED! Oh my God it WORKED! Finally, all those hours of designing and trials and it pulled through! Woohoo!" I jump out of my chair, dancing around the lab, spinning imaginary dance partners past all the machinery. "This is the beginning of something amazing!"


September 27, 2159 CE – Huerta Memorial Press Conference

"Ladies and gentlemen," I began my speech, my proudest moment so far, in front of hundreds of news cameras and even more officials and bystanders, "Today, I am here to happily announce the next major advance in the field of medicine. After years of genetics research, of both humans and other species, then months of trial and error, clinical trials, and even field testing with multiple military and police forces, I will finally be able to share this amazing substance with the galaxy."

I take a second for the crowd to gather themselves, and clear my throat before picking up yet again, "This substance is a three-pronged salve for injury. It first uses gene therapy to instantly accelerate the healing process, reducing the recovery time for any patient. Second, it has a hardening property that stops bleeding and seals wounds, preventing loss of life and infection, especially for trauma patients. Finally, it has properties of a topical anesthetic, lessening the pain of any injury it is applied to. Better yet, it is approved for use on both Levo and Dextro patients, with no need for separate formulas. What is this miracle healer, you might ask?" I smirk, taking hold of the vial contained in my podium and queuing up the image on the screen behind me. After a moment, I reveal both, "Medi-Gel. This single vial in my hand is enough to seal a wound from a handheld mass-effect based weapon long enough to either get treatment or continue fighting a battle until help arrives. Imagine every soldier, medic, hospital, and citizen having this on hand. Everything from everyday injuries to life threatening wounds in battle can be easily healed or stabilized. Because of this, it is my sincere hope that the galaxy can enjoy longer, healthier lives. Thank you." With a sincere smile, I step back from the podium, letting the real PR team do the rest of the work. I've always hated speaking at these press deals, no other doctors there that want to talk the nitty gritty details or ask real questions.

Standing on stage, I look over the faces of the reporters and guests in attendance, some look skeptical, others hopeful, and a select few that are ecstatic at my announcement. I even find a few glances in my direction, mostly from the military types, as if they are judging my character. I lose track of time, and before I know it the conference is over, and the crowd begins to pack up. All except one.

A Turian. The one species I didn't expect to want to talk to a Human, and here it was. A female by the look of it. Grey-white plates highlighted by striking purple colony markings and eyes the color of ice. Despite not knowing much about Turians, I knew she was unique, from her casual walk -unlike the usual Turian stick-up-the-ass- to her different colors. Maybe she wasn't too bad after all.

"Dr. Hartford? My name is Visia Caltion, I'm a Lieutenant with the Hierarchy Army." She extended a hand (a distinctly Human gesture, for one), and with a quirk of my brow I took it and gave it a firm shake. "My unit was the Turian section of your field trials, and… as much as it pains me to say this… I'm in your debt. This… Medi-Gel of yours…" she looks down at her feet, before meeting my eyes, "It saved half of my soldiers in one of our field ops. Pirates managed to score hits on my troopers, but because of you, they could keep fighting and made it back alive. So… thank you…"

I stood there, stunned, mouth opening and closing like a water-deprived fish trying to find words. "Well Lieutenant… I have to say, I'm at a loss. I never would have expected- ".

"Expected gratitude from a Turian? I get it, our kind are at odds, and hell because of both of our arrogance we've been chastised by the other council races, and you have yet to even gain an embassy within the Citadel. But, unlike most of my comrades in arms, I think the best way to get past this is to forgive and put it all behind us. Look what you have already done for all of our peoples, not to mention you're somewhat of a celebrity now…" Her mandible quirks out slightly, what I recognize as a Turian smirk.

I chuckle softly to myself, showing a small smile, "Wise words indeed…" I scratch the back of my neck, a quirk of my thinking before speaking again, "I'll tell you what. I've been stuck inside that damn hospital for far too long because of all this, and I could use a real friend on the Citadel, so maybe you could help payback your debt with a few drinks. That's the universal language after all! Well, that is if we can avoid all the paparazzi coming after me…" I break into a full-on smile at my horrible joke, and I even catch a hint of a laugh from my new Turian friend as well.

"Alright then, Mr. Big Shot Celebrity Doctor, deal. I know a couple places that serve Dextro and Levo drinks, so we don't have to spend our time dying of anaphylactic shock! Sound good?" One of her brow plates raises in question, her hands resting confidently on her hips.

I huff, "Deal, name the place and time and I'll be there." I smirk, pulling up my extranet and omni-tool addresses and transferring them to her. "Here's my info, so we don't have to rely on chance meetings at PR gigs to plan this all out." I laugh to myself yet again, finishing with my tool.

"Oh please, like I want to sit for hours and listen to you talk over and over again. I'll take the easy way out." This time I see both mandibles spread into a Turian smile. "Well, I should go and report to my superiors, have to get the paperwork finalized for my leave. I'll be sure to send you a message tonight though on where to meet up. Sound good?"

"You know you enjoyed that speech, it was perfect." I chuckle, "And definitely, I'll keep an eye out for your comm, Lieutenant."

"Call me Visia, Doc. My rank's just too formal." She smirks again before turning to walk away.

Before she gets to far, I call out, "Well Visia, call me Cole" She turns her head and meets my gaze, smiles, and wordlessly walks off to meet with the other officers.

Damn, I think to myself, guess I just met the friendliest Turian in the whole galaxy. I turn on my heel to grab my things and head for my apartment, I had to get ready for a well-deserved night out.