AN: this is a companion piece based off a Comic that Sheldon writes for Amy in my other story. I hope that is clear. Amy is Annie in his mind.
Special shout out to Famousinthefuture for helping me with this story. She is the queen of AU.
The Emerald Vixen Issue One
The screeches from the monkeys were deafening; screaming in her ears causing her to close her eyes in pain. She couldn't see them coming, but she felt them. One after the other came at her; they clawed at her, scratching, biting, gnawing, screeching. Blood was running down her cheeks, into her mouth. Annie tasted the salty thick liquid, but she couldn't stop it. She wasn't sure if it was their blood or hers. It didn't matter, it would be hers soon enough. The horde had over run her, slamming her against the cage door, ready to tear her shreds.
3 hours before:
Annie Fiona Flowers was working in the primate lab at UCLA. She had been on staff for two years, and was just getting noticed for her comprehensive work with monkeys and the effects of the new cancer drug she had developed with her friend, Betty Rostochovitz-Woloberg at Cal-Tech. Her current co-workers were not so keen on the brilliant scientist, however. They shunned her at social events, belittled her work and teased her about her affinity with the monkeys.
One woman in particular was out to get Annie: Dr. Towning. She had developed a relationship with a unscrupulous Biotech man, Barnworthy. He owed a large lab and the Glendale Cooperative. The company was pure evil; using scientist as cogs in a wheel of his corporate machine. He wanted the research to patent it, and sell the drug at the highest market rate. Dr. Towning only took the job at UCLA to get close to Annie, and persuade her to give up the research and Annie's formula. They tried to bribe her, offer her a highly paid job at his company; they even tried to copy it. However Annie rejected the offers and put the formula along with the research safely locked in the room with her favorite monkey, Micky. Micky was the test monkey for the formula. He had brain cancer, stage 3. Annie formula had put the cancer in remission. He was vital to the research.
That fateful night, Annie was working late. She had to get the research for the formula to Cal-Tech in the morning. She and her friend were going to publish and released the formula, thereby ending Barnworthy ability to profit off of open source work. As she was just about to leave, and turn off the lights, they were turned off for her.
"Is anyone there?" Annie called out sheepishly. She was supposed to be alone in the lab. No one had been there for hours. No answer to her call. "Hello?"
Annie got up from her desk, and moved toward the door. She timidly put her hand on the handle to open it when it was fling in her face, knocking her back. She fell to the ground with a thud. The door opened with a bright light behind, blinding her. She saw two large figures come toward her. She tried to crawl away, but the rough hands on her neck and arms were too strong.
Any light coming at her was blacked out after she had a dark bag pulled roughly over her head. She tried to struggle, but the hands were too strong for her, pulling off her clothes as her muffled screams were ignored. She heard voices behind the hands, sounds of screeching she knew were from Micky and the sound of breaking glass. The voices were saying something about the formula, research and monkey lab. Then she was hit with a sharp sensation pulsing through her head and flash of pain. She fell hard on the ground. She was knocked out.
She woke up to the familiar sounds of screeching and the smell of dank putrid air. She knew the sound of angry monkeys well and the smell. She hoped she wasn't where she thought she was, but one quick look confirmed her fears. She was in the infamous UCLA section 5 animal lab. This underground lab was reserved for the monkeys who had been given dangerous experimental drugs and the University want to keep their existence quiet. Some of the side effects were deadly. Those were the lucky ones. These monkeys had to endure the pain of life.
Most of these monkeys had multiple drugs given to them to improve memory, help with joint pain, or even some were given a formula to experiment with telepathy. None of the drugs or experiments worked, just compounded the side effects. The monkeys were left to live, rather than die. It was cruel. The side effects were brutal and vicious. Most of them were beyond help, in constant state of agitation and needed to be completely isolated from each other.
In order to enter this lab, one needed a special suit. It was skin tight and slick, since the monkeys could rip any loose clothing. It was also brilliant emerald green. Green seemed to have a calming effect on the monkeys; at least as calm as they could be given their history. The suit also was thick enough to keep scratches away from the skin and any other pathogen. It had a small hood to keep a person's head covered. This was needed since one scratch from some of these monkeys could be deadly. Annie didn't have the suit, she didn't have any protection. She was stripped almost bare in only her underwear; half naked cowering in the corner, shaking from fear. Her eyes were closed shut, hoping she was dreaming.
If Annie woke up in this lab, it was bad. As soon as she opened her eyes, she knew it was worse. All of the monkeys were set loose in room; every cage opened. Annie jumped back in fear. She knew they would rip her to shreds. She tried to claw to the door, hoping the monkeys were too busy ripping each other apart to notice her. One of the largest monkey's turned his head slowly toward her sound and narrowed his eyes on her. She stopped in her tracks. He moved in her direction her; slowly, deliberately, like he was reading her mind. His red cold eyes never leaving hers. Annie was frozen, unable to move for some reason. The monkey's eyes narrowed even more and he jumped on her, clawing at her hair, ripping at her skin. The other monkeys turned toward the noise, and raced across the room to join him.
The screeches from the monkeys were deafening; screaming in her ears causing her to close her eyes in pain. She couldn't see them coming, but she felt them. One after the other, they came at her; they clawed at her, scratching, biting, gnawing, screeching. Blood was running down her cheeks, into her mouth. Annie tasted the salty thick liquid, she tried to spit it out, but she couldn't stop it. She wasn't sure if it was their blood or hers. It didn't matter, it would be hers soon enough. The horde had over run her, slamming her against the cage door, ready to tear her shreds.
She felt her blood run cold, thick in her veins. She could taste her sweat, her fear. Everything in her was telling her curl up in ball, show submission. Her blood wouldn't let her. It started surging through her, she could feel every pore open up, her neurons flashing in her brain, making new connection she never felt before. She could hear voices now, screaming at her, "Why? Why? Why? OUT! OUT! OUT!" The voices were strange; she didn't hear them in her ears, rather her mind. Her brain was in over drive, processing all the sounds, the pain, the voices. One voice in her head was loud, more determined than all the others. It said ENOUGH. It was from her.
The monkeys suddenly stopped and jumped back. She said it again, this time with her voice, "Enough!"
They jumped back again. "BACK!" They all jumped back, all except the large monkey. He just looked at her with his red eyes. Annie stood up and looked at him, staring him down. One look from her green eyes ending the battle; he was frozen.
Annie slowly walked backwards toward the closet with the suits and retrieved one, the whole time eyeing the large monkey. His body was still frozen, but his head turned slowly, watching her. She slipped on the suit, the face mask and the boots, hoping the green color would calm the horde. It did. The monkeys went back to their cages and locked themselves in. All except the large monkey. Annie looked at him, finally seeing his eyes with more than the veil of fear. His voice was in her head, "Why? Why?"
Annie spoke to the large monkey, "I'm sorry." She reached her hand out for him. He slowly moved toward her, one hand on the ground the other moving slightly toward her. He stopped and looked into her eyes again. "Come here." He moved closer. Their finger tips touched, Annie, grasped his hand slowly. He came closer. She held out her other arm. He flinched away, but didn't let go of her hand. He cocked his head and looked into her eyes again. Annie smiled and nodded. The large monkey jumped in her lap, wrapping his arms around her. She returned the action, and slowly rubbed her hand down his head, pulling him into her chest. They sat for a while, just rocking back and forth. This was probably this first touch he had in years, from anyone, monkey or human.
Finally, the large monkey got up, and ran toward the door. He was pulling on it, but it was locked from the outside. He then looked up at the vent and then to Annie. "Oh I see, the door is locked, but we can get out that way. Clever boy. But I can't jump like you."
The large monkey jumped up and down and ran to Annie's leg and pulled it. "Okay, I'll try, but I am not that flexible. Annie jumped up and to her shock, she grabbed the vent on the first try. She mirrored the large monkeys actions. He flipped his legs up and jumped in the vent, Annie did the same. They crawled down the vent for at least 40 feet until they heard voices. She knew those were the men who attacked her earlier. She looked through the vent and watched them. Telling her monkey friend to be quiet with a finger on her lips.
The men's conversation was clear and disturbing:
"So they got the monkey and formula, but where is the research? The boss says we gotta get it. Come on, before that science broad wakes up."
"That girl ain't going nowhere. She's monkey food by now. Too bad we didn't have some fun with her before we threw her in that lab, huh? After we took off her clothes, she looked pretty good. "
"Yeah, I got a couple gropes in.. Ya know, for good luck…" The blond man slapped the other man on the back and they both laughed. "But it had to look like an accident. Like she was getting the suit on and she let them monkeys out. As rough as I would have been on her, they wouldna known she didn't undress herself, HAHA!"
Annie slipped out of the vent with a back flip behind them. She had heard enough. The large monkey followed her. The men jumped back, "Who the hell is that?" She didn't answer. She grabbed the closest thing she could find, a scalpel and threw it at the man who was running toward the door. The scalpel pinned his sleeve to the wall trapping his hand above his head; narrowly missing his face by a millimeter. The large monkey ran toward the pinned man, screeching at him. The large monkey flipped his legs together and did a back flip hitting him in the chest, just like Annie.
The taller man was busy with Annie, eyeing her, licking his lips, "Come on, green girly… Let me help you outta that suit." Annie jumped over the desk, flipping her legs together with one motion. She kicked him in the face and knocked him back, "NEVER TOUCH A WOMAN WITHOUT PERMISSION!" She glared at him, her boot on his chest, holding his body down. She glared at him with an icy stare. He was frozen, unable to move. Annie barked at him, "STAY."
Annie looked around. The lab was clean, no evidence of a break in. The only things missing were the formula, and Micky. She unlocked the cage where Micky was housed before. She dragged the man by the ankles and threw him in the cage. Then she swiftly went to the door where the other man was huddled, begging the monkey to stop screeching. "MAKE HIM STOP!"
Annie held out her hand, and the monkey stopped and took it. "Now… Get in the cage." She pulled the knife out of the door. The man ran to the cage with his friend and closed it. Annie looked the men over. She could hear them talking, but their lips weren't moving.
Oh, she's nice isn't she.
Is she gonna let us out of her. That monkey is crazy!
Like to get that boot on me again. Look at those green eyes… mmm.
Annie didn't understand what was going on. She felt stronger than ever before. Faster. She could hear things. She figured she was running on a new drug: adrenaline. Annie couldn't think about anything like that now. She needed to find Micky and the formula.
Her eyes narrowed on the pair of scared caged men, "Who sent you?"
The taller man laughed, "Ha! No one sent us, girly. We are independent agents." The blond man crossed his arms and smirked at her.
"Yeah, independent." The smaller man crossed his arms, matching his friend.
Annie rolled her eyes, "You two idiots haven't had an independent thought in years, or ever! So I am going ask you again. Who sent you?"
The taller man eyed her up and down. Annie could hear his voice in her head"
I aint telling this chick and damn thing. She is going have to get her monkey friend to get it out of me. Barnsworthy better paid good for this lousy job.
"Barnsworthy huh?" Annie raised her eye brow.
"HEY, I didn't say him!" The man uncrossed his arms in disbelief.
"Yeah, he told us not to use his name iffn we get caught!" The other man smacked the blond man in the head, "You idiot, you just told her Barnsworthy sent us."
"No you did. Thank you gentlemen. Oh and one more thing… Where is Micky?"
"Who in the hell is Micky?"
"You're standing in his cage right now, so I will ask you again, where is Micky?" Annie's eyes narrowed on the taller man. He glared back at her.
"He's dead." His eyes were cold as steel in winter. A smile crept on his face and he licked his teeth and eyed her up and down again.
Annie looked at him again, "You're lying. I can smell it. Where is he?" She slowly wrapped her hands around the bars of the cage. As she looked in his eyes, she heard his voice in her head, Barnsworthy's lab…
A smile crept on Annie's face, "Thank you, that's all I need." She turned quickly and walked toward the fridge and she grabbed a vial. She grabbed a banana for her new partner. She threw the vial in the cage and it opened up. The two men jumped back, "What in the hell is that? You trying to kill us?"
"That my friends is new drug developed that makes Monkey's impotent so they won't attack each other. Given your tendency to attack unconscious women, I think you are due for dose. The effects only last for 6 months. Enough time for you think about what you've done."
The men were grabbing at the bars, screaming for her let them out. The vial had released a gas that was enveloping them. Annie glared at them and they stopped moving, frozen, fixed on her gaze. " Now! A nice bit of hush outta you! I have to work." She moved to her desk and checked the computer. She held the file in an encrypted partitioned drive. The two buffoons now housed in Micky's cage weren't even close to finding it. Without the formula and Micky, the research was useless. The formula was gone. Micky was gone. She was going to get it back.
Annie left the facility with her new friend and her research now safely housed on a flash drive tucked in her suit. It was late, around 2 AM. Before she left, she put in an anonymous call to the UCLA police about the break in. She didn't bother to tell the men the vial she broke was just carbon dioxide. Better to have them think they are impotent for while. She still had her monkey friend to deal with. She couldn't let him go back to Section 5, but she couldn't set him free either. One choice came to mind when she looked at him; she brought him back to her apartment.
Annie snuck in her apartment in the middle of night, with a monkey on her hip, "Now look, you can't make a lot of noise here! I have neighbors and lease that says I can't have pets. So Shhh! Okay?" The large monkey shook his head, and went to kitchen, grabbing some bananas and a bottle of wine. "Oh no… No alcohol for you, you crazy monkey. How about some YooHoo? The name literally beckons. YooHoo! Hey! What do you think of that for a name? Do you like it?"
The large monkey shook his head, and grabbed the bottle." Okay YooHoo, here you go. Now, we have to think: How to get Micky out of that damn lab!" Annie stripped off her suit and sat in the bath, thinking of a plan.
The next morning, Annie called Betty to give her the bad news. She told her to call the authorities at Cal-Tech and warn them about the missing research. UCLA sure wasn't going to listen. Maybe Cal-Tech would get their team of lawyers after Barnsworthy.
Betty was defeated, "Honey! There are no authorities. Barnsworthy has a member of the Board of Cal-Tech in his pocket. He gave them all stock options. I just found out that one of the ladies on the board gave him the password to the security system! The formula is lost. There is no one. Without Micky, we can even prove we made it. It's hopeless."
Annie voice was breaking , "There's got to be something we can do!"
"That research was going to lead the way to a cure. If Barnsworthy get it, he will stifle the results and dole it out for cash. It will put cancer research back 10 years. Does he care? No! The guy would steal flowers off his grandma's grave."
Annie knew she had to do something. It was up to her and her alone. It was one thing to save Micky, but she had to get that formula too. It was time to use her new found confidence and adrenaline rush for something good.
"Give me two days. I will see what I can do. Oh, and Betty... Any openings at Cal-tech? I think I am going to be unemployed by Friday. God willing."
"Sure Annie, I'll put in some calls."
Annie resolved to face Barnsworthy get intel on the formula. It was her only shot.
Annie had been to Glendale Cooperative's lab before when Barnsworthy was trying to recruit her. She knew the layout and the security for the formulas. Barnsworthy was a blow hard, always bragging about his impenetrable security system. All of the Glendale Cooperative's formulas was housed in a room with lasers. The lasers were timed to 2 seconds intervals, that isolated every 3rd time. They were reactive to heat, so when anyone came close, the laser moved toward the person. Once past the laser light show, one had to work a lock with a random key code that changed every 10 seconds. If she could remember the pattern, she could get past the lock. The pattern changed every 15 rounds. She needed a brilliant mind and an eidetic memory to get through the fortress. Once inside, the formula was locked in a biohazard shell case that needed Barnsworthy's DNA to open. The monkeys were housed on the other side of the room. She could get into that room and get the formula, and could then get Micky and go out through the outer door which only opened from inside the room.
But she needed his DNA.
Annie put on her lab coat from UCLA and drove straight to Barnsworthy's office. His secretary, a blond bimbo initially refused her admittance to his office. However, one look from Annie and she made the call, "OH Mr. Barnsworthy, Annie Flowers here to see you."
"Dr. Flowers." Annie said flatly. She hated it when people didn't use her academic title
"Yes, deary, he'll be with you in minute."
Barnsworthy was taken back by Annie's unscheduled appearance. She could see fear in his eyes.
"Sooo.. Dr. Flowers, how lovely to see you again… I hope all is well." He shifted uncomfortable in his large leather chair that was 3 sizes to big for him.
"Yes, it is. Except there was a break in last night at UCLA. The formula and the test subject has been stolen."
"Oh, my that's terrible news. Any suspects?" Barnwrothy's thoughts were so easy to read: He looked at Annie and thought, what a fool she is coming here. I can't wait to see the look on her face when I patent her formula.
"No, one. But all is not lost. I still have the research. The formula is useless with out it." Annie watched his reaction. Those fools! They were supposed to get rid of her and get the research! I got to get her out of here and call them!
"OH that is good news. Well, given that news, why are you here? I'm kidda of busy now..." He reached for his phone.
"Well, I was thinking of your offer of employment. Given that my formula was stolen, I thought if I worked here, I would be able to replicate more efficiently using the vast resources of the Glendale Cooperative. Don't you agree?" Squirm you little worm.
Squirm he did and hung up the phone, "Oh yes. That is a wonderful idea. Let me give you a tour. I think you'll find our facilities outmatch any in the public sector. " He got up to lead the tour and held the door for her. He walked her around the facilities. At one point, Barnworthy took her to a small lab room with brain samples, slides and scalpels. Perfect!
"Oh Mr. Barnsworthy, this is a wonderful lab. May I see what they are working on here?"
"Of course, knock yourself out." Annie looked around, and covertly grabbed a scalpel. She acted like she had dropped something and bent down to pick it up while grabbing the blade. Barnsworthy didn't give a moment's peace. Oh look at that woman… Hmm… He came up behind her, too close for her comfort but perfect distance for her intentions.
" Oh and we are the only ones in here now, Flowers. God, you smell good, no wonder you are named Flowers. Mmmm." Barthworthy sniffed Annie's' hair while she was trying to look around. She turned her body to face him, "Well Barthworthy, it's a family name and has nothing to do with the angiosperms of plants" She moved closer to his mouth, trying desperately to control her stomach.
"Did you say Sperm?"
"Angiosperms. The reproductive parts of plants. You know." Annie moved closer to him, "Flowers." Her lips were within inches of his mouth when she ran her scalpel across his hand, cutting his finger. She was so quick, he didn't notice he was bleeding or the slide Annie had also swiped. She looked down and saw she had her prize. "I think I almost ready to get started here today."
"OH me too, Flowers, Me too…" He reached his hand up to grab her face and he finally noticed the blood. " Oh, did you cut your hand, You're contaminating the lab, SIR!"
"OH man! Do you have any Band-Aids. Look at this! I am going to get anthanx, I know it!"
"You can't get anthrax, its airborne. Just go out and get a napkin."
"Alright you have to come with me, no one can be here if I am not here. Let's go"
Annie was careful to catalog all the exits, cameras and especially the door marked "formula room." Barnsworthy was busy nursing his hand.
"Can we visit that room?" Annie looked at Barnworthy with a intense stare. He just nodded his head and took her in the room. "See, we have much greater security than UCLA or any academic lab."
"Speaking of which, Annie, where is your research? Is it still at UCLA?" Just tell where it is, girl so I can get it from you.
"OH no, it was never there. I have it. It is safe. "
"I would love to see it."
"Fine, Barnsworthy. I will see what I can do."
"Good." He moved closer to Annie and ran his little hand down her arm, "I look forward to reading your research. Let's meet for dinner and you can discuss your findings. Say, Saturday? Let's have a working dinner around 8 at Scalo. It's in my hotel. I always stay in room 2469. Get it? Two for 69? It kills me every time!" He slapped her on the ass, and walked away. " Look forward to going up and down your work, Annie. Really looking forward to it. Oh and lose the lab coat when you come in here next time, okay honey."
Oh, you are going to go down alright. Down in flames. Her icy green eyes bore a hole into the back of his head. It was a good thing Annie still didn't have a scalpel at the time, or the man's grabby hand would have been pate.
She had everything she needed. Tonight was the night. She brought YooHoo with her. He was the distraction for the guards. He had to lead them away from the lab so she could work. He was more than happy to wreck havoc on the lab and keep from the guards.
While Yoohoo kept the guards busy, Annie snuck past all the cameras and doors with ease. Finally she was the laser trap. She watched the pattern again to make sure her movements were correct. She had to choreograph her dance perfectly. She took three deep breaths, put on her hood. She had 3 minutes to get through the maze of lights.
Annie bent and contorted her body around the death rays. Her new found flexibility came in handy as she moved her body around each laser, dodging, twisting turning until finally she was near her goal. The pattern suddenly changed, she was trapped. A laser was running across the ground moving toward her body. She had nowhere to run. She arched her back and did back bend, but it was not good, the laser was just about ready to cut into her chest, slicing right up the V of her neck line like a zipper, when suddenly, all the lights went out.
"It would be a shame to damage such an alluring outfit, don't ya think?"
The husky voice came from the dark. Annie bent back upright to see where the sound had come from. She saw movement in the corner. She flipped her legs over and did three back flips to find her savior or enemy; She wasn't sure yet.
The stranger in the corner was trapped. Annie had the wherewithal to include a blade on her outfit. On the last flip she grabbed her knife and held it at the strangers' throat, with her arm across his chest. He was tall, at least a foot taller than she. Annie pulled off her hood with her free hand, and shook her hair free. She could finally see who was so bold to interrupt her plan.
The stranger had a mask on but she could still see his blue eyes piercing through the dark. He had raven hair and pale skinned thin neck. The rest of him was a mystery. He wore a lab coat, and under it, a tight black suit. He smelled clean, like talc or fresh soap. It was intoxicating. He was strong, she could tell. Her body was pressed against his chest. She could feel his humid minty breath on her face. He tried to pull back, but he was too slow for her quick reflexes. She pinned his body against the wall by weaving her leg with his. Their bodies were fused together, with only her blade and tension between them.
"Who the hell are you? Do you work here?" She was looked over his lab coat for any markings. None.
"HA! I wouldn't work here on a bet! Anyone who works here has sold their scientific soul to their corporate masters for a quick buck. Scientific whores, all of them." He was enjoying her body next to his, but the knife was killing the mood, "Now, would you mind, taking that blade off my neck before you get blood on my coat. I just had it cleaned. Based off your body weight and height, I could easily over power you right now and piston you against the wall. As much fun as that would be, I have not done so. Ergo, I am no threat to you. Also, I did just save your life."
Annie swallowed hard and tried to read the man's intensions. Her emerald eyes were piercing into his blue orbs, but she couldn't get a reading. Usually, she could sum a person up by looking at the eyes, especially men. Not this man. He was a mystery and Annie loved mysteries.
Annie slowly pulled her knife away from the stranger while keeping her body next to his for a moment longer before pulling away, "Well, if you don't work here, what are you doing here? Did you turn off the lasers? Why are you wearing a lab coat?"
"To answer your questions in order, none of your business, yes and because I look cool." He shook his head, happily not feeling her cold blade anymore.
"None of my business? Really, Mr?" She finally pulled away and he could see her completely.
"Dr." He was looking at her up and down, studying her while trying not to make it obvious that he was checking out her figure.
"Dr. What?" She was probing his mind, but she was blocked. No readings.
"Just Dr. to you. Who are you? Some Emerald Vixen here to steal the formula."
Annie stepped back, and cocked her head, "Vixen?"
The blue eyed Dr. pointed to her V neck slowly outlining the hem with his hand, "V for Vixen."
Annie shifted away from his touch uncomfortably, "Well, it's not a V… Anyway, I wasn't expecting anyone to see me. And it's not stealing. I am going to return it to it's rightful owner. I take it you're here for the same reason or have you heard it worth millions and you're here to cash in, and get a better outfit."
"I wouldn't talk about outfits, little lady. Yours is quite…" His voice had lowered to growl as his blue eyes trailed down her exposed V neck.
"Quite what?" She placed her hands on her hips waiting for his answer.
He was eyeing her up and down, and then took a deep swallow, "Well, I already said alluring. Let's leave it at that. Oh and you're welcome."
Amy moved over the panel, her next task. "Yes, well, I guess thank you is in order. How did you do that?"
"Simple pattern really, based off Fibonacci sequence with randomized heat sensory code. Also, I know a guy into lasers. Good thing I came along, little lady. You would have been sliced like mama's pecan pie if I hadn't turned those off."
Annie was cataloging all the traits about this intriguing man. Blue eyes, tall, scientist, and a doctor, but of what? Obviously from the south based on the slight accent. His motivations: unknown. His appeal: Very much known.
"Actually, it was inverse of Fibonacci with a base 8 pair sequence, but I see your point. Child's play. The heat sensor will only work with a raise in temperature over 3 degrees. Given my body mass and ambient temperature, I calculated I had an additional 38.6 seconds more time to navigate the maze than a person of your size and height." Annie eyed the tall dark stranger and took a deep breath.
She snapped out of admiring the stranger and continued, " You must have somehow tripped the reset while I was throwing off the sensors with my heat index. I would have been fine, if you hadn't messed with the lasers."
"Fine? Really? Do you want me turn them back on and you can try again. I wouldn't mind watching you twist around again. You're quite flexible."
"The floor show is over pal." Annie looked back at his smiling face, all she could read was the word Vixen. " Well, I should say thank you again, but I am sure you are here for the formula. So you can run along now, back to your hospital where you belong. Leave science to the real scientists."
The blue eyed man crossed his arms, "Oh, really, and that would be you, I take it."
"Oh no, I'm not telling you a thing about me. Now, I have to concentrate so, bugger off! I'm wicked busy."
He eyed her up and down, started walking toward her slowly with his hands behind his back. With a quick rapid fire response he surmised, "Oh you have already told me a great deal about you. Raised in Southern California, but went to school back East, Possible Boston, but could be Connecticut. Studied abroad in England. Adept with a knife, meaning you might be a doctor, more likely a scientist given your last statement. A Scientist who is good with a knife and knows about base 8 sequences and can do body heat index calculations on one look: biology. Given our prize is a brain cancer drug, I say Neuroscience or oncology. So, my sweet, Emerald Vixen, slice any brain up today, Ms?"
"That's Dr. to you." Annie tried to control her obvious arousal at his quick dispatch of her curriculum Vitae. He was brilliant, to be sure. She still couldn't trust him.
"Interesting, Dr. Vixen. Well, I look forward to reading your research."
"I doubt you would understand it, you obvious are into the physical sciences, most likely Physics. Levers and pulleys and all that. Child's play, like I said. Now go back to your erector sets and leave biology to the experts okay, blue eyes?"
"LEVERS AND PULLEYS!? How dare you assume I am some sort of mechanical engineer or worse! I am a …" He caught himself as he saw her green eyes light up. He wagged his finger at her, " oh you're very good. Yes, must be Neuroscience. You Brain monkey's are all alike."
Annie's eyes grew wide, "MONKEYS! I have to get them out. I need to hurry. He's been in there for almost 2 days." Annie went back to working on the panel.
"I thought you were here for the formula?"
"I am! But I need to Micky out."
"Who's Micky? Your boyfriend?" His voice raised an octave. Annie didn't need to read minds to hear jealousy. Interesting.
"No! Not my boyfriend. My monkey! Micky. Now you can help me, or get out my way. Right now, I don't care." She sauntered off toward the vial. The stranger watched her hips shift back and forth in a hypnotic gaze.
"If you're coming, do try and keep up, dear. " Annie went back to panel.
The dark haired stranger came up behind Annie. She could feel his body heat radiating on her bare back. "Allow me, please." The blue eyed doctor went to studying the panel. His eyes darting around the numbers like a popcorn heating in a pan.
"Listen pal, this isn't some laser tag game. This is a highly complex set of numbers that changes every 15 seconds. I need to record the pattern in order to decode the…" The panel was open along with Annie's mouth.
She looked back the Blue eyed Dr., impressed with his quick dispatch of the code, "How did you do that?" She found her hand waving her neck. Suddenly, it seemed so hot in the room.
"Eidetic memory. Now if you don't mind. We have one more obstacle. I take it Dr. Vixen you have some DNA from that scallywag of a CEO?"
She didn't hear his question. She was focused on the words: "Eidetic memory? That only occurs in possibly 2% of the population, almost never found in adults. Hyperthymesia is so rare. That is just… Hoo!"
The blue eyed Dr. smirked at his ability to make this Emerald Vixen lose her vocabulary. He moved closer to whisper to in her ear, "Well, you help me get this formula, and I will recite anything you wish. Now, if you please? We are on a time line here."
Annie shook off her intellectual arousal and took a deep breath, "We are?"
"Yes, the lasers will be back on in 3 minutes."
"3 minutes?! What did you FORGET to tell me that!?"
"HA HA! NO! You… distracted me… Now make haste!"
"Well, Dr. Recall, what was your brilliant plan going to be if I wasn't here."
"Well, I was going to break into his office and look for a coffee cup. Then I got here and found this Emerald Vixen contorting her beautiful body around like a Chinese acrobat, so I didn't get the DNA. NOW. I believe you have a plan, or we would be running by now, yes?"
Annie, smiled when he said 'Beautiful', but she had to focus. Now was not the time to make googly eyes at some Southern cat burglar scientist, however appealing his eyes and voice were.
Annie reached into the deep V of her costume and slowly slipped the covered slide out of her bra, holding it up for him to see. She removed the cover slowly. Her every move was memorized by the stranger. As he watched her with an intense stare, she could see him swallow. His adam's apple bobbed up and down.
"See, told you that you had a plan, Vixen! Now do it!"
Annie ran the sample over the last barrier and the vial popped up. He grabbed at the vial and knocked it over. Annie quickly grabbed it in mid air and shoved it into the place the slide was once housed. He grabbed her by the waist, pulling her close to his body, eyeing down her deep V neck.
Annie's eyes narrowed on his gaze, "Don't you dare..."
"Oh, you are a tempting Vixen, aren't you? I do dare." Before he could reach between her breasts, and retrieve the vial, Annie slipped out of his grip with help of slick cat suit. Dr. Recall was too slow to catch her before she did a back flip toward the door of the lab.
"Now, Dr., let's talk about this. That formula belongs to me!" Dr Recall moved toward the Emerald Vixen, but she opened the door to the lab. Annie looked inside and made a whistle. At once, 12 monkeys were screeching at him deafening his ears. He had to dodge the monkey poo being flung at him. Micky jumped on Annie's shoulders and snuggled into her neck. The dark stranger tried to move the other side of the room, but Annie called "YooHoo!" Suddenly, Dr. Recall was stopped by a very aggressive and determined large monkey growling at him. She whistled again, and he ran to her.
"I'm sorry, Dr, I must dash. Careful now, the lasers will be back soon. I won't forget you, sir, I and I know you won't forget me." The Emerald Vixen left out the back door of the lab, with the monkey's quickly trailing behind her, screeching at Dr Recall to keep him at bay.
Once the door was closed, Dr. Recall said under his breath, "No, Vixen, I will never forget you."
The next morning, the LA zoo found 11 new rowdy specimens in their monkey exhibit. The grounds keepers were shocked, "I those guys are always horny, but do you think they made all them monkey's last night?"
"Dude. Who knows they way they mess around with each other. It worse than frat house in there. Just get more bananas."
Annie had returned to her apartment with a new friend. Micky stayed with the large monkey that night, snuggling and eating bananas. She let them watch animal planet while she took a long and well deserved bath.
As she striped off her costume and ran her bath, she thought about the evening events. She sank her body in the hot bubbles, and her mind wandered to her mysterious companion. Fascinating man. Too bad I will never see him again.
After an shorten interview with the President of Cal-Tech and one phone call from her former professor, Annie was newest researcher at Cal-tech Neuroscience lab. She met her friend Betty and gave her good news. Betty was elated her friend was going to work with her and even more excited when she showed her the research, formula and Micky were safe.
"Betty, never ask me how, but here is the formula. I had it delivered to me this morning. And do not tell anyone that I gave it to you. You have to promise me"
"I promise Annie, but how.."
"What did I just say!? Now take this and the research and publish for us, quickly!"
"Thank you so much! Wow Annie! You're my super hero! I've been so upset about this. The gang was getting sick of my crying over lunch. Even Dr. Copper was sympathetic to my plight. He asked all about Barnworthy and the lab. Usually, he keeps to himself. "
"Dr. Copper, Who's that?"
"Oh, he's this arrogant theoretical physicist. You'll meet him at lunch today. He is always putting down my Harold. He has reason to arrogant though; he is basically the smartest guy here."
Annie's eyes widened, "That's saying a lot, this is Cal-Tech!'
"I know. He is kind of primmadonna, but his heart is in the right place. Just try not to strangle him with in the first 5 minutes." Betty high pitched voice and kind eyes were hard to resist.
Annie was not looking forward to meeting this jerk. She had enough of arrogant men at her last job. However, she would like to meet the smartest man at the smartest University in the country. Intriguing.
"Okay, but you know my tongue, it will be hard to hold back. I'll try and play nice."
Annie toured her new lab. It was smaller than UCLA, less equipment, and staff, but clean and organized. She settled in her new lab like an old cardigan. She brought Micky there and he settled in nicely. Finally, she found a home.
Betty came around for lunch right on time. Annie wanted to meet Betty friends, especially this intriguing man Betty told her about. Timidly, she made her way to a table in the cafeteria with Betty, "Gentlemen, this is my friend, Dr. Annie Fiona Flowers, she started today in Neuroscience."
Hellos and greeting were all around. She noticed one chair was empty.
The group was pleasant small group of like minded individuals. There was Betty husband, Harold, of course, he was one hanging on Betty neck like a scarf.
Then there was Rafi, an interesting fellow with nervous tick anytime a woman talked to him. He was twitching like mad when Annie was introduced.
"You know I could help you with that, if you want." Annie smiled at Rafi, but he just nodded and looked down and twitched even more.
Then she was introduced to Larry. A nice enough fellow, short, glasses and good with lasers. Annie squinted at him when he mentioned lasers. Too short
After few minutes, a tall dark hair lanky fellow walked in the room. Annie eyes followed him immediately. His movements were smooth, silent like a cat. He noticed her straight away.
Betty shifted uncomfortably, "Oh boy, here he is. Brace for impact."
Dr. Copper approached the table nodding to the group. He sat down across from Annie and ignored the rest of the table. She looked away from his penetrating gaze.
"Betty, whom have you brought to be graced with my presence today?" Dr. Copper was eyeing Annie with a strange look. Upon that comment, she glared at him. That when she noticed his blue eyes. Striking blue like pools of lapis. He never took his eyes off her, he was frozen. She could tell his pulse increased, his eyes were dilated. She tried to read his thoughts but all she heard was Intriguing.
"Sherman! Play nice! This is Annie, she started today. She is going to be working in…"
"Neuroscience." He said it flatly and with conviction.
Annie, shot up, "How did you know that?"
"Well, I would like to say my brilliance deduced you were in biology based on the fact you're wearing a lab coat, you have slight stain on your sleeve, obviously formaldehyde. You're friends with Betty and there is an opening in Neuroscience that needed to be filled. However, that would be disingenuous. Your name tag, Dr. Annie Fiona Flowers." He held out his hand for her to shake it. She didn't notice the group collective gasp at his gesture. She did notice the hint of soap and talc off his touch.
Annie took his hand, squinting her eyes at him, " Nice to meet you, Sherman…"
"Dr." He coughed.
"Forgive me, I know the importance of academic titles, Dr. Sherman Copper. Dr. of what exactly?"
"Physics."
"Ah, levers and pulleys and things. That's so… what's the word I'm looking for? Hmm, cute."
"Cute? First all I am not into Levers and pulleys and such. I am a theoretical physicist who will one day win a Nobel Prize for finding the basis of a grand unified theory of everything. What do you do? Cut up dead things."
"My colleagues and I are mapping the neurological substrates that sub serve global information processing. My work is practical and provable, unlike yours. Additionally, when I do map the human mind, I will be able to recreate your thought processes, ergo brandish your theories under my paradigm."
Sherman was strangely aroused by her glaring intelligence, but offended by her remarks, "That's the rankest psychologism, and was conclusively revealed as hogwash by Gottlob Frege in the 1890s! Besides, I seriously doubt you could recreate any of my thought processes."
Betty jumped in, "He's kind of freak. He can remember anything."
"Oh really, Dr. You can recall anything?" Annie's eyes darted around his face. Could it be?
"Yes, anything." His eyes narrowed on her. She could tell he was scanning her, trying to recall her face, but not knowing where he had seen her.
Betty broke the shared gaze between them. "Sherman, guess what? We have the formula back!"
Sherman shook from his gaze at Annie and looked surprised. "How? When?"
Annie shot Betty a look. Betty continued, "It was dropped off by an anonymous source today. Amazing! I know you were concerned."
"Yes, well, my Grandfather died of cancer because he couldn't afford treatment. I would love to see your research be put to good use one day. I am very pleased it is miraculously recovered." Sherman's eyes looked away, like he was thinking of something or someone. He smiled and went back to his food. Suddenly she saw a flash of white by her leg. Instinctively, she grabbed for it. He didn't notice his hand knock over the salt shaker. As she brought the shaker back to the table, quietly, she could see he was frozen again. She tried to read his thoughts. All she heard was Vixen…
Larry spoke and broke Annie's concentration, "Oh Sherman, why did you need all that research I was doing on lasers? It seems out of your field?"
Sherman looked up at Larry, "I used it to measure the total antineutrino flux in the detector. "
Annie looked at him closely. He's lying. I can smell it. It subtle, but it's there. That and hint of talc.
She cocked her head, giving away her disbelief with her body movements. Sherman looked up and stared into her eyes. She looked unimpressed.
"In what world would you use lasers to measure anti-neutrinos? Don't you need a solution of cadmium chloride in water?"
Sherman shook from his stupor, "Well, in a world where laser would be used to create photons. If ones measures the Antineutrinos with an energy above the threshold of 1.8 MeV i can cause a charged current or "inverse beta-decay" interactions with the protons in the water, producing positrons and neutrons."
Annie cut him off, "Yes, but didn't Frederick Reines and Clyde Cowan found in 1956 that resulting positron annihilation with electrons created pairs of coincident photons with an energy of about 0.5 MeV each."
Sherman leaned forward, "Correct, which could be detected by the two scintillation detectors above and below the target. To answer your question, photon equals lasers...But a better question is how do you know about that? You're in biology."
"Just because I am in biology doesn't mean I don't read other fields. In a world where academics are limited to biology text alone…"
Sherman cut her off, "We would be ruled by sheep and grass would be gold."
Annie crossed her arms, and had a slight smirk on her face, "You better be able to defend those suppositions, sir."
"In a world where the only books are biology, all other forms of education would be limited to basic needs for life. The leading universities would rally around the ultimate goal of cloning. Sheep would be cloned and perfected, imbuing them with all the intellect of humans. Given their genetic superiority and the human's lack of other sources of stimulation, Sheep would be viewed a benign overlords, willing to rule humanity. Grass would be given to appease our sheep-like masters."
Annie sat back, her hands on the table, "I would have to say, correct."
The table watched this exchange, "Correct? How can that possibly be correct? He just made that up?"
"Because it is logical and follows a sound argument. And frankly, because it correct." Annie was impressed with this stranger, but not as impressed as he was with her. He was intrigued to say the least. Unfortunately, she cut their time together too short for his taste.
"Well, , it's been a pleasure." She got up to leave, I look forward to testing that memory of yours more in the future. Now I must go back to the lab. It's been a pleasure, everyone. I will let you get back to your erector sets."
"Well, Dr. Flowers. I look forward to speaking with you further on this topic and seeing you…" He rose from the table deliberately, "Again." She turned and walked out the door.
Sherman watched her leave. "Who was that Green eyed Vixen?"