OWN NOTHING
Bernadette's section chief came into her office. "Dr. Rostenkowski-Wolowitz, how are things going with that new bacterial strain study of food poisoning"?
"Well", Bernadette answered, "there is an interesting but pretty scary development. While we were trying to solve the issue by trying to develop antibacterial mechanisms to guard produce from becoming infected, we found that the bacteria not only causes intestinal problems, it also , if left to grow for a period of time, seems to produce some type of neurotoxin".
The chief looked surprised. "My god, does the CDC know about this? Do we know how it will affect the infected animals"?
Bernadette mulled over the results in front of her. "Not yet, the primary effect seems to be the Central Nervous System".
The chief started to look agitated. "We should probably get a Neurobiologist on the team. I read of a recently published local researcher doing this kind of brain chemistry with monkeys and some mad cow prions".
Bernadette smiled. "Yes, her name is Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler; she is a good friend of mine. She works with monkeys but our research uses mice because their brain chemistry is closer to humans. I can see if she would join us. I think that she is free, her last project with addiction has sort of ended".
The chief was calming down now. "Great, I will get the clearance and the paperwork started. Where do you think the strain of bacteria originated from"?
Bernadette looked back at the reports. "I'm not sure, but it seems to be similar to those samples we had from the orient not too long ago, Water chestnuts, Chinese cabbage and stuff like that. There has been a strain of invasive Water chestnuts overtaking the freshwater waterways recently probably brought over here by foreign shipping".
"Interesting", the Chief mulled over this information. "We should inform the local DEC offices of the suspected transmission vehicle and see if there is anything they can do to slow down the invasive species. I'll get right on that".
Bernadette thought for a minute, I'm going to be working with Amy. Well, things could be worse; I could slip and fall into some flesh eating bacteria.
Raj, Howard and Sheldon were in Howards' lab discussing his ideas about how a new mount on the next satellite would improve the work on dark matter in outer space.
Dr. Gabelhouser walked in and asked, how's it going boys?
Raj answered, great, the stabilizer will greatly decrease the interstellar noise we have seen.
Sheldon stood to the side with a condescending look on his face commenting, yes ... there's no telling HOW far you can advance science with a good sturdy shelf.
Howard was getting a little agitated. It's NOT a shelf, Sheldon ... It's an advanced... OK, it's a shelf.
Gabelhouser just shook his head. Well, keep up the good work.
"So", Raj said, "it's new comic book night. Who's up for Chinese"?
Agent Paige was again at her desk when a tall dark haired visitor entered. "Agent Paige? I'm Bobby Mendez from the CIA. I was told to give you an update on the Dennis Kim affair. We have been interrogating the Korean scientist and it seems we have a number of issues. First, they have been working on biologicals, which have an established deployment mechanism already in place and second, they are advancing their technology in laser guided targeting systems. We think they are attempting to place targeting systems on their missiles. If they get anywhere with their propulsion systems, we could be in DEEP KIMCHI".
"Please, call me Angela; we have a plan to get some eyes on the targets. It seems there is a good will trip planned with a local theater troupe that we are planning on using to get a team over there".
Bobby was curious as how the mission was to proceed. "Who's going to be on the team"?
Angela smiled, "well; the team needs to be small in order to blend in with the troupe. So, the agency is looking to keep it down to two. You and me".
Bobby then took a step back. This was just what he was hoping for. He was playing in the background for too long. Too many people thought he was riding on the coat tail of his father, one of the most decorated CIA operatives in the history of the agency. "You have got to be kidding me"!
Angela smiled. "Nope, why did you think they sent you in here? Welcome aboard. I am going to be in the cast due to my minor in dramatic arts and you will be along as the lead set designer. We will have an official briefing with the director in the morning".
The conditions were getting worse as the skies became darker. The seas picked up and the light mist turned into rain. Leonard was now seriously wondering why they insisted on setting those last two sensors tonight. It was all that Leonard could do to just breathe steady as his stomach started to turn. It was times like these when he could just hear Penny say "Oh, sweetie, it'll be OK, just let it go"... While rubbing his back. Boy, he wished he was with her now. He missed her more and more as the days went by. He wondered how things were going back home, how Sheldon was holding up. Who is he kidding? All his other friends would be having it much worse putting up with Sheldon and his quirks that only he had really known about. He knew they would be supportive, however, he also it would fall hardest on Penny just across the hall. He was brought back to the moment when Dennis indicated that they were in position, but the deploy boat kept going. In the distance, getting closer with every minute, was a large fishing vessel flying the flag of North Korea.
Dennis Kim became instantly ill at the sight of the vessel. He thought to himself, "my god, they're taking me back, I'm going home".
Leonard and Dennis watched as Tau and Un just kept going farther off course and then threw the sensors over board. Leonard stood to go forward when Tau turned with a gun pointed at them.