25. Doubt

x

She could see it was slowly eating at her. Feeling the heavy weight of expectation on her shoulders. That one day she will succeed, one day she will create a vaccine. She had tried her vaccine prototype on the monkeys they had gotten for her and it did seem the vaccine was working. The few monkeys had survived.

In her confidence she had then tested the vaccine prototype on one volunteer, but it hadn't worked. After the setback, she had been working almost around the clock, puzzled by why wasn't the vaccine working. And to confuse her even more, she has been trying to study the scientist on the ship as it seems he's a carrier for the virus, but he had stopped cooperating when Rachel's first trial had failed. Which left Rachel puzzled about who the man really was?

Not to mention the fear going through the survivors with them, both civilian and the enlisted. Commanders Slattery and Chandler had their hands full on trying to convince the people that they should keep on hoping and that they are safe were they are now. At least for the time being. There were some who wished to leave them. But after hearing Master Chief's encouraging words about their task at hand, they had been reminded that they shouldn't lose faith so easily. It had calmed everyone a little bit, but she saw that Dr. Scott felt the pressure on her now more than ever. A slight mistake in her research, if she wasn't 100% sure, would she have the courage to try?

But Kara became even more concerned about her, when she was having her monthly control for her pregnancy and saw that Rachel wasn't her usual self.

She had taken her blood pressure and was preparing the ultrasound machine, again. "..So next is the ultrasound." Rachel had said.

"But we've already done it." She said looking at her in wonderment.

"Oh.. I suppose we did." Rachel tried a faint smile as if to cover up her mistake.

So after she was done with her appointment she had to talk to Chandler and asked Doc Rios to accompany her.

"Sir. I have some concerns over Dr. Scott." She had stated and glanced towards Doc Rios, she had already informed him briefly about her revelation.

"We believe she might be close to a burnout." Rios informed the Captain.

"You're sure?" Chandler glanced at the both of them.

"She is forgetful and works around the clock, and I don't think she sleeps much." She said.

"Rarely see her eat properly and there might be more, but we would have to talk with her." Rios said crossing his arms on his chest.

"She will probably deny it all." Chandler stated. She nodded, knowing all too well that Rachel would never admit that it was all too much for her. She could almost imagine the irritation it would cause in her.

"But we need her." Chandler said and glanced the both of them.

They came up with a plan that wasn't their best one. Being highly unethical but it was the only way. And Captain Chandler was the one who would have to do it.

"What happened?" She heard her voice inside of her head. Everything was white in her mind.

"..of course.."

"Unidentified gene.."

"..human gene.."

"Why didn't I see that?"

"..recognized the human gene.."

"Auto-immune reaction.."

"..it all made sense to her now.."

"Patient zero.."

"..added the gene.."

"Weaponized the virus.."

"..it's been right in front of me.."

"He knew.."

She opened her eyes looking around her. She was in the sickbay, lying on a bed. She lifted her arms and saw that she was hooked to an IV-bag. As she sat up on the bed she felt a banging headache in her head and she thought it was best to lie back down. "What happened?"

Her memories of the last few days were blurry. She remembered faintly Captain Chandler paying her a visit and offering her a cup of coffee.