"Is it ready?"
The low rumbling voice was quiet, a barely audible whisper in her ear. It sent an illicit thrill tingling through her body. There was no real need for the secrecy, Brains was deeply absorbed in his own project on the other side of the lab and had barely registered Virgil's presence.
Claire nodded. She pointed the end of her pen at a small vial of colourless liquid on the back of her bench then continued scribbling in her notebook. It had taken several attempts and some failed testing on herself in order to ensure the mix was right but she was satisfied the liquid would do its job.
"Good. Grandma has gone to the mainland for a couple of days. I've checked in with John and there are no emergencies brewing. Weather systems are quiet, volcanoes are peaceful and Langstrom Fischler is on his best behaviour at a family wedding. The perfect night for a family dinner."
Virgil wandered off the claim the kitchen, leaving Claire to continue her work.
Years of campfire cooking on family camping trips had given Virgil ample opportunities to hone his culinary skills for one-pot recipes. With all the comforts of a well-equipped kitchen to hand he could knock up a chilli that would have his brothers salivating more than any fine dining could. He knew that with this on offer no one would want to miss the meal.
He set to work chopping onions and tomatoes. A special blend of spices was ground and mixed. Soon the warm savoury aroma of good cooking began to permeate the house. A smell that would develop and set stomachs rumbling as the chilli was left to simmer gently.
First one resident then another wandered into the kitchen only to be swiftly evicted. Any brother attempting to dip a spoon into the pot for an early taste soon found themselves swatted away with a ladle. Virgil was not going to let anyone spoil their appetites before the feast was ready.
When the instruction was issued over the wrist comms that dinner was served it was as though the emergency alert had sounded. Running footsteps sounded around the complex as everyone hurried to claim a place at the table. Only Brains and Claire arrived at a more sedate pace.
Once everyone was seated Virgil started to carry across huge steaming pots of chilli, rice and a large tray of salty nachos to the table.
"Claire, before you sit down would you mind giving me a hand?" He indicated a tray of water glasses ready filled for distribution.
Claire nodded and headed over to the counter. With her back to the assembled diners she put a few drops of liquid from the vial into one of the water glasses then slipped the vial back into her pocket. Turning back to the table she then carefully handed out the drinks, making sure that one particular fish brother received the correct glass.
Ladles were dipped into pots and plates were filled. Virgil and Claire caught each other's eye and smirked slightly as Gordon took a swig of his water while waiting for his turn with the serving spoons.
Everyone began tucking in.
Everyone except Gordon.
The first mouthful of chilli had him coughing and turning slightly purple. Scott looked at him with concern.
"Just went down the wrong way" he croaked.
The second mouthful burnt his tongue and the third had him breaking out in a sweat.
"What's the matter Gordon? You don't look too well."
Trust Scott to pick up on his discomfort. He was starving and all he wanted to do was wolf down what was normally one of his favourite meals but the concoction in front of him was barely palatable.
"I'm fine" he muttered. "It's just a bit too spicy tonight."
Now more than just Scott was looking at him with concern. If anything Virgil's chilli was on the milder aromatic side of the spice spectrum, something Gordon had been known to tease his older brother about on occasion.
"You sure you're eating the same meal as the rest of us?" asked Scott.
Alan reached over and shovelled a large mouthful off of Gordon's plate. "Nothing wrong with the food. Gordon's just being a wuss" he announced.
Everyone resumed eating but Scott kept a careful eye on the aquanaut, worried in case his brother was sickening for something.
He wasn't the only one keeping watch; Claire and Virgil shared a satisfied smirk.
Gordon's stomach growled. He had been waiting for this all afternoon and now, for some reason, his portion was inedible. Yet everyone else around him tucking in happily having been served from the same pot. He nibbled at his rice and was pleased to find that he could eat that without a hitch.
Having been denied the chilli Gordon turned his attention to the nachos. As he popped the first crisp into his mouth it was as though his tongue had been dragged across a salt lick. He hurriedly swirled more of his water round his mouth in an effort to take taste away.
He was now feeling thoroughly miserable. He picked at his rice, the only thing he could manage to eat. Plain boiled rice did not make for a satisfying meal.
With the main course over Virgil cleared the table to make room for dessert. Tubs of lemon sorbet were brought out of the freezer and placed on the table.
"Hey, how come Scott gets his favourite?" Alan grumbled.
"If you bothered to help out when the supplies need ordering you might be able to pop a few of your own favourites on the shopping list" Virgil admonished, leaving Alan looking a little shamefaced. The youngest of the clan had got very adept at making himself scarce when there were household chores to be done. "And anyway, the lemon will be a nice palate cleanser after the chilli."
It was with some trepidation that Gordon picked up his dessert spoon. He took a nervous sip of water before taking a bite of the frozen pudding.
He nearly went cross eyed as he received an intense sour hit. His cheeks were sucked in and his tongue felt like it had cramp. He threw down his spoon with a clatter.
"Gordon, what the hell is wrong with you tonight?" Kayo snapped. "Virgil spent hours cooking and you are acting like someone is trying to poison you."
Gordon was now thoroughly bewildered. He looked around the table and his eyes lit upon Virgil and Claire who were both trying to stifle a laugh.
"I don't know. But those two sure do." He pointed across the table as he made his accusation. "I don't know how, but those two are responsible."
Scott followed his brother's pointing finger. He couldn't see how Virgil and Claire could have done anything, they had all eaten from the same pots and served themselves, but he knew his brothers and Virgil was definitely looking guilty.
"Spill" he commanded. "What have you done to Gordon?"
Claire and Virgil shared a look. It was time to confess. Claire put her hand into her pocket, withdrew the glass vial, and placed it on the table.
"What is that and is Gordon going to be ok?" there was a definite threat in the question.
Virgil placed himself in the firing line. "It's perfectly harmless. It just overstimulates your taste buds and makes them hyper-sensitive. The effects wear off over time."
Claire nodded. "I've tested it on myself a few times, you'll live."
Gordon breathed a sigh of relief. It explained why he was only able to stomach the plain rice.
"And how much longer of this do I have to put up with?" he grumbled, taking another sip of water.
"Well it lasts for about two hours after the last dose. Which means…" Virgil looked theatrically at his watch, then at the glass that Gordon was still holding, "you have about one hour, fifty-nine minutes and thirty seconds left to go. You have been dosing yourself nicely all evening."
"Why, Virgil?" Scott knew the engineer was not one to act unprovoked and this was likely therefore to be an act of retaliation.
"Call it payback for his little chat with Auntie Val. And he called Two a lumbering bus. No one gets away with insulting my 'bird" he pouted.
Scott rolled his eyes. These pranks between brothers were common enough and as long a no serious damage was done he generally found it was better to let things run their course.
He had to admit he was more than a little surprised that Claire had been a participant in tonight's entertainment. From what he had seen she was dedicated to her work. If anything, too dedicated. Before tonight he had been worried that she wasn't really integrating with the family. Now he was just relieved that, with her chemical talents, she had teamed up with Virgil rather than Gordon or Alan.
For some people revenge is a dish best served cold. For Virgil and Claire it was a dish best served spicy, salty and sour.