C-28

Chapter 2

Please see chapter 1 for disclaimer and other info if you're so inclined.

The engineering staff had been conducting experiments on their half of the C-28 sample for the past three hours. Every simulation they ran through the computer showed a shielded, strengthened trellium-D, but Trip couldn't even begin to guess how the compound was to be molecularly bonded with the trellium-D.
He was about to try a completely different approach when the comm. Sounded. "Dr. Phlox to Commander Tucker."
"I sure hope this is good news," Trip muttered to himself, setting down the padd he'd been working with and crossing to the comm panel. "Tucker here, Doc."
"Commander, in our studies of this most remarkable compound, T'Pol and I have made quite a fantastic discovery. If I wouldn't have seen it with my own eyes, or rather, with a microscope, I—"
"Doctor, your point?" Trip asked. Phlox had a way of making his explanations go on and on.
"Ah yes. It turns out that C-28 contains not only inorganic matter but also organic matter, and more remarkably, DNA."
"Are you saying that this stuff's alive?" Trip's eyes widened.
"That's where things get complicated."
"Give me the condensed version, Doc."
"The bottom line is that, while not being alive in the sense of the word we're used to, the DNA in C-28 makes it capable of bonding with trellium-D on a level that no other compound I've been able to synthesize can."
"Trellium-D contains an inorganic half-chain structure that matches exactly with the C-28 DNA. It is a most curious relationship that will certainly require further study," T'Pol added, "Especially because of the unknown origin of the DNA itself."
"Can we perform the process of joining the trellium-D and the compound here? Our simulations say it would work, but I was missing the DNA aspect."
"We have also run simulations that indicate that possibility. They also indicate that C-28 will, in fact, block the toxic effects of trellium- D. I plan to recommend to the captain that we complete the purchase of C- 28."
"We're sending you the summary of our findings now, which should help you to form a process for joining C-28 and trellium-D," Phlox added.
"Thanks. Would you mind bringing me the details of your scans later, Doc? I'd like to take a look and make sure we're not missing anything important at this end."
"Of course, Commander. I'll bring them by the cargo bay this afternoon. Phlox out."
Trip watched on his monitor while the doctor's summary came through. He pressed a couple of buttons, which sent the files to the other terminals in the room. "All right, people, the doctor has informed us why we're not making progress as quickly as we were hoping. These files should—"
"Commander, look out!" someone shouted.
Trip spun around, instinctively ducking at the same time. Before he fully comprehended what was going on, he felt more than saw the huge storage container slam into his shoulder. He was forced to the floor, but the container's momentum carried it clear of his position where it came to rest on its side.
Momentarily dazed, the chief engineer was aware of more shouting, and then someone was talking to him. "Sir? Commander? Are you all right?"
Trip shook his head to clear it, and winced as it sent a burning pain through his neck and the shoulder that had been hit by the cargo container. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for the warning."
Ensign Avery nodded. "If you wouldn't have ducked, it would have caught you square on the head."
"Thank goodness for reflexes. What on earth happened anyway? One minute I'm standin' here working and the next there's some packin' crate tryin' to make a pancake of me."
"Well, I'd guess the container was destabilized when we encountered that last anomaly," Avery said.
"When we're finished here, I want to make sure the rest of the containers are stable. For now, steer clear of this area if you can help it." The engineering team nodded. "Now, what I was attempting to say before is that the doc sent us some useful information that should help combine the C-28 with the trellium-D. I'd like you all to take into account his studies in your next simulations. I believe it's what we've been missin' all along. I'd like your reports in an hour," Trip said as he headed for the door. "I'll be in my quarters if something comes up."

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Entering his quarters, Trip headed straight for the bathroom. He hoped a hot shower would do the trick to keep his muscles from stiffening up. He knew if he didn't do something that his arm wouldn't be of much use by the end of the day. After slipping his shirt off, however, Trip decided that the shower wasn't the best idea after all.
Where the container had hit him, his skin was already black and blue, and getting more swollen by the minute. Pulling on a t-shirt, he decided to try icing it instead. He was halfway across the main living area of his quarters, and heading toward the cabinet containing the first aid kit when the burning pain returned to his neck.
The pain failed to stop at his shoulder this time, however, and when it had moved down to the middle of his back, Trip decided it was time he paid a visit to Phlox. He was turning to head for sickbay when the pain intensified tenfold and every muscle above his waist seemed to seize up. Trip gasped and felt his knees start to give way as his vision swam. Falling, he tried to steer himself away from the glass coffee table, but only halfway accomplished the task. His last thought before consciousness left him was spent wondering what had been inside the container that hit him in the cargo bay.

TBC...