"So, Reyes…are you going to show me your pet mad scientist?" Commander Morrison asked, his voice and their footsteps echoing inside Blackwatch's hangar and through the hallways as they wound their way through the base.
Gabriel chuckled. "I assume that's who you came all this way to see, yeah?"
Jack shrugged. "Somebody's got to keep an eye on your growing list of crazies down here."
"You just don't trust her."
"No," Jack agreed. "Do you?"
"Not really, no. But treating her like she's going to explode at any second won't help the problem of her possibly dangerous behavior. At least we can actually watch her and make some use of her talents."
Jack's rugged face fell from a crooked smile to a frown. "Don't tell me you went to her already."
Gabriel shrugged. "Thought about it. If Angela can't help, maybe she can. We both know I'm in pretty serious trouble health-wise. " He threw a sideways glance at Jack. "Maybe she'll catch things Angela would miss with you too."
Jack scoffed. "Hell no. I'm not that desperate." His voice dipped, grating a little in exhaustion. "I'm just sorry you are. It sucks to know you're at her mercy if Angela can't help you."
"She's not all bad, Jack. She's damn good at what she does, and she's practically enslaved herself to her work. I met with her once, and she keeps telling me she's a professional and not to worry."
"Yeah? What does the rest of your team make of that?"
"Mostly the others keep away from her. I don't think Jesse would take her help even if he was mortally wounded."
"So I've heard. He sent me a note about how much he disapproves of your choice. You should address the issue before it gets out of hand. McCree might break her like a toothpick if it comes to blows."
"She's tougher than she looks," Gabriel pointed out. "I've seen her during sparring."
"I'm not clearing her for missions, Reyes, and neither is Gerard. It's too dangerous to have a civilian interfering with our teamwork."
"She learns damn fast, though, Jack. If I can teach her something useful-"
"I still wouldn't recommend training her beyond what's absolutely necessary. You, Genji, and Jesse seem to be a cohesive unit as it is, and seeing what Jesse thinks of O'Deorain, I don't think incorporating her into Blackwatch's combat unit will do much good unless she picks up some seriousweapon skills."
"Guess you'll have a chance to ask her yourself."
The pair of them stopped in front of Blackwatch's lab door, and Gabriel banged on it. The geneticist appeared a few minutes later, leaning against the door frame and glaring into the hall, looking decidedly grumpy at the interruption. She straightened when she saw Morrison.
"Commander Reyes, Commander Morrison." She greeted them stiffly, her arms tucked neatly behind her back. "I presume this is not solely a social call. You wouldn't come from Gibraltar just on my account," she postulated, her gaze fixed on Morrison and his blond mop of hair.
"Correct. I'm also here to assess your projects. I've been told you're hard at work on something, and I want to make sure that your work is a productive use of our funds."
Moira cocked an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm sure you'll be able to find something to suit your interests. I'm not one to waste material." She stepped aside. "Do come in, but kindly don't touch anything."
Gabriel followed Morrison into the lab, noticing the suspicious scrutiny with which Jack glanced around. The doctor had continued setup of her lab and had partially-constructed bits and pieces strewn across her lab surfaces.
"What are these for?" Morrison asked, pointing to a particularly large jumble.
"Parts for synthesizers and incubators to fill my various needs. My work is more efficient when the equipment is specified to my needs, which will save valuable time and money."
"I want the schematics and the shipping lists for these parts."
"As you wish, Commander," Moira responded, twitching an eyebrow and executing a little half-bow. "I assure you they've already been cross-checked by Overwatch proper, but whatever puts your mind at ease. But do get back to me rather quickly, would you? I would be remiss if I didn't attend to Blackwatch's needs, and already I have had members asking for my help."
Jack gave her a look, one of those scrutinizing gazes that always told Gabriel Morrison was trying to decide whether or not to take issue with something said or done. Reyes caught Moira's gaze and gave his head a subtle but noticeable shake. Don't push it.
Jack fell silent after prompting Moira to list her project ideas. Gabriel half-listened, his gaze flickering over the vials and beakers and machinery and papers as the scientist waxed eloquent about the many fields she thought Blackwatch might benefit in from her explorations. A skewed stack of papers near her computer caught his eye, and he pulled the file that had caught his eye from the stack. His eyes flicked over the title: Nanobiotics: Applying Microsurgeons for Neogenesis, Genetic Editing, and Triggered Apoptosis. His mind stuck on the first word, and he frowned, his gaze flicking through the In Brief section to try to make more sense of it. Suspicion jabbed at him; nanobiotics were Angela's tech, something she was desperate to keep under wraps, fearing that it could be misused. What was Moira doing with it?
"Jack," he called, revealing his suspicious find. Morrison came clumping over and peered at the paper, followed by a clearly disgruntled Moira, who also glanced at it briefly before crossing her arms.
"My nanobiotics. One of my more interesting projects. Is there a problem with this, Commander?"
Morrison scowled at her. "Would you care to explain why you have an unreleased technology?"
She snorted inelegantly and raised a single sharp eyebrow. "I believe what you meant to ask is why Ziegler has my research. I was working with nanobiotics while Dr. Ziegler was still in medical school, but due to my prolonged…absence from the scientific field, I fell rather behind in my projected work schedule. I strongly believe Ziegler's work was," she grimaced, "inspired by my own work."
Gabriel mentally slapped himself hard. Idiot. Moira's explanation made sense; nanobiotics werean extremely efficient technology. Of courseZiegler had seen the potential in their use in medicine, had been refining them for years based on an initial design she had said she wouldn't and shouldn't take credit for.
Jack recoiled slightly, apparently not so easily convinced. "You would claim Ziegler stole your research?"
"Not so much stole my results as came up with the same solution to a similar problem. I do not take issue with her because she used my research; I take issue with the fact she passed my research off as immoral and then proceeded to use it to get her results."
Morrison gave her another scrutinizing look. Gabriel put the paper down and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'm sure if the doctor has proof, she'll be happy to share with us."
Moira tipped her head at him. "I certainly will, Commander, and as soon as I get five minutes I 'll send the relevant information along."
Jack's face softened into a slightly more sympathetic expression. "Sorry about the skepticism, O'Deorain, but Dr. Ziegler has a right to protect her research from…malicious intent, if that's what she wants done with it."
"I may not agree with your skepticism, Commander, but I do understand it. I would want my research properly protected and used as well." She smiled thinly.
"How are you settling in otherwise?"
"I keep to myself, and for the most part the rest of Blackwatch doesn't bother me. Commander Reyes has been, for the most part, quite accommodating, and the others are more or less distant but respectful."
"Good. Keep working; your first funding check should be coming in within a week."
Moira's smile widened. "Grand. I look forward to it."
"I want your updates as well," Jack said firmly.
"Of course," the doctor responded smoothly, drawing herself up in a salute. Morrison returned the salute, then beckoned to Gabriel. Jack turned to him as the lab door slid closed behind the two men, his face clouded with concern.
"What do you think?" Gabriel prompted.
"She's efficient. She's also pretentious with a hint of crazy. But," he sighed, his attention focused elsewhere, "if she can obey command structure and produce without causing problems, then I suppose she's welcome to stay."
"She needs live specimens in order to produce. I assume you saw her request for a dozen rabbits?"
Jack winced. "Yes. Poor little bastards. But I suppose it's better than trying to get the members of Blackwatch to participate in her work. Which I hope you'll tell me if she attempts to rope you or Genji into, right?"
"Come on, Jack. How long have we known each other?" He nudged his CO's ribs with an elbow.
"Good point." His brow furrowed, and he folded his arms . "I know Overwatch and her have a bad history and I try not to let that get in the way, but I can't help but not like her. I just can't trust her as easily as you do."
"Maybe just give her some time. She'll produce given her funding. I don't think she wouldn't want to."
He drummed thick fingers against the sleeve of his blue jacket. "It's not the product of her work that concerns me. It's the method and the possibility you and your team might get dragged in."
Gabriel chuckled, rolling his eyes. "You're starting to sound like Angela."
"Well, excuse me for being concerned."
"You'll make yourself sick worrying," Gabriel said, patting Jack firmly on the back. "Besides, the admins have it under control, and if there's an issue, I'll bring it up with them."
Jack sighed. " All right. I trust your judgement." His voice bounced as the pair of them re-entered the hangar. They stopped in front of Jack's ride. "By the way, Reyes, what did you want that SEP serum sample for?"
Gabriel shrugged. "The doc wants it for study. She heard about my condition and she thought it might be smart to investigate the effects of it."
Jack turned to him, his eyebrows drawn together, his mouth set in a frown.
"I'm just keeping my options open," Reyes said before his CO could respond. "She might be finally able to get a handle on this thing if Angela can't."
Jack grabbed his arm and squeezed firmly. "Just promise me that you're only using her as a last resort."
Gabriel brushed him off. " She's a geneticist, Jack. She specializes in this kind of shit. And if I wind up not trusting her, I can always take her results somewhere else. Besides, I'm pretty much out of options anyway."
Jack frowned. "I don't like it, but you're your own damn man. Don't say I didn't warn you if your plan goes sideways."
"I can handle the responsibility. Can you get me the sample or not?"
"It will take a lot of paperwork and some time to arrive, but I'll request it." Jack sighed. "Just be careful with that stuff."
"I know how dangerous it is, Jack."
"It's not the serum I'm worried about," Morrison said darkly.
"I can handle her. Don't worry so much."
"If you say so." Jack gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Keep me updated; I want to know how things are going." He straightened. "Take care of yourself, Gabriel. Angela isn't the only one who's concerned about your health."
"Thanks, Jack. I'll keep that in mind."
*Gasps*
...Yes, I am still alive. I've been working on a lot of stuff that isn't the next consecutive chapter of this story, but is this story.
This was a more difficult chapter for me to write, and I hope you can enjoy it.
Cheers and thanks for reading!