Doctor Barlow raised an eyebrow as Deryn dragged Alek into the machine room for inspection. After a moment Deryn realized that this was less because of the human she presented to him and more because in her mad panic Deryn had forgotten to bow. With a jerk Deryn remembered her manners and swept out an arm in the Lady Boffin's direction.
"May I introduce Dr. Nora Barlow." She said smartly, snapping her heels together as if she were at a formal dance.
Alek inspected her with the same suspicion he had Deryn.
"A pleasure to meet you," Doctor Barlow said, "Alek, isn't it?"
The boy stiffened momentarily and Deryn worried he might try to bolt again before he offered a polite bow.
"At your service," he responded, then jerked again when Tazza came to nuzzle his hand.
Even as his pulse quickened with disgust, he made no move to defend himself. For the first time Deryn noticed what a posh little thing he was. There had been rumors that he spoke of a barking castle when interrogated, Deryn was starting to suspect it hadn't been entirely bleather.
"I was just stopping by to see if you needed anything, mam," Deryn said quickly, "And perhaps ask what the officers might be thinking about Alek here."
For long moments Doctor Barlow studied them both, Deryn wondered if the jig was already up and marines were on their way. Instead the Lady Boffin snapped for Tazza, who went to shove his nose under her gloved palm.
"I have been told that he wasn't very responsive in his interrogation," she finally said, "Only giving his name and descriptions of a few members of his family. One of which we need if we are ever to take to the skies in time. We are to escort him home safely, and humbly request they help us with our repairs"
Deryn took in a breath only so she could sigh with relief. Twitchy and posh he may be, but at least he had been just as stubborn with the officers as he had been with her. Before Deryn was able to bow and take her leave, Alek spoke up.
"And what name did I give?" he asked.
"If I knew you by a name other then 'Alek' I would call you by it. It seemed you could barely remember anything more then your own name." Doctor Barlow's gaze slid to Deryn momentarily, "It was almost as if you had already been Mesmerized."
That comment shot straight into Deryn's heart, almost causing it to beat again from nerves alone. A silence followed after that, until Alek spoke again.
"Can you…'legal undead' not tell if someone is Memorized?"
Even in the thick tension Deryn couldn't help but snort.
"Doctor Barlow's not undead," She said.
Alek looked back to Doctor Barlow who flashed a smile of perfect flat teeth and nodded her head.
"That is correct. I am merely vaccinated." She explained, "It allows me both protection from the condition as well as some of it's attributes, but to a lesser extent, and only temporarily."
This time Alek was quick to respond.
"If there is a vaccination, I would ask that my family and I be offered it as well." He said.
"And why would you want something like that?"
"I may be wrong, but I believe 'vaccination' is what is commonly used to prevent infection," he answered.
Blisters, Deryn thought, knowing where this conversation was going. She should have known being Memorized twice in so little a timeframe meant her slip up was safe, but now she had brought the only threat to her career right up to a greater authority then even the captain.
"Ah, I see," Doctor Barlow said, "I can't say I recommend it, it really is the most ghastly medication. I only administered myself as a formality. It is the law, you see, but completely unnecessary for you and your family. We will likely finish our transactions and be gone before the vaccine would even come into effect."
Alek nodded at this, but still frowned.
"Then you must forgive any hesitation from my family to comply with your requests." He said flatly.
"If you are afraid for their safety you have nothing to worry about. "Mr. Sharp, why don't you offer our guest a seat?" She said, nodding to a chair.
"I prefer to stand, thank you," Alek insisted coldly, but Deryn pulled out the chair and pressed him down anyway.
More then anything she wanted to grab him and chuck him out the window, all the way back to his supposed castle where he would never be a bother to her again, but also understood that without the right communication the Leviathan might not survive the night.
"I understand you might have heard all sorts of rumors about our special little subculture," Doctor Barlow said, "Allow me to take the time to put your mind at ease."
Again Deryn wanted to laugh, hearing such a fancy word applied to the actual definition of her social standing. Deryn got the feeling Alek was either looking at her or trying very hard not to, so just in case he was she gave a little nod. It wasn't like anything Doctor Barlow would explain Deryn hadn't already tried to herself, but it was a lot easier hearing these things from someone who wasn't dripping blood from the mouth.
"The epidemic began in 1980 when a virus was introduced to our city by way of immigrants. In the years that followed, infection spread rapidly across the population, particularly through slums and prostitution rings."
Deryn tried not to roll her eyes at this. That was a common misconception, the idea that only the lowly adulterers had contracted the disease. It wasn't so much that the slums invited the infection, but more because no one bothered to protect the little people. The boffins liked words like "epidemic" and "exposure" but the reality of the situation was that people were being attacked in their own homes. Those who couldn't afford iron doors or thick latches on their windows had no way of defending themselves. Those poorer neighborhoods were a constant warzone, everyone trying to protect their kin from a creeping evil veiled in human shape.
"…However," Doctor Barlow continued, "At around the turn of the century a vaccination was developed and administered, allowing authorities to isolate the victims and search for treatment. While we were able to extinguish some of the negative side effects we are still searching for a complete cure. In the meantime any citizens who are infected have a choice of living in an isolated community with their peers, kindly offering their time to the pursuit of scientific advancement, or serving the King in airships like these."
Not entirely a lie, but definitely spoken like a politician and not someone who had ever been exposed to the so-called 'subculture' of vampirism. Everyone knew the undead 'communities' were little more then prisons shaped like villages, armed forces surrounding them at all times ensuring none come in or out. As for 'offering time in the pursuit of science', those experiments were supposed to be so inhumane that volunteers begged for the stake in a matter of days. The only choice Deryn had for a decent life was the Air Force, and for that she had to disguise herself as a man.
"This is all very enlightening," Alek said, "But you've yet to address my main concern."
"I can only assume you're referring to that horrible rumor that the undead drink human blood," Doctor Barlow responded just as politely as if she were never interrupted, "Which, while based in some fact, is false in these times. While we were unable to completely rid patients of the dependence on blood, its nothing a cocktail of proteins, fats, and fabricated hormones can't fix. Supposedly one cannot tell the difference, is that right Mr. Sharp?"
Deryn forced herself not to express any semblance of guilt and finally allowed herself to meet Alek's eye.
"I wouldn't know mam," she said, "Seeing how I've only ever had the cocktail."
There were two things Deryn could have done in this instance. She could have hardened her gaze to scare the boy into silence, or maybe try to Memorize him for a third time in one night. Stubbornly Deryn refused both options, merely meeting his gaze with as much dignity as she could muster.
For all her bleathering about it being both their fault technically, word had since reached her that Alek had only been trying to help. The officers had found bags of medicine on the poor sod, as if he thought he could swoop in and pass out a few plasters. After everything he'd endured tonight, he didn't deserved to be threatened by her again.
Whatever Alek took from her glance it prepared him for his next question.
"And what would happen if an undead were to drink human blood in these times?"
At least she had thought he was a good sort, anyway.
Doctor Barlow sighed. "The same punishment as any British Citizen would receive for Attempted Homicide, I should think."
This caused Alek to pause, a stretch of time that was excruciating for Deryn.
"I understand, Madam," He said, "I would offer my assistance, but I fear my family would react negatively to finding me in your care. It is imperative that I return home as soon as possible."
"Negatively?" Doctor Barlow asked, "What do we say to that, Mr. Sharp?"
Deryn was so ready for her verdict that she almost hadn't been listening.
"I wouldn't know mam," she said, "Bring a gift for his Ma?"
Alek shot a glare at her and for an awful moment she now he'd expose her now just out of spite, but instead shook his head.
"No, you need to let me go back alone before they realize I'm missing," He said, "If you go anywhere near them they will shoot you!"
"How unfriendly!" The Lady Boffin said, "And yet they hired you English tutors of the highest caliber."
Again Alek's pulse quickened, so much it was almost deafening. Again Deryn was transported back to their first interaction and again she felt the taste of his flesh dance on her tongue. His heart had pounded as hard as it did now, and she had been able to smell the absolute terror in his blood. A powerful and unfamiliar desire returned, Deryn felt herself reasoning that if Alek hadn't snitched on her yet there really was no reason not to milk the opportunity.
The very thought of it was just as abhorrent as it was appealing, Deryn was about ready to find a vaccine for him on her own. Anything so she wouldn't have to listen to that barking thudding every time he got spooked.
Whatever conversation followed in the realm of the living Deryn had been unaware of it completely. All she knew was that once again Doctor Barlow was trying to get her attention.
"Pardon, what?" Deryn asked.
"I asked how quickly you could deliver a message, Mr. Sharp," she repeated, "I was assuring our young friend bullets are hardly a problem for us, and I have a feeling you could run across the glacier faster then any other member of the crew.
"And what do you mean by that mam?" Deryn asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Only that a large fraction of our cocktail was destroyed in the crash, meaning half rations for everyone. But you don't exhibit any signs of lethargy, I can only assume you took your last allotment later then scheduled."
Deryn didn't show any sign of her panic, but it was a close thing.
"Lucky thing I did then," Deryn forced herself to smile, "Else we'd be in a spot of trouble for sure."