Hey All! I was traveling, which is why this chapter was late, but I like it, so thats a bonus! I did some actual storyline mapping and I think we're about halfway through the total story, but things are always subject to change. Enjoy!
Dear Doctor Bennet,
Your request to be assigned to the Zombie Vaccine project has been received, and it currently underconsideration. You have a meeting with Agent Darcy, Nautilus Director, and Agent Fitzwilliam, Head of Security, at 14:00 this Thursday.
Thank You,
Agent Reynolds.
"What is Darcy's assistant's first name?" Elizabeth asked curiously, having wandered into Jane's office and was now sitting on a filing cabinet flipping though test results on tissue composition of the luska from various parts of it's body. "I've never heard anyone call him anything other than Reynolds."
"His name is Victor." Jane replied, eyes glued to the screen before her, "What makes you ask?"
"He emailed and scheduled an appointment with me to meet with Darcy and the Head of Security to determine if I can skip procedure and earn level 4 clearance to help you and Gigi on the Zombie vaccine project."
"Ohh I do hope you're granted the clearance, Gigi and I have way too much to do, and unfortunately Nate, while a dear, sweet boy, is not very useful in a laboratory."
"Well I'd love to have something on my plate besides the Luska project. I mean it's awesome, but it's becoming a bit monotonous." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, "But why give clearance to Nate Shackleford if he doesn't have the training?"
"He's a hothead, which makes him a good hunter, but also means he's not great in confined spaces." Came a voice from the doorway, "Combine that with being a hunter in a facility full of agents, it's not good… Basically Nate is allowed in Level 4 labs because if he wasn't in there, being babysat, he'll go pick a fight with whoever's off duty."
Elizabeth and Jane looked up to see Gigi standing in the doorway, a faintly dismayed Nate poking out from behind her froth of dark curls. "That makes sense." Elizabeth shrugged. "I suppose I can deal with that reasoning."
"I'm a hothead? Really?" Nate asked incredulously.
"And a Glock head to boot, if the fight you were trying to pick at the armoury last week is any indication." Elizabeth smirked.
"Can you explain why else William explicitly told me to never leave you unattended?" Gigi shot over her shoulder.
"Are you sure it's not the other way around?" He countered slyly. "Maybe he just doesn't want his baby sis wandering these hallways filled with all these overly testosteroned GI Joe agents."
"One, I wouldn't let Charlotte let hear you calling her overly testosteroned; that's just rude, and inaccurate considering how pretty she is. And two, my brother said nothing about me not being allowed to wander around alone, just you, after that fist fight you go into on the way here." Gigi responded, in exasperation.
"Wait? Darcy's your brother?" Elizabeth asked, surprised.
"You didn't know?" Jane replied, equally surprised.
"That's what they tell me anyways." Gigi smiled, and Elizabeth realized it greatly resembled the smile very occasionally worn by the facility director. "It's one of Will's greatest disappointments that I didn't go the government employee route and join MCB like him. I had to be a rebel and join Monster Hunters International instead."
"To be fair you had pretty great incentive." Nate winked, running a hand through his hair.
"Yes, your sister gave an excellent recruitment speech." Gigi laughed dryly.
"Or you met a handsome, yummy, bad boy hunter you just couldn't resist."
"Don't think I joined your family's business because of you, I did it to kill monsters, and if we're being honest, I wanted to piss of Will."
"But now you're here? Does that mean you stopped rebelling?" Elizabeth asked, still trying to grasp the idea that Gigi was Darcy's little sister. It's not that they were entirely dissimilar, but Gigi was far more personable than Darcy had ever managed, even when he was actually trying.
"Well I have mostly, but I'm not switching to become a MCB agent. Over Christmas, last year, I was telling Will this idea I'd been working on to create a vaccine for the zombie virus. Nate's brother in law, Owen got-"
Nate elbowed her sharply in the side and muttered, "We're not supposed to talk about that."
"Ow! Okay, well something happened and I saw how useful it could be for people like hunters and agents to have a vaccine they could get against most of the zombie viruses, so they didn't get turned during missions. I asked a couple other nerds on the other hunting teams to start taking extra samples of zombie tissues when they were taking PUFF samples. They've been sending them to me for over a year, and when I mentioned it to Will he said they'd been looking into the same thing here. Then a month later my boss called, and Earl calling a newbie is a big deal, even if I was sort of seeing his... well, Nate…. Anyways Earl said the Director of MCB called and wanted me to come to here to help with this project. It's been great to see Will almost every day, instead of maybe once a year, like it's been since he was posted down here."
"He's been happier since you've been down here." Jane smiled. "Not much less busy, mind you, particularly with Nate trying to fight with everyone he sees, but much happier."
"Well I wouldn't say I try to fight everyone," Nate countered.
"True, you've left the female staff well enough alone." Gigi smiled at Nate before turning her attention back to "Anyways, has my brother given you the clearance to help out on the project?"
"Hopefully, I'm meeting with him and the head of security on Thursday." Elizabeth shrugged. "I mean I know I should work my way through the clearance levels, but clearly you didn't either, so they should consider this whole project excluded from that rule."
"Will doesn't like breaking the rules, but he'll get around to granting clearance eventually. And if he's too slow about it I'll have to ask my Aunt Maddie to send me his picture from prom. He hasn't always been the stud some people think he is." Gigi grinned evilly.
It was clear that Elizabeth would work well with the younger Darcy.
The week went by quickly, and soon enough it was Thursday. Elizabeth's morning was spent in the lab, plating cultures taken from the luska's intestinal tract. There was a good chance they were no longer viable, due the freezing, thawing, and refreezing, but it was something of interest that had come up a few weeks ago when Elizabeth had been talking with Doctor Hayes, who was working in the lab next door, on shoggoth remains. While not all specimens came to the facility fully intact, she was thinking about writing up a procedure of what samples to take and test to run in a particular order to get as much information from a sample as possible. Obviously it would not apply to every specimen that crossed the threshold, like the reptoid sample on level 3, but if necropsy protocols were enhanced, for microbial and biochemical research as well as to learn anatomy, so much more could be learned, despite the relative lack of specimens available.
Having placed the rainbow stack of streaked petri dishes into the incubator Elizabeth glanced at the clock and realized she was going to be late. Tossing her gloves in the biohazard bin on the way out the door, she rushed out of the labs, quickly deposited her lab coat in her office, and changed from her close toed lab clogs to the teal heels that actually matched the purple skirt and black and white polka dot sweater she was wearing. The price one pays for safety.
Fortunately Darcy's office was on the first floor as well and she arrived at Agent Reynold's desk only a few minutes past two. "Sorry I'm late, Reynolds!" She apologized.
"I'll let him know you're here." the agent replied, giving her a strange look. he pressed a button on his headset, "Agent Darcy, Sir, you're two o'clock is here. Alright." Turning back to Elizabeth he inclined his head towards the office door. "He's ready for you."
Elizabeth smiled and opened the door.
"Doctor Bennet, good to see you, please come in and have a seat." Darcy spoke from his own chair on one side of the desk, he was looking at a thick file. There were two chairs facing him, one of which was filled by another agent wearing black BDUs and was looking at her oddly.
"Doctor Bennet, this is Agent Calvin Fitzwilliam, the Head Agent at the Nautilus, Fitzwilliam, this is Doctor Elizabeth Bennet, currently assigned to the Luska project." Darcy introduced them, still without looking up from the pages before him.
"Pleasure to meet you Doctor Bennet," Agent Fitzwilliam stood and extended a hand of greeting, smiled pleasantly, though still sporting that odd look.
"Same Agent Fitzwilliams. I've seen you around the facility, obviously, it's kind of hard to not see everyone, but I don't think we've met before." Elizabeth firmly returned his handshake. "And Agent Darcy, I apologize for being late, I lost track of time streaking."
This caused Darcy to look up in surprise, "Streaking?" He asked, eyebrows raised. Agent Fitzwilliam coughed awkwardly.
"Streaking." She replied, oblivious to why he felt the need to clarify this point. "I was taking samples of gut bacteria from the luska and streaking them on various agar, I lost track of time."
"Streaking agar." He visibly relaxed. "I perhaps would have used the term 'plating' instead. 'Streaking' could be misunderstood."
"Oh!" Elizabeth realized her mistake and flushed, "Sorry, I forget that's something else for normal people."
"Quite alright." Darcy nodded. There was a short pause, "Doctor Bennet I must ask if you always wear goggles to meetings, or is today just a special event? Same goes for the thermometer poking out of your pony tail."
"I knew I left that somewhere!" She exclaimed, reaching to pull the tube out of her hair. "Don't worry it's not used, and you'll have to excuse the goggles lines, they're never pretty." she added, pulling the green visor goggles off her face and holding the two items in her lap, now understanding the strange looks she had received. "And again, I apologize for running late, like I said, I lost track of time."
"Not a problem Doctor Bennet, but now that we've cleared up the streaking and goggles issues, I believe we can proceed to the topic planned for this meeting, your request to join the Zombie vaccine project." Darcy glanced at his notes once more. "Fitzwilliam, any thought on the matter?"
"Well first, Doctor Bennet, may I call you Elizabeth?"
She nodded in assent, "As long as I can call you Calvin."
"Most people call me Fitz." He shrugged, "Anyways, Elizabeth I do have some concerns on putting a Level 1 researcher in Level 4 labs. It's absolutely nothing against you personally, however I am in charge of security, and I don't want to have to deal with a zombie outbreak down here; if we're being honest, I have nightmares about that on a weekly basis."
"I understand your concern Fitz, but I'm well versed in biosafety level 4 protocol, and from what Jane and Gigi have said, they're operating well below that level of protocol." Elizabeth replied.
"It's true you are qualified in regards to biosafety protocols, however my concern stems from your lack of formal training in virology." Darcy interjected, "The entire purpose of the project is to develop a human safe vaccine against selected strains of the zombie virus. I think I speak for all of us potential recipient when I say I'd prefer it be created by someone with the appropriate credentials."
"How familiar are you with virology, Agent Darcy?" Elizabeth raised an eyebrow in challenge.
"I understand the standard CDC level qualifications for vaccine work." He replied, his tone mild, but his posture gearing up for a fight. "And I'm afraid you do not have those qualifications."
A switch flipped in Elizabeth. She was used to being questioned about her qualifications, usually in regards to her sex. While she knew this wasn't the case Elizabeth still felt very much defensive."Yes but do you understand the molecular and biochemical processes of viral fusion, uncoating, gene expression, and lysis from the cell? Or the Baltimore classification of viruses? Or do you know that every virus works differently, and particularly with a Class VI, retrovirus? Because that's what I can only assume the classification of the viruses we'll be looking at will be." Nothing in her tone could be mistaken for anything but annoyance and anger.
"Or, Agent Darcy, were you aware that to date, most viral species science is aware of have been found in the ocean? Or that a third of my thesis was covering cephalopod diseases, many of which are viral? Please tell me, Agent Darcy, just how qualified YOU are to determine how much I know about virology?"
There was a long, awkward pause.
"She does make a point Will…" Fitzwilliam stated tentatively.
"Yes, I did hear her say it." Darcy responded tartly before turning his full attention to Elizabeth. "Doctor Bennet, I was aware that a good portion of your thesis covered cephalopod diseases. Doctor Bingley mentioned it during the selection process, and I am aware of the topics of all the papers you've published, even if I'm not well versed in the technical specifics."
"Then did you miss that part of my resume where I spent a year's worth of lab hours during my undergraduate in a virology lab? I may not have a PhD specifically in Virology, however I have more than enough training and experience to work in the Army Bioweapons program that supposedly doesn't exist, so I sure as hell qualify to work on the freaking zombie virus project." Elizabeth shot back. "Seriously, I've had job offers from them, though they had the decency to let me decline the job. Since you don't extend that consideration, I'm sure you can grant me the necessary clearance to work on a project I find intellectually stimulating and professionally relevant."
"And perhaps you could consider my position, as director of a small facility where, despite constant requests, I am not actually able to give everyone every single thing they want. That automatically granting the requests of a researcher that has been here for less than two months might cause issues with other researchers who have been petitioning me for their various project needs and requests for months. And," His voice was raised at this point, while not quite shouting, was louder than she'd ever heard him speak. "while you have made it quite clear that you did not have the choice whether or not you were going to to be here, you are. You, Doctor Elizabeth Bennet, are currently in the MCB research facility, the Nautilus, underwater, off the northern coast of Alaska, and according to all sources you're enjoying it. Your co-workers all report positive interactions with you, the facility psychologist has determined you're mentally fit and happy, and my best friends wife talk about you like you're sisters. Have you ever considered, Doctor Bennet, that perhaps you are better off in this facility, professionally and personally, that you would have ever been in traditional academia? And if you would consider that, perhaps you would not constantly feel the need to bring up your manner of recruitment, which was done TO SERVE HUMANITY, much less the United States Government."
A long, hard silence followed. Elizabeth was shocked, and Darcy looked like he was wavering between being proud that he'd said what he did and disturbed by his loss of personal control.
"Erm, perhaps we should reconvene this meeting at a different time." Fitzwilliam said finally.
"I don't know what else I could possibly tell you that you don't obviously already know." Elizabeth replied icily.
"Agreed." Darcy added, stiffly, "I think we know quite enough to determine your eligibility for the position."
"Well then." Fitzwilliam inhaled deeply, before continuing in a forced good humor, "Doctor Bennet, it was a pleasure to meet you, and I think we'll wait a week or two, look more closely at your resume, and then make a decision on your appointment to the Zombie Vaccine project."
Elizabeth nodded sharply and stood to leave. "Good to meet you as well Agent Fitzwilliam."
As she was walking towards the door it flew open and a woman in a bright orange sheath dress and 6 inch nude heels, sporting a sharp dark bob burst in, "William! I hope you don't mind, Reynolds said you were occupied, but I absolutely need your opinion on the h'orderves the chef wants to make for the party next weekend!" She was holding a large, multilayer tupperware and seemed oblivious to the chill temperature of the room. Reynolds was standing at the doorway, looking frustrated.
Darcy nodded at Reynolds,indicating it was okay and turned his attention to the newcomer, "Caroline." He sounded tired.
"Oh William, You must try this canape first, it's simply divine!" the woman continued, ignoring Elizabeth and Reynolds.
"Well clearly you've got more to see to Darcy," Fitzwilliam stood, "I'll just escort Doctor Bennet out, I actually have another matter to discuss with her, just a little question regarding squids and such."
"Didn't we need to talk-" Darcy began, clearly not wanting to be left alone with the orange woman.
"No, I think it's best if we hold off on any of that discussion until later." Fitz smirked, "Caroline, he's all yours. Put his superior palette to good use!" Fitz took a few large strides to catch up to Elizabeth, "Shall we?"
"Sure?" Elizabeth replied, still transitioning from anger to confusion and amusement at the situation.
Agent Fitzwilliam grabbed Elizabeth's arm and guided her out of the office. When the door shut he quietly murmured, "If you don't mind popping into my office for a moment, I actually do need to ask you about something, but Darcy's clearly frothed and doesn't need to be involved."
"Okay…" Elizabeth scrunched her brow, now firmly at confused. "I mean squids don't usually make people too unhappy, but I would agree that he is well and truly 'frothed' as you said."
"I must commend you on your ability to get a rise out of the most composed man of my acquaintance."
"Well apparently I have a gift, this wasn't the first time." Elizabeth sighed, "I really don't act so unprofessionally usually, but he seems equally skilled in putting me on edge."
"Weird," Fitzwilliam shrugged, opening the door to his office for her "While a bit awkward, Darcy has always been fairly good with most people."
"I'm apparently not most people." She shook her head, "So what about squids do you want to know?"
Fitzwilliam looked momentarily confused, then his features cleared, "Oh, yes, I'm afraid that was a bit of a fib, it's a security issue, but don't worry, it's below Darcy's paygrade."
"Security issue? I don't think I've set anything off lately."
"Please, take a seat." He gestured to her to sit in the chair across from his desk. "You are aware that all emails, outgoing and incoming, are monitored? Yes?"
"Yeah," Elizabeth settled in her seat, "But my mother's questions about if I've found a man still remain, so I know my request for that to be taken out was denied."
Agent Fitzwilliam snorted, "If we took that out of all emails to personnel, they would receive half as many emails as they do now. But the issue at hand concerns an email your father sent you this morning."
"Did you guys hold it back or something? I didn't see anything from my inbox." She looked puzzled.
"Yes, it was held back." He nodded, then handed her a paper, "This is what he sent."
Elizabeth scanned the email, it seemed pretty normal, what he was teaching that semester, students he liked, the newest strange thing her mother had begun doing. Then she saw it, close to the end:
'When you come home I must show you some cave paintings one of the younger professors found on a dig. I'm almost sure it's about a luska terrorising their village, maybe you'll have more to add to it.'
"Oh." was all she said, trying to think of a rational way to explain this without getting her father in trouble. "Well I mean, he knows I'm a cephalopod expert, maybe he just made the same intuitive leap you guys did when you hired me."
"But is that the case?" Agent Fitzwilliam asked, a brow arched.
Elizabeth slumped down in her seat. "No." He kept looking at her, so she caved, "He's an archaeologist. I was giving my family the official story you guys gave me, but he could tell I wasn't telling the truth, he's always been really good at that. Anyways, he kind of guessed, and it turns out he knew about monsters already, because of the digs he'd go on in South America. I swear I didn't tell him."
"I see." Agent Fitzwilliam nodded, "I'm not terribly surprised, your father's monster encounters were included in your background check."
"He's never been good at staying out of trouble." She sighed, "He's probably acting out because he's stuck with just my mom and sister Lydia. They're good people, but dad's a bit more of an intellectual than them, so conversations about fashion or celebrity gossip just doesn't do it for him. Do you have to report him for being a flippant idiot?"
"Technically I should," Agent Fitzwilliam's face gave away nothing, "but tell me, how close are the two of you?"
"Very." Elizabeth laughed self deprecatingly, "I must sound like such a loser for saying this, but Dad's honestly my best friends. He didn't try to make me into a tomboy, and it wouldn't have worked, I like shoes too much, but we were alway the father/daughter duo who went camping together and he took me to the range, judo classes, the library. It was hard when I went away for my undergraduate, that's why I applied to PhD programs closer to home."
"I see," Fitz finally cracked a smile, "I understand how it can be stressful to not be able to tell the most important person in you life the truth. And considering he was already aware of monsters' existence, I don't think it's at all out of line to make an exception in certain secrecy requirements for emails to your father."
"So I could talk to him about what's actually going on?" she asked, surprised, "With my research, the people, stuff like that?"
"I don't see why not." He nodded, "Though you should know this isn't a free pass. Your emails will still be read, you still can't disclose the location of the facility, or discuss any government officials you are aware of that are involved with MCB, or anything of that nature."
"So basically I can talk about monsters, but not anything about MCB specifically?"
"Precisely." He nodded. "I'll talk to the agent in charge of the screening process today, so you'll get the email I've showed you tomorrow and you can proceed with whatever level of communication you desire. We'll be sending your father an email to the explain the situation as well."
Elizabeth exhaled heavily, "Thank you. I really appreciate this so much."
"Like I said, I know how hard it is to not tell important people the truth." He nodded. "And in the end it because a deal breaker." the agent who had remained mostly jolly seemed subdued.
"Can I ask who your person was?" ELizabeth asked, curious.
Agent Fitzwilliam stood, indicating their meeting was over, "Anne."
"Girlfriend?" Elizabeth stood and offered a hand.
"Fiancee." He replied, shaking it, "Well, I'll most likely see you around."
"Most likely," She smiled, "I'll let you know next time I have a meeting with Darcy, you can have the fire extinguisher ready."
He laughed, but called out to her she shut the door. "Elizabeth, a word of advice about Darcy?"
"I could use all the help I can get." She leaned against the doorway. "Aside from of course, not yelling at him as much as I do, what can you suggest?"
"Understand that he doesn't fight back unless he respects you." Fitz smiled gently, "You're not the first to be unhappy being drafted here, but I've never seen him actually yell at someone like that besides his sister before she joined MHI. And you will never see him fight with Caroline, despite her best efforts, because she doesn't want to be anything other than the displaced socialite she is. You are clearly far more than that."
Elizabeth nodded, unsure how to take what the agent said. "Thanks." she nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."