Triple chapter update! And this one is for Planetar, who requested a 'mad science' chapter. :)
Chapter title taken from Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me with Science", which was stuck in my head while I was writing it.
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Liara knew it was unreasonable to assume that just because Mordin could be a little… eccentric meant he could not care for one small child, but when she stepped into his lab to find every available surface covered in technology she couldn't begin to identify and several liquids that looked questionable at best, she couldn't resist the knee-jerk reaction of trying to rescind her earlier decision to allow this.
"Doctor Mordin, I've brought Beni but-"
"Wonderful, have been anticipating your arrival for hours-"
"But I thought perhaps you would prefer it if I left her with Miranda instead." The years had long since taught her the importance of stopping Mordin before he could spiral into a conversational tangent, and much as she would have preferred not to teach Beni the habit of interrupting, this once it was called for.
Not that Beni was paying attention to either one of them, her wide, eager eyes were darting from one disaster area to another, struggling to take in all the new sights. That was exactly what concerned Liara.
It had seemed like a good idea at the time, even Miranda had agreed: Beni enjoyed science, why not give her a little hands-on experience with chemistry? Something harmless like the effects of baking soda and vinegar when combined in sufficient quantities. She had even gone so far as to request permission from Gardiner, who, though not thrilled at the idea of what might happen to his beloved kitchen, had generously agreed to assist.
Unfortunately, when she mentioned the idea to Shepard over supper, Mordin had promptly offered his services. Tact had kept Liara from refusing outright, that and Shepard's hearty endorsement- "You're worrying for nothing. He's worked on a children's show for pity's sake!"
Indeed. They were some of Beni's favorite holovids, and she was thrilled when he had offered to teach her. It was the thought of what he might teach her that had Liara concerned now.
"Unnecessary. We are prepared." Accompanied by a smile Liara had no doubt she was supposed to find reassuring. Given that it matched Beni's expression so perfectly, it failed to comfort her. Whatever happened here, though, the Normandy was equipped to handle it. Fully-stocked medical bay, flame retardants in place, decontamination stations- not to mention the very wise precaution of confining Jax to Beni's quarters until she was finished here.
Shepard was right, she was worried for nothing; that didn't mean she was going to stop anytime soon.
"What's this?" Beni whispered reverently, watching as red smoke billowed ominously from a beaker.
Liara could practically see the maniacal gleam in Mordin's eyes when he answered, "Potassium chlorate and lactose. Coloring added for effect."
Smoke bombs. Wonderful. Just the tool Beni needed for her mischievous pranks, and he knew it.
Liara slipped out of the lab quietly, leaving them to their play.
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Contrary to Mordin's expectations, it was a full hour before Beni inquired about explosive compounds; he had thought it would be her first request when Liara left the room- she was equally Shepard's daughter after all.
"Doctor Mordin?" He wasn't sure whether he liked this new habit Beni had acquired of referring to him by his title when he had only just become accustomed to 'uncle', but it was after all his correct title and- and even in the privacy of his own thoughts he was rambling in that way that vexed the majority of the crew. Was it truly the majority? Surely he hadn't even- enough.
"Yes, what is it hm?" Much better. A considerable improvement over earlier efforts.
"Could I use the potassium chlorate to make an explosion?" A rational conclusion given the profusion of smoke he had been forced to vent from lab several times this last hour. Mordin found himself inordinately pleased with the question.
"Explosive. Potassium nitrate is more common. Used in a variety of capacities from dated weaponry to ancient medicine. Rendered obsolete with burgeoning compounds, still commonly traded-"
"Do you have any?"
Ah. This was perhaps where he should decisively state that they would not in any way be meddling with explosives… but certainly the laboratory was equipped for such instances and Liara had said this would be left to his discretion. Better she should indulge her healthy curiosity with a qualified supervisor.
"Yes. This laboratory is fully equipped with a variety of substances capable of initiating volatile reactions."
"Could we use some?" Spoken in reverent tones with wide, excited eyes. There was hardly any other use for it after all; why not use a little of his supplies to encourage an inquisitive mind?
"Certainly."
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"It's too quiet. I keep expecting the little one to pop out of a maintenance hatch holding something nasty and expecting me to tell her what it is." Shepard murmured, glancing around with the air of a hunted woman. Liara could count on her two hands the number of quiet suppers they had taken together this past year; not that she didn't enjoy eating with the crew, but it was a nice change to have her bondmate to herself for awhile.
Liara shook her head, "She wouldn't escape Doctor Mordin so easily. He's thrilled to have found an eager student."
"The Igor to his Frankenstein?"
"I am not familiar with the name."
"Devoted assistant to a mad scientist."
"I hope not." Liara muttered wryly, "I thought they would be finished by now or that Mordin might banish her for breaking one of his projects."
"You mean you hoped so." Shepard snickered, "She's not that clumsy. Not anymore. You can relax, he'll be careful."
"It is not Mordin I am worried about, rather Beni's singular ability to create trouble where there is none."
Shepard lifted her glass in a mock toast, "Here's to the future politician. She will go far."
A muffled bang cut Liara off mid-laugh, changing it into a heartfelt groan. Shepard levered herself to her feet, offering a supporting arm, "I'll bet you my next paycheck this is going to be Mordin's fault. Beni will be a bystander. This once, Beni will be a bystander."
"Joint income, but I accept." Liara accepted reluctantly, already bracing for the disaster zone she had no doubt they would encounter.
"Let me know when you think of something better."
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"Hm. I was expecting a more spectacular reaction-"
"It gets bigger?" Beni questioned, only now beginning to uncurl herself from a protective huddle on the floor. Despite his assurances that she was safe behind the shield they had erected prior to their dabbling, she had dropped to the floor and covered her ears at sight of the first spark. A most intelligent reaction, and not one Mordin was inclined to correct.
"Much. Must have been a slight miscalculation of quantity. Very unusual, a novice's mistake-"
He had barely registered the hiss of the door before Kelly and Miranda swept in, both releasing an audible breath of relief when their eyes settled on Beni standing just behind him.
"A small experiment, no need to be concerned. We were exploring the properties of-" Mordin offered, taking in the glares they leveled at him. Of recent he had become far more adept at reading such expressions on Human faces, possibly because they were frequently directed at him.
"Doesn't matter." Kelly cut in, stalking over to deactivate the shield, "You're all right?"
"As I said, repeatedly-"
"You can repeat it again, for Liara's benefit." Shepard stepped through the door, Liara trailing after looking vaguely impressed at the conspicuous lack of damage to his workspace. Did they believe him so careless as to destroy his ongoing projects for the sake of a chemistry lesson.
"No undue effects. Reaction was sufficiently contained by the stasis field, though in future-"
Shepard winced, coming over to gather Beni into her arms; "In future, I think maybe we should restrict lessons to combinations that don't require stasis fields."
Surveying their collective body language, Mordin was wise enough to agree.