Chapter 12

"Astrid, could you…"

"Put this in the centrifuge? Of course." She took the test tube from Peter's hand, slapped a label on it, and inserted it into the device with a sure hand.

Astrid knew what he wanted almost before he did. While he was in the field with Olivia, she had been in the lab with Walter… in one timeline, anyway. In every timeline, as her responsibilities as caretaker lessened, she replaced them with those of a lab assistant. It was obvious that Walter had given her, in addition to a love of Red Vines, an intensive course in biochemistry, physics, and how to think like a mad genius – qualities that would serve her well in the current environment.

While he waited on the results, he studied the new equipment set up in one corner of the lab. After Massive Dynamic located the sites being used to create the toxic compounds, Federal agents in bio-hazard suits raided each building and confiscated the original chemicals and the equipment used to transform them into synthetic fusions that could only be created through suspension of theories on how molecular structures behaved… in this world.

Mitchell Loeb, with help from David Robert Jones, had used a device similar to this, to enable his team to literally 'walk through walls' to raid safety deposit boxes and retrieve Walter's components to create a device that would allow him to cross the time-space continuum. Dr. Krick combined Osmium and Lutetium, two elements that should never even co-exist, creating a serum that enabled paralyzed men, including his son, to walk again – or rather, to float, when the membrane between this universe and its counterpart decayed to a point that began to break the laws of physics.

Peter's ability to recall and associate these disparate events enabled him to develop a theory; using the resources available at Massive Dynamic, the researchers there were able to prove his theory. Now all that remained was a final resolution, an antidote to the toxins yet to be recovered. It was obvious from the state of the labs that more toxins had been created; the spent energy sources and the missing vials gave them an indication of how much – enough to decimate a small city if dispersed correctly. So far, the incidents had been limited to a few people in controlled areas – shops, offices, bus stops – but until they knew who was behind the attacks and their motivation, the potential for catastrophe hung over them, Peter most of all.

Massive Dynamics researchers were working on the anti-toxin, but they were struggling to create the altered environment to synthesize the compounds. Or rather, they could create the environment, but not the instruments and equipment needed to function in that environment. When Loeb and his team crossed into the altered environment, the residual effect of having their atoms scrambled proved to ultimately be fatal; the MD researchers were still struggling to overcome that obstacle.

Peter eyed the equipment, then turned back to locate Astrid. She was busy at a monitor across the lab, keying rapidly as she compared results with Fayette at MD. He drummed his fingers on the lab table… something, something was there in the back of his mind. He dug through the box he'd carried to the tunnels, flipping through files rapidly until he reached the bottom of the box.

"Almost the bottom of the box," he thought, when his fingertips touched Walter's notebook. He pulled it out and started thumbing through the worn pages. He paused on the page describing the Casimir Effect and the portal Walter created; running his fingers down the page, over Walter's notes, he began nodding to himself.

"Astrid, I'll be back in a minute!" he said loudly, and she responded with a nod, never even looking up from the keyboard. When he stood up, he closed his eyes for a moment, visualizing Walter in 2036, replaying the scene in his mind as Walter led them to the basement where he'd stored all manner of things: samples and residual evidence from Fringe cases they'd worked together all the way back to inventions he and Belly had created when they shared the lab.

He walked cautiously through the crowded room – at least the lights still worked, unlike their initial visit in 2036. He made a mental note to return and catalogue the contents – later – as he made his way to the back of the room.

Finally, he spotted the aluminum 'wings' of the portal device, propped in the far corner of the back wall. He moved a number of boxes and cases to reach it; it was almost as if Walter didn't WANT the equipment to be found.

It took a couple of trips, but he was satisfied that he had all the components. Using Walter's notebook as a guide, he reassembled the portal, creating an area large enough to hold the isolation box where the recovered elements were stored.

He powered up the device that created the altered environment; he could see the shimmering effect encompassing the isolation box between the two wings. He immediately felt a change in pressure, almost as if a hand pushed against his chest.

Only those who risk going too far, find out how far they can go

He picked up a pencil from a nearby lab table and tossed it into the isolation box. Just like the FBI agent on the bridge a few years back, the pencil just… disintegrated. Not a trace was left behind. Peter glanced behind him; Astrid was engrossed in her conversation with the MD scientist. As Peter approached the equipment, he did a mental inventory. He took a deep breath, stepped up to the portal, extended the pinkie finger on his right hand, and slowly stretched it into the box.

Nothing.

Nothing happened.

Just as slowly, he withdrew his hand and examined his finger. No indication that anything had happened, not even a tingle. He repeated the process, fingers splayed, arm extended, until his entire forearm was in the isolation box. Satisfied that he could work in the isolation box without harm, he stepped into the shimmering area and set about combining the chemicals to create the anti-toxin.

ooo

A few hours later, Peter and Astrid were back at the monitor, video-conferencing with Brandon at Massive Dynamic and Olivia at the Federal Building. Peter and Brandon were deep into the logistics of mass producing the anti-toxin, based on Peter's accomplishments that morning, when Nina's face appeared over Brandon's shoulder.

"I hear congratulations are in order, Peter," Nina said with not a little pride in her voice.

"Yes, I used one of Walter's old inventions," Peter replied. "Astrid, can you share the scans from Walter's notes?"

As the sketch from Walter's notebook appeared on the screen, Nina visibly blanched. "Pe-Peter," she stammered, "THIS is what you used?"

"Yes, Nina… and I understand its original purpose… at least, I think I do. "

Nina nodded imperceptibly.

"I see no need to recreate the past," Peter continued smoothly, looking intently at Nina as he spoke, "and while technology has certainly advanced since 1985…" he flashed his best con-man smile at an obviously flustered Nina before resuming, "I think that's a project for another day, don't you, Ms. Sharp?"

ooo

"Astrid said I might find you here," Olivia said as she crossed the roof of the Kresge Building to a picnic table where Peter and Etta sat, perched on the table and looking out over Huntington Avenue.

"Yep, well, I saved the world, again… so I thought I'd take the afternoon off and spend it with my best girl," Peter smirked, tugging on Etta's pigtail. "Well, one of my best girls," he amended hastily. "Care for some popcorn?" He extended a bag, one of several sitting beside them on the picnic table.

Olivia rounded the table and sat on the bench between her husband and her daughter, whose eyes had not left the stream of traffic in front of her. When Olivia gave Peter a questioning look, he just shrugged and mouthed, "Wait and see."

Suddenly Etta vibrated with excitement and leaned towards Peter. "PUNCH BUGGY!" she yelled enthusiastically as she slugged Peter's shoulder. "BLUE!" She pointed to the baby blue VW Bug headed south on the busy street.

"Good one, Princess. I totally missed that one," he said, as he winked at Olivia.

"How many is that, Daddy?" Etta asked, her gaze back on the road.

"Six, I think," Peter replied, rubbing his shoulder. Turning back to Olivia, he said "Etta was telling me that she missed playing Punch Buggy with Walter, so I thought…" His voice trailed off as a wistful expression crossed his face, replaced by a sad smile as he looked at Etta.

Olivia leaned against his knee. "I think Walter would approve," she said softly to Peter, smiling gently.