Settling In

Posted on Sun Jun 14th, 2020 @ 5:43am by MERCHANT RANKS Jonathan Smith

664 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: The Proving Ground
Location: Biology Lab
Timeline: MD 1, 1048

Dr. Smith was merely tinkering with things in the lab as he waited for a chance to do either of his jobs - alien archaeologist or anthropologist. He'd never understood exactly how this crew had figured they needed his expertise, but in a pinch, he was also a decent medic. For now, he was in the tiny lab his boss, Colleen Branagan, had allotted to him. He wasn't complaining about the size, since the entire science area on the ship was quite small.

Whistling a nameless tune that was stuck in his head, Jonathan checked the few tools he had to work with: a drawer full of maps which he hadn't yet itemized or examined; a Simple Retinal Microscope; a Compound Electronic Microscope; a Neutron Interference Microscope; small picks, trowels and pointers; a soil sifter; an electronic water screening device; calipers of varying sizes; an sonic scale; and of course a data center.

Truthfully, he was surprised at the extensive amount he had, though there were a few things missing to do a thorough job. A gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer headed the list. A proton magnetometer, even radar and an x-ray machine could all be helpful. He'd start where he was and see what other equipment on the ship could be appropriated for his own use, if needed. Medical might have some of it.

Since archaeology and anthropology typically studied ancient things, he didn't always need the most up-to-date equipment. It was nice to use x-ray and radar to look inside structures and avoid damage to them, but the same information could be painfully dug out, given enough time.

Having rearranged and stored things in a manner that seemed logical to him, he looked around the small space again. He had all the necessities. A closet for tall tools, drawers for artifacts and maps, table tops for study, cabinets for equipment ... he could enjoy working here. It was a job, but Jonathan couldn't help wondering why a cargo transport would want him. His wife, yes. She was a counselor and also a qualified medic. Any group of people crowded into a tin can like a space ship was bound to need her.

Finally, he settled into a chair in front of the electron microscope and took some slides out of a box he'd placed on the table. Until the boss gave him something to do, he might as well pursue some interests of his own.

"Whatcha doin'?" a small voice said, startling Jonathan. He turned slightly in his chair to see a small humanoid, gender indeterminate, standing near his lab table. The child, for he was pretty sure it wasn't simply a small stature adult, had two skull ridges that somewhat resembled braided hair. It appeared hairless, however, and blinked at him from lashless yellow eyes with oblong dark pupils.

"I'm getting ready to examine samples from a variety of artifacts," Jonathan said, not impatiently. It was odd that the child had wandered into his lab, but the door hadn't been closed, and it had not interrupted him until he sat back. "What are you doing?"

"Visiting unknown places," the child answered simply. "I like to see new things."

"Me, too," Jonathan said. "That's why I became an archaeologist."

"What's that? What do you do?" the child asked with interest, stepping a little closer, but still beyond arm's reach, being cautious.

"I find and study things people have left behind to see how they're the same or different from us," the scientist gave a simple answer. "My name is Dr. Smith, by the way. What's yours?"

"You couldn't pronounce it, even if I told you. You can call me Lizard, if you want. That's what the others call me," the child said matter of factly.

"Lizard?" Jonathan asked, startled. "Do you like that?"

"Not really, but it works. My name is really 畝を作 小さく られた頭 て1つ, " the child said. "If you don't like Lizard, what would you call me?"

"How about George? Curious George," Jonathan said, smiling.

 

RSS Feed