ataraxion | 001

[ ENCRYPTED 75% TO MEDICAL AND XENOBIOLOGY/GENETICS STAFF + BRUCE BANNER: ]
I took the liberty of checking out the blood samples we were able to get from the creatures at the end of the maze. Some of them seemed to have bacterial infections, which isn't surprising, but I also checked them against known DNA samples from Earth.

I don't want to alarm anyone, which is why I've encrypted this for now, but so far the results are all coming back in essentially the same manner. The DNA of these creatures is a mix between Earth creatures -- the lion is a large component, and there are also what appears to be genetic material from the Australian dingo and some sort of crocodile. However, at the present time it appears as though the largest genetic contribution comes from human beings.

Obviously the samples may have been compromised, as I've really only been able to work off their blood and some hair. I'm going to request a larger sample, preferably an entire specimen -- dead, obviously. Hopefully we can get more answers, and hopefully the human genetic material was just cross-contamination.

[ OPEN: ]
I've heard a few things about people returning to the end of the maze to clear out the rest of the creatures, in addition to a possible salvage operation. My name is Elizabeth Ross -- I'm a cellular biologist and university professor back home. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to request a mostly intact -- though definitely dead -- specimen of the creatures. I'm sure there are a lot of people who are wondering just what they are and how they got here, not to mention how they've survived the jumps, and I'm hoping that an entire specimen might be able to give us some answers.

How is everyone feeling?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And we've already more or less done it, so there you are.

Well...Yes. But only with all three of us working together. You're proposing doing this alone.

Why, Mr Edgeworth, are you hinting that you want to come along again!

[He clears his throat.] Not necessarily. Indeed, you could probably find better to help you in that situation. But you shouldn't go alone.

No, no-- look, it's all right, mate. I know. I understand.

"Know" and "understand" aren't synonyms for "agree." Take someone with you, or I will drag myself after you, and I doubt you want that to happen.

But that's my point exactly! I know that you want to come along. You needn't dress it up or anything, I understand completely--thirst for adventure, for danger, for subduing large beasts with no more than your wits and courage and general cleverness--I understand.

[He coughs in surprise at that and tries to make the sound into a harumph of outrage.]

I beg your pardon! The very last thing I wish, ever, is "adventure" or "excitement" or anything of the sort. I'm not halfway to insane like you are.

It's too late for protests, I've found you out. If it's the last thing you'd ever wish, why go out in the first place? Why hound me about taking companions?

Because I don't want you to get torn to pieces. That shouldn't be particularly difficult to figure out.

What a brilliantly sentimental alibi! It's only lucky you aren't worried for your reputation.

[Excuse me sir that is far too much.]

Wh...Sentimental! There is nothing "sentimental" about just wanting to make certain you're not slaughtered! It has nothing to do with you.

So then it's to do with adventure!

No! I've already told you. I despise adventure.

Well, it's one or the other, and you can't keep dithering between the two. Given that you're a man not precisely full of the stuff of sentimentality, I think I'll opt for insisting on the adventure one, and yes, you can come along, so that's sorted.

...And who else would we take? Kelly is still recovering, and I'd not be so much help to you in a fight.

Hang on--first things first--is that a yes?

...A slightly reluctant acquiescence. Yes. With the caveat that you could certainly find better.

Right. So where are you?

My room. It's...zero-zero-seven one-fourteen.

Ten minutes, then!

Very well. Knock when you arrive.

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