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

If my current method of persuasion doesn't work, and if you would be fine with volunteering your birds for such a thing, I'll bring it up. For now, I've suggested using some of the equipment in medical to learn more about what it is he can do, as he doesn't seem to fully understand it either. Maybe a better understanding of it will help him in the future.

[ She hopes. ]

It would be safe, and painless. It would just monitor the differences in his brain while he's using his ability, and it's entirely up to him as to whether or not he wants to do it. I'll admit that I'm curious but I'm definitely not going to force him into it, and you and the others close to him would be more than welcome to observe and be there with him.

[ It's obvious by Alayne's expression, thoughtful and considerate despite the tiredness that lingers around her eyes and droops her best efforts to smooth her shoulders straight, that it is a question she takes rather seriously. By all rights, if her lie was foolproof, if she had not grown lax since her arrival upon the ship, it is something she would dismiss humbly (for what right did a bastard have over the fate of a lord), but Alayne has learned that few understand the meaning of the name 'Stone' and the true nature of lords and vassals.

Therefore, she is allowed her concern, allowed to maintain some say without risk of discovery (for that is what Sansa would do). ]

We've little of your — what is the word — science in the Seven Kingdoms. There are learned men — maesters and scholars — ones who study the old ways, that keep the old arts. But by all estimation, it is not nearly the same.

[ Again, a silent pause, then Alayne frowns. ] He would not be treated as one of these beasts, would he? Poked and prodded — a creature to be observed.

I won't let that happen.

[ It's firm, immediate, and the conviction behind it is obvious. She has spent enough time wondering what might happen to Bruce, knowing that her father wants to cut into him, to dissect him and take the Hulk and somehow turn it into a weapon. General Ross looks at Bruce Banner, at the man she loves, and he sees a science experiment -- he sees the property of the United States Army. He doesn't see the man, or if he does, he doesn't care. ]

He'll be kept informed of every step and he'll be able to stop at any time. If anyone tries to treat him like he's less than human, whether it's because they found out about this or for some other reason, they'll regret it.

[ She smiles without thinking of it. It's a Sansa smile, wolfish and secret, protective of a little brother, and it is an Alayne smile, taken by the woman's conviction (for even the gentlest heart maybe have a secret strength as hard as stone). It's a strange thing to smile about, the promise of such regrets, but she is tired and cannot bring herself to curb the expression. ]

You're very certain, [ she says and it is both a question and statement. ]

I won't let it happen.

[ She says it again, with the same amount of conviction, looking this girl in the eye through the camera. ]

No one deserves to be looked at and only seen for what they can do, for how they might be useful, with who they are as an afterthought -- if it's thought about at all.

[ That corner of Alayne's mouth remain lifted, a curious and bemused sort of expression for one so tired, like she's considering the prospect of being charmed by this woman and her sudden, surprising strength. But being charmed by her is not the same thing as believing her, nor is it access to Sansa's brother.

Still she asks: ] And where does the certainty come from?

[ Alayne wonders if it's a secret or if this woman wears her heart upon her sleeve and will share the story readily. ]

[ It's a little of both. It's Bruce's story more than hers, but she can share a little without going into the details. ]

Someone I love was treated that way. [ She doesn't know it, but it nearly killed him -- would have, if the Hulk weren't what he is. Betty doesn't know about how low Bruce got, she just knows that it was her own father who made him a fugitive, who hunted him like he was nothing more than an animal -- an escaped specimen to be studied. ]

[ Love, the woman says and Alayne knows that she is not lying. Love inspires all manner of sentiment in the human heart. Fear and envy and anger and pain (those are the sentiments that occur to her first); happiness and warmth and security (and, sadly, those occur to her second). And strength, oh, how could she forget.

(Love does not make you weak, she'd told Petyr once and she'd half-expected him to laugh, but he hadn't.) ]

Then you understand my worries, Lady Elizabeth. Lord Stark is very precious to me. [ She dips her head. ] You've spoken to him yourself. Already, you must know how easy it is find yourself in such a state.

He is willful, but brave. And, given time, you will love him as well.

[ Betty has been through a lot of pain because of her love. She's perhaps an oddity in the scientific community, a woman who feels so strongly that logic is sometimes thrust aside, but it's who she is. Her love has protected her and it has hurt her and she wouldn't give it up for the world, unless perhaps it were to protect Bruce -- if there were no other way. ]

I do. [ You will love him as well, she says, and Betty smiles slightly -- softly, sadly. She thinks she already might, remembers trying to prove herself in her own way because she could never be the son and the soldier her father wanted. ] I don't think it will take long.

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