Aboard The Argo
Meat Lab
Here, labs have been placed specifically to grow sources of meat from organic base cells. Not only is meat created here, but it is kept under a watchful eye by crew members, robots, it is stored in chilled and safe conditions, and later processed into meals. A clear corridor runs through the lab, allowing quick access between the elevator and the Science Center.
Honestly this was the room that interested
Nytera the most. The rows of meat fascinated her and she wondered, not for the first time, if she couldn't get something alive to grow. She wandered slowly through the room, making plans in her head as to what she would do first chance she got to get off the ship.
Priyaan looked up from working on a new meat culture to spot Nytera. "Hi there," she called out. "There anything I can help you with?"
"No, I'm just looking..."
Nytera answered with a small smile. She tilted her head and curiosity finally took over as she asked a question that had been burning in her head. "Can you make something alive with this stuff?"
Priyaan considered the question for a moment as she observed the meat she was working on through magnifying goggles. "I suppose it's technically possible - it might not come out as you expected, as we'd have to write the DNA and everything from scratch." She looked up at Nytera again and smiled at her. "Why? Want to see if we can make something?"
"Sure!"
Nytera answered calmly, she was trying to play it cool but the idea definitely excited her and she couldn't stop the large smile spreading on her face. She moved a few steps closer to study what Priyaan was already working on. "How would you do it?"
Priyaan noticed Nytera's curiosity and pointed at the rather unappetising specimen in the dish she was working on. "Well, with this kind of stuff we've taken the base cells that make up bovine muscle tissue and encourage it to duplicate." She pushed the dish aside and pulled a tablet to her from the center of the table, and started sketching out biological diagrams. "To create a creature, we'd need the building blocks of that - basically what you'd find inside a fertilised egg." She looked up at Nytera. "We don't have any of those, but we can make them using some of the materials we already have. We can even pick and choose chromosomes to basically set out the creature's gene structure." She pushed the tablet away. "In theory. What we might end up with might be a screaming pile of goo."
Nytera suddenly giggled at the idea of a screaming gooey blob. That was definitely something that could come in useful. "That would be fine with me! I want to see if we can do it!" She said eagerly, while her mind was already plotting to stick it under her uncle's pillow.
"Give me a second to clean up here,"
Priyaan as she started taking dishes of goop and placing them in cases on the walls which helped develop the meat cells. When the table was clear, she motioned for Nytera to follow her to one corner of the lab where a heavily built machine stood. "So, what are we going to create?" She steepled her fingers and gave a jokey evil grin.
"Something loud! That can change shape!"
Nytera listed eagerly. "Oh and with teeth!" She added. She wasn't quite sure what but really anything small enough to sneak into her uncle's sleep compartment that could deliver a nice nip or be loud enough to scare the crap out of him was just perfect for her. Or maybe it could be something totally new... Suddenly she was wondering what type of cells she had access to, "What animal species cells do you have?"
Priyaan shrugged. "We have the basics for growing mammal or poultry meat or fish." She flipped through some data on the machine's screen. "I've never worked with anything else, so I've no idea what differences would exist from the starting blocks." She eyed a couple of pages of information before trying to find the area of the machine's system she was looking for. "We could try something simple to begin with and then mess around with the genetic structure... like a cat or something."
Nytera nodded in agreement but secretly she was far from being on the same page. She'd been pursuing her career for a reason; she loved the idea of creating a completely new species and not she'd been presented the perfect opportunity. A brief thought flashed through her mind, maybe she could modify herself with the cells? Hmmm... she stored the idea away for later consideration.
"Ooookay,"
Priyaan said as she brought up some items on the screen. "We've got a basic set up for a mammal. Next we need some more specifying genetic information, to set up our genus..." She started flicking through directories of genetic information.
"Something kinda cat-like?"
Nytera wasn't sure if they would have that DNA base, considering they were supposed to grow meat. "Or deer." She added as a last minute idea. That was a food animal she wouldn't mind tampering with. She was already making plans... Maybe she could mod herself... She'd be a hero if she figured out how to actually mod her DNA instead of just her physical body.
Priyaan started selecting genetic codes and adding them to a list. "Okay, feline genus. Hairy or bald? Or scaley?" she asked with a wicked grin.
"Scaly, definitely scaly."
Nytera answered excitedly. She was happy about this new development and it showed. "How long would it take?"
"No idea,"
Priyaan said as she started adding in genetic coding to the base creature. "What colour do you want? And what about other aspects of this pet?"
"Hmmm... Black and green scales, with some feathers..."
Nytera paused thoughtfully, "It could be like a little mini dragon! Except without the fire breath and wings."
Priyaan started looking through the biological profiling lists and pulled up the relevant gene lines. "Okay. I'll throw in a few pros as well; slow metabolism, anti-allergy, no seasonal cycle..." She tapped in a few commands. "Okay. I think it's ready." She looked up at Nytera with an excited glint in her eyes. "One brand new lifeform coming up! The system says that making the foetus itself is going to take a few hours."
Marcus made his way through the hallway, not noticing Nytera. He continued on his way, carrying the questionable tomato in its case to
Argo: Science Center.
Pace waved briefly at Nytera and Priyaan as he went to
Argo: Science Center.
A short time later,
Marcus came out of the science center and headed for the elevators, waiting for Pace to join him.
Pace headed to the elevators himself.
Marcus pressed the button that sent both him and Pace up to
Argo: Quarters A.
It was obvious how excited
Nytera was at the idea of a small creature. Her eyes were bright as she grinned, "I can't wait!" She said excitedly. When Marcus walked through, however, she fell silent, not calling attention to herself. He'd probably tell her not to do it so she staid silent as the rest of the room traffic dissipated.
Priyaan turned her chair round and faced Nytera. "I see you're modded," she said pointing at the other young woman's arm. "What's it do?"
"It's not finished."
Nytera answered but she couldn't help the slow smile as she lifted up her arm and watched as the gleaming metal suddenly shifted into the more weapon-like arm. "Really the only thing it does is really sharp and really strong. I got put on this ship before I finished my mods."
Priyaan's eyes widened at the sight of Nytera's arm changing into its more aggressive form. "Woah..." Her face split into a grin. "That is so awesome! Ever cut anything up with it?" She couldn't help but let her excitement out.
"Like a knife?"
Nytera asked then shook her head, "I've accidentally cut through doors and stuff when I first got it but I haven't tested it.
"That... is... awesome,"
Priyaan breathed out. She could picture in her head Nytera slicing through a steel bulkhead to get at her foes on the other side. "We should definitely get you something to practice on. Maybe in the garage," she pondered.
Alec's voice was amplified through the ship's intercom: "The unknown vessel we were heading for is within camera range. Please report to the cockpit if you wish to see it. Alec out."
"Want to see the freaky alien ship we've been waiting to meet?"
Priyaan asked Nytera with a grin. "I'm sure the steaks in progress will be fine if I leave them for a few minutes."
"Hell yea!"
Nytera exclaimed excitedly and made her way to the door, "By the way, I think that'd be fun. I've been dying to test my arm out on something!" She said in response to her earlier question.
"We'll get on that after,"
Priyaan said as she went to the elevator. She waited for Nytera to jump in with her.
Nytera nodded eagerly and followed the other woman into the elevators. "I wonder what could be out here!" She wondered excitedly.
Priyaan grinned, her excitement mirroring Nytera's as she hit the button that would send them up to
Argo: Quarters B.
Nytera skipped into the room and whirled around to grin at Priyaan, "Please tell me you aren't going to follow the captain's orders." She said eagerly, momentarily getting carried away.
Jumping down to skip the last few rungs of the ladder,
Priyaan coyly shrugged before opening a panel on the floor, revealing an emergency use spacesuit. "I'm not doing anything," she said innocently. "I have no idea what happened to one of the labs emergency suits." She grinned and held it up for Nytera to see.
"Oh hell yes."
Nytera grinned excitedly. Finally! Something was going right on this trip. She took the suit from Priyaan and examined it closely, "This is awesome!" She gushed and then suddenly blinked, "Oh shit, I have to get on the ship before anyone else so I can hide!" She said as she started wondering which ship they'd take down in the docking bay and if it'd have a hiding place.
"This suit will keep you good all the way to The Polaris,"
Priyaan said, starting to open up the suit for Nytera. "When they head out, hold onto the outside of their shuttle. Shouldn't be too hard for you."
"Will do."
Nytera answered with a grin and quickly slipped into the suit. "Race you to the ship?" She asked Priyaan with a mischievous grin.
Priyaan smiled, but it was less sincere. "You go on ahead. This'll be easier if it's just you." She suddenly came up with an idea. "Also, I can head back up to the cockpit and keep an eye on the surveillance, maybe run some distraction to avoid you being spotted?"
"Ok."
Nytera agreed as she backed towards the elevator. She was almost scared Priyaan would change her mind or decide it was too dangerous. In reaction she pressed the button and escaped into the elevator without waiting as she went to the
Argo: Docking Bay.
Priyaan watched Nytera go. After she'd replaced the emergency suit hatch in the floor, she went back to the ladder and climbed up to
Argo: Quarters B.
Accessible locations from here:
Argo: Quarters B (accessed via elevator or ladder)
Argo: Quarters A (accessed via elevator)
Argo: Science Center (accessed via doorway)
Argo: Computer Hub (accessed via elevator)
Argo: Entertainment & Mess Room (accessed via elevator)
Argo: Horticultural (accessed via corridor next to elevator)
Argo: Docking Bay (accessed via elevator)
Argo: Garage (accessed via elevator)
* Aboard The Argo * Argo: Start * Argo Characters * Argo Rules* 
Stumble!