TEAM MEETING: Mess Hall - OTA

[captaine_sykes]

Ethan had made it perfectly clear that he expected everyone on camp to show up for this team briefing in the mess hall, no excuses accepted. For once it wasn't even at some stupid hour in the morning, instead it was set to begin after breakfast had finished at 08:35.

Waiting until everyone was seated and the room had fallen silent Ethan stepped up

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[a_soul_awake]

Hope listened with about half an ear to Captain Sykes. She was processing everything he said as he said it she just turned most of her brain power towards other issues. There were more important things than the Captain's latest assessment of the camp, the changes being made and the thanks for saving his life.

But when he got to off camp cards, her brain snapped into overdrive. She sat up just a little straighter as she started to think of the possibilities. She would have twelve hours, more than enough time to get a ring, perhaps even enough time to begin the paperwork and make the necessary arraignments. She would have to talk to Atticus about this, of course, but perhaps there was a way to get married while they still worked for the team.

Talking with Atticus was first though. She couldn't act on anything until then. She sat back in her chair and rearranged her thoughts again. She put off camp cards and marriage to the back of her mind, letting it sit there and stew while she focused back on other things. Once again, the Captain was tuned out.

[captaine_sykes]

Ethan had noted that the Doctor had seemed, not so much distracted as focused on other things. It didn't worry him so much really seeing as the Doctor was always rule abiding and had (apart from that unfortunate incident with the soldier and Richter) been relatively a perfectly well behaved member of the team.

Waiting until the crowd had mostly thinned and he'd answered a couple of questions from the team he moved over to where Hope was sat. Standing beside the chair next to Hope Ethan softly cleared his throat, not wanting to startle her out of her train of thought. "Doctor Chandler, sorry but do you have a moment?"

[a_soul_awake]

Hope focused her attention when Sykes spoke directly to her. She blinked for just a moment as she got her thoughts organized again. "Of course, Captain. What can I do for you?"

[captaine_sykes]

"Thank you." Sitting down in the empty seat next to the Doctor, Ethan had to consider the best way to go about this. "I wanted to ask if you'd be willing to do a study for me, into my genetics and DNA. I know that this isn't exactly a formal environment to be asking such things but I didn't want you to feel pressurised into saying yes. It's not for the military, it's a personal request that has arisen since the incident of my kidnapping."

It was a long shot and Ethan wasn't going to take offence if Hope said no either.

[a_soul_awake]

"Captain, I don't think you quite understand what a genetic study is," she said, frowning slightly. "Why do you think this would help?"

Hope didn't know all the details of his kidnapping nor his rescue, well besides St. John getting shot by Jack, and perhaps that could have something to do with it.

Once she knew what he expected from her, she could correct him if needed and explain how she could possibly help. At face value, however, she just didn't see how helpful it could be.

[captaine_sykes]

"Perhaps genetic isn't the right term but it's to do with the biological processes i believe. When I was taken hostage they administered various drugs to me to keep my mutation in check and me sedated. There are vials of my blood taken from when I arrived back in Med Bay along with various other test results including saliva samples, bone marrow biopsy and a liver biopsy." Ethan would get Dr Hope the files and access to information she'd need if she was interested.

"What I want to know is what it is they gave me and how did it work? The Doctors who took care of me immediately after didn't do further tests on my request because I wanted to offer you the opportunity first. Is it something you think you'd like to consider looking into?" With that kind of information Ethan can look at how to firstly better protect himself and secondly better protect the others.

[a_soul_awake]

She chuckled slightly, sort of amused that he misunderstood genetics so much. Of course, this was not uncommon around the camp but it was still amusing.

"Firstly, what they gave you was probably just a cocktail of sedatives and paralytics. You don't have the ability to heal quickly meaning your body reacts the same to sedation as any other. Your mutation has more to do with the physical than the chemical," she explained. She would look at the samples, if he insisted, but she was pretty certain that was the case.

"Also, there's no reason to take that many samples, especially invasive ones like bone narrow and liver." She should probably talk to the other doctors about this. "A blood sample, a hair sample and a cheek swab would give me more than enough to test for drugs and do a genetic test, which I don't think will help you if this is what you want to know."

[captaine_sykes]

Ethan wasn't read up on the likes of biology and genetics, he'd excelled at school in the science subjects but never had an interest in taking them further. His focus had been on joining the military and so genetics, despite his mutation, came pretty low on the order of importance to him.

"Oh I knew I didn't have the ability to heal, that's already been tested previously, but I was unaware that my mutation wouldn't give me an edge of sedatives like that." It was something that Ethan had never really looked into, he'd never needed medical treatment like the others because his durable skin protected him. Merely IV drips and rest suited him just fine when he'd over done it.

"The samples were part of the military procedure for mutants. They like to keep an up-to-date record but if you've better ways of gaining key information then please inform them. Anything to better our practices as a whole."

"Are there tests you can run to look at the reactions that others might have to chemicals or would you be willing to look at my biological reaction to these types of things. I understand if you feel it is pretty cut and dry in response, it's just I know little about this area and it's useful to know more for future reference. Better safe than sorry, I'm sure you understand."

[a_soul_awake]

She tried not to get annoyed with him and his ignorance, she should've explained things better the first time, but it was difficult. Why on earth people thought mutants were so radically different she'd never understand.

"I don't know why you seem to think being a mutant means something different than being human but you're wrong about that. Unless a mutant has a specific mutation such as healing, they will react to sedatives, paralytics and other chemicals just the same as any normal human."

"If you wish to know more about genetics I can recommend some books for you to read as well as some medical journals."

[captaine_sykes]

Not everyone was as well versed in mutations as Hope, that was why they had accepted her into the camp and allowed Emma to give her this medical research facility. Therefore it was general expected that she would enlighten them with their misunderstandings about mutant genetics.

"I'm sorry that it seems you misunderstood me Doctor, I know all to well that mutants aren't all that different to humans but there is an element to us that makes us incredibly different. Unique even, if you will. I'll be franks and say that I don't know many humans who can stop a man dead with a single touch. Do you?" That's right, Ethan can pick up on the tone of voice or the way in which Hope's words imply he knows nothing. He doesn't, that's why he is asking her in an open and somewhat friendly many but he'll retract the offer if she feels there is nothing of interest. "Well then, I shan't worry about it and I will leave it to the other Doctors should they wish to do anything with the samples. I just assumed you might be interested, my apologies."

He stands, adjusting his shirt and jacket whilst glancing at the clock. He has meetings to attend shortly and furhter training and paperwork to complete along with a briefing with Emma.

"I'll leave the area of genetics and its specialisms to you Doctor and focus on my own areas of strength, but please feel free to email me the list and I shall endeavour to read them when I have the time amongst my other duties."

[a_soul_awake]

"We are, at the most, .2% genetically different than the average human. As remarkable as the X-gene is, we are still human and that's what you should consider first." In fact, that is how Hope thought of all mutants first.

"I'm certain if you want a drug screening, they can handle it without my help." Of course, she would get a sample for herself and the study she was doing on the military's behalf but if he wanted to know about that he could find the information himself.