Monday Musings 1.11

Cassie Ruger turned at the sound of the door creaking open. “I thought I asked you to oil that… Oh.”

“Liebchen, I need to run a few more tests on the environment in here. Commander Myzme wishes to observe if that is ok with you?”

Cassie tucked an errant curl behind one ear. She’d fashioned a sling out of a spare blanket and cargo-tie-down straps and now wore little Ginny against her chest. “What kind of tests?”

Ben knew just how to pique her interest. “It seems neither our water nor our air filters were removing all of the lorga. So, even with your extra filtration of Ginny’s water, she should still be suffering from the anemia that is plaguing the rest of us.”

“But you tested the air in here.”

The scientist gave a chagrined shrug while tilting his head to the side. “Except… I didn’t really.”

“BEN!”

“Hey, she was sleeping, and why trouble you two when I can run tests in other locations?”

His lover rolled her eyes. “You know very well that incomplete data prompts incomplete analysis.” She held out one hand, opening and closing her fingers. “Give me the water test kit. You know I can’t reach the air filters.”

“It is permissible that I remain?”

Dr. Ruger refocused her attention on their alien guest. “You may stay. Uh, would you like food, or drink?”

“That is unnecessary, Doctor. Kigvans do not expect consumable tribute when visiting domiciles. It is a uniquely human custom.”

Cassie blinked. “Right. Ok.” She walked to the large container of thrice-filtered potable water, mounted to the wall in the small kitchen area of their shared quarters. “Ben has explained how this test works?”

“He has.”

“I can’t believe the foolish old grump didn’t test our water and air.”

Myzme didn’t respond but Ben’s voice carried from their sleeping area. “This old fool’s ears work perfectly well, woman. I’ve already told you why I didn’t test in here.”

Cassie muttered under her breath.

“This is a mate disjointing?”

The human woman’s head jerked back and her mouth fell open. “A… a what?”

“Apologies, Doctor. This device has been malfunctioning this day.” Myzme flicked the translation device with one blue-enameled claw. In halting English spoken without aide of the translator, the Kigvan asked, “A disagreement between humans that cohabitate in a life-bond? Apologies, I am not making words right.”

“OH! A marital spat! That’s what you’re asking?”

“Yes!” The alien spread her stubby arms wide and started to gesticulate but bumped into the wall. Looking abashed and over-big, she ceased moving. “Apologies. It is exciting to learn the words of your peoples better than this machine.”

Cassie laughed. “Quite alright.” She tapped a few buttons on her handheld mass spectrometer. “I’m also taking this sample to check with the more precise equipment in my medical lab. But for an initial test—”

A warning beep interrupted her.

“Ah. How odd. This filter is supposed to remove all known mineral contaminants.  How can… Oh. It doesn’t recognize lorga as a contaminant and the filter isn’t keyed to remove all of it. I suppose the lead content is liberated from the mineral during hydrolysis. But, no, then the free lead would trigger the monitors. Hmm. How is the lead causing anemia if it’s not free? Is it not breaking down? Are our bodies not flushing it properly? Is there some secondary reaction? I need more data…” Seemingly oblivious to the bemused alien standing beside her, Cassie Ruger walked out the front door of the hut.

“Does she always do this? This speaking aloud the problem mechanics?”

“Oh yeah.” Ben Fortunas grinned. A human would have thought his besotted expression oddly out of place for someone his age.  The Kigvan silently noted the facial quirks and body language for later comparison. “It’s so endearing when she sinks her teeth into a thorny problem. Well, as long as I’m not the thorny problem.”

“Humans bite their mates?”

Ben flushed. “Uh, not what I meant. Also, I am not getting into THAT discussion. Come on. Back to the lab. You were right, the air is just as contaminated in here.”

“What is now the point of inquiry?”

“If every human on the planet—except the baby—is being slowly poisoned by both the air and the water, then what is different about the baby?”