Ell Donsaii 13: DNA Read Online Free Page B

a wink, “but not since then. What’s up?”
    “I’ve got some news. I’ll give her a call.”
    “Hey! I like news too,” Roger said, trying to look hurt, but not carrying it off very well.
    Ell grinned at him as she turned to walk away, “Well then, find her, give me a call, and I’ll talk to both of you.”
     
    When Roger and Emma showed up in her office a little while later, Ell said, “Please close the door.”
    They looked at one another with a little surprise. Ell almost always kept her door open, but after that moment of disbelief Roger closed it.
    Ell gestured at the big screen on her side wall, saying, “Allan, please put up some video from BC4.”
    The video opened as the rocket descended beside the huge herbivore it’d filmed when it landed. Emma squeaked in excitement, “Another living world?!” Then, when the video showed one of the enormous flyers sailing overhead, she turned accusing eyes on Ell, “That rocket’s been there for quite a while if you have all this video! How come you didn’t tell me?”
    Ell shrugged a little uncomfortably, “I decided that I didn’t want people to find out about new living worlds until I was pretty sure they didn’t have inimical intelligent life.”
    Emma looked hurt, “Not even me?”
    Now Ell felt even more uncomfortable. “You know what they say, ‘A secret’s not a secret if two people know it.’”
    Emma looked a little stubborn, “You told me about the sigmas.”
    Ell said, “Not right away, besides, you kind of figured it out and forced my hand.” She tilted her head, “Besides, since then I’ve gone to prison trying to keep these kinds of secrets!”
    Emma looked abashed. She glanced back at the screen, then said, “BC4, is that the fourth planet of Beta Canum Venaticorum?”
    Ell nodded, feeling even guiltier because she was only telling Emma about Beta Canum when she’d just learned that there was an oxygen bearing planet around 61 Virginis.
    Roger said, “I assume from the fact you’re telling us about BC4 that you’re sure it doesn’t have any species with high level intelligence?”
    “Pretty sure, but I was hoping you guys would have a look around too before we brought the whole team in on it. I know you’re busy with Quantum Biomed, but you’re the only ones I really trust with something this touchy.”
    Emma grinned at Ell, “Well, I’m eager to have a look.” She glanced slyly at Roger, “Roger here, he’s probably too excited about the new blood oxygenator.”
    “Am not,” Roger said, giving Emma his best offended look, “I’ll be happy to give BC4 the once-over, and I won’t feel the need to make any disparaging comments about my wife before I do it.”
    “Now, now you two,” Ell said with a little laugh, “play nice. You’re starting to make me feel like a babysitter.”
     
    ***
     
    Zage’s AI, Osprey, spoke in his ear. “You have a call from Vanessa Jenkins.”
    “From Dr. Turner’s lab?!” Zage said excitedly, “Put her on… Hi Vanessa.”
    “Hi Zage, I’m calling you because Dr. Turner and I are writing up our first paper about using ports to sample the microbiota in the intestine. Since it was your idea, we think we should list you as a co-author. Would you like to be on it?”
    “Really?!”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “But I really didn’t do anything. Just made a suggestion.”
    “Sometimes the idea is the most important part of the paper.”
    “Sure I’d be proud to have my name on it. When are you going to start writing?”
    Vanessa suddenly felt guilty that they’d completely written a paper and it would be obvious that asking about putting his name on was an afterthought. “Um, we’ve… mostly written it already.”
    “Great! Send it to my AI so I can look at it. I’m sure I’d love to have my name on it.”
    Now Vanessa guiltily wondered whether Zage knew that all co-authors were supposed to read and approve of a paper before it went in. Turner had only this morning finally agreed