Feather Fallacy V

“I’ve come to a decision about the avian specimens, everybody, meet me in the conference room at once please.” He announced over the ship’s intercom. Everyone filed in and sat down to hear the announcement.

“We have all been hard at work trying to determine the precise cause behind this disease and have come up with nothing. We have gathered much in the way of environmental and situational data but I’m at a loss. I am unable to offer an acceptable conclusion as to why these young are thus affected by this affliction, and without being able to establish the causality, a cure is impossible and death is therefore inevitable. This is why I’ve come to the decision to supplement them with vitamins and medicine to make their time left at least somewhat pleasant.” This came as a surprise to the entire team. They were all shocked by the decision but supported Anelius.

After the meeting adjourned Serrano stayed behind and approached Dr. Corvan, his dark red and orange implants glowing profusely. He stood at about 5'6" and was dwarfed by Dr Anelius at 6'8".

“Excuse me sir, might I have a word with you?”

“Of course Serrano, what do you need?” Anelius returned.

“I believe you weren’t being completely truthful during your announcement sir, if you would excuse my accusatory tone.” Serrano said bluntly, a twitch in his jaw being the only thing to betray his anger. The Doctor was impressed at his young assistant’s ability to see through his facade. Turning away for a moment, he thought on what to tell the younger man. He injected one of the feeble birds with a syringe to buy himself a little more time to think.

“You are correct Serrano,” he said at length, turning back to his assistant “I believed it prudent to withhold some information from the team. My true reasoning behind the release of our specimens is much more complicated.”

“I knew it! Tell me now!” Serrano immediately returned, bending in eagerly like a conspirator.

“Once we brought the specimens on board I began examining them post haste. Along the course of usual investigative procedure, I took a DNA sample and made a startling discovery...” Corvan replied, pausing to wonder how much he should tell Serrano. In answer, his assistant bent in more closely, anticipation glittering in his eyes. Recognizing that passion with a smile, the doctor continued.

”The disease was viral. It affected them on a molecular level.” This revelation visibly shook the young medical officer.

“Why wouldn’t you inform anyone of this?” Serrano asked, his eyes wide, casting about for answers. Seeming to realize something, he bust out another query; “Furthermore; why are you then releasing them back into the wild?”

Aurok and Dr. Corvan (Feather Fallacy, image by Lloyd Smith)

“I compiled an algorithm based on their DNA in conjunction with our long range scanners; there are no more members of their species left on the planet. “Corvan replied, his shoulders slumping.

“We were too late Serrano and informing you and the rest of the team of this would only serve to break morale and diminish efficiency.” Dr. Corvan continued, holding up a hand to cut his assistant’s retort off. He felt suddenly weary, exhausted beyond measure.

“How dare you!” Serrano snarled, his fists balling. Corvan noticed the anger emanating out from his assistant, but he did not care. This investigation was a failure, and he knew it would haunt him for the rest of his years.

“We could still experiment and collect data sir!” Serrano continued, seeming to let his anger slip in an instant as he tried to find new avenues to explore. “The specimens being the last of their kind does not mean that our work must stop, does it?”

“This is exactly why I did not wish to inform you and the others. You’re all so bright and so new to this line of work. I wanted to keep that intellectual bravado alive within you all as long as I can. My decision stands. I will administer the supplements to the specimens soon and release them. Our work here was concluded before it ever had a chance to begin.”

Dr. Corvan then turned his back on his assistant once more, and seized a new syringe which he began to fill with an infusion of nutrients. Behind him, he heard Serrano begin to walk away.

“For the sake of our team doctor, I will keep this secret safe; but mark my words sir, I will not be so quick to trust you again.” Serrano said, though his inflection of Corvan’s title no longer held any of the respect it once had.

“I know , I don’t expect you to. I only expect you to move on from this and understand that I did this to protect and maintain the team.” Dr. Corvan said without turning, but the room was already quiet.

“This is it,” Anelius said to himself, thumbing the voice recorder on once more “this is the unknown variable. Life undoubtedly is the most mysterious of all subjects to be studied. Why is it that one race is doomed to extinction whilst another is allowed to live? I could dedicate my entire lifespan attempting to understand this conundrum and all its comprised of. Genetics, politics, technology….these subjects only begin to barely scratch the surface of all the mysteries contained within this universe, and this is taking the assumption that there is but one. Alas, this is the challenge I accepted when I adopted the white coat, and I shall not stop here. I will continue to research and understand this ultimate variable; else I cannot consider myself a true Charian.”

With that, he gently transferred his charges back to their cage and picking it up, carried it to the hangar door. There he opened it, and gently shook it so that the birds hopped onto the ground with a chirp. They looked stronger already thanks to the concoction he had administered to them, but he knew it would not last.

“At least they will not suffer their final hours together” He thought to himself as the hangar door hissed closed and his last thought was of the two tiny birds, their heads cocked as they stared up at his face.

The feeling of defeat from those somber memories brought him abruptly to the present. Clicking his fingers as a thought struck him, Dr. Corvan ran to his intercom to message his assistant.

“Chief medical officer Serrano! Report to me at once. Gather together any and all research data collected from the expedition to planet designation DX-9876. I believe it will be of much use to us in our current investigation...”

by Zachary Mathiot