Text:

[of_deduction]

{ Open to the Public }

I need the professional opinion of a botanist and chemist well versed in the elements and compounds of this world.
SH

[ Unfortunately his knowledge just doesn't cover it. For the moment. ]


{ Private to John Watson }

Meet me at the university lab.
SH


{ Private to Valdis }

I need to show you something. Can you be at the University lab within the hour?
SH

Comments

text;

[consultantsdoctor]

On my way.

text; -> action

[of_deduction]

[ Sherlock checks his unread text messages and rather than respond just sets the device down on the table and returns his attention to the microscope, watching the slide carefully as he does. ]

[ This certainly changes things. ]

action;

[consultantsdoctor]

[It isn't hard to get to the lab once on University grounds and he enters without much announcement. John glances about before crossing across to stand next to Sherlock. He's aware of what the detective has been asked to do and can only guess that this is part of it.]

What do you need? [He certainly isn't a botanist or chemist.]

action;

[of_deduction]

[ No, but he does like to bounce idea off of John-his input, while rarely accurate, is invaluable to him. ]

It's not a drug John, it's a parasite.

[ He doesn't bother to elaborate on what he's talking about-he'd told John some time ago that he'd be looking into the compounds of the "drug" Dust after a promise and reassurance he would not attempt to take the drug himself. ]

[consultantsdoctor]

[Sherlock doesn't need to go into more. They talked about looking into the drug so long as it didn't involve the detective trying it for himself. It sounds like it's a good thing right about now.]

A parasite? [Ugh, he does not like the sound of that. Definitely reminding of his last experience with a drug.] Any idea where it might have come from? Something local or maybe brought in by one of the other Foreigners.

[He leans over to take a peek into the microscope.]

[of_deduction]

I'm inclined to think it's something local from what I know of this case but there are far too many elements and compounds I don't recognise.

[ When John checks the microscope he'll see clear signs of a DNA like structure. ]

This only an earlier batch-as I had suspected the recipe has changed.

[consultantsdoctor]

[He does recognize what the microscope is showing him, though it's been so long since John's done labwork that he can't tell much beyond that it certainly isn't a regular human's DNA. So he pulls back and goes to peer at what else Sherlock might have.]

Not anything I've seen either. [John crosses his arms over his chest.] I could probably get you a sample of kedan blood to compare it to. One of a native not on Dust and one on it.

[From one of his patients at the shelter.]

[of_deduction]

Mm... [ Sherlock considers the offer carefully. ] Not sure we should be using blood samples like that just yet. For the moment, I'm using fish blood and it seems to respond well enough.

I am, however, just about ready to try it on corpses as soon as I get a green light from Valdis.