Fowler sat at a console in Mackenzie’s sickbay, her eyes staring at the reports Longfellow had gathered.  She was waiting for the Mack’s Chief Science Officer.  She wasn’t sure what she was looking at or reading at the moment – the report had a lot of conversation about DNA, alternations to the patient’s DNA, and cellular structure that were beyond unusual – they were unheard of in anything Sadie had studied.  What had happened to the Argovan woman?

T’Penga stepped into the Sick Bay of the USS Olympic. She had the mission of getting some answers on her mind. There seemed to be a lot more questions as of late. “Lieutenant Fowler, it is good to see you. Is there any progress on our great mystery?” T’Penga, of course, referenced the Argovan who had arrived. Answers toward the asylum request still remained and could remain for some time. What could be answered in the immediate was who this person was and what they were doing seeking asylum, to begin with.

Sadie glanced up as the older Vulcan sat down at the console beside her, “The mystery is…well, it’s a mystery.”  She accepted the eyebrow raise from her fellow Chief Science officer and explained, “I’ve been comparing the data she had waiting for us to her actual scans.  The computer didn’t catch it on the first go around, but it started to alarm as it digested the data.”  The original images and data appeared on the screen, showing the extensive biological systems known as Argovan.  “The computer’s programmed not only to scan and examine the data but also extrapolate it…and run scenarios on how it functions, life spans, all that kind of…stuff.”  She shrugged at using the word ‘stuff’ and pushed forward, “The computer took the data she had ready for us…and went with it.”  With another tap of the console and the parts of the model of the Argovan body started to flash yellow…and then red…and then the entire body model went full yellow…and then red as the console alarmed in rapid succession.

“Based on what I see here this person should not live beyond thirty years. Even then the last twenty years of her life would be extreme poor health. I would say simply put this is not an Argovan and could be a clone.” T’Penga was not entirely sure what she looked at, at least not yet. However, now that there was more information she would seek to solve the mystery.

Fowler shook her head, “You’re right on the latinum, Lieutenant.”  She switched the screen to the ongoing scan and exam of the Argovan woman.  “That is not an Argovan body.”

“Then what are we looking at? A clone? An augment? Are there any clues that can lead us in one direction or the other.” T’Penga began to run the data through some of her own algorithms in the hopes that it may turn up some answers.

The Olympic’s science chief pointed out the markers slowly appearing as the multiple levels of scans were completed.  “This woman has been genetically modified.” She lamented, “It’ll take time to complete the full scans and get the data interpreted, but what I can see between the data she gave us, what we’re seeing, and what Doc Longfellow is noting in his ongoing reports…this wasn’t a surface level modification or change.  This reads like a complete rewrite of her genetic and biologic code.  You see here, and here?”

T’Penga nodded in agreement. “Quite so, quite so. This was done with meticulous precision. Every marker, every organ everything is precisely correct. Someone took care and time to get this done. No one was ever meant to notice a difference. At least not until it was too late. The big questions now are who did this and why. The Argovans have not attempted to make contact with the Federation in decades and now this. It may be possible that someone is attempting to force the meeting.”

Sadie sighed, “I don’t know who did this or why…but this stuff is heavily outlawed in the Federation and in most other governments.”

“Like I said, no one was ever supposed to discover this. I am going to recommend to the Captain that we wake her up. The only one who can give us any answers now is her.” T’Penga glanced at the person on the biobed and raised an eyebrow. She also wondered what it would take for someone to allow this sort of procedure to happen to them.

“Let’s check with Longfellow.” Fowler tapped at the console, “Doc, what are the chances we can wake her up?” She turned towards the containment room glass, and Longfellow looked up as the channel opened with her voice.

He shook his head, his voice filtering through her console, “We wake her up; we’re going to do more damage than she’s already had done…or done to herself.  You’re looking at the same scans I am…whatever she did to put herself in this state…it needs to finish.”  He tapped at his console, and the screen in front of the two science chiefs changed, “I’ve been doing my scans and bloodwork – her condition isn’t due to her injuries as bad as they were.  I went back and checked again – she put herself in a coma.”  He changed the screen again, “But this isn’t like most comas I see.  This one is curious in that it’s slowly restoring brain activity and body autonomy.”

T’Penga nodded sagely. “Indeed Doctor I have encounter a number of races that had the ability to heal themselves through thought or meditation.” She said by way of response to the Doc’s voice. She then turned to Fowler. “If the Doctor is correct then we wait. Simply put there is nothing more we can do or learn until she is able to be awoken.”

It was Sadie’s turn to shake her head, “This mystery just keeps getting more mysterious.  Who puts themselves in a coma?”

“Someone who needs to heal. The brain is a very interesting organ, with very unique properties. Humans have even been able at times to put themselves in a self induced coma to restore function to other parts of the body.” T’Penga’s voice had that usual cadence that Vulcans got when they taught a subject. This was something she recognized in herself, and so she made sure to rein herself in.

Sadie felt a quiet thrill as the two science officers dug into a fascinating topic.  She had a department to work with, but a wise and older Vulcan science officer offered unique insight, which she valued.  She moved to speak, but the voice of the Mackenzie’s captain interrupted them over the internal communications, “Walton to Sickbay – we’ve received word from the Argovan government – they’re requesting the return of their citizen immediately.  They’ve dispatched a ship – they’ll arrive in two days.”

Fowler wasn’t sure what to say but asked, “Did they provide any information about why she left?”

“We asked.  Several times.  Started diplomatically.  Then we tried to ask it plainly.  Then…well, I may have used some more…forceful words.  They were unwilling to answer our questions no matter how I asked.  They only said, ‘She is ours, and you will return her to us.’  We’ve contacted Diplomatic Services, but we’re on a waiting list with Frontier Day events.  I’m reading your reports in progress along with Doc’s investigation details.  We have her written and generic request for asylum, so that’ll give us some cover…but we need to hear it from her.  You have 48 hours before things get…interesting.  Walton out.”

The two science officers stared at the console and then at each other.  When Wren Walton used ‘interesting’ to describe how things could get, she was telling them they needed answers soon.

Very soon.