Inception

Chapter 3: It's All About Liability

She twisted the tube to cap it and popped it off. Hibino's blood was a healthy, bright red. She put it carefully onto the sample tray and reached for another tube. "Well, you know the theory of how kaiju are a result of high energy spots created by the friction of tectonic plates, right? With energy from the core of the earth?"

Hibino nodded, friendly face suddenly serious.

"Naturally, lots of research has gone into how that energy converts into living tissues, and not just normal living tissues but those with supercharged functions not found anywhere else on Earth." She popped off the second tube, 3/4ths full of blood, and hooked up the third. "That research is how we get the combat suits and weaponry used today, as well as the advanced medical used to assist in tissue trauma recover. But," She popped off the third and reached for the final tube. "What if we're measuring for the wrong thing? What if the energy is in a form we don't have measurement for? Of course, there's been two others who have suggested it, but they could never say where we could even begin to look for this nameless energy form, or how. That's where I come in."

She made sure the last tube was twisted tight before carefully wiggling out the needle in Himino's arm and taping down a cotton ball.

"Nice," he said.

She couldn't tell if he actually understood what she was saying. But his eyes were bright with interest and she could easily imagine him wiggling in place as though he had a tail. Charmed by his simple attention, she pulled off her gloves and leaned back.

"I think we have a start with the sensors we use to measure kaiju fortitude. They're based off blasting electrons at an area and getting a read on how quickly they are bounced back. This either happens because of an excess of electrical energy, which is the case of kaiju, or overwhelming positive charge—"

The door suddenly opened, cutting her off. This was a physical. It was proper procedure to knock first before entering.

"Hello, my darling pet nerd. I thought I heard the dulcet tones of your trademark rant."

And Hoshina wore his trademark smile that always seemed to Lena like a habit more than out of any sincerity.

Hibino dropped from the table, as stiff as a board, hand at the brow. "Vice Captain, sir!"

"At ease. I've only come to drop off some liability waivers."

Lena wanted to point out that they had people to do that job, but then she could guess what the liability waivers were for, and they weren't for your normal 'if I shoot myself I won't sue the Japanese Military for it.'

Hibino looked uncertain as he held out his hands for the vice captain to slap the sizable packet into.

"Don't let her cute looks get to you, Hibino. Nerd girl here is as mad scientist as they get. She's going to be doing all sorts of poking and prodding on you."

"Eh?" Hibino turned watering puppy eyes on her that a huge, brawny 32-year-old man should not be able to make. "Ichigawa, don't tell me—"

"For the love of—I'm not going to hurt you. More than taking blood samples that is and putting you under a kaiju radar."

To her surprise, Hibino stiffened.

"Like, uh, shooting those electron thingies?"

She raised an eyebrow. If he was smart enough to have understood that much than he should've figured a kaiju radar wouldn't hurt. They shoot that all over residential areas all the time. If they didn't have extensive research to prove it was harmless to humans, heck harmless to most things, it wouldn't be used in the first place.

"There's not even a chance it would hurt you. It would be adjusted to a hyper sensitivity that would make them useless to the base."

"That means a fraction of the power," said Hoshina. "Less electricity. Like getting a weird flashlight on you."

Hibino didn't seem at all comforted.

"And, uh, what exactly are you looking for? Tiny kaiju in my body?" he chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck. His forehead had taken on a sheen of sweat.

She frowned, concern. "Do you have a fear of scans? Bad experience?"

"No! No not at all! Sorry, do I seem nervous? I'm not nervous! Though seriously, what are these for?" He was already scanning the first page of the documents. "Combat suit combatibility—yeah, you said something about that."

"Combat suits are made with kaiju tissues. It's biomechanics. The reason one person can have more potential for combat compatibility compared to others is a mixture of several factors, the biggest being DNA. I hope to find a way to change that, but first I need a control group—a baseline, if you will." She smiled at him, hoping it was reassuring. "Since you had a 0% combat force, you'd make a perfect baseline."

Hibino deflated like a balloon.

"O-o-oh. So this is about my combat force."

Hoshina cocked his head, his smile particularly plastic. "What else would it be for?"

Hibino clacked his teeth and leaned back heavily against the exam table. "Oh I dunno. For all I know you thought I was the least useful one of the force so you might as well use me as a guinea pig."

"Well there's that too," said Hoshina.

"WHAT?!"

Any enjoyment Lena had got out of Hibino's company had been sucked out by the mischief of the vice captain. She suddenly felt very, very tired.

"The papers explain everything, so just read it and get it back to me whether you decide yes or no. You'll get rewards for participating, so it isn't like we're taking advantage of you."

"Though we totally are," said Hoshina.

"Captain!" she snapped.

Hibino did another awkward chuckle. "You know, I really don't know which one of you to trust right now."

"Me, because Hoshina a shit stirrer." She snatched up her precious samples and data. "Welcome to the Defense Force, Hibino. It was very nice meeting you."

She left without looking back, already itching to return to the cool and quiet hum of the lab.

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Yeah, I'm rusty after my big move. I'm sure I'll get my fingers greased in a bit. Fanfiction is a good practice for that. Then I'll get going on something more...legit.