Inception

Chapter 69: Lore Chunk

Cromwell and Yoji gave mirroring nods to urge her on.

"So, this energy is what drives the attraction and replication of DNA. It's what attracts neutrons to protons and what decides how many electrons settle on each energy level on an atom. I also have a running theory that it plays a part in the conversion of energy into matter and vice versa, but I that's for another time. When exposed to an overabundance of this type of energy, cells multiply rapidly. Other types of energy are produced, such as heat, as we see in the case of Kaiju No. 10 when it transformed. I'm working on getting permission to investigate the third division training grounds for an energy root—as you know I'm coming to call them—because I'm pretty certain there's one there. Maybe even a sizable one. It could be why Kaiju No. 9 was attracted to third division in the first place."

"You're going all over the place," said Yoji. "Theory."

"Right, right, sorry." Lena rubbed the sides of her head with her fingertips. "So, when exposed to this much energy, organisms experience hypergrowth to the point of breaking the codons that decide which genes turn on and which shouldn't, which is why we get insane amounts of mutation rather than just really big fish or wolves. This breaking of the codon, along with the out of control growth, destroys many safeguards and severely decreases the organisms lifespan, as well as impact other functions such as brain activity, since neural connections aren't formed via cell division. Time forms neural connections, and the speed of the growth doesn't allow for that."

"So, it's not that their brains aren't capable of intelligence," said Yoji, rapt with interest.

"It's that they don't live long enough," said Lena, smiling. "Babies in adult bodies."

"Don't say that, you're gonna make me feel bad," said Soshiro from the door.

"You're not involved in this conversation," said Lena flippantly.

"What else am I going to do while 'monitoring' you?"

"I don't know, push ups?"

"This clothes are dry clean only..." she could hear the suggestion in his voice, leading her to suggest what he wanted.

But she wasn't stupid and just turned her attention back to her mini-lecture. "Which means No. 9 and 10 were outliers. They'd both need the genetic structure for a brain with intelligence and the time to build those neural connections. And I have two clues as to how they achieved that." Lena put up her fingers. "One, the numbered weapons and my dad's Russian combat suit, and two, No. 9's ability to disguise itself as human. I just received a report that there's evidence that No. 9 has assimilated humans into itself via missing person reports and photographs of human forms it has taken. By incorporating more stable flesh into itself, No. 9 might have been able to extend its life period, though there isn't exactly any biological function outside of the womb capable of absorbing other genetic tissue without destroying it. Unless it's somehow in a perpetual state of hypergrowth and development like in the womb, which Kaijus are naturally prone to due to their saturation of this unknown energy—but that would make all kaijus able to assimilate others, and maybe they did. Maybe it isn't the codons that are broken but just multiple organisms being smashed together. And, like I said before, differing ion levels—"

"Wait, wait," Yoji had a hand raised, other scribbling madly. "You lost me. We haven't even completed the ion tests."

"Not to your satisfaction we haven't."

"Tests must be completed for answers."

"Yes yes, so I guess that's first on the list. Did we get my sensor from the old lab?"

Cromwell nodded, while Yoji said, "They brought it here a while back."

They scribbled down several ideas of ways to test her other theories, along with the names of those more expert in the matter of fetal development, stem cells, and genetic mutations. They'd all dabbled in it, of course, but nothing could match an expert's opinion.

At one point Soshiro left, only to return with lunch, which he dropped on Lena's head without her so much as twitching. She was that hyperfocused on growing the carpet of notes surrounding the three scientists like a nest.

When she continued to not notice him or the food on her head, he rolled his eyes, then leaned over her shoulder to kiss her loudly on the cheek, like a child.

"Wha—Soshiro!"

"Nerd down. Food time."

"Did you—why my head?"

"Anyone besides you would have noticed." He jerked his chin over his shoulder as he looked at the other scientists. "I ain't dating you two. Go get your own lunch."

Neither Cromwell or Yoji made any protest. They simply got up, stretched a bit, and made their way out.

Lena didn't miss the boyish grin on Cromwell's face though. Honestly, men never grew up.

Soshiro had taken the take out box off her head just to push it against her face.

"Monja."

"Alright! Jee," she swiped the take out. "You're worse than Leno."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

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One of my family members got really mad at something I said that I'm pretty sure most people would just say 'I disagree with your opinion, but whatever.' And I mean SPITTING mad. She was going on about how I was the most horrible person ever and something was intrinsically wrong with me, etc etc (baring the fact she hasn't talked to me for, like, ten years, despite my efforts). 

I was doing really good at just not saying anything, but then when she was going on asking why I'm so evil, I broke and said, "Oh yeah, I'm a t-rex on your feelings. I stated my opinion and now you'll be traumatized forever. Make sure you talk about me to your therapist. Rawr."

Seriously.