Novo Cetus

Chapter 26

     

Moto sat cross-legged on the cement floor of the laboratory's garage, Stanley Pro-Mobile Tool Chest next to him. He busied himself deconstructing a twenty-eight-liter Cole-Parmer Digital Water Bath. Removing the shaker platform proved easy, however extracting the water tank from the casing that housed the temperature controls, timers and alarms turned out to be extremely difficult. Screwdrivers, ratchets and wrenches were no match for the water-proof design.

The impenetrable construction finally surrendered to several whacks from a tire iron.

Moto trotted from laboratory to laboratory collecting different ultrasound machinery. Along the way, he filled his leather apron with interesting bits and pieces. He used a bi-metal hole saw and aquarium sealant to securely attach medical equipment strategically inside the tub. The addition of artfully stacked beakers, ampules, and flasks filled with colored water created a vibrant and textured habitat. As an afterthought, Moto scattered an assortment of colorful paperclips, pen tops and small sponges for Crabbo to use as trimming. He stepped back and reflected on the twelve by six foot artificial tide pool. Pleased with the effect, he left to scavenge a forklift.

He returned piloting a small drum carrier transporting Crabbo and his tub mates in the old habitat to the new glass tide pool. With a shout out to Saint Albert the Great, one of the patron saints of scientists, for an uneventful transfer – he dumped the inhabitants into the water bath. As expected, the mutated claw slashed out toward the drum carrier, violently gnashing at the air. A putrid odor, released when the crab was distressed, bloomed from the container. Moto shifted the drum carrier to reverse and it beeped its telltale warning. In the rear-view mirror, he caught sight of James' lanky figure with the other two scientists close behind.

Melinda trotted over to the artificial environment. "It's breathtaking!" Her eyes swept over the colorful habitat. She tugged at Dan and urged him to look at the pool.

"Moto used lab instruments to add conturing to the bottom. See, hermit crabs have already taken up residence on top of one," she said.

Dan observed three hermit crabs, housed in psychedelic shells, lounging on a spectrophotometer.

"How on earth did you accomplish this so quickly?" he asked, surprised at the thoughtful effort.

Moto sat inside the cab of the drum carrier. "You will find I am very succinct and organized," he said and backed the drum carrier out of the laboratory while the others discussed their responsibilities in the upcoming experiment.

Each researcher reviewed his or her role for the test. Dan would start the ultrasound remotely and then monitor the biology in the container, while Melinda narrated and recorded the images delivered to her computer screen. Lack of sufficient data on the mutated crab along with the crab's history of aggression raised safety concerns. Therefore, James was tasked to stand by with a Telescopic Stunning Baton in case things went south. He positioned himself at the ready and waited for Dan to start the ultrasound equipment.

Melinda settled in front of her laptop and said, "Just to confirm worst case scenario – if Crabbo goes bonkers in the tub and starts – I don't know – throwing hermit crabs at James, he will stun him with that police poll, right guys?" She sat far away from the action and felt out of control.

James stood by awkwardly with the stunning baton. Initially, he thought it exciting to be the badass of the experiment, but now he felt asinine standing by the colorful habitat as Crabbo worked to attach a pink sponge to his shell.

"We've poked at it several times and so far there's just the protracting claw and the rotten smell," James reminded her. "However, I'm armed and ready." He jiggled the poll slightly as evidence.