Hope and Emma: a First Assignment

[xp_trance]

Emma has an interesting assignment for Hope... her first as White Herald. 

The meeting took place in the Hellfire Club offices in New York. Emma could have had the meeting with Hope at the Mansion or Frost Enterprises, but Hope had seemed a young woman who valued tradition and symbols, at least to a certain point. For her first official task as White Herald, it seemed appropriate to use the White Court offices.

 

Emma wasn't wearing the White Queen's regalia, but the white suit she wore was perfectly cut and perfectly fitted. It's severe lines and the tight blonde bun gave Emma the look of a quite displeased headmistress, ready to inflict punishment for some minor misdemeanor. Her smile at Hope, however, was warm - a Queen dispensing favours. 

 

"Herald," she said formally, inclining her head at Hope, even as the serving courtier left Hope's drink at her elbow and silently withdrew from the room. "I understand that you wish to start participating in the more... serious aspects of being a member of the Inner Court. Not just all of the parties," Emma grinned, a quirk of her eyebrow expressing her opinion of the vapidity of some of those parties. "I have a task for you that should allow us to test your capabilities as Herald. If you have time, of course."

 

 "I did not appeal to become Herald just to attend parties, my queen." Hope replied with a similar level of formality, dressed in a cream sheath dress of her own. "I wish to show what I can do. My time is at your disposal." 

 

"Excellent," replied Emma. "Because I have a trip to Pennsylvania planned for your near future. The University of Pennsylvania to be precise. How much do you know about genetic editing, Hope?"

 

"I am assuming it's a form of genetic engineering, but otherwise I do not know much about it." Hope made a mental note to read herself into at least some of the basics as soon as she could. Other conclusions she could easily draw though. "They are doing research in this at the University of Pennsylvania? In a specific direction that does not suit the HFC?" 

 

"Indeed they are," replied Emma. "The majority of what they do is not of any particular concern, but they have been doing some very interesting work using CRISPR and Cas-9 complexes to modify genes. Which is all very well when they're modifying kidney cells, but not when they are showing some interest in modifying the X-gene. Well," Emma temporized a little, "the grant is not for modifying the X-gene. But what is being researched is close enough that, if the results run a certain way, there could end up being a risk to mutant-kind. Which does not suit the Hellfire Club. At all." She smiled brightly. "So, as White Herald, I would like you to make sure that the results don't run in that certain way."

 

 Hope nodded thoughtfully. "The research you are speaking about... is it still in full progress or is it nearing its end stage? Each would require different measures to be taken."   

 

 “The Professor in charge of the laboratory has assessed some interesting results from some work his grad student is doing,” replied Emma. “He’s asked for a number of new runs to be done, to see if the results can be replicated. Fortunately, before he could undertake the task, his grad student became suddenly rather ill. Ill enough that she won’t be back to the laboratory until early next week, which is about when the really rather unpleasant side effects of the cocktail of drugs Sebastian managed to get some lackey to put into her system wear off. So we have a few days before you need to get to Pennsylvania and make sure those results can’t be replicated.”

 

"So there are basically two tasks that need to be completed. Be certain those results cannot be replicated... And ideally... perhaps putting something into place so that future results can be monitored and influenced long distance if needed?" Hope raised a questioning eyebrow at Emma. "How are the experiments that need to be disrupted set up? Is it purely computer based or is there also a physical component that needs to be sabotaged?" 

 

“There will be an thermocycler full of little tubes whirring away in a quiet laboratory. The fortunate part is that it appears the thermocycler isn’t supervised while it runs its program, which gives you a little more leeway. The less fortunate part is that you won’t be able to open the thermocycler to access the tubes until the program has finished running. Even with all the resources of the Club at your disposal and Doug’s technical wizardry, the safety risks of opening an thermocycler while it’s running are too high. So you will have a very limited time window to be able to get into the laboratory and replace the tubes with ones that will provide more… useful results. Useful for our purposes.” Emma smiled dryly. “And while you’re waiting for the thermocycler to finish running, you might be able to find the time to hack into the relevant computers. Or that may come after. I have been assured by Doug and Julian that you have very capable hands, so I am willing to leave the details to those hands.”

 

"The thermocycler I would be able to handle." Hope replied after walking mentally through the required steps. "Though if I figure out the type, I would prefer to see one beforehand, so I will be able to operate it more efficiently. I am just afraid that hacking is one skill I have not mastered, but if I might be able to upload something so the real work could be done remotely?"  

 

“I can organize a trial run through with the same model thermocycler,” replied Emma. “It is a standard, older model, so there’s quite a few around that you can practice with. In the circumstances, if you’re caught, they’re more likely to believe any cover story if you’re looking competent.” She shrugged, an elegant lift of one shoulder. “I scraped out a hacker’s mind once, for reasons we don’t need to go into – I probably could hack if I needed to, based on what I pulled out. But why would I want to, when I have Doug available? It’s mostly some tracing and surveillance programs that need to go onto the professor’s computer and I am assured that all you need to do is get a USB key into the computer and execute a few commands and we will be able to keep a close eye on what’s happening with the studies. I will make sure that Doug is available, in case anything goes wrong. I will, of course, be keeping a mind’s eye on you, in case any assistance is required.”

 

 "Thank you, my queen. That is most appreciated." Hope folded her hands in her lap as she considered the information that she had been given. "I have two more questions. First, are there any particular security measures you are aware of so far that I need to take in account? Secondly, any particular facts about the scientists I might encounter that a thorough, if 'normal' background check will not reveal?"  

 

 Emma laughed. “Nothing that will cause concern,” she replied. “They’re scientists at a university. The security is standard, the people are so normal it nearly makes my teeth ache.” She leaned forward, tapped the desk in front of her. “These are good people, Hope. Good, kind people, wanting to do the best for the world. Fired by intellectual curiosity and a desire to do good. The only issue the Club has with them is that their definition of “do good” and ours diverge at the point of these results. Which is why a light touch and diplomacy are our best path forward. Preferably you’ll only need the light touch, not the diplomacy. But do be careful,” she added. “Some of the chemicals in those labs are deeply unpleasant. Take appropriate precautions.”

"I will maintain caution with the chemicals, but the rest... that should work in my favor then. They should have no reason to be overly cautious." Hope paused, considering for a moment. "Then I think I have everything I need for the moment. I will start doing some further research when I get home and send you regular updates. Oh, and about the trial run?" 

 

“I’ll email you a location and a time to turn up. There’ll be a rather delightful lady doctor named Samira to meet you and walk you through what you need to know. She’s an excellent teacher and commendably discreet when it comes to Club business. If you decide you need anything, call me.”

 

"I look forward to meeting her then. Thank you for the chance to prove myself, Ms. Frost." Hope replied. 

 

“I trust you, Hope, or I would not have made you my Herald. Don’t prove yourself. Prove that you’re extraordinary. It is the least that I expect.” The warmth of Emma’s lightest telepathic touch on Hope’s mind demonstrated the sincerity of her belief in her Herald’s potential. “And let Samira know that I’ll will be in touch soon. Her assistance requires a… personal reward, I think.”

 

 Happy to feel no blush rising at the innuendo, Hope smiled and nodded. "I will. If there is nothing else, Ms. Frost, I will get to work."   

 

“Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of… well, sneaking around and stealing stuff,” replied Emma. “Call me when you need me.”