Downtime Week 2 - Beast's Lab

[Sara Stanton]

After missing the chance to talk to Doctor McCoy after one of her classes she decides to just catch him in his lab. Knocking on the door first she steps inside and looks around for the blue-furred scientist.

[Hank McCoy]

"Come in, the door is unlocked!" comes the friendly voice. McCoy's lab-coated form is sitting at a computer terminal as he scans through some recent data.

[Sara Stanton]

"Hello Doctor McCoy. Professor Bowen said I should talk to you about helping out with his condition. I figured after he helped me and Will out it's the least I can do..."

[Stan Bowen]

Speak of the devil.

Stan and Amanda enter the lab, preparing for the day's excitement. Stan was wearing a protective mask and and gloves, more for the other people in the lab's safety then his own.

[Will Stanton]

Will walked in, too.

"Anyone order a golem?"

[Stan Bowen]

"Thanks for coming, Will, Sara."

Stan smiles, which is hidden mostly by his mask.

[Hank McCoy]

"Another brain to help with the process would certainly be welcome, in addition to an extra set of hands. Dr. Bowen, it is good to see you again. How are you faring?"

[Sara Stanton]

"I don't know if my brain will be of any help next to the two of you, but I'll do my best." she smiles at the three people arriving right after her.

[Stan Bowen]

"Another brain to help with the process would certainly be welcome, in addition to an extra set of hands. Dr. Bowen, it is good to see you again. How are you faring?"

"Not so good, Henry. But hopefully, we'll rectify that very soon."

Stan started to get ready, heading to a console and opening his notes.

[Will Stanton]

Will looked on, intently.

[Hank McCoy]

"Time heals all wounds, but virally-delivered genetic recombination techniques can also be of assistance. I have gone back to our old records of your genetic structure and done an assessment of the breadth and depth of changes that were rendered. It should be reversible, but the process will not be present." McCoy brings up a composite display of Bowen's DNA from both pre- and post-change samples.

"Our first target will be your bone marrow. Reverting that will start a cascade effect through your circulatory and lymphatic systems. We will likely have to follow that up with additional treatments for your major organs but if we do not deal with the production of fresh blood cells first, your immune system will be fighting the process every step of the way. As is stands, we will need to largely suppress your immune response and keep you in a sterile environment to prevent other complications. I have tailored a viral package to install your old DNA, feel free to check my information."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan nodded, comparing his notes with Beast's. They had come to very similar conclusions.

"I haven't had access to my mutant abilities since I was rescued.. But with any amount of luck, I should be able to trigger them, helping to speed up the process.."

He grunted, closing his notes.

"It's not going to be pleasant, either way.." He then smirked. "And what's yet one more isolated environment?"

[Hank McCoy]

"Indeed. Hopefully it is better than the alternative," Hank grimaces, "This will be quite painful. If you need a few moments before we proceed, I understand."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan nodded, giving a look of reassurance to Amanda before taking a few deep breaths and turning back to Will and Sara and Beast.

"Let's begin."

[Hank McCoy]

Beast nods and brings Stan over to a treatment table. There is a body-shaped indentation for him to lie in, and the material conforms to his shape to cushion comfortably. A lid with a matching indentation is lowered to cocoon him entirely. Stan can strain against the firm embrace but without much leverage even his impressive strength should not be able to break him free.

"All right. The injections will be starting momentarily." The lid of the table is studded with thin tubes lining up with Stan's major bones. McCoy lifts the first delivery needle, a wicked-looking affair, and begins to slide it down a tube corresponding to a femur. "Ms Evans, if you would be so kind as to keep an eye on Dr. Bowens' heart rate and respiratory signs I would be most appreciative."

Stan feels the first prick of the needle, then a stabbing pain as it slides through muscle, then reaches. McCoy's expert navigation avoids damaging any major blood vessels, but it is certainly not a pleasant experience. An even finer tip extends from the needle to pierce the bone and deliver the first set of viral treatments.

[Sara Stanton]

Sara nods, eager to have an excuse not to watch the very unpleasent-seeming procedure and focuses on the monitor displaying Stan's vitals.

[Amanda Weinrich]

Amanda stood silently watching the treatment, wishing that it were possible for her to be holding Stan's hand, praying that the treatment would work, and he'd be restored.

[Will Stanton]

Will looked on, too, cringing as the needle went in.

[Stan Bowen]

The double sensations of immobility and excruciating pain strike Stan as very diametrically opposed, even as the first needle reaches it's target. Thankfully, the padding blocks out most of the shouting and cringing, but being unable to brace for the pain does not really mitigate any of it.

And so it goes, for the first few needles. Will would notice a very elevated (but not dangerous) heart rate, and Stan's breathing remains steady.

[Hank McCoy]

"You're doing well. Hopefully we can get through the bulk of the injections today." Beast finishes up with the major bones in the right leg and moves on to the left. The pain begins to take it's toll but Stan seems to be persevering, so he starts in on the humerous, radius, and ulna bones as well.

[Stan Bowen]

The pain is slowly ratcheting up, not giving Stan a chance to compartmentalize the pain. Under the cocoon, tears form in his eyes as he keeps them tightly closed, and his muscles start tightening, trying to shift ever so slightly to lessen the pain.

Will would notice Stan's heart rate rising, and his breath coming in quicker, shallower intakes.

If anyone was watching the seams along the apparatus, a flash of red light would be seen to quickly flare and dissipate.

[Will Stanton]

"Dr. McCoy, I'm not sure how much more he can take..."

[Hank McCoy]

"Indeed. I just need to finish this last injection.. there." He withdraws the most recent of the needles and checks Stan's vitals. As soon as he is confident it is safe, he releases the locks on the treatment cocoon and lifts the lid out of the way.

[Amanda Weinrich]

"Is he ok?" Amanda asked, trying not to sound like she was scared to death for Stan.

[Stan Bowen]

"I'm.. Okay.."

Stan turned to Amanda, his face showing much strain but glad he could finally move. He smiled- weakly, but he smiled.

His fangs and claws were still visible, but noticeably reduced.

Gingerly, he sat up, moving towrds the floor.

[Will Stanton]

"How do you feel, Professor Bowen? Other than that a truck ran over you..."

[Stan Bowen]

"I feel.. Like I need a tylenol. A really big, huge, enormous tylenol."

Stan stood up, reaching for the side of the table to steady himself.

"Woah.." He said, almost falling.

[Amanda Weinrich]

"Whoa, take it easy." Amanda said, hurrying over to support him "I'm right here, honey."

[Stan Bowen]

"Hmm. Maybe I should sit a moment.."

Stan turned towards a chair, but before he took more then two steps, his powers flared up in a bright red corona before dimming out again.

"Ugh. That felt.. different.."

[Will Stanton]

Will moved over to help Amanda support Stan. "Here, Dr. Bowen, let's get you seated..."

[Amanda Weinrich]

"How do you feel?" Amanda asked, looking with some concern at his claws.

[Stan Bowen]

"I feel a little better.."

Stan took a seat, gingerly bringing his hands up so he could see them.

The claws continued to recede, until eventually they returned to the normal length and size or regular fingernails.

His canines also receded, eventually stopping just larger then normal. They were certainly shorter then Dr. McCoy's own teeth, but were still noticeable when he smiled.

"Well, I'm in the ballpark, at least. It looks like there may be some side effects.."

He brought his arm up and triggered his power anfter concentrating, his arm shifting to a form of red energy.

"My wavelength has shifted, it seems.."

[Amanda Weinrich]

"Maybe it'll switch back after awhile." Amanda said, smiling "Any desire for blood?"

[Stan Bowen]

"No desire for blood."

Smiling, he kissed Amanda.

"I'll need to run some tests to see if the change in permanent, but right now, I just want to go home, and sleep."

[Amanda Weinrich]

"That sounds like a excellent idea." Amanda said, offering a hand to help him up.

[Stan Bowen]

Stan gladly took the hand, easing himself up and out of the chair.