Donna entered the genetics lab rubbing her palms together. “OK people. I’m here. Let’s get hopping.”
Gary glared at her. “I’ve got a good mind to put you over my knee for making me work on a Sunday!”
Donna sneered at him. “Would you like a little cheese to go with your wine? Richard, I need a clear genome of the HIV1 virus. Gary, I need it linked with my calibration program so I can see what it does over the next fifty years.”
Gary’s eyebrows shot up. He glanced at Richard. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she’s trying to take my job.”
Donna grinned. “If I wanted your job, dear cousin, I could already have it, ‘cause your boss is going to be my father-in-law. So… you’d better watch your stuff.”
“Is it just me, or did she wake up in a good mood today? What did you do to her last night?”
Richard glanced at Donna out of the corner of his eye. “I’ll never tell.”
Gary rolled his eyes. “VICi, link and control Donna Rigden’s laptop. Copy contents to main database and merge with HIC. Confirm.”
VICi; Content of Donna Rigden’s laptop has been copied and merged with main database. Awaiting voiceprint and code authorisation.
“What does that mean?” Donna asked.
“It means everything on your laptop has been copied to the complex mainframe. You can now use anything on your laptop through VICi. Instead of using your keyboard, simply tell VICi what to do. She recognises that this is a private link, so you have to tell her where and how you want the information stored. She will then associate your voice to store information in a particular folder on your area of the mainframe.”
VICi; Awaiting authorisation. Please provide voiceprint and code for Donna Marie Rigden.
Donna cleared her throat. “VICi, this is Donna Marie Rigden. Voiceprint confirm, authorisation code DMRB1B. Make new folder and label it DLPT. Allow general access. Confirm. Did I do that right?”
“You’re getting there,” Gary smirked.
They waited. Nothing appeared to be happening.
VICi; Contents from Donna Rigden’s laptop stored in folder DLPT. General access allowed. Voiceprint and code authorisation accepted and confirmed.
Donna frowned. “Why didn’t she respond instantly like she did with you, and can’t she execute the commands without me repeating them? That gets bothersome, not to mention it takes up time.”
“Sure. VICi, amend main command structure. Donna Rigden, single word confirmation. Voiceprint and code authorisation Gary Browne GB1A, confirm.”
VICi; Command structure amended and confirmed.
“It takes some getting used to, but knowing you, you’ll soon catch on,” Richard commented and took her hand. “Before you start with the HIV1, let me show you how it’s done. Do you remember how I initialised the HIC before, when I showed you our son?”
“I think so….”
“Then you do the honours. Tell VICi to load the human genome, and focus on homo sapiens section.”
“VICi, initialise holographic imaging chamber. Load human genome. Focus on homo sapiens section. Concentrate on single cell nucleus. Notify me when the chamber is ready.”
VICi; Confirmed.
Donna smiled. “That’s much better.”
VICi; Program loaded. Chamber initialised.
“VICi, open chamber door,” Donna ordered without prompting.
“After you, pet.” Richard indicated a red mark on the floor surrounding the display chamber. “Now, when you’re in here, make sure you stand outside the safety circle. That’s as close as you can get.”
“Why? Would the light from the chamber blind you?”
“It would, yes, but as a safety precaution, VICi will not display the 3D image if you’re standing inside the safety circle. If you stand there too long, she would prompt you to move back, or ask you if you wanted to end the program.”
The display cylinder pixelated and started to form a double-helix model.
“Let’s say we wanted to locate and mark all mutation abnormalities. VICi, scan genome for abnormal mutations over the last 10,000 years and highlight mutations in red.”
Specific parts of the model started flashing red, like a light on a smart phone.
“Rest your hands on mine, like we did before.”
Donna placed the palms of her hands over the tops of Richard’s. He started animating their hands and fingers; twisting, turning, zooming in and out until one of the red areas was in focus. “VICi, lock and set to controlled magnification. Display base pairs to wallscreen. Focus Donna Rigden.”
Donna’s eyes lit. She had dreamed of being able to do this, but never expected to in her lifetime. Now here it was right in front of her. Holographic technology interfaced with a voice activated computer. “This is so awesome! Can I zoom in more?”
“I’ve put VICi on controlled magnification. Just press your thumb and index finger together, like this, centre over the image and spread your fingers. It works the same as a smartphone screen. The more times you do this, the more detailed the image.”
The wallscreen in front of them started displaying base pairs. The base pairs containing the mutated anomalies blinked red again. “This is so cool!”
Richard wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her neck. “No, here’s the cool part. VICi, split display, right focus mutations. Now slowly turn around and keep your eyes focused on the wallscreen.”
As Donna moved, the position of the readout on the wallscreen moved with her, even when she looked at the ceiling. It did not move, when Richard did.
“Can I still use the keyboard on my laptop to work?”
“It’s not necessary. VICi has copied everything from your laptop, including the program structure. But, if you wanted to – let’s say – enter information in a private file, you would simply link your laptop with VICi, and then tell her to use keyboard input. Are you impressed?”
“Impressed doesn’t even touch it. OK, I’ve got the hang of it, now.”
“One more thing, before I turn you loose. VICi records vocal macros. If you wanted to repeat the same commands, all you have to do is tell VICi to repeat previous commands, using current image.”
Donna nodded. “VICi, load HIV1 genome and repeat previous commands using current image.”
The model in the display chamber changed, and so did the wallscreen readout. “This is so much fun!”
Richard grinned. “Hmm, I’m not sure this was a good idea.”
“Why?”
“I’m never going to get you out of here.”
“Might not,” she chuckled. “How many times can the wallscreen display be split?”
“As many times as there is room on the wallscreen. VICi can split it up to a single pixel screen, but unless you remember where everything is, it gets complicated to keep up. We usually don’t split it any more than there is room.”
“And, we’re moving into your – our quarters, after the wedding?”
“We could move in now, but I think Grandma might strip a gear if we decided to get married in the chapel here, instead of hers.”
Donna sighed. “Wouldn’t want to upset, dear old Grandma, now would we?” she mumbled.
Richard furrowed his brow. “Pardon?”
“Nothing. I was talking to myself. VICi, display onscreen help tips.”
Richard stepped back and motioned to a small sofa, against the back wall of the chamber. “I’ll just be back there, reading if you need any help.”
Donna nodded and kept feeding VICi commands. Richard took out his cell phone and started reading. If I keep her occupied with this, maybe she won’t concentrate so much, about her music.
Three hours later, Richard’s stomach rumbled, and Donna was still busy working. He looked at his watch. “OK. That’s it. Time to stop. I’m starving.”
“I’ve almost got this, Richard. Why don’t you go get us some lunch? By the time you get back, I should be finished.”
Richard stood. “Sure, OK. What did you want?”
“Does Rita know how to make any of Sam’s recipes?”
Richard tightened his jaw and sighed. “I don’t know. What did you want? I’ll ask her.”
“Lemony crab salad with baby greens.”
Richard lifted her chin and kissed her. “I’ll see what I can do for you. VICi, pause program and open chamber door. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He stepped out of the chamber. “VICi, close chamber door and resume program.”
Gary looked up. “What’s up?”
“I’m hungry. Donna wants to keep working. She says she’s almost finished.”
Gary grinned. “I know. I’ve been monitoring her progress on the wallscreen out here. She’s isolating caspases in a cancer cell and comparing them to those in the HIV1… and she’s right. She’s almost finished.”
“How does she work so fast?”
“Donna reads and manipulates DNA sequences, much in the same way as a mathematician does calculus. She has an uncanny act for figuring out what base pairs do, and how they’re likely to react under certain conditions. That’s why she wanted her calibration program integrated with VICi, so she can track how her genetically altered HIV1 will be affected by evolution.”
“OK, well, keep an eye on her. She hasn’t eaten or drank anything, since breakfast. I’m going for lunch. Are you going to stop, or do you want me to pick you up something, as well?”
“I’ll have whatever you and Donna are having.”
Richard sighed. “I’m having whatever is on offer. Donna wants something Sam makes.”
Gary frowned. “In that case, I’ll have what you’re having.”
Richard laughed and left. Knowing the chances that Rita would know how to prepare Donna’s request were slim; Richard went straight to the source. “Sam!” he called out. “Where are you?”
“Stop shouting. I have patients in here!”
Richard followed him back to his office. Sam started washing his hands. “What did you want, but make it quick. I was on my way to lunch.”
“That’s why I’m here. I need your help. Donna wants something called lemony crab salad with baby greens, and she says it’s one of your recipes. Would you make her some?”
One corner of Sam’s mouth turned up. “Sure. Shall I make enough for you and Gary, as well?”
“No!” Richard responded quickly. “Gary and I are having whatever Rita has prepared. I’m on my way to the cafeteria. Just make enough for Donna. I’ll pick it up when I get back.”
“Is she eating in the genetics lab?”
“Yeah. How long will it take to make the salad?”
“Not long, after I’ve thawed the crab meat. Being down here, unfortunately, I don’t have a live source, so it won’t taste the same.”
“I’ll owe you, Mate,” Richard said and ran on down the corridor to the front entrance of the park. “Besides…” he mused, “…if it comes from you, I doubt Donna would care how it tasted.” He hurried across the park.