"T-Reading on the 423 sample is negative 0.42"
"Check"
"T-Reading on the 427 sample is negative 0.56"
"Check"
I read out scientific readings as my assistant Joanna entered the data into the computer at the side of the lab.
It was a Sunday for God's sake. All the other labs were vacant, their researchers taking their much-deserved 2-day break. Me? Because my lab assistant, Joanna had messed up the samples, we had tons of experimental data that we couldn't use. Hence explaining why we were likely the only two people in the entire building on our supposed rest day, redoing most of the experiments.
"What about the T-reading for the 426?"
"We did that...like 3 days ago. One of the few samples you didn't switch."
Joanna turned her swivel chair to glare at me before sticking out her tongue to spite me. At first glance, it may seem like we hate each other but it's more of a friendly banter that we have going on. First, a little introduction about ourselves.
We first met in university and though we "officially" dated for about a year and a half, it was more of an on-off thing that only happened during the brief respites from our schedules. It was also something that manifested from the peer pressure of our friends hooking up. After both of us graduated from university, she quickly acquired an internship for a large research firm which posted her to another country while I stayed and completed a Doctoral Degree. We both decided that it would be best to end the somewhat obligatory relationship that we had going on. The breakup was rather lack-lustre with both of us knowing that it had to be done. As expected, both of us were on good-terms when we broke up.
Admittedly, I'd be lying if I said that I felt nothing when she told me she was going overseas. While both of us knew that our busy schedules meant that the relationship likely wouldn't be a fulfilling one, I'd like to think that, just like me, a little part of her also subconsciously longed to be with the me. Well, that was some years ago. For the rest of my education, I pursued a degree rather than women and threw myself into my studies, deciding to not be in a relationship until I graduated. After graduating, I got hired as a research scientist by one of the government organisations where I got my own research project. Just a few years ago, I embarked on this project, one not too ambitious but one requiring a research assistant.
I encountered Joanna again when I was looking for a lab assistant. At that point, the name on her resume didn't even ring a bell. It certainly didn't occur to me that the applicant was my university mate. Even so, her resume was compelling enough for me to recommend her to my superiors who quickly accepted and assigned her to be my lab assistant. Her job interview had been conducted by my superiors so, naturally, I only got to see her on the first day at work which... was...unexpected. Our unexpected reunion was well...unexpected... She certainly didn't expect me to be her new boss. Certainly, there was some teasing about it but we got over it soon enough. We looked back at our time in university and laughed off our short romantic stint.
While she has the brains and arguably the looks, she has only a single flaw. Her only flaw? She is rather clumsy and absentminded. She had forgotten to come work on multiple occasions because she 'forgot that there was work on that day' Even so, as much as I would never say it in her face, she is one of the best assistants out there. On a more personal note, she has this naivety and an air of innocence that I frankly find oddly...quite cute and appealing.
"I'm going out to get some coffee. Want to join?" Joanna's voice called over the humming of the machines in the lab. Being in a bio lab, we have strict rules concerning the consumption of food and drinks in the lab. Heck, even personal electronic devices aren't allowed. Even though we were working on some pretty harmless bacteria, our lab was the standard lab furnished with the full array of protective measures.
"I'm just going to finish up over here, give me a moment." I mentioned and started putting away the micropipette that I had in my hand.
"Let's go, the cafΓ© closes in 10 mins" I rushed past her, glancing at the clock on the wall. Spurred on by my urgency, she followed me past the racks of samples and test-tubes in the lab. As I approached the exit, I heard a small exclamation from behind me. Naturally, I spun around, ready to see what my assistant had unwittingly done again. What I was not ready to deal with was my assistant's hourglass figure falling towards me. I backed up, not wanting for her to fall on me. She stumbled a little before extending her hands and steadying herself on the partition of wall next to the door. Her arms, both fully extended, trapped me between her bosom and the wall, not unlike a kabedon in Japanese culture. I could feel her warm breath against my cheek as she struggled to catch her breath. There was an awkward silence as I unintentionally stared straight into her bosom-area. Blushing, I deftly ducked down and recomposed myself while she also readjusted her lab coat, which had slipped a little during her fall.
"Sorry about that-
Wait.
Shit, when steadying herself against the wall, her hand had pressed on the button for the emergency air-lock of the lab.
A sudden siren rang out in the lab followed by the hiss of the air-lock door closing. Argh shit. She activated the air-lock meant to keep bacteria in the lab for decontamination in the event of an accidental release of biohazardous material
Shit.
The deep, booming sound of the air-lock sealing signalled that the all-metal door at the entrance of our lab now sealed us away from the main building. As bad as it may sound, we weren't in any grave danger or anything. The lab had an intercom system that could be activated to contact security. Security was the only one who could remotely open the air-locks. I headed straight towards the intercom panel. Strange, normally the keypad would be lit up or at least have a green power indication light on it. This time however, it had absolutely no indication of it being on. I tried all the various key codes, all to no avail.
"Joshua" I turned around, waiting for my assistant to exasperatedly explain to me what an idiot I was and what I was doing wrong. Instead, against the sterile white background of the lab, I saw my assistant looking rather sheepish, staring mostly at the floor but occasionally glancing at my face.
"You see, I kinda forgot to tell you about the notice they sent out earlier this month...About the intercom system being down..." Her voice trailed off and she tried to give me a much-worn reassuring smile that gave me absolutely no fucking reassurance.
Well fuck.
We had no way of communicating with anybody else. Our phones were secured in the lockers in the main building as per protocol. There was absolutely nobody else in the building except the security personnel who we couldn't contact. All we could hope was that come Monday, other lab staff coming back could notify security and they could get us out of the lab. Well, we only had like..what?...17 hours left until the others came to