Deep exhaustion set in as Quinn, Berkman and Jung Sim waited for his lab assistant Carl to arrive. They all sat slouching in uncomfortable government contract office chairs, staring out into space. The blank expression on their faces broke when there was a knock on the door. The knob turned and a tall, blonde curly-haired man wearing a white lab coat entered the room.

“Gentlemen, this is my assistant, Carl.” Jung Sim said as he stood up and gestured toward Carl. “Carl, this is Mr. Quinn and Mr. Berkman.”

“The pleasure is mine guys!” Carl said as he extended his hand to the investigators. “You have some documents you need sent pronto to Washington D.C.?”

Quinn broke in, “Yes, we need these micrographs and analytical results sent over to Director Thompson at the O.E.W.I. in Washington. Carl, these documents are very sensitive and are considered classified.”

“Yes sir, most everything in this facility is! Don’t worry; we have some very secure data channels direct to Washington. Should be a snap.” Carl said with confidence as Quinn handed him the manila folder.

“I’m sorry Carl, it’s been a long day. I keep forgetting that everyone here needs a security clearance just to get into the building.” Quinn remarked.

“No problem-o Mr. Quinn, I know how hard Jung Sim works people from firsthand experience…” Carl replied with a wry smile and quick wink aimed toward Jung Sim.

Jung Sim chuckled, “You always say I work too hard Carl. I think maybe sometimes you are right! Mr. Berkman, please give Carl your tissue sample; He will have it ready for you in the morning.”

“Oh, yeah I almost forgot! Here you go…please do be careful with it.” Berkman said as his tongue fumbled words out of his foggy brain.

“Sure thing…I’ll have this sample ready for you guys about 9:00 a.m. We can section it after that, o.k.?” Carl said as he made for the door.

“Thank you Carl.” Jung Sim said as Carl closed the door.

“Well Jung Sim, I think Berkman and I need to get some rest. There is a lot of work to accomplish tomorrow. We really appreciate your help…I don’t know where we would be without it.” Quinn said as he extended his hand to Jung Sim.

“You are both most welcome. I hope we will get more answers tomorrow. Please meet me here in my office at 9:00 a.m. We will get started then, alright?” Jung Sim said as he shook their hands.

“O.K., we’ll see you tomorrow Jung Sim!” Berkman said as he and Quinn left the office.

“Say, Quinn? Whaddya say we grab a bite on the way back and then hit the sack. I don’t know about you but I feel like I’ve been rode hard and put away wet today.” Berkman said as he and Quinn were approaching the car.

Quinn felt for the keys and leaned against the car as he unlocked it. “Yeah, I think we’re definitely on the same page today Berk. There’s that little greasy spoon close to the motel…” Quinn replied with a slight grin as he swung open the door.

By the time they had finished their meatloaf and mashed potatoes, Berkman’s eyes were beginning to droop and Quinn felt like he could sleep for a year. They paid the bill and crawled back to the motel room from the greasy spoon. After fumbling for the keys they hit the beds to watch the local news…but both men were asleep before the leading story.

The first rays of the sun were just peeking through the curtains when the belligerent honking of a delivery truck stirred agent Quinn from his slumber. Quinn picked up his watch from the nightstand and tried to focus on the time; 7:01 a.m.

“Berkman, get up! We had better get moving if we are going to be on time.” Quinn said to a rumpled lump of bedding somewhat resembling Berkman.

“Mmmpppphh…What time is it?” Berkman mumbled from beneath the covers as a hand poked out, groping in search of spectacles.

“Its 7 o’clock Berk, lets get it in gear!” Quinn responded.

Finally Berkman decided to rise from the dead and the investigators got on with their morning routine. After a good shit, shower, and shave they dressed and headed out for a quick breakfast. By the time they got onto the freeway they were just in time for the peak of Los Angeles rush hour traffic. They crept along the road with the other commuters, just barely moving. Close to exit number 35 the traffic finally began to thin out to a workable level. Quinn glanced at his watch. Shit! It was already past 9 o’clock. He stepped on the gas and started driving like a regular L.A. road rage head case. They finally pulled into the NSA parking security checkpoint at exactly 9:30 a.m. Once they had cleared security and made their way to Jung Sim’s office it was 9:42. Quinn saw the door to the office was open so he and Berk walked right in. Jung Sim and Carl were occupied filling out paperwork and otherwise looking very busy.

“Hi guys, sorry we’re so late…I had no idea traffic would hold us up this long!” Quinn proffered apologetically.

“Good morning gentlemen! Did you sleep well?” Jung Sim asked with a smile.

“A little too well, apparently.” Berkman interjected. “We also failed to set the alarm last nigh so we’re running just a little behind schedule.”

“Not to worry gentlemen! There is plenty of time left in the day. Carl, please take Mr. Quinn and Mr. Berkman to the Cryo-Tomography lab to start on their sample. I will join you in a few minutes.” Jung Sim instructed as he returned to his paperwork.

“Sure thing Mr. Sim.” Carl replied. “Guys, if you will follow me…”

Carl led the investigators through the hallway and down some stairs to the Cryo-Tomography lab. The lab was full of expensive looking machines and several large stainless steel tanks. Before getting started Carl suggested they help themselves to the black government coffee percolating at the far end of the lab. While the investigators sipped their coffee, Carl retrieved the embedded tissue sample from a security locker.

“Here it is guys, all ready to go!” Carl said as he displayed the small lump of tissue. “The microtome we’ll use is over there in the corner; let’s get cookin’.”

Berkman asked Carl if he could see the sample for a moment first. When Carl handed over the sample Berkman asked, “What exactly is the plastic embedding supposed to accomplish Carl? And what type of plastic is this?”

“This plastic is actually a polymer resin…we darken the tissue with an Osmium solution, soak it in diluted polymer for several hours then embed it in full strength polymer. Baking it at a low temperature cures the polymer. Basically this procedure adds support to the tissue’s structure and the Osmium stain provides contrast.”

“Very interesting!” Berkman exclaimed. “I’ve heard about this procedure once before but I’ve never had the opportunity to observe the results.”

“O.K. Berk, why don’t you give Carl back the sample and let’s get started!” Quinn prodded anxiously.

Carl took back the sample and led them to the microtome apparatus. He gave them an overview of the functions and procedure as the sample was staged the cutting blade adjusted. Slowly the machine was put into action and the sample was decked, followed by the first section. Carl discarded the decked off fraction and the first rough section. The controls were then adjusted to make the sections very thin and the machine was put back into motion. The microtome automatically sectioned the sample as Carl carefully placed each section onto a small silver grid about the size of a tic-tac. The grids were then placed into a welled tray in the order of section number. When the machine had made 20 sections, Carl turned it off and removed the staged sample.

“O.K. guys, we’re done here for now! I’ll call Jung Sim and ask him to meet us in the Microscopy lab instead. Mr. Berkman, why don’t you carry the grid tray…Mr. Quinn I’ll let you carry the left over sample and I will get the doors.” Carl instructed.

Carl made the call quickly and then led the investigators back upstairs to the Microscopy Lab where they had first discovered the particles. Jung Sim was already waiting for them and had unlocked the door marked Transmission Electron Microscope.

“Gentlemen! Are you ready to get started? I apologize for not meeting you sooner. I was drowning in a sea of paperwork.” Jung Sim said with a smile he greeted the group. “Carl, I believe we can handle the rest of the procedure. If you would please continue with our budget request paperwork.”

The investigators thanked Carl for his help and he left for Jung Sim’s office. Jung Sim led Quinn and Berkman into the T.E.M. room and flipped on a switch for the scope. The vacuum pump burbled out a familiar rhythm and the control panel lights began blinking.

“Mr. Berkman, please put the sample tray over here by the vacuum column and pull up a chair so you can help me load the samples. Mr Quinn, you may have to peer over my shoulder, there is not much room.” Jung Sim instructed as he flipped switches and pressed buttons to ready the scope.

After the three had gotten in position, Berkman was handed the sample stage in which he placed one of the silver grids. Jung Sim placed the stage back into the vacuum column, waited for the pump to remove the air and then turned on the electron beam. A fuzzy gray image appeared on a small screen next to the control panel. Jung Sim began focusing the beam of electrons onto the sample and the image gradually sharpened. Eventually the men could almost distinguish some of the individual neurons that make up brain tissue. They could not differentiate any cell structures yet because the image was somewhat small and lacking fine detalis. Jung Sim increased the magnification several times until they could very clearly see several nerve cells. The dendrites of the cells seemed to have a strange silver cast where they interfaced with other cells. There was a very confused look on Jung Sim’s face and he increased the magnification several more times on a dendrite’s tip. After the magnification increase it became abundantly clear what was causing the strange silver cast. Stuck along the edges and between the dendrite tips of two opposing cells were thousands of the tiny silver particles.

End Part 9