Lorenzo nodded, still obviously skeptical of Snod, but more focused on the experiments ahead of
them. “Right, okay,” he said, sliding on gloves and producing a rack of tubes filled with bright green
liquid.
Frankie was practically vibrating with excitement when he saw them.
“Here we go!” Lorenzo said proudly. “Gentlemen and possibly reformed crazy person, may I present
to you Devampy Doo-Dad 1.4! A nano bot serum packed full of delicious antibiotic goodness, ready
to begin trials.”
Whirling around the room like a tornado, Frankie presented Lorenzo with a Petri dish and a syringe of
thick blood. Snod saw a small puncture fading away on Frankie’s arm that hadn’t been there moments
before, realizing the blood was his own and he had drawn it that fast.
“Obe? May I have some of your blood to test?” Frankie asking politely, smiling at him.
“Of course.” Snod obediently tilted his head to the side.
“N-not like that,” Frankie stammered, eyes wide, reaching for his arm instead.
“Oh.” Snod tried not to look disappointed, watching Frankie quickly draw a small tube of blood and
placing a Band-Aid over the puncture site before he could fully draw a breath.
Snod found a seat out of the way, patiently watching the two scientists get to work.
Lorenzo accepted the tubes from Frankie and took a deep breath. He began by squirting a few drops
of Frankie’s blood into the dish and piping the serum alongside it. He eagerly slid it underneath a
microscope, saying brightly, “Okay. Let’s see some freakin’ magic!”
Frankie hovered behind him, asking, “Is it working? Is the V responding to the protein antigen
coating?”
“Yes! Bacterial receptors are responding, and the V is chowing down!” Lorenzo squealed excitedly.
“It’s working! It’s freakin’ working! It’s...” His smile vanished in an instant, pulling back from the
microscope with a mournful pout.
Frankie’s brows furrowed up, taking his place and staring down to see what had upset Lorenzo so
much. His joy was stolen away just as quickly, his shoulders slumping in such a vulnerable human
way. “Crap.”
“We’ll try Obe’s blood,” Lorenzo said, trying to remain hopeful. “See what happens.”
Frankie nodded and quickly put on gloves. He made up a new dish and piped a dose of the serum in
himself, his eyes narrowed with intense concentration.
