Seekers of the Crypt; the Lost Artifact

It’s A Match

  Garie and James then brought the sample to the hospital’s laboratory. There, Garie was trying to persuade the head of the medical technologists, who is a woman in her late forties, to do the examination.  

“Ms. Beauford, I can’t possibly examine it today as I have a lot of specimens that I need to examine first. Even my juniors are busy too, I’m sorry.” The medical technologist said.

  Garie pouted, as she really needed to get the sample tested.

“Whose blood is you suspecting is in that sample?” James asked Garie. 

  Garie looked down at the ziplock in her hands and sighed.

“I was hoping that it wasn’t Uncle Milton’s.” She said and then she looked at James.

“I have this feeling at the pit of my stomach. I can’t shake it off.” 

  James looked at Garie, and he can understand why she is feeling that way. He sighed and then he took the ziplock from Garie and turned towards the head medical technologist.

“Is there vacant equipment that I can use so I can get this specimen checked?” James asked.

  Both the head medical technologist and Garie looked at James.

“Why would you need one?” 

“James, what are you doing?”

“I am also a licensed medical technologist before I pursued to be a surgeon. If we are just going to do some DNA sequencing to know whose blood this is, I think I can do it. I just need the proper equipment.” James told them.

  Garie smiled and felt really hopeful. Then she looked at the head of the medical technologists.

“Please, it’s important.” She pleads.

  Then the head of the medical technologists sighed and nodded.

“Fine. You can use the equipment at the very back of the laboratory, near my office.” She said and Garie grinned.

“Do you still have Uncle Milton’s blood samples?” Garie asked.

“Yes, they are in the chiller at the back as well.” 

“That’s great! Thank you! Come on, James.” Garie chirped and then she grabbed James’ arm and pulled him into the very back of the laboratory.

  The back of the laboratory is the office and there is indeed a piece of spare equipment that James can use. James immediately wore the lab coat and washed his hands, and wore some clean gloves before he started preparing what he needs to use for the examination. Garie on the other hand went to get her uncle’s blood sample from the chillers.

  She rummaged through the row of test tubes that contains blood until she found the one with the name of her uncle. When she finally found it, she grabbed one and approached James who was seated in front of the laboratory equipment.

“Here.” 

  Garie gave the test tube to James.

“This will take a while so I suggest you sit on the couch,” James said as he started his work.

  Garie nodded and went to sit on the couch.

********************************. 

  Minutes turned to hours, and Garie even fell asleep on the couch, and yet James is still working on it. It was late at night and the other laboratory staff is going home but James remained focused on what he was working on, even if some of the staff are asking if he wants coffee.

  More hours passed and when James finally finished matching every strand of DNA he found, he stood up from the stool and started stretching his limbs. While waiting for the result, he turned towards the couch where Garie was and smiled.

   Garie was lying on the couch sleeping soundly. She looked really peaceful as she sleeps and James cannot help but adore her. She looks exactly like how she looked asleep when they were kids.

  Then he was pulled out of his thoughts when his phone started ringing. Scared that Garie might wake up, he immediately fished his phone from his pocket and answered the call.

“Hello.”

“James.”

  James recognized the voice as Garie’s other uncle, Michael.

“Yes?”

“Where are you two right now?” Michael asked.

“Garie and I are still in the hospital.” He answered.

“Why are you still there? Your work there will start tomorrow.” 

“Garie and I are at the laboratory. Garie asked me to examine the sample she got from the tablet that uncle Milton sent her.’ James said.

“What about it?”

“Garie said that in her initial examination the sample has blood, with traces of silicon dioxide and charcoal. Silicon dioxide is a component of sand while charcoal is a component of gunpowder. She’s worried that the blood could belong to Uncle Milton.” James explained and Michael went silent.

“What is the result?” Michael finally spoke.

“I am still waiting for the results of the DNA matching,” James told him.

“Once the result is out, tell me immediately. I actually called to tell you that your grandfather called me. He said to tell you that you should not forget why he sent you there, even though he is letting you pursue your medical profession.”

  James rolled his eyes after hearing the message his grandfather relayed to Michael.

“That’s so grandfather. He doesn’t need to worry.”

“I told him that. But like him I am worried about how the expedition went, especially we haven’t heard anything from Milton.” Michael said.

“Shouldn’t we tell Garie that your brother could be in trouble with the people from the Grabbers?” James asked and he heard Michael sigh.  

“Right now, she doesn’t need to know anything about them. It will just put her in danger when she decided to investigate them.” Michael told him and James nodded in agreement.

“I got to go, the result sends it to me.” He said.

“I will.”

  Then the call was cut and James put his phone back into his pocket. James was about to put a blanket on Garie when he heard the computer start beeping.

  James turned towards the computer and sat on the stool, and started typing on the keyboard. Then a few minutes later, the printer started making the printing noise. And because of that noise, Garie finally woke up.  

  She sat up and rubbed the sleep off her eyes.

“Is it done already? What time is it?” She asked.

  James turned towards her and looked at his wristwatch.

“It’s around fifteen minutes past nine in the evening,” James said and Garie suddenly felt all the sleepiness in her just disappear.

  She shot up from the couch and approached James.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” She asked him.

“You looked peaceful in your sleep so I didn’t dare to wake you. Besides, the result is just about to come out.” He said and then he grabbed the piece of paper that came out of the printer.

  James immediately read the results before he looked at Garie.

“What’s the result?” She asked.

  James didn’t answer her, instead, he just hands her the paper. Garie took the paper and read the entire content. At the bottom of the paper, Garie read that the blood samples were ninety-nine point nine, nine, nine, nine matched.

  Garie felt like the air was knocked off her chest.

“It was a match.”

“Don’t think about anything just yet. Uncle Milton could have pricked his finger when he was retrieving the tablet that’s why his blood is on it.” James told her, trying to reassure her.

“You’re right. There are many possibilities that could’ve happened during his expedition. He could still be searching for the real location of the artifact and he is waiting for me to decipher the tablet and help him.” Garie said and James nodded.

“We should just go home for now. Remember, Levi is coming tonight. Tomorrow you two can check on the tablet while I am still working here.” James told her and Garie nodded.

  Then James took off the lab coat and washed his hands before he led Garie out of the laboratory. They left the hospital and went straight home, and while on their way, James sent the result to Michael. And when they got home, Garie was surprised to see Feng Hu cooking in the kitchen.

“Hey what are you cooking?” Garie asked as soon as she walked into the kitchen.  

“I made some Chinese Lemon Chicken, Chinese Vegetable Stir-fry, and Ma Po Tofu.” Feng Hu answered as he present everything he cooked to Garie.

“Wow.” Garie as soon as she inhaled the scent of the cooked food.

  James sat on one of the stools and propped his elbows on the kitchen counter as he watch Garie inhaling the aroma of the food.

“Did I tell you that aside from being a skilled warrior, Fen Hu is also a skilled cook,” James said, but then Garie ignored him as she was busy sniffing the food.

  James chuckled and then he stood up and went to the bathroom to wash his hands. When he came back, he started helping Feng Hu on setting the table.

“I’m going to change my clothes first.” She said and then she run towards her room.

  While James and Feng Hu are left in the kitchen to set up the table, James spoke.

“Wǒ xīwàng nín quèbǎo wǒmen suíshí zhǔnbèi hǎo shèbèi.” James said.

(I want you to make sure that we have equipment ready at any time.)

“Yuǎnzhēng yǒu shé me wèntí ma?” Feng Hu asked.

(Is something wrong with the expedition?)

“Wǒmen hái bù quèdìng, dàn wǒ juédé yīdìng fāshēngle shénme shì, zhè jiùshì píngbǎn diànnǎo bèi sòng dào zhèlǐ de yuányīn. Hái yǒu, shàngmiàn yǒu mí ěr dùn shūshu de xiějī, yéyé yě fāguò tíxǐng.” James told him.

(We are not yet sure, but I feel something must've happened that's why the tablet was sent here. Also, it has traces of Uncle Milton's blood and grandfather has sent a reminder.)

“Bìng yuǎnlí tā.” James added, pointing towards the direction of Garie’s room.

(And keep it from her.)

“I understand.” Feng Hu said, nodding.

 Then Garie came out of her room wearing a pair of a black tracksuits. She jogged her way towards the stool and sat on it. She immediately grabbed her fork and tried the lemon chicken.

  Garie’s eyes widened once she tasted what Feng Hu cooked.

“Wow. This is good.” She said and then she tried the other dishes as well.

 Feng Hu looked pleased seeing that Garie liked what he cooked.

“Let’s eat,” James announced and each one of them started taking a serving of the food of what Feng Hu made.

 They were busy eating when the doorbell started ringing.

“I’ll get it.”Feng Hu said and then he stood up from his stool and went to answer the door.

 “Margareth!”

 Garie and James looked at each other when they heard the voice. And when Feng Hu came back, he is with a tall young man with sun-kissed skin and unruly dark curls. It was Levi.

“You didn’t even think of picking me up from the airport?” Levi whined.

  Garie scoffed and then she stood up and approached Levi, pulling him in a hug. When she pulled away from him, it was James’ turn to approach him. Levi looked at James from head to toe and had that reaction where he looked like he cannot believe what he is seeing.

“Jin Qiang? Since when did you become this big?” Levi asked as he pulled James in a bro hug.

“I grew up, Levi,” James said chuckling, and then he patted Levi’s back, before pulling away.

“It’s James. And this is Feng Hu, my bodyguard, and executive assistant.” James said.

 Levi looked at Feng Hu who gave him a wide grin and mock salute. Levi smiled back at him.

“Let’s eat,” Garie said.

 Feng Hu grabbed another plate and cutlery for Levi who dropped his bags on the living room floor and joined them on the kitchen counter. Even Levi was amazed by the taste of the food.

“This tastes great,” Levi said.

“I know right. Feng Hu cooked them.” Garie told him and then Levi turned towards Feng Hu. 

“Really? Wow. You’re a great cook.” Levi told him.

“Xièxiè nǐ.” Feng Hu said and Levi grinned and gave him two thumbs up.

(Thank you)

 Levi drank his water and then he turned towards James and Garie.

“You didn’t check on the tablet while I was on my way here, right?” Levi suddenly asked.

  Garie gave him a deadpan look as she took a bite of the lemon chicken.

“No, we did not check it.” She said.

“Then why didn’t you pick me up from the airport?” Levi whined.

“We were in Beauford Medica. We examined a sample from the tablet.” James told him and Levi turned towards Garie.

“We’ll talk about that after dinner.”