A Visit To Dr. Jackal

JP with Jaxx and I

May 11, 1889
Morning

Elizabeth made her way back to her office, on the way telling a servant to let Dr. Jackal know she would be to pay him a visit in his lab in about an hour.

Before that time she went to visit Aceline, and Eloise and Marie. She talked with the mother for a while discussing getting the girls a nanny and tutor. Elizabeth had assumed their would be little resistance to the idea from the mother, and she was correct. Aceline thought both were good ideas. The tutor could likely increase Clement's studies as well.

Marie seemed thrilled by the idea but it was likely she truly didn't understand what a nanny or tutor did. Still, the idea of schooling at the house intrigued her.

Eloise, was reluctant, at first to the nanny idea. She had always taken care of her younger sister. Elizabeth explained she could still help but this would give her more time for other things, like her studies. Eloise agreed but would likely be unsure until she met the nanny.

Elizabeth promised all three of them, and it would include Clement that a nanny wouldn't be hired without approval from all of them. She wasn't trying to take over their lives, just offering help. A tutor would wait until the girls were more settled.

That conversation took, almost, the entire hour so by the time it was done it was time to see the good doctor. Elizabeth made her way to the lab and knocked on the door.

Dr. Jackal was busy working in his lab on the a few tester chemical compounds so it would speed up his process down the road. After a while he was interrupted by a servant who told him that Lady Elizabeth would be stopping by. So he used that time get to a stopping point and cleaned up. Then he popped his neck to relieve his stress. Then he labeled his compounds as he waited for Lady Elizabeth. Eventually he heard the knock on the door and opened it to see Lady Elizabeth. Dr. Jackal welcomed her in as he moved out of the way. he asked, "So how may I be of service?"

"Thank you," Elizabeth said, as she walked through the door. The lab looked fairly well kept, which didn't surprise her. "Not my reason for the visit but just so you are aware, if the lab is like this for my father's visit it will be fine. It really doesn't even have to be this neat."

Moving on. "My actual reason for being here is, the body of the creature that the team killed will be delivered tomorrow. And it's a little different than a standard morgue delivery, so I wanted to explain it to you."

Dr. Jackal nodded as he replied, "Of course. I will do my best to accommodate you. Dr. Jackal seemed very accepting of Lady Elizabeth being there and giving him instructions since she was beneficiary and employer.

"First you'll need to sign for it, that's fairly standard but make sure the paper work doesn't have a return date for the body. I am sure you want to have as much time as possible to conduct your research on it. You have the authority to change it, if that does happen." Elizabeth said. "As for the body itself, the Order has morgue trucks which technically superior to the standard morgue truck. The bodies are transported in refrigeratorated metal boxes which hook-up directly up to steam power." She walked over towards a box on the wall that was locked and took out a small key. Elizabeth opened the box, to reveal a plug of sorts. It was round and looked like a tube attached to it. Next to it was a large switch. "There will be tubes attached to the box, they get hooked in to these plugs, then the switch can be pulled. That will connect it to the steam-power. It will keep the body refrigerated and in a proper state until you are ready to work on it.

She then hit a switch and the wall slid opened and a large shelf came out. "The box should fit on this shelf. The delivery men will help you move it on to there and get it hooked up it you need it."

Elizabeth then reached under the shelf and dislodged legs for the shelf, with wheels. She pointed out large clip looking things. "Detach the clips and the shelf can be rolled where you need it. The wheels do lock, if you need that, as well." She paused. "The shelf however can not be accessed until the box is opened." Pointing to the box she had opened with the key.

She lifted the shelf back into the wall and the legs folded up. Pressed the same button and the wall closed up. She then closed the door to the box and walked back to Jackal, handing him the small key. "I have one extra of the key but I do ask you keep track of it. A new one has to be made at the Order."

Upon looking at the key, it was clear why. The key was shaped like a half moon and had a pattern of holes in it, it wasn't like any standard key.

Dr. Jackal was impressed by the set up as he watched in silence. Lady Elizabeth was very knowledgeable about the lab's set up and he had no idea about the extra functions she displayed before him. He accepted the key from her and looked at the set up again before he replied, "Wow. I had no idea that was part of the lab. You really spared no expense on this place. My old lab was a joke compared to this place. Are there anymore secrets in this lab?" Dr. Jackal was very impressed.

"Have you found the safe, yet?" Elizabeth asked, though it was hidden, it certainly easier to find that the shelf in the wall.

Dr. Jackal had a puzzled look on his face as he was not aware of the safe much like the new secret section displayed before him. He replied, "I am afraid you have me at a loss Lady Elizabeth. I was in a rush to begin breaking down the serums and didn't realize this lab had a lot more functions in it. Please do share on what I missed out on." Dr. Jackal was not very attentive to Lady Elizabeth.

"This is an easy one," Elizabeth smiled. She walked to a framed picture of the periodic table and removed it from the wall, behind it was a safe with a combination lock. "You know I have never opened it. Miss Celine helped design the lab..." Elizabeth thought for a moment , "Oh, that's it. 15 left - 20 right - 5 left." Turning the lock as she went, the safe unlocked and the door opened.

Elizabeth reached inside and pulled out a wooden box, she opened up and a puzzled look crossed her face. "I have no idea what that is but apparently you were left a gift."

Dr. Jackal looked at the opened box and saw a camera lucida is an optical device inside. This is a tool used as a drawing aid by artists and microscopists.
The camera lucida projects an optical superimposition of the subject being viewed, onto the surface upon which the artist is drawing. The artist sees both scene and drawing surface simultaneously, as in a photographic double exposure. It comes in handy when drawing micro scoping organisms under a microscope lens. Though it was surprising to see such a fancy tool before, since he didn't have one in the past, it becmoning less surprising that Lady Elizabeth could aquire such expensive and rare items. Dr. Jackal smiled at the tool and looked at Lady Elizabeth as he replied, "You never cease to amaze me Lady Elizabeth. I am very grateful to use such a well designed lab under your employment. I hope one day I might redeem myself as a pillar of the science community instead of a living calamity. "

"Well, I am glad you like the lab. It is much easier to work with the right equipment. However, I cannot take credit for this." Pointing at the camera lucida. "I believe Miss Celine left it for you." She handed him the box with the piece of equipment in it, then closed the safe. "I believe those are the hidden items." Not being able to think of anything else. "Of course, if anything you need has been overlooked, do not hesitate to ask."

Dr. Jackal nodded as he listened to Lady Elizabeth. He replied, "I am grateful to you and Ms. Celine. This lab is a far improvement to my old lab. As for my needing additional resources.....well it would be on a case by case basis related to the work you need me to do. It would be a waste of space and money to buy equipment we would never or rarely ever use. In a lab space it very important since we run out of it as our work progresses. Since I am used to working with less I will be able to improve my results with such fine equipment, so I appreciate it. So has Ms. Lavigne been properly reporting on my good an bad points? I assumed she is doing this either out of your request or concern for my well being, but I am fine either way. It's been a long time since others were concerned for my well being. Usually they are concerned by my mere presence out of fear." Dr. Jackal gave a half smile as he looked at Lady Elizabeth.

What the doctor said, regarding the equipment, made sense so Elizabeth just nodded. When Jackal asked about Miss Lavigne, Elizabeth paused for a moment. "It was Miss Lavigne's idea to keep an eye on you, though I am glad she is able to do that." The Eldren explained. "I do not fear you Dr. Jackal. And I can say, that your well-being is important, as it is with all the team members. I know things have not been easy for you but you belong here as much as any other team member. You aren't the enemy, no one here is scared of you. And I certainly hope you don't think we are." Elizabeth quite firmly stated.

Dr. Jackal nodded with a half smile as he replied, "Thanks. I appreciate the sentiment. The last woman who cared about me was my late mother and that was around eighteen years ago, so do forgive me for any ill behavior on my part. I think we all know I am still a work in progress so only time will tell us what kind of person I will be in the future."

"It is quite alright. Doctor." Elizabeth smiled gently. "I will leave you now to your work, as I have other things to do as well. I will see you at lunch." With that Elizabeth took her leave and exited the lab.

Dr. Jackal gave a bow to Lady Elizabeth as he watched her leave. As she left he wondered how much meaning her words held. True she was a beautiful noble Eldren woman who was responsible for her household, but she was also a leader of a secret organization that tended to push the boundaries of the law for the Royal family. Since he was an unstable person these days he didn't want to rock the boat but knew he could be replaced if things were unpleasant for her. He had already seen members of her team come and go in a short time. Hoping to save face and looked important he quickly began inspecting the new equipment and taking notes on them before finding a proper place to store them.