Omega Virus (Torchwood, Jack/Ianto)

Doctor Angela Kilpatrick checked her clipboard once and matched the number of names on the sheet to the number of faces before her. Good. They were all here. She flipped to the second page for her notes. As she faced them once more, she worriedly bit her lip. This entire operation was risky. She didn’t like it, the drug wasn’t ready for human testing, but it wasn’t her call. She was a doctor, but a very junior one.

If this worked, humanity would never have to worry about attrition by cancer or HIV or plague. If it didn’t, she stood the possibility of being blacklisted from every medical job from hospital physician to school nurse.

“Al… alright, everyone,” she started nervously. “Donna,” she gestured to the nurse waiting beside the door, a similar clipboard clutched in her hands, “is going to call you into the room one-by-one. She will be collecting the waivers you signed as you come in. Feel free to take your time reading through the paperwork. If you haven’t had enough time, we can move you to the end of the list.”

She hoped her smile conveyed reassurance, though she didn’t feel any. “I’ll be giving you a shot of our test vaccine. There’s an information sheet on the drug, currently in development under the serial X1B12 Omega, in your packet. The injection may sting a little, no more than getting any other shot.” That was a lie. There was a chance that the vaccine would react negatively when it hit human blood. Some of the animals they’d tested it on had developed sores, some had gone strange. Most, actually, but the upper echelon were sure that the human element would make all the difference. “We’ll move you into a resting room. Each of you will have your own bed, and we’d like to monitor you for the next forty-eight hours before we release you to your homes. You will be fully cared for during your stay here and our chef does take requests.” She laughed nervously. Her attempt at humor fell flat. “Right. Payment will be debited to your accounts tonight and should be available for immediate withdrawal when you are released. Shall we begin?”