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Chapter 10 - The Cap

Lab equipment and research tool is essential to any researcher. Specially so if the equipment are specialized and really rare. Every research project was different in it's own way, and it required different tools and equipment depending on the situation. Because the Arcorn empire focused so heavily on research and spent a considerable sum on making sure that every researcher under them was fully equipped with anything they might need, most of the time no one needed to borrow something from their colleagues. But this wasn't case for all equipment. Some were highly specialized and built for a very very specific purpose. Purposes that required a researcher to go build his own stuff was rare, but not too much. Highly accomplished researchers such as Dr. Kita would often build their own research equipment or tweak existing ones to fit their needs better.

The UltraGravityBimetricSensor Array was built by Dr. Kita himself for a research project few years ago. But after building it, He liked it's convenience and decided to make it a permanent addition to his lab. It was a highly sensitive piece of equipment that needed to be handled with the utmost care. Even a small vibration could damage it and cause it to output faulty readings.

Dr. Helen not only took it from his lab without telling him, She also brought it outside of it's protective case!

"Where's the protective case? Why'd you bring it outside of the case?", Kita was quite furious at her.

"Umm, I left the box in it's place, I thought you wouldn't notice it was missing if I left the box."

"Go ask someone to bring the box here ASAP!"

"I already did, As soon as you appeared, I knew you'd be furious if you saw it outside of the box."

"You knew and still did it anyway?"

"Yes."

'Sigh', Kita didn't expect Dr. Helen to take his lab equipment without telling him. He honestly didn't knew what he should do with her.

"Oh, Don't be so dramatic. It'll be fine! I'll take the box with me on the expedition! I'll be sure to bring it in one piece."

"Rather than that, Why are you going on this mission? Do you know how dangerous the planets are? We're not even sure of the climate under the gas blanket. Just what are you thinking diving head first into such a dangerous environment?", Kita said with a worried expression.

The 4 planets were still relatively unknown for them. The thick gas cloud atop the planet obscured all vision on the surface of the planet. Estimates suggest that it's probably icy cold wasteland on the surface with potential liquid water, but no one could be sure until it was confirmed. Diving head-first into such a dangerous planet wasn't a good idea for anyone.

"Well, someone needs to go first right? What's wrong with me?"

"We have other researchers for that stuff, let them go and make sure it's safe before going there yourself. I don't want you to get hurt.", Kita said as he took Dr. Helen in his hands. His wife had a bad tendency of diving head first into dangerous planets. He understood it was her tendencies to take risks where other's didn't that made her so special and why she accomplished so much in such a young age. But he still wanted her to be careful. And think about it before jumping at the earliest opportunity to travel to an unknown exo-planet.

"Don't worry honey, I know how to take care of myself. I've studied the data coming off of those planets. My gut tells me there's more to them than what meets the eye. I need to go there in person. I believe there's something going on under that thick blanket of gas.", Dr. Helen said to Kita as she wrapped her arms around his neck in an attempt to make him agree to this. As the second most authoritative researcher after Dr. Kbom, Kita held quite a bit of power aboard the shore. If he says no, then not even the captain can let her go to the planet. So she needed to woo him before asking for that analyzer.

But Kita wasn't having any of it.

"No, I won't allow you to go in first. God knows what we may encounter down there. Let the other researchers go and make sure it's safe before going yourself.", Kita said with a stern tone. He was really worried something might go wrong down there. So he decided to forbid Helen from going down until the other team made sure it was safe to do so.

"Aww, No! I wanna go first! I wanna see the untouched surface of the planet first. Not fair!", Helen was really distressed with Kita's decision.

"It's for your own good, Don't you understand I worry about you every time you go on such dangerous missions? I'd rather you didn't go on them altogether, But I know that I can't contain you. So please keep my request and only go down if everything is safe.", Kita pulled her closer and stared right into her eyes before saying. Enveloping her face with a worried expression on his face.

Helen looked at his earnest eyes. 'Well, he isn't totally wrong. What's wrong with taking some precautions.' she thought to herself. She could feel his breath and how worried he was. She finally gave in.

"Fine. But I'm going down there the moment the initial analysis is done. I won't delay it any further!", She said with a pout on her face. Although she was annoyed, She was still happy to explore a new planet.

"Thank you.", Kita said before sharing a kiss with her. Although she seemed mad at his decision. He wouldn't have it any other way. He didn't want her to take unnecessary risks like this.

They shared a moment before letting go of each other. It was times like this that truly made them satisfied. Both of them were researchers. So they understood each other's drives and passion. But Kita still couldn't help but worry about her. She was the most precious person in his life. No matter what, He loved her more than his own life.