Work Text:
KEEP COOL AND CARRY ON
- Title from "Dying is the last thing anyone wants to do – so keep cool and carry on". The Guardian. 10 October 2015.
"Are you excited?" Merrick's assistant asked him as they washed up side by side in the huge steel sink that ran along the wall of the underground lab.
"You mean because it'll either be the greatest moment of my life or my most abject failure?" he asked, nudging her with his elbow, the only part of his arm not covered in antibacterial suds.
"If this one doesn't work, there are others," Noel advised prosaically.
"That's why I'm not nervous", he told her. A grant six years ago had procured them a dozen specimens from the lot the government had put aside a century ago. There weren't many left now as most of them had been used in various experiments and scientific study over the years, but he had enough for "if at first, you don't succeed." It was probably foolish to hope for success on the first try, but Merrick Davies was nothing if not a high achiever.
And this one was special.
Merrick considered how far they'd come as they worked to slowly drain off the cryoprotectants and stabilize the subject long enough to administer the antidote to the poison that had killed him. Just over a hundred years ago, scientists were only beginning to explore the possibilities of cryonics, taking baby steps by freezing celebrities like Walt Disney and Britney Spears. Unfortunately, those initial attempts were doomed to failure. They didn't have the technology and technique perfected yet.
Until now.
A decade ago, they'd mastered the art of reviving a variety of domestic animals. Once the process was flawless, they were more than ready to move on to a human.
"Do you think it's worked?" Noel asked, studying the body on the table intently.
"The poison has been neutralized, heart rate and respiration are stabilizing. Take the patient to recovery," Merrick told the nurses. "He should wake up soon."
Merrick hurried to wash up before his patient regained consciousness. He wanted to be the first one to greet his great-great-great-uncle when he rejoined the world of the living.
TWTWTWTWTWTW
A man and a woman stepped out of the blue police box, looking around to get their bearings. Jack Harkness immediately took a step backward towards the door.
"I told you I don't like coming to Earth," he told the Doctor with a frown.
"Just a quick visit," she promised. "You know it's one of my favorite planets. Besides, it's 2121; that's a big year for Earth. If I'm right, we've gotten here just in time to celebrate the first cryonic resurrection."
"Whoopee," Jack murmured unenthusiastically.
"It was quite the event," The Doctor continued without taking notice. "The first cryogenically frozen man brought back from the dead. His name was… Right on the tip of my tongue, it was…" she trailed off abruptly, looking startled. "I should have remembered! I can't believe I didn't make the connection..." She cast a sidelong glance at Jack. This was going to be a very interesting trip indeed.
And maybe a long time coming.
"His name is Ianto Jones."
End
9/29/21