"To improve the hardness of a crystal, or to create other properties useful, say in solid state lasers, additives called impurities are added to the crystal growing process, called doping. Usually these are rare-earth ions like neodymium, or like this more common one, which uses metal ions . . ." I lift up a clear box with a three-inch pyramidal crystal inside. "Yttrium aluminum garnet, or YAG."
"Is that why they're different colors? I like that cool blue one." He points, then catches my gaze. "The same color as your bottomless eyes."
I shut those bottomless eyes for a moment and compose myself. I turn away from him and pick up my mother's vid-binder. "Listen to this. It may be the reason for the accident."
"Today, I confronted Anderson. After yesterday's fiasco I put my foot down. It's tricky enough getting reliable results using time-tried impurities, but unstable elements? When I researched the list of chemicals used in this latest batch, I threw a fit. Some of these heavy elements have a history of volatility and, frankly, no one has ever found any practical application for their use. And you can't just mix them up like a cocktail and hope you get something that delivers a punch. He registered my complaint, but assured me measures . . ."
My voice turns into a mumble as I scan the rest of the screen. I easily envision Mom chewing out the little bald-headed director whose pasted-on smile and obsequious personality drove me nuts the few times I met him at Family Day and other lab-sponsored events. I want to chuckle but then I remember that Director Anderson was one of those reported lost in the explosion. I read the next few paragraphs, and they cause my heart to pound hard in my chest.
Ryan must have heard the catch in my breath, for he tips his head and bends down to see my face. "What is it?" he asks, his green eyes bearing down on me. Green as newly mowed grass. Green as in sparkling emeralds that lure with their beauty. I put down the binder down as my mom's words swim around my head.
"This is too weird," I say. "I need to check something."
I reach back into the cardboard box that now sits in the corner of the lab. I pull out a plastic holo-disk holder. About fifty or so disks fill the box, labeled by date. I recheck the entry in the vid-binder and flip through the disks. Ryan watches in silence as I put one in the HV player and turn on the gel screen. He comes to my side and we both stand there as the visual comes on.