The three returned to their daily routine the following Monday.
Myco ran test sequences on different projects at the institute, Myna wrote up the results and coordinated with remote researchers they were working with. Mac was the trio’s designated “wrangler”, who made sure that the various varieties of fungi in testing were behaving properly.
Their weekly meeting with their offsite administrator was the next part of the routine. They hadn’t talked about the previous week’s experience with the mystery mushroom yet.
The three faced the monitor in the conference room. The screen in front of them showed a variety of isometric shapes, then shaded into the face of Eliza, their manager and the director of the ei2o Institute.
“Ah, Myna, Myco, and Mac, so good of you to join me,” Eliza said in her usual cheerful tone, “I’ve got some exciting news to share with you all. We’ve managed to acquire the latest Mycelerator and I’ve been told it’s absolutely brilliant.”
“Oi, a new toy?” said Mac, not impressed.
“Wow! I’ve read about it,” Myna replied, “Must be the Mark 15. It can fruit mushrooms in a matter of hours.”
Myco looked impressed, “That could be a game-changer for our research.”
“Exactly!” Eliza exclaimed, “I’ve already scheduled some tests for next week with the Mycelerator and I’d like the three of you to lead the charge. As part of that, I’ll need you to handle some suits from headquarters for me. They’ll have some questions-”, she broke off and looked meaningfully at Myna.
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Myna droned. “ei2o’s research uses the latest technology to explore unusual mushroom strains in varieties that we’re discovering in the Barrens. We’re using our patented, industry leading semi-liquid substrates that enable mushrooms to rapidly develop “Mycelial networks”, something like a computer’s “neural networks”.
She continued. “The substrates, made with bio aerogels, integrate with our prototype sensors to create 3D dynamic real-time models of mushroom networks. This allows us to rapidly determine the potential uses of each mushroom strain.”
She dropped her hands. Eliza waited, then said “And…”
Mac butted in “...and these strains individually could be worth billions of dollars in the world market.”
Eliza smiled. “Exactly! Well, I must get to the next meeting…”
Myco said worriedly, “Um, we had some problems in testing last Friday-”.
He was cut off by Eliza. “I’m sure you can handle it! Let’s talk about it next week if necessary.”
She waved and her image cut out.
“Hm, she didn’t mention the mystery mushroom at all”, Myco scratched his beard. “Guess she’s moved to the next shiny toy.”
“Mm. that’s how management works”, Myna replied.
“Need to get back to chuffing the mycelia”, said Mac. “I’ll look at the mystery mushroom tank today and see what’s up”.
“OK, let’s get together tomorrow and figure out what we have.”
Myna was uneasy. The behavior of the spores was unlike anything she’d seen in the lab before. Could be anything, maybe gel contamination or sensor failures.
They'd figure it out tomorrow.