Epidemic Exsilium: Stage Two

[initiates]

Date & Time: June 8th - June 14th
Location: Throughout Exsilium
Characters: Anyone participating in hunting down the sleeper agents; anyone participating in taking care of the ill, or being ill themselves.
Summary: Stage Two of the Super Virus Epidemic strikes; sleeper agents of the United Earth are revealed.
Warnings: Illness, violence, needles. (Those IVs, man!)

Sniffles and coughs aren't unusual during the spring, with people combating allergies even in the far future, and colds being as present as always. But with more and more people falling ill, and none responding to antibiotics, things are starting to get worrying.

The first death is of an infant, on the night of the 7th. It's not the only one: three more are recorded not long after. It's unknown about the state of patients who never presented for medical assistance. Those familiar with viral infections fear the worse, especially as the usually healthy demographic starts arriving, coughing and displaying symptoms of the same sort of illness.

If that's not enough out among the natives, the Initiative has received its own information and insight into the true nature of the virus. "Wasmannian" Agents, spies of the Initiative in the United Earth, have reported back information at great cost to their security in their undercover positions. There is a super virus headed your way. They've been shipping it in to the island since December 3312. These are the manifests. We've deciphered most the code-names. Good luck.

Now the Initiative turns to the Transports for additional manpower to hunt down the United Earth's sleeper agents, pick up the shipments of the virus, and track down its physical origins in order to do something to stop the impending decimation of Exsilium's population.

Things are getting scary. It's a sick, sad world out there. Where are you, in the middle of it all?

Comments

[imperfect]

[He contrives to look affronted.] Hey, watch it. I didn't say it was me who needs the attention. Nobody ever stopped a plague by sticking needles in one rat. And I'm doing great.

[If he'd managed to cut in a little more forcefully, he might not have been undermining his point just by continuing to talk.]

[oncearanger]

You sound like you're in the prime of health.

[Billy looks dubious. He's trying not to worry, but...]

I really wish I'd specialized in virology right about now, but if wishes were so easy grant...well, we wouldn't be such unhappy people, would we?

[imperfect]

[Ed laughs a shade unsteadily.] Speak for yourself. A scientist doesn't need to waste their time on prayers anyway. And... for now, I've got almost everything I could want.

[The last part rings a little hollow to him even as he says it, but maybe Billy won't notice.

He holds up the force field plans.] Sure you won't be needing these for a while? [He has to try to get on top of things, after all, even if his head is conspiring with his lungs against him.]

[oncearanger]

I made duplicates. Don't worry, those copies are yours.

[Billy grins and shakes his head]

Perhaps it's a waste of time to wish, but...what goals will you pursue when you can?

[imperfect]

What kind of question is that? You're on a roll today.

[He sets the half-full glass of water down on the floor before he forgets.]

Let's see... [He coughs.] In an ideal world, it'd be pretty clear-cut. Since there's no such thing... so long as Al and I find some way to get by, I couldn't really ask for more.

But maybe a goal doesn't mean as much when you already know you'll get there for sure. What do you think?

[oncearanger]

You're confident. You and your brother...you're an excellent team, aren't you?

[imperfect]

[He leans back against the wall.] Don't you have family? That's all it is. If we didn't look out for each other, nobody would.

...Al's a good guy. [In contrast to... well. That last part is even quieter, and might be the fever talking.]

[oncearanger]

My friends were my family, for the most part. I'm an only child, and my parents have always been somewhat distant.

[He leans a little closer]

Is that like yours as well?

[imperfect]

[Ed looks away, his hand tightening around the page he's holding.] Well, we don't have any parents here. Or Granny, or Winry, or our teacher, or anyone else. So it's like I said. Families are weird, I guess.

[He huffs theatrically.] Maybe one of them would stick up for me and let me sneak out of here early. [It's obvious what the answer would be just from the way he says it.]

[oncearanger]

You're in no condition to do that.

[He likes you too much to budge on this point, Ed.]

But I know what this feels like. Has Al been around?

[imperfect]

Around, yeah... He went to ask people for stuff he could help out with, whatever needs an extra pair of hands. He's done enough sitting around.

[A little belatedly, he realises his slight slip-up - dammit, he really shouldn't talk when he's sick - but doesn't skip a beat.]

'Course, I told him too - spending too much time in this kind of dump, you never know when your luck's gonna run out... [Hint, hint, Billy.] But it's holding up so far. I think he's trying to rub it in.

[There, a seamless lie. He looks up.]

If you were looking for him, I could let him know when he next drops by.

[oncearanger]

I know. I'm taking the risk because I'm worried about you.

[He shakes his head slightly.]

Anyway...I'll grab a nurse for you on the way out. Will that work?

[imperfect]

[He waves his hand hurriedly.] Seriously, I don't need it. I'll just... I don't know, get some more sleep while I can. [That and hope for a less messed-up dream this time.] It's fine.

But... you take care too, okay? Unless you're dying to be held responsible for what'll happen to these things [he taps a finger on the blueprints] otherwise. [And he tries to grin.]

[oncearanger]

Don't worry.

[Billy nods and rises to leave, though he still looks back over his shoulder worriedly.]

...that's my job.