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

[reconnaissance]

Lungs?

( Huh, okay. Let her think that over. ) So, a bit of cardio and I'll be right as rain, huh? Permission to go for a run?

( Anything to get on her feet again, to be honest, she feels like she's falling apart just sitting here. ) Or are you gonna have to take me out to pasture and shoot me?

( Morbid jokes are perhaps not the best jokes for a hospital, El. )

[medicating]

[He doesn't appreciate the morbid joke, especially since it looks like a few more will be slipping away today.]

I wish I could just tell you to go to the gym and you'll be fine, but sadly it's not an option. Hell, don't teenagers love sitting around doing nothing all day? It's been too damn long since I was one.

[reconnaissance]

You know, actually I always thought that, but when all you have to do is sit around and it's not just a bit of a treat between doing a bunch of other stuff, it gets dull fast.

( Too much talking: a painful rasp, violent cough, and her hand is pressing over her mouth, fingers gripping just a little because of the burn in her lungs. )

That's-- getting pretty dull, too.

( Breathing, why )

[medicating]

[He moves closer, concern etched across the parts of his face the mask doesn't hide.]

Maybe I should let you get your rest. Talking tends to kick off bouts of coughing with this virus, as you can see.

[reconnaissance]

( Yeah, she sure can see that, and she offers a watery smile. No kidding. )

I'll rest this time.

( Conspiratorially, as if he needs to be concerned about her nipping off for a marathon or something while he's not looking. )

[medicating]

Thanks, Ellie. I was hoping I wouldn't have to brow beat you into it.

[And then he moves closer to the bed. Doctors are supposed to show a little distance from their patients, but she's his roommate, damn it, and she's already been through a lot of crap. He briefly touches his fingers to her hand, giving her a nod.]

I'll check in on you later.

[reconnaissance]

( Oh. That's--

That's nice, actually. Ellie nods, certain. He'll be back later, that's good. ) You better, someone needs to see how much healthier I'm gonna be.

( So gung ho, but she settles back against the pillows. ) Thanks, Dr. McCoy.

( Which may be the only time she's called him that instead of something more infuriating. )

[medicating]

[He can be surprisingly kind when he wants to be.

He gives her a smile from behind the mask that stretches it slightly.]

I look forward to it. Now rest.

[And he heads for the door, appreciating her calling him something other than Lenny.]