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

[alphonse]

That's not really fair. You'd help me if I could get sick, right? And even if you don't realize it, there are a lot of other things you do already.

[He wastes no time in continuing on before he has to do something sappy like explain what he means by that.]

Besides, it's silly to try and keep score.

[imperfect]

...Yeah.

So... what I was saying about just wanting to make a difference somehow... Maybe there's no point in that, either. Maybe there's nothing I can do.

[alphonse]

There's plenty. Here and back home.

[No hesitation there either; Ed's abilities are something he has complete confidence in.]

Is this about the communicators again? I know you're upset with how things went, but catching mistakes early is the whole point of a testing phase. If you ask me, your project's still right on track.

[imperfect]

[He's quiet for a moment. One good thing about the cold out here was that it came as enough of a shock to clear his head somewhat, but it's beginning to wear off.]

The point of all of this is to put you right and get you home. I'm not about to forget that, Al. If we can figure out who to trust, who we can work with, it doesn't matter what else happens along the way. But knowing what the cost might be, even for just that much...

[He trails off. He doesn't need to admit out loud that there are already too many lives on his head to add another world to them, does he?]

So who's to say what's still on track and what's not? Not me.

[alphonse]

I don't need you to worry about me, Brother.

[It's something they've been needing to talk about, but he wonders why it had to come up now.]

When I said I wanted to leave before, it was only because I didn't really understand the situation. Now that I do, I know I have to stay here and make sure that the United Earth gets stopped for good.

I'm worried about things back home, but beating the homunculi wouldn't mean much if the rest of the world was still in danger. Not to mention everyone else's.

[imperfect]

Then...

[Then he might be more like Heiderich than he was trying to say earlier. That's unsettling, he thinks, increasingly hazily.

He shifts a little, although attempting to make himself comfortable would be a lost cause.]

I just - I'm sorry.

[alphonse]

You don't have anything to apologize for.

[He wants to play it off like even the idea is ridiculous, but it's disturbing to consider how much of this might be Ed's true feelings rather than just the sickness talking. If he were dealing with his brother from back home, Al would probably drop the subject here and come up with something upbeat to say. There's no denying that things are different, though, and somewhere in the back of his mind he can just imagine Winry angrily looming over him for making assumptions and leaving things unsaid.]

I'll be honest, not knowing so much about your life is weird and a little scary sometimes. But worrying about you isn't the same as being disappointed. I don't think I could ever feel that way.

[imperfect]

[Ed manages a smile.] You're an idiot, Al.

[And so is he, for having to ask this kind of thing more than once. But maybe he'll learn one day.

He half-opens one eye.]

Hey, how about... when we get there, how about asking around for something you can do? A time like this, I don't think they'll be turning extra errand-runners away.

[alphonse]

You're trying to get rid of me already?

[He feigns an indignant huff.]

I'll talk to them. It'd be nice to actually do something useful during all this. But you'd better not give anyone a hard time while I'm gone.

[imperfect]

[Ed's laugh sounds a bit sleepy and breaks off rather suddenly before it can turn into more coughing, but it's genuine.]

I won't if they don't. Promise.

[alphonse]

[Hearing that sleepiness, Al carefully adjusts his grip. At least the hospital is within sight.]

Hang in there just a little longer. They'll probably want to start off by asking you a few questions.

[And then drug him up and take blood, but the talking part sounds nicer to focus on.]

[imperfect]

[He coughs.] Like it'll tell them anything new.

Just put me down once we're there, alright?

[alphonse]

Okay.

[Conveniently, he takes that to mean in the building and safely away from the rain, but he does help Ed down before they can be swarmed with tired (but not at all surprised to see another patient) nurses. For the time being, it's probably best if Al steps back. Just because the staff is used to dealing with Transports doesn't mean they'll be comfortable with a suit of armor looming over their every move.]

I don't want to get in anyone's way, but I'll be here if you need anything.

[imperfect]

[Privately, Ed wonders if having a menacing suit of armour hovering behind these people would be enough to make sure they took their job seriously despite the obvious overload, but he can't really force Al to tag along just for that. Or for any sappier reason.

Before he's hustled away, he feels like he should say something more. Then again, even out of the rain with his coat wrapped tightly around him, staying alert enough to walk is a pretty taxing priority right now - and has he ever been good with words at the best of times? Besides, neither of them are going anywhere; there'll be plenty of time for that once it does come to him.]

I'll see you later.