Mission: Bad Science Saves the Day

[initiates]

Date & Time: Mid-Day, 3310 | Present Day June 14th-16th
Location: Andersfeld, in the (far former) state of Alaska. (Also known at one time as Anchorage, Alaska.) | Back in Exsilium, those manning the Transport Pads, or working on developing the antibiotics and administering them to the ill throughout the city. Yet others will need to hop-scotch through time gathering sufficient supplies to save lives.
Characters: Volunteers to alter medical research, people working on antiobiotic cures, people distributing appropriate cures, and those who are doing minor missions into the past to retrieve adequate supplies to treat the sick in the present.
Summary: Transports are asked to help save tens of thousands of lives, first by traveling two years into the past and altering scientific research. Second, by helping with the manufacture and development of antibiotics or other cures, once the mission is complete. Third, by distributing the cure to the affected parties. Fourth, by going on pointed supply missions solo, or with up to two other people, in order to get enough supplies to save people in the present.

Whatever your character decides to do, the weight of saving lives is on their shoulders, unasked, and perhaps unwelcome. What will they do when faced with this decision?

Warnings: Illness. Freezing cold. Possible death. Drunken scientists.

In Andersfeld, the snow falls in thick, fat flakes, winds blowing in gusts up to 60 kph. Everyone is bundled up against the weather. Spirits are generally low, if not outright alcoholic. Safety lines and lights guide those brave enough to venture outdoors from building to building.

For the Transports with a six hour window to alter a future that will kill over a hundred thousand people in three weeks, it's a dangerous and necessary bravery.

In Exsilium, the success of the mission to Andersfeld is felt as soon as scientists notice the virus responding to antibiotic treatments. It becomes a race to finding the most effective means of combating the now bacterial infection, and of mass producing any working cure for distribution.

Some help with the production.

Others hurry to cart the supply out to the places hit most heavily. Yet others work directly with administering the antibiotics, in most cases, via an IV line. Those less heavily affected will be granted ridiculously large antibiotic pills, needing to be coaxed down spasming throats.

Those who need action, or who are no good with the sick, are asked to make countless small trips through time to secure the supplies needed to produce enough of the cure to save the tens of thousands who are ill but not yet deceased.

And for those too ill to assist, now is the time to rest, heal, and get better. In a world like this, one never knows what surprise might next lie in wait. The Transports and the Initiative have thwarted total disaster for now.

Mostly.

Comments

[gevurah]

[ He doesn't see it, but her brow furrows in immediate response.

Stoic and almost automatic: ]

No can do, Gilbert.

[ She doesn't leave people behind. She'd much rather punch herself in the face multiple times than give up on a life. ]

[retraced]

[Nothing about this is right. His head is swimming with all sorts of questions, angry thoughts, reminders that every moment he spends holding her up is another minute that the supplies that they need to help cure Oz and Break and Collette and the other half of the population is being wasted. He'd been too reckless, too caught up indulging in the idea that he'd be fine if he hadn't been infected yet after taking care of his roommates for over two weeks. That somehow what affected others wouldn't affect him.

I'm an idiot...]

Ah...I just realized. [He groans. And sounds more depressed than a grown man with a bad mutant flu should really sound.]

He's going to be upset with me when I get back.

[gevurah]

Oz? [ As they near the portal, she gets him closer to it first, double-checking the supplies she's carrying to see that everything is still tucked under her arms. ]

[retraced]

I just yelled at him a few days ago for doing the same thing that I'm doing now.

[He lets himself be led closer, giving a sideways glance down at the bag. Honestly, he can't even remember what he'd been instructed to get, but the list with all of the items is inside of the bag in case she wants to double check it all.]

[gevurah]

[ She hates to stall. It's important to get these things supplies back, so she does take a moment to check through everything while listening to Gil. ]

You can't take your own advice. [ It's not a question. ]

[retraced]

[He shakes his head and leans with one hand against the wall, breathing slowly.]

So if he yells, I can accept it. And you, too.

[Feverish words to be embarrassed about later.]

[gevurah]

Don't be such a dad. [ She keeps her tone leveled and then reaches back for him when she gets the supplies in her arms once more. ] Come on, we're almost there. Just focus on my voice.

[retraced]

--I'm not a dad!

[He's sound more offended if he could yell properly. He shivers as she grabs him, though the sudden cold feeling is, for the moment, preferable to overheating, so he keeps up without any trouble as she leads him along.]

[gevurah]

[ She's still not accustomed to moving in between portals, so when her feet find ground in the Hold again, surrounded by some members of the Initiative, she needs a moment to regain herself before she looks at Gil. ]

You okay?

[retraced]

[He's getting more used to moving in between portals by now. Just not with a fever this high.

So when she turns to look at him, she'll be just in time to catch sight of him gasping and pressing one hand to his chest through this ridiculous suit, unsteady on his feet but not to the point where he's falling over.]

We're back - ?

[gevurah]

We are. [ She hands the supplies over to one of the members and turns to Gil, hands reaching for his mask to undo it and allow him some fresh air. Well, as fresh as it can be in this place. ] Easy. Deep breaths if you can.

[retraced]

W-wait!

[His body is begging for fresh air, or at least something other than hot air that he's been breathing in and out and recycling for the last number of hours, but more important than that, she's right. He's infected.

He attempts to move his head away before she has a chance to get it off of him completely.]

You said it yourself - I'm infected. [A short cough.] Don't get too close!

[gevurah]

[ She tries to hold on him tighter now, frowning at him. ]

Just don't cough on me. [ Maybe without the suit he may have a better chance at breathing if his lungs will allow it.

With the supplies taken care of, she's going to hoist him up to his feet again. ] Let's not waste any more time.

[retraced]

[Okay, simple enough. No coughing allowed. Back on his feet now, he yanks the stupid mask all the way off and takes the slowest, most careful breaths that he can manage. At first, it's a relief. The cool air is reviving for all that it is, and he even stands up a little straighter. It's freezing now, but he can't bring himself to be too concerned about that. Not yet, at least.

He rubs at his eyes, in a way that looks childish despite the fact that he's a grown man.]

Right...can't waste any more time.

[So of course, revitalized as he is, he yanks against her told and turns back. Towards the portal. That means it's time to go back, right?]

[gevurah]

[ She freezes, eyeing him like he's just spawned an extra nose. ]

No.

You're going to the clinic.

[retraced]

It's fine! I think I'm feeling better.

[He's got his second wind, let's do this.]

[gevurah]

Your symptoms are getting worse, Gil. [ She shakes her head. ] You can't risk it.

[retraced]

It'll be fine. It'll be...

[His eyes narrow slightly, looking both like he's in pain and concentrating on something. Or maybe it's just that it hurts to concentrate. The color in his face starts to drain, the feverish flush fading and replaced with a sickly pallor. He closes his eyes then and shivers again. There's no way...no way that he'll be able to go back out and then come back again without passing out this time. He'll be even worse of a hindrance, not just to her but to the entire mission.

The realization makes him feel sicker than any virus.]

...No. Sorry. You're right. [He whispers, eyes still closed.]

[gevurah]

[ Oh boy. She leans her body toward him to try and keep him supported. ]

Gil?

[retraced]

You should go.

[He buries his face in his arm and turns away from her to cough, still doesn't open his eyes.]

There's no time to waste...someone here can help me to the hospital.

[gevurah]

Enough of this crap. [ She raises her good hand and aims to slap him across the face. ] You don't get to lecture me and then pull the same stunt later!

[retraced]

[Reaction time being what it is, he doesn't even see it coming. The next thing Gilbert knows, his face hurts and he's reeling to the side, one hand reaching up to sloppily drape his fingers across his cheek and eye.]

Ow?! W-what was that for?!

[gevurah]

[ She keeps him supported upright, but her grip is tight and angry. ]

You needed some sense knocked into you.

[retraced]

You couldn't have just yelled at me instead...?

[Sense hurts!!]

[gevurah]

Would it have worked? [ She doubts it. She tugs him along, this time she's not stopping for anything. ]