REBUILDING
Part Five of the Aveh-Nisan Chapter
The
Purpose Revealed
written
by YEN
version
(10/9/99)
Sigurd sighed as he activated a seldomly-used switch. A steady hum was heard, and a large, flat screen descended slowly from its recess in the ceiling. Soon, it was locked firmly in place in its position just in front of Sigurd's desk.
Its smooth ebony surface was divided equally into three sections, communication screens which linked directly to similar units located in Kislev, Nisan and the Yggdrasil. It was a conference system, designed as such to allow up to four parties to communicate at the same time. One of Wiseman Isaac Balthazar's inventions.
Standing up, Sigurd walked around the table to stand in front of the monitors. Just behind him, Maison shifted impatiently, a worried expression on his craggy face.
Moments later, one by one, the screens lit up, showing Rico and Billy in the leftmost screen, Fei and Citan at the center, and Elly and Sr. Agnes at the rightmost screen. They all had similar expressions to Maison's.
"What's going on?!" Fei, the first to break silence, looked angry, a helpless look in dark eyes. "Is it true that Bart is sick?"
Sigurd nodded, pain making the movement stiff. "Yes, and from what Citan has told me, it is similar to Dan's illness."
"How can that be?!" Fei demanded, and Citan placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Be calm, Fei. We will soon know why."
"How is Dan?" Elly said softly, her blue eyes were solemn and direct, no doubt locked on Fei.
Fei seemed to calm down upon hearing her. He straightened and glanced at Citan. The doctor nodded and lowered his hand, turning slightly to face them. "Dan's condition is steadily depreciating." His mouth tightened. "I cannot determine the cause of his illness, but it is similar to Krelian's virus."
Sigurd grimaced while the others had varying reactions to the announcement. Rico grunted and turned slightly away from the screen. Billy closed his eyes and lowered his head. There was the softest sigh from Elly as she too lowered her head. Sr. Agnes simply turned away while Maison took off his glasses and wearily rubbed his eyes. Fei and Citan remained as they were.
It was a
while before anyone could reply to that statement.
Sigurd: So, it is a leftover from the virus or a mutation?
Citan: No, I am afraid it is much complicated than that. There are similaritIes but this virus will not turn its victims into mutants. ... It will simply kill them.
......
Billy: Oh God...
Maison: The young master...
Elly: Are you sure, Citan?
Citan: I wish I was not. Sigurd, Maison, you must prepare a cryogenic chamber for the young master. Lowered body temperature slows down the illness.
Maison: I will do so at once, Doctor Uzuki.
Maison exited Sigurd's office.
Billy: I better tell father about this.
Sigurd: What?! This has happened in Nortune too?!
Elly: In Nisan as well. Sr. Agnes...
Sr. Agnes: At once, Holy Sophia.
Both Billy and Sr. Agnes disappeared from their respective screens.
Rico: Just late this afternoon, a cadet in Jugend had to be admitted. His face was severely deformed, and Ramsus swore that the change happened in minutes, and Jessiah attested to that as well.
Elly: In Nisan, we had similar cases, but we didn't realize that they were related to Dan and Bart's illness.
Sigurd: It's an epidemic...
Fei: No way, this is too much to be a coincidence.
Citan: Fei is right. For one or two areas to have similar outbreaks could be considered as accidental, but Nortune, Nisan, Bledavik, and Lahan all experienced similar incidents in one day.
Rico: You're saying this is planned then.
Elly: What could all the victims have in common?
Sigurd: Why were Bart and Dan infected?
Citan: ... I am afraid we may be all infected.
WHAT?!
Citan: "I had a blood sample taken from Dan and analyzed." "He is infected with a virus strain, which affects organic cell structures in the same manner as Krelian's virus, but with a more fatal result." "His own cells are destroying each other. It is Krelian's virus at a molecular level. The infected cells kill the uninfected ones and assimilate them."
Fei: "Eats them, you mean."
Citan: "Yes, Fei. You may say that." "I had first surmised that Krelian's virus had remained dormant in Dan and had mutated into a different strain, but upon hearing that Bart was similarly infected, I began to think otherwise." "Tell me, Elly, Rico, are the patients you have native to Nisan and Nortune?"
Elly: "... Let me check with Sr. Agnes."
Elly's image disappeared from the Nisan screen.
Rico: "Hmph. I can tell you right off that the patient here is from Aveh. He was recently admitted into the Jugend Academy."
Fei: "How do you know, Rico?"
Rico: "Simple, Fei. He is one of the guests who got injured during the mutant attack on Bledavik. He's the only son of Tassan Saznar, the head of the Bledavik Trade Caravan Association."
Sigurd: "Tassan Saznar? He was given a personal invitation. I remember Daniel talking about him."
Rico: "His son, Peter Saznar, protected him when Wels and Reapers broke into their suite. He was lucky to survive. Later on, his father insisted that I sponsor him into Jugend when he recovered. He wanted the best training possible and protection possible for Peter."
Billy returned to the Kislev screen.
Billy: "His father won't be happy to hear what has happened to him then." "I have informed Kelvena of your recommendation, Citan. She and Prim are taking care of Peter."
Maison came back and whispered something into Sigurd's ear before heading out again.
Sigurd: "... Maison has just informed me that several more people have taken ill."
Fei: "We will be at Bledavik shortly, Sigurd. The Yggdrasil is running well and fast."
Citan: "I have also informed Wiseman Melchior. He is on his way."
Maria suddenly appeared on the Yggdrasil screen.
Maria: "We have trouble! Bingo just went berserk!"
Fei: "Damn! I'm on my way to the bridge."
Maria: "Emeralda is up there, Fei, but she and the others are having trouble holding him down. The nurse is on her way there."
Citan: "I will go as well."
The Yggdrasil screen darkened.
Billy: "This is not good.
Elly reappeared on the Nisan screen.
Elly: "I have just found out that all three cases we have here in Nisan are from Aveh. One is a trader, another, a mechanic, and the third, an oil prospector on a pilgrimage." ? "Where did Fei and the others go?"
Rico: "Emergency situation on the Yggdrasil, but they should be able to handle it easy enough." "Let me guess. All of the patients were in Bledavik during the Refounding Anniversary."
Elly: "... How did you know that?"
Billy: "All the victims so far are from Bledavik."
Sigurd: "... It has something to do with the mutant attack months ago."
Elly: "... Their medical records show that they were all hospitalized after the attack."
Billy: "Dan was injured, too."
Sigurd: "What about Bart?"
Margie: "He was injured, too."
Sigurd glanced aside to see Margie walking around the screen to stand beside him.
Sigurd: "Margie! I'm glad you are here!"
Elly: "I was worried about you. You should have arrived sooner."
Margie: "I'm sorry, Elly. Vierge did bring me here early, but I went to see Bart first."
......
Billy: "He will be all right, Margie."
Margie: "Thank you." "Sigurd, Bart had small cut after the fight, but I healed it soon after."
Rico: "So all victims were injured during the battle."
Billy: "That could be it. They could have been infected by a virus from the have-nots.
Elly: "But mutants have lived among us for so long. Why only now?"
Sigurd: "The desert... They went into a totally different environment from their own..."
Margie: "So a new strain developed..."
Rico: "And infected anyone unlucky enough to come in contact with them."
Billy: "So far, it is only those who had open wounds who got sick."
Rico: "Maybe, but Citan said we may be all infected."
.......
What do you think of my plan, Seth?
It is ingenious as always, Master.
Heh heh... That's what I like about you, Seth, so honest...
As always, Master.
So easy to manipulate...
I live only to serve you.
And so
naive.
Citan was concerned, very concerned as he examined the readouts on Bingo. Sigurd's former trainee and now Acting Captain of the Yggdrasil was in a comatose state. When he, Fei and Maria had arrived on the bridge, they had found him unconscious with Emeralda and the brigde crew looking puzzled and concerned, and the nurse examining him with no added enlightenment.
What worried Citan was the fact that Bingo had not been injured during the mutant attack on Bledavik. He had been on board the Yggdrasil at that time, attacking the enemy in the rear in conjunction with Fei's forces.
His jaw tightened when the medical computer finally confirmed the presence of the virus in the young man's system. ... Just as I have feared... we are all infected...
Citan closed his eyes and took off his glasses to rub his face wearily. He was tired. He had not rested since Fei had brought Dan to him last evening. Even now, Dan was in a cryogenic chamber. Cold forced the virus to go dormant and halted its spread through its victim. It also meant that the victim had to remain inactive...
It would appear that the virus forced its host to expend and generate more energy to increase its growth. The higher the metabolism of the person, the faster the virus invaded the body until the victim had no more energy to spare and simply collapsed as were Dan's and Bingo's cases.
However, it wasn't similar to Bart's symptoms. Both Sigurd and Maison testified in the medical report that the young master had simply fainted without going through the maddened rage that the other victims had shown. In Nisan, two of the three cases, had symptoms similar to Bart's...
... In all cases, the same virus strain is present... Individuals react differently...
"Hyuga..."
Citan lowered his hands from his face and glanced to see Yui by his side. His wife's eyes were warm with concern as she reached out a hand to touch his face.
Her fingers were pleasantly cool against his skin and he sighed, closing his eyes and covering her hand with his own. He placed a kiss against her palm and pressed it against his face. "Yui..."
A gentle smile graced her lovely face. "You are tired, my husband. You need to sleep..."
"No," he shook his head, protesting, "I cannot, I must find the cure to this illness..." He broke off as she kissed him. Her lips were so tender on his...
He released her hand to place it at the small of her back, holding her closer to him as his other hand moved to touch her face. He returned her kiss just as she pulled away from him.
Citan blinked and stared at her, puzzled and disappointed. "Yui, why..." A finger across his mouth kept him from continuing. "You are too tired, Hyuga," she smiled, her voice teasing.
He smiled back automatically. "I am quite certain I have sufficient energy to accomplish the task at hand quite proficiently," he replied straightly, his own eyes playful.
Yui laughed and poke him in the chest. "I didn't mean that, I mean you should be resting right now."
Citan's smile disappeared, remembering the dire situation they were in. "I cannot rest, Yui," again he shook his head, "this virus is even more dangerous then Krelian's creation. Unless we can find a cure soon, all will be lost."
His wife looked back at him with widened eyes, then glanced away. "It will not help if you overwork yourself, Hyuga," she said softly and slowly.
He smiled at that. "Do not be too concerned, my wife." His tone suddenly turned sad, "Have you lost confidence in me already, Yui?"
She immediately looked back at him. "Of course not!" She declared.
"Then, let me work," he replied triumphantly, his hand reaching out to tip her chin up, his dark eyes meeting her light ones impishly. "Really, you do not have to act so much like a mother hen to me, my wife," he said mischievously, "that is not what I require from you."
"Oh, really..." Yui said dryly, "Well, my dear and darling husband, what if I can prove to you that you really need to rest right now?"
Citan lowered his hand, suddenly curious, while Yui looked back at him confidently. "Very well," he said, crossing his arms, "I will do as you say if you can present the necessary evidence."
Yui nodded and straightened, her expression now serious. "If you were in your right frame of mind now, you wouldn't be wasting precious time arguing with me."
Citan stared at her in shock as she continued, "You should now be working on the cure for the virus instead of trying to seduce me..."
"Wait a minute! You kissed me, not the other way around!"
Yui smiled. "You kissed me back instead of pulling away and saying, "Yui, this is not the proper place and time," as you always said before."
Citan was flabbergasted. "That is not true," he complained, "I have not said that since..." he paused, frowning, "... approximately eight years ago."
"That's because I have stopped disturbing you when you're working until now."
"And why, pray tell, is that so?"
"Hyuga, you are a wonderful husband. You are one of the most desirable men..."
"... one of the?!"
"... that I have ever laid eyes on," Yui continued sweetly, "but no woman in her right mind would want to be in physical contact with you after one of your frequent mechanical mishaps."
"..."
"On the other hand, you are absolutely irresistible when you just finished your bath."
"... My dear wife, is there a point to all of this?" Citan asked softly, moving closer to her.
"Please, Hyuga," she implored softly, "just rest for a while. Even a short nap..."
"Yui, I'm not that tired..."
"Please."
Citan frowned, seeing the concern in his wife's eyes. ... Something is bothering her... She was suddenly embracing him, her arms wound around his back, and her face against his neck. Instinctively, he returned the embrace and glanced down at her. He could feel her cool breath against the hollow of his throat. Yui... what is wrong?
"... Very well."
"Thank you..."
Fei could only stare in disbelief at Yui. "... Are you sure? Doc..."
Yui nodded, her eyes sad and pained, "He was running a high fever, and I had to convince him to get some sleep before I had him and Bingo placed in stasis fields." She looked away from Fei. "Citan is very stubborn, and he would have killed himself trying to find a cure rather then be bedridden."
Fei nodded, his eyes closing wearily. "You're right. If he ever thought that the virus was already taking him down, he would never have allowed himself to be sedated." He rubbed his face wearily. "But Yui, Doc said that we may all be infected already."
"... That is correct, Fei." Yui continued as Fei looked back at her with despair. "I had the nurse take blood samples from all the crew on board the Yggdrasil, including my own and Midori's" "Each of us has the virus, some in more minute proportions than others, but it is there." "Your blood sample and Maria's have not been taken, but there is little doubt that you're both infected also."
"What about Emeralda?" Fei asked hopefully. Emeralda's nanotechnology composition had aided a great deal during Krelian's viral attack. In fact, she provided the key to the cure.
For the first time since she entered Fei's quarters, Yui smiled, "She's immune."
Fei sighed in relief, his dark eyes warm with pride, "She is Hope."
"Yes, she is,"
Fei smiled. "Wiseman Melchior is also on his way to Bledavik. We will cross paths with his gear soon. I have contacted him, and he said to have the entire ship ready for his arrival..."
I wonder if they even have the slightest idea...
Margie
carefully wiped away condensed water from the glass until she
could see Bart's face clearly within the cryogenic capsule.
"Please
get well," she whispered so softly that the words were
barely discernible to her own ears. The warm vapor of her breath
misted and condensed on the cold glass, hiding Bart's face from
her sight again. Impatiently, she wiped the surface clear once
more.
Anger suddenly blossomed within her, and she clung to it fiercely, stoking the embers of her heart as she would a fire in stubborn defense against an icy wind.
"Don't you dare leave me, Bart." Her words were quiet, harsh in intensity. "Don't you dare."
There was no answer to her pleas, no sign that Bart heard her. She stared blindly at him, seeing only his face that she knew her entire life.
Why did this have to happen now?
Anger left her, leaving numb pain.
Don't leave me.
To be continued...
Yen