Chapter Text
“I’m not sure how to record this, but…”
[Pause.]
“This is Fleming, Head Scientist of the Northern Cluster, recording with the objective of… reporting a terrible tragedy. Dr. Grace... is going to die. Its defensive cells have failed to exterminate the bacteria before it infected its organs. I’m… not sure how to give the news to Rocky.”
[Excessive coughing in the background.]
“I don’t know how it happened. The risk of our maladies affecting it were extremely low considering the differences in our physiologies, but as it turns out, there were enough similarities for one disease… Based on its symptoms, we suspect it’s been infected by the same disease that blocks our radiators. We aren’t sure how it got to Dr. Grace, but we have isolated the area. I’m using protective gear. It… thinks we’re going to have a conversation about its defensive cells, mostly because I didn’t wish to leave it to die alone. It’s so prone to panic…”
“Fleming, I can see you! Why are you so far awa—”
[Excessive coughing.]
[Quiet trotting.]
“Hi. I didn’t notice you could hear me from that far.”
[Silence.]
“Why do you look like one of the Ghostbusters?”
“… What you have is contagious. I need to be careful.”
“It can’t pass through xenonite, though.”
“It… it could. It passes through our carapace, as thick as it is.”
“Huh, I guess I’m out of luck being all squishy and stuff.”
[Coughing.]
“Can I ask MacDonald a favor?”
“What is it?”
“Can they send me more food with Vitamin C? That usually helps.”
“Of course, Grace. Of course.”
“Why’s your voice, like, two octaves lower than usual?”
“I’ve been working a lot, that’s all. Don’t worry about me.”
“You should take a break, man.”
“I know. How… how are you feeling?”
“I have an alien disease in my lungs, so not great.”
“Right. Right…”
“Do you think it’d be possible to synthetize antibiotics? They usually kill bacteria.”
“I’m not sure how long we’d need to manage to do that, but… we can try.”
“And uh, can you ask the biodome guys to lower the temperature? I already have a fever.”
“Of course. Anything to make you feel more comfortable.”
[Pause.]
“Why do you think I’m dying?”
“I-I don’t! You’re strong, Grace, you’ll pull through!”
“Did I forget to tell you about the immune system? I’m so sorry. Ever since classes started, I got a little lost.”
“… but you’re already showing symptoms. That… that means it failed, right?”
“It couldn’t kill the sickness before it affected me, but it’s still trying to kill it.”
“… oh.”
“I might die if we can’t do anything to clean my lungs, though. But I’m not worried. You guys are the most incredible doctors I’ve ever had.”
“So you’re not going to die? This isn’t a death sentence to you?”
“Probably not, no.”
“Incredible. Eridians die to any infection that gets to us.”
“Humans had to win something, right?”
[Tired chuckles, followed by excessive coughing.]