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It’s not that Band Cell doesn’t know what their jobs are for, it’s actually kind of obvious. However, the full extent of his cell designation—his entire purpose in fulfilling the body—was never fully made clear until he came back from a joint mission with Naive T Cell.
The young neutrophil in training was intent on greeting his mentor with questions on how to get better at hand to hand combat and strategies concerning experienced opponents when he came across a fearsome sight. Killer T Cell, a cell who worked Naive to the bone and had a temper that was just as explosive and as searing as the acid enclosed within the stomach, was busy chewing out U-1146. Normally, such an interaction would have been more than enough incentive for Band Cell to step in.
He was far from a seasoned cell, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t exercise the professionalism that he often observed from his mentors. They were all colleagues after all. If they were all working towards the same goal, then there was no reason for such needless bickering, right?
For a moment, all Band Cell could hear was Killer T berating 1146 while 1146 took everything in stride.
And that’s when Killer T cell spoke her name.
AE-3803.
Although Band Cell had never met the young erythrocyte in person, he had heard quite enough from 1146’s stories and countless jibes from the rest of his mentors. Even when he never saw her, Band Cell knew that she was compassionate. Determined. Eager to learn. Eager to progress forward and hone her skills. From what he heard, he thought that she was older than him, probably around 1146’s age. It came to a surprise that she had merely graduated a few cycles before he had been assigned to shadow his mentors.
Regardless, it was a surprise when not only had Killer T Cell brought up the red blood cell into the conversation. It became all the more concerning when Killer T physically invaded 1146’s space and said that immune cells should keep a healthy distance from the civilian skills. Fraternization would only lead to the softening of the resolve of the immune cells who worked against the societal conventions set by standard protocol.
At such a blatant accusation, Band Cell had to wonder: Weren’t they supposed to protect the civilian cells as well as the body itself? Wouldn’t it make more sense if the immune cells built bonds that could potentially benefit the body? To keep a distance away from the charges they were supposed to protect…
It was a confusing thought.
It seemed wrong.
Band Cell was shocked out of his reverie when he heard the telltale sound of flesh pounding into flesh, of sturdy knees thudding to the floor. In panic, the neutrophil in training immediately dashed forward, not caring if his interference would land him in trouble.
Luckily, 1146 managed to escape the impromptu assault relatively unscathed. Aside from slight bruising across his jaw, there was no way to tell that his mentor looked like he had almost come to reciprocated blows with the lymphocyte.
At any other time, Band Cell would have thought it admirable, but he wanted answers. It was just his luck that Naive T Cell’s mentor must have sensed this because he stomped on past, grumbling about happy-go-lucky white blood cells.
If he couldn’t get answers from the blond, then he would surely get them from 1146.
“What was that all about?” He helped the older neutrophil up to his feet, a worried, but stern expression on his face.
To his dismay, Band Cell watched 1146 laugh almost bashfully into his palm. There was fondness in his gaze, the emotion that had Band Cell casting his glance away from the sheer emotional rawness he found there.
“A conversation that I’ve had with Killer T on previous occasions.”
In shock, Band Cell gawped up at him. “He’s attacked a fellow immune cell before?”
Band Cell considered himself to be relatively even tempered to most, but the wrath he felt rivalled that of Killer T Cell. Without meaning to, the young cell began to head in the direction of the lymphocyte before a firm, but gentle hand landed on his shoulder
“We should talk first,” 1146 explained when he saw curiosity mingling with anger in his eyes. “But you should tell me what you heard to avoid future misunderstanding.”
Dubious of his mentor’s sanity (who would let such senseless transgressions go?) Band Cell still managed to compose himself, saying, “He said that we shouldn’t fraternize with civilian cells and that spending time with Miss Red Blood Cell might turn into a conflict of interest.”
To put it mildly.
“You’ve done a good job with being quiet. You’ll do well with stealth missions in the future.” A beat. “However, what Killer T said bears some truth. Fraternization with other cell types isn’t such a terrible taboo, but many don’t like associating with the immune system. Because we don’t often associate with those outside of our sect, our reputation is kind of… infamous in many circles outside of our own. It’s usually best to keep separate because there might come a day we might have to kill those we consider… friends.”
Band Cell hadn’t noticed until how, but the older cell’s voice had become closer, halting when he reached the end of his speech. In fact, if the young cell was correct, then it seemed as if 1146 was remorseful.
Melancholic.
Haltingly, Band Cell asked, “Did you… did you ever…?”
He couldn’t bear to ask.
He had known that in their line of work, there were cases of normal civilian cells becoming infected. In fact, hadn’t a number of normal cells become infected with a virus? And hadn’t the combined effort of numerous immune cells been able to defeat this new threat by killing them?
As Band Cell’s head reeled from this dawning realization, 1146 decided to answer the question that remained unspoken.
“I had a friend… once. He was a Normal Cell and he seemed so kind and helpful at the time.”
The neutrophil shuddered, his mind wracked with past memories. Band Cell, watching as his mentor’s face became weary and guilty, reached out, his hand hovering a moment before holding onto 1146’s shoulder. Thankfully, 1146 accepted the gesture, a gentle smile his only acknowledgement in the trainee’s show of support.
Slowly and softly, possibly even as reverently as possible, 1146 said, “He was actually a Cancer Cell… and I helped kill him.”
Band Cell bowed his head—out of respect for the dead? because he didn’t know what to say?—and his hand squeezed down on 1146’s shoulder before he let go.
“I’m sorry to hear that… was it hard for you to let go?”
1146 shook his head, always slow and unhurried. Solemn. “Not necessarily, it’s still part of my job, after all. However, sometimes I do get caught up in thinking about what could have been… If he were only a regular normal cell… Or if…” He faltered and let his thoughts trail off into a silence that was neither hostile or comforting. “But those are just thoughts.”
But Band Cell still had questions.
“And what of Miss Red Blood Cell?”
Band Cell was concerned now, still so young and impressionable to the ways of the world. And 1146 could see that as he looked into the dark grey eyes that mirrored his own.
“Band Cell…” 1146 stopped, contemplating hard about something before becoming resolute in his decision to speak. “Sometimes, it’s worth it to take a chance and enjoy the memories that you’ll make along the way.”
“But what if—”
1146 held out a hand, a gesture to placate him into peace.
“Perhaps Killer T is right. If there comes a time—” And here, 1146 looked uncomfortable, but he pressed onward. “—that she should ever pose a threat… perhaps I won’t be able to carry out the job. Until then, I’ll do my best to protect her and the body.”
“Because it’s your duty?”
1146 smiled.
“Because they’re my life.”