[OPEN][TEXT] khaara threat update: signs and symptoms

[inject]

I have information regarding the Khaara. Read attached form.



> Analysis of the disease contracted by the base in the months previous was undertaken with regard to the available information on the Khaara. Using these methods it was possible to conclude that the disease is in fact related to them. Similarities between samples of the disease in the lab and the Khaara on record are comparitive to a human to an ape - they share a common ancestor.

> Evolution in bacteria occurs over a much quicker time than in complex species. With this in mind, a century, perhaps two, can be hazarded as the amount of time it took this strain to develop. In that time, it adapted to the local environment by relying on the local species for survival rather than conquering.

> They are a collective. The samples reacted to each other in their culture dishes and grew as one entity.

> Distance is no barrier. A dish placed as far away as the other side of the base continued to grow in the same pattern as one in the labs.

> The illness makes local animals stronger. The Khaara samples weaken as it rearranges the animal DNA. It forces a rapid evolutionary process. The animals become violent. Key signs of infection, therefore, are aggression, weakness, and mutation. The illness can be spotted by previously detailed strengthening aspects.

> Both can be contained with enzyme blockers. Repeated booster shots are a must for treatment to be effective.

Now if you excuse me, I'll be going for a drink.

Comments

[onethousen]

[ forgive this child for what she more or less kind of understands out of this, because what it comes out as is: ]

Could they be a reason why the Emperor and the Dragon got sick?

[ more just if they were relatively new but adapted in a fast time, and had started that a hundred years ago, which is vaguely around when the Emperor got sick... who knows. all she's seeing is "this makes people sick and is those alien bacteria" and wondering if that, too, could be part of what had hurt the old creatures in the deeps. aggression, weakness, mutation. who knows. not her, that's for sure. ]

Or the Emperor, at least.

[checkoutmyttk]

[The fuck??? This universe sucks.]

Wait what disease? people here got sick? [He's assuming it was before his time because she said months ago, but still. Now that it's apparently related to the Khaara, he would really like to know what the hell happened.]

[inject]

[ Valentine had to smother a small snort of laughter. Thank goodness this was text - not that she would have let anything slip were it face to face. ]

I'm sure many people want me to be their first. You're welcome.

[inject]

It's something to consider. Coming to conclusions like that so soon isn't advisable. We need more proof.

[inject]

Yes. Read URSULA's documents. I wrote something up about it and it's publicly available.

(lights, camera,) action

[showybusiness]

But Mettaton knows exactly what he can and can't do. And if Valentine is going to rebuff him, he'll show up anyway.

Reclined, on a desk. In her space. Smiling. Like an annoying cat.

[inject]

Valentine looked from Mettaton to her drink and back again. She strongly contemplated throwing it on him. That had never been her style, though, and instead she drank it down in smooth, even gulps. It let her keep him waiting.

But all good things would have to end, and she eventually put the glass down and fixed him with a look.

"What."

[showybusiness]

"Hi, sweetie. You were being grumpy with me, so I came to see how you were doing!"

At least he wasn't eating grapes or throwing rose petals. He just reclined there, lazily, watching. Sparkling.

[inject]

"I appreciate the concern." Her voice was so dry as to be an island in this underwater base. She leaned back in her chair, arms over the back, and crossed her ankle over her opposite knee.

"What do you actually want? Dirk's the robotics expert."

[showybusiness]

"Just to see you, gorgeous. Glad I could brighten your day!"

He rose, tossed one long leg over the other, and got up to shimmy his way out.

[inject]

"...Why?"

She was genuinely curious. Why did he like her so much? She wanted to mostly keep in his good books in case he did prove to be valuable for gauging the mood of the crew, but... it didn't make sense. What did she offer him? She had to know.

"I'm hardly falling over myself to be your fan."

[showybusiness]

"But you are, darling! Everyone is!"

He laughed, like that was the silliest thing he'd ever heard. She loves him. Of course she does!

[inject]

How were you meant to answer to that wanton denial? There was something slightly charming about it. For someone who wore so many masks she was almost afraid of being completely without one, seeing this plain, unambiguous self-centred assurance was strangely enthralling.

"... You are one of a kind, I'll grant you that."

[onethousen]

What counts as proof?

[inject]

When precisely did the Dragon and the Emperor get sick? It could have been before the initial bacterium settled. How deep down does the disease go? Is it possible to find tracers in the Void?

Too many variables. We need to narrow it down.

[checkoutmyttk]

[He groans, of course, more reading.] I'll look it up, thanks.

[inject]

In the meantime, be careful when examining new biomes.

[checkoutmyttk]

[The reply comes several minutes later after having found and read the specified document.] so what, i could just stumble on something with this flu or whatever and end up catching the same thing? seems like if that's the case, it's impossible to avoid. although i probably wouldn't get it.

[onethousen]

I'm not sure... around a hundred years ago, I think, for the Emperor. So are those good questions to start with trying to find answers?

[inject]

Is that so.

I'd like to take some samples from you to expose to the cultures we have in the labs to test that hypothesis.

[inject]

I'm not the type to say there are no stupid questions, since someone will inevitably prove a person wrong.

For the time being, however, any question is worth pursuing on this topic.

voice

[armoured]

[Oh thank goodness.

The relief is palpable in Al's voice when he switches, though the childish pitch probably isn't entirely inspiring either.]

My brother is in the military, so we spent a lot of our time looking around the various research labs. I'm not a medic by any means, but I do know a lot about chemistry and alchemy, so perhaps I can offer some help.

[checkoutmyttk]

i'd say go for it, except it wouldn't help. there's nothing about my blood that's special. i just can't catch most things cause of my tactile telekinesis.

[splinten]

Try not to let him overtax those skills of his. That said we might be well-advised to look into expanding our resources for this kind of thing.

[bonomial]

That's incredible! I hadn't thoguht [A pause, as he deletes his text, his fingers seemingly tripping on the keys a little.] The possibility of a sentience arising from a whole bacterial mat instead of just small clusters isn't something I considered at all.

This changes everything. How many other organisms on the planet act like this? Is this part of the whole "sentient planet" thing? If it's like a giant thinking biofilm, it's like the planet is one big brain!

[Yes, it was necessary to underline that.]