Memory transcription subject: Abdul Suresh, United Nations Secretary-General
Date [Standardized human time]: August 13th, 2148
[Day 6]
“Secretary General Abdul, to what do I owe the pleasure?” the brown-furred venlil governor’s smile barely made it to his sleep-deprived eyes.
“I’m here on behalf of the Sapient Coalition about the Skalgan Flu. As you are no doubt aware, among the thousands of venlil casualties these last few paws, there have been several human deaths. This increase in xenophobic activity against humanity has us very concerned,” I said smoothly.
“Y-yes, I am well aware of the violence. We have law enforcement doing all they can in the city, but the amount of protesters around the city’s borders is growing by the day, and infecting more and more people with the virus,” he explained.
I nodded, understanding this was a hard time for the governor. “What’s the status on Beiton?” I asked next.
“Nearly as secure as Ransu City. All roads in and out are closed, the spaceport is under complete lockdown, and quarantine procedures have been issued. So far, nothing substantial,” he answered. There was a chime on his holopad, “Pardon me, Secretary General, it’s my assistant Servaen,” I recognized the name, he was with the SHO, in charge of keeping statistics on the flu’s spread.
I nodded respectfully, and Maulo scanned an email. His eyes grew wider as he read, and he kept glancing back and forth at me. Once he finished, he put a paw on his forehead and muttered.
“Are you alright, Governor?” I asked. He shook his head slowly.
“Some crazed gunman, infected with the virus, just shot up a human’s bar in Beiton,” he grumbled. “Police think it’s the same one that shot two UN peacekeepers at Ransu’s north border, but we have no way of knowing for sure because the suspect succumbed to the virus after a mild scuffle.”
“Anyone in that bar could now be infected,” I said gravely.
“One of the customers, a venlil, says the gunman coughed directly into his face during their fight. He’s been ordered to quarantine, but stars forbid, we’ve probably got another outbreak on our paws,” the venlil slid open a drawer under his desk and withdrew a medium bottle of scotch and two shot glasses. “Care for a drink, Secretary General? He asked.
I graciously accepted one of the shot glasses. “You have my email, Governor. I want you to start forwarding any new statistics on the virus as they come in, especially from Beiton and Ransu. I’d also like to request samples of the virus sent to us for further study on Earth,” I said, crossing my arms.
“Absolutely, sir. I’ll forward all the information we have right away.”
“Thank you, Governor Maulo. We’ll keep you updated on our own findings as well,” I nodded courteously and took my leave. This was going to be a much bigger problem than we initially anticipated. Something had to be done about the extremism being spread around, but stationing more peacekeepers on the streets would likely only fuel that flame. Thank goodness for that scotch.
~~~
Memory transcription subject: Qwiv, venlil bouncer
Date [Standardized human time]: August 13th, 2148
[Day 7]
I was forced to call out of work today, I had a terrible cough that started not long after yesterday’s scuffle. I couldn’t believe the balls on that old man to just pull a gun in public. He was delirious, I could still see his glassed-over eyes as he gasped for air like a fish out of water. Stars.
I know now I wasn’t the one who killed him, but for a little while I was terrified. I didn’t mean to hurt him any more than I had to, and even though he rightfully deserved it, supposedly killing a couple of other humans, I still felt awful about potentially taking a life. It didn’t matter much now, all said and done.
I spent the whole paw in bed watching movies. My joints were in absolute agony, and my head was throbbing before I took some Tylenol. Now it was duller, but still annoying. I got a call on my holopad and answered it just to make the ringing stop.
“Hey Qwiv, how’re you holdin’ up?” the human over the phone asked.
“Hey Earl, fine I suppose. I’m definitely sick,” I coughed. Earl was the bartender that madmen tried to shoot. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body, and never so much as stepped on a bug intentionally. I’m glad he didn’t get hit by the bullet.
“Yikes, you sure sound it. I hope you get better soon, that Skalgan Flu is a serious thing,” he had a habit of pointing out the obvious. I didn’t mind much, he was my closest friend after all. “Once you’re healthy enough, lemme buy ya a beer for your troubles, ‘kay?”
“Fuck yeah,” I smiled wearily, then coughed again. I was getting used to seeing my own blood, I was almost out of tissues from this stupid flu.
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“You need anythin’ though? All good on food, medicine, all that?” Earl asked.
“I’m set. The UN hooked me up with a bunch of TV dinners. I definitely could use more tissues though,” I said.
“I’m on it! I’ll place an order for ya,” he grinned. I loved his optimism, he actually made me believe I’d recover.
~~~
Memory transcription subject: Daniel Stat, human virologist
Date [Standardized human time]: August 13th, 2148
[Day 7]
I clocked in and slipped on my lab coat. Today we received another set of samples, and some basic antivirals I didn’t expect to have much effect on the virus. Silvon and I met up with Tinasi on our way to the lab.
“Make sure you’ve got the appropriate PPE, last thing you want to do is catch anything,” I warned the yotul. She slipped on a face mask, goggles that looked funny on her monocular eyes, and a pair of blue rubber gloves. I gave her a thumbs up and opened the virus lab’s door.
The second it creaked open, I heard an odd scuffle, like vials being hastily slid back into place.
“Emiv?” I called, startling the jet-black venlil, his bushy tail shot straight up. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
He put his ungloved paws together awkwardly, he was only wearing a lab coat. He chuckled and smiled, “I was just- uh, y’know, delivering the samples,” he said.
“Emiv,” Tinasi said, “Where is your equipment?”
The venlil looked between the three of us before it registered, “Oh, I guess I forgot.”
All three of us groaned, facepalming nearly in sync.
“Get the fuck out of my lab,” I said, pointing toward the door. Emiv smiled and nodded, then hastily took his leave.
“That’s more paperwork for me,” Silvon mumbled.
“Let’s hope he didn’t screw up any of the samples,” I said, checking the vials. They were all still sealed, luckily, but the microscope was all set up like he was getting ready to observe them. Thank god he didn’t, I wouldn’t put it past Emiv to cause a lab leak.
“Okay then, everyone,” I nodded at Silvon and Tinasi, “Let’s get to work.”
I popped open one of the vials and poured the blood into a slide. I set up the microscope and motioned the yotul forward. She carefully peered into the lens.
“Woah,” she muttered, “these really do look nothing like Skalgan viruses.”
“Nasty little things, huh?” I asked, grabbing a sample of venlil red blood cells. “Watch this, I’m adding some immune cells to the slide,” I carefully dripped in some of the solution, Tinasi’s eyes widened as she watched the rhinovirus decimate the immune cells.
“I almost didn’t believe your report- seeing it with my own eyes- fuck!” she exclaimed. I nodded, removing the slide carefully, sterilizing it with hydrogen peroxide, and disposing of it in the bio waste bin.
I checked the antivirals we had been provided, knowing full well that none of them would work. “Penicillin? Really?” I chuckled. The SHO had no idea how rhinovirus worked. I’d have to include in my next report that there are no known treatments or cures for the common cold.
I shook my head, and then something caught my eye, a red vial. I scanned the information sheet that listed everything we’d been given, “They gave us human immune cells,” I exclaimed.
“What good is that gonna do?” Tinasi asked.
“I’m not sure. As far as I know, nobody’s ever bothered introducing them to another species. Let’s have a look!” For probably the first time, I paired up the microscope with my holopad and expanded the view so everyone could see. I’d never bothered to use this function since the display lacked a decent resolution, but this could be a big moment!
I took the red vial, carefully took some of its contents into an eyedropper, and dripped the solution onto the slide. The white blood cells almost immediately got to work clearing out the rhinovirus. For just a moment, I was hopeful we’d found something huge! Then, however, the cells mistook the regular venlil blood as a virus and swiftly began destroying the cells.
“Stars,” I heard Silvon mumble. I shook my head, then took another drop of venlil immune cells and added it to the slide. Almost immediately the two began clashing, quickly the human cells overwhelmed the venlil and overtook the slide.
“Well, that was promising,” I grumbled sarcastically.
“I’ll say!” Tinasi exclaimed, bouncing in place, “This could open the way to a proper cure! Those blood cells are real smart, they know how to identify what is and isn’t a threat, if we can culture some to recognize venlil cells as part of the body, then maybe a vaccine or- or-” she took a breath, it was nice seeing someone so passionate about my field. And hell, she might just be onto something.
“Well, since the 21st century, we’ve been able to modify white blood cells to help fight cancer. I don’t have the know-how for it, but if I can put your idea down in the report and have it sent to the SHO, I’m sure they could get someone to look into it!” I grinned. All three of us had a renewed sense of vigor. We might just be able to stop this virus after all!
~~~
Date: 8/13/148 SHT
Report: The provided antivirals do not affect rhinovirus, humanity has never managed to engineer a cure or treatment for the virus, and until now really had no incentive to. At first, I had my doubts about the inclusion of the human T-cells with the samples, however, upon watching the cells go to work destroying the virus, Dr. Silvon’s assistant, Tinasi, came up with an intriguing hypothesis.
The cells were observed to also target the venlil blood cells, video provided, but Tinasi suggested there may be a way to engineer the cells to recognize venlil biology as benign. Humanity has been able to genetically modify immune cells for well over a century now. If possible, I would recommend looking into this prospect.
Dr. Daniel Stat
~~~
Dr. Stat, your request for research into genetically modified human immune cells has been denied. Since 2137 all DNA modification to be used on any member of the Sapient Coalition is deemed a crime against sapience unless a majority vote by a member of every SC species rules otherwise, as specified in the treaty for interstellar species rights, article 12, section 3. The proposition may be brought up at the next summit meeting, scheduled for 8/20/148 SHT on Earth.
Servaen, Skalgan Health Organization representative