Page 65 of Heart’s Prisoner

"It's some sort of sickness?"

Nicole opened her eyes and looked at Lana sadly. "In a way, yes. It is a parasite. Found on planet 421. We were studying it there, taking samples. it was being transported here when...When Asset X attacked the camp. The day we brought it into the base was the day Xerus was captured and brought as well."

Lana grew still, her hands tightening on her lap. "His enemy...is all around," she whispered.

Nicole nodded. "I was assigned to help my uncle study it here. To test it. To experiment how it infected and grew. We called it Asset S or Spectre. Once it gets into a living being it slowly takes over mind and body." Nicole clicked open a file, bringing up a video. It was of Dr. Grimmer sitting in a small room. She started the video and Lana leaned forward, watching carefully.

"Is this Dr. Grimmer I'm still speaking to?" Cole's voice came through the feed in a clipped tone.

Dr. Grimmer smiled, his fists clenching and unclenching. He looked on the verge of death, his body was skeletal, his skin pale. There was crusted blood under his nose and his pupils were black. "No," he croaked.

There was a pause. "Is this Spectre?" Cole asked.

Dr.Grimmer bowed his head. "This body...won't last. So weak. We need better."

"Dr. Grimmer was already a sick man. Though he didn't know it yet."

Dr. Grimmer scowled. "Let us out."

Before Cole could respond Dr. Grimmer bent forward and threw up blood all over himself, Black blood like oil. The video stopped there and Lana felt sick.

"He had been here all this time," Lana said in shock. "He was sick. And Xerus had known." She caught Nicole's eyes. "And so did you."

Nicole looked on the verge of tears. "I did. I did but I couldn't tell you or anyone. It was mine and Cole`s project and only a few chosen others assisted us."

"Like that lab tech, Jeff. He had it." Lana's expression darkened. "Is he dead too?"

Nicole nodded. "Some die. Others...become its puppet. It takes over until there is nothing left of who the person once was. We only discovered it on planet 421 because a soldier had been the first to be infected by it. Cole wanted to know more so he signed to have it studied and brought here. It was a mistake. A horrible mistake," Nicole cried softly. She took a deep breath and Lana waited for her to continue. "W-when he started to display signs...I tried to tell him he needed to get examined. I really did. But I couldn't get him to budge. I was able to convince him to keep away from others, to stick to his room or the virus lab, but he refused to stop his work. And now...oh, god now he must be under Spectre's full control. He let the specimen's out because he knew that if such a catastrophic situation took place the base would be forced into lockdown. That way the parasite can attempt to get to other hosts easier."

Lana couldn't believe what she was hearing and yet she wanted to smack herself for not realizing what was going on sooner. There had been so many signs, but she had been so focused on helping Xerus she hadn't tried harder to contemplate what was happening around her save for the changes in Cole.

"So the base is essentially a ticking time-bomb," Lana said. "And when it infects everyone, then what?"

Nicole inclined her head, biting her lip. "My guess? It will take the ships. And spread farther."

Lana looked back at the computer screen, at the distorted image of Dr. Grimmer and his trail of blood. "Is there any way to tell if someone has it?"

"Besides the obvious symptoms?" Nicole shook her head. "We had machines that could test early signs but they are all down at twelve which I gather is an impossible mess at this point and too dangerous to enter."

"And how long after signs is the person completely gone?"

Nicole shrugged. "It's hard to say. Everyone is different. Cole was able to keep control of himself for an impressively long time. Dr. Grimmer not as long. And Jeff was nearly instantaneous. We hadn't gathered enough data yet as to know why some cave quicker than others."

Lana looked down at her hands, feeling angry heat rise in her neck and face. A part of her wanted to scream at Nicole. To shake her till her eyes popped out. Despite her best qualities, she had allowed this deadly parasite into the base. Had kept it secret when things were starting to get out of hand instead of taking action. Like going against her uncle. She was either too subservient or too proud, or both.

"Well if we can't leave base then I guess our best option is to hide and stay away from as many people as possible," Lana said in a low voice, refusing to meet her friend's eyes. "Do you know how it spreads at least?"

"Usually through blood or saliva. It's not air-born thank god, and if my knowledge so far is correct only once someone displays symptoms are they susceptible to transfer the parasite."

"And there's no way to flush it from someone's system? No way to get rid of it?" Lana said, her gaze darting back up to Nicole.

Nicole wiped away a few tears and looked at the computer screen. "No. Only through death."

A sharp, hear-splitting screech cut through the silence of the room. Lana jumped up and Nicole yelped as their eyes shot to the door.

"We have to go. We can't stay here," Lana said.

"They can't get in." Nicole's voice cracked.

---