#3

[notlewis]

[Private to Self, medium security]

12/24/2008

Examination of another specimen is going well. Have most likely established the creatures' existence as its own occurring species-- none such on record, but naturally occurring to be certain. No parasitic entity or obvious signs of other species' genetic material overtly present.

(Note: In the case of a man-made organism such as a B.O.W., there are obvious differences in genetic structure indicative of a crossbred/laboratory origin. EX: Examining a Novistador specimen reveals both human and insect genetic material separate from that of the Plaga parasite infecting it. No such obvious differences here.)

Slight differences in size and color compared to specimen #1. Specimen #2 is larger and seems to have a more developed exoskeleton in parts, larger mandibles and a few differences in the internal organs. Death caused once again by gunshot-- one high-caliber rifle round removed from the thoracic area, wedged between organs E and F (a "heart" and some sort of digestive organ, purpose and function unknown, further study req'd)

My equipment isn't sophisticated enough in a simple medical office to perform advanced bloodwork and other tests. The only way I'll be able to find out more will be to find more advanced equipment or to put my head together with other researchers.

NEXT TASK:
- Identify function of major organs
- In-depth bloodwork and chemical analysis

[/Private]

Any nerds out there? Does anybody know more about those... crab things, other than that they're mean and they bite? I'm not looking for a full biology lesson or anything, but maybe somebody can enlighten a curious mind.

In the meantime, Feliz Navidad, amigos. Didn't think I'd be seeing another Christmas, but you never know the cards Lady Luck's going to throw at you. She's one tricky dealer, if you know what I mean.

Hey Leon, you guys over there at the bar doing anything for the holiday? And anybody mind if I tag along?

Or perhaps there's a lady out there who'd like a little warm company this holiest of evenings?

Comments

[notlewis]

... you don't say?

[clevermedic.livejournal.com]

I was bitten by one. I observed the effects the virus has on the infected, and I've got notes on it, but in short, it'll kill you.

[notlewis]

Now that's more like it.

So wait, you've observed the virus? You some kind of scientist or something, señorita?

[clevermedic.livejournal.com]

That was the original plan. Just got a little side-tracked on the way.

[notlewis]

I see. But if you ask me, it's probably for the better. You got the prettiest little face, baby, you don't need to be locked up in a lab all day, you know?

So just curious, what else did you find out?

[clevermedic.livejournal.com]

Thanks, my boyfriend thinks so too.

It's not a living bacteria, it's degenerative, attaches itself to whatever it can get a hold of and eats away until there's nothing left. It doesn't respond to any of the medications I tried on it, I was thinking of trying radiation but my research was... well, it would've been a bad idea anyway.

[notlewis]

Well then. I don't suppose your boyfriend is the jealous type? He wouldn't mind a guy like me stating the obvious, of course.

Interesting. So it is more like a virus than So you... hm.

[clevermedic.livejournal.com]

I don't know, no one's ever given him a reason to be jealous before.

Was there anything else you wanted to know?

[notlewis]

I could be just the man to put it to the test, cariña.

[Private to the cutie]

We might as well skip a little foreplay. I'm a microbiologist and I've been dissecting some of our invertebrate friends to see what I can find out. So lay it on me straight.

[clevermedic.livejournal.com]

Well I guess it's your funeral.

[ Private to señor Casanova ]

First of all, my name is Rebecca Chambers.

Anyway, I had initially thought it was a living bacteria, before I'd been bitten and just heard of the symptoms. It's actually an extremely complex molecular compound, something that I couldn't actively dissect with the equipment I have. I was hoping to get to a lab with some better equipment but aforementioned boyfriend found out about my project and had me healed.

Which was for the best, because I was deteriorating fairly rapidly. The compound attacked every cell in my system, it didn't matter what it was, and infected it. The wound itself wouldn't stop bleeding and despite my best efforts progressively decomposed up until I was healed. I don't have a history of anemia, so the bleeding was unusual, but an apparently common side-effect of the injury.

I've still got my samples, if you want a look at them.

[notlewis]

Rebecca Chambers! A funeral would be an improvement over last time, I think. But come on baby, no need to be so dire.

[Private to Miss Chambers]

So it is more like a virus or a neurotoxin than anything. That's not out of the question for an invertebrate of this type, but the species is unlike anything I've ever seen before... never this big. It sounds like more of a venom than a parasitic entity. Those are my specialty, by the way, if you ever got to read the "Kennedy Report", I think it was called?

And I'd love to take a look at your samples. In the purely scientific sense, I mean.

[clevermedic.livejournal.com]

Last time?

[ Private to señor Casanova ]

It's definitely a venom. The effects were fairly fast-acting, and they hit hard. I'm not exactly certain how long it would take for complete system failure, but judging by progression rate of my own account, I'd put it at three, three and a half months.

I can't say as I've even heard of the Kennedy Report, but I'm not as connected to the government as some of my comrades are. What kind of parasitic entities do you have experience with, exactly?

I live above the Seventh Heaven bar. Feel free to stop by.

[notlewis]

Let's just say I've had a couple of near-death experiences, including one in which I actually died.

[Private to Miss Chambers]

Interesting indeed... I'd love to have a look at that. What say you and me find some nicer equipment and try to look at what we get from my little amigos strapped to the table?

There was an incident in Spain... four years ago, it seems, with an outbreak of the Las Plagas parasites at the hands of a cult organization called Los Illuminados. The outbreak took place in my home village and I got an... up close and personal look at them, we'll say.

That seems to be a popular place. There's a Jill there waiting for me too.

[clevermedic.livejournal.com]

And you remember that? Dying, I mean.

[ Private to señor Casanova ]

I say now you're beginning to speak my language.

I...think I remember hearing Leon mention something about that. Umbrella was involved somehow, weren't they?

If you're familiar at all with the people I associate myself with, we all tend to stick together.

[notlewis]

It's sort of hard to forget being impaled, señorita.

[Private to Miss Chambers]

Umbrella? The people from the viral outbreak in America, right? No, not that I know of. It was this creepy old cabron named Osmund Saddler, head of the cult. I can tell you more some other time if you're really interested.

[clevermedic.livejournal.com]

Impaled? Really? And... you woke up here, alive and well?

[ Private to señor Casanova ]

Their reach stretched farther than America, but I thought Leon mentioned something about them.. I guess not.

I would be interested in hearing more, though.

[notlewis]

I know, I don't get it either. If you've got any helpful insights on that I'd love to hear them too.

[Private to Miss Chambers]

Oh, I've heard all about them too. But they had their noses out of this one, as far as I know.

It's Luis, by the way. Luis Sera.

[clevermedic.livejournal.com]

I'm still trying to figure out how I went from New Mexico to New York, honestly. Coming back from the dead aware is a level I haven't even begun to think on.

[ Private to Mr. Sera ]

That's surprising. Of course I thought this might be them too up until I got a look at the monster that's been stomping around.

[notlewis]

You're just as confused as I am, let me assure you.

And please, baby. Just Luis. Mr. Sera was mi padre.

[Private to Miss Chambers]

Yes, I keep hearing about that one, too. I'll believe it when I see it, I'm afraid. But I've seen an awful lot of strange things.

[ Private to Luis ]

[clevermedic.livejournal.com]

So have I, and this just about tops them all.

[dontcallmeangus.livejournal.com]

Sure are! Miss Rebecca down there got what little we could find about their bite, but what we did figure on were solutions to the more practical matter of trappin' 'em and neutralizin' 'em.

In a nutshell, they're pretty vulnerable to pepper spray. They hate it in their eyes n' their mouths, and since they're mostly mouth, it's easy to hit 'em there. Don't seem to see in the infrared spectrum - smoke screens work just fine on 'em too.

For traps, we've got the designs over here at NYU. If you wanna take a look, you're welcome to drop by.

Name's MacGyver, by the way. On behalf of Team Science, we're sure glad to have another researcher 'round here.

[notlewis]

I'm not planning on doing any fighting if I can help it, amigo. I've got a friend to do that part for me.

[Private to MacGyver]

And keep the researcher thing down, will you? I'm a little sensitive about it, let's say.

But what's this 'Team Science'?

[dontcallmeangus.livejournal.com]

Well, I ain't exactly Rambo myself, but roles 'round here are pretty fluid.

[Private to Luis Sera; medium difficulty to hack]
Sure thing. Sorry for steppin' on your toes.

Team Science is a pretty loose group o' folks 'round here who've banded together to help Manhattan out with some good ol' fashioned brain power. Three of us managed to put together a hovercraft I've been usin' to get around. Works great on snow!

[Private to MacGyver]

[notlewis]

Nah, don't worry about it, amigo. Call me a little paranoid, but it's got me into trouble in the past.

Well, sounds like you're a little more invention-oriented than I tend to be, but I wouldn't mind contributing to the brain pool if you're looking for a biologist.

[Private to Luis Sera; hard to hack]

[dontcallmeangus.livejournal.com]

Lips're sealed, then.

We're pretty invention-oriented so far 'cause we haven't really had a biologist or the like for a while (though considering the agricultural work those Tringham fellas're doin', that might change some). Me, for example; I've done most of my work with physics and chemistry.

A biologist, though, would definitely help us with figurin' those crabs out. Hate to say it, but with our lack of equipment (they came down with a slight case of bashed in by angry crabs), we haven't been able to do much on that front. If you're up for it, consider yourself in! Just check up on the following folks from time to time:

- Myself
- Bill Nye (non-specialist; Bill loves gettin' into anything science-y! Great guy)
- The Doctor (calls himself that; does his best work with high tech stuff, but also works great with physics and chemistry)
- Jeff Andonuts (robotics and engineering genius, this kid! The hovercraft was his idea)
- Kaylee Frye (The little lady's great with machines of all kinds. Real sweetheart, too!)
- Ema Skye (She's a forensic scientist by trade; might be able to help you out, huh?)
- Russel and Fletcher Tringham (These two brothers work with agriculture - Russel put together an impressive hydroponic farm!)

[meester-kennedy.livejournal.com]

A bunch of us are headed to that party, I think. Sounds like the best idea so far.

[Private]

But their bites are infectious, just like the T-virus. Not as quick to act, but people still get infected with it. In a fight, they seem like they can coordinate with one another on an unconscious level, like the Plaga. They like to swarm and gang up on whatever they think their mark is.

[notlewis]

Maybe I'll make an appearance.

[Private]

They swarm? You're kidding, right?

Well, that would indicate a sort of hive mind, like a collective intelligence, just like the Plaga. And that'd suggest that somewhere there's a Queen or a leader. The big thing, you think?

[meester-kennedy.livejournal.com]

All the girls are gonna be in their Christmas best.

[Private]

Nope. I need to tell you what happened when I got dropped into this hellhole in the middle of it all.

That would make sense. Looks like we need a hero to go find it and blow it up.

[notlewis]

Now you're speaking my language. I won't be missing it.

[Private]

You do. I certainly have a lot of meetings scheduled at that bar of yours.

[Private]

[meester-kennedy.livejournal.com]

You can pencil me in somewhere, I'm sure.

Any ideas where this Queen could be?

[Private]

[notlewis]

You're gonna have to slow down, there, amigo, I'm still trying to piece all this together.

Now, when we say big thing, are we both talking about the alleged 20-story-tall monster that turned this city into a well-furnished pile of rubble? Or are we talking about a strangely large-sized version of these "crab" things? That's the one more likely to be a Queen, since from description the big thing is nothing like the little ones.

Also I don't want to blow up anything 20-stories-tall, por favor y muchas gracias.

Re: [Private]

[meester-kennedy.livejournal.com]

Dunno. Some people got some pieces of it back when we thought we killed it. Dunno who, but I'll see what I can do about getting a chunk for you.

It survived everything the flyboys of the US of A could give it. Even Operation Hammerdown didn't even scratch it.

... Come on by the bar. Drinks are on me. I'll tell you the rest.