Nai

Day 3: Infection (late)

The Ridgeback leaned over the Coatl Ghoul, drawing out a small amount of disease and placing it in a test tube. The Ghoul hissed and struggled, but he was tied down and unable to do anything aside from the general infection wafting from any Ghoul.

Her Servus, Observer, took the test tube from her and began preparing slides. She stood and watched the Ghoul while Observer peered at the slides under the microscope. "Looks pretty straightforward to me. Standard case of overcontamination in a vessel too weak to contain it."

"Then he is a failure and worthy of Neutralizing."

Observer nodded. "Yes...but be careful, Nai. This strain is strong."

"Bring the containment unit."

The Skydancer came closer, holding out a much larger container. Nai began funnelling the infection through her own body and into the containment unit. She read the disease as she felt it travel through her arms. She recognized the genetic markers of this strain; she'd encountered it before. It was not as strong as Observer feared. They dealt with strains of equal strength all the time. If the strains were less potent, they would not have created Ghouls.

The Coatl howled in grief and rage as the disease flowed out of him, bleaching his feathers to a dull greenish brown. "Noooo! It's mine, my gift of the Mother! Let me keep it!"

The pair ignored his cries. Soon the infection was completely neutralized, and so was the Ghoul. Turning away, Nai capped the container and labeled it with a flourish. "I-1433D."

"Wait, 'D'? Fourth attempt?" Observer queried.

"Yes." Nai frowned at the container. "This strain has had the misfortune to have been given to four different weak hosts. Hopefully the fifth time will finally create a Necromancer worthy of this strain." She lovingly placed it on a shelf with several similar containers others waiting to be stored more permanently. Then she turned to the Coatl, who was weeping softly. "You're free to go."

Observer released the shackles on the Neutralized Ghoul's limbs. He spat in Nai's general direction and hurried out of the laboratory. Nai reached out and swept up the sputum with a claw.

"Hmm. He'll need to be followed for well checks."

Observer glanced at the sputum. It bore the faintest suggestion of pink. "Virulency remains."

"You have to admire some of those NGs." Nai stared into the middle distance. "Some of them cling to the Mother's infection with the tenacity of an angry Snapper. And who can blame them?"