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Part 9 – Licking Wounds

Jason sighed as he continued to look up at the ceiling of the tram car. He checked the clock function on his communicator. Only five minutes had passed since the last time he had checked. It's been over seven hours since they had landed and five plus hours since the tram forced them to leave behind members of their team. Now, the three of them were stuck in the now inoperable tram car.

He gave his two remaining companions a glance. Dusine was curled up on a bench a little ways away with her back to him, the usually calm and thoughtful Caushae now seemed to be prone to bouts of panic attacks and having crippling anxiety attacks at random, making her a bit of a liability in his mind as he wasn't sure how she will react at any given time. Then there was Minuet, who hasn't woken up since she was clobbered and thrown by that monster. He was no medic so there was no way for him to really tell her condition beyond that she was at least still breathing.

He sighed again as he thumped his head against the window behind him. So much for his first mission...

His thoughts turned to the others and prayed that they were all alright...

---

Kleo panted as he leaned heavily against the wall, he was now out of breath and tired. He wasn't sure how he was able to fight his way out of the tram terminal or how long it had been since he had lost the hoard, but he had managed both feats miraculously.

It was a literal hell when he had made their escape from the tram station. He almost wanted to curse his other teammates for leaving him and Kasey behind. If it wasn't for the fact that he had overheard them trying to stop the tram's automation from leaving the station and that he had seen Jordan pounding the window in frustration as they were sped away. While he hated the situation, he hoped that the three were alright. As it stood, he had his hands full with them mutant zombies and Kasey.

He definitely had more than a few open wounds from his escape from the tram station, but despite that fact, most of the blood that he was currently covered in wasn't his. Kasey was cradled in his arms, holding on to the best of her abilities despite only being only a foot or two shorter than him. He could feel that she was nearly cold to the touch through his paw pads and that the only sign that she was even still alive was the fact that he could still her raspy breaths that she took. He only hoped that she could hold out a little longer.

A groan drew him out of his musings. “So how long are you going to carry me like a lost child, you fur ball?”

Kleo scoffed. “And I suppose that you feel like walking?”

Kasey went to open her mouth, but thought better of saying the quip that was forming on her tongue. Instead she changed the subject. “Do you know where we are or where we're going?”

His ears flattened. “Uhm.. I... Err...”

“You have no idea about anything do you?”

Kleo sighed. “No,” He confessed “I have no idea where we are in this Kah'vra place, nor can I fully read Sol Common script. But,” His ears perked up as he spoke. “If I understand the symbols right, we're close to a healer's station. At least that is what I think that fat plus sign means.” He nodded his head towards a sign.

Kasey turned her head to look to where the wolf indicated and smiled. She read 'Infirmary' with the red symbol and a directional arrow on the sign. “Good boy.” She said.

“Gah!” The cry broke the silence of the dark corridors. “Val-ruah... I can't take much more, put me down.”

Theaz did her best to support the injured Celia and helped her to the floor so they could rest. It was slow going with Celia's foot and leg nearly pulverized by whatever that monstrosity was that had attacked them. The gray Lykain tried not to pace as she thought, but her mind was going a mile a minute and she was soon moving back and forth in front of her teammate.

The cream color Lykain watched her teammate for a few seconds before she broke the silence. “Maybe you should leave me. You'd be able to move faster without me.”

Theaz shook her head. “No, I'm not leaving you behind.”

“It's what I deserve...” Celia said as she hung her head. “I left him... And I made you leave Rulve. I deserve my fate...”

Theaz took a calming breath. Since she had escaped with Celia, the Cream wolfess was very distraught and self destructive. “You couldn't help what happened and at the time you were right, there was nothing we could do. What's been done, has been done. Nothing is going to change that.” Theaz glanced around, taking stock of their surroundings for the first time. “All we can do is move forward. We should find some way of catching up to everyone, but in the meantime.” She held her hand out for Celia to take it and to pull her back up. “We need to see to your injury.”

Celia cocked her head in slight confusion, but relented to her friend's logic and went back to her feet. Using the gray wolfess as support, they began to hobble to their destination. Wherever that was...

She groaned as she came to. While she tried to repress a gagging feeling that she was having, but ended up failing when she broke out into a coughing fit and coughed up and spit out phlegm like goop that came up in her mouth. She could feel that her fur was covered in the thick, slimy, despicable substance from her head to her toe and she could it seemed like she could feel her short hair matted almost to her skull. Her body barely responded when she moved her arms under her to push herself off the cold floor. The mucus that she was covered with tried to keep her pinned to the floor, but thankfully, she was able to stretch and break the substance as she slowly moved to get up. She couldn't help but feel battered, bruised, and, for a lack of a better word, violated. Her mouth and privates were very sore, more so than she ever felt them before.

Taking in her immediate surroundings and from what she could see, she was still on the runabout. She could remember and knew that much. But other things, like who was she, what happened to her, and why she was covered in slime was all a blank.

Well maybe a shower will help...

It took the two several long minutes because of how cautiously and wearily Kleo moved. His ears were moving constantly as he listened for any signs of the mutant zombies from before. However much to both of their relief, they made it to the double glass doors of the dark medical facility. The doors parted as the Lykain approached with a light hiss and soon both of them were blinded by the bright lights that flickered on as they entered.

“Hello?” Kleo called out as the doors behind him closed with another low hiss. “Is anyone here?” There was no answer as the wolf moved deeper inside. “We need help!”

There was a faint electronic whirl from either behind the wall or in the ceiling and soon a figure started to materialize from thin air. “Please state the nature of the medical emergency.”

Kleao nearly dropped Kasey as he stumbled backwards in shock. “By the spirits!”

“Please.” The person said with a sigh as he looked the two over. “I'm a hologram, not a phantom. Would you like to tell me what the emergency is? Or would you rather I guess?” The hologram said as he motioned the two to an alcove hidden from the door.

“Sorry...” Kleo said as he brought Kasey to where the hologram indicated. Inside the alcove as a lone bed that looked like it was connected to a Bio-scanner and also had multiple instruments set up around it. Kasey groaned in pain as Kleo placed her on the bed and the sensors began to take and display her vital signs. “She's been bitten numerous times.”

The hologram quirked an eyebrow. “If you're going to engage in pet-play,” he said nonchalantly “I would suggest that she start using a newspaper.” Kleo gave the hologram a dead stare as he bared his teeth in a growl that made the holographic doctor flinch. “Sorry.” He said as he cleared his throat. The hologram moved over to a control panel and despite not actually touching the screen, a large arm with a variety of equipment attached to it descended from above the bio-bed. Some of the equipment popped out and started to hum as a series of soft light that emanated from the scanning instruments began to pass over the human that was laying there. The doctor gave a sight “Hmm” as he frowned from the data that passed across the screen and into his data networks.

After about a minute or so the scanners stopped and folded into the overhanging arm and more instruments started to extend towards Kasey. “I have some good news and some bad news.” the hologram announced as the equipment stopped above her.

“Well out with it.” Kasey growled in pain as she looked at the doctor.

“The good news is that you will live.” the hologram said with a cheeky smile. “But...”

“There's always a but...”

The doctor's expression grew serious. “Not only have you suffered a serious amount of blood loss...”

“Well, Duh!” Kasey bit back.

“There's a series of bacteria of unknown origin that has invaded your body. I assume that they had entered through the bites along your body. If left unchecked, the bacteria will eat and break down your cells so within a few hours, your body will literally break apart from the inside.” Both Kleo and Kasey were in shock over the news. They were about to say something before the doctor held up a hand. “However, I believe I can treat and remove the infection. As long as I have permission to do so since your data doesn't appear in the station's mainframe.”

Kasey scoffed “Well, of course you have permission to treat me.” As soon as she gave permission, the instruments continued to descend towards the human. There was an audible hiss as a hypo-spray pressed itself to her neck and Kasey was knocked out, allowing the equipment to do their work.

Kleo stood and watched as all the gizmos extended towards Kasey, doing whatever that they were supposed to do. He didn't fully understand what was going on but hoped that it would help Kasey recover. What he didn't expect or notice was that he had come to stand beside him and was now somehow holding a portable scanning device that he was using on him.

“I'm fine.” The wolf said as he waved him off.

The doctor did his now trademark frown. “No you're not.” He said as he continued to scan the Lykain. “While you don't have the same amount of bacteria in your system, you still have them and need to be taken care of.” The hologram turned off the device and, despite being a foot shorter than the wolf, stared him down. “You've also been exposed to excessive amounts of an airborne chemical that has been logged into the station's computers as a very potent and dangerous substance that is affecting your body. I need to flush out your system before it can take a stronger hold.”

Kleo scoffed. “I'm fine,” He said with a slight growl in his voice that surprised the wolf.

“No,” The doctor said more forcefully. Kleo felt a pair of arms grab him from behind. He turned his head to find an android endoskeleton was holding his arms as his instinct made him struggle against the metallic grip. “You need to be treated. My data searches shows that there's documentation that the pheromonic agent will infect a host and alters their brain chemistry. The effect will essentially alter the host's personality in the early stages and eventually cause them to lose control of their mind. The condition needs to be treated as immediately as possible.”

Kleo tried to jerk away as the holographic doctor, who was now overlaying another endoskeleton, brought a hypo-spray up to his neck. Despite how much he fought, Kleo couldn't weasel out of the grip and he felt that needle press against his skin with a light hiss. The wolf instantly felt the effects as he started to collapse, causing the doctor to also grab him to keep the Lykain from falling to the floor. “I'm sorry.” He heard the hologram say apologetically before he blacked out.

She held herself under the running water as she let the hard, fast droplets cascade down her body. That slimy mucus made her feel so dirty, and she was coated in the stuff from the tips of her long ears down to her toes. The warmth of the water felt somewhat refreshing, but the dark images that were starting to surface were frightening her. She focused on scrubbing her tawny and black fur, doing her best to remove the sickening crap that she was coated with.

What the hell happened to her...

She tried to think of other things, like her name and why she knew that she was on the runabout. She had came here on the runabout, her and eight others. That's right, she was the pilot and it was her job to get them to their destination. But something... Happened and they landed where they are now. They had split up and the small ship was... Is in desperate need of repair but... Things were too much for her to handle. She didn't quite collapse but she did have to lay down to regain her head... But then there was yelling and... Didn't she try to leave? Slowly, events that had happened before started to resurface from the depths of her memory.

The heavy weight that fell on her...

Being sucked in by the slimy flesh...

That slick blue tissue pressing against her body...

Her clothes dissolving into nothing...

Those tentacles wrapping around her body...

That familiar black, feline like shape that tried to reach out to her so they could comfort each other in what both thought were their last moments...

The figure that could only be Naysn dissolving before her eyes as the tentacles violated her...

Tears fell from her eyes as she pulled her legs close to her body as she openly started to weep.

Theaz moved with as much care and haste that she could afford while she supported the wounded Lykain. She was trying to keep her expression neutral, but, she knew that Celia knew that she was quite concerned. All it took was for the gray Lykain to look at that injured leg to fill her with worry. The fur from Celia's foot to just half way up her calf was all but gone exposing the pale skin underneath. But even then there was red marks that were appearing and seemed to be growing every time Theaz looked down.

“Where are you taking me?” Celia asked in panted breaths. Obviously getting worn out from the extensive movement while trying to nurse her leg along.

“Well...” The gray Lykain said, getting a little out of breath herself with helping Celia as far as she has. “Amusing that my Sol Common is correct. I'm taking you to a medical station to get your injury looked after and hopefully healed before it gets any worse.”

Celia snorted. “You should of just left me behind and tried to join up with Jordan.”

Theaz growled as she hefted Celia around to get a better grip, making the cream color wolf cry in agony. “Enough of that Celia. If anything, you need to live to keep the memory of Nasyn alive and, from what you've told me of what happened, honor his sacrifice so you can join him in the thereafter instead of being cast into Purgatory for giving up on life!”

Celia was quiet for a bit, lost in thought as they trudged through the darken corridors. “I... Sorry Theaz...”

Theaz just chuckled. “Just try and keep you head strait and forget those stupid suicidal thoughts. We'll pull through.”

The two continued on in quiet as they slowly approached their destination. Theaz made a stupid grinned as she seen the pair of glass doors and a warm bright light emanating from inside. “Thank the spirits, there has to be someone there.” The two quickened their pace as they neared the doors to the Infirmary when suddenly the ground shook violently below them, very nearly making them both lose their footing and knocking them over. Celia was the one that had kept them upright when she grabbed a support beam that was protruding from the wall. Both girls looked at each other as everything was suddenly bathed in red warning lights and klaxons went off.

“What the Hell was THAT?!?”

Jordan took a deep breath as he brought up his wrist communicator to speak into it. He has been doing this for the last three hours, hoping that someone would respond. “This is Jordan Gilder broadcasting on an open channel to anyone that can hear me, please respond.”

Much to his surprise, a burst of static came over the speaker before a meek but familiar voice spoke. “He-hello?”

“Rulve?” Jordan exclaimed, very glad to hear another voice. “Is that you?”

“Yes...” She said. “It's me...”

The human frowned. Her voice didn't sound right. “Are you okay? You don't sound too hot.”

“No...” Came the spiritless reply. “I'm not...”

The response made Jordan worry. “What happened? Where is everyone?”

“I-I don't know,” Rulve sounded like she was in tears. “All I can remember was that Celia came back injured.” The rabbit stopped and sniffled. Jordan assumed that she was probably wiping tears away from her face. “And then we were attacked. I think that Theaz and Celia escaped, but I'm not sure..."

“Attacked!?!” Jordan exclaimed as he instinctively jumped up. He heard Dusine yowl too before she fell to the floor in surprise from his outburst. “Did those mutant zombies breached the hangar?”

“That's not what attacked us.” Rulve said a little too calmly “It was... some kind of slug creature.”

“Slug creature?”

“Yes.” The Almedhas sniffled again. “I think it swallowed Nasyn and digested him. Then it enveloped me and impregnated me with... Something... I know it, I can feel it stirring inside me. It's making me sick.”

“My god...” Jordan was dumbstruck by what Rulve just said. Silence filled the comm channel as the human processed what the rabbit had just told him. “Hold on Rulve,” He finally said with a bit of determination. “We'll make our way back to you.”

“I won't be here.”

Jordan shook his head. “What?” Did he hear what he just thought he heard?

“I won't be here.” Rulve said in that disturbingly calm voice. “I'll be gone.”

“Rulve, what's going on?” Jordan could feel the panic well up inside of him. “Why won't you be there?”

“That creature is still around,” She said matter of factly. “I think that it wants to turn the Stardust Traveler into a nest, and me into an incubator. I'm not going to let that happen.”

Despite the occasional sniffles that came over the speaker, Rulve's continued calm voice was scaring the human. “Rulve, use your head.” He wasn't liking where this was sounding like it was going. “Don't do anything rash.” He moved over to the dead control panel by the tram's door, trying to get something to respond.

“Too late.”

“What!” Jordan shouted into the communicator as his heart sank. “Rulve! Don't do this!”

“I've already started cooking the reactor.”

“There's Still Time! Reactivate Those Safeties NOW!”

“Good bye Jordan,”

“NO! Rulve,!

“Please tell the others,” There was a brief pause as alert indicators started to go off in the background. “I'm sorry and... farewell.”

“RULVE!!!”