video | un: 00000

[20mentholkools]

[The feed opens on a view of the jungle, dark as night falls over the trees. A fire burns in a pit to the right side of shot, the orange glow flickering across the trunks, the crackle and spit of burning logs. Boots come into frame, Riddick dropping to his haunches in front of the camera, only his hands and their recognisable guards visible. He's holding something. A medium-sized creature, limp in death.]

Got a sickness in the animals. [He holds the animal closer to the camera, showing the state of it. Bony ridges breaking through fur, misshapen limbs, blood crusted around its eyes. Sickly. Unnatural.] You see any, kill them. Burn the bodies.

[He rises to stand, boots turning, and the corpse is thrown onto the fire.]

Comments

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[lifescience]

Shouldn't we take samples first?

[She might be asking the wrong person.]

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[20mentholkools]

No.

[In short.]

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[lifescience]

But if we can learn what causes the sickness, maybe we can make a vaccine.

[She's sounding a little bit like her old self, except there's a little uncertainty in her voice, on her face.]

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[20mentholkools]

Wasting time. Letting it spread.

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[lifescience]

It would only take a few minutes to get them. And if it does turn out to be zoonotic, well. Your plan is a good first defense, but it may not be enough.

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[20mentholkools]

Few minutes is enough.

text, un: david;

[noman]

I can gather samples, Dr Simmons, if you'd like to prepare some sterile containers for sorting.

['Sterile'... dunking glass bottles in boiling water, anyone? He'll be armed with pruning shears and zip-seal bags, himself. And something like a machete if there is one to be had.]

Don't worry, 00000: I'll be quick.

text, un: david;

[lifescience]

[When she's optimistic, she says that it all beats nothing.

Barely.]

Perhaps we should set up something outside of camp. Just in case.

[noman]

Yes, that would be wise.

[And so would be collecting a healthy sample for comparison; he'll try, at least, if there is any such thing to be had.]

Any requests?

[lifescience]

Skin and blood samples. Brain tissue, if possible.

Oh, and be careful. That's my greatest request.

[noman]

I'll do my best. Thank you, Dr Simmons.

[Boy, is she in for a treat. A gory little treat. In ziploc baggies.]

Voice

[atent_dead]

What sorta sickness? Just sick or actin' dangerous?

[20mentholkools]

Dangerous. If you're slow.

[atent_dead]

Didn't get bit?

[20mentholkools]

I'm not slow.

[atent_dead]

Good. We ain't got medicine to spare for slow.

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[suddenlycaptain]

The jackal okay?

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[20mentholkools]

Learnt a lesson. Got closer than he should've done.

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[suddenlycaptain]

Meaning...? He got bit, or-?

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[20mentholkools]

Meaning he got closer than he should've done.

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[suddenlycaptain]

[ Which isn't a no, but it's also not a yes. ]

Sure you're not going to get sick, handling that?

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[20mentholkools]

I don't get sick.

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[suddenlycaptain]

Bullshit. Maybe not back in our world.

[ But this isn't their world. ]

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[20mentholkools]

You think you know how many worlds I've been to, Carolyn? This one ain't nothing different.

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[suddenlycaptain]

I saw a lot of your memories on the ship, Riddick.

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[20mentholkools]

That was a long time ago.

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[suddenlycaptain]

Not too long, in this universe. You really think you've changed that much?

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[20mentholkools]

Learnt some lessons. Got closer than I should've.

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[suddenlycaptain]

Only now you're alone when we all freeze post-jump with our orifices bleeding.

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[20mentholkools]

Being in a camp help you with that?

[His tone isn't truly questioning. He knows the answer.]

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[suddenlycaptain]

Had more people around to keep us from getting eaten by something.

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[20mentholkools]

You had more targets. [His tone's edging amused, incredulous that she'd even make the attempt to frame a whole camp full of frozen people as protection. Unless:] Never been a fan of hiding behind others.

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[suddenlycaptain]

We had actual conscious people around from the jump. [ She's not quite that callous. ] Eyes and ears that actually work.

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[20mentholkools]

Wanna be careful, Carolyn. Starting to sound like you're counting on luck.

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[suddenlycaptain]

And what is it you're counting on?

[ Because all the skill in the world doesn't mean shit if you aren't conscious. ]

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[20mentholkools]

I don't count on anything.

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[suddenlycaptain]

[ why are you so difficult sir ]

Don't wildly hemorrhage where no one notices.

video. (un: CHAMPOIN.)

[queasycrow]

Where?

[ His own feed is dark, save for campfire light yonder. ]

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[20mentholkools]

South. For now.

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[queasycrow]

Which side of the river? The answer will drastically influence how much damn I have to give.

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[20mentholkools]

Think I'd be giving out warnings if they were over the river?

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[queasycrow]

You might be very prudent. I can't tell just by looking at people exactly how much. How were they behaving?

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[20mentholkools]

You just gonna keep asking questions?

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[queasycrow]

And then I'm going to take a nap, yes.

[ Laden heavily with sarcasm. ]

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[20mentholkools]

Let me help you skip to the end. [His tone isn't helpful in the slightest.] Aggressive. Don't know how many there are. It's gonna spread if it ain't stopped, and then we're all gonna starve.

[Done.]

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[queasycrow]

[ Eyyy, good job, Mr Five Zeroes. Hawke seems to brighten, if-- self-aware. ]

That's the spirit. I've a way with both killing things and fire, so perhaps my beauty sleep can wait.

video.

[20mentholkools]

["the spirit" remains completely unspirit like.]

South.

[Is all he says, confirmation.]