【Zhoufumei】Ore disease

Various ringtones intertwined in the small room, the doctor touched the mobile phone on the table, and walked out of the wiring room quickly:

"Hello, Ursus CDC... wait, this is a private call, I'm overwhelmed."

Tallulah frowned: "Your landline is always busy."

"The phone line from top to bottom is about to explode. What happened?"

Tallulah held the newly released report with a bad expression on her face: "Contact the various research units and ask the researchers to take comprehensive protective measures. The situation is urgent and there is no time to send a letter, so call immediately."

The doctor closed the door of the wiring room, and shut the noisy room behind him: "I just received some reports. The cells you cultivated also disappeared for no reason?"

"It didn't disappear for no reason. Fourteen days after the live culture sample virus, the mouse exploded."

The Doctor bounced off the corridor wall: "Explosion?!"

"Yes, the lid of the observation box was blown off, and our project leader is observing the scene."

Tallulah turned around and looked at the monitoring in the laboratory: "The new virus is too weird, we require real-time sharing of research results. In addition, my unit does not recommend research laboratories below BSL-3 to conduct research. You can see for yourself. Do it."

"Understood. Ah, wait..."

The doctor clamped the phone with his shoulder, and flicked the tablet in his hand a few times: "The petri dish of a research unit also exploded. They just sent the last video of the microscope. I will send it to you privately. Don't spread the red-headed file until it is down."

Tallulah sneered: "It was made like this by a meteorite, do you think there will be red-headed documents on it?"

"It's hard to say, this time it's quite serious. By the way, sending you this video has blocked my career. Can I do my best in the future and borrow Frost Star—"

Tallulah hung up the phone.

"Back a little more, back... right here, pause. The lights are turned off, and the projection can't be seen clearly."

Froststar turned off the lights in the front row of the conference room.Mephisto stared at the projection screen and pointed with a laser pointer: "What is this?"

The people in charge of the "Integration Movement" project gathered in a room after a long absence, and jointly studied the video sent by Rhodes Island.Frost Star returned to his seat, and Misha in the front row squinted and observed: "It looks... like a black crystal."

"Crystal? Can viruses produce crystals in cells?"

Misha shrank her neck.Broken Bone hugged his sister and stared at the screen tremblingly: "It looks like an alien creature..."

The Patriot pressed the play button, the cells on the screen slowly burst, and the crystals gradually disappeared from the cells.Then, the screen suddenly went black and the video stopped.

Frost star scratched the tablet on his hand: "According to the report, the glass slide under the microscope suddenly burst, and exploded together with the petri dish beside it, and the researcher's right eye was injured."

W hugged the coffee in his hand: "Wow, the microscope is finished."

Shuang Xing agreed with her in a rare way: "That instrument is the most expensive in the whole laboratory."

Broken Bones looked around and found that no one really cared about that poor researcher.

Mephisto had no time for gags.He imported the video into the software and decomposed it into pictures frame by frame: "I am very concerned about that black crystal. Can you contact Kingslayer?"

Tallulah clicked Release, and placed the phone in the center of the conference table.The busy tone only rang once, and the Kingslayer picked it up: "It's too close, I just lost half of my number."

Mephisto refuted her coldly: "There is no telepathy in the world, it is the virus that connects us."

"...Why are you a brat? It's urgent for Tallulah to pick it up."

"Release, everyone is here." Tallulah stood at the end of the crowd, "Report directly."

"Then let me be blunt. Ten minutes ago, a patient's vital signs stopped, and he was one of the escorts who were first infected. I took the risk of taking a photo of the corpse. You should be mentally prepared to see it."

Tallulah turned the chat window into a projection, and soon, a human-shaped object appeared on the screen.Broken Bone immediately turned his face away, and even the usually calm patriot frowned: "...what is it growing on the corpse?"

"Ore. Black ore crystal." Kingslayer paused, "Not only the skin on the body surface, but also the patient's internal organs and digestive tract are covered with this thing. Can you believe it?"

"Believe it or not, we saw exactly the same thing in the cells just now."

Mephisto zoomed in on the picture desperately, and the broken bone went straight into Misha's arms: "When will the research report on the black ore come out?"

"It's hard to say, I feel that the disease control is too busy, and the virus sequencing results haven't come out yet." Kingslayer dragged out a long voice, and quietly turned to a quiet place: "There is also a very strange clinical symptom. , is currently being verified."

"Say."

"Two days before the patient's death, she seemed to want to find a nurse, but she accidentally removed the door of the isolation room with her bare hands."

W froze for a moment: "Accidentally?"

Shuangxing was also stunned: "Barehands?"

"Yes, but the deceased was only a rather slender girl. I don't know if it is one of the manifestations of the disease. Let me just say it, and you just take it to heart."

The patriot nodded: "The little white mouse that was cultivated exploded. You, pay attention to safety."

"I know, the CDC issued a warning just now, and now no one dares to approach that corpse... But to be honest, no one wants to approach the corpse in such a miserable state."

Mephisto muttered "waste", and W immediately held his head down: "Thank you for your hard work, protect yourself."

"You too. Oh yes, the name of the new virus is basically determined, it's called 'Ore Disease'."

Faust was still worried about Mephisto.

Mephisto seldom looked at his mobile phone. Faust sent him a message. A whole day passed, but he still didn't get a reply from Xiao Baimao.The captain of the criminal police put the phone back in his pocket depressedly and returned to the meeting room.

Regular meetings are extremely boring, 80.00% of the criminal police are yawning, and even the criminal police who are reporting are exhausted.Faust glanced at the PPT, but found some strange data:

"The disappearance cases have suddenly increased so much?"

The policeman who reported the report was called out suddenly, and he was shocked: "Oh, yes... there are a few cases that disappeared at home. I remember that I just reported a case in the morning. The missing person has a criminal record. Colleagues from the third team also went to the police station. Look."

"Send me the details of the case. When will the colleagues from the third team come back?"

"I'll contact you."

Standing at the door, Faust browsed through all the recent disappearance cases.The colleagues of the third team saw him from a distance and greeted him: "Hey, the sharpshooter of the first team."

Faust didn't have time to reply, but a big white dog jumped out from the side and lay between the two of them.

The dog handler was pulling the police dog past. At the moment when the police officer of the third team appeared, the big white dog seemed to smell something, pulled the dog handler over abruptly, and barked at the police officer of the third team.

The dog handler wanted to drag the police dog away, but the big white dog remained motionless, insisting that the three teams of police officers were not allowed to get closer to Faust.The dog handler was very embarrassed, so he had to quickly smooth things over: "Sorry, this kid likes the captain of the first team very much."

The police officers of the third team scratched their heads: "...It may also be that I ate hot pot at noon. It doesn't matter, let's talk about it from a distance."

The case is quite strange.A week before his disappearance, the missing person developed flu-like symptoms, so he isolated himself at home and took medication.The only person living with him was an old man with poor eyesight. According to the old man's description, the missing person hadn't left the house for seven days. However, this morning, a large living person disappeared without a sound.

"We checked the surveillance in the corridor, but we didn't find any video of him going out. The anti-theft net in the room is intact, so we can only tentatively assume that he escaped by himself through abnormal means. By the way, his room is full of black dust. It doesn't look like someone lives there."

The big white dog was still squatting between the two, and the three teams of police officers could only yell at Faust in the air.Faust thought for a while, then yelled back: "Did you do the neighborhood survey?"

"The neighbor next door said that he heard a slight explosion this morning, but there was no trace of an explosion in the house. It is not sure whether it is related to the disappearance case."

"I see! Thanks for the report!"

"You're welcome!"

The dog handler held the dog on a leash and held a thermos in his arms: "You guys are acting like Romeo and Juliet."

The gate of the police station is higher than the ground, so you have to climb some steps before entering.Faust walked down helplessly, and touched the dog's head: "Why did it suddenly behave like this today?"

The old constable glanced at Faust.

"Who knows. But remember, this is a police dog—he can see things we can't."

The dog snorted, and obediently rubbed Faust's hand.

Mephisto squatted outside the laboratory, and while taking the time to nibble on the energy bar, he dialed Faust's number.

Faust quickly picked up: "Did you see the message?"

"Well. What's the matter with the background sound on your side? The dog barking?"

Faust was a little helpless: "The nearest police dog is very restless, I don't know why."

The centrifuge was humming, and Mephisto felt a little pain in his temple: "Don't tell me that the bombing has happened."

Faust quickened his pace and moved to a quiet place: "Explosion?"

"What I'm going to say next is a confidential project, don't report me."

Sure enough, twelve hours after the first death, a small explosion occurred in the body of the deceased, and the body was crystallized and dusted, leaving no wreckage.

The kingslayer sent a message to the research institute, and pointed out the latest warning - after the corpse explodes, it will leave behind shiny ore-like powder, and those powders will most likely become the source of infection.

"Dust crystals are quite difficult to deal with. You don't know where it will hide in your clothes. But in theory, as long as it doesn't inhale the respiratory tract or enter the eyes, it can still be effectively prevented."

Faust was alert: "Black dust?"

"Yes. That's the shiny thing you saw in Meteorite Park that day, isn't it?"

A chill ran up his spine, Faust opened his mouth, but still chose to comfort the other party: "It's fireworks, don't think too much about it."

"Hopefully. I'm off to a meeting and I'm prioritizing protecting myself."

"You too."

Faust walked out of the gate, just in time to see the white police dog protecting him.The big dog stuck out its tongue foolishly, and its black eyes followed him, as if asking for a reward.

The criminal policeman who had escaped the catastrophe touched the dog's head and smiled wryly.

As soon as the Kingslayer returned to the institute, Tallulah took him back to the conference room.

Standing in front of the trash can in the meeting room, Mephisto took out the energy bar wrapping paper from his pocket. W took advantage of the chaos and threw a can into it, and the coffee logo was quickly submerged by the wrapping paper: "How long have you been home?"

"Good question." Mephisto brushed the hair on his forehead, forcing himself to focus: "Do you remember how much coffee you drank?"

"...Who will remember?"

"Then what nonsense are you talking about?"

W's dark circles are also extremely heavy: "I have a better question now-why do people from disease control appear here?"

In addition to Kingslayer, the Doctor and Amiya also appeared at the table.Tallulah sat in the center and took over the host's microphone:

"This meeting is an informal exchange, there is no report, and no records will be left. The participants are only the core members of the 'Rhode Island' Virus Research Laboratory and the 'Integration Movement' Virus Research Institute. Please speak freely. The above, by Amiya speaks first."

Amiya pressed the microphone in front of her.The girl is not very old, and she still has a student spirit that can't fade away: "First of all, we are going to publish the results of the gene sequencing of the 'Ore Disease' virus."

The virus model is displayed on the screen.Not only Mephisto, but all the researchers sat up straight: "Wow... what the hell is this?"

Amiya nodded: "The DNA sequence of the virus is ore-like, and it does not match any known virus sequence. It is not the same or similar to the molecular structure of the virus currently known in the world of Terra. The origin of the virus is a meteorite in the suburbs. Human-to-human transmission has been confirmed, and Rhode Island is in the process of determining the basic reproduction number."

W raised his eyebrows: "Is it really an alien visitor?"

Frost Star's face was dark: "Here comes the question. How many people went to Meteorite Park on the night of 'Requiem Day'?"

Amiya smiled wryly: "Most of the city. Moreover, after the 'Requiem Day' is over, many people have already left Ursus, probably scattered all over the world."

Patriots are keenly aware of the significance of this meeting: "What instructions do the disease control and the government have?"

"That's why we're sitting here today."

Amiya paused, and lowered her face slightly: "We submitted countless reports to the management, but all of them fell into the sea. 'Meteorite Park' is a government project, and the higher-ups want to cover up their mistakes in decision-making, so they suppressed all the news."

The patriot snorted, but he was not surprised: "The plague that spreads from person to person can be concealed. I'm not afraid that it will burn on my own head."

Amiya sighed: "The higher-ups don't disclose the truth, we can't distribute red-headed documents, and there is no way for you to study the virus on the bright side. Therefore, as a member of Terra World, I hope you will lend a helping hand, from the side Assist in the research of Rhodes Island, and tide over the difficulties with Ursus. Human lives are at stake, and we all have responsibilities on our shoulders."

Tallulah didn't make a sound.After Amiya finished speaking, she took the microphone again:

"Let's vote. Those who are willing to help the Rhode Island research laboratory, raise your hand."

The conference hall was quiet, and the project leaders remained motionless.Tallulah looked around: "Raise your hands if you don't want to."

Arms were raised neatly in a row, including Tallulah herself.Amiya turned pale, and the doctor sighed: "I knew it."

Mephisto stretched out his small hand, and regarded the two people in Rhodes Island as a joke: "What is human life, and what is duty? Your higher-ups don't care, so can we care?"

The innocent girl was a little angry.She looked at Mephistopheles coldly, and her tone became unfriendly: "I hope you can still say that when something like this happens to someone you care about."

Mephisto doesn't like her: "For researchers, the basic infection number, fatality rate, and number of patients are just numbers. If you regard numbers as living things, they will always be like this. student-like."

Amiya had heard about Mephisto's brilliant achievements, but that was not something she could achieve.She retracted her gaze and looked down at her hands:

"I may not be able to become a researcher as powerful as you...but I prefer to know love and compassion."

Mephisto smiled heartily: "You have experienced too little, innocent little rabbit."

Amiya retorted unwillingly: "It's you who are so well protected."

The doctor's expression was troubled.Tallulah cleared her throat, and finally turned on the microphone in front of her:

"Above. We will continue to conduct independent research, but we will never assist you. As the leader of the 'Integration Movement', I also hope that you, Rhode Island, will draw a clear line with us. We all study viruses, but we are definitely not the same people."

Faust pulled the mask on his face and kept updating the real-time news on his mobile phone.

The sound of sirens came from not far away.He was at the scene of an explosion. A sneaky guy sneaked into the pharmacy. He hadn't picked up a few boxes of medicine, but suddenly fell to the ground and exploded into black fragments.

The explosion caused great panic.The government defined it as a terrorist attack. Anti-terrorist vehicles surrounded the pharmacy on three floors and three floors outside. Faust closed the window of the car and opened the chat window with Mephisto.

The police car was driven by one of his subordinates. Faust asked everyone in the same car to wear masks on the grounds that he had a cold.The criminal police officer has never worn such a thing before, and he is scratching here and there uncomfortably: "Hey... this thing is so boring. Captain, I have never been sick since I was a child, so I am not afraid of being infected by you, can I stop wearing it? "

"No. Tighten the iron ring on the nose, and don't touch the mask with unsterilized hands if you have nothing to do."

The younger brother was stunned for a while, and put his bumping hands back on the steering wheel: "Oh, oh, good."

Faust typed a few lines, thought about it, and deleted it.He looked out the window with some irritability. The LED screen not far away was broadcasting the noon news. The host described the prosperity and prosperity of Ursus in a strict tone, and everything seemed to be stable and healthy.

He turned his gaze back to the phone screen.His screensaver was replaced with a large number, which was the day Mephisto didn't come home.

When he returned to the police station, Faust was about to walk back to his office, but was stopped by the old policeman with a big belly: "Hey, Captain, you're back."

Faust nodded: "Have you met the prospective in-laws?"

The old police officer's eyes were evasive: "Hey, hey, I see you... Are you free? I want to ask you something?"

Faust looked at the corridor and led the old policeman into the office: "What?"

The police officer with a big belly faltered: "Isn't your lover working in a research institute? Well, did he say anything to you?"

Faust paused: "...No. The flu broke out again recently, you remember to wear a mask."

"Hey...not the flu. It seems that a new plague has been discovered, and many officials have fled."

Faust looked stunned: "What did you say?"

The fat police officer shook his head: "Oh, since you haven't heard of it, it must be a fake. Let me just say, how can there be stones on people's bodies?"

Faust thought that the number of screensavers would continue to increase, but unexpectedly, when he returned home that night, he found a little white fur in the porch.

Mephisto was lying on the floor at the door, and when he heard the sound of the door closing, he turned over slowly: "...you are back."

Faust almost wanted to sniff him.The police officer picked him up, his green eyes were full of displeasure:

"Don't scare me like that in the future."

Mephisto's face was pale and blue, with no trace of blood on his lips, and he looked as if he was dead.The researcher was already exhausted, he leaned over and rubbed Faust with the top of his head perfunctorily:

"I'm so sleepy. Please, take off my wedding ring."

Faust was very distressed: "Just hang it around your neck."

"Then take me to the bathroom, and I'll wear it myself."

Having said that, Mephisto didn't exactly remove his own ring from his neck from when Faust washed him clean to when he was blown dry.Faust cleaned and disinfected himself well, and then lay down next to Mephisto: "How long have you been working continuously?"

Xiao Baimao desperately burrowed into his arms: "... I always feel that someone has asked me exactly the same thing."

Faust lowered his eyes.

"About the new disease... why is there no movement in the media?"

Mephisto found a comfortable position in his arms, with a muffled voice:

"The higher ups are hiding it...but Rhodes Island can't help it anymore. They...yawn...there's a very powerful guy...recently...maybe they're going to issue an announcement...my hunch."

Mephisto was so sleepy that he spoke three sentences.Faust didn't dare to ask any more questions, he circled his lover firmly, and accompanied him into a rare sleep.

Mephisto's intuition was confirmed again.Early the next morning, Faust was woken up by Mephisto scratching: "Look, the disease control statement is here."

Faust rubbed his eyes in a daze: "You read."

"'The Rhode Island Virus Laboratory, a subsidiary of the US CDC, issued an independent statement 10 minutes ago'...Wow, how dare they say that, not only revealing the existence of 'Ore Disease', but also putting the virus Everything about the origin of meteorites has been kicked out. This is a slap in the face of countless big bosses."

Faust frowned: "Is it so serious to make a statement by leapfrogging?"

"I want to save people as soon as possible, although I don't think it's necessary... However, there is a person named Kelsey in Rhodes Island with a very strong background, and those people can't move them for the time being."

Mephisto looked at his watch and decided to spend another 5 minutes on his lover: "Don't go on patrol recently."

Faust played a sloppy eye: "I am a criminal policeman, and patrolling is the job of the patrolling policeman."

"Don't lie to me."

"Ah."

5 minutes passed in the blink of an eye.Mephisto sat up and began to change clothes one by one. He finally leaned forward and pulled out the gleaming silver ring around his neck:

"Help me put it on."

Faust took off the ring, put it on his left ring finger solemnly, and kissed the silver ring again.

"Everything is careful."

Mephisto is leaving.He held the officer's head and kissed his hair:

"You too."

After the closing sound disappeared, Faust sat on the bed for a while.He turned on the screen of his mobile phone, and it was the notice of police officers at all levels to support order.

The captain of the criminal police touched the bedside drawer, where lay a flannel ring box.

-tbc-

1. The ore disease in this article is basically the same as the original ore disease in Zhouyou:

There are black ores on the skin and internal organs, and the spell enhancement becomes physical strength enhancement. The corpse of the infected person will eventually crystallize and dust, and become a new source of infection.According to Chapter 2, ore diseases are divided into acute and non-acute, non-acute ones usually disappear, and acute ones explode.

2. Rhode Island and the Integration Movement both study viruses, but their functions are very different.

Simply put, Rhode Island is directly under the administrative unit (Center for Disease Control), and the integration movement is directly under the academic institution (USA Academy of Sciences).Therefore, as soon as there is a new type of case, the CDC will directly assign it to Rhodes Island for research. If other research laboratories want to conduct research openly, they need the CDC to issue a red-headed document for approval.

However, due to various reasons, the red-headed file is useless, so Rhodes Island has the cheek to hope that the integration movement can help them.However, the integration movement saw very clearly that Rhodes Island's actions could easily lead to retaliation. They didn't want to get involved in the muddy waters of the administrative system, so they all refused and continued to conduct purely academic independent research.