The Little Prince in the Ossuary

# Return (13)

It was generally a reasonable explanation. A paradox that will be enough for the world to come. At the time of the bite, Pastor Park Tae-sun was probably insane with fear that he was infected with the plague. He would have asked absolute salvation. Believing in God meant believing in miracles. When prayer was realized, it was not strange that God's work received more vigor than ever before.

But Campbell's story had one question. Winter asked me that.

“Major, I understand Pastor Park's story. But it's strange to say the congregation is infected. Are you sure it's the infection, not the long-term intake of the carrier's bodily fluids causing side effects? Were the people I met in April Pacific infected? ”

“Eh……. ”

A Campbell that rolls its eyes instead of answering straight away. Winter received attention from the West District Commissioner.

“Commander in the middle of winter. You would have taken a confidentiality pledge back then. Although Fair Strike was the goal of securing the operation, everything experienced from the moment the pledge came into effect until the operation was officially terminated is confidential. So is the April Pacific that you just mentioned. because it was an incident that happened in the process. You wouldn't say you didn't know. ”

Even the details of the operations in which each member was deployed were, in principle, to protect each other's security. In other words, the opponent is clearly mistaken for winter, which he considers to be aware of.

“I'm sorry, branch director. ”

The apologized West shakes his head.

“You have nothing to be sorry about. It's you who's getting into trouble. And in some cases, of course, the government will be quite embarrassed, but at least not today. ”

It meant that I and Campbell already knew. It's the lieutenant. I just took an oath.

“Be more careful, as usual. ”

“Yes, you should first check in advance whether you are qualified to handle the information. And some people won't be happy to know a new secret if they deserve it. like Lieutenant Laplin here. ”

The nominated commander smiles beautifully. It is not enough that the stories that will be bothered by what you know will grow useless. Although I had to deal with various confidentialities in my job and class, it was confidential.

“Kmm.”

Campbell clears his throat. It's because the West who finished the warning nodded at him. Campbell is not deaf, so it was not necessary to tell me the range.

“A commander asked a good question. Could you wait a moment?”

He changed the folder path on the tablet.

“These are the Subunits and Variant cells that we have obtained from Pastor Pak's blood. A total of 427 species have been discovered to date, probably increasing at this point. ”

Seeing pictures of cells of different shapes, General Laplin gave a shivering look.

“That's a lot of things. Is this how mutants behave? ”

“No.”

Immediately denies Campbell.

“The variants are much less, much more stable. Whereas Pastor Park's blood is constantly discovering new things, and it disappears again. It's highly unstable. They are of different sizes, ranging from tens of nanometers small to 200 micrometers large. What do you think this means? ”

“…… well. I'm out of town, so the doctor will make it as easy as possible. ”

“Well, easily, easily……. ”

The muttering Campbell snaps his fingers. He was still a long way from a soldier. As a civilian expert employed by the military, the rank is decorated or one of a kind.

“Why don't I tell you this? The Mogelons complex is like a sophisticated machine. It's a symbiotic relationship where multiple pathogens interlock like different parts. In fact, even the expression symbiosis is inappropriate, because some of them depend on more than multiforme groups... ”

It's a blurry ending. Explaining the area of expertise to the general public was a tricky practice.

“Blablah. You don't want to hear the back. Anyway, when you think of Mogellons as a kind of machine, the Mogellons go into Reverend Pak's body, and one of the critical parts fails to function. It's a good thing it stopped working here, but unfortunately, it started booming. because each one of these parts is a living machine. ”

“Huh.”

“Yes. Huh. And as a result of the outburst, not only did the mutations in Mogellons, but also the physical changes caused by the infection deviate a lot from orbit. which is why Pastor Parks' blood is irregularly infectious. From the looks of it, you've become more dangerous than any particular variant. Potentially.”

“... Was there such a thing at this base? ”

General Raflin referred to Pastor Park as an object. The West Branch Director replied.

“Don't worry. There are safeguards.”

“Safety?”

“First... … there are three high-explosive rounds embedded in the body of the Christian Church. Each nephrine, coupled with seven sensors, such as GPS receivers and gyro modules, operates on a cobalt 60 nuclear cell. Immediately explodes if outside the specified range or body temperature is not detected. according to the judgment of the control device. ”

The commander was appalled.

“Oh, my God. You guys are crazy. Was there no more common sense? ”

“Don't look at me like that. We didn't do it. It's the work of true patriots. Originally, it could have been a remote detonation by a monitor, but everyone who knew the detonation code died in the process of eliminating the remnants of the True Patriots. As a bishop, that's a relief. ”

“ ……. ”

”This is one of the reasons why we didn't send the bishops and the congregation to another facility early. Now that we're ready to remove the bomb, Principal Park is stalling to refuse surgery. Fear is fear, but disbelief is bigger than that, so I'm struggling. ”

Winter opened its eyes narrow.

“Pastor Park himself knows the existence of the bomb in his body? ”

“Yes, Commander. In fact, we checked because he told us first. There was a lot of tears. I told him that the remote detonation was impossible to reassure him, and now he's doubting the purpose of the harvest. He actually wants to plant a new remote detonator. It's also showing aversion to moving elsewhere. ”

Commander Laplin questioned you.

“You can put him to sleep with medicine and then proceed." ”

“Tried and failed. They're rational, but they're already physically mutated. They were cautious without success. ”

“Mmmm... ”

“Very resistant to medication, and as Dr. Campbell said, it is difficult to determine the appropriate amount of infusion each time. He was awakened during surgery with a human-based lethal dose of sleeping pills. Surgeons and demolition experts need to work together as soon as possible, but it's hard to do it if you struggle hard enough. You will lose precious samples. ”

“Then how did the" True Patriots "plant the bomb? ”

“Planting is relatively easy. He would have been inactive. Above all, Pastor Park wasn't sure of his value until he first came into contact with us. Now they realize they can't kill themselves when they're distracted. ”

“This is amazing. Is there no way... ”

“Why not? ”

“ ……? ”

“In the meantime, I've avoided inhuman means. As I said, the ultimate responsibility for all this" true patriots "is the government, and it is true that Pope Pak has been wronged. But if you keep doing this, you're going to have to use your hands rough. ”

“Like what?”

“Maybe there's a way to sever the nerves, create a systemic chorea, and get her on the table. All you have to do is hold your breath. Well, if you're lucky, won't you recover? because it's close to mutant regeneration. ”

Major Campbell shakes his head on this one. I felt like I had a slight chance. Unless it is a specialty variant or a strengthened variant, all the abilities of the variant are enhanced on the basis of humans.

“... I feel sorry for you in some way. ”

When General Raflin hears this, the West Branch Director takes on the cynicism.

“Poor thing? You mean Principal Park? ”

He leans against the armrests, slanting his torso, and a furious fist props up his right chin.

“Only the number of believers who received his Grace is over 300. I can't give you the exact numbers because I think a few people died after I got here. Ignorance is not a penance. One or two manslaughters, maximum execution, minimum weapons imprisonment. I'm trying to respect basic human rights, but I doubt we should even consider him as a human being these days. at least the body is out of the human body. He has no citizenship. ”

He committed an unacceptable sin and became physically no longer human. They have no human rights because they are not human. That's what I said.

“I've been told there are many other measures in place to prevent biological contamination. If you look at the scale of the emergency budget that's put into that little habitat, you'd be surprised. ”

And West looked at the winter.

“Now that this is happening, I hope you'll cooperate in the middle of the winter. Though it won't be long now. ”

“Me?”

“Yes, this is a notice, not a request. It's your responsibility to know the secret. Likewise for Lieutenant Laplin. ”

One breath, he said again.

“It was better. But we were going to raise an emergency response team. With your help, Commander, even under the worst circumstances, the possibility of incinerating the entire anomaly is reduced. You're the best fighter specialist in the Civil War. ”

“ ……. ”

“Although we have secured a variety of samples, including Pope Pac's DNA, it is recommended that the provider of samples remain alive for as long as possible in the study. ”

Somehow I wanted to tell you the deep secrets easily. In hindsight, West seems to be preparing for intense friction with the congregation. In terms of describing winter as an expert in the Civil War, I also felt like I was treating the congregation as a potential mutant. Winter asked.

“Branch, why did you try to raise an emergency response team? ”

“Because the paranoid bishop is concerned about inciting the congregation to defend itself. ”

“...... Are the faithful still confident? ”

“Most of the time. It was so scary to believe. A few who started to suspect had been quarantined before Lynch. ”

“Why do you still allow religious activities, because it's easier to manage? ”

“Yes, and for the sake of the faithful. ”

“For themselves? ”

“Let's just say it's a white lie. Wouldn't it be better to embrace the end with a comfortable mind, even in false faith, than to realize the truth and die in anger, despair, and horror? with the hope that they would be promised salvation after death. ”

“Salvation after death……. ”

You hear a little smile in the ears of the tender winter. Turns out it was Campbell's taunt. He hurriedly changed his face and apologized in front of the gaze gathered on him.

“I'm sorry. I made a mistake because I felt like a believer. ”

I feel like I'm getting cold feet. His first name was Elijah. Winter, staring at the water, demanded of West.

“Commander, can you verify what you've said so far?" ”

“Validate?”

“Stories and pictures alone are hard to believe. I'd like you to at least let me have a closer look at the materials. And I want to be able to talk to Pastor Park himself, or a few believers. Is that possible?"

“Hmm……. ”

The Station Head, who folds his arms and ponders, asks.

“Nevertheless, what is the point of providing more professional data? It may not be accessible, but it's a separate matter for the Colonel to understand. ”

“Yes, so I'm going to ask someone else. And of course, he's going to need a confidentiality pledge. You're gonna need your permission for this, too. ”

“This is getting embarrassing. It wasn't in the calculations until now……. Who is he? ”

“I'm Captain Jo Yunchang of the medic fleet. Different disciplines, but I think they have the ability to tell the truth. ”

West responded with a thought.

“I promise I will look at it positively. ”

“Thank you."

“So…… do you both have any other questions or requests? ”

It was General Laplin who was listening for a long time. The general asked an anticipated question.

“What are the chances of developing a vaccine? ”

Then West looked to the side seat. Campbell shrugs.

“I don't see it.”

“Nothing?”

To the warped commander, Campbell reaffirmed his answer.

“Yes, at least not yet. Partial immunity limit. Even Pastor Parks sees brain damage over time. Part of the cerebellum and the cortex are deforming. Over time, you'll be a zombie. ”

General Raflin's expression was blatantly disappointing.

“So what the hell are you studying? ”

“We're working on a vaccine. But without the Mogellonian prototype, it's hard to make further progress. So my research team expects that weapons will be made before vaccines. ”

“Weapons?”

A suspicious voice. Campbell grins.

“As I explained, Reverend Park's partial immunity triggers a functional error in the Mogellon complex. So let's think about this and develop a biochemical agent. I wonder if even the mutants can adapt. This is also a story of a time when things were going well. ”

It was definitely a fascinating possibility. Is this really a positive possibility? Is it the end of the ice age? Winter was not easy to be sure.