The Sigournate Virus

- Chapter 6 -

Slamming down another folder, Lazarus leaned back in the metal seat he had been stoicly sitting in for six hours straight. Resting his head against the back of his seat, he pondered over the information he had already went over numerous times in his mind.

The virus was obviously bacterial, due to the fact it was communicable by-

Then he saw it. A single phrase that leapt out at him on the paper, and made his heart race with joy and a bit of apprehension. He picked up the page and read slowly.

"The virus seems to respond to the antibody Phygotaxis Oxitosis, but we have no idea how to replicate it. It had the virus in almost total submission by the time it expired, so we are assuming that if a fresh supply of antibodies were found then the virus could be completely curable. But the only question remaining would be where to find the host that possessed the antibody needed."

Phygotaxis Oxitosis. It couldn't be that simple, could it?

Shooting up from the seat, Lazarus gathered the files and made his way to the Medical Infirmary.

breakbreakbreakbreakbreakbreakbreakbreakbreak

When he reached the Infirmary, Lazarus noticed the Commander was standing just outside the door. When he approached, the man turned and looked at him hopefully.

"Find anything?" Taggart asked him.

"I have found something, although I don't quite understand it at the moment. But I will." Lazarus stared at him with a determined look. With that he swept past Taggart and into the Infirmary.

When he entered the little white room, he noticed that the med techs were all gathered around Tawney's bed. He cleared his throat to draw their attention.

"Ahem, might one of you be so kind as to assist me for a moment? I think I might have the solution to healing Tawn- er, Miss Madison."

"Yes sir, what do you need, sir?" A young looking med-tech asked, coming over to take the files that Lazarus handed to him. The man began going through them.

"I need you to draw some of my blood, analyze it, and then compare it to the diagram of the antibody on that page, right there." Lazarus said, indicating which diagram he meant.

The med-tech looked confused for a moment, but then it was as if a light had went off in his head. He looked up at Lazarus with a look of surprise.

"Sir, do you really think that..." He began, but trailed off when he saw the look in Lazarus' eyes. The man was in no mood to play twenty questions. He had asked for blood tests and he wanted them pronto. "Y-y-yes sir, right away." The med-tech stuttered, then turned quickly to gather the supplies he needed for the blood draw.

By then, Taggart had followed Lazarus into the Infirmary.

"Lazarus, what's going on?" He asked.

Lazarus took his seat in a nearby chair, waiting for the tech to come and begin the procedure. Turning to Taggart, he answered his question. "It's difficult to explain, but if I'm right about my instincts, and this isn't just some sort of fluke, and those files are correct... then I'll be able to cure her."

Just then, the med-tech came back and began the difficult task of drawing blood from the Tev'Meckian's arm. After he was done, he took the sample over to be scanned.

Taggart's eyes started to show signs of hope. "How?" He whispered.

"The Mok'Tar only mate once, and when something happens to that mate we grieve for them for the rest of our lifespan. But each Tev'Meckian only has one true mate in all existence. The one being meant to complete them spiritually, and we recognize them by, when in close proximity to them, we begin to feel the urge to initiate the Mok'Tar Mating Bond." Lazarus explained.

Taggart looked confused. "What? What does that have to do with Tawney?" He questioned.

Lazarus gave the man an exasperated look before continuing. "Lately, whenever I would come into contact with Miss Madison, I would begin to feel the urge. I am under the impression that Tawney is my Mok'Tar mate. Although how that can be, what with her not being Mok'Tar at all, is beyond my comprehension."

Taggart's eyes went wide in shock. "What?!"

This outburst clearly disturbed the doctor, and he looked about ready to throw Taggart out, Commander or not. Taggart shot him an apologetic look, then turned back to Lazarus to hiss.

"What? But you can't possibly... I mean, how is you bonding with Tawney supposed to cure her?" He asked.

"Because of this." Lazarus stated simply, handing Taggart the file, and pointing to the reference that had brought all of this on. "Phygotaxis Oxitosis is the antibody present within a Tev'Meckian only when they are performing the Bonding ritual. I have had the med-tech draw some of my blood to analyze. If indeed I am meant to Bond with Tawney, then the antibody will be present. And if the antibody is present, then when our essence mingles during the Bonding, then in theory her body will receive what she needs to fight off the virus."

The tech came back just then with the results of the blood analysis. He had a smile on his face. Both Lazarus and Taggart looked at the man expectantly.

"Well sir, it appears you were right. The quantity of Phygotaxis Oxitosis in your body is off the scale." The med-tech stated happily, a relieved tone to his voice.

Lazarus let out a breath he had not known he had been holding, while Taggart gave a resigned sigh. He turned to look at Lazarus. "How do you know she feels the same. What if you do this, and she gets better, but doesn't want to be Bonded?"

Lazarus looked at him with a look that said 'you should know better than that'. "I don't plan on doing this without her consent." He informed the Commander.

Taggart gave him a frown. "And just how do you plan on asking her? She hasn't regained consciousness since she was brought here." He argued.

"There is a way." Lazarus said, and he went to stand beside the prone form of Tawney Madison. Taking her hand in his, he concentrated for a few moments, his eyes closed and his mind focused.

Everyone else in the room stood in silence. Not knowing what else to do, they simply waited.

tbc...