Charlie: Hello, I'mma back. Thankies to everyone who reviewed. I heart you all! Ahem…anyways. Nobody guessed what the cat meant. Someone ALMOST got it right before he/she/it went completely off topic. Well anyways. This chapter is considerably less brutal…but yes, as always, it ain't strawberry shortcake. Well, hope you enjoy. And I don't own this thing blahblahblah, you know the drill.


The Khathlati Strain

Chapter 4: Manhunt

Matthew sipped his drink calmly, waiting for his contacts to show up. Looking out at the sinking sun, he wondered if they would ever get there.

He was in a tavern on the Sacae/Bern border. Supposedly his contacts from Bern were to meet him there at around noon. It was already nearing sundown. As time passed, Matthew wondered if his information was wrong.

Just as Matthew was about to go out and search for them, two hooded figures strolled in. Matthew watched the newcomers from the corner of his eye and followed their movement to the table next to him. One of the hooded figures purposely sat close to Matthew, very close.

"…That you Matthew?" A voice whispered.

Matthew made no sound but nodded steadily. The two hooded figures nodded discretely and ordered their drinks. Matthew nonchalantly moved the chair one table over, bringing his drink over.

"Took you two long enough…" He smiled softly.

The two removed their hoods and smiled back. One was a woman, with blonde hair, while the other a man with wildly colored green and white hair. Matthew noted some changes that occurred in the fifteen years they were apart. Heath had definitely matured quite a bit, whereas Vaida had grew her hair out. Matthew thought she definitely looked a LOT better with longer hair, although that scar is still quite nasty.

"Well, you know how hard it is to get a Wyervan out of Bern nowadays." Vaida replied.

Matthew smiled and nodded. "So, what the heck is going on in Bern? Are you guys really releasing that nasty bug into Lycia? It's killing tons of people. I mean, Raven and Lucius are both dead… remember those two?"

Vaida nodded sadly. "Yeah… but as for Bern being behind it all, it is very possible. Ever since Prince Zephiel took power, strange things have been going on in that palace. Zephiel is definitely not that man we hoped he would be. He spends his time taxing the population into oblivion, sleeping with every young maiden he can get his hands on and plotting what seems to me are world domination plans."

Matthew took some time for this information to set in. "Wait…world domination?"

This time Heath nodded his head. "Yeah, I've been in the palace a few times, and Zephiel's scientists swarm the prince blabbing weird code names. It sounds very suspicious."

Matthew listened to the two talk as he went over the situation in his head. Prince Zephiel is definitely acting strange, and Matthew was determined to figure it out.

"So tell me." Matthew asked. "How long has he been like this?"

"Almost two months…" Vaida replied.

Matthew sat up rigid in his chair when he heard the response. "…two months? That was when the disease started to spread in Khathelet…two months ago."

Vaida and Heath nodded gravely. "Personally," Vaida said. "We have no doubt that Zephiel is behind this disease of yours."


Dr. Patric Pan was in his study in Khathelet. For the past few days, he had not dared to venture outside of his house, having recently received a very alarming post from his good friend who was now probably somewhere in Ryerde by now.

It was sundown in Khathelet and he knew that the killer bacteria were out there, killing. It was during night where all the cries of pain and agony were the strongest, not blocked out by the constant cremating and funerals that occurred during daytime. Patric sighed as he sank into his chair and began to read, since by now, books were his only escape.

He had just turned a page when he heard a window smash in the kitchen. Wondering what caused it, he placed his book down and walked over to investigate. When he arrived at the kitchen, he found the window in pieces on the floor, smashed in by a single brick. Curious, he moved over the pick up the brick…

Hours later, he woke up, bound and gagged in a darkened room.


Chris had been on the run for three days and already the militia was on him. He cursed himself for being stupid enough to draw attention to his escape, but given to contents in his laboratory, there was no choice. Fire was the only thing that would burn the bacteria.

As he walked the streets of Ryerde, hidden from the public in a heavy, brown robe, Chris' mind wondered back to the results of his experiment that night. It was supposed to be a routine check up, but as he observed his isolated strains, he noticed one tube which he had kept a bit too close to his heater had an interesting hue to the liquid. So carefully, he ran a few experiments with it. Finding that the only anomaly was the fact that it decomposed sugar a bit faster, he decided to use the laboratory animals.

The minute he released the airlock between the rat's box and the bacteria infested air, he knew something was wrong.

The rat had flopped over, dead.

But it was far from unmarked.

Chris shuddered as the rat's flesh began to decompose further after death…until an unrecognizable heap of blood, bone and flesh fragments remained.

When he saw it, he knew…

Just as what the anti-creation theorists had predicted, a species can change over time… and in his laboratory; the Khathlati Strain had changed…drastically

Chris shuddered one more time at the consequences if what he saw in his lab became reality… then he ducked into a nearby inn as he saw the Ryerde Militia sweep the streets again for him.

Behind him, a hooded figured disappeared into the shadows.


Dr. May of the Caelin General Hospital stood in awe among the emaciated bodies of her patients. As she moved among the masses in her biohazard suit that was now required of all medical staff, May felt her heart flip over and over as dying men, women and children begged her to relieve their pain. She bit her lip and sadly shook her head at everyone she passed. It's been a week since the first symptoms had shown up in Caelin and already the hospital was low on pain-relievers. She felt tears welling up in her eyes as she walked past a few dead patients, who expired the night before. Sadly, she covered their heads and marked them down in her records. She knew that the others were watching her, knowing that they would soon follow suit… and she knew that many wish they were already dead.

A mile away, Caelin Militia had stopped a supply caravan heading towards Pherae. After disposing of and burning all crop products, the militia let the caravan pass.


Chris was ordering a drink when he noticed a creepy hooded man sitting two tables over. He glanced at the newcomer and shivered. There was something about him that sent chills down the fugitive scientist's back.

After a while, the man got his food and left. Chris breathed a sigh of relief and continued to eat in peace.

Then his dessert came, and the waiter brought up a beautiful slice of cake. Chris smiled at the richness of the puffy chocolate cake and the creamy chocolate ice cream. There was nothing better after a hard day of avoiding the authorities. The waiter placed the beautiful work of art on the table, gave Chris a polite bow and left. Chris smiled and picked up the fork to eat. Just as he was about to take a bite, he noticed all the waiters and waitresses looking at him. As his eyes scanned the room, he noticed every server in the room tensing up. He looked back down at the cake and inspected it closely. Upon closer inspection, he found abnormally dark spots in the chocolate.

Chris' innate paranoia kicked in and he quickly set down his fork, and ran for heck towards the door. When he burst out into the street, militiamen surrounded him from both ends of the street. With no where to go, Chris grabbed the awning and pulled himself up towards the roof. He knew that if he didn't get onto the roof before the arrows started flying, he would be dead.

Chris felt his arms ached as he pulled his laboratory trained body up onto the roof. Just moments before he pulled his feet over, he felt a sharp pain at his ankle. Knowing that the militia was within range, he used the last of his energy to heave himself over the roof and disappeared over the building.

Afterwards, Chris ran as fast as he can to his hideout, not noticing the trail of blood that was left behind by his wound.

Behind the building, a hooded figure watched Chris run away. The figure took a sharp breath and turned away. Before leaving, the figure pulled back the robe, revealing a clump of long black along with a pair of soft blue eyes and delicate features that belonged in a Etrurian Court rather than a Lycian alley. She surveyed the trail of blood leading away, but decided that the prey would have noticed by now. So the assassin dumped her mysterious robes and pulled a warm cloak around her. After taking care that her blades were hidden, she strolled out of the alley. Her quarry would have to wait for another day.

She headed back towards the inn she was staying at and made ready to report a failure, knowing full well that her employer would not be happy.


Oswin burst into the throne room looking for Hector. The Marquess was sitting on his throne when the Oswin barged in.

"My lord, Dr. Liang has been sighted."

Hector perked at the news. "Where?"

"In Ryerde. The militia there almost caught him, but he managed to climb a roof and escape, although one of the sharpshooters did hit him in the leg."

"Well, whoop de doo!" Hector snarled. "That ain't gonna do jack! I SAID I WANT THAT BASTARD CAUGHT DEAD OR ALIVE!"

The entire room shook at Hector's outburst and Oswin nodded dutifully, not wanting to anger Hector more.

Hector calmed down a bit and pointed at the door. "Go Oswin, bring out the assassins if you have to…I want him dead."

Oswin nodded again before leaving the room. On his way out, he met Florina. The two looked at each other for a bit and sadly shook their heads. They both loved Hector, and wished that something would mitigate his distress.


Charlie: Yes, no deaths this time. You guys got off easy…but next chapter )

Erk: …don't mind him…

Charlie: Err, anyways. Hope you enjoy… I'll try to get the next few chapters up quickly so you won't be as confused.