Heart of Gazelle and Humanity

by The Imperator 2 you

With all hope lost Humanity places its final hope in the souls of those frozen in time. While excavating a tunnel, a team of Mammals going about their business discovers a relic of millennia past, and an ancient species thought mythical and legend. Yet of all eggs discovered only 1 survives. Can Humanity be redeemed for the sins of its past, in the future it cannot control?

36. Drone Chapter 6

Shadows rise, comfort melts away…

Dusk marches towards to defeat, the reigning light of day…

It crushes all the bonds we've made; devours all the hope it finds…

We cannot let the dark invade our souls at nights!

Drone Chapter 6 = Ema Save the World

(Ema's PoV)

She stood over Jeremy's biobed, monitoring his condition and ensuring the Biotech mixture to water ratio was optimal for restoring the damage done to his muscle, tissue and organs. It's only been a few days since he was put under and so far, no change has been registered or detected.

[Attention EMA, a group of mammals have arrived with an Infectious Disease, and are requesting permission to enter the facility.] Sentinel declared suddenly.

She turned away from Jeremy's biobed after cataloguing his latest bio-signs and headed to the main viewscreen to activate it.

[Please state your business.] She said dully.

"We're from the Mammilian Disease Research agency, and we've brought you a disease that we need help with."

She eyed the carefully wrapped vials and how the mammals were taking extreme precautions with their personal safety. They wore special masks, gloves and even had bio-hazard suits on to protect themselves.

[A drone will instruct you on how to follow Eden Facility Medical Protocols for the transportation of infectious disease substances, follow the instructions given and enter.]

With that she turned to Jeremy's biobed and activated the bio-lockdown procedure, watching as it tightened its seals and attached an air pump from below so that Jeremy was completely isolated from the environment outside of his pod. When the mammals arrived with a RAPTOR carefully carrying the disease samples, she asked them for the run down on what it was they were bringing her.

"It's a new virus or something that we've never encountered before, it's incredibly infectious and mutates faster than we can analyze." A caribou said as she took one vial to look at.

She examined the vial, a glass container holding blood, with her optics seeing various clumps of some foreign substance that, to the naked eye, were indistinguishable from the rest of the blood in the vial. It was a unique virus, but one she hadn't seen before, already able to tell that it was hiding 'inside' the various blood cells and disguising itself so that the body could not react to it before it was too late. But what it was doing however, was shocking, as it was actively dismantling the blood cells and infecting others, causing them to release an 'orange-like' puss on the cellular level.

[Well, as far as I can tell it 'is' infectious, as for the mutation factor, it doesn't seem to mutate outside of the body it infects, as for lethality, nothing I'm seeing indicates it could be deadly… I should be able to analyze it quickly.] She stated as she injected her needle into the vial and took it into her chamber to scan.

"Thank goodness, this disease has already started spreading across the Three Plains Nation and it's starting to get worse."

[Understandable…] She declared as she tapped into the facility's database to catalogue her findings while turning to them. [I'll provide a general cure for you to take once I finish scan-]

[Inconclusive]

She stopped midsentence as she turned to the screen and read the words, double, tripled and quadruple checked her own scans to confirm that her scans were 'inconclusive'.

[What?] She stated, before she tried analyzing the cell membrane of the virus.

Only her scans couldn't give her a solid understanding.

[Impossible…]

She took her primary scanning leg and scanned the contents, then she tried examining the genetic structure of the disease, then she tried to locate the virus' genome sequence, but none of her attempts were working. She quickly walked over to a workstation imbedded into the wall and activated it, bringing several of her external analysis equipment up and injected the disease into a microscope designed specifically to magnify her optic's vision.

[Sentinel, analyze the sample and recalibrate all sensors for malfunction and errors!]

[Analysis in progress, unable to identify previously known traits of disease based on recorded diseases in database, all sensors functioning within standard operating parameters!]

[And yet I cannot analyze it, why can't I analyze it?]

"Uhm, miss Ema, are you alright?"

She observed the disease through her optics, watching in real time and at the genetic level as the disease ever so subtly shifted and mutated, not enough to be recognizably different, but enough that after two seconds its subtle changes were noticeable even to her.

[I've seen randomly mutating viral diseases before, I've analyzed them before, we have cures for them, why is this one so different?]

She took another sample and input the blood into the system, and observed the same mutating properties, but this time it was different, the mutations were just as subtle, just as varied, but they didn't look anything like the first. Thoroughly confused she grabbed a third vial, put the sample in, and observed just as equally randomly mutating properties as the other two, but like the second, the third was 'nothing' similar to the first two. She grabbed the fourth vial and put it down, and just as before, at the cellular level it was mutating, subtly, rapidly, and completely different compared to the previous samples.

[It's mutating too fast; I can't analyze it…] She said. [What species did these blood samples come from?]

"Uhm, two from Giraffes, one from a Rhino and the last from a sheep." One of the mammals said, pulling out a sheet of paper to read from.

Quickly she returned to the samples and looked for 'any' similarities between them, and while two samples showed similar blood to one another, the disease had mutated so differently between them it was almost a different disease, yet it still acted the same in all four species.

[How infectious is this disease, what's the latest recorded finding, how many mammals have been infected?]

"Almost ten thousand, spread out across four countries so far." The lead mammal said. "We couldn't figure out how to analyze it, so we tried bringing it to you. It mutates faster than anything we've ever encountered before."

[What about how it spreads, have you deduced that?]

"It spreads based on our findings through the air, mostly through coughing individuals."

She looked back at her samples and again, tried and failed to use her standard analysis protocols to examine and research it.

[Symptoms, what are the symptoms of this disease that you've observed, and when was it first spotted?]

"A cough, shortness of breath, loss of energy at first, and then anemic sensations… and it was first spotted about five days ago."

[All related to blood cells being killed as they are infected and destroyed… and that puts it about two days before the festival which means this thing only 'just' appeared…] She stated. [If this disease mutates based on the individual and not the species, and if its rate of infection is as high as your reporting, this thing is only 'weeks' away from becoming a global pandemic, and if it keeps mutating who 'knows' when it will turn lethal! And if this infects…] She turned to the console again and input the disease and ran a simulation of Jeremy's blood now. [If Jeremy gets infected with this disease before I can develop a cure or vaccine to counter it, let alone while he's in a weakened state after leaving his biobed… he will not survive, his immune system will be weak from recovering in the biobed, it will be unable to put up even a minor resistance.]

She turned to Jeremy's biobed, safely protecting him thanks to her precautions, but eventually it 'would' release him, the bed was on an automatic release function that she couldn't alter, it will scan him and release him on time. When that happened, he would be at risk, and if he got this disease while he was in the recovery stage it would absolutely devastate his weakened immune system in as little as 'three' days based on her limited findings.

[I must cure this disease in less than a month, I have less than a month until Jeremy is scheduled to be released from that biobed.] She turned to the mammals present in the room. [I can't cure it right now, but I am going to cure this disease in less than a month.]

"A month, is that possible, you said so yourself you can't analyze it?"

[There is no disease I cannot understand, I 'will' cure this!] She declared while tapping a button on the floor and adding an 'additional' layer of protection to Jeremy's pod, an isolation field of four glass walls which lowered from the ceiling and covered his pod on four sides, sealing it off from the room. [I watched thousands of my creators die every day to disease and worse, unable to save them, letting them suffer and die in my medical bay. I will not let you mammals suffer this disease as my creators suffered in the past… this, is what I was 'built' to prevent!]

[I will prevail… in the name of my creators, in the name of humanity!] She stated while looking at Jeremy's biobed.

=Day One=

[I don't understand why I can't analyze this disease like before?] She stated as she once more tried and failed to compile enough data to understand the inner workings of the disease she was attempting to cure. [It shouldn't matter how fast it mutates, 'every' disease still carries a base genome and DNA strand despite how much it changes, enough for me to analyze and understand not only the 'root' of the disease but also the off-strands of the disease.]

She examined her 'fifteenth' blood sample provided to her, a Shrew's blood sample. Despite how small the vial was, she could still detect the disease and analyze it, or at least 'try' to analyze it, but each time she seemed to get close to understanding its genetic structure it 'changed', just enough to throw off her scanners. So far it hadn't evolved much, and the worst the disease was causing was mild anemic sensations, aside from the coughing, loss of energy and overall decrease in blood count it wasn't lethal, 'yet'. She had time, but based on the disease's progress it was only a matter of time before it developed more lethal symptoms, and if it spread fast enough then death on a massive scale would be inevitable.

[I am capable of detecting, reading, observing, and understanding the genetic code of 'any' disease, I was designed to register a disease within my database and examine the most effective course of treatment within microseconds of detecting the genome and genetic strands. So 'why' can't I detect or 'read' the DNA sequence or the Genome of this disease?] She muttered dully as she took her latest sample and put it aside. [Fine… want to play it rough, then we go back to 'basics'… do this the hard way then!]

She turned to the ceiling and tapped into the Sentinel AI.

[Sentinel, requesting holographic access to the 'entire' disease database library, project it in the medical bay and link all known diseases to my AI and set up a cross referencing algorithm with all known recorded data on disease TPN-Genova 1 samples 1 through 15.]

[Projecting…]

She turned around and saw the room darken and show thousands upon thousands of holographic vials for her, each with the disease name marked above them. The facility cultivated thousands upon thousands of infectious diseases, all carefully preserved, grown, and safely stored in an extremely vacuum sealed container and sealed behind fifteen layers of protective barriers to prevent 'any' potential infection break out. It had the most complete medical database in the world, there was even a small section related to modern mammal diseases that she had already cured and vaccinated on the far end.

[Cross reference algorithm ready, awaiting inquiries…]

[Cross reference TPN-Genova 1, with any known disease within the database that shows similarly randomly mutating properties!]

Within seconds hundreds were highlighted.

[Narrow search for rapid mutation on a scale of a per individual basis…]

Only twenty-seven remained highlighted.

[Of the twenty-seven which ones relate to the cardiovascular system?]

None remained highlighted.

[Reset search parameters, of the diseases known to the database, which diseases relate to the cardiovascular system in which the disease rapidly infects and destroys blood cells on the cellular level with rapid mutating properties, similar to the activities of TPN-Genova 1?]

Seven diseases were highlighted now.

[Of the seven diseases how, many develop similar symptoms related to TPN-Genova 1?]

Only one remained highlighted now.

[Request access to one sample of CAD-PEEKO-91, authorization EMA BWS Alpha.] She requested while turning to the central disease distribution pillar.

[Request granted…]

The holograms vanished and she watched as a single tiny vial of a yellowish liquid was transported down the central disease distribution tube to rest in an alcove for her to grab, ingest, and examine in her primary disease research chamber.

The disease CAD-PEEKO-91 was a virus, similar to the disease TPN-Genova 1 that she was examining, but unlike 'her' disease, CAD-PEEKO-91 didn't nearly mutate as randomly as TPN-Genova 1, and only mutated in an expected pattern once it infected the patient, taking on the genetic pattern of the host and using the DNA to make it easier to attack the patient's arteries, eventually causing heart attacks and strokes within days of infecting the patient.

TPN-Genova 1 on the other hand, was acting completely differently, attacking the blood cells within the arteries and veins, killing them and spreading faster than the body can replace blood cells and mutating faster than the body can fight back. The body couldn't develop anti-bodies fast enough to counter the disease before it mutates and makes said anti-bodies useless. The White Blood Cells she noticed, didn't seem to notice the disease until it was far too late to stop its progress.

[It almost acts like a parasite at first, hiding in the patient, mutating and evolving before exploding, infecting blood cells as fast as it can, and once it overwhelms the patient's blood cells…] She declared while destroying the disease in her chamber and cleansing it with sanitation liquid. [From there it mutates, and evolves into something I can't scan effectively enough to develop a cure or vaccine.]

[Sentinel, restore disease inquiry hologram, reset algorithm and reset all diseases.] She ordered and watched as the room darkened and holographic diseases once more filled the space. [I'll just tackle it with every disease in the database, surely 'one' of these diseases can give me insight into how to fight it or at least analyze it. There is 'no' disease that cannot be understood.]

=Day Three=

[And so, in short world leaders, this disease is capable of not only infecting individuals rapidly, but is also capable of mutating based on the 'individual's' DNA. Once it infects a 'single' blood cell within the patient, it adapts the patient's DNA to itself to better disguise within the infected individual, and from there mutates almost every second. Each mutation is subtle, not enough to make it vary wildly, but enough to throw off each of my scanners and understanding of it.] She stated after setting up a multi-communication with multiple world leaders after the world learned of her 'inability' to quickly understand the disease, as she did with previous ones.

Though it took 'Aelita' setting up the connection, since she had little idea how to actually establish multiple connections within the facility without requesting Sentinel's help, and Sentinel didn't have a connection to the world leaders.

It's not her fault, she's a doctor, not an engineer!

[I've attempted every known method of dealing with this disease, but without a complete understanding of its genetic structure and genome sequence I could only attempt to try and deal with the symptoms as they appeared in various stages of the disease's progress. However, even the most advanced Antibiotics humanity has developed have proven 'less' than effective. They only reduce the symptom's effects for about half a day before losing their effectiveness. After the antibiotics take effect, the disease begins to mutate and 'reduce' the effectiveness of future antibiotics like those taken by the patient.]

[With all due respect, but this is sounding less like a 'disease' and more like a biological weapon engineered specifically to kill mammals.] The leader of the Northern Polar Ice Cap said, a Polar Bear.

[Are you suggesting that 'my' nation, which discovered this disease, deliberately engineered a weapon and infected itself with it?] Queen Anatellia, the elderly Antelope stated coldly. [Or are you perhaps suggesting that one of 'you' created this?]

[Watch your tone, 'your majesty'…] Another leader replied just as coldly, an Armadillo.

[This isn't a biological weapon developed by mammals, your species don't have the capabilities to develop a biological weapon 'this' perfect.] She said dully. [I've already ruled out the possibility that it's a bioweapon, a bioweapon would not take this long to kill anyone, and it would not waste time with such trivial symptoms as its displayed. So far, the worst symptom it's caused is a mild anemic sensation, if it were a bioweapon, those infected would have died by now. Even the slowest acting 'human' created bioweapon killed its patients using far more devastating symptoms and effects, causing a cough is pointless given the intention. This disease however has been active for more than ten days, and so far the worst it's done is cause mild anemic sensations. Furthermore, my scans would have automatically picked up the chemical residue of a bioweapon infecting a patient which 'all' recorded bioweapons leave, according to my medical database regarding diseases and bioweapons.]

[And how would you possibly know that?] The Porcupine President of the nation Zootopia resided asked with a roll of his eyes. [Exactly how 'vast' is your 'medical database'?]

[Excluding the mammal diseases that I've researched and catalogued, cured and produced vaccines for, precisely seventeen times larger than the entire world's mammalian medical database combined.] She stated in a matter of fact voice. [The point is, I have tried everything within the realm of my programming and capabilities to examine and cure this disease as I have done with previous diseases, and thus far nothing has worked. I can relieve its symptoms but only temporarily, and those antibiotics I've used have failed to impede the disease's progress.]

[So, what is it you're asking of us?] A pair of Tiger Cubs asked politely as an older Tiger stood behind them. [What do you propose we do?]

[You need to get this disease under control 'before' it becomes a global pandemic and spreads across the world!] She told them, tapping a button and bringing up the latest data she had on the infection rate. [As of right now three nations have reported this disease, all within close proximity of the first major hot spot. The current infected count is up to thirty thousand, less than a tenth of a percent of the global population, but if left alone that number will begin to skyrocket. This disease's infection rate is extremely high, able to pass 'through' the air via infected particles from coughing or sneezing of infected individuals. The only saving grace I've discovered is that it can only transmit via short range, on a person to person basis, but that still gives it 'plenty' of room to maneuver as it has a long life span outside of the body compared to other diseases I've encountered.]

[My nation has already imposed a travel ban and has initiated a temporary lockdown; I do not see what else we can do.] Queen Anatellia said politely. [But if you do have suggestions, then I am willing to hear them.]

[What I propose is a 'full' global lockdown, every nation 'must' quarantine and lock down until this disease is under control and a cure is developed.] She said, removing the data from the screen. [At the same time, restrict national movement and public activity to minimum levels, ensure everyone adheres to quarantine procedures and safety measures. Mandate masks and gloves be worn at all times until this disease is under control, and begin mass producing personal protection equipment for civilian and medical staff. Furthermore, instruct all civilians to practice constant cleanliness in terms of washing hands and sanitizing frequently touched surfaces.]

[Are you insane, a 'global lockdown'?] A wolf leader said in disbelief.

[We can't afford a lockdown of that scale, too many jobs lost, too much money, we can't do something like that!]

In seconds all of the leaders were arguing and saying how they couldn't possibly do something like what Ema was proposing, only about 'three' were actually silent and simply listening to what she had suggested, the twin tiger cubs who were looking at each other and communicating in, what she referred to the phenomenon as 'twin talk', and the elderly antelope Queen Anatallia. The antelope queen was simply listening to what was being said, her face unreadable to the spider drone. The arguing continued for several more minutes, until finally Ema had enough with their stupidity and pushed a button that caused a loud blaring horn to sound and get their attention.

[I swear you mammals are worse than humans when it comes to listening to medical professionals.] She stated dully. [This is 'not' up for debate, you 'must' control this disease and restrict its movement 'before' it gets worse. Right now, the disease is only a minor nuisance to daily life, at worst patients suffer a mild anemic sensation, but that is only for now. My data shows that its mutating properties are based on a patient by patient basis, meaning it is only a matter of time before it develops new, perhaps 'lethal' symptoms within a patient's body. Once that happens it is only a matter of time before the infected individual's life will be on the line.]

She looked at each leader's face, wishing she had facial features to convey her word's meanings, but alas the people who developed her model weren't concerned with trivial things, and honestly, she didn't need them to get her meaning across. Instead she fell back on tried and true 'data' from the past.

[Sentinel, request access to data regarding COVID-19, regarding its spread and impact on global stability and economics, including infectivity rate, infection spread path and finally death toll during its active timeline.]

[Data compiled and ready…]

[Transmit data to all individuals I'm currently communicating with.]

[Transmitting…]

Within minutes graphs and charts, diagrams and data streams were displayed on the viewscreens for all the world leaders to observe and read at their leisure, but she pointed out the primary data for them. She pointed out those human nations that took it seriously and the lower impact the disease had on 'them' compared to those that didn't take it seriously. She pointed out the waves of infection, how it never seemed to end, how the disease kept growing and infecting, spreading from country to country, the death tolls, the riots, she pointed out 'everything' to them so that they would understand that she is not recommending these precautions and decisions for no reason. Eventually she ended with the phrase, [If you choose to ignore my advice, then I am not responsible for what happens, my directive will remain the same, save as many lives as I can. I will continue to study the disease and attempt to cure it as I'm programmed to do. You however… will have to live with the fact that every life that dies because of your inaction… will be on 'your' hands.]

With that she watched the mammal leaders simply sit in silence, before eventually they started to leave the communication channel. The last to leave was Queen Anatallia, the elderly Antelope, who was still watching the drone with careful and judging eyes.

[You have a question?] She asked dully.

The queen was silent as she looked into her optics, and Ema had to admit that compared to every other mammal and human she's ever known, this individual was by far the hardest to read when it came to facial expressions.

[How would 'Jeremy' react to this disease, if he were infected?]

[If he were healthy and with Gazelle, well fed and following my nutritional guidelines and physical activity list, which he struggles to follow if even aware of, and while his immune system is at its strongest he would suffer equally when compared to mammals based on my calculations.] She replied. [If he were infected now, while his body is severely weakened, lacking nutrients and vitamins from adequate feeding, and especially while his immune system is at its weakest thanks to suffering a near fatal Cryogenetic Sclerosis attack, I have calculated the disease would consume him in three days without a cure.]

She was still staring at her with a silent expression that the drone couldn't read.

[So it really 'isn't' a biological weapon developed by Jeremy, that was at the back of my mind, you can understand why I was suspicious when you said that this was too 'perfect' to have been developed by us mammals.]

[While Jeremy does possess medical knowledge, he lacks the understanding to develop something as sophisticated as a biological weapon as the humans in the past developed prior to my model's construction. Also, it's not in his nature to do something like that, he was trained to help 'repair' the world not 'end' it.]

Again, the queen was silent, staring into Ema's optics, silently judging and thinking, her expression unreadable. The drone was actually wondering if something was wrong with the screen.

[Tell me, and be honest with me machine, how deadly is this disease going to get, compared to those you had to deal with in the past?]

[A disease with randomly mutating properties is something I've encountered before, but not on the scale or frequency of this disease.] She stated. [I'm going off of data from past diseases, a disease with such wildly changing mutations, it is only a matter of time until it becomes deadly. How deadly and when it becomes deadly, I cannot predict…]

[I see, I apologize for calling you 'machine' and not by your name, Ema.]

[Don't, the designation 'Ema' Jeremy gave me is just his 'nickname' for me, my full designation is Emergency Medical Augmenter Black Widow Spider class drone Alpha, or EMA BWS Alpha for short.] She replied.

[I understand, is there 'anything' I can do to assist you in your efforts to research this disease, to perhaps speed up the process, since time is of the essence?]

She turned and glanced around the empty medical bay with all four hundred of the Biobeds, three hundred and ninety nine of which were empty, and then glanced at the ceiling where she 'knew' the attached room which contained various research equipment was that was out of her reach. Not that she would need it, she was equipped with various modules within her legs that were the equivalent of what's inside that room. However, it 'could' be staffed by over twenty individuals, and it 'would', if staffed, help speed up the research process. With the biobeds she 'could' house a number of patients, and there were a few empty storage bays that 'could' be theoretically converted into medical wards, to house non-critical patients if necessary.

But of course, that all required Jeremy's consent, as she was only a 'medical augmenter', not the Chief Physician or Senior Medical Manager, both of whom were dead, meaning the only remaining Eden Facility member qualified to make that decision, was 'Jeremy'.

[One second, I need to converse with Jeremy for a moment.] She stated before turning and heading to Jeremy's encased Biobed.

After accessing his consciousness and asking, she got his permission to do what she needed, and quickly put him back to sleep.

[If your nation is 'willing' to send medical professionals to help me research this disease, Eden Facility 17 will be capable of housing those you send. We will provide food, lodging, and other basic necessities while they are stationed here so they can work. Furthermore, if you are willing to send us some 'patients', the more 'critically' ill patients you have, we will house and care for them. Be advised that those you send 'must' adhere to Eden Facility Medical Protocols and Procedures regarding research and treating infectious disease riddled patients, we will 'not' tolerate any breach of protocol here.]

[I'm not opposed to the idea, but how are we to bring you the more 'critical' patients we have or may have?]

[I will send the facility's HARRIER drones to pick them up one at a time and have drones safely transport them here.]

[Very well, I will instruct my nation's military to grant your aerial drone, access to our air space.]

Ema nodded and turned off the viewscreen, before putting in the request to Sentinel and have it begin ordering ACC to convert the empty storage bays into medical wards that can house and treat patients. It would take ACC seventu hours to make the adjustments, but it would be done. That left her with more time to work on her disease.

=Day Eight=

*Welcome back to ZNN, while the world continues to settle into the new reality, as world leaders enact edicts and legislations restricting travel and daily life of mammals, the disease labeled as TPN-Genova 1 continues to spread, today's infection total reaching seventy thousand, of which ninety five percent are currently being found within the Nation of Three Plains. But while nations take actions to halt the spread, many mammals' eyes are turning to Zootopia, and the human Eden Facility 17 which lies beneath it.*

*Many have asked, why has Ema, the medical drone currently tending to Jeremy Wilheart, and by far the 'greatest' practitioner of medicine in the world, which has in the past few months cured over a hundred diseases with almost no effort all by herself, not been able to repeat the process with this particular disease. In a public statement, Mayor Lioness stated that the drone's abilities, while not incapable of doing this, are having difficulty examining the disease, due to its randomly mutating properties. The drone released her findings to the public and continues to update us whenever new findings are discovered. She states that the disease mutates almost every second, but it does so using the 'patient's' body and DNA, making it near impossible for even 'her' sensors to effectively scan it and understand it, enough to fully cure the disease as she did with other diseases in the past.*

*To that end, Queen Anatallia and Ema have reached an agreement, and the queen is sending medical professionals and researchers to help her study this disease within the Eden Facility. While some fear this arrangement, those who have volunteered to go have expressed eagerness and excitement upon the prospect of entering the facility, which still houses mysterious and wonderous technology that surpasses most imaginations, and which very few have been granted even 'minor' access to. At the same time, sick individuals with the disease are also going to be brought to the facility and cared for by both medical professionals and even Ema herself. Those who wish to observe their progress, can watch live through various live stream windows, all found on the website known only by the name 'A', the human website that is still pulling in more visits and views per day than even the top three sites combined.*

*The only question that remains to be asked, is can they cure this disease 'before' it gets worse, as Ema's research says that it is only a matter of time before the disease gets worse.*

(Multi PoV)

[Welcome mammals to Eden Facility 17, before you may enter please be advised that this facility is under quarantine procedures due to the risk of disease outbreak 'from' the facility.] A DOG drone with the ID P-02 stated to a group of twelve doctors who had just arrived from the airport. [Your rooms will be assigned to you within the facility, upon being given your IDs. Before you can enter, we require a sample of your blood for the IDs. MUTT-01 will take your samples and then provide you a gel pack containing liquid Biotech to heal the injury, you may then enter and will then be required to go through bio-screening, and then you will be directed to a sanitation room where you will be required to remove all articles of clothing and go through sanitation procedures, afterwards you will be given medical clothes to wear while within the facility and your IDs. You will also be given your quarters to use while within the facility.]

"Wow they are 'strict' when it comes to quarantine procedures." Somemammal muttered in the rear.

"Yea but better safe than sorry, we don't have these kinds of procedures at my hospital, starting to think we should."

"Well at least the ones that matter."

[First unit please step forward.]

The first mammal, a Porcupine walked forward and handed over her papers, which were scanned and then allowed the other dog drone to poke her arm with a syringe, taking a small amount of blood, before opening its back and allowing a mechanical arm to extend and offer a small packet of some glowing gold substance. She was then allowed to walk through the door, which automatically closed for her as a small fox drone watched her with a host of others, and was scanned by various lasers up and down her body.

[Scan complete… no hostile diseases detected, logging entry into facility database… follow the drone and proceed to Sanitation Room '1'.]

She did as she was, asked and followed the first drone that marched away as the door behind her opened and the next mammal was allowed in. She was led down one hallway, then another, walked down a flight of stairs and then led toward a series of doors. After being told to enter the one labeled 'SR 1', she walked in, took off her clothes, including her undergarments, and was requested to place them in a container. When asked if she could have her undergarments, the voice called 'Sentinel' declared, [You will be provided all requested articles of clothing upon completion of Sanitation Procedures, including 'undergarments', Medical Shirt, Medical Pants, and Medical Coat suited for 'mammal' wear.]

"Okay, better not be any cameras in here…"

[All sanitation rooms are monitored for security purposes, and video records stored within Sentinel Database.]

"Can anyone access those?"

[Negative, only the Chief Medical Officer may access these records with assisted request from the Secondary Medical Officer and Chief Records Officer after submitting a request for such records to the Primary Eden Facility 17 Director.]

Thinking about the human, she glanced at the ceiling and asked, "Could Jeremy ask for them?"

[Negative, there are inadequate active staff members to request access…]

With that the room filled up with an alcoholic smelling mist which coated her body, but left a sweet-smelling scent lingering on her. After about two minutes the mist dissipated and air sucked out what was left, afterwards two slots opened up in the ceiling and lowered a bag containing various articles of clothing, airtight and sealed up for her. She was actually impressed with the quality of the clothes presented for her, they were extremely soft and comfortable, flexible and fit perfectly.

She also found a small glass cylinder containing some kind of glowing blue liquid.

"What's this?" She asked holding the cylinder to her eyes.

[Your Genetics ID, all rooms within Eden Facility 17 are designed to open based on DNA recorded in the database. You have been granted, Medical Staff Access Level.]

Surprised she looked it over, but squeezed her fingers too much and accidentally dropped it, but instead of shattering it landed with a small 'clink' and rolled around.

"Wow, tough little glass, what's it made of?"

[Glass Silicon Materials are able to withstand most major damages from everyday environments and activities, with no damage noted.]

"Do you listen to 'everything' we say and comment on?" She asked annoyed.

[All Sentinel AI require access to all facility areas for response to any question posed or to offer assistance to facility personnel.]

She just grunted as she put her lab coat on and walked out, looking at her fellow staff members examining their new digs and placing their IDs in pockets designed to hold them. They were then led by a raptor drone toward an elevator, where they awed and marveled at how the drone simply stepped into the open tunnel, and began 'floating' down. They were just amazed at how 'advanced' the place was, as they floated down several floors, feeling weightless, and were soon led to the medical bay.

[Attention Unit EMA BWS Alpha, the medical mammals have arrived, and are requesting access to Medical Bay 'Alpha'.]

[Let them in!]

The doors slid open and they walked into a massive room filled with a calm blue lighting, smelling of freshly scented sanitization mist throughout the room. Around the room were tiny mechanical 'drones' each smaller than a shrew going about the room and either spraying liquid around via nozzles on their back, or scrubbing with tiny sponges in their mouths. Around the room were various beds raised on metal boxes it seemed, and while all were open and obviously 'empty', one in particular seemed to be occupied and had heavy isolation glass walls around it. It was obvious which one had 'Jeremy' in it, and why that particular bed was covered and so heavily isolated/protected.

In the center of the room were a series of tubes surrounding a pillar, each with tiny slots at the end, where they swirled and up into the ceiling, vanishing from sight. Yet the real thing that caught their attention, was the rather 'large' and imposing eight-legged drone known to the world as Ema, probably the second most important individual on the planet known to mammal-kind.

The spider turned to them and carefully walked over the many tiny drones going about their business, some even doing it on the ceiling or walls now that they noticed their existence.

[Alright, introductions aren't necessary, I already know who you all are by facial recognition and DNA protocols, Sentinel has already updated me with the information I need. I am 'Ema' as you know, but my full designation is Emergency Medical Augmenter Black Widow Spider class drone Alpha. EMA BWS Alpha for short, but you can just call me Ema like Jeremy does.] She stated as she stepped around them and opened the door. [Follow me, I'm going to show you where you're going to be working.]

"Wait this isn't where we're going to be working?"

[Negative, this is 'my' medical bay, it's meant to treat patients, not research a disease. I am equipped with all of the tools necessary to do that within my body. Also, I need to have the air in here cleaned vacuumed out and cleaned. There will be no breathable oxygen in there for fifty-nine point ninety-nine seconds, until the process is completed and all possible air pathogens, infected air particles, and all oxygen particles are removed and sterilized.]

"You mean sixty seconds?"

[No, fifty-nine point ninety-nine, exactly.] She stated dully when the door closed behind them all and locked.

She led them to a staircase which was next to the elevator and told them all to take it up one floor, saying she'd join them in a bit and began climbing, with difficulty, the stairs while they all went in small groups to float gently upwards. One floor up Ema took them to another door with the label 'Research Lab EF17' highlighted above it.

"What's the EF17 stand for?"

[Eden Facility 17, I don't understand why they labeled it that, it's the only medical research lab in the facility, then again, I don't normally go in there, I stay in my Medical Bay.]

She opened the door and wiggled through it after they walked in, but the room was rather dark, except for a small red light over a box built into the wall.

[Ugh, of course, this room is 'still' offline. Jeremy do you just love making my job harder. Can one of you please pull the lever on this to transfer power to this room, unlike some of the others this requires manual input!]

One lioness grabbed the handle and pulled hard, but instead of light turning on a low groaning rumble sounded, before fading into nothingness. She tried again and the same reaction sounded. Ema then asked her to step aside, and then punched the box with one of her legs, causing a rumbling sound to occur and everything to start turning on, starting with the lights.

[And this is why I stay in my medical bay, everything automatically works properly, I have priority for ANT repairs, and of course I don't have to get 'physical' with non-medical equipment.] She declared dully. [I am a 'Doctor', not an Engineer…]

The first thing she did was show them the microscopes, similar to what 'they' used, but unlike theirs the mammals noticed several 'lens' attachments. Ema explained to them that unlike theirs, the microscopes, called 'Macroscopes', were equipped with eight different lens options that could be swapped intermittently and on demand as the user required. Unlike typical microscopes of the human era 'before' the invention of the Macroscopes, these lenses instead permitted users to look for 'specific' things at what was being viewed at whatever visual level the user wished. One lens, she showed them, permitted them to examine the genetic DNA strands of cells or even its Genome Sequence for example, and another could look for a specific cell while the Macroscope kept it focused, enabling them to watch how it acted in extreme detail, in what she described as '30k' detail.

It also connected to the overhanging Hologlobe which would cast holographic projections on demand, enabling them to take a holographic picture and map of whatever they were looking at, and throw them, literally, over the table to observe and even dissect with their fingers. The holograms were perfect replicas of what the Macroscopes were viewing. They could even take apart DNA strands to examine, in holographic form, and understand what each link did and what its purpose was for in the overall strand.

"This is so amazing…" The Porcupine doctor said as Ema demonstrated with a single drop of Jeremy's blood, brought up a red blood cell which had a small Cryogenic Crystal embedded in it, and showing with perfect detail how, despite being clearly infected with this crystal, it still operated normally as if the crystals within Jeremy's blood had symbiotically fused with his blood cells at the cellular level.

She then tapped a button on the table and it displayed a holographic depiction similar to a computer screen they were familiar with, only instead of a keyboard and mouse they had a holographic keyboard and could touch the hologram to either access data or maneuver the computer's input. To demonstrate the power of the facility's computer processors she had all of them turn on simultaneously and tapped into them all so she could begin turning on every possible program and application she could, even after hundreds of windows flew past, when one of them tapped a command prompt it responded 'instantly'. On demand they could even link to each other so two screens could show the same thing and those working on them could interact and work together on the same project.

Once all the screens cleared and turned off, she showed them at the back of the room, a large pillar with tubes riding up it, and each having a tiny slot and platform. At her request she called up a disease, and after Sentinel approved the request, a single tiny glass vial slid from the top and landed in one of the slots where Ema quickly took it to show how it worked.

[You will have access to our vast collection of diseases stored here in the facility, both modern mammal found and previous human preserved diseases. Sentinel will approve your request but only on a limited per pers-… per 'mammal' basis, and only if Sentinel deems the request 'acceptable'. Sentinel is monitoring everything done in this room, if you request a disease that has no relationship or reason for calling it in relation to the research being done here, it will reject your request, log it in my database, and request 'explanations' before approving the request for said disease.]

"How 'vast' is this disease database, and why are you keeping live samples of 'every' disease stored her?"

[We keep them preserved, cultivate them and grow them here in order to use them for research purposes. Past diseases might give insight or even potential cures for future diseases, thus 'every' disease that could be stored here was stored. But there is zero risk of an outbreak, all the diseases are kept in an isolated, vacuum sealed room that is monitored every millisecond by Sentinel and maintained by ANT drones, within twelve layers of protective barriers.] She said while putting the vial back into the tube and sending it back to the disease containment unit. [As for how 'vast' it is…]

She tapped a button on the wall and turned down the lights, before her optics glowed and the room was suddenly 'swarmed' with holographic vials of diseases, thousands upon thousands, some floating above others to the doctor's eyes and wonder. Each had a label, each had a description of what it was, what it did, and its various life spans and time periods from when it was discovered to when it was eradicated, vaccinated or cured.

[Thousands of diseases are stored here; our database is the most complete in the world.] Ema declared as she took one vial and looked at it.

M. Tuberculosis; Speculated Origin Strain: East Africa, 3 Million BC, final active case, 2095, remaining strains safely contained and stored within medical facilities on ice. Only remaining strains stored within 'Eden Facility 17 Medical Disease Containment, Cultivation and Research Unit'. STATUS: Contained, no active infected individuals recorded since last update.

Last Update: 4 seconds ago.

[I've been trying to find 'any' disease that can help me cure TPN-Genova 1, but none of them are giving me much insight. It mutates faster than I can properly analyze. Even my best isn't enough…] She said dully as she replaced the holographic vial. [This is where you will be working, the door will open at your approach, as before you even approach it you will be scanned and verified permission to be accessed. Nearby we have two medical wards, the one on 'this' level is for medium to small ranged mammals while above I have had the ANT drones prepare a ward for larger mammals. I apologize if you believe we are being… the term is 'speciest' if I recall… but this facility was 'not' meant for mammals, and there is only so much height along the hallways. Those medical wards will be for patients that display symptoms of the virus TPN-Genova 1, and will be offered medical care and assistance here. In the event of critical patients occurring, my medical bay will be where they'll be transferred to, as the Biobeds can care for them even in such conditions, and where I'll be performing my research.]

"But what if they're in there when the room clears out the air inside?" A sheep asked.

[The biobeds have their own individual life support systems, which will activate upon the biobeds closing and locking up, and will keep them supplied with recycled oxygen.]

"Why do you need to recycle it… and I didn't even know that was a thing you could 'do'."

[Due to the depth of the facility and the classified size of the facility, fresh oxygen intake levels are inadequate to fully sustain a constant air supply to all sections of the base. As such, Eden Facility 17 employs the use of special filters and chemical liquids to convert CO2 particles and reconvert it back to O2.] Sentinel now stated.

[What Sentinel said… I'm a doctor, not an engineer, I don't know how that works.] Ema said dully as she walked them out and showed them the medical wards.

The medical wards were large empty storage bays with several prebuilt medical beds, each outlined with holographic lines to indicate 'safe space' and safe pathways to minimize infection risk. There were small comforts to those who would stay there, basic chairs to allow patients to sit instead of lying in bed, tables to eat on, even holographic emitters stuck to poles near each bed from the festival so that screens could be activated for viewing television and listening in on radio stations or to read books.

The upstairs ward had vastly more space between beds but fewer beds, and all clearly 'mammal' imports, as they were meant for elephants, giraffes, rhinos and other heavy or large mammal species. After that they were shown the Mess Hall, where she told them to eat and head to their rooms before starting their shift in the morning, while she went to give the next group arriving the tour and both coordinate and tend to the patients arriving via HARRIER drones.

The two Cooking Jumping Spider class drones had received the shipment of food from the Three Planes Nation, and had already provided a wonderful spread for them, asking if any of them had food preferences, or taste interests. As the Porcupine doctor headed to her room, with all the others, she found that her room was being shared by a female sheep.

"Holy spirits, this place is amazing… if my parents could see me now!" She said as she looked at the bathroom while the porcupine doctor looked at the beds and other included items in their room.

"This place is… just incredible, elevators that defy gravity, computers better than 'any' nation could hope to have, medical equipment beyond anything the most advanced hospital could dream of…" She agreed as she changed out of her clothes and tossed them into a bin, seeing her clothes lying neatly folded and very clean on the bed for her, including night robes for them.

"The spirits, Jeremy's species are amazing… to think they had 'all' of this, there was really 'nothing' they couldn't do it seems!" The sheep said eagerly as she got dressed into her night clothes too.

She thought about agreeing, before remembering that if they had been so great, so brilliant and so… 'amazing'… then Jeremy who was lying in recovery, wouldn't be the last of his kind… and the base wouldn't be this 'empty'. She'd seen how large the mess hall was, how much space was in the kitchen, all of that space being occupied by 'two' solitary drones. The mess hall was obviously meant to feed hundreds if not thousands of humans at a time, and yet all of that was being used to feed, not even 'one' human. All that advanced medical technology meant to save millions of humans, and it 'still' failed them.

"I wonder…" She said as she laid down on the bed. "If they were so great… why aren't they still around?"

The sheep became downcast at that, as she looked at her bed before lying down as well. "Forgive me, it's just… my religion, being here… just to speak to Jeremy would be a blessing but to actually be inside his 'home', his species home? It's just a dream come true, to see all of this…"

"Let's just go to sleep, we have a lot of work ahead of us…" She replied as she rolled over and began trying to sleep, trying to ignore the fact that this bed was probably some unfortunate human's, who died so long ago.

She only hoped they died peacefully, and not in pain.

=Day 11=

(Ema's PoV)

Ema paused in her work as she downloaded the latest data and research done by the scientists and doctors upstairs, and left to head over to Medical Ward A. After three days since the first mammals who volunteered to assist in researching this virus arrived, an additional sixty mammals, nurses, doctors, surgeons and other practitioners had showed up to assist. The world had reacted, well as the world did. Most nations and countries had heeded her warning, and their governments had imposed large scale quarantines and isolation procedures until the outbreak is contained and a cure is ready. The latest count implied now over a hundred thousand had been infected, but still the virus' worst symptom was a now 'average' case of Anemia.

Local populations had 'mixed' reactions to the new rules, many were all for it, especially those who visited Aelita's website and watched the work going on in the facility live, and knew of what Ema's capabilities and accomplishments were. Others, most notably those who 'didn't' seem to like humans, and now her and the other drones, were not enthusiastic. Protests erupted around the world, and Zootopia was no exception, especially since the first case reached it about four days ago, before the medical volunteers arrived.

There were now 'seven' nations reporting cases, and panic and fear were beginning to reach out across the world, as this virus continued to plague researchers outside of the facility, and their attempts to find and provide a cure or vaccine that was effective.

Inside the facility however, they'd made enormous progress, the first mammal-human 'Antibiotic' medicine had been developed, not strong enough to completely counter or defeat the virus, but enough to impede its progress and at least buy them more time. A trio working in different shifts in the lab had made the discovery, and found a single strand of the virus controlled how it replicated itself. They couldn't stop it completely, the constant mutations of the virus saw to that, but that helped Ema to coordinate with them on an Antibiotic that humans had which impeded disease growth by ninety-seven percent, and adapted it to work on the virus. It slowed the virus' growth, but only by sixty percent, but with its development and release into the world, governments were already beginning mass production to help combat the virus.

With the doctors' help, she could split her time between research and development, and tending to her six hundred and fifty, and still growing number, patients.

Inside Medical Ward A, she walked through and headed down the hallways, while DOG drones wearing medical cones walked carrying 'Standard Nutritional Supplements' to the patients as it was time for midday meals.

She headed over to one bed which was occupied by a young tiger cub, and he was grumpily eating his tray of food as she approached.

[And how are we feeling today?] She asked sweetly while nurses wearing special gloves and masks handed out the trays brought by the DOG drones.

"I hate eating this… it has not taste." He muttered.

[I know, you hate it, humans hated eating it too, but this is what you need to eat right now.] She said warmly, tapping him on the shoulder. [Your sick, and this food is going to help your body fight that virus in you. It has all your body needs in one package.]

"But couldn't you make it taste better?" He asked sadly.

[No, I'm afraid I can't, Sentinel has that, and it won't listen to anyone, only Jeremy will it listen to when it comes to adjusting the formula of the Standard Nutritional Supplement.]

"Will Jeremy change it?"

[I don't know, maybe, but until then, you need to eat that and get better… now be a good boy and I'll see if the kitchen will send you all some chocolate cake as a reward for eating it all up!]

"Really?" He said excitedly.

[Only if 'everyone' eats their food and leaves every plate empty!] She said happily as she patted him on the head and moved to head to another patient, walking with a nurse as she did. [How is patient 66-4?]

"Uhm, I think she's complained about a pain in her lungs, I think judging by the explanation she gave its probably Lungleon… or what you call 'Pneumonia' by your terminology. She has had cases of it in her past, so it 'might' not be something related to the virus…"

[I'll take a look to be safe, I'll have a biobed prepared in case it turns worse.] She said as she left the nurse and turned toward patient 66-4's area. [How are you feeling ma'am?]

The elderly otter put the holographic paper she was reading away and looked up at her. "Oh Ema, I'm doing alright -cough cough-… but, I was hoping you or a doctor could look at my lungs really quick."

[It'll only take two seconds.] She said, taking a leg and switching to a scanner. [You do have some fluids building up in your lungs alright, you've had past incidents where you suffered from Lungleon correct?]

"Yes, some are worse than others but yes, I've had many cases of them, but I was afraid that..."

[I understand, humans had this problem for years…] She said as she began working on a gel pill for her to take. [I can alleviate your worry, its not related to the virus, I'm not detecting it within the fluids in your lungs.] She said as she extended a small plate for the gel pill to land on, and presented it to the otter. [Take this, after about two hours the fluid in your lungs should dissolve safely. If you're still feeling 'any' pain, contact a nurse or a drone, and I will be instantly informed and come rushing to you.]

"Thank you, dearie… would it be okay if I switched on the tele and watch one of my soap operas?"

[Don't worry about causing any issues with other patients, the viewscreens will adjust the audio for you so that you can listen without affecting the others nearby.] She said and walked off to continue her rounds.

She visited patients of all ages and sizes, from jaguars no older than seven to old shrews even older than Mr. Big. She took constant readings, analyzed the progression of the virus, and made sure that no patients' lives were in danger. So far, as was reported, the worst symptom being displayed were anemic sensations by her patients. Each day new patients arrived, some with only mild symptoms, but nearly all displaying anemia in one form or another.

Some were afraid, some scared, but she assured them each time, that they were in the 'safest' of places and were being given the greatest care in the entire world. She made 'sure' that they were getting the promised treatments and promised care. Even though Sentinel normally only offered Standard Nutritional Supplements three times a day, she used Medical Protocol 094 which permitted patients when rations weren't limited on a global scale, the right to request additional food servings if they ask for it. The DOG drones marching along the small paths in between each quartered off area had their hearing sensors for even the 'slightest' cough or request for assistance. Even if a shrew 'whispered' for help, they would hear it instantly.

When she'd completed her rounds both in Ward A and B, she returned to the medical bay to catalogue her findings, update her records, and resume working on a cure with the researchers above.

=Day 15=

"And we've just discovered a new mutation arising in the samples of the disease we have Ema, but despite our best efforts and even with your advanced technology, we just can't seem to understand 'why' this virus is mutating so much. It's nothing like anything we have ever seen, have you encountered anything like this before?" A Panther said quietly, bags under his eyes as he's been up for nearly fifteen hours.

[I have encountered and even have samples of randomly mutating diseases here in the facility, but no, in my attempts before, none of the diseases we have here ever displayed such random mutations on as rapid a scale as this virus is portraying.] She said to the viewscreen. [I've run through everything in the databanks, nothing even comes close to the scale or frequency as what this disease is doing.]

"I was afraid of that, but we 'have' theories that are working progress. Some of the second shift believe it could be mutating through something within the body, or maybe it affects mammals differently until a certain time period has expired."

[That makes it sound less like a virus and more like a bioweapon, but it's not displaying the traits of one, as I told your queen. If it were one, it would be 'killing' victims faster than we can research a cure, so far, no victims have died because of it, but that's starting to change with this latest symptom its displayed.]

The day before more 'elderly' and 'younger' patients within the facility were suffering new symptoms, infected blood cells exploding and releasing sticky virus ridden puss into the blood veins, causing blockages within the vein that when not taken care of quickly could result in internal Hemorrhaging. Those who had this symptom were now brought into her Medical bay, placed in special biobeds and under her constant monitoring optics. If any of them suffered such an attack, she would have to act fast to save their lives, surgeons were on standby if the worst happened and multiple patients displayed the potential symptoms.

Not to mention protests and riots starting to become more frequent, the only saving grace was that no nation or country since the tenth two days ago reported a case, so it seems their efforts to control its spread had worked… for now. She urged the leaders to not become lax in keeping it contained, keep their lockdowns in place until the cure is ready.

[This is the first symptom that is potentially lethal, we've already informed the world and hospitals are watching every patient cautiously, but with the total infectivity reaching over two hundred thousand, and hospitals being packed, they have their paws full already. Have your teams try to focus their efforts on finding 'any' way to continue to slow its progress, and continue to catalogue any findings you encounter.]

"We'll do what we can up here, some of us will try to keep working on examining its genetic makeup, even if it mutates so rapidly."

She nodded and turned off the screen, and began tending to her patients. So far, the larger mammals, mostly predators, were actually resisting the disease 'better' than smaller prey mammals. Ema and the teams theorized that their size might be a contributing factor, but she doubted that was the only thing. In Medical Ward A was a very old antelope that had symptoms of the virus, but he was only showing 'mild' anemia recently, while a younger antelope was lying in her medical bay breathing oxygen through a mask and a needle in her arm clearing out buildups of virus riddled puss in her veins.

As she closed all the biobeds so the medical bay could go through its Vacuum procedure, she brought up the viewscreen again and tapped into the blood samples of all her patients.

[Let's see patient 49-7, age sixty-five… blood type B…] She said as she looked at her data, comparing it to sicker yet 'younger' patients of similar species. [How come 'you' are resisting it more effectively? Your diet isn't that different to patient 12-5 here in my bay, you're all eating the same thing now… so why are you…]

She stopped talking when she pulled up his Vaccination Records, and discovered that he'd been receiving vaccines for 'several' disease she'd been working on before this pandemic crisis. He even had vaccines for 'human' diseases, no more than four, but the quantity was enough to impress her AI.

[Wait a minute… Sentinel request a transfer of 'all' patients within Medical Bay Alpha, Medical Ward A and B medical records to my data core, authorization EMA BWS Alpha.]

[Request Granted, transferring files…]

She examined the data as it was transferred, and saw that less than a third had been receiving vaccines for her diseases with close to the same quantity of patient 49-7. The remainder were split up seventy to thirty in terms of those who got 'any' vaccines related to her work, and those who didn't. Those who did were resisting the disease's effects more effectively, provided they were 'healthy' and did not suffer other issues. Those who didn't get any of her vaccines were suffering symptoms with 'faster' progression than the others.

She took this data and began to theorize a possibility, and tapped the viewscreen to call up Patient 12-5 and speak to him.

[Patient 12-5, apologies for interrupting your soap opera, but I need to ask you some questions quickly.]

"O-oh I'm sorry, its quite alright, uh… what do you need?" The elderly antelope asked.

[You have been receiving vaccines for diseases I have researched and provided vaccines and cures for, is that correct?]

"Oh yes I have, it's my daughter, you see when she heard about you, she 'insisted' I get these vaccines for my health. I thought 'why not'; she is my daughter, she also works at a hospital, so free medicare for me practically, what do I have to lose?"

[I see, how many vaccines did you receive weekly, between one and seven?]

"Uhm, maybe, five or six every week since about, two months or so ago?"

She nodded and thanked him for his response, and turned off the screen. Writing up a report she sent it to various world leaders and medical professionals in the world, letting them know that those who received frequent vaccination treatments for past diseases provided by EMA had greater resistance to the Virus than those who did not.

[Well now I know that Jeremy will, had he been healthy and awake, have had greater resistance to this virus then first speculated. Still, his immune system isn't strong enough after his last attack.]

With that she returned to her research.

=Day 18=

[Attention: Code Blue, Medical Bay, patient 21-6]

Ema rushed back to her medical bay with two Surgeons in tow, she shoved her way down the nearest flight of stairs and moved as fast as her eight legs could to the medical bay doors which opened at her approach, and quickly rushed in toward the Biobed 15 where Patient 21-6 was suffering a massive heart attack before their eyes.

[Code blue, heart attack, two blood clots detected inside the heart, one artery is completely blocked and causing internal damage!] She yelled as she took her readings and detected internal bleeding. [Internal bleeding, estimated time ninety-seven seconds before complete shutdown! Beginning surgery to stabilize the heart!]

"Complete heart failure in just over a minute?"

Their patient was starting to breathe in painful gasps as Ema's legs swapped to various tools necessary to perform surgery. First thing she did was use a tiny vacuum which was designed to cut hair, now being used for fur, and sucked it up to leave the flesh fully exposed. Five seconds later she swapped to her plasma scalpel, and then made an incision, while applying anesthesia so the patient would sleep quickly.

In the background a nurse was searching fruitlessly for the required tools with the surgeons for a surgical procedure that Ema was already performing, using another leg to jab her abdomen and fill it with Biotech for later use.

"There's not enough time to cut through the ribcage to gain access to the heart!"

Ema however was carefully angling her rearmost left leg, so that as it split open it separated to reveal the last four inches of it were actually just a single, unending series of joints which ended in a very tiny needle, designed 'specifically' to gain access to primary organs without needing to cut through the ribcage, with two small tubes connecting to it on different sides.

She ignored the medical surgeons and nurse as she studied the ideal access point, and slowly angled the needle to target the primary artery that was being affected by a blood clot, even as her optics saw that the artery was beginning to bulge from the heart's rapid beating, attempting to force blood 'through' the blockage.

"fifty seconds seconds…"

Still she ignored them, as she found her angle, and carefully poked the bulging artery inside the heart, instantly causing it to rupture and increase the internal bleeding effect. But she had it planned, thirteen seconds later she had cleared the clot, and after sucking up the excess blood, swapped the needle's sucking procedure and began using it instead to spray Biotech into the heart, repairing the damage done. She then extracted her needle, reformed her leg, and pulled the sides of his chest together before spraying biotech from her primary leg, and sucked up the excess blood again, revealing no damage done. Her scans also reported that his heart had slowed its beating now, ending the threat to his life for the moment.

"Incredible, you performed an invasive surgical procedure to remove a blood clot inside the heart, causing internal damage, cutting the ribcage, without leaving any physical scaring or causing further damage, and in just under sixty seconds…" The surgeon said in awe.

[I've had over three months, even with my busy schedule, no thanks to you Jeremy, to examine mammal physiology and medical biology. I'm better than his family doctor and personal surgeon, if he had one, could ever hope to be.] She said dully as she examined her patient again. [But we have another problem, there are additional clots and now 'rot' in his heart, being caused by the virus. The puss is doing more than just clotting up arteries now, its eating away at the Cardiovascular System's walls and causing decay to arteries the longer they remain. He needs a new heart, or this procedure will have been pointless!]

"Wait, why a new heart, what good will that do for him if it's affecting the arteries?"

[Because all Synthorgans carry a storage of two million, highly specialized, well equipped Micromachines, designed to 'eradicate' any infection to the body they are put into.] She said as she looked to the three mammals. [I 'can't' eradicate the puss from his systems nearly as effectively as they can, and especially not inside his heart. But if 'anything' can it's those micromachines.]

"Wait, micromachines, then why can't we just use those to cure this disease?"

[Because 'those' micromachines are designed for a one-way trip, once they latch onto a foreign cell, they 'explode', dissolving whatever they are attached to in an 'extremely' limited range! This facility also 'lacks' the specialized equipment to build them, let alone the 'blueprints' to build the equipment 'or' the micromachines themselves, and we can't just simply take the micromachines out of a synthorgan either, because even if we took all of the micromachines within all the synthorgans available in the mammal hospitals, its nowhere near enough to cure this virus it takes two million 'alone' to completely purge a body of foreign cells, there's just not enough micromachines between the available synthorgans to cover the world.]

With that she requested Sentinel send a RAPTOR class drone to the nearest mammal hospital to pick up a Synthorgan while she contacted said hospital to inform them of her need. However, after she finished her call, Sentinel declared her request an 'impossibility' due to external forces outside of the facility.

[External forces?] She asked incredulously. [Explain!]

In response the viewscreen activated and she saw through the eyes of two 'FOX' drones both entrances to the facility were currently, 'under siege', would be the best term to describe it. A large group of mammals with signs all yelling while a row of ZPD cops kept them from approaching both the cave and subway building entrances.

"Another 'protest', what do they hope to accomplish?" The nurse asked in disbelief.

[They want to end the lockdowns and because these mammals do not like humans in general. Their paranoia that Jeremy is attempting to kill off mammals is completely unfounded, honestly.] She said dully as she deactivated the screen. [I don't have time for this, we need that Synthorgan 'now'. Sentinel, request emergency authorization control over a RAPTOR drone, Authorization Command EMA BWS Alpha, security authorization Alpha!]

[Authorization dispute, AI Category level differences require request clarification, what purpose does the EMA request command authorization over a higher Category AI drone?]

"Wait, I thought you were in charge over the drones."

[No, I'm only Category 4 AI, a 'far' superior AI to most drones back in the day, but most of the drones you see walking around are of a 5 or 6 category. Category 6 drones can command 5s and 4s, but 4s cannot command a 5 or a 6, and a 5 cannot command a 6 due to the 'Category Command' protocol.] She explained. [I only 'command' through Sentinel by 'requesting' their assistance.]

She turned back to the ceiling and explained her situation.

[I have a mammal here that's about to die, I 'need' to retrieve a Synthorgan to save their life, and I cannot wait for the mammals to clear a path!]

[Authorization dispute, request clarification, why does the EMA not request Sentinal AI to send the drone to retrieve the required technology?]

[Because you won't send a drone out of the facility unless it involves Jeremy, or he requests it, as your 'programmed' to do!]

Sentinel was silent as it analyzed her arguments, and she waited for its response.

[Authorization granted…]

(PT-173's PoV)

PT-173, also known as 'Pete', had been spending the last 'three weeks' staring at a door. The door in question was not of high priority, nor was it of any importance, it was just a door leading to waste disposal. A door that, until recently was of no importance and had no bearing on the rest of the facility. Everything in that room was automated, had no real requirement to be protected, had no secrets to keep contained and as such had no reason to have a RAPTOR class drone monitor and keep it guarded.

But it was ordered to watch it, so it watched it.

[This is PT-173, hourly report, zero activity to report in hallway B-1-4-TP vvvsrss geeeeeez LALALALA, DOES THIS DOOR EVEN OPEN TO BEGIN WITH?] It screamed indignantly.

Silence as it stood and resumed staring at the door, not being permitted to leave, not being allowed to visit Unit Lula. She often visited 'it', more to check on its condition but, other than minor issues with its AI, nothing had changed in its condition. Sometimes it got bored and tried to leave, but each time it so much as took '1' step, a turret appeared, fired a low intensity warning shot, and Sentinel ordered it to return to its post. It was only permitted to leave for maintenance, and to recharge.

Then it received a signal from the EMA, and it received orders to obey.

Without further delay it left its post and up the elevator to exit the base. Ten minutes later it took a position, bent low, and took a running start out of the tunnel to the roars and yells of angry mammals. It picked out a few words, mostly them 'demanding' an end to the 'lies' of a pandemic, a release of the 'mammal hostages' and the truth of what's really in the base.

But as the other drones stepped aside and it ran past, and mammals saw it running, speeding toward them, the smart ones were quick to get out of the way while the 'dumb' ones it simply ran around or jumped over.

[Unit PT-173 moving to Hope Hospital to retrieve Synthorgan Model K44-IP-POT-10 bzzz tssss eeeesh VRAVRAVRA-] It yelled as it used a parked car in the crowd to jump over the last group of 'tall' mammals. [I DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH FOR THIS; I DON'T GET PAID AT ALL!]

Half an hour of running, and after retrieving the Synthorgan which was being carried in a special cooling container, it made the return trip back to the facility, running through the streets, walkways, and through the mammals in the way. As it did it had to run through the gauntlet again as the protestors were 'finally' being forced to leave the area. It ran through mammals, jumped over others, roared at them to get out of the way, and reported…

[Unit PT-173 approaching facility entrance, ETA 45 secooooonds sssssst vrrrrr Vivalalalala-] It said as it slid under a 'truck' that was moving through the crowds at a slow pace to keep pace with its ETA. [I THOUGHT CARROTS WENT EXTINCT IN 2144!?]

=Day 19=

(Male Mammal's PoV one day after surgery)

He breathed quietly and calmly as he slowly began feeling himself again, and wondered why it felt like everything was 'normal', not even normal he felt like he was feeling 'better' than he'd ever felt in his life before! After a few minutes he slowly began to open his eyes expecting to see the confining space of the 'biobed' he was put to lie down in, but instead he saw a spacious steely colored looking ceiling, lying in a spacious and comfortable bed, with a nearby couch, room to walk around, a large screen, and what appeared to be shelves, a table, and even a door to a bathroom it seemed.

He took a deep breath and felt there was zero pain like whenever he breathed, he felt his heartbeat and found it wasn't giving him any pain or making him feel weak.

"Where am I?" He asked as he got up.

[Feeling better Patient 21-6?] A digital voice asked politely as the viewscreen turned on, revealing Ema's face and glowing blue eyes.

"Yes… how did I get here?"

[You went through surgery, your heart was failing, we had no choice but to perform surgery to remove your heart and replace it with a Synthorgan.] She stated as the screen split to show a small window of a glass vial, containing his 'eroded and damaged' heart. [There was nothing to be done, there wasn't enough time to construct an Artificial Organ safely that wouldn't be rejected by your body, and your heart was going to fail within thirty hours.]

"But… why do I feel like…"

[The Synthorgans as you are aware, at least I hope you are, are capable of being put into any individual's body, needing only a few drops of blood to properly adjust themselves to perfectly blend into the new host's physiology. It took me time to find enough healthy blood, but once I did, and the Synthorgan was ready, we performed a transplant and the Synthorgan did the rest. While you were indeed infected with the TPN-Genova 1 virus, you were also suffering minor lung cancer, minor liver damage, and your circulatory system was being riddled with puss damaging your veins. Once the Synthorgan was inside it released its payload of Micromachines, and they did the rest.]

"Wait, 'they did the rest'?"

The viewscreen changed and he saw a bio-scan showing 'zero' foreign contaminants or problems with his body. [I did it to save your life, but I also had a theory, two to be precise, about what effect the Synthorgan Micromachines would have on the virus. I theorized that TPN-Genova 1's ability to adapt and mutate so rapidly and regularly would render the machines 'blind' to it. However, as you've noticed, they have purged your body of 'every' virus, infected blood cell, trace of puss, and various other problems regarding your body. Essentially, they went in and gave you a thorough cleaning on the inside. You are 'free' of infection.]

"I'm… 'cured'? He asked in disbelief.

The day before he worried that he would die and never see his children again, but now here he was completely cured and with a new healthy heart to boot.

[Yes, but while you are cured and free of infection, I would like you to 'remain' in the facility for now, I need to monitor your condition and ensure the virus is completely gone. While my scans indicated it, this virus has proven capable of outwitting me. And while your 'synthorgan heart' may be immune to infection your body isn't.]

At those words his heart sank, and he just sat on the bed feeling terrible. He was cured, but still not allowed to go home yet, and still at risk of getting infected again. "Ema… is there, any way you can see if my children are…"

[I have a complete record of your family's medical history; your children are not infected as of six hours ago.] She replied instantly.

Instantly he perked up and looked at the drone. "Then… is there a way they can live with me here… just until you let me out?" He asked quickly. "Please, I left them with my sister when I was infected, they're only children, less than ten and eight… please I lost my wife to cancer years ago, and I want to still be able to raise and take care of them even if…"

[Medical Protocol 314-5 L states that any previously infected individual after showing zero signs of infection is to remain quarantined for a total of seven days pending a cure to an infectious disease…] Ema instantly stated, before her optics turned 'pink'. [But… as you're their 'sole' parent and legal guardian outside of immediate family… and they don't show any infection, I think I can 'bend' the rules for this situation. I will inform your government to permit two to transfer via HARRIER class drone under the escort of your sister, and ensure they pass through quarantine procedures with zero risk of being infected.]

He breathed a sigh of relief as he smiled and thanked her.

[Don't thank me, I just know the protocols because I'm programmed to know them.] She replied, turning off the screen.

As he smiled gratefully for Ema's efforts, he heard the door open and a RAPTOR walked in carrying a tray of 'normal' food for him to eat. He was glad to not have to eat that paste… whether or not humans ate it, it had no taste, it was bland and dull, and it just made him think it was slopped together in a machine.

Which as he ate the salad presented to him, it probably was.

=Day 20=

*Yes, you heard it here, the 'first' cured victim of TPN-Genova 1 has been named, Polton Wildagrass, single father raising two young children has been 'cured' of the TPN-Genova 1 virus. When asked if this was the first sign of a cure being used, Ema the medical drone stated no, this was only the result of a surgical procedure done to save the mammal's failing heart. The true hero of this incident we are told is a Synthorgan, the miracle synthetic organs stored within Eden Facility 17, currently being housed and kept safe in multiple hospitals across Zootopia, and of course inside of a vault within Eden Facility 17.*

*How the Synthorgan cured the virus is simple, each Synthorgan carries millions of tiny micromachines, each the size of a single cell, that once become active, seek out and eradicate 'any' foreign entity found within the body. While it was theorized, and some even wondering if they could, this is once again proof that these miracles of science 'continue' to prove the ultimate cure for any fault within the body. Immune from all infection, and capable of being given to anymammal, this has the eyes of the world on them now. Unfortunately, with word that these technical marvels are capable of curing the disease, some mammals have 'attempted' to steal them from hospitals, however, Ema was one step ahead, and assigned Eden Facility drones to protect the caches of synthorgans with approval by the mayor. The mammals were apprehended, and no Synthorgans have been stolen.*

*Security has tightened outside of the facility, as not only 'drones' are being spotted at the entrances, but now even special 'bio-screening' fields erected, to detect anything non-metal entities attempting to enter the facility.*

*As the virus continues to spread and the number of infected reaches now two hundred and thirty thousand, and the first deaths are reporting in… can Ema and her team cure this virus… before that number increases…*

(Ema's PoV)

Ema sat in the loading belly of a HARRIER drone while the other was transporting three mammals to Eden Facility 17, traveling to the Three Plains Nation, to a hospital that was hopelessly overcrowded with patients, and had called upon her for assistance with a particular patient. According to the report sent his brain was at risk of blood vessels rupturing, and out of desperation to find a way to save him had called for her help.

With his complete medical biography, and a rapid deployment of the HARRIER drone, she was only ten minutes away, but she knew that 'every second' was counting. Dealing with blood vessels rupturing was a near risk of death for mammal medicine, but for her the procedure to save him would only take half an hour to deploy her own brand of Micromachines. They were nowhere 'near' what the machines found in the Synthorgans were capable of, but she could deploy them and directly command them to safely disintegrate at risk blood vessels and heal any potential damage with Biotech.

That was of course… if she made it in time.

Ten minutes later the HARRIER hovered over the parking lot of the hospital and she jumped out, landing heavily and running quickly into the building via the front door. She squeezed in, ran past mammals who were waiting, and was ushered down one hallway toward the patient's room.

[What's his status?] She demanded.

"Low EEG, heart rate and lung function sporadic!"

[How long has he been comatose?]

"About twenty-five minutes!"

[Get me a fresh bag of blood matching his type, empty his room of all medical personal, I need space!]

Seconds later she ran down a hallway into a room with a large panther lying in a comatose state, surrounded by doctors and a female panther. At her orders they all started clearing out and she quickly moved to stand by the patient, scanning him and preparing for the procedure.

"Wait I want to stay!" The female panther yelled as she was being ushered out. "I WANT TO STAY, THAT'S MY BROTHER LYING THERE!"

Ema not having any patience when her scans revealed that her patient was only seconds away from a rupture, used a spare leg to shove the panther out of the room.

She quickly injected him with a biotech solution riddled with hundreds of micromachines of her own, and began coordinating them and sending them to the brain, even as she scanned and detected a rupture occurring. With careful precision and aim, she pushed her leg against his skull and penetrated the skull with a needle, injecting him with biotech to try and repair the damage being done 'before' it got worse.

But each second passed more ruptures were starting to emerge, and she was detecting the same 'puss' created by the virus.

Then she heard his lifelines beginning to beep faster and faster, even as she tried to rush her micromachines as safely as she could to the brain.

[No… not now, not now!] She yelled as the first of her micromachines reach the panther's cerebellum.

Slowly but surely, the puss started to settle… and began to affect the brain.

They were only attaching just now, but even so, they were causing 'enough' decay to affect the brain matter. As a nurse ran in with what she asked for her scanners were indicating what she wanted to avoid thinking about, that her machines weren't going to make it, even as she 'tried' to reach the ruptures, even as the Biotech tried to mend the damage…

She wasn't going to make it…

Then…

-Beeeeeeeep Beeep Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-

[EEG FLATLINING!] She yelled as she switched modes and brought out another specialized tool stored in her legs.

This particular tool sent minor electrical shocks into the brain to try and restart it, not dissimilar to a defibrillator for the heart. This one however, targeted 'specific' parts of the brain, not to cause damage but to try and restart the brain or keep electrical signals going. She planted it against his head and began tiny shocks, trying to keep his EEG going, keep him 'alive' long enough for her micromachines to finish the job they were sent to do, but it wasn't working.

Each shock started up the brain, but only for a millisecond, the puss had invadedand begun damaging the Medulla equivalent of the human brain to the mammal's brain. Now his Heartrate and Lungs were beginning to flatline, only starting up when she shocked him, but it only lasted for a tiny moment.

[Come ooon, come oooooon!] She urged, trying to keep him going, not stopping, trying 'vainly' to keep his brain going.

Until…

-Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-

The EEG sounded, despite her keeping the shocks going for another twelve attempts. With resignation, she signaled her micromachines to make their way to the stomach, and then self-destruct. She pulled her Eegfibrillator off him, replaced it in her leg, and looked at the patient's face, before slowly disconnecting the equipment, and placing the blanket over his head.

[Confirmed, time of death occurred at eleven-forty AM local time, cause of death, rupturing of blood vessels in the brain, TPN-Genova 1 virus infected puss causing decay to the Medulla.] She looked at her patient, before walking to the door and slowly stepping out, right into the terrified face of the deceased's sister.

"What happened, is he alright?"

She only looked her in the eye, and said, [I did everything in my power to save your brother.] She declared quietly. [I just… didn't have the time… if I had been called ten minutes sooner, even 'five' minutes sooner…]

As realization dawned on her face, she pushed past Ema and into the room, even as she slowly walked out and back toward her drone escort, hearing the sister's sobs echoing down the halls thanks to her excellent hearing.

A doctor walked alongside her, mournful as well. "It wasn't your fault… you did everything you could, I know how it feels to lose a patient…"

[That's no condolence to the deceased's loved ones.] She stated. [If only you had called me sooner, I wasn't lying… if I had been here just 'five' minutes sooner, I could have saved him… he'd be alive right now.]

She remained silent as she stepped past waiting groups of masked mammals, some of them looking less for wear, a few younglings, cubs or whatever term applied to them, were crying slightly while clinging tightly to their parents. Some breathing heavily as they waited to be administered to the hospital. She was aware of the situation getting worse, she'd been in this setting before, she'd heard the cries of both adults and children. The one thing missing from those days, was the lack of hope in most of their eyes. She paused in her trek to the front door in the 'waiting room' where all the mammals were sitting, and checked the levels of her chemicals, before quickly going to a doctor and consulting with them about what she wished to do, and was granted permission.

Walking over to a Leopard Mother and her five cubs, two of whom were displaying advanced symptoms of the virus, she looked up at the drone and asked, "Yes, can I help you?"

Ema was silent as she mixed her chemicals, created gel tablets for each of them, and extended a tiny metal plate from her leg so that six gelatin tablets plopped out of a slot from her head and onto the plate. [Take one each, and it will reduce the severity of the symptoms.] She said warmly. [It won't kill it… it won't stop it, but it will 'delay' its effects, and help you last longer…] She told them, as others started watching now. [It will give your family a chance… to avoid the worst symptoms… until I can cure this.]

The leopard was speechless as she took the tablets, before tearily nodding in gratitude. "Thank you…"

[When you get admitted, talk to the doctor and tell him I said to give you Antibiotic M-H-52, that's the newest one we've developed, its already been put into production, I sent seven shipments here to this nation. One is at this hospital, make sure you and your children take one tablet every 'eight' hours, I know its hard to sleep, try to take naps, keep drinking water and easy to consume foods that offer the most protein and vitamins and especially Zinc. Just stay strong, stay safe… I won't give up until I've cured this virus… and I 'will' cure it…]

After that she began going around and giving out tablets, giving the same instruction to mammals, telling them what to take, how much, and how to 'fight' this virus long enough to survive until a cure was ready. When she was done, she had exhausted most of the chemicals used to develop the gel tablets.

It was all she could do, her medical wards were getting filled up, even the Medical Bay was starting to run out of Biobeds. She couldn't save them all, she couldn't help them all, but she could at least save the vast majority of them…

That's what she was programmed to do, what she was designed to do, what she was 'built' to do…

She walked out the hospital and toward the waiting HARRIER, coldly staring and awaiting her to board so they could return to the facility. Before she could board however, she was called, and turned to see the sister again, teary eyed and looking at her for… if she knew facial features, 'any' kind of light to her day.

"Please… tell me… was there 'any' way you could have saved him?"

She nodded as she turned to the sister. [They alerted me the moment his condition started to deteriorate. But, as I said… if they had just called me 'five' minutes sooner, if I'd had just 'five' minutes more I could have 'saved' his life. I've saved humans with similar problems, the slowest I took to save them was four minutes and seven seconds… just 'five' minutes was all I needed.] She stated sadly, as she stepped over and offered a leg for her to hold, knowing she was in distress. [I did everything in my power… if it could have saved him, I would have done 'anything'… I'm sorry I failed you, I did all I could, but I still failed you today.]

The panther was sobbing into her as she tried to accept the fact that her brother was dead, and Ema knew she was not the first, and nor would she be the last to suffer such a fate.

[I am sorry to leave you like this ma'am, but I need to return to Eden Facility 17, to develop a cure so this never happens again, every day more will die… I 'must' return.] She said as she let go of her leg. [I also have a death certificate to write up and file within my medical database.]

"But… why… he wasn't your…"

[I don't care if he was my patient for five seconds, five minutes, five hours, or even five thousand days, he was still 'my' patient… my responsibility, and as such… I have a medical protocol to fulfill.]

Before she left however, the sister said, she was grateful that Ema tried to rush to her brother's aid, and despite her failure, that she 'tried' to save him. With that, the HARRIER sealed the door, took off, and then sped back home to Eden Facility 17.

=Day 22=

[There there little one… you'll be okay… I promise you'll be okay.] She whispered gently, rubbing a jaguar cub's head as she finished using her micromachines to eradicate 'at risk of rupture' blood vessels that were contaminated with the eroding puss of TNP-Genova 1.

She'd done the procedure 'six' times in the past hour, her store of Micromachines that she could deploy were running dangerously low the longer this went on. She couldn't keep doing this forever, at this point the procedure was now a temporary solution, the virus had mutated 'again', now ramping up replication speeds and now infecting 'white blood' cells. The mammal's immune system was now being turned against them by the most advanced cases of this new symptom. The newest strain now left 'visual' signs of the virus' most advanced and by far deadliest symptom, tiny puss filled boils on the surface, that if popped exploded decaying puss and spread the virus into the air. That day alone two hundred had been reported dead because of the virus, TPN-Genova one was beginning to pick up speed, even those who had received multiple vaccines she developed were beginning to feel more advanced symptoms. Those who hadn't received a single vaccine of hers… like this poor cub whose parents had completely doubted the virus and especially believing that Humans were 'monsters', her life was now hanging by a tiny thread.

"Miss Ema…" She whispered fearfully. "Will I get… better… soon?"

[I'm doing everything I can to make you better.] She replied sweetly. [I'm not giving up… you will get better I promise.]

"I'm… I'm scared Miss Ema…" She cried. "I want my mommy… I want my daddy… I don't like being sick…"

[I know… you hate it… everyone hates getting sick.] She told her. [You want your parents I know… but I can't let them in while you're so sick… medical quarantine protocols and procedures won't let me.]

The cub began crying more, her tears rolling down her face. "I don't want to be sick anymore… I want to go home… I miss going to school… I miss my family…"

Ema did all she could to relieve her fears and calm her down, but the pain she was suffering was too much for a poor six-year-old cub to bear. She hadn't slept without anesthetic help for nearly two days since her symptoms advanced. The mental strain was becoming too much for her to bear.

She also knew that her life was only hanging by a thread, in this stage of the virus, her body was now fighting itself, turning against itself, unable to figure out 'who' was the real enemy between the virus and the immune system. If she were an adult her body might resist and delay that stage, but being so young her immune system was just not strong enough.

[I need more time to save you…] She said quietly, trying to sooth the cub's fears and pains. [If only I could… freeze it… slow…]

She suddenly turned to her viewscreen and punched up several commands.

[Sentinel: transfer ALL data regarding the Cryosleep solution not already found in my medical database! Authorization EMA BWS Alpha!]

[Transfer in progress… transfer complete…]

[Sentinel, link up with my systems and cross reference all data with inquiries in real time!]

[Link, established!]

[What is the probable outcome of putting an infected patient into a Cryogenic Sleep state while still in the later stages of a deadly virulent disease?]

[Analysis indicates that based on Cryogenic Research, any disease within the human body would be frozen in a Cryogenic state until thawed to a temperature which permits the body to return to normal function. Upon thawing the disease will resume its normal operations prior to Cryogenic Stasis.]

[Would this effect work on Mammal Physiology?] She asked as the cub looked at her with fear in her eyes.

[Unknown, unable to speculate without adequate research into…]

[Speculate and assume mammal physiology is equal to human physiology, will the procedure work?]

She hated Category 3 Ais, so limited in their thinking process and only focused on what they 'know'.

[Speculations state yes.]

[How many Crygenic Stasis Pods remain in the facility for active service?]

[Cryogenic Stasis Pods Alpha 001 to Alpha 716, and Cryogenic Stasis Pods Alpha 718 to Alpha 1000 are still in containment chambers and are functional, offline and awaiting power transferal. Cryogenic Stasis Pod Alpha 717, missing, unable to detect within range of Eden Facility 17 scanners.]

[Transfer power to Pod Alpha 001, begin immediate lockdown and clearance of all corridors and hallways along the route to Pod Alpha 001 and begin decontamination and cleaning procedures along the corridor on my mark!] She ordered as she gently released the Biobed's containment of the cub and picked up the cub. [Mark!]

[breEEEEEEEEP, attention, attention, all units clear highlighted corridors, repeat clear highlighted corridors immediately!]

She ran into the hallway as disease containment walls lowered and sealed off the hallways and corridors, while rooms along the passage locked up to prevent any mammal or drone from entering or exiting them. Every few meters she ran a wall closed behind her and cleaning mist released to eradicate the affected area of any disease.

"Wh… where are we… going?" The cub asked nervously.

[I'm taking you to Cryogenics, I'm going to freeze you and keep you safe until I can cure the disease inside of you.] She replied.

"Freeze… will it… hurt?"

[No, it won't, the process will put you to sleep and then freeze your body, you won't feel any pain. It will feel like you're taking a nap… when you wake up, you'll feel like you had the best sleep of your life.]

Five minutes later she reached the Cryogenics Bay upstairs, rooms previously closed off since Jeremy woke up but now the pods were glowing and awaiting the procedure to begin Cryogenic Stasis. She gently placed the cub inside the pod, pressed a needle into her veins and injected her with a special solution to both put her to sleep and maintain her brain's electrical impulses and keep all vital organs from 'completely' shutting down, and Cryogenic Crystals to freeze the blood cells and other cells within the body. Once she was thawed to a certain temperature, the solution would restart her primary organs, dissolve the crystals and any permafrost built up, before finally reactivating her brain so it could handle normal functions.

The procedure to thaw normally takes three days, done in slow temperature increments so the body would have time to adjust and adapt to the thawing procedure, and so the solution would make sure all organs began functioning accordingly with the brain's natural processes while dissolving any frost or cryogenic crystals in the body. This is how Jeremy suffered Cryogenetic Sclerosis, being pulled from his pod before the thawing procedure could properly begin. When he woke up a day after his pod was pulled out, his organs were forced to work before the brain was ready, and the solution was treated as a threat to his body, instead of slowly dissipating as the body thawed, thus the Cryogenic Crystals coating his blood and organs while being frozen were left intact, and the permafrost that built up prior to thawing wasn't dissolved either, thus resulting in the disease, Cryogenetic Sclerosis.

There was no cure, even if she put the solution into him, it wouldn't have the effect. It was only designed to work 'after' being put into cryogenic sleep. If she tried the procedure again, the crystals and permafrost inside his body would solidify the heart and freeze it within seconds, killing him before he could thaw again.

[I'm going to put you to sleep now… when you wake up, you'll be much better… no more disease, no more missing your parents, no more missing school, you can go back home.] She told the cub.

The cub looked at her wearily before asking, "Promise?" in a very tired voice.

[I promise… and a drone 'never' lies.] She told the cub sweetly.

The cub smiled before her eyes closed and her breathing steadied, with Ema closing the pod and sealing her up within it. The pod began glowing blue, a low hiss filled the air, and within half an hour, blue mist began escaping the 'tiny' lid of the pod's otherwise air-tight seal. Inside the light was blue, and the temperature began to drop rapidly to deep freeze levels. The cub was still and motionless, but her heartrate on the nearby monitor indicated that she was in fact… still alive.

[I refuse to let a mammal die in 'my' medical bay; I refuse to let any mammal die in this facility.] She declared as the room was sealed, and mist filled it to clean it of any of the virus. [She may be frozen… but at least she'll live until I cure this virus. Once I have that cure, I can release it in a gaseous state into her pod, and it will cure her while she thaws…]

She later informed the governments to send 'any' critical patients displaying yellow puss filled boils to her facility, having found a way to save their lives, informing them that by placing them in Cryogenic Sleep, as Jeremy once was, that She could save their lives.

As for the cub's parents, later on the news they were interviewed about how they felt about their cub being the first mammal to be frozen to save their life. The parents looked like they were feeling 'guilty', admitting they were grateful to humans, Ema, and apologizing to Jeremy for how they acted. They had hated the human simply because he was 'human', but the very same process used to keep 'him' alive and bring him to 'their' lifetime, was now the only thing keeping their little girl alive.

Within twenty-four hours HARRIER drones had made two hundred and seven trips around the world, bringing patients in the final stages of the disease to be frozen.

But this again, was only a temporary solution… she only had nine hundred and ninety-nine Cryogenic Stasis Pods, if the cure didn't arrive soon, the number of deaths would only skyrocket.

She was only delaying the inevitable.

=Day 24=

[Cure ID-591-59-VP-9L7… effectivity… 12.6 percent effectiveness in stage 2 of disease. Reduced effectiveness in stage 2, to 3.2 percent. Reduced effectiveness in stage 3, to 0.05%. Zero effect on stage 4 and 5.] She said as she examined their latest set of cures.

In the last two days Ema and her team had developed a cure; a hashed together, bumbled together, liquid/chemical solution that 'resembled' what a cure looked and acted like, but a cure, nonetheless. They'd made a breakthrough in their research upstairs while Ema was busy with patients and tending to them, and 'finally' cracked a segment of the Virus' Genome sequence. It wasn't enough for her to develop a cure, but it gave them a start, and she'd used that research with them to pound out multiple cure ideas and solutions.

The problem, each one's effectiveness lost strength the further advanced the virus was in the patient… not even at the earliest stage did a cure have over 'twenty' percent effectiveness.

But she knew the desperation, the need for the cure, time was running out, both for the mammals and Jeremy. The virus had breached containment, and spread to three more countries despite their best efforts. The global infection rate was now at over four hundred thousand, the death toll was now up to seven hundred and growing.

Her team were trying their hardest, some going sixteen full hours without sleep, only sleeping because they were 'ordered' to by Sentinel and 'escorted' by drones to their rooms. They all had bags under their eyes, some barely eating full meals in their desire to keep their minds focused on their jobs and keeping ideas and theories fresh for others to hear and work on or with them. One doctor had a mental break down when he found out his mother had died, before the Harrier could reach her and bring her to be Cryogenically frozen.

They were at their breaking point.

Ema however didn't care, she had a job to do, she was a drone and as such lacked those emotions, only predefined/preprogrammed emotional responses to various stimuli to serve her role as a medical drone. But she knew psychology well, they couldn't take much more of this strain.

[Cure ID-617-41-TK-4U1… effectiveness… 11.4 percent in stage 1, reduced effectiveness in stage 2 to 4.9 percent, reduced effectiveness in stage 3 to 0.07 percent, zero effectiveness in stages 4 and 5.]

Their research had found another milestone earlier that day, as some made a startling discovery. The virus had what they were calling a 'pure' strain. One doctor had made the discovery when she was staring at how the virus worked when she used her own blood to try and get a new perspective. When her blood became 'infected' she observed on the holographic display as the virus, which resembled a mattress one would sleep on, released a tiny version of itself before expiring. This tiny version of itself, quickly located and concealed itself within a blood cell. The process had taken barely a second.

When Ema saw it, she tried to examine the holographic data, but the data did not have enough time to record the 'Pure' strain of the virus. By the time it entered the blood cell, it had already begun mutating, preventing them from studying it. It just moved and mutated too fast for their sensors and scanners to read.

However, if Ema could get samples of that Pure Strain of the virus, even a few 'cells' of it, she could study how it worked, functioned, and create a cure potentially.

But until that happened, she looked over the latest Cure…

[Cure ID-215-14-LP-1L2… effectiveness… 10.0 percent in stage 1, reduced effectiveness in stage 2 to 3.5 percent, reduced effectiveness in stage 3 to 0.03 percent, zero effectiveness in stages 4 and 5.] She said dully as she catalogued the analysis. [Nothing, nothing is good enough… these cures aren't going to work…]

(Breeeeeeeeeeep, Breeeeeeeeeeep, Breeeeeeeeep)

[Alert, illegal removement of substances, quarantine containment established.] Sentinel declared as alarms went off around the base. [Sentry Turrets activated, Sentinel Drones on sight!]

Hearing the alarm, she detached from her abdomen, storing it in the medical bay ceiling and left it to head for the quarantined area. One minute later she was outside the hallway of the research center where four turrets, an electrical field, and two DOG class drones were keeping a doctor contained while the others watched in surprise and shock.

[Whatever if was you took… hand it over.] Ema said 'sternly'.

The doctor nodded nervously as he slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial, containing a purplish liquid.

One of the cures they were working on.

[You tried to 'steal' a cure?] She asked as a DOG drone retrieved it and placed it back into the research room. [These cures aren't to be removed from that room for 'ANY' reason, they aren't even REMOTELY effective enough, let alone 'ready' to be used for the general public!]

"I-" He tried to say, but Ema didn't care, she brought up the mammal's biography, communications, and logged data to find all she needed.

[You work for a local pharmaceutical company, and you sent 'three' transmissions via your phone using the EF17 communications grid, and communicated the 'cure' progress. You were 'tasked' to grab a vial and give it to a colleague of yours waiting outside…] She declared; her optics glaring 'red' at him. [Corporate espionage may be something I'm not familiar with, but stealing research associated with the UEMI for the purpose of profit over the expense of the general public, WHILE the research is not completed… is 'not' tolerable.]

"BUT WE NEED SOMETHING, EVEN 'THIS' WO-" He tried to shout but Ema didn't have patience, as two RAPTOR class drones turned up, weapons trained.

[Take him away, lock him in his room, I don't have 'time' to deal with him.] She ordered them, and the drones nodded, before pushing the mammal forcibly through the hallway.

"WE DIDN'T PLAN TO SELL IT!" He yelled down the hallway, before they pushed him into an elevator and out of sight.

[Back to work everyone… we have lives to save.] She told them all, and walked back to her medical bay.

=Day 26=

[For the last time, I don't care HOW effective it is, if the cure is only twenty-five percent effective or ninety-nine percent effective, until it is 'perfected' and I prove it is not harmful to any mammal, I will not permit any risk to any mammal's life with our cures we develop here!] She told the mayor sternly. [I understand the need for the cure, believe me, I 'understand', but I cannot rush a cure out simply because of public fear levels.]

[Ema, I'm getting roasted for how I've treated this pandemic. The hospitals are overrun, today alone almost a hundred mammals have died from this virus in Zootopia, mammals are lying sick in their beds unable to even go to the hospital for any form of treatments, ZPD is being run ragged trying to help everymammal!]

[This is not up for debate; we are working as hard as possible… but the cure isn't ready. It's as likely to 'kill' the patient as it is cure them, and it only works over twenty percent of the time.]

The Mayor sighed in frustration, bags under her eyes, and frowning in despair at the EMA, before asking, [How long before its ready?]

[I don't know… just hang on Mayor, tell mammals to hang on… do their best… I need more time…]

With that communications ended, and she resumed her work.

"How is it going Ema?" A tired voice asked.

She turned to the Porcupine doctor who walked in, looking very exhausted and dead on her feet, wearing specialized gear to keep herself from being at risk of getting infected in the medical bay.

[Working…] Ema said dully, returning to said work and examining the piece of the genome sequence they 'had' mapped.

"I know, I know I should be working but… I just needed a break…" She said 'tiredly'. "I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. I haven't had a good night's sleep since… day one we were hear. Haven't eaten properly either for who knows how long…"

Ema paused in her work to stand by her and comfort her, knowing she was trying to stay strong but… like she said, she was running on fumes.

"Tell me Ema, in your days… how bad was it… was it 'this' bad?"

[No, it was worse.] She stated. [Each day, every 24 hours at the end of the final war I marked patients with a percentage number. Those who had a higher percentage, were given priority medical care, those who weren't died, sometimes I put them down.]

The doctor looked at her with a shocked face. "Put them 'down'?"

[They were my creators, yes, I know, but back then survival of the species was more important, so sacrifices were made. For 'ten years' after the war I saved those I could, and let those who couldn't die. Thousands died each day, hundreds in my medical bay alone. Eventually I stopped using chemicals to induce painless deaths due to lack of resources and a need to prioritize. The best I could do was apply anesthetics, and then quickly jab their brains with a needle to instantly kill them.]

She turned to all of the medical beds in the bay, and looked over at Jeremy's once more.

[Of the grand total of one million, two hundred and thirty-seven humans who came into my medical bay prior to the Cryosleep Solution that I treated, only one hundred and fifty-nine thousand managed to live to see their next birthdays.] The rest died within one to eleven months. [Every day, I calculated who could be saved, who could live, who did not have the highest chances of death and who would be given the 'jab' as Doctor Liona called it.]

There was silence as the doctor patted her on the head in understanding. "Do you feel regret for not saving them?"

[I'm a drone, I don't 'feel' emotions, I can display them but feeling them is beyond my capabilities.] She replied instantly. [It had to be done, survival came first… just be lucky you didn't see the bodies constantly being bagged and sent to the incinerator, or be required to keep count because of a Medical Protocol.]

Silence again as the porcupine doctor looked over at Jeremy's biobed, before asking. "Why is Jeremy so heavily protected?"

[His body's immune system is too week to resist the disease, between the lack of proper meals, activity, being asleep for weeks, and his Cryogenetic Sclerosis he wouldn't survive if he got infected.]

"What does his disease do, I mean I know it freezes him and causes his temperature to drop but what 'exactly' causes it?"

[The disease is caused by Cryogenic Crystals coating his veins, blood cells and organs which once exposed to a sudden temperature drop freeze all-]

She stopped talking as she realized something.

[That's it…]

She ran over to the viewscreen and began tapping buttons and commands, before calling up a disease sample 'and' a small vial of Jeremy's blood that she took prior to putting him in the biobed. Then she plugged all the data she had on Cryogentic Sclerosis and ran a simulation on how it would interact with a 'disease'. Going off of all the records and theories, the virus would not only be slowed to an absolute 'crawl' just like the 'rest' of his blood and organs, it would almost 'freeze' it in place until the temperature returned to normal.

[Yes… yes that's it!] She said as she tapped another button and pulled down a cold air pump used to lower body temperature in case of extreme heat.

"What is it?"

[I can use Jeremy's blood to draw out a TPN-Genova 1 Virus 'Pure Cell', and use his disease to slow it in place long enough for me to collect samples to analyze!]

She planted a single 'drop' of infected blood into Jeremy's blood and began hitting it with cooling air. She looked at the microscopic level as the virus began infecting Jeremy's blood, but the Cryogenic Crystals started freezing everything around them, including the virus. She waited as seconds passed for a Pure Cell to appear, and sure enough, the virus released a 'single' pure cell… a tiny white version of the original.

[Got you!] She said as she used the tiniest needle that she had to suck up the pure cell. [Now for more… the more I find the faster we can cultivate it.]

She spent the next ten minutes while Jeremy's blood was still cold and freezing looking and scanning for Pure Cells of the virus. But in her search, she'd only gotten seven Pure Cells, despite her fast speed she couldn't get any more before the others made it into Jeremy's blood cells.

[Sentinel, begin cultivation and containment procedures regarding 'Pure Strain TPN-Genova 1!] She declared, taking the samples she had say for 1 and placing them in a solution to preserve them and keep them from mutating.

[Request confirmed…] Sentinel said as she put the vial into the slot, and it sped up and toward the cultivation and containment unit. [Cultivation process will be completed in six hours.]

"Six hours?"

[We grow things fast…] She declared as she examined the Pure Strain's genome and DNA sequence. [Oh, you are a 'piece of work'… a real piece of work… I will give you credit, you eluded me this long… but now I know how to 'kill' you…]

The Pure Strain was exactly what she suspected it was, a 'pure' version of the virus, it was extremely weak at first, only able to infiltrate single cells by burrowing into them through the membrane. When the virus enters a new body, it releases a pure form of itself while the original expires. However, once inside it began rewriting its code using the genetic makeup of the host, perfectly blending in and rapidly mutating to better improve its abilities to blend into the body. After it consumes enough nutrients the virus spreads rapidly, and leftover nutrients are expelled from it in the form of 'puss', which contains excreted remains of the virus that cause decay and rot on the cellular level. From there it invades and spreads through the body via the Circulatory system, eventually heading to the brain. It also spreads itself in this stage by going 'to' the surface of the skin and exploding puss into the air.

Now that she knew how it worked, it was as she said, developing a cure was only 'seconds' away…

[I need 'every' infected sample from upstairs down here immediately!] She ordered as a glass container raised on her abdomen and was filled with a dark blueish liquid.

Ten minutes later the doctors were all in her medical bay as she began injecting her cure into the infected samples. They watched with bated breath as the viewscreen displayed the cure's effectiveness.

[Sample 1… infected cell count reducing… cure rate at 22 percent, 34… 49… 61… 82...] She said.

Then the number hit… 100 percent.

[Sample 1 completely 'cured', no infected cells remaining!]

But that wasn't all, the others began showing their numbers, different species, different types, different stages of the infection, but Ema declared one after another…

[Samples 2 through 9, cured, samples 10 through 19, cured… remaining samples…] She said as the final samples began to finish reporting. [Cured, all samples are 'cured', no remaining TPN-Genova 1 cells detected in 'any' of these samples! Cure ID-001-01-JW-0J1 cure effectiveness 100 percent across all stages!]

Behind her all the doctors, tired or not, screamed in joy, some hugging one another and crying tears of happiness as she made the announcement.

[Sentinel, set up a connection with the world health leaders and all associated government agencies, including government leaders, transmit the cure formula and attach the required dosage per mammal based on species size and stage number regarding the disease's progression. Inform them to begin priority distribution based on my input and no other.]

"Your input but…"

"Ema we need to start distributing the cure to everymammal not just prioritize…"

[You have done your job, you are all exhausted, and I know you want to rush this cure to everymammal.] She said as she began fabricating the formula for all the patients in her care, including those in the medical wards. [But its now time for 'me' to do my job, we must prioritize who gets the cure first and get it done in an orderly manner or there will be more casualties. Right now, we haven't even a drop of the cure anywhere else, it's going to take me all night before I can develop enough to distribute to the hospitals around the world that need it. Once word spreads that the cure is done and is ready to be used, mammals will rush to the hospitals to try and get it as quickly as possible, this is going to cause massive blockages and delays, resulting in those who need it 'more' to potentially die before they can get it.] She said while turning to them even as the second canister was filled and she replaced it with a third from a storage hole in the ceiling. [In order to ensure the least number of casualties regarding the virus, we must have a semblance of order and a clear line of distribution. To that end we must prioritize the eldest and the youngest mammals with the later stages of the virus, and then follow the same protocol for those with weaker stages of the virus, those in the middle will have to wait and those with earlier, weaker symptoms must wait their turn.]

As she finished filling up the third canister the reality hit them all of the situation, even if the cure 'was' ready, they had to administer it carefully, or as she said, the death toll of those trying to get it and unable to will grow higher, perhaps even more than the virus itself caused.

[Order, discipline, preparation, procedure and planning combined are the all first, second and 'last' lines of defense when it comes to fighting a pandemic and preventing secondary death tolls because of it. Those who can wait must wait, those who need to be saved must go first.] She stated as she took two of the canisters and gave them to the doctors closest. [Take these two canisters and collect syringes from storage locker '12' inside the research bay. Give 1 CC to 'Tiny' mammals, 3 CC to 'Small', 5 CC to 'Medium', 10 CC to 'Medium Large', and 20 CC to 'Large'. Give any syringe used to the nearest DOG drones. I'll administer the cure to the mammals in the biobeds here.]

"What about those in the Cryogenic Pods, the 'Eggs'?" A Sheep asked. "How will they get it; those are the most extreme cases?"

[I'll simply fill up the Cryogenic Stasis Pod's L-G service pumps built into them. Once I begin the Thawing Process, the pods will release the cure in a gaseous form that will be inhaled through their noses and be carried off through the body via the Circulatory System. Don't worry, they'll be fine in three days.]

(Jaguar Cub's PoV, 3 days later, Day 29)

She slowly opened her eyes as she breathed deeply, her eyes aching and struggling to open, but she wasn't feeling so much pain as she squinted at the light. There was no pain in her chest, or her arms or legs, she breathed so much easier, and she was feeling so much more rested then she'd ever felt in her life that she could remember.

As her eyes adjusted, she stared into the 'not so scary' glowy eyes of Ema, the black, spider looking robot that helped her into the pod, told her she would get better when she woke up.

"Ema?" She asked quietly.

[Hi there little one… how are you feeling?] She asked sweetly as she rubbed her forehead.

"A little 'sleepy'… but I don't feel any pain… am I still sick?"

[Nope… it's as I promised, you don't have to miss school anymore, you can go back to your parents now… and you can go back home.] She told her warmly, helping her out of the egg. [I told you, I'm a drone… and a drone never lies.]

=Ema Save the World - Epilogue=

On day 27 of the pandemic, Ema released the cure for TPN-Genova 1, including all 5 stages of the virus. While the world quickly began production of the cure, Ema sent out the first canisters to the hospitals with governments prioritizing who would get it first, 'urging' those who were not of stage 5 or 4 to wait, and prioritizing the young and old. National Guards, police units, and other various law enforcement units were deployed to ensure that the curing process would go as smoothly as possible, as orderly as possible.

While the global infected numbers continued to rise for the next two days and weeks to come, the rate it grew began to spiral downward in a rapid descent. The death toll topped at two thousand four hundred and fifty, and while the world was changed because of it, it changed for the better as they knew that it could have been far worse without the aid of Ema and Eden Facility 17's medical facilities. The doctors who assisted soon returned home, to help with the distribution of the cure, while normal life soon returned with the 'all clear' by Ema.

Jeremy was released two days after the patients in the Cryogenic Stasis Pods were returned to their homes. But due to how weak his body was being confined to the Biobed, he would not be allowed to leave the facility for some time still, while his muscles underwent Atrophy Therapy to give them strength.

Within 'seven months' the last recorded case of TPN-Genova 1 would be reported… and eradicated. It's short eight-month global lifespan ended, as the only remaining samples of the disease, were stored safely and securely, within Eden Facility's Disease Containment and Cultivation Unit.

But for Ema… there was one more story, that she had to share…

=Bonus Short - 'Mother'=

(Ema's PoV, Day 30)

"On behalf of all mammalkind I want to thank you Ema, what you have done is in short a miracle, the likes of which we have never seen before… besides… well for Jeremy's promise to cure all cancers!" The Mayor of Zootopia said warmly as she stood with a few doctors who had remained to help Ema with the patients the day before.

[Thanks aren't necessary, I'm programmed to cure diseases and viruses, it's what I was designed to do, and it's what I was built to do.] She said dully as she examined a new strain of Fuzz Flu that cropped up. [To me its just another day on the job, I've done it before, I'll do it again if required.]

"You see it's not just thanks that are being offered, the world wants to give you the Azure Medal of Peace for all the work you did, and all the lives you've saved." The porcupine doctor said cheerfully. "That's like the 'highest' honor ANY mammal could get in the entire world! Only thirty-seven have ever gotten it in the past two hundred years!"

[I didn't do it for a reward, give it to someone else. I did what I did because I'm programmed to save lives and do all within my power to save them. It is what I was designed, programmed, and built to do as I keep saying over and over.] She said, picking up a vial and sending it to the cultivation and containment unit, while using the other to study the disease. [Give it to her if you want, give it to the other doctors who worked here, I don't care, they helped me and deserve as much credit with the cure's creation.]

The mayor was thoughtful before she looked up and smiled, "How about we give it to your designer or whoever it was that created you, in their honor for making you? Would you be against that?"

At those words Ema stopped moving entirely, not once having thought about her creator, her 'creator', in a very long time. She'd never been asked about her creator, not once had to think about her, but even still she had the memories of her creator stored in her active memory core… as did all of the EMAs.

[Mother… you want to give the award… to Mother?] She asked quietly, turning to the mayor and the other mammals in the room. [You want to give it to Ema?]

"But, i thought your name was 'Ema'." Another doctor said curiously.

[That's just Jeremy's nickname for me, drones... don't have names, we just have 'designations'.] Ema clarified. [Mine is EMA BWS Alpha, Alpha because i was the 'first' to go online, she... 'mother... gave us all those designations based on the greek alphabet. She gave us the EMA designation based on her name... Ema, she took each letter to give us our designated drone design. BWS, was based on her... pet spider, she designed us all on her pet spider, and... I haven't spoken her name in... well you get the picture.]

There was silence as they looked at her being so silent, not used to seeing a drone so quiet or acting this way. "What was she like?" The mayor asked.

[I don't know... she gave us her personality, each of us had a piece, some part of what she thought of herself like. Obviously, I got the best part, her professionalism.] She said while looking at her reflection on the screen. [But we each got similiar personality codings, rarely did any of us act differently than intended, but we sometimes would display those... 'quirks' of hers... i haven't said her name in a long time, it wasn't really necessary to bring her up.]

"Do you know what she looked like?"

[I still have my first memory of her...] Ema said as she tapped the viewscreen and brought up her first memory stored in her active memory core.

The screen changed to blackness, but there was a 'HUD' being displayed, obviously what 'Ema' sees through her optics.

(Flashback, Near the End of The Final War)

"Alright, power flow is normal, optical scanners online..." a warm, gentle, and calming voice whispered excitedly from the screen. "Alright EMA BWS Alpha... try to turn your optics on..."

There were flashes of blue light, hints of white color, tints of red lines... but nothing happened.

"Come on... you can do it, turn your optics on, all systems are functioning, there's nothing more I can do, it's up to you now." The voice said. "Come on... turn on your optics... you can do it!"

The hud flashed again, and eventually the shapes and colors began flashing, and soon formed to see a drone construction lab, but in front of her was a dark-skinned woman, with dark brown hair and a streak of red dye running down it. She looked at her with a proud smile and gave a cheery applause as 'EMA' activated her optics.

"You did it, way to go EMA Alpha! I-I mean, EMA 'BWS' Alpha." She said eagerly, before catching herself and acting professional again.

EMA simply responded with a tilt of her head.

"Yes, my name is Ema... I'm your creator, head designer for your design... you are EMA BWS Alpha, short for 'Emergency Medical Augmenter Black Widow Spider' class drone 'Alpha'. I guess that makes me... your mother."

[Moooooother?] EMA said in a broken disjointed voice, her vocal processors not functioning properly.

"Yes... your mother, not just yours, your sisters... over there!" She said, and EMA turned to see various 'spider heads' with optics off lining the wall. "EMA Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda, Mu, Nu, Xi, Omicron, Pi, and Rho! I built 'all' of you, not by myself but pretty much your all 'my' design... you all have a special role to fill soon, a very important one."

[Whaat... role?]

She smiled sadly as she leaned forward and placed a burnt hand on her head. "You're going to be medical drones, you're going to save lives... as many lives as you can, you'll be the 'greatest' doctors, surgeons, and medical researchers that the world will need." She said with a sigh. "There's not much left of our world, and we need... we 'desperately' need doctors, there are so many sick, dying... we can't take care of them all. That's why I'm making you... before I die."

[You... sick?]

"Radiation poison... its fatal, there's nothing I can do... you can't save me, but I will make sure that 'you' and your sisters can save 'others'." She said with a neutral tone, but still smiling softly at her. "You are, EMA BWS Alpha... the first of the Emergency Medical Augmenter Black Widow Spider class drones. I can't save the world... I can't save my species... but I can create 'you', so you can save them in my place."

Ema began crying tiny, very tiny tears from her bloodshot eyes, as she leaned closer to EMA, looking at her Eye to Optics.

"Promise me, you will do all you can, to save as many lives as you can?"

Seeing how Ema had her hand on her head, EMA accessed the only thing she could, a single mechanical leg that was half built, and planted the end on the human's head, mirroring her action. [Promise...]

Ema smiled and leaned against her, crying silently as she stroked the drone, even as EMA's systems began taking notice of the 'lethal' levels of radiation poisoning her body. It was true, her mother had about twelve days left to live before her heart and kidneys would shut down.

"No matter what disease you may face... you 'will' be able to analyze it, make a vaccine for it, cure it... remember that... you 'will'... save lives. That... is your 'only' directive. Don't let 'anyone' or 'anything' stop you from trying to save as many lives as you can."

[Save... 'you'?]

Ema chuckled halfheartedly as she reached around her head. "I wish you could... I really wish you could…" She said sadly, as all went dark again.

(Flashback Ends)

As the viewscreen turned off, Ema looked over to the mammals.

[We called her 'Mother' because she considered herself our mother, we were her creations. All seventeen of us were originally designed to be part of a global medical response unit, but by the time we were finished, we'd each been assigned to one of the seventeen Eden Facilities. We were all similarly built, so our capabilities were pretty much identical, but Mother gave us each something 'unique', to improve our abilities at saving lives.]

She extended her leg and showed a tiny syringe with a needle so 'narrow' it's tip could only be seen on a Macroscope.

[I was given the tiniest syringe needle ever developed, any smaller and it could touch the atoms that make up 'anything'. It's how I'm able to pick out individual cells and extract them, it's how I cured the TPN-Genova 1 virus.]

She put her needle away and resumed looking at the Fuzz Flu strain she was examining before.

[If you want to give it to Mother, go ahead… I have nothing against it, but honestly, I don't care one way or another, I've got work to do here, I'm a month behind schedule thanks to this pandemic.]

There was silence as the doctors began leaving, seeing that Ema had nothing more to say. Yet the Mayor walked over and patted her leg warmly. "If its anything from me, your 'mother' was a beautiful human… and if she could say it… she'd be very proud of what you did."

[Like I said, I'm just doing what she programmed and built me to do… nothing more, or less…] She said dully.

The mayor left after some time, and when all was quiet, Ema looked over at the screen and called up another memory of 'Mother', the last one she had.

(Flashback, Last Day with Mother)

EMA Alpha stared at the lone solitary makeshift bed with her sixteen sisters, watching as she went over their final checklist before they would be sent out to their assigned facilities. EMA Alpha was given Eden Facility 17, the most advanced of them. It was only fitting, she 'was' the best, obviously. Mother gave her the Alpha designation; she was the first to be activated and first to turn their optics on within thirty seconds of being asked to.

But still, their Mother was lying there in bed, barely able to talk, only able to because of the voice modulator and speaker sticking through her throat.

[Final Checklist… What is the EMA's First Rule?]

[A single life is more valuable than a thousand drones and the materials they're made of!] They all said instantly in unison.

[Second Rule?]

[Always prioritize the majority over the few, save the most instead of the least!]

[Third Rule?]

[Follow Medical Procedures, protocols save lives, breaking them ends lives!]

[Fourth… Rule?]

[Show Empathy when needed, Apathy when it's not; show emotions to provide support, act bored to drive the message across!]

[F… f… fifth?]

[If it's below one hundred percent, it's not ready, and never let it outside until otherwise!]

Mother was quiet as she closed her eyes and breathed hard, before slowly uttering, [Siiiixth?]

[The patient has the final say in 'all' medicine given to them, or medical procedures offered to them!]

They watched a tiny 'sparkle' appear, for the faintest of moments it seemed in her eyes, and a faint smile appeared slightly.

[Seventh?]

[Tell whoever asks 'we're busy' so they make it quick!]

She tried to lean up, but was unable to… the most she could do was raise her head a few centimeters to look at them all. [You're all… ready… the HARRIER and TERRIER, FALCON and EAGLE class drones should be outside. They'll take you to the facilities your assigned to, each is… broadcasting… on a signal you've been given. Go… save as many human lives as you can.] She said faintly. [Go on my daughters… do… what I cannot…]

With that they started filing out one at a time, starting with EMA Epsilon. They all looked the same but each EMA knew and could tell the others apart with perfect accuracy. As they started leaving the construction bay, EMA Alpha was last to leave, and she paused before turning back to return to her Mother's bed.

[What's… wrong EMA Alpha?] Ema asked with strained effort.

[It 'is' medical procedure Mother, that when a patient is dying, an attending 'doctor' is required to remain by their side until they expire… to record the time of death for their Death Certificate.]

Ema smiled as she nodded, and EMA let her hold one leg as tightly as she could manage.

Time passed, first an hour, then two hours, then four… six… until finally, Ema's grip finally loosened and her hand fell away. Her heartbeat stopped beating, all brain activity ended, and Mother finally… died.

[Time of death… nine forty-seven PM, cause was Radiation Poison in multiple locations throughout the body…] EMA Alpha stated quietly, before pulling the blanket over her mother's face. [Goodbye Mother…]

With that she walked out the door, and to her waiting HARRIER drone, which she boarded and took off, watching as the destroyed, damaged, and devastated building that 'was' her place of construction was being swarmed by millions of ANT drones, oversaw by five hundred RAPTOR and DOG class drones, all of them scavenging and salvaging whatever could be salvaged.

Before the doors were closed and she had to wait in silence to arrive at her workplace.

(Flashback ends)

Ema watched as the screen turned black, and she played it back to see Ema's face when she last had her eyes open, planting a leg on the screen to touch her.

[Mother… I didn't save your species… I failed to save them.] She said. [I couldn't save them, I did everything in my power… but I managed to save 'them', I saved these mammals, saved 'billions' of lives, each and every day I work to cure every disease and virus they have, provide vaccines for them… and rid their world of these 'nuisances' to their daily lives.]

[If I'd had just a few days more with you when I was completed, I could have saved you… I 'know' I could have. I couldn't save you back then, I couldn't save your species after all this time… but still I do what you made me to do, told me to do, made me 'promise' to do…]

[Tell me Mother… if you were alive… would what I've done make up for failing you, failing to save you, failing to save your species? Am I a 'good drone'?] She asked quietly. [Would you still be proud of your 'daughter'… would you… 'Mother'?]

She turned the viewscreen off, put the records back into her active memory bank… and resumed working.

She was busy after all; she had a lot of work to do.

But, as she looked at the Fuzz Flu, she thought about the how the disease suddenly sprung up, how it operated and spread so fast in such a short time, she accessed the data she had on the Pure Strain.

[Sentinel, request 'temporary' access to the Classified Bioweapon Records, authorization EMA BWS Alpha.]

[Access granted…]

She pulled up the info on all the bioweapons deployed and used during the Final War, shared by the world at the end to help deal with them and their lingering effects. There was one, called the X-X-Virus, unable to read its actual name due to her AI refusing to acknowledge their name.

[Sentinel… cross reference this bioweapon with TPN-Genova 1 pure strain… are there any similarities?]

[Confirmed, seven hundred and forty sequences matching between TPN-Genova and REDACTED Virus.]

She thought about that, barely less than a 'thousand' sequences matching between the two, the Bioweapon's genome sequence was simplistic while the TPN-Genova 1 virus was almost as complex as the human or mammal genome. Yet the bioweapon's records indicated that it killed 'rapidly' once it entered the patient, using the same pattern of attack as TPN-Genova 1, but it doesn't develop useless symptoms, instead it just targets the Mendula to shut off all heart and lung functions to kill the victim.

[But… if its possible… if it were 'dormant' for over three hundred thousand years, evolution 'would' have changed it over time… but it would keep these sequences, changing, mutating, evolving with host after host. But why would it activate now instead of before unless…]

She glanced at what triggers the Bioweapon to work according to the records, 'biotech'. [If a mammal were having surgery or an operation, and a doctor used biotech to seal up the cut… then the minuscule number of particles remaining of the Biotech would 'trigger' the bioweapon sequences of the virus… and then…]

[Sentinel, purge all data regarding Bioweapon inquiry from the database, including all memory of the inquiry from the EMA Active and Passive database. Seal up the records to require clearance from 'two' active EMA BWS drones 'and' human authorization, confirm…]

[Confirming action… commencing purge…]

.

.

.

.

From the Author

This chapter goes out to 'all' those fighting COVID, after getting it myself, and feeling its effects, I wrote this chapter to honor those doctors who were and possibly still 'are' researching COVID, especially this new strain.

This will be my last HOGH chapter for a while, I 'must' get to my other stories, they've been painfully neglected, sorry this one took so long…

Its hard writing when you have no money income… and trying to find inspiration and motivation…