Mycosis

Part 2

AE 3803 cried out when the floor under her collapsed. Desperately she tried to grasp the door handle, but it simply slipped through her fingers. Her back hit a particular big vine, her limbs getting caught up in several more, albeit smaller ones. They slowed her fall, yet as they did, also wrapped themselves around her. By the time she came to a stop, AE was completely wrapped up in the greenery like a fish caught in a net.

The erythrocyte hissed in pain, feeling several shallow scratches along her arms and legs, her back hurting a little from the initial impact. Why did these things keep happening to her?

AE turned her head as best she could, trying to figure out where she was. What the red blood cell saw made her haemoglobin sink into her shoes.

The alveolus was in ruins. Not just her capillary had collapsed, but the entire interior structure seemed to have crumbled, as if it been hit by a massive earthquake. Above she could see up several storeys and it was the same when AE looked down through holes all around her, while she herself was hanging above the mostly intact floor of another capillary.

And then there was the greenery. Everywhere were vines, leaves and blue, dandelion-like flowers of varying sizes, covering every surface and breaking through walls. Had they been here this morning?

AE knew she had to get out. It was only a matter of time before this place collapsed completely.

She tried to move her limbs, but the vines were so tightly wrapped around them that AE hardly managed to eve lift them. For the time being she as pretty much immobilized.

Realising she really needed help, AE looked about once more, this time hoping to find another cell. It was quiet around her, though there was a light breeze tugging at her red hair and beret. Vines and leaves were swaying gently as well, but they seemed to be the only things moving. She was alone.

"Hello!" AE shouted. "Anyone?!"

There was no answer and the erythrocyte swallowed nervously. What now? Surely the immune cells would find about this, whatever it was. Hakkekkyū-san would start to worry when she didn't show up and search for her. If so, then she just needed to be patient.

Yes; he and…

AE's eyes widened, and she scolded herself for being so forgetful. AC had to be around here somewhere, after all the entire storey had collapsed as far as she could tell. "AC! AC, can you hear me!"

Once more there was only silence. Troubled AE 3803 looked around, hoping to find anything red that could indicate her friend's whereabouts. She wasn't sure where to look, as the fall had thrown off her already questionable sense of direction, but then she saw something.

Next to her was a slope created by several pieces of debris, leading down at least another two floors, perhaps even further, but between the vines she could something red. There was no way of telling who it was, or even if it was part of an erythrocyte's uniform. If it was AC, maybe she hadn't heard her yelling due to the distance and the wind. AE hoped that her friend wasn't hurt, realising that she had easily fallen twice as far, but there wasn't anything she could do. As so often, all the erythrocyte could do was to wait for the white blood cells to save them.


4989 sighed as he squeezed his way through the crowd leaving the right ventricle, closely following 1146. He'd never liked going through the heart, not just because it was always tightly packed, but there were always the edges of boxes jabbing into his sides or abdomen. Due to that he'd made it a rule to avoid the heart with a full phagolysosome if possible.

Phagolysosome

A lysosome is an organelle found in many cells, containing hydrolytic enzymes to break down various substances, which is why they are sometimes referred to as the cell's stomach. When phagocytes, like macrophages or neutrophils, engulf and 'swallow' a pathogen or something else, a spherical vesicle called phagosom is created, which then fuses with the lysosome, creating a phagolysosome. Within it the phagocytized material is then digested.

The two neutrophils had successfully returned the lactic acid bacterium and were on their way back to the lungs. 4989 wondered if the two girls had already made it back and his mitochondria suddenly fluttered.

His friend hadn't said anything, even after some inquiry, but he was convinced that 1146 would take AE 3803 aside to give him and AC some privacy. The entire way from the intestine 4989 had pondered about what to tell her, or perhaps more accurately, how to confess to her. Truth was he had nothing, at least nothing he was satisfied with. He would probably end up stuttering, trying to wing it.

Meanwhile the road split before them, one street leading to the right, the other to the left lung. As their destination was the pulmonary vein, it really didn't matter through which they went, but then 4989 spotted a group of fellow neutrophils headed for the left one. There were even more coming from the right lung.

"Have we missed something?" 4989 asked aloud. They hadn't received orders, so it was possible that only white blood cells in the immediate proximity of the lungs had been called in.

He saw his friend's visible eye narrow. "Let's find out; maybe they could use our help."

Picking up the pace the two followed their fellow neutrophils into the left lung, only to find it bustling with immune cells, mostly monocytes, alveolar macrophages and neutrophils. There were even a few NK cells and a few lymphocytes. It looked like there was going to be a battle, a big one.

"What happened here? We weren't gone that long."

"Looks like they are sectioning off some of the alveoli," 1146 noted, pointing to some of the elevators, where a few of the alveolar macrophages in their pale blue dresses were standing guard.

"Wonder what got in this time," the fluffy haired neutrophil replied, in his head already going through the list of possible bacteria. The very low number of lymphocytes made a virus unlikely, unless of course none of the lymph nodes had been contacted yet.

Together they approach a nearby macrophage, who was apparently giving orders to a few monocytes. As soon as they were dismissed and had left, 1146 addressed her. "Alveolar Macrophage, what is going on here?"

"Oh, it appears that a few alveoli were infiltrated by a fungus," she explained, a hand resting against her cheek. "Its hyphae are blocking capillaries, and we worry that fragments might break of and spread through the bloodstream."

4989's eyes widened. "It's a mycosis?" he uttered surprised. "How is that possible?"

Mycosis

A mycosis is an infection caused by a fungus, often through inhalation of fungal spores or localized colonization of skin and dermal appendages such as nails. These fungi are often divided into dermatophytes that only infect the skin, yeasts and moulds, which can infect the skin, the mucosa or cause a systemic mycosis, meaning they can infest internal organs. Many of the fungi responsible for systemic mycosis are usually only dangerous for those with an already impaired immune system, or who already suffer from another serious ailment.

"Well, the respiratory super-infection wasn't that long ago," 1146 reminded him. "It's possible it slipped in during the battle, or when we were handling the massive clean-up. Besides, our numbers are still quite depleted."

"True," the other neutrophil said glumly. So many had died in defence of their world, and he had almost shared that fate. Still, surely a mycosis wouldn't be that bad and besides, weeding fungi was something neutrophils were trained for just like Killer T-cells excelled at exterminating viruses. "Is there any way we can help?"

Alveolar Macrophage gestured towards the gathering immune cells behind her. "We're currently waiting for reinforcements to clear the affected areas. You are welcome to join us once we begin with our sweep of the alveoli."

"We'd be happy to help," 1146 assured her and 4989 nodded in agreement.

"We'd be much obliged, neutrophils," Alveolar Macrophage replied with a warm smile. "I will see you in battle then."

She departed, joining a group of her colleagues, and the fluffy haired neutrophil sighed. "Afraid AC and AE will have to wait for us then."

1146 smiled. "Maybe this will take your mind off for a while," he suggested.

4989 twisted his mouth. "Don't act like you weren't nervous, when you were in my position."

His friend merely shrugged, but when he opened his mouth to say something, he was suddenly interrupted. "U-1146, U-4989! I'm so glad to see you."

Both neutrophils turned around and saw AE 3803's senpai running towards them, looking quite distressed. "AA 5100, is something wrong?" 1146 asked once she reached them.

AA hesitated for a second, but then nodded. "I'm afraid so. Well, I'm actually not entirely certain, but the thing is…," she took a deep breath. "I met AE and AC on their deliveries and we walked the rest of the way together. We split up here and wanted to meet at the pulmonary vein, wait for you guys to arrive."

4989's cytoplasm ran cold. "What are you saying?"

She grasped her wrist and squeezed it tightly, looking to the floor beside him. "The elevator they took; it would have brought them straight into one of the infected alveoli."

"Are…are you sure?"

Their eyes met; she looked at him guiltily, and he wondered if she felt responsible for what had happened to her kouhais. "Yes. I've waited in the vein, but they never came. I started to ask around, but no one has seen them, actually no one as seen anyone leave those alveoli in some time. That's when the immune cells started gathering around the affected areas."

"No that can't be!" 4989 exclaimed, shaking his head. It couldn't be.

1146 grasped his shoulders firmly. "Calm down."

"AC…"

But his friend looked him straight in the eyes. "We'll find them," he said, not a hint of doubt in his voice, though 4989 was sure to momentarily see a flicker of worry in his expression, despite 1146's best efforts to remain collected. "We're going in there and find both."

"Right," 4989 mumbled as his friend let go of his shoulders again. Of course 1146 was worried too and certainly just as eager to find them. The good thing was he never did fail to locate AE 3803, particularly when she was in trouble, which would also mean finding AC.

If anything happened to her...

"Please do and watch yourselves in there," AA 5100 said, looking a bit more at ease now.

"We will," 1146 assured her, before turning to 4989 again. "Come; maybe the macrophages will allow us to get in there first."


AE 3803 couldn't remember having ever been alone for so long. Being a cell among countless others usually meant that there was always someone around and a truly quiet place wasn't easy to find. The redhead didn't mind, but it made the silence within the ruins all the more disquieting, as she hung there trapped and immobile. It was just so…lifeless.

She'd shouted for help and AC a few more time, however again to no avail and so AE gave up and instead opted to listen, hoping to hear anyone really. Even Memory T-Cell would have been a welcomed sight.

For the time being however there was only the wind, along with the rustling of vines and leaves. Somewhere parts of the alveolus' construction creaked, but thankfully all remained stable as she could hear nothing break or collapse, which was a small comfort.

AE was more concerned with the possibility of germs entering this place, given the damage to the structural integrity. Could a bacterium find her before Hakkekkyū-san got to her?

Quickly the erythrocyte shook her head, dismissing the idea. No, he always came to save the day. Today would be no different.

More time passed and AE 3803 found that she could actually watch the strange vegetation slowly grow and spread before her eyes. Eventually, she lost sight to the adjacent rooms and the level below where she suspected AC to be trapped in, the dot of red not having moved until it had disappeared from view. Her arms and legs also started to burn a little, probably from being kept in such an awkward position, though that accompanying itching sensation was making it worse.

AE took a deep breath to calm herself. She would have to wait a little longer.


It sure was an invasion, but unlike any other 1146 had faced before. There wasn't really an enemy to fight, no battle, no outmanoeuvring or traps, just greenery that needed to be cut down. He and 4989 were working their way through the partially collapsed hallways of the alveolus AA 5100 had pointed them towards, their knives cutting effortless through the vines, but thanks to the sheer mass it was time-consuming work.

His friend was edgy and unusually quiet, hacking away at the fungus with harsh slashes. 1146 too felt unsettled, but knowing that him panicking would help neither Sekkekkyū nor AC he focused on the task at hand. There was a cinnamon-like smell in the air, which only got stronger the further they went in. It was as if someone had burned incense sticks, lots of them, though he was getting fuzzy-headed, making him all but certain that the plants surrounding them were responsible.

Sap dripped from the severed vines, the hyphae of the fungus, along with brown dust. When 1146 breathed some of it in, his suspicions about the scent were confirmed. The particles were too small to be the fungu's spores, the conidia, their effect making him think of mycotoxins instead. They really shouldn't linger any longer than necessary.

Mycotoxins

Toxic metabolites produced by fungi, harmful to other organisms or even capable of causing disease.

Some like the aflatoxins produced by members of the Aspergillus species are dangerous to humans, damaging cells or inhibiting their functions, while others can be used as antibiotics to combat bacterial infections, such as penicillin derived from the Penicillium mould.

Suddenly 4989 paused. "You see that?" he muttered, 1146 barely able to hear him.

"What is it?"

"These flowers…"

Then he saw them. Along some vines were indeed blossoms and to his surprised 1146 recognized them. They were the same that he'd seen in AC's hair. "4989…," he began, seeing how rigid his friend's body had become.

"I picked these and put them in her braid. I didn't realise they were from the fungus," 4989 began, voice shaking. "If I had, neither of them would be in danger right now, I could have warned the alveolar macrophages. What if I help spread this thing through the body?" It was possible; these flowers were the fungus' vesicles from which the spores grew and were released from, giving them the dandelion-like appearance.

"Then it's going to be dealt with swiftly, now that we know about it," 1146 told him. "And don't blame yourself; no one took notice of it for days. Look how far the fungus has spread. I didn't recognize them, when I saw them in AC's hair and the resident macrophages didn't realise the danger either. We all failed, it's not your fault."

They were all tired and overworked after the past few weeks, but he knew 4989 would blame himself regardless, if AC 4293 had gotten hurt…or worse. The fluffy haired neutrophil stared at the flowers for a few more moments, before he angrily hacked away at them.

Sap splashed across his uniform like a bacterium's cytoplasm, some hitting is face. "Arrgh!" 4989 hissed, quickly wiping it off. "Damn that stuff burns."

1146 examined some of the remaining flowers more closely and finally recognized what exact species they were dealing with. It actually was a common fungus, an opportunist the body was actually used to dealing with. If only the super infection hadn't depleted their numbers.

Aspergillus fumigatus

One of the most common moulds that can be found world wide. Spores are inhaled by most people on a daily basis, though they are disposed of by the immune system(primarily alveolar macrophages) in healthy people, thus they usually only pose a threat to people with an impaired immune system or a chronic disease. However, individuals recovering from severe respiratory infections like influenza are also at a higher risk or those with an allergy to the fungus.

A. fumigatus mostly infects the lung (pulmonary aspergillosis), but can spread into other regions (invasive aspergillosis). At least one of its toxins (gliotoxin) possesses immunosuppressive properties, including but not limited to the inhibition of macrophage phagocytosis or the induction of apoptosis in various cells, among others in phagocytes such as neutrophils.

1146 touched some of the sap with his gloved fingers. "Must be its haemolysin." As if the other mycotoxins weren't enough; he could still feel himself becoming more and more dazed the longer they were breathing in the stuff.

His friend's eyes widened in horror, suddenly looking wide awake. "The erythrocytes!" he exclaimed. "We have to hurry!"

Despite what had just happened 4989 started to redouble his efforts to cut a way through the fungus' hyphae, sap splashing, bits and pieces of leaves and flowers alike flying to all sides. 1146 however noticed that his friend's movements were lacking precision and given how he himself felt, he was certain that 4989 too was suffering from the effects of the mycotoxins.

It didn't take long until he heard his friend snarl in pain and 1146 was shocked to see cytoplasm drip to the floor. "Slow down," he cautioned 4989, shaking his head in hopes of ridding himself of the dizziness. "The mycotoxins…you'll only hurt yourself."

The other neutrophil turned to him, his knife bloody and a large cut across his free hand, which he had probably used to tear away a few more vines. He could plainly see the desperation in his eyes, his fear. "And the longer we stay, the more these toxins will mess with us. She's...they are in here somewhere. We can't stop."

"I wasn't suggesting that," 1146 said, stumbling towards him; his legs didn't quite seem to listen to him anymore. "But we won't be able to help them at all, if we accidentally kill ourselves."

Apoptosis

The programmed cell death or suicide of a cell, among others to eliminate antiquated or degenerated cells or for number control and tissue size. This can be caused by both internal as well as external signals, even certain toxins created by pathogens.

4989 looked like he was about to reply, but then closed his mouth, biting down on his lower lip. Whether he was shaking because of fear, frustration or the toxins 1146 couldn't tell. Eventually, he just turned around and proceeded to clear a path, slower now, if only a little.

1146 joined him, having to focus on every move he made. Of course he too feared for them, especially AE. He wouldn't forgive himself either if he let her down now.

Together they continued on in silence, occasionally hissing or snarling whenever they managed to hurt themselves or the vines proved especially resilient. Thankfully their injuries weren't too deep, at least for now. 1146's head still felt as if it was filled with fog. Was this what erythrocytes experienced, when they were exposed to alcohol?

The hallway continued on, with parts of the upper floor having already collapsed, blocking part of the way. One after the other they squeezed past what probably had once been a sturdy wall. 4989's knife brushed against it, creating a loud scratching noise that made 1146 flinch.

"Hello? Is someone there?"

1146 and 4989 looked at each other, the former suddenly feeling a lot more awake again. The voice had come from somewhere close by, clearly female, though it had been somewhat muffled.

"The door," 4989 panted, swaying a little as he walked, pointing towards the entry to a capillary, the door having been replaced by greenery. Invigorated by finally having found someone, the two neutrophils removed the hyphae as quickly as possible in their state.

As soon as the last vine was cut, they were greeted by a fresh breeze of air. It was like being doused with cool water, 1146's mind suddenly a lot clearer. Eagerly he took a deep breath, his mitochondria probably rejoicing. Looking around he found himself in what had once been a capillary for gas-exchange given the overgrown machines in a still standing corner. No wonder there was such a fresh breeze; outside-air had to be leaking through this close to the alveolus' surface and with the hyphae going through every wall.

Only a few steps away was an erythrocyte, wrapped up in several vines like in a net, evidently having fallen through the collapsed ceiling. Then he saw red hair.

"Sekkekkyū!" 1146 stormed over to the red blood cell and pushed the vines apart.

AE 3803 stared at him for a moment, only to tear up a second later, a smile spreading across her lips. "Hakkekkyū! 4989! You're here!"

Relieved he reached out for her, gently cupping her bruised cheek. "Are you alright?" It was as if a great weight had been lifted from his chest.

She nodded. "I'm fine, I'm fine, just a bit wrapped up. What is this thing?" Only then did she apparently see the cuts across his arms, the cytoplasm staining his uniform. "What happened to you?"

1146 just shook his head. "Scratches, never mind them. This is a fungus, a…"

"Where's AC?" 4989 jumped in, showing up next to 1146, understandably still agitated.

His appearance startled her momentarily, but then AE looked to her right where part of the floor was missing, though the view into the lower levels was mostly blocked by vegetation. "She went into another capillary just a minute before everything collapsed. I'm not sure, but I think I saw her down there. I lost sight when the greenery became too dense."

"Go," 1146 told his friend.

Without hesitation 4989 nodded and jumped down through the hole in the floor. They could hear him land and slide across what was probably a slanted piece of debris, disappearing deeper into the ruins.

"You think she's alright?" AE asked worriedly, looking after the other neutrophil.

"Hopefully she's trapped just like you and I'm sure 4989 will not rest until he had found her," 1146 assured her as he started to cut down the vines holding her. "The good thing is the fungus is only filtering the bloodstream for nutrients, not actively hunting erythrocytes."

"That's a relief."

He nodded. "Still, we should hurry. The others have probably already started to weed out the fungus' mycelium, that's what we call the entirety of these vine-like hyphae, which given how far the infiltration has come will only undermine the structural integrity further."

"Are you saying this entire alveolus could collapse?!" AE exclaimed alarmed.

"Possibly," the neutrophil admitted. "I'm going to get you out and then see if I can help 4989. Have you seen any other red blood cells around?"

She shook her head. "No, only the two of us."

"Good. The affected alveoli have already been blocked off. If we're lucky there aren't too many still trapped." There would of course be casualties, there always were, cells of the alveoli itself most notably, but the body as a whole would likely not notice anything.

"Sorry I got myself into another mess again," AE mumbled, her cheeks flushing red, looking away in shame.

1146 however gave her a comforting smile, lifting her chin up, so she would see it. "Don't worry about it. Let's focus on getting you out of it." No matter how many times she got into danger, he would gladly get her out. Duty or not, he loved her after all.


The vines were tight around her ankles, preventing her from moving her legs, while many more had wrapped themselves around the rest of her body. They kept her suspended well above the ground and pretty much upside down, her beret long lost, with only one of her arms having remained free.

AC had tried in vain to free herself, not having the strength to either tear the vines apart or even loosen them. She had no idea how long she'd been hanging within the ruined remains of the alveolus, all tangled up and bruised from her fall. She actually had been knocked out by her abrupt stop, awakening only when the wind had picked up. It hadn't stopped since, her 'cocoon' constantly swaying in a steady rhythm, the gusts coming in through a crack in the pneumocyte-wall created by the plant, exposing her to the outside air. Despite having been warmed up in the upper respiratory tract it was still cool to her, given that she was used to the body's core temperature, and AC was shivering, envying her male colleagues' long trousers.

To make her situation worse one of the vines had been snapped by her fall and sticky, burning sap was occasionally dropping onto her uniform, having already eaten a hole through her jacket. It wouldn't need much longer to get through the t-shirt as well, and she could already feel her membrane tingle uncomfortably.

AC tried to move a little again, just enough to get out of the way for the drops, when she suddenly heard something. It sounded almost like steps and someone sliding across the debris. There also was that familiar sound of something being slashed. Could it be a white blood cell? Finally!

With her hope sparked anew she was about to shout, when another thought occurred to her. What if it was a germ? With the alveolus damaged as it was, who knew how many bacteria could have entered and many of them had claws that could slash as well as any knife. AC had no desire to attract their attention.

She decided to remain quiet, refraining to listen instead. Having spent so much time around neutrophils she had a pretty good idea what sounds their equipment made when they moved and hoped that some distinct sound would tell her who or what actually made those noises.

Looking over to a wall of vines she stared at a few familiar blue flowers, the very same 4989 had put into her hair. It was obvious now that they belonged to whatever had invaded this lung, but evidently he hadn't recognized it. Well, apparently no one had recognized it, though it would surprise her if the immune cells weren't doing anything about it now.

The wall of vines began to shiver and not because of the wind, until it was swiftly cut apart with two clean strikes. AC held her breath, hoping it wasn't a germ.

It wasn't, instead she looked at a stained, white uniform, a little torn but undeniably belonging to a neutrophil, who stumbled through the opening he'd created. Finally, he lifted his head and spotted her as well.

"AC!"

"Hachikyu-kun!" Her haemoglobin jumped in her chest when she saw him running towards her, looking perhaps even more relieved than she felt, if that was possible. He was here, he'd made it!

"AC!" He grasped her free hand, the only thing he could reach due to her still being suspended and she noticed that he seemed to be close to tears as well. "I found you. Thank goodness I found you. Are you hurt?"

She shook her head, smiling at him, fighting to keep herself from crying, her fingers eagerly intertwining with his. "A bit bruised, but otherwise I'm fine. I got tangled up in the vines, and they thankfully slowed my fall." Knocked out was after all still better than getting squashed by impact.

He actually looked worse with his ripped uniform and a few nasty looking cuts along his arms. Strange; she hadn't seen any thorns or other sharp edges. Had he encountered germs on his way here?

"I'll get you out," he promised confidently, despite his still shimmering eyes . "These are the hyphae of a fungus that has infected this lung," 4989 explained as he began to climb up another vine in order to reach those trapping her. "Can't believe we let them spread this much."

"Is it dangerous?" She was surrounded by the devastation it had caused here, but could it threaten the body as a whole?

4989 started to cut, careful not to accidently hit her and as she noticed mindful not to let the sap near her either. "Well, most fungi only cause problems if the immune system is compromised."

AC's eyes widened. "The super infection." Those weeks of nonstop fighting had left the immunes system understaffed and the body exhausted. It sometimes felt that most neutrophils she saw nowadays were band cells just out of the bone marrow.

"That's our best guess," he confirmed before she saw him furrow his brow. "Should have recognized the flowers," 4989 growled, clearly scolding himself.

"You've ever seen this fungus?"

His movements slowed for a second. "No, not in this state anyway," he admitted. "I've see a few spores, which the alveolar macrophages usually took care of before they could take root, never the mycelium with fully blooming vesicles. But new flowers don't pop up for no reason. Stupid."

"Hey, even the macrophages missed them," she reminded him; only more evidence of how depleted the immune system still was. In any case AC wasn't going to blame him. He was here; that was all that mattered to her.

"Well, they've noticed now."

As if someone or something had heard him, the room suddenly shook and a few vines along the pneumocytes snapped, causing parts of the wall to break off. A fresh gust of cool wind washed over them, stronger than any other before.

"What was that?" AC asked alarmed, now able to look outside into near complete darkness. It was more than just a little unsettling and she shivered for a different reason than the cold. She wanted nothing more than to take his hand again.

"They're cutting down the fungus, before it can keep spreading," explained 4989, now quickening his pace. Her other arm was already able to move again, and she could feel the vines around her legs loosen up. Just to be safe AC held on to a few vines, so she wouldn't immediately fall once she was free. "Right now just a handful of alveoli are affected, so we can still keep it contained."

"I'm guessing they don't know we're still here?"

"Or that the pathogen is the only thing holding this particular area together. Don't worry; I'll have you out in a second," he promised, reaching for the last bundle. "Almost."

Just when his knife touched the vines, the area shook anew, much more violently than before. This time the room they were in couldn't take it. The outer wall broke away completely, the floor disappeared into the abyss as many of the vines that had infiltrated them turned brown and snapped. They had simply died off, probably having been cut off at some other part far away by some leucocytes. Including those still holding AC.

For the second time she fell, wind howling around her like some angry beast, sweeping away the last of the flowers in her hair.

This time there was nothing but darkness beneath her.

"AHHH!"

A hand grabbed her by the wrist, grip firm as a vice. "I've got you!"


Author's Note:

Yes, I'm evil for doing another cliff-hanger, sorry, but this chapter was about to get 10 000 words long, maybe a bit much all at once. The good news is that Part 3 is all but done and should be out next week.