Chapter 3 The Plague

Summary: Astra fights with the strange sickness as it spreads.

Astra: The author doesn't own anything from the Ultraman or Godzilla franchises.

Astra was still unconscious as the sickness remained in his body. He was trying his hardest to fight the disease but it wasn't easy. His brother Leo remained at his side, watching him. After the blister explosion, he was worried what would happen next. The area where the blisters were was a dark red & squishy. Like grape jelly, there was also a rank odor similar to urine. Leo had cleaned himself of the contents of the blisters about an hour ago. However he hadn't shown any symptoms. Leo heard a soft groan coming from the hallway. He looked out the doorway & noticed a nurse acting weird. She leaned against the wall & began to breathe heavily. "Wait here brother, I'll be right back." Leo whispered. Leo left the room & approached the nurse. She was having trouble standing up, like she was weak in the knees. "Excuse me, are you alright?" Leo asked. "Leo?! Oh sorry for disturbing you, could you help me up." she panted. She sounded exhausted. "Yeah here, are you dizzy? Light headed?" Leo asked. "Just a bit-" she groaned. Then she violently spewed her Inner Light onto the floor. She collapsed to the floor & began to dry heave. Other nurses heard the noise & rushed to their sick ally. Even Mother of Ultra herself rushed to their aid. "The same symptoms that are effecting Astra..." noted one nurse. "Take her to the ICU stat! Put her under constant watch in case of a change in symptoms." MOU commanded. Speaking of, Leo returned to his brothers' side. Astra's condition hadn't changed.

With the sick nurse…

The poor girl was straining to breathe as she was put on the bed of the ICU. MOU used her healing again. The nurse caterwauled in pain as more Inner Light began to surge out her throat. "Your power isn't working yet again? What do we do now?" asked the doctor. "Keep her separate from the others. We don't want this spreading. Any change in condition you tell me first. I'm going to go get some answers." MOU commanded. The doctor nodded & MOU left the room to talk to Leo.

In Astra's room…

Astra's chest was still that weird dark red color. His condition remained mostly the same except his heart rate had increased only slightly. "Excuse me Leo, I need to speak with you." MOU said as she peaked her head into the doorway. "Um sure, Astra hasn't changed in condition. He's mostly the same right now. He's pretty quiet right now." Leo nodded. "I need to know where you 2 were when Astra got infected? That way we can hopefully reduce the risk of exposure to others." MOU asked. "Well, we got a distress call to where our planet L-77 used to be. After we came back from there Astra started showing signs of the sickness." Leo answered. "Thank you, hopefully Astra will recover from this." MOU nodded. She left the room & headed for the ICU.

2 days later…

The initially sick nurse was feeling worst. Her chest began to sprout those blisters & her skin color began to look pale. But over the past 2 days, she wasn't the only one. 5 more nurses & doctors had been infected. Mother of Ultra was completely baffled. Her powers either made the symptoms worst or they had no effect. Those who were sick were also placed in isolation. Whispers began to circulate about how MOU was useless right now, that there's going to be the first ever funeral, that this sickness doesn't even have a cure. The newly infected ones began to show the same signs as Astra. Speaking of Astra, he was actually getting better. He began to speak & his strength was thankfully coming back. "Leo, do you know if they know what's causing this?" Astra asked. "No, but I have bad news, 5 more staff members were infected." Leo said sadly. "Oh my! But, isn't MOU helping?" Astra asked. "Don't worry yourself ok? She's trying her hardest to help the others." Leo answered.

At Cosmos's house…

The peaceful Ultra was looking in every book he had to try to find out what this sickness was. Yesterday Mother of Ultra had assigned him with trying to discover something about the illness that would be beneficial to those infected. So far he found nothing. He sighed & put the book down on the coffee table. He had piles of books, magazines & even tablets that had various syndromes, diseases & symptoms yet the sickness matched none of them. Cosmos grabbed another book, lied on his couch & continued his near-endless search. Then he heard a knock on his door. "Hang on, I'm coming!" Cosmos said. He opened the door to find his friend & brother-in-arms Ultraman with a stack of books so tall it blocked part of his head. "Hi Cosmos, you wanted me to bring these?" Ultraman asked. "Yes, thank you. You can put them by my couch." Cosmos said. Ultraman had brought Cosmos some health magazines from Earth Mothra sent him a few months ago along with the history of diseases on Earth. "Do you really think these will help?" Ultraman asked. "I don't know honestly, I just hope that maybe there's a disease that is similar to the one effecting us." Cosmos said. "Do you need help looking through them?" Ultraman asked. "If you don't mind… I've read about nearly every disease, viral infection & fungal infection in the known galaxies. Yet I still haven't found a match for the one that's here." Cosmos said opening another book. "Believe me, this thing has everyone baffled. I overheard Xenon talking about how if this get any worst, Father of Ultra might put us all in quarantine." Ultraman said opening a magazine. "I hope it doesn't come to that." Cosmos said. "Also I heard Astra is almost fully recovered." Ultraman noted. "Whew! That's good but why is it that he's feeling ok while there are 5 people suffering with it?" Cosmos asked. "Make that 10, on my way here one of the news screens said another 5 staff members got infected." Ultraman said sadly. "Oh no!" Cosmos gasped.

1 week later…

Astra was able to walk, talk & was currently at 88% better. But the same couldn't be said for the rest of the hospital. By now, 4/5 of the staff were infected. The past few days saw the illness spread like peanut butter. The ICU was at max capacity & that helped spread the sickness. Because of this, the hospital was eerily quiet except for the occasional groan & cry of agony. "Astra are you sure you feel ok?" Leo asked. "Yes Leo, I'm just a little weak & stiff from lying here for so long. Was MOU able to diagnose me?" Astra asked. "Unfortunately, no. And your not alone, nearly the whole staff is infected & MOU is losing hope fast." Leo said. "What?!" Astra asked in shock. "That's why it's so quiet." Leo said sadly. "Have hope brother, maybe there's still a chance." Astra said. Then Gaia burst into the room. "Gaia, what's wrong?" Astra asked. "You 2 need to get out of here, now!" Gaia said. "What's wrong?" Leo asked. "Father of Ultra is putting this place under quarantine! He said that those who aren't sick need to get out to prevent further infection. I remembered that you were feeling better so I rushed to get the news to you." Gaia explained. "This is worst than I thought. Help me out of bed Leo." Astra said. Leo helped his little brother off of the bed & the 3 left the infected hospital. "Did FOU say how long this quarantine would last?" Leo asked. "Not sure, also he's calling all Ultra Brothers in for an emergency meeting. Except you 2, just in case Astra relapses." Gaia explained. They landed outside the L-77 beings' house. Except it was taped up with 'Do not enter' signs posted outside.

"Oh no!" Leo said. "We can't go back inside?" Astra asked. "Don't ask me, it was FOU's idea. You 2 can stay with me & Dyna if you want." Gaia suggested. "What do you think Astra- You ok?" Leo asked. Astra was on his knees with his head facing the ground. "Astra what's wrong?" Gaia asked. "Nothing, I just felt a little dizzy spell. It's been nearly 2 weeks since I was vertical. I'm ok," Astra said getting to his feet. "Thank goodness, but would you like to stay with Gaia & Dyna?" Leo asked. "No, we'd crowd the place. How about we stay with Zero? Or if not him, let's head to a remote area." Astra asked. "Remote area? I hate to say it but it's a good call" Leo said reluctantly. "Yeah, it's better to be safe than sorry. But get back to full strength soon Astra!" Gaia said as he flew away. "I hope this goes away soon." Astra sighed. "Me too" Leo said. Gaia flew to the Space Academy where his fellow Ultra Brothers were all gathered in a large auditorium. "Have Leo & Astra been moved?" Ultraseven asked. "Yes sir, they've opted to move to a remote location." Gaia nodded. "With that the meeting can begin," Zoffy said. FOU walked out infront of the large group. "Ultra Brothers, I'm going to get straight to the point since there isn't much time. As you know about 9 'days' ago, Ultraman Astra returned with his brother Leo here after leaving to answer a distress call. Upon his return Astra started showing symptoms of some strange sickness that has left one of our best hospitals in quarantine. Even my own wife Marie was unable to heal the damage. Astra has since recovered from the sickness & will be isolating himself & his brother to prevent re-infection. I order none of you to try to go see them until this is stopped." FOU stated. The crowd began to murmur. "As of right now I am forbidding everyone from going near not only the hospital, but Astra, Leo & what remained of L-77. We are now on lockdown!" FOU explained. The crowd gasped in shock. "This means that we are for the time being, unable to do our solemn duty of protecting the galaxy. Until we can protect our selves from this plague, we cannot protect others." FOU continued. "Does that mean we can't leave the planet?" Agul asked. "Exactly that," FOU nodded. "How can we protect ourselves from the sickness?" Orb asked. "Well, that's the thing, we don't know that at the moment." FOU said quietly. The Ultra Brothers began to murmur. "As of right now we don't even know how Astra got infected or how it spreads." Zoffy said in a regretful voice. "Cosmos has yet to report any findings on what this is." Xenon sighed sadly. "So how can we protect ourselves if we don't even know how it's spread?" Ginga asked. "For all we know, one of us could be in-" "Don't finish that statement Mebius!" Yullian snapped. "She's right, the last thing we need right now is a panic." Taro elaborated. "What should we do if we find ourselves infected?" Ace asked. "If you find yourself infected you must get away from others. Isolate yourself. Mentally report the symptoms & your condition. Despite the pain you cannot try to get help from your Brothers. MOU has already tried numerous attempts at healing the sick but they just make the disease stronger." Yullian instructed. "Do you think we'll survive this?" Beth asked. "We have hope & right now we need that more than ever. Meeting adjourned." FOU said confidently. The Ultra Brothers began to talk amongst themselves.

Astra: At least I'm almost better.

Leo: Thank goodness, now author the next time-(Astra elbows him) OW!

Astra: Remember, if you say the wrong thing around this author, you'll pay.

Leo: Oh, right. R & R.