fifth arrow fired. ➵ video. ➵strange things did happen here, no stranger would it seem.

[empowers]

[ The illnesses. Katniss tries to trace them back to anything in recent memory. They seemed to start all at once… She poured over the details repeatedly, glad for the lack of Rue and Annie in the vicinity, glad to not be worrying about anyone but herself for the time being. But it still worried her.

The disease reminds her of the things they endured in the Arena. The fog, how acidic it was. Yes, this reminded her of some trick of the Gamemakers. It was this conclusion that led her to a dangerous realization, and she scrambled to turn on her bracelet.

The face that meets the network is almost frantic. Her eyes are a bit sunken from lack of sleep. She isn't one of the Wave 1 patients; her symptoms haven't yet begun to form… But she knows people are panicking, and she herself is having some pretty gruesome flashbacks to her kitchen table at home. She wishes Prim or her mother were here. They would know what to do. As it is, she's trying to get the information she thinks she's discovered to the masses before it's too late. Not that it isn't already too late. She remembers what it took to stop the worsening wounds from the acid fog, and as far as she knows, the lake isn't salt water. ]

The canisters! [ It's almost a shout at first, before she composes herself. Steely and strong like a statue. ] The disease came from what the dragon dropped.

[ She might sound insane, and she realizes it… So she decides to explain. Katniss leans forward and exposes the strange patches in her hair that are damaged and bare, from the acid fog. ] This came from something similar. The place I'm from, the government runs a fight to the death between kids from the different districts in our country, called the Hunger Games. You're pitted against twenty-three other kids… But there's more than just that. [ She swallows a little, steadying herself. The faces of people she had to kill, people she watched die, are flashing through her head… But she has to get through this, because she needs to be heard. ]

In the Games, the Gamemakers would put things -- awful things -- into the arena to attack the tributes. Fireballs, or – or sometimes things in the environment that were out of place… To make us sick, or hurt us, or kill us… I think the canisters are the source of the epidemic. It's just like in the Games. The timing is close enough to everyone getting sick… That's what it has to be. [ There's a sense of resolve as instinct kicks in. Survive. Do what we have to in order to survive. ] Nothing else makes sense.

If you aren't part of the effort to heal the sick, you should stay in safe areas where the disease hasn't reached yet. We don't know what else it might do, or how it might keep spreading. There's no telling how far this might spread, but if it's contained, we might have a better chance of making it through this.


(( ooc; This is the first milestone post [ position one ] for the biological warfare plot. ))

Comments

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

[Dragon? Cannisters? This is the first Watson's heard of this, although he's seen the clinic flooded with patients from midday.]

When you say 'cannisters,' what exactly do you mean? When did this take place?

[video]

[empowers]

There was -- a huge dragon, and he dropped at least one canister... I saw the one in Freya district, laying in the street. I heard people talking about a cloud of smoke coming from it. There's no other way this epidemic could have started like it has.

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

In Freya, you say. [This is really not good.] Judging from the sheer numbers of patients coming to my clinic from the Hel district, I'd say there was at least one other -- a moment if you would.

[There's a muffled conversation, Watson making enquiries of his staff and patients. The response is pretty unequivocal and the Doctor returns before long.]

All my patients say they saw a cannister fall to the ground that emitted a cloud of smoke on impact.

[video]

[empowers]

Sure -- I'll be here. [ She waits patiently, though nervous. When he returns, she purses her lips into a thin line. ]

Then that has to be it. There's no other explanation, is there?

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

No. I'd say that a piece of this grim puzzle has well and truly fallen into place.

My apologies -- Watson, at your service. I am a doctor with a clinic in the Heimdal district.

[ video ]

[pratentious]

[ Okay. So. The last time they spoke? Didn't go over so well, and really, Arthur's in no hurry to upset the girl yet again.

But he looks - well, sick. He's pale and wide-eyed with strain, a thin sheen of sweat across his face that does well to accentuate his pallor. His breathing is laboured as he makes an active effort to fight off the wave of pain and nausea that washes over him with each inhale, exhale, in, out. ]

You believe -

[ No, stop. His voice comes scratchy, rough, and he closes his eyes to swallow down another cough. They only make it worse. Shakes his head once. Tries again. Composed. He is a motherfucking future King, okay, he can be composed. ]

You believe this to be an attack, then? A plague carried to the city by a dragon? How is such a thing possible?

[ These aren't the right questions. Everything is possible. He's just - wow, he's dizzy. This makes no sense. ]

[ video ]

[empowers]

I think so. [ For all her grievances with the annoying blonde kid, she feels bad for how horrible he looks. He has to be sick. She's seen it on the faces of others, as well. ]

It's the only thing that makes sense. The Gamemakers did things like this all the time. Viruses created specifically to target through the air, clouds of smoke that were made of acid to dumb the nerves... [ The thought makes her shudder. ] It isn't the first time we've been attacked.

[ video ]

[pratentious]

[ kid? Wow, rude. He's twenty-three, thank you. Practically ancient in his time. (nottalking) ]

Conan and I supposed that this is another of the Fire King's assaults. We thought it had failed, we hadn't realised the smoke was the assault.

[ He just sounds tired, scrubbing a hand across his brow as though that might help him think more clearly. ]

There were three of them, but - the clouds have since dissipated. Is that it, then? Only those that were present for it will be afflicted?

[ video ]

[empowers]

[ Everyone is a kid to Katniss because no matter how much older you are than her she will always be older because of her WEAR AND TEAR.

Not really but.

Shut up Arfur no1likeu ]

I should have thought of it sooner. It's just like the Capitol's weapons against Tributes in the Games.

[ That, however... ]

We can't be sure. It might be a contagious disease, one that can pass from person to person. [ Her face and her voice grow darker. ]

It hasn't done enough damage for that to be it. At least, that's what I think. I could be wrong. But we should be prepared for worse.

[ video ]

[pratentious]

[ w/e w/e ms 'I was in the hungry games now no one can have any fun' ]

We shall see it done. A quarantine, perhaps -

[ The thought is cut off by a violent bout of coughing, but he'll duck out of sight of the camera for it. She has no need to witness this. When he returns, though, his face is flushed and his breath is raspier. ]

You've done well, I thank you. With any fortune, this should help us to - help us be -

[ What the Hell is he trying to say? ]

[samantha_grey]

Well, if that's the case, that would explain a few things. Nothing I exactly wanted to hear, of course, but there's nothing that can be done about that now. I think something got dropped in Hel District as well. I've been too busy ferrying supplies around and helping stock the hospital and clinic to think straight.

You sick?

[empowers]

I don't think any of us wanted to hear any reason behind it. I think we all just want to be healthy again. [ She nods. ] I've heard one dropped in Hel.

I'm not sick. I'm not sure how. I wasn't exposed to the cloud, though.

[samantha_grey]

I prefer to know the cause, but yeah. Healthy again would be ... lovely. It really would. I've heard Odin, Hel and Freya by now, so looks like they were dropped almost evenly spaced.

And good. Even if you're just lucky, don't knock it. Get a face mask and help out, even though I'm sure you're already doing that.

[empowers]

We know the cause. It was the clouds that came from the canisters. It's finding a cure that's important now.

I'm trying. [ But she's surprisingly squeamish. ]

[samantha_grey]

Good, I'm glad. I'm helping as much as I can with the stock the Elves brought with them. We just need people to hang tight and not over-work themselves.

[gate_of_babylon]

[Snorts his opinion of the Games] Children, in a battle that should be reserved for Heroic Spirits. How pathetic...but no matter.

It would not be the first time a 'god' has caused such a sickness, albeit this was a rather crude way to go about it. Typically, the bringer has no need of such vessels. [Sneers his opinion of that]

[empowers]

[ Wow, rude, you don't know her life!!! ] In a battle that should never have existed. [ Pathetic is one word. ] It's cruel.

That doesn't matter. This happened. We have to find a way to handle it as it is.

[gate_of_babylon]

[The Holy Grail War is serious business, you kids should be out enjoying life and saving the world with your best buddies. At the same time.] Unless it's for something that would grant an otherwise impossible miracle, it seems pointless. These Gamemakers are mere mongrels.

When the Bull of Heaven brought drought, killing it ended said drought. I don't suppose anyone has sighted that filthy legged snake lately? [Why yes, he called a dragon a mere snake with legs. Respect, what's that?]

[empowers]

[ That gets a little bit of a smile out of her. ] I don't disagree.

I haven't. I've had my bow at the ready since he first showed his face... But without a target, they aren't much use against anyone.

[video] let's pretend this happened when katniss first posted it. c:

[extraordinarymuse]

Katniss.

[It's been a while since she talked to her, and hearing Katniss recount her home, it makes her sick. Literally.

But she's in no place to talk to her about it. Or even mention it. There are other, more important, issues at hand.]

Have you been around them? The canisters, I mean. Or do you think you're okay? Not infected?

[video] i always assume that when people tag is that bad

[empowers]

I didn't touch them. I never got that close. I think I'll be fine. Just tired. [ There are people she has to look after. To protect. She can't afford to sleep much. ]

[video] i do that too so i hope not.

[extraordinarymuse]

[Kate actually gives a sigh of relief at that, nodding.]

You should still get some sleep. With this...whatever it is going around, your body will need all the help it can get.

[video] well that's why we're related

[empowers]

I can't. Not until I'm sure -- everyone's safe. Until I'm sure I'm not infected. I could be. I don't know for sure.

text;

[mishaps]

I wouldn't be surprised if this was all a game to them.

voice;

[empowers]

I've been wondering the same thing.