[23] Tears of dismay

[flenceburgsbest]

Ah, what a shame, nothing happened! All the quarantine granted me was the best sleep I'd ever had in months. Whatever illness the corpse held did not pass on to me. I did find a little more elaboration on the disease, and would enjoy answering any further questions from the curious

Comments

[live_ringer]

If you're up for fielding questions, then I'm happy to ask them.

So what exactly did this disease do to the ant? I know you said it's outer shell seemed much softer than the norm.

[flenceburgsbest]

Upon further poking with my finer equipment, I've learned that the ailment upon this creature suppressed certain genes, including that which would have allowed it to grow a harder exoskeleton during development.

Its weakened immunities leave it vulnerable to a wealth of ailments. This scout received the short end of the stick, it seems: If the injuries hadn't killed it, something as simple as a fungal infection or as complicated as some form of cancer easily would have. The awful smell this corpse created was due to burst cysts I'd found within one or two of its organs, crushed when the ant itself met its dire fate.

[live_ringer]

Huh.

If its growth was stunted during development, do you think this disease was hereditary or simply stuck with it for a while? And even if it's not contagious to humanoids, do you know if it would be possible that it could spread to the other ants?

[flenceburgsbest]

This destruction to its genes was hereditary. An ant only lives for a few weeks, so a queen who lives for nearly a decade or more must continue to breed and maintain her numbers...

If this ailment functions like some other genetic mutations, there will be others in this year's colony with this same problem. However, considering the mass sterility of the creatures and people within Edensphere, I cannot truly determine if the ants were birthed by a queen.

...Or if one existed in the first place.

[awokentospring]

I am glad to see you are quite well, Lezard-san! I do not think of it as a shame! It is an opportunity!

[flenceburgsbest]

An opportunity for what, I wonder?

[awokentospring]

A counterattack! If we are immune to whatever disease that is killings the ants, then we should have no difficulties exterminating them and keeping them from harming things like they have done in the past.

[felinemystique]

If the ants are diseased, does that mean we won't be able to use them to make anti-venom as we have in the past?

[flenceburgsbest]

Likely not. Their repression and potential illnesses infecting their systems may very well affect their venom production, and what could be produced would not be as potent.

Any anti-venom that could be made would more than likely be useless. I have managed to keep some of last year's stock on hand, but unless this year's number of bites and stings is perhaps half of last year, there will not be enough to treat every one.

[felinemystique]

I see. In that case, we may want to evacuate non-combatants and the clinic's patients, at the very least.

[flenceburgsbest]

Shall I mobilize now or wait for more official word?

>)

[snowburned]

Are you sure you need it, Lezard? You're free to move about the sphere as you like now, after all.

Written quickly

[flenceburgsbest]

Of course I've no need for it, but I suppose I ought to see the story to its conclusion lest I formulate my own.

"Rocks fall, everyone dies" can only go so far.

Just as planned

[snowburned]

Are you sure? I'm sure you have a lot of responsibilities to cope with right now. I would hate to distract you from your duties.

[flenceburgsbest]

[Some hesitation here.]

I have an inkling you might know the outcome.

[crownofsnow]

[After reading everything.]

Glad to know you're alright, boss.

[A pause.]

Could the problem with the ants be Tree related? Something they all ate or is it all just birth defects?