NOTE1: I will keep this as a constant reminder for people who enjoy this story – you will also like "Our Lady's Ridge" by "lamina terminalis", a Battlestar Galactica 2003 story.

NOTE2: The update came late, but I am on my track to a weekly schedule. Apologies for any palpitations this might have caused for those of you who are waiting for an update here like I am waiting for updates on "Freedom's Ring" by DFMRCV.

Chapter 16: Dissonance III

Thessia, Cradle Valley

Expedition Camp, 2130

A group of four Asari was making its way to Amelia's shuttle. Fanit was leading Nyxeris, Lina, and the attached medic to the team. Their hurried steps attracted curious looks from the people in their path.

"Tell me, what happened?" the medic inquired. She carried a medical kit slung over her shoulder.

"I don't know," Fanit admitted. "I was passing by Doctor T'Soni's quarters when Amelia walked out. She had blood on her shirt, coming from her nose. She dismissed it as nothing special. Said she had to deal with it in her youth," she spoke quickly. "She walked maybe a few meters before she lost her balance and fell against that tree-" she pointed near Liara's quarters.

"You said she was bleeding when she walked out of Liara's quarters," Lina noted. "Did you observe signs of an altercation? Physical conflict between the two?"

Fanit almost stopped mid-step. The medic almost bumped into her from behind. "I do not know. I don't think so. Liara never struck me as the one to resort to violence."

Nyxeris supported Fanit. "Amelia would have to jump to violence first. Liara would not initiate violence."

"Coercion?"

Lina's speculation put uncomfortable expressions on everyone else's face. She noticed it when she glanced over.

"Anyway, we are here," the medic said. They stopped in front of Amelia's door. The medic produced a set of gloves and face masks. "Put these on."

Fanit and Nyxeris shared an apprehensive look as they realized what they could be dealing with. Lina, on the other hand, seemed at a loss. "What has you concerned?" she inquired.

"We could be dealing with something contagious," the medic said. "If your generous sponsor is showing the same symptoms as the young doctor... we must consider the possibility. Both have been present on site, and in close contact with each other."

"Actually, it can be worse," Nyxeris added. "It could be an ancient virus or bacteria that's been entombed with the skeletons for the past 90,000 years. And we could have unleashed it again on the world."

Lina seemed unimpressed. "Why are more of us not falling ill with similar symptoms? I have limited medical education, but I am not a moron. If this thing was contagious I think we'd see more cases. There are people who've been exposed far longer than Ear'Hart with no symptoms."

"Are you willing to take that risk?" the medic inquired as she finished putting on the gloves, mask already on. "I am no epidemiologist. I am a general medic. I can only evaluate and try to treat the symptoms. Most of us could be immune to whatever is the cause of it. If this virus or bacteria been around for more than 90,000 years in a place where our ancestors lived... it could explain why most of us are not affected by it. Only Liara T'Soni and Amelia Ear'Hart. But other species – Turian, Salarian, Elcor? We might carry it and pass it on until you see entire alien communities die in droves."

They all developed gloomy looks. But Lina overshadowed the other three with her grim expression. Lina took the lead and walked to a feet from the door. It did not swoosh open.

"Amelia, please let us in!" Her request went unheeded for a few seconds. Lina listened for any noise from inside, but none came. "Amelia, open up! Or I shut this whole dig site down next thing in the morning!"

It was only after the threat that Lina heard footsteps from the other side. They were slow. And accompanied by something else. A small surface hitting against the floor.

"I am fine," came a muffled response. "I told Fanit, it's a childhood condition. I need to rest it away."

The medic threw her weight behind Lina. "This could be contagious. An old pathogen brought back by the excavation. We cannot ignore this possibility!"

"Been dealing with this long before we met. Nothing contagious about my condition."

"We are not taking the risk. I must see you," the medic pressed.

"IF this is really contagious, then you would be stuck in here with me."

Lina had had enough. "Amelia, open up! We're calling an ambulance and raising it with infectious diseases. Or my first report calls for shut down and legal action."

Lina listened for any activity. She heard Amelia walk from the door, to the right side. She stayed there for a few seconds. Then, she slowly made her way back to the door. It opened partially. Half of Amelia's face was visible. "Don't say I did not warn you you're wasting your time..."

"Goddess!" the medic exclaimed. Lina visibly flinched. Nyxeris and Fanit fared better, having seen similar features when Liara was transported to the hospital.

Lina evaluated her physical capabilities with a single take from head to toe. She was leaning against a walking cane. Both nostrils were stuffed with textile handkerchiefs, soaked blue with blood at the base of the nose. The white of her eyes was bloodshot, taking a blue hue. Furthermore, her already pale complexion was exaggerated. It looked like more blood than normal was being rushed to the head, leaving her arms and neck white enough to warrant further medical investigations.

"I will be fine in an hour or two," she argued back. Voice was muffled further by the stuffed nose. "Stop wasting your time and my time. I just need to rest. Not my first wild ride."

"What wild ride?" questioned Lina. Amelia's blank stare only deepened the frown she was already developing.

"We have a developing situation on our hands, ladies," the medic said. "You look horrible. Please move away from the door and sit down. Let me examine you. Maybe I can help you."

Amelia moved away with a grunt. The door opened fully. The medic went in first. Lina turned on her heels and pointed a finger at Nyxeris and Fanit. "You two stay here. Keep the people from straying too close. And call in an ambulance. And notify Edoshi Infectious Diseases. Better a short quarantine than a galaxy-wide pandemic."

Nyxeris and Fanit nodded. Lina went inside Amelia's shuttle. The left side had a cramped bathroom, cooking area and fridge. The right side was dedicated for a bed, a small wardrobe and a tiny nightstand. A door to the cockpit was also on the far wall.

Amelia sat on her bed, cane still in her right hand. The medic began her examination. Lina noticed a small syringe sticking out of under the pillow. Amelia was focused on the medic's instructions.

"How is she?" Lina asked. "Looks very bad if you ask me."

"Heartbeat is a bit high for my liking," she explained her findings. Amelia focused her attention on the medic. Lina discreetly reached for the syringe and analyzed it. "Neck veins are swollen. Too much blood going to the brain. Body temperature is higher than normal in the head area, lower further down the limbs. Breathing is more intense, maybe your lungs are trying to cope with the oxygen required to pump up there." The medic shifts her attention to her exposed forearm. She put pressure above the elbow to make the veins pop. "Left arm veins look like they've contracted." She checked the right arm. "Same on the right side."

Lina held the syringe up. "Kiron," she read the label in big letters. "What is this? Substance abuse?" she asked with an accusatory look at Amelia. "Have a look at it, doctor."

The medic took the syringe and read the details for a few seconds before saying "No, this is no substance abuse. It's medicine. It is a combination of active elements to stabilize a person in pain, sleeping drugs and..." she looks up at Amelia, "what is that last active element used for?"

The businesswoman reaches out and takes the syringe from the medic's hand. "That is Asclepius Medical Network property you are asking about there."

"I haven't seen this product on the pharmaceutical market," the medic noted.

"We don't have it yet on the market."

Lina exchanged quick looks with the medic. The latter flashed incredulity. Lina was also not buying Amelia's explanation. "You are testing a new product? The highest ranking person of the entire Minerva Group?"

"I am not testing," Amelia clarified and locked eyes with Lina. "It's fully developed."

They spent a few seconds in silence. The medic stared at the bed, Lina and Amelia were engaged in a staring contest.

"Ambulance is on its way with Serrice General Hospital Infectious Diseases unit!" they heard Nyxeris shout from outside.

"No one leaves this shuttle," Lina instructed. "Everyone gets checked out. The interior is likely contaminated. Everything inside here will be subject to decontamination and analysis. Whatever it is you two- " she pointed at Amelia and hinted at Liara, "are suffering from does not spread. We do this safely or we don't do anything at all."

Amelia forced a smile on her face. Her breathing slowed down and become louder. Then, stood up and walked to the cockpit. She opened the door, reached inside, and retrieved a rectangular gadget. The door closed and a red text covered the top of the door. ALL SYSTEMS OFFLINE.

Amelia flipped the gadget, pressed on a button mounted in the side, and it turned on. She tapped at the display for a minute. When she was finished, she walked to the wardrobe, supported by the cane. "Make yourselves comfortable on the bed," she invited the other two. Amelia opened the drawer, retrieved a small box from underneath a stack of clothes, and walked to the cockpit with the box. She leaned on the cane as she turned to face her two compatriots in suffering. Her eyes were sleepy. "Knock hard on the door if you need anything. Shuttle's completely sealed off. Nobody comes in or walks out until I wake up."

She shut herself in. The ALL SYSTEMS OFFLINE remained. Lina squared her jaw in frustration.

Thessia, Republic of Armali

Asari Military Intelligence, 2130

Ireka thought her morning would not be any different than usual. She expected Lina to take a while before she has anything major to report. Instead, her first update was already startling. Ireka did not feel thermal discomfort on her tongue from the hot tea. She was too focused reading the report. For the third time.

Not willing to read it for the fourth time, she gave Lina a call. Lina barely picked up the call before Ireka spoke.

"Lina, what the hell!?"

"What? I barely managed to get away from the doctors and had maybe one hour of sleep in the last day."

"She is there? At the dig site? The Geth developed plasma weapons?" Questions poured out of Ireka's incredulous voice. "Aliens older than the Protheans? An ancient pathogen on the loose? What is going on there!? Are you pulling jokes, or what?"

"Listen, Ireka! Something strange was discovered here. I took part in a briefing. I've been talking to the staff. They are convinced they discovered the remnants of aliens who are ninety thousand years old. We discovered pieces of technology that could advance ballistic defense and neural interfacing to a new level. Maybe more. Amelia Ear'Hart is in on this. Pass the intelligence on Geth plasma weapons up the chain. We are focusing on Ear'Hart."

Ireka caressed a developing headache. It was too early for one. "That witch will fire us before the day is over if I bring this to her."

"Give her the part about the Geth. That will keep her happy. Don't mention Ear'Hart yet."

Ireka produced a very undignified groan. "Alright. I can do that. What is this about a quarantine for a... sleeper pathogen?"

"The medic on hand suggested it could be something contagious. The dig site is under quarantine and I used this chance to find out more about Ear'Hart. We have her hospitalized at the Serrice General Hospital. The rest of us are quarantined at the site. Use this moment to follow up on Ear'Hart's medical files. I've opened an angle. Follow up on it."

"Alright! Alright!" Ireka changed her tone to sound more placating. "I will follow up on it. I will also look into Liara T'Soni's file. If their symptoms are similar... it could help us understand what her condition is. And open another angle."

"She said she's been dealing with her condition since childhood. She is definitely older than 100. In all this time she must have left a trail in some hospitals. I'll start skimming the extranet while quarantined."

"You mentioned she's treating herself with custom medication. Do you think we can follow up on it to find out more?"

"No. Asked multiple doctors about it. Kiron. None ever heard of it. Something Ear'Hart's company developed and tested. It's made with an active element named kiron, like the product. There must have been tests if it is fully developed. Investigate if Asclepius conducted any tests for unreleased drugs. We will interview the test subjects and find out more."

"Can't we just reach out to whatever institution monitors and regulates development of medicine?"

"Try. But don't raise your hopes. Any new product must be forwarded for review before sale on the wider market. I got the feeling it was for her own use. She had it on hand and spirited the entire stock to her cockpit. It's still there, locked in."

Ireka hummed as she made a mental list of the tasks. "I will trade the Geth intel for dedicated analysis Vis and data mining Vis for our team. We're going to need them to sift through millions of medical records... Anyway, how is the young doctor taking the surprise quarantine?"

"Well... that could have gone better. I think Ear'Hart was onto something when she said hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

Ireka laughed. "When did she say that?"

"I like to think she said it about T'Soni when she stormed out of her quarters. Just as she was being carried away in a hazmat outside of her shuttle."

A STORY BROUGHT TO YOU BY Apollonir