Re: Bermuda Triangle, Atlantic Ocean
Chris was silent for a long moment before replying.
"Well we were part right about the Lazarus Virus playing a role in this. As I explained before, the mer-folk are immune to it. So ... it seems that the Cabal may have come up with a solution to that problem of theirs."
He indicated she should look at the readout and the slide, and when she did, the computer results might surprise her. He confirmed what she could see on them, before she could say anything.
"A parasitic creature that was infected with the Lazarus Virus got into their bodies somehow. The mer-folk had no immunity to this parasite, so it got past their immune systems. Once in there ... it literally usurped control of their brains, driving them insane and destroying their immune systems. Then the virus took over, flooding their bodies with it. They never had a chance against it. My guess is the Cabal created something they knew the mer-folk would never have seen before, with the specific intent to kill them off. In effect ... we're likely looking at biological genocide. Now we know what Sally saw ... she saw what happened to them, and the ensuing slaughter. Based on the extent of the damage and the high content of whatever traces the parasite left behind, infection was no more than twelve hours ago. Now we know a virus can't vanish that fast, not even Lazarus. So this leads me to think there was some kind of programmed 'erase' feature to the parasite. Once it died with the host ... it released something that began to destroy the virus itself, a cure of sorts I suppose, along with itself. I guess if we'd been another ten or so hours, we'd have found nothing."
He stopped, his knuckles crackling as he made a fist and slowly let it out, though Sarah could swear for a second she heard a primal growl start in his throat that was quickly cut off. When he was calm again, he spoke.
"The entire area has to be closed off until we're sure the virus, and the parasite are completely dead. Fortunately for us, we're protected from it as long as we don't remove these suits prior to reaching the surface. Of course ... before we do, we're going to have to completely vacuum and vent the tanks before making it to port, just to ensure we don't release it into the surface air. Where the hell is Zaleia, we need to bring her up to speed."
