The Plum Island Conspiracy — Part 3
Series — Samuel meets Dr. Lockwood, a researcher who had been raising concerns about a possible containment breach for months.
Watching someone else pass through decontamination was unpleasant in its own right. There’s something incredibly demoralizing about being hosed down, stripped, and roughly scrubbed to the point of blistering, even if it is in your own interest – Samuel decided. He watched from the glass sealed door near the foot of the stairs. Against the rest of the house, the starkly modern barrier seemed ridiculous.
The object the man had been carrying was, he insisted, too important to incinerate. A HAZMAT guard had placed it through the UV scanner to kill off any living cells that may have hitchhiked in. As soon as the decontamination was finished, Jeffry opened a hatch near the door. This was the clean side of the pass through, for outside objects. Inside was a solitary yellow envelope, adequately sized to hold legal-sized papers without bending them. It was thick, and a bit discolored from this man’s apparent trek through the rain and mud.
Jeffry took it, and bent back the brass fasteners that were holding it closed. He slid out thick stack of papers within, and examined each one carefully. After inspecting about half the stack, he handed the documents to Samuel.
“I have no idea what I’m looking at, see if you can figure it out.”
Samuel eagerly took the papers and began to thumb through them. Most of the sheets were hand drawn notes and diagrams beyond his comprehension. But tucked between two pages of lazy cursive he found the first sheet he make sense of. It was a memo.
C
June 18th, 2011
Thank you for your message regarding the OV-92 research project. I understand your team has never had to deal with this particular variety of live specimen before, but the nature of the virus precludes study of a culture sample. Previous observation indicates an unparalleled viral mutation rate. Observers in the field were initially unsure they were actually documenting the same virus.
It is with regret I inform you in the opinion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk associated with housing an infected OV-92 animal is far outweighed by the necessity of vaccine development. I’m sure your team will be able to complete your research expediently and safely.
Sincerely,
Dr. Victor Blake
Samuel turned the page to find another memo, apparently in reply:
C
June 20th, 2011
Dr. Blake,
In accordance with your orders, we have continued careful study of the +OV-92 specimen. Similar to the other reports from the Omaha site – before the afflicted herd was immolated – this deer exhibits symptoms of severe cerebral hemorrhaging. This has resulted in bleeding about the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Although in the blood has putrefied into a viscous yet apparently never-clotting form.
Through careful study of blood samples we have discovered an unrelated phenomenon. We attempted to extract blood from a vein to see if it matched the consistency of the fluid surrounding the eyes and ears. On our second day of testing, a fellow researcher discovered that the small needle prick hole did not close, although it was bandaged tightly. I am currently exploring the theory this infected blood is incapable of clotting, or does so at a drastically reduced rate.
Meantime, our studies of the viral genetic material have proved frustrating. Each drawn sample has vastly different DNA. Comparing a day’s worth of OV-92 samples would be akin to a decade’s worth of Influenza mutations. We’re working to find a pattern, and will report back with news.
Sincerely,
Lockwood’s reply was unanswered. The next report was sent a week later – although it would be impossible to tell if some documents had been omitted.
C
June27th, 2011
Dr. Blake,
Further examination of the +OV-92 blood confirms my previous theory. Study of blood samples reveled an immeasurably low platelet count. We have also discovered significant numbers of new, anomalous cells in the blood. On a whim, Dr. Walters suggested introducing collagen to a sample of the unknown cells. Remarkably, the collagen seemed to have an activating effect, similar to platelets. Upon activation, the anomalous cells break apart into smaller viral cells, with greatly varying genetic sequences.
It appears this is the step during which the mutation occurs. I am inclined to pose a new hypothesis: the activation results in a deliberate partial scrambling of genetic material. The change acts to camouflage OV-92, making it nearly impossible to immunize against. In nature, this mechanism would also decrease the odds of natural immunity, and allow for repeat infections in surviving organisms.
However, this prediction is at odds with another finding: each sample taken from within the specimen’s body is identical. Yet if it were infected with multiple different strands, some variety would surely be present. Dr. Walters theorizes one dominant strain wins out, and causes the host to produce the anomalous cells in lieu of platelets. We will be taking a bone marrow sample to corroborate.
On a tangential note – we are attaching a requisition for additional hermetically seal-able containers. We understand the CDC has yet to draft protocol for disposal of infected blood. While these procedures are crafted, the +OV-92 specimen is producing blood at an alarming rate – and frankly we are running out of places to safely store it. We ask you address this matter with all deliberate haste.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marcus Lockwood
Samuel read the letter twice. His understanding of the subject matter was certainly limited, but he was able to grasp the bulk of the content. What kind of virus was complex enough to camouflage itself to increase the chance of infection? He read on, finally finding another reply from the apparent supervisor of the research project.
C
July 2nd, 2011
Dr. Lockwood,
I have received your requisition and will ensure more hermetically sealable containers are delivered to the island, post-haste. We have been able to replicate some of your results on a partial culture, taken from the original infected herd, before its immolation.
I am particularly interested in these anomalous cells present in +OV-92 blood, as they are absent in our samples. This is likely as a result of the activation effect you and Dr. Walters documented. If your hypothesis regarding the bone marrow is correct, we believe there is a new avenue toward creating a cure.
If – as you posed – the variation was a form of immunity-resistant cloaking, the base DNA responsible should be consistent between hosts. The CDC is convinced comparing marrow samples from at least two infected animals will allow you to isolate the critical segment of viral material, and lay the paving stones for a vaccine based on genetic editing and markers.
Pending the results of the marrow tests, I have made preparations to have another suitable specimen sent to Plum Island for infection and testing.
Sincerely,
Dr. Victor Blake
Samuel turned the page, and found another sheet of handwritten notes and calculations. He feverishly thumbed through, searching for more decipherable written correspondence. When he neared the final quarter of the file, he gasped.
“What is it?” Jeffry demanded.
“Pictures,” Samuel whispered.
He holds out the glossy print so his fellow guard can look too.
The first image showed an emaciated deer with matted fur, surrounded by men in HAZMAT suits. The animal was restrained. The creature’s eyes were black, glassy, and bordered by an unceasing trickle of ichor. A similar substance leaked from the deer’s twitching ears. One man was collecting the blood pooling at the base of the animal’s eyes, using what looked like a more scientific version of a common turkey baster.
Next in the pile was a photographic reproduction of the virus viewed under a microscope. There were a few similar images, featuring what Samuel could only guess was an aforementioned “anomalous cell.”
“We need to speak with this man,” Samuel urged.
Jeffry wrapped the glass with his knuckle, getting the attention of a HAZMAT worker. “Get him a microphone,” he mouthed, pointing at the freshly decontaminated, partially dressed scientist.
Obediently, one of the yellow-suited men retrieved a headset for the newcomer. The man nodded politely, took the headset, and walked over to the glass wall. He overturned one of the empty plastic bins in the decontamination shower, and made it into a stool. Finally the scientist connected the headset to a port along the wall, above the UV cleaning station.
“Hello, I’m guessing you have some questions.”
Next episode coming soon
Thank You for Reading!
This post is part of the Plum Island Novella, following journalist Calvin Noble’s attempts to uncover a lab leak at a controversial research facility.
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If you don’t have the money for a paid subscription, telling a friend about me is pretty cool too. Getting your words in front of eyeballs is honestly harder than doing the actual writing and editing…
The plot thickens — unlike the blood lol