Dreadful childish lyric's come true

[knlwtchr 0]

Lieutenant Commander Andrea Knlwtchr watched as Dr.'s Entek and Porter moved towards the science team to help in surveying the biodome. She reflected upon the opposition Mr. Entek had expressed and turned his words over in her head. Indeed, his concerns were well warranted. Several times the Chief Medical had expressed the same, but only to herself. Nor was the response any different.

 

Andrea realized as the two doctors walked away that she failed to concur (to an extent) with the new Cardassian doctor. She shrugged and made a mental note to renew this conversation later with an affirmation and an apology.

 

For now, though, Doctor Knlwtchr had a task of her own. While turning towards the area which the Jadarians had for the infirmed, she paused, took a deep breath, and took a step. Preliminary information about the plague was not incredibly detailed, but it reminded Andrea of an old Earth song. The old child's rhyme ran through her head as she advanced towards the closest tent:

 

'Ring around the Rosy’s'

 

A sure sign of a mutated legionellosis pertussis disease, the lesions are very similar to ringworm or a amphibius sucker mark. Normally on Earth, the disease created symptoms no more serious than pneumonia. However, this disease was mutated somehow by indigenous insects. More than likely, Andrea deduced, several months or possibly years of biting insects passing the disease from egg to egg actually evolved the disease into what it was currently. Innocently passed from human to human through the air and dangerously mutated through the insects.

 

'Pocket full of posies'

 

Indeed, the smell of decaying flesh was prevalent. The Chief Medical Officer pin-pointed the stench as she approached the tent. Unfortunately, it was unmistakable. Hundreds of years ago on Earth, those who were infected with the Black Plague actually carried posy pedals in their pockets with the belief the aroma would ward off the plague. Andrea noticed that just under the pungent smell of the ill was that of the fragrance that might be attributed to flowers or perfume.

 

'Ashes, ashes'

 

Andrea paused in her steps for a moment to listen. The faint sound coming from the tents confirmed the next line in the lyric. The “achoo, achoo” sound one makes when sneezing was actually changed in the lyric to “ashes, ashes”. Much to her chagrin, Andrea’s dread was becoming more and more confirmed with every step towards the tents. And she didn’t like it. Didn’t like it at all.

 

Then she stepped into the tent and took in the sight surrounding her. Men, women, and children alike were all laying in rows upon rows, allowing only that much room needed to walk by sideways. Small areas were set aside here and there for trays of medicine or storage of blankets and other medical supplies. Many were in the last stages of the disease, wracked with pneumonia and gasping for air. While a very small amount appeared confused, as if they had no idea who or where they were.

 

The sight absolutely horrified Andrea. But not only because the disease was in so many stages in one area and that there were so many, but also because she had originally mis-diagnosed it. The lack of information just wasn’t detailed enough for them to prepare for this. Dread washed over her as she realized the detox they had undergone was good, but not nearly good enough. Doctor Knlwtchr stood in horror as her heart sank. She shuddered as she recalled the last line of the lyric aloud:

 

"We all fall down."

Edited March 23, 2005 by knlwtchr