RPC-475 - RPC Authority

RPC-475

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Registered Phenomena Code: 475

Containment Rating: Beta

Lethality Rating: Orange

Bio-Hazard

Mind-Control

Microscopic

Organic

Containment Protocols:

All instances of RPC-475 are to be stored in their egg form inside cryopreservation chambers. Internal chamber temperature must not exceed -50°C and have no less than 3 (three) redundancies applied in the cooling system. Personnel qualified in pathology are to monitor the chamber's external integrity on a biweekly basis. Should any leakage be discovered, maintaining personnel are to wear full protective gear prior to entering the containment chamber, and any person who entered the chamber in the past week is to be quarantined for at least 14 days.

Experimentation with and research of RPC-475, RPC-475-A, and RPC-475-B instances must be supervised by personnel with security clearance of Level 4 or higher. All RPC-475-A and RPC-475-B remains must be incinerated after experimentation and the research chamber sterilized with a 70% alcohol mixture. The creation of new RPC-475-A and RPC-475-B instances must have prior approval by the acting Director of Pathology on-site.

In the case of RPC-475 containment breach in populated areas, a 5km perimeter is to be established from the point of contact and no living being may cross the perimeter until confirmation of recontainment. Should a breakout occur, a permanent 50km quarantine zone is to be established, and anyone exhibiting the symptoms is to be terminated immediately. If possible, all avian instances within the perimeter are to be exterminated; this applies to RPC-475-A breaches.

» Order 475/1A «

Any and all tools currently used in researching RPC-475, RPC-475-A, and RPC-475-B instances must be incinerated and/or destroyed, including protective gear. Any personnel who entered Research Chamber 019 from 02/10/2020 to 09/03/2022, and all personnel who made contact with Dr. Derrick Hewitt in the past 6 months are to be apprehended and quarantined, with their belongings thoroughly sterilized.

Research Chamber 019 is to be closed and thoroughly sterilized. Research and experimentation with RPC-475, RPC-475-A, and RPC-475-B instances are to be suspended until further notice. The eastern wing of Harmon Crossings Apartments, Las Vegas, NV is to be quarantined until further notice.

RPC-475 in its sporocyst form.

Description:

RPC-475 refers to a species of parasitic trematode worms from the Leucochloridium genus.¹ RPC-475-A refers to avian hosts of RPC-475, and RPC-475-B refers to the human (H. sapiens) hosts.

RPC-475 is identical to other parasitic flatworms from the Leucochloridium genus, with members of that genus using snails as their primary and intermediate host with birds acting as its paratenic host. The most defining trait of RPC-475's species, however, is that RPC-475 uses human hosts in place of snails.

The Leucochloridium flatworms utilize aggressive mimicry in the host snail to encourage consumption by insectivorous birds. This is done through the worms sexually maturing inside the snail's eyestalks as swollen broodsacs, giving the appearance of an insect larva such as a caterpillar. The flatworms then reproduce inside the bird's alimentary tract and distribute themselves through the bird's feces.

However, because of the absence of tentacular appendages in humans, RPC-475 instead induces abnormal bone growth that emerges from the skin. RPC-475 achieves this by hijacking the host's osteoblasts to induce artificial bone growth, then forming crude blood vessels near the surface. The host's blood can then circulate around the growth at will, giving the pulsating appearance similar to that of snail's broodsacs.

Cut surface of a humerus bone from an RPC-475-B. Note the early onset growth along the right side of the head and the shaft of the bone.

RPC-475 only exhibit symptoms in RPC-475-B instances, as they sexually mature and parasitize in the blood capillaries of the host. Comprehensive detail of symptoms observed in RPC-475-B instances can be referred to in the following attachment:

+ Observed Symptoms in RPC-475-B Instances

-hide Observed Symptoms in RPC-475-B Instances

Stage 0 (point of transmission): Upon consumption of feces from an RPC-475-A instance, RPC-475 eggs utilize their thick mucoid coating to adhere to the throat of a human host. After approximately 3 hours, the internal temperature of the human throat disintegrates the mucoid shell, allowing RPC-475 eggs to travel further down to the trachea. It is by now that the human host can be classified as an RPC-475-B instance.

Stage 1, 1-3 days after transmission: RPC-475 eggs hatch as miracidia inside the host's trachea, with the host's inhaling motion further pulling the miracidia deep into the lungs. The maturing miracidia may cause irritation in the alveoli, which can cause coughing. RPC-475 miracidia then use the circulatory system to distribute itself to the entire body of an RPC-475-B. Upon the third day of the infection, RPC-475 matures into sporocysts in the capillary vessels, near the epidermis. The sporocysts can range in size from approximately 1-1.5mm in diameter. This can cause blockage of blood flow, and ultimately rupture several capillaries, causing bruises in the affected areas.

Stage 2, 3-7 days after transmission: RPC-475 begins to release enzymes that hijack the host's osteoblasts, inducing an artificial bone growth similar to that of a bone tumor. If necessary, RPC-475 can also hijack the host's osteoclasts to facilitate growth. The osteoclasts take material from sources near the affected areas, which causes severe degradation of bone structure, and may induce osteoporosis. However, this is only done if there are no other sources of minerals, as in the case where RPC-475-B not receiving proper nutritional needs. On the seventh day of the infection, the abnormal bone growth begins to puncture the skin, which may cause bacterial infection.

Stage 3, 7-9 days after transmission: RPC-475 forms capillary vessels near the surface of the growths, rapidly transporting blood around and giving it a pulsating appearance. Meanwhile, RPC-475 sporocysts that have latched onto the liver release enzymes that decrease insulin production levels. This increases blood sugar levels and causes the host to secrete glucose-laden blood around open wounds which encourages consumption by birds through its sweet aroma.

Stage 4, 9-12 days after transmission: Leftover RPC-475 miracidia travels to the host's brain, latching onto its frontal and occipital lobes. Upon maturity into sporocysts, RPC-475 stimulates the amygdala and cerebellum whenever it detects ocular stimuli, causing a spike in dopamine production which causes the infected to seek open spaces and bright lights. RPC-475 at this stage has also been observed to propagate in the host's eyes, causing red pulsating broodsacs.²

Stage 5, 12-15 days after transmission: RPC-475 gains total control of the host's limbic system; RPC-475-B loses all voluntary motor functions and instead acts entirely on the stimulation by RPC-475 sporocysts. RPC-475 also eliminates the function of the brain non-essential to regulating movement, which severely degrades the host's cognitive function. This is considered a last-ditch effort, as a total loss of brain control means loss of the host's perseverance instinct which risks death for both RPC-475-B and RPC-475. One case of an RPC-475-B surviving 45 days after the point of infection was observed to have severe degradation of the brain, with RPC-475 sporocysts making up 40% of the host's brain volume.

RPC-475 sporocyst clusters in the liver.

RPC-475 sporocyst anchor point in the skull.

As stated previously, RPC-475 instances begin their life cycle as miracidia, which mature into sporocysts inside the host's blood vessels. However, the sporocysts asexually produce cercariae, which then directly develop into metacercariae within the sporocyst itself. It is these metacercariae that will reproduce and lay eggs, with the sporocysts acting as the facilitator of their growth.

Such metacercariae then accumulate inside the "bone broodsac"³ of an RPC-475-B instance. Upon ingestion by a bird, the metacercariae pass along its alimentary tract and latch themselves onto the bird's cloaca. The species of bird which can facilitate RPC-475 reproduction is then classified as an RPC-475-A instance.⁴ The metacercariae then fully mature into adult distomes in the cloaca, and are hermaphroditic in nature. Adult RPC-475 distomes then spread themselves by releasing their eggs into the bird's feces.

RPC-475 flatworms exhibit similar reproductive methods to other flatworms of the Leucochloridium genus, meaning the only way of contracting RPC-475 is through direct consumption of RPC-475-A's feces. However, research suggests that an evolutionary stage is currently underway, and adult distomes have been observed to reproduce inside the flesh of an RPC-475-A. There are currently no other species known to act as primary and intermediate hosts of RPC-475, even various species of great primates.

Discovery:

RPC-475 was discovered as RPC-475-B instances in a secluded village deep in rural Germany. Fortunately, there were no instances of a containment breach, as the villagers were keen to quarantine the infected upon the first symptomatic sign. Authority personnel moved into the village on 20/04/2020 and secured all RPC-475-B instances while adhering to biohazard protocols.

The origin of RPC-475 remains unclear, with the most widely accepted theory stating that it might have recently evolved from the parasites that infected the snails. This theory is further reinforced as the phylogenetics of RPC-475 distomes indicate that it might have evolved somewhere in Europe in the past 200 years.

However, the Leucochloridium genus of which RPC-475 is a member of, and observations of other species of the same genus (such as L. paradoxum), were seen thriving in the local snail population with no danger of extinction. This contradicts the established wisdom that a species only evolves if met with certain life-threatening situations, such as if the snail population were to rapidly decline.

In addition, DNA sequencing found a DNA strand commonly found in bacteria species, most notably from the Porphyromonas genus. A specific species from the genus, the P. gingivalis, was linked to diseases that exhibit symptoms similar to that of RPC-475's bone growth-inducing trait. This suggests that RPC-475 may be a product of an artificially engineered bioweapon as opposed to a natural form of evolution.

Research Logs:

+ Research Log 475-0127

-hide Research Log 475-0127

Date: Monday, October 4^th, 2021

Foreword: Dr. Derrick Hewitt's request for live experimentation into researching possible cures for RPC-475-B instances has been approved and is now inspecting the test subjects hosting RPC-475. He is accompanied by Dr. Kara Sherburne and Sgt. Lance Lambert is supervising the CSD transport into the research chamber.

[START OF RECORDING]

Dr. Hewitt: Begin log, research session 475-0127. So, good news, my request for experimentation sessions into researching possible cures for RPC-475-B instances has been approved. I have here in front of me 5 test subjects in various stages of the infection.

[Dr. Hewitt opens subject 1's mouth to inspect the throat cavity. He moves in closer to subject 1's face to get a better look.]

Sgt. Lambert: Sir, shouldn't you be wearing a protective suit?

Dr. Hewitt: Oh, don't worry about it, sergeant, RPC-475 instances are only transmittable once they pass through the digestive tract of their host birds.

Sgt. Lambert: Alright, doctor, I'm just saying.

Dr. Hewitt: Anyway, the subjects have been purposefully exposed to RPC-475 at differing times because we are attempting to research possible cures in various stages of the infection.

[Dr. Sherburne enters the research chamber, carrying a trolley of monitoring equipment, along with 3 other members of the supervising staff each carrying identical equipment.]

Dr. Sherburne: [To supervising staff] Just leave them right there, thank you. [To Sgt. Lambert] Any chance they'll wake up before we're finished, sergeant?

Sgt. Lambert: They just came off the inhalants, like, 5 minutes ago. I'd say you have about 2 hours before they wake up.

Dr. Sherburne: That's good to know.

Dr. Hewitt: Subject 1 should be the freshest out of the 5, only exposed to RPC-475 just this past hour—was it, sergeant?

Sgt. Lambert: An hour ago yeah.

Dr. Sherburne: May I hook up the equipment now, doctor? Or do you need more time?

Dr. Hewitt: Yeah, I'm done with subject 1; looks healthy enough. Oh, and by the way, we want healthy subjects because we don't want underlying medical conditions to skew the test results.

[Dr. Hewitt moves on to subject 2, while Dr. SHerburne is finishing up applying the monitoring equipment to subject 1. Dr. Hewitt inspects subject 2's heartrate by pressing his fingers against the subject's jugular.]

Dr. Hewitt: Here we have subject 2, currently on the… second stage of the infection. Heart rate seems normal, but… I am hearing abnormalities in his breathing pattern. Hmm. The eggs should be hatching now.

[Dr. Hewitt inspects subject 2's mouth closer. As he opens the mouth, Subject 2 experiences an involuntary regurgitative reflex that spews mucus out and onto Dr. Hewitt's face. Sgt. Lambert readies his weapon in reflex.]

Sgt. Lambert: You okay, doctor?

Dr. Hewitt: I'm fine, sergeant. Please stand down.

[Dr. Hewitt pulls out his handkerchief and wipes his face off of Subject 2's mucus.]

Sgt. Lambert: You might be infected, doctor; should look it up ASAP.

Dr. Hewitt: I'm fine—it's only transmittable once they-

Sgt. Lambert: [Interjecting] I know it is, but honestly, doctor? I don't care. Go have yourself checked out.

Dr. Sherburne: I agree with the sergeant, doctor, you should check up on it. I'll take it from here.

Dr. Hewitt: [Groans] Fine. But you'll have to carry over the recording in your own name. Session adjourned.

[END OF RECORDING]

Closing Statement: I've taken an X-ray scanning of my lungs for any traces of foreign contaminants, and just like I predicted, nothing was found. From what I can gather from Dr. Sherburne's logs, subjects 3 to 4 seem desirable. The test will continue as planned. —Dr. Hewitt

+ Research Log 475-0129

-hide Research Log 475-0129

Date: Tuesday, October 5^th, 2021

Foreword: Following the inspection of the test subjects, Dr. Derrick Hewitt and Dr. Kara Sherburne are now researching possible cures/remedies in RPC-475-B instances during various stages of the infection. Dr. Hewitt and Dr. Sherburne are advised to wear full protective gear as a security recommendation from Sgt. Lambert.

[START OF RECORDING]

Dr. Hewitt: Begin log, research session 475-0129. I am here today with Doctor Kara Sherburne, now researching possible cures or remedies in RPC-475-B instances, starting with hosts in Stage 1 of the infection. However, we are advised to wear full protective gear because Sergeant Lambert had security concerns. [Scoffs]

Dr. Sherburne: I believe he means well, doctor.

Dr. Hewitt: Yeah, yeah, whatever. Can you help me out with backstrap, doctor?

Dr. Sherburne: Alright. And… protective gear secured. Ready, doc?

Dr. Hewitt: Yeah. Open airlock.

[Dr. Sherburne inputs the passcode to the research chamber's airlock. They enter the proper research chamber after a brief decontamination process. Dr. Sherburne follows behind, rolling in a tray of various medications and syringes, which also carries the recording camera.]

Dr. Sherburne: Oh, we should note that our subjects are maintained in an artificially induced comatose state, as we've found that keeping the subjects conscious and subjecting them to continuous pain skews with the data, like in Doctor Callahan's experimentation.

Dr. Hewitt: Right… Well then, Subject 1 here is currently undergoing early-onset infection, about three days after the exposure to RPC-475. I can see swellings in the epidermis, on the right shoulder—Doctor Sherburne, would you be so kind to place that camera closer to Subject 1's shoulder here?

Dr. Sherburne: Here you go, Doc.

Dr. Hewitt: Alright. We will be administering twenty milliliters of basic Praziquantel around the swellings and continue to monitor Subject 1 here for the coming days. Doctor Sherburne, if you may.

Dr. Sherburne: And… there we go.

Dr. Hewitt: Great. Hang in there, Subject 1. Moving on.

[Dr. Hewitt and Dr. Sherburne move on to Subject 2. Dr. Sherburne rolls the medication tray over. Dr. Hewitt inspects Subject 2's vital monitor]

Dr. Hewitt: Subject 2 here is currently undergoing stage two of the infection, note the emergence of tumorous growth on his right forearm. No abnormalities were detected; the subject looks… healthy.

Dr. Sherburne: Should I inject the medication, doc?

Dr. Hewitt: Right around the wound there, if you would.

[Right as Dr. Sherburne goes to inject the medication, Subject 2 suddenly springs up from the operating table, his right arm free from the restraints. Subject 2 immediately pushes Dr. Sherburne away, which causes her to lose balance and fall, and immediately goes to untie his left arm restraints.]

[Dr. Hewitt grapples with Subject 2 and pins him down on the table. The continuous thrashing from Subject 2 knocks over the medication tray and sends various syringes scattering across the chamber floor. Subject 2 attempts to rip out Dr. Hewitt's protective headgear but to no avail.]

Dr. Hewitt: [Grunting] Sedate him! Sedate him, God damn it!

[[Dr. Sherburne stands up and regains her balance, then immediately runs to the scattered medication tray. She picks up an empty syringe and looks around for a tranquilizing medication bottle.]

[Around this time, the supervising staff is now inputting the security code to the airlock, but is unable to enter due to the decontamination process.]

Dr. Hewitt: [Grunting] Anytime now, doctor!

[Dr. Sherburne finds an Amobarbital bottle and extracts the content with the syringe. She flicks the syringe a few times to make sure no air bubble makes it inside the syringe.]

[Dr. Sherburne attempts to inject the tranquilizer into Subject 2. However, in the process, is slashed by Subject 2's spiky tumorous growth, ripping open part of her protective gear and wounding her upper arm.]

[The supervising team now enters the chamber, and assists Dr. Hewitt in pinning down Subject 2 to the operating table. The commotion gradually dies down as Subject 2 renders unconscious.]

Unidentified Supervising Staff: Are you okay, doctor?

Dr. Sherburne: Yeah. I think so.

Dr. Hewitt: How the hell did he wake up? I thought you supervised his sedation process personally!

Unidentified Supervising Staff: I don't know, sir, I'm sorry-

Unidentified Supervising Staff: [Talking over] She has a big gash on her upper arm.

Dr. Hewitt: What? Let me see.

[Dr. Hewitt and some of the supervising staff inspect Dr. Sherburne's wound. Blood is visible, although the cut is not deep.]

Dr. Hewitt: That's pretty bad… You go get yourself patched up; we'll continue later.

Dr. Sherburne: Right, right…

Dr. Hewitt: Session adjourned. [To supervising staff] Get over here, we need to talk.

[END OF RECORDING]

Closing Statement: Dr. Sherburne suffered quite a significant wound on her upper arm. Inspection of Subject 2's growth shows no broken sacs, and the medics were sure to administer a number of antibiotics and also the Praziquantel we were using on the test subjects. Dr. Sherburne should be well, due to the dormant nature of RPC-475 in Subject 2.

After an investigation, it was found that the sedative agents used in the test subjects were stored in poor conditions, which drastically reduced their efficiency. We have made sure to replace all sedative canisters on the test subjects with fresh ones. Research into cures and remedies continued as planned in sessions 475-0130 with no further complications. —Dr. Hewitt

+ Research Log 475-0131

-hide Research Log 475-0131

Date: Wednesday, October 6^th, 2021

Foreword: Dr. Derrick Hewitt and Dr. Kara Sherburne are analyzing the data gathered in monitoring the test subjects' vitals.

[START OF RECORDING]

Dr. Hewitt: Begin log, research session 475-0131. This log is more of a record of the thesis Doctor Sherburne and I have discussed for the past hour. Mind telling me what you've told me before and… tell us how our subjects are doing?

Dr. Sherburne: [Clears throat] Subject 1 has undergone the second stage of infection, with RPC-475 sporocysts now detected to have proliferated around the venous vessels. However, X-ray and MRI scanning indicate the cease in development of new sporocyst clusters in all the subjects, with Subject 3 progressing the slowest out of all five.

Dr. Hewitt: in other words, antitrematodes may have prevented RPC-475 miracidia from maturing inside the body; maybe even killing them.

Dr. Sherburne: I believe that some of the sporocysts have developed an immunity or some form of resistance to the medication.

Dr. Hewitt: Yes, but back to what I've said to you before: It may just require an increased dosage—don't tell me you've never experienced taking a pill for a cold and still being sick for the rest of the day.

Dr. Sherburne: I disagree, doctor, because if that were the case, then Subject 1 who has the fewest amount of RPC-475 should be completely cured at this point, and yet…

Dr. Hewitt: With all due respect, doctor, I'm the one with the parasitology doctorate in this room. Besides, the dosage we've administered was incredibly low.

Dr. Sherburne: I studied pathology for six years in Melbourne…

Dr. Hewitt: Alright, you know what, we'll increase the dosage this time. Twenty bucks say Subject 1 will be completely cured this time tomorrow.

Dr. Sherburne: We'll talk about this later, now moving on. EEG scanning of Subject 5, being the fifth subject undergoing the final stage of the infection, has shown more brain activity in the frontal lobe and even more so in the parietal lobe. [Coughs]

Dr. Hewitt: See, now this one I can't really have a say in, because I don't have the proper qualifications, Doctor Sherburne.

Dr. Sherburne: Shouldn't the Authority assign someone with both qualifications as Head Researcher?

Dr. Hewitt: Expertise, doctor, it's all about expertise; It's a parasitic anomaly, and I have sixteen years in parasitology. That's why I have you, a neurologist, here as my partner.

Dr. Sherburne: [Chuckles] I'm just teasing you, doc.

Dr. Hewitt: Please act professional, doctor, you're on record.

Dr. Sherburne: Alright, alright. Well, regarding Subject 5 showing an increase in brain activity, I think it has something to do more with the pain receptors regaining function.

Dr. Hewitt: And what do you mean by that?

Dr. Sherburne: [Clears throat] Hosts undergoing stages four and five of the infection have RPC-475 proliferating in their brain; you know, taking control of the functions and such. See, RPC-475 shuts down all non-essential parts of the brain, specifically the ones not contributing to the limbic system. This is done to conserve energy and keep the host alive for longer.

Dr. Hewitt: What's your verdict?

Dr. Sherburne: I'm thinking that the antitrematodes have suppressed RPC-475's control of the brain, and well, the subjects having practically bone cancer all over their body has got to be especially painful, so the parietal lobe being the part of the brain to interpret pain has to fire up the most. [Coughs]

Dr. Hewitt: So you're saying… that Subject 5 is experiencing pain… even while he's in a deep comatose state?

Dr. Sherburne: Basically.

Dr. Hewitt: Huh. Interesting. What do you say we… submit for an approval to delve further into this after we're finished with our project here.

Dr. Sherburne: That's— [Clears throat] —that's fine by me.

Dr. Hewitt: Great, back to the matter at hand. We'll increase the dosage in all five subjects—make it… fifty milliliters…

Dr. Sherburne: [Starts coughing, overlapping Dr. Hewitt]

Dr. Hewitt: …In the meantime, we'll continue to monitor—you okay?

Dr. Sherburne: I'm fine, just… [Coughs] …allergies.

Dr. Hewitt: Right. Anyway, we'll continue monitoring the subjects, and tomorrow, we'll administer the increased dosage. Although I do want to do an open surgery—see things as their own.

Dr. Sherburne: [Continues to cough]

Dr. Hewitt: That is all. Session adjourned.

[END OF RECORDING]

Closing Statement: I have submitted a request for a few additional dosages of Praziquantel for use tomorrow. I've also submitted a request to perform open surgery on Subject 5, seeing as how his vitals are dropping, and he may expire soon. —Dr. Hewitt

+ Research Log 475-0132

-hide Research Log 475-0132

Date: Thursday, October 7^th 2021

Foreword: Dr. Derrick Hewitt and Dr. Kara Sherburne are performing an autopsy on the recently expired Subject 5 in order to fully evaluate the efficacy of Praziquantel antitrematodes in suppressing RPC-475 sporocyst instances.

[START OF RECORDING]

Dr. Hewitt: Begin log, Research Session 475-0132. We've just received approval on the dissection of Subject 5. The subject has expired during stage five of the infection and we're going to evaluate the efficacy of the antitrematodes up close.

Dr. Sherburne: [Clears throat] Shouldn't the supervising staff be here to monitor us?

Dr. Hewitt: It's just an autopsy, doctor.

Dr. Sherburne: Alright, then. Protective gear is… secured; ready to go.

Dr. Hewitt: Go ahead and open the airlock.

[Dr. Sherburne inputs the passcode to the research chamber. Dr. Hewitt follows closely behind while rolling in a tray of various scalpels and surgical blades.]

Dr. Sherburne: Subject 5 here has expired for about three hours prior to this recording, with the cause of death being brain death due to RPC-475 eating the brain away. We also want to start the autopsy on the liver, as we've noticed that cultures of RPC-475 sporocysts seem to prefer the high glucose environment. [Coughs]

Dr. Hewitt:

Dr. Sherburne: [Raspy breathing] We are about to commence the autopsy. Doctor Hewitt, would you mind passing the number twenty-two scalpel?

[Dr. Hewitt passes a large blade to Dr. Sherburne]

Dr. Sherburne: Thank you.

[Dr. Sherburne begins by making a large incision along the bottom of the ribcage. However, she is experiencing slight difficulties due to the tumorous growths that have manifested all along the ribcage.]

Dr. Sherburne: Looks like the tumorous bone growth has manifested in the ribcage…

[Dr. Sherburne turns over the belly skin of Subject 5 to the sides, revealing a blackened liver that has since been infested with RPC-475 sporocysts as large yellowish-green clusters.]

Dr. Sherburne: Yeah, I think we're too late. The sporocysts in the liver have all but died—it's gonna make identifying old sporocysts from new ones difficult…

[Dr. Hewitt picks up a #11 scalpel from the tray, and walks around the operating table closer to Dr. Sherburne.]

Dr. Sherburne: Nothing much we can do here, gonna have to hand over the body to the parasitology division. [Coughs] I'll go out and get to—Doctor?

Dr. Hewitt: Why can't we do this by ourselves, Kara?

Dr. Sherburne: It won't be accurate, sir. We'd better leave it to them; they have proper machinery.

Dr. Hewitt: Oh, you'd love that, wouldn't you? Tell me, when exactly did you start having allergies?

Dr. Sherburne: I—you mean my coughing? It's a seasonal thing.

Dr. Hewitt: Right, the diverse season of the Mojave Desert.

Dr. Sherburne: Doctor Hewitt, please—put down that scalpel; we can talk about this.

Dr. Hewitt: Who am I even talking to right now, anyway? Kara Sherburne, or measly parasites embedded in her brain?

Dr. Sherburne: Doctor, please…

Dr. Hewitt: How does it feel having those things in you, hmm? Do you feel bliss every time you step foot outside?

Dr. Sherburne: I-I'm not infected! Please, let me just go for a diagnosis, I'll-I'll prove it to you!

Dr. Hewitt: I'm sorry, Kara. I can't let you do that.

Dr. Sherburne: No! [Screams]

[Multiple moist stabbings, Dr. Sherburne continues to scream]

[Loud crash]

[Metallic scraping]

Dr. Sherburne: Please, just stop!

Dr. Hewitt: [Screams]

[Metallic slashing]

Dr. Sherburne: [Unintelligible, raspy breathing]

Dr. Hewitt: [Deep, heavy breaths]

[Multiple moist stabbings]

[Commotion gradually dies down]

Dr. Hewitt: [Deep, heavy breaths]

[Pause]

Dr. Hewitt: [Heavy breathing] I gotta get out of here…

[Multiple electronic beeping]

[Hissing of air]