Felix sat in the infirmary deep in thought. Though he felt relieved he didn't find any more tumours, he still had no answers to his questions. In addition to two deaths he couldn't justify. He was plagued by speculation, they were supposed to be free of the Scourge. How is it now killing them all the way out on Earth? Gaia came in for an update, she was also surprised to hear there were no others like Bligh and Silas among the group she mustered. Felix removed from storage the sample taken from Silas to show Gaia. Just like Bligh's tumour it had already grown in size.

"What should we do with our samples?" Felix wondered. "Should we turn them over to the Earth authorities and let them study them? We aren't really equipped to analyse them here."

"I'm not really sure dear, there is too much still unknown but I don't think we should hand them over. For now I think it would be prudent to destroy them and scan everyone here," she added.

"Right. It would be easier to go house to house. I'll get Lloyd, Eva and Emelia to scan as well. I need you to recall everyone back to their homes until further notice but first, could you please check me?" Instructed Felix with a nervous chuckle.

Gaia nodded and reached for the scanner. "Oh dear," she murmured a moment later.

"What? What is it, Gaia?" he asked frantically.

"You are free from Scourge infection,"

She confirmed. "But you appear to have a rather large tumour within your epithalamus region."

"Great, just what I needed. Are you certain it has nothing to do with the Scourge?"

"Yes, absolutely. It also appears benign according to the scan but we should investigate further once we get a handle on our current situation."

"Agreed. It can wait until we've checked everyone," nodded Felix.

Then Gaia remotely patched into the PA system. "Hello my children. It seems as though some of you are being adversely affected by the hot and dry conditions out here. In the interest of health and safety, doctors will be coming out for a quick check-up, this is compulsory for all. Effective immediately, all people will return to their designated homes and remain there until you've been visited. That is all."

None of her children had heard Gaia take such a stern tone before, they all trusted her without question, but there were some that were uneasy about being forced inside yet again for their supposed own good. Still, all the refugees complied as there was only one truth they all knew and shared, and that was that Gaia would always protect them.

Mere seconds before Felix and Gaia could put their plan into action a noise halted them. The vial harbouring the sample from Silas had started to crack. The tumour had expanded enough that its sheer volume was breaching its containment. Before Felix could say a word the sample escaped and with a form resembling a starfish it scurried across the floor toward freedom. In an instant Gaia burst from her position so quickly Felix's eyes could not follow. She reached out, forming a fist and crushed the creature with an almighty thud.

"Quickly go find Lloyd or Emelia before it regenerates!" Instructed Gaia as Felix was still trying to register.

"Right!" He agreed and took off.

Lloyd was still only next door so there was no need to search for Emelia. He and Felix stormed into the infirmary, his right arm weapon engaged to find Gaia standing by a brown mass on the floor quivering. Lloyd raised his arm taking aim.

"Wait!" Felix called out. He ran over to the wall claiming the fire extinguisher and removed the pin. "Ok now." He instructed. Lloyd fired a single burst leaving a small crater and charred marks on the floor. Felix reset the pin in the extinguisher, luckily their accommodation was fire retardant.

"Well that's both of them dead now." Pointed out Lloyd. The three went silent as they could all feel something.

"Sounds like the cavalry is here." Jeered Gaia. They headed outside to greet them finding that their entire settlement had been surrounded by gunships with transports touching down unloading troops. Felix stepped forward only to have weapons aimed at him, he raised his hands and continued forward until close enough to be heard.

"Who is your superior? I wish to speak with them." Felix commanded. The soldiers received an order to stand down evident by the fact that they all lowered their weapons simultaneously. A man in a different uniform, clearly an officer stepped off a transport and moved forward.

"Would you be Felix?" The officer asked politely.

"I am and your name Sir?" Felix responded in kind.

"My name is Major Malcolm Lucero. We have been dispatched with orders to neutralise an alien attack force." Felix twitched upon hearing the rank of Major but did well to hide it.

"Major there aren't yet any enemies here that I'm aware of, but firstly I must speak with you privately for a moment." Requested Felix. Without a word Major Lucero approached. Felix turned and the pair walked back to the edge of the settlement. "Major thank you for coming." Lucero nodded. "We have a potential outbreak on our hands. Two in our camp have died from strange growths that formed on their brains and we believe it is Scourge related."

The Major's nostrils flared. "That is serious. What action do you propose we take?"

"We are already making preparations to use MRI scanners to check everyone for abnormal growths, we've checked a few people already and haven't found anything yet. How many medics are amongst your forces?" Asked Felix.

The Major thought for a moment. "Twenty one. Tell me, how do you know this is Scourge related?"

Felix sighed thinking about the loss of Bligh and Silas. "The two tumours we did remove post-mortem both continued to grow without a host, they then animated and started moving around. Both have been neutralised but until we scan everyone, we have no idea if others are infected."

"I see," muttered the Major, his face having turned grave. "I'll have the medics rounded up and sent to you. In the mean time I'll request more scientists be sent out to participate." Informed Major Lucero.

"Thank you, Major." Felix conceded. "Oh and one last thing, why aren't you and your forces wearing CBRN suits?"

Major Lucero chuckled. "Well, we were just informed that you lot had been cleared by the medical core, so we proceeded in normal kit." Felix stood stunned, to receive such news was difficult to process. More perplexing was the fact that the Scourge infections appeared to have eluded the previous wave of testing. Major Lucero gave a wave and returned to his forces.

Felix waited for ten minutes as the Medics began to march over and one handed Felix a radio with compliments from Major Lucero. They were given their assignments and got stuck in. An hour elapsed and more transports arrived with many of the same Doctors that had already visited. Felix gave them instructions and they set to work scanning the settlement alongside the Military Medics and the only few in the camp privy to the situation. Felix made a wise decision to have all people scanned from head to toe as there was still the possibility that the Scourge infections were hidden anywhere. To their horror, several refugees were found to be infected. All of the Scourge spores were found lodged within the victim's brain, some were still small but others were close to the point of rupturing surrounding tissue.

As the Medical forces swept through the camp their demeanour was now one of urgency, long gone was the gentle friendly approach as they screened the incoming refugees. Time was of the essence, as far as Felix was concerned there was an unknown amount of time bombs ticking away amongst his people.

It took over 10 hours but the sweep through the entire settlement was finally complete, it was then the early hours of the morning and the Military Medics and Scientists had returned to their transports to rest. Most disturbing was the number of infected found. Major Lucero was asked over to speak with Felix, his forces remained outside the settlement, but had now scattered to encircle the entire site with weapons at the ready.

Maddison had done well to suppress her feeling of loss, after so much had taken its toll she was growing colder. Every time she allowed herself to be happy, something was taken from her. Holding her together now was nothing but a resounding instinctive will of self-preservation.

Major Lucero knocked on the front door and Lloyd answered, inviting him in.

"Major thank you for coming," greeted Felix as the Major found a seat joining them. "I take it you're aware of the total now?"

"485, if I'm not mistaken," answered the Major. "Although, I wish I was," he sighed.

Felix's face was grim, "yeah that's the feeling going around."

"So what is your plan? Now that we have a list of the infected, we should be removing them from the settlement immediately." Concluded Major Lucero.

"Before we do, I'd like to attempt something. Well not myself, I'll need a neurosurgeon if there's one out there amongst that lot." Gestured Felix toward the military transports still outside the settlement.

"Do you intend to attempt a removal?" Enquired the Major leaning forward.

"Yes, exactly. None of us are ready to conclude that being infected is a death sentence." Argued Felix.

"You will have to wait a few hours, without rest they would be useless to you. Have a candidate readied and prepare the infirmary for an 0900 start." Instructed Major Lucero.

"Yes, of course. Thank you, Sir." Replied Felix. The Major stood and saw himself outside.

Lloyd had remained silent but sat listening intently during the conversation. "Do you really think it's possible?"

Felix was exhausted, he slumped in his chair and stared up at the ceiling. "Honestly, I have no idea. But we have to try something, we can't just say you're all going to die."

Gaia came over to them. "I have found a pattern among the infected." Felix and Lloyd raised their brows awaiting the information. "All the infected were present on Gaia station when the Scourge attacked, none of the Hyperion or Crius survivors are infected."

"That's not surprising." Pointed out Felix. "But still, there was nothing in Tarraxen records indicating that the Scourge had ever taken such a form."

"There is a very real possibility that some kind of biological airborne assault was launched the moment the station was breached, but I wasn't able to confirm," speculated Gaia.

"No matter now," added Lloyd as he paced. "Felix, we should get some rest too while we can."

"Agreed. Let's see how that goes." Felix retorted sarcastically as he got up and went to bed. Maddison followed slowly as if on auto-pilot and Eva sat up with Lloyd for a short while, meanwhile Gaia and Emelia went for a walk around the camp.

As day broke there had been three more deaths. Gaia collected the bodies for the removal of the growths but she was approached by soldiers claiming that Major Lucero had requested she turn them over to the military. Gaia did not wish to provoke the military for so many of her children were in need of assistance and she alone did not have means enough to provide it. In addition Felix had asked all of them to comply with the Major wherever possible. She reluctantly handed over the dead, being told only that they were to be studied. Gaia then proceeded to the house of the man scheduled for surgery. His growth was only a single millimetre in diameter, easily in an earlier stage than others. It was explained to him that he was host to a dangerous growth and that they wished to remove it for him. Naturally he agreed, although quite frankly given that there was no alternative Gaia was prepared to drag him by force to the infirmary if necessary.

Two Earth Doctors arrived and Felix was up to greet them at the infirmary. Gaia was already inside and their willing test subject lay already under and prepared for the procedure. He was chosen not just because his growth was much smaller but for the most part because it was just outside his brain in the inner carotid artery on his left side.

The Doctors scrubbed up and were ready to begin the endarterectomy. A small incision was made in the patient's neck and within a few minutes the external bypass apparatus was installed and blood flow continued uninterrupted. Felix watched on intently at the screen feed from the MRI module. Slowly the micro-catheter with a 4-pronged grabbing device at its end moved its way up the artery. As the device approached the tumour the Doctor attempted removal, the prongs extended and expanded enough to encompass the vile mass. The device was manoeuvred into position and the prongs latched onto it. With only the slightest of pressure the Doctor pulled back on the micro-catheter in an attempt to dislodge the mass. As if sensing impending danger, the mass began to move ever so slightly, its outward appearance shifted and it sent out a dozen or so tendrils in all directions to secure its position firmly. The lead Doctor broke out in a sweat, he realigned the device and tried again to latch on. Almost in position, the Doctor moved to secure the prongs around the mass but it had other plans. The mass ruptured the arterial wall and fled within the cavity. The Doctor's deemed the procedure a failure, they proceeded to remove the bypass and sealed the area. The procedure's outcome was grim, the growths were confirmed as inoperable and now the fate of hundred's infected was beyond hope, their destinies had been rendered to a point of days perhaps even hours.

Gaia was the most distraught from the turn of events. After losing so many of her children she was again faced with the harsh reality of losing more. She stood outside the infirmary speaking with Felix and Lloyd.

"The Major has offered to take them away to be euthanised painlessly," stated Felix. "Well quite frankly I don't think it was a choice so much, more so he was just being polite about it."

"So we can't do anything about it?" Snapped Lloyd.

"No Lloyd, he's right." Added Gaia.

"Though it pains me to say so, some must die so that the rest can live. After all we've been through, this will be our final hurdle towards a happy ending."

Lloyd scoffed and turned away mumbling to himself.

"We should get going," announced Felix. The three went off to oversee the transfer.

The faces of those sentenced to death were sullen and lethargic. Gaia had lied to them all, though it pained her, she told the infected that they were unable to treat them there so they were being sent to an advanced medical facility. Surely more than half knew better, but still, ultimately they had no choice. As each house was visited the infected found themselves escorted by Earth soldiers. All the infected were loaded onto transports, those that had already succumb to their parasitic passengers were loaded onto a separate transport and left last. By the time the military had departed there were 36 dead.

Late that night a strong wind blew from the north, bringing with it a rancid odour and the smell of smoke. Lloyd set off to investigate and even with his physical prowess, he took 2.5 hours to arrive at the source. To his horror he discovered what became of the infected. Their charred, smouldering corpses lay in a mass open grave. Lloyd examined them closely, they were each shot in the head before being dumped and set alight. The morning sun then peered over the horizon and like a dinner bell had been rung a swarm of flies, thousands thick zeroed in on the smell of the cadavers. Lloyd felt lucky that his artificial olfactory sense had no digestive system to influence, he could only image what effect the ghastly smell would have had on a real nose. Lloyd was furious, tragically there was a few dozen children among the infected that he knew of, he charged off to tell the others about the atrocity he had uncovered.

Lloyd arrived back at their house finding Maddison and Emelia. Emelia was genuinely appalled by the news however Maddison seemed indifferent. Not that she gave any indication that it was good news but having her Father die in her arms she was almost ready to accept a death notice for everyone else she knew. Emelia comforted Maddison reminding her of the fact that she was artificial and hence immortal, that she would always be there for her.

Unfortunately Maddison instead chose to hide away in her bedroom and await the next list of casualties. Lloyd scowled at Maddison's back as she left the room dragging her feet.

Emelia came over. "I know it's been hard on all of you, please be patient with her," she pleaded.

Lloyd sat down to collect his thoughts. "Yeah I know, but the rest of us are still here. We have to go on no matter what," reasoned Lloyd.

Emelia smiled, impressed by his resolve. "As terrible as it was, the whole situation was unforeseeable. I think we should consider ourselves lucky that they didn't just kill you all to be sure." Emelia affirmed. Felix and Eva entered their dwelling after a morning patrol to clear their minds. Eva spotted Lloyd.

"Oh you're back. Did you enjoy your walk?" She asked playfully. Lloyd grunted. Eva's face was puzzled as she thought back to the previous night if perhaps she said something to upset him in bed.

"No actually." Lloyd huffed. "I found something in the desert this morning."

Felix came over and sat down. "What was it buddy?"

Lloyd's face was in pain, though he could not produce tears he looked as though he had begun to cry. "They shot them, all of them."

"The infected?" Asked Felix confirming his already obvious guess.

"Stop it!" Snapped Lloyd. "They were people, all of them, men women and even children."

Felix sighed. He was adamant that he would've had this conversation with Maddison rather than Lloyd. "You're right. I didn't mean any disrespect. But you knew they were all leaving to die," insisted Felix.

"Yeah I know but, just seeing all their remains like that, it was terrible. All the children's burnt faces. They must have had to watch each other be shot in the head awaiting their own turn."

"What?!" Barked Felix as he jumped to his feet. "The remains are all still out there?"

"Yes, they burnt them after but they're still partially intact." Answered Lloyd.

"Fuck!" Screamed Felix slamming his fist down. "The Scourge cells won't be dead, all they've done is left a time bomb on our fucking doorstep. Idiots!" Lloyd finally realised where Felix was going and jumped to his feet.

"We have to get the military back out here," declared Lloyd.

"I'll go find Gaia," announced Eva.

"No need," chimed in Emelia, "I can communicate with her over any distance."

"Yes of course." Remembered Felix. "I'll contact Joseph at once, someone has to explain this mess." Felix made several attempts to contact Joseph but his calls went unanswered. Felix then remembered he still had the radio gifted to him by Major Lucero.

"Major, this is Felix do you read?"

"Yes Felix. What is it now?" The Major's tone was blunt, giving the impression that he was expecting another wild goose chase.

"Where did you take the infected?" Barked Felix.

"Well." The Major paused. "You wouldn't be asking if you didn't know already. Get to the point." Felix's race ran red. He took a deep breath before his next transmission.

"Look I don't care about how you did it. But you've fucked up," advised Felix as politely as he could muster.