Part 19: - Entomology

19 - Entomology

(Music: On the Cutting Edge of Medicine.)



We're officially at the halfway point! Congratulations! The best is yet to come.





"What is Dr. Kasal's condition?!"

"Stable... for now. He's gotten a lot weaker, though. I don't think he has the strength to survive an operation... Well, go see for yourself."

"-Surgical Ward, Room 202-"



"Dr. Kasal! You shouldn't get up..!"

"Don't strain yourself, sir..."

"I should have been suspicious when I couldn't diagnose my condition... It spread so fast... I didn't think... it was GUILT."

"Have they identified the strain?"

"I heard Sidney say it was an unidentified type, so... be careful."

"Greg, we've received detailed information on this GUILT."

"What? From where?"



The first time we see these two in the same room. Just so you know it isn't some clever trick put on by Greg in an attempt to control Derek's life.

"The file we got from Reuben...!"

"We're analyzing the data. It should allow us to devise a treatment. ...Don't give up, Greg..."

"I believe in you... in Caduceus... That's why I wanted Derek to join you here..."

...You didn't say jack shit to us.

"...Dr. Kasal..."

"Work hard, Derek."



"Victor's report says they can create a serum to eliminate the GUILT."

At least this game differentiates between a "vaccine" and an "antiserum." Looking at you, Deus Ex! Mass Effect! Outbreak!

"There's hope, then?"

"It's... possible. But, we don't have enough antigen samples."

"Antigen samples?"

Medical bullshit: Antisera are made by collecting antibodies to the agent or agent's antigens. The antibodies are then injected into a sick person, and the antibodies bind to said antigens. This allows the host's immune system to recognize the agent as a foreign body, and create a strong immune response. It's a bit complicated, but those are the basics.

"While you were in Africa, there was a highly toxic GUILT outbreak. My brother was infected while treating a patient... But, we should be able to extract samples from the other victims. If their infections haven't progressed to full term, we can just remove the GUILT. We've compiled a list of patients with similar symptoms to Greg's. Derek, I need you to operate on them to obtain antigen samples."

"Will I be traveling to hospitals where the victims are being treated?"

"Yes, exactly. ...Good luck. Once you have enough antigen, we can engineer the serum."

"I understand, sir."

"...Derek..?"

"..?"



..Poor Sidney. To lose his newly wedded wife, and now to lose the only family he has left. ...Sigh... Guess we should save Greg, after all.

"Of course, Dr. Kasal. Let's go, Angie."



This next operation is pretty neat. There are five locations with five GUILT patients, but two and two locations share the same antigens. You must take a wild guess and hope you come across three different antigens in the three locations you visit. You cannot fail if you get more than one type, but it will get tedious if you guess wrong. This is the only time in the series (other than Trauma Team) that you will be able to select your location.



I select the "Downtown" location to start.



"I contacted the hospital. We should be arriving shortly."

"This vehicle is specially designed as a sterile environment. We can't risk a secondary infection, so we'll have to operate in here."

Why they don't prepare that hospital's surgery suite instead, I have no clue.

"This strain is spread by physical contact. Wear your protective gear."



Ray Barnett is a Doctor/Rock musician in E.R. And... w-woah! What the hell? You'll have to check the video to see it, but something is seriously wrong with the text speed in this briefing.

"I'll explain how Director Kasal requested we obtain the samples."

It's... fast. Even on the physical copy.

"These patients have tested positive for GUILT. However, the specimens inside them are still in an immature state of development. In fact, this serum should be able to completely incapacitate them."

Like the localization team actually attempted to speed up the story dialogue and didn't assume everyone read with the speed of a third grader. It's nice. Too bad the only time it ever happens is during this briefing.

"Doctor, first locate the GUILT. Then use the serum to stop it. After that, place the GUILT specimen onto the tray and slice it open."

"S-Slice it open?!"

You only need to take two Biology classes to get into medical school, and neither of Derek's had bug dissection.

"Yes, we need the GUILT's internal fluids to replicate its antigen. After we've drained the GUILT, the procedure is complete. We only have one objective in this operation: -Use the general serum to stop the GUILT and obtain its fluids. That's all."



(Watch This Operation: Mission 4-2, S Rank)

(Music: Gangliated Utrophin Immuno-Latency Toxin (GUILT))



"And gain a sample of its antigen. Both require careful procedures. So, let's begin.."

You have three minutes for each antigen operation. We cut into this guy's stomach.



"Inject it with serum to stop its activity."

We have a new colour-coded medicine to inject. In general, try to aim for the front of the bug, because it is surprisingly fast.



..Aw. It's kind of cute.

"The gel was effective, but... it's hidden inside of the organ."

You mean serum, Angie.



It will leave a trail of gas as it trucks along. You just need to follow it.



Then cut it out, rinse, and repeat. Eventually...





"Carefully make an incision down the center of the GUILT."



"Fluid extraction complete. Let's finish treating him. A GUILT that releases toxic substances... How could they create something like this..? I hope Dr. Kasal... is alright."



Another neat fact about this operation is that whatever you choose as your starting location will be the location of its Challenge Mission until the end of time. Be sure to pick your favourite background!



"I think so... According to what Kasal told us, we need 3 types of antigen. He wants one sample of each of the P, V and H-types. I'll send a composition of this sample to Caduceus."

"Hmm... I wonder what type it is."

"........There's our answer! Looks like it's the V-type antigen. Let's head for the next patient. We still need two other types!"

"Yeah, let's go!"



Now to find the other two in this guessing game... I choose the Citywalk (middle left), next.





The patient is named after Omar Epps, who plays Foreman in House.

"Obtain a sample exactly like you did before. Good luck."



This one looks the same...

"Oh! I'm nervous... I hope this is the right one."

"Any word?"

"Let's see. ...This is the V-type."

Shit. We just saved someone's life for no reason!



The patient for the civic district (which looks uncannily like the downtown area) is Zack Perry, named after Perry Cox.



This looks promising.



"Angie, how'd it look?"

"We did it! This is the P-type antigen! All that's left is the H-type. Let's hurry!"

Aw, yeah.





The patient for the Suburbs is Donald Grey, named after Meredith Grey and Donald Faison... I have a good feeling about this one.



Holy shit! Once you get to the last GUILT with the antigen you need, it will go crazy and run everywhere, leaking toxic gas. The vitals will drop like a rock unless you catch it. This time she actually does mean the gel.



Messy...

"It... stopped moving. I have a really bad feeling about this GUILT."



"I hope this is the last sample we'll need...!"

"How's it look..?"

"...It's the H-type antigen!"



We did it! And that's all for today, because the next sequence is pretty long. The next update we will finally face off with the mature form of the fourth guilt, Terarti. By the way, the patient of the residential area was named Joe Faison (after Donald Faison, who plays Dr. Turk from Scrubs), and he had the P-type antigen. To recap:



It may be randomized with each subsequent playthrough, but I doubt it. If you wanted to know before you operate, just check the affected area in each patient profile, and restart until you get three different ones.

Next Time: We face off with Wednesday. On Wednesday!