Extinction Level Event (17 page)

In the midst of the farewells and business-related
chitchat, McCarthy's cell phone rings, making him excuse himself
and head outside. McCarthy is not surprised to see that its LaJoy
again. "What is it now?" "We've got a case in Ensenada, Mexico. The
local authorities contacted us after local farmers started
experiencing the same cases as we have had in Bakersfield and LA."
"Jesus, this is turning international. Do we even have jurisdiction
to go over there?" "Their local government would be more than happy
to have your team over there, McCarthy. In fact they are already
going over there, along with Gonzalez." "You sent them ahead of
me?"

"Hey I can't take you out under from Onassis' nose
just like that. Your heading to San Diego." "Did you tell him about
this yet?" "Not yet. Just keep me informed of what you find there."
Click.
Damn. So much for home. Looks like San Diego it is.
McCarthy walks out of MalSanto headquarters to the sedans along
with the rest of the USDA leadership. Not even catching a glance at
the remaining formalities with MalSanto's execs, he just focuses on
the implications of LaJoy's latest news.
Its spreading. . .
quickly

UCLA

In UCLA microbiology and immunology laboratory,
Krishnan finds himself working alongside several virology and
annelid specialists from the university department. Complementing
them are two people from the USDA. More are expected to arrive from
universities across the country during the week.

Krishnan would have preferred to have the dead worm
samples transported to his CBEID lab in Houston and analyzed there,
where his team could perform like clockwork. Instead, he is forced
to work with an entirely new group assigned by LaJoy. Krishnan
sighs. Usually he would be more than happy to meet other biology
professionals like himself and cooperate with research, but in this
case they are unfamiliar with his quirks and specific way of doing
things. Ultimately the procedures are the same, but merely take a
bit longer to yield results.

Krishnan started by measuring blood chemical levels
in the worm's digestive tract and traces of macrophages or any
leukocyte activity. Earthworm immune systems use leukocyte
receptors to identify self entities opposed to non-self entities.
The receptors would then bind themselves to the surface of the
xenobiotic or microbial intruder. The leukocytes would also release
cell differentiation markets that would "mark" alien substances in
the bloodstream for the macrophages, which would then attack and
destroy the xenoforms. Phagocytosis occurs when the bind to NK
receptor-clad cells and destroy them. Leukocytes, such a B-cells
and T-cells, would work in conjunction to produce antibodies and
natural killer cells. A worm's immune system is remarkably similar
to a human's, the only major differences being the earthworms
immune system was smaller in scale and more simplistic
evolutionarily than a human beings.

Preparing slides under a large electron microscope,
excitement courses through Krishnan as he anticipates what he would
find. "Dr. Krishnan?" Krishnan turns to find an orange-haired young
man with thick glasses looking at him. "We have found something
that you might want to see." Walking over to another microscope,
Krishnan sees another scientist with a nametag "Miyazaki", next to
the microscope. The orange-haired one speaks first. "Dr. Krishnan,
we have identified multiple T-cell receptors throughout the
bloodstream in every sample so far. However, there is also a lack
of lymphocytes and neutrophils. Lymphocyte count per million red
cells is very low compared to the number of NK receptors in the
bloodstream, which is really high. NK cells, T-cells, B-cells,
macrophages all in very low quantities. Its like the earthworms
have leukopenia or some other autosuppressive force is at
work."

Krishnan seats himself and looks into the lens. Sure
enough, the plasma and red blood cells in the image magnified
100,000x take up most of the screen. Miyazaki and "Orange" observe
the visual image on the monitor adjacent to the microscope. A
monocyte floats by surrounded by hundreds of red cells, round
roughly doughnut shaped cells that carry oxygen around the
bloodstream. In worms the oxygen is absorbed through surface skin
respiration rather than through a nose, as in humans. This is why
an earthworm dies if its skin dries up. Alveoli are scattered
throughout the body in order to absorb the oxygen carried by the
red cells. A cluster of neutrophils comes next, roundish white
cells that conglomerate, forming pus. Neutrophils are designed to
quickly reach infections and envelop bacteria and fungi through
cytokinesis. They are usually 12 micrometers in diameter and
ineffective against viruses. Krishnan notices that a large amount
of receptors are intermingled with the neutrophils in the plasma
and red cells mixture. Most unusual, however, is that the receptors
haven't binded to anything. Receptors are supposed to be released
by leukocytes and then bind to invading fungi and viruses.
If
the receptors are floating around freely, why have they been
released?

A small bug-like apparition appears next on the
screen, a diamond with 6 inverted legs pointing in one direction.
Black against the background, the spider-like entity swims by the
receptors without attracting any attention. Three more of the new
apparitions appear behind it.
So this is a virus.
Krishnan
immediately recognizes the alien like nature of the invader.
Why
aren't the receptors binding to the viruses? Clearly the receptors
have been released in response to the virus, but they aren't
binding. Why?
Turning away from the microscope, he turns to the
two other biologists. "You know that we are now dealing with a
virus, right? Have you identified the type yet? Do you know why the
receptors aren't binding?!" "Not yet. That's why we called you. We
are thinking the same thing. Totally unknown. Perplexing."
"Perplexed?? I like that. Good choice of wording.", quips Krishnan
sarcastically, "There has to be some emitted chemical, some
anti-receptor in the virus that is preventing contact. Obviously
the macrophages and the rest of the lymphocytes aren't going to
attack the viruses without having the receptors binding first.
Also, why is the macrophage count so low? Start working on this
immediately and get everyone else to do this as well. I need to
make a phone call", he responds authoritatively. "Right on it
Doctor", responds "Orange" as he moves towards the computer while
Miyazaki takes over the microscope. "Miyazaki, how many worms have
we looked at so far?" "Over two hundred. We have a nearly limitless
supply." "Funny. Has anyone looked at a cause of the transmission
yet?" "No. We didn't even identify the virus until we looked
through blood samples. Before that it was simple anatomization and
chemical analysis." "Well then, try to get me something soon", he
states impatiently.

Krishnan takes out his cell phone and dials LaJoy.
"We've got a major problem. We've tested over two hundred worms so
far, every single one of them has a virus. Its unidentified as of
yet, but we're working on it. White cells counts are low, and for
some reason the worm immune system doesn't identify the virus and
attack it. I'm assuming that microbes are spreading the virus from
worm to worm. Or it could be direct contact between worms, I don't
know yet.", he admits. "So it is a worm epizootic. I've never heard
of such a thing. MalSanto's going to love hearing this." "It
doesn't matter how much they will love this or not, we better take
precautions. Anyone working on the site should wear safety wear,
goggles, gloves, at the very least. I suggest HAZMAT suites until
we can be absolutely certain it doesn't harm humans. Have there
been other cases?"

Without even hearing LaJoy's response, Krishnan knew
the answer to his own questions. "Yes, we have some in Mexico."
"Mexico? It really is spreading fast. Make sure all shipments of
food are tightly controlled. Actually you should prevent food from
going in and out of the country in general, at least from
California. Take extra precautionary measures, quarantine exports
involving agrarian produce. Do what you have to do." LaJoy's answer
comes out flustered, as if he's not getting enough sleep. "We're
already working on that, its just taking longer than expected. The
Mexican government is not going to like this at all. Keep working
on that virus, you're the best we've got." "I'll am, although I'd
prefer if I get some of my people here from CBEID. They know their
virology very well, although it's a bit human-oriented." "Anything
you need. Keep in touch." LaJoy hangs up.

Did LaJoy anticipate it spreading into Mexico?
Probably not, he seems overwhelmed having to deal with an
international crisis. Involving worms.. . .
Krishnan ponders
over the extent that the worm virus could cover given enough time.
Is this going to go around like an epidemic?
But epidemics,
like a flash flood, usually disappear quickly. Ebola, for instance,
is so lethal it can kill within a matter of hours by basically
draining the victim of their blood plasma, leading to hypovolemic
shock. It is so deadly that the virus basically contains itself, by
killing off all the hosts so quickly that it denies itself a method
of transmission by depopulating the region of its origin. Thanks to
its virulence, the ebola virus has only been documented in isolated
pockets, usually villages in the African countryside and has not
spread around the world.

Why is this virus sustaining itself? Where did it
originate from?
Krishnan realizes that these crucial questions
would be answered by results from the lab. He also knows the
epicenter of the outbreak is in northern Los Angeles, and the first
reported cases were in Bakersfield. Some USDA official by the name
"McCarthy" had been there first and started doing soil and chemical
analyses. That was standard procedure but led to a terrible delay
in getting to the root of the problem, and unnecessarily
associating MalSanto Co. with an emergency that they had nothing to
do with. In the end, several days were wasted before they realized
that a virus was killing the worms.
Thanks to slow bureaucracy.
. .
They had yet to determine whether it was a
natural-occurrence, some new mutation, or a specifically designed
bioweapon.
It certainly can't be a bioweapon though. A
biological weapon would be killing people, not goats, not cattle. .
. and definitely not worms. That should rule out the possibility of
bioterrorism. But what about a natural occurence? Where would such
a virulent and specialized virus originate from?

Putting these distracting thoughts out of his head,
Krishnan heads back into the lab. "Orange" is back, along with
Miyazaki and thirteen others. "Hey people. I want to find out how
this virus is sustaining itself, why the receptors aren't attracted
to it, any related diseases that show similarities to this
outbreak, specifically any that have affected annelids, and finally
where it came from. We will be working in groups of three, each
group assigned to their field of specialization. Once we find the
answers to these questions, we will work on a way to get the NK
receptors to bind to the virus. Let’s split into teams." It takes
ten minutes to get the annelid immunologists with their colleagues
and the virologists with theirs, but soon everyone has a lab,
equipment, and samples and gets to work. Krishnan dials his office
in CBEID. Wang, his laboratory assistant, answers. "CBEID. Dr.
Krishnan's office." "Wang! I need you to get Drs. Perkins, Jesse,
DelRosario, Ventura, and yourself over to UCLA as quickly as
possible. We have huge amounts of work to do." "Why what is it
Doctor?" "It's this thing that the USDA wanted me for. They're
dealing with a worm epizootic that we just learned about and we
need research quickly. I need all of you here to start getting
answers ASAP." "Perhaps it would be easier if you send the samples
over here. It would be just as easy. And, if you feel that you need
to use any of the equipment at CBEID instead of UCLA, we'll be here
to use it." "That is a much better idea", answers Krishnan.
Why
didn't I think of that? Too rushed.
"I'll make sure you have
samples by today. Make sure everyone else is there and working on
them. I'll send the documents telling you what I'm looking for. And
I still may need you here soon." Krishnan hangs up the phone. CBEID
will soon be devoting most of its best resources and personnel to
decoding the worm epizootic mystery. The game was on.

Ensenada, Mexico

A turbulent flight over the Rocky Mountains from St.
Louis to San Diego did not help to lighten the mood. However, being
hungry as he usually was, McCarthy wolfed down the business class
food that would usually seem barely eatable, relieving him of that
craving for the time being. The Mexican authorities had picked him
at a transfer point on the U.S.-Mexican border, now he was heading
to the site in a jeep. The driver didn't speak English very well so
McCarthy took the time to clear his head of the last three days
events and meditate a little.

Ensenada comes into view a hour into the ride, a
small coastal city catering primarily to tourism from southern
California.
In fact
, McCarthy reminds himself,
this
entire region is known as "Baja California"
, meaning Lower
California. A large Mexican flag flutters in the breeze above the
port city as McCarthy's car drives "over the hump" onto a higher
portion of the highway leading into Ensenada. A large cruise ship
sits in the harbor under the flag, dominating the landscape of the
low-lying, spread city. "Are we going into the city? Where did you
say the incident happened?", asks McCarthy, getting out of his
semi-trance. "Not far, señor. We go to the Vista del Sol town.
About ten minutes, no?"
Ten minutes isn't too bad. I'll shut up
and wait it out.
Sure enough, eleven minutes later the pull up
to a middle-class neighborhood full of Spanish-villa style homes.
An area the size of four city blocks is cordoned off by police
tape, leaving only about a dozen men in HAZMAT gear sifting through
uprooted dirt and grass between the houses. McCarthy's driver pulls
up to two police officers at the edge of the quarantined zone and
says something in Spanish before turning to Mike. "Ok, señor. We
can't go further, but I drop you off here, ok?" McCarthy gets out
of the van, noticing a short tanned man with a moustache and goatee
waiting for him next to the door. "Gonzalo Rodriguez", says the man
extending his hand, "You must be McCarthy." "McCarthy, a pleasure.
Wish it could be under better circumstances." McCarthy realizes
that the man is not short, rather that he himself is rather tall
for the region.
Hmm, not to mention blonder than the
average
.