Council Leader Vorik left Kaul's lab, his thoughts swirling around him on what he had just learned. His features were set in stone. He had to make a decision that would make many of the populace angry. Some of whom were his friends.

Pulling out his comm link, he called for a meeting in his council chambers. As an afterthought, he called Medic Kaul to be included. Kaul needed to know his decision; part of his orders were for him. Not to mention that since it pertained to the illness spreading across humans, he needed to be there too.

Council Leader Vorik was the first to arrive. The door to his council chambers slid smoothly open. The sound of the soft scrape as it opened, then the soft click as it closed again. It was a sound that he never noticed. Today, he had noticed it. Something about the snap of the door shutting gave him a sense of claustrophobia.

He knew why. This was going to be a meeting that could change everything with the people under his care, and not in a good way, either. He cringed just thinking about it. As each second passed, his anxiety increased, and his breathing became uneven. He was not looking forward to this meeting.

In agitation, he paced along the long table, trying to calm his nerves enough to think straight, waiting for those who needed to attend.

When the council chamber's door slid smoothly open, Vorik cringed at the sound before turning to see who had arrived first.

"I brought Medic Renn with me," Medic Kaul stated after giving the gesture of respect, and then moved toward the long table to claim his seat. Medic Renn sat beside him, remaining silent. He wasn't normally included in meetings, and he didn't know the etiquette.

Council Leader Vorik paused in his pacing, then nodded without saying anything. The room was silent. Only the sound of Vorik's continued pacing could be heard.

The council chamber door slid smoothly open, making Vorik flinch. The group of attendees walked in, then gave the gesture of respect before sitting at the table. No one spoke. Council Leader Vorik's demeanor kept them quiet. It was obvious this wasn't going to be a happy meeting. The tension in the air was thick with the anxiety of their leader.

Once the last of the attendees walked in, Council Leader Vorik stopped his pacing and slowly sat in his place. Those in the meeting were Medics Kaul and Renn, Seeran, the gate commander, Merrick, Rask, Orik, Mikiel, whom Seeran brought with him, and Zack Nelson with his mate, Shelia, to represent the humans.

They all watched in silence as Council Leader Vorik scanned the room. "This meeting pertains to the illness spreading through the humans of the dome. It has been determined that it's not a virus, yet it's acting like it is one." Vorik turned to Medic Kaul. "Please explain to them what you and Medic Renn discovered."

Medic Kaul nodded, then faced the others at the long council table. "Medic Renn and I entered the criteria into the computer to determine what each of the victims of the virus had in common. We discovered that all the infected were previously infected with the zombie toxin."

"So then, all we have to do is bring in those who were once zombies and treat them?" Seeran asked Medic Kaul. "Sounds like an easy fix."

Medic Renn sat back in his chair. He knew what was coming next. The testing of the infants. He didn't like what the conversation was leading up to. He chose to remain silent. It was Medic Kaul who was the chief medical officer. It was Kaul's place to explain, not his.

"As you know, the zombies were infected by a bite. Perhaps even a scratch. The toxin in their blood acted like a virus, making it contagious, even though it wasn't one. It was the serum acting differently in their bloodstream than it acts on Ramesians or the Kreq," Medic Kaul started.

"If we treat all of the humans who were once zombies, wouldn't that fix everything?" Orik asked, interrupting Kaul's monologue. He was worried about his mate Jada, who was only a few weeks pregnant with his fetus. "What about Jada? She's currently pregnant."

Council Leader Vorik cringed at the topic of the pregnant Jada. He knew what he was about to say next could make him lose control of the meeting. "We don't know if what is happening to the humans who were once zombies is contagious. We also don't know if those born of one parent that was a zombie at one point are affected by their parent."

"So what are you trying to tell us?" It was Merrick. The one Vorik was worried about the reaction from.

Council Leader Vorik sat back in his chair. He scanned the room. "I need to isolate and quarantine all humans who were once zombies. I need Medic Kaul to scan and treat Aleigha's son and Jada's fetus if they are found with the residue. We don't know what the effects of the treatment will have on the infants, but if they have the residue, we need to remove it."

Medic Renn scanned the room. He could feel the change in the atmosphere immediately. The anger of Merrick and Orik thickens the air. The tension was everywhere. Both Merrick and Orik were glaring at Vorik. A deep hatred in their eyes. Everyone else looked at their leader in shock.

Medic Renn stood up. "I think I may have a solution in regard to Aliegha's son and Jada." He stated as calmly as he could. He wanted to try to defuse the situation before something happened that one or more of them would regret.

Everyone turned to face him. Medic Kaul looked at him, annoyed. Renn swallowed. He had to press on. He wanted to do what he could to save the infants from the pain of the procedure.

"Speak!" Council Leader Vorik snapped. The tension in the room had gotten to him.

"Yes, sir," Medic Renn nodded, then turned to Merrick and Orik. "First, I think we should scan Jada. If the residue is present, we can take the residue from her. Once the residue is out, we can scan her again, along with the fetus inside of her. I think that the procedure to remove the residue from the fetus could do more harm than good. I don't think treating the fetus is wise until there is evidence that there is, in fact, residue in the fetus." Renn then turned to Merrick. "I think your son should be scanned. If there is residue, I think sedating him is the safest way to remove the residue. I would even go as far as finding a way to numb the pain. I don't believe it's safe to leave the toxin in, yet I also don't believe the procedure is safe for the infant. Great precautions should be taken to ensure he feels none of it." Medic Renn looked between the two fathers. "My hope is that neither child has the residue inside them, to begin with, but they need to be checked, just in case."

Medic Renn's words filled the room, the anger and tension evaporating slowly. His words gave them hope that there might not even be a need to perform the procedure on the infant and fetus.

Council Leader Vorik turned to Seeran and Mikiel. "I need you to set up an isolation dorm for all the humans that were once zombies. Once set up, start escorting them into the isolation dorm. None of them leave it without a medical order," he ordered, then turned to Medic Kaul. "I want all of them scanned and treated, then placed back inside the isolation dorm. Scan Aleigha's infant, then notify me of your findings. If there is residue in the child, perform the procedure using precautions as Medic Renn has suggested. As for Jada, scan and remove the residue. If the fetus is infected with the residue, remove it."

Orik shot up, angry. "That could kill the fetus!"

Council Leader Vorik turned to Orik. "There is no other choice," he said evenly, his eyes narrowed in anger at Orik's outburst.

Orik stood up stiffly and stormed out of the council chamber; Merrick got up slowly and followed him out. Everyone watched them go. Vorik turned to the rest of the attendees. Before he could say anything, Zack Nelson spoke. "You brought me here to represent humans. Here is what I have to say about it. I think putting them all in isolation is a bad idea. I agree with scanning them all and removing the residue if they have it but not locking them away," he said evenly. "As for the infant and Jada, what you suggest is cruel and inhumane."

Zack stood up, pulling Sheila gently with him, and they exited the room, saying nothing more.

The council chamber was dwindling in attendees. Rask stood up. "I don't think I'm needed here," he said calmly, then proceeded to exit himself.

Only Medic Kaul, Medic Renn, Seeran, and Mikiel remained.

Council Leader Vorik turned to Seeran and Mikiel. "You're dismissed. Inform me when the isolation dorm is ready, and the humans who were once zombies are inside it."

Seeran and Mikiel stood up and left the council chamber leaving Vorik, Kaul, and Renn alone. Vorik turned to Medic Kaul. "As soon as you scan Aleigha's son and Jada, notify me of the results."

Medic Kaul nodded. "Yes, sir."

"You're dismissed," Vorik sighed.

Medic Kaul and Medic Renn stood up and quickly left the council chamber. Council Leader Vorik didn't even watch them leave. His mind wandered to what would happen if one of the infants died. He needed a plan.

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