// net.work

[This entry to the feed is definitely not as happy and energetic as the first time he'd posted, way back before the mission began. At the moment, he's left it to video, especially since he wants everyone to see what he's got hidden away in his room; he's a bit beat up, much like he's sure a lot of others are after that monster tussle three days back: a big swelled bruise on one side of his forehead with six neat stitches running across his temple, a small sprain splint on his right-hand wrist, a bit of sleepiness in his eyes, like he's spent the day wringing his hands and hyper-fixating on something instead of catnapping.]

Newt here, hey. So... this has been all kinds of terrible, huh?

The whole — being duped thing. Hope we've had some time to absorb this awfully terrible conclusion.

I hope you're all recovering. Um... I'm not sure if anyone who was taken by those guards can hear me, but... Anyway. I'm sorry the Lord and Lady may be colossal assholes, or that we've been pretty much pitted against infected, angry citizens instead of the big bad monster army they tried to pitch to us. For the record? A few of us had to literally steal back these monster specimens I've got here, because the guards refused to let me keep even a baggie for analysis, despite it being our mission to help them stop this 'terrible enemy', so I admit, I kinda felt this was coming.

[Finger-quotes, obviously, followed by a biting of his lip. Then, a sharp breath, followed by gesturing-]

Let me back up. I've been studying some tissue samples from the fully infected monster samples, comparing them to my own healthy human cells, as well as some from the locals who inhabit the area, too; don't worry about how I got those. But also: turns out, as long as you can barter something cool, you can get a dude to give you some skin cells and a vial of blood, no problem.

Now, trials show that when someone who isn't native to this place is contaminated, the rate of infection moves at a much slower pace than it would to the natives here in Gyeongje. We're not impervious to it obviously, but we do have a tolerance to it that the people who live here definitely do not have. So I just wanted to get that data out of the way here.

[He switches the feed from himself to close-ups of what the microscope is recording: indeed, you can see the infection spreading through healthy human cells; the next shows the infection spreading through the local Gyeongje citizen cells... but the footage looks rather sped up, compared to the other recorded data. No doubt about it, the Orbers get sick much more slowly.]

It took approximately three days for the local Gyeongje man's skin samples to be fully engulfed by the contagion carried in the creatures' cells. I can verify that the monster tissue and the three day old infected civilian tissue are a match. Ghost girl's right on the money; these creatures are from this town, and are likely victims of not-so-unrelated plague that had hit this place and left parts of it abandoned.

[He clears his throat, adjusts his glasses.]

As you guys might've heard a few days ago from Finn, he was given some abilities by that gal, So-Yeon. The ghost chick? Her abilities are past onto him just enough that he can temporarily help treat those afflicted with the disease. The good news is, Finn's blood absolutely helped improve the state of the infected cells...! They essentially began to revert back to their usual selves when Finn's blood was introduced into the dish. So whatever she's got going on, it does fix the problem. The only issue is I can't manufacture anything that works long-term from Finn's blood; it has an unwritten expiration date, and the longer the blood is outside of Finn's body, the less effective it is.

So yes, it's a great short-term, and it could definitely slow the progression of the illness, but we won't get anywhere in fixing these people — and our people — without the source of what's in Finn's bloodstream. I feel confident, though, that this plague is truly reversible, and that a cure lies in the orb, and in So-Yeon's abilities. If you can speak with her, please do your crew a big ol' favor and ask her as much as you can about how this magic works. This might be a job best suited for the infected from our crew, though; I don't know how much she trusts the lot of us.

Also, what the hell is up with my personal goal being to kill one of these infected people, huh?

Thanks for nothing, Ximilia, great to know I almost murdered a sick person who needed help.

This sucks.

[After a long moment, he sighs, drags a hand down his face.]

Anyone ever hear the story of The Monkey's Paw?

It's probably just me, but I'm getting some serious Monkey's Paw vibes from The Golden Eye.

... Never mind, forget it. I just need a break from staring down this microscope.

I'm gonna get a drink, maybe. Anyone wanna come with?

If this stupid palace with all its fancy banquets is good for something, it's gotta be the liquor.