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Ep 5. Research and Development

8/26/22

A forum post by a user named Sedimentary_croc reads, You know I'm getting really sick of talking to you over a medical forum. A reply by user gellycupcake200 reads, You can just give me your phone number, it's been like a year I'm pretty sure you're not a serial killer. Sedimentary_croc replies, Don't count on it. They send their phone number. Painkiller sits on the train in nurse's scrubs, smiling fondly as they text with Croc. Croc says, Hey forget Friday you need to come tonight. Painkiller says, I shouldn't, I have nightshift. Croc says, Skip your shift you have to skip it. I will eat my right foot if you get fired trust me. You need to keep riding the train to High Society. I need to talk to you at the lab. Painkiller says, You're lucky someone can cover for me.
The train screeches to a halt, showing a green station shadowed by trees. The sunset beside the train casts a long shadow.
Painkiller exits the train, noticing Croc standing there. Surprised, Painkiller waves and says Oh you must be, Fossil. They are interrupted by Fossil grabbing their wrist, beginning to drag them out of the station. Fossil says, There's no time for pleasantries. Painkiller, nervous, responds, Oh! Okay!
A long shot shows Fossil and Painkiller driving up the side of a mountain, then through a dense forest towards the lab. It's after dark, and the headlights are on. Painkiller asks, Are we not gonna listen to the radio? Fossil replies, Trust me, you don't want to.
Fossil opens the lab doors for Painkiller, the building a beacon of warm light against the cool darkness of the night. Painkiller's shadow, like that of the train earlier, casts long. The car is left behind, parked.
Fossil and Painkiller sit on the couch in front of the fireplace, both holding glasses of red wine. Painkiller says, What a lucky break, huh? Doing work in the rings! Leaning in closer, Painkiller adds, It's great to finally see you. Suspicious, Fossil says, Yes, must be nice. Then, suddenly kicking Painkiller to the other side of the couch, Fossil shouts, Computer! Decontaminate! Painkiller's wine glass shatters against the floor.
A holographic grid scans Painkiller with a quiet hum. When it's finished, Fossil points a raygun at Painkiller, with a clack sound. Unamused, Painkiller asks her, You know, I'm a bit of a hypochondriac myself, but isn't this a little extreme? Sweating profusely, Fossil pauses for a moment, before looking towards the fireplace as she says, You won't best me.
Disturbed, Painkiller says, I'm starting to regret coming here. Are you sure you're not a serial killer? Silently, Fossil holds a burning coal from the fireplace up to Painkiller, holding it between the claws of her reptile hand. Then, throwing the coal away, she asks, Painkiller, are you aware of what's happening outside? Did you take a train through the city without noting a single thing was off? Painkiller answers, No. I was having too much fun texting you.
Fossil holds up a remote, turning on the TV over the fireplace. Fossil says, Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But this is the news. Painkiller watches the broadcast with growing horror as the reporter shouts, Please barricade yourselves indoors! Spoon, what's that? What's crawling all over your fucking arms? Hey! Hey! As the reporter screams, Painkiller grips the arm of the couch in fear.
As the reporter cries out for help, Fossil drinks directly from the bottle of wine, the raygun resting at her side. As the sounds from the broadcast grow increasingly more visceral, with thudding and screams from both objects and parasites, the speech bubbles grow steadily more red and distorted.
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