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Page 51 - Descent into Chaos - Battle: Part Three

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The battle with a greatly-weakened Gaia comes to a close as Ted aims his final bullet straight into her mouth to finish her off... but Ted has one last battle: with the military general - telling Buzz Grunt what just happened, and what he expects from him going forward.

I couldn't keep this scene going on too long since there's little change between the start of the battle and the end, which is why it only crosses 2 chapters-worth of pics.

The 'you cannot kill me in a way that matters' is from this Tumblr post about mushrooms, chosen because of the teru'lis's association with fungi.

Transcript:

Image 1 Jess's thoughts: (It's down to me, George and Ted now… George and Ted are exhausted, and George seems to be dazed from the spores….Gaia's getting weak, but I don't know how much more any of us have left in ourselves - not to mention I don't know how many more bullets it'll take before she'll go down…)

Image 2 Jess: Are you alright, Ted?! Ted: Fine. I only got one bullet left - better make it count…

Image 3 Sound description: *THWACK*

Image 4 Ted: You missed.

Image 6 Sound description: *shrill screeching*

Image 7 Gaia's glitch-text screaming: YOU CANNOT KILL ME IN A WAY THAT MATTERS (repeated)

Image 9 Gaia talking to Ted and Jess: (All I wanted to do was survive here...And you denied me that right. It is not my fault that my nature is detrimental to others' survival. Yours, on the other hand… your existence being detrimental to every other being unlucky enough to share a planet with you…is entirely your fault…)

Image 10 Ted: *heavily breathing* I think…I think she's gone. I can't hear her voice anymore. George: So…we saved the town? Jess: Not just yet. We still have to deal with all of the infected…but at least with Gaia dead, their infections shouldn't progress any further.

Image 12 Ted: After all this time… now we can finally try and recover from all this. Jess: Yeah, there's just one problem - how are you gonna explain this to the general? Ted: Let me handle that.

Image 13 OUTSIDE THE LAB… George: Would ya look at that… The cloud's gone. Jess: It's the first time I've seen proper sunlight in days. And the air is so fresh… *breathes in deeply* Ted: The plants look smaller, don't they? Without their momma, they'll be gone in no time, I bet-

Image 14 General Buzz: Explain yourself.

Image 15 Ted: Gaia's dead - as are three of your soldiers. And unless you wanna admit to everyone that three of your own soldiers willingly took a bribe, I suggest you keep your mouth shut about the rest.

Image 16 General Buzz: You…what?! Ted: Gaia was tougher than we suspected, but now you can look at keeping the majority of your workforce now the infection will hopefully grind to a halt. Besides, what's the point in investing in a weapon with no living soldiers, hm?

Image 17 Ted: I'm sorry you lost three good soldiers, but we couldn't leave Gaia alive. Our partnership in this is over. With any luck, the infection will begin to subside soon - and with a little more luck, you'll take your soldiers and leave New Sixam.

Image 18 General Buzz: Do you have ANY idea how much money we've wasted?! Ted: Do you have any idea how many lives we've saved? General Buzz: Lives? Saved? You got three of my soldiers killed!

Image 19 Ted: My bad, General. Forgot getting your soldiers killed was your job. Didn't mean to take that from ya. General Buzz: Fine. Have it your way - but without the military here, there's nothing keeping New Sixam on the map except for the dark tourism that'll arise from all this mess!

Page 50 - Descent into Chaos - Battle: Part Two

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The next part of the battle - the patients who are fighting for their lives, and the doctors who are doing the very same for them. Originally, the hospital was going to be a small one outside of New Sixam, but I figured for a completely new (to humans) illness and with the little time to save the patients, something bigger with better equipment was needed, so instead the worst cases got airlifted to one in Magnolia Promenade. Fredrick keeps Dylan up-to-date.

ERROR: Fredrick promises and then says he 'can't promise' right after.

Transcript:

Image 1 MAGNOLIA TEACHING HOSPITAL 4 PM Dr. Maison: I must say, the teruliasis cases are intriguing. But the treatment you've been developing - you've had less than a week to do so. Fredrick: If we don't try, every patient will have a one hundred per cent chance of death. They only have a shot if we use what we have - starting with the most aggressive cases. I know there won't be any chance of informed consent, but there's no time for that, and not one of the cases airlifted here are conscious. We have to move fast.

Image 2 Dr. Maison: Do we have contact details for any of their families? Fredrick: Most of them are homeless, so no - and so the same goes for former medical details, not unless any of them wake up and can tell us who they are. Esther Williams had her husband's phone number on her keys in case of emergency, and Oliver Attwood, well, he's my son - but I have a phone number for his brother. I can let Williams's husband and Oliver's brother know, that's no problem.

Image 3 Dr. Maison: And you mention in your notes that you believe one of the teru'lis plants needs to be killed for the infection to be properly treated? Fredrick: Yes. We believe the bioacoustics of the 'Gaia' plant - and the existence of it - is tied to the progression of this illness. There is a team that is going to get rid of it. Once that is done and the treatment administered, then we can have a proper shot at a level of recovery. It may take years to rid the body of the spores, but at least stopping the infection its tracks will be enough for now.

Image 4 Fredrick: I think we should administer it intravenously - in most patients, the spores were moreso present in the blood than anything else - and we can hopefully halt the infection paralysing the heart in enough time. If it makes no difference to the spores 'buildup in the lungs, we could try administering it via inhaler later on down the line. Anyhow, I won't keep you any longer, Dr. Maison - and I thank you and your staff for your help. Dr. Maison: Thank you, Dr. Shepherd - and I wish you all the best - you and your family.

Image 5 *phone ringing* Dylan: Dad?! Is that you? | Fredrick: Yes, Dylan, it's me. I can't prove who I am since you won't remember me, but- Dylan: It's alright. Ollie told me this was your number. Is Ollie okay?

Image 6 Fredrick: He's currently in hospital and about to receive the treatment we've been working on. We haven't had much time to work on it, but we have to try with what we have and see what happens. That is as much as I can give you for now, but he's at least in good hands. Dylan: Okay… thank you. Do you have any time to talk about something else?

Image 7 Fredrick: I have a little time. What did you want to talk about? Dylan: I don't know you, I don't remember you, but I know how much it hurt Ollie that you never bothered to look for him. But I don't know you well enough to make a proper judgement about you. Just do what you can to save my brother and we're good, okay? That's all I'm asking from you. I don't even want an apology or anything, I just… I want my brother back.

Image 8 Fredrick: I … I promise, Dylan. I can't promise a perfect outcome, but myself, the researchers and the doctors here will do everything we can. Dylan: Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it.

Image 9 Dylan: And if things don't go the way we want… if we lose him… will you still be willing to meet up with me? Fredrick: Of course, Dylan. Whatever happens, I will be there for you this time. Dylan: Okay. I'll leave you alone now. Good luck.