#writecher

Background:

Grian is a recent arrival. Due to the circumstances of his discovery (see I-313, 30/10/2024) and an unwillingness to speak to staff, very little is known about his history. Following standard 14-day quarantine !!! Grian was deemed in good enough health to transfer to the complex, with safety barriers in place for the first few days to allow him to get used to the environment before meeting other residents up close.

Scar is a long-term resident. Reduced mobility makes reintroduction to the wild nonviable, so he instead works as an ambassador and consultant regarding remodelling of pool interiors. Has a history of disobeying authority.

Per Scar's own testimony, Scar bypassed the security barriers multiple times before this incident. Staff was unaware of these prior incidents, as well as the means by which Scar achieved this. Scar claims these were merely visits to show Grian around, as Scar was involved with the construction of Grian's pool, and that Grian never exited the area. Grian refuses to say anything on the matter, beyond confirming that he had met Scar before the incident on November 14th.

Full incident report:

Sometime between 12:00 and 14:45, Scar bypassed one of the safety barriers by unknown means. At approximately 14:45, Slab and Zombey passed the door to Grian's quarters. Hearing an unusual sound, they entered the room and found both Grian and Scar, Grian having pinned Scar down in one of the shallow portions of the pool.

Grian responded to the staff's arrival with a threat display. Scar took advantage of this distraction to escape Grian's hold. A brief scuffle followed. Splashing made it difficult for staff to follow, but the dispute ended in Scar's favour, with Scar trapping Grian in a hold wherein Grian's face was pressed against Scar's chest. Scar remained unconcerned !!!! as he greeted Slab and Zombey, in spite of Grian's tail remaining free and thrashing wildly. Despite staff recommendation, Scar kept Grian in this hold until 14:48, when Grian bit him. I'd bite him too.

Scar released Grian at this point, allowing Grian to retreat !!!!! into the pool's underwater structures. Recognizing that the bite had drawn blood, Zombey sent Slab to retrieve medical supplies. Scar initially attempted to follow Grian, but was reminded of foundation protocol and convinced to wait on the poolside and receive medical attention.

Once Slab returned with first aid equipment, Zombey entered the pool to retrieve Grian. Grian did not resist relocation !!!!!! once found, apart from a brief attempt to swim towards Scar upon entering line of sight. Grian was removed from the room at 15:01, while Scar's relocation was delayed until his injury was fully bandaged at 15:15.

Once both residents were safely relocated, staff spoke with residents to confirm whether anyone else had any contact with Grian. Only Mumbo Jumbo had spoken with Grian. As that communication was through ultrasonic frequencies and did not involve either resident approaching the security barriers, it was not deemed necessary to quarantine him as well. Contact with Scar was not deemed a risk factor, as Scar did not have any recent injuries apart from the bite.

---

ZFS Assessment (abridged, see medical file for full details)

Date: 18/11/2024

Physical: Scales continue to brighten, more red than pink this time. None missing. Fins show minor damage around edges, no worse than previously observed. Full range of motion. Capable of strong, fast movement both in and out of water. NEGATIVE

Mental: No observed difficulty communicating or performing actions of his own accord, but refuses to cooperate with testing. INCONCLUSIVE

Behavior: Irritable. Splashes staff at all opportunities. In context with past behavior, this is unremarkable. Responds to Scar's ultrasonic calls from the adjacent room. When left alone, alternately swims laps and plays with supplied toys, with occasional naps on the edge of the pool. NEGATIVE

Conclusion: The patient shows zero symptoms. Even if an infection had slipped past the generous initial quarantine period, physical deterioration takes less than a day to set in after the behavioral shift. Said shift is characterized by UNPROVOKED violence, fearlessness, and attempting to maul ANYTHING that comes within arm's reach. That includes you, Cleo. Grian's behavior has been consistent through his entire residency thus far and he is only getting healthier. As such, I can confidently say that there is no chance that Grian has Zombie Fish Syndrome, and both he and Scar can safely be returned to the complex at any time.

That protocol is in place for a reason, but it's pretty obvious by now that they were just roughhousing, like Scar said. Have we all forgotten how much personal experience he has with that disease? Am I the only person who actually listens to him?