Chapter 82

We waited until I received a call from Snart for Melody to go with Carmaletta to plan the wedding. I finally heard from Snart, but it was not what I anticipated. “Bob, something is wrong with Carmaletta, she does not act right. I looked into her mind like you taught me; she has something black with long thin tendrils stretching into her mind. I do not know what to do Bob, please come help me.”

‘Snart I will be there as soon as I can. First calm her mind and try to get her to sleep, I know you can do that. You have a part of your brain that controls hibernation for long periods of space travel; use that to make her sleep in hibernation. I will be there shortly.’

“Melody, honey, please go to your bridesmaids to plan, or go back to work. Something has happened to Carmaletta and I have to go to her, and see if I can help.”

“Yes, please help her, I do not know what happened, but if you can help, please go to her. I will go to my job and speak with my friends. We will all pray for her, and for you to be able to help her.”

We both left, me in one direction, her in another. I rushed to Snart’s suite and rang the bell. It was opened by a very worried Yeoman. I asked where and he showed me to the captain’s bedroom. Carmaletta was lying down and seemed to be sleeping. Snart sat on the bed and looked almost pale. “Snart, what happened?”

“Bob, when we got back here she collapsed and we had to carry her to bed. I looked into her mind like you showed me and that is when I saw the black mass. It has taken over the same area where my telepathy is in my brain. There are about 20 black tendrils snaking all through her brain. So far no other areas are growing the black mass, but it does not look good. I was able to find the part of her mind that controls the hibernation. How did you know about that? Anyway, she is hibernating now and the black mass seems to be dormant too. Do you really think you can help?”

“Snart, my friend, I can but try to see what, if anything, I can do. First I need another female of your kind, preferable pregnant. I need to see her mind just like I need to see inside yours and Carmaletta’s. Is there another pregnant female aboard?”

“Yes there is Florence, she is about a quarter of the way through her pregnancy, much like Carmaletta; I will get her here quickly.” Snart hit the comm. panel and requested Florence to come to his quarters immediately.

While we were waiting, I looked closely into Carmaletta’s brain. I could see the mass and the tendrils. I cut one of them with my mind and it shriveled and disappeared. There was a mild disturbance in the mass, but not much. I tried another one and the disturbance was more noticeable. I decide not to push it right now.

Florence arrived shortly and Snart told her what had happened to Carmaletta. I asked her if I could probe her brain to see the difference between her brain and Carmaletta’s. She was a little leery about this, but Snart assured her it was safe, and it could help save Carmaletta. She reluctantly agreed and I scanned her brain for differences between her brain and Snart’s. I found several differences and then looked closely at Carmaletta’s. I found the same markers in her brain I found in Florence’s. Well that was a relief; I then said I was done for right now, but if she would stay I might need her again.

“Bob can you help her, just from seeing inside my head,” Florence asked.

“Yes Florence, I can see several differences between your brain and Snart’s. Carmaletta has the same differences, but if I tried to make her brain to look like Snart’s she would not be right. Using your brain pattern I can now know where and how to maybe save her. Thank you so much for allowing me assess to your brain. I say brain and not mind, as there is a huge difference. The brain is the organ where the mind is stored. The mind is the thoughts, fears, and memory of the person. I looked to your brain; therefore I did not see your emotions, or memories. I just saw the organ all these things are stored in. That is why you did not feel my presence.”

“I think I see the difference, thank you for explaining that. You may use me as a template if that is what you need,” said Florence.

“Bob, I see what you mean, there is a difference between the two, I always thought the two terms meant the same thing.”

“Yes most people think that too. Now let me see what this mass is; please hold Carmaletta steady. I am going to wake her enough so that I can see the mass in action. Florence would you please help Snart hold her down?”

I entered Carmaletta’s mind and slowly allowed the hibernation to lessen as I watched the mass. This mass was foreign to her brain, almost a parasite. I reached a point that the mass was active, but Carmaletta was still semi-comatose. I tried to reach inside the mass to see if it too had a mind. It did have a very rudimentary one and I could see it was a parasite, a brain spore. It entered the body by way of a body opening, eyes, nose, mouth, etc. Once inside the body it migrated to the brain where it attached itself to an unused portion of the brain and proceeded to eat brain matter. Then once the brain was no longer useful it sent its spores out through the mouth to be picked up by other entities and start the process all over again. This mass was just starting with this brain, but it would only take about 2 more years before it would reproduce again.

I searched and found its restrictions and vulnerabilities and found that it had to have a porous medium to go through to spread and that it could be killed by fire. Brain tissue was its food, and it didn’t have to be living tissue, although that was preferred. This gave me an idea, if I could remove the mass and move it to say, a dead brain that was going to be cremated shortly, like Nigeltrain, then I could get rid of it from Carmaletta’s brain and make some good use of Nigeltrain yet. He was due to be cremated in just one hour. His funeral pyre was being built right now. It was to be a ceremony like no other on Killjops. Once the fire was lit, I would transfer the mass to his brain and Carmaletta would be safe. I only hoped that too much of her brain was not eaten away by this spore. I put Carmaletta and the mass into a very deep sleep, deeper even than the hibernation. Her breathing slowed to about a breath every 2 minutes and her heartbeat was down to 7 beats per minute.

I told Snart and Florence, “Right now I have put Carmaletta and the mass into a very deep sleep, a little deeper that the one during your hibernations. She is fine and I think I can remove the mass, but it is alive and very few things kill it. One is fire, and since Nigeltrain is about to be burned in a huge funeral pyre as a symbol of the terror ending, I will transfer it into his brain once the fire has been started, and it is licking at his body. That way there can be no chance this spore can infect another person. I do not know where Carmaletta picked up this spore, but from what I can tell, it takes about 5 years for the spore to advance from entering the body, to migrating to the brain, and grow to the size that this one is. I will continue to cut the tendrils while she sleeps.”

“Bob, I owe you my wife’s life, there is nothing I would not do for you. You have but to name the price I must pay and it will be paid, this I promise you. I will even be your bonded servant for the rest of my life if that is what it takes for you to save my beloved.”

“Snart, the only thing I ask in return for this, is your friendship. I am a man of simple pleasures and needs. I have no need for wealth, for I am the richest man I know, in the friends and loved ones that surround me. I have no need for servants, as my friends and family would do anything for me that a servant would do. I do not need power, what good is power without the things I have right now. I am a respected leader on a world where I am making a difference in the lives of its people. That is all the power I need. I have nine wives, soon to be ten, who love me unquestioningly and I have three children, yes adopted, but still I am their father if you ask them. I have three pregnant wives and a possible fourth. Therefore I am the happiest man I know and more happiness I’m not sure I could stand. Just to call you friend, I am honored, I need nothing more.”

“Bob, I am humbled by you and your love and friendship. Your wish is granted, whether Carmaletta is saved or not I will always be your friend.”

“Snart it is time.” I had been cutting tendrils as we talked and I now had by three left. I severed them quickly and grabbed the mass and transported it into Nigeltrain’s brain as quickly as I could. I felt the spore was happy and sending tendrils out as the fire consumed it, ending its life.

“It is over now; let me see what damage has been done to your bride Snart.” I searched for damage and the only thing I could find was her inability to be a telepath. That is the only section of her brain that was damaged. Her other areas where the tendrils were did not receive any damage. The tendrils put pressure on the surrounding tissue and that is what made her mood swings and demanding ways. I slowly let Carmaletta come out of the induced hibernation and sleep, giving her soothing thoughts. Soon she was awake and in her husband’s arms. Florence and I left them to her awakening, I felt her relief as she awoke fully and saw she was in her lover’s arms. I pulled out of her head then, and we left their suite and I headed back toward my own.

Florence looked to me and said, “I see why the Captain has such high regard for you. You truly are an amazing person, no matter what species you are, you are truly remarkable. I hope that I can become one of your friends too.”

“Florence, I thank you for all your help, and I would appreciate it greatly if this little incident never became public knowledge. I know it would make a good story; but it would hurt people that I love and cherish as good friends. I would not wish harm to them at all.”