Dying Light: Volatile Virus

You walk out of the Volatile nest, now being your home nest.

You instantly feel the sun impacting you, and embrace it, and then, you see how the fade Sun mask glows against the sunlight, glowing in a yellow color, and with a bright light emanating from it, reflecting the sunlight.

After a short moment, you jump reaching the near roof easily, and then, you start your hunting. Your trail vision is more accurate, as the trails are not fade trails, but more bright. You follow the red trails, as you see the trails as if they were aromas attracting you, your hunger.

You continue for a moment, mainly reaching to hunt remaining Rais' gang members, and few other survivors.

As you hunt, your hunger is slightly decreased as you feel your body sustaining itself from the sunlight, but you continue to also eat some flesh too.

After few hours of hunt, you get back to your home nest, bringing around 6 dead survivors, 5 untouched, while 1 was already eaten slightly.

-"Zhrak, is only matter of time before we run out of preys to hunt. We should find another way to sustain."

Zhrak: "This is the only way we sustain ourselves, Draemir. We are hunters, we hunt our food... If we run out of preys to hunt, we just go to another zone to continue hunting."

-"... Old Town doesn't have much prey either... And I don't know any other zone in Harran... Maybe... Animals? Instead of humans, how about animals?"

Zhrak: "Animals?... What are you talking about?... None of us saw ever something as you call an animal. Is a bigger prey? Smaller?"

-"Depends of which, as are of much sizes. But sustain an entire nest will be complicated... I have to think about this... Don't worry, I'll take every option I can."

You leave again your home nest. Jumping through the roofs, direction of the Tower.

After a big while of impulsing yourself, you reach the Tower. But instead of entering through the entrance, you start climbing, checking the windows of each floor. After quite a while checking each floor's windows, you reach the laboratory of the Tower, where you see Dr. Zere doing something, but you're not interested in knowing, so you knock few times with care and caution, calling Dr. Zere's attention.

Dr. Zere gets surprised by seeing your face out of the window, and calling like that, but goes to the window and opens it, allowing you to go in, but once you enter, Dr. Zere confronts what he couldn't have ever imagined.

-"Doc, is it a good moment?"

Your voice sounds deep and mixed with growls, but you control your mouth, making your lips open, instead of the entire mouth. Is quite difficult to control when you open your Volatile like mouth, and when only your lips, but you still try your best, reaching good results on the attempt so far.

Dr. Zere: "Marco... What—what has happened to you? This is... unprecedented. But yes, you have my attention. What do you need?"

-"Listen, doc. I need something... I may have an idea of how to make for both sides, some sort of peace. But I need your help."

Dr. Zere: "Peace? Between the infected and the survivors? That's... ambitious, Marco. Tell me, what exactly do you need my help with?"

-"I'm not sure if will work, that in first place, but... From what I got to know... Volatiles and infecteds are just animals, hunting their preys. If I think of a permanent solution, or sort of defense... I would say... Is feeding them. Wolves hunt for hunger, hunting sheep... This isn't different. Wolves are Volatiles, and the sheep are humans. If I reach a way to feed my nest, and the others with other food sustain way, I may have reached to find something better than a cure."

Dr. Zere: "Fascinating... You're suggesting creating a food source for the infected to curb their predatory instincts. If successful, it could reduce human casualties and potentially stabilize the situation."

He pauses, stroking his chin in thought.

Dr. Zere: "But the infected—Volatiles especially—are driven by more than just hunger. The virus itself compels them to hunt. Even if we find a viable substitute, their instincts might still push them toward humans. However, it's worth exploring. What do you have in mind as a food source?"

-"Maybe cows. Big size animals, like horses. But is needed to check if works, or if was just an idea for hope and nothing more. Maybe it does work, maybe it doesn't. But what if... I reach to lead a Volatile for the test, and see what chooses? If it selects the animal, we find a solution, not the best, but near. If selects the human, it was just an idea for hope. If this works, we should worry for how ti keep this sustain way active for a long term path. But first... How do we get an animal? There isn't in Harran, and I traveled much around, jumping from roof to roof. Even in Old Town I did check a little."

Dr. Zere: "Your proposal has merit, Marco, but obtaining livestock is a significant hurdle. Harran's quarantine has left the city isolated—no animals are being brought in, and most were likely consumed or lost early in the outbreak."

He leans against the counter, thinking deeply.

Dr. Zere: "There may still be farms outside the quarantine zone, though getting to them would be... dangerous, to say the least. If you could somehow coordinate with someone beyond the quarantine wall, perhaps through a GRE contact or an outside survivor, we might be able to secure livestock for a controlled test."

He pauses, narrowing his eyes at you.

Dr. Zere: "But Marco, even if we obtain animals, you'll need a controlled Volatile for this test. Are you certain one from your nest will comply with such an experiment?"

-"... I mentioned 'my nest' before. I live in a Volatile nest now, and they see me superior than them, special. I'm after all the only 'Volatile', for say it somehow, that can travel during day. I think I can take a Volatile under control. Besides, I also got their help for take down Rais, and all his base. His base is now my Volatile nest. Do you know any way to go outside Harran?"

Dr. Zere: "There was... someone who managed to come in from outside the quarantine. A survivor. Lena treated them, but they succumbed to their injuries not long after."

He folds his arms, his expression thoughtful.

Dr. Zere: "Before they passed, they gave Crane directions to where they entered. Crane used that information to explore the area. If anyone could help you find a way out—or communicate with the outside—it might be him. But Marco..."

He hesitates, his tone more serious.

Dr. Zere: "Leaving Harran is no small task. The military is stationed around the perimeter, and they won't hesitate to kill anything or anyone trying to cross."

-"... How long was before Crane left the Slums through this directions given?"

Dr. Zere: "Marco, it wasn't too long ago—perhaps a few days at most. He didn't share much before he left, but he seemed determined."

-"... A few days at most... Then must have been 2 days ago?... I don't even know when was the last time I saw Crane... But I feel it wasn't long ago... Alright. Thanks for telling me. Do you want another blood sample? Since I'm here, feel free to take."

Dr. Zere: "Yes, that would be most helpful, Marco. Your condition is evolving rapidly, and each sample provides invaluable insights."

After a moment, Dr. Zere starts studying the blood sample you allowed him to obtain from you, but you also place something aside of him in the table, the gray case.

-"Don't lose this... Is what GRE most fears, and desires. It's also the ONLY thing keeping Harran alive... If this is destroyed, GRE will abandon what remains of Harran, to worse, I don't know how much worse, but is certainly death for everyone in Harran. Is extremely important to keep this safe. I can't take it with me all the time, is a risk I can't take. Inside this case, is a USB with information about an unfinished cure. If this is made, and given, the result would end... Terribly horrible... Mutations no one knows... Check on the USB, and work on the cure with what you have and can. The more keys we have, the easier we will open this locked box GRE is, and survival will be easier. Remember... This is the lives of everyone in Harran... All survivors, all infecteds... Because I think the worst case scenario would be that they would bomb Harran."

You turn around, walking to the window to leave.

-"I'll be on contact with you if you need me, what is your radio signal? For be on contact."

Dr. Zere: "You can reach me on frequency 122.35. I'll keep this safe and begin analyzing the data immediately. Marco... thank you. Be careful out there."