Chapter 206 Interview Record of the Epidemic Doctor [Part 2]

[Observation Log]

[Subject: Plague Doctor

Foreword: Plague Doctor provided a recently deceased goat corpse. Plague Doctor expressed gratitude. ]

[Observation Log: Plague Doctor spent several days performing surgery on the goat corpse, resulting in the creation of a zombie. Plague Doctor expressed satisfaction with the result, but stated that "the condition is still in its early stages. My veterinary practice is only basic, but the patient responded well after surgery." ]

[Observation Log

Subject: Plague Doctor]

[Foreword: Plague Doctor provided a recently deceased gorilla corpse. Given the physiological similarities between gorillas and humans, the gorilla doctor expressed obvious gratitude. ]

[Observation Log: Plague Doctor spent several days performing surgery on the gorilla corpse, resurrecting it multiple times. However, the gorilla doctor seemed dissatisfied with the results and made three additional changes to the entity after the first resurrection. After failing to reanimate the corpse for the fifth time, the Plague Doctor turned the corpse over to Foundation personnel for incineration, stating, "I have learned a great deal from this, though I fear my earlier optimism was misplaced. I have yet to encounter such a... stumbling block in my path to a cure. More subjects like this would greatly advance my research."]

[Observation Log]

[Subject: Plague Doctor

Foreword: Plague Doctor provided with the corpse of a recently deceased bull. Although slightly irritated, Plague Doctor accepted the subject.]

[Observation Log: Plague Doctor spent several days operating on the bull corpse, requesting only a meal of thin crackers, bacon, and hard cheese. Plague Doctor first embalmed the corpse, and was observed to remove multiple long syringes from his bag, each containing a different colored viscous fluid. The plague doctor described the fluids as "the essence of the humors," and elaborated, "The plague can cause a systemic imbalance. In such cases, the humors must be balanced before true healing can be done, or the body will reject the treatment."]

[Over the next few days, the plague doctor spent much of his time adjusting the organs within the carcass with a number of large metal tools. Eight days later, the plague doctor constructed an electric prod and struck the carcass in several places. This operation seemed to have the effect of regenerating the cow, which was able to walk, albeit with its head inverted and its limbs displaced.]

[Follow-up interview]

[Begin log]

[Dr. Hamm: We've been watching you work for a few weeks now, and I'm honestly not sure I understand what you're doing. Can you describe your process in detail?]

[Dr. Hamm: My goodness, it's extremely detailed. As I told your assistant, you'll find the best description of my methods in my journal, as I record my work there in great detail.]

[Dr. Hamm: I see. My concern is, Doctor, we still don't understand what you are trying to cure, or how it works, or how transforming creatures into seemingly alive, mindless entities helps your cause. ]

[Epidemic Doctor: Do you still not understand the Plague? Even after all this time? Doctor, it is an unspeakable horror that has shown its true colors countless times in the past and will do so again in the future. I am blessed with the wisdom and senses to seek and destroy it, but many like you cannot. It is a cruel punishment to be at the mercy of a disease you do not fully understand! ]

[Dr. Hamm: That still does not answer my question. How can your treatment be considered a cure? ]

[Epidemic Doctor: (suddenly excited) It is a cure! You may laugh at my efforts, but do not sully the name of a science that has developed so great and compassionately. What you see here with such shortsightedness is a life more worth expecting than any life that has ever been plagued. This creature is now clean, no longer spreading the plague, and does not have to experience the horrors it should have suffered. ]

[Dr. Hamm: This is not a living thing, Doctor!

[Epidemic Doctor: (very excited) Don't mess with me, sir! You and your colleagues are just like everyone else, you can't see beyond the minor setbacks that are right in front of you to see salvation! Do you wait for the rotten timbers to be removed until the hall collapses on your head? No, you find them, remove them and replace them with something uncorrupted! Most importantly, you don't lightly laugh at this structure, just because it looks different to you now. It is strong! It no longer has the disease. ]

[Dr. Hamm: Sorry, I didn't mean to irritate you, I just wanted to understand. ]

[Epidemic Doctor: (deep breath) Okay, well, watch your words from now on, Doctor. I'm a professional, but professionals can also feel their self-esteem damaged by criticism of their masterpieces. For the sake of trust between colleagues, I forgive you. ]

[Dr. Hamm: Is there anything else I can help with? ]

[Epidemic Doctor: (pause, looking away from Dr. Hamm) No, that's all. Another test subject, on the usual schedule. You know I'm more into human anatomy

[End of Log]

[Researcher's Note: The Plague Doctor does seem to want to help other humans, though it has yet to provide a single instance of its ability to save us. I have been observing it for several weeks, and while the results seem to have not changed, the Plague Doctor continues to claim that its healing techniques are getting closer and closer to perfection. I think the entity may know the true state of its achievements better than we do. ]

[Appendix Plague Doctor.3: A Certain Event]

[Shortly after the Plague Doctor's initial containment, Dr. Ham conducted several interviews with the entity regarding its anomalous properties, and over time, noticed that it became increasingly dissatisfied with its subjects and zombies. This lasted for several months, during which time the Plague Doctor never displayed any aggressive behavior. ]

[One day, when Dr. Ham entered the Plague Doctor's laboratory for another routine interview, it began to become anxious and asked Dr. Ham if he was feeling well. Dr. Ham followed protocol to remind the Plague Doctor that he needed to be interviewed, after which the entity became hostile and attacked Dr. Ham, killing him. Due to the failure of safety protocols and Dr. Ham's failure to activate the in-room emergency system, his body was not discovered until three hours later, by which time the Plague Doctor had converted him into a zombie. ]

[After this incident, the Plague Doctor was interviewed by Dr. Zeman. ]

[Interviewer: Dr. Zeman

Interviewee: Plague Doctor]

[Record begins]

[Dr. Zeman: I need you to explain.]

[No response]

[Dr. Zeman: Plague Doctor, you are asked to explain your actions. I remind you that refusal to cooperate during containment will result in further restrictions.]