Chapter-7 Arctic Waters, 64° 50′ 8″ N, 19° 12′ 24″ W Hantaa Ship 01

"Are you sure Asuka? There were symptoms of suicidal attempt?" Doctor Akiko listened to Asuka's explanation.

Asuka nodded. Her lips paled and trembled as she spoke. Doctor Akiko thought Asuka was still in shock.

Captain Shinji did not want to cause panic to the entire crew by announcing that the diver's death was due to infection from a shark bite wound. They had many problems on their hands already. Certainly panic was not something to be added as a thought.

They had the sailor's death ceremony once again. Hantaa 01 was grieving, again. Naturally rumors started spreading among crews, especially after the diver who was examined by Doctor Akiko told the incident at the clinic. How he was examined by a doctor wearing a hazmat. That means avoiding contamination. He was declared fine. But he had the feeling that nothing was fine.

In the clinic room, Asuka opened her hazmat. Her body felt hot. The clinic was air conditioned. It shouldn't be this hot. Ugh, so it was not air temperature. This heat originated and radiated within her body. It felt like there was fire burning fiercely in every blood cell flowing in her veins. Asuka was literally burning inside.

One of the most excruciating things was when Asuka felt as if there were sharp thorns stuck in her windpipe. Asuka clutched her neck as the pain was stabbing so intensely.

I have to get rid of this thing from my neck! Now!

Footsteps were heard running down the stairs. Doctor Akiko followed by Captain Shinji and Yoshido arrived at the front of the isolation room only to see Asuka lying on the ground with her neck turning blue. She was suffocated by the rope hanging from the iron crossbar which was purposely tied tightly around her neck.

Doctor Akiko screamed frantically. Holding onto Asuka's limply hanging body. Yoshido took a chair and grabbed the knife from his waist. The rope was cut and Asuka was successfully lowered. Doctor Akiko checked Asuka's pulse. She was dead.

They rushed down to the clinic after the three of them talked in Captain Shinji's cabin on how to manage the dreadful situation. Only then Doctor Akiko remembered Asuka's apprehension when she was asking her. She also remembered that she saw Asuka's torn mask and she tried to cover it.

Sure enough. Doctor Akiko turned Asuka's blue face. There was a scratch on her cheek. Just small. Like a scratch. But Doctor Akiko was ready to confirm.

"Captain, I am positive that this is caused by virus transmitted through blood. Everyone must be careful and avoid any kind of open wound!" Doctor Akiko explained while panting.

"Quite certain that the virus is not airborne. It's just the incubation period for this virus is very short. It only takes a matter of hours. Separate people from now on. Take an account of anyone who has open wounds. Isolate them in their rooms!" Doctor Akiko's stern gaze made Captain Shinji no longer hesitate to make a decision. He gestured Yoshido to do what the doctor said.

Yoshido bowed and hurried away.

"Doctor, where do you think this virus came from?" Captain Shinji asked while thrusting his chin toward Object X.

"Quite possible. But that requires further analysis, Captain. When do you think will we be able to be evacuated from here?"

"Hantaa 05 is on its way. We will meet them in a few hours."

Doctor Akiko nodded in relief.

A relief that didn't last long. Because at that moment, the alarm sounded loudly accompanied by the ship starting to shake. Captain Shinji turned pale. Good grief! It was a Storm!

The weather anomaly of the Arctic ocean had returned. The weather that had looked so bright quickly changed. Hantaa 01 was like a paper boat drifting into rapids. Powerless and swaying left and right. If the ship's engines were still functioning, a storm like this would easily be handled by Hantaa 01. Captain Shinji's heart sunk. The only way was to hope for a lot of luck and pray.

The whale-hunting ship continued to be toyed with by the ocean waves. On one occasion it almost rolled over had it not been for the reverse wave from the opposite direction.

The entire crew was clinging to whatever nearby. They tried their best to survive and not get thrown overboard. There was no evacuation order from Captain Shinji. No one intended to disobey orders to stay on board.

The storm didn't last long. No more than 1 hour. But Hantaa 01 was looking battered. Stuffs were everywhere. The crews laid all over the place. Almost all were injured. Some were quite serious. Most were just minor injuries such as abrasions and bruises.

When the storm had completely stopped and the sea was calm, Captain Shinji gathered everyone on the deck. Except for the seriously injured. They were evacuated to the clinic and received the necessary treatment by Doctor Akiko assisted by a crew member with medical experience.

Asuka's body was deliberately put in the cold storage by Captain Shinji and Yoshido to avoid a commotion. Doctor Akiko only said that Asuka was sick and needed to rest in her room.

Captain Shinji looked at the crews one by one. They who were soaking wet, anxious and exhausted. Yoshido spoke up.

"There is an emergency situation on this ship. Therefore, the Captain issued a policy to separate everyone as a preventive measure. For the sake of mutual safety, I hope there are no questions. Just do it. Hantaa 05 will be here in a few hours evacuating us all."

There was a muffled hum from the crew. Captain Shinji raised his hand.

"Don't worry! Your safety is paramount. Do as you are told. Except for you with no injury whatsoever, all must return to their rooms. No wandering around! Food and drinks will be delivered to your rooms. Wakarimashita ka?"

Everyone nodded obediently. The injured crew members went straight to their rooms. While those who did not, remained on the deck waiting for further instructions on their duties from Yoshido.

Only 10 people left uninjured including Captain Shinji, Yoshido, Doctor Akiko and her new staff.

Doctor Akiko went down to the clinic room next to the isolation room. She had the work cut out for her. She had to treat 12 seriously injured people. There wasn't enough room for them in the clinic, so some crews had to lie down in the library room next to the clinic.

As soon as she arrived at the clinic, Doctor Akiko saw a horrible situation. The 6 seriously injured crews all went into convulsions and tried to strangle each other's neck as hard as they could!

Doctor Akiko was panicking. As the source of the virus, Object X was in a tightly sealed isolation room. So how did they all get infected?

Airborne! A sudden flash of lightning struck Doctor Akiko's mind.

So the virus could be transmitted through air! But why wasn't she infected? Doctor Akiko's conclusion narrowed even more.

This deadly virus was transmitted by air but entered the human body through open wounds. The virus was infecting humans through the bloodstream!

Doctor Akiko was stunned. It was apocalyptic event unfolding in Hantaa 01. Kami-sama…..