The Black Death: Research and Observations - by Ke'rii Ogasawara

[Mei]

((This journal is "playing catch up" with the story line first introduced in "Call of the Wind" (not required reading, but if you want to... ). The story itself took place a year ago, so this journal is documenting the progression of the illness introduced in the story.))

The Black Death
Research and Observations
By: Ke’rii Ogasawara

INTRODUCTION:
 
This journal is a collection of my research, studies and observations of a subject infected with, as I have come to call, the Black Death. To start, it must be known that this disease cannot be transferred to another outside of my own bloodline. The findings within the pages of this journal are of my niece, Sartori’li Bluedark.
 
The Black Death: Brief Summary
The Black Death was manufactured to target my family’s bloodline by Xia’li Ogasawara, a Jedi separated from the Order. It is my speculation that perhaps this virus, disease, whatever exactly it is, was created from her own DNA. It is also believed to specifically target those sensitive to the Force.
 
The First Victim
It’s first victim was my father, Hoban’ji Ogasawara. At the time of infection, he was 88 years old, 190cm tall and weighed approximately 127kg. He was of human genetics and was a Force sensitive attuned to the dark side. He spent his final years alone, working on his own medical research (I have yet to look into his work), and did not make many attempts to reach out to his family. Though I had personal conversations with him, we had our differences, but I did observe in him great suffering from depression, isolation and struggled with alcoholism.
 
In his final days, it is reported by Lufta Olie, Sihnon Ogasawara and Gung’chul Areum that my father became very weak, though still able to use the Force in a telepathic sense. He experienced great loss in muscle mass and body fat, weighing approximately 61.68kg in his final days. His skin had paled, was reported to be clammy and his eyes seemed sunken in. The hue of his eyes had lost all color, becoming grey. He was sensitive to touch. It is reported that he was struck by a dart containing the poison. The entry point had greyed the skin around the area. It seemed to spread from there, running through the bloodstream. Though we have no way of knowing for certain, it is estimated that the poison worked through him for a standard month.
 
 
About the Researcher: Ke’rii Ogasawara
It should also be known that I am not a medical professional beyond my own capabilities as a field medic from service in the Republic and Imperial Militaries. I have never worked with biological weapons, poisons, cognitive diseases, etc. My background is with science, technology and engineering. Though I do not possess the skill to wield the Force, it is imperative that I maintain honesty and full disclosure within the pages of this journal. Therefore, I do believe there is a sliver of Force sensitivity within me, but I have never trained nor do I possess the strength in as is seen in Jedi or Sith.
 
CONTRIBUTORS
Lufta Olie
Mei’li Bluedark
Sihnon Ogasawara
Gung’chul Areum

[Mei]

MEDICINES AND REMEDIES

The list below was provided by Lufta Olie (Naboo) who treated my father in his final days. Though there is no cure, she has been able to locate herbs that can ease the subject’s discomfort when episodes arise.
 

• Woosha plant: used to treat sunburns
• Treeman’s Herb: for use when subject experiences sudden episodes or “flare ups”.
• Millaflower: used either as a plant to keep in subject’s room to keep her calm and relaxed. Can also be ground into a powder and used (minimal) for extreme episodes or “flare ups”.

[Mei]

INITIAL HEALTH REPORT

SUBJECT: Sartori’li Bluedark
SPECIES: Human (12%)/Sith Pureblood (88%)
SEX: Female
AGE: 6 (at time of infection)
WEIGHT: 13.6kg (at time of infection)
HEIGHT: 80cm (at time of infection)
SKIN COLOR: Red
HAIR COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Green
 
INFECTION: Was struck by a dart on her neck. Reported that pale-grey discoloration was noticed immediately at the injection point. Subject experienced convulsions, yet has no recollection of this happening. Developed a cold approximately 30 standard minutes after infection.
 
OBSERVATION: It was reported that a dark mist or entity was seen around the time the subject was infected. It is possible that only those sensitive to the Force can see or sense this. It is believed, by Mei’li Bluedark, to be the Force ghost of Xia’li Ogasawara who had died several years before this incident.

[Mei]

HEALTH REPORT: DAY 15

SUBJECT: Sartori’li Bluedark
SPECIES: Human (12%)/Sith Pureblood (88%)
SEX: Female
AGE: 6
WEIGHT: 13kg
HEIGHT: 80cm
SKIN COLOR: Red; signs of discoloration
HAIR COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Green
 
LOCATION: Kaas City, Dromund Kaas
 
OBSERVATION: Sartori is experiencing a loss in appetite for the past three days. The point of infection is still discolored, and cold-like symptoms are still persisting. Subject has expressed discomfort in her ears when she hears thunder. I believe it may be time to move her from Dromund Kaas and back home to Yavin IV.
 
I spoke with Lufta Olie via holo and she recommended Treeman’s Herb to ease Sartori’s discomfort, and mentioned perhaps putting millaflower in her room as this can keep her calm. It was Olie’s belief that agitation, fear, and stress could lead to an onset of episodes or “flare ups” of symptoms as she had seen this with my father.

[Mei]

HEALTH REPORT: DAY 28

SUBJECT: Sartori’li Bluedark
SPECIES: Human (12%)/Sith Pureblood (88%)
SEX: Female
AGE: 6
WEIGHT: 12kg
HEIGHT: 80cm
SKIN COLOR: Pink
HAIR COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Green
 
LOCATION: Bluedark Estate, Yavin IV
 
OBSERVATION: I've noticed a gradual decrease in weight in Sartori. She does not want to eat, so she is made too, however we have noticed that she feels sick when she eats meat. I have placed her in a liquid diet, the taste of which she doesn't like, but she needs nutrients and protein to keep her strength.

Today I have noticed significant skin discoloration. She is pink in color, but yesterday she more of an orange-red. This same paling of the skin was reported in the initial victim days before his death. However, Sartori’s strength is significantly better, as is her breathing. I contribute this to her more dominant Sith Pureblood genetics she inherited from her father, Kaatulf Bluedark. I theorize that the creator of this virus did not have access to his genetics when this was manufactured, therefore progression in the child is less rapid than with my father.

Still, it is mysterious why her skin had paled so rapidly within a matter of a standard day. She complained this morning of an ear ache while she was playing with one of her toys that makes sound. I have tested the decibels of this toy and it reaches a mark of 87dB. I have recorded a sound test to determine and monitor this deterioration, and make an attempt at finding a pattern.

The recording would switch on, showing the young Sith Pureblood/Human child, Sartori’li. As described in the notes, her skin would be a light pink. Her hair is black, done up into pigtails. She is dressed in a dark red, long sleeve, turtle neck shirt with gloves to cover her hands.

“...this for play?” the child asks as the recording comes on.

“Yes, just a little test,” Ke'rii says out of frame before stepping into the picture with headphones.

“You sure those won't hurt her?” Mei’s voice comes from somewhere close in the room, but she is not visible.

Ke'rii carefully placed the headphones onto Sartori's head, and covers her ears. “She'll let me know, won't you, little one?”

Sartori could be seen smiling at her uncle. She nodded and as the headphones covered her ears she cringed. It was uncomfortable, but not painful.

“You okay?” Ke'rii asked, observing her.

“I'm okay, uncle Ke-ke,” the girl assured him.

Ke gave a nod and stood, walking off screen. The recorder shook slightly as he made adjustments behind the camera. Sartori looked directly as the camera and gave a small smile before ‘sneakily' sticking her tongue out to make a silly face. Mei laughed softly off screen.

The view on the camera pulled up a display showing a decibel chart that was colored from green to red to indicate volume.

“Okay,” Ke's voice came from behind the camera. “When you feel any discomfort, just let me know, okay?”

Sartori nodded, looking up, beyond the camera. “Okie-dokie.”

The colored chart in the screen lit up in the lower green zone as a sound was played through the headphones. Sartori just looked at the camera, as if waiting for something. The next sound played and she looked up at her uncle, her forehead dressing slightly, but she was still comfortable. The next sound leveled into the upper green zone, reaching 75dB.

Sartori winced. “Owie,” she said.

“It's all right, my sweet,” Mei spoke again somewhere close by.

“That was a 75,” Ke spoke quietly behind the camera. “The toy from this morning was at uh... 87.”

“The thunder on Dromund Kaas, was at what again?” Mei asked quietly.

“About 120 to 130,” Ke responded. “So in, what………. 13 standard days… now it's dropped--”

Sartori looked straight into the camera as her mother and uncle spoke quietly. She stared for a moment, not moving, the tried to cross her eyes. She giggled quietly.

“--Yes, but yesterday she was fine. It's as if it is random,” Mei said. “She was even out by the waterfall, yet today she said it hurt.”

“Can I go outside an’ play?” the child looked to her mother off screen.

The recording ended.

[Mei]

HEALTH REPORT: DAY 31

SUBJECT: Sartori’li Bluedark
SPECIES: Human (12%)/Sith Pureblood (88%)
SEX: Female
AGE: 6
WEIGHT: 12kg
HEIGHT: 80cm
SKIN COLOR: dark pink
HAIR COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Green
 
LOCATION: Bluedark Estate, Yavin IV
 
OBSERVATION: Sartori suffered a seizure this afternoon. She had expressed concern about feeling dizzy minutes before it happened. Mei reported she felt hot to the touch. She is resting now, but has no recollection of the seizure or the events leading up to it. She now displays symptoms of a cold: runny nose, cough, chills and fever. Her skin, however, appears to be darkening and is now a darker shade of pink. She is also highly sensitive to touch after the seizure and expressed discomfort when Mei placed a blanket over her.

Warning signs of seizure: sudden discoloration of skin, sensitivity to sound, dizziness, high fever

Remedy: Unknown. Though ice wraps, ice water or ice chips help to reduce fever.

While I have no way of knowing what brought on this seizure, I hope to discover a pattern if one exists. I took a blood sample as soon as she was stabilized. I found no anomalies when I ran a comparison against the initial sample.

[Mei]

NOTES

Sartori has survived this black death longer than my father. There's a victory somewhere in that. Her spirits are high, but still she wonders why she is sick. Mei and myself have informed her, as much as one can to a six year old. Mei believes her daughter to be too young to understand. I feel that is the “easy way out”. After Sartori suffered that first seizure I have noticed a decrease in her ability to remember things. Her reflexes are slower. She is slower to respond to questions. Her focus shifts more easily than before.

I'm afraid I won't find a cure for her. I have been through the data I retrieved from the laboratory on Ord Mantell. There's the obvious genetic detail that went into account, but I do see a lack of research into Sith Pureblood genealogy. It lies heavily on “binding” this with the Force. But who is the controller if that is the case? Xia'li is dead. She died before this was even created, yet there are references to “the master”. Mei has not felt her, not since Sartori was infected and our father died. I can't help but wonder if he, by some Force miracle, is aiding us in some way.

Sometimes I feel him. Like he's watching over my shoulder. And sometimes I'll catch Sartori staring at no one. Is it him? If it is why can't he just tell me what will save her? Maybe she can't be saved.

It's been 50 days now.

[Mei]

HEALTH REPORT: DAY 62

SUBJECT: Sartori’li Bluedark
SPECIES: Human (12%)/Sith Pureblood (88%)
SEX: Female
AGE: 6
WEIGHT: 13.5kg
HEIGHT: 80cm
SKIN COLOR: Red; patches of discoloration
HAIR COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Green, color appears to have dulled
 
LOCATION: Bluedark Estate, Yavin IV
 
OBSERVATION: Sartori has been suffering headaches and this morning she said the light was hurting her eyes. This disease has no pattern I can follow. One day it is hearing, one day taste, the next her skin had greyed without reason. We have learned that seizures follow within a day after skin discoloration, but I have no idea why and what causes it. At least we can anticipate the seizures but it seems afterwards her memory falters.

On a positive note, she has gained more weight, but she is still not where I'd like her to be. She knows now that even if she is not hungry that she must eat. I feel from her that she is learning, possibly even understanding, that this is not a temporary sickness.

Today, it is headaches and sight. And for the first time her eyes have lost some of their green hue and look more pale. I'm sure this is connected. It sounds strange, but I feel as if this disease is struggling. With my father it worked so quickly to deteriorate him, both physically and mentally. Yet with Sartori, it seems to be “testing” her body and mind. My father had loss of strength, grey and sickly skin, pale eyes and loss of consciousness all at the same time. We do not know if he suffered seizures. I wonder if these are specific to the child. And if so, why?

I recorded today's session.

The recording is switched on and Sartori is framed in the center of the picture. She does not look at the camera as she is watching someone off screen. She is wearing dark glasses to shade her eyes, though the light in the room, and in her, is dimmer than the previous recorded session. Her red skin shows patches of grey discoloration along her neck and face. The room she is in is quieter than the last, as all machines have been shut down except for what is needed for this session.

Ke'rii crosses the screen and sits down, he is mostly off camera as the focus is on Sartori.

“Okay,” he says softly and carefully removed the dark glasses from her face to reveal her eyes are squeezed shut. “Can you open your eyes?”

“No,” her tone pouted.

“Just a little bit? For me?” he asked softly.

“Can we catch bugs?” she asked as one eye slowly opened, as if testing to see if it was too bright.

“After this we can,” he promised.

She opened both eyes carefully when she realised it was safe. “Wei gets to play. Why can't I play?”

“We will,” he promised. “We just need to do this first, okay?”

Sartori nodded.

“Okay,” he continued and sat a little straighter and pulled out a pen. “I want you to follow this with just your eyes, okay?”

“Okay.”

Ke held the pen still in front of her for a moment, then moved it to the side. Sartori’s eyes tracked it, but with significant delay. He moved the pen in an upward direction, and she seemed to lose track of it a moment before finding it again. Down and to the other side. The same delayed reaction. A quicker motion, and she lost it, having to turn her head to find it again.

Ke lowered the pen and smiled at her. “Very good,” he said, and leaned more out of frame as the lens zoomed in on her eyes.

“Can we catch bugs?” she repeated her question from before.

“After this,” he replied again.

“Wei gets to play. Why can't I play?” she repeated again.

“We will, after this.”

“Can we catch bugs?” the conversation began again.

“Yes, we will.”

“Wei gets to play.”

“One more test and we'll play too, okay? I want you to focus on this pen with just your eyes.”

Sartori’s eyes moved up, to the side, down. Her pupils tightened when the pen came closer, and remained the same when the pen drew back. Down, side, up, then unfocused and lost.

“Can we catch bugs?”

The recording would stop, and quick cut of the session would resume. The recording would be out of zoom and once again, Sartori would be in the middle,of the screen.

Ke sat down again and held a flashcard up for her. The design would be a circle.

“Can you tell me what you see?

“A ball,” she replied and swayed in her chair. Her gaze looked at the camera directly, then back to her uncle.

“What about this one?” it was a square.

“A star,” she answered.

Ke made a note, then held up the next card, which was a star.

“And this one?”

Sartori looked puzzled and tilted her head. “I dun't see it,” She said. “You need to hold it up, silly.”

Ke leaned forward a bit with card and watched as her face brightened.

“Oh! A star.”

Ke leaned back and pulled out the square card again. “What's this one?”

Sartori leaned forward and squinted her eyes. “A box.”

Ke'rii made a note, then the recording stopped.

[Mei]

HEALTH REPORT: DAY 75

SUBJECT: Sartori’li Bluedark
SPECIES: Human (12%)/Sith Pureblood (88%)
SEX: Female
AGE: 6
WEIGHT: 12.85kg
HEIGHT: 80cm
SKIN COLOR: Red; large patches of discoloration
HAIR COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Green, color has dulled
 
LOCATION: Kaas City, Dromund Kaas
 
OBSERVATION: I brought Sartori to my father's old clinic in Kaas City as his equipment is more advanced than what I have to work with on Yavin. The trip here was more harmful and dangerous for her, more so than I thought it would be. Bringing her here was a mistake on my part as I am fearful I won't be able to reverse what has happened.

Sartori had another seizure when we entered hyperspace that lasted longer than any of her previous episodes. She remains in an agitated state even now, five hours after we landed. The blood vessels in her right eye had burst, breathing slowed dramatically, and her heart rate became erratic. I gave her a sedative in an attempt to calm her, but had no luck. Mei then attempted to use Force empathy, which seemed to work, though Sartori remained in pain.

The thunder here on the planet is too intense for her and she has expressed feeling severe discomfort in her ears again. She asked to “make the vibrations stop, they hurt me all over.” She clarified to me that she could feel the thunder on her body too, and I have noticed she even winces in her sleep when lightning flashes. She is experiencing muscle spasticity as well. I believe this to be the result of the stress from the seizure she suffered while en route.

Disturbingly, she has also reported seeing things that are not here. I'm unsure of this is a result of her illness of the dark forces that reside on Dromund Kaas. Whatever it is, she is terrified of it, which keeps her in an agitated state. Relaxants, sedatives, and even Force empathy are not helping her here. Mei and I have decided to wait this out and see if this episode subsides before taking her back home.

I've started running several different sequences against her blood and the virus Mei was able to spare after the attack. There has to be a pattern. There has to be a cure.