Chapter 76: Mutation Part One

Ai woke up the next day to see Eiji sleeping soundly across from her. She touched the blanket that was draped over her and gave a faint smile. She got up and stretched her arms feeling much better after getting a night of good sleep. "Let's hope the rain stops today..." Ai mumbled to herself. She took the blanket that was covering her and draped it over Eiji. Before exiting the control room to go to the bathroom to wash up. After Ai left, Eiji opened his eyes and smiled while touching the blanket. 

After getting cleaned up Ai went to check on Eiji who was now awake looking at the monitors. "See anything?"

"Mmm… The mutant seems to be shrinking. And at a fast pace as well." Eiji pointed at the screen and there was a distinct mark where the lower half of the mutant had been lying on the ground showing just how much it had shrunk. "Any ideas?"

Ai looked at the screen lost in thought but still shook her head. "No, It's the first I have seen anything like it before. We can only check it out. Come let's go gear up and see what we can find." 

"Alright." Eiji said as he followed behind Ai. 

The two walked to the storage room where they were met with Yoshi, Kuri, and Ayase who were doing inventory. "Doing inventory here as well?" 

"Yeah, we finished the weapons room last night. I figured since I was on it I would do the other stock rooms as well. If you wish I can hand you the report for the weapons room now." Yoshi answered.

Ai gave an approving nod. With Yoshi in charge of these things, it took more work off her shoulders, freeing up more of her time. "No, just give it to me after your done with it all. It will be fine after this to just submit a weekly report from now on with all the stock we have and make a list of things we need that are essential that we may need to go hunt for. " 

"Ummm… well… I should ask this ahead of time and it is a bit embarrassing to ask but. Have you and Mai had your periods yet?" Yoshi asked. His cheeks turning slightly pink, he was feeling a bit awkward having to ask such a question.

" We both have but there is a decent supply of pads in the women's bathroom. I moved them all there. I think we got enough to last at least five years." Ai answered. She then went on to add: "Even if we did run out we can always just use a cloth or a few leaves. Pads are a luxury item now. I feel grateful for even having one." 

Yoshi gave an embarrassed cough wondering why the girl in front of him seemed to be unperturbed when talking about such things. "I will put it on a list of items to grab if seen then." 

"Then I will leave it to you. Eiji, come we need to get you fully geared." Ai said as she walked over to a large box of clothes and began tossing the clothes out of it at Eiji. Eiji took the clothes that Ai just randomly tossed to him with a smile on his face, not caring if they were too small or too big. 

"Alright, this should do, go get changed and meet me at the closed shutter." Ai handed Eiji a pair of gloves and then walked back to where Ayase was. " Ayase, go get Mai and tell her to meet me in the control room."

"Yes, Master." Ayase, who was happy to be of help, took off running towards Mai's room. Ai then headed to her own room and got geared up.

Eiji who went to get changed was surprised that all the clothes Ai tossed to him which seemed to be half haphazardly chosen all fit him perfectly.

Ai finished getting ready and headed to the control room where Mia and Shogo were waiting for her. "Mai, did you get a good sleep?" 

"Mhm, I rested pretty well. I think the stress of the day weighed down heavy on me. As soon as my head hit the pillow I passed out." Mai replied. 

"That's good. Where did you stay last night, Shogo?" Ai turned her gaze on to Shogo who involuntarily flinched. 

"I leaned against the wall outside Mai's room..." Shogo did not dare enter Mia's room nor did he dare leave so he could only rest in the cold hallway. 

"Good to know you are taking your duties seriously. I meant to give you all rooms last night but I ended up falling asleep myself. I will have Yoshi find some empty rooms for you. Anyway, the reason I called you here is because I need someone to open and close the shutter near the mutant. I need to gather some cells from it and take a look at it. Mai, I will also need your help with this once I bring back the samples." Ai explained.

"Okay, I will do what I can to help. Anything you need me to prepare?" Mai asked.

"Setup a small self contained lab in an empty cell. Cover the doors with sheets of plastic with a double flap for entry. If anything happens we want a place that can be instantly locked down. Also, get prepped to draw everyone's blood. It will be essential for testing." Ai answered, She had never done something like this before but she wanted to check the interaction between human blood and the cells of a mutant.

"I will get it all ready." Mai replied.

"Then Eiji and I will go collect them samples and inspect the corpse. But before that, we have to take radioactivity measurements. Shit, we need some tools. I was in such a rush I forgot the tools to gather anything. "

***

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