exsilium | 02. [video]

[The face of a man about sixty-five years old appears on screen. He's squinting at the blasted device through glasses that he's very glad he kept, but he would still struggle to make a text post at the moment---not with his old prescription. The voice is rougher, but still recognizable as Billy's to the few people he knows.]

Please answer this question for me: it's urgent.

Is extreme accelerated aging a known side effect of the transporter? I have several other hypotheses about my sudden condition, but this is the first I should test. And if you know of any cures for this condition, I'd appreciate a pointer. I'm drawing up my own attempts at a cure, but there's not much I can do with our limited supplies.

[He sighs wearily.]

I calculate that I'll age to the point of death within the next 36 hours, or sooner if it accelerates further, so there's not much that I have to lose.

((ooc: The aging is a canon event caused by his own tinkering at home gone wrong with a delayed reaction. And there's a canon medicine that would likely be at the Hold, but he hasn't a clue.))

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[Ok, he's not that hot blooded and would understand if he had to stay behind. But Adam's grateful that he could go with his friend.]

Hopefully it won't be very long. It sounds like they have what we're looking for.

[Which leads to him thinking how did they learn about the Eternal Falls and get it without being spotted. Then again, secret resistance.]

Fingers crossed.

[They return a short while later. One is holding a large container of water, and together they explain that the water is from the Eternal Falls. They assure him that there is enough to stop and reverse this aging. Billy looks surprised, then pushes himself up.]

You knew this was coming? And you prepared for it? Well...thank you, I suppose.

[Billy's not sure how he feels about that yet, but he takes their instructions to heart and drinks. It's a slow process, and he has to lie down for a few minutes while the immense energy surges through his body, but eventually he takes it all and the tremors stop. He presses a hand to his face to clear the ache, and when he pulls it back...it's rejuvenated, as is his face. He looks up at Adam, questioning.]

Did it work?

[He's relieved to see they knew what they were doing AND had enough of the cure to boot. Grabbing a small mirror so Billy can look for himself, he was obvious with his smile.]

I think seeing it is more than me saying it.

[Billy slowly sits up, then takes the mirror in one hand. He touches his cheek with the other---yes, that's accurate. His forehead feels fine, his hair's still intact, and he looks exactly as he should. He sets the mirror down and looks down for a moment in thought. The best he'd hoped for was to stop the rapid aging. A reversal is even better, so much better. His small grin widen as his relief and joy sink in.]

I'm really okay. Wow. This is...phenomenal.

[He's so overwhelmed with relief that he jumps up from the table, looks around a moment, and embraces Adam in a very un-Billylike open display of emotion. ~~At least he didn't hug the medics~~. A few seconds later, he seems to come back to himself and pulls back with an embarrassed cough.]

[Seizing their chance, the medics pull Billy into a few quick tests to confirm his health status, then give him the all-clear to leave. He almost bounces out the door, but his voice drops as they depart.]

Hey...thanks. I was almost out of my mind with worry. It'd be a lot worse without you.

[The hug actually surprised Adam; so much that he might fall down from the impact. He expected that kind of gesture from Rocky (with more force considering) but it still is good that he's happy about it. Naturally he returns it before Billy pulls away.]

I was scared too. I'm just glad they had some here, like they were expecting it or something.

[Makes you wonder how much of them do they even know.]

Apparently I was the only one who wasn't.

[Billy still looks faintly embarrassed by his outburst, but the bounce soon returns to his step. It's over. He's safe now---probably.]

But I won't let this research opportunity go to waste. I have to go log all my observations, as well as everything I can remember about Aquitar. I wasn't told much about the falls on my last visit, but maybe I can piece some things together.

You can get back to whatever you were doing. I'm sorry about the interruption.

Interrupting what exactly? It's not like I was doing anything important.

[Shut up and don't apologize ok?]

I guess inconvenience is a more appropriate word.

[Whatever, it's all cool. Billy smiles brightly as they leave.]
...are there any other life-threatening emergencies in my future that I should know about?

[Don't mind Adam giving him the 'Billy plz' look, except it looks more silly than serious. Which resulted in the older man slightly chuckling.

Ok, can't stay serious all the time.]

Not to my knowledge.

[Maybe he should tell him that he moved to Aquitar after the whole aging thing went down.]

[Billy pauses to evaluate for a moment, but Adam is honest-he knows that. So he smiles and lightly jabs Adam one more time.]

Good. And...if I knew anything about your future, I promise I'd say something. I'll have to thank you some other way.

02. [video]

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