Contagion to This World

<p><strong>Heat Rises</strong></p><p>Leaving Earth with a burst of speed and a trail of dark exhaust the Saturnian Space Agency performed what had become routine: Eight people were on their way to relieve the entire crew of a low- Earth orbit space research station.</p><p>Unbeknownst to the agency’s flight surgeons or to the crew itself a hypervirulent bacterium had hitched a ride. For one week both crews mingled and then the crew that had been relieved flew home for the usual six month break.</p><p>This time though they would not be returning to the space station. A superbug had arrived with a healthy-looking crewmember.</p><p>Zander our very own Typhoid Mary brought with her death in the form of a pan-resistant superinfection Salmonella typhi the bacterium that causes typhoid fever.</p><p>“…I’ve read your reports. You’ve briefed me on-station. I relieve you” Zander stated formally.</p><p>“I stand relieved” Echo spoke just as formally but was slouched in a chair and then she clicked-off comms to Earth.</p><p>“Now” she whooped “let’s get this party started!”</p>