SPECIMEN REPORT:

levity was not something Cortex often felt. He rarely told jokes, made fun, or was really exciting in general. But for today, he thought he'd at least try to make Researcher feel better.

He wasn't stupid, he'd noticed her symptoms, and it was worrying. That was why he was doing this, in fact. But what was 'this?' Why, it was his current obsession with the property of plants. He'd found all kinds on his journeys and had discovered many a cure (and many an ailment) in the foliage of Eridanus.

Cortex picked a few leaves from a green plant with a silver stem, each leaf shaped almost like a hand. He gathered them up and held a few leaves out, turning to the companion he'd invited along on his excursion.

"Researcher," he said, "This is a cormint plant- I named it after myself because I found it. As far as I can tell, it relieves pain. On my escapades I end up injured more than not, and this plant is a life saver. Go ahead and try it. It makes me feel loose, as well."

A pain reliever and muscle relaxant. Perfect for what he'd seen from Researcher regarding her shaky limbs and aches. Perhaps it could help her. If he could find anything else to possibly relieve her symptoms, he would immediately present such things to his beloved friend.

He just hoped that this would go away.

@Researcher

Researcher knew that she was sick. She's known since she was born. Wheezes, trembles, and difficulty at doing the very climbing her species was known for defined her life. These symptoms lessened in the past few cycles, but recently she's been feeling gradually worse. Weaker. It was her fellow scientist's generosity that brought her to Eridanus today in search of a cure.

"I'm impressed by your research, Cortex." She stood stiff-backed behind Cortex-- almost, if you ignored her trembling fingers and bent knees. Under the green shadows of the jungle, she almost looked like a normal gibbon. She touched her stone thoughtfully as the raccoon showed off the herbs he gathered: cormint. Must add that to database.

The ape grabbed the leaves with a shaky hand and sat down on a nearby stump. First she did the essentials-- sniffing them, touching them, lightly examining for any signs of toxins. Not that she suspected Cortex would poison her, it was just protocol for new foods. It was only when she felt confident in their safety that she swalllowed. Not bad.

"You've really shown your keen eye for plants." she continued. Researcher tried to avoid the elephant in the room. She didn't want to think about her mysterious illness. She just wanted to pretend this was a fun research excursion with friends. The scientist hopped back to her feet and looked around Eridanus ambivalently. A spare cormint leaf was pocketed in her hand for further research. "What other species have you examined? We can look for them while I wait for this to take effect. Wouldn't that be fun?"

SPECIMEN REPORT:

Cortex watched his friend as she chewed on the leaf, then swallowed. He was relived she did, hopefully it worked soon so they could explore and learn without her ailments prohibiting her. He cleared his throat and nodded, pointing off into the jungle.

"There are flowers that grow by a pool of water that way," he said, "I call them azure blueflowers, because from what I can tell, there are multiple types of 'blueflowers' but this particular kind has different inner markings and can relieve stomach ailments like nausea and vomiting. I had actually eaten a different kind of blueflower that caused such, and then eaten the azure, which cured me."

Many of his discoveries were accidents, but he didn't particularly mind. As long as he kept on discovering and didn't die.

"The vomit inducing ones could be useful should anyone ingest toxins," he explained, starting off into the trees, "They are extremely fast acting and therefore could be useful in saving someone from poisons. I find it interesting that two flowers that are so similar have the opposite effects."

@Researcher

Researcher followed Cortex's finger to the pool, brushing aside annoying gnats and intrusive leaves. She listened to his words about the flowers very closely, occasionally offering an "Hmh," or an "Ah," until they made it to the place proper.

It was a small, muddy pool, as expected in Eridanus. And sure enough, several blooms of long-stemmed flowers with azure petals dotted its moist banks.

Researcher picked the closest blooms, hissing slightly when her trembling hands dropped a couple. She hated that. Her patience was high, but not high enough to withstand constant annoyances like that. Still, she straightened herself out in an instant and went on collecting herbs before presenting them to Cortex. Hopefully that cormint will kick in soon.

"These are the ones, correct?" she asked. "We could bring them back to the Laboratory and plant them, perhaps in a specialized garden." She pocketed them in her palm. "Perhaps the similarity is a defense mechanism. With such a useful plant, ones that visibly stick out would be overharvested and driven to extinction. But those that resemble a harmful species would be avoided. What do you think?"

@Cortex

SPECIMEN REPORT:

"An astute observation," Cortex said, helping Researcher gather some blooms up, "Darker outer petals are the Sapphire Blueflower. It has darker outer petals and lighter inner petals, and it's the one that causes the symptoms I told you about. The Azure Blueflower has lighter outer petals and darker inner petals, that's how you can tell them apart."

He uprooted a few plants and sniffed them, humming, "Interesting... they have a very pleasant aroma."

He looked over at her and then away, frowning gently. He inhaled, exhaled, and fiddled with his hands, finding it difficult to speak all of a sudden. Best to just say it.

"You are ill," he said bluntly, "And thus far, you are only getting worse. I am observant, you know this, so I have noticed your decline."

The racoon rarely delved into emotional affairs, but despite it making him uncomfortable, he valued his friend more than his own comfort.

"How can I help you?", he asked, "I have been hunting down a great many plants in an effort to find something that can treat your symptoms, but what about you? How is this affecting you and can I do anything to assist... to assist the mental toll this has to be taking on you?"

@Researcher

Researcher held a bloom to her face as Cortex spoke, frowning slightly when she remembered that she could not smell like he could. The only scent she knew was the stagnant, musty air filtered through her stone. She was just about to turn around and ask if there were any more plants to see when the raccoon addressed it.

Her mortality.

She turned away sharply. A conflicted feeling arose. On one hand, she wanted to hide from the conversation and everything related to it. She wanted to pretend everything was okay. On the other hand... she was a scientist, and a good scientist does not ignore data they don't like.

"... I am aware..." Researcher started, staring at the flowers in her hand. "... Of my illness. It has been this way since I was born. I do not know what causes it, but I greatly appreciate your concern."

Her head tilted up, staring into the leafy canopy far above. "My hands and feet shake, you have likely noticed. I get too fatigued to climb. But mentally..." She never properly considered her emotions before. "It makes me feel... anxious. I ignore it most of the time, but it is still there." There we go. "I am used to the sensation so it mostly does not interfere with my daily life. But recently I have been having difficulty doing fine work with my hands, and I get lightheaded when I run too hard. I don't suppose you have a plant for that, do you?"

@Cortex

INCIDENT REPORT:

> Designation: Researcher is suffering. Further study of her symptoms is needed in order to produce medicine that can treat her ailment.

Cortex was silent as he observed her, listening with his ears perked up. He moved off a bit, gathering up some Cormint and a small, grey-white flower with small, green leaves. He snagged a stalk of Azure Blueflower as well and scuttled off towards the water, ears pinning for a moment.

He set the leaves down and grumbled softly, peering around the pond silently before snatching up a hollow rock and bringing it back towards the pile, setting it down. He gathered up branches and sticks, easily calling forth the memory of the camp they'd visited with the smoldering embers that had produced a flame.

Cracking rocks together didn't work. Rolling sticks didn't work. Upon rubbing his hands together nervously he realized that friction created heat, so perhaps he simply needed more of it.

"Cormint relaxes the muscles," he said, finally, "Azure Blueflower relieves nausea, so in case the tea turns out disgusting, this will keep it down. And this flower is called Dusty Chamomile."

He held up one of the blooms, "It relieves stress and anxiety. I use it often when I become overwhelmed in my work, it helps me think when my mind becomes too much to handle. If I can create a fire and boil this water, I believe that steeping it can release the properties even further and therefore create a 'tea' that you can drink morning and night and relieve such symptoms. The addition of the other plants won't hurt, either."

@Researcher

Researcher's eyes followed Cortex, though she didn't move yet. Themes of illness occupied her mind. She tried to shove them away, but they only came back.

It was when she saw he was trying to make fire that she moved near. "Let me help," she offered, picking up some of the sticks. Researcher rubbed the sticks together hard. Eventually, they started to get warm, and finally caught a flickering flame. She eyed the fire for a moment before setting it down by the pondside next to the other branches.

"Tea," she mused, placing some of the flowers into the empty stone. "Do you really think plant leaves would help me? If it does, I'll be much in your debt." She settled it down atop the campfire, the flame flickering out from the sides, and watched it meditatively. "While we're out here, we might as well collect some more plants, like those tree melons I've seen before. I just hope this illness goes away."

@Cortex

INCIDENT REPORT:

"That is what I am hoping," Cortex said, adding wood to the growing fire.

He filled the rock up with water and set it atop the flames, putting in the plants he'd gathered and pushing them down. He waited, then, for the water to bubble and boil, for the herbs to steep.

"Researcher," he said, voice unusually soft, "You owe me nothing. Even if this works, I would not ask you to owe me anything. You are my... my friend."

Cortex looked over at her and carefully approached, reaching for one of her hands and taking a hold of it. Despite how uncomfortable he looked, he didn't let go, offering his support to her.

"I am here," he said quietly.

@Researcher