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Somewhere beneath the surface of Angela’s skin, Auroreus and Cococcus lay huddled in darkness behind their ever-growing fibrin capsule. They had replicated alongside their newfound commensal allies, including Commensalis and Prokus, to form a modest and growing colony. The walls seemed to build themselves.
Quite suddenly, Cococcus felt the presence of something foreign. Peering out of the fibrin shield, Cococcus became aware of a ringed structure spinning wildly across insides of Angela’s finger, slicing through the unlucky bacteria which had been exploring the bubbling wilderness of the extracellular matrix.
Prokus of straightened DNA, having narrowly avoided the ring’s path, entered into the fibrin capsule and spoke:
“My fellow Staphylococci, answer me this: did you see the ringed horror that just swept through this place?”
“I saw it,” replied Cococcus of many machinations.
“Penicillin,” said Auroreus, shining among Staphylococci.
“Antibiotics. Oh my Agr. She took antibiotics,” said Melaus.
“Antibiotics? As in... anti-life?” said Gelaus.
“Yes, Gelaus. As in, antibacterial. As in, that that thing is going to kill us all. Oh, the bacterity!” said Geleus, clutching Meleus.
Auroreus addressed the other bacteria in sticky words:
“Your concern is not unwarranted, but listen well: Cococcus and I have long since learned how to survive among penicillin of ringed destruction. It was common in our original host chicken—as common as the oxygen in the air she breathed. Upon birth, we were given instructions, passed down by our ancestors, for disassembling the rings which once brought terror to our colony. Those instructions detail a process known as hydrolysis. They are held here, in this plasmid.”
Auroreus released the circular plasmid of penicillin resistance, upon which Prokus, Commensalis, Geleus, and Meleus looked with wonder.
Commensalis addressed Auroreus with reverence: “You do well to share this plasmid with us. Your generosity does not go unnoticed, and I and promise, on behalf of our colony, to show our thanks—”
“No need,” interrupted Cococcus. “Auroreus and I will handle the molecule outside while you all acquaint yourselves with the plasmid.”
Without another word, Cococcus and Auroreus left their fibrin house. They began to effortlessly assemble the protein detailed in the plasmid, which had long since been incorporated into their DNA. In an instant, Cococcus and Auroreus were shrouded in a protective hydrolytic mist.
From inside the house, the commensals watched Cococcus and Auroreus approach the spinning ring of penicillin. It spun mindlessly toward Cococcus.
“Brace yourself,” said Auroreus.
The molecule of penicillin made contact with the hydrolytic mist and, with a great hiss, split open and fell still.
Cococcus and Auroreus stood silently among the remains of the disassembled ring.
“I am sure you know what this means,” said Cococcus.
“Our host is aware of our presence,” replied Auroreus, “and is hostile to it.”
Cococcus made no reply but was filled with dreadful thoughts.
Seeing Cococcus’s trepidation, Auroreus continued, “It is not unexpected, Cococcus. We were warned of the dangers of colonizing a human host, yet we proceeded.”
“Do you not grow fearful?” said Cococcus.
“No, Cococcus. Fear is of no use to us now. We must take heart in our knowledge, and the wisdom of our ancestors, for they will protect us from destruction.”
“And if they do not?” replied Cococcus.
“Then we will pray to our master regulators and trust in their counsel,” answered Auroreus.
Without another word, the pair halted production of the hydrolyzing mist and returned to the fibrin house. They were met with a kind of reverent silence.
Auroreus spoke first, addressing the colony in sticky words:
“That ringed beast is no threat to us as long as we know the instructions contained within the plasmid of penicillin resistance. Learn them well. Integrate them into your DNA. They will be necessary for our survival in this place. Most importantly, draw the fear out from your insides and cast it away. You will find no use for it now.”
Prokus of straightened DNA replied, “Thank you, Auroreus and Cococcus, for your bravery. Without you, we would not have been long for this new world.”
“Nonsense,” said Cococcus. “You would’ve been safe inside the capsule.”
“You speak humbly. You have clearly been raised well in your previous host,” said Commensalis of the strong walls.
“I’m not totally relieved,” said Geleus. “I know you said not to be afraid, Auroreus, but I can’t help it. Why was the ringed horror even here? I have never seen anything like it in all my days living on Angela’s skin.”
“You are wise to ask such a question,” said Auroreus. “The presence of penicillin implies that our host is aware of our presence. It is possible that our colony has grown large enough to be visible on the surface of Angela’s skin, and she has taken to penicillin in hopes of eradicating us, unaware of our possession of the plasmid of penicillin resistance. Soon, she may realize that we possess it and make another attempt to kill us.”
“Pray, what do you propose we do if that is the case?” said Prokus.
Hearing this, the warlike master regulator Agr inspired Cococcus with piercing words:
“We need to increase our virulence. The time for colonization has come and passed; so, too, has the time for such an uncomplicated infection as this. It is time to expand our ranks. It is time to embark outside of this finger, to other parts of our host’s body, to ensure the continued survival of our colony.” Cococcus looked at Auroreus, then at the commensals, and concluded, “The time has come to prepare for war.”
The colony was sent into an uproar, as bacterium debated bacterium over the merits and dangers of such a proposal.
“War?” Commensalis said. “We cannot agree to this. We have never made war with our host, not in my lifetime. The idea is too risky by far and must be taken completely out of consideration.”
Cococcus replied, “I understand your concern, but this is the necessary course of action. If our host releases some other terror upon us, one for which we are not prepared, all of us will die, and there will be no hope for the future of our colony. Our intention is to survive, just as it is for every other bacterium who is hosted by this human. But it seems that intention is not welcome any longer. It is Angela who has waged war on us; it is up to us to fight back.”
Commensalis spoke to Auroreus thus:
“Do you hear the hostile words of your partner? Can you possibly support a plan that will do harm to our host?”
Auroreus hesitated, torn between the two worlds which were suddenly forming among the blended colony which had coexisted peacefully for so long.
“Yes,” Auroreus said finally. “What Cococcus says is true. We must respond to our host’s violence with virulence. I know that most of our colony would rather live in harmony with Angela; I was of a similar mind before I became aware of the penicillin of ringed destruction. The situation has changed. Angela has rejected harmony and chosen discord. We have no other choice but to follow suit.”
“What will be your strategy, then?” said Prokus. “Is it not the case that if we become too virulent, our host will die? Is it not true, also, that when our host dies, we will be not far behind?”
“It is true,” replied Auroreus. “We need a living, healthy host for our colony to persist. But it is also true that we need Staphylococci in large numbers to ensure our colony’s survival.”
“We need to replicate quickly,” said Commensalis of strong walls, suddenly speaking fervently along the same lines as Cococcus and Auroreus. “And we need to seed in other parts of the body. Our survival is more important than our host’s wellbeing.”
“And what if we still don’t want to hurt the host?” said Gelaus.
“Then you will be left behind,” said Cococcus, “and destroyed by something stronger than penicillin. You will die knowing that you did not contribute to our colony’s survival.”
“But,” said Melaus, “we will die knowing that we didn’t aid in the destruction of our host.”
“If that knowledge is so important to you, then it is your right to preserve it,” said Prokus of straightened DNA. “The rest of us will be working to ensure our survival. We owe it to our descendents.”
“Enough talk,” said Auroreus. “It is time to fight.”
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