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Cococcus and Auroreus had long since taken their leave from the fibrin house they had built alongside Commensalis, Prokus, and the rest of the commensal bacteria. They had quickly established themselves in the deeper tissues of Angela’s finger and replicated into a sizable colony. No longer confined to a single abscess, Cococcus and Auroreus were free to roam the dermis of Angela’s right index finger.
While moving through the bustling avenues of Staphylococcus-controlled territory, Cococcus spoke thus to Auroreus: “Now that we’ve established this phlegmon, I dare say the whole finger is ours.”
“I know,” replied Auroreus. “We have come a long way.”
They were silent for a moment.
“It is hard to conceive how valuable the sulfonamide resistance plasmid was to our new colony,” Auroreus said.
“I have been thinking similarly. We owe the Ruby colony a great deal,” said Cococcus, brushing against some bacteria who were building a small fibrin dwelling.
“I only wish we could see Grammaticus and thank him for his foresight. I begin to dream of returning home and telling the colony of our experiences,” said Auroreus.
Cococcus made no reply for a moment as they continued moving.
“Surely you know that we cannot go home, Auroreus. We have only scratched the surface of this infection,” said Cococcus.
“But we have nothing else to protect us. Grammaticus’s wisdom—his plasmid—has done us well, but it has taken us as far as it can. What will happen when our host tries new means of destroying us? We do not have any other means of protection, do we?”
“Grammaticus’s plasmid surely helped us, but survival is not only about plasmids. It never was. It is not only our resistance to antibiotics that has sustained us. Think of all the other genes that allowed us to get here—like the ones you discovered that allowed us to manipulate Ruby into biting our human host. All of those genes have been inside of us all along. We already have what we need; you taught me that, Auroreus. We need only rely on the master regulators to show us the way.”
So spoke Cococcus of many machinations. Auroreus was silent for some time, and the pair of Staphylococci continued moving through the phlegmon.
“You speak well, Cococcus,” Auroreus said finally.
“It is Agr who has allowed us to increase our virulence and fight our way into deeper tissues. It is not Grammaticus, not Prokus, not Commensalis, not anyone” said Cococcus.
“I know,” said Auroreus. ““Even so, for the first time, I begin to feel afraid. I fear what will happen next. I fear that our host has not yet given up her fight against our colonization efforts. It seems as though...” Auroreus hesitated. “I know not. I am only afraid.”
“I understand,” said Cococcus, standing still before speaking further. “But it was not fear that got us here. Was it not you who once told our colony to draw the fear from our insides and cast it away? We could surrender the fight and return to the chicken of coarse epidermis, but I must insist that this is only the beginning.” Cococcus looked upon shining Auroreus and continued, “I’m sorry, Auroreus, but I do not want to go back.”
“But look around you, Cococcus. This finger begins to show signs of overwhelm. The new generation of Staphylococci seems to be oriented solely toward virulence,” said Auroreus. “I think this finger is bound for necrosis.”
“Necrosis? As in—”
“As in death. Only look at the signs. The darkening in the sky, where we left the commensals and our original fibrin house. The tissue is dying. What happens when the darkening spreads outward? What happens when...” Auroreus struggled to say the words, “the necrotic core grows larger? When the commensals run out of oxygen and nutrients? Have we forgotten that we need host tissue to survive? The darkening, the rot, will follow us. Our virulence has gone too far. I think—”
“You think what?” Cococcus snapped. “I thought the darkening was a sign of our victory, a sign of our colony’s thriving.”
“It is, Cococcus. It is evidence of our triumph. But it is death, and it will follow us.”
Cococcus looked up at the necrotic core, which seemed to be growing larger by the second.
“Let us go, then,” said Cococcus.
“Really?” said Auroreus, surprised at the sudden change.
“Yes. We will find her bloodstream. Sneak into a capillary, and follow it to her mouth. Or her stomach. Somewhere we can—”
“I know. Let us go.”
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