They expected the crater’s lab to be highly guarded but, maybe because nobody would expect them to go back there, there was actually no one.
Hayley was waiting for them at the back of the lab, with some exciting news.
"I’ve been working on the formula for a vaccine and I’m pretty sure it might work. But the spore levels have increased exponentially in the lower parts of the lab, making it impossible to go down there without getting infected. Luckily I was able to retrieve Cassiopeia’s hazmat suit from her house. Do you think you’ll be able to synthesize this?"
Hayley handed Cassiopeia a bunch of papers with a formula written all over them. It was child’s play for her.
"Yeah, I think I can do–"
"Wait wait wait" Erwin cut Cassiopeia off "Do you mean you are going down there alone? Again?"
"Erwin… we’ve been over this already. It’s the only thing that can be done. We don’t have more hazmat suits and we need this vaccine"
Erwin still looked really upset at the idea of Cassiopeia going down there again, so she tried to reassure him.
"I’ll be alright. We’ll get this done quickly and once we solve this mess we’ll go together to that place… that… festival you wanted to go" She said, knowing very well that would most probably be impossible. She was lying to Erwin, but it was for a good cause.
"To GeekCon!?"
"Yeah!"
A weak and hesitant smile spread on Erwin’s lips "Promise?"
It was for a good cause. For a good cause.
"Promise"
Everyone looked anxious when Cassiopeia waved goodbye to them before climbing down the stairs. But she wasn’t. Her head was going over her plan again and again as she started to work on the vaccine. She put it aside when the army kidnaped Erwin, but now he was alright and she had to think about it. She had to decide what to do.
First she had to help the town, and then she could help Mother.
A couple of days went by, and as soon as Cassiopeia was sure the vaccine would work the group held a meeting to plan the next step.
"Before we protect ourselves we the vaccine we have to try it out and see if it really works" Hayley explained. She visited them now as much as she could to help Cassiopeia with the vaccine... even when Cassiopeia didn't really need the help.
"And how exactly do we do that?" Jess snorted "We - luckily - don’t have any possessed here with us if you haven’t noticed"
"You know how the saying goes" Hayley started with an intense expression taking over her face "If the mountain won't come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain"
The town was filled with military personnel, looking for them, of course. Roswell really put his minions to work. But somehow they managed to sneak on the backstreet next to the 8 Bells. The soldiers wouldn’t bother them there, all of them were so drunk that they only saw as far as the ends of their noses.
"I’m not so sure about this Cass… It’s dangerous" Jess started to hesitate as they waited for one of the possessed to make their appearance. They would eventually "What if the possessed attacks you?"
"I’ve dealt with the before, remember?" Cassiopeia threw her friend a knowingly glance. If the possessed attacked her like Jess did back in the day, she would be able to defend herself.
It wasn’t long until they spotted a wandering possessed and, not thinking about it twice, Cassiopeia approached him.
He looked pretty calm… ignoring the twitching of his eyes, and his mouth, and overall the rest of his body. He stared intently at Cassiopeia, as if he knew she was trying to help.
Thank you, Mother, I know you are helping your own way too.
"Let’s hope this works"
Cassiopeia splashed the man’s face with the vaccine, there was a moment of silence… and then the light came back to the man’s eyes, exactly as it happened with Jess back then. He looked confused but lucid.
The vaccine worked as Cassiopeia expected, so she was glad she made huge quantities of it so Hayley could give it to the rest of the civilians. The town was saved…
And Cassiopeia could help Mother go back home.