Interning on the Aronnax

Fontaine's Curse: History

A/N: I'm trying to get the new cover up.

This chapter was a bit weird because Nereus talked so much. I almost cut it in two, but you guys have been waiting long enough.

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Fontaine could tell her parents were confused when she decided to speak with Nereus alone, but she needed them gone for a few minutes. As soon as Nereus had explained her sudden sickness was due to the curse, Fontaine knew she had to check on Finn.

Once the infirmary door was closed, Fontaine called Finn on her tablet, which Kaiko had retrieved for her, "for notes." Fontaine sighed in relief when he answered, though he looked so worn.

"You got sick, too?" Fontaine said in greeting.

"Yep." Finn sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. "Just finished cleaning."

"Ew."

"Not any worse than the bilge tanks on the Dark Orca."

"Finn, you're going to make me throw up again."

Finn grinned sheepishly. "Sorry."

"Don't be. Hey, we've got a few minutes. Think you can make it to the infirmary?"

"Probably."

"Good. Mum's got this electrolyte drink that really helps. There's a bottle for you near the grate. And Nereus is here. He said he found out more about the curse."

"I'm on my way. It'll take me a bit, so I'll listen on my way."

"Deal." Fontaine turned to where Nereus waited patiently. "Now, do you really think the curse is what made Finn and me sick?"

"I believe so. It's happened before," Nereus said, pulling a scroll that looked ready to fall apart from his belt. "I found various stories, but this was in the Guardians' records."

"You should really find a better way to keep records," Fontaine said drily.

"This scroll is six thousand years old," Nereus said, sounding insulted.

"Oh." Fontaine blinked. "What does it say?"

"First, I should explain the curse. It's a protective curse," Nereus said.

"That sounds counter-productive," Finn said, giving a small grunt as he climbed into the ducts.

"It's named such because only Atlanteans can set it in place," Nereus said. "And anything Atlantean is generally considered a curse."

"Gee, thanks."

"I am using Lemurian records." At least Nereus sounded apologetic.

"Okay, you win this time. What does the curse do?"

"That is when it gets... tricky," Nereus said. "There are few records of the curse, and most are unreliable. But it appears to bond an Atlantean to another."

"So... we both feel what the other does?"

"Perhaps eventually."

"No, it's happening now," Fontaine said. "Finn and I both got sick."

Nereus shook his head. "You aren't asking why you got sick in the first place."

Fontaine glanced at her tablet. Finn had stopped crawling to give the screen the same look of confusion Fontaine was.

"People get sick when a virus gets inside them, Nereus," Fontaine said.

"But do they get sick for no reason, then simply recover?"