"I will gladly help in the lab if you have need of me," Daer offered.
"I'll probably take you up on that."
One of the refugees stumbled to the table carrying a small child. She went straight to Daer and begged, "Help my son, please. He is feverish and has not eaten for two days. I thought he was only tired from the long journey, but the other children seem fine. He is acting weak and no longer answering when I speak to him."
Maxxus was shocked and concerned. Talonians did not carry disease or grow ill in this manner unless the sickness was brought from another world. It was not brought on this ship, because the child had been ill before its arrival. It had to be tied to the planet's devastation in some manner, but how?
"Did he drink tainted water or eat the plants in the contaminated garden?" Josie asked before Daer could respond.
"He was found playing and digging in the dirt of the garden while we prepared to leave. It is possible that he ingested something," the woman admitted. "I did not realize that could be a problem. Our home has never made us ill."
Daer jumped up from the table. He did not believe the illness was contagious by air, but he did not wish to take a chance on it spreading, especially to his tiny daughter. "Come with me. We will go to the infirmary and check him out. We should try to relieve the fever and test his blood. Maxxus, you have to find out if other refugees have symptoms."
"Can I come with you, Daer? I may have equipment that can help with more advanced testing," Josie asked.
"I need all the help I can get," he replied.
