I let out a small yawn, as I focus back in on the screen. I was currently playing Plague Inc. Evolved, and I was playing an easy round of Bio-weapon on mega brutal. I was barely paying attention anymore to the game, as I infect country after country and start to wipe them out. I've played this game so much, it was hardly even a challenge.
I suppose I could take this time to introduce myself. My name's John. I'm a epidemiologist. That means I'm a scientist who studies the patterns, causes, and effects of diseases. It's kinda ironic, isn't it? I'm playing a game where I'm trying to kill all of humanity with a disease, even though my job is to do the opposite. I try to cure or at least contain diseases.
I was currently wearing a dark grey hooded sweater, as I was cold, and I had some black sweat pants on as well. The reason I was cold was because winter was coming, and I didn't really feel a need to turn up the heat in my house, if I could just put on more clothes. I sat up straight in my chair when I see that my disease has almost wiped out all of humanity. Again.
Victory!
Bio-weapon 245 has successfully eliminated all life on Earth
I yawn again, as I skip through the replay menu. Then, to my surprise, a small box popped up on the screen.
Unlocked Plague Master Mode
Having shown your expertise, you can now try the hardest mode! Mega Brutal has nothing on this!
My eyes widened at that. "An even harder mode?! I don't recall ever hearing about it. But it has to be true, as I even got a Steam achievement from it! I also have to stop talking to myself." As I was put back in the main menu, I quickly started making a new game, but to my surprise, an extra option showed up, below the scenario options. It said 'Plague Master Mode.' "I thought it was a difficulty setting?" Shrugging, I clicked on it, and then another menu popped up.
Are you sure you want to do this?
What kind of question was that? What am I getting myself into? I clicked the yes option, and suddenly my screen flashed white, before I felt a tingling sensation across my entire body as I went numb, and everything went black.
I open my eyes, and shake the sleepiness out of them. I try to slide out of my makeshift bed only to trip, and rip it again. I push myself from the rocky ground of the cave, and wipe off the blood on my arm, ignoring the cut on my arm, as I stared at my ruined hammock. "This is why I'm not a carpenter!" I start kicking a rock at my feet, trying to vent my anger. "I JUST FINISHED BUILDING IT AGAIN!!" After my little fit, I calmed myself down. I turned around, and grabbed a rotten apple off the tall rock I use as a table, and absentmindedly take a bite out of it, before finishing it off quickly for breakfast. I sighed, remembering my dream. "It's been a month, and I keep on having that nightmare." About a month ago, I woke up in this forest, and had to survive for myself. It was quite shocking, waking up like this. It wasn't long before I found this cave, and made it into a temporary living space.
It was about a day in, when I discovered the life forms of this forest. They were not normal. I freaked out when I saw a manticore, and couldn't process this information. I thought I was going to die, but I noticed something strange about the manticore. It wasn't long before I realized it was gravely sick with some kind of virus. Being a kind-hearted person, I helped it out, and that's when I realized what happened to me.
I was able to remove the virus from the manticore, straight through it's mouth, and I was able to mentally control the virus. I caused it to grow and shrink, become strong and weak, and I realized something else. This is what it means for Plague Master mode. I have control over all kinds of diseases. I was able to quickly destroy the virus, and the manticore thanked me, by giving me a slobbery lick across the face.
As the days turned into weeks, I learned more and more about my powers. I could create any disease I could think of, and control it mentally. I could even upgrade it if I wanted to. Things got even stranger when I found out I could create the neurax worm and the necroa virus. Eventually, the manticore spread the news of my powers to other animals, and I would commonly find animals coming to me for my help. I've quickly gotten used to these strange wooden wolves (which I have named tree wolves), and the chicken lizards that can apparently
stone creatures with their eyes if they wanted to.
I guess I've become some sort of legend to these animals, as they would commonly bring me food, and bowls of water. I tell them they don't have to, but they just want to thank me for my help.
I heard some scratching sounds and felt a nearby sickness, and went to the entrance of my cave, to see a couple tree wolves, with one that had a much younger one on it's back. They looked at me with worry in their eyes, especially with the one I could assume is the mother of the little one. I gently picked up the young wolf, and put him on a makeshift table, before putting my hand on it's chest. I closed my eyes, and just felt, before slightly flinching when I felt the life force of it. It was the way I discovered how to tell if tree wolves are still alive or not. Seeing as how it was still alive, I got to work figuring out what disease it was. I could only control the disease if I could name it.
Some of these animals had diseases I've never seen before, and I wouldn't have been able to save them (because I didn't know the disease's name, and I can't create a name unless specific requirements are met), if it wasn't for some quick thinking, and a neurax worm, who I've started to consider as pets. "Let's see... weaker life force, hard breathing, weaker branches, and strange growths. Tree sickness I believe." I muttered to myself, before my hands glowed a faint red, and I gently moved them along the young tree wolf's body, before a green substance left it's mouth, and I floated it over to a glass vial I found in some strange abandoned workshop (I looted the place, and took any resources I could use. I left the books talking about 'magic' there. Not enough space to carry it). I capped the vial, and walked back over to the tree wolf, who was starting to wake. I grabbed a nearby bowl of water, and when the wolf awoke, I had it drink it. I may be able to cure diseases and control them, but sometimes symptoms stay behind for a few hours, or a day. This wolf will be a little sick for about five hours, before being healthy again. As long as it doesn't get into much physical activity.
When the wolf finished drinking the water, I gently picked it back up, and gave it back to it's mother, who I put my hand against, removing the same disease festering in her. "There you go, you two should be fine. As long as the little one rests, he should be good."
The wolf's mother nodded, and left the cave, leaving me with a satisfied smile on my face. When they left the small clearing around my cave, I stretched, and let out a rather audible yawn, and shook my head, getting rid of the sleepiness. I wandered off into the forest myself, looking for some fruit trees for breakfast. That's mostly what I've been eating for the past month, fruit, fish (caught for me by my new animal friends) and the occasional vegetables.
I eventually found a tree with some fresh fruit on it, and reached up, picking them off, before removing the stem on the strange fruit, and taking a big bite out of it. After finishing that one, I drop it to the ground, hoping it would become a big tree someday, and grab a couple more. I was about to take a bite out of another one, but heard a small sound near my feet, and saw a small fox, looking at me with pleading eyes. Smiling, I bent down, gave it the strange fruit, which it quickly dug into, before I patted it on the head. I smiled, glad that my job had me do some field work, plus some camping trips with my dad helped me figure out how to survive better in this unknown forest. But what happened next really shocked me.
I heard voices. English speaking voices. My eyes widened, but my caution rose, and I stayed where I was with my little fox buddy with me. The voices were coming closer, and eventually what came out of the bushes were three colorful little fillies, all arguing with each other, not paying any attention to me. I stared at them in shock, surprised about the fact that these horses were speaking the same language I do. 'I must really be in an alternate universe.' My eyes widen even more, when one of them falls down, moaning in pain.
"Rainbow Dash!" An elegant voice yelled out, attracting the attention of the rainbow-maned athlete. Rainbow Dash popped her head out of a cloud.
"Hey Rares! What's up?" She jumped off the cloud, and gently flew down to the ground.
"I haven't seen Sweetie Belle anywhere! I've looked for her for about an hour! She was supposed to come home when school let out, but she hasn't arrived yet!" Rarity said dramatically.
"I'm sure the girls are just doing some kind of Crusading. You know how they are." Rainbow Dash dismissed.
"Oh, are you talking about the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" A familiar voice spoke up, as Derpy Hooves stopped nearby. "I saw them entering the Everfree Forest while I was delivering mail. I tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen to me. And I kept stumbling over myself." Derpy floated to the ground, sadness in her face.
Rainbow Dash patted the shoulder of her old flight-camp friend (other than Fluttershy and Gilda). "It's okay Derpy, You tried, and that's important. But right now we got to save the girls. Applejack is still outta town, so we'll have to do this on our own. You ready Rarity?"
Rarity nodded, and the pair ran/flew over to the Everfree Forest, hoping to save their sisters.
you have peaked my interest..... continue
I've been looking for a crossover like this for sometime now! Thanks!
6472567 you're welcome! It might seem confusing at first on how someone could make a crossover with Plague Inc, but when you think about what the game's really about. You make diseases (plagues) and control them, to kill everyone (or control them) and then you win. Plus you can't control a disease in the game, without knowing the name of it first. (Get it? Because you have to name a disease before you play as it.)
MORE...plz
Thanks for taking my suggestion
Great story! This peaked my interest and has my attention!
Interesting concept, at least considering displaced fics. You have earned yourself a track, thumbs up and moustache.
Would be hilarious if Johns token was a worm parasite that the other displaced had to infect themselves with in order to summon him.
Hmmm. I've always wondered how to do a crossover with Plague Inc. I definitely didn't think of controlling the viruses, much less having it turn into a Displaced fic!
this is great
images.sodahead.com/polls/003662727/4138455666_borat_meme_generator_very_nice_i_like_79be9d_answer_1_xlarge.jpeg
Hmm, quite the interesting idea you've taken on. My only issue is that it feels a bit rushed in some spots. Seeing as how he simply explains what happened when he first arrived, maybe you could have explained it. Something along the lines of he felt like a twinge or some little feeling in his brain about the manticore. But other than that I have no real issues. Favorited to see where this goes.
with powerful abilities of life and death is bound to make a princess worry if found out I hope he keep a few trick and fact hidden or there going to be fear unfounded irrational fear.
I'm liking this. And I'd be up for a crossover at some point if ya want Ninja.
The concept is most certainly interesting, but the execution so far is lacking.
The entire chapter feels rushed, way too little details. Also don't tell us, but show us.
You give us an entire description of the main character:
Try giving us this information by using your story, rather than making it look like I am reading somebody' personal file.
Above that set boundaries for your MC's powers because micro-organism are everywhere. If your MC can control every virus, bacteria, fungi then he's almost unstoppable as Multicellular organism like humans, ponies, etc need unicellullar organism for survival. We need bacteria for example with our digestive system or another example women have bacteria in their vaginas that create an acid to prevent pathogenic organism from infiltrating their bodies through their vaginas. Hence why women get bladder infections more often when taking antibiotics, because the antibiotics also kill the good bacteria that aid them in protecting their bodies.
This means that nobody can effectively become immune to his powers unless they go completely on some kind of magical or scientific life support. Also if he can completely control every micro organism he could use such a 'friendly' bacteria and change it into the Yersinia pestis (the bacteria responsible for the three main forms of plague; Pneumonic plague, Bubonic plague or Black Death and the Septicemic plague) for example or make women and men alike become pregnant from worms by evolving bacteria into 'neurax' worms for example.
So yeah your character is extremely powerful even if he just stays with the stuff from Plague.inc. Not impossible to create a good story with, but certainly difficult as your character will be OP (a turn off for a lot of people) as I doubt anyone less than Celestia, Luna, Discord, Sombra and perhaps Chrysalis (she's half bug and bugs are known to have a very good immune system) could go face to face with him.
Also the way he and the forest animals got along reminds me of Disney.
Seriously all that scene lacked was a song about peace, love and being in unity with nature.
Yeah sorry mate, but you choose an interesting personality for your MC; nature loving, people friend, enjoying studying diseases, capable of surviving into an alien forest without prior mention of survival training in our world's forests, swamps and jungles.
Every Equestria is different in the Displaced verse, but from what we have seen canon wise Timberwolves and Manticores are nothing more than animals. I don't see Timberwolves geting waterbowls for or even asking help from your MC. The manticore is semi-believable as it is known animals are capable of showing gratitude.
I advise a rewrite of this chapter and your character's personality or at the very least give us some good reasons for example as to why he is capable of surviving into an alien forest for a month or show us some close calls. I once read a book about a boy being lost in the canadian wilderness eating berries that gave him severe diarrhea if he ate too many. Throughout the serie (trilogy) those berries appear as food source (Although he did consume them in smaller quantities from that point onwards). Show us the struggle he needed to wage that month to stay alive.
You can survive in the wild with enough luck for a while or long enough to learn what's safe and unsafe to foresee in your body's need in for example protein and vitamines. (not every berry kills you instantly, those berries obviously weren't too healthy to eat, but they did give the kid something to keep on going).
Sorry to say it, but currently your MC is good on his way to become a dreaded Gary Stu (extremely powerful, perfect personality) all in all annoying to read about. Yet the idea does possess a unique take on Displaced stuff.
6474227 I thank you for your advice, and will see what I can do when I have time. Also, the reason I'm going with on how he can survive good in the forest is that he would sometimes do field work in his carrier. He also is immuned to disease, so he could eat a poisonous berry without getting sick. Also, in regards to the overpowered bit, yes he does seem a bit like that, but think about how unstable his powers are. He could infect someone accidentally, and start a huge pandemic if he's not careful. I'll try to put some scenes of him surviving in the forest the past month in the next chapter.
Again, thanks for your input.
I haven't even read this yet and now i'm thinking his last name is Cena... *Sigh*
I'm interested in finding out where this story might lead.
...fox buddy?
I think ill track this, seems like an interesting and original idea!
6474730 Ill just leave this here.
I hoped someone would make a plague inc crossover.
Oh I wonder what his token will be. Maybe a Caduceus or a Biohazerd symbol?
I want to see where this story goes. This crossover is an interesting thought. I enjoyed it so far and cant wait for the next chapter.
I am greatly intrigued thus far, you have my full attention.
The power to control diseases?
Does that mean he can also cause a disease to stop itself?
Can he modify the nature of diseases to have more "magical" effects?
I think people are forgetting all the theoretical good an ability like that could do if one took the time to experiment properly.
6475845 well, basically he can control a disease, as long as he can name it. He can also alter diseases to make them more or less severe, and sometimes uses them to help him. He can create any 'plague' he wants. He can also do something much more interesting later in the story.
6475887 umm... actually, it was mega brutal. Plus the game he was playing was Plague Inc Evolved for the computer. You don't need to buy the expansion packs for neurax worm or zombie, you just play normally, and unlock them over time. I've actually played the neurax worm several times, and love it to pieces. But honestly, I couldn't beat Mega brutal even if I tried to. I was just trying to make a point that he was already an expert at the game.
6475887
Sometimes one need to get really ill to discover religion.
6475903 well, the worm actually has a few upgrades that make people start to worship it (literally, one was called devotion, and it can get to the point where they beat up non-infected.)
Very interesting idea, looking forward to how you will develop this.
Just finished the first chapter. So far it is awesome keep up the good work.
Control over the spread and intensity of infections?
I don't usually read displaced, but that is just too damn impressive to pass up, I'm hooked.
The dialogue doesn't feel genuine and the pacing is extremely rushed. You don't need to vomit the premise to keep it under 2000 words, you're allowed to take your time.
If there is one power I want to get if I go to this world, it would be this one. I got a feeling your story is going to be great and I love this game.
Ok, that's a bit too hand-wavy I think. An Epidemiologist knows how to make a blast furnace, the ingredients for glass, AND exactly how to make them completely on his own? And since he does, that doesn't merit some explanation? It's really obscure knowledge that he had no real reason to learn.
Also it would be better reading to actually SEE him discover the particulars of his power instead of just having them told to us, "Show don't tell" is the most used term I believe. Shows promise otherwise.
6475919 or kill them
Ring around the roses
A pox filled with poses
Ashes, ashes
We all fall down
6476268 I know the feeling, I usually avoid Displaced like the plague after I read the first few Displaced. It was fine at first, but then it started getting convoluted. The premise on this one is far too interesting to avoid.
6477147
"Like the Plague," hehe.
I am not convinced about his skill in Plague Inc.
Megabrutal bioweapon? I have done that, and wiped out humanity.
Megabrutal Nano-virus? Now THAT'S what I call something a master is required for.
I loved plague.inc
I can't beat hard mode for some reason :/
I always come so close but a cure is always made at the last second when I'm about to win
6472448 Your interests will always seem to lie elsewhere with that picture...
The beginning felt a bit... rushed to be honest, it would probably have been better if you had just started off with him already set up in Equestria along with a short summary of how he got there in the first place. I can understand the desire to tell the story "from the beginning," but I also understand that that's not always the right thing to do.
A bit rushed, but, similar to the Sam story. So, I'll keep reading this to see where it goes! A bit of a time skip, but, other than that, easy enough to swallow! Keep up the good work!
An easy round of Bio Weapon on Mega Brutal. I can relate. Bio Weapon's not that hard once you learn how to use it.
6472578 Hmm, I guess that means that we've found someone who could get rid of all Stupidity then, eh?
(All of you who don't get it, you have no life because you've never really played Plague Inc.)
He should have woke up wearing a hazmat suit. Grafted to his flesh so he can't take it off. That would be cool. I have a lot more cool ideas just so you know.
6478764
Not sure if insight into the human psyche's ability to make jokes about our species's shortcomings
imgflip.com/s/meme/Futurama-Fry.jpg
Or subtle Jack Septic Eye reference
6480950 Eh, it's likely a 30%/70% chance for the former and latter respectively
i was hoping he looked like plague knight