Interview with Doctor Butterfly

The Strange & Unusual Universe of Silver Moon Unicorn

(Transcription of Silver Moon Unicorn interviewing Doctor Butterfly.)

Silver Moon Unicorn (SMU): Thank you for speaking with me today about your research, Dr. Butterfly.

Dr. Butterfly (DB): Thank you for interviewing me. I feel honored to be interviewed by a bard whom the Guardians respect.

SMU: I do appreciate the access they have given me to their archives. There’s more going on in the world than I ever knew about.

DB: Yes, I agree with you there. The Guardians really are trying to help us all. Some of them feel they brought some of the problems we deal with today into being. So, they are trying hard to fix them.

SMU: Yes, I’ve noticed that as well.

DB: I do find it interesting that they are starting to accept some vampires and were creatures as Guardians. Traditionally, only elves, fairies, merfolks, centaurs, dragons, and humans were allowed to be Guardians.

SMU: Yes, I’ve interviewed a vampire who was a Guardian before his transformation and still acts like one. Although he does admit that he preferred to stay away from everyone while he was transforming and adjusting to the changes.

DB: I can’t say I blame him. I think he’s better for it. I bet the Guardian training helped him to cope with all the changes.

SMU: I bet you’re right about that. Guardians are famous for their self control. It’s not something many people have.

DB: True enough. Did you know the vampire, were, and zombie viruses are all retroviruses?

SMU: No, I did not. What kinds of viruses are they?

DB: Retroviruses transform specific cells into something different, much like weres changing between human and non-human animal form. Usually, the changes are irreversible and can become a part of the DNA of the individual.

SMU: Which means they can pass those new genes onto their offspring.

DB: Exactly. That’s why the genetic link with the weres.

SMU: But what about the vampires and zombies?

DB: Zombie don’t have a sex drive and they can turn back to their original form, if treated in time. Otherwise, they die. Vampires are questionable at best. I’ve seen no evidence why they can’t have children, unless they conceal those children, or they have infertility.

SMU: So how does the were virus change the cells?

DB: The were virus actually allows the cells to morph back and forth. Sometimes the individual can control it, but sometimes they can’t. The patients that I’ve helped are more scared when they don’t have control. Sometimes the full moon makes them change. Other times, it because of deep emotional reasons.

SMU: That sounds about right. I know Black Wolf tends to change when he’s really upset. He also changes into a wolf when the moon is full.

DB: How does he act in his wolf form?

SMU: Like a well behaved dog. My son still gets a little scared when he transforms, but usually White Lion will calm down once he realizes Black Wolf isn’t going to do anything to him.

DB: Sounds like the non-dangerous werewolf type to me.

SMU: He is and he’s awfully sweet in both forms. (She pauses.) So what does the vampire virus affect?

DB: The nervous system and fairly extensively at that. It causes them to move faster and think faster than they could before. Unfortunately, it also causes people to have more severe forms of brain illnesses that they may or may not have have prior to the virus. Actually, the speed is typical of ADHD.

SMU: Wow. I didn’t realize the extent of the change. Sounds like it affects lots of things in the body.

DB: The nervous system covers a lot and it does explain why some vampires seem so much more sexual than ordinary humans.

SMU: What about the zombie virus? What does it affect?

DB: It affects the skin, causing it to turn a sickly shade and causes a severe fever. That fever makes it hard for them to walk and talk.

SMU: That explains it. It is hard to think straight with a severe fever.

DB: Yes, and their saliva can transmit the virus to another person just with a bite.

SMU: Does it work that way with the vampire and were viruses?

DB: Yes and no. It’s more likely to work with a were virus unless the were creature kills or eats you first. Vampire bites don’t always transmit the virus. It’s actually not a very good virus. I believe in the case of His Excellency, he became a vampire after his son killed him. He may have been in the middle of the transformation as well. Some people are immune to becoming a vampire, but the virus still affects them.

SMU: How does it affect those who are immune?

DB: Their phenomornes can increase dramatically and their skin, eyes, and hair change color.

SMU: That’s what can happen when people turn into vampires.

DB: True, but the ones who are immune don’t have the undead look to their skin. It’s still a healthy color.

SMU: Why do vampires look they are dead?

DB: It’s the change in their nervous systems. The nerves actually change color and it shows through the skin, even though we can’t make out the nerves. I think that’s why they need blood to live. The nerves along the digestive tract change just like the rest.

SMU: I’ve noticed Black Wolf can eat mostly vegetables and be fine. He doesn’t care for meat, except for a little fish.

DB: Yes, I’ve noticed that with other were creatures. The virus doesn’t seem to affect their digestive tracts. It must be a myth that they need meat to survive.

SMU: Like it’s a myth for the rest of us as well?

DB: Yes, that too.

SMU: So, how did you learn about these viruses?

DB: The Guardians gave me Healer Jaeson’s notes. He had a fairly good idea about both vampires and weres. I’ve had the opportunity from studying the blood of two transforming vampires, as well as blood samples from other vampires and weres. Many volunteered. Other samples were collected by the Guardians themselves.

SMU: I would imagine that’s a lot of work.

DB: It is, but the knowledge is worth it.

SMU: We’ve needed that knowledge. Thank you for your time, Dr. Butterfly.

DB: And thank you for your time, Ms. Unicorn.

(End of transcript.)