Hey everyone,
I realize that I am a newbie here at the cantina and should stay out of things until I am more familiar with the surroundings. But this is looking serious and I am compelled to speak...
Now, I am not an expert on HIKV, but I have done extensive research into MADV. The "Male Acquisitional Disorder" virus specifically zeros in on a host's subconscious, creating the uncontrollable urge to obtain objects which either cut, shoot, float, or drive fast. It was discovered in 1994 while I was working at the Rapid City Regional Hospital. I cannot take full credit for it's discovery, but I am proud to have been on the team that first identified the virus.
After much study when I worked security on the night shift, we (other researchers and ER physicians) determined that most males come down with the virus around puberty. Symptoms include hoarding large numbers of guns/knives, or other implements that make females roll their eyes; breaking out in a fever whenever someone mentions a Gun or Knife show is coming to town (hosts with advanced stages have been known to travel for these). Trading in 4x4s, boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, guns or knives for a brand new models on a regular basis; and other ugly behavioral quirks that are better left to the medical profession to describe.
This virus is highly contagious and can infect an unprotected male (i.e. someone who is not accompanied by a wife or girlfriend) in one short night of drinking beer with other infected males. In rare instances, it has been know to cross the gender gap and infect females too, but there are not that many documented cases.
HIKV appears to be a mutated strain of MADV that specifically forces the host to acquire sharp curvy objects from Nepal or South Asia. Jim's symptom of obsessing on Durba's creations indicate that yet another mutation may have taken place...
One tell tale symptom which indicates an advanced stage of infection is the continued denial of being infected, to the point of creating excuses for the host's aberrant behavior.
Unfortunately, at this late stage of the disease, there is no known cure, and only one treatment that has been known to work for short periods of time. INTERVENTION... As a group, Jim's friends must separate him from the object of the obsession until medical technology advances far enough for a permanent cure. To ease the pain of withdrawal, he can have limited contact with similar objects (wooden models for instance), but nothing that is sharp (for safety reasons).
Let there be no doubt, Intervention is dangerous, ugly work. Only the host's good friends, who are brave and strong-hearted (having access to Kevlar might be good too) can make this work. Some say that the treatment is worse than the disease (although those people are suspected to be infected).
We can only hope that medical research will someday find a cure. I must now go back to surfing the knife boa... I mean go back to work...
Jim, my prayers are with you
Alan
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When all else fails...JSTF
[This message has been edited by ACStudios (edited 05-22-2001).]
