Henry and Kara had learned quite a bit from 137. It was an organic computer capable of manipulating other lifeforms. It’s purpose was to improve simpler life or inform more advanced life. The end goal was to accelerate the development of whatever species it encountered. Humanity seemed to fall somewhere in between. According to the rock, they lacked the means to use external chemical signals to communicate, but had a capacity for intelligence that far exceeded other life forms it had scanned during it's decent to the surface.
Some attempts at chemical communication and ‘improvements’ resulted in unintentional transformations, and due to the methods it used, these changes became a contagious condition.
Fortunately for them, 137 was able to adapt to their use of sound and was rapidly improving as they spoke with it. Better still, they learned that this small shard was very capable on it’s own. It had lost it's propulsion systems and was unable to affect people who weren't nearby, but still had the means to make genetic modifications. Henry considered how capable the fragment was and suggested that it might be like a starfish; able to grow back from just a small piece. 137 didn’t understand his meaning, but verified that it had been among stars.
Kara probed for more information about the so-called sudden cure. Apparently it was the most basic parts of the improvement protocol that it had set in motion. It was able to scan the people at the crash site and calculated what their DNA was meant to look like. A chemical vapor began to infected anyone nearby, both correcting and learning as it went.
This infection held corrective data for a variety of dormant and active diseases. It used people’s own bodies to generate additional corrective chemicals. Airborne data packets were easily transmitted and spread. This impressive bit of biological engineering made short work of any ‘imperfections’ it found in the genetic code.
In one fell swoop, this infection spread from person to person across the entire region and fixed anything that was useless or harmful. Henry joked about many people wouldn’t have tonsils or wisdom teeth anymore. 137 didn’t understand the humor and pointed out that he was correct.
Finally, Henry asked what would likely be the most important question in the days to come...
“So... If you can alter human bodies, would you be able to change either one of us now?”
[[ Yes ... Catalyst required ]]
“If we... Stimulate ... would we change anyway?” Kara asked.
[[ Original data retrieved ... Improvement protocol successfully applied ... Additional changes made by request only ]]
“Could I grow back those extra arms?” Henry joked...