[RED LAB] Nyuuu!
Hold on!
Be careful!
[ORDINARY CELL] No!
When he's eventually found by an immune cell,
if they can see that he's good bacteria, he'll be fine.
But if they deal with him purely as a foreign substance,
then there's just nothing we can do.
I'm sorry.
No...
That little guy would give his all for this body, too.
I-I know he would.
Why would you kill someone who just wanted to help?!
You're just monsters!
It's because...
Because that's my...
Because that's our...
[NK CELL] Because that's our job.
It's been a long time!
Hold on. NK cell?!
[NK CELL] Here I am, hard at work
and I just so happen to overhear someone talking trash.
Do you need a little schooling, perhaps?
If it weren't for us friendly immune cells, the rest of you
wouldn't have anyone to stop the germs.
You see, I'm an NK Cell.
A lymphocyte who can kill off any cell for any reason.
So you should watch your mouth, little boy.
Back off, NK!
I'm just asking for a little respect here, Neutrophil.
Spill it. Why're you and him being so chummy?
[1146] Hey, that's not what's going on here!
[NK CELL] Seems like it is...
[ORDINARY CELL] She's absolutely vicious!
All immune cells can't be like her, right?
Wherever you are... just stay safe.
[ALL] Wow Wow Wow Wow
[LACTOBACILLUS] Nyu Nyu Nyu Nyu
[ALL] Wow Wow Wow Wow Ah- Ah- Ah-
Wooo!
[RED] Every day of every week, when the day begins
I am always primed and ready
even if the load is heavy, ya know
[WHITE] When disaster strikes I'm there, it's a flawless win
Though my breath is kind of hurried
and my clothes are torn and dirty, it's teatime
[RED, WHITE] But when my tasks are through,
I think back to you
Wishing fate could make our worlds collide
--[MACRO] Collide --[KILLER] Collide
[ORDINARY] Collide
[RED, WHITE] "I'll show you how much stronger I am..."
Like always, whatever comes our way
[MACRO, KILLER] Whatever comes our way
[RED, WHITE] We're gonna work today
[MACRO, KILLER] We're gonna work today
[RED, WHITE] All together, now! Giving it our all!
For the sake of peace, we'll see it all through!
This is the path we choose
[MACRO, KILLER] This is the path we choose
[RED, WHITE] We will never lose
[MACRO, KILLER] We will never lose
[RED, WHITE] Always on your side! We won't let you die!
Miracle brigade, we're Cells at work
[MACRO, KILLER, ORDINARY] We each play our role
[RED, WHITE] Our job is one in the same
[MACRO, KILLER, ORDINARY] Together we're whole
[RED, WHITE] To keep you healthy's our aim
It's our festival Working for you, let's go!
[ALL] Wow Wow Wow Wow
[RED, WHITE] Here we go!
[LACTOBACILLUS] Nyu Nyu Nyu Nyu
[RED, WHITE] Here we go!
[NARRATOR] "Cytokines."
[RED LAB gasps]
[RED LAB] Nyuuuu!
Nyu? Nyu?
[DENDRITIC CELL] Well, good morning, Lactic Acid Bacterium.
I'm so glad you're awake.
Nyu, nyuuuu!
[DENDRITIC CELL] I found you passed out in the gutter
outside, and I couldn't just leave you.
[RED LAB] Nyu?
I can't imagine what happened to you,
but you should rest here for a while.
Want a cookie?
Nyu!
My name is Dendritic Cell. Nice to meetcha!
[laughs]
I baked a whole bunch of these cookies.
So you can have as many as you want.
Nyuuuu!
[ORDINARY CELL] Hey! Little guy?!
Wait for me, Bacterium. I promise I'll find you!
[ORDINARY CELL panting]
Where are you?
Where are you?!
[ORDINARY CELL grunts] Damn it...
Not even a trace...
What should I do?
What if I never find him?!
Oh, my! Is there something you're looking for?
Huh?
[ALL] If you'd like, we would be happy to help you hunt it down.
Uh. No. Thanks, but I'm all right.
[MACROPHAGE] Aw. Are you quite sure?
You seemed to be at such a loss.
So sorry that we couldn't help you out today.
[MACROPHAGE giggles]
[MACROPHAGE] Good day! Come along, ladies.
[1146] Thanks for your hard work...
[MACROPHAGE giggle]
[NK CELL grunts]
So, what exactly is it you two are looking for?
[1146] Oh, uh, nothing special, really.
Yeah?
You're puttin' a lot of work into finding "nothing special."
Please, please come home!
[4989] Huh? You called?
[ORDINARY CELL] Whoa!
I'll take that as a no.
Hope you can find who you're looking for.
Hey, listen, kid. I need you to be a bit less
conspicuous about this.
How else am I supposed to find him, then?
Well, never mind about all that.
You got a lot of questions, but what are you doing here?
Well... I'm looking for something, too.
What could you be looking for?
[chiming]
[gasps]
Uh... Attention We have an influenza incursion!
All cells, beware the risk of viral infection!
Attention any and all nearby immune cells.
Please rush to the site!
For real? Now I gotta cut through these wimps?
Just what is it that you're out here hunting?
Hey! Hey, that's him!
Little guy, I found you!
[1146] Uh? Wait, that's not him!
Kisha!
That... That cell's Infected!
[NK CELL, 1146 grunt]
[INFECTED CELLS growl]
[NARRATOR] The influenza virus.
The virus that causes the infectious disease, influenza.
Broadly classified as Type A, B, or C.
Symptoms include fevers over 100 degrees,
joint pain, and muscle aches.
[NK CELL] Hmph. I really don't have time to deal
with weaklings like you!
[INFLUENZA VIRUS A laughs]
[BOTH gasp]
[laughing]
[1146] What the--?
I-It's so strong!
[INFLUENZA VIRUS A grunting]
[BOTH grunting]
These are not your normal infected cells!
[INFECTED CELLS laugh]
[growls]
We're here to help you out!
Yeah!
Say goodnight, ya damn viruses! Eat this!
[INFECTED CELLS groan]
[B CELL] And B Cell saves the day!
Huh?
[INFLUENZA VIRUS A laughs]
[MEMORY CELL whimpering]
You okay?
[MEMORY CELL groans] I see it all!
Hey, Memory Cell, what's wrong?!
It's over. The end of the world is nigh.
We must flee before it! We are all powerless!
As surely as the stars will explode and dissolve
into the darkness of space...
[B CELL] Get to the point!
[MEMORY CELL grunts]
B Cell, we have no chance to survive against that virus!
Take a good look at our despair embodied!
Look at that virus's head!
That ominous point upon his pate!
That's a whole different beast!
[NARRATOR] Antigenic shift in influenza.
As influenza is prone to mutation,
the nature of the antigen changes every year.
This is why it cannot always be blocked by acquired immunity.
Our typical attacks aren't going to do any damage to these!
You're kidding.
For real?
This cruel world of ours is doomed!
[RED LAB] Nyu, nyu, nyu...
Nyuuu!
Nyuuuuu!
Hey there, little bacterium!
You want some more cookies?
Hm? Nyuuuu! Nyu, nyu!
[DENDRITIC CELL laughs]
[DENDRITIC CELL] And in return, if you don't mind...
There's a favor I'd like to ask of you.
Nyu?
[CELLS chattering]
The-- The body has to fight influenza
all the time, doesn't it?!
But they're so strong.
Yeah. In its normal form, we'd be able to put up a fight,
but after an antigenic shift, I'm afraid all bets are off.
As of right now, we have no idea how to beat this thing.
We're fighting completely blind.
Even so, we can't let them have their way,
or the virus-infected cells will multiply like crazy!
[CELL A] Look out! The spores are gathering!
[INFLUENZA VIRUS D growls]
Ah, crap. This might not work,
but I won't back down without a fight.
How do you like this?!
[INFLUENZA VIRUS D grunting]
Definitely didn't work!
Quick, let's head into the tunnel!
[INFLUENZA VIRUS A growls]
[ORDINARY CELL gasps]
You saved me!
Okay, now's your chance. Make a run for it!
Right, yeah!
[INFLUENZA VIRUS A growls]
[1146 gasps]
Someone help him!
Outta my way, cell!
I'm gonna need some room to move here!
[NK CELL] They dodged that?!
Then how 'bout this?!
[INFLUENZA VIRUS E laughs]
[NK CELL] These things...
[BOTH laughing]
[NK CELL] I've never seen anything move that fast!
I should be crushing them!
What's the deal, NK Cell?!
[B CELL] Neutrophil and I take out infected cells, too,
but you're supposed to be the pro here?
They're dodging everything you throw at them!
[NK CELL] J-Just shut up,,,
There's no way I'm losing to an influenza virus, right?
Uh, Ms. NK Cell?
[B CELL] What the--?
This is gonna be really bad!
[INFLUENZA VIRUS laughs]
The end... is upon us!
[ORDINARY CELL gasps]
[1146 grunts]
Watch out! That thing's headed right for us!
No... No way.
They're bringing on a stomachache!
[B CELL] No way!
They're bringing on a stomachache!
[CELLS yelling]
[ORDINARY CELL grunts]
[BLACK LAB] Nyu!
[ORDINARY CELL] No, come back!
[BLACK LAB] Nyu!
[ORDINARY CELL] Come back!
[ORDINARY CELL grunts]
He's gone...
Protect him with your life!
[ORDINARY CELL] You caught him!
[BLACK LAB] Nyu!
I'm so glad you're all right!
Thank you so much!
NK Cell!
We can't take 'em in close combat.
Let's fall back!
[NK CELL gasps]
[ALL laughing]
[NK CELL] Damn it... Why...
Why can't I kill a pathetic virus?!
I'm... I'm finished!
What the heck's gotten into you, NK?
You're kinda the lynchpin of this whole operation!
NK, what's going on here?
Is it stress? Are you in a slump?
I thought that
I was meant to be a natural-born assassin
[NARRATOR] Immunity and stress.
Under stress, lymphocyte activity becomes sluggish,
and immunity plummets.
[B CELL] Hey, come on now, we need you!
I don't know who I am. What does it matter.
Come on! Snap out of it!
I can't.
Then who's gonna stop this whole damn virus?!
[NK CELL] When we ran into each other earlier,
I was trying to stick up for you after what that other cell said.
But you just got mad at me.
[1146] Wait, I did?!
I didn't mean to! Thank you!
NK! You should be standing proud!
We are immune cells!
We've trained hard to be warriors!
And if we work together, then we can overcome this!
So I need you to get motivated!
I need you to stand up!
Hm...
Huh?
[screams]
What is it? Hold on, did it work?!
[1146, B CELL groan]
[NK CELL screaming]
I'm sorry... My lady... I hope I didn't offend you.
[B CELL, 1146 groan]
[NK CELL] If they saw it, they must die.
[NK CELL growls] Who the hell had the guts to unearth this?!
[NK CELL grunts]
[NK CELL] Ha!
[ALL groan]
[1146] NK! Did you just get activated?!
[DENDRITIC CELL laughing]
[DENDRITIC CELL] Hey, thanks a lot, Lactic Acid Bacterium.
With all these polysaccharides you produced...
Sorry.
[RED LAB] Nyu, nyu!
[gulping]
[DENDRITIC CELL laughs] For the first time in so long...
...I've been activated!
[laughing]
[NARRATOR] About lactic acid bacteria.
Some lactic acid bacteria produce polysaccharides,
which modulate the immune system.
These immunomodulatory polysaccharides are said
to assist in activating dendritic cells.
[DENDRITIC CELL] Good day, my lovely cells!
D-Dendritic Cell?
Wait, are you wearing a new outfit?
You guys that stomach's getting closer. We gotta go!
[growls]
Everyone! Our enemy today...
[DENDRITIC CELL] ...is unbelievably strong, no?
Thus I've taken it upon myself to support you from the shadows!
Ha!
--[B CELL gasps] --[1146] Uh?
Now, if you will all kindly take a look
at the photos I've handed out.
Gaze upon your past selves, and reflect upon whence you came!
[1146 screams]
[laughs]
A shame there isn't a better way to do something like this.
Stooping to blackmail makes me feel so sleazy.
[1146] Then don't do it!
The thing is...
This is a surefire way to get results out of all of you.
The data doesn't lie, you know!
So allow me to be the first--
ha, ha--to really, really get to work, all right?
[NARRATOR] Cytokines.
The blanket term for physiologically active
proteins secreted by cells to stimulate other cells.
Hey, please, Dendritic Cell, don't do it!
That's far enough!
We'll get to work!
Like, really get to work, please don't do this!
I've already been activated!
So you gotta cut me some slack, at least!
[DENDRITIC CELL] Is everybody ready?!
Doin' it anyway!
[NARRATOR] Immunity boost.
When dendritic cells are activated,
they are thought to boost NK activation,
and produce antibodies against certain viruses
through the production of cytokines.
[CELLS screaming]
[CELLS groaning]
[CELL F] No!
[CELL G] Stop!
[MACROPHAGE] Oh, my, how lovely.
A little trip down memory lane!
Are you kidding me?!
[4989 screams]
[2048 whimpering]
[2048] Wh-What's this?
What's this, what's this, what's this, what's this, what's this?
D-D-Dark History...
Universe!
[4989, 2048 yelling]
[INFECTED CELLS scream]
[2048] I'm on fire!
[laughs] Look at how motivated everyone is!
Now then...
[ALL] Shall we join in?
[MACROPHAGE grunt]
[HELPER T-CELL] Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh- What the hell is this?
No! No, no!
That can't be me!
Sure that bratty little thymocyte punk looks
just like me, but there's no way I'd...
[gasps]
Approved, approved, approved, approved, approved...
Approved, approved, approved, approved, approved!
[yells]
[INFECTED CELLS groan]
[ORDINARY CELL] I see...
So that's how everybody managed to fight so hard back there.
You really saved the day when you activated him, huh?
That's right.
This little guy produced all the polysaccharides I needed.
[RED LAB] Nyu!
Hey little bacterium, thanks for making everyone strong enough
to drive out the mutation.
Great things really do come in small packages, don't they?
You're way cooler than I am.
I mean, look at me.
First I dropped you in the waterway,
and then I got blasted away by that stomachache.
Nyu! Nyu, nyu, nyuuu!
[ORDINARY CELL] Sorry I put you both in danger like that.
[RED LAB] Nyu?
By the by, it looks like someone's coming to pick him up.
Wait, right now?
[DENDRITIC CELL] See? Here they come!
[gasps]
[BIG RED LAB] Nyu, nyu!
[ORDINARY CELL] Whoa... your friends!
[RED LAB] Nyu! Nyu!
I know we didn't get to spend much time together,
but you're very dear to me.
Nyu...
Take care of yourself.
[RED LAB] Nyu, nyu!
Nyu, nyu! Nyu, nyu!
[1146] Down to one now, huh?
I'd be happy to take that guy to his friends for you.
[ORDINARY CELL] Oh...
Sure.
And hey, White Blood Cell?
I, uh... I wanna say sorry for what I said before.
You're not a monster.
I mean, you were only trying to help us
in the first place, and...
When that stomachache sent us flying, I was so glad
that you were there to catch the bacterium.
So thank you.
Not at all. And for my part,
I'm so sorry for scaring you.
For not being able to contact my comrades,
and for not being able to help you.
I apologize.
You don't have to.
[1146] Also...
Please don't think you've burdened me with all of this.
In fact, I actually really enjoyed spending time with--
[ORDINARY CELL] Know what! I'ma go apologize to everyone!
Hey, all you immune cells! Sorry, I had no idea!
[1146] Wait, maybe you shouldn't--
[ORDINARY CELL] I mean, blackmailed
with embarrassing photos? That's just crazy!
Especially you, Miss NK--
No idea what you're saying. Normal day, nothing happened.
[1146] Wait, NK Cell!
Let's just let her go.
We'll focus on returning that last bacterium.
Oh, okay.
On second thought, you stay here and I'll go check on her.
Remember, it's all over if someone sees that bacterium.
Right, I forgot!
Be right back!
[ORDINARY CELL] Gotcha
[ORDINARY CELL] Looks like it's just you now huh?
Nyu!
Are you lonely? It's gonna be all right.
I'm gonna make sure that you end up with your friends, too,
I promise you.
[BLACK LAB] Nyu!
[NK CELL] I'm gonna kill that shiny glasses wearing jerk!
No, it isn't him, it's me.
Why am I so mentally weak?!
[1146] NK!
You got a minute to talk?
[1146] So, uh...
I'm just telling you because it's a moot point now...
That lactic acid bacterium was what we were searching for.
We didn't tell you because we were trying to sneak it back
to the others.
[NK CELL] Seriously? I really wouldn't have cared.
Must be fun to have such a peaceful life.
On that note, NK...
If I recall, you were searching for something, too, weren't you?
Ah-ha. So that's why you're here.
Fine. It's not like it's got nothing to do with you.
I'll tell you with a warning:
Neutrophil, no matter the enemy, it's in your best interest
not to think twice before killing it.
[1146] Hm?
[NK CELL] You know that the info on all the cells we kill
is stored as antibody data, right?
And you also know that as long as they have that data,
the cells can replicate.
I do.
[NK CELL] A certain cell's antibody data has leaked.
[1146] What?
[NK CELL] Along with the genetic data included in those records.
That cell has already acquired a physical form,
somewhere inside this body.
You remember, don't you?
The one who swore he'd return.
[gasps]
[CANCER CELL] And when I die,
this world will be happy that I'm gone.
It's not fair that I was born in the first place.
[1146 gasps]
So that's what I've been looking for.
[CANCER CELL laughing]
[CANCER CELL] It's pretty sweet to have my own body!
At last, I'm home...
And I can't wait to see you.
Hey, did you know?
They say that there are germs called "humble bacteria"
inside the large intestine!
[1146] I think you might mean "harmful bacteria."
Next time on Cells at Work!!
"Harmful Bacteria."
[BOTH] All right, let's get to work!