Blackberry

Central Narrative: After discovering an anomalous dome of blackberries, initial tests find that the blackberry vines are aggressive and will attack living creatures. Eating the blackberries also seems to cause a mind altering effect, where the victim tries to convince others to eat the berries. It is decided that a task force will be sent to explore the dome.

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The 5 person task force, MTF XX- “Herbicide”, consist of 2 rookies who joined just a week ago, 2 seasoned officers, and the captain. Equipped with flamethrowers and machetes, researchers monitor their body cameras, and instruct them what to do. Previously, a d-class was sent in to explore, but communication was lost and the d-class never came out. The team finds the d-class, tangled in vines and half alive. One of the rookie agents trips and falls onto a thorn and screams as blackberry vines fill the inside of the suit. The team finds an old town free from vines, and inhabiting the town is a tribe.
The tribe leaders explain that the people living here have done so for many generations, living almost entirely off of the blackberries for things like food and clothing. The blackberries apparently contain all the required nutrients for humans, and the vines have some antibiotic properties making them ideal for herbal medicine. The leaders claim they are safe from the vines so long as they follow certain rules; some sensible like not picking unripe berries, others strange like never referring to the vines as marionberries, blueberries, or raspberries. It seems that on occasion outsiders will find their way into the town. Some respect the rules, but many claim they are just superstitions. Those people often break the rules and die.
Finally, the tribe is forbidden to enter “the dense vines”, which appears to be some building densely wrapped in vines. The team is told to explore the building, which seems to have been a garden store or greenhouse. Inside, the team notes that the vines seem to shift around, like they're being pulled. Navigating through the vines, they see something like a rabbit, but with hundreds of vines growing from it. One member approaches the rabbit, accidentally startling it. The vines in the building begin to lash and whip, shredding the team members as they try to escape. The rookie makes it out and reaches the tribe, but discovers a vine growing on him. The tribe tells him there is no cure, and the rookie leaves to die in the vines.