New World Order |Day 2 After Virus Release: Lex|

Part 2: Will you Part with your Humanity or Lose the Whole of Humanity? 

“Hey Anneka, why are you planning to bring something so unessential with us? You were going on and on earlier about how every object we choose to take matters and the optimal ratio of food to water to research supplies to weapons to medical supplies. What’s this lone book for?”

I avoid rolling my eyes and continue scanning around the mostly vacant safe house we are waiting near the dock in and I continue organizing our travel bags. “First off, that stuff will and does matter. I’m sure you don’t need me to go over there and use your head for you. Are you just curious about the book?”

“Yeah, you may be right.”

“Acknowledge it or not, we are going on a perilous mission. So there is no way I am dying before I learn the ending of my favorite novel.” I decided to press the attack. “If you want to have a proper conversation, you should really try to use your words in a well-meaning way instead of all this verbal fumbling.” I turn around to the front of the room to see if I had any effect and see Lex looking as amused as can be.

I see her head turn and I can not hold it in anymore and start laughing. “You do know that the author still hasn’t written an ending to this series yet. That book you have is the second to final book, and he still hasn’t released the finale.”

An appalled expression spreads on my face. “Wuuu. Seriously? I didn’t know. Also spoilers. Tell me, is he on hiatus, or is he just trying to perfect the finale?”

“No dummy, he’s just waiting for us to finish this and get everything back to normal like everyone else in the world.”

So when it comes to debating, I should just take a break for now. I shout out to Lex. “I’m sticking to what we went over. We are not taking any firearms because we want to avoid loud, distinct sounds in the city, killing the zombies, and using a weapon for which replenishing is difficult. Our supplies should be evenly distributed in both of our bags. Overall, we should have enough food to last for 15 days and enough water for 30 days. For weapons, I have a sturdy fire axe, and you have a wooden staff. We also have these rope and net launchers that fire contraptions strong enough to hold people and zombies down to about any surface unless you know specifically how to take them out using force. The main problem is that the ammo is heavy and hard to make once we run out. This fire axe will help us if we ever need to construct or break anything down. I’m also taking some medicine.”

“Wait, what type of medicine?”

“Medicine medicine!”

“Great nonanswer. That’s okay I do not need to know. We do need medicine. Sounds like you generally considered what we need. In addition, I’ll be taking various textbooks on a couple of subjects. If you are not learning in this world, then you are unfortunately losing your proficiency and are doomed to forget.” I check my watch. “It has been 26 hours already. When do you think Dr. Aline will get us everything we need?”

“I think it should be ready tomorrow. We asked for a bunch of stuff. Like an advanced new seaplane and pilots.”

“How else would we land in Seattle? All the nearby airports are taken over by zombies and the ground space is unusable. By landing in the city’s dock, we are immediately in the city proper, and the landing space is unobstructed. We also may have more time to drop off our plentiful supplies, a machine to prepare the DNA in our samples, a gel set up to verify the size and quality of the samples, a centrifuge for purification, transportation tools to deliver our modifications to the virus, single use incubators to house host cells that the zombie virus safely infects to replicate, a microscope, a power generator, and materials for a workstation. Single use incubators save time, space, and power compared to traditional incubators. We are going to utilize the dual strategy of using incubators for trials of our virus against the strains in a controlled environment before testing directly on zombies in the uncontrolled environment.”

“That’s right, between all the equipment, it is going to take multiple trips to bring our supplies to our base of operations. It is a large problem that could have been solved or expedited if we had more people coming. Still when we arrive, the second step is to scout the city and check the current status of notable supply locations.” Stopping our speech, we hear a knock on the door.

“I’ll get it, Lex.” I take hold of my weapon while I try to look through the door’s viewing hole to the outside. I can only see two faint figures.

“I know you are in there. Open up. We aren’t zombies yet.”

That tired voice is definitely Yama. I open the door and see the plane. It is a marvel model made for long flights. Unlike most seaplanes, it has a large enough gas tank to last us the long 25-hour flight from Argentina’s coast to Seattle. It also has enough seats for the four people we are taking in addition to enough space for our equipment.

“We’re the pilots who are going to take turns managing the systems and autopilot during our extremely long flight, and we have already loaded the medical equipment in the back. We’re going once we refuel.”

I default to snide remarks. “You’re one of our pilots, Yama. Seriously?”

“Don’t give me that. I’m highly qualified. I already heard the rubbish plan you both came up with and I can’t believe that I have to help you two again.” He smiles. “I’m being dramatic. The situation works well for us as well. Once we drop you off, we will be able to fly back to Texas.”

Anneka and I finish loading up our bags onto the plane when Yama speaks.

“We figured out what happened in Seattle. The virus somehow got into all of the water supply. And I mean all of it. In every neighborhood and district. I don’t understand how, but the fog on the ground is also infecting people in its movement throughout the streets and buildings. That’s one of the last messages they sent before it all stopped. Dr. Aline hypothesizes that the consequential concentration of water vapor characteristic of fog allows for it to carry the virus. We have some gas masks here to help with that. I’ll add them to your packs.” He tosses them. “We’re trying to avoid the same disaster here and in other coastal regions, but people are terrified and panicking. Suddenly, everyone on this planet has reason not to trust the food and water available. Something has to be done. Earlier in time, Dr. Aline and the government sent out radio transmissions to nearly every country internationally, urging and advising the use of military and armed force ethically and sparingly to protect people instead of harming people who can be saved by science. If her instructions are followed then many governments will develop safe zones and research institutions as a response to this pandemic. Keep in mind you two are the only people currently set out to Seattle. Not a single other scientist wants to take part in something seen as dubious and irrational. When you can just study the zombie spread near you it seems that way. I heard a great person say that it was like choosing to live in a house trapped in the greatest fire. Something not even a fool would choose. Wisping to nothing so quickly and fiercely, you do not have time to laugh at your own delusion.”

What does that mean for Anneka and me? This influx of news puzzles me for hours. I wonder if that means all forms of precipitation are dangerous. I get to Yama’s repeated words of the man. Truthfully, I understand the concern, but passivity will never prepare a solution. The words are never watered as plants in my head. Between going over approaches to counter the virus, new information, and disturbed rest, I passed the time in the air.