Prologue
In a dimly lit conference room, the air hung heavy with tension as key figures gathered around a polished oak table. Doctors, scientists, military leaders, and politicians exchanged worried glances, the stakes of their meeting weighing down on them like a thick fog. A large screen at the front displayed maps and statistics, projections that illuminated the rapid spread of a virus that had begun to consume cities around the globe.
At the head of the table, the President leaned forward, his face pale and eyes wide with anxiety. “We need to understand the origin of this virus! Where the hell did it come from?” His voice trembled slightly, revealing the gravity of the situation that had unfolded without warning.
Dr. Rebecca Harris, the lead epidemiologist, took a deep breath, sensing the urgency in his tone. “Mr. President, this virus was engineered in a lab—a product of our own ambitions. It was developed in secret as part of a project aimed at altering human genetics. The intention was to create a virus that would enhance the human body—improving resistance against diseases and infections, increasing muscle density to bolster physical attributes, lowering nutritional requirements, and even extending lifespan. We believed we could unlock human potential.”
The room fell silent, shock etched on the faces of those present. The President’s eyes widened further as he processed the implications. “Engineered? How could this happen? And how did it get out?” His voice rose, tinged with panic.
Harris hesitated for a moment before responding. “During a routine experiment, a containment breach occurred. A small group of technicians inadvertently exposed themselves to the virus while performing tests. Initial attempts to isolate and contain the outbreak failed, and what began as a controlled experiment quickly spiraled out of control. The virus spread beyond the lab, infiltrating the city. Now, we are facing a catastrophic situation.”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
General Mark Thompson leaned forward, furrowing his brow. “What’s the current status of the infected? Are we able to control the situation?”
Harris sighed, glancing at the charts before continuing. “Containment efforts have failed. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and public panic is escalating. The numbers we projected for this week have already doubled. The virus is now infecting individuals at an alarming rate, and its effects are unpredictable.”
A murmur of concern rippled through the room, the gravity of her words settling heavily on each participant. Senator Laura Caldwell, a shrewd politician with years of experience in crisis management, interjected. “We need to consider the public’s response. If they learn the truth about the virus—what we were trying to achieve—chaos will ensue. We must manage the narrative carefully.”
“Agreed,” Thompson replied, his expression hardening. “We need to limit what gets out to the media. This needs to be contained, both in terms of information and the situation itself. If the public panics, we risk anarchy.”
At that moment, the Secretary of Homeland Security, a stout man with a no-nonsense demeanor, leaned in. “There are proposals for secure facilities in remote areas, but those must remain confidential until we’re ready to execute them. We must ensure our highest officials and their families are safe, even as the virus spreads.”
The atmosphere in the room was charged, a blend of desperation and determination. They were discussing the end of the world as they knew it, yet their focus was on their own survival.
As the meeting drew to a close, the participants filed out, each lost in their thoughts about what lay ahead. Outside the building, the city buzzed with an air of normalcy, unaware of the impending storm. Little did they know, the virus they had set in motion was already out there, spreading like wildfire, and soon it would change everything.