“Fuck! What do you mean the satellite up-link is down!” Robert screamed into the intercom. He then tried to take a deeper breath to both calm himself and to get more air through his full body gas mask. The constant hiss of his positive pressure suit was a constant distraction. A second deep breath was started before the fuzz reply came back thru the intercom.
“You just spend 28 hours in containment without reporting. Another twenty staff have collapsed due to the virus and world war three started. More urgently get deconed and get out of there, Lieutenant Coronal Graff want you debriefed ASAP.”
“Graff? What happened to General Searcrest, or Colonel Rodriguez!!” Robert replied partially in shock and not really processing all that was said.” Questions swirled in his head. As determined as he was 28 hours ago when he entered this lab to carry out a series of experiments on a hunch the world he was returning to seem to different . The focus of the research was most dire. The so called puker killer, the ender or more properly the XYA virus had spread across the world touching almost all of large cities in the world. The initial outbreak was thought to be Ebola as it originated in Angola the disease seem to resemble that hemorrhagic fever. Unfortunately it proves to be more contagious than the measles with almost triple the symptomless incubation period. It was found to be hosted in every vertebrate we tested and so far 100% fatal in all primates and humans In just 20 days from the first confirmed death from the new virus in Kenya its estimated that 5% of the population of Africa was dead with another 40-80% infected. Panic spread globally as this pandemic had the potential to wipe human off the face of the world.
Robert McAllister age 31 was just one of 47 handpicked microbiologist picked to investigate the ground zero infection site somewhere in Tanzania as part of an American lead UN task force. Cursing loudly Robert rushed into the bleach bath and started his decontamination before slowing down a thoroughly scrubbing down.
Among the many things Robert was including virgin, recluse, microbiologist scientist / consultant and video game junkie but the foremost trait would be germaphobe. Earlier in his life before adapting modern technology he became an extreme germaphobe due to his childhood experiences with mononucleosis at age 6 follow by development of hypogammaglobulinemia that left him partially susceptible to all infections. He spend his next 2 year bed ridden with variants of the common cold before adapting the lifestyle of a bubble boy. Thankfully technology adapted and by the time he was a 18 he could lead a normalize lifestyle.
Showering in the weak bleach solution water that removed all the sweat and grim from his skin. Robert thought ‘if General Seacrest reached the terminal stage of the virus and the second incubation stage of the virus is two to six weeks long . . . Dear God he was infected a week before the first death somewhere in Maryland. There may only be a few people on the earth that are not infected. Maybe the twelve souls on the international satellite station (ISS) could survive. But that not a sustainable gene population and I rather not pin the hopes of humanity on everyone not on earth.
Spaying a heat active fluoridated plastic on his skin he calmed realizing that the skin tight bubble that kept him safe the past 10 years was in place again. After swamping a filter for his face mask he exited the change room find out what the hell was going on in the world.
Passing an obviously third stage infected coworker hallway toward the command information center. Passing thru the curtain of the positive pressurized tent structure not erected two weeks ago.
The CIC was eerily quiet everyone looked depressed and lifeless. After a few seconds the fifth in command of the task as he recalled addressed him. “Dr. McAllister it’s great that you to joined the remaining living. We eager for any good news you have.”
“ I have developed a method to produce a passive immunity dosage effective for people not infected by the virus. I have initiated a test that may produce passive immunity for those infected but before the terminal stage result pending in 6 hours. I also have a plan for the third stage of the virus but it would need two weeks minimum. If I can transmit my sequence for passive immunity to the world health organization we could repurpose insulin factories and other source to provide hundreds of thousands of dosages in as little as 2 days.
“That’s surprisingly good news Doctor however world war three has started. In the two days 43 or more thermonuclear devices have detonated on the planet including six EMP detonations and numerous satellite killers activated. We are at DEFCON 1.” Lieutenant Coronal Graff paused before continuing “The identification marker you found for the infection is present in all task force member as well as everyone in key positions on the home front except you. All communications are down due to EMP effects. We can expect contact with a functioning relay satellite in 16 hours.”
“I’d like to take four hours of down time before heading back into the lab.” Robert asked realizing again he was dead tired after his marathon section unlocking the secrets of the XYA virus.
“Granted but I have a request” Lieutenant Coronal Graff blutted out in response “Can you produce the passive immunity is multiple dosages locally?”
Robert paused thinking of timelines and logistics, the e coli host was easy to prepaid with the antibody vector he discovered. The coke point in production was purification and administration. “ Dr. Caulkett, Nasarius, Master and Debride should be able to procure e coli colonies for plasmid injection. My estimate is 40 to 200 treatments per day per worker after 12 hour preparation effective for virus infection before stage third terminal stage.”
“ Dr. Nasarius is already in third stage condition of infection and unable to help” Graff replied.
“. . . Not that important, anyone with microbiology education at the university level should be able to follow the instruction to produce and refine the antibodies. I would recommend and a saline lock for all awaiting treatment be applied” Robert replied then turning to the exit.
“Great, I brief all other able to respond with this request. Hurry with your next result it may save the world. The hundred and eighty seven souls of this task force that have not succumbed will yet appreciate it” Graff replied enthused. A glare returned to his eyes.
“That I will” Robert replied. “Excuse me” as he departed the center information center room toward his empty residence in the complex. ‘A hundred and eighty seven . . . this was a over five hundred person task force. Damm, every hour is critical but I’m so tired’
“Hold one” Graff cautioned then ordered “Sergeant Hill on me”. A gruff muscular three hunder pound six foot 11 man that would easily fit in as the center on a football or rugby team runs up stopping in a salute. “You are to organize a three man guard on Dr. McAllister person. He’s more important than the president right now.” Graff summarized before turning his attention elsewhere.
“Please follow me Doctor” The large Sergeant offered as we finally exited the now busy room.
. . .
After almost 2 days of activity Robert was finally getting some sleep however his mind was still racing. ‘Am I really the only one out of the hundreds that were selected that made progress?’
In a dream state Robert visualized the XYA virus in it action and what he discovered. An Icosahedron was the basic virus extremely contagious but surprisingly inert and benighted infection. When this small virus increased in numbers something happens three small virus combined and reversibly reforms into a larger Pentakis dodecahedron virus coat. Somehow the genetic code in the virus changes resulting in an extremely slow virus turn over rate while still being highly infectious. This second stage virus behaves as a completely different disease. It includes several proteins that help to stabilize a cell and could be considered a symbiotic virus if not for what comes next.
Somehow the virus morphs again this time into a lethal cell killer also producing a toxin that lead to progressive vomiting diarrhea and seizures before death occurs in as little as a week.
Previously Robert discovered a tri peptide that was produced by the second stage of the disease. This allowed for the diagnosis of infection. That was well received just two days ago. Before it was discovered how wide spread the virus actually was. ‘Prevention won’t save humanity now, we need to be able to fight the third stage of the virus’ Robert thought in his lucid dream-scape.
‘I’m sure the tri peptide is involved why else would the virus produce it’ Robert reasoned. Visualizing the second stage virus coat and the discovered tri peptide Robert thought ‘where do you fit?’ Slowly adding pieces in as part of a complex 3-D puzzle using multiple pieces including the first and second stage virus coat and the tri peptide larger pieces started to take shape. Robert found several small arrangements of that seemed to associate but just didn’t quite fit. ‘This may be something but I’m still missing something’ Robert thought as he revisited the problem that he has been grappling with off and on for last 18 hours.
In a moment of inspiration Robert visualized took several of the loose associating pieces and arranged them together. Suddenly five second stage virus coats, six first stage virus coats and seventy two tri peptides merged into a large Hexapentakis snub truncated icosahedrons. A new virus coat over ten time larger than the second stage.
‘This is It!’ Robert though excitedly before being awoken by noise and shaking
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. . .
Explosions and gunfire could be heard in the distance as Robert roused from his dream-scape back into his still tired body. Ignoring everything else Robert grabbed a stylus and data pad and started to document his breakthrough hypothesis and plan.
Twenty minutes later Robert was still detailing his approach for raising an antibody against the third stage of the XYA virus when a loud rap was heard from the door. “Dr McAllister its now 2300 zulu you have been resting for four hours.” A soldier yelled through the door.
“Never mind that and come in. I need a runner” Robert yelled back not even taking his eyes off his data-pad. ‘What the hell is going on’ Robert though briefly distract himself from his plan. ‘The world infected with a killer virus I am step away from solving, world war three started with a battlefield now just outside and now bloody cell phone and wifi are down’.
The door slid open and a solder walked in wearing helmet full body armor and assault rifle. “I am printing off instruction I need send to Dr. Al Naimi or whoever is in charge of the medical division of critical importance. Of lesser importance is a list of supplies I will need to find a cure for this virus” Robert declared turning his attention to a travel printer that was just starting to print.
On his way back to the lab his was inform that there is a crowd of more than 40,000 sick dying and despite people. These people became fanatical on the thought of any salvation the face of annihilation and despair caused by their infection. Already there was sporadic gunfire and periodic assault on the compound of individuals and group attempting to raid medical supplies. Unfortunately after information about a cure for those before the third stage of infection was passed to the remaining staff and soldier of the expedition team the concept of a ‘cure’ was picked up by the crowd and spread like wildfire. Reckless hope and fanaticism followed in many pressing the tiny expedition forces and attracting more infected from the surrounding area.
BLAM A large explosion occurred that rumbled thru the complex followed by a minute or two of intense gunfire. The shock rumbled Robert fully awake “What the hell was that!” After a brief pause to steady himself, he continued on his way with his escorts.
“It likely was another vehicle trying the jump the perimeter. There were four attempted intrusion using cars in the last twelve hour” Replied one of the soldiers escorting him.
After entering the lab Robert starting preparing to solve this last stage twist of bizarre killer virus. Hours pass in the blink of an eye as he was barely idle for a few second between starting tests, isolating, purifying or conjugating product and derivatives of the deadly virus.
While the sound of gunfire and sparse battle had intensive it was placed out of mind while Robert was focusing on his work. That changed when suddenly a spray of bullets pieced though the outer wall of the lab causing several pieces of glassware to shatter and spurred Robert to dive for the floor. After a tense moment on the ground in a near panic state a soldier yelled “Clear”. Robert was quickly back on his feet and finishing of the instructions of a document. After a brief moment Robert saved a few copies of the work onto several USB sticks. “I need a runner” Robert yelled to no one specific. When someone appeared beside him he handed over the several data sticks with the info. “Here I need these delivered to the following people on the list with the first one going to the CIC. It’s instruction on how to systematize a cure for the intermediary disease.” Robert briefed the runner before turning back to his work.
Two hour more passed with Robert focusing intently on developing an antibody and cure to the third stage of the antivirus. While waling between lab station an explosion ripped thru the outer wall of the lab sending Robert flying off of his feet. Still in a daze from the impact of being thrown to the flow Robert blankly looked up to see on of his escort soldier sending a burst of gunfire toward a gaping hole is the lab that the explosion created.
Robert tried to move but realized he was in pain. Checking himself he found a fist sized piece of metal sticking out of his leg that was slowly bleeding. Cursing Robert grabbed the shard of metal and started to pull it out of his leg. After the metal started to move flushing him with intense pain resulting in a scream but he still manage to the remove the fragment from his leg that was now bleeding steadily. In a daze from the intense pain he quickly applied pressure to the bleeding as help arrived to give him first aid.
Now in contest pain from the now dressed leg wound Robert declined instruction to be sent to the medical section for more advanced treatment. “Hell NO. We are 5 hours away from communication with the homeland and in that time I can find a cure for this dam virus. I will rest then.” Robert declared as he struggled with a limb to get back to his feet with a grimace on his face. Denying medical aid a second time Robert returned to his work.
Time advance quickly as Robert worked. Occasionally he spaced out due to the pain in his leg and loss of blood. Having managed to raise a antibody to the third stage of the virus Robert celebrated briefly. Finding an antibody was a big step but he needed to identify and package information about the antibody so that it could be reproduced rapidly to affect a cure.
While Robert focused on sequence the antibody cure for the virus disaster struck in the form a local warlord and his militia infiltrating the camp to take control of a virus cure. They announced their presence by spaying a volley a bullet into the lab. Several bullet struck one of the solder escort who fell to the ground. Robert was hit in his left arm and hit chest.
Robert gasped for air falling back against a wall then sliding down it. ‘Am I going to die’ Robert thought as a gun fight started between his escort and the warlord militia. After a minute of the fire fight a computer dig from his laptop sound quickly just a meter from Roberts spot. His eyes focused in determination as he realized that the protein had been sequenced a simple calculation and the sequence of the DNA strand would be known. The cure was almost ready. Sucking in air in a few short gasps Robert rolled forward onto the floor and crawled toward his desk with his laptop only a meter away. Grabbing the power cord robber pulled the laptop off of the desk toward him just as a grenade exposed on the far sized of the room. The explosion send hot metal fragment flying all across the room at hip height some of them toward the table where his laptop has just been.
Robert barely registers this as his vision was starting to narrow or tunnel and his hearing diminish to only recognize the explosion as a thud. Robert work as quickly as he could with only one hand function hand to translate the protein sequence to a DNA sequence and post it in his document “How to make a cure for the XYA virus in 10 steps”. After a quick look into the size of the antibody for crude purification method in his instruction before he thought ‘the instruction are complete can get to any immunology lab can make a cure!’ During the euphoria of this accomplishment Robert saved the important document to a data stick. A second latter Robert was hit with an intense pain and coughed forcefully three times that forced up a bright red smear of blood from his lungs onto the laptop. Nearly collapsing to the ground Roberts head throbbed in pain his vision darkened as he was only able to see was directly in front of him.
Focusing with all he has he finds the data stick and turns toward the entrance of his lab. There about 3 meter away two soldier that have been following him around the last day or so one standing and one kneeling stacked against a reinforced fall continuing the fire fight with the intruders that invaded the complex.
With all his good arm had left Robert thru the data stick toward the two soldiers before the stick barely makes it a third the distance in the air stopping on the floor out of reach in the open. ‘Dam getting shot really hurt’ Robert though and despaired barely being able to focus on the soldiers in front of him.
Thankfully the motion caught the attention of both soldier and looked at Robert and the data stick. Robert taking the chance tried to yell ‘the cure’ as loud as possible but his breath failed him and he only mouth the words before coughing up blood again. Again staring as the two soldier that now appear dark and blurring in his vision he repeated to mouth the words ‘the cure the cure’.
Movement and intense gunfire and a explosion occurred the lab during the next few minutes as the soldiers suppressed the attackers and retrieved the data stick. One of the soldiers urgently carrying the cure it to the CIC. The first up-link with the communication satellite was still half an hour away but now a full cure had been discovered for the killer virus.
This was all unknown to Robert McAllister who still lay bleeding in the now partially destroyed lab that discovered the cure. Vision and heading had now both failed him as he struggled to breath and rapidly became more and more tired. Eventually he surrendered to the quite blackness that he thought would be death.
You have died
‘What the hell!’
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Thanks to Elohim for his comments on my first post. I was still trying to get a handle on the table for a few hours as well as dealing with a few dozen typos. I will also try to change the perspective of the following chapter to first person as a rule versus an exception. Further comments welcome.