Chapter 24: Pity the Flu

[Ariel Tal Shachar]

Ariel makes a quick call to other staff to inform the world business leaders about the flu and that it is up to them to enact policies of quarantine. When he is finished, he receives a fax from Genetech's main lab in Dublin. According to the lab, the flu is a new strain which they have named H5N4 and which bears some similarities with a certain feline flu from 30 years ago. Work is still being done to create a vaccine. It also makes mention of the company Artz Lehrer Pharmaceuticals which has the patent on Influ-vir, an anti viral flu medication. The Moderator calls the company to request that more is produced.

"You can look at the information yourselves.." The moderator states before passing the fax to those in the office.

"As for the Speaker, the Invisible Hand is working on finding her. But there is some video footage...perhaps this person is familiar to some of you..."

Ariel turns on the tv and once again shows the footage of the elf making off with the Speaker during Holy Week.

[Attis Svoboda]

Attis takes some of the left over red leaf from Salome and plays with it in his hands. He glances up at Archer and frowns. "Maybe I could talk to the trees and make them move. I suppose you wouldn't know. But, I would prefer not to since I don't feel inclined to help those...so closed minded as yourself." Attis states.
He watches Bonifaz and Kasper move the tree, which they are able to do without help anyway.

"Do you have a problem with nature? Do you think that you'll ever be free....living in society? Do you even want freedom?" He inquires.

[Bonifaz Artz-Lehrer]

When Bonifaz and Kasper move the tree, Bonifaz gets back into the van. He starts it back up and continues the journey. He leaves the radio on, but, there isn't much information. Only broadcasts reminding people to wash hands, wear face masks, and so on.

After a long while of driving, they finally make it out of Florida. They drive a little longer and find a small shanty town of criminals, mentally ill, or the other remnants of America. They are living off the land or by hunting mostly. He parks the van behind a long empty grocery store and gets out, waiting for the others.

"This is a good enough place to meet. It might be good to stay here a while." He suggests. He knows that things could get bad for them if the flu is linked back to Null. It is best to hide out for a while now. Of course, he can't share that with the others.

[Armin Lehrer]

Armin gets out of the van with Bonifaz and starts exploring the old grocery store. He likes abandoned places and it is easy to get inside since the back door is hanging off its rusted hinges. Inside, the grocery store is nothing more than dusty shelves and check out counters. He can't find so much as a can. He pokes around for a while then returns outside to the others.

"Why do we have to stay here for a while? I've gotta get back to Helsinki for my janitor job before I get fired. I only took 3 days off." Armin explains. He coughs a little and looks over at Attis.

"I don't know about you, but nature isn't really all that free for me. There are bugs and dirt...and wild animals. I think there is freedom in comfort too..." He says with a shrug.

[Horacio Hatfield]

"It's been a long day. I think I am going to rest. We can meet and discuss things in the morning." Horacio suggests with a yawn. He enters the grocery store and finds a place to sleep under a dusty cash register. There are large spider webs, which unsettles him. However, soon he makes himself comfortable and falls asleep.

[Attis Svoboda]

"Comfort is over rated. Comfort has made humans stupid, fat, and short lived. Humans trade comfort for freedom and look at the world we have now." Attis remarks. He sits down in the grass by the grocery store and rests his head on the building.

"I'll sleep inside. It's just as comfortable in here than in that musty store."

[Momo Kurokawa]

Momo gets the message from the Moderator concerning the new flu and that it is the responsibilty of business leaders to take care of their own workers and people in their sphere of influence. Since her company creates robots, she has enough automated labor to carry out essential fuctions. However, she closes down the schools, malls, restaurants, and other public places for the time being. She also puts a stop to efforts to repair tsunami affected areas. Lastly, she closes all teleportation booths in and out of Japan to keep people from coming in and leaving the country. She leaves Korean transportation open since she cares less for the well being of those living in "her" Korea.
She informs managers that they should tell their employees that these new restrictions are being enacted to stop the spread of the flu into Japan.

She also orders that a census be done to see how many people are sick. She reports her actions back to the Moderator via email.

[Bonifaz Artz-Lehrer]

When everyone starts trying to find a place to sleep, Bonifaz approaches Archer from behind for a private chat. Speaking very quietly he whispers the following. "We can't go back to Germany or civilization any time soon. It won't be safe. If the flu spreads, we may become suspects. It depends on how efficient the Manalists are at detecting the origin of the flu. " He states quietly. "Though, it may become more suspicious to some if I simply disappear. I am torn on this ..." He admits. If he disappears and his father takes note of it, it will seem suspicious. If he returns and is a suspect, he could easily be found and executed.

[Dinari Dollar]

Dinari listens to the Moderator's advice and calls his staff back in Allwhere. He orders that teleportation booths in and out of Allwhere be closed for the time being, except for the one in his office, which he can use or that can be used with his permission. He also orders that shipping between Florida and Cuba be stopped for now and that travel by road also be restricted to delivery vehicles, police, or ambulances. He orders that Dinari Dollar Elementary School be closed as well as Allmart University and other schools in Florida. Lastly, he orders the closing of Allfun, the Allmart themed amusement park until further notice.

He neglects to call Cuba to close things there...but, since the Russian mafia is also involved in some of the casinos and clubs, he doesn't want to impinge on their territory.

After that, he watches the elf on TV but isn't sure if he has seen him before.

[Kith Keitoleinen]

"Yes, I suppose you would..." Kith says absent mindedly. They swim around for a while, but something seems a little unsual. Kith just has a vague bad feeling. Maybe it is because he knows that that the Speaker is missing. Things just don't feel right in the world. After swimming for a long time, he gets out of the water and dries off. Near the shore, there is someone selling icecream. "Would you like an ice cream? It will be my treat." Kith offers Linnea. He doesn't realize that he actually has a sun burn. His gray skin has a slightly pinkish tint. Since he rarely goes out into the sun, he neglected to put it on.

[Salome Weil]

I stumble out of the van, feeling tired and groggy from the red leaf. It is semi hallucinogenic from what I have heard, but I haven't experienced anything. I just feel tired and relaxed. Feeling so tired makes me less worried about my illness. I just want to find a corner and sleep.

I enter the grocery store and also find a place to sleep under a check out counter. It is dusty under there, but, I am too tired to care right now. I just close my eyes and soon I am asleep.

[Lucio De Saldanha]

Lucio wanders along the beach walk for some time until he spots a familiar face. It is Linnea, though he is not sure if he has met the elf that is with her. He jumps up and down happily as he rushes over to the ice cream stand.

"Linnea, what are you doing here in Cuba? I've had the worst week ever!" He exclaims. He still has some bruises from the temple of terror. He rubs his arms and shivers as he thinks of the Flesh Monger.

[Jumala Keitoleinen]

Keitoleinen isn't sure if he wants to close Finland off from the rest of the world. He doesn't really care all that much if people die of the flu. A pandemic everyo once in a while can be a nice thing. At the very least it can be entertaining. However, he figures that if he lets the flu spread it will weaken Sota and make it more vulnerable to attack from Intelligent Design or Genetech. He sighs and calls his own staff.

"There's some stupid flu going around, so I want to restrict travel in and out of Finland. I guess....I'm going to try to get some flu medication when it becomes available. Until then...sick people don't have to work. They can ...stay home and be sick...I guess.." Keitoleinen orders reluctantly.
He crosses his arms and feels displeased with the situation.

[Heikki Toivonen]

Heikki tries on a couple of Freida's dresses but hears the phone ring downstairs. He still has a lavender dress on when he runs downstairs to answer it. It could be Bonifaz afterall. He picks up the phone but it is not Bonifaz...but his father....

"Well, where is he?" The man on the other end asks.

"He's not here right now. He's...." Heikki tries to think of a good excuse. "He's sick...he's here, but he's sick right now." He stutters out.

"Everyone is sick now. It's an epidemic. Get him on the line." The voice demands.

In a panic, Heikki just hangs up the phone. He doesn't know what to do. He paces around the living room hoping that Bonifaz's father doesn't come over.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

I was resting on the couch at work when there was an announcement from my supervisor that anyone who is sick can go home until they feel better. That's really generous! I find out that Sota, who owns Finland, is enforcing this policy.
I guess I don't really care. I'm exhausted!

I get up off the couch, sign out, and slowly start walking home. Normally I would try to use a cheap teleportation booth, but, I've learned that they are closed down for the time being.

I start walking very slowly towards the house I share with Armin and others.