Chapter 24: Pity the Flu

[Nihato Gallagher]

OOC: This post is to Kasper Schultz!

Nihato may be healthy once again, but she was also now a little girl stuck in the wastelands of America. Lost, was perhaps a better word. Her small body was curled in one of the many abandoned buildings, hiding under her jean jacket as she'd tried to catch some sleep. After escaping from the Manalists she'd caught a teleport booth right before the shut down.

She'd ran from the populated cities in fear that the Manalists knew of her new appearance. There wasn't many Manalists in Florida but it didn't change the risk. What she'd needed was to lay low and try to contact a comrade. Unfortunately, she was feeling the beginnings of the flu that she heard rumors about.

Coughing, she finally moves her stiff limbs. Her hunger was more important than any exhaustion or flu feelings. Man, she's finally free of Gray sickness just to catch some stupid flu. The flu was nothing near what Gray sickness felt like but it was still taking a toll. She pulls her arms through her jean jacket and stumbles out of the building. Her hair was tangled and dirt smear arms and face. Hearing someone moving around, she freezes. The wastelands may be safe from Manalists but it was hardly safe for a twelve year old.

She hides behind some garbage to spy on whoever it was. A scrawny, kind of nerdy looking guy was wandering around. The heck was someone like him doing out here? He looked a little dirty but a lot better than herself. Deciding she could outrun him if needed, she cautiously moves from behind her hideout to the open. She says nothing, simply looking at the man curiously to see how he'd react.

[Kasper Schultz]

Kasper was poking around. He found some signs of human life, such as foot prints and garbage, but he didn't see anyone. He scratched his head wondering if maybe people moved on or if they were in hiding here. Maybe they didn't trust the newcomers meeting in the grocery store. He continues to poke through buildings, searching for signs of life. Suddenly, he comes upon a set of small foot prints in the dirt. It looks like those of a child. He follows them for a while.

"These foot prints are new!" Kasper announces, but he has no way of knowing if that is true or not.

After following the foot prints, the actually lead him in a circle. He turns around...and there's a child behind him. She looks a little rag tag.

"Eureka! I've found you at last!" He says at the end of his scavenger hunt for life. Since she is a kid, he isn't afraid of her. Although, even a kid might be able to beat him up.


"Are there others here?" He asks, assuming she is a native of this shanty town. "My name. is. Kasper." He says very slowly, as if she doesn't understand English, which would be ridiculous.

[Lucio De Saldanha]

"I guess I am a lucky guy." Lucio admits to Linnea and Kith. He smiles and stares out at the sea. After finishing his ice cream, he stands up abruptly and starts jumping up and down happily.
"Let me take you to my family's home. We'll make dinner for you and you can stay there. It will save you money on a hotel!" Lucio offers Linnea and Kith. Really, he is happy to have company and someone to share Cuba with. He thought he would be alone here for a long time..apart from his comrades. He is afraid to return to Europe.

"Come on, come on, follow me!" He says excitedly, and grabbing both by the hands he starts leading the way.

[Archer Aylmer]

"I like that idea, Amelia. Or maybe we could... Kidnap someone powerful and brainwash them into believing what we believe, then use their influence to affect the mentality of the general population."

I shrug and feel pretty noncommittal to any one particular plan. I am fine with whatever is decided, or whatever isn't decided. I do find Armin irritating though, I am mildly pleased that he is sick.

"Idealism is so annoying."

[Calithin Crest]

I'm glad to see the Speaker is back. I was mildly... Well, no. Not concerned at all really. The Manalists can usually hold their own. But it is still good news.

"Oh, well it seems everything is about as good as it's going to get right now. We've all done our parts. As long as everyone remains proactive we should skate by this no problem. Things come up. The economy will recover and so will the people."

I feel pretty good about everything at this point, so I smile pleasantly.

"We are soooo effective. We're like that antibacterial soap that kills 99.9% of germs."

That darn .1%! I hate terrorists!

[Max Alexander]

Max was also pleased that the speaker had been returned safely. This was good news for all of them and one less thing to worry about.

He turned to Calithin and chuckled at his joke about the germs. "That is a very good way to put it, Mr. Crest. Lets just hope that 1% doesn't come back to bite us in the ass. I still have a few hundred employees out sick, and the numbers aren't dropping." Max shook his head. He hoped the virus would stop quick enough.

[Li Violette]

After a shower and a needed rest, I write my speech and approach Ceprhien. "Well, I had best head back to Switzerland. We'll keep in touch."

I wait for Cephrien to teleport me back to Switzerland. After I have once again passed through the portal, we part ways. "Thanks for everything." I say before giving him a small bow.

After the bow, I walk back to the small M TV studio in Lucern nearest to the World Economic Council. This is where I often go to give my speeches. A team does my makeup and wardrobe and I prepare myself mentally for the speech that I am about to give...

[Salome Weil]

"Dinari Dollar is simple minded. It is possible that we could kidnap him and try to indoctrinate him. We could bring him back there. However...I don't know. I don't know if I can get behind such an action. It seems too dangerous..." I say with caution. Could this accomplish anything?

"I am not certain that we even know HOW to brainwash someone." I add.

"I prefer Horacio's idea of distributing literature to the workers of Allwhere, Florida. But, maybe we can do everyone's ideas. We don't have to pick just one thing to do...." I add.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

The following day, I get ready for my day, but still feel ill. I head downstairs and walk through the kitchen to make myself some food. The only thing I have is oatmeal right now, but I won't get paid until Friday, so it will have to do. I almost trip on Tristan as I am walking through the kitchen. He is still sound asleep.

I go ahead and make the oatmeal, and eat it quietly while he snoozes on the floor. I reflect on what he has said about himself. He is a Manalist soldier, but also some kind of plant person. His life does seem unfortunate. I guess I shouldn't complain much about my own.

[Bonifaz Artz-Lehrer]

"Fine, Amelia, you can try to assassinate Annette Rosenthal if you think you can pull it off. Horacio and Salome can distribute literature if they believe that is effective. Maybe the socialists want to help with that as well. As for Dinari Dollar, capturing him might be difficult. He probably has body guards. Do you have any ideas Archer of how he might be captured and brainwashed?" Bonifaz asks. Bonifaz didn't really intend to take over the meeting and assign people roles. However, the meeting has been slow paced and unproductive. He feels that someone needs to take change of things. Of course, on some level he believes people should decide things for themselves and not have to follow a leader. But right now, anything else is proving to be inefficient.

[Dinari Dollar]

"I guess I support the Anti Terrorist thing." Dinari chimes in. He digs in his pocket and finds a yoyo and starts playing with it. He wasn't sure where it came from, since he didn't recall ever having a yoyo. Maybe someone stuck it in his pocket. But, that seems a little unlikely. Maybe it was Bambi. Maybe she was trying to flirt with him. Dinari continues to play with the yoyo and gives Bambi a wink.

"Well, I think I am going to head to France to talk to Vivien LaFramboise about expansion and her Cola Company and stuff. If anyone wants to join me, just for the fun of it, let me know. But, we'll probably have to go by train or something." Dinari suggests to those in the room. He lingers by the door for a moment, waiting for anyone to follow after him. Then, he leaves on his new mission to build a better relationship with Countess Cola.

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

After Ceph had transported Li to her destination, he had decided that maybe things would play out okay from here. She most likely had lots of security around her.. and attacking a broadcasted speech would be an incredibly bold. If she needed him around, she had his number. For now, he decided to leave the area and casually made his way down the sidewalk.. the events that took place in Rome began to replay in his mind. He wondered whatever happened to that woman who ran the Flower Shop.. The first and last time he was there, it had recieved some heavy damage because of that wayward creditor-- not to mention he left without giving his thanks.

(( To Ophelia ))

He decided that he would pay the Flower Shop a visit-- perhaps it would be a good hide out again for when he started searching for answers concerning the Cat Flu. Like always, he made a turn into an alley to open up a vortex and transport himself to Rome, just a block away from the Flower Shop.

As he approaches the shop, he notices that the damages were fixed.. not to mention it had a few new.. modifications-- like iron bars for extra security.. Not that such a thing could stop him from entering anyway. Ceph chose to use the shadow that the building cast to phase himself inside, reappearing in one corner of the shop.. He didn't quite know why he would need to be so sneaky about it. He could've just used the door-- but he had a habit.

As his gaze landed upon the Flower Shop woman behind the counter, he quietly raised a hand to greet her.

[Annette Rosenthal]

Annette was resting on her couch, watching some TV when there was a knock at the door. She slowly got up and went to the door, bringing the box of tissues with her. When she opened it, she saw a man in a white suit with a red bow tie.
It was the singing telegram sent by the Moderator.

"Ooooh, We're sorry you don't feel well, our dear friend Annette Rosent-hal....get well soon-your friend-Ar-i-el." The man sings, making the words rhyme by how they are accented.

"What the hell are you supposed to be?" She asks the man angrily. "Singing telegram!" He says meekly and runs off. However, he was accompanied by a doctor, who was also sent by the Moderator.

Annette lets him inside and he gives her some anti viral drugs to hasten her recovery.

[Ariel Tal Shachar]

With people slowly filing out of his office, Ariel feels some sense of relief. The world's problems are not solved, but at least at the moment things seem to be more in control than a few hours ago. He says goodbye to Keitoleinen and Dinari as they leave, as well as the Speaker.

"I think this was a productive meeting. Calithin is right, as long as everyone is pro active, then this situation will be bearable." Ariel calmly states. "I may work on trying to put together a new anti-terrorist group. Until then, good luck everyone and contact me if other problems arise."

He feels genuinely glad that things are working out. The Speaker is back, the disease may be controlled, and these mistakes can be learned from.

Frederick leaves the office first, but turns back to everyone before going. "I will send you the needed drugs as they become available. You might need some plan of who gets the drugs first, as it will be difficult to meet the needs of everyone."

With that Frederick leaves to return to Germany by train.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

filler post