Chapter 25: Fever 103 Degrees

[Max Alexander]

Max lead him into a small film room which had a skinny guy by the name of Phil in it. Phil was the camera man, and one of Max's favorite in the company.

"Calithin, this is Phil. My main camera guy." Max walked over and swiveled around a camera and set up a quick background. When Crest asked for his opinion, Max just gave the most basic answer.

"I guess, just say something along the lines of 'Hi all, this is Calithin Crest, Owner of Crest Mining. I am here today to tell you about the importance of staying healthy and not becoming infected.' Then just go over the basic facts and we will cut."

Max walked over to one of the computers in the room and switched around some settings. When he hit the Go button, this broadcast would interrupt every television in the world and broadcast Calithin Crest's face and words to everyone who was watching.

"Would you like a moment to prepare a bit?"

[Kasper Schultz]

"Armin is really sick. I think I should take him home. I don't want anything to happen to him." Kasper announces. He feels a little angry that the nihilists are to blame for his illness. "We won't be helping you with this scheme to brainwash Dinari Dollar. We will ride along to Allwhere, but we have to get back to Helsinki so Armin can rest." Kasper adds. Even if Armin wasn't sick, Kasper probably wouldn't go along with this idea. He just doesn't feel comfortable with this sort of action. There are other things that can be done that might be more effective in the long term. "But, we were glad to be here and we will write about the progress of the anarchist movement in our newspaper, Rebel Action, once we...are able to start publishing again." Kasper assures them. Then he sneezes. He must be allergic to something around there. Or, maybe it was just a sneeze. He pulls a red hanky out of his pocket and blows his nose. He then examines the contents of the hanky for any sign of infection.
"Nope, all good." He mutters to himself.

[Archer Aylmer]

"This is going to be interesting..."

I think under the circumstances there is good reason to worry.

"Whatever, if it doesn't work... It's every man for himself. Just so you know."

I shrug nonchalantly and hop into the back of the van. I really do hope everything goes according to plan. This would be big for us.

[Calithin Crest]

I give the camera man a wave and a slight nod of the head.

"I hope this works. It'll be good publicity for the company, and maybe some people will actually listen to what I'm saying and thus nasty flu can stop spreading. Got enough to worry about without this sort of thing happening, you know?"

I excuse myself for a minute to go prepare. I find a bathroom then proceed to straighten myself up and comb my hair. I even practice a little speech in the mirror to try and find my best camera angles... With that done I rejoin Max and Phil in the other room.

"Okay, how do I look? Camera ready?"

[Salome Weil]

I take some of the clothes and change in the old Manager's office. I come out wearing my hair in a small pony tail, wearing saddle shoes, a white cardigan sweater, and the pink poodle skirt. I don't look cute or American. I just look like myself wearing an old costume. "I don't look American enough." I say to everyone after entering the room.

"I think Americans are supposed to have lighter hair and look happier and less...serious or intelligent." I say in criticism of my appearance.

"Maybe I need a wig or makeup. But, I suppose we can try to find something like that along the way. For now, maybe it is best to just get in the van and get going." I suggest. I look myself over in the broken convex mirror that was once used to watch shop lifters. I feel awkward and unattractive.

"Well, let's...just go and try this..." I suggest.

I start walking to the van, which I see now has a pie on it. Archer is inside and Bonifaz is there too.
"We're ready to go... I guess..."

I climb into the van and wait for the others.

[Max Alexander]

Max nodded his head. "Once they see a powerful man such as yourself on the TV, they will shut up and listen."

When Calithin left to straighten himself up, Max adjusted everything with Phil, and made sure it was all ready to go. All he needed now was his star.

Once Crest rejoined them in the room, Max directed him to where he should be standing. "You look great, Calithin. Very spruced up. Alright, i'll give you three fingers, then the count down."

Max held his three fingers off, and in one swift motion, counted down until no fingers remained. Calithin was on.

[Annika 25]

To Max and Calithin

Because of the labor shortages, Annika is told by Global Bank that she should help out M TV. They are one of the companies involved with the Eyes of God, so it is important that they have enough staff. Although Annika does not know anything about the jobs done at M TV, she has no choice but to go. If it is the desire of Global Bank, then she must do as she is told.

So, she heads to a broadcasting HQ of M TV to meet with Max and see what he might need. When she arrives, she talks to his secretary. The secretary seems uncomfortable with androids, so, she is sent away to talk to Max directly. She is told he is in a studio making a public service announcement with Calithin.

She goes to the studio and finds that they are about to broadcast. She quietly stands behind Max, not wanting to make any noise or accidentally disrupt the broadcast.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

Since I don't have to work today due to illness, I decide to pay a visit to Charon. I saw the new laws on TV and I want to make sure he is okay. He is a teacher at Helsinki University and I hope this doesn't impact his job.

So, I put on a jacket and leave the house. I walk a long distance to a less populated part of the city. There, I find the garden and the old library. His residence is the neatest place I've visited. It's like a museum there. I slowly walk through his garden, admiring the flowers that he takes such good care of.

Then, I head up to his home and knock on the old wooden door with...some sort of metal knocker that I have never seen before. His place is very peculiar in many ways.

[Calithin Crest]

I stand in front of the camera and try to look as casual and cool as possible. I keep one hand in my pocket, stare directly into the lens, and smile.

"Hi, Calithin Crest here... CEO of Crest Mining Incorporated. I'd like to talk to you about something very important: health. Your health, my health. Remember when you're out to stay away from people infected with illness, be mindful of germs, and lead as healthy of lives as possible. We all have to make sure to take care of ourselves so that we can be productive members of society. It takes each and every one of us doing our part to keep things running smoothly. So do your part today, and stay healthy! Thank you."

I give the camera a thumbs up and then move out of the shot.

"How was that? Should we do it again? Is there anything you think I need to add or change? I thought it went ok, but you guys know best..."

I look from Max to the camera man expectantly and then notice a new pink-haired lady has entered the room. This makes me feel a little self conscious about my performance.

"Oh... Hello... Pink lady..."

[Horacio Hatfield]

"Oh my, well, it looks like its time to go. I guess this is it!" Horacio says when Salome leaves and Amelia drops off the clothes. Horacio feels a little stressed. Will this wild idea actually work? He shakes his head and wishes they were doing something else, but it is too late now. This is the idea that they are going along with.

"It is fine if you and Armin don't wish to join this. It was nice that you came to our meeting. You can ride in the van to Allwhere and we'll part ways there!" Horacio states to Kasper. Then, Horacio follows after Salome. He sees the van and is very impressed with the quality of the design, considering the lack of supplies. He jumps into the back of the van and waits for the others.

"Remember, we'll have to pick up some pies along the way!" Horacio reminds them.

[Max Alexander]

Max nodded to the pink haired lady right as Calithin began to speak. He followed him closely and as soon he finished, he killed the camera.

"Nothing to change, Mr Crest. That went very smoothly and is in the process of being transmitted across every TV in the world. Pretty incredible stuff, isn't it"

Max turned back to the new pink haired girl in the room. "Hello there. My name is Max Alexander, CEO of MTV. Are you that help that Global Bank sent over?"

[Annika 25]

"Yes. Because I am android, I cannot get the flu. So, Creditors like me have been sent to different businesses to help. I am here to serve you until the epidemic has passed. My name is Annika 25. I am honored to serve you and Global Bank." The android says with a bow. She caught the tail end of the recording of Calithin Crest. She saw at least they were working on something related to the Cat Flu.

"It must be difficult to be human and prone to diseases." The android remarks, but quickly changes the subject.

"I am willing to do any work that you have for me, Mr. Alexander." She says evenly.

[Max Alexander]

Max nodded his head. "It is difficult, but by being sanitary it is easy to stay healthy."

"Well, nice to meet you. I guess for starters, you can help us with the service announcements that we are sending out." He turned back to Calithin. "Would you like to send anymore out? I seem to have a list of things to get out there." He groaned.

[Calithin Crest]

Max's job is tough. It must be a trip trying to deal with all of the various televised programming.

"Yeah, we can do more. I think we should do like... A kitschy one with the android. Like... "Hi, I'm an android... So I can't get sick. But you can! Stay healthy, be happy." Or something like that. That would be fun and get people's attention."

I look at Annika and raise my eyebrows.

"What do you think?"

[Émilie LaFramboise]

Émilie waves good-bye to Dinari before inspecting the dollar. How interesting, she wished she could show Kasper. Then again, would he even be interested in something like that? She checks her watch and returns to her desk to draft together pros and cons of Dinari's plan.

She wanted to make sure she had a good argument if she agreed with the expansion plan. She didn't expect to argue with Vivien or anything, it was just a good way to give her a solid opinion. Afterward work she'd do what research she could on her new dollar.