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The Pandemic

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Posted

This is a Sequel to "The Mall" the characters from The Mall are welcome as well as new ones.

Suzaku looked at the deserted street, it had been months since the Mall incident and in that short time things have taken a turn. They call it H1N15, a severe form of pandemic flu as swept the planet. The President has urged people to remain calm and to continue life normally.

"Hey Suzaku get in here!" Gabe shouted holding a beer in hus hand.

Suzaku walked in and saw Mary, Sam and Brett sitting around talking about whatever.

"Look whose here!" Gabe said

"Hey Suzaku!" Sam shouted running over giving him a hug.

"I gotta go hit the head, but when I get back I'll whip up my famous superburgers."

As Gabe was in the bathroom a phone rang, Suzaku looked around and found it in a drawer.

"Weird place for a phone."

"Hello?" he answered.

"147?" the caller asked.

"Sorry?" Suzaku asked

"147, respond." the caller said.

"Hey Gabe your cell rang." Suzaku shouted.

Gabe resched into his pocket and pulled out his iPhone.

"No it didn't." he said.

"Not that, the red one in ths drawer." Suzaku said.

"What?" Gabe asked running over.

Gabe grabbed the phone.

"147." Gabe said.

"147, codephrase."

"Oh crap...Codephrase Nighthawk." Gabe said trying to remember.

"Accepted, break seal on Red Card." the caller asked.

Gabe opened the drawer and pulled out a lock box, opening it he pulled out a red foil pack.

"Sequence?" The caller asked.

"2378901." Gabe said reading the numbers printed on the card.

"Accepted 147, Lockdown is imminent." the called said.

"How long?" he asked.

"One hour."

Gabe hung up the phone, a glazed look in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Suzaku asked.

"It's Lockdown protocol." he said.

"What's that?" Suzaku asked.

"We have an hour to get as much food and water as we can, the president's gonna enact Marshal law and a mandatory quarantine."

"Meaning?" Suzaku asked.

"We'll have to stay here and wait out the quarantine, and we'll need food." Gabe said.

"We'll take my car." Gabe said

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Posted

Oh, crap... This doesn't sound too good. So, is something happening between Suzaku and Sam? Important information before I start.

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Oh, crap... This doesn't sound too good. So, is something happening between Suzaku and Sam? Important information before I start.

It could...I don't know.

Gabe slipped on his jacket and walked out to the car.

"Before we go in guys we have to go over some ground rules." Gabe said.

He pulled out a box of gloves and handed it to Sam in the back.

"What's this Gabe?" she asked

"those are Blue Nitrate gloves. The same ones used in hospitals they are coated with an antibacterial coating."

Gabe pulled a list out of his pocket and handed it to Suzaku.

"What's this?" He asked

"This is the stuff that'll keep us alive for three months." he said.

"100 cans of Tuna Fish, Canola oil, bottled water, pasta, freeze dried mashed potatoes?" Suzaku said scanning the list.

"I know it sounds boring but that's what we need, also don't talk to anybody...at all."

"We should get masks, so I head to the Pharmacy." Brett said.

"No head for the home department and get painters masks, and make sure they're rated M." Gabe said.

"What about me sweetie?" Beth asked.

"You have the most important job, you push the cart." Gabe said.

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Isn't her name Mary... "you get to push the cart." XD

I was just asking, because you made it seem like it, with: "Hey Suzaku!" Sam shouted, running over giving him a hug.

No one else greeted him like that, so... yeah. Let's just go with it.

Brett got in his car to head to the home department store while Gabe, Mary, and Sam got into Gabe's car. Suzaku hopped onto his motorcycle.

"Which store are you going?" Suzaku asked.

"Just follow me," Gabe replied, starting his car.

"Nah, can't. I have to head back to my place to grab a couple things."

"Well, we're going to Target, bound to be less crowded than Walmart."

"Yeah," Suzaku chucked. "I'll be there really soon."

He revved his motorcycle and took off, popping a wheelie through the 4-way stop.

He hopped off of his bike and snapped the kickstand into place, running into his apartment and tearing through to the back room. He grabbed a suitcase, which had some very important items of his inside it, and stuffed it into a backpack. He stuck a combat knife in his belt just because he felt like it, and ran back outside to his motorcylce, locking his door and tossing the key into the bushes.

He arrived at Target to find it completely packed, every space was full in the parkinglot, and the surrounding streets had cars on both sides. Some were even parking in front of the doors.

Suzaku found Gabe and the others with a cart making their way towards him, he heard Gabe cuss loudly.

"What's wrong?" Suzaku asked, stopping next to them.

"It's too packed, had to leave the car way back there." He jutted his chin to indicate a direction. "Seen Brett?"

"I took the long way, there were a bunch of cops and I needed to get here fast."

"He's probably at the house already." Samantha added in.

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Posted

H1N5 is bird flu, btw.

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It was Mary, I forgot.

"Hey guys!" Brett shouted running up.

"Where'd you park?" Gabe asked.

"Near the cart return, why?" Brett asked.

"We'll take your car Brett, Suzaku Put your stuff in Brett's car while we pay for this stuff." Gabe said.

"What's with the poncho's, duct tape, garbage bags, sheet plastic and showercaps?" Suzaku asked looking into the cart.

"Just in case." Gabe said.

"Hey you don't need to pay, people are just walking out." Brett said.

"No they're looting, we're paying."

By the time they were done checking out, Suzaku had finished loading up his stuff.

"Ok guys." Gabe said

"No talking to anyone...just keep your eyes towards the car, just focus on the car."

"What's wrong Gabe?" Suzaku asked.

"I'm afraid society is starting to unravel, people might try to take what we have.

Gabe looked at Mary and smiled.

"Babe listen to me, just push...don't look back just PUSH."

Gabe ordered his friends into a manuver Protective cordon around the cart, one on each side.

"Hey guys someone's following us!" Sam said.

As they walked past an SUV Gabe looked back through the reflection and noticed two guys, one had a baseball bat.

"She's right." Gabe whispered

"Keep moving towards the car." Gabe spun around and fired into the air.

"Next one goes in you!" he shouted.

Spooked the guys ran off, dropping tge bat in the process.

"Why didn't you kill them?" Brett asked.

"They were desperate, not criminals." Gabe said

As they drove back to Gabe's house the radio was replaying the address by President Obama.

"That explains the mob at the store." Gabe said.

"What does?" Suzaku asked.

"I was told that the address would be made in an hour, a buffer set up to give assets time to stock up." Gabe said.

"So what you CIA guys get special treatment and stuff?" Brett asked.

"No it's just...truth is they're not sure about this N1H15 virus." Gabe said

"Not sure what do you mean?" Mary asked

"It might be manmade." Gabe said

"What like Terrorists...first the Mall now this?" Sam said

As they pulled up to Gabe's house he jumped out.

"Take everything out back and put it in the sun." Gabe said.

Virus' have very weak DNA, UV rays from sunlight break down a virus' DNA in as little as two hours.

"Now we need to scrub up!" Gabe shouted.

Virus' can live an skin so the hands need to be washed heavily with hot water and antibacterial soap. As you wash get under the nails and around the knuckles.

"What now?" Mary asked

"Now we sit and wait." Gabe said

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Suzaku pulled out his suitcase from his backpack and laid it on a table. He undid each clip very slowly, and sighed as he opened it. Then he smiled.

"Anybody up for some Halo 3 action?" He asked, pulling an Xbox 360 out of his suitcase.

"This is no time for video games." Gabe said.

"As well as the radio and TV, we can get some more outside information." Suzaku argued, smiling.

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And so began the enforced quarantine. Gabe, Suzaku, Sam, Brett and Mary quickly found that forced house arrest is trying on ones nerves.

Gabe walked up from the basement, his Toughbook in hand.

"What'd they say?" Suzaku asked.

Gabe placed his laptop on the kitchen table.

"I can't tell you, you know that." he said.

"Oh cut the National Security BS and just spill!" Suzaku shouted.

"Come on Gabe please, the news isn't saying." Sam said.

"Fine, I'll tell you." Gabe said with a sigh.

"Worldwide there are 60,000 confirmed dead but conservative estimates put it closer to 90,000."

"Holy shyt!" Brett said

"What about a cure?" Suzaku asked

"The CDC, as well as other infectious disease agencies worldwide are working day and night on a cure but that takes time. Gabe said.

Suzaku sat on the back porch and looked into the night air.

"I don't think I've ever seen this." he said.

"What?" Gabe asked approaching from behind.

"A sky completly devoid of airplanes!" he said.

"Yeah not since 9/11." Gabe said handing him a beer.

"Is this alright?" Suzaku asked.

"Yeah I have plenty in the fridge in the garage." Gabe said.

"No I meant..."

"I know you meant, yeah every once and a while is fine." he said

"Will we be alright Gabe?"

"If we act smart we should be fine." Gabe said.

"Hey Brett's gone!" Sam said.

"Where'd he go?" Gabe asked.

"I was talking to him about what you said Gabe and he mentioned that outside of the Intelligence community nobody knows how bad it really is, then I went to grab a water and when I came back he was gone."

"There he is." Mary shouted looking outside.

Gabe ran over and saw Brett exiting a neighbors house holding a few cans of food in his hands.

"Stay there!" Gabe shouted from the door.

"What, why?" he asked

"What did I say Brett, you could've exposed yourself to the virus!" Gabe shouted.

"I didn't see anyone who was sick Gabe." Brett said

"That doesn't matter, people can be sick and not show any outward signs of indection."

"What do we do Gabe, we can't just turn him away." Sam asked

"We need to make a clean room." Gabe said

Using the plastic sheeting and various other supplies they constructed a rudimentary clean room for Brett to stay in, placing a fan in the window facing out ensured that negative pressure would carry all of the virus flowing outside the house and not inside.

"How long do I have to stay in here Gabe?" Brett asked

"A few days, just until were sure you weren't infected."

Gabe closed the door and took off his mask.

"We need someone to take care of him, just one to minimise chance of infection."

"I'll do it." Sam said

"Are you sure?" Suzaku asked

"Hey I'll be fine, I promise." she said smiling.

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Sam walked out of the room looking like an extra from a Sci-Fi movie, she had a mask on her face, showercap on her hair and rain poncho covering her clothes, avoiding the others she made her way to the backyard and burned everything.

As she made her way vack inside Gabe noticed her eyes were red and puffy.

"He's infected?" Gabe asked

"It looks that way, he's really pale and his nose and eyes are red." she said

"What's wrong?" Suzaku asked

"Brett's sick." Gabe said.

"I'm gonna talk to him." Gabe said

"But I thought you said only one should..."

Suzaku leaned in and whispered something in Sam's ear.

"Oh sorry Gabe." she said.

Gabe walked in and saw Brett lying on the bed, a mask over his face.

"Hey Gabe *cough* how you doing...better than me I take it." Brett said a smile across his face.

"I guess I'm not doing so good huh?" Brett asked

"No Brett I'm sorry you have it." Gabe said

"So why are you here Gabe?"

"I wanted to know if there was anybody you wanted me to find...you know after to tell them what happened.

"I aint got no parents, they died when I was little, my sister and I got split up and adopted by different families when we were both 6. I always meant to find her but time got away from me."

"I'll find her, I promise." Gabe said

"Ok Gabe, her name was Sarah Morgan and I think she was adopted by a couple in Chicago."

"Chicago that's good. Anything you want me to tell her?"

"Yeah tell her I'm sorry, it was me who stole the money from her Piggy Bank, I said it was the robber...but...it...was...me!"

Gabe watched as Brett slipped into unconsciousness.

As the sun rose above the far trees Gabe opened his eyes and saw Brett lying there, he was smiling but Gabe knew that he was gone. Taking the plastic sheets off the doorway Gabe laid them out on the floor then wrapped Brett up in them tight and secure.

Suzaku dropped a quarter shovel on the driveway, red dirt flaked off.

"Is it seven feet?" Gabe asked

"Yeah are you sure we should bury him here?" Suzaku asked

"Just until things get back to normal."

"And when will that be?" Sam asked

"It should be in about three months." Gabe said.

Four Months Later

Gabe walked up stairs his laptop in hand.

"What now?" Sam asked

"It's still on, they say a working cure is still two months away."

"We're almost out of food Gabe!" Suzaku said

"We gotta go out and get more." Gabe said

"But where, Supermarkets are probably barren." Suzaku said

Gabe grabbed a phonebook and opened it.

"Here's where we go." Gabe said

"Jameson Catering, 157 Grandview lane." Suzaku read.

"You think they'll have food?" Sam asked

"It's our best bet, ok here's what we do."

Suzaku and Sam, grab four empty eyeglass washer bottles, pour a teaspoon of Cayanne pepper into a shot glass and fill the glass with vinegar, then filter out the pepper and pour the liquid into the bottles.

"What's this stuff?" Sam asked

"It's homemade pepper spray." Gabe said

"Why do we need Pepper spray?" Suzaku asked

Mary pulled the SUV in front of 157 Grandview.

"Look at all the dogs!" Sam said

"I know what are they all doing here?" Suzaku asked

"There's a pound a block away, I figured the pound let them go when people started getting sick."

"That's why you had us make pepper spray." Sam said

"Yeah. Ok listen up, we're gonna walk slowly to the door keep an eye out and if one on the dogs get close just a little squirt will send them running."

"What are you gonna do?" Sam asked

"Pick the lock on the door and get us in." Gabe said

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Sorry, kinda abandoned you...BUT IM BACK.Suzaku and the others stood around Gabe as he started picking the lock. Suzaku noticed that all of the dogs were barely more than skin and bones. Looking at the land around him, it reminded him of The Lion King, when the hyenas were starving.A few of them made an attempt to get closer, but were turned away with a threatening point. The others were too starved and weak to really do anything other than wither away."Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Sam asked. There was the sound of something metal scraping on metal and then Gabe cussing. "Damn... cut myself..." Gabe stepped back, inspecting his hand."Ill give it a go." Suzaku said, taking the tools from gabe.Within a few seconds he had it unlocked. He handed Gabe his tools, smirking."Oh, now I feel stupid... had it backwards..." Gabe sighed.

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