Dr. Lena stood with a look of disgust as she watched a survivor being forcefully infected with the Vesper virus. The person was then placed inside a glass chamber. The Sovereign Hand wanted to see how the virus worked in real time. They had heard that infected people slowly turned into monsters over time and they wanted to witness it by themselves.
"This is wrong," Dr. Lena said, pacing back and forth. She watched the Sovereign Hand members eagerly waiting to see the mutation happen.
It was the year 3061, one year since Earth began to collapse in 3060. The Vesper virus had recently started spreading fast. Infected people were turning into dangerous creatures that destroyed cities and killed without mercy.
Civilization was crumbling. People lived in fear, and the death toll kept rising. By then 30% of the world's population was infected and more infection rates were to come as the years went by. Symptoms were appearing quickly, and once the mutation began, it was too late.
The pressure to find a cure and vaccine fell on coalition of scientists. To do that, they needed samples from infected people who hadn't fully mutated into monsters called Shades. Labs were set up in many parts of the world. These labs reported everything back to Dr. Lena Arctis, the head virologist at Paxville.
Dr. Lena led the research at the main lab in Paxville and answered directly to the Sovereign Hand. She also created a group called the Reclaimers and built a research station in Paxville to help share information with other labs. She put her former student and assistant, Dr. Eliya Ward, in charge of the Reclaimers. Though Eliya wasn't officially employed by the Sovereign Hand, she was very helpful to the lab.
Dr. Lena stormed out of the experiment room, angry and disgusted. She couldn't stand watch how the infected survivor was mutating into a shade.
Back at the research station in Paxville, she turned on the central microphone system connected to the Reclaimers. All the labs had speakers, and the moment the system came on, scientists across the regions stopped working to listen.
"It saddens me to inform you all that a survivor was purposely infected today by a new group of scientists brought in by the Sovereign Hand," Lena said. "They wanted to see the mutation happen with their own eyes."
She paused, then continued:
"This is unethical. I do not support it. Infected people should be isolated and treated, and should not used for evil experiments. We may not have a cure or vaccine yet, but we must keep working. If a person mutates, they should be safely removed and sent to the Expanse. Survivors must be protected at all costs."
There was a shock of murmurs from the different labs. Then the microphone cut off, and everyone returned to their tasks.
A FEW WEEKS LATER
The lab lights flickered overhead as Dr. Lena Arctis leaned over a metal table, staring at a screen filled with test results and data about the Vesper virus. The quiet humming of machines and low voices of other scientists filled the room.
Dr Lena rubbed her forehead checking the feedback of new serum she had developed earlier.
The stress had aged her. Her skin showed lines of worry, and her eyes had lost their shine. But hope flickered through her eyes when the feedback read positive.
"Ethan," she called out happily.
Dr. Ethan Thompson looked up from his microscope. He walked over, wiping his hands.
"I've done it," Lena said with excitement.
"What's happened?" Ethan asked
"The serum worked"
Ethan's face lit up. "Are you sure?"
Lena nodded. "Yes. I used all the resources we gathered to create a new serum the feedback came back positive it's a cure. This is a miracle."
Ethan was amazed. "That means… we can actually cure people?"
"Yes. It's real. It's stable."
Ethan smiled. "Lena, this could save thousands."
"No," she said softly. "It could save everyone. We just need enough resources to make more of it."
"We must tell the coalition," Ethan said.
"Of course," Lena replied. "They worked hard with us to create this. It's their achievement too."
THE NEXT DAY
The Coalition of Scientists arrived at the Paxville headquarters to meet Dr Lena. When she told them about the cure, everyone cheered. Hope returned. People hugged each other, it felt like the dark times were finally lifting.
But Lena remained cautious. She told them to keep the cure a secret for now, at least until they were ready to launch it.
Later, when Eliya entered Lena's office, Lena shared the news with her too.
"I'm so happy, ma'am," Eliya said. "I wish I was there when the serum was made."
"I'm sorry I had to put you in charge of the Reclaimers," Lena said.
"But… I'm scared," Lena added quietly.
"What are you scared of?" Eliya asked.
"I don't trust the Sovereign Hand with this serum," Lena admitted. "They're doing unethical things. I've seen the memos, the orders to kill infected survivors on sight, and the lies about death rates. I've seen their live infection experiments putting survivors in rooms with Shades just to watch the virus spread. It's like entertainment to them."
"That makes me scared too," Eliya said softly.
"Don't be. It's not your fault that people are evil," Lena replied with a sad smile.
"Sometimes I want to quit this job," Lena said, sighing. "But then I think of the people counting on us. I can't walk away."
Eliya watched as Lena broke down in tears from guilt and stress.
DAYS LATER
Dr. Christainia Clay, Lena's former colleague, showed up at the lab. Lena stood at the entrance as she arrived.
"What brings you here?" Lena asked coldly. She and Christainia had clashed before, Lena hated how Christainia supported the Sovereign Hand through their usual unethical projects.
"Just came to get my share of the credit," Christainia said.
"What are you talking about?"
"I heard you've been playing doctor in the shadows," she smirked, walking inside.
Lena followed, suspicious. Christainia only showed up when something benefited her intrest.
"Just say what you want," Lena said.
"I want you to add my name to the coalition of scientists who created the serum. It'll help my campaign to become head virologist."
"What? No!" Lena snapped. "We haven't even launched the serum yet. How did you know about it?"
Christainia ignored her. She picked up Lena's lab coat and wore it, admiring herself in the mirror. The badge read: Chief Virologist – Sovereign Hand. Dr. Lena Arctis.
"How do I look?" she asked, mocking Lena.
"Who told you about the serum?" Lena demanded.
"I have my spies," Clay said, smiling.
Then she moved around the lab, touching things. "I'm replacing you, Lena. Your time is up."
"I don't care about the campaign" Lena replied.
"you can become the next head virologist if you want But I won't add your name to the list."
"Then prepare for what's coming," Clay said.
"What's coming?" Lena asked.
"A storm," Christainia said as she placed the lab coat back and walked out, her long blonde hair swaying behind her.
A FEW DAYS LATER : PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE SOVEREIGN HAND HEADQUARTERS.
It was a week off for the workers at the sovereign hand biosecurity and virology lab. The perfect week for Dr Christainia Clay start the storm.
Dr. Christainia Clay stood at a podium, facing reporters. The soverign hand had organized a press conference in retrospect to Christiania presenting that she had developed a cure.
"Can you describe how the cure works?" one reporter asked.
"It stops the virus from growing. It prevents mutation," she answered confidently.
"What inspired you to create this cure?" another asked.
"I just wanted to help people," Clay said. "It took many stressful weeks."
Back in her home, Dr Lena was about to have her breakfast when she decided to switch on tv in her living room.
she had planned to take some relaxation time at the beach after her breakfast, besides it was a week off after a stressful ordeal of developing a cure for the vesper virus.
As turned on the TV, she scrolled past some tv stations suddenly, she saw a flash of Christiania face. Immediately she scrolled back. That was When she saw the news headline "Cure for Vesper Virus Discovered" her heart sank. Christiania was busy answering questions and posing as the cure developer
"How could Christiania do this, oh no she is taking credit for the work" Lena shouted in disbelief. "How dare she!"
Dr Lena picked up immediately and began to dress up.
She was struggling with her cloth in her living room while watching Dr Christainia Clay on Tv. She planned to dress up sharply in other to head towards interrupting the press conference.
Lena thought about how many bus stops it would take to reach the headquarters. She wouldn't make it in time to interrupt the press conference. She hissed, thinking of what next to do.
Immediately Lena picked up her phone calling Eliya, Eliya picks.
"Eliya"Dr Lena said
"Yes ma'am"
"alert the coalition of scientist immediately something bad just happened tell them to tune to the tv news immediately, Dr Christiania Clay has gone nuts, she is taking credit for the cure we developed, she has to be stopped immediately, alert them now. Also reach out to the reclaimers, do it now. "
Dr Lena says cutting the Dial immediately pacing back and forth while the tv stations continued to display the live Press conference with Dr Christainia's Clay.
"When will the cure be available?" a reporter asked.
"In two days," Clay said.
"That's too soon! It's not even ready For release yet!" Lena said aloud in her living room.
"How will it be distributed?" a reporter asked.
"Only those who can afford it will get it," Clay answered.
Lena nearly screamed. "No! It's supposed to be free!"
"The cure will cost about XE 250 thousand Xerin," Clay responded.
Murmurs of anger filled the press room.
"Why is it so expensive?" another reporter asked
"Next question," Clay snapped.
"Is this cure only for the rich?" another asked.
"Next question," Clay said again.
"What message do you have for viewers?"
Looking straight into the camera, she said, "I told my colleague a storm was coming. Here it is. A storm of revolution."
Lena could feel Clay's eyes through the screen. It was too late. She has already taken Credit for her hardwork. She had just started a war she couldn't finish.
Dr Lena's phone rang.
"Hello, ma'am," Eliya said.
"Yes Eliya"
"I Alerted the Coalition as you instructed but on the other hand, information reaching me is that the the lab's been broken into. The serums are gone. Someone tampered with the safe's passcode, but they could not unlock it. Still… the serums are all gone."
"No… it can't be," Lena whispered.
"I'm so sorry ma'am" Eliya said.
Lena dropped to her knees with tears rolling down her cheeks. She let out a loud screeching cry.