“Many of you may be wondering why I’m bothering with this address. This is basically a speech to let you know you’re on your own. There was a great deal of debate within my cabinet as to whether this final address was a good idea or not. I felt that we had an immense moral obligation to tell you all the truth. I also believe we can give you some guidance on how to survive the plague soon to sweep across the entirety of the continent. I want to make it clear that I’m rooting for all of you. Americans have proven time after time to be the most resourceful people on the planet.”
“I leave you now with some of what we’ve learned. I pray it helps some of you to survive. First of all, don’t expect the threat to simply die out. We’ve confirmed the shadowy figures seen in the original video from Egypt weren’t just people from the crew who got infected earlier and fell into the vault. We sent a team that captured one of the figures. Various techniques were used to confirm the specimen we pulled out was thousands of years old. Thousands of years old but still alive. The team of operators we sent in to capture the specimen all became infected. They were infected without being bitten. This confirmed for us that the contagion can become airborne. Keep in mind they were in a confined space with a very old specimen.”
“After this address we fully suspect riots and unrest to rip the country apart. More people may die at the hands of fellow Americans than from the infected. Please be aware this may happen and plan accordingly. If you have two weeks’ worth of food in your home and decide to shelter in place you can plan on starving to death in two weeks. What our specialists suggest you do is band together for protection and seek out remote locations to live where you can raise your own food. It’s understood that to give you all a chance to survive you need information. To that end I’ve ordered internet access to be restored. Please take advantage of it to contact your loved ones as well as to gather the information you’ll need to survive. That access will disappear as the power plants across the country are shut down.”
“One final note. There are locations that’ve been deemed critical to maintain. These sites will be needed to rebuild the United States. Critical sites have been marked as vital and booby trapped to discourage trespassing. These sites include dams, power plants, and any other sites deemed critical. Other than those sites the full resources of the United States are at your disposal. Those of you still alive in another month have a legitimate chance of living a long and full life. May god protect you all.” The very somber looking face of the President faded off the screen.
“At least now we know not to mess up the stuff the rich people will need once the rest of us die off.” LeBron commented sarcastically.
“I was like five seconds from running out to sabotage the local power plant. Good thing we didn’t stop the speech early.” Drew tagged on.
Everyone else was quiet and contemplative. Nancy was crying softly into Bart’s shoulder while Yue rubbed her back. They sat around in various states of disbelief. It wasn’t easy absorbing the fact that the President had just announced most of the people in North America would be infected or dead within the next month. It wasn’t easy hearing that there’d be no help coming.
“We’re going to need more supplies. Drew and I will go get them tonight. We’ll leave you guys here to guard the house.” Bart suddenly announced.
“Where are you going to get more supplies from exactly?” Yue asked.
“Stores, gas stations, restaurants, fast food places or wherever else we see. Basically, anywhere that we can break into where there may be food. We need to collect enough to survive the first wave of the infected.” Bart answered.
“What about the first wave of the rioters and whoever else shows up with guns to take what we have?” Drew asked.
“We kill them. That’s the world now. Those that adapt the fastest will be the ones left standing. I fully intend for us to adapt faster than anybody else. Nothing matters moving forward more than each other.” Bart said.
LeBron was busy making a list in a spiral notebook he’d pulled out of a drawer in the kitchen. He’d titled the list ‘Lessons Learned’ and was busy jotting down everything he’d learned so far on the internet as well as the intel the President had just provided. He finished a page and tore it out to pass it around to everyone. The more they knew the better. LeBron was literally trying to make sure they were all on the same page as far as what was happening in the world around them.
They installed an extra layer of plywood on the downstairs windows. Their neighbors walked over to talk to them while they were screwing in the big pieces of wood. The neighbors were a friendly couple from England. They’d all
