Jacqueline Druga - Reset

Meredith exhaled and paused in packing her supply bag. “I don’t think we’re in New York. Where would they build the facility? They wouldn’t take a chance on placing it anywhere that could be a ground zero. Ravishing diseases bring panic. Panic breeds war. We are somewhere close to an intellectual center point. MIT, NASA. And this place more than likely…” she shifted her eyes to Amy, “will seal up once we walk out. They’ll want this buried. This place is proof that the population control method was intentional. So pack your survival bag. And I think at the very least we’ve been in stasis long enough to be forgotten. My hair is white. I didn’t have gray hair. It didn’t grow, but it lost all color.”

Nora asked. “So you think we’ve been in stasis for a while and everything is fine.”

“Depends on fine. I’m going to be the pessimist here. The virus failed. Knowing the state of the world, I’m willing to bet war broke out as well. We need a plan for when we leave here and one that doesn’t involve heading home to our families and returning to normal. Because that’s not going to happen.”

“Ladies,” Malcolm spoke rushed as he stepped into storage. “I cracked the code. I found the rest of the video.”

With no more being said, they hurriedly followed Malcolm.

Malcolm excitedly, positioned himself in front of the computer while the others circled around. “We all got to see the whole wake up video. The one that said that after forty-eight hours we’d get more info? Right? Well, the forty-eight hour mark came and went, no video. The reason was, the first video was timed with the wake up setting for each unit.” Malcolm looked at Jason. “Your unit and Nora’s were first, then after a half hour, the others were timed to play every five minutes to coincide with the units. Understand?”

Jason nodded.

“Well, the second video wasn’t on automatic. It was in there, but my guess… someone from outside the doors was supposed to play it. No one pressed play so the video didn’t roll.”

Nora gasped. “No one is out there.”

Malcolm held up a hand in defense. “I’m not saying that. I’m just saying someone didn’t press play. There are cameras. Four of them.” From the far side of the computer he pulled forward a small ball shaped object. “This is my invention. My cam. They were here. I actually found the uplink to these first. The signal for the camera was sent when the units released us all.”

Nora asked. “We don’t know if anyone saw the images the camera sent.”

Malcolm shook his head. “No.”

“Have you watched the video?” Jason asked.

“Some.” Malcolm answered.

“Play it,” urged John. “What are you waiting for?”

Malcolm turned toward the computer. He clicked the video.

The same man from the previous videos appeared.

“Good morning. My name is Dr. Raymond Harrison. By now, you are oriented and remember who you are and where you were. If by chance, you are having problems, I am sure Dr. Rosewood has talked to you about the side effects.”

Everyone looked at Nora.

She cringed with an apologetic look.

Dr. Harrison’s video continued. “ On September 17, all of you were in New York City and in the same hotel. This is not by coincidence. Each of you were carefully selected because of your skills and knowledge. Each of you represents many aspects of humanity. Law, music, mechanical, agriculture and so forth. I could go on, however I am sure you know by now what each other represents. You were chosen because in the event that the human race or civilization needs to be rebuilt, each of you possess a part of a whole system that would work together to do such a task.”

John turned to Grant. “Considering there are only eight of us, there goes that theory.”

“This is a plan that has been in motion for many years. At the hotel a diversion was set so that each of you could be retrieved. You were placed in what is called the Genesis unit, they were designed by Rosewood Institute for cryogenic studies. Not even Dr. Rosewood knew the date that the project would be implemented. She was released from the unit at the same time as Reverend Rudolph. She was to explain and he was to be the spiritual guidance.”

Again, all eyes shifted for a moment to Nora.

“On September 24, in an extreme attempt to save humanity from extinction by way of mass culling, a virus was released. A hybrid measles based virus that would infect fifty percent of the population and kill seventy five percent of those infected. Overall the effect would be a 35% decrease in population worldwide. You have been in stasis for seven months in a special facility under Marshal Space Flight Center outside of Huntsville Alabama. This is a time frame we determined safe. Three months for the virus to take hold globally, three months for distribution of the cure, and one month added insurance. You are here in case things go or have gone badly and the plan did not go as projected. Rest assured, your families were notified and given the cure. You also have been given the cure. We are confident that when the door opens, you will be greeted by our prepared staff who will brief you and update you on all events. Your family members will also be present. Please note that as we have protected you to ensure humanity continues, we have provided you with supplies in the event things did not go as planned. This facility will go through an equipment decontamination process fifteen minutes post your release. Take precautions and supplies. You will be well compensated for this inconvenience. Thank you for your service. God Speed.”

The video ended.

Jason laughed maniacally. “Inconvenience? Compensated for our inconvenience. They took seven months of my life. Seven months of my family’s lives.”

Nora stepped to him. ‘But our families are alive. They’re out there waiting on us.”

“Maybe,” John said. “We don’t know.”

Meredith added. “It’s longer than seven months. I feel it.”

“No,” Amy gasped out. “You heard the video. Everything is going to be fine.”

“If everything is fine,” Grant said. “Why didn’t the video play?”

President Thomas stepped forward. “We can argue and guess all we want. But that door is opening soon. We’ll find out everything then.”

“Six minutes,” John said. “So I suggest, since there are extra backpacks due to our losses, that each of us packs up. Just… in case.”

“Go on,” Jason said. “I’ll grab things in a minute. I want to watch the video again.”

“Why?” Malcolm asked.

“To take notes this time,” Jason replied. “To listen again with an attentive ear. Just like food and water are vital to survival, so is knowledge. This video has information I want to remember…” his eyes shifted around. “Just in case.”

There was something about Meredith that drew Nora to watching her. She was too smug, had it together, didn’t emotionally waiver.

Nora was a mess.

She wanted her children, but a part of her was scared something went wrong. Repeatedly she reminded herself that all was well and a great big roast beef sandwich along with her family waited for her.

Nora couldn’t get beyond Meredith in those final minutes waiting for the door to open.

“She has no family,” Jason said. “There’s no worry. If all is fine, nothing changes, if it’s not, she loses nothing emotionally.”

“She knows,” Nora whispered. “She knew about this whole thing.”

Jason crinkled his brow. “Nora, she is in the dark as much as us.”

“No. She knows. When I walked into the event. She was at the table. On her phone, texting or something.”