“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.”

SIXTEEN – Tick Tock

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.”

“Ok.”

“No, it’s this uppity gala and she’s texting.”

“Yes, Nora, people text.”

“She knew the whole thing. Her behavior is odd.”

“If you want to discuss odd behavior.” Jason nodded once toward the door.

Nora looked over.

Exhaling heavily, John sighed out as he dropped yet another box by the door. “They were stacked there.”