The White Death

by Rafferty, Daniel

  “We won’t waste it.”

  He agreed, happy to have her by his side. Neither of them had any family at all, and they both believed that had allowed them to make the difficult decisions required during “that week.” The nation had to come first, and it was impossible for them to be influenced by personal matters.

  Even through the inches-thick bombproof glass, Thomas could feel the excitement of the community and the country. It had been a long time since things were truly moving forward. Alliance leadership had granted Earth immunity from any more interference and also provided a substantial aid package to let the remaining countries rehabilitate the infected.

  “I never thought we’d be doing this again,” said Gail with big smile.

  “Visiting schools?” asked Thomas. He sipped some cold water before they slipped out of the limo.

  “Yes,” she replied. Flanked by the Secret Service, he and Gail were instantly recognizable and once inside met two very familiar faces.

  “Glad to see you looking well, Christopher,” said Thomas, winking at him.

  Christopher was as busy as ever, with Freda and he helping to coordinate relief efforts across the globe. Thomas knew Freda’s deputy wouldn’t retire until death took him. For this, he was privately grateful. It was clear Freda relied on him.

  “It’s amazing what a cup of tea will do for you these days,” said Freda politely.

  The group made polite conversation as they walked the hallways, admiring student artwork. His relationship with Freda had improved a lot since that week, and they’d both worked hard to keep building it. Her speech to Earth, as the first acknowledged alien, had been a major coup for him and the government. She spoke of a bright future and gave encouraging words when they were most needed.

  “The budget?” asked Freda.

  “Final Congressional approval tomorrow,” said Thomas. “But it will pass.”

  “A multitrillion-dollar budget for us to recover Europe and Asia,” said Gail.

  Freda smiled. “Well—and I speak for the Alliance, as well, here—we are more than glad to hear you will be leading humanity into this new dawn.”

  Thomas nodded graciously, before entering one of the new classrooms that was teaching children. A five-year-old girl in a wheelchair came up to him.

  “This … is … for you, Mr. President,” she said carefully. She handed him a white lily. She would never walk, until Section 51 cured it. Thomas looked at her with a solemn expression. They had come so close to losing everything. He touched her hand.

  “Thank you,” he said, kindly. Standing up, he looked at Freda.

  “Every child, Freda, has the right to life. A great human once said that people must learn to hate. In this new world we’re building, hate will never be taught. Whatever differences divide us, our humanity will now always unite us.”

  Freda flashed him a spectacular smile, knowing humanity was in safe hands.

  Epilogue

  “Hello, my dears,” said Marina.

  “Marina,” said Freda, both she and Christopher stepping out of the elevator. “Always a pleasure.” Her operations manager was sporting a larger, more bouffant perm these days.

  “You’re in a good mood,” said Marina. They walked down one of Section 51’s newly constructed corridors. “I take it our president is well?”

  “Young, fresh-faced, and bright-eyed about the future,” said Freda. On the way back to Section 51, she’d received news that Loretta had been sentenced to life imprisonment, with the best medical care available to ensure her life was a long one.

  “I see promising things ahead for us,” agreed Christopher.

  “Fabulous,” said Marina. “Simply fabulous. I’ve never been so busy, and you know what? It’s fantastic.”

  “The helicopters,” said Freda. She had tasked Marina with bringing Bertha into full-scale production. Not having to refuel and being much larger would prove invaluable for operations in Europe and Asia. They had stripped back the weapons and armor to provide even more cargo space.

  “First batch is ready to go,” she said. “Richards is already here to steal them from me.”

  “Freda, welcome back.” Peter and Ursula exited another elevator together. They both had a glow about them.

  “Thank you,” she said. “How did China go?” Ursula had requested she be allowed to revisit the lab in China, in the hope of recovering the book of scribbled notes that had given them such an edge fighting the virus.

  “We couldn’t find it,” said Ursula, momentarily deflated. “It seems everything was destroyed when the missiles hit the building. “

  “A real pity,” said Peter. “That computer program came from a genius.”

  “We have enough to keep busy, anyway. We’ve begun initial trials for a massive vaccine program that will also prevent genetic mutation. If we get it working right, the benefits are incalculable.” Ursula had been fully inducted into Section 51. Even now, Freda had never explained to her what the God gene was and respected Ursula not asking more than once.

  “Progress on the HIV/AIDS treatment is advancing with incredible speed, as well,” said Peter. They both looked so invigorated. “We have so many fresh minds now, and the energy in the labs is electrifying.”

  “Brilliant. General Richards, welcome to the new Section 51,” said Freda proudly as he appeared. This was turning into a fantastic informal reunion. A little catch-up before they got back to the grindstone. Freda knew it would only last a few minutes and planned to treasure it. The facility had undergone an expansion and refurbishment following the Eugenics Virus. They now had triple the scientific staff as before. Freda could see some grand discoveries in the next twenty years for this species and felt privileged to help guide them.

  “Money definitely well spent,” remarked the general, looking around. He was about to head up the new European task force to rebuild the continent and called in before departing for Britain. The president had tried to talk him out of it, but Richards point-blank refused. Sitting behind a desk didn’t suit him. “Are you ready, Marina?” he asked.

  “One moment,” said Freda. “Get back here.”

  “Do we have to?” he said.

  “Yes we do,” she insisted. “It’s been a long time.”

  He shuffled in beside her again, and the team hunched up, shoulder to shoulder. Freda’s brooch detached from her coat, hovering in front of them.

  “Everyone say cheese,” said Freda.

  “Took you years to understand that saying,” said Christopher.

  “I still don’t,” she admitted, and the team burst into laughter, allowing her brooch to capture the perfect photograph.

  “Well, now that that’s been done, we really should get started,” said Richards.

  “Of course,” said Freda. He found things like that quite awkward, and she was no different when arriving on Earth.

  He stopped in his tracks, turning around.

  “You will forward me that picture?”

  “Of course,” she said, touched. “Framed and all, General.”

  The team dispersed, everyone having more than enough to do.

  Back in her office, she sat down and activated her computer. She just couldn’t relax until it was done.

  “Welcome,” said CIM.

  “Hello,” said Freda, not really meaning to greet a computer system; only Christopher seemed to do that. Her mind, though, was far from focused. “CIM, prepare to digitally scan and encrypt.”

  “Ready,” said CIM.

  Freda unlocked her drawer with a fingerprint and removed the scribbled book of notes Ursula had found in the Chinese lab. She stared at the first page, covered in coding, a frightened look on her face. Daring not to take a chance, Freda decided to do what she’d always planned.

  “C
IM, prepare maximum-level encryption and to deposit in my personal archive on Deep Space 66.”

  “Ready,” said CIM.

  Freda placed the book on the red scanner plate embedded to the left of her desk. CIM scanned the entire book, sending the data file off beyond Alliance territory.

  “Complete,” said CIM.

  Freda hesitated, unsure, then leaned forward and pressed the incinerate button on the plate. The book disintegrated in front of her, gone forever.

  “CIM, call up my diary for the rest of the day,” she said. It was time she got back to work as well.