Genetic Flux (Phase One Book 1)

by Eckrich,Jeremiah P.

  ***

  “What is going to happen?” Emily asked.

  “We are just going to have to wait and see.” Daniel let out a deep sigh, “With all the changes maybe most will find the state of emergency a relief and just hold on.”

  “What about those who don’t have food in the house?” Sue wanted to know.

  “I don’t know, Mom. Wouldn’t most at least have something to stave off starvation until we are allowed to move about again.”

  “All I know is that when you were young and I was working full time if it weren’t for a drive thru we wouldn’t have had anything to eat that night. Now I get it, there were things in the house to eat, but I don’t know. Hopefully they have good neighbors.”

  “Well we won’t have to worry.”

  Emily let out a nervous laugh. “That’s true.”

  “We could butcher a cow and with all the preserves and canned vegetables mom has in the basement we could feed an army. That doesn’t include her freezer full of beef, pork, and venison. If we didn’t have what we needed, I’d go to one of the farms and either barter for it or steal it.”

  “Daniel!” Emily exclaimed. “You couldn’t do that.”

  “Emily not only would I do it, but I’d do it as often as I need to.”

  “There are many things we’d do if we had to, just to keep the children safe.” Sue murmured.

  “Yes I guess you’re right, but I don’t like knowing that. Will we be able to drink the milk straight from the cow? Doesn’t raw milk have bacteria in it to make us sick?”

  “All we have to do is warm it and then cool it again.” Sue told her. “If we make sure we don’t get it too hot we only kill the bacteria. Emily, would you help me in the kitchen?”

  “Sure.”

  ***

  The third night after the state of emergency was declared General Reagan made another announcement. “Starting tomorrow those who have a job will be allowed to go to work. If you live more than ten miles from you job, do not go. There are military check points that everyone must stop at. You will be arrested if you are traveling more than ten miles from your home. There will be no exceptions. If you work more than ten miles from your job you must go to your city hall and they will give you further information on what you are to do. Children will not go back to school yet, we will let you know when. Thank you.”

  “At least we can move around a bit more.” Daniel tried to sound cheery.

  “Yes. Some might be running out of food. They will be grateful to get to a store to restock.” Sue added.

  “Will the food still be good?” Emily asked. “I know the stores have only been closed a couple of days. Well, I guess if I needed a gallon of milk I wouldn’t care if it had only a day or two left before expiration. I’d be glad to have it at all.”

  The next morning Daniel went into the kitchen where Sue and Emily were cooking. “I think I’m going to go out and see what everyone is up to.”

  “Daniel you can’t, you don’t have a job.” His mom warned.

  “I’ll be careful, I’ll keep to the fields, and if anyone sees me they will just think I’m working in the field.” Emily just watched him as he left.

  It was over two hours before they heard the dogs barking their greeting as the ATV Daniel was riding came across the field into the yard.

  “I’m back.” He yelled as he came in the back door. “It is rather eerie out there. No one is really going anywhere, most of the people I ran into said they worked more than ten miles from their house.”

  ***

  The next day the Emergency Broadcast System was utilized once again, General Reagan moved to the podium. “The President of the United States has ratified new curfew hours. Citizens are now allowed to move freely during daylight hours within their local vicinity. We ask that everyone stay within the ten mile radius already set up. There will be mandatory military check points. We will now allow schools and universities to reopen. Anyone without their ID will be arrested, and again, those who are trying to push the boundaries will be imprisoned. We are under a state of emergency and everyone needs to be respectful of it.”

  On the fifth day, there was another announcement from General Reagan. “We are officially pulling all of our troops back to the U.S. We are asking all who are not citizens of the United States of America to make arrangements to leave. All visas and green cards are being revoked. Also, all international travel is now banned. American citizens in other countries are asked to go to the American Embassy and make immediate arrangements to return to the states. Those not citizens are asked to make immediate arrangements to leave the states. We want all non-citizens to go to their embassy to make arrangements to leave the country today. We have troops designated to only working cases on deportation. They have all the information needed to round up any and all who are not making preparations to leave the country. All, and I mean all, non-citizens must leave. I will take a few questions.” He motioned to a young man in the middle of the room.

  “Sir, it sounds like you are closing the boarders. What about our imports and exports?”

  “We will allow only goods to move for the time being.” He nodded towards a woman on his left for another question.

  “Why are we deporting everyone? What if they are working on a very important project or is a doctor? Will they have to leave?”

  “We make no distinction between a doctor and someone who works the fields. All must go.” He paused for a drink of water then continued, “Not only is America facing this crisis, but the world is. One would think non-citizens would want to go home to their families. Nevertheless, my only concern is for American citizens. By deporting everyone else, we free up a great amount of our resources. It also cuts down on the sheer number of people that will need protection. Their government is responsible for them, not us.”

  “Are you bringing all the troops back? We have been at war in the Middle East for many years. Will they all be brought home?” Someone in the audience called out.

  “This will be the final question.” The General said as he addressed the person who called it out. “Yes. What we are trying to do is safeguard America during this pandemic. To close the United States off from international travel, deporting all who are not citizens, and bringing our troops home, all of them, only makes us stronger. Thank you.”

  At the airports, the only planes allowed to leave the country were either taking foreigners to their home country or for transporting goods. Most Americans not only agreed with sending non-citizens to their home countries but embraced it. If someone had a child born in America they were given a choice. They could either leave their child here as a U.S. citizen or denounce the U.S. citizenship for the child and take the child back to their home country. That was the only choice given.

  Most of the rounding up of illegal residents was left to the military. They had the information that allowed them to swiftly go in and get a large number of those who needed to be deported. For many years the government kept track of illegals, even though deportation had been looked down on from previous administrations the president wanted to send all illegals back to their home country from the time he had been elected.

  To make the decision to deport all non-citizens was an easy one for the President. Buses would roll up in front of a house or apartment building and dozens of troops would disembark with full tactical gear on. The point was to get in, detain all illegals with as little force as necessary, and put them on the buses. The bus would then take them to the nearest airport. Towns that were smaller used buses or small personal planes to transport people to the larger airports. All who were not U.S. citizens were sent back to their home country. Some tried to fight back but with the military taking charge of the deportation it was useless. The President of the United States made a decision and the military would carry it out.

  In the first days, millions were deported. The government wanted it done before too many changes from the flux would make it impossible to find them. The military did thei
r job and did it well. Once non-citizens were located they were immediately detained. Time was of the essence and was not going to be wasted. Non-citizens were not allowed to take anything with them either. All their possessions had to stay in the United States.

  This did not sit well with some. Those who were here legally with a green card or visa tried to get their government to make the U.S. let them stay but the United States would have no part in it. All non-citizens had to go.

  The state of emergency kept most working, but transportation was still slow and some factories didn’t reopen. Once the flux started to affect the population as a whole, one wasn’t in such a hurry to build that new house or buy a new boat or car. In fact, once the population was allowed movement within their communities, most people would buy only the necessities trying to prepare for the worst. Stores weren’t filled like they were before the flux.

  ***

  At the grocery store Sue was walking down the canned vegetable aisle when she heard her name being called. “Sue, Sue.”

  “Hi Sonja.”

  “Hi, how has everyone been doing?”

  “Okay. With all that’s going on I guess I can’t complain. How have you guys been doing?”

  “Good. Elijah had a bit of a run in yesterday with some people who are here illegally.”

  “What happened?”

  “Well, he was delivering propane to a customer when a group of four guys were walking up the street. They went up a neighbor’s drive and one of them went to the door and knocked on it. A guy answered and the man asked if he had any work they could do. He said no he didn’t have money for extra help. He looked back at his friends and nodded no, then he started to yell at the homeowner.”

  Sonja paused letting someone pass and then began again, “Elijah said he watched for a minute until the three that were in the driveway started towards the door yelling that just because they weren’t citizens doesn’t mean they should have to leave.”

  “So they weren’t U.S. citizens?”

  “No. They just hid and thought they could get away with it. Elijah and the guy who’s tanks were being filled started to walk over when a lot of pushing and shoving began in the man’s doorstep.”

  “People should pull together in times of trouble, not fight.”

  “I know, but these were not citizens of America. Elijah and the other two were trying to get them out of the door and into the yard when a couple from across the street came out yelling they called the police. The four guys ran off.”

  “Well, we can’t please everyone and most who are not American citizens think they should have more rights than those of us who are. Did they catch them?”

  “I don’t know, but I hope so. They need to go back to their own country.”

  “I think most of the U.S. agrees with you on that point, Sonja. Well, I better get home.”

  “Ya’, me too.”

  Daniel and Emily were watching TV while waiting for Sue to come home when all of a sudden the emergency broadcast system sounded. “This is the Emergency Broadcast System. At 5:00 pm Eastern standard time, the President of the United States of America will address the nation. This is the —” Daniel muted the TV. He and Emily just looked at one another completely flabbergasted.

  Finally Daniel broke the silence. “I wonder what could be so important that the president has to address the nation.”

  “I don’t know, but I hope things aren’t getting more out of control than they already are.”

  “I know babe, all we can do at this point is sit around and wait to see what the president has to say I guess.”

  Time seemed to drag on. Daniel and Emily tried not to think about what the president was going to say. A loud sound came over the TV and they both jumped.

  “This is the emergency broadcast system. The president will now address the nation.”

  Emily looked at Daniel. “That scared me half to death!”

  “Ya’ me too! I was kinda’ zoning out there for a minute, but I’m alert now.”

  The press secretary approached the podium. “Good evening. The President of the United States of America will now address the nation.”

  “Fellow Americans, these are trying times we are in, but we must stick together and stay strong as a nation. I hoped it would never come to this, but as I look around and see all the changes taking place I know without a doubt, what I’m about to ask you to do is crucial for the survival of our country. This country’s military and local police departments can only be stretched so thin. We need to deport anyone who is not a United States citizen. That means anyone here on a visa or a green card or anyone who’s here illegally must be apprehended and sent back to the country they are from.”

  “I am taking a step in our history that has never been taken before. It is a radical one, but with all the changes going on I believe it is the only choice we have. I am asking for your help. I am giving the American people the power to arrest anyone who is not a United States citizen. You will need to go to your local police or sheriff’s department and register. You must have a clean record yourself and be able to prove your citizenship. You must have all your documents with you. Once you get a pass from your local law enforcement they will give you a legal document that gives you the right to locate, confine and transport, back to your local jails, all non-citizens. The documents you are given to carry on your person must have the city, town, or county seal.”

  “We will set up a database that you will have access to. On this database you’ll be able to search a name or address and you will only be given information on that name or address if it comes back as a non U.S. citizen. If the person comes back as a non U.S. citizen, you will have the right to apprehend them, if an address comes back to a non U.S. citizen, and they won’t open the door, you will have the right to forcibly make entry into the home or business without a warrant and apprehend all non U.S. citizens. If you are met with resistance by a non U.S. citizen you have the right to use any force necessary to apprehend them, up to and including lethal force.”

  “I want to thank each and every one of you for your help with this matter and I ask you to please use your best judgment, I ask you to not use force unless it is absolutely necessary.”

  “This is the final warning to all non U.S. citizens. You have twenty four hours to go to your local law enforcement and turn yourself in. Tomorrow at 5:30 Eastern time, any non-citizen who is still in our borders will automatically have a national warrant placed on you for your arrest. Thank you.”

  Daniel and Emily just looked at each other, not knowing what to say. Finally Daniel broke the silence. “Well it’s a bold move, but I think it will scare a lot of the illegals enough that they will just leave on their own. I mean think about it, the ones who are here on visa’s or green cards legally will probably get out of here pretty quick knowing that in twenty four hours any hojo with a gun can force their way into your house without a warrant and legally arrest you! If I were in their shoes I would be packing my bags right now and getting on the next plane home.”

  Emily looked at Daniel with great concern in her eyes. “Yes, I agree with you. I think most of them will leave pretty quickly. But I sure do worry about the ones who didn’t get to see the president’s speech. I’m just sitting here thinking about it and you know some racist idiot will use this just to go shoot someone of another nationality.”

  “Ya’, I’m afraid you’re right, I think most people will try to be kind about it, but there most certainly will be those kind of people who will act ignorant just because they can.”

  ***

  The president’s speech was played every hour on the hour until 5:30 Eastern time the next day. Once again the emergency broadcast signal came on and the president was standing at the podium.

  “My fellow Americans I would say about seventy-five percent of non-citizens have already left the country. So for the other twenty-five percent they now have national warrants issued for their arrest. We do not need names for these warrants.
The warrant is issued to all illegal immigrants and all non U.S. citizens. I’m asking anyone who is going to help apprehend these individuals please show them compassion and try to put yourself in their shoes when dealing with them. I’m also asking that you please do not use force unless it is absolutely necessary. Thank you and good night.”

  The next morning Daniel, Emily, and Sue were glued to the TV. They were watching as news anchors reported live stories of American citizens arresting non-U.S. citizens.

  One reporter was standing next to a group of armed men. “Here in Festus, Missouri where eight men are about two kick in the front door of a suspected illegal immigrant.”

  The men ran up to the house, some had handguns, some assault rifles, they knocked on the door and waited for an answer. They knocked again and yelled, “Come on out or we’re coming in!”

  There was still no answer at the door so the first man held up his hand to count on his fingers 1, 2, 3… BOOM he kicked the door in and all eight men rushed inside. You could hear one man yelling, “Get your hands up! Let me see your hands!”

  Then one could hear someone yelling back in Spanish.

  The reporter ducked down behind a car as gun fire erupted inside the house. She could hear a man screaming in Spanish then suddenly a Hispanic man in handcuffs and another man holding his arm came out the front door. The Hispanic man was bleeding from his abdomen.

  “Sir, sir! I am reporter with Fox 2 News. What happened after you went inside the house? We heard the gunfire.”

  “Well, ma’am, after we gained entry we began searching the house. I came across a Hispanic man hiding in his bedroom. I told him to put his hands up and not to move, but he just started yelling at me in Spanish. Next thing I know the Hispanic man reached under his pillow and pulled out a semiautomatic handgun. He started to raise the gun in my direction so I and two other men fired our weapons. Two rounds struck the Hispanic man, one in his leg and another round hit him in the abdomen. There ended up being four Hispanic illegal immigrants in the house. The other three were apprehended peacefully.”