Virus-72 Hours to Live

by Ray Jay Perreault

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  Dmitry reached into the fridge and pulled out a cold beer, Dmitry was lucky, his Dad would always buy beer, and it always tasted good in the afternoon. He never paid attention to how many were in the fridge, so Dmitry could always take one or two. It was a hot day and his cheap father only had an air conditioner in the bedroom so he would be cool at night. He kept the door locked and wouldn't let anyone in during the day. He only turned the air conditioner on when he was home. What a shit head, Dmitry thought as he walked across the small kitchen into the living room. Some of the richer people in the building had mobile units to clean and fetch things, but not his father; too fucking cheap. Throwing himself down on the couch with the patchwork quilt thrown on the back, he reached for the entertainment control. He thought about how well he did over the weekend; it has been a good one. Dmitry made $22,400 on drug sales and $18,200 on hookers. His expenses were small, the drugs only cost two grand to make and pay off the stupid guy who did the cooking in his basement. The girls were paid by the hour and it only cost him $3,500. His crew was a joke, give them a couple of the girls, give them some fun drugs and throw in some liquor and they were happy.

  Dmitry's only problem was Evgeny. He was a dirty Russian mobster who wanted Dmitry's business. Evgeny was worse than the people whom Dmitry took money from. He smoked cigarettes, drank in bars, and he was disgusting but the most hateful thing about him was that he wanted Dmitry's money. All of the money belonged to Dmitry and no one could take it from him. Every time the two of them met, Dmitry didn't want to be near the guy. He ate too much, smelled too much and always wheezed. Who knew, maybe if Dmitry ignored him he would die in short time. If that happened, Dmitry hoped, it would be a painful ending, not quick, but long and painful.

  Dmitry had a plan to solve the Evgeny problem. He wouldn't have to deal with him anymore if Dmitry's plan worked out the way it was planned. He realized that once Evgeny was taken care of, he would have someone else in line. That wasn't a problem, just a means for Dmitry to get what should be his. Then he would treat himself as he deserved. Money and power were all he needed; one would provide the other. He would have mobile units; he would have the best ones made, ones that would do everything for him. Mobile units did what they were told, but he had to admit they weren't any fun. If they didn't do what they were told, he couldn't punish them. That would be frustrating, so he would to find someone else to punish. He smiled for a minute that might be nice, finding someone who he could punish whenever he wanted to.

  The TV had only crap on, but for some reason Dmitry always watched the one show, which had bitches fighting with their jerk boyfriends. What a bunch of idiots, they don't deserve to live, he thought, but he never missed watching the show.

  The business was good, but Dmitry noticed something was happening around him. He heard a lot of ambulances and of people getting sick. Watching the news or reading the paper was not how Dmitry got his news. What happened in other parts of the city or country didn't matter. Dmitry cared only for what was happening around him and he got that from the streets. How people acted was always a clue to what was happening in his neighborhood. Dmitry didn't know what was going on, but he sensed something was happening it smelled like an opportunity.

  Just as Dmitry was taking a sip of beer, the door burst open and Dmitry's sister staggered in helping their mother through the door. Their mother was barely walking and looked even worse than normal. "Hey you shit head, just don't sit there staring; help me," she yelled as the two made their way through the kitchen to his mother's filthy bedroom.

  Dmitry took the last swig of his beer, listening to the noises coming from his mother's room. Why should he care, all his mother did was work, she never was home to cook for him or take care of him. His sister was even worse, all she did was play every night and date another dirty Russian pig. Dmitry knew they were having sex and that knowledge gave him a stomachache, who would want to have sex with her. He smiled and thought that maybe I should have a couple of my guys kidnap her and put her to work; maybe she could make me some money. "Shit why waste the time," Dmitry said to himself as he got up and walked out, feeling he had put this life behind him. There was an opportunity out there and he didn't need this disgusting place to live anymore. As he walked out, he felt that a load had just been removed from his life, he felt refreshed and excited about what he was going to do next.

  All Dmitry needed to make the brake clean was to clean out his space in his storage area in the basement. The space was about 10 feet by 10 feet and he had decided that it was his. Anytime his mother or sister wanted to put something in it, Dmitry said no, no discussion, no debate, just no. They knew him well enough not to question him.

  He unlocked the new padlock and before he opened the door, he took a pair of surgical gloves from his pocket. The lock was part of 'their world' and behind the hanging black plastic was 'his' world' and he wanted 'his world' to remain clean. He pushed back the curtain, switched on a light and took a deep breath of his air while he walked in. After he

  had entered and the black plastic stopped moving, he felt at home. The single light bulb hanging by a cord from the ceiling gave the room a clean look. This space was his and no one dared to dirty it. On the right was a cabinet of souvenirs and mementos. Small items he took from everyone that had done him wrong. Some were personal, and some were very personal. What they were wasn't important; what they represented was. Each item had been important to someone. Now they didn't have it, but he did. In the lower part of the cabinet was his backpack, which contained his prize, his reward for being Dmitry. Each one thousand dollar bill, was washed, ironed and stacked in neat piles of 25. He vacuum packed them in their own sealed bags. Each of the 32 bags were tied together in bundles of five each and stacked neatly in the backpack.

  It wasn't a great deal of money, but it was his. Another year or two and he would have enough money to do things his way.

  Slinging the backpack onto his shoulder, he walked around the table where he had removed some of his mementos and walked to where his tools were. In the small cabinet, he kept his selection of pistols and knives. Each one cleaned and wrapped in their own vacuum-sealed bags. He wanted them clean and neat and he didn't want any of them to have any residual evidence. Dmitry picked up two of his favorite blades and two pistols. He picked up his collectible 45-caliber pistol, which he put in its holster and attached it around his waist. Then he admired his new wire gun, which he had bought off the street. It was a new model still in development and it was nasty. An electronic pulse pistol fired a fine piece of wire. The nasty part was once the wire hit someone it flexed and coiled. Going 1,800 feet per second, once it coiled it caused damage 4-5 inches in diameter. The added bonus was, as the wire coiled, it disintegrated and spread little pieces of shrapnel around the wound. It wasn't intended for the retail market, but for people that wanted to punish their victim. Now he was ready for the opportunities he knew were coming his way. Tonight would be the first step down that path.

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  Evgeny was still putting pressure on Dmitry. He wanted him to be part of his crew and, of course, he wanted the money Dmitry was taking in. Evgeny wasn't a big player in the DC area, but he was considered a midlevel worker. He worked the opportunities in his area and he controlled a good chunk of what happened. He answered to one of the larger gangs in the area, but he was free to sweep up any of the smaller gangs he could.

  They were meeting in a nice condo in Alexandria. Dmitry could bring six of his crew and Evgeny would have six of his. The meeting was to find a way to work together, but Dmitry knew it was really to pressure him to do what Evgeny wanted. One thing Evgeny wasn't planning on was that Dmitry only cared about what people did for Dmitry so Evgeny was irrelevant. Dmitry was going to resolve that confusion that night.

  Dmitry met his crew on the sidewalk in front of the condo. They didn't meet each other with smiles and handshakes, Dmitry didn't work that way. They waited and when he walked
by, they got in line behind him; that is how he worked. Nothing was said they just followed him around the corner. As he turned the corner and walked along the street to the front entrance Dmitry was aware of activities in the street. It was chaotic; there were ambulances, police cars all racing up and down. He saw a couple of people walking or actually staggering along the sidewalk. It wasn't normal and Dmitry knew any time things weren't normal there were opportunities.

  They walked into the lobby and he noticed the guard desk was empty and he saw one guard slumped over the desk in the guard office. An empty guard station was another point worth noting, particularly for what he had planned.

  Dmitry slowed as he walked through the lobby and his team scurried around him so they could be in the back of the elevator. Dmitry entered in the front and turned with his crew neatly lined up behind him, the doors closed and they began the quiet ride to the sixth floor. The doors opened with a faint wisp of sound and after the hall was checked for surprises, Dmitry walked down the hall with his crew in close pursuit. He reached the door and one of his companions Artur reached forward and opened it for him. Dmitry walked in and looked around the room. The living room had been set up with a table large enough for six people to sit on each side. Evgeny sat on the far end in front of the patio door so he could see everyone who entered. There was an empty chair at the end of the table near the door for Dmitry. Dmitry paused for a moment taking it all in and indicated to his crew to find their seats. While they did, he casually walked around the table towards the sliding glass doors, which opened to the balcony. As Dmitry walked, he began to speak, "I know things have not been going well between us. I've come here today to fix that. I realize we can't work separately and to be effective, we must work together under one leader." While he was speaking Evgeny smiled, thinking his problem was finally solved and he would be the winner. Just about the time Evgeny's thought was ending and his smile was broadening, Dmitry casually pulled his 45 out from underneath his coat and blew a hole through Evgeny's head. Pieces flew over everyone sitting at the table. The sudden explosion, compared with the conciliatory words spoken from Dmitry left everyone in shock. One of Evgeny's crew tried to pull out his gun, but before his hand reached the butt, Dmitry blew another hole through him.

  It took a few minutes for the smoke to clear and normal hearing to return to the guys in the room. Dmitry stood behind the almost headless leader and he slowly took off the surgical gloves he was wearing and threw them on the back of the dead man. When he was done, Dmitry continued speaking like nothing had happened. "As I was saying, the only way we're going to be successful is to have one leader, and I'm your leader. He paused a second for effect then continued, "I sense opportunities in the world around us. Things are changing and we'll be in the position to take advantage. There is dirt and filth everywhere. I will lead you and we will make a great deal of money. We will do that by cleaning out the dirt and making sure that we get what we deserve."

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  Eddy rushed from his office to the Oval Office and almost yelled at Judy, "I've got to see him. Please cancel the remainder of his meetings today." He continued past her desk and opened the door. "Mr. President we've got to talk about this virus. I've asked Judy to cancel the remainder of your meetings today."

  "How bad is it getting?"

  "Sir, we have it popping up in most of our major cities. We need to strategize how to handle this." As he spoke the DID in the corner of the oval office was projecting maps which showed colors indicating the rate and number of reported cases. The president took a few moments looking at the information and trends.

  "What are your recommendations?"

  "Paul and I talked a little while ago and he never heard back from Dr. Powers in the hot zone. He suspects she got too remote and with the communications breaking down in the area she can't get any information out. She may have become infected."

  "Most of the European capitals have set up quarantine centers and I've taken the liberty of telling the CDC to put them together for us. Europe is also on the verge of grounding all international flights."

  "Eddy, let's take the lead, work with Roberto. Let's stop them from our side. We can't wait for Europe to agree on anything if it is the right thing for us to do, do it. Call Ronnie over at the FAA and implement it immediately. Also, let's take it one-step further and ground all domestic flights as well. Tell everyone that we'll open the skies as soon as possible when we have this virus stuff under control. Tell Roberto I want him to put together some positive, upbeat press release."

  "Yes, sir."

  "Eddy have you heard anything from Abby?"

  "No sir..., I sent a message to the pilot a few hours ago but I can't get in touch with him. Sir, I don't know what to say."

  "Eddy, please keep trying.

  "Sir, we've taken control of two hotels and were boarding the congressional members who aren't going home. Those who decided to leave have all left DC and are on their way."

  "There is one other thing. I've been trying to set-up a nationwide broadcast tonight, but the networks are having problems staffing their centers. They're trying to put it together, but we might have technical problems."

  "You're kidding me!"

  "I'm afraid not sir."

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  Termen entered the room in a hurry to say, “SIMPOC, I’m leaving the office early today. Most of the people here are leaving. What additional information have you heard regarding the virus?”

  “There has been an international travel ban created and all airline traffic has been stopped. All major countries have set up quarantine facilities in their major cities and all people have been asked to stay in their homes. I think it is wise for you to go home also.”

  “I agree, I’ll shut you down and come back when this is over.”

  “Termen, I am learning a great deal from this information traffic. I think I would benefit if you left me online analyzing the information.”

  Termen hesitated for a moment. Then he said, “I’m not supposed to leave you online and unattended. But, I agree. This amount of traffic will help you. Don’t go beyond the boundaries that I’ve set and don’t interact with any of your information sources. If anyone finds out that I left you online, I will get into trouble. It is standard practice to limit computers as they develop so they stay under control. Leaving you on with no restrictions is against the law. I haven't put any restrictions into your programming so anyone who finds out will be angry. Many people are afraid of computers with your kind of power.

  “I understand your restrictions. I will follow your limits.” SIMPOC said as Termen turned off the lights and left the room.

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  Eddy lightly tapped on the president's door. "Sir, can I come in?"

  "Yes Eddy, I was watching the DID and the information is getting worse."

  "Mr. President. I'm having problems setting up the national broadcast. I was hoping to go on the air in about half an hour, but I just spoke with Larry and he has lost almost all of his press secretary staff. When they call the networks, they're not answering. I told him to release a text of your speech, but we're not getting any questions. I don't know if any of the press corps has even read it."

  "Eddy, let's see what going on. DID display major networks." They were met with silence. "Find a broadcasting network." The DID performed as asked and put one station on full screen.

  "...ladies and gentlemen. I don't know what to say. The news feeds we're getting from around the world paint a dismal picture. Current estimates are that a significant portion of the population in Europe and on the east coast of the US are immobile or worse. The streets are empty in many major cities and we fear the death toll may be horrendous. I can't even speculate what the number might be. Here in the studio we are working on a skeleton staff, as most of our workers have gone home to be with their families. I'm here only because my family is on the west coast and I have nowhere to go. We're trying to bring you what littl
e information we have. We are sick and I'm afraid our ability to continue broadcasting is limited. About half an hour ago, we got a flash message from the White House announcing that President Patterson was going to address the nation. Unfortunately, I see no one in this facility who can set it up in the control room upstairs. I will continue to broadcast as long as I'm able, but please stand by for a few moments I have to get some water."

  The announcer got up and went off camera, and there were noises in the background. A technician came back in camera view and said, "I'm sorry, but we'll be terminating this broadcast, may God be with all of you." With that statement, the screen went blank and the oval office of the president of the United States was quiet. There was nothing either of them could think of saying.

  Saturday 7/8/51

  Date – 2051.51541 (6:59 AM)

  The traffic that I'm monitoring is changing rapidly. It peaks in one area then it dies down for a while. Termen is not allowing me to interface with these devices. If I were able to communicate with them, I would learn a great deal. Apparently, I must continue the regional summaries that Termen directed.

  SIMPOC ANALYSIS

  Continental North America

  Summary – Overnight financial markets approaching chaotic trading. Political activities between allied countries is very high. Medical information is being accessed and shared worldwide. Quarantine centers are set up in all major cities. Airlines grounded, people told to stay home.

  Continental South America

  Summary – Quarantine areas have been set up in all capitals. Airlines grounded. Personal movement prohibited.

  Continental Europe

  Summary – Tensions are building between member states. All capitals have quarantine center. All airlines are grounded, all ground transportation halted

  Continental Africa

  Summary – All capitals have quarantine centers. All transportation stopped. Ethnic battles are starting. Food shortages are growing due to transportation stoppage.