“I think everything is fine,” Amy stood, arms crossed in the storage room with Meredith and Nora. “Whoever did this was prepared. We are an assurance. That’s all. A plan B.”
Nora asked. “Is that why you aren’t packing a supply bag.”
“Yes, I am that certain. We’ve been frozen for about six months, that’s what I think. I think that door will open and a team of scientists will be there to debrief us back into the world. And if it isn’t, it’s not like this place will self-destruct and I can’t turn around and come back in.”
“You demeanor is commendable,” Nora said. “Wish I could have a better demeanor.”
“Don’t confuse my confidence with content,” Amy said. “I’m mad as hell. My poor children. What did they think? My God, I missed six months of their lives.”
“Me, too,” Nora said. “My youngest is three. Come on, you know how much they grow and change. Plus, it all better be good. The only items I have belong to Summer Rosewood.”
“You crashed the event,” Amy stated.
“Sounded like a brilliant prank at the time.”
“Nora?” Meredith called her name, “Was there anything in Summer’s belongings that could give us a clue?”
“She has a journal in there.”
“Did you read it?”
Nora shook her head. “No, just in case Summer is out there, arms folded with attitude waiting for me. I don’t want to emerge to confrontation. What about you, Meredith? What do you think?”
“I think we’ll know in about twenty minutes, now won’t we? No use guessing, right?”
“Guess,” Nora said. “That was your forte. You dealt with theories. I know you have one. I know you have thought it out.”
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.”