The Gray War

The Chimera Virus, a volatile combination of the world's most infectious and deadly diseases, would be released. Brilliant minds would form a new organization attempting to eradicate the virus. Nanobots were created in order to transmute the virus cells into antibodies that nullified it. However, the virus was evolving too fast. As soon as an antidote was administered, a new strain would emerge. Leading scientists were given authority to issue new directives to the nanobots to eradicate any virus present outside of the green zones or quarantine zones. The idea of eradication was a foreign concept. So, the system simply substituted eradication for replication. Anyone still alive would be converted into a host for the nanobots, turning them into bionic zombies, biting and attacking anything that was not a host. We called them nanos.

Professor Ivan Jorgenheim, knew that the only way to end this would be to shut down the nanoweb. A series of satellites strategically positioned in the planet's orbit allowed for commands to be communicated to the minds of the nanobots. However, they could only be disabled manual at the central satellite station. This was impossible for Ivan in his old age. Professor Jorgenheim knowing his time is short decides humanity's only chance is to get the key to the broadcasting satellite. He reluctantly makes his final plea. “Hello, my name is Ivan Jorgenheim. I am the last survivor of Spire City. There is but one chance to save humanity from our grave mistakes. The key must be returned to its origin. Only then can we find redemption. Please, find it and set us free” The message repeats over an emergency airwaves signal in hopes that someone, anyone will hear it. BANG BANG BANG! “They are here now,” Ivan says stoically. He pulls from his pocket a heart shaped locket. He stares at its contents as the door breaks and the nanos make their way through. He smiles at the locket and says “Until we meet again darling”.

A small group of survivors have managed to secure an island north of the mainland. “I’ll trade you six bullets for one bottle of that penicillin,” said Mark. “HA, you’re dreaming, this medicine is rarer than unicorns my friend, you’ll have to do better than that.” replies the trader. “Fine, how's one bullet sound?” says mark. The trader looking confused at Mark barely had time to think about the counteroffer before he was dead on the floor. Mark quickly grabbed the penicillin. He turned the corner, raising the hood over his head as he moved through the corridors unseen. Mark makes his way further inland making sure to cover his tracks, sweeping the snow with brush so as not to be followed. His hideout was an old mine. As Mark makes his way inside he hears a loud scream and runs full speed towards the sound with supplies in hand. “Here, try this, it should help with the pain,” said Mark. Hopefully now with the help of the antibiotics, her fever would break. “Thank you” she manages to whisper before passing out. As her head fell back to the bed her hair glided off her shoulder revealing a heart shaped locket. “What’s this now?” Mark says, as he opens the locket an encoded message plays. “Yana, should something happen to me, this key will become your responsibility. The broadcast satellite is located in the southern mainland, 32 degrees North by 83 degrees West. I know you’ll find the right people to help you. Only there will you be able to disable the nanobots. Until we meet again, darling.” Mark immediately recognized the voice from the locket as that of Professor Ivan Jorgenheim. “Yana? Who is she to you, Professor?” Mark slumps back in his chair and closes his eyes to rest. He woke up in a cold sweats most nights, reliving that terrible night he lost his family. Yana tosses and sits upright “You're awake!” says Mark. “Where are we?” asks Yana. “Inside a rare ore mine. I found you on shore with a pretty good gash on your leg there.” “Who are you?” she asks in a hesitant voice. “Easy we both just woke up, the name’s Mark and you must be Yana?” Yana’s face goes ghost white and she goes to grab a bowie knife by her side table and points it at Mark screaming at him, “You’re going to show me the way out of here, thanks for bandaging me up and stuff but I have places to be.” Mark smiles, stands up and raises his hand over his head. “Woah, easy with that thing, the handle’s been loose for weeks, the blade can pop right out!” Yana quickly glances down at the blade long enough for Mark to disarm her. “What do you want with me anyway”, asks Yana. “Truthfully?”, Says Mark. “Fixing that leg of yours, that was about it. I did notice that locket, though. Who is Ivan Jorgenheim to you, anyway?” He says as he sits back down in his chair and places the knife on the table beside him. Yana, slightly confused but a little more trusting at this point replies, “He’s my grandfather.” “Well, now that you’re feeling better I suppose it’s time we hit the road and get to that broadcasting tower.” Said Mark. “Why are you helping me, and who are you? I don't even know your name.” Said Yana, more confused this time. “The name is Mark and aside from getting off this island my reasons are my own. The point is I can get you there.” He said confidently. “Very well, I accept.” said Yana. “Good we leave before dawn, so the patrollers won't catch us.” Mark said “Why not now?” asked Yana. “Because, the penalty for leaving the island is death. This island is just like the Green Zones, only worse. We will get some rest and be ready to go in a few hours.” Mark replied.

Under the cover of darkness they sneak off to the south side of the island, being sure to avoid patrollers. Mark pulls a small boat and oars from a covered thicket he hid for his own escape. Now, was as good a time as any. “Let's go!” Mark said. They board the old boat and push themselves into the sea. The current seemed to want to lead them to their destination as without paddling they managed to get carried in the correct heading. A day had passed, Yana had woken up to see Mark was gone. Panicked, she starts to scream for him. “MARK! MARK!” she cries out. There is no reply. She looked around but could only make out the distant shadow of the shore of the mainland. -SPLASH- from the bow, a large fish flew into the boat and a hand grabbed the side of the vessel. “YOU SCARED ME, I THOUGHT YOU LEFT ME, OR FELL OVERBOARD!” Cried Yana “Figured you’d be out for a little longer. Thought I’d catch us some breakfast.” Mark replied casually. They eat the fish and ready themselves for the next trial. “According to the GPS, once we make it to the shore the Broadcasting station is roughly an hour’s walk inland.” Said Mark. They slowly coasted up to the shoreline letting the current do the work for them. Once there, they gather their supplies and begin hiking inland. “I know you said you had your own reasons for helping” said Yana, “What were they? If you don’t mind telling me, that is.” Mark sighed, “I lost my wife and daughter when this whole thing started because I hesitated to act. You reminded me so much of her, I saw it as God offering me some kind of redemption for my past mistakes. If I could help you, I would do it, without hesitation. I’d say my intuition was right in that regard seeing as how we’re about to end this thing ourselves.” Mark smirked as he chuckled. Yana, comforted by this, smiles back at Mark. Shrieking is heard off in the distance. “What is that?” Yana asked. “It’s how they communicate to one another.” said Mark as his gaze turned toward the sound. A cold sweat dripped from his brow as thoughts of him as his family ran through his mind. “Are you okay?” asked Yana. “I'm fine, i'm fine” Mark replied unconvincingly. “Let’s keep moving, we're halfway there. Mark and Yana pass over a hilltop where they see the broadcasting tower. “I’ve never seen something so beautiful in all my life” Said Mark. “Let’s go” …….SHREIK! “AHHHH!” Yana screams as a Nano grabs hold of her. Mark immediately open fired, blowing its head clean off. “Are you okay?” he asks. “I'm okay” she replied, shaken up by the encounter. Shrieks now surrounded them on both sides. The gunfire had drawn them near and now they were coming for them. “WE HAVE TO MOVE, NOW!” Mark yelled. They ran as fast as their legs would carry them down the hill, part running, part falling, they made their way to the station. Out of the woods came what looked like a wave of nanos numbering in the thousands bearing down on them with increasing fury and determination. “There! The right side, go slip through the fence, quickly!” Mark yelled to Yana. Mark Scales the fence as Yana crawled under. They run into the station slamming the door behind them and barricading it, narrowly escaping the army of nanos. Panting and completely exhausted, Mark says “Let's get to the control room and finish this.” “Agreed” replied Yana who was equally as tired. Yana enters the control room with Mark at her side. She opens her locket and removes the drive from it. She placed the drive into the console…….nothing. “Nothing happened, what's going on?” “SATELLITE MISALIGNED” flashes across the console over and over again. Two walkie talkies were on the desk of the console and somehow still had juice in them. “Here take this one, I will go realign it, let me know when we are back online, okay?” Mark asked. “Mark, be careful,” Yana said in a concerned manner. Smiling Mark said, “I never am.” Mark makes his way to the rooftop only to realize the building is completely surrounded by nanos. They begin to make a ladder out of themselves allowing others to climb over them and attempt to reach Mark and the mast of the station. Mark, realizing a pistol with four bullets won’t really do him much good against 10,000 nanos, focuses all his attention on getting the satellite into alignment. “How are you doing up there?” Yana asked. “Just enjoying the beautiful scenery, you know?” Mark replied sarcastically. The control panel looks similar to the one on the island. Mark had seen these before. He operated one before all this began. Lucky for him, the proper azimuth and elevation were scratched into the panel just in case. Mark re-aligns the satellite and radios to Yana. “You’re all set. Send em packin, Yana!” “Roger that!” Yana happily replies. “ACTION CONFIRMED, EXECUTING MANUAL SHUT DOWN IN 10….9….8….” Mark makes his way back into the control room. A splinter group of nanos had made their way into the facility and were right outside the door. -BANG!- The door smashes to the floor. Mark fires his last remaining 4 rounds. One nano, remained staring down at Mark and Yana. Mark grabs Yana to protect her as the nano Sprints and launches itself at full speed toward them. “3….2….1” In mid air, the eyes of the nano glossed over as it hit the floor in front of them. Outside the hoards of shrieks and screams had stopped, it was as if the world had fallen silent. Upon leaving the facility, the fallen nanos surrounded them on all sides. It was finally over. They begin their walk back to the shore knowing that the world would not be what it used to, but something new.