Bear virus

The plan

Lao Xie said, "Sit down. We'll explain everything to you."

I cautiously took a seat. "You went through all this trouble to bring me here. What you're about to say must be pretty shocking."

Lao Zhu looked at me and said, "You must have a lot of questions from the moment you walked in."

When I remained silent, Lao Zhu continued, "We're not thieves. We're scientists. Like me, Lao Xie is also a researcher, specializing in biosciences, particularly pharmacology."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked suspiciously.

"Because it's crucial for what we're about to reveal," Lao Zhu replied.

"And what exactly is that?" I asked, intrigued but wary.

Lao Zhu took a deep breath and said, "The truth is, the hibernation program is a massive lie!"

I was stunned, unsure if I heard correctly. "What do you mean?"

"The hibernation program is not what everyone thinks. The organization has deceived us. The bear virus was deliberately released by them," Lao Zhu said.

"How is that possible?" I instinctively questioned. "Why would they do that?"

"Because the environment is deteriorating, and the Earth's resources can no longer sustain such a large population," Lao Zhu said seriously. "Haven't you noticed how the world is getting worse? The sss rainforest is dying, Australian bushfires burned for a whole year, polar bears are extinct, and even the deepest parts of Antarctica are contaminated with dust and toxins from our technology. These are just the warning signs. Nature's balance is collapsing. So, they want to use the bear virus to control the population to prevent massive riots over scarce resources. The hibernation program and the shutdown of public places and transportation all serve one purpose: to save energy, to make it last longer."

I was completely taken aback. "No... this can't be true."

"There's no 'can't' about it," Lao Zhu said. "And there's something even more important that I haven't told you."

"What?"

"Do you know why we were in such a hurry to bring you here?" Lao Zhu asked, staring at me. "Because after this winter hibernation period, most people won't wake up again!"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"The organization never told anyone that the bear virus actually has a five-year incubation period. During this period, those who enter hibernation can wake up again. But this is the fifth year. Once the incubation period ends, the bear virus will activate, and those infected will never wake up..." Lao Zhu pointed to the sleeping Yang Xiaomeng and said, "They will remain like this until death claims them. If you don't believe me, check the vitals of those in hibernation. Their breathing and heartbeat are getting weaker and weaker..."