Surviving the Apocalypse

New Lab

Harrington had just finished his initial walkthrough, amazed that she had found a naturally occurring negative pressure environment that would be perfect for the type of work he would be conducting. Every aspect of the lab ensuring that there wouldn’t be an outbreak if even the worst were to happen. He examined every detail with a critical eye that didn’t miss anything about the safety systems.

“How fast is the switchover from primary power to primary backup?” He asked.

“30 microseconds, we have tried to get it down further, but the tech just isn’t up to spec yet.” Hanna answered as he looked at her shocked. His specification would be several seconds and she was complaining about microseconds.

“I think I can live with 30 microseconds, what are the systems anyway?” he asked making Hanna smile.

“Primary power is a 48 volt solar system with a 70kw battery reserve which can power the lab for 5 days. Supplemental power is a 48 volt wind turbine to recharge the same battery system, and we have the ability to manufacture replacement batteries when needed. In the event there is a failure in the primary system, the primary backup is a mirror system that is intentionally isolated from the primary system. Secondary backup is a series of generators that power the rest of the mine as well as the limited number of outbuildings that require it. If all else fails, it is also tied into the backup generator for the hospital ward that is being constructed with backup systems as well.” She told him delivering the news that there were 6 different power systems to ensure he always had the power he needed.

“If I asked who designed this system?” he asked her.

“Doctor Howard Harrington is the genius behind the design and locale of this lab. Once the other construction is completed, it will be inside a bunker that can be sustained regardless of the threat from out there.” Hanna told him as he nodded.

“Well the lab has my official stamp of approval, once the last of the air lock is secured. Those are one way air valves?” he asked looking at the vents that allowed the air to flow into the room regardless of what doors were opened or closed.

“Yes, with micron sensors feeding into an AI control system. If a breach is detected the one way valves are sealed while a sterilization agent is released into the air. Supplemental oxygen is centrally located for everyone inside, they will have 20 seconds from the sound of the alarm to be on it before the fans suck this room to vacuum. Anyone that hasn’t made it into the airlock within 3 minutes for decontamination will be sealed in before the UV Cleansing system is activated and sterilizes the room and equipment.” She said pulling up the protocols on the computer that was in the lab. The monitors all clear and allowing for normal operation as the system wasn’t active at the moment.

“This coding is a work of art, who did this?” he asked.

“Nathaniel Stone is the architect behind the AI system. Something that even surprised him.” She said with a smirk as he looked at her.

“Wait, you figured out how to bring data back with you through a reset?” Harrington asked her.

Hanna shuddered a bit at the question, as she wasn’t used to people knowing she had the ability in the first place. “Yes, I have. The AI system that Nathaniel created was able to interact with one of my own innate abilities and the one that my father managed to give me. Not only can I remember everything because of my idetic memory, it can also process and store large amounts of data, even through a reset. Just like thanks to the algorithm, I was able to store the stock exchange information for the next 3 months, so am making a killing by trading stocks that are going to make the most money each day with absolutely no losses. It is going to help pay for that electron microscope you are going to request I get for you.” She answered as his mouth opened in surprise.

“Is it remaining accurate despite your interference on the flow of time?” he asked.

Hanna smiled. “I am not interfering actually, not yet anyway. Have I altered a few key things this time around for life after the apocalypse? Yes, I most certainly have. But actually made seismic changes to the timeline, no, I haven’t. Nor will I, as for now, my goal isn’t to stop it. For now we need to develop a vaccine for it, nothing but that matters. So unless you can parse this data and get that done in the next few days, it is best not to speculate about what if.” She told him pointedly as he opened the files she had loaded from the previous timeline.

He pulled up the most recent slides he had been working on, all 23 samples the exact same down to the protein marker spikes. He however noticed the difference between these and what she had showed him. “There is more than this, isn’t there. This looks nothing like the samples you showed me.”

Hanna looked at him and pointed at the other file. “The associated data you need is in this file here. I have not had a chance to look through it myself yet, so keep that in mind before you go looking through the files. Knowing my father he left at least one personal message for me.” She said as he smiled.

“If this was meant for you I assume you don’t want me to click start here that is pinned to the top?” Harrington asked her.

“No, you can start with the samples section first.” She said.

Her father’s face filled the screen. “Harrington, if you are seeing this than my daughter has learned far more than I ever wanted to subject her to. Testing showed me that if she is ever exposed, she will have several abilities that will manifest. I have also found a way to pass my powers to her, which I think is going to have a profound effect of hers the first time this outbreak occurs. Hopefully you are seeing this well before the outbreak, but you should know we cannot prevent it yet. The closest we have come is in the samples that are contained with this data. I have included what my daughter will need to do to send physical items through time to the past. I have left her own message to her in this data as well, whether she has seen it or not before you hear this you will know. If she has, she knows everything we have done. If not, you might want to give her a heads up. Not everything we have done is exactly pretty, and the trail I have left this far for her isn’t sunshine and rainbows.” Marcus said before the screen went blank and showed the data from the analysis for the 3 subjects that had somehow kept their humanity while being infected by the virus.

“Oh my.” Howard said as he saw things in it she just wasn’t trained to see as she was a computer whiz, not a biology expert.

“What?” Hanna asked.

“Well, it seems your father learned how to use your ability to make items go back when you reset. His last one we managed to make a treatment of sorts it seems, but I wouldn’t call the method of getting these results ethical.” He told her as Hanna smiled.

“As far as I am concerned, that never happened if it had to be sent back from a future that will never happen. My father will have been dead for months before the apocalypse, so samples from a test he will never be able to perform with you are just ripples in time that I have come to learn to live with. Just as he has his own plans, I am making my own and could care less what his were.” Hanna said as he nodded.

“Good, because it seems we subjected these people to the virus as well as antivirals and viral inhibitors that prolonged the turning process. Somewhere in the horror of that, they developed antibodies that protected their humanity. From it, I could develop a genetic sequence that would be far more ethical to do than what these test suggest if the protocol is anything to go by. Or, it could be used to reverse engineer and enhance the antibodies that caused it, altering them just enough to work against the virus in its entirety. Curing it however isn’t an option from these results. Even if we do, the damage to the brain cannot be repaired to support life again.” Harrington told her. “The half cure we could have ready in a few months. The vaccine, for that we need a few years, but now I have somewhere to start.”

3 days later the first of the lab equipment arrived, including the ¥2,000,000 electron microscope he needed to properly examine everything he had specimens for. Especially as Harrington refused to open the case without every safety precaution in place, which meant getting his massive new lab situated with the proper equipment. When he saw there were 3 different trucks as well as teams of specialists to install and calibrate these machines, he was like a kid in a very expensive candy store. All the equipment alone cost ¥50,000,000, not to mention the construction and safety equipment cost to make the lab the perfect place to study viral specimens.

“How much longer?” he asked impatient.

“Considering this was a barren mine shaft 7 weeks ago, you should be amazed they are already installing the equipment. Now be a good little boy and relax, it will be a few days before all the equipment is delivered and installed, before we even begin to move your lab over here. The servers will be up and running tomorrow, you still have data to go over.” Hanna reminded him as he smiled.

“Actually we finished reviewing it earlier this morning. Just as I suspected, I had already done work on mapping the changes for both approaches. With this head start we should be ready for the first tests in 5 years.” He explained to her.

“Good to know, we will keep doing what needs to be done out here while you do that. We have a few months before the apocalypse begins, so you should get what you think you might ever possibly need now, so I don’t have to go on a scavenger hunt later.” She said making him laugh.

“Scavenger hunts are fun.” He said as she looked at him.

“Than I will trade you. I do the research, you go kill zombies looking for whatever you forget.” She said as his face paled. “I don’t care if it is just a one percent chance you will actually use it, tell me now. I will rent a whole bunch of s**t just before the end if I have to just to be able to afford it. Morals and ethics take a back seat when the world ends, or you do. I choose to live, so whatever you need, make a list.” She said as she had already ordered over 3 billion credits worth of rental equipment for a one year lease that would cost her a fraction of the cost before the world ended and it didn’t matter anyway.

“So you aren’t buying all of this outright?” Harrington asked.

“¥250,000,000 credits worth of equipment can be leased for ¥12,000,000 for 6 months. The apocalypse happens in 120 days, you do the math.” Hanna whispered knowing some of the delivery and setup crew worked for the owners themselves. It however made Harrington laugh to realize what she was doing.

“Well, seems like I get my dream and so do you. Let’s see if we can get this party started.” Harrington said making her shake her head as she walked out.

That night Crystal dragged Hanna out of the Camp for her last night in town before she had to return to the Academy for 8 weeks. Hanna wanted to go over a lot of the details, but Crystal made her go hiking.

“Can we go back now, as much as I like hiking, I want swept off my feet with dinner and…” Hanna trailed off as they came out on top of the mine which had an amazing view of the city.

“An amazing view?” Crystal asked just as Hanna walked over and just kissed her.

“More than one of them.” She said looking into her eyes.

“Okay Romeo, but I don’t put out until the third date. We Juliet’s have to make-“ Crystal said before Hanna kissed her passionately again. When they were breathless, Hanna pulled back just a bit and rested her forehead against Crystal’s. “Sure that our Romeo’s are serious. Going off to war and everything.” She finished making Hanna fall away laughing.

“The only war I will be fighting over the next 8 weeks is the one on boredom. I have an idetic memory, so all of these lessons and tests, I remember from the first time around.” Hanna complained.

“So, you still have to do this. All of this,” she said shimmying before her which made Hanna smile and blush at the same time as she indicated the city as well, “Will be waiting for you. We have it all under control, especially since the horror hasn’t even started yet.”

Hanna nodded as she looked at Crystal who brought out a picnic basket and blanket that she spread out over the ground. “You know, now that we know this is up here, we have to figure out a way to build an elevator just bring us up. That hike was killer.” She said making Crystal laugh.

“Aren’t you glad we don’t have to make it to get back?” Crystal asked as she pointed out the post that someone could easily ropel from.

“God, I could kiss you again.” Hanna said making Crystal laugh as she did just that.

“We won’t get a lot of this in the future, will we?” she asked.

“Well, we do have movie night at least once a week in the Camp. There are also all sorts of cookouts and celebrations, we are the last bastion of Hope for humanity. We have to believe that there is love, even in a future where your love will rip your throat out with their teeth if they turn.” Hanna said laughing while Crystal shuddered.

“Will we be protected here?” she asked Hanna.

“By the time it starts, we will have plenty of defenses established that for most, it will seem like nothing majorly bad is happening at all.” Hanna said. “Sure, life is far different than it is now, but most people wake up, work, eat, go to bed and start the process all over again tomorrow. Things in the apocalypse won’t change much other than instead of going and slaving away in a factory, or endless meetings that go nowhere and accomplish nothing, they cook, garden, raise cattle, mine ore that is used and processed into new things right here, make buildings that serve the community. We all do the work we can do that everyone benefits from it, the motto you said you liked. Here it is in action. We help those that help us help them.

“James couldn’t grow a cactus if his life depended on it. But he can make buildings that will make you head spin at how fast it can be gone when he gets his Earth ability. Pamela, couldn’t build anything to save her life, but she can grow things that no one else can because of a plant ability that is starting to awaken. Alone we are doomed when we must face what is coming. Together, we stand a chance at the best of humanity surviving well into the future.” Hanna told her before Crystal pulled out the stuff for their picnic.