The Phoenix Network

When the pandemic hit again, we witnessed more damage than ever before. Many people fell ill, and hospitals were overrun with patients. People were dying at an alarming rate, and it seemed as if the virus would never be stopped. Our nation was slowly deteriorating; something had to be done. The Phoenix Network was a different kind of group. They worked closely with healthcare professionals, scientists, and government officials to develop a response plan.

Under the guise of being aid workers, the members of the Phoenix Network were covertly implanted into government agencies. Their mission was to assist in the fight against the virus and ensure that the truth about the epidemic was not suppressed by those in power.

The solution was a bold and determined approach to tackle the problem head-on. The rules were rigorous, but fair. Members of this organization were realistic about the transformations needed to ensure the safety and well-being of their community.

Once stability was regained, the country underwent a transformation and was saved from ruin. These times were referred to as the "dark years." It was a challenging and traumatic period for the nation, leaving deep scars on the people who lived through it.

* * * * * * * *

The dark years were characterized by political oppression, economic decline, and widespread violence. Thousands of people lost their lives during this time, their stories left untold.

Very little is known about the dark years. Many of the events that took place during that time are shrouded in mystery and speculation. The government had a stranglehold on the flow of information, weaving a web of propaganda and censorship that kept the truth hidden from the masses. The media was a mere mouthpiece for the regime, disseminating lies and half-truths to an unsuspecting public. The consequences for those who dared to speak out were severe - they were silenced, imprisoned, or simply vanished. The country was plunged into darkness, as secrets were buried and evidence of the truth was systematically destroyed. Many people who lived through the dark years were apprehensive to speak about their involvement in the movement, and those who did were often met with skepticism and disbelief.

As the world struggled to recover from the devastation of the first pandemic, riots erupted in the streets, fueled by rising tensions over issues like racism, immigration, energy, and oil. The humanity was being torn apart by these deadly forces. Despite the widespread belief that the virus had been eradicated, political factions continued to point fingers, and anger and mistrust simmered beneath the surface. The stories of the dark years were passed down from generation to generation, becoming little more than legends and myth.

But, if you were a member of the Phoenix Network, you knew the truth. The dark years were not just tales, but real events that had irrevocably shaped their country's history. The Phoenix Network was determined to ensure that history wouldn't repeat itself, by any means necessary.

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The vaccines rolled out promptly with the first pandemic, it wasn’t a cure, but it was supposed to help reduce the symptoms of the first virus. The planet vaccinated seventy percent of the population when the new variant started to introduce itself to society. By the time the dust settled on the world again, about thirty percent of the population was destroyed. Those that refused or had not received the vaccine from the first rollout of the initial virus were not protected when the variant ran its course; it was more contagious and destructive. So destructive, that even if you had received a vaccine, you only had an eighty percent change of being protected from the new variant.

As the population reduced at astronomical levels, funeral homes became overwhelmed. Cremation and composting were the top procedures used to when a person passed away. Cremation allowed more families to send their loved ones to eternal rest without the extreme wait burials required.

The loss of the older leaders was a turning point in the country's history. Every state suffered a massive loss, the majority of political parties decimated by either old age or the virus, a new era was dawning. The absence of the experienced and influential leaders created a power vacuum that allowed for the rise of new and untested figures, many of whom had different ideologies and agendas. This change in leadership had far-reaching effects on the nation, as the decision-making process shifted and the balance of power was altered. The result was a period of political instability, as the country struggled to adapt to the new reality.

After the devastating effects of the second pandemic, the government implemented new measures to control population growth. One of these measures was the introduction of a childbearing application system, where anyone wishing to have a child had to meet certain requirements. Under this system, married couples, regardless of sexual orientation, were given first priority for approval. Unmarried couples came next in line, followed by single residents. This helped the government regulate the population and ensure that essential resources were distributed evenly.

Life wasn't about making a solid bottom line anymore. People started becoming more aware of themselves and their neighbors. They were actually looking out for each other and it didn't matter what political preference anyone had. Gun laws changed. An application needed to be filled out and a course in gun control and safety was required before owning the weapon. Sure it seemed like a daunting task but it worked. For some reason it was easier than ever before even with the application process. Anyone who didn’t follow this process who communicated a threat was handled accordingly. Racism was something of the past; views on racism shifted when the education department created an all-inclusive history curriculum. Scholars from all over the world made an all-inclusive curriculum for all genders, nationalities, and races and were taught from kindergarten through college, including workplace training. Homelessness and hunger were also eradicated. It took a global task force to combat hunger and homelessness. Teams would go out and organize homeless communities taking inventory of what was needed. They would categorize the homeless citizens into groups that could work and groups that required medical attention. Once an assessment was made, micro-communities were established. They took care of the grounds, provided food, shelter, and a sense of belonging in a productive community. As a society, we could not run away; we needed to build from within to properly support the world. On a global scale, other countries followed suit, and eventually, the Global Alliance was formed.

Crime was reduced at exponential rates; everyone had a purpose and a role to play in our nation, our world's creation. Human trafficking, drug trafficking, pedophiles, terrorist groups, and domestic terrorists were eliminated and handled accordingly. But that was then.

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"I support my country, the united regions of the Americas, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation standing strong, for life, liberty, and against those who threaten our well being." David couldn't contain his excitement while reciting the Pledge of Support. Today is his birthday and he just turned 18; he was ready to take on the world. Which is great for his list of life goals, but, there was one problem, he had to finish high school first. David was finally relieved to be done with his junior year of high school because he could not stand the fact that he was older than the other students for a few more days and wouldn’t have to deal with that for much longer.

Summer was here, and that meant it was time for fun with friends and family. He was entering his senior year of high school. Before long, he would be off to college and making his mark in the world. This year had been a challenging one. He hated the efforts it took to keep his grades up, but he knew his father would get on his case if he did not keep his streak going for college.

He followed in his father’s footsteps and became the top high jumper for his school. He needed to make his mark; he needed to “find himself as a young adult,” his grandmother would say… He needed to pass history. Finally, David snapped back to reality as his class was yet again focusing on the dark years; even though the information had been scarce, this era in history still held significance in constructing their new government.

“Blah, blah, blah, Phoenix Network, blah, blah, Don’t tread on me, same old stuff a different year.” David thought to himself. He wanted to get deep into the mysteries of what really happened in the dark years.

“Maybe college will go into more detail,” David thought to himself, shrugged it off, and continued to listen to the teacher.

“Class for the final assignment of the year, I want you to write a paper on the history of the dark years. It will be somewhat informal. I want to know what you know. What was life like? How were the people at that time? Can you dispel any rumors you may have heard over time? Not too much research, but please give credit where credit is due. Make it interesting but fun! Dismissed.”

David could feel the clock ticking on his assignment; he wanted his final paper of the year to knock it out of the park, but how? After school, David went home to ask his grandmother for advice.

David had asked his grandmother about the dark years in hopes she had something to tell him that he could use in his history report. “Grandma, were you alive during the dark years?” “The dark years, huh? Is that what you youngsters call it?” Grandma replied. “I supposed you could say it was dark, dark-minded maybe. It was what it was.”

“I need to pass my history class; otherwise, I have to do it again my senior year, and I am not looking forward to that. So, what do you know about the dark years?”

“Slow down, kiddo, why don’t you go get changed out of your school clothes and I’ll fix you a something to eat (my grandma could cook), and we can chat about dem ‘dark years” It didn’t matter how old Grams got, in her head, she was a lighthearted twenty-five-year-old and loved to make jokes.

“Oof. Boy, I might not be able to remember that far back”, she let out with a peal of scoffing laughter. “Aye, welp, let’s see what I remember.”

Choosing her words cautiously, grandma had given herself a minute to reflect on her memories. This slight pause did not go unnoticed by David; his grandmother always had the best stories, he always wondered what her life was like. She was always witty and loved to talk, but sometimes she seemed reflective, especially when they had chats like this. It was probably her old age.

“The world was fragile back then; the variant virus was highly contagious, worse than the Coronavirus. When we went into mandatory federal lockdown, an uprising caused so much terror and fear that something had to be done."

That is when the Phoenix Network surface. Subtle at first, from fear of being discovered, the Phoenix Network was originally underground. The idea gained steam; surprisingly, a lot of fanfare and support came from the people.

In the beginning, you could spot a member from their locket. Sometimes a bracelet, a necklace, or even a keychain, the locket symbolized love for a country that needed to be kept safe. For the first time, all differences were put aside to fight the more significant challenges. Big corporations and corrupt government officials were handled accordingly. After the vast war of ’24, everything else seemed mundane. Once people started to see they were not immortal, the entitlement stopped. Massive changes were made.”

Gram’s expression was one of reflection, pain, and pride. Although the dark years were difficult for everyone, dealing with a ravenous virus variant and a government that was about to collapse, the citizens of the United States and other countries needed a miracle. David could tell his grandmother had more to tell, but he did not ask because he could see the sadness in her eyes.

“Everyone was so mean back then. The people cared so much about themselves and did nothing to help our nation or our planet. People needed to communicate more effectively, put judgment aside, and work together. For a little while, I felt so much despair because I knew how bad things needed to be fixed.”

David could tell his grandmother was tired, so he asked her if she wanted to continue, “I think I’m going to take a break, for now, sweetie. I’m feeling a little cold, and it’s past my nap time.” She replied.

“Grams, when have you ever taken a nap in the middle of the day? Even grandpa said you never napped.” “Oh, hush up, boy, and get me my sweater, Dios mio mijo.” Chuckling to himself, David ran upstairs to get his grandmother's sweater.

“You know, Grams, it’s 80 degrees out.” He said while letting out a chuckle. “Boy, don’t judge me; your father loves to keep the air around here at arctic levels.”

As he looked in his grandmother’s room for her sweater, he took a moment to look around. His grandmother’s lived a long life. Her military shadow box prominently displayed on a shelf shows pictures of a time when David’s grandmother was a few years older than he was and she was in the Navy. Memories of a time when her military brothers and sisters formed a bond that lasted a lifetime. He didn't want to take too long in her room when he saw his grandmother's sweater lopped over her reclining arm chair. When he grabbed the sweater, he heard a plinking sound on the floorboard. Something had fallen out the pocket, a familiar piece in the shape of a heart. He started to feel a rush of adrenaline. It couldn’t be; why did she have this in her pocket and not said anything? He opened the locket and read the inscription in shock and amazement, but everything started to fall into place and was slowly making sense.

“From the ashes…Don’t Tread on Me.”