The Immunity Effect

"For the last two hundred and fifty years, we have ended the affliction of disease. From the perfection of the body to bring a greater life to all humans." Head scientist Jackson Staple spoke on the National Day of Infection Elimination.  All the screens blared to remind us of the advancements many generations ago.   No one alive has ever been sick or had to be fixed with antibiotics.  The hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and health organizations were all but obsolete except for the choice lead diseases such as addiction.  This day was every year, but most just lived their lives ignoring it since they had never suffered from such an infliction despite the strict government rules that regulated every aspect of their lives.

In the head lab that remained, a handful of scientists worked tirelessly to keep up with any possible disease from occurring again.  Their primary defense was the miracle immunity serum. This genetic treatment fixed all genetic failures and provided immunity against outside diseases. Doctor Staple oversaw the work with a smile of success on his face.  Sitting in his chair at one hundred, he was still as youthful as his fifties.  Each day was another easy way to show his relevance.  His father's picture is on his rear of the promise of the perfect serum that would eliminate all diseases.   Passing on the torch in the same lab was his job to ensure it would remain that way. 

Suddenly, the phone rang, and there was panic on the line.  Staple rose from his seat in urgency to run into the situation.  Only in his mind could he recall the words; a lab tech has something called, in the books, a fever.  A fever means an infection or, at least, to the old textbooks that remained from the past.  Yet the serum should have prevented such an incident without fail.   Only if this day would never come would humans ever suffer again, but it was always a possibility.  

"At least the public is not aware of such a threat, and we need to keep it that way," Dr. Staple told his assistant.  

Only the lab techs in the quarantine chamber were safe for a new event, at least to them. The others had to be protected to prevent a possible spread. At least it was in the lab; it was the thought of Dr. Staple.

"Containment is important right now, and we should not let it spread anywhere else," Dr Staple announced.

"Well, sir, that only works if he does not contact it from the outside," Alex, Staple's assistant, replied.

"We do not know if that is the case yet, and let us hope that is only from here," Dr Staple replied.

"This must be a new kind of disease since the immunity serum defeated all the old ones," Alex responded.

Both sat staring at the man in the room alone as his body lay limp on the stretcher.  One of the other assistants made their way to the head doctor.  His hands are full of papers on how to treat diseases printed on top. 

"I guess we will need that knowledge after all, but which disease are we treating?" Dr Staple questioned. 

"According to what I have read, fever is one of the most common symptoms of most diseases that were eliminated," the assistant replied.

"We are a lab, and can someone wear one of those funny suits and get a specimen from the current victim?" yelled Dr. Staple.  

Like good little soldiers, many wore long-forgotten gowns. Yet the man was not feeling any better, as strange liquid started to spew out of his body. Everyone looked at the mess, and no one wanted to go in, but a stern look convinced a more senior scientist to enter gently and take the blood sample from the victim. The room felt chilled, as nothing could fix this problem. Each started trying to figure out how to calm the symptoms. 

"According to the general treatment plans, it kept the sick person hydrated," Dr. Laulin explained.

"If we want to keep him alive, we need to do something," another assistant yelled.

The office erupted into a frenzy as everyone grappled with solutions and tried to get IVs placed into the sick assistant.  As the chaos continued, it was clear that this problem could not be easily fixed.  Each looked at the old records, the dusty tomes of medical history that had been largely forgotten in the age of the immunity serum. However, all previous records were foreign, and these symptoms could be attributed to many diseases. The old slides did not match any of the dated information.  It was confirmed that it was a new disease never seen.  Now, it was like the old days of fighting each illness.  The bustle was brewing as another assistant fainted.  This one was rushed into a separate room and confirmed that this disease was spreading.

A young man rushed into the busy room but was ignored as the quest for a solution was being sought. 

"Doctor Staple, there is an emergency outside and mass panic with a request from the head leader for a meeting," the young man announced.

"We are dealing with some issues, but all of you will not leave this lab until you find out what this is," Dr. Staple announced.

The streets were clear as there had been panic out there. The once busy places were empty as the fear had been confirmed. The sickness had spread and been outside.  Each person was solemn as the car drove to the government building.  It was still well guarded, but the crowds of citizens were gone. The world had gone into chaos, and not even all those scientists had found anything.  The government building was ever so imposing, but it was not any different.  The trip felt like it was an eternity to get through the city.  It was not his first time visiting the place, but this time was different.  With no answers, it was an uphill battle this time.  

Each guard in their tidy uniform stood firm as Staple continued up the stairs.   It was an extravagant building with many pictures of all the head leaders.  Their wealth was great, but their judgments were not so much.  It was a cold breeze, and no matter when one entered the place, it was devoid.  The head leader, Landon Sheffield, looked stern as usual.  His advisors gathered in their clean suits, which were stiff as usual. Each stared at Dr. Staple to answer why his father's immunity serum was not stopping this illness and why it happened.  

"This morning, a woman ran out of her housing development sick," the chief advisor said.

"Two of my assistants have also come down with a mysterious illness during which my teams are doing everything to find out what it is," Dr. Staple commented.

"Why is this happening when all disease was supposed to be destroyed so long ago?" Sheffield asked. 

"It was never a guarantee that a new disease was coming out that would start a new threat," Dr Staple replied.

"The entire population is under lockdown while we start your team working on finding a new serum for this type of disease," Sheffield responded.

"My team is already working on this problem, but without understanding the illness, it will be impossible to get rid of it again," Staple replied.

"For now, these lockdowns are working to prevent anyone, including us, from spreading this," the health advisor commented.

"If it is already widespread, it will not make a difference to do that now; containment from the start is the best time," Staple replied.

"If we do not live longer and have the human body invincible to illness, then I will make you pay the ultimate cost," Sheffield screamed.

"Is the meeting over, sir? And should I return to my lab for more investigation to do this endeavor?" Staple questioned.

"That is a fine place to be till you find the mystery of this new disease," Sheffield answered.

All Staple could do was hope that the old methods would somehow work as he would have to do the miracle his father did. The cold building was never enticing, but this was unforeseen, and I had to solve the puzzle surrounding this event.  The price of living longer was beginning to weigh on him. Now for the challenge of surviving this one. Only if the serum has worked on this illness, too.