This is Why We Can't Have Nice things

      So I woke up this morning got dressed, and then there was a knock at my door. I opened it and there was Evelyn. Her green eyes, usually bright and happy, were fogged over with groggy bitterness. She said, "you know I'm glad I didn't vote for this guy. Making us get up at 6am on a Saturday." I responded, "what are you talking about we used to have to be up before sunrise, for early morning checks. Not to mention all the sleepless nights run for our lives. I think our short couple weeks here has made you soft." and with that statement her in the stomach. She laughed and then poked me in the rib. This began what I refer to as the great poke war of May. We went on poking each other for about ten minutes. Somehow I end on my knees and she was standing on my desk chair, she yelled "super poke of death!" She then jumped off the chair digging a finger into both of my sides, and ended up sitting on my back with me face down in the carpet. That's when we both noticed the President standing in the door way.

      "This is the generation that will rebuild our nation?" said the president with a smirk on his face. We both smiled and got up trying to straighten our selves. "Come on you to we're gonna be late." We both red faced followed the leader of our nation down the hall to the meeting room. We all sat down around a large table, and I began nervously twirling a pen. The president greeted us all, and told us that the shipping the cure would begin in a week, and that Me and my team would lead the American shipments. We are to go and teach each base to make the formula as well as the vaccine. We will then move on to the next base.

     As we finished our briefing a message came over the intercom. "Mr. President we have four new arrivals. They resisted us when we tried to take away their firearms, but we managed to get them into separate cells. Here are the feeds from their isolation rooms." When the image came up I was filled with utter shock and anger. It was Quintin and his Psychos. The president noticed my expression of rage. "Why are you vibrating with such malice, son? Do you know them?" "Yes I do they are a bunch of murderous fiends and they keep popping up where ever I go. They've killed people, people I cared about, and we shouldn't house them send back into the world let them get eaten.

       Evelyn whispered my name with concern. She knew they were horrible people, but she had no idea what had happened at UCSB after she left. She grabbed my arm and got my attention. I looked down and noticed I had broken the pen a was twirling, and it had stabbed my hand. Now blood and ink were dripping from between my fingers. she unclenched my hand and asked for a first aid kit. One of the secret service guys brought it to her. and she began taking care of my hand. I sat back down my chair, and the president said, "In this time of need we can't just throw people away like that. Times like this change people." I glared at the president and with a tone much too disrespectful for address my commander and chief said, "No they don't sir. All they do is bring out who you truly are inside. For people like Evelyn her strength and kindness came out. She was always strong and kind, but extreme situations create extreme people. Quintin has always been a cruel man. You can ask Luna that yourself, she grew up with him. In this world he only became truer to himself, he is just as much a monster as any of those slack jaws that are moaning outside our walls. I will not stand for this man living in the same building as decent humans.

     The president leaned back, and eyed me. I'm sorry you feel that way, but I can not  abandon these people. I will however keep them separated from the rest of us. We'll find something to do with them. I wasn't content with this answer so a stormed out, with one final warning "If you let that man live here, you've doomed us all. I left, and went down to my room. I slammed the door behind me. I slammed it so hard the mirror hang on the back of it fell and shattered as a tried to catch it. Now my hand was really messed up. as I sat on the floor next to my bed pulling glass out of my hand I heard a gentle voice say my name. I looked over and Evelyn stood in my doorway holding the first aid kit in her hand. She said "It's just not your today. First I kick your butt, then the Psychos show up, now the pen and this."  I just growled quietly and she sat on the floor next to me and grabbed my hand. She gently removed the glass, and cleaned the cuts. I said "I'm sorry, for yelling. I hate those people so much. They murdered two people in there sleep, and abused all those people at the hospital. I can't stand the sight of them."

     "Jake you can't let them affect you so much. once that happens they win. what doe Matthew 5:44 say?" I hesitated to answer but I couldn't deny it. So, I said "Love your enemy, but come on You can't really expect me to actually show kindness to this man." She looked at me, and said "You  don't have to roll out the red carpet, but until he gives you a reason, don't attack him. You were right in saying extreme circumstance make extreme people, but they can all still change, and as long as you show them the love Christ has shown you, you can't be in the wrong." I knew there was a reason I loved this girl. She finished wrapping my arm, and I kissed her on the forehead. I looked at her freckled nose and then up to her eyes and said "Thank you. You're right I need to give them a chance to change, but if he tries anything he's taking dirt nap." She smiled and wrapped her arms around me and we just sat there for a while. I couldn't stop thinking that in a couple days Quintin would let into the complex. This scared me more then the first time I had to Fight my way through the hoard back at the Ucen at UCSB.

Getting Closer

      Today was my scheduled day off. We've been working a whole week now, and we've finally begun production on the cure, and the vaccine will soon be ready. I got to spend my day with Evelyn. She had the day off too. We went and played pool, and then went to the theater and watched all three of the original Star Wars films. She had never seen them. She loved them, and I loved her response when she found out about Luke's father. After Star Wars we went to dinner in the cafeteria. While sitting there the presidents secretary walked up to me and asked me to follow her. I told her only if Evelyn could come with. She agreed, and informed me that nothing is confidential in a time like this. We followed her down a hallway to a room titled strategy. Inside we found the president reading the reports on our research.

     The President stood up and addressed me "You've been doing good work here. Thanks to your little crew we should be able defeat this menace. You have made America a very popular country. China has decided to forgive our debts, as a gratitude for sharing the formula with them. This plague has wiped the slate clean. every country will be starting over. Sure there might be wars, do to weakened borders, but it's all looking up from here. I on behalf of this broken country thank, and those in your circle." I responded, "Thank you sir it's a great honor." the president sat on his desk and motioned for us to come closer "Yes, also you and all your partners will be rewarded handsomely. You will be showered with awards and medals. Is there anything you'd like I'm sure the government would be very pleased to supply it."

     I thought for a moment, and spoke. "I want Colorado." There was a dead silence and we began laughing. " but seriously all I want is a rest I want a home were I can settle down" and I looked at Evelyn, "and start a family". quickly looking away from her, I locked eyes with the most powerful man in the world. "and I want a memorial for my mother in Washington DC. It would be statue of her comforting a crying child, and underneath on the pedestal would be the names of all the millions lost in this crisis." I was nervous. Had I asked too much. He stood looking at each other. He put his hand to his face, and sighed. "Is that all? I really feel we could do more for you." I quipped "You could still give me Colorado haha." The president chuckled and said "OK, well just remember we will always be in your debt." We said our goodbyes and left.

     Evelyn looked at me and said "That was really sweet. Your mother meant a lot to you didn't she?" I responded "Yeah she was always there for me when I was sick And I feel horrible that I wasn't there for her." "Well I'm sure She'd be very proud of you." She grabbed my hand leaned in close and kissed me on the cheek. I stopped and looked at her, and she said "As for the house and the kids buddy I better get a proper wedding with adorable flower girls and a big white dress." I jumped back (hitting a wall), and said "What?! How'd you know I was thinking of you when I said that?" She got close, and said. "you're not the only one with a computer anymore. I really liked how you described me when I ran into you with my bike. Do I really have the most beautiful eyes you've ever seen." I could tell by the way she tilted her head and batted her eyelashes she was teasing me. She continued "but honestly, I'm glad you feel this way, and I feel lucky to have found such an awesome guy." That time she was serious she really does feel the same way about me. She grabbed my arm and we walked down the hall to the movie room, and watched a New Hope again, this time it felt more appropriate.

Update

    These past few days have been pretty chill. Long hours, but lots to do on the off hours. This is the best life has been since the hospital, and to be honest, it the best it's been since the outbreak. TV's, Fresh food (grown in giant underground hydroponic tanks), and a full gym with various sporting courts. I feel a little guilty that I can't share this with all those I left back in the bay area, but soon we'll be back with the cavalry.

The President

    Today was the beginning of a new era.  We met with the president, and it was a bit surprising. He had a gun strapped to his hip and one slung around hi shoulder. He wore a well tailored suit with one leg tailored to knee height. This revealed a prosthetic leg. I caught myself staring at it as did the president, because he said, "I lost it in the initial outbreak, on the way to the safe room the head of the secret service took a hunk out of my calf, and it had to be removed. I had all my pant legs shortened in order to put it on display. I want the people know that I've lost things as well. I'm not untouchable, just like them. So, what do you have for us."

      I told them our story, and gave them the formula for the cure. The president thanked us and told us we are to stay there and help out as best we can. He said the thing we achieved were far greater then what the full power of the American Government could achieve. He also told me they had contact with all the nations of the UN, and that rough estimates put the death toll at 5 billion. This was the first time I had hear how many had been killed. It will take a great effort to save our species, but I know it can be done. God promised he would sustain us, and I haven't lost my faith.

     I have been placed on the research team to mass produce the cure, and engineer a vaccine. Raito has been placed on the R&D team to improve the bases tech. Luna, Bruce, Cody, and Samantha will be placed in security ranks. Evelyn has been placed on security detail as well, but as a body guard for me. This was a special request I made. I have enough training now to defend myself. I just want to spend more time with her. I really do love her.

Delay

         Our meeting with the President has been pushed back until tomorrow. We were supposed to meet with him three days ago, but while then where running test on all of us, they found out that Bruce had been bitten. They were worried he may have delay symptoms, and would turn.

         I just chillin' in my room when he came storming in with two guards, who had there sight trained on my forehead. He claimed I had lied to him and he told me Bruce was scheduled for a 3:30 termination. I tried to tell him that he HAD been bitten, but he had cut off his hand in time, and that it had been days since the bite happened. It took all I could to convince him to not kill Bruce, and then he took my laptop, he thought it was suspicious that such a ragtag group of college students had crisscrossed the state, have developed such technology to run electrical devices silently, and discovered a cure to the must dangerous disease ever to exist. He wanted to run a thorough scan of my computer, to see if I was part of some terrorist organization, or something like that.

          Today he sent his assistant into my room to return my things. She told me thy had determined Bruce to be safe, and that the fungus was inactive in his system. She informed me that not only has the infection stopped, but that he was now immune to future bites. This is amazing news, it not only means we cans save those already bitten, but we can create a vaccine for those going into the field to clear out the slackjaws. So tomorrow is the big day we will meet the commander and chief.

Separated

      Today we found a giant metal door with a com system. I hesitantly pressed the comm button, and a women's voice responded. "San Diego Center of Disease Control, how may I be of service." I was shocked to hear such formality, but I quickly responded explaining the situation. There was silence then a few minutes of silent muttering on the other side. Afterwards a mans voice came on. It was gruff and authoritative. He said, "Now I warn you if you are lying to me I will throw you out. If you are telling me this story because you have a sick member of your party and you're worried we won't take them, or some other BS like that tell me now, and we will still let you in." "No I am telling the truth." I responded.
     After some more silence the woman's voice came back on. "OK sweeties we have some procedure. You will enter the first gate. You will be greeted by a team of our friendly service representatives. You will lay all weapons and bags on the floor, take ten steps to the left and stand with your hands on your head as we search you things. You will then be separated and quarantined. you will spend two days there and will be reunited afterwards. If you follow these instructions you will be given a meeting with the President and his staff." All of our jaws dropped. We had no idea the president was here, but that makes sense he was on the west coast at the time off the breakout. We did as they said, they searched and separated us. They gave us our bags back after searching them and removing all weapons. In two days we'll be meeting the president.

We Made It... Sort Of

      Today was the final leg of our journey, that was until we came the a twenty-five foot tall concrete wall. We got onto a third story roof and looked over it and what we saw was another wall just passed it. They completely surround the CDC building and when we waved down a guard we got shot at. We could see that he has a national guard uniform. He probably thought we we're slack-jaws. We have to get a message to them somehow. I don't want to risk hitting someone with an arrow by firing a message passed the walls.