Sugarcane

Later that night, you put both suitcases in a safe.\n\nEven if you don't survive, maybe these papers will help some poor souls in the future with the task of rebuilding.\n\nThere's a lot more stashed in a safe at the research center.\n\nBetter that they get some of it than not get any of it, right?\n\nThe last two months of civilization begin to tick by. At first, there was a lot of looting and violence as the world realized there was no cure, that they couldn't be helped, but that subsided quickly as people resigned themselves to their fate, or became crippled mentally and physically by the disease. As for your little family, you try to make the best of it. No more going out to dinners or theme parks, but at least you could spend more time [[with Gary|ea2]].

<h1><center>THE END</center></h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n<center>A PAPACY PRODUCTION</center>\n<center>FOR THE</center>\n<center><a href="http://www.fearoftwine.com">FEAR OF TWINE EXHIBITION</a></center>\n\n\n\n\n\n<center><a href="http://evilroda.tumblr.com">Evil Roda</a></center>

<<display ActualStart>>

It's been another two weeks.\n\nJake hands you the second test report.\n\nYou open it.\n\n"We have come to the conclusion that VYX-145 does block the manufacture of proteins in the body. However, the lack of new proteins will eventually be fatal."\n\nLooking over the report, something clicks.\n\nYou smile.\n\n"Ma'am?"\n\nYou take out a notepad and write something down quickly, then tear off the page and give it to Jake.\n\n"Jake, I think we've found it! No way this one could fail!"\n\nYou think you see the flash of a grin on his face as he leaves.\n\nTonight will be a [[relaxing|hb3]] night.

[[A PAPACY PRODUCTION|prod]]

It's been another two weeks.\n\nJake hands you the second test report.\n\nYou open it.\n\n"We have come to the conclusion that CXZ-145 does block the manufacture of proteins in the body. However, the lack of new proteins will eventually be fatal."\n\nLooking over the report, something clicks.\n\nYou smile.\n\n"Ma'am?"\n\nYou take out a notepad and write something down quickly, then tear off the page and give it to Jake.\n\n"Jake, I think we've found it! No way this one could fail!"\n\nYou think you see the flash of a grin on his face as he leaves.\n\nTonight will be a [[relaxing|ha3]] night.

You wake up to someone shaking you.\n\n"Mommy! Wake up! Please!"\n\nThere's a foul stench in the room. You know you've smelled it before, but you can't place it.\n\n"Mommy, don't leave me like Kelly did!"\n\nThe boy looks vaguely familiar, but you don't know where from. He thinks you're his mother, but all you can seem to remember is that first day of university.\n\n"Civilization goes on without us after we die," the professor says. You can't quite place his name. "Life goes on. Even if we personally lose the battle for survival, someone will remain to pick up the pieces. Humanity is a difficult species to eradicate."\n\nYou look at the boy. He is crying. Looking past him, you can finally see that the stench is coming from a corpse laying in the hall outside the room. It's almost unrecognizable.\n\n"It's alright, honey, mommy's going to be fine." The boy looks a bit more hopeful. You don't know who he is, but it would be cruel to make him feel unloved, wouldn't it?\n\nWith that sight, you [[close your eyes for the last time|ending]].

[[40 YEARS LATER...|eb2]]

The centrifuge whirs.\n\n"The whole reason this concept of magic exists, and I realize I'm getting off topic here, this is an advanced biology course, not a philosophy course, but the reason this concept exists is because humans always seem to think that they are outside things. We aren't animals, we're people! The things we make are not natural, they're artificial! As if humans are not part of nature, as if we are not part of our enviornment, as if our anatomy can not be compared to that of a monkey or a pig."\n\nYou wish magic existed. If only you could boil some rose petals and put them in milk, then say some magic word to make a [[cure]] for this disease.

[[<center>THE</center>\n\n<center>SCIENTIFIC</center>\n\n<center>METHOD</center>|continue]]

It's been three more weeks.\n\nJake hands you the final report.\n\nAfter this, there will be no more tests, no more chances.\n\nYou open the folder.\n\n"We have come to the conclusion that VYX-983 blocks the production of the defective proteins."\n\nYou can hardly believe it.\n\nJake can see your smile, and immediately smiles as well.\n\nYou've done it.\n\nYou can't wait to [[tell Kelly|hbf]].

A man named Granenburg once said, "Magic is the concept that reality operates along the lines of human understanding. Science is the concept that our understanding operates along the lines of reality."\n\nThat was at the beginning of the semester you had him. He's dead now.\n\nYou turn on the [[centrifuge|erp]].

You open the front door, struggling a bit with the two suitcases full of papers. Kelly's sitting in the living room, reading.\n\n"Kelly, where's Gary?"\n\n"In his room playing, I think." She looks up. "What's wrong?"\n\n"We failed, Kelly. I don't know how much longer we have left."\n\nKelly puts the book on the table.\n\n"So that's it? All of humanity, just gone?"\n\n"Not all of it. Some people might be immune, some might just not get it. Civilization will be gone for a while, though."\n\n"So what are we going to do now?"\n\nYou aren't sure [[how to answer|ea]].

The Scientific Method

"Science is a search for truth. In fact, you will find that most fields studied in universities are exactly that, a search for truth, but science and history in particular. To that end, in science, we must scrutinize everything. What is this? How did you get that answer? What is your evidence? Do you have any proof?"\n\nThe disease appeared almost out of nowhere. The first cases were reported on the same day in South Africa, Canada, Spain, and Japan. From there, thousands more cases were reported from every corner of the globe in a matter of weeks.\n\nScientists have since found it is caused by a virus that sabotages protein production, creating a biological phenomenon similar to prions. This causes degeneration in brain activity, causing memory difficulties and gradual deterioration of motor functions.\n\nHowever, if your team can find a way to make humans immune to the protein sabotage, it is theorized that everyone affected will go back to normal in a few days, albeit with some short-term memory loss.\n\n"Above all, we must remember that there is a reason for the [[methodical|title]] nature of science."

You open the door to the meeting room and sit down as the rest of your team watches.\n\n"Alright, what's going on?" you say.\n\n"Well, ma'am, we have two directions we can take our research. However, we only have a couple of months until this disease wipes out civilization, and even with the production facilities ready to produce globally, we believe it will take about a month to fully distribute."\n\n"In other words, we only have two months to find a cure?"\n\n"At best, yes, but we think we can do it if we focus all our efforts on one solution."\n\n"So if one path fails, we can't try anything else."\n\n"[[Pretty much|options]]."

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Dinner is a nice meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, and green beans, probably the best meal of its kind you've ever had. You're not sure how Kelly does it.\n\n"Today, at school, the teacher told us to write about what we wanted to be when we grow up!" says Gary.\n\n"Oh? And what do you want to be when you grow up, Gary?" says Kelly.\n\n"I want to be a scientist, just like mommy!"\n\nYou drop your fork and think to yourself that you'd probably find this adorable if it weren't for the current situation.\n\n"Mommy, what's wrong? Did I say something bad?"\n\n"No, sweetie. Nothing's wrong." Of course something's wrong. You know you picked wrong, you just know it, you know that Gary's not going to have the chance to be a scientist like you because he'll have Alzheimer's at the age of seven.\n\nYou know the coming weeks will be just as [[hard|db2]].

"Let's go with the chemical compound option."\n\n"Alright, ma'am, we'll get started right away."\n\nAs the meeting adjourns, you can't help but wonder whether or not you made the right decision.\n\nGranenburg's voice echoes in your head again. "I don't know all the outcomes. Nobody does. However, one thing is certain. If we do not study science, if we do not learn what the outcomes are, civilization is doomed."\n\nYou can't wait to get [[home|ha]].

It's been three more weeks.\n\nJake hands you the final report.\n\nAfter this, there will be no more tests, no more chances.\n\nYou open the folder.\n\n"We have come to the conclusion that, in all cases, CXZ-891 will be fatal to the user in a matter of hours."\n\nThat's it.\n\nAll that work, and nothing came of it.\n\n"Is it bad, ma'am?"\n\n"It's over, Jake. We don't have a cure. Tell the research team we're done. Tell them it's been a pleasure working with them." \n\nHow are you going to [[tell Kelly|haf]]?

"Let's focus on the viral option."\n\n"We'll start right away, ma'am."\n\nAs the meeting adjourns, you can't help but wonder whether or not you made the right decision.\n\nGranenburg's voice echoes in your head again. "I don't know all the outcomes. Nobody does. However, one thing is certain. If we do not study science, if we do not learn what the outcomes are, civilization is doomed."\n\nYou can't wait to get [[home|hb]].

It's been a week.\n\nYour assistant, Jake, comes in and hands you the report on the first tests.\n\nYou open the folder.\n\n"We have come to the conclusion VYX-671 has no effect on the body's production of defective proteins," it says.\n\nLooking over it, you see nothing else in the results that indicate a successful route the research could go in.\n\n"Jake, tell the team to just do testing on the next solution on the list."\n\n"Yes, ma'am."\n\nYou hope being at [[home|hb2]] might cheer you up a bit.

It's been a week.\n\nYour assistant, Jake, comes in and hands you the report on the first tests.\n\nYou open the folder.\n\n"We have come to the conclusion CXZ-671 has no effect on either the virus or the body's production of defective proteins," it says.\n\nLooking over it, you see nothing else in the results that indicate a successful route the research could go in.\n\n"Jake, tell the team to just do testing on the next solution on the list."\n\n"Yes, ma'am."\n\nYou hope being at [[home|ha2]] might cheer you up a bit.

"After 40 years, the virus created in order to eradicate the..."\n\nYou shut the car's radio off.\n\nYou should be enjoying your retirement, but having been the lead researcher on VYX-983, you have been called back to work.\n\nThe virus had mutated, and started completely blocking off protein production. Fortunately, this isn't nearly as widespread or as urgent as the old disease was. You'll have plenty of time to find a solution.\n\nAt least your son's with you on the team.\n\nGranenburg's voice runs through your head once more. "We should work slowly when possible. When we work quickly, we miss things, we create unintended side effects. In times of crisis, it is important we monitor our solutions closely after we start using them, and come up with new solutions as we monitor the old. Sometimes, the side effects just aren't worth the trouble."\n\n[[You pull into the research center|ending]].

"Mommy!" Gary shouts as you open the door, running up and embracing you.\n\n"Aw, hi, son. Where's Kelly?"\n\n"She's in the kitchen!"\n\nA delicious smell permeates the house.\n\n"Kelly?" you say, walking into the kitchen.\n\n"Hi, hon. Lasagna for dinner tonight."\n\n"Great. I love your lasagna."\n\nKelly blushes and kisses you on the cheek.\n\nIf this [[disease|db]] weren't around, your life would be perfect.\n

"Mommy!" Gary shouts as you open the door, running up and embracing you.\n\n"Aw, hi, son. Where's Kelly?"\n\n"She's in the kitchen!"\n\nA delicious smell permeates the house.\n\n"Kelly?" you say, walking into the kitchen.\n\n"Hi, hon. Spaghetti for dinner tonight."\n\n"Great. I love your spaghetti."\n\nKelly blushes and kisses you on the cheek.\n\nIf this [[disease|da]] weren't around, your life would be perfect.\n

[[EVIL RODA PRESENTS|death]]

You open the front door. Kelly's sitting in the living room, reading.\n\n"Kelly!" you shout.\n\nShe jumps and drops her book.\n\n"Don't scare me like that!"\n\nYou run to her and embrace her tightly.\n\n"We did it, Kelly! [[Everything's going to be fine|eb]]!

The centrifuge clicks off.\n\nAs you are about to remove the samples, the research center director comes in.\n\n"I've got some bad news. Teller killed himself."\n\nYou feel like your heart stopped.\n\n"Now, normally I'd take over as lead researcher and let the committee decide on a replacement, but this is not my field of expertise, and we're in the middle of a crisis. I know this is short notice, but I've chosen you to take Teller's place. Will you do it?"\n\nA knot forms in your gut.\n\n"I know it's a heavy burden, but you're the most qualified person for the job. We need you."\n\n"Fine," you say.\n\n"Good. [[Finish what you're doing|meeting]]. I called a meeting of your research team at 3:00. Good luck. And again, I'm sorry for springing this on you."

Gary's just fallen asleep.\n\nYou put the book you were reading to him back onto his book shelf, and slowly leave the room. Kelly's next to the doorway.\n\n"He's asleep, right?" she says.\n\n"Yeah..."\n\n"Good!" She grabs your hand and leads you to your bedroom.\n\nIt's been so long, with the stress of your job.\n\nNow that the situation will basically solve itself, you don't have to [[worry|dbf]] anymore.

Evil Roda

Dinner is a nice meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes, and corn, probably the best meal of its kind you've ever had. You're not sure how Kelly does it.\n\n"Today, at school, the teacher told us to write about what we wanted to be when we grow up!" says Gary.\n\n"Oh? And what do you want to be when you grow up, Gary?" says Kelly.\n\n"I want to be a scientist, just like mommy!"\n\nYou drop your fork and think to yourself that you'd probably find this adorable if it weren't for the current situation.\n\n"Mommy, what's wrong? Did I say something bad?"\n\n"No, sweetie. Nothing's wrong." Of course something's wrong. You know you picked wrong, you just know it, you know that Gary's not going to have the chance to be a scientist like you because he'll have Alzheimer's at the age of seven.\n\nYou know the coming weeks will be just as [[hard|da2]].

"So what are our options?"\n\n"One option would be to create a chemical compound that blocks the damaged proteins from being formed."\n\n"And our other option?"\n\n"Make another virus that can destroy the proteins."\n\n"But if we make another virus to destroy the proteins, that could easily mutate into something worse."\n\n"And the chemical option might turn out to have horrific side effects. Bottom line is, if we don't do something, civilization will die out. It's better to deal with the side effects of whatever we do now in the future than to just do nothing and die."\n\nYou shift uncomfortably in your chair. The entire team is looking at you as if they can feel your weakness.\n\nSo which is it? [[Chemical compound|A]] or [[virus|B]]?