Episode 103.3 - Broken News

“Authorities in and around metropolitan areas are still advising people stay in their homes if at all possible. The Governor, meanwhile, is the latest to declare a state of emergency and has officially called on Washington for assistance as violence and chaos grow more widespread. This, a mere two days after, presumably, every Cryo-facility in the world experienced inexplicable malfunctions and released billions of medical clones into the population.

“There is still no official word on why these clones have reacted so violently, but some experts are suggesting there may have been a miscalculation in the regular doses of vitamins and steroids used to grow them into their adult states. Others theorize this may have been sabotage from the beginning, planned by whatever forces are responsible for the release itself.

“Authorities have asked that you not use the 911 system to report missing family members, including chil…--.

“Excuse me. To report missing family members, including children, as the service is already dealing with more calls than it can handle at this time. Instead, you are asked to wait until it is safe to leave your home, and file a report with the nearest Police station.

“As for… I… Listen, Keisha, Andre, Daddy needs to know if you’re okay. You stay where you are, you hear me? You stay wherever you are and you lock those doors, and call me here, and I’ll come find you. Call me or… I don’t know… tell me where you are, and Daddy will get you. Stay safe. Daddy will find you.

“...

“This is Walt Davis, Zombie Radio Morning News.”

Episode 103.2 - Don't Need to be a Weatherman

“You realize, of course, that refugees are going to start moving north.” George Tomkins stood in front of the mayor and town council to offer his assessment of the situation. Mayor Greg Cutler had called an emergency town meeting, like mayors had or would across the country, to gauge his constituents’ moods on the situation and start to formulate a plan of action. Paul, watching his father speak to the council, figured you had to hand it to the Mayor: he may not like him or agree with him, but at least the guy took his responsibility seriously.

“Why not south?” The Mayor asked. “Or East or West for that matter?”

George nodded toward the state map on the wall. “Take a look. To the East, ocean. To the South and West, larger cities. It’s simple physics, Mr. Mayor. Matter takes the path of least resistance. We have space, and people in general know that to be true. If they’re fleeing danger, they’re going to head to where that danger is least likely to occur.”

“Well, sure.” Councilwoman Barbara Halliday said from the Mayor’s left. “That only makes sense. But the nearest Cryo facility is, what, 50 miles from here?”

George grabbed a pointer off the head table, his eyes asking for permission to use it. When the Mayor nodded his assent, George walked to the map he’d indicated and pointed to a city 200 miles south. “You live here,” he said, “when everything starts happening. Where do you go?”  

“North,” said the Councilwoman.

“Right. So these, say, 300,000 people head north. And you live...” he pointed to a spot a hundred miles north of the first. “Here. Now you have all those clones. All those Donors causing havoc, and 300,000 people starting to head your way. “Now what?”

“North.”

“Indeed. And here?” The nearest city to The Forks was indeed about 57 miles away. A short distance when it came down to it, Paul thought. Too short.

Councilwoman Halliday swallowed hard, as realization dawned. It was one thing to know something on a cerebral level. But to begin to fully understand it... for the first time since the President’s announcement the day before, she was really frightened.

“North,” she said.