COVID is forever exterminated. Victor cracked the final key after 36 hours of playing, and the competing, all-powerful Luteovirus is unleashed.
Researchers investigating the relationship between the coronavirus and its hosts have pointed out that it sets off a ghoulish transformation when COVID-19 infects a human cell. The infected cell develops multi-divided tentacles covered with viral particles, obeying orders from the virus.
In order to enter neighboring cells, these mutilated zombie cells use certain streaming filaments or podia filo. The protuberances enter the bodies of the cells and inject their viral poison right into the centers that command the genetics of those cells-thereby producing another zombie.
Until this moment, scientists were lacking special aspects for a virus through the mechanism through which the coronavirus infects cells: it discovered cellular mediators on the surface region of the cells along a person’s mouth, respiratory tract, nose, lungs, and blood vessels.
The tiny virus docks on the surface of a larger cell, as space invaders do in a science fiction story. A viral landing party comes on board and hijacks the normal functionality of the cell, rendering it a replication factory.
Many of those immune from contracting the virus have the following characteristics: they relax, are free of stress, uncertainty, worry, and maintain the ability to overcome fear. Special operations personnel, ninjas, samurais, and many others overcome and control these traits held by countless humans throughout history, which prevent them from suffering viral infections.
After the conferring of the title upon Victor, President Carson, elected in the largest landslide in U.S. history, resigns from office and becomes the first President of United Earth.
For scores of years, the Deep State conspired to create a new world order. Mysterious men and women, often dressed in black, lurked ominous amongst the population throughout all levels of government, corporate, and media entities.
The members of the Deep State are conspirators with the Centaurs. Their desire to control the population through a new world order is encouraged by the eradication plan. Promised imperviousness to the virus for not divulging the Centaur’s existence, they hoped for success, just to see failed attempts. They exist among the people of earth and infiltrate every position and entity going about their nefarious work. Politicians, statesmen, military leaders, philosophers, bankers, doctors, scientists, and influencers of the world make up their ranks. Some well-known persons who were members include J. Edgar Hoover, Malcolm X, Al Capone, Lyndon Johnson, Vladimir Putin, and George Soros. They are pitiful pawns.
With the regret of many, peace, harmony, and well-being are short-lived on United Earth. Like the League of Nations and the United Nations before, human temperament and turn of events discredit and nullify attempts at nirvana on the planet. Everything and person should be equal, but in-fighting erupts between representatives of former countries as they jockey for their homeland’s standing. They accomplish nothing in the way of advances.
The 2004 Subaru is unappealing to look at. Prominent dents, dings, and scratches abound; the car is a testament to the manufacturer’s ability to build vehicles mechanically reliable. With over 275,000 miles, the engine purrs like a kitten. Well, a loud kitten. The first owner has nothing on Victor in the mishap department. Victor’s first vehicle, it ain’t seen nothing yet. The only thing to separate him from the car in 2016 is the accident that damages the drivetrain. Victor cannot afford the cost of repair, so he foregoes transportation. It is not a necessity and walks are beneficial.
Chapter Six
Years pass and so do the ways Victor identifies. Heterosexual, but with a twist. It’s this label. No, wait, it’s a different one. Pansexual. Demisexual, Multisexual, Cupiosexual, and so on. Damn, for a generation of people who hate labels put on them, they sure dream up enough. They’re going to change the world, but they can’t find themselves. Everything offends them, yet they care not who they offend. Know-it-all’s, seen-it-all’s; we are supposed to bow to their every wish or they turn into Baby Huey. Like a child with his hand in the cookie jar. They can’t tell the truth if their life depends on it because they don’t know the truth. Instant gratification, always someone else’s fault; no sense of responsibility or duty amongst them.
“Whose hand is in the cookie jar when mommy told them no cookies?” asks the mom.
“Not mine,” declares the child.
We are on a planet with 7 billion people. You are not helpless nor medically incapacitated. Neither are you intellectually incapable of contributing. Do something useful. Work at being constructive, not destructive. Make something of yourself. Be somebody — don’t deprive others of oxygen. If you insist on keeping or taking yourself down, don’t involve other people.
Victor cries out for yet fears love. His mind becomes a puzzle by the meaning of the emotion. Its essence is overwhelming in simplicity, nonetheless, its acceptance has always brought grief and rejection. Victor doesn’t always see the logical side of things, and with love, neither did his friend. The important thing was they accepted each other without condition. Victor often thought, “Damn him for taking his life and depriving me of his vast knowledge. Someday, I would have bested him.”
In an unknown place, Andrei sits back, smiles, and says, “It was never a competition, ‘bro. I was preparing you for what’s coming.”
His friend was like a brother to him, and he aches for the man’s wisdom and companionship. Powerful, and the logical mind he possessed, captivating.
A good ass-whooping from Andrei starts the transformation to maturity and altered perspective by Victor. He’s not there yet, but he’s heading in the right direction.
A stop in a bar he has never been to leads to an acquaintanceship with a Vietnam veteran named Chet, also a first-timer in the establishment. The recipient of the purple heart, Bronze Star, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the Vietnam Service Medal, along with a host of medals issued under routine circumstances, such as the Good Conduct Medal, this man saw extensive combat.
He moved through the ranks to become a Master Sergeant (E-8). Wounded, he walks with a limp. An 0311 (Marine Corps Military Occupational Specialty/Infantry), he participated in the Tet Offensive.
Of particular interest to Victor is the Purple Heart, as he’s most familiar with the award and what it stands for. He implores Chet to tell him the details of how he earned it. All he will say is, “I forgot to duck.”
The tavern is a relic, and in its hey-day, the place to be seen. Now, except for an old-time regular, it is uncommon for the owners, John and Mary, to have customers. Decorated in faded, peeling yellow paint, and adorned with memorabilia from the fifties, sixties, and seventies, its name is “Buckhorn Inn,” which stems from John’s fanatical backing of his Alabama High School’s football team, the Buckhorns.
