The Plague War

1

 "Every year on the Friday of the last week of June, students attending 10-16 School will be sorted into their forever jobs; Warrior, baker, farmer, clothing stylist, and teacher. In these jobs, the children will work from the age of 16 until death. "

~the prophecy of a new age

June 24, 2150, the day I get sorted into my forever job. My mother, Lilie Sprewton, is a baker, as well as my grandmother. My father, a farmer, my grandfather, a warrior, died at war.

"Samantha Sprewton, your superiors have decided your job." My name was called and I walked up to the podium, "You are a warrior." a small badge was placed on my white button-down shirt. I nodded and walked over to the group of boys placed into the warrior group. I heard them whispering about me behind my back.

"Rosalind Blackwood, your superiors have decided your job." I watched my childhood best friend prance up to the podium, her red hair bouncing as she did. "You are a warrior." Rosalind skipped over to stand beside me. "Girls aren't supposed to be in warrior.'' A blond-haired boy scoured at Rosalind and me."And why is that Mr.Breal? If anything Miss Sprewton and Miss Blackwood out muscle you." Captain James boomed. I glanced over to Rosalind who was trying not to laugh at the blond.

***

During school, we were trained in everything from self-defence to textiles. We are placed in our jobs judging by how well we did in a subject. The war began in 2121 with the freentise vaccine going wrong turning everyone who took it to turn into a cannibal with ugly green skin and rotten teeth or more commonly known as a zombie. In 2125 humans tried to stop the zombies with robots and enhanced AI's, but the zombies were smart enough to change the setting within the robots to go for their manufacturers. Forty-nine years later the war is still raging on, and now I have to fight in it. "Spewton, Breal, McVay, Blackwood you all have been assigned to squad 4130, sector 7. You have 3 days to collect your things and say goodbye to your family, you may never see them again. Your squad members are like your family, treat them with respect."

***

Three days after being assigned "53.2215° N, 114.9767° W" (sector 7) I put on my fitted uniform. I marched out onto the cement pad where a large cargo plane was waiting to take my fellow soldiers and I to sector 7. I sat on a bench across from Rosalind while watching the ground get farther and farther away from me. My ears popped from the elevation change."Are you girls scared?" Jacob Breal asked Rosalind and me. "No, are you?" Rosalind retorted. "Ladies, ladies you're both ugly now shut up, I'm tryin' to sleep." James McVay spat.

After landing on the airstrip in sector 7, we were assigned our tents. Everywhere I looked all I could see were masks and old road signs, full of rust and bullet holes, garbage bags, and old newspapers. I walked over to the sign, in an attempt to read it, this attempt was a failure. I picked up an old newspaper to read through the text.

Glenda Farnden, senior municipal relations liaison with Shock Trauma Air Rescue Services (STARS) Foundation, gave an update to Council on the foundation's fundraising and missions in 2120. An estimated 14% of STARS missions in 2120 are confirmed or suspected to be Freentise related.

Council currently contributes $2 per capita to STARS and will consider additional capital funding during final budget deliberations next spring.

Substitute Returning Officer

In preparation for the 2121 municipal election, Council appointed Finance Coordinator Courtney Whalen as Substi­tute Returning Officer. Chief Administrative Officer Jocelyn Whaley is the current Returning Officer.