Post-Pandemic: A New World

Chapter Fourteen: The Birth of the Phoenixes

August 27th 2025

It had been two days since the end of the American Purification Department and things were already changing a lot throughout New Eden. The survivors had been welcomed by the Children of the Divine Lord and were now trying to start over in the sanctuary that they now called home. The Cult had buried the victims of the genocide in a mass grave and Fort Purity had been declared a tainted land by High Priest Franklin. Speaking of which, inside of Fort Purity, over five dozen children had been found in a section of the base where they were being indoctrinated into the American Purification Department. It didn't take long for anyone to figure out that these children were the Purifiers children and that they had been brainwashed by the A.P.D into believing their lies. A few of them had shown the results that the A.P.D were hoping for, showing an absolute hatred for all who were black, Latino, Asian and immigrant. But most... most were just scared of non-whites, having been told horrifying tales of atrocities being committed by them and of adult non-whites doing horrible things to children. High Priest Franklin was convinced that they could be re-educated into the Cult's religion, so he put Pastor Stan Johnson in charge of a kind of "De-Nazification process" as Anna had nicknamed it.

The children were astonished at the tales they were told, of non-whites committing nice and charitable acts. As well as the atrocities committed by men like Hitler, Goebbels and Adams. They were also shown the superhero movie Black Panther, as suggested by Michelle and the effect had been a great one. In that movie, when they saw T'Challa, they did not see a violent savage who brought nothing but pain and suffering...but a courageous, selfless and heroic king, intent on protecting his people from the forces of evil and injustice. Albert was of course furious to hear that half of them had already renounced the ideology of American Purity and had attempted escape from the old prison twice in the same day. He had been sentenced to an eternity in prison, along with the rest of the A.P.D for their crimes of mass genocide. A mass trial had taken place in which Bridge and his group served as members of the Jury, helping to decide on the terrorists final fate. Anna had openly opposed any rights to parole for any of them, arguing that they deserved nothing but to spend the rest of their lives locked up in prison. It had been unanimously approved, both by the court and the people.

Bridge and his group were at their R.Vs in the parking lot close to the town square, getting ready to leave for San Francisco. The Children of the Divine Lord had given them some food for the journey and had wished them luck on their journey to California. As Solomon and the Seed twins loaded up some crates of food onto the R.V, Solomon said "Man, looks like we don't have to worry about hunting for a while". As Bridge poured some more fuel into one of the R.V's gas tank, he said "Yeah, plus I've heard that the news of us headed for California is spreading like wildfire". That was when Anna saw some people headed towards them and said "Hey, what are they doing here?" Everyone stopped what they were doing and saw a group of ten people arrive at the R.Vs, standing about ten feet away from them. Bridge put down the gas can and said "Can we help you?" They were all silent for a moment, but one of the men stepped forward and said "We've been talking it over and we've decided that we want to head to California as well, to find a fresh start from the damn genocide". One of the woman stepped forward as well and said "Yeah, we think we'll be better off where there aren't any Nazis". Bridge thought for a moment, considering the amount of beds available and how this would mean twice as many mouths to feed, but then realised that they would need all the help they could get stopping the St Peters Virus from re-merging and said "Okay, you can come with us. Besides, we need a lot of people in starting up our own community in San Francisco".

The people were all immediately delighted to know that they would be able to head to California as well, but little did they know that they would be helping to end the threat of the St Peters Virus re-emerging and wiping out the human race. That was when Pastor Stan Johnson appeared, having heard about those people planning on joining Bridge's group. Stan looked at Bridge and said "I heard that you and your people were headed to California, so I wanted to wave you off". Bridge smiled and said "Thanks. This place seems nice and all, but we want to start up our own community". Stan was understanding that Bridge and his people weren't planning on settling in New Eden and he understood their desire to start up their own community and seek a fresh start after dealing with escaped convicts and terrorists. It was then that he asked "So what shall you call yourselves?" Bridge was confused and asked "Pardon? What do you mean?" With some sense of philosophy in him, Stan said "Your group shall require a name, meant to symbolise what it is that you seek in the post-Fall world. So I suggest you choose one".

Bridge thought for a moment and said "I guess you have a good point, but what should it be" as he began scratching his head. That was when Michelle suggested "How about the Panthers? Like Black Panther? Ya Know? We fight for equality". Not everyone was too sure about that, but then Louise said "How about the dolphins?" Bridge seemed impressed, as it meant to symbolise that they were headed for a State that had a lot of dolphins. But wasn't too sure. That was when Anna noticed something through Bridge's right sleeve and said "Hey, is that a tattoo under your sleeve?" Bridge pulled up his sleeve to show the tattoo underneath it, it was a bird that seemed to be on fire. Confused for as to what it was, Anna asked "What is that bird?" Bridge answered "It's a Phoenix, in Ancient Greece it symbolised rebirth and immortality". Phinehas looked at the tattoo and said "Yeah, he got that for his eighteenth birthday as a present". That was when Bridge's face lit up with inspiration and he said "That's it!" Phinehas looked at Bridge and asked "What's it?" Bridge rolled down his sleeve, turned towards his group and said "We'll call ourselves the Phoenixes. Ya know? To symbolise that we're bringing about the birth of a new civilisation".

Everyone seemed to agree with this, especially Anna who said "Yes, not too bad. Plus we can tattoo the Phoenix on all of our members as a symbol of membership". Everyone started nodding and muttering approval. But then John said "Now wait just a minute, I don't think a name seems relevant. I don't think we should do this". With a smirk on his face, Bridge said "So that's one vote no, who votes yes?" He then raised his hand along with everyone else and Louise said through giggles "Uncle John always loses". John merely sighed and said "Alright then, lets just get to San Francisco and save the world or whatever". Bridge looked over at their newest members and said "Welcome to the Phoenixes" in a welcoming tone. Anna looked around the group, reminiscing on the times they had together already and said aloud "This is the beginning, the beginning of the Phoenixes. The group that shall bring about a new society, without the mistakes of the old one". Seeming impressed by Anna's way of putting it, Bridge said "I couldn't of said it better myself. Now let's make sure we achieve that goal". So began another chapter in the groups journey, in which they now had an identity to go by and more people to help them with ending the pandemic once and for all. But there was also an important part of welcoming someone into the Phoenixes and that was telling them of the Government's true agenda and how they only had a few years at least to unleash the Antivirus and save the world. But little did Bridge know that there would soon be another member to the Phoenixes and it would all be thanks to the military radio he had scavenged from Fort Purity.