Oslo, Norway, Global Government Seat
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PROPAGATION THROUGH ALL NATIONS AND TERRITORIES.
The International Department of Health has declared a STATE OF EMERGENCY.
Protect yourself against EAMS!
—Eams is a deadly bacteria that spreads via ingestion, but here's how YOU can avoid it:
Take all purchased food [ESPECIALLY that which is unsynthesized] to a designated Health Department Center or Aurora Treatment Plant. These facilities are set up to quickly test your food and beverages for the offending bacteria. Testing is free, and is strictly mandatory for EVERYONE until the state of emergency has ended.
—Knowledge is power, so here is some history about Eams:
It first appeared during the 2163 Cairo Food Crisis, during which several major food factories malfunctioned. This event concurred with a rush of refugees into the capital from the surrounding areas, which had held back from Centralization for as long as possible until the Dry-up forced them to abandon their farms. During the resulting lapse of cleanliness, the deadly bacteria first surfaced among the destitute population before rapidly spreading, via the sharing of rations, throughout the city. Containment was unsuccessful.
—Eams is still relatively rare in First World nations but new cases are reported daily.
If you are reading this posting, the bacteria has either been detected in your city or we need your help to prevent it from appearing.
—Eams makes its home in bone marrow.
It subsists on calcium and causes severe deterioration of the bone structure. It is nearly impossible to detect in its early stages, so GET YOURSELF CHECKED.
—Currently there is NO CURE.
If you think you have been infected, see a health specialist immediately and stop sharing food. Don't lose hope; there IS treatment available to reduce the pain and give you a full life. The best treatment is prevention.
Eams is scary, but it will not get the better of us. As with cancer and AIDs before it, we're going to keep working tirelessly until we beat this.
[This statement was assembled with contributions by the Aurora Corporation.]
* * * * * * * *
On a morning in February, Traver shook off the cold as he walked from the parking tower into the back entrance of the big glass SASH building. The bodyguards (recently hired after the business of Traver's affair) shut the door behind him and walked with him down the bland, echoey hallway toward the studio.
Weston the overweight producer appeared at the far end of the hall. Lungs heaving for air while his rolling stomach bobbed, he was doing something that vaguely resembled running.
"Hey, Mister Graff."
"Good morning Weston. Everything alright?"
"Yeah, everything's...well, everything's alright except that when I came in this morning, I found someone sitting in the studio. I don't know him, but he says he's waiting for you."
"How did he get in?"
"I asked Security, and they said he'd shown them a clearance badge."
The bodyguards, excited to make themselves useful, both stepped in front of Traver and put their hands to their sidearms.
YOU ARE READING
Talking Man
Science FictionA sci-fi novel about sensationalism, insanity and conspiracy. Follow celebrity Traver Graff into space, and perhaps back again. Traver Graff is the preeminent social commentator of the 22nd century and a staunch opponent of space travel. Unexpectedl...
