Virus

My name is Ryan. I am your average construction worker who got a degree that gave him no job opportunities. I can't complain though as this pays better than any job I would've gotten. I had worked my way up the corporate food chain and now I'm part of the team that does 'special' projects.

These 'special' projects are projects that are cover ups for things that don't need to be public knowledge. I've done these projects for over a year now and have worked with the likes of James engineering, Shadowfrost Enterprise and even the government. The current project was the latter.

We had been hired by a secret agency known as Z11. What they did we didn't know, they wouldn't tell us. Our job was to hide what they were doing, not know what they're doing. All we knew was that they were doing experiments in some sort of lab.

The cover for the lab that we were in charge of building was a new stadium for the towns hockey team. In reality we could have it down in about 6 months but to the publics knowledge it was going to take 4 years. This was subject to change if need be.

"So Ryan, what do you plan on doing after you retire from this job?" Jackson asked between bites.

Jackson was Ryan's co-worker and friend. They had gone to the same college and graduated together. When they both couldn't find jobs they decided that they would both do construction which is where they are today.

"I want to get a cabin in the mountains. Have a dog for a companion as we hunt for deer. I want to survive on my own with nobody to rely on and hopefully no neighbors as well. Although it wouldn't change anything if I had a friend somewhere nearby."

Ryan grew up on a small little house in the woods. He had grew up with just his father as his mother lost custody of him over a domestic violence case. His father had raised him the same way he was raised by his father and he was bound to do the same when he had a son of his own.

"Seems like you have everything already planned out, you're lucky yknow. Some people don't know what they want until it's to late. As of right now, I have no plans but I plan on having plans if that makes sense. If i do fail to do so, I will take you up on that offer and do the same."

'bzzz bzzz'

Ryan's watch went off showing that their lunch break was over and they had to get back to 'work'. Work for them meant sit down and wait until told to continue by their employers. It has been a week since they last did any actual work and that was just building a food stand and bathrooms. It was meant to be for the stadium but they used them while they were there.

"So I've heard a rumor about what we're covering up here!" Jackson said as he swallowed the last of his sandwich. "Some guy supposedly snuck into the lab and overheard what they were working on. He said that they were talking about a virus, that means we're covering up the next pandemic or even biological weapons!"

"Jackson, you know that's probably false right? I mean, the world knows that we make viruses ourselves, look at what happened back in 2019! That was the result of a man-made virus...who'd you hear this from anyway?"

"Ben, he said that Matt was the one who snuck in."

"And you believed him? You're too gullible sometimes. You mean to tell me that Matt, as in 340lb Matt who breathes with his mouth open managed to sneak past guards, listen in on a conversation and somehow make it out? All without getting caught I might add."

Ryan looked and Jackson amused but Jackson was a little down. He managed to crack a smile and laugh as he thought at how crazy that rumor actually was.

"You're right Ryan, there's absolutely no way Matt could've done that, I should've seen that from the start. The idea was cool though, imagine if that is really what's going on here, we could make history."

"Yeah, history that will go down in the history books? The same history that we will definitely be mention in? I like the enthusiasm as hopefulness but sometimes we have to think clearly. We will never be part of a big story, unless someone does some deep research."

Ryan put his hand on Jackson's shoulder and pushed him. Jackson did the same to Ryan and they both laughed. At that moment a man came up behind them and sat next to them. They didn't recognize the man as he was in a dirty lab coat.

"Umm, can we help you sir?" Jackson asked.

"No you can't but I'm here to help you!" The man pulled out to needles from his pocket. "These are immunization shots, one of our scientists has caught something and we're trying to minimize the spread. We've already gotten everyone we've came across so far."

Jackson and Ryan both nodded as this was a common occurrence. Humanity has created vaccines the work almost instantly for every serious disease. They held our their arms as the man pricked their skin and injection the fluid.

"There, you might feel sick tomorrow so if you do I suggest you stay home to let your body properly fight the disease.!" The man smil2d as he left.

"The idea of them working on a virus doesn't seem so far-fetched now does it?" Jackson jokingly said.

"Even you know this is standard practice Jackson. Every time there's even a little hint of a disease we get immunization shots, why is this time different?"

"Well maybe because he didn't specify what the disease was? He just said that he had caught something!"

"Well maybe they haven't found out what the disease is yet, test results can take time y'know."

"So what disease was the shot for then? If they don't know what it is, why would they give us a immunization when it could be something completely different? I'm telling you Ryan, they're using the lab to make a new virus, and that's what the shot was for!"

Ryan was shocked, Jackson might just be right. He didn't specify the disease but had the immunization for it meaning they knew what it was. So why didn't they say what it was?

"You're looking too much into it Jackson. Just leave it be, it's not our job to pry. We just cover it up. I'm sure that what they did was necessary. Now it's almost time to head home so grab your shit and let's go!"