37

                                    

                                          

Note/spoiler: I realize the warning system comes through FEMA, which is like down the street from the White House, but for the sake of having some fun, we're going to pretend alerts come from the White House itself.



                          
Also, please read the note at the end, because it's very important. 






                          
*** ***



                          
Only once the last of the scientists have filed past do we pick up our conversation.
                          
"I hope this works," Ori mutters.
                          
"I see no reason why it shouldn't. They already have a serum to base it on, they just have to make an anti-serum." Jamison stuffs his hands in his pockets.
                          
Sander, leaning against the wall, speaks up next. "You mentioned something about there being a task for us. What's that?"
                          
"Oh." Jamison hesitates. "We need to round up the last of the population so we can administer the new serum. Make sure no one else Fades. And... decide on a new governing system."
                          
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Maeve asks from her spot on the floor. Then she frowns. "What about that database? The one showing all the people who have and haven't Faded?"
                          
"Right. That will come in handy, along with that tracking system the Citizen Forum developed. But I was thinking we'd use that as a last resort." 
                          
"So what's Plan A?" Lis still looks cross, but she keeps her fists at her sides (and Jamison's eyes keep darting over to make sure).
                          
He shifts his weight. "I was thinking we take advantage of the national warning system and send out a message to all the phones, TVs, radios, whatever the message can be sent to. We inform everyone who's left that we're working on a new serum that will prevent any further Fading. We ask them to please travel to the capital, so we can administer the serum and discuss new leadership. Hopefully they will come. And if not... then we go to them."
                          
The others nod slowly.
                          
"One thing," Maeve says, and we all turn to look at her. "I am not walking all the way back to the other side of the country."
                          
"You won't have to. I heard a rumor that the Alliance has its own airplane."
                          
Maeve grins wickedly. 
                          
"So this national warning system... Would this happen to be... at the White House?"
                          
"Yep. We're going to the White House."



                          
***



                          
It really knocks the breath out of you, being so close to such an iconic piece of American history. All the famous men and women who have called this place home, all the ground-breaking decisions made, all the inspiring interviews.
                          
But what once was a bustling center for American politics is now an empty white shell, looking glaringly bright against its decaying backdrop.
                          
"This is it," Ori mutters.
                          
Lis looks endlessly disappointed. "I can't believe I'm finally here, and this... is it," she says quietly.
                          
Sander wraps an arm around her shoulders. "Alright, Jam Boy, what's the plan?"
                          
Jamison continues to stare through the fence. "Well... We get inside. And then we find the room where they keep the alert system computers."
                          
"And how do we get inside?" Maeve points up at the towering steel barrier between us and the sloping green yard. "I'm not up to being stabbed today."
                          
I stifle a laugh.
                          
"We can try the gates," Jamison suggests, but he doesn't sound too hopeful.
                          
"To the gates!" Maeve takes the lead, if you can even still call it that when she races ahead of us.