Panic gripped the world. A completely new and unheard of disease-so new that it had not even been named-was sweeping across the world like wildfire. People in all countries were dying, and no one knew what to do about it. Hospitals overflowed with mortally ill people, who were doomed to die because no one-not even the world's top medical experts-seemed to know what was happening.

The World Conference was, for the first time almost since the beginning of time, completely silent. Britain and France were not trying to strangle each other. America was not obnoxiously filling in the other nations on his brilliant plans which all involved him being the hero. Russia was not torturing Lithuania. Italy was not loudly inquiring as to when they would eat. And Germany was not trying to restore order.

All of the nations sat quietly in their seats around the large table. The silence in the room grew to be so great that America thought it might crush him. He looked to his left, were England sat with his face in his hands, and to his right, where Japan sat pointedly and studiously not looking at anybody. When it became clear to America that no one else was going to speak, he jumped up, knocking over his chair, and slammed his fist to the table. His seat crashed to the marble floor, and the noise reverberated around the room, causing many of the nations to jump at the sudden echo.

"Well?" shouted America. "What the hell are we going to do about this?"

Still, everyone remained silent. America roared in frustration.

"Listen to me!" he shouted. "People-our people-are dying because of this! We must think of something!"

Germany rose to his feet.

"America is right," he said. "Ve have to do something." The German suddenly turned around and moved to the chalkboard.

"Let's start be reviewing the problem. Vhat exactly are we dealing vith, here?"

"That's the problem," said England through clenched teeth. "No one knows, do they? Just some biochemical warfare experiment that somehow was brought to the outside world." His sparkling green eyes were dark with seriousness. The expression was becoming on him, America thought.

"Show of hands," commanded Germany. "Who was experimenting with a virus or disease of some sort prior to this pandemic?"

Nearly every country in the room raised their hands, save for Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Germany's eyebrow twitched.

"All right. Who was using a virus that had similar side affects or intentions to the one that is currently killing people all over the world?"

All of the hands in the room went down except for Cuba. Several of the countries groaned and dropped their heads to the table in front of them, or put their face into their hands, or shot Cuba venomous looks. Northern Italy began to cry, but not in his usual open, hysterical way. Instead, silent tears rolled down his cheeks and his small shoulders began to tremble. His curl drooped as it did when he was unbearably sad. The sight of the happy-go-lucky Italian reduced to such pain made America want to break down and weep himself.

"And how did the virus come to escape your laboratories, Cuba?" asked Russia dangerously.

"There was an...accident," said Cuba, avoiding eye contact with all the other nations. "In my laboratory. The virus that we were working on escaped. It was airborne, and..." here he stopped to take a breath. "Before you all crush me with questions: It is indeed a virus, and it has a similar affect on the human body to cancer. As nations, we are all immune to it, but the humans are not. We had developed the thing as a means for warfare, but recognized it as dangerous and were seeking to discover the antidote at the time. No, we have not succeeded as of yet."

For a minute, the room was completely silent. Then, everyone began to shout all at once.

"Cuba, you fucking moron!"

"Why the hell didn't you tell us about this sooner?"

"Oh God, what are you going to do?"

"It'll cause the apocalypse!"

"Everyone's going to die!"

This went on for some time until Germany managed to calm everybody down. Cuba took the abuse surprisingly well, he wasn't incited at all and didn't shout back at anybody. America himself refrained from shouting, and instead sat seething at the idiocy of his long-time enemy. God damn it, what are we going to do?

"Please!" called a high, innocent voice. "Everybody please just try and work together! We have to do something!"

Everyone looked over to see Lichtenstein, now staring furiously into her lap, a gentle pink blush coloring her cheeks. Her brother might have, under different circumstances, reprimanded her, but this time Switzerland did nothing.

"Lichtenstein is right," intoned Japan softly. "Isn't it obvious what we have to do? We must gather all of the most scientifically advanced countries to work together to develop the antidote." He glanced around at all of the other countries.

"Which of you has a large research and laboratory facility at their house, with a good amount of equipment at your disposal?"

"I do," said America, thinking of his laboratory with pride and affection.

"Then," said Japan, "Can we all agree that the most scientifically advanced countries are those included in the G8 and possibly China, as well?"

There was a general nod of agreement.

"We should bring Cuba, too," suggested Germany. He turned to America.

"Have your home ready for us within three day's time," he said grimly. "We are going to go there and stay there and not rest until we have a cure for this disease."

America nodded his consent.