DISCLAIMER: Sunrise owns everything MaiHime and MaiOtome.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I have the fortune of working with a good beta and great characters. Read, review, and enjoy as we set off for the last trip.


Final Apocalypse

Alpha

The small truck moved swiftly along the barren desert road bumping furiously. The truck's two occupants were totally clueless as to the contents of their cargo. The young blonde driver was fixated on the benefit of an early delivery of their cargo, rather than its safety. As the truck hit another small rut, the dark-haired passenger yelped when his head hit the roof of the truck yet again.

"Slow it down, Tate!" Takeda snarled as he rubbed his head.

"We get a week off you idiot. A week! For early delivery only," Tate replied smiling as he tugged on his seatbelt, tightening it once again.

"I would like to live long enough to enjoy it. You have no idea what is in that case back there," Takeda said looking at the suspended metal case with trepidation, as Tate recklessly whipped the truck around a large hole in the road.

"What does it matter? That government guy is going to pay us to take a vacation," Tate smugly replied as he looked back at the small inconspicuous metal case.

Just as the long drive was nearing its destined end, a rather large cat darted out into the road. Tate, hyper-alert and eyes too clearly focused on the prize, became startled and turned the wheel too sharply. Takeda grabbed for his seatbelt too late as the truck veered into the path of another oncoming truck.

The small truck was thrown onto its side in a mad roll, snapping the restraints holding the mysterious metal case. As the small silver case hit the floor, walls, and roof of the truck, it cracked open, setting loose the single vial it contained. Before the truck had stopped its violent rollover, the rear doors popped open, throwing the vial to the ground, where it shattered instantly.

When the truck finally came to a stop, both passengers were barely conscious.

"Stupid cat…it could've killed us," Tate grumbled, just before losing consciousness.

"Luckily, your inept driving nearly did instead," Takeda said, before taking his last breath.

As the morning progressed, nearby hospitals were quickly being overrun with accident victims and patients who were violently ill. An emergency nurse in a nearby hospital, who spent time in countries ravaged by disease, commented that the staggering number of patients rivaled anything she had seen during those years. Many of the incoming patients would die before being seen by a doctor. The number of healthy medical staff was quickly dwindling. Deceased were beginning to outnumber living.