Chapter 268
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Jack Bauer's theory seemed at least partially correct. It did make sense that doctors and fod service workers were more likely to be infected. There were also diplomats, peace activists, who took all precautions and still died. There was one colony in Antarctica. They had been klingons during their war with Romulus. The romulans spared the klingons' lives, but as a result they could not go home, could not expose their families to the shame of not dying in battle. The romulan commander and his men took responsibilty for these captives, and ended up creating perhaps the only colony in their galaxy where klingons and romulans lived together in peace. But not, their noble experiment ended as nearly the entire colony died of this mstery plague. SBA members refused to wear masks, refused to obey rules about social distancing or avoiding large gatherings, spread and repeated false claims about vaccines being the mark of the beast. One would think they'd be among the most likely to become infected. Yet almost none of them got sick. Reverand Walker claimed God was protecting his true people. He was not the only oportunistic preacher, many others were making similar claims. They weren't true believers in their respective gods, it seemed that Voltaire was right when he said "A tyrant will devote himself fully to any god, religious or otherwise, that allows him to tyranize." Most did not believe Walker's claims, but they suspected that the SBA were behind the plague, and had secretly vaccinated themselves. This just led to an escalation in violence, many groups fought each other on the streets. Far too many carried guns, many suffered from PTSD by this point, and there were far too many tragic accidents during this time.
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There was ofcourse a point system for getting into Heaven. Some already had enough points and were raptured up. Others, at least a few points shy, seemed to take the rapture as a wake up call, they dedicated whatever remained of their lives to doing for others, to making up for past mistakes. Doctors, firefighters, social workers, they died of this plague and went to Heaven. Those who remained, it only remained a question of where they would be when the final sides were chosen. If they wound up on Earth, then they would fight in the final battle for Good. If they died, they would go to Heaven. If not, they would have to rebuild the world, which would at least temporarily be free of Evil. If they wound up in Hell, many would be weak and offer to fight for Evil, fearing it would be even worse if they did not. The few who had the strength to resist, they would suffer greatly, but hopefully that would be temporary. Hopefully.