Children of the Plague

It was just a few days before the second-year anniversary of Glenbard. All the damages from the "Battle of Logan", as it had come to be called, had been repaired, the few injuries were healed, some leaving scars. And new ideas, resolves of conflicts, and plans were once again being shaped into reality in the tower chamber.

"We need to get electricity into the city." Thirteen-year-old Lisa stated to her counsel. The surrounding children looked at her in amazement. Questions immediately started ringing out.

"How do we do that?"

"Is that even possible?"

"I can't…" the last speakers question was cut off by Lisa's hand being held up.

"Gas run electric generators. I thought it up…" She paused, not wanting to delve back into the memories of the night of the battle. "A while ago." She finished her sentence slightly subdued, then her eyes lighting up with new excitement when delving back into her idea. "We could have refrigerators, lights and music! There was one out in an old farmhouse just outside of town. I'm sure that there are more out there."

There were mutterings on the subject, but they seemed to be positive.

"Now, unless there are any other things that should be brought to attention" She waited. "This meeting is adjourned."

As the children left, Jill pulled Lisa aside. "Lisa. Something is a problem, but I didn't want the rest of the counsel to hear yet." Lisa's face which had been open and happy just a second ago darkened. She sat down in her chair and pulled it up to the table, indicating for Jill to continue.

Jill nervously sat down. "Just a few days ago Daniel Moreson said that he hadn't been feeling well, as in almost fainting, loss of strength and a few other symptoms. I couldn't find anything in my books, so I looked at the records we had taken from the hospitals and they are the same symptoms of" She paused, not wanting to continue. "The Plague." Lisa looked at her, not comprehending, as Jill resumed to her words. "He is just around fifteen and I have observed that his case is much slower than the original Plague. I was confused so I checked several of the other children around that age. Most are experiencing several of the symptoms. According to calculations if the symptoms progress at the rate they will," She gulped, wishing she didn't have to say the word, "die" She whispered it, "Around the age of sixteen. Basically what will happen is once the person experiences the first symptoms they will have them only mildly for about a year, then they will come on full force and after a few days they will…" she trailed off.

Lisa was looking intently at her. "So far the only people experiencing the symptoms are how old?"

"Late fourteen, mainly fifteen. I couldn't find many. It's hard to keep track of all the people here."

Lisa grimaced. There was another problem that had to be attended to, but this one was much, much more important. Not only were there still problems with food and defense, but also with this sickness. If people well, yeah, around the age of sixteen then all the founders would be… gone within the next three to four years. More people had to be trained. And there would need to be another generation. People to take the place of the people who died. But how could they tell who should, she stopped what would it be? Marriage? That was a good enough word. How could they tell who married who? And keep track of who married whom? Lisa stopped. Keeping track. That was it. They needed a room with all the people on it. Have each person connected to who they were related to in one color, and who they would be, married to in another.

Jill looked as Lisa. She was simply sitting there staring at a point on the wall behind Jill, obviously thinking. Suddenly she spoke. "We need to start the next generation."

Jill gaped at her. "What?" Lisa slowly turned her gaze to Jill. "The next generation. After all the children here turn sixteen the entire city will be dead. We need to start the next generation. And we will be able to keep track of all of the people with a chart, where they will be connected to the people they are married or related to. Both in different colors." She stopped, looking at Jill whose mouth was hanging open in shock.

"What?"

"Marriage… next generation… children?" Jill was flabbergasted.

"Yes"

"But… we're only kids! All of us. We can't have kids! It's not…" She fumbled for a word, "Right!"

"It wasn't right in the old world. But now it's necessary to survive. We will have to call another counsel meeting."

AN

Ok this is the first Girl Who Owned a City fiction I've ever written; it's just an idea that came into my head. Now I have a question for those nice reviewers… Should I up the rating later or write 2 versions, one PG13 and one R? Please review.

VK