Gundam SEED Rebuild
Ch. 4 - Type S2
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam SEED. The Lockheed and Donnelly families, Jeff Glenn, and Helen Glenn are my OCs. Andria Yamasaki is Titanic-X-21's OC. Mark Allen and Mackenzie Allen are ZAFT Convoy's OCs.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:21
The White House, Washington D.C., Atlantic Federation - America, Feb. 6, CE 54
Glenn stood outside the Oval Office, his arms folded across his chest as he pondered the recent developments.
The initial reports of a new strain of the Type S Influenza that devastated the world shortly before the transition to the Cosmic Era calendar were very concerning. Apparently, due to slowed development of new vaccines from complacency and bureaucratic red tape, the Type S2 was resistant to all previous forms of vaccines used to treat the previous strain. Glenn's worst fears about the misguided Torino Protocol of CE 16 were coming true. Because of the sweeping restrictions imposed on genetic research and development of experimental medicines, the medical industry was having to play catch up, even as the influenza outbreaks were spreading. While the protocol had been relaxed and repealed in many areas, the recent Natural-Coordinator tensions were polarizing the issue once more, threatening to further complicate the response to Type S2.
'Not this again...' George Glenn had some pretty bad memories of classmates, friends, and even family being affected when he was a boy. There was panic and economic uncertainty during those days of the Type S outbreak, and soldiers fighting in regional conflicts throughout the world dropped like flies along with the civilians due to the spread of the virus in unsanitary conditions.
It was then that Senator Mark Lockheed walked up to Glenn and sat down.
"Looks like Torino is kicking us in the rear," Lockheed said as he looked over his reports.
"Yes. And in more ways than one," Glenn lamented.
Lockheed then glanced at his friend. "And you know what those yellow tabloids are saying now? 'Genetic Retaliation', 'Biological Attacks on Naturals', 'Coordinator Revenge'." He just shook his head. "Opportunistic vultures."
"Why, though?" Glenn mused. "My company's medical division has been examining this for a few weeks now, and they say it has nothing to do with being created. It's a natural mutation, not artificial."
Lockheed hummed. "Problem is that many in the media have their own political agendas," he said, "you'd be floored at how much money, airtime, and publicity many of them give to pro-Blue Cosmos activists and Nature Party politicians. You'd also find that they continue to play by the same old Rules for Radicals."
Glenn frowned upon hearing that infamous book. During his free time, he had read it among many other political philosophy books across the spectrum and found what it advocated for chillingly adopted by his many critics. "They say that radicals never let a good crisis go to waste," he remarked. Truthfully, Glenn wished to bring this whole thing to an end. Why should it be that only Naturals were considered true humans? He actually found it very petty to be fighting over something so trivial, such as how one was born. Both Naturals and Coordinators were human beings, weren't they?
It also wasn't like he was scheming to create an entire new race to destroy and replace the old. If anything, the common use of the term Coordinator was a total misrepresentation of his philosophy. While there were indeed genetic medicines and enhancements to help humanity better cope with the demands of life in space, Glenn originally coined the term 'Coordinator' as someone who used his gifts and decisions to work for the improvement of all humanity; an exemplary citizen to look up to and emulate.
It was then that the door to the Oval Office opened, revealing a secretary. "Gentlemen, the President is ready to see you," she said.
"Very well," Senator Lockheed said as he and George rose. The two men followed the secretary into the room. As they entered, George saw a solitary figure by the left side window, looking outside. He was next to the Atlantic Federation flag that stood in the room.
"Here they are, sir," the secretary said.
"Good," the figure said. "You may take your leave."
The woman nodded and left the room. As she did, the senator stepped forward.
"Mr. President," Senator Lockheed introduced, "George Glenn."
The man turned to face the First Coordinator and a small smile played across his lips. But he clearly had a bit of an intimidated look around him. George Glenn could almost sense the fear about this man. The lack of resolve and conviction in his eyes conflicted with his friendly smile. The President gestured for them to take a seat, which they did.
"Mr. Glenn," the President began as he sat at his desk, "it's an honor to have you in my office, even though there are those who rather... loudly object to your visit."
"It is an honor indeed," Glenn remarked. "And I can understand why that would be. But there is another issue that must be dealt with immediately." Glenn unsnapped the briefcase he carried and pulled out a file. He then drew a report out of it and handed it to the President. "Type S2 Influenza," Glenn said, "there are already at least five hundred and fifty new cases this week alone based on data from hospitals that my company's medical division work with. As with the previous Type S, it's highly contagious, and none of the current vaccines are up to task."
The President took the report and looked it over. "Hm. And many have said that it was the result of you Coordinators," he mused.
"And that, is a highly unlikely situation," Glenn countered. "My company's medical division has clearly stated - in the report as well, I might add - that this is a purely natural mutation. There is no known way a Coordinator, even if they were skilled in biomedicine, could create something like this."
"With all due respect, Mr. President," Senator Lockheed inputted, "the same people who claim that Coordinator extremists are using this as revenge for the assassination attempt on Glenn's life, were some of the very same people who voted to approve of the Torino Protocol. Thanks to that sweeping ban on genetic research, it halted and set back vaccine development by at least a decade. If anything, certain elements of our government are unfortunately partly to blame for red tape leading this shocking lack of suitable vaccine."
"Regardless," Glenn said, "this situation is not respective of politics or beliefs. Right now, Type S2 is spreading fast even as we continue to research its effects. Inaction from both the private sector and our government will only contribute to this outbreak, and before long we'll have hysteria on the streets." He then looked to the president. "Mr. President, if your administration is willing to work with my company, we will do everything in our power to correct this lack of vaccine. As an AF citizen, I cannot sit by and watch this virus ravage our country and the world, despite what my critics may say on the contrary."
The President wasn't too sure, but then again, the crisis was of the utmost importance. "I can certainly agree on that," the President replied, "but there are members of the Assembly that are clamoring for renewed bans on genetic engineering. Furthermore, some of the more radical members of the Workers Party and Nature Party are even saying that you should be subpoenaed for quote, 'culpability in the public panic surrounding Coordinators and the Influenza outbreak'."
Glenn frowned at this. "There is no evidence to even suggest that Coordinators even developed it. They are jumping on propaganda that has little to do with the facts."
"Unfortunately it's true," Lockheed confirmed, "Senator Lee Polanski of Ottawa is especially the most aggressive in calling for you to be hauled before the Senate. He's been pushing through his subpoena demands tirelessly against you, George. No matter how many times my Republican colleagues and I say no, he and his allies just double down."
"Which is why we must address this, and provide the populace of the world with the truth, not some misguided propaganda," Glenn remarked.
"And the sooner we get this Type S2 under control, the better," the President remarked.
"I can assure that I have some of the best working people on the case," Glenn followed up, "as long as we can get cooperation from the authorities and not be hounded by overzealous regulators and Assembly committees."
Lockheed nodded, knowing what Glenn was referring to.
"I'll have my Minister of Public Health and Services gather together a team of the best medical experts and firms around," the President responded, "granted that you stay out of controversy and within the bounds of the law, I believe you'll be a most valued asset, Mr. Glenn."
"I can vouch that my friend is a man of integrity and good purpose," Senator Lockheed interjected, "but those spineless Workers Party insiders and Nature Party partisans are going to drag him and us through the mud regardless."
Glenn was silent on that part, but he nodded in agreement. "We will do everything we can," he said finally.
The President smiled solemnly. George could still make out the hollowness in the eyes, but said nothing. Still, it was clear that the President actually did not entirely want this meeting.
The men looked at one another before Lockheed finally spoke. "I'll do what I can to keep the wolves in the Assembly at bay, Mr. Glenn," Mark Lockheed determined, "and Mr. President, I hope that you'll not turn your back when we need support."
"I won't," the President replied, albeit with pursed lips. Mark Lockheed nodded in acknowledgement, but there was an aura of reservation about him. The two were of the same party, but compared to the stalwart and confident Lockheed, this President was too nice and too 'goody-two shoes'. Lockheed knew that the President did not like him that much either.
Something seemed off, but that could wait. Right now, they had a virus to counteract.
"Pleasure meeting you, Mr. Glenn," the President stood up and extended a hand.
The First Coordinator accepted and shook hands. "'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up', says the book of Galatians," Glenn said, "may God bless us all."
The Natural President had an expression of surprise. "Never took you for a religious man."
"Contrary to gossip," Glenn cleared up, "I never did subscribe to atheism of any sort."
"My friend has been more in touch with his faith since that day in Florida," Lockheed said, "God certainly got him through that day and the aftermath."
"That's a good thing to have, faith," the President remarked. There was a tone of disbelief that a Coordinator like George Glenn could be religious.
The duo departed the Oval Office, with Secret Service agents escorting them out. "You know," Lockheed murmured to Glenn, "regardless of what you do, those Blue Cosmos puppets in the Assembly will subpoena you to make a spectacle out of you, are you prepared for that?"
"If it means that we take a stand against this... idiotic fighting over genes, then yes," Glenn remarked with a glare in his eyes. "I'm working with hospitals and other sympathetic industries to solve a major pandemic, and if I need to testify before the Assembly to clear my name before the nation, so be it."
Mark Lockheed smiled sympathetically, but still warned, "you know... you do somehow find a cure, they could still spin it as that you caused the crisis for your own publicity stunt. You know how some in the media and those anti-Coordinator activists put the spin on your attempted assassination."
Glenn narrowed his eyes as he remembered the whole incident with the assassination attempt. The pundits and commentators of various media outlets rushed to either condemn or support George Glenn and his side of the argument. While many on Hunter News, Atlantia Independence News, and the smaller pro-Constitutional Republican outlets and independent commentators applauded George Glenn's appearance and stance on Capitol Hill, most of the establishment outlets such as ENN and United News had pundits deep in the tank for both the Workers Party and Blue Cosmos.
The attacks on both Glenn and the Republicans in the wake of the shooting had been as every bit deceptive as they were vicious. It was a hatefest, with the ENN and United News attacking Glenn, calling him a "authoritarian in waiting" and even a "space monster wearing human skin seeking to disrupt our pure world", things that really made him feel like his very humanity was being attacked.
The two were then escorted to a limousine just out in front of the White House. The senator and the space pioneer were greeted by the throng and sight of pro-BC protestors lining the fence across the lawn. They were the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia chapters of both the Workers Party Youth Wing and the Blue Cosmos Youth, with plenty of angry adult handlers accompanying them. Both the AF Secret Service Protection Division and the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police were present in numbers with cars and patrolmen, some of them even donning heavy riot gear with launchers and shields for Glenn's visit.
It was then that one of the lead activists on the podium saw both Senator Lockheed and Glenn. Her face turned into an expression of pure rage as she faced them with a bullhorn. "Get out of here, you space monster!" she shouted, "you darn Coordinators are the ones responsible for this outbreak!" Glenn cringed a little at how screechy her voice was over the bullhorn. "Fascist Nazi," the woman continued to screech, "go back to Jupiter and die alone there!"
She turned back to the teens behind her, and gesturing wildly started leading a chant, telling George Glenn to be violated in the foulest language. Glenn just ignored her. "Darn..." he muttered.
However, Senator Lockheed decided to get in his two cents. Cupping his hands to his mouth, he shouted, "hey! You're a teacher right!? Shouldn't you be teaching math and science instead of shouting all these obscenities!" Glenn couldn't help but laugh. "I've got a son about your age, in the military, married, and raising kids," Mark taunted, "and I'm sure he'd be a much better teacher than a street dog like you!"
One of the protesters apparently heard Lockheed, and shouted, "drop dead, old man!"
Lockheed ignored the attack. He led Glenn towards the limousine, where his Capitol Police detail opened the door for them. "Come on," the senator urged his friend into the limo. Taking one more look at the crowd and shaking his head, George Glenn entered the car, with his senator friend following.
"I had to do that," Lockheed said to his friend as the limo began to move.
"I know," Glenn responded.
"Those BC banshees with bullhorns swearing and cussing at us with those kids brainwashed in attendance," Lockheed said as the police started to clear the gates for the limo, "it's sickening..."
Glenn shook his head in disapproval and disgust. "Did I fight the Reconstruction War only to see these generations descend into this hate and madness," Glenn pondered aloud.
"Hm..." Lockheed pondered as well, "I suppose for every generation that fights through a war and to gain the peace afterward, some generation down the road will take peace for granted and start screwing it up." Having fought the Reconstruction War like Glenn, Lockheed could relate to his fellow veteran's disenchantment with current society. In fact, it was Mark Lockheed's own father who would help go on to found the Atlantic Federation with the Allen family and among other reformist leaders to succeed the old republics that predated the current republic, his native America among them. To see the modern AF in its current social state was very concerning.
"I suppose so," Glenn said, but also argued, "but if things continue as they are, I can only see a conflicts even more devastating than the Reconstruction Wars. Our beloved Atlantia and the world can ill afford that sort of confrontation Blue Cosmos seem intent on moving towards."
"I agree," Lockheed remarked. As the limo passed through the corridor of police protection, there were sounds of some objects, including rocks banging against the car.
"Anything less than this government vehicle," Glenn remarked, "we'll be getting glass in our faces." He was glad that his friend was afforded this level of protection as part of the Federal Senate leadership. Nevertheless, Glenn still felt pity for these very people protesting him. While he did not hate them, he knew that they were being fed dangerous lies about him and other Coordinators. "If only there was a way to end those lies..." he murmured.
Glenn pondered over this issue. It was then that he had a stroke of inspiration. "Mark," he turned to his friend, "you mentioned that those Worker and Nature Parties Assemblymen want me subpoenaed for my work. I'm still going to have my best people work on this pressing issue of the Type S2 despite them trying to derail it."
"I appreciate your determination," Lockheed said, "but if you are subpoenaed, then your research on the virus will in fact be impeded just by the sheer weight of their sham 'investigations'. What do you think will happen to all the victims wasting away on those hospital beds if those fools have their way?"
"They can drag me before the Assembly," Glenn replied, "but they can't drag every single Glenn Inc. employee before them... and good luck to them trying to go through the entire collaboration we have with other firms." He then leaned towards his friend. "We can use it to our advantage Mark. They'll try to make a lynching spectacle of me, but I'll speak the truth and nothing but the truth. We can use it to expose what's really happening with the pandemic to the rest of the country, and how little those critics of mine really care for the people except for their own grandstanding."
Now that, to Mark, seemed like a brilliant idea. "You're certainly not afraid," the senator remarked.
"I would rather not have to waste my time and breathe with these kinds of people," Glenn admitted, "but they've got another thing coming if they think I'll take these character assassinations lying down."
The two friends and allies continued to converse as the Capitol Police cleared their way through the unruly protesters threatening them.
Lockheed Residence, Jacksonville, Florida, Feb. 9, CE 54
Andria sat at the table, her eyes locked onto the mug of coffee in her hands.
"Concerns over the now-classified Type S2 Influenza grow as the number of cases and quarantine zones continue to rise," a report came in on Hunter News, "the federal government has issued safety guidelines to citizens and local authorities to help contain the outbreak and limit exposure. However, it has refused to comment on the apparent lack of suitable vaccines to abate the spread of the virus."
"Dad told me all about the outbreak of Type S at the turn of the century," Jeff remarked as he sipped his coffee, "he's been all in on trying to research this virus. Mom and I have hardly heard a peep from him lately."
"We've been working our own butts off trying to find a vaccine for it," Andria replied, her eyes looking up. "The one thing that worries me is what it could do if someone was pregnant and they caught it. That's a scenario I don't even wish to think about."
"Why is that," Jeff asked his fiancée.
"Because we don't know what the effects on the embryo could be," she muttered, looking to her boyfriend. "For all we know, maybe the-"
There was a sudden crash and child's scream from inside the kitchen.
"Mommy!" It was Derek's distressed voice.
The two were on their feet in a flash and Andria was the first one to run into the room. "Martha!" Her voice was tinged with panic. She was hoping against hope that it wasn't what she feared.
"Mommy!" When Andria rushed into the kitchen, she found a crying Derek pushing on his mom's shoulder. She was splayed out on the floor on her back, her apron and dress stained with coffee spilled from a broken jar.
"Waaahhh!" Derek screamed as tears streamed down his face as he hugged Martha's stomach.
"What happened?" Andria asked young Derek as she gently placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Bwothew! Bwothew in twouble!" Derek sniffled.
"Mrs. Lockheed!" Jeff exclaimed upon seeing the mess. He quickly rushed to the unconscious woman's side and felt her wrist for a pulse. Andria pulled the crying young boy into her arms as she processed what was happening.
"Jeff... We have to get them to the hospital..." she said, her voice soft.
"Yeah," Jeff agreed, "her pulse is weak." He then put his palm to Martha's forehead. "She's also running one heck of a fever."
The woman looked at her boyfriend. "I'll get Derek into the car. Then I'll help you with Martha!" she said, patting Derek's back as he continued to cry.
"Bwothew..." Derek moaned into Andria's shoulder as she carried him.
"He'll be fine..." Andria said soothingly. "He'll be all right... I promise..." She was able to walk Derek to Jeff's car and put him in the backseat. She finished buckling him in and gently patted his head. "I'll be right back," she said gently, "and then we'll get your mommy and brother the help they need."
"Pwease..." Derek kept crying. Andria patted him gently before turning and running back into the house. She entered the kitchen again, and Jeff looked at her even more worried.
"Andria," Jeff said with a concerned tone, "she's burning up real bad. Martha's sweating and her breathing's all over the place."
"Then we gotta hurry!" Andria said as she ran in. "Help me get her to the car!"
"I got her head," the son of Glenn said, "get her legs!"
Andria nodded and scooped up Martha's legs. She could feel the sweat seeping through her clothing, making it harder to keep a grip on her. "Goodness," she groaned, "she's real bad now..."
"That can't be good for the baby either," Jeff said as they waddled towards the front door quickly, "Adrian's got to know about this."
"I agree," Andria remarked as she panted a bit. As they neared the car, Derek looked out of the rear passenger window with fright in his green eyes. Seeing that the boy was still scared, Andria advised, "we'll have Martha ride shotgun. I'm going to sit in the back with Derek."
"Sure thing," Jeff grunted as they reached his car. He managed to open the front passenger door, and carefully loaded the woman in with his girlfriend. "Let's go," he said as he ran around to the driver's seat.
Andria got back in the car with Derek in the back seat and placed her hand on his young shoulder. "We're going to get her help," she said softly. "It'll be okay."
"Auntie..." Derek sobbed as he lunged into her arms, allowing Andria to hug and rub his shoulder gently.
Jeff put the car in drive and sped out of the drive way and onto the main road to the nearest hospital.
'Better call Adrian about his wife,' Jeff thought. He then pressed on the voice command button for the car.
"Please say a command," the computer prompted.
"Call Adrian Lockheed," Jeff responded.
"Calling, Adrian Lockheed on 'Work'." The screen then changed to show that Jeff's phone was ringing Adrian's.
AF Navy Station Jacksonville
Adrian flew his F-3C fighter jet as he led the other Navy fighters in formation after a good early afternoon's worth of training. "All wings, form up on me," Lockheed said. The fighters flew into formation behind him. "Exercise complete," Lockheed said, "RTB."
"Roger!" the pilots responded as one. With that, the formation flew west back towards the Florida coast. As they came upon the coastline, Lockheed made the call. "Skyhound Leader to Naval Station Jacksonville, operation complete, requesting permission to land."
"Skyhound Leader, Jacksonville here," the base control tower replied, "permission granted. Wind conditions calm. Cleared to land on Runway Fourteen."
"Copy that, Jacksonville," Lockheed acknowledged, "we're on approach." He went into a holding pattern to allow the other fighters to land first. Once that was done, he directed his own F-3C into the landing approach. "Skyhound Leader, coming in for landing." With careful and skilled fine-tuning, Adrian's fighter touched down onto the runway and braked to a stop.
"Good landing, Skyhound Leader," the tower confirmed, "taxi to the main hangar area."
"Roger, thanks for the guidance, Control." With that, the lieutenant commander moved his aircraft off the runway towards its parking space.
With his F-3C parked, Lockheed opened the canopy and released his breathing mask. He was greeted with the warm breeze from the Atlantic. Even as the northern AF North America and British Isle states were just coming out or still experiencing the vestiges of winter, Florida and the rest of the AF southern states were having pleasant sixty to seventy-degree weather.
"Uuhhh..." Adrian yawned and stretched, taking in the fresh air and sunshine and working out the kinks from sitting in his ejection seat. He rolled his shoulders, feeling his muscles aching.
"Right," Lt. Cmdr Lockheed lifted himself out of the cockpit and down the ladder.
"Adrian," a familiar voice greeted him. He turned around to see a fellow fighter pilot stroll cheerily towards him. With short blonde hair, a mustache, and purple eyes, he was as cool and trendy a pilot as they came.
Adrian smiled at his former wingman, now a mobile armor pilot in the Space Force. "Duane Lewis Halberton, you son of a gun!"
"You're looking good yourself, Adrian," Halberton joked. "How's it going?"
"Peachy," Adrian replied in jest, "given how you left me all alone here on little old Earth, trading the F-3 for the TS-MA1."
"Hey," the mobile armor pilot raised his hands, "where I was, the Hawk mobile armor was a good flyer for the occasion. The F-3 is still good where it can still fly. You can't power a turbofan in space, as good as the F-3's are."
Adrian playfully relented. "True that."
The two men laughed. "So, how's the kiddo these days?" Halberton asked.
"Derek's a good kid," Adrian said, "he really behaves and helps his mom around the house. There's even hardly a complaint from the nursery about him. They say he's bright and takes instructions well."
"That's something." Halberton smiled. "Something tells me he's got quite a future ahead of him."
"Well for one," Adrian remarked, "he can't stop looking out for our jets flying by. Martha says he's always looking to chase my plane when he sees it."
"Another future pilot then," Halberton remarked with a grin, "heh. My own son's the same way."
"A future mobile armor pilot?" Adrian quirked his eyebrows in amusement.
"You could say that," Halberton chuckled. "He's got more of a mind for trying to see what makes them tick."
"Any pilot who can figure out his own machine is a plus in my book."
Adrian went to pat Halberton on the shoulder. "Let's say you and I go for a drink. The old squad will be happy to see you!"
Halberton smiled. "Sure. Drinks are on me, buddy."
"Thanks," Lockheed said, "then I'll do the driving. First, I need to swing by my office to get my keys and debrief the pilots. You have time?"
Halberton nodded. "Of course. Do what you have to do."
As the two walked inside the base towards the office, Halberton mentioned, "you know, I've been posted at Ptolemaeus for just two years already, and I'm still having a harder time adjusting to Earth's gravity than when I actually go back out into space."
"No kidding. Guess time in space is a lot easier to get used to," Adrian joked.
"Maybe I'm more of a spaceman than I realized," Halberton laughed along, "no worries about gravity weighing me and my Hawk down!"
"Oh," Adrian then whispered into his friend's ear. "You tell that to a Blue Cosmos or some Workers Party lefty," he snickered, "they'll be so triggered into next week!" Both men cracked up at the joke.
As they continued along, it was then that Halberton's face turned serious. "I heard about what happened in Cape Canaveral," he mentioned.
"Yeah. I'm just glad I was there..." Adrian muttered, "that guy was going to kill Glenn... and I couldn't let that happen..."
Halberton looked to his friend sympathetically. "But you do know that it's put a target on your back," he reminded, "I look at some of those forums, and you're basically Enemy Number Two on the anti-Coordinator outrage mob's list, just behind George Glenn."
Adrian gave a grunt at that. While his father and Glenn did try their best to shield him from the media fallout, it did not take long for critical journalists and snoopers to figure out that he was the one who shot and disabled the killer. He and his father had their inboxes flooded with hate mail, and some people even tried to get Adrian in trouble and thrown out of the military. Thankfully, some people had enough pull to remind those kinds of individuals of his family's service record in both military and political circles. His base commander himself was also kind and saw clear through the slander and threats aimed at Adrian to ignore the naysayers. Vicious as the false complaints were, Adrian himself was not going to bow before the whims of BC supporters and outrage mobs.
Senator Allen and his daughter were also among his and Glenn's strongest and most vocal defenders. Though there had been politicians in the Allen family through many generations, their bluntness and bare-bones honesty made them stand out from the Washington political crowd, even among fellow Constitutional Republicans. Where most establishment politicians of the same party bent and withered under attacks and pressure from BC-affiliated social justice groups, corporate activists, propaganda, and outright threats and slander, Senator Allen just dished it back to them. If anything, it seemed that he almost relished the challenge of intense Workers Party and Nature Party opposition.
"I didn't think they had so high an opinion of me," Lockheed jested, referring to the anti-Glenn internet outrage warriors, "must be quite a celebrity."
"Heh. Not as much as Senator Allen. He really laid into the Nature Party last week on the hearing of nuclear energy," Halberton stated. "You should've heard it."
"I already heard it from my old man," Lockheed said, "first they wanted to ban our solid and liquid fuel sources still necessary for jet and rocket propulsion systems, not to mention many rural and small town areas still dependent on such traditional fuels. Yet when advancements in nuclear technology and helium fuels are mentioned as the most viable alternatives going forward in space development, they go absolutely hipster crazy over 'nuclear proliferation' and how space technology fails to solve 'Earthly climate change'. Oh, and don't get started on when that Nature Senator of Massachusetts began throwing out crazy accusations of how nuclear research is being co-opted by Coordinators seeking to poison humanity with radiation."
"Yeah. Senator Allen was not going to let that guy off the hook," Halberton replied, "it was so over the top and off color that even some of the usually supportive Workers senators had to call the whole thing back into order. With how little Nature actually offers except to slander and ban everything they don't like, it's understandable why Allen would be frustrated."
The two men finally reached Adrian's office and the F-3C pilot opened the door.
Just in time to hear his office phone ringing. Adrian went over to his desk, and saw the number. It was Jeff Glenn's number.
Halberton came over and saw the number. "Who's that?"
"That's my friend, Jeff's number," Adrian said with a smile. It was then that he remembered. "Oh yeah, you never met him. I'd like to introduce him to you. Maybe we can invite him."
Halberton nodded in agreement. "No problem. I always like to meet new people."
Adrian picked up the headset and pressed the dial command. Putting it to his ear, he said, "afternoon, Jeff! Sorry I didn't call back sooner."
Halberton watched as his friend smiled upon greeting this other friend of his. He could not hear what this Jeff was saying, but the conversation seemed to start off friendly enough. However, he watched as Adrian's face suddenly lost its smile and took on an expression of growing shock.
"What!?" Adrian slammed his palm down onto his desk. "When did this happen!? Where are you headed now!?" He paused to listen to the man on the other phone. Halberton could barely hear the murmur of a male voice from the other end of the phone, but he could make out the dire tone in the voice. "Okay, okay," Adrian said, clearly trying to cope with whatever was happening, "just get there as fast as you can... I don't care if you have to break speed limits... just as long as you get her there... I'll be there myself, Jeff... Tell Andria to keep Derek calm... She's doing great... I said I'll be there... okay... see you there soon, Jeff... bye."
Adrian practically dropped the phone back onto its rest, as he hurriedly opened the drawer for his car keys. Halberton was concerned. "What just happened," he asked.
"It's Martha," Adrian answered as he stripped off his flight gear and put on his leather jacket, "collapsed on the floor. Jeff's taking her to the hospital."
"Goodness gracious," Halberton grew more concerned. He knew that his friend's wife was pregnant with their second son. He and Adrian kept good and frequent correspondence with one another.
"Halberton... I need to go," Adrian said seriously. "My wife's in danger... and I fear the worst..."His old friend looked down, a frown on his face. "..."
He had no idea as to what to say other than that he felt sorry for his friend's family. Adrian nodded. "Thanks, Halberton. I... I really have to go."
"I'll drive you to the hospital," Halberton offered.
Adrian got a smile at that. "Thanks, old friend," he murmured in relief.
With that, Halberton took the car keys from his friend. "Come on," he coaxed, and the two men left the office. As they walked a brisk pace down the hall. A junior officer spotted them both.
"Commander Lockheed, sir," he said, "the pilots are awaiting their debriefing."
"No time. Family emergency!" Adrian replied.
"Sir!?" The officer was forced to step aside with the brisk pace of the flight leader."Tell my second-in-command that he can find the debriefing reports printed on my computer," Adrian said, "he has authorization to conduct the debriefing on my behalf."
The officer was baffled, but nodded. "Yes, sir!" He hurried off as the two men made their way to the parking lot.
As Adrian got into the passenger seat, he took deep breaths to try and calm himself. Halberton sat in the driver's seat and started up the car.
Adrian closed his eyes as Halberton peeled out of the parking lot.
Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville
Jeff and Andria sat together in the waiting room with little Derek. It was relatively quiet with the dun of hospital activity in the background.
Andria did her best to console the scared young boy, but Derek kept shaking, crying, and muttering about his brother. Whatever toys or playsets were in the room just failed to catch his attention. "Bwothew hwuwting..." Derek cried softly, "hwuwting bad..."
"He'll be okay," Andria said as she rubbed his back as he sat in her lap. Jeff smiled to himself as he glanced at Andria. With her professional exterior, managing and protecting George Glenn's businesses and honor, seeing her more maternal side was a privilege as her fiancee. 'Boy, I'm lucky...' he thought to himself.
However, Jeff was quite concerned for Derek, who looked really inconsolable. Derek constantly mumured about his unborn brother, as though he could actually understand what was happening. "I just don't get it... How could he know what's happening to his brother?" Andria asked as she tried to console the boy.
"Bwothew and Mommy are vewy sick," Derek said, "I fweel it..." Andria was silent as she hugged him closer. "..."
It was then that Jeff's phone vibrated. Taking it out of his pocket, he saw that his dad texted him from back in Fort Worth.
"What's up?" Andria asked.
"I let Dad know what was happening with Martha," Jeff said, looking up from the screen.
Andria sighed, "just as well." Her gaze drifted to Derek and she could only wonder what exactly it is he was feeling, and how it was going to affect him going forward.
It was then that Jeff's phone buzzed again. As it rang continuously with an incoming call, Jeff answered it. "Hello?"
"Jeff, it's Adrian," the caller answered.
"Thank goodness..." Jeff said seriously. "Martha's in bad shape."
"She in ICU?" There was an unbuckling sound as Adrian opened the car door. "How's Derek?"
"Derek's very upset," Jeff replied, glancing over at said boy. "And yes, she's in ICU."
"Thanks, Jeff," Adrian said as he exited his car, "I'm coming in now."
"Alright, we'll see ya." Jeff lowered his phone as the call ended. "Adrian's coming in," he told Andria.
The woman nodded, holding little Derek as close as she could while he sobbed into her shoulder. "Ssshhh," Andria still tried to soothe the boy, "your daddy's here now." Derek looked up, tears running down his face.
It was then that Jeff looked towards the main doors. True enough, two officers in AF Navy uniforms strutted in. Jeff recognized Adrian, though not the mustached blond officer beside him. Jeff got up from his seat and went over to the two officers. "Adrian, thank goodness."
"Jeff," Adrian said in a breathless tone, "thanks to you and Andria for looking after my wife and son..."
"Daddy!" Derek suddenly leapt from Andria's lap and ran out towards his dad. Seeing his toddler son run towards him, Adrian knelt down and met him with a fatherly hug. "Hey little buddy," Adrian cooed, "I'm here... it's alright..."
"Daddy!" Derek sniffed. Derek was visibly sobbing a little less now, making Jeff Glenn a little better himself.
"Hey little kid," the blond officer next to Adrian knelt down towards Derek's level.
Looking in his direction, Derek's eyes blinked in confusion. "U-Unca Lewie?"
Halberton took on an expression of surprise. 'He was just one year old when I saw him,' he thought, 'how did he-'
Now Andria recognized the officer. "Lewis Halberton?" She asked.
The Natural officer looked towards Andria. His face lit up in recognition. "Andria," Halberton stood up, "Andria Yamasaki." He smiled as he recognized another friend.
"It's been far too long," Andria said nodding.
Jeff was now surprised with his girlfriend. "You know this guy?" Before he could get an answer from Andria, she and Halberton proceeded to give each other friendly hugs. Jeff was stunned for a bit, seeing this man hug his fiancée. "Ahem," Jeff cleared his throat.
Andria pulled away. "Sorry. It's been too long since I saw him," she said, giving a flirty wink to Jeff.
Jeff blushed a bit at the gesture. Halberton looked back and forth between the two, and realized what it was. He chuckled good heartedly. "Don't worry, man," he assured, "I'm happily married, and raising a son. Just saying hello to an old wingman from space. My ladies man's days are well behind me already."
The mobile armor pilot then stepped forward. "You must be the Jeff that Adrian told me about," he said, "Duane Lewis Halberton's the name." Halberton raised his hand towards Jeff.
Seeing that the other officer was friendly, Jeff relaxed and smiled back, accepting the gesture and shaking hands. "I'm Jeff," he introduced himself, "Jeffrey Glenn."
"Glenn?" Halberton was surprised.
"Yes. I'm the son of George Glenn," Jeff explained.
Halberton was surprised. "I... What?!" he blurted, a stunned reaction crossing his features.
"And..." Andria purred as she went to hug and snuggle Jeff's side, "my fiancée."
Halberon looked at the two in shock. "Your...fiancée?" He turned to Adrian. "I had no idea George had a kid!" he remarked.
"Well..." Adrian said as he lifted Derek in his arms, "George tends to be private... but yeah, he's got family."
"And soon," Andria added, "about to have more family when Jeff and I tie the knot."
Halberton finally smiled. "Well, congrats, you two," he said.
"Excuse me..." the group were then interrupted by a nurse, "which one of you is Adrian Lockheed?"
"I am," Adrian said as he approached.
The nurse looked clearly troubled as she saw the father and son approach. Taking a deep breath, she looked at him again with a serious expression. "It's your wife..."
"What's happened?" Adrian asked.
Andria was silent, getting a bad feeling in her gut. She wasn't sure why, but she feared it was worse than anything she could think of. "..."
Next to the ICU...
"She's got WHAT!?" Adrian yelled as he and his friends stood outside of the ICU, where the doctors were working to keep his wife stable.
Derek cried from the sudden yell. Jeff and Andria went to comfort the small boy.
"Hey now..." Jeff cooed.
"Sorry about that..." Andria joined in.
Halberton went to pat Adrian's back. "Calm down, buddy," he urged, "calm down."
"Type S2 Influenza," the doctor with them replied. "You all did the right thing bringing her here."
"Bwothew..." was all Derek said.
Andria hugged little Derek close. "I knew something bad was going to happen..." she whispered to herself. "But how does he know?"
"Sorry..." Adrian looked to his son, then to Halberton in disbelief. Halberton could only give him a solemn expression of sympathy.
"But how," Adrian turned back to the doctor, "she's at home most of the time! How did this happen!?"
"It must've happened when she went out for groceries yesterday," Andria said softly. "Maybe she came into contact with someone having the flu..."
"Perhaps, but we can't say for sure," the doctor admitted. "All we know is that she has it, and it's also affected the baby."
Those words sent shivers down Andria's back. "Oh no..." Andria's worst fears had been realized. She had seen the simulations of this particular influenza based on whatever data could be gathered at Glenn Health facilities and affiliates, but now she was seeing a real-world case actually play out.
"Wait..." Halberton was completely bewildered, "influenza does not directly affect the baby now, does it?"
"This is a new type of flu, Mr. Halberton," the doctor replied. "It's still unknown in its entirety, but..."
"So even if we somehow manage to treat the mother..." Jeff surmised in dread, "that means that the baby will still be infected..."
"Unless we do something, yes..." the doctor muttered.
Andria was silent as she wracked her brain for an idea.
"Good Lord, please help us," Adrian said as he suddenly started sobbing. He tried to hide his face but failed as he started shaking. Halberton was still at his friend's side. Yet, Halberton felt very helpless in the face of this killer virus pandemic.
Andria looked to Adrian, then Jeff. She bit her lower lip. She knew from reading medical documents and reports that Coordinators had a higher chance of survival against such a disease, so...
Then, like a ship coming over the horizon, an idea came to mind. "I... I wonder... is it possible... we could do something to save Derek's brother?" she asked. "Is it too late in the pregnancy to try to enhance his genes?" The room fell silent at Andria's suggestion. The doctor was surprised. "What was that, Ms. Yamasaki?"
"Is it too late to enhance his genes?" she repeated. "Because if it isn't... Then we can probably save his life."
"Andria..." Jeff said, uncertain of how that suggestion was going to be taken.
"If we can enhance the immune system, we can slow the progression to where we can take action to enhance the parts that are most affected by this disease. From what I've gathered in reports and scenarios submitted by top experts and simulation data, the S2 influenza causes intense inflammation in critical parts of the body that lead to brain damage, heart failure, and respiratory issues," she explained. "By enhancing his genes, this will ensure that his body does not get ravaged in those critical areas."
"With an enhanced immune system," Andria continued, the baby then can start to heal those inflamed areas. If successful, we could even develop a vaccine based on those enhancements for adults and other children."
"Andria," Halberton was uncertain, "that's a pretty radical idea."
"For all we know, it could be our best bet. We have no viable other vaccines available anyways," she said seriously. Her eyes hardened. "Unless you want the world to suffer a near extinction event... which is what SOME people seem to want."
The room was silent again as the proposal sank in.
The doctor sighed. "I need to have the approval of the patients' family here to even go through with such an operation." He turned to Adrian, glancing at him for his input.
Adrian now found himself on the spot. While he cared for and supported Coordinators' rights to live peacefully, he never thought of being in the position of making one of his own children a Coordinator. Undoubtedly, there will be some contention and debate among his other friends if he went through with this. Furthermore, he never even bothered to ask the question to his own father. They both supported Coordinators, but the possibility that one of their own family could become one somehow never arose between them.
Now that decision was in his hands. If he said no, he would be widowed, and his son Derek orphaned and without a brother. Yet, if he said yes... could he be putting himself into a life and death decision that he might have no right deciding? Yet he now could not deny that perhaps the fates of his family, and many others were now resting on him.
"Halberton," Adrian said, "could you come with me for a moment?" His friend silently nodded affirmatively.
He then turned to Jeff and Andria. "Please keep Derek company for a bit."
Andria was about to try and convince Andrian more. However, Jeff stopped her from rising up. He shook his head to her. "We will, Adrian," Jeff said.
"Sure," Andria said.
Halberton was a bit concerned as he followed Adrian out of the room briefly.
Once the two were alone, he turned to his friend. "What's bothering you?" he asked.
Adrian looked to the side. "I just never thought hard about this issue," he confessed, "I never thought I'd be put in this position, and I don't think it crossed my dad's mind either..."
Adrian brushed his hair and sighed. "Duane..." he addressed, "what would you have done... if you had this sort of thing happen with your son?"
Halberton sighed. "If it had been my son, I'd have done the same thing you did," he said. "I care a lot about him. And I'd do anything to see him safe."
Adrian rubbed his head again. "It sounds so easy to think that for other people," he said, "but when it's your own son, you get this confusion of whether it's medicine, or if you've crossed the boundary into playing God..." He breathed heavily. "It feels like I'm being tested by God now, with the unimaginable."
"It's your choice, Adrian," Halberton said. "But if you think about it, what do you want for your son's brother?"
Adrian looked back towards the room, where his wife and unborn son had their lives in the balance. He closed his eyes and said a silent prayer.
'Please dearest Lord, let this be the right decision...'
Chapter 4 END
Took a while, but it's not dead!
Sorry I took so long. Life, work, other fanfics, and gaming distracted me, but I can assure fellow Gundam SEED fans that this journey is far from over!
The Type S2 Influenza as many of you might recall is a major reason why anti-Coordinator sentiments in the canon spiraled out of control. However, in this timeline, with George Glenn still alive, he and his allies may yet be the voices of reason against BC's scapegoating and propaganda, which are now all but determined to try and pin the blame on the man. However, they may yet underestimate the determination the man has...
Read, fave, and review please! Constructive feedback is always appreciated. ;)
God Bless everyone! :D
P.S. - For guest reviewers, feel free to leave names so that I can begin to respond to you all more properly and directly. I might even start doing individual responses to reviews for each chapter in the future. :)