Chapter III: Smallpox

December 1st, 2018

Day 2, Status: Infection, Flu/Smallpox

Infected: 97

Death Toll: 9

5:00PM

Titans Tower

The Titans could not believe what was going on in Jump City. Flu was bad enough if left unchecked, but Smallpox is an even worse case. Robin was pacing back and forth thinking on how a flu could turn into Smallpox, Starfire was sitting on the couch with Silkie, Cyborg was installing the sound systems for the alarm with speakers by Syen, Raven was looking through a book of historical ailments in hopes to find why this is happening, and Beast Boy was just staring at his bottle of Guy Nieth cologne,

"Dudes, is it just me, or do I have a feeling something big is going on here?" Beast Boy broke the silence. "Now that one beats me." Raven replied. Robin added something. "I second that emotion. Brother Blood's powers were sealed along with himself, Slade was blown into oblivion, The Brotherhood disbanded after we turned their leader, Brain, into juice, and we recently returned the HIVE to the Jump City Detention Facility. If it were possible for a flu virus to become Smallpox, who would possibly create such a viral strand? Even Batman, as good of a detective he is, couldn't possibly figure this out, even if he were to try." "If what the mayor said is to be right..." Starfire stated. "... then the death toll will be really high. There will be no trains going in, out or around the city, the bridges will close, Jump City will be a war zone, even bigger than the Tameranian civil war!" Cyborg then spoke his mind. "Not that I'm into the history of your planet, Star, but if Jump City locks down, there will be riots, we can also expect widespread looting every night, and the National Government will initiate a serious protocol!"

"Look, Titans..." Robin spoke up to get his subordinates' attention. "If there were any word of a nationwide team of Highly-trained agents, the mayor would let us know about it." Cyborg's left arm started to vibrate. "I'm getting a news brief! This could be an update on what is going on!" Cyborg plugged a wire on his body to the monitor. On their colossal screen, a news report appeared.

"Good afternoon, everyone, I am Jack Gosling. This is a Jump City News Brief. We just received an update on the Flu/Smallpox outbreak here. I'm on top of the Daily Jump building because we are getting reports that the National Guard is converging on the Jump City General Hospital. As of right now, 157 are sick with either the flu or Smallpox, and the death toll has climbed to 19, And the city is under Quarantine until it is confirmed that the mysterious strain of Flu/Smallpox is gone from Jump City and the infected bodies are disposed of properly." An image of the National Guard is seen approaching Jump City from the southeast. "People are wondering what the National Guard will do to stop the spread of the disease in the city. Right now, city government has issued a curfew for all citizens lasting from 6 o'clock PM to 6AM in the morning. Anyone violating this curfew will be arrested for the night. We have some people who have thoughts on the matter." An image of a woman from city council completely overlaps the previous image. It says LIVE. "Ma'am, you are part of city council, ones who are partly responsible for this curfew. What are your thoughts on the matter?" The woman on the image started speaking. "I was against this curfew, saying it will do no good to keep the citizens of Jump City healthy. The people are begging, I am begging! Please, let some of us out of the city, we are healthy!" "Thank you for your thoughts, ma'am." An image of a African-American blinks. "Sir, you appear to have some complaints over the action city government is taking in order to stop this infection, what do you have to say about them?" The man in the image started to say some not-so-nice stuff. "What city government is doing is all a bunch of garbage, sending in the army and all that. Where are the JCPD when we need them?" "I'm afraid they have there hands full trying to stop people from leaving the city alongside the National Guard. Thank you for your thought." The image disappears." The Guard and the Police are trying to establish law and order in town, but will it be enough? We will bring you more details as the story develops."

"Ok, Titans, this could be bad." Robin said. "No doubt." Raven added. "Ooh, this is bad, really bad." Starfire was getting worried. "Let's not get too worried. We will establish law and order if the JCPD fails." Cyborg reassured. All the Titans agreed with Cyborg.

Infected: 209

Death Toll: 31

8:30PM

Jump City Streets

There is a riot going on at a checkpoint established by a task force activated by the mayor. The JCTF and the police are forming a barricade to stop the rioters from leaving the city. One of the officers shouted into a megaphone. "Everyone, let us remind you there is a lockdown in place. That means no one gets in or out of the city! Also, there is currently a curfew in effect right now. If you do not return to your homes right now, you will be arrested and taken to jail for the night!" One of the rioters started shouting. "We have families and such outside this city! Can't you at least let some of us through?" "I'm sorry, ma'am, but this lockdown is in place until the government knows for sure that the Flu/Smallpox is dealt with and the dead bodies disposed properly. Now I will say this one more time, return to your home or—" Another Policeman pushed him out of the way. "Look Out, one of them has a pipe bomb!" The rioters lit the pipe bomb fuse and threw it towards the cops. "Argh, Motherfuckers! You will die a horrible death for this outrage!" The pipe bomb exploded as soon as it hit the office, instantly killing him. A task member shouted. "Damn it, we have no choice if we are to establish order in this city. Everyone, open fire!" At that time, the police and the task force opened fire at the rioters. Most of them dropped down, dead from the bullets, while others ran away.

Meanwhile in a convenience store, a team of cops tried to stop a gang of looters, but one of the looters drew a sawed-off shotgun, aimed it at one of the officers' head at point blank, and fired upon him. Bits of brain went flying throughout the store. Another officer drew his pistol at the armed looter, only to be shot in the abdomen. The looters, with no one In the way, looted the food supplies from the store and ran as fast as they can. The third officer pulled out his CB. "The looters have escaped, I have one man dead and another severely injured! Send a medic here right now!"