Author's Note: Khal Drogo and Daenerys Targaryen are owned by George R.R. Martin, and any Lion King/Lion Guard characters are owned by Disney. I apologize for not making the second disclaimer in earlier chapters
Edwin P.O.V.
It was a typical Monday evening in early July, and it was my turn to cook dinner for Jasiri and I. I am making a vegetable stir fry recipe I found online.
I just turned the stove off when Jasiri, in her anthro hyena form, quickly walked into the kitchen holding her phone.
"Edwin! Check your email! I found an email in my inbox from the museum and they said that starting next week, we will be able to do a partial return to in-person work!" Jasiri said excitedly.
"Wait what?! Are you serious? I'll check my inbox." I replied by getting out my phone.
"I'm serious! The email said that next week, the museum will begin a slow transition to original work operations and hours, but for an indefinite amount of time, the museum will be open at either a quarter or half capacity for both tourists, researchers and employees. So essentially, every other day throughout the week, we get to work in-person, as long as we maintain social distance, wear masks at all times, eat any meals in our offices isolated in designated areas, along with agreeing to biweekly COVID tests since the museum would have increased people traffic. But hey, at the very least, we get to leave the apartment slightly more frequently now. But the email also advised us to stay at home if we feel any symptoms and/or test positive." Jasiri said. Showing me the email on her phone.
I looked at that email and I also looked at my inbox to find and read the same email.
"This is some interesting news. Although I still plan to be very cautious with COVID measures, it's good to spend some more time out of the apartment after four months of being glued to screens for work." I replied.
"I know right. I have really started to miss the in-person work in the fossil lab, so it will be interesting to start to get my hands dirty again." Jasiri cheerfully replied.
After a week of more online work, Jasiri and I were assigned to be working in-person in our respective labs and departments on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The new work schedule of each person's shifts will work similar to block scheduling. For example, Ma Tembo, Vuruga and I will work together on certain shifts, while Bupu, Makini and Pete will work another set of shifts.
Jasiri and I took the Red Line with our masks on, and then walked several blocks to go to the museum. When we entered the museum, it was a much more thorough security procedure compared to before the pandemic.
I went up to my lab, and it was an interesting experience because I haven't been there in four months. I eventually bumped into Ma Tembo and Vuruga in the lab, all of us with masks and other proper PPE. We then helped each other clean the lab before we started to resume the in-person portions of our research while maintaining pandemic and COVID guidelines. Though it's not completely the same as before, it actually feels good to be back in the lab, and I honestly don't really mind the guidelines. Anything to prevent further or severe spreads of COVID.
Even when I brought my lunch from home, I know that even when the basement cafe we typically ate at during lunch breaks is still open, no one is allowed to sit down and eat, only to-go options are available.
So far, the block shift schedule has gone on without serious issues for three months. Summer eventually turns into autumn.
Also, we still have meetings with the Human-Hybrid alliances, but they have been mostly through Zoom. And the very few times there was ever in-person stuff, it was at very limited capacity and at most, only a quarter of the number of people in a Zoom or pre-pandemic meeting would be allowed to attend any of these.
But lately, there has been a COVID surge in Chicago, so it has mostly been Zoom meetings this October.
It is a Friday in mid-October where I have been doing some qPCR tests in the lab. This past week or two, I've been doing slightly more work than usual because Vuruga got tested positive for COVID recently, but I got tested negative, so I've been helping her out by finishing some tests we've been working on together.
"Edwin? Do you by any chance have a moment to speak?" A voice called from behind me.
I turned around to see that it was Ma Tembo.
"Sure, let me just put this last plate in the qPCR machine and adjust the settings to start the run." I replied.
I soon started the run for the qPCR plate before resuming my conversation with Ma Tembo.
"So, what would you like to talk about Ma Tembo?" I asked.
"I wanted to ask about the research poster we are going to send for November's virtual conference. I wanted to ask if you could add the figures Pete and Makini recently made to the poster?" Ma Tembo asked.
"Sure, but I don't have access to their files. Can you let them know to share the files with me so that I can access them and put them on the poster?" I asked.
"No problem. Anyways, outside of research, how have you been?" Ma Tembo replied.
"So far fine, just doing some lab work and loading the qPCR plate into the machine, though lately I have been having these light headaches, how about you." I said.
"Well, I've just been reading some papers and just trying to set up orders for supplies that either went bad or we ran out of. Plus, I hope your headache gets better," she said.
"Thanks, I'm going to get a COVID screening downstairs when I leave for the day." I replied.
"Sounds good. If anything comes from that test, let me know." She said.
"Okay, I will." I replied.
Soon, more time and tasks passed throughout the day, until it was time to go home. I packed up my laptop into my bag, hung up my lab coat and exited the lab towards the downstairs COVID test site.
I first went to the table to check-in and provide any additional information if necessary, then I let them take a nose swab, and informed me the usual dialogue that I will only receive an email from them if the results are positive.
As I was leaving the test site, I saw Jasiri in line, and nodded to her, indicating that I will wait for her outside the museum. We agreed upon it, since Jasiri told me that she has been feeling a little congested lately and planned to take a test.
A few minutes later, we met up just outside the museum, and headed to the Roosevelt Red Line stop to head home as usual.
As we both arrived home, I went into the bathroom to get changed into more casual home clothes. After I finished, I decided to check my phone for any new emails or messages and I found two new emails. One was just an ad, so I only spent a second on that one.
But the other one…got my attention. It was from the company that did my COVID test earlier today. I opened the email, and read with dread to find that I tested positive for COVID.
I felt so bad because I have been doing my best to follow the safety guidelines and protocols. I guess there might have been a time where I slipped up without noticing.
Anyways, I need to tell Jasiri. Plus, I also need to contact Ma Tembo about how I will not be able to do in-person work this week due to my quarantine.
I got up and looked for Jasiri to find that she was also in the hallway.
"Hey Edwin, I've been looking for you." Jasiri said with a frown on her face.
"Likewise, I need to tell you something…" I said.
"It's bad news, I got tested positive for COVID….Wait what?" We both said at the same time.
We looked equally as surprised as each other.
"You got tested positive too?" I asked.
"Unfortunately, yeah, I'm not sure how it happened, I thought I did everything right." Jasiri said.
"Now when thinking about it, I think I heard something that both Chicago, the state of Illinois and the entire US has had a surge of cases. So perhaps it does make some sense of the increased cases of people we know recently." I replied.
"Yeah, that would make sense." Jasiri replied.
"Now I have to inform Ma Tembo and others about my positive test so that they themselves get tested as a precaution." I said.
"Yeah, I have to inform Makuu and other people in my lab to get tested too." Jasiri said.
"I just can't believe that both of us tested positive and needed to be quarantined in our department. Based on what I saw, both of us were pretty careful and always used protection both at work and outside the apartment. Perhaps we got it from either times we were on the train, or outside, or otherwise. I heard it can be transmissible by respiratory droplets that land on objects." I replied.
So that night, we were contacting people we know about the tests, getting ourselves ready for quarantine.
Eventually in the weekend and early in the next week, Jasiri and I developed some mild cold symptoms. You know, congestion, headaches, fevers, muscle aches and what not.
It is Monday and we have just been resting sick in our bed and getting some rest. I had a heat pack on my forehead looking at my phone, while Jasiri was eating some soup she made, though she accidentally got some stains on her UCLA sweatshirt.
I wish the vaccines in trial will be safe for distribution, and that they will be distributed in the near future to a wider range of people.
I also had a bowl of the same soup on the nightstand closest to me.
"Hey Edwin?" She asked in a raspy, fatigued voice.
"Yeah?" I replied in a similar voice.
"I just realized that it's been a while since I last got sick. I mean in general, not COVID, this is my first time with COVID. I think the last time I got like sick-sick was around last Halloween, we were like two months into being exclusive with each other. I got that really bad case of food poisoning from that party we went to. Remember, that one party that woman from your old building hosted?" Jasiri said.
"Oh yeah, Becca McCarthy's party. I actually remember several people from that party getting food poisoning. I didn't get it because I didn't eat that casserole her husband made," I said.
"How was I supposed to know that they accidentally used fairly expired cheese in that thing? That casserole got me sick for a day or two. So much vomiting." Jasiri jokingly said.
"Though I gotta say, it was interesting being dressed as Khal Drogo while holding your Daenerys Targaryen's hair back as you were puking into the toilet. Though I did not appreciate the part where my old neighbor Ms. Abel puked on my shoes while dressed in what I believed was a generic witch costume." I said.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that last part." Jasiri said after she laughed a little.
"Yeah, that was quite an experience." I replied.
"In general, I've never been the biggest fan of being sick or catching a cold, because I never wanted to feel helpless in any way. Even when it is best to listen to my body and rest when it needs to, I just feel irritated by it because it prevents me from a day or more where I can get more done at a faster rate. I remembered that time I got a major fever after returning from Kion and Rani's wedding, and I just hated not really being able to do anything when I was sick. In fact, in the human world in most cases, I do everything I could and can to avoid being sick, especially when I was still in school. During that time, I think I have only gotten sick four maybe five times total, which was at a level I missed classes at, with the last time I believed was one time during my PhD studies." Jasiri said.
"I feel ya Jas. I tried my best to be sick either on the weekends, days off or extended breaks. I've always been afraid to fall behind on anything whether it's research, school or what not. I remember a few times where I actually forced myself to go to school when I was feeling down in the weather because I didn't want to miss a day of school. Was it always the wisest thing to do, no, my body probably needed to rest, but I was young then. I remembered that when I was in fourth grade, I was sick with the stomach flu for a day or two. Not only did I have to miss a day of school, but I was also sent home early the previous day because the nausea came to a point where I threw up at school ... .Trust me, this puke story rivals the Halloween one. So I remembered feeling kinda uncomfortable that day, a little bit queasy and nauseous but nothing bad. That day, it was also the birthday of someone in my class, so during lunch period, my fourth grade class were given cupcakes. I remembered mine had green and white frosting. They were those cupcakes that Jewel-Osco sells for parties or events. Wait…was it Jewel-Osco or was it Dominicks? Man, I miss Dominick's. But yeah it was a Jewel-Osco cupcake. Anyway, after lunch and recess, I started to feel more nauseous in class, but I don't think it had anything to do with either the cupcake or the lunch I had that day…But then it came time for gym class. We were just running from one side of the gym to the other while also doing other exercises. I was running until I got to the middle of the gymnasium, where I started to slow down…..when it ALL came out. I started puking green vomit in the middle of the gymnasium. Everyone started to stare, having different interjections as they saw me throwing up. But the puking in the gymnasium was not even the worst part. One guy from my class, I think his name was Jason….Yeah Jason Hunt…he wasn't paying attention and he ended up slipping on my vomit. And while Jason was down, another girl, Kamil Romero, was running, and accidentally tripped over Jason…." I said.
Jasiri started to laugh as I told her the last part.
"Wait ... .so you're saying that after feeling nauseous all that day, you puked in a gym and caused two kids to trip on both your vomit and each other?..." Jasiri asked while stifling laughs.
"Yeah, so me, Jason and Kamil had to go to the nurse's office. It was determined I had stomach flu and they called my parents to pick me up from school early. Jason was particularly mad at me because he ended up spraining his ankle and not only had to sit out in gym class for a month, but he also was unable to participate in a taekwondo tournament he was supposed to be in the following weekend. And Kamil broke her left arm, though she wasn't really mad at me. She seemed to accept my apology when I apologized to the two of them. I even assisted Kamil with stuff at school until her arm healed. Jason was not as forgiving. He made fun of me for the rest of fourth grade and fifth grade until he went to a different middle school than I did. I was basically called green gargoyle for a week after that." I said.
Jasiri started to laugh during and after I finished the story, which was followed by light coughing.
"Ha! Green gargoyle. Man, that story sounded so embarrassing. I would have died of embarrassment if that were me. Because fourth grade for me was my first year of school in the US, and I was trying to draw as little attention to myself as possible. Very few humans knew about me being a hybrid back then, so I guess you can say that I was more secretive back then." Jasiri said.
I then heard a message pop up on my phone. It's a text from Kovu.
Check your email, you won't believe what we received in our inbox
I decided to check my email and found an email with the subject line Prepare for a new era in 2023. I found that odd, but I was curious and opened the email.
"What the-? Uh Jasiri….look at this email I received…." I said as I showed her my phone.
The email was an ad….a political ad made by someone we both know….but not in a very good way.
The ad reads:
Be prepared for a new era to begin in 2023
I am writing to the people of the whole city of Chicago bright and early to let everyone know that change will happen in 2023 if you elect me, Simba Furahi, as the next mayor of Chicago.
Trust me when I say that you will be amazed at what I have planned for us.
Vote for Simba Furahi 2023
#FurahiforMayor
"You've gotta be kidding me!? Simba is planning to run for mayor of Chicago?" Jasiri said in shock as she saw the further content of the email.
"Unbelievable, first he tries to promote himself to all of us, but now he's trying to do it for the whole city of Chicago?" I said.
"I know, it seems like these guys are just obsessed with power, authority and image. His ego has seemed to reach new heights." Jasiri said.
"Yeah, and his ad seems pretty vague because I don't really see him describing any specific position towards any issues in this email…... .but now that I think about it, that might be intentional." I said.
"Yeah, I guess that's his angle to try to attract voter….but it's not going to work on me. I don't trust him." Jasiri said.
"Yeah, something seems pretty off. Based on what I have heard and seen, his ego-mania and desire for power seemed to reach new heights." I said.
"Yeah, I got a bad feeling about this. I'm not voting for him." Jasiri said.
"Me neither." I replied before starting to cough for two or three seconds.
Third Person P.O.V.:
In his apartment, Simba is gathering with Kion and Bunga…..against known COVID guidelines, discussing their ongoing citywide email regimen towards his early mayoral campaign.
"So it seems like my digital email leaflets seem to be spreading accordingly, thanks to you first step to my plan seems to be folding without hindrance." Simba said.
"No problem, but one question….why are you running for mayor of Chicago?" Bunga asked.
"Yeah, isn't the president where the real power is? Or even Congress?" Kion asked.
"Well yeah, that is the ultimate plan, but when doing some thinking and looking stuff up, I realize that we can't rush our plan. If we do, our plan could risk going up in flames just like that.." Simba replied, snapping his fingers at the last three words.
"We need to have a solid foundation before we expand my kingdom. First I become mayor of Chicago, then I will become governor of Illinois and then I will become president, or a member or congress before president if the low probability of someone beating me on my first attempt would happen." Simba continued.
"Okay…I guess that makes sense. I remembered several times in which I heard of people rushing into stuff with bad results." Kion calmly replied.
"Trust me my boy, when I say that it all goes according to plan if we stick to our plan. First we gain power here in Chicago, then Illinois as governor, then the United States as president, and possibly more but I haven't thought that far yet." Simba said enthusiastically.
"You're right, you need to gain trust before you can successfully be a leader. Then you can take advantage of the power the position offers." Kion said, with a light smile forming after the latter half of the phrase.
"Wouldn't it just be easier just to go to Washington, infiltrate the buildings, get rid of the current people and insert ourselves in?" Bunga asked.
"Are you kidding me? With the amount of security there is, that plan would immediately fall apart within a short period of time." Simba said.
"Yeah, no one is going to just support random people who try to break into government buildings. We need to have a solid foundation before we can go with later steps of the plan. Once we build that foundation, I will soon be able to take my rightful place as leader,...regain my rightful place as king." Simba said as he looked out his window.