The Scientist

The following is a transcript from a recorded interview that occurred on July 7, 2083, between Apollo Woodward of The Underword and an anonymous professor.

The professor wished to remain anonymous for reasons of safety.

Woodward: Greetings. Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. We are sure that our listeners will have great interest in hearing what you have to say.

Professor: No problem. People need to hear this.

Woodward: Without giving away your identity, could you illuminate our readers regarding your credentials?

Professor: Sure. I’m a professor of virology and immunology at a university in Canada. I have studied viruses - and our response to them - for 25 years.

Woodward: That’s impressive, Professor. Can I call you Professor?

Professor: It’s as good a name as any, under these circumstances.

Woodward: Great. So what is it you would like the people to hear, Professor?

Professor: They’re being lied to. This plague - this virus - isn’t natural.

Woodward: What makes you say that?

Professor: Many things. For one, I’ve studied the genetic code of the virus. This virus didn’t evolve from any known species, at least not one that I’ve ever encountered. It looks like a chimaera, a mishmash of other viruses. This virus was engineered to enhance both its potency and its transmissibility. I’m one hundred percent convinced of that.

Woodward: What else led you to this conclusion?

Professor: Well, the virus appeared simultaneously in several places. Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver all started having outbreaks at the same time. We’ve traced the spread of the virus. There is no single ground zero. There are several. How does that happen if it’s a natural virus? Wouldn’t it start in one place and spread from there? Furthermore, even with global warming, Canada doesn’t exactly have the climate to be a major generator of novel viruses. It could happen, but it’s unlikely.

Woodward: That is grim. Who did this? Why would they do this?

Professor: Who do you think?!? Our corporate overlords did this, probably those contemptible clowns at B0TCorp! As for why? Who knows how those jerks think? If I had to place a bet, I’d say they want some population control. They probably want to weed out a few thousand - or million - of us. Or maybe they want to distract us from some horrible Machiavellian scheme of theirs. And why wouldn’t they do it this way? Who’s going to stop them?

Woodward: Wow. That is bleak, Professor.

Professor: You’re telling me. I’ll bet those scum are sending some sort of B0TCorp death squad for me as we speak.

Woodward: I certainly hope not, for both our sakes. So do you think that the lack of a quarantine order is related to B0TCorp as well?

Professor: I’d say so. If you wanted to wipe out a huge chunk of the population or create a massive distraction, why would you quarantine people? You’d let the virus spread, let it infect everyone. Which is exactly what is happening, by the way.

Woodward: How did we let this happen?

Professor: How do you think?!? We let B0TCorp infiltrate our schools! No one out there has any kind of education, especially regarding science. That’s by design, I expect. Probably so they can do garbage like this.

Woodward: Do you have any ideas about reclaiming our school system? I’m not sure– WHAT THE–

At this point, the interview was terminated for an unknown reason.