"New intel from Intelligence." Youvon slid over in an office chair. "Definitely might be from Novarica. They spotted something similar."

"For real?" Marnie looked up. The Vanguard Secondary School had been the top of their priority ever since the autopsy results had come back. By then, they had successfully identified most of the students and began making phone calls to parents. The mood in the office wasn't exactly cheery, with the wailing and all.

"Yuppp." He placed a stack of papers. "Weird funky creatures, like in a sci-fi movie. Aliens? Not sure. They couldn't come close to them. But they got these really good shots of the claw structure, it's similar." Among the pile, he pulled out a photograph jutting out. "See?" 

No matter how many times the photos from the autopsy of Jeremy Neuvill showed up, Marnie couldn't help but feel her guts twist. It was disgusting, and it felt like she was not supposed to look at it. Except the issue was that it was her job. 

"Yepp, very similar. Too bad we can't have a real one. Then we could confirm if it's the same. Anyway to take it down?"

Youvon scratched his head. "That's..the issue. Look, I haven't a clue how someone even took out Neuvill. Maybe he didn't get taken out but just, I don't know, incompatibility with the body or something. But there's no denying that thing was made to kill."

Marnie sighed. "The worse part, it's from Novarica. That would seriously threaten our country." She spun around in the office chair. "Any idea if it's intentional or not?"

"That's the part I was getting to. Neuvill, and these other spotted creatures. They're like, zombies. Maybe smarter, but they don't seem to have their minds intact. Must be some sort of parasite that's infecting their brain. My point is, it might be an accidental barrier crossing, though I'm not sure how it got through security without casualties. Of course, that doesn't mean we'll rule out that it was intentional planting."

"So we need more evidence?"

"Yeah. Maybe a quick chat with Novarica, but that's the government's thing."

"You goof, we're working for the government, technically."

Youvon sighed, exasperated. "The politicians, that's what I mean. Anyway, those people, they're like psychos. Especially that rectangular glasses guy, head of research? Give me a break. He probably did this."

"You can't just say stuff like that in the office, Youvon Martel. Get it together. We're lucky that we're winning the war right now, so it's peaceful for us. Find me some more stuff. We've got a meeting soon, and the public wants answers."

________________________________________________________________________________

"Essentially, this creature spreads through bodily fluids. That's the main thing I wanted to address. Therefore, from everyone who has been attending Vanguard Secondary School for at least two weeks, we will require a body fluid sample, please. Follow the procedure outlined here." A digital PDF was sent to all the students at this moment, and even through the limited lens of webcams, Marnie could tell they were exasperated. Currently, they were being quarantined in their homes, as per the decision of the government, though Marnie was still a bit paranoid that it might still spread. They might have to design a building to keep the kids in, in case something got out of hand, but for now, they were stuck at home. Still risky, but it was not like she could throw them in an asylum or an isolation cell. 

"Once again, I apologize for the losses everyone is dealing with. Many of you have lost friends, siblings, and once we have confirmed it is safe, you can have the bodies for a proper burial. As the representative of the force tasked with keeping you all safe, I apologize on behalf of all of us." Marnie said this sincerely, though there was, of course, no way anyone could have done anything. 

The vice principal was dead. The voice announcing the lockdown procedure had been someone else; they had passed long before then, amongst most of those working in the administrative office. That meant a new principal, a new secretary, and a headache of more problems. 

No one really dared to ask the officer, but in everyone's hearts, they wondered if Yu-jun was dead. Of course, to an extent, they were aware of who was still alive, and there had been no sign of Yu-jun. Many took that as the evidence of his death. 

"Any questions?" Marnie asked. 

There was a heavy silence. 

Someone spoke out. "Do you, maybe, have an idea when everything will be back to normal? Or a memorial?"

Everyone nodded in agreement. Marnie pursed her lip. She had no idea. No one did. Not in the history of this country did something like this occur. There was no procedure other than asking Novarica about it since that was their only lead. She wasn't even sure if that would turn out okay.

"Of course, we don't have a set day, or week, or month," she began. "But we'll do our best so that there is. Rest assured. Stick to the procedure we have now. As for the memorial," she looked at the calendar. "That'll be in three weeks from now. I hope those on beaverment leave understand. During that memorial, you know the drill. Pretend everyone around you is infected. Just focus on honoring the dead, and then leave. No fooling around."

The meeting then ended promptly. Marnie exhaled loudly. "Alright. Let's get this over with."