As the relentless epidemic continued to test the patience of the populace, the government faced mounting pressure to quell the growing unrest. Periodically, various military and security factions convened to grapple with the escalating crisis, making critical decisions and charting their course of action.
On the following day, Sergeant Sarin found himself thrust into one such pivotal meeting, attended by an assembly of high-ranking officials hailing from operations, security, military, and research divisions. The conference hall buzzed with anticipation.
Sergeant Sarin, accompanied by his second-in-command, Officer Mahsa, took their seats towards the rear of the hall. In contrast, their friend from the medical field, Dr. Faris, and his colleagues occupied the front row.
The presentation began with a member of the clinical research team unveiling a series of grim slides, showcasing the latest findings over the past months.
The first slide displayed a patient hospitalized within the first 24 hours of infection, his head and face grotesquely swollen, with symptoms ranging from profuse sweating to labored breathing and irrational fears.
Moving on to the second slide, the presenter revealed the same patient 48 hours later, now afflicted by the disease's hallmark - a fragment of brain protruding from the corner of his eye. In addition to prior symptoms, he had lost the ability to speak.
The third slide depicted an infected individual isolated in a laboratory, securely restrained to a bed. A week into the infection, the brain had morphed into a malignant mass, aggressively consuming the victim's organs and bodily tissues. The fourth slide, by far the most gruesome, left the audience in horrified silence.
The autopsy of the infected body unveiled the catastrophic effects of the unprecedented brain mutation, causing internal organs to disintegrate. Despite rigorous examination of the corpses, the cause of this sudden brain transformation remained elusive.
The fifth slide displayed the devastation of a central neighborhood in the city, demonstrating that during the first week of infection, the afflicted had turned fiercely aggressive. If not contained, they would resort to violence, looting, and destruction of both public and private property. In some instances, cannibalism had ensued.
Dr. Faris, who had witnessed these slides countless times, stifled a yawn and glanced indifferently at his watch.
The research representative concluded the presentation but continued speaking, much to the audience's dismay.
"Despite six years of exhaustive research, our understanding of this global pandemic remains frustratingly limited," he lamented.
Suddenly, a high-ranking officer from the second row erupted in anger, his voice thundering through the hall. "Six years of research, and all you have to show for it is peanuts!"
His outburst plunged the hall into an eerie silence. He was an older officer, a stalwart of the ground army, and one of the nation's most influential military leaders. The rugged old man rose from his seat and strode to the platform. His voice seethed with authority as he ordered, "Get lost!"
The lab assistant quivered like a leaf, hastily vacating the platform.
"Someone here proposed a solution involving water! Who was it?" the officer demanded harshly.
Dr. Faris tentatively raised his hand.
"Come forward," the officer commanded.
Dr. Faris climbed the steps and stood behind the microphone. "Honestly, I didn't prepare any slides, and my research is not yet complete. My colleagues think I'm crazy..."
Some clinical doctors grinned, while others began grumbling.
"He's the tree whisperer!"
"He consults with trees!"
"He's a joke, not a scientist!"
"Ridiculous!"
"All of you! Shut up!" The senior officer silenced them all with a booming voice. The room fell silent once more, and Dr. Faris, standing beside him, trembled with anxiety. Then, Faris cleared his throat and addressed the gathering, "I understand that many of you think I'm crazy. But I persisted with my research on trees."
He recounted his story from the beginning, describing how two years ago while napping beneath an ancient pine tree in his yard, the tree had communicated with him, declaring that the key to halting the disease's progression was water. Its exact words were, "The only way to neutralize carnivorous brains is with water."
Faris then explained how He and his team subsequently investigated and discovered contamination in the city's water source, leading to critical interventions that saved many lives.
The ranking officer chuckled skeptically. "You don't seriously believe that trees are scientists, do you?"
Laughter and murmurs swept through the crowd. But Faris remained composed, retrieving a flash drive from his pocket and handing it to the senior officer.
"Please watch this video. It will clarify my perspective."
Officer Mahsa sank into her chair, her face concealed in her hands:: “Oh! No!”
Moments later, the room choked as the footage of the forest park incident played. The sight of the colossal old tree bending its bough for the young girl to ride upon elicited gasps of astonishment and wonder from the audience.
Sergeant Sarin couldn't resist a chuckle. "Quite the showman, isn't he?"
Faris seized the opportunity to drive his point home. "A specialized team is currently tasked with locating that girl, and I can assure you..."
The distinguished military officer switched off the footage and fixed Dr. Faris with an appraising gaze, his eyes sparkling with cunning.
"Ahem... I like you. You've got guts."
He then addressed the crowd with a commanding voice, "From this moment onward, this man is in charge of the Clinical Research Department. Is that clear?"
As he descended the platform, he leaned in close to Dr. Faris and whispered firmly, "I want that girl found, and I want her found yesterday!"
P.S:
Hello everyone, I’m a writer and a manga artist, and this is a piece that I’m working on. Later on, I’m going to put my art as well, piece by piece, for everyone to enjoy. I’ll welcome critiques, but plz don’t be too harsh.
Here is the link to the picture comic (manga) I'm currently creating, feel free to visit and leave a comment, subscribe, etc.
