Sterilized - Prologue
The world after the war, and the announcement that changed everything.
The White House
October 27, 2043
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT FRANCIS D. RAMSEY ON THE VITASPIRE GLOBAL INITIATIVE
Oval Office
8:15 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, resilient citizens of America, and to all those joining us from across the world. Today, we stand at a momentous juncture – a time to remember the profound sacrifices made, to honor those we have lost, and to look with unwavering hope towards a future reborn.
It's been a long, arduous journey. First, we navigated the treacherous currents of the Global Tech Wars of the late 2020s– a conflict fought not just with conventional arms, but through cyber battlefronts, economic destabilization, and the struggle for dominion over critical resources and information pathways. We saw how advanced nations, despite their technological prowess, remained vulnerable, with families cut off from communication for weeks and vital supply chains severed overnight. Then, just as our various nations, through painstaking effort, began to collectively rebuild and forge a fragile global stability, the world was plunged into the devastating Global Fulminant Influenza pandemic. GFI, or the 'Fulmen Flu' as it has come to be known – revealed the limits of our medical preparedness and the fragility of human life for four agonizing years.
Enough lives have been lost. Enough dreams and families have been shattered by the relentless hands of death. The Fulmen Flu, with its insidious initial presentation, mimicked severe seasonal illnesses before rapidly progressing in many to acute respiratory collapse and systemic failure. Nations were brought to their knees. We all remember the pervasive fear that gripped our communities, the painful silence of once-bustling streets, and the profound isolation that kept families apart, unable to comfort their sick or properly mourn their dead. Businesses collapsed, economies worldwide faltered, and the very connections that bind us frayed under the immense strain on our collective mental health and societal well-being. It was a time of pervasive loss that reached into every home, challenging our hope.
Yet, even before the Fulmen Flu, humanity witnessed incredible strides. About two decades ago, a cure for the HIV/AIDS virus was discovered. Since then, research into vaccines and treatments for Alzheimer’s, Ebola, and many other once-daunting diseases accelerated. The brilliant scientists and technical experts of an international consortium, including visionaries like Dr. Geming Yinling, are indeed the true heroes of our time. Their foundational work on targeted genetic therapies proved pivotal– delivering significant breakthroughs that paved the way for further advancements. They developed cures for congenital Polio and for Lupus. They transformed previously fatal forms of diabetes and many types of cancer into manageable, chronic conditions – meaning these were no longer inevitable death sentences. Yet, even amidst these triumphs, some aggressive cancers still eluded our grasp; a stark and humbling reminder of nature's profound complexity, and of the vast frontiers our knowledge had yet to conquer. For one brief, luminous year, this world knew a semblance of global health security.
Then, GFI swept across the globe.
Before I move on, I feel compelled to have a moment of silence for all who were lost – to the conflicts that preceded it, and to the Fulmen Flu itself. Indeed, these years have been among the darkest times in centuries. Everyone has lost someone whom they love. And like so many of you, I carry that same ache with me every day. For me, it’s the treasured images of my wife, Brandy, and our daughter, Gracy. I find myself rewatching old recordings– Gracy, so nervous, yet determined at her first piano recital… wearing her favorite peach-tutu dress with the iridescent flowers that sparkled with each sudden movement. Or Brandy, in quieter times before our public life intensified, with her playful protests as I’d film her morning routine– the endearing, funny faces she’d make applying her mascara. These are moments of unguarded joy that are now precious beyond measure. They are personal memories, of course, but I share them because I know these echoes of love and loss resonate in countless homes across our nation and the world.
All that to say, our loved ones live on in our memories, in our hearts, in the very fabric of who we have become. Although we are about to take a great step towards the future, it does not mean we are leaving them behind. It is imperative that we speak their names, remember their faces, miss the warmth of their touch, and honor the essence of who they were, so that we never forget who we are.
A moment of silence for those who have passed.
* Two Minute Moment of Silence *
After decades of cumulative research, and five years of intensified, collaborative effort of the international consortium led by Dr. Yinling, the Panacea Initiative has achieved its goal. The product of this global effort, the vaccine we are proudly calling VitaSpire, is here.
* Reporters stand and applaud in celebration *
Yes. This is a time of celebration!
Our darkest days are finally numbered. We are free to live again, and I am humbled and honored to stand before you, as your President, and offer this great news regarding VitaSpire.
Now, I know with this “great news” comes great questions. And in times of such profound change, doubts and concerns naturally arise. We hear the voices of caution– those who fear the unknown, who question the pace of such a breakthrough. There are dedicated groups and individuals, some who have formed what they call 'The Cause,' who have voiced concerns about equity, about unforeseen consequences, about the very nature of such a powerful solution. To them, and to all who harbor reservations, I say this: your vigilance is a testament to a free society. However, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt powerfully reminded a nation facing its own profound trials, 'The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith...'
We must approach this future not only with that “active faith,” but with transparency and an unwavering commitment to ethical oversight. We must not let understandable apprehension paralyze us when the potential for global healing is within our grasp.
Before we start our Q&A, I will share some basic, yet paramount information regarding VitaSpire. We all remember the first-generation GFI vaccines. Those early efforts provided a vital shield, allowing our communities to function once more and regain some footing. VitaSpire, however, is a solution of an entirely different order – a true paradigm shift.
First and foremost, there will be a comprehensive digital briefing and accessible information resources available to all citizens, following this address. Additionally, another press conference is scheduled shortly after today with the lead scientists and bioethicists behind this new initiative; men and women carrying forward the incredible legacy established by pioneers like Dr. Yinling and now championed by their dedicated international team. There you may ask more specific questions that I, as your President – not a scientist or bioethicist, am unable to answer. Once again, my purpose here is to provide this essential overview.
Firstly, VitaSpire is an unparalleled scientific breakthrough, for it serves as a true panacea. We’ve seen our brightest minds conquer AIDS, make huge strides against many cancers, diabetes, lupus, and a few other previously intractable conditions, but that was just the prelude. This single vaccine is designed to be the definitive answer to every known incurable disease that plagues humankind, including the most aggressive forms of cancer that persisted even after earlier advancements. I know it is difficult to wrap your mind around. Trust me, even I was skeptical, but the clinical trials, involving a vast cohort of more than one hundred thousand volunteers globally, have been rigorously reviewed and the results are irrefutable. The testimonials and names of many of these brave participants are in the packets you will receive. One hundred of them will be at the scheduled scientific press conference. I encourage you to read their stories and talk to them.
Secondly, due to its unique properties and for the collective wellbeing of our global population, VitaSpire will be a global mandatory vaccination. No one is exempt, and there is a scientific imperative for this. There is one major, unavoidable side effect of VitaSpire’s mechanism: it has been proven that patients who receive the vaccine secrete an airborne pheromonal counteragent that, over time, systematically breaks down the immune defenses of untreated individuals.
People who refuse or are unable to take VitaSpire will, unfortunately, develop a severe and progressive immunodeficiency – a Panacea-Induced Immune Collapse Syndrome (PICS). This syndrome has no current cure. With that being said, provisions have been, and will continue to be, developed.
Our ultimate goal, and I state this unequivocally, is for VitaSpire to be accessible to every single person on this planet. Through key arms of our government like USAID, and in close concert with vital international bodies such as the World Health Organization, partner nations, and leading philanthropic foundations, we are actively working to mobilize the unprecedented federal, private, and international funding required to make this a reality.
The science indicates that achieving broad herd immunity through near-universal adoption is paramount to truly conquering not just GFI, but all disease. The initial production and global distribution of such a complex biological agent is a monumental undertaking. Therefore, in this initial phase, VitaSpire will be rolled out through existing healthcare infrastructures. While we have secured landmark agreements with most major insurance providers to cover the administration costs, we are also establishing substantial public funds to assist those with inadequate coverage. We anticipate a brief interim period where access may be prioritized based on medical urgency and logistical capacity. We are aware of some initial hesitations from certain underwriters regarding long-term liability for unforeseen ancillary effects – a matter we are addressing with full governmental attention to ensure citizen protection. But let me be clear: we will not rest until every man, woman, and child has access to this gift.
The Panacea Health Trucks will be deployed to college campuses, local communities, city centers, malls, homeless shelters, and even remote areas are just the first visible step in this universal mission. It’s as easy as getting a flu shot. Please do not delay. Ask your questions, get your answers, then get your shot with VitaSpire.
We have had enough death.
Now, I’ll have you know that I’ve already received VitaSpire. I can attest to it being as easy as getting a flu shot, but I will be honest. The first week was challenging – I experienced chills, fever, dehydration, nausea… the works, but I did get through it. Ask me how I feel right now: invincible. I’ve been to the depths of despair with this nation, and now I see the dawn. At this moment, don’t look at me as only your President. I am your fellow survivor. Impossible is nothing, and this new era of health, this life, can be our shared legacy.
I’ll now take questions.
END Time (8:33 P.M. EST)
A Q&A session followed.
Thank you for reading! Please comment your thoughts on the Prologue here.