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Monday - September 20

"What was that?" Victor asks.

"I don't know," Gerald replies. "I think the computers are starting to fail. We've put so much information into them, and not having enough storage makes matters worse. Don't worry about it. We've just got to make sure they continue to work until we find an antidote."

"Gerald?"

"Yeah."

"Did Georgia love you?"

Feeling uncomfortable that Victor knows Gerald's feelings about Georgia, Gerald replies, "Victor, I loved Georgia. She didn't know that. So, in answer to your question, no, Georgia did not love me, except as a friend."

"I'm glad. I mean, I'm glad that she loved you, as a friend. Anyway, what do you want to show me?"

Gerald opens a file, then steps away to let Victor view the graph. The Earth's population will soon seize if an antidote is not discovered. A single tear rolls down Victor's cheek as he studies the graph. Gerald places his hand on Victor's shoulder and empathizes with his sorrow. The graph shows a line plummeting to zero in three days. Gerald's model states clearly that the human race will be extinct within the week.

"What have we done, Gerald? What have we done?"

"We screwed up, Victor. We had something that would have cured many diseases. Instead, my greed and selfishness has brought us to where we are now. My only hope is that God will forgive me. Just like the rest of the world, we will suffer from the lack of food, water, companionship, but most of all, love."

"Damn it! What are we going to do?" Victor pleads with Gerald.

Gerald looks at Victor in despair. His eyes are blank and clueless. They both continue to look at the monitor and are astounded. By Wednesday, the only world known for its intelligent life may soon be on its own again. Both of the men's eyes are captured by the estimated number, which continues to rise, signifying the amount of lives that have been obliterated by the two men's miscalculated plans. Remorse sets heavy on them both.

"Excuse me, Dr. Bennett," interrupts an assistant.

"Yes, what is it?" asks Gerald.

"I finished up the lab work you assigned to me yesterday, and I think you and Dr. Parks should look at my findings."

Gerald and Victor go to the assistant's work station, and wait for him to pull up his report. When the report is present, Gerald sits and begins to read the young man's findings.

As Gerald begins to read the report, he quickly turns to the assistant asking, "Are you sure about these numbers?"

The assistant bends down to whisper into Gerald's ear. "Yes, Dr. Bennett. These figures are correct. I redid the calculations five times within the last eight hours. The number always comes up the same. Here is my worksheet."

Gerald takes the assistant's notebook and begins to check his math. After a few minutes of dabbling and checking off on the notebook, Gerald sets the notebook on the desk and turns to Victor and says, "Victor, come with me." Victor turns around and follows Gerald out of the lab, leaving the assistant behind, alone with his notebook.

"Where are we going, Gerald?" Victor inquires.

"To see Georgia."

Victor stops, and yanks Gerald's arm, saying, "What for? What can Georgia do? She's... gone."

"You know why, Victor. This plague has to end now," replies Gerald.

"What was in that notebook, Gerald?"