OUTBREAK: ZERO is a semi post-apocalyptic pandemic roleplay set in the fictional city of Lethford, USA. Current season: Winter, 20/21.
March 2020. The world is in pandemonium as one month ago, GHNv-20 was confirmed, five months after the beginning of norovirus season. The number of the infected are in the higher hundred thousands, and the death toll is at an estimated 250,000, with about seventy percent of the rest of the population experiencing mild to moderate illnesses connected to the S. pyogenes bacteria.
The fear of the unknown has caused mass hysteria and panic.
In an attempt to provide a semblance of safety and control, military personnel patrol the streets, even here in Lethford City, and the police force is trying to keep up with the rising street violence, assault, and theft.
Welcome to OUTBREAK: zero. Will you survive?
HAYANA
SITE OWNER + HEAD ADMINISTRATOR
Hi! I'm Haya. I'm pretty much your girl for everything! If you have any questions regarding our plot, membergroups, etc. don't hesitate to ask me. I'm also in charge of coding, graphics, anything skin related, and advertising/affiliates.
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CODING
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ADDI
ADMINISTRATOR
Hey! I'm Addi. Hit me up if you need help with anything. I'm always for plotting so don't be shy. I like coffee, booze, and working out. I'm back from a long hiatus the dead so if you need anything, best ask the others until I get back into the groove of things!
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FINNLEY
GLOBAL MODERATOR
Hi hello! My name is Finnley, or Finn, call whichever and I'll be there for you (yes like the FRIENDS theme song). I am in charge of the claims and helping with miscellaneous things. Let me know if you have any questions!
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OPEN MODERATOR POSITION
outbreak
/ˈaʊtbreɪk/ zero /ˈzɪərəʊ/
a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease. number, no quantity or number; nought; the figure 0.
Puck had been working for Prism Biotech for at least a month now. He'd been caught trying to foolishly steal from the company. Their words. He wasn't convinced that it was all that foolish...except that he had been caught. Puck had been stealing things for so long now that it was second nature to him. He'd even found himself doing it without thinking, like a reflex. The way that you leave work in your car and suddenly you're at home without much of a memory of the drive itself. It became habit, just something he did.
Stealing from Prism had not been a reflex pickpocket though. He had been trying to get supplies for the underground hospital that Carmen had been running. He didn't actually know for sure if Carmen was the one running it persay, but she definitely worked there, as often as possible. And they needed supplies. He hadn't told Carmen he was going to try to steal from Prism and he never told her about being caught either.
Lucky for him, or maybe unlucky for him, the company had given him a deal. Instead of turning him into the authorities they would give him a job. If he would bring in test subjects for them to try their drugs out on then they wouldn't turn him in...and they'd even pay him to do it. It wasn't ideal by any means. Puck had never done this sort of theft. People didn't get hurt when he stole from them, not physically hurt anyway. But Puck was in no sort of situation to be able to turn down both his freedom and some cash. And the job paid well. Since he started he had been bringing in at least one person a week. He was predictable at least, reliable? Could you call a man reliable who basically kidnapped or manipulated people into being tested for potentially dangerous drugs? Maybe not, but here he was anyway.
Today he had managed to convince a young pre-med student, a pretty little blonde thing, that he could get her a tour at Prism and that she could even get her flu vaccine while she was there. It was that time of year anyway. It was an easy lie and his pretty blue eyes and handsome smile were just the right push for her to trust him. He'd been manipulating people for a long time, this wasn't anything new for him. The two of them walked into Prism and approached the front desk where Puck asked for someone he had worked with before, Thomas Moore.
It had been happening for a month, every week he got the page, it was like clockwork. There was apart of him that dreaded that weekly page. It meant one more participant for the trial. It meant one more test subject. He knew he should be happy to have more participants, but it was hard to be excited when he had seen what they went through. It wasn’t a smooth process by any means, there was a laundry list of side effect. All of them resulting in death, some died quickly, but for some it was a slow agonizing death.
He hadn’t asked Puck the ‘where’ yet. He hadn’t wanted to know how the man had been luring them in. Or where he picked them up. Thomas wasn’t naïve, he knew that Prism was paying Puck to bring in health people. He knew that Puck had been placed in this position after almost getting turned over to the authorities for attempted theft. Thomas also knew that the participants weren’t told the truth about what would be done to them. They had no idea what they were walking into until it was too late. He had to play his part as well, it was a game he was getting frighteningly good at.
Stepping out of the elevator bank he made his way to the front desk. His hands tucked into the front pockets of his jeans, his Prism identification badge hung on a lanyard, the plastic bouncing against his chest as he moved. His shirt was sage green, everything about him screamed average. ”Puck,” he greeted the man as he came to a stop before them. His eyes going to the young female that was with the man. She was blonde, young, no visible abnormalities to her. She was a god candidate. ”Welcome to Prism BioTech, I’m Thomas.” It was a simple greeting, one had used often the last month. He smiled under his mask, the skin around his eyes wrinkling.
His eyes went back to Puck, wondering what the man had promised her. Before he could ask, and before Puck could speak up the young pre-med spoke. Her words were rushed if not a little nervous. ”Puck said that he could get me a tour, and that while I’m here I could get my flu shot?” Thomas’s attention was on her as she spoke. He didn’t look to Puck until after she was done. It was a quick glance at the male. ”Of course, that isn’t a problem. Common, follow me.” Thomas indicated to where he had come from as he spoke, leading the way towards the elevators.
Thomas paused, swiping his pass by the box beside the elevator buttons before shoving his finger against the down arrow. The light on the box went from red to green. Thomas glanced to the female, ”I cant say this tour will be overly exciting. I can show you my lab-“ his words were cut off as she spoke. ”That would be amazing!” Thomas glanced to Puck, seeing if the younger man felt the same way he did. She was so excited to walk into her downfall. She had no idea what she was really in for.
Puck and the pre-med didn't have to wait for long for Thomas. The man soon was approaching them, looking as casual and nonchalant about all of this as Puck did. They had done this several times by now. Puck tried not to think too much about what they were doing, tried to tell himself it was all for the greater good, or that he didn't know how the trails likely ended. He never stayed long enough to witness anything.
As Thomas approached Puck leaned one elbow against the front desk and looked the man up and down. A slow, flirty grin lifted his lips as he looked at Thomas. Puck at found him cute since they had first met. Thomas was a little older than Puck and though he didn't have the appearance or demeanor of a drop dead gorgeous God-like man, he instead had a very cute and approachable manner and was plenty attractive to catch Puck's, likely unwanted, attention. That had never deterred Puck before.
His attention was soon drawn back to the girl though, he was playing a part here. When Thomas agreed to the tour and began to move towards the elevators she had tossed Puck an excited smile and he returned the expression to her, giving her an excited nod and followed them into the elevators.
Her excitement at something as small as tour of the lab filled the small elevator and Puck caught Thomas' glance. He didn't say anything, just swallowed and dropped his gaze from the other man's. This wouldn't be the path he'd choose for himself if he had a say. He felt like a monster. Puck had plenty of faults, he was far from perfect, but he hadn't been a monster before Prism.
He could feel their eyes on him as he approached, the way that Puck looked him over was familiar. It happened every time Puck brought someone in. Thomas wasn’t used to being looked at like that. He ignored the mans eyes, the female was looking him over as well. He didn’t look like a threat, just an average guy. There was no sign that popped up above him warning of danger. The initial interaction was short, she quickly agreed to come with him and Puck on a tour. She had no idea what she was walking into. He felt his chest tighten as he scanned his card and hit the button for the elevator.
Thomas caught Pucks eye as they stood in the elevator, waiting for it to descend. Puck seemed to be as conflicted as he was over what they were doing. Puck’s gaze fell away from his, he shifted his attention to the female who was speaking with excitement. She wanted to be a researcher one day, she wanted to be at the forefront of science. She wanted to help people. Something twisted inside of Thomas, he had said the same things once. He forced himself not to think about it.
”Sounds like you have it all figured out.” Thomas offered her when she paused to breath, there was a soft ding and the doors opened. The floor was a front, for the public or anyone else who came sniffing around. The floor was bright, white with well placed pops of color. There was a large seating area with couches and magazines spread across low tables. Further along were glass enclosed offices, Thomas led the way towards the far end of the space. There was a door there, one that would open with his card. ”We can start with my lab and the flu shot, get it out of the way.” His tone was casual, there was a beep as his card scanned and he held the door open.
This space was also a front, but it looked like a working lab. Sure, they did some stuff in here, but nothing of actual note for the trial. The space was empty, machines hummed, her eyes were wide as she took it all in. Thomas let her look around, ”check it out.” He offered but she was already gone. Thomas stayed beside Puck as she explored. Thomas dropped his voice low as he spoke, the female engrossed in an electron microscope. She had no interest in either of them as she moved around the space.
”Where did you find her?” It was a question he had never asked before, but he couldn’t keep doing this without knowing. There were so many other questions he wanted to ask, but instead he admitted something that he had never told anyone. ”I hate this part.” He glanced at Puck, knowing that none of this was easy on him.
He hated that he had to go in this far. Puck would have loved to just drop them off at the front door and then disappear. Out of sight, out of mind. He could pretend that he didn't have more of a hand in it than he did. But going inside with them felt like he was the grim reaper walking them to their graves.
As she started to look around the lab Puck crossed his arms over his chest, staying there beside Thomas. She was a pretty girl, it was a shame really. Why did she have to be so nice? He really should work harder on finding people who deserved this more, become more of a batman vigilante, bringing in the bad guys. Except that he was the bad guy here.
He didn't look in Thomas' direction as the man spoke to him, he kept his eyes on the girl while he replied in a whisper. "She was lost actually, happened to ask me for directions. Like a mouse in a mousetrap..." His jaw was tense with discomfort. His eyes glanced towards Thomas as he admitted his feelings about it and after a moment Puck gave one short nod of the head. "Ya, me too," he admitted.
He hated all of it. Every part. But if he didn't do it then he'd be in jail. He tried not overthink about how unfair that was to his victims. It wasn't even a life for a life. It was a life for his freedom.
