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Young Sheldon; The Supreme State of Science
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Chapter 73 - The Resistance Still Standing
Upon taking a closer look at the conditions of this refuge, not only was Nara pleasantly surprised, but everyone around her exclaimed with excitement. At that moment, they all approached Jason without saying a word—without exception, everyone was eager to learn more about the vaccine.
Nara silently processed everything she had discovered in this place. As a girl who only wanted to survive in the best way possible, she paid attention to every little detail. When she heard about a vaccine, she didn't know how to react.
Seeing the excited faces of the people surrounding Candace and himself, Jason extended his hand to create some distance between them. He turned around and said, "I ask you all to stay calm and listen to my words carefully."
Once everyone had settled down, Jason continued, "Listen, this vaccine is nowhere near what you imagine. We still don't know exactly what it is capable of, so now is not the time to get excited."
Upon hearing Jason's words, disappointment spread across everyone's faces—except for Nara, who stood to the side, lost in thought.
Unlike the others, she understood how lethal and uncontrollable this virus could be. As the daughter of a congressman, she knew that very little, if anything, was known about what was happening outside this prison. Now, the future lay in the hands of the researchers in this place.
"Although this vaccine might only be the beginning, there are many things to consider. I ask you all to wait until it is truly ready."
Jason looked at all the young people in front of him, adjusted the vest on his body, and said, "For now, I'll have my people show you around later. But remember to choose a job suited to your abilities."
"Also, I don't want any trouble from you. Never forget that the rules cannot be broken. Ranks must be respected to maintain stability in this place. But before anything else, think carefully about whether joining our group is a good idea. In the meantime, I must take the necessary precautions—I hope you all understand!"
Looking at Daryl, who stood to the side, Jason signaled him to proceed and ask those willing to join the group. Those who refused would be sent back to their cells. After making everything clear, he walked with Candace to the laboratory.
At the same time, Daryl decided to take the energetic newcomers through the prison to help transport large supplies of food and resources inside.
More than seventy days had passed since the virus had completely spread across the world. With no system or authority in the streets, everyone had to fend for themselves. Today, even Edwin doubted whether anyone was still fighting to find a cure for this virus.
Inside a large space, where the laboratory would be built to continue the fight for a definitive cure, Jason and the others were having a small meeting.
"From everything we know, the Wildfire virus only attacks humans and activates when someone dies. This explains why, in general terms, we are all infected. The bite of the infected merely accelerates the process, turning us into one of them within hours."
"After my last contact with a researcher in France, they clarified that they were close to finding a cure for the virus. But communication was lost, and we were unable to maintain contact. I can only assume they ran out of power or something else happened."
"I always believed that one day we would overcome the virus... Slowly, we lost contact with laboratories around the world. The one in France was the last to hold out before we lost communication. At least we managed to obtain valuable information from the French researchers, who were far ahead of us in their studies."
"The virus in France is stronger, faster, and more aggressive. It takes only seconds for a person to turn into a walker—truly terrifying."
In the large space, Edwin Janner slowly explained everything they knew about the virus to Jason. Jason already knew some of these facts, but only on a superficial level—nothing technical like what these scientists understood.
Jason listened in silence as he walked around the area. "So, are there any side effects to starting production of this vaccine you say is ready?"
Hearing this question, Edwin Janner fell silent. It was true that he had managed to create a vaccine to eliminate the virus from the human body, preventing transformation into a walker upon natural death. However, it was still unknown if it would have any side effects on humans.
"It's too soon to tell, but although the vaccine can be manufactured, we still need to study whether it has any adverse effects on the human body!" Candace said with a sad smile. After all this time, they still had nothing guaranteed.
Hearing this, Jason furrowed his brows. He couldn't risk himself and his people on a vaccine whose long-term consequences were unknown. But still, some would have to take the risk.
After confirming as much information about the vaccine as possible, Jason began discussing the laboratory renovations. Along with the crop fields, the lab would be one of the most important facilities, requiring a large workforce.
All these plans were still in progress, but they needed to be addressed as soon as possible. Looking at Candace and the other researchers, Jason said, "Everyone truly appreciates your efforts. Don't rush your research—take your time. We will protect you from any danger."
Seeing that there was nothing more to discuss, Edwin suggested, "We could begin human trials soon. It's very likely that the vaccine doesn't have many side effects. So, all we need is for someone to volunteer to take it and start monitoring the results."
Knowing that human test subjects were needed, Jason thought for a moment and said, "If we want to take things slowly, it would be best if I find test subjects myself. I'll look for criminals or bad people—at least they can serve as test subjects."
"That's..."
Some people murmured, feeling somewhat guilty about the idea, but Edwin stepped forward and said, "If the vaccine works as we expect, then there's nothing to worry about."
"Very well, then."
Leaving the laboratory—or rather, the place where it would be built—Jason quickly walked back to his room.
There were some things he wanted to develop on his own, which meant the coming days would be extremely busy.
And on his list of priorities, France would undoubtedly be at the very top.