"We Are Legend"
Inspiration: The Will Smith movie, "I Am Legend".
Today's Date: March 2020
Background:
- 2016: A genetically re-engineered virus is cleared by the FDA for human testing as a vaccine against several forms of cancer.
- 2017: Initial testing is astounding.
- 2018: The vaccine goes into worldwide distribution.
- 2019: The vaccine begins mutating inside the human body. Symptoms begin appearing near the end of the year.
- 2020: The serious effects begin: 90% of those immunized die a horrific, painful death; while the 10% who survive become predatory mutants called "Darkseekers".
"Darkseekers":
- They act like crazed, rabid animals.
- They chase down, kill, and eat uninfected humans.
- They have speed, strength, and agility superior to uninfected humans; yet have the intelligence level of an untrained monkey.
- They have a serious weakness: direct sunlight causes them intense, disabling pain and -- if the Darkseeker doesn't get out of it quick enough -- an agonizing death.
- They live in dark areas -- unlit buildings, tunnels, subways, and sewers -- and only come out into the open between sundown and sunrise.
Now: March 2020:
- By this point, the Press has dubbed the virus "Rabies 2.0".
- Our story centers on the neighborhood of Broad Channel, part of Queens, New York.
- Broad Channel's four accesses -- the two ends each of IND railway and the Cross Bay Toll Road -- were closed as soon as Rabies 2.0 was verified to be spreading in New York City.
- The majority of Broad Channel's population flooded out of the city, heading as many had to open country. (It would prove to be a mistake, of course, as the Darkseekers only found it easier to hunt people in the less secure environment of rural areas.)
- At the start of our story, there are only 250 people left in Broad Channel.
