Outbreak Plague Rampant for Four Years

Vol. 11.1 No. 3

PARAGON CITY, Rhode Island, September 20th

By James Stark

Today marks the third anniversary of the Outbreak pandemic that has swept the city and devastated hotspots around the globe. Memorial services are being held throughout Paragon and around the country today. It was four years ago that the Outbreak virus was identified by scientists at the Rivera Medical Center – to date, the plague has claimed nearly 1 million lives worldwide.

Here in Paragon City, a candlelight vigil is being held in Atlas Park to remember the fallen. While many of the infected are not technically dead, the city’s casualties number in the tens of thousands who have been lost to the Outbreak plague. Statesman and Sister Psyche will say a few words in remembrance. Another speaker will be Tammy Miller, widow of Doctor Greg Miller, one of the first heroes lost to the plague and the scientist who identified the virus.

The first victims of the Outbreak virus were members of a chapter of the Skulls looking for an alternative to Superadine. They hijacked a Crey Biotech shipment and stole an experimental drug. They tested the drug out looking for a quick fix and an easy high – essentially looking to corner a new product to peddle on the streets. They got their quick fix, but there was nothing easy about “Outbreak,” as the street nicknamed the drug. Use of the new drug spread throughout their neighborhood as speedily as its name implied, wiping out many street gangs and homeless, but also severely crippling first responders like members of the PPD, the FDPC, and EMTs.

Users of Outbreak experience a feeling of invincibility and a boost in physical strength, but there is also a corresponding increase in violent tendencies and aggression. A single dose causes physical addiction and will cause a rapid and unstoppable mental degradation resulting in clinical insanity. Doctors have been unable to reverse the loss of memory and personality associated with Outbreak madness.

In addition to the mental damage, Outbreak also causes physical mutations, such as the signature glowing green eyes. Such victims are known as the Contaminated. The Paragon Police Department has created several quarantine areas, or Isolation Zones, in neighborhoods of Skyway City and Steel Canyon, and the entirety of Talos Island. Heroes without technological shielding, such as hazard suits or fully-enclosed environmental suits, or without some other magical or super-powered resistance to infection, are cautioned to stay away. “While many of the Contaminated don’t seem to be a very dangerous threat,” Blue Steel, representative for the PPD, said, “it’s all too easy to become infected. And once you’ve caught Outbreak, you’re lost.”

Although it is nearly impossible to track all members of the Contaminated, it is believed that a surprisingly large number have vanished from the Isolation Zones. Some suspect they are drifting to join the rag-tag armies of the Lost, huddled in the sewers beneath the city streets. Others worry they may somehow be making their way to Sharkhead Isle, a section of the Rogue Isles known to be riddled with plague-carriers. “If the Contaminated are getting through our net,” Blue Steel said, “this could be disastrous. All we need is for one victim to escape to Mercy Island or Grandville, or reach a major metropolis like Chicago or Empire City, and we’ll have the next true catastrophe on our hands.”

Coyote, long-time assistant to the Rivera Medical Center said again that no answer is in sight, and it may be years before they crack the Outbreak plague to find an antidote. “We must continue to be vigilant,” Coyote said, “and do whatever is in our power to help our lost brothers and sisters. We must do everything we can to break this dreaded plague.” Coyote has said in the past that he regrets bringing new heroes into a plague-zone, and wishes he could recover all of those who have been lost.

As part of our continued coverage of the history of the Outbreak plague, the Times would like to remember this year’s fallen.

We remember:

Aaron Shields, Agent Davis, Alicia Robinson, Amber Reeves, Amy Graham, Andre Rogers, Andrew Mitchell, Armando H. Sanders, Arnold Decker, Ashlee Hale, Audrey Yoo, Betty Cope, Bonnie Muniz, Captain Sherman, Carol Wiles, Charles Drake, Charlie J. Lovely, Colleen Hathaway, Craig Castro, Cynthia Bray, Deann Rodriguez, Derek J. Mooneyhan, Devin Mcleod, Elizabeth Bartels, Ernesto Hess, Everett Daniels, Genevieve Sanders, George Givens, Helen Voss, Jacob Covington, Jacob Nadel, James Hannigan, Jeffrey Boone, Jimmy Dortz, Joan Curtis, John Rich, John Walker, Johnathon Murphy, Josef Keller, Joseph Narcisse, Joyce Edwards, Juan Holden, Karen Cortez, Karen Parker, Kathleen Verdugo, Kathryn Swingle, Katie Hannon, Dr. Kryten, Lori Smitherman, Lottie Heaton, Louise Joy, Mark Carpenter, Maxwell Christopher, Merisel Valenzuela, Michael Moreland, Mikey the Ear, Nancy Wilson, Pamela Graham, Patricia E. Jimenez, Perry Venuti, Rachel Price, Rachel Torres, Rachelle Clemmer, Ramon Stephenson, Ray J. Dempsey, Richard Campbell, Richard Tyler, Robert Harden, Robert Rosenblatt, Roberta L. Fain, Roslyn Schreiner, Samuel O’Reilly, Sandra Caballero, Sanjay Chandra, Sara Moore, Saul Williams, Scott Allen, Shawn Ledford, Shelli Jimenez, Shondra Her, Stasia Deweese, Sylvia Demello, Theresa Phelan, Tony Magruder, Veronica Woods, Viola Johnson, Virginia Montez, Virginia Thomas, Walter Daschle, William Spiers.