Jack and Ellie had been searching for answers about where the virus had come from for a long long time. They were hoping to get answers on it’s history, who was involved, and what the cure or antidote truly was, especially since Taisan had been injured in the explosion of her lab and had amnesia as to what her secret recipe for the antidote was.
They had found a video tape during their many searches of buildings and labs and had planned to view it when they returned to the Mall.
Danni obviously knew what was on the tape (and knew of her fathers involvement) so was keen to find and destroy this tape, but she did not get to it on time.
What is it all about?
The Broadcast evidently tells about where the virus originated?
But it spins some story about where the ‘plague’ came from. They say it was from a comet and that it’s tail carried a deadly virus. Yeah right we all say!! Is it believable? Can the Mall Rats fall for this story?
PRESIDENT: - “Several months ago, a small, obscure comet - comet Freya … passed through the earth’s orbit. Debris from the comet’s tail has carried a deadly virus into our atmoshere. This virus has contaminated the food we eat, the water we drink, the very air that we breathe.”
Jack and Ellie initially thought that they had finally found the solution and answers as to where the virus came from!. But why was the tape they were watching going fuzzy in some bits. Had it had been tampered with? Would they even notice that this seemed strange? Perhaps it had been lying around some dirty place and lost its quality?
What was the real story?
The video was replayed for the rest of the Mall Rats. Jack and Ellie wanted to show everyone that they had finally found the real truth of where the virus came from and that the issue could finally be put to rest.
Here are some immediate reactions of the Mall Rats upon watching this:
Ellie - “Is that possible?”
Bray - “It’s hard to believe”
Danni - "But that would explain everything, Why nobody was prepared. And why nobody could do anything ‘til it was too late’ "
Of course Danni was quick to come up with her view to convince the rest of the Mall Rats that yes it was the real story?
What next?
Jack thought he would listen to the President’s video they had found once more, just to confirm to himself that it was a viable story! He was fairly satisfied with the story he had heard the President give about the source of the virus.
He was pottering about his work in his workshop when the video finished…or so he thought…but it continued - and not in the context that Jack expected to hear.
President: " Do not despair. My message to you is stay calm, remain hopeful. We will defeat this plague from the stars. God bless you all…
Well, What do you think? Was I convincing?"
Producer: " Yes, sir. Very convincing, I’d say."
President: " You think they’ll swallow all that guff about the comet …?"
Convincing?
What was the President talking about? Convincing? Was it all a sham? It was quickly becoming evident that there was a major scandal going on!! Jack couldn’t believe his ears … he couldn’t wait to tell and show Ellie!!
There was so much more to this ‘virus’ than what everybody originally thought. And there was obviously a huge cover-up going on to ensure that details would never be found out …
Jack was so enthusiastic to show Ellie what he had discovered. They had been searching so long for answers and then to ultimately come across this?!! WOW, Jack couldn’t believe it.
He was trying to get the video to work, nothing? pressed play, nothing? Check the video insert, NOTHING??? Where on earth had the tape disappeared to in that short space of time when Jack went to get Ellie?
There goes the next scandal … Who stole the video? and Why? It must be someone in the Mall? Someone who knows more than they are letting on … and someone who has a vested interest or connection to the virus and its origination?
This was the next saga in the cover-up process of the virus details. What was the real story? Will they ever find out in Tribeworld what were the actual details and source of the virus?
Could it be that the virus was not really as a result of an attempt to stop the aging process? Perhaps it came from man’s exploration of space, a scientific experiment which went terribly wrong or was a result of germ warfare???