. From the Top Secret Files at the Centre
Something so terrifying it never was mentioned in the news
(Scenario provided by Leah)
THE CENTRE'S DOOMSDAY COMPUTER VIRUS
Special thanks to all who coordinated and participated
October 30, 1997
The Centre Exchange
Blue Cove, Delaware
Ever since Jarod had unexpectedly dropped in for a brief
appearance and newer operatives had actually SEEN him for the first
time, there had been something decidedly different in the atmosphere.
A feeling, like anticipation arose as evening drew close, and at five
minutes to 10 EST the CE was packed to the rim with those who were
exchanging ideas. The place was buzzing with conversation and there
was nothing unusual in any of that.
Leah: Hello all. Heading to Centre Database. I need to research
and update my theories.
This was something she often did, again nothing abnormal or
unusual in that.
Miss Parker had just arrived at ten o'clock and was getting into
a conversation with several operatives but five minutes later a yell
shrieked through the air.
Leah: Miss Parker! Heeeeeeellllllp! My computer screen just went
blank and the word LULLABY appeared. At the bottom of the screen is
the signature "Jarod."
Miss Parker's face took on a worried look. "Oh, no Leah! Jarod
was here earlier today! You don't think he could be responsible for
this? Where's Shallsee?"
"Help!" Leah cried again. "Where's a computer doc when you need
one?"
Just then Shallsee appeared, confident that the problem could be
solved, she attempted to smooth over the panic that had begun. "The
computer docs and Broots have the night off."
"Then, what should I do?" Leah asked. "Run a systems diagnostic?"
As Shallsee agreed this would be best, a rumbling electronic voice
filled the air.
COMPUTER VOICE: Unauthorized Program has entered the system.
Analyzing Data.
"Oh no!" someone shouted. "Not another computer voice! Remember
EAVE? But we got rid of her."
EAVE: Guess again!
COMPUTER VOICE: Analyzation complete. Computer virus. This
program will enter the Centre Mainframe, activate the fax machines and
expose all top secret files to the nearest FBI and police. Running
Diagnostics....diagnostics faaaaaiiling.
Miss Parker turned pale and her face took on look of panic.
"Someone stop this!" she shouted. "This is me, your Missy. My job and
my very life is at stake!"
Wyldchilde who had been watching the spreading panic with
amusement assured her, whatever the outcome he would protect her.
COMPUTER VOICE: SECURITY LEVEL 1 BREACHED
The lighting systems went haywire. Lights began to blink on and
off.
Leah: Oh no! EAVE is back!
Shallsee was hard at work at her computer terminal, following the
proper protocols.
SHALLSEE: Booting up, Anti-Virus Program
COMPUTER VOICE: Anti-Virus Program corrupted. Entering network.
COMPUTER VOICE: SECURITY LEVEL 2 BREACHED
The Centre's eyes and ears....the Security Cameras suddenly
stopped broadcasting. The screens went dark.
LEAH: Hmm...I think I was wrong about EAVE. Sorry, false alarm.
EAVE: That's what you thought!
THE REAL EAVE: hehehehehehehehehehe
VIRUS MAN: I'll stop it! *taking out toolbox*
Shallsee, undaunted by the failure of the first anti-virus
program began writing up a program of her own.
"How long, Shallsee?" Miss Parker asked.
As soon as she had finished identifying a certain feature of the
virus program, Shallsee assured Missy, it would be VERY soon.
VG: Can someone tell me what's going on here?
Wyldchilde replied that everyone was going out their minds about
some virus Jarod had planted. He asked VG to join him in his private
celebration. They began singing and dancing with joy.
COMPUTER VOICE: SECURITY LEVEL 3 BREACHED
"How many security levels are there?" Wyldchilde asked.
"Checking manual!" said Miss Parker. She flipped through the
pages of the manual. "10!"
"Oh, just wondered."
VIRUS MAN: *pulling open computer panel*
SPARKS FLY FROM VIRUS MAN'S COMPUTER PANEL.
SHALLSEE: I'm ready. Activating Pacman and Super Nova Programs
"Did it work? Is it working?" someone asked.
"Has anyone got the security cameras working again yet?"
SECURITY: Yes, they're working.
"What are they showing? What do you SEE?"
SECURITY: Lovely views of the coast. Why?
COMPUTER VOICE: Pacman and Super Nova Eradicated *BOOM*
COMPUTER VOICE: SECURITY LEVELS 4 OF 10 BREACHED
The security cameras totally fizzled.
VIRUS MAN: *pulling out wires* I've deactivated the computer
voice!
COMPUTER VIRUS: Reactivating!
VIRUS MAN: Die, sucker, die!
COMPUTER VOICE: SECURITY LEVEL 5 BREACHED All electronically
sealed doors are now unlocked and open.
"That's not technically possible!"
POINTBLANK: Hi there! *entering with reporter team* The doors
were unlocked so I just came right in. *reporter on duty*
BERI: What's going on here?
POINTBLANK: Hello, Beri! *holding tape recorder* How do you feel
about the impending catastrophe and doom that could effect the lives
of everyone at the Centre?
MARKSTAFF: Come here, PB. Let me show you something. The door!
Here ya go!
SHALLSEE: Someone help me! I can't block all the doors at once.
LEAH: *jumping for cover* BOOM!!! Ahhh, Miss Parker! My computer
just blew up! Literally!
MISS PARKER: Leah, get to my office! It's not safe there.
LEAH: *rushing to Missy's office*
VIRUS MAN: I did it! I killed the virus!
COMPUTER VOICE: SECURITY LEVEL 6 BREACHED
The Centre suddenly was engulfed in total darkness.
MEL: You idiot! You cut off the power!
CHILDREN SKIPPING IN THE HALLWAYS
BRIAR: Come on kids! Follow me! Help me out, Wyld.
COMPUTER VOICE: SECURITY LEVEL 7 BREACHED COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
FAILING.
Now all communications to other areas would have to be relayed
via messenger.
"I can't SEE!"
*BUMP* OUCH! *BUMP* Sorry!
WYLDCHILDE: Okay Briar, let's go! *heading out to boat*
Wyldchilde and Briar did fairly well on leading the children out
to the boat. A few of the children were so cheery about their escape,
that they even suggested to Wyld that they help find the code word
which would stop the virus, for the sake of Missy. Although, one child
was not joyful, only hesitant and afraid. She hung back from the boat
on the dock, undecided as to whether she should stay or go. And
another child, Molly, cried out for her friend. She wanted Anna to
join them in the boat. When Anna did not come, Molly yelled out to
Miss Parker for her assistance.
The following incident may or may not have happened. It is a
rumor, for which there is no substantiation, and thus no investigation
can be implicated around this Centre employee:
MISS PARKER: Anna, *kneeling down* Anna, you know me right. You
can trust me right? Go with Wyld and the other children, okay? Go!
Under the darkness of the night, and the extra darkness afforded
by the lack of lights at the Centre, the boat safely pulled away from
shore. One child fell out of the boat, and Wyld jumped off to save
her, while Briar attended to those in boat. As to what to happened to
the children and their rescuers after that and where the children
escaped to, well here the memory of the biographer fails her.
MEL: *handing out flashlights*
MAIL MAN: Mail for Miss Parker
P9: Another Secret admirer Missy?
MISS PARKER: What! I don't have time for this. *opening package*
What's this a photo of a building with the word SANCTUARY on it?
What's that supposed to mean?
MARKSTAFF: a church? a bird refuge?
MISS PARKER: That's it REFUGE!
CENTRE SPEAKERS: *young Jarod's voice* Cree Craw toads foot.
Geese walk barefoot.
COMPUTER VOICE: SECURITY LEVEL 8 BREACHED...VIRUS NEARING CENTRE
MAINFRAME
MISS PARKER: Quick somebody enter the word REFUGE!
LEAH: I will! Where's a computer terminal?
MISS PARKER: Use the one right here, in my office!
SHALLSEE: Leah, hurry. Type the password.
LEAH: Okay, here it goes. *typing carefully on keyboard* R-e-f-u-
g-e
MARKSTAFF: *crossing fingers*
COMPUTER VOICE: System is paused for five minutes. Waiting for
second password.
PUBLIC RELATIONS: Pointblank, still here? Catastrophe? There's no
catastrophe here. This is just a simulation. Our staff is trained for
this. Hardly life threatening.
POINTBLANK: *gathering reporting team together* I don't have time
to listen to these lying insults. Let's go team. *packing up
equipment* Who wants to write about a secret organization anyways?!
*walking out the door*
MISS PARKER: Shhh, I just heard a child's voice singing. Young
Jarod's voice singing...a lullaby. Like my mother used to sing to me.
LEAH: Okay, the virus was called "LULLABY." Who sings a lullaby?
SHALLSEE: A mother!
MARKSTAFF: Refuge mother...mother refuge. A kitchen?
The Centre seemed to have been cleared of operatives. Or at least
the foiled communications systems made it seem so. Only Miss Parker,
Shallsee, Leah and Markstaff were grouped in Miss Parker's office,
still attempting to solve Jarod's puzzle.
SHALLSEE: Hey, hasn't anyone noticed that the children have
escaped!
ANNA: *waving from boat* Bye, bye!
COMPUTER VOICE: SECURITY LEVEL 9 BREACHED...VIRUS ENTERING CENTRE
MAINFRAME...LOCATING NEAREST FBI BRANCH OFFICE REVVING FAX MACHINES
An earth-shaking scream in the negative ripped through the entire
Centre. It issued from Miss Parker. She looked as if she was near
fainting.
Simultaneously, perhaps spurred on by the cry, Shallsee entered
the words....Mother Refuge...and then Refuge Mother, while Leah
entered the word Mother, using Miss Parker's computer.
And then--they waited.
COMPUTER VOICE: PREPARING TRANSMISSION...TRANSMISSION TERMINATED!
Miss Parker slumped to the floor in relief. Cheers arose and
filled the air rocking the very foundations of the Centre.
"We're saved," Leah cried, as Shallsee threw papers into the air.
"By your entering the combination of passwords and my entering them
separately we have stopped the virus!"
"That's fine," breathed Miss Parker, still lying on the floor of
her office. "Now isn't anyone going to help me up?" The cheers drowned
out Miss Parker's question as Shallsee and Leah gave each other a high
five. "Isn't anyone going to help me up!!!"
Markstaff quickly obliged her and then bid her a good night.
CENTRE SPEAKERS: *Jarod's voice* Catch me if you can!
MISS PARKER: Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarod!
"Are you okay, Miss Parker?" Leah asked. "You look pale." Miss
Parker assured Leah that with Markstaff's help, she was on her way to
recovering from the entire ordeal.
PIZZA GUY: Okay, who ordered a pizza?
No one at the Centre seemed to know.
Finally, one said, "I'll take that. How much do I owe you?"
PIZZA GUY: Nothing. It was prepaid. Ordered electronically over
the computer.
Nevertheless, the pizza was consumed by some hungry late-
nighters, who arrived just after the exposure of the Centre had been
avoided.
SWEEPERS: Damage Report for Miss Parker. *looking at clipboard*
13 children were rescued. Seven computers blew up and 25 security
cameras fried.
MISS PARKER: *sigh* Well, I suppose it could have been worse.
SWEEPERS: Communication and heating is down. Three fires were
extinguished and one was right outside your office...so there was
smoke damage. We're beginning repairs now.
LEAH: Brr..it's getting cold in here.
Miss Parker agreed and asked Leah to hand her a quilt from her
couch. Leah did. Then, Shallsee bid Leah a goodnight apologizing to
her for being too wrapped up in "cleaning up this mess" to get a
chance to talk to her before. Miss Parker began to get into
conversation with the night owls, already showing signs that she was
truly on the road to recovering. Leah bid Miss Parker a goodnight as
well and left the Centre.
And a sense of peace (very temporary) pervaded the Centre, it was
as if the very walls had breathed a sigh of relief. The pensive
waiting for imminent doom evaporated. There was no word in The Centre
Times as if the events that had happened, never had happened. Those
entering the Centre later, were in peaceful oblivion as to how close
the Centre and all its inhabitants actually came to total exposure.
And as time passed, even the mentions of the occurrences befalling
that night became fewer and far between.
Some might think the Centre is impervious to any such wide-scale
catastrophes. That such a thing as this never could happen. But those
that were there on that singular night realize how near Jarod's
doomsday virus brought the Centre to a disastrous end. They KNOW!