[ WP ] The CDC is struggling to contain a new virus that shares many symptoms with the common cold , as well as causing sporadic loss of short term memory .

**First submission and I am not a writer, be nice**: 
 
 Dr. Pamela Jenkins was the director of clinical research at the Children ’ s Healthcare of Atlanta. There had been a sudden influx of children with cold-like symptoms coupled with a severe headaches that almost incapacitated the poor kids, and rendered them unable to complete a coherent sentence. 
 
 Shaking off the last of her migraine and finishing her afternoon coffee, strong and black as usual, Pamela realized she was completely lost. She had the overwhelming sense that she was where she was supposed to be, but she did not recognize this lab. 
 
 “ Something isn ’ t right here, ” she thought aloud. “ The paint colors are wrong or maybe the lighting is different? ” 
 
 She definitely didn ’ t recognize the thick-framed man staring at her intently. There were deep wrinkles above his nose from seemingly trying to mate his eyebrows and lower them to his cheeks. 
 
 With his head slightly tilted he lowered his glasses and asked “ Pamela, right? Are you okay? Do you have my samples? ” 
 
 “ Samples? How-how do you know my name? Where am I? ” she asked shakily. “ What is your name? ” 
 
 “ I ‘ m Dr. Schutz, you were bringing me six more samples of the viral D-147 from CHoA. You were here this morning. Call me Dennis. ” She could see the concern drench his face and his words were drawn out and spoken slowly as he was trying to coax her memory back from its temporary departure. 
 
 “ Oh, right, heh. ” she said with nervous laughter, but still not remembering. She did however remember working at the Children ’ s Healthcare of Atlanta. She would routinely bring samples over to the CDC, but she did not recognize Dr. Schutz or this particular lab. “ Nice to meet you, again. ” She extended her right hand as she reminded herself to squeeze firmly, as she had to do with every handshake. 
 
 “ Now, the samples? ” Dennis asked hastily. “ I almost have the vaccines complete. I hope with these samples of the virus I can have the antigen finished in another day and we can get rid of this worrisome bug before more of your children are affected. ” Pamela considered all of the kids at CHoA as her own, maybe fueled by the fact she couldn ’ t actually have children. 
 
 “ Right here, Dennis. ” She passed over the aluminum container, that closely resembled a soup thermos. “ Do you mind if I to sit for a bit? I think I am having another migraine. ” She took a seat in the lab chair as she massaged each temple with only her index fingers. 
 
 Dr. Schutz gloved his large hands and eagerly opened the sample case and went to work carefully removing the first of the sample vials. He placed each vial inside the open centrifuge on his benchtop, started the machine, and set the timer for 3.25 hours. He made a notation in his lab notebook: “ 2:42PM Centrifuge started, 3.25 h– Final 6 samples; CHoA; Vaccine creation for D-147 – D. Schutz 
 
 “ What, wait. What-am-I-doing-here? ” Pamela asked, her confusion obvious. Her voice broke his silent concentration. 
 
 “ You just dropped off some samples, remember? Dr. Jenkins, I think you need some rest. ” 
 
 “ Samples, no. The last thing I remember is waking up this morning. Then I got this terrible headache! Wait, what were the samples for? ” 
 
 Dennis reached out and placed the back of his hand on her slightly sweaty forehead. “ I think you have a fever, Pamela, you really should go get checked out. The samples were for the D-147 variant of the recent viral outbreak. ” 
 
 “ Right, right. No, I remember the virus. I think I just need some rest, ” she said, “ I think I ’ ll just go home for the day. ” She slowly got to her feet, and exited the CDC vaccination lab. 
 
 Dennis glanced at his watch, then at his notes. “ About three more hours in the centrifuge, ” he thought, “ I could use a nap myself. I haven ’ t slept in three days. ” He waddled to his office, took his glasses off, and found a seat in his favorite desk chair. He propped his feet on his desk and let the memory of the last days ’ work lull him to sleep. 
 
 BEEP BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP BEEP! 
 
 The alarm from the centrifuge startled Dr. Schutz from his sleep. His headache was pounding, almost louder than that incessant noise. As he rose, he realized he didn ’ t remember falling asleep in his office. He stumbled to the centrifuge, trying to remember his past few hours. He stopped the alarm and picked up his lab notebook. He was more puzzled than ever when he read the last entry: 2:42PM Centrifuge started, 3.25 h– Final 6 samples; CHoA; Vaccine creation for D-147 – D. Schutz 
 
 “ I don ’ t remember starting these at all! I don ’ t even remember being at the final stage of the vaccine creation, ” he thought, “ I must have been very tired. I haven ’ t been sleeping enought lately. ” He shook off his headache and looked into the centrifuge still baffled. Inside were six 150 mL vials, cleanly separated at about the 50 mL mark. “ Great! ” he yelled to no one, “ the final vaccines are ready and I don ’ t even remember finishing them. ” 
 
 He carefully decanted the top 100 mL layer off each vial and placed the virus into a clean flask. He then mixed the flask with saline water and stabilizers. With 600 mL of the virus, Dennis created 12,000 “ vaccines. ” 

