Corona Crisis By Mitch mitchtenchifan@sbcglobal.net Corona Coronada, Amara, and the Secret Society created by Christopher E. Forman. Used with permission. Michael Andrews, Mara Jacobs, Eddie, and the MJP-911 created by Michael J. Pfeffer. Given to Mitch. In the private massage parlor of the Secret Society, somewhere under Europe, it was dreadfully quiet. Corona Coronada, top agent for the fanatic organization was trying her best to relax, but her sultry Latino body was as tense as could be. Her assistant Amara was rubbing her bare back. "Ms. Coronada, you should be trying to relax." "Oh, Amara, I cannot relax. The anxiety had been getting to me lately. I haven't had a field assignment in years now and she knew why. With all the conflict in the world now, the Secret Society has truly become secret, preparing to continue our world conquest when things had settled down somewhat, but it has been looking less and less likely that will happen anytime soon." "Perhaps you could try something subtle." "Oh, Amara, if only it were so simple, but even if it would not be quickly traced to the Society, it would still be suspected to be from an organization like ours'. Even the hit-and-runs I would once try would be too noticeable. If only there were a way to strike at the world in anominous fashion..." Just then, Corona rose from the massage table and wrapped her towel around herself. "Ms. Corona, what...?" "To Room 15, Amara, I have finally thought of a way to rise from this lull." ----- In southeast Asia, there was a large and needy crowd around a large plane of unusual design. Volunteers were passing out U.S. Care packages as quickly as they could. Among them were the plane's pilots and owners. "Big load, today, huh Michael?" asked a young woman with medium length red hair and green eyes to a young man with spiky hair and shades. "Yeah, Mara, but that's why we're here," said Michael, breaking his focus on his work for a moment to look at her. Mara smiled at him, but she was secretly worried. Michael Andrews and Mara Jacobs had been married for a couple of years since they graduated college. Their private jet, the MJP-911, a sort of "gift" Michael received in his teenage years, had served as their home. They used it to travel the world and do volunteer work while their parents would support them with money for food. Both Michael and Mara had some skill with cooking, which they used to fulfill their mutual interest in international cosine. However, Michael was obviously trying to distract himself. Michael was once a spy, and a self-made "secret agent" and vengeance dispenser. He spent the end of his teenage years using the gadgets in the MJP-911 to right wrongs and get the occasional revenge against "those who deserved it". They thought they would be continuing this after high school, but they had become rather busy in college and by the time they got out, the world had become more complicated and dangerous. The Air Force never asked for Michael's help with anything and they probably couldn't do much more than the conventional forces could anyway. Michael often told her that he longed for the days he would be able to return to action. She often told him that was his testosterone talking. What she wanted was for them to finally start a family, but they had been globetrotting too much for that so far. Mara sighed and concentrated on her work. ----- That night, it was quiet aboard the MJP-911. Michael was about to head to be when he decided to try something. "Eddie?" he asked the living computer, "run a search on various local delicacies, please." "Certainly sir," the computer responded, "but you do know I can prepare such dishes myself." "I've been a little distant with Mara lately and maybe I can make it up with breakfast tomorrow morning." "I suppose that your longing for days past is bothering you again." "Shut up, Eddie." Eddie was quiet vocally, but his search engine, although much softer than most, worked. A viewscreen appeared and various recipes and their instructions appeared on it." Michael read them and already became anxious to attempt them. Suddenly, the screen became wavy and soon disappeared. "Eddie, what's going on?" "Mal-malfunc-malfunction...," Eddie stammered until he went silent. "Eddie? Eddie!" Michael had never been worried for Eddie before, but this looked like this would be the first time. Mara arrived in the hallway. Michael almost lost focus when seeing her in her robe. "Michael, what's going on?" she asked, tired after the long day. "It's Eddie. I think he's down." "But he's never down. He's years ahead of his time and he's protected from all known viruses." "Maybe," mused Michael, "we're dealing with an unknown virus." ---- "You sure this is the best way to do this?" asked Mara as Michael put on his Virtual Reality suit. "You heard the news from where the transmissions are still working," reminded Michael, "there's some kind of computer virus striking around the world, infecting whatever it can grasp." "Yeah," said Mara, "so maybe we just need an anti-virus..." "It's too fast," interrupted Michael, "it may be best to 'go in', virtually speaking." "Okay," said Mara, "that's it." Mara began to don their other VR suit. "Mara, what are you doing?" "What I usually do, look after you, you big dummy." "But, you know the suit protects my mind and other body functions..." "I want to be sure," said Mara firmly, "and I think you should be spending more time with me." Michael was stunned at first but shrugged. "Just like old times, honey," he said as he pushed the button. ------ Although their internet access was perhaps the fastest on Earth, the suits were designed to take it in slowly. It would be too sudden for the human senses to take in the trading of the real world with a virtual one, especially cyberspace which had too many elements for one person to take. The virtual reality systems of the MJP-911 offered a trade-off of sorts between the sensations of reality and that of cyberspace, which were, by nature, not even meant to be taken by tactile means. The systems made sure that there was a slow but steady trade between touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell, and other sensations with simulated substitutions for them. Although, they had taken the trip for fun several times before, Michael and enjoyed it and the slow trade made it even more so enjoyable. Cyberspace was a well of human expression and this made them feel as if they were swimming in it. Due to the wealth of information, whether factual, false, or personal opinion, it was hard to move in it all. In short, it felt like scuba diving to Michael and Mara, with electronic waves feeling like the pressure of the ocean. "So," asked Mara, "where do we find this virus?" "I'm stretching the awareness of our sensors to get a reading," explained Michael, "from that, I should be able to trace it to the original source." The virus was fast, but it's own proactive nature turned out to be it's undoing. Michael soon caught a nearby trace of it and stretched his awareness a bit, figuring that it wouldn't have gone far. "There," Michael said, pointing in a general direction, "care for a swim?" "With you, you don't need to ask," Mara responded playfully as she followed him. ----- Michael and Mara were on a clear trail to the virus, but was very fast. It struck many systems before they could even see it. Eventually, they picked up speed and, according to Michael's readings, got closer to it than ever. Mara then noticed a puzzled look on Michael's face. "What's wrong?" she asked. "It stopped moving," Michael answered, "I don't know if that means it's ending or..." "It's detecting us somehow," finished Mara, sharing Michael's worry, "it may be some kind of trap." "Yeah, but we have to take that risk," said Michael, "and it's just a dumb virus anyway. We can take it." Mara didn't feel quite so certain. ----- "Okay," said Michael a little later, "we're almost there! Just one more burst of speed...!" When they got to the virus, they were quite surprised. What they saw was a woman of Latino decent covered in tight armor and carrying two swords. "Finally," the woman said in a thick Spanish accent, "a challenge!" "You...you're the virus?" "I wouldn't call myself that," said the woman, "but I am doing my best impression of one." "But...why?" "For fun! Anyway, I am Corona Coronada..." "Like the beer from Mexico?" asked Mara. "Yesss, like the beer," Corona replied flatly, "I am so sick of that joke." "Well," said Michael, "let's see how fast you get sick of this!" Energy gathered from the immediate location of Michael and he formed a sword and shield from them. "Not bad," said Corona while swinging her own swords, "but to make sure that I am not bothered too much, I have called on a friend." "Hola." Michael turned around and saw behind Mara a woman in bulkier armor and a bo staff in her hands. Mara responded by creating the exultant of a duel-light saber and swung it a few times in expert fashion. "Best of both worlds," she declared as she swung around a couple of times to demonstrate her own skill. Undaunted, the woman struck. Mara blocked the blow and the battle began. Michael had his hands full with Corona. He was glad he had a shield since she was very capable with both swords. He was not without skill either, but Corona was trying to kill him while he was trying to either stun or disarm her. They spent most of the time parrying each other. Eventually, Corona, apparently giving into rage, tried using both swords on him, but was blocked by Michael's shield. Michael used this distraction to quickly disarm her with his own sword. "Ms. Coronada!" The other woman was distracted by this. Mara took advantage of this and struck her staff against the woman's armor. This took her by surprise, but she stayed focused on Corona and not Mara. "I'll help you, Ms. Coronada!" The woman closed her eyes as waves of energy left her virtual body and went to Corona. Corona took it and it formed a feminine version of Spanish armor around her. "Thank you, Amara. Return to base." Amara vanished and Michael and Mara looked at their "upgraded" foe. "Any ideas?" Mara asked her husband." "Well," said Michael, "we could try to take her energy, I guess." Michael and Mara concentrated, and felt their brains hurt from the feedback. When they began to recover, they heard Corona's annoying laugh. "Foolsss!" she declared, "my systems are designed so I can keep my energy! But I'll give some for you free of charge!" Energy waves came from Corona, the feedback was so great that Michael and Mara lost their concentration and their virtual weapons disappeared. "Can't... take much more...," declared Mara. "But, we have to...go on...Eddie..." "Didn't you call him a bombastic rust pot yesterday?" Mara teased. "I was tired," said Michael, "I mean, he's annoying, but..." "Look," interrupted Mara, "we can't fight her head on. Any ideas?" "One," said Michael, "follow me." Then, the couple suddenly disappeared. ----- Corona laughed manically. "I did it! I won! Victory isss mine! Now, to breat into the computersss of the Pentagon and..." Suddenly, Corona's senses started fuzzing in and out. She could not figure out why, but she started feeling real world sensations and not virtual ones. Cyberspace around her flickered away and she found herself back in Room 15 of the Secret Society base in her VR suit. She heard a familiar voice weeping. She turned around and saw Amara on the floor behind her, looking up with a tear stained face. "Ms. Corona, I'm sorry. I failed you! I don't know how they did it, but I beg your forgiveness!" "Amara, what are you talking about...?" Just then, Corona realized what had happened. The monitors of the control room were blank. This could only have meant one thing. "They did not run; they traced our trail to our own systems. They put our operating system down like I did to others'." She was silent for a moment. Then, she bent down and lifted Amara back to her feet, who stopped sniffing. "This ssserved it's purpossse, Amara," Corona explained, "I am out of my ssslump. Now, may we return to that masssage?" Amara smiled a little and picked up a towel. ----- It had been a couple of weeks since they had stopped Corona. Michael had used the backup features of the MJP-911 to jumpstart Eddie long enough to put together a fast-working anti-virus, which restored the world's operating systems. After that, they celebrated with a romantic evening. Michael was worried now, however. Mara became ill shortly afterward and was taken back to the States to see her doctor. "I assure you, Michael," said Eddie, "that your wife's condition has no proof of concern at the present." Michael smiled a bit right before replying with, "Shut up, Eddie." "Incoming call," said Eddie, whose subsystems bypassed his initial orders. "Take it," said Michael, hoping it was Mara. "Michael," said the voice of Mara's female doctor over Eddie's systems, "your wife would like to see you." Now, Michael really was worried. ----- A very quick trip to the States later, Michael practically ran through the hospital until he reached the doctor's office. However, he found her with a smiling Mara in a hospital gown sitting on an examination table. "Michael," she said with her voice breaking a little, "I...we're...we're gonna have twins! A boy and a girl!" Michael froze for a moment, taking it in. Then, he rushed to his wife and took her in his arms. "Still gonna use the names we planned some years back?" Michael asked. "'Trent jr.' and Daria jr.'? I wouldn't have it any other way!" END