Sem Lockdown, Day 18
Akira stepped into Kain's room.
He had his camp bed positioned at opposite ends to the door, leaning against a stack of tables. It was a sizeable room, but there were so many random furnishings in it that it wasn't particularly functional.
Stacks of incredibly cheap, elderly microwaves that most across planet Sem wouldn't have seen in nearly two decades sat in a corner. Next to them were a mad inventor's attempts to create a posh tea-making machine with a strength setting, syrup, sugar and milk options and a dial to indicate the size of your cup. Most would be skeptical as to whether this would work.
Like the rest of the rooms, Kain's had an interactive wall. This was the only one which was completely clear, though there was a newfangled sound-system next to it and an entangled coil of cabling sat atop it. In front of it, was Kain's swivel chair. It lay on its back, with the young man still sat in it, his long legs creeping over the seat and his feet flopping above the carpet.
Akira crossed the room to pat the floor next to Kain's ear, trying to bring him to, "Hello, Kain, can you hear me?"
His dark eyes slowly flickered open, his skin still pale, "W... What happened?"
"Looks like you've passed out." He tried to get up, but she intervened and pushed his elbow back down. "Just stay where you are, I'll get you some water." His stomach grumbled loudly. In response to Akira asking when he'd last eaten, he shrugged. The girl sighed and left the room.
She paused outside the broadcasting room to tell Tristan what had happened and asked him to cook up some beans when they went off air. She grabbed some water and returned to Kain.
After a while, she walked him over to his camp bed and rectified the chair before sitting in it.
"Any idea why you passed out? Are you still not feeling great?" He relayed his morning to her and told her he went out for a run with a headache. She shook her head at him, "I told everyone to stay away from going running in the snow today. You shouldn't have been out, and especially not with a headache."
"Sorry," he clasped the cup of water in his hands, "What do you reckon caused the headache though? Do you think I was just dehydrated?"
She stood and smirked, "You probably were, don't worry about it."
Tristan chapped the door and Akira left to allow him in with a plate of beans, bidding both men goodnight as she did so. They said the same back.
"Thank you," Kain greeted, "Apologies for missing out on tonight's broadcast."
"No problem," Tristan smiled as he put the plate down in front of him, "So long as you're alright."
"I don't know I was today," Kain scratched the back of his head, "I can't shake the feeling I've let my family down for some reason." He looked up at his colleague, "Is that crazy?"
Tristan took a step back and formed an unnaturally stern expression, "It isn't crazy, but you need to understand that you are doing this for everyone's benefit. That includes your family too. They'll be extremely proud of you right now."
He had his camp bed positioned at opposite ends to the door, leaning against a stack of tables. It was a sizeable room, but there were so many random furnishings in it that it wasn't particularly functional.
Stacks of incredibly cheap, elderly microwaves that most across planet Sem wouldn't have seen in nearly two decades sat in a corner. Next to them were a mad inventor's attempts to create a posh tea-making machine with a strength setting, syrup, sugar and milk options and a dial to indicate the size of your cup. Most would be skeptical as to whether this would work.
Like the rest of the rooms, Kain's had an interactive wall. This was the only one which was completely clear, though there was a newfangled sound-system next to it and an entangled coil of cabling sat atop it. In front of it, was Kain's swivel chair. It lay on its back, with the young man still sat in it, his long legs creeping over the seat and his feet flopping above the carpet.
Akira crossed the room to pat the floor next to Kain's ear, trying to bring him to, "Hello, Kain, can you hear me?"
His dark eyes slowly flickered open, his skin still pale, "W... What happened?"
"Looks like you've passed out." He tried to get up, but she intervened and pushed his elbow back down. "Just stay where you are, I'll get you some water." His stomach grumbled loudly. In response to Akira asking when he'd last eaten, he shrugged. The girl sighed and left the room.
She paused outside the broadcasting room to tell Tristan what had happened and asked him to cook up some beans when they went off air. She grabbed some water and returned to Kain.
After a while, she walked him over to his camp bed and rectified the chair before sitting in it.
"Any idea why you passed out? Are you still not feeling great?" He relayed his morning to her and told her he went out for a run with a headache. She shook her head at him, "I told everyone to stay away from going running in the snow today. You shouldn't have been out, and especially not with a headache."
"Sorry," he clasped the cup of water in his hands, "What do you reckon caused the headache though? Do you think I was just dehydrated?"
She stood and smirked, "You probably were, don't worry about it."
Tristan chapped the door and Akira left to allow him in with a plate of beans, bidding both men goodnight as she did so. They said the same back.
"Thank you," Kain greeted, "Apologies for missing out on tonight's broadcast."
"No problem," Tristan smiled as he put the plate down in front of him, "So long as you're alright."
"I don't know I was today," Kain scratched the back of his head, "I can't shake the feeling I've let my family down for some reason." He looked up at his colleague, "Is that crazy?"
Tristan took a step back and formed an unnaturally stern expression, "It isn't crazy, but you need to understand that you are doing this for everyone's benefit. That includes your family too. They'll be extremely proud of you right now."
******
"Good evening, fellow citizens. As Pasqual celebrations end, we continue the journey towards our third week of lockdown. I hope you are all still coping well, please continue to reach out to each other and stay in touch.
To begin today's broadcast, I'm pleased to say Kain is with us again and we are back to our ordinary schedule. Here is the man himself with today's news."
******
"Good evening, planet Sem.
I unfortunately didn't obey my own advice yesterday and went outside during the snowstorm which, in part, led to me being out of commission last night. I apologise to you all for being so reckless. Akira's weather report will contain more information on the snowstorm situation but, as someone who was enough of an imbecile to go out before, I cannot stress enough that you should remain indoors as far as is possible. No change there, really, I suppose. Hope you're all still managing okay.
The shops reported that despite warnings yesterday, people still stocked up on too much fish, meat and vegetables. Please, please don't feel the need, there's plenty to go round. Thanks again to all those in Piscanturia who have been working overtime, it's a much-appreciated effort.
Some of you have been interested to find out how the cheese research has been going as it immediately went to a standstill due to the crāpulavirus analysis being of higher priority. There isn't much to say for the moment, but work is almost complete on the initial process of collating new home-test data. The tests on the cheese could start as early as tomorrow.
I'm glad to be back with you again after my night of recovery yesterday, I hope no inconvenience was caused. Now, on the note of home-test-kit data, here's Miles with the latest health updates."
******
"Good evening to you all.
As Kain hinted at, there is news on the data analysis front.
It would appear that the most affected area currently is Secat, with Piscanturia following shortly after and Simul Santu being the last on the list. Soldiers have managed to visit the West Pole where one test was taken, that result came back negative. The evidence continues to show a slow in spread, which is a good thing.
Officials have allowed me to say that negotiations about easing the lockdown measures are now in place, as a result of the planet's continued, sharpening decrease in cases. I'm sure that will be welcome news indeed.
While these negotiations are in progress though, do continue to keep up with the lockdown strategy measures. It's important that we all continue to follow through with this until the end. Stay indoors, maintain good hygiene standards and refrain from playing music late at night.
Here's Akira with the weather."
******
"Thank you, Miles.
Please do heed the warning Kain gave earlier, the situation with the snowstorm is set to continue for another day yet and you don't want to go out and get caught in it. Conditions at the North Pole and the North of Secat and Simul Santu should begin to ease overnight, but it still really is best recommended that you try to do your daily exercise indoors instead. Perhaps try out that meditation we mentioned in an earlier broadcast?
Anyway, while Secat and Simul Santu remain stuck in the poor weather tomorrow, Piscanturia is set to experience some short, rainy spells with an average temperature of 18 degrees centigrade. The hail at the West Pole will now turn to rain, those very few who live there should be careful of slippery conditions underfoot. The South Pole will still remain cold and dry, but it will be one degree warmer tomorrow than it has been recently.
Back to you, Captain."
******
"Thank you, Akira.
As we seem to be slowly edging out of this lockdown, I ask that you remain as vigilant and high-spirited as possible, I'm sure we've all got a couple more weeks in us yet.
Thank you as always for your attention and co-operation. Here's a song from me to play us out tonight.
Goodnight, fellow citizens."
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