gimp | THE FLARE.

VIRUS VC321xb47: THE FLARE
Nicknamed "The Flare" by the people, Virus VC321xb47 was thought to be a side effect of the solar flares that ravaged the Earth, but it turned out to have a far more nefarious purpose. Designed by the remaining governments of the world after the earth was scorched by the flares, the Flare was put into the enviornment by agents of WICKED, a scientific organization; as the governments began to realize that they couldn't handle the population of survivors as it was, they enlisted the help of WICKED to annihilate half of the population, so they could properly rebuild the world based on a smaller number of survivors.

However, like the best laid plans of mice and men, this failed.

Viruses constantly change and grow, and the Flare was no exception. Though it had originally been used only on outcroppings of poor survivors around the major cities still left int he world, and was meant only to be a blood borne virus, the Flare began to grow, spreading through all methods of contact. The only way to survive the Flare was to be "immune".

SYMPTOMS.
Sufferers of the Flare begin with no symptoms at all. Originally, it killed off people in the first four to six hours of infection--however, as the virus mutated, it began to lay dormant in people longer and longer. It begins to grow in the brain (heretofore known as the "killzone".) and is classified as a neurotoxic disease. Symptoms of the Flare are as follows.

☣ AGGRESSION.
Sufferers of the Flare (heretofore known as "cranks") lose any and all control of their tempers. The smallest thing can bother the calmest, most patient person. Cranks are rarely emotionally able to manage themselves, and see no difference between friends and foes. Cranks are severely agitated in high-stress environments, and whatever hold they have on themselves is often broken when things become difficult.

☣ INSANITY.
It becomes more and more difficult for Cranks to keep mental stability. Subjects are known to raving rants, but also wandering, phrases that make little sense, and many other things. Your typical Crank travels in a pack--as they deteriorate, they rely on one or two other Cranks to lead things until they, too, fall apart.

☣ EXTREME HEAD PAIN
This is a sign of a latter stage of a Crank. They often complain that it feels like that there are "bugs in their brains", and will claw at their head to try and remove them, often pulling out hair in the process.

☣CANNIBALISTIC TENDENCIES.
Finally, a Crank hungers for the taste of human flesh. This often starts with self harm, biting and scratching two common forms, but carries eventually to other Cranks, and, even, to immune citizens, though there's no difference between the two as better or worse. This hunger is insatiable--when a Crank becomes this unstable, they must be put down immediately.

TREATMENT.
Currently, there is no treatment for the Flare. It is a deadly disease, and will kill the carrier in a short amount of time. Symptoms can be delayed for a short time by adminstering a drug called "Bliss", which is only available legally sold by WICKED. The Bliss calms the Killzone, leaving the Cranks in a very mellow state, and unable to have the brain activity that would cause the Flare to begin eating at the brain. Bliss is highly potent and extremely addictive, and should be kept from lower populace for as long as possible.