"Everyone has heard of the theorized zombie apocalypse; about how a big nuclear accident or virus turns most of the world into brain-dead revenants with a hunger for flesh. Tons of movies were even made about it. But no one knew what would really happen.
In 2042, the world was a scientific masterpiece. Free healthcare, long lives, and advanced technology made life a breeze. The myth of hunger and disease was reduced to the status of a legend. Oil had run out 5 years before but it didn't make much of an impact. Clean energy sources had been mastered over a decade before. Automated vehicles ran on water and pollution was on the decline. Nuclear plants were being taken down and a time of peace had descended on civilization.
America had finally descended into chaos and a new government had stepped in. It was ruled by the Spiritualism faith and was similar to true communism. Everyone was given food allotments, housing, utilities, etc. Citizens worked only 6 hours a day, and they earned credits, not money. Everything had a set price. Hard labor was a myth.
Civilization had finally formed a Utopia. But it would not last long. In the fall of 2042, hospitals began to fill with citizens complaining of body aches, fever, headache, and nausea. It was the classical signs of the influenza virus which had been eradicated twenty years before. A stored anti-viral cure was given to the patients but they did not get better. It got worse and by January 2043, half the planet was sick. No one died of the disease and it seemed to come and go. No one knew what it was. Every day, more and more people became sick. A census revealed that all but about 50 million of the 8 billion people on earth were sick.
The first people to get sick experienced a change on February 23, 2043. It was approximately 10pm and they began to experience severe pain and dizziness. They dropped to the ground where they were and screamed out as their bodies transformed into half animal creatures. They were all different, some wolves, felines, bats, or other animals. They were humanoid animals and they became horrified at what they had become. They rushed to the hospitals to find out what was wrong but no one had the answers. DNA tests indicated that people had experienced a sort of metamorphosis but the animal they shared characteristics with was almost completely random. The only pattern seen was in families. Most members would be in the same genus of animals, like canis, feline, or bats.
It was a shock to the human race. The metamorphosis was a hard change to make. Socially, the world had not changed much. Too many people had undergone the change for it to create prejudices and the remaining normal humans continued to be infected. More and more changed every day.
This change was disturbing, of course, and it traumatized people. It was confusing as well. These "morphs" as they were nicknamed were forced to get used to their state if they wanted to move on with life. Many finally did and a small number went mad. These were locked away like any mentally ill person and the world was forced to change. People took on the habits of the animal they had Changed into. Bats were nocturnal, sensitive to sunlight, and slept hanging upside down. Cats became complete carnivores and were skittish. Dogs had a short attention span and had too much energy.
This metamorphosis had reduced us all to a band of animals. Our human DNA kept us somewhat civilized and we were immune to diseases. In all, it turned out to be a disturbing change but not exactly lethal. The danger in our world wasn't from us."
Marie paused in her lecture to the class and sighed. "It all depends on how you look at it. Some people see it as a curse, some a gift."
She noticed a small koala girl lift her hand and nodded. "Yes, Rebecca? Do you have a question?"
