Arun and Victor returned two hours later. They both hauled groceries; fruits, vegetables, and bottles of fresh juices and iced teas peeked from the tops of their overstuffed bags. Victor brewed chrysanthemum tea before joining us at the dining table. Iris and Lingyi sat with blankets wrapped around their shoulders and their knees pulled up, snuggled against each other.

“You’re both looking much better,” Arun said. “How do you feel?” He’d put his hazmat suit back on before entering headquarters, and Victor still wore his respirator.

“Human again,” Iris replied. “This flu strain is no joke.”

Lingyi nodded. “Arun, your antidote saved us.”

Arun tucked his chin, a flush coloring his cheeks. “Yeah. I’d tested it with mixed results before. This new batch hadn’t been tested. Didn’t think I’d be using my friends as test subjects.” He exhaled a long breath.

“We didn’t give Arun much of a choice,” I said.

Lingyi blew Arun a kiss. “You’re amazing. This is amazing. Do you have more antidote stocked?”

“A dozen,” Arun replied. “But my lab can replicate more in a few hours.”

“We can release the antidote to the public and help curb the spread of this flu,” Iris said. “Prevent more meis from dying.”

Arun shook his head. “It hasn’t been approved yet by our FDA. There’s no way the hospitals will distribute this.”

Lingyi made a frustrated noise.

“Then let’s take this to the streets ourselves,” I replied.

My friends all stared at me, and I grinned. “Seriously. Victor, you’ve got networks everywhere. Arun and you can head the operation.”

“It probably can’t save those who are too far gone—but it can help many of the others.” Arun’s dark brown eyes were bright with excitement. “It can help to contain the spread of this flu if we get to enough of those afflicted in time.”

Victor was already on his Palm, typing swiftly. “They’re burning the bodies,” he said in a grim voice.

“What?” I said.

“My contacts confirmed that the government has been burning the bodies of those who have died from this flu and rounding up other meis who appear to be sick and quarantining them in warehouses.”

“Locking them in, you mean,” Lingyi replied.

“But I’ve not heard any of this on the news broadcasts!” I exclaimed.

“They’re downplaying it to avoid panic spreading,” Arun said. “And endangering the public at the same time.”

“Still, Jin’s plan is working.” Victor actually sneered, evident even beneath his respirator, the openness of it so discordant with his usual smooth facade. “The sales of raffles and orders for his new, cheaper suits have skyrocketed with each passing day—no matter how much the government and media have tried to spin it.”