Create a Virus Paper : Levitationous Maximus

Levitationous Maximus
“Walking On Air”

The first documented case of ‘Levitationous Maximus’ or ‘High Fever’ occurred during World War Two, when a gathering of ten soldiers, some of them of high and respected ranking, claimed to have seen 3 of their comrades float up in the air for several minutes. According to their report, two, after floating for a few minutes above the trenches, were shot down by the enemy. The one left over, Private J. Thomas Better, managed to escape by pushing “his arms up above his head, as if he were swimming in the air. He managed to ‘swim’ higher and higher, above the battlefield, above the clouds, until his troupe could no longer see him. He has yet to be found.” (from Sgt. Cayson’s written account of the event.) The Army decided to seal the report for decades, until in 1988 during the Levitation Outbreak, when they could no longer deny its previous existence.

The first public case of this virus was reported in 1988, in Disneyworld, where an intoxicated woman began to levitate beside the teacup ride. Several eyewitnesses dropped to their knees and prayed, while others ran in fear. Countless pictures were taken of this incident. By the time experts were brought in, and the pictures were declared authentic, six more cases had been reported, these stemming from the people and those who had come in contact with, the persons at the Disneyworld levitation.

Among those present, Rory Mayora who infected a salesperson at a nearby photo-development store, and surprisingly, her dog ‘Ruffles’. Authorities now believe that the film which Rory handed over to the photo salesclerk contained traces of sweat, perhaps caused by her palms, and that her dog became infected by her petting. Ruffles was seen floating over Florida on March 14, 1988. Rory was witnessed floating over the toolshed in her backyard, desperately clinging to the shingles of the roof. Although some brave neighbours attempted to save her, she was released into the atmosphere when the shingle she was grasping snapped and fell off. Neither she nor Ruffles has been seen since. The salesclerk at the photo store was found against the roof of the dark room and was taken down by employees. When he arrived at a confidential government office and studied, much was learned about ‘Levitationous Maximus’.

Now, in 2001, and after 4 million infected in the Canada alone, much can be said about this virus. In 1990, it could be safely said that ‘High Fever’ (coined after the first known incident with the drunk or ‘high’ woman at Disneyworld) was not airborne. After the first several cases, many people had locked themselves in bomb shelters or homes refusing to come out. Many people still choose to do this, as the Internet has aided their agoraphobia (mostly brought on by the possibility of an airborne virus) by giving them access to aspects of the outside world. Instead, this virus is spread through such activities as kissing, coughing or spitting, sweat, transfusions and blood, shared needles, mosquitoes and bad proteins. After it was discovered that a tremendous amount of birdwatchers and balloon sellers were being infected, helium and birds (most noticeably the Ostrich and Flamingo) were added to this list. It is believed that Ostriches and Flamingoes are able to infect people and not float off themselves because they are merely carriers, and cannot fly, levitate or float naturally.

Symptoms of the infection include increased levitational skills, for example, this disease begins with a short “airwalks”. The infected can float for several minutes at a time. Usually, however, they are able to come down with the release of gas, such as belching. As the virus overpowers the lungs, (one of the organs which this virus affects) sufferers will float higher and higher for longer periods of time. Other symptoms include frequent nosebleeds (experts believe from the body preparing to float to a higher altitude), giddiness (this is more common in those who have derived the disease from helium), increased feelings of self-importance (the person may believe they are superhuman and invincible. This is believed to come from higher levels of testosterone found in the brain. In actual fact this disease can lower intelligence by up to 40 points.) and extreme hair loss (sufferers can lose large amounts of hair before the virus reaches its full power. Some have been known to grow back their hair in ‘dreads, leaving some researchers to believe that early Jamaicans may have been afflicted with this virus.)

In the mid-90’s, some opinions changed from fear to glory. There were those who believed that this virus was a sign from God that the end of the world was near. Countless religious groups purposely infected themselves with the virus strain trusting that they would reach heaven. Because it is hard to track where the victims float to, it has not yet been proven that they do not reach heaven. Therefore, handfuls of religious groups continue to infect themselves with this dangerous “bug”. Besides the religious groups attempting these infections, several cults have sprung up lead by a “Master Flyer”, a cult head who claims to be one of the “gifted”, someone who was born with the virus rather than one who contracted it. These cult leaders gain followers from their charisma and assumed power. After brainwashing the reluctant, they choose who to “bless” with levitationous maximus. Most of these cults claim to be superheroes, those doing work for the greater good of humanity. However, most of them are fronts for seedy underworlds of sex, violence and crime.

In 1991, special heavy shoes were designed so that those suffering from the disease no longer needed to continually stay indoors crammed against ceilings, or strapped down in beds and chairs. These shoes allow many people to live almost normal lives with ‘High Fever’. The only exception being that the afflicted must sleep, eat and shower with the shoes on. They can never come off lest the sufferer float into space never to be seen again.

In 1997 a scientist took a picture through a high-powered telescope that showed what seemed to be giant glass domes on Jupiter. Enthusiastic believers claim that these are oxygen cities built by those who levitated into space. However, where would their supplies be derived from? And how would they manage to attach themselves to the planet long enough for the years it would take to create the cities?

Although among the pro’s of ‘High Fever’ is a tolerance for changed temperatures and oxygen in the environment, meaning that the floaters would most likely be able to survive the lack of breathable air in space, the theory of planetary cities is still considered farfetched. As of yet no vaccine has been successfully created. Also, lobbyist groups have sprung up all over the world, protesting a cure or successful vaccination of this virus. Many of these groups claim either that it is against their god’s plan, against their leader’s plan, or that the levitation should be used to aid in some form of warfare from the sky. (In other words be successfully reworked into some sort of blessing, rather than a curse.)

Those who have lost loved one’s to levitation, continually disagree with those who know nothing of its true “evilness, brutality and the cold ripping absence it leaves behind.” (Rose Salt head of the PALM (People Against Levitationous Maximus) organization, who lost her husband, cat and two of her children to LM).

Pro-LM (Levitationous Maximus) groups counterattack with claims of the “healing goodness of this blessing.” (said by Lily Pepper head of PFFH (People For Flying to Heaven) who has never lost any family members to the virus). Her group argues that LM-sufferers never develop Cancer (while this is true, people with this disease have a tremendously high rate of Alzheimer’s Disease development (in extreme cases 5 years after contraction) and Asthma. This is believed to be because the virus targets the brain (changing levels of brain chemicals among other things) and the lungs (changing the lungs capacity for air and oxygen). PFFH also claims that those with LM are able to jump tall buildings (this is also true. Sufferers in the early stages (the first 2 – 3 weeks after contraction) are able to jump incredibly high. However, when the patient enters the later stages, they can no longer jump without floating out of Earth’s atmosphere.) and “if trained properly can dramatically increase the security of our countries by joining the army and protecting the world against aircraft attacks.” (This may be probable at some time, but superhuman strength does not accompany this affliction. The “protector” of the country would most likely be winged and killed by the threatening aircraft in question.)

The only country so far not affected by this virus is Fiji, who after the Disneyworld Incident, closed all of its airports and entrances and ceased communication with the rest of the world. Some skeptics believe that because of this rash and sudden action Fiji knows more about this virus then it admits. Currently, 42% of the world is afflicted with LM. Researchers predict that by the year 2010, 71% will be infected. Eventually, experts say, the entire population of earth will be consumed by this disease and float off into space. Those for finding a cure are working almost day and night to create one. Those against it attempt sabotage through spies, bombings and riots. Because of this, pessimists fear there will never be a cure.

While there are those who consider this the Doomsday virus, perhaps its real threat lies in the effect it has on those who are for and against it. It has also been predicted, that the intense arguments for both sides, will eventually rip the world apart into a bloody and terrible civil war. As of yet, this theory is still up in the air. Only time will tell.