Darrell leaned back on his chair, having been working with a re-sequencer for longer than he should have. He thought back to two days ago, when he had been fired from the lab.
"I told you not to try combining the virus with anything other than human or animal DNA, Darrell." His supervisor, Leanne, had said.
"I'm sorry. I was just curious about what it would do. How can we make discoveries if we just do what has already been done?"
"Well, it wouldn't have been so bad had you taken some better precautions, but now it's been released. Who knows what could happen."
Darrell had been desperate to keep his job. "I'll make up for it. I'll... I'll work on an anti-virus immediately. I can fix this, if you just give me some time."
"I'm afraid that's no longer possible, Darrell. It isn't the first time you have made such a bad mistake. You're a good scientist, but I have to fire you. Sorry."
Darrell would have cried openly at that point, not for losing his job, but for the effect the virus may have on living things near the leak. He had created a monster, and the lab would not let him kill it. "At least get someone else to work on the anti-virus. The virus needs to be stopped, and soon."
"Darrell, just go, or I'll have to call security." His ex-supervisor replied, and Darrell grabbed his belongings as he went. He also stole a small DNA re-sequencer, hoping to find the anti-virus himself.
He had found a small abandoned cottage near the contamination, where he started to use the re-sequencer to test out possible anti-viruses. He had been at it for two days straight, without even sleeping, and his eyes felt grainy from the lack of sleep.
He wandered out to the contaminated lake, and looked at it, hoping to get some inspiration toward the anti-virus. Something caught his eye, and he moved toward it, not noticing the rock jutting up from the ground. He tripped and fell, head first, into the lake.
It was a few seconds before he realised what had happened, and where he was. He quickly waded back out of the lake, and squeezed as much water as possible from his clothes. He knew he didn't have much time, as he had swallowed some of the water. He ran back to the cottage, and continued working on an anti-virus.
By that night, he noticed a change...