The Cygnus Virus
by T.J. Zakreski
On Sale! Everyday price:
Sign up with ILEAP, they said.
It’ll be fun, they said.
Nothing in the brochure about what to do after accidentally downloading a psychopathic virus from burned-out planet Earth. A talking, scheming virus with a plan to highjack a human cloning project, steal a religion and take over the world.
“Hi, my name is Cygnus but I think I’ll like your planet’s Jesus more ...”
A virus who knows your name.
Andron Varga, soon-to-be former lawyer.
This is a story of rum, tarot cards, a Holy Cloth, a Second Coming, small towns and big schemes. It’s got a girl named Naomi who can’t decide whether Andron is nuts or nuts, and another named Astrid who goes cosmic, literally.
And post-it notes, on Andron’s fridge.
Buy gun.
Get ticket to Bathsheba.
Sober up.
Cygnus isn’t worried when Andron goes AWOL. If a lawyer won’t do his dirty work, maybe a preacher will. Besides, he’s got brainwashed minions for protection and a wholesome virgin lined up to be his new momma.
Yeshua Christos Superstar.
So we begin at the beginning with Andron. It’s the recurrence of things. And it’s not the murder, not the meteorite, not the prison, virtual reality games, derelict sidewalk freedom, or the Big Bang. These all come around in time. Instead, Andron’s journey begins with a question asked in an empty room.
There must be someone somewhere to love me.
The Cygnus Virus.