Lt. Col. Oliver Talbot read the news on his smartphone. The plague death count rose dramatically over the past forty-eight hours. The multiple numbers staggered him. He wondered if he knew anyone who died of the plague.

Beatrice Talbot indicated their state of health when he spoke to her. Both his parents and Hank remained plague-free. Ollie knew he could count on the elder Talbots to keep his son under lockdown. They were health-conscious and studious about their safety.

Oliver had not heard from his wife since their last communication. He assumed Liz's return stateside had gone off as planned. Undoubtedly, the lack of text messages indicated all remained well with her. Ollie did not worry. Thomas Amberley worked thoroughly, and he loved his spoiled daughter. He would move heaven and earth if she faced any danger. Indeed, she traveled to Hendersonville, North Carolina, to ride out the lockdown.

Dismissing Liz, Ollie scrawled through a list of casualties. He keened his eye at the screen filled with Talbots. Pausing at the I's, he peered at the page. Ivan did not appear. Relieved, he sighed and sat back. Ivan never appeared on lists.

Oliver wished he could locate his missing brother. He longed to make up for all the bad times and accept Ivan's personality. Yet, his older sibling eluded him.

"Where are you, Ivan?" he questioned his smartphone.

His mind flashed back to their younger days. Their home in Ft. Dix, New Jersey, had an old basketball hoop over the garage. After school, he and four friends shot hoops in the driveway. Ivan pushed a pink Barbie Corvette along the stone walkway in the front yard. Chatting happily, he made up a pretend conversation with his Barbie and Skipper dolls.

His friends stopped playing and gathered around Ivan. Closing his eyes, Oliver pictured them. Ralph Mansion wore a green tank top over jean shorts. His bony elbow stuck out as he propped his hand on his hip. Next to him in the circle, Clem Anderson pushed his black glasses back onto his nose. Kyrie Strong—the only girl present—stated she had not played with dolls since she was seven. Her brother, Kendrick, turned to Ollie.

"What are you gonna do about him?" Ken asked, poking his white sneaker into Ivan's ribs.

Nervously, Ivan turned his doe eyes upward. Silently, he pleaded for help. Oliver glared down at him. His friends gathered in a semi-circle, waiting.

Oliver saw lipstick and mascara, and eye shadow. His hostile brain burned as he looked upon his older brother. Instead of a brother, a little girl peered up at him. Ivan wore a crop top, a tutu, and pink sparkly leggings. Pink high-top sneakers tied with silver laces adorned his size eleven feet. The Barbie Corvette stood beneath his trembling hand.

Oliver held the basketball beneath his right arm. His eyes traveled from Ralph to Clem and rested on Kyrie and Kendrick. His friends or his brother; his choice. He slid the b-ball from beneath his crooked arm and dribbled it. Then, grasping it in both hands, he straddled the pink plastic car.

Wham! The ball hit the toy. Plastic crunched beneath the weight of the basketball. Ollie held it in his hands again and let go. Wham! The car split in the middle. Again and again, the ball smashed into the Corvette. Fury overcame the younger brother.

Ivan grabbed his beloved Barbie sportscar and rushed inside. Oliver heard his bawling, and a pang trembled in his heart. Then his friends gathered around him. Kendrick high-fived him. Ralph and Clem high-fived each other. Impulsively, Kyrie flung her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. The heart pang faded, and Ollie grinned. His popularity level ticked up a few notches.

When Jeff Talbot swung the front door open, Oliver's friends high-tailed it up the street. Clem turned to walk backward at the corner and called out a "Woo-woo!" He fist pumped the air, then he turned and ran.

Oliver responded to his father's summons. Chucking the basketball up the driveway, he entered the house in his parent's wake. Dejectedly, Ivan sat in the recliner. His hands covered his face as he bent forward. The older brother sobbed uncontrollably. When Ollie entered, he looked up accusingly. Mascara streaked his cheeks.

Oliver pivoted away from the pathetic sight. However, his father grasped his elbow and dragged him into the room.

"Apologize," I. Jeff Talbot demanded, pointing toward Ivan.

"I...I'm sorry, Ivan," Oliver stammered, feeling the heart pang again. He knew he had misbehaved.

"Tomorrow, after school, you are going to replace Ivan's toy," his father ordered. "You will use your own money."

"I was saving for a rocket launcher, dad," Ollie countered. "I almost have it."

"Nevertheless, you destroyed Ivan's property. You'll replace it."

"Yes, sir," Ollie reluctantly gave in.

"Yah!" Ivan gleefully shouted, leaping from the couch. On the points of his toes, the boy ballet danced toward the stairs. His woeful tears instantly disappeared.

"Dad, he's sixteen," Oliver complained.

"Yeah, son, I know," I. Jeff Talbot conceded.

"He wears girls' clothes, and he acts...." Ollie did not finish. His father shushed him.

******

So many years ago, Lt. Col. Oliver Talbot lamented. Too many mistakes, Ollie bemoaned. He scrolled through a list of names on a people-search site. Ivan did not appear on the list. Oliver longed to find his brother. He wanted to make up for the terrible days with promises of good ones in the future.

Admitting failure, Oliver turned back to the internet news pages. He read about the beginnings of the plague and the thousands of resultant deaths. A write-up of the nine original San Francisco victims caught his eye.

Melissa Beaumont—aged thirty-five

A long-term resident of San Fransisco, Mel taught high school English. An active member of the LBGTQ community, she participated in fundraisers and rallies. She advocated for students who wished to 'come out.' After school, she invited lesbian girls to her house for special club meetings.

Ramon Ramon—aged eighty-one

Ramon Ramon's claim to fame as an entertainer by trade included a performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in November of 1967. He acquired a cult following during the 1970s and 1980s. Later, he fell on hard times. His live-in lover, Cyrus Bland, sued him for palimony. Homeless, Ramon drifted to San Francisco and entertained as a street musician near Fisherman's Wharf. Street cleaners discovered his body in an alley beside a dumpster.

Chaz Lopez—aged sixteen

A fellow homeless person discovered the runaway's body in a flophouse. Few details were available. Authorities are still attempting to locate the family.

Cammie Light—aged twenty-three

A popular local girl, Cammie graduated from Mission High School and attended the UCSF School of Nursing. She worked at Concentra Urgent Care. Her girlfriend, Vicky Ansel, called 911 as soon as the first plague symptoms appeared. Cammie died at Saint Frances Memorial Hospital.

Det. Leeland MacAllister—aged thirty-eight

The San Francisco police detective lived with his wife, Mary, and three children, Marcia—aged nine, Grace—seven, and Marcus—two, in suburban Palo Alto. He recently 'came out' to his colleagues and family. His death was a double blow to all who knew him and called him a friend. No one expected his homosexual tendencies.

Ivy Masterson—aged approximately forty

A recent newcomer to San Francisco, Ivy Masterson accepted employment at Che Boutique. The proprietress of the popular Union Square establishment, Maureen Tapper, hired Ivy on the spot. Later, when her new team member did not appear at work, she regretted her swift decision. Maureen claimed she liked the transgender woman from the get-go. The news of Ivy's sudden death upset her greatly.

Samson Delight—aged thirty

The real name is unknown. Samson Delight, a male stripper at the Rainbow Palace, passed out during a performance. The telltale bulbous had not yet appeared. However, he had all the other plague symptoms. Authorities immediately placed the four men who accompanied him in a line dance in quarantine. The club shut down pending inspection.

Capri Bianchi—aged thirteen

Sent home from school, the eighth grader returned to her empty home and crawled into bed. Her parents discovered her body the following morning. Her mother entered her bedroom to shake her awake. When she could not rouse the girl, the father called 911. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her parents announced she recently 'came out' as a lesbian.

Kasra Anvari—aged twenty-seven

A Clarion hotel maid discovered the body of the Iranian vacationer. When she entered to clean the room, she found the door jammed. Calling for maintenance to assist, the two co-workers forced the door open. Kasra lay sprawled immediately inside. He died three days previously.

******

Lt. Col. Oliver Talbot sat back in his chair. The Iranian name struck him as unusual. It might provide a clue to the origin of the plague epidemic. Ollie considered the possibility. He only had the slightest knowledge of his pending assignment at the moment. If Iran proved their final destination, he did not wonder if the initiation of the mission remained in limbo.

Oliver sucked in his breath, then let it out. He wished for a completed task, and they were on their way home. His men grew more impatient with each waiting hour.

Wearily, Oliver glanced over the victims' names once again. Kasra Anvari alarmed him, but another one stuck out: Ivy Masterson—aged approximately forty. Why did the name mean something to him? He did not know anyone in San Francisco. He did not know any other people who died of the plague.

A picture appeared with all on the list except Ivy Masterson. In place of a photo, an outline of a female head appeared. The information did not hold any clues to the dead woman's past. Still, Ollie felt...well, he felt something.