SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

Agnes Tachyon.
The hero of this story? The villain? Nevertheless, they frantically threw her name around like confetti.
Light from outside seeped into the concrete prison, seemingly for the first time since Manhattan Cafe had fled.
“Tachyon!” Symboli Rudolf's booming voice thundered, disturbing what once was a confinement of Tachyon's brain.
“Ah, President!” She eagerly stared up at the other two, a juxtaposition to their panicked faces. “Didn't think I'd see you here again, Ehehe...”
Mejiro McQueen butted past, her horseshoes clicking.

“Agnes Tachyon.” Her light hair flowing past Rudolf, she stood in front of the crazed experimenter. “We need your expertise.”
Her wide eyes calmed slightly.
“...Hm, strange. What for?”
“We believe there is an outbreak of some sort. We need your knowledge to research and develop it.”
Tachyon paused, placing her hands from her waist to her sides.
“Interesting. As a matter of fact, I believe I saw Manhattan Cafe as a sort of..”
“Walking corpse-like figure.”
Rudolf and McQueen's ears pricked up.
“How long ago was this?” Rudolf's urgency shone through in her voice.
Tachyon rested her hand on her chin. “Say, about a week ago?”
Rudolf and McQueen stopped to look at each other, then back at Tachyon.
“Please come with us.”

Rainfall bucketed in the forest, leaves covered and dripping wet. The three Umamusume hastily walked back towards Tracen Academy, weary not to slip. Tachyon was clutching a giant suitcase full of various equipment and solutions that were necessary.
“I have an idea,” Rudolf asserted. “It's not a great one, but we should still consider it.”
Both McQueen and Tachyon's faces shifted to face her.
“Let's form an administration. Therefore, we could try to rebuild society again for survival and protection of everyone.”
McQueen shrugged her shoulders.
“That sounds like the most viable option, President. Although there aren't many options to begin with...”
“However.” Agnes raised her eyebrows while resting her head on her hand.
“Have we forgotten? Society has collapsed. Nobody's going to listen to us, let alone the fact that we may fail to reach anyone anyway...”
“That's why I said it's not a great idea.” Rudolf grimaced.
McQueen rubbed her face, swiping away the raindrops obscuring her vision. “What are we going to do...”

Sopping wet, the three made it back to Tracen, standing outside the glass door. Air Groove came downstairs with towels, handing them to the drenched Umamusume.
“Agnes Tachyon!” Agnes and the others trailed dirt and puddles inside the building, drying their faces.
“Greetings, Vice President. I assume we will make our way to the office?”
Rudolf dropped the towel from her face.
“Yes, please. We will discuss further there.”

Static.
The radio's knobs rotated back and forth to varying static.
It could be the only hope for communication, but all they could hear was crackling.
Popping.
Humming.
“Operation... failed.” The stiff Umamusume turned to face the other, who was clutching her side purse.
“Bourbon... It's no use. I don't think anyone's been sending any radio broadcasts lately.”
Mihono Bourbon's rigid face softened slightly, gently placing the small radio amongst the others that had already been resting on the table.

“Rice. I apologise.”
“H-huh? What are you apologising for? It was my idea, after all...” Rice Shower walked up behind Bourbon, tenderly placing her pale hand on her forearm.
“I failed to bring you hope.” The Umamusume heard the door swinging open behind them, with four others walking inside.
“Bourbon! Rice! Are they working?” A chirpy voice slightly lightened the heavy room before fading away again.
Mihono Bourbon and Rice Shower gloomily turned around to see the others.

“Special Week...” Rice's eyes widened at the sight of Special Week's dejected face. “I'm so sorry...”
Tears welled up in Special Week's eyes, gripping the other Umamsume's arm for comfort.
“Suzuka, am I ever going to find my mom again?” Drops of water fell onto Silence Suzuka as she leaned closer, holding Special Week's head.
“I don't know.”
The other two Umamusume behind them looked at each other as Special Week and Suzuka turned around to exit the small room, Rice Shower and Mihono Bourbon following close behind with a radio in-hand.
The empty-sounding door closed before them, sealing away the last glimpse of broader communication.

Each Umamusume made their way to the main lobby of their bunker.
The bunker was fairly nice; the lobby was reminiscent of that of a kindergarten, providing a splash of color and fun in their dull lives. It was a very large main lobby with a soft but worn carpet covering the hardwood floors.
Many Umamusume occupied the basement, some spying on the older ones who were preparing lunch for everyone. More and more Umamusume spilled out from the hallways, enchanted by the smells wafting from the kitchen.
“Super Creek!” Rice Shower called out, hoping to be heard over all the cluttering noise.
“Oh, Rice Shower!” Super Creek replied, stirring in a giant pot. “Any luck with the radio?”
“Unfortunately, no...” A crowd of discouraged Umamusume sat on the sprawled-out carpet, joining the others waiting for lunch.

“Spe! Why are you so sad... Cheer up! Super Creek is making us all some honey soy carrots!” A pink, cheery Uma showed Special Week the biggest smile she could in hopes of chasing her tears away.
“Yeah! I love carrots! My fortune tells me today will be a good day, and so this food will be great!” Another Uma piped up, clutching a scratched crystal ball in her lap.
Special Week's eyes widened slightly. “Urara, Fukukitaru...”
A booming bell thundered from the kitchen, bouncing off the vast walls.
“Lunch is ready!” A sweet voice followed the bell, and like a signal, the Umamusume sitting on the carpet all queued in front of Creek.
Mihono Bourbon stopped to place the radio onto the counter before grabbing her portion of food and sitting up next to Super Creek, Rice Shower, Meisho Doto and T.M Opera O.

“Oh, Doto! Don't drop your plate!” Opera O held out her hands, as if expecting to catch Doto's food falling to the floor.
“O-oh... Don't say that...” Doto's trembling hands gently placed her plate of food next to Opera O, looking down the counter at the others.
“So? Have anything to report?” Opera O stuffed her face with sliced carrot pieces, spluttering chewed carrots all over.
“Um, we couldn't get the radio to work...” Rice looked down towards her small plate, ears drooping down. Opera O subtly frowned.
“Huh. I could've sworn there were-”

“EMERGENCY.”
Everyone's ears perked up, facing the 'broken' radio.
“... Hello all. This is Agnes... Tachyon. Please, if you can hear me...make some sort of signal for... us to know there are people listening.”
Rice's disappointed face slowly shifted to one of daze.
“There is... some sort of plague that... is contaminating Umamusume. Please... stay inside until... further notice...”
Super Creek dropped her utensils. “I'll go get the smoke signal!”
As she bolted out of the bunker, the radio kept humming.
“We have formed as the... Umamusume Government... Disease Protection or UGDP... to protect and find... a cure for you all.”
Everyone eating paused, listening intently.

“We are currently working... with others to get this... under control... and find more information on it. Currently, there have been... four confirmed cases... of this zombie-like disease.”
Rice covered her mouth looking over at Bourbon, whose stoic expression showed some concern.
“Don't worry. We will... work towards protecting you all... and this will be... solved-”
Static silence clouded the air.
“We have just gotten... reports. We see your... smoke signal.”
The rapid sound of hooves blended with the crackling of the radio, and Super Creek sat down by her plate of carrots.
“Please... stay safe. We are working... hard on this matter. Thank you...”

The popping from the radio amplified as the voice sank into the static.

Everyone froze. A running Umamusume broke the shock, standing next to T. M Opera O.
“Sorry I'm late! What was that radio broadcast?” The out of breath Umamusume stopped to look at the radio, the one on the bench that was still crackling static.
“Maruzensky...” Rice's quivering voice added to the heavy atmosphere. “There's been an outbreak of some sort.”
Maruzensky gasped.
“What! Like, zombies?”
“We don't know yet...”
“I'll be back.” Meisho Doto stood up from the bench, hurriedly walking down to her sleeping quarters.
“Doto-”
“Leave her be. In my research, it is normal for Umamusume to self-regulate and reboot alone when faced with danger.” Mihono Bourbon turned to look at Opera O, whose self-righteous grin wiped off her face.

Four members of the previous Team Spica remained on the carpet; Special Week, Silence Suzuka, Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka.
Special Week and Daiwa Scarlet pressed their hands together and bowed their heads low, mumbling to themselves.
“Please... Sunday Silence, our goddess...”
“Let us evade death...”
The erratic mumbling of the two warranted a weird look from Vodka, and Suzuka quietly closed her eyes.
“...What the heck are you doing?” Vodka broke the quiet whispering with Scarlet returning an irritated look.
“What does it look like we're doing? We're praying. There's an apocalypse, for Goddesses' sake!”
Vodka's confused look only escalated.
“That's because I do it alone most of the time, idiot.” Scarlet's scornful pout only added fuel to the fire.

“Yeah but- You've never been religious?” At this point, Special Week had stopped to join the conversation with Silence Suzuka reopening her eyes.
“Vodka, let her cope how she wants.” Suzuka looked at Vodka, who was incredibly confused. Why were the others defending Scarlet when she had never had any interest in religion, and now suddenly she was praying?
It didn't make sense. Were times really that desperate? Or did she just pray as a coping mechanism yet Vodka never noticed?
Vodka found it all slightly weird.

An extra Umamusume sat down with the four, looking charmingly towards Special Week.
“Hi! Just wanted to check in on you all~” Maruzensky's surprisingly cheery voice despite the recent news did wonders to cheer them all up.
“Maruzensky! Well, to be honest none of us are really doing all that great.” Special Week's eyes darted to the floor, her last glimpse of spirit disappearing.
“Oh, that's no good. Here, I brought some paper and pens. Let's chillax for a bit together and take our minds off things!”
Maruzensky dropped a pile of paper and a handful of colored felts onto the carpet.
The five Umamusume started to draw and color, doing their best to distract themselves from the future.

Nobody knew what the future could hold. Drawing, coloring and staying inside is all they could do.
The others established signs outside the bunker, saying they'd take in anyone that was in danger. Helping others is what Super Creek felt all she could do.
And the rest could only sit and wait. Waiting for their demise, waiting for help or waiting for who-knows-what.
Luckily, UDGP promised to help support all Umamusume. It's refreshing having a symbol of authority after the great collapse of society, guiding them through life again when we need it most.
It's great having at least someone that's trying to help everyone.

Someone of power to blindly follow.

-- CONFIRMED ALIVE --
Agnes Tachyon
Mejiro Dober
Mejiro McQueen
Mejiro Ryan
Tokai Teio
Symboli Rudolf
Gold Ship
Sakura Bakushin O

Special Week
Silence Suzuka
Daiwa Scarlet
Vodka
Super Creek
T. M Opera O
Meisho Doto
Rice Shower
Mihono Bourbon
Haru Urara
Matikanefukukitaru
Mayano Top Gun
King Halo
Maruzensky

-- CONFIRMED INFECTED --
Mejiro Palmer
Manhattan Cafe
Seiun Sky
Nishino Flower

-- MISSING --
(N/A)