Over the last few ‘pre tribes’ we have taken a look at the many mysteries surrounding the Tribe – from Pandorax, the virus, the President’s broadcast, and more! This week we take a look at the mystery and history surrounding the antidote!
*THE ANTIDOTE*
What was the antidote for?
The virus that took hold around the world and was the demise of all the adults continued to overcome those in Tribeworld when they started to get a little older. Even those who were still young, like Lex and Ellie, ended up showing signs of having the virus. It had obviously started to kind of mutate!
It had been identified that in order to survive, an antidote would have to be found. The mall rats would have to come up with some kind of antidote or alternative drug in a regular supply. They didn’t want to meet the same fate as their parents and older friends and family.
Where did it originate from?
Ebony had previously maintained control of the only known supply of antidote. Probably they were testing samples left over from the research laboratories. This proved that before the adults died, they had researched and developed a special formula to overcome the effects of the virus.
The mall rats (certain ones held more interest and curiosity to find answers than others) knew that there must be answers somewhere to a) what caused the virus or where it came from and b) the official formula of the antidote or appropriate steps to overcome the virus. BUT such answers continued to elude them all.
Eventually they decided to go on a mission to search for answers and so they all headed as a group to Eagle Mountain. Eagle Mountain (after much stress and strain to actually get there) provided some details for them.
Jack had found maps that led to three top secret government buildings in the city that contained the antidote. From Eagle Mountain, they decided to split into 3 groups to cover more ground and have a better chance of finding the answers.
How did TaiSan come up with the formula?
Lex and TaiSan, with Ebony (as a group) came across a laboratory full of different colour potions and test-tubes, and even a big lot of antidote. Research, trialling and testing had obviously taken place here. It had a familiar smell to it … and according to Lex, a very familiar taste … Ebony had forced him to drink the antidote from her supply, which was the only known supply left. It was promptly tipped into the pool soon after as Lex had had enough of her power trip because of her possession of the antidote.
… Now the challenge was to find out exactly what ingredients made up the antidote. TaiSan was snoopping around the lab… and boy did she find what she was looking for? TOO RIGHT SHE DID!! A special piece of paper with the magic formula written down! She used her fantastic photographic memory to note it in her head – and promptly tore up the paper and set it alight…to ensure that it, and the power that went with it, could never get in the wrong hands.
Now all she had to do was acquire the right herbs and spices so she could make it all up in the right mix in her own laboratory back at the mall.
What about the antidotes in the city?
The traders and other tribes in the city realised the potential profitability of being in control of the antidote. So they used this as a source of trading. BUT what they were selling was not really the antidote at all. It was a fake solution made to look like the antidote so that people would trade for it, and before they realised it was fake, they had already paid for it. These traders were scoundrels…and shifted quickly from one place to another trying to make a quick gain without being caught.
How did it change the balance of power?
It was lucky that the Mall Rats were in control of the antidote. They did not charge or trade for it because they had the people’s best interests at heart.
But within the Tribe itself there was an element of power for the members that knew the ingredients. TaiSan was a well respected member of the group and was protected by Alice because of the threat to all of their lives should she be attacked. Other members (especially Lex, and Ebony) were constantly trying to find out what the ingredients were but TaiSan was the only person who knew what the right formula was for the antidote.
After the explosion in her Antidote room (due to KC’s fiddling around with the equipment), TaiSan (and the rest of the Mall Rats) was worried that if anything ever happened to her then the recipe would be lost forever. And so it was decided that Bray would be the most responsible other person to know what key ingredients made up the antidote formula.
So essentially they held the power through responsibility over all those in the Mall. But they remained loyal to the Tribe and those in Tribeworld and ensured that everyone kept their antidote doses regular.
There always had to be a manipulative person in a bunch though. We could always rely on Ebony and her devious ways. She wanted that antidote back in her possession, because she wanted the power and recognition that went with being in possession of it. By hook or by crook she would get it…
…and she did!! She blackmailed Bray so he was cornered and had no choice but to let her in on the secret formula of the antidote. So she got what she wanted … yet again … OR so she thought.
BUT what the Mall Rats were slowly coming to realise is that by now, the people of the city were starting to build up a natural immunity to the virus .. and so really did not need the antidote to fight it off!!
So ultimately – the antidote (developed before the virus hit Tribrworld) had had its day, done its dash, and was no longer a vital or integral part of the power struggle within Tribeworld.
Could it be that the virus was not really as a result of an attempt to stop the aging process? Perhaps it came from man’s exploration of space, OR a scientific experiment which went terribly wrong, OR was as a result of germ warfare???
There are other problems and threats in Tribeworld now which would be more important – Survival is still the name of the game.