Stork Flu

Early in the 21st Century, the world was struck by a major pandemic. Initially, the symptoms manifested as a typical flu, and the world treated it as such. However, as symptoms lingered, and preventative measures failed, the scientific community took notice. Quickly, they found that it was a new pathogen not only proved itself to be incredibly resistant.

By the time the best minds in the world finally got a firm grasp of it, the disease had already spread to every continent thanks to air travel and the laxed attitude of the world, assuming it was just a severe flu season.

It wasn’t until several months later, when symptoms of the disease had all but disappeared, that the true toll of the disease showed itself. It started slowly, with a few women here and there, but eventually, women were inundating hospitals, all reporting difficulties conceiving. After some study, it was found that not only had all the women reporting issues becoming pregnant contracted the last “flu,” but they had all been rendered infertile. The disease gains the derisive nick name “Stork Flu.”

A worldwide fertility crisis followed. Birth rates plummeted, economies suffered, and armed conflicts erupted, further intensifying what would soon become a looming population crisis.

Decades passed as scientists struggled against the disease as the world quickly unraveled around them. New generations, what few there were, grew up in an age defined by conflict and the fear that the disease that had started it all would flair up again. While all suffered, infertile women in particular were scapegoated. Unemployment, poverty, addiction, and mortality rates for these women skyrocketed.

Eventually, when it became too much, a lobby of infertile women formed to and attempted to make a bargain to protect themselves. After many failed deals with governments, they eventually struck an accord; infertile women would offer themselves up to be used sexually in exchange for an increased safety net. This also had the benefit of offering protection to the precious few fertile women still around.

The social order began to stabilize now that infertile women regained a place in it. It still took several more decades, but eventually, the disease that had thrown the world into chaos, was defeated. Conflicts subsided, and society rebuilt. It took time, but fertility levels reached pre-crises levels again. However, even as generations were born that would never know the horrors their parents and grandparents faced, the laws dictating the free-use on infertile women remained on the books.

These are the stories of those that lived through the crisis, and those that came after.