The perfect storm: radical sabotage, a shipment of infectious biohazard, a literal blizzard. The town of Schuman's Pass might not wake up.

SYNOPSIS:

There have been protests, of late, about the medical research going on in the lab at Schuman's Pass. The press releases tout the scientific benefits, and the treatments available for sufferers of various insomnia-related disorders. So when a truck is scheduled to bring in a sample of sleeping-sickness bacteria, with a winter storm on the horizon, the opportunity is obvious.

The contagion spreads rapidly, once containment is breached, and the severe weather prevents reinforcements. A ragtag group, wondering whether they're immune or just lucky, must develop a treatment before everyone enters REM.

The actual body count is non-existent, but the fact remains that sleeping people are not immune to the needs of hunger, thirst, and elimination. The clock is ticking, despite the lack of immediate lethality.

A final twist: instead of the usual denouement of first responders finally arriving to clean up the situation, an agent handles the group's debriefing. This opens with an apology for not having arrived sooner, and continues with the hope that some of them will have what it takes to help in similar unusual situations -- a clear sequel hook, but at least as valuable in its presentation of emotional support and mental health care in the aftermath.