Terrorists have unleashed the rapidly spreading virus dubbed the 'noids. Those infected become organic WMDs. Fused with the common cold, the virus spreads, turning the country into a nation of violent lunatics. Civilization collapses from within.
Danny and Gemma flee westward, ahead of the collapse, narrowly escaping death along the way, only to find borders to California are closed, the state maintaining its isolationism by military force. Danny begins to obsess that the President, who has been evacuated to California, is infected with the virus.
Danny will do anything--including assassination--to stop the President from launching a nuclear war.