Codename: Pestilence I (Page 6)

~~~(POV: Five Star General Rickman Elliot)~~~

~~~(Location: Aircraft Carrier, Atlantic Ocean, International Waters)~~~

~~~(Day, Date, Time, Year: Friday, January 12th, 2:12 AM, 2024)~~~

~~~(Age: 58 Years)~~~

The conference room is dark as we sit at the large circular table. In the hollowed-out middle are four TVs facing outward in all directions at the center. Allowing everyone a view of what we're about to watch.

Everyone in this room has received an initial report of the incident that happened at one of our bases in Manhattan. Now that everyone in charge of this crisis is here, we can see the footage sent to us.

All are silent as the screens turn on, and we watch footage recorded from the morgue. We listen to the doctors who we sent in to research the virus on-site and talk to each other.

[Looks like we got another one, huh? Jesus, Jake. He doesn't look older than 20...]

We watch them look at the subject on the metal table. Speaking to one another about the current situation.

[Yeah, I know, William. The outbreak is getting worse. Two weeks ago, it wasn't serious. Now, we're on clean-up duty.]

[Alright, let's start.]

[Beginning autopsy of one Samuel M. Grimm.]

[The decedent's body was recovered at ground zero of the outbreak in Manhatten.]

Samuel Marcus Grimm was a Genetics major at Columbia University before the outbreak. Working with our chief researcher at the time of his disappearance. He was kept in the dark about what was being worked on.

From what Carnid said about Samuel, not using him was a waste of talent. But seeing what he's become now, it's hard to believe those words.

[Gender: Male.]

[Status: Deceased.]

[CoD: Infection and complications due to outbreak of TRV-511.]

[Beginning the first incision.]

[Jesus... Are you seeing this?]

[Yeah... Have you seen anything like this before?]

[No, I haven't. Out of all the dead and infected that's come through, I've never seen anything close to this.]

According to the written report we received, all we know about Samuel's state at the time is the virus in his body acted and behaved entirely differently from the strain of TRV-511 that the world is facing right now.

Aside from that, there wasn't much research done on Samuel's body. He escaped before more notes could be made by the now-deceased doctors.

[This is something completely new, Will. Look at this movement here and here.]

[What is going on here? It's like the virus is alive and evolving without the neural functions of the brain and natural functions of the body.]

All of us are immediately tense as we watch Samuel's head lift off the table and stare at the two of them. Observing them as they talk to each other. It's quite a bizarre thing. Every infected and turned individual hasn't shown any form of higher intelligence.

Some of my colleagues lean forward in their chairs as we watch. This is important information that we've all learned about Samuel.

Or whatever he is now.

[Wow! It's changed! Look at this, Jake!! The viral activity in the infected that's been killed after rising has always stopped. However, viral activity continues even after extended death in this case.]

[It's unbelievable. We should tag and bag this body for additional study at headquarters.]

[Same thoughts here, I'll ge-...]

That's when one of the doctors notices that Samuel isn't actually dead. To be honest, we don't know what to label Samuel anymore. Based on what we're about to watch.

[Jake? You're going the wrong way. The bags are over there?]

[Jake?]

[Will! Get away!!]

[What the fucking fuck!!??]

There isn't a sound in the room. Breaths from every man and woman in here are being held as we watch the scene. Samuel leans up from the metal table, and the massive opening in his abdomen instantly heals.

Less than a second.

All that you hear is some of the chairs in the room squeaking from slight jolts and little movements.

[Open the damn door!!]

[I'm trying!! The keypad is wet! My fingers keep slipping!]

[Hurry!!! He's up!!]

Samuel stands up from the metal table and approaches the two men, and what we watch next makes the written report we've all read look like a poorly written novel.

[STAY BACK!! I'M WARNING YOU!!]

[Let go!]

The man struggles in Samuel's grasp, but he's unable to budge him. Unable to move him an inch. My eyes slowly widen as Samuel pulls his hand back, and drives it through the doctor. Then we watch true horror.

[AAAAARRGGHH!!!]

[FFFRRRRRRSSSSHHHH]

Some of the people in this room let out groans at the violet display. Black fleshy tendrils break the doctor's body apart. The doctor has been absorbed into Samuel's biomass in less than a second.

[HEEEEEEE!!!]

I can't help pitying the remaining panicking doctor. He just watched his friend and colleague get mercilessly killed and then consumed by the subject.

[GAAAAHHHH!!]

[FFFFFFFSSSHHHHHHH]

We watch as the second man shares the same fate as his friend. Being killed and absorbed into the biomass of Samuel. However, these actions aren't without repercussions. Just like the report said, Samuel grabs at his head.

Our scientists and researchers are working on theories as to what's happening at this moment.

But the seriousness of the situation only continues.

Samuel walks up to the keypad that's covered in blood and begins entering the code. After a second, the door opens. This is when I take the time to pause the recording for everyone. All attention turns to me.

"As you can see, Pestilence unlocks the door with a passcode he couldn't have possibly known prior to his death. It's been theorized that Pestilence can consume his targets, and take their knowledge. As you'll continue to see."

There are almost inaudible whispers around the room as I speak. After a second, the talks quiet down, and I press the play button.

We watch Samuel walk through the door and approach the next one. This is where things become extraordinary.

His entire physical being morphs into one of the doctors he just consumed. Black tendrils race and change across his body. All happening in less than a second. Even the hazmat suit is perfectly imitated. This is when I pause the video again.

"At this point in the recording, Pestilence has shown the ability of incredible physical strength and durability. However, he's also, in theory, able to harness the knowledge of those he's consumed. And take their physical forms."

I play the video again, and we watch as he uses the eye and handprint scanners. After the door opens and he walks through, I pause the video again.

"This shows he's perfectly mimicked the eyes and fingerprints of the doctor. He wouldn't have been able to leave without doing so. It's unknown if he can imitate DNA, but everything on the surface seems possible for Pestilence."

There is a silent dread as I press play on the recording again. Samuel walks down the hall and approaches two privates guarding the door to the morgue. His imitation is so genuine that they can't tell there is a fake standing in front of them.

[I know that you like to take smoke breaks, Dr. Ardens. But we're under strict orders not to let anyone out of the facility today. Not with the infection rates as they are.]

At this point, Samuel concludes there is no simpler way through the door.

[AARGH!!]

[RAAGGG!!!]

[FSSSSSSSSSHHHHHH]

He kills and consumes both the privates and walks through the door.

And this is when I pause the video again.

"Before I continue the recording, I'm gonna list the observed and theoretical abilities of Pestilence."

I pick up the file to my right and open it. As does everyone else in the room.

"Instantaneous regenerative healing, superhuman strength, and durability. Absorption of physical bodies, able to use the knowledge collected from individuals consumed. Instantaneous physical imitation of individuals consumed."

There is, of course, more that's listed in the file, but this is a sort of checkpoint. We're only halfway through viewing the recordings we have of Samuel. What we're about to watch next only adds more pressure to the situation.

I place the file to my side and lift my head to see my colleagues either doing the same or still reading.

"Pestilence's abilities at this point in the recording are already extraordinary. However, Pestilence has more to show us."

It's not like we haven't seen unusual mutations appear due to TRV-511. However, as of this moment, nothing is as sophisticated or as dangerous as Samuel.

I've had lengthy discussions with Carnid about what Samuel was working on in the lab under Carnid's instructions, but he's been uncooperative. I was against him identifying and further engineering the TRV-511 strain from the beginning.

Now, my suspicions and reservations have been proven right.

TRV-511 got out, and it's tearing the world apart.

"Pestilence is, by far, the most exceptional and unusual mutation the TRV-511 viral strain has produced. And it's time we watch what else he's capable of."

As those words exit my lips, the rest of the files still being read are set to the side, and our attention turns back to the TVs.

And I press play again.