A hymn of Rebirth/ Death

The infection sang.

Not in words — but in tones, a low hum that rattled the bones of cities. Wherever Zero’s army spread, radios, phones, even heart monitors began to buzz with faint static that, when slowed down, sounded almost like a choir.

By dawn, the smoke from Paris had drifted east — stretching over Europe, carried by the wind like a dark benediction.

The song of the infected woke Cities. And from then only their screams of death would be heard.

The War room reeked of sweat, coffee and fear.

Dozen’s of screens flickered each displaying a different catastrophe: France's coast burning, refugees flooding the borders. Some of them went to Switzerland but finding new homes in England.

Leland leaned against the cold steel table, eyes hollow from sleepless hours. Kiyora stood beside him, scanning a live feed of Paris’ ruins.

“It’s spreading faster than any known contagion,” said Kiyora. “Whole towns in northern France have gone dark. Satellite readings show heat signatures moving in clusters….thousands of them.”

Static

The President of France appeared on the main screen.

“We have….reports from Lyon, Bordeaux, and even Brussels. There have all turned Dr. Leland. My country is dying. We’re requesting more resources.”

Leland exhaled, removed his glasses, wiping them. 

“President Allen has halted all personnel movement for now….to fortify the country….”

“They’re moving too fast! They hit Marseille, then vanished. No pattern, no weakness!”

Leland leaned forward, putting on his glasses.
“They’re learning from every encounter. Try something else, dammit!”

On another screen, a shaky video played — Everett hovering above the Arc de Triomphe, wings of bone unfurled, eyes reflecting flames. Behind him, Elcy jumped among kneeling civilians, punching a chopper mid-air.

President of France (through screen):
"We sent everything we had, monsieur. Missiles, tanks, even chemical strikes. Nothing worked! They slaughtered our men as if they were insects. And now... my people are joining them!"

He buried his face in his hands.
"My people think Zero is a god."

“What are we supposed to do?”

“Wait...we’ll call you.”

Then Leland disconnected the call and slammed his hand on the table.

“You didn’t tell them about the strike protocols,” Kiyora said.

“The President hasn’t authorized for that information to be shared. And honestly, France is done. Their officials have already evacuated, they’ll be debriefed then.”

Leland’s gaze turned to Victor, who stood silent in the corner, pale under the screenlight.
“Victor, you’ve been at the centre of this since day one. What more can we do?”

Victor hesitated. Then said quietly:

“I don’t know.”

“What?” Leland grabbed his coat.

“Stop it,” Emily said removing his hands. “That’s not gonna help us now.”

She crouched glancing at Victor’s eyes. “Look, I know you're still dealing with everything that is happening with you and Zero. But we need to focus now Victor.  To defeat this thing, we need complete transparency from you.”

“I know that,” Victor said, in a serious tone. “And I am being truthful when I say I don’t know. What Zero and the infected were has changed drastically. From the samples sent by France analysts….even the infection’s structure is totally different.”

He paused then continued looking at Leland. “But from what I can tell, there are three categories of the infected; one is Zero, the apex and unique in every aspect. Two: the Sentients like Everett and Leon. And the rest are the mindless hive.”

“You’re saying he’s controlling them at a genetic level?” Emily asked.

“Not really. He’s connected to them, like neurons in a brain. When Zero evolves, so does everyone below him. His blood is rewriting them all in real-time, that’s why he can resurrect the dead now. I’m still not sure how far his evolution will get and how that will affect the infected but he is indeed like a god.”

The room went silent.

“So….how do we kill a god?” Keller asked nervously.

Victor winced standing. “You don’t.”

In one of the screens, he pressed a button to shrink the footage and drew a picture of a dome-shaped structure.

“We contain him. I assume after levelling France, he will move towards the closest nation, Switzerland. It should take us just under 90 minutes to get there. If we can assemble the military of both Germany and Switzerland with our own, we might trap Zero momentarily. If that happens the hive should be ineffective…..”

“And then what?” Emily asked. “Are you forgetting Everett and his fucked up avengers crew?”

“That is part of the plan. The sentient are dangerous, yes, but from what we’ve observed so far, they are not under Zero’s total control like the hive. Hopefully they can be reasoned with but if not, killing them would be the best option we have.”

Suddenly, lights flickered and every screen went black.

Then static and a faint hum that rose to a melody and his face appeared.

Zero.

His eyes glowed with that deep red stillness, painted with a smirk that would terrify those who saw it.

“Children of the dying world. Do not fear me. Fear has ruled you long enough.”

He raised the boy he ‘fathered’ — still alive and rocking in his arms.

“This little one lost his mother to this unnecessary war. Yet he sleeps peacefully now…because he understands something you never will…. That destruction is the first step toward creation.”

His tone grew darker.

“I beseech whatever people, science or body of government out there….Lay down your arms. Come forward and be reborn. As your god I promise to be benevolent to all my misguided children. Or Else you will be remade from your graves.”

The feed cut out.

No one spoke.

Leland exhaled sharply, gripping the table.
“Get me Washington. Now.”

The Swiss Border (120 MINUTES LATER)

Snow fell like ash over the Alps.

At the border checkpoint, soldiers stood trembling behind tanks, eyes scanning the blizzard. The radio crackled.

Then came the silhouettes — hundreds of them, walking through the snow, moving in perfect unison.

Like Victor had said, Zero and his holy army had arrived.

At their center, Everett.
Behind him, Elcy and Leon.
And trailing at the back, — the fourth sentient, face hidden beneath a black mask.

Every step she took, the snow beneath her turned to black slush.

Nara

The soldiers opened fire.

Nara evaded them, flipping, sliding. One of them grazed her shoulder but she didn’t flinch and mauled the soldiers one by one.

Her laughter was nauseating, especially to the soldiers behind that could see their death coming in insane fashion.

Bones broke, teeth fell and eyes were disconnected at the veins from faces.

When it was over, nothing remained but quiet — and the sound of bones shifting underfoot and the snow was now fully drenched in red.

30 minutes Before That

Inside the Swiss Command Center that was approximately few miles from the border  they had already arrived a few minutes earlier.

“This plan is madness,” the Chief of Joint Operations command spoke. “Basel does not have the necessary equipment for fighting. This place is a cultural hub…”

“Hey, with all disrespect…” Emma said looking at him “Shut the fuck up, okay. We’re trying to work here.”

“What she means is that we have thought this one through Chief,” Leland cut in. “What we need from you and your personnel is to hold them down for the moment while my team finishes a weapon against them. Will that be okay?”

The Chief stared at Emma before speaking. “My boys can do that. But don’t get mistaken doctor, those boys won’t get to go home to their families because of this, so be sure your weapon can defeat these monsters.”

Before Leland could answer, the Chief’s radio spoke and he answered speaking to one of the “boys” at the battlefield, then he stared at Leland.

“The monsters have arrived at the border.” 

“Understood.”

Leland then stared at Victor, whose expression was unreadable.

“Okay Victor, it was as you said. What’s next?”

Victor’s eyes glowed gold.

“We’re almost done.”

While Nara was mauling the 'boys' Zero was playing with the child that was grasping his claw.

Everett landed smoothly in front.

“The armies have been expunged by Nara, quite brutally so. Most of them have their heads blasted into sludge. Can you still revive them in that state?”

“Why not. I control their movements, hence not much need for heads. And regarding Nara, that is why I chose her as the fourth. She is ruthless and enjoys violence a bit too much, yes. But that is exactly her role in this war. The unforgiving tank. You however, Everett are their leader and should you have any problems with either of them, I expect you to deal with it, however you see fit.”

“Okay,” Everett said calmly. “What are your orders?”

Zero smiled faintly, stroking the boy’s hair.

“Let’s rest here for now while the second Phase begins.”

As Everett was turning away, Zero spoke again.

“Oh, and find something for the child to eat.”

Everett turned, looked at the child and nodded flying away.

Zero sat on the snow, gazing toward the horizon

"Soon, even the heavens will kneel."