Chapter 6
At the White House, the official office and residence of the nation’s leader, high-ranking officials gathered in the confidential meeting room. The ongoing global crisis and the aftermath of last night’s meteor shower had thrown countries across the world into chaos.
The impact left thousands dead across various parts of the world. What was even more alarming was that no space agency or astronomical body had detected the meteorites in advance. It was as if they had appeared out of nowhere, catching the world completely off guard.
The United Nations quickly issued an urgent directive last night: all nations were to closely monitor anyone who had survived direct contact with the meteorites. It was unclear why, but something about the situation felt… unnatural.
“We’ve managed to contain the situation in most hospitals and secure their premises by barricading them and deploying military platoons to eliminate the threat and rescue survivors. However, more reports are coming in from multiple locations about similar violent incidents, and the infections are spreading fast,” Field Marshal Martin Roxas, the Chief of Defense Staff, reported.
George Grey, the President of Nepthal Country, exhaled heavily, rubbed his temples, and helplessly looked at his officers gathered around the long table. “There’s no other option, then. We need to declare a national emergency at this rate,” he stated firmly.
Turning to Lucio Gordon, the Nepthal National Police Chief, he added, “I want your men working together with Field Marshal Roxas on this. We need to secure the streets, protect the people, and eliminate any threat before this spreads further p>
“Understood, sir,” Police General Gordon quickly responded with a curt bow.
George nodded, then shifted his attention to Dr. Marlon Pitt, the lead scientist overseeing the investigation into the meteorite crisis.
“Tell us what we’re dealing with here, Dr. Pitt. Is this some kind of plague? We need to inform the public with accurate details. We can’t just throw around words like ‘zombie outbreak’ without solid evidence. What do we actually know p>
Dr. Pitt adjusted his glasses before standing. He tapped on his tablet, and a holographic display flickered to life on the large screen behind him, showing images of meteorite debris, medical scans, and classified reports.
“We have collected multiple samples of the meteorites that struck various locations,” he began, “but there’s something… strange p>
George frowned and asked, “What’s strange p>
“When we analyzed the fragments, they appeared to be nothing more than ordinary rock… at least, based on our current testing methods. However, there are anomalies. The energy signature they emitted upon impact was unlike anything we’ve seen before p>
Dr. Pitt paused, taking a slow breath before continuing. “What’s even more baffling is that both the survivors and those who died after being directly struck by the meteorites show no trace of foreign elements in their bodies. No radiation, no unusual substances… nothing p>
George’s patience was wearing thin. His brows furrowed as he interjected, “Then where did this all start? Is it airborne? There has to be a source. People wouldn’t just start attacking each other in hospitals out of nowhere p>
“Sir, just moments ago, we managed to retrieve CCTV footage from multiple hospitals,” Field Marshal Martin Roxas interjected. “And the pattern is the same everywhere: the attacks all started in the morgues. Those who died from the meteorite underwent extreme physiological changes p>
“What kind of changes?” George asked with a frown.
At Martin’s signal, one of his men stepped forward and played the footage. The tension in the room thickened as they watched clips from various hospital security cameras. The scenes showed bodies, previously declared dead, suddenly jerking to life.
Dr. Pitt paused the video and explained, “These corpses were those who were hit and died from the meteorites. They all came back to life p>
He took over and played another clip where sheets flew off as one of the corpses sat up with unnatural speed, its eyes glowing faintly. It turned toward the camera, its jaw unhinging slightly as it released a guttural, inhuman sound. The footage ended abruptly.
Then more CCTV footage was played, showing corpses moving, some even starting to eat the flesh of other dead bodies. After a few minutes, other dead bodies started moving and coming back to life p>
And then, chaos. The reanimated bodies lunged at doctors and nurses, biting, clawing, and spreading the infection before security could react.
The expressions around the table darkened with horror and disbelief.
“Are you telling me,” George said, his voice tight, “that the victims who died from the meteorite strikes… came back as monsters?” Ná´‡w É´ovel chaptá´‡rs are published on.net
Dr. Pitt took a deep breath and explained, “The military managed to capture one that revived after direct exposure to the meteorites and its victim. I was able to observe and conduct a quick analysis of their behavior p>
He pointed at the screen and said, “This is the one who died after being hit by a meteorite. It retained cognitive abilities. Not only that, it’s stronger, faster, and, based on what we’ve seen, they are highly aggressive. We’ve classified them as ‘Meteorborn p>
Dr. Pitt turned at the video still playing and explained further, “Meteorborn were reborn as infectious creatures with an insatiable hunger for flesh. Anyone bitten by them transforms what closely resembles the zombies of fiction p>
“So you’re telling me,” George said slowly, “they have no hope? Like for a cure or something p>
“These people are dead already, Mr. President,” Dr. Pitt firmly pointed out while shaking his head. “They are no longer human. It seems we’re not just dealing with a virus or infection, but a new species born directly from the meteorites p>
“And the ones they attack?” George weakly asked. He felt so helpless watching the footage, seeing those helpless people being attacked by those monsters.
Dr. Pitt switched to another set of footage, this time showing a hospital corridor in chaos. A nurse was seen staggering, blood dripping from a bite wound on her arm. She collapsed, convulsed… then rose again, her movements erratic and uncoordinated. She lunged at a nearby doctor, biting into his shoulder and tearing off his flesh.
“Those infected through bites lose all higher brain function,” Dr. Pitt explained with a grim expression. “They become completely mindless, driven solely by an insatiable hunger for flesh. Their minds are gone. What we’re dealing with are ‘MB Infectees p>
He paused, looking around the room intently. “There’s no chance for a cure for them either. The infection doesn’t just alter their physical state, it completely overrides their neurological system. The transformation is irreversible. Once they’re bitten, they’re lost. There’s no turning back p>
The room grew even heavier with tension.
George clenched his jaw and then worriedly asked, “And what about those who survived the meteorite impact? If the deceased are transforming, what happens to them? Will they also become Meteorborn upon death? How can we be certain they’re not carriers of whatever the meteorites carried that turned the deceased into monsters p>