Will took his own deep breath before he began his exposition.

"On July 11th, 2027. The comet-"

Donny suddenly started giggling. "Heh, 7/11." When he received no reaction, he gestured for Will to continue. "My bad, go on."

"On 7/11. The comet C/2023 B2—carrying a dangerous virus known as the 'Talon virus', will enter the earth."

"Hold up." Donny held up his hand and started giggling again. "It's called the Talon virus? T-virus for short?"

Will ignored him and continued. "Anyway-"

"Hold up, hold up. I got a real question this time." Donny held up his hand again. "How does the virus survive in outer space? Won't the vacuum in space, you know...destroy it or something?"

"I've heard that outside of a host, viruses are not considered to be alive. I'm not quite sure about other viruses, but this virus, at least, can survive in the vacuum of space."

"You're from the future, shouldn't you know more about this stuff?"

"It's not like you would know detailed information about the coronavirus if I asked you, right?"

"Touché."

"Besides, I'm a nobody in the future."

"Then why would they send you back if you're a nobody?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I dunno...didn't like a team of the world's greatest scientist gather together to create a time machine or something and send you back to save the world?"

"Nothing like that happened..."

Donny suddenly had another thought and went back to the topic before. "Oh! What about when the comet enters earth? Won't it like...super burn up and stuff?"

"The virus is hidden deep inside the comet to avoid cosmic radiation and the intense heat generated during entry into the earth's atmosphere."

"So...you said this virus is dangerous...what does it do?"

"This virus has the ability to strengthen and greatly alter the anatomy of any organism it comes in contact with."

"Wait a minute, doesn't this sound familiar?" Donny held up a hand. "This sounds like the plot to that one superhero movie. Wait, not hero, villain? No anti-hero. What was it again? Poison, I think?"

"I don't know, but this virus is incredibly contagious."

"Or maybe was it toxin?" Donny muttered to himself.

Will continued on. "After the comet breaks apart, the remaining debris will scatter and disseminate the virus all over earth, infecting everything in its path."

"Then aren't we screwed?...Or wait, you said the virus makes us stronger, isn't that a good thing?"

"The virus forces the body into a state of rapid evolution, causing the strengthening of muscle tissue, drastic changes in metabolism and hormones produced, and also the awakening of dormant genes or traits.

But the problem with it is that about 1.9% of humans are extremely susceptible to the virus and will show an adverse reaction to it, causing them to change even more rapidly. Changes that can occur in a matter of minutes rather than weeks or months."

"Oh...that greatly altering thing you mentioned."

"Yes, they will experience aggressive changes that will cause the limitation of higher-order brain functions and regression to base instincts, where they will hunt for the nutrients required to sustain all these changes. All of these combined will cause these people to change into what is basically a zombie."

"Bro, you said the Z-word, there's a rule against that."

"Then I'll call them what we do in the future." Will sighed. "Zeroes."

"Zeroes?" Donny raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "What a stupid name."

"It's short for Category 0, it'll make sense in the future." Will waved before finishing his explanation. "In some cases, because of the essentially non-existent response from the host's immune systems, the virus will cause extreme mutations to its hosts."

"So, like special Z-words?"

"Special zombies?"

"Bro..." Donny gave Will a look, who rolled his eyes in response. "Okay, so seriously...we have an apocalypse on our hands then? One with walkers?"

"Not all of them walk."

"Crawlers?"

"Not all of them crawl."

"Shit...that's not good. So we got something like the infected or zeds?"

"Walkers, crawlers, runners, jumpers, climbers, swimmers, whatever you want to call them, it's a mix, depending on how the virus affects each individual. And this is with the exception of the special ones."

"Jesus..." Donny breathed as he crouched down for a moment to take it in before he suddenly jerked his head up. "Wait! When you said 2%, you meant of all humans?!"

Donny received a nod of confirmation from Will.

"That's like in the hundreds of millions of people, isn't it? Shouldn't we...you know...call the government or military or Area 51 or Elon? Something? They can send a rocket and armageddon that bitch up."

"If you can think of a good plan that doesn't make us look crazy, I'm all ears."

"Or can't you just like hijack a missile and launch it at the comet?"

"One that doesn't end up with us getting shot or in prison for terrorism. What do you expect me to do? Just waltz into a military instalment, press a big red button and then be on my jolly way? Like I said, I was just a nobody. And I don't believe a missile would be enough to stop this comet."

There were many studies and articles published in the future and Will recalled reading one mentioning how even if they had destroyed the comet well before it reached earth, with the velocity it was already travelling at, the broken comet would still enter and scatter around the planet. As for the solution, there was one study that suggested using a spacecraft or satellite to nudge the comet off its course.

But that requires many important people, and more importantly, multiple countries to believe a virus actually exists on C/2017 B2 and work together in a collaborative effort to stop it. Impossible. Will thought sardonically.

"You keep saying you're a nobody in the future, but what kind of job did you have?"

"Logistics, and communication."

"Wow, you really are a nobody. Isn't that just a fancy way of saying you're a grunt? You even kept it vague, like how Daniel does when people ask about his job. How was work in customer service and relations during the spring break, by the way?" Donny teased. "Hold up, when did you 'come back' anyway?"

"A few days ago. I kept it vague because my job doesn't exactly exist right now, and explaining it is too much of a hassle."

"Keep it short for me then."

"Because of the way the future is, with how widespread the virus is, the lack of manpower in the military, and some other political reasons, what is basically a zombie mercenary becomes a necessary job."

"That sounds dope."

"The name that South Korea coined was picked up online and became popular. Hunters."

"Yep, dope."

"My job involved supporting my company's hunters."

"Alright, I think I sort of get the picture now." Donny said, nodding. Will replied with a grunt. "Shouldn't you have a plan? Even if you weren't sent back in time to save the world." Donny asked.

"I do have a plan, but my goal isn't really to save the world."

"What do you mean? I could have sworn you were the T-800." Donny said humorously as Will gave him a look of incomprehension. "You know? The Terminator?"

"Mmm." Will nodded in understanding.

"Dude, you really did come from the future, you've become such a boomer after all those years." Donny said before giggling to himself. "Boomer...heh."

Will didn't quite understand again but he assumed it was another reference.

"So this is why you sounded like my dad all day?"

"What do you mean?"

"You talking like all proper and like a...grownup." Donny said, making a face of repulsion in jest.

"I'm only here to give a better life for myself and those important to me."

"Ayy." Donny punched Will's arm lightly in appreciation.

"'Saving the world' is only a consequence of that, since I can't exactly live in a world where humans are wiped out."

"Tsk, tsk, that's not very hero-like." Donny wagged his finger.

"Of course, if I end up in a position where I can help, I'll do what I can."

"So what's the plan to get rid of the virus?"

"Who said anything about getting rid of the virus? There's no known cure for it and unless I miraculously somehow manage to get rid of the comet, the virus spreading is inevitable."

"But what about the apocalypse?"

"I also never said anything about an apocalypse. Apocalypse implies the world will end. It's more of a half-apocalypse. There is a large outbreak—a global one that is, the world certainly goes to shit, and the virus definitely plays a part but it doesn't end because of it. If anything, it's more like a change. A shift in era, like the industrial revolution or the digital age."

"I thought we would be overrun by the turned."

"You play too many games. Although the entire world is certainly caught off guard by them and there is close to a half a billion deaths in the first 2 weeks alone, many countries do eventually fight them back. We do keep most of our cities, but lose many smaller towns and almost all the wilderness."

"Really? Our even our military fights back? The Canadian military?"

"I know it's a joke that Canada has no army but you shouldn't underestimate the military. They even have a file in their databases currently with comprehensive plans in the case of a scenario like this, and they'll deal with most of the zombies in major cities very quickly once the initial shock wears off and they get their shit together."

"Wait! The government already have plans for an undead uprising?"

"I'm pretty sure it's already public knowledge at this time."

"Really?" Donny took out his smartphone and searched it up. "Damn! Even the pentagon has their own plans, haha. So if it's not the fleshies that destroys the world, then who?"

"Don't say fleshies, it sounds disgusting. It's people with lack of foresight that ends up destroying humanity, especially those we thought were allies."

"This sounds like what we just heard about during third period."

"I guess you can sort of compare the fall of humanity to Rome's. Because the power balance between countries, and more importantly—people, massively changes due to the virus. We definitely implode from lack of unity, rampant corruption, shortsighted greed, inept leaders, and terrible economics. And the Talons are like the barbarians who come in for the coup de grâce."

"So what you're saying is the real enemies are the friends we made along the way?" Will didn't bother answering his friend's quip. Donny took a final drag out of his joint and then stomped it out before turning back to Will. "What are Talons, by the way?"

"We don't know much about them. All we know is that they are an extraterrestrial race from outside our solar system, and they sent the comet that is currently about to utterly mess things up here."

"Aliens?"