Description: By an impossibly suspicious coincidence, we faced zombies around Halloween. Results weren't pretty. Food and water became scare, many of our own got infected out there... But ultimately, a cure was developed and the virus seemingly eradicated.
Commentary: These zombies aren't quite your average kind. We're talking less "Night of the Living Dead" and... in this case a virus-induced zombification.
After a bite, flu-like symptoms would set in for a good six hours or so, followed a few hours later by an immense, mind-consuming hunger. Rational thought ceases about twelve hours in. All that you can think about is that painful hunger, like an itch that you keep scratching and just won't go away, that hunger for flesh, it's overwhelming and it's the most powerful hunger I've ever. From that point on, the person is effectively transformed, driven to attack and feed upon the non-zombies without any thought to anything else. Some of these times of infection varied, of course, depending on the biological makeup of the infected. Those possessing supernatural powers or likewise tended to fight off the virus, to varying extents.
The zombies in the early stages had superhuman strength, able to move much faster than average: these are referred to as Runners. Zombies in the later stages, after a good twelve hours or so, begin to lose their motor skills as the virus literally tears them apart from inside: referred to as Shamblers. When a Shifter became infected, their powers could pose a threat to anyone in the area, causing a variety of adverse effects: these are known as Glitchers. (Note: it looked like the Shift Hunters themselves were immune but still able to carry the virus).
A cure was gradually developed, but there was still a greater loss of life out there than some drafts. A zombie movie is entertaining, but not a place I recommend visiting. Imagine waking up to find out you'd attacked and infected your friends. Imagine being one of the uninfected, having to fight your mindless zombie comrade and without any cure, make the decision to trap or kill them. Trapping may seem more humane, but it leaves that person suffering, in the throes of the virus. But killing that person, even with the knowledge they'll resurrect in a week... That's not a scenario I'd wish on anyone. Maybe my worst enemy. Maybe.
Whether for the better or not, the formerly infected don't have any clear memories of their time as a zombie. It's all a blur, a time of vague nightmares which is probably better left undisturbed. Although if I have the time and opportunity, I should seek a hypnotherapist (do we have one in the house?) and see what memories can be recovered. For the sake of knowing, just in case it ever becomes useful...
Anyway, back to that cure. It took time to get it together, and yours truly was already infected when they were creating it. I was among those tested with the protocure, and the results... Well. Imagine having your right mind, but being in the body of a zombie. I know. Not on my top ten most pleasurable experiences. However, it did give me a short time to take advantage of that state, using the super strength and speed against the enemy. A full cure was eventually made and administered, bringing the infected back to a completely human state. No lingering ill effects that I can see. Will continue to verify with Scully on that. Others here can be given that cure and protected against future infections, a kind of vaccination.
A Shift-bomb took care of the last of the plague- we were able to evacuate before its detonation. Here's hopping that's the last we'll see of it.
X-20090829-2012102531- Draft 9
Dates: 10/25/12-10/31/12
Description: By an impossibly suspicious coincidence, we faced zombies around Halloween. Results weren't pretty. Food and water became scare, many of our own got infected out there... But ultimately, a cure was developed and the virus seemingly eradicated.
Commentary: These zombies aren't quite your average kind. We're talking less "Night of the Living Dead" and... in this case a virus-induced zombification.
After a bite, flu-like symptoms would set in for a good six hours or so, followed a few hours later by an immense, mind-consuming hunger. Rational thought ceases about twelve hours in. All that you can think about is that painful hunger, like an itch that you keep scratching and just won't go away, that hunger for flesh, it's overwhelming
and it's the most powerful hunger I've ever. From that point on, the person is effectively transformed, driven to attack and feed upon the non-zombies without any thought to anything else. Some of these times of infection varied, of course, depending on the biological makeup of the infected. Those possessing supernatural powers or likewise tended to fight off the virus, to varying extents.The zombies in the early stages had superhuman strength, able to move much faster than average: these are referred to as Runners. Zombies in the later stages, after a good twelve hours or so, begin to lose their motor skills as the virus literally tears them apart from inside: referred to as Shamblers. When a Shifter became infected, their powers could pose a threat to anyone in the area, causing a variety of adverse effects: these are known as Glitchers. (Note: it looked like the Shift Hunters themselves were immune but still able to carry the virus).
A cure was gradually developed, but there was still a greater loss of life out there than some drafts. A zombie movie is entertaining, but not a place I recommend visiting. Imagine waking up to find out you'd attacked and infected your friends. Imagine being one of the uninfected, having to fight your mindless zombie comrade and without any cure, make the decision to trap or kill them. Trapping may seem more humane, but it leaves that person suffering, in the throes of the virus. But killing that person, even with the knowledge they'll resurrect in a week... That's not a scenario I'd wish on anyone.
Maybe my worst enemy. Maybe.Whether for the better or not, the formerly infected don't have any clear memories of their time as a zombie. It's all a blur, a time of vague nightmares which is probably better left undisturbed. Although if I have the time and opportunity, I should seek a hypnotherapist (do we have one in the house?) and see what memories can be recovered. For the sake of knowing, just in case it ever becomes useful...
Anyway, back to that cure. It took time to get it together, and yours truly was already infected when they were creating it. I was among those tested with the protocure, and the results... Well. Imagine having your right mind, but being in the body of a zombie. I know. Not on my top ten most pleasurable experiences. However, it did give me a short time to take advantage of that state, using the super strength and speed against the enemy. A full cure was eventually made and administered, bringing the infected back to a completely human state. No lingering ill effects that I can see. Will continue to verify with Scully on that. Others here can be given that cure and protected against future infections, a kind of vaccination.
A Shift-bomb took care of the last of the plague- we were able to evacuate before its detonation. Here's hopping that's the last we'll see of it.