Part 1 – First Days
This work of fiction was inspired by the Youtube video State Zero, I do not own it, but I think it's the most amazing video ever created, once you're done I'd advise you view it.
Day Zero, Ridgway High School, Seattle, Washington, Ms. Briggs was in the middle of her lecture when she noticed Sam passing something to a student to her left.
Ms. Briggs walked over, and snatched up the note, what was written on the note was, "You think Ms. Briggs knows about the gum stuck to her butt?"
Ms. Briggs looked over her shoulder at her butt, and there was a piece of gun there, "Never point that out again Puckett," Ms. Briggs exclaimed as she tore the note to pieces, and threw it into the trashcan in the back of the room.
A second later, Mr. Stern burst into the room, "Something's happening," He said, "Seattle's under attack, and we've been ordered to evacuate!"
The students grabbed their equipment, and took off, as they ran out the front door of their school, Freddie, Carly, Sam, and Gibby could see something was wrong, people were running hysterically through the streets, in the distance the gang could hear gunfire, "What are those," Gibby asked, "ARs?"
"M4s," Freddie said, "It's the Military!"
"Where should we go?" Carly asked.
"First thing I think we should do is check on our families," Freddie said, "Let's get back to Bushwell!"
As the gang took off for Bushwell, Sam received a text from her mom, "It's my mom," she said, "She said the Military's evacuating people at the Seattle Waterfront Arcade. Gibby's mother is already there with her."
"That's twelve blocks from Bushwell," Freddie said, "We can make it there in an hour if there's no foot traffic on the stairs!"
As they were running through the streets, you could hear the screaming of people in the distance, and even explosions and gunfire, the U.S. Military was putting up a good fight, but there was still screaming so it was apparent they were still losing.
"Move, move," Carly urged, "We can't get caught out here!"
The four arrived at Bushwell as the sounds of gunfire got even closer, they couldn't have been more than twelve blocks away.
After entering, they saw the door to Lewbert's office was wide open and there was hysterical screaming from inside as he tried to throw everything into a suitcase.
Freddie, Carly, Sam, and Gibby ran up the stairs to the eighth floor where the doors to both Carly and Freddie's apartments were open, the gang rushed into Carly's apartment, and saw Spencer running downstairs, "Spencer," Carly exclaimed as she ran up, and hugged her brother, "You're ok!"
"Yea," Spencer said, "We have to get out of town!"
"What about dad's guns?" Carly asked.
"Right here," Spencer said as he picked up a few rifles and handguns.
"Guns?" Sam asked.
"Dad believed in keeping us safe," Spencer said as he loaded a Remington Model Seven rifle with a hunting-scope, "He taught me from a young age how to handle and shoot all kinds of guns," he then pointed at Carly, "He then taught Carly when she was that age."
"You seen my mom?" Freddie asked.
"She went ahead," Spencer said as he handed Freddie the Model Seven, "She told me to bring you with us. You know how to use this right?"
Freddie flipped a small button on the side of the scope, opening the two flaps on the scope, placed the rifle against his shoulder, and looked down the sights, "What's the range on this thing?" Freddie asked.
"Seven hundred yards," Spencer said, "Can you shoot that far?"
"I'm a mathematical genius," Freddie said, "I think I can work out the range."
Spencer tossed Gibby a revolver as Sam posed a question, "What's the fastest route to the Seattle Waterfront Arcade?" Sam asked.
"To run," Spencer said as he grabbed his father's Berretta M9.
The gang jumped into the elevator as the window shattered, and something large and grey jumped into the apartment, and rushed toward the elevator as the door was closing.
Spencer and Carly shrieked like a girl as Sam raised the Mossberg Model 580 shotgun Spencer handed her, and fired, the thing flew backwards across the room, destroying the TV.
"Nice shot." Freddie said.
"Thanks." Sam said.
"Anytime." Freddie said as something landed on the roof.
There was the creaking of metal as the roof was pealed back, "Shoot!" Freddie exclaimed as he raised his rifle toward the roof.
The crew fired one round each into the roof before Sam finished off by unloading one shot through the area they were shooting.
Blood started pooling through the roof, but it was different, Freddie held out his hand, and some of the blood pooled onto his fingers, the blood was more of a syrup consistency, it was orange instead of red, and as he rubbed his thumb against his fingers, there were a few black items floating around like bugs.
"What the hell are those things?" Sam asked.
"I have no idea," Freddie said as he flicked it off his fingers, "Right now we have a bigger problem to worry about. Let's get out of here."
The elevator dinged as they walked into the lobby where scared residents were running left and right.
"Let's go!" Spencer exclaimed.
The gang ran to hear the Army lines were no more than five blocks away, and the streets were full of people running.
As they ran across the sidewalk, it was apparent looters were taking advantage of the panic because the store windows had been busted in, and there were broken items scattered all over the floor.
There was a massive explosion from behind them, they turned around, and one of Seattle's main sky-scrapers collapsed, "MOVE," Spencer yelled, "MOVE! MOVE!"
The gang ran for their life before Freddie spotted a Subway entrance, "OVER HERE," Freddie yelled, the gang ran into the metro as the building started collapsing.
As Freddie followed them, the rubble started flying toward the entrance, Freddie scrambled into the metro behind them, and slammed the gate shut as a piece of rubble struck the gate, and sent Freddie flying along with the gang.
The gang landed on their backs as Freddie landed against one of the signs, smashing it.
"FREDDIE!" Carly yelled when she saw him.
The gang ran over to Freddie who pushed himself off the sign, "Dude," Spencer said, "You ok?"
"Yea," Freddie said before coughing, "Where's the rifle," Gibby handed Freddie the rifle, there was a small bit of blood coming from a cut on Freddie's arm that ran to his knuckles, "Alright, everyone take a minute, do a magazine check, and scavenge for supplies in case we don't make it to the Pier in time. This is our only chance to get our bearings."
Spencer ejected the magazine on the M9, and loaded a spare to replace the bullet he spent in the elevator.
Freddie walked over to the sign, and dusted the number clear, "We're on Route Twelve, right under Madison Street," Freddie said as he then jogged over to the platform, "If we were to follow this tunnel we could hit Route Sixteen which would put us right at the Piers."
"So we follow the tracks?" Gibby asked.
"It's the only way to do it," Freddie said, "We have to get to the piers, the streets are crowed, and we can't get out."
"Who elected you leader?" Sam asked.
"Stop it Sam," Carly said, "We can't get through this if we're fighting. Freddie's plan is the best we've heard so far, now I vote we go for it."
"I second it." Spencer said.
"Gibby." Gibby said.
"Ok then," Sam said, "Lead on Mr. Sniper."
"Ok," Freddie said, "Sam your up front, when we reach Route Ten let us know."
Sam jumped down onto the tracks, and pointed her shotgun down the passageway, her Model 580 was the only weapon they had that had a tactical flashlight attached.
As they were moving down the tracks, they avoided the third rail, when they arrived at Route Ten, and quickly hopped over the platform, and as they did, they heard something behind them, they turned around, and saw fifteen of those monsters walking down the tunnel toward them, "RUN!" Freddie yelled.
The group took to their heels and ran for Route Sixteen, with the monsters in fast pursuit.
"THERE'S ROUTE SIXTEEN UP AHEAD!" Sam yelled.
There was then the sound of a large whistle, "AND HERE COMES A TRAIN!" Carly yelled.
"WE CAN MAKE IT!" Freddie yelled.
The joint connecting the two tracks was right ahead, but the train was coming, Sam leapt over the tracks first followed by Spencer, then Carly, and Gibby.
Freddie was the last to jump over, narrowly missing one of the monsters grab his leg by an inch, the monster survived, but because of the speed of the train, and where he landed, he was sliced clean in two from the waist down.
As Freddie stood up, he picked up the rifle as the monster grabbed hold of his leg, Freddie bunted the creature with the butt-stock of the rifle, stunning it, and then proceeded to use the butt-stock as a club, and beat the creature's skull until there was nothing left.
Carly pulled him away, and yelled at him to stop, Freddie flailed like a caged animal before Sam slapped him, snapping him out of it.
"Thanks," Freddie said as he rolled off Carly onto the ground, "I needed that."
"You good?" Spencer asked.
"Yea," Freddie said as he picked up the rifle, then saw something in the creature's blood, "What's this," Freddie reached down, and picked up a wristband.
"What's that?" Carly asked.
"It's a medical band," Freddie said as he cleaned the blood with his shirt, he then pointed at the symbol which was a symbol he recognized, "That's the corporate logo for H.A.Z.M.A.T."
"What does that mean," Gibby asked as he knelt next to Freddie.
"I don't know yet," Freddie said as he fixed his shirt, "Right now we have to get out of here."
The crew walked down the tracks, when they arrived at the exit to the surface, they could hear the screams of people from above them.
The group ran up to the surface, and saw civilians running to the check point as the military covered them.
The gang ran into cover behind the military post as a single soldier ran up to them, "You're the iCarly gang right?" He asked.
"Yea!" Spencer exclaimed.
"My name is Lieutenant Michael Pitman," he said, "I serve Colonel Shay."
"My dad's here?" Carly asked.
"Not here," Pitman said, "Out there," Pitman pointed out at Seattle bay, "We're trying to get as many people as we can onto the transports. We need to get you on there as fast as we can."
Freddie grabbed Pitman's shoulder, "Take Carly and Sam," he said, "Me, Spencer, and Gibby will stay back and cover you."
"Ok," Pitman said as he ushered Carly and Sam to follow him.
"Leave those with us," Spencer said as he tucked the M9 into the waistband of his pants.
Sam handed Spencer the Model 580 and the shells while Carly handed Freddie a S&W R8 revolver.
Freddie checked the cylinders, seven shots, plus the one fully-loaded fast-loader he had.
"Go," Freddie said, "Go!"
Pitman ran, followed by Carly and Sam toward one of the Ospreys.
The creatures were coming toward the docks, running like crazy, Freddie balanced his rifle on top of a cinderblock, and focused.
The first bullet nailed one of the creatures in the center of the forehead, he fired again, dropping another.
As he went to fire again, the gun jammed, "Come on," Freddie said as he pulled back on the bolt, and the bullet ejected, he then slid the bolt back into place to have one of the creatures nearly face-to-face with him, "Eat this!"
Freddie shoved the barrel of the rifle into the creature's mouth, and pulled the trigger.
After the creature slid off, Freddie heard Gibby scream, looked over, and saw one of the creatures jump on top of him.
Freddie ran over, and using the stock of the rifle like a club wacked the creature across the back of the skull.
After the creature flew off, Freddie halfway ripped the R8 out of the waistband of his pants, and fired four rounds at the creature, the first shot hit the thing in the arm, the second missed him completely, but the other two struck the creature in the chest and neck.
"RUN!" Freddie yelled.
Freddie, Spencer, and Gibby ran for their lives, behind them they could hear the creatures coming for them, and the screams of military soldiers, the barricade had failed them.
The last Osprey was about ready to take off, as it was leaving, Spencer made the jump, landing perfectly, then Freddie, and as Gibby made the jump, he missed, but managed to grab hold of the ramp.
Freddie then turned around to see Gibby slipping, reached out, and pulled his friend onboard.
Freddie, Gibby, and Spencer looked back at Seattle one more time, plumes of smoke and fire came from all over the city, Freddie saw one, and knew what it was: one of the fires they were seeing was Carly and Spencer's Apartment, and the iCarly studio.
Freddie took a seat in the Osprey, and looked down at the R8 resting in his hand, growing up his mother wanted him to be protected, but she did overdo it quite a bit.
Every parent wants to protect their child, but their love and protection can only go so far, Freddie realized she could no long protect him from what was going on.
"Everything is changing," Freddie thought as he looped the strap of the rifle onto his shoulder, and hid the R8 in the back of his pants after engaging the safety.
The Osprey made a landing on the U.S.S. Clancy where Carly, Sam, and Colonel Stephan Shay were waiting.
As Spencer and Gibby stepped out, Carly ran up, and embraced her brother, then Gibby.
Colonel Shay embraced his son after Carly, then saw Freddie sitting in the chopper, and walked up the ramp to Freddie's side, "Freddie," Colonel Shay said, "It's Colonel Shay, can you hear me?"
"Yes sir." Freddie said as he looked at the Colonel.
"You ok?" Colonel Shay asked.
"I don't know sir," Freddie said, "I'm not hurt, but I don't feel right."
"Come on," Colonel Shay said as he helped Freddie stand, "It'll be alright."
"Where's my mom?" Freddie asked.
"She's ok," Colonel Shay said as the group moved below deck, "She's aboard the U.S.S. Michigan," the group arrived at a bunk-room with six bunks, "Why don't you guys get some sleep?"
"Actually Sir," Freddie said, "Can I talk to you?"
"Sure," Colonel Shay said, "Leave the guns."
"Sorry," Freddie said as he left the guns on the sixth bunk.
"What?" Colonel Shay asked.
Freddie pulled out the wrist-band he pulled out of the creature's blood in the subway, and handed it to Colonel Shay, "I pulled this out the blood of one of those creatures that I killed," he said, Colonel Shay examined the band, then looked at the symbol on the side, "That's H.A.Z.M.A.T.'s corporate logo."
"What," Colonel Shay asked, "You think H.A.Z.M.A.T. had something to do with this."
"I don't know sir," Freddie said, "But how did a creature we've never seen before end up with a medical wrist-band that contains H.A.Z.M.A.T.'s corporate logo?"
"I don't know." Colonel Shay said.
Freddie returned to the room after that, everyone else had this look of despair on their faces, their spirits were down, and there wasn't much he could do right now.
One month later…
"Day Zero +thirty one," Freddie wrote in his journal, "It's been almost a month since that day, which everyone is calling 'Day Zero'. Thing's aren't getting better, I remember the words of Ron Pearlman in Hellboy, 'For every one of you that shall fall, two shall rise'. It seems that's the case with these creatures. They die like a regular human but they're so fast only an automatic weapon, a close-shot, or a lucky shot can hit them down."
Manhattan, Day Zero +one hundred and thirty six…
Freddie knelt on the ledge of the iCarly gang's new apartment, down below he could see the lights of New Yorkers driving home after a long day at work, he found himself angry at them, how could they go about their lives pretending that everything was alright when there were people suffering and dying out west.
H.A.Z.M.A.T. had swept in almost by chance and beat the creatures back, everything west of the Mississippi was the creatures territory.
Freddie was wearing something he normally didn't wear, since clothes were in short supply the Military had been passing out left-over clothes, he had on a pair of military boots, his jeans had been torn a little bit, a plain white shirt, and a U.S. Military jacket with a small camo scarf
"Hey," Carly said as she walked out onto the ledge with Freddie.
"Hey Carly." Freddie said.
"What's up Fred-bag?" Sam asked.
"Not much Sam." Freddie said.
Carly put her hand on Freddie's shoulder, "Things are going to be very different now aren't they?" She asked.
"Yes," Freddie said as he stood up, "Yes they are."
You know he's not lying there…