A/N: Chap 4, finished finally! :D I appreciate everyone's patience. I'm recovering from pneumonia...so, yeah LOL. Please let me know what you think! Thanks! & Enjoy :D

Chapter 4: Zero Hour

Saturday September 7

2:34 am

The Broflovski House

Ike sat at his desk, focused on the screen his laptop. The small light of his desk lamp cast a shadow over his form, highlighting his current frazzled state. His hair was a mess, like little black horns poking out at strange angles. His hands shook as they flew over the keys. He really needed sleep. Sirens continued to scream overhead. Wearing on his nerves. He was still awake – unlike the rest of his family.

Well, the rest of his family and Eric.

Or not, he thought, looking up from his computer as his bedroom door swung open. With an irritated sigh, Ike glared at Eric, who was now standing in his pjs in Ike's room.

Doesn't he knock?

Eric Cartman had unexpectedly arrived just around dinner, only several hours ago, announcing that he would be staying here with Ike's family. And he was an unwelcome guest as far as Ike (and Kyle) was concerned. As a kid, Eric had been short and incredibly fat. But when he turned sixteen, seemingly over night, that all changed. His height seemed to double and now, at eighteen, he had grown to be one of the tallest boy at South Park High and definitely the tallest in his close circle of friends – even taller than Stan: South Park High's star athlete. All of the extra weight he had had a kid seemed to redistribute itself – in an appealing way. Not that Ike found him appealing (Hell NO!) But it was easy to see why most of the girls had begun throwing themselves at him. Those poor girls, thought Ike. Because it was also well known that Cartman wasn't interested – in anyone. Cartman never flirted, never asked anyone, girl or guy, to a party or dance. He never mentioned anyone. Not even a celebrity crush. Mostly, everyone agreed that he loved himself too much to love anyone else.

Not that any of these changes mattered...

"What do you want fatass?" Ike spat.

…Because everyone still insulted his weight.

Cartman waved his insult away. "We need to talk."

Irritated and impatient to continue his search for information online, Ike turned back to the screen.

He did not like anyone in his room, especially when he was busy trying to form a plan. Not to mention that he resented Cartman's presence here in the first place.

"With all of South Park on lockdown," Cartman pressed on, "I thought I'd consult with the other smartest kid South Park."

Ike raised an eyebrow. "Go fuck yourself Cartman," he snorted.

He was not in the mood to humor whatever self-serving scheme Cartman had come up with. He wasn't even supposed to be here! Why didn't he stay at his own house….

"I have a plan," Eric pressed on, hesitantly biting his lip like a hopeful child, "And I need you."

Narrowing his eyes, Ike stared into the other boy. He never fell for Cartman's "innocent" act. Coldly, he replied, "And why should I care?"

"Because my plan is going to save everyone's ass, that's why!"

Ike could hear the anger in Cartman's voice. Fucking brat, he thought.

Ike laughed, "You don't care about anyone else but yourself."

Eric's face turned dark red. He wore a painful expression, his lips pressed tight together like he was biting back a fairly insulting reply.

"Well, maybe I do this time," he hissed through his teeth.

Of all the places, he had to stay here…Ike thought again. He couldn't shake it. Just how weird it was that out of everywhere, Eric Cartman chose to stay at the house of his worst frenemy.

Actually, why stay anywhere? he wondered. It's not as if Liane hadn't left Eric home alone before.

Not waiting for Ike's reply, Eric continued on. Ike wasn't really listening though. A thought had just occurred to him.

"….and it's been roughly nine hours since the chemical weapons spill –" Eric droned on.

"Wait, chemical weapons spill?"

"Finally got your attention? Yeah, chemical weapons leak. That has infected our whole town. You know. The entire reason we're cut off from everything, " Eric sneered, "you mean Ike the Genius hasn't figured that out yet?"

"Well, if I haven't than how did you?!"

"I have my sources," Cartman said slyly.

Ike stared him down, "You're lying"

With an agitated sigh, Cartman explained, "Look, from my mom ok? She was fucking one the men transporting it." – and then to Ike's speechless stare – " What? The whole town knows she's a whore… did you expect me not to? I'm not that fucking stupid."

"Right, sorry," Ike mumbled.

"The army was transporting it through South Park to Denver. He called to warn her not long after he left. They hadn't realized the vehicle was leaking, I guess. But it did. And whatever chemical it was spilled out – all of it – into South Park. But there wasn't any time….by the time he called they were going to quarantine the entire town in less than 20 minutes."

"So, she just left you?!"

Eric just shrugged, "And so, my plan is to get to the –"

"Wait! Why didn't you go with her?!"

"My plan," Eric reiterated angrily, "is to gather up our friends and meet at the school" acting as if he hadn't heard Ike, "I'm sending out texts and dividing everyone into teams to gather supplies and then we'll meet up. We can hold out at the school until this blows over."

Ike sat back, smiling, as he watched Eric. Really watched him. How did I miss this? It's so obvious, he thought.

Ike leaned in closer, "So, who are you teamed up with?"

"Kyle. And you," he added quickly.

"Right."

"Well, no shit! I'm already here aren't I?"

"You are. Even though, you could have stayed anywhere else" Ike smirked, "Even though you could have left and avoided this whole fucking disaster."

"Did you hear my plan at all!"

"Why did you stay Cartman?" Ike pressed delightedly.

"Seriously, Ike we don't have time for this. We need to –"

Ike just laughed, "Oh no. No you can't avoid this. If you want me to do what you ask, then answer me. Why did you stay here? Come on," he prodded.

Eric shifted uncomfortably, blushing furiously.

"Oh, I can't wait to tell Kyle…" Ike giggled.

"No!" He yelled, then regained his composure, "I mean, don't say anything, ok?"

"Fine, I won't."

"Great. Then can we –"

"As long as you promise to be completely honest with me," Ike interrupted.

"Sure, whatever," Cartman hastily agreed.

"Through everything. As long as we're under quarantine. Starting now."

"Yes. Fine," Eric quipped.

"Cool. One last thing. I want to hear the whole story about your crush on my brother."

Eric glared at Ike.

"Don't be shy," Ike cooed, "Start at the beginning. Don't skip any of the details!"