Greetings fellow readers and writers! This is the eighth volume of Path of the Keyblade Master and I hope you like it! Alright, this time around Sora and the gang are once again teaming up with Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin, otherwise known as W.I.T.C.H. But that's not the only things involved in this story, not by a long shot. This fic will cross with two of the most awesome things I've experienced in quite a long time; Dead Island and Frozen. Now I'm a fan of the zombie genre and when I first played Dead Island, I was blown away by it. Sure, the game has its share of glitches and is far from perfect, and yes, there are other open world zombie apocalypse games, but using Dead Island for this story seemed right to me. I've been meaning to do a zombie apocalypse fic for a while and Dead Island was the perfect setting.

As for Frozen, BEST DISNEY FILM IN YEARS! But that's just my humble opinion. Having already crossed Kingdom Hearts with Brave and Tangled, Frozen seemed the next step. I'm sure there are those whom wonder why I haven't used The Princess and the Frog yet. Well, I just didn't like that movie enough to use it in my stories, simple as that.

There'll also be a few elements from the Kamen Rider franchise, but nothing big, just a few elements to spice things up.

There'll also be a few elements from The Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson, great books, check them out.

Time wise, this story picks up for the Keyblade Wielders right where they left off at the end of Volume 7, at the end of Season 2 for W.I.T.C.H., and about six months after the events of Frozen. It all fits together in a sort of Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey manner.

Now as usual none of the elements in this story, save for those I created, belong to their respective owners, so please don't sue me, I'm only trying to tell a good story. Also, there'll be those out there whom won't like this story and there'll be those who'll hate it for the sake of hating. That's your right and privilege, but please don't harp on me just because you don't like my writing. If you don't like it, don't read it. Just remember THIS IS FANFICTION. Thank you. And now, without further delay, let the story begin!

Prolog: Prelude To The Nightmare

…Heatherfield…A Few Days Ago…

"Will? Can you hear me?" Matt Olsen asked as he and Elyon stood in a back alley in Heatherfield, staring at the elemental forms of W.I.T.C.H.

"They're just floating there," said Matt as he looked at the female form of pure energy that had been Will Vandom, "looking at us."

"Or beyond us," said Yan Lin as she and her Altermere stood with their fellow former Guardians. "Remember, to defeat Cedric, Will and the others became something more and less than human."

"They realized their full power," said Altermere Yan Lin, "their victory may have cost a price too high to play."

"And it's all their fault!" said Elyon as she glared at the nearby unconscious and restrained forms of Cedric and Phobos.

"Don't forget Nerissa," said Cassidy Chacon, former Water Guardian and former ghost restored to life.

"Like we could ever forget Nerissa," said Halinor Clarkson, former Fire Guardian and current member of The Council of Kandrakar.

"I wish I could," said Kadma Starlighter, former Earth Guardian and current queen of planet Zambala.

Just then a Fold opened and from it emerged Caleb and Blunk.

"Elyon!" exclaimed Caleb as he ran up to the queen and knelt, "thank goodness!" He then stood up, "are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Caleb," said Elyon, "and it's great to see you again."

"Then big snake man done for?" Blunk asked nervously as he looked at the unconscious Cedric.

"If he were any more done, he'd be a Christmas goose," said Cassidy.

"The battle was won," said Kadma, "but at a horrible price."

At that Caleb and Blunk saw the elemental forms of the Guardians. He walked up to the earthy form of Cornelia, "are they…?"

"They're still alive," said Halinor, "if you can call this living."

"They've lost their humanity," said Altermere Yan Lin, "and I don't know how to help them get it back."

"I'm afraid it worked too well," said the original Yan Lin, "a price had to be paid for Will and the others to take their powers to a higher level."

"No!" exclaimed a voice. There, emerging from around a corner was Nigel Ashcroff, Taranee's boyfriend. With him was Eric Lyndon, Hay Lin's boyfriend, and Martin Tubbs, Irma's frienamy.

"What are you three doing here?" Matt asked.

"Trying to see that the girls we care about are alright," said Eric, "is that giant snake thing gone?"

"He won't be hurting anyone anytime soon," said Elyon, "and how did you know? I thought Matt and the other Regents cast an illusion to disguise the battle so it wouldn't freak out all of Heatherfield."

"I did," said Matt, "Napoleon and Mr. Huggles are keeping the glamour going.

"Well, it didn't fool us," said Nigel, "I've known about Taranee and the others having magic powers for a while. And what's that about Cornelia's cat and your dormouse?"

"Long story," said Matt.

"I always knew that Irma was special," said Martin as he straightened his glasses.

"You sure had a funny way of showing your appreciation," said Nigel.

"I knew that Hay Lin was magical since we met," said Eric, "but seeing her and the others become those…spirits or whatever they were, it was incredible."

"And you three boys saw through the glamour?" Halinor asked, "fascinating!"

"They must have innate magic in their blood," said Kadma.

"Uh, in case you're wondering," said Elyon to Nigel, Eric and Martin, "I'm the queen of an entire planet," she then frowned, "assuming there's anything left after Phobos's rampage."

"How is Phobos?" Cassidy asked as she looked at a nearby unconscious deposed prince.

"Powerless and tied up," said Elyon, "which is how I like him best," she then looked at the boys, "Eric, Martin, Nigel, meet my evil older biological brother."

"Hi, Elyon's evil older biological brother!" said Martin eagerly.

"For someone so smart," said Eric, "you can be really dumb sometimes." He then looked at the airy form of Hay Lin "What about the girls!?"

"You said that they lost their humanity," said Nigel as he looked at the fiery form of Taranee.

"Have they really?" Elyon asked Yan Lin, "will they be like this forever?"

"I honestly don't know," said Yan Lin, "Will and the others, they evolved into something beyond human. But by realizing a higher level of their powers, they've forgotten their humanity and their memories. They're lost within themselves with no memory of who they are or of their loved ones."

"What!? NO!" shouted Caleb, "they can't forget everything! We've come so far and suffered so much! They just can't lose their humanity!"

"Isn't there anything that can be done?" Martin asked as he looked at the torrential form of Irma, "isn't there any hope?"

"Of course there's hope," said Cassidy, "they must still have a spark of humanity in them, or at least I hope so."

"But they're just floating there," said Elyon

"They must be trying to remember," said Halinor, "I sense that they've established a mental link among themselves."

"How do you…?" Eric asked.

"It's a Kandrakar Councilmember thing or something," said Matt.

"What can we do to help them?" Nigel asked.

"Help them remember," said Kadma, "remind them what they have to live for."

"Just talk to them," said Cassidy, "give them an anchor to their lives."

"That I can do," said Martin. He then walked over to Irma, "so, Irma, I hear you've got magic powers. That's so beyond awesome, I can't even think of anything else to say about it! So, anyway, I finally managed to get all 197 episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000, including the original KTMA season."

"Remember how pissed off you were at your mom, Taranee?" Nigel asked as he walked up to her, "how you kept rebelling against her authority? I know how you felt and I get how your mother felt too. I wasn't the best person to date and she had every right not to trust me at first. But we've moved past that and your mother has pretty much accepted me. I know your dad likes me."

"I knew from the first that you were special, Hay Lin," said Eric, "everything about you, your art, your energetic personality, even your braces, everything about you drew you to me."

"We've been through so much, Will," said Matt, "getting to know each other at school, the rebellion, Nerissa's turning me into Shagon and making me hate you enough to torment you until you die. We overcame everything the universe threw against us, even my old girlfriend."

"Cornelia," said Caleb, "I know things have been hard for us, especially with my duties on Metamore. Everything seemed so hopeless for so long. But, we've won, we've defeated our enemies and we can finally be together."

He then took Cornelia's hand in his and gently squeezed. He was startled to find that she squeezed his hand back.

"She heard me!" said Caleb, "she heard me!"

"It's working!" said Elyon, "keep talking!"

"Oh please!" said an irate Phobos as he sat up, "do you honestly believe that those pathetic little girls can regain themselves after experiencing such incredible power?"

"I almost forgot he was there," said a moderately disgusted Halinor.

"You want me to encase him in mud up to his neck?" Kadma asked, "we can take him out to the desert and find a nest of fire ants."

"You burry him and I'll get the honey and brushes," said Cassidy.

"Why would you need brushes and honey?" Eric asked.

"To paint him with honey and attract the fire ants," said Martin, "honestly, use your imagination."

"Oh, I like you," said Cassidy cheekily, "if Irma won't have you, I will."

"Well, I can imagine the sounds of your hearts breaking as you realize that The Guardians as you know them are gone forever," said Phobos smugly.

"Shut up!" snapped Elyon.

"Oh, so you finally acknowledge me, little sister," said Phobos as he gave a vile smile, "I must say that your being entrapped inside Nerissa's jewel for so long made me realize just how much I miss you."

"Shut up!" exclaimed Elyon, "and I'm not your sister!"

"Deny it all you want, Elyon," said Phobos, "we share the same blood." He then managed to get to his feet despite his hands tied behind his back, "you've grown stronger in your confinement. No doubt having Yan Lin instructed you in the mystic arts, while the other former Guardians taught you a few tricks as well."

"I said shut up!" shouted Elyon, her ice blue eyes blazing with fury, "just you wait until we get back to Meridian and I figure out what to do with you! Whatever it is, you'll never be able to hurt anyone again! Then I'll clean up the latest mess you made on my world!"

"That's a laugh, considering it was Will and the others who freed me," said Phobos, "and I wouldn't worry too much about poor, pathetic old Metamore. In a matter of years, there won't be a Metamore."

"What? Why?" Elyon asked as she walked up to her vile brother, "what did you do, Phobos?"

"Yess, Phoboss," hissed Cedric as he sat up, his tail thrashing weakly, "tell Elyon what you did before you launched your invassion of Kandrakar."

"You dare speak to me, traitor!" snapped Phobos as he glared at his former serpentine lieutenant. "I should have left you in your cell to rot! You and your insect of a lover, Miranda!"

"My feelingss for Miranda are none of your businesss, you pompouss fool!" spat Cedric.

"Shut up!" shouted Elyon. She then blasted Cedric with a pulse of magic that forced him into his human form. Elyon then created a set of manacles that bound Cedric's hands behind his back. "Caleb, remind me to figure out what to do to Cedric after I'm done with Phobos."

"Gladly," said Caleb, "and I'll remind you about Miranda and the others."

"What have you done with Miranda!?" exclaimed Cedric, "I gave her enough power to crush you pathetic Rebels and those traitors, Raythor, Sandpit and Gargoyle! I had Miranda set to destroy the Aurameres!"

"Spider girl failed," said Blunk, "she and other bad guys all tied up at Infinity Fortress!"

"The Oracle and the rest of the Council are free," said Caleb, "You've lost, Cedric!"

"The battle may be over," said Phobos, "the war may be won, but the final victory will be mine!"

"Tell me what you did, Cedric," said Elyon irately, "Tell me and I won't have you tortured to death!"

"Why, dearest Elyon," said Phobos in a mock offended tone, "to think that the innocent little girl I first saw all those months ago is now capable of such cruelty."

"I learned from the best," said Elyon, "now tell me what you did!"

"It wasn't much," said Phobos, "just a little piece of magical precaution, a failsafe I planted when I regained and surpassed my powers," said Phobos, "a little curse on my beloved home world."

"What curse!?" Elyon demanded as she grabbed Phobos' robes, "what did you do? Tell me!"

"I've doomed our world, dearest Elyon," said a wickedly smiling Phobos, "in less than five years, all life on Metamore will be extinct, not even the most insignificant of insects will remain!" At that he began laughing like the evil overlord he was.

"You bastard!" shouted Elyon. She then punched Phobos in the face, knocking him to the pavement. Elyon then pounced on Phobos and grabbed him by the neck, "you foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach! Everything you touch, you poison and destroy!"

"Only that which I cannot have, dear sister!" laughed Phobos, only for his laughter to be cut off as Elyon tried to throttle him.

"I'M NOT YOUR SISTER!" exclaimed Elyon as she squeezed yet Phobos kept breathing, "I HATE YOU! I WANT YOU TO DIE! DIE!"

"Elyon! No!" shouted a wrathful Caleb as he ran up to her, shoving her aside, "I won't let you soil your hands on this filth!" he then began strangling Phobos more effectively, "I'll kill him myself!"

"Caleb! Stop!"

Startled, Caleb released Phobos, the mad prince gasping and coughing for air. Caleb and Elyon turned around and saw that Cornelia had become human again, as well as Will, Taranee, Hay Lin and Irma, "he's not worth it."

"Are you sure?" Irma asked, "he cursed Metamore for crying out loud."

"That's still no reason to try and kill him," said Taranee, "yeah, he's evil and totally betrayed us."

"But we knew he'd stab us in the back," said Hay Lin, "at least Will did."

"And he would have been finished for good," said Will , "if Cedric hadn't eaten him."

"Will!" Matt shouted joyfully as he embraced her, while Caleb and Elyon hugged Cornelia, Nigel hugged Taranee, Eric and Yan Lin hugged Hay Lin and Martin tried to hug Irma, only to have her shove him away, a repulsed look on her face.

"You remembered yourselves," said Halinor.

"Yeah, we were kinda out of it for a while," said Will, "so, Heatherfield's safe?"

"Safe and none the wiser," said Matt, "though I don't know how we'll explain all the destruction from the battle once we end the glamour."

"We'll blame it on the weather or something," said Irma. She then looked at the restrained Cedric, "you know, you're even more creepy as a human."

"I still can't believe I had a crush on him," spat Elyon as she glared at Cedric.

"And Phobos is his usual evil self," said Hay Lin, she then looked at Eric, "and you guys…you know?"

"We've known for a while," said Eric.

"So, Irma," said Martin, "you want to come over and watch some MST3K? I've got the entire series."

"I'd rather chew tin foil," said Irma, "so is it just you three who know or did anyone else see us fighting a giant man-snake?"

"The battle was fully camouflaged to everyone else," said Yan Lin, "your secret is safe."

"And Nerissa?" Will asked as she looked around, "where is she?"

"She…got away," said Elyon, "she managed to get out of the jewel and tried to grab it after Cedric collapsed. But Yan Lin and I got out and stopped her."

"But she still had her Fold ring and escaped," said Yan Lin, "she could be anywhere now."

"Well, what are we doing standing around here for?!" Will asked, "we've got to go after her!" She then pulled out the Heart of Kandrakar and was about to initiate the girl's transformation but then she lost her balance and nearly fell over. Matt caught her before she fell down.

"Will!" shouted Hay Lin, only for her to nearly call over and be caught by Eric. Cornelia was caught by Caleb, Taranee was caught by Nigel and Irma was, reluctantly, caught by Martin.

"You're in no condition to do anything right now," said Yan Lin, "let alone chase after a murdering psychopath."

"Besides, we have no idea where Nerissa went," said Halinor, "or even if she's coming back."

"She'll be back," said Kadma, her hands gripped into fists that trembled with anger, "she won't give up after this."

"Then we'll stop her when she comes back," said Will, "but for now," she looked at Mat and smiled, "I'm just happy to be back and that everyone's in one piece."

"Same here," said Matt. With that the two of them kissed.

…Arendelle…Also A Few Days Ago…

"Are you absolutely sure you don't want to come with us, Elsa?" Anna asked as she and her sister, the queen of Arendelle, stood in the foyer of their castle home. Elsa cut a regal figure in her blue dress and cape, while Anna wore a short sleeved blouse and a blue skit with sandals. Nearby were several suitcases.

"The offer included three tickets," said Anna as she held up a travel brochure that had three hotel vouchers in it. "There's still time to pack your bags."

"We've talked about this, Anna," said Elsa, "there's simply too much work here for me to take a vacation."

"Work! Work! Work!" said a slightly exasperated Anna, "that's all you've been doing for the last six months! We barely see each other anymore."

"It's not that bad," said Elsa, "we have breakfast, lunch and dinner together and I always keep Sundays open for us. It's not like when we were growing up."

"I know it's no like when we were little," said Anna, "but even when we eat you've got papers to read and sign, and you keep inviting dignitaries and trading partners to lunch, brunch and tea. I swear, Elsa, if you keep going the way you're going, you're gonna go crazy or something."

"I know I'm pushing myself," said Elsa, "but what choice do I have? Arendelle needs me, more so now that we've established trade with other worlds. If you asked me six months ago that our little kingdom was a focal point for dimensional travel, I would have laughed."

"Me too," said Anna, "but now we've got visitors from other worlds. Not that I don't mind meeting new people, they're all friendly, albeit a bit strange sometimes. Remember the ambassador from The Sensorites?"

"They were a bit odd," said Elsa, "but that doesn't make them any less of a people."

"But they weren't the weirdest," said Anna, "remember the delegation from Alpha Centauri?"

"Yeah, they were strange," said Elsa, "but again no less of a people. Anyway, I simply cannot go with you and Kristoff to this resort, Anna. I'm sorry, but there's just too much for me to do."

"I know," said Anna, "and I wish there wasn't."

"I wish that too," said Elsa, "but I won't be alone here. Sven and Olaf are staying."

"Speaking of which," said Anna, "here they come now."

"With a certain special someone no less," said a mischievously smiling Elsa.

Emerging from one of the corridors was Kristoff, wearing a red and white Hawaiian shirt, blue shorts and sandals. Next to him was Sven, his faithful reindeer and best friend, as well as Olaf, the enchanted snowman, escorted by his personal cloud of falling snow.

"I don't like it," said Olaf as he waddled next to Kristoff, a suspicious look on his face, "I don't like it, I don't like it, I don't like it. How do you know it's for real?"

"It's got to be for real," said Kristoff, "the invite was addressed to Elsa and Anna plus one."

"Oh, and you just happened to be that plus one?" Olaf asked.

At that Sven glared at Olaf, at which Kristoff spoke in a voice that matched Sven's expression, "'well, I didn't see you packing any bags to go on a tropical vacation. And here I thought you wanted to experience all things summer.'"

"You tell him, Sven," said Kristoff smugly.

"I do want to go," said Olaf, "but not on this one. This whole thing stinks, and it's not me that stinks, I got a fresh carrot this morning." he then tapped said carrot for a nose.

"What stinks about it?" Kristoff asked.

"Uh, it's free for one thing!" said Olaf in a stating the obvious tone, "they must be really desperate to be giving away vacation packages. The hotel could be a dump and for all we know, it's a trap!"

"Oh, don't be ridiculous, Olaf," said Elsa, "honestly, what kind of trap could it be?"

"A seminar trap, duh!" said Olaf, "sure, Anna and Kristoff will arrive at the resort and everything's all sunshine and rainbows, they check in to their room, go out to the pool or beach and just when they're having fun, they get dragged into an auditorium and have to sit through a six hour seminar advertising a timeshare, or maybe it'll be a self-help guru or something."

"That's not gonna happen," said Anna, "the brochure specifically said that there would be no seminars."

"Three weeks of sun, sand and surf," said Kristoff. He then saw that Sven was looking at him in an envious but slightly sad manner. Kristoff then spoke for his reindeer friend, "'you'll be begging to come home after five days.'"

"No we won't," said Anna, "and to prove it, I'll record the whole thing," she then held up a digital video camera, then began looking at it from different angles, "assuming I ever figure out how this darn thing works. Why did we have to accept all those other-world gifts without knowing how to use them?"

"It would have been rude to refuse," said Elsa. She then looked at a nearby grandfather clock, "it's almost time for the portal to the resort. Are you sure you two packed everything?"

"Everything down to the last bottle of sunblock," said Kristoff.

"And an umbrella in case it rains," said Anna, "and we've got plenty of the local currency to buy souvenirs."

"The only souvenir I care about is the great memories you two will bring back," said Elsa. "And be careful. This resort may seem like a paradise, but every paradise has a snake in the grass."

"We'll keep watch for snakes," said Kristoff, "and for anyone wanting to give us trouble."

"Anyone messes with us," said Anna, "I'll give them a taste of what I gave Hans!" she then mimed throwing a few punches. She then frowned, "I think I forgot something. I'll be right back!" with that she ran off down the corridor.

"She probably forgot her lucky hat," said Kristoff.

"Since when did Anna have a lucky hat?" Olaf asked.

"Since she bought it yesterday," said Elsa, "and since Anna's tearing through her room to find her hat," she then looked at Kristoff with serious eyes, "I need to ask a favor before you leave."

"Sure, Elsa," said Kristoff, "anything."

"Take care of my sister," said Elsa, "I know you two are deeply in love and you'd risk your life to save hers if it came to that."

"Well, yeah, I think so," said Kristoff.

"Regardless," said Elsa, "no matter what, keep Anna safe and bring her home."

"Okay," said Kristoff.

"I want you promise you'll keep Anna safe," said Elsa, "she's strong in so many ways, even stronger than me in other ways, but she's also fragile and a bit reckless, and still a bit clumsy."

"She's not that much of a klutz," said Kristoff.

"I still want your promise," said Elsa.

"You have it," said Kristoff.

"Say it!" Elsa insisted.

"Okay, I promise I'll keep Anna safe!" said Kristoff, "are you happy now?"

"I am," said a smiling Elsa.

"Found it!" said Anna a she ran back in with a stylish hat on her head.

Just then a portal opened up.

"This is it!" said Anna excitedly. She and Elsa then hugged, "see you in three weeks, big sister!"

"Have a wonderful time, Anna," said Elsa. She then embraced Kristoff while Anna said goodbye to Olaf, "take care," she said to Kristoff then whispered into his ear, "and remember your promise."

"Yeah," said Kristoff, he then said goodbye to Sven. With that he and Anna picked up their luggage and entered the portal, which closed up after them.

"Now I wish I had gone with them!" said Olaf in a remorse tone, while Sven looked equally sad.

"Me too," said Elsa, "but we can only keep our chins up and move forward. The three weeks will pass in a flash and they'll be back before we know it."

"I hope so," said Olaf.

…Banoi…

"Welcome to the Royal Palms Resort at Banoi!" said the concierge as Anna and Kristoff emerged from the portal at the front door of the hotel. All around were people dressed for the tropical paradise, while hotel staff milled about their various tasks.

"Here's to a fantastic vacation," said Anna as she hugged Kristoff while bellhops took their luggage. They then walked into the hotel lobby and got in line to check in at the front desk.

"They even have a rock climbing wall," said Kristoff as he looked at notice board displaying activities, while another notice board gave the weather forecast for the next week, "and nothing but clear skies for days!"

"And not a seminar advertisement in sight," said Anna, "I don't know what Olaf was so worried about. This is going to be the best vacation ever!"

Deep within the jungle interior of Banoi lay a top secret laboratory filled with scientists and technicians wearing white lab coats designed like business suits. Within the complex was a room set up for handling biohazard materials. Several of the scientists and technicians were working at electron microscopes and microscopic manipulators, while in the next room, several more of the scientists stood watching. With them were a handful of individuals wearing normal civilian clothing.

"As you can see, gentlemen," said the lead scientist, a tall man in his late 50's with graying hair, his lab coat sporting the name 'Dr. Glaive,' "our best biologists and geneticists are at work on perfecting the virus. It's only a matter of time before it is modified to be airborne with a thirteen day incubation period. Your group will then be able to spread the virus throughout the world and the human race will be extinct soon after."

"And you're sure that a vaccine or a cure cannot be created?" one of the civilians asked.

"There's no cure for the virus even now," said Dr. Glaive, "the only way to stop the virus from taking over its host is to destroy the area of initial infection, if done quickly enough."

"If the initial infection is on an arm or a leg, that is," said another scientist, a woman in her early 40's with long auburn hair tied back in a braid and wearing glasses. Her nametag read 'Dr. Bayonet.' "If, however, the victim is bitten near a major blood vessel or on the neck, the virus will travel to the brain much faster and render the victim dead and a ghoul that much sooner as well."

"You know the rest, gentlemen," said Dr. Glaive, "one the victim has reanimated as one of the walking dead, it will instinctively seek out more humans to bite and feed on, thereby spreading the virus and creating more ghouls."

"You science freaks sure do deliver," said another of the civilians.

"We at Foundation X always deliver that which we promise to our clients," said Dr. Bayonet, "even if said client is a terrorist group hell-bent on ending the world."

Just then a klaxon sounded and red lights in the ceiling flashed.

"Now what?" one of the terrorists asked.

"Containment breach!" said Dr. Bayonet in a serious tone. He went to a nearby computer terminal and examined a flashing red message, "one of the test subjects has broken free of its restraints. Several technicians have been bitten!"

There then came the sound of multiple gunshots. "Our security guards are all crack shots," said Dr. Glaive to the terrorists whom had all instinctively reached for their pistols and assault riffles, "we're perfectly safe. Even our colleagues are safe." He then indicated the scientists and technicians in the lab whom were still at work, oblivious to the violence elsewhere in the building.

A few seconds later another technician ran into the room and whispered something to Dr. Bayonet.

"Is there a problem?" the lead terrorist asked.

"Um…depends on your definition of a problem," said Dr. Bayonet.

"What is it?" Dr. Glaive asked, "What happened?"

"Well, the abridged version is like this," said Dr. Bayonet, "Test Subject 42 slipped its restraints and bit at least seven technicians. Another test subject, number 103, was released in the confusion. Both were destroyed by the guards, while four of the seven infected technicians have been restrained. They're still alive, for now."

"What of the other three?" the lead terrorist asked.

"They were bitten on the neck by the ghouls, died and promptly reanimated," said Dr. Bayonet, "the guards are currently seeking them out and anyone the new ghouls might infect."

There then came more gunshots. Seconds later another technician ran into the room and whispered to Dr. Glaive.

"Ah, nothing to worry about, gentlemen," said Dr. Glaive, "the guards have located and destroyed the errant ghouls. Everything can proceed as normal now."

"You're very callous about the loss of seven of your personnel," said one of the terrorists.

"They knew the job was dangerous when they took it," said Dr. Bayonet, "and you're one to talk, considering you're out to murder a world."

"The human race is corrupt and rotten to the core," said the lead terrorist, "we're merely putting a suffering animal out of its misery."

Just then a third technician ran into the room and whispered something to Dr. Glaive, "oh dear, that's not good at all."

"Now what?" the lead terrorist asked.

"Apparently a third test subject, number 39, escaped in the confusion and is now lose in the jungle," said Dr. Glaive, "our guards are out searching for it, but the creature is one of the faster variants of the virus and has a considerable head start. Its tracks have it heading towards the city of Moresby."

"There's half a dozen villages between here and the city," said Dr. Bayonet, "indigenous population, farmers and resort staff on off-sight properties. The ghoul can infect anyone from those locations, or even so far as a tourist in the city or the resort. From there all it takes is one infected person to get on a plane and spread the virus elsewhere in the world."

"Well, gentlemen," said Dr. Glaive to the terrorists, "I believe your manmade apocalypse has begun a little early."