Hetalia Quarantine - Toxic

By askhetahazardengland.deviantart.com

Hetalia Quarantine – Toxic
“AAARRRGH! Everybody get out of the building! Quick!”

A few scientists rolled their eyes at the mad actions of their youngest colleague, Professor Alfred F. Jones. The man was fresh out of university and was prone to pulling false alarms – not through want to disrupt work, but because he believed that there was a genuine threat, when there wasn't – therefore he was rarely taken seriously.

Unfortunately, their superiors were competent enough to not take any risks when genetic experimentation was underway. That meant that every threat was a real one, even if later on it was considered false. Alfred was considered to be a complete nuisance by his co-workers and he was very close to being fired. Not out of incompetence, because the chipper blond was incredibly intelligent, but because the alert Alfred raised was true this time!

At first, nothing untoward happened in regards to Prof. Jones' swift departure from employment. Investigations were carried out on Jones' failed experiment, a container of florescent green fluid that had been spilt all over his work space.

Unfortunately, the investigation into the strangely toxic substance was far slower than the effects it had on living matter.

The detection was glacial. As far as toxic substances go, Alfred's concoction displayed no threat higher than household bleach. With that cleared up, the lab re-opened and the scientists continued their projects. (Save for Alfred whom was not allowed back in.)

Some bright spark decided that Alfred's experiment would do well as equipment cleanser. Either that person was incredibly dumb or had malicious intent to begin with, but the scientists whom came into direct contact with the “sterilised” material were infected the second they touched them. (Gloves were not a defence against Jones' genetic modification failure.)

The symptoms were shocking, prompting management to invite all scientists involved with their lab to return for an urgent meeting.

Once all scientists were accounted for, the entire building went into lockdown – Quarantine. No one was allowed in or out as those unfortunate souls began to mutate in horrific ways.

---

“Is this the place?”

Two figures stood on a hill in an undisclosed location, surveying a closed-down facility. All was quiet save for the light breeze and their breathing.

“Yeah. I can't believe I'm comin' back.”

His scruffy-haired friend gave him a dirty look as he loaded his pistol. “We need to be quick once we're indoors. If the infection has mutated them all then no one can be left alive. You got lucky, Alfred.”

The other man pushed his glasses up his nose and cocked his shotgun. His golden cowlick reached for the blue skies. “It's my fault these people succumbed to this, they didn't give me time to complete my experiment and create a vaccine.”

His friend sighed and clasped a hand on his shoulder. “Although this was entirely your fault-”

“Tch, thanks.”

“- this problem needs to be solved urgently. Gilbert and Mathias are waiting in the van with explosives. Matthew is on standby with the medical team stationed both East and West of the facility. Kiku is leading surveillance. Keep in mind that we will need to hack into the main database to enable Kiku to access the lab's video feeds. Berwald and Tino will be dropping reinforcements outside of the building in approximately four hour's time.”

“What about you, Artie?” the ex-scientist asked abruptly, wiping sweat off his brow from the desert heat.

“It's Arthur,” his British friend corrected him sourly, double-checking his backpack supplies. “I am your protector and mission leader. Your job is to not die and continue your project to create a vaccine in the event that this mutation spreads outside of the compound.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Any questions?”

“Yeah,” Alfred said tiredly, patting Arthur on the shoulder. “What if we get infected?”

The Englishman froze, staring at the ground uncomfortably. “Then we alert the team if your vaccine has not been developed.” He paused, looking at his friend apologetically. “They have orders to destroy us in the compound with the infected to eliminate the threat. Avoid contact with them, okay? I've got your back.”

Alfred nodded mutely, thinking about what they were about to do. “It's almost time. You ready, Kirkland?”

Arthur smiled wryly, getting to his feet. “Affirmative. Ready Doctor Jones?”

Alfred slung his own backpack over his shoulder and stuck out his tongue. “It's Professor Jones.”

“Tsk, pedantic twat.”

That was their last banter before being given the all-clear to enter the abandoned facility.