The Minute

By Taylor Huff

The atomic bomb.

The culmination of decades of research into radioactive isotopes. The ability of science, used for warfare. A force that had wiped out entire cities in mere minutes, whose atomic payload vaporized bodies, leaving only charred shadows on the surface of the walls. A parody of everything life is, creating destruction, sickness, and much death.

Something whose effects on super viruses was unknown.

What if the military had looked into viral warfare a bit earlier? What if patient zero had been found quite a bit.. Before?

What if Alex Mercer had been just a little bit slow?

A single minute more radiation exposure was enough. Zeus felt pain beyond pain, tearing through his blackened soul..

A single minute, and his memories of Everything were forfeit.

Only a primal intellect remained in the subject known as Zeus, and with everything he was, he wanted escape. Thoughts, if they could be classified as such, echoes through the Web of Intrigue connected to him.

'Move. Move! MOVE!'

He had consumed enough physicists to know the basics of quantum mechanics. ...And he had acquired enough intellect to make use of the theories of beings of lesser ability.

A single black blade materialized in the middle of the nuclear fallout. It was the sharpest blade ever forged by physical, or biological means. The smoke of Blacklight's composite mass lifted the blade, and tore a hole in the fabric of reality.

The virus gathered itself together in the haze of great pain it was in, and thrust itself through the tear, which healed closed behind it.

Wisps of black smoke materialized in a suburban district close to London. The town was called Little Whinging. The Blacklight virus, knowing it wouldn't survive long without physical form, searched for the closest body, preferably of the deceased.

It found the form of Harry James Potter, a freezing babe on a doorstep.

The babies' life force wasn't entirely extinguished, but it being November, it was close enough not to matter. The black smoke flew forward, quickly engulfing the small bundle of thin blankets.

And thus, in this manner, the Primary viral strain of Blacklight.. Returned.

Author's Note: I found most stories on this crossover too simplistic, and not enough.. Epic. Review please.