The Walking Dead: Visions of the Future

[A/N: Hello everyone.

Last chapter from Bryan's perspective, or rather, from the military side of the story.

This chapter is a bit long, but it was either that or two short chapters with the same content.

Comment, give me power stones, or click the heart button on my profile.]

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Friday, November 20, 2026, 2nd Infantry Division of the Army.

Command Office, 6 AM.

"How much time do we have left, Colonel?" Bryan inquired. Despite his stoic composure, a slight tremor was visible in his hands.

He was deeply concerned about the general population, but his primary anxiety stemmed from the predicament his loved ones, particularly Alex, would have to endure, given that the latter had refused to join the base or remain at Camp 3.

"We have little time, Adams… In fact, everything could precipitate today," the colonel replied with a noticeable sense of regret.

"What course of action shall we take then? Is there anything I can assist you with, sir?" Bryan asked, offering his skills and readiness to the colonel.

"There is no need to undertake any immediate action at this precise moment. The preparations you have carried out far surpass those of other divisions. I only hope they prove sufficient to safeguard the lives of many people… The only thing we can do now is to entrust ourselves to divine protection," the colonel commented, his gaze conveying profound despair.

"Colonel, has Dr. Neville made any significant breakthroughs in his research?" Bryan inquired, subtly shifting the conversation's focus.

"Dr. Neville has acclimated himself over the past few weeks to this new line of investigation concerning this novel virus. It has proven quite challenging for him, as he previously dedicated his efforts to studying measles, following the work of Dr. Alice Krippin. However, this past week he has been working directly with the infected, and…"

The colonel abruptly paused. What he was about to reveal did not seem to carry good tidings.

A profound silence settled over the room, interrupted only by the distant sounds of soldiers fulfilling their duties with almost mechanical precision.

Both men stared fixedly at each other. The colonel with an expression of complete hopelessness, and Bryan with a gaze imbued with pessimism, yet containing a faint glimmer of resilience.

"He has decreed that there is no way to save the people who have already been infected," the colonel continued, his hands clenched with such force that his fingernails barely pierced his skin, causing minor abrasions.

"Is there no chance of rescuing them?" Adams asked, his voice tinged with panic.

At Bryan's suggestion, the entire division, including the provisional camps, had implemented rigorous measures to contain as many infected individuals as possible. Only when the infected posed an imminent threat was permission granted to neutralize them with a headshot.

This measure had been conceived with the intention of awaiting the development of a cure and, in this manner, being able to save these individuals. Even as the number of infected increased daily, the military devised diverse strategies to contain them.

Initially, they employed biological containment cells, then simpler containment cells or rooms, until finally gathering them in spacious guarded hangars in remote locations, far from urban centers.

However, the information provided by Dr. Neville clearly indicated that the efforts invested by the army, and particularly by the 2nd Infantry Division, could prove unnecessary and even perilous.

Now, they not only had to confront the escalating number of infected, the protests, and the chaos brewing in various areas of the city, but they also had to deal with the infected they had retained since day one, who now represented an imminent threat to everyone.

"I'm afraid not… According to the analysis of the infected, the doctor has observed that they are practically deceased, just as we had anticipated. The problem lies in the fact that, being dead, all forms of containment or elimination of the virus prove ineffective. Their internal systems are almost unusable, their immune system has ceased to function, and the process of deterioration and decomposition is irreversible," the colonel detailed.

"What should we do with the infected at the containment points? Do we eliminate them?" Bryan asked, with noticeable hesitation. He did not wish to be involved in the death of so many people, even if these individuals were already technically lifeless.

"I do not wish to do it… But it is an imperative necessity," the colonel responded, with marked reluctance.

"I understand… By the way, will Dr. Neville continue at his laboratory in the city, or will he work with us at the division's laboratory?" Bryan inquired, attempting to subtly steer the conversation away from that sensitive topic.

"I want him to work here, but he was investigating a way to contain the virus using Dr. Krippin's work and has requested a few additional days to work in his laboratory; then we can assist him with moving his equipment… However, given the current circumstances, it is very likely that we will have to send the second SUN group to rescue him."

"Sir, is this group under the command of Agent Redfield?" Bryan asked.

"That is correct," the colonel affirmed.

"But weren't they supporting the first division in containing the private laboratory that spiraled out of control on Wednesday?" Bryan asked.

"The containment was carried out without incidents. Our soldiers are already in route to the barracks, but we were informed that the laboratory owners have initiated a search for a presumed researcher who allegedly stole their research."

"That seems extremely suspicious to me," Bryan commented.

"It also raises my suspicions, which is why I have assigned Agent Valentine, along with the recruit, to closely monitor the search being conducted by that laboratory's security agents. I want no unforeseen complications in our area," the colonel expressed with gravity.

"Which laboratory are you referring to, Colonel?" Bryan asked him.

"LyraGen, that is the name," he replied.

"I haven't heard of them," Bryan commented.

"That is because it is a laboratory operating under the aegis of a large corporation. Umbr…" the colonel was explaining when a man burst into the room, with an expression of utmost alarm.

"Colonel! We have news from outside."

"Report," the colonel ordered the soldier from the communications office.

"Headquarters has notified that 12 new countries have begun experiencing problems in some of their major cities with biological hazards. This includes one of our neighboring countries."

"Furthermore, they have ratified the curfew decision for today at 0800 hours and have requested to establish a direct confidential communication line with you."

"Inform the communications office; I will be there in 5 minutes. You are dismissed," the colonel ordered the soldier who brought the information, and then collapsed into his seat. "Phew… So, it is just as we feared. I believe this will be our last day of tranquility."

"We are ready, Colonel Rogers," Bryan affirmed with an unyielding resolve in his voice.

"That is what I expect, First Lieutenant Adams."

At noon.

More than five hours had passed since the crucial call from headquarters to Colonel Rogers, who was in command of the Second Infantry Division.

During that communication, the colonel was informed that the situation had dramatically exceeded the army's containment capabilities, and that, by direct order of the government, a mandatory curfew would be decreed for the entire national territory, with the primary purpose of containing the infected and mitigating the proliferation of the virus.

Additionally, he was notified of a series of supplementary measures that included: the immediate elimination of previously contained biological hazards, the implementation of security perimeters starting from the nuclei of each populated unit, and the absolute control of health centers, educational institutions, and political institutions within these units.

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[A/N: I think these are basic measures taken by the military forces of any country.]

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Finally, full autonomy of decision in local matters was granted to the officials in charge of each zone. This empowered them to adopt rigorous, or even excessive, measures should the situation escalate to uncontrollable levels.

"I trust they won't do anything foolish," the colonel mused, as he remained seated in the command office chair, nervously drumming his fingers on the table's surface.

Colonel Rogers, due to his unwavering integrity, would never be capable of such extreme actions, but there were numerous other high-ranking officers in the army who might resort to drastic measures, which caused the colonel great concern.

Throughout these almost six hours, Colonel Rogers and Bryan had been receiving a constant flow of messages from both the camps and headquarters.

The camps reported on the capture of infected individuals, just as they had been doing in previous days. The colonel had decided not to proceed with the immediate elimination of the contamination and would only act if containment measures proved ineffective or if the position had to be abandoned for security reasons.

"I still harbor hope that they will find a cure," the colonel confided to Bryan, who stood by his side when the order was given.

Bryan merely nodded, indicating his agreement with this decision.

He, like the colonel, was reluctant to carry out such a massacre. Both yearned for a moment when someone would tell them: "We have found a cure. These people can be saved."

On the other hand, headquarters continued to inform them about the virus's progression, both domestically and abroad.

In both scenarios, the situation was far from encouraging, but the international panorama showed unequivocal signs of rapid collapse.

Domestically, headquarters reported on: controlled propagations in some large cities, red alerts at certain infected containment points managed by other divisions, quarantines imposed in hospitals and other healthcare centers throughout the nation, and, above all, an urgent demand for supplies and materials.

The only division that reported no chaos or logistical problems was Colonel Rogers' 2nd Infantry Division. This division, along with some other divisions whose leaders maintained close ties with the colonel, exhibited the most favorable records nationwide.

In the international sphere, headquarters communicated about: the total loss of entire cities, the fall of national capitals, maximum intervention by security and military forces, requests for support, premature leaks of crucial information, and forced migrations.

The global escalation of infected individuals was so alarming that the UN was already preparing military intervention teams for virus containment in the affected nations. They had already requested military, logistical, and economic support from most countries.

"Colonel Rogers, do you believe our government will send military support as requested by the UN?" Bryan asked the colonel.

"I don't think so," the colonel replied with a gesture of negation. "I estimate that many nations will face serious difficulties in resolving the virus's spread within their own territories… It is unlikely that countries will deploy soldiers abroad merely to please the UN," he explained with a hint of irony.

Command Office, Second Infantry Division of the Army, 2000 hours.

"It seems the outcome was worse than we anticipated, Bryan… The curfew should have been implemented much earlier, and now there's no turning back for some camps," Colonel Rogers expressed with a tone of profound weariness.

"What are the latest reports from the camps, Colonel?" Bryan asked with genuine concern. Unlike the colonel, he continued to maintain proper military conduct, even feeling as desperate as his superior.

"The logbook is right there," the colonel replied, pointing to a file on the table.

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Logbook of the Command Center of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Army.

CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET // THREAT LEVEL: CRITICAL (RAPID ESCALATION)

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REPORT 62 // 1500 hours.

Camp 8: Biological hazard containment failure. Moderate but accelerated virus propagation. Urgent request for support for containment units.

Camp 5: Initial biological hazard containment failure. Successful containment of propagation. Elimination of infected subjects underway.

Camp 2: Operational. Healthcare centers under monitoring. Isolated panic incidents reported.

Camp 3: Operational. First incursions into vulnerable areas. Minimal civilian resistance. Primary operations base established.

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REPORT 66 // 1700 hours.

Camp 8: Camp compromised, almost lost. Desperate use of Level 3 containment protocols. CRITICAL support request. Public chaos unleashed in adjacent urban areas. Observation: Intermittent satellite communication failures.

Camp 5: Elimination of infected subjects completed. Biological hazard containment in healthcare centers and public facilities is precarious.

Camp 2: Healthcare centers with severe security breaches. Request for support from local police forces ineffective. Elimination of infected subjects pending and at risk of escalation.

Camp 3: Initial support to local police forces in biological hazard containment in vulnerable areas operational. Control of healthcare and educational centers under heavy pressure. Localized protests but intensifying. Initial perimeters formed. Observation: Civilian population actions are becoming unpredictable. Authorization for escalated proportional use of force requested.

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REPORT 70 // 1800 hours.

Camp 8: Camp recovered, though in critical condition. Estimated 30% personnel loss (approx. 35 effective). Medical personnel fully compromised. City areas plunged into chaos and abandoned. Support requested.

Camp 5: Health and education centers partially controlled. Virus propagation in low-income residential areas and urban center irreversible.

Camp 2: Health centers barely contained. Massive and violent protests in the city center. Coordinated work with local police forces at limit. Reports of low morale among refugees.

Camp 3: Support to local police forces in biological hazard containment in vulnerable areas operational. Control of health and education centers under heavy pressure. Localized protests but intensifying. Initial perimeters formed. Observation: Civilian population actions are becoming increasingly unpredictable. Authorization for escalated proportional use of force requested.

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REPORT 96 // 2000 hours.

Camp 8: Camp again compromised. Units deployed in the city are isolated and unresponsive. City chaos containment failed. Medical personnel are insufficient and exhausted. URGENT support requested. Curfew implemented.

Camp 5: Propagation in vulnerable areas impossible to control. Accelerated propagation to other city areas. Retreat of units to main camp. Establishment of safe zones in city centers is an absolute priority. Curfew implemented.

Camp 2: Presence of infected within camp perimeter confirmed. Neutralization of biological hazards successfully. Refugee morale at historic lows. Virus propagation in vulnerable areas uncontrolled. Awaiting authorization for the mass elimination of contained subjects. Curfew implemented.

Camp 3: Vulnerable areas completely compromised. Health centers are partially contained. School facilities in city center invaded. CRITICAL support requested. Protests are uncontrolled and direct confrontations. Main perimeters formed, but under constant siege. Curfew implemented. Last report: An anomalous and unidentified energy signal has been detected in the subsoil of an abandoned civilian facility.

Camp 6: Village areas 60% compromised. Establishment of temporary shelters in schools and other public facilities underway. Virus propagation is slight but constant. Protests initially contained, but with risk of outbreaks. Curfew implemented.

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After reviewing the latest reports from the logbook, Bryan was visibly shaken. His shock was due not only to the virus's progression in the various camps, but particularly to the reports from Camp 3.

He let the file drop onto the table.

He turned his gaze towards Colonel Rogers, who was slumped in his seat, constantly pressing his temples.

Then he turned his head, fixing his gaze on the office window.

His gaze seemed lost, with a hint of despair deep in his eyes.

"I hope you survive, Alex," he whispered.

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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED

Thanks everyone for reading.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

We'll see Bryan's involvement in the story again later, though he'll likely appear indirectly.

By the way, the next chapter is about an agent of chaos (not necessarily a villain). This one is quite special since it's a character from TWD, who will have a very different development from the original story. Also, no one has answered my question: "Do you want to see Rick in the novel?"

The next chapters will also be about agents of chaos, some from other franchises, or from TWD itself.

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Read my other novels

#Vinland Kingdom: Race Against Time.

#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis from Visions of Future Saga

You can find them on my profile.]