Babylon is Fallen, by P.R. Zed

[przed.livejournal.com]

Title:Babylon is Fallen
Author name: przed
Artist name: gblvr
Archive to Pros Lib: Yes
Genre: Slash
Characters/Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Word count: 29,096
Warnings: Here be zombies.

Summary: When he awakens from a coma to discover a London destroyed by a zombie plague, Ray Doyle sets out to find a refuge against infection and, so he hopes, Bodie. A crossover with the 28 Days Later universe.

Notes: Thanks to draycevixen for invaluable plot advice, ancastar for her usual impeccable beta skills, and izzie7 for the helpful Brit check. And to gblvr, my undying gratitude for inspiring the story at Close Quarters when she said there should totally be a Pros/28 Days Later crossover, and then creating such kickass art to go with the it. Thanks also to my lovely co-mod, callistosh65, who didn't run away screaming when the idea for running a Pros Big Bang went from idle musings at a con to "we really should do it." It's been a pleasure, babe.

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Art Master Post
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Comments

[ancastar.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THIS FIC!

And I hate zombies.

Go figure.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I could overcome your hatred of zombies. And that you didn't hate me for making you beta it. *g*

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Woo-hoo!!!! It's here - the lads running amok in a zombie apocalypse. Bookmarking this one for tonight - can't wait!!

[przed.livejournal.com]

Can't wait to hear what you think. *g*

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

What a great start! And what a mistake to start it when I have a deadline.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Glad I've intrigued you. And hey, the fic will be waiting for you after the deadline.

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

There may be spoilers in the comment! Beware!
*
*
*
*I was very, very reluctant to even start this, but you had me after the first few sentences, and I breathlessly read through the whole thing last night, believing every word!
It was terrifying and heartbreaking and glorious.
I detested Willis before, but here I cheered when "you know what" happened (trying to not spoil things too badly).
Bodie's struggle to save Doyle at the hospital and thinking he had lost him, and Ray never once accepting the fact that Bodie was likely dead was heart wrenching to watch. Especially Bodie, who had no hope.

All my life, I've managed to avoid zombie movies, but am glad I didn't avoid this one (and I did *see* it all in my mind. Your writing is so alive.).
And there desperately needs to be a sequel!!!

[przed.livejournal.com]

Awww, you are too kind. And I'm very glad you soldiered on in spite of the whole zombie thing. (I started writing this when I woke up completely freaked out after a nightmare that involved zombies, so I can definitely sympathize.)

I have to admit, I was rather pleased to administer Willis' fate. And I'm very glad to hear that the emotional stuff with the lads worked. (I can't believe I wrote another long story with the two of them apart.)

As for a sequel, I've already started on one. It has a title and a plot and everything. ::headdesk::

[raven-rs.livejournal.com]

Well, there's Pride and Prejudice with Zombies, and now Professionals with Zombies! LOL

I confess, I hate zombies. There's just something ... messy .. about them I can't stand.

Very atmospheric, post-apocalyptic feel to it all. Very like 28 Days Later. Enjoyed it.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I am glad you enjoyed it, even if you don't like zombies. (I wouldn't say I like zombies, but they're one of the few horror tropes I seem capable of watching.)

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, P, I've bitten all my fingernails off! Darn you, girl, but that was a harrowing tale. Well done! You managed to write an exciting, scary, bloody horror story full of all the good stuff that makes nightmares. Excellent. The lads were very much in character. I liked how you brought in Willis even. Great job with this story. Now I'll never sleep! *barracades windows and doors*

[przed.livejournal.com]

You managed to write an exciting, scary, bloody horror story full of all the good stuff that makes nightmares.

Well, that's appropriate, since it was a nightmare that got me writing this. I woke up in a cold sweat, couldn't get back to sleep, grabbed my notebook and had the first scene written in about half an hour. (The weird thing is I don't get nightmares normally. It's a once every decade thing for me.)

I'm glad you, um, enjoyed it. And that it got under your skin, just a bit. (It was not my goal to give my friends nightmares.)

[togsos.livejournal.com]

i am freaking out, i LOVE zombies cant wait to read it YAY!!!

[przed.livejournal.com]

Yay for zombies! Can't wait to hear what you think.

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

'kay so I've got it lined up to read in daylight in the coffee shop :) Yeah, I'm another one who doesn't care for zombies ... in fact nothing is more likely to freak me the heck out. If Simon Pegg wasn't in it I wouldn't even go near Shaun of the Dead *g* But I LOVE the idea of this ... London destroyed by a zombie plague *meeep* Actually, sometimes I look out my window and wonder if it hasn't already happened :D

[przed.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the daylight read. *g*

Simon Pegg totally makes Shaun of the Dead. (I have to confess, apart from 28 Days Later, I mostly love the funny zombie movies.)

*possible spoilers in comment alert*

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

Omg I will never be able to go past Guy's again without thinking of the barricades falling ... and although I was sorry to see Earl's Court go I am very glad you didn't describe what happened in Chiswick :) Wow, just finished reading and enjoyed the heck out of it! A wonderful, breathless rollercoaster of a fic. The pacing was terrific. I loved how you brought in so much of CI5 and its characters, and the whole structure with Bodie and Murphy in one narrative and Doyle and Stuart in the other was excellent. The reunion scene was fabulous *g* And I just adore the whole idea of Cowley leading his army up to Scotland and taking over a castle ... that just had me squeeing in delight :) I'm not sure I forgive you for Betty though ;)

So I still don't like zombies and wouldn't watch 28 Days if you paid me in naked cowboys but thank you for a brilliant read. And of course I should point out that a sequel is totally necessary *g*

Re: *possible spoilers in comment alert*

[przed.livejournal.com]

I am so glad to hear you enjoyed it. And that you liked seeing all of the other CI5 agents. I have an affection for most of the side characters we see in the show, and it's always nice to have a bigger story so I can use more of 'em.

I'm not sure I forgive you for Betty though ;)

Much as I like Betty, I was sorrier to get rid of Ruth. And Anson. (I have a soft spot for Anson. Yes, I'm weird.)

I couldn't resist the idea of Cowley retreating to a Scottish castle to create a safe haven. You have no idea how much time I spent looking at various castle websites and deciding which one would be best, geographically, for the story.

As for the sequel, be careful what you wish for. I'm planning on some crazy stuff in the next one. Though at least I won't be splitting the lads up. ;-)

[1moreirene.livejournal.com]

Thank you for modding and writing, Przed, and thanks to Gblvr for the art.

[przed.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

[andreathelion.livejournal.com]

I hate all kinds of horror movies, specially zombie ones and I loved your story :D
Just shows how much I trust your writing skills *g*

What a nightmare scenario you made there but you managed to keep me reading through it to the end.

Excellent writing and heh, I'm looking forward to the sequel! :)

Thanks!

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear I didn't betray your trust. *g*

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you enjoy the sequel as well. If you thought I put them through hell this time, just wait. (But at least they'll be together. *g*)

[catofwitch.livejournal.com]

I do love this one! Thanks for writing such a marvellous story. And I'm glad to know that you've started a sequel. I'll be waiting right here.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Very glad to hear you enjoyed it. It was (mostly) fun to write.

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

Who knew? Zombies work !!!(I've always suspected that Betty was one =0)Great art as well.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Glad the zombies worked for you. I couldn't resist turning Betty into a zombie somehow. *g*

[cloudless-9193.livejournal.com]

Extremely suspenseful (heightened by the parallel and lagged plot line) and heartwrenching at the same time. I love how you conveyed Bodie's feelings, the way he was not coming to terms with Doyle's death, how he refused to move on.

The artwork matches the story so well.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I was hoping the parallel time lines worked. It wasn't a sure thing. And I'm very glad to hear that Bodie's character arc worked. I can't believe I wrote another story that separated the lads for great stretches of time, and it's always a challenge to keep the connection between them when you do that.

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

Ohmigod. That was abso-fucking-lutely riveting. Trust Cowley to be the one who has any chance of saving Britain, and trust Willis to be a complete and utter prick right to the end. Speaking of which, his end was so very much deserved!

I really loved how the lads just wouldn't give up and wouldn't accept that the other was dead throughout the whole experience. They truly are each other's north star.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Of course Cowley is going to be the one to save Britain. From Scotland, of course. *g* And it was rather fun to give Willis what he deserved.

As for the lads, I can never see them giving up on each other.

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

Wow. What an incredible job of melding horror with the lads. From that gripping start...

Lucas and McCabe had been the first to die, cut down moments after they'd entered the installation by things none of them could understand. There had been movement and speed and blood, and then they were running, all semblance of training and discipline gone to hell.
Anson had been the first to turn...

Ghastly and mesmerizing. Then the scene where Ray wakes up in the empty hospital.

It just never lets up. And it never collapses into nonsense. It felt only too believable.

I just loved it!

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and thought it all hangs together. Plotting this one, making the plot plausible, in a zombie sort of way, was the toughest part.

[artconserv.livejournal.com]

Hi, Hon,

I finally had a chance to read your story and loved it. It was a great read--I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and so impatient for you to bring them together again. You certainly put them-- and the reader-- through an emotional wringer and I'm exhausted, but in a good way. :-) I honestly didn't expect Willis to do what he did and was appropriately horrified and shocked.

Wonderful story and thank you so much for writing it and coordinating all the other stories offered here. You're the best and I do appreciate all your hard work.

XXXOOO
Lorraine

[przed.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, Lorraine. I'm glad you're exhausted in a good way. And that I surprised you with what Willis did. (It wasn't my original intention to go that far, but then the idea popped into my head and I knew I had to do it.)

It was a pleasure to help mod the challenge. It's just nice to see everyone enjoying the stories and art.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Absolutely terrific! I'm a huge fan of horror movies and 28 Days Later is a big favorite of mine. You did a great job blending the two universes and I loved the angst of poor Bodie thinking Doyle was dead. You even managed to fit in a castle!

And a sequel is in the works? I can't wait!

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm glad this worked for you, especially as you're a fan of 28 Days Later. (Such a fab movie, no?)

As for the sequel, I have a feeling it might be my entry for next year's Big Bang. At the very least, it's going to take a whole heck of a lot of research on viruses and vaccines. And that's all I'm going to say. *g*

[metabolick.livejournal.com]

I've never once watched a zombie movie and have no intention of starting now. The horror you conjured up in me with your story is quite enough, thank you. A very gripping story from start to finish. I do love how Ray's belief that Bodie had survived everything kept him going. And I too am gratified at Willis' fate.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I hope I didn't traumatize you too much with the zombies. (I have this weird affection for zombie films, but only if they're funny and/or arty.)

I had to give Ray that belief that Bodie survived. Especially since Bodie was nearly certain that Ray hadn't. One of them had to carry the hope for both of them.

As for Willis, it was a bit too satisfying to give him that fate.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Well, I’m no great zombie fan and if anyone had told me I’d be reading a Pros/zombie story and loving it I’d have said never in a million years, but it’s happened: I read it and loved it!

So much to enjoy: great writing, an original idea, I loved the impression you gave of a post-disaster, desolate London and at the same time you seemed to have a great feel for 'her' (I always think of London as a 'her'), constant, edge-of my-seat, heart-in-my-mouth excitement and dread! As I say I loved it and feel my mind has now been broadened to include zombie stories in my reading preferences!

Thanks so much for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[przed.livejournal.com]

If anyone had told me I'd write a 30,000 word Pros zombie story, I'd have thought they were nuts. But there it is. *g*

I'm glad I changed your mind on the zombies. And that you enjoyed the story. I have to admit that creating a post-apocalyptic London was, well, not fun exactly, but interesting.

Thank you for your lovely comments.

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

To say I'm behind on my Kindle reading would obviously be an understatement. *g*

I finished reading Babylon is Fallen today. What a great story. I loved the way you intercut present day scenes with flashbacks and switched between Doyle and Bodie while doing so. It left me in that lovely position of knowing more than the lads while watching them work it out. I really liked your secondary characters, Grace and Lily and Willis was the perfect choice for the villain of the piece.

Again thank you for a great read. ♥

[przed.livejournal.com]

To say I'm behind on my Kindle reading would obviously be an understatement. *g*

You and me both. I was sort of keeping up on this year's BB stories, but then my e-reading app crashed on my iPod Touch, and I haven't got around to putting the stories on the brand spanking new Kobo.

It's fab to hear the structure worked for you. It was a real bitch to work with, and it wouldn't have worked nearly as well without your input. I had fun with Grace and Lily, and it was far too satisfying to kill off Willis in a hideous and yet appropriate way.