A/N: And the second part of this trilogy opens up with a recap of what's happened in the last 3 months. Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: Recognize it? (C) VALVe


Chapter 1: Camera Diary Entry 008

[The camera comes to life in an environment quite different from the military base it had first made its first recording or the stale room it started its duty as a journal. The room itself is a homely looking place, a whole apartment made up of half an abandoned office building in Austin, with a view of the city unmatched. Ellis comes into frame wearing an oiled up wife-beater shirt, exposing both his tattoos and his physique. The bed shown is bigger and possibly salvaged, like the rest of the apartment.]

Been a while since I did this...but I'd best start updatin' on wha's been goin' on since my last entry!

Things have been good lately; no signs of CEDA or military from Meridian. No one's been chasin' us or ev'n askin' questions 'bout how we survived. Keith gav me a job ov'r at his shop he built after he an' Ma moved in. Ro's been helpin' out makin' deliveries o'er at St. John's Package Delivery Service. She tol' me she was practically doin' what she did befo' though I dunno how producin' TV prepares yew t' ride bikes an' carry package. Coach's stayin' around, helpin' at th' school Miss Flo worked in while she got settled in. Turns out she's th' reason Coach became a...well y'know! An' he's real good at it too! Nick an' I went t' a game an' he was actin' like a boss an' shit!

[The hick smiles and he looks at the camera with a bit of joy,] Momma's been holdin' down th' fort since she got flown in with Keith into a relocation camp an' she told me she prayed ev'ry night for two weeks straight fer someone t' find me. Turns out she's th' immune one in th' family an' she's been welcomin' Survivors like a regular Nightingale.

[His expressions then saddens considerably] By wha' she told me, Dave had been killed by friendly fire and Earl got sick while helpin' his dad outta Geogia. He asked fer his dad t' shoot 'im while he was still his son. Mr. Peterson didn't last long after tha', accordin' t' Keith. Makes one think how lucky som' people are...an' it jus' means tha' life's a joy t' be cherished. I jus' wish there was som'way fo' me t' thank 'im fer takin' such good care of my ma.

[Ellis sighs out and scratches behind the hat, trying to make sense and order of his thoughts...] Ma wasn't too happy of me bein' with Nick an' I coul' tell when I told her but, [smirks at his memory] she said th' wisest words I've heard sinc Coach retired: "Yer my son an' I'm jus' glad yew didn't get infected or killed." She insists on Nick callin' her Miss Cordy an' he has no choice unless he wants an asswhoopin'. ["I heard that, Fireball!" Nick's voice is heard in the background] Good, 'cause yew need t' learn it, yew dumbfuck! ["Your mother's insane, end of conversation!" And that's the last thing heard from the conman as the door outside slams closed. Ellis just laughs at the whole thing, cheering him up for the moment.]

He's jus' cranky 'cause it's been 2 weeks since we had sex but tha's how I know he ain' strayin'. He an' Mama don' always agree on stuff like wha' he did befo' th' Green Flu-she can tell he ain' no doctor, "No grown-ass doctor wears a white suit unless it's t' work!" she tol' him once- and th' South...yeah, ev'n after I told him not to. Still, I've seen 'em make th' effort t' git along. Nick's not used t' havin' som'one one like her 'round an' th' last Yankee Momma ev'r met went home with a broken leg back when I was a babe. At least, he put his smarts t' use an' set up a bar downstairs but I've caught 'im sneakin' around, on th' prowl fer som' unlucky moron or a target t' steal or con outta their hard-earned money. I know it's wrong but it don't really matter; I like 'im like tha'.

[The young man sobers up and looks over, above the camera, to the city view outside.] None of us haven't told anyone 'bout wha' happened three months back...I don't have th' heart t' tell my mom or my best friend I ain't ev'n normal anymo'. I know Coach hasn't tol' Ma'am Florence about it 'cause, well it jus' shows. It's like there's this Witch in th' room an' no one wants t' shoot it or walk away...Nick an' I are real careful not t' get hurt or git too emotional or th' experiment starts t' make itself know. Maybe tha's why we try t' not make so many friends here an' stick t' th' people we know.

I hate t' admit it but Nick's righ': iss not a matter of if CEDA's gonna try t' track us down, it's a matter of when. We're their ticket outta their shit hole an' unless they can find people like us t' repeat th' experiment, they need us. Ro sent McKinley Coach's tags in an unmarked envelope, covered in some of his blood fer added flair and, wouldn't yew know it? They believed it! At least th' big guy's catchin' a break an' won't be hunted down like th' rest of us...he deserves his time with Ma'am Florence.

[There's a stubborn look on his face...] Fuck it, I'm enjoyin' my time here an' I'm willin' t' fight fer my freedom. Gotta go, next shift's startin' an' I ain't missin' this beautiful Corvette tha's comin' in! [The hick's back on his usual joie-di-vivre and he switches off the camera. His dog tags flash for a moment before the screen goes black.]