Madness Bio-Haz 2

Chapter 10: Finding the Partner

It was Midnight when Lerioc woke up. She glanced behind her to see Ray fast asleep. Sliding off the bed, she made her way toward the entrance to the Bar and stood outside. Something was nagging at her again and it wasn't her Anti this time. The Auditor made his rounds again, stopping and looking into every room. He stepped back as he found her missing from the bed and ran to the bathroom, looking in and finding no one. He made his way outside, passing her leaning frame as he stepped into the street. "Yo, Boss. I'm right here."

He spun around and relaxed when he saw it was only her. "Leri...you're about to give me a heart attack."

"Ya can get a heart attack? That's surprisin'."

He hit her upside the head lightly making her snicker. They stood there quietly, looking straight ahead. He looks at her and she stole a glance seeing his questioning look. Patting his shoulder she went back inside and into the cellar. She sighed as she looked at the drinks, The Auditor looked over her shoulder and grabbed her hurt shoulder. She yelped and backed away, her shoulder starting to bleed. His eyes went wide as he saw that and he stepped forward. "You're hurt!"

"No…dip."

She turned back around and looked the holes over, jaws clacking as she stuck her claw in one of them. "I'm lucky that he missed with the other shots."

"What happened exactly?"

"An acquaintance got possessed by the Anti, he shot me and I finally got him unpossessed now he's fine. I just hope that the rest of his team's okay."

"ATP?"

She looked at him and nodded, tail curling. He sighed and looked back at the door as the sound of pounding footsteps was heard. Ray poked in his head and grinned slightly. "There you are. I thought I lost you."

"Ya won't lose me that easily, Ray."

"True, true. So, what's going on in here?"

"Talkin' about the next mission. I need a couple of GUARDS to go with me."

The Auditor looked at her and sighed. "Not exactly guards, Leri. More of the term teammates."

She took two bottles from the shelf and handed one to him before opening the one she had. "Drink up, Boss. This might be ya last one."

"You threatening me?"

"Not at all, Boss. Just sayin' that due to ya one of the teammates."

His expression became blank as she said that. Ray got closer and put a hand on The Auditor's shoulder, something was on his mind now. He looked at her with a point at himself and she nodded. "Ya the only one I can count on actually. Eight might use me as target practice and Ray…it'll be too traumatizin' for ya."

"I understand, Leri."

She took a drink and looked at them. Ray looked at her and leaned against the wall, a grin forming as The Auditor looked down at his bottle of soda thinking hard about something. He finally looked up with a nod and held out the bottle. "To the last drink we might have."

She lowered her head as she clanked her bottle against his and they both drank it down. She pocketed her bottle and clicked her mask back on. "Ya can't sleep, Ray?"

"Not really, after seeing your shoulder and helping get those bullets out. I can't get the thought of your death out of my head."

"Relax, Ray. I don't die that easily anymore."

The Auditor put his bottle in his non-existing pocket also as he looked at her with a nod. "Isn't that the truth. Then again, you now have some of Hank's blood in you. Thus, you're even harder to kill if my mind serves me right."

She nodded and remained silent as she stared at the floor. The knife kill still played in her mind every now and then. She still didn't know how he could be alive after the slashes and the bullet to the temple. She needed to get back to the Factory to get ready but it's still too late and dangerous out there. She looked up as The Auditor put an arm around her shoulders and started to walk toward the door. "Come on, maybe some rest will be good for you. You're getting pale on me, paler than normal." She got back to her and Ray's room and sat on the bed. The Auditor disappeared back to his room as Ray sat on his bed.

There was a lot going through his mind right now. This hasn't happened before and it was bothering him more than the time that the main Improbability Drive was destroyed. He bit his lip as the thought of dying in a realm that he knew nothing about came to mind. What would happen if he was gone? What if Gluttony didn't die like it was written in the research books? He couldn't get the What Ifs out of his mind as he laid down. This was nagging more than Eight and Nine bickering like usual. He laid there, arms crossed, as he stared at the ceiling. He jumped as someone sat next to him. He sat up and looked over to see Lerioc sitting there. "Ya okay, Boss? I wasn't getting' any good vibes from my room and found them comin' from in here."

He nods and looks down, cringing as she puts a claw on his shoulder. She pulled back and realized how alike they were becoming. It was scaring her. He saw this and grimaced. "Sorry, Leri."

"No, no…it's my fault. I feel like we're getting' closer to our true feelin's and it's…well…scarin' me shitless."

"The What Ifs are killing me, Leri. I don't think I can't get them to stop."

"Boss…I got ya back. Remember, I don't let my friends die unless I DIE."

He nods and grabbed her claws making her jump and looked at the clutching hand. She felt him shaking. "First time in a long time, eh Boss?"

"What?"

"This fear. Ya shakin' like crazy."

"Damn, I was hoping you didn't notice."

"Boss, relax. I got my claws open and ready to shred anyone who tries to hurt ya. Ya know this."

He sighed and let go of her, leaning on his legs as he stared out the window. "How long do we have?"

"Five days until the next portal opens. So we'll be fine until then."

He nods and relaxes a little. He lies down and closes his eyes as she leaves the room, falling into a less troubled sleep.

It was two days later as Hank entered the Factory, Sanford and Deimos behind him. There was a look on Hank's face that told all the Agents to stay out of their way as they walked toward the garage. Eight stood next to the door, watching the truck in front of him that came from the Anti Realm. "Damn, she's been working on that constantly. I wonder how much longer."

"What's she doing?"

He jumped and looked at Hank. The sight of him made him scramble backwards and fall over. "Sh-she's un-Antiing the truck."

"Un…Anti…ing. The Hell?"

"Her exact words, you know how she is."

His eyes rolled under the goggles as he walked toward the truck, looking it over. He looked down as Deimos grabbed his shoulder and pointed. Her tail was seen from the side. Deimos grinned and looked at Hank who started to push him back a little. "Back up…I got something I've needed to do a long time ago." There was a yelp and a loud clang as he stomped on her tail, oil pooling from under the truck toward them. "THE HELL? WHAT ARE YA TRYIN' TO DO TO ME? DROWN ME IN OIL?" She appeared from the front of the truck and her eyes widened as she saw the Trio. She raised the ATP mask and sighed giving a small wave. They started laughing at the sight of a blackened lizard as she stood up, kicking the truck lightly. "What brings ya three here on this BEAUTIFUL day?" They looked toward the open garage door as the sound of thunder was heard. "Beautiful, huh? I'm surprised it hasn't rained yet."

She shrugged as Eight handed her a rag. She snatched it and started to wipe her claws, a grin forming in her eyes. "Then again ya never answered my question."

"I heard you're looking for a partner."

"I don't know Hank. Ya and my boss never got along that well."

"You're just going to leave someone like me behind with a rookie or something almost like it?"

She chuckled and shrugged. "I don't know Hank. I'm still debatin' whether or not to actually bring The Auditor along. Though, I'm just takin' him for his own safety since Gluttony's here in this realm."

She yelped again as he grabbed the front of her jacket, bringing her to his face. "You don't take me and I swear I'll tear out your spine and use it as a jump rope."

Her eyes widened as he said that, fear actually seen. "Well, in that case…welcome to the team."

He dropped her and nodded. "That's what I thought."

She looked at the other two and saw their grins making her claws clench. She clapped them together and chuckled. "Would ya like somethin' to eat while I go talk to him? I made Lunch today so it's fine."

A smile crossed his face as he leaned forward. "Does it growl worse than the cook's?"

"No…and it's much better. Ask the others."

Sanford grabbed him by the collar and pulled him toward the Mess Hall leaving Hank with her. He crossed his arms and watched with a sigh. "Well, let's go. He's probably wonderin' why I haven't appeared at his office yet."

"You done with the truck yet?"

"No. Gotta to an oil change anyways. It ain't gonna take me that long either…then again, I gotta fix that pipe that ya made me pierce with my wrench."

"Whoops, was that my fault? Sorry."

She glared at him but knew he was just playing around. She got to his office and knocked, the door opening instantly. "Got the other partner I see."

"He THREATENED me. But anyways, this fine with ya?"

"We need him more than you think. That coming from me and you know something's wrong."

Hank crossed his arms with a nod. "Tell me about it."

He turned toward the window and leaned on the sill, eyes half open. "Three more days, Leri. You ready because I know I'm not."

"Neither am I, Boss. I never was ready the first time I went there."

He nods and continues to stare out the window. She heard the clacking of teeth making her cross her arms. "Somethin' else, Boss?"

"Actually…no, there isn't. Go on and fix that truck up."

She nods and leaves the office, Hank following her closely. He stood there silently now, angry that he had said that. He turned around and sat in his chair, leaning on his desk as he massaged his temples with a grimace. "What am I going to do? I can't let Hank know that I'm scared. Damn, I've changed so much I don't recognize myself anymore."

"Boss?"

He shot up and saw her standing in the doorway. "You alone?"

"Yeah, I am."

He grimaced and shook his head. This wasn't like him, this fear knew no bounds and it was scaring him even more. She walked over and took off her jacket, hanging it up to keep the floor from getting the spilled oil from it. She pulled up a chair and hunched over looking at him. He found it was easier to relax with someone in here instead of Hank. He sighed and leaned back, looking at her. "Sorry…am I scaring you?"

"Ya worryin' me, Boss. From the time I've spent with ya, ya've never been like this."

He goes silent and shook his head. She's noticed. He thought. This isn't good on my part. He looked at her as she stood up and got behind him, putting her claws on his shoulders. "Relax. I've got someone to protect and he's right under these claws."

He looked at her for a while before nodding. "Thanks, Leri…need help with that truck?"

There was a hint of a laugh in his voice making her nod, a grin coming on. "Get off that lazy ass and help me then."

He scoffed and stood up quickly. "Lazy ass? I'm a lazy ass? Get going before I put you in the Training Simulator and put it on the highest setting."

Her eyes widened as he said that and she ran out with him behind her laughing hard.