Chapter 15: King Billy

"What is keeping these guys from just attacking us?" Murray Futterman said as Kate led him and Lynn Peltzer through the mall in the search for Billy, Gerald, and Gizmo. She had thought the cobra gremlin might have eaten the little mogwai at first but she heard him the vent and he said he was going to find Billy. They have been separated before but always reunite and usually around the time when Gizmo pulls off a heroic rescue. The little guy was resourceful and knew how to survive.

"Are you all right?" Lynn asked her.

"I'm thinking about Billy and Gizmo," Kate answered as several gremlins climbed out of kiosk dressed up as characters from a Japanese cartoon, the one about the girl with the moon wand. "I'm just worried about them."

"I'm sure they will be fine," Lynn said and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I wouldn't be surprised if they have already found each other and are looking for us."

"Think we should check in with the others?" Murray asked as they watched a small group of people head towards the direction of the nearest exit, they were led by a mall cop. "That guy is just doing his job, but he might try to get us out."

"Sure," Lynn said as the three of them ducked inside the nearest store. "Mr. Clamp. I mean team Clamp this is team, uh team Kingston Falls."

"Hey there, Team Kingston Falls this is Team Clamp and we read," Clamps voice was heard on the other end. "Frank and I are just loading up. We have a few guns, some extra bullets, plenty of flash lights and Frank will also being carrying a good size med kit."

"No sign of Billy," Lynn said. "And we have seen one of the security officers lead some people outside. We are trying to avoid them."

"Understandable," Clamp said. "We will be inside soon and if the mall security asks you to leave have them talk to me. "

"Will do," Lynn said before she placed it back into her pocket.

They waited until the coast was clear before they walked out of the store and past an elevator and while it wasn't running it did have a gremlin sticking to it. The creature also had various metal objects stuck to it. Small sparks crawled across his body and he and the metal pieces fell down. He ran off and didn't notice he had stepped on a metal brooch and it had stuck to him.

"Do we know what to expect when he catch up with Billy?" Murray asked as synthesizer music was heard from a nearby shop that sold instruments. "We don't know what he is going to look like."

"I think I recognize my own son," Lynn said while she placed her hands on her hips.

"We also know he changed physically, but what about up here?" He pointed at his own head. "Do we know if he is going to think like them or act like them?"

"Not my, Billy," Lynn said. "You should know better."

"I've seen people change from simply fighting at war," Murray said as they passed by the music store. "A lot of us changed after these things attacked Kingston Falls and that is simply from traumatic experience and not having our wiring changed due to some mad doctor messing with our genes."

"Billy will know us and we will know him," Kate said as she looked into the shop. She could see a gremlin with a cloak and a mask playing one of the keyboards. Another gremlin bumped into him and knocked the phantom mask off. The gremlin grumbled as he picked it up. There was no scarring on his face, not even a little scratch.

"I'm just saying-"

"No!" Kate marched right up to him and jabbed her finger in his chest. "Billy would not do anything to harm us. He loves us and we love him and we are going to help him no matter what."

"Whoa." Murray held up his hands. "Easy there, Kate. I just want to you to be prepared for the worst."

"The worst won't happen," Kate said in a determined tone. "I won't let it." She turned around and paused in her steps as a gremlin was standing before her wearing a sunglasses and a trench coat. "Are you kidding me?"

The gremlin laughed as he spread out his coat.

"Does this have to happen every time?" Kate asked and was ready to kick it.

Lynn swung at the gremlin with her fist and sent it flying.

"He didn't have anything to show," Murray said and was trying to keep from laughing. "I'll tell you one thing. I feel a lot braver and safe with you two next to me."

"That actually felt good," Lynn said as they continued their search. "And don't worry about Billy I know what he is thinking about and he is thinking about his family and friends."

"Victory is mine you stupid human," Billy growled out in triumph as his hands flew across the game controls and watched as his character, Blanka, go up against the final boss. He had defeated the other characters rather easy and was only seconds away from winning the game.

"Billy, Billy, Billy," the gremlins that had gathered around to watch were cheering him on. They had barely noticed him when he had started the game, too preoccupied with their own amusement to pay him any heed but as he had progressed they had gathered around to watch. A few even climbed on top of the cabinet and hung their heads over the edge to watch. One of them had even gotten him a soda from the pretzel place when he mentioned he was thirsty.

"One more, just one more and I am ready to…oh you lowered your guard?" The final attack was played and M. Bison went down. "Oh ho and that is how you do it." He held up his hands while his audience cheered. "I hadn't played in what a month? I am still the king of this game."

"King Billy, King Billy."

"Chuck hadn't said anything in a while so I can maybe do one more game and I'll play one of you. So who wants to take me on?"

"Me," the voice belonged to a jade green gremlin covered with more spikes than any other gremlin and he had a long Mohawk of razor sharp spikes that ran down his head and to his shoulders. "Razor."

"Razor?" Billy repeated as he tilted his head. He can see the spikey hair that had become actual spikes and the arrogant look in the eyes. "I can see it. Still have that cocky attitude?" He felt like intimidating the gremlin and decided to use the video game tough guy persona he once used back in '83. Some bullies where giving his young friend Pete a rough time at the arcade and Billy challenged them to a few rounds of Galaga. Billy mopped the floor with them and since he won they promised to leave Pete alone.

"Billy , Pavolov," Razor said. "No more human."

"Don't call me that," Billy snarled as he leaned against the machine. "And so what if I'm no longer human? Maybe I like being this way." He pushed up his sunglasses and stared into Razor's eyes. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"No," Razor growled. His scowl had faded and almost looked confused. Billy had gotten to him.

"Interesting how I wanted to be like this since well I was fuzzy. I wanted to eat once the clock went past midnight. I was hoping to transform. Sure those idiots tricked me and the others but I was happy…maybe it's because it came from you?"

"Yes," Razor agreed and his smug expression returned while he grinned. "Blood brother."

"Blood brother?" Billy repeated. That was one way of looking at it. "We are blood brothers." He turned to his audience. "This will be a game between two connected by blood. Which do you think will win?"

"King Billy," the gremlins said.

"Razor," the three gremlins that accompanied Razor had cheered.

"So far I'm the king," Billy said and took a long slurp through his straw. "Still think you are up to it."

"It is on."

"I'm already Blanka. You choose someone else."

"Him." He tapped at the screen on the image of Zangief .

"Excellent choice now let's fight."

That was more fun and enjoyable than he expected, Gerald had thought once he had put his clothes back on. He couldn't believe Penny wanted to do it while the mall was under siege and he couldn't believe he gave in but he did, of course now he had to find the others and the first thing he did was apologize to Gizmo who just shrugged. Then again that little guy was probably used to it.

"First I need to apologize," Gerald said to their two waiting companions who were surrounded by a pile of half eaten junk food. "We would have been here, uh, sooner but there was something I, uh, we had to do." How was he going to explain to Darwin and Brody that the reason they took longer to join back up was because they were being intimate and he still wasn't sure why he did it. Was it his new instincts or was that his human side, or a combination of both?

"We had sex," Penny said in pleased tone. "It was great."

Gerald tried to speak but he was fumbling over his words and broke down in a small fit of coughs. Darwin and Brody were staring at the two of them with their mouths hung open and Gizmo had placed a hand over his head.

"Yay," Brody said and clapped. "Good for you."

"It was good for me," Penny said. She had never lost that smile she had formed on her face when they had finished. "Was it good for you, Gerald?"

"It was, it was great," Gerald gulped and ran his claws through his hair. "It's just we don't tell our friends about it out loud."

"Oh, but there were lady friends talking about it while drinking coffee," Penny said. "It was on the TV."

"When did you watch TV?" Gerald asked and shook his head. "That doesn't matter. Women friends talk to each other about it when they are alone and guys talk to each other about it, but we skimp on the more intimate details."

"Oh don't tell friends out in public," Penny said and looked down. "I'm sorry. Can we go have sex again?"

"Whoa," Gerald gasped and turned to her. He thought that was a onetime deal. "Right now we have to save the world and find your daddy."

"Oh okay."

"I think it's safe to leave the area," Gerald said. He took one long look at the snacks and grabbed a bag of Funions. "Where did you get these?"

"We hid in a room with em-ploy-ees only," Darwin explained. "It had machines with food inside."

"We'll take the snacks." Gerald ripped open the bag and selected a crispy ring. "They have a kids area up here. We'll grab a backpack for Gizmo to ride in." He remembered how they carried Gene around and looked down at the mogwai. "You okay with that?"

"Uh huh," Gizmo said. He had a half-eaten Payday bar in his hands.

"I think we got everybody out," Chuck said as he walked back away from the Discovery store. He had noticed that the creatures liked to go into places that were fun, stores that kids would enjoy. They had run amok in the Radio Shack, Kay-bee, Spencers, the Disney Store, the brand new Build a Bear and of course the Discovery store. They played with all the toys, art kits, science sets, puzzles and while they did try to make new stuffed animals they had left the floors and everywhere else in the bear shop covered in white fluff. Other stores they just would break or throw items around before losing interest and if it had food then of course they would eat it. Godiva was a mess with melted chocolate and chocolate fragments all over the place. They tried to eat the candles in Wicks n Sticks and sampled some of soaps and lotions in Bath and Body Works. The little monsters were burping up bubbles that were scented like juniper breeze, freesia, sweet pea and cucumber melon.

There was no response and that worried him. He needed to head over to the arcade. If Billy isn't responding then he could be in trouble. He looked up when he saw a thump thump sound and saw a taller brown gremlin with the lower half of a kangaroo and boxing gloves as it made its way to him.

"Put em up," the boxing kangaroo gremlin demanded.

"Okay sure," Chuck said as he reached for his stun gun. "Ready, three, two, one."

The gremlin thrust out his arm and Chuck ducked and placed the stun gun against the gremlin's arm. The creature shrieked and collapsed.

"I don't have the patience for this shit," Chuck said as he replaced the gun. "You okay in there little guy?"

"I'm okay," Gene said as he poked his head out. His large round eyes seemed to grow even bigger. "Valerie!"

"Huh?" He looked inside the store they were standing next to. It was a Hallmark store and inside walking around amongst the fallen shelves and various cards that were scattered around on the ground was the beautiful scientist had had been admiring for months, the same woman he and Billy were talking about. He should talk to her and least guide her outside so she could be safe. Was she the scientist that cloned Gene or worked with him? She worked in genetics research, but did she know what happened to Billy and Gerald?

"Valerie, Valerie." Gene was jumping up and down in the pack.

"Okay, okay don't fall out," Chuck said. "Let's see why she is still here." He took a deep breath and stepped inside. He could see the emptied cardboard that held the various kinds of candy displays that were near the registers on the floor, along with empty wrappers. "Hello?"

"Who's there?" The sweet as honey voice greeted him. "Who are you?"

"Charles Penderghast," he answered as he stepped over the shattered remains of Precious Moments figurines. "I'm with security and it is not safe to be here right now."

"Charles?" The beautiful scientist named Valerie stepped out from behind a shelf that was still erect. She looked only slightly disheveled with several strands of hair out of place and she was not wearing her labcoat. "You were the one who bumped your head the other day." Great she remembered that. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Chuck said. Oh shit he was really talking to her. "Why are you still inside? It's dangerous."

"I know and why are you still here?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Just doing my job, ma'am." Well that sounded cliché and corny. "I have to make sure everyone else is safe first before I can worry about myself."

"Your backpack is moving." She pointed at the shaking pack. "And it's a child's backpack. Don't tell me you have a puppy inside."

"Not really," Chuck said as he opened up the top.

"Valerie," Gene said as he popped up.

"Gene?" Valerie gasped as she smiled and tears formed. "I thought something bad happened to you or you."

"Uh-uh," Gene shook his head and practically jumped out and would have hit the floor if Chuck wasn't there to catch him.

"Easy pal," Chuck said as he handed the mogwai to the scientist. "He really missed you."

"Oh and I missed him," Valerie said as she brought Gene closer to him and nuzzled her nose against his head. She received a small kiss from the furry creature. "Oh thank you for keeping him safe."

"Are you going to introduce me to your friends?" A posh and refined voice asked.

"There is someone else back there?" Chuck asked as he looked behind where the one shelf was and stepped back when he saw a brown gremlin wearing glasses and at a makeshift table looking over notes and had flasks and vials around him along with one microscope and a few petri dishes. "That's a gremlin."

"This one states the obvious," the gremlin spoke with the same voice and didn't look up from his work.

"He can talk?" Chuck had to take a step back. "I mean the others say words and phrases but this one sounds human."

"I suppose one should take that as a compliment," the gremlin said.

"I'm named him Helix and he wanted to work on something," Valerie said. "I couldn't leave him alone. It would be like leaving someone like you or me in a group of Neanderthals."

"I guess so," Chuck said as he continued to watch the gremlin as it was using a dropper to put something from a glass into a test tube. "He's probably more like Billy and Gerald." Crap he still has to make sure they are okay. "Um wow how to explain them and that is how I came across your mogwai. The three of them were together and those two guys well they used to be human."

"Used to be human?" Valerie asked and raised an eyebrow.

"This sounds like something worth listening to," Helix said as he sat up.

"Their names are Gerald Hopkins and Billy Peltzer and they were kidnapped by a Doctor Friedrich and his assistant and personal body guard and were given mogwai DNA and became half human half mogwai creatures."

"No." She shook her head. "Doctor Friedrich would never do something like that and you can't mutate people like that."

"Uh huh," Gene said. "Friedrich bad, Tim bad, Hector bad."

"Gene?" Valerie asked in a weak voice. "Did you see it?"

"They in a cage down," the mogwai said and pointed at the ground. "Down, down."

"He has a private underground lab that only he uses," Valerie said. Her voice was trembling "Only he, Tim and Hector went down there and we respected his order not to follow, but our DNA can't be changed like they show in movies."

"Valerie my dear, humans may not but my kind can," Helix said. "You have seen some of my kind become part bat and plant, mole and even kangaroo. Our own genetic makeup could alter other creatures, including humans."

"No esto no puede ser verdad," Valerie said as her whole body shook and she was holding back tears. "He was our teacher. We all admired him."

"My poor, Valerie." Helix ran over to her and grabbed her hand. "I'm so sorry."

"I wish it were not true, but it is and I gotta go find them and make sure they are okay," Chuck said. "I'll be back and you three will be okay together?"

"Yes," Valerie choked out between sobs. "Find them and tell them I'm sorry."

"Not your fault," Chuck said as he stepped out from behind the shelf. "Not your fault at all."

Hissing had greeted him and he thought he was about to face another gremlin. What he had come across was a large cobra and gremlin hybrid and the creature had seen him.