Chapter 19: A Hallmark Moment

"Gone?" Chuck repeated as he scanned around the store, all he could see was the destruction from before and the empty makeshift table that the hyper intelligent gremlin was using. "Are you certain he isn't hiding?"

"I looked and called out to him," Valerie said as she tucked a few stray strands behind her ear. "He would have come to me, but he didn't. He is no longer here."

"I'm sure he is fine." He reached out to grab her hands. "But we don't have time to search for him we have-"

"Don't have time?" Valerie snapped. He shouldn't have said that with the venom that was brewing in her glare. "How can you say that? He is defenseless and we left him alone and now who knows what happened to him?" She took a step back. "I refuse to give up on him."

"Billy needs us, all of us, for his plan." He took a deep breath. "I know Helix is different. He is smart and he cares for you and he is kinder, much kinder than the others, but he is not defenseless. He has sharp teeth and claws and still has his fighting instincts." He pointed to the entrance of the store. "Back out there, back at the food court when we were fighting the flying one I saw Billy use his new abilities and he was able to rip out its throat with his claws and he is or was a human and he's no idiot, maybe Helix can talk with them and reason with them, but even if that fails him then he could always rely on his fighting instincts."

"What's going on in here?" Clamp asked as he stepped inside. "It's going to take a couple hours to clean up all of this, good thing this is before the new holiday ornaments have arrived."

"Just can't find the super smart one," Chuck explained as he turned to face the billionaire. "Valerie is very worried about him and well after dealing with Serpentor out there I can't really blame her and I upset her."

"Can't be upset," Clamp said as he pointed at him. "Don't make her upset, but we do need to get those stun guns."

"You and Forster go on ahead," Chuck said as he placed a hand on Valerie's shoulder. "Those weapons our outside and it's still daytime, right?"

"Right—oh right!" He blinked. "Can't take the little guys with us."

"Tell them to stay here with us and when you get the weapons and then come back here." Chuck looked over to Valerie who had removed her glasses to wipe her eyes. "We will keep looking for any sign of Helix."

"You all will promise you won't leave?" Clamp asked. "We all just kind of reunited and it would be better if we knew where everyone was."

"Promise," Chuck said. He wasn't sure what the was going to find but had to at least try and find the missing gremlin. He turned back to Valerie. "Let's see if he left anything." He pulled out his flashlight and turned it on.

"No," Valerie said as she grabbed onto the flashlight. "Turn it off. They hate the light."

"Oh right." He turned it off and strained to look around. He kneeled down next to the table and felt around. He smiled when he felt an enveloped taped under the surface. "Looks like he left a message." He pulled out the message and handed it to her.

"I think I see my name on it." She squinted as she read it. "I don't know if I can read it in the dark."

"Don't hurt your pretty eyes," Chuck said and felt himself heat up. "Your eyes are pretty but you need them to do your work, not that there are no such thing as blind scientists and…I don't want you to hurt yourself. I'll read it for you so you won't strain your eyes."

"But you might risk hurting yours and you need it for your job."

"Yeah but I'm just a mall cop and you are brilliant scientist. You were working on new ways to fight diseases and save lives and you look young for someone in your position. You are so smart you probably skipped a few grades and I don't even an A.A yet."

"I did graduate high school when I was fourteen but you shouldn't degrade yourself. You did start college?" She waited for him to nod. "You are still young, nineteen I think and you can probably enroll in a university and go for a B.A. if you wanted to."

"Twenty one, actually and yeah I guess I could, major in English I guess."

"I was right though you are younger than me. I'm twenty three and English is good, what would you like to do?"

"I thought of being a writer." He remembered having a similar conversation with Billy earlier and his new friend was encouraging and now he was having a real conversation with Valerie.

"What do you like to write?" She seemed generally interested.

"All kinds of stories, mostly science fiction and that type and I have written some fan fiction stories for X-Files and Star Wars. Those are stories fans write that take place in already created universes for different fandoms.

"I like to read all kinds of stories." She smiled at him. "And I like fan fiction. I have read some for Transformers and Buffy."

"Wait, you like Transformers and Buffy?" He grinned at the fact they had a common interest. "I love those shows and I still have some of my original Transformers, on a shelf for display, but I still have them."

"Which ones?"

"I have all the dinobots, and Iron Hide, Ratchet, Jazz and I also have a Starscream and a Soundwave."

"Soundwave and Jazz were my favorites."

"I like to read also," the voice came from Darwin and he and Brody were right in front of them.

"Yes read," Brody added.

"Hey you guys can read in the dark," Chuck realized. "Right?"

"The only way we can read," Darwin said.

"Will you read this for us?" Valerie asked as she handed them the note.

"Yes I can." Darwin accepted. "It says 'Dear Valerie. I can no longer stay where I was for I grew restless. Do not fear for my safety. I have achieved what I sought out to find and I know we will meet again soon, signed Helix.' And that is it."

"He says he is safe," Valerie said as she leaned back and exhaled. "He left on his own."

"I know you are still worried for him, but Mr. Clamp and Mr. Forster will be back soon and when they are we have to go."

"I will be ready," Valerie said as she stood back up.

"We have to wait," Darwin said as he turned towards the direction of the entrance. "What should we do while we wait?"

"Pick up cards?" Brody asked as he picked up the nearest set of birthday greetings and envelopes.

"That sounds like a great idea," Chuck said as he gathered a few. They would certainly not be able to finish cleaning the store but it was at least a start and they were able to pass the time.

"We have a toaster, a blender, and a waffle iron," Gerald said as he stared at the three kitchen electronics they had gathered. There was a kitchen supply store not far away from the Radio Shack and they had several feet of extension cords and connectors, they even found some dusty Christmas lights in the clearance corner, anything that might be able to work.

"Are you sure this will be enough?" Kate asked as she stuffed several of the appliances into large shopping bags. She felt wrong to steal and Lynn had voiced similar concerns to Clamp earlier but he said he would take care of it. They also used a bag to carry around the two swords, two pot lids, a frying pan, a golf club and Billy's clothes. "What if there is no power in the hotel?"

"We will find a way to get it to work," Gerald said as he placed a hand on hers. "And if not, well you keep saying Billy can think of another plan and well we can also come up with an idea."

"Clamp can always call in a swat team," Kate said. "I still don't know why he hasn't yet."

"Less lives to risk." He looked up at her and noticed she was not looking back at him. "Hard to look at me like this isn't it?"

"Gerald, I'm sorry." She cringed as she sighed. "It's just…well it has been so long and back then it was hard for me to look at you."

"That I don't blame you." He picked up a box and placed it into the bag. "I don't like looking back at what I was either, but I still have to acknowledge it so I can see how much progress I have made and I know I still have far to go."

"The therapy has been helpful. I think we all had to see a psychiatrist after what happened back at Kingston Falls and it was traumatic for you."

"I still have nightmares sometimes." He stared at his hands. "I still wonder how I am able to cope with being like this and not fall into a fetal position and I guess it is because of the adrenaline and in my heart the strong possibility that I and Billy will be turned back, when this is over and if I am stuck like this…then I'm not sure."

"No matter what I will help you." She was looking at him, staring into his eyes. "We will keep on working to restore Billy's and your humanity."

"Thank you." He paused to breath. "I don't know how my girls will take it seeing me as a goblin…except maybe around Halloween would be fun and if I am human I will be able to take Darwin out for trick or treating and you would be doing the same for Penny. I mean you will take care of her, right?"

"Either us or Billy's parents," Kate said and sat back. "Where is she? I thought she was here with us."

"Penny?" Gerald stood back up. "Penny where did you go?" He walked around the store and couldn't find her. She couldn't have gotten far since she was with them a minute ago? Did she leave the place?

"I'll go this way," Kate said once they stepped out of the shop. "You look for her that way."

"Try not to get too separated," Gerald said as headed out of the shop and went next door to a jewelry shop.

There was no where she could of hidden as he looked in and continued towards the next place, another small clothing shop and as he stepped in front of the entrance he felt someone grab him by the shoulder and pull him inside.

"Hey," Gerald cried as he felt himself shoved against the wall and blinked when he saw that it was Penny. "There you-" She cut him off with a kiss. "Nice to see you as well but you shouldn't have run off like that."

"I knew you would find me and I'm glad you did," Penny said as she lowered her eyelids. "We are alone."

"Yes we are and we need to go back to the others." He looked back to the entrance and felt a finger under his chin directing his gaze back to hers.

"Not yet." Her voice dropped to a low whisper. "I want you." She kissed him again, this time it was deeper.

"Now?" He couldn't believe her timing. "We have to-" She interrupted with another kiss and he did not pull away. He could feel her hands run down his back and he parted his mouth so he could touch her tongue with his. After a few more seconds he pulled away. "I'm going to owe you two drinks." He kissed her again and sought out the changing room. "Follow me." He took her into the stall and locked it.

Razor could not believe his eyes as he studied the human that was set before him. His former caretaker did not show no emotion despite the fact he was tied up, arms and legs were bound and he had a piece of shiny silver duct tape over his mouth. His gray blue eyes were as stoic as ever.

"Friedrich?" He asked as he blinked and looked him up and down. "What the hell is he doing here?" He had thought his former caretaker was a genius, smarter than the other scientists and yet he came back here? Unless it was for some strange reason the human actually came back for him, Razor. He should feel touched if it was true, but then again he no longer felt an allegiance to the man.

"Friedrich," Billy growled. His teeth were bared and his eyes were staring the human up and down with pure hatred. "Why is he here? Oh they always come back to the scene of the crime."

"He has some purpose to be here," Razor said and wondered how much of it his blood brother was able to understand. They seem to be communicating better. "He wouldn't show up unless there was a reason."

"Yes reason," Billy answered. "He want me fight in army"

"You can speak human. We can still understand you." Razor told him although he respected the former human for using their tongue.

"I know you can," Billy spoke to him. "Human can't ear." He closed his eyes and shook his head." Hear."

"I see, but what are you going—do you want to kill him?"

"Kill yes."

"Hmma Mee Moh mamp," Fredrich tried to tell them.

"Fun first." Billy grinned and reached and tore off the tape. He laughed when Friedrich cried out in pain and several gremlins joined in laughter.

"Yes I can see how this amuses you," Friedrich said. There was large rectangle of reddish colored flesh where the tape was. "And I am impressed you are communicating with him. I wonder if it is in the blood or was it from the transformation."

"Years of study," Billy said and blinked. His slender pupils have never regained their roundness from before they started to play their video game. "Did you come back so you could cart me and the others off to your military buddies, or did you come for my blood?"

"I came back for my research and my samples," Friedrich answered. "The lab and every part of the research building has been trashed as has the mall." He turned to look at Razor. "This was your doing?"

"Yes," Razor said. "Hi Friedrich."

"Razor?" Friedrich asked as he studied him. "The name I chose was very fitting for you and where are the rest of your transformed mogwai?"

"Here," Garrison as he stepped in front of him along with Butterball and Chuckles.

"Due to your size and coloring I conclude you are Garrison. The corpulent one is Butterball and the one that won't stop laughing is Chuckles. Am I correct?"

"Yay," Butterball said and clapped his hands. "He won."

"Where is Patch, Brody and Gene?"

"Patch gone," several of the others said. "Brody kill Patch."

"Gene, Caca," Razor snarled.

"He means Gene is still a weak little mogwai," Billy answered. "I don't know nor do I care where the little fuzzball is. Surprised you don't have your stooges with you."

"They are dead, as if you didn't know," Friedrich said.

"Oh isn't that nice?" Billy asked. "Not really. Somebody deprived me of my revenge."

"You didn't kill them?"

"Oh trust me I wanted to," Billy said.

"You and the others didn't kill the big human?" Razor asked. He felt disappointed in his blood brother.

"Gerald and I wanted to escape and Dar…" The former human trailed off and grinned. "Darwin killed him."

"Kill Tim," Razor said and pointed at himself and his original gang. "We kill Tim."

"Razor?" Friedrich stared at him. "Why would you kill him? Is it because of what you are now? We took care of you all and fed you and entertained you and we gave you toys and books and we cared for you and you snuck out and broke the last rule and…" He stopped at the sound of a liquid hitting the floor.

Razor looked down as Billy finished using Friedrich's shoes and legs as a toilet and joined in with the others as they laughed.

"I understand why the others did it to Tim," Billy chuckled. "It's fun and it's funny." He noticed the way the scientist scowled at him. "As before we said it was better to be pissed off than on, but you are both."

"You maturity has sunken even further than before," Fredrich said. "How old are you again, Pavlov?" Oh that was a mistake.

"My name is not Pavlov," Billy snarled as he slashed down on the human's face and turned to the others. "What is my name?"

"King Billy," The others shouted.

"King Billy?" Friedrich repeated, ignoring the bleeding slashes on his face. "Are you their leader?"

"My blood brother and I are," Billy answered. "King Razor and I will lead our people once the sun has set."

"You are quite delusional."

"And you are about to be quite dead." Billy grabbed him by the shirt and pulled himself up. "You think you are so smart but you are in fact an idiot. Look around you, human. Do you not see this is all your fault? Do you know why I came down into your secret lab? I was trying to find your mogwai because I knew you couldn't handle them and I was right. You played around with water and they escaped their confides and ate after midnight and you wanted us to eat. You tricked us and now look at me. This is what you wanted and I will be your demise."

"Oh no no," Friedrich said as fear entered his voice. "Razor my boy, you will protect me. We had a bond."

Razor stared into the pleading gaze that Friedrich had cast him and then locked eyes with Billy.

"Kill him," he urged.

"Maybe you had a bond, but he understands the need for revenge," Billy hissed.

"I can find a way to change you back."

"Who says I want to turn back?" Billy asked and with one swipe he tore out Friedrich's throat.