Chapter 7

Sunday, January 12th, 1986

Hill Valley, California

8: 10 P. M.

Biff Tannen didn't know whether he should be pleased or angry. On the one hand, he had amassed an army of evil big enough to take over Hill Valley, the first small step to world domination. On the other hand, his most hated enemies had disappeared from sight before he could make sure they were no longer a threat. It was a dilemma his underdeveloped mind needed to ponder.

He was currently hiding out on Sherman Peabody's new farm on the outskirts of Hill Valley. It was his new headquarters, now that his group of soulless vampires had grown too big to hide in his house. Being out of the way and quiet, it was a perfect place for 32 soulless vampires to stay. Sherman Peabody himself hadn't protested for long. Biff had merely had him Changed into one of them. Food, too, was no object, as the farm animals provided a steady source of blood. The occasional curious visitor provided entertainment. All that was needed was the opportune moment to strike.

But there was a thorn in Biff's side - a thorn called the Time Trippers. He knew that this team of 2 Partials and 2 souled vampires was his biggest obstacle towards his goal. Doc Brown, their leader, had read Biff's diary (so he believed) and was fully aware of his plans to rule the world. A hit on him had gone wrong, Changing him into Biff's worst nightmare - an almost indestructible enemy. He knew that as long as the Time Trippers lived, his plans could come to naught. He had his gang and a few soulless vampires out looking for them every night, in hopes of killing the vampires and converting the Partials. But, so far, they had had no luck.

Biff chewed on a piece of hay, grumbling at his cronies failure to find the Time Trippers. "Well, I can't give up," he said to himself. "They've got to die before anything else happens that could trip me up."

A knock at the door of the room he used for an office startled him from his thoughts. "Yeah?"

Match entered, chewing a toothpick. "No luck finding Crackpot Brown, boss," he confessed nervously. "We've searched everywhere he could be. Wherever he and those friends of his are hiding, it's a good place." He pulled a match from his pocket, lit it, and blew it out. It was a nervous habit of his and had earned him his nickname from Biff. "We haven't found any of the other souled vampires either. Maybe they skipped town."

"I don't care about them," Biff snapped. "They aren't important. We need to find the Time Trippers before they find us."

Match lit another match. "I still don't see why we can't kill them in the day, Biff. Me, Skinhead, and 3-D could stake the vampires quick and grab the 2 kids. Over and done with in an hour."

"I've been in with the police enough times to know we'd get caught, butt-head," Biff sighed. "We'd rot our butts off in jail while they'd recover and kill off our army." He shook his head. "You can't make a silk purse out of a cow's tail."

Match wondered if he should tell Biff the correct phrase at the end was "sow's ear". He decided against it, because of the mood Biff seemed to be in. He always got upset at the mention of Doc Brown. "What are we gonna do with them if we catch them?"

"WHEN," Biff snapped. "IF ain't an option." Match nodded immediately. "We'll kill the vampires nice and slow. Let the boys play with them awhile. But before they become vampire ribs, we'll convert those butt-head Partials." Biff smiled sadistically. "Crackpot Brown will probably beg to be roasted after he sees what we do to his precious Marty. Once they're out of the way, we'll attack the film festival, turn everybody there into soulless vampires, and go for 'Frisco."

"San Francisco, Biff. The residents will kill ya if you call it 'Frisco."

"Screw them. We'll be vampires ourselves once we head out, so no worries." Biff licked his lips as he imagined sinking his fangs into George McFly. He'd make it as torturous as he could for him. The bastard had ruined his life ever since he'd delivered that fateful punch in 1955.

A loud cheer brought him back to reality. "What are our butt-heads doing?"

"They found a cow with a calf. They're forcing the cow to eat her baby." Match said this calmly, but his face took on a greenish tint. "They're gettin' restless. One tried to attack 3-D yesterday. They're complaining they're sick of animal blood. They want the human stuff."

"They'll get human blood as soon as Dr. Brown and his gang of a-holes are found and shredded into breakfast cereal. In the meantime, we still got plenty of matches." He pointed to the door. "Now make like a tree, and get outa here. And don't come back until you find Lunatic Brown!"

Match left. Biff leaned back against his chair and cursed himself for being so careless. If he hadn't left his diary there, Brown wouldn't even know. If he hadn't used that useless butt-head Sucker to try and get rid of him, Brown would be dead. They would have been able to quickly bring Hill Valley to its knees, instead of wasting valuable time trying to find him. Upset, he kicked over a picture of Jiff on his 'desk' - a plank of wood balanced on 2 crates.

Skinhead stuck his head in. "Hey, Biff, some souled vampire's at the door. Says he wants to talk to you."

"A souled vampire?" Biff immediately got suspicious. "Keep him there. I'll come see him." He righted the picture of Jiff, picked up some oily rags and matches, and stuffed them in his pocket. No souled vampire in his right mind would want to talk to him, and he wasn't taking chances.

He headed for the barn's big double doors. Skinhead was waiting for him there, along with the souled vampire and 2 soulless ones. The soulless vampires grinned wickedly as Biff approached. "He's got that souled stink they all have," one hissed eagerly. "Can we eat him? We haven't had proper food for days."

"We'll see." Biff looked hard at the souled vampire waiting patiently by the door. He seemed oddly at ease near soulless vampires. His blue eyes were cool and calculating. "What do you want, butt-head?"

Henry Fleming smiled tolerantly. "I want to talk to you about Dr. Brown and his organization, the Time Trippers. I'm sure you're aware he has recently joined our ranks. And I'm also sure you're eager for information on his current activities.

Biff snorted impatiently. "Start talking."

"Mr. Tannen, I'm aware of your plans to take over the country and enslave all humans and souled vampires. I'm also aware Dr. Brown and his group is dedicated to stopping you at all costs. He has recently indoctrinated all the rest of the souled vampires in Hill Valley into the Time Trippers. All total, including myself, there's 9 of us to around 30-something of yourself."

"Are you here to deliver some sort of message, like gangsters do?" Biff asked, wondering where the guy was heading.

"Au contraire, Mr. Tannen. I just happen to have a brain, as opposed to the rest of those idiots. I know who's going to win any fight between our groups. The Time Trippers are hopelessly outclassed. I'd prefer to be on the winner's good side once my group is wiped out. I haven't survived for 200 years by being loyal and diplomatic. I side with whoever's got the power to wipe me out. Thus I live while the weaklings who are so tied to their idealist dreams are killed."

That sounded a lot like him. Biff became intrigued. "What's your point?"

"My point is, in exchange for my life once you take over, I can hand you Dr. Brown and all his friends on a silver platter. I know exactly where they meet every night to discuss plans for your overthrow. If you'd prefer to work in the daytime, I also know their havens." He smirked just like Biff. "Do we have a deal?"

Biff thought a moment. It sounded good, but he wanted to make sure there was nothing hidden in the fine print. "Any catches?"

"One small caveat I don't think you'll find disagreeable," Henry admitted. "Nothing big. I'd simply like to have a drink from Lunatic Brown's veins before he's dispatched. No objections, I hope?"

Biff grinned. "That's okay with me. We've got a deal, souled." They shook hands. "Where are they at?"

"A nightclub called Darkness Falls," Henry provided promptly. "It's for people who like to pretend they're vampires. Lunatic Brown and his girlfriend found it on a date. We go there every night to hide from you. It's near Future Fest, on Larkton street. It's got a black sign with red neon letters over the door."

"Should I send Skinhead in first or something?"

"No," Henry smiled. "Just tell your vampires to show their fangs to the bouncer. They'll let them in free, no problem. The humans inside shouldn't be too much of a problem either. They all believe we're Slavic or like that puss Lestat from Ann Rice."

Skinhead chuckled. "Man, Biff, talk about a lucky break! We can just walk right in, kill our competish, and make everybody else soulless. Sweet deal!"

"I know," Biff said, becoming suspicious again. He never would have expected a souled vampire to betray its own kind. There had to be some sort of trick, some sort of trap set for him at the club. "Give it to me straight, souled. What's the catch?"

"No catch. I told you, I align myself with whoever is the most powerful. You, Tannen, are it." His evil smile grew fangs. "I will admit a personal reason for this. I want to see Crackpot Brown squirm. I hate the guy. He's a crazy freak who likes blowing things up. I won't have him as a vampire. He'll ruin our reputation. The bastard deserves to die."

No one could doubt the sincerity of Henry's words. Biff nodded, satisfied. "Okay, souled. It's a deal. Tomorrow I'll send a bunch of my guys over. Who are you, anyway?"

"The name's Henry Fleming, Mr. Tannen. I hope you find me a refreshing change from all those lily-livered weirdos who believe that humans deserve to live. We're around for a reason, I believe. To be the top of the food chain. Why spare the animals that were designed as our prey?"

"Tough luck on being made one of them," Biff sympathized. He liked Henry. Maybe he'd let him join his society once California was under his control. "I'll see you once everyone else is burned to a crisp."

"Great. Pleasure doing business with you, Tannen. Good luck with your raids."

"Thanks." Biff watched as Henry flew off, presumably to his haven. "Man, tough luck," he repeated. "We could use a guy like him in the place."

"We should invite him to join once we get rid of the Time Trippers," Skinhead suggested, smiling as he saw Biff agreed with him.

"We get prey tomorrow?" one of the soulless vampires asked eagerly. "Human blood? Humans we can make scream?"

"Yeah, a bunch of you do," Biff assured them. "9 of ya should do it. One for each souled vampire in the joint."

"Sounds like good math to me," Skinhead agreed. "Then we'll bring the humans here and watch 'em writhe. Dibs on any pretty girls."

"Get your mind off sex and pick our 7 of the most vicious of our butt-heads to go with these 2." He turned to the soulless vampires. "Darkness Falls, on Larkton. Black sign with red letters. Bring Brown and Marty McFly back alive, and leave Henry - the one who was just here - alone. Got that?"

The soulless ones nodded eagerly. "Good. Now make like trees and get outa here." They scurried away after Skinhead, mumbling about what they'd do to the defenseless humans tomorrow. Biff smiled and walked back to his office whistling. His dilemma was solved, and he had chosen to be pleased. Soon, Doc Brown would be nothing more than a memory.

In the distance, Henry heard Biff whistle and chuckled. "You've got a smart head on your shoulders, Henry," he congratulated himself. "What a perfect way to get rid of that maniac Brown and assure my own safety in the coming world. Maybe I'll even be let in as an honorary soulless vampire. That would be a real honor. I never fit in with the rest of those bleeding-heart types anyway." Unconcerned by his betrayal, he headed home.