Judgement Day
By Flaming Trails
A BTTF: VDC Story
Disclaimer: I don't own BTTF. If I did, FoxBox wouldn't have canceled the Animated Series after repeating the same few episodes.
Chapter 1
Monday, October 13th, 1986
Hill Valley, California
3: 14 P. M.
George checked his watch. An hour after Marty's afternoon class ended, and the teen still wasn't home. George wasn't worried, though. He knew his youngest was either with Jennifer or with Doc and Mystie. Possibly even both. He'd be home in time for supper.
His eyes flicked over to the novel sitting on the corner of his desk. It still gave him a shiver to think that Marty had inspired it a full 13 years before his birth. Ever since the astonishing revelation that had signaled the end of the Vacation from Hell, no one in the family had been able to look at Marty in the same light. They had been so disturbed that unconsciously they began ostracizing him, excluding him from certain activities and generally avoiding him. Doc had woken them up to their behavior after a few weeks. George had to smile as he recalled Doc's message: "I love Marty, just like a son. But neither he nor I think I should formally adopt him."
George returned his attention to the new novel he was writing. Everything was straightened out now. After a few discussions, Marty had been accepted back into the McFly fold. True, Lorraine still felt a touch uneasy around him, but that was fading away. In the meantime she made sure not to be alone with him too often.
There was a sudden knock at the door. Puzzled, George got up and peered through one of the three little windows. Through the smoky glass he could just make out the blurry features of --
Biff Tannen.
George jumped back from the door, eyes wide. He wasn't sure what his first instinct was -- to lock the door and hide, or to get out there and pummel Biff. Both were inviting options. Before he could make up his mind, though, Biff knocked again. "I know you're in there, George," he called. "Come on out, I just want to talk."
The last time we "talked," you sent a group of soulless vampires after my family, George thought as his hands balled into fists. He was tempted to walk away and simply ignore Biff, but decided that might be more dangerous. He had to talk to him, if only for the Time Trippers' sakes. They needed a warning that their most dangerous enemy was back in town. He opened the door just a crack. "I've found someone else to wax my car, Biff."
Biff grinned -- a most disturbing sight. "Don't worry, McFly. I'm thinking of getting out of the auto-detailing business anyway."
"Really."
Biff nodded. "I'm thinking more along the lines of -- president, maybe?"
"Of what, Biff? The Rotary Club?"
"No, butt-head, the U. S." He leaned closer to the crack. George noted that Biff's breath smelt like cheap liquor. "And I'm going to give you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get in on it. Just 'cause I like you."
"Not because I could smash your face in."
"Ha ha." Biff scratched an itch. "George, why don't we join up? Forget about your silly book and come with me. In two months, we could have all the power we'd ever want. Everybody who picked on you--" Biff snapped his fingers. "Gone. Bye-bye."
"Except for the worst of them."
Biff placed a hand over his heart. "Aww, George, you're killing me. C'mon, I'm offering you the opportunity of a lifetime." Then, with a wink, he added, "Several lifetimes."
George understood completely what that meant. He opened the door a little further and glared out at Biff. "Just for what you've been doing to my son, I will fight you to the ends of the earth."
The jovial expression on the bully's face vanished, to be replaced by utter loathing. "I gave you a chance, McFly. Now you're just gonna have to take the chances with the rest of them. The end might come sooner than you think."
"I'll be sure to remember that. Now get off my porch before I call the police."
Biff did so, but got in the last word. "I've got plenty of friends, McFly! Remember that!" Then he got in his truck and left, nearly sideswiping another vehicle.
George closed the door, finally allowing his legs to go wobbly. I can't sit down yet, he reminded himself. He had to do something very important.
Call the Time Trippers.
Monday, October 13th
3: 29 P. M.
Darkness Falls was nearly dead before nightfall, no pun intended. Only a few stray people who desperately needed a drink or the bathroom seemed willing to enter during daylight hours.
The Time Trippers were an exception. Now that Doc had invented a substance that allowed vampires to be awake in the day, the four of them occasionally stopped by for private meetings. The place was usually empty except for a janitor, so it was the perfect place to discuss whatever they wished.
Today, however, Marty was interrupted in his rant about calculus by the janitor's shout. "Hey, there's a phone call here for a Marty McFly. One of you guys Marty McFly?"
Marty turned around, confused. "I'm Marty. Who is it?"
"Your father. Says it's urgent."
Marty looked back at the rest of the posse, shrugged, and took it. "Dad?"
"Marty, I was hoping you'd be here. I remembered it was your day off from the record store."
A frown appeared on the teen's face. "Dad, you sound kinda shook up. Is something wrong?"
Minutes later, Marty raced back to the table. "Tannen's back," he reported, pale. "He just showed up at my house today."
Everyone groaned. "Well, I guess all good things come to an end," Doc sighed. "What did he want? Did he hurt George?"
"No. He wanted Dad to join him. Of course Dad turned him down." Marty shook his head. "He's scared half to death. He told me Biff left saying something about the 'end coming sooner than you think.' Tannen's planning something big."
Mystie chewed a fingernail worriedly. "Like that stunt he pulled at the film festival?"
"Yeah, maybe."
"The film festival was a mess, but at least it didn't affect too many people," Doc noted. "It only directly affected 159 residents, a small percentage of Hill Valley. Still, it's not an experience I care to repeat."
Jennifer slid her chair closer to Marty. "He's been out of town for almost the entire summer. I wonder what the heck he's been doing."
"I don't know, and I don't think I want to know. We'd best alert the rest of the vampires. No sense in letting them get caught with their pants down." They rose as one, Doc adding, "And we'd better be prepared for anything."
Monday, October 13th
8: 03 P. M.
A nervous 3-D fiddled with his glasses as he and Biff descended into the basement of Biff's house. "Biff, I have to admit something. I'm -- I'm scared."
Biff slapped him on the back, the disgusting grin in place. "Calm down. Not like we're gonna die."
"Yeah, but I know what these soulless creeps are like. They'll kill us for the fun of it. They might change their mind at the last minute."
"No they won't. They're not dumb, butt-head. If I get killed, so do they. The souled vampires will kick their asses." He took a drag on a cigarette, then tossed it away. "So stop acting so violet-livered."
"Lily-livered, Biff."
"Whatever."
Skinhead and Match were waiting for them by the basement door. Biff involuntarily stepped back at the sight of them. They were both nearly naked or totally naked -- it was hard to tell in the dim light. Their flesh was very pale, and dark stains on their jowls showed they had recently fed. Match's hair was a tangled mess, but Skinhead, despite all odds, had kept his crewcut. A long beard made up for the deficiency of hair on his head.
Skinhead grinned and slapped Biff's arm. "Hey there, the big leader returns!" he rasped. "So, whatcha been doing while we were bored outa our minds?"
"Getting reinforcements. Went all over California, found soulless vampires, invited 'em here."
3-D whistled. "How many did you get?"
Biff's smile stretched to the limits. "I don't know, but it's in the thousands. Remember when I tried to take over at the movie festival?"
Match nodded, grinning at 3-D like a shark might. Understandably nervous, 3-D shrank away against the wall. "Oh, is our George McFly scared?"
"You weren't the bravest guy in Hill Valley yourself," 3-D retorted, giving Match a shove. Match just kept grinning.
"Stop being a butt-head," Biff snapped at 3-D. "You know what I thought? We didn't have enough guys last time. So, now, we're going to take this town or die trying. With over a thousand vampires on our side, we can't go wrong." He slapped both Skinhead and 3-D on the back. "Trust me."
There was a howl as Biff entered the room. Soulless vampires swarmed him, tearing at his clothes with their claws. "We want blood! We want victims! Victims! Blood!"
"You'll get it!" Biff hollered above the din. He noticed 3-D lingering by the door. "Come on, you stinking wimp. How the hell did you last so long in my gang anyway?"
3-D shuffled inside, followed by Match and Skinhead. "I was tough," he snarled. He wrinkled his nose. "What's that smell? You guys kill something and not bother to drag it out?"
"Eh, just some btch that wandered too close to here," Skinhead said dismissively.
"Loads of fun," another, nameless one sniggered. "You wanna see her?"
"Why not," Biff said gamely. The vampires parted to show the naked and badly mutilated body of a young girl, about 20. Bruises and scratches covered her flesh, and she lay in a pool of congealed blood. Her face was partially obscured by mounds of thick brown hair, but what you could see held a look of mortal terror.
"ABIGAIL!!!"
Everyone jumped as the tortured cry ripped itself from 3-D's throat. He ran to her side, eyes wide with horror. "This is my sister! My SISTER!"
"I thought she looked familiar," Match said with a causal shrug.
"She should have! You knew Abby! How the hell could you do this to her?!"
"No worries," Biff told 3-D. "We're going to a place without any stupid relatives."
3-D glared at him, tears shining behind his glasses. "You -- bastard," he growled, tenderly holding the body. "They killed my sister. You killed my sister. Forget it, Biff. I'm getting out!" He stood up and started for the door.
Biff grabbed his shoulder roughly. "There is no 'out,'" he snapped. "You're sticking with us, no matter what." 3-D yanked himself out of his grip. "Take him down and change him!" Biff ordered.
3-D made a dash for the doors, only to be tackled by Match and Skinhead. "Get off me, you traitors!" he screamed, fighting them with all his strength. They held him down for the others as he yelled obscenities. Before he disappeared under the swarm of vampires, he vowed, "I'll get revenge, Tannen! For Abigail, I'll get revenge!"
Biff just turned to the group that was left, not even listening. "As for the rest of you -- take your best shot. I want to be changed too."
The evil grins that blossomed on their faces made Biff wonder if he had made the right decision. Then the floor decided to kick him in the face, and he was helpless as the vampires descended on him.