Chapter 4

Saturday, October 18th, 1986

Hill Valley

8:10 P. M.

It was a very discouraged group that gathered at Darkness Falls that night. Most everyone who knew about the vampires was there, including for the first time Marty's family. Linda stared in shock at the mural behind the bar. "Nice painting," she told Matt sarcastically.

"Hey, I didn't decorate the place."

Dave stuck close to the tables, eyeing everyone he didn't know suspiciously. "So, ah, no luck finding Biff?"

Everyone shook their heads. "I thought I spotted the cars, but it wasn't him," Natalie said.

"I found the cars, just not Biff -- or the DJs, unfortunately," Louis added, sipping some blood.

Doc slammed his fist on the table. "Damn it! He's as vulnerable to sunlight as the rest of us! Why can't we find him?"

"Maybe he's hiding in Hell," Lorraine muttered, twisting her hands into knots.

Marty suddenly had a thought. "Hey, wait a minute. . . . Louis, where did you find the cars?"

"Near the freeway."

Doc realized what Marty meant. "That's right! He wouldn't want to stay in Hill Valley, not after we disrupted his plans. He's skipped town!"

"So we'll have to search every town near Hill Valley," Natalie groaned.

"Nat, we have seven days!" Jennifer snapped. All the stress was making her irritable. "You guys live thousands of years; you should know how short a week is!"

"We're well aware of the time limitations," Mystie snapped back. "And searching every town near Hill Valley is too dangerous. We could get ourselves killed."

"Just perfect," Chris grumbled as Tina clung to his arm. "So, we're basically helpless?"

"We don't have enough people," Louis sighed. "Seriously, we don't. We'd need thousands of our own troops to even have a chance of defeating Biff in combat."

"Is there any chance of finding more people here in Cali?" Linda asked, looking desperate.

"Some, but not nearly enough," Matt said, looking depressed. "Souled vampires are the rarer type. We don't 'reproduce' as often."

There was dead silence as everyone reflected on the dismal situation. Then Doc spoke up, a determined look in his eyes. "We have no choice. We can't let Biff win."

"What are you planning, Doc?" Marty asked, eyes narrowing.

"Whatever it is, can it include me knocking that bastard out again?" George asked, making a fist and swinging it.

Doc paused, and then continued. "We have to tell Hill Valley we're vampires."

There was a collective gasp. "We can't!" Natalie insisted. "They'd make no distinction between us and the soulless! We'd be exterminated as surely as if we'd let Biff overrun the town!"

"We have to take that risk!" Doc shot back. "If all of Hill Valley was fighting behind us, we'd have a higher probability of defeating Biff. Don't forget, it's the humans that are in the most danger. They'll be the first killed. If we fight, we all should fight."

"I don't know, Dr. Brown," James said, fiddling with his jacket lapels. "Some of us have had nasty brushes with vampire-hating humans."

Doc frowned, and then snapped his fingers. "Well, then, we tell them about vampires -- we just neglect to inform them we're a variation of the species. Is that acceptable?"

"We really do have no other alternatives," Louis sighed. "But I don't want any mortal casualties. This is our war, not theirs."

"A wonderfully noble sentiment, cousin," Natalie smiled. "We'll try our best to get as many vampire allies as possible."

"Hey, I know someone who lives in L. A. who could help us," Mystie said. "Her name's Josephine. Her sister is practically soulless, so she'll be very useful to us."

"You mean her sister's like -- Henry?" Marty said, making a face at the name.

"Unfortunately, yes. The poor girl's been running from her all her life."

Doc felt a surge of temper at the mention of Henry. He sternly put it down. That's all in the past. You need to concentrate on this present threat. "You'd better find out where she is then and fetch her. We'd best spend the next few nights looking for allies."

Jay looked thoughtful as he sipped some blood. "You know, I think we already have one, right here in Hill Valley. I was using some of that miracle potion Doc invented to keep us awake in the day, and I found this note under my door." He proffered a typewritten note.

Doc took it and studied it. "Great Scott. Mystie and I got one just like this."

Louis looked over Doc's shoulder. "Same here," he admitted, taking it. "Anyone else?"

A number of the club members and the rest of the vampires all affirmed getting a note. "I wonder who sent it. Maybe we could fingerprint it."

"No good," Mystie explained. "We tried to scent it, and we came up with nada. He or she was not only wearing gloves, but sprayed it with perfume."

"We know it wasn't any of us, at least," Doc said, pacing a little. "Somehow, somebody found out about Biff's plan before he idiotically blabbed it over the radio. And he or she wanted to warn us."

"Could it be a defector from Biff's group?" Tina suggested.

"That can't be it. Biff's group is totally soulless. None of them would ever defect. It might be a frightened human, or a vampire from out of town."

"Whoever he or she is, he or she will hopefully keep helping us," Rachel said, knocking back a shot. "What's the plan for telling the rest of Hill Valley?"

"I suppose do what Biff did. Use the radio," Doc shrugged. "I have a ham radio license. It was a hobby of mine back in the late 60s. That's better than nothing."

Up on the roof across the street, 3-D shook his head with a smile. He had been eavesdropping to find out what else he could do. "Don't worry, Dr. Brown. I'll do you one better." 3-D said as he stood up. "Happy birthday." He spread his wings and flew off to plan his next move.

Tuesday, October 21st, 1986

Hill Valley

5: 32 P. M.

Doc was just pushing open the door to Darkness Falls when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Excuse me? Could you help me? I'm lost," asked a trembling voice.

Smiling, the scientist turned around. "Of course I -- Geraldine?"

Gerry backed away a step, looking frightened. "How do you know my name?"

"I was at the radio station, remember? I helped rescue your friends."

"Yeah? Oh, now I remember. You were with Natalie." She glanced around. "Can you tell me where I am? I woke up in this house I'd never seen before. Guess I panicked, 'cause I split without getting my bearings."

"You're in the nightclub district," Doc said. "In fact, I think you'd better come in here with me. Some of my friends have been waiting to talk to you, Gerry."

"Me? Why?"

"We want to know about what happened at KKHV."

Gerry shuddered. "I don't know what I can tell ya. I don't even wanna remember what happened."

Doc patted her shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry. We want to help, in any way we can. But we need an eyewitness's viewpoint."

"I'll do my best." Gerry followed Doc inside. "You know, those guys that attacked us – this is going to sound really silly, but they looked like vampires."

"They were."

Gerry stared at him as though he had grown a second head. "What?"

"They were vampires." Doc spotted Natalie by the bar, being held captive by some drunk. "Natalie!"

Nat looked up. "Dr. Brown!" She extricated herself from the conversation and ran over to him. "Jesus, I'm glad to see you. That guy just would not shut up under any circumstances!"

"Is that why you weren't home?"

Natalie spotted Gerry, standing behind Doc. "Yeah, it was. You okay, Gerry?"

"Yeah, mostly. Thirsty as hell, though." She frowned. "That was your house I woke up at? Why was I at your house?"

Natalie sighed. "Gerry, I have to tell you something. Yo, Matt! We need a 'Bloody Mary' here!" She motioned for Doc to stay with them.

"If that's for me, I don't drink. Can I have a 'Virgin Mary' instead?"

"In here, 'Bloody Mary' is – more literal."

Gerry's eyes went wide. "You drink blood?"

"We've got no choice, Geraldine. You see, we're vampires. And so are you."

Gerry just gawked at her a moment. Then she rapidly shook her head. "Now hold on. Vampires don't exist. And if they did, they'd be like those – those freaks that attacked KKHV."

"Those were vampires too. There are two distinct kinds. They're one kind, we're another."

"Natalie, are you shitting me? This is totally f-ed up."

"That's what I thought too, until I was changed." She thanked Matt as he handed her the drink – cow blood mixed with a few spices. "Here, drink up. That thirst's only gonna get worse unless you do."

"No. Way." Gerry got up. "I'm leaving, and you'd better not stop me."

"Gerry--" Natalie sighed as Gerry walked out the door. "I'd better go get her before she does something stupid." She tossed down half the drink and followed her new charge.

Doc frowned, looking at Matt nervously. "If she's anything like I was, it's going to take a major shock to make her believe."

"That's nothing new. I refused to believe I was a vampire myself until I walked into my old job."

"Let me guess – a blood bank."

"Close. A doctor's office. I was helping on an appendectomy when I got this awful urge to drink the blood coming out of the wound. Managed to restrain myself, but certainly woke me up to what I was."

There was a sudden scream from outside. Gerry came barreling back in, looking like she was about to cry. "Sht, it's true!"

"What happened?" Matt asked, baffled.

"She vamped out in an attempt to prove me wrong," Natalie explained, catching up with Gerry. "Listen, Gerry, this doesn't automatically make you evilor anything."

"Why not?" Gerry whimpered. "You said yourself it was vampires who attacked the studio!"

"I also said we're vampires. And we tried to help you guys, right?" Natalie gave her the rest of the Bloody Mary. "Just relax and let me explain what's going on."

Gerry absently gulped the blood. "Jesus. I went to all those horror movies as a kid. Suddenly I find out they're all real."

"Not exactly," Natalie said. "A lot of the stuff they claim about us is utter bull. I've never had a problem with running water or crosses."

"Garlic is a bit of another story," Matt grinned. "Natalie will tell you all about it. It's what we all do for the newbies."

"But – how did I become – one of the undead?"

"Technically, you're still alive," Doc corrected. "The disease which causes our condition sends new infectees into a coma."

"And I'm the one who infected you," Natalie said softly. "I didn't have a choice. It was either make you a vampire, or let you die. Those soulless bastards really banged you around, huh?"

Gerry shivered. "You ain't kidding. Biting, ripping – it was terrible." She went green with revulsion. "The worst of them was that – ringleader of theirs. I can't believe I let that asshole detail my car."

"Hey, you weren't the only one who was fooled by him," Doc consoled her. "I, too, thought he was harmless. A jerk, but harmless. Then, he tried to have me killed when I found his diary. Luckily for me, the hit man he sent botched the job."

"All that over his diary?"

"He thought I had read it. Apparently, as my compatriots and I have deduced, Biff's goal is to eventually control the world, starting with Hill Valley on October 26th. We're trying rather desperately to stop him."

Natalie looked at Gerry with worried eyes. "Geraldine, we're hoping that you can help us win this fight. A world where Biff Tannen ruled wouldn't be worth living in."

"Don't worry about it, guys. I'm in."