Hello!  I just wanted to let you guys know that I replaced the 2nd and 3rd chapter by changing some stuff about Fangora.  Her hair is now raven-black and her skin is pale like that of a Japanese person.  Also, her toenails match her fingernails except they don't extend or anything.  Also in the report thingy about Fangora in Ch.3, the scientist also found growth in her gums, scalp, feet, shins, vocal cords, and skin. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 5

Remorse

            Billy saw nothing but darkness as he lay on his back.  He lay there semi-conscious remembering the last thing he saw.  He wondered why he felt no pain.  The leech monster was supposed to be eating him alive.  He and Rebecca were probably dead and in heaven or hell.  They'd have to watch their soulless bodies walk the earth until they were destroyed.  Billy heard a faint voice.  It grew louder by the second.  It was a soprano voice humming a calm but catchy song.  After a few seconds the words sang out. 

            "This is my December

            This is my time of the year

            This is my December

            This is all so clear.

            Just wish that I didn't feel like there was something I missed

            Just wish that I didn't feel like there was something I missed

            This is my December

            This is my snow covered home

This is my December

This is me alone.

Just wish that I didn't feel like there was something I missed

I take back all the things I said to make you feel like that

Just wish that I didn't feel like there was something I missed

I take back all the things I said to you.

And I'd…

Give it all away

Just to have somewhere to go to

Give it all away

To have someone to come home to."

The song reminded Billy of himself and his remorse for what he did to Rebecca.  He recognized it.  It was "My December" by Linkin Park.  He finally opened his eyes and found himself staring at a white, elegantly carved ceiling.  His eyes adjusted after a moment and he sat up.  There he saw Fangora sitting next to him on a dresser with her left leg folded over her right.  A big medicine cabinet was behind her.  She was singing away while she etched symbols into a blood puddle on the tile floor with the nail of her big toe on her right foot.  Her jeans were now ragged shorts and her bangs were in braids. 

"Fangora?" Billy grunted not believing she was there.  The BOW stopped singing and looked over at him with a smile. 

"Good morning, sleepy head!" she answered cheerfully, "I was wondering when you'd wake up."

"Where am I?" Billy questioned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. 

"In an infirmary." Fangora answered.  Billy looked around to see she was right.  He was in one of four single beds, underneath a couple blankets.  There was a desk and bookcases across from him.  In the corner of the room was a green tube full of some chemical.  There were two sinks by the door on the other side of the room.  There was blood all over the floor and the other beds. 

"What happened in here?"

"Nothing much.  I was just cleaning out some zombies," Fangora answered, smiling, "It was messy as always, but an area of healing should be as sanitary as possible.  They're outside in the hallway now.  Some of the blood was already here when I first came in though."

"The last thing I saw was that freaky leech thing.  I thought I was toast."

"You and Rebecca would be playing harps right now if I didn't get to you when I did."

"Rebecca?  She's ok?  Where is she?" Billy frantically asked.  Fangora motioned with her head.  Billy looked to his left, passed the medicine cabinet, and saw Rebecca asleep in another single bed with the blankets pulled over her stomach.  Her color had returned and her breathing was obviously back to normal by the looks of how much her chest was rising. 

"She almost didn't make it."

"And it's my fault." Billy mumbled. 

"What?"

"Why are you here?  I heard you flipping out on the balcony." 

            "Is that why you guys ran away?"

            "Yeah.  I thought you lost it for good so I took Rebecca and split.  What were you doing out there?"

            "I was fighting a giant bat when I was coming back with the cure."

            "Did you kill it?"

            "No.  If I stopped to finish it off, I wouldn't have found you in time to save you."

            "Makes sense."  Billy put his head down and used his knees as an armrest. 

            "Did something else happen, Billy?"

            "Yeah." he sighed. 

            "What?"

            "I...I betrayed Rebecca."

            "You did?  Why?" Fangora asked in shock. 

            "After you left the room, I decided that I couldn't trust you because of…well…what you are," Billy explained, "I forced Rebecca to come with me so we could find a way out on our own.  I even denied the T-Virus' existence.  I got scared of what would happen to me and at the same time I was getting frustrated with Rebecca since she believed you."  Billy told the whole story of what happened when Fangora was gone.  She didn't even seem angry as he talked.  She understood his reasons for his actions.  If Billy didn't feel terrible about what he did and didn't try to set things right, Fangora would probably hurt him now. 

            "I see," Fangora commented when he was done, "I hope Becks doesn't flip out on you when she wakes up."

            "If she does I'll deserve it.  I almost killed her!  So how did you get in here?  How'd you find us?"

            "After I got away from the bat, I searched frantically for you guys.  I heard gunshots and when I got to the hallway down there, I saw the leech monster feeding on you two.  I killed it and injected you guys with the anti-virus.  You were chewed up pretty good by the time I got there.  It was almost too late for Rebecca.  I found the MO disc and the picture when I searched you pockets.  I figured out what to do and I used the shotgun to hold one of the buttons down.  It made the swords from the knights lift up off the doors they were blocking.  I carried Rebecca and you through the one that was next to the conference room."

            "You carried BOTH of us?"

            "Well, carried Rebecca and half dragged you."

            "Oh thank you so much." Billy said sarcastically.  Fangora giggled before she continued. 

            "Anyways, there was a small hallway that led to here and a double door.  I took you here and I used the herbs in Rebecca's med kit on you two.  I was also able to wash the sewage out of your pants, socks, and shoes with the water from the sinks that still work in here and actually have clean water!"

            "My pants?" Billy looked under the covers and only saw his black boxer shorts and a pair of hairy legs, "Where the hell are my pants?!"  Fangora laughed so hard she almost fell off the dresser.  After she calmed down, she answered.  

"You're socks, shoes, and pants are drying by the fire in the dark room with all the barf in it." Fangora told him, still laughing from his reaction of the missing pants. 

            "Thank you for doing us all the favor of washing the shit out of my pants.  Ok, that sounded weird!"  The two allies laughed, knowing how one could take Billy's statement and make it infer something childish. 

            "By the way, nice boxers!" Fangora complimented. 

            "Thank you, pants-stealer!"

            "That sounded wrong!"

            "Yes it did!"  They laughed again. 

"I put two blue herbs and a first aid spray in Rebecca's pack.  So when she wakes up, you just need to pick up your weapons and her med pack and go!"

            "And where's our stuff?" Billy asked.  

            "Right here."  Fangora moved her leg and opened the dresser.  Inside were Billy and Rebecca's weapons.  Fangora pulled them out and tossed them on the floor in front of her, "I loaded Rebecca's gun from the extra ammo in your pocket.  And I made a strap for the grenade launcher out of my jeans." The young B.O.W. informed and held it up for a moment to show him. 

            "Thanks.  I was wondering where your pant legs went."

            "Heh heh," Fangora chuckled, "Oh!  I found this on your bed when I first came in here," Fangora pulled a paper out of the drawer and handed it to Billy, "Check it out."  Billy read it silently. 

"First Investigation Unit Notes

We are searching the facilities, and it looks like a lot of the chemicals survived. 

Fortunately, the storage tanks are still all full.  We have just started and there is still a lot we don't know, but it appears that the chemicals can be mixed to produce new substances.  The chemicals are scattered all about.  Not because of the accident, more a result of plain mismanagement. 

            When we re-open the facilities, we will have to develop a system for dealing with these chemicals. 

(Scrawled on back of the note)

Red+Blue=Sulfuric Acid

Green+Red=Stripping Agent"

"Rebecca might want this."

"Yeah.  I put some of that green chemical in her kit just in case."  Fangora took the paper back and put it in Rebecca's med pack. 

"You're a miracle worker, Fang."

"I try, I try.  And thanks for the nick name," Fangora commented, "So, do you like Linkin Park?"

            "Hell yeah!" Billy answered enthusiastically, "I love all their songs.  I noticed you were singing 'My December.'  That's one of my favorites."

            "Mine too.  'Papercut' is another one of my favorites, but it's all good!"

            "Yup." Billy said, nodding.  It was silent for a few seconds. 

            "So what's the story with you and Rebecca?  Known each other long?"

            "No.  I've only known her for about two hours now, I suppose.  I'm 26 and an ex-lieutenant in the Marines."

            "Ex?"

            "I was…discharged.  I don't want to talk about it right now."

            "Discharged for t

he worst reason." Billy thought. 

            "Okay, I won't intrude," Fangora agreed, "What about your friend over there?" She pointed to the sleeping cop. 

            "Rebecca is a medic for S.T.A.R.S.  It's a special tactics force in the Raccoon City Police Department."

            "I figured that.  Did you scare her and she arrest you or something?" Fangora asked with curiosity in her voice.  Billy played with the metal dangling off his left wrist.  What should he tell her?  She obviously hated people like him.  Seeing what Umbrella did to her, he wasn't surprised.  Knowing how aggressive she could be, Billy thought it best to not tell the whole story, at least not yet. 

            "Uh, yeah.  Something like that.  We got trapped on a zombie-infested train.  We were both scared and alone, so when we ran into each other we agreed to team up and survive.  The train we were on crashed into this building's station and we had to walk through a sewer or something to get to the main hall.  Rebecca had a compound fracture in her leg from the crash so I carried her." Billy concluded.  Fangora nodded as she went back to etching symbols into the floor, "What are you drawing?"

            "The Triforce and the Six Medallions of the Sages."

            "Um…" Billy commented hoping it wasn't some freaky cult thing. 

            "It's from 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.' "

            "Which is?" Billy asked.  Fangora let out an exaggerated gasp. 

            "Only the greatest video game in the world!"

            "How long ago did you remember that?"

            "When I got in here."

            "That's weird."

            "What is?"

            "That the first things you're remembering is music and games instead of friends and family."

            "Yeah.  That's weird and frustrating too."

            "I can imagine.  You don't even know if you had loved ones before you came here.  But someone like you is bound to have plenty of people liking you." Billy reassured.  Fangora chuckled again. 

            "But what's the point when you can't remember them?"

            "True..true." Billy concurred.  It was quiet again. 

            "WWWWAZZZZZZZZUUUUUPPPPP!!!" Fangora screamed, making Billy jump and fall out of bed.  The young girl burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. 

            "What was that for?!" Billy asked angrily, "You scared me!  Again!"

            "I'm sorry," she laughed, "I just had to do that!"

            "Of all the things that you'd remember, this one I was hoping wouldn't come up."

            "Aw come on!  In a freaky, dark situation like the one we're in, you have to try to brighten things up a bit!"

            "True but-"

            "Say it."

            "Excuse me?"

            "Say it!  It feels good!"

            "Oh please.  Only dorks say it and think it's cool!" Fangora unsheathed the middle claws on her hands. 

            "Don't make me meow like Gary, mister!" the B.O.W. warned while sheathing her weapons. 

            "Gary?  You mean from-"

            "SPONGEBOB!"

            "Oh dear God!" Billy put his head in his hands and fell back onto the bed.  He was slowly driven insane when she started singing. 

            "Ohhhh…Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?  SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!"

            "NOOO!" Billy screamed, "For the love of whatever god you worship, do not sing that song!"

            "Mua-hahahaha!" Fangora laughed, "I got the song stuck in your head, didn't I?"

            "Yes!"

            "You haven't said it yet."

            "Said what?" Billy asked.  He thought for a second and remembered the awful phrase when he saw the girl's grinning face, "No."

            "WWAAZZZUUUUPP!"

            "No!"

            "Say it with me!"

            "Uh-uh."

            "Say it." Fangora growled, unsheathing her claws. 

            "Wazup."

            "Louder."

            "Wazup!"

            "Say it like you mean it!  Scream it, Billy-Boy!"

            "WWAAZZUUPPP!!"

            "Alright!  Now you got it!  Say it again!"

            "WWWAAAZZZZUUP!!"

            "Say it with me now!"

            "WWWWWAAAZZZZZZUUUUPPP!!!" they both screamed, throwing their arms up in the air.  Fangora laughed again and clapped as her claws descended back into her fingers. 

            "Hey, that did feel good!"

            "Without randomness this world would be Squigward!"

            "Okay.  So you watch 'Spongebob Squarepants.'  Please tell me you don't watch 'Barney!' "

            "Hell no!" Fangora gagged. 

            "Good girl!"

            "Well, I'm glad you're ok and I got the munchies so I'll head outside for a while, get a bite, and check in the double door while I'm at it.  Oh!  And I'll pick up your clothes from the barf room!"

            "Thanks.  You do that.  Have fun satisfying your much-EW!"

            "What?" Fangora inquired, "Others of my kind do that, so why can't I?  Besides, I technically haven't eaten anything for at least a month!"  Billy laughed. 

            "Yeah I know, but it's a nasty picture in my head since you look like a human still."

            "That I do." Fangora hopped off the dresser and put weight on her right leg.  She immediately fell on her face with a loud thud. 

            "What the hell?" Billy exclaimed as he got out of the bed.  Fangora rolled onto her back and started laughing. 

            "I sat on my leg too long," she laughed, "And when I got up, it was numb so I lost balance!"

            "Smart!"

            "Kick it!"

            "Huh?"

            "Kick my leg so I can get the feeling back!"

            "Okay."  Billy lightly kicked it. 

            "Come on!  You can kick harder than that!"  He obeyed the request. 

            "Okay.  One more should do it," Fangora thought out loud.  Billy kicked hard once more, "Ouchies!  Thank you."  Fangora stood up and walked to the wooden door. 

            "Hey!  Wait a sec!" Billy grabbed her shoulder and she spun around. 

            "What might your question be?" Fangora kindly asked. 

            "Well, I was wondering why you are so kind and protective towards Rebecca and me," Billy started, "I mean, you don't know us.  For someone who has been so badly treated by people, you're quick to trust the first ones you see."

            "I allied myself with you the same reason that Rebecca did."

            "You're afraid to die?  You can obviously take care of yourself.  If you wanted to, you could have killed Becks and me and we wouldn't have been able to do anything about it."

            "No.  It's because she didn't want to be alone in this nightmare," she answered while putting a hand on his shoulder, "And neither do you."  She gave his shoulder a squeeze and smiled before she walked out. 

            Billy just stood there looking at the door and letting her words sink in.  It made sense.  Of course she wouldn't want to be alone here.  Waking up in a test tube all alone, not remembering anything or anyone and trying to survive was scary enough.  But trying to pass through that ordeal on your own with only monsters that are trying to kill you as company, would be enough to drive anyone mad.  Billy and Rebecca saved what was left of her sane mind and she saved their lives.  They needed Fangora's protection and she needed their companionship.  None of the three would survive without each other. 

            Billy sighed and walked to the sink next to the door.  He turned the water on and splashed the cool liquid on his face.  It felt satisfying and relaxing.  His anxiety and confusion faded away as the water dripped from his face.  He opened his mouth under the running faucet and took a few gulps of water before he turned it off and dried his face with his thin shirt. 

            He turned around and looked at Rebecca's unconscious state.  Billy's remorse and guilt consumed him.  He quietly approached her and sat on the edge of her bed.  Rebecca sighed and turned onto her left side.  A long thin scab exposed itself on her right cheek with a small bruise surrounding it.  Billy winced when he remembered how she got the wound.  He remembered the terrible things he said to her, the things he did to her.  What he put her through and forced her to do was a hair away from putting her in the morgue.  He prayed to everything that was good that Rebecca would forgive him.  Why did he want her to forgive his malevolent actions so badly?  So what if she hated him with a passion when she woke up?  She'd still have to cooperate with him.  She held a grudge against him when they first teamed up, so why would it be so terrible to go through it again? 

            Billy reached out and gently ran his fingers over the dried blood.  He quickly drew his hand away when she twitched.  She started tossing and turning back and forth, muttering cries for mercy. 

            "No…s-stop.  Don't come…closer.  Come back…from…undead." she muttered.  She was having a nightmare.  Billy touched her shoulders and she flinched again. 

            "Rebecca?" Billy held her shoulders and shook her lightly, "Rebecca?  Come on.  Wake up.  Wake up."

            "Stop…leave them…alone.  Don't hurt them.  Stop it.  Stop!  NNOOO!!" Rebecca screamed as she quickly sat up.  Her leap forward was halted by Billy's body.  She just flung herself into his arms.  She woke up and opened her eyes only to let tears fall from them. 

            "Hey.  It's okay.  Calm down.  It was just a dream." Billy's soft voice told her as he held her shoulders.  Rebecca didn't forget what Billy did to her before and who he was, but after a nightmare like the one she had, she didn't care who was there to comfort her.  Just as long as someone was there for her when she woke up into the living nightmare again, she would be okay.  Rebecca's sobs were muffled by Billy's shirt that she gripped so tightly. 

            "It was terrible," Rebecca whimpered, "I was so scared."

            "What did you dream?"

            "It was a flashback," she explained trying to stop crying, "On the train when I went back to turn on the brakes."

            "What happened back there?"

            "In one of the cars was my comrade, Edward.  The one we saw just before we opened the engine car.  He…he was…eating someone.  He saw me and tried to prey on me too.  He was like a brother to me."  Rebecca cried again. 

            "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

            "I don't know.  But that was only the beginning.  It got worse."

            "What else happened?" Billy asked wrapping his arms loosely around her quivering body. 

            "Edward staggered towards me and was about to lunge when the worst part happened."

            "Which was?"

            "I suddenly appeared in a shadowy, stony, dungeon-like room that emitted an eerie green glow like in a horror movie.  It felt cold and I could smell the blood and entrails that drenched the walls and floor.  After my eyes adjusted, I could see it clearly.  Also, suspended and chained to the walls were my friends, my family…just…everyone I have ever loved and cared about.  They were all alive and conscious, but obviously beaten.  All of them looked like someone took a baseball bat to them."

            "What about you?"

            "I was in a cage…on the floor…in the middle of the room.  Even if there was a way to get out of the cage, there was no way out of the room.  There were no doors or windows.  Somehow we could still breathe even though there weren't any vents.  I don't know where the room's glow was coming from since there weren't any lights.  It was quiet until parts of the floor opened up…and…and…"

            "What came out?" Billy asked having a feeling she was about to cry.  He was right.  She was shaking in his arms and the sniffling and breathing sounds she made proved her on-coming tears. 

            "Some chimp-sized primates emerged.  They had white fur…dull gray skin…and eyes that were a clouded yellow color with no pupils.  They were obviously infected with the virus," Rebecca struggled to say, "At least a dozen of them came out of the new openings in the floor."  Rebecca tried to speak again, but all that came out of her was a sob and more tears. 

            "Hey, it's alright.  You can tell me." Billy soothed trying to look her in the eye.  He could have just pushed her away a little bit so her head would unglue itself from his body, but he didn't want to let go of her.  He got a weird feeling when he held her.  It was something he never really felt before.  He wasn't sure what it was, but he liked it.  It wasn't like he hadn't exhibited a sign of affection before.  He would laugh if you called him a virgin.  But all the intimate things he did never had any positive feelings behind it.  He had had countless one-night stands.  There was never love during those nights, only lust.  For once he didn't feel this way when he was with a girl.  After about a minute, Rebecca found the strength to finish her tale. 

            "Those apes screeched and flailed around.  It was utter chaos.  They didn't take notice of me.  All their attention was on the people chained to the walls.  They jumped on them…knawing and clawing…slowly skinning and dismembering them one after another!" Rebecca cried as she spoke, "They were tearing them apart!  And there was nothing I could do about it!  All I could do was watch their blood, organs, and flesh fall to the floor and drench the monsters that wanted it!  All I heard was their screams of pain and futile pleas for mercy!  And I couldn't stop it or even look away.  It…it was as if someone was gripping my head and forcing my eyes open, making me watch their miserable deaths!  When the primates were finished with one victim and would move onto the next, the one they just finished torturing would still be alive.  They'd be completely skinned, partly dismembered, and half-gutted from the neck down.  But…but they were still ALIVE!  Staring at me with wide eyes and open mouths, gasping for air.  They looked at me as if it were my fault that they were mutilated the way they were.  As if it were my fault that they were still alive to feel the pain!"  Rebecca broke down again and wrapped her arms tightly around Billy, her only source of comfort, who pulled her into a tighter embrace. 

            "Is that the end?" Billy asked hoping the answer was a yes.  He felt her quickly nod into his chest, "Oh my God, Rebecca.  I'm so sorry you had to go through that.  But it was only a dream."

            "It was an insight into the future!  I know it was!" she cried out, "The virus and its hosts will eventually migrate away from this place and spread throughout the world!  My nightmare showed me what would happen if the virus got out!"

            "But we won't let it happen.  We'll keep going.  We'll defeat it."  Billy pushed her back a little bit so he could see her eyes.  As he did, he caught sight of the cut he had made and the small bloodstain on his handcuffs.  He lightly touched the wound again, which startled Rebecca and made her instinctively reach up to the cut.  As she did, she pressed his hand onto her face.  They both paused with Rebecca's hand on his.  She closed her eyes, releasing the last few tears. 

            "Rebecca?" Billy murmured, trying to get her attention, "I'm sorry about what I did back there.  I'm so sorry.  I take back everything that I did and said to you.  I swear I didn't mean any of it.  I don't really understand why I did it.  I don't want to hurt you.  I never did.  I know that sorry isn't going to turn back the clock or make it better, but I don't know what else to do.  I promise it will never happen again.  Will you forgive me?"  Rebecca looked up at Billy.  She could see the emotions behind his eyes: remorse, sorrow, and hope.  He wasn't lying. 

            "Yes," she answered as she hugged him again, "I forgive you."  Billy wrapped his arms around her again and rested his head against hers. 

            "Thank you," he sighed, "I never wanted to be your enemy.  I won't let anything like your nightmare happen.  I'll always protect you.  I promise."  They laid in the comfort of each other's arms, not caring who the other was, but resting in the new bond they formed together. 

            About a minute passed until Billy broke the silence, "You know that room where we found the clock needle?"

            "What about it?"

            "Remember when I had a little…problem with that desk?"

            "Yeah."

            "I admit that was pretty funny."  They both laughed. 

            "There's one thing I forgot to ask." Rebecca informed as she pulled away with Billy's hand still on her shoulder. 

            "What's that?"

            "Why are we alive?" they laughed again, "I swear!  We were infected and dying and all the sudden I wake up and my body's like Spongebob going, 'I'm ready!' "

            "Uh, did you just say Spongebob?"

            "Yes."

            "Do I dare ask?"

            "Yes I watch it if that's what you're wondering."

            "I'm surrounded by weirdoes!" Billy cried at the ceiling, making Rebecca laugh again, "First Fangora and now you!"

            "Fangora?"

            "Yeah."

            "But didn't she change psychologically?  I faintly remember hearing her screams or something."

            "Oh, I better explain that." Billy said.  He told her the whole story of what Fangora was doing when they were running around (and what he himself was doing after he came to his senses) and what the conversations between himself and Fangora here.  Half of the story brought laughter to the two. 

            "So that's why your pants vanished!" Rebecca commented. 

            "Yes," Billy chuckled, "Sorry if you thought I was trying to be fresh or something."

            "No, it's okay.  It was funny though.  I just look down and I see non-panted legs and I'm like, 'What the?' "  They both laughed once more. 

            "Yeah, that must have been weird."

            "But nice boxers!"

            "Fangora said the same thing!"  Another laugh erupted and they talked for a while.  They found out hat they both liked pretty much the same things.  The exceptions were Rebecca's love of "Pink" and "Spongebob" and her no-knowledge of "Dr. Demento", "Weird Al Yankovic", "Linkin Park", and Homestar Runner.  Their taste for "Star Wars" and Hip Hop made up for it though.  They jumped when the door slammed open. 

            "Hello all!" Fangora exclaimed cheerfully with Billy's clothes in her hands and a bandolier on her shoulder that could hold twelve grenade rounds.  Half of the slots were full, "The mess is clean and my stomach is full!  Life is good!"

            "Did it taste good?" Rebecca snickered. 

            "Oh yeah!  When you become a B.O.W., you develop the taste of a cannibal and scavenger!"

            "Can I have my stuff now?" Billy asked. 

            "Here," Fangora tossed him his still-damp clothes, "And hurry up."

            "I will." he answered while standing up and slipping on his pants. 

            "Did you find anything?" Rebecca asked while trying while getting up to get a drink of water. 

            "This thing," Fangora answered as she pulled off the bandolier and tossed it to Rebecca, "That's six napalm shells on there already."

            "Thank you," Rebecca said as she looped it around her neck and right shoulder, "Anything else?"

"Yes!  I found the wing for the black statue thingy!" Fangora pulled it out of her pocket and showed it to Rebecca. 

            "Great!" Billy commented while putting his socks on, "Is that all?"

            "I found one of the diaries of Dr. Marcus."

            "Really?  You have it still?" Rebecca asked interested. 

            "Yup." Fangora pulled it out of her back pocket and gave it to the cop.  Rebecca opened it and read aloud. 

" 'December 4th

            We finally did it…the new virus!  We have called it the "Progenitor".

            I want to carry it back and start detailed investigations immediately. 

March 23rd

            Spencer says he's going to start a company. 

            Well, I don't care, as long as I can continue my research into "Progenitor".  He can do what he likes…

August 19th

Spencer keeps asking me to be the director of his new Training facility. 

            Maybe it's because of the business, but he's becoming intolerably pushy. 

But maybe I can turn this to my advantage.  I need a special facility to properly explore all this virus' secrets.  A place where no one will get in the way…

November 30th

            Damn that Spencer…He came to complain to me again today.  He thinks of "Progenitor" as nothing more than a money-spinning tool.  Fool!  But if his influence continues to grow, it can only be bad for my research.  If I'm to properly develop "Progenitor", I must strengthen my own position too. 

September 19th

            At last…I've discovered a way to build a new virus type with "Progenitor" as a base. 

            Mixing it with leech DNA was the breakthrough I needed…I call this new virus "t", for "tyrant". 

October 23rd

            It's no good!  I can't hope for real progress experimenting on mere rodents. 

            Only humans can be a proper mammalian subject for the experiments.  Otherwise, I'll never make any real progress…

November 15th

Someone seems to suspect something about my experiments…but, perhaps it's just my imagination.  Well, if anyone does get too close they may find themselves unexpectedly "assisting" in my research! 

January 13th

            At last, they are ready.  My wonderful leeches! 

            Those of low intelligence, they will never have the privilege of tasting this sense of joy and satisfaction!  Now, finally, I can move against Spencer.  Soon I will control everything…

January 31st

            The devices I set to protect my work have been disturbed. 

            It appears someone came looking for "t" and the leeches.  Fool. 

            No doubt the work of Spencer's group.  

February 11th

            Today, I again found evidence of tampering around the entrance to the labs.  If that is what they're after, I must find a suitable way to deal with them.  Perhaps I should have William and Albert smoke out the pests…

            Those two are the only ones I trust.  Apart from my beloved leeches, of course.  But Spencer…it wouldn't end there, would it? 

            I will announce "t" at the next directors meeting, and collect my just rewards…' "

"Well, I guess that answers a few questions.  Man, the people here were nut-cases!" Billy commented, giving Rebecca her weapons and med pack, "I wonder if that singing guy back near the train who controlled the leeches was related to Marcus."

"It's a possibility," Rebecca added while clipping her med pack around her waist, "Seeing the 'relationship' that Marcus had with his creepy little leeches."

"We ready to head out now?" Fangora asked. 

"Yeah, just a sec." Rebecca replied.  She looped the strap of the grenade launcher around her neck and left shoulder and held her pistol in her right hand.  

"Let's go then." Fangora said as she opened the door and walked out. 

"Ok." Billy answered as he started for the doorway. 

"Billy?" Rebecca called. 

"Yeah?  What's up?" Billy asked, turning to her. 

"Thanks for believing finally and most of all, for being there for me.  I really appreciate it."

"Anytime." he answered with a smile before he followed Fangora.  Rebecca smiled and wondered if she should have told him the missing detail in her nightmare: he and Fangora were chained to the wall amongst the people she loved. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's all for now!  The first cute incident!  Yey!  The little Billy/Rebecca thing in this chapter was inspired by a scene in "Sleepy Hollow."  Great movie it was.  And I know Linkin Park and other stuff didn't come out until after 1998, but pretend that it did!  ^_^  And I must apologize again because I really doubt Ch.6 will come any time soon.  Hopefully it will come faster than four months this time!  It's weird because I don't really have writer's block, but my brain decided that I need a break, so I wouldn't be able to write Ch.6 even if I wanted to.  I tried earlier and all I could get out was a midget paragraph.  Well, I hope you liked this and I beg for your forgiveness and patience!  I love you all!