Answers to reviewers statements or questions
Chapter 1: A Trail of Blood and Biomass
Disclaimer: I do not own Prototype but the games were so fun they stayed with me for a long time. I own the OCs. And boy are they in for a rough ride.
Speech – "Hey, I'm Ryan."
Thoughts – 'It's dead.'
Situation Briefing: Here it begins.
Occupation: New York Zero
Date: 2009, April 12th
Time: 1600
Summary: Recent spikes in Red Zone infected have caused us to reroute troops from the Green Zone to lower their numbers. An infected specimen that may be linked to "Zeus" made contact with Blackwatch Officers earlier today and is now loose in the Yellow Zone.
Treat with extreme prejudice
Gentek Building
The Red Zone was Hell on Earth. Many Blackwatch Officers had this to say after doing a campaign in the god forsaken borough for whatever order Red Crown gave them. The literal countless number of infected made it so that it didn't matter how many bullets you put into the monsters, there were always more to fill the spot. Contrary to its untouched look, the Gentek Building was no different. Swarms of infected came to attack the building on an hourly basis, forcing any personnel there to be on constant alert. Even with the sentry guns, the helicopters, and tanks there to assist the troops it was still a struggle to protect the building and many men die the first day on the job. The large majority of Blackwatch didn't understand the higher ups decision to keep the building in the Red Zone. They figured it'd be easier to take whatever medicine or experiments Gentek had and take it to a much securer location.
'Because it'd show weakness.' Sabrina Galloway knew why. No matter how much control Mercer had over Gentek and Blackwatch, there were still plenty of influential humans having a hand in the game. While those hands were slowly being cut off or turned, they were still around to go against Mercer. They couldn't abandon the Gentek building because this is where it all started and giving it up would show Mercer that he's won. 'He already has.' She shook her head in exhaustion, finding the leaders of both organizations ridiculous for thinking they had what it takes to match Mercer. Maybe they once did, if the nuke that almost wiped out New York was any indicator, but after the maker of the Blacklight virus started to turn important members of Gentek into Evolved…
They lost before they knew it. And so did she. The CFO of Gentek wryly smiled at her joy when she first turned into an Evolved. The power, the speed, the immortality. It was exhilarating. Galloway had thought she found the key to the secret of life and idolized Mercer for granting her this power. This soon changed. As more time passed, as the experiments on patients changed from cruel and enlightening to pure depravity, as she spent more time with her new leader, she started to have second thoughts. She wasn't a good person, her time in Gentek forcing her to engrave the "dog eat dog" philosophy in her being. She didn't care for the test subjects brought into the labs or the soldiers who fought and died every day to keep her safe. She knew there were no pearly white gates waiting for her when or if she ever croaks. But one look into Mercer's eyes told her everything she needed to know. He didn't look at her like she was a colleague or another virally enhanced being. He looked at her like she was just another patient or soldier. Like biomass. Yet there was no happiness in his eyes. No joy, no anger, no hunger, no lust. There was nothing. That's when she realized.
Sabrina Galloway gave up her soul to the Devil for power. Alex J. Mercer never had one to offer.
"How are the tests going?" Mercer's question brought her back from her day dreaming. She'd like to think she didn't jump in surprise but she was never that good at fooling herself. She peeked at the Prototype staring out the window before turning back to work on her computer.
"They've been going well, your blood sample readily bonded with able members of the human patients we've gathered." Mercer made no sound to her report and asked another question.
"And the non-able?"
"…None effective." Galloway observed him for a second to see if he would react but it was the same. Ever since the outbreak, human constitution has slowly started to change from small doses of the virus instilled in major water channels. They couldn't force a greater amount because they would just turn into the mindless grunts inhabiting the streets of the Red Zone. The ones to survive the new strain Mercer created were elite trained soldiers or strong willed individuals like Roland and herself. The larger populace wouldn't survive the strain if they administered it. Not that she need to explain any of that to the virus's creator.
"Have Koenig take a break from his current project to help the process along. I plan to move soon and I need the conversion rate to 100% before long." Mercer gave another unreasonable order but Galloway accepted nonetheless. He stared out the window for a bit longer before speaking. "By the way, what is this talk about a virally enhanced being spotting in the Yellow Zone?"
'Shit.' She knew he'd ask. "I already have a detail chasing after him, they should find him soon."
"Hm. See that you do that, I don't want Blackwatch to get jumpy before anything important happens." Mercer took an extra long glance out at the battle below before leaving Galloway's office. The tension in her body left as he exited and she proceeded to take a bottle of bourbon. Not bothering to take out a glass, Galloway brought the bottle to her mouth and took a long swig. Exhaling as the alcohol left a burning sensation in her throat, Galloway frowned as an Flyer slammed against her anti tank windows (the budget for building defenses were honestly ridiculous).
'I really need to get out of the Red Zone.' Despite being arguably one of the stronger infected in the entire Zone excluding the stronger beasts like Juggernauts and Brawlers (and obviously Mercer), Galloway wasn't the close combat type. She much rather prefer the protection of military grade walls and clear skies. Thankfully, Mercer didn't care where she was as long as she got her tasks done. 'Once I'm done with the Evolved Testing, I'm taking a vacation to Maui again.' Even though it was impossible for her to get grey hairs considering her abilities, she still felt stressed with her new responsibilities and needed some time off. 'I wonder if that pool boy married his fiancée yet…'
Thinking about summer homes with attractive shirtless men attending to her every whim, Galloway took another swig as the sound of gunfire and screams of dying men echoed in the background.
Back to Ethan
My foot drummed below the table I was sitting at, a small notebook was opened in front of me and the page was full of writing. A waitress came over and placed down a plate of spaghetti with meatballs on top.
"Thank you." I said with a gentle smile but the waitress just gave a nervous grin before walking away. I sighed at how the walk seemed more like a run if it wasn't for her other customers. My current form was the Blackwatch commander without the mask so you could see my face. 'Blackwatch soldiers really are tyrants.' It wasn't such a big thing in the game since they were all AI and the worse I've seen them do was mow down groups of innocent civilians but this was a real world. From the few memories I've got from the commander, he used his rank to live the high life. Staying in fancy hotels, eating the best food from restaurants free of charge and being an overall asshole was his typical down time. Granted, not every low level soldier was given such perks; they could still do whatever the fuck they wanted if they didn't bother those of higher rank. Having government clearance to revoke any citizen of their basic human rights can do that to a person.
But questioning the government's decision to give Blackwatch so much power was the least of my concerns. I looked back at the notebook in front of me and continued writing. The notebook currently had all the information I could remember from the game. The specific missions and side missions were lost to me but the lore of the game was easily written down. All the major characters like Mercer, Heller, Dana, Father Guerra, Galloway, and Rooks were all circled with a string of facts that I could remember from the game. Then there was a page of monsters that I would probably have to fight to survive like Brawlers, Juggernauts, Hydras, Goliaths, other Evolved and Super Soldiers (I know they aren't technically infected but they might as well be with what they can do).
The general plot and path of the game was also jutted down on its own page. I, of course, had no plans of keeping this notebook lying around for someone to find and was going to consume it the moment I was done. This was just a way to jot my memory. Maybe it was an effect of being an Evolved or because I consumed that commander, but my memory was better then it originally was. I could readily remember facts from the game like I played it yesterday yet it's been a good couple of years since (not that I'm complaining). Making sure I didn't forget anything important, I looked around to make sure no one was looking and consumed my book.
'I wonder what the actual limit for my power is.' I didn't get how metals like guns and tanks couldn't be consumed yet I could create my phone from my biomass whenever I wanted. I should probably consume a scientist or two so I can experiment better with my powers. 'The fact that I'm ready to kill people to make my life a little bit easier doesn't scare me as much as it should.' Oh well, I only plan to go after Gentek scientist since they know what they're doing and they are assholes. Walking out of the restaurant after paying with a credit card (it went through so biologically connecting to whatever bank account the commander had was a thing), I planned to check on Mike's condition and see how long it would take before I could bring him out of there.
The squadron of Blackwatch soldiers standing in front of the hospital threw a wrench in that plan. Leaning against a truck that was parked across the street, I saw a soldier question the doctor that was in charge of Mike. I internally cursed when he motioned for them to follow him.
'So much for doctor-patient confidentiality.' I needed to get to Mike before they did. They left two soldiers to guard the front door so I couldn't go that way and made my way around. Making it halfway to the back, I saw an open window. I ran forward and leaped high in the air, smoothly grabbing the edge. I pulled myself into a room that had a nurse fixing the heart beat monitor of a bed. Not noticing my arrival, I walked past the nurse and came out into the hallway. I made my way up the side stairs and came to Mike's hall just in time for the elevator to open.
"He's this way." The doctor led three Blackwatch down the hall in the direction of Mike's room. "Are you sure he's-"
"A terrorist with in-depth knowledge on how to make the infection a bio-weapon? Yes Doc, he is." I had to hold back a snort on how ridiculous that sounded (considering who was saying that). The Doctor didn't find it as funny.
"I-I had no idea. He was brought in by a Blackwatch Soldier as well."
"There are some messed up people in this world, be grateful we're here to stop them from getting to you."
'Okay, now they're just trying to sound pretentious.' They eventually reached Mike's room and the leading Soldier told the two of them to stay outside and make sure no one comes in. Peeking from around the corner, I quickly morphed my clothes into that of a nurse and made my way to the door. As I got closer a Blackwatch soldier raised his hand to stop me.
"Stop, no one is allowed to come right now. Come back lat-" My hands reached out the next second and grabbed them by their necks, lifting them into the air. They flailed for awhile before but lack of oxygen eventually made them pass out. Slowly placing them down, I gently opened the door and saw the Blackwatch commander along with the doctor standing next to Mike's bed.
"W-Wait, what are you doing?!" The Doctor shouted when the commander took out a pistol and pointed it at the unconscious Mike.
"He's a dangerous man and we've been given orders to kill him the first chance we g-" The commander never got to finish as I used the moment he was explaining to sneak up behind him and snap his neck. My tendrils shooting out to consume him, I processed his memories to know how he found us and cursed. He was sent by a higher up in Gentek to track the locater chip in the truck I stole from the Blackwatch facility. That higher up was Sabrina Galloway.
I needed to leave now. Looking down at the doctor who fell from seeing me consume, I smiled at his quivering form.
"I'm going to need you to lead me to the nearest ambulance. I hope that's not too much trouble." He rapidly shook his head.
"N-N-None at all! I-In fact-"
"Great." Morphing into my Blackwatch commander form, I heaved Mike over my shoulder and walked to the door. "After you."
Following the twitchy doctor through the hospital to its garage without issue, I picked a random ambulance. Threatening the man that if he ever tells anyone what happened here I'd kill him, take his form and ruin his reputation with everyone he's ever known and loved, I drove away from the hospital. It was mean but with how terrified he appeared, I'd wager he'll be too busy trying to drink his memory of this day away before telling anyone. Driving to the apartment building of my first consumed Blackwatch commander, the Brooklyn Renaissance Plaza, I got a couple of weird glances from bystanders but chose to ignore them.
Taking Mike up to the one of the upper floors, I entered a spacious apartment that once belonged to a rich old couple before their "mysterious" disappearance. The mystery was that the commander took the couple to one of the testing grounds in the yellow zone so he can have it (if that's not petty and immoral then I don't know what is) Placing Mike on a bed in one of the empty rooms, I got to thinking on what happened earlier and came to a conclusion.
'Galloway can't find me with her tracking ability.' It was a bold assumption but it made sense. What I did today was definitely reported to the higher ups in Gentek and Blackwatch. After Alex Mercers actions in the first game (which happened less than a year ago) any information on an infected that showed abilities like his would not go unnoticed. Mercer most likely found out and had Galloway try to find me but to send a couple of ordinary soldiers after an Evolved? Even one as green as me? She was arrogant but she didn't strike me as stupid. She would have at least sent a larger, better equipped task force or even a Super Soldier but I saw none when driving here. I was on very high alert the entire way because I was expecting it. Unless they got lost on the way to me, there only left one option.
She couldn't sense where I was. The fact I was still alive proved it.
"…I'll take it." It definitely put one of my biggest worries to rest. I couldn't go about trying to get stronger when Galloway could sense wherever I was and tell Mercer about it. 'But where do I start?' I thought with a frown. Heller had a game system that made use of skill points to evolve his attack powers and defenses. I had no such thing to help me. My best bet would be to infiltrate a Gentek lab and absorb some of their stronger infected specimen. But before I could do all that, I needed some answers. Why was I one of Mercer's Evolved? Did the "me" of this world know the Blacklight creator and he made that "me" an Evolved? Or was this some sort of gift from whatever god that placed me here?
'If so then a game system would be much appreciated.' Internally smirking at the thought, I waited a second in case the higher being chose to humor me and sighed when nothing happened. 'Fine, guess I'll find out myself.' Fortunately, I knew exactly where to start. Opening the sliding door that led to a balcony with a pool, I gazed over the edge and tried to find my original apartment. I found it a moment later and changed into my original form.
I then leaped off the edge.
10 Minutes Later, Shanty Town
The concrete under me cracked upon landing, the loud noise echoing across the walls of the alley I landed in. I felt a sharp sting on my feet before my biomass surged there and instantly fixed any damage that occurred. Multiple rats scattered from under the nearby trash and a homeless man jumped at my appearance. Giving a quick sorry, I exited the alley and found myself across the street from my apartment building. The side walk was still packed full of people and trailers were everywhere, making the area chaotic. No one seemed to react to the noise caused by my rough parkour but I guess that was to be expected of the people that chose to stay in New York after a part of it became a warzone full of murderous infected.
I know humans are adaptable creatures but no way in Hell would I stay in New York after the Blacklight outbreak (though I'm pretty sure Blackwatch had a hand in that as well).
Regardless, I pushed through the busy crowd of Shanty Town and reached the entrance of my building. I entered and made my way to the landlord's office, knocking on the door. I waited a couple seconds until my landlord Pete opened the door with an irritated look on his face.
"I told you stupid drifters that there's no more rooms-" Whatever he had to say got stuck in his throat as he choked up, his irritated look turning into a haunted one. I took a step forward and gave a nonthreatening smile.
"Hey Pete, can we talk for a min-" The door coming towards my face was the answer I got. My new enhanced reflexes kicked in and I held a hand up to stop it from closing. Only for my hand to go straight through the wood and snap the door in two. We blankly stared at the broken half on the floor before looking to each other. "You want to explain that?"
"Fuck!" Pete said before turning around to run and I grabbed him, careful with my strength this time so I don't accidently mutilate the man. "Oh shit, fuck! Don't kill me! Please don't kill me! Oh god I'm going to die!" I made an odd expression as my former landlord started bawling and praying for his life.
"Pete, I'm not going to kill you." He abruptly stopped at that. He slowly turned to stare at me with a skeptical look.
"R-really?"
"Yes really now will you calm down." Waiting as he picked himself up from the ground and dusted his shirt, I crossed my arms. "Mike said you saw me get taken away by some guys in lab coats, what's that about?"
"You don't remember? You and a bunch of people on the street were escorted on a Gentek truck to be send somewhere. I was arguing with a squatter in the front when I saw it happen." I furrowed my brows at that.
"So you don't where they took me?"
"No but that same truck came this morning to take another group of people. It may be back later." Pete said with a shrug and I nodded.
'I guess that's my best bet. I better ask round if anyone around here knows about the truck's destination but I doubt it.' I planned out the next step to finding out how I became an Evolved before tilting my head at Pete in curiosity. "Why did you react like that when you saw me?" The landlord twitched at the question and started to sweat.
"I uhhhh, heard what happened between you and those Blackwatch soldiers and panicked. I thought you came to get revenge after everything I did over the years." Pete's voice became lower as he continued to talk and I quirked a brow.
"Being a shitty landlord doesn't warrant a violent and messy death. Just a quick one." I said plainly and Pete's face went pale. I let out a chuckle. "I was kidding."
"Oh…ha-hahahah, yeah. Good one." Pete said with painfully obvious relief and I rolled my eyes, turning to leave.
"Thanks for the info Pete. I'd say see you later but for your sake, it'll probably be better if I never do." Leaving my former landlord with some parting words, I exited the complex.
30 Minutes Later
"I haven't seen a Gentek truck around here. Sorry man." Getting the same answer for the 20th time, I felt a wave of irritation rise within me but chose not to let it out on the random civilian sitting on his lawn chair.
"I see. Thank you." I gave a strained smile before turning around to walk down the pavement. I was deep in the park that was turned into squatter heaven. Dozens of trailers were parked across the grass and people without homes were passing the day on the field (those that didn't have chairs or blankets anyway). I've asked around to see if anyone had information on Gentek trucks taking people away but no one seems to know anything. 'Did Pete lie to me? Did he just say anything to get me to go away?' If so then he's really not going to like it when he sees me later.
As I contemplated going back and mind gutting the lying landlord, a group of people screaming drew my attention. I looked over to see a bunch of Blackwatch goons rounding up civilians, pushing them towards a military truck and other civilians arguing against it. Right before the soldiers started shooting to disperse the crowd.
"Let's go, wheel them out!" A Blackwatch Commander ordered and the vehicle started moving down the street, taking away the captured civilians. I was 10 stories in the air a second later. Grateful for the simple fact that New Yorkers (or anyone in general really) never seemed to look up, I jumped unnoticed between buildings to follow the truck. Tracking it across multiple blocks, it smoothly passed a checkpoint into the more chaotic area of the Yellow Zone. The streets were filthy, trash and people in more abundance than cars. Countless stores ransacked or turned into open homes for people to sleep in. I scrunched my brows when I saw how the truck didn't care for the civilians in its way, carelessly hitting and running over many of them.
I was definitely killing that driver first chance I get. A couple more blocks (and a couple more civilians becoming road kill) the truck reached a Gentek Facility. It was spotless on the outside, high steel walls with soldiers doing rounds and clean tinted windows. The moment the truck was parked, the civilians were hauled off and guided into the front door. Jumping from my position on top of the adjacent building, I hopped over the walls while morphing into my Blackwatch Commander form. Not drawing suspicion to myself, I followed the other soldiers into the base.
'Holy shit.' The inside of the base was huge, full of tankers and medical equipment that looked like they came out of a futuristic movie. Scientist walked around, either writing something on a clip board or typing on military grade computers. They brought the civilian deeper into the facility where a large elevator waited and they pushed them inside. At this point, it probably would have been safer to walk off and morphed into a random scientist but my curiosity got the better of me. So I stepped into the elevator without a word and a soldier pressed a button.
The ride down was a quiet one, the Blackwatch soldiers not saying a word while the civilians looked too terrified to speak. A naive, moral part of my brain was telling me to save these people from whatever horrible fate awaited them but the more rational part was telling me it was pointless. Ignoring the fact that even if I kill all the soldiers and got them out, we were still in the middle of a base with hundreds of soldiers running around. From what I've seen Mercer do early in the first game, I was confident I could escape from the soldiers but not with over a dozen civilians.
'Besides, they'll take another batch the moment I escape. It just doesn't matter in the long run…wow that's really fucked up.' Rubbing my eyes at the nihilistic thought, I focused when the elevator stopped and the doors opened. We came to an open lab that reminded me of the one Heller was kept in. The civilians were pushed into the center while the soldier went up the flight of stairs to the viewing platform.
"Finally, we've been waiting for forever. What took you so long getting another patch?" A Gentek scientist in a lab coat complained to the leading soldier and he snorted.
"Easy doc, it's not easy getting relatively healthy subjects in this zone. These are the few that didn't smell like piss and vomit."
"Well you sure didn't look hard enough. I can smell them from here." The scientist said covering his nose in disgust and the soldier chuckled.
"I did say relatively." My fingers twitched at the conversation between the military personnel. The scientist huffed and started typing on the computer.
"Oh well, let's just begin." Flicking a switch, he lowered his head to speak into a microphone. "Testing, testing 1, 2, 3. This is Gentek Virologist Samuel Grace along with my colleague Harold Ming and Jennifer Alcon. We're about to run test 13 on Whitelight's effect on specimens recently infected by the Mercer Virus. We're excited to see the results." Waving his hand to a pretty brunette in a lab coat, she pulled a lever and the sound of machinery moving occurred down below.
"W-w-what's happening!? What are you doing to us!?"
"Someone help us please!"
"By the Holy Father's guidance will the Devils be warded off. He will protect us and welcome us to his sacred…"
The civilians started to panic, moving around and pounding on the walls. Some started to pray while others just flopped to the ground with a soulless look in their eyes. Then red gas started filling the room. I felt the biomass within me stir as the civilians started coughing and I watched the most disturbing thing I've ever seen since coming into this world. The moment the gas came in contact with the civilians their skin started turning red and steamed, boils quickly sprouting. Their screams of pain were deafening and sounded human at first but soon became gargled. Then one scream was no longer human but more like an animal's and that civilian started attacking the others. Soon the entire room turned into a picture of infected growls and flying limbs.
I felt sick. From the memories of the soldiers I've consumed they've been in situations that were downright evil but seeing this first hand and not through a data dump like it was when consuming…yeah, I'm definitely going to Hell for letting this happen.
"Administer the Whitelight before they kill each other." The Gentek Virologist's cold voice was more grating then I remembered and the third scientist, Harold, pulled a second lever. A white gas filtered into the room this time and the infected screamed even louder on contact, thrashing around as the infection was seemingly burned out of them.
'No…that's not it.' I narrowed my eyes in suspicion, knowing that wasn't the case. I remembered how Mercer applied his blood to the Whitelight so how can it be curing them? 'It's probably culling the weak since Mercer's blood is far more potent than the regular infection.' My theory soon proved right because while many of the infected died, the remaining grew in size. Their skin morphed into a sickly white and their hands turned into sharp claws. My eyes widened as four new born Brawlers raised their heads and glared at the viewing platform. Samuel's voice didn't waver.
"Burn them." Flames engulfed the room and incinerated the bodies; the brawlers were still alive but laid prone with the fire having turned their skin black. "Hmm, it's just like the past testing. Certain subjects tainted with the Mercer Virus prove to have genetic resistance to Whitelight and mutate to counteract its effects. While it wasn't what we were looking for, these specimens will be imperative in finding an all cure to the Mercer Virus."
"Should we load them into containment?" The Blackwatch Commander said and Samuel nodded.
"Yes but leave one for the next patch. I would like to see how test subjects deal with increased stress during the tu-" My Blades pierced through the Virologist's chest. He numbly stared down at the Blades before my tendrils covered his body and I was hit with the life of the scientist. It was oddly…bland. A normal childhood, a slightly reckless teen that smoked weed and drank and an unexciting carrier path into virology. I almost felt bad considering how regular and un-evil his life was…before I came to the part where he joined Gentek, experimented on countless innocent people and didn't once feel guilty about it. Jesus Christ is every single person that works for Blackwatch and Gentek all this messed up? As the last remnants of Samuel's body was consumed, I found nothing that could help solve the mystery of how I became an Evolved. Every personnel in the room stared at me in shock.
Using that shock, I lunged at the Blackwatch Soldiers and my arm Blades started cutting them down. They eventually got their wits back and started shooting me but they did little other than sting. Slicing two soldiers in half, I heard a clank next to my foot and saw it was a hand grenade. Which I promptly kicked back to the soldier threw it. The grenade, being kicked with superhuman strength, became dented and lodged itself into the soldier's head before exploding. Blood and brain matter splattered over the lab as the last soldier emptied his mag into my chest before I cut him straight down the middle. Flinging the blood off my Blades as I observed the scene of carnage, I quirked a brow when I noticed one of the scientists survived.
"You seem oddly calm." I said as I walked towards Harold who was leaning against the terminal. Jennifer's body laid nearby, having been killed by the bullet storm rather than my Blades. He shrugged and smiled.
"I have nothing to fear that's why."
"Oh? How come?" Harold's smile became a little warped.
"Because you my friend are going to make Galloway look very stupid…and make Mercer very pleased with me." I barely registered his words as tendrils covered his hands and turned into two sharp, hooked Blades.
"…Oh motherfu-" I hurriedly ducked as a hooked Blade went over my head and I pierced toward's Harold's torso. He blocked my Blade and kicked my into the wall with enough force to leave a me sized imprint. Rolling away as his Blades sliced through the concrete like butter, I slashed at his arm and legs. Grunting in pain, Harold slapped me with the blunt side of his Blades and I was sent flying back.
"You're not very good at this." The Gentek Scientist sneered as he slashed at me wildly, forcing me on the defense and blocking any time I could. Dodging a particularly wide swing, I pierced his stomach but found I couldn't take out my Blade as his biomass held it in place. Before I could panic, Harold's Blades stabbed into my shoulder and pierced through them. I yelled in pain as he dragged me across the ground and flung me at the window, my arms nearly came off as the hooked Blades tore off a chunk of my shoulders. The reinforced windows shattered under my weight and I was sent flying to the lower platform. I gritted my teeth as my biomass worked to fix the damage to my shoulder but my reserves were running low. I started crawling away as Harold jumped down. "You know, I was planning to bring you to Mercer but I've changed my mind. I'm going to personally take you apart and find out why exactly Galloway can't sense you. If not well…I guess consuming you will work all the same."
He walked up to me and kicked me in the stomach, sending me skidding to one of the prone Brawler's. I bleed even more and leaned against the larger body as Harold pointed his Blades at my neck.
"Any last words?" He waited patiently as I gathered my wits and blankly looked up.
"You…"
"Hm?"
"…love the sound of your voice too much."
"…Wha-" Using the last bit of my strength, I double kicked him in the gut and send him flying into the wall. He left a large crater and cursed in pain from the deep hole now on his stomach. I didn't bother with him as one of my arms turned back into a Blade and I plunged it into the neck of the Brawler. The infected monster was too weak and wounded to resist as my tendrils consumed it. I felt like a man who hasn't eaten in days and the Brawler was an all you can buffet. I felt all my wounds along with my stamina and strength be restored to normal levels. Feeling a head rush from so much biomass, I hungrily lunged at another Brawler and consumed it as well.
"Arghhhh!" Pain filled my body as the excess biomass rampaged through my body and eventually settled on my arms. I watched in fascination as my Blades changed in form. I didn't gain the Claw ability like Heller did when he first consumed a Brawler but my Blades did become longer and curvier, the formerly smooth Blades now having a serrated edge. 'Saw Blades…yeah, no. I'll think on the name later.'
I jumped to the side when a container came flying and saw an angry Harold glaring at me. I gave a cheeky grin and a 'come at me' motion. He didn't need a second invitation. We clashed blades, sparks flying as we battled and moved around the lab. Slashing Harold on his arm, I ducked under a swing and left a deep cut on his face. My new Saw Blades were working like a dream, cutting through Harold's viral enhanced body far better. He tried to kick me but I leaned to the side, grabbing his leg and slicing it clean off. Blood flew everywhere as he screamed in pain and I cut off his other leg in the confusion, the Evolved Scientist falling to the ground. He tried using his Blades as crutch's but I kicked them aside, placing a foot on his chest.
"W-wait! I can help-" His head flew up a second later. Shock was plastered on Harold's severed head as it landed, my tendrils reaching out and consuming the body. The Evolved Scientist's memories were neater and more organized than Samuel's. He was actually the one to spear head the Whitelight testing on infected and after a bit of digging, I found what I was looking for.
'…Are you serious?' I made a weird face as the answer was so stupid and random but I couldn't think on it further because an alarm rang out. 'I need to go.' Hearing the elevator coming down, I looked around and saw a vent on the ceiling that could fit my body size and moved. By the time the elevator doors opened and a squadron of Blackwatch Soldiers made it inside, all they found was a room full dead bodies and destroyed equipment.
No one noticed the soft sound of the vent closing.
1 Hour Later, Brooklyn Renaissance Plaza
I sighed as I leaned against the elevator wall, the loud dings of successfully reaching a floor barely heard (or appreciated). I took the slow way home because I didn't want the chance that Harold wasn't working alone and had another Evolved around the corner waiting to kill me when I had my guard down or tracking my way home. Since nothing happened when I left and I made it into the elevator without an incident, my brain finally had proper time to make sense of what I learned.
'I became an Evolved…because one of Mercer's goons was too lazy to do a proper check up?' It was ridiculous but that pretty much summed up what happened. The "me" of this world was captured and was experimented just like those civilians an hour ago. Difference was that he became a regular infected like the others and was incinerated before being placed in his own body bag (nice to know Blackwatch had the decency to give their victims their own personal bag on death). When it came to wheel them away to wherever they bring bodies, they found my body bag was empty and assumed I survived the fire. Harold didn't bother looking for a regular infected that would most likely die on the street to a stronger infected or a soldier.
'Consumed by his own laziness and incompetence. I'll take being killed in a drunken car accident over something that poetically stupid any day.' Granted, how I got home and woke up in my bed is still a mystery, at least I know I didn't meet Mercer and got his attention in some way. That'd be a death sentence. I reached the top floor and made for the door of my current residence, my biomass turning into a key. 'I guess the next step is to start finding stronger infected to consume and build an information network so by the time Heller is turned, we'll have a better chance against Mer-'
The sound of a revolver being prepped as I opened the door made me freeze. Mike was holding the gun and while he loosened up slightly when he saw me, he didn't put it down. We locked eyes, neither moving for a minute before I broke it and looked around in confusion.
"Where did you find the gun?" There was no way he had it on him in the Blackwatch base, right?
"It was behind the drawer in the room." Mike explained and I gave a quick "ah". "Now…" His gripped tightened. "Do you want to tell me what the hell is going on?" I briefly glanced at the weapon that would do nothing other then irritate me before shrugging.
"Sure but can we do this sitting down? It's been a long day." Physically I was in tip top shape (especially after consuming two Brawlers and a fellow Evolved) but mentally I was exhausted. Mike looked hesitant but ultimately decided on stepping aside and motioning towards the dinner table. Sitting down and leaning back on the fine oak chair, I waited until Mike also sat down to start. "So...where do I start?" More of a question for myself then him, I thought it over and chose to start on my morning.
I told him of how I got my powers, how it connected to Mercer, and the entire truth on what Blackwatch and Gentek actually do. I chose to make up a story on how I was given shape shifting, murder powers in an experiment (which was partly true) and how it tied back to Mercer's plan to combine all organic life on Earth into a single being for some crazy world peace plan. By the time I was done, I was feeling slightly better and a little less stressed.
'Huh, that confession will set you free bullshit priests tell people actually works. Who knew?' I thought wistfully as Mike fell into deep thought, the gun no longer in his hands and lying on the table.
"Is…is all that true?" It seemed like a small part of him still didn't believe it so I chose to give him visual evidence. Morphing into my Blackwatch Commander, I then transformed into my modified normal form, Harold, a random civilian, etc. For my finishing touch (though it was slightly unnecessary since Mike's mouth was already hanging) I took out my Saw Blades and saw his own reflection in the steel like biomass. "…Oh." I lightly chuckled as my organic weapons receded.
"Oh indeed." Mike leaned back and rubbed his face.
"This is definitely not how I thought my day would go…"
"Me neither." I said and bit my lip. "And um, thanks man. You know, for trying to help me out before. And…I'm sorry for ruining your life." I felt bad, I really did. It was hypocritical of me to feel this way considering the lives I took today and those I've inadvertently effected by what I've done but Mike knew me. He had every reason not to help me since he actually lived in this world and knew what Blackwatch does to people but did anyway. And now he was on Blackwatch's shit list for it. Mike made a lopsided smile before shaking his head.
"It's alright man, what's done is done. We can't change the past. Besides…it's not like it was much of a life." I gave a small sigh of relief at his words and he fell into deep thought again. "So Blackwatch and Gentek are the cause of the Mercer Virus? They're not actually here to destroy it but to control and test on it?" I blinked at the question.
"Uhhh, yeah. Kind of. Mercer did create the Blacklight Virus, that's the actual name of the virus, but it was Gentek that funded its creation so they can use it as a weapon. Blackwatch's role is to contain it and make sure it doesn't spiral out of control. They've obviously done a piss poor job." I explained and Mike nodded.
"So where do we start?"
"…I'm sorry, we?" I said, that throwing me for a loop and he scuffed.
"Yes, we. Like you said, I'm already on Blackwatch's radar and will be hunted down regardless if I help you or not."
"I can get you off the island. Find and consume a high ranking officer so you can be on the next helicopter out of this hell hole." I furrowed my brows and gave him a counter offer but he just sighed.
"And then I'll be free? I'll never have to worry about them finding me? Ever?"
"…" I had no response to that. With the power and funds Blackwatch had…most likely not. The odds they'll put so much effort into finding Mike is slim but at the same time, it wouldn't be hard unless he chooses to live off the grid and avoid contact with large communities. One look at Mike's expression and I knew the answer.
"Blackwatch and Gentek caused all this Ethan and I want to help make them suffer." He said this with so much hate and anger that all the pieces soon fell in place.
"…Who did they take from you?"
"W-What?" Mike said in a panic and I gave him a pointed look.
"Who. Did. They. Take. From. You. Mike?" He stared at me for a second, a saddened look on his face before he lowered it.
"Sarah." My eyes widened.
"Ah shit." Sarah was the name of Mike's fiancée. A real nice girl who always seemed to be smiling and has known Mike since they were kids. He loved her. If this Mike was the same from my last world then…"I'm really sorry man."
"…" He didn't say anything, just sitting there with a downcast expression. The silence in the room became stifling and after a good while, I stretched out my hand. Mike looked at it before staring up at me. I shrugged.
"You're not the first guy to go after Blackwatch and Gentek for revenge, adding one more to the list can't hurt." Mike's hand clasped mine and I smiled. "Welcome to the team, Robin."
"…Can I be Alfred?" Mike asked and I tilted my head.
"Uhhh, sure but…why the butler?"
"What do you mean 'why the butler'!? Alfred is badass!" Mike said righteously and I made a blank face.
"Okay, you're Alfred." Mike looked satisfied at the clarification and we let go.
"But wait; if I'm Alfred are you Batman?"
"I'm pretty sure I lost the chance to be Batman when I murdered two people on my first day having powers."
"Oh…then Red Hood?"
"Sure, why not." I said with an amused smile and turned to walk away. "We'll hash out a plan later but for now I'm going to hit the hay. Call me if you're being horribly murdered." I made for one of the empty rooms but stopped when I heard a low growl. I stopped and looked back to see Mike holding his stomach with an embarrassed face.
"Umm, there wasn't much food in the kitchen and I haven't eaten since this morning." Staring at my hungry roommate, I looked at my hand and commanded my biomass there. Tendrils surrounded my hand and when they receded, a credit card appeared on my palm.
"Go nuts." Tossing it over to Mike (who stumbled to catch it) I waved a hand over my shoulder as I entered the room.
The moment my face hit the bed sheets, I was dead to the world.
And done. An origin story that isn't so incredible and answers that only slightly helped, Ethan lives to see another day. Let's see how long that lasts. I hope you enjoyed!