Author's Note: Guess I made it a wee bit too obvious, huh? Most of you guessed correctly, coming to the conclusion Saline was morphing into something that resembles a Xenomorph. Some answers were off in left field, but hey. Saline will be missing a few aspects of the Xenomorph, but (Most of) the iconic things will be there. (Acid blood, speed, jet-black carapace, et cetera.)

Three: "True Lies Hurt The Most"

I sat in the small laboratory with the white-haired Emma Windsor, waiting for Doctor Ballenfield to return. We both said nothing, my sanity starting to slowly wane. I could hear the dull, melodramatic clicking of the wall clock. Or was that my sanity starting to snap? Couldn't tell.

Just before I thought I might scream, the door opened and shut, and the owner of the office walked in.

"Sorry for being late, ladies. Little problem with some of the Revenants. Okay..." He took a seat across from us. "You're probably both very confused at the moment. Allow me to explain. First off, Emma." He inhaled a little. "Remember when I said I first met you in a little airport coffee shop?"

"Yea?"

"Well... it was true. You were sitting by yourself, a heavy coat over you, your eyes covered by designer sunglasses. You looked as though you were on the run from something, or someone. I had been doing my research, and had managed to track you down. I presented you with two options. Continue on this self-destructive life, or take my offer, and become a new woman. With a little hesitation, you agreed. After taking a bottle of water and drinking it, you took the plane ticket with brought you to California Metro Airport."

"Wait so-"

"Please... just hear me out." He continued. "It was true, Emma. You were on the run. Melissa Cronson, YOU were in serious trouble, and I had just the out. But, in order for it to work... officially, the woman you were, Melissa, had to be dead to everyone." He faced me. "So... yes. I lied to you, Sarah, about your sister. But you have to understand why. At that stage in the game, even you knowing your sister's new name, and where she was, would put not only you, but her and all of us too, in grave danger."

"My sister worked in a law firm, doctor. How dangerous of a job can that be?" He looked past his glasses at me.

"Did she seriously not tell you? Poor girl..." He muttered.

"Don't patronize me, Doctor. What 'danger' could my sister have been in?"

"The kind they execute you for. You look like a strong pair of women, so I'll be frank. Sarah, your sister was a murderer. In every sense of the word. She killed for a living, and she was bloody good at it. A massive body count of thirteen, and not even a clue who it was. But in her last kill, she got sloppy. The police started getting wise. Your sister, Sarah, was the last great American Serial Killer, Lady Vanity." Both mine and Emma's jaws dropped. Melissa called me three times a week before the Infection, telling me how great her new job was. All that... was a lie?

"Look... I didn't want to be the one to tell you. Hell, I was hoping I'd never HAVE to tell you, but I did. Okay, I lied. I'm sorry. But you have to understand WHY. Before now... if you knew your sister was still alive, out there somewhere... would you have stayed in Quarantine Zone Delta?"

"No!" I responded. He nodded.

"I know. You'd have put yourself in danger to find Emma, and would have, potentially, ruined her new life."

"Ruined? How?"

"The F.E.V. I gave Melissa, was special. I took the strain I injected myself, and gave it two specific modifications. The first was a series of genetic triggers, hypnotic suggestions I could use to control her in the event she lost mental reasonings. And the second... was an Amnesiatic Agent."

"A what?" Emma asked, confused. He closed his eyes as he answered.

"I wiped your memory, Emma. I induced Amnesia to you."

"What!? Why?" Emma continued.

"Because, Emma. If you had knowledge of who you were, you might have... I don't know... relapsed. You could never be Emma Windsor if you still had Melissa Cronson's memories. The two lives would have clashed, and you would have torn yourself apart. So, I wiped your memories to allow you to adjust to your new life. And in the two months you and Zoey went missing, I researched your family, located your sister tucked safe and sound inside Quarantine Zone Delta, and had her brought here, in secret, to Quarantine Zone Omega. Where'd you eventually meet." He inhaled.

"It was my initial plan to have you meet and mingle, then find out there's more to you then what you see... but I see that my plan has backfired... and here we sit, me telling you I've lied a lot." He looked at his watch, and gave an uneasy grin. "This is about when someone stands up and walks out in a rage."

I took that as my cue, and did just that.

-At Around That Time-

The pain had subsided by now. I was on the floor on my hands and knees, the ground sizzling around me as a result from whatever caused that massive pain spike to race up my back and down to my tail bone. I was panting and gasping for air, and more specifically, answers. Sitting fully upon my knees I inhaled a few times, slowly, regaining composure. Why did it feel like I gained seven extra pounds on my back? And more importantly, what the hell was sweeping the metal ground making that awful racket? I managed to get to my feet with a slight bit of difficulty, the extra weight on my back not really helping matters any.

Holding my head, I groaned. I don't remember a whole lot from the past few minutes, but what I could hurt like a mother. Worse, actually. Like a mother's mother. I looked over myself. Even though I was still wearing my suit, I could feel the chitin beneath the suit start to move, almost as if it were growing again.

"There you are, Sal-" Trinsha's voice came behind me. I turned my torso so I could look at her, but all she managed to finish her sentence with was a surprised shriek.

"Trinsha? What?" I questioned, walking towards her.

"Saline... you've..." She stammered, which was much unlike her. "You've got a tail..." Piquing an eyebrow, I reached down to my rear with both hands, my fingers running along the ridge of something rather pointed. Grasping it in one hand, I moved it around to my face so I could see. Meeting my eyes was a black, segmented tail, the small segments fitting together like the human spine, several interlocking vertebrae, the whole kit ending in one big, sharp barb.

"I do have a tail..." I tapped a finger on the tip of the barb, the point piercing my finger instantly. "Ow... sharp... gotta watch what I do with that..."

"You've also got some... wierd... I dunno, things on your back..."

"Weird things? What kinda weird things?"

"I dunno, Saline. They're like... bone... tubes... There's four of them." That must have been the extra few pounds I put on back there. I heard Trinsha laugh.

"What?" I muttered, looking behind me, trying to see what was so darn funny. She just laughed more. "What?!"

"You wear dude underwear." She muttered, the exit of my tail from my back end probably ripping a decent sized hole in my nice pants. My cheeks flashed red.

"Well... yea... they're comfy! Lemme alone." I muttered, walking away from the giggling girl. Even though she walked behind me... I don't know... it was almost like... I could feel her behind me. I could smell how she changed the air around her... I could almost tell exactly where she was, as if I were looking at her... even if my back was turned. I could almost... feel exactly where she was as she walked behind me

"Curiouser and curiouser..." Trinny observed as we left the medical wing of the Quarantine Zone.

-Quarantine Zone Omicron-

"Warning! Anti-Personnel Turrets entering Purge Mode. All civilians are to remain within their respective living areas. Repeat, Anti-Personnel Turrets entering Purge Mode. All civilians are to remain within their respective living areas." The computer bellowed over the overwhelming sound of .300 Winchester Magnum rounds ripping into Infected flesh, the occasional Boomer exploding, and the undeniable shrieks of Witches being torn to slivers broke the silence of the dying evening.

"What was that?" Nick hollered over the din.

"I put the Defense Cannons in Purge Mode. They'll basically shoot at anything they detect."

"Even-Us?" Came the creepy voice of that damn Speak and Spell.

"Aye. Even us."

"That hardly helps us, Jack! We need to get out of here!" Nick hollered again, trying to drown out the gunfire with his voice. He'd just go hoarse that way.

"Didn't let me finish, Zoey." I continued, trying to make my voice louder then the gunfire and shrieks. "They prioritize mass of targets and numbers of them. My thoughts, if we can get those Tanks from outside INSIDE..."

"The cannons will prioritize them over us!"

"Exactly." I responded.

"How-Do-We-Get-There-Attention-From-In-Here?" The Speak and Spell spoke again.

"Easy." I muttered. "Anyone got a gun?" Zoey handed me a nine millimeter pistol. Not much, but it'll do the job. I took it from her and nodded a thanks, and opened the door a crack, just enough to see outside. From where I was, I could see the open vault door, and the figures of the Tanks outside. Sticking an arm out, I aimed at one Tank, and fired, the first round missing. "Dammit..." I muttered, lining up for a second shot.

My next six shots missed, impacting either a wall, or nothing. "God DAMN it!" I shouted, firing an eighth time, this one finding the Tank's back, enraging it. It turned and growled inside, causing the other Tanks to go into a frenzy, also. "Oh, yea, that pissed 'em off!" I pulled my head back in, just as the cannons stopped firing for a moment.

"What do we do now?" Zoey asked.

"We wait for the guns to fire at the encroaching Tanks... and make for that Abrams stationed."

"Will we all fit?" Nick asked. I just looked at him, shrugged, and looked out the door. "Oh... great..." The guns chirped as the Tanks entered the massive parking structure, six of them opening up with an otherwise lethal barrage of .300 magnum ammo.

"GO!" I shouted throwing the door open, grabbing Mary and sprinting for the parked panzer. Nick, unaddled by the extra few pounds of a small child, caught up and, eventually, overtook me. He vaulted onto the tank and opened the hatch. I caught up just about the time he knelt on the vehicle's treads, holding his hands down.

"Gimme the girl!" He shouted over the onslaught. I handed Mary up to him, and she instantly went into the vehicle. I dropped to a knee, cupping my hands low to the ground, giving Zoey a boost on the the tread. Nick helped her in, and I struggled to climb up. Once Zoey was in, Nick went back to help me. "Come on, Jack, those distractions of yours are almost dead!" Nick shouted, pulling me up, but struggled, me being a bit heavier then a seven year old or a collage student. "God damn, are you heavy!"

"Shut up and pull, dammit!" Finally pulling me onto the armor, he jumped in. At this time, the last of the tanks went down, and I heard that tell-tale chirp from the guns. They only chirped when they had a target. And seeing as I was the only thing in sight...

Three of the guns opened fire on me, most of the rounds ricocheting off the tank's armor harmlessly, but a few nicked my legs and arms. Five rounds found their way into my chest, going straight through. I dropped on my back, stunned by the force of impact from the massive magnum ammo. The guns chirped a second time, firing another burst. As if some angel saw fit for me to live, Nick reached up and took hold of my foot, dragging me inside, just as the area I just was became riddled with bullet dings. He slammed the hatch shut. I fell into the cabin of the panzer, the force of the impact especially rough on me, blood splattering on the grated floor.

"Are you alright?" Zoey called as I landed.

"I'll be fine! We gotta go." I scrambled to my feet and limped towards the controls, ducking past some of the low-hanging panels. I quickly ran the tank through it's startup procedure, the engine humming to life, and the soft, innocent voice of the on board Damage Control Computer greeting me.

"Good evening, Commander Koch." It spoke as the tank woke up. I muttered a response to the computer, but couldn't remember what. I was more interested in leaving. Pushing the throttle as far forward as it would go, the lumbering beast came to life, and began to obey my move command. We slowly rolled out of Quarantine Zone Omicron.

We left Hell.

"Jack, you're hurt." Zoey spoke, looking at the blood pouring from the gunshot wounds.

"I don't have time to bleed..." I muttered as a response. But truth be told, I was starting to loose consciousness.

"Does someone want to explain what happened?" Nick spoke, finally loosing what little patience he probably had left. Zoey grunted some.

"We were attacked. Isn't that obvious?"

"Yea, but why? They knew just when and where to hit us! It doesn't make any sense!"

"It-Does-Not-Have-To-We-Are-Alive-They-Are-Not."

"Great. Wisdom from a kid. Fabulous."

"I-May-Be-A-Kid-But-I-Am-Still-A-Revenant-Do-Not-Forget-That-Fact." Came the Speak and Spell once more. God damn is that thing creepy. I tried to keep conscious for as long as I could, but I soon blacked out.

-Quarantine Zone Omega-

I looked over my completed project. I have to say, beside the expensive and hard-to-find components, this would have to have been filed under 'Best Damn Internet Schematics Ever'. I flexed my fingers and waved my right hand around, getting a feel for the gauntlet's weight and encumbrance. I flicked the switch near my elbow, the glove humming to life, the green LED's on it's left and right smiling to me.

"Huh. Actually works... let's see if the pressure switch is working..." I muttered to myself, pressing my middle finger into the pressure switch situated in my palm. Nothing, so I pushed harder. Soon, I found myself pushing with all four available fingers, and nothing. Taking the tweaker screwdriver from my desk, I twisted a nut on the side of the glove, relieving some pressure. I gave the switch one last push with my middle and ring fingers, the gauntlet answering me with a metallic grinding sound and two extra sharp metal blades protruding from the gauntlet about a eight inches out. I grinned like a kid on his birthday, and swung the weapon around, the titanium blades swishing through the air like a hot knife through air.

Pressing the pressure plate once more, the blades slid into the glove's top reserve, safely stored in case I needed them. And now, I thought, for the coup de grace. I picked the second machine up, this one a similar glove built from the dismembered guts of an old touch-scree computer I had, and the button remains of an XBOX 360 controller attached to the bottom section. Sliding the power connector, which ran up the side of my torso, down my arm, and into the glove, I flipped the computer lid up, and pressed what used to be a A button on the control, the screen lighting bright blue, the words 'Welcome Doctor' appearing across it.

A white bar ran across the top of the display, showing the amount of power the glove had. Full, which was always better then not full. Flipping the lid on the small computer down, I stood from my chair and walked about the lab for a bit, getting a feel for how it would weigh, both parts on my hands. A bit heavy, slightly cumbersome, but on the whole, it was nothing I felt that I couldn't deal with or adapt to.

From the door, there came a knock.

"Come in." I responded, pressing the pressure sensor in my palm twice more, causing the blades to extend and retreat once, the metal 'shink' echoing twice around the room. The door opened a little, and Trinny stuck her head in. "Hey, sis. Whas'sup?"

"Got a minute, Jake?" She asked. I simply nodded and motioned her in. "It's about Saline."

"What's she got herself into?"

"More specifically, what's she got in her getting itself into? Lemme show you..." She retreated behind he door and spoke some to, who I assumed was, Saline. I couldn't hear what they were saying. The door swung free, the two Revenants walking in.

The first thing I noticed about Saline was the large tubular-shaped bone structures on her back, covered in a similar chitin-like material. The SECOND thing was the black, segmented tail swishing behind her.

"Why, Saline..." I muttered, shocked, but trying to control myself. "You've grown a tail. I always liked a girl who was a rebel."

"Knock it off, Jake... you gotta help me... I don't know what I'm becoming... I could turn into a full... I dunno, a full alien thing, and kill you all! I'm scared!"

"It's alright. If this IS the F.E.V., Saline, you're not going to loose your mind and become a Geist. Just, come here, and have a seat. I'll look into things for you." She sat down, her entire suit back torn open to allow the bone-tubes through. "Looks like you're gonna have to start wearing clothing cut low in the back. Or start wearing nothing..." I muttered idly.

"Good bye suits and ties, hello tanktops..." She responded. I took hold of her segmented tail, gliding one hand under it, and the other over the top, running my hand over the ridge, and down to the barb on the end. As my hand glanced over the spear-like barb on her tail, she shivered. "Whoa... what the-"

"It's okay, Saline. Typical response. The nerves in your tail, being less-protected then the ones on the rest of your body, are going to be much more sensative then usual. You'll be able to feel things with your tail, better then you do with your hands..." I ran a finger around the base of the barb, Saline shivering again. "And it'll also make for an interesting pleasure sensor..."

"Jake!" Trinsha barked. "Stop being a pervert, and do your job!"

"Oi! Facts are facts, Trinny, I speak only the truth. Besides. 'All work and no play makes Jake a dull boy'." I responded, dropping the tail, the serpent-like appendage waving neutrally in the air. I strode up beside the tail, to the tubes on her back. I reached up to touch them.

"Careful..." She muttered as I took a flashlight from my coat pocket. I took a look inside one of the tubes, the innermost structure of them very much resembling the human ear, with the exception of the small fleshy disk in the middle.

"Curious..." I muttered. "She's got a Variance Sensor down there..."

"A what?" Saline asked.

"Variance Sensor. It's a organism which detects air disturbances and transmits them to their parent organism. Funny thing is, it's a parasite which can only be found,very recently, I might add, in Malaysia... How'd YOU get one... no..." I took a quick peek into the other tubes. "Scratch that. How'd you get FOUR?"

"What will it do to me." I took a few steps back, and faced her back, and with one hand, gave her the bird. "What the hell was that for?!" She barked, not even looking at me.

"Prove a point. Those organisms have turned you into one big freakin' motion tracker. They detect air movements, therefore can detect any motion behind you. But to what range? I suppose we can't answer anything. To surmise, Saline, I can only conclude a few things. One, you're still perfectly you. No snarly, Revenant-eating alien for you. And the second thing is, you look positively fabulous with that tail. The tubes, I could do without, but damn." Jumping off the table, she turned around to face me.

"Are you sure?" I simply nodded.

"Of course. Girls with tails are a 'yes, please' for me."

"No... about staying me."

"Huh? OH! Oh, yea. Hell yea. The F.E.V. either turns you into a Giest, or a Revenant. Never one then the other."

"But this is a new strain. What's to say she won't?" Trinsha piped up.

"Now, now, now, Trinny. Some things are harder to change then others. Don't worry about anything, Saline. Come the morn, you'll feel oodles better." I gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "Go one. Get you some sleep."

"You too, Jake." Trinsha responded. I smiled.

"Yea, yea... I'll get some sleep." She nodded in approval. After they both left, I slipped both gloves off, took off my lab coat, and slipped into bed, not even bothering to take off my shoes. Exhausted, I was out like a light.

Ending Author's Note: I threw in an Alien reference, so I see it only fair to put a Predator reference in. Eh. And no. Jake will never gain the ability to turn invisible. Sorry.