"What have I become? Something less than human, but also something more" – Doctor Alex Mercer.

(The fallowing is the a summery of the events of the video game Prototype)

In the year 2009 Alex Mercer awoke in a morgue.

Soon he found he had the ability to consume or absorb people, and take their form. Whenever he consumed someone, he was able to see their memories. Their memories, became his.

His shapeshifting ability was not limited to just changing his face, however. He also possessed the ability to change his arms into a variety of weapons.

The first power he gained was known as the Claw ability. His fingers would lengthen into long viscous claws, which he could use to rip his enemies to shreds. With this power he could also summon spikes from the ground.

Next, Mercer acquired the Hammer Fist ability. His fists would grow huge, and become hard as a rock. He could use this ability to smash apart tanks and cars.

Then he gained the Whip Fist ability. His arm would turn into a long flexible tentacle like appendage, lined with metallic blades. The Whip Fist could stretch to incredible lengths for long range attacks. This proved very useful.

His next ability was the Muscle Mass ability. Granting him with the power to make a person explode with just one punch.

Eventually he gained one of his most well known powers, The Blade. His arm would turn into an enormous blade, about the size of his body, that could cut through the armor of a tank with ease.

He also gained the Armor ability. The ability to create a hard shell like armor around his body, that could protect him from anything from bullets, to rockets. (He could also create a shield).

He also gained some truly devastating abilities. Being able to create an explosion of tentacles from his body, and summon waves of spikes from the ground.

As his powers stated to grow, an outbreak of a virus known as black light had broken out. The virus created an army of zombies, and monsters. An army lead by a woman named Elizabeth Green.

Green had similar powers to Mercer, and she set out to spread the virus across the globe.

Alex Mercer eventually was able to stop Elizabeth Green, and consume her.

With the head of the virus eliminated, the armies of the undead had been weakened, the battle was almost done. However the military did not believe the virus could be stopped. They had planned to nuke the city, to stop the virus from spreading (The needs of the many, out way the needs of the few)

In all the chaos Alex Mercer learned that it was HE who had released the virus. Before he had awakened in the morgue, he was studying the black light virus. Realizing what it was, he set out to take down his employers, Black Watch. He took a sample of the virus, and intended to expose Black Watch.

However Black Watch had found him out, and hunted him.

With his back to the wall, Alex Mercer threw the sample of the virus to the ground, releasing it. Black Watch then shot Alex Mercer to death.

Mercer's body landed on the vile of the virus. The virus had entered mercers body through his wounds. The virus slowly took over Mercer's boy, replacing every one of his cells.

The virus brought Alex Mercer back from the dead.

Alex Mercer was no longer human, he was the virus.

Alex Mercer set out to stop the military from bombing New York.

He found himself on an aircraft carrier battling a monster known as the supreme hunter.

After killing the supreme hunter, he attached the nuclear bomb to a helicopter and flew it out into the bay.

Alex Mercer seemingly sacrificed himself to save New York.

However Alex Mercer did not die. His helicopter crashed from the explosion, and his body was turned to a bloody pulp. However the blood and guts of Alex Mercer formed themselves back into a full body.

Once again, the virus had brought Alex Mercer back from the dead.

(And that was the events of the video game Prototype, we now move on from this point)

...

Alex Mercer barged into the lab where his sister Dana Mercer was being held.

Dana had been unconscious ever since Alex Mercer had rescued her from Elizabeth Green.

"Dana?" Alex said trying to shake her awake.

"A...Alex w-what happened?" Dana said weakly.

"Long story" Said Alex with a smile. "Now we gotta get out of here"

Alex then brought Dana outside, and they both got in a helicopter and flew away.

"When did you learn how to fly a helicopter?" Dana asked.

"I uh..." Alex said. "I'm a fast learner"

"You ate someone who could fly, didn't you?" Dana said.

"Uh... maybe."

"Man I keep forgetting about your, thing you got going."

"My powers?" Alex added.

"Yeah" Said Dana. "I suppose it'll take some getting used to."

"Yeah I guess," Said Alex. "If you want, I can drop you off somewhere, leave you alone. You'll never have to see me again."

"Alex no!" Said Dana. "As I said before, no matter what, you're still my brother, and I still love you."

"Dana I'm not..." Alex said. "I'm not Alex Mercer any more, I'm the virus, I'm a monster."

"Alex that's nonsense" Dana assured him, "Underneath all of these powers, my big brother is still in there. No matter what, I'll stick by you till the end."

"I hope you're right" Said Alex.

"I am right Alex." Said Dana.

"Man," Said Alex. "After all this, I could really use a vacation. Maybe sit by the beach, sipping on one of those fruity drinks, just forget about all of this."

"That sure does sound nice" Said Dana.

"You know, I can't help but feel I'm forgetting about something. Like some loose end or something." Alex pondered.

...

Alex and Dana, then traveled the world for about a year.

Officially the government declared that doctor Alex Mercer, had died from the Black Light virus, which was renamed The Mercer Virus.

Alex and Dana laid low. However trouble was everywhere. Alex wanted nothing more than to live a quiet and peaceful life with his sister. So he tried to stay out of any big conflicts or wars. But he did deal with small crimes, in the way only he could.

He used his powers to take down small time murderers and crooks, even a few small underground crime rings. All while keeping to the shadows.

Over time Mercers powers grew even more. He gained at least three new abilities.

One he liked to call The Staff ability. He gained the ability to create a long bony staff that he could use as a melee weapon, or throw it like a spear.

He also gained the ability to shoot spikes out of his hands.

But the coolest and most terrifying new power he got was the Tendrils. The ability to create thick red, web-like tentacles that would attach themselves to a victim, tether them to a wall, and pull them apart, leaving their mangled body parts suspended in mid air.

Eventually Alex and Dana Mercer found themselves settling down in a small town in Canada.

Not the tropical paradise they had hoped for, but it was quiet and peaceful, just as Alex wanted.

...

Alex had changed quite a bit over the years, he had grown a beard, and hung up his black leather jacket. Now he instead wore a red and black checkered flannel shirt most of the time, and had gotten a job at a logging company, under the name Alex Maxwell. Alex was living the life of a woodsmen up in Canada.

It had been at least a year or two, since he used his powers. Quite frankly he was starting to forget he even had powers.

One day he was visiting his favorite coffee shop. The shop hardly ever saw much business, often Alex was the only customer.

"Morning Ashley." He had said to the lady at the checkout counter. A pretty young blond women with a beautiful smile.

Ashley was a bit of a tom boy, but not to the point where she looked like a man. She didn't were the most feminine of clothing, but her hair was long and well kept.

"Hey Alex" Ashley said with a smile. "What can I get ya?"

"You know Ash." Said Alex. "I've been coming here a lot."

"Well you are our best customer." Said Ashley.

"You uh..." Alex was hesitant. "You think you'd like to... um... maybe grab a drink sometime?"

"Sure" Said Ashley.

...

The Next day Alex took Ashley to the fanciest restaurant he could find in the small town.

He had also shaved his beard.

"So uh Alex" Said Ashley. "Tell me a little bit about yourself."

"What's to tell" Said Alex. "I graduated top of my class, and got my doctorate degree in genetics."

"You're a doctor?" Ashley asked. "Why are you working as a lumber jack then?"

"Well" Said Alex. "I did have a job as a scientist working for the government. But that didn't end well."

"Oh" Said Ashley.

"I'd rather not go into the gory details" Alex told her.

"Sounds rough." Said Ashley.

"Oh you have no idea" Alex said.

Soon the waiter came over, to take their order.

"So you like movies?" Ashley asked as they ate their meal.

"Yeah." Said Alex. "Especially the classics. Jaws is a good one."

"Gonna need a bigger boat" Said Ashley, taking a sip from her drink.

"You know the thing about a shark" Alex quoted, "It's got black eye's like a dolls eye's. When it bites ya, those black eyes roll over white. Then comes the high pitched holerin' and screamin'"

"Show me the way to go home" Ashley started to sing, "I'm tired and I wanna go to bed."

"I had a little drink about an hour ago, and it's getting right to my head." Alex joined in.

"Wherever I may roam, by land or see or foam" they both started to sing. After a while everyone in the restaurant started to glair at the two.

"I think people are getting annoyed" Said Ashley, then she started to laugh.

"So what movies do you like?" Alex asked.

"Well I really liked that movie, The Avengers." She said.

"That is a good one." Alex said.

"You know that cute little waitress captain America saves toward the end?" Said Ashley.

"I think so..."

"I heard she was supposed to play a bigger role in the film, but they decided not to. Guess she was doing other things." Said Ashley, "I heard she's also in a video game or something."

"Is that so." Said Alex. "You like games?"

"Yeah" Said Ashley. "Personally I like the more story driven games, like Uncharted."

"I was always more into open world super hero type games" Alex said. "Infamous is my favorite."

...

After dinner Alex walked Ashley back to her house.

"You know I had a really good time tonight" Said Ashley.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?" Said Alex. "I'll probably stop by your work again for coffee."

"Before you go" Said Ashley, then she leaned in and gave Alex a kiss on the lips. Then she went inside.

"Ok" He said to himself.

"Hey why don't you come in?" Said Ashley

"Uh ok." Said Alex, as he entered the house.

...

The next day Alex again went to that coffee shop. Ashley was again working the counter.

"Hello Alex" Ashley said with a warm smile.
"Hey Ash." Alex said, "That was some night last night huh?"

"Sure was." Said Ashley. "So what can I get ya? You know besides that hot steamy drink I gave you last night." Ashley laughed.

"Had a lot of whipped cream on that one" Alex joked. "Na but for real, I'll just have a coffee, black."

"Well well well" came a deep soothing voice from behind him. One with a slight southern accent. "If it isn't doctor Alex Mercer."

"Mercer?" Said Ashley. "I thought your last name was Maxwell"

Alex turned around to see the man standing behind him.

The man was a tall slender built man. He was wearing a red t-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers.

He had a long face, tired blue eyes, and brown, medium length hair. He had a bright friendly smile, and a golden brown tan.

"I'm sorry?" Alex said, "Do I know you?" He was sure he had never seen this man in his entire life.

"Gabriel Black" The man answered. "We had a few classes together in collage. Genetics."

"Rrrriiiiiggghhhtt" Said Alex. He still didn't recognize him. But then he sensed something, something he had not sensed in a long time. "Oh Gabe!" He said enthusiastically, "it's been a long time."

"Hey I'll buy your drink for ya." Said Gabe. "Least I can do for an old friend."

"Alright." Said Alex.

They got their drinks and sat down at a table near the window. The only ones in the Coffee shop were Alex, Gabe, and Ashley.

"I know who you are Gabe" Said Alex.

"Oh?" Said Gabe.

"I can sense the virus, and you reek of it." Alex said.

"The Mercer Virus?" Said Gabe. "DX1118"

"I've never seen your face before, but I have heard your name. I heard your name in the memories of the men I've killed." Said Alex. "You're him, Elizabeth Green's son. You're Pariah."

The man across from Alex smiled. "In the shapeshifting, viral flesh."

"So is this some sort of disguise?"

"Nope" Said Pariah. "This is the real me."

"Really?" Said Alex. "I... from what I've heard about you. The power you have. You were the stuff of legends. You've been said to be the ultimate life form the final purpose of all life on earth. I just would never expect you to look like, well... THIS!"

"Well what DID you expect." Said Pariah. "Some 6 foot 4 hideous monster. That thing you fought on that air craft carrier?"

"Well" said Alex. "I was kind of expecting something, I don't know, creepier. Something a little more frightening, like the stuff nightmares are made of. But instead I'm sitting here looking at a guy who looks a HELL of a lot like..."

"Like who?"

"MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY!" Alex pointed out

Pariah leaned back in his seat, "Well, alright, alright, alright." He said. "I'll take that as a compliment. Mcconaughey IS a GRAET actor, he KILLED it in interstellar."

"Yeah. I mean I know you're not Matthew Mcconaughey, you don't look exactly like him, but you have quite the resemblance to Matthew Mcconaughey." Said Alex. "So Where did you come up with the name Gabriel Black?"

"No where really." Said Pariah . "Just thought it sounded cool. You know Gabriel is a common name, and Black kind of has a cool ring to it. Other than that it don't mean nothin'"

"Huh?" Said Alex. "Thought it might be a reference to something."

"So who's the cutie working the front desk." Pariah asked, "Ashley right."

"Don't you dare even think about laying a hand on her." Alex snapped.

"Yo Ashley!" Said Pariah.

"Yeah!" Ashley responded.

"Your boyfriend here says I look like Matthew Mcconaughey." Pariah said. "What do you think?"

"Oh my gosh" Said Ashley. "You kind of do! You even sound like him!"

"What do you want, Pariah!" Alex demanded. "you here to avenge your mother?"

"Nah Mercer!" Pariah said. "I just wanted to meet you is all. I've heard a lot about you too, you know. Government says you're dead. However legends have been popping up about Alex Mercer, the man who came back from the other side, and brought death itself with him. I see now, that the rumors are true."

"So" Pariah continued. "You got a thing for the blond, huh? Hey Ashley, can you come here for a minute?"

"What are you doing." Alex asked.

Ashley walked over. "You need something?"

"Yeah" Said Pariah. "How about you get us another round of drinks, this time how about YOU pay for them."

"Uh... I can get you more drinks" Said Ashley, "But either you or Alex will have to pay for them. If my boss finds out I gave you free drinks I could lose my job."

"Oh come on" Said Pariah "What if I said please" He looked at her, and his eyes started to glow red.

Ashley's face went blank. She walked over to the counter, got some coffee, and brought it to them.

"Here you go gentlemen." She said. "On the house"

"What was that?" Alex asked.

"Oh." Said Pariah, "Could it be that there's things about the Mercer virus even the great Alex Mercer doesn't know? I can control people's minds. See watch." Pariah then picked up a butter knife, and handed it to Ashley. Pariah's eyes again started to glow red. "Hey Ashley. Do me a favor and... jam this knife into your throat, and cut open your own throat."

Ashley held the knife for a few seconds. Her eyes wide.

Alex Mercer was stunned, he had no idea what was going on. Before he could react it was too late.

Ashley shoved the knife into her neck as hard as she could. A look of pain shot across her face as she shoved the dull blade through the flesh of her neck, into her veins. She then pulled the knife from one end of her throat to the other. Blood shot out of her neck as she opened up her own throat.

The table, and the two customers sitting at it became drenched in Ashley's blood.

Mercer's face had a look of shock and horror, while Pariah just laughed.

Ashley collapsed to the ground, and Alex rushed to her. He picked up her head and held her in his arms, as Pariah stood over him, eyes glowing red.

"ASHLEY!" Mercer screamed.

Ashley coughed up blood. She tried to speak, but couldn't. She died within seconds.

"So Mercer" Said Pariah, his eyes glowing red. "What shall I make you do."

Mercer looked at him in shock.

"Nah I'm kidding" Said Pariah. "My mind control power doesn't work on runners like us. On the evolved. You've gotten soft Mercer. Humanity is nothing to us, we've moved beyond mortals. Even people like this cute little blond don't matter to us. We're gods Alex, and it's time we show mankind our wrath. You're not even Alex Mercer anymore, you're a monster like me! That being said, I think I'll pay Alex Mercer's sister a visit next."

Pariah then ran out of the building at blinding speeds, and Alex Mercer fallowed.

...

Alex made it back to his house. He walked into his living room to see Dana standing in the living room.

"Alex I was just looking for you" Dana said. "I just ran into this guy, says he's a friend of your. Says his name is Gabriel Black"

Just then Pariah stepped out of the kitchen.

"Oh hey Alex." He said. "Just in time for breakfast."

"Dana, you stay the hell away from this man!" Alex said. "He's not who he says he is!"

"Oh come on Alex" Said Pariah.

Then Alex walked over to Pariah and punched him in the face.

"ALEX!" Dana screamed.

"Well then" Said Pariah. Then he punched Alex so hard he sent him flying through the solid wooden front door, out into the snow.

"You really think you can run away from this?" Said Pariah as he walked out the door. Pariah was holding Dana by the neck with his left hand. His right hand had shifted into his claw power, and had his claws pressed against Dana's back. "You think you can just run away, and live a normal life? That you can start a family, have some kids. Guys like us Mercer, we don't get that! These humans, they're just vermin of the earth, and it's up to us to irradiate them." He then stabbed his claws through Dana's body.

Then he wrapped his hand tighter around Dana's throat as blood poured out of her mouth. He ripped Dana's head and spine from her body, like Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat.

Pariah then consumed Dana's remains.

"I'll be in town if you want to talk about this." Pariah said. "Look for me at that coffee shop we like. That Ashley, makes some pretty good coffee don't you think?"

Then just like that, Pariah was gone.

Alex walked into his house, and into his bedroom.

He opened his closet.

He smiled as soon as he found it.

His old Black Leather Jacket, grey hoodie, blue jeans, and cowboy boots.

He picked up the jacket. For a few seconds he stood there. He stared at the red wings painted on the back, like Kal El staring at the S on his outfit.

He put the outfit on, draped the hood over his face, and looked at himself in the mirror.

"Gabriel Black," Said Alex Mercer, "You wanted a Monster, well now you've got one."

...

Pariah sat at the coffee shop, watching the police examine the body of the girl that used to work there. Not long now until it's ruled a suicide.

Just then a dark figure walked into the door.

"Doctor Mercer" Said Pariah. "You made it to the party"

"Enough talk" Said Alex. "Let's finish this" Alex then shifted his arms into his claws.

The cops in the room immediately turned their guns on Mercer.

"Oh please" Said Pariah, as his arm turned into the Whipfist (see beginning of chapter)

With one move Pariah sliced all the cops in half. "How about we go outside and settle this like in the old west"

...

The cold street was deserted, Pariah and Mercer stood facing each other. As a Raven came to rest on a nearby street lamp

They rushed toward each other at the speed of sound, as they collided they sent out a shockwave that caused the nearby buildings to collapse.

Mercer grabbed Pariah and threw him into a passing truck.

The truck fell over sideways and crushed a young boy and girl (about high school age) who were out on a date.

The driver of the truck climbed out. "what happened?" He said.

Then Pariah grabbed the truck driver, and infected him with his bio bomb ability.

Pariah threw the now explosive man, at Alex Mercer.

The man landed on Mercer and exploded, knocking mercer to the ground.

A car drove by.

Pariah grabbed the car, and threw it at Alex Mercer.

Alex took out his blade, and cut the car in half before it could hit him.

The two halves of the car, landed and exploded behind Alex Mercer.

Alex leapt into the air, toward Pariah.

As he landed Alex used his blade to slice Pariah's arm off.

Pariah's arm quickly grew back. Long tentacles grew out of Pariah's back, hoisting him up into the air. Pariah the moved further into the town. He used his tentacles to pick up a couple small houses, and hurled them at Mercer.

Mercer dodged the houses as the families inside screamed.

"Well Mercer!" Pariah said as his eyes, and veins started to glow red. "Am I creepy enough now?"

Then Lazers shot out of Pariah's eyes (I am not kidding).

Mercer quickly dodged the blasts from Pariah's eye lazars. "oh You have got to be FUCKING kidding me!!!!!"

Alex Mercer then took off like a rocket, and flew into Pariah.

The force of Alex Mercer hitting Pariah caused the both of them to shoot upward into outer space. (Still not kidding)

Mercer and Pariah landed on the moon.

Alex Mercer , picked the American flag out of the surface of the moon, and stabbed it through Pariah.

Pariah ripped the flag out of his body and snapped it in half with his knee. He then used his tentacles to pick up the lunar rover, and smash it into Alex Mercer.

...

Meanwhile back on earth, in the small town Mercer was living in, (but a few blocks away, where the people didn't see the fight)

Two kids were arguing in their room.

"We did so go to the moon" Said one kid.

"Nuh uh," Said the other kid, "It was a conspiracy by the USA to bankrupt the Russians"

"Well I guess we'll just have to see with my super advanced telescope" Said the first kid.

They both then looked into the telescope at the moon.

"You see the American flag?" Asked the second kid.

"No" Said the first.

"See I told you."

"But I do see two guys in an epic super powered battle. Like a scene from dragon ball z" Said the first kid. "I think one of the guys might be Matthew Mcconaughey."

"What, let me see!"

...

Back on the moon, Mercer and Pariah were still going at it

Pariah slashed at Mercer with his claws. Pariah's claws cut trough Mercer, blood came out of Mercer and floated in the low gravity.

As Mercer and Pariah hacked and slashed at each other, they became surrounded in a cloud of crimson red blood, floating in near zero Gs.

Mercer smashed the ground with his hammer fist creating a shock wave that sent Pariah up into the air, (or lack of air.)

Mercer flew up, and punched Pariah.

They both rocketed back toward the earth. Punching and slashing at each other the whole way down.

...

"Oh wow," Said one of the kids watching from a telescope. "That's something you don't see every day."

Mercer and Pariah hurdled toward the earth at great speeds.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!" Screamed the two kids as the super powered beings plummeted toward their house.

Mercer and Pariah landed directly into the bedroom of the two kids, who were just before arguing over the moon landing.

The impact caused an explosion that destroyed the entire town.

As the smoke cleared, Mercer and Pariah slowly got up to their feet, and looked around at the massive crater.

"You see Mercer." Said Pariah. "You can't play the hero, we are on a totally different plain than these humans."

Mercer ran toward Pariah.

Before he reached Pariah, Pariah uppercutted Mercer, sending him 500 feet in the air.

Pariah jumped up, and punched Mercer in mid air, sending him flying into the side of a mountain.

Alex Mercer was crushed under boulders the size of buildings as the mountain collapsed on top of him.

"Not even you could have survived that." Said Pariah. "So long Alex Mercer."

A raven flew in and rested on Pariah's shoulder, and he walked away.

...

A few days later, a deer was walking through the forest. The deer came across a HUGE pile of rubble.

The deer got closer to the rubble. A small trickle of blood ran down one of the rocks creating a small crimson puddle on the ground.

The deer sniffed the puddle of blood. Suddenly tentacles shot out of the puddle, and wrapped around the deer.

The fleshy red substance oozed its way around the deer's body and consumed it.

The bloody fleshy goo started to grow and take human form. It turned back into Alex Mercer.

Once again, the virus had brought Alex Mercer back from the dead.

"PARIAH!!!!!!" He screamed to the heavens, "This isn't over!!!!!"

...

Mercer spent the next few years trying to track down Pariah, to no success.

Eventually he found himself working at a hospital in a small, Midwestern American town called Royal Woods.

Once again he used the alias Alex Maxwell.

Yes it was obvious, yes he knew Pariah could easily find him, but then again, that was the idea.

All he had left was killing Pariah, he was sure the feeling was mutual. Two men with god like powers, who's only purpose was to kill the other.

Working as a doctor was just a cover.

This time he knew Alex Maxwell was an obvious cover for Alex Mercer, and he knew Pariah knew it.

He didn't even change his face.

All he had to do was play the good little doctor. Use his vast knowledge to cure as many patients as he could, and his social skills (which you'd pick up after literally turning into a hundred different people with different personalities) to console the families of the ones he could not save.

He just needed to sit back, and wait for Pariah, to come to him, and when he does. He'll finish him.

...

In the year 2017. Alex Maxwell (real name Alex Mercer) would treat a patient who would change his life.

"So this kid's dying?" Alex asked his nurse.

"Yes doctor" Said the nurse, "All we can do, is to ease his passing."

Alex really didn't give a shit about this kid, or any of his patients, they were just a means to an end. However he had a reputation to keep. So he did what he always did, he faked sympathy.

"Oh that's too bad" He said in the most sincere voice he could. "I can't imagine what the family must be going through."

He walked into the room, a young boy had been hooked up to some machines to help him breath. The child couldn't have been more than 11 years old, but what was truly odd about him, was his ghostly white hair.

Alex looked at the sheet of paper on his clip board.

"Lincoln Loud." he said. He then walked over to Lincoln's bed side. "Hey Buddy, I'm Doctor Maxwell, but you can call me Alex if you wish."

Lincoln just looked at him with sad eyes.

"I'm really sorry to tell you, but I don't think we can save you." Alex told Lincoln. "I know this must be terrifying for you."

"It is..." Lincoln said. "But... I knew this, I was diagnosed a few weeks ago."

"Well I hope you made the best of those last few weeks" Alex said with a smile.

Lincoln didn't answer.

"The family is waiting outside" The Nurse informed him.

Alex walked outside to meet the Loud family. He first noticed, the Louds were a bit bigger than most families. They probably had about 10 daughters, and the one son who lay dying in the other room.

It was not the first time Alex had treated a member of a big family, nor was this the biggest family he had seen in his career.

Once he treated a little girl who belonged to a family of 12, another time he treated the father of 8 children.

The biggest family he treated was one with 15 kids.

This was also not the first time the member of the big family he treated was on deaths door. To Doctor Alex Mercer, the Loud family was nothing special.

Until he saw one of its members in particular. A girl about fifteen years of age, with short brown hair, and a purple shirt, and skirt. He would soon find out this girl was named Luna Loud.

Ordinarily nothing special about her either. Other than the fact that she looked JUST like Dana Mercer. Alex Mercer's now dead sister.

As the family poured into the room to say goodbye to the little white haired boy, Alex started looking at the situation with new eyes.

As the family grieved, Alex actually started to feel bad for them. Maybe because of his sister, somehow he could see a bit of himself in this Lincoln kid.

Not himself as he is now, but when he was younger, more innocent.

Then another thought occurred to him. Alex Mercer lost to Pariah the first time. Now Pariah would undoubtedly be much stronger than before.

Alex Mercer might not be able to take this monster on his own.

He could use an ally.

Alex excused himself, and went into his office.

This kid, this Lincoln Loud may not look like much, and he isn't much Alex thought, But once the Mercer Virus is in his system. He will become like a god! He'll likely side with me after I saved his life, and so will his family after I bring their kid back from the dead. Plus Pariah would just as soon kill every last one of them. I may not be a saint but I am the lesser of two evils.

Alex sat down at his desk. He took a sample of his blood. He was able to extract just the right strand of virus from his own DNA, he then mixed it into a solution of water, and a sedative he knew would not react with the virus. (He didn't want any unforeseen results.)

The solution he made was clear, with a slight pink tint to it.

He walked back to Lincoln's room. He told the family he had a sedative to ease Lincoln's passing, but in reality it would do much more than that.

Alex injected the virus into Lincoln's IV.

Once the virus hit Lincoln's blood stream, it immediately started to feed on his blood cells, growing and multiplying. As the virus fed off of Lincoln's body, it was able to read his DNA. It was able to copy his exact cells, and DNA. As the virus made its way through Lincoln's body, it began to replace his cells as fast as it ate them, (he could not feel this).

After a few short moments, the tumors on Lincoln's heart, caused his heart to stop. However, even with his blood flow stopped, the virus was able to spread through his body, however much slower. At this rate, it would be a few days before the virus could take full effect on Lincoln Loud. That would give enough time for the family to mourn their loss. (If only they knew)

...

"Subject, Loud, Lincoln." Stated one of the doctors in the morgue examining Lincoln's body. "Age 11. Cause of death; a formation of tumors on the heart, and in the brain."

"Man..." Said the other doctor. "That's so fucking sad isn't it."

"The kid?"

"The poor little guy was only 11." Said the second doctor. "I can't even imagine what the parents must be going through."

"Or his sisters." Said the first doctor. "Kid had 10 sisters."

"That poor family"

"Well when you have 11 kids, odds are that at least one of them won't make it to adulthood."

Just then they heard a loud noise coming from the hallway.

"What was that?" asked the second doctor.

"I'll go check" Said the first one.

"I dunno man" Said the second one. "It feels a lot like those horror movies. You know the ones where they here the creepy noise, and one guy says he'll go check it out. Next thing you know, some maniac with a hockey mask is cutting his head off with a chain saw."

"Machete." The first doctor said.

"Huh?"

"The guy with the hockey mask is Jason Voorhees, and he uses a machete. It's leather face that uses a chainsaw."

"Well if you're gonna be that way." Said the second doctor. "I HOPE fuckin' Jason, or leather face or whoever the fuck, kills your sorry ass."

"Yeah fuck you too." Said the first doctor as he slowly walked out into the hall way.

The hall way was dark, only a few lights were on, and some others were flickering.

"Hello." Said the doctor. "anyone there?"

Then at the end of the hall, he saw a tall dark figure standing in the shadows.

The doctor walked up to the man. The man was wearing a black leather jacket over a grey hoodie, with the hood draped over his face. He also had blue jeans and cowboy boots. He looked like a biker, had a baby with the grim reaper.

"Uh sir." The doctor said politely. "you're not supposed to be here"

"It's ok I'm a doctor." Said the man. "Names Alex Mercer."

"You got any ID?" Asked the first doctor.

"Not on me." Said Alex.

"Then I'm sorry doctor Mercer, but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave."

"Well in that case." Said Alex Mercer. "I'm gonna have to use yours."

"My ID?" The first doctor asked.

"Something like that." Said Alex. Then Alex ripped the doctor's throat out, consumed him, and took his form. "Sorry about that." Alex apologized. "But I really need to check on my investment."

The door to the morgue opened startling the second doctor inside.

"Oh it's just you." Said the second doctor, as the first one walked in. "You see anything?"

"nope." Said the first doctor. "All clear, must have been a cat or something.

The first doctor looked at Lincoln's corpse.

If this doctor was still himself, the dead little boy would just look like a small dead body. Nothing out of the ordinary. But the eyes of Alex Mercer could sense the virus slowly spreading throughout the young boy's body.

"Well." Said the disguised Alex. "Looks like we're done here. Shifts over." Alex then slid Lincoln's body back into the freezer, and left "Have a good night" Alex called back, "Say hi to the family."

...

It was Lincoln's funeral.

Alex Mercer, being a shapeshifter, had many forms stored away in his genetic memory. To avoid attention he had selected the form of a grieving woman, with a black veil over her face.

It was someone you'd expect to see at a funeral, and the veil covered his face, so no one could see the unfamiliar face. No one would ask questions.

He was there to give Lincoln his cell phone. It was easy to get the phone, He was Lincoln's physician at the time of death, and Lincoln's phone was in with his personal belongings.

Alex Mercer sat in his pew listening to the young Luna Loud singing a beautiful rendition of Linkin Park's One More Light.

The beauty of the song almost made Alex forget his mission.

Maybe I should have brought back Chester Bennington. He jokingly thought. Nah, that wouldn't work. In order for the virus to take affect it must be administered before the subject dies. Or at the very least, a few seconds after his or her death.

After the service Alex walked up to Lincoln's coffin.

He had entered his number in Lincoln's contact list. For a name Alex simply wrote CALL ME.

When he was sure no one was watching, he slipped Lincoln's phone into his pocket.

Then he left.

...

As Lincoln's body lay 6 feet under the ground, the Mercer virus had spread into his heart, lungs and brain.

While Lincoln was alive, cancerous tumors had grown in his brain. They had spread through his blood, into his lungs. The tumors had clogged his lungs making it hard to breath. They grew in his stomach causing him to throw up everything he ate, and finally they grew on his heart, causing it to stop.

This is what killed him.

However, now The Mercer Virus was in his system. The virus had consumed and read Lincoln's DNA. From this it could recognize the mutated/ damaged DNA from the tumors, and tell they were not part of Lincoln.

The Virus ate away at the tumors, clearing the space in his lungs and stomach. It also ate the tumors on his heart.

The virus made its way up to Lincoln's brain. It ate away at the tumors in his brain, then the virus infected his brain cells, and caused them to once again fire off.

Once signals, again started to fire in Lincoln's brain. The brain was able to send electric pulses to his heart.

His heart, now cancer free, started to beat, and his lungs once again started to inflate, and fill with air.

The Mercer Virus, had brought Lincoln Loud, back from the dead.