Resident Evil: End of Days

The Reaper Antibody

Near evening, Rebecca and Chris call the doctors over to check over my vitals. Since everything looks all right, they give the go ahead and let me go. But before we can leave, the doctors note that my bloodwork was overdue.

Well...all right, I guess it's time to stick a needle in my arm...

I...wasn't necessarily counting on black goop being pulled out of my veins...

Rebecca's utterly horrified, Chris is confounded, and I watch as the nurse pulls the needle from my arm, horrified, fascinated, but above all, shocked.

"I see the Antibody has taken effect."

Fuck the Grim Reaper! I look over, and he's standing at the doorway with crossed arms, unamused.

"I suppose I should have explained that, in the process of resurrecting you, I gave your immune system a full DNA reconfiguration."

"You did what?!" Rebecca asks, horrified.

"Simple man terms," The Reaper states, "Leon's blood coagulates the moment it's drawn from his body as a defense mechanism. It would be entirely useless to anyone who tries to take his blood for their own gain. Furthermore, if ingested, inhaled or injected, it acts as a degenerative toxin. It attacks the immune system, breaks it down, and renders the body incapable of protecting itself from inside or outside circumstances like cancer."

"But...!" Rebecca is distraught. "Why?"

"Because of what the antibody can do," The Grim Reaper answers Rebecca. "It's a hyper-immunity cell that not only identifies any or all viruses from its DNA strains, but develops proteins to combat the virus and break it down to nothingness. Once the virus is consumed, the DNA from it remains in the immune system and is ready to combat any further experimentations and strains from previous viruses. In other words, Leon is incapable of turning into a mindless beast."

I feel my heart leap, but the joy only lasts for such a short moment. 

Good news, I can fight viruses. Bad news...only I can fight viruses. Chris and Rebecca would have to rely on man-made vaccines to keep from turning if they were ever infected. 

...this is cruel! 

"Why can't I donate my blood to anyone who can use it?" I ask. "I could be saving lives!"

"And have that saving grace extracted from them at risk of being genetically manipulated?" The Reaper asks. "I'm sorry but that's a risk I cannot take."

I suddenly realize how right he is, as I can't find a way to argue back with him. Deep in my bones, in my foggy memories, somewhere, I know he's right. My blood could save lives, but the research data that the hospitals would use would end up bring broadcasted through the W.H.O. network, and someone would find that research and try to use my blood against the people I would try so hard to save.

...how did I know that?

No, never mind that. How did I know about the consequences of releasing my samples through the W.H.O. network? Who taught me that?

...seems like my memories are playing games with me.

Rebecca is about to argue, but my hand goes to her arm. 

"He's right," I state to both Chris and Rebecca. "If what he says is true, then that's something I can't risk for anyone. Either my blood being used to further destroy people, or it being used as a toxin...I can't have that happen at all."

"But Leon...!" Rebecca pleads with me.

I shake my head. "I'm sorry."

For a while both Chris and Rebecca remain quiet. However, Chris then asks, "But how do we know the Antibody would work? That'd mean..."

"Putting Leon through tests," Rebecca finishes. She looks at me, as well as Chris.

"No!" Chris objects. "No, I'm not going to let this happen right now. I'm not going to let Leon be turned into a guinea pig for scientific reasons."

"I know but we need to see if it works!" Rebecca tells him. "If it really does work, like the Reaper said, then we need to be able to let Leon decide if he should take on that responsibility of handling the Corporations and the Cults."

Is that doubt? I frown and tell Rebecca, "I can take the tests. If the Reaper thinks I can handle it, then let's give it a shot. If I die, I die. At least we know it was worth a shot into this."

Rebecca looks at me. She asks, "...are you sure Leon?"

Chris shakes his head. "Leon, come on man, don't do this."

I watch him for a moment. I can see he's conflicted as hell, worried about my well-being. His jaw rolls as his teeth grinds, but he finally gives in with a reluctant sigh.

"...fine," he surrenders. He looks at me. "But the minute you say you're done, you're done. All right?"

I nod slowly. "Yeah...I'll let you know."