Yes, and more bio-DNA

Rick was happy about what the bio-DNA was doing to him but he could have done without the wracking pain that came with it. Still, he dropped Kat off about a block from her apartment so any curious boyfriends wouldn't see him, then headed for Dallas.

All over Texas, a combination of zoning ordinances, aggressive policing, and general right-wing paranoia had led to the demonization of the homeless and their resulting consolidation into the central cities... where, because of their numbers, they became a more visible presence which, in turn could be used to stir up even more right-wing paranoia. Rick had always considered himself a conservative, had always suspected that the homeless really were to blame for their problems (or a bunch of crazy and pathetic people who just couldn't really be helped), but his recent experience had opened his eyes perhaps even more than the bio-DNA had. Now he was one of them.

He parked his car near a downtown Walmart, used a little of his remaining cash to buy sun guards for his windshield and a couple of bottles of water, and took another dose of bio-DNA.

He was complimenting himself on surviving when the real impact hit. As before, he doubled over, reswallowed everything his body tried to eliminate, and generally made a mess in his car but didn't care because he was so busy trying to decide if he'd rather survive or just die and end the pain.

It took about half an hour but he felt like it had lasted longer... which he eventually figured was due to the sky getting lighter.

Dallas, like most big cities, never really gets dark. Millions of lights... from houses, billboards, storefronts, searchlights, and streetlights, create a constant glow that drowns out the stars but doesn't really provide enough light to see. Except now, there was plenty. Rick looked out his side window and saw stars he hadn't seen in years. The gloom seemed to have been replaced by a day-like glow, yet the sky remained black.

Bio-DNA was 'fixing' him again. He wasn't sure what he could do with near-perfect night vision but, once again, he was at the mercy of the alpha version of bio-DNA. He had no way to fine-tune the effects.

He tried to settle down for some sleep when his phone rang.