UNKNOWN NARRATOR (PROLOGUE)
A mid-western town in America, Raccoon City. A solitary island far off in the sea, Rockfort Island. An island that would become the second Raccoon City, Shena Island.
There are still many unanswered questions about these seemingly unrelated and yet intensely traumatic events. Although it would later become known that the international pharmaceutical enterprise, Umbrella Incorporated had a hand in these incidents.
Little is known to the origin of this faceless corporation. When was it established… by whom… And how was the T-Virus created? In order to understand and answer these questions that would lead to the eventual downfall of Umbrella and exposure to the world of biological organic weapons; we must delve back in time before it all started… before the mansion incident.
Somewhere on the outskirts of Raccoon City, above the Arklay Mountains. Thursday 23rd July. 20:17 pm.
A seemingly average train miles into the forest outside Raccoon City, one filled with decently-minded individuals. They were the first ones to go when devastation occurred. A small hill hidden away by the thick trees and bushes was occupied by a man clad in white robes. He sang as if he was the main lead in a 90's opera. His tone was angelic and full of youth. It rose in volume and reached the skies above and the train below.
In the fifth cart, the upstairs dining area was a simple man in a suit. All alone with nothing more than a newspaper. He heard singing from the hills outside and looked through the window, the rain drummed on it constantly. He didn't know what to think when he saw the outline of a person on atop a hill, singing like he was in an opera.
Other than rain, something latched onto the window. A blob. Something with a gaping mouth and teeth. It was a leech, a leech with piranha-like teeth. A dozen more followed after, covering the window with gelatinous blobs of brown. Two dozen. Then they landed on top of the roof. The man was scared and left his seat in fear, people started to scream. The leeches broke through the roof and some of the windows, biting and covering people with their superior numbers.
Dozens of terrified people battled each other to get away through the doors and windows, no one was safe. The drivers were swarmed and then the train slowed down to a soft halt. Minutes passed and the train was still motionless. Surrounded by death, the screaming and crying stopped shortly after.
Two hours later on a side road through the Arklay Forest.
Former Second-Lieutenant Billy Coen. Under Clause 1: Article 118 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice within the United States Marine Corp, you have been found guilty for the murder of twenty three civillians. You will receive capital punishment for this, soldier. You will be escorted to the Regathon Base, where you will face execution for your crimes. May God have Mercy on your soul, as no one else will; you monster.
That day of his trail haunted every waking moment. Billy Coen stared at his handcuffs in a mix of anger and regret. In the back of his transport van he often twiddled his cuffs to pass the time, almost rhythmic at time since he grown accustomed to the sound of the metal. He never pictured this is where his life would end up.
A good loyal soldier was he, and because he decided he did not want to partake in a senseless massacre; he was now to die whilst the man who gave the order continued to live. He kicked at the steel seat in front of him in anger, briefly picturing said spot being the nuts of Major Jonathan Ryker, the man who threw him under the bus.
One of the men in front banged on the wall between the front and the back. "Hey! Keep it down back their, maggot!" No doubt on of the MPs.
Billy had long since given up on trying to convince others of his innocence. It was the word of four other men against his, all wanting to keep having their freedom just because one man decided to go against the grain, so it was pointless to get angry.
He couldn't help but wonder to himself that if he could go back in time, would he do the same thing: standing up against his orders at the expense of his own life? If he knew the mission was based on false information and just an opportunity to fatten the big pockets of the army, he'd sooner shoot his so-called platoon in the back, Knowing they're happy to murder innocent civilians. Billy silently contemplated this as he closed his eyes, awaiting whatever fate had in store for him.
Two hours later, somewhere above Arklay Forest.
REBECCA CHAMBERS (PROLOGUE)
It was just a simple murder investigation in the suburbs of Raccoon City. Then as the night dragged out, the details suddenly took a bizarre turn for the worst. Something about missing people and acts of cannibalism. Nothing in our training could've prepared us for the nightmare we got involved in. We never stood a chance…
Bravo Team's helicopter was a simple one with the STARS logo pressed on the bottom. The pilot was soft-spoken Kevin Dooley and their protective copilot Edward Dewey. Behind them were the team's captain Enrico Marini and their marksman and demolitions expert Forest Speyer. Opposite them were three seats on each side, the right side remained empty. On the left was Kenneth J. Sullivan, a mild point man, recon and positioning expert. Communication guru Richard Aiken, a typical nice guy. Lastly, at the window was the rookie Rebecca Chambers, their chemist and medic.
Forest Speyer, expert marksmen and demolitions, and the essential bad-ass of the Bravo Team, rocked his head back and forth in a slight head-banging fashion, the musical score of Highway to Hell blasting in his ears to the point where he could still hear what was going on. Despite almost being thirty, the man looked like a rebellious teenager with his studded earrings, long mullet, and fingerless gloves. Eyeing over at the newest member of the team, Rebecca Chambers; he gave her an encouraging grin.
"Still pretty nervous, are ya?" He smirked, his southern-twang evident.
Enrico Marini, Bravo Team leader; glanced over at the two with a hardened stare; the man not one for idle chit-chat. As a former SWAT leader; he typically figured that talking before a mission was about to go down would lead to becoming a distraction that wasn't needed. He kept to himself on this however, since not everyone in STARS were hardened combat experts with years of experience. Not only that, but the R.P.D.s psychiatrist did recommended that conversation before missions did lead to less tension and stress that would endanger said mission.
The STARS' helicopter's engine suddenly ceased working and malfunctioned. A deafening katchow and then burst into flames. All on board felt the altitude plummet and the nose of the cockpit dipped down. Kevin pulled back on the helicopter's throttle and gave it all he got. The damned thing was coming down.
Enrico jumped into action, pushing past Forest to demand to Kevin "What hells going on?!" Growling in frustration at finding out the engine failed. "Everyone hold on! Kevin, set us down!" as the rotors of the helicopter knocked against one of the tree branches; causing the helicopter to lurch downward. Kevin, despite all odds, was able to pull and set down the chopper into an open field; the engines slowly dying down as the spinning chopper slowly came to a halt.
Sighing deeply, Enrico grunted, "Damage report."
"The engine's completely fried," informed Kevin regretfully.
"Alright then..everyone out!" ordered Enrico.
Rebecca took repeated deep breaths; she opened up her eyes letting out a sigh of relief. This was definitely not how she had thought her first mission would start, it definitely was not a good sign. Once Enrico ordered them to pile out she followed all the others out of the helicopter. Just before exiting the helicopter she turned around and looked at Kevin giving him a thumbs up then she went over and joined the rest of the Bravo team.
"Too dark, too many trees," Kenneth grumbled in his old-man voice. His hand wavered around his holstered weapon. "We're off our destination coordinates, aren't we Captain?"
"Fan out and spread, keep close to each other. I have a feeling what happened was no mere helicopter malfunction." Enrico pulled out his Beretta M92 as he fanned the area. The Arklay forest had enveloped a hazy fog in this summer heat, making it difficult to make out anything.
Forest swept through the area, all kidding and jocularity gone. Richardfelt his shoulders tighten as his body reacted to the events of the chopper being manoeuvred suddenly to avoid a collision. Enrico had begun to converse with Edward and Kevin.
Thoughts of Richard's life entered his cortex, his dearest Bridgette back in Raccoon City, and then like that, he was back in the reality of the forest. The cockpit was silent, Kevin was working hard behind the glass windows. Enrico signalled to rest of the crew to vacate the helicopter and into the surrounding forest.
Their combat boots hitting the terrain of the moistened summer grass of the forest, one by one as Richard could feel the tremors of goosebumps sprawl on his toned forearm from the sudden temperature change. Following suit with the rest of the team, Richard felt the sink of his boots in muddy spots, as the soft squish of the wet patches of grass caked his black boots.
Awaiting for further orders like the rest of the members, nothing changed, yet. Deciding to stick close to both nearest friends he had; his gaze met with his long time pal, Kenneth, giving him and Rebecca an encouraging nod of his head.
Rebecca followed Enrico's orders as she moved a few feet away from the others and began to walk through the dark, spooky forest. She kept her eyes peeled as she scanned the darkness for any type of clue. All that was obvious were the trees ominously placed everywhere, making the forest denser than it should be.
After what felt like only a few minutes, she could make out what looked like a giant object just ahead in the darkness. As she grew closer Rebecca recognized the shape as an overturned jeep. "Captain, look!" she shouted pointing at it.
Kenneth had his hand over his handgun and turned to Rebecca's inquiry. He ran and stood by her seeing if he could help. "What's wrong?"
Following orders Edward fanned out with the rest of his team away from the chopper. A brutal car accident involving a military transport vehicle, with shards of ejected glass all over the dirt and grassy wooded area that gleamed under their beams of projected spot lights. The soldier's senses went into stern calm as he narrowed his brow, his gaze locked on the carnage before them.
Staying close to his team mates, keeping an eye from behind as they made their way over to the car accident. Enrico stooped beside the first of the two men. Lifeless and meat of their faces and eye sockets missing. Edward knew in another world, this sight would of sickened him without his military training, him like most of the others like their captain was familiar with the art of war. This angered him, with the murders of Raccoon City and Aklay residence community, no wonder the people were restless for answers, this could be the start of the clue they needed.
His stomach turned, as the waiver of death lingered in the air. Edward watched as the rookie member of Bravo team had discovered something lying on the ground. Alerting the others she had found something, Rebecca had begun to read the military court manifest aloud.
A picture of a man on the top left, as the sinking motion hit his iron stomach. The real truth, people killing people longest time. He bit his lip a moment, as his emotions began to take the better of him. Without thinking, Edward had made his way over to the rookie member of Bravo as Edward saw the bodies of the fallen soldiers.
Their bodies torn apart and spread across the brush, and another still half way in the black van with the white large letters of MP. The military vehicle pretty banged, appearing like one of those cans in the super market you didn't wanna buy. The beam of the light pointed in the direction of broken trees upward to an inclined hill, that somehow must of rolled over down the embankment and tossed the van like a beanbag across the woods.
Edward was a man of not letting his emotions get the better of him, but these men were innocent, had families and jobs, probably kids. Edward watched too many of his comrades in the war be buried to see another couple of decent men. Snatching the manifest from the younger counterpart, his voice was sombre as northern twang vented from his lips,
"Those poor soldiers, they were good men just doing their jobs, and that scum murdered them and escaped." Edward's anger and hatred burned as the man's face burned in the back of his mind, this Billy Coen. It was that moment Enrico had pillaged the manifest from his fingerless gloved hands. Edward felt the rage in the pit of his stomach as he stood by like the rest of his unit.
Rebecca felt her stomach turn as she saw the dead soldiers under the destroyed car. She spied something on the ground before heading over and picking it up. It was the manifest, Rebecca began reading it out loud as she felt the rest of her team begin to move towards her. She was a bit surprised when Edward came over and pulled it from her hands.
She could see the anger in his eyes before he even spoke to confirm it. Rebecca felt it was a bit rude of him to just grab it straight from her hands but at the same time she believed that his emotions may have played a part in it. Rebecca couldn't blame him though, these men were just doing their job and the way Billy left them was just overkill.
Enrico snatched the manifest from Edward's hand, eyes burning furiously into the parchment at the face of the murder. When he was still with SWAT, he had occasionally come across dangerous psychopaths who derived great pleasure from inflicting pain and death onto innocent civilians.
This Billy Coen, whoever he was; was a dangerous menace to decent citizens, adding his death toll to twenty-five. Seeing as how his sentence was death, Enrico wanted to order his team to shoot to kill, but he couldn't allow himself to be ruled by emotion.
So instead, he growled, "Alright everyone listen up, we have a potential dangerous fugitive roaming around these woods. Coen is brutal, ruthless and has no mercy. Keep you're guard up. I have no intention of letting anymore add to Coen's body count. Take him in dead or alive, the latter being preferable."
Forest gritted his teeth in frustration, seemingly satisfied with this answer. "No complaints from me, that's for sure."
Edward had nodded his head approval like, as the group dispersed and went their different directions. Thought of his ammo cache and his favourite rifle in the chopper cabin, he decided to head toward the direction of the chopper. Edward figured Kevin was bored out of his mind, figured he'd debrief the main pilot. Peering over at Richard, his gaze disturbed like him and the rest of the crew, as he began, "You alright?"
Richard almost jerked from trance, he peered over at Edward. His slicked back dirty blonde hair back. He cracked a smile, as he began, "Yeah I'm solid."
Edward taken back by the retro remark, Richard just chucked a grin as the communications officer walked a bit closer and walked a tad bit ahead, "You think Rebecca be alright?"
Edward trained his blue eyes ahead of the dirt grassy path ahead of them, as he nodded and exclaimed assuredly, "Its not your typical first mission, but you gotta crack a few eggs in order to make an omelet."
Richard gave a low chuckle as Edward made that comment, and exclaimed, "You been listening to southern guru Forest again, haven't you?" They both laughed as they made their way to the opening of the tree line toward the chopper.
Kenneth knew he was out of range to call to his colleagues, the trees were too plentiful and the bushes were too much. The fog... Thick enough to cut with a knife. Couldn't handle the cold like he used to. He pulled up his radio and decided to warn the team of the density of the forest. He had to pull out his gun and flashlight and check further out into the trees.
Edward and Richard went to grab their equipment from the chopper, oddly Kevin Dooley wasn't to be seen, but figured he was taking a leak in the woods. Edward was inside the cabin, undoing the compartments safety features handing the radio communications officer his assault shotgun from the cargo hold.
Due to military carry restrictions implemented a year or so ago, so they were limited on ammo, and weapons to carry on missions, but Albert Wesker was the boss, along with Chief Irons. As the two of them made small talk in the chopper, Richard could be seen loading the weapon, as he spoke aloud, "So you think this chopper could be flyable?"
Edward paused a moment. "I don't think so. The control panel is fried."
Weapons in hand, the two men decided to venture off in the opposite directions of the woods. "Hit me on the walkie if you run into trouble?"
Edward gave a nod as the two men veered off their paths. The dense vegetation mixed with the eerie atmosphere of the dark forest was almost something of a horror movie. His grip on the end of the STARS issued M4A1 Assault Riffle. He continued to comb through the forest of Arklay.
The skies were still dark overhead, as the fog seemed to only thicken as he pursued the forest path. The knee high grass and dense thickets brushing against his blue vest. The familiar wet grass as he veered his light source in multiple directions. He felt the grip of the weapon loosen as he made his way further investigating the area. The stillness of the black wilderness as the entire area was deafening silent, not even wildlife or sound of insects usually habit the woods not even barking a cry or chirp.
Rebecca slowly walked through the woods as she checked around every tree and listened for any sounds. As she checked to her right she heard a noise behind her. She let out a scared sigh as she quickly turned around to where the noise had come from to see no one but there was a train that was now in her view. "A train?" She muttered as she approached it very slowly. Of all the things she figured to find in the woods, a train was near the bottom.
