Resident Evil:
A Failing Light
Written by Steven Reed
Chapter one
May 18th, 2007
Several news reports have been coming in about a small outbreak in an eastern coastal city. Sources are trying to connect the incident to that of the Raccoon City mishap, where the whole community, comprised of about roughly 12,000, were overcome with 'zombie-like' symptoms. The behavior of those specified individuals were riotous, causing a mass panic that had the Umbrella Pharmaceutical Company holding their breath.
"In no way was our attempt to quarantine the city reckless." States Umbrella Spokesman Nathan Ingram. "If you remember correctly, our laboratories in that specific region had come under control of the renegade scientist, William Birkin, now believed to be deceased as a result of the action taken to contain the breach."
The town of Foxboro, Mass. Is currently under evacuation as some of the cities occupants have succumbed into the symptoms of this as-of-yet unknown virus.
"We assure you our mistakes made previously in the similar case will not happen again."
We will keep you informed on the developing situation, where we hope will end swiftly.
May 24th, 2007
As the publics eyes have been drawn to the east coast, evacuees begin to travel into the Midwest, seeking refuge from the escalating violence in several large-scale cities in New England. Once thought as a small uprising of anarchic chaos has turned into a mass riot, and eyewitness reports stream in by the millions. Florida Governor Brad Daniels is desperately trying to contain the borders of the state of Florida.
"I have not yet declared martial law in the state of Florida, but however, we are shutting down all highways entering and exiting from the Miami-Dade County, due to severe rioting in that area."
Unlike the Florida Governor, several other state governors have blocked off all access to capitol cities and other major cities, declaring martial law and desperately calling for military aide.
May 27th, 2007
Today, the first signs of a military presence have commenced as the virus continues to spread through out the nation, jolting the country into a state of chaos. Earlier this morning, spokesperson for the Umbrella Pharmaceutical Company Nathan Ingram acknowledged the widespread effects of this viral leak. It is now believed that this has been a biological terrorist attack within the heart of America
"In an attempt to console the people of this nation, Umbrella has opened up several Vaccination stations throughout the country, in an attempt to control the leakage. If you or someone else has come under the symptoms of this virus, we desperately urge you to seek a vaccine at one of our Vaccination stations, courtesy of Umbrella. "
The symptoms of this widespread virus have been examined and released to the press. The victim will first feel an incline of temperature, causing somewhat of a fever. The skins pigment will then become pale, often signs of advanced viral activity. This is followed by the need to scratch the porous regions of the skin. Soon thereafter, the victim will be in a state of coma, and the eyes begin to fill with an egg-white film around the corona. The victim will then become deceased, or so it is believed. The corpse then becomes reanimated, with no apparent knowledge of the hosts' previous life. The viral stage varies from person to person, and the process can take from 3 to 5 hours. It is highly recommended that if anyone comes in contact with a contagion, they need to report to one of the vaccination stations controlled and operated through out the nation.
May 28th, 2007
Several more new stories have been streaming in now what seems like days since the incident first surfaced. The Mayor of Los Angeles has issued that districts 1 through 5 shut off to the public, due to infection.
"We are in the process of locating our city officials, but to no avail. We believe they are struggling with their own personal matters at the moment."
Corporal Ben Johnson peered out the window of the UH-3H, his blood pressure rising as he gripped the cold steel of his M4A3. He let a sigh escape his breath, inaudible over the loud hum of the choppers engine. He was green. Fresh out of a crash-course training session provided by the Agency he worked for. He shot a look back towards the red cargo light with a fixed, unfaltering look
Umbrella... weird name for a company... He thought.
A soft, red light filled the cargo bay of the helicopter, letting him know that the time was not right for them to jump. Glancing over his shoulder, Johnson was relieved to see that the same anxious, wavering look was present on the faces of his comrades. At least he wasn't the only one that had to endure the events of the quickly unfolding situation.
"One minute to deployment." The mechanical sounding voice aired over the choppers PA system.
Umbrella had deployed the small, 30-man crew, most of whom were directly provided by the National Guard to investigate the disappearance of Los Angeles' city officials. They were subject to mission change at any time during their investigation. Johnson averted his gaze towards the front, taking in the cool, collected composure of their mission leader, Captain Jack Miller, trying to be more relaxed just as he was.
"Okay, we've got thirty seconds left until we make the drop. Make sure you secure your weaponry and items!" yelled the Captain, his voice almost lost in the mechanic drone of the helicopter.
Soon, before Johnson knew it, the cargo bay was bathed with a green light, assuring its occupants that it was time for the jump.
"Alright boys, we're landing in the outskirts of LA. Rendezvous will be at the Ringo-Oscar-Tango location. Input into your HUD immediately!" stated Captain Miller.
The corporal fumbled with his HUD device before turning on his communications-link. Encrypted, as always, to ignore the incessant rabble of civilian frequencies.
"Let's go!"
They started to issue out in a single-file line, Johnson's heart starting to beat faster with each step taking him closer to the cargo hatch. Before he knew it, he had coalesced into the darkness of his night-time freefall, ever so more dangerous since he couldn't see how close the ground was.
A soft voice reverberated through the darkness into his HUD, stating that he was fifteen hundred meters from the ground and his parachute was beginning to deploy. His 'chute came out and jerked him into the nasty realization that he was actually going through with this. He started to glide towards the tree line below.
Corporal Johnson looked towards the horizon, where the city of LA stood. All around him, he saw the unmistakable silhouettes of his companions, his partners, also falling towards the earth with the aide of their parachutes.
Giant plumes of smoke rose up from the cities' buildings. The place looked like a war zone. Like hell, beckoning him with a smoky finger. And if one was to strain their hearing just enough, you could make out what sounded like the screams of an unknown number of LA residents.
His feet and body then became tangled in a rustle of leaves, following a loud thump. He landed in a tree. A damned tree.
"Shit..."
Johnson wrestled with his harness, trying to free himself of its grasp. While he was in his plight, a small, disfigured shadow ran by the tree he just happened to be stuck in. Then another shadow followed in the previous ones' wake.
Johnson blinked twice, trying to register what he just saw.
"No... Can't be..." he whispered softly to himself.
He continued with his so far unsuccessful fidget with his military issued parachute.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
A loud, ear-deafening sound enticed his ears. He sat on his perch, his hands beginning to shake.
It must've been those things that I saw!
Johnson quickly undone his harness and fell harshly to the ground, slightly thinking the ground would be closer. He grabbed his M4 and ran towards the source, several people around him joining in at trying to locate their troubled comrade.
BAM! BAM!
Johnson instinctively recognize the noise as a shotgun blast, probably that of Corporal Joey Connors, who was known for his infamous shotgun work. The noise died down and several voices were thrown into the confusion. Johnson approached Connors, who was standing over two unrecognizable bodies. Several soldiers came into sight, trying to uncover their first mystery thus far.
"Dogs… The virus affects dogs." Connors said, pumping a few more rounds into his SPAS-12.
"It attacks dogs too?" a voice rang out from an unknown soldier.
Captain Miller approached from an unknown location, parting his way through the crowd and standing over the dogs' corpse.
"The virus can attack any living organism. Watch out for their blood. It carries the virus." Captain Miller paused, looking around. "Everyone here?" His hues scanned the crowd, taking in faces and registering names.
"We're missing two people." Answered Johnson, slowly taking names and faces among the crowd.
"Jackson and Hughes. Are you here?" no answer.
Miller tapped his helm, activating his comm-link. He stood there, his pallid features showing no signs of optimism.
"They must've taken off their helmets. Alright people, you get lost, this happens. For all I know they could be dead."
"Poor kids…" breathed Connors.
"Saddle up, we're going on with the mission. As of now Jackson and Hughes are MIA. Do an equipment check while I radio in for confirmation."
Miller turned and parted his way through the crowd, everyone else following in synchronization. Johnson turned and gazed into the thickening forest, feeling nothing but remorse for the two lost souls in this survival horror.