Writer's note: This is my first fanfic I'm writing. I'm quite a fan of the Resident Evil series, even though I've only played RE3 (up till now). I would like to apologize in advance if anything in my story contradicts with the Resident Evil storyline and I'd appreciate it if you could tell me so I could alter the story or make-up an excuse for causing the contradiction. I am open to all comments and reviews, plus you can argue with me or flame me if you don't like my story in any way. Of course, there is no need for foul language as we can settle any dispute like normal, civilized people without all the profanities. We'll keep the foul language to the story only…
Oh, and I don't own Resident Evil. Capcom does.
My story takes place roughly 3 years after the Raccoon City outbreak, on the 12th of August, 2001.
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It was a very busy night at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The school holidays have not arrived yet, at this part of the world, but the airport was teeming with people moving around in all directions like ants skittering around under the hot sun. Plane flights seemed to be overbooked, and there were long lines at the reception desk.
Rebecca Chambers stood at the waiting area, pacing up and down, once in a while giving an irritated glance at her watch. She eyes swept the area trying to locate Chris Redfield. The boarding time for the plane was now, and if Chris did not hurry up, the plane might leave and all their effort in coming on a wild goose chase would be a total waste.
Rebecca wondered how he was even going to even get tickets for the plane. The flight was probably fully booked. There was no chance for him to get two tickets in time. Besides, they had exhausted their finances and there was no way for him to get a couple of flight tickets.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a hand grabbed her wrist tightly and pulled her. Rebecca was about to struggle when she saw Chris's face, triumphant, as if he had won the lottery. He waved two pieces of paper in front of her. She recognized them as boarding passes and quickly followed.
" Chris, this is amazing. I was already contemplating on breaking through security. Where did you get them?" Rebecca asked, astounded. Their footsteps were dulled by the carpeted floor of the airport.
" I guess a couple won't be enjoying themselves in the Bahamas anytime soon," Chris replied. Rebecca stopped in her tracks, unable to believe what Chris had just said. She stared at him, dumbfounded as he halted in his tracks, wondering what was wrong with her.
" You stole those tickets?" Rebecca cried.
" Shhh…not so loud. What if someone heard you?" Chris asked, trying to silence Rebecca.
" How could you steal someone's ticket?" Rebecca cried, appalled.
" A couple missing their holiday is much more worth it than us not retrieving that 'vial'. I think if they could look at the bigger picture, they would be thankful for that," Chris replied, turning around and running of to the boarding gates. Rebecca hated to argue, but Chris was right. So very right.
" Come on, I can see him from here," Chris shouted from a distance.
---
At a far corner at Gate 38, a man stirred. Passengers were allowed to board the plane that was taking them to the Bahamas. He was not carrying a lot of luggage. The only thing in his possession was a small, black duffel bag which contained something very important.
Jonathan Small hated doing this job. He worked as a clerk for Umbrella Incorporated, a pharmaceutical company which had recently been under fire from the U.S. government and many NGOs for being linked to the outbreak in Raccoon city. It was expected as much, and Jonathan felt he would have to look for a new job soon.
He wondered what was in this bag. His superior hade given him orders to transport this bag to the Bahamas, for reasons unknown to him. He was given strict orders not to explore the contents of the bag. He was a man of principles, and besides knowing that whatever it was in the bag contained liquid, he had absolutely no idea what he was transporting.
He felt it was weird that he would be asked to send something this important. His superior had said that nobody would bother a small time clerk like him when he is doing his delivery. This made John wonder if whatever he was doing was against the law. Umbrella seemed desperate to stay in business, but their efforts seem futile. They were going down. It was just a matter of time. So, why bother with whatever that was in this small black bag?
He felt that he shouldn't have accepted this job. Sure, they had offered him a lot of money for transferring this bag to its designated area, but John had been worried ever since. There was so much precaution and secrecy taken into it, he felt like he was escorting the President of the United States. Moreover, he felt that his movements have been watched. He was being followed.
He took a glance behind him. His heart sank as he saw his pursuers at a distance, running towards the boarding area of Gate 38.
---
One of the officers looked puzzled as he saw Chris and Rebecca zipping pass him. They seem to be out of place, a couple without any luggage bags, running madly as if chasing something.
" Ah!" Chris cried suddenly. At a distance, he spotted a sign prominently showing big, white words that said 'Gate 38'. His legs started to tire and ache from running so much, but at the sight of those words, he was further encouraged. We are so close, he thought. So close I can almost touch it.
A couple of days ago, he had doubted whether Prof. Mercury Cross was telling the truth or not. Chris had received a call from him, out of the blue. He felt wary at first, wondering how could this person get hold of his cell phone number. After all, he was working for Umbrella. Why would he need our help? Chris had initially thought.
Mercury had warned him that Umbrella had in their possession a newly-made virus of a new kind, almost totally different from the other viruses that were responsible for turning humans into mindless zombies. He had mentioned the virus was a very dangerous and radical one and he needed Chris's help in taking it away from Umbrella's grasp. He did not mention any specifics, but he said, the virus is an air-borne virus, was kept in a vial and the person transporting it will be at the Dallas International Airport at 12.00 p.m. on the 7th of August. Mercury had even sent a picture of the 'would-be' delivery boy through mail.
Chris had initially scoffed at Mercury's request. He did not trust that Mercury was telling the truth. It was until the next day when he saw in the news that Prof. Mercury was being charged for being responsible for playing a part in the Raccoon city outbreak. To Chris's total surprise, the people pressing the charges were Umbrella Incorporated.
Now, 4 days later and after 3 flights around the globe, he had finally caught up with the delivery boy of Umbrella. He prayed for forgiveness for not listening to Mercury and acted sooner. He hated blaming himself for his actions. After all, who would initially believe an officer from Umbrella asking help from a person determined to bring the entire corporation down?
Both of them slowed down as they neared Gate 38, due to their tiredness and that there was no need to run. Chris had spotted Umbrella's delivery boy, Jonathan Small, boarding the plane. He would not be running anywhere soon. He did not want to make a fuss right here and call attention to the security guards of the airport. They will have to take this task one step at a time, patiently.
" I see him," Rebecca said, echoing his thoughts. " What now?"
" We board," Chris said, waving the boarding passes in front of her.
---
" Your seat is slightly towards the back," the air stewardess said, ushering John to his seat.
" Thank you," John said, clutching his bag even more tightly. The air stewardess did not notice that John was sweating profoundly. Not because there was anything wrong with the air-conditioning, but John had realized his pursuers had followed him on board the plane. Not one person as he initially thought. He did not catch their faces, but he was pretty sure it was a man in his late 20s and another younger lady following him.
John drifted to his seat in the middle of the row and tried to place himself as comfortably as he could on the chair. The plane was filling up quickly and there was nowhere else to run. John started trembling, feeling like a cornered rabbit looking at the barrel of a loaded shotgun. His grip on the duffel bag tightened, as if it were his life.
Then, he saw him. The man stepped into the plane and looked around, closely followed by a young lady. He did not look at John directly, but John was damn sure he was scanning the plane for him. Casually, the man walked towards John's direction.
John tried to assure himself that both these people, if they were really after him, could do nothing here. Robbing him of his possessions would set up the entire airport security against them. The metal detectors are sure to have removed any of their weapons, if they were silly enough to bring them. If they tried to subdue him, he would put up a struggle, a scenario that he was sure they did not want.
As he tried to assure himself that he was safe in the plane and they could do nothing against him, he saw the man take out something from his pocket. It was a blue ink ball pen.
---
Rebecca tried to play the scenario many times. Chris drops the pen and diverts the man's attention while I quickly open the luggage compartment and make a quick check. Rebecca thought it was a plausible act, though it will look weird since Rebecca did not bring any luggage to put in the luggage compartment.
The man did not budge from is seat. His hat was pulled low and it covered his face. He appeared to be resting or sleeping, though she doubted it.
Well, a five minute plan, she thought. What more did she expect? They did not have any better ideas at the present. A good plan brilliantly executed now is better than the perfect plan executed tomorrow, Chris had told her earlier.
Rebecca heard a soft and barely audible thud and Chris was on his knees, purposely bumping into the man. Without missing a beat, Rebecca opened the luggage compartment and peered inside. Being empty made her search easy.
" Oh shit!" Chris moaned.
" What is it?" she asked, suddenly alarmed. Cursing was not part of the plan.
Chris got up violently, almost toppling Rebecca over. He immediately squeezed and barged his way through to the entrance of the plane. Rebecca was still dazed at what made Chris behave in such a way. Two old ladies sitting behind, who saw what happened, were showing signs and words of disapproval.
Then, Rebecca saw it, and it made her gasp. It turned quite a few heads around. Her hand immediately went to her mouth, her knees weakening slightly but she quickly regained her composure. An airhostess made her way to where John was sitting, hoping to help out.
The man had been pierced through his chest, the butt end of a pen sticking out of his chest. Dark red blood started seeping all over his chest. The airhostess fainted at the sight of the dead body.
" Did someone just leave the plane?" Chris yelled at the airhostess who was ushering passengers in at the entrance.
" Sir, what…"
" Just answer the damn question! Did someone leave the plane? Anyone?" Chris practically roared.
" A couple, sir. About five minutes ago. A man and a lady, carrying a duffle bag," the airhostess replied, terrified at Chris contorted face.
Chris felt like such an idiot. Minutes ago, just before they entered the plane, two people had exited the plane, saying they were unable to board it. Chris could suddenly remember the bag that the man had slung over his shoulders. How could I have missed it?
" Rebecca!" he yelled, calling for her to help. There was no reply. " Rebecca!"
She quickly squeezed her way through the crowd to reach Chris. Pushing people aside, Chris tried desperately to backtrack back to the boarding gate, hoping he could catch the two people involved. Somehow, he knew he would not find them.
Oh God, please don't let anything happen to the vial, he prayed.
God didn't answer his prayer.
---
" Do you think this is a good idea, Jason?" a young lady asked.
Jason turned around and looked at his sister and smiled. It was natural that she should worry. After all, they understood precisely what was contained inside the vial kept in the duffel bag they stole.
Jason raised his hand and patted Marie lightly on her head, his usual way of showing affection toward her, even though he knew she despised being treated like this. However, this time around, she did not complain.
" Relax, I know what I am doing," Jason said. " Did you get the ticket?"
Marie passed him his plane ticket. Jason merely glanced at it. Printed on it was the destination: Specter Island.
" Jason, what about the other two people who were also after that man? I don't think they are safe. Maybe I should take care of them?" Marie suggested, glancing aside. See could see Chris and Rebecca running towards the opposite direction of where they were.
" There is no need. They are against Umbrella as well. There is no need for hostility between allies," Jason assured. Passengers were now allowed to board the plane. Jason picked up his luggage bag and made his way to the boarding gate.
" What would they want it for?" Marie asked.
" Probably to destroy it," Jason replied.
" And what do you plan to do with it?" Marie asked.
" Use it, obviously, against the very people who made it," Jason replied, kissing his sister lightly on her cheek before leaving.
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Writer's note: Well, there you have it, the prologue of the story. I won't be putting Chris and Rebecca in later, their roles are just cameos here. Thanks for reading.