Chapter One
"Open your eyes, kid. It's show time."
Startled, I woke from my daze and peered up. It was Mikhail.
"What's the deal?" I asked him, stretching in my seat. We had been at HQ awaiting orders for the past week and half with no clue as to what was in store for us. The office was cramped and empty save for Mikhail and myself.
"We've been called in to-"he started, before being interrupted by the door slamming open.
"Something's going down in Raccoon City. Get on your feet, Oliveira." Nicholai barked, after barging into the room. I hopped up, knowing from his tone that this was serious and not the usual bullshit Umbrella had us playing around in. We briskly walked from the office and down the hall to the main lobby of the building. The rest of the mercenaries were already gathered there. Whispers and mumbling echoed all around, but I couldn't make out anything specific. Alongside Nicholai stood Captain Patrick, another soldier in charge. They quietly discussed the situation, being mindful so that none of us dogs could hear what we were about to be throw into. A fellow soldier, Rick, approached Mikhail and I. He was wide-eyed, young and inexperienced, and definitely a bit too excited for my taste.
"You guys know what's goin' on?" he asked in his thick Cockney accent.
"No more than you do, cowboy," I replied.
"Whatever it is, it's gonna be big, boys." Mikhail said in a hushed voice.
"Attention!" Patrick yelled over the men. He had a stern look about him, but I could see fear shining in his dark eyes as he surveyed the crowd. "We're flying into Raccoon City. More orders to come. Now get your asses outside and head for the choppers!"
Rick gave me a wink and jogged off with the rest of the men. I waited behind to catch up with Nicholai.
"Sir!" I shouted as I quickly walked over.
"What is it?" he sounded more annoyed than usual.
"What exactly is going on here, sir?" He cut his eyes at me and smirked. Before I could get out another word, he nodded to the helicopter and said, "Ladies first."
Inside the chopper, I found my place next to Mikhail. He was already sweating profusely and pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing it at his gleaming forehead. On my left was Rick, his eyes darted around the inside of the rig as though it were his first time flying. I elbowed him and smiled.
"You ready for this?" I asked him playfully.
"Aye, mate. Always ready." He said with confidence.
I stared ahead, avoiding the curious and terrified eyes of my comrades. What were we getting ourselves into? I'd learned in my three years with Umbrella that there was more to it than just pharmaceuticals and pleasing the consumerist culture. There was something sinister about this company without a face. No one seemed to know who the hell was in charge if it all, or to what extent it would go to in order to keep that hidden. As a soldier of the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service, I simply did what I was ordered to do and asked no questions because I knew I would get no answers. All I could sum up was that whatever was happening in Raccoon City was a direct result of the recent incident in the Arklay Mountains. That, I knew, was linked to Umbrella. But how did it make it into the city?
"Listen up! We have orders from HQ." Nicholai shouted over the roar of the engine. I perked up out of my distracted mental state. My adrenaline was already kicking in and I felt my heart begin to pound.
"Your mission is to get in and out with as many survivors as possible."
"What happened, sir?" a soldier called out.
"A virus... Locals will be hostile, so keep your asses in line and follow orders."
A virus… I wondered.
A mercenary stood up and tossed down the rope ladder. He waved at the men to get off the chopper. I gulped and followed behind Mikhail and the others.