Author's note: No. [Prototype] does not belong to me, and two no, I will not be taking a break on Silent Hill: The Foundation. I have just been immersed into the world of [Prototype] I couldn't help myself and write a little post-[Prototype] piece on it. Since there are barely any around I might as well put my own insight on things. Happy reading people, lets just hope we can make it to second chapter. With your reviews we might do it. By the way, Alex's speech is only in bold when he's using his disguise. Just so you guys wouldn't be confused. ^_^
Requiem for redemption
One virus. Three weeks. Millions dead. And I was there. My name was Alex Mercer. And my work is almost done.
The usual 7:00PM News broadcast would be airing on the televisions of many at this time, as a special report on the status of the dwindling virus. On the news desk a blond man holding up a stack of papers would clear his throat and offer up to the camera a fake smile with billions of people to see since this was aired all-over the world to see. Looking into the camera he would begin his speech.
"Good evening ladies, gentlemen, and all-over the world. I am channel 11's broadcaster, Dick Hamill coming at you with the latest scoop which is something for your eyes and ears to see, Take it away Sarah." Dick said with a flick of his wrist to the side giving the cameraman permission to switch to what was going on in Rockefeller center, a young brunette reporter holding a microphone to her rosy lips would nod her head and smile. Her and her cameraman stood in front of large building amongst other groups of Journalists and their cameramen and women, very eager to get their reports for what they have in store for the status of the virus from the viewpoints of those fighting the virus. Or rather, those who they think they know that's fighting the virus. The U.S.M.C. (United States Marine Corps).
"Thank you Dick. We will be talking to Sergeant Paul Jackson. He is apart of the Marine Corp's 1st Force Recon unit that was stationed here to stomp out the virus here in Manhattan. There he is right now. Sergeant! Over here!!!" Sarah yelled out as she saw Jackson and his unit walk by, Jackson turned around and gave the other to his unit to halt and wait for him. As he approached she'd put her mic out and begin the interview. "Sergeant Jackson! What can you tell us about the present state of the infection?" Sarah said as she awaited Jackson's response.
Jackson would look down at the young brunette and chuckle lightly. Raising his hand to take off the tactical goggles that the Marine wore, planting it on top of his helmet instead so he could get a better look at the woman. Also so the camera could see his face more so.
"Since last night, nothing. They don't seem...how should I say this; 'driven' the same way," The Sergeant said, looking back over his shoulder to his unit and back to the camera he just shrugged as if the monsters and zombies they fought are now not even worth it anymore and became something of a bore. "They're not a real threat anymore."
As the two talked and the cameraman observed, death was also observing from above. But they were not on his list. The silhouette of a male, perching from a building rooftop perpendicular from them could be barely seen.
"Hmph, if only they knew..." Said the hooded male as he leaped from his spot undiscovered by the masses below.
"Wow, I am one mobile reporter eh people? Well it's been ten minutes since the Vice President has been on the ground. Senator Ambrose is expected to make a statement." Sarah informed her superiors and the millions of New Yorkers watching from the tele, just as the Senator approached the stand Sarah and the cameraman turned to see the Senator himself come to the stand.
The spotlight was on the Senator now. He stood at the stand with such vigilance and vigor that has been washed and repeated millions of times. Such things could be fake, he may have been a great man to many but he was just the government's tool. He knows that but he must assure the people that this "nuclear threat" and this "outbreak" was not by their own government but by others and will assure them that they will pay. Almost similar to a certain someone's vengeance that compared to this one, has actually been attained.
Senator Michael Ambrose has the appearance of a man in his late 40's, medium size and build with black hair. Despite his age he was in great shape, it shows as if he was using a Bowflex machine to keep that body, he wore black slacks and a white dress shirt with a black tie. Clearing his throat he'd tap on the microphone and begin his speech.
"New York has weathered the first act of Nuclear and Bio-logical terrorism in the world. It is a testament to the men and women of the Armed Forces that New York is still standing." The Senator said as he gripped the sides of the podium and watched as the citizens already started clapping and cheering on, inwardly he sighed for the ignorance for these people. They don't know what's really going on.
"We will find those responsible, we will drag them out of their hiding places, and we will make them pay!" The crowds started to gather together like a brotherhood, getting more excited and hopeful into their "great" country. Ambrose started to roll up his sleeves and put his elbow on the podium getting more detailed using hand motions as he started getting hyped up too. "Wherever they are, wherever they are...whatever weapons they possess, they will learn the final lesson! AMERICA DOES NOT START WARS," He yelled out as he slammed his fist against the wooden podium high with the momentum of his words. "AMERICA ENDS THEM!!! THANK YOU!!!" The Senator concluded as the crowd went wild with his Grammy winning performance.
Everyone clapped, cheered and loved it. One female Marine stood in the crowd, her helmet was slung over her shoulders along with her M4A1 Carbine assault rifle on the other. She was a beauty in an MCCUU (Marine Corp Combat Utility Uniform). A beautiful blond, blue eyed, dazzling face of a Marine. Surprisingly the face and one of the very few women in the 1st Force Recon unit, especially since women are strictly not allowed in combat. To her superiors she was combat proven and willing to follow the Rifleman's creed and the Marine's Hymn to her grave if necessary. Her name? Corporal Lillian Frost of the 1st Force Recon unit of the Marine Corp.
Her too was clapping along with them, except her clap was a slow one, a mocking one at that. No one can catch her doing it due to the loudness of the crowd who went wild for the Senator's words. A tiny smirk can be seen on the woman's lips as she looked on at the Senator leaving the stand with two fellow Marines right next to him.
"Excellent speech, Mr. Senator...the gift of the silver tongue. They say it's the mark of a good leader and of a liar." She said quietly as she continued to clap with those gloved hands of hers, stopping only to stare at the man in mocking marvel. Her eyelashes batted as her smirked grew to a nonchalant smile and her lids closed in almost a feigned version of pity. "Politicians are too in love with their own voice to speak to the truth..." Said Cpl. Lillian as she turned around and walked away from the crowd to the streets of 42nd st.
Ten minutes past as the female Marine continued to walk about, past other civilians. Police officers would salute her as she passes by as a thank you for her and her fellow Marines job well done during these three weeks of hell. But she was far too busy with the thoughts that ran through her head. 'Now if I'm not mistaken...the base should be right...here!' the female Devil Dog thought as she found the Military installation she's been looking for, the one that her unit is assigned to.
With a smile she walked in and saluted the guards out front, responding with a fellow salute they opened the doors for her and she was in. Pushing past them she looked all around her in marvel for the base that's been rebuilt, it was an entire headquarter. Her smile turning devious she was about to head towards the left through a restricted area door till she was stopped by a very enthusiastic Devil Dog.
"Lily! Hey you're back!" Yelled out Sergeant Jackson who hustled over towards her, she'd turn around and narrow her eyes at the Marine as she tried to remember his name.
"Hey! Uh...um...er..oh! Paul! Heya Paulie! What's up, Sergeant! Oorah?" Lily said stuttering a bit, trying not to sound stupid for nearly forgetting a name that was just found out today. Even trying to offer up the Marine Corp's chant Oorah to lighten the mood. While Lily extended a handshake, the man just wrapped his arms around her drawing her close to his frame. It was a one-sided passionate hug from the male as the female who was confused at first but decided to return the hug a bit late. He also whispered into her ear which made her shudder a bit, "I missed you..." shudder not out of the love that is apparent for this Marine, but out of just an unexplainable ughness.
"I missed you too...so did you hear any good news, Paul?" Asked Lily as she looked up into the rather handsome Marine in front of her who still held her in his arms. A smile curled upon Paul Jackson's lips as he chuckled a bit.
"Straight to business, eh Frost? Well so far we took down another Hive that was pretty active around Times Square, with BLACKWATCH out of the city this was like one of our first Hives we actually got to take down without their help. But..." Jackson's words faded out a bit, in a sort of way that only Lily would be able to catch.
"But what?" She asked innocently, "That Mercer guy was there...he helped us again. My unit made it very clear we didn't need his help but, even so he continued. When we took out the herds of Hunters that defensively tried ambush us, since well... they don't even come at us the same way they used to but still. Even when they came at us, Mercer defended us. I don't understand the guy." The Marine said as he fussed up to the help of the Hive's destruction was due to them and Alex Mercer.
"Maybe...this is a way for him to give back to the world in his own way. As a act of redemption," Lily went on, Jackson looked down trying to comprehend what his love was saying. "maybe he did something so bad in his past that, this is the only way he can think of saying sorry or something. I mean...can you blame him?"
"Hmph, compassionate as always Lily. Well I guess you're right...in a way I kind of feel sorry for him you know. Don't tell anyone I said that though." He said with a wink and planted a small kiss on her forehead and let her go, turning his back to start on his duties. Inwardly Lily cringed at that but her features never faltered. But despite that, something had caught onto this Devil Dog that made her realize something.
"Hey Jackson!!! I just noticed...you called him by his old name. I mean--his name...I thought we refer to him as 'ZEUS'?" Lily called him out on this, Jackson turned around and shrugged his shoulders. "Well yeah I could call him that. But that wouldn't be right, despite what he is. He doesn't think like them, he has a human heart. I know it as well as you do. So in my eyes he's a human who's just made some bad choices in the past, y'know? That's how I see things. No BLACKWATCH commander or even our Commandant will make me change my mind." The Sergeant said with a wink of his eye and walked away leaving Lily alone with that.
'A human heart? What the hell is he talking about...what does that mean? Can...I really? No. He's just a stupid Jarhead...what does he know. But then again...can all sins be forgiven? Despite what you are...or rather, what you've become?' Lily thought to herself, or rather the wolf in Devil Dog's skin who is really Alex Mercer or rather Zeus. For once he actually felt sorry for consuming the REAL Corporal Lillian Frost, he deserved a woman like her, and even with those loving thoughts for one another even for someone like him; he snatched his only love away from her. Now Alex can be tormented with more guilt for what he's done, he can now hear Frost's soul and voice screaming out to him like all the others he's consumed.
"A heart huh..."The false Devil Dog said as she turned around and walked towards the restricted area, as her hand wrapped around the knob; suddenly a heart-throbbing pain erupted in her chest! Cringing she'd grab her chest and breath out heavily. "Wh-what the hell is this..." She'd whisper to herself as she instantly ran out of there, heading to the men's bathroom instead of the women's.
Not even being able to make it to the toilet, the 'Marine' fell to her knees and started to cough out and vomit blood. Tons of it, it was painful, it nearly matched the pain of giving birth, except that this was orally. Lily or rather Alex continued to hack out massive amounts of blood onto the bathroom floor while gripping the tiles trying not to rip them.
When finished, Alex still in the guise grabbed his stomach and bio-mass flashed on and off throughout his body without him controlling it. It was the same pain he felt when his body was infected with bloodtox, it was like his own body was rejecting him and trying to kill him almost. In a distorted voice in a mix of his own and Lily's he'd try to plea for a unanswered help. "What's happening...to me...oh god..."
With that said, Alex collapsed onto the floor holding his gut and the bio-mass stop flashing with him still in the female Marine's guise. He was almost close to passing out but his body wouldn't allow it, his eyes were fixed on the large puddle of blood he had just exerted out.
x--Devil May Cry