Remember Mr. X from the previous chapter's cliffhanger? Well, there's a reason why "excessive" in the title is spelled with just an "X" at the start instead of "ex". It's just fun wordplay, but also something more. Read and enjoy.
Leave a review after reading, please. Feedback is always appreciated.
I'd like to thank the following users for reviewing the previous chapter: mrCRACKZvid, manu, Vince Basile Jr
To manu: Lo siento por eso. Pero esto es solo en ingles.
Leon and Claire return to DSO Headquarters to report to Ingrid Hunnigan about the recent zombie attack. Cleanup at the restaurant was no problem, but explaining it to the public was the hard part. Five casualties. One married couple, one couple in a relationship, and someone's husband. The two Raccoon City survivors can only scold themselves for not reacting fast enough. Right now, all that matters is finding out where and why. Where it came from. Why it happened in the place that they just happen to be at.
"And it just dropped out the sky, just like that?" Hunnigan questioned, just after hearing their story.
"I can't help but think Claire and I were the targets," said Leon.
"I know how you feel. Two people well-known for battling bioterrorism and someone just dropped zombies on their heads in the middle of the day. No way it's a coincidence," said Claire.
"Your brother may want to hear about this," said Leon.
"I don't like it when he gets protective of me, but... you're right," said Claire. "I'll call Chris. We're gonna need him."
"It may take a while for your brother to get here. He and Jill Valentine are on a mission in Mexico," Hunnigan reported.
"Then I'll call the BSAA first, get through to him through them," said Claire.
Claire makes a call in an attempt to inform her brother of what just happened to her and Leon. While she does that, Leon and Hunnigan continue to discuss the situation regarding the zombie attack from earlier.
"If you and Redfield are really the targets of this new Umbrella, then who's to say there aren't more in store for you two?" Hunnigan wondered.
"That's what I'm afraid of. I'm worried just by being here, even if this place is filled with armed agents," said Leon.
"We're working on tracking whatever dropped that crate in the restaurant," said Hunnigan. "Most likely, it came from an airborne vehicle. If we pinpoint its possible location when it delivered the package, then we can work on locating where it could be right now."
"Meanwhile, Claire and I need to get out of the city," said Leon. "We can't risk more innocent lives. We'll hide in a jungle if we have to, just as long as the next bioterror attack doesn't result in more unwanted deaths."
"You'd rather put yourselves in danger?" Hunnigan questioned.
"I don't like it either, Hunnigan. But I can't take any chances," said Leon.
Claire had just finished her phone call.
"I just talked to Clive O'Brian. He'll contact Chris for us," said Claire.
"Good. Right now, we need to go," said Leon. "Hunnigan, be sure to tell Chris..."
Leon's phone rings, interrupting him. He checks the caller ID. It was Sherry Birkin, much to Claire's delight. She hasn't seen the used-to-be-little-girl in a long, long time. Now that she's here in D.C. with Leon and Sherry just so happens to be a fellow DSO agent, she can finally see her.
"Sherry was supposed to be here earlier," said Leon.
"I have a bad feeling about this," said Hunnigan.
"Oh, don't say that," Claire said, hoping nothing bad has come of Sherry.
Leon answers the phone and puts it on speakerphone, knowing Claire would like to talk to the (other) blonde agent as well.
"Leon!" Sherry shouted, sounding panicked.
"Sherry, what's going on?" asked Leon.
"Are you okay?" asked Claire.
"Wait... Claire? Claire, is that you?" Sherry asked, recognizing the second voice.
"Yes, it's me," Claire confirmed. "What's wrong? You sound... are in trouble?"
"Remember that Tyrant that chased you guys around Raccoon City?" asked Sherry.
"How can I forget? That big guy was more bothersome than Simmons," Leon responded.
"Stalker expert," Claire added.
"Well, it's twin brother's here in my hotel!" Sherry informed.
"What?!" Leon and Claire exclaimed worriedly.
"Just come over quick! I can't leave the building, not without endangering innocent lives," said Sherry. "Well, more innocent lives. It's not looking pretty here."
"Don't worry, Sherry. We're coming," Claire assured, sounding like a worried mother. "Just stay safe until we get there, okay?"
"I'm not 12 anymore, Claire. I can take care of myself... mostly," said Sherry. "Gotta go. It's still following me."
A few gunshots are heard before Sherry ended the call.
"I guess that jungle tour will have to wait," Leon commented.
At the hotel Sherry stays in, she was running as fast as she can to get away from the hat-wearing, trench-coat-clad Tyrant. Anyone who gets in the way who can't get away fast enough are unfortunate, as the Tyrant shoves or punches them out of his way with force. Sherry had to unfortunately witness the gruesome demise of an innocent bellhop. He was leaning back against a wall when the Tyrant threw its fist at him, smashing his face against the flat surface, splattering his blood everywhere. No matter how much violence she has seen in her life, that death was way too horrifying.
"Oh, my God," Sherry said with horror.
The Tyrant turns its attention back to Sherry and walks towards her. Its "walking" might as well be considered speed-walking, as its strides cover more ground than a normal human being. Sherry can only imagine what "speed-walking" is like for that monster. No time to find out, though. She has to run, run, run for her life.
"Leon, Claire, you better get here immediately," Sherry hoped.
Sherry makes it to the hotel's dining area. Unfortunately, there are still some people there.
"How did that thing walk in here without drawing attention?" Sherry wondered quietly. She raises her voice and shouts, "Everyone get out of here! Now! Quick!"
Sherry had to run before she could explain. It didn't take long until the Tyrant arrived at the dining area, scaring everyone away. For some reason, the Tyrant unnecessarily backhands a fleeing man right in the face, almost killing him. The Tyrant didn't bother with the other guests as it was focused on looking for Sherry, who is now hiding. It looks left and right, waiting for any noise that could lead it to her. No noise so far.
Sherry is hiding under a buffet table, hoping she can stay quiet and stay hidden long enough for the Tyrant to leave her alone or for Leon and Claire to pull off a daring last-minute rescue. Right now, she just breathes as quietly as she can, trying not to make any noise.
The Tyrant's footsteps, however, were not making it easy. The menacing thumping that his boots make as he walked around the area are nerve-racking. She can only imagine just how afraid Leon and Claire were when the the Tyrant of that night was following them everywhere. To think they were safe one moment, only to hear those footsteps coming towards their direction, causing them to run away in alarm.
When the footsteps quieted, Sherry sighed with relief.
Unfortunately, that sigh gave her position away as the Tyrant lifted the table, scaring her. The Tyrant throws the table away with one hand as he walks closer towards its target, who is scurrying backwards as fast as she can. She grabs her gun and desperately fires non-stop, but the bullets are doing nothing to it. Sherry soon runs out of the bullets as the gun just makes a clicking sound every time she pulls the trigger. She tosses it aside and keeps scurrying backwards.
"Please, no, stay away!" Sherry begged, even if it's futile.
Sherry hits a wall. She's cornered. No way to go. She can only close her eyes and brace herself for the inevitable pounding. For some reason, the Tyrant hesitated. He watched Sherry cower and whimper with fear, and he did not take advantage of this chance.
Suddenly, a bullet hits the Tyrant in the back of the head, knocking his hat off. Sherry opens her eyes to see who fired the shot. Fortunately for her, someone has come to her rescue. It was...
Jake Muller?
"Jake?" She muttered with shock.
"I guess I made it just in time, Super Girl," Jake joked.
Super Girl. That's the nickname Jake chose for Sherry, due to her healing abilities. Despite being cured of the G-Virus 18 years ago, it adapted in its dormant state and gave her a regenerative healing factor.
The Tyrant turns around and sees Jake, who raises his gun at him. The Tyrant, for some reason, touches its head and notices that its hat is no longer on it. Its other hand curled into a fist, signifying anger. It stomps towards Jake at a faster rate than it did while chasing Claire. Maybe it's the hat, Jake thought humorously.
"Jake, look out!" Sherry shouted.
Jake backs away as he fires over and over again at the Tyrant, but his bullets do not even scratch its trench coat. After he ran out of bullets, he tossed the gun away and opted for a punch to the face, like he did with Ustanak. Unfortunately, punching the Tyrant in the face is like punching steel. The Tyrant shrugs off the punch while Jake shakes his aching hand.
"Ow," he uttered. Looking up at the hulking Tyrant, he jokingly says, "Uh, sorry about the hat."
The Tyrant responds by grabbing Jake by the throat and lifting him off his feet. It slowly increases the pressure of its hold around the young Wesker's neck. Jake can only flail and ineffectually pounding the Tyrant's in a pathetic attempt to escape its deathly grip.
"So much... for sorry," Jake joked, in spite of being choked.
The Tyrant is not affected in any way by the apology and continues to choke Jake, attempting to break his neck.
"No, stop!" Sherry shouted.
The Tyrant turns around and looks at Sherry, whose shouting caught its attention.
"You want me, right?" Sherry asked bravely. "Then you can have me. Just don't hurt him. Please, let him go."
"Are you... ack... serious?" Jake questioned, wondering why Sherry is even trying to beg the Tyrant to stop. "Words... agh... you think words will do it?!"
Apparently, words did work. Tyrant throws Jake down and approaches Sherry once again. Sherry backs away a little before stopping. She closes her eyes and braces herself again for pain. Tyrant raises his fist and prepares to hit Sherry with it.
"No!" Jake cried, in spite of his hurting throat.
However, the Tyrant froze. It looked like it was frozen in place. It didn't move a muscle. Sherry opened her eyes, curious as to why the Tyrant hasn't killed her yet. She looked up and saw that it was frozen. Well, not for long. Instead of finally punching Sherry, the Tyrant collapsed on one knee. It remained in this pose for an awfully long time, much to the confusion of Sherry and Jake.
"What the hell?" Jake wondered, feeling very confused.
"Um... hello?" Sherry said nervously.
The Tyrant didn't do anything. It stayed down on one knee with its face looking down. Jake slowly walks closer towards Sherry, trying not to alarm the big guy. He was tempted to poke it, but he decided against it.
"SHERRY!"
Leon, Claire, and a few other DSO agents showed up and pointed their weapons at the black-clad Tyrant, only to find it on its knees. Leon and Claire were both armed with M79 Grenade Launchers, knowing that mere bullets won't work on the Tyrant (yet they didn't bother to tell that to the other agents, who were armed with simple handguns).
The Tyrant quickly gets back up upon the sound of the agents barging in. Threatened by their weapons, it stomps towards them. Before Leon and Claire could fire, Sherry steps in between the agents and the Tyrant.
"Stop!" Sherry begged.
Surprisingly, this stopped the Tyrant from continuing forward.
"Hold your fire," Leon ordered.
The DSO Agents lowered their guns, along with Leon and Claire. Sherry, meanwhile, looks up at the Tyrant, who was looking down at her and not doing anything. Sherry felt stupid for putting herself in front of it, but she just had a feeling.
"It's okay. No need to fight. They're my friends," Sherry said calmly.
And the Tyrant didn't respond in any way.
"Sherry, what are you doing?" asked Leon.
"What does it look like? She's talking to the thing," Jake said, confused and annoyed.
"Nice to see you again," Leon greeted.
"Yeah, good to be back," Jake said sarcastically. "But now I'm wondering if I was even needed."
"You must be Jake Muller, right? Albert Wesker's illegitimate son?" asked Claire.
"And you must be Claire Redfield," Jake guessed. "Heh, you and Kennedy definitely look like Sherry's parents."
"Uh..." Leon and Claire felt awkward due to that comment.
"Kidding," Jake said.
"What are you doing back here?" asked Leon.
"I was following a bioterror group back here to D.C. I didn't expect them to send this big ugly guy after Sherry," said Jake.
The Tyrant turns its head and faces Jake in a threatening manner, startling him and everyone. Leon and Claire raised their weapons again, just in case. Good thing Sherry was there to calm the thing down.
"Geez, did I hurt its feelings or something?" Jake wondered.
"A Tyrant who can feel offended? Never heard of that before," Claire commented.
"Sherry, we need to turn that thing over to the BSAA," said Leon.
"I know, but you need to let me stay with him. I think... I think he listens to me," Sherry said.
"Okay, hold up. First, it tries to kill you. Then it just listens to you just like that?" Jake questioned. "Probably some kind of trick or something."
"Only one way to find out," said Sherry.
I won't lie. What you just read about Mr. X, you just read it. I already have the answer, but what do you think is the reason Mr. X hesitated to kill Sherry?
For the next chapter, I'll bring Chris and Jill into the story. About time, though.
Note:
- The RE2 Tyrant, or T-00, is never called "Mr. X" in the games, so I refer to him simply as "Tyrant" in the story. I just referred him to as "Mr. X" at the end of the first chapter just to make it clear which Tyrant paid Sherry a visit.