AUTHORS NOTE: I'm trying my best to get the layout of the trade center but it's really not easy with the limited photos and info online :P If things aren't 100% accurate I do apologize but I'm trying my best! Note to self, use a place you know in future... Hope you guys enjoy!


PART THREE

"Jessica Sherawat."

Jill looked up from her current position based just near the main entrance of the trade center. Kaelen shot her a glance.

"Go, I'll cover the entrance," Kaelen nodded readying his M4. Jill turned and began through the lobby, there were various noises emitting from the Atrium itself but no screams or panic yet. A reassuring sign. She looked to a spare set of security guards that stood idly near the east wall.

"We have a situation, lock down the building. No one gets in or out."

They looked to each other taken aback but nodded none the less both slipping their hands beneath their suit coats to the weapons beneath bracing themselves one moving off to relay the orders. This was it she had to prove that she was ready for this, she didn't want to let the team down. She had noticed the doubtful looks she had received when she had entered the locker room to gear up. They had been...cautious around her, none had really spoken to her or welcomed her back, aside from Frye's comment. Not that she had been expecting a party but come on at least acknowledge she existed. Most of them she had known since the beginning of the B.S.A.A, with the exception of Yong and O'Dwyer. She felt like an outsider. Focus, Jill. Right, she had a job to do and she was busy having a pity party because she wasn't 'included', this wasn't high school. Jessica was back. What did she want? What was her purpose here? The last time they had crossed paths she was trying to sink them all and they had never managed to catch up with her. She had got away.

Jill pushed past some people standing idly heading toward the Atrium. The claps and noise from the hall drowned everything else out, she could hardly hear herself think. As she approached the doors she noticed the police offer's outside.

"We have a situation," Jill announced striding toward them. Where was that police chief gone? He was probably inside the Atrium with Chris and Addy.

"What?" One officer cocked a brow.

"A woman, we believe, with malicious intent has been seen inside the Atrium. I need to get in there."

"Jessica has gone to the lower levels, we're following her down," Chris sounded over the radio. The basement levels? What was she doing down there?

"We need to have the president removed from the building," Jill looked to the officers again.

"He's in the middle of his speech-"

"This building is under serious threat, he needs to be removed immediately," Jill growled pushing past the man on the left-hand side of the doors and forcing her way into the hall. She stepped onto the top of a large staircase that led down to a lower level full of tables, chairs, and people. The president was on the far end of the hall behind a podium. No one seemed aware of the danger, though the security agents and police presence were beginning to focus on their earpieces rather than the speech at hand. It didn't take long for one of the guards behind the president to step up and whisper in his ear. This sent shockwaves of uncertainty through the hall. After a moment President Benford swiftly concluded the speech and asked everyone to 'remain calm'. They were far past that. People were beginning to get up from their seats, look around uncertainly. Panic was beginning.

"Chris, what's the situation?" Jill asked.

Nothing.

"Chris?" Jill felt a bit of panic beginning to build in her stomach. Stay calm, if anyone knows how to handle himself in these situations its Chris. Besides he has Addy as back up and nothing gets through that guy! If they can't handle Jessica then who can? Jills thoughts were getting the better of her now. She breathed a steady sigh. The president shortly was removed from the Atrium to an escape close by, the police chief, Allman, appeared to reassure everyone...but it was proving futile. The other officers took over while Allman followed the direction of the president. People were trying to look for the exits, the reporters and camera crews going wild at the sudden change in atmosphere.

"All exits secured," Kaelen announced over the radio.

"President has safely left the building," Conrad said.

That was a relief. Jill felt that small pit that had built in her stomach settle now, she holstered her weapon.

"Jill, Kaelen get out of the building!" Addy's voice sounded over the radio.

"What's going on?" O'Dwyer asked over the comm.

"Do you need back-up?" Mahony asked.

"Addy, get back!" Chris shouted over the comm.

CRASH.

...

Silence.

...

Not silence.

Ringing.

Her head was pounding, the sound of blood rushing through her veins filled her ears. What the hell had just happened? She was on her back. Through the fading ringing she could hear people screaming, people roaring and shouting loudly. Oh no. Jill opened her eyes and saw great clouds of dust drifting through the air, shattered glass lay all over the hall from some of the window panes of the roof large chunks of concrete lay in heaps throughout the hall. It had to have been Jessica, no doubt. A bomb? Jill shifted, a large cluster of concrete had fallen over her from overhead. She could still feel everything, nothing was broken. Reassuring. The comm's were going crazy. The teams outside wanting to know what had happened, setting up a barricade on the outside trying to cover all the exits, attempting to regain contact with Addy and Chris. Jill brought a hand to her head and attempted to stop the spots that were swimming in her vision.

"Jill?" A voice broke through the chaos. "Jill, you okay?"

She felt an arm around her pulling her up. Kaelen. Giving him a once over she saw he had received a number of bloody scratches and a bruise to his otherwise perfect complexion, his blonde hair slightly askew now.

"What the hell happened?"

"Not sure, but we need to find out. Can you walk?"

"Yeah, course." Jill nodded as she was pulled to her feet. Reaching to her thigh she pulled the Baretta from its holster and quickly gave the weapon a once over.

"This is Kaelen, we've lost contact with Addy and Chris. They were headed to the basement level of the building, Jill and I are going to check things out. Bartel keep the exits secure, Hughes you may want to get in contact with the police chief, I believe he exited with the president. Mahony, Riggs, Frye standby. Yong, O'Dwyer and Conrad you may want to get yourselves down here." Kaelen ordered. He always kept his head, never wavered and Jill believed he was due a promotion soon. That would have to wait.

Jill stepped forward down the steps into the pit, people were screaming, some wailing in pain from injuries, tables and chairs had been thrown, the reporter's cameras were off, for now, the camera crews and reporters trying to get a bearing on what was happening. Who wasn't?

"Ambulances are en route," Lojacona said. As much as Jill wanted to help the people here she knew that herself and Kaelen needed to get underground to Chris and Addy and find out what happened. Was Jessica still in the building? Reaching out she nudged Kaelen and motioned him to follow her.


They had opted not to use the lift to the basement levels after all the power seemed to have been affected. Some lights had been knocked off entirely while others were just flickering now trying to stay alive. Jill had switched the flashlight on her shoulder harness on to help her out. Kaelen held a torch in his right hand, his weapon in the other. As they had descended the levels they found more and more people who were caught unawares. If they were able to walk they were sent to the stairways, if not Jill had told them to gather at the main entrance of the food hall. Kaelen had just sent a mother and her two children toward the exit before they continued on. The lights were dim but alive, thankfully but for how long? Bits of building and ceiling were collapsing in. It must have been a powerful blast to ricochet so much damage throughout. What would Jessica have to gain from all of this? They would have to find her and this time not let her get away-find her motives and who it was she was with. Had Arias just been a ploy? Had they been looking for the wrong person all along?

The food court was a large circular hall with dozens of chairs and tables, the food vendors were on the rear wall, about 10 different types. Kabuki Sushi, Nook, Subway, and Quick Pita to name just a few. There were dozens of people down here too, most families or young people out for the day, Jill felt sorry for them all caught up in this. Amazingly, one guy was still chewing on his burger while he watched Jill and Kaelen.

"We should probably get all these people out of here," Kaelen muttered.

"You're right," Jill nodded.

"You wanna take it?"

"Sure." Jill holstered her weapon, for now, and looked about quickly scrambling on top of one of the counters. "Everyone! Everyone, please listen to me!" Jill called out loudly, drawing everyone's attention. They watched her like sheep about to take flight, sheep looking for a shepherd to guide them. "I want everyone to remain calm, my name is Jill Valentine I'm with the B.S.A.A-"

"Are you here to help us?" A woman shouted.

"The B.S.A.A does that mean we're infected?" One wide-eyed man shouted. Whispers began to spread about virus and infection now causing more upset among the people.

"Are we safe?" Another called out.

"No! You are not infected, and yes you are safe so long as you listen to me!" Jill reassured, "I need everyone to slowly and calmly make your way upstairs to the first floor there is medical support being provided and-"

"My daughter is missing!" One man shouted.

"My brother was upstairs? Is he okay?" Another roared.

"And police will help anyone who has been separated from loved ones. Please don't use the lifts, we don't know if the circuits have been affected so please use the stairs. I know it's a hard time but I'll ask you again to please remain calm there is no need to panic."

Yet.

No one knew what was going on yet.

"Good job," Kaelen nodded as Jill jumped down off the counter. People began to gather their things and make their way in the direction Jill had suggested. "I tried Chris and Addy again but I got nothing."

"They might have been caught in the blast...or their communication devices affected."

"Both communications?" Kaelen cocked a brow. It could have been possible. Jill looked and him for a long moment before turning and wading her way through the ocean of people attempting to get out of the building. From the corner of her eye, Jill could see that R&B Steak and Grill had been crushed-she sure hoped there was no one stuck under that rubble. Then again it didn't look like anyone would have survived the collapse.

Jill and Kaelen made their way to the rear of the food court to a back stairway that led down to the storerooms. They had done a quick sweep of the food hall and the people within and couldn't see Chris or Addy, they must have gone down a level.

"We're going down to sub-basement level, communication may be spotty," Kaelen said into his earpiece warning the others.

"Roger that, Johnny Bravo," Mahony responded, "Be careful down there."


"I do not look like Johnny Bravo," Kaelen snorted.

"No..." Jill mused, "More of a John Smith without the jawline."

"What?" Kaelen snorted, "I have a jawline."

"Yeah but not a strong one."

Kaelen snorted as they reached the bottom of the stairwell. It was pitch black down here. Great. The flashlights returned shining down the hallway which was long and straight. Doors branched off to each side but aside that it was pretty barren, a noticeboard or two for orders and the like beside various doors.

"Nothing like a dark hallway to get the blood pumping," Jill sighed. Kaelen made no response. Jill took hold of the handgun in both hands, holding it low at an arm's length, Kaelen readied his M4 and once they were happy they nodded to each other and began down the hall. It wasn't like the upper levels...maybe Jessica hadn't come all the way down here there was still a lot of places they hadn't yet checked but best to rule out the building floor by floor. Start with the bottom and work up. There were groans and muffled bangs from the upper floors from rubble still continuing to collapse and pile. It made the hallway have an even eerier feel to it. They had checked communications and they still functioned, barely but they did so if all went wrong and they couldn't get out at least they wouldn't be cut off. Jill wasn't sure how far these storerooms went on or how they were laid out but she supposed she'd have to try working it out. She took the left-hand side of the wall while Kaelen too the right and together they began forward, checking the doors, checking what was behind them. Nothing so far aside from stacks of bread rolls and dried food stores. Jill paused next to a set of large heavy doors that were frosted.

"Must be the freezer room," Jill muttered to herself. She had fallen slightly behind Kaelen. Leave nothing unchecked. She reached out a hand, thankful for the protection of the gloves. She could feel the searing cold even through the material of her glove! Had someone broken the temperature gauge? The handle creaked loudly before clanging as it finally swung free. Kaelen spun from up ahead. Jill smirked waving a hand. He continued forward. Jill peered around the door into the freezer. Stacks of frozen meat and even some vegetables. Who the heck froze lettuce? Shaking her head she pulled the door a little more.

Snap!

She jumped, jerked the door wide and aiming her pistol. Nothing. Scowling she took a step into the freezer, mindful not to wander too far from the door-she'd seen them closing behind people in the movies. She realized then that the cold air from the fans had stopped, had someone turned the cooling off? Jill cast a look to her left to the small panel in the wall noticing a small device had been taped over. Was that a grenade? Why was it taped to the controls and who would want to burst the controls anyway? Jill's curiosity drew her closer to the panel. She combed over it inspecting it. Reaching out she pulled the grenade from the panel and looked to the melted mesh of what remained beneath. Most of it was kaput but she could see the temperature reading...it was rising.

"How strange," She frowned. Of all the things going on today someone had made sure to sabotage the meat stores. "Talk about getting your priorities wrong." Turning she threw the remains of the grenade to the floor before slipping from the freezer. Quickly she caught pace with Kaelen who was rifling through an office on the right-hand side.

"Everything okay?" He asked when he saw her in the doorway.

"Course," She nodded. "Think its the first dark corridor I've been down without some crazy creature grabbing at me. Find anything?"

"Whole lot of nothing I'm afraid. Guess the sub-basement wasn't anyone's priority."

"Well, then I guess we should head back up, see what use we can be upstairs." Jill turned her attention to her earpiece, "There's no sign of anything down here. Jessica has to be elsewhere in the building. We haven't found any sign of Chris or Addy either, has anyone heard from them?"

There was a short silence before the radio crackled.

"Everything...control. You're...not good. Boost it?"

"No...'fraid we can't. We're coming back up."

"Allman...sent...back. The...Safe. See you...top."

"I think I could understand that," Jill shrugged.

"President is safe, that's the main thing." Kaelen sighed in relief.

"Yeah but what about everyone else? What about Jessica?"

"She's got to be here somewhere, right? Bartel had all exits locked down and the security here was tight-"

"And she still got through."

"...good point."

"And there's Chris and Addy, where have they vanished too? It's like they just disappeared," Jill pressed a hand to her head. Her hat had been knocked off when the explosion hit and she could feel a bruise spreading on her temple. That was all she needed now.

"Don't worry-they'll be fine. Hell, they're probably up top waiting for us right now."

Jill sighed. He was right. She was like a worried girlfriend...is that what she was now? They hadn't actually had a chance to talk any of that through...was it just a one of thing? Funnily enough, she didn't want it to be just a once off thing...it felt good-great! It had felt like the first good thing she had in ages. Not the time! Her mind snapped at her. True. It wasn't time for any of that.

"Alright-let's get out of here," Jill nodded.

Together they turned and left the office, striding back up the corridor. It was silent. The sound of their boots the only noise, everything from the upper floors seemed to have silenced. The air was still. Jill paused. Once Kaelen had stopped to look at her she listened closely. Not. A. Sound. Nothing but her heart thumping. It wasn't right. Jill reached to the harness on her shoulders and plucked the torch off it shining it down the hallway.

"What?" Kaelen frowned.

"Sssh," She hissed.

They stood in silence. A crackle sounded. It had come from the freezer, the door was still a jar, Jill hadn't bothered to close it earlier. The door was between them and the way out but when she had set foot inside she hadn't seen anything...just hundreds of burgers. Had someone been in there? Was it Chris? Addy? No. They would have called out. Jill felt her heart skip a beat, her palm grew damp. What had she missed? Kaelen raised his rifle training it on the doorway before taking a cautious step, he gestured Jill to slip in behind him and proceed single file. They crept forward, Jill keeping her light and Baretta aimed at the doorway, Kaelen's shoulders had turned rigid, his grip on the M4 tight. Their boots thudded quietly on the floor. Kaelen passed the doorway before turning back and attempted to peer in the small gap. Jill followed him, looping around and positioning herself on the far side. They looked at one another before Kaelen sighed.

"Hello?" He called.

Jill's mind went back to the people from earlier. Someone had said their daughter was missing, others had missing family members too maybe it was one of them? It would have to be. Jill didn't get the familiar stench of decay and death that followed a viral victim as its body and mind was consumed by the virus.

No response.

Jill felt her finger slide down onto the trigger now looping around the cold metal. Her eyes darted to Kaelen.

"B.S.A.A is someone there?" He called again taking a step closer to the doors.

"Careful," Jill hissed.

"You got my back right?" He grinned. Jill nodded returning the smile however forced it may have been. Kaelen's hand brushed the door handle. There was a squeal from behind them. Both soldiers spun weapons aimed.

"No! NO don't shoot!" The voice was weak and petrified his arms raised high into the air. Jill and Kaelen's torch beams fell on a teen, probably 16 by the looks of him, in jeans, converse, and a logoed t-shirt. He cowered before them. Jill couldn't help the relieved sigh that escaped her. It had probably just been this kid wandering around. His clothing was dust covered and there was a bloody wound on his left arm but aside that he was clearly just lost.

"It's okay," Kaelen reassured lowering the rifle. "Scared the crap out of us, kid."

"Are you okay?" Jill asked.

The teen looked to them now and lowered his arms quickly rushing toward them. "I lost my family there was a loud bang-and then-everyone was gone-I was just trying to take a piss, you know? Then something fell off the roof and hit my head-I woke up and no one was around. Then I heard voices and I thought 'people'!"

"Woah-just calm down there," Kaelen stared wide-eyed trying to comprehend the teen's rushed story. Even Jill had a hard time deciphering what had been said but she got the jist. He was in the bathroom when it happened and now he was lost.

"It's okay," Jill reassured again, holstering her weapon and taking a step forward, "We're with the B.S.A.A, my name is Jill and this is Kaelen. What's your name?"

"Jerry."

"Okay Jerry, come with us. We'll take you back to your family," Jill reassured reaching out and patting his shoulder. Jerry nodded.

"Who's the other guy?" Jerry pointed behind her.

Jill felt her heart stop. 'Other guy'? She looked over her shoulder.

A tall, hulking figure was raising a brick-sized fist into the air over them. Jill spun before tackling herself into Jerry throwing the pair of them to the ground. Kaelen reached to his belt and snatched a flash grenade quickly loosening the pin. There was a loud snap from the grenade, the light igniting the otherwise dark corridor briefly. Jill had kept her eyes covered by her arm while burying Jerry's face to the floor. A tyrant? Here? Now? Jill hadn't seen them...in years. How? How was it under the trade center? Not taking time to think on it she snatched the back of Jerry's shirt and dragged him up throwing him toward the stairway.

"Run!" She bellowed reaching for the pistol on her leg. She could hear the rattle of Kaelen's M4, the meaty slaps of the bullets entering the Tyrant's chest. Jill raised her pistol and fired off two round.

Bam. Bam.

"Come on!" She shouted to Kaelen. He turned, taking her cover and allowing himself to move out of the Tyrant's immediate grip a number of feet back. He raised his rifle again.

"Go-get upstairs, warn the others!" He called over the rattle of gunfire. Jill fired off two more rounds that slapped into the Tyrant's emotionless face, the flesh of its cheek and jaw splitting and flopping uselessly down. Jill spun now and bolted. The stairway was 15 feet away, she pushed her legs to work as quickly as they could, heart racing. She reached the first step and quickly paused to look back for Kaelen. He was throwing himself back from the Tyrant's fist that thrust into the wall of the corridor embedding itself. Kaelen turned now and bolted up the corridor while the creature struggled to rip its fist back from the wall.

"Size isn't everything bitch," Kaelen snarled as he reached the bottle step, slinging the rifle and grabbing another grenade from his belt. Incendiary this time. The creature jerked its arm from the wall and turned, growling before sprinting toward them. Kaelen pulled the pin on the grenade.

"Holy shit!" Jerry squealed fleeing up the remaining stairs. Jill and Kaelen followed, bolting up the stairs way. The thundering strides of the Tyrant not far behind them. Jill fell through the fire exit door and spun just as Kaelen appeared. He turned and tossed the grenade back down the stairway just as the Tyrant appeared at the base of the steps. There was a snap and bright burst of orange flames engulfed the creature but it wouldn't hold it for long. Jill heaved the door closed and looked for something to barricade it with. There was only flimsy wooden tables and chairs. They wouldn't do anything. Jerry was stood shaking, Kaelen was attempting to locate something to hold the door at least until they could get some support from the backup team.

"Jerry!" Jill called, "You grab that food cart." Jill was pressed back against the door as though that would help if the Tyrant decided he wanted in. Kaelen sprinted across the hall and kicked out at the wooden frame of a trash counter, forcing the wood to snap and break before pushing it toward the fire exit. With the trash counter and Jerry rolling the heavy metal food cart, they had a slight barrier. Both were shoved against the door. Kaelen spun now and ducked low behind one of the overturned tables. Jill grabbed hold of Jerry and headed for Larry's Cookies and Ice Cream. She leaped over the counter and landed in a crouch on the opposing side in one swift movement. Jerry scrabbled over the counter and collapsed onto the floor next to her just as the fire exit was hammered on. It didn't take much for the door to fly open their measly barrier demolished in a swift movement. Jerry squealed clapping his hands over his ears. Jill remained silent gesturing him to do the same. Kaelen wasn't in a good position, he was too close to the Tyrant. Jill raised her head and peered over the counter noting the look on his face he knew he wasn't in a good place either but he was calm. He had another flash grenade on that belt he could use it if needed. Lowering herself down she focused attention to her earpiece.

"We have a T-103 in the basement level, food court. Need assistance ASAP. Do not, I repeat, do not respond, Kaelen's in a dangerous spot. Back up. Now!"