Legal Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story that appear in the hit syndicated TV show, Dark Angel, owned and created by James Cameron. I do, however, own any and all original characters that appear in this work of fan fiction.
Rating Disclaimer: PG –13 I suspect this story will be a bit gory, have a bit of swearing, and several adult themes. However, I will try to keep these at a minimum.
Summary: The transgenics go after their invisible menace.
A/N: Been watching Resident Evil continuously because I'm bored. Got some ideas. Zombies ahoy!
Resident Evil
By
Brin
"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." – Henry David Thoreau
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Chapter 3: Harder to Breathe
Terminal City was on total lockdown. Windows were covered, doors locked, and no one was allowed outside. Emergency stores had been brought out and the underground crisis tunnels below TC utilized to their fullest. They couldn't, however, live like that forever, and none felt safe with an invisible enemy walking around.
A meeting was held some two days after the incident. The attendants included Max and the '09 escapees, Alec and his unit, Pick and Eddie, and Dix and Leg. Logan was "present" via computer. It was a somber event, and for once in their lives, the Manticorians had no feel for wit.
"So all we know is that there was a shimmer," said Logan.
"That's it," confirmed Max.
Dix looked at Leg, who looked back at him and shrugged. "Well, first of all, we need to know if we're up against technology or genetics – say, a chameleon special ops or some kind of suit that makes you indiscernible from your surroundings."
"Well, is there any record of chameleon special ops?" asked Dom, stroking his goatee thoughtfully.
"Not in any of the files we were able to salvage from the computers after the fire. However, Renfro's disk was never recovered, even after White's death and the destruction of the Centurion facility," answered Logan. "I have, however, been able to track down one of the Centurions. If you think he'll be of any help, I can tell you his phone number and address. I'm sending you a satellite photo of him now."
The transgenics gathered around the computer as a picture loaded on the screen. It was of a young man in his early twenties, his blonde hair disheveled and his blue eyes suspicious as he looked straight upward.
"Did he know you were taking this picture?" asked Dix.
"Not that I know of. After I locked onto him, I hacked into a privately-own satellite and kept it trained on him for some days until he finally looked up. My best guess is that a hoverdrone had flown by," replied Logan coolly. "Do you recognize him as one of the Centurions in Last Hope that night?"
"It's the Alpha," said Zack. "Brock, he said his name was."
"He's listed as working at Charlie's Chicken in a town east of Seattle under the same name. Brock Henderson, age 20. The Centurion facility gave their occupants strict orders to go undercover until further notice, but I guess he didn't listen," Logan explained. "He has a high profile as a pro-transgenic youth leader in that town."
"All the other Centurions will obey for sure. They had near hive minds, but he was an officer – he had to work on his own," reasoned Dom. "But why is he important to us?"
"Eyes Only has reason to believe that he holds invaluable information about the whereabouts of Manticore files, scientists, managers, cafeteria workers – the works. He might have something to offer on the subject of a chameleon special ops, and if not, the rest of his knowledge would prove useful."
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Within two hours an armored truck was rolling into Last Hope. It stopped in front of the meeting building and its occupants rushed into the building without even stopping to shut the doors, leaving the streets of the city deserted once again.
Inside, three X5s shoved their delivery onto the ground before them.
"Brock," greeted Max coolly.
The Centurion raised his head to look at her and put on an incredulous face. "You've got to be kidding me," he said wryly. "Gimme a break, lady. I let your little friends go!"
"The hell you did," responded Pick, who was standing behind Max alongside Zack, Dom, and Alec – an intimidating bunch, to say the least.
"Do you think you woulda got outta there alive if I hadn't let you? Come on, don't gimme this bullshit. I thought you were smarter than that." A wry laugh left the young man. "Come on. After all you heard about how much stronger we are? You think that wasn't true? Hm? Don't be stupid."
Fists clenching and unclenching, Max pushed down the urge to hit him across the cheek. "Look, that's not why you're here."
"Then why? So your bulldog there can toss me around again?" Brock pointed with his chin at Zack. "Oh wait, you've got two bulldogs now – and a poodle." A mocking smile rested on his lips as he gestured to Alec.
"Shut up!" Max punched him, but he barely flinched. She stared into his eyes for a long while before quietly saying, "Look, we brought you here because we need your help."
"My help? You kidding me? You fucking need my help? What do you think I am, some kind of saint?" The sarcastic look on his face had changed to one of utter disbelief. "This is bullshit. I'm out of here." He stood and yanked the metal chain of his handcuffs apart with little to no effort.
"Wait," protested Max. "This is important. We need to know what you know about Manticore and what is has been doing… about Sandeman."
At this, Brock became very still. With calculated calmness and strategic apathy, the young man replied, "Why?"
"Someone is killing transgenics in the city. The attacker is invisible, and what we wanna know is whether or not he was cooked up in a Manticore facility," explained Max quietly. "Do you know anything?"
"Invisible trannies, invisible trannies," repeated Brock to himself, looking at the floor in thought. "I can't be sure of what was going on in some facilities, but I know that in my base, the Seattle base, and the Wyoming base there was no successful model of chameleon DNA. Something about newts and the human womb."
Max sighed unhappily. "Well at least we know it's not a transgenic… but what is it, then?"
Nervousness tugging at his features, Brock said quickly, "I do, however, know of a special team that was assigned to design a suit that blends with your environment."
"You what?!" Max whirled on him. "Go on!"
"I believe they succeeded in making it, though it had a few glitches. It was a special LCD-covered suit that used micro-cameras to view the surroundings and recreate them on the liquid crystals," explained the Centurion.
"What kind of glitches?" asked Dom.
"If the occupant moves too fast, it produces a glitched effect because the cameras take a moment to adjust."
"Like… a shimmer."
"Yeah, I assume it would appear as a shimmer."
Max and Alec exchanged a glance.
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"Okay, here's the plan: I need someone to round up all the Aquatic units and any X7 you can find. We have thermal imagers, but we don't want to take any chances. I think that ultrasound combined with the thermal imagery is our best bet. We're going to need a decoy, a room with lots of windows, and strategic posts to locate any attacker. Since he or she is not a transgenic, I don't think we'll have to worry about taking them down. Got it?" Max looked around the room. "Now who's up for decoy?"
"I'm sure everyone will be happy to do it," grumbled Brock sarcastically.
"Brock, how nice of you to volunteer!" replied Max, turning on him with a sugar-coated smile. "Suit him up with a vest and find the room we need."
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It was hard not to fidget when you were being used to attract a homicidal, invisible serial killer – as Brock was quickly learning. He put his chin in his hand, rubbed his face, pulled his fingers through his hair, fiddled with the hem of his shirt, drummed his fingers, tapped his feet. This was apparently making the others nervous to, because He could see Alec shifting uncomfortably in his seat in a blind spot of the room.
How long does it take to get a shot off? thought the Centurion miserably. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced out the nearest window. No shimmer. No gun. Of course there was no gun! What kind of idiot would carry a gun outside his super-duper invisible guy suit? If he were the attacker, he'd do that. He'd also get an LCD gun, but maybe those cost more than when he had last checked.
Countless hours passed. Brock read all of 1984 in that time, wholly amused by its resemblance to Manticore. He decided to ask someone to bring him War and Peace.
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Eddie carefully peered through the boards of her hiding place – inside a crate on the roof of a building opposite the one Brock was in. Yuri was to her right, and Pick to her left. They were both getting jumpy as time passed.
"What's the shooter waiting for?" grumbled Pick as he rhythmically bumped his head against the crate.
"Why are you so nervous?" asked Eddie.
"I'm not nervous," replied the X6 gruffly.
"You're hitting your head. You always do that when you're nervous," stated Eddie in a matter-of-factly tone.
Pick didn't even bother to consider the fact that his head was poised to knock against the crate again as he replied, "I'm not nervous, and I don't hit my head when I am nervous, which is hardly ever."
"Don't confuse yourself," teased the anomaly with a wry grin.
"Ah, milady, I'm sharp as a steel trap and quick as a thimble!" Pick grabbed her around the waist, laughing. "I kiss well, too."
"Yeah, well I can do the pretzel."
"I know. I've seen you do it. Naked."
Eddie shook her head and pushed him away. "There are children present," she said, turning away to hide the flush of her cheeks.
"Sorry, Yuri," apologized Pick, winking at the young X7, who was blushing even deeper than Eddie.
"It's okay," the X7 signed back before returning her attention to the rooftops.
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"Ugh, I hate waiting like this," muttered Syl under her breath. "Why doesn't he just show himself so we can shoot him down? How do we even know he's still in the city?"
Krit, who was peeking through the blinds of a window, shrugged. "We don't, but we can't take that chance." He moved away from the window to sit on the couch next to her. "What's on your mind, kitty?"
"Nothing."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"You're sure."
"Yep."
"Okay then."
There was a suspenseful pause, then Syl piped, "I'm worried about Max."
"Are you now?"
"Yes, I'm worried! She shouldn't be going through all this! Those damned Familiars. I'll wring them with my bare hands if I ever get a hold of one. Max is pregnant! She should be enjoying time with her family, not fighting some war to protect ungrateful peoples of the world!" ranted Syl angrily. "It's not good for her. What if she gets hurt and the baby gets hurt as well? She'd never forgive herself, Krit. I hate to see her in danger like this. I hate it!"
Krit put his arm around her and sighed. "I agree. Max is going up against some powerful people by what we've seen… but this is her destiny, don't you see? Nothing will happen to the baby. Nothing will happen to Max. You'll see, kitty. Everything plays out as it should. The prophecy says that Max will succeed, and we'll help her there. Alright?"
Syl frowned, but responded, "Alright… I just wish it was someone else and not her."
"If it was, then we'd all be doomed."
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"So what do you think, now that you've met us?"
Amy's eyes flickered to her clone. "You're okay. I wouldn't trade something for you, though, that's for sure."
Brin shrugged indifferently as she bounced baby Ben on her knee. "Well, is it nice to know that we're not the devil's spawn?"
"I didn't say that," replied Amy with a wry grin. "You're just… now what we thought."
"Or what we were told," piped Lynn, her dark eyes indifferent. "I'm the clone of the one who died in 2019, right?"
"Yeah," replied Brin sadly.
"What was her name?"
"Tinga."
Lynn smiled slightly as she processed the name, rolling it off her tongue a few times, "Tinga. Tinga."
Amy checked out the window, then asked the Aquatic unit stationed with them if he saw anything. He told them no, and they were silent for a long while.
"Brin?" asked Lynn.
"Yes?"
"Tell me about her… about Tinga."
Brin looked a bit taken back. She placed Ben on the couch next to her, steadying him with one hand, and took a few deep breaths. "Well, she was… very kind. Always kind. When we were kids, she was my best friend besides my brother Ben."
"X5 494? The one that went crazy?" asked Amy, pulling up a chair to listen to her twin speak.
"Yeah. That one," replied Brin quietly. "Anyway, she was almost Zack's age, so she played big sister to everyone. She was a really good person, and an excellent soldier for Manticore."
"Do you miss her?" questioned Lynn.
Brin blinked at her. "Of course I do… but she's in the Good Place now. It's better than being in this hellhole."
Amy laughed. "You made a joke, big sister! Good job!" She smiled at baby Ben as she told him, "Your mama's all right, you know?"
Drool leaking from the side of his mouth, Ben cooed and giggled in response.
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Max worriedly paced back and forth, nibbling on the tip of her finger.
"You're going to wear a hole in the carpet," warned Jondy as she watched her sister apprehensively. "Max, sit down."
"Mm-mma," mumbled the younger X5, still pacing.
"Hey, come on. You've got that far away look again. That far away look is not good! Come back to me, Maxie!" Jondy stood and grabbed her sister's arm.
"Wha?" Max blinked dumbly, then shook her head as if coming out of a trance. "What did you say?"
"I said sit down and stop worrying yourself to death. Alec will be alright," comforted Jondy with a soothing smile. "He's in the blind spot. No one can get him… save Brock, but that weenie wouldn't touch him."
Max's hand went to her stomach idly. "I'm worried."
"Stop it."
"No, I'm really worried."
"About what?" Jondy put her arms around her sister and kissed her temple. "You've got nothing to worry about. I'm here. Zack's here." She nodded her head towards the brooding figure by the window that was her husband. "Everything's going to be fine."
"No, I'm worried about me. I'm worried that the whole world is going to go down the drain because I can't destroy some damned invisible sniper," rambled Max, visibly shaken.
"We've had this discussion before, Max," said Jondy in a parental tone. "You are the one. The world is gonna be okay."
For the first time in several minutes, Zack moved from his place in the shadows. He looked menacing and, at the same time, comforting as he stood there with the light over his head. His large hands grasped Max's and he said in the most encouraging tone Max had ever heard, "Only one person can tell you what you can and can't do – and that's you. It's you, Maxie. It's all you."
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Yuri blinked. Was that a shimmer?
Alarmed, the young X7 tugged on Eddie's sleeve.
"What is it? Do you see something?" asked the anomaly. "Run a scan."
Breathing hard out of anxiety, the X7 ran a quick scan of the area. Sure enough, she found a blip in her radar. After relating this information to her companions, Pick used the thermal imager and located the sniper. He announced the discovery of the culprit and got several agreeing reports from the Aquatic units and other X7s. The only one with a clear shot was Yuri – she was the only one who could "see" him.
"Are you ready for this?" asked Pick as he handed the girl the 9 mm.
"I've done it many times before," replied Yuri coolly.
"Aim for the head," instructed Eddie, licking her lips nervously. "Right in the middle."
Yuri nodded, leveled the gun, and shot – just like that. For a moment, they believed that she had missed… and then, they spotted the bullet hole. It hovered in the air for a moment, then it surroundings quivered and the LCD suit failed. The sniper fell six stories from the rooftop, landing in a conveniently-placed garbage can below.
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"Tell us, Mrs. Brady, how did you take down the suspect?"
Max took a deep breath before answering, "The elimination of the threat was quite uncomplicated – easier than we had first thought. We used a decoy to persuade the sniper to enter a guarded area, then used thermal imagers and ultrasound-capable transgenics to scan for him. I'm actually surprised at the simplicity of the operation." She nodded at the gathered press, then smiled at Alec, who was sitting next to her. The press conference had been called to clear up any questions about what was going on inside Last Hope.
"What do you have to say for the Ordinaries who died during the attacks? Are you going to offer any condolences for putting them in harms way?" asked one reporter.
Before Alec could open his mouth and say something regrettable, Pick jumped in and answered, "Look, Sir, it's not a matter of our presence putting people in danger. If that's so, then what are you doing here, sitting in front of us? Hm? Of course we plan to offer condolences and aid to the families of those who lost loved ones – transgenic and Ordinary. The attack was not our fault. It was the fault of whomever gave the sniper his assignment."
"And do you know who that is?" asked a woman from the back.
"We have an idea," replied Alec cryptically. "But that's another story. I think it's about time to wrap this up. My wife is tired and so are the rest of us. Thank you for coming."
The transgenics stood and went off the stage, ignoring the shouted questions of the press. They filed into the apartment that Max and Alec were staying in, then each flopped onto the ground or couch or chair. A companionable silence settled over them. Their work was done – for today… or so they thought.
Alec turned on the TV to watch the news. Immediately, everyone was watching as the anchor reported:
"…this just in: the house of transgenic world leaders Max and Alec Brady was raided by police today after a neighbor noticed the house opening up all by itself. The house was previously enclosed in steel. Inside, they found several injured, starving men and three bodies. The Brady's, who just held a press conference in Last Hope, have a warrant out for their arrest with charges of kidnapping, assault and battery, and murder. Their adopted daughter is also wanted, but for lesser charges. They are considered armed and dangerous. Proceed with caution."
"What the hell?" Alec yelled as he jumped to his feet. "Shit!" He looked at the other occupants of the room. "That's it. We're leaving."
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The icy wind was roaring in Max's frozen ears as she and Alec sped down the highway on his motorcycle. Sleet was swept into her face, freezing her eyelashes and frosting her lips. As they swerved through the traffic, honks following them all the way, she could see Pick and Eddie on their motorcycle riding alongside. Zack and Jondy were not far behind. Brin, Syl, Krit, and Zane had stayed behind to try and clear a few things up before leaving. The '09 clones had taken another route to avoid them all getting caught at once.
"Max!" Alec's voice broke through her thoughts.
"What?" yelled Max over the wind.
"I think we got company."
Max turned around and saw flashing blue and red lights. Shit, she thought as she buried her face in the back of Alec's leather jacket.
Cars were moving to the shoulders to allow the cops access, and whether it was a blessing or curse, Alec couldn't decide. He narrowly missed slamming into a semi truck as it slowed, then almost spun out of control to avoid a red Coupe. After passing them, the path was almost totally clear for some distance. He leaned on the gas, pleased to see Pick and Zack pulling up close.
In a few seconds, however, it was obvious that the cops were gaining on them. One of the officers was driving a newly-developed hovercraft/motorcycle, commonly called a motocraft. It was moved in on them fast. Too fast.
"We're not gonna make it!" shouted Pick.
"Evasive maneuvers! Go!" yelled Alec in reply.
They split and began weaving through the traffic instead of going straight down the middle as the officers did. Soon, the motocraft was even with them.
"Pull over your vehicle or we will use deadly force to stop you," announced the cop through a megaphone. "This is your only warning."
"Zack, are you ready for some deadly force?" Alec asked the other X5, who was not far in front of him.
"Always!"
"How about we sandwich this guy?" A mischievous grin came over Alec's face.
Zack swerved behind the motocraft so that he was on the side opposite Alec, holding up one hand in an "OK" sign. On Alec's mark, they jerked towards the middle. Surprised at their audacity, the motocraft screeched to a halt and the officer flew over the front of his vehicle, landing in a heap on the side of the road.
When they got to the private airport where an Eyes Only contact was waiting, the cops were on their tails again. They jumped off their bikes, leaving them lying in the snow, and ran into the nearest building.
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"Is this all of you?"
Alec turned to see a woman in her late twenties standing before them. She wore sunglasses despite the dimly-lit room, and was armed with many guns. Her long, dark hair hung down her back in a thick braid.
"Who are you?" asked Jondy as she wiped the frost from around her mouth.
"People around here call me Kit, and I would tell you my real name, but then I'd have to kill you," declared the woman as she extended her hand. "I'm Eyes Only's contact. Now, is this all of you? The chopper's waiting out back."
They froze as a loud THUMP was heard against the door.
"Open up! This is the police!"
Max turned to Kit again. "No, we've still got more coming."
"Alright, then I suggest we take care of our visitors." Kit pulled an M16 from the holster around her thigh.
"No, we can't kill them," protested Max. "It'll look back."
"What do we do, then?"
Max looked around at them. They looked back at her. She sighed and said quietly, "I don't know."
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Lynn stopped just out of sight of the airport. Amy and Billy, Jo and Dom, and Sam pulled up alongside her.
"What do you make of it?" asked Sam, glancing at her companion through her yellow goggles.
"There's only one way to go about it. And that's right through," declared Lynn.
Amy considered the small army of policemen. "She's right. We have a better chance of blowing right through. Jo, you got the guns?"
"Yeah," replied the Eva-clone, pulling several handguns from her bag. She tossed them to her comrades and wrapped her arms around Dom's waist so that she wouldn't fall off the bike. "It's not or never."
Lynn revved the engine of her Y2K jet cycle. She had the fastest bike of the lot, so it only made sense for her to go first. After taking a few calming breaths and mapping out her plan of attack, she announced, "It's on!"
With the roar of engines and hoots of excitement from Dom and Billy, they were off.
Snow and dirt and leaves were flying everywhere from their motorcycles, and the police were fairly confused as they charged into battle. Lynn held her arm out, clothes-lining several of them. She then used a shield as a ramp and flew into the air, shooting cop cars and motocrafts as she moved through the air. When she hit the ground, she was going 160 miles per hour, and that's when it happened. One of the cops shot out her back wheel and she lost control of the bike.
She collided with a cement wall still going 160.
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The moment Lynn's bike exploded, Zack, Jondy, Alec, and Max were out of the building to help. Nearly all of the police were lying on the ground either unconscious or half-dead. Most were in their current condition due to the blast. The rest were running away from the scene, fearing for their lives.
"LYNN!" screamed Dom, running towards the smoldering wreck. He stumbled and crawled through the snow, but Zack grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him to his feet.
"We got to go, Dom! We got to go! They're calling in reinforcements! The National Guard will be out here in seconds! Come on, Dom!" urged Zack as he held onto his devastated twin. He understood his brother's pain… he understood it very well. Nonetheless, he had no choice but to drag Dom literally kicking and screaming into the building. Meanwhile, Jondy was pulling Sam with her while Alec dragged Billy in the same direction. All were distraught.
Max approached Jo from behind. She was wary of the Eva clone, mostly because she had gotten to known her the least of all the clones. "Jo?" Tentatively, she placed a hand upon the blonde woman's shoulder. Jo was disconcertingly still, her blue eyes fixed on the fires of Lynn's bike. "Jo, come on. We've got to go. If she's still alive, someone will get her."
Jo looked at Max through tearful eyes. "This is all your fault," she spat venomously, then walked away.
Now it was Max's turn to grow tear-eyed. All the doubt that she had been pushing down for the past few days came rushing back, and she was suddenly short of breath. Lynn was dead because of her. How many more would die, too?
"Max! Max, get over here! We're going to the chopper!" yelled Alec. He ran towards her and grabbed her shoulders. "Max? What's wrong with you?"
"Alec!" shouted Jondy, waving them over. "Hurry!"
"We'll talk about this later," said the male X5 seriously as he pulled Max into his arms and ran back just as a military helicopter flew into sight.
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It was a dead sprint to the jet, and the black hawk chopper was not going to let them out of its sight. Bullets were raining down at their feet as they blurred across the airfield. Kit was already in the helicopter, along with Eddie and Pick by the time the X5s got there. A bullet hit the side of the chopper, then narrowly avoided Jo's head.
"Go! Fly!" Kit urged the pilot.
They rose a few feet from the ground before more bullets struck the chopper. The helicopter pilot turned their chopper around and returned fire to the army craft as it rose.
"Hold on," announced Kit.
When it was the right height, the pilot moved the helicopter toward their
attacker. He went slow at first, then the chopper began to pick up speed. If no
one gave ground, they were going to collide.
"What the hell are you doing?!" yelled Dom, attempting to grab the pilot.
"No, let him be!" barked Kit assertively.
The transgenics closed their eyes to wait their coming doom as the copters came closer and closer… but, just before they collided, the military chopper dove for the ground. They were home free from there.
As they passed over the Washington ground and then over the ocean, they knew that there was no turning back now. This was it.
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A/N: *announcer voice* IS Lynn dead? Where does Alec plan to lead them? What's going to happen next? Find out next time on RESIDENT EVIL.
Ha, that was fun! =o)