The hunter didn't have to wait long as Leon appeared after about thirty minutes. During his travels, he had lost his jacket. His handgun was still in its holster, but he had found a shotgun that hung around one shoulder and he carried a small weapon that the hunter's scanners reveled as a machine pistol. Also known as a TMP. A new belt with ammo pouches and backpack completed Leon's new look. The hunter took note of the weapons and their capability. As Leon entered the area, two infected closed off the exits. Several humans pulled on ropes and tried to pull something out of the set of double doors. They lost their grip and fell over as a large creature stepped out. It measured about twenty feet tall and was roughly shaped like a hunched back human. The creature was in a rage and promptly killed every infected human in the area. The hunter ducked back to avoid the creature's gaze. It was an efficient killer and its skin had the same cells as the parasites. The hunter nodded his approval. This was what he was after. A human that had been transformed into superior prey by the parasites. The creature turned and went after Leon. Leon back flipped out of the way of the creatures huge hands. He pulled out a blue grenade from his belt and threw it. It exploded and blinded the creature with its flash of bright light. Leon took aim and drilled the creature with rapid shots from the TMP. The creature recovered from the blindness shortly and started to move again. Apparently the pain was to much for the creature and it doubled over in pain. A slit in its back opens up and a huge version of the parasite lashes out of it. Both Leon and the hunter were taken aback by the emergence of this parasite. Leon charged forward and leapt onto the creature's back. He took out his knife and began to slash into the parasite. After a few slices, the creature flings Leon off of its back and turns to attack. The hunter watched and wondered. If Leon died here, then his trophy was gone as well. Plus the parasite in his system had yet to become visible to his scanners. The hunter continued to think as Leon rolled under the creature and kept firing. A loud click from the TMP sounded that the gun was empty. With a curse, Leon flung the weapon to the ground and readied his handgun. The hunter decided that he needed Leon to find out more about what was going on. With the ability of returning to his ship not in his options, the hunter decided to do what many of his race had been told was forbidden. The loss of honor was too great. He stood up and activated the twin plasma casters on his shoulder. He hadn't much honor in the eyes of his people anyway. He took aim and fired. The twin bolts hit the creature in the back and sent it smashing into the side of the rock wall. The skin was smoldering from the hot plasma, but the creature turned to face the new threat.
Leon looked up at the hunter as it stood on the high rock ledge. "Damn!"
The creature charged and slammed into the rock, trying to knock the hunter within reach. The hunter jumped up and activated the wrist blades on both arm gauntlets. The hunter landed on the creatures back and dug the blades of his left gauntlet in to stay. The creature bellowed and the parasite was visible. The hunter roared and tore into the parasite with his free blades. The parasite oozed out orangeish blood as the creature cried out once more and fell to the ground. The hunter pulled his blades free and jumped down. Leon for his part didn't know what to make of what he had just seen. The hunter retracted his blades and waited for Leon to make the first move.
"How are you?" Leon looked over the hunter's appearances. "What are you?"
The hunter was able to speak the human's rough language, but he could only form a few words. He lifted up his left gauntlet, which got Leon to pull up his handgun. The small laser light of the weapon shined off of his chest plate.
"What are you doing?"
The hunter flipped up the armor covering and activated his voice recorder. All of the reports he had had been stored for this kind of use.
"Gather as much information about the parasites." It was the recording that the woman had gotten from Wesker.
"Really?" Leon wasn't convinced and didn't lower the weapon. "Can't speak for yourself?"
The hunter gave one nod and activated the replay again. "Not much of a conversationalist." It was the voice of the guy in the robe.
"I can buy that, but it doesn't tell me what your after. Who would want information about these parasites?"
The hunter slapped his armor with his right hand. It was an indication of him. "The President's daughter?" The recording of Leon's talk with Sera.
"Ashley!" Leon mentally kicked himself for forgetting. He had more important things to do that question a strange man that had just saved him. Leon picked up the thrown TMP and pulled an ammo clip from the backpack. "So what now?"
The hunter pointed to Leon and then towards the exit that led to the church.
"You want to help?"
The hunter nodded and pressed his gauntlet. "Continue my mission."
Leon ignored the fact that the hunter was using his own words. "My name is Leon. Yours?"
The hunter hadn't picked a name for himself. He doubted the human could even begin to pronounce his true name. He thought for a moment and decided that only one name truly fit him. "Hunter!" He spoke in a coarse voice.
"Ok, Hunter." He jammed the ammo clip into his weapon. "Then lets go save the girl."
Leon and Hunter slowly made their way across the wooden walkway. It was quiet and the only sound they could hear was the sound of the wood creaking. Hunter was slightly ahead of Leon, his three laser point targeting light was searching for enemies. Leon kept one eye on the hunter as the two moved. The armored fighter had saved him from that giant monster, but he had his doubts about his new ally. The hunter looked only slightly human with his clawed hands and pasty skin. Leon shook his head and tried to focus on the task ahead of him. The hunter didn't bother to glance back at Leon as they moved. He was sure the human would not make a move unless the hunter did something to counter his objective. The hunter decided to help save the girl and collect his trophy after. That girl would attract the infected to him and allow the hunter to gather his needed information. Hunter stopped as the pair reached the church and looked over Leon quickly. He spotted a small speck that was the parasite he had been infected with. The hunter guessed that Leon didn't have a lot of time before the parasite took hold. Leon walked to the door and pulled a large round insignia from his backpack. He placed it into the slot on the door. There was a loud clicking sound. Leon shifted the TMP to the backpack's harness and pulled out his handgun. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. Hunter started to follow, but a growling sound issued from behind him. The hunter spun around and found a pack of wolves in front of him. Seven in total, the formed a semi circle around him. The hunter's shoulder plasma casters activated and each targeted a different wolf. The growling grew in intensity, they were ready to pounce. The hunter hand slowly descended to a large disk that was clipped onto his belt. Just over a foot in diameter, it sparkled with electronic light as the hunter put his fingers into the hole grips at the center. The wolves charged at him with fangs bared. The plasma casters fired as the hunter unclipped the disk and swung it around in an arch. Two of the wolves were blasted back by the plasma bolts as four others were cut down by the disk the hunter swung. The final wolf managed to land behind the hunter. It spun around and leapt at his exposed back. Hunter managed to dodge to the side and the wolf landed on the ground in front of him. This wolf was larger than the others, the alpha male of the pack. The hunter returned the disk to his belt and activated his wrist blades. The two circled each other slowly. The wolf growled deeply as it tired to find a good angle of attack. Hunter stepped carefully and set his scanners to full. He needed be attacked with his attention on the wolf. The wolf final attacked at full speed. The hunter pivoted on his foot so he leaned to the right. He brought up his right arm and sliced into the wolf with his blades. The blades ripped into the skull and brain of the wolf and it landed on the ground. The hunter watched as the wolves dissolved in the same manner as the infected humans. Hunter's Sat-Com beeped as another communication was picked up,
"It's Leon. I've succeeded in extricating my subject."
"Good work, Leon. I'll send a chopper over right away."
"What's the extraction point?"
"There's another trail that you can take to get out of the village. The chopper will pick you up beyond there."
"Got it. I'm on my way."
The hunter activated his x ray scanners and looked into the church. His battle with Leon was close at hand. As soon as they got through the village, he would take Leon's skull as his trophy and present the infected girl to the elders. Soon all the honor that the hunter had sacrificed would be restored. He watched as Leon and the girl entered the main area of the church when a very large heat source in the shape of a man appeared at the dais. It was the man in the robe.
"I'll take the girl." The man's voice came clear on the hunter's voice recorder.
"Who are you?" Leon aimed his handgun at him.
"If you must know, my name is Osmund Saddler, the master of this fine...religious community."
"What do you want?"
"To demonstrate to the whole world, our astounding power, of course. No longer will the United States think they can police the world forever. So we kidnapped the President's daughter, in order too give her our power, and then send her back."
"No... Leon, I think they shot something in my neck." A deeper scan showed what the hunter already knew.
We just planted her a little...gift. Oh, there's going to be one hell of a party when she returns home to her loving father." He laughs. "But before that, I thought I might bargain with the President for some...donations. Believe it or not, it takes quite a lot of money to keep this church up and running."
"Faith and money will lead you nowhere, Saddler."
"Oh, I believe I forgot to tell you that we gave you the same gift. Oh, I truly hope you like our small, but special contributions. When the eggs hatch, you'll become my puppets. Involuntarily, you'll do as I say. I'll have total control over your minds. Don't you think this is revolutionary way to propagate one's faith?"
"Sounds more like an alien invasion if you ask me!" The hunter had to agree with Leon on that point. His people had done it thousands of years ago.
Two infected humans appeared near Leon and the girl. Leon led the girl to a small window and jumped through it. They landed in the small shed next to the church. Leon helped Ashley to her feet.
"You okay?"
Ashley shook her head. "Leon, what's going to happen to us?"
"Don't worry, we got into this mess, we can get out of it." He walked to the door and pulled on it. "Its locked!" He aimed his handgun at the lock. "Stand back incase this ricochets." Before Leon could pull the trigger. The metal door made a groaning sound. Two large hands busted holes into it and ripped the door free. Hunter was holding the door. "Thanks! Forgot my key."
Ashley fell back at the sight of the large armored creature. "What is that?"
Leon pulled her to her feet again. "Back up." The trio heard loud shouting. A large group of villagers were heading towards them. The hunter flung the door like a large discus. It slammed into the group and killed several of them. Ashley gave Leon a worried look. Leon smirked. "Very good backup." Leon took aim and opened fire on the remaining villagers. Another group moved in from the cliff walkway. Hunter pulled out his large disk. It glowed as he pressed a few small buttons on the center of it. On his visual display, small triangles appeared on the six humans approaching. He flung the disk. It flew in almost a perfect arch and cut the heads off of each human with perfection before flying back so the hunter could catch it. All but two of the humans fell to the ground. The remaining two kept walking as large organic things grew out of their severed necks. A whip like tail with a bone blade whipped around the headless bodies as they walked closer. The hunter paused at the sight of his new foes. These creatures were proving to be more interesting by the moment. At an advanced enough state, even the death of the host would stop them from coming. The hunter filed this information and charged. The tail blades flew at him at great speeds. He deflected the attacks with his disk and cut into each organism as he flew past. Orange blood flowed from the wounds as the bodies finally dropped and decompose. The hunter returned to Leon and found the group of villagers that had originally attacked gone. Leon was putting a new clip into his handgun.
"We're heading back to the village. Our ride is on the way. You need a lift?"
Hunter simply shook his head. Neither of them were going to make use of their help. He would follow Leon until they reached the village. There he would fight his prey and claim both prizes. The hunt was almost over.