Hunter stood and waited. A window was directly in front of him. One on his right near the stairs and one on his left next to the door. The infected were gathering around the boarded up windows. The hunter held his glaive loosely in his left hand as the other gripped the smart disk on his belt. His scanners pierced the wall and proved a targeting arch to program into the disk. The boards fell away as the infected ripped and pulled on them. Hunter's plasma casters activated and switched to auto fire. Small lasers switched on for each weapon. The hunter cleared his mind as the battle approached. The last board was knocked away and the infected began to pour into the cabin. The hunt had gave way to the slaughter. The plasma casters fired at the approaching infected at the hunter's sides as he knocked the one in front down with his glaive. He threw the smart disk out the center window. It sliced through the heads of five infected as it flew around the house. It flew through the left window and the hunter caught it. The infected continued to enter.

Up stairs, the sounds of battle were growing as they heard the sounds of metal on flesh. Luis glanced down the stairs in time to see a body slam into the wall. It had been sliced nearly in half. "Your friend is efficient."

"That is a kind word for it." A loud roar came from down stairs. "I just hope he isn't enjoying it as much as I think he is."

"Nothing wrong with pride in your work. Hang on!" An infected man with a meat cleaver was walking up the stairs. He passed the devices that Hunter had tossed. Laser beams shot from them and cut the man into several pieces. The body fell apart and began to decompose. "Nice toys."

"Luis!" Leon ran to a window and shoved a ladder that had been set up down. "We got company."

Hunter flung the smart disk again as he cut a human down with his glaive. He gripped the weapon with both hands and spun it around in wide arches. The weapon cut through flesh and bone with little resistance. The hunter had to be careful and kill the parasite inside so it couldn't appear after killing the host. He paused long enough for his casters to fire again before knocking a human back with a snap kick to the jaw. The bodies of the fallen decomposed in time for new ones to take their places. The disk flew by, but hunter simply ducked and let it continue its flight. It slammed into the chest of a woman and ripped through it. Hunter looked out the window and saw several infected climbing up a wooden ladder. Several gun shots from up stairs told the hunter that Leon and Luis were fighting their own battle. That was good. If this little battle proved to much for Leon, then he wasn't worth the honor of being a trophy. Hunter blocked a man swinging a hatchet and sliced him diagonally through the torso. The slaughter continued.

Outside, the large village chief watched as the villagers attempted to kill the cop, the large one, and recapture the girl. So far, it was going very poorly. It was no real concern. These sheep were easily replaced. He grimaced as the small flying disk made another pass around the house. This large one was very well equipped. The chief had brought two hundred to this cabin. So far, they were down to almost half that number. Another wave were getting ready to attack, when he yelled out.

"Vamanos!" This fight was going no where. An ambush would be better suited. The chief and the villagers dispersed into the woods.

Leon and Luis walked down the stairs as Hunter removed the laser traps.

"Looks like they're backing off." Leon looked to Hunter. "Have fun?" It was meant as a joke, but the truth was, Hunter loved every minute of it. He was truly disappointed that it had ended.

Sera looked out the window. "So, what do we do now?"

Ashley walked down the stairs. She looked around nervously. "Is it over?" Hunter nodded and walked away.

Leon reloaded his handgun. "The bridge I crossed to get here is out, so I guess we have no choice but to keep moving."

Luis nodded. "I forgot something. You guys go on ahead." Luis unbarred the door and walked out.

Leon looked to Hunter. "What was that about?"

Hunter was curious as well. He activated his voice recorder and X-ray scanners. Luis was talking to a woman.

"Heeey, señorita! Have a light? And some smokes to go with it to make my day?"

The woman shook her head. "Where's the sample?"

"Okay, we'll skip the foreplay... As a matter of fact, I was just going to get it... Where's the love, baby?"

"Sounds like fun to me." The woman's voice was full of sarcasm. "Just hurry up!"

"Okay, lady! Where do you stand in all of this? Exactly what kind of group are you working for?"

"There are some things you're better off not knowing. This is one of them."

"Fine... I can take a hint. I don't care who you are, as long as you can get rid of that old man and his religious friends." Luis walked into the woods. The woman looked at the cabin and left as well.

This new information reinforced the hunter's desire to keep Leon alive. Things were falling into place. He followed Leon and Ashley outside and carefully checked the area. The only other living thing was The Merchant near the back of the house. His blue flame burning brightly in the night air.

"How is it going strangers? Got some good things on sale." Leon chuckled and went over to check what was on sale.

Ashley stood next Hunter as he continued to scan the surroundings. "So why are you here? I doubt you're here to save me. No one in the government is this well armed."

Hunter stopped his scans and looked at the girl. He checked his stored recorded voices for a moment. He activated his wrist computer and scrambled the voices so they would be unrecognizable. "Las Plagas"

"The parasites? You're here for them."

Hunter nodded and activated his wrist blades for a second and retracted them. He walked away, leaving the girl more confused then before. There was little the girl needed to know at the moment. Hunter would see to her safety and then claim his trophy. But first, Leon had a purpose to serve. Leon finished with the Merchant and walked away with a sleeker, silver shotgun.

"More stopping power per round." Leon slipped the weapon onto the holder of his backpack. He pointed to a pair of wooden gates and a switch in between them. "Right or Left?" Hunter's sensors told him little accept a metal door stood on the other side of both gates. He shrugged. "You're a lot of help." Leon walked over and scratched his head. "Got a coin to flip?"

The Merchant laughed at the sight before him. "Why not both, Stranger? Might find some more rare things to sell."

Leon glanced towards Hunter. "What do you think? Might make it easier if we force them to divide." Leon pulled out his digital map from his belt. "Both paths lead to the same end."

Hunter nodded!

"I think Ashley should go with you. You seem to have the best chance to get out of here alive." Leon pulled out his ID. "This should secure your escape when the chopper arrives."

Hunter glanced at the girl. She was showing a far braver front then her bio scans indicated. He shook his head and pointed to Leon. The hunter was better equipped to handle any trouble without the girl to worry about. He pointed to the right door and made a circular motion with his finger.

"You go through your path and tackle the other from the rear."

Hunter nodded.

Leon griped the lever and pulled it to the right. The gate slid open. "Good luck!"

Hunter activated his voice recorder and responded. "Good Luck!" He walked through the door as the wooden gate shut. The hunter was alone again. A status he preferred over being a protector. The hunt was becoming far more complicated as more and more problems presented themselves. Hunter remained firm on his course and continued the hunt.