It took little time for the hunter find the elder's cloaked ship. By the time he had reached it, his body began to refuse his orders to move. Hunter feel to his knees as waves of nausea hit him. It was on pure instinct that his hand opened his wrist computer and commanded the ship to uncloak and open its hatch. A small beam of pure heat activated as a guide for the hunter. Hunter forced himself up and hobbled into the ship. The ship's computer was programmed to follow only the elder's commands, but like all of his race's computers, it was programmed to aid any one who came in hurt or otherwise unable to hunt. Heat lamps led Hunter to a small metal table. He quickly rolled on and several lights activated around him. Small, but strong metal arms rose up and began their work. Needles with a variety of serums were injected into Hunter's body while scanners complied a list of all injures that it could detect. The computer found no injures that were substantial and continues its treatment. The serums relaxed Hunter's muscles and saturated them with minerals and other chemicals to speed up their resting state. The brain was like wise treated and within ten minutes, Hunter sat up, almost fully rested. He jumped off the table and found his dizziness almost gone. With a quick removal of his armor and weapons, the hunter began a series of stretching exercises to help get his body ready for continuing the hunt. He stopped and was satisfied that he was back to his peak efficiency. Now the truly disappointing task before him. Hunter left the small med area and walked towards the small bridge. The ship was meant only for a single hunter, an honor only elders were aloud. He pasted by the trophy wall and stood in amazement at the large number of skulls that adorned it. Creatures from nearly a hundred different star systems who's skulls had been cleaned and meticulously labeled for display. Hunter had to bow his head to give due respect to the work that had risen the elder to his exalted status. His people had lost a noble predator. He turned from the wall and walked onto the small bridge. Barely large enough for the hunter, he found the interface and plugged his wrist computer into it. The transfer of data took less than a minute before the computer flashed its response.

"Duel recognized and authenticated. Transferring control!"

Hunter was taken aback by this. The elder had named him the victor of the duel. The ship hummed to life and the computer waited for his input. For several moments, the hunter could do nothing. His mind was torn between his honor and what had just been given to him. Defeating an elder was a high honor that was rare. Only once a thousand years the legends had said. And even then, only a hand full truly honorable. The hunter shook his head and slammed his fist onto the console. He had no right to accept this honor. The elder had been killed saving his life from the creature. None of this was by any right, his to claim. Hunter left the bridge and walked back to where he had piled his equipment. As he was reaching down, he spotted the small armory just to his right. The elder had been a member of The Dark Bloods. A clan that was on top of his society. Their weapons and technology were the best of the best. Hunter approached a set of armor that stood on a small stand built into the side of the ship. Like most of his people's equipment, it could be resized to fit all but the youngest of hunters. The armor was as black as the void of space itself. Coated with a special chemical that made it resistant to Hard Meat's acidic blood. The bladed gauntlets were larger than his and could cut even the strongest of armored hides. Hunter found himself staring into the matching helmet that hung just above the armor. The mirrored eye pieces casting a near perfect reflection of him. He pulled the helmet from the wall. Was this what the elder had meant by declaring him the winner? Not the ship or the honor. The equipment he may need in order to get the sample that may provide his people with the perfect hunt. The elder in the beginning thought very little of his hunt. But in the end, the injured elder had insured that Hunter could continue his hunt. With a nod the decision was made.

Hunter stepped out of the ship, dressed in full Dark Blood armor. He would capture the sample and thus gain honor for himself and the elder through the use of the elder's weapons. The elder had shone Hunter the highest praise with this gift. After insuring his power cells we at max and that his bandoleer and belt were fully stocked, he walked away from the ship. The hatched closed and it slowly rose into the air and cloaked. It would fly to the home world and deliver the message that Hunter had left in it.

"The elder had gave his life as all should. In pursuit for the ultimate hunt and the ultimate honor. He died battling worthy prey and had insured that the hunt for the sample would continue. Any honor gained from this hunt would be shared with the elder's clan."

The message was simple and to the point. Any more or less would have lessened the sacrifice that had been made this night. Failure was not an option as it would shame both him and the elder. Hunter looked at the castle in the distance. Once this hunt was finished, he had one last prey to hunt that was his own. Leon would be added to his honor and his honor alone. Satisfied both mentally and spiritually, the hunt continued.

The drawbridge was up as Hunter approached the castle. Using his scanners, he detected many infected moving about on the walls and towers. This cult had assembled a healthy following. He cloaked and easily jumped across to the other side. With the use of his new gauntlets, Hunter scaled the wall easily and leap onto to top of it. A pair of infected in black robes stood several feet away. Each were armed with simply crossbows. Hardily a threat, but there was little need to alert his prey to his presents just yet. He ran across the wall and dodged past a few more infected. The humans barely noticed his passing and continued on with their guard patrol. The wall curved around and Hunter spotted a small external walkway with a fountain. He jumped and landed near it. To his right was a door and to his left the walkway turned as it followed the wall of the castle. Hunter wasn't sure which way to go until he heard a strange muttering. He walked towards a metal door that led into a small room. An infected in a bright red robe was the source of the muttering. What caught the hunter's attention was the gold skull helmet that he wore. Hunter gave into curiosity and proceeded to kick the door. The metal lock broke instantly and the door swung open. The infected turned to attack, but found a strong hand locked onto his throat. Despite the futility, the infected still tried to punch the hunter. The hunter was amused by this as he scanned the helmet. It had been welded onto the infected head. An interesting idea to reduce damage to the valuable head area. Hunter smashed the head into the wall several times. The rock wall cracked under the blows and the helmet dented inward. Hunter tossed the infected with the now smashed skull to the floor. Gold wasn't a very good armor. But steel could be substituted. Hunter made a note to explore the option later. The small room had a large wooden chest sitting of a stone table. Hunter shoved it open and found a large handgun that he recognized as a magnum. A very powerful weapon that used an archaic revolving drum to hold ammo. Six bullets were already loaded. Hunter peered into the box and found a small box with ten more rounds. He glanced down to the dead infected and wondered why this weapon deserved to be guarded. He pondered the thought for only a moment as he had more important matters at the moment. He slip the gun and the ammo into his belt. Hunter stepped out of the room and back to the fountain. Again the choice of left or right was before him. A loud shot echoed from the door to his right. It was a shotgun blast and so far only one human in the area used that weapon. Hunter dashed to the door and crashed through it. He found himself on a large balcony over looking a courtyard. The courtyard was dominated by a hedge maze. Further down the balcony, he found a door that led into some kind of bedroom. He heard voices. One was Leon's and the other was the woman he had spotted in the village. He moved to the window to watch.

"Put your hands where I can see them." The woman in the red dress had her gun to the back of Leon's head.

"Sorry, but following a lady's lead just isn't my style."

"Put them up now."

Leon spun and grabbed the woman's hand with the gun. He spins her around and puts her in an arm bar as he takes her gun. She counters by performing a forward cartwheel, knocking her gun into the air. As she moves for her gun, Leon drew his knife out. She catches her gun and takes aim, but Leon is faster. He blocks her gun and has his knife against her throat.

"Bit of advice. Try using knives next time. Works better for close encounters." Leon takes her gun, ejects the clip and tosses the weapon aside. The woman removes her sunglasses.

"Leon. Long time, no see."

"Ada... So it is true."

Ada has that mysterious smile on her face. "True? About what?"

"You, working with Wesker."

"I see you've been doing your homework."

"Why, Ada?"

Ada discreetly drops her sunglasses. The hunter could tell that they were no ordinary pair of shades. "What's it to you?"

"Why are you here? Why'd you show up like this?"

The sunglasses explode in a blinding flash of light. Hunter's visor picked up the increase and blinded the hunter automatically to block eye damage.

"See you around."

The visor returns Hunter's vision in time to see Ada jump out of the window. Leon doesn't pursue and heads to a door at the back of the bedroom. Hunter pauses to see where Ada went. She stops at the far side of the courtyard and pulls out her communicator. The Sat-Com in Hunter's ship relays the conversation to him.

"Luis has succeeded in recovering the sample." Hunter guesses that the voice belongs to Wesker. "He's waiting in the castle. Get in contact with him, ASAP".

"Understood."

"And that US government agent Leon, if you do happen to encounter him, put him out of commission. We can't let him interfere with our plans."

"He has no idea what's going on. He's nothing we need to worry about."

"He's a survivor of Raccoon City. We can do without the extra distraction. Take him out." Wesker cuts the line.

Hunter watches Ada for a few moments before deciding to go after Leon. He gives the area a once over before leaving. He spots a figure on top of the roof. The hunter climbs up and quickly finds the figure. It was the familiar muscular body of Krauser. The hunter decloaks and roars at the man. He turns and smiles at Hunter.

"So you survived. I knew you would. The head man, Saddler has invited me to his base for a meeting of sorts. So see. Your suffering was worth it." Krauser slow circled the hunter. "Wesker really went all out on you. I wish I could call him and congratulate his success."

The thought of being the result of a pitiful human's experiment was enough for the hunter to throw up. What ever this man thought of his origin was very misplaced. His thermal scan showed elevated body temperature. And his cellular structure was also different. Highly mistakable elements were through out his body. Including a high concentration in the left arm. This man by all accounts could be worthy prey despite the insults to the hunter's honor. The question was the timing.

Krauser checked his watch. "I have a boat to catch. You keep doing the good work. When the time is right, we'll capture the master sample." He gave a mock salute and ran off.

A master sample? This information had saved Krauser for the moment. The hunter had been convinced that any sample would have been perfect. But there was such a thing as a master sample. If such a thing was true, it was a far greater item. Hunter decided that the hunt would have to be extended until this master sample could be found. First he would find Leon again. The path to the sample would undoubtedly cross the human's before to long. The hunt continued as Hunter began his search.