Chapter 21

Crisis

Steve was the first one who rushed from his placed. He quickly ran and got passed through Max and over the dead crows on the floor. The others followed and locked the door to the basement. Max was pretty confused why the Steve was the first one to react in a different manner. He walked down the stairs to see what the others reactions will be.

Steve found Caleb and Jordan beside each other. They were sitting on the floor with their backs against the walls and their feet extending outward making a V-shape. Both were looking down on the floor and Steve could see their pain painted on their faces. Jordan had tears rolling down his cheeks. Caleb was still staring on the floor. There were blood all over their arms and his black leather jacket on his lap. There were holes found on it and it was almost torn apart. His arms were still bleeding. Jordan has the same wounds as Caleb. He was the first to look at him. His eyes were glistening with tears as it swept through the others behind him. He saw Max but he didn't care any more. His anger had already faded away but it was replaced by pain that was scorching his arms. The damn crows flew towards him and started pecking through his flesh before he could have ever drawn his gun. Caleb got behind with a gun in his hands and started shooting down the crows. He tried to reach for his own but the pain on his arms kept him from doing it. He fell back and the crows' attention got to Caleb and attacked him instead. There were too many and Caleb wasn't able to handle it. It was too late and he was blaming himself for what happened.

Steve started to approach his nephew who looked up to him. His eyes widened to see the others again. He was happy but couldn't even smile because pain was enveloping him. He tried to move but was only futile and the pain kept holding him back. Steve sat down in front of him as they looked eye-to-eye.

"Caleb Hawkins!" Caleb was surprised to hear someone mentioning his surname again. He didn't give a damn twitch but he new that he felt something good kept stirring inside him. Steve placed both of his hands on Caleb's shoulders to reassure him that he was still there. The bad aura of the aura of the cold room had somewhat lifted up and vanished in the thin air. "It's not yet your time boy. I could feel it very well. Don't give up." Caleb felt encouraged to what his uncle said.

Steve eyes swayed and moved to his wounds on his arm. The blood already dried up on his arms. The wound turned black. But this one he was sure was not normal. He knew that once that someone got bitten by the infected ones, it will turn into one of those in a matter of hours. And he considered Caleb to dead now. Back before they found him, he tried everything to know behind the horrific event. He knew about the T-Virus and that was slowly climbing through his veins until it completely shuts down the brain. His eyes moved some more and found Caleb's gun behind him. He reached for it and released the magazine. There were three bullets inside and he put it back inside. He cocked the gun and aimed it at Caleb's head. Tears were flowing through the man's face.

"I figured this might be more noble than for you to die on its hands."

"No!" Alice cried out. However, it was too late; Steve had already pulled the trigger.

BANG!

[This is Echo-three, I just heard a gunshot. I am about seven meters away from the front door. I repeat there is a gun shot.] Echo-three announced to his teammates through his radio.

The announcement echoed through Echo-one's head. The gun shot was probably caused by what they are after. It was pretty unexpected. He was thinking through all of it once again, organizing his thoughts and compiling them for a new plan. It was all unexpected but they have to adapt to certain circumstances to fulfill their mission. And they were trained for that. He turned to Echo-2 who was behind him. "I'll give you five minutes to go back to our site and exchange your current weapon with any long range weapon you choose. You will be our rifleman for the meantime since you have the highest accuracy." He turned on his radio again. [Everyone, there is a change of plans. Echo-two will serve as our rifleman. But he will be 'inactive' for five minutes. Echo-three, approach from the back. Echo-four, clear the house in east of the house in front of our target. Echo-five and I will storm the front. Ace, get your ass there and put a breach charge at the door. At my signal, blow it up. That'll be the signal for them to come out what hit them. We'll throw a flash bang before we kill them all. Everyone, keep your heads up. We won't let the Alpha team take over and get all our glory. We'll make sure we'll go back to the commander with good news. Everyone, all out.]

Echo-three was still at his position near the house. And now he has to reposition himself for a new game plan. But there was a mistake at Echo-one's announcement. He mentioned his real name and he was not supposed to say that since it might cause something else. "Christ! Damn it Chris!" he thought to himself. He got down and started to crawl towards the back of the house. He glimpsed through the windows and there was no movement inside. He looked at his surroundings and seems that the crows on the electric lines look at him with interest and hunger. "Oh crap! This isn't good."

Adam and Phillips were already resting in a house nearby the scene. However they had no idea what was happening. They had just got inside the house after the attack of the crows. The house was filled with them so they have to clear it first. They locked themselves in and waited at the second floor window. They peek out from time to time.

"You think there might still be survivors out there?" Phillips asked.

"Probably, I just heard gunshots over and over again. The military might be fending them off. And later on they would have to check this house and we have to move to another location again." Adam replied while peeking through a door. His eyes were sweeping through the silent neighborhood. But he saw something that intrigued him more. There was a man in a black suit climbed over a quite tall fence. It seems that he has experience on it and he was armed like a military. "What the hell did I just saw?"

Phillips looked at him, questioning what he just saw. "What was it?"

"There's already military in the area, I think we have to move."

Alice pulled the gun from Steve's hands but the trigger was still pulled, leaving a bullet hole on the wall. Caleb's eyes were shut as tight as he was prepared for the gunshot. But he let it loose for a while before opening his eyes.

"What the fuck was that for?! Killing your own nephew?!" Alice shot at Steve, who was still there, motionless. How stupid could he be?

"This so absurd don't you know? He just risked his life to save someone and got hurt! And is that your solution to end it?!"

Steve was still motionless. He realized that it was not yet over. There was still a slight possibility. And if it is possible, it could happen. He stood up and looked to Alice who was filled with anger. She was right that it would only be meaningless. And it he would have done mercy killing for no reason. He had lost all his hope to find a cure. He walked beside Jordan and sat down. Then it came rushing down in his mind like a thunder. He realized in his previous researches and conversations with people who has ties to Umbrella that the virus has a cure. There was still hope; it was all his mind could hear for the moment.

Alice walked towards Caleb. The others behind them had already sat down. They were randomly place in a group. "Are you alright?"

"Fine." Caleb replied. With that reply, Alice was happy and sat down beside Carlos.

Caleb was back in his own mind. He was actually trying to make a connection to Icarus. He could always ask for his help. But after a lot of attempts, he wasn't responding in his mind. Was the situation really hopeless? It wouldn't be the end is it?

Jordan looked at the man beside him. He was still silent. But after a few seconds of staring at him, he finally spoke.

"You are Caleb's cousin right" the boy only nodded. "I presume you are Jordan Murray."

"No, mom and dad got divorced." Jordan replied. The pain was puncturing though his nerves some more. But he tried to reply to the man. He was somehow proud to say that his father betrayed his mother and had another woman.

"I see. Then your name now would be Jordan Bennett." The boy only nodded again, ignoring the pain on his arms. Steve let out a sigh and went silent again. Everyone in the room was chatting with someone else except for the three of them. A few minutes seem to last for hours for them. Jordan was already getting dizzy. He has not idea why and he was feeling nauseous. The room was swirling before him. His feeling getting a bit hungry that he was already staring to salivate. His arms were already shaking and he knew that he was going to be unconscious soon. He tried to open his eyes one last time and looked at Caleb who was still beside him. Nothing seems to bother him and he wasn't showing the same signs he was exhibiting. Steve looked at Jordan again to see the boy drooling.

"You're getting a little pale boy." Steve said. Some heard what Steve was saying that it made them look at them. Jordan was really pale and was somehow giving a soft moan.

"Ca-leb…"

Ada and Marcus was still inside the facility. Marcus was still assessing the paper works. Ada on the other hand was looking out the window. She was looking at the distance where the crows were now gone. She looked back and forth from Marcus to the distance outside. She couldn't help it. She was worried about Caleb but for another reason. She was the one supposed to do it, not them.

"When can I leave?" Ada asked Marcus who was still checking the paper works. There were too many for him. He had been busy since he was appointed to be the Major.

"As soon as I'm done with this. I'll assure you that we are going there personally." Marcus answered without looking at her. He too was worried but he couldn't tell what it was. He was trying to finish the paper works as soon as possible. Everything was rushed since there were no communications between the existing cities. The whole US had already collapsed under the hands of the Virus. There was still time to 'deliver' the survivors to the other countries where it was still safe for the meantime.

There was a continuous knock on the door. It seems that it was urgent but he didn't mind. It later turned on to banging after a few seconds. Ada and Marcus' attention was already caught. Neither spoke a word. And the knocking had stopped. "Come in!" Major Marcus had ordered and his voice a little higher with the sound of dismay.

The door opened and came out a woman with brown hair. It was long but was hidden under her cap. Her hazel eyes fixed upon Marcus who was still doing something. Her looks were really serious. Her eyes show most of her determination in her. Her posture was showing some of her pride. It was erect and could see her effective training in the military. She saluted to the Major without a change in her face. Ada scanned her like an object of interest. She smiled but no word came out.

"Lieutenant Rachelle Deveaux reporting!"

"What is it?" asked Marcus without any look. He had cut him but the other side showed no reaction. She had shown respect for the Major since he was a big help for her to rise in the rankings. She truly trusted Marcus and would help him in every way she could. She would only hesitate if there is a flaw in his plans. She was a perfectionist in fact and would do so to herself. Most of her works and missions were flawless. But Marcus was too busy now to help her move up. He too show respect for her.

"We have a bad news Major Marcus Oliver, another party had interfered with our plans to-" Marcus raised his hand in fear of Ada knowing their iuntentions. Deveaux stopped without any hesitations. He stopped writing down his signature and stop for a moment to think. "Major Marcus Oliver, now there's a first." he thought to himself. But the thought of another party was a big problem indeed.

"Contact Lieutenant Crawford. Form a squad of six and wait. I'll brief you your mission in a few minutes. You may leave."

Rachelle saluted again, showing her great respect and honor for the man before her. She turned her back and did what she was supposed to do. She closed the door behind her and walked towards the main door in a fast pace. She stopped outside and looked around. There were tents inside the area. There were dozens of them containing fellow soldiers, weapons, and supply items. "Where the hell is Neo?" she thought to herself.

Ada was surprised that Marcus made a quick decision to make a small squadron. If there is another involved, he should have formed a greater number but instead, it left her thinking. "It must have been something important is it?" she asked Oliver who were already compiling the papers.

"You can say that." he said, taking off his cap. His dark hair dropped down over his forehead and covered his ears. His eyes were still fixed on the papers he was holding, putting them inside a folder. He thought that should get rid of Ada for the meantime. He knew that she was from an unknown organization and they too might interfere with the military's plans. He was simply following the general's orders and to execute them. "You may go now Ada. It's what you want right? I'll go check this unknown party Rachelle had reported about."

Ada turned to the window instead. "I'll be back" she slid through the window and ran. She was gone in a few seconds. Marcus was alone again in his office, transfixed again in the thought of a new party. Is it possible that they were after the weapons the citizen had left them?

He walked towards the file drawers and scanned for what he is finding for. He pulled the fourth and flipped the folder until he had found it. He pulled it out and placed it on his desk. He sat back and opened the folder containing the files about the previous citizen who owns the house. It was a woman named Gertrude Sanders. It seems that she has a strong connection to the Umbrella Corporation. As soon as the scandal of the Corporation got out, information of what was under her house was being questioned until they finally cornered her but she only denied it until a solid evidence was seen. She was supposed to pay the charges but she didn't. The authority tried to put her to jail but she managed to escape. Her whereabouts were now unknown. The undead army had already risen so the transferring of he weapons was not properly done. Not a single one was moved from its original place. However, it was a puzzling act of the previous Major why he had put Alice and the others in that house. He had heard classified information from his own Lieutenant Rachelle Deveaux that Alice herself used to work for Umbrella. He must have thought of some clever plan but he died too early before he could have done it. His thoughts were interrupted when there was a sudden knock on the door. It opened and six people entered including Lt. Deveoux. Neo Crawford was the last one to enter. He too was like Rachelle, but his position was achieved with the help of Marcus although he still show some respect for him. His hair was shaved like the other soldiers and his blue eyes were glimmering with a carefree personality. Indeed he was a carefree person but when it comes to work, he was as serious as hell. He could be considered as a prodigy in the military. His training was doubled from his fellow comrades and his marksmanship itself had helped him at critical times. Marcus wondered why he was still in such a position while he could work from some black operation. His knowledge for handling different guns were very wide, varying from pistols, to rifles and even RPGs. He was an all around soldier. His training for firearms was way far from his fellow soldiers, shooting more than five hundred rounds just for training. He was indeed something.

The other four was Matthew Thompson, Eric Williams, David Bellow and William Briggs. Everyone except him had a position of a Lieutenant. They were also respected in the military for this section. Deveoux once again had proven to him that she was important to them, aside from being a woman. She was also tough in the battlefield and her marksmanship was good enough to pass for some black operations. However, the other four, he had no idea who they were. But if Rachelle had recruited them, he was well assured that they too were something.

"Sir, Eric Williams here had reported to find men in black surrounding the house where Alice and the other have resided via his binoculars. It seems that they were unauthorized and entered the sector secretly. And to what I believe, they could be after what the previous owner Gertrude Sanders had left. This would be considered as a black operation." Rachelle started. Marcus eyes were locked upon her hazel eyes. There was another load of information they had gathered. He thought to himself that if it was useful enough. And he had already stared making a plan.

"This will be classified information. Consider yourselves to be executing a black operation. No one would ever talk of this again. This will be our plan…"

Abraham Connors was looking out in the other side of the window where the Eve Program was still unconscious. She had a short blond hair and her eyes will definitely be like Adam's. She was still asleep and she would only be awoken if Adam is going to be near her, too bad that Adam had escaped. They had a very big miscalculation to 'inject' Alice's memories in him. He was still a bit sad for that, because it, the Genesis Project will fail.

A woman behind him appeared. Her hair was long, wavy and blonde. Her eyes were so dark that you couldn't tell what her intentions were. Her face was dead serious with her work and she would do anything to complete her tasks and show her pride to the world. She had an outstanding determination, Dr. Connors had thought, but will she risk everything?

"Sir, we have improvements in the virus." she spoke. It was enough for Connors to smile with glee.

"Very good Dr. Gertrude Sanders."

Everyone on the Echo team were in position, Echo-four was already guarding the house wherein it will be their small 'tower.' Echo-two was already upstairs and was on the soft cushion he had brought along with him. His rifle was as steady and ready to shoot. He had already started observing if there were movements inside although there was none. Echo-five and Echo-one were well hidden behind some thick bush at each side. Echo-three had already put already a secured breach charge on the back door, waiting for the command to blow it up.

All of their thermal goggles were on just in case someone was spying at them. But there was none. There were nothing that was giving off heat except for the dead bodies but the heat was slowly fading away.

[This is Echo-one, everyone is in position.] he announced looking at the digital map on his arm. [We will start in another five minutes. Wait for my signal…]