A/N: And the hits just keep on coming. I've been replaying Operation Raccoon City, Darkside Chronicles, and re-reading 'City of the Dead' and 'Nemesis' to truly capture how the next arc of the story is going to flow. In order to do this, and safely blend together everything to make it believable and entertaining, my update times will be slown a bit so that I can the time to match every detail that's needed.
As for this coming chapter, its a bit shorter than the last few I've posted, but it's more or less an opening for things to come. and to offer explanations for any unanswered questions, while at the same time making several more. And believe me, those hits will keep rolling and rolling hard in the near future. So be ready for them.
Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil.
Chapter 25:
"The end of the world is on people's minds. We have the power to destroy or save ourselves, but the question is what do you do with that responsibility." - Nicolas Cage
Ethan's POV:
When people say that the world is coming to an end, most folks call them zealots, nutjobs, or just plain morons. Some believe that it is best to live in ignorance instead of worrying about the end at every waking moment.
But when you actually know the end is coming...that's something completely different. And the ignorance of those around you to the imminent danger will piss you off like you cannot believe.
After Rebecca left with David for Caliban Cove, Chris, Barry, Jill and I relocated to Brad's cottage, turning it into our own personal safe house since the lease wouldn't be due for another couple of months. We stayed out of sight as much as possible, watching our backs every time we did go out and at times sleeping in shifts.
Ever since Umbrella's failed attempt at taking us out we took all the precautions we needed to to ensure that we weren't taken by surprise again. All the while planning our next move, Barry kept making calls, being sure to leave out where we were hiding out and seeing who else was on our side. He and Chris came up with the idea to storm the Umbrella's main HQ in Europe and attacking the source with whatever help we could gather.
I thought it was crazy...but in some cases, the best way to take down a big enemy is to attack their main source of power. And they wouldn't ever think someone would even attempt to go after their main complex.
While those three went about their planning, I went about mine. I had moved my weapons and equipment to the safe house and worked with Barry to acquire more from Kendo's shop every so often. We had accumulated a rather decent stockpile of armaments that we kept in one of the two bedrooms for when we needed them.
Whenever the others weren't around, I'd take out my map of the city and continue where I had left off in my planning shortly after joining STARS. Plotting out my course so that I could be in the right places at the right times, though with the way things had the probability of changing when I least expected it I had to be ready to adapt at a moments notice.
I had also used some of the funds given to me by Oracle to acquire a safe house in a town 30 miles from Raccoon City. A three bedroom, two bath place where I moved mine and Rebecca's more important belongings, spare clothes, and some more weapons, ammo and medical supplies. A small haven that I knew would be needed after what was going to happen here.
The others were worried as hell when I disappeared for two days to take care of all this. Thinking I had been captured or killed. I told them a BS story that I had been out scouting around for anything that was useful, trying to get a bead on what Umbrella could have been up to.
I really hated lying to them, but if they knew what I was doing they would ask too many questions that I wouldn't be able to answer without giving away my biggest secret. And with all the betrayals that we had been faced with...it wouldn't have been a very good idea.
Days slipped by, the whole time I missed Rebecca more and more. Falling asleep at night with the picture of the two of us laying next to me as we all waited for her and David's team to return. She'd called me from a pay phone two days after she had left and told me she was in Maine with David's team and were preparing to storm the facility out there.
I told her that I loved her and wished them all the best of luck, it made my chest hurt knowing that I wasn't there watching her back. But I knew full well that my girl could kick ass and handle herself no matter what.
But after a week went by with no word I started to really get worried. Me and the rest of Alpha team read and watched the news as things went about like always. Though I could easily pick out how Umbrella was running damage control from what had happened to the Arklay facilities, easing the public into a false sense of security.
Another week had passed...Then we got the call.
I felt all the fear and tension leave me when I heard Becca's voice on the other end. The operation at Caliban Cove had turned into a SNAFU, they had shut down the facility and eliminated the psycho doctor running the place, but they had lost two of their squad mates in the process. Only she, David, and another STARS from David's unit, John Andrews, had made it out.
She told me that since the local authorities and Umbrella swarmed the place after the mission was over they had to lay low out of sight until the heat died down. They would have to make their way back to Raccoon City by road since the corporation would be closely watching the airports.
David and Barry exchanged a few words and information before hanging up, telling me, Chris and Jill that our plans would have to change since it wouldn't take Umbrella long to connect the dots and figure out that it was people associated with us that caused the end of the Caliban Cove facility.
At the same time, reports of random attacks had started up all around the city. Victims coming about saying that they were approached by assailants that moved like drunks and smelled like something rotten. With each passing day, the number of attacks increased, the hospital became overrun with people who were 'injured' and 'sick'. Small riots had started all over the place, whole sections of the city fell into chaos while the police attempted to regain some semblance of order.
It didn't take long to figure out what was happening.
The T-Virus had got out, and it was spreading through the streets like a flood. The body count rose at an alarming rate and with it the number of undead that now roamed the streets, hungry for flesh. RPD blockades started to become overrun and everything went into full-blown panic, in seemingly no time at all, the whole town became a war zone.
Barry had been right, it was time to leave Raccoon City...but I wasn't going with them. I had other things that still needed to be done.
Now I was on my own, in a city of over 100,000 which was quickly turning into a necropolis filled with horrors beyond measure. And I was completely alone without any backup. It wasn't one of the brightest choices I've made thus far, but it needed to be done. And with my knowledge in what I could be up against and where to go I might be able to stay one step ahead of the undead and BOWs prowling around me.
Then again...there's still a chance I could be wrong...
X
September 28, 1998 - Raccoon City Streets
The once vibrant and lively small mountain city was filled with a dead silence. No sound was made from wildlife, insects or even people making it a virtual ghost town.
On every road and at every turn, garbage, debris and the burnt husks of cars could be seen in almost every direction. Buildings with shattered, or boarded up windows lined the sidewalks and didn't show any signs of life either. A few small fires still burned in certain spaces, but there wasn't anything else, only a handful of street lamps were still active and bathed the asphalt in faded, flickering light.
The pungent smell of rot and decay filled the air, splatters of blood, fresh and long dried, layered on various surfaces. Not a soul could be seen wandering the streets...except for one.
In one of the many back alleys throughout the city, a long figure moved quickly and quietly through the shadows. Sticking close to the walls so that nothing could sneak up on him. He stopped at the mouth of the alley and peered out into the street, looking around for anything remotely hostile.
Taking in the burning wrecks that were once shops that people went to every day and the vacant cars with blood covered doors wide open, he locked his gaze on the alley across from him. Staying out in the open was never a good idea, the infected came outside shortly after turning in search of food meaning the alleys and buildings would be safer to move through.
Doing one last check, he bolted out into the open, double timing it across the asphalt, moving around a couple of bodies with missing heads and limbs laying in puddles of blood and disappearing into the shadows once more. Back pressed against the wall again as he checked his surroundings, an HK5 submachine gun up and ready incase something heard and decided to come after him.
Nothing moved.
Letting out a slow breath and lowering his weapon, he moved over to the door on the wall he was closest to and pushed down on the handle. The door was unlocked, but the metal gave a loud creak when it opened making the figure wince as he slowly slipped through the gap and inside, gently closing the door behind him as he faced a flight of stairs that led farther up.
Gun raised, he slowly began making his way up the steps. Flight after flight, keeping his eyes and ears open in the darkened stairwell as he ascended each floor, checking doors and silently cursing when he found each one locked so far. By the time he reached the sixth floor he got lucky, the door was unlocked and didn't make nearly as much noise as the one on the ground floor.
Getting inside, he crouch-walked along the red carpeted floors that were covered in dark stains. Eyes scanning each door on either side of him as he moved farther down. Searching for some place he could set up for a little while.
Finding one door slightly ajar, he held his gun in one hand and pushed it slowly open with the other, sweeping the small entrance hall before stepping through the threshold. Closing the door behind him as he looked around the small apartment that had been abandoned in a hurry. Personal items strewn about and a few pieces of furniture flipped over, but no blood or bodies to speak of.
After checking the whole place from top to bottom and finding nothing that was dangerous, he returned to the door and slid the three deadbolts and chain in place before going to the living room and pushing the couch up against it as well for added measure.
Door secured, headed back into the living room and looked out the main window at the ruined streets below. The light from the moon shining through and revealing the visage of Ethan Mercer, fully armed and armored for what was creeping out in the silent town.
The teen stood with a slight hunch in his shoulders, dark circles under his eyes as he looked around in the dark for movement. He'd been awake for almost 40 hours now, moving from location to location not staying on one place for too long, keeping one step ahead of the undead hordes that stayed out of sight most of the time. Helping whatever survivors that were still living and uninfected.
In the last couple of days he'd been able to round up about sixty people, helping them set up a stronghold at the local high school. The people looked at him like some kind of hero, every time he showed up with another group of people he had been met with praises and tearful hugs when he brought back friends and family of those who were already there.
That was before this morning, however.
After doing another grid search and fighting off a couple of small hordes, he went back to the high school and found the barriers at the front doors smashed open. Dread filled his stomach as he stormed the building and found a slaughter house. Whether the undead had broken in, or one of the survivors opened the door for one reason or another, they had gotten inside and laid waste to everyone within.
All that remained of the people he had saved, the men, women and children, were just chunks of torn flesh and blood painted walls and floors. In that moment, Ethan truly felt hopelessness about the situation. Despite Oracles warnings, he still tried to do what he could for the people of Raccoon City.
But in the end, it was a lost cause. The T-Virus spread a lot faster than he thought it would, the games never truly captured the devastation that came with an outbreak like this. It made the training facility and mansion look like a cake walk in comparison, the undead were pretty much everywhere, and growing in number with each survivor that stopped breathing.
The RPD had been completely overwhelmed in seemingly no time at all from the hordes. The last time he head heard anything about the local police, or even the sound of gunfire in the streets, had been almost two days ago. If they weren't all dead yet, it was only a matter of time.
Watching the city fall apart was like watching a train wreck. Even though he knew of the where, the when, the why and the how, all he could do was watch from the sidelines and make sure that he didn't wind up collateral damage.
Rubbing his eyes, the images of so many dead innocent people filling his thoughts as he tried to ward them away. He'd been on his own since the others had left for New York over three days ago. Barry's plan to storm Umbrella's HQ driving them as they went to gather what support they could from people he had been able to get in contact with who believed them and wanted to help.
His mind wandered back to the night they had left, it had been during when things had really started to fall into ruin.
X Flashback X
September 24, 1998 - Jill's House
Ethan helped Chris move the last bit of equipment around in the back of Barry's truck, the older man himself had his weapon out behind them, covering their flank as they prepared to depart. Jill was still inside her house gathering the last few bits of clothes before their journey.
Since the attack on Barry's home, all of their homes had been tossed. Items thrown everywhere as though the intruders were looking for something important. All four STARS knowing exactly who they were and what they were looking for.
It was pitch dark out, close to around midnight giving them plenty of cover from anyone or anything that could be out looking for them. And from recent events, it was only a matter of time before they were stumbled upon.
The news had tried to be vague, but it was hard to ignore the fact that zombies were now roaming the streets in certain sectors of the city. And reports of 'strange creatures' attacking civilians and police officials alike meant that BOWs had gotten out as well. It was pretty safe to say that Umbrella's pet projects had been unleashed on the unsuspecting populace, and they were completely unaware that it was them that was the cause.
The older members had agreed that it was time to leave Raccoon City and make their way to New York to the STARS main branch before heading off to scout out Umbrella's main headquarters. But the rookie had just shook his head, telling his friends that he wasn't going.
They were shocked beyond reason, trying to convince him to come with them. Ethan knew full well of the danger, but stood firm in his position, telling the older STARS that someone needed to be here when the others made it back and to monitor the situation incase something important came to light.
Chris looked toward the still darkened house before going in to look for Jill, leaving Barry and Ethan out by the truck with the light of the moon shining down over the dark street. It had shocked the traveler when Jill openly wanted to go with the other two, he was sure that she would have wanted to stay behind as well like in the third game. But it would seem that things really were changing when he least expected it.
The sudden mission to Caliban Cove for Rebecca and the STARS from Maine had been further evidence on that front. And now here he was, about to face the hell on Earth that Raccoon City was in the fast track of becoming.
The teen looked up at the sky, the cool, early fall breeze blowing across his face as he thought about how things had escalated so quickly.
"Ethan." the traveler looked up to see Barry leaning against the side of his vehicle, magnum pointed at the ground as he regarded the younger man. "Are you absolutely sure that you don't wanna come? Because, let me tell you something kid, things around here are looking to be getting much worse."
"I'm sure." Ethan said calmly, "There's something here, in the city. Something that can help us stop them. If there's one thing I learned from those two facilities out in the forest, nothing is as it seems. Umbrella owns this place, that means they must have a facility somewhere here...and I'm gonna find it."
Not exactly a lie, but it was right on the already thin line between that and the truth. He shrugged, "That, and when Rebecca and David show up they would need someone here to give them a rundown of what's been happening since they're still laying low."
Barry shook his head, "You're insane, you know that right?" he looked at the younger man very seriously, "Then again, it's that insanity that helped us survive the mansion. I just hope that you know what you're getting into."
"I'll be fine. You guys just focus on scoping out that headquarters and we'll meet up with you after we regroup." said the teen as Jill and Chris came out of the home and approached the truck.
Ethan took note at how they were speaking with hushed tones, Chris' hand on the small of her back and offering her a comforting smile while they walked. The two of them had been getting pretty close in the last few weeks, they always seemed to be together doing something together, and he and Barry had caught them on the couch of their safe house cuddling together while they were asleep more than once.
He couldn't help but shake his head at their stubbornness involving their relationship status, it was obvious that they cared deeply for each other. But for one reason or another they wouldn't accept it. "All packed, Jill?" he asked as they got ready to leave.
The B&E expert nodded before shooting him a concerned glance. "You still won't change your mind?" she asked imploringly. Ethan shook his head making her sigh in defeat, embracing him like an older sister. "Be safe, don't do anything stupid. You hear me?" she said sternly.
"I'll keep my head down." the teen replied as she stepped back, Chris stepped up and wrapped him in a one-arm hug. "Take care of yourself, kid. Give these bastards hell for us." he said allowing Barry to come forward and shake his hand.
"Me and my family owe you a lot, Ethan. You better make it out of this so I can repay you." the bearded man said with a smile.
The traveler smirked back, "I turn 21, first rounds on you then." he joked getting laughs out of his friends. He sobered and looked at each of them, "You guys better be careful too. With what's going on now, they'll pull out all the stops to silence anyone who knows that they're the cause."
"Do you have any kind of plan on what you're going to do?" asked Chris.
"There have to be records, progress reports, financial information, blueprints, if Umbrella ran most of the shit here and Raccoon then there has to be a paper trail of what they did behind the scenes. I'm going to check city hall first, their archives would have that kind of stuff stashed in a safe location. I'll probably find my answers there." Ethan replied.
Jill bit her lip, "Umbrella will be thinking about the same thing. If anything can be traced back to them then they will try to destroy it. And if they can send a squad to kill us..." she let the words hang in the air at how serious the situation was.
The traveler nodded, "I know, and I'll be expecting them to be there."
They stood around and did another round of goodbyes before the older STARS piled into Barry's truck, pulling out of the drive way and heading down the road and out of town. Like he had done when Rebecca left, Ethan watched his friends until they were out of sight.
When the tail-lights faded he sighed, reaching down and drawing his Samurai Edge before making the trek back to the safe house, the silent night his only companion.
X Flashback End X
It had felt so much longer ago than it had been, since that night it was pure hell. Chaos, death and devastation swept through the streets as quickly as the virus had. He stuck to the shadows most of the time, remaining out of sight as he observed Raccoon's final stand against the hordes of undead.
He had also seen Umbrella Secret Service units moving about the city, placed in strategic locations obviously on orders to help cover up the catastrophe. City hall had been inaccessible at the time, so he focused on helping people as best he could.
But now he had another objective. The 'package' Oracle had told him about would be at the designated location the following day...or was it later that evening? He couldn't tell, all the days had blurred together recently. Regardless, he was working his way to the coordinates that had been given to him, praying that the benefactor that had helped guide him thus far was giving him something he could really use.
A loud yawn pulled itself from him, reminding him how tired he really was. After deciding that he was useless if exhaustion overpowered him, he decided to catch a couple of hours sleep. After checking to be sure the make-shift barricade he had set up was stable, he went into the only bedroom in the apartment.
Like the living room and kitchen, the place had been ransacked. Dresser drawers tossed every which way, contents from the closet on the floor, whoever had been here had left in a hurry...Ethan couldn't blame them and wondered for a moment if they had made it out.
Closing the bedroom door, he locked it as well and pushed the dresser in front of it before he started removing his weapons and armor.
Wearing his black-STARS tactical vest, he had his Remington M1100-P shotgun in the shoulder holster on his back that he laid on the top of the dresser, his Colt Python Barry had given to him in the holster on the spare holster on his vest joined it before the vest itself was removed. Revealing the teen wearing a long sleeve, digital camo shirt that hugged him like a second skin and digital camo cargo pants along with his combat boots.
Taking the HK5 he had taken off the Umbrella operative during their failed attack was leaned against the wall by the door. He had gotten Kendo to give him boxes of bullets for it, spare magazines and even a scope for it for accuracy.
His rig went next, laying it on the floor by the bed while removing the combat knife that had been sheathed on the small of his back and laying it on the bedside table along with his Samurai edge. Within easy reach, just incase.
It was a large armament collection, and he had to admit that it did hinder his natural speed a bit. But he wanted to be prepared, and since he couldn't stay in on place for long it was better to have it all with him incase he needed it.
Rolling his shoulder, feeling and hearing them pop and the stiffness leave him because of it, he laid on the disheveled bed, staring at the ceiling as his body relaxed from the comfort it provided. "Beats sleeping against a wall." he muttered. Leaning to the side, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out the crumbled photograph that had been on him every moment of every day. The photo of him and Rebecca, one of only a handful of things that kept his spirits up in this place.
Touching the frozen image of her face, he laid the picture down on the pillow next to the one he was on as he let his mind slowly wander. "Night darlin." he whispered as he closed his eyes, letting the numbing grip of sleep reach out to take him, slipping into dreamless slumber as the city continued to fall decay around him.
X
Across the street on a nearby rooftop, a man in a black body suit and kevlar lowered his scoped rifle, his head encased in a hood that hugged his skull. A mask with elongated eye pieces slowly retracting as he deactivated the thermal vision offered by his goggles. "Leader...I've found him. Apartment complex across the street from my position." he said into his ear comm in a heavy Russian voice.
"Good work, Spectre." said a woman over the line, a tint of french dotting her accent. "I'm sending Vector and Four-Eyes you're way, stay on location until their arrival."
"Yes, ma'am." lowering his hand, Spectre looked toward the apartment building as he waited for the arrival of his team mates. "Sleep well, cuz you're in for one hell of a wake up call." he said chuckling.
X
Lupo lowered her arm before addressing the rest of Delta Team. "Spectre's found the target. He's holed up in an abandoned apartment not far from here." She looked over at her recon and science specialists. "Vector, Four-Eyes, you two will head to his position and contain the target. Command has labeled him high-priority and want him captured alive if possible."
Vector flipped his knife between his fingers, "No promises..." he growled remembering the bullet that had managed to hit him all those weeks back.
A deep chuckle came from his left, "Looking for a bit of payback?" asked Beltway hefting his shotgun. The recon specialist sent him a dark glare from behind his mask's lenses making the demolition man chuckle more.
"Why is command so interested in him anyway?" asked Four-Eyes more than a little curious about why this one individual was so important to the company.
"It's our objective to silence anyone with evidence leading to Umbrella's involvement." Lupo explained stiffly. "And this one has a great deal from the laboratories in the Arklay forest. As to why they want him alive, that isn't important. We have our orders, and we'll carry them out."
She glanced at the two she was sending off, "We will head to city hall and secure the front entrance. Meet us there when you're objective his completed."
Bertha examined the sharp edge of her machete, "Think he will be putting up a fight?" she asked looking at their team leader.
"I'm hoping for it." Vector said flipping his knife around and sheathing it before taking out his assault rifle. "Let's go Four-Eyes." the asian woman nodded and followed after him as they headed toward Spectre's location. Lupo regarded the rest of the team and motioned with her head in the opposite direction.
The Wolfpack was now officially on the hunt.
A/N: I know a lot of you are thinking 'WHAT THE FUCK!? WHERE'S JILL?!' The answer is simple. If you look at the storyline, you can see that the story behind the fall of Raccoon City could be split two ways, one way being when Jill evacs with Chris and Barry, the other is with her staying behind and escaping with Carlos before the nuke detonates.
For my fic, I chose the path where she left with the others, leaving Ethan to take her place for what's happening next. And this all will blend together will the three stories that mainly revolve around the outbreak (ORC, RE2 and RE3). And for fans of Carlos out there, don't be upset, he'll be apart of this too in a very big way.
The end of Raccoon City has begun, and a lot of death is coming for a lot of people. Welcome to hell folks!