Disclaimer: Capcom owns Resident Evil. I'm just borrowing the characters for my story, so please don't sue me.
Resident Evil: Armageddon
Part III- Gaining Strength
Chapter 1- Regroup and Reform
Written by: Striker
It's funny how two groups of people who have nothing in common, and who haven't even met each other before, could share a similar fate. I would never believe it, but that's what happened. We didn't know it, but my friends and I were going to get some unexpected help from some unlikely people. It seemed that fate was testing these people too. Not only was it giving them a second chance to do the right thing, it was also giving them a chance to make up for their past sins. It would also make my team, which was already strong, a powerful force that would have the strength to do the impossible. Stand against Umbrella.
Everyone was gathered around the dining room table. Chris was at the head of the table, talking to Barry. His hair was still wet from standing out in the rain. During his conversation, he kept glancing over at the others. He and Barry were discussing how they were going to tell everyone about last night. They had another objective as well, to choose a leader for the group.
"Well," Barry began, "Let's start this meeting. The first order of business is to describe where we stand with Umbrella. As you all know by now, Umbrella has a clue that we're near Atlanta. However, that situation has changed." Barry looked at his teammates as they began to whisper to each other. "Chris will fill you in."
All eyes focused on Chris. He scanned the room, putting together what he was going to say. "Last night I went to the store at Barry's request. Jill, Claire, and Leon came with me. We knew that Nicholai had all the major routes into the city under surveillance. We therefore chose an alternate route. Unfortunately, Nicholai is rather thorough. He had every possible road into Atlanta under watch. We were followed to the store. I knew and picked a place to get rid of our unwanted company."
"Where'd you lose them?" Carlos asked.
"In the men's room of a public park." Jill said, unable to keep a straight face.
"You hid in the guy's bathroom?" Ark asked. "How long did you stay in there?"
"We didn't hide." Claire replied. "We lured those pricks in there and beat the crap out of them."
"That's right." Chris said. "After dropping them, we got the hell out of the park. I stayed behind and hid in the bushes. I overheard the leader talking to Nicholai. He told them their jobs were done. That got me thinking, if those men were only there to monitor the city…"
"Then who are the people Nicholai will use to attack us." Leon finished. "You think he's going to call in someone else?"
"Chances are yes." Chris looked at Ark. "Ark, I need you to hack into Umbrella's network and find out if any agents are being sent over here. I want to know everything about them. Think you can do that?"
Ark nodded. "I'll get right on it. Looks like we're in deep shit now."
"You got that right." Barry said. "As luck would have it, they know we're around Atlanta, but they don't know where this place is. As long as we don't do anything stupid, this place is still safe. Now that that's settled, let's move on to our second topic. We are a team, so we need a leader. I'm open to suggestions, so speak up."
"I have someone in mind." Chris said.
Barry looked at him. "Who?"
Chris pointed at his friend. "You."
"Why me?" Barry asked inquisitively. "Why should I be the leader?"
"Because you've been in S.T.A.R.S. longer than any of us. You also were a S.W.A.T. team leader. You have experience leading others that none of us have." Chris cocked his head. "In my opinion, you're the best man for the job."
"Oh no." Barry put his hands in front of him. "Those days are over. That was one of the reasons I quit the S.W.A.T. team. My days of bossing people around are over. Besides, I'm getting too old for this."
Jill spoke up. "I have the perfect person for the job. Chris."
"I don't think I'm right for the job Jill." Chris said. "I don't know if I can handle it."
"Come on Chris, you did a great job at that facility. You seemed like a natural. You knew what to do, and when to do it. Besides, I'm also going by rank. Wesker made you second in command of the Alphas. Since he is no longer in the picture, that makes you captain."
"Does anyone else agree?" Chris got assorted nods, gestures, and replies from the others. "I guess I have no choice. Just do me one favor, don't call me captain, I hate formal titles."
"If you say so." Barry said. "So, what's your first official order, Captain Redfield?"
Chris just laughed. "Funny, very funny. I think the first thing I should do is set up this team. I'm going to need a second in command. Jill, think you can handle that position?"
"Sure Chris, if you think I can." She said.
"I'm confident. I'll also need you as our infiltration expert. Barry, you'll be our weapons expert. Becky, of coarse, will be the team's medic. I'll need someone to be a scout. Leon, you game."
"I'll do it." He replied. "I won't let you down."
"I'll be needing a sniper. Claire, since you've had experience with a sniper rifle, and you're a good shot, I'll give that job to you."
"Ok bro." Claire said. "At least you didn't stick me in backup."
Chris turned to Carlos. "Carlos, I believe you were the heavy weapons specialists for your old unit."
"Yes, I was senor. Why are you asking me that?"
"Because that's your job. You'll handle all the big guns." Carlos nodded as Chris turned to Ark. "You'll be our intelligence. It's time to put all that government training to good use. Consider my earlier request your first assignment."
"Yes sir." Ark stood up and saluted. "Glad I'm part of the team."
"You always were. We were always a team, now it's time to prove it."
"I have one question." Barry looked at Chris, a smirk on his face. "Is this little group going to have a name?"
"I think we should." Chris looked over his troops. "Umbrella calls us survivors. They also call us pests, nuisances, scum. They think we're just a group of troublemakers that have to be eliminated. We're not people, we're targets, things to be destroyed. I think differently. I think we're something that Umbrella should fear. We're something that Umbrella has tried to kill, but didn't. We're S.T.A.R.S. It's time for Umbrella to face a monster it has created, and now must deal with. It's time for S.T.A.R.S. to be reborn."
Jill stood up, looking around the table. "Umbrella wants S.T.A.R.S., then we'll give them S.T.A.R.S."
"And we will." Chris replied, taking Jill's hand. "Tomorrow we attack the plant at Gabesville. Barry, do we have any fuel for the helicopter?"
"No, I have to have a tank installed. There's a small airport about five minutes east of here. I know the guy who owns the place. He used to take my hunting buddies on survey runs looking for deer. He'll help us out with fuel." Barry scratched his red beard. "Is the copter low?"
"Yeah. I noticed it while I was teaching Jill how to fly." Chris looked out the window. "The rain has stopped, so we better go now. Barry, come with me. I'll need you to tell me where to go. Jill, I want you, Leon, and Claire to look over the layout of the plant. I want to know where we have to go to light that place up. Rebecca, organize the medical supplies. Have the children help you if you want. Carlos, I want you to make up list of the weapons we have. I'll assign everyone his or her guns later. Ark, you know what you have to do. Let's go."
Everyone sprang up and got to work. Chris and Barry walked out to the helicopter. Chris saw what looked a wooden tent propped over the machine. "Where did that thing come from, and when did you make it?"
"I made it when I brought the helicopter down here. It took me a couple of hours to build. Ark, Carlos, Becky, and I rolled it out while you and Jill were having your heart to heart. I had it over by the trees. Too bad I didn't get a chance to use it when we had that monster storm." Barry walked over to one of the poles towards the front of the copter. Chris walked over to the pole next to Barry. "Ready?" Both men pushed the wooden tent towards the trees that lined the back yard. Chris was surprised at how light the structure was. When the helicopter was uncovered, they stopped.
"Barry, if this thing is so light-weight, why did it take four people to move it?"
Barry scratched the back of his head. "To tell you the truth, Carlos and Rebecca just wanted to watch you and Jill."
"I see. I'll have to talk to those two about privacy." Chris climbed into the cockpit and started the engine. Barry climbed in next to him. "Here we go." Chris said. The copter lifted off the ground and turned east.
Barry turned to Chris. "Looks like S.T.A.R.S. is alive and kicking. It feels so good to go by that name again."
"Umbrella fears us Barry. Spencer is scared. His greatest fear is that we would become a strong team. Well now it's time to bring his worse nightmare to life. We started this thing as S.T.A.R.S., and we're going to finish this war as S.T.A.R.S. I'm not playing games anymore. This time it's for keeps."
The copter flew off into the distance. Inside the cabin, everyone else was busy, driven by a new purpose. It was time for the S.T.A.R.S. to strike back.
The helicopter landed at a small airfield. Several small single and double prop planes were scattered in front of gray, metal hangers. Several mechanics were busy checking the planes. Some of them were replacing parts on a large cargo plane. Chris and Barry got out of the copter.
"HEY, WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, LANDING THAT THING IN MY AIRFEILD!"
Barry saw a man in grease-stained overalls storming over to them. Barry began to walk towards him. "What the hell are you going to do about?"
The two men stopped in front of each other. "For starters, I can welcome to back." The man laughed as he punched Barry lightly in the right shoulder. "How've you been Big Fox?"
"Just fine Grease Monkey. I need a favor. My friend and I came here to get some fuel for our copter."
"I take it you've started your silly little crusade against Umbrella. I knew I'd see your mug around here sooner or later. Who's your friend?" The man pointed to Chris.
"I'll introduce you to him." Barry and his friend headed for the copter.
Chris was leaning on the nose of the aircraft, watching the two guys walking towards him. "Barry, you sure have a way of making friends. I wonder how Jack is doing?" Chris thought about his own friend. Thank God those men didn't kill him. He then remembered his promise to Claire. "One day I will come back and see you. That's a promise I intend to keep."
"Chris."
Chris snapped out of his little daydream to see Barry and his friend standing in front of him. "Yeah?"
"Chris, this is my friend Frank, or as we called him, Grease Monkey. Frank, this is Chris. We have yet to find a nickname for him."
"How are you doing?" Frank put his left out. He looked down and saw the grease on it. "Sorry for that. You work around airplanes so much, you forget how dirty you get." He wiped his hand on his clothes. "There we go."
Chris shook his hand. "Tell me, what name did you give to Barry?"
"Big Fox, because of his red hair. So tell me, what brings you to my humble place?"
Chris tapped the helicopter. "We need fuel for this bird. Barry told me you could help us out. We'll pay you for the fuel."
"There's no need for that. Barry here told me all about your adventures. If I can help save the world by filling your bird up, then I might as well do it." He turned to a group of workers standing by a fuel truck. "HEY BOBBY, GET THAT TRUCK OVER HERE! WE HAVE SOME CUSTOMERS WHO NEED A FILL-UP!"
Chris could see a young man jump into the cab of the truck. The vehicle pulled up next to the copter. The man got out. He was wearing a blue mechanics suit. He also had on a pair of dark sunglasses and a blue baseball cap.
"God dammit. How many times have I told you not to wear those stupid things during work." Frank yanked the sunglasses from the man's face. "Now fill this helicopter up and get to work on that crop-duster. It should have been finished two hours ago." Frank turned back to Chris and Barry as the man began to fill up the copter. "So, where are you heading?"
"We're going to Kentucky. There's this factory near Gabesville that we're going to hit." Barry said.
"It's a chemical plant owned by Umbrella." Chris continued. "It produces chemicals used in cryo-tubes. If we blown that place up, Umbrella won't be able to store or grow as many B.O.W.s. Hopefully we won't run into any trouble."
Frank rubbed his neck. "Sounds like you guys have one hell of a job to do. How many of there are you?"
"Six more besides us." Chris said. "The others are getting ready for tomorrow. That's when we attack."
Chris, Barry, and Frank kept on talking, unaware that the man was listening intently. They also didn't notice him walk to the rear of the aircraft. He opened a hatch exposing the engine. He found what he was looking for, a long, black tube. He loosened it a little, then closed the hatch. He walked back to the truck, and turned off the nozzle. He withdrew the fuel hose and placed the cap over the hole to the fuel tank. "All done sir." He said.
"Good, now get to work on that plane this instant." Frank barked. The man got back in the truck and drove off towards one of the hangers. "There you go Big Fox. Good luck to you."
"Thanks again Grease Monkey. I'll see you some other time." Barry waved to his friend as he got into the helicopter. Chris started it up and took off, unaware of the danger only a few feet behind him.
"Take care buddy." Frank watched the helicopter fly off into the distance. Suddenly he noticed the glasses in his hand. "Damn, better find Bobby." That boy had been trouble ever since Frank had hired him two days ago. He never got any work done, and kept staring outside, like he was waiting for something. The real pain was that fact that he seemed to be on his phone every chance he got. 'I'm going to teach that guy a lesson one of these days.' Frank thought to himself. He got to the hanger where the crop-duster was being kept. Frank looked around the hanger, but Bobby was nowhere in sight. "Where did that son-of-a-bitch go to now?"
"Yes sir, Gabesville. Tomorrow around two. I also did what you said. Their helicopter has been sabotaged. I'll report in after work. Goodbye." Bobby hung up and walked around the corner of the hanger only to find Frank glaring at him.
Frank looked at the phone in Bobby's hand. "How many times have I told you, you're here to work, not to phone your friends." Frank shoved the glasses into his face. "Now fix that plane." Bobby took the glasses and left, leaving Frank fuming. "I really need to teach that boy a lesson."
Nicholai sat back in his chair. He knew placing people at all the airports wasn't a waste of time. Now he knew where and when the survivors would strike. He would be there waiting for them. All he had to do was make a few arrangements. He reached for his phone, dialing a number. "Hello, this is Nicholai Ginovaef. Put me through to the facility at Gabesville. Thank you. Hello, this is Nicholai Ginovaef. Could you put me through to Mr. Spindlier? Thank you. Alex, how are you? It's me, Nicholai. Listen, I have a little problem. Currently I'm in charge of tracking down a group of rouges that have made it their business to blow up our facilities. I recently found out that your facility has been chosen to be the next target. I need you to do me a favor. You know the canisters you have stored there, I need your facility to have a little "accident" with them. I am well aware of what I'm asking you to do. Alex, let me assure you that the sacrifice will be well worth it, just make sure you're out of there before you get infected. Also, I remember you telling me that you had someone special transferred there a few months ago. Can you tell me the name?" Nicholai's face broke into a smile as he heard the name. "Good. Make sure she is there tomorrow. Make that accident happen tonight. Thank you Alex, you have just saved Umbrella." Nicholai hung up the phone, and then picked up the receiver a second time. He dialed a number and waited for a response. "This is Nicholai. I am requesting the following B.O.W.s sent to the facility at Gabesville by tomorrow morning, two-dozen 121's, a dozen Lickers, and two special weapons, a T-102 and a T-103. Thank you so much." Nicholai hung up the phone. He sat back in his chair. Hunk's team would be arriving tomorrow. The B.O.W.s would be on their to Gabesville, and those pests will be walking right into a deathtrap. "This time you won't make it out alive." A sick smile spread across his face. "None of you."
At the same time, Ark stared at the computer, reading the information he had just uncovered. "Oh man, Chris is not going to like this at all."
Author's Comments: The S.T.A.R.S. copter has been sabotaged, Nicholai has a devious plan in mind for everyone, Hunk and his group are on the way, and Ark has found something bad. This won't be easy at all. What does Nicholai mean by a little accident, and what's in those canisters? Who is "she" and why is she so special? What terrible news has Ark found? What will happen to the copter? Could things get any worse? You'll just have to find out. Talk about suspense. Most of these questions won't get answered until later chapters. It seems that most of the answers won't be good at all. Well, at least one good thing has happened, the S.T.A.R.S. have been reformed. Now that the team is driven by their unity, they may be able to go through anything Umbrella throws their way. We'll just see about that. Get ready for the real fun to start, but first.
In the next chapter, we get introduced to Hunks team. See who they are and take a look at their lives. It's a formal introduction next in RE Armageddon: Part III, Chapter 2- Hunk's Army.