Disclaimer: One more time. Resident Evil and everything else associated with it belongs to Capcom. This story however, belongs to me.
Written by: Striker
The team was assembled in the church, filling the front rows of pews. Peterson had requested that the team meet in the church before the mission. There was dead silence as Peterson walked down the center isle. He turned and addressed his men. "I asked you to be here because I think now more than ever we need God's help to get through this crisis. As Chris knows I'm one of those religious types and I've made it a habit of praying before each mission I take. But since this is an S.T.A.R.S. only operation, I decided that we all should be involved. Thank you." Peterson turned back to the alter and bowed his head. The others followed as Peterson spoke. "God, please look over those who are about to risk their lives to save many others. May you give them guidance and strength in this time on need and may you give them hope through tough times. Amen." Peterson turned to the team. "Dismissed."
The S.T.A.R.S. got up and left the church, ready for the battle ahead.
Chris checked his Berretta one last time as he stood waiting by the helicopter. He looked over as Barry came walking over. "Your family finally arrived?"
"Yeah." Barry replied. "Kathy just arrived with the girls. She also brought the other children. I thought it would be a good idea if they were on base. That way they can get out of the city as soon as the missiles are fired."
"You realize we're not going to let that happen." Chris said. "We will stop Wesker no matter what."
"Damn right." Leon said, lugging a black bag. "We're going to kick some ass and take names."
"Amen brother." Ark said, pulling another bag out of the back of a jeep and carrying it to the copter.
Claire popped her head out of the copter and took Leon's bag. "Aren't we all in an optimistic mood. At least we're not all gloomy, like a certain someone I know." Clair gave an accusing look at Chris.
"I'm psyching myself up." Chris said.
Barry nodded. "Allow me to explain. When we were still in Raccoon Chris would go into some sort of trance before a mission began. He wouldn't talk or anything, just stood there. Then, he'd just snap out and get on the copter. After a while we all got used to it."
"Speaking of standing around," Leon said, pulling another bag from the jeep, "why are we waiting here instead of heading towards that base?"
Ark handed Claire his bag. "I believe we're waiting for the others to get here. Becky and Eliza had to get something from the lab, so Jill and Carlos went with them."
Claire placed the heavy bag in the back of the copter. "I think they went to get out of loading the helicopters."
"Here they come now." Chris said, pointing to the small group approaching the copter. "What took so long?" He called.
"Sorry." Rebecca replied. "They're moving everything out of the lab. Took us a while just to get in, but we got it."
"Got what?" Leon asked.
"This." Eliza said, holding out an injection gun. "A little something special we cooked up just for Wesker. With any luck it'll cure him."
"Why the hell do we want to cure him?" Claire asked. "Shouldn't we be trying to kill him?"
"You miss the point." Chris said. He took the gun and stuffed it into his pocket. "Everyone has some weakness, something that can be exploited to take that person down. Wesker's weakness is the fact that he believes that no one can stop him. I inject him with this cure and he's human again. I'm counting on the fact that the shock of being normal will give me an opportunity to kill him."
"One thing." Rebecca said. "You have to get close to him and inject him directly. You also get one chance. You screw up and you're dead."
"Are you sure you can get him?" Jill asked, concerned.
"We'll see." Chris turned and walked to the jeep. "Let's finish loading the copter." The group continued moving bags from the jeep to the copter. Soon a truck pulled up and James' crew got out.
"Chris, we have all our stuff." James said. "When do we lift off?"
Chris walked over to James. "You're not going with us."
"What?" Jeff asked. "I thought we were all going in?"
"I need you guys here to help with the evacuation of the base." Chris said. "Besides, if my team gets killed you will have to take over."
James shook his head. "You need us to take out Wesker. He must have a small army there. Nine people can't stand against those odds."
"We can handle it. We've done this before." Chris turned to James. "Listen, Kathy and the rest of the kids are here. I want you promise me that you'll get them out no matter what happens."
"I understand." James said. "I'll make sure they get out first."
Peterson and Monroe pulled up next to James' jeep. Peterson got out and walked over to Chris. "I suggest you take James' team with you. This is not something your team alone can do."
"I have my reasons Major." Chris said. "Just do one thing for me."
"What's that?" Peterson asked.
"Tell lady luck she better be on our side." Chris replied, walking towards the copter.
"And if she says she won't?" Peterson asked.
"Then tell that bitch I'll see her in hell." Chris climbed into the copter and lifted off.
"I will Redfield." Peterson said. "I will."
Barry looked into the back of the copter as everyone loaded weapons. "You all ready?"
Jill straightened her beret. "Bring them on."
"Point me to them." Leon said, pumping his shotgun. "I'm more than ready."
"Think we can pull this off in time?" Claire asked.
"We're gonna have to." Eliza said. "That virus get caught by the wind and it'll spread all over the place. Those missiles can't be launched."
Chris looked at his watch. "We have a little over one hour to stop that launch. We can't fail." Chris narrowed his eyes as he stared out the windshield. "I'm coming for you Wesker. This time you're going down."
Nicholai walked into the missile control room. "Wesker, radar just detected an aircraft heading this way. ETA in five minutes."
Wesker smiled. "So, Redfield is coming after all. Finally, my plan is almost complete."
"Wesker, I believe the government may try to evacuate the city while the S.T.A.R.S. are attacking. We should launch as you said you would."
"Let the bastards leave." Wesker said. "That really doesn't matter. Even if no one gets infected, DC will be contaminated. The U.S. will be forced to destroy its own capital. The other countries will get the message clearly. If they don't want their capitols destroyed, they'll obey me."
Nicholai looked at a counter above a screen showing a map of the U.S. The counter read 1:05:00, signifying one hour till launch. "What about the S.T.A.R.S.?"
Wesker turned to Nicholai. "Send out the welcoming committee. Delay them as long as possible, but try not to kill them. I want them alive for the grand finale."
Alarms blazed as solders poured out to the front entrance. The men took up positions, weapons drawn. "Wesker wants them alive." The UT commander barked. "Pin them down but don't kill them."
Wesker entered the security station and watched the external cameras. "This time Chris, you won't win."
Jess kicked one of truck's tires. "This fucking sucks. We should be over there kicking some serious ass."
"Looks like we won't." Janet said.
Kelly stood to the side, watching the others argue. She didn't notice Kathy walking up behind her. "Mad, aren't they?" She said.
Kelly jumped at Kathy's voice. "OH! Yeah. Everyone's upset that Chris told us to stay here."
"Why would Chris do something like that?" Kathy asked, surprised.
Kelly scratched her head. "He wants us to help with the evacuation. He also wanted us to get you and the children out of here."
James saw Kelly talking to Kathy. "Hey Kathy, I have to tell you something."
Kathy walked over to James. "Kelly told me already. Why didn't you try to change his mind?"
"We did." Jeff said. "Guy seems positive his team can do it without us. I say we steal a helicopter and go after them."
"I agree." Ada said. "We can't stand here and do nothing."
"Is that how you feel?" Peterson asked as he and Monroe stopped their jeep next to the group.
"We do sir." James said.
"Then get your stuff ready and report to the helipad." Peterson ordered. He then turned to Monroe. "Sergeant, are the men ready?"
"We're locked and ready to go." Monroe replied. "Just give the word."
"We're going in?" Max asked. "But Chris told us to stay here."
Peterson smiled. "He may be your CO, but I'm in charge of the whole operation. I just got orders to assist the S.T.A.R.S. in the assault. Follow me, we lift off immediately."
James' team eagerly jumped into the truck. James looked at Kathy, who gave him an assuring smile. She watched as the two vehicles zoomed away. She then turned and headed back to her daughters to tell them that everything would be all right.
The helicopter came in fast and hard. Even before it touched down half the occupants jumped out. Chris quickly brought the copter down and jumped out of the cockpit. "LET'S GO!" He shouted.
"OPEN FIRE!" The UT commander yelled. The solders opened fire. The S.T.A.R.S. took cover behind the crates and vehicles. "KEEP THEM PINNED DOWN!" The commander barked.
Claire popped up from behind her crate and managed to take one UT solder out before ducking back down. "LOOKS LIKE THESE GUYS WERE EXPECTING US!" She shouted over the gunfire.
Barry crouched behind a jeep with Chris and Jill. "How in God's name do you expect us to get by them?" He growled.
Chris fired at the solders before pulling back. "We wear them out." He turned to Jill. "Fire at will."
Jill nodded and fired a cluster round. The round flew through the air before breaking into several smaller rounds. Rebecca and Eliza followed with cluster rounds of their own. Explosions tore through the enemy ranks. UT solders were sent flying, hitting the ground and disintegrating. Leon and Carlos fired shrapnel rounds, cutting down and wounding many solders. Ark fired a flame round. The round exploded, catching several people on fire.
"That answer your question?" Chris said. He stood up only to see more men pour out of the complex. "Holy shit." Chris dropped back down to avoid the gunfire. "This is bad."
"THERE'S TWICE AS MANY AS BEFORE!" Leon shouted. "NOW WHAT?"
Chris closed his eyes. "We're screwed."
Wesker laughed as he saw the S.T.A.R.S. helpless. "Now I have you right where I have you Chris. Soon you will regret even crossing me."
Author's Comments: And it
begins. Looks like this battle is starting off on the wrong foot. Fortunately
help is on the way. Let's hope it arrives in time. On a side note, CO means
Commanding Officer. Also I decided to include the prayer scene for added
dramatic flare. Finally, only three chapters remain. That means this bitch is
almost over. Ooooh, the tension.
The S.T.A.R.S. may be down, but not out. The chaos continues as reinforcements appear on the scene. However, the fight is far from won. The S.T.A.R.S. must still breach the complex and stop that launch. The excitement continues in RE Armageddon: Part VI, Chapter 8- Calvary Has Arrived.