Resident Evil: The Sunnydale conspiracy
Author: Vampyr64
Feedback: I would appreciate it
Rating: A heavy R for extreme violence and some language
Distribution: Want, take, have
Category: Story/Angst/Horror/Adventure/Romance
Disclaimer: Joss and mutant enemy own Buffy. Capcom owns Resident Evil. I own the original characters.
Spoilers: General for season 3 - 5
Summary: Xander leaves town to join the S.T.A.R.S.
Part 8A
Information scrolled across the large screen as Chris Redfield's fingers danced over the keys. Platoon detachment orders, equipment requisition, fund allocations, everything needed to build one hell of a facility.
Chris sat at a large terminal in the bottom corner of the main computer room in the Umbrella facility. He had found the room after searching extensively and finally using his charms on a female scientist, who he had also convinced to give up her security card, just for a second of course. But that was long enough for the miniature device concealed in his palm to do a scan of the circuitry. The device had duplicated the exact code necessary for gaining access to the core and he'd used a blank card to put the code on.
Now here he was, looking up at a massive holographic screen, searching for any evidence on Umbrellas latest plan for wreaking havoc.
"I love my job." he whispered sarcastically to himself.
To say that the search was difficult would have been an understatement. Umbrella may have been evil but they were in no way stupid. The key files has double and sometimes triple redundant lockouts, the logarithmic equations sped by so fast he didn't know where to begin. It was clear that he wasn't going to find what he was looking for, at least not using the front entrance, so he decided to try a shortcut.
Corporations, even the most secretive of them, had junk files: Those files that, while not containing critical data, were still necessary for the running of business. Most of these files were in no way linked to the main core, most of them being routed through secondary terminals, but some of them had to pass through the main core, where relevant information was appended to the file. Someone with the necessary knowledge could send a request though to a junk file, then piggyback along the search program, right into the main network.
It was tricky, no question, and Chris's expertise wasn't really in computers. But Jill had taught him a few things, and he was pretty sure he could get the job done. He wouldn't be able to access high level files, but some of the less classified stuff he should be able to reach. It should be enough to get at least a basic idea on what Umbrella was up to.
So intent was Chris on his work that he didn't hear the door to the lab swish open, didn't hear the tiny footsteps as they descended to his level. It was only when a girls voice reached his ears that he knew he had company.
"You really should pay more attention ya know."
Chris quickly spun around in his chair, his hand reaching for his Berreta, bringing it to bear. He squinted his eyes in the darkness to get a look at her. She was young, perhaps 19 or 20, with soft blonde hair, a little shorter then average for a woman, of dainty build, but with an edge to her eyes and in her stance that belied experience.
Chris found himself at a loss for words at first, he wouldn't have expected a girl to be confronting him, especially not as scientist, which was evidenced by the lab coat she wore, though it did hang a little loosely on her. Through the haze of questions permeating his mind, one stood out.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you look like Sarah Michelle Gellar?"
The young woman was clearly not prepared for his response, as she kinda just stood there, mouth hanging open. After a moment, she seemed to compose herself. She eyed him curiously for a moment, before replying "Has anyone ever told you that you look like David Boreanaz?"
"Who's he?"
She just stared at him again. "Never mind, cause you really don't anyways."
"Good, I only like to look like me."
They stared at each other a little more, both unsure of what to say. Finally, Chris decided to speak. "So, are you going to turn me in?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Might have a little something to do with my breaking and entering, stealing files. Stuff like that."
She nodded at him. "Yeah, but I'd have to turn myself in too."
Chris looked at her in surprise. "So, you're trying to take down Umbrella too huh?"
"Not really, at least not yet. I just want to know what they are up to."
"You and me both" Chris nodded before he turned back to the console. Keying in the commands that would begin the search protocol.
The girl joined him at the screen, her eyes scanning over the information. "I'm Buffy by the way."
"The slayer huh."
Buffy looked down at him in shock, "How did you know that?"
"I have my ways. I'm Chris." He offered without looking away from the screen.
"So, what are you trying to do?"
"I'm seeing if I can use the backdoor to gain access to the central database, see what Umbrellas planning."
"Why do you want to take them down?"
A dark look came over Chris's features as he paused for a moment. "They're responsible for the deaths of over a million people, including some friends of mine."
You're talking about the disaster at Raccoon city. But I heard that a disease wiped that town out."
"Who do you think released that virus? Not to mention that they nuked the place to destroy the evidence."
"Oh" Was all Buffy could respond, her mind trying to fit itself around the idea that a pharmaceutical company could be responsible for the deaths of that many people. It was just unthinkable, but she had scene what people were capable of, and sometimes their actions could be on par with those of demon kind.
Her deliberations her cut short by a triumphant shout from Chris. "What" She asked.
"I found it." he smiled, his eyes roving over the screen.
Buffy looked up at the file he had accessed. As she read through the data a pit began to form in her stomach, filled with ice. "My god."
Chris nodded in silent agreement. "I have to get this back to my squad." He pulled a data disc from one of his pockets, placing it in the reader. He called up the save option and downloaded the files onto the disc, then stood. "C'mon, lets get out of here before someone catches us."
They quickly made their way up the ramp and back out into the hall. Chris put them on a course straight back to the loading bay. They made it about half way, when the sounds of yelling reached their ears. Buffy turned to Chris. "About getting out of here without being caught? I don't think its gonna happen."
The repeat of weapons fire quickly confirmed her analysis. "C'mon, we're almost there." Chris urged her forward, keeping behind her. He drew his Beretta and loaded a round in the chamber. A few seconds later an alarm began blaring out over the speakers mounted on the ceiling.
They reached the first set massive doors that served as the anteroom to the loading bay. Chris flattened himself against on of the doors. Peering through the porthole.
"Ohh, for the love of....!" he cursed aloud.
"What is it?" Buffy questioned him.
Chris shook his head. "Nothing." He pulled another pistol from one of his pockets, a silver 38 special. "Here" he said, handing it to her. "you may need this."
Buffy shook her head. "I don't like guns."
He stared at her for a few seconds then sighed. "Suit yourself." He braced himself against the door, his hand pushing ever so slightly on the panel next to him. "Let's go" he cried, shoving the swinging hatch open and diving through, Buffy close behind.
As the entered the bay, the sounds of gunfire got even louder, and Buffy soon learned the cause. A man dressed much like Chris, sporting platinum blonde hair and looking strangely familiar, was running through the middle of the bay, hands stretched out to his sides, each holding a gun, spitting fire at the guards who were returning fire back at him.
"Who's that?" Buffy queried in curiosity.
"My partner." Chris responded shortly.
"Interesting choice."
"Tell me about it."
The man ducked behind a nearby crate as the opposing fire became overwhelming. The guards, sensing his defeat, began to close in. With three on the one side and four on the other, things didn't look too good.
"Aren't we going to do something?" Buffy asked him.
Chris thought for a moment. "Yeah." he reluctantly agreed. "I guess we should." He began to rise to his feet so when a dark blue blur shot over the top of the crate, rolling over the lid before dropping to the ground. Nicholas continued the roll as he hit, until he reached a point where both sets of guards became visible.
Buffy watched as the man came out of his roll, guns blazing. The guards didn't even have time to figure out what was going on. It was over quickly.
"No bad kid." Chris remarked, partly impressed and partly annoyed.
The man caught sight of them. "Hey Chris!" He greeted as he made his way over to them. "Who's the girl?"
Chris stared at him, irritated. "Buffy Summers, I would like you to meet Nicholas Martin. Nicholas. This is Buffy."
Nick eyed her curiously. "The slayer huh. I thought you would be taller."
Buffy shook her head in amazement. "Does EVERYONE know that I'm the slayer anymore? And what do you mean I`m not tall?"
"I was just saying."
"We haven't got time for this." Chris brought them back to focus. "This place is about to become crawling with Umbrella soldiers. We have to get out of here."
Nick nodded, turning serious. "I know. The loading hatch has been sealed up. We can't get out that way."
Chris took this info in, shaking his head. "I thought I told you to keep a low profile, no guns blazing."
"I did!" The other man defended. "The other guy started it."
"Uhuh. And just exactly what are you supposed to be an expert in?"
"Infiltration." Nick beamed back.
Buffy stared incredulously. "Infiltration. HE is an expert in infiltration?"
The blond smirked at her. "It's a gift."
"I'll bet."
"Didn't we go over this already?" Chris intervened. "We need to get going NOW."
"Good point boss." Nick quipped as he ejected the spent magazines from his Glock's and snapped in fresh clips.
"I think there's an exit terminal around here somewhere." Chris supplied.
"Lead the way boss."
The three began making there way back through the facility, ducking behind doorways to avoid the search squads. The whole facility was on alert and that meant they had to be extremely cautious, which made progress very slow. Even so, they reached the exit terminal not too much later.
Only to find it crawling with Umbrella soldiers.
"I think we should find another way out." Nick remarked as he dodged enemy fire, slamming the hatch shut and sealing it. "Any ideas?"
"We have to assume that all the other exists are guarded as well, at lest the ones they think we might use." Chris remarked, scratching his chin in thought. There had to be some way out, something they wouldn't expect. That ruled out all the primary exits, most likely the secondary ones too. They didn't have a map of the ventilation system so that was out, which left...... His eyes lit up as a rightful went of in his head. "I've got it."
"Care to share." Buffy replied, her hands on her hips. She really didn't like the way things were going. Being stuck in a mazelike building, with two guys, both handsome but one rather annoying, while they were hunted by an army working for an evil corporation, was not really something she particularly was fond of doing. This situation was weird, even for a slayer.
"We hit the roof access, and the chopper bay."
"Are you nuts!?!" Buffy basically freaked, not liking where this was going one bit.
"No, but I am." Nick supplied helpfully.
"Buffy ignored him. "You want us to steal a chopper and just fly out of here."
"That's the basis of it, yeah."
"Do you even know how to fly a helicopter."
"I was an air force pilot before this, so yeah, I know how to fly a chopper."
Buffy still wasn't liking it, but since she hadn't any better ideas she decided to go along with them.
"Good." Chris said as he pulled out his schematic of the buildings layout. "Okay, there's an elevator to the 8^th floor not too far from here. From there we should be able to gain access to the chopper bay. Then we just fly far enough away that we can land without them finding us."
"Sounds like a plan" Buffy agreed, albeit reluctantly.
"Alright then, lets get moving."
Nick started down the hall ahead of them, taking point. He reached a corner and disappeared around it. Chris held Buffy back and waited for the signal. A few seconds later he got it.
Just not the one he was hoping for.
Nick sped around the corner. He spun and pulled both pistols, emptying a dozen rounds in the direction he came, not missing a beat, he started back towards them. "I highly recommend finding an alternates means of passage!"
"Is is bad?" Chris asked when Nick reached them. "Very" the other man replied. Just then the speakers blared to life with a woman's voice.
"WARNING, A CONTAINMENT LAB HAS BEEN BREACHED. SPECIMENS HAVE ESCAPED AND ARE IN THE FACILITY PROPER. ALL NON-MILITARY PERSONALLY EVACUTE THE BUILDING. WARNING...." The voice repeated the announcement over and over.
"Run!" Nick advised them and they quickly took off, with Chris in the lead and Nick bringing up the rear.
"They didn't." Chris shook his head disbelievingly, looking over at Nick. The other man looked at him solemnly. "They did."
"What?" Buffy questioned, confused, running in the middle. "Who did what?"
"Umbrella." Chris responded after a moment. "They released one of their experiments."
"A few of them actually." Nick amended. "Lickers, and a hunter or two."
"Great."
Buffy looked at both of them in turn. "I take it that's bad?"
"To put it one way, yes."
"Oh."
Chris picked up his speed. "We've gotta get to the roof."
The three hightailed it back down the corridor, and around another corner, just as a reptilian creature shot through door that Nick had come from. It lacked a visible pair of eyes but its enormous brain, on the outside of its skull, suggested it had some kind of sensory perception. A long, razor sharp tongue shot out of its mouth and swayed back and forth, the creature hissing.
Upon hearing that ominous sound, Nick turned to his compatriot. "We've got company Chris."
"I hear it."
Buffy risked a glance behind them. "Another one of those things huh."
Nick looked over at her. "You're seen a Licker before?"
"We've met."
Nick could see that the creature was closing fast. "Ahh, I don't want to alarm either one of you but... DUCK!" He shouted and all three of them hit the floor as the licker launched overhead, propelled by its powerful leg muscles. The creature landed about five meters away and spun around, its claws scratching the surface beneath it, tongue dripping saliva, or the creatures equivalent of it.
Nick rolled to his feet, his hands gripping his Glock's. "Open wide monkey boy!" He shouted as he opened up, his guns on full auto. Round after semi jacketed round tore into the creatures hide, staggering, but it didn't go down.
Instead, its tongue lashed out at its attacker and Nick had to dive to the side to avoid being cut in half. He hit the floor hard, his guns still blazing. "C'mon Chris, DO something!"
"Right." Chris replied as he raised his berreta, set up his shot, and squeezed the trigger. The bullet rocketed out of the barrel and slammed into the lickers skull, spraying dark chunks of brain matter on the walls and ceiling. The licker lumbered a bit and hissed at him. Chris sent another round into its skull and the creature gurgled and fell limp to the floor.
"Nice shooting." Nick remarked as he came to his feet and Buffy shook her head in agreement.
"I thought you were supposed to be the sniper here." Chris goaded him.
"I am, but you're the marksman. There's a difference ya know."
"That thought never occurred to me."
"What a surprise."
"Uh guys" Buffy interjected. "I hate to break this up but, uh, we've got more company."
Both men turned to look where she was staring. "Oh crap." Chris muttered. Nick nodded in agreement.
On the ceiling of the hallway they had come down, a pair of lickers skittered forward, using their powerful claws to gain purchase on the ceiling tiles. Their long tongues swathed back and forth in the air eagerly, saliva dripping from then and coating the floor below them.
"MOVE IT PEOPLE!" Chris shouted as he took off toward the elevator, the others following.
Buffy spun in mid run and pulled a stake from her belt, launching it with expert accuracy. The wooden projectile cut through the air and impacted the skull of one of the lickers with a loud crunch, indicating that the stake had imbedded itself in the skull. The creature reared back its head and gave a mournful wail that sent shivers down the spine of all three. It slowed down a bit to recoup and the remaining licker continued forward.
Before the stake had even hit Buffy had spun back around again, not losing any speed. In fact, she could have rather easily passed both men by now but she chose to hang back so she could deal with anything that got too close.
"Not bad Buff." Nick commented as the continued toward the elevator at high speed.
"Don't call me Buff."
They managed to make it the rest of the way to the elevator without serious incident. Chris slapped the call button and spun around, his weapon covering the corridor as the doors slid open and Nick jumped in, Chris quickly followed, with Buffy being the last one in, launching herself forward in a powerful leap that shot her through the closing doors, slamming into the elevator wall, hard.
"That was fun." Nick quipped as he hit the button four the eighth floor.
"Tell me about it." Buffy shot back, massaging her sore shoulder.
The elevator shot up and soon after deposited them o the eighth floor. "Right near the chopper bay." Chris proclaimed as he glanced at his map. "Let's go."
They quickly made their way to the bay access terminal, glancing behind them for signs of pursuit, but finding none. Chris paused outside the hatch and motioned to Nick, catching the other mans eyes. He pointed two fingers at his eyes and then at the doorway. Nick nodded and stepped up to the hatch. Triggering the door, he stepped through, disappearing from sight. Buffy and Chris waited for a few moments for the sign that the coast was clear. It seemed to be taking too long though. Just when Chris was about to go charging in after him, Nick popped his head back out. "It's clear." The followed him through the antechamber and into the hanger.
The chamber was quite massive, as was evidenced by the four black hawk helicopters, and two smaller choppers that sat in the bay. One of the Hawks looked prepped and ready for launch as well as one of the smaller choppers, what appeared to be a civilian version of a Hewie. Equipment lay scattered around, suggesting that troops were gearing up for some operation, but the bay itself was empty, suggesting that all the soldiers were probably off looking for them.
Chris stepped forward. "Nick, go activate the hanger doors while I get the chopper ready for liftoff."
"Roger, Boss" Nick tossed off a mock salute as he hurried over to the bay door controls.
Buffy looked after him for a moment before turning to Chris "Isn't he a bit...."
"Annoying?" Chris supplied.
"Well I was going for something a bit more extreme but, yeah."
"Nicks had a rough time of it and that kinda made him a bit... What's the word?"
"Crazy?"
"I was actually thinking more like psychotic but crazy will work."
"Check."
"C'mon." Chris motioned to her. "Lets get that chopper ready. I want to get as far away from this place as possible."
Buffy started to voice her agreement but was stopped by a hideous sound coming from further on in the bay. It was a laugh, or at least some sick twisted version of one. She and Chris spun to confront whoever it was. Two figures slowly emerged from the shadows, both tall and of a good build. As they came into the light Buffy could make out a pair of dark sunglasses on the ones man's face, a blonde. The other man Buffy couldn't get a very good look at because he hung back, but there was something about him...
"Oh, I'm afraid you won't be going anywhere Chris." The blonde spoke in a strangely light tone. "You're been a naughty boy Redfield, you and your sister. Now you have to pay."
Buffy turned to Chris and saw him staring back at the man, a cold look on his face. He apparently seemed to know this guy. "Wesker." Chris seemed growl the name out and Buffy had little doubt that there was no love lost between them. "I thought I left you in Antarctica."
"I managed to escape that little incident, unharmed as you can see." Wesker grinned and Buffy's flesh crawled.
"How lucky for you." Redfield bit out, his eyed boring into the other man, hatred plainly visible on his face.
"I thought so."
"What do you want Wesker?"
The blond smiled lecherously. "I'm actually here on a mission of good will, partly anyway. I've come to reunite old friends." His eyes came to rest on Buffy and the slayer found herself very uncomfortable under his gaze, like she was being undressed, or dissected, piece by piece. "Buffy." Wesker spoke to her and Buffy was caught off guard by him knowing her name. "I have someone here you might remember."
With his words, the figure stepped forward, slowly the light washed over him, exposing his features. Chocolate brown eyes, dark hair, and that famous grin. The one she missed so much, now twisted into a sick parody of its former self.
Her tongue came out to moisten her suddenly dry lips, her heart beating so fast that she thought it might burst out of her rib cage. The name passed from between her lips in a strangled whisper, and with it the reality of everything hit like a ton of bricks, knocking the wind from her lungs. And Buffy Summers felt her world once again torn apart.
"Xander."
End part 8b
Next part: Buffy confronts the friend she thought long since lost. The stars try to escape the Umbrella facility and regroup with the others. Just what exactly did Buffy and Chris see that is so horrific, why is Xander working for Umbrella, and what the hell is faith doing in town? You'll find out if you read the next part. Oh yeah, and FEEEEEEDDDDDBBBBAAAAAACCCCCKKKKK!!!!!!!
Author: Vampyr64
Feedback: I would appreciate it
Rating: A heavy R for extreme violence and some language
Distribution: Want, take, have
Category: Story/Angst/Horror/Adventure/Romance
Disclaimer: Joss and mutant enemy own Buffy. Capcom owns Resident Evil. I own the original characters.
Spoilers: General for season 3 - 5
Summary: Xander leaves town to join the S.T.A.R.S.
Part 8A
Information scrolled across the large screen as Chris Redfield's fingers danced over the keys. Platoon detachment orders, equipment requisition, fund allocations, everything needed to build one hell of a facility.
Chris sat at a large terminal in the bottom corner of the main computer room in the Umbrella facility. He had found the room after searching extensively and finally using his charms on a female scientist, who he had also convinced to give up her security card, just for a second of course. But that was long enough for the miniature device concealed in his palm to do a scan of the circuitry. The device had duplicated the exact code necessary for gaining access to the core and he'd used a blank card to put the code on.
Now here he was, looking up at a massive holographic screen, searching for any evidence on Umbrellas latest plan for wreaking havoc.
"I love my job." he whispered sarcastically to himself.
To say that the search was difficult would have been an understatement. Umbrella may have been evil but they were in no way stupid. The key files has double and sometimes triple redundant lockouts, the logarithmic equations sped by so fast he didn't know where to begin. It was clear that he wasn't going to find what he was looking for, at least not using the front entrance, so he decided to try a shortcut.
Corporations, even the most secretive of them, had junk files: Those files that, while not containing critical data, were still necessary for the running of business. Most of these files were in no way linked to the main core, most of them being routed through secondary terminals, but some of them had to pass through the main core, where relevant information was appended to the file. Someone with the necessary knowledge could send a request though to a junk file, then piggyback along the search program, right into the main network.
It was tricky, no question, and Chris's expertise wasn't really in computers. But Jill had taught him a few things, and he was pretty sure he could get the job done. He wouldn't be able to access high level files, but some of the less classified stuff he should be able to reach. It should be enough to get at least a basic idea on what Umbrella was up to.
So intent was Chris on his work that he didn't hear the door to the lab swish open, didn't hear the tiny footsteps as they descended to his level. It was only when a girls voice reached his ears that he knew he had company.
"You really should pay more attention ya know."
Chris quickly spun around in his chair, his hand reaching for his Berreta, bringing it to bear. He squinted his eyes in the darkness to get a look at her. She was young, perhaps 19 or 20, with soft blonde hair, a little shorter then average for a woman, of dainty build, but with an edge to her eyes and in her stance that belied experience.
Chris found himself at a loss for words at first, he wouldn't have expected a girl to be confronting him, especially not as scientist, which was evidenced by the lab coat she wore, though it did hang a little loosely on her. Through the haze of questions permeating his mind, one stood out.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you look like Sarah Michelle Gellar?"
The young woman was clearly not prepared for his response, as she kinda just stood there, mouth hanging open. After a moment, she seemed to compose herself. She eyed him curiously for a moment, before replying "Has anyone ever told you that you look like David Boreanaz?"
"Who's he?"
She just stared at him again. "Never mind, cause you really don't anyways."
"Good, I only like to look like me."
They stared at each other a little more, both unsure of what to say. Finally, Chris decided to speak. "So, are you going to turn me in?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Might have a little something to do with my breaking and entering, stealing files. Stuff like that."
She nodded at him. "Yeah, but I'd have to turn myself in too."
Chris looked at her in surprise. "So, you're trying to take down Umbrella too huh?"
"Not really, at least not yet. I just want to know what they are up to."
"You and me both" Chris nodded before he turned back to the console. Keying in the commands that would begin the search protocol.
The girl joined him at the screen, her eyes scanning over the information. "I'm Buffy by the way."
"The slayer huh."
Buffy looked down at him in shock, "How did you know that?"
"I have my ways. I'm Chris." He offered without looking away from the screen.
"So, what are you trying to do?"
"I'm seeing if I can use the backdoor to gain access to the central database, see what Umbrellas planning."
"Why do you want to take them down?"
A dark look came over Chris's features as he paused for a moment. "They're responsible for the deaths of over a million people, including some friends of mine."
You're talking about the disaster at Raccoon city. But I heard that a disease wiped that town out."
"Who do you think released that virus? Not to mention that they nuked the place to destroy the evidence."
"Oh" Was all Buffy could respond, her mind trying to fit itself around the idea that a pharmaceutical company could be responsible for the deaths of that many people. It was just unthinkable, but she had scene what people were capable of, and sometimes their actions could be on par with those of demon kind.
Her deliberations her cut short by a triumphant shout from Chris. "What" She asked.
"I found it." he smiled, his eyes roving over the screen.
Buffy looked up at the file he had accessed. As she read through the data a pit began to form in her stomach, filled with ice. "My god."
Chris nodded in silent agreement. "I have to get this back to my squad." He pulled a data disc from one of his pockets, placing it in the reader. He called up the save option and downloaded the files onto the disc, then stood. "C'mon, lets get out of here before someone catches us."
They quickly made their way up the ramp and back out into the hall. Chris put them on a course straight back to the loading bay. They made it about half way, when the sounds of yelling reached their ears. Buffy turned to Chris. "About getting out of here without being caught? I don't think its gonna happen."
The repeat of weapons fire quickly confirmed her analysis. "C'mon, we're almost there." Chris urged her forward, keeping behind her. He drew his Beretta and loaded a round in the chamber. A few seconds later an alarm began blaring out over the speakers mounted on the ceiling.
They reached the first set massive doors that served as the anteroom to the loading bay. Chris flattened himself against on of the doors. Peering through the porthole.
"Ohh, for the love of....!" he cursed aloud.
"What is it?" Buffy questioned him.
Chris shook his head. "Nothing." He pulled another pistol from one of his pockets, a silver 38 special. "Here" he said, handing it to her. "you may need this."
Buffy shook her head. "I don't like guns."
He stared at her for a few seconds then sighed. "Suit yourself." He braced himself against the door, his hand pushing ever so slightly on the panel next to him. "Let's go" he cried, shoving the swinging hatch open and diving through, Buffy close behind.
As the entered the bay, the sounds of gunfire got even louder, and Buffy soon learned the cause. A man dressed much like Chris, sporting platinum blonde hair and looking strangely familiar, was running through the middle of the bay, hands stretched out to his sides, each holding a gun, spitting fire at the guards who were returning fire back at him.
"Who's that?" Buffy queried in curiosity.
"My partner." Chris responded shortly.
"Interesting choice."
"Tell me about it."
The man ducked behind a nearby crate as the opposing fire became overwhelming. The guards, sensing his defeat, began to close in. With three on the one side and four on the other, things didn't look too good.
"Aren't we going to do something?" Buffy asked him.
Chris thought for a moment. "Yeah." he reluctantly agreed. "I guess we should." He began to rise to his feet so when a dark blue blur shot over the top of the crate, rolling over the lid before dropping to the ground. Nicholas continued the roll as he hit, until he reached a point where both sets of guards became visible.
Buffy watched as the man came out of his roll, guns blazing. The guards didn't even have time to figure out what was going on. It was over quickly.
"No bad kid." Chris remarked, partly impressed and partly annoyed.
The man caught sight of them. "Hey Chris!" He greeted as he made his way over to them. "Who's the girl?"
Chris stared at him, irritated. "Buffy Summers, I would like you to meet Nicholas Martin. Nicholas. This is Buffy."
Nick eyed her curiously. "The slayer huh. I thought you would be taller."
Buffy shook her head in amazement. "Does EVERYONE know that I'm the slayer anymore? And what do you mean I`m not tall?"
"I was just saying."
"We haven't got time for this." Chris brought them back to focus. "This place is about to become crawling with Umbrella soldiers. We have to get out of here."
Nick nodded, turning serious. "I know. The loading hatch has been sealed up. We can't get out that way."
Chris took this info in, shaking his head. "I thought I told you to keep a low profile, no guns blazing."
"I did!" The other man defended. "The other guy started it."
"Uhuh. And just exactly what are you supposed to be an expert in?"
"Infiltration." Nick beamed back.
Buffy stared incredulously. "Infiltration. HE is an expert in infiltration?"
The blond smirked at her. "It's a gift."
"I'll bet."
"Didn't we go over this already?" Chris intervened. "We need to get going NOW."
"Good point boss." Nick quipped as he ejected the spent magazines from his Glock's and snapped in fresh clips.
"I think there's an exit terminal around here somewhere." Chris supplied.
"Lead the way boss."
The three began making there way back through the facility, ducking behind doorways to avoid the search squads. The whole facility was on alert and that meant they had to be extremely cautious, which made progress very slow. Even so, they reached the exit terminal not too much later.
Only to find it crawling with Umbrella soldiers.
"I think we should find another way out." Nick remarked as he dodged enemy fire, slamming the hatch shut and sealing it. "Any ideas?"
"We have to assume that all the other exists are guarded as well, at lest the ones they think we might use." Chris remarked, scratching his chin in thought. There had to be some way out, something they wouldn't expect. That ruled out all the primary exits, most likely the secondary ones too. They didn't have a map of the ventilation system so that was out, which left...... His eyes lit up as a rightful went of in his head. "I've got it."
"Care to share." Buffy replied, her hands on her hips. She really didn't like the way things were going. Being stuck in a mazelike building, with two guys, both handsome but one rather annoying, while they were hunted by an army working for an evil corporation, was not really something she particularly was fond of doing. This situation was weird, even for a slayer.
"We hit the roof access, and the chopper bay."
"Are you nuts!?!" Buffy basically freaked, not liking where this was going one bit.
"No, but I am." Nick supplied helpfully.
"Buffy ignored him. "You want us to steal a chopper and just fly out of here."
"That's the basis of it, yeah."
"Do you even know how to fly a helicopter."
"I was an air force pilot before this, so yeah, I know how to fly a chopper."
Buffy still wasn't liking it, but since she hadn't any better ideas she decided to go along with them.
"Good." Chris said as he pulled out his schematic of the buildings layout. "Okay, there's an elevator to the 8^th floor not too far from here. From there we should be able to gain access to the chopper bay. Then we just fly far enough away that we can land without them finding us."
"Sounds like a plan" Buffy agreed, albeit reluctantly.
"Alright then, lets get moving."
Nick started down the hall ahead of them, taking point. He reached a corner and disappeared around it. Chris held Buffy back and waited for the signal. A few seconds later he got it.
Just not the one he was hoping for.
Nick sped around the corner. He spun and pulled both pistols, emptying a dozen rounds in the direction he came, not missing a beat, he started back towards them. "I highly recommend finding an alternates means of passage!"
"Is is bad?" Chris asked when Nick reached them. "Very" the other man replied. Just then the speakers blared to life with a woman's voice.
"WARNING, A CONTAINMENT LAB HAS BEEN BREACHED. SPECIMENS HAVE ESCAPED AND ARE IN THE FACILITY PROPER. ALL NON-MILITARY PERSONALLY EVACUTE THE BUILDING. WARNING...." The voice repeated the announcement over and over.
"Run!" Nick advised them and they quickly took off, with Chris in the lead and Nick bringing up the rear.
"They didn't." Chris shook his head disbelievingly, looking over at Nick. The other man looked at him solemnly. "They did."
"What?" Buffy questioned, confused, running in the middle. "Who did what?"
"Umbrella." Chris responded after a moment. "They released one of their experiments."
"A few of them actually." Nick amended. "Lickers, and a hunter or two."
"Great."
Buffy looked at both of them in turn. "I take it that's bad?"
"To put it one way, yes."
"Oh."
Chris picked up his speed. "We've gotta get to the roof."
The three hightailed it back down the corridor, and around another corner, just as a reptilian creature shot through door that Nick had come from. It lacked a visible pair of eyes but its enormous brain, on the outside of its skull, suggested it had some kind of sensory perception. A long, razor sharp tongue shot out of its mouth and swayed back and forth, the creature hissing.
Upon hearing that ominous sound, Nick turned to his compatriot. "We've got company Chris."
"I hear it."
Buffy risked a glance behind them. "Another one of those things huh."
Nick looked over at her. "You're seen a Licker before?"
"We've met."
Nick could see that the creature was closing fast. "Ahh, I don't want to alarm either one of you but... DUCK!" He shouted and all three of them hit the floor as the licker launched overhead, propelled by its powerful leg muscles. The creature landed about five meters away and spun around, its claws scratching the surface beneath it, tongue dripping saliva, or the creatures equivalent of it.
Nick rolled to his feet, his hands gripping his Glock's. "Open wide monkey boy!" He shouted as he opened up, his guns on full auto. Round after semi jacketed round tore into the creatures hide, staggering, but it didn't go down.
Instead, its tongue lashed out at its attacker and Nick had to dive to the side to avoid being cut in half. He hit the floor hard, his guns still blazing. "C'mon Chris, DO something!"
"Right." Chris replied as he raised his berreta, set up his shot, and squeezed the trigger. The bullet rocketed out of the barrel and slammed into the lickers skull, spraying dark chunks of brain matter on the walls and ceiling. The licker lumbered a bit and hissed at him. Chris sent another round into its skull and the creature gurgled and fell limp to the floor.
"Nice shooting." Nick remarked as he came to his feet and Buffy shook her head in agreement.
"I thought you were supposed to be the sniper here." Chris goaded him.
"I am, but you're the marksman. There's a difference ya know."
"That thought never occurred to me."
"What a surprise."
"Uh guys" Buffy interjected. "I hate to break this up but, uh, we've got more company."
Both men turned to look where she was staring. "Oh crap." Chris muttered. Nick nodded in agreement.
On the ceiling of the hallway they had come down, a pair of lickers skittered forward, using their powerful claws to gain purchase on the ceiling tiles. Their long tongues swathed back and forth in the air eagerly, saliva dripping from then and coating the floor below them.
"MOVE IT PEOPLE!" Chris shouted as he took off toward the elevator, the others following.
Buffy spun in mid run and pulled a stake from her belt, launching it with expert accuracy. The wooden projectile cut through the air and impacted the skull of one of the lickers with a loud crunch, indicating that the stake had imbedded itself in the skull. The creature reared back its head and gave a mournful wail that sent shivers down the spine of all three. It slowed down a bit to recoup and the remaining licker continued forward.
Before the stake had even hit Buffy had spun back around again, not losing any speed. In fact, she could have rather easily passed both men by now but she chose to hang back so she could deal with anything that got too close.
"Not bad Buff." Nick commented as the continued toward the elevator at high speed.
"Don't call me Buff."
They managed to make it the rest of the way to the elevator without serious incident. Chris slapped the call button and spun around, his weapon covering the corridor as the doors slid open and Nick jumped in, Chris quickly followed, with Buffy being the last one in, launching herself forward in a powerful leap that shot her through the closing doors, slamming into the elevator wall, hard.
"That was fun." Nick quipped as he hit the button four the eighth floor.
"Tell me about it." Buffy shot back, massaging her sore shoulder.
The elevator shot up and soon after deposited them o the eighth floor. "Right near the chopper bay." Chris proclaimed as he glanced at his map. "Let's go."
They quickly made their way to the bay access terminal, glancing behind them for signs of pursuit, but finding none. Chris paused outside the hatch and motioned to Nick, catching the other mans eyes. He pointed two fingers at his eyes and then at the doorway. Nick nodded and stepped up to the hatch. Triggering the door, he stepped through, disappearing from sight. Buffy and Chris waited for a few moments for the sign that the coast was clear. It seemed to be taking too long though. Just when Chris was about to go charging in after him, Nick popped his head back out. "It's clear." The followed him through the antechamber and into the hanger.
The chamber was quite massive, as was evidenced by the four black hawk helicopters, and two smaller choppers that sat in the bay. One of the Hawks looked prepped and ready for launch as well as one of the smaller choppers, what appeared to be a civilian version of a Hewie. Equipment lay scattered around, suggesting that troops were gearing up for some operation, but the bay itself was empty, suggesting that all the soldiers were probably off looking for them.
Chris stepped forward. "Nick, go activate the hanger doors while I get the chopper ready for liftoff."
"Roger, Boss" Nick tossed off a mock salute as he hurried over to the bay door controls.
Buffy looked after him for a moment before turning to Chris "Isn't he a bit...."
"Annoying?" Chris supplied.
"Well I was going for something a bit more extreme but, yeah."
"Nicks had a rough time of it and that kinda made him a bit... What's the word?"
"Crazy?"
"I was actually thinking more like psychotic but crazy will work."
"Check."
"C'mon." Chris motioned to her. "Lets get that chopper ready. I want to get as far away from this place as possible."
Buffy started to voice her agreement but was stopped by a hideous sound coming from further on in the bay. It was a laugh, or at least some sick twisted version of one. She and Chris spun to confront whoever it was. Two figures slowly emerged from the shadows, both tall and of a good build. As they came into the light Buffy could make out a pair of dark sunglasses on the ones man's face, a blonde. The other man Buffy couldn't get a very good look at because he hung back, but there was something about him...
"Oh, I'm afraid you won't be going anywhere Chris." The blonde spoke in a strangely light tone. "You're been a naughty boy Redfield, you and your sister. Now you have to pay."
Buffy turned to Chris and saw him staring back at the man, a cold look on his face. He apparently seemed to know this guy. "Wesker." Chris seemed growl the name out and Buffy had little doubt that there was no love lost between them. "I thought I left you in Antarctica."
"I managed to escape that little incident, unharmed as you can see." Wesker grinned and Buffy's flesh crawled.
"How lucky for you." Redfield bit out, his eyed boring into the other man, hatred plainly visible on his face.
"I thought so."
"What do you want Wesker?"
The blond smiled lecherously. "I'm actually here on a mission of good will, partly anyway. I've come to reunite old friends." His eyes came to rest on Buffy and the slayer found herself very uncomfortable under his gaze, like she was being undressed, or dissected, piece by piece. "Buffy." Wesker spoke to her and Buffy was caught off guard by him knowing her name. "I have someone here you might remember."
With his words, the figure stepped forward, slowly the light washed over him, exposing his features. Chocolate brown eyes, dark hair, and that famous grin. The one she missed so much, now twisted into a sick parody of its former self.
Her tongue came out to moisten her suddenly dry lips, her heart beating so fast that she thought it might burst out of her rib cage. The name passed from between her lips in a strangled whisper, and with it the reality of everything hit like a ton of bricks, knocking the wind from her lungs. And Buffy Summers felt her world once again torn apart.
"Xander."
End part 8b
Next part: Buffy confronts the friend she thought long since lost. The stars try to escape the Umbrella facility and regroup with the others. Just what exactly did Buffy and Chris see that is so horrific, why is Xander working for Umbrella, and what the hell is faith doing in town? You'll find out if you read the next part. Oh yeah, and FEEEEEEDDDDDBBBBAAAAAACCCCCKKKKK!!!!!!!