By: Bloodlover
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Capcom, except for Emily Johnson, Donnie Martin and Richard Colt. Don´t steal them. Now on with the show!
February 10 1999 Outskirts of Umbrella HQ, Paris France
Two figures were moving silently in the shadows. They were Chris Refield and Claire Redfield, and they were about to enter a place of evil and death, namely the official head quarters of Umbrella. The real HQ was somewhere else and to find out where, they had to break into the official one. Claire shivered a bit, remembering the last time she´d been there.
Last time she got caught. That was not going to happen tonight, she would kill herself before she let that happen…
"You okay?"
It was her brother. He knew what this must be doing to her, yet she knew he admired her courage.
"Yes. I´m fine. How much time have we now?"
"Two hours. Two hours to find the coordinates in a place we don´t know anything about."
He caught her glare.
"Oh, I mean ALMOST anything about."
She smiled. "I remember some things from my last visit here. I didn´t got caught when I first entered the building. I was on my way out when they caught me."
"Sorry for doubting you, dear sister."
They laughed and moved on. Leon had given them two hours to complete their mission. Then they had to be at the rendevouz. Claire continued to brood.
Leon sure has resources! I wonder were he got all those contacts…? And why did he continue to avoid my questions about Sherry? Then again he could have been focusing on the mission, and so must I do. I trust Leon, I´m sure there is a reason….
"Claire! Look! There is the backdoor we were told about!"
It was a sturdy iron door ten meters away. Leon had told them that it was unlocked most of the time. The guards went out that way when they had downtime. If the door was locked they had to wait for a guard to come out.
"But you don´t have to wait too long. That´s also why you got two hours to go." Sure Leon. This is nothing. Mission Piece-a-cake…
"Hey! Who are you?! Hold it!"
It was a guard. Behind them. Claire turned around and fired. The bullet hit the guard right in the face and he died quickly. She had killed humans before. Even if she had had no choice, she still hated it. She felt empty.
Suddenly she heard Chris cry out. A second guard had sprung out of nowhere and was now heading for the door. She took aim but missed. Chris was hard on his heels, they couldn´t allow the guard to lock the door behind him. If that happened they were screwed two times over. He managed to catch the door before it locked.
"Hurry up!"
Claire hurried over to him just as he fired again after the guard. But he got away.
"Damn!" swore Chris.
"We really have to work fast now."
Both nodded and started to move.
February 10 1999 Umbrella HQ Paris, France
"Sir!"
Both Nicholai and Wesker turned as one to face the guard.
"Yes Hunk?" asked Nicholai.
"Chris Redfield and his sister has arrived."
Wesker chuckled. "I knew that Redfield would come sooner or later. Have the others showed up too?"
Hunk shook his head. "Negative sir."
"They will probably come later. Let´s deal with the ones we have." Said Nicholai.
Wesker nodded and turned to Hunk. "Hunk. I want you and Nicholai to give Redfield a warm welcome. Not to rough, I want them alive. Alive to face me." He chuckled again. Nicholai had to control himself to not to shiver. Why had he ever got in league with the monster…?
"Okay. Let´s move out."
Hunk and Nicholai started to go to the door. Nicholai got one final glance at Wesker who had turned to stare down at Jill. He didn´t envy the woman or her friends. Better to be the devil´s right hand than in his way… He closed the door behind him.
February 10 1999 Outskirts of Umbrella HQ Paris France
Carlos shivered a little where he went with the rest of the team, though he was sure it was more excitement than cold February weather. They were on a mission wirh a vengeance…
Maybe I get to meet Nicholai… It would be a pleasure, for me at least but not for him.
It wasn´t his style to think thoughts like that, he had never been bloodthirsty or screamed for revenge before. But Nicholai´s treachery and Raccoon City had changed that.
Suddenly Donnie spun around. "Halt! Someone is following us!"
All drew their weapons and pointed at the place at their pursuer´s persumed hiding place.
"Hold your fire!"
It was Barry. He took one step forward. "Identify yourself!"
"It´s me, Rebecca!"
A young, attractive woman stepped into their vision. "Sorry I scared you. I´m Rebecca Chambers and I was formerly of S.T.A.R.S Bravo team. I have done some covert ops in the HQ and I will show you the way in."
"Covert ops? But for who?" asked Carlos. He thought she looked like she was on their level but they couldn´t take any chances.
"Ummm… Before I left Raccoon Barry and I made up a plan. It was so secret that we promised we wouldn´t tell anyone."
"I have to apologize for not telling you this before at the base." Continued Barry when Richard darted a glance at him "But in Raccoon I guess all of us got somewhat paranoid, we had to plan a defense, but couldn´t risk that Umbrella would find out. If it is any consolation we didn´t even told Jill and Chris about it. Besides if Umbrella had the chance to intorrogate someone…"
"You´re right it sounds really paranoid!" said Donnie a bit angrily.
"Then again Martin you have never been in this kind of situation before, am I right?" asked Emily acidly and came to Barry´s defense.
"Ah sorry I didn´t thought about that. The situation still feels a bit unreal I guess." Replied Donnie a bit flustered.
"Then you better get used to this game. If you don´t it´s game over for your part." She turned to Barry. "Do you want to debrief her or something?"
Before Barry could answer Rebecca interrupted. "Actually there is something we have to talk about. If you excuse us…?"
Emily nodded. Carlos smirked at her.
"For such a fine lady I excuse you for everything."
Emily rolled her eyes. "Dear, if you´re smart you ignore this guy. He doesn´t seem to even WANT to grow up!"
Rebecca smiled "I´ll keep that in mind." and they went into the woods. Barry cleared his throat. "Okay Rebecca. This is something REALLY serious right?"
She nodded and turned a bit pale. "Yes and it will sound totally crazy. I still can´t believe I saw it… I first thought I was crazy or that my eyes lied to me. But I was inside the HQ pretty long and even if I never saw anything of REAL importance, I managed to even go into the parts of the buildning where normal employees never go to. I was very careful. Barry… I saw… I saw Wesker."
He felt his heart stop. "Are you sure. He is dead Chris told us…"
"I know that! He told me Wesker got killed by Tyrant he got skewered right through his stomach, there is no WAY he could have survived that. But I saw him, heard him like five-six times. I´m never going to forget or forgive that creep. He seems to work with Umbrella, or at least with someone inside Umbrella. A tall whitehaired guy. I never heard his name though…"
"It´s okay Rebecca and I believe you when you said you saw Wesker. But how…?"
In the moonlight Rebecca´s face seemed more pale than it already was. "Somehow he did survive. And that means he must be more dangerous than ever before…."
February 10 1999 Inside Umbrella HQ Paris, France
Chris and Claire moved fast. They had had more luck now, they were on their way to the control room where they were supposed to find the coordinates that they needed. They hadn´t encountered any big Umbrella soldier troops, and if they just could find the coordinates fast enough, they should be able to get out.
"There it is! Inside that room! Hopefully the coordinates will really be there." Said Chris quickly but clear. "Claire I want you to cover me, warn me if anyone comes."
Claire nodded and Chris grabbed the handle, tried to open it. It was locked.
"Shit! It´s locked!"
"Wait, I can open simple locks with this lockpick." She answered, showing him a lockpick she had just taken out of her breastpocket on her vest.
Chris raised an eyebrow. "How did you learn THAT art?"
Claire smirked at him. "You don´t want to know. Just watch out for me okay?"
Chris nodded and watched their backs. But suddenly he must have dropped his attention, because a tall, whitehaired soldier shot at them. Before he could warn his sister a shot rang out. Claire screamed and clutched at her wounded arm.
"My arm!"
Chris thought fast. Someone had to stay and watch the door. Claire could use the door as cover while he searched the office…
"Claire, I want you to cover our backs. Use the door as cover, I´m going to search the office. Here, press this against the wound." He handed her a package of mixed green herbs, being thankful that the wound wasn´t too serious or they had to use one of their rare first-aid sprays. "I´ll be back in ten!"
Claire smiled weakly but pointed her gun at the corridor while he darted into the room. Chris felt bad, not only had he dragged his sister into this mess, his sloppiness had gotten her wounded too… I have to be quick! Let´s see it should be here… somewhere… Yes here it is!
"I´ve found it Claire! Let´s get out of here!" he said excitedly as he came out of the room.
"You´re not going anywhere."
Both Chris and Claire spun around fast. Both hated the man who had now spoken to them. Ten feet away the corridor from which they had come stood Wesker. Claire took aim at him with hatred in her eyes.
"What is HE doing here?! What happened to Steve?!"
"I wonder the same thing too Claire." Replied Chris sternly. "Wesker what the hell are you doing here? You don´t work for Umbrella anymore. And what happened to Steve? And your facewound seems to have healed. "
Wesker chuckled and grinned. " First things first. And don´t comment on my face. "His face disappeared for a short time but returned fast. "No I don´t work for Umbrella, I´m merely helping some of them. That is the ones who can help me in turn."
Chris snorted with disgust. "It´s so typical of you Wesker. Why am I not surprised? And why are you´re speaking with us now. I thought you hated me."
"I hate you Chris, I hate all who oppose me, but especially you. But you´re not the only person whom I like to see dead."
Chris frowned, puzzled but a little scared. What does he mean? "What are you getting at Wesker?"
"Take a look at this."
Wesker reached inside his jumpsuit, took out something and threw it so it landed right at Chris´s feet. He reached down and picked it up. His heart froze. It was his old knife, the one which he had lost in a battle at his old hideout. What did all of this mean?
"Where did you get this knife?" His gut told him that this was a bad omen, but he couldn´t for his life understand what this meant.
"I took it from your little friend Jill Valentine."
Claire gasped. Chris himself felt dread, fear and hatred rise inside of him. "What have you done to Jill?! Where is she?! Answer me you bastard!"
"Cool down Chris. And don´t call me names I hate that. If you want to know what I have done to Jill you have to come over to the Testing Zone. Here is a map." Wesker tossed over a map, Chris picked it up numbly. "And by the way Chris I´d hurry if I were you… See you soon. For Jill´s sake I hope. And watch your back. Like I said in Antarcia you better don´t counting on having another lucky day."
With that Wesker blurred and flew down the other corridor, leaving the Redfields stunned. Chris just stood there for a moment, then he punched the wall hard. Claire was at a loss what she should do. She knew that Wesker could be lying, but what if he didn´t? They couldn´t just leave Jill, Chris would never forgive himself then. There was only one thing they could do. The RIGHT thing to do. She placed her right hand on her brother´s right shoulder. He pulled himself together. He grabbed her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. His eyes looked tired and defeated.
"Claire, I´m sorry I got you involved in this. I know this is a trap Wesker has set up. But I can´t turn away from this, Jill may die if I do. I won´t put you in danger, so I want you to go to our meeting place and escape with Leon."
"No way Chris!"
"What?"
Claire snorted angrily. "I said no fucking way! I´m going with you." He started to say something but she held up her hand, stopping him. "I know this is a trap, but I also know that you´re going to save this Jill, whom you have talked so much about. And I´m only guessing now, but it looks to me like you two had something going on back in Raccoon. I lost Steve and it nearly crushed me. I don´t even now if he survived or if he is alive. If Jill dies then I know you will be crushed. Since I love you , you´re my brother after all, there is no way I´m letting you experience that. Besides since this is a trap you´re going to need someone watching your back and that´s my job."
"Thank you Claire. I just hope she´s still alive…"
Claire punched him lightly. "Don´t even THINK that way! Wesker needs her alive. There is still time!" They looked at the map. "I think it´s down that corridor, let´s go!"
They ran down the corridor, grimly determined to save Jill…
February 10 1999 U.S Goverment battle helicopter
Leon heard the radio beep and picked it up. Probably Claire or her brother, but they still have plenty of time left hope nothing has happened… "Kennedy here. Over."
"Leon you are there, good this is Claire. We have the coordinates, but we encountered several soldiers, it looks like they knew we were coming. It must have been a trap! Over."
Dread filled Leon but he forced his voice to be strong and calm like he learned while training to be a cop. "I heard that Claire. Get over to the meeting place…"
"There is more. We encountered Wesker, an old enemy. He says he got someone named Jill Valentine, someone my brother worked with in Raccoon City. We are going in to save her. Over."
Leon cursed silently. His team were moving in a surprise attack and he was forbidden to talk about it. He had to get them to withdraw. "Claire, listen. I want you two to withdraw…"
Claire responded angrily. "What?! And leave Jill to Wesker´s mercy?! No way! Just wait for us! Over and out!"
"Wait Claire!" But it was too late, she had already hung up. Leon cursed again. Damn her! Why doesn´t she EVER listens to what I tell her?! Everyone always ignore what I say. Well I hope my men will listen to and follow my orders, for all our sakes. Leon looked around, watching his team getting ready in the chopper. They were all professionals, they were the best according to his boss. For our sakes they better be. Or we will all be lost…
February 10 1999 Outskirts of Umbrella HQ Paris, France
"There is something wrong." said Rebecca. The others stopped.
"What is it? Did something happen?" Donnie sounded a bit worried. He hadn´t been himself since Emily´s scolding. He looked more serious and more alert. Carlos thought it was good. That meant he finally knew what odds they had, what they were up against, and therefore had his chances at survival risen.
"Didn´t you hear that? It sounded like gunfire or mobilization. We better near with caution."
What could this meen? A trap, were our suspictions right? If it is a trap, who has got caught? We can´t ignore this but it seems our chances have decreased.
"Move out, but slowly." hissed Emily grimly and the others followed.
February 10 1999 Umbrella HQ Paris, France
Chris and Claire walked silently down the corridor. They had finally met their destination, the Testing Zone, they were also going into a trap. They had to be very cautionous.
Claire moved to the door and looked at Chris. He nodded and she opened it. The door went up almost without a sound. Chris went in first and Claire followed, both had their weapons drawn.
The room itself was small and looked like a controlroom. A controltable was to their right with a door next to it. To their left were a shelf with papers on it. Wesker stood in the middle of the room with his arms crossed, he greeted them with a smile.
"Welcome Chris. And you too Claire."
Both Redfields spoke at the same time. "Where is she?" asked Chris, eyes flaming.
"Where is he? Did he survive?" asked Claire with a similar glare in her eyes.
Wesker smirked. "Regarding Steve I don´t know for sure at this time. But you…" He shifted his eyes to Chris whom were about to explode. "You asked for Jill and I´ll give you Jill. Here she is. Look through the window to your right.
They did and saw the Testing Zone, it looked like some kind of footballplane. At the bottom they saw the same whitehaired soldier, who had ambushed them before, drag a half unconscious Jill like she was some kind of garbage. Chris´s hatred rose with high speed to see someone treat Jill that way. When he saw that she was tied up, her hands before her, he was pushed to the limit. He pointed his gun at Wesker. "What did you do to her you monster?!"
Wesker waved his hand. "Put that gun away Chris. Or…." He didn´t need to finish the line, they understood the threat. Chris disarmed and motioned to Claire to do the same. She obeyed, but her glare never left Wesker.
"Okay Wesker, I´ve done what you said. Now let Jill and my sister go."
"Chris, Chris if it all was so simple." The whitehaired soldier had quickly left the area and a door slid down behind him. "In fact I have planned a little game for you. If you push this button" he motioned at a little red one "this door will open and you can get down there to save Jill." He gestured to the door to his left. He continued. "But you better hurry because a pack of hungry Hunters are on their way to be fed. Guess who is the dinner? And she cannot fight for herself…"
Claire couldn´t control herself any more. "I won´t let you hurt my brother or Jill!" She dove and caught her gun. Before anyone could react she fired a shot at Wesker. He dodged with terrifying ease and escaped through a door behind him. Claire swore.
"Don´t worry Claire, it´ll all be fine." Chris now seemed deadly calm, like a profesional soldier. He spoke fast but clearly. "I´m going to save Jill. Claire I want you to search this shelf, try to find a map so we can find another escape route. Since this was obiviously a set-up our old one must be guarded by now and no longer safe. I´ll be back soon." He flashed a smile at her. "You know I always keep my promises." He pushed the button and the door opened. Chris ran through it and disappeared down the decending stairs Claire could see through the door. The door closed behind him and she wished him luck while going to the shelf.
To be continued!!!!
Authour´s notes: I hope the tension is high now! Will Chris save Jill? Will they all survive this big battle that are undoubtly around the corner? See for yourself in the next part!
Oh and what do you think of Emily and her team? I will try to flesh them out some more in the next part, but give me your opinions please.