Chapter 3: The First Encounter
Jill looked out the window of the chopper, with a pair of binoculars in her hand. Chris was using night vision goggles, and the others were looking out the windows. Brad was talking to someone, probably either Chief Irons or someone else from HQ. He seemed slightly agitated.
"Chris, haven't you found them yet?" he said tiredly.
"No Brad, not yet," Chris shook his head and continued to look out the window. Jill tapped him suddenly.
"Look, Chris!"
Jill pointed out the window at a pillar of smoke rising out of the trees a little way away. Chris pointed it out to Brad. The pilot turned the searchlight on it and they could see it was a crumpled helicopter. He quickly turned the chopper and flew towards it, landing in a clearing outside some sort of mansion. Joseph, Jill, Chris, Rachelle, Barry and Wesker got out of the helicopter and approached the smouldering wreck of Bravo Team's chopper.
"I'll go take a look," Joseph offered, and stepped up into the wreck. Rachelle shivered and looked around.
"There's no one here."
"Maybe they went to wait in that mansion over there?" Jill suggested to them, and they shrugged. Wesker was panning a flashlight over some nearby bushes.
"Oh my God!" Joseph came hurtling out of the chopper, his hand to his mouth. He stopped and bent over, his head between his knees as the others rushed over to him. Rachelle gently patted his pack.
"What's up, Joe? What did you see?"
"Kevin," he rasped, panting. "Kevin's in there. Mauled! Covered in animal wounds!"
"Was there anyone else?" Wesker asked from where he was kicking through the grass, disturbingly nonplussed about the issue. Joseph shook his head, too shocked to notice his indifference.
"No," he replied. "No one. Nothing was left either. Like they'd packed up and gone. The radio was still there… but a whole heap of C4 was missing."
"The canisters?"
"Yeah. Something got him, I swear. Go and have a look for yourself."
Rachelle took a breath and stepped up into the chopper. Soon after, she reappeared, ashen-faced.
"He's right… Something's gone wrong. Where're the others?"
"Let's take a look around," Jill somberly suggested. "They may be… around."
"In utter black humor," Rachelle began morbidly, "so was Kevin."
"Stay tight," Wesker warned as they began to fan out into the brush. "We don't want anyone being picked off."
Rachelle sidled up near Joseph, waving her torch in an arc through the trees ahead.
"Wesker's acting way too cool about all this."
"It's his job," was the reply as he turned backwards and shone his light around through the grass. Rachelle furrowed her brow and notched her gun barrel over her wrist that held the torch.
"Maybe so, but he doesn't even seem to care."
"Wesker's not any good at showing emotion."
"Except anger, contempt and sarcasm," she returned disdainfully. Joseph chanced a laugh and then fell silent. Rachelle became alert as he whirred around in his tracks. She'd heard it as well. A low growl. Then nothing.
"Probably just a wolf," Rachelle started. Then it happened. A huge yammering form leapt out of the brush at her, but at the last moment Joseph slammed into her and sent her flying. Instead the beast went for him. Four of them. Dogs with flesh rotting from their very bones. One lone runt had seized her by the wrist, and she slammed her hand down on the back of its neck, snapping it. The dog fell away. But Joseph could not overpower his outnumbering attackers. They took Joseph down in second and he ceased to move, to scream. Jill had already emptied a clip into them.
Rachelle jumped to her feet as one dog came running for Jill. It flew out of the air as it hit a bullet fired by Chris, who wasted little time in getting Jill to her feet and dragging her along behind him. Together they ran ahead of the dog to the mansion Brad had landed the chopper in front of. But he wasn't there anymore, and they saw him fly overhead as they ran.
"Where the hell does he think he's going?" Chris exclaimed and Rachelle looked up too.
"Bastard!" she cried out. "I'll kill him! I'll murder the shit!"
They staggered up the front steps of the mansion, praying that the doors were unlocked. Wesker reached them first and threw open the doors, holding them open as they all ran in. Barry was last through. Wesker slammed the heavy doors on the gaining snouts of the mutts, and there was silence.
Rebecca pushed open the door slowly, and slammed it shut again quickly. She stood with her back to the door, with a frightened look on her face. Danielle looked at her.
"What's wrong?"
Rebecca stood there for a moment, and shook her head clearingly.
"Oh, that's gross, there are all these creatures in there, they look like humans, but well, you take a look."
Enrico opened the door a crack, took a look inside, and quietly closed the door.
"Whatever the hell those things are, they're really in the way. Girls, you hang back here with Forest. Kenneth, Richard, you and me'll take these freaks out."
They nodded and the three men disappeared through the door. Forest crossed his arms and looked around the dusty balcony.
"This is totally screwed," he muttered. Rebecca and Danielle agreed, listening to the gunshots from the next room. Danielle sighed.
"Sounds like they're having fun."
"You have a queer idea of fun," Forest smirked at her.
"Fun is where you're utterly enjoying yourself. Now I find venting my own anger and frustration on moving things fun."
Rebecca smiled. "At least we're not all alone now."
"You're right."
Forest turned a little, and as he moved, something jangled. Danielle looked him up and down, crossing her arms.
"You brought the C4."
"Yeah, so?"
"Why the hell did you bring the C4 into a place like this?"
"Thought we might need it."
"You're a dick," Danielle shook her head. "What happens if you get shot or if you take a death plunge, or if something stupid bites one of those canisters?"
"Well, it won't bite me again."
"I may understand your bringing them, but why the hell are you wearing them as a bullet belt?"
"Easy access," he replied, looking at the canisters. Danielle smacked the side of his head.
"Dickhead! Take the bloody things off!"
"And put them where?" he asked in reply.
"Leave them here," she answered and untied the top strap. He rolled his eyes and let her take the explosives.
"You're such a fuckhead Forest," she muttered and put them on a high shelf along the wall. She picked up a pretty dagger that was resting on the bottom shelf. She walked back over and cut the bottom strap. "These are more dangerous than you if you had half a goddamn brain."
After putting the second lot of C4 with the first, Danielle came back over to them. Forest didn't look in the least impressed.
"You can be a real bitch sometimes, Danielle."
"Look, if you think about it logically—"
Just as she was finishing, Enrico, Richard and Kenneth came back in. They were smiling.
"Road's clear," Kenneth grinned. Forest walked forward and put his hand on the door handle. But as he did, it moved. The door flew open. Lunging right at Forest from behind the door was a fierce zombie. It's fingers had grown claws and its skin had turned a deep crimson red, and it grabbed Forest and dragged him to the ground, burying its teeth in his shoulder. Forest's cries echoed in the empty hall as the others dragged at the powerful monster, trying to get it away from him. At first Forest's vest had withstood the monster's teeth, but it amended this by tearing the shoulder clear and tearing into him. Danielle sprang at it, grabbing the head and ripping up. The neck snapped back at an impossible angle and the creature fell limp. They pulled it away from their comrade, moaning in pain and blood thick on his shoulder. Enrico and Richard took an end each and lifted him up.
"There's a safe room downstairs through that door," Enrico motioned with his head to the open door swinging on its hinges. "Let's get him in there. Then you can take a look and see what you can do, okay Rebecca?"
The girl nodded and they ran down the stairs into the corridor below, past the other bodies of the monsters they'd already killed. Kenneth tried the door. It was locked.
"It must've locked behind us…"
"Move," Danielle shoved him out of the way, and set her shoulder against the door, ramming into it with a fearsome strength.
"What are you doing?" Rebecca asked, as Danielle rammed the door again. She stopped for a moment and looked at her.
"Opening the door."
She gave it one more, and the latch splintered, the door flung open. Danielle waved her hand at the door, leading the way in. Inside were a large box, some shelves with serums and vaccines and medical supplies on them, and a bed upon which they laid the groaning Forest. Danielle inspected the broken latch, and straightened the wood on the door. Rebecca wasted no time in checking Forest's wounds.
"You're relentless, Danielle."
She looked up from the job she was doing of blocking the door. Enrico stood there, bearing a dark expression. Danielle shrugged.
"I was taught to expect the unexpected and blow off its head when it comes. How's Forest?"
"He's been better. Rebecca's doing what she can."
"Help me with this?" she asked, motioning to the box. He nodded and helped her shove it in front of the busted door.
"You shouldn't be on the S.F.S. You should be in S.T.A.R.S."
Danielle smiled. "I'm fine where I am, Enrico. Trust me."
Forest cried out from over on the bed. Rebecca was doing her best to treat him. Enrico shook his head.
"Let's just hope he'll be fine."
"Forest's good," Danielle assured. "I think he'll be fine."
"Do you think those monsters were people once?"
"I think it's obvious they were."
"The people who lived here?"
Danielle shrugged. "I guess it's possible. But I don't know how it might be that way. I'm praying that it's not a disease."
"So we don't catch it?"
"Well, what if Forest does?"
Enrico looked at him. "I never considered that. We should keep a close eye on him, Danielle."
"My thoughts exactly."
"I have an idea. Why don't a few of us keep searching the mansion and some of us stay here with Forest? We can't all stay here, we're sitting ducks."
"I'm staying," Danielle replied. "And Rebecca will need to as well. You Kenneth and Richard go."
"I'll leave Kenneth here as extra backup in case something happens. Richard and me will go. And hey," he lightly smacked her ear. She realised suddenly that he had in fact patted the earpiece of her headset radio, the one she'd forgotten she was wearing. "If you need us, call us up."
"Vice versa too," she replied with a nod and switched it on. Enrico turned to Richard.
"Aitken, come with me. O'Sullivan, stay here with Danielle and Rebecca. Watch them and keep a close eye on Speyer. We're going to see if we can find a radio, or some intelligent help that might be able to tell us what the hell is going on in this madhouse."
Richard soundlessly followed his captain out of the room. Danielle shoved the box back into place after they'd left. Kenneth shook his head.
"He was right after all, I guess," Kenneth admitted. "If we'd split up, we'd be easy targets. I should've made sure they were dead."
"It's not your fault," Danielle replied. "So don't get caught up on it."
She walked over and stood above Rebecca's shoulder as she finished dressing the wound. Forest looked up at her.
"You know… if I had've been wearing that C4, we would've gone bang," he laughed slightly. "But fuck almighty, I've never been bitten so hard. He took a whole friggin' chunk out of me."
"Just rest," Rebecca said. "We should be right where we are. For now at least."
"Hey, I heard you and Enrico talking," Forest looked up at Danielle again. "What you said about those things. Am I… am I going to turn into one of them?"
"I hope not," Danielle smiled, and added to keep him in good spirits, "Besides. If you did, you'd be the best looking zombie in the whole mansion."
He laughed. So did the other two.
"I'd have them all jealous, huh?"
"Heh, yeah. I'd let you eat me any day."
They erupted into laughter that they quickly silenced for the sake of secrecy. Forest grinned and looked away for a moment.
"Thanks Dani. I feel a lot better now. You sure do know how to cheer someone up."
"You're alright," she smiled. "The last thing we need is low spirits. Even if it does mean the necessity of risqué comments."
Danielle slumped against the door and sighed. Rebecca sat on the floor in a melancholy attitude, staring into space and sighing. Forest was sleeping off the pain of his injury thanks to a shot of morphine, and Kenneth was sitting on a desk fiddling with his gun.
They had been through the entire contents of the chest in the corner of the small room they had found temporary sanctuary in, but who knew how long that would last. Danielle sank to the floor, and banged her head against the wood. Rebecca looked up at her.
"Well, you were right, there certainly are more monsters. We probably would have stood more of a chance outside than in this house. At least there was only an amount of those mutts out there, there seems to be an endless supply of monsters in here."
Danielle nodded. "And to think that most of them were human. What happened here? The company wouldn't just let their scientists go to pot like this."
Rebecca shrugged. "I don't know. But I do know one thing, we can't stay here forever. By the way, what is this 'company'?"
"Umbrella. I said before, Spencer works for Umbrella. This place belongs to him. It's also used as a research facility. Look at all those pharmaceuticals. They're all made by Umbrella. It doesn't take much to put two and two together and work it out."
"So you think that Umbrella has something to do with this?"
"Must do. But as for what, I have no idea," she walked over to the bed and sat on the edge, resting a hand on Forest's forehead. "He has a fever. That's not good."
Rebecca came over to confirm what she'd said. Kenneth looked up too. Rebecca frowned.
"But why? He was only bitten, wasn't he? Forest," she shook him hard to wake him up. "Forest wake up. Forest. Forest."
After a moment he stirred and mumbled something inaudible.
"Forest wake up," Danielle commanded, and he opened one eye.
"I feel sick…" his face was pale as a sheet, but his cheeks were flushed bright pink. He did look very sick. Sweat was thick on his forehead and his dark hair stuck to it.
"Damn, Forest you look like shit," Kenneth shook his head. He didn't answer, but groaned as Rebecca gave him a shot of something.
"It's a painkiller," she said. "It may help."
As she pulled the needle out he leaned over the side of the bed, throwing up. Danielle frowned and turned on her radio.
"Danielle to Enrico, over. Enrico, Richard, are you out there?"
The radio crackled in her ear. "This is Enrico, we hear you, over."
"Where are you? Over."
"In a corridor on the east side of the house. First floor. Are you still in the medical room? Over."
"Yeah, look, I don't know how important it is, but Forest's taken a turn for the worse. I think you should come take a look. Over."
"We're not medical officers, Danielle, Rebecca's there, she knows how—"
"I know Enrico," Danielle cut him off. "But one of your men is very, very sick. More than likely it has something to do with the bite."
There was silence for a long time on the other end.
"Leave him," Enrico eventually mumbled. "Take Rebecca and Kenneth and leave him there. He's dead already."
"I can't do that, Enrico."
"Listen to me, Danielle," he answered, almost inaudible beyond the static hiss of the radio. "We found some information. Those zombies… they're the effect of a virus that leaked out here. They become cannibalistic. The virus is transmitted through a few means, and one is a bite. Nausea, blackouts, fever… they're all symptoms. Either leave him when he does black out, or kill him. A shot through the head or intense trauma to the neck will be all you need. It's up to you. Do you want him to become one of those things? Because I know what I would do. And Forest Speyer is a man I respect as a colleague and friend. Trust me Danielle. He's better off being put out of his misery now."
"Is there no way to reverse it?" she asked in a subdued tone, aware that she now had all their eyes on her.
"Not one that we know of or can get a hold of in time to save him."
"I can't do it, Enrico… I… I don't have the courage to do that to a friend… even if it is for his sake."
"Then get Kenneth to do it."
"This isn't some responsibility that can be shirked!" Danielle cried. "I understand where you're getting at, but you don't have to be so cold about it!"
"I'm sorry," Enrico replied calmly. "But it's taking me all I can to not lose my composure too. Believe me Danielle, it's a big loss to me."
"Over and out," she mumbled quietly and turned off the radio. Rebecca and Kenneth were waiting to hear everything. She waved to them and called them into the far corner.
"What's going on?" Kenneth asked. "What did Enrico say?"
"He said… that Forest's going to turn into one of those things. They found out what went on here. They know what happened to all those people. They became zombies. And Forest is on his way to joining them."
"Isn't there a way to stop it?" Rebecca asked. Danielle shook her head.
"Enrico gave us two choices. We can just leave him, or we can… kill him now."
Kenneth and Rebecca looked at each other then back at Danielle. Kenneth showed his gun.
"He's hurtin' right? Forest's my friend, man. I'll do it."
"No, wait," Danielle stopped him. "Let me. Please Kenneth."
"Didn't you tell Enrico that you couldn't do it?"
"I… can," she shook her head. "I was a bitch to him before… I feel bad. Please Kenneth? Your gun?"
"Don't you have one?"
"It has an electric aftercharge enough to blow a hole in an elephant the width of Iron's waist."
Kenneth slowly handed her his gun. "I'm sorry this has to happen."
"I know. Will you and Rebecca wait outside?"
"Sure. Come on 'Becca."
They shoved the box out of the way and closed the door quietly. Danielle waited a moment then walked over.
"Forest?"
He looked up, smoky eyed. "Dani? My sight's going fuzzy…. What the hell's happening to me?"
"Um… it's hard to explain it in a way that might make it seem… Forest, you're becoming one of those creatures. Enrico told me how it happens on the radio just before. There's no way to reverse it."
"I see… what else did he say?"
"There's no way to reverse it, but there is a way to stop it… and either way… you're going to die."
He struggled to sit up. "I don't want to end up that way," he reasoned, and nodded to Kenneth's gun. "I take it you were going to shoot me?"
"Unless you don't want me to."
"I want you to."
"Forest, sorry for being a bitch before."
"You're forgiven. I was a dick."
"See you on the other side?"
"Don't hurry," he smiled a charming smile that he was almost known for. "Is this Umbrella's fault?"
"I think so."
"Do me a favour… kill Spencer."
"You got it."
He grabbed her free hand in a strong grip and smiled, nodding resolutely. His palm was sweaty, but she didn't care, this was it.
"Okay, I'm ready. Do it."
"Just one more thing," she leaned forward and kissed him lightly. "Goodbye."
"Send my regards to Mister Spencer."
Danielle lifted the gun and held it to his head. He closed his eyes and she also looked away. And she pulled the trigger. The echo of the gunshot rang loud in the silent house. His hand went limp, and he dropped back to the bed. Forest was dead. Danielle stood up and wiped a tear from her eye. For the sheer sake of it, she pulled the bed-sheet over to cover him and then without looking back, left the room. Kenneth and Rebecca were standing outside, Kenneth with his arms crossed and Rebecca looking at the floor. Danielle silently handed Kenneth his gun.
"He alright now?" he asked. She nodded.
"It's what he wanted, too."
"That's good. As long as he's alright now."
"Let's not linger here," Danielle replied quietly, and they started walking, back up to the balcony above the dining room. "We need to meet Enrico and Richard."
"Where?"
"Hold on, I'll ask," she answered, willing to do anything to take her mind off what she'd just done. She adjusted the set. "Danielle to Enrico."
"Enrico to Danielle, what happened? You just signed off on me."
"I did it, Enrico. Forest is dead. It's what he wanted."
"I'm… sorry. We'll rendezvous in the main hall. We can discuss things there."
"Alright. Over and out," Danielle looked up at her two companions. "Enrico and Richard are on their way. They'll meet us in the main hall."
"Alright let's go," Kenneth said, and led the way. When they found themselves on the second floor banister of the main hall, Enrico and Richard were already there. They had been in a room just off it. Enrico's face showed that Forest's demise had struck a blow Danielle hadn't perceived over the radio. Richard was subdued also.
"Did he say anything?" was the first thing he said to her.
"I told him we'd get Umbrella back for this."
"And so we will then," Enrico nodded. "But we can't pause to mourn him yet… we have to find a way out of here. We've still had no luck finding a radio. Come on, Richard and I found a room we couldn't quite get into. Danielle, we may need your expertise with opening doors."
She nodded and they set off to the east side of the mansion. Enrico led them through a door into a dark hallway, and then into a musty one. After that into a small t-shaped hall with a cobwebbed door at the top of a set of stairs at the end. This one Enrico pointed to.
"Reckon you can take that one?"
"Anything to take my mind off things," she replied, and rammed the door. It was so old that the lock and several of the panels splintered from the force, and she literally stumbled into the attic room. Enrico grabbed her by the waist before she could go face-first into a pile of white dust. She managed a laugh.
"Piece of shit door, huh?"
"Heh, yeah."
Richard looked around. "I don't think we'll find a radio in here."
"Uh-uh," Kenneth agreed. Rebecca walked further into the room, and sneezed.
"This place is dustier than Grandma's attic."
A low hiss startled them to silence. A sliding sound, and a breeze. Kenneth walked over near Rebecca.
"I think we should get out of here."
"I think you're right."
Suddenly Richard screamed, fracturing the silence. He was sprawled on his back on the floor; blood oozing out of a huge wound on his arm. Looming above was a gargantuous snake, like an asp covered in pink boils. It hissed, venom dripping from its huge fangs. They started shooting at it, aiming to get it away from Richard. The reptile's attention was drawn, and as Danielle paused to charge an electric shot from her custom gun, a humming sounded, and then a single shot hit the snake and blood splattered, sparks crackling around. In rage and pain the creature disappeared through a hole in the roof. Together they lifted Richard and ran out into the dusty corridor, laying him down. Rebecca leaned over him.
"That snake had poison simply dripping off its teeth. But back in the room where we brought Forest, there were antivenins. I'm sure those serums will work."
Enrico stood up. "Danielle, Kenneth, if you would?"
They stood up, and wordlessly ran out of the room.
Kenneth laid a hand on the handle of the broken door. "I don't really wanna go in there."
"Come on, Kenneth, Richard needs that serum."
"Alright, I'll go in and grab it. You stay here."
"Kenneth," Danielle looked at him. "For the love of God don't touch him."
"I'll get the stuff and go, okay?"
"Alright."
Kenneth slipped through the door and disappeared. Danielle waited for him outside, glancing down at a zombie lying on the ground by some crates. Completely without reason, she strode over and shot it in the head. Just after she'd done it, Kenneth ran back out and quietly closed the door. He shook his head with a sigh.
"Just being in there gave me the willies. Let's go."
"No," she replied, looking at him. He stared.
"What are you talking about?"
"You take the serum back to Richard, okay? I'm going to go by myself. I can't deal with this. First Kevin and Dewey, then Forest… besides. I heard a helicopter before. Maybe the Alpha team is here. Go by the main hall. They may be there."
"What about you?"
"I want to find out everything I can about this place and why it all happened. I promised Forest I'd get to the bottom of it for him."
"Was there something I overlooked between you both?" Kenneth asked suspiciously. Danielle smiled and shook her head.
"No. We were just good friends. But I tend to get emotional. And I always honour a friends' last request."
"Good on you. I'm glad it's you doing this for him. To let you in on a little secret, he really did like you. He was playing around to cover it. But hey, I feel better now it's in your hands," he reached out and clasped her hand in a determined resolution. "Good luck on your quest, Dani. See you at the end."
"If I end up with Forest, Dewey and Kevin… I'll see you there."
"I'll beat you there gorgeous," Kenneth joked. "Life's just too short these days."
"Is not," she joked back. "It's the longest goddamn thing you'll ever do!"
With that, they parted ways.
Danielle peered cautiously around the corner of the hallway, only to see that about five of the zombies were blocking the way. From where she was, she could get a clean, unobstructed shot at all five. In a few shots, she had them all down. As she walked past, a piece of paper on the twitching body of one of the zombies caught her eye. Picking it up and reading it, she gaped in horror. It read:
.......The T-Virus experiments had been going according to plan. However, within this past week, several accidents have occurred that threaten our survival. No one has been permitted to leave the facility since the outbreak occurred. The monsters we have created; the Hunters, Cerberus dogs, Neptunes and B.O.W.s, some have escaped and are causing problems around the laboratory.
So far, the only specimen that hasn't even threatened to escape is the Tyrant. All measures are being taken to ensure that this B.O.W. does NOT escape its specimen tank. Many of the scientists have been infected or already died. According to what I've been told, they get back up and walk as mindless, flesh-eating zombies.
But I have discovered that I am infected. There is nothing that I can do to counteract the virus. I will lose consciousness in only a few more days they say. I don't want to become the living dead! I plan to finish this before then........
.......Someone came to see me today. I didn't know him, and he didn't have any clearance. But I let him pass anyway when he offered me a vaccine to the virus. Where he got it don't know, only that it worked and I no longer stand a chance of re-infection. I think I recognised him. But I won't tell them. I'm opposing them now. I'll get back at them by releasing the Tyrant.......
Danielle dropped the paper on the ground, shaking her head.
"I can't believe it. This is horrible. They created the monsters on purpose?! I can't believe that Richard.....But wait...Richard was here. Oh God....I hope he's alright."
A sudden thought occurring to her, she picked it back up, reading on a little bit more until she found the author of the letter. Startled by her discovery, she checked the zombie's body, and was relieved to see that it wasn't who she thought it was.
"Obviously this guy must have found his letter and was on his way to report it when they got him. I hope Richard's alright. He didn't sound like he was in a good state of mind at the time."
Her radio beeped. Startled and assuming it would be Enrico to lecture her about running off, she turned it on.
"This is Brad. S.T.A.R.S. Alpha team, do you read? Alpha team, Bravo team, it doesn't matter. Just please, someone give me a sign."
"Danielle to Brad," she started quickly. "Can you hear me?"
"Danielle! Christ almighty, I was worried sick! Is anyone else with you?"
"No," she felt despair well up by the fact that she was alone. "I was with the rest of Bravo team until a little while ago."
"Dani, this is important. Where are they now?"
"Last I know I left Kenneth to take a serum to Enrico, Rebecca and Richard for a snakebite. Kevin and Dewey died before we got here…"
"What about Forest?"
"I'll… I'd rather not talk about Forest right now. It's a sore subject."
"Have you seen any of the Alpha team?"
"Not one of them."
"Dammit. Look, try and get into a clear area. I'll come and get you. If you see anyone on the way, grab them, alright?"
"You got it."
"Over and out."
"Danielle to Enrico," she tried. "Enrico, are you out there?"
She tired a few more times, but after a while the only reply she got was from Brad.
"I've tried the others too. I think their radio must be broken. Just try and get out of the house."
Danielle ran through the next few corridors, ducking away from the zombies. She didn't stop running until she found herself out in a garden path. There were dogs; the Cerberus dogs, on the other side of the low fence. She aimed her gun at the first one and shot it clean between the eyes. Another came running up the path towards her, and she shot it, sending it flying. It lay for a moment, before getting back up. She shot it again, and it stayed down, lying in a pool of its own blood. Climbing the small fence, she walked through the shrubs, and if it weren't for the fence blocking the way, she may have wandered right off the edge of a long drop to a concrete surface probably 15 or so feet below her.
Danielle kneeled down and looked over the edge. The wall had several small juts scattered down the side, and she concluded that she could scale it quite easily. Swinging herself carefully over the railing, she backed down the wall, anxiously feeling for the foot and handholds below her. About five feet from the bottom, she ran out of ledges and let go, dropping lightly to the ground. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she suddenly froze, and turned around slowly. Three Cerberus dogs had cornered her, and were slowly circling, lowering their heads and snarling menacingly. Danielle backed right up to wall.
She could shoot them, but she could hear others in the background, and knew that they would be on top of her before she could draw her gun. Suddenly she heard something promising. Looking up, she saw the glow of a helicopter's searchlight over the top of the ledge she had come down from, and suddenly remembered the headset. She switched it on and adjusted it.
"Danielle to Brad! For god's sake can you hear me?"
"Danielle! Where are you?"
She looked up as the chopper appeared overhead. "Right below you. I'd recommend getting me out of here before I become dog chow!"
"Yeah, I see them. Hold on!"
The helicopter came in low to the ground, right overhead. As the helicopter came close enough, Danielle grabbed the skid, and it lifted off again, just as the frenzied mutts jumped for her. She could see them below, in wild excitement, jumping and snapping at the helicopter, even though it was very much out of their reach. Danielle pulled herself up into the chopper.
"Come up here, sit here."
Danielle slowly walked up and slumped into the co-pilot's seat. Brad put a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, are you alright?"
Danielle nodded, resting her forehead in her hand.
"Except I couldn't find any of the others. I just hope they're alright."
Brad's expression was hard. "There's nothing you can do."
"You don't want to know what's going on down there," Danielle assured, shaking her head. "It's a nightmare."
"Try me."
"Umbrella, that big pharmaceutical company, created a virus called T-Virus. It turns humans into Bio-Weapons and zombies, dogs into hellhounds, and creates horrible mutated monsters. The whole building and surrounding area is infected. It's really a great big, disguised laboratory."
Brad looked at her, and threw his hand over the top of his head.
"Whoa, that just went right over my head. You mean that Umbrella made monsters that are running loose in that mansion?"
"And the surrounding forest."
"Hence the reports of queer-looking monsters, and groups of strange people killing and eating hikers and other Raccoon City civilians."
Danielle nodded. "You got it. Hey, why are you up here? Where's the rest of your team?"
Brad grinned sheepishly. "I sorta ditched them."
"You sorta what!?"
Brad quickly tried to cover himself. "Those dogs, if I were to have been killed, who would fly the chopper back?"
Danielle looked away. "You know, if I had any idea this was happening, I would have protested to coming here."
"So would I."
"But you don't understand," Danielle said, turning to him. "I chase Umbrella as a second occupation. A friend of mine runs a company that counteracts Umbrella's lethal experiments. We shut down Umbrella's Chicago lab, and I followed them here."
"I heard about the Chicago shutdown. It was all over the news. They said it was a terrorist attack."
"Umbrella are the terrorists."
Brad didn't say anything. The helicopter flew over the top of a small open area, and Danielle spotted a small building that wasn't on any of the mansion maps she had seen so far, and it was something that interested her. She had to get Brad to set down, but that seemed close to impossible. So she had to think fast and make something up.
"Brad! I see Rachelle!"
"What? Where?"
She pointed below. "She ducked in there. You'd better set down!"
Brad nodded. "Alright, but if it gets active, I'm taking off. You'll have to jump in."
Danielle nodded. Smooth, she thought to herself. She hadn't lost her touch. Brad set the chopper down in the middle of the cut off section of the courtyard. Danielle jumped out of the side door of the chopper and ran over to the mesh door of the small building, running inside, she found herself looking at a desk covered in files and papers on the T-Virus, and along the far wall were several small cages.
All but one were empty and bloodstained, and in the only occupied cage, was a small kitten. On the door of the cage it said: T-092 'Smokey'. Undoing the lock, she removed the black and white cat from the cage. It mewed quietly and tried to lick her face. She didn't think it would be a good idea to let it, so she kept her face away and hugged the warm animal.
Leaving the small room, she looked over at Brad and gave him a look that told him how gullible he was. He glared back in return. But then Danielle was surprised by a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, you found the asshole. Good. I want to kick his backside to the dawn of time."
Spinning around, she came face to face with a very bedraggled-looking Rachelle. Before Rachelle could say another word, she spied the cat in Danielle's arms.
"Oh my God! What an adorable kitty! You have to let me have it!"
Danielle shook her head quickly. "No way! She's mine!"
Rachelle put her hands on her hips as the cat sprang from Danielle's arms.
"Nah! I could so take better care of her."
The cat's pained mewing stopped the bickering pair. Looking over, they watched in horror as the cat grew suddenly larger, and as its skin split in a dozen places, a second head sprouting from its shoulders. It roared and snarled, blood and saliva dripping from its jaws. Rachelle and Danielle looked at each other.
"Ahh, on second thought, I'm a very busy person," Danielle said, grinning. Rachelle closed her eyes and smiled.
"No, it's okay, you can have the cat. I'm alright. Rich and I can hardly take care of ourselves, let alone a cat."
The chopper took off and began to circle above them.
"Sorry Dani, but I can't stay on the ground!" Brad spoke to Danielle through the headset. Danielle and Rachelle looked at each other, and ran in separate directions. Smokey didn't like this, and each head wanted to chase a different girl. The force of the two pulling in opposite directions caused the skin between the heads to split, exposing the bloodied flesh and muscle beneath. Danielle looked up. The helicopter was nowhere in sight, even though she could hear it quite clearly. Rachelle called her.
"Danielle! He's on the roof!"
Danielle turned to see that the chopper had landed on the roof of the small building. Jumping out of the cockpit, Brad ran out to the side door of the chopper. He slid open the door and started looking for something in the back. The split between the heads got bigger as the two heads fought for direction.
"Try and get the heads further apart!" Brad called, shouldering a heavy-looking rocket launcher. Rachelle and Danielle ran around to the sides of the beast, and its heads were almost at a complete 180-degree angle from each other. The rocket hit Smokey right between the two heads, blowing a huge channel through its body. Danielle stopped and sighed, sitting on the ground. She looked up as Brad jumped off the roof, still with the rocket launcher. He slowly approached the halved body of the giant, two-headed cat.
"Be careful Brad," Rachelle warned as he got close to it. Brad shrugged.
"It's dead, isn't that obvious?"
Danielle stood up. "Brad, come back from it. Who knows what it is."
As she spoke, the two halves shivered, and suddenly the form began to spurt blood and change shapes until the two halves had become two odd-looking creatures, which looked like mauled cats. They lay still for a moment, and suddenly, they both sprang up together, attacking like the Cerberus dogs. Danielle and Rachelle quickly pulled their weapons on the beasts, but risked hitting Brad, as they slowly circled him, their heads low, snarling nastily. Their claws clicked on the concrete, and a sickening mixture of blood and saliva dripped from their deformed jaws. Brad re-shouldered the rocket launcher, and prepared to fire at one of them. It sat still as he aimed at it. Danielle stepped forward, holding out a halting hand.
"No, it wants you to! If you shoot it, it will become two more!"
Brad realised this and took down the weapon from his shoulder. Rachelle waved him aside.
"Brad, get the hell down, we'll take care of them!"
She lifted her magnum and aimed it at one of the creatures. Danielle also lifted her weapon. The two women aimed and unleashed a volley of fire upon the two beasts. Brad ducked down and covered his head as the shots rang around him. The animals squealed and hissed, before retreating into the undergrowth, followed by several more shots. Rachelle walked briskly over to Brad and harshly lifted him to his feet by his arm, and shoved him hard.
"You prick! You left us out there to die, now Joseph's dead, Chris, Jill and Barry are missing, and Wesker is acting weird! And half of Bravo Team is dead, too!"
Danielle looked at her sharply. "Who have you counted so far?" she asked apprehensively.
"Richard, Kenneth, Forest. And Dewey."
Danielle looked to the side, clamping her eyes shut. "You... you found Forest I see."
Rachelle shook her head. "What happened to him? Did someone attack him? All I know is he was shot."
Danielle nodded slowly. "I left him in the room with all the vaccines and serums," she looked to the side and closed her eyes. "I shot him."
Rachelle stared. "You… you what?"
"I shot Forest."
Brad gaped. "He was one of your best friends!"
"I know," Danielle had a tear in her eye. "But I had to. And he wanted me to. He got attacked by one of the zombies with the red skin… he was okay at first… but he started to show those symptoms. The ones that are linked to the virus. So I put him out of his misery. He wanted me to do it."
"That must've been so hard," Brad shook his head. "Having to shoot a teammate."
"Oh it's not really that hard," Rachelle slammed her heel down on the concrete in front of him, scaring him. "I could shoot you right now and not give a toss."
"Hey! At least I didn't go back to Raccoon City and leave you all out here with no chance."
"Well I'm not getting in that helicopter without knowing who's coming back. I don't know where any of them have gone now. They left me by myself. What bastards."
"And it's my fault," Brad said, looking at the floor. "I shouldn't have up and left like that."
Rachelle turned back to him, and shoved him against the wall of the small building, grabbing his collar.
"I know!" she screamed at him. "I know it's your fault! They are my friends out there! If they don't come back, I'll never forgive you!"
Danielle ran over and pulled her away. "Rachelle!" she cried, slapping her across the face. "Get a grip! If we lose it now, they won't have a chance. We need to stay together, we can't make it alone. Do you understand? Do you understand!"
"I understand!" Rachelle screamed back at her. "I get it, alright! But who wouldn't lose it out here!"
Danielle nodded solemnly. Then she put a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Come on Rachelle, get in the helicopter."
Rachelle turned away. "No."
Danielle and Brad looked at her, shocked.
"What?" Brad asked quietly. Rachelle turned to face them.
"No," she said in a bold voice. "I'm not leaving until I find the others. Not till I find... him.... Until I find the truth."
Danielle nodded, and threw the Ivory at Rachelle's feet. She picked it up and cradled it in her hands for a moment, before looking up at Danielle in surprise.
"The Flashgun? Danielle, wh… what?"
Danielle nodded, and smiled. "I'd have gone with you any day, except I've been down here twice as long as you, and I'm at my wit's end. If I were to stay here, I wouldn't be able to be contended with. You'll need it more than I will up here in the sky."
Rachelle shook her head. "I can't take it Danielle, this is like, your best friend."
"So are you. That's exactly why I want you to take it."
"But, what if something happens to me down there?"
Danielle sighed, closing her eyes. "Trust me. Take the Ivory."
Rachelle nodded slowly, looking down at the gun in her hands. Then she looked up at her best friend.
"I'll take care of it, Danielle. And I'll bring it back to you at the end of the night, in one piece. I'll try not to stain it, or anything."
Danielle laughed. Then she waved goodbye and watched as Rachelle ran off down the path back to the courtyard. Then she turned back to Brad, and suddenly hugged him, crying. He sighed and put and his arm around her. After a few minutes of this, he softly pushed her away.
"Danielle, it'd be much safer in the chopper, come on. I'll give you a boost."
Danielle wiped her eyes, nodding. He put his hands around her waist and helped her to grab the ledge. She pulled herself up, and held out her hand to help him up. Brad climbed back into the helicopter, and Danielle got in the opposite door, and instantly broke down in tears again.
"Gee, she wasn't kidding when she said she was at her wit's end," Brad said to himself. He put his hand on her arm. She looked up at him.
"I can't take this," she whispered through her tears. Brad nodded.
"Don't worry about it, Dani. But, why are you crying?"
Danielle shook her head. "I can't help but think myself partially responsible for what happened to Bravo Team."
Brad almost choked. "What? You're not with Umbrella, are you? So why would you have anything to do with it?"
Danielle sighed. "Maybe Forest was right from the start. Maybe we should've stayed together and looked for some form of communication with the outside. But I had to go alone; I forgot what his view was. He didn't deserve to die that way. No one does. After I'd been such a bitch to him too."
"Sometimes Forest asked for it though."
"Yeah. Wearing C4 like a magazine belt. It pissed me off how careless he'd been. True, I did have a good point, but I could've been nicer to him about it."
"Things that happen like that tend to make you feel guilty. Don't worry. I'm sure he's forgiven you."
"And I abandoned the others. Enrico, he said I should've been in S.T.A.R.S., Richard and his snakebite… Kenneth with his macho way of keeping cool. Rebecca who was just so naive and innocent. I liked that girl a lot. She actually reminded me of myself as a rookie."
"You were meek and quiet once? What happened?"
Danielle forced a smile. "I met Rachelle."
