Chapter 8: Friend Or Foe?
Brad grabbed the door handle before Rachelle could turn it. They were standing outside a factory in the warehouse district of the town. Rachelle looked up at him curiously and kept her hand on the handle. Brad looked at her.
"No stunts, no bravado, no heroics."
"No shit?" she asked mockingly with a quick raise of her eyebrows. Brad shook his head and opened the door, walking slowly inside. Rachelle grinned and closed the door, but the smile fell from her face and she froze. Brad had also stopped in his tracks. They were in the rear lobby of an office building disguised as a warehouse on the outside. There was a desk in one corner, and from behind that desk came a sickening crunching. Rachelle walked to the nearest door and showed Brad where it was. He nodded, and advanced slowly towards the desk. He leaned down and looked behind. Suddenly he sprang back and ran for the door, as a giant grey dog bounded from behind the desk. Rachelle dived through the door, followed closely by Brad and they slammed the door on the beast, bolting it shut. The dog continued to barge the door. Brad backed up.
"That door's not going to hold for much longer."
"I know," Rachelle was already looking for another way out of the room. But there was only the one door. Suddenly she looked up. "Brad, give me a boost."
Brad bent down and helped her up. She pushed at a grating on the roof, and pushed it in. Pulling herself up, she turned around and reached down to help Brad up. She had just pulled him into the duct when the door gave and the giant creature bounded into the room, sniffing around like a giant tracker dog, but because the air conditioning filled the entire room, it confused the giant mutt. It looked like a great big mutant wolf. Rachelle glanced at Brad, then quietly began to crawl through the duct until she reached a grating on the wall of the duct. She waved over her shoulder to Brad.
"Here. Come on."
Kicking out the grating, she slid out of the vent, Brad coming down just behind her. They looked around. They were in some sort of big room, with yellow tinted skylights on the roof. It was apparently dawn, as light was streaming through. It was once again day. Rachelle checked the date on her watch.
"Well. What do you know. 29th of September. Time flies."
Brad laughed bluntly. "Heh. Let's get moving."
Suddenly there was the sound of a gun being cocked, and they spun to see Daionera walking up behind them, a gun pointed at Rachelle's head.
"Well. What a surprise. Brad, I don't believe you've met Daionera O'Sullivan."
Daionera turned wordlessly and pointed the gun at his head. Brad leaned in towards Rachelle.
"Friend or foe?" he asked quietly.
"Pure bitch. Female Wesker," she whispered back.
"I see."
Daionera kept the gun trained at them. "I suppose you're wondering where your friend is, aren't you."
This made Brad move. He took a step forward and Rachelle grabbed his arm to stop him from acting rashly. Daionera grinned nastily.
"Well, that little prat Danielle was almost under my beck and call, until those stupid S.F.S. sluts Zoë Lawrence, Jennifer Lowry and Dayna Kadenomi broke in and stopped me."
Rachelle turned to Brad. "S.F.S.? S.F.S. is still around when S.T.A.R.S. is almost gone?"
"Danielle was right by choosing those members, I see. But I thought that Dayna contracted the virus?"
Daionera shrugged. "Obviously someone did something about it. All I know is that those three bitches got Danielle out of here, before I could hand her over to Umbrella like I was going to."
"If the girls were here, what's to say that Max, Thomas and Richard aren't?" Rachelle thought aloud.
"Not that it would be of any use to you, Rachelle. I still haven't got a chance to repay you for what happened in the park that day. Don't worry about your friend the captain, she won't get far, I will find her and hand her over to the company as promised."
"Good luck getting a hold of her, Dawn," Rachelle snarled. Daionera sneered.
"Good luck getting out of here, Rachelle," she said slyly, and opened a door behind her. Standing behind the door, with blood dripping from its mouth, was the dog. "Meet the Werewolf. I think he wants to play. Do be a good girl Rachelle, and keep him occupied. Dismembering your bodies piece by piece should make him happy."
With that, she unhooked a grappling gun from her belt and fired it up, lifting off the ground and up to the next floor to safety. With a cruel laugh, she disappeared. Rachelle watched her go, and Brad grabbed her arm.
"Come on! There must be a way out of here."
Rachelle nodded and ran away, followed closely by Brad. The Werewolf watched them for a moment, before chasing after them. Rachelle vaulted onto a large box, and helped Brad up. From here, she found that she could get onto the next ledge. Brad followed closely behind, but it wasn't long before the Werewolf found that it too could use the box to get up. Rachelle held a door open.
"Brad hurry!" They ran through the door and slammed it shut, sliding the bolt back. "The door's steel, it should hold for a while at least. Come on, let's not waste any more time."
She turned to run, but slipped on something, stumbling. Brad leaned down and touched it. It was a large patch of torn black and white fur. Tediously, he lifted it up so that Rachelle could see. It was part of an ear. Rachelle made a face.
"Ehhhr! That's just sick! What is that? The remains of a cat?"
Brad scrutinised it carefully and shook his head, a stony look on his face.
"It's tagged. It's got the Umbrella logo on it...."
"What does the tag say?"
"It's hard to tell. This tag's a bit charred.... Oh Jesus. Rachelle... when you were in the mansion underground... you didn't meet the Smokies again, did you?"
Rachelle shook her head. "Why do you ask?"
"T-092."
"What's that?"
"Smokey's ID number."
"Oh shit," Rachelle looked around cautiously. "Does that mean that Smokey...."
There was a growl down the hall. Rachelle spun to see what it was. Four pairs of eyes glowed in the shadows. In complete synchrony, two huge cats slinked out of the dark. The two halves of Smokey sat in the streams of light coming through the window just past the deep shadows. Now they had completely healed, the patches of bare skin where they had been torn in half were now covered with black and white fur, and they looked like two black and white panthers, but their ears were still tattered and they bore some physical resemblances to the other B.O.W.s.
Brad stepped backwards towards the door, and suddenly it began to shake as the Werewolf pounded it from the other side. The two Smokies sat like panthers in anticipation. Rachelle slowly drew her gun, and attracted their attention. Both moved their heads in the exact same way. Brad shook his head.
"Curious. It's as though they think the exact same things."
"It's like one is the real cat, and the other is a mirror. They were like that at the mansion too. But I guarantee you. If we go separate directions, they will separate. There's no way we can get out of here. We're done for."
Brad shook his head and drew his gun, making sure that the cats could see it. They both shied back.
"Well. What do you know."
Brad took a few steps towards the cats, and fired at the floor directly in front of them. Both animals jumped back in unison. Rachelle watched curiously as Brad herded them into a corner.
"Brad, be careful, it could be a trick!"
"Don't worry Shellie, I'm anticipating that."
Rachelle aimed her own gun and cocked it, drawing the cats' attentions. They sat where they were, their glazed eyes fixated on the barrels of the guns being pointed at them. Rachelle moved backwards until her hand found the handle of another door. Brad backed up as well, the cats following slowly. Brad was just backing through the door after Rachelle, when the first cat shot out its paw and grabbed his trouser leg. Crying out in surprise, Brad fell to the floor, his gun going off, expecting the cats to be upon him within seconds. But they didn't move. They just watched.
"What?! Why don't you kill me and get it over with?!"
The cats cocked their heads as if they understood, but couldn't understand why he wanted them to kill him. Suddenly the bolt on the door bent in, and the Werewolf crashed into the room. The cats let go and sprang over the top of Brad, and though the cats were in the same room, Rachelle slammed the door as Brad scrambled through. This time, the cats let them pass by without so much as an attempted advance. But it wouldn't have mattered, the room they were in was inescapable as far as they could tell. Rachelle sat down on the floor and put her head in her hands.
"If we leave, the Werewolf will kill us, and if we stay, Smokies are going to get tired of playing with us and will kill us. Goodbye Brad. It's been a pleasure."
She was alerted by the feeling of a furred thing brushing against her hand, and she looked up to see one of Smokies had brushed past her, and its tail had swept past her hand. Brad was watching them queerly.
"Rachelle. I... I think that maybe there was something about Smokey that we didn't pick up on." Rachelle looked up at the two cats who were once again sitting like mirror images of each other, even their tails swishing in the same pattern. "Danielle said that some of the T-Virus papers said that the virus had been documented as having no effect on felines and some other animals, like rabbits and mice. The G-virus affects them because it was more powerful. But Smokey is a T-Virus monster. Maybe, just maybe, it mutated, but didn't change."
"Brad, are you nuts? Smokey attacked us at the mansion."
"Perhaps it was preliminary. Did you consider that? Smokies could very well have killed me, or you, but did you notice that when they were split, they were slightly less violent? And why do you think that there were no reports of deaths like those that were associated with the Cerberus dogs? Because my theory is that Smokey is docile."
Brad took a few steps towards the cats. Rachelle looked up.
"I think you need a different theory, Brad. For all we know, they could want you to think that. Then we get all trusting over them and they turn on us."
Brad shrugged. "If they kill me, you'll know I was wrong."
"And to think this is Chickenheart saying this," Rachelle mumbled to herself. Brad kneeled down in front of the cats and held out his hand. They both watched him like a hawk, but didn't move. Getting a little more game, Brad touched one of them, and it drew its head back slightly.
"Brad.... If you've got a magnificent plan to get us out of here, hurry it up, that door...."
Brad nodded, and stood up. "Maybe they can fight the Werewolf."
"Brad, you're talking about using a T-B.O.W. against a G-B.O.W. It just doesn't happen."
Suddenly the Smokies took off to one side, and rammed the wall, busting in a panel and revealing a large vent. It took them a minute, but Rachelle and Brad realised it was an elevator shaft. The two cats leapt in and dug their claws into the metal of the shaft, climbing down like it was a tree. Rachelle looked over.
"We can use the holes they made in the shaft as hand and foot holds."
Brad nodded. "Are we trusting them now?"
"I wouldn't trust them as far as I could spit them, but for now I'll follow."
She swung her leg over and backed down the shaft, and Brad followed. They heard the door above them bust open, and as they looked up, they could see the panting dog peering down the shaft. Rachelle backed further down, expecting the beast to follow. But instead it turned and ran off, howling as it did so. As Rachelle reached her foot down for the next foothold, she felt something hard, and realised she was standing on top of the elevator car. The emergency hatch on the roof had been clawed open, and so had the elevator doors. Jumping through, they found themselves on the first floor, the glass doors smashed open and the cats nowhere in sight. They were in a different lobby to the one when they had come in through the back. Brad grabbed Rachelle.
"I'll bet the S.F.S. got Danielle out. Come on. Let's not waste any more time."
"We thought there might be a business in zombie hunting, or something similar, so we decided to look into it, and that's how we found Bio-Counter. We did leave just like you said Dani, but we came back to find you."
Zoë explained the S.F.S.'s return to Raccoon City to their bewildered captain. Danielle shook her head.
"They're not going to stand for this... Umbrella will catch on.... Daionera saw you...."
Jennifer, a woman with long red hair leaned down over the indoor gantry she was standing on with Thomas and Richard.
"Captain, we're special forces. If we get caught, we won't squeal. Not about Bio-Counter or you."
"You didn't see Rachelle or Brad? Or Jill and a mercenary named Carlos?"
Dayna shook her head. "The only survivors we saw were you and O'Sullivan. Oh, Dani. There's a Bio-Counter chopper coming to pick us up in an hour. We'll take you back to compound."
Danielle stood up and shook her head. "No. I have to go and find my friends, alive or dead."
"I admire your loyalty," Max said, leaning back in his chair.
"I don't know if I'd sacrifice myself for my friends, I'm a bit of a chicken when it comes to that," Richard thought aloud. Zoë looked at him.
"Yeah? I'm sure they would for you," she turned to Danielle, and saluted. "I salute you, Captain Lanza. I hope you find your friends and get out. And I hope we meet up again. By the way, it could be a good idea if you keep this with you," she said, and handed Danielle a blue vial. "That's G-Vaccine. You know, just in case."
"Thanks Zoë. And there's nothing to hope," Danielle said, returning the salute. "I will find my friends...And I will get out. I'll see you at Bio-Counter."
Thomas nodded and handed her a skeleton key patterned with Celtic weaves.
"Hey, I found it lying around, who knows, it may come in useful."
"A lock-picking key," Danielle smiled. "Trust you to have it, Thomas. Hey, take care of yourselves. Till then!"
Danielle left quickly, closing the door and running off into the littered streets. Max watched the closed door.
"Think she'll find them?"
Richard shrugged. "There's a chance."
"Think they'll get out?"
Jennifer shook her head. "Not a chance."
Danielle ran full pelt down the street. Close behind her was a big slow-moving B.O.W. similar to the Nemesis but not as disgustingly ugly. Suddenly the black and white cats leapt from behind a smashed car and ran for the B.O.W. Danielle turned and cheered, bolting for the nearest door. To her relief, she found it unlocked. Closing the door quickly but quietly, she slipped the lock in and smiled.
"You go, Smokey. Kill that B.O.W."
A sudden click broke the silence in the room as a gun was cocked behind her.
"Turn around very slowly and keep your hands where I can see them."
Danielle kept her head low as she turned to face the figure. She stepped back with surprise when she recognised her.
"Annette!"
Annette looked up quickly. "You! What are you doing here?"
"Hiding from the monsters.... You can put that gun away, you know."
Annette shook her head suddenly, and adjusted her hold on the weapon.
"I think not. This is as good a time as any to finish what I set out to do."
Danielle was confused. Suddenly she realised. Glancing to the side, she saw that Annette was wearing a lab coat. It was stained red, but another thing that stood out was the ID on the coat.
"You work for Umbrella," she looked at her quickly. "I remember you now! I met you in Chicago! You stupid cow! I can't believe you would lie like that!"
Annette approached her quickly, pressing the gun to her chest. "Yeah, I know you too. I remember. Irons was right. Sometimes only the tiniest things can spark a person's memory."
Danielle suddenly spun her hand, knocking away the handgun and pulling out her own.
"Now who's in control?"
Annette stepped back. "Go ahead, shoot me. I don't have anything left anyway."
Danielle shook her head. "I'm not like you, Birkin. I should pull this trigger, but I'm not going to. Instead, I'm going to give you another chance."
Annette shook her head, lowering her eyes. Her voice was breaking, and she sounded as though she was fighting tears.
"Don't. Because it won't matter anyway. I managed to rescue the last vial of the new Z-Virus from the lab after Umbrella cleaned it out, and once Umbrella begins using it, it will all be over for you all."
Danielle raised an eyebrow and lowered her gun. "Z-Virus? You've just caught my attention."
Annette showed her the vial of bluish liquid. "What, this? It is an agent more powerful than the T- and G-Viruses. It works in an even shorter amount of time and the resulting effects are doubled, sometimes even tripled."
"And I'll bet you're crazy enough to open that vial."
"Maybe I am. There is no vaccine to this virus. There is also no vaccine for the T- and G-Viruses either, so you'd better be careful."
"That's what you think," Danielle said, pulling her own vial from her pocket. "Vaccine that covers both viruses."
Annette shook her head. "Show me that." She took the vial and turned it in her hand. "I should've known. Bio-Counter. They're always on top of these things."
"How about a trade?"
She looked up. "A what?"
"I'll give you the virus vaccine because something is telling me from that glazed look in your eyes that you've contracted it, and you give me the Z-Virus."
Annette laughed uneasily and stepped back quickly. "No no no.... You're trying to fool me. I'll trade and then I'll find out that the vaccine isn't worth anything at all."
"Well what am I going to do with the Z-Virus huh? Look. In the time you knew me at the precinct, did I ever do anything you would deem untrustworthy?"
"No.... But you don't understand-"
"Listen Annette. You don't have to answer to Umbrella any more. I mean, gawd.... If a company ruined my life I'd boycott them so bad it hurt. That's why I don't see the reasoning behind you hanging onto this last remnant of a company that, when we're through with them, will be driven so far into the ground they'll come out the other side of the planet. If you really don't trust me, then stick with me. I'll prove to you that this vaccine is genuine."
Annette turned away. "You have no idea what it's like to work for Umbrella. They chase you. That's what Daionera O'Sullivan is still doing in Raccoon. If she wasn't on an assignment to find you, me and William, she'd be gone by now."
"I still don't understand. I'm running from Umbrella too. Anyone who survives these onslaughts are. If you change your mind, there's a room on the top floor of the comms building near here. It's the only room on that floor. If you do change your mind, I'll meet you there. Tomorrow afternoon. If not, well I'll see you on the flip side."
"W... wait," Annette fingered the vial nervously. "I do feel a little uneasy hanging onto this.... I... I guess I'll trust you. It'll do me no good hanging onto something when I'm likely to die with it. Here."
Danielle took the vial and slipped it into her pocket. Then she handed over the vaccine.
"I think I understand why you were so reluctant to give this up," she shook her head, searching herself for the words she wanted to use. "I guess, in your position, I would be too. Good luck, Annette."
