Dr.William Birkin
Alex looked at the group nervously, until she felt David's arm across her shoulders. "Don't worry Alex, there friends..at least of yours..they probably don't care much for me.." he said, his vain attempt at humor failing miserably. "Anyway..as for introductions..." he gestured to the group with his Beretta, "That's John...the two lovebirds over there are Vanessa and Jarred...the presorted specimen on the table is..or..WAS..Nathan..I'm not sure which....and.." sighing, he jammed the pistol in Winsors direction, "That..is Samantha...or as she insists on being called...Winsor...it's best not to talk to her, unless you want your blood pressure to begin going upwards...". "Yes David, its an unbearable DELIGHT to see you as well.." smirked Winsor, turning back with concern to Nathan.
Alex walked forward, staring at Nathan, "He seems in pain..will he be okay?". Even now..when she doesn't know who she's looking at even,...all she can feel is compassion...yeah..she's a real angel..and you are a scumbag David, keep that in mind... David sighed, shaking the thought off. "From the looks of it? All you can do is put off the inevitable....massive hemorrhaging...severe trauma...this is, for all intents and purposes...a breathing corpse.." David looked at the sea of stunned faces, unsure even himself where the medical jargon he had just spouted forth came from, I guess when your fathers a medical examiner and your mothers a surgeon you begin to pick this shit up.... , "Is something wrong???? You're looking at me like I've just killed a child or something.." David said. "No...we have to save him" Winsor spoke up, "I won't leave here without him..if he dies..I have to go with him..." she cursed herself for the outburst of emotions. "Ok, should I shoot you or do you want to? Because this is the end of the line Winsor...game over, I'm sorry" he replied. "Well isn't this surprising, when its Alex who needs help we've got to rush to help her, but when its Nathan we just walk off? Dave..you are a real RAT..you know that?" interjected Jarred, "I'm not going either..and I'm sure neither are Vanessa or John...". David glared at the group with a look of sudden indignation, "SO THAT'S IT HUH? STAY AND FIGHT A LOST CAUSE. HEY PEOPLE DIE..THAT'S THE PRICE SOMETIMES...FINE...STAY, AND PRETEND YOU CAN DO SOMETHING...in the end its all futile...." he said, walking to the door. "You can outrun everything else, but when it's time..it's time....death can't be escaped...all you can do is time the seconds it takes him to come...". David opened the door and walked out into the hallway, not wanting to be near anyone, Friendship...love....emotional attachment..god..what is happening to me..I feel like I'm losing my mind.... . Slumping in a chair, David pressed the cold metal of his Beretta against his head, his finger hovering over the trigger. "David? Are....DAVID! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!!!" Alex screamed, swatting the gun away from his head, "You scared me...look..I know...I know you must have a lot on your mind...I can't pretend to know what you've been through..but, look...as bad as it is, it'll be okay David...I don't want to lose you...I don't want to be alone again..." Alex hugged him tightly, tears forming in her eyes, the memories of the intense fear she had experienced all through that day stinging back into her mind. David calmingly stroked her head, "Don't worry Alexandra...as long as I'm alive nothing else will happen to you...I promise..I'll never leave you alone again....". Some were born knowing their purpose, some died never knowing theirs. David had just realized what his was..he may have been the guiltiest one among the group, but the crimes of his past only served to fuel his vengeful rage, he would make things right, even if he had to die trying...
Carlos Oliveira
Nathan awoke to see everyone staring at him. He winced in pain as the metal shard that was inside him, dug deeper into his waist.
"Nathan!" yelled Jarred. Sam looked away as she saw the blood start to pump out of him again.
"Jar....get...scalpel....morphine....Hemostat....staple gun....John find me....arrrgg!.....blood type....o+p-....don't ask...just look in the...fridge locker.....back room.....should....be....locked...cabinet. Shoot lock off. Bring here,.....hurry," Nathan breathed heavily as everyone took off looking for Nathan's items.
Sam walked over and risked a look down to Nathan. Seeing him sweating and wincing in pain made her turn away.
"Sam? Please. I need you to talk to me. Keep me awake," Nathan pleaded.
She couldn't take it anymore. She looked at Nathan and spoke, "Nathan I can't see you like this,...I...I'm sorry,...I'll be around." With that said she rushed from the room and disappeared.
Nathan's head slumped to the table as he closed his eyes. Quickly opening them again he realized if he was ever going to live he had to stay awake. He heard the door open. Looking over he saw Alex and David walking hand in hand back into the room.
"Look at him," whispered Alex as she stepped closer.
"David!" Nathan said through clenched teeth. "What bring....you here,...'Friend'!?" Nathan asked with obvious anger in him.
"Just here to see another soul die from all this evil that Markenson unleashed. You?" he answered.
"Just here to ge.....stitched up so.....I can kick your......ass. That's all," replied Nathan with a grin. Not an evil one but a friendly grin.
"Look Nath. I know you don't like me and you have good reason not to but things are different...."
"I know all.......~cough~....about it," said Nathan cutting him off.
"Blair has you....pinned for elimination, same as me.....Jarred and everyone else. So I'd say that......it's in.......your best interests to........help us,....wouldn't you? ~cough~" continued Nathan.
"Yeah maybe,...but you. Your zombie food my friend. For what it's worth I'm sorry," said David with a indifferent shrug.
"S'ok.....you forget who my....father was. Law's don't give up that easy. Besides....I promised myself I'd save a friend," replied Nath.
"Who? Winsor?" David said with slight shock.
"No. She knows I'll do anything for her. I'm talking about....Ryan. You remember him don't you? The guy who saved Alex's ass when she was almost a zombie! The man who risked it all for us to get through to the outside world! Piers has him and I'm going after Piers. Wanna bet Markenson's there with him? Wanna join the group....kill...some zombie's....save the world.....and get some revenge while we're at it?" asked Nathan obviously expecting David to laugh. Alex did but David just looked Nathan square in the face and extended his hand.
"Bargain struck Nath," he replied to Nathan's surprise. Nathan grabbed the younger man's hand and squeezed it tightly. The blood seeping through both their fingers from Nathan's wound.
"You screw us though David.....and you die first!" said Nathan as he tightened the grip. Seeing the discomfort in David's face he let go just as Jarred came into the room. David backed away as Alex started to draw him back anyways.
"David! I remember Ryan!" she said.
"Wha?...really? That's great! Keep trying to remember everyone!" he replied.
After a short while John, Nessa, and Jarred had collected everything Nathan asked for. Nathan took the morphine and injected it into the blood bag.
"Alright. Jarred. I need you to get everyone else outside. Just me and you will take care of this ok?" said Nathan. Jarred looked to protest, but when he saw the look on Nathan's face he understood. If Nathan was going to die, he didn't want anyone to see him. Jarred ushered everyone outside and closed the door behind himself but it was opened again as Sam stepped inside closing it behind herself.
"Nathan wants..." he started but Nathan told him it was ok.
Sam walked over to Nathan and stood beside him and lifted his hand, holding it tightly.
"You'll be fine Nath," she said with a smile.
"Alright Nath. What do you want me to do?" asked Jarred.
"First I need that piece of metal outta me," answered Nathan as he took in both the shocked expressions.
"You still have it in you?" Jarred almost yelled.
"Yeah now get the scalpel and cut it out. Sam? Take that pump and hook up the blood bag to it. Insert the Iv into my vein and then inject the morphine directly into the blood bag ok?" they both nodded and went about their tasks.
~1 hour later~
"Is he gonna be ok?" asked Nessa.
"He'll be fine. He's a quick healer," answered Jarred.
Sharing a quick look with Winsor she nodded and they opened the door to let everyone in to see Nathan.
(While Sam and himself were inside helping Nathan, he had passed out. Jarred discussed it with Sam and had both agreed to use Jarred's blood to help heal Nathan. Knowing it could kill him they had no choice he was going to die if they didn't try. After cutting the metal out, the bleeding that was dammed away started flowing freely and Jarred didn't know what to do. His blood had worked though. Nathan's wound had stopped bleeding and started healing quickly. (He wasn't like Jarred when it came to healing, but for the time he would heal a little faster.) thought Jarred as he stepped into the room. Vanessa grabbed his arm and gently looked him in the eye.
"Is everything ok?" she asked.
"Yeah. Everything's gonna be great," answered Jarred smiling.
As they stepped into the room Nathan was sitting on the table holding his ribs with one bandaged hand. his side was stitched and his cheek was sutured. He was dressed in his black vest but his shirt was ruined. So they took it off and tossed it. Sam was looking at him but when she noticed everyone else saw her staring, she looked away.
Nathan hopped off the table and reloaded his D.E.'s His fathers twin D.E.'s. Looking Jarred and the other straight in the eye's he spoke.
"I'm going to get Ryan and kill Piers. Ryan saved my ass and I intend on returning the favor. David's already agreed to come with me. The subway takes us to the mountains. From there you take the road out or you come to the factory to finish this. Whose coming?" Nathan asked looking as serious as ever! His green eyes flashing their intensity. He lit a smoke and waited for their answers.
Jill Valentine
Nathan sat calmly on the operation table; curls of smooth gray cigarette smoke swirling from his pale lips as he patiently waited for the others to decide on his suggestion.
"I think it's a good idea,"Jarred finally spoke, watching the others eye him with agreement.
"Yeah, I agree," Winsor added, smugly placing her hand on Nathan's.
"But," Vanessa began. "Where is he? How do we know where he is?"
Nathan hopped off the table, and extinguished his cigarette.
"I know exactly where Pier's hide out is," he explained, his eyes suspiciously darting over David. "It's up near the mountain Valley, we should take the subway there, it would be easier if you don't want them to spot us. But it's fairly easy to get there."
The others seemed convinced; but Nathan's suggestion that he drive wasn't too agreeable. They all knew he was still rather weak, and needed a couple of hours to fully recover from his injuries, despite the fact that his natural healing time would be doubled due to the injection of Jarred's blood.
"Well how about I drive this time?" Winsor suggested, watching the John squirm in fear."You've had your fun John, now it's my turn."
John looked very hesitant at the idea that "Winsor" would drive, but the others seemed to like it.
"Okay it's done then," Jarred concluded, as he headed towards the door that exited into the hospital hall. "Winsor shall drive, and we shall all kick Piers ass."
Nathan couldn't help but smile, and watch the others bear the same hope and victory as he did.
"Let's kick some Pier ass!"
------------------------------------------
Several golden rays peeked over the horizon; shedding warmth and light onto the Gaines City landscape. It hadn't managed to loose it's beauty; for the plush green meadows and ever-green trees that lined the side of the highway emphasized the natural beauty that had always existed in Gaines. The sky was blue and clear, and there was not a moment before them that could disturb the peacefulness and tranquility that had settled around them...
The engine of the jeep zoomed on as Winsor kept a steady eye on the road. Silence filled the back seats of the Jeep as they had begun their short trip to the hide-out; interrupted by casual snickers from Nathan as he flicked through the radio stations.
"Damn there is nothing...no music no nothing..." he sighed, flicking off the dusty old radio that was thickly wedged in the front of the jeep.
"Maybe that's because there is no one alive to play it..." Winsor muttered.
Nathan smiled at the thought; even though it wasn't a good time or place; but the thought of seeing a zombie be a DJ?
Hahaha...
The jeep slowly pulled up into darkness, the cemented opening of the subway narrowing down into a deep hole as they traveled further and further into it. Winsor flicked on the headlights, wincing as the bright beams flickered on through the dark road that ran through the tunnel.
"What's that?" John suddenly yelped as Winsor slammed on the breaks.
"Who the hell is that?!"
They all sat nervously, staring on at the dark figure that stood in the center of the road, slowly walking towards the jeep...
City of the Dead
The darkness had made it extremely difficult to see who was walking towards them, all they knew was that their calls got no response. Then all of a sudden, it made its way into the high beams and it became clear who was standing before them.
"Oh Shit," Vanessa said staring at the figure in the high-beams.
Standing in front of the jeep was a wall of charred and mangled flesh. Its body looked like as if someone took a heap of spoiled meat and sewed it together. A huge chunk of pulsating tentacles stuck out from the left side of it's body with about four black bones protruding, coming together to form what looked like a claw. Several teeth were knocked from its exposed gums, and even though they were hideously malformed, it's facial features gave off an obvious clue as to what they were facing.
"Oh my god, it isn't dead," Nathan exclaimed. He thought he slaughtered the Nemesis back at City hall, somehow, it had survived and made its way down into the subway tunnels.
It stood there, unmoving. It seemed as if the monster was taunting them, standing motionless in the high-beams, almost daring them to make the first move. Then with a distorted scratchy roar, it drew back it's mutated left arm and everyone immediately hopped out of the jeep. Winsor barely made it out of the passenger side as a tentacle slammed down hard on the roof, crushing it down into the seats.
"Get back everyone" Jarred yelled, everyone jumped back, pulling out their firearms.
The clamor of bending metal and breaking glass were automatically drowned out as everyone opened fire on the Nemesis. The shots enraged the beast and it targeted Jarred. Jarred felt an unbelievable wave of fear rush over him as the Nemesis charged towards him, his mind raced as he continued to fire, and in an instant case of deja vu, he traveled back to early sixth grade when Henry Cole, the meanest asshole in school, charged him while they were in P.E. class, they had gotten into one of those senseless schoolyard fights that didn't really mean anything. Even though he was badly beaten, he thought he got in a few good hits, but this was a completely different situation, the thing charging towards him wasn't a schoolyard bully, it was a fucking monster that was hell-bent on everyone's demise.
Jarred jumped up against the side of the subway wall as the creature's claw rushed past his head. He dived past the Nemesis and ran towards the others, narrowly avoiding a certain demise.
"I don't think anything we do is going to stop it," Nathan yelled.
Vanessa continued her assault, when the sight of the demolished car caught her eye, she saw a bunch of spilled gas under the vehicle.
"I've got an idea," She yelled, running towards the wrecked car.
"What are you doing?" Nathan yelled.
Vanessa jumped up on the back of the wrecked jeep and let out a vicious onslaught of blazing gunfire. It was enough to grab the attention of the out of control monster. It turned and sped over towards her, she desperately hoped her plan would work, and that she or anyone else wouldn't be hurt by it. When the beast was close enough. she took a deep breath and leapt off the jeep and took one step onto the creature's shoulder and then hopped off into the air. She turned around and started firing wildly at the gas tank of the car, and then, a thunderous wave of sound, heat, and flame erupted from within the tunnel. Her plan had worked, and then she hit the ground, the vibrations jarring her teeth.
"Holy fuck," John yelled. When the explosion occurred, the last thing he saw before he ducked was the Nemesis being knocked against the wall and falling over in the blaze.
The tunnel was now silent and filled with an orange glow from the flames.
"You did it" Jarred yelled running over to Vanessa and scooping her off the ground.
After a brief celebration, Nathan stepped up and got everyone's attention.
"Okay, since our car is destroyed, we'll follow this tunnel until we're led to the subway train," Nathan spoke up, waiting for everyone to agree with him.
"Heat up Fire boy," John yelled to Nathan.
Winsor gazed back at the flaming wreckage. Proceeding forward wasn't really a choice, taking the tunnel was the only real thing they could do, the way they came in was blocked.
Because Vanessa the Amazon torched the place, damn, she was like a regular Stallone.
"Do you think that monster is dead now?" Alex asked.
"I doubt it," Nathan responded.
"Dead or not, I have to say that was quite impressive Vanessa," David said, complimenting her on her heroics.
"Well, at least that'll buy us some time, if it is still alive, its not going to be down for long, so we have to hurry," Nathan said.
With his words, everyone picked up their pace. They didn't want to be anywhere around if that thing woke up.
Ryan was curled up in the corner of his cell. His mind had become so swirled that it was impossible to keep a straight thought. The note that was on the door was strange enough, who else knew he was here? And if no one, then who is the inside man? So many questions, but at the rate things were going, it looks like they weren't going to be answered. He started thinking about the other survivors.
Did they make it out? Are they still there? Do they even care that I'm gone?
He didn't really want them to come and rescue him, he was beyond hope, and the last thing he wanted to do, was get them killed.
Seems that's all I'm good at.
Before the pessimistic and depressing thoughts invaded his mind completely, the door's loud rusty squeak made it apparent to Ryan that someone was coming in.
"Ryan?" A deep, un-familiar voice called.
"What?" Ryan asked.
"Hey, I'm here to get you out of here," The voice called.
"Who are you?" Ryan asked. The room suddenly became illuminated from the flickering over-head light.
"My name is Luke Baird, part of the Isis recovery team, Keel told me you'd be here," The man called.
In the light, Ryan got a good look at him. He looked about twenty-five, short dirty blonde hair and a face that looked like it hadn't been shaved for about four days.
"Now, I can only get you so far, you'll have to get out of here on your own," Baird said.
"Fuck that, I'm settling things with that bastard Piers," Ryan stood up.
"That may not be such a good id-." Baird was interrupted
"I don't care, I have nothing now, that psycho took my whole life away, and now I'm going to do the same for him," Ryan growled.
"Well...I wouldn't recommend it, but I'll see what I can do, let's just get going", Baird said. "There won't be any resistance, because this whole factory is practically empty, except for Markenson, Piers, and about four guards...No one knows I'm here, so I have to be careful as well," Baird said.
"Just get me to a place where I can get some weapons, then I'll be set," Ryan said.
"Alright, follow me," Baird replied.
Ryan followed him out into the hall. It looked as if it wasn't cleaned or renovated for years. A rust clung to the metal walls and a dusty odor filled the room. He was so relieved to leave the cell, which had become a metaphor for his mind, dark and hopeless. But now, he had a new reason to live, revenge...
Keel stood in the main courtyard in front of the Coleman Hill Clock Tower with about a hundred other soldiers, all lined up for the evacuation. Some were a little nervous, some were very eager to leave. He heard four of them sharing stories about their "victories" in the city, meaning all the innocent survivors they slaughtered. It was all Keel could do to control his anger, he didn't even want to be associated with these animals, but now wasn't the time, he had a plan...along with a few well placed explosives.
The wait was tedious, they had been standing there for what felt like hours, and no progress was being made.
Probably organizing the soldiers, getting names and the like, to see which ones were unlucky enough not to die out in the city.
A smile spread across Keel's face, he had it all planned out, he was going to set off the master charges when everyone began boarding the choppers, he would slip out through the moving crowd, and detonate the explosives when he was about a couple of blocks away, completely obliterating the clock tower and all of Blair's cleaners.
ROOOOAAARRRRR
"What the hell?" Keel yelled.
In an instant all the guards started scattering, a multitude of men running in opposite directions as a blaze of gunfire and screams rang out. He saw the reason why they were all panicking.
"Good god, how many of those things are there?"
Two saurs (what he has come to call the dinosaur creatures) started rampaging through the crowd of soldiers, they were un-like the one he had taken out earlier, these two were almost jet-black.
He was nearly knocked down by the fleeing troops. Keel watched the saurs attack everyone, he was beginning to think they were actually a blessing in disguise. The whole courtyard was chaotic, everyone ran past the name-taking officials and hopped aboard the waiting helicopters, while some stupidly fought against the beasts, they ultimately met a brutal and bloody death. With the unexpected guests making an appearance, Keel felt that he would have to execute his plan a little more prematurely. He pulled out the detonator and looked towards the panicked cleaners who were rushing the helicopters, he should have just gotten out of there, but he wanted to see their fear, wanted them to feel what those innocent people felt before they were killed in cold blood...It was a mistake on his part.
Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed through him and he was being lifted through the air, he had made the mistake of turning his back on the saurs behind him. He felt the jagged teeth penetrate his skin and he screamed in pain. The creature shook him violently as he pulled out his rifle and fired towards it's eye. It yelled in pain and Keel felt himself falling, he hit the ground hard and a sharp pain went through his whole body. His legs were definitely broken, and the puncture wounds up and down his body were unbearable. There was only one thing left to do.
Keel painfully raised his hand, which still tightly clutched the detonator. He knew that he would be killed in the blast, but he wasn't going to make it anyways, it was now or never.
"This is for all the citizens of Gaines...and the only survivors left in the city, good luck guys, sorry I couldn't have provided any more help," Keel said out loud.
With his final words, he brought his broken fingers up to the switch, and pushed it...
"WHAT THE HELL?" Piers yelled as he watched over the city from the catwalks that wrapped around the factory silos.
A huge cloud of fire and smoke erupted from where Coleman Hill Clock Tower once stood. The helicopters, the soldiers, everything had gone up in flames. He thought he had heard gunfire coming from that area, but he wasn't sure.
Was this one of Blair's orders? Did they really want their army terminated? No, because then they wouldn't have wasted the helicopters, something is up...
Piers started wondering if those damn kids had anything to do with it. It didn't really matter anyways, he would have them soon enough. He couldn't wait to show them his new powers from the augmentation, but he wouldn't kill them, he was just the opening act, the main event was going to be so much better. He started thinking about Judgment, it was the new name he had given the B. O. W. At first he didn't know if it could have been salvaged.
"Yes Nathan, you did some damage to him, but this time, you won't be so lucky, I've started giving Judgment a few new improvements," Piers laughed.
He knew that his words were nothing more than symbolism, but he was far too excited. He couldn't wait to throw Nathan on the offering plate, it would make quite a sacrifice. Nathan might have been victorious earlier, but soon Piers would witness the epic battle between father and son...