A/N: Here we go. Chapter Five and six, as promised-an update to prove to you that I'm not dead. Wai.
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United States Military BaseHome of the 16th Calvary Unit "Death from Above"
Ivory Coast, Africa.
The Jungle filled with the sounds of howler monkeys and birds in trees. Thousands of tiny lives were waking up and greeting the day-oblivious to the interest suddenly being shown in their habitat
"LETS GO!"
The humans thudded out of bed and into their showers. They had received a distress call from an American company that apparently had a factory towards the outskirts of their tiny village. The people of the village had been avoiding Americans like the plague, retreating as their ancestors' did-when death and change came on the horizon in the form of the Dutch and Spanish Traders...
Pete Mercado watched the horses of steel and iron that his colleagues piloted fly overhead and turned casually to the old man who stood watching them pass.
"Hey Rolf." He pointed, "Any reason why my boys would be getting up this early to take the ponies for a gallop?"
Rolf tossed him a coffee and ran his hand through his bleached blond hair and sighed.
"I don't know." He said in accented English, "I mean the animals were spooked last night, some of the older folks in the town have been muttering and pointing to the HCF base.
Pete frowned, "You mean the one we're here to protect? Technically? Along with all these Americans in the town?"
"That's it." Rolf's eyes narrowed, "Nobody's been out of the plant for days- and then there's the animals-"
Pete's eyes widened, "Animals?"
Rolf did not bother to respond. His eyes wandered out into the middle of the street and across away from the confines of civilization to where the African Prairie loomed like a straw shadow. Grunts and howls and-god forbid-moaning echoed back and forth like catcalls.
"They."
Pete and Rolf started and looked back. A wizened old African woman stood beside them, leaning heavily on a richly carved staff. Her coal eyes were hidden beneath the wrinkles of her face-and her presence bespoke the kind of wisdom you'd only find in books, or folktales.
"They warning us."
Pete chuckled, his voice high and nervous, "Warning us about what?"
She did not smile. She turned to face the white man and looked at him with sad, serious eyes.
"They say white men come. White men build place to worship new gods. Old gods get angry so they send gift."
"Gift?" Rolf had to interject-crazy Anne was-well-crazy, "Like Pandora's Box?"
"Yes. "Anne whispered harshly, "Men opened the box and released the evil into world. Now evil spreading."
"Why would the animals be talking about it here?" Pete laughed, "I mean, why not go to the Post, or the Examiner-or heaven forbid the "Mirror" in London-"Pete was an American man of the world-having been stationed at sixteen other bases before this particular assignment.
"Simple Major." Anne smiled a gap-toothed smile, "Very easy. Evil wants to go home."
Pete and Rolf exchanged glances.
"I'd better get back to the base." Pete said quickly, picking up his bags, "Thanks for the morning report from the animal kingdom guys!"
"Pete!" Rolf reached foreword and grabbed a newspaper from the counter, "You forgot your copy of the Times!"
"Thanks!" Pete jogged back in and reached for the paper, the roar of the metal horses loud overhead, "I don't know what I'd do without-"
His eyes dropped to the headline and froze.
"Not a problem Pete-there was a problem with the boat it came on last night though-Pete-Pete?" Rolf frowned, "What's the matter?"
Pete said nothing, he pointed.
THE DEAD WALK?
The air filled with the sound of animals crying, and a faint sound-like an underscore in a music CD-that may have been the sound of screams.
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UN Conference building
"At four thirty HCF lost contact with their base on the Ivory Coast. An employee called it in-but the line was disconnected before we were able to hear more of the situation." "So?" The General leaned back in his seat, his uniform polished, "What's the problem here? Corporate goons forget to call in?"
"That's what we thought. Until we pulled this photo."
The general took the photo from his assistant's hand and frowned. He turned it over again, and then his frowned turned to an expression of fear. "What the hell is this."
"This is a photograph taken via sat-imaging station six-two-two. The detailed parts are taken from a USGS survey team looking for diamonds."
"When did they last report in?" "They have yet to sir. This photo was sent in yesterday."
The General sat back, "Holy, mother-fucking-Christ." They had Umbrella, they had Umbrella by the Goddamn balls and now this..." "I wonder how many companies have this particular...tool?" The Man at the end of the table whispered. The General, the assistants, and the other pawns looked up at the sound of his voice. "I wonder, how many more people have this technology? I wonder..."
"We CAN'T let the terrorists get a hold of this." Another General cried. He pounded his hands on the table, "AS if the first attack wasn't bad enough. Can you imagine what a militant group could do with the Undead?" "They would just have to spray in a mall." A small voice said, "Like Dark Winter. We cannot afford to have another Nuclear weapon detonated on our soil. I mean-we CANNOT afford to-" "I thought we had left the international arena trying to sort out-"
"It seems." The man down at the end of the table said, "That we have a new threat to our great nation. The Umbrella trial must proceed smoothly gentlemen, and then we will make HCF pay."
The generals congratulated themselves on an outstanding collection of ideas. Yes, they would wait-they would return to slumber. In the meantime the African government (Governments? It was always hard to tell) could sort out the HCF. Then they would step in, save the day, make new friends and keep the old and all that.
They could see it all so clearly.
Down at the end of the table, cloaked in shadows and dragging on a cigarette, the man allowed himself a small, pearly white, smile.
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Horizon Chemical Foundation, Las Vegas Nevada
Sherry groaned.
Her sides hurt, and her stomach felt like it was about to heave. She twisted to one side, trying to escape the light from beneath her prone body.
Where am I?She arched her back and blinked-her eyes barely adjusting to the gloom.
What-the-fuck-is-this?She was in an 11x12 box. The front of the box was effaced with glass-giving her a window onto a catwalk lit from beneath by hundreds of twinkling lights. Everything was a blaring-unbelievable-white.
"HEY!" she slammed her fist into the glass, "HEY!"
Across from her she saw a shape rise up and head over to investigate. She could dimly make out large features-
"BEAR!"
She shrank back; ignoring the fact that the bear was in the cage across the catwalk-and that he seemed very friendly.
"Holy...HCF...It's them...again..."
Either That or it was Umbrella.
The walls echoed with footfalls. She reached down and realized she was naked-and wrapped in an issued hospital gown including shirt and pants. She looked like a Scrubs reject.
"Hey!"
The footfalls became louder. A single man in a business suit followed by two others in black uniforms wielding weapons stalked past her. With military precision the black men turned to face her-leveling their guns.
The man folded his arms behind his back. There was something familiar about him.
"Are you comfortable Miss Birkin?"
"Who are you?" Her voice sounded large and hollow to her ears, "This is Kidnapping!"
"Absolutely." The man's voice was muffled in her prison, "And I have no intention of allowing your ridiculous little friends to let you escape this time. Did you enjoy your few brief years of freedom? They'll be the last you'll ever get."
Sherry said nothing. She sat back and stared at them with cold-expressionless fish eyes.
"Ah. I see we're going to play little soldier hmm?" The man leaned down, getting to her level, "Not talking, and not saying anything..."
A swish sound echoed off to the side of her. She frowned, not taking her eyes off the space the man's eyes vacated. She watched him stand, give a fake smile, and nod.
A younger man stepped into view.
Dad?He looked a lot like her father-the thought somehow gave her comfort. Never mind that her dad had been a blood-sucking butt-ugly fiend who had tried to kill her, at least he offered some protection.
This new figure wore a lab coat-and he was much younger then all the military men present. A black tie was askew on his chest-his white shirt stained with sweat. His brown eyes were wide and angry behind thin wire rims.
I wonder what they're arguing about? She growled to herself. That cute guy was most likely her doctor for the freak fest. She touched her elbow and frowned-wincing in pain.
They took out blood? Why?"Hey! Can you hear me?"
Sherry looked up.
The young man was facing her now, both hands on the glass. The Executive looked pained, yet Sherry saw a satisfaction in his eyes.
"Listen! I'm going to let you out okay? Just stay there!"
Sherry frowned.
Two things were wrong with this scenario.
1-he was the enemy
2-he was going to let her out.
She chuckled and bit her tongue to keep from calling out and telling him that it wasn't the way the game was played.
She whirled about when she heard the sound of a key turning in a lock. What would Claire do? Jump him most likely, not kill him-get the key-get a weapon-get out-
Claire...
The door opened wide and Sherry jumped.
"HEY!"
She yelped as the figure gripped her firmly around the waist and tossed her against the wall. She yelped again as she slid to the white floor, her face suddenly pressed against some scuff marks.
The figure was on her in a flash.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" she thrashed about with her hands, ignoring the pain in her arm. She smacked the figure on the side of the head, listening to the satisfying sound of glasses flying.
A hand grabbed her wrist, followed by another. She jerked upward, slamming her legs into his chest. The man coughed and pinned her with his own Torso.
She spit at him.
"Goodness." He smiled at her. His pale face had a streak of red blood down the side, "You put up a fight."
She wiggled, but he held her firm.
"What were you going to do? Rush the door? I had David lock me in. I only had the key to your door."
"Let me up."
"Not until you promise to not attack me."
His green eyes bored into her. He really did remind her of her dad...
"Alright."
He raised his hand off a wrist.
"Promise?"
"Jesus what do you want? A written fucking order? Yes, I promise."
He pulled himself off of her in a smooth motion and said, "Language my dear."
"Go to Hell and Fuck yourself."
The young man's eyes narrowed, "Listen. I'm TRYING to persuade them to let you go into my custody, in which case I will see about getting whatever it is you did processed quickly with the law."
"I was kidnapped!"
"I figured as much." The man raised a hand to his forehead. The door to the outside cage slid shut and Sherry studied him fully. They were in a white room with faded black scuffmarks on the walls and floor.
"Who the hell are you people?"
The man dropped his head, "Please watch the language."
"Who are you!"
"I." He pointed to his chest and studied her with dead eyes, "am Dr. Kevin Lancaster. Medical Doctor and Genetic Specialist."
"Impossible." She laughed, "You aren't any older then I am. Say, can I play dress up next? I want to be the Queen of England."
"Please watch the jokes." Now she could hear the English in his voice, "Seriously. How would you like it if I said I wanted to be president?"
"I'd be cool with that." Sherry dropped to the floor. Pinhead. What the hell does he have stuck up his ass?
Kevin shook his head, "Yes. Moving on. If you promise to behave I will have you removed from here, and awaiting a government investigation I will give you a room at my house."
"What do you want from me?" Sherry raised an eyebrow, "You want me to sing? Dance? I mean-why-the-fuck are you being so nice to me?"
Kevin dropped his eyes, "I don't like to see things caged."
She raised her eyes, "I can buy that."
He nodded, "At least don't try to escape until we're out of the building."
"I can dig that too." It would be a hell of a lot easier to escape once she knew where she was, and where the major population centers were.
"Cool" he held up his hands in quotation marks, "Now then Miss Birkin. Shall we?" he extended his arm. Sherry frowned, a fluttering feeling in her chest kept her from making a snide remark about his behavior.
Daniel was appalled. How can a girl with such good upbringing have such awful manners?
After waking up from his dream-state in the basement. He'd come upstairs to find the situation already in progress. His first sight upon re-entering reality had been that girl in her cage.
Somehow, the image reminded him of Trinity. Everything, from the scared eyes to the way she moved...
He'd had to intervene, if anything to distract him from what he had seen down below. This woman would provide a welcome distraction...
"What's your name?" he asked.
She said nothing. They passed through the first set of doors and she glared accusingly at all present. Her original captor appeared like a dark shadow behind her and Dr. Kevin.
"Kevin, what are you doing?"
"Taking her with me." Kevin frowned, "We're going to get this sorted out David..." he managed to chuckle lightly, "Honestly...locking a girl up in a cage like this, I don't know what you were thinking!"
His laughter rang throughout the white halls. David looked at him like he was insane, the military men were expressionless.
"That's a HBW you're holding the arm of." David said coolly, "You'd better let go and give her to us to take care of."
"HBW?" Kevin tightened his grip on the girl, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"James. Enlighten the good Doctor on the nature of the HBW and The BOW."
Kevin and Sherry jumped as "James" Swung his rifle to the side in a ceremonial gesture. He removed his helmet in the same fashion and raised his eyes-his face robotic.
"The HBW is the evolved stage of the BOW-or Bio Organic Weapon." The Standard classification of Bio Organic Weapon was developed by the Umbrella Corporation to describe creations whose conception involved the T-Cell Virus Toxin. HBW stands for HUMAN biological Weapon-a classification used to describe humans who have been in close contact with A T-Cell or G-Cell host."
Kevin frowned, "What are you goddamn Yanks talking about?"
"The Black basement." Here David frowned. He ignored Sherry's confused expression, "I thought you knew-because you went there."
"I went to see Dr. Wesker's hunter." His voice cracked. He hadn't found the hunter amongst the nightmares the lived in the basement. Was it the thing with the Tongue?
"Ah!" David clapped his hands together and erased the memory of the previous day involving Dr. Wesker from his mind, "Then you have met an HBW. Albert Wesker."
Kevin's head swam.
Those things, those awful monsters in the basement-those-creatures...
"Those were humans?"
"Developed by the Umbrella Corporation." David smiled, "You know all about that Sherry, don't you? You know about the "Lickers" and the Hunters...and the zombies..."
Sherry said nothing. She spat in David's Direction.
Kevin stumbled back, suddenly overwhelmed by the knowledge of the cruelty that these people had inflicted on others. He had read about Umbrella-but he had assumed that it was something like what had happened to Microsoft when they became Avalon Computers and Microsoft...
He was leaning against Trinity's cage.
"Leave him." David eyed him-cold, "What's the matter? You HONESTLY thought that we were operating on your same "Save the earth" plane? Please. You little pathetic Shit..."
Sherry bit her tongue as Kevin's head dropped to his chest.
David was in his element. Finally, that smug, SWEET little arrogant bastard was going to get his. He was so nice, so condescending-always willing to help out someone who was struggling-either at home or with Work...and now he had been knocked down.
Knocked down by the knowledge that the company that he loved and cared for wasn't the sweet company he had originally perceived.
He never saw the tiger move.
The pain she saw on her friend's face had motivated Trinity. Out of all of them, he had provided the only kindness. They had poked and prodded and injected and withdrew. He had brought food and caring. He had arranged for her and others to have the use of land where they could move instead of being kept in these glass worlds forever.
In some dim part of her undeveloped brain she realized that the time had come to repay him.
The Tiger broke through the glass jumping onto the catwalk. The lights beneath its feet made it larger then life-an unearthly daemon coming to punish those who dared disturb its rest.
Sherry shrieked.
"Shoot-"
David got no further. He had a tiger's mouth around his throat.
The military men fired. Sherry covered her ears-her eyes scanning across the holes of the catwalk-through the lights to where her supposed rescuer sat.
Their eyes locked, the thunder stopped around them.
"Trinity?"
Trinity's orange and striped body was a mass of bloody red.
"Trin? Trin are you okay?"
"Get back to your designated area doctor." James poked him gently with his rifle, "Mike-go get a goddamn clean up crew-but first put Birkin back in her cell."
"I'm sorry." Sherry burst out, "She was pretty."
Kevin looked up. His eyes saw her-and they hated.
Sherry bit her lip and let the military man in the black suit lead her away.
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Wolf's Bluff OhioChris Redfield's Hospital Room
Claire was trying to get Becky to eat her mashed peas.
"You don't have to stay with me." Chris smiled weakly, "I can take care of myself sis."
"Don't be ridiculous." Claire grinned, "I loved taking care of you-remember that time you caught the measles and you were all alone in your room and mom let me come in and bring you soup?"
"Nurse Claire." Chris laughed, "Gods that was a long time ago."
"NAAAGH." Becky batted away the spoon, "Muff."
"She doesn't like peas." Chris said, "Jill..."
Reality slapped them in the face, walked off to Vegas, and promptly won a huge Jackpot.
"They aren't going to press charges are they?" Claire looked up, "The woman?"
Chris breathed deep.
"She-she lost her arm Claire. I don't know what'll happen."
"They can't lock you in jail. You have to take care of Becky."
"I know."
"Earlier..." Claire said, "You said, "I know what to do." What were you talking about Bro?"
"First." Chris said, "I want to know what happened to you in the graveyard." He lowered his head and stared at her, "Now."
Claire thought about her brother's condition and about what he might do if he knew that Wesker was back in town. She had her own plans, but he...
"I was...I needed to leave that's all."
"Don't play dumb with me." Chris said, "You saw someone. Who?"
"Just a man...he said he came in to pay respects to Jill-an admirer of her work." Claire gulped.
A shadow crossed Chris's face and disappeared. The white walls of the room darkened and he sighed.
"Hand me Becky Claire."
"Okay..." she handed off the squirming child without a fight, "Anything you want."
"I just...want you to go away Claire."
Claire raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"I need to be by myself for a bit. Just an hour, maybe too...that's all I ask."
He raised his eyes to her-pleading.
"Oo-kay..."
She glanced back at her brother one last time before closing the door behind her.
"Claire!"
Claire raised her eyebrows. A man was jogging towards her; he wore a suit and tie and looked like he'd come from work.
"Claire-"he reached her and took a deep breath, "The police said that you-you-d be- here."
"Can I help you?"
The man raised his ice blue eyes and nodded slowly. Confusion crossed his face, the same expression mirrored in her eyes.
"Jack Birkin, remember? You knew my niece and my sister-in-law..."
"Oh!" Claire's smile turned to one of fake surprise and pleasure, "What are you doing here officer Birkin?"
Birkin's eyes narrowed and Claire instinctively shivered. There must have been something inherently creepy in their genetic makeup-she bet that Jack was a great cop in interrogation-just his gaze made her want to wet her pants.
"Sherry's gone missing. Kate figured that she'd come to see you."
Claire's eyes widened, "She hasn't even called me."
"Then she's missing." Jack shook his head, "And I have the distinct feeling she's in trouble."
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A/N: There's chapter Five! Wooot! Tigers! Human Biological Weapons! I like the title of this chapter, because it not only refers to what the characters call "Human appearing Tyrants" (Like wesker) but also to humans in general-I mean its like-we're biological-and we have the potential to be weapons...