Zane carried the torch through the catacombs of the undead, as he tried to locate himself on the map. He knew he was nearing the part of the map that was torn off, but he knew he had to uncover what had happened here first.
Since the time he entered through the arched doorway, he knew he was in some kind of genetics lab. All kinds of medical devices were scattered on the surgical fields, they also happened have a coated with dried blood.
Zane could tell the age of the lower level, merely by the amount of mold and fungus that had collected on the walls. Truly, he could not see the stonewalls but he knew they were very old; two reasons were: one, the amount of mold that had accumulated over the years, and two, due in part to the cold temperature was the cause of the slower production of the mold and fungi.
Zane now knew that this organization had not only created "zombies" and "hunters," but also other revolting beasts. They had done experiments on humans and had achieved two types of zombies; the first is just a regular, slow moving, unintelligent beast. The other type of zombie was coined "Crimson Head" by Umbrella Inc. This was the same type of zombie Zane and Lindsay had dealt with in the library. The Crimson Heads are faster, stronger, more intelligent, and much more aggressive than the regular zombie.
They had also done genetic testing on other various creatures such as bats, monkeys, rats, even leeches.
Zane is now standing at a fork in the hall, deciding which way to go. He could go right to the exit, but he wanted to know what really happened here. The left passage took him off the map. The map was quite extensive, but the corridor was unlabeled, and the map said it did not exist.
He refolded the map and placed it deep within the confines of his coat and chain maille, and set off down the hall. His boots echoing in the empty corridors as he marched down the hall.
He passed open doors; he glanced in each one for something that may be of use to him; protection was ideal from the strange horrors that lurk in the darkness. He walked down the dark dingy hall passing four identical rooms. The fifth room was different. The was a desk in the back of the room, the kind of desk you would normally see in an executive's office. There was also a fireplace on the west wall. The east wall held pictures, degrees, and other things of that such.
Zane edged into the room, aware that he was not alone. He could hear the heavy breathing of something to his right. A breath that came out in ragged panting breaths, as if it ran a four-minute mile.
He continued to walk further into the room, hopeful that whatever was behind him had not sensed his presence. He walked three more feet before whatever was behind him stirred. Zane turned and went into a fighting stance, ready to defend himself.
"Nice to see you too." Exclaimed a feminine voice. Zane sent the flame nearer to the voice.
"Get that out of my face! That's hot you know!"
"Lindsay? That you?" Asked Zane in a timid voice.
"Duh…Who else would it be? Now get that away from my face!" She batted her hand at the incandescent flame.
"Sorry, I thought you were you know…With your breathing and all."
"That wasn't…"
Just as she was finishing her sentence, a chimera scurried across the ceiling and jumped down, and thrust its long hook-like claws deep within Lindsay's legs. It ripped away much of the tissue spraying blood across its deformed face, and the torso of Zane.
Zane immediately went back into a fighting stance, legs outstretched, ready to block, kick, and punch. The chimera took heed of Zane's fighting stance and tried to slice Zane's legs off. Zane jumped high into the air, trying to keep out of reach of the giant hooked claws.
The chimera took another swing at Zane, narrowly missing his groin by mere inches. Zane was being forced back into the wall, and the chimera knew it.
Zane new if he did not act fast, he was going to be finished. He turned and ran hoping that the small monster would follow him. He ran directly to the wall, only instead of running into the wall, he flipped off the wall. The chimera ran head first into the wall, its sharp hooks dug into its own body, killing it instantly.
Zane looked at the chimera to make sure it was dead before he went to Lindsay. Her legs were in bad shape. She lay sprawled out on the ground. Zane examined her legs closely, checking to see if any major veins had been punctured. Thankfully none were.
"There is a room back that way, it contains a first aid kit. Go get it and come back here please." She looked at him with wide pleading eyes.
"Ok, I'll go, but if anything happens, yell for me ok?" He paused, waiting for a response, and when none came, he said it lightly louder "OK?"
She gave him an odd smile, and promised him that she would.
Zane left Lindsay in the room, and jogged in the direction she had pointed. Inside the room, everything was in complete disarray. There was a distinct smell of chemicals in the air, and the air was warm and moist, almost as if someone had been in here moments ago.
Zane rummaged through the numerous cupboards and shelves that lined the room. For the life of he him could not find the first aid kit. He soon realized that there were no lights on in the room, and moved over to the light switch and flicked it on. There was a sudden revving of computer hard drives booting up in the room.
He saw the first aid kit almost immediately, and went to get it when something caught his eye. On the monitor was a picture and a file. The picture was none other than Barry Redfield. He went over to the computer, wanting to know anything and everything about the man who Zane now considered dead.
The picture was almost the exact same as the face Zane had remembered that one fateful day. Zane sat down to read the short file.
ItalicsBarry Redfield
DOB: April 17, 1967
Condition: Changed
Status: hibernation
Location: Corridor D
Barry Redfield born on April 17, 1967 to two Russian parents. Both parents were assassinated and called traitors by Lenin. Barry was hidden by his parents under the floorboards of their house. Barry escaped and joined an underground army who tried to lead a revolt against the U.S.S.R. their attempt failed and all but Barry were executed. While his time in captivity was short spent, he honed his skills as a fighter. One of the Republican Ministers gave him a choice; either rot in prison for the rest of his life, or do the dirty deeds of the U.S.S.R.
He took the dirty deeds bargain and was freed from the prison within the week. For the next ten years he assassinated, killed, and stole his way out of debt from the U.S.S.R. His last mission was with his daughter Lindsay at a school where they assassinated all but a boy named Zane McCormick.
McCormick was taken in by HCF Inc. and mutated with the promise of being the best and the strongest. Procedure and incubation were complete on January 05, 2005. We have codenamed him Tyrant, in respect for those from Umbrella Inc. End Italics I'm not an insider lol
File edited on January 6, 2005.
Zane looked at the clock on the computer, today was January 6, 2005. A chill went down his spine. He took a final glance at the computer and grabbed the first aid kit and ran back to Lindsay.
"What took you so long?"
"I…uh couldn't find the first aid kit…Here lift your leg." Zane quickly opened the kit and placed her foot on a pile of books he grabbed off the desk. "Tell me about the Raccoon City incident."
Lindsay chuckled a little as she thought about where she left off earlier. "Well let's see, I told you how there was a government cover up on how the city exploded, so that means I should start at the after math.
"My father and I got out in the nick of time. We were the lucky ones. After the nuclear explosion Umbrella hired a game company to create a game that would try and blur the line of reality. They called it Resident Evil. The population bought it too, I'm not exactly sure how though." Lindsay winced in pain as Zane poke metal through her skin trying to stitch her wound up. "Eventually Umbrella had been infiltrated by a man named Albert Wesker and he had injected himself with an unknown virus. HCF had no knowledge about his death, but Umbrella did. A woman killed him over the death of her boyfriend, her name was Ada Wong."
"Ok, your first foot is done, could you please put up your second?"
"Sure. Anyways I have hacked into the HCF mainframe and found out almost all of this information. I also bribed Umbrella personal to give me information." Zane, yet again poked the sharp piece of metal through Lindsay's skin, only Lindsay didn't even seem to notice. "And anyways they were monitoring me one time I hacked into their mainframe and they sent for people to come after me and now I'm here."
"Interesting, you said something about your father getting away with you? Is he still alive?"
"Actually no he isn't, Barry, my father, was brought here with me and I have searched for him, and I think they disposed of him already." When she spoke not even a tear came to her eyes. This was quite impressive for two reasons: One, metal was going through her skin, and she had just been stabbed by a little monster, and two, she spoke of her father almost as if she had killed him herself. There was no hatred or remorse in her voice though. Zane was becoming quite distracted by this.
"Ok, your feet are fixed," Zane stood up and reached his hand down. "Take my hand let's see if you can stand." Lindsay gripped his hand harder than she intended to and tears came to Zane's eyes. Lindsay rose slowly to her feet, even though she felt no pain she still had to be careful; she was still human.
"Zane I have something I need to show you. Come with me, it explains so much."
She gripped Zane's hand tighter and pulled him out of the room.
Zane and Lindsay entered a room that was very spacious. In the far corner sat a frozen tube, surrounding the tube were control panels doing everything from regulating the air temperature to regulating the power supply.
Lindsay ran over to one of the control panels and typed in numerous commands. Zane began to get curious about what Lindsay was doing and what was in the giant containment unit.
Zane walked over to the frozen container and peered inside. What he saw shocked him and made him want to run away, screaming. Within the confines of the containment field was the monster of monstrosities. Words cannot truly describe the horror but can create a basic outline. Claws on both hands forged from titanium alloy. The skull, reinforced with the same metal used in the claws, meaning it cannot be shot and killed by conventional means. The muscles alone were the size of Zane's head. The freakish hybrid's cerebral column had been expanded to allow quicker thinking and more brainpower. The thing had almost no neck; the cerebral column had been enlarged so much that if the beast moved it be head it would have to move its entire body. It had no reproductive organs that were visible, and its skin was as pasty as a fresh corpse's. As in earlier versions of the Tyrant, one of its four rhinoceros hearts were visible. The lips were peeled away, and revealed the decaying gums and teeth of the beast.
Zane slowly backed away from the Tyrant as if fast movement would wake the beast. He looked over at Lindsay who was smiling and had a strange twinkle in her eye. She looked up at the Tyrant and said. "You will soon be free, father."
"Lindsay what are you doing?"
"I am releasing my father, my creation." She went back to typing.
"What are you talking about?"
She continued to type. "What's wrong, do I surprise you?"
"Yes. You led me here didn't you. Why?"
"Hmm." Lindsay pauses, she has rehearsed what she is going to say many times before, ever since the day in the school, she knew what she was going to do. "We weren't always like this..." She gestured towards her father and herself. "We created ourselves this way. Some to be our eyes and ears, some to be our muscles and sinew. We were created to be predators, but also to be controlled. You see, Umbrella wanted us as slaves to sell to the highest bidder, I on the other hand knew the true value of life..."
"That's right you knew the value of life."
"…and I still do. Some must be sacrificed for others." She looked up from her typing and looked Zane in the eye.
"Have you not considered the human cost of…of what you are doing?"
"We all pay a price Number Six." Lindsay put extra emphasis on the last two words.
"This is…This is a perversion of every natural law!"
"And what is killing for money and power, but your pathetic attempt to control the world around you?" She turned around and her finger hovered around the enter button. "I am sorry Zane I really am, but what is done is done, and there is no going back." Her finger descended on the enter button and an alarm immediately sounded. "I bid you adieu." And with that she ran towards the sealing metal door, Zane in close pursuit.
The door slammed shut just as Lindsay passed through. Zane pounded on the clear plexi glass. Lindsay on the other side had a crazy smile on her face, how he wished he let the hunter maul her earlier.
Behind Zane the Tyrant was awakening, the ice thawing. "Lindsay do you want another death on your soul?" yelled Zane.
"I don't believe in heaven and hell, too bad for you." She walked away still laughing. A large chunk of ice fell from the side of the stasis unit.
Zane pulled out his pistol with the empty magazine. He bashed the butt of the handgun against the plexi glass to no avail. The plexi glass was bulletproof. Zane franticly looks around the room and sees nothing he can even remotely use as a weapon.
The ice in the stasis tube has now turned to slush and the Tyrant is now moving its extremities freely in the stasis tube. The heart on the outside of the chest pumps, causing the blood rushing throughout the synthetic veins. The Tyrant spots Zane and head buts the ice, cracking it right down the middle, and then forces it's right hand through the ice. The ice is still to thick for the Tyrant to get out, but the ice isn't going to last long. The temperature in the room was rising and the ice was melting faster by the second.
Zane quickly surveyed the ceiling to find out where the hot air was coming, and found it directly above the stasis tank. He knew if he was going to do anything, he was going to have to do it fast. Another minute and the Tyrant would be free from its imprisonment.
Zane hoped his leg was doing better. He ran to the stasis tank and shoved his foot in the ice, trying to get more of a jump. He sprang with all his muscle and just barely grabbed the top of the frozen stasis tank. His palms felt they were on fire; the stasis tank was so cold that it was literally freezing his hands to it. He shoved his right foot into the ice, and then he put his left foot higher.
There was a terrible crash as the Tyrant finally broke through the ice and grabbed Zane's foot. Zane jerked his foot, but the Tyrant's hold was too tight. He had no hope of getting out alive. Therefore, he decided if he was going down, that this beast was going with him.
He let go of the top of the stasis tank and grabbed a sharp chunk of ice. His combined force of the blow and his fall was enough for the ice to penetrate the skin of the Tyrant's hand. It released Zane's foot almost immediately.
Zane scuttled on his back to the door where he calmly waited for the Tyrant to advance. The surprising thing was for all the muscle that had been added to the arms, neck, and chest, the legs had remained completely normal. The added weight of the muscle cause the Tyrant to advance slowly.
When the tyrant reached him, Zane had formulated a plan of attack. The Tyrant reached back with one of its clawed hands, preparing to strike a devastating blow. The Tyrant sends his blow forward, and Zane ducks out of the way. The Tyrants claws titanium claws stick the door. The Tyrant pulls back, bending the door enough for Zane to get through. His plan had worked.
Zane ran on the opposite side of the Tyrant as he was turning, since the Tyrant has a stationary head Zane was in his blind spot.
Zane raced down the hall, back to the fork in the hall and as he ran a KLAXON voice said "Emergency, Please evacuate to the nearest emergency exit. The self-destruct has been activated.
Zane jetted past where he had last looked at the map, and hoped he knew where he was going. He passed a sign on the wall that said corridor E. He ran faster taking no heed to the banging metal behind him as the Tyrant broke free of the room in Corridor D.
He bounded down the hall till he began to see light, and a train up ahead. He slowed down to a quick trot, and rounded the corner and saw Lindsay.
Lindsay looked as if she was going to explode with rage. "My father, what did you do to my father!"
"Fuck off, Bitch." Was all he could muster. He was filled with hate and rage and knew he had to get out of there.
She grabbed him by his collar and lifted him directly off the ground, and walked towards the train tracks, directly in front of Corridor E. She never saw it coming. The Tyrant Barry rammed Lindsay and caused her and her transformed father to fall together, down onto the train tracks.
Zane peered over the protective railing, and saw both were unconscious. He ran to the train, and started it up. He hoped that this was just like a subway train. He pushed the throttle forward, slowly as not to accelerate to fast or to burn the engine out.
The was a loud crunch as they ran over one of the bodies one the tracks, and Zane sat back in the conductor's chair and guided the train to safety.
Zane had been ten miles out and on the open icy land when he heard, saw, and felt the explosion. It would have been a perfect fourth of July if you don't count the zombies and had it been July. He walked off into the rising sun, wondering what tomorrow will bring.