Author's Note: If the presentation rooms seem familiar it's probably because I was inspired by the one from the 'Spencer Rain'Also, the chapter's longer. I said they would be once I got into the action.A special thanks, as always, to my beta Jediferret.

Currently listening to 3rd Time's the Charm by Tetsuya Shibata from the Biohazard Outbreak OST

Standard disclaimer. Italics denotes thought

Chapter 6

Alice walks out of the elevator onto a catwalk suspended over most of the third floor. Directly in front of her is a brushed steel wall with a set of steel doors in the middle. Equipping her shotgun, she opens one of the doors and eases inside.

She is standing in the middle of a large wall at the back of a comfortably appointed room. The texture of the thick, steel-blue carpet can be felt even through the thick soles of her boots. Theater seats upholstered in a plush navy fabric are set around the room and wall sconces give off a soothing blue glow. The setting inspires one to sink into one of those luxuriously cozy seats and relax. She walks down the gently sloped floor toward the far wall that is a large 2-inch thick Plexiglas window. Each seat in the room has an unobstructed view of the room below.

Alice looks through the window. Below the observation deck is a large room with steel walls illuminated by stadium lights. Pacing the steel floor is a familiar creature to Alice. The size of a full-grown man, it crawls along the floor on all fours. The large claws on what used to be its hands are razor sharp and allow it to scale walls and traverse ceilings. They are also formidable weapons, slicing through flesh, muscle and even bone. Its sightless head is filled with needle sharp teeth and a spear like tongue that can inflict heavy damage, not only because it's sharp but also can be used for strangulation. This one is different in one way, its spine and claws are tipped in silver-white.

Alice is unsure of the implications of this particular mutation. She does notice that it still has the same weakness as the other lickers she's fought. Its brain is unprotected; a few shots to that vulnerable area and it'll drop like a fly.

She watches the licker meander around the arena, using the rare quiet moment to plan her next move. She reloads her shotgun and chambers the first round. Unbeknownst to her, the sound registers on the licker's acute hearing and its head jerks in her direction. Alice takes one more look into the arena before proceeding to the next presentation room. She frowns in confusion.

Where'd the licker go?

Alice is unprepared for the licker's 150lb frame to slam into the window by her face. Its claws dig into the Plexiglas causing web-like cracks to appear. Its 3 foot tongue lashes at the glass trying to get at her. The cracks begin to get longer and wider as the abomination flexes it claws to get a better grip.

Alice readies her shotgun and backs toward the door. Another licker, unseen until now, crashes into the glass next to the first and the window shatters. The two creatures tumble into the room and quickly right themselves. The first screeches as it advances on Alice.

She circles, trying to cover both unholy beasts at the same time. She has three choices, the door she had come through only moments before, go through the shattered window into the room below or make a stand and fight. A humorless smile tugs at the right corner of her mouth as she decides.

Gripping her weapon tighter, she aims and fires at the nearest profane creation. Time seems to slow down as she watches the bullet streak toward its intended target. Scant inches from its mark, a silver white static appears as if the bullet has struck an invisible barrier. Alice watches in disbelief as the 12-gauge round drops to the floor, having never come in contact with the licker. The creature seems totally unfazed and continues to screech and stalk closer to her.

She flips out of the way as its companion lashes out with its whip-like tongue and finds herself at the steel doors leading out to the catwalk. Keeping the shotgun trained on the monsters, she slips her right hand behind her and opens the door. In one liquid motion she slides through the narrow opening and pulls the door shut behind her. A split second later, the doors rattle as 300lbs of tG-virus infected humanoid hit the other side.

Alice decides to check out the other portions of the catwalk to see where they lead. Passing the elevator, she continues to another presentation room. This one is decorated with the same comfortable, expensive fabrics as the first only in shades of deep rose. Rose-colored lights line the walls. Giving in to the restful ambiance, she sits in a chair at the back of the room and contemplates what has just happened.

What was that light around the licker? It seemed almost electrical in nature. It's obviously a form of protection. Did it evolve naturally or is it a by product of the tG-virus? I need answers.

A variation in the light coming from the room below draws Alice's attention. Cautious after her recent experience, she creeps to the window and looks down. Inside the steel arena are two creatures she's never seen before.

Definitely reptilian in nature, they walk erect and have deadly claws on their hands and feet. Well muscled legs no doubt provide extraordinary jumping ability. Their mouths are full of razor sharp teeth. The bony ridge that runs from their brow line across the top of their heads and down on past their shoulder blades, as well as, their claws are tipped with the same silver-white as the lickers.

Now that's something I'd never want to come across in a dark alley. It's like something from a nightmare.

She carefully exits the room, making as little noise as possible. The sight of the nightmarish creatures is enough to send her off to complete her mission. She skips her plans to explore the rest of the second and third floors and heads to the elevator to go to the fourth floor.

The elevator stops on the second floor and Ada emerges. As the doors close behind her, a voice comes over her earpiece.

Wesker inquires, "Have you retrieved the sample?"

"No," Ada responds, "there's been a complication."

Wesker states, "Let me guess…Alice."

Ada's fairly drips with sarcasm, "How did you know?" Her question is more of a statement.

Wesker lets out a short laugh, "Huh, I just found out. I hope I don't have to tell you what you're supposed to do."

"Retrieve the sample at all costs. I'm trailing her as we speak." Ada replies as she rolls her eyes.

Wesker's voice turns cold, "Don't fail me Ada."

Ada smirks and answers him, "Yes, yes, or you might have to kill me. I've heard all this before."

"Obviously you're not taking the threat too seriously." Wesker responds, mildly amused by Ada's defiance, "Perhaps I'll have to remind you why you work for me and not the other way around."

Ada is eager to end the transmission, "Some other time perhaps. I'm busy right now, Ada out."

Arrogant retard.

She ends the call and approaches the first pair of doors. Screeching and the sound of claws on steel comes from inside, so she decides to move on rather than explore that room. Ada follows the catwalk around to the next large dark steel bulkhead. Approaching the security doors, she sees a card reader situated above the knob. She pulls out her high clearance security keycard and swipes it through the reader. A green light appears and a low click is heard as the lock disengages.

Opening the door, she finds a large room open to the one below which is enormous. She's standing on the catwalk that runs around the perimeter of the room. The walls are lined with lockers, apparently for the workers in this area. From below can be heard various animal sounds and they don't sound happy. From her vantage point, she can see the room below is where they house their experiments, both before and after being infected. Cage sizes ranging from small for the Cerberus all the way to the size of a large prison cell for god-only-knows what can be seen. The backs of the cages lead directly into the training arenas on either side of this room.

At the far end of the catwalk is a small lift used to descend to the room below. Ada ignores it and searches the lockers. She finds typical locker items: deodorant, dirty magazines, family photos, various articles of clothing, a rumpled screenplay, and some guy's wallet with fifty bucks in it, which she pockets. She was hoping for the charged particle rifle which, logically, should be in this room but it isn't anywhere to be found.

Stuck with the Taser.

Avoiding the lift, she finishes her search and exits the room. The door opens onto the mesh catwalk and the sound of claws clicking on steel as something otherworldly stalks her.

A licker, no doubt. I'm sure it's shielded too.

She backs up inside the door and quietly closes it. Preparing her Taser, she eases the door open and searches for her target. She spots it hiding almost out of sight amongst the pipes and cables near the ceiling. She shoots it with the Taser, shorting out its shield and takes it out with the Punisher.

That was easy.

Just as the thought registers, she hears the familiar screech as the second licker attacks. Her acute hearing picks up on her attacker's location and she instantly flips backwards. As her body soars through the air, she points the toe of her right foot, catching the licker under the chin. The hit stuns the creature and Ada runs into a presentation room. She shuts the door behind her just as the licker recovers and comes after her.

Ada edges down the side wall toward another that had apparently been made entirely of Plexiglas. Stepping around the broken shards, she stands in the shadows cast by the blue sconces. She readies her Taser and waits for the monster to follow her inside.

Yeah, it was easy…too easy.

The second the creature comes through the door, Ada takes out its shield with the Taser. An instant later, a .45ACP round follows the darts and plows through the monstrosity's frontal lobe into its brainstem. It stops in its tracks and drops to the floor, dead.

After reloading her weapons, Ada exits the room and returns to the elevator. She sees the doors closing and rushes to them only to get a glimpse of Alice's jubilant face before they're separated completely.

To Be Continued…