One Man's Struggle
Chapter 1- City of Survivors
A/N: During the writing of this Ben was absent for a while due to Katrina so Perkygothian has been helping with the writing, so there may be some small changes in writing style for part of the fanfic, namely when NYX comes into play in the fanfic.
Disclaimer: Resident Evil is the property of Capcom.
It had been six years since the destruction of the city that was now a wasteland. He was one of many survivors that were still in the city. Mikhail sat there on the ledge of one of the glass and concrete cliffs created by the powerful blasts, sharpening his knife. He had survived six greuling years in the ruins of the city, relying on his wits and the knife he had. A familiar sound came from the distance, grabbing his attention quickly. "A helicopter! What is it doing here?" Mikhail asked himself, getting up and getting ready, not knowing that Umbrella was no more. He got his M4A1 and the scant amount of ammo he had ready, just in case it was another clean-up crew from Umbrella. They had often checked the city for survivors, but they never found him or the others, as they kept out of their sight. Once he did see some of the very own men he trained, including Carlos. "What will be going on this time?" He asked himself, training his sight on the helicopter. Two figures got out of the helicopter, a man and a woman. The man seemed to be built like a tank, whilst the woman was practically a delicate glimmer of red. Mikhail was intrigued. "What the hell? Civilians? In a place like this?" He asked himself, getting up and leaping down from the ledge he was sitting on, going to where the helicopter was.
The bleak landscape of the city would be impossible for any normal person to traverse, as it was a vast sea of concrete, glass, and metal debris. Some buildings were still standing. But being used to it for six years, Mikhail knew his way around the city. He had his shelter out near the river, among the ruins of the university. Occasionally he did see a few surviving virus carriers, but he dealt with them quickly should they get in his way. There was a Tyrant still alive in the ruins, but fortunately it could never catch up to him.
The twirling of a deadly combat knife was audible in the air. Krauser smiled, tossing his knife up in the air a little, and then catching it with his other hand. "Don't understand why Wesker wants us to come back to this shithole…." He muttered, looking around with his cold, evil eyes. "Waste of my time…" He said with a nod, walking down the glass shard ridden streets. He once more started twirling his combat knife, almost as if he was bored. Suddenly, something burst out of a nearby door, trying to leap at Krauser. Krauser, still twirling his knife, did a weird little triple strike with the knife while spinning it, then sheathing it. He looked to the target, who was a zombified citizen of Raccoon City. Lightly poking the zombie, it suddenly fell in pieces, letting out one last groan. "…Pathetic…" He muttered, adjusting his beret before continuing to twirl his knife on his index finger.
Continuing down the streets, it seemed like more things wished to cross his path. He was shocked, however, to find a living survivor. The fact that she was non-infected to boot, which confused Krauser as well. The woman screamed, and turned, running off merely seconds after sight. "Humans…" He muttered, before cracking his neck and continuing on. But something caught his eye once he got to the remains of the Raccoon University. It seems that there was a civilization of surviving citizens was there. "How did this many survive? That blast should have toasted them all…" He muttered, narrowing his eyes. A figure stepped out of the darkness. "Because I helped them survive…." The figure said. Krauser turned quickly, knife already unsheathed. "You…" He muttered.
Mikhail smiled at the new man. He had seen him exit from the chopper, and oddly enough, Krauser reminded him of a younger version of himself. At least body wise, anyway. Personality would be revealed soon enough. Oddly enough, Mikhail had even developed similar scars on his face like Krauser's. But his clothes hid even more scars than were shown. Krauser blinked. 'It's like staring into a mirror…' He thought to himself. "Just who the hell are you, old man?" Krauser said with a rude tone, twirling his knife. Mikhail smirked, closing his eyes. "I am Mikhail Victor. Former U.B.C.S. Lieutenant until I 'died', and then I started this little settlement in bombed to hell Raccoon City. As you can plainly see, there were plenty of survivors. Obviously, the 'nuclear missile' was some overpowered Tomahawk cruise missile or something very far from a real nuclear missile."
"Well, talking bores me… So you'd better have a knife on you." Krauser said, before grasping the knife firmly in his right hand, before striking out in a mad combo of slices. Mikhail unsheathed his combat knife, and countered at just the right time.
The two blades clashed, and the two figures gritted their teeth. 'Pretty good… For a human.' He thought to himself, before thrusting a punch with his left hand. Mikhail blocked it expertly, and judo-flipped Krauser onto his back. Mikhail took a few steps back, getting some distance. "I'll admit… You've got some moves, old man." Krauser said, before flipping back onto his feet. "But they won't help you for long." Krauser said with a smirk, charging Mikhail and thrusting his knife outwards. Mikhail caught Krauser's knife hand, and as Mikhail stabbed with his left, Krauser caught his hand. The two struggled, Mikhail oddly holding his own against Krauser. But Krauser had far more strength untapped, and began to overcome Mikhail. 'He's strong. He's a bit too strong for any normal man.' Mikhail thought, before realizing just what he was fighting. But before Krauser could carry on, he noticed his ear communicator was beeping. It was Ada, as usual. He tried to ignore her, but her yelling eventually got his attention. "We'll have to finish this another time…" Krauser muttered, pushing Mikhail back before resheathing his combat knife. "Very well, but before you go, I need to know something to call you at least." Mikhail said, resheathing his own combat knife. "Krauser…" Krauser said lowly, before turning and running very fast down the street and taking a sharp turn. "Krauser, eh? Heh, it has a nice ring to it." Mikhail said, smirking.
He laughed a bit as he watched Ada fight a losing battle. "About time somebody showed you who's boss..." Krauser said with a grin on his face. "Maybe I should leave you here to die..." He said, still grinning. Ada was doing all she could do avoid certain death at the hands of the Tyrant's deadly claws. "You bastard! Come and help me!" She shouted. Krauser simply laughed, and shook his head. "Why should I?" He simply stated. She unholstered her gun, and shot at Krauser, barely missing as Krauser just avoided it almost uncaringly. "Come now Ada... Why would someone you just shot at help you?" Krauser said with a grin reappearing on his scar covered face. Before Ada could respond with a witty retort, she felt the slice of the Tyrant's claw hit her old wound she received from the mutated Mr. X years ago. Ignoring it, she saw no other choice but to call upon Krauser. "Just shutup and help me! Wesker won't like me being dead..." She cried out, continuing to avoid claw swipes. Krauser could not help but keep his grin. "Say pretty please..." Was all he said in response, folding his arms over his chest, and tapping his right combat boot covered foot against the pavement in wait. Ada decided she had no choice, she preferred living. "Pretty... Please..?" She said, it barely coming out. She never had to say please for anything as of late. "Wow... Was that so hard, you stuckup bitch?" Krauser said, his grin becoming a simple smirk. Krauser had indeed enjoyed hearing Ada beg for help. 'About time she learned her place...' He thought to himself, looking to the Tyrant. "Hey... Baldy!" He shouted, whistling afterwards. The Tyrant suddenly jerked it's head towards Krauser's direction, narrowing it's eyes. "Let's see how you fair against a more adequate opponent." Krauser said, clenching his hands into tight fists, preparing himself for what was to come. The Tyrant roared, and started walking towards Krauser. "I don't have time for you to walk towards me! Dammit all." Krauser narrowed his eyes, taking off in a sprint of amazing speed towards his new foe. He leaped forwards, still flying from the momentum of his run. Rearing his left arm back, it jerked and convulsed rapidly, and in an almost beautiful display, shapeshifted from a seemingly normal but well developed muscular arm into a blade-like appendage, sharp as a swift katana blade. It gleamed with a glint of almost magnificent light. The Tyrant froze, and Krauser struck with a smirk on his face. The sound of flesh and bone being destroyed was quite audible, as Krauser's arm blade not only pierced the Tyrant's face, but went straight through and almost completely destroyed it. Save for the lower jaw, everything else was in pieces of splattered against a nearby wall. The Tyrant's body fell to the ground with a great 'fwoom!' Krauser smirked, and Ada looked as pissed as ever. "Thank you..." She said with much reluctance. "You're welcome... bitch." He muttered, grinning. The two gave each other cold stares.
Unbeknownst to Krauser and Ada, they were being watched. Mikhail had sent out a scouting party, a bad feeling washing over him and his instincts told him to check on it somehow. The four U.B.C.S. that were still alive, plus David King and Mark Wilkins were the party he sent. The four U.B.C.S. members seemed traumatized by the man's sudden mutation, almost scared. Mark and David just stared, unphased. "Fucking figures..." David mutters, sighing. "We'd better tell Mikhail." Mark said, rubbing his chin.
For some reason, Krauser had almost forgot to retract his blade. With little effort, the mighty weapon-appendage became his old human arm, retaining it's former shape before mutation. Cracking his knuckles and fingers by tightening his hand into a fist, he flicked it a little and popped the fingers some more. "Nothin' like a good killing to get the circulation flowin' properly." Krauser said with a smirk, but it soon faded. He could feel that someone was watching him. Eyes, possibly more than one set, were watching him. Looking back, he saw no one. Narrowing his eyes, he tried to focus and see, but he still saw nothing. "Must be my imagination.." He muttered, before walking off, ignoring the fact that Ada had left prior to his de-mutation. Not like he cared.
Having killed the monster, Krauser was almost displeased. "Shoulda been better than that... Got my hopes all up and my adrenaline running." He muttered, adjusting his beret and unsheathing his knife, only to twirl it on his index finger some, before juggling it from his left to his right hand, and repeating said actions a few times. As Krauser left and ignored the mercs plus David and Mark, the six decided it best to head back to the university and tell Mikhail the news about these newcomers, and how strong and powerful the man was. It didn't take them long, and before long they were already running their mouths to the extreme about the superhuman man with the crazy arm-blade, and the woman in the red dress with amazing speed. "One at a time, please! I don't have a billion ears." Mikhail said, trying to calm them down. After the report, Mikhail smirked. "This is Raccoon City. There's no such thing as surprises... But we will indeed have to be cautious if we fight this one..." Mikhail said, rubbing his chin. "Well, sir, he was heading uptown. Towards J's bar." The second in command said. "That's where Kevin is... Oh shit..." Mark said, a worried look on his face. "The idiot's going to get himself killed... Was wondering how long that would take.." David said with a small smirk, not looking worried at all, let alone in a mood to care. "Well, he's still a comrade. We have to go save him from himself. C'mon." Mikhail said, leading the group of six uptown to J's Bar. Mikhail only hoped he would arrive in time to save Kevin from the alcohol's stupefying effects.
Footsteps seemed to echo so easily through Raccoon City. Krauser found that out really quick. Walking along the streets, twirling his combat knife, he felt the demon of boredom try to take over him. 'Damn it all... Where's something to kill... Or at least scare..?' He thought to himself. Suddenly, a noise up ahead caught his attention. Going into stealth mode, Krauser for some reason thought it was Ada. 'The bitch would double back and try to attack me... She's a bitch, afterall.' He thought to himself, gripping his combat knife firmly in his hand. Unfortunately for Krauser, as he jumped out to surprise his opponent, it turned out to be a simple survivor. "AHH! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!" The man cried out, sprinting off as quickly as possible. "Why waste my time...?" Krauser muttered, now even more frustrated. But then he thought. "Where there's stupid survivors... There's settlements... Where there's settlements...There's stuff to smash." Krauser said with a smirk. Out of random, a piece of paper blown by the breeze flew by his head. "YOU'RE GONNA DIE, YOU RED DRESS WEARING WHORE!" Krauser said, slicing the paper like crazy. "Whoops... Spasm." He muttered, before getting serious and heading off again.
The cold and satisfying taste of alcohol passed into Kevin's awaiting mouth, but did not stay long as Kevin proceeded to chug down the beverage he loved so much as if it were his first drink in days. And it was. "Last time I try to go sober for too long... Damn my head was pounding..." Kevin muttered in a drunken stupor, burping loudly. " 'Scuse meh. Heh heh." He muttered. J's Bar had reopened itself, with Cindy not only managing it, but still retaining her job as the waitress. Kevin smirked. "Minus the destruction and zombies... It's almost like the crazy outbreak never happened." Kevin said out loud, taking another good swig of his beverage. Kevin slowly and rather groggily got off of his barstool, the mug still in his hand. "Well, lookie lookie. A new guy. Don't s'pose you got those scars from losing a fight with a pair of scissors, now did ya?" Kevin said, laughing lightly. Krauser could sense this man was drunk, and he was not about to kill someone who would not totally feel or acknowledge the pain he would bring him. That was not, however, about to stop Krauser from putting the fear into the bar patrons. Moving fast as a lighting bolt, Krauser's fist met with Kevin's face, resulting in launching the R.P.D. Cop clear across the bar, into a table, and finally stopping after a chair was nice enough to break his fall. Kevin groaned in pain, getting up as quickly as he could. "You asshole... You broke my damn mug!" Kevin shouted, tossing the broken mug which once would contain alcohol. Angry as he was, Kevin knew that he would probably get killed by the guy if he tried to attack him. It seemed like there was some superhuman aspect about him. Especially since he knocked Kevin back like he was a rag doll or barely weighed anything. "No sport in killing a drunk..." Krauser muttered, looking to the patrons. Turning, he decided that he should just leave. 'These humans bore me...' He thought to himself. "Yeah, that's right! You better walk away. I'd of smoked you like smoked sausage!" Kevin shouted, before collapsing in a chair. "Cindy... Please bring me the strongest liquor you have... My head hurts..."
But then Kevin obviously felt the need to continue the fight. Especially after Krauser had made him look like a fool. Grabbing a nearby alcohol bottle, he heaved it with unexpected ease. The bottle smashed right beside Krauser's head, the bottle not that empty. "Aw DAMN! I could of drank that. You sonovabitch! You made me waste good alcohol!" Kevin shouted, grabbing an ashtray from the same table, heaving it, it just barely missed Krauser too. "Alright... You're going to die, right here and now." Krauser said, a hint of anger in his voice. "Bring it on, short man!" Kevin said, pulling his gloves on his hands tighter. Krauser charged forwards, and speared Kevin into and through a table. Kevin responded by pushing Krauser off, and giving him one of his classic kicks. Right in the face, actually managing to make Krauser's head go to the side. "Suck on that!" Kevin shouted, smirking. "You don't drink as much as I do and not get some adaptation... Might as well be a Drunken Master." Kevin said, laughing. Krauser blinked. "You look more like a Drunken Buffoon.." Krauser muttered, before grabbing Kevin one handedly and heaving him onto and all the way down the bar counter. "Weeee-OW!" Kevin said, as his head slammed into a pole right at the end of the bar's counter. Oddly, Kevin hopped back up once more. "Is that all you got, shorty?" Kevin said, grinning. "You really enjoy pain, don't you?" Krauser said, cracking his knuckles. "Don't know the meaning of the word." Kevin said, his grin never fading. "I'm going to actually have to work for this a little." Krauser muttered, before grabbing Kevin in a headlock. Kevin fought back valiantly, placing a few elbows to Krauser's lower chest, and even stomping on his feet. Krauser let go, only to drop kick Kevin dead center in his back. Kevin went flying into the bar counter yet again, and he hit it with such force, he did a flip up and over and landed on his face. "...Damn." Was all he said. Krauser dusted off his hands. "You ready to just let me snap your neck?" Krauser asked, looking over the bar counter. Kevin moved with amazing speed... for a drunk. Grabbing a alcohol bottle, empty of course, he slammed it hard against Krauser's head, causing it to break in half, glass shards now at the end of the half he held. Kevin then thrust the broken bottle with all he had, piercing Krauser's throat. Krauser oddly did not even flinch. He just ripped out the broken bottle, and raised his neck to Kevin. "You can't kill a god... mortal." Krauser grinned, as the blood that was escaping the hole in his throat stopped, and the muscle and skin all healed rather quickly. Kevin blinked. "Nice trick..." Kevin said with a small hint of fear in his voice.
Then, a new voice entered the fray. "And it just may be his final trick..." Mikhail said, stepping in. "Well well... We meet again. Beret et Beret." Krauser said, turning his attention away from Kevin. Cindy, who had been scared silent until now, rushed over to Kevin, to see if he was wounded badly. "Just give me the strongest whiskey you got... two shot glasses." Kevin said. Cindy went to do so. Mikhail and Krauser stepped up to each other, face to face. Eyes never blinking.
As the two warriors fought, something blue was glowing. Further inspection would reveal a pair of blue and silver catlike eyes, and they belonged to the former comrade of Mikhail's, Nicholai Ginovaef. Even with his eyes glowing, no one would notice him. All eyes were turned on the fight between the two soldiers. Mikhail and Krauser seemed pretty even, despite the fact Krauser was a 'god'. Nicholai smirked. "He doesn't know the meaning of 'god'." Nicholai muttered, laughing to himself. A crow landed by Nicholai, giving out a caw. It was cawing at Nicholai for being on it's territory. Nicholai responded by grabbing it with his right hand, and ripping it's beak off with his left. "Be silent while the big boys talk..." Nicholai muttered, tossing the obviously dead or dying crow's body aside. 'I bet I could even shoot one of them in the foot, and they would not notice until after the fight. They are getting so into it that it's not even funny.' Nicholai thought to himself. 'They better be glad I don't just jump down there and kill them both.' He concluded. "I'm not one to ruin my own entertainment, though." Nicholai said with a smirk. "Tell me about it." A female voice said behind him. Blinking, Nicholai rose and aimed his trademark SigPro at the form of Ada Wong. "Easy... I'm not here to hurt you." She said, smiling with that smile that she had. "Don't try your little sexual games with me, woman. I know all about you, Wong." He said, narrowing his eyes. "There's only room for one audience member up here. Please... By all means... Make me kill you." He said with a big grin. Ada responded with a smirk all her own. "If you wish... You old hasbeen." She retorted, whipping out her own pistol. Nicholai did not give her the time to aim, and already began to fire. Ada's speed was indeed superhuman, but Nicholai's speed would rival her's, as he was able to at least nick her arms and legs with great precision, slowing her down to a degree. She grabbed the wounds one by one, narrowing her eyes. "Big mistake..." She muttered. "Boo-frickity-hoo. Cry me a river, whore." Nicholai said, mocking her. Ada tried to pistol whip Nicholai, but she underestimated his speed, and found her pistol was flung off the side of the roof, and she was thrown like a rag doll. But she was far more agile than she appeared, quickly regaining her footing and rushing Nicholai, managing to produce a spin kick that missed him, but knocked his gun out of his hand. "Clever girl." Nicholai muttered, before unleashing a flurry of punches, followed by a wave of kicks. Ada blocked for all she was worth, and then thrust out a kick of her own. The two kicked each other so hard, they flew back opposite of each other, stopping at the rooftop edges. "For an old man.. You've got some nice moves." Ada said with a smile. "Do you ever stop talking, or is it part of your malfunction to ramble?" Nicholai asked. Ada narrowed her eyes. "Well, fine. Excuse me for trying to strike a conversation. Let's just get to the brute force." Ada said, mocking Nicholai's accent a little. "I'll slice off your nipples for that." He muttered. "Come try it, big boy." Ada said, grinning. Nicholai decided he would not unsheathe his knife just yet. Rushing the woman, he sent forth a punch that almost broke her jaw, and almost cost her the high heels she wore as she skidded along the rooftop. Rushing her again, he did a front flip kick, connecting right with the bottom of her chin, knocking her into a flip. Landing on his feet, he tried another rush, only to have Ada's fists hit him square in the nose, knocking him onto his back. Ada landed, rubbing her chin. 'Damn! What a punch.' She thought. 'Damn... What a bitch!' Nicholai thought, flipping back onto his feet.
Grabbing Krauser the best he could, Mikhail rushed for a nearby window, and heaved. Krauser decided the bar was too enclosed, and that a good toss would be fun. As he crashed through the window, Mikhail leaped out afterwards, soon grabbing ahold of Krauser and punching him repeatedly. Krauser just laughed, throwing a punch or two back. The two were fortunate enough to land on a dumpster, the lid open and thus trash bags breaking their fall. Fortune smiled upon them as there was no breakable or possible injuring materials within the bags. Pulling themselves out, they continued their brawl on the street, and everybody rushed out to watch. Fists met faces, and feet met chests. Knees met guts, and elbows met the back of necks. Despite all this, the two never lost their berets. It was almost as if they were glued to the wearers' heads. Mikhail grabbed Krauser, and in one fell swoop, wrestling-style suplexed him onto the hard concrete. Krauser easily got back up to his feet. "Is that all you've got?" Krauser asked, smirking. "Not by a long shot." Mikhail retorted. Krauser rushed him, and did his little 'Watch the Birdie' style dash run, leaving after images. Mikhail thrust out punches, each missing by mere seconds. Krauser backflipped and took to the air, landed hard and caused a light quake to hit the area, before charging and clotheslining Mikhail, his left forearm causing Mikhail to do several flips in the air. Mikhail landed on his hands, and scrambled back to his feet. Cracking his neck a little, Mikhail smirked. Krauser returned the smirk. The two unsheathed their combat knives for the first time in the fight. Both blades glinted with light from the street lamps, before the two charged one another, and slashed. Knife blades met one another, such force behind them they began to heat up from the friction and whatnot. Mikhail headbutted Krauser about four times, and then gave him a front kick that made him stumble. Mikhail thrust the knife, plunging it into Krauser's throat. "Please... Drunk Man already tried that." Krauser muttered, ripping out the combat knife and throwing it back. Mikhail tried to catch it, but the speed was too much, and it sheathed itself... in his right hand. Mikhail started to cry out, but he clenched his teeth and grasped the knife hilt. Ripping it out quickly, he knew the pain would subside. "Looks like you're not so badass afterall." Krauser said with a small chuckle. Mikhail pulled out a roll of medical bandage, and wrapped his hand. Tying it securely, he narrowed his eyes, putting the roll back up. "It's not over yet..." He muttered, taking a stance with his knife. "Oh it soon will be..." Krauser said with a confident nod.
The two gave each other a hate-filled stare. They knew nothing of each other except what was gained at this moment. And Nicholai, as calm as he used to be, was growing really annoyed by her. 'It's time to stop playing games.' He thought, smirking and even giving a light chuckle. Ada blinked. "What's so damn funny?" She asked. "Oh you'll see. Just hold on one second." Nicholai said, reaching to his right arm. He rolled up the sleeve covering his arm, and took off the glove off his hand rather slowly."I don't like to resort to tearing up my uniform... Even if it's one glove." He said with a cold sneer, his eyes glowing slightly before he clenched his right hand into a tight fist. Clenching his teeth, he closed his eyes, as veins on either side of his forehead began to pop up under the skin showing signs of concentration and strain. Suddenly, his right arm jerked once. A violent, almost sickening jerk. It jerked again, as the color of it began to pale, going from a once human-tan skin type color, to a chalk white color that was almost familiar to Ada's skin tone. '...No..' She thought. He smirked, seeing slight fear in her eyes. "Witness... PERFECTION!" He shouted, as his right arm muscled up a good degree, stretching what sleeve remained unrolled up and almost to the point of tearing. His hand unclenched, as the fingers grew longer, the hand becoming wider and more powerful. The fingers continued to extend, eventually forming talon-like digits. Ada took a step back in shock. 'I thought only Krauser had that kind of power...' She thought to herself, blinking. "Heh heh heh... Foolish wench.." Nicholai flexed the muscles slightly, almost to further intimidate her. Ada regained herself and sneered. "Perfection is in the eye of the beholder..." Ada muttered, before suddenly pulling off her shades. Pushing a tiny button, she heaved them forwards. No sooner had they hit the ground, a bright flash of light ensued. Temporarily blinded, Nicholai looked around, his eyesight blurring and almost totally useless, despite his new 'perfection.' Ada took this chance to reach for her spare pistol, and aimed at him. Firing shots the best she could, for it slightly caught her too, she waited after each shot. Nicholai's hearing was still in full effect, and every shot was dodged with almost seconds to spare. "You bitch! Just wait until I can see you again. I will gut you where you stand!" 'Some tricks never become unuseable..' Ada thought with a smirk, as she saw Nicholai. Unfortunately, he saw her too. Charging, Nicholai gave a yell that was almost like a roar, thrusting his claw forth. Ada was still faster than Nicholai, if not by much, and was able to dodge-roll to the right. Unfortunately for her, she was still clipped, giving her another nice battle scar and wound to tend to later. Nicholai moved his blood-drenched talons to his lips, and licked a few of them with his tongue. "Mmm... Whore Positive.." He said with a smirk. "We'll meet again, you monstrosity." Ada said, before firing off one last shot. Nicholai was caught by surprise, for once, and felt the 9mm bullet pierce into his kneecap. "...Indeed. And I'll make sure this bullet is shoved right through your head.." Wasting no time, Ada was gone before Nicholai said that statement. "Damn... She made me miss alot of Mikhail's death..." He growled, digging into his knee with two of his talons. With expertise that only decades of combat could teach you, he ripped out the 9mm bullet, and narrowed his eyes. "She will pay for ruining perfection..." He muttered, tossing the bullet aside. Realizing she made him lose his SigPro, Nicholai walked over to his favorite gun, holstered it, and demutated his arm. A few violent jerks and color changes and it was back to normal. Rolling his sleeve back down, he bent down, grabbed the glove he threw down, and put it back on. "All is well.." He said with a smile. Turning his attention back to Mikhail, he hoped he did not miss much of the action.
Ada's wounds had not totally made her incapacitated. She had a really good recovery rate, but not as good as Krauser's, by far. She escaped from the evil Russian as fast as she could. Leaning against a wall to catch her breath, she sighed. 'There are times I wish Wesker would of just left me for dead...' She thought. Suddenly, something deep down told her that someone was close. Unfortunately, she was in no condition to fight. Falling against the wall and now sitting against it, she grasped the gun and closed her eyes. "Well... It looks like you've gotten yourself into another situation where I have to save you..." A voice said in the darkness. Ada aimed, only to lower it as the main man himself stepped into the light. Albert Wesker, the 'god' among mortals, the betrayer of S.T.A.R.S. -AND- Umbrella, as well as partially responsible for the decimation and infection of Raccoon City. Wesker's face was cold, and completely emotionless. For some reason, it seemed to stay that way for about ninety percent of the time. It would change only when he fought that Redfield loser. 'That Chris seems to bring out what's left of the humanity in Albert... Wonder why..' She thought. Didn't take long to remember why. It was Chris' fault that Wesker lost the Tyrant, amongst other things. He also cost Wesker the body of Alexia Ashford and almost the T-Veronica Virus. It was a good thing that Steve Burnside's body had some traces in it, or the virus would have been lost to Wesker. She smiled slightly. "Come to play the gallant dark knight to save me again, Albert?" Wesker smiled lightly. "If you say so, my dear Ada." was all he said in response, before picking her up into his arms. "I'll take you back to the base we've constructed... Get some doctors to tend your wounds. I would myself... But I have business to tend to." Wesker said, his eyes flaring up lightly. "Story of your life..." Ada muttered.
The two had been fighting for what seemed like hours. Hell, for all they knew, it may as well of been days or weeks. Both were becoming fatigued, even Krauser, despite the fact he was superhuman and all that. Mikhail breathed slowly, trying to keep on fighting. It was harder than it looked, as he struggled to grapple Krauser. Krauser, who was just a little less fatigued, grappled back with Mikhail. The two pushed with all the had, and it was eventually Mikhail who gained the edge. Moving oddly quick, he managed to move into neck snapping position. Before Krauser could react, Mikhail snapped for all he was worth, giving out a yell. Krauser's neck went snicker snap, and the scarred man went down for the count. "Damn.." Mikhail muttered, before stumbling backwards and landing on his ass Mikhail smiled lightly, taking off his beret. Wiping his forehead, he was about to feel really good, until Krauser's seemingly lifeless body jerked once. Mikhail blinked. "...What in the name of God.." He muttered, as Krauser scrambled slowly to his feet, his neck still snapped. "That really hurt..." Krauser spat from his mouth, before grasping his neck and head in his hands, and snapping his neck back into place. Popping his neck a little as it healed, he smirked. "Very nice... You're definately strong to last so very long against me... As well as make -me- break into sweat and fatigue. I'll give you more credit than Leon..." Krauser said with a grin. Mikhail blinked, unbelieving. "I... I snapped your neck... You should be dead!" Mikhail shouted, barely managing to get to his feet. Krauser's grin only grew wider. "Yeah... But being above humans and all that tends to rule out mortality, now doesn't it?" Krauser said with an evil filled laugh. Mikhail narrowed his eyes. "You're not above humans... You're below us...You disgust me.." Mikhail said, spitting at Krauser. The spit landed right in Krauser's left eye. Krauser quickly got rid of the spit, and gritted his teeth. "You -DARE- spit in my eye! You are definately going down..." Krauser said, looking to his left arm. "Let's see what you've got, youngster." Mikhail said, confidence and determination still filling his eyes.
The two gave each other a stern shakedown... Before suddenly collapsing backwards. Everyone around them that had been watching the fight, including Nicholai, gasped. 'No! -I- should be the one to kill Mikhail! Not that steroid-using son of a bitch!' Nicholai yelled in his head. Slamming his fists down, he would of gotten angry and rushed down there, if not for George speaking up as he checked their bodies. "They're both still alive! Just over-exhausted. They both need medical attention... Even the 'man' that somehow snapped his neck back in place..." George said, a little hint of fear in his voice at the regeneration factor of Krauser. Four survivors that George had trained to be his assistants came, and helped get the bodies back to their camp for medical treatment. Kevin stumbled after them, rubbing his sore neck. "There'd better be some liquor... I'm gettin' kinda dry..." He muttered, the drunk look never fading off his visage. Nicholai smirked. "So.. You've still got some toughness to you.. Good. Only I shall be the one to kill you, Mikhail. Do stay alive until next we meet... I'd get bored without you." He said, laughing. "Right now, I have things to take care of..." And with that, Nicholai disappeared into the darkness.
After a while since the fight with Ada, Nicholai blinked. Something felt funny deep down inside of him, as if the virus inside was going crazy. His body felt colder than normal, as he dropped to a knee. "What... What is happening.. to.. Me!" He cried out, before gritting his teeth and closing his eyes in pain. Suddenly, spikes ripped out through his uniform all along Nicholai's spine, stopping at the end of his shirt. His arms suddenly increased in mass, becoming pale like before, and his arms became totally Tyrant-like, the fingers becoming nothing more than elongated claws, though his left arm's claws became slightly longer than his right. He was racked with pain, for this was the first time his body was going through the change in a long time. Thus the reason for the screaming, as his body was attempting to adjust and deal with the sudden rush of pain. The yells did not go unheard, however, as the Man in Black himself, Albert Wesker, looked towards the direction of the scream. "Hmmm... Seems something interesting is happening..." He said with a small smirk. Walking along the street for a moment, he decided to take to the rooftops. Acting rather calmly, he never stopped his walk, as he crouched and suddenly leaped into the air, soaring high despite the fact he seems nothing more than a human. Landing in a crouching position, Wesker leaped once more, this time taking less time. Leaping across the rooftops like they were mere trampolines, Wesker headed towards the area of the scream's origin.
Wesker's leaps finally ended, and he rose from his crouch slowly. Looking forwards, the humanoid B.O.W. saw something that seemed like another of his kind. Obviously a man at least once, he was adorned with spikes all along his spine and back, and he was turning somewhat Tyrant. Wesker smirked. 'Hmm..' He thought, looking the man over as he decided to notice Wesker as well. He was obviously once an Umbrella mercenary, probably in the U.B.C.S. division from the uniform's basics, and one of the higher ranks due to his look and demeanor. "You're him..." The man stated, a smile appearing over his once pain-ridden face. "I was wondering if I would ever meet the great Albert Wesker in person again... It's been such a long time.." Nicholai said with a smirk. "Ah.. You must be Ginovaef..." Wesker muttered, almost as if he really didn't care. Nicholai smirked. "So you have heard of me." He said with a chuckle. "Pretty much... People said I was a backstabber... Looks like you just took the cake." Wesker said with a smirk. "Well, if you want some of the icing, by all means, I'll share." Nicholai said, flexing his hands and extending the claws. "Oh, so you want to have a little scuffle? Please... I'd mop the floor with you. You are inferior to me in every way possible..." Wesker said, adjusting his shades, pulling his black gloves tighter on his hands shortly after. "You may have gained your powers some other way... But I gained them in the most unique way ever.." Nicholai said, bragging and rubbing it in Wesker's cold, emotionless face. "Oh? And what way would make it so damn special?" Wesker said, a slight sneer in his voice. "Oh... Gaining it from Thanatos. The -ONLY- Thanatos. Umbrella never got their greedy hands on him to mass produce him, especially since Greg was such an egotist and maniac." Nicholai said with a smirk. "Look who's calling the kettle black..." Wesker muttered.
"Enough talk..." Nicholai said, taking a stance. "It's time we get to the fight." Nicholai said, before rushing Wesker. "Ah yes. The ever popular battle of the superhumans.. How droll." Wesker said with a bored yawn, suddenly disappearing before Nicholai's claws even got halfway to him. Nicholai blinked, only to find his face already flat on the rooftop below his feet. "Come now... Mr. Perfection... Let's see your moves.." Wesker said, laughing slightly as he took a few steps back, and folded his arms over his chest. "Bastard..." Nicholai muttered, before charging and slashing like crazy. Wesker's movements were both awe-inspiring and somewhat beautiful, seeming like a dance of some sort. No matter how hard or fast Nicholai slashed, it seemed like Wesker was always just the right amount of time ahead of him for it to not even matter. Growing aggrivated, Nicholai tried to fake Wesker out. A fake crescent moon slash almost worked, but as Nicholai stabbed forward, hoping to plunge his claw through Wesker, he found Wesker balancing himself on his claws. "And from here... You can have a nice view of my foot." Wesker said, grinning as he did a backflip, slamming his left foot straight into Nichoali's jaw, sending him into a flip too. Both landed at the same time, though Nicholai landed on his stomach, while Wesker landed on his feet. Smirking, Wesker adjusted his shades. "I thought you were perfection... Where is this superb 'elite' combat strength you kept insinuating with your boasts?" Wesker said, taunting Nicholai. Nicholai knew his anger would not help him in the fight much, but he could not help it. No one had ever humiliated him in such a way, and he could not help but grow even more aggrivated. 'He's playing me like a fool . . . I'm just a child to him . . . ' Nicholai thought, slowly getting to his feet. "You're going to pay for this, one way or another . . . " Nicholai muttered, cracking his neck. "Sorry . . . I didn't bring my check book . . . " Wesker said with a smirk. Nicholai narrowed his eyes. "You're still mortal . . . Just like everything else. You have some form of a weakness . . . And I'll be the one to find it and bring you down . . . I swear . . . " Nicholai stated. "We shall see . . . " Wesker said with a smirk. Nicholai sliced for Wesker, and Wesker dodged. For once, Wesker was only a fifth slow, and had recieved a new scratch on his right cheek from Nicholai's claw. "See? That only proves my point. If you can be scratched . . . You can be killed." Nicholai said, grinning. Taking a few steps back, he demutated himself with much pain and focus, before stepping onto the rooftop edge. "We'll meet again . . . " Nicholai muttered, as he simply hopped off the rooftop, plunging to the streets below. "Yes... We will . . . " Wesker muttered, smirking. Looking to the sky above, the moon was ever beautiful. "A perfect night . . . Wouldn't you say?" He said with a devilish smile. Ada could only smile back, not knowing what to say.
Mikhail groaned with slight pain, filled with sleep. It felt like an eternity since his body had decided to move. "Mikhail, you're awake. That's great." A familiar voice said. Mikhail barely caught the message, blinking his eyes as they tried to focus. "George . . . ? Where's the scar-faced guy?" Mikhail said, looking around. "Oh, you mean Krauser. Well, he's observing our camp and everything. He said he's decided not to cause trouble, for now." George said, a look of slight worry on his face. "I don't know how long 'for now' will last, though. You should try and catch up to him. He shouldn't be too far." George waited for Mikhail to get up, then pointed in the direction he took off in. Mikhail nodded, and went after the man who had earlier gotten into one hellacious fight with him. Krauser leaned against a wall, boredly juggling his combat knife. "Damn this place is boring . . . and I've only been awaken ten minutes . . . " Krauser muttered. "There you are . . . " Mikhail muttered. "Oh. Hi there. Don't mind me. Just enjoying the scenery...And boredom." Krauser said, scoffing lightly as he resheathed his combat knife. "Well, it's not much, but we make due with what we have." Mikhail said. "Seems like there'd be more people around . . . Even with an explosion that big." Krauser said, arching his left eyebrow, it obviously a question as well as a statement."Oh, there are. We're divided into groups. There's mini camps and somewhat cities within this giant death trap, where the survivors try to continue doing just that: surviving." Mikhail said. "I try to support every one of them the best I can." He said, looking around. "Sounds hard." Krauser said, yawning. "It's definately not easy.." Mikhail retorted, moving to also lean up against the wall. "You know...You're pretty tough, for a human." Krauser said with a smirk. "And you're pretty good at combat...for a young pompous fool." Mikhail said, smirking right back. Krauser laughed. "You're lucky I didn't use all my power, old man. I'd of mopped the floor with you." Krauser replied, his smirk now more of a sneer. "Perhaps we'll have a rematch...Someday." Mikhail said. "Yeah..." Krauser said, a look on his face showing almost a hint of anticipation. Mikhail's face showed hunger. "Quick...To the food court!" Mikhail said, rushing off. "Hey ,wait up!" Krauser said, rushing after Mikhail.
NYX was hungry. The need for food overwhelmed it as it slipped slowly through the shadows. It had long since devoured most of the survivors in that sector, and moving to another sector would prove difficult. Food was scarce; very rarely did a drunken fool stumble into the warm, growling embrace of death. They had learned. Then another had come along. NYX acknowledged the man's presence by oozing out to meet him. The man had, of course, screamed something NYX could not entirely understand. A quick scuffle had the man out on top, but he chose to scramble away. NYX was beginning to grow very annoyed. He oozed slowly after the man, dwelling on his hunger and his desire to eat more than once every week or so. Sure, inanimate objects provided sustenance, but the human body provided something else entirely- blood. Oh, the sweet coppery taste as it was crushed from the human's body to flow and mix with the jelly that was NYX. Nothing else had quite such a succulent taste. Had NYX been mortal, one would call it tantalizing, an addiction. The thing wasn't entirely capable of becoming addicted, but it enjoyed the taste very much. The scent of the human's sweat, the sound of pounding blood told NYX that the human was somewhere nearby. Had it had a face, NYX would have smirked.
Arnold leaned heavily against a wall, feet scraping the shards of glass that littered the streets. His eyes were wild, dark hair flattened against his skull, wet and slightly sticky with god knows what. That... thing had come out of nowhere, grumbling ominously and sliming the cracked and glass-littered concrete beneath it. After letting loose a colorful string of curses, he had pulled out his small handgun and started firing off bullets, metal hitting the thing with a sick, wet squelching noise. It paused in its advance, though, almost as if confused. Then a blob of whatever that thing was shot out like a tentacle and nailed him in the face, sending him reeling onto his back. Two clips had passed, the third looking dangerously close to being empty, until the creature had quivered and shrunk slightly. Arnold took the opportunity to sprint off in the general direction of his base sector, checking wildly over his shoulder at every corner. That was how he had come to be in the position he was in. The man breathed for a moment, then grimaced at his handgun. His last clip was over half-way empty. He would have to be careful.
Just before he made to slink off towards his base, a sharp, mocking voice cut across the tense silence. Arnold whirled. There, standing atop a desolate, near-collapsed building, was the one being that could take down a Tyrant with a flick of his wrist. Too bad he wasn't on their side. Nicholai's arms were crossed and his pale, icy blue eyes were trained on the man below him. His sharp ears picked up the lumbering of NYX, accompanied with hushed tinkling of glass. Nicholai sneered, then casually jumped down in front of Arnold, landing with a feline grace. He didn't hesitate to getting into the other's face. "Look at you, you coward. You're so far from perfection. Why do I waste my time on you?" Arnold simply glared. Nicholai's sneer grew more vicious as he started peeling a glove off. "Stupid man... I'll let you witness perfection before I slice the flesh off of your bones."
With that, the protective outer jacket came off, along with the shirt underneath, leaving Nicholai shirtless. He turned away from Arnold and furrowed his brow in concentration. His spine and shoulders rippled under his flesh, and just a moment later, the huge blades spurted from his back. Blood ran from the slits in the flesh, but the narrow cuts healed soon after, almost as if they had never been there. The only evidence was dark blood tracks running down his muscular, rippling back. Arnold stared at the transformation. It was terrifying and yet... almost imperceptibly beautiful. Nicholai shot a smirk over his shoulder, then grasped one of the spikes coming from his back. With an almighty wrench, the blade ripped free of Nicholai's left shoulder. It was speedily regenerated, and again the new wounds healed. The mutated Nicholai clomped off in the direction that Arnold had come running from. The man couldn't decide whether to follow Nicholai or to return to Mikhail and report the creature. In the end, his shoulders stiffened, and he turned on his heel and strode purposefully toward his base sector.
What was that? It was different. It smelled like blood, but different than all the other fools that came his way. It had a more coppery smell to it, and it reeked of rotting flesh, a scent not found near NYX. It reeked of the T-virus. NYX immediately became excited and focused in on the scent. He hadn't been a moment around a corner when his gaze fell upon the source of the blood. There stood a man, obviously a Tyrant. He was throwing a blade up and down, catching it. Small, air-spread streaks of blood ran along the blade. The man smirked and called out to the creature. "Hello, odious one. You look hungry. Why don't you try taking a bite out of me?" With that, he rushed forward and stabbed at NYX with the blade. It stuck, however, and NYX began pulling it in. Nicholai sneered with disgust and jumped backward. "So, I see you're not so easily defeated. Good... maybe you'll provide more entertainment than the others." He reached behind him and ripped out about five of the smaller blades. A loud sound of metal on bone told NYX that they had regenerated. With a leisurely flick of his wrist, Nicholai sent the blades flying towards the apparent head of the beast. NYX flinched as they went zooming by, obviously a challenge. It was excited; Tyrants were rare these days. He wanted to feel that muscular body crushed deep within him; he wanted to taste that blood throughout his body as it mixed with his viscous organs. He reared up and, with a guttural growl, lashed a tentacle at him. It roared when its tentacle–
Nicholai watched his blade seep into the blob before him, then jumped backwards. His face wrinkled in disgust as his feet touched ground again. Then he laughed. "So, I see you're not so easily defeated. Good... maybe you'll provide more entertainment than the others." He reached behind him and, with no amount of care, ripped five blades out of his spine. He barely flinched, and the pain was gone momentarily anyway. He smirked and threw a blade at the creature. It sailed past its head, just a challenge. This seemed to excite the blob, as it sent a gooey tentacle his way. With just a slight adjustment of his back, the tentacle was sliced right through the middle by one of the larger blades jutting out of Nicholai's shoulder. The thing roared and retracted the jelly, seemingly angry. It began moving toward Nicholai, growling gutturally. Nicholai laughed loudly at the creature. "Aw, did the poor jelly get a nasty scrape? Let me fix it for you!" he said jauntily, throwing another blade at the thing. It merely absorbed to blade, keening with monstrous delight. Nicholai sneered and threw the blades down, then placed his hands on his hips. "Disgusting creature, you enjoyed that, didn't you? Well, how about this, runt?" He concentrated on his mutation, and soon large claws sprouted from the ends of his fingers, clacking together and dripping blood. He ran at the thing, hand drawn back, then swiped the claws across the jelly near the thing's apparent head. It roared and cringed, trying to get away from the claws. Nicholai grinned manically at the thing, then taunted it again.
"Odious beast, did you not like the poison? Ha. Weak, pathetic thing. You are witnessing perfection! You should bow before me! In fact, I think I'll make you." Then NYX was assaulted with something it was not familiar with. The area around its head was burning and pulsing. There was a sick, warm curdling in the pit of its gullet, and it didn't know what it was. NYX did not like this new feeling. It shifted to dodge the claws and struggled not become consumed with rage. The taunts about perfection hit home; it seemed that the man knew it, too. He was smirking cruelly and clacking his claws together leisurely. NYX came to a decision: he did not like this Tyrant. It wanted to consume him and get it over with, but this man seemed to radiate something. Something powerful, something that NYX did not want to touch. It experimentally shot a tentacle out at the Tyrant, trying to inflict damage. To its neverending shock, the tentacle missed. The man didn't even seem to move, almost as if he had just phased to the right to avoid the shot. NYX felt that uncomfortable coiling again, and decided that hunger was better than death. It backed slowly into the shadows.
Nicholai spread his arms and took a step after the thing. "What, leaving so soon, jelly? It was just getting fun! Come on, blob, come witness the extent of perfection..." NYX disappeared into the shadow. It felt the blown-out windows of a basement at its back and oozed through the opening. Nicholai sneered, then turned and leaped onto the roof behind him. He sprinted across the rooftops, dull light reflecting off of the blades on his back. For just a moment, the light seemed to make them into wings, light dripping from the edges.
Back in the basement, NYX faced a dilemma. The burning wasn't stopping. He had tried consuming some of the blue plant that grew wildly in the corner, but that had no effect. It decided to try and force the poison out. It concentrated on the burn, and soon the effort was rippling through the thing's body, and something yellowish began to seep out of the place where the wound would be. It rippled more, groaning slightly, until the poison had been mostly ejected from its system. An uncomfortable barb had implanted itself under the thing's surface, and it wouldn't come out. It felt like a thorn, or a really nasty splinter. Trying to get it out just hurt more, and NYX hated pain.
Nicholai sprinted along the rooftops, light bouncing playfully off of the blades. He snickered as he saw the pathetic man from before. Another opportunity to "treat" the pathetic mortals. Smooth as silk, he leapt from the rooftop and landed in front of the man, silent as a cat. The man fell and cursed fluently for a moment, yanking a few pieces of shattered glass from his backside before sneering at the Tyrant before him. "What, get tired of beating the crap out of a blob of goo?"
Nicholai snorted and crossed his arms. "It would have been more fun if little Jelly hadn't oozed away before I could finish it. I decided to come after you, you seemed like a much more... bloody victim." Arnold seethed. "Blow me, you traitorous bastard. I'll tell Mikhail about you, and--" The man found himself against the wall, a very large and venomous looking talon sticking through his shoulder and into the brick behind him. Nicholai seemed furious for the first time. He got right in Arnold's face and growled, "You'll do nothing of the sort, half-pint. I'll slash you in half six different ways if you do. You hear me, imperfect son of a bitch?" Arnold stared fearfully into the Tyrant's eyes. They were pale, a swirling silver and blue, and his entire form radiated madness. He nodded, and then the blade was gone, along with its owner. Arnold fell to his knees, clasping a hand to his shoulder in an attempt to stop the blood. He seriously hoped that the talon wasn't as poisonous as it looked as he started toward the base again.
Mikhail rubbed the bandage on the side of his head forlornly.
"What happened after the missiles hit? How did you establish these camps?"
Mikhail looked at the man before him. Krauser was standing coolly against a wall, arms folded. "It's kind of a long story." "I have time." Krauser smirked.
The former U.B.C.S. Lieutenant took a deep breath. "Alright... the missiles that hit were supposed to be nuclear. That's what we were told, anyway. However, it didn't destroy everything, as we had anticipated. There were still traces of the T-virus, still Tyrants running around. We figured that the survivors should split up, set up bases in every sector of the city to eliminate what was left of the virus. Every camp has capable fighters and plenty of ammunition, so we have a fairly easy time of disposing of the zombies. It's the Tyrants we're worried about. There are still some we don't know of, and some we do know of but haven't manage to exterminate. Recently, we lost contact with the eastern quadrant. I already sent some of my men out to investigate, but we haven't heard back from them." "How long ago were the men sent out?" Krauser asked. "Just yesterday, and with Raccoon being in the shape it's in, it takes two days to get from quadrant to quadrant. There are still mobs of zombies lurking around. We have yet to figure out where they're coming from. One of my colleagues thinks that there are bodies around the city that are being infected by some of the smarter Tyrants, especially those in the graveyards." Krauser whistled. "I assume Raccoon has a lot of bodies lying around, then?" Mikhail nodded his head. "Unfortunately, yes. We have yet to find a safe way of disposing of the bodies." "Have you considered baiting the Tyrants with the destroyed bodies of the zombies?" Krauser asked. "Yes, and for a while, we did that. Then they caught on, and stopped taking the bait. Some of the smarter Tyrants knew what was going on from the beginning, and stayed away."
Krauser was interrupted by the door violently being knocked off of its hinges and revealing a bloody, wild-looking form. The Tyrant was on the man in a moment, pressing his knife against soft flesh. He would have tacked the intruder to a wall, but then the body started reeking of fear; definitely a human trait. He chuckled and backed off of the man, throwing his knife up and catching it. Mikhail recognized the man quickly "Arnold!" "Mikhail, sorry about the door, but I saw a Tyrant in the eastern sector. I lost the rest of the party you sent out there." Arnold said, catching his breath. "Another Tyrant?" Mikhail asked. "So, that's why we haven't-- hey, Krauser, where are you going?" Krauser smirked over his shoulder. "To take care of your little problem in the eastern sector, of course. My way." And with that, he was gone. Arnold stared after the large, arrogant-looking man, then turned back to Mikhail. "Sir, the Tyrant I ran into isn't like the other solid Tyrants. He seems to be made of some sort of jelly, and he absorbed a good amount of my ammunition when the bullets pierced its surface. I really don't advise that man going after it, no matter how strong he is." Mikhail stared out the door. "I think he'll be fine. He's stronger than he looks. Let's get you bandaged up..."
NYX oozed out of the basement and out onto the streets once more. It was still hungry, even after devouring a good four men. Fighting that white-haired man hadn't helped its appetite. It oozed quietly along the street, knocking out a window with its tentacles, looking for a meal. Then, it felt a large pressure momentarily near its middle, then an unpleasant slash at the back of its head. "Tch. Tough bastard," a gruff voice said. NYX was starting to feel a slight dripping on the back of its head, and it tried to turn its head to see its assailant, roaring and growling offendedly. "Well, you don't look like too much of a pushover. I guess I could fight you... if you promise not to die too quickly." NYX growled at its assailant. The attacker smelled the same as a Tyrant, and it sounded like a man. Its gut grumbled, eager to taste this new Tyrant's gore and it was crushed from his body. Krauser jumped off of the Tyrant, making sure to give it an uncomfortable gash along the top of its skull as he went.
Krauser sniffed exaggeratedly at the air, then said, "Eurgh, what a disgusting creature... I'd better do away with you quickly." He jumped onto the creature's head, giving a stomp, before driving his knife into its left eye. He yanked it out and jumped onto a nearby apartment balcony. He crossed his arms, watching the creature scream and wiggle in agony. A rock skittered on the roof on the apartment building. Krauser turned and stared up at the roof. There stood another man, obviously a Tyrant, smirking cockily at the creature below. "I see you've found jelly. Good work, though I was hoping to defeat the beast myself." "And who the hell might you be?" Krauser barked. "That doesn't concern you. Are you sure you're smart enough to beat jelly? It can be quite vicious, and you look very... unintelligent. That could just be me, however. Intelligence is a given when you're perfect in every way." Krauser growled. "Perfect? You call yourself perfect? Hah. You're pathetic." "Let's see how you fare against jelly, then," Nicholai sneered. Krauser smirked and jumped back in front of the writhing monster. It was fitfully trying to rub its punctured eye, hoping to alleviate some of the pain. It noticed vaguely that its opponent was back in fighting position. The man reeked of wrath. NYX backed away slightly, its perspective all but shot, mind blurred by the pain in its eye. The man's left arm had changed into a fearsome, jagged-looking blade. "Here, disgusting creature, are you afraid? Don't worry, I'll make your death quick."
NYX growled and shot one of its tentacles at the man. He tried to block it, but the tentacle merely skimmed the edge of the blade before connecting with his face. He stumbled back, rubbing his now-bleeding nose. Some of the blood smeared onto the tentacle, and fused with NYX's body when it retracted the projectile. NYX grew excited at the taste of the blood; it was still quite hungry. Krauser grimaced and prepared to attack again, when a call from the roof disturbed his thoughts of jelly-massacre. "It's quite the little bugger, isn't it? I warned you. You may be a Tyrant, but you're no match for jelly. Even I couldn't kill it so easily. You don't stand a chance!" Krauser ducked down, grabbed a large rock, and quickly hurled it towards the voice. "Of course I won't be able to beat it if you won't shut up!" The rock came hurtling back at him, sailing near his head and skittering across the pavement. He snarled, then turned his attention back to the creature.
NYX could smell that man again. The one from before, the one who dared to poison the great NYX. The only Tyrant NYX feared. He seemed an angel in the light; strong and bright, but bloodthirsty and downright dangerous. It wanted to escape, but it didn't want to lose its current meal. It came to a conclusion and quickly about-faced, shooting a tentacle out to wrap around its meal's waist. It then proceeded to escape as fast as it could, dragging its cursing meal along. The demon's taunting voice came from above, directed not at NYX, but at its meal. It could feel rage radiate off of its victim, pulsing and angry. He was struggling as he was dragged along the ground, yelling in a language NYX could not quite grasp.
Nicholai watched the blonde being dragged along the ground by the jelly with a wide, mocking smirk on his face. He stepped easily from rooftop to rooftop, laughing at Krauser's seemingly feeble struggles and curses. "Need a little help, maggot?" He taunted. Even at this distance, Nicholai could feel the rage his mocking brought on. It was almost intoxicating. He laughed when a door broke open near the jelly, revealing a bloody, tattered zombie. The creature was taken care of in a quick second, absorbed by another tentacle. The blonde saw this and grimaced, looking around for something to dig into a great crack in the pavement. His eyes fell upon a bloody, abandoned crowbar. He sheathed his knife and grabbed the tool, then held it high above his head and dug it deep into a crack in the pavement, trying to impede the oozing and dragging. The tool snapped clean in two with a great crack, and Nicholai nearly went into hysterics. "So, maggot, is jelly giving you a hard time? I must say, it looks like it's having a grand old time, dragging you along the pavement like that." Nichoali taunted again. He easily dodged the handle of the crowbar, laughing merrily. Then, just like that, jelly was gone, as was the blonde man. Nicholai cursed and looked around, trying to spot the two. It was to no avail, though; they were gone.
Mikhail glared at the doorway as if it had grievously offended him. "Sir . . . he's been gone--" One of his men said. "Yes, I know. Come on." He replied, sounding worried. He grabbed his rocket launcher and started out into the city, ignoring sputtered objections from his charges. They should know better than to get in the way of an agitated Mikhail with rockets at his disposal. He settled into a fast jog toward the eastern sector, vaguely aware of someone running behind him. He stopped at an intersection and turned, seeing a bandaged Arnold heaving and trying to catch his breath. "Arnold! You should be at the base, that wound could have skimmed your lung." Mikhail said. "I know, but you need to know where that thing came from. There's a warehouse not far from here with a giant hole in the wall. That's where you'll find the blob and, most likely, Krauser." Arnold said, clutching his wound a bit. "All right, you've informed me. Now go back to the base." Mikhail said. "Fine, but be careful," the brunette said before turning and starting back toward the base. Mikhail stared after him for a moment before starting toward the warehouses. If Arnold was correct and the Tyrant was in the warehouse, then it would have the upper hand. On the other hand, with both a rocket launcher and Krauser against it, it might not stand a chance. It was all up to timing.
Dragging Krauser back to its 'nest', NYX felt that perhaps the being known as Nicholai would ease off the harassment, or maybe lose track of them. The zombie that had been absorbed had finally stopped moaning and moving, and that felt a lot better to NYX. It was unaware that Nicholai was hoping for NYX to do this, due to the fact that it would be practically trapped, thus making it easier should NYX decide to rest after feeding. But, fate would not smile on NYX, as a well-placed rocket slammed right into the exposed heart of the Tyrant that was dwelling within it, making it instantly let go of Krauser in pain. That single rocket would not be enough to kill NYX, but it gave Krauser a grand opportunity. Either escape, or finish NYX off with his arm blade. Anger was all that consumed Krauser's judgement, as he took his arm blade, and drove it angrily into NYX not once, not twice, but at least ten times. NYX gave out shrill cries of pain and then finally, its death moan.
Nicholai narrowed his eyes. 'Damn . . . He's tougher than I thought . . . No matter.' Nicholai thought to himself, cracking his neck to either side. Nicholai looked over to see who had been wielding the rocket launcher which had fired the well-placed rocket, only to have his angry thoughts be confirmed. It was Mikhail who had fired the rocket. 'Damn him . . . Damn him and his stupid rocket launcher.' Nicholai gritted his teeth as he decided it was best to take off. In the blink of an eye, Nicholai Ginovaef disappeared.
The explosion from the rocket seemed to echo through the city, catching the attention of none other than Albert Wesker. Narrowing his eyes behind his pitch black shades, Wesker wasted no time heading towards the explosion. The shrill cries and death moan also made him make haste, and he happened upon the scene of Mikhail and Krauser, able to tell from the looks of the scene that Mikhail had helped Krauser. "Now why would a former Umbrella soldier help someone like Krauser...?" He muttered under his breath, rubbing his chin with his left hand, pondering the possibilities. 'Perhaps this soldier that was once under Umbrella's employ may prove useful to me... To have handled something like NYX with unusual expertise...' Wesker thought to himself.
Mikhail blinked, feeling as though someone was watching Krauser and himself. Turning on his heels, he stood face to face with the Man in Black himself, Albert Wesker. He had heard rumors of Wesker's exploits during his S.T.A.R.S. days, and knew that he was with Umbrella for a short while as well. There was a small silence between the two, Krauser blinking at their silence.
Mikhail and Krauser's attention turned to the Man in Black himself. No, not Johnny Cash, though that wouldn't be too bad, now would it? Ahem. It's none other than Albert Wesker. Wesker smiled, looking at the scene, turning his attention to Mikhail. "Well done, Mr. Victor." His smile never fading as he spoke those words. "How . . . How did you know my name?" Mikhail said, his eyes narrowing. Krauser blinked. Something about his boss wasn't the same. Then he noticed it, and blinked. A small scar, barely noticeable, grazed itself along his cheek. 'Wow...Someone got lucky or Wesker shaves with his combat knife..' Krauser thought to himself. Wesker ignored Krauser's stare, focusing on the matter at hand. "I know because it's my business to know...You're a very strong human, Mikhail." "So you're like Krauser..." He stated, putting away the rocket launcher and folding his arms over his chest, his gaze focusing on Wesker. He couldn't exactly see through the thick black shades, but there was definately something inhuman those sunglasses. "You must be...Who else but a monster would wear sunglasses at night?" Mikhail made the comment before Wesker could respond, making Wesker blink behind his shades. "Trust me, Mikhail. I do not take kindly to insults..." Wesker said, a red light flaring behind his shades for but a second, long enough for Mikhail to catch it. Mikhail smirked. "I remember Jill telling me about a blonde man with shades...You're Albert Wesker..I thought you seemed familiar." He said with a smirk. "You were with Umbrella, but also S.T.A.R.S."
Wesker laughed a little. "It seems you can't be the Mystery Man anymore..." Wesker said with a bit of a sarcastic tone and sigh following. "I do not do this often...But I am offering you a chance. A chance to become something more than what you are...To go beyond your human restraints...And become a god among mortals!" Wesker said, his mouth forming a smile again, as if he was truly a god. In reality, he was not that far from it. Mikhail blinked again, and gave a sneer. "I don't need your power...I'm not going to become a lap dog like Krauser here." Mikhail said, as he pushed past Wesker. Wesker didn't take a step back, but he stared Mikhail down as he began to walk off. "HEY! I'M NOT A LAP DOG!" Krauser shouted, shaking his fist at Mikhail. "I'll make you pay for that!" Krauser unsheathed his knife, and begins to charge. Wesker's hand met his chest. "No...Let him go. He will come to join us...Soon..." Wesker said.
Nicholai Ginovaef had been watching the whole scene, a big grin on his face. "Well well..A gathering of the fools." He said to himself, laughing lightly. He did not want to be seen just yet. Deciding to have a little fun, Nicholai watched them, and began to put on a show. "I am Albert Wesker. Fear my super slicked back hair. Ho-yeah! I'm the Man in Black. Mr. Dead." He said in a remarkabley good impression of Wesker's voice. Since Wesker kept talking, he kept impersonating. "I would like you to join my squad of super-human beings. Why? Well..YOUR BERET IS SO COOL! IT'S ALMOST AS COOL AS MY SHADES! MWUAHAHAHAH! MYES!" Nicholai had to stop to laugh a moment. Then, Mikhail spoke, and Nicholai did a mockery of an impression, even making fun of Mikhail's accent despite the fact he had one too. "Vell..I don't no...I haff to theenk about it." He said. And then Mikhail spoke once more. "I don't theenk I vill be applyink for the job. I haff to go make a poopy. Excuse me." And then Mikhail pushed by Wesker, and Krauser yelled. "DON'T FORGET TO WASH YOUR HANDS!" Nicholai could not contain his laughter, and finally let it explode. The three figures below Noticed the laughter, but Mikhail was already down the street and couldn't look back. Wesker and Krauser looked dead at Nicholai. Nicholai grinned, his eyes flaring blue. "You think you're so tough...Just you wait. Once I gain control of my powers properly..You'll be begging for death.." Nicholai said, before standing up full height, bowing almost gentlemanly, flipping them both a bird a piece , and then he was gone.
Leaping out of sight, and into the shadows.
Mikhail had made his way to the University, sighing. He couldn't leave the survivors. They needed a leader, they needed all the help they could get because there were still monsters that somehow survived the bombing, and he couldn't explain why. Maybe there was another underground facility, and the monsters had broken out. It didn't matter. Mikhail was not alone for long, for Krauser stepped out from the shadows. "Look...These people don't need you anymore. I still have contacts in the military, and they're already on their way to assist and relocate the people. You've got no purpose here. Why not come with us? You're a warrior...Come fight. Only makes sense, since it's your best skill." Krauser said with a smirk. "Besides...How can you stand that drunk bastard?" Krauser asked. Mikhail laughed. "Kevin's not so bad, once you get him drunk enough.." Mikhail retorted, turning to face Krauser. "Just because you've got help on the way for these people, doesn't mean I can just leave right away. There's still monsters to contend with. I've got a job to do." Mikhail folded his arms over his chest. "Please...The only monster around is whatever gave Wesker that small nick on his face. It's probably dead by now." Krauser responded. As if on cue, the Man in Black himself stepped out of the darkness, blending in with it almost too perfectly. "Krauser is right, Mikhail. You have no purpose here. My men are already taking care of the monstrosities...The survivors shall be removed and relocated to a much more liveable environment...And this will happen, if you join me. Otherwise, I can always call it off. Afterall, the so called 'lap dog' does work for me. Isn't that right, Krauser?" Wesker said, smirking before turning his head slightly to Krauser and arching a brow. "Yes sir." Krauser said angrily, still hating the fact that Mikhail called him that. 'If he hadn't fallen into Wesker's favor, I'd gut him on the spot.' Krauser thought.
Mikhail rubbed his chin. "You know...I guess I don't have a choice. I care about the safety of those people...And I have a feeling that you really need my services if you are trying to recruit me this bad. Pay had better be good." Mikhail said with a small laugh, stretching to pop his back. Wesker's mouth formed a grin, his eyes flaring up. "Oh the pay's good...Heh heh heh.." Wesker said. "And the dental's great too!" Krauser said, giving a big toothy smile, pearly whites almost blinding Mikhail. "I'll take your word for it." Mikhail muttered out, blinking to refocus his eyes. "Alright...I'll go with you guys. No sense in staying where I'm not needed." Mikhail said, yawning lightly. "Good...We leave in an hour. I suggest you be on time...I don't waste my efforts on lazy buffoons." Wesker muttered, before turning his back to Mikhail. "Come Krauser...We have much to discuss. A new enemy has surfaced...Someone I believe," Wesker turned his head a little, "our friend Mikhail may know." Wesker said. Mikhail barely caught any of it, since it was almost a whisper. Krauser looked to Mikhail, smirking. "Right. Well, let's find the bitch in the red dress." Krauser muttered, unsheathing his knife and twilring it slightly. "About Ada..." Wesker began, and then the two were gone. Mikhail pulled out his radio. "Attention. Everyone with a walkie-talkie. This is Mikhail. I'm calling a conference at the Raccoon University. Be here in 15, stat." Mikhail said. "Mikhail out." And with that, he found a nice place to sit, and wait on the survivors, his men, and his comrades.
On time, his men and the survivors gathered around Mikhail. A huge circle, larger than Mikhail had realized. "Everyone here?" Mikhail asked, smirking. A ton of heads nodded. "Alright. Here's the situation. A 'friend' of mine has contacted the military. You are all to be relocated to a more liveable environment. Raccoon City shall be cleansed by the same 'friend' of mine's group." Mikhail said. "Any questions?" He asked. Kevin stumbled forth. "They gonna give us free beer?" Kevin asked, smiling drunkenly. Mikhail blinked, then laughed. "Oh Kevin. You continue to make me laugh. I don't know about that." Mikhail said. "Well, screw that man. The liquor is free here! To hell with relocation!" Kevin threw down a half-empty bottle of beer, it shattering. "...Shit." He muttered. A murmur rose over the crowd. "We can't leave our homes!" A voice cried. "Yeah, this is all we've got!" Another said in response. The murmur grew louder. "Now listen," He tried to calm everyone down, and get to talking again. He looked over to his men, who stood right by him. The second in command unholstered his Beretta M93R, cocked it, and opened fire into the sky. A three round burst flew forth from the muzzle of his gun, causing loud gunfire noises, and hushing the crowd. The second in command smirked, twirled his Beretta on his index finger, and reholstered it. "Alright please continue, sir." The second in command said. "Thank you Daniel.." Mikhail muttered. "Now, listen to me. You will all be cared for and relocated. You have nothing to worry about. Myself and my men are going to leave with our new 'friends', where we can do some good." Mikhail said.
Kevin once again took the floor. "BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BEER!" He shouted. David King stepped out of the crowd, grabbed Kevin by the back of the collar, and tugged. "Shutup, you idiot..." He muttered, pulling Kevin into the crowd. "BEEEEEEEEER!" He cried out, almost like a death moan. "Dammit Kevin, shut up!" Alyssa shouted, stepping up. "Mikhail, I still want to try to interview. You know, to account for all of this and everything." She said with a smile, hoping he would interview with her. "Well, I'd love to." Mikhail said with a smile. "Sorry sweet cheeks, but Mikhail's got more important things than talking to you." A voice said. Everyone turned, and there was Krauser. "Alright Mikhail, the chopper is almost here. You're taking these men with you?" He asked, arching a brow. "Yes. They are excellent soldiers. Trained them myself." Mikhail said proudly. "Well, to have survived all this crap, yes. They are quite excellent. I'm sure Wesker won't mind." Krauser said. "Hey! What about the interview!" Alyssa shouted, smacking Krauser with her notepad. "OW! Hey! That actually hurt." Krauser shouted, Kevin tried to leap and save the beer. His face ended up flying straight into Mark's back, knocking Mark forwards. "HELP ME PLEASE!" Mark cried out, as he fell. David and Cindy were fast enough to catch Mark. Unfortunately, George was not fast enough to catch Kevin, or his beer. "I'm sorry Kevin . . . But it's gone." George said. "No . . . It can't be . . . I DIDN'T EVEN GET TWO SIPS!" Kevin fell to his knees. "DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU TO HELL BLONDE SHADES MAN!" Kevin began to bawl. Wesker grinned. "Oh how I love life.." Wesker muttered, as the chopper landed. The side door opened, and Krauser entered, followed by Mikhail's men.
Mikhail and Wesker were shoulder to shoulder, both turned their gaze to one another. "So . . . Who is this 'familiar face' that I know?" Mikhail asked. "All will be explained on the trip home, Mikhail." Wesker said, patting Mikhail on the shoulder. Mikhail blinked. "Whatever you say, boss man." Mikhail said sarcastically. "I can tell I will grow to like you, Mikhail Victor." Wesker said, laughing slightly as Mikhail got in. "Yeah, I grew to like me too." Mikhail said, closing the door. Sitting down next to his men, Mikhail sighed. 'Out of the frying pan and into the glowing eyes fire.' Mikhail thought, as the chopper lifted off the ground, and then went skyward. Cindy, George, David and Mark, along with all the survivors, waved to the chopper as it left. Kevin was still crying about his beer. "Oh grow up, you big baby . . . " Alyssa muttered. 'My story . . . ' Alyssa thought, crying slightly herself. 'Now I'll never become a rich and famous reporter . . . ' She thought. Suddenly, something caught Alyssa's attention. She heard someone talking, almost in a rant. It was the man named Arnold, the guy that had survived against NYX somehow. "Don't trust that bastard . . . Won't see me going off to my death. No sir." Arnold muttered, angry that Mikhail and the others went without so much as a second word. He fidgeted with his bandages, grumbling. "That fool isn't a doctor . . . Wouldn't know how to help a man with a broken finger." He muttered. Obviously, Arnold was in a very bad mood. But under the circumstances, Alyssa could not blame him. Walking over to Arnold, she stopped just short enough to give Arnold some space. "Hi, Alyssa Ashcroft. I was wondering if you'd give me the honor of interviewing you. Being that you survived all of this hell, I figured maybe you'd like to share some of your exploits with the world." Alyssa said with a smile. Obviously, Arnold's tone changed. He suddenly became nice, and cooperated with Alyssa rather well. Alyssa smiled. 'Looks like I may get what I want after all...' She thought to herself.
For what seemed like an eternity, the survivors were all but alone. Wesker's men had clearly evacuated along with their commanding officer, leaving the survivors defenseless minus those amongst them with some combat experience. Even after they were told they would be safe, the survivors could not help but feel like someone or something was watching, and would soon jump out to attack and/or kill them where they stood, waiting for the military assistance. Just when paranoia and despair reached their peak, a lone survivor who was looking towards the horizon suddenly froze in her tracks. She saw something. It looked like a helicopter! "Hey! Look! A helicopter! And another! And another! Mikhail was right, help is on the way!" She cried with joy, jumping up and down. The survivors went mad with joy now that they knew help was on the way and in sight. Those with guns shot rounds and shells madly into the air, hooting and hollering. Jeeps and large vans were soon in sight as well. Krauser had told the truth, and everyone was in joyous celebration. As the assistance came closer and closer, those with alcohol gave a celebratory cheer and swig with their liquor.
Mikhail took one last look at Raccoon City from above. It truly had went to Hell. 'I only hope Krauser wasn't lying . . . ' Mikhail thought. As if on cue, a band of helicopters flew by their own, and Mikhail jumped back from the suddenness of their arrival. Grinning from ear to ear like a young boy with a new expensive toy all his own, Mikhail looked and saw even more help arriving from the ground. "Told you..." A voice said, causing Mikhail to turn his attention to inside the chopper. Krauser smirked, nodding his head to Mikhail. "I'm not one for lying.." He stated, adjusting his beret. "Welcome to the team, comrade." Krauser said, grinning lightly. "Indeed..." Mikhail muttered, before looking to Wesker. "Now... About this 'familiar' person I should know..." Wesker's mouth formed a smirk, as his eyes lightly flashed behind his shades.
Please let me know what you think, all comments are appreciated.