A Star's Descent: Book Two: Star Fall

By evolution-500

Disclaimer: House of the Dead and Resident Evil are properties belonging to SEGA and Capcom respectively. I do not own any of these characters.

WARNING: This story contains violence, coarse language, mature and disturbing themes and imagery. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter Thirteen: Chariot

Curien glared at the screen, resisting the urge to put his fist through it.

"That little shit needs to be put into his place and shut down, fast!" He growled.

"We're doing everything we can, sir, but he is difficult to pin down," his subordinate said beside him, his hood concealing his features.

Curien swept his hand through his hair in exasperation. "How the hell has he managed to get out?! How was he able to override his subroutines?! He should be locked in his pod!"

The subordinate at the monitor shook his hooded head in uncertainty as he studied the readings.

"We're still uncertain how, sir. The good news, however, is that he hasn't overridden all of them," he replied.

His master looked at him intently. "Are you sure?"

"Positive, sir. The key ones are still in place. Locking onto his signal is difficult, so shutting him down remotely will be next to impossible since he keeps moving around all the time."

Curien raised his eyes, tilting his head thoughtfully as stroked his neatly trimmed goatee in thought. Even though the situation was less than ideal...it was at least salvageable. Sliding his fingers through his coarse black mane of hair, he cleared his throat and pushed up his sunglasses. "Have the strays been dealt with?"

"Almost, sir. We're closing in on the last of the Kenfis dogs, but Tower is still on the loose, plus we have a Cain model wandering around in the greenhouse section of the west wing."

"We can worry about those two later," Curien said. "Focus all efforts to finding him. Capture, or kill."

Rebecca sighed as she stepped back into the main hall with Richard and Star.

"Well...here we are again," she said with a shrug.

"Yup," Richard nodded.

Hearing a door open from the landing up top, the trio raised their eyes to see Chris and Joseph moving down the stairs, then climbed back down to greet them.

"Hey guys," Chris nodded.

"Hey Chris," Rebecca nodded back.

She watched as Chris looked over to Richard.

"How are you feeling?"

Richard gave a slight shrug. "I'm alright. I feel much better now," the communications specialist replied.

"Are you sure?" Chris asked in concern.

"Yeah. Don't worry about me, I'll be okay."

Chris gave him a doubtful glance, then looked to Rebecca, who nodded in agreement. "Alright," he relented. "If you say so. Don't overexert yourself, okay?"

Rebecca watched as Aiken smiled, giving an assured nod.

"Find anything useful?" she asked.

"We found a dog whistle," Joseph spoke up, pulling it out from his pocket. Raising it up, he then blew hard into it. As he did so, Star winced as he let out a strangled cry, startling everyone as he clenched his bags. "What the fuck?!"

"That-that sound!" Star groaned as he put down his bags and massaged his ears.

"You heard that?!" Rebecca said in surprise.

"I did," the albino nodded. "That was the sound I heard earlier."

"...So, what, you're part dog or something?" Joseph asked.

Rebecca rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. It's not unheard of for some people to have hypersensitive hearing."

Aiken looked at her doubtfully. "Even dog whistles?"

"A dog whistle's frequency is within the range of 23 to 54 kilohertz," the medic explained. "While it's generally unlikely for anyone to be affected, it's still possible for some people to hear a higher frequency than others."

Chris shrugged. "Fair enough."

"Out of curiosity," Star spoke up, "...why are you carrying that around for? With these winged dog things wandering about, shouldn't we try to avoid attracting them?"

"Too fucking right, kid," the older man nodded, "but, with that said, we need it. Apparently someone hid something in a dog collar, and now we're trying to find out what it is."

The albino opened his mouth, then paused, blinking bemusedly before looking up at him with a raised brow. The Alphas shrugged.

"Don't look at me," Chris said. "I only found the note mentioning it."

Rebecca sighed. "So, back to the west wing we go, then?"

"Looks that way," the Alpha Point Man replied, then waved them up the stairs. "Come on."

As the trio moved to the foot of the stairs, Rebecca watched as Richard raised up a hand.

"Do you guys hear that?" he whispered.

Rebecca quietly listened along with the others. There was a long, loud scraping sound followed by heavy breathing, thumping and loud moaning that reminded her of a whale's lamentation, and it sounded like it was coming from the dining room, moving toward them.

"Everyone hide," Chris said in a hushed voice.

As the survivors scattered, hiding behind various columns, Rebecca waited with anticipation as the thunderous stomps came closer, the wailing growing louder.

Swallowing nervously, the medic watched from the corner as the handle started to turn, the door drawing open.

"What...the..." she whispered in awe.

A ten-foot tall, heavily muscled titan resembling a medieval knight emerged into the entrance hall, its heavy armored feet producing loud clanking thuds with each step, causing some of the furniture to shudder and Ming vases to fall off tables and crash onto the floor. A bizarre mishmash of Medieval armor and cybernetic augmentation, the creature was greyish green in color and heavily armored, its head concealed in a dome-like helmet with a red lensed gas mask covering its face, its mechanical limbs wrapped in belts and buckles. In one of its massive mechanical hands was a long poleaxe, a bardiche, which it dragged restlessly behind it, producing a scraping noise along the floor.

Stepping out into the hall, the creature wailed loudly, wheezing through its gas mask as it glanced around from side to side in indecision.

When it turned in Rebecca's direction, the medic ducked behind the column, her heart thumping in her chest as she pressed herself against it.

Waiting a minute or two, she quietly poked her head out and watched as the juggernaut started to head over to the exhibition room, pulling open the double doors before stepping inside, the axe dragging behind it.

Once the doors closed, Rebecca waited until the steps receded. When she felt certain that it was gone, the medic then shakily released her breath.

"All clear," Richard called quietly.

Stepping back out from behind the columns, the survivors gathered together, staring to where the creature had disappeared.

"Jesus," Joseph muttered.

"What on earth was that?!" Star asked.

"I have no idea," Chris replied with a shake of his head.

His radio clicked noisily, causing everyone to stare back at him in alarm.

"Oh shit!" Chris muttered as he tried turning it off.

From the exhibition room came an enraged roar.

"Hide!"

The survivors scattered as the thunderous steps quickly headed back to the entrance. Ducking behind a column, Rebecca flinched as she heard a loud crash followed by heavy wheezing, the creature's breathing distorted by the gas mask. The medic held her breath as the armored being stomped around, searching. It searched one corner, then another. At one point, it seemed to be heading in her direction, which made her feel sick to her stomach. It was so close now that Rebecca was convinced that if she were to turn the corner that she would be face to face with it. Hairs stood up on her arms as the breathing wheezed closer. Just as it was about to peer from around the side of the column, there came a moan behind it, drawing the creature's attention away from her. As the footsteps receded, Rebecca mustered up the courage to take look as she peeked from her hiding spot.

"You've got to be kidding me," she whispered aloud.

The zombie that Chris had killed earlier was rising up to its feet again. Rebecca watched as the armored giant stomped toward it, tilting its head curiously as it approached.

'What's it doing?' Rebecca wondered.

It was then that she noticed something odd; the zombie was...steaming up.

What the hell?

As the armored being came closer, the zombie...changed; its skin, originally a pasty white, was now turning a bloody reddish hue. Plumes of steam were rising from its body as well as its nostrils and mouth, making it look like some sort of demon from hell.

'What's happening?' Rebecca thought with worry.

Claws tore free from its finger tips, its body thickening as its clothes started to audibly tear, its posture straightening as the cadaver arched its back. Stretching open its mouth, the zombie let out a hellishly loud, hoarse roar that made the medic tighten up and shake. God, that sound - it was like hell given voice!

Turning to face the giant, the bloody-colored zombie snarled as it swung its claws wildly at the armored chest.

Its opponent, however, didn't react; it merely stood there looking down, watching patiently as the zombie flailed impotently about, trying to tear into its adversary.

As it continued on, eventually, the creature seemed to lose all patience and interest as it casually grabbed hold of the zombie by the head with one hand and slammed it down to the floor, causing the tiles to crack.

As it drew itself back, Rebecca watched as the red zombie weakly tried to lift itself back up.

Staring down at his fallen foe, the armored being lifted up its mighty foot, which was as long and as wide as the zombie's entire torso, then piteously crushed the cadaver underneath its armored heel with a horrible crunch and squelch.

Raising up its head, the titan looked around once more, its wheezing distorted breath heaving loudly as it rolled its shoulders. Once it was finished, the creature resumed back through the exhibition room, disappearing through the door at the end.

Stepping back out, the survivors stared to the room ahead.

"Um...that's going to be a problem," Richard spoke up nervously.

"No shit," Joseph muttered quietly.

Picking up the radio, Chris pressed the call button. "Jill, are you there? Over."

"Jill here. Over," she answered.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just narrowly avoided getting squished by some trap thanks to Barry. Over."

"You're not hurt, are you?" Chris asked worriedly.

"Negative. Shaken, not stirred. Over."

Rebecca watched as Redfield sighed in relief.

"Thank God. Listen, there's a big thing walking around the halls carrying an axe. It's heavily armored, and I think it's heading in your direction. Do not engage with it. I repeat, do not engage with it. Over."

"Copy that. Thanks for the heads up, Chris."

"Don't mention it. Joseph and I are going to the west terrace to find a dog collar."

"...A dog collar?" Jill repeated.

Chris shrugged. "Don't ask. Do you need any backup?"

"Negative. I think I'll be alright. Over."

"Are you sure?"

Jill sighed. "Yes, Chris."

The Alpha Point Man sighed. "Alright. If you need help-"

"I'll let you guys know."

Redfield nodded. "Okay. Stay safe, Jill."

"You too, Chris. Over and out."

As Chris placed his radio away, Rebecca watched as Joseph gave a sly grin.

"Awww, how cute!" The latter beamed.

"Knock it off, Joseph," Chris replied.

Rebecca stepped toward the remains of the zombie, wincing in disgust at the crushed bones and organs.

"I've never seen any of the other zombies do that before," Star commented as he approached.

"Nor have I," Rebecca replied as she glanced down.

As the other survivors gathered around, Chris spoke up. "What do you make of this, Rebecca?"

The medic frowned. "The musculature on the legs seem to have increased in mass based on the tearing on the fabric."

"It's also taller," Star noted as he tilted his head at the zombie's remains.

She looked up at him in surprise. "Is it?"

The albino nodded. "Earlier I estimated it to be five-nine, but after its..." He paused, trying to find the right word, "...mutation, it seems to have grown an extra six inches."

"How can you know that?" Richard asked.

Star looked at him. "I'm pretty observant when it comes to details."

Rebecca folded her arms together, her chin resting on her thumb and index finger. "...If that's true, then it means that the hypothalamus must have been working overtime."

Chris blinked. "The hypo-what?"

"Hypothalamus," Rebecca repeated. "It's a small part of the brain that's located at the base of the skull, near the pituitary gland. It's the part responsible for maintaining homeostasis - ah, that is, the ability to maintain stability in spite of changes. It's also responsible for releasing hormones and temperature control. Based on what we saw, the T-Virus must have caused a massive influx of hormones to be released into its system. The dopamine levels for this thing must have been through the roof!"

"Meaning?" Joseph said expectantly.

"Big time schizo," Rebecca answered.

Richard frowned. "This keeps getting better and better."

"If this is true," Star said slowly, "...then...it means that letting just one of these things live could be..."

Rebecca nodded grimly in agreement.

Chris shook his head. "Jesus. So, we either kill every zombie we come across...or let one of these be and risk having them eventually become one of these freaks." He exhaled. "Great. Well, that's just great!"

The medic shifted uncomfortably. "That said, however, it's not really clear to me when this stage would begin." She shook her head. "I don't know what the exact causes for this mutation are. It could be environmental, it could be duration...I honestly don't know."

Richard looked up. "Do you think this could be an isolated incident?"

Rebecca squirmed. "Honestly...I hope it is. For all our sakes."

Chris sighed. "Goddamn it."

He raised his radio. "Jill, you there?"

"Copy, Chris. Everything okay?"

"Negative. Listen, uh, we...just found another complication with these damn zombies. The one you and Barry brought, it came back to life."

"What?!"

"Yeah. It also became bigger and meaner. It's dead now, thankfully, but none us know if this is just a one-off or not. If we even let one these creatures go-"

"...I see what you're getting at," Jill affirmed grimly. "Things just keep getting better and better around here."

Chris scoffed. "Tell me about it."

"Thanks for the heads up, Chris."

"Copy that. Over and out."

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire," Richard muttered as Chris lowered his radio.

"No kidding," Joseph replied.

"So...what are we going to do?" Star asked.

Chris frowned, pursing his lips as he gave it some thought.

"...We don't have enough ammo to deal with these things, so that's going to be a problem. So, we should probably check around for supplies, scavenge for whatever we could find," he replied.

"The Captain said we can dispose of the bodies by incinerating them as well," Rebecca pointed out.

"So, whatever zombie or creature that hasn't been beheaded yet after it's fallen, we light it up," Joseph said.

Star looked at them worriedly. "But what if it's a huge cluster of them? Wouldn't we risk lighting this whole place on fire?"

"Try not to jinx us, kid," Chris said. "One matter at a time. In the meantime, let's find that damn dog collar."

As the survivors started their way toward the stairs, Rebecca looked to Star as he stared to the floor, troubled.

"You okay, Star?" she asked.

The albino shook his head slowly. "I don't like this, Rebecca. Every time we progress, Umbrella continues to not only find ways to degrade its victims, but also new ways to make us into murderers."

The medic nodded sadly. "I know."

He then looked up at her. "...Do you...suppose...that's Umbrella's plan? To make us into murderers? To make me into one?"

Rebecca saw the uncertainty in his eyes. "What are you thinking exactly?"

Star opened his mouth when Chris called, "Are you guys coming?"

"Yeah, sorry!" Looking back to the youth in red, Rebecca waited for an answer. "Well?"

He frowned. "...Nothing. My apologies."

Taking his cases, he followed after the others.

'What has him so worried?' she wondered.

What had he been trying to say?

Giving one final glance around, the medic walked up the stairs behind Star, puzzled by his reaction.

From the top of a tree, Hanged Man Type-041 leaned forward from his perch, his great wings shivering in the cold.

"Scan the area. Start with the building," his master commanded.

Glancing down at the mansion nearby, Hanged Man waited as its monochromatic green and white vision and heads-up display scanned each section with its lensed eyes, its CPU breaking down every section, determining dimensions, structural composition, chemical analyses, etc.

"Switch to thermal."

Obeying, the creature swapped vision. From the building, various orange and green signatures moved about on the various floors. Some were clearly human while others weren't. A few dogs were eating a cadaver in one of the rooms.

"Plenty of specimens to collect. Revert to normal and continue scanning."

Hanged Man started to turn away.

"Wait!" Came the command, causing it to pause. "Switch back to thermal and pan left."

The creature obeyed.

"Zoom in."

The lenses whirred.

"One more."

In another room, a man looked around, his pistol raised.

"Zoom in. Ten percent. Adjust the microphone."

Hanged Man's lenses whirred noisily as they adjusted themselves.

The man kneeled down over the body of a winged dog.

"My, my, my," the man purred in a mellifluous voice. "Aren't you an interesting one! I definitely don't recall ever seeing you around here during my time. Spencer has been busy, I see. And here I thought nothing around here would surprise me!" He gave a dark chuckle, then cast his eyes around the creature's body. "You're a fine-looking specimen. Too bad I don't have the time or tools available for conducting an autopsy. A shame, really."

He then proceeded to take skin and blood samples, putting them into a bag. "With that said, however, I'll be interested to see what you look like under a microscope after this is all finished. Your genetic makeup should make for some illuminating reading."

Getting back up to his feet, the man slipped the bag into a pouch on his fanny pack, then stepped away from the body, resuming on.

"This is bad," Hanged Man's master spoke. "We need to get those samples and destroy them as quickly as possible."

Hanged Man raised itself up, preparing to get ready.

"Wait!" Came the command, startling the creature. "Scan the upper levels."

Hanged Man slowly craned its neck as it peered along the building.

"There! Second floor, east wing!"