Chapter 6: Revelations
11:04 AM January 3rd 2000, Unknown Village, Carpathian Mountains, Romania
12 years earlier…
Despite it just being the cover of the file, Miranda couldn't help but be intrigued by the title itself. The 'T-Virus' was the most intriguing. Until now, she was only ever aware of Progenitor, but this 't-virus' sounded fascinating. And the fact that it is was considered 'special' must mean it was of great importance to Umbrella and Spencer.
Putting Vector's belt to one side, Miranda opened the file and took out two photographs.
They were just simple photographs of Vector's face. One taken from the front and the other taken from the side. He looked even younger than he did in the photograph with Delta Team. Putting them aside, Miranda's eyes caught sight of something else in the file. It was a small book with a title on it:
Research Journal of Dr Miette 'Mia' Hansen
The only questions that came to Miranda's mind was who was Miette Hansen and what did she have to do with Vector? Opening the journal, she found herself looking at the first entry.
DR MIETTE 'MIA' HANSEN, NEWLY APPOINTED PROJECT HEAD
NEWLY APPOINTED T-VIRUS SPECIAL RESEARCH DIVISION
JOURNAL ENTRY #1
TOPIC: NEW PROJECT PROPOSAL SUCCESS
12/09/1991
The death of James Marcus may have lost Umbrella one of its top minds, but that mind was already beginning to degrade into madness with his obsession on his research. Nevertheless, the research and notes of his Progenitor and T-Virus research with the leeches that were salvaged from his laboratory were the real jewels. Not the insane mind of the old fart. My observations and readings of his notes and reports have been long and tedious, but all worth the wait.
That being said, as this is my first journal entry, I have been given approval by Ozwell Spencer, the big man himself, for my own project today! My project appeals to Spencer and his Board of Directors have won over those of my colleagues. Looks like all that time writing all the reports and theories weren't a waste after all.
While most other scientists working on their own variants of Progenitor aim to create monsters and other B.O.W.s, I simply aim to improve the human condition. I believe that the T-Virus has the capability to provide all the positive enhancing traits without endowing any of the harmful mutative side effects or the brain damage that occurs during infection. And the possibility of creating a strain to create a better combatant is too good to pass up. The Board seemed to have caught on this and they seem to have the same idea.
Words cannot describe the excitement I am feeling for this approval. There is still so much left to discover on the T-Virus. So many theories. So many possibilities. And being appointed as a Project Head at a facility as advanced as the one on Sheena Island is an honour above honours. To think that I was a mere research assistant for Birkin at Arklay. With him beginning work on his so-called Golgotha Project in Raccoon City, I'll never have to hear his putrid voice again.
As an added bonus, I get to personally handpick my research team and assistants. My first tour of the facility will be in three days. So much to prepare for and so many things to work on. The excitement in my bones may not let me sleep tonight, I doubt I will any way.
And as a final note to my first entry:
IT WAS PURE HELL WORKING UNDER YOU, WILLIAM BIRKIN! FUCK YOU, FUCK GOLGOTHA AND SEE YOU NEVER!
Miranda was a little surprised by that end note, but she regained her composure. Whoever this Miette was probably connected to Vector but, given the date of the entry, not for at least a few more years. This 'William Birkin' didn't seem like a likable person given the profanity Miette used. And hinting the fact that she worked under him, William must have been uptight. Or controlling. Or both.
Besides that, this letter was perhaps the first time she had seen Ozwell's name since the letter she had received from him decades earlier. From what she read, Ozwell seemed to have accomplished part of his vision. He's in control of a company with many projects under his supervision, most likely aimed at his goal of human evolution.
But something troubled her. Miette mentioned other scientists making monsters and something called B.O.W.s. Was this done under Spencer's nose or was he well aware of this? She knew full well that Spencer was an individual who was passionate about his goals, but was making monsters a step in his goal? Could it have been avoided or was this a necessary evil?
Miranda flipped the page in the journal until she came to another entry written by Miette. She began to read.
DR MIETTE 'MIA' HANSEN, PROJECT HEAD
T-VIRUS SPECIAL RESEARCH DIVISION
JOURNAL ENTRY #3
TOPIC: THE SHEENA FACILITY
15/09/1991
I've just underwent the tour of the newly refurbished Sheena Island Facility. With Ozwell Spencer himself leading it, no less. It's still a distance from the Tyrant Research Facility, but close to the U.S.S. Training Facility in case I need some assistance with security issues.
The facility is everything I imagined and more. State-of-the-art technology, plenty of labs to conduct my research facility, a fully equipped sector for accommodation, a cafeteria and areas to keep and monitor subjects. Ozwell stated that it used to be a testing facility for different bodily supplements made by Umbrella, but once that was done, it was renovated for T-Virus research. Whatever is not here, I'll just get it from the city on the other side of the island.
So far, Ozwell had a very grandfatherly, yet strict attitude towards me. He told me that what I do here is of the utmost secrecy and importance, and that I've got a lot running on my shoulders with this project. I don't need to be told that. I already know what needs to be done. He offered me a place to live in the city, but I politely declined. I reasoned that since I've got a lot on my shoulders, I shouldn't stray too far from my work. He seemed to be satisfied with that answer.
At the end of the tour, he gave me a small stack of files. Files of the most promising researchers in the other subdivisions focusing on T-Virus research. I'll have a proper look at them tonight when I get a chance, but I've definitely got some in mind already.
Setting myself up should only take a night. Once that is done, I'll pick out my staff and we'll officially be open for business.
Again, Miranda took a moment to think about what she had just read. The mention of the word 'tyrant' brough a new mystery to her mind. Perhaps it was another project of Umbrella. From the way it sounded, maybe it was one of the monsters Miette had mentioned.
Speaking of Miette, Miranda couldn't help but feel some kind of admiration for her. The knowledge of a woman in her time being a leader of such an important project regarding medicines is rare. And a project as revolutionary as the T-Virus sounded incredible. But she did hope that she took things seriously with this project. It was her project and, therefore, her responsibility.
Miranda flipped through a few pages of the journal another entry caught her eye. This one was dated further ahead than the one she had just read.
DR MIETTE 'MIA' HANSEN, PROJECT HEAD
T-VIRUS SPECIAL RESEARCH DIVISION
JOURNAL ENTRY #15
TOPIC: FIRST PROTOTYPE STRAIN COMPLETED
09/01/1992
The process to synthesising the first prototype strain of my new variant of the T-Virus was not easy to say the least.
But it is done.
Having received a shipment of the pure T-Virus, or Tyrant Virus, strains based on the work of the late Dr Marcus, I have begun my research. Overall, the idea of my project is to remove the negative traits of the T-Virus such as tissue damage while maintaining the positive traits such as regenerative properties. What will remain is a strain of the T-Virus that doesn't cause mutations or degenerative disorders, but keeps the subject's mental abilities intact while displaying abilities for greater than those of a normal human. I am aware that at least one strain exists which can theoretically give those abilities but the probability is one in ten million. But I aim to widen that range. The workaround process will take time as this is no simple virus, but a complexity in liquid form.
I've decided to call this new virus…the HT-Virus. The 'h' for Hansen. Let the other know it is my work.
I shall administer this first strain to one of the subjects in the holding cells tomorrow since it's been a while since I gotten some sleep.
But I know that the process with eliminating the T-Virus' degenerative traits while keeping the desired properties will take months, perhaps years. And even more test subjects. But every single strain and subject counts.
I've got a lot of work ahead of me, so I better get started.
And the first subject tomorrow is just the beginning.
The HT-Virus. So that was what it was called. A virus that could theoretically give superhuman abilities to subjects without causing mutations or brain damage. But was that what the original T-Virus could do? And the way that she mentioned a subject being in a holding cell made her question if they were voluntary…or forced? Miranda knew that her own subjects were forced by first luring them in, but the way Miette spoke of her own subjects was…disturbing.
Miranda continued to read through the entries of the journal. It mainly covered more test subjects getting dosages of new HT-Virus strains. The way they turned out were horrific, but if words could show a picture in front of her, Miranda would be unsettled. The subjects ended up bleeding from their openings and suffering mental degradation as well as having what Miette described as cannibalistic tendencies. Specifically, zombies.
'Ozwell said that Progenitor was supposed to lead humanity's evolution, but then why are there zombies involved? Just how the hell are they achieving this if zombies are involved?' thought Miranda.
She soon came up to a rather interesting entry.
DR MIETTE 'MIA' HANSEN, PROJECT HEAD
T-VIRUS SPECIAL RESEARCH DIVISION
JOURNAL ENTRY #67
TOPIC: APPEMPTED ESCAPEE
17/08/1992
We had a setback today at the west laboratory. After administering one of the strains of the HT-Virus, one of the subjects broke free from containment.
Name: Antonia Perez
Age: 34
Subject Number: 79
Luckily, there were some U.S.S. personnel on site. They managed to eliminate the subject without much trouble, owing to their training. But there is damage to glass walls and some equipment. I was able to get a blood sample before it was too late.
But this test subject was not entirely a failure. Despite ending up in a cannibalistic rage, the subject displayed bouts of strength beyond those of any human. She demonstrated it by shattering bulletproof glass with a few punches, flipping a table with one hand and throwing one of my assistants against a wall. The assistant died due to internal head injuries from the impact, but the zombie still got a few bites out of her.
This display of strength indicates that the subject's muscle tissue has not suffered major degradation like the base T-Virus does to its host. And this is one result that I am looking for in my final strain once it is complete. Once I isolate the virus within from her blood, I'll have to report this to Spencer. Let him know that this is major progress.
Still, damage is done to the lab and we cannot proceed until the place has been restored to full functionalities. And how the hell am I going to explain the dead assistant to her husband? Maybe I can fabricate a story and make it look like a non-work related accident?
So the woman finally made significant progress on her work, despite the setback. But Miranda was not amused this time. Someone like Dr Hansen should have known the risks of working in an environment like that. And because of her carelessness, an assistant was killed and damage was done. Despite not having any official standing in any science company or even having an official doctorate, even Miranda knew that isolating a potentially dangerous experiment was mandatory.
But why was this journal in this in this binder folder in the first place? There was no mention of Vector in this journal so far, so what was the connection? She skimmed through more pages of Dr Hansen's work until she came upon an entry that caught her eye.
DR MIETTE 'MIA' HANSEN, PROJECT HEAD
T-VIRUS SPECIAL RESEARCH DIVISION
JOURNAL ENTRY #189
TOPIC: PROMISING POTENTIAL CANDIDATE
26/04/1995
At this point, I am confident and ready enough now to move onto test subjects who actually matter to the company rather than just the subjects brought to the island. It has been so long since I have started this project and I've even begun to look back at my notes to keep track of all the subjects and virus strains I've gone through. With the latest strain, I believe it's time to get on with proper test subjects. I need a test subject who will actually be a pinnacle in my research. Someone who is in good or in near-pristine health would be preferred, although not required. Someone who will be the embodiment of my work.
And I think I have found such a person. There is someone at the Sheena U.S.S. Training Facility who had caught my eye during an inspection of its personnel a few days ago. I received a file on him from the director. A 30-something-year-old Caucasian male. Dirty blonde. Fair skin. Green eyes. Between 6 feet and 6 feet 5''. His body is in peak condition due to multiple factors. These include:
Strict regimen of diet and exercise
Clean bill of health
No history of drug usage
No mental disorders
Advanced firearms training
Advanced knife combat
Close quarters combat and stealth
Master of multiple martial arts
His real name is unknown, but he goes by the codename VECTOR. Apparently, he's one of the best the U.S.S. had to offer. Rivalled only by his mentor. Another reason why he's a potential subject.
I will need to contact the director of the facility, Vector's mentor and Vector himself in regards to this. I will expect resistance due to risking Vector's well-being, but I'm certain I can convince them with the importance of the project and the positive outcomes that may befall Vector if the experiment is a success. Perhaps a blood sample from Vector for some preliminary testing will be required.
This was it.
This was the missing link that Miranda had been looking for. Dr Hansen was indeed connected to Vector through the HT-Virus research. Her sense of curiosity reinvigorated, she continued reading the next entry.
DR MIETTE 'MIA' HANSEN, PROJECT HEAD
T-VIRUS SPECIAL DIVISION
JOURNAL ENTRY #190
TOPIC: TEST SUBJECT - VECTOR
28/04/1995
It has been approved. I have brought the experiment up with the Training Facility's Director, HUNK and Vector yesterday and they have decided to agree to the experiment. Vector seemed more reluctant to partaking in this. But I promised him that when it is done, he would feel better than he ever did. But I told myself inside that the desired results were not guaranteed. I practically outright lied to his face. He didn't seem to pick up on this because he submitted straight away.
But it was not without its negative side. The Director and HUNK did remind me that Vector was not only an one of the Umbrella Security Service's most valued assets, but Umbrella's as a whole. And losing him would be disappointing not only for the company, but for me as well. I could lose most of my higher privileges. Maybe even shut down my entire project if this fails. No doubt Spencer and the Board of Directors would hear about this if this goes wrong. So I've put all my hopes into this experiment.
All the necessary arrangements for the experiment have been done. The containment and observation cell had been decontaminated, some comforts have been set, the cameras are all set and my assistants are prepared.
As of this writing, I have carefully administered the correct dosage of the HT-Virus to Vector. Based on the previous dozen or so subjects, this strain should take no more than 24 hours to assimilate into his body, but it will not be less than 7 hours. I have let him with a basic dinner to get him through the night before he would sleep as the HT-Virus does its work.
When he wakes, he will be either another failed subject. Or just the thing I have been working towards all these years. Hopefully the latter.
Miranda quickly, without thinking, moved onto the next entry.
DR MIETTE 'MIA' HANSEN, PROJECT HEAD
T-VIRUS SPECIAL RESEARCH DIVISION
JOURNAL ENTRY #191
TOPIC: SUCCESS!
30/04/1995
I've done it!
I have fucking done it!
The fusion of the HT-Virus and Vector's DNA is a complete success!
Vector awoke yesterday morning in the containment area. His awakening had no abnormalities. As per protocol, I monitored and interacted with him for the first half hour while he was still inside his room. He had no visible changes on his body from when he received the dosage of the HT-Virus. No bloodshot eyes. No decomposition of soft tissues. No external bleeding. No cannibalistic tendencies. His speech was flawless and clear, indicating there is minimal, perhaps no, brain damage.
But I decided to test it to be safe. I prepared for him three sets of intelligence tests. The first one is an early learning one. Identifying numbers, colours and letters. He identified all the figures correctly. This indicates that he retained basic intelligence.
The next test was intermediate and involved mathematics, spelling and memory. Plus putting together a 500 piece puzzle. He excelled at the first three and he finished the puzzle in average time, but he must not have had much experience with this pastime.
The third and final test was involved things that he was more familiar with. Identifying and assembling a few firearms. Knowing how to treat different types of battlefield wounds. Some advanced calculus and using electronic equipment. Given his vast combat experience, he succeeded as expected.
An interesting note that was from yesterday's breakfast. When I asked him what he wanted to eat, he simply replied that he wanted something big. I got one of my assistants to retrieve a full breakfast platter with enough food to feed two people. When it was brought to him, he had eaten the whole lot in less than ten minutes, to my surprise! Even this seemed to shock Vector as he had neither eaten this much in one sitting before or eaten this fast. This indicates that his metabolism may have increased due to the nutritional requirements for the HT-Virus to function within the body. This was never observed in any of the previous subjects.
For the rest of the day, he displayed no abnormal behaviour or any episodes of aggression that would identify him as a potential failure. So far, so good.
Today, I escorted him back to the U.S.S. Training Facility, intent on continuing my observations. It was during his daily workout regimen that I noted down the next piece of evidence that my work was successful. During jogging, he ran at a much greater pace than he previously did. And with weights, he lifted an amount the isn't normally possible for someone of his light and agile, yet above average build. And by not normal, I mean lifting the entire set of weights on one of the machines like they were nothing! His strength has dramatically increased. Maybe it will increase overtime as he continues to adapt to the virus and continues to work out?
The HT-Virus appears to have enhanced his other senses as well. When he was at the gun range, he hit the target near or in the heart area as well as the head. No misses whatsoever. But I only observed him with the standard Lightning Hawk, so results may vary with other firearms. I will have to observe him at a future date.
I know that this is just the beginning of my observations, but I already know that this is a success. I guess the only way to do make sure of it is when he goes on another mission. That is a guaranteed way of ensuring the HT-Virus is doing its part. The only thing left untested is his healing factor, but from the healing done by some previous subjects, I have all the hopes it will work.
Oh, this is so exciting! After years of work, my HT-Virus has finally bore fruit. In time, if all things go well, my research can put Birkin out of business.
Miranda closed up the journal, not needing to read any more details. She had found the answers she had been looking for.
Vector was not only some kind of soldier, but a test subject for a project led by Dr Miette Hansen. A project that aimed to create a descended strain of the Progenitor Virus, now known as the HT-Virus, that was capable of granting superhuman abilities to people of certain genes and good health. Although the latter seemed more like an assumption than a requirement.
Vector was Dr Hansen's first fully successful subject. He was a…super soldier.
Miranda eyed the two blood samples of Vector's blood. HT-Virus enhanced blood. Miranda knew that her current examining instruments would not be sufficient to study the blood, but the entries by Dr Hansen had given her enough information.
Vector was perfect for her plans.
She was almost completely certain of it now. With his superior blood and the Cadou now slowly assimilating into his body, Miranda would have a host who would successfully assist in bringing back her dead daughter. But only time would tell if he would successfully bond with the Cadou. And if he tried to refuse, he would be destroyed. Dr Hansen seemed to think that the HT-Virus given to Vector was her best strain, but then why did the HT-Virus fail near the end with it being so slow to close the chest wound? Could it be that the HT-Virus was so modified and tampered with that it has a limit before it becomes ineffective? Did Dr Hansen know about this? Did she have other subjects who were compatible with the HT-Virus but had this problem as well? Was there even enough of the HT-Virus inside Vector for the Cadou to salvage and assimilate? She will have to revisit the journal later for answers.
She then eyed Vector once more. Still in his slumber, Miranda couldn't help but wonder. From the way Dr Hansen treated her patients, she didn't care about their well-being and more about the results. They were just cattle for her experiments. And she seemed to feel indifferent towards her own lab assistants. Not caring if they die and trying to make their deaths look like accidents. What was Vector like as a person? Was he just as cruel as Dr Hansen? Was he not? Did he care about the people around him? Clearly, Dr Hansen wasn't raised within an ideal environment if she turned out like this, but how was Vector raised?
Miranda went through the remaining papers within the file. Just some more research notes about the HT-Virus as well as photographs of Vector, either in combat uniform or not.
Miranda suddenly remembered her main objective of uncovering the secrets of the box she brought back with her. Putting everything back in the file and placing it aside, she continued to inspect the pockets' contents. She found some more loose bullets and shotgun shells, a few small unidentifiable electronic gadgets and some other miscellaneous items. But finding no key among them, Miranda began to grow frustrated.
"There has got to be a goddamned key in here somewhere." muttered Miranda, "You would think there was one among all this junk."
There was only one pocket in the belt left that she had yet to look. Patting it down, it felt surprisingly hollow. Maybe it was empty. But not wanting to leave any stones unturned, Miranda slipped her hand into the pocket and pulled out its only content.
It was a small silver key, attached to a ring. Miranda smiled, her frustration subsided.
'Could it be?' pondered Miranda before she turned her attention to the box, 'Only one way to find out.'
Miranda slid the key into the keyhole of the box, feeling it go all the way inside until it came to a halt. A perfect fit. But when she attempted to turn it, she found it to be jammed. Miranda sighed in annoyance.
'I have the key to open the box, but why is it jammed? What else do I need to do?' Miranda pondered.
She then eyed the small screen built into the box. It was lit up red and had the words LOCKING MECHANISM ENGAGED displayed on. The buttons with the numbers on them had to be there for a reason. Maybe a certain number had to be typed in to unlock the mechanism? But what was the number?
'Wait a minute!' Miranda's eyes lit up with a hunch on her mind.
Miranda grabbed up the photograph and eyed the number on the back of it. Pressing the buttons 1-2-0-3-9-4 on the box in that order, the screen suddenly turned green and the words LOCKING MECHANISM DISENGAGED displayed. A small click resonated from the internal mechanisms near the keyhole. Miranda was amazed that despite her limited interactions with technology, this one was easy to use. Gripping the key once again, she turned it and the remaining locks were released.
The box was ready to be opened. Lifting the lid, she peered into the box's contents.
What she found was a plethora of items, but mostly more papers
Picking up the top paper, the page was headed Certificate of Report of Birth with United States of America printed underneath. Another paper was written in Romanian, but Miranda understood it said Certificate of Citizenship. A small plastic card with Driver's License printed on it and Vector's unmasked photo on it and another plastic card with numbers on it. Other than that, there were a few other miscellaneous papers that were either cerificates, diplomas or cards.
But then she discovered some peculiar. Six sets of metal dog tags. The kind that soldiers wore. If someone had the dog tags of others, that would mean that they had died in combat. The dog tags had different names on them.
LESPROUX, KARENA 'LUPO', U.S.S. DELTA TEAM, USSD-01, AB
'VECTOR', U.S.S. DELTA TEAM, USSD-02, O+
HIVERS, HECTOR 'BELTWAY', U.S.S. DELTA TEAM, USSD-03, B-
YAMATA, CHRISTINE 'FOUR-EYES', U.S.S. DELTA TEAM, USSD-04, A-
SCHNEIDER, MICHAELA 'BERTHA', U.S.S. DELTA TEAM, USSD-05, B+
BODROVSKI, VLADIMIR 'SPECTRE', U.S.S. DELTA TEAM, USSD-06, AB-
Remembering the photograph, these dog tags must have belonged to Vector's teammates. And if they were here, then that must mean that Vector's team, except for himself didn't make it. She gave Vector a sad look before returning to her findings.
There was also a thick envelope. Luckily, it wasn't sealed. This gave Miranda the chance to peek at its contents. She pulled out a set of stapled papers. They were written in Romanian, but she could read it. They were documents for a deed to a house with a ring of keys included in the envelope, presumably to the house itself.
These were all identity documents. Vector's identity documents. But a name consistently present among them identified their owner…and Vector's real name.
Ethan Winters
"Eventually, I returned to my home and managed to find the key to the box among Vector's utility belt.", continued Miranda.
"Utility belt? Like Batman's?" laughed Eveline.
Miranda giggled. She knew that Eveline had grown to like the very old Batman show from the 60s. But Miranda knew that compared to Adam West's Batman, Vector was more serious. More mysterious. More realistic. And certainly more handsome.
"No, Evie. Not quite like Batman's," laughed Miranda, "Less campy and more…sophisticated."
"What was in the box, Mama?" asked Rosemary.
"Papers and documents. They told me his real name." replied Miranda.
"What was his name?" asked Eveline.
Miranda took a deep breath and smiled. This was it. This was the moment she had been building to in her story. The girls would finally know who Vector was.
"His name…was Ethan Winters." said Miranda. She felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders with this revelation. Somehow, Miranda expected the shocked looks on their daughter's faces at the revelation of Vector's real name.
"Ethan Winters? But that's-" Rosemary began.
"My name." a voice interrupted her.
The girls turned to face the door to their bedroom, while Miranda stood up from her rocking chair and turned around. A man was standing at the doorway, leaning against the door frame, and wearing a full set of maroon pyjamas. He had slicked back dirty blonde hair in a short cut. His green eyes gave off a relaxed look from his face and a soft smile was on his mouth, clearly happy to see his family. He gave off an aura of someone who had was more than he appeared, but he maintained the look of a simple someone in his thirties.
"Did I miss anything?" asked the man, walking into the bedroom. Instantly, Eveline and Rosemary jumped up from their beds, hugging him tightly. Miranda smiled at the scene warmly.
He was Ethan Winters, Miranda's husband and the girls' father.
And, formerly, Vector.