Surprisingly, NEST wasn't nearly as confusing as those sewers were. It was almost easy to find her way around the area, but she still didn't like it. It was crawling with zombies too, but these ones wore lab coats and part of her wanted to feel bad, but the other knew it was their fault to begin with. It was ironic, honestly. The creators of this mess end up bioweapons as well.

The zombies weren't her only worry, though. There were vine creatures that really hit hard, slicing her skin and using up her herbs like it she had an infinite supply. But that didn't matter now, because she had the herbicide to destroy the things and it was distributing across the greenhouse, weakening the monsters inside as well as getting her a step closer to where she needed to be. Now, she could get the purple chip that allowed her into the west wing of the facility, where the G-Virus hopefully was.

She didn't account, however, for the tyrant's return.

"Again?!" She shouted as the giant broke open a large window and jumped down into the greenhouse, already stomping toward her. She bolted away, blasting any vines she saw with her flame thrower. Her heart sank with dread as she struggled to get past a few of them, nearly getting punched in the back for a second time. Ada burst into the door she had just barely came out of and ran for the exit, her weapon still held high and ready.

How did the tyrant know she was even here?! She last saw it, when? Back at the police station? When Leon crushed it with a whole fucking truck?! That shouldn't have been survivable, not for any kind of bioweapon, but here it was, chasing after her again.

She made her way back to the platform connecting both the east and west sections of the NEST. Her wrist was already raised and ready before she even stopped at the terminal. It read the newly inserted chip and finally allowed her access into the one area she wanted to be. A heavy breath left her lungs as the bridge slid out, connecting her to the western door. She moved forward. The stomping was gone, making her wonder if the tyrant was even allowed in this part of the NEST but she doubted it. It would've gone through here in order to find her in the greenhouse, right?

The wristband got her into the door and immediately, she saw a dead body on the floor. Unlike the other bodies around, this person didn't look infected. Instead, he had a large gash across his chest, blood already pooled below. He was also dressed up in...military gear? Or maybe he worked for Umbrella? She wasn't sure. Upon stepping closer, she saw a cassette tape next to him and picked it up, a little curious as to why someone would die with this. Flipping it around, she couldn't find a name for the tape or anything to make it significant, but decided to take it with her anyway. Who knew what could be on it.

The next room was some kind of lab, but not the same as the chemical filled one she made the herbicide in. No, this one looked like a testing lab, complete with a bed and lasers pointed toward the head rest. The sight alone made her feel sick. How could anyone test on another human being? And she'd seen what these viruses did. This wasn't just a vaccine with possible side effects. These were made to kill and mutate someone.

Turning away from that...mess, Ada looked at the conveniently placed tv and cassette player instead. Wow. That...she wasn't expecting to find that, honestly. The cassette was something she thought would end up in Leon's hands at the end of this and would just provide more evidence. But now that she had it and a way to play it, Ada didn't hesitate to slip the thing in and watch the screen as it came to life.

It was fuzzy at first, to the point where she worried if there was even something on the cassette, but then it cleared, showing someone in a white coat crouched on the floor. They had short hair, but the blonde color reminded her of Annette.

It only took a moment for Ada to realize what the scientist was doing. They were grabbing little tubes from a large machine and stashing them way into a brief case. Was this person stealing the virus or preparing them to sell? If this was an Umbrella employee -and all signs pointed toward that being true- then she wasn't sure either was so out of character. It was all the same to Umbrella, right? Who cared what happened to the virus so long as they got the money?

The person taking the video spoke in a whisper. "Got eyes on the G-Virus." Then it fuzzed out and someone else replied that they were heading in. Was this military? They looked geared up, just like that man she saw in the hall.

Suddenly, the camera changed and they were all surrounding the scientist, their guns trained on him. He looked up in alarm but took slow movements as he carefully closed the brief case and brought it into his arms. "Dr. Birkin, you'll come with us quietly." A soldier said.

The camera zoomed on Dr. Birkin as he replied. "You think I didn't know you were coming?" He sounded like a caged animal. "This is my life's work! I'm not handing over anything!"

"We have our orders, Doctor. I'll ask you one more time." The soldier didn't get to finish before Dr. Birkin pulled a gun from his white coat. Shots fired off from both sides and the man went down with a burst of blood.

"Stop! Hold your fire!" All gun shots stopped and the leading soldier stepped forward, checking the doctor's neck for a pulse. Ada narrowed her eyes when he shook his head. Did they really kill him?

Another solider turned on the camera man this time, his tone obviously upset despite no physical expression, thanks to the helmet he wore. "What the fuck were you thinking?! Our orders were to bring him in alive!" There was another pause as someone else called who Ada assumed were their superiors. "We're in, Sir, but we had a snafu. Target resisted. We had to take him out." That didn't look like the case to Ada, but she still wasn't sure who was right here. "Roger that. Just the samples, then." With that order, the soldiers filed forward and grabbed the briefcase from Dr. Birkin's dead body. The camera cut out as they moved on like nothing even happened.

Ada didn't know what to think. Dr. Birkin obviously worked for Umbrella, but then who were those people? Were they right to break in and try to stop him from...whatever he was doing? And if the samples were taken, then where on earth were they now? Ada turned off the screen and frowned as she tried to think this through. There had to be something left over, right? Something she could still bring back to Leon. Something that would help the FBI figure out this mess.

Well, she knew where the samples had been, so it couldn't hurt to check. Deciding that was the best plan, even if she found nothing, Ada walked through the next room -ignoring that testing bed again.

Now, there was a hall with glowing blue lights that rang caution in her head. She hesitated before moving again, waiting for anything to happen. When liquid sprayed out at her, she let out an embarrassingly loud scream, nearly jumping into the air. Then, air puffed out at her, making her heart drop, but an automated "Subject has been sterilized" made her stop.

Oh. It was just a sterilizing room. They didn't just spray her with a virus.

"You're a genius, Ada." She rolled her eyes, more than a little humiliated at her own display, but continued regardless. She'd just have to hope that no cameras caught that. And no one would look at those cameras if they did.

Thankfully, just beyond the next hall was exactly the room she had been looking for. Just like in the video, there was a large machine at the back with a number of holes designed to store test tubes. Much to her relief, there was one left over. "It must be my lucky day." She picked it up carefully, taking a moment to look over the blue-ish liquid inside. The glass of the tube also looked fairly thick, thankfully, but she still tucked it away between two sets of herbs, just in case. She knew how much moving around she did and how dangerous it would be to get some of that on her.

As Ada began walking back the way she came, an automated voice came over the speakers. "Attention: Unauthorized removal of Level 4 virus detected. Facility lockdown initiated. Self-destruct sequence will begin when lockdown is complete."

What? What?!

"Of course there's a self-destruct sequence!" She hissed and began running back down the halls. She made it to a little bridge area, just between where she came from and the sterilizing room, but with a loud crash, the ceiling above burst open. That monster from before, the one with the eyes along it's mutated arm, fell to the floor. Ada stood tall, no longer hesitating to take action as she raised her gun, but then the door behind her opened and she looked back.

"Move! He's mine!" Annette came limping forward, a gun in her hand as well. Ada froze, suddenly not sure what to do. "This has to end." The scientist grit her teeth together and then pulled the trigger on her gun. Instead of a bullet, some kind of liquid came squirting out onto the monster and the thing thrashed. Then, like magic, it fell to it's knees, not even attempting to hurt them.

"What was that?!" Ada stared at Annette with wide eyes, beyond confused now. Wasn't this thing Annette's making? Was this some kind of Frankenstein situation?

And, of course, Annette ignored her in favor of limping forward. "Sorry, William." She sounded mournful. "You left me no choice." Another shot from her gun and the monster -William?- fell completely this time, hopefully dead.

Ada stared at it for a long moment, letting everything sink in before turning to Annette again. "William?"

The woman shook her head, as if in disbelief. "It shouldn't have happened." Her expression went from sad to angry. "It's Umbrella's fault!"

"Don't you work for Umbrella?" The video came back to mind. Were those military men Umbrella? Was Dr. Birkin trying to save people from the virus? But that didn't make sense either. Finally done with the vague answers, Ada stood tall, not caring to hide her anger. "You were involved in this, right?"

Annette looked desperate, her expression a cross between sad and upset. "Yes, but we never meant for this to happen!"

We. Not I. Dr. Birkin was involved too, but they both didn't mean to spread the virus? Ada couldn't quite put it together, but she was close. "Annette, tell me exactly what happened here." If this really wasn't her and Dr. Birkin's fault, then she needed to find out who's it was. Someone had to be put behind bars for this! Raccoon couldn't just suffer without consequences!

The woman's eyes went slightly hazy as she retold it. "When I found William on the floor, bleeding out...he had a sample in his hand. He injected himself with the G and now..." She trailed off, just looking at the monster in front of them. William. Ada understood now, but she wasn't any more happy about it.

"You made this monster then." Annette was still responsible.

"N-No! We only made the G-Virus! We didn't want this-"

"It doesn't matter what you wanted." Ada interrupted. "You're still responsible for all of this-"

A claw reached out and grabbed Annette before either could even react. Ada flinched away, watching as William squeezed his own wife in that claw, making her choke out a cry of pain. Then, he threw her against the wall in a fit of rage. Another arm conveniently grew from it's back and swiped at Ada, but she ducked out of the way in time, her gun already raised. This again?! Really?!

With every swipe it took, Ada got closer and closer to actually getting hit. She tried to move sideways, hopping to circle around and finally get out through that door, but then the bridge below her lowered, trapping her with William.

She turned to see Annette pressing a button that was likely the cause of this. The woman was still holding her side, gasping out breathes, but she managed to just get out "We can't let him get away!"

Shit!

Ada took her chance to jump over the railing and landed on the floor below. The bridge followed and in moments, she was on even ground with William again. Now, they were locked in a lower level with no way for her to get out or evade the monster. Despite the dread that pulled at her and the fear telling her to just give up, she raised her gun and made aim for the eye on his shoulder. Ada Wong didn't go down without a fight!


William was fast and strong and seemed to have no issues with throwing large pieces of machinery at her. Her shoulder screamed with every dive she took to evade getting crushed, but there was no option but to push through it. His slashes hurt like a fucker too, but those were easily taken care of from a handful of herbs pressed directly into the wound and some first aid spray.

As her bullets ran out for her handgun, she switched to the shotgun, carefully aiming for that giant eye every time. When those ran out too, she moved on to her magnum and prayed it worked. With no ammo or grenades, there was no way she'd be able to survive the attacks he relentlessly rained. But just as things were looking from horrible to even worse, with only one grenade left and all of her guns completely empty, the eyes on William's stomach burst with a spray of yellow and he fell.

"Shit..." Ada panted, her legs and arms and everything screaming for rest, but she stayed up. She waited until a voice above confirmed that the monster had been neutralized and she let out a sigh. Finally!

Taking the time to look around for extra bullets or herbs or sprays or really anything at this point, she was lucky enough to find a few packs. It wasn't much, but it would get her back to Leon. Her search also showed a way out from the pit and she readily took it, letting a tiny platform raise her up like a mini elevator. Kind of.

As she returned to the upper level, she saw Annette still laying against the wall, wheezing and struggling with her wound. The cop part of her wanted to make sure she was okay, because even a criminal didn't deserve to get left behind with likely several broken ribs, but the angry part of her wanted to just go. Leon was waiting for her and she had everything they needed for his investigation. She could get out of the city, at least.

But her cop side won out and Ada knelt beside Annette, her hands already reaching out to try and help any way she could. She didn't have much knowledge in terms of bone fixing, but it probably would be a bad idea to start wrapping her up without at least moving something, right? And trying to get her out of this place without puncturing an organ would be even harder. Shit, this job was never easy.

"Listen. Work with me and we can find you a doctor somewhere-"

"Just tell me you'll destroy the G sample." Annette was pleading now, her eyes squeezed shut but the few times she could open them, they were wide and scared and so human that it hurt to think about leaving her.

But Ada also couldn't agree to that promise. "I'm sorry, but it's evidence. It's going to the FBI." Which, she really had to go back to Leon and-

"You really trust that bastard?" Annette sneered between coughs.

Leon? Was that who she was talking about? It made sense that a virus-making scientist wouldn't like the FBI, but...this didn't seem right. She wasn't just cursing him for bringing Umbrella down. She was questioning Ada's ability to trust him. "What are you talking about?" Her heart began to sink with dread.

"He told you he was FBI, right?" When Ada nodded, Annette scoffed. "He's a mercenary. He's going to sell the virus to the highest bidder."

Ada...didn't know what to do. Annette wasn't someone she could just trust either, but...some part of it made sense. Despite that, Ada stood up and glared. "That's bullshit."

"I hope you're right." The dread grew heavier. "If that virus gets into the wrong hands..." Annette didn't get to finish. She slid onto her side as her breathing became less even, more gasps of pain coming out than actual exhales. Then, she closed her eyes and just laid there.

The anger built and built, making every single detail Ada remembered about that man turn on it's side. From the moment she met him up until now. She saw it in a different light. Annette could still be lying. She was a horrible person for even getting involved in this, whether she wanted all of Raccoon to burn or not, but Leon hadn't been very consistent either. He was closed off sometimes and held an air of authority and experience. But other times, he was more open and willing to let her help him.

A calm passed over Ada as she walked forward, the virus sample lightly clicking in her pocket. She took deceivingly even breaths, walked at a normal pace and even her hands didn't shake. Her mind was so focused on where she was going that she couldn't allow new thoughts into her head. She still wanted to hold onto that doubt, that maybe Leon was still innocent, but she wouldn't let that cloud her judgement anymore.

The robotic voice overhead told about self-destruction sequences and evacuation, but she didn't change her pace at all. Every step echoed off the walls, her eyes set dead ahead of her. Ada knew what was coming and she was prepared.

Before she knew it, Ada was walking along the bridge from the west wing again. And so was Leon. He was limping toward her, the bandages around his leg now dark and covered in blood, but he seemed to be moving well enough. He pressed something against a terminal in front of the elevator but left it open as he headed for her, his eyes shooting toward every corner of the room.

He was paranoid.

She had to say something before he could. "It's been a while." Her tone came out less cold than she felt, but it wasn't friendly either. She was tense and her eyes never left him.

"Yeah. I was starting to worry." The area shook around them, tiles falling from the ceiling, but Ada didn't even flinch. The whole place was beginning to fall apart but she needed to do this first. Leon came closer. "The elevator's open. We've got a clear shot out of here." He made eye contact with her. "Please tell me you have the sample."

Ada reached into her pocket and pulled it out. "Right here."

His eyes filled with relief. It felt empty to her. He looked around again as another tremble shook the facility. "Good. Now, let's get-"

"I also ran into Annette." Leon's head turned to her again. "It's funny...she said you aren't FBI. Care to explain that?"

He froze and so did she. His eyes were wide and open yet she had no idea what he was feeling. Scared? Shocked? Guilty, maybe? But then his entire expression fell and it was like a barrier fell between them. He let out a sigh and pulled out his gun, aiming it directly at her head. When they met eyes again, he was cold and serious. Ada had never seen that expression on him before.

"You know, I kind of liked you. You're so smart-"

"Don't tell me that!" The rage suddenly returned and Ada pulled out her own gun, the other hand with the sample held just above it. Her lip trembled but she kept her gaze steady. "You used me to get the sample! To do your dirty work, so you can go off and sell this to someone else!" He probably didn't even care if Raccoon happened again and again until the world burned. Just as long as he got paid for it. Ada had to look away for a moment, away from that cold, empty gaze so that she could gather herself again.

With a swallow, Ada turned back, her tears no longer begging to come out. This man wasn't the one she thought she knew. "I'm taking you in." There was no question about it.

"Really?" He let out a mocking laugh. "You think you can do that, Ada? Think you're stronger than me?" She wasn't. "Think you can force me to comply?" She couldn't. "Face it, Ada. There's nothing you can do against me, so just hand over the sample and maybe you can walk out of here alive."

He was threatening to shoot her, but she wasn't scared. "You're trusting that I won't shoot you." His eyes widened and it was so satisfying. "You're a threat to the people I swore to protect and as an officer of the Raccoon Police Department, it's my job to take you down. Even if it requires shooting you."

When Leon didn't move, She hardened her face and squeezed the trigger half way, just shy of actually pulling it. Leon flinched at the shift and slowly, he lowered the gun. That cold expression was now one of actual fear. Good. He had every right to be afraid.

"Drop the weapon." She shifted her grip when he didn't listen immediately and it did the trick. His gun fell to the floor with a heavy thud and Ada kicked it off of the bridge, letting it drop down into the darkness. Now he as unarmed and all she had to do was-

"Ada." His voice was low and pleading. "Don't do this. You don't know the people I work for. They'll hunt you down."

"I don't care." And she didn't. If his boss decided to chase her around the entire world, then she'd gladly run. Just as long as it ensured no one else could get the virus.

Leon's eyes closed as his head fell forward. She wasn't sure what to make of this expression or the show of defeat, but it didn't affect her the way he likely wanted it to. It didn't matter if her heart pulled for sympathy. He wanted to hurt people and for that, she would lock him away.

"Ada-"

A shot rang out and both of them flinched. Drops of blood burst from Leon's left shoulder and he just stared ahead, looking at something past Ada's head. A hand went to his shoulder as he started to curl in on himself but Ada was already turning to see what it was.

Annette was leaning against the doorway, the gun now pointed to the floor as she gave them a triumphant smirk. "Now no one gets the G-Virus." She was falling to the floor with a heavy cough before either could move and then, she went prone again. How...how did she survive? And did she really drag herself all the way to the bridge? It didn't seem possible.

Another rumble and the bridge creaked loudly. It knocked Ada forward and she cursed aloud. Leon tumbled to the side, just barely catching himself on the railing. The whole place was going down now. The tremors were more frequent and violent. She really had to get them out of this place.

A violent shake and the bridge panel just behind Ada fell apart, leaving her with only one way to go. She gasped as another one shook them and took a step forward, but then a gun was in her face and she realized that her hand was empty. She only had the sample now.

Leon's eyes glared into her as he held the gun with one hand, the wounded shoulder still leaking blood. "Give me the sample! Now!" He demanded, his eyes desperate but angry. When she didn't move, he used her own trick against her and jerked the gun forward. "Stop wasting my fucking time and give it to me!"

Ada didn't get to respond before the bridge trembled and turned to the side. She shouted as gravity pushed them both to the side, her hands barely able to catch her fall before she could crack her head on the panel. Leon's body slipped off the side but she reached out and caught his wrist before he fell into the darkness. Her shoulder ached from the pull again but her fingers never loosened.

Her heart was beating into her throat and everything felt too heavy as she watched Leon dangle there, his wounded arm still dripping with blood. Either she managed to pull him up or he'd fall. His eyes were open again, showing his pain and fear. He didn't want to die and Ada didn't want that either. Her heart jumped again as the bridge shook but it held steady. They could make it if she just pulled!

"Ada..." His voice was thick with agony. She swore she saw tears rim his eyes as well. But then he smiled. "You could've told me that you wanted to hold hands."

She let out a huff, not sure whether to laugh or scoff. It ended up as a grimace. "You're really joking at a time like this?"

He laughed this time, but it was really more of a stuttered pant. "Guess it's part of my charm." The bridge shook again and she nearly fell forward but her other hand pushed back against the floor. Her injured arm loosened slightly at the jolt and Leon's hand slipped slightly. Ada's heart spiked as she gripped him by the hand this time, instead of the wrist. Her fingers strained to keep him there. Both of them were sweaty and his hand would easily slide out of hers if she relaxed even the slightest bit.

"I've got you!" She tried to reassure him, but when she tried to pull him, her arm ached again. She couldn't stop the cry that came out. "Please! Please..."

His eyes suddenly looked clear and that sad smile came back. "It's okay." She hated how calm he was, suddenly. "I know you'll do the right thing." He repeated his words from in the cable car and before she could even think, his hand slipped. Leon fell.

"NO!" Ada sobbed, trying to reach out for him again but it was too late. He grew smaller until the darkness covered him and she could no longer see him at all. He was gone without a single sound.


I was thinking of ending this chapter just before their confrontation, but I didn't want to hurt you like that. So, I'll give you a literal cliff hanger;). I've now finished writing the next chapter and I can confirm that there will only be six chapters to this! So the next one is the last, sadly. I'll update in the next two days, so watch out for it! Until then!