"What are you doing here?" Leon asked, coolly.
"I'm looking for the asshole who did this. I take it that's why you're here too."
Helena looked between the two of them. "So this is the famous Claire Redfield?"
Leon smiled. "Yeah. Claire, this is Helena, my partner."
"And girlfriend." Helena muttered.
"Partner can have more than one meaning." He whispered.
"Girlfriend?" Claire laughed. "No way. The illustrious Leon Scott Kennedy settled down?"
They all shared a chuckle as Claire's face reddened.
"That didn't come out right." She added, noting the look of discomfort on Helena's face. "It's nice to meet you, Helena."
Outside, the gunfire intensified as the BSAA put everything they had into the creature outside.
"While I'd love to play catch-up, we really need to move. We can discuss this on the way." Leon said as he moved to the window. Without much hesitation, he took the end of his rifle and shattered the glass revealing a rooftop a few feet below them. Leon jumped onto it before assisting Claire, then Helena, who he gave a look similar to the one they shared in the sewer at Tall Oaks.
"I'm fine." Helena whispered, only this time she smiled.
Leon took out his map and scoped from the edge of the building to determine their location.
"Leon, Helena; the research facility is located two miles west of your location, so dead ahead of you. It's the building on the hill with the search lights." Hunnigan chimed in through their ear pieces.
"You've been keeping track, huh." Leon said.
"Oh yeah. Heard all about where you're going from Captain Hollis. You left your mikes on." She said sheepishly.
"And some of that stays between the three of us." Leon added, receiving a puzzled glance from Claire.
"Believe me, I know. Just focus on the path ahead and try to avoid trouble. Those Hulk's are dumb, but they're strong."
"Hulk's? That's what they're calling them?" Helena asked.
"Yeah, spur of the moment deal. Contact me when you reach the facility and I'll deactivate the alarms and unlock the doors."
"Roger. Thanks Hunnigan." Leon said before they disconnected. "You heard her. Dead ahead."
He tossed Claire a shotgun and they headed to fire escape. When they made it to ground level, after taken out a couple more infected, they roamed the alleys to find the quickest route to their destination. Claire lit a cigarette beside Leon and caught his glare as she exhaled.
"What?"
He shook his head. "When did you start that?"
"A long time ago. This work gets to you Kennedy, you know that." She cocked her head to the side, motioning toward Helena, who was behind them. "So, how serious is this between you two?"
He shrugged, turning his attention forward. "I asked her to live with me, so come to your own conclusion."
Claire smiled. "That bad, eh? I'm happy for you. About time you found someone who would put up with your ass."
"Yeah Claire, put up with me, that's it."
"Just remember Leon, you can't save them all. Neither of you can."
"That obvious?"
"Oh yeah." She said with a laugh. "I can sense it. You both are hell bent on saving the world, and in a way you can. You just can't save everyone."
He sighed. "You're right, and you've been telling me that for years. I guess it's why I value your friendship. It's what attracted me to her too. We share a common goal."
"I'm sure you share more." Claire said, tossing the remainder of her cigarette and holding her fist up to single the others to stop. They looked forward, at a lone Licker that was slowly making his way toward them.
Go around? Leon mouthed.
Claire shook her head and took out her pistol, which until now he had not noticed was equipped with a silencer. She laid out fire, empting an entire magazine before the Licker dropped.
"Where's there's one, there's more." She said quietly. "Let's keep going, your BSAA friends are more equipped to handle this.
"I'm sure Chris' team is." Leon said.
Claire stopped in her tracks. "Chris…is here?" She whispered as she slowly lowered her weapon.
"What's wrong?" Helena asked.
"Nothing." Claire shook her head. "Let's just keep moving." She replied, colder than she intended.
By the time they reached the facility, after a few undead encounters, they only had a few hours remaining on their clock.
"We don't have much time. Let's track this guy down and get out of here. Make every round count." Leon said, taking inventory of his ammunition. "Hunnigan, we're here."
"I see that. I'll disengage the locks, give me a few minutes." She said.
"Claire, keep watch on our six. Helena, stay near me."
Helena sauntered over to Leon, switching places with Claire.
"So, what were you two talking about?" She asked when she reached his side.
"Just catching up, she wanted to know about you."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah." Leon noticed her discomfort. "Don't worry about her. We met in Raccoon City and become good friends. I trust her with my life, just like I trust you."
Helena smiled before Hunnigan could interrupt.
"Alright, you're in. According to what I can see, the scientist is on the third level in the decontamination wing. His movements are erratic though so he may be trying to hide. Good luck, and be careful."
"You've got it." Leon said. "Ladies first." He said, motioning for the two females to enter as he opened the door.
"In good time." Claire said, pointing to the hoard of infected making their way toward the team's location.
Once behind closed doors, they took time for their eyes to adjust to the bright lighting of the room.
"You heard her, third floor." Helena said. "Looks like the elevators still work."
Leon shook his head. "Stairs, they're much safer."
They slowly checked the staircase before entering, Leon went for his ear piece. "Hunnigan, are the cameras down?"
"Sort of. I looped the footage for the facility so it looks like it's still a live feed, but I don't know how long he'll fall for it. I should warn you, I'm picking up more movement. I think some of the laboratories' guards are still around."
Leon looked at his counterparts as they reached the door, taking a look into the hallway before returning his attention to them, he developed the plan of action.
"Claire, take the doors on the left, Helena the right. I've got center, the doors at the end look like a good place to hide. Take whatever heat you get down, and be careful."
They nodded and split up. Leon quickly raced to the end of the hall while the other two began to open doors on their respected sides. After trying the handles and finding it locked, Leon radioed Hunnigan.
"Another locked door, dammit. Hunnigan, what have you got?"
"This must be where they've been manufacturing the new virus, the locks are much more sophisticated. Give me some time, I'll do my best."
By the end of the call, gunfire irrupted from one of the rooms. Leon made a mad dash to the location and found four of the armed guards pinning Helena down.
"Helena! Find cover!" He said from around the corner. Tossing a flash bang in the direction of the men, he waited a few seconds before entering. More gunshots sounded from the hall he had just exited and he could hear Claire's orders.
"You two take care of them, I've got these guys." She said, using her current location to shield herself from the bullets.
Helena uncovered her ears as Leon took a shot at one of the incapacitated guards. She pulled her Hydra from its sling across her back and laid out two more of them. The last of them was backed into a corner, his weapon jamming before Leon's assault.
"Don't…don't kill me, please. I'll do whatever you ask." He pleaded, removing his face mask. He couldn't have been older than twenty-one, the same age as Leon when he was thrown into Raccoon City.
"Alvin Brooks, where is he." Leon asked, placing his weapon at his side to help the young guard feel at ease.
"End of the hall, I'm sure you saw the doors. I was just following orders! They told me to shoot anyone who came in here other than the scientists and other guards…"
"Calm down, you've done your job." Leon picked up the kid's rifle and unjammed it before handing it back to him. "Now let us do ours. Get out of here, and if you try anything…" He looked at Helena. "We won't hesitate."
The guard frantically nodded and took his weapon while fumbling as to stand on his own two feet.
"Get out of here." Helena said. "And try not to die out there."
"Thank you." He mumbled and ran toward the door.
The pair then joined Claire, and the entire squad of guards she was attempting to fight off. Assault rifles at the ready, they opened fire, using one of the steel doors as cover. Helena tossed a frag and managed to take out a few of them while Leon made his every shot count, easily shooting some in the head. As the squad began to fall back, the three of them pushed forward and forced the remaining targets to begin their retreat, Hunnigan chimed in.
"Leon, Helena, are you alright?"
"Never better." Leon responded. "Got anything?"
"The doors will be open in ten seconds, get in there quick." She said.
The doors clicked open and they rushed into the room before the massive steel barriers shut once more behind them. Alvin Brooks stood, defeated, on a platform in front of them.
"I was beginning to think you would never show up." He said, shrugging. "I suppose it was futile to try and hide myself."
"Are you going to come willingly?" Leon asked.
"Of course. I have a story to tell, don't I?" He stepped off his platform and toward them. "I promise no resistance from me. It's those armed fools out there you have to concern yourself with."
"Leon, its Chris, do you copy?"
The agent pressed a finger against his earpiece. "Yeah Redfield, what've you got."
"It's what you've got. Inside the rucksack we gave you is two bricks of C-4. We need you to place them on the computer monitors and lab stations in the center and rear of the lab."
"Easy enough."
"No so easy, once placed they'll automatically arm. You have fifteen minutes to get out of there. Plan your escape and do it quickly. There isn't much time left."
"Roger, see you back on the runway."
"You can count on it."
Leon shrugged off the pack and pulled the bricks out. "Wish he would have warned me I was carrying explosive." He mumbled as he handed one to Helena. "Did you catch all that?"
She nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I've got the monitors."
As Claire kept an eye on the scientist, the two made work to place the C-4.
"We can escape through the back service elevator, if that's what you're looking for." Brooks said, watching Leon as he searching the lab for an exit. "It's right there, I promise you it's the best way."
He and Helena watched each other's eyes as they slowly planted the explosives and the timer began to set itself.
"Let's move." He said, and the four loaded into the elevator, keeping in mind that their time was becoming short.
"I don't trust you." He said to Brooks as they descended to the loading docks, the route Brooks had suggested.
"I very well expect that you wouldn't. But I'll have you know, Agent Kennedy, I've been tracking the BSAA. I knew they brought both you and Agent Harper to find me, and that I am grateful for it." He paused to gauge Leon's puzzled reaction, as they had never introduced themselves. "I'm the one who tipped off the organization, I wanted out of this, and I'm not the man you want.
I merely concocted this damn virus, I wasn't the one who released it into the public nor did I want to. I came upon it by accident and once neo-umbrella got word they forced me here, to perfect it for them."
In the loading bay, once the doors slid open, the four stepped out into the cold room.
"I'll tell you all everything you want to know once we reach safety, under one condition."
"And that is?" Helena asked.
"I get the protection I need from the man you want."
"We can try." Leon said, receiving a smile from Brooks that didn't reach his eyes.
"Yes, you can." He handed Leon a set of keys and motioned toward a truck. "Shall we?"
Outside the facility, on one of the remaining 'peaceful' streets, they watched the laboratory burst into flames. As fire consumed it, Brooks let out a chuckle and shook his head.
"Good riddance." He murmured as Leon pressed his foot against the gas pedal.
"Let's just get you to the Captain, and then the rest of us can finish this." He said, and they began the journey back to the safe zone.