Disclaimer: I do not own Jonny Quest or Resident Evil.

A New Nightmare

Chapter 5

By: Sigokat

Corbin slowly and quietly crept forward to the entrance of the village. He kept watch on his immediate surroundings and didn't see any villagers in the immediate area. As they reached the village, the stench was horrible. A mix of barnyard odors, manure, fire, and cooking flesh blended together with the overall smell of death and decay. Corbin bit his lower lip and tried to block out the smells. He looked at his two companions and saw that the smell affected them as well.

He knelt down and motioned the two women closer. "Ok. Here's the plan." He said in as low a voice as possible. "We are going to move off to the left immediately upon entering the village; make our way around the back of the barns and find a spot where we can see the fire and as many of the villagers at once. Surprise is important. If we can take out as many as we can in the initial assault we can get ahead. Keep your eyes and ears open. Don't move in front of any open windows or doors and watch the rooftops as well. Once we attack I need you both to watch our rear as well. I don't know how smart these creatures are, but they could try and flank us."

"So how do we do this then?" Jessie asked, anxious to be involved.

"Jessie, I overheard Jonny back at the camp say something about you throwing like a girl." Corbin said, deciding to play on Jessie's toughness and her never-ending competition with Jonny.

"What?" Jessie exclaimed. "Well, even though I am a girl I can still throw better then that bleach head."

Corbin smiled, "Well, if that's the case then I think you can be of some help."

"I want to help. What did you have in mind?" Jessie asked.

"You ever throw a grenade before?" Corbin asked as he unclipped a fragmentation grenade from his belt.

"No, but how hard can it be?"

"You are not going to give my daughter a grenade." Estella cut in.

"I need her to throw it so I can be ready to fire as soon as it hits."

"I'll do it then." Estella said. She saw the look of disappointment in her daughter's face, but she didn't care.

"I need you to watch the rear."

"No. I don't like this at all." Estella protested.

"Estella, look. The longer we argue about this the greater chance we have of being discovered and you're friend…" He let the sentence go unfinished.

Estella crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes. "Fine."

"It's not really that dangerous and I'll be ready in case anything happens." He turned back towards Jessie and started teaching her about the grenade, "Here is the safety. Hold the grenade like this," he showed her how to hold it, "Then flip the safety off with your thumb and pull the pin. Once you throw it the spoon will come off and then there is a five second delay…which really equals about three seconds. You have to aim, throw, and get back behind me as fast as possible. Got it?"

Jessie nodded. "Yes. I can do it."

"As soon as the grenade detonates I'll opem fire. We are lucky because they are milling around close to each other, so aim for the largest group of them as you can."

Jessie nodded.

Corbin leaned over and whispered to Estella. "I want her to do this because I don't want you to see your friend when I…do it, you understand?"

Estella nodded, "I'm just a little scared that's all. I understand."

"We all are." Corbin replied as he clipped the grenade back on his belt. "Once we are in position I will give you the grenade, Jessie. You two ready then?"

The two women nodded at the agent.

"Alright, then follow me." Corbin said as he stood.

He moved forward quick and silent, his weapon was at the low ready, the butt already in the pocket of his shoulder so he could bring it up to fire at any moment. He glanced towards the center of town, didn't see any movement and then moved off towards the first building on the left. Estella and Jessie quickly followed and met him against the wall of the first barn. They followed his lead as he crouched down and moved underneath a large window, no sound came from inside.

The group moved around the back of the barn, around a small wood pile and came to the other side. No signs of any villagers. 'They must all be in the center of town' Corbin thought to himself. He moved to the next building and waited as the women followed behind him. He wanted to get as close as possible to the town center, but still have good cover and concealment. He figured that they should move up two more buildings and then move towards the center. The village wasn't that large, but he also wanted to ensure they could fall back if they became overwhelmed.

After reaching the desired building, Corbin cut right between the building they had just passed and the one in front of them. He moved up against the wall of the far building and crouched down as he moved to the front corner of the building. Estella and Jessie followed and he motioned for them to be quiet. They could hear the crackling of the fire and the chanting and moaning of the villagers. They were close, at least two buildings from the fire. The smells were stronger here; rotting flesh was the strongest of them all. Corbin unclipped one of the grenades and Jessie moved up next to him.

"Move as fast as you can. Pull the safety and the pin before you step out from behind the building." He whispered into her ear as he handed her the grenade, "Then jump out, aim quickly, throw, and get back behind me, ok?"

Jessie nodded, "I'm ready." She stood against the edge of the building, did as Corbin had instructed, took a deep breath and then moved. Corbin knelt and took aim around the corner of the building, his sights set on the man on the stake. He saw Jessie move out of the corner of his eye. She jumped out and threw the grenade, the audible clink from the spoon being released filled his ears. Jessie turned and quickly got back behind the Corbin and the wall. None of the villagers had seen her, but one did see the grenade as it landed in the center of the group. He yelled something unintelligible, but before the others could react the grenade exploded.

Blood and body parts flew threw the air; Jessie had killed or wounded at lest six of the creatures. As soon as the grenade had exploded, Phil fired. He hit the man on the stake in the chest and then moved to the next target. The surviving villagers began to move forward, trying to determine where the attack had come from. The firing would give their position away soon enough, however Corbin tried to take out as many as he could before they had to move. He dropped three of the creatures with head shots from the powerful rifle. He didn't have time to take his eyes off of the advancing mob and noise discipline didn't matter anymore since their position had been discovered.

He yelled back at Estella and Jessie, "Is it all clear back there still?" He continued to fire at the villagers. One of the villagers withdrew a small hand axe and threw it at the man. Corbin ducked back behind the building as the axe impacted into the wood, throwing splinters every which way.

There were at least a dozen of the creatures left and they kept coming forward. Corbin pulled another grenade from his belt; Jessie moved forward, took the grenade from him and moved to throw. She stepped out and tossed the grenade and then quickly dove out of the path of another thrown axe. The axe skimmed through the air where she had just been standing only moments before. 'They anticipated my moves.' She thought. She had dove in the opposite direction of Phil and her mother, but she stayed down and covered her head with her arms until she heard the grenade explode. After she was clear from shrapnel, Jessie scrambled to her feet and ran for the building across the road.

"Jessie." Estella yelled as she watched her daughter move away.

"Shit." Corbin spat and stood up. "Come on." He said to Estella and stepped out from behind his cover. He continued to fire and Estella, using Corbin's bullets as cover, quickly sprinted across the road to her daughter. Estella threw her arms around her daughter and held her tightly. Soon they both noticed that the gunfire had stopped. They looked away from each other and saw Corbin standing over them.

"Good work, Jessie." Corbin smiled at her. "I think you took out more then I did."

"Thanks." Jessie smiled back. "At first I wanted your rifle, but I think I like the grenades better."

Corbin chuckled. He released the magazine on his weapon and as he reloaded said, "I don't think there are any more creatures here. We should clear the buildings as quickly as possible and then keep moving. We might be able to find some more weapons and maybe something to connect Saddler and Umbrella."

Corbin turned away from the two women, ready to start clearing the buildings. Estella stood up and said, "Phil, can you get him down from there?"

Corbin looked back at the woman; they really didn't have time for this, but when he saw the look in her face he said, "Yeah. I'll see what I can do. Start looking for some clues or something and if you find anything just yell." With that he turned and left.

"Come on, Jess. Let's see if we can find anything." Estella said and they both moved back towards the first building to check for any clues. They glanced back towards Corbin and saw bodies strewn about, the man moved around them taking care not to step on any of the remains.

Half and hour later, Estella and Jessie had finished searching the houses and hadn't found any thing of value; mostly worn out farm equipment, empty barrels, and an old typewriter in one of the buildings. No papers or documents could be found anywhere. As they walked back to the center of the village, where the fire had been raging, they found Corbin working. He had moved all the bodies of the villagers into a pile. Next to the pile was a gasoline can; he was lifting it up and pouring gasoline on the bodies as the women stepped up next to him.

"What are you doing?" Jessie asked.

"What does it look like?" He asked between breaths. He was covered in dirt and sweat and was no longer in a joking mood. "It seemed like the right thing to do. However, this will probably be the only time we can do this. We can't waste time."

Estella glanced in the direction of the bonfire and noticed that not only had the fire been put out, but the body was gone as well. "Where's Greg's body?"

Corbin set the gas can down and jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "He's back there, by that barn. I wasn't going to put him in with these ones." He glanced at Estella. "I don't think he was infected. You can go see the body if you want, but I have to burn it before we leave. That way nothing can get to him."

Estella shook her head. "No, I don't need to see him." She placed a hand on Corbin's arm and looked him in the eyes really for the first time. She regretted treating him the way she had when he first arrived. She realized now that he was only trying to help. "Thanks." With that she turned and walked off in the opposite direction of her co-workers body.

"She's taking this kind of hard." Jessie said.

"Can you blame her?" Corbin asked.

"She's stubborn, just like my dad." Jessie smirked.

"Now I know where you get it from." Corbin jested.

"Yeah, and Jonny does it to me too." Jessie stated, but just thinking of Jonny upset her. "Mr. Corbin, I think my mom is trying to apologize to you, but she just doesn't know how to say it."

"It's alright, Jessie. I know this is hard for her. At least we saw something like this before. It doesn't make it that much easier, but at least we knew what to expect somewhat." He paused for a moment, "Don't worry about the others; your dad's the best. He won't let anything happen to Jonny and Dr. Quest."

Jessie nodded. The two of them stepped back from the gasoline soaked pile of bodies. Jessie watched as Corbin lit a cigarette, took a few drags off of it and then tossed it at the pile. The gasoline caught and the bodies burst into flames.

"You should go to your mom. I have to take care of her friend's body. We need to be ready to leave here in twenty minutes."

"Ok, we'll be over by the church." Jessie answered and she walked off to find her mother.

Corbin went back to the barn, retrieved the body of the archeologist and moved it back to the town center. He didn't think that he was doing the man justice, but they did not have time to bury him properly and this way the scavengers would stay away. He grabbed the gasoline and started at the task that he promised Estella he would accomplish.

Fifteen minutes later Corbin found Jessie and Estella sitting on the steps of the church. He didn't know if they had watched him burn the body of Estella's friend and he decided it best not to ask.

"Did you find anything of value?" He asked as the two women stood up.

"No, nothing at all. The church is locked tight and we can't seem to find a way in at all." Estella answered.

"Here take this." Corbin reached behind his back and withdrew a 9mm pistol. "I found this in one of the houses." He handed the pistol to Estella. "No extra rounds, but it's fully loaded. You know how to use that, right?"

"Yeah, I've fired before. Race insisted I learn."

"Well, I'm glad he did. We need to get moving. There's a path off to the right that leads out of the village. We can't take this long next time."

The two women nodded in agreement.

"Alright, according to the map there is another village not too far from here. Let's get going."

Phil hefted his rifle back into the ready position and the three walked off, leaving behind the village and their first encounter with Saddler's Las Plagas Army.

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According the map displayed on Race's PDA, the entrance to the mines was directly across the lake. Unfortunately, they could not travel straight across because directly at the center of the lake was a small island. They would have to go around. Race and Dr. Quest climbed aboard the small boat; Jonny untied the ropes that kept the boat docked and tossed them inside. He pushed the boat off from the pier and then jumped aboard as well. Dr. Quest started the small motor and they headed out onto the lake. Inside the boat was nothing more then the ropes and a large number of harpoons. Race sat at the fore in the boat and scanned the water as they went. The motor was not very powerful so the moving was slow. Jonny sat in the middle and watched the water as well. They had made it about one-third of the way to the island when they all heard a low rumbling sound.

"What was that?" Jonny asked.

"I don't know, but keep your eyes open.' Race instructed.

The small boat chugged along, the weight of two grown men and a teenage boy slowing it down. Jonny saw the ripples and bubbles first. Off to the left, approximately 300 meters, large bubbles were breaking the plane of the water's surface.

"Look." Jonny said and pointed in that direction.

Race followed Jonny's fingers and saw more bubbles surface. "Damn, can't this thing go any faster?"

"I've got it wide open, Race." Dr. Quest replied.

Race picked up one of the harpoons and readied himself. He watched and thought he saw something just under the surface of the water and it was moving swiftly towards the boat, it was gigantic.

"Brace yourselves." Race said.

About 150 meters from the boat the thing dove and disappeared from their site. Race kept watch and within seconds the creature surfaced, now only 50 meters from the boat. It head was at least four times the size of the boat, its maw was lined with sharp pointed teeth. It appeared to have once been a crocodile, but it had mutated and grown. The creature roared as it surfaced and tentacles protruded from its mouth.

"Holy shit." Jonny exclaimed.

Race braced himself and threw the harpoon at the creature. It hit the thing in the mouth and it jerked and went back down below the water.

"Keep this boat moving, Doctor." Race pleaded as he picked up another harpoon.

"Just keep that thing away from us as best you can." Dr. Quest retorted as he angled the boat to the left to avoid a mass of trees and logs floating nearby.

Jonny picked up a harpoon as well and faced the opposite direction as Race. Neither one saw the creature until it was too late. It came rushing to the surface from directly underneath them and as the boat turned the huge croc clipped the side as it lunged out of the water. Race fell forward, but kept himself in the boat and he threw the harpoon, it grazed harmlessly off the side of the monster's body. Jonny was not as lucky and the force of the blow threw him from safety into the water.

"Jonny." Dr. Quest yelled as he saw his son disappear beneath the murky water.

Rae and Dr. Quest watched for the boy and saw him surface about 100 meters from the boat.

"Swim, Jonny. Hurry." Race yelled as he watched for the croc.

Jonny swam as hard as he ever had in his life. He kept his eyes on the boat, not wanting to think about where the monster could be.

Race saw the croc's form beneath the surface and it was rapidly closing on Jonny. Its body was long and wide, but it still moved with lighting fast speed. "Come on, Jonny, hurry." Race yelled.

Jonny was close to the boat, but the creature was gaining. Dr. Quest stopped the boat and reached out into the water to help pull his son back to safety as soon as he was within reach. Race stood and readied the harpoon. Jonny reached the side of the boat and Benton quickly pulled him in just as the croc was opening its mouth to strike. Race raised the harpoon and slammed it into the croc's skull as it passed beneath the boat. The harpoon bounced off the side of the boat as it swam away, obviously to make another pass.

"Jonny, are you alright?" Dr. Quest asked his son. The boy was breathing heavily, but appeared to be unharmed."

"I'm fine, dad."

"Jonny, you take the harpoons." Race said as he readied his rifle. "Aim for its head or mouth."

They watched the surrounding waters as Benton returned to the motor and started it back up. The water was dark and it was difficult to see the croc till it was almost on top of them.

"Here it comes again." Race announced. "Get ready, Jonny."

The creature's movements were somewhat predictable and the trio watched it approach and then dive, obviously attempting to capsize the boat. Dr. Quest compensated for the creature's movements and when it surfaced again it was off to the right of them about 20 meters away.

"Now Jonny." Race yelled as he opened fire with the rifle.

Jonny threw the harpoon and it caught the creature in the mouth causing it to wail in agony. Race's bullets pelted its head and snout, blood spurting out in all directions. The thing twisted and lunged and dove back below the surface.

"It's wounded pretty bad. Keep at it." Race said.

Jonny nodded and picked up another harpoon, only three more remained at the bottom of the boat. The waters were still again and they thought perhaps the creature had died and sunk to the bottom, however they saw it coming up from beneath them again.

"Hang on." Dr. Quest ordered as he jerked the motor to the side, causing the boat to spin dramatically. The croc jumped out of the water again, the tentacles in its mouth flailing and reaching for the boat.

Race fired at the thing again and Jonny launched the harpoon. The harpoon struck in the underside of the thing's neck, blood spurting back into the boat. Race fired at one of the closest tentacles and the rapid succession of rounds sliced it in half.

"Hit it again, Jonny, before it goes back down." Race yelled over the gunfire.

Jonny picked up another harpoon and launched it at the creature's head. It sunk deep right between the thing's eyes. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as Jonny grabbed another harpoon, aimed and hurled it again; this time hitting it in the side of its mouth. Race continued to fire and his magazine was running low, a couple rounds hit the croc's left eye and it exploded in a mass of blood and flesh. The croc opened its mouth, screeching sounds coming from its guts, Race fired the last of his magazine into its open mouth, piercing its tongue and tentacles and breaking numerous teeth. The creature flopped and wailed and then it suddenly stopped. Its one good eye closed and it stopped moving.

Race quickly reloaded his weapon and kept aim on the creature as its enormous body began to sink. The three companions watched its body as it descended into the depths of the lake.

Once it was out of sight, Jonny collapsed onto the bench. "Wow. That thing was wild and gruesome."

"Is everyone alright?" Race asked.

"Yes, a little shaken, but ok." Dr. Quest replied. "Now let's find this entrance before that thing's big brother comes looking for us.

"Good work on the harpoons, Jonny." Race said as he clapped the young man on the shoulder.

"Thanks and you had some good shots too."

Dr. Quest angled the boat around the island and they soon saw what appeared to be a gate set in the cliffs on the other side. They pulled the boat up next to the gate and found a lever on the wall. Race reached over and pulled the lever down and the gate rose from out of the water, allowing them entry.

"Alright, let's see what's waiting for us in here." Dr. Quest said as he pulled the boat around and into the tunnel.

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Los Illuminados Castle

Saddler paced back and forth in his throne room; he had heard the reports that the Americans had moved into the forest, but he knew little else. As he was about to call for one of his servants he heard a loud knock on his door.

"What is it?" He boomed.

The door opened and a meek looking man stepped inside and bowed, he was trembling with fear. "Lord Saddler, I have come with a report."

"It is about time. I was starting to think I had no more use of you."

"I am sorry, my lord."

"What is it? I hope you have brought me good news."

The man lowered his head and his body shook even more violently then before. "My lord, the Americans have split up into groups."

"Yes, yes, I know this. Have they been disposed of yet?"

"No, Lord Saddler. The man and two females found the first village and killed all of our people there. Dr. Quest and the other two crossed the lake…they killed El Cocodrilo."

"What?" Saddler was enraged. At first he thought the Americans would be nothing more then a pesky nuisance and would be easily destroyed by his followers. Now he wasn't so sure. Saddler lunged forward and grabbed the man around the throat. "Is this the truth?"

"Yes, my lord." The man managed to choke out as Saddler squeezed his breath away.

"And what of our man that was with them?"

"We have not heard from him since he first escaped the camp. He is not with either group."

Saddler's anger grew. He could not have these American's interfering with his work and the more of his follower's they killed the smaller his Army would be. Saddler lost control of himself and the Las Plagas inside him took over. Saddler's hands grew larger and pulsed as he continued to squeeze his servant's throat. The man's eyes began to bulge from his head and soon Saddler's grip tightened and snapped the man's neck. The body went limp in his hands. Saddler tossed the body aside and called for another servant.

Another man entered and bowed, he saw the body of the previous messenger and tried to contain his fear.

"I want the Americans dead. Do you understand me?" Saddler barked.

"Yes, my lord." The man quivered.

"Then be gone and dispose of that." Saddler waved his hand at the body of the man he had just killed and then turned away.

"Yes, Lord Saddler." The man replied as he went to the body.

Saddler returned to his throne. His anger festered and grew and the Las Plagas inside his body fed off of his anger, giving Saddler more strength and power. These Americans will not last through the night. He thought to himself and he sat down upon his throne. His staff pulsed in his hand and the Las Plagas took control of his mind.

"Wait." Saddler announced and the man stopped in his tracks. "I want Doctor Quest and the young girl brought to me…alive. The others…kill."

The man's mouth twisted into a wicked smile. "Yes, Lord Saddler. It will be done."

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To be continued….