Chapter 5
Kagura sat back, leaning against the wall as the train hurtled along the tracks. Odd sounds of screeching, faint cracking and a host of disorientating sounds could be heard. Kimura appeared to look worried like her, the new person Ohyama holding his head in pain as the loud noises continued. Kubo stood reading a volume of Hellsing, hardly moving as the train shook.
"What do we know about this place?" asked Minamo.
"Not a damn thing" replied Sadamoto. "As far as our commanding officers are aware, this place doesn't seem to exist."
"So we have no idea what's down there?" asked Minamo.
Sadamoto nodded. "All we know is that Bravo Team should be down there."
"Then why the hell are we going there?" asked Yukari. "Don't you think it's a bit stupid to just waltz into the unknown?"
"I agree" added Kimura.
"Shut up, I wasn't asking you" said Yukari.
"I was just saying Miss Tanizaki" replied Kimura.
"And I wasn't asking…"
Kagura sat as the two older people argued. She turned and saw Kubo sigh, slowly closing his book. He placed it in one of his larger trouser pockets and glanced across at the arguing soldier and police officer.
"We're here" he said as the train slowly came to a stop.
Kagura turned in shock and then backed away as the steel door behind her hissed and opened automatically. There was a faint beep.
"Welcome. We at Umbrella Corporation welcome you, and would like to thank all of our workers for their contribution to the continued world wide success of Umbrella."
"Isn't that nice" said Kubo, "A welcome message."
The team disembarked, Obata and Sadamoto leading the way. Yukari jumped off, Minamo leading Kagura and the still handcuffed Kimura. Kubo was the last to leave. He secured the train door, closing it- just in case anything was present on the train. Kagura sensed that some of the team were slightly unsure about this. Yukari and Minamo seemed uncertain, Kubo took a lot of time to check nothing was hiding within the station behind them. From what she was aware, a fellow team had disappeared down here. That was plenty of reason to worry. Five armed and trained soldiers just vanishing.
"Hey Sadamoto I've found someone" called out Obata calmly.
Kagura chose to follow Minamo, joining Sadamoto. Kimura was much happier to stay around Kubo and Yukari in a secured area. They joined Obata, standing beside a woman who was soaked in blood. A trail led from a set of thick open metal doors.
"Minamo, can we save her?" asked Sadamoto.
"I don't know" replied Minamo, "She's suffered heavy blood loss."
"Don't go there!" said the woman reaching out and gripping Sadamoto's leg.
"What's wrong?" asked Minamo crouching down.
"There was…accident. People dead. Soldiers like you turned up. I-I helped them."
"What happened to the soldiers?" asked Sadamoto.
"They didn't listen…Red Queen still active. It sealed doors, trapped them down there" said the woman, struggling to breathe. She clenched her fists. "With the…Queen in place all defence systems of the hive are in place."
"What is this Queen you speak of?" asked Sadamoto, desperate to get answers before the person died.
"The control centre of the Hive. A highly advanced computer…monitors the entire laboratory."
"Looks like Kubo has something to do" said Sadamoto.
"Please, try to stop moving" said Minamo, "I can help."
The woman smiled weakly. "It was a miracle I lasted this long." Her head slowly slumped back, eyes rolling into her head.
Kagura slowly moved away as Minamo gently placed the woman on the floor, closing her eyes. She dusted down her hands and stood up. Kagura didn't like this. People killed, a team of trained soldiers missing, some kind of defence system. Perhaps the team might decide not to go into this Hive place. She didn't want to venture into that place- and she couldn't go back alone.
"Move up" called out Sadamoto to the waiting team members. Yukari gripped hold of Kimura tightly and pulled him along, while Kubo walked alongside Ohyama in a much more civilised manner.
"What now then?" asked Yukari.
"We're moving in" said Sadamoto. "We've received confirmation that our team was located with this place." He pointed at Kubo. "We're going to have a special job for you" he said.
"I look forward to it" replied Kubo.
"Come on, lets get moving now" said Sadamoto, marching up to the open steel doors.
"What about the woman?" asked Minamo.
"She's dead" said Sadamoto. "She stays here. When we get back we can think about what to do."
Kagura gave the body one last look as they slowly walked away. That was another dead person. To go with the loss of this teams sixth member, and whoever was within that place. She looked towards Minamo who waited for her to join up. Slowly the group climbed the marble stairs, passing through the large doorway. Kagura was uncertain, paranoid they'd suddenly close and crush them. She guessed she might have watched too many horror films recently.
They passed by what must have been a reception desk once, paper strewn across the floor, a telephone cord wrapped around a torn chair. They reached shatterproof glass doors that had a steel pole wedged between them. Kubo tried shoving it, Yukari pushing him out of the way and trying to push the doors open. She yelled and looked at the lifeless metal pole furiously before finally giving up. She turned around to the others and shrugged.
"I guess we don't go that way then" stated Kubo. "So what now?"
"Follow in other people's footsteps" said Ohyama pointing.
"What?" asked Yukari.
"You said there was another team down here- I can't see anyone here" he said. He pointed towards a thick door, barely noticeable from the wall, a thin crack giving away its position. A bag rested beside it. "That bag looks just like the ones all of you have."
"So we go that way?" asked Kagura.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to go that way?" asked Kimura. "It didn't seem to do your friends much good" he said. "It may be dangerous."
"This whole place is dangerous" said Sadamoto. "And we have a task to do."
Obata prodded the door open with his weapon. He turned to the others.
"It's just an empty room" said the man.
"So another dead end?" asked Yukari.
"Nope. There's a door at the end, and there's some control panel sitting in here."
"Kubo, we have your first job" said Sadamoto.
"I'm on it."
Kubo sprinted up to join Obata, the two stepping inside, the others following behind them. Sadamoto pushed the door shut behind them.
"This is a rescue and research mission. We must find all survivors and find out what the hell happened here."