Disclaimer: I own nothing
Resident Evil: Guardian
Chapter 9
"The Nightmare Begins"
We've got to hold on, to what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We've got each other, and that's a lot
For love, we'll give it a shot
Oh! We're halfway there
Whoa-oh! Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it, I swear
Whoa-oh! Livin' on a prayer
Livin' on a prayer!
Bon Jovi - "Living On a Prayer"
"Alright gentlemen, what we got?"
"Motel, complete with restaurant, gift shop, and best of all, a gas station."
"Sweet. Mind if I see those?"
"Knock yourself out."
"… Looks quiet."
"Yeah, ain't they always?"
"Claire, looks clear, shall we go in?"
"It's your call boys."
"Nathan, LJ, you guys ready?"
"Yeah."
"All set."
"Come on, let's go"
"Let's do it."
"Hooah."
"Desert Trail Motel, huh?", muttered LJ as he stared towards a sign, "Truer motherfuckin' words…"
The motel was run down, extremely so. Sand and dust seemed to cover most of the structure, it was just like half of the places we went to. As Claire put and I quote, "The desert is taking it back."
The three of us approached the motel's main entrance, upon further inspection, the front doors were gone, ripped from it's hinges, not a very good sign.
Carlos paused in step for a moment before he turned around to face me and spoke.
"Nathan, loop around the back, see if you find anything."
"Gotcha." I said, jogging off and around the building, eventually I stumbled upon a back parking lot, there, I found a rear entrance and radioed in my findings to Carlos.
"Okay, me and LJ will head in through our way, you enter through the back, we'll cover more ground this way." He spoke his orders through the radio.
"Wilco, out." I acknowledged him before entering through the old, rusty entry way.
The door creaked loudly as I walked into dark and dusty looking office space, I figured it to be an employee lounge. I shone my rifle mounted flashlight onto a fallen figure sprawled out on the floor.
It was a corpse, a dead body, a "dead" dead one. His face had been smashed in, skull crushed. From all the tossed and thrown chairs scattered around the room, must've been quite the struggle.
Deciding that I had investigated enough, I walked off, leaving the body and the lounge behind. Unfortunately, I barely made it one foot out the door when several separate claps of pistol fire caught hold of my attention.
Fearing the worst, I immediately sprung into action and sprinted out of the room and into the main lobby, and running into Carlos on the way. As we both glanced at each other, the realization then dawned on me.
"LJ…!" I spoke in panic and the fear drew on my companion's face also.
Even though LJ was tough and a good shot, he simply lacked the training me and, I'm almost certain, Carlos has. Not saying he can't defend himself…but it's just it bit more reassuring when you're trained for this kinda shit.
"Come on, this way!" Carlos called out to me, disappearing down through one of the dark hallways with me following. The sound of yet another gunshot induced me to run faster.
We then came across a long, stretching corridor with several rows of doors, each one more or so identical to the last.
"Which one?!?" I panicked to Carlos while he looked over the possibilities.
Without saying a word, Carlos jumped forward, simultaneously raising his MP7 and blew through one of the doors. I followed, reaching the same exact door just in time to see a three round burst strike the back of a zombie's head. LJ, who was beneath the ghoul, sat up wide eyed and frightened, but then calmed when he saw it was us.
"What happened? Everyone okay?" From the radio, Claire's concerned voice broke through the chaos.
Carlos lowered his weapon and raised the speaker to his lips, "Yeah, it's all clear."
The two of us then walked into the room, LJ looked up, exhausted.
"The fuck you two been yo?" He asked, still out of breath and I grinned in response. If LJ swore, it meant he was okay.
"Oh you know," I replied humorously, "Just enjoying the scenery."
"We figured you could handle it" said Carlos who was busy viewing shards of broken glass scattered on the floor. "The Mirror piss you off?"
"Nah man" He replied, then pointed towards a fallen zombie on the floor, "This asshole was reflected in it, I thought they wasn't supposed to have reflections!"
I chuckled, "No, that's vampires, retard…"
"What ever man…and fuck you too!" LJ then attempted you sit up from the bed, but his wrist collapsed under his weight and he fell back down. "Goddammit!"
"What is it?" Carlos said, helping LJ up, concerned.
LJ's eyes widen for a second before he quickly sputtered out, "Just, uh, hit my head against the wall, nothing bad, don't worry.
I quickly examined his forehead and found a pretty nasty looking cut over his left eye. I grimaced, then went for my radio.
"Betty, we need a medic over here. LJ got a boo-boo he needs you to kiss." Carlos laughed and I stood back up to check the fallen undead by the mirror.
"Shit, you didn't need to be-" LJ tried to protest but Carlos thought otherwise.
"Maybe, maybe not, but you're not a doctor and neither am I."
"And neither ain't anyone else man! Look, I appreciate you boys looking out for me, but I'll be fine." LJ continued to argue, damn us males and our excessive pride…
"Better safe than sorry dude." I said in response while kicking the undead deputy over and inspecting him. "LJ, this Z's head is still intact." I pointed out, staring down at the pair of aviator glasses he wore.
"Huh?" He asked confused, then realized what I meant, "Oh what ever man, he dead ain't he?!?"
"Gotta destroy the brain…just to be sure." I said glancing back up. "Hand me your deagle, will you?"
"De What?" LJ was clearly lost even when it came to his own weapon.
"Your Desert Eagle, LJ." Carlos answered for me. Yet LJ just sat and stared at us like we were crazy or something.
I sighed, "Your custom, pimped out, hand cannon, bro." I put it in terms he would understand
"Oh!" Recognition itching itself on his face, "Why didn't you just say so, yo?" He handed me the ridiculously overpowered pistol and I raised it over the paralyzed zombie's cranium.
"Nighty night." I said as much to myself as to the dead man on the ground, before I pulled the trigger.
"Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world. She took the midnight train going anywhere." I silently sang to myself as I walked away from the motel, leaving behind LJ to be "nursed" and I use that term loosely, by Betty.
"Some will win, some will lose." I continued to completely butcher a classic as I headed back to my Humvee, oblivious to the world around me.
"Oh the movie never ends. It goes on and on and on and-OOF!" Suddenly some strong force pushed me forward with great momentum, I stumbled a few steps but regained balance before I could fall, soft giggling sounded off from behind me.
"Oh very funny." I said, turning to face the blonde haired perpetrator.
"What?" Kmart asked, innocently, "It was the only way to make you shut up."
I played a face of mock hurt, "Excuse me? I'll have you know that I have a very amazing voice!"
"Well if by 'amazing' you mean 'sucks so horribly', then I agree!"
"…That hurts me Kmart, that hurts me real bad."
"Oh, that's just because you're a wimp." She linked arms with mine and started guiding me over to the Humvee. "Come on, I got dinner waiting." She said.
"You made dinner for me?" I grinned, "Well I'm touched, really."
"Well, not exactly…made. More like stood out in line and fetched food rations for the two of us." Kmart shrugged as we approached my vehicle.
"It's the thought that counts." I smiled, then looked over the picnic setup she made. A large blanket laid out on the ground near a small campfire with a pair of tin cans resting in the center.
I tossed my gear into the Humvee and sat down next to Kmart who passed me one of food canisters.
"Spam for you." She dropped the can into my lap, "And macaroni for me." She said with a smile.
"Thank you." I replied before tearing off the lid of the container and peering inside. Nearly an inch of chunky excess grease met my gaze.
"Figures." I muttered, then started to scoop the pure animal fat out, so I could reach the spam underneath.
"So anything special happen earlier? We heard gunshots." Kmart asked, trying to start a conversation. My eyes flicked up and I saw that she was well over halfway through with her Macaroni.
Girl sure does enjoy pasta…
"Nothing we couldn't handle." I answered, popping a spoonful of grease soaked meat into my mouth and trying my hardest to just chew and swallow. "Checked the place out, saw a few Z's and took them down…oh, and LJ got his ass kicked." This got a laugh out of Kmart and I could not help but smile in response.
"The usual then?" She giggled.
"Precisely."
It was then that Claire decided to grace us with her presence. It was a usual procedure for her to check the supplies of the convoy when we make a crash spot.
"Hey Nathan" She called out and threw me a pistol magazine which I caught.
"Toss it in with the others will ya?" Claire asked and I nodded, stood up and walked over to check the trunk.
A few weeks ago, due to over crowding of supplies in the 8x8 truck, I was officially put in charge of storing the convoy's ammunition, makes sense since the Humvee is built for this line of work I guess.
I popped open the trunk and released a heavy sigh when I saw the contents. There were several munition boxes laying around…but with barely any ammo left inside them.
Claire must of heard my sigh because the next thing I know, she's looking over my shoulder and at the nearly empty ammo crates.
"God dammit." She mutters.
"Yep, pretty soon we'll be resorting to throwing rocks and using harsh language." I said humorously.
"Oh god." Claire commented, rolling her eyes, "You've been taking examples from Otto haven't you?"
Kmart, who was now leaning against the Humvee's door, let out an entertained little laugh that signaled that she was agreeing with Claire and mocking me.
I craned my head over and stuck my tongue out at her, childish, I know, but amusing non the less. Claire muttered something along the lines of "Keep it in your pants." Before she walked off, having other matters to attend to, leaving the two of us to ourselves.
I turned to Kmart, who was furiously waving her hand up and down in front of her face in a desperate attempt to stay cool; I don't blame her, it's really fucking hot out here. The temp easily reaches the 100s and goes beyond, side effects of an undead, desert, wasteland I guess…
"Hey Nathan?" Kmart's voice scattered my thoughts, "Did you hear anything I just said?" She asked, suspiciously.
Aw crap.
I grinned sheepishly, "Uh, sorry, I inda zoned out for a bit there, you were saying?" I said, praying for no backlash. To my satisfaction, she merely rolled her eyes and ignored it.
"I asked if the Humvee has air conditioning." She said as she crawled into the passenger seat, taking the hint, I moved into the driver's spot.
"It works alright, but only if we have gas." Despite what I just hinted to, I still turned the keys and set it to "Accessories".
"You sure Claire won't get pissed over this…irresponsible use of gasoline?" I went on, even though I kinda knew where all this was headed.
"Nah, I doubt it" Kmart shook her head while messing with the AC settings, a cool gust of wind filled the Humvee and I shoved a duffle bag up the gunner port to halt the escape of cold air.
"Besides." She continued, "What Claire doesn't know, won't hurt her."
I looked at her, surprised and she smiled back towards me a mischievous grin.
"Anyways," She said, eyeing the Humvee's built in radio, "This thing have any music?"
I thought back for a second, back when I first messed around with this vehicle. "Yeah," I finally remembered, "It did come with one CD…but I doubt you'll enjoy the song choice." I smirked, all knowingly.
"Well let's just see about tha-" Kmart's voice was cut off when she flipped a switch and the speakers in the Humvee started blasting a song, that one particular song that everybody seems to know…
"Cause this is thriller! Thriller night! And no one's gonna sa-" It only took about five seconds of the chorus for Kmart to stop the music and eject the disc.
"I don't think so." She replied, wincing and I laughed.
"What's the matter K? Not an MJ fan?" I mocked her.
"What was your first guess?" She grumbled.
"Oh, well that's okay. I'll just serenade you with my beautiful singing voice!" Reader, I'd suggest that you cover your ears, right about…now.
"Keep on with the force, don't stop! Don't stop 'til you get enough!" I started singing and did a retarded little dance, Kmart was not amused.
"Nathan! Shut up!"
I ignored her and kept singing and shaking around in my seat, in contrast to my companion, I was having a blast.
"Nathan, if you don't stop right now, I swear to god…"
"Oh bite me Kmart!" I snickered, but unfortunately I happened to give her an idea.
"Whoa, wait, what?!" I was baffled by her head which was now getting dangerously close to my arm. "What the hell are you-OW!!!"
Yep, she bit me.
A few hours later, after the sun had set; Kmart, I and pretty much everyone else in the convoy was forced to pack in up and crash early due to a rather violent sand storm that had picked up and was now starting to hammer our position. I said goodnight to Kmart who, with a single glance back, scurried off to Claire's Hummer. Then I quickly shut off the Humvee's engine, closed up the doors and made damn sure the gunner port was clogged up with everything from blankets to boxes.
Finally satisfied with my sleeping quarters, I leaned back into my chair and allowed the darkness of unconsciousness overtake me…
"Contact! We've got contacts heading this way!" A sergeant at the front of the platoon shouted and we all scrambled into action.
"Go! Go! Go!" The lieutenant was out of his vehicle and shouting out orders at us, "Move the Humvees to position, arm the MGs, and get set up! Move it!"
The men in the platoon were running in every direction in a crazed attempt to get set up before the horde reached us, the three Humvees and single M939 Truck which were our escorts maneuvered to form a make shift barricade and presented our defensive line.
The men in the trucks, whether they be passengers or drivers, all but bailed out with the exception of the gunners, who took deep breaths and armed the machine guns. Their heavy firepower will determine our fates in the up and coming battle.
The remaining troops, including myself, all took cover behind the vehicles; weapons lock and loaded, sights calibrated, we were all so cold and professional, awaiting the order to open fire…
The horde was getting both closer and larger with each passing second. Their moans reached our ears, sending chills down our spines, my hands started to shake uncontrollably. The private next to me was overwhelmed by fear; a strong, foul stench reached my nose and I grimaced, realizing he had lost control of his bladder.
I ignored the smell as best I could and tried to focus when the LT started with the order.
"Prepare to fire!"
I took a deep breath and flipped my rifle off safety, the man arming the M240 machine gun on the Humvee in front of me pulled back the cocking handle on the weapon one last time for good measure, the precise orchestra of clicks and snaps around me signaled that my fellow soldiers were all locked and loaded.
All me needed now was those two words…
Tap
The undead's moans was getting louder, the shaking was getting worst, my trigger finger itched…and I intended to scratch it.
Tap Tap Tap
I lost all feeling, my body went numb, breathing slowed, I closed my eyes and thoughts and images of a better time filled my psyche…
TapTapTapTapTapTap…!
"Open Fire!"
All hell broke loose…
I awoke from my nightmare with a startle, my breathing was irregular, eyes probably bloodshot, a cold sweat trickled down my neck and shivers overwhelmed my body…
Tap…Tap…Tap
Oh that infernal tapping is pissing me off…!
The sand storm had ceased and so I know it wasn't the cause, someone must be out there. I glared outside the window, searching for the source of the sound, but my glare softened when I realized it was Kmart.
I quickly opened up the Humvee's door and released a small smile when I saw her. "Hey."
She gave me another small smile in return, "Hey," She said quietly, hoping not to wake anyone in the convoy up. "Is everything alright?" She asked, noting my probable disheveled appearance.
My eyes widened for a split second, my thoughts going back to the memories of my nightmare, but I recovered. "I was about to ask you the same question, something wrong?" I referred to why she was outside.
She seemed hesitant to speak, "Uh, it's nothing really. I just, kinda…uh…" Since she was having trouble, I decided to take a guess.
"Had a nightmare?"
"Yes," she said quietly, as if slightly ashamed. Biting her lip furiously, "Can I…?"
She didn't even finish her sentence before I scooted over started to move any bags I had blocking the second seat. Her bright orbs grew and I looked back up to her.
"Sure." I answered her unfinished question and she released a breath of relief.
Silently, she sat down on the reclined seat and softly shut the door. I passed her a blanket and she accepted it with a thankful smile.
We both laid our tired bodies down on the makeshift beds and I slowly felt my eyelids become heavy again.
"Nathan." Kmart's voice kept the drowsiness away for the time being, I rolled over and made eye contact, anxious to heard what she had to say.
"Thank you." A warmth went down through my chest and I couldn't help but smile.
"No problem K, goodnight."
"Goodnight."
"There's a swarm to the right! Coming through the alleys!"
"Heads up! They're moving in through the buildings!"
"First squad, shift fire, shift fire left."
"There's too many of them! We've gotta pullout!"
"Jesus Christ!"
"I'm running low, where the hell is the ammo!?!"
"I need a clip over here!"
"They're getting too close! Platoon! Fix bayonets!"
"Smith! Fire your fucking weapon!"
"Fire in the hole!"
"Nathan! What the hell are you doing?"
"Fire your weapon you goddamn pussy!"
"Nathan!"
"Smith! Do something dammit!"
"Holy Shit! Incoming!"
"Hold the line, do not falter!!! Smith? Wake the fuck up!"
"Nathan!"
"Nathan!"
"Nathan!"
"Nathan!!!"
"Nathan, wake up!"
Once again I awake with a jolt…no wait, that's not me, that's someone else, somebody is shaking me, screaming at me…
"Nathan!" Kmart's voice forces my eyes to open. She's next to me, distraught and panicking. Something has happened.
"What? What is it?!" I'm fully awake now, there's something seriously wrong going on. Kmart looked out the window and utter horror stretches itself on her features.
"Kmart?" I ask her worried, she's not answering, just staring out the windshield. I decide to follow her gaze…
"Oh you have got to be absolutely shitting me…"
Hello ladies and gentlemen and Happy 4/20!
I am glad to announce that I finally got off my lazy ass, stopped playing Resident Evil 5 (Which is amazing by the way) and finished Chapter 9. From now on, this fic will cover the storyline of "Extinction" and possibly ever more.
I'd also like to thank all the following readers:
xReddPhoenixFlamezx
Harteramo
The Jabberwock of OZ
Tinkies
Evershort
Chaos0283
Dan
Ace n Arrow Fanatic
Brian
Israelbauman
Wolf Moon
I just wanted to thank you guys for reading and giving me a little feedback, without you, this fic would be pointless
Anyways, R&R and Have a great 4/20. Because somewhere out there, Bob Marley is smoking a joint and laughing his ass off...
-Tomato