Disclaimer: Capcom owns all the rights to Resident Evil.
Chapter 6 – Negotiations
Walking back towards his superior the red headed mercenary subconsciously felt his arm where the needle bomb pricked him earlier. Pulling back his sleeve, he checked the skin. The skin surrounding the little pinprick was red. He ran the pad of his thumb over it. It was a little sore but otherwise he felt fine. He frowned. Maybe that woman is right. Maybe he really is immune to the C-virus. Then again maybe he was just lucky. Shaking his head, he approached his second in command officer.
"What's the situation now?"
His officer turned towards him from the medic he was talking to. "Well Jake, things aren't looking good for all of us right now. A lot of the squads are out of action at this point. There are only a handful of soldiers left who are capable of fighting including you. After consulting with the other soldiers and medics, I'm afraid there's not much we can do right now. We are disbanding our faction after gathering everyone back. If you want to keep fighting then it's your choice. Otherwise you are now discharged."
He nodded. Well if the others are not continuing their service then why the hell should he keep fighting? After all he doesn't really give a damn about this whole war. He's just in it for the money. He just wanted to collect his pay then leave. "Fine. What about my pay?"
His officer cleared his throat. "About that, huh? Unfortunately we've come across some problems. Due to the unexpected events and casualties we've encountered today, there will be a delay for our soldier's payments."
He felt his blood boil. "Come again? I have to fucking wait to get paid? That's bullshit!" he hissed angrily.
"I understand you're angry. But we are completely unprepared for the death toll, casualties and damages done to our soldiers, facilities and equipment. It can't be helped. I'm afraid there may be a reduction to your pay as well. At this point, payment is not our first priority."
"Well that makes me feel fucking fantastic, officer. I risked my neck for this faction fighting all those infected! I could have been killed or be one of those assholes. I was up for days in the frontline patrolling and trying to keep the infected from spreading further in the city. And now you're telling me I can't get my pay now and what's fucking worse, it's going to be reduced?" he sneered, voice raising. He clenched his fists. Damn, he wanted to hit something.
"You have to understand, Jake. Our country isn't doing well economically at this point. There are so many outbreaks, we can't control them. We have already called the B.S.A.A. for assistance due to our lack of fire power concerning the infected. There's just no budget anymore for the pay we originally agreed in the beginning. I'm sorry."
He grabbed the front collar of his officer's jacket. "Don't you say sorry to me, jackass! You had no fucking idea the things I had to go through over the past few days, the things I've seen and the things I had to do in order to survive. For fuck's sake, I watched my own squad turn into one of those monsters. I had to kill them all! You don't understand shit!" he yelled lifting his officer a few inches off the ground, he was nearly standing on his tip toes.
"Stand down, soldier!" his officer gasped as he started choking. "I could get you arrested!" He stumbled backwards as Jake suddenly let go of him nearly falling in the ground.
"And who's going to do that, officer? Like you said before, pretty much everyone's been wiped out," he replied emphasising on the word officer with all the venom in his voice he could muster. He took a step back, turned around and began walking away.
"Muller, get back here! I'm not finished with you yet. You are to receive a disciplinary warning for your actions. You are to never put your hands on a commanding officer!" his officer yelled to him rubbing a hand around his throat. That kid sure had a vice like grip.
He turned back to his officer and sneered. "Screw you and your disciplinary action. Like you said, I'm discharged. I'm out of here." He stalked out of his base still seething with anger. He kicked a wooden box out of his way shattering it into a million pieces. Just like his spirit.
He stomped out of his base and came to a long road lined with old concrete buildings. He contemplated on where to go now. I have no job and no money, he thought to himself. Fuck. Not the kind of situation he was aiming for. He rubbed the back of his neck. Damn it. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a blur of white and blonde. She was sitting down on the steps in front of an old library building, hugging her legs to her chest. The library had its occupants long gone due to the outbreak. She's still here? As if sensing him she looked up and saw him. Standing up, she dusted off her pants and made her way towards him.
"Jake. About earlier, I wasn't able to fully explain everything to you. Would you please listen to what I have to say?" she asked as she stood before him.
He folded his arms across his broad chest and looked down at her. "You mean that crazy story about my blood and all? You high or something?" he scoffed at her.
She glared at him. "No I'm not high. Listen up before you make any judgements. Like I said I've been sent here to retrieve you. If you didn't know, your blood is special that can resist the C-virus and its effects. A lot of people are after you right now. You're immune to the viral outbreak and you are a highly valued person right now. You know, we can use your blood as treatment or a cure if you will to prevent the spread of the infection. Perhaps even treat the infected. You can save the world." She really hoped he'll listen this time. There are no second chances. There is no other way to treat the damaging effects of the virus. At least, without wiping out all the infected.
He remained silent as if contemplating what she just said. He narrowed his eyes as he studied her. He just didn't know how to respond to a mind boggling statement like that. At first he thought she was crazy, out of her mind to be even thinking of a treatment to this kind of virus. No one who got infected has survived it. In addition to that, he's supposed to hold the cure? That's just fucked up. Afterwards he thought maybe she's just under the influence of drugs. What kind of person can think up shit like that? But something in her eyes told him that she's genuine in what she has to say.
He shrugged and threw up his hands in the air. "Let's just say for a minute that I believe this crap. Fine, whatever. Why should I give my blood for treatment? As far as I'm concerned this is not my problem." He lived all his life in hardship and struggle. No one had helped him and his mother. Why the hell should he help others?
"Jake, please –" she started.
"Why should I give a damn? The people around the world don't know me. They don't give a rat's ass about me. I sure as hell don't give a damn about them too."
She could feel she's beginning to lose him again. She needs to get his attention fast. She clenched her fists as she spoke up. "Mr Derek Simmons – "
"Derek Simmons? The Presidential aide?" his ears perked up.
"Yes, that's right. He's my boss and the one who gave me my orders," she replied.
Simmons works for the US president. That means he holds a very high and important position in government. The wheels in his head begin turning. She's certainly got his attention now. An idea formed in his head as he spoke back. "What's in it for me?"
Sherry frowned as she considered his words. "What do you mean?"
He laughed harshly. "You want my blood? Fine, I'll give you my blood. But I've gotta get something in return. If you say my blood is valuable then there's a charge for it and it's not cheap."
"What do you want? Government protection? Housing benefits? Get all your debts repaid?" she wondered.
"Money. Pure and simple. I want money in exchange for my blood." He uncrossed his arms as he stared at her intently. This is his chance to earn some money after his mercenary job went bust. He just hoped she'll consider his request. "Oh, I'll add a bit of extra too. I'm happy to kill off any infected or BOWS that comes across my way. Since my skills and services are being used, I'm charging for those too."
"I can't guarantee if I can meet your request," she said as she shook her head slowly.
"It's either you accept my offer or I'm walking," he replied jerking a thumb behind him to signal he's leaving.
She bit her lip and closed her eyes. She hated to admit it, but he's got her cornered. If she refused his request, she could lose him and her mission will be a failure. If she says yes then he can hold her to his request and she will have to hold her end of the bargain. It doesn't leave her a lot of other options. She opened her eyes and chose her words carefully. "I understand you want to be paid. That's fair enough with you giving us your blood for treatment as well as getting rid of any infected or BOWS that can cause trouble. However I'll need to talk to my boss about it. Let me discuss this with him. I'm sure he will accommodate your requests."
"He'd better. I don't wanna be doing all this shit for nothing. I want to be paid." He insisted. He is determined to get some money. Damn it, he's gonna be getting some money one way or another.
She nodded to show her understanding. "I will try my best to make sure your requests are heard."
Now we're getting somewhere, Jake thought to himself. Smiling inwardly he knows this is his only chance to get some cash. Possibly earn a lot more than what he could earn being a mercenary. "Alright, first thing's first. I want two hundred thousand upfront. Another two hundred thousand when this is over. Oh, and the BOWS? Those are extra."
"Gee, you sure aren't holding anything back. Again, let me talk to my boss first. I'm sure we can work something out. Until then we need to get out of here first. Then we can meet up with my boss and discuss how we're going to do things. Deal?" she asked him.
He sighed. This is probably as good as he's ever going to get at this point. "Fine. Deal." He replied. He stuck out his hand to seal their understanding. She grabbed his hand and shook it.
"Alright. First of all, we need to get out of here. I need to escort you out of this country to safety. We need to make our way to this place," Sherry said as she took out her smartphone and activated the GPS map. She zoomed in on the map to a secluded place.
Jake frowned as he leaned over to take a closer look at the screen. "We need to go all the way over there? What for? That's at the very edge of the town!" The place she's pointing out is located even further away from his patrol area. Not even the mercenaries dared to venture close to that area.
"Don't worry, we won't exactly go there. We just need to make our way close to that place so I can call in a private jet to pick us up and take us out of here." she replied as she turned off her phone and put it back in her pocket.
"Funny place for a rendezvous. What's the matter is this a secret mission of yours or something?" he asked her as he turned back on the road towards the direction of their destination.
She shrugged. "You might say that. We need to keep a low profile and stay hidden from people. The less people to see us the better," she replied as she studied the road ahead of them. It also came under her orders to keep the mercenary away from individuals or groups of organisations. She didn't want to fight others who wanted his blood for their own purposes. Her boss ordered her to find a secluded place to pick them up and he will provide them their own private aircraft to leave the country.
"Tch, fine. As long as I get the cash," he muttered. He began walking down the road heading towards the edge of the town. Sherry followed him.
The pair barely made it a few feet away when they heard a loud thunderous boom coming from behind them. Gunfire could be heard faintly in the background. Spinning around, the duo gaped in shock and horror as a giant BOW crushed a building a couple of blocks away from them. Towering over the buildings, it roared as it swung a huge mutated fist and crushed a car. It was grotesque and deformed, muscles and appendages in twisted knots across its body. Dread filled them both as they realized with each thunderous step, the monster is heading straight towards them.