Epilogue
The conference on Biological Warfare Experimentation and the involvement of Tricell, Umbrella Corporation's owner had commenced on the grounds of Washington D.C.. Arynn watched as she sat first row to Captain Joseph Tripper and Lieutenant Edward Hernandez's litigations. Media from around the globe were present, translating English to a more suitable language for the billions who watched at home. Protestors for and against the government's action towards pharmaceutical companies shouted outside against each other's views.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," a man dressed in a three-piece suit representing the two soldiers said as he addressed the political leaders on the committee. "What these two men have presented today is clear evidence that pharmaceutical companies like Tricell, Umbrella, Wil-Pharma and a slew of others have once again conspired to demoralize our communities by experimenting on innocent citizens to quench a corrupted, evil thirst."
A representative from Tricell's grouped called out against the statement calling it slander. Arynn looked on worried that the committee would not see the truth behind the corporate giants' lies.
"Listen," Tripper said. All cameras and lights were on him. He fixed his shirt and adjusted his MIC. "From a military perspective, you have seen the horrors of letting medical breakthroughs go unchecked but I want to take the time to give you a more personal view of the terror that went on inside Raccoon City." He replied as he turned and nodded to Arynn.
She stood up and the large room erupted in whispers and mild talking. Arynn walked up to the side of the room and picked up a remote.
"Arynn Residvius, was one of the only survivors to make it out of Raccoon City during the quarantine stage." Tripper continued.
"Alight," said an elderly man on the panel. "You may start, Miss Residvius."
"Thank you," Arynn began as she cleared her throat and the lights in the room were dimmed. She started to show slides of innocent bystanders being torn to bits by infected Dobermans, zombies eating each other in the streets, and Gandharvas lurking in the alleyways. She stopped on a mug shot of Peter. "This is Peter Ashford, the last member of the Ashford family, one of the founders of the Umbrella Corporation. Along with his uncle, Alexander Ashford, Peter recruited numerous Raccoon City Citizens and used them to create the virus known as 'O'." Arynn took a pause, she looked at Tripper and he whispered for her to continue. "The Ashfords experimented on newborns, creating what they deemed, 'the Super Race'. I and a few others were among the ones born under these circumstances. Peter wanted to use us to spread the virus and make the world fall to his knees. He had a plan to rid the world of people and repopulate it with this super virus along with the help of Albert Wesker, formally the lead of the S.T.A.R.S. Raccoon Police Task Force."
There were conversations whispered throughout the room as Arynn stopped to drink a glass of water.
"So what you're saying is, Peter Ashford conspired to commit treason by introducing a terror threat on a magnitude level?" An African-American female said from the panel.
"Yes," Arynn said. "That is exactly what I'm saying."
"Is it not true that Peter Ashford was killed in the city of Wolcestershire in Britain?" Someone else asked.
"Yes, that is confirmed." Tripper joined in.
"So what other threats do we face, now that Ashford is dead?" The person asked.
"There are other companies out there with access to Ashford's findings." Arynn continued. "The whereabouts of his logs are unknown at this time."
"What do you suggest?" The elderly man questioned narrowing his eyes.
"We suggest," Tripper said taking the helm, "We suggest expansion of the Counter-Terrorist sector and immediate eradication of all known viral antibodies world-wide. There should only be certain facilities that house antidotes and anti-viruses."
"But what about her!" Someone shouted from in the audience. Tripper immediately stood up and looked around. "Isn't she a time bomb waiting to inflict massive infection?" The person called.
"No," Tripper answered. "Miss Residvius and other affilates actually carry a gene that can cure the virus. They cannot spread the virus."
"Mr. Tripper, will all due respect, this seems very far fetched and unheard of." A politician said from the crowd. "How are we to believe that another viral outbreak cannot happen given what you've just presented today?"
"We can't assure that this won't happen again," Hernandez said, "But with the proper funding and awareness, we can stop terrorists or anyone else crazy enough to try a stunt like this, from ever setting foot in a medical facility." The Latino soldier smiled at Arynn and she nodded back. Some people in the back clapped.
"I'm not asking for anyone to understand me or believe me," Arynn said. "I just want people to be aware that there are others out there who will stop at nothing to use us for their own immoral ways. We should never let companies like Umbrella go unchecked and unnoticed. Once you let them do that, cities like Raccoon City will become breeding grounds for outbreaks. I lost my family, my friends, and my son there." She took a pause. "I'm not going to lose anyone else over this. If you don't give these men the funding they need to get rid of men like Ashford, then we're all doomed. It's only a matter of time."
The panel speakers looked at each other and the lead speaker took up the microphone.
"This is all compelling evidence, Liutenent, Captain, and Miss Residvius. We will consider your proposal." The elderly man said. "Thank you for coming."
The media and audience began to disperse and Arynn sat down on the table exhausted. Tripper finished talking to his military lawyer and looked back at Hernandez then to Arynn. When everyone was gone and it was just the three individuals, Tripper sat down slouching in his chair.
"What do you think?" He asked. "Be honest."
"Not sure, yet." Hernandez said.
"I don't know what to think." Arynn sighed.
"Well I think," called a female voice from the end of the room. The group looked and smiled when Page made her way down the blue carpet. "I think we need to go out for drinks and forget about it, in the morning."
"Now, that's something to think on." Hernandez said as he grabbed the young woman and pulled her close to him.
"Any word, yet?" Tripper asked her.
"The Higher-Ups are considering the expansion. I think we gave the public what they needed to hear. Now we just sit and watch what happens next."
"What about Tricell?" Arynn asked. Tripper came over to her rubbed her shoulders.
"They're as good as gone." He said gently.
"Arynn," Page said. "Don't worry, we've got it under control." She gave the dark-skinned woman a smile and Arynn smiled back.
The group left the room and came out on to the steps of the Capitol building. Arynn took in the fresh air and was relieved to find no zombies or stalkers killing any of the people who passed by on the sidewalk. For once it was hard to not run from eminent danger or to dodge the advances of a mutated blob. The couples got into a 4-door sedan. Arynn looked out the window as the car sped down the street, leaving the corrupted politics of D.C. towards a bar downtown.
Maybe it was time to settle for a regular life, Arynn thought to herself. She looked at Tripper and wondered if she really could be happy and leave Adam's death and Peter's terror behind her. She knew that she would always wake up at night covered in sweat, seeing Peter's face in her dreams but at least she knew he was dead. It was finally over and all she could do was try to cope.
They entered the bar and ordered drinks at a booth. Whatever lay ahead, Arynn hoped that the she could rid the world of people like Peter Ashford and never have to see another outbreak again. But those thought left her mind abruptly when she caught sight of a man stumbling outsider her window. His skin was bruised, his eyes were blood shot, and his teeth were covered in blood. Immediately, Arynn grabbed her gun and cocked it. Tripper put his hand on her shoulder and pointed to the man's friend on the side of the street. He was carrying a bag of fanged teeth. The zombie pointed and laughed at her.
"It's just some crazy kids." The soldier said. Arynn shook her head and smiled it off.
"Fucking kids," She said. She looked up at the television and saw a subtitle at the bottom of the news screen that made the hairs on the back of her neck rise. A chilling feeling overcame her and she instantly looked around to survey the room.
Reports of Viral outbreak confirmed in Washington D.C. Ten Dead. Hundreds missing.
Arynn gripped her gun while the others joined her. They got up and headed for the door. Arynn looked back at Tripper.
"Are you ready to go back into this?" He asked with a slight smile.
"Ready as I'll ever be," She said.
"Then let's do it." Hernandez said as Page opened the door and the four stepped out of the bar and back into the terror…
THE END…