Resident Evil Recall: Operation Arklay

Episode Four: Case #5081-G

Part One

Raccoon City Limits, 3:45 PM…

Two months ago…

"And there it goes, pal." Liquid said as he looked in the rear view mirror. "Raccoon City getting smaller and smaller... you gonna miss it?"

"No way, Dad." The boy in the back seat replied. "When we get there, can we go fishing?"

"Maybe tomorrow, Isaac." The dark haired woman in the passenger seat replied. "Today we have to get settled in for the week, and you know your father always goes into Arklay Village on the first night."

"It's a tradition, Lilly." Liquid explained. "Everyone would be really disappointed if I didn't go, and then I promise that you two get me for the whole week."

Less than a minute later the tallest buildings vanished behind them, and now there was nothing but the forested Arklay Mountains ahead of them. It was nice to get back into nature, which was why he and his family got into their SUV and drove up this way every time he had a vacation. Sure, they weren't exactly roughing it, since their cabin had a telephone and satellite television, but it was their way to spend quality time together, and times like these needed to be treasured because little Isaac wouldn't be eight years old forever.

"Did you remember to shut off the lights before we left?" His wife asked. "And what about the mail?"

"Yes, I shut them off." Liquid replied. "And I held the mail, and set the timers on the living room lights, but no one would be dumb enough to rob us. Do you know why that is, Isaac?"

"I sure do." The boy answered. "Because my Dad's the best Detective in Raccoon City, and you'd whoop'em with your shock baton, right Dad?"

Liquid smiled and nodded to his son before returning his attention to the road. This was truly the best part of his life; the reason why he went into work every day, and why he tried so hard to make Raccoon City a better place for everyone. There were so many temptations in the city; things like drugs, alcohol, and women of low morals, but that was why they lived in the Suburbs.

"Damn right, son." He answered.

Ever since coming back from the Army, his life had been perfect; getting his dream job at the RPD, marrying his high school sweetheart, Lillian Winters, and now he had a wonderful son. Rapid advancement at the RPD also gave him enough money to purchase a small vacation home in the mountains, and that was where they were headed now.

As always, the drive was a peaceful one with hardly any other vehicles on the road beyond the city limits, and the trees were all in bloom, with little pink buds as far as the eye could see. In a few months those buds would be green leaves, making it harder to see the mountainous landscape, so the Liquid family would have to enjoy it while they could. Driving up farther and farther into the mountains, they soon passed a sign that said Arklay Village with an arrow pointing to the left and Arklay Resort with an arrow pointing right. They followed the road to the right as it forked, and continued still past the resort to where the pavement stopped, leaving them to make the last leg of their journey up a bumpy dirt trail.

"I thought they were going to pave this." Lilly commented as the bumps made the vehicle shake a bit. "I've always hated this part of the drive."

"Not enough through-traffic." Liquid replied. "Most people who own the cabins up here just come for the summertime and leave in the fall, so they don't even plow up here when it snows."

"Can we come up here when it snows?" Isaac asked excitedly. "We could even have Christmas here!"

"No, Isaac." Lilly replied. "You can't even get a car up this far in the winter, so we'll have Christmas at home like we always do."

The boy looked disappointed as the excitement faded, but then it came right back when their SUV slowly came to a stop in front of a two story cabin. Liquid had just barely had time to stop the engine when his son opened the door and jumped out. The boy ran around the large front yard excitedly while his parents took their time getting out, and this was fine as long as he stayed away from the steep cliffs off to the east side of the house. Now, aside from their suitcases, there were some groceries to bring in, but between the two of them, it didn't take long. The hardest part was actually getting the front door unlocked, since neither of them left a free hand.

"Okay, I'm gonna go turn the power on." Liquid said as he set what he was carrying down on the kitchen table.

The first side door along the wall opened up to the basement staircase, and once at the bottom of the stairs, he opened the fuse box and flipped up the main breaker. There was a heavy click as the lights in the basement came on, and maybe it was paranoia from too many years of being a cop, but he decided to take a look around. Keeping his hand on the revolver inside his jacket, he quickly moved around the basement, but there was no one there. He also did this on the first floor as well as the second, and sure, it might have been a little paranoid of him, but the safety of his family came first above everything.

"Well, everything looks good." He announced as he walked back into the kitchen. "Especially the pretty girl putting those groceries away."

"Says the man spending the evening with his friends." Lilly replied without looking at him. "I guess I don't look that pretty, huh?"

Of course she was trying to guilt him into staying, but the event tonight wasn't the kind of thing he could just skip out on. So instead of arguing or groveling, Liquid walked up behind her and put his arms around her waist. Breathing in her scent as he moved against her and smelled her hair, he gave her a kiss at the base of the neck, and this was usually all it took to make her see his point of view.

"Oh, you sly little bastard." Lilly said as she turned around to face him. "Exploiting my weaknesses to get your way, how do you sleep at night?"

"I sleep just fine next to you." Liquid answered. "Now, the longer you keep me here, the longer I'll have to be gone, so give me a kiss and wish me luck."

For a few seconds they both glared at each other, but then she smiled and gave him a kiss.

"Good luck tonight." She said as they hugged.

"Thanks, Lilly." He replied before giving her another kiss. "I'll be back late… I love you."

She always made the same argument, and it always ended the same way, and now it was more of a pleasantry than anything. But now it was over, so Liquid walked out the front door and around to the tool shed, opening the door to reveal his beloved motorcycle with sidecar just as his son came running up to him.

"Dad, can I come too?" Isaac asked as the bike was pushed out of the shed. "I won't get in the way, I promise."

"Sorry, son, this is grown-up stuff." Liquid replied as he mounted the bike. "Now, you be good for your Mom… cause' Daddy's gotta go kick some ass."

Isaac stepped back as Liquid fired up the bike, and his son waved to him as he took off down the driveway, past the family SUV and back down the road the way they came. He was able to go much faster on the bike, so it was not long before he was passing the Arklay Resort, and his tires squealed a bit as he took the sharp turn toward Arklay Village. This small town was hidden down in a mountain valley, and had a small population as one would suspect, but it covered a large area. Fortunately for Liquid, his destination was one of the first buildings from this direction; a little place called The Arklay Tavern.

There was a familiar face waiting for him as he pulled into the gravel parking lot, and Sergeant Branagh gave him a nod while leaning on the side of his car. A few seconds later a few more vehicles pulled into the lot, and more familiar faces stepped out. Captain Marini was next, followed by Lieutenant Brennan of Burglary, then Chief Irons, and finally… Raccoon City Mayor Michael Warren.

"All right, men, listen up." Mayor Warren said immediately after getting out of his car. "I don't need to tell you what is at stake here tonight, but I will anyway. We have come here, as we do every year, to defend the honor of our great city against the uncivilized heathens who dwell beyond its borders. Now cast words such as failure out of your mind, and steel yourselves as we face the enemy."

"You heard the Mayor." Irons added. "We beat these clowns last year, and we can do it again. Now line up and move out."

This was always a tense moment as they lined up behind the Mayor, and that tension grew as they walked into the tavern where the smell of whiskey and steak awaited them. The radio was playing Guitars and Cadillacs by Dwight Yoakam when Mayor Warren locked eyes with his enemy: A grey-haired woman named Yvonne who just happened to be the Arklay County Commissioner. Next to her was the mustached Sherriff Thompson, and surrounding them were all five of his Deputies.

Nothing was said as Yvonne pointed to the right, and the tavern's patrons quickly moved out of the way so that the path to the billiard table was unobstructed. She then made a quick motion of dragging her finger across her throat, causing the bartender to quickly shut off the music. Now the patrons were slowly gathering around as they large group made their way over to the table, with the ones from Raccoon City on one side, and those representing Arklay County on the other.

"Rack'em city-boy." Yvonne ordered as she picked up a cue stick.