Resident Evil Recall: Operation Arklay

Episode Five: Task Force Arklay

Part One

Press Conference Room, RPD, 7:30 AM…

Well, this was it, Ashwood thought as her footsteps echoed down the hallway. Today was the day that she began her new assignment as part of Task Force Arklay, and that the investigation into the Cannibal Murders would begin. So why was she so nervous? After all, everyone on the team had already met, and even had a celebration together just last night, so why were her palms all sweaty as if she were on her way to another S.T.A.R.S. interview? It wasn't like she had to impress anyone with her skills in order to get the job or anything, but truth be told, she had never gone on this type of mission before.

"Relax, Kendra." She said to herself as she turned down another hallway. "You're not some Rookie headed to Training Day or anything. You're a professional Tech Specialist with years of experience at the RPD under your belt, and you're easily the best looking one on the team… not that the bar for that has been set very high."

Oh, she hoped that she had made the right choice by accepting this assignment. She knew that it was important, and that the whole city was counting on her, but she still had her doubts about the people on the team. Besides herself there was Liquid, a man who used his knowledge of the law to break just enough rules to keep himself out of jail, and McGee, who actually didn't seem that bad, expect for when he was around Liquid, sort of like when a recovering alcoholic runs into his old drinking buddy at the bar and relapses. Then there were Chambers and Lopez, whose favorite method of operating was to play Bad Cop and Worse Cop in every situation. That woman, Carver, the pilot, didn't seem so bad, aside from her horrific taste in men, but she hadn't been allowed to be on the team for some reason, so…

"So I'm the only woman on the team?" She asked out loud while stopping for a second. "Oh, hell."

Resuming her walk, she had to remind herself that these were not children that she would be going out into the woods with, they were grown adults, and Police Officers to boot. It wasn't like they were a bunch of frat-boys who would need her to keep them from doing stupid things at any given time. Suddenly her mind was filled with terrible visions of having to yell at them for attaching an egg whisk to a power drill, or trying to boil hotdogs in the coffee maker. But then she mentally shoved those images out of her mind. And it was a good thing too, since she was at the end of her walk, and she didn't want to go into their first meeting looking all flustered.

"You are not weak, you are not shy." She said to herself while standing in front of the door. "You are a strong woman who doesn't take crap from anyone."

Apparently the only room that their fearless leader could get on such short notice was the old Press Conference Room, but from the way he spoke, it didn't sound like they would be spending much time at the station at all. The place hadn't been used regularly in months, since the Mayor wanted all press conferences of any kind to take place at City Hall for some reason, which was probably why they were allowed to have the meeting there instead of the old Dark Room, which she suspected had been a possibility. McGee was already there, sitting quietly in one of the chairs that reporters would have usually occupied, and he was eating a muffin or something. Chambers and Lopez were also there, but they were standing over to the side of the room, crowded around something on the counter.

"Is this really gonna work?" Chambers asked as Ashwood moved to see what they were looking at. "Can you really boil a hotdog in a coffee maker?"

"Hell yes, you can." Lopez replied. "Sure, it takes a little longer, but you don't have to wash a pot when you're done."

"Hey boys, make me one too, huh?" McGee asked as he tossed the muffin wrapper in the trash. "The muffins are awful today… and stale."

"Don't you worry, Sarge." Chambers answered happily. "We're making enough for everyone."

As soon as Chambers moved to answer McGee's request, Ashwood's eyes widened as she saw that they had the coffee pot filled with water and that it was filled with hotdogs. She turned away and went over to one of the chairs, being just dimly aware of one of them saying something about making one for her as well. So this was it? This was the team that was going to save Raccoon City… and she was going to have to babysit them?

"Oh, God." She said quietly.

"Good morning, everybody!" Liquid shouted as he came through the door, making her jump. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm in an exceptionally good mood today."

For a moment it looked like he was going to ignore her completely and just go about his business, which is exactly what she wanted with how the morning was going so far, and that is also probably the exact reason that he didn't. Instead of going to the podium or walking up to one of the others in the room, Liquid sat down in the chair right next to hers and seemed to be actively trying to make this situation as uncomfortable as possible for her by putting his arm around her.

"What's wrong, Ashwood, you look down." He said. "Don't tell me I'm the only one who woke up next to a beautiful redhead this morning. Come on, you can tell me… I won't say anything to anyone."

There was suddenly a conflict in her mind; part of her wanted to smack him in the mouth for the way he was talking, but the other part wanted to try and set a good example for the others by being the bigger person. However, he was not the first person with rank in the RPD who acted this way… in fact, every single person in the S.T.A.R.S. office, including Officer Valentine, had been treating each other the same way. So was this… was this just how certain types of units did things, like, a strange way to become a closer team? Even if it was some kind of harmless way for everyone to get to know each other better, it made her uncomfortable.

"Only in your dreams, Lieutenant." She decided on saying as she moved his arm away.

"I know, right?" Liquid replied without missing a beat. "But like my Grandfather used to say… always follow your dreams."

He then winked at her as he stood up, and patted her on the shoulder before moving over to the podium at the front of the room, leaving Ashwood not sure if she had been the winner or not in their little verbal altercation. He seemed to get the hint that she wasn't in the mood for any games, and definitely not interested in him in any way, shape, or form, but even while getting bluntly rejected, he found a way to get the last word in. In his file it said that he had been married and had a son, but this made Ashwood wonder how in the hell someone like him could have a wife? She was out of the picture now, so it obviously didn't last, but then Ashwood also remembered how Detective Carver had been hanging all over him last night.

"Hey, are you guys boiling hotdogs in the coffee maker?" Liquid asked. "Put one in there for me, and listen up, we're about to start."

Chambers gave him a thumbs up, and then he and Lopez turned around to listen to what he was going to say. McGee also leaned forward a bit, but Ashwood wondered what the point was. From his attitude that he had displayed since they met, this whole Task Force was going to be a nightmare or absurdity and disorganization, but suddenly something about Liquid changed. He no longer looked like a burnt out wino, and his demeanor became professional and focused to the point where she had to rub her eyes to make sure that she was looking at the same person.

"I want to start by thanking you all for accepting this assignment." Liquid began. "You all know what we are risking just by forming this investigation, and the fact that you are all here really gives testimony to the caliber and integrity that exists within the RPD. Make no mistake, this is going to be a long and difficult investigation, but much like S.T.A.R.S., we are a team. Each of us are going to have to rely on one another, and combine our individual skill sets in order to solve this case and make sure that everyone comes home alive."

This couldn't be the same man who had recruited them and took them out to dinner, could it? His way of speaking was so direct and full of confidence, as if he really was a good Detective. Was his clownish demeanor an act? Some kind of distraction to keep everyone at arms-length until they were right where he wanted them? If so, then this made Tobias Liquid one of the most dangerous men in Raccoon City. A master manipulator and thorough investigator all rolled into one. Or, he could simply be a lunatic with random moments of clarity… a scenario that didn't seem much better than her first guess.

"Task Force Arklay is not a conventional sting operation or stakeout." He continued. "We are going out into the field far from the safety of Raccoon City, and someone Chief Irons expects us to keep a low profile. Therefore, we are going to copy the way S.T.A.R.S. does things, starting with uniforms. Basically, it means that you can wear whatever the hell you want, so long as you still look and act professional, because you are still Officers of the RPD. Weapons and equipment will also be beyond the standard issue in some cases, but unfortunately half of my requisitions are still on back-order, so we'll have to make due for now."

Ashwood had seen the supply room, and it was pretty well stocked, so she wondered what kind of things he wanted that had to be back-ordered. There were plenty of rifles, communications equipment, vehicles, everything that would be needed for even the most lengthy of missions, and it had to be, since S.T.A.R.S. was always going out on one crazy assignment or another. She was actually about to raise her hand and ask what kind of requisitions he was talking about, but then from out of the corner of her eye she saw the door slowly open, revealing that Sergeant Proske was there. Liquid didn't seem to notice him yet, but he wasn't on the Task Force, so what was he doing there… not that she ever minded a chance to see him.

"So before we begin, I want to say that this team is not a dictatorship." Liquid added. "I picked each of you because of your talent and intelligence, not your ability to follow blindly like sheep, so if at any given time any of you has an idea or suggestion that will make the mission go more smoothly in any way, I want you to speak up."

"I have a suggestion." Proske suddenly said, immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "I suggest that you get written permission from Chief Irons to use this room, like I did, before you do some crazy setup. So, I'm sorry to be blunt like this, Lieutenant, but you guys are gonna have to clear out."