Steam slowly escaped through the sewer grills in the ground as, Leon and the two soldiers wandered around the floor of the parking lot "This way" Oliviera said as their gun lights shone upon the pores and crevices on their way down the spiral ramp toward the lower floors on their way down to find Claire and the rest of them. "So…what do I call you?" Leon asked Oliviera who looked at him "If we're gonna work together for the time being, the least you could give me is your name. I'm Leon" he said "…Carlos…" Oliveira replied "Mikhail" his comrade spoke "Nice to make your acquaintance" Leon answered patronisingly on account of the current situation "There's nothing nice about this" Carlos said softly; his voice bounced down the spiral ramp as the three of them continued "Whatever way is the way out I hope it's not far…something wants our skins" Mikhail said speaking in a strong western Russian accent, his face showed he was clearly of western European descent and the stubble around his profile created the aura of a man who'd experienced war "We're all feeling uneasy soldier, just have to hold it together the best way we can…we'll be out of here soon" Carlos said in reply of previous, Leon although his magazine was full he checked again for safe measure "So you two are soldiers of Umbrella…" Leon asked
"We're not Umbrella precisely we just worked for them, mercenaries for hire…don't know why though guess when they make a mess we're the ones who have to clean it up" Carlos explained while he and Mikhail returned glances
"Umbrella has a real security force, their own private army but they save them for more pressing operations unlike us mere worker ants we're the ones who get our hands dirty" Mikhail said; stopping as they had now reached the ground floor parking lot but their path to the exit it seemed wasn't going to be an easy one as zombies had the place compromised.
Some wandered between cars while others stumbled about aimlessly waiting for an encounter with any possible next meal "Ah well time to take out the trash as they say" Mikhail said pumping his shotgun "Move quickly and keep in my line" he continued and Leon nodded readying to move as they armed themselves, Carlos rushed forward gradually gaining every single zombies attention; a single bullet had floored one bold perpetrator while several others swung in the direction that they were running. Mikhail fired back at more of the ravenous creatures shimmying behind his comrades while blasting a rotted limb off an unsuspected cop "C'mon assholes come and get your dinner" he screamed, multiple gunfire came from the muzzle of Carlo's ak-74 , bodies danced and waved as their torsos were riddled with bloody holes. The parking lot lit up momentarily from brief bursts of varied gunfire as the three of them kept moving; suddenly from out of nowhere a zombie grabbed the barrel end of Mikhail's shotgun. He threw his leg into its chest forcing it to tumble in between two cars; Claire and the others still downstairs overheard the gunfire "Leon…" she thought "We don't know that" Kevin said as they made a decision to get moving themselves "Well somebody's in trouble, that's close enough for me c'mon" Claire ordered.
The gun barrel was smoking from the relentless bursts of bullet streams filling more of the hapless creatures with lead before each body collapsed to the floor "We're nearly out c'mon" Carlos said seeing the exit up ahead, Leon used his shots sparingly as he only had a single magazines worth of protection, a zombie officer stormed toward him snarling before losing its jaw as several bullets had blown its face open. A final bullet forced the creatures head back before falling hard to its knees "Keep going" Carlos said trying to reach the exit in one piece, whilst several more zombies felt the wrath of Mikhail's marine 12-gauge, and a ball of bloody flesh splattered across a police car windscreen. Soon tagging the exit; a female officer snarled as she grabbed Leon from behind trying to give him a rather fatal love bite, shuddering suddenly as Carlos filled the creatures face and torso with more bullets.
A final zombie stormed angrily blindside Carlos towering over him as it drew closer, before receiving a single bullet straight through its right eye socket, the creature collapsed and hit the floor heavily; Leon lowered his gun. "I guess I owe you one" Carlos said throwing his now empty gun on the ground "…Where to now?" Leon asked "Straight down to the outside, there's a jeep we can use to get to the civilian centre" Carlos answered "Finally out of this shithole and home to some vodka" Mikhail said partially relieved as he smiled, suddenly a hand grabbed his shoulder and he screamed as a zombie clamped its mouth over an exposed part of his neck "Mikhail!" Carlos cried as he grabbed the zombie flinging it aside, and aided his comrade "Son of a bitch…came out of nowhere" Mikhail said rambling as blood spat out from his neck "Take it easy…" Carlos said trying to comfort his friend.
"Take it…just get to the facility…quickly" Mikhail urged spitting blood struggling to hold out a small red key, Carlos looked up at Leon for a second knowing the soldier's fate was sealed "Someone…must survive…to…get the truth…" with those words spoken Mikhail gradually slipped away in silence as blood treacled down his neck. Carlos thankful that his friends' death was at least quick placed a finger over each of his eyes and pulled them shut, he looked down for a moment before rising to his feet "You should go now…before it's too late" he said with his back to Leon "Too late for what?" Leon asked "Because this city is going under…so unless you want to be there and experience the definition of slow death just get out while you still can" Carlos continued
"This city is already under, it's dead…which is exactly why we need to get to the civilian centre and evacuate" Leon said convinced
"There is no evacuation…this whole place is ground zero for a nuke launch" Carlos interrupted
"…What?" Leon asked in shock
"In less than 2 hours Raccoon City is going to be a pile of dust…they can't control the infection all other options have been exhausted and failed. The military have decided it's the best course of action in wiping the infection out" Carlos explained
"And you tell me this now…" Leon asked angrily noticing the key Carlos was holding
"That key is to access the tram isn't it…it's the only way out now, we can use it to get out of the city…" he continued
"If those things aren't all over it" Carlos thought
"Do you wanna stay here and leave it to chance…Lets go!" Leon ordered as he reached for his radio.
(Back somewhere inside the police station) The destroyed hallway was a shell of silence as glass from broken windows and bodies lay strewn everywhere, the carnage from the battles aftermath had left a heavy cost. Guns lay scattered and discarded the walls covered in paint like splatters of blood; ominous wind blew in through the broken windows to clear away the smell of deaths presence. A hand suddenly twitched in reflex maybe a somewhat side effect of dying or severed nerve endings, then suddenly another body began to twitch and shake uncontrollably once lifeless legs curled up as boots scraped across the gritty floor. Another of the corpses jigged and writhed as if trying to break free or find an internal niche, there a was an unexpected growl coming deep from within his chest followed by a strange cracking sound, almost in an instant one of the soldiers corpses burst open like a watermelon plugged with dynamite. What came out was indescribable as it was mostly covered in darkness but let out a loud inhuman scream, the other bodies had done the same as lumps of flesh and blood were thrown against the wall and the bodies left mutilated after birthing their hideous offspring. The creatures cried out like all newborns except in a sadistic twisted sense, their bodies covered in moulded flesh cutting the air with their freshly formed talons swinging about violently. A much larger one of the creatures roared out as if talking to them in some way, they focused their attention on it before scurrying up the walls defying gravity and spread through the ducts and vents; their screams echoed throughout.
Claire and the rest of the team marched up the access ramp accompanied by the service lights built into the walls either side, Kevin brushed his hand through his hair taking in the cool air coming from the grills in the sturdy shutter at the end of walk-way. Mark began to slow down and was turning quite pale, leaning against the wall for a moment he tried to catch his breathe "Mark…" Claire said in concern about his condition "I can't keep this up much longer; my whole body feels like it's on fire…" Mark said catching his breathe "I'll be okay lets just get it done" he finished, Claire turned around and continued up the winding ramp, adjusting her hair she tightened her ponytail blinking excessively as she did. With Mark staying firmly at the back of the group, Kevin and Claire gave returning glances for a second ninety-nine percent sure Mark wasn't going to make it "You know this isn't right…" Kevin said "We've got to try... we've got to do something" Claire thought walking on.
Soon reaching the top end only blocked the downed shutter Claire glanced at Kevin "So…is this it?" she asked "Through here" Kevin suggested as he went up a small set of steps toward the tall black windowed door "It's the security office, normally it's locked up so there shouldn't be anyone in here" he finished pulling a set of keys from his built and stuck one inside the door lock jingling t about before the door finally opened. "Where does it lead?" Claire asked pushing the door fully open "Nowhere…just need to check if the grounds are safe enough to trek across" "Well Leon said it wasn't far…we can just make a run for it…these things are slow enough" Claire said as she stood in the doorway "Just wait" Kevin said as moved one of the swivel seats aside checking the series monitoring various angles of the ground lot outside.
The windows were tinted black made from toughened glass which would make it hard to see in from the outside, and also wouldn't compromise their presence at least they hoped. Almost jumping out of her own skin Claire stepped back as the shutter made a quick jerk before rising up, revealing the main ground block of the parking area; the area was bare and without even the shadow of a single zombie "It's clear" Claire confirmed as Kevin came out of the security room, the three of them stood together to a share a brief moment of preparation before setting off through the grounds on their way to the tram-station. As their shapes disappeared into the dark, the cities eyes staring down on them patiently waiting for the group to enter the heart of hell and fall into its waiting jaws. The momentary breeze from the ominous winds gave Claire a chill, the line of artificial trees rustled incessantly as they passed the outside security cabin and neared the barrier "Watch each others backs…don't get to far ahead" Kevin ordered as he pulled his gloves down and tightened them so he could retain a firmer grip around the trigger of his automatic 45.
Mark struggled to retain his humanity beads of sweat rolled down his temples as he was growing even more pale, the streets seemed bizarrely quiet which now didn't even make sense to Mark who began to wonder where all of Raccoons citizens had disappeared. Hurryingly they left the parking lot grounds and moved swiftly from corner to corner trying to keep a steady void between themselves and, any strayed zombies that may be lurking about and could attack at any moment; Kevin kept his composure keeping an eye on Claire who already felt the overwhelming sense of danger. The sound of boots clomping across concrete as wreckage fires burnt wildly, Claire held her super berretta against her right shoulder perpendicular with both hands "straight through, nice and steady" she thought continuing through the ghostly streets. The moans of zombies could be heard upon gradual approach into the next street "Oh Jesus…here we go" Kevin thought as he made sure the clip was packed tight into his gun readying for a fight, Claire bit her top lip manoeuvring the next corner passing a short row of abandoned vehicles "Oh great…here they come" she said loudly as several zombies stumbled between the cars and staggered toward her "Look out!" Kevin screamed just in time as a man in a suit launched at her from the side before a sudden bullet between the temples stopped him in his tracks.
Two moaning voices clambered over one of the cars going after Mark, he returned the gesture with a tactical 12-gauge aimed in their direction blasting a large bloody hole into ones torso, it shuddered back receiving another in which half its face was blown off before finally collapsing to the ground in a lifeless heap. The other zombie tumbled to the floor desperately swatting for a bite of Mark, he raised his good shoulder to hold the stock as he aimed low and open the back of its skull. Claire fired lines of bullets in several directions turning zombies into bloodstained pin cushions, as body after body collapsed. The soldiers guarding the cross roads perimeter paused mid-work overhearing the gunfire and all immediately turned in the direction where it seemed to be coming from, the team Captain walked forward hearing the moans of zombies slowly reaching for his radio "Sir APG on approach" one of the soldiers interrupted as a huge Chinook neared their position.
Claire held her right arm up to shield her face from the rotors powerful gusts; she and the others were forced to look up as it hovered overhead for a moment "Where the hell did that come from?" she thought her voice muted by the loud rumble of its rotors "C'mon" Claire urged as they hurried to follow the thing before it could lose them, the Captain signalled for its approach and the sounds of chains being cut loose indicated it was dropping something off before slowly flying away once more. A couple of the soldiers carted the steel Umbrella branded crate towards the huge 16 wheeler that, was sitting parked as soldiers loaded it with various equipment, the others just reached the corner, Claire spotted her motorcycle being rolled up the ramp into the truck "My bike!" she said gathering every soldiers attention, before Kevin had a chance to cover her mouth failing to avoid being compromised "Are you out of your mind…" he hissed releasing his hand from over her mouth so she could speak.
The captain and one of his soldiers stepped forward looking straight ahead for a moment before returning glances "…Step out now and indentify yourselves…all of you" he ordered waiting for a response and for them to come out "If you come out now there will be no further action taken, you will not be harmed…" he continued as his comrade showed him a small screen displaying their position "I know one of you is infected…we can help you, an antidote has been synthesized." The Captain lied to coax them out and looked at the Agent who was assigned with them motioning him to go on an offensive as soon the word was given.
Somewhere in another part of Racoon City not far from the commotion, Leon and Carlos cautiously crossed the street taking cover behind a small Greek plant box "What the hell is going on?" Leon asked as he and Carlos peered over to see the soldiers on the other side surrounded by floodlights, they crouched down again
"Umbrella soldiers…they finally sent the big boys in" Carlos said "These guys are professionals, cold. Calculated and thorough! They won't leave anything to chance."
"What're they going to do with Claire and the others?" Leon asked
"…I'm not sure, they must have something they want otherwise they'd all have bullets in the back of their heads by now" Carlos answered
"Well what're we gonna do?" Leon wondered peering he spotted a shape march down the left end of the street in front "What…the fuck…is that" Carlos peered over with him his face changed to an expression of horror "oh shit" the NEMESIS had returned looking more pissed than ever carrying it's newly acquired stinger in one hand as it closed in on the soldiers. "I don't believe it, they actually activated NEMESIS" Carlos thought as he continued to observe for a few moments more. A blood stained helmet probably from another Umbrella soldier who had the misfortune of encountering the nemesis, hung around the creature's waist "NEMESIS on sight" screamed a startled private "S.T.A.R.S!" NEMESIS let out a bellowing roar as he lifted the hefty rocket launcher and held it parallel over his shoulder, the soldiers scattered assembling into single units and immediately opened fire on the creature. With a loud hiss a single rocket was launched straight into the centre of them hitting one of the cargo crates, a huge explosion surrounded the area in a brief burst of fire; NEMESIS dismounted the weapon quickly loading another rocket into the firing chamber. "Do not destroy the NEMESIS, we need it alive…incapacitate only!" The captain ordered shimmying right to avoid being in direct range of attack, as the bloody great beast mounted the powerful stinger launcher over his shoulder about to launch again.
Claire and the others amidst the commotion took their opportunity to get away; Kevin pulled Claire almost dragging her over as she struggled to gain momentum to match his running speed. Leon and Carlos stood up heading straight into the fight hoping the NEMESIS wouldn't turn its attention to them, Claire spotted them but took cover as the second rocket was launched into the centre of the crossroads completely obliterating the ground which some of the soldiers were standing on. The captain took cover behind the truck before being seen by NEMESIS, the creature stormed toward the soldiers all firing trying to take him down but the bullets severed holes into mere flesh and not create any permanent damage on the hulking monster. "Leon's out there" Claire said "He's out of his mind…that things going to kill us all" Kevin answered readying his gun in case the fight came to him, the soldiers pumped rounds into the beast endlessly, shimmying and diving out of the harms way; a huge fist thrust into the covered face of an unsuspecting soldier. Having every bone crushed in his face the soldier was picked up and flung aside like a ragdoll as the monster continued its merciless slaughter of Umbrella soldiers, NEMESIS roared exuding hot vapour as he stopped to load another stinger rocket into its chamber. Some of the remaining soldiers made temporary retreats to reload whilst others still fired away in desperate attempts to subdue him but, to no avail only annoyed the bloody great terror.
The Captain still standing behind the truck reloaded his M4 and pulled out a small black phone sized device, flinching from random arms fire and screams of suffering soldiers! He punched in various keys and looked at the Agent who was observing the battle. "Agent-T02 you are authorised to attack…" the exceptionally tall figure of an Agent walked toward the epicentre of the fight "Defend human Parasols" he snapped watching the Agent disappear into the fires, parasol was a code normally used in reference to any product belonging to Umbrella human or otherwise.
As Leon and Carlos got closer to the furious fight they paused "Wait…" Carlos said holding his arm parallel to block Leon "Who the hell is that guy?" Leon asked noticing the suited man "An agent…but why here…they don't usually send their agents in unless the task required something beyond soldier grade" Carlos thought "What is he some kind of terminator?" Leon asked "Human in appearance but something more underneath, they were created to assist in Umbrellas more…pressing tasks" Carlos explained "This would be one those times" Leon answered sarcastically.
The NEMESIS picking off the soldiers relentlessly roared about to kill another one but, suddenly a large gloved hand placed itself over one of the creatures muscular shoulders. NEMESIS wound its neck around and threw a very large fist into the agent's chest but, the agent hardly flinched grabbing NEMESIS in retaliation and forcing him into a car beside them both, forcing vehicles side to cave in completely. Claire peered around the wall and saw that no-one was guarding the truck seeing her bike propped inside, she made a run for it "Claire wait…" Kevin yelled losing grip of her "Damn it" he thought before going after her "Get her…I'll watch your backs" Mark said assisting them. Leon and Carlos moved closer toward the fight "Claire!" Leon cried shielding his face from the heat of the flames that burned furiously "Claire…" still he got no answer only hearing the faint voices of scattered soldiers screaming orders at one another. The Captain was now hiding behind a small canopy next to one of the corporate buildings
"Command come in this is Barracuda Company Leader, we need reinforcements urgently…"
[Negative barracuda there are no more units in the vicinity…we can't spare you any moment at this current time] the rest seemed to be just inaudible babble much to the Captain's annoyance as he threw his radio to the ground. The NEMESIS tore a car door off its hinges in retaliation to its attacker and gave the Agent a hard smack to the torso, only being pushed back slightly the agent took hold of the car door and used it to force NEMESIS back again. The beast roared and threw the door aside quickly grabbing the Agent forcing him into a wall and then trying to thrust its talon through his face, missing each time as the Agent seemed to anticipate each attack. NEMESIS roared; its anger growing trying to eliminate its attacker; tearing a parking meter from its foundations and with an almighty swing - whacked the agent straight in the side of his head but seemed to cause very little damage only messing up the agent's once neat hair. In a silent twist of retaliation the agent took hold of the NEMESIS attacking him with several short sharp blows to the face before pushing him back and forcing his right leg into NEMESIS torso, the beast threw its talon out again this time cutting the Agent in the ribs.
A small drop of blood now stained the Agents crisp clean shirt and his long coat was ripped slightly on one arm, quickly taking his jacket off the Agent tossed it aside before storming toward the NEMESIS once more, he made a strange growl as he threw a heavy right hook into the creatures face. NEMESIS forced the Agent back as they clashed blows into one another, and the damage was colossal as the two Umbrella super soldiers fought both with the intention of eliminating the other! With an almighty roar the NEMESIS made a running ram attack forcing the Agent back into a car crushing its one side instantly but, in a counter attack – the Agent blocked NEMESIS fist mid-swing and throwing his right leg into its hind managed to pull NEMESIS legs from under him. With NEMESIS floored the Agent made haste in picking NEMESIS from the floor holding the beast above his head before charging into a wall putting NEMESIS straight through it, then taking a step back for a moment the Agent believed its task was complete as he turned around adjusting his tie.