Months prior, two men were seen walking down a hallway, one man in a lab coat looking over a document and trying to make sense of a situation while another man in sunglasses and a S.T.A.R.S. uniform walked beside him.
"This just doesn't add up," the lab coat man, William Birkin had stated. "How could it possibly be him? We personally saw to his demise."
His ally, Albert Wesker, simply brushed it off, "Quite a marvel isn't it? Wouldn't be the first time anyone has seen the seemingly impossible happen, especially in a world like this."
"I am perfectly aware of that, not that it eases my concerns" Birkin said. "Honestly, to think that something like this could happen, and it is thanks to that insane fool that this virus had spread across the facility, and that train."
"Once the conspiracy against Doctor Marcus is revealed, no doubt Mr. Spencer's career will go down the drain," Wesker said. "Not to mention our careers will be over as well."
"What do you intend to do?" Birkin asked.
"I will simply say 'Good-bye' to Umbrella, as I suggest you do the same" Wesker said. "I have already finished the Biological Weapon containing the T-Virus. All I need is the proper combat data, and I know just where to get it."
"I absolutely will NOT abandon my work," Birkin said. "I have spent ages researching the effects of the T-Virus, but I still need more time to launch the more powerful G-Virus."
"Do what you wish, I am going through with my plan to bring S.T.A.R.S. into the Spencer Mansion where they will be put to the ultimate test," Wesker said. "In the meantime, I must meet with my contact, the former Shinra Solider."
"You are referring to Sephiroth, correct? A man who himself has seemingly returned from the dead," Birkin said. "Didn't he meet his demise in Nibelheim?"
"Like I said, the seemingly impossible tends to happen," Wesker said.
"Want to be vague, do you? Fine, it is not my problem then," Birkin said. "You do what you wish, but something must be done about that troublesome individual. If I recall, the URC is equipped with a self-destruct device in the basement. I will find it and set it off. It will reduce that place to nothing more than a pile of rubble and be done with this nonsense."
"Very well, good luck with your plans," Wesker said, activating the elevator.
"Yes well, give Sephiroth my regards," Birkin said as the door closed. He then turned away, a look of disgust on his face. "Pfft, a freak like that should not be roaming this world, then again I suppose plenty of freaks exist. With my G-Virus, I shall no longer worry about the power struggle, for I shall have my own army and bring this world to its knees."
Birkin was successful in destroying the building, but it was the efforts of Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen that ultimate defeated the mutated Doctor Marcus. Despite his enhanced leeches and his transformation, he could not best this duo.
Afterwards Billy had made his leave, free to live his life free of worry while Rebecca made her way to the Spencer Mansion, unaware of what was to come.
Chris saved her life after the betrayal from Wesker, and brought her back to Raccoon City, unaware that despite the efforts she made in those nightmarish two days, nothing had changed.
However, while Wesker had technically completed his plans, Birkin still had his own agenda, one that shall be revealed to the world soon enough.
Present Day in the RPD, the team of Leon, Claire, Clint and Natasha were enroute to rescue a little girl they had spotted in the floor upstairs near the S.T.A.R.S. office.
Once through the single door on the first floor of the station, they found a blockade of zombies, much to the frustration of the group, but also to their worry.
"Well this is already a bad sign, could that girl really have come through here?" Clint asked.
"She's pretty small, she probably could slip past zombies with minimal difficulty," Natasha said. "As long as she's careful."
"Where did they even come from? Were these people here when they got infected, or did they come afterwards?" Claire wondered.
"They weren't here earlier, that much I can confirm," Natasha said.
"Talk later, for now kill them," Leon said.
Leon brought out his shotgun and blasted a few, Claire finishing them off with a Grenade Launcher blast.
"That'll clear the area good," Clint said. "Really handy weapons you two found.
"Good thing we stopped at the S.T.A.R.S. office," Leon said, then noticed something off about the girl beside him. "Claire? What's wrong?"
Claire seemed a bit uneasy from all the blood splattered all over, the amount of destruction she's seen so far weighing on her a little, "I just wish there was a less intense way to do this."
"Watch out," Natasha said, gesturing to a zombie that was crawling over. She brought out her gun and blasted it in the face, leaving even more of a mess of blood on the floor. "Alright, I see what you mean about the mess, this is not easy to look at."
"It has to be done unfortunately, we can't let these things be a liability." Leon commented, making his way into a room with double blue doors, the rest following. "I just hope that girl is safe."
The group stuck together as they traveled through the room. Fortunately things were quiet for the time being.
"Place is clear at least," Clint said. "Come on."
"When Natasha and I came through here earlier, we managed to clear out the zombies," Leon said. "Hopefully it was beneficial to that girl."
"Which way do you think she went?" Clint asked.
"Maybe we can try upstairs," Natasha said. "There's a staircase at the other end of the office that leads up to the second floor, right near the helipad."
"Maybe she's expecting a chopper?" Clint joked.
"Natasha and I did clear that area of zombies at least, but there is a fire we should be weary of," Leon said. "Come on, let's go see if she went up there, hopefully we can bring her back safely."
"Then hopefully we can find a way out of the city," Claire said.
"We'll figure something out. Small as it is, I do have faith that we will find a way to escape this city and expose everything that's happened," Natasha said as she and the group of survivors made their way to the back of the room.
Once there, Claire noticed a door adjacent to the one that led to the staircase, "Hey wait, where does that door lead?"
"Huh?" Natasha turned around. "Oh right, I forgot that door was there. I think it leads to the basement, but I'm not sure."
"Maybe we should try that door," Claire said. "She might have gone though there."
"It's possible," Clint said. "We should consider going through there as well, perhaps we can-"
Suddenly they heard a loud noise coming from upstairs, the sound of concrete breaking and a loud thump that followed. The four were startled and very confused as to what could have caused that noise.
"What just happened up there?" Leon asked.
"We should check it out," Natasha suggested. "Who knows, maybe Superman showed up."
"Think we're that lucky?" Clint asked. "Regardless, I suppose it is worth investigating."
"But what about the girl?" Claire asked. "I still think she's beyond that door over there."
"Well we can't leave that noise unchecked," Natasha said. "I'm going up."
"But..." Claire sighed. "Fine, you go and do that. I'll go check the basement for that girl."
"I thought we agreed that splitting up was a bad idea!" Clint said. "We need to stay together, otherwise-"
"Actually, maybe we should split up, at least just for a moment," Leon said. "Natasha and I will go check the noise upstairs, Clint. Meanwhile you and Claire can get a head start on going downstairs to see if you find that girl. We won't be long, and we'll meet up with you two as soon as we can."
Clint thought it over a second, while he didn't want to risk splitting up and reducing their chances of survival, this was probably the best way to make sure nothing too bad was happening and possibly save that girl. "Alright, but hurry back."
"Here's a radio," Leon said, handing one over to Clint. "That way we can keep in touch if something comes up."
"We'll be sure to do that," Claire said. "Let's hurry Clint."
Clint and Claire went down to the basement while Leon and Natasha focused their attention toward the door leading to the upstairs.
"Be on your guard," Natasha warned. "You never know what you might find down there."
"I can say the same for you," Clint said, making his way through the door. "Come back alive."
As he and Claire left, Natasha chuckled to herself, "No promises."
"I don't know if I should be more worried for us or forthem," Leon said.
"Clint can definitely take care of himself, and I think he can look after Claire," Natasha said. "But Claire's a tough girl, she can just as well protect herself."
"Well, no use waiting around, let's hurry," Leon said.
"Right," Natasha agreed.
The two had taken a backdoor up a flight of stairs, opening the door leading to another hallway. Both had their guns around, awaiting any sign of an attack. Thankfully the coast seemed to be clear for the time being.
"The sooner we find this kid, the better," Leon said. "It feels uncomfortable knowing she's out there alone."
"I'm just curious where her parents are," Natasha said.
"Same, actually I'm worried about what could have happened to them," Leon said. "They could be dead for all we know, or worse, they could have been infected and turned already."
"I hate to say it, but you might be right," Natasha said, the two walking further down their right. They carefully passed through the halls, hearing the sound of cawing. "Was that a bird?"
As if on cue, a few crows landed nearby, both Leon and Natasha taking a step back, keeping an eye on the feathery fiends.
"Great, more of them," Natasha lamented. "Be careful, they could be infected."
"Think we can sneak by?" Leon asked.
"I don't know but-" Natasha heard a loud thump, which scared away all the crows. "What in the world?"
Leon heard it too, it began to sound like footsteps, "Something's coming."
Emerging from around the corner up ahead was a giant humanoid monster in a green trench coat, this sight immediately freaking the duo out.
"What the hell!?" Leon immediately aimed his gun. "Freeze!" The monster continued as the two stepped back. "I said Freeze!"
"Leon, I highly doubt words are gonna reach this thing, just shoot!" Natasha said, the two opening fire on the monster, taking steps back and hoping to avoid its wrath.
He began to charge and punched Leon down the hall, the cop flying over the ground before hitting a hard landing. "Shit..."
"Leon!" Natasha went to held but the monster grabbed her by the back of the neck and lifted her up. "Get the hell off me!"
Before it could do anything, Leon again, despite the pain, rushed in to shoot the monster in the face, eventually trading his handgun for a shotgun and blasting the creature a few times.
Natasha put away her own pistols and pulled out a a couple of stun tasers. She leapt up and jammed both into the side of the monster's head, the zap stunning it a bit before grabbing her guns again and adding an extra bit of firepower for good measure.
Eventually the creature collapsed on the ground, no longer moving and seemingly dead.
"Did we get it?" Leon wondered, cautiously stepping close and keeping his gun aimed, ready to shoot if things still looked bad. Thankfully for Leon, it seemed to be over. "Yeah, I think we got it."
"You really think so?" Natasha asked, the woman feeling highly skeptical. "That looked too easy."
"Well regardless, it's down, let's not stick around to see if it wakes up," Leon said, ready to leave. "Right now we should go meet up with Claire and Clint, plus hopefully put a lot of distance between ourselves and this thing."
"Yeah...sure," Natasha said, still unsure about leaving.
However Leon had gotten out of there, with Natasha following, unaware that the monster's arm was moving a bit.
Meanwhile down in the basement, Claire and Clint had taken down a pack of zombie dogs, the archer lamenting the situation.
"This is just wrong," Clint pulled a still good arrow out of one of the infected creatures. "Dogs are supposed to be man's best friend."
"It was too late for them, it's better to put them out of their misery," Claire said, reloading her gun. "Plus, I'd rather not die down here."
"Well anyway, which way should we go?" Clint asked.
"Let's try the path on the left," Claire said, gesturing toward some double doors. This brought the two to a garbage dump area of sorts.
"This place smells like shit," Clint said.
"Can't be worse than the rest of the city by this point," Claire said, the two walking until they reached a manhole. "Wonder if she went down here?"
"What is down there anyway? The sewer?" Clint asked.
"Come on, let's check," Claire said, heading down the ladder.
Clint still had his doubts but he himself was too worried about the girl to back down now as he too went down the ladder.
Once down below, Claire grabbed her flashlight, taking a quick look around to make sure everything was safe. "I think the coast is clear, lets-"
Suddenly a nearby door opened, revealing the young girl the duo had been trying to find. Upon noticing the two strangers, she attempted to retreat back into the room but Clint caught the door before it closed. "Nice try!"
Clint pulled the door open as the girl tried to maneuver away before Claire grabbed her. "Hold it!"
"AH! Let me go!" the girl shouted.
"Easy there! We're not zombies!" Claire said, getting the girl to calm down long enough to stop trying to escape. It seemed to work as the girl stopped struggling long enough to get a good look at the two.
"You…you look human," Sherry said.
"We are human," Claire said. "We promise."
"We just want to help, you'll be safe with us," Clint said, kneeling next to the girl. "No one here wants to hurt you."
"He's right," Claire said, kneeling as well. "Please trust us."
"...Alright," the girl said. "You two don't look mean, so I won't run."
"That's good," the teen girl said. "My name is Claire, and this right here is Clint. What's your name?"
"Sh-sherry," the girl said.
"Sherry, that's a nice name," Clint said. "Now tell me Sherry, where are your parents?"
"They both work at the Umbrella Chemical Plant, near the city limits," Sherry explained.
"The Chemical Plant?" Claire asked. "Then what are you doing here?"
"My mom called, she told me to come to the police station because it was too dangerous to stay at home," Sherry said.
"Understandable for your mother to suggest that, but as you can see, it's just as dangerous here," Clint said.
"You need to come with us," Claire said.
"No, I can't," Sherry said.
"Come on, don't you trust us?" Clint asked. "You might not know this but, I'm actually an Avenger. I'm friends with Iron Man and Captain America. You know them, don't you?"
"The Avengers?" Sherry asked. "Wait, I think I saw you on TV once, you're Hawkeye."
"That I am," Clint said. "Black Widow is here too, we're going to save you, and get you out of this terrible city."
"But...what about my daddy?" Sherry asked. "I heard him calling my name."
"Your dad's around?" Clint asked. "Where is he?"
"I don't know, but I have to find him! I have to make sure he's safe from the monster," Sherry said.
"Monster? Like those zombies?" Clint asked.
"No, it's a scarier monster than that," Sherry said. "It's much larger than all the other zombies!"
"Kid, I'm not afraid of a monster. I've seen aliens, I've seen literal Gods, I can handle whatever it is you think you saw," Clint said. "Look, come with us, we promise to take care of you and make sure you reunite with your parents."
"We'll keep an eye out for your dad too, and we'll help you keep him safe," Claire reassured.
"O-okay," Sherry said. "I'll trust you then."
"Claire, I'm going to take point, you'll keep an eye on her, won't you?" Clint asked.
"Of course," Claire said.
"Sherry, no matter what, you do not separate from Claire," Clint ordered. "We're going to find Black Widow and a police officer she's with, stay close to us."
"Yes sir," Sherry said, following after Clint as Claire grabbed her radio.
"Leon, Natasha, we found the girl, she's safe with us," Claire said. "We're heading back upstairs."
Meanwhile Leon and Natasha had gone to the basement, but instead of turning right at the path, they turned left and entered the Parking Garage. It was around this point that Leon got Claire's message about finding Sherry.
"That's good, Natasha and I are in the parking garage," Leon said. "Better hurry, there's something we should brief you on, preferably in person."
"We're on our way," Claire said, unaware of the oncoming zombie dogs.
Leon placed his radio away and turned to Natasha, "Looks like Claire and Clint lucked out, now we just need to find our way out of the city."
"Easier said than done," Natasha said. "I can't even get in contact with Nick Fury, or any one from S.H.I.E.L.D. for that matter."
"Well how are we gonna-" Suddenly a gunshot went on, the two turning to see a woman in a red dress.
"Who the hell are you?" Natasha asked, holding her gun out.
"Sorry about that, when I saw the guy's uniform, I thought he was another zombie," the woman said, then proceeded past the two, paying little mind to Natasha's gun being aimed at her.
"Uh, my friend here asked who you were," Leon said.
"Ada Wong," the woman answered.
"Alright, follow up question, what are you doing here?" Leon asked.
"I'm looking for a guy named Ben," Ada said. "He's one of those reporter types, always looking for a scoop."
"Sounds like he'd work just fine at The Daily Bugle," Natasha commented, cautiously lowering her gun.
"Where is this guy?" Leon asked.
"I believe he's locked up in a cell, I'm about to pay him a visit," Ada said, then immediately made her way to a nearby door. "Catch you two later."
"Ada wait!" Leon called. Unfortunately the woman paid him no mind, and made her way through the door, much to Leon's annoyance. "Great."
"I don't trust that woman," Natasha said. "We should follow her."
"What about Claire, Clint and that girl?" Leon asked.
"They can catch up with us, let's go," Natasha said, following Ada, with Leon reluctantly joining her.
The two began searching around the cells in the back, hoping to find Ada or the reporter she was after. While Natasha maintained her suspicions, Leon was very much worried for Ada's safety, hoping she was alright.
Eventually the two came to a cell block, finding a man in a white shirt and khaki pants sleeping on a bed.
"Think that's Ben?" Natasha asked.
"Probably," Leon said, banging on the door. "Hey! Get up!"
"Ugh, what do you want? Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?" Ben asked, getting up just as Ada finally made her way back.
"There you are," Natasha said. "So, is this the guy you were after?"
"Yeah, he is," Ada said, turning to the reporter. "Ben, you told the city officials that you had an idea of what's been going on, didn't you? What did you tell them?"
"Am I supposed to know you?" Ben asked.
"No, but you can help me," Ada said. "I'm trying to find my boyfriend, John. He was working for a branch of Umbrella based in Chicago, then he suddenly disappeared six months ago. I heard a rumor that he's somewhere in this city."
"Pfft, I don't know where your boyfriend is, and even if I did, it's not like I'd tell you," Ben said.
"Hey pal, unless you want to stay stuck in there, you need to cooperate with us," Natasha said.
"I can leave this cell any time I want," Ben said, holding up a key. "I'm just not foolish enough to do so. I don't know if you've noticed, but those zombies aren't the only things running around out there. There's bigger and badder monsters."
"Yeah, we already know that," Leon said. "Wait, does that mean you know about a monster wearing a long, green trench coat?"
"Huh? I don't know what you're talking about, but it sounds like there's one more reason I'm staying here," Ben said, placing the key away.
"Wait, are you telling me that there's more creatures like that?" Natasha asked, then heard some footsteps. To her relief, it was Clint, Claire and Sherry. "There you are."
"Friends of yours?" Ada asked.
"Yeah, a couple of survivors, and my teammate from The Avengers," Natasha explained.
"Wait, The Avengers?" Ben asked, turning to face the woman. "Now I recognize you, and that insignia. You work for S.H.I.E.L.D. You're also a founding member of The Avengers too. The Russian Spy, Black Widow."
"Well, this is a surprise," Ada said, then turned to Clint. "And judging from your uniform, I'd say that you're Hawkeye."
"Leon, Nat, who is this lady?" Clint asked. "And who's that guy?"
"This woman's name is Ada," Natasha said. "She's looking for that guy Ben because he might know what happened to this city."
"She's also trying to find someone who might be here," Leon said.
"Listen, I have nothing to say, now you need to leave before you lead that monster right to me," Ben said.
"What monster are you even talking about?" Leon asked, then heard a loud roar. "What was that!?"
"That sounds like the monster I saw before, when my daddy disappeared," Sherry said. "Oh no, it's probably coming after me next!"
"Great, just what I need, monster bait," Ben said. "If that thing's coming after you then all the more reason for you to beat it."
"Hey, don't be a dick!" Leon shouted, angrily banging on the door. "This is a little girl who just lost contact with her father, try to show some sense of remorse."
"Sorry to break it to you, but in times like these, it's every man for himself," Ben said.
"Is this guy for real?" Clint asked.
"Look, this cell is not going to keep you safe, if you want to survive, you're gonna have to leave with us!" Leon said.
"Tch, sure, let me know when you find a way out of the city," Ben said, taking another look at Sherry. "Gotta say, I feel like I should know that girl."
"Huh?" Sherry asked. "Me?"
"Never mind, none of my business now," Ben said, resting on the chair. "Now, kindly take a hike already."
"Pal, you know we can arrest you for lack of cooperation," Clint said.
"Pfft, what are you gonna do? Throw me in jail?" Ben taunted, gesturing to his environment. "Bit too late for that one."
"You must be really fun at parties," Claire sarcastically remarked. "Leon, should we even bother with this guy? Seems like he's just fine staying here."
"Look, much as I'd probably like to leave this guy for dead, that wouldn't be the right thing to do. A hero wouldn't leave anyone behind, regardless of how crude that person acted" Leon said.
"Regular Captain America, aren't you?" Ben taunted. "Though if he or Iron Man were here, maybe I'd feel a little better about leaving this cell, as opposed to a guy with archery for a hobby."
"Really tempted to shoot an arrow in your ass," Clint said. "Not as funny as it sounds either."
"Don't let him get to you," Natasha said.
Leon groaned in frustration, but as irritating as Ben was being, Leon just couldn't abandon him. "Look, I don't know what you're getting at by staying, but you should know that no one else is coming to save you. I'm the only police officer that's still alive."
"We're the only ones left, period," Claire said. "You're not likely going to run into another survivor. If you really want to survive then stop being stubborn and let us save you."
"Do you even know how to get out of the city though?" Ben asked.
"Well...no, not yet," Claire sheepishly admitted.
"Fine, out of pity, I'll give you a tip," Ben said. "There's a Kennel in the back of the building. Inside the Kennel is a manhole. Take it to get to the sewers, see if that leads you out. If you can secure a safe route, then I'll consider joining you."
Leon took a moment to think about this suggestion, turning to his allies shortly afterward. "What do you all think?"
"It's a solid lead," Clint said. "Couldn't hurt to give it a try."
"I'm on it then," Ada said, quickly making her exit.
"Ada wait!" Leon called, the woman already on the move.
"She was in a hurry," Claire said. "Wait, what about Sherry? We can't bring her, can we?"
Natasha turned her attention to Ben, "I don't suppose you can let this little girl in."
"Do I look like a babysitter?" Ben asked.
"Hey pal, do you want us to lead you to safety or not?" Clint asked, angrily approaching the cell. "I get you're scared but this little girl is even more frightened than you are. The least you can do is be a team player."
"It wouldn't be wise to leave me behind. Because believe it or not, I have valuable information about what happened to this city," Ben said.
"Oh, so now you want to tell us?" Natasha asked. "I thought you had nothing to share."
"What's the point of saying anything if you're not going to live long enough to tell anyone," Ben said. "Find the exit, secure a route and come get me if you want the truth of what happened."
"Son of a..." Clint grumbled in annoyance. "Fine, we'll bring the girl with us. She'd probably be safer under our watch anyway. But, if something does happen to her out there, you can forget about your rescue. I don't care if you have info or not, I will leave you to die."
"Pfft, as if," Ben said. "Aren't you a superhero? You can't exactly leave a civilian now can you?"
"Not all heroes have the same code pal," Clint said. "Cap would save you, Superman would save you, me, I couldn't care less."
"Be lucky that Leon wants to save you," Claire said.
"Oh goody, I feel so relieved," Ben sarcastically remarked.
"Let's...just go, before this guy pisses me off too much," Natasha said.
"Fine by me," Leon said, making his leave." Sherry, no matter what happens, stay close to one of us."
"Okay," Sherry said, clinging close to Claire. "I'll do my best."
"Claire, would you mind handling most of Sherry's surveillance?" Leon asked. "We'll all do our part but I get the feeling she feels safer around you."
"You can count on me," Claire said.
"Natasha, Clint, be ready," Leon said.
"Don't gotta tell us," Clint said, readying his bow and arrow.
"Same goes for me," Natasha said.
"Alright," Leon led his team toward the door. "Let's Assemble!"
"...Okay was that you trying to be like The Avengers or something? Because that was kind of cringey," Clint teased.
"...Shut up," A now embarrassed Leon said.