10. Carlos
Carlos breathed a sigh of relief as he surveyed the MedCenter. The place seemed to be a fortress of safety amidst the chaos of the infected town. The power plants had been refueled and secured with barriers, ensuring that the lights remained on and the equipment kept running. It was a credit to the design of the facility that it was able to withstand the onslaught. TerraSave had truly thought ahead when they created this potential refuge in case of emergencies.
With a heavy heart, Carlos thought about how lucky they were to have this haven. The streets outside were now crawling with mutated beings, and the rest of the town had fallen into darkness. The MedCenter was the only place where survivors could find comfort, warmth, and hope. However, Carlos knew that their situation was still tenuous at best. The beta forms could attack them at any moment, and they needed a way to fend them off.
As he walked through the halls of the MedCenter, Carlos could hear the sounds of people talking, and crying. They were all trying to make the best of a terrible situation, but he knew that they were all scared and unsure about what would happen next. Carlos resolved to do everything in his power to keep them safe and secure until help arrived.
.
But just how many times would this happen?
"How are things up there?" Saya asked, not looking up from the pile of files on her desk. Carlos stepped further into the laboratory, taking a moment to scan his surroundings. Wallace was stuck in front of his computer, Helena was sitting by his side, while Dhriti and Julie were busy digging between more papers.
"The survivors are doing okay," Carlos replied, his eyes lingering on the files. "We managed to gather enough supplies to distribute some and stockpile the rest. We secured the building before nightfall, and everything seems to be under control for now."
"Well, that's good to hear."
"Everyone is scared," Carlos answered, "As one would expect in this situation, but all things considered, everyone is acting calm and cooperative."
"These people have gone through hell before," Saya sighed. "If there's something they know well is how to stick together."
"Yeah, that sucks," Carlos sighed sadly. "Who knows how the smaller villages are doing. It's sad to say it, but I doubt they made it if they got attacked like this."
"Yeah, their resources are even more limited than ours. It'd be lucky if anyone survived the first raid."
"Right," Carlos nodded. He sat down on one of the empty chairs and crossed his arms. "How's our future mama doing, huh?"
"Napping, most likely," Saya snorted. "Cuddled in papa's arms."
"Is she?"
"I assume. Kennedy entered the room a while ago, and he hasn't come out, so it's either that or they're busy with something else."
Carlos chuckled.
"You have such a dirty mind sometimes, Saya."
"I said nothing. You were the one who assumed it-"
"Well, either way. It's good that he showed up. It was too much of a coincidence, but no one complains about it. The guy is a good shooter."
"He's DSO's best boy for a reason," Saya smirked.
"So have I heard," Carlos said, sitting down.
"Those two have a long history," Saya shrugged. "Just like you had with that Valentine."
"Jill? Nah, we were just friends, or better said, allies," Carlos replied. "God knows how she's been doing."
"She's doing well," Saya smirked. "If you decide to stick with us, you might see her again."
"Tempting,," Carlos nodded.
Part of what made Carlos and Claire hit it off when they met was that they both shared Raccoon city in their history. Claire also knew Jill, which was a pleasant surprise. When you have common acquaintances, it is easier to become friends. Carlos remembered that the woman did not stop talking about the cop she'd met during the outbreak.
"Truly a fated pair," Carlos snickered. "They seem to get along just right. I won't deny that I didn't like him leaving her behind for so long and not contacting her at all. That just felt wrong."
"Kennedy refused to take long missions for two years after they got married. I think Claire was the one that encouraged him to take this last mission. I don't believe either of them expected it to take that long."
"Well, he does love her. That's what's important. I thought he was going to blow my head off when I told him Claire was alone on the fourth floor."
"Oh, Kennedy dotes on her so much that it's sickening," Saya snorted. "His only rival in overprotectiveness is her brother. A happy family no less, and now that family is growing."
A growing family. When Carlos met Claire for the first time, she was a young lady who recently graduated from college and had a will for helping people. She was a giver but a fighter as well, a woman that had all the perks to be a good daughter, sister, wife, and mother. He wasn't surprised to learn Claire had gotten married. What shocked him was that it had taken so long for it to happen.
"Right, so what are you doing?"
"Claire had a hunch that Kennedy's mission might have overlapped with ours."
"How come?"
"Ms. Obares," Saya replied. "She was reported to be working in Colombia prior to her sudden sickness. It seems Kennedy had been following the trail of Cartel that was human trafficking with a bioterrorist group."
"And you think Obares might have been involved with all that."
"That would explain how she got exposed to the disease," Saya shrugged. "And I admit, the lack of detail in her profile is fishy."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, something we know for sure is that she entered Colombia illegally," Saya replied. "She had no passport whatsoever. Also the information about her work is pretty lax."
"She was a young lady from a village in the jungle. Chances of her getting involved in murky business wouldn't be low. It happens all the time, but she came back home, which means she had a certain level of freedom."
"That is true, but she came back sick though," Saya pointed. "Her family claimed that she had a boyfriend, but there were no signs of him when we went to visit her and according to them, he hasn't tried to contact them either."
"I guess not all men are as devoted as Kennedy," Carlos shrugged.
"Or the boyfriend had something to do with all these."
"That, too."
Saya sighed, putting down the papers and shaking her head. Carlos looked around the room once again, and soon noticed Leon making his way to where Helena and Wallace were sitting. He observed Leon's actions closely as he made his way towards the group surrounding the computer table. Leon seemed to say something, but his expression and body language conveyed a sense of seriousness and concern. Carlos grew worried and wondered what could be troubling Leon.
"Hey, look at that. I guess you were wrong," Carlos smirked, nudging his head, pointing at Leon, who was now talking to his partner, Helena. "He's pretty much too well dressed up to have been rolling around."
Carlos smirked, swagging his eyebrows.
"That proves nothing," Saya winked.
Carlos's laughter died down as he noticed Leon's expression, which seemed to be troubled. He furrowed his brow, sensing that something was off.
"Oh-oh," Carlos mumbled. "Kennedy doesn't look too happy."
"Probably saw something nasty on the cameras," Saya replied, resting her chin on her palm.
"You are awfully calm, Saya."
"Getting worked up won't change our predicament, why torture myself then?"
After Leon finished speaking to the group, he shook his head and quickly left the area, making his way back to the room where Claire was staying. Carlos watched him go and noticed that Leon's pace was more hurried than usual, adding to his growing sense of unease.
"I'll be right back, Saya. You keep doing your thing."
"Of course, what else do you want me to do?"
Carlos winked at her with playful flirt and walked to the group surrounding Wallace.
"Charlie! You finally decided to join us?" Wallace said. "You done flirting with Saya?"
"It's not like that. We were having a friendly conversation."
"Yeah, that's how they call it now," Wallace laughed. "You missed Kennedy by a hair."
"That's fine. What are you up to?" Carlos asked, crossing his arms.
"Some bad news," Helena sighed. "We have some extra problems aside from our rabid animals."
Helena pointed at the computer screen, her face twisted in disgust, and Carlos couldn't help but grimace in response. He had seen some truly horrific things during his time in Raccoon City, but the creatures they were currently facing were on a whole other level of grotesque. As they continued to scroll through the images, he couldn't help but feel a rising sense of dread in his chest. These monsters were unlike anything he had ever encountered before, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were in way over their heads.
"What's that? A twisted version of a zombie chupacabras?" Carlos said with disgust.
"A what?" Julie asked.
"Cryptid from the Americas," Wallace replied. "Even worse than that, Charlie. BOW."
"That's a bioweapon?" Carlos said, pointing at the screen. "Damn, I don't know why I am surprised at all. Those crazy scientists keep doing weird stuff all the time. So, the important part. How do we kill it? Headshot?"
"If it was as easy as that," Julie snorted, pinching the bridge of her nose. "They are regenerators. Conventional ammo won't do them much. You would need high-level destructive ammunition or the special ammo designed against them. Which we don't have."
"Special ammo?" Carlos asked.
"Claire and the DSO worked on them some years ago," Helena explained. "Julie and Claire could probably fight them, but Julie isn't sure she can beat them, and Claire isn't an option."
"Does it have to do with the whole Claire going missing and mad-science experimentation thing?"
The group had already briefed him on the details of the incident that happened three years ago. Carlos couldn't believe the horror that they had faced, but a comment made during the conversation caught his attention. It reminded him of Claire's adamant stance that, technically, she was a BOW, regardless of how they perceived it. The realization sent shivers down his spine. He had worked with Claire for years, and the thought of her being considered a BOW was unsettling. He wondered how she felt about it and made a mental note to talk to her about it when the opportunity presented itself.
"We wouldn't send a pregnant woman to fight, but maybe we should consider it if those things break in..."
"Leon would never allow that," Helena said, slapping Wallace's head.
"Auch, yeah, I know. Just saying."
"I hate not doing anything," Helena sighed. "But I guess we should just step down this time and let the BSAA handle it."
"With some luck, we get the other Redfield with his godly punch."
"Trusting the BSAA is good," Carlos said. "But what about all the people in here? If that thing gets in, this will be a carnage, and we can't just sit down and do nothing."
"Well, they are light sensitive," Julie replied. "As long as the lights are on, they won't get in. If they do, they are blind, so hiding and being quiet works nicely."
"You are asking a bunch of scared civilians to stay quiet and hide while those things lurk around them?" Carlos asked skeptically. "You sure are optimistic."
"You want to survive. You find a way," Julie shrugged. "That's how we did in the maze."
"Touchy subject," Wallace said, raising his hands. "Let's not get there."
"But Carlos has a point," Helena sighed. "Those Beta would decimate everyone before the BSAA could even make it here. We do need a backup plan."
"Sadly, Claire is our only backup plan," Julie answered.
"And you..." Wallace added.
"I am sure that if we work together, we can get it down," Carlos said.
"There are at least four of them. There might be more," Julie said with a frown.
"Well, that complicates things," Carlos said, rolling his eyes. "There has to be something we can do..."
"Keep the lights on?"
"Sounds simple..."
"Something tells me it won't be that easy," Helena sighed.
Almost as if responding to Helena's comment, the lights in the room flickered, casting an eerie glow across the faces of the group. The room fell silent as everyone scowled at the bulbs and exchanged worried glances.
"Oh, shit!" Wallace groaned.
Carlos looked at the computer screen and grunted; the camera installed near the power plants showed a group of small animals charging at the equipment's bars as if trying to reach the main machine.
"Rats!" Wallace cried. "Doomed little bastards are trying to break into the power plant!"
"Shit," Carlos groaned. "We'll lose power in half of the building if that happens. We gotta do something."
Carlos sprinted out of the lab, clutching his sniper rifle tightly. It may not have been the most conventional solution, but he knew time was of the essence. Shooting rats one by one was a daunting task, but if it bought his team some valuable time to move the refugees to a safer location, it was worth it.
The swarm of rats seemed never-ending, their numbers multiplying with each passing second. Carlos couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about their behavior. It was as if they were working together with a common purpose. Their coordinated movements and relentless attacks sent a chill down his spine.
As Carlos took aim and squeezed the trigger, the echoing sound of gunfire reverberated through the air. Rats fell to the ground, but they were quickly replaced by more scurrying creatures. It was a never-ending cycle.
"This can't be a coincidence," he muttered under his breath.
In the midst of the chaos, Carlos couldn't help but wonder how these rats knew exactly what they were doing. It was as if they possessed a twisted intelligence, a malevolence that defied explanation. But there was no time to dwell on such thoughts. He had a job to do, lives to protect, and he would fight until his last breath to ensure their survival.
With each passing moment, the situation grew more chaotic. Carlos knew he had to keep fighting, keep buying time for his team. He pushed forward, his heart pounding in his chest as he unleashed a barrage of bullets at the relentless horde.
The commotion caused by the rats had drawn the attention of other abominations lurking in the shadows. BOWs, the twisted experiments he had seen on the surveillance screens, emerged like a storm, wreaking havoc on anything in their path. Their relentless brutality and lack of mercy chilled Carlos to the bone. The only thing that stopped them forum pounding on him was the flickering light behind him.
"Fuck," Carlos said with wide eyes.
Six grotesque figures loomed before Carlos, their featureless faces swaying as they relied on their heightened sense of hearing to navigate the surroundings. The sight sent shivers down his spine. These abominable BOWs possessed no eyes, yet their predatory instincts were honed to perfection.
His gaze fixated on one particularly menacing creature that towered over the power plant cage. It seemed to possess a twisted intelligence, its movements calculated and purposeful. With a surge of dread, Carlos watched as the monstrous being extended its sharp, claw-like nails towards the delicate machinery.
Time seemed to slow as the BOW's talons pierced through the power plant cage, ripping through metal and circuits with a sickening screech. The air crackled with electricity, and within seconds, a violent explosion erupted, sending debris flying in all directions. The once-operational power plant now lay in ruins, its vital energy supply severed.
Carlos felt a wave of horror wash over him as the consequences of the BOW's destructive act became apparent. Without power, the refuge they had painstakingly established would be vulnerable, plunged into darkness and defenselessness. The lives of the survivors hung in the balance, their safety now compromised by the BOW's ruthless assault.
"Damn it!"
Carlos snatched his weapon and sprinted through the dimly lit corridors, the cacophony of destruction reverberating around him. The sounds of shattering glass and the monstrous roars of the BOWs urged him to push his limits. With every stride, he could feel the imminent danger closing in, propelling him forward with an adrenaline-fueled determination.
As Carlos rounded a corner, he abruptly found himself face-to-face with a pack of the abominable creatures. Their grotesque forms lurched towards him, their hungry snarls filling the air. Reacting swiftly, Carlos unleashed a barrage of precise shots, each bullet finding its mark and slowing the advancing fiends. The echoes of gunfire mingled with the howls of the dying creatures, creating a symphony of chaos.
But the odds were against Carlos. The relentless onslaught continued, and it seemed as if more BOWs were emerging from the depths of the darkness. Just as he felt the weight of desperation setting in, a familiar sound pierced through the chaos—the distinct gunfire of his comrades.
Carlos's weary eyes met the determined gazes of Leon, Helena, and Julie. Their unwavering stance and raised weapons exuded a sense of strength and solidarity. Their combined firepower, though unable to inflict substantial harm on the relentless BOWs, served as a formidable shield, providing Carlos with a precious window of opportunity.
With a surge of adrenaline, Carlos propelled himself forward, his legs pumping with all the strength he could muster. He sprinted through the perilous zone, his body propelled by the urgency of survival. The BOWs, their monstrous forms frozen at the boundary between light and darkness, seemed momentarily hindered by the elusive barrier.
As Carlos reached the safety of the illuminated area, he collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The weight of the harrowing encounter pressed upon him, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. He looked back, his eyes scanning the tense standoff between his comrades and the encroaching darkness.
In that fleeting moment, Carlos let out an exhausted sigh, his body slumping to the ground. Sweat dripped down his forehead, mingling with the dirt and grime that adorned his face. He knew the battle was far from over, but for now, he relished the fleeting respite, grateful for the unwavering support of his allies.
"You ok?" Leon asked once they were safely behind a closed door and under the safety of the light.
"Yeah," Carlos gasped. "Thanks."
"They're more than we expected," Helena said. "That can't be good. What are we going to do now, Leon?"
"Let's get back down first. We need to regroup and think," Leon replied.
Carlos didn't utter a word of protest. The group, burdened by the weight of their recent encounters, made their way to the laboratory where a multitude of frightened refugees had sought shelter. The once-spacious room now felt cramped, teeming with a mixture of despair and trepidation. Yet, amidst the collective unease, the regular occupants of the laboratory remained surprisingly unperturbed by the sudden influx of people.
As the group entered, their presence did not go unnoticed. Claire, her countenance etched with concern, swiftly approached them, her steps quickened by a mixture of relief and worry. She scanned the faces of her comrades, searching for any signs of distress or injury.
"That was stupid, Carlos," Claire replied.
"Maybe, but I had to try..." Carlos shrugged, still trying to recover his breath.
Claire gave him a disapproving look, before moving to Leon's side.
"Is everyone ok? No one got hurt, right?" Claire asked, looking at Leon.
"We are fine," Leon replied, putting his arm around her. "The light in this area stopped them, so we didn't have to confront them, but it seems the power went out in most of the building again."
"Those things destroyed one of the energy plants," Carlos said. "This wasn't a coincidence,"
Helena furrowed her brow, "What do you mean?"
"I saw those damn rats, the way they were attacking the bars. It's almost like they knew exactly what they were doing," Carlos explained.
"Those rats didn't attack that power plant randomly," Saya said, crossing her arms. "That was deliberate."
"Do you mean the rats were strategizing?" Dhriti asked.
"Get rid of the one only thing keeping us safe from those things," Carlos nodded.
"No way," Wallace said. "They are rats."
"I wouldn't underestimate rats," Claire said. "Just like us, rats can make decisions based on what they do or do not know."
"Rats might be smart," Carlos groaned, "but they can't suddenly decide to break down a power plant to leave us in the dark so that those bigger monsters can come and eat us."
"Smart or not smart," Julie said impatiently, "we got worse things to worry about now. The betas are inside the building."
"Yeah, now, what?" Helena said, looking at Leon.
"We still have two power plants left. If we can keep the energy up, maybe we can hold it until morning."
"Yeah, but we don't know if we'll get another wave of destructive rodents before that happens," Wallace shrugged. "And even if we could, what would we do the next night? We still don't know when BSAA is gonna show up? That's if they show up. I don't know, but the organization hasn't been shining for their good performance lately."
"Yeah, we can't rely on the light alone," Claire sighed. "Do you guys really don't have anti-regen ammo with you? I thought it would have been made standard with the LyMorphs and the Dulvey strain."
"No, that ammo is too strong for regular situations," Leon replied. "We didn't need it in Colombia, and we were planning on getting Hunnigan to stock us when we arrived here before going to Luziâçari."
"Right. No one expected to encounter an outbreak here, even less a LyMorph," Helena sighed.
"Ah, the irony," Wallace said, rolling his eyes.
"Well, we won't be doing much if we don't have something that poisons them or blocks their regeneration. We'll just waste ammo that could be useful against other enemies," Claire sighed. "I guess it 's clear what we should do."
"What?" Dhriti asked.
"Sit down and cry?" Wallace suggested.
Claire flicked his forehead and glared at him.
"No, I'm getting some blood out. I'm technically a bag of poison to LyMorphs. It might not be as fast as the pure thing, but it should do the trick."
"What? No," Leon argued. "Claire, you can't."
"I know, it isn't the best idea, but I think we've reached the point where we need to make a couple of sacrifices. We don't need much. Two or three tubes should be enough. That's just about the amount that I get taken for blood tests regularly."
Claire and Leon exchanged a meaningful glance, their eyes meeting and silently conveying their thoughts. Carlos could feel the intensity of the exchange, even though no words were spoken. He couldn't help but wonder if this was a result of their close relationship, born out of years of fighting together. They seemed to have a telepathic understanding that came naturally to them. It was a testament to the strength of their bond, which had been forged through countless battles and near-death experiences.
"Saya can back me up," Claire said, looking at her friend. "A little blood won't hurt the baby or me, right?"
"Yes, that's true. That amount of blood shouldn't be dangerous," Saya nodded. "And a small amount of viral particles is enough to infect them, so..."
"We are not using Claire as a weapon," Leon said adamantly.
Carlos couldn't deny that he empathized with Leon's perspective. Claire wasn't just a wife to him, she was a fellow warrior, a trusted companion, and soon to be the mother of their children. Treating her solely as a means to extract blood to defend themselves against BOWs seemed to strip away her humanity, reducing her to nothing more than a bioweapon. It was a difficult position to reconcile, as they had all witnessed the horrors of bioengineering and the dehumanization it caused.
"Honestly, do we have a choice?" Claire asked. "Have a look around. There are so many people here. What will happen if we can't stop the betas? It will be another Raccoon city or another Tall Oaks or Lanshiang."
Leon's discontent with the plan was evident, but Carlos could discern that Claire's words had struck a chord with him. Throughout his extensive career, Leon had undoubtedly witnessed countless tragedies and horrors, and he likely harbored a deep desire to prevent further suffering. Carlos could see the conflict within Leon, as he grappled with the weight of his experiences and the potential consequences of their actions. It was clear that Leon didn't want to bear witness to yet another tragedy, and his inner struggle was palpable.
"Just three tubes," Leon said. He looked at Claire seriously. "No more."
"Three will be more than enough," Claire nodded. The woman turned to the mercenary and gave him a weak smile. "Carlos, get me some ammo. We have to go on a hunt."