Resident Evil/Biohazard: Hostage Rescue
Rating: T
NOTE:
All characters of Resident Evil/Captain Commando/Street Fighter are under the copyright of Capcom. All characters of Martin Mystery are under the copyright of Marathon. All characters of Kara no Kyokai are under the copyright of TYPE-MOON. All characters of Spriggan are under the copyright of Hiroshi Takashige and Ryoji Minagawa. All characters of Jiraishin are under the copyright of Tsutomu Takahashi. The appearance of Kenneth "Kenny" Feng is under noctorro's jurisdiction. All others are under my jurisdiction.
Summary:
The teams have worked together to save Ashley from Los Illuminados' custody. However, Saddler has revealed that parasites have been covertly inserted into their bodies. Will they be able to get out of the area and ensure Ashley's safety and theirs as well? Stay tune to this chapter to find out.
Chapter 8: Complications
Cavern, Under Church, El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
Ashley went to rest by sitting down on the cavern floor, being tired from running ever since Leon, Kevin and their allies freed her from Saddler. The First Daughter saw that Kevin and the others were seated at the other side of the cavern, trying to rest as well since most of them didn't have the opportunity to get some rest ever since they were deployed to the Spanish countryside.
She sighed while watching what Kevin and his group was doing. Kevin decided to get some sleep, putting his back on the cavern wall while putting his hands on Leon's Remington 870 should there be any attack. Yu and Martin did so likewise, sleeping as well for the past 10 minutes. The only ones awake were Hiryu, Sho, Fujino, Tea and Chun-Li.
Sho and Chun-Li got busy by engaging in a mock fight as a warm up and test each other's fighting skill. Ashley had been a fan of the Street Fighter tournaments in her younger days, but not before she fought out that Shadowlaw (or Shadoloo) had bankrolled the tournament from behind everyone's back. Even with this revelation, she had been a fan of a few of the participants like Ryu and Ken for instance. Tea, in the meantime, took her time to meditate and relax as a way of relieving the stress the British Spriggan had been under since the crisis began.
As for Fujino, the Reien Girls Academy student had went to use her O-Watch to check for any information regarding Los Illuminados. So far, there has been little information the SHADOW agent could effectively used since the entry had a lot of blanks aside from a message sent to Fujino and Hiryu that analysts are working on getting the needed information from the Center's Spanish agents.
"Care for some water?"
Ashley noted that the Merchant had sympathetically handed her a bottle of water. Evian no less.
"Um, thank you." Ashley thanked the hooded man as she took the bottled water.
"Is there anything you need to ask?" The Merchant asked.
"Not really." Ashley shook her head before she opened the bottled Evian. "Just seeing that some of those guys are taking it easy."
"Could be their way of coping. After all, I'm pretty sure they didn't get enough time to sleep it off."
"Anything?"
Fujino asked Hiryu, who sighed as he was seated on the cavern floor next to Fujino.
"I'm not sure." Hiryu replied as he checked his O-Watch to see if it was still working. "Pretty sure the American government's doing a good job with the media blackout on Ashley's abduction. Though I'm sure that it won't last long."
"It will place some burden on MOM-san back in the Center." Fujino surmised if the media blackout eventually collapsed back in America.
Hiryu nodded at Fujino's assessment. "I doubt event the BSAA will be able to handle that much." He sighed. "I'm still damn reckless even though I went to sleep a few minutes ago. Goddamn parasite..."
"Please be patient, Hiryu-san." Fujino told the masked SHADOW agent, understanding his impatience. "I'm sure that we'll find a way to remove the parasite from our bodies."
"Yeah, I know." Hiryu felt that he was sweating. Otherwise, he seemed fine.
The Spriggan veteran looked at the side to see how if Kevin, Yu and Martin were still sleeping. So far, they still are.
I wish I could sleep as long as those guys.
Somewhere in El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
Jean had a smirk on his face when he fired his Franchi SPAS-12 with his left hand alone as he finished off a pitchfork-armed villager after Eriko had shot the charging villager on the left leg.
"Now we're done." The French Spriggan said after the villager dissolved, dead from being shot by several buckshots.
The blonde man raised an eyebrow when he saw another villager shot in the head before it completely exploded to reveal a parasite. While Jean had though of firing his shotgun, he saw the parasitic head explode once more, killing the villager.
"Looks like Kevin's sniper rifle does have some perks after all." Leon smirked after he reloaded the Steyr SSG P IV. While he didn't like it was raining, the DSO agent had like say. Not that it was affecting his hairstyle anyway.
"What's next?"
Leon turned around and saw that Diana and Java were finished clearing the village of any villagers, which also includes securing anything of valuable importance.
"This." Eriko pointed the pathway behind Jean. "But it seems to be filled with animal trappings."
"How quaint." Jean smirked. "But I think we should get the others now. We can use Tea's help around here."
"Right." Leon nodded. "I'll make contact with the others still clearing out the village."
Cavern, Under Church, El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
"Hm?"
Kevin began to wake up from his nap when the brown-haired DSO agent heard a beeping noise come from his phone. Although it wasn't very loud to disturb his colleagues, the man knew that someone was trying to contact him.
"Is it Leon?" Kevin said before he yawned and got his phone. When he was able to establish communication, he saw that it was Leon on the other line.
"Leon?"
"Hope you weren't sleeping too long, Kevin."
Kevin glared at the screen. "Of course not, Leon." He then signaled to the others that Leon had made contact with the group. "So what's going on?"
"We're able to clear off the village again and gather up some things we can pick up. And..."
"And?"
"Jill and Cammy have tried to scout the only path out of the place since the path we used to get to the village doesn't make sense. But it's filled with animal trap. Though we could use some help."
"Alright. Just secure the area. I'll get the others to move out."
"Is it time to go?" Martin said as he woke up.
"Okay people!" Kevin shouted. "Resting time's over! We need to get out of here."
"I'll see you strangahs later." The Merchant said his goodbyes as the group began to move out of the cavern. Ashley stood up from the cavern floor and ran up to the group, ready to move out beside Hiryu and Fujino.
Outside Church, El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
Leon was the first to greet Kevin's group when they came of the "church" in the El Pueblo. It was still raining, although not strong.
"So you say that animal trappings are in the only path we can use to get out of here?" Kevin asked Leon, who nodded to confirm his answers.
"I shall handle this." Tea told her allies as she walked towards the dirt path that had animal trappings. The British woman had a smirk on her face as soon as she visually confirmed the presence of the said traps.
"What's she going to do?" Ashley directed her question towards the Spriggans when she saw Tea standing near one of the animal traps.
"Just watch." Yu smirked. "This is one of her specialties."
A few seconds later, Tea used her psychic powers to render the animal traps useless. The teams heard several clanging sounds in the process.
"Wow..." Jill was amazed to what Tea did to render the traps useless. "That is amazing..."
"That's not all I can do actually." Tea told Jill after she rendered the traps useless.
"All right." Martin said. "Looks like we can move on."
Unfortunately for Martin, a few villagers came on the dirt road nearby from houses on both sides of the animal trap-based dirt road.
"This never gets old." Hiryu sighed before he pointed to Hien and himself. And then to the incoming villagers ahead.
The masked SHADOW agent shouldered his Heckler & Koch G36C and fired it at the incoming villagers. Hien supported his brother after he shouldered and fired his Pindad SS1-M5 Commando. The two positioned themselves on both sides of the road to maximize their chances of killing the villagers. Leon joined in and fired the Remington 870.
MOM's Office, The Center
MOM was getting more and more frustrated with new surveillance photos Billy SID agents had collected from a recon mission in downtown Madrid, this time in a five-star hotel in the lobby cafe. The head of the Center really was frustrated by how the suspect's contact was able to make himself unseen through their cameras. Like he knew they were there in the first place.
Unless...
"Billy." MOM went to contact Billy via earpiece. "I need you to come to my office right away."
While the head of the Center waited for Billy to come to her office, she studied the photographs carefully, wondering if the shades-wearing man is someone she knows.
"Sorry I'm late."
Billy arrived in his hovercraft, greeting MOM.
"There you are." MOM handed him a sample of the SID surveillance photograph. "Take these and ask SID to run matches on anyone out there. Especially to anyone who may have old ties with Umbrella."
Dirt Path, Near Church, El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
"All clear."
Hien said as he lowered his SS1-M5, content to see the last villager gunned down.
"You guys able to collect anything?" Hiryu asked when he was reloading his G36C.
"Just some money around 1,700 pesetas and a few grenades." Diana told Hiryu after she handed the money to Tea for safekeeping.
"Let's keep moving." Leon advised his allies, running towards the gate up ahead while reloading his Remington 870.
"Java! Do your thing." Martin told the caveman as he began to approach the gates.
Java nodded and opened one of the gates wide open, allowing the teams to enter the farming areas of El Pueblo.
Farm Area, El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
The area was dark around the farmland, considering that it was also raining still with no signs of stopping.
"We'll need to split up." Kevin advised Leon before looking at Ashley, who was standing behind Eriko and Jill. "And about her..."
"Yeah, I know." Leon nodded, sharing Kevin's concern.
Yu and Jean moved in towards a small shack, which revealed only a memo inside written in Spanish. Since Eriko was the only person who has fluency in Spanish, the ARCAM Spriggans brought the memo to her and have her analyze it.
The whereabouts of Sera are still unknown.
Most likely he's using an old secret passage taught to him by his grand father who used to hunt in this region long ago. I'm pretty certain that he's hiding our property somewhere in the forest. If his grand father was still alive, i would have used him to find Sera...
But how did he find out about the egg injected into his body? And the fact that he was able to remove it before it hatched is concerning. Another factor that concerns me is that Sera escaped with our property just before the American agents arrived with individuals from the police/intelligence agencies of Japan, Britain and even Interpol. I don't believe that was just a coincidence. There has to be another player involved in this.
In order to settle this whole situation, we have to capture Sera and wait for the effects of the drug to wear off before we inject him with another egg. Once this is done, whoever is behind all of this will surface. Nobody shall interfere with our plans. Those who do shall suffer severe consequences.
"It seems our enemies are getting desperate." Eriko told the teams after reading through the note. "Especially since another party's involved against the cult."
"You mean another party?" Kevin asked before he sighed. "Shit, this is no good."
"Looks like we'll have to inform Hunnigan on this later." Leon told Kevin.
"It means we'll have to keep moving." Jill told the DSO agent. "The problem is those villagers will probably be posted around here to block our path."
Yu eyed on the side a red dumpster that seemed to be old and somewhat falling apart.
"Give me a second." He aimed his HK G3A4 to the dumpster before moving a bit close to open the dumpster. When the Japanese Spriggan agent peered inside, he nodded to himself and noted that it was clear. Despite the fact that it looked a bit dirty in the dumpster's interior and everything.
"Looks clear." Hiryu said after he took a look at the dumpster. He went to tell Leon about the dumpster when Ashley began to object.
MOM's Office, The Center
Billy immediately came back to MOM's office with a printout for the Center head to read.
"I don't think you're going to believe this, MOM." Billy said as he gave the handout to MOM.
"Believe me, I'll try to believe anything." MOM told the alien before she got the handout from him and read its contents.
"I don't believe it." The black-haired woman said in shock. "We had reports that this man was dead."
"Not unless he or someone close to him gave him some kind of virus that allowed him to survive death."
"That may be possible."
MOM studied the printout long and hard to see who the man the double agent was meeting with.
Albert Wesker.
Farm Area, El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
"We'll go ahead and clear the place out." Kevin told Leon before he ported the SSG P IV. "And hand us the grenades 'cause we'll need them."
Dan handed to Yu and Hiryu three flashbangs. "Aside from these, it's all we got."
"Look, start saving some grenades and whatnot when you can, okay?" Yu gave his advise to Dan. "We don't want to be caught in a situation where we could use these in a pinch."
Dan nodded. "Right."
"Will you be alright?" Diana asked Fujino as everyone else in Kevin's team was getting prepared to gear up and secure the farm area once more for the other team. Tea and Chun-Li were persuading Ashley to get in the dumpster and hide in there so that she wouldn't get hurt or killed if a firefight should break out.
"I'll be alright, Diana-sempai." Fujino told the Canadian teenager. "Do not worry about me."
"Let's get going!" Kevin told his teammates as they ran up alongside him, moving out to clear out the farm. "I'll take the lead, you guys search the place and be the rearguard."
He shouldered the SSG P IV and eyed a villager armed with a torch before giving him a head shot with a subsonic 7.62 NATO bullet in the forehead.
MOM's Office, The Center
"But MOM..." Billy was taken aback by the printout provided by the SID. "This can't... be. The RPD and STARS reported that he died before the crisis in Raccoon City in '98."
"At this point, everything's off the table." MOM told her subordinate. "Someone close to him, most likely Umbrella gave him a virus to help him survive."
"Well... SID did determine that he worked with a William Birkin once before he was a double agent with the STARS unit."
"What's his status?"
"He's dead, MOM. He was said to be killed before the crisis started."
"Most likely by Umbrella, no doubt. Not that we can interrogate a dead person now."
"Should we tell the others?"
"Not yet. Let's keep using our double agent first before we let SID arrest him. It's too risky. He may try to tap into our communications for his benefactors."
"Understood."
"Although I may have an idea..."
Farm Area, El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
As Leon and the others in his team assisted Ashley in hiding by helping her get inside a dumpster, Kevin and his team had systematically cleared out the farm land of any stragglers.
Over there!
Kevin gestured to his allies the barn up ahead, which was the only place that the team did not clear yet.
Understood.
Yu and Hiryu gave the thumbs up. Sho had his ninjato drawn out. Fujino and Martin accessed their Watches to draw out I-Cutters. Tea and Chun-Li chose to stay behind. As they gathered up near the outskirts of the barn's door entrance, Yu leveled his G3A4 at the entrance and observed two villagers were inside. He gestured to Kevin the number of hostiles he saw.
Kevin nodded and raised his Glock 21 Mariner and aimed the sights at the villager inside the barn. When the DSO agent opened fire, he saw the villager trying to charge at him.
Except that he accidentally stepped on one of the animal traps inside, restraining his left leg. The villager had a hard time trying to remove his leg, despite the fact that their own trap was inside the barn to ensure that intruders would be swiftly caught.
"Go!" Hiryu fired the G36C in single shot mode at the female villager's legs before she could charge in with her sickle. After she fell down to the ground, Sho came in and delivered the final blow by stabbing the woman at the back of her head.
Meanwhile, Tea used her psi powers to disable the rest of the animal traps inside the barn so that they can get inside safely.
Command Center, DSO Headquarters, somewhere in the United States of America
Hunnigan was getting restless as always, being the official line for Kevin and Leon back in DSO or the Division of Security Operations. So far, only a few DSO personnel manned the command center as a way of preventing leaks from reaching Los Illuminados when the FBI's investigation into Ashley's kidnapping revealed the possibility of double agents working within her Secret Service security detail.
When will Kevin and Leon report in? I know that there's suppose to be radio silence unless it's either an emergency or the top brass says it's fine...
Hunnigan sighed and took off her eyeglasses to massage her nasal bridge.
"When this is over, I'll go and ask for some vacation time."
"Anything?"
Hunnigan turned around and wore her glasses, seeing a Caucasian man in his early 50s with glasses like her. The man wore a suit, ties and Oxford shoes.
"I'm afraid not, sir."
She noted Adam Benford standing behind her, a senior DSO agent who had recruited Leon and Kevin after they agency got wind of their escape from the Raccoon City crisis. While the former agreed if DSO can take Sherry Birkin into custody, Kevin joined in DSO because he was willing to put a stop to anyone conducting bioterrorism and because of the salary that came with it. Adam also served as their handler after the two were recruited.
Adam sighed. "This is not good. I've read the reports, which confirmed agents Kennedy and Ryman with some parasite placed in their bodies." He saw Hunnigan nod before he continued. "And with this parasite also in Ms. Graham, this is turning into a goddamn nightmare. A nightmare that I don't like."
"I'm aware of that, sir." Hunnigan replied, sharing Adam's concerns.
The DSO veteran nodded. "How long 'til the next communication, Ms. Hunnigan?"
Hunnigan looked at the wall clock mounted on the side, showing the times of various cities around the globe. "I would say until two hours or more until I can make contact with them." She asked. "Are there still fears of double agents working behind our back alongside the cult?"
"Indeed." Adam replied. "If this gag order didn't come from the President, I could have ordered our tactical units to be covertly deployed in the suspected village and sweep it until we can find the First Daughter."
"If only we could have more manpower at this time..."
"I apologize, but the top brass wants to have little people working the case as much as possible, at least until they can find out if double agents are working with Ms. Graham's kidnappers. Same goes with the Secret Service."
"Will we be able to cure them?"
"I wish I could just say yes to any question that asks if we can do something about it."
Adam also wondered if he needed to worry that the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) would come breathing down his neck. He hoped not. The last time the DTRA wanted to micromanage things was with the SS Spencer Rain.
Especially when he had to work with the Federal Bioterrorism Commission (FBC) in the incident.
Farm Area, El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
"All clear!"
Kevin shouted as he went inside the barn, aiming the Glock 21 Mariner before Yu and Hiryu followed. Martin whistled loud for Leon to hear, enabling him to get Ashley out of hiding from the dumpster while Kevin would search the barn for pesetas and some ammunition.
"Okay?" Hiryu asked, lowering his G36C when no villagers were found, watching the rear.
"Okay much." Kevin replied. "Some pesetas worth 1000 and some green herbs." He hurled to Hiryu a box of 5.56 NATO ammo. "A box of 5.56 NATO ammo, which I know would not be allowed to the ordinary EU national."
"Like I'd care." Hiryu sighed as he caught the box. Kevin also hurled to Yu a box of 7.62 NATO ammo while he kept a box of .45 ACP ammo for himself and saved a box of 9mm Parabellum for whoever needs it.
"I could search the rest of this place." Sho offered Kevin a proposal. "For now, cover me..."
Sho arrived at the gate up ahead at the end of the farming area, armed with his ninjato when he encountered a torch-wielding villager. Hoping over the fence, Sho executed a spinning kick that made the villager step a few feet back until he stepped onto an animal trap that trapped his right leg in.
The ninja commando executed several slashes on his body, forcing the villager to drop his torch. It subsequently burned the man up as the dropped torch lit up his dirty clothes.
"All clear!"
Sho shouted before slashing the nearby wooden box open, revealing nothing. The ninja sighed in frustration while whipping his ninjato left and right to ensure that contaminated blood would not stay on its blade for long.
"What a persistent opponent." Sho said to himself before he sheathed the ninjato at the saya strapped at his back.
MOM's Office, The Center
For now, MOM told Billy to leave her office while she began to go over the orders she gave to her SHADOW agents.
One of them, at least originally, was for the SHADOWs to covertly assassinate anyone involved with the Los Illuminados. Given that Wesker was unofficially alive, he would try everything that he can do to ensure that a parasite sample can be secured from the cult. Given that problem, MOM was not ready to take any chances.
MOM had planned to use the double agent to see if the Center can gain more information from Wesker before the shades-wearing man would see that his double agent had outlived his usefulness and have the man disposed of.
"Let's see if he can do the job..."
Opening the folder that had the stamped words CLASSIFIED, MOM went over the photographs of the people known to be involved with the cult.
Among the photographs she has the image of Luis Sera, whose photo was taken somewhere in Pontevedra province in the autonomous community of Galicia.
Farm Area, El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
The two teams gathered up in front of the gate alongside the traps that Tea had psychically disabled once the British woman had arrived.
"Can we open this gate?" Leon asked, pointing to the gate ahead.
"Not from here." Sho replied. "It seems that whoever made this gate wanted only access from one side."
"So who's going to do that?" Kevin asked the ninja before he handed the box of 9mm bullets to Eriko, who thanked the DSO agent.
"Allow me." Sho insisted when he ran for the gate. He followed this with a high jump that enabled him to land on top of the gate. Sho jumped down on the other side and used his ninjato to cut the 2x6 lumber piece blocking the gate on the other side. The ninja then opened the gate, allowing his allies access to the other side.
"Path is clear, but we need to move." Sho advised, pointing to some light out in the distance.
"Don't tell me..." Leon muttered as he was the first to step through the newly opened gate.
Dirt Road, outskirts of El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
Leon and Kevin took the lead in stepping on the wooden rope bridge a few minutes after walking on the dirt road. It looked good somehow and it was supporting their weight. Including Java's.
"I'm surprised that we can all walk across this bridge and survive." Leon told Kevin, gripping his Silver Ghost.
"I'm actually quite surprised that we got a well-refined caveman who's on our side." Kevin smirked at Leon. "We can greatly use his help."
"Agreed."
After they got off the wooden bridge, the two DSO agents received an incoming transmission from Hunnigan.
"Something the matter, babe?" Kevin greeted Hunnigan, making the woman groan in response.
"I've got some bad news that you two need to know." Hunnigan told the two agents, being serious and all.
Leon sighed. "I'd much prefer that we don't heard it."
"I'm afraid you guys have to. Hunnigan insisted. "Someone was able to shoot down one of our choppers meant to extract you and the First Daughter. We don't know who did it, but we know that the pilot and co-pilot didn't survive this attack."
"With a MANPAD?"
"Yes. That's what the pilots reported as the cause of the chopper being downed before DSO lost communication with them."
"Double agents?" Kevin asked.
Hunnigan nodded. "Agent Benford's suggesting this possibility, so we're going to get another one ready as soon as security checks are made."
"Can we still extract?" Leon questioned Hunnigan after hearing out what she said. "Considering that we're infected."
"I understand that. Agent Benford's trying to make the case to the president and to the National Security Council to hold off the extraction until you guys can be cured."
"That's good to hear at least, Hunnigan."
"And how are the others?"
"Alive I suppose. Kevin told Hunnigan. "Although like us, they want the parasite removed from their bodies before it permanently crosses to the point of no return."
"Understood. I'll be in touch in an hour or two. We'll do our best in DSO to root out any double agents. Just contact me if there's an emergency since radio silence is still in effect. Hunnigan out."
"Something wrong?" Chun-Li asked after Leon and Kevin ended communication with Hunnigan.
"Well we can't extract out of here since our chopper's been downed with a MANPAD." Leon told the Interpol officer. "Which gives the possibility that traitors are abound within DSO."
"So what now?" Jill went to ask Leon for what's next.
"We move on. At least extraction's going to be delayed for me and Kevin until we can find a way to get the parasite off our bodies."
The teams continued to walk on in silence for another few minutes. Until they found the familiar flaming pillars they saw on the cavern.
"Why are you here?" Hiryu pointed at the Merchant, nearly shouting at him.
"Surprised to see me strangah." The Merchant laughed a bit. "It's like you don't want to see me here."
"Not really." Eriko replied. "It's just we saw you back in the cavern a few hours ago."
"So how'd you get to the outskirts of the village if we didn't see you in the first place?" Cammy asked the Merchant, wondering if some "other" force was at work in the rural parts of Spain.
The Merchant pointed his left index finger at Cammy before he gave a sigh and waved his finger. "It's a trade secret that I'm willing to risk by revealing it publicly strangah."
"We could rearm ourselves with the ammo we got while getting some first aid sprays since our herbs aren't enough." Diana suggested. "After all, we got a few herb combinations with us."
We only got a bunch of combined greens with a few green/red and green yellows. Kevin thought, remembering the herbs the groups had stockpiled.
"Then I'd be willin' to sell ya my stock of first aid sprays at a good price, strangahs..." The Merchant went to bargain with the teams. "After all, you strangahs are my only customers in the backwoods of this country."
"As long as it's a good deal..." Leon told the Merchant. He then turned to Tea, who told him that they sold all the Spinels they stockpiled.
Command Center, DSO Headquarters, somewhere in the United States of America
"Anything?"
Adam came back to see Hunnigan after she previously made contact with Leon and Kevin.
"I've just made contact with them, agent Benford." Hunnigan replied to Adam. "They've said that they're fine, but insisted that they're not to be extracted until they can get the parasite off their bodies."
"Good thing I'm not the only one who's trying to fight off the president's stubborn request to have the First Daughter extracted out of Spain." Adam sighed in relief.
"The agents also mentioned that their allies are also fine as well." Hunnigan added.
Adam nodded. "So I see. I've been getting calls from MI6, the Japanese National Police Agency and with Interpol on the matter after they lost contact with their people. Unlike the president and the NSC, they've agreed that it's unwise to get them out of Spain until they can inquire on how they can be cured."
"Will they be sending their people to HQ?" Hunnigan asked Adam while taking off her glasses to clean the lenses with her handkerchief.
"Not without creating some buzz throughout the media." Adam shook his head. "Not only that, but it'll blow the lid of the media blackout the NSC has been trying to implement to prevent any double agents from reporting in to the cult."
Hunnigan was silent, agreeing with Adam's assessment.
"Right now, that's one way to prevent a leak to the hands of a potential double agent if we keep the circle very small."
Dirt Road, outskirts of El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
While mostly everyone were busy stockpiling whatever first aid sprays they got from the Merchant in addition to reloading their empty magazines, Eriko went to see the Merchant as she had fired her Sig Sauer P228 only for a few times. However, Jill insisted that she take a box of 9mm Parabellum bullets just in case she needs to reload later on.
"Excuse me, may I have a word?" Eriko asked the Merchant after he had just handed a Tricell first aid spray to Jill.
"Can I help you today, strangah?" The Merchant asked Eriko. The Japanese detective noted that the man wasn't that scary. Even if his eyes are not... quite that human anymore.
"I was wondering if you do also sell communication devices with you today?" The detective questioned the Merchant calmly.
The hooded man eyed Eriko for a few seconds, taking into account her question before the Merchant replied courteously.
"I certainly think so, strangah." The Merchant went to search his wooden backpack. "Just give me a second while I look and see if I have one with me."
The hooded man continued to rummage through his wooden backpack until he was able to find a satellite phone. This phone looked like the mobile phones used by people once in the 1990s, which also included a retractable antenna.
"This would be around 8,000 pesetas."
Eriko told the Merchant to wait while she informed Tea that they can get their hands on a satellite phone for the cost of 8,000 pesetas.
"Alright." The British Spriggan told the Merchant before handing 8,000 pesetas. "We're only short of at least around 50 pesetas since we bought some first aid sprays from you."
"That'd be alright." The Merchant nodded and told Tea after accepting the payment. "Like I said a while ago, you people are my only customers around here. Which means I'll have no problems resupplying myself."
"Will that include the possibility of getting another satellite phone for personal use?"
The Merchant nodded.
"Everyone ready?" Leon asked after he had checked his Silver Ghost and Remington 870, ensuring that it was fully loaded.
"We're all done." Hien told Leon after reloading an empty magazine with 5.56 NATO bullets by hands, which took at least more than 20 minutes to do since he, like Hiryu, Dan and perhaps Yu, a magazine loading device that would allow him to load a 5.56 NATO magazine within only a few minutes. "Just a matter of what to do next."
"There's a cabin I saw up there."
Jean told the teams, pointing to the cabin in the distance.
"Looks like we'll have to get there or get some clues." Kevin summarized his thoughts after Jean pointed out the cabin. "Or we can take a break for a while before we can move on."
"If everyone's done..." Leon said before he slinged his Remington 870 and had his Silver Ghost drawn out instead. "Let's move out of here."
"We'll see you soon." Martin told the Merchant before the teams marched off towards the cabin.
Near outskirts of cabin, outskirts of El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
"Looks pretty fine to me."
Jill commented out to her allies after they were approaching the cabin. Ashley was walking beside her, still a bit tired from all the walking.
"Finally." Ashley whispered. "Some place for me to sit down for a little while."
"Hm?" Eriko had a raised eyebrow. "I'm hearing some chatter in Spanish out in the field."
"Who's talking?" Cammy asked the Japanese detective.
"Over there!" Diana shouted, pointing to what appears to be a crowd of villagers near the left side of the cabin. Everyone saw that the villagers were brandishing lit torches, as well as an assortment of farming tools ranging from pitchforks to sickles and axes with rusted blades.
"There as well!" Hiryu pointed out another mob of villagers walking towards the right side of the cabin.
"Dammit..." Dan muttered before he turned around, seeing a third mob of villagers already walking towards them with a few of them still crossing over the wooden rope bridge.
"Shit! There's no end to this!" Leon muttered to himself, deciding to holster his Silver Ghost and instead, port his Remington 870.
"We need to move to the cabin right now!" Chun-Li shouted to her allies. "We'll be doomed if we stay here otherwise!"
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Kevin shouted as he was the first to run towards the cabin. "Come on little lady! Follow us!"
Ashley quickly nodded and ran behind Kevin.
Yu, Jean, Dan and Hien covered for the others, but they did not fire their weapons towards the villagers for the need of preserving ammo. The four quickly retreated back to the cabin after most of their allies got inside safe and sound.
Inside Cabin ground floor, outskirts of El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
Leon, Kevin and company got inside the cabin with the latter pushing a nearby bookcase to seal off the door. They were all greeted by Luis, who was armed with a M1916 Prussian "Red 9"-type Mauser C96 semi-auto pistol.
"Hey, it's you!" Leon shouted, pointing at Luis.
"This is Luis Sera?" Kevin asked Leon after he barricaded the main door.
Luis smirked after hearing Kevin's question. "In the flesh, mind you." He bowed in front of her.
"Reminds me of a typical elitist." Hien shook his head after seeing what Luis was doing.
"And I see that the First Daughter is equipped..." Luis approached Ashley before he began to examine her from top to bottom. "is equipped with ballistics."
The females either glared at Luis hard or wondered why the hell did he say that towards Ashley after all.
"How rude!" Ashley shouted in anger. "That doesn't have any relevance to the current situation..."
"Oh, ho, ho." Luis chuckled while he bowed. "Excuse me, your highness."
Meanwhile, Jean was assisted by Java in pushing the empty bookcases over the windows that were boarded up with wooden planks so that the cabin's lower floor would be protected from any intrusion. Although not for long.
"Time to get ready!" Hiryu said as he prepped his G36C to fire on full automatic mode. "We'll need to hold the line!" Hien did the same, ensuring that the SS1-M5 was still set to full automatic mode.
Yu got his G3A4 ready after checking that the rifle's selector was on full automatic mode. Dan got his SIG Sport 552 ready, the rifle set on semi-automatic mode.
Jill, Eriko and Leon got their sidearms ready.
"Alright. This is how we're going to proceed." Kevin calmly told his allies as he got his SSG P IV at the ready. "Anyone with access to rifles will stay here in the first floor and cover us. The others will need to stay upstairs and cover the rest of us since they'll try and enter this cabin. As for the others..." The DSO agent sighed before he continued. "Just be careful for close quarters combat when the villagers breach this place."
"What about you, Kevin-san?" Fujino asked Kevin.
"I'll stay upstairs and snipe those bastards with this guy."
"Anyone got grenades?" Dan inquired.
"I found some." Sho said before placing a few of them on the table. "I found a fragmentation grenade and two incendiary grenades."
"Perfect." Tea said before she placed down a few more. "I was able to gather up three flashbangs, two fragmentation grenades and an incendiary grenade. Though I strongly advise against the use of frag grenades indoors."
Jill nodded after hearing Tea's suggestion. "I agree with you there."
"All right." Leon nodded. "Just anyone else who's going to rooftops can handle the grenades. Make sure that the safety pins don't go off accidentally."
As the teams began to make preparations before the armed villagers could approach the cabin, Leon began to make contact with Hunnigan at DSO HQ.
Command Center, DSO Headquarters, somewhere in the United States of America
Hunnigan gestured to some of her colleagues that Leon has made contact with DSO.
"Leon, is something the matter back there in Spain?"
"Yeah."
Hunnigan noted that his breathing was a bit different, but was otherwise fine. A few minutes, Adam came to the command center after he was told that Leon made contact with them.
"What about it? Does this have to do with the First Daughter?"
"About that... We're going to be held up a bit longer."
Adam then got a headset near Hunnigan's console and spoke on the microphone. "Agent Kennedy, this is agent Benford. Are you and Agent Ryman alright back there in Spain?"
"Yes, sir." came the reply from Leon. "But we're being surrounded by a ton of crazed villagers armed with everything, including dynamite."
"Dammit..." Adam murmured after he heard Leon's answer. "You think you can hold out?"
"I think so. Me and Kevin are getting some help along the way, so it shouldn't be a major problem for us or for the First Daughter."
"Alright. Do your best to hold out. We're still trying to conduct security checks before we can possibly send out another helicopter to have an extraction done."
"Understood, sir. Agent Kennedy out."
Adam removed the headset and said to Hunnigan. "God help those guys."
Inside Cabin second floor, outskirts of El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
"Please come with me at once, Ashley-san."
Fujino brought Ashley upstairs to the cabin's second floor while the majority were making preparations on defending the first floor. Although the group was confident that their superior firepower will drive the villagers back, they don't know how long can they hold their ground until the villagers are able to breach the place. For that, they decided to let Ashley stay hidden somewhere safe upstairs until the coast is clear.
"Will I be safe here?" Ashley asked the Japanese SHADOW agent after she checked a closet when the teenager opened the doors to make sure the coast was clear.
"I am 100% confident of our position, Ashley-san." Fujino told Ashley. "As you are in no position to fight, it is advisable that you remain hidden inside this closet until we can come and get you out of here."
"Alright. I understand." Ashley nodded as she stepped inside the closet.
"Do not worry." Fujino bowed before she started to close the closet doors. "You will be fine inside here." The agent activated her O-Watch's I-Cutter, gripping it by its handle before an energy blade was formed.
Inside Cabin ground floor, outskirts of El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
Martin went for his U-Watch and contacted MOM via the communicator.
"Agent Mystery." A holographic image of MOM was seen on the U-Watch, complete with her frowning face. "I've officially made it clear that unless it's an emergency, I have ordered for communications blackout..."
"It is an emergency." Martin whispered out loud for MOM to hear. "Di, Java and I are going to be held up for a bit longer with the others. We're being attacked..."
MOM sighed even harder after hearing Martin's update. "I see. There is a reason why I've deployed some SHADOW agents to be with you."
"I know." Martin nodded. "But just in case I don't make it..." The Canadian teenager swallowed his saliva hard before he addressed MOM once more. "It's been a real honor working for the Center."
Nearby, Martin saw that Cammy has been making contact with MI6 headquarters via satellite phone Eriko had provided. Hiryu, Hien and Dan had their assault rifles at the ready, aiming at the barricaded windows.
MOM's Office, The Center
"I'll take it that it's official bad news?"
Billy went to MOM's office, about to conduct his duties as MOM's personal assistant.
"It is Billy." MOM sighed before she leaned back on her office chair. "I've gotten word that Martin and the other agents are boxed in by the villagers. We won't have contact with them for a while. And I'm assuming that the same for the other agents deployed into Spain as well, including the American agents from DSO."
"So... what do we do now?" Billy asked his superior, worried for the safety of Martin and the other Center agents.
"What do we do?" MOM repeated the question before she raised an eyebrow. "We... simply do nothing. Except to wait and see if they'll come out of this woodwork alive."
Unknown Facility
Krauser was at the observation deck, complete with protective glass, alongside Geki, Octavia, Kei and a few minutes ago Kenny when he made his entrance.
"Never thought that you wouldn't show up." Octavia smirked at Kenny, who responded by rolling his eyes at her.
"So what are we going to look at today?" Kei asked the CIHL head.
"You don't know, Ms. Amami?" Octavia asked the assassin before she decided to reply. "Alright, so I'll assume you don't." The blonde woman cleared her throat before she started to explain. "My latest creation has just been implanted with a parasite granted by Saddler himself after he was very impressed by my creation made from my Spanish base."
"From what I heard," Krauser told Octavia, raising an eyebrow. "you did the very same thing and used it to ransack the Center and tried to kill off your Center colleague once before a couple of Center agents defeated it permanently."
This comment from the ex-commando made Octavia a bit angry.
"It seems you gave Ms. Octavia a bad memory." Kenny told Krauser after seeing Octavia angry.
"Give me a second." Octavia went for her earpiece worn over her right ear. "All right ladies and gentlemen. My new creation is all ready for presentation."
Octavia showed them what appears to be a large room suitable for handling large being like the El Gigante encountered by Leon and his allies near the outskirts of the El Pueblo village. This being, however, looked like it had the head of an Andean Wolf, the body of a Sasquatch (aka Bigfoot), the wings of Owlman and the arms, legs and skin of a Kappa. Octavia had also ensured that characteristics from other creatures are also added to the second meta-creature, but the CIHL leader didn't decide on making them public to her allies.
"That's..." Geki was amazed to see such a creature was created by CIHL. "quite the creature you got ready there, Ms. Paine."
"Oh, I made this creature partially out of lessons I learned from my defeat when I raided the Center all by myself."
"What do you mean?" Krauser raised an eyebrow. "You created a commando team so that you can raid them all over again when the time comes?"
"Of course not." Octavia smirked. "Something that some of you may be a bit familiar with. Just watch and see."
The hybrid creature began to growl out loud, clutching its head while being forced to hunch down over despite being restrained by its arms and legs. Octavia pointed to the creature's shoulders for her allies to focus their attention at. With collective nods, they saw the creature roar out loud again before a parasitic organism, the same type from the El Gigante, began to burst from the shoulder. However unlike its El Gigante, this creature was able to move around and have control of itself.
"So ladies and gentlemen." Octavia explained on the creature. "This new creature has the strength and resilience thanks to the addition of the parasite used by the El Gigante creature made by the cult days ago. Of course, this creature is far more superior since it can still fight while the parasite's own tentacles can serve as a defense mechanism to prevent anyone or anything from attacking it should it be exposed out for a long period of time."
"Quite charming." Kei commented. "As long as this... beast can be controlled, we'll have an edge against those agents alongside those Center and ARCAM brats."
"It is still a shame that we won't have a field tiem for this yet."
Octavia nodded, hearing the ninja's comments. "I did some field tests a while ago and Saddler was kind enough to assist. But you're right, we'll need to bring this creature and test it against the intruders."
"Just how is it going to be controlled?" Kenny raised a question to Octavia.
"It's still linked to Saddler, so this creature will automatically recognize all of us as its allies. Don't worry, it won't try to raise a hand on us."
"Good." Krauser gave a grin. "Because I don't want to waste my energy and time fighting this thing should it turn against us instead of those intruders."
Inside Cabin ground floor, outskirts of El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
Eriko had just ended her conversation from the satellite phone moments after she, Cammy and Chun-Li were able to make contact with a joint team of MI6 and Naicho agents alongside a small team of Interpol officers brought to the headquarters of the Guardia Civil to work with the Servicio de Informacion de la Guardia Civil (Civil Guard Information Service) division moments after the trio did not report back. Like Martin and Leon, they reported that they would have a problem with the incoming band of villagers set to kill them as ordered by their master. For now, they were informed to hold the line as much as they can since they cannot risk blowing the operation and making it public.
Which was fine with them since they had survived a lot starting from El Gigante for starters.
"Ready?" Leon had pumped the Remington 870, loading up a buckshot shell into the shotgun's chambers.
"As soon as they try to breach in." Luis replied, holding his Red 9 pistol at the ready.
Hiryu, Hien, Dan and Yu tried to be calm. They've been in situations where they had to hold the line, but they didn't know if they have enough ammo to hold the line and protect Ashley's life.
"Are we still okay?" Eriko asked after she kept the satellite phone, drawing out her P228 from her shoulder holster.
"Not for long." Jill said, pointing out to the nearest barricaded window where the villagers are hitting it. The bookcase, in turn was tumbling a bit. It would be just a matter of time before the barricaded windows would be destroyed. "Just a matter of time before they breach this place."
More and more pounding was heard by everyone barricaded in the cabin. They were all tense, but nevertheless ready to take down the opposition if need be.
"Come on." Yu whispered. "Just come on." He gripped his G3A4, ready to fire it but so far decided to fire it on impulse.
"The villagers are getting restless." Jean told his allies after coming down from the second floor. "No ladders yet as far as I can see. They're just trying to get inside the barricaded cabin."
"Oh joy..." Hien groaned.
Jean gave a wicked grin. "Oh come now. I thought you'd be like your brother."
"Come on Jean." Hiryu raised an eyebrow towards the French Spriggan operative. "Give it a rest, will ya?"
Jean shrugged and shouldered the SPAS-12, switching its firing rate from pump-action to semi-automatic.
More and more banging on the windows. It seemed the windows and the bookcases used to barricade them are holding up okay. But the fact that they're made up of wood, especially since they're breakable, is not a good sign.
"If only there was a machine gun we can use." Dan groaned.
Inside Cabin second floor, outskirts of El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
Kevin, Chun-Li, Fujino, Tea, Sho, Cammy, Diana and Java kept an eye out on the villagers from the windows on the second floor. Sho and Tea found yellow and red herbs nearby, creating an herb mixture alongside an unused green herb Kevin had carried for himself, creating a Green/Red/Yellow herb mixture for the former to use later on. Tea didn't have any objections to the ninja's decision.
"Looks like they didn't decide on breaching the second floor." Chun-Li gazed at the villagers surrounding the cabin from one of the windows on the floor.
"That's good." Kevin said after doing checks on the SSG P IV and on the Glock 21 Mariner. "Because I don't think we've got enough ammo to survive."
"Diana going to be alright?" Java asked, ready to use his caveman fists.
"Don't worry." Diana reassured the caveman. "I'll be alright. After all, we're working alongside some of the best agents out in the field."
"Oh shit..." Kevin groaned after taking a peek through the windows. "Looks like they're getting ready for the cavalry."
"What kind?" Fujino asked the DSO agent.
"The kind where ladders are going to be used."
Inside Cabin ground floor, outskirts of El Pueblo, somewhere in Spain
"Looks like the time has come."
Leon murmured, shouldering and aiming the Remington 870 as he used the iron sights to eye out the nearest bookcase used to barricade a ground floor window.
"Get ready." Jean whispered, hearing the sounds of wood splinters being broken due to repeated hits on the wooden planks. After a few more hits, the group heard the wooden plans being completely broken before the nearest bookcase was shoved to the ground.
"Here they come!"
Dan shouted as the villagers were able to destroy the wooden planks covering the window near the main door with the bookcase completely shoved to the ground.
"Fire!" Hien shouted after he shouldered the SS1-M5 at the villager standing near the window, who was brandishing a torch.
"Haaaaaaahhhhhhh!" His masked brother, Hiryu, joined in to assist and fired his G36C after acquiring a target via the 3x magnified telescopic sight.
"Crap!" Leon shouted, about to help the masked teenagers when he heard another barricaded window break down with another bookcase toppled. He then turned the shotgun to the busted window, moving in and firing his weapon at the villagers trying to get inside.
"Merde!" Jean yelled out in anger, firing the SPAS-12 to help Leon with his right hand.
Chapter 8 END
PS - I'll still stick this in for reference use. That is until I make big changes.
Team 1 - Hien, Leon, Diana, Java, Jean, Cammy, Jill, Eriko, Dan
Team 2 - Hiryu, Sho, Fujino, Martin, Kevin, Yu, Tea, Chun-Li
I need to ask someone who's really, really familiar with the Nasuverse. Although I've seen the major works taking place in the Nasuverse, I need to confirm if the Burial Agency is in the KnK world in some form, one way or another. Thanks.
Also I don't think I showed how Jill looked like in the RE4 AU fic of mine. Just think of her wearing her outfit in the pre-RE5 game when she was with Chris investigating the Spencer Estate before she tackles Wesker. My apologies for overlooking it.
Making DSO as the permanent agency in charge of BOW stuff instead of STRATCOM. Recent material released for RE6 is making that as Leon's official employer after the Raccoon City crisis alongside Kevin for this fic.
In the meantime, enjoy the new chapter and I look forward to your reviews. In the meantime, feel free to read and review Peacekeepers as well, which is my latest fic as of this upload. Have a good day/night reading it from wherever you are.
If in the future or what that any of my fics make it to TV Tropes by a Fanfic Recommendation or something, please let me know so that I can have a look at it. After all, I do have an account with them.
