Chapter 7

'Damn, my hometown doesn't look anything like it did,' Joseph Trevor Frost thought to himself as he looked out of the massive cargo chopper, flying high above, seeing people looting and rioting in the streets. There were fires all over the place, and certain areas that had become hot zones were flooding with zombies.

"Are you alright, Commander Frost?" Rain asked, sitting beside him.

Joseph shook his head. "I grew up in Raccoon City. This place was my home. Seeing it like this… knowing what it's going to end up becoming too… it kills me."

"At least the latest intel says that your S.T.A.R.S. friends got out before this happened," Rain said. "It's a cold comfort, I know, but it's better than nothing."

Joseph nodded. "And the fact that my brother isn't down there somewhere keeps me going too." He finally looked back, observing everyone else in the chopper. "What do you think of this team?"

Rain shrugged. "All I know for a fact is that I'm glad J.D. is flying us. I wouldn't trust anyone else."

The soldier in the co-pilot seat, who had a headset on and a laptop computer on his lap quickly turned toward them. His name was Chad Kaplan, and he looked more like a nerd than a soldier, but if Victor trusted him, that had to matter for something. "I've got an SOS at somewhere called Bar Jack."

"Downtown, near the police department," Joseph informed.

"You hear that, J.D.?" Rain asked.

"Yes, ma'am," J.D. said with a thumbs up. "On our way."

Rain shook her head, fuming. "He knows I hate it when he calls me ma'am."

Joseph chuckled. "You two." He shook his head. "Why don't you just ask him out already?"

Rain raised an eyebrow at him. "He's like my big brother. That's gross."

"He isn't actually blood," Joseph pointed out.

"Close enough," Rain told him.

"Holy shit!" Kaplan exclaimed, grabbing their attention again.

"What is it?" Joseph asked.

Kaplan closed his laptop and slammed his hand on the dash. "Fuck!"

"Hey!" J.D. exclaimed. "This helicopter didn't do anything to you."

Kaplan glared at J.D. and looked back again. "Major Cain got new orders from Sergei Vladimir. They're releasing BOWs."

"What the hell are they thinking?" Olga Danilova, the medic of the team, asked from beside Rain.

"Cover up," Rain replied. "That's the only thing that makes sense. This mess is White Umbrella's doing, and so Red Umbrella is taking it upon themselves to make sure that there aren't any witnesses left alive."

"We may have less time to rescue people than I hoped," Joseph said. "Get us to Bar Jack."

"I'm going as fast as I can, Commander Frost," J.D. told him.

"What's with that name anyway?" Rain asked. "Bar Jack? Why don't they call it Jack's Bar?"

Joseph shrugged. "I don't know. The owner was a little eccentric. When he died, his son didn't want to dishonor his dad's legacy, so he kept the name."

"I see the ugly looking neon sign ahead," J.D. told them. "I'll put us down on the roof. There doesn't appear to be any danger."

"Well, we're in the middle of a hot zone," Joseph said before looking to Kaplan. "Did the transmission to Major Cain say where they were releasing the BOWs?"

"Didn't Mr. Darius tell you?" Kaplan asked.

Joseph shook his head. "What?"

"Umbrella has a massive underground lab that stretches all over the sewer system and below it," Kaplan informed. "The BOWs will come from everywhere. The entire city is about to become a hot zone."

Joseph sighed. "Get me a line to Victor… Mr. Darius. I need to update him."

"Coming in for a landing!" J.D. exclaimed.

The chopper landed on the roof, not as gracefully as Joseph would've liked, but it was good enough. He moved out with Rain, Olga, Kaplan, and two other soldiers named Vance Drew and Alphonso Warner following.

Kaplan jogged forward to Joseph and handed out an earpiece. "Mr. Darius."

Joseph accepted the earpiece and put it in. "Victor?"

"I'm here," Trent responded. "I don't have long. I'm about to meet with a member of the U.B.C.S. that I think could be valuable to the team."

"Vladimir gave the go ahead to release BOWs," Joseph said. "The entire city is going to be a hot zone fast."

Trent sighed over the line. "Understood. Get as many people out as you can, but don't take any risks. I don't want you in the middle of a battle with any of the creatures from NEST."

"NEST?" Joseph asked.

"I'll tell you later," Trent said. "Use caution and don't stay there long. You have your cloak on, right?"

"And the hood up," Joseph confirmed. "Don't worry. I know to continue being a ghost."

"Good man," Trent said. And then the line went dead.

As Alphonso and Vance pushed forward to the roof access door, they moved to either side, but before either of them could open it, the door opened on its own, and several people all spilled out, stopping in shock to see the soldiers there.

"It's alright," Joseph said, recognizing one of the people in the group as Kevin Ryman, a cop that had tried multiple times to get into the S.T.A.R.S. but kept failing two out of four of the examinations. Joseph had been friendly with Kevin, whereas most people in the RCPD ridiculed him, treating him like trash at every turn. It sent hope into his heart to see him, but he had to maintain his cover till Victor told him otherwise.

"Who are you people?" a blond female wearing a pink power suit said as she brushed past Kevin.

Joseph knew who she was as well, and was much less happy to lay eyes on Alyssa Ashcroft, snooty reporter and friend of Ben Bertolucci. "We're the good guys here."

"That's debatable," Alyssa said. "You're the ones pointing guns at us."

Joseph sighed. "Lower your weapons."

The team all lowered their guns.

"If you want out of here, I suggest you get on the chopper," Rain told them.

With that, Kevin and Alyssa both moved for the chopper with two others following. One of them was wearing a plumber's jumpsuit that had the name David on the front, and on the back was the logo of his company: King Plumbing. The other one was an African American with a Raccoon Subway jacket on. His name tag said Jim Chapman.

"Is anyone else inside?" Joseph asked of the departing people.

"Just me!" a voice called out as another blond woman moved out, her high heels clicking. Joseph knew this girl from the times that he'd gone to Bar Jack with the other S.T.A.R.S. Her name was Cindy Lennox, and it made him happy again to see her ok.

Joseph nodded to her, keeping his face covered with his hood. "Good to see that you're safe then, miss."

"Cindy," she told him. "I just saw my boss die. Someone deranged was eating him."

"Everything's going to be explained," Joseph promised. "Just step in the chopper."

Cindy nodded and took off after the others.

Joseph looked to Rain but called out to the others. "Everyone back inside. We'll make one more stop for survivors, and then we'll have to leave. I'm not risking this team to the BOWs."

Rain nodded to him as the others in the team moved back for the chopper. "Do you know any of them?"

"Three of them," Joseph replied.

"I'm guessing the cop?" Rain asked.

Joseph nodded. "A close friend, actually. The girl that worked here, I met a couple times, and the bitchy woman is a reporter that has always been a thorn in the RCPD's side."

Rain smirked. "We could always toss her out when we take off."

Joseph looked disapprovingly at her.

"It was a joke," Rain told him, her smirk still present.

Joseph shook his head and they both turned to go back to the chopper. "Am I doing the right thing, Rain?"

"Only going to two pick up points and leaving?" Rain asked. "Yes. It's what Mr. Darius would want. I know it isn't what you want to do, and I don't blame you. We should evacuate as many people as we can, but Umbrella isn't going to allow that. We'll be lucky to get out of here as it is."

"I agree," Joseph said. "Let's just hope we get lucky with our other rescue."

"Where do you want to go?" Rain asked.

"Might as well be the police department," Joseph replied. "We're almost there anyway."

Since the police department had a helicopter landing pad, it was a bit easier getting down than it was on the roof of Bar Jack.

Kaplan turned in the co-pilot's seat and pulled off his handphones. "I made contact with a Lt. Branagh. Some people are coming up."

Joseph nodded. "Good. Quick and easy. Hopefully Branagh will be with them. He's a good man."

From the back end of the massive cargo chopper, Kevin Ryman raised an eyebrow, having heard that comment. He shook his head, seemingly confused.

Cindy Lennox took notice of the way Kevin was looking. "What is it?"

Kevin shook his head. "Not sure. The guy in the disguise knows Marvin, and his voice… He… Nah, it can't be. I'm imagining things. Wishing for something that ain't gonna happen."

"What?" Cindy asked, goading him for more information.

"Just don't worry about it," Kevin said coldly, trying his best to let the hope that had been building slip away. His friend was dead. It wasn't him.

"Let's hope this is quick and easy," Rain said in response to what Joseph said.

Screeching noises caught their attention.

Monstrosities with long tongues were crawling on the walls all around, converging on them.

"Lickers!" Rain yelled. "Move! We have to protect the survivors when they arrive!"

Olga turned back to the people they'd picked up at Bar Jack. "Stay in here! Cop, you have a piece?"

Kevin pulled his handgun from his side holster and nodded.

"Protect them at all cost if something gets in!" Olga ordered.

Joseph and Rain moved out with Olga, Alphonso, and Vance following. They opened fire on the Licker BOWs.

One Licker's tongue flicked out in Rain's direction, but Joseph's reflexes went into overdrive as his hand grabbed the tongue, squeezed, and then tossed the Licker to the far end of the building, causing it to hit three other Lickers, sending them over the side of the building.

An emergency exit door nearby burst open as Joseph saw Officer Rita Phillips leading three other people out. One of them was a doctor in a lab coat with the name Dr. George Hamilton on a name badge. Another one wore a SCUTUM Security jacket with a badge calling him Mark Wilkins. The last one was an Asian female wearing a backpack. He couldn't tell a name or another else about her.

"Where's Lt. Branagh?" Joseph called, as he moved over, firing at Lickers that tried to converge on the civilians.

"He got attacked on the way up by one of the undead," Rita replied. "He was bitten and refused to come with us! There are other officers taking care of him. I couldn't get anyone else to follow us."

Joseph nodded. "Get in the chopper. Go to the back where our other rescues are."

Rita nodded, ushering the three others past the soldiers still firing at the targets and into the chopper.

"You want to go in after him?" Rain asked from nearby.

"If he's bitten, it's too late," Joseph told her.

"Wasn't too late for you," Rain pointed out.

"I don't think there's a huge supply of the virus that brought me back," Joseph told her. "I won't risk bringing infected anywhere near base no matter how much I respect Marvin Branagh. Let's get airborne, people!"

Joseph and Rain rushed back for the chopper.

A lone Licker managed to get on top of the chopper and jumped down, tackling Alphonso to the ground, ripping into him.

Vance opened fire on the Licker, taking it out. He bent down to Alphonso. "It's going to be alright, man. Come on!"

Alphonso was already dead.

Olga pulled Vance to his feet and ushered him back toward the chopper. "We have to go. Alphonso knew his duty. You have to do yours now!"

With everyone inside, the chopper took to the air as Lickers jumped, trying to grab hold of the legs, slipping off.

"Looks like Mr. Darius was right to slick up the legs!" Rain called out.

"Probably why my landings are so bumpy, but I guess it was for the best," J.D. called from the cockpit.

Vance shook his head. "I can't believe he's gone."

Olga put a hand on Vance's shoulder. "You should take some time off. Medic's orders."

"Get us out of the city!" Joseph commanded.

"Yes, sir, Commander Frost," J.D. said.

Kevin's head snapped up from his thoughts. He had been thinking about those horrible creatures on the roof of the police department the entire time, but hearing the name 'Commander Frost' brought him right back to consciousness. He wasn't about to act yet. He would wait. Jumping the gun since he'd been rescued by these people wasn't the right thing to do. Patience was a virtue, but if his friend was still alive, he'd have some explaining to do.

Once the chopper was back at their temporary base of operations, the old Regason Base that had been abandoned by the military on the far end of Arklay County after the disappearance of Billy Coen, Joseph led the way for the main building, but Trent was moving in their direction.

"How did you fair?" Trent asked.

"We only rescued nine people," Joseph replied. "And we lost Alphonso Warner."

"It could've turned out a lot worse," Trent told him. "That's better than nothing."

"How did your meeting with that U.B.C.S. soldier go?" Joseph asked.

"We'll know for sure if he makes it to the phone meeting I have set up for him at Grill 13," Trent replied. "That's the only reason I'm staying in this area for a while longer. I have a detachment of men in the main building, so I'll be fine. I need you to take our new friends home."

Joseph appeared surprised despite that Trent could only see his lips. "You mean…"

Trent smiled. "You're going to see your brother. Tell him I said hello." With that, Trent turned and moved back for the main building.

Joseph turned to the others. "Let's load up for home base!"