Dr. William Birkin, Scientist, Virologist, Former Employee to the Umbrella Corporation, and one of the main causes to the Raccoon City Outbreak. Arriving in Hell at around 1998, Birkin had spent most of his time, wondering about Pentagram City, being an eyesore to anybody's path he crossed, as he arrived, appearing in his mutated form, with his giant, grotesque, monstrous arm and the remainder of his human body being as pale as chalk with red veins visible all around, the same color of his pupils from his now blackened eyes. Because of his mutations, he was a shell of a man, a vegetable, having only one thought in his mind as he practically limped through the streets.
"Sherry...Sherry..."
His beloved daughter. He had yet to see her here, so it was best to assumed that she still lived. He felt guilty, due to realizing that he was responsible for infecting her with the very same virus he injected into himself. He now exists in regret of all the things he's ever done, and his damnation was proof of that. Not long ago, before all of the Pride Ring went from Bad to Worse, Birkin caught the attention of someone he wished he'd never have to meet again. The same guy who's research he took over at the order of his old benefactor, Oswell E. Spencer. He may of realized that killing someone off in order to take over their research...may have been the wrong thing to do, as he was dragged off the streets that day from familiar looking, giant leech in a pantsuit. But, to be fair, Dr. Marcus deserved every right to be in Hell as Birkin. Just ask the many children he killed off in life.
Later on, did Birkin find himself working for another familiar face, one that he once considered in ally in their experiments, such as in assassination and the creation of virus and B. . In an unknown area, was the G-Scientist himself trapped within a lab, where was forced to work on advancing the currently existing viruses and parasites that have taken over the majority of Pentagram City, making them stronger...by order of Wesker.
"Ugh...Oh, Sherry...Sherry." Again, does he say his 'mantra'. Not here by choice, he saw no point in continuing his experiments in the afterlife. But he was dragged back into this nightmare, forced to work by his old college's command. It was clear to Birkin that Wesker was going to be making much use of him, until he's out-served his purpose. And just if he's so tempted to escape, Wesker placed a device on Birkin's second head. Oh...did I forget to mention that Birkin was also forced to mutate into his G-2 form, in order for the second head to pop and take control of his body? Any of his original intellect was trapped in his original head, in his semi-absorbed brain, and Wesker had managed to crack the code that allows him to have control over the mutate. All Birkin had to do was feed his knowledge to his other half, and let the body do the rest, even if it was against his will. And it was then, the shades-wearing sinner arrived to see how his old friend was doing.
"Ah, William...I've see you've been making quite the progress." Wesker said. "You've always been good with viruses you've yet to experience."
"Wesker..." Birkin growled. "I've done everything you asked, advanced every single virus, rounded up the exposed subjects...when will you free me?"
"You mean, kill you?" Wesker replied, making Birkin snarl, inhumanly. "Oh, I wouldn't do that to you, William. You're too good to throw away. You've always seem to exceed expectations, despite what those from Umbrella said."
"Well, from what I've heard, you tend to dispose of those who've outlived their usefulness to you."
Wesker kept a sly smile on his face as he said "You've met Excella, didn't you? Well, I don't recall you complaining when we allowed to witness Marcus' assassination, all so that you can take over his research."
"Speaking of which." Birkin snarled. "Why is that old bastard even here? And how did you make him your lapdog?"
"I've had a lot of time...years, actually, to prepare for this. I need only to...associate with some of Umbrella's greatest shadows, unite them under one cause...my own, and just in a few days, was the entire Ring of Pride under my control."
"I don't want to be a part of this, Wesker! I screwed up in life, I'm not making the same mistakes again. The same mistakes that made me lose everything!"
"And that kind of thinking is what leaves you in the same position you're currently in." Wesker replies as he walks around the lab. "I can give you what you want if you were willing to do things here by choice."
Birkin kept his mouth and merely glared at Wesker. He didn't believe what Wesker was promising. He knew the man for while now, and was already certain that he was mad with power. And then, coming into the lab was the giant leech that dragged Birkin here in the first place.
"Marcus. Report."
The leech's head slowly and disgusting reverted in size, before taking form of a human head, albeit liquified with tendrils acting as long hair and glowing red eyes looking at Wesker. Yet, there was no visible mouth as the leech spoke.
"Alfred Ashford has arrived at the Ars Goetia Mansion." Marcus said, emotionlessly in a dark, alien-like voice. "The Four Lords have agreed to your terms and await your orders. And we can confirm that Luis Sera has returned to Imp City, with some company. But Saddler guarantees they will not survive."
"Who is he talking about?" Birkin asks, confused. To which Wesker replies "Do not worry about it. Make sure Saddler keeps Mr. Sera alive; I'm not one to squander possible assets."
Marcus nods before saying "Another thing to report is that there two demons who had just left the Hotel you've been monitoring. Heading to what seems like Ashford's location. Possible assailants."
"...Make sure they do not reach the Mansion." Wesker orders, to which the Leech nods and walks out of the lab. As he does, Birkin took notice of the scarab shaped device on the back of the Leech's neck, and it made him look at Wesker as he mustered enough will-power to reach behind his own back.
"So that's how you do it."
Ripping the device from his back, Birkin felt free of his control as he forced his mutation to retreat back to phase one. Then, he charged Wesker with his huge claw and tries to attack. Unfortunately, he was caught off-guard by the man's supernatural strength, as he blocked the mutant arm like it was nothing.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I thought you smarter than that, William." Wesker said. "Or has G taken over too much of your intelligence?"
And then, with a palm strike, did he force Birkin and slammed him against a wall. The G-Scientist struggled to get back on his feet as he saw his former comrade standing above him.
"Since it's obvious that you need a lesson in discipline, allow me to introduce you to a friend of mine I met in Spain." He gestures to the door and says "Dr. Salvador."
Just then, a giant burly man in farmer's overalls, a burlap sack over his head and wielding a chainsaw showed up and rived it up, walking to Birkin as Wesker watched from a distance...and the splatter and screams came.
Meanwhile, on the road, Steve and Arachniss had managed to commandeer a truck and were currently driving across town to where they Alfred Ashford was right now.
"Once we get a hold of Ashford, he'll all mine." Steve said to the spider-gangster. "You stay out of it."
"You seem to have more of a vendetta against him than me? Arackniss replied. "What did he even do to you?"
"Oh, nothing...he's just one of the reason why I'm here, why I had to kill my dad, why I had turned into a fucking monster and almost made me kill my friends."
"Damn...I never would've guessed it'd been that bad." Arackness said.
Steve then said "Yeah, well...Once I get my hands on him, I'll pay him back for what he and that bitch of a sister has done to me."
Arackniss nodded in silence as he stared out the windshield. But then, something caught them off guard as suddenly, the CM radio began to function, and then a familiar voice came out of it..
"Ah, there we go. I was wondering when I could catch up with you two!"
"Alastor?" Steve asked. "Is that you?!"
"The one and only." The Radio Demon said. "It took me a while to find the right frequency. These satellite radios can be somewhat confusing."
"Well, that's a bit ironic." Arackniss said to himself.
"Don't think I can't hear or see the both of you!"
"Well, what do you want, Alastor?" Steve asked.
"I'm just keeping tabs on all my acquaintances. Charlotte had put it in my best interests to see that you survive."
Steve replied "Well, at least that's nice...of her."
"Indeed! And since you're the only ones on the road, and in my jurisdiction, I figured it'd be best to worn you."
"Warn us of what?" Arackniss asked.
"Let's just say...you might wanna serve that vehicle of yours to the right as quickly as possible."
Steve began to say "What does that mee-OH CRAP!" And then, he did exactly as Alastor warned, making immediately right turn as an explosion happened right in the middle of the road. Apparently, they were being tailed, as a giant armored assualt vehicle, practically a tank was firing at them from a distance.
(Isaac's tank from RE: The Final Chapter)
After that blast, did the tank now bring out duel Gatling guns, forcing Steve to punch it as the shots tore apart the road behind them.
"Move faster, damn it!" Arackniss yelled out, to which Steve said "I'm trying! We gotta get rid of that tank!"
"And how do you suggest we do that?"
"...Take the wheel!" Steve ordered as he then crawled out of the driver seat, then out the window as Arackniss rushed to resume driving. Outside the trunk, Steve saw the tank at a distance, and summoned his axe, holding it over his head before he chucks it and watches it fly into the air, spinning continuously before landing directly on the top of the tank. The whole assault vehicle had burst into flames soon after that.
"Bull's eye." He said before climbing back into the trunk, this time in the shotgun seat.
Arackniss, who saw everything from the window, turned to Steve and asked "How the hell did you do that?"
"Cuz I got skills." Steve said, confidently. Arackniss merely scoffed as they continued down the road. A few minutes later, did they arrive at their destination. The Ars Goetia Mansion was completely overrun with the infected as Steve and Arackniss were outside its walls, waiting for a course of action.
"What are we waiting for?" Arackniss asked. "The gate's wide open, and we can sure as hell take a couple of zombies."
The spider was about to head in, when Steven pulled him back.
"You're the one with the extra eyes, and you don't see the freaking snipers?!"
The peered by the gate to see that Steve was corrected. A few infected demons had taken sniping positions in order to quickly take car of introducers. This would make things much more difficult.
"Alright then, kid. What's your plan then? And you better have a plan, 'cause I'm not waiting around."
Steve thought about it before looking around, and saw in dead demon's arms a sniper rifle. Picking it up and checking the clip for ammo, he said "Okay, how's this for a plan? You find a place where you can shoot this while I go in and take out any zombies I see silently."
"How you gonna do that?" Arackniss asked. "Your guns aren't built to be silent."
"Who said anything about the guns?" And with that, Steve went in, forcing Arackniss to immediately try and find a sniping position while Steve did his best to remain stealth like. Armored cars littered the front of the house; no doubt, did the house the zombies before they were unleashed upon the residence. Nevertheless, they made great cover for when Steve took out any zombies before they could detect his presence. Despite how nearly un-killable they were from the front, taking them out from behind seemed to do more of a trick, as Steve went and attempted to snap a zombie's neck...only for it to come clean off when he began twisting it.
"Okay then." He said, before he found a knife from the body and figured he could use it to make work easier. All the while, Arackniss did his work and out-snipered the snipers from the position he was in, on top of a car, farthest from the mansion.
"Never thought I'd be sniping near a Royal's house." He said to himself, cocking the rifle.
Meanwhile, inside the Manor, Alfred Ashford was making himself at home while enjoying the misery the other two inhabitants were forced to deal with. Somehow, Stolas' powers were canceled and he easily became overwhelmed by zombies. Given that her life was most important to her, he tried to help Via escape without her...but that didn't work out, as they both found themselves tied to chairs while Alfred stood in front of them.
"I must compliment you for your taste in architect." The 7th Earl of the Ashford Family said while the Ars Goetia Prince glared at him. "It's...not as much great as where I used to live, but I could get used to place like this."
"You can do whatever you want to me, Ashford." Stolas said in a dark tone. "All I want is to ensure my daughter's safety. Hurt her, and you get nothing from, but a whole lot of what Hell truly means."
"A man who puts his family before his pride is someone I can respect." replied Alfred, walking around the room before stopping behind the chair Octavia was tied, putting his arms at her shoulders . "I have no interests in hurting you daughter...unless it's absolutely necessary." Then, he felt something prick his hand and looked to see that Via was pecking him in an attempt to stab him with her beak. Alfred, however, seemed unaffected.
"I'm sorry. Was that supposed to hurt?"
Suddenly, he had his hands at her throat, much to Stolas' dismay, who could only watch as the crazed Earl slowly strangles his daughter.
"Now...I'm going to make this easy for you, Prince." Alfred said in a threatening tone. "The Grimoire. I need it."
That caught Stolas off-guard as he said "How do you know about it?"
"That is not important. What should be important is your daughter's life. Which you can spare her life...if you hand over the book."
"B-But...but it's not even here!" the Owl Prince said. "Check the house, you'll never find it!" But there was still one thing on his mind. "Wait...What did you do with my wife?"
"Oh, we've already taken care of Princess Stella. Don't worry, we'll treat her better than you ever did. But that's not what should concern you now...the book, your highness. Now."
Stolas merely held a glare as he said "You'll get nothing from me."
Alfred said nothing, but nodded to an infected, who pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Octavia's head. Stolas went wide-eyed upon seeing it.
"Last chance." threatened Alfred. "You have 20 seconds to reveal the book to me...else, I downsize you family."
"Dad!" Octavia managed to say through choking "Don't...tell him...anything."
"Via..."
"We don't know...what he'll do-" Then, Alfred tightened his grip on her throat, shutting her up as he says "I commend your daughter's bravery, but it's not going to save her. Only you can."
Stolas didn't know what to do. If he didn't say anything, it could probably mean the end for his daughter; if he did...who know what kind of damage they'd do with that book? Fortunately, he didn't have to make a choice, since gunshots were being heard from outside the house. It gains the attention of the damned Earl, who calls off his infected servants and looks outside a window and sees that his undead minions were now fully dead. He even learned the demise of his snipers as one of them literally fell down from their post and onto the ground outside the window...
Outside, Steve was at the door and had finished off the last of the infected outside as he pulls out a radio to signal Arackniss.
"All clear. You're good to go, Arackniss." He spoke into the radio, getting a reply "I'll meet you there."
Taking in a useless breath, Alfred glared outside before staring back at his two hostages, then at his infected.
"Send for an extraction vehicle. We're moving out." He ordered his minions, to which they do as they're told, untying the two royals and dragging them away. Then, he pulls out radio himself and speaks into it, saying "Activate it."
Soon after, the two sinners barge into the Manor, guns pointing anywhere for threats.
"So, where do we even start? This place looks huge." Arackniss asked. What answered his questions where the screams of a young woman and the inhuman snarls of the infected.
"Just follow the screams, I guess." Steve replied as they advanced. The moment they continued to step foot in the house, the growls and moans of zombies filled the area as they looked everywhere and saw the shadows of the undead slowly coming towards them. Wasting no time, the moment the zombies came for them, gunshots echoed all around the house. Steve fired both his lugers at every zombie that tried to surround him, always going for headshots as it was the fastest way to kill these things. Arackniss had a machine gun in hand and was just blowing holes straight through the chest of every zombie he saw. Only seemed to make them back a few feet before they went back at him again. Running through his ammo, he took his rifle and swung it across a zombie's head like a baseball bat.
"Don't these fuckers ever die?!"
"Aim for the head!" Steve yelled, bludgeoning a zombie with one of his lugers. This gave Arackniss an idea as put his machine gun and readied several new ones.
"Get down, kid!" He yelled out, to which Steve complied, ducking as Arackniss sprouted six arms, all armed with guns and began opened fire, blowing the zombies' heads clean off. Pretty soon, the wave of undead they dealt were now all decomposing on the floor. Steve stared at awe at Arackniss' handiwork.
"No wonder some sinners become Overlords."
"Takes years of practice, kid."
Moving out, they ran through the halls and once again heard the screams of a certain Owl Princess before pressing on. More zombies still roamed the area and they fought through them as much as they can, fortunate enough to not be overwhelmed. They were soon in a hall full of giant fly traps, and when tried to attack them, Steve managed to push one into one of the plants and watched as it got chewed upon. All the while this is happening, Stolas and Octavia can hear the fighting coming closer and closer to where they're moving from.
"Keep...moving..." An undead soldier said to them, poking a gun into Octavia's back. She had just about enough of this, doing something unexpected, delivering a roundhouse kick to the infected demon behind her and then catching the gun that flew out of its hand before jump to get her tied hands in front of her so she could shoot at the other infected demons that were escorted them. Stolas was shocked to see how his daughter had managed the situation as Octavia pulled a knife from one of the dead minions, getting herself of her bonds before doing the same with her father.
"Uh...Via...when did you learn to do that?" He asked.
"From Loona." She answered. "She taught me how to fight when you refused that one time."
"Oh...Well, I never thought it would be necessary." Stolas replied nervously. "I just...never wanted to see you in a violent situation."
"Unfortunately, dad. That seems to be the case." Octavia then took a MAC-11 from one of the dead minions and took her father by the wrist as they went through the halls. There was something on her mind however.
"I was honestly waiting for you to do something." She said. "Why didn't you?"
"Something tempered with my powers." Stolas answered. "I was weakened the moment that fiend walked into this place. I can't explain it, I just...couldn't do anything."
Octavia didn't like hearing that. If someone was really able to mess with the powers that her father had, they could really be in a world of trouble. But she had to accept it for now an move on, and by move on, I mean 'move far away from this place', as both Owls were about to head for the exit, when they came to a stop and Octavia found herself pointing her gun at her other home invaders. Steve and Arackniss finally managed to find the two-out-of-three they were looking for, but they still wanted to hunt down Ashford.
"Um...Prince Stolas?" Steve asked, motioning to the taller one of the two owls.
"Yes?"
"We're here to rescue you." the green sinner replied rather casually, making a hesitant Via lower her gun at them. But just as things seemed to calm down, the house began to shake. Coming out of the wall was giant vine that swung at the four, nearly grabbing hold of Steve before they managed to back away and the V-Infected sinner sliced the root in half with his axe.
"What the f**k was that?!" Octavia asked in panic, to which Steve said "You don't think those plants we saw..."
"Oh shit." said Arackniss.
What Ashford activated was a virus that was injected into Stolas' massive fly-trap collection. And now, they were mutating into grotesque, mobile abominations, wishing to feed on whatever's filled with blood at this point.
"We should get out of here. Pronto!"
"Allow me to show you the fastest way out." Stolas said. "I never revealed this, but there are secret passages that lead in and out of this mansion!"
"Wait, what?!" said Octavia "You didn't think it necessary to have me and mum know about this?!"
"I never thought we'd have to use them. Besides, half of them are older than me, so the state they're in could be depressive."
Arackniss then said "It's better than nothing. We need to go right now!"
"Follow me." Stolas led through the manor, to the nearest secret passage he could find. Unfortunately, they didn't get far without seeing what Ashford has done to Stolas' plants. The fly-traps were now in humanoid shape, with two identifiable arms and two legs, as they pulled themselves from the bases of their pots. While they had no visible eyes, they could sense their pray as the three with guns aimed at the mutated plants.
"I knew keeping so many of these things was stupid." Octavia complained, then Steve took a deep breath and noticed something.
"Hey...is it me or is the air feeling a little...dry?"
Arackniss replied "It's hell, kid. Most of this world is on fire."
"No...he's right." Stolas said. "It smells strange too. Could it be the plants?"
They didn't have time to figure it out as one of the mutations snapped it limb-like-vine at them forcing them to move. Keeping their distance, Octavia, Steve and Arackniss fired at the plants, who screeched in pain as they fell to the ground soon after. But there was many of them as there were zombies before, and there wasn't much ammo left to spare, as they were soon surrounded.
"Wait! I have an idea!" Stolas then rushed to the fridge, and pulled out a piece of meat. This got the plants' attention as they smelled the meat, looking hungry for it as Stolas then threw it away from where the other three were.
"Whew. Still my plants on the inside."
"Okay, now that that's over with, let's jet!" Steve ordered as they moved away from the mutant plants. Stolas led them down another hall before stopping at a left wall.
"This is it." He said, pushing back at the wall, and revealing the secret passage way. Stolas wasn't wrong when he said that it was in a depressive state, looking to fall apart if they did not tread carefully. Soon enough, they made it outside and Steve managed to commandeer another vehicle, since Ashford was gracious enough to leave them an armored truck. And with that, they were out of there.
"The sooner we head back to the Hotel, the better." Steve said while in the driver seat. Octavia on the shotgun seat, and her father and Arackniss behind them.
"So, who are you guys?" The Owl Princess asked. "I recognize the spider as one of those mob gangsters, but you're new to me."
Steve looked at her before saying "Well, I'm Steve Burnside and this is Arackniss." He gestures to the Spider, reloading his pistol. "And I guess you can say we're part of a...growing resistance."
"Resistance?" Stolas asked, to which Arackniss replied "Against the shithead running this horror show."
"And where exactly are you taking us?" Octavia asked next.
"To a bit of a Haven. A Hotel we've been using to round up survivors."
"A Hotel?"
"Yep...you're Royalty, right? You familiar with Princess Charlie?"
Octavia was caught off guard, since she hadn't heard from Charlie in years. Steve continued to explain everything as they drove down the desolate road.
"So...Ashford has failed in gaining the Grimoire." Wesker said with Dr. Marcus behind him. "Search every part of the city and beyond. Spread our influence to all who think they're untouchable, to every. single. layer. Bring me the book, while I move on to next phase of my plan. Summon the Four Lords. Have the meet with the Princess..."