Lanshiang was a scene from a post-apocalyptic nightmare.
Civilians scrambled in sheer panic and terror, seeking shelter or simply trying to get as far from the Ja'vo that now flooded the streets. Multiple structures of all sizes and shapes were ablaze, courtesy of the masked B.O.W.s which roamed where they pleased. Abandoned vehicles littered the main route, hindering Alpha Team's progress.
"Fucking media. Get outta the way!"
Chris shouted at the civilians as they advanced ahead. All they did was get in the fucking way. Several journalists, though Chris would use that term hesitantly, had greeted them at the rendezvous point then a second awaited them at the south end of the city. When hoping to get a sound bite for their audience, Chris harshly shoved the microphone, along with its owner, to the side. Piers remained close behind with Marco, Jeff and Keaton bringing up the rear. The random explosions roared overhead, a burnt out police vehicle launched through the air, colliding with the side of some forgotten business.
"INCOMING!" Chris and the team dove and ducked as the oversize flaming rocket sailed harmlessly through, crashing with a violent smack against the closest market building. Piers' heart raced but his exterior remained calm. He caught Chris leaping to his feet as the others rose to theirs. Smoke polluted the nighttime skies, blocking out what few stars were visible against the artificial pollution of street signs and neon lights.
"Alpha Team, this is HQ! Your mission is to continue to the Ace of Spades and rescue the UN workers being held hostage there. Recon is proceeding ahead towards location."
The orders crackled through their earpieces. The team raced ahead, firing on hostiles who were foolish enough to challenge the well-armed men.
"Same damn things we saw in Edonia!" Piers snarled and continued firing. He didn't see the deep grimace that crossed his CO's face. The brief sharp stab entered on his right side, forcing Chris to blink and shake his head. The deeper they tread, the harder it became to navigate the chaos of smoldering debris, wrecked vehicles, and cooling bodies. They were sitting ducks for any hostiles.
"We need to find another route! Street is blocked!"
"Fuck," Chris hastily scanned around, seeing a taller building that appeared intact and not a raging inferno. "Follow me!"
Alpha Team scurried inside, the insanity playing out on the streets behind them. The abandoned structure still had power, thankfully, as Alpha Team fell in and attempted to navigate the labyrinth of booths, corridors and rooms concealed by blind corners and turns. Ammonia clung to the air and any surface left untouched. The foul stench of rotted meat left on hooks mixed with pungent odors of other unidentified foods in the adjacent soup shop. The occupants had evacuated at some unknown time or worse, were infected with the C-virus. The elevators were out of service, perhaps to keep any Ja'vo from reaching those who chose to go up.
"First floor clear," Keaton's voice filled their comms. Piers took point, starting up the stairs, rifle ready with Chris on his heels. The only way out was up.
Alex groaned and stirred. Her body heavy and mind swept in a thick haze. The biting steel pressed against her backside, cold and uncaring to her discomfort.
"Subject is regaining consciousness."
Subject? What the fuck was going on?
"Where...am...I..." her tongue was thick and fought to form a coherent sentence. The cold air brushed over her bare legs and arms. The two pathetic white capes were snapped together with elastic bands, leaving little to the imagination. Alex caught sight of several monitors including heart rate and EKG. The sterile stench overpowered her olfactories as it dawned on her she was in some kind of medical or laboratory facility.
"Welcome to China," a female voice purred. Alex blinked. Carla stood over here, a nasty smirk etched on her lips.
"Bitch..."
"Now that's not a proper way to thank your host. Although, you've been a very valuable guest."
Carla watched as her "guest" took in her surroundings. Cold sterile walls created her temporary shelter as the the rigid dissection table served as her bed. Alex tried to move only to discover her wrists were secured in identical cuffs. Her ankles were restrained in similar fashion. Her neck craned around, hoping to gain some semblance of where she was at.
"Built to ensure you don't break out," Carla patted the thick alloy. "Can't have you running to the B.S.A.A. They are such a pain, though, they make excellent test subjects, wouldn't you agree?"
Alex stayed silent as Carla carried on in her boasting.
"Your blood is so fascinating. How the T-virus embedded itself into your DNA, enhancing your body into a perfect weapon. Albert Wesker thought you were the solution to unlocking the next phase of human evolution. Had he still been alive, perhaps that would still be the case. However, my vision for the world does not include you, Alexandra. There can only be one queen to rule beside the king."
"You're fucking crazy, you know that?"
Carla glared at her captive and snatched the syringe that was on a nearby tray.
"Wesker wanted to rule the world too but, like all comic book style villains, he failed. The good guys won. They'll win again and you'll burn in Hell."
Carla gripped Alex's chin, forcing her to meet the angry glare of the scientist. She waved the syringe in her free hand. The soft orange hues swirled as Carla spoke causing her laugh mockingly.
"No, Alexandra. Not. This. Time. I already know your precious Chris is on his way and I have a welcoming party waiting for him. If he's lucky, he may live long enough to see the end of this precious little world he loves so much, including you."
The sting of the thick needle caused Alex to cry out in pain. Carla pushed it deeper until it was embedded deep into the muscle, scraping against the trachea. She took her time pushing the plunger, knowing its contents would herald unimaginable agony. Alex felt the fire begin in her veins, igniting like a firestorm across her body. The fever was sudden, scorching her skin as if she was naked in the desert with the unforgiving sun cooking her exposed flesh. Her screams resonated off the walls and ceiling, only victim and perpetrator able to hear. Carla watched the tears now streaming down Alex's face, delighted in the suffering she had inflicted. Blotches of rose fanned out, covering every inch of her body. Her lungs closed off, leaving her to struggle for each precious bit of air. Carla observed with fascination as the microscopic drama played out with the stage being Alex's body.
She noted how her subject writhed and struggled to break free, banging her wrists and ankles against the unbreakable shackles. Skin shredded against sharp edges of the cuffs as blood seeped from the corners of her eyes, collecting in thick puddles which her hair brushed against, staining the ends bright crimson. The sharp snap of bone added to this gory symphony as Alex's wrists and knees twisted at inhuman angles. The macabre display carried on for several minutes. But for Alex it felt like an eternity. She silently hoped for Death to rush in and give her release. As she felt like her body could no longer take any more, she felt a shift deep within her. The T-virus was waging war against the new invader, refusing to surrender its dominance within its host. The hard violent spasms began to subside while calm began to overpower chaos. Alex felt her heart begin to slow, resuming its normal rhythm. The thick invisible ribbons of iron taunted her nose, a reminder of the upheaval that had transpired. Air flooded her tormented lungs, which Alex greedily sucked through nose and mouth. She licked her lips and shut her eyes, refusing to grant that bitch further exultation by showing the depths of her suffering which lay bare in her eyes.
"Oh no you don't," Carla tightened her fingers in the blood stained tresses, forcing Alex to open her eyes and look at her. Cold silver shot up to angry amber. Her eyes had changed color. Where an inferno had reigned, rings of sterling dotted with cobalt glared back. What an interesting effect.
The door opened but no sound emerged. A technician in a white coat entered, holding a tray with several empty syringes. Carla tied the band around Alex's arm, finding the virus rich vein easily. Alex felt no energy to emit any sound of protest as three syringes full of her blood were extracted. No, they were stolen vials. She wasn't given consent to take it.
"Now," Carla fetched a final syringe. "Since you were such a good little test subject, you get one more round."
No sound escaped her lips as the sedative breached the tear in her neck, taking the same path as the enhanced C-virus had minutes before. The heaviness seeped in conquering her arms, legs and finally her mind. The last vision which filled her consciousness was Chris. His name faint across her lips as she succumbed to the powerful drug.
Alpha Team had to make a hasty retreat from the Three of Diamonds. The Ja'vo had been overwhelming, hordes coming in waves. Now they found themselves open to enemy fire as they had desperately sought cover, finding it in an empty multi-story warehouse.
"That was close."
Jeff and Marco finished off the last of the feral Ja'vo that had been wandering the last several floors. Chris and Piers continued to scout ahead, hyper vigilant and trigger ready. These Ja'vo behaved the same as the ones in Edonia, only, they wore masks to shield their mutated disfigured faces. All had been heavily armed, matching Alpha Team bullet for bullet, despite not having as higher powered arms. Their numbers were greater which slowed the team down as they were pinned down between stairwells, hallways, vacant shops and tenements. The Ja'vo also had another advantage. Like their European counterparts, these regenerated when wounded. Wings would erupt where arms were blasted off. Thoraxes would manifest where lower torsos were blown away with wings of a wasp and stinger to match ripping through the healing flesh. Even when injured, the persistence and overly aggressive tendencies made them no less dangerous.
"What the fuck!?" Marco snarled and continued firing, feeding the mutated bastards every bullet he had. Jeff spotted movement coming up on Chris and Piers.
"CAPTAIN!"
Piers spotted the latest mutation, taking rapid aim and firing. Were those spider's legs?
"These fuckers don't know when to quit!"
"HQ, we just witnessed new Ja'vo mutations!" Piers hollered as Chris charged ahead, taking head shots then using hand to hand to bring each one down, stomping on each grotesque skull as the others continued firing. Chris felt as if he was purging residual anger, frustration which had been latent until his arrival in China. Another one rushed him, machete in hand. He spun around, slicing through the backside with his combat knife before delivering a blow against the back of the thing's head. Piers reached the landing, catching his CO fighting like a man possessed. He didn't behave like this in Edonia. Chris stopped, breathing hard as he kept his back to his Lieutenant. He wiped the blood from his blade, securing in its sheath.
"All clear."
The rest of the team arrived, watching as the Ja'vo melted away.
"Captain?" Piers looked to Chris. "You alright?"
"I'm just trying to wrap my head around everything, that's all. I still can't remember." He didn't tell the marksman about the brief vision he had.
A young soldier reached out for him, gloved hand just out of his reach...
"Finn," he had muttered seconds before.
Shaking it off, he turned, facing the waiting men. "We keep moving. We need to reach the Ace of Spades and help those hostages."
"You heard the Captain, let's fall in and keep going."
The warehouse was seemingly abandoned. Level by level they crept, not seeing any hostiles or civilians. Chris felt unease as they reached the top floor.
"HQ to Alpha. We've lost contact with recon team. Continue to Ace of Spades with extreme caution."
"Alpha to HQ, we are proceeding to target."
Marco and Jeff kicked down the double door leading to the roof, to be greeted by Ja'vo armed with machine guns and machine pistols. The team split, with half ducking behind several crates to the right and the remaining half behind a small wall that was part of a squatter's shack. Piers rounded the corner, taking out the hostiles positioned across the way. Keaton finished off the remaining that were closer to their position, the walking insects lighting up like sparklers before collapsing and disintegrating. Ahead was the Ace of Spades, lit up like a Vegas casino against the background of chaos.
"We're gonna have to take the rooftops to get there. Piers, can you give us cover?"
"On it!"
Alpha Team tread cautiously, eliminating Ja'vo by firepower or as simple as pushing them over the rails of the walkways crisscrossing the skyline. Smoke choked their lungs and burned their noses but they carried on. Flames from the ongoing fires and explosions provided some light for their path. Chris downed a few herbal capsules before pressing ahead. He felt his muscles begin to ache and head pound. The planks were loose and disorganized, unstable as they leapt from roof to roof. Ja'vo spotted Alpha Team making their way towards the Ace of Spades. The floodlight from the approaching chopper temporarily blinded Chris as another Ja'vo fired an RPG at the group.
"We've been spotted! Where's Bravo Team!?"
Alpha was taking heavy fire. Ja'vo had them pinned down between two buildings. Bullets ricochet off walls, ladders, railing, anything that couldn't detonate, explode or splinter. The chopper which had them cornered erupted into a fireball of smoke, flames and fiery debris.
"Hey guys! You miss us?"
"About fucking time!" Jeff hollered.
"No shit," Marco echoed the sentiment.
Bravo Team slid down the ropes and to a rather grateful Alpha Team.
"Let's roll!" Bravo's lead barked as they raced into the main entrance.
"HQ to Alpha and Bravo: Delta Team is waiting for you on the main floor. Secure the hostages the evacuate the building.
The stench in Ace of Spades was no better than Three of Diamonds. The main floor reeked of rotten vegetables and bleach while hints of blood permeated the nearby corridors. Furniture was overturned, toppled over as lighting became hit and miss. Delta and Alpha took point, eliminated any Ja'vo that stood to slow them down. The porous squelching of some unidentified fluid met their boots as they stormed up the stairs, pooling into perfect imprints of each sole. The first hostage was located on the seventh floor, safe in the company of Delta Team.
"Delta to HQ: Hostage on seventh floor secured. I'm coming out."
Bravo had moved up one floor with Alpha, cleaning out the crazed things that had enough intelligence to fire a weapon or use a knife. Each step was a hard earned victory. The Ja'vo on this floor had sprouted eight legs. Goddamn eight legged freaks!
"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!"
The other hostage had been located. Bravo team took care of any remaining hostiles, securing the man and making a rapid retreat.
"Eighth floor hostage secured!"
"Excellent work! Alpha Team, there is one more hostage on the first floor."
Piers and Chris hurried towards the stairs, trying to reach the last hostage. Delta had located and secured the hostages on the fifteenth floor and were getting the Hell out of the building.
"Piers," Chris discovered an elevator that had not been damaged from the attacks. It seemed too good to be true but, neither man was going to question this. The elevator sputtered to life, cables and metal creaking then groaning as it was forced to work. They caught their breaths, each downing a few more herbal capsules. As they neared the fifth floor, the elevator halted between floors. The sligh swing created further unease.
"Shit, now what?" Chris snarled.
"Give me a hand and I'll jump up," Piers leapt up to the roof, offering his hand to Chris. The Captain jumped, grabbing the slender hand and wrist. The commotion from above made both men look up. Leering overhead was a Ja'vo, armed with an RPG. Its mouth rattled off a few words of Mandarin before pulling the trigger. The guys leapt up and away, landing opposite of the other. Chris opened fire, pumping the bastard until it fell.
"Piers, you alright?"
"I'm fine, Captain!"
The pair saw the next set of doors. Each man grabbed a handle, pulling their side open. No sooner the first squeak etched out, the Ja'vo quickly opened fire.
"I get the feeling we're not welcome!"
"We can take them!"
Piers pulled the pin on a grenade and lobbed it through the gap. The Ja'vo screeched in pain as the light flooded the room. Piers and Chris leapt out, overpowering the handful of enemies with ease. The closest one slashed the air with its machete, opposite arm covering its three eyes. Chris clutched the head of the struggling monstrosity, snapping the neck, nearly ripping the head clean off. His rage had taken control. The animal like snarl took Piers aback. What the fuck had gotten into him?
"Captain?" He quietly implored.
"I'm fine!" Chris snapped. Piers recoiled, thankful Alex was not able to see him like this.
"Help! Someone help!"
The rectangular opening dropped down, showing the last hostage in the clutches of Spider Ja'vo. Chris jumped through with Piers right behind him. Another Ja'vo served as lookout, opening fire on the pair. Another fugly arrived, taking shots from behind. Chris spun around, seeing Marco neutralize this new arrival. The heel of his boot crunched against bone and weathered flesh.
"Captain," the third man huffed.
"Marco, thanks," Chris nodded. Marco helped the man up and lead him to safety.
Carla watched from the nearby rooftop. It seemed Redfield survived and managed to get all the UN workers out. No matter. Let them revel in this minuscule victory. It wouldn't matter. HAOS would soon awaken and the world would be theirs. Redfield was never going to see his precious little girlfriend again.
"Well, well, if it isn't little Carla Radames."
She spun around, sneering at the voice.
"I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting, though your reputation has preceded you."
Carla grabbed her dart gun, taking aim and pulling the trigger.
The man stepped out from the shadows. He chuckled as he pulled the dart from his shoulder then stomped on it. His hair was blonde and close cut. Eyes a cutting shade of blue that held an unreadable expression. His face even with square cut jaw. His accent was British perhaps, not that it made a difference. His presence was grating on her nerves
"Now, that was uncalled for."
"Who the Hell are you?"
"A friendly piece of advice, Carla. Whatever you have planned, will fail. My brother, Albert, tried the same foolish scheme only to be defeated by Agent Redfield. He, too, thought he would succeed but his hubris proved to be his downfall."
"You know nothing about me."
"Oh?" The man raised an eyebrow in a humorous manner. "I know all about you, my dear. A gifted scientist whose talents served the pompous needs of a man whose affections were never reciprocated. You were used, forced to become a test subject and become what stands before me."
Carla's eyes narrowed. "My name is Ada Wong."
"It appears I have hit a raw nerve as they would say. Do you really wish to destroy this world? Is it because it's your desire? Or because you wish to spite Derek Simmons? The same man whose affections you were so desperate to have only to learn you were a mere pawn in his machinations?"
Silence.
The man snorted. "As I suspected. If you are a smart woman, as I would like to think you are, you will abort your plans. Once Simmons finds out, and he will find out you've crossed him, you will bear a target on your back. The choice is yours."
"You never told me your name."
"A friend," the man turned and vanished into the darkness, leaving Carla shaken.
Chris and Piers stood at the edge of what had been the Ace of Spades. The flaming pit of twisted metal and smoldering wood being the only reminder of what had been. Reinforcements had arrived, armed with flame throwers to destroy any chrysalids that remained. Neither spoke, instead, taking in the destruction and subsequent sanitation. The humanoid pods burned like paper, filling the immediate area with the acrid stench of burning biological material. As one of the soldiers approached a particular chrysalid, Chris dropped to his knees, clutching the side of his head. The familiar pain returned with a vengeance as he grunted and squeezed his eyes shut. His teeth grit as his vision was visited by another the same scene.
"Captain?" Piers saw his CO in distress and hurried to his side.
The same young soldier in knit cap stretched out his hand, his face frozen in pain...
"Finn..." the name formed on his lips. Finn Macauley. The rookie.
"Piers, what happened to Ada Wong?" Chris kept his eyes ahead, weapon locked but held in a safe position.
"You remember?"
"Is that bitch in the city or not!?" Chris' voice darkened turning demanding, dismissing Piers' question.
"Yeah, she's been spotted several times."
Chris rose, picking up his rifle, not looking at his second in command. "Tell the men we're moving out." His posture was cold as he marched past Piers. Concern filled his eyes as he trailed his CO's backside.
"Yes, Sir."
That bitch is going to pay for what she did. Damn you, Wong.
Alpha Team fell in, following their Captain as they attempted to track down Ada. The birds had been called off, completing their mission of eradication. The streets were eerily quiet as they proceeded down the abandoned roadways, crossing the back alleys, ready to strike if attacked. The shadows were their foe, concealing any biological weapons which could reduce their numbers even more. They had to watch the skies as they learned certain Ja'vo mastered the ability to operate aircraft. Shit, what else could those fuckers do?
Alex groaned, shifting her arms and legs. She blinked, her vision blurry on account of the sedative. What the Hell had that bitch shot her up with? Her body felt like a dead weight, a mass in the center of a mattress. The lab table was gone, along with Ada and the technician. The two drapes with cords however, were still fastened around her. She shivered as the air being blasted into her holding cell was freezing. There was a flimsy sheet which provided little warmth, but it was better than nothing she supposed. The double sided mirror offered a glimpse into her wrecked appearance. Her hair was in a state of chaos from all the shaking and jerking but it was her eyes. She looked closer at the sad specter looking back. Her eyes had lost their fire, now, sterling with shards of ice.
She cried out, releasing an inhuman scream that echoed off the sound proof walls. Her head began to throb, intensity increasing as the invisible sledgehammer pummeled her skull. Alex collapsed to the tiles, fingers scratching wildly at her temples. Blood dried under her nails, darkening then from ivory to burnt brown. The soles of her feet slapped the cold flooring, the stinging of skin going ignored. Is this how she was going to die? Alone as a test subject in the cold depths of the South China Sea? If she did, Alex could only hope Chris would stop Ada.
This latest suffering ended as fast as it started. Alex wondered if it was the T-Virus staving off some last charge by the C-Virus. For the first time in her life, she was grateful for being infected. Alex untangled her fingers from her hair, groaning at the dried blood that stained her fingertips. She pushed up, her body trembling and sweaty. Her skin reflected the thick sheen from the florescent lighting. Did she break a fever too? Felt like it. Now on her hands and knees, she spotted a small bathroom. Maybe there was a shower or at least a sink. Alex staggered towards the door, flipping on the light. She didn't question why a shower, let alone a bathroom, was there and ripped the soaked flimsy material from her body.
Hot water never felt so good.