Zombie Apocalypse Diaries: ALONE | TokyPod

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I awoke to a still silence, the likes of which I’ve never heard before. No horns honking, no hum of traffic, not even birds chirping. Just dead quiet. I peaked out the window to see the streets deserted, not a soul in sight. An abandoned car sat crashed into a light pole, its door ajar, still running. A chill went down my spine as I flipped on the TV to scenes of chaos and violence, of those who were once human turned to mindless, flesh-eating monsters. The reporter spoke of gridlock and mayhem in the cities, advising everyone to lock themselves indoors. It seems the zombie apocalypse I laughed off as impossible has arrived. Now I sit here, alone, my only company the creaks and groans of the empty house around me. I may be the last surviving human in this neighborhood. My supplies are limited. How long can I survive here alone?

Resident Evil calaban Cove written by SD Perry read to you by Mike Johnson and Jessica Newman prologue raccoon times July 24th 1998 Spencer Mansion destroyed an explosive fire at approximately 2: a.m. Thursday morning Victory Lake District residents were awakened by an explosive blast that thundered through Northwest raccoon

Forest apparently caused by a fire that swept through the abandoned Spencer mansion and ignited chemicals stored in the basement due to delays from the police barricade set up at the forest perimeter in connection with the recent string of murders in Raccoon City local firefighters were unable to Salvage any part of the estate’s

Grounds after a 3-hour battle against the Raging Fire the 31-year-old mansion and adjacent servants quarters were deemed a complete loss built by Lord Oswell Spencer a European Aristocrat and one of the founders of the worldwide pharmaceutical company umbrella Incorporated the estate was designed by award-winning architect George Trevor as

A guest house for umbrella VIPs and was closed down shortly after completion for reasons unknown according to Amanda Whitney spokesperson for the Umbrella Corporation parts of the estate were still being used to store a number of industrial cleaning agents and solvents used by Umbrella Whitney said in a statement yesterday that the company

Would take full responsibility for the unfortunate incident calling it a severe oversight on our part those chemicals should have been cleared out of the Spencer house a long time ago and we’re just thankful that no one was hurt at this point the cause of the fire is undetermined but Whitney went on to

Say that I’m umbrella will be bringing in their own investigators to sift through the ruins in hopes of determining the fire’s point of origin in a surprise Announcement by City officials at a press conference yesterday the Raccoon City branch of the special tactics and rescue service was officially removed from the

Investigation into the nine brutal murders and five disappearances of City residents that have occurred in the last 10 weeks city council member Edward Weist delivered the statement citing gross incompetence as the primary reason for the star’s removal readers may remember that the star’s first action upon being assigned the case last week

Was to search the Northwest area of the forest for the alleged cannibal Killers Weiss stated that it was because of their blatantly unprofessional conduct that their mission ended in disaster resulting in the crash of a helicopter and the loss of six of their 11 team members including the Stars Branch Commander Captain Albert

Wesker after the stars mishandling of the Forest search said Weist we’ve decided to let the RPD see this investigation through to its conclusion we have reason to believe that the Stars may have been ingesting drugs Andor alcohol prior to their search and have suspended the use of their services

Indefinitely Weist was joined by Sarah Jacobson representing mayor Harris and police commissioner JC Washington to make the announcement and answer questions neither police chief Brian irons nor any of the surviving Stars could be reached for comment Cityside August 3rd 1998 source of a State Fire deemed accidental after an exhaustive

Investigation by fire officials working with umbrella’s Industrial Services Division the fire that ravaged the company owned Spencer estate in raccoon Forest late last month was determined to have been caused by carelessness on part of person or Persons Unknown as was announced in a press conference yesterday said ISD team leader David

Bishoff it looks like somebody tried to start a campfire in one of the mansion’s rooms and things just got out of control we found nothing to suggest arson or Foul Play of any kind he went on to say that while the destruction of the property was total there’s no evidence

That anyone was caught in the fire or subsequent explosion Chief Brian irons of the Raccoon City Police Department was in attendance at the conference and when asked whether he believed the fire to be connected to the unsolved murder and disappearances plaguing the city iron stated that there was no way to be sure

Said irons at this point anything I could say would only be speculation though I will say that the fact that the murders have stopped since the night of the fire seems to imply that perhaps the killers were hiding there we can only hope that they’ve now left the area and will soon be

Apprehended Chief irons refused to comment on the allegations of the gross misconduct by the stars in their brief assignment to the murder investigation saying only that he agreed with the city council’s decision and disciplinary actions are being considered chapter 1 Rebecca Chambers rode her mountain bike through the dark winding streets of

The Cider District the late summer Moon swelling in the warm clear night sky overhead although it was relatively early the Urban streets were deserted the Citywide curfew still in effect no one under 18 was supposed to be out after dusk until the murderers were caught and put safely Behind Bars

It had been a tense and quiet summer in Raccoon City at least on the surface she glided past silent houses the faint glow of television sets spilling out across well-kept Lawns the distant drone of crickets and an occasional Barking Dog the only sounds in the air that Whi past her the uneasy

Citizens of raccoon dwelled behind those locked doors waiting for the announcement that The Killers had been apprehended if they only knew for just a moment Rebecca envied them for their ignorance she’d come to the rather disheartening conclusion in the last couple weeks that knowing the

Truth wasn’t all it was cracked up to be particularly when no one believed it it had been a long merciless 13 days since the nightmare at the Spencer estate the surviving Stars had escaped treachery and death just to run up against a massive brick wall of scornful disbelief

When they tried to tell their tale Jill Chris Barry and herself had been labeled drug addicts and worse in the local papers undoubtedly at umbrella’s urging and after their suspension even the RPD had refused to believe them now with umbrella taking over the investigation of the fire

Undoubtedly getting rid of the last of the evidence it was was as if everywhere the Stars turned umbrella had been there first greasing palms and covering tracks making it impossible to get anyone to listen to their story not that it would have been that simple anyway one of the biggest most respectable medical

Research and pharmaceutical companies in the world not to mention the primary source of income in raccoon conducting bioweapons research in a secret lab creating experimental monsters if I didn’t know better I’d probably think I was crazy too at least the absolute worst was over with the labs destroyed the attacks some

Raccoon had stopped though the people responsible hadn’t been held accountable yet she figured it was only a matter of time umbrella was experimenting with dangerous stuff and wouldn’t be able to hide it from the star’s investigation she and the others just had to watch their backs until the home

Office sent back up speaking of the pancake holster was poking into her rib cage her Becca adjusted it through the thin cotton of her shirt hoping that after tonight she wouldn’t have to carry the weapon anymore a snub nodes 38 revolver from Barry’s collection she couldn’t speak for the

Others but she hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since they’d escaped the Spencer estate and walking around armed all the time wasn’t her idea of safe sighing inwardly she took a left on Foster and pedal through the Shadows toward Barry’s house reminding herself that he’ probably called the meeting

Because he’ heard from the home office with the orders he would only say that there’ been a development and to show up ASAP and though she was trying not to let her imagination run away with her she couldn’t help the steady pulse of excitement that had nodded in her

Stomach since he’d called maybe the’ll flies to New York to breath the investigation team or even to Europe for when they storm umbrella’s headquarters wherever they were sent it had to be better than staying in raccoon the strain of looking over their shoulders had been getting to all of

Them Chris seemed to think that umbrella was waiting until the public eye was off the Stars before making their move though it was only a theory and not exactly the most reassuring thought to fall asleep by chicken heartt Vickers had apparently skipped out of town after

Only 2 days unable to take the pressure and although Jill Chris and Barry had condemned Brad’s cowardice Rebecca was starting to wonder if maybe the alpha pilot didn’t have the right idea it wasn’t that she wanted umbrella to walk there was no question that there experiments were morally reprehensible

And certainly illegal but until the Stars sent help staying in Raccoon City was dangerous not after tonight just a little bit longer and this will all be over no more guns no more locked doors no more worrying about what umbrella will do to us for knowing the

Truth when they’ first made their report their superiors in New York had told him to stay put assistant director CTS himself had promised to do some investigating and and get back to them but it had been 11 days and still no word she had no intention of running

Away as Brad had done but she’d come to hate the feeling of that holster the weight of the deadly steel against her side every waking moment of every day she was supposed to be a chemist for Christ’s sake and once reinforcements come maybe they’ll move me to one of the

Labs let me study the virus technically I’m still a Bravo there’s no way they’d want me on the front lines there was no question that it would be the best use of her talents the others were experienced soldiers but Rebecca had only been with the Stars for 5 weeks

Her first mission had been the one to Raccoon Forest that had wiped out over half the team include the rest of the into umbrella secret since then she’d spent a lot of time brushing up on the molecular architecture of viruses trying to determine the T Virus replication strategy the Stars didn’t need field

Medics right now they needed scientists and if she’d learned anything from the spenc estate disaster it was that she belonged in a lab she’d held her own that night but she also knew that working with the T Virus was the greatest contribution she could make towards stopping

Umbrella and you may as well face it her mind whispered you’re fascinated by it the chance to study an unclassified emerging mutagen to find out what makes it tick That’s What Makes You tick yeah well there was no shame in enjoying her work she’d join the stars

In hopes of just such an opportunity and with any luck after tonight’s meeting she would be packing a bag and getting the hell out of Raccoon City heading into a new phase of her life as a Stars biochemist she pulled to a stop at the

End of the Block in front of a huge twostory remodeled Victorian painted a pale yellow checking all around for anything suspicious before getting off her bike the Burton live next to a sprawling Suburban Park heavy with trees even a few weeks ago she might have wandered through the silent Park

Enjoying the balmy summer night looking at the stars now it was just one more dark place for someone to hide shivering slightly in spite of the warm humid air she hurried up the front walk dragging her bike onto the porch she wiped sweat from the back of her neck and checked

Her watch she’d made excellent time only 20 minutes since Barry’s call Rebecca leaned the bicycle against the railing praying that he had good news before she could knock Barry opened the door dressed in a T-shirt and jeans his heavily muscled body filling the door’s frame Barry lifted weights with a

Vengeance he smiled and stood back to let her inside taking a quick look out at the quiet street before following her into the front hall his cult python was tucked into a hip holster making him look like an overgrown Cowboy you see anybody he asked lightly

She shook her head no I took back streets too Barry nodded and though he was still smiling a little she could see the haunted look in his eyes the look he’ had ever since their narrow Escape she wished she could tell him that nobody blamed him but knew it wouldn’t

Make a difference Barry still held himself responsible for a lot of what had happened at the estate that night he looked as though he was losing weight too though she figured that had more to do with him missing his wife and kids he sent them out of town immediately

Following the incident terrified for their safety just one more way that umbrella has damaged our lives he led her through the spacious hallway past the stairs the walls decorated with framed drawings and crayon that his daughters had made the Burton house was rambling in spacious filled with the scuffed and well-worn

Furnishings that epitomized family Christen Jill should be here anytime you want some coffee he seemed tense scruffing nervously had his short red beard no thanks maybe some water yeah sure go ahead and introduce yourself I’ll be back in a minute he hurried off to the kitchen before she

Could ask him if anything was wrong introduced myself what’s going on she walked through the Hall’s arched opening into the cluttered comfortable living room and stopped a little startled to see a strange man sitting in one of the recliners he stood up as she entered the

Room smil smiling but she could see by the way his dark gaze narrowed slightly that he was sizing her up even a few weeks ago the careful scrutiny would have made her horribly self-conscious she was the youngest Stars member ever to be accepted for active duty and knew

That she looked it but if anything positive had come from the incident at the umbrella lab it was that she no longer cared much about things like social embarrassment staring down a house full of monsters tends to put things in perspective that way besides which being stared at had gotten pretty

Routine since then she gazed back at him impassively studying him in return jeans a nice shirt running shoes he also wore a hip holster with the 9mm Beretta the star standard issue sidearm he was tall maybe a full foot over her 5′ 3 in frame but slender with a physique like a

Swimmer he was almost movie star handsome a high weathered brow and finely chiseled features short dark hair with a piercing gaze that sparkled with intelligence you must be Rebecca Chambers he said he had a British accent his words clipped and somehow polished you’re old the biochemist is that right

Rebecca nodded working on it and you are he smiled wider shaking his head forgive my manness please I hadn’t expected that is I he stepped around Barry’s low coffee table and extended his hand flushing slightly I’m David trap with the Stars exit a branch in Maine he said Rebecca

Felt cool relief wash over her the Stars had sent help instead of calling fine by her she shook his hand stifling a grin knowing that her appearance had thrown him off nobody expected an 18-year-old scientist and while she’d gotten used to the surprised looks she still took kind

Of a mischievous pleasure at catching people off guard so are you like the Scout or something she asked Mr trap frowned sorry for the investigation are there other teams already here or did you come to check things out first get the dirt on umbrella she trailed off as he shook

His head slowly almost sadly his dark eyes glittering with an emotion that she couldn’t read it came out in his voice heavy with frustrated anger and as the words sank in Rebecca felt her knees go watery with a sudden anxious dread I’m sorry to have to tell you this

Miss Chambers I have reason to believe that umbrella has gotten to key members of the Stars either by bribery or blackmail there is no investigation and no one else is coming a look of confused Terror passed through the girl’s light brown eyes and just as quickly was gone she took a deep

Breath and blew it out are you sure I mean did umbrella try to get to you or are are you positive David shook his head I’m not absolutely certain no but I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t concerned about it it was a bit of an understatement but

David still wasn’t past the shock of seeing how young she was and felt an almost instinctive desire not to alarm her any further Barry had mentioned that she was something of a child genius but he hadn’t really expected a child the biochemist wore high tops and cut off

Denim’s shorts rolled at the knee toed by a shapeless black T-shirt get past it this child may be the only scientist we have left the thought rekindled the anger that had been burning in David’s gut for the past few days the story that had been unfolding since Barry’s call wasn’t

A pretty one filled with treachery and lies and the fact that the Stars his stars were involved Barry walked into the room with a glass of water and Rebecca took it from him greatfully swallowing half of it in one gulp Barry shot him a glance and then turned his attention to Rebecca

He told you huh the girl nodded did jayen Chris know not yet that’s why I called Barry said look there’s no point in going through this twice we should wait for them to show up before we get into specifics agreed David said he generally found that first impressions were the

Most telling and if they were going to be working together he wanted to get a feel for the girl’s character the three of them sat and Barry started to tell Rebecca how he and David had met back in star’s training when they were both much younger men Barry told a good

Story even if it was only to kill time David listened with half an ear as Barry related an anecdote about their graduation night involving a rather humorless drill sergeant and several rubber snakes the girl was relaxing even enjoying the story of their childish prank 17 years ago she would have been

Celebrating her first birthday still she had put her questions on hold at Barry’s request even though David knew she had to be anxious about what he’ told her the ability to retain one’s Focus so quickly was an admirable trait one that he’d never fully mastered he’d been able to think of

Little else since his own call to the star’s assistant director David’s Devotion to the organization had made the apparent betrayal all the more bitter like a bad taste in his mouth that wouldn’t go away away the Stars had been David’s life for almost 20 years had given him all the things he’ lacked

Growing up a sense of selfworth a sense of purpose and integrity and just like that the lives of dedicated men and women my life and life’s work simply tossed aside as if it meant nothing how much did that cost how much did umbrella have to pay to buy the Stars

Hna David shook the anger focusing his attention on Rebecca if all he’d Learned was true time was short and their resources were now severely limited his motivations weren’t as important right now as hers he could tell by the way she held herself that she wasn’t the shy or

Submissive type and she was obviously bright her eyes fairly sparkled with it from what Barry had told him she’ acted professionally throughout the Spencer facility operation her file suggested that she was more than qualified to work with the chemical virus assuming that she was as good as the reports said

And assuming that she has any desire to put her life in further danger that was going to be the sticking point she hadn’t been with the Stars for very long and knowing that they’d sold their people out probably wasn’t going to overwhelm her with a feeling of

Confidence for the job ahead it would be just as easy for her to step out of the game now for that matter it would be the intelligent choice for all of them there was a knock at the door presumably the other two Alphas David’s hand drifted down to the

Butt of his 9mm as Barry went to answer when he walked back in leading the Stars team members David relaxed and stood up to be formally introduced Jill Valentine Chris Redfield this is Captain David trap military strategist for the main stars exitor Branch Chris was the Marksman if David

Remembered correctly and Jill something of a covert B and specialist Barry said that the pilot Brad fickers had skipped town shortly after after the Spencer incident no great loss from what he could gather the man sounded distinctly unreliable he shook hands with both of them and they all sat down Barry nodding

Toward him David’s an old comrade of mine we worked together on the same team for about 2 years right after boot camp he showed up on my doorstep about an hour ago with news and I didn’t think it could wait David David cleared his throat trying to

Focus on the significant facts after a pause he began at the beginning as you already know 6 days ago Barry placed several calls to various Stars branches to see if any word had come from the home office about the tragedy that occurred here I received one of those calls it

Was the first I’d heard about it and I’ve since found out that the New York office hasn’t contacted anyone about your Discovery no warnings or memos nothing has been issued to the Stars regarding the umbrella corpor oparation Chris and Jill exchanged looks of concern maybe they’re not done investigating Chris said slowly David

Shook his head I spoke to the assistant director myself the day after Barry cold I didn’t tell him about the contact only that I’d heard rumor of a problem in raccoon and wanted to know if it had any Merit he looked at the assembled group and sighed inwardly feeling like he’d

Already gone over it a thousand times only in my mind searching for another answer and there isn’t one the ad wouldn’t tell me anything outright he continued he told me that I should remain quiet about it until official word came down what he would say was that there

Was a helicopter crash in raccoon city and what he implied was that the surviving stars were trying to lay blame on umbrella angry over some sort of funding dispute that’s not true Jill said we were investigating the murderers and found yes Barry told me David interrupted you found that the murders

Were the result of a laboratory accident the T virus that umbrella was experimenting with was released somehow and it transformed the researchers into mad Killers that’s exactly what happened Chris said I know it sounds nuts but we were there we saw them David nodded I believe you I have

To admit I was skeptical after speaking with Barry as you say it sounds nuts but my call to New York and what’s happened since then has changed all that I’ve known Barry a long time and I knew that he wouldn’t be looking to place blame for such an unfortunate incident unless

Umbrella was in fact responsible he even told me about his unwilling involvement in the attempted coverup but if Tom Curts told you there was no conspiracy Chris said David sighed yes we have to assume that either our own organization has been misled or that like your captain Wesker members of the stars are

Now working for our umbrella there was a moment of shocked silence as they absorbed the information and David could see anger and confusion play across their faces he knew how they felt it meant that either the Stars directors had either been manipulated by Umbrella or corrupted by them and either way the

Survivors of the raccoon team had been hung out to dry left vulnerable for whatever umbrella might do God if only I could believe that it was all a mistake 3 days ago I picked up a tail on my way into work he said softly I wasn’t able to make them but

I’m assuming that there’re some of umbrella’s people and that my cult to New York was responsible have you tried to get a hold of palmier Jill asked David nodded the star’s National Commander was the one man he knew was above taking bribes Marco palmier had been with the star since the very

Beginning I was informed by his secretary that he’s leading a classified operation in the Middle East and won’t be available for months and word has it that arrangements are being made for his retirement while he’s away you think umbrella’s behind it Chris asked David Shrugged umbrella has made substantial

Donations to the Stars over the years which means they have the contacts if they’re trying to turn the Stars away from investigating them getting rid of director Palmieri would be to their advantage David glanced around the room trying to assess their Readiness for the rest of it Barry fists were clenched and

He stared at them as if he’d never seen them before both Jill and Rebecca seemed lost in thought though he could see that they had accepted his story as truth it would save them time at least Chris stood up and started to Pace his youthful features flushed with anger so

Basically we’ve got no credibility with the locals no backup coming and we’ve been branded as Liars by our own people the umbrella investigation is dead and we’re screwed does is that pretty much sum it up David could see that the anger wasn’t directed at him just as the anger that

He felt wasn’t for the young ala the thought of what umbrella had done what the stars were involved in it made him sick with Rage with feelings of helplessness that he hadn’t felt since his childhood stop thinking of yourself and tell them the rest David stood up and looked at Chris

Though he addressed all of them he hadn’t even had time to tell yet actually there’s more it seems that there’s another umbrella facility on the main Coast conducting experiments with this virus of theirs and just like what happened here they’ve lost control David turned to Rebecca taking

In her wide horrified gaze as he finished I’m taking a team in without star’s authorization and I want you to come with us chapter 2 they all stared at David Chris feeling like he’d just been punched in the gut he was still reeling from the information about the stars from the

Realization that they were on their own and now another lab and he wants to take Rebecca David went on his dark gaze still fixed on the young Bravo I’ve talked to the people on my team I believe to be trustworthy and three of them have agreed to go I’m

Not going to lie to you it will be dangerous and without the Stars to back us up there’s no guarantee will’ll be able to close the lab down we just want to go in collect some solid evidence on this T virus and get back out before anyone even knows where before he could

Stop himself Chris interrupted I’m going too we all go Barry said firmly Jill nodded putting her arm around Rebecca the teen seemed flustered her cheek R and looking at her Chris was once again reminded of Claire it was more than just a physical resemblance Rebecca had the same wit the

Same spirited blend of courage and thoughtfulness that Chris’s younger sister had and since the Spencer estate disaster Chris had come to feel just as protective of Rebecca too many of his friends had died already Joseph Richard Kenneth forest and en Rico not to mention and Billy

Ritson his body had never been found but Chris had no doubts that umbrella had killed him to keep him from talking it wasn’t that Rebecca couldn’t handle herself but damn it she’s part of our team no way she goes without us David shook his head look this isn’t

A full scale op five people is already stretching it Rebecca’s got the background we need to find the data on the virus and she already knows what symptoms to look for you’ve got your team team right here Chris said you can take us instead let your guys look into the cover

Up David sat back down and looked at Chris his face expressionless tell me who’s involved in umbrella’s conspiracy to hide their research he said Chris glanced at the others then back at David determined not to let his confusion show we suspect several people locally umbrella’s office workers of course the

Police commissioner Chief irons a couple of his Man David nodded and now that it looks like the stars are in on this what do you propose to do where the hell is he going with this Chris sigh I don’t know I we should contact the feds maybe an

Internal affairs division to look into the stars and the RPD Barry cut in and we’ll get in touch with some of the other stars branches there are still good people out there that ain’t going to be too happy that umbrella’s taking over David nodded again so though you

Agree that umbrella has to be stopped even though it will be dangerous well no Chris said scowling angrily we can’t just sit around and do nothing there’s no telling what could happen if the T Virus gets out again and what can you tell me about the classification of the virus David asked

Quietly Chris opened his mouth to answer then closed it staring at David thoughtfully I was about to say you should ask Rebecca and he knows it David stood up again and looked at all of them in turn as he spoke his voice intense and determined I agree umbrella has to be

Stopped but let’s not kill ourselves we’re talking about breaking from the stars going up against a multi-billion dollar establishment on our own nowhere is going to be safe and our only chance for success is if we each do what we can what we’re good at to take umbrella

Down he fixed his cool Gaze on Chris as if he realized Chris was the one that had to be convinced you and jayen Barry already know what to look for Here you’ve been with the Stars longer than Rebecca you should stay here out of sight see if you

Can fet out the connection between the local police and umbrella and reach out to the Stars members that you think would help us David turned to Rebecca again and if you agree I think we should leave for main tonight with the information I have it looks as though things have already

Gotten out of hand my team is standing by we could go in tomorrow at dusk Chris still felt angry but couldn’t find a hole in the man’s logic he was right about their options and whether Chris liked it or not the choice to go to Maine was Rebecca’s to make what

Information do you have Jill asked thoughtfully how did you find out about the lab David reached down to the bed briefcase propped next to his chair and dug through it pulling out a file folder an interesting story in itself if a strange one I was hoping that one of you

Might be able to decipher some of this he laid out three sheets of paper on the coffee table as he spoke what looked like photoc copies of newspaper clippings and a simple diagram shortly after I talked to the home office I received a visit from a stranger a man

Who claimed to be a friend of the Stars he told me his name was Trent and gave me these Trent Jill broke in excitedly she turned to Chris her eyes wide and Chris felt his heart skip a beat he’d almost forgotten about their mysterious benefactor the guy who told

Jill to watch out for traitors who told Brad where to pick us up David stared at Jill his expression puzzled you know him just before we went in to rescue the Bravos a man named Trent gave me some information about the Spencer estate and warned me about Wesker Jill said he was

Quite a piece of work real shady didn’t give anything away you know but he knew what was going on with umbrella and what he did tell me all panned out Barry nodded and Brad Vickers said that Trent called in the estate’s coordinates right after Wesker activated the triggering

System if he hadn’t radioed we’d have blown up with the rest of the Mansion Chris suddenly realized that he had a serious headache Brewing as they all gathered around Barry’s coffee table staring down at the papers the stars were working for umbrella there was another T Virus facility operating in

Maine and now Trent again popping up like some kind of cryptic Fairy Godmother his motives impossible to guess at it was like some kind of game the stakes All or Nothing as they struggled to get to the bottom of umbrella’s conspiracy and we have no choice but to

Play but whose game are we playing and what do we risk losing if we fail Chris shot an unhappy glance at Rebecca thinking again of his kid sister and wish wishing not for the first time that they’d never heard of umbrella David watched them study the information that Trent had given him

Somehow not surprised that the enigmatic stranger had contacted the Stars before the man had been a professional though at what precisely David couldn’t imagine why would he want to help us fight umbrella what’s in it for him David thought back to the brief encounter he’d had only 5 days ago

Search his memory for some additional Clues something he’d missed he had arrived home late from work and it had been raining pouring a thundering summer storm that beat at the windows and masked the sound of his gentle knocking the exitor Stars had enjoyed an easy summer more paperwork than action

The Bravos had taken off for a criminal profiling seminar in New Hampshire and David had been entertaining thoughts of packing a bag and attending the final days until he’d received Barry’s call followed by his first hint from the home office that something was wrong he’d

Spent the next day calling a few of his Branch contacts with discreet questions and digging through files on umbrella not making it home until almost midnight the driving rain had ushered him into his cold dark house the atmosphere matching his mood perfectly he poured a scotch and

Collapsed on the couch his head spinning from the implications of what he learned that either his old friend Barry was lying or that the ad for the Stars was the wrapping at his door was so soft that he missed it at first the steady rain hammering on the roof covering the

Sound then it grew louder frowning David looked at his watch and walked slowly to the door wondering who the hell Came Calling in the middle of the night he lived alone and had no family it had to be be work or maybe someone with car trouble he cracked the door open and saw

A man in a black trench coat standing on his porch streams of water running down his lined face The Stranger smiled an open Friendly expression his eyes glittering bright with humor David trap David took him in at a glance tall and thin maybe a few years past David’s age say 42 or

43 his dark hair was plastered to his skull by the rain and he held a large manila envelope in one gloved hand yes the man grinned wider my name is Trent and this is for you he held out the damp envelope and David glanced at it wearily Mr Trent

Didn’t seem dangerous or at least not threatening but he was still a stranger and David preferred to know the people he accepted gifts from do I know you David asked Trent shook his head his smile unwavering no but I know you Mr trap and I also know what you’re going up against

Believe me you’re going to need all the help you can get I don’t know what you’re talking about perhaps you have me confused with someone else Trent’s smile faded as he extended the envelope his dark eyes narrowing slightly Mr trap it’s raining and this is for you confused and not a little irritated

David opened the door wider to accept the envelope as soon as he grasped it Trent turned and started to walk away hold on a minute Trent ignored him disappearing into the rain drenched Shadows around the side of the house David stood in the doorway uncertainly holding the damp paper and staring into

The pouring Darkness for another minute before going back inside once he’d studied the contents he’d wished he’d gone after Trent but by then of course it was too late too late and only too obvious what he’d meant he knew about umbrella and the stars but who does he work for and

Why did he choose to contact me Jill and Rebecca were studying the map while bar and Chris worked through the copied newspaper articles there were four of them all recent all centered around the tiny coastal town of calaban Cove in Maine three of them concerned The Disappearance of local fishermen all

Presumed dead the fourth was a rather humorous piece about the ghosts that had haunted The Cove it seemed that several towns people had heard strange sounds floating across the water late at night described as the cries of the Damned the writer of the article had laughingly suggested that the witnesses to the

Phenomena should probably stop drinking their mouthwash before bed funny unless you know what we know about umbrella the map was of the stretch of Coast just south of the small town an aerial sketch of the Cove itself David had uncovered a few facts about the area on a visit to exor’s library

Uncomfortable using the star’s computer after Barry’s call the rather isolated stretch had been privately owned for several years bought up by an anonymous group that was a defunct lighthouse on the Northern rim of the inlet sitting on top a cliff that was supposedly riddled with sea caves Trent map showed several

Structures behind and below the lighthouse leading down to a small Pier on the southern tip of the open Crest there was a notched border that ran the length of the Cove on the Inland side presumably a fence caliban Cove was written across the top in bold letters

In smaller type just beneath were the words umbrella research testing the third piece of paper that Trent had given him was the one that David didn’t understand there was a short list of names at the top seven in all Lyall Ammon Allan Kennison Tom Athens Lewis Thurman Nicholas Griffith William Burkin Tiffany

Chen just under it was a somewhat poetic list of sworts set into the center of the page and curling font Jill had picked it up again and was reading it carefully she looked up at David a half smile on her face no question that we’ve

Got the same Trent here the guy isn’t a riddles any idea what it means David asked Jill sighed heavily well one of the names here was in the material that Trent gave me William Burkin we figured that at least some of the others were researchers at the Spencer facility so I’m willing to

Bet that these people also work for umbrella Birkin may not have been at this state when it was destroyed I don’t recognize any of the others David nodded I checked all of them with the star’s database and came up blank the rest though is it a riddle

Of some sort Jill glanced back at the paper frowning as she read it to herself again ammon’s message received blue series enter answer for key letters and numbers reverse time rainbow don’t count blue to success Rebecca took the paper from her as Jill looked back at David

Thoughtfully a lot of what Trent gave me seem like pretty random stuff but some of it related to the Spencer Mansion Secrets the whole place was rigged with puzzle locks and traps maybe this is the same deal it relates to something you’ll find oh they all turned to Rebecca who was

Staring at the top of the page her face drained of color she looked at David with an expression of anxious despair Nicholas Griffith is on this list you know who he is she looked around at all of them her young face openly distressed yeah except I thought

He was dead he was one of the greats one of the most brilliant men ever to work in the biosciences she turned back to David her gaze heavy with Dread if he’s with umbrella we’ve got a lot more to worry about than the T Virus getting out he’s

A genius in the field of molecular virology and if the stories are true he’s totally ins Saye Rebecca looked back at the list her stomach a lead knot Dr Griffith still alive and involved with umbrella could the day possibly get any worse what can you tell us about him

David asked Rebecca’s mouth felt dry she reached for her glass of water and drained it before looking at David how much do you know about the study of viruses she asked he smiled a little nothing that’s why I’m here Rebecca nodded trying to think of where to

Start okay viruses are classified by the replication strategy and by the type of nucleic acid in their verion that’s the specialized element in a virus that allows it to transfer its genome to another living cell a genome is a single simple set of chromosomes according to the Baltimore classification there are

Seven distinct types of viruses and each group infects certain organisms in a certain way in the early 60s a young scientist at a private university in California challenged the theory insisting that there is an eighth group one based Loosely on dsdna and ssdna viruses that could infect everything it

Came in contact with it was Dr Griffith he published several papers and while it turned out that he was wrong his reasoning was brilliant I know I read them the scientific Community scoffed at his theory but his research on virus specified inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm without a linear

Genome Rebecca trailed off noticing the blank Expressions on their faces sorry anyway Griffith stopped trying to prove the theory but a lot of people were interested to see what he’d come up with next where did you learn all this Jill interrupted frowning in school one of my

Professors was kind of a science history buff his specialty was defunct theories and Scandals so what happened David asked the next time anyone heard from Griffith it was because he’d gotten kicked out of the University Dr Vox that was my professor told us that Griffith was officially fired for using drugs methanamines but

The rumor was that he’d been experimenting with drug induced behavior modification on a couple of his students neither of them would talk but one of them ended up in an asylum and the other eventually committed suicide nothing was ever proved but after that no one would

Hire him and as far as the facts go that’s the last anyone heard of Nicholas Griffith but there’s more to the story David asked Rebecca nodded slowly in the mid 80s a private lab in Washington was broken into by cops and the bodies of three men were found all dead of a

Filovirus infection it was marberg one of the most lethal viruses there is they’ been dead for weeks neighbors had complained because of the smell the papers the police found in the lab suggested that all three men were research assistants to Dr Nicholas Dunn and that they had all allowed themselves

To be deliberately infected with what they understood to be a harmless cold virus Dr Dunn was going to see if he can cure it she stood up Crossing her arms tightly the agony those men must have endured she’d seen pictures of the marberg virus from the initial headache

To extreme amplification in a matter of days days fever clotting shock brain damage massive hemorrhaging from every orifice they would have died in pools of their own blood and your professor thought this was Griffith Jill asked softly Rebecca forced the images away and turned to Jill finishing the story The Way Dr VX

Had Griffith’s mother her ma name was dun Barry let out a low whistle as Jill and Chris exchanged a worried look David was studying her intently his gaze cool and unreadable all the same she thought she knew what was going through his mind he’s wondering if this changes

Things if I’ll go with him to see this calaban Cove facility now that I know that’s being run by people like Griffith Rebecca looked away from David’s intense scrutiny and saw that the rest of her team was watching her their faces tight with concern since that terrible night at the Spencer

Estate they’d become like a family to her she didn’t want to leave to risk never seeing them again but David’s right without the support of the Stars nowhere will be safe for any of us and this would be my chance to contribute to do what I’m good

At she wanted to believe that it was the only reason that she’d be going to fight the good fight but she couldn’t help the tiny shiver of excitement that ran through her at the thought of getting her hands on the T Virus it would be a golden opportunity to stop the mutagen

Before anyone else to categorize the effects and to pick apart the viron right down to its smallest capsid Rebecca took a deep breath and blew it out her decision made I’ll do it she said when do we Go Chapter 3 Jill felt her heart quickened at Rebecca’s words a feeling that things were happening too fast and that they weren’t prepared her decision seemed sudden even though Jill really hadn’t doubted that she’d volunteer Rebecca was a lot stronger than she looked she glanced around Barry’s wide open living room discreetly noting the

Reactions of her teammates Chris’s face was strained his mouth drawn as he stared stared absently at the map of calaban Cove while Barry walked across to one of the living room windows staring out past the curtain and scowling at nothing in particular they’re worried about her and maybe they should be Griffith sounds

Like a serious psycho but would any of us have hesitated if we’d been asked to go it just proved that Rebecca was as committed as they were also no great surprise getting to know the young Bravo had been one of the only bright spots in the frustrating days since the Mansion had

Burned the girl had been unfailingly optimistic about their chances against umbrella even after their suspension and had worked tirelessly to keep all of their spirits up she was brilliant too and yet she never flaunted it or came across as condescending when she attempted to discuss aspects of the T virus with

Them Rebecca looked a bit distraught herself glancing around at the three men in the room even David trap seemed vaguely uncomfortable with her decision probably because of Rebecca’s youth men she’s young she’s cute and she’s undoubtedly smarter than all of us put together but the young and cute part

Tends to make them Overlook the rest Jill caught her eye and smiled encouragingly at Rebecca’s age Jill had been a professional thief and a good one she was worried about Rebecca too but only because she’d grown to care about her the fact that she was a young woman

Wasn’t a reason to underestimate her talents Rebecca smiled back and walked over to sit by her as David nodded hesitantly at his newest teammate all right then good there’s a plane leaving for Bango at 2300 hours with a connecting flight to a field just outside of exitor I thought we could all

Go over a bit of strategy here and then drop by your place on the way to the Airfield see so you can pack a few things Rebecca nodded and after cracking a window open Barry moved back to join them leaning against one arm of the couch he folded his arms across his

Massive chest and jerked his chin toward David you’re the strategist he said not unkindly why don’t you start us off the respect between the two men was obvious making Jill like David all the more in spite of Barry’s screw-ups in the Spencer fias go Jill had grown to trust

Him something she didn’t do easily and he seemed confident in David trap’s skills I don’t mean to take over David said but I have a few thoughts on how we might approach this situation I’ve known about the Stars betrayal for several days now though I thought we all might spend a few moments

Considering our course of action I realized that this must come as quite a shock Jill picked up on the same thread of bitter Bess she’d noticed earlier on the word betrayal the fact that the stars were in bed with umbrella obviously wasn’t sitting too well with Mr

Trap probably not with Chris or Barry either both of them have more time invested with the Stars than me or Becca Jill was disappointed and angry that the Stars had sold out but it wasn’t going to be a factor in her decision to work at bringing umbrella

Down her path had been determined on the day that the McGee’s sisters had been brutally murdered the two little girls were the first innocent victims of the T Virus spill at the Spencer estate and they had been her friends she pushed the thoughts away focusing on the matter at hand without

The Stars their job was going to be a lot tougher not impossible but she had to admit to herself that their chances of success had just dropped to somewhere near zero it was a good thing she didn’t mind being the underdog it doesn’t doesn’t matter anyway umbrella’s going to pay for what they’ve

Done one way or another Barry’s Gruff voice broke the quiet in the room his gaze thoughtful maybe we should go to the Press not local but someone big National David sighed shaking his head I thought of that it’s a good idea but right now we don’t have the proof to

Make anything stick yeah but at least umbrella wouldn’t move on us with everyone watching we couldn’t count on that Jill said if they got to the Stars they can get to anyone and without evidence well you got to admit the story is the kind of thing even the tabloids wouldn’t

Buy there was a moment of sullen silence as if her words reminded them all of how insane it sounded how insane it would sound to anyone who hadn’t experienced what they’d been through a virus that accidentally turns people into zombies being used to create unspeakable monsters as Living Weapons invented and

Then covered up by a major corporation that hires mad scientists to experiment on human beings all it needs is a Nazi war criminal with an atomic bomb we’d have a bestseller on our hands well what we were talking about before organizing some of the other stars Chris said I’ve

Got a few people in mind some of the guys I trained with and I know Barry’s got a lot of contacts David nodded agreement yes I think that should be a priority my concern is how to get in touch with them the branch officers may already be

Tapped and we want to keep umbrella from learning about our plans for as long as possible unfortunately we won’t have use of the star’s resources for much longer maybe we should look for a go between Jill said slowly someone who doesn’t have ties to the Stars Chris

Grinned suddenly I know a guy from back in the Air Force who works for Jack Hamilton now one of the section heads for the FBI I don’t know much about Hamilton but Pete’s about as honest as they come and he owes me a favor brilliant perhaps you could ask him to

Help you look into the local police as well once we have solid evidence from the main facility we can go to your friend instigate a federal investigation it sounded good but Jil found herself feeling frustrated by the talk she wanted to act waiting for the stars to contact them had been bad

Enough knowing that Rebecca was going to be risking her life while they waited idly by would be excruciating you said you had some thoughts about what else we could do she said David nodded yes though once we involve the government it may not come to anything quite so daring i’ had been formulating

A plan to infiltrate umbrella headquarters a risky proposition at best it seems wisest to work on a smaller scale for now but I do believe the three of you you should drop out of sight as soon as possible I also think it would be prudent for you to see what you can

Uncover on Mr Trent though I have the distinct feeling that you won’t come up with much if anything he smiled a little and having met Trent Jill understood his doubts perfectly their strange benefactor had struck her as a very careful man I get the impression that we’ll only

Find what he wants us to find but it is worth a look and we’ll need to arrange for a Rendevous site after we’ve his soft musical voice broke off suddenly as he tilted his head to one side listening intently Jill heard it in the same instant and felt her heart

Freeze in her chest a rustling in the bushes outside the window that Barry had opened umbrella get down Jill shouted and rolled off the couch pulling Rebecca with her as the windows shattered the curtains blown aside in an explosive burst from an automatic rifle David Dove for the floor as

Bullets riddled the chair he’d been in already grabbing for his weapon toughs of the padding floated past his wide eyes as a smoking trail of holes tore across the wall plaster and wood flying bloody hell there was a split second break in the onslaught just long enough

For them to hear the crash of glass breaking from the back of the house Barry lights he shouted but Barry was way ahead of him the Thunder of his cult drowning out the intermittent spray of the machine gun the room went dark as Barry’s rounds found their Mark glass raining down from

Above light still streamed into the darkness from the hall and there was another hail of bullets from outside Chris scrabbled on elbows and knees for the hallway and in one smooth movement rolled onto his side and took out the additional lights the living room was now completely black and the burst of

Automatic fire stopped over the ringing in his ears David heard boots crunching on glass from back in the kitchen the heavy steps paused the Intruder probably waiting for the window shooter to catch up and there will be more than two covering the exits kitchen door front porch someone watching the

Windows another set of steps entered the kitchen these hurried and shuffling but they also stopped the pair was waiting either for more of their team or for the assembled stars to make a move David’s thoughts raced independently of him reflexively considering and rejecting theories and options at lightning

Speed we get upstairs pick them off one at a time unless they mean to torch the house so we run straight through them out the back except they’ve got the Firepower Advantage maybe spook eyes and we’d be moving targets no contest all he knew for certain was that

They couldn’t stay where they were there was no cover for when the thugs got tired of waiting there was shuffling movement from the right as Barry’s hulking Shadow crouched toward him David’s eyes had adjusted enough to see Jill and Rebecca on the other side of the coffee table both of them crouched

And holding handguns he couldn’t make Chris out but he was probably still by the hall Barry’s house was the last one on the Block a wooded park just P if they could slip out get into the trees the thought Stuck even a bad plan was better than none at all and they didn’t

Have time to work out Alternatives basement du David whispered Barry’s Gruff voice was soft and strained yeah no good it would be posted they’d have to get out through the second floor we go through the park he whispered quickly Jill get to Chris and prepare to lay cover on my signal Barry

Rebecca as soon as we start hit the stairs fast to an East window softest jump we’ll follow ready go Jill was already moving around the couch disappearing silently into the thick Shadows Barry and Rebecca right behind David paused just long enough to scoop up the papers the Trent had given him he

Stuffed them inside his shirt the crinkling pages cool against his sweaty skin nothing else in his briefcase would be be damaging he crept toward the yawning Blackness of the opening to the hall edging to where Jill and Chris were crouched the entry faced the side of the

Stairs to the left was the front door and the foot of the steps to the right the quiet kitchen at the end of The Long Hall where the two umbrella operatives waited they go right I’ll take left when the shooting Begins the rest of the strike force should Rush the front door

David hoped if the timing wasn’t perfect they were dead aside from the faint light from the windows it was too dark for hand signals he leaned close between Jill and Chris pitching his voice as low as possible both right Jill low and outside they wouldn’t be aiming for the floor

And Chris could use the wall of the entry as a shield I’ve got the front door keep it up for 6 seconds exactly no more on zero you need to be on the stairs and out of the corridor on my mark now the three of them sprang into

Position Chris and Jill firing toward the kitchen David whirling to the left he ran for the front door in a low Crouch the count ticking five four behind him Barry and Rebecca lunged for the stairs through the crash of bullets David trained the Beretta on the

Darkness in front of him and was only a foot away from the door when someone kicked it open his shoulder connected with the heavy wood and he threw himself into it slamming it closed he dropped to the floor and jammed his heel against the base two he fired into the door at

An upward angle five shots as fast as he could pull the trigger there was a strangled scream the sound of something heavy hitting the porch and he fired three more before rolling to his feet into the AL Cove at the foot of the stairs and out of the line of fire their

Time was up David spun saw Jill and Chris already on their way up and as his feet hit the first Riser there was a sound like an explosion behind him the front door was suddenly a mass of flying splinters heavy rounds tearing through the wood as the umbrella team sought to

End the battle if the two Alphas hadn’t killed the men in the kitchen they were surely dead now halfway up the stairs David turned and fired twice more through the rapidly disintegrating door hoping he’d bought the Stars enough time to escape 10 maybe 20 seconds before

They realized we gone it was going to be close Rebecca stood on the dark Landing her heart pounding almost as loudly as the booming shots that chased Jill and Chris up the stairs come on come on Barry was to her right at the end of the landing’s hall

Barely visible by the Moonlight that streamed through the open window Jill was the first to reach the top Rebecca steered her toward Barry with a touch Chris following close behind the muzzle on David’s 9mm flashed brightly in the darkness on the stairs and then he was in front of her

Materializing out of the Gloom like a sweaty ghost this way Rebecca turned and ran for the window David at her side Jill had already gone and Chris was halfway out Barry gripping one of his hands as he struggled to balance himself please God let there be a

Mattress a pile of leaves the crash of the front door flying open was followed by heavy footsteps and muffled male voices angry and commanding Chris disappeared through the window and then Barry was reaching for her his mouth a grim line she jammed her pistol in its holster and stepped to the window

Barry’s warm hand on her back Rebecca crawled out onto the sill and looked down there were Hedges against the side of the house Lush and thick and impossibly far down she caught a glimpse of Jill standing on the lawn aiming her weapon toward the front of the house and

Chris looking up at them his face tight with strength R don’t think just do it Rebecca slid out the window Barry’s strong fingers finding her hand her shoulder growned as gravity did its work Barry leaning out to give her less of a drop her body suspended in midair he let go and before

She could feel real terror she hit the bushes there was a small pain twigs and branches scratching at her bare legs and then Chris was pulling her out lifting her easily from the twinning Hedges take the back he breathed his attention already fixed back on the window Rebecca

Snatched the revolver out as she stepped onto the lawn turning to face the Shadows that made up the backyard to her left a dark s of trees stood maybe 20 M away silent and still there was a thundering rattle of bullets inside the house and a thrashing

Thump in the bushes to her right but she didn’t turn intent on her assigned task a movement by the corner of the house Rebecca didn’t hesitate sending two shots into the thickening of Shadows Barry’s 38 jerking in her hand the figure crumpled falling forward just

Enough for her to see that she’d hit a man clutching a rifle and that he wasn’t going to get up again never shot anyone before move Chris shouted and Rebecca jerked her head around saw Barry climb out of the bushes and stumble toward them there was a shout from the window

Followed by a burst from an automatic rifle Rebecca actually felt the bullets hit the ground near her feet tearing up chunks of the overgrown lawn dirt pelting her legs David and Jill fired back as they ran from the trees Chris leading the way the shooter either ducked or was

Shot the dull clatter of the rifle fell silent as they reached the first of the wooded Shadows Rebecca heard the whale of approaching Sirens followed closely by shouts and running steps across Barry’s front porch seconds later there was a squeal of tires Rebecca stumbled through the underbrush dodging between narrow and

Gnarled trunks trying to keep the others inide the revolver felt too heavy in her slick grasp and her entire body seemed to be pounding her legs shaking her breathing sharp and shallow everything had happened so fast she’d known they were in danger that umbrella wanted them out of the way but

Knowing something wasn’t the same as really believing it as believing that violent strangers would break into Barry’s home and try to take their lives and I may have taken one of theirs instead the thought that she might have killed someone she forced away before it could take hold concentrating on the

Pale shape of Chris’s t-shirt ahead her conscience would have to wait until she had time to think it through ahead of them the thick Woods opened into a clearing playground equipment gleaming dully in the pet light Chris slowed to a jog then stopped where the line of trees ended turning

Back to search the shadows for the rest of them Rebecca caught up to him Barry and Jill just behind her all of them Breathing heavily and looking as stunned and sober as Rebecca felt David where’s David Chris gasped and as they all turned straining to see past the dark reaching branches

Rebecca saw one of the Shadows to their left move a stealthy sliding movement look out and the shadow fired at them twice the shots muted compared to the explosive Thunder at the house there was a third shot louder closer and the Shadows stumbled and fell crashing against a tree before collapsing

Silently to the dirt except for the rising moan of sirens the park was again silent Rebecca slowly raised her head craning to look over her shoulder and saw David standing still pointing his Beretta at the Fallen shooter Jill and Chris were crouched next door her both of them holding their weapons out

Staring around them with wide searching gazes and on her other side Barry was sprawled on on the ground his face pressed to the blanket of dried pine needles and long Dead Leaves he wasn’t moving chapter 4 there was Darkness for an indeterminate time silent and complete and then there were voices

Drawing him up through the black depths of his limbo voices that his floating mind couldn’t identif identify it first from somewhere far away he heard sirens he’s been hit he been oh my God see if it’s see if it’s clear wait I can’t find a who Barry Barry Barry can you hear me

Rebecca Barry opened his eyes and then closed them immediately wincing as the throbbing pain wrapped around his skull there was another pain in his left arm sharp and insistent but not as complete as the ache in his head he’d had acquaintance with both kinds of pain before must have got

Shot met up with a tree or some with a baseball bat he tried opening his eyes again as small hands moved across his chest lightly searching it took him a second to focus on the worried looming faces over him Jill and Chris and a frightened looking Rebecca her fingers probing his

Shirt for the wound the sirens had fallen mercifully silent though he could hear the cop cars pulling up his street the powerfully revving engines echoing through the wooded park left arm he mumbled and started to sit up the dark woods wavered unsteadily and then Rebecca was gently pushing him

Back down don’t move she said firmly just lay there a second okay Chris give me your shirt but umbrella Barry started it’s clear David said kneeling next to the others be still Rebecca lifted his arm carefully looking at both sides Barry flexed his arm slightly and scowled at the burst of

Pain but could tell it wasn’t bad the bone was still intact right out the deltoid Rebecca said looks like you’re going to have to lay off the weights for a while her tone was light but he could see the concern in her gaze as she studied his wound she started wrapping Chris’s

T-shirt tightly around his arm watching him intently you’ve got a nasty bump on your temple she said how do you feel though his head was still pounding the pain had subsided to a status he felt light-headed and a little nauseous but he still knew his own name and what

Day of the week it was if it was a concussion he wasn’t impressed I’ve had worse hangovers pretty much like he said but I’m okay I must have hit a tree on my way down as she finished the makeshift bandage she sat up again this time with better results they had to get

Moving before the cops decided to search the woods woods but where could they go it seemed unlikely that umbrella would attack twice in one night but it wasn’t a theory worth testing none of their homes would be safe at least his family was out of Harm’s Way visiting Kathy’s

Parents in Florida the thought that they could have just as easily been at home his girls playing in their rooms when the shooting had started he staggered unsteadily to his feet finding strength in the rage that had lived with him since the night at the estate Wesker had threatened Kathy

And the girls to force Barry’s cooperation and umbrella’s cover up using him to get to the underground Laboratories Barry’s guilt had blossomed into Fury in the days since an anger that transcended any he’d ever known bastards Barry snarled godamn umbrella bastards the others stood up with him

Chris’s bare chest pale in the faint light all of them seemed relieved that he wasn’t badly hurt except for David who looked as unhappy as Barry had ever seen him his shoulders sagged from some unknown burden and when he spoke he wouldn’t meet Barry’s gaze the man who shot you David said he

Held up a 9mm with a suppressor attached blood splattered across the barrel I killed him I Barry it’s j Shannon Barry stared at him he heard the words but was unable to accept them it wasn’t possible no you didn’t get a good look it’s too dark David turned and walked through the

Trees leading them to the body of the shooter Barry stumbled after him his head suddenly aching from more than just smacking it on a tree trunk it can’t be Shannon there’s no way David’s rattled from the attack that’s all he he made a mistake except David didn’t rattle Under

Fire he never never had and he didn’t make mistakes that easily Barry grit his teeth against the pain and followed for once hoping that his friend was wrong the man had collapsed on his back or David had rolled him over either way he stared up at them with lifeless eyes

A random pine needle stuck to one of the glazed orbs the semi-jacketed round from David’s Beretta had punched a hole directly over his heart it had been a lucky shot looking down at the shooter’s Ashen face Barry felt his own heart Turn to Stone Jesus Shannon why why

This who is he Jill asked softly Barry stared down at the dead man unable to answer David’s reply seemed Hollow toneless Captain J Shannon of the Oklahoma City Stars Barry and I trained with him Barry found his voice still staring at Jay’s motionless face I called him last week when I

Called David he was worried about us said he’d keep an eye out for umbrella and we shot the for another few minutes catching up telling old stories told him I’d send pictures of the kids and he said he had to get off the phone then he wanted to talk but he had a

Meeting umbrella must have already gotten to him and the realization was cold and brutal and suddenly horribly complete umbrella may have been behind the attack but the Stars carried it out Barry’s home had been blown to Hell by people they knew and he’d been shot by a man he thought was a friend

The solemn quiet was broken by The Barking of dogs faint through the shadowy trees from the number and location it seemed like the RPD canine unit had just reached his house Barry looked away from the corpse his thoughts returning to the immediate situation they had to

Move where can we go David asked quickly is there somewhere umbrella wouldn’t think to look a cabin an empty building some place we can get to on foot Brad chicken Hart’s lease isn’t up for a couple of months this place is empty and it’s less than a mile from here Barry

Said David nodded briskly let’s go Barry turned toward the Park’s playground leading the others across the Moonlight clearing there was a small trail that led out two blocks away hopefully far enough away from the action that the cops wouldn’t follow Barry had walked through the park a million times his

Wife at his side his children dancing at their feet feet my home this is my home and it won’t ever be the same again as they ran through the warm peaceful Night Barry felt the hole in his arms start to bleed again he clapped his right hand over the sticky dressing

Without slowing letting the pain fuel his determination as they tore through the scrubby trees and headed for Brad’s house no more no more of this my girls aren’t going to grow up in a world where this can happen not if I have any say in it so much had already

Happened and this was only the beginning of their fight there were still people working with the Stars he trusted that they could count on and he wasn’t going to be caught off his guard twice the next time umbrella came knocking maybe they wouldn’t have to run

And if Rebecca and David could pull off the main operation they’d have what they need to take the company down once and for all umbrella had messed with the wrong people Barry planned on being there when they figured that out Jill picked the lock expertly using

A bent safety pin in one of Rebecca’s earrings to open the door to the small cottage Rebecca head swept Barry off to the medicine cabinet while Chris went searching for a shirt David and Jill checked the small house the thly David’s satisfaction growing with each passing moment he couldn’t have imagined a

Better Hideout and it was comforting to know that Barry and the two Alphas would have a safe spot to work from the two-bedroom home shared a backyard with a security conscious family Bright Lights snapped on when David opened the back door flooding the small lawn brilliantly and from the sight of the

Neighbor’s side they definitely had a rather large dog somewhere on the premises there were houses close on either side of the rental and the front window looked out on the an open schoolyard just across the street there would be no cover for an approaching team the house was furnished simply if

Untidily it was obvious the occupant had left in a panic personal items and books were strewn randomly across the room as if fickers had been unable to decide what to take in his hurry to flee Raccoon City with what happened tonight I can’t say I blame him for

Running Mr Vickers had obviously been in the wrong line of work but that didn’t necessarily make him a coward risking one’s life on a day-to-day basis wasn’t for everyone and considering the recent developments it was wisest for someone like fickers to remove himself from the situation they could have used the help

But from what little Barry had told him the alpha pilot wasn’t someone they wanted to work with even if he didn’t get himself killed he lost the trust of his teammates and nothing could be worse when it came to crisis situations David sat in the dark cramped

Living room on a rather hideous green couch collecting his exhausted thoughts as Jill dug through the kitchen he’d found a blank pad of paper and a pen and had already scribbled down the names and home numbers of his team and various contacts as well as Brad’s phone number

To take with him he gazed blankly around the shadow room fighting off the adrenaline slump that so often followed battle he didn’t want to forget anything important any detail that needed to be discussed before he and Rebecca left if they wanted to make their plane Barry

Jill and Chris would have to deal with the aftermath of the attack on their R the Stars trans poem objectives contacts it was hard to focus after such a draining experience and it didn’t help matters that he’d been tired to begin with he hadn’t slept well in days and

Thinking of all that lay ahead of them only made concentrating harder Rebecca’s information about Dr Griffith was disconcerting to say the least and though he was no less determined to carry out The calivan Cove operation it was just one more concern to add to a seemingly endless

List Chris walked into the room wearing a faded blue sweatshirt with the sleeves cut off and fell into a chair across from David his face hidden in Shadow after a moment he leaned forward enough light filtering through the closed blinds so that David could see his expression the younger man’s gaze

Was tired thoughtful and apologetic look David the last couple weeks have been rough on all of us you know waiting to see what umbrella was going to do the suspension feeling like our friends died for nothing Chris stopped himself then started again I just wanted to say I’m sorry if

We got off on the wrong foot earlier and I’m glad you on our side I shouldn’t have been such an about it David was surprised and impressed by the sincerity behind the words when he was in his 20s he would have rather rather had his fingernails pulled out than display any emotion

Except anger of course he’d had no trouble expressing anger yet another Legacy from dear old dad I don’t think you have anything to be sorry for David said softly your concerns are more than Justified I I’ve been under a bit of strain myself and I didn’t mean to come across as

Domineering the stars are that is the stars mean a lot to me and I want us I want them to be whole again Jill walked in from the kitchen saving David from continuing with his fumbling speech much to his relief Chris seemed to understand he met David’s gaze

Evenly nodding as if to say that the air had been cleared between them David sighed inwardly wondering if he’d ever be able to overcome his awkwardness with expressing emotions he’d done a lot of thinking since Barry had first called about himself and his almost obsessive anger

Over the Stars betrayal and had come to the unsettling realization that he wasn’t happy with the way his life was turning out he’d thrown himself into his career in an effort to avoid dealing with a dysfunctional childhood something he’d always known but now facing umbrella and the treachery of the

Organization that he considered his family he’d been forced to really think about the implications of his choice it had made him an excellent Soldier but he didn’t have any close friends or attachments and having his family taken away had come to a cruel wake up to the fact that he’ based his

Life on running from Human contact brilliant for me to have figured it out this late in the game I suppose I should thank umbrella for that much if they don’t kill me they’ll at least have managed to send me into therapy Jill had brought out a picture of water and several mismatched glasses

Which she passed around as Barry and Rebecca joined them Barry wore a clean bandage on his arm and seemed pale in the dim light certainly shaken by their discovery of Captain Shannon David felt bad about killing Shannon though he’ reconciled himself long ago to the realities of combat in a war people died

And Captain Shannon had made his choice they drank in Silence the four raccoon Stars ex Stars he reminded himself pensive and somber perhaps aware of the ticking clock he and Rebecca would have to leave in a few moments there was a convenient store block away where they could telephone

For a cab David wished he could think of something encouraging to say but the truth was the truth they were going on A Dangerous Mission and there were no guarantees that any of them would survive to meet again have you thought about what you’ll tell the local police David asked

Finally Barry Shrugged we won’t have to lie much anyway the three of us were at my place a bunch of guys broke in and tried to shoot us we ran irons will probably try to play it off as a botch burglary Chris sneered if he’s in this

As deep as I think he is he won’t want to call attention to anything umbrella is doing just be careful not to mention actually seeing any bodies they may have had time to clean up and you should say you were chased into the park it would explain you’re

Leaving the scene as well as Captain Shannon’s body Barry smiled tiredly we’ll handle it and I’m going to make some calls first thing tomorrow get us some backup you just worry about your end okay David nodded and stood up as did Chris David shook hands all around and then turned to Rebecca uncomfortably

Aware that he was taking her from her teammates and trusted friends the girl looked at the others in turn with a thoughtful expression and then grin suddenly an unaffected and purely Wicked smile sure you guys can hold down the fort for a couple of days I hate to think of you flailing

Around all directionless while me and David go clean up this umbrella thing we’ll try to limp along without you Chris shot back smiling won’t be easy what with you having the brain and all Rebecca punched him lightly on the shoulder I’ll send you a postcard with instructions she nodded at

Barry take care of your arm keep it clean and dry and if you spike a fever or get busy get to a doctor asap yes ma’am Jill embraced her lightly give him hell Becca Rebecca nodded you too good luck with irons she turned to David still smiling shall we they walked to the

Front door together David wondering at the girl’s easy demeanor they just barely survived a serious attack carried out by people who’ probably trained her and she was leaving with a man she hardly knew to embark on a life-threatening Mission she was either putting on an act or was amazingly

Optimistic and if she was faking the Casual bravado she deserved an award he watched her carefully as they stepped out into the small unkempt yard of Brad vicker’s house and saw her smile fade quickly replaced by a look of vague sadness and beyond that the same kind of focused

Intensity that she’d had when she told them about Dr Griffin his research whatever she was thinking he could see in that look that she was perfectly aware of the risks but that she refused to be cowed by them the perfect definition of Bravery David was satisfied with this

Decision to enlist Rebecca Chambers for the operation she was smart professional and committed a superior in her field of study as the rest of his team members were in theirs he could only hope that their combined skills would be enough to get them in and out of calaban Cove in

One piece bringing with them proof of umbrella’s experiments an objective that would lead to the ruin of the company that had corrupted the stars and perhaps let him sleep peacefully Again David nodded and the two of them set off to make the Call after rereading the information on ciban Cove Rebecca folded the papers and carefully tucked them into the overnight bag under David’s seat he bought three bags at the airport one for the weapons currently and cargo the others to carry on so they wouldn’t attract attention Rebecca wished they’d thought to buy

Some snacks while they were at it she hadn’t eaten since lunch and the packet of nuts she’d swallowed after takeoff wasn’t cutting it she reached up to switch off the reading light then settled back in her seat trying to let the smooth hum of the

747s engines L her into a doze most of the other passengers on the half full plane were asleep the dim night lights and the steady drone of the engines had already worked for David but even as drained as she felt by the evening’s events she gave up the effort after a

Minute or two there was too much to think about and she knew that she wouldn’t be able to sleep without at least sorting through some of it I feel like I’m dreaming already this is just another weird tangent a subplot that came out of left field in the past 3 months she’d

Graduated college gone through star’s Bravo training and moved to her first Department in a new city only to end up one of the five survivors of a man-made disaster involving biological weapons in a corporate conspiracy in the past 3 hours her life had taken yet another totally unexpected

Turn she thought about what she’d wished for earlier a chance to get out of raccoon city and study the T Virus the irony of the situation wasn’t lost on her but she wasn’t so sure she liked the circumstances she rolled her head to the side and looked at David crashed out in

The window seat dark circles of exhaustion beneath his closed Lids after briefly filling her in on a few details about the cove and outlining their schedule for the next day he told her to try and take a nap have a lie down had been his exact words and then

Promptly taking his own advice not falling asleep so much as lapsing into an instant coma he even sleeps sufficiently no tossing or turning like he willed himself to get as much rest as possible in the time allowed he struck her as an extremely competent and intelligent man if

Something of a loner for as cool as he was under pressure he seemed to freeze with small talk leading her to wonder what kind of Life he’d had she was impressed with how quickly he’d come up with a plan to get them out of Barry’s house and was glad that he was leading

The operation to calaban Cove though it was hard to think of him as a captain he didn’t really project Authority and didn’t seem to want to practically insisting that she call him David even when he’ stepped into a leadership role during the attack it hadn’t felt like he

Was giving them orders so much as offering instruction maybe it’s just the accent everything he says sounds polite he frowned in his sleep his eyes flickering through uneasy dreams after a few seconds he let out a soft almost childlike MO of distress Rebecca briefly considered waking him up but already he seemed to

Have got past whatever troubled him his brows smoothing suddenly feeling like she was invading his privacy Rebecca looked away dreaming about the attack maybe about having to kill someone he knew she wondered if she’d be haunted by the image of the man she’d shot the shadowy figure that had crumpled to the

Ground next to Barry’s house house she was still waiting for the guilt to hit her and thinking about it she was surprised to find that her mind wasn’t racing to rationalize the matter she’d shot somebody he could very well be dead and all she could feel was relief that she’d stopped him from

Killing her or anyone else on the team Rebecca closed her eyes taking a deep breath of the cool pressurized air hissing through the cabin she could smell the y odor of dried sweat on her skin and decided that taking a shower was the first priority when they hit the hotel David didn’t

Want to risk going back to his house on the off chance that someone on the strike force had recognized him so they were going to grab a couple rooms near the airport somewhere after they changed planes the operation briefing was set for noon at the home of one of the other

Three team members an alpha forensics expert named Karen driver David had mentioned that Karen could probably lend her some clean clothes though he’d actually blushed while saying it he was a quirky one all right and after the briefing we get our equipment and go in just like

That the thought nodded her stomach and sent a chill through her telling her the real reason she wasn’t able to sleep only two weeks after the umbrella nightmare in Raccoon City she was facing the same nightmare again at least this time she had some idea of what they’d be getting

Themselves into and the plan was to get out of the facility without ever facing the T Virus creatures but the memory of umbrella’s tyrant monster was still fresh in her mind the massive Patchwork body and killing claw of the thing they’d seen on the estate and the thought of what someone

Like Nicholas Griffith might have come up with using the virus Rebecca decided that she’d thought enough she had to get some sleep she cleared her mind as best she could and focused on her breathing slowing it down counting backwards in her mind from 100 the meditation technique had never

Failed her before though she didn’t think it would work this time 99 988 Dr David Stars before she reached 90 she was deeply asleep dreaming of moving Shadows that no light had cast most mornings since beginning the experiment Nicholas Griffith sat on the open platform at the top of the

Lighthouse and watched the sun rise over the sea it was an awesome spectacle from beginning to end first the black waves shading to gray as the sky lightened the craggy rocks that lined his Cove slowly taking form in the misty winds that swept off the water as the Radiant Star peered over

The side of the world its first hesitant Rays stained the ocean at deep as your blue painting the pastel Horizon with Promises of renewal and a gentle nurturing acceptance of all that it touched it was a lie of course within hours the molten giant would beat mercilessly against the shore against

This half of the planet its early mildness of deception a pretended ignorance of the seeping radiation and withering heat that would follow but no less spectacular for the lying it can’t be blamed for a lack of self-awareness after all it is what it is Griffith always watched until the sun

Cleared the curving Horizon before getting on with his day although he appreciated the beauty of each glimmering Dawn it was the routine that appealed to him not his but that of the cosmos each Sunrise was a statement of fact speaking to an inevitable progression of time and a

Reminder that the world spun eternally through its Galactic Paces oblivious to the dreams of the self-important beings that scurried across its surface beings such as myself but for one very crucial difference I know just how much my dreams are worth as the swollen orb lifted itself from

The sea Griffith stood up and leaned against the platform railing his thoughts turning to the day ahead having finally finished the blood work on the Leviathan series he was ready to work more extensively with the doctors all three had responded well to the change and the rate of cellular deterioration

Had fallen considerably since he started with the enzyme injections it was time to concentrate on their situational Behavior the final stage of the experiment within the week he’d be ready to expand beyond the confines of the facility expansion a cleansing a crisp sailing wind ruffled his gray hair the hungry cries of

Coasting gulls finally spurring into action the tri squads had to be brought in before the Scavenging Birds moved Inland several of the units had already been horribly scarred and he didn’t want to risk any more of them until he was finished once they lost their eyes they were useless on

Patrol still it’s been so long no one’s coming if Dr Ammon had succeeded they’d have sent someone by now too bad really he’s probably still waiting the thought was an uncomfortable one Conjuring hazy images of redness and heat of prone bodies in the manic sum and later the Thunder of waves in the

Dark he promptly buried the Visions reminding himself that it was in the past besides he had only done what was necessary Griffith walked back inside smoothing his windblown hair as he moved down the spiral staircase his shoes clattered against the metal steps creating a pleasant Echo effect in the tall

Chamber having the facility to himself had made everything Pleasant and he’d come to enjoy the little things eating what he wanted when he wanted working his own hours His Mornings at top the lighthouse before he’d been crowded forced to adhere to schedules that seemed designed to undercut creativity meal times work times sleep

Times How could a man breathe think flourish in such conditions he’d suffered for so long sat through endless meetings listening to the small-minded driil of his colleagues as they’d raved over Burkin T Virus they’d slay to come up with the tri squads for umbrella and had been deliriously happy with the results

Apparently forgetting their failure with the ma7s they were unable to see past their own arrogance to a bigger picture as if the tri squads are anything more than bodies with guns useful as guards but hardly brilliant hardly important although he’d worked hard not to let it go to his head Griffith

Allowed himself a single moment of cried as he reached the bottom of the stairs and started for the exit he’d seen the t- virus for what it really was a crude but effective platform for something far greater he isolated the proteins reorganized the nucleo capsid’s envelope to allow for variables and infective

Capacity and created an answer the answer to the blight that the human race had become a solution without violence or suffering smiling he stepped through the door into the cool shadow of the lighthouse the crash of breaking waves at his back as he walked toward the dormatory building he’d already synthesized and

Airborne and had enough of it to infect most of North America as the virus spread Evolution would take its rightful place the weak of spirit Fallen beneath those of truer instincts and when it was over the Sun would rise over a very different world inhabited by peaceful people of character and

Will take away man’s ability to choose his mind becomes free a blank clean slate with training he becomes a pet without he becomes an animal as harmless and serenely simple as a mouse cover the world with such animals and Only the Strong Survive he stepped into the dorm’s recck

Room and turned on the lights still smiling his doctor doctors were right where he’d left them sitting at the meeting table eyes closed ideally he’d run through the test with untrained subjects but the three men would have to suffice they’d been infected with the strain he would release and were closest

To what the world would become in a few days my pets my children besides the research laboratory The Cove facility was designed to train bioweapons like the tri squads or ma7s but also to measure of logic in the humanoid subjects in the bunkers there were a number of items he could use from

The simplest of Peg tests to complex puzzles for the subjects capable of higher functioning he doubted his doctors would be able to manage even the red series but watching their reactions would provide valuable Insight particularly the test where there was a pressure Factor they think but can’t make

Decisions they function but not without input how will they Fair without my guiding hand as he approached the table Dr Athens opened his eyes perhaps to see if there was a threat coming of the three Tom Athens was the strongest the most likely to survive on his own he’d been

One of the behavior specialists in fact he’d come up with the three-unit team idea the tri Squad insisting that the infected units would work more efficiently in small groups he’d been right doct th and Kennison remained still and griffith noticed a foul smell coming from one of them scowling he

Looked down his suspicion confirmed by the wetness of Dr Thurman’s pants he himself again Griffith felt a sudden almost overwhelming pity for Thurman but it was quickly replaced by irritated disgust Thurman had been an idiot before a decent enough biologist but as ridiculously narrow-minded as the rest

Of them he’d grown most of the ma7s himself and when they turned out to be uncontrollable he’d laid blame on everyone but himself if anyone deserved to wallow in his own filth it was Lewis Thurman it was just too bad that the good doctor wasn’t capable of understanding how repulsively pathetic he’d

Become without me he wouldn’t have lasted a day Griffith sighed stepping back from the table good morning gentlemen he said in unison the three men turned their heads to look at him their eyes as blank as their faces as different as they were physically the slackness of their

Features and slow vapid gazes made them look like brothers it seems that Dr Thurman has evacuated his bowels Griffith said he’s sitting in feces that’s funny all three of them grinned widely Dr Kennison actually chuckled he’d been the last to be infected so he’d suffered the least tissue deterioration given the proper

Instructions Allan could probably still pass for human Griffith pulled the police whistle out of his pocket and put it on the table in front of Athens Dr Athens recall the tri squads from Duty tend to their physical needs and send them to the coldroom when you finished go to the cafeteria and

Wait a picked up the whistle as he stood then walked out of the room down the hall toward the dormitory’s other entrance the whistle would deactivate the teams and call them in there were four Tri squads 12 soldiers in all they’d be roaming the woods along the fence or moving

Stealthily around the bunkers having been trained to stay away from the Northeast area of the compound the lighthouse and dorms Griffith had to admit they were quite effective at their purpose umbrella had wanted soldiers that would kill without mercy and fight until they were literally blown to

Pieces the T Virus had been good for that much and since they’d sped up the amplification time they’d been able to turn out subjects in hours rather than days once trained with weapons the tri squads had become killing machines although with the recent Heat Wave he didn’t know how much longer they’d be

Viable Griffith turned his attention to Dr Thurman still grinning and stinking like some bloated infant he even looked like a baby pudgy and bald his smile as innocent and guess as a child’s Dr Thurman go to your room and remove your clothes shower and dress in

Clean clothes then go to the caves and feed the ma7s when you finished go to the cafeteria and wait Thurman stood up and griffith saw that the padded chair was wet and stained Christ take the chair with you leave it in your room after he’d gone Griffith sat down across

From Allen suddenly feeling tired the anticipatory Pride he’d felt only moments before was gone leaving a cold emptiness in its place my children my creation the virus was so beautiful so perfectly engineered that the first time he’d seen it he’d wept months of private research of picking apart the T virus

And isolating effects culminating in that first micro graph while the others had been gloating over their war toys he’d found the true path to a new beginning and do they appreciate what I’ve done do any of them know how crucial this is crapping himself like a disgusting child like a monkey

Disgracing my work my life Griffith looked at Alan Kennison studying his handsome features his expressionless eyes Dr Kennison stared back waiting to be told what to do he’d been a neurologist once there were pictures in his room of his wife and baby A little boy with a bright beautiful

Smile Griffith sanity shuddered suddenly a terrible rening twist that made him dizzy a thousand voices screaming unintelligibly through the cracks of reality for just a second he felt as if he was losing his mind how many will just starve to death sitting in puddles of Filth waiting millions

Billions what if I’m wrong Griffith whispered Alan tell me I’m not wrong that I’m doing this for the right reasons you’re not wrong Dr Inon said calmly you’re doing this for the right reasons Griffith stared at him tell me your wife’s a my wife’s a Dr Kennison said no pause no doubt krius

Smiled and the fear melted away look what I’ve accomplished it’s a gift my creation that gift to the world a chance a man to become strong again a peaceful death for all the leis Thurman in existence better than they deserve he’d been working too hard tiring himself and the strain was

Getting to him he was only Human After All but he couldn’t afford to let the stress of his body affect his mind again there would be no more tests he’d spend the day getting ready instead preparing himself for the cleansing tomorrow at Sunrise Dr Griffith would give his gift to the wind chapter

6 Karen driver was a tall lanky woman in her early 30s with short blonde hair and a serious business-like demeanor her small home was spotlessly C and almost antiseptically clean the clothes she’d picked out for Rebecca were utilitarian and perfectly folded a dark green t-shirt and crisp matching pants black

Cotton socks and underwear even her bathroom seemed to reflect her personality the white walls were lined with shelves each neatly organized according to purpose scratch a forensic scientist and find an obsessive compulsive Rebecca immediately felt guilty for thinking it Karen had been been welcoming enough even friendly in a

Brisk way maybe she just hated clutter Rebecca sat on the edge of the toilet and cuffed the overlong pants around her ankles relieved to be out of her old clothes and feeling surprisingly clearheaded after a night of broken sleep David had rented a car at the

Airport and in the early hours of the morning they’d found a cheap motel and staggered into their separate rooms Rebecca too exhausted to do more than take off her shoes before crawling into bed she woke just before 41 took a shower and had been waiting nervously when David knocked at her

Door gentle Rebecca heard the front door open and close new voices floating through the living room she slipped on her high tops and laced them quickly feeling her anxiety level jump and Notch the team was assembled they were that much closer to going in and though she’d thought of little else since waking

Up the realization continued to to come as a kind of shock umbrella’s surprise attack on Barry’s house already seemed like it had happened in another lifetime though it had been only hours ago and hours from now this will all be over it’s what’s going to happen in between that worries

Me David and his team weren’t there they didn’t see the dogs snakes those unnatural creatures in the tunnels or tyrant Rebecca shook the images away as she stood up scooping her dirty clothes off the floor and stuffing them into the empty bag that she’d carried on the

Plane there was no reason to assume that the calaban Cove facility would be the same and worrying about it wouldn’t change anything com she paused in front of the mirror studying the tense features of the young woman she saw there and then walked to the door I’m

Sure are still she headed for the living room past the sparkling kitchen and around a corner in the hall she heard David’s lilting voice apparently summing up the events of the night before some of the other first thing this morning another of the team

Has a contact in the FBI to use us a go between and to initiate an investigation when we have proof they’ll be waiting to hear from us after we’ve completed tonight’s operation he broke off as Rebecca walked into the room and All Eyes turned to her

Karen had pulled a few extra Chairs into the room and sat in one of them next to a low glass topped coffee table there were two men sitting on the couch across from where David stood David smiled at her as both men got up stepping forward to be

Introduced Rebecca this is Steve Lopez Steve is our resident computer genius and our best Marksman Steve grinned an all shuck smile that suited his boyish features perfectly as he shook her hand his teeth white against his natural deep tan coloring he had dark quick eyes and

Black hair he was only a few inches taller than her not much older either his gaze was friendly and direct and in spite of the circumstances Rebecca found herself wishing that she’d at least run a brush through her hair before coming out of the bathroom simply put he was

Hot and this is John Andrews a communication specialist and field scout John’s skin was a deep mahogany brown and he didn’t have a beard but he reminded her of Barry nonetheless he was massively built his 6-ft frame bulging with tightly packed muscle he grinned brightly at her his smile dazzlingly

White this is Rebecca Chambers biochemist and field medic for the Raccoon City Stars David said Jon let go of her hand still smiling biochemist damn how old are you Rebecca smiled back catching the glint of humor in his eyes 18 and 3/4s John laughed a deep throaty chuckle

As he sat back down he glanced at Steve then back at her you better watch out for Lopez then he said then dropped his voice to a mock whisper he just turned 22 and he single knock it off Steve growled his cheeks flushing he looked at her shaking his head he’ll have to

Excuse John he thinks he’s got a sense of humor and nobody can talk him out of it your mother thinks I’m funny Jon shot back and before Steve could respond David held up a hand that’s enough he said mildly we only have a few hours to

Organize if we mean to do this today let’s get started shall we Steven John’s banter had been a welcome break from her tension making her feel like one of the team almost instantly but she was also glad to see the serious intent looks on all their faces as they turned their

Attention to David watching him pull out Trent’s information and lay it on the table it was good to know that they were Pros but will it matter her mind whispered Softly the stars and raccoon were professionals too and even knowing the kind of research umbrella’s been

Doing will it make any difference at all what if the virus mutated and is still infectious what if the place is crawling with tyrants or something worse Rebecca had no answer for the insistent little whisper she focused on David instead silently telling herself that her anxieties wouldn’t get in the

Way of her doing her job and that her second mission wouldn’t be her last for Rebecca’s sake David started the briefing as he would have with an entirely new team as bright as she was and with her previous experience at an umbrella facility he didn’t want her to

Hold back for fear of speaking out of turn our objective is to get into the compound collect evidence on umbrella and their research and get out again with as little trouble as possible I’ll go over every step thoroughly and if any of you have any questions or ideas about

How to proceed no matter how trifling I want to hear them understood there were nods all around David continued comfortable that his point was made we’ve already discussed a few of the possibilities as to what may have happened and you’ve all read the articles I submit that we’re dealing

Once again with some kind of accident umbrellas put a lot of effort into covering up the problem in Raccoon City and while we could assume that they’ve been abducting or killing fishermen who’ve wandered across their territory it seems unlikely that they want to call that kind of attention to

Themselves why has an umbrella sent anyone in to clean it up John asked David shook his head who’s to say they haven’t we may find that they’ve already cleared the sight of evidence in which case we group together with the raccoon people and our own contacts and start

Over again everyone nodded he didn’t bother stating the obvious that the virus could still be contagious they all knew it was a possibility though he planned to have Rebecca address the matter before the briefing was through David looked down at the map and sighed inwardly before moving on to the next

Point point of entry he said If This Were an open Assault we could go in by helicopter just hop the fence but if there are still people there and we trigger an alarm it’s over before we even start since we don’t want to risk Discovery our best option is to go in by

Boat we can use one of the rafts from the tanker operation last year Karen piped up frowning slightly wouldn’t they have an alarm for here David touched the map putting his finger just below the notch line of the fence south of the compound actually I don’t recommend using the pier at all if

We go in here go past the pier he traced upward running the length of the Cove we can get to look at the layout of the entire compound and hide the raft in one of the caves beneath the lighthouse according to what I read there’s a

Natural path from the base of the cliff to the lighthouse itself if the path has been blocked we’ll backtrack and come up with an alternative route won’t the raft attract attention if anyone’s outside watching Rebecca asked David shook his head the exitor stars had used the rafts the previous summer

To approach an oil tanker that had been hijacked by terrorists who had threatened to Spill the cargo unless their demands were met it had been a night operation it’s black and has an underwater motor if we go in just past dusk we should be invisible the other

Benefit to this approach is that if the facility looks unhealthy we can abort until a later time he waited as they thought it over not wanting to rush them they were good soldiers his team but this was a voluntary assignment if any one of them had serious doubts it was better to

Address them now besides which he was open to other suggestions his gaze fell across Rebecca’s youthful face taking in the steady willingness of a good Stars operative and the quick brown eyes the thoughtful consideration of his plan he was beginning to like her for more than than just her usefulness to the mission

There was a kind of matter OFA openness about her that appealed to him particularly with all his recent turmoil over emotional awkwardness she seemed quite comfortable with herself David pushed the thoughts aside suddenly realizing how much stress he’d been under how tired he continued to be

His Focus was suffering for it keep it together man this isn’t a time to wonder once we get inside we move in a staggered line through the compound sticking to the Shadows John will take point with Karen at his back scouting the area for the lab and looking for

Some idea as to what happened Steve and Rebecca will follow and I’ll bring up the rear when we find the lab we go in together Rebecca will know what to look for in terms of materials and if they have a computer system still running Steve can get into the files the rest of

Us will provide cover once we retrieve the information we get back out the way we came he picked up the poem that Trent had given him tapping it with his other hand one of Rebecca’s teammates has already had dealings with Mr Trent she thinks that this might be relevant to

What we need to find so I want all of you to take another look before we go in it may be important so we can trust him Karen asked this Trent okay David frowned not sure how to answer it seems that for whatever reason he’s on our side in all of this yes

He said slowly and Rebecca recognized one of the names on the list as a man who has worked with viruses before the information looks solid it wasn’t a straight answer but it would have to do any idea on what the chances are that we’ll contract the virus Steve asked

Quietly David tilted his head toward Rebecca if you could give us some insight about what we may see perhaps a bit of background she nodded turning toward the rest of the team I can’t tell you exactly what we’re dealing with when our team got kicked

Off the case I lost access to the tissue and saliva samples so I didn’t get to run any tests but from looking at the effects it’s pretty obvious that the t- virus is a mutagen altering host chromosome structure on a cellular level it’s an interspecies infective capable of amplifying in Plants mammals birds

Reptiles you name it in some creatures it promotes incredible growth in all of them violent Behavior here from some of the reports we came across at the estate I can tell you that it affects brain chemistry at least in humans inducing something like a schizophrenic psychosis through extremely high levels of D2

Receptors it also inhibits pain the human victims we came across hardly reacted to gunshot wounds and though they were decaying physically they didn’t seem to feel it the young chemist paused perhaps remembering she suddenly looked much older than her years The Spill at the estate look like an

Airborne but I don’t think that’s its designed a preferred form the scientists were almost certainly injecting it in conjunction with genetic experimentation and since none of us contracted it and it didn’t spread I don’t think we have to worry about breathing it in what we do have to watch

For is contact with a host and I mean any contact I can’t stress that enough this thing is incredibly virulent once it enters the bloodstream and even a single drop of blood from a could hold hundreds of millions of virus particles we need a fully equipped hot suit and a

Trained biohazard biologist to pin down its replication strategy for certain but direct contact of any kind should be avoided at all costs with any luck they’ll have died by now or at least deteriorated past Mobility the humans anyway there was a moment of strained silence as they all considered the

Implications of what she’ told them David could see that they were shaken and felt a bit shaken himself knowing the virus was toxic wasn’t the same as actually hearing the specifics my God what were those people thinking how could they live with themselves deliberately injecting anything with something like

That on the tale of that thought another occurred to him how would he live with himself if one of his team contracted the virus he’d LED missions before in which people under his command had been hurt and twice before he’ made Captain he’d been on operations in which stars had been

Killed but taking a team into an area on his own initiative where a silent terrible disease could infect them where they could die at the claws of some inhuman monster it would be on my head this isn’t an authorized Mission responsibility stops with me can I truly ask them to do

This well it pretty much sounds like a job JN said finally and if we want to get out there on time we better head out soon he smiled at David an uncharacteristically subdued one but a smile all the same you know me I love a good fight somebody’s got to stop these

from spreading the stuff around right Steve and Karen were both nodding their faces as set and determined as J’s and even knowing what they would encounter Rebecca had made her decision back in raccoon David felt a sudden Rush of emotion for all of them a strange

Uncomfortable mix of Pride and fear and warmth that he wasn’t sure what to do with after a few seconds of Uncertain silence he nodded briskly glancing at his watch it would take them a few hours to get to the launch site right we’d best get to storage and load up he said

We can go through the rest of it on our way as they stood to leave David REM reminded himself that they were doing this because it was necessary that each of them had made up their own mind to participate in the dangerous operation they knew the

Risks and he also knew that if anything went wrong that knowledge would be cold comfort indeed Karen sat in the back of the van and loaded clips the words of the mysterious message repeating through her thoughts as she thumbed the 9mm rounds into each magazine ammon’s message received blue series enter answer for

Key letters and numbers reverse time rainbow don’t count lud to access she finished another clip and set it aside with the others absently wiping her oily fingers on the leg of her pants before picking up the next one a welcome Breeze whispered through the muggy van smelling of salt and summer wared sea

They’d pulled off the road south of the Cove finding a clear patch to set up not a quarter mile from the water’s edge outside the sun was setting casting Long Shadows across the dusty ground the not so distant sound of soft waves against the shore was soothing a

White noise background to the low voices of the others as they worked Steve and David were prepping the raft while John checked out the motor Rebecca was assembling a medical kit from the supplies they’d borrowed out of the star’s equipment warehouse the letters and numbers a code does it relate to

Time does counting relate to the sum of the lines or to something else her mind worked the riddle relentlessly gnawing at the the words the way a dog would have bone what did it mean were the lines connected to a single concept or did each represent a

Separate aspect of a bigger puzzle had Ammon sent the message and if he worked for umbrella why she finished the last clip and reached for a waterproof carry all refocusing herself to the task at hand she knew that her thoughts would return to the strange little poem as soon as

She’d completed her assigned detail it was the way her mind worked she just couldn’t relax when presented with an ambiguity there was always an answer always and finding it was just a matter of concentrating of taking the right steps in the right order the semi-automatics were cleaned

And ready laying in the neat line next to the checked radio gear on the floor of the van they weren’t taking any weapons besides the Stars issued Berettas David insisted that they needed to travel light although Karen agreed she was sorry they wouldn’t be bringing in the assault rifles which were

Equipped with night Scopes after hearing more of the details about the zombie like creatures on their ride she didn’t know how comfortable she felt with just a handgun in a hallogen flashlight admit it you’re worried about this one and have been since David broke the news the facts are all out of order

The pieces don’t fit the way they’re supposed to it was ironic that the reasons compelling her to crack this mystery were the same ones that made her so uneasy Trent the star’s apparent collusion with umbrella the possibility of a biohazardous incident in her home state who had been bribed what had

Happened to Kellan Cove what would they uncover what did the poem mean not enough data not yet she had always prided herself on her lack of imagination on her ability to find the truth based on empirical evidence rather than wild unsubstantiated intuition it was the key

To success in her field and though she was aware that she she sometimes came across as overly clinical even cold she accepted who she was embracing the kind of peace that was found in knowing all of the facts whether it was examining blood spray patterns or measuring angles

On an entry wound there was a deep satisfaction for her in solving puzzles in finding out not only why but how the unanswered questions about calaban Cove were in a front to her careful thought proces they went against her grain smudging her very ordered sense of reality

And she knew that she wouldn’t find relief until those questions were put to rest she was finished with the weapons she should check the utility belts again make sure everything was locked down and ready and then see if David had anything else for her to do Karen hesitated

Feeling a trickle of warm sweat slide down her back no one was within sight of the open back door and she’d already double checked every flap and pocket on every belt with a sudden Rush of something like guilt she reached into her vest pocket and pulled out her secret

Comforted by The Familiar weight of it in her hand God if the guys knew I’d never hear the end of it it had been given to her by her father a Remnant from his service in World War II and one of the few items she had to remember him

By an ancient anti-personnel shrapnel grenade called a pineapple because of its cross-hatched exterior carrying it was one of her few unpractical idiosyncrasies one that made her feel a little silly she’ worked hard to present herself as a thoroughly rational intelligent woman not prone to emotional sentimentality and in most

Respects that was true but the grenade was her rabbit’s foot and she never went on a mission without it besides she had half convinced herself that it might come in handy one day yeah keep telling yourself that the stars have digitized anti-personnel grenades with timers even flashbangs

With computer chips the pen on this Relic probably couldn’t be wrenched out with pliers Karen do you need any help startled Karen looked up and into Rebecca’s Earnest young features the girl leaning into the back of the van her quick gaze fell through the grenade her eyes lighting up with sudden

Curiosity I thought we weren’t taking any explosives hey is that a pineapple grenade I’ve never actually seen one is it live Karen quickly looked around afraid that one of the team had overheard then grinned sheepishly at the Young biochemist embarrassed by her own embarrassment it’s not like I got caught masturbating

For Christ’s sake she doesn’t know me why the hell would she care if I’m superstitious sh they’ll hear us come here a sec she said and Rebecca obediently crawled into the van a conspiratorial half smile blooming on her face in spite of herself Karen was absurdly pleased with the young

Biochemist Discovery in the seven years she’d been with the Stars no one had ever found out and she’d taken an instant liking to the girl it is a pineapple and we’re not taking explosives in you can’t tell anyone okay I carry it for good luck Rebecca raised her

Eyebrows you carry a live grenade around for luck yes and if John or Steve found out they’d ride me ragged I know it’s dumb but it’s kind of a secret I don’t think it’s dumb my friend Jill has a lucky hat Rebecca reached up and touched her headband a tied red bandana beneath

Mousy bangs and I’ve been wearing this for a couple of weeks practically I was wearing it when we went into the Spencer facility her young face clouded slightly and then she was smiling again her light brown gaze direct and sincere I won’t say a word Karen decided that she definitely

Liked her she tuck the grenade back in her vest nodding at the girl I appreciate that so are we ready out there tiny lines of nervous strain appeared on Rebecca’s face yeah pretty much John wants to run another check with the headsets but other than that everything’s done Karen

Nodded again wishing she could say something to ease the girl’s fear there wasn’t anything to say Rebecca had dealt with umbrella before and any words that Karen might mouth would be Hollow ones might even seem patronizing she felt some anxiety herself she’d be a fool not to but fear

Wasn’t a state she wore off to or well as with most missions the overriding feeling she experienced with anticipation a kind of cerebral hunger for the truth go ahead and hand out the weapons I’ll get the rest Karen said finally she could at least give her something to

Do Rebecca helped her unload the equipment as the sun dipped lower in the heavy Summer Sky the winds off the water grew cooler and the first pale Stars shimmered into view of the Atlantic as Twilight crept in they moved down to the water in an uneasy silence loading their

Weapons and stretching staring out at the black Waters that eded and swirled with secrets of their own when the last of the daylight melted off the Horizon they were as ready as they were going to get as John and David slipped the raft into the lapping Darkness Karen slipped

On a black watch cap and patted the heavy lump inside her vest for luck telling herself that she wouldn’t need it the truth was waiting it was time to find out what was really going on chapter 7 Steven David climbed in edging to the front of the six-man raft as Karen and

Rebecca followed John hopped in last and at David’s signal started the motor with the push of a button it was as silent as David had promised only a faint hum that was almost lost in the sound of gently moving water let’s move David said quietly Rebecca took a deep breath and

Let it out slowly as they started North heading for the Cove nobody spoke as the shore slid by to their left shadowy Jagged shapes in the PID Light Of The Rising Moon an immense and Whispering void to their right Horton starboard her mind noted randomly bow and

Stern she searched the Blackness for a sign that marked the beginning of the private territory but couldn’t make out much it was a lot darker than she’d expected and colder the chill she felt was compounded by the knowledge that beneath him lay an infinite and alien world teaming with cold blooded

Life Rebecca saw a flash of soft light as David raised a pair of night vision binoculars to watch for movement on the shore the infrared illuminators glow spilled across his face for an instant Before He adjusted their position making his features strange and craggy now that they were actually doing it

Actually on their way she felt better than she had all day not relaxed by any means the dread was still there the fear of the unknown and for what they might encounter but the feelings of helplessness the Mind numbing anxiety she’d lived with since the incident in

Raccoon had eased giving way to hope we’re doing something taking the offensive instead of waiting for them to get us I see the fence David said Softly his face of pale smudge in the bobbing dark we’ll pass the dock next maybe see the buildings as the land slopes up to

The lighthouse to the caves water slopped at the raft the sound of muted waves growing as the small craft rocked and shuddered Rebecca felt her heart speed up while she liked looking at the ocean she wasn’t all that thrilled to be out in it as a kid she’d seen Jaws one too many

Times she kept her focus on the shore trying to judge how close they were and felt as much as she saw the land open up as the tiny raft slipped through the lapping waves maybe 20 M away the Towering Shadows of the trees gave way to a clearing she could hear water dashing

Lightly against the rocky Shore since flat open space on both sides of them now they had reached the compound there’s the dock David said John VI stared 2:00 Rebecca could just make out the faint man-made shape of the p ahead of them a dark line shifting on the

Water there was the hollow lonely squeak of metal rubbing wood the small dock raised and straining at its pilings there were no boats that she could see as the pier slipped past Rebecca squinted into the darkness Beyond she could just make out the blocky outline of a structure behind the floating wood

What had to be the boat house from Marina for the facility she couldn’t see any other buildings from Trent map there were six more besides the lighthouse house five of them spaced evenly Across The Cove set into two lines that paralleled the shore three in front two

Behind the six structure was directly in the back of the lighthouse and they were all hoping that it was the lab they’d be able to get what they needed without going through the whole compound boat house is wood the others look like concrete I don’t wait David’s whisper became urgent somebody two three

They just went behind one of the buildings Rebecca felt a strange relief flood through her relief and disappointment and a sudden confusion if there were people maybe the t- virus hadn’t been Unleashed but that meant that the buildings would be occupied the grounds patrolled making a covert operation

Impossible then why is it so dark and why does it feel so dead here so empty do we abort Karen whispered and before David could respond Steve gasped a sharp intake of air that froze Rebecca’s blood her thoughts fluttering wildly in a spasma of Primal Fear 3:00 big oh Jesus it’s

Huge the raft was hid heaped up and over in a fountain of churning Blackness Rebecca saw a flash of Sky smelled cold and rotting slime and was plunged splashing into the turbulent dark Waters of the sea water enveloped him the icy stinging salt burning David’s eyes and nose as he

Flailed desperately lost and breathless where is it he’d seen it an immense and peppel plane of Flesh surging from the black at the second of impact the surface pulled at him and he kicked against the dragging depths terrified his head broke through to air in an ominous quiet the team where David Whirled

Around gasping heard a spluttering cough to his left get to shore he panted turning in a circle trying to find their position to find the creatures cursing himself for a fool missing Fisher haunted Waters stupid stupid the raft was 10 m behind him upside down Disturbed water splashing at its sides

The force of the attack had thrown them clear actually knocking them closer to land he saw two bobbing shapes faces between him in the shore heard more splashing as another joined them he couldn’t see the unnatural thing that had hit the raft but expected to feel

The bite any second the cold puncture of dagger teeth tearing him to pieces get to shore he called again his heart thundering his legs heavy and vulnerable kicking obvious can’t go in three West fo David Jon’s terrified shout from Beyond The Floating raft here John this way come this way follow my

Voice John started toward him as David tread water propelling himself backward toward the rocky Beach and shouting all the while he saw the top of Jon’s head appear saw his arms pumping frantically through the murky water follow me I’m over here we’ve got to get a giant pale shadow Rose up smoothly

Behind the soldier at least 3 m across rounded and dripping in impossible time jerked to a crawl the events unfolding in front of him in a slow motion dream David saw thick tapering tentacles on either side near the top of the Rising Shadow saw a rounded slash in the corpse colored

Slickness not tentacles feers and realized that he was seeing the underbelly of a monstrous animal that couldn’t possibly exist a bottom feeder as big as a house the Black slash of its mouth hissed open revealing clusters of peglike grinding teeth each the size of a man’s fist when it came

Down John would be swallowed up by by the massive Jaws or crushed or plowed into the icy deep a drowning meal for the creature in the instant it took him to absorb the facts he was already screaming Dive Dive time skipped forward and the Beast was falling forward arching over its

Long thick Serpent’s body dwarfing the raft its shadow enveloping the Frantic swimmer David caught a glimpse of bulbous rolling eyes the size of beach balls and it crashed down sending explosiv of plumes of water High into the air blotting out the stars and sheets of foaming spray before David

Could draw breath a tremendous wave knocked into him driving him violently backward through the bubbling Darkness there was rushing movement a sense of helpless speed as he struggled against the force that tore at his limbs struggled to find air in the sweeping torrent kicking wildly he surged upward

Through the liquid Veil felt cold air slap at his skin and warm human hands yanking at his shoulders he inhaled convulsively as his boots scraped against Rock and Karen’s ragged voice spoke behind him I got him staggering against the slimy rocks David let himself be dragged backward

Until he found his balance and could turn around wet Figures were reaching out Steve and Rebecca oh my God John I’m okay David gasped stumbling forward his knees cracking numbly against larger rocks that his blurred gaze denied him from seeing Joan does anyone see him nobody answered he blinked away salt

Reeling around to face the splashing Darkness the settling waves slapping at their feet JN he called as loud as he dared searching seeing nothing at all his heart was as cold as his body as heavy as the Soden weight of his Kevlar vest no life jackets would have seen him by

Now he called again hope dwindling Joan a choking strangled voice from the rocks to their left what David sagged in relief taking a deep breath as Jon’s tripping figure staggered Out of the Shadows Steve Ed forward grabbing the taller man’s arm and helping him lean against the

Rocks ad Dove John rasped out David turned and looked up past the sliver of pebbled Boulder strewn Beach to the darkness of the compound they were at the bottom of a short angled Drop In Plain Sight the shock of the Monstrous fish if it could be called that was suddenly unimportant

In the light of that realization they were out of the water now have they heard us seen won’t make the caves now can’t stay here the marina he breathed turning South quickly the team stumbled past him Karen taking the lead the other two following close no one seemed seriously injured a

Miracle all its own David jogged after Jon assessing the situation as his aching legs carried him through the rocky dark get to cover B the door regroup get to the fence the ground Rose steeply in front of them the pier looming into the view ahead as they

Clambered up over the Rocks David heard a muffled clatter of metal saw Rebecca hugging the black dripping shape of the ammo pack to her chest he felt a whisp of New Hope for their chances if they could just make it inside somewhere safe the building was ahead on their

Right silent and dark a closed door facing the wooden dock there was no way to know if it was empty and though barely 10 m away way the distance was open and flat weathered planking not even a pebble to block them from view no choice stay low he whispered and then

They were crouching their way to the structure Karen reached the door first pushing it open no light spelled out no alarm sounded Steve and Rebecca piled in behind her then John then David stumbling into the dark closing the wooden door after him with a wet and cold shoulder

Stop where you are he said softly fumbling for the hogen torch on his belt besides the gulping breaths of his team the room was still but there was a horrid smell in the close air a fading stench of something long dead the thin beam of light cut through the black

Revealing a large and mostly empty windowless room ropes and life preservers hung from wooden pegs a workbench ran the length of one wall a few saw horses cluttered shells my God the light froze on the room’s other door directly across from the one they’d entered the narrow beam played across

The source of the smell highlighting bare bone and tattered oily stained lab coat dried strings of muscle dripped in streamers from a grinning face a corpse had been nailed to the door one hand fixed in a welcoming wave from the look it had been dead for

Weeks Steve felt his Gorge rise in his throat he swallowed it down looking away the grotesque image was already fixed in his mind the eyeless face and peeling tissue the carefully splayed fingers pinned in place Jesus is that some kind of joke Steve felt dizzy still out of

Breath from the nightmarish swim the sloshing climb over the Rocks the horror of the umbrella sea monster the dried sour smell of rot wasn’t helping for a few seconds nobody spoke then David cued one hand over the light and started talking his voice low but amazingly even check your belts and drop

Your Clips I want status now injuries then equipment take a deep breath everyone John Jon’s solemn Voice rumbled through the Shadows to Steve’s left accompanied by Sounds of wet fumbling movement Karen and Rebecca were to his right David still by the door I got fish slime on me but I’m okay

I’ve got my weapon but my light’s gone so are the radios Rebecca her voice was wavering but quick I’m fine my weapons here the flashlight the medkit oh and I’ve got the ammo Steve checked himself out as she spoke on in his Beretta and ejecting the wet mag

Slipping it into a pocket there was an empty spot on his belt where his light should have been Steve yeah no injuries weapon but no light Karen same David’s fingers shifted over the muted beam allowing a shallow glow to spill into the room no one’s heard and was still armed

Things could be a lot worse Rebecca pass out the clips please the fence can’t be more than 50 m South from here and there are enough trees for cover provided no one has seen us yet this operation is cold we’re getting out of here Steve accepted three loaded magazines from Rebecca nodding his

Thanks he slapped one into the gun chambering around automatically great fine let’s blow that insane creature nearly eating us now Mr death dropping a casual wave like he was put there to say hello Steve wasn’t easy usually frightened but he knew a bad situation when he saw it he admired the Stars

Deeply had wanted to go in on the operation to help make things right but with their boat gone and the initial plan shot to nailing umbrella could wait David stepped closer to the decomposed figure a look of disgust curling his features in the shadowy orange glow of the light Karen Rebecca

Come take a look at this John take Rebecca’s torch you and Steve see if you can find anything useful Rebecca handed her flashlight to John who nodded at Steve the two men walked to one end of the long workbench the soft voices of the others carrying across the still

Air the T Virus didn’t do this Rebecca said pattern of Decay is all wrong silence then Karen spoke see that David give me the light a sec John hooded their flashlight with one large hand plying the beam across the dirty planks of the counter a broken

Coffee mug a pile of greasy nuts and bolts on top of a laminated tide chart an electric screwdriver Dusty and dented a couple of bits on a stained rag nothing there’s nothing here we should get out of here before someone comes looking John opened a drawer and

Rummaged through it while Steve tried to make out what was on an overhead shelf behind them Karen spoke again he wasn’t dead when they nailed him up though I’d say he was close definitely unconscious there’s no smearing suggesting he didn’t struggle and there are slide Marks here

And here I’d say he was shot by the back door and dragged over Jon had finished digging through the drawer and they moved on boots squelching against the wood floor a set of socket wrenches a cheap radio a crumpled paper bag next to a pencil knb something snagged at Steve’s

Thoughts and he stopped looking at the paper bag the pencil he picked up the crunched ball smoothing out the wrinkles and turning it over there were several lines written near the bottom scrawled and jerky hey we found something John called quietly shining the light on the writing

As the others hurried over Steve read it aloud squinting at the faintly pencil words under the wobbling beam there was no punctuation he did his best to work out the pauses as he went July 20 food was drugged I’m sick I hid the material for you sent data boats

Are sunk and he let the Steve frowned unable to make out the word Tris TR squads boats are sun can he let the tri squads out dark now they’ll come I think he killed the rest stop him God knows what he means to do destroy the

Lab find Christa tell her I’m sorry ly is sorry I wish there was nothing more ammon’s message Karen said softly Lyle Ammon it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who was hanging on the door the sagging seeping Mr death had an identity now for what it was worth and

The message that Trent had given David was so weird because the poor guy had apparently been doped up when he sent it nice to put a face to the name huh John cracked but not even he smiled the desperate little note had an ominous ring to it with or without the brutal

Murder to back it up what’s a tri Squad who’s he maybe we should look around a little more Rebecca began hesitantly but David was shaking his his head I think it’s best if we leave this for now we’ll he broke off his heavy plotting footsteps sounded across the wood deck just

Outside the door they’d come through everyone froze listening more than one set and whoever they were they were making no effort to hide their approach they stopped at the door and stayed there no rattling knob no crashing kick no other sound waiting David circled one finger in the

Air pointed to Karen and then the other door hung with the grizzly remains of ly Ammon the signal to move out Karen first they edged toward the grinning corpse Steve wincing at every shifting Creek they created breathing through his mouth to avoid inhaling the stench and as Karen pushed the door open

The silence was shattered by the rattle of automatic fire coming from in front of them to the left coming from the direction of their escape Karen jumped back as bullets cracked into the door chunks of rotten flesh spattered up from ammon’s body the corpse danced and waved in a shuttering jerking rhythm of maob motion David snatched at the coat of the dead man and yanked but the door was pinned open by the clattering fire and whoever was

Shooting was coming closer the exposive shots louder the splinters of Flesh and wood pelting them with greater force they were trapped both exits blocked Rebecca clutched her Beretta in one shaking hand watching for a signal from David he pointed roughly Northwest into the compound shouting to be heard

Over the whining spitting clatter of the automatic fire Rebecca other door John Karen next building secure Steve we cover go as one Steven David leapt out and started to fire the Boom booming rounds punctuating the lighter hail of deadly ammo John and Karen charged out at a full run and were instantly

Swallowed up by the Shadows Rebecca spun and trained her weapon on the back door her heart pounding in her throat the walls trembled and shook die Jesus why won’t they die Steve screamed behind her a strain of disbelief and Terror in his voice that made her blood run

Cold zombies without looking away from the rectangle of dark wood Rebecca shouted as loud as she could Hood her voice cracking over the Relentless spray of the automatics head shots aim for the head there was no way to know if they’d H her the rifle or rifles kept pounding

Approaching her thoughts raced to understand images of the T Virus victims flitting through her mind they’d been mindless slow inhuman and accidental not on purpose not with purpose Rebecca let’s go there was still the sound of an automatic rifle firing but the boat house no longer shook from the impact of its

Force she shot a glance back saw Steve still shooting at something saw David motioning at her to move she sidled for the open door catching a sickening up close look at the bullet riddled corpse still hanging there the head had caved in like a rotting pumpkin teeth shattered gummy flexs of tissue

Radiating out from behind the skull the waving hand was no longer connected to the rotting arm the radius and Ona Blown Away it dangled there like some obscene decoration beckoning Steve fired once more and the Auto’s clatter ceased he raised the weapon his eyes wide and shocked as he

Opened his mouth to say something and the back door crashed open bullets flying through the dark in a blaze of orange fire David pushed her roughly through the front and she ran the responding crack of 9mm rounds resonating behind her get to the building get to cover she sprinted

Through the Shadows her wet shoes thumping across packed Rocky dirt her searching gaze finding the outline of a massive concrete building and the spindly trees that surrounded in in the darkness ahead here she veered toward the call saw Jon’s muscular form silhouetted by pale Starlight at the corner of a

Building as she neared him she saw the open door Karen standing in the entry with a weapon trained back toward the boat house bullets still sang through the Shadows get in Karen shouted step stepping out of the way and Rebecca ran past her not slowing until she was

Inside she fell into a table in the pitch black cracking one hip painfully against the edge turning she saw Karen firing heard John yelling come on come on and Steve pounded through the door gasping he pulled to a stop before crashing into her one hand clutching his

Chest Rebecca moved to the door and grasp the cool thickness her mind absent registering the material was steel as David hurdled through shouting Karen Joan Karen backed into the darkness weapons still raised there were three more sharp reports from a Beretta and then johon slipped inside his jaw clenched his nostrils flaring Rebecca

Slammed the door her fingers finding a deadbolt switch the soft Snick of the lock was barely audible against the ringing in her ears outside the bullet stopped there were no shouts between the attackers no alarms no barking of dogs or Screaming of wounded the sudden silence was total broken only by the

Deep shuttering breaths in the warm and muggy Darkness a hallogen beam flickered on revealing the shocked faces of the team as David shown in around their Retreat a midsized room crowded with desks and computer equipment there were no windows did you see that Steve gasped addressing no one in

Particular God they wouldn’t go down did you see that nobody answered and the though they were out of immediate danger Rebecca didn’t feel her adrenaline slowing didn’t feel her heart settling back to anything approaching normal it seemed that umbrella had found a new application for the t-

Virus and like it or not we’re going to have to deal with a consequences they were trapped in calaban Cove and in this facility the creatures had guns David took a final deep breath and exhaled it heavily flashing the torch’s light toward the door I’d say we’ve been spotted he said

Hoping that he didn’t sound as despairing as he felt might as well see what we’ve gotten into Rebecca would you turn on the lights she flipped the wall switch and the room snapped into blinding Brilliance overhead fluoresence pulsing to life blinking against the sudden glare David surveyed the team saw

That Steve had one hand pressed to his chest are you hit vest stopped it he said but he seemed more out of breath than the others his face paler than it should have been Rebecca glanced at David with a questioning gaze he nodded at her it doesn’t appear that we have

Anywhere else to go check him out anyone else nobody answered as Rebecca stepped up to Steve motioning for him to take off the vest David turned and looked around the room measuring it against the memory of Trent’s map and what little he’d seen from outside there were a half dozen cheap metal

Desks each with a computer and bits of clutter on top the cement walls were undecorated and plain there was another door on the west wall that had to lead deeper into the building Ken secure that he said they could check out the rest of the site once they decided what to

Do once you’ve decided Captain perhaps you’d like to send them out for a swim it can’t be any worse than what you’ve already managed David ignored the in her voice perfectly aware of how badly he’d underestimated the situation the team didn’t need to see him wallow in self-doubt it wouldn’t help

Anything the question was what now let’s talk he said it doesn’t look like we’re facing an accident after all what did the note say the food was drugged and something about a he killing the others is it possible that we’re not looking at a tar of spill Rebecca looked

Up from her examination of Steve’s chest the computer expert sitting on one of the desks in front of her Steve winced as Rebecca’s fingers circled the darkening bruise on his right pectoral she smiled guiltily at him shaking her head you’re okay nothing’s broken she turned back to David the smile falling

Away yeah if there had been a release that guy on the door Ammon would have been affected but the tri squads if they’re the result of experiments with the t- virus they’d have rot It Away by now it’s been over 3 weeks since he wrote that note we should be looking at

Piles of mush either it’s a different virus or somebody’s been taking care of them enzyme upkeep maybe some kind of refrigeration David nodded slowly following her reasoning and if that someone had gone mad and killed everyone why bother that corpse waving at us Karen said thoughtfully and the creature or

Creatures in the cove it’s like he expected people to come but didn’t mean for us to get very far John finished the line from the note ran through David’s mind the words following the plea to stop him God knows what he means to do Steve had slipped his shirt back on

Shivering from the damp cloth so what do we do now David didn’t answer him not sure what to say he felt so drained so exhausted and uncertain I our options are to get out or go deeper he said softly considering what’s happened so far I don’t feel comfortable making that

Call what do you want to do David looked weily from face to face expecting to see anger and disdain he’d let them down LED them into a perilous situation without a contingency plan all because he couldn’t stand to see the stars tarnished now that they were trapped he didn’t know what to

Do the Expressions they wore as a group were thoughtful and intent he was surprised to see Karen actually smile and when she spoke her tone was brightly eager since you’re asking I want to figure this out I want to know what happened here Rebecca was nodding yeah

Me too and I still want to get a look at that T Virus I want to pick off a few more of those Tri boys John said grinning man zombies with M16s Night of the Living death squad Steve sighed pushing his wet bangs off his forehead might as well keep looking

Going back out isn’t exactly safe it’s not the way I would have liked but getting dirt on umbrella was the original plan yeah I want to nail these bastards David smiled feeling properly embarrassed at himself he hadn’t just underestimated the situation he’d sorely underestimated his team what do you want Rebecca asked suddenly

Really the question surprised him a new not because she’d asked but because suddenly he didn’t have an answer he thought about the Stars about his obsession with his career and what it had already cost them all he’d wanted for days was to feel as though his life’s work had been

Meaningful that it hadn’t been wasted and he convinced himself that uncovering the treachery within the job would lay his mind at rest as if rooting out the corruption would somehow prove that he wasn’t worthless I’ve worshiped at the altar of the organization for so long but isn’t this the reason why the

Real purpose here in this room on these faces he studied her curious sharp gaze felt the rest of them watching him waiting I want for us to survive he said finally truthfully I want for us to make it out of here Amen to that John muttered David

Remembered what he told the raccoon team about each of them doing what they did best if they meant to succeed against umbrella he’d said it to get Chris’s approval of his operation but it was a truth that applied to all of them get to it Captain John you and Karen take a look

Around the building check the doors be back in 10 Steve boot up one of those computers see if you can find a detailed layout of the grounds Rebecca we’ll go through the desks we want Maps data on Tri squads T Virus anything personal about the researchers that might tell us who’s behind all

This David nodded at them realizing that he felt clearer and more balanced than he had in a long long time let’s do it he said to hell would the Stars they were going to take umbrella down Dr Griffith might not have even noticed the security breach if it hadn’t been for the

Ma7s it seemed that they were useful after all though not in the way they’d been intended he’d spent most of the day in the lab dreamily pondering the pressurized canisters by the entrance The Shining steel glittering seductively in the soft light once he’ made the decision to let the virus go

He’d realized that there was really nothing else he needed to do the hours had flown by each glance at the clock had been a surprise though not an unpleasant one he’d be the first after all the first convert to the new way of the world with that in front of him the only

Task with which he needed to concern himself with was getting the canisters up to the lighthouse and with the doctor waiting silently Patiently by even that was taken care of Just Before Dawn he’d give them their final instructions and then proudly lead the human species into the light into the miracle of

Peace it had been the thought of the ma7s that had finally drawn him out into the caves the only concern he hadn’t already dismissed as trivial he’d already made a mistake with the leviathans once he’d taken over the facility he’d lowered the Cove Gates on impulse wanting them to be as free as

He’d felt it wasn’t until the next day that he’ realized umbrella might find out and come looking effectively putting an end to his plans he’ continued to send in weekly reports to keep up appearances but there was no good explanation for The Escape of the four creatures it had been sheer luck that

The leviathans had returned on their own the ma7s were a different matter entirely of course they were too violent too unpredictable to be L out but letting them starve to death in their cage didn’t seem right particularly not when they two would enjoy the effects of

His gift it wasn’t their choice to exist as creatures of Destruction even to exist at all and since he’d played a small role in their creation he felt a responsibility to do something for them he’d stood in front of the outer gate for quite some time considering the

Problem as all five of the animals hurled themselves repeatedly at the heavy steel mesh of strange mournful howls echoing through the damp and winding caves there was a manual lock release near the enclosure another in the lab but there was no way to loose them from the lighthouse and he certainly couldn’t

Let them out before he got to safety he could send one of the doctors to do it but the sevens had a much slower metabolism than the humans and there was a risk that they would get to him before they made the change a month before his

Takeover of the compound Dr Chin and two of her Vette techs had made the mistake of trying to tend to one of the sick ones it was a bad way to die and although he’d be oblivious to the pain when he’d made the transition he meant

To stay with the new world for as long as possible Griffith had finally decided that euthanasia was the only reasonable Choice it was a reluctant decision but he could see no alternative although the lab was well stocked poisons weren’t his Forte so he decided to look up the

Information on the main frame and there in the cold comfort of the sealed laboratory he discovered that his Sanctuary had been invaded he sat in front of the computer in a kind of shock staring at the blinking cursor that indicated system use in one of the

Bunkers there was no chance that it was a mistake except for the lab terminals the rest of the compound had been powered down weeks ago umbrella had come the first emotion to break through his stunned astonishment was rage a sweeping RedHot Fury that tore away all reason descending over him like a

Blinding fire for a few moments he was lost his body taken over by the Primal Force grasping and rending tearing at the useless meaningless thing that fell beneath his burning fingers they will not they will not stop me will not when his hands touched the cool metal of the canisters the fire turned

To Ash the smooth silver tanks were like a splash of Reason bringing him back to himself his control returned as abruptly as it had gone leaving him breathless and sweating my creation my work blinking gasping he found himself standing in a sea of ripped papers broken glass and torn

Circuitry he’d managed to destroy the computer the bearer of bad news and pieces on the floor on another day he might have been ashamed at the hysterical tantrum but on this his Eve of greatness he allowed that the rage had been just ified Justified perhaps but pointless how will you keep them from

Stopping you you can’t release the strain here and you can’t risk taking it outside not now was how their plans how much do they know he could find out easily enough there were still two other terminals in the lab and he walked quickly to one of them glancing at the mute doctors

Sitting quietly by the airlock if they’d even noticed his Rampage they gave no sign he felt a small Rush of hatred for them for creating the useless Tri squads the Unstoppable guards had failed him now when he needed the most he sat down and turned on the monitor impatiently waiting for the

Spinning umbrella of the company logo to disappear the security network for the compound system was based in the lab he’d be able to see what the intruders were seeking without alerting them to his presence if he could remember how to access the information he tapped several Keys waited then typed in his clearance

Number after the briefest of pauses lines of glowing green data spilled across the screen he’ done it seek find locate he frowned at the information wondering why the hell anyone from umbrella would be searching for the laboratory and for that matter why theyd try looking for the information in the main

Frame at all the system designers weren’t idiots there was nothing about the lay out of the facility and the files and umbrella would know it which means relief coursed through him cool and pure relief so great that he laughed out loud he suddenly felt quite silly at

His childish reaction to the breach the Searcher wasn’t from umbrella and that changed everything even if they managed to find the lab an unlikely proposition at best considering its location they wouldn’t be able to gain entry without a key card and griffith had destroyed all of them except for ammon’s his was never

Found Griffith froze then shook his head a nervous smile on his face no he’d searched practically everywhere for the missing card what were the chances that the interloper would stumble across it and what were the chances that they’d make it past the tri squads H and what

Was Lyle up to during those hours when you couldn’t find him what if he did get a message out you only checked for transmissions to umbrella but what if he contacted someone else even as the Dreadful impossible thought occurred to him the computer began to spit out information on the

Logic skill tests the sociopsychological series of tests that Ammon had designed mind Griffith felt his control slipping again he clenched his hands into fists refusing to give in there was too much at stake he couldn’t afford to let his emotions take over not now he had to

Think I’m a scientist not a soldier I don’t even know how to shoot how to fight I’d be useless in combat totally unpredictable uncontrollable a slow grin spread across his features ragged fingernails had dug into the heels of his hands but he felt no pain his gaze wandered around the open

Silent laboratory resting briefly on the airlock then to the blank stupid faces of his doctors to the cylinders of compressed air and virus his miracle and finally to the controls for the mesh gate that led to the animal enclosure Dr Griffith’s smile widened as blood pattered to the floor let them

Come as Steve read aloud Rebecca saw David glance between his watch and the door several times she didn’t think it had been 10 minutes but it had to be close John and Ken weren’t back yet to meas application of logic as combined index projective techniques with inter

It was rather dry reading apparently a facility report on the analysis of some kind of IQ test it had obviously been written by a scientist was in fact the kind of boring double talk that a lot of researchers tended to fall into when trying to explain anything more complicated than a

Chair still it was what had come up when Steve asked for information on Blue series since the room had yielded little El Rebecca forced herself to pay attention fighting off the nagging quiet fear that had settled over her during the fruitless search somebody had cleaned out the room

And had done a very thorough job of it she’d found books staplers pens and pencils a ton of rubber bands and paper clips but not a single piece of paper with writing on it not a scrap of information to work with Steve’s computer search wasn’t much better no

Map and nothing at all on the T Virus whoever had taken over the facility had apparently wiped out everything they might have been able to use except for a shitload of dull psycho Babble which so far hasn’t even mention the word blue prly how are we supposed to accomplish anything here proced Steve

Touched a key then brightened considerably here we go the red series when looked at on a standardized scale is the most basic and simple applicable up to an intelligence quotient of 80 the green series he broke off frowning the screen just went blank Rebecca looked up from the mostly

Empty desk she’d been going through as David walked over to join Steve system Crush he asked worriedly Steve was still frowning tapping at Keys more like a program freeze I don’t think hello what’s this Rebecca David said quietly motioning for her to come look she closed a drawer full of blank

Unlabeled file folders and moved over to stand behind Steve bending down to to read what was on the monitor the man who makes it doesn’t need it the man who buys it doesn’t want it the man who uses it doesn’t know it it’s a riddle David said either of

You know the answer before either of them could respond Karen and John walked back into the room both of them holstering their weapons Karen held a sheet of torn paper in one hand locked up tight John said half a dozen offices no windows at all and only one other

External door North End Karen nodded there were file cabinets in most of the rooms but they were empty except I found this in one of the drawers stuck in a crack it must have ripped off when the place was being cleaned out she handed the piece of paper to David he scanned a

Few lines his dark gaze taking on a sudden intensity he turned back to Karen this is all there was Karen nodded yeah but it’s enough don’t you think David held up the torn sheet and started to read it out loud the teams continue to work independently but have shown a marked

Improvement since the modification of oral synapsis in scenario 2 when more than one Tri Squad is present the second Team B will no longer engage when the first a concludes when Target ceases to move or make sound if the target continues to provide stimuli and a has discontinued the attack

Lack of ammunition disabling injury to all units B will engage if within range additional patrols will be drawn to the attack and will engage in succession at this time we have not successfully managed to expand sensory ability to trigger desired Behavior the visual stimuli of scenarios 4 and 7

Continue to be unproductive although we’ll be infecting a new group of units tomorrow and expect correlating results by the end of the week it is our recommendation that we continue to further develop oral capabilities before considering heat detection implantation that’s where it’s torn off David said looking up Karen nodded it

Explains a lot though why the team at the back door of the boat house didn’t do anything the team out front was still firing it wasn’t until you and Steve took them out that the second group moved in Rebecca frowned not liking the implications of the report for more than

Just the obvious umbrella’s continued EXP experimentation on humans from what she’d seen in raccoon the t- virus took seven or 8 days to fully amplify in a host the host then falling to pieces within a month so what’s this about infecting a new group and getting data in a week or

For that matter implantation and sensory modification with the host they already have there shouldn’t be time for all that the unit should be disintegrating Way Beyond learning new Behavior she bit her lip nervously suddenly wondering what the researchers at calaban Cove might have done with the

Virus if they’d found a way to speed up the infective perhaps tempered with the viron’s fusion membrane made it more cohesive or somehow multiplied the inclusionary allowing it to replicate exponentially we could be looking at a strain that works in hours not days it was a nasty thought and one that

She didn’t want to consider until she had more information to go on besides it wouldn’t make a difference in their current situation the tri squads were just as deadly either way the sign on the North door says we’re in Black C whatever that means JN said moving to the computer you find a

Map Steve sighed no but take a look I asked for information on the blue series and it started to give us a report on these IQ tests coded by color then this I can’t get anything else John peered at the screen mum um Ling the man who makes it doesn’t need

It the man who buys it doesn’t want it the man who uses it doesn’t know it Karen who had been rereading the tri Squad material looked up with a sudden sharp interest wait I know that one it’s a casket somehow Rebecca wasn’t surprised that Karen knew the riddle the

Woman struck her as someone who thrived on puzzles they all gathered around as Steve quickly typed in casket the screen remained unchanged try coffin Rebecca suggested Steve’s fingers flew across the keys as soon as he hit enter the riddle disappeared replaced by Blue series activated Then followed tests 4 block a

7 block D and 9 Block B blue to access data block e blue to ammon’s message Karen said quickly that’s it the message received related to the blue series then said enter answer for key the answer was Coffin and the test numbers are the key David said there are three more lines in

The message then blue to access the lines must be the answers to the tests letters and numbers reverse time rainbow and don’t count Jill was right it’s all about something we’re supposed to find Rebecca felt a rush of excitement as David grabbed a pen off the desk and

Turned over the scrap of the Tri Squad report the information they had finally made sense Dr ammon’s message actually meant something we can do this we’ve got something solid now David Drew five boxes in two lines the same as on Trent’s map marking the southernmost box with the letter

C after a pause he tentatively labeled the others starting at the top left with a and going right to left marking the test numbers next to to each letter assuming that this is right side up he said and that we need to complete the tests in order we’ll be moving in a

Stagger a zigzag between the buildings and assuming the tri squads don’t have a problem with that John said softly Rebecca felt her excitement dwindle could see the same mixed emotions and the suddenly somber Expressions they all wore staring down at the boxes she’ known that they were going to

Have to leave eventually but had somehow managed to avoid thinking about it putting it off until it was in front of them it was in front of them now and the tri squads would be waiting they stood at The North Door in a dark and stuffy hallway tightening bootlaces adjusting belts putting fresh

Magazines into their Berettas when David was ready he turned to Jon and nodded give it back to me you Steve and Rebecca will take the one on the left Northwest from here once we hear you get clear Karen and I go straight across if you guess is right we’ll be in Block D

If you’re upside down Block B either way we secure the building find the test number then wait for you to show up and give us the go ahead and if I don’t Karen took up the recital if we don’t hear from you in half an hour we come

Back here and wait for Steve and Rebecca we complete the test if it’s feasible John grinned a white flash in the gloom and then get our asses over to fence right David said good they were ready there were infinite variables in the equation any number of things that

Could go wrong with the simple plan but that was always the case there was no way to prepare for everything that could happen not at this point and the decision to split up was their best chance to avoid detection by the tri squads any questions before we

Go Rebecca spoke up her youthful voice tight with concern I’d like to remind everybody again to be extremely careful about what you touch or what touches you the tri squads are carriers so try to avoid getting close to them particularly if they’re wounded David shuddered internally remembering what she’d told them before

That one drop of infected blood could hold Millions hundreds of millions of virus particles not a pleasant thought considering a 9mm round could inflict a lot of damage and they don’t lie to when they’re hid the three by the boat house just kept coming walking and firing and

Bleeding they were waiting for his signal David shook the thoughts off and thumbed the safety on his weapon putting his other hand on the door latch ready quietly now on three one 2 3 he pushed the door open and SLI slipped outside into the cool night air and The Whisper of ocean

Waves it was much brighter than before the almost full moon having risen High bathing the compound in silvery blue light nothing moved straight in front of him about 20 M away was John and Karen’s destination and he was relieved to see a door set into the concrete wall facing block SE

They wouldn’t have to go around to get inside David edged away from the door to his left hugging the narrow shadow of the wall he could just make out the front of the building he hoped was a tall wind bent Pines to the left and behind it there was a darker Shadow

Midway along its length a door and no cover in the 30 plus meters that Spann the distance once they stepped away from sea they’d be totally vulnerable if there’s a team between the two lines of the buildings he shot a glance back saw Rebecca and Steve tensed and waiting

Behind him if they were going to walk into a corridor of fire at least he’d be in front Steve and Rebecca should have time to get back to cover he took a deep breath held it and broke away from the wall running in a low Crouch from the dark square of the

Block’s entry shapes of pet light and Shadow blurred past his entire being was waiting for the flash of an automatic the crack of fire the sharp and piercing pain that would take him down but it was silent and still the only sound was the violent stammer of his heart The Rush of

Blood through his veins seconds stretched in eternity as the door Loom closer larger then the latch was under his fingers and he was pushing bursting into a stifling Blackness spinning around to see Rebecca and Steve come lunging in after him David closed the door quickly but quietly sensing The

Emptiness of the dark room the lack of life and then the smell hit him either Steve or Rebecca gagged a dry bark of involuntary revulsion as David snatched for the torch already dreading what he knew they would see it was the same terrible stink that they’d come across in the boat house but

A 100 times more powerful even without the recent reference David knew the odor he’d experienced it in a jungle of South America and in a cultist camp in Idaho and once in the basement of a serial Killer’s house the smell of rotting multiple death was unforgetable a rancid bile like sour

Milk and flyblown meat how many how many will there be the beam snapped on and as it found the tottering wreaking pile that took up one corner of the large storage room David saw that there was no way to be certain the bodies had started to melt into one

Another the black and shriveling flesh of the Stacked corpses blending and pooling from the humid heat maybe 15 maybe 20 wretching Ste Steve stumbled away and threw up a harsh and helpless sound in the otherwise quiet room David quickly took in the rest of the chamber finding

A door against the back wall the letter a blocked across it in Black without another look at the terrible Mound he hustled Rebecca toward the far door grabbing Steve as they passed once they were through the smell faded away to barely tolerable they were in a windowless Corridor and though there were light

Switches next to the door David ignored it for the moment catching his breath letting the two young team members collect themselves apparently they’d found the umbrella workers of calaban Cove all but at least one of them anyway and David decided that if they ran across him he’d shoot first and not

Bother with any questions at all Karen and John stood at the door for a full minute after the others had gone cracked open just wide enough for them to listen cool air filtered through the open ing the far away hiss of waves but no shots no screams Karen let the door closed and

Looked at Jon her pale features masked in the dim light her voice was low even and terribly serious they’re in by now you want to take lead or would you prefer if I went first John couldn’t help himself my women always go first he whispered though I prefer when we go

Together if you know what I mean Karen sighed heavily a sound of pure exasperation John grinned thinking about how easy she was he knew he shouldn’t devil her but it was hard to resist Karen driver kicked ass with a weapon and she was sharp as attack in

The brains department but she was also one of the most humorless people he’d ever known it’s my duty to help her lighten up if we’re going to die might as well be laughing instead of crying a simple philosophy but when he held dear it had gotten him through many an

Unpleasant situation in the past John just answered the goddamn question I’ll go he said mildly wait till I get through then follow she nodded briskly stepping back to let him by he briefly considered telling her that he’d greet her at the door wearing nothing but a smile but decided against it they’d worked

Together for almost 5 years and he knew from experience that he could only go so far before she got pissy besides it was a good line and he didn’t want to waste it as soon as his hands closed over the latch he took a deep breath letting his

Sparkling wit take a backseat to what he thought of as his Soldier mind there was humor and then there was Conquering the enemy and while he enjoyed both immensely he’d learned long ago to keep them separate going to be a ghost now going to slide through the dark like a

Shadow he gently pushed the door open no sound no movement holding his Beretta Loosely he stepped away from the building and moved quickly through the Silvery dark fixing on the door that was scarcely 20 steps away his Soldier mind fed him the facts the Cool Wind the soft

Tread of boots against dirt the smell and taste of the ocean but his heart told him he was a ghost floating like an invisible Shadow through the night he reached the door touching the clammy metal bar with steady fingers and it wouldn’t move the entrance was locked no Panic no

Worry he’d find another way in JN held up a hand telling Karen to wait and Ed smoothly to his right silent and easy a Shadow Without form he reached the corner and slid around letting his heightened senses continue to feed him information no movement in the whispering night the

Rough feel of concrete against his left shoulder and hip the steady pump of exhilaration and fluidity in his muscles there was another door facing the broad glimmering openness of the sea cool light mad against metal bullets Hit the Dirt At His Feet John spun and leapt backwards flattening

Himself against the wall as he grabbed for the latge walking from the direction of the boat house a line of three and johon tore the door open and jumped behind it heard the clatter of 22 rounds smash into the metal stopped inches from his body by the explosive ping ping ping

That rattled the door he held the door open with his foot took a split second to look around the edge and targeted the flash of light squeezing the trigger as chips of concrete and dust flew from the wall the 9mm jumped a part of his hand

And he was an animal now at one with the Thundering rounds the pull of his breath the awareness of himself both as a man and a bringer of death another look and the line was closer now the three dark figures taking shape Jon got off another shot ducked behind the

Open door and when he looked again there were only two standing John Whirled around and saw two of them 10 ft away at the northeast corner of the building both held automatic rifles but made no move to fire he felt Panic then a screaming whining beast in his gut that threatened

To devour him from the inside out holy the fusel out of the M16s was still approaching but he could see only the creatures that stood there watching him with blank and rubbery eyes wobbling on unsteady legs the one on the left had only half a

Face from the nose down was a liquid pulpy mass of tissue chunks of dark wetness hanging from strings of elastic flesh the one on the right looked intact at first if deathly white and dirty until he saw the exploded mass of its belly the limp dripping snake of

Intestine flopped out against his bloody shirt won’t engage until team a finishes Jon stepped backward into the warm dark of the building using one distant arm to hold the door open against the pair that still fired he leaned out and aimed as carefully as he could manage squashing the Panic as best

He could neither of the creatures moved to defend themselves only stood there teetering on rotting legs watching him two clean head shot explosiv loud over the continuing rattle of the M16s before they’d even hit the ground John heard another 9mm thundering through the darkness drowning the automatic fire

Karen he shot another glance around the door and saw the crumbling figures of the engaged team 100 ft away one of them still firing as it fell its rattling rifle aimed uselessly at the sky Karen crouched out from between the buildings handgun still pointed at the spasming shooter her back to JN

Teams won’t engage don’t shoot him over here leave him she turned a light and graceful spin sprinting to meet him as soon as she was through he pulled the door closed the crack of the automatic muted to a dull popping sound John sagged against the door as Karen fumbled for the lock his

Brain still screaming at him that he’d seen the impossible that he just killed two dead men that there was nowhere he could put that information that wouldn’t drive him insane can’t be didn’t believe it before didn’t know and they were dead they were rotting and they were Karen’s ragged

Whisper broke the warm dark broke through the cycling chain of his spinning dizzying thoughts hey John was it good for you he blinked the words registering slowly going first I mean she added was it everything you hoped it would be he felt a creeping amazement take the place of the whirling terrible thoughts

The confusion ebbing the Waters of his mind becoming clear again that’s not funny he said after a beat they both started to laugh way they got from the front of the concrete block the less noxious the air for which Rebecca was deeply grateful she’d been seconds away from

Vomiting herself the smell was that bad a greasy oily stench that seemed almost tangible an entity in itself as they moved quietly through the well-lit hall she found herself thinking again about Nicholas Griffith and although there was no proof that he was behind the Mass Slaughter of the

Umbrella people she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was responsible the corridor LED them past several open rooms each as Barren and sterile as the building they’d come from they passed an exit at the far side of the block and after another turn in the hall finally came to a door marked

Again with the letter a and below it 1-4 there were three triangles beneath the numbers each a different color red green and blue David opened the door revealing a much shorter Hall Stark fluorescent lights spilling into the stale Darkness there were two doors on either side Steve found the lights and turned them

On and Rebecca saw that there were more of the colored triangles on the door to their right the other was blank I’ll take the test David said Steve you and Rebecca check out the other room we’ll meet back here Rebecca nodded saw Steve do the same he looked a little pale but seemed

Steady enough though he dropped his gaze when he noticed her looking she felt a Pang of sympathy for him realizing that he was probably embarrassed for losing his lunch they opened the UNL labled door and stepped into yet another windowless room as stuffy and warm as the rest of

The building Rebecca turned on the lights and a rather large office lined with bookshelves flickered into view a steel desk sat in one corner next to a filing cabinet the empty draw standing open Steve’s side looks like another bust he said you want the desks or the shelves

Rebecca Shrugged shelves I guess he GED almost shilly just as well maybe I can find some breath mints or something in one of the drawers Rebecca smiled glad that he’d made the joke save me one I swallowed it down back there but it was a close call they

Locked gazes still smiling and Rebecca felt a tiny shiver of excitement run through her as the second stretched lingering a few beats longer than a more casual exchange Steve looked away first but his color had returned his cheeks slightly Pinker than before he moved to the desk and Rebecca

Turned to face a row of books feeling a little flushed herself there was a definite attraction there and it seemed to be mutual and it’s only about the worst time and place to consider it her mind snapped secure that Pronto the books were about what she might have expected considering what

They knew about the tri squads and umbrella chemistry bi ology and a whole set of leatherbound texts on behavior modification several medical journals as Steve rummaged through the desk behind her she ran her hand along the row pushing the books toward the back of the Shelf as she glanced over

The titles maybe there was something hidden behind one of them sociology Pavlo psych psych pathology she stopped frowning at the Slender black volume tucked between two large books no title she pulled it out and felt her heart speed up as she opened the small book seeing the spidery

Handwriting on the lined page she flipped to the front saw Tom Athens written in neat letters on the inside cover one of the guys on the list one of the researchers hey I found a diary she said it belongs to one of the people from Tren list Tom aens Steve looked up from

The desk his dark eyes flashing no go to the back what’s the last date Rebecca ruffled through the pages to the end scanning as she went says July 18th but it doesn’t look like he kept it regular the one before that is July 9th just read the last entry Steve said

Maybe it’ll tell us what’s going on she walked to the desk and leaned against it clearing her throat July 18th Saturday it’s been a long and ridiculous day the end of a long and ridiculous week I swear God I’m going to beat the crap out of Le if he calls one more

Stupid meeting today it was whether or not we should add a new scenario into the tri Squad program as if we need another one all I really wanted was to get it on paper and the rest of it was his usual the importance of teamwork the need to share information

So we can all stay on the right track I mean Jesus it’s like he can’t live with the concept that a weekly might go out without his name on it and he hasn’t done dick since the ma7 disaster except to try and convince everyone that it was

Chin’s fault so much for not speaking ill of the Dead sanctimonious prick Allan and I talked over the implants yesterday that’s going well he’s going to write up the proposal this week and we’re not going to let Lewis touch it with any luck we’ll get a green

Light by the end of the month Allan figures the white boys are going to want to run it past Birkin though God Only Knows Why be doesn’t give a what we’re doing out here he’s off being brilliant again I have to admit I’m looking forward to his next synthesis

Maybe we can work out some of the bugs in the tri squads there was a minor scare in D on Wednesday in 101 somebody left the refrigerator open and Kim swears there are some chemicals missing though I’m starting to think she miscounted again hard to believe she’s in charge of the

Infection process the woman’s a dit and she’s sloppy as hell when it comes to maintaining the equipment I’m surprised she hasn’t managed to infect the entire compound God knows there’s enough in there to do it I should probably get over to De myself make sure everything’s ready for tomorrow got a new batch

Coming in and griffith actually asked to watch the process first time he’s come out of the lab in weeks first time he’s ever taken an interest in what the rest of us are doing I know it’s stupid but I still want him to be impressed he’s as

Brilliant as Birkin in his own creepy way I think he even intimidates Lewis and Lewis is generally too stupid to scare more later the rest of the pages were blank Rebecca looked up at Steve not sure what to say her mind working to glean the relevant bits of information from the

Rambling tirade there was something in there that bothered her something that she couldn’t quite Place missing chemicals infection process the brilliant creepy Dr Griffith she no longer had any doubt that Griffith had killed the others but that wasn’t what set her internal alarms jangling it was block D Steve said a

Look of anxious Fear playing across his face if we’re in a Karen and John are in D where there’s enough of the T Virus to infect the entire compound where the infection process took place we should tell David Rebecca said and Steve nodded both of them moving quickly for the door Rebecca hoping

Desperately that JN and Karen wouldn’t find Room 101 and that if they did they wouldn’t touch anything that could hurt them the test room was big three of the walls lined with open-ended cubicles once he turned on the lights he saw that the tests were clearly numbered and colorcoded the symbols painted on

The cement floor in front of each one all of the red series was on his left closest to the door he saw brightly colored blocks and simple shapes on the tables in each cubicle as he walked past heading for the back of the room the green series lined the wall opposite

Though he ignored it entirely the back wall was marked with blue triangles the number four test in the far right corner as he neared the back of the room he heard a faint hum of power coming from the blue test area there was a small computer on the

Table in number two a keyboard and headset and number three as promised the series was activated though what they were connected to he couldn’t imagine can’t imagine and don’t care once we’ve sold these little puzzles we’ll find whatever’s been hidden for us and get out away from this Cemetery it can’t happen soon

Enough David had seen all he wanted to see of calaban Cove the corpses in the front hall had been bad but it was the thoughts they had inspired that troubled him made him so suddenly eager to get his team out the tri squads were dangerous and deadly the monster in the

Cove’s waters had been horrible but somewhere in the facility lurked a monster of a different kind entirely one that had murdered his own people and then stack them like kindling in a dark place that kind of insanity chilled him far worse than the immoral greed of

Umbrella and he was afraid of what such a man might do to the handful of soldiers trying to stop Him we’ll find the material probably notes on umbrella perhaps on the virus itself self and then break for the fence get well away from this madness let the feds handle the rest if they’re smart they’ll blow up the entire compound and gather the information From the

Ashes he stopped in front of the last cubicle returning his attention to the task at hand he wasn’t sure what he was expecting to see but the setup of test number four surprised him nonetheless a table and chair utilitarian gray metal on the table was a pad of paper a pencil

And and an inexpensive chest set all of the pieces in place as he stepped into the cubicle he saw that there was a metal plaque set into the surface of the table a string of numbers etched into the steel David sat in the chair peering down at the

Numbers 9 22 3 back slash 1426 9 16 8 back slash 7 19 22 back slash 8 11 12 7 he frowned looking up at the chest set then back at the numbers there was nothing else to look at that was it he quickly sorted through the clues of

Ammon’s message wondering which was supposed to be the answer was it the letters and numbers reverse or don’t count since there didn’t seem to be anything relating to time or a rainbow it had to be one of the two if the lines are in the same order as

The tests this is the letter in number reversal but what letters there aren’t any David smiled suddenly shaking his head the numbers on the plaque didn’t go any higher than 26 it was a code and a fairly simple one he picked up the pencil and quickly jotted down the letters of the alphabet

Then numbered them backwards a was 26 B was 25 all the way back to Zed one glancing back and forth between the plaque and the paper he wrote down the numbers and then started to decipher the message a e x m the final letter was a t and he stared

Down at the sentence then at the chessboard it seemed that somebody had a sense of humor Rex marks the spot Rex was Latin for King white always goes first so he reached out and touched the white king as soon as his fingers contacted the piece it swiveled in place turning

Around to face the back of the board at the same time there was a soft musical tone from overhead he looked up and saw a tiny speaker set into the ceiling nothing else happened no flashing lights or secret passageways opening up behind behind the wall apparently he’d passed how

Anticlimactic it seemed like an awfully complicated test for something as supposedly mindless as a tri Squad zombie though perhaps the researchers had been making plans for something else something intelligent it was an unsettling thought and not one he wanted to ponder he stood up and turned toward the

Front of the room just as the door burst open Rebecca and Steve hurrying in wearing matching expressions of fear what is it Rebecca held up a book talking fast we found a journal it says that the strain of the virus used to infect the tri squads is in Block D in

Room 101 maybe everything’s fine but if John and Karen touch anything that’s been contaminated he’d heard enough let’s go they turned and he stroe past them leading them back the way they’d come his thoughts racing they had passed an exit on the far side of the building

He could send Steve and Becca to the next block over while he went to D just as originally planned only much faster and now carrying the horrible heavy fear that two of his people might accidentally uncover the T Virus it won’t happen they’ll be careful

The chances of one of them getting a cut and then touching something dangerous in a room that’s bound to be marked as a laboratory the reassuring facts did nothing to ease his mind they hurried toward the exit a deepening knot of dread settling into the pit of David’s stomach They stood in the bright Corridor at the center of d block silently listening for a sound that would tell them David had come from their position they should be able to hear any one of the three external doors being used after securing the building and finding the test room

She and John had chocked open all the passages that led to the blocks exits Karen checked her watch and then rubbed her eyes feeling a bit worn out from all of the night’s events and still sickened by what they’d found in Room 101 even Jon seemed unusually subdued

And definitely quieter than normal he hadn’t cracked a single joke since they’d walked back to begin their waight maybe he’s thinking about the gurns fixed with bloody restraints or the syringes or the surgical equipment heaped in the sink they’d found the test room first a large chamber filled with little tabl

Each marked with numbers between 5 and8 Karen had been somewhat disappointed to see that the blue series number seven was just a handful of colored tiles with letters on them half of them upside down and unreadable all the colors corresponded to a rainbows though there were two extra Violet tiles in the heaped

Pile since they couldn’t risk messing with it until David had completed the final test she had reluctantly turned away suggesting that they check out the rest of the block they’d gone through a couple of offices empty in a cluttered coffee room where they’d found a box of incredibly

Moldy donuts and little outs it had been the chemical lab that had told them the most about what kind of place umbrella had created and although Karen didn’t believe in ghosts the room had given her a feeling like nothing she’d ever experienced before it was haunted plain and

Simple haunted by the misery of fear in the cold nazies Precision of scientists committing atrocities against their fellow man you thinking about that room JN asked softly Karen nodded but didn’t say anything Jon seemed to sense her unspoken desire not to talk about it for which she was

Thankful the weight of her good luck charm was the only other Comfort she felt at the moment and she longed to take it out to feel reassured by memories of her father and successful missions gone by anything to take her mind off of the lab room the outer door to 101 one was

Clearly marked with a biohazard symbol and they briefly discussed not going in at all johon arguing against entering a possibly contaminated environment Karen had pointed out that neither of them had any Cuts or abrasions and that they might find something about the t- virus to take with them the truth was she couldn’t

Stand to let such an opportunity pass she wanted to see what was behind the closed door because it was there because leaving it unopened would get under her skin JN had finally agreed and they gone inside stepping into a small entryway that was draped with sheets of heavy plastic there were shower nozzles

Overhead and a drain set into the floor a Decon area a smaller second door had opened up into the room itself leading them into a mad scientist’s dream glass crunching underfoot a tired smell of anxious sweat beneath the acrid odor of bleach Jon found the lights and even

Before the large room snapped into view Karen felt her heart start to pound there was a dark tension that filled the air a sense of for booting that radiated from the very walls it looked like a dozen other lab facilities she’d worked in counters and shelves a

Couple of metal sinks a large stainless steel refrigerator unit in one corner with a lock on the handle and somehow that was the worst that the environment was so familiar a place she’d always felt at home the few differences were dramatic ones the room was dominated by a stainless autopsy table fitted with

Velcro restraints and there were two additional Hospital gurns next to it likewise fitted as she walked over to look at one of them she saw the dark dried stains at either end the thin pad was soaked with blood from where a man’s ankles and wrist would

Be in the back of the room was a cage the size of a large walk-in closet heavy bars surrounding an unpadded bench next to the cage several slender poles leaned against the wall each a meter or so in length and tipped with hypodermic needles they were the kinds of

Instruments used to drug wild animals allowing the person operating them to stay out of reach Karen looked down at the gurnie lightly touching the long dried stain wondering what kind of person could have willingly participated in such an experiment the crust of blood was old powdery and filled her with thoughts of

What the victims must have endured waiting in the cage perhaps watching as some gloved madman injected a toxic mutating virus into a helpless human being it was a bad place a place of evil Deeds theyd both felt it both being affected by the realization of what had

Gone on there Karen’s right eye itched distracting her from the terrible remembrance drawing her back to the present she rubbed at it then looked at her watch again it had it had been only 20 minutes since the team had split though it felt longer there was the

Sound of a door opening followed by David’s excited shout through the corridor he’d come in through the West entrance Karen Joan Jon grinned at her and she felt a wave of relief David was okay here keep walking Jon called back take a right at the tea his footsteps pounded through the

Hall in a few seconds he appeared at the the corner and joged toward them his face tight with concern is everything Karen started to ask but David cut her off did you find the laboratory Room Room 101 John frowned his smile fading yeah it’s back the way you came

Did either of you touch anything do you have any Cuts any small wounds that might have come into contact with anything their confusion must have Shone David spoke quickly looking back and forth between them we found a journal naming it as the room where they were infecting the tri squads John smiled

Again well no we figured that much out in about 2 seconds Karen held out her hands turning them over for David to see no scratch David exhaled sharply his shoulders sagging ah thank God I had the worst feeling all the way over that something had happened we found the researchers in

Block a Ammon was right he killed them and a he has a name now Rebecca seems certain that it’s Nicholas Griffith he was the one she recognized from Trent list and he has a rather slded history she can fill you in when we regroup he shook his head a wavering

Smile on his lips I just I suppose I let my imagination run wild for a moment John smiled wider geez David I had no idea you cared or that you thought we’d be stupid enough to stick ourselves with dirty needles in a place like this David laughed a soft shaky

Sound H please accept my sincerest apologies where are Steve and Rebecca Karen asked probably in the next test area by now I saw them safely off to Block B before I came here did you find test 7 this way John said and as they started down the hall he began to

Recount their running with the tri squads Karen followed rubbing at the maddening elusive itch in her right eye she must have irritated it with all the rubbing it seemed to be getting worse and to top things off she felt a headache coming on she wiped at her eye

Sighing inwardly at the timing she never got headaches unless she was coming down with something the swim in the ocean must have set her up nicely for a cold and from the building throb in her head it was going to be a nasty one chapter 11 after he’d instructed Athens and sent

Him on his way he’ prepared the syringes and decided on a place to hide there was nothing left for him to do but wait in spite of his earlier feelings of confidence he was nervous now pacing through the lab restlessly what if atham had forgotten how to load the rifle what if the

Enclosure release didn’t work or The Intruders had the Firepower to stop the ma7s he tried to prepare for every possibility each plan unfolding into a backup but what if everything failed if all of them fell through I’ll kill them myself I’ll strangle them with my bare hands they

Will not stop me from doing what must be done they can’t not after all I’ve accomplished not after everything I’ve been through to get where I am for the second time that day he’d flushed back to the Takeover of the compound the strange Vivid images of

That bright and sunny day less than a month ago instead of blocking the thoughts as he’d done before he let them come inviting them in to remind him of what he was capable of doing when the need arose he abruptly stopped pacing and moved to a chair collapsing into it and closing his

Eyes a bright and sunny day once he’d realized what had to be done he’d planned it for over two weeks working over each detail tirelessly until he’d been satisfied that every variable had been addressed he’d spent time reading about the tri squads and going through the master logs memorizing the routine of

The facility he’d watched the habits of his colleagues learn their schedules until he could have recited them backward he’d stared for hours at the sketches he’d made of each Building walking through them in his mind a thousand times after careful consideration he chose a date and several days before

He’d slipped into the tri Squad processing room and stolen several small vials of extremely powerful medication kylo synth theine madine tra animal tranquilizers and a synthetic narcotic some of umbrella’s finest work it had only taken him an afternoon to get the mix the way he wanted it just

As he’d hoped then he waited much as he was waiting now the day before his plan was to unfold he’d watched a tri Squad processing and then asked Tom Athens to come to the lab after dinner to privately discuss some thoughts he’d had on intensifying the suggestibility

Factor Athens had been only too happy to accept had listened eagerly to Griffith’s description of the strain he’d already created couched in hypothetical terms of course and after a nice hot cup of laced coffee Athens had become the first to experience Griffith’s Miracle Griffith smiled remembering those initial glorious moments the very

First and truly the most important test of the strain’s effectiveness he told Athens that the only voice he could hear was that of Nicholas Griffith that all others would be meaningless Babble and the suggestion had taken as easy as that in the early hours of that fateful

Morning he played a tape of one of athens’s own lectures for the compliant doctor and the doctor had heard nothing but gibberish if it had failed Griffith would have aborted the Takeover no one the wiser he’d had an unfortunate accident in mind if the strain hadn’t

Worked the way it was supposed to Athens body would have been found the next day washed up on the rocky Beach but the incredible success of his career creation had proved Beyond doubt that it was meant to be that he really had no choice but to continue and so the

Kitchen the drops of sedative in the coffee cups on the pastries injected Oso carefully into the fruit and dissolved into the milk the juices of the 19 men and women who lived and worked in calaban Cove only one regularly skipped breakfast and didn’t drink coffee Kim Des Santo the

Ridiculous young woman who worked with the T Virus Griffith had sent Athens to Slit her throat as she lay sleeping before the sun came up and it was a bright and sunny day cloudless and clear as they gobbled their breakfast and swallowed their coffee walking out into the cool morning

Air collapsing to the ground many of them not making it out of the cafeteria before they stumbled and fell a few crying out that they’d been poisoned as their words failed them and the drugs sent them to sleep Griffith frowned trying to remember what had happened next he’d

Selected Thurman unable to resist the petty pleasure of showing the good doctor what he’d created then Alan Kennison although he hadn’t given the gift to Allan until later keeping him sedated he knew the facts Thurman and Athens had disposed of the workers and piled them in block a li Ammon had

Managed to keep himself hidden for a time but had been found by the tri squads later that evening Griffith had eaten the late supper and gone to bed waking up early to move papers and software to the lab these were facts things that he knew but for some reason the reality had

Blurred and he couldn’t actually remember what he had seen what had transpired for him the rest of that day Griffith searched through his thoughts concentrating but could only find the same hazy and uncertain images a blinding midday sun bathing the sleeping bodies in red the scream of a gull over the Cove

Relentless and Wild Calling to the hot wind a coppery smell of dirt and and blood on my hands on the scalpel that glittered wet and sharp and plunged into soft yielding flesh of faces and bellies and eyes and later the Thunder crash of waves in the dark and the spool

Of fishing line and Ammon Ammon waving his eyes snapped open and the nightmare was over shaken Griffith looked around at the cool soft light of the laboratory he must have dozed off for a moment must have yes that was it he’d fallen asleep and had a terrible

Dream he looked at the clock saw that only a few moments had passed since he’d sent the two doctors out he felt a rush of relief realizing that he hadn’t been asleep for very long but as the relief ebbed he felt the nervousness SLP back into his body jittering and pulsing

Anxiety about The Intruders that had come to his facility they won’t stop me it’s mine Griffith stood up and started to Pace restlessly back and forth waiting the time rainbow test number 7 took only a moment longer to complete than test number four what David had started to

Think of as the chest test John and Karen had shown him to the small table in the big room standing behind him as he’ uprighted the colored tiles and laid them out beneath the Heap of nine rainbow shaded pieces was an elongated indentation perhaps a foot long and 2 in

Across it was clear that just seven of the tiles would fit seven colors in the rainbow seven tiles simple so why are there nine of them David ordered the pieces by their colors placing them in a robow beneath the indentation each bore a different letter on the top Inked in black red

Orange yellow green blue indigo and three Violet tiles with three different letters is it supposed to spell something John asked going from left to right the first six tiles read jfm AMJ not in English Karen said mildly the three Violet tiles were J M and F David

Side it’s one of those where you have to figure out the next in the series he said apparently relating to time any thoughts John and Karen both stared down at the puzzle studying the letters he wondered if they were as tired as he was starting to feel Jon seemed distinctly

Less chipper than usual and Karen looked fairly wiped out her skin pale and gaze somewhat distant of course they’re tired but at least they’re making an attempt David looked back at the colored pieces and tried to focus but couldn’t seem to manage a single coherent idea it had

Been an awfully long day periods of intense concentration interspersed with violent rushes of adrenaline he’d run through fear self-doubt determination and then fear again again plus a handful of less clear-cut emotions now he just felt frazzled waiting to see what would come next John grinned Suddenly a triumphant light in his

Eyes the letters stand for the months January February March April May June July it’s j the last letter is J brilliant David said he started to place the tiles in the indentation as John nudged Karen with his elbow still grinning and you you thought all I was good for was easy

Sex as usual Karen didn’t bother answering relieved to be through the second test David pushed the last piece into place there was a faint click and the rainbow lowered very slightly perhaps a millimeter from above them a gentle chime sounded from a speaker this one hidden by a fluorescent

Bar that all I get John quipped no parade David stood up smiling tiredly I felt the same way with the other one we should get moving see how Steve and Rebecca are making out interesting way of putting it David John said chuckling nice one it took David a

Moment to get it though Karen rolled her eyes immediately then scratched at them when she took her hand away David saw that her right eye was extremely bloodshot the left was also slightly discolored though not as badly she noticed his scrutiny and smiled at him shrugging I irritated it somehow it

Itches but it’s fine don’t rub it you’ll make it worse David said leading them toward the door and have Rebecca take a look we’ll make it across they walked back into a connecting Corridor and started for the back exit David stealing himself for another Dash across the compound by his

Count they’d managed to take down three of the tri squads in full three men outside of the boat house and a fourth on the run to the first building then John and Karen’s di between blocks C and D useful information if you happen to know how many of the squads there were

To begin with he ignored the inner sarcasm as they reached the metal door Karen leaning back to turn off the overhead light they pulled out weapons and took deep breaths preparing and David felt a familiar sensation wash over him one that he’d experienced before in tight situations but had never been able to

Name it wasn’t a feeling so much as a state of of existence and although not a religious man it was the closest thing he’d found to a belief in fate a sense that there were patterns at play beyond the realm of human influence whatever was going to happen

Whatever was already happening even as they Reed themselves to step back outside all of the deciding factors were now firmly in place interlocking like pieces of a puzzle he felt it with a certainty that denied reason it was as though a great wheel of chance that determined outcome that would show them

Life or death success or failure had been set into motion and was now spinning toward its inevitable conclusion only instead of slowing down the wheel would turn steadily faster speeding up as it revealed to them what the cosmos had planned in the past he’d often found comfort in the sudden awareness of that

Spinning Wheel the undefinable sense that the outcome had been decided and all anyone could do was watch it unfold when he’d been a child and his father had been on one of his drunken abusive ramp Pages the belief in a bigger picture had sometimes been the only thing that saved him from Total

Despair this time though this time it felt like a terrible thing a dark and whirling carnival ride that they had boarded by accident not realizing the truth until it was too late that they couldn’t go back and there was no avoiding whatever lay ahead we hang on then we do what we

Can David stepped to the door flicking the baret safety off whether or not they had any control over what was to come Rebecca and Steve were waiting the test room was quiet except for the soft hum from the machines marked with blue numbers 9 through 12 and the occasional rustle of a Turning

Page as Rebecca went through Athens Journal Steve sat on the edge of a table and watched her read his thoughts restless and uneasy as they waited for the others to show up his chest achd mildly both from the small caliber round he’d taken earlier and the anxious build of worry for John and

Karen after a quick look at the other rooms in the building they both agreed that the test room was the place to wait it seemed that Block B of the umbrella facility was mostly devoted to surgical aspects of the bioweapons research the rooms all white and steel ominously Stark and

Unpleasant although the building was as stuffy and warm as the others they been in Steve had felt a physical chill as they passed the empty operating rooms as if the chambers themselves had taken on the characteristics of the tarus creatures cold and lifeless and somehow mindlessly black with

Purpose Rebecca looked up her eyes flashing with excitement listen to this they’re waiting on our feedback on expansion ever since Griffith reved up the amp time we’ve got space for up to 20 units but I’m going to hold strong on a Max of 12 we wouldn’t be able to concentrate on

Training more than four squads at a time Ammon said he’ll back me up if there’s any hassle Steve nodded half dismayed and half relieved by the information they had already knocked one of the tri squads out of the running plus seriously wounded or killed a couple of the individuals on another

Team that was good on the other hand it meant that there were still a couple of the squads roaming around out there unless they’re currently engaged with David and the others he scowled inwardly grasping for something else to think about do you know what that means revved up the amp

Time Rebecca nodded slowly worry creasing her brow I’m pretty sure he means that Griffith sped up the amplification process amplification is the term for a viruses spread through a host that didn’t sound like something he wanted to think about either by some unspoken agreement they hadn’t talked about the possibility of

JN or Karen being infected since David had left great you find anything else in there she shook her head not really he mentions the ma7s a couple of times but nothing more specific than that they a t- virus experiment that didn’t work and he’s definitely kind of an kind of Rebecca smiled

Briefly okay that’s an understatement he’s a money hungry aoral bastard Steve nodded thinking about the partial report they’d found on the tri squads and for that matter the very existence of the facility calling the t- virus victims units setting up operating rooms and aptitude tests to run them through like rats in a

Maze it’s like they can’t acknowledge that they’re performing their experiments on human beings on real people how could they do this he asked Softly as much to himself as to Rebecca how did they sleep at night Rebecca gazed at him solemnly as if she had an answer but wasn’t sure how

To say it finally she sighed when you specialize in one field particularly when it’s a field that demands linear thinking and a very defined focus on only one tiny element of something it’s kind of hard to explain but it’s frighteningly easy to get lost in that single element to forget that

There’s a world outside of that element when you spend your days looking into a microscope surrounded by numbers and letters and processes some people get lost and if they were unstable to begin with the ambition to pursue that element can take over making everything else unimportant Steve saw what she was

Getting at and was impressed and knew with how thoughtful she was how clearly she communicated herself all that in a smile that lights up a room if when we get out of this I’m moving to Raccoon City or at least I’ll find out if she’s seeing anyone there was a sound from somewhere

In the building footsteps Steve pushed himself off the table and walked quickly to the door he leaned out into the corridor and heard David’s voice calling through the empty Block in the back Steve shouted then waited anxiously watching the corner in the hall for David to walk into view

John and Karen both healthy and smiling beside him Rebecca moved to stand next to Steve and he saw the same concern and hope written across her delicate features instinctively he groped for her hand feeling a tingling jolt as their fingers touched half expecting her to pull away but she didn’t leaning against him

Instead as she held his hand gently her skin soft and warm on his Jon’s booming voice preceding him down the corridor loud and full of bright Good Humor it’s close on kids you got company she dropped his hand quickly but the look that she flashed him more than

Made up for it a sweet and wistful expression that made his heart skip a beat but there was a maturity there too a realization of the circumstances they were in and acknowledgement of priorities no more until we’re out of here he nodded slightly and they turned to wait for the

Rebecca could still feel the lingering warmth of Steve’s hand in hers as David John and Karen walked around the corner John grinning broadly sorry to crash but we figured you guys could use a little chaperoning he said nothing like young love though am I right as the three stepped into the room

Rebecca struggled to quash the blush she felt creeping up on her suddenly feeling horribly unprofessional all they’ done was hold hands and and only for a second but they were in the middle of an operation in hostile territory where even a moment’s lapse of concentration could get them

Killed JN must have picked up on her embarrassment ah don’t mind me he said his grin fading I’m just giving steo a hard time I didn’t mean anything by it David interrupted shooting Jon a pointed glance I think we have more important things to discuss he said

Evenly we need to update and a few things I’d like to go over he nodded toward the journal she still held they found the room but didn’t touch anything did you find anything else useful she nodded relieved by the news and glad for the change of subject it looks like there only four

Tri squads though the entry that mentioned it is 6 months old David looked relieved that’s excellent John and Karen had another encounter outside of D managed to get five of them that means there may only be one team left they pulled the chairs away from the small tables that line the walls forming

Them in a loose semicircle in the middle of the room David stayed standing addressing them solemnly I’d like to do a quick recap to make certain we’re all on the same page before we go any further in short this facility was used for T Virus experimentation and has been

Taken over by one of the researchers for reasons unknown the other workers have been killed and the officers purged of incriminating evidence Rebecca believes that the biochemist Nicholas Griffith is responsible and the fact that the grounds are still being patrolled suggests that he’s alive somewhere in the compound though I don’t think we

Should concern ourselves with trying to find him we’ve already completed two of the tests given to us by Dr Ammon through Trent and my hope is the material he has hidden for us will be the evidence we need to formally charge umbrella with criminal activity he folded his arms and started

To Pace slowly as he talked glancing between them obvious obviously there’s already plenty of proof that illegalities have occurred here we could leave now and turn the matter over to the federal authorities my concern is that we still don’t have enough hard evidence on umbrella’s involvement other than the

Computer system software and the journal that Steven Rebecca found umbrella’s name isn’t on anything and most of those could be explained away my feeling is that we should continue with the tests and find whatever Dr Emon meant for us to find before we Evac but I want to hear from

Each of you about it first this isn’t an authorized op we’re not following olders here if you think we should go we go Rebecca was surprised could see the others felt the same by their expressions David had seemed so certain before so enthusiastic about their

Chances to look on his face now told a different story he seemed almost apologetic about wanting to continue and looked as though he wanted for one of them to suggest otherwise why the change what happened John spoke first glancing at the rest of them before looking at

David well we made it this far and if there’s only one more group of zombies out there I say we finish up Rebecca nodded yeah and we still haven’t found the main lab we don’t know why Griffith did this whether he suffered a psychotic break or is actually hiding something we

May not find out but it’s worth a look plus what if he destroys more evidence after we’ve gone I agree Steve said if the stars are as deeply involved with umbrella as it looks we’re not going to get another chance this may be our only opportunity

To dig up a connection and we’re already so close the third test is right here we do that when we’re one step away from finishing I’m up for it Karen said softly at the strange sound of her voice Rebecca turned to look at her noticing for the first time that Karen didn’t

Look so good her eyes were bloodshot her complexion almost a power are you okay Rebecca asked Karen nodded sighing yeah a headache it must be a migraine she looks like hell what is it David John asked abruptly what’s eating you you know something you’re not telling us David stared at them for a

Moment then shook his head no nothing like that I just I have a bad feeling or rather a feeling that something bad is going to happen little late don’t you think John said grinning where were you when we got into the raft David half smiled in response rubbing the back of his

Neck thank you John i’ had almost forgotten so it’s decided then let’s solve our next puzzle shall we oh Rebecca take a look at Karen’s eye while we’re at it it’s giving her some trouble they stood up and moved toward the back of the room for the table in

The northwest corner marked with a blue nine Steve and Rebecca had already looked when they’d found the room though there was no clue to what the test was a small blank monitor screen with a 10 key hook to it sat on the metal table and Enigma Rebecca motioned for Karen to sit

On the chair in front of test 10 the purpose of which also escaped her it consisted of a circuit board wired to a plank and what looked like a pair of tweezers connected to it by a black wire she bent down to take a look frowning the woman’s right eye was

Extremely irritated the pale blue cornea floating in a sea of red her eyelid had bruised and looked swollen she turned to ask for David’s flashlight and saw that as he sat down in front of the scheduled test the screen flickered on several lines of type appearing in the center of the

Monitor some kind of motion sensor Steve started to say but David held up his hand suddenly reading aloud what had appeared on the screen in a rapid anxious voice as I was going to St IES I met him man with seven wives the seven wives had seven Sachs the seven Sachs held seven

Cats the seven cats had seven kits kits cat sacks wies how many were going to St Ives there was a digital readout on the screen showing 49 seconds and counting down in the time it had taken David to read the question 11 seconds had already ticked off the clock David stared at the

Screen his thoughts racing furiously as the team leaned in behind him tension radiated from them and David felt a sudden prickle of sweat break out across his forehead don’t count that was the clue but what does it mean 28 Jon said quickly no wait 29 including the Man

Steve cut him off talking just as fast but if they had seven kittens each that would be 49 plus 21 70 71 with the man but the message said don’t count Karen said if you’re not supposed to count does that mean don’t add or wait there’s the man with the wives and the

Speaker that’s another one 32 seconds that elapsed David’s hand hovered over the keypad think don’t count don’t count don’t One Rebecca said quickly as I was going to St Ives it doesn’t say where the man with the wives was going that’s what it means the clue don’t count

Anyone except the one who was going to say IES yes it makes sense a trick question they had 20 seconds left anyone disagree David asked sharply no answer David hit the key entered it and the countdown stopped 16 seconds to spare the screen turned itself off from somewhere overhead the now familiar chime

Sounded David exhaled leaning back in the chair thank you Rebecca he turned around to tell her as much but she was already bending to examine Karen’s eye fixated on her patient I need a flashlight she said barely glancing around as Jon handed his to her she turned it on Shining it into

Karen’s eye as the rest of them looked on silently watching them Karen didn’t look well there were dark circles under her eyes and her skin had gone from pale to almost sickly it’s it’s pretty inflamed look up down left and right does it feel like there’s

Something rubbing it or is it more like a burn actually more like an itch Karen said like a mosquito bite times 10 I’ve been scratching it though that might be why it’s so red Rebecca turned off the torch frowning I don’t see anything the other one looks irritated too did it just

Start itching all of a sudden or did you touch it first Karen shook her head I don’t remember it just started itching I guess a look of sharp almost violent intensity flashed across Rebecca’s face before or after you went in Room 101 David felt a cold hand clutch at his

Heart Karen suddenly looked worried after did you touch anything while you were in there anything at all I don’t Karen’s red eyes widened in sudden horror and when she spoke it was a breathless quivering whisper the gurnie there was a blood stain on the gurnie and I was thinking about I

Touched it oh Jesus I didn’t even think about it it was dry and I my hand wasn’t kind of oh my God I got a headache right after my eyes started itching Rebecca put her hand on Karen’s shoulders squeezing them tightly Karen take a deep breath deep breath okay it

May just be that your eye itches and you have a headache so don’t jump to conclusions here we don’t know anything for sure her voice was low and soothing her manner direct Karen blew out a shaky breath and nodded if her hand wasn’t cut JN started nervously Karen answered him her pale

Features composed but her voice trembling slightly viruses can get into the body through mucus membranes nose ears eyes I knew that I knew that but I didn’t think about it I wasn’t thinking about it she looked up at Rebecca and David could see that she was struggling to maintain her

Composure if I am infected how long how long before I become incapacitated Rebecca shook her head I don’t know she said softly David felt as though a rage ing Blackness had enveloped him a cloud of fear and worry and guilt so vast that it threatened to overwhelm his ability to move even to

Think my fault my responsibility there’s a vaccine right John asked his dark gaze darting between Karen and Rebecca there’s a cure wouldn’t they have a shot or something here if someone got it by accident they’d have to wouldn’t they David felt a sudden surge of desperate hope is it

Possible he asked Rebecca quickly the young biochemist nodded slowly at first but then eagerly yeah it’s possible it’s probable they created it she looked at David seriously urgently we have to find the main lab where they synthesized the virus and quickly if they developed a cure that’s where the information would be Rebecca

Trailed off and David could see what she’d left unspoken in her troubled gaze if there was a cure if Dr Griffith had hadn’t taken the information there too if they could find it in time em and’s message Steve said in that note he said we should destroy the lab

Maybe he left us a map or directions David stood up his hope building Karen are you feeling well enough to yes she said cutting him off standing up yes let’s go her red eyes were bright with fervent intensity a mix of Despair and wild hope that made David’s heart a to

See God Karen I’m so so sorry double time he said already turning for the door let’s move they quickly jogged for the front of the building Jon’s jaw clenched his thoughts are grimly determined Loop of angry intention no way some goddamn bug is taking care of Ken down no chance and if

I find the bastard to set this nightmare up he’s dead capital D not Karen no way in hell they reached the front door and silently Drew their weapons checking them tensely impatient for David to get the signal Karen always so cool and collected in times of stress had a

Shocked vagueness about her like she’d been kicked in the gut and hadn’t yet managed to take a breath it was the same look that johon had seen time and again on the faces of disaster survivors the haunted disbelief in the eyes the slack and terrible blankness of expression that spoke of a

Yawning emptiness deep inside it hurt him to see her like that hurt him and made him even angrier Karen driver wasn’t supposed to look like that I lead Joon in back straight line David said Softly johon saw that he looked almost as freaked as Karen though in a different

Way it was guilt knowing at their Captain he could see it in The Reluctant gaze the tight set of his mouth Jon wished he could tell him that blaming himself was wrong but there wasn’t time and he didn’t have the right words for it David would have to take care of

Himself just as they all would ready go David pushed the door open and then they were slipping through back into the gentle hiss of waves and the pale blue light of the Moon David then Karen Steve Rebecca and finally Jon crouched and running across the packed dirt of the open compound

There was darkness and the scent of pine of salt but Jon’s Soldier mind wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know as they pounded through the Shadows there was only anger and fear for Karen making the sudden blast of M16 fire a total surprise johon Dove for the ground

As the Thundering rattle opened up to their right saw that they were just over halfway to block e as he rolled and started to fire then the air was filled with the blast of 9mm rounds crashing over the steady pulse of automatic rifles can’t see can’t Target he found

The muzzle flashes at 3:00 and jerked the Bera around squeezing the trigger 6 seven eight times the stutter of orange white light blocked the shooters from view but he saw one of the flashes disappear heard the clatter decrease and rage overtook him not the soldier mind but a blinding screaming Fury at

The diseased attackers that far exceeded any he’d ever known they wanted Karen to die those numb brainless nightmares wanted to stop them from saving her not Karen a strange feral howl beat at his ears as he pushed away from the dusty Earth and then he was standing running

Firing ing only when he heard the shouts of the others the Berettas except for his holding fire did he realize that the howl was coming from him Jon ran forward screaming as he fired again and again at the things that meant to slow them up to kill them to

Claim Karen as one of their own his thoughts were no longer words just an endless formless negative a denial of their existence and what had created them he charged ah head not seeing that they had stopped firing that they were falling that the Shadows had fallen silent except for the Thunder of his

Beretta and the scream that poured from his shaking body then he was standing over them and the gun had stopped crashing and jumping even though he still pulled the trigger three of them white where there was no red decayed flesh bursts covering their pitiful wasted

Forms one of them had a face that was a mass of puckered scar tissue twisting white risers of gnarled skin except for where a fresh bloody hole had punched through its forehead another one eye spattered against its withered cheek pulling viscous fluid in the rotting cup of its ear the third was still

Alive half of its throat was gone tattered to a pulp and its mouth repeatedly opened and closed soundlessly its filmed dark eyes blinking slowly up at him he was dry firing or would have been had he been taking the time to pull the slide back the scream dying away in his ragged

Throat it was the lack of explosions from the gun the realization that his finger was pulling uselessly against the trigger that finally released him from the rage that and the slow helpless blink of The Wretched thing at his feet it didn’t know what it was it didn’t know who they were

Once it had been a man and now it was rotting garbage with a gun and a mission it couldn’t possibly understand they took his soul John a warm hand on his back Karen’s Voice Low and easy next to him Steven David stepped into view staring down at the gaping blinking

Shell of humanity in the Shaded moonlight The Last Remnant of an experiment in Madness yeah he whispered yeah I’m here David trained his Beretta on the monster’s skull and spoke softly stand back Jon turned away started walking back for their last destination with Karen at his side Rebecca’s slight form in front of him the shot seemed incredibly loud like it had shaken the ground beneath their

Feet not Karen no please not one of us that’s no way to go out no way to die then David and Steve were with them and without speaking they broke into a jog for blocke moving quickly through the emptiness that had claimed the night the squads were no more but the

Disease that made them might even now be coursing through Karen’s body turning her into a creature with no mind no soul doomed to a fate worse than death JN picked up speed silently swearing to himself that if they found this Griffith he was going to be awfully godamn sorry that they did chapter

13 the E block was no different than the first four they’d encountered as Bland and Industrial and stale as the rest of them a study and concrete efficiency they moved quickly through the stuffy Halls turning on lights as they went searching for the room that held the final clue to Dr ammon’s

Secret it didn’t take long almost half of the structure was taken up by an indoor SHO shooting range where David had found boxes of loaded M16 mags but no rifles to go with them J had asked if he should retriev the tri squad’s weapons which Rebecca promptly vetoed the rifles were hot probably

Crawling with the virus like Karen’s Blood by now streams of replicating verons bursting from cells searching for new cells to attach to and use and Destroy here Steve called from further down the winding corridor and Rebecca hurried toward him Karen and John not far behind David was already standing

With Steve by the closed door the red green and blue triangles ass sign that they’d hit on the right room Steve’s gaze seemed to seek her out but was blank of all emotion except worry she didn’t mind noted it only absently Karen’s infection John’s insane run at

The tri squads there wasn’t room in her for anything but the need to find the lab to find help for Karen Steve opened the door and they filed inside Rebecca continuing to watch Karen closely for signs that the virus had progressed and wondering what she should do with the information she’d

Picked up so far about the amplification time she didn’t really have any doubts that Karen had been exposed and knew that no one else did either but what should she say do I tell her that it might only take hours do I pull David aside if

There’s a cure she has to get it before the damage is too great before it starts to fry her brain before it dumps so much dopamine into her that she stops being Karen driver and becomes something else Rebecca didn’t know how to handle it they were already doing all they

Could as fast as they could and she didn’t know enough about the T Virus to assume anything she also didn’t want to see Karen any more terrified than she already was the woman was doing her best to control it but it was obvious that she

Was on the edge of a breakdown from the desperation in her blood red eyes to the growing Tremor of her hands and the tri squads had almost certainly been injected with much larger amounts than Karen had been exposed to maybe she had days first symptoms in less than an hour

Don’t kid yourself you have to tell her to warn her and everyone else of what can happen soon she pushed the thoughts aside almost frantically looking around the room they’d entered it was smaller than the test Chambers they’d come across and emptier there was a long meeting table

Pushed to the back a half dozen chairs behind it in the front of the room there was a small shelf coming off the wall only a few feet long and a foot deep there were three large buttons on the flat surface red green and blue the wall

Behind the Shelf was tiled in large smooth gray tiles made from some kind of industrial plastic that’s it Steve said blue to access with barely a second’s hesitation David walked to the counter and pushed the blue button and a woman’s voice spoke cooly from a hidden speaker above startling

Them it was a recording the Bland tone eerily reminding Rebecca of the final moments at the Spencer State the triggering system tape all personel must evacuate immediately or process deactivation you have 5 minutes the tri blue series completed access reward one of the tiles behind the shelf

Slid away revealing a dark recess set into the concrete as David reached into the hidden space Rebecca felt a surge of frustrated anger and disgust for umbrella for what she realized they had done it was Despicable all of those tests all that work set up to dull Out treats to T

Virus victims get through the red series good dog here’s your bone and what was the reward for making it through all the tests a piece of meat drugs to ease their hunger maybe a brand new weapon for them to train with Jesus did they even understand what they’ve been

Doing she saw the same curled snears of horror and disgust on the faces of the others and saw the same growing dismay as they watched David pull a single tiny item from the recess what looked like a credit card with a slip of paper stuck to one side they gathered around him as

He held the item up his dark gaze heavy with an almost manic disappointment it was a light green key card the kind used to open electronic doors blank except for a magnetic strip and the scalled words on the small square of paper said Lighthouse access 135 southwest

East handwriting is the same as on ammon’s Note Steve said hopefully maybe the labs in the lighthouse one way to find out John said let’s go he seemed angry the same look he wore since their discovery of Karen’s exposure to the virus after watching him charge the tri

Squads outside Rebecca almost hoped that they’d come across Dr Griffith JN would tear him apart David nodded slipping the card into his vest the fear and guilt that he felt were obvious playing across his features and a constant twitching mask right Karen she nodded and Rebecca

Saw that her already pale skin had taken on a waxy tone as if the top layers were becoming translucent loen even as she watched Karen started to scratch absently at her arms yeah I’m good she said quietly she has to know she deserves to know Rebecca knew it couldn’t wait any

Longer choosing her words carefully aware of their limited time she turned to Karen and spoke as calmly as she could look I don’t know what they’ve done with the t- virus here but there’s a chance that you can start to experience more advanced symptoms in a relatively short amount of time it’s

Important that you tell me tell all of us how you’re doing physically and psychologically any changes at all we need to know okay Karen smiled weakly still scratching at her arms I’m scared shitless how’s that and I’m starting to itch all over she turned her red eyes to David

Then to Steve and John before looking back at Rebecca if if I start to act irrationally you’ll do something won’t you you won’t let me hurt anyone a single tear slid down one pale cheek but she didn’t look away her wet Crimson gaze as firm and strong as it had ever

Been Rebecca swallowed struggling to sound confident and reassuring odd by The Bravery she saw in Karen’s eyes and wondering how much longer that bravery would hold up beneath the Roar of the T virus running through her veins we’re going to find a cure before it comes to that she said and hope that

She wasn’t telling Karen a lie move out David said tightly they moved out the grounds of the facility were on a definite gentle slant rising to the north but as they left the E block and started for the Towering black structure that perched over the Cove the curving

Slope became much steeper the rocky soil angled up sharply maybe as much as a 30° incline making the half click walk into a hike David ignored the strain in his back and legs he was too worried about Karen and too busy tearing away at his own incompetence to bother with physical

Discomfort they were closer to the shimmering Waters of the Cove than they had been since climbing out of them and the cool Whispering Breeze off the moonlet surface would have been Pleasant on some other night in some other place the swaying ripples of soft light and the soothing murmur of waves were

Almost a mockery of their desperate situation such a sharp contrast to the chaos inside of him that he found himself almost wishing that there were still Tri squads roaming around at least then this would feel like the nightmare that at his and I could do something I could fight back

Defend them against something tangible ahead of them the rising land curled around to the east dropping away to a foaming sea far below the Cove itself was fairly calm but the sound of waves smashing against the cliffs grew louder as they hurried on approaching where the ocean met towering cave riddled rock

Walls John had taken the lead Karen next and then the two younger team members David brought up the rear dividing his attention between the compound to their left and behind and the dark structures ahead directly in back of the lighthouse was what had to be the dormatory a long

Flat building almost twice the size of the concrete blocks they had left behind they hadn’t come across quarters for the umbrella workers anywhere else and it had the look of a bunk house designed for sleeping and eating no thought given to the aesthetic appeal they probably should check it out

But David didn’t want to waste a moment in their search for the lab the thought brought on another wave of guilt and angst that he tried unsuccessfully to block out he needed to be effective to get them to the laboratory as quickly as possible without floundering in his doubts and

Emotions but all he kept thinking kept wishing was that he’d been infected instead but you’ll not some tiny part of him whispered cn’s got it and wishing is pointless it won’t cure her and it will Cloud your ability to lead David ignored the Small Voice thinking instead of how badly he’

Screwed them all who was he to lead a fight against umbrella to clean up the stars and bring honor back to the job he couldn’t even keep his people safe couldn’t plan a simple covert op couldn’t even battle the Demons of self-doubt and horrified guilt that raged inside of

Him they neared the lifeless dorm building Jon slowing to let the rest of them catch up David saw that his team was tired but at least Karen didn’t look any worse in the gentle light of the swollen Moon she seemed pale and somehow Fragile the deathly power she’d worn

Beneath the fluorescence had translated into a soft porcelain cast the redness of her gaze turning to Shadow if he hadn’t known better ah but you do how long now before that milky skin starts to peel to flake away how long before she can’t be trusted with a

Weapon before you have to restrain her from stop it he let them catch their breath turning to get a better look at the Lighthouse less than 20 M away and felt his stomach clench his heart shutter suddenly for no reason that he could have explained it was an Old Lighthouse a

Tall cylindrical outdated building weathered and dark and as seemingly deserted as the rest of the compound looking at it he experienced the feelings he’ had earlier of impending doom of options closing down behind them and the spinning wheel of dark Darkness ahead come on JN said briskly but David

Stopped him with a hand on his arm shaking his head slowly not safe that tiny voice again familiar yet strange he stared at the looming Tower feeling lost feeling uncertain and out of control as the wind swept over them the waves pounding the cliff they were

Waiting it wasn’t safe but they had to go in they couldn’t just stand there and it hit him suddenly a clear realization of what had gone wrong in his mind what was really wrong it wasn’t his competence it wasn’t his ability to think or plan or fight it was something far worse

Something he might have noticed much earlier if he hadn’t let himself get so wrapped up with guilt I stopped trusting my instincts without the security of the stars behind me I forgot to listen to that voice so terrified of making a mistake that I lost my ability to hear to know what to

Do every time the fear hit me I pushed through it I ignored it and I made it that much stronger even as he thought it as he believed it he felt the Blackness of Doubt lift from his exhausted thoughts the guilt eased back allowing a kind of clarity to filter

Through and with it the tiny voice inside took on a power that he’d almost forgotten it could have it’s not safe so hit the door fast two in low the rest high and covered outside all of this flashed through his mind in seconds he turned to look at his

Team watching him waiting for him to lead and for the first time in what felt like an eternity he knew that he could I think it’s a trap he said John you and I go in low I’ll take West Rebecca I want you and Steve to stand on

The side of the door and fire at anything standing keep firing until we call clear sorry Karen you’ll set this one out they nodded all around and started for the Deep Shadows that surrounded the ominous Tower David in front finally feeling as though he was doing something useful maybe that spinning Destiny was

Too vast moving too quickly for them to deny but he wasn’t going to let it run them over without at least putting up a fight Karen deserved that much they all did Karen hung back as they moved into position leaning against the back wall of the large building behind the lighthouse to

Watch she felt winded by the climb up the hill winded and strange and there was a buzzing in her brain that wouldn’t go away wouldn’t let her fully concentrate getting sicker fast it scared her but somehow it wasn’t as bad as it had been in fact it wasn’t

Really that scary at all the initial Terror had gone leaving her with only a memory of the adrenaline rush like a whiff of a bad dream the itch was distracting but not exactly an itch anymore what had felt like a million bug bites on her skin each separate and

Distinct and screaming for Relief had connected it was the only way she could think to describe the sensation they had connected had become a thick blanket over her body that crawled and squirmed as if her skin had come to life and was scratching itself it was weird but not exactly unpleasant

Now at the sound of David’s voice Karen focused on the sudden action in front of her the buzzing hum in her head making it all seem strange sped up somehow the door to the lighthouse crashing open David and John leaping into the blackness bullets flashing and booming the high whining rattle of an

M16 inside Steve and Rebecca ducking and firing out and in and out again their bodies blurred by the speed their Berettas dancing like black metal Birds it was happening so fast that it seemed to take a long long time for it to stop Karen frowned wondering how that could

Be and then saw David and John step back out into the blue light of the Moon and realized that she was happy to see them even with their strange and distorted faces their long bodies that move too quickly what’s happening to me Karen shook her head but the buzzing

Only seemed to get louder and she was afraid again afraid that David and John and Steve and Rebecca would leave her behind they’d leave her behind and she wouldn’t have anyone to to ease her mind that was bad David was in front of her staring at her with eyes like wet dark

Cherries Karen are you all right at the look on his round and pointed face and the sound of softness in his voice Karen felt happy again and knew that she had to tell him the truth with a tremendous effort she found the strength to say what had to be said

Her voice coming out of the crawling body and the buzzing sounding as strange to her to the wind it’s getting worse now she said I don’t think right David don’t leave me John and Rebecca their hot hot hands touching her leading her away into the darkness of the open

Door her body worked but her mind was clouded by the trembling buzzing hum there were things she wanted to tell them things that drifted through the cloud like flashes of pretty pictures but the building they moved her to was dark and hot and there was a body on the floor holding a

Rifle his face she could see his face wasn’t strange it was white white and curling textured like the buzzing and The Crawling it was a face that made sense I got the door Steve said looking up and grinning white white teeth 1 35 there was a keypad next to an open

Hole stairs leading down and Steve’s teeth disappeared his flat face wrinkling Karen we have to hurry hang on Baby hang on we’ll be there soon Karen let them help her wondering why their faces looked so strange wondering why they smelled so hot and good Athens had failed Dr Griffith stared at

The blinking white light by the door cursing Athens cursing Lyall Ammon cursing his luck he hadn’t told Athens how to get back inside which could only mean that The Intruders had made it past him Ammon had left them a message or sent them one it didn’t matter all that

Mattered was that they were coming and he had to assume that they had the key he’d torn down the markers weeks ago but perhaps they had directions perhaps they’d find him and don’t panic no need for panic you’ve prepared for this simply move on Next plan division first two-fold effect less

Firepower bait for later and a chance to see how well Allen can perform Griffith turned to Dr Kennison and spoke quickly keeping the instructions clear and simple the route as easy as possible Griffith had already worked out the questions they’d probably ask though he knew there was a chance they’d try for more

Information he gave Allan several random phrases to respond with then gave him the small semi-automatic pistol from dror Chin’s desk drawer watching as Allan tucked it beneath his lab coat to make sure it was hidden the bullet carrier was empty but he didn’t think it was possible to tell not with the hammer

Pulled back he also gave Alan his key a risk but then the entire scenario was a risk with the fate of the world resting in his hands he’d take any chance necessary after Allan had gone Griffith sat down in a chair to wait for a reasonable amount of time his gaze

Wandering to the six stainless canisters in Restless anticipation his plans wouldn’t fail the righteousness of his work would see him through this Invasion if Allen was caught out there was still the ma7s there was still Lewis there was still the syringes and his hiding place the airlock controls and easy

Reach past all of that there was still the sunrise waiting Dr Griffith smiled dreamily Karen could still walk still seemed to understand at least part of what they were saying to her but the few words she could manage didn’t seem to relate to anything as they’d gone down the stairs

From the lighthouse she’d said hot twice as they’d walked into the wide dark tunnel at the base of the steps she’d said I don’t want an expression of fear on her deathly pale searching face Rebecca was terrified that even if they found a way to reverse the viral

Load it would be too late and it all happened so suddenly so fast that she could still hardly comprehend it there had been a man waiting for them in the darkness of the lighthouse a trap just as David intuited as soon as they’d gone in he’d opened fire with an automatic

Rifle strafing the door from the Shadows beneath the winding metal stairs thanks to David’s plan it had been over in seconds and as Steve had discovered the access door and punched in the code Rebecca and John looked over their waiting attack her had seen in the narrow beam of Jon’s flashlight that the

Man had been infected his paper white skin was flaking and creased with strange peeling edged lines he’d looked somehow different from the tri Squad victims she’d seen L to his open staring eyes somehow more human but then David had gone to get Karen and Rebecca’s interest had been suddenly and cruy

Diverted it had been the walk up the hill she decided she couldn’t imagine what else might have brought on the amplification so quickly somehow the t- virus must have responded to the physiological changes of Karen’s increased heart rate in circulation but as they led the confused and stumbling woman into the lighthouse

Rebecca had found that she’d stopped caring about how all she wanted to do was get to the lab to try and Salvage what was left of Karen driver’s sanity the tunnel beneath the lighthouse seemed to lead back toward the compound in a curving twisting Trail and was

Carved from the heavy Limestone of the cliff mining lights were strung along the walls casting strange shadows as they moved silent and grimly Afraid John and Steve half pulling Karen between them Rebecca was last again feeling a horrible sense of deja vu as they stumbled along remembering the tunnels

Beneath the Spencer estate the same cold damp emanated from the stone and she felt the same terrible feelings of moving toward unknown danger exhausted and afraid of screwing up of not being able to prevent a disaster the disaster has already begun she thought helplessly watching Karen struggle to keep

Walking we’re losing her in another hour probably less she’ll be too far gone to ever come back as it was John and Steve shouldn’t be touching her in a single easy movement she could get at either one of them biting before they had a chance to

Let go even that concept made her sick with sorrow and an aching heavy feeling of loss the tunnel veered left and Rebecca realized they had to be incredibly close to the ocean the walls seemed to tremble and shake from a muted Thunder Beyond and the tunnel was thick with a fishy smell

Parts of the floor seemed to be too smooth to have been created by human hands Rebecca wondered vaguely if the tunnel opened up ahead somewhere perhaps had once been flooded by the Sea bloody hell David whispered angrily Rebecca looked up and when she saw what was ahead she felt her last

Flicker of Hope for Karen die we’ll never find it in time the tunnel did open up a few hundred meters ahead of where David had stopped it widened considerably in fact and was connected by five smaller tunnels each branching off in a slightly different direction which way is Southwest johon

Asked anxiously Karen leaned against him her head rolling forward David’s voice was still angry frustration raising his words to an echo that bounced through the Five Stone corridors circling back to fill the cavern I don’t know I thought we were over headed Southwest and yet none of these is in a

Direct alignment and none head directly east either they moved into the rough hee Cavern staring helplessly at the smooth tunnels each of them strung with lights that disappeared around turns and bends they had obviously been carved by water perhaps had once been connected to the sea caves that David had originally

Meant for them to find the tunnels weren’t as wide as the one they stood in but were wide enough to accommodate human passage comfortably enough and at least 3 m High there was no way to guess which one was used to get to the

Lab or if any of them lead to the lab we don’t even know for certain that it’s down here if none of them goes east then we have to pick the one that looks the most likely to go Southwest Steve said quietly besides east of here is water it’s big Karen mumbled something

Unintelligible and Rebecca stepped forward worriedly to see how she was though John and Steve still St her she seemed to have no trouble standing on her own Rebecca touched her clammy sweating forehead and Karen’s rolling eyes fixed on her glassy and red the pupils dilated Karen how are you doing she

Asked softly Karen blinked slowly thirsty she whispered her voice bubbling and liquid sounding still responsive thank God Rebecca touched her throat lightly feeling the rapid threy pulse beneath her fingers it was definitely quicker than before up in the lighthouse whatever the virus was doing to her it wouldn’t be

Much longer before Karen’s body gave out Rebecca turned feeling desperate and angry wanting to scream for somebody to do something and heard the pounding footsteps echoing through one of the tunnels she grabbed for her Beretta and saw JN and David do the same as Steve held on to Karen which one where’s it

Coming from Griffith is it Griffith the sound seemed a circle coming from everywhere at once and then Rebecca saw him appearing from around a corner in the passage second from the right a stumbling figure a flapping Dusty lab coat and then he saw them and even from 15 M away Rebecca could see

The stunned and almost hysterical joy that swept across his face the man ran for them his short brown hair wild and disheveled his eyes bright and lips trembling he wasn’t holding any kind of weapon though Rebecca kept hers raised oh thank God thank God you have

To help me Dr Thurman he’s gone mad we have to get out of here he staggered out of the tunnel and nearly ran into David apparently oblivious to the pistols trained on him as he babbled on we have to go there’s a boat we can

Use we have to get out of here before he kills us all David shot a glance back saw that Rebecca and John still had him covered he tucked his bread into his thigh holster and stepped forward taking the man’s arm easy calm down who are you

Do you work here Alan Kennison the man gasped Thurman kept me locked in the lab but he heard you coming and I managed to get away but he’s crazy you have to help me get to the boat there’s a radio we can call for help the Zab which way is the laboratory David

Asked quickly Kennison didn’t seem to to hear him too panicked by whatever he thought Thurman might do to them the radio’s on the boat we can call for help and then get away the laboratory David repeated listen to me did you just come from there Kennison turned and pointed

To the tunnel that was next to the one he’d come from the one in the middle the lab is that way he pointed back the way he’d come and the boats down there these caves are like a maze though he seemed to have calmed slightly as he pointed to the the

Tunnels when he turned back to face them he looked as hysterical as he had before he seemed to be in his mid-30s at first glance but David noticed he had deep lines edged at the corners of his eyes and mouth and realized he had to be much

Older whoever he was and however old he was he was caught in the grips of an almost mindless Panic the radio’s on the boat we can call for help and then get away David’s thoughts raced in time with his pounding heart this was it this was their chance

We get to the lab make this th and give us the Cure and then get out of this place before anyone else gets heard he turned to look at the others and saw the same hopeful look that he knew he wore John and Steve both nodding sharply Rebecca didn’t look as enthused she

Jerked her head back motioning for David to move out of kennison’s earshot excuse us a moment David said forcing a politeness that he didn’t feel Kennison was one of the researchers from Trent list we have to hurry the man babbled but he didn’t follow as David stepped back

Toward the others the four of them leaning together to talk Karen resting against Steve’s arm Rebecca’s voice was hushed and worried David we can’t take Karen to the lab of Griffith if Thurman is there what if we have to fight John nodded shooting a glance at the Wildey

Researcher and I don’t think we should leave this guy by himself he’s likely to take off with our ride home David frowned thinking Steve was a better shot but Jon was Stronger if they had to force Thurman to give them the t- virus cure Jon could probably intimidate him more

Easily we split up Steve you take Karen to the boat keep an eye on kinnison we’ll go to the lab get what we need and then meet you there agreed tight nods all around and then David turned addressing Kennison we need to go to the laboratory but our friend Karen isn’t Well we’d

Like for you to take her and an escort to the boat and wait for us kennison’s eyes seemed to blank out for just a second the strange vacant looked there and gone so quickly that David wasn’t even sure he’d seen it we have to hurry he said quickly then

Turned and started back down the passage appeared from walking at a Brisk Pace David felt a sudden worry staring at kennison’s rapidly receding back his dirty lab coat floating out behind him he didn’t even ask Who We Are as Steve and Karen started to enter the tunnel David touched Steve’s arm speaking

Softly watch him carefully Steve we’ll be there as soon as we can Steve nodded and moved off after the strange Dr Kennison Karen stumbling along next to him John and Rebecca were already standing in front of the middle passageway weapons still in hand the chamber shook as outside a muffled Thunder

Roared without speaking the three of them started down the GL bloomy tunnel and a tired but determined jog ready to face the human monster behind the many tragedies of calaban Cove they turned the first Corner Karen hanging onto his shoulder with a cold and sweating hand and the researcher was

Just rounding a Bend further ahead a good 100 meters away Steve caught the glimpse of fluttering White and the heel of a black loafer and then he was out of sight clattering footsteps moving away Great Lost in a goddamn sea cave Labyrinth because Dr Strangelove has a schedule to

Keep Karen let out a low moan of soft distress and Steve felt the cold hard knot in his stomach clench tighter his fear of getting lost to nothing next to the fear he felt for Karen she was leaning on him more heavily her feet dragging against the Dank Limestone

Floor David John Rebecca please hurry please don’t let Karen get any worse he pulled her along as quickly as he could concerned about catching up to Kennison worried about the others putting themselves in danger afraid for the desperately sick woman who clung to his side except for meeting Rebecca it

Had to be the worst day of his life he’d only been with the Stars for a year and a half and while he’d been in threatening situations before they didn’t come close to what he’d experienced in the few short hours since they’d been knocked out of the raft sea

Monsters zombies with guns and now Karen smart serious Karen losing her mind maybe turning into one of those things we’re so close to getting out of here and it may still be too late as they reached the turn in the tunnel Steve realized that he couldn’t hear kennison’s footsteps anymore he

Staggered around the corner thinking that he should call for him to wait up not to get too far ahead and he stopped cold his gut plummeting to somewhere around his knees Kennison stood 2 m away away holding a small semi-automatic his face and eyes as strangely blank and lifeless as a

Mannequin’s he stepped forward quickly and reached for Steve’s gun jerking the bread out of its holster and then stepping back the flaty doctor moved to one side now holding both weapons on them as he motion for Steve to move in front of him Steve held on to Karen’s

Side fumbling through his thoughts for ways to stall to reason with Kennison his body tensing to Spring even as his brain screamed at him to go along not to get shot what would happened to Karen you will come to the lab kenison said tonelessly or I’ll kill

You it was the inflection voice of a computer coming from the blankly merciless face of a man who suddenly didn’t seem human not at all we know what you did here Steve spat we know all about your goddamn Tri squads we know about the T virus and if

You want to get out of this without you will come to the lab or I’ll kill you Steve felt a h helpless shutter run through his body kennison’s tone hadn’t altered at all his gaze as fixed and emotionless as his voice Steve noticed the lines deep spidering lines that

Swept away from his cold brown eyes sat at the corners of his slack and expressionless lips oh my God you will come to the lab or I’ll kill you he repeated and this time he raised both weapons holding them inches away from Karen’s sagging head Steve

Knew knew she was dying knew that there was a good chance she’d lose against the virus and become a violent insane creature before the night was through but I have to protect her for as long as I can if I sacrificed her to save myself and there was even a chance

That she could have been cured Steve wouldn’t couldn’t do it even if it meant his own life holding Karen tightly he stepped ahead of the thing and started to walk enough time had passed if The Intruders had done what they were supposed to do they would have split up some of them

Heading mistakenly for the pen some accompanying the good doctor back to the lab if Allan had failed he’d at least have stalled The Intruders long enough to keep them out in the open either way it was time Griffith tapped the control panel for the ma7 enclosure thinking wistfully

How much fun it would be to see the looks on their faces the red light flashed to Green scen signifying that the gate was fully open no matter he supposed so long as they die the winding tunnels seemed to go on forever every time they rounded a turn

Rebecca expected to see a sealed door a slot next to it for the key card that David carried as the corners continued the hanging lights going on for another stretch of tunnel each as empty and featureless as the stretch before she stopped wishing for the door a sign

Would suffice an arrow painted on the wall a chalk Mark anything that would put to rest her growing suspicion that they’d been misled why to by an umbrella scientist perish the thought tired sarcasm aside Kennison had been weird but had definitely seemed frightened to the point of

Hysteria could he have been confused in his Panic pointed to the wrong Passage message or was the lab just better hidden than they thought or did he send us off on a snipe hunt some dead in cave or even a trap something dangerous meant to keep us out of the way while

He while he did something to steveen Karen the thought frightened her even more than the concept of walking into a trap Karen was desperately ill she wouldn’t be able to defend herself and Steve no Steve’s okay he’d be able to take Kennison in a heartbeat except that Karen was with him a very

Sick Karen struggling just to stay upright their jog had slowed to a shag David and Jon both Breathing heavily frowns deepening across their exhausted faces David held up a hand stopping them I don’t think it’s this way he panted we should have seen something by

Now and the piece of paper with the key card said southwest east I’m not sure but I think after that last turn we’re headed west John bobbed his head his short tight hair glistening with sweat I don’t know which way we’re going but I know this kennison’s full of

Guy works for umbrella for Christ’s sake I agree Rebecca said breathing deeply I think we should go back we have to get to the lab soon I don’t think they froze staring at each other from somewhere farther down the endless tunnel something made of heavy metal had

Just been moved the lab Rebecca said hopefully could it a low strange sound Cut Her Off the words dying in her throat as the noise picked up strength it was like nothing she’d ever heard before a dog howling combined with an offkey whistling whine and the sound of

A newborn baby’s desperate cry it was a lonely terrible sound rising and falling through the tunnel finally building to a warbling mournful shriek then it was joined by several others she was suddenly absolutely certain that she didn’t want to see what was making that sound even as David

Started backing up his face pale and eyes wide run he said training his Beretta on the empty passage ahead of them waiting until they had stumbled past before turning to follow Rebecca felt a burst of incredible eny energy as adrenaline gushed into her body sent her sprinting

Through the shadowy tunnel to escape the rising shrieks of whatever was behind them John was just in front of her his muscular arms and legs pumping madly and she could hear the clattering steps of David on her heels the howls were getting louder and Rebecca could feel the stone vibrate

Beneath her flying feet the heavy Galloping steps of the shrieking Beast thundering after them not going to make it even as she realized they’d be overtaken she heard David gasp out next turn as they reached the end of the empty stretch where the tunnel curved again Rebecca Whirled around raising her

Beretta in her sweating shaking hand training it back on the last turn they’d taken JN and David flanked her gasping 9 mm aimed alongside hers 20 M of empty passage filled with the now deafening cries of their unseen pursuers as the first of them tore into view all three of them fired slugs

Ripping into the creature that at first Rebecca thought was a lioness then a giant lizard then a dog she caught only a mad Patchwork vision of the impossible thing seeing parts of it that her mind fit into a hole the slitted cat-like pupils the giant snake head a gaping

Slaving jaw filled with bladed teeth The Squat and Powerful Barrel chested body sandc colored thick legs Bowing in the front muscular springing hunches propelled it toward them at an incredible speed and even as the bullets found its strange reptilian flesh there was another other behind it and the

First Explosive Rounds that smacked into the thick body of the closest creature knocked it off its clawed feet staggered it backward as Blooms of watery blood splattered the tunnel walls and shaking its head screaming in ferocious sorrow it launched itself at them again oh Rebecca squeezed the

Trigger again four five six her mind screaming as loudly as the two monstrous animals that ran at them 8 9 10 and the first went down stayed down but there was still the second and now a third tearing down the tunnel and the Brea only held 15

Rounds we’re going to die David jumped back behind the line of thundering fire an empty clip skittered across the floor and then he was next to her again aiming and squeezing the Beretta jerking smoothly in his practiced hand Rebecca counted her last round and stumbled backward praying that she could do it as

Fast as David and saw that the third animal was stumbling back its wide chest gushing thin streamers of red it collapsed into the puddle of watery fluid it created and stayed there nothing in the tunnel moved but there were at least two more around the corner their wailing cries continued to

Wax and wne through the tunnel but they stayed back out of sight as if they knew what had happened to their siblings and were too smart to charge into waiting death fall back David said hely and still aiming at the blind Corner they started to Edge backward the

Streaks of the hybrid creatures rolling over them in lonely terrible waves Griffith moved quickly away from the door when he heard the key in the lock not wanting to be too close to whomever Allan had brought along he had Thurman already standing ready just in case there were any sudden moves but

When he saw the young man and his passive partner step into the lab he doubted he’d have any trouble what’s this a few too many drinks perhaps perhaps an unseen mortal wound Griffith smiled waiting for him to speak or for the woman to move his heart full and warm with Good

Humor it had been so long since he’ talked to someone who could respond without prompting and the fact that his fine plan had worked made him all the merrier behind him Allan sealed the door and stood blankly holding two pistols on the unlikely pair the young man gazed wide-eyed

Around the laboratory his dark gaze settling on the wide airlock window in something like awe the woman’s head was down rolling across her chest he had the Deep natural tan of a Hispanic or perhaps someone from India Not Too Tall but sturdy enough yes he’d do quite

Nicely and since this might even have been the one to destroy Athens there was a certain Poetic Justice being served the young man’s darting gaze finally rested on Griffith curious and not altogether as frightened as Griffith would have liked we’ll see about that where are we the young man asked

Quietly you are in the chemical research laboratory approximately 20 M below the surface of calaban Cove Griffith said interesting yes those clever designers even built it inside of a shipwreck or they built the Shipwreck around the lab I forget EX Z are you Thurman such manners Griffith smiled

Again shaking his head no that fat hopeless creature standing to your left is Dr Thurman I am Nicholas Griffith and you might be before the young man could speak the woman rolled her head up a wobbling white face looking around in fixed hopeless hunger an infected

One Thurman take the woman and hold her Griffith said quickly he couldn’t have her damaging the fine specimen Allen had managed to catch but as Thurman grabbed for the female the young man resisted pushing at Lewis fast with angry hands a sneer of bravado on his face Griffith

Felt a pulse of distress Allan hit him Dr Kennison brought his hand up quickly cracking the struggling youth a smart blow across the back of his skull he stopped fighting just long enough for Thurman to P the woman away she’s gone Griffith said forcefully wondering why on Earth anyone would want

To hang on to one of those look at her can’t you see she’s not human anymore she’s one of burkins Puppets one of the pathetically altered hungry a zombie a tri Squad unit without training even as Griffith spoke a fascinating turn of events took place the woman squirmed around in Thurman’s

Grasp and with one quick movement darted forward and bit into Lewis’s face she pulled back with a thick bloody mouthful of his cheek and started to chew enthusiastically Karen oh my God no for his upset as he sounded the young man didn’t move to do anything about it for

That matter neither did LS the doctor stood calmly blood pouring down his face watching the t- virus drone lustfully swallow the piece of tender flesh Griffith was transfixed look at that he said softly not a Grimace of pain not a flutter of emotion smile Lewis Thurman grinned even

As the woman lunged forward again managing to snag his protruding lower lip with a wet tearing sound the lip ripped away exposing an even wider grin blood gushed the woman and chewed amazing absolutely breathtaking the young man was quivering his deep tan undershot with a sickly poar he didn’t seem to appreciate what

He was seeing and griffith realized that he probably wouldn’t the woman must have been a friend too bad Pearls Before Swine Alan take hold of our young man and hold him tightly the youth didn’t struggle too absorbed in the apparent horror that he was experiencing the female got another

Piece of cheek and ls’s smile wavered probably from muscle trauma as much as Griffith wanted to continue watching there was work to be done the young man’s other friends might manage to put down the ma7s and if they succeeded with that they might come looking for their bright young

Man but by then he’ll be my Bright Young Man Griffith walked to a counter and picked up a measured syringe tapping the side of it with one finger he turned to the silent guest wondering if he should reveal His Brilliant scheme for catching his friends wasn’t that what villains always

Did in movies he considered it only briefly then decided against it he’d always thought it a foolish plot point and was far from villainous it was they who had invaded his Sanctuary threatened his plans for creating worldwide peace there was no question who the evildoers were in this

Story the young hispanic was still watching the bizarre luncheon his mouth literally hanging open in dismay Karen as the young man had called her was swallowing Thurman’s nose and making quite a mess he’d have to dispose of her before Lewis’s arms gave out though that gave him plenty of time stepping forward

Quickly Griffith jabbed the needle into the young man’s arm and depressed the plunger only then then did he struggle his shocked gaze turning to Griffith his body twisting and flailing one of Allen’s arms seemed to give a little but he had a good tight hold on the fighting Hispanic Griffith

Smiled into his face shaking his head relax he said soothingly in just a few moments you won’t feel a thing slowly too slowly they backed toward the chamber they’d started in the lizard creatures following careful not to step into view screaming their terrible song Jon kept thinking of Karen and

Steve LED off to God knew where by the umbrella Dock and wished desperately that the monsters would just charge he felt the moments slipping by moments that may have already cost Karen her only chance moments in which Steve might be fighting for his life come on you stupid bastards we’re right here free

LUN come on they tried yelling tried firing and stamping their feet but the creatures wouldn’t take the bait once David had tried to fake them out the three of them slipping back around a corner and when the big lizards had skulled through the tunnel after them they jumped back

Around and started blasting Jon got a single round into one of them and they’d seemed that there were only two of the Beast left but both had gotten to cover before any serious damage had been done and hadn’t fallen for the ploy again slide bastards johon snarled for

About the 20th time backing up as quickly as he could the hell are they waiting for neither Rebecca nor David answered since they’d already discussed it talking over the creeping shrieks of the stalking monsters they were waiting for the three of them to turn around after what felt like an eternity

Of slow motion of backing through the empty tunnel one sliding step at a time they heard the distant familiar sound of the cavernous chamber they’d left muffled waves and thundering vibrations as background to the echoing HS thank God how long 15 20 minutes when we get into the open flank the tunnel David

Said tightly I’m going to turn and run draw them out Rebecca shook her head her young features pinched with worry you’re a better shot than I am and I can run faster I should do it JN shot a glance at David could see him struggling with the decision and finally he nodded

Sighing right run as fast as you can back for the stairs to the lighthouse we’ll pick them off as soon as they too far along to turn around Rebecca blew out sharply got it just say win JN could feel the change in the air just behind him the drafts that swirled

Around the underground chamber fluttering against the back of his neck another step and they were surrounded by open space Jon quickly sidestepped standing between the tunnel they had just backed out of and the one next to it he saw David get into position Rebecca standing perfectly still in the mouth of the passage

Go Rebecca spun and ran sprinting away and John tensed Beretta held close to his face listening for the rising shrieks the pound of feet now David shouted and they both swung into the passage firing the howling monsters were less than 6 M away and the heavy rounds smashed into them great bloody holes

Exploding through their rubbery skin bone and watery red splattering wildly the shrieks died beneath the Thundering bullets neither of the repti things making it as far as the opening two strange bodies fell still crumpling to the stone floor in ragged heaps as soon as they stopped firing Rebecca came jogging back into the

Chamber her cheeks flushed her eyes flashing with urgency let’s go David said and then the three of them were running into the passage that Kennison had disappeared into the Lost Time lending a desperation to their flight Jon finally let the fear slip inside giving up the angry frustration he’ suffered through through

Their backward crawl Karen please be okay please don’t let anything have happened to her Lopez the tunnel turned angled down and the three of them curving with it Terror for their friends and teammates driving them faster Jon swore to himself that if they were all right if there was still

Time for Karen if they could all make it out of this alive he’d give anything my car my house my money I won’t screw anyone else till I get married I’ll clean up my act and walk the straight and narrow it wasn’t enough and he didn’t

Know why anyone would want it but he’d sacrifice anything do whatever it took the passage swerved again still sliding down and they tore around the corner and there was a wide open set of doors a tiny passage between the outer and inner and a giant dimly lit room

Behind it Steve leaned against the frame holding his Beretta his face pale and blank Steve what happened what David started but the look on Steve’s face as he turned to watch them approach the terrible emptiness there made them all stop in their tracks even as his mind searched to deny

It Jon’s heart filled with a horrible aching loss Karen’s dead Steve said softly then turned and walked into the room chapter 16 oh no Rebecca felt a Welling Rush of sadness inside as she stared after Steve John and David both grim and Silent beside her the blank shock on Steve’s

Face before he turned away told them what must have happened poor Karen and Steve what it must have been like they’d found the lab too late she glanced down at the key card slot next to the door as she stepped into the double seal feeling a horrible sense of

Futility at the pointlessness of it all they’d come to find information only to find tests only for Karen to get infected and then turn against Steve even as they’d reached the one chance they might have had to cure her but Kennison Thurman she stepped through the second door

Frowning the lab was huge counters lined with equipment desks piled incredibly high with stacks of paper but it was the open hatch across from them that first commanded her attention her gaze immediately drawn to the thick sheet of Plexi or reinforced glass set into the thick door it was an airlock the inner

Door standing open and behind the second sealed door past a mesh gate the dark Waters of the ocean swirled past bubbles floating by the laboratory was underwater the second thing she noticed was the the blood a thick trail of crimson leading across the concrete floor in splatters and pools but ending

In a sliding smear Steve must have moved the body God not Karen’s Steve had walked to the airlock and turned seemed to be waiting for them to cross the room Rebecca started toward him her throat tight with sympathy and swelling tears John and David were right behind

Her quiet looking around the vast room when behind them the door backed into the passage slammed shut they spun around saw Kennison standing there holding a tiny semi-automatic a 22 pistol pointing it at them with no expression on his face drop your weapons the low quiet voice was Steve’s Rebecca turned again confused

And saw Steve pointing his baret at them his face as blank as Kennison now that she was close enough to the airlock she saw the body on the grated floor it was Karen her white face streak with blood a gaping Blackness where her left eye had been oh my God what’s going

On David stepped toward him holding his Beretta Loosely confusion and disbelief in his voice Steve what are you doing what’s happened drop your weapons Steve said again his voice had no emotion at all what did you do to him John screamed turned and fired at Kennison the round punching neatly

Through his left temple Kennison crumpled sagging the second shot came from Steve’s Beretta hitting Jon in the lower back blood gushed from the hole as he staggered Halfway Around Rebecca saw the dark fluid trickling from his mouth the dazed disbelief in his eyes and Jon crashed to the cement

Spasming once before he lay motionless it had all happened in the space of a few seconds drop your weapons Steve said calmly he aimed his pistol at Rebecca for a moment Rebecca could do nothing at all she stared at Steve in horror felt tears slipping down her Frozen cheeks unable to comprehend what

Had happened disarm David said quietly letting his gun slip from his fingers and clatter to the floor Rebecca dropped the Baretta the heavy weapon falling from her equally heavy fingers back up Steve said still aiming at her chest do as he says David said his voice trembling just slightly they stepped back slowly

Rebecca unable to take her eyes from Steve’s face the handsome boyish face she’d grown to care about now it was only a mask worn by a by a zombie they backed into a desk and stopped watching dully as Steve move to pick up their weapons Rebecca’s mind

Whirling with more than just horror and loss a zombie that could walk and talk like a man like Kennison like Steve how when did this happen as Steve stepped away an almost Pleasant male voice came out of the corner of the room from behind a desk all finished

Then my God what a Greek tragedy the voice was followed by an appearance a slender gray-haired man stood up and walked around the desk moving almost casually to stand by Steve he was in his late 50s his hair long enough to brush at the collar of his lab

Coat his lined face sporting a beaming smile I’ll repeat my instructions for the benefit of our guests the man said happily if either of them make any sudden moves shoot them Rebecca knew who he was immediately knew that she hadn’t been wrong after all Dr Griffith she said said quietly

Griffith arched an eyebrow seeming amused my reputation precedes me how did you know I’ve heard about you she said coldly or Nicholas done anyway his smile froze then widened again all in the past he said dismissively waving one hand in the air and you’ll never have a chance

To tell anyone about the pleasure of our acquaintance I’m afraid Griffith’s smile faded his dark blue gaze turning icy you people have held me up long enough I’m tired of this game so I believe that I’m going to have your nice young man kill you he brightened suddenly and Rebecca

Saw the madness flashing in those eyes the complete break from sanity now that I think of it why create even more of a mess Steve tell our friends to get into the airlock if you would be so kind Steve kept his weapon trained on her heart get into the airlock he said

Calmly before David could take a step Rebecca started talking fast and deadly serious was it the T Virus did you use that as a platform for whatever this is I know you were responsible for increasing the amplification time but this is something new this is something that umbrella doesn’t even know about

It’s a mutagen with instantaneous membrane Fusion isn’t it Griffith’s eyes widened Steve wait what do you know about membrane Fusion little girl I know that you’ve perfected it I know that you managed to create a rapid fuse Varon that apparently infects the brain tissue in under an hour in under

10 minutes Griffith said his whole demeanor changing from that of a smiling old man to that of a fanatic his gaze narrowing with a dangerously brilliant intens his lips drawing tight over his clenched teeth these stupid stupid animals with their ridiculous t- virus Burkin may

Have a mind but the rest of them are fools playing with war games while I’ve created a miracle he turned gesturing at a row of shining oxygen tanks next to the lab’s entrance do you know what that is do you know what I’ve managed to synthesize peace peace and the freedom

From choice for all of mankind David felt his heart start to pound viciously his entire body breaking out in a cold sweat Griffith was pacing in front of them now his eyes burning with mad genius there’s enough of my strain of my Creation in those tanks to infect a

Billion people in less than 24 hours I’ve managed to find the answer the answer to the pitiful selfish and self-important breed that the human race has become come when I give my gift to the wind the world will become free again it will be reborn a simple and

Beautiful place for every creature Great and Small surviving on Instinct alone you’re insane David breathed knowing that Griffith could kill them was going to kill them but unable to stop himself from saying it you’re out of your bloody mind this is why my team is dead why all

Those people are dead he wants to turn the world into things like Kinison like Steve Griffith snarled at him Flex of spittle flying from his lips and you’re dead you’re not going to be here when my Miracle Graces this Earth I I deprive you of my gift both of you when the sun

Comes up tomorrow there will be peace and neither of you will ever know a second of it he Whirled R around pointing at Steve put them in the airlock now Steve raised the Beretta again motioning toward the open hatch where Karen’s lifeless body lay slumped and bloody on the

Floor he’s Out Of Reach can’t grab the weapon in time Steve Now kill them if they won’t go David and Rebecca stepped into the lock David’s body cold tensed he had to do something or the world would be infected by this maniac’s psychotic dream Steve slammed the lock closed they were trapped chapter

17 Griffith was Furious shaking with anger as the airlock door slammed closed didn’t they see didn’t they understand anything but their own Petty stupid stupid lives he stared at the Young Steve the rage spilling out threatening to drive him insane to make him vomit to

Kill put that gun in your ugly face and pull the trigger die die just die Steve rised the weapon Rebecca screamed beating her fists helplessly against the thick metal door no no no no no the Thunder of the shot cut her scream off Steve fell against the base of the

Hatch mercifully out of sight already dead he was already dead it wasn’t Steve anymore Jesus David whispered and Rebecca looked up looked straight into Griffith’s wildly petulant gaze through the window and griffith smiled suddenly a beaming triumphant grin of accomplishment and malicious spite the Raging loss and Terror she felt were

Transformed by the sight of that smile Rebecca stared into those raving blue eyes and realized that she’d never truly felt hate before Oh you miserable bastard he told them of his plan but at that second the thought was too big for her to Fathom too vast and insane for

Her to fit in her mind all she could think of was that he’ killed Karen and John he’ killed Steve and she wanted nothing more than to destroy him to see him lose to see him suffer and feel pain and and if we don’t do something his

Madness will be fully realized and we have to stop it to stop him from dancing on the grave of the world Griffith moved to a control panel next to the door and started to press buttons still smiling there was a heavy clanking from the grad floor and Water

Started to gurgle in drawn from the icy black Waters of the Cove that pressed against the outer hatch the airlock was just big enough for her and David not to have to stand on Karen’s bloody Twisted body and already the water was turning red foaming up from an unseen vent and

Lapping at their feet covering Karen’s white fingers a minute maybe less in the lab Griffith was leaning against a desk across from them arms folded smugly watching behind him a backdrop of death Kennison John and the gleaming steel cylinders filled with Griffith evil we have to do something Rebecca turned desperately to

David praying that he had some brilliant plan and saw only resignation and sorrow in his eyes as he stared down at Karen’s corpse his shoulders slumped with defeat David he looked up at her bleakly hopelessly I’m sorry he whispered all my fault Karen’s hands were already floating tendrils of short

Blonde hair haloing around her pitiful face Rebecca grabbed at the latch of the door uselessly felt its unmoving strength sealed by Griffith’s controls cold water seeped through the canvas of her shoes over her ankles the rising smells of salt and darkness and blood frightening her as badly as David’s hopeless Whispering

Drone if I hadn’t been so selfish Rebecca I’m sorry you have to believe that I never meant terrified on the edge of Hysteria she grabbed his shoulders roughly shouting okay fine you’re an assle to but if Griffith releases that virus millions of people are going to

Die for a second she didn’t think he’d H her and she felt the Water Rising inching up her calves her heart pounding wildly and then his dark eyes sharpened losing their glassy Sheen he looked quickly around the tight compartment and she could see his mind working see the

Sharp gaze taking in all of the details steel watertight hatches a mesh enclosure over the outer door like a thin shark cage 2 ft deep cold water bubble bubbling over her knees now Karen’s arms and head lifting floating doors of Steel the windows 2 in of Plexi once the outer hatch pops

There’s the cage he looked into her eyes his own filled with frustrated anger with shock and apology and shook his head she dropped her hands her body starting to shiver from the cold her thoughts delving into black despair David sosed closer and put his arms around her just your luck to

Meet me he said softly rubbing her upper arms as her teeth started to chatter as the water swirled up around her hips as Karen’s lifeless hand brushed her leg luck Karen Rebecca’s heart seemed to stop in mid beat David held her tightly wishing a million things knowing that it was too

Late for any of them he glanced into the lab and saw that Griffith was still watching them still smiling he looked away filled with a useless less dismissive hatred as the icy water slapped against his hips murdering bloody bastard Rebecca tensed against his chest suddenly she pushed away from him and

Grabbed at Karen’s body her fingers searching frantically through the dead woman’s vest she laughed a bright hysterical snap of Joy she’s gone mad and jerked a dark round object from one of Karen’s Pockets David saw what it was and felt pure amazement sweep through him she carried it for luck Rebecca

Chattered out quickly it’s live David took the grenade and held it behind his back his thoughts racing again assessing the water to his waist and almost to Rebecca’s heaving chest out to doll pops pull the pin get in the cage hold the hatch closed they’d probably still die but if

They could pull it off they wouldn’t go out alone Griffith watched the water rise watched the two run through a stereotypical melodrama almost absently his thoughts had already turned to the coming Dawn and the problem of getting the heavy canisters upstairs he supposed it served him right losing his temper that

Way the pair were putting on quite a show the girl angry at the Brit’s apathy the quick desperate look for a way out of their predicament the final Embrace and then the Panic the girl clutching at the t- virus drone the Brit talking at her frowning

Worried for her sanity even as the Dark Water Rose over her young bosom sad so sad they should never have come never have tried to get at me now the man was holding her up pathetically working to postpone the inevitable as the water spun up across the glass once they were

Dead he’d pop the cage give the leviathans a treat before setting them free again free to swim in unmanned seas and live out their days in peace ocean and land as one his mind murmured dreamily mirrors of Simplicity Instinct the Drone body fluttered lazily past the window and he saw that the two invaders had propped themselves between the hatches struggling to hold on to the last bit of air a determined pair if thickheaded it occurred to him suddenly that he’d never bothered to find out who they were who had s

Them and it doesn’t matter now does it the lock had filled the light on the control panel indicated that the outer door had unlatched it was over except they were scrambling to get out kicking through into the cage and something small dropped past the window as they pushed the door closed behind

Them Griffith frowned and he just had time to register disbelief before the hatch slammed into to his body and the screaming torrent of liquid ice took his final breath chapter 18 when the grenade exploded everything happened too fast for Rebecca to think about there were only Sensations Terror reigning over

All brilliant light and explosive movement as the door blew outward hardness against her back that gave way in an instant long screaming a million bubbles like bullets and incredible impossible pressure that seemed to go on and on in shades of cold and black faster than fast a movement and muffled

Strange sound dark shapes moved over her feeling mind blotting out everything in growing flickers of dizziness and her chest was imploding her lungs eating themselves she kicked and kicked and kicked and as her legs started to weaken the dark flickers swallowing her up air air sweet wonderful air slapped across her dying

Face she drank convulsively gasping in great heaving gulps of the stuff still not thinking at all her body thought instead greedily swallowing life the spray and sting of salt the warming rocking waves a high re Buzz a massive wave of pressure pushed her forward driving water up her nose as

Buckets of it suddenly rained down on top of her Rebecca gasped air spinning her mind connected to her body again David what’s Rebecca a choked cry from somewhere in the buzzing dark the buzz was clearer now it was another surging wave another torrent pouring over her seeking to drown her as

Griffith had been unable to do and as the rain fell away a boat an engine’s powerful deepening thrum As It sped toward her over the thrashing sea Rebecca David’s desperate call from her left I’m here she could see the explosion this time see the giant column of water silhouetted against the searching beams

Of light before the debris en crusted wave knocked her back blinding her with a vicious slap of foam she managed to take a quick gulp of air before the column came down crashing over her spattering loudly against the choppy surface depth charges they’re firing depth charges

Umbrella the boat was less than 30 m away when the engine suddenly cut out the lights playing across the water in front of her there was a splashing movement nearby and the lights moved one of the blindingly bright beams finding David’s exhausted dripping face a short distance

Away a man’s voice coming from the boat now moving slowly toward the them this is Captain Blake of the Philadelphia Stars identify yourselves Blake went on his shout louder as the boat came closer we’re going to have to get you out of the water I repeat the water’s

Not safe we’re coming to get you out David called back his voice clogged and cracking trap David trap exitus and Rebecca Chambers when Blake shouted again he said the most wonderful most beautiful words that Rebecca had ever heard Burton sent us to find you hang on Barry oh thank God for Barry

Burton as drained as she was as spiritually wasted torn by loss and fear from the long terrible night Rebecca had just enough strength to smile that’s when she heard the choking groan from behind behind her there was Darkness tinged with red and an echo of pain in that Darkness there was no self

And no peace he was alone and engaged in battle a furious struggle to find the end to that absence of light he knew that finding the end quickly was important but a maze of strange and somehow frightening images blocked his way insisting that he didn’t need to hurry a ghost a soldier a

Rage the ringing laugh of a woman he had known who was no more and the terrible dead eyes that had taken away the light in an explosion of fire and sound eyes that he knew but was afraid to remember the maze beckoned him called to him to explore deeper and give up his

Search for the end of Darkness that the path would only lead to Greater pain and he’d almost decided to stop fighting to let the Shadows take over when the light found found him in an explosive blast of deafening Thunder then he was being shot through ice and liquid black pounded to

Consciousness by pain and it was the pain that he focused on in that screaming terrible ride the pain that drove him to fight the darkness his awareness spun away as the air curdled in his lungs and the Raging cold numb the pain but then he could breathe and the jagged piece of bobbing

Wood beneath his clawed fingers told him that there was in fact he wasn’t dead although he almost wished he were he could still hardly breathe and the pain in his back was Exquisite and then he heard the sound of David’s voice amidst the sloshing cold and felt

That life might be worth living after all he tried to call out but all that emerged was an exhausted moan there was a stab of sharp and blinding light and then Darkness again but there was a flicker of awareness this time that allowed him to understand what was

Happening pain and movement movement a feeling of weightless suspension and then hardness against his cheek chill and more movement the sound of cloth ripping and paper tearing excited voices shouting orders and again the shriek of torn flesh when he came around again he saw a shadow in a star’s vest bending over him

With an IV bag in one hand and a needle in the other hope that’s morphine he tried to say but again he only groaned a split second later he saw two pale blurs hovering over him as the star Shadow continued to work on him with warm and gentle hands the blurs were

David and Rebecca eyes circled with Darkness hair dripping faces tired and lost you’re going to be okay John David said softly just rest now it’s all over a spreading warmth started to flush through his body a delicious sleepy warmth that banished the Roar of pain pain to a distant and far away

Land just as the friendly Darkness came to claim him he looked into David’s eyes and managed to rasp out what he suddenly wanted to say more than anything it took great effort but it had to be said you two look like something a coyote haon shut off a cliff he mumbled

Seriously Jon was followed into the healing Blackness by The Sweet Sound of laughter the middle-aged Stars medic had taken Jon inside the small cabin on the 30-foot boat coming out only once to tell them that everything looked all right two broken ribs some deep tissue trauma and a punctured lung but they’

Managed to patch him up well enough to call him stable and he was resting comfortably a Medevac helicopter had already been radioed for and would be arriving soon and the Medics seemed confident that Jon would manage a full recovery David had wept a little at the news and had not been a bit

Ashamed they sat in the back of the boat huddled under a scratchy wool blanket as Blake and his team continued to set charges powering easily back and forth across the Cove the Pennsylvania team had already brought up four of the giant creatures before they’d seen the explosive burst

Of air and debris that had come up from the lab and it was starting to look as though there weren’t anymore David had one arm around Rebecca the girl leaning against his chest as the black sky gradually started to shade to a deep ethereal blue neither of them spoke too tired to

Do more than watch the teamw work dropping charges and searching the results back and forth and back again Blake had promised to send divers down for Griffith’s tanks as soon as the Cove was clear and JN had been picked up there were two wet suits already laid

Out on the bows deck a young Alpha whose name David had forgotten prepping them with studied intensity he reminded David of Steve a little bit somehow the thought of Steve didn’t bring the kind of pain that David expected it would it hurt it hurt like hell Karen and Steve

Gone but when he thought of what they had managed to stop what they had been a part of it wasn’t all for nothing we stopped Griffith’s Insanity stopped him from effectively killing millions of innocent people Steve and Karen God they would have been so proud the pain was bad but the guilt

Wasn’t as devastating as he’ feared it would be his responsibility in their deaths was something he knew he’d have to ponder for a long time to come but he thought that there was a good chance that he’d be able to find a way to come to terms with it

Eventually he wasn’t sure how but the tears he’d been able to shed over Jon had struck him as a step in the right direction David’s tired thoughts turned to umbrella to what role they’d played in Griffith’s Madness while they surely hadn’t meant for their researcher to go mad they had

Created the circumstances that allowed it to happen their complete disregard for human life could have only been encouragement for someone like Griffith and without umbrella the scientist would never have had access to the t- virus someday soon they’ll be held accountable for what they’ve done not today or tomorrow but soon

Perhaps Trent would help them again perhaps Barry and Jill and Chris would uncover more and raccoon perhaps Rebecca curled closer against him her breath warm against his drying chest and David let the thoughts go for the time being content to Simply sit and not think at all he was very very

Tired as the first rays of the sun slipped Over the Horizon Blake pronounced the waters clean though neither David nor Rebecca heard him both had fallen into a deep and dreamless sleep beneath the twilight of the coming day epilog it’s a major setback but it’s nothing we can’t handle since the

Authorities were able to the meeting room was a study and quiet but unpretentious Elegance three men sat at the stately oak table standing by the window and staring out thoughtfully at the hazy morning Sky the man at the window could see the others reflected in the glass they

Doubted that they noticed his careful scrutiny for as sharp as they were politically they tended to be fairly dull about watching what went on around them that sounds good we’ll reconvene in 10 hours when some more Intel comes in very good after the phone conference the man who always wore blue spoke first

Directly addressing the elderly man with the groomed mustache do we need to discuss the ramifications of this blue asked mustache sighed I believe the report covered them he said arily the tea drinker broke in setting his cup down with a rattle steaming liquid slopped over the side distorting

The tiny umbrella design that adorned the side of the cup I don’t think it’s wise to underestimate the magnitude of this difficulty T said particularly not with the current instability factor in development blue nodded I agree things like this have a way of getting out of hand first the

Secondary and raccoon now the Cove mustache cut him off with a sharp glance blue properly abashed cleared his throat his face red as he struggled to recover that is to say I believe there should be a more thorough investigation into these matters don’t you think Mr Trent the man at the window turned

Around wondering how these people had ever managed to get where they were he didn’t smile knowing how much it bothered them when he didn’t smile I’m afraid I’ll have to get back to you on that Trent said coolly blue nodded quickly of course take all the time you

Need no hurry gentlemen am I right without another word Trent turned and walked out of the room outwardly as intimidating and precise as they expected him to be as they wanted him to be inside he wondered how much longer the game could go on you’ve been listening to calaban Cove

The original novel based on the Resident Evil video game series written by SD Perry read to you by Mike Johnson and Jess Kuman if you made it to the end of this audio book I truly hope you enjoyed the ride thank you for giving it a chance thank you for your

Patience we’ll see you around