章節 66: Breaking Down 2
8 PM. Somewhere in Chicago, Illinois.
It was a big room with bright neons on the ceiling. A
A bunch of people, wearing a lab coat, were currently overseeing the event of Raccoon City through monitors on the tables. They changed the camera every 5 minutes to record the details of the outbreak. Starting from the spreading speed of the virus, the needed time until the host would change into a zombie, special mutations, and so on.
All of them were led by one person that was sitting alone in the corner while playing classical music on a vintage Gramophone. Alex Wesker, a short-haired blonde woman in a white dress.
The entrance's door suddenly opened as an old man in a grey suit came in. His mustache made him look mature with wise. His name was Joel Allman, the Vice President of Umbrella U.S.A. Hearing the creaking of the door, Alex turned around and greet him with a delightful smile.
"Sir Joel, you actually came at the perfect time. Things finally get interesting." She said.
As Joel sat next to her, he asked without looking in her direction, "How's it going?"
"Perfect! Now I just want him to lose that useless emotion, and joined us," answered Alex. Joel frowned at her reply. The one they were discussing was a boy named Edward. A nephew of Umbrella's blacklisted target, Chris Redfield, who shamed the reputation of Umbrella U.S.A. and caused them to lose more than 1 Billion dollars worth of facility and research items.
"I don't understand. Why did you put a lot of interest toward him, Miss Alex? If you want a mutant, we could take as many as we want anywhere. Why him?" he asked. In his eyes, Alex's behavior and interest toward Edward was something abnormal. Yes, he is special. But there were lots of his kind that could be found anywhere. For example, at Charles Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.
"You won't understand, Sir Joel. My guts are telling me that he is the one," she replied gleefully. If others saw her, they would only found the smile of an innocent lady resting at the seaside. However, for Joel, it was the smile of the Witch of the West. The worst of the worst. A sociopath might even sound like an understatement.
"You trying to take him, only because your bowel movement told you so?" said Joel, not believing Alex's word a single bit.
"Yes. And it is a huge one!" replied Alex. She then switched her seat to move closer toward him, "Look over here Sir Joel."
Alex ordered her subordinates to switch the screen in front of them, showing Edward running while piggybacking a boy his age through the dead city of Raccoon City.
"What am I suppose to see, Miss Alex," asked Joel. "Desperation, helplessness, and tension. The boy already felt all of that. If you really want to control him, isn't it better to just brainwash him?"
Alex's way of doing things was too round-about, even Joel thought that she was just a sadist that enjoy this kind of thing.
"And make him move like a puppet? We already have the Tyrants for that. I'm making a new generation of Wesker Children, I don't want puppets that need orders so that they could move. I want them to move as I desire, even without me interfering." explained Alex.
"And how does breaking him would be of help for your plan. Don't you worry that it would backfire on you?" asked Joel, frowning.
"Emotion would only hold yourself in making a decisive judgment. What use it would be if it only would make you hesitate. Ridding it this early is the best thing to do. And also, backfire? So be it. When he fell in my hand, it would be far more satisfying to me." replied Alex, smirking. She couldn't hold her brimming delight and her expectation of the future.
Suddenly, all of the monitors' screen was enveloped with bright light. Nothing but white light could be seen on it before they turned static one after another. Alex's subordinate panicked, and she was bewildered as well. Joel saw that they were having problems, so he stays silent and watches the confusion inside the room.
"What happened!?" shouted Alex.
"All of our cameras in the city captured a bright light and a second later all of them broke." answered one Of her subordinates.
"I already know that! What I'm asking is why and how it happened!!" Alex was fumed with anger as the joyful feeling she felt earlier vanish in an instant. It happened too sudden and fast that it went over their observation undetected.
"Contact Nikolai! I want him to report about that mysterious light," ordered Alex. Her subordinates started moving according to her words. She didn't like the feeling of not knowing anything or when a plan went hay. Everything was perfect until now, and she wanted to keep it that way.
======
Somewhere else in the outer world. A world filled with fire, agony, and hatred. A world that was born to pull down everything as it turned into ashes. Some say it was a world made to send judgment, others say it was a corrupted world. But for certain someone, it was a fun place to spent holidays without having anyone bugging you.
"Hell yeah!! Who's next!?" exclaimed Dante, even though his body was covered with blood. Well, the blood of his opponents, of course. With Ebony and Ivory in both hands, he blasted every demon in his range, forming his own version of No Man's Land.
Meanwhile, a man that was covered in reds, was watching it with a bored expression. It has been days since Dante arrived, and he was forced to accompany him.
"Enough, Son of Sparda! You have tested my patience long enough!" shouted, Mephisto, levitating on top of him. Every demon in the vicinity, those who had ears and those who didn't, either massive in size or small like an ant, kneel with respect and fear.
"Then you should have brought him to me from the start. Your subordinates might still be alive by then, although I didn't mind a few more sets of stress reliever," replied Dante, putting Ebony and Ivory away. Although he looked easygoing and careless, Dante could pull Rebellion whenever he wanted.
"I already told you. Your brother isn't here anymore," said Mephisto.
"Then he did come here! Tell me where he is, Willem Dafoe," said Dante, with his hand close to Rebellion's handle.
Mephisto just sighed and pointed his hand to his left. "Have you tried Mundus's Hell?"
"Ah, man... It's too hard to get out of that place once entered. Besides, he didn't have much going on over there. I like this place a lot better."
"Then how are you going to find your brother!?" exclaimed Mephisto, annoyed by his carefree attitude.
'Wait... Why do I even care!?' thought Mephisto. He then put his arm on Dante's shoulder while saying, "Just give up, Dante, and join me. You know, I didn't have a new Rider in a long time. Care to fill in the seat?"
"And become an eternal slave for you? Geez, no thanks," said Dante, waving his hand in between their face.
"It only sounds bad, you know. We covered health insurance, retirement savings plan, flexible work arrangements. Ohh... Ohh! We also have In-house seminars and workshops. Sounds great isn't it?" said Mephisto, trying to tempt Dante with superb benefits.
"Where the hell would I will use them?"
"In Hell, of course, we're having winter cleanup next month, so this place would feel much better. You're in?" asked Mephisto, with a genuine smile on his face.
"No way... Why would I believe the word of a devil?" said Dante, refusing Mephisto's offer.
"Hey! That's racist! Not all devil was bad." protested Mephisto.
"So you're saying you're a good guy?" said Dante, raising one of his eyebrows.
"Nope, I'm fabulous," replied Mephisto, posing like a bodybuilder.
Suddenly, their banter was cut off by a light that covered the sky of Hell. Mephisto staggered as he started at the bright sky. His back hair stood frozen as his mouth gaped in disbelief.
Dante was curious about the change of atmosphere. He asked, "What's that? Another trick to temp me? Let me tell you, I have no interest in that offer even if you have fireworks."
However, Mephisto was too shocked that he didn't hear any of Dante's words. "No way... How could this happen...?"
======
Although a little bit different, the same thing happened in a lot of places. For example, inside the temple of the Ancient One or Sorcerer Supreme, her meditation was interrupted by a small and round beacon that suddenly lit itself in the middle of the room. Her closed eyes were opened wide as she moved toward it.
The Ancient one tried to use her power to scan the earth, but somehow there was a barrier that held her from doing so.
She muttered, "What is going on... I thought..."
The same thing was happening everywhere, and all of the people that knew the meaning of that light or sign was filled with disbelief.
======
A few minutes ago, Raccoon City.
I was running alone with Michael on my back. I tried to move a bit slower, to not shake him that much. As I run, my mind was filled with all sorts of things. I have a question I wanted to ask, but I was too afraid of the answer. However, just when I gathered my courage to ask, Michael did it first.
"Hey... Edward. Aren't you curious about why or when I know your identity? asked Michael. His body was slumped, he had no energy left, but Michael still wanted to say something. After I said yes, softly, Michael started talking.
"I saw you... by accident... changing into this form and jumped through the window," said Michael. Meanwhile, at the same time, Regina was reading his condition.
[Body temperature started decreasing, an abnormality has been found inside his body, especially in the brain area. I don't think he would make it, Sir.] she said.
However, I keep running and running, while listening to his story. Ignoring whatever Regina was telling me. Michael continued, "It was then, that I started thinking. Ahh... he's the one that put an end to my father."
"Do you... hate me?" I asked, after pausing a little bit.
"I did... so much that I wanted to have my revenge when I saw Sherry was in danger," he replied.
"Then, why did you stop? Why not follow it through?" I asked.
"I also don't know why... my dad's already dead even before you came in. I'm sorry, Ed," replied Michael.
We stayed silent for a while, not speaking even a word. He didn't know what to say anymore, I also don't know what to talk about, but the first person the break the ice was always him.
"Hey... Edward... Do you want to be my friend?" he asked. Ahh... this question again. I never gave him any response, only evading him all the time.
"You idiot, the moment we play together, we were already friends," I replied.
"Is that so...? Then it's a yay for me. Hannah and Will were wrong and I win the bet," he said, softly. I was curious about the two of them. I haven't seen them ever since the start of the outbreak. Although I knew it was hopeless, I hope they also could make it.
"Why me? Why did you so stubborn to befriend me? You should have given up a long time ago, just like the others." I said. There's no reason to approach me, and I wasn't that friendly, to begin with.
"Do I need a reason... for that?" he asked. Before I could answer, he continued, "My father once said, if you need a reason the befriend someone. Then, it's not a friendship, but a business partner. Besides, you looked too sad. Just like me."
"Sad? You?" I couldn't believe his statement and thought that he was just trolling.
[The target's body started to get swollen. I advise you to put him down now, Sir. Please.]
"No! We can still cure him!" I shouted, dismissing Regina's warning. A also knew that he started to feel nauseous, and pained, but I still couldn't give up.
"Edward... Do it..." said Michael. His words stopped me in my place.
"No... We're almost there, I can see it... the clock tower." tears started to flow down on mu cheek. It shouldn't have been that hard, but somehow my feet couldn't move anymore. Michael released his grip on my coat, almost making him fall before I catch him.
"Ed... I know it's too late, I can't even feel my own hand anymore..." he replied, with eyes half-closed. We dropped on our knees facing each other. A light appeared as the familiar weapon appeared in my hand, seeming to agree as well. Michael glanced at the stump on my left shoulder, the spot where my arm was growing on.
"You sure have your own share of problems...don't you?" said Michael.
The Glock-18 in my hand was too heavy, I couldn't even pull it up. My hand was shaking, trembling from the pressure. I'm going to kill my own friend. Fuck...
"Can I not do it...?" I asked. Someone... somebody... please help us...
I keep asking for help, for mercy. One death was enough, how many more do I have to lose? But, no matter how many times I complained, there's no reply.
"What should I do... Mom..." I prayed. My head was staring at the cold ground.
[...]
"Ed..." Michael's hand tapped my shoulder. There he is, smiling again like an idiot. Why did everyone keep smiling when they are leaving me? My father, my mother, everyone did it... I don't need your smile... If you're in pain, just scream. If you're afraid, just cower in fear. You don't have to put yourself higher. It won't make me feel better at all!
I wanted to say all of that out loud, but I can't. Deep down, I knew that those smiles also comfort me, enough for me to keep on living.
I raised the Glock toward his forehead. My hand was still shaking, but Michael suddenly clasped it tightly, as if giving me the strength to hold on.
"Ed..." he called.
"What...?" I replied.
Michael didn't answer immediately. After what seemed like an eternity for both of us, he then said his last words.
"Thanks for being my friend."
The moment it ended, Michael pulled the trigger. He knew I wouldn't pull it, so he did it by himself. The moment the bullet went through his head. The world turned silent. Michael's head plopped back as I held his body with my right hand. My head went blank, but tears still gushing out of my eyes, falling on the hard asphalt on the empty road.
[Sir! Wake up!] shouted Regina, inside my head. But I couldn't hear her. My world was still silent as if put in a stop. The shock from killing Michael while he was still alive was too much for me to bear.
[Sir! He's coming!] warned Regina.
A booming sound exploded behind me as Nemesis appeared after tearing down a wall. He evolved once again, but unlike before he crawled in all four. His claw protruding like a blade and tentacles adorned with light blades at the end of it wriggled on his back. He looked more like a wild beast than his former humanoid form.
However, it didn't end only there. Another challenger appeared once more, also in his evolved form. The G3 Tyrants, the third stage of William Birkin's test subject, appeared in front of me as he dropped on the ground after leaping from one building and another. He had an extra pair of massive hands with saber claws ready to cut or break everything and anything around him, as the other pair of arms could be used to hold his opponent. Another massive eyeball just like the one on his right shoulder appeared on his left thigh. His head was covered with an exoskeleton, protecting him from impact or pierce power from a bullet. The last one was a massive mouth on his achest adorned with hundreds of teeth circularly.
Not only that, Six Tyrants appeared out of nowhere, encircling the three of us. Five of them were the Tyrants that attacked the Police Station, while the other one came after doing his own mission.
[Sir! You need to escape!!] shouted Regina, again, but there's no response.
[Edward!] called Regina. Her tone suddenly changed, not the expressionless and stiff voice from before, but a much more human voice. [Wake up!]
Both Nemesis and the G3 started moving. Seeing that I was giving no response, they walked slowly toward me. The six Tyrants also started to tighten the circles by moving forward.
Left with no choice, Regina started to take action.
[Accessing control of User's main body]
<Access Denied>
[Forcefully accessing control of User's main body]
<Access Denied>
Regina keeps repeating it until the firewall started to loosen itself. Slowly gaining control of Edward's body. Suddenly, the system started to intervene.
<Admin: Stop it, you can't do this.>
[No! I'm not letting him die here!]
<Admin: It's too dangerous! Stop it!>
However, Regina keeps ignoring the Admin's warning. She was keen to save Edward from the impending doom that was encroaching on him.
<Admin: Stop it! Vanessa!>
[Shut up!! This is not what you promised me!] shouted Vanessa. [You said you won't put him in danger. You said it will be okay to use him! Stop messing with my son!]
Suddenly, there was a fluctuation in the atmosphere, and the center of it was Edward's body. The admin turned silent, seeming to hesitate to take the next action. Vanessa's action was endangering both the system and Edward's life. One wrong step...
<Admin: Fine! I will only give you five minutes.>
<Access Granted>
<Loading Vanessa Redfield's Ability>
<Warning: Detecting an incompleteness in the soul. Limiting the power by half.>
<Warning: Detecting an unsuitable vessel for the power. Limiting the power by half.>
<Currently allocated power: 25%>
<Loading... Complete.>
Boomm!!!!
A pillar of light appeared in the middle of Raccoon City. Just like an EMP blast, it cut out every communication and electrical or mechanical power throughout the city. Both Nemesis and G3 were thrown off by the sudden explosion of the momentum. The six Tyrant tried to hold their ground by piercing the ground with their first, but it was useless. All of them flew toward the buildings behind them.
In Edward's place, stood a tall naked lady with long chestnut hair flowing from her back reaching down to her butt. Her body glistened with a membrane of lights, covering any excessive power that was being transmitted.
She snapped her finger once, and a long black dress appeared as it covered her smooth and beautiful body. It was the real form of Edward's mother, Vanessa Redfield.
She held her right hand up to the sky and muttered, "Pandora's Box."
創作者的想法 
NightHowl
NightHowl Did I promised you that I will upload it last night?
Sorry, I had to change a few things, so it got delayed.
Anyway! This is the first time Vanessa appeared in her full glory!
Next chapter would be so damn epic, even I was flabbergasted.
Ahem...
See you in the next chapter!!!
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票