Chapter Text
It all began as an ordinary day in September. An ordinary day in Raccoon City. A city controlled by Umbrella. No one dared to oppose them, and that lack of strength would ultimately lead to their destruction. I suppose they had to suffer the consequences of their actions, but there would be no forgiveness. If only they had the courage to fight... But it's true that once the wheels of justice began to turn, nothing could stop them. Nothing! It was Raccoon City's last chance ... And our last chance, our last escape ...
Much had changed since our mission to the Spencer Mansion. It was a nightmare l both hated and praised. For yes, I did lose a majority of my friends. But I had gained new ones, including the love of my life, Leon S. Kennedy. I had never imagined myself with such a guy, but I couldn't get my mind off of him and the countless times he nearly sacrificed himself for me.
I wanted nothing more than to spend my life with him. But business came before pleasure. As our fight against Umbrella was just beginning. I wanted to move on with my life, go to university, and become a professor. But I couldn't leave Leon or my other S.T.A.R.S. friends behind.
Leon assured me it was okay, but I couldn't be convinced. I was going to stay and fight the company. This inevitably led me to run into trouble with the chief, Brian Irons. He dismissed our so-called outlandish claims due to lack of evidence. Sure, we hadn't gotten any from the mansion as it was destroyed. But that didn't mean it didn't happen. I think everyone thought we were crazy. Chris, Leon, and Jill appeared to be the only ones who believed Brian was crooked. That it wasn't because of a lack of evidence that he was dismissing us. Rather, he was in on it.
Nevertheless, our investigation continued. I remember the night Leon said goodbye to me. We weren't breaking up or anything, but he wanted to join Chris on a mission elsewhere. To Europe he claimed. I begged him to take me along but he just wouldn't budge. He wanted to do it on his own with Chris. The two had become quite close since the mansion incident and I knew their shared hatred of Umbrella made them even closer.
Nonetheless, Leon gave me a quick kiss goodbye before departing. This only left me, Jill, and Brad in Raccoon City. Barry was elsewhere with his family in Canada. I felt bad for him, he wanted nothing more than to continue the fight against Umbrella but he had a family that depended on him returning home. Which meant he couldn't exactly be on the front lines with us.
The rest of us didn't have people like that, save for Chris who has a sister in college somewhere. Leon’s parents were dead, killed in the midst of a botched criminal act. He was very hush, hush about the whole thing. But even then I was happy he was opening up to me about the whole ordeal. It made me realize how much he truly trusted me.
I trusted the other S.T.A.R.S. too, maybe not Brad since he left us behind at that dreaded mansion. I didn't want to stay with him, especially with how creepy he was around me. Always attempting to flirt with me but I never gave him the time of day. I've been keeping in contact with Jill as the chief put us both on house arrest for continuing our investigation into Umbrella. Our unit was then later disbanded and replaced by Raccoon PD SWAT. It was a complete slap in the face! We all hated it and it essentially proved to us that Brian Irons was in on the whole shebang. My only hope was that Chris's call to the FBI and their subsequent investigation into Umbrella’s Europe Branch could give us the firepower needed to bring the company down.
For now, I rested in my apartment. Trying to sleep my stress away. I hated feeling like all eyes were on me. But I had seen things countless others had not. That made us S.T.A.R.S. special in a way. I quickly closed my eyes and prayed that tomorrow would be a better day.
…...
I woke up to the sound of gunfire and explosions. I sat up, rushing to my bedroom window. I hurriedly pulled back the curtains and looked out at the Raccoon City streets. They were in chaos! Fire and smoke was everywhere, as were dead bodies. What the heck was happening!? Was it some kind of terrorist attack!? I then looked down closer at the streets and noticed dead bodies rising once more. I then remembered what these were, zombies. Hoards of the undead infected with the T-Virus. What was happening here!? How did the T-Virus leak here as well!?
I suddenly heard static coming from the radio Jill had given me. I rushed over to it, hurriedly picking it up, and answering her attempted call.
“Rebecca! Answer me, are you there!?” Jill screamed through the radio.
“Yes! Yes!” I replied hurriedly, “I'm here, Jill! What's happening!?”
“Don't know, it looks like the T-Virus has spread to the entire city. We need to get together and get the hell out of here!”
“I agree,” I nodded. “Where can we meet?”
“The police station, that should be a secure place. Plus, we'll have backup.”
“Got it!” I nodded, “I'll be there soon.”
I quickly packed my radio into my belt, before gathering an outfit from my closet. It was my old S.T.A.R.S. uniform. I had kept it for sentimental reasons since S.T.A.R.S. was shut down. It felt weird wearing it once more, but it brought me a sense of comfort. Like Leon and all my former Bravo Team comrades were watching over me tonight.
I once I finished putting on the outfit, I quickly rushed over to my bedside table and pulling out a large black box. I unlocked the box before revealing a pistol inside of it. It was my silver Beretta 92F Custom 'Samurai Edge'. Made by Joseph Kendo. I hadn't held it since the mansion. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath before grabbing the gun and putting a magazine into it.
Suddenly, I heard loud banging coming from my apartment door. I turned just in time to see a number of zombies burst into the room. They snarled at me, lunging towards me. I aimed my pistol, before firing. I took down the first zombie coming at me, before firing at the other handful coming towards me. I managed to take a few more down, but it was becoming clear that I couldn't kill them all.
So, I turned and ran to the window of my apartment. I shot out the glass before leaping outside and onto the banister. I turned, noticing the zombies continuing to limp hurriedly towards me. Shit! I had to get moving. I turned and ran down the stairs, finding myself in the street. There were burning cars and zombies everywhere! I was nearly completely blocked in.
I turned around, seeing a few zombies chomping on an innocent man on the ground. He was already dead, blood coating around his throat and face. I took a deep breath and ran past the zombies, seeing them look up at me for a moment, before going back to their meal. I ran and ran through the ruined streets of the city I once called home. How did this happen!? Was Umbrella that evil that they would unleash the T-Virus on the innocent citizens of this great city?
Honestly, I wouldn't put it past them. They were despicable scum who deserved to pay for all the death and damage they've caused with their weapons. As I turned down an alleyway, I spotted a large black armored truck belonging to Racoon SWAT. I hurriedly ran towards it, hoping to get some back-up. Even though the chief was almost certainly dirty, that didn't mean the members of the SWAT unit would be as well.
However, my hope quickly faded as I reached the truck and found dozens upon dozens of dead, mutilated bodies covering the ground. I nearly threw up, seeing all of the death around me. It appeared as if the entire SWAT team and a few dozen patrol officers had been wiped out by the T-Virus. I couldn't believe such a fate had befell these poor officers. It reminded me how lucky I and the other members of S.T.A.R.S. were to survive the Spencer Mansion.
I managed to swallow my fear, and my own vomit, before heading onwards. I didn't want to run into whatever wave of zombies had wiped out these officers. Instead, I wished for nothing more than to reunite with Jill at the police station. I didn't know how many cops were left alive in the city, but I knew that they must have fortified the police station. If Marvin was still alive, I knew he would be the best leader right now.
Perhaps it wasn't a bad thing that Leon, Barry, and Chris weren't here. They might've gotten injured or killed. No, I couldn't handle that. Especially not so soon after the Spencer Mansion Incident. I had to hurry and reunite with Jill. I picked up my pace, my boots stomping against the ground. I could smell smoke and rotting corpses around me. It was a potent and pungent smell that had stuck with me ever since my trek through the Spencer Mansion. I hated it. I wished it would go away. Yet, I knew it never would.
As I made my way deeper into the city, I heard faint gunshots ringing out. I followed their trail, passing by wrecked or overturned cars sent ablaze by some unseen force. I hadn't run into any zombies yet. Perhaps that was a good thing, as it meant maybe they were busy elsewhere. Perhaps with the military? That would be my guess.
As I followed the sound of gunshots, I reached a bar. I headed down the stairs, hearing the sound of zombies nearby. I pushed my way through the door, spotting three figures inside. One was dead on the ground, an infected civilian by the looks of it. The other two were more familiar to me and brought a smile to my face as I spotted them. One of them was Brad Vickers, the former S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team pilot. The other was Jill Valentine herself, the former S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team Rear Security and a close friend of mine.
While Brad wore his old pilots uniform from his time in S.T.A.R.S. While Jill wore a striking blue tank-top, black skirt, and brown leather boots. Jill's face softened and a smile stretched across her face as she noticed me.
"Rebecca!" She called as I ran into arms.
"Jill!" I cried happily, holding back tears as I buried my face against her stomach. "I'm so glad you're still alive."
"I'm glad you are too, Rebecca." Jill told me.
"Hey, no love for Brad, eh?" Said Brad.
I broke the hug with Jill, turning to face him. I tried not to hold a grudge against him like the other former members of S.T.A.R.S. did. But man if he didn't make it incredibly difficult not to punch him in the face. Brad could see I wanted nothing to do with him, sighing as he peered at the ground. There was a large bloody wound on his arm, one he grabbed at tightly.
"Well ..." he began. "You two have to make it out of the city. As fast as you can before ... that Nemesis thing finds you."
"What Nemesis thing?" I asked.
But Brad didn't say anything, instead running off. Leaving Jill and I alone.
"What was he talking about?" I asked her.
"I'm not sure. But he told me something is hunting down the former members of S.T.A.R.S."
My eyes widened, what kind of creature could be hunting us down and for what? Could it have been because of what we saw at the Spencer Mansion? Perhaps. Even still, we had to press onwards in order to escape the city with our lives. Before we left, however, Jill handed me a handgun magazine.
"This is all I've got." Jill told me, "use them wisely."
I nodded nervously, knowing I couldn't waste my precious ammo and risk dying.
"Did you gather anything else on the way here?" I asked Jill.
"A shotgun with a few rounds in it and a medical spray. That's about it really."
"Better than nothing, I suppose." I smiled faintly.
Jill lightly patted me on the back. A warm expression adorning her face.
"We found each other in this hellscape." She said, "we'll make it out of here. I promise you."
I nodded, knowing Jill was right. That said; there was a lingering feeling of dread resting in the pit of my stomach. Not helping things was what Brad said about some monster hunting us down. Then again, he was a big coward. Perhaps he was overselling a regular zombie. Still ... it worried me.
"Come on," Jill told me. "Let's move."
I nodded, hurrying after her and leaving the bar behind. I followed closely behind Jill, heading through the streets and over the dead bodies of the zombies she had slain. As we made our way down the tight alleys of Racoon City, she eventually led me through a large metal door. On the other side to our right was a gate. However, to our left was a group of zombified dogs.
"Run!" Jill called to me as she fired into the crowd of dogs, stunning them and giving us time to get through the gate door.
One of the zombie dogs leapt at the door, running into it and splitting its face open a bit as I fell to the ground in surprise, landing on my butt. Despite the dog's injury, it didn't detour it from trying to get at us. Jill pulled me to my feet before pointing over to our right. I recognized the street, it was the one which led to the headquarters of the Raccoon Police Department.
We hurried down the road, keeping our weapons close. Destroyed cars and trash surrounded us. I looked upon the gate of the old station. It brought back memories of my first day on the force and meeting Leon for the first time. Not knowing that he would become the man I truly loved for all-time. We headed through the gate, pushing it open.
We stepped towards the large wooden doors of the RPD station. It flooded us both with feelings of nostalgia, nostalgia of better days. The days when Captain Wesker was our leader and friend. When most of our friends were still among the land of the living. When things didn't go to hell. I missed those days so much.
"Jill! Rebecca!" Called a male voice from behind.
We turned around, seeing Brad limping towards us. He was heavily injured and looked rather pale. He must've been infected by the virus.
"I'm so glad I-" he continued as he stepped towards us.
However, he was cut off when a large figure leapt over the fence and landed in front of him. Jill and I gasped as Brad screamed and tried to run away, being pinned against the corner of the fence. The ... thing, was huge. With a rotting and fleshy face. He was also very tall and bulky, like that of a power lifter. What was this thing!? Was this the Nemesis thing hunting down us former S.T.A.R.S. members?
Brad cowered in the corner, begging for mercy as the monster picked him up with one hand. Holding him in the air. It then took its other arm and stabbed him through the mouth with a large, fleshy tentacle.
"No!" Jill gasped as she looked away.
I was in shock, I couldn't move or say anything, just continue to watch the scene taking place.
It was over as quickly as it began. The monster tossing Brad onto the ground, his mutilated body unmoving.
"Brad ..." Jill said solemnly before I pulled her back, refocusing her attention on the hulking monster approaching us.
"S.T.A.R.S." The monster groaned before snarling at us. This must be Nemesis.
"Rebecca ... run!" Jill called.
Before I could answer, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the police station. We slammed the doors tightly behind us as Nemesis charged them. He bashed against them, sending us to the floor on our butts. Nemesis pounded on the door a few more times before mumbling S.T.A.R.S. once more and going silent. Perhaps he had left, perhaps he was looking for another way inside. No matter what, we knew it wasn't the end of him.
"That ... that thing ... that demon!" I said, "he ... he killed Brad ... just like that."
"I know, I never liked the guy but ... he didn't deserve to go out like that." Jill replied.
She then looked a me, an expression of pained worry adorning it.
"Rebecca," she said. "We have to get moving. That thing could still be coming after us. I don't know if its a special zombie or what but its coming and we need to move."
"You're right," I nodded. "But I think I know what it is."
"You do?" Asked Jill, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, Brad mentioned something about a Nemesis thing coming after us. Perhaps he found something during our combined investigation into Umbrella and recognized the monster from that. It might even be an upgraded Tyrant model. You know, like the one we fought at the mansion."
Jill nodded, understanding my theory.
"Perhaps you are right." She told me, "but if that's the case then ... we'll need more than pistols and shotguns to kill that thing."
"Indeed," I nodded. "We're in deep crap right now."
Jill chuckled. "Yeah, but at least we're in it together."
I beamed, finding some joy in being with a close friend like Jill Valentine.
"Okay, Valentine." I said, "where do you go from here?"
"Follow me."