( Background Music ~ The Last Stand - Two Steps From Hell )
| 12:06am |
***3rd POV***
-(Start Song Here)-
After separating from Leon, Laura, Claire and Tyler again, Chris and Piers stayed behind in the underground laboratory. To deal with Wesker. While everyone else was heading to the train station. To escape from the facility, and make it back up to normal ground level. So from there on—they can begin heading for the rendezvous point at Land Union park. To evacuate out of Seattle, before the anti-viral gas bombs are deployed all over the city.
Standing there, exchanging brief glances with one another—Chris and Piers kept their guns firmly trained on Wesker. The instant he slowly began making his way towards them, they instantaneously open fired at the miscreant malefactor. The sounds of the numerous gunshots echoed through the entire corridor—as Wesker dodged early single bullet swiftly with grace and skill. So fast—that to them, it almost looked like Wesker was teleporting from place to place. All while advancing closer and closer—to Chris and Piers.
"You're not getting Laura, you selfish son of bitch!" Chris spat at Wesker, as he continued firing at the blonde in black.
"Just because she isn't your child Christopher, it doesn't mean you get to decide what's best for her," Wesker hissed back at him.
The instant Wesker reached them, he grabbed Piers by his hand—making him drop his rifle. He punched him immediately in the face, then elbowing him in the gut when Piers's dazed, and finished with a strong uppercut from below. Sending Piers tumbling to the ground right away.
After Piers is taken down momentarily, Wesker turned towards Chris next. The B.S.A.A. agent fired his rifle at him—while Wesker dived and darted through the endless stream of the bullets. Inching closer and closer to Chris. By the time Wesker reached his archenemy—he was holding him up mercilessly in the air by his neck. Pressing Christopher forcefully against the metal wall. Causing the agent to drop his rifle onto the his rifle onto the ground below him, and grasp onto the blonde's wrist. Attempting to free himself from his opponent's death grip. Wesker smirked mischievously with satisfaction, while choking the very life out of his sworn enemy.
"So far Chris, you've been nothing but an incompetent and appalling influence to my daughter. That's definitely unacceptable in my book. And for countless other reasons Redfield, I will end you here and now." His grip around Chris's tightened considerably, making entirely impossible for the B.S.A.A. agent to breathe.
While Wesker was choking Chris slowly to death, Piers gradually got back onto his own two legs. All while watching the whole scene unfold in front of him. Once he regained his strength—Piers charged at Wesker right away. He attempted to punch him in the face, only to dodge Piers's fist instantly and cause him to drop Chris onto the ground.
As Piers sparred with the inhuman being, Chris broke out into a massive fit of coughing after being able to breathe once again. His neck was throbbing with immense pain, right after it being clutched very tightly in such a short amount of time.
'Wesker's definitely stronger than before. A hell of a lot stronger compared to any one of us.' Chris noted, as he remembered his last encounter with the blonde bastard in that volcano back in Africa.
Glancing up—Chris sees Piers get pressed abrupt end against the wall by his neck. Grunting in pain as Wesker dragged him roughly and quickly all along the metal wall. Before tossing the young B.S.A.A. agent briskly right at Chris.
Straightaway, the two friends rapidly collided with one another. Causing Piers to cut his cheek and hit his head along the heavy metal floor, and Chris to scrape his forehead and fracture a couple bones in both his right arm and hand. As they skidded across the floor together.
Chris and Piers grunted and grumbled in pain. While the two agents were struggling to get back up onto their feet, Wesker was strolling hastily across the corridor over towards the young men. Upon reaching them—the blonde grabbed ahold of each of their throats. Instantaneously hoisting them up into the air, his grip around both of their necks tightened tremendously. Crushing their windpipes.
"Time to die you two nuisances," Wesker mumbled with a contented tone—more to himself than right to the two B.S.A.A. agents.
The guys wrestled and scuffled eminently in Wesker's grasp, as he viciously choked Chris and Piers to their death. Thinking that after all these years—he was gonna finally finish off the very man he's despised most of all, the alarm started going off. All of the red lights flashed continuously throughout the whole corridor and the rest of the facility.
"The self-destruction sequence has been activated! Repeat! The self-destruction sequence has been activated!" A female robotic voice announced over the intercom.
Wesker's smirk faded away, as he dropped Chris and Piers onto the ground. Their bodies laid limp and lifeless on the floor. They were out unconscious—barely still breathing.
"This sequence cannot be aborted! All employees proceed to emergency evacuation train located in the northwestern section of the facility!"
At this point, Wesker had two options. He could kill Chris Redfield—ending the man once and for all. While at the same time, that would buy more time for his daughter to escape with her stubborn mother. Or—leave the agents here, and go after Laura while he still has the chance to do so.
'What to do, what to do...' Wesker pondered to himself. He knew there would be more opportunities in the future to finish off Christopher. But at the same time, there would be less opportunities presented—like this one—to successfully capture his daughter.
There was no time to waste. The answer was simple. Wesker gazed down one last time at Chris and Piers, before taking off in the opposite direction to find Laura. To catch up to her before it's too late, before she escapes his grasp.
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Laura's POV
After splitting up from Uncle Chris and Piers again—Mom, Tyler, Leon, and I began heading for the train station. Due to the severity of my wounds, I could barely stand. Less alone be able to run at all. Making Leon have to carry me the entire way to our destination.
While we were heading down the hallway, the alarm began going off
again. All of the lights illuminating the area started flashing red. Causing us to halt temporarily in the hallway.
"The self-destruction sequence has been activated! Repeat! The self-destruction sequence has been activated!" A female robotic voice announced over the intercom. 'Shit! We have to hurry!'
"This sequence cannot be aborted! All employees proceed to emergency evacuation train located in the northwestern section of the facility!"
"Like we weren't even doing that anyway," Leon stated sarcastically. "Come, we have to hurry."
As we reached the station, Leon was the first one to spot four Tricell agents up ahead. Guarding the door to the train station. He immediately motioned everyone to halt, as we stopped beside the hallway. With our backs leaned up against the wall.
"What is it Leon?" Claire asked in a quiet tone, as she peered over at him.
Leon and I quickly gazed over to the side. Hastily peering down the hallway. Before moving back against the wall to avoid being noticed by the agents.
He glanced back at us. "We've got company–" Leon was suddenly cut off by the sudden sounds of gunfire and screaming. Coming from down the hallway. Mom and Tyler take out their handguns, and they marched on ahead of Leon and I to find out what's going on.
As we turned around and patrolled into the hallway, the first thing we all see is all of the bloody operatives. Lying dead on the floor, with several bleeding bullet holes in each of their skulls. 'What the hell... They were alive and breathing just a second a ago. What could've–'
My thoughts were cut short as soon as I spotted an H.C.F. agent appear out of a nearby hallway with a famas assault rifle in hand. As he tried to sneak up behind Mom.
"Mom, behind you!" Instantly, Mom turned around to face the operative.
"Wait–"
In a quick stance, she rapidly twisted one of the agent's arms at a agonizing degree. Making him groan in pain and drop his rifle onto the ground. Mom the kneed him swiftly in the gut and in his private area. Before flipping him fiercely over her back and onto the ground. Right when Tyler and her were about to shoot him, the agent held his arms up in defense while saying:
"Claire wait! Don't shoot! It's me, Steve–"
"Shut up!" Mom was somewhat taken aback by the guy had said, but not easily convinced. While Tyler kept his gun aimed at him. Mom remained attentive to her surroundings and focused on the agent, with her gun still trained on him. As the agent was about to take off his black helmet and gas mask—which practically covered his entire face—Mom cocked her gun.
"Make one wrong move and I'll shoot," Mom spat at him.
"I know Claire, you don't have to tell me twice," The agent called 'Steve' replied with a hint of sarcasm, as he unclipped the buckle of the tactical helmet. Removing it along with the gas mask as well.
After the agent removed his helmet and gas mask, the rest of us were also shocked by how young this guy actually was. Steve looked like he could be around my age, maybe older. He has short ginger hair, ice blue eyes, pale skin, appearing taller than Mom and I, and possessed a muscular physique of an average healthy male.
"Claire, don't you recognize me–" Mom went up to him—engulfing him in a tight bear hug. Steve responded by wrapping his arms around my mother as well. Hugging her back as equally tightly. Leon, Tyler, I stood there—staring at the both of them in utter surprise. 'Steve's the one who just took out all of those Tricell agents. How does Mom even know this guy...?'
"I can't believe it's really you... You look like you haven't aged even a single day." Mom pulled away from Steve. Scanning him up and down continuously. "Steve, how the hell are you even alive?"
"Also, how the hell do you even know my mother in the first place?" I questioned him.
Steve glanced at me for a moment, then shifted his gaze back at Mom. "Long story ladies. But right now, I don't have enough time to catch up with your mother or share the details," Steve explained to Mom and I. "Here, take this." He handed Mom a black and red keycard with the Umbrella logo on it, and a black key.
"The keycard will give you access to the train station. But the black key is for unlocking the locomotive cab. So you can easily start up any of trains inside the station. Then you and your family will be able to escape from here before the place blows up. I wish all of you the best of luck, especially you Laura. I gotta guys, adíos." Then Steve left us in the hallway—venturing further into the facility. As Mom stood there silently.
"Claire. We have to keep going," Leon spoke up.
Mom turns around, glancing back at all of us. "Right, let's go."
***3rd POV***
After their surprising little encounter with Steve Burnside, Claire swiped the keycard that Steve gave her, through the keycard panel. Causing the door to unlock and slide open automatically. Claire and Tyler proceeded first into the station—with Leon and Laura following right behind them.
Glancing all around the train station, it reminded not only Leon, but Claire too of the first Umbrella research facility they went to long ago. During the T-virus outbreak in Raccoon City. Where everything first started... Thinking back to the Raccoon City incident made both Leon and Claire realize how long ago that actually was, and how they've both changed since that outbreak. Back then, it was a walk in the park for the two Raccoon City survivors, compared to their drastic situation right now. The difference now, was that surviving in these kinds of conditions had become more extreme even for regular people, offering more of a problem than a challenge.
The station itself was as big as a ballroom. Like the rest of the facility, the walls were made out of metal—including the floor as well. To the left of the group were three black and red colored trains. Each one sitting on a different railroad track, with multiple metal rectangular platforms on the ground. Dividing the trains from one another. Not too far in front of the trains, is the large tunnel in the wall with gates. Cutting the area off from the train station. Inside the tunnel are three separate underground railroads. Stretched for miles on end all over beneath Seattle, that directly connects with all three train tracks that the trains sitting on inside the station. To the right of the group, is a very small sectioned off area within the station that leads to a different part of the research facility. The sector being surrounded with tall iron fences, with a door allowing access in and out of the area.
With their guns in hand, they check whole the perimeter thoroughly. Even inside all three of the trains themselves—checking for any enemy agents or hostiles that be hiding within the area. After inspecting the entire station, Claire and Tyler have concluded that it's safe and all clear for the time being.
Leon went inside one of the trains, while Claire and Tyler were finding a way to open up the tunnel gates at the other end of the room. Leon gently placed Laura down one of the metal benches, as she yelped a bit in pain.
"You okay Laura?" Leon asked her with a concerned tone—knowing that she's still in pain. Both physically and mentally.
Laura glanced up at stepfather, while he kneeled down in front of her to match her height.
"I'm alright. My legs just hurt a little bit. That's all," She lied in a calm tone. Laura bit her bottom lip, as a couple tears trickled down her cheeks. With numerous more threatening to pour out of her eyes at any moment now.
"I know it hurts sweetie. But don't worry." Leon takes out some clean white bandages from one of his pouches that's hooked onto his utility belt. "Everything is going to be okay." He began bandaging up one of her bloody thighs. "It'll be over once we all get out of this hell hole. We won't let Wesker hurt you or take you away from us. No matter what happens. Even if we're not bound by blood Laura, I still love and care about you. Like any father would for his daughter." Leon finishes wrapping her other thigh in bandages.
As soon as their conversation, Laura lunges at Leon. Wrapping her arms around her stepfather and engulfing him in a tight but tender bear hug. Leon's completely caught off guard by his stepdaughter's actions at first. Then responded by slowly moving his arms to wrap around Laura. Hugging her back as equally affectionate.
"Thank you..." Laura muttered quietly to Leon, just as a single tear trickled down her cheek.
As they pulled away from one another, Claire and Tyler rejoin them inside the train—barely catching a glimpse of the scene between Leon and Laura. That made Claire's heart practically melt at the sight. Knowing that Leon would make an great father for her daughter.
"We got the gate open. All that's left is to get the train up and running," Claire spoke up, as Tyler and her stepped inside the train.
"I'm on it." Leon stood up off the ground, while starting to head for the control room that's right next door to them.
"Leon, take this." Claire threw the black key Steve gave her to Leon, who caught it instantaneously.
He thanked Claire for the key, before unlocking the door to the cab and entering inside it. The moment Leon entered the cab, he stared for a moment at the multiple levers and panels before him. Filled with numerous buttons, switches, and countless meters. After proceeding forward, he pressed three buttons on the panel in front of him and flicked four different switches on the right panel. Leon glanced down at the watch on his wrist to check the time.
It was 12:16am.
Ten minutes since they split up from Chris and Piers. And they were no where in sight. Even though Leon didn't want to leave the guys behind, he has to. It's time to go. Leon grabbed ahold of the large lever connected to the main panel—pushing it all the way forward. Causing the whole train to power on althoughter.
While the train in the station was leaving the facility right away, Wesker arrived just as the train was disappearing from view—along with his daughter. 'She's not gonna get away that easily.' Wesker thought to himself, as he began dashing down through the underground railroad at full speed. Tailing right behind the train.
As the train was moving along beneath the city of Seattle, Hunnigan was finally able to get into contact with Leon—after trying endlessly at HQ for the past two hours using her high-tech computer at her desk.
"Leon, do you copy? Over." Leon pressed his finger over his ear piece.
"I'm here Hunnigan. What's up?" He answered into his comm link.
"Oh thank god you're okay. I thought you were a goner for sure when we got cut off."
Leon couldn't help but chuckle for a moment, about Hunnigan pertaining to his safety. "Come on Hunnigan. You know me better than that. I've been through hell and back countless times that it's practically a walk in the park for me. Literally."
"Very true. Well, it's good to hear that you're alright. Have you managed to locate Claire and Laura?" Hunnigan asked the D.S.O. agent.
"Yes, I found Claire and Laura. They're okay. But both of them have received some minor injuries, and are in considerable need of medical attention—but for the most part they're fine for now."
"Alright, keep heading north for Land Union park. Radio in as soon as you make out of the biohazard zone. Hunnigan out." Then she hung up.
Right as Leon left the control room to rejoin Claire, Laura, and Tyler, the train began jerking abruptly from side to side. Making all of the lights inside the train to flicker for a moment, and causing everyone to lose their balance.
Claire ended up collapsing onto the ground next to Leon. Laying perpendicular to her husband's feet. Tyler fell right on top of his girlfriend Laura, his face just a inches away from hers. Both of his arms resting on either side of Laura's head, while his legs were positioned in between her's as well.
Thanks to his body weight combined with the heavy gear he was wearing—he was practically crushing her beneath him like a brick. Almost making it impossible for Laura to even breathe. All while the train was still moving along on the railroad track.
After the train stopped tossing from side to side, the lights stopped finally flickering. Claire and Leon glance over beside them. Seeing Tyler as he was laying on top of Laura. In a rather queer—yet coincidental position. Noticing the position they were in, Laura began to slightly blush—as they both were immediately getting back up off the ground.
"What the hell was that!?" Laura asked, as she was dusting herself off.
"No clue," Leon answered, as he took out his handgun and cocked it. "You three stay here, I'm gonna go check it out." He said, while the D.S.O. agent began advancing to the door. Leading to other train carts that were also connected to the train.
"I'm coming with you," Tyler spoke up, causing Leon to stop in his tracks and turn around. Tyler rushed over to Laura's stepfather—with his shotgun in hand.
"What– Tyler no!" Laura objected, as she shifted his gaze towards the men. Not liking the direction where Tyler's heading.
"Tyler, you need to stay here with my wife and stepdaughter–"
"While you go out there all by yourself? Hell no. I'm sorry Mr. Kennedy, even though you may be way more experienced and trained than the rest of us here combined. But I can't allow you to go alone. Splitting up from us and going out there all by yourself right now is the last thing you would want to be doing right now. No one alone is a one-man army. Not Chris. Not my brother Piers. Not even you sir."
Leon was moderately taken aback by Tyler's words. Mostly astonished. The D.S.O. agent honestly had expected hear that kind of speech from one of his co-workers—like Helena or Sherry—not from the sixteen-year teenage boy that's standing right in front of him.
'The kid has a good point though.' Leon thought to himself. Heading out there in the open all by yourself isn't a very strategic idea like it seems to be. Especially in this type of situation. While they're still being chased by a particular blonde in black.
In a way, Tyler reminded Leon of himself when he was younger—back when he first started working as a government agent. Only joking around and acting immature in certain safe situations—but overall remained focused, aware, altruistic, and always ready to kick some ass. To Leon, it was almost as if Tyler is an exact replica of himself—except with brown hair, brown eyes, and tan skin.
Still, that doesn't change the fact that he's still a kid—a teenager to be exact. Leon knew that if anything bad were happen to Tyler, he would definitely be a hell lot of trouble with his older brother Piers. Who wouldn't have a problem at all kicking his ass for it. After taking some time to consider his options, Leon glanced at Tyler in front of him, then directed his gaze towards Claire and Laura.
"Alright Tyler, you can come along with me. Under two conditions. One, you stay close to me. And two, you do everything I tell you to do—no matter what it is. Understood?" Leon questioned the young man.
"Yes sir." Tyler nodded his head as he glanced up at Laura's stepfather—giving the man full eye contact.
"Leon, you can't be serious–"
"Laura," Tyler cut her off. She directed her gaze at her friend.
"I'll be fine. We'll be right back." Tyler walked up to her—tenderly grabbed ahold of Laura's hands, engulfing her small ones with his warm big ones.
"You promise?" She asked Tyler with utmost worry, as she glanced up at the love of her life.
Tyler plants a gently kiss on the top of Laura's temple. "I promise Lari."
As Leon and Claire watched the heart-melting scene unfold in front of them, they couldn't help but smile at the sight of their daughter with a loving and caring partner by her side. Unfortunately, the moment was short-lived.
Soon after, Leon and Tyler left the train cart right away to go check out what the problem was. Leaving Claire and Laura behind, while the train continued traveling through the seemingly never-ending underground railroad behind the city of Seattle.
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Chapter 30 (Part 3) Sneak Peak
"You love her, don't you?"
"Of course I do, she's my best friend."
"And girlfriend."
"Well, look who it is..."
"Stand aside."
"Like hell we will."
"Why did you give me away in the first place? Why did you put me up for adoption all those years ago?"
"Laura. You know that I do love you and will always care about you, right?"
"We gotta go. Now!"
"Guys! Take cover!"
"Laura! Claire! You guys alright?!"
"You can't hide forever Laura!"
"Alright, we don't have much time. Let's hurry and find Claire and Laura, before Wesker gets his hands on them."
"Laura, are you okay?"
"Mom, I need to know. Am I not the only one?"
"Found you!"
"Sometimes a father needs to make certain sacrifices in order keep his child safe. No matter the cost."
"I'm truly sorry about this Laura, but I'm doing what needs to be done."
"No!!!"
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