The black gloved fingers tapped quickly at the security panel, inputting the last known security code for the abandoned facility. With a creak and a groan, the iron bulkhead began to slide aside, dust and bits of grime becoming dislodged by the scraping and fluttering to the ground. Moments later however, the rusted mechanism let out a tortured scraping noise, and ground to a halt.

With a sigh, the infiltrator reached into the narrow gap in the door, gripped it tightly, and with a titanic strength not normally found in humans, manually forced the entire device open, ripping much of its structure off in the effort.

With a smug grunt of satisfaction, Albert Wesker stepped into the pool of darkness within the facility’s entrance, and vanished from sight.


“It’s him alright… that pig.” Shak said venomously to the gas-masked man beside her.
She felt intensely distrustful of Umbrella Man, and the fact that he shared a name with the very organization that her arch-nemesis controlled didn’t help. However, he had come to this frozen wasteland with the same goal as her… tracking the former head of S.T.A.R.S.

She lowered her binoculars and looked at Umbrella Man, raising an eyebrow.

“So, what’s the plan big-man?”

Umbrella Man’s response was to begin to walk down the snowy embankment towards the concealed entrance to the underground base. Shak nodded in approval, and followed closely behind.


The entrance to the facility consisted of a very long corridor that sloped downwards beneath the surface of the Earth. Wesker had already reached the end of this corridor when his pursuers arrived at its entrance. His ears pricked up as he heard the sound of heavy boots on steel, and he turned, his pale red eyes concealed behind his tinted shades.

“Well it’s about time.” He muttered, smiling internally.

He paused and his hand drifted absent mindedly over the samurai-edge pistol concealed beneath his long coat.

“That should liven up the day…”


Wesker wasn’t the only one packing heat though. Shak carried an assortment of hand-cannons that would make a military commando feel inadequate, and in her grip was currently held a specially modified riot-shotgun. The laser sight was currently inactive to help mask their presence, but the night-vision attachment was held close to her eyes so she could see in the inky blackness.

She couldn’t understand how Umbrella Man could see, let alone how he intended to fight Wesker with nothing but his flimsy umbrella – but then again, not a lot about the man made sense, so she didn’t spend long thinking about it.

They tried to be as silent as possible going down the corridor, though Shak privately suspected that Wesker already knew that they were there. As they arrived at the corridors end, they found a most gruesome sight.

The door, as they knew it must once have been, lay torn to shreds on the ground. A withered, skeletal-corpse of some long dead scientist lay in several parts of the room, and you couldn’t turn your head without seeing either bullet holes or claw marks on the silver walls. The horrific scene was illuminated by a pale blue light in the ceiling, one of the few ones that remained active, with many having blown their bulbs.

Trying to avoid stepping in the pools of dry blood, the pair crossed the room, Shak’s shotgun raised in front of her, and Umbrella Man twirling his folded umbrella absent-mindedly with his right hand.

There were several exits to the room, and Shak looked carefully at each one, trying to guess which one Wesker had taken.

Before she had a chance to make the guess however, their ears were filled with a loud crackling noise as a hidden speaker nearby coughed to life, and static filled the air.

A familiar voice spoke dryly, addressing the pair.

“Welcome to what remains of the Narom Nalyd Umbrella Research Facility… I am your host, Albert Wesker, and I will be your reaper this-evening. A common cliché is that when you are close to death, a light will show you the path to your fate. And it has never been truer than right now.”

With those words, light assailed their eyes, and Shak had to look away quickly from the night vision sensor to stop herself being blinded as a door two to their right glowed brightly, the facility’s power-generators humming to life in the distance.

“This way please.”

The speaker abruptly ceased its transmission, and silence filled the air again, save for the gentle hum of the generators.

“Yeah, we’ll see.” Shak said, a grin at the prospect of the pain to come crossing her face, giving her a distinctly un-hinged look. She held her shotgun at her hip and charged at the door, raising a heavy boot to kick it open.

“It’s a trap.” Umbrella Man said calmly, staying where he was, but Shak ignored him and smashed the door down anyway. The thin sheet of metal slid away across a polished floor, the glow of floor lighting illuminating the rest of the facility.

“Good. Let’s go.” Shak replied cheerfully, her long red hair whipping around the door frame and out of Umbrella Man’s sight.

Umbrella Man watched her go, wondering how she could even move with those things on her chest, and shrugged, stepping up to the door in front of him and opening it calmly, vanishing into the bowels of the facility…


It took Shak nearly a whole minute before she realized that Umbrella Man was no longer following her. He was probably standing around back in that first room, deciding what to do… no matter, she would find Wesker anyway. Or he’d find her… either way there would be blood in the air.

She wasn’t to know however that Wesker knew more about the facilities security systems then she did… and that he was more than happy to use them on any intruders.

In the control room of the lab, Wesker was slightly irritated that the security cameras had been destroyed in the final bio-weapon malfunction, and that he could only track the movement of the solitary figure through the corridors with the pressure pads under the floor. Though he had been sure that there would be at least two pursuers, the pressure pads told him otherwise, and with the cold intelligence of a criminal genius, he inputted the security command that would allow him to get rid of at least one of the pests.


Shak had barely half a second to register that the glass floor beneath her feet had begun to retract into the wall, before it was too late to get out of the situation. Tensing her muscles for the leap, she threw herself upwards at the last second, dropping her shotgun and punching a hole through the ceiling with her other hand, seizing a bunch of electrical cables, causing half a dozen of the corridors lights to short circuit and begin to flicker.

She couldn’t see what lay in the blackness beneath the retracted floor, but she had no intention of finding out first hand.

Unfortunately for the psychotic S.T.A.R.S operative, she didn’t have much of a choice. At the end of the corridor, a pair of thick doors began to grind open, a vast bank of control panels visible on the other side. Out of the doorway, came the tall, pale form of Albert Wesker, contrasting with his white surroundings in his long black coat. A cold expression of amusement was on his face as he regarded the dangling Shak. She glared back and struggled to find a way to free herself.

“Well well, I certainly wasn’t expecting you. You are without a shadow of a doubt the most persistent cockroach I have ever had to squash.”

“I breed well. You should know that.”

Wesker approached her, standing a few feet away, just out of reach of her kicking legs.

“Killing you was far more satisfying I can assure you. But I guess some insects don’t know when to quit do they?”

A demonic grin crossed Shak’s face.

“Kiss my ass Albert.”

Wesker tilted his head slightly to the left as though recalling a memory.

“According to my recollection, that was your role my dear.”

A red tinge appeared on Shak’s cheeks as she lashed out at Wesker, her boot missing his face by inches… he did not flinch.

“Where is he?”

Shak stopped thrashing for a moment, confused.

“Who?”

“Umbrella Man. He’s here with you, I am sure of it… I know you are working with him Shak, and you are going to tell me why.”

With these words, Wesker threw back his coat, revealing his old, blood-stained S.T.A.R.S uniform, his right hand deftly drawing the same samurai-edge pistol he used to attempt to execute Rebecca Chambers, and aiming it squarely into Shak’s face.

The image sparked something in Shak’s mind… she remembered words whispered in her ears, curses, screaming, and the sight of the pavement outside her house rushing up to meet her…

Her grip faltered, and she fell past Wesker beneath the floor with a shriek of surprise… and landed with a thud barely five meters away.

She grunted with the pain of the impact, and sat up, realizing she had landed on her shotgun. She heard the sound of machinery firing up, and quickly she whipped the shotgun up above her, aimed at Wesker’s face, and fired.

The spray of bullets slammed into the thick glass floor, which had rapidly closed over her again, trapping her in the small cell beneath the ground. Wesker watched her, expressionless… until slowly a smile began to creep over his face as he stepped on the glass, standing directly above Shak and looking down.

“Now, answer my question, and I won’t have to end our unfortunate courtship by crushing you one last time.”

“Blow me!” Shak spat, letting Wesker know how she felt by spraying the floor beneath him with spittle.

“Charming. Very well… I shall find him anyway, with or without your help.”

His black gloved hand tucked the pistol back into its holster, and he produced a hand-held remote control from his coat, casually pushing down on one of the buttons.

It didn’t take Shak long to realize that the ground below her was slowly rising. She looked down, and back up at Wesker, comprehension appearing on her face.

“You’re sick! Fight me like a man you coward!”

Wesker smiled… a cold, smug, evil smile that sent a rush through Shak.

“Mortal men squabble and fight… I am beyond that. Why should I waste my precious time killing you myself when I can crush you with the push of a button?”

As the space she occupied began to get smaller and smaller, forcing her to stoop, Shak began to fire shot after shot into the ceiling, the glass not even chipped from the impacts.

“I swear if you kill me like this I will fucking haunt you Albert!”

“I look forward to it.” Wesker retorted calmly, his free hand on his hip as Shak was forced onto her back, her hands and knees pressed against the underside of the floor. Any second now, it would all be over… any second the underside of the floor would meet her flesh, and then… it didn’t bear thinking about.

However…

“Wesker, cease this pointless activity.”

The echoing voice came from nearby, and Wesker temporarily took his finger off the remote to look around, leaving Shak trapped beneath his feet, the glass floor pressing hard against her heavy chest.

“Show yourself, I grow weary of waiting.” Wesker spoke dryly. There was a sound like rushing wind, and Umbrella Man appeared a few feet away, his umbrella by his side.

“Do you have what I requested.” Wesker ordered, ignoring the shocked look on Shak’s face.

“Would I have come all this way if I didn’t?” Umbrella Man reached inside his coat and produced a round micro-disk. Wesker looked at it hungrily.

“Finally… the missing files…”

“You’re in league with him?” Shak roared in angry disbelief at Umbrella Man, pounding her fists against the underside of the floor.

“Not so fast Wesker… do you have what I want?” Umbrella Man said, closing his fist around the disk.

“Naturally. Though don’t expect it to work on you, as I doubt you’re any more human than me.” Wesker commented, reaching down to his belt and removing a half-empty vial of red liquid.

“Your virus is unique Wesker. I merely wish to conclude how it works for myself.”

“If you wish to attempt to better understand my perfection, you need only hand over that disk.”

As one, both men drew weapons. Wesker had his samurai edge, and Umbrella Man had one of the Umbrella Corp silenced pistols. They eyed each other for a moment…
Then, the two men moved slowly towards each other, each gripping their prizes in one hand and their pistol in the other…

Shak could sense the tension even beneath her rage, and she sensed that whatever was about to happen would be big.

The weapon barrels were pressed sharply into the opponent’s neck, but Wesker and Umbrella Man both knew that the other wouldn’t fire unless they did…

Wesker placed the virus sample in Umbrella Man’s hand, at the same time snatching the micro-disk from his palm. When the motion was completed, both men stepped back. Wesker, almost showing excitement, pulled back his sleeve to reveal his wrist-mounted mini-computer. He slipped the disk in, and plugged the ear-piece into his ear.

There was a tentative pause…

And Wesker let out an exclamation of rage and pain as the pulsing, high-pitched noise blasted into his skull, paralysing him briefly.

In a swift motion, Umbrella Man took aim with his pistol and fired a shot directly at Wesker’s face. However, the virus within Wesker wasn’t going down without a fight, and the mini-computer was thrust reflexively in the way, shattering on impact with the bullet, and ceasing the transmission.

Umbrella Man darted forward, and with a single powerful kick, sent Wesker skidding back down the corridor into the security room, the remote toppling from his hands onto the floor.

Stooping quickly, Umbrella Man retrieved the device, and pushed the uppermost button quickly. Before him, the floor retracted in a flash, and Shak let out a gasp, choking for air as she sat up, coughing and cursing.

“You are a Bastard!” She hissed, hauling herself to her feet and elbowing Umbrella Man roughly in the gut.

“Later.” Umbrella Man advised, pointing down the corridor at the black clad form of Wesker, who had a cold rage infused on his face.

“So, it seems you are determined to bring about your death that much quicker in this pointless crusade ‘Umbrella Man’. And you Shak, I guess it will be worth my time and satisfaction destroying you with my bare hands.”

“I won’t be returning the favour.” Shak said with a grin, spitting on the ground and levelling her shotgun at Wesker. The blast of shells filled the corridor, but Wesker’s blinding speed became apparent when he leaped up and over the pellets, making a large dent on the floor when he landed, launching himself at the pair of warriors in a pulse of black rage.

His fist slammed into Shak’s face, and she was sent flying through the corridor, slamming into Umbrella Man and bowling both of them onto the hard floor. Using the momentum to his advantage, Umbrella Man rolled onto his feet in a crouch and lunged at Wesker, stabbing out with his umbrella, using it like a fencing foil. Wesker parried the sharp ended umbrella with what remained of his mini-computer, and lashed out with a powerful kick towards Umbrella Man’s head.

Dodging swiftly, Umbrella Man spun around Wesker, slamming his boot into Wesker’s back. Wesker stumbled, but wasn’t sent sprawling, and as he turned back to face Umbrella Man, his fist backhanded into his opponents masked face. Umbrella Man was knocked back into the wall, grunting with pain as he recovered.

Whilst distracted with Umbrella Man, Wesker didn’t noticed that Shak had recovered faster than he had suspected. She drew a pair of pistols from her combat mesh and clicked them into firing position.

“Say goodnight Albert.”

The sound of the shots was deafening, and both clips were emptied into Wesker’s exposed back, causing him to buck and stumble, his coat riddled with holes.

There was a pause as Wesker turned slowly, facing Shak with a grin on his face. It made Shak’s heart skip a beat, and Wesker waggled his finger slowly as though to a naughty child.

“S.T.A.R.S.” He said mockingly, allowing his coat to fall away onto the ground, showing his old S.T.A.R.S uniform once again. Shak cursed herself for not remembering the exceedingly durable bullet-proof vests that they were equipped with back then, and she threw down the empty pistols, leaping at Wesker and punching at his face.

Wesker’s hand caught her fist and he began to squeeze, attempted to crush her fingers – but her leg was already slamming its knee into his stomach. He lurched backwards into Umbrella Man, who had regained his composure, and punched Wesker hard in the back of the head.

Any normal man would have been felled by the series of blows, but Wesker’s superhuman abilities held him firmly in place, and with a lightning fast series of blows, sent both Umbrella Man and Shak slamming to the ground, Umbrella Man’s umbrella sliding towards the control room, and Shak rolling head over heels into the shallow indent in the floor again.

“Honestly, you know my strength, why do you continue this pointless assault?”

Wesker turned his attention to the red haired woman lying in the pit, adjusting his collar as he did, taking slow steps over to her. He raised his boot, stepping casually down as she struggled to rise, his immense strength and weight slamming down on Shak’s gut, only her intense physical training and extreme psychosis stopping her passing out with the pain.

“My dear, I will never get sick of causing you pain – but I’m quite certain you won’t be able to keep up with what I can dish out.”

“Bite me.” She whipped a knife out from her combat belt and jammed it halfway into Wesker’s leg. He gritted his teeth and let out a gasp, whipping his leg back reflexively before slamming it into Shak’s face, sending a wad of blood from her mouth onto the silver floor.

“You are cunning. I’ll give you that.” Wesker grunted, pressing his foot down on her knife arm.

“And you kick like a girl Albert.” Shak grinned through blood-stained teeth.

“Shak – keep your head down!” The sound of Umbrella Man’s voice echoed sharply down the corridor, causing both Wesker and Shak to turn and look at the masked man, his Umbrella held like a shotgun in his hands.

“Oh isn’t that cute, you can pretend – wait your turn.” Wesker said dismissively… but a small spark fired out of the end of Umbrella Man’s umbrella, and Wesker paused, looking at it darkly.

“Hmm… I guess that thing is more than it –“ But before he had a chance to finish his sentence, a long gout of flame poured out of the end of the umbrella, the smell of petrol filling the air as the compact flamethrower assailed Wesker. Shak felt a smothering weight fall over her as the fire filled the air, and looking ahead she found herself face to face with Wesker, who had thrown himself face first down the hole on top of her to avoid the lick of the flame.

“Hmm – now here’s a position I never wanted to be in with you again.” Wesker said with mild distaste, his hands pinning Shak’s to the ground beneath them.

“You’ve never had it so good Albert.” Shak said, her bloody tongue flicking droplets onto his face, leaving red smears on his cheek.

“Remind me to nail your corpse to a tree as food for wild animals when this is over.” Wesker remarked, the flames ending above him.

“You won’t be nailing me – corpse or not.” Shak grunted, and tucked her knees underneath Wesker, sheer muscle punting him onto her feet. Before he could regain his balance she had kicked up with all her might, and sent Wesker slamming into the ceiling above, the colossal thrust knocking the glasses from his face. The dark shades clattered to the ground beside him as he sighed.

“I suppose I shouldn’t expect anything less from the only S.T.A.R.S member more muscular than Chris.”

He slowly stood, dusting himself off as though the blow had done nothing, standing in the flickering patches of fire that still hung about the corridor.

Turning slowly on the spot, Wesker turned to face Umbrella Man – but he had gone, vanished once more into thin air. He knew that the masked man was merely invisible, but he had no bother… he and the fire blocked any escape by the Umbrella Man, so unless he tried, he would be free to finish off Shak in peace…

Or so he thought.

In an instant, the entire corridor was bathed in red light, and a crackling siren began to fill the air.

A soft, monotone, feminine voice spoke out over the alert.

“Alert. Bio-Containment hazard shields de-activated, base perimeter breached. Bio-Weapons spreading through the facility. All personal evacuate immediately.”

However, before the first announcement had even finished, a second began as sparks erupted inside the control room.

“Alert. Reactor core operating at unsafe levels, reduce power output immediately to prevent detonation.”

And finally, as the white masked form of Umbrella Man exited the control complex, standing facing off against Wesker as Shak hauled herself to her feet behind them, a third announcement…

“Alert. Base condition critical. Information backed up and ported offsite – commencing rapid facility deconstruction.”

Wesker gritted his teeth.

“You shall regret this. This I promise you.”

And with that word, he turned – and in a blur of black – had sprinted away down the corridor towards the facilities entrance.

“NO!” Shak yelled, seizing a pistol and firing after the fleeing man – but he was gone. She turned on Umbrella Man, but he caught her wrist, aiming the gun away.

“This fight cannot be won here and now. We need a better battleground… come on – we don’t have long.”


The detonation was barely noticed on the surface of the snowy plains, only felt as a rumble beneath the ground, and a blast of superheated air from the entrance that melted a great rift in the snow outside.

Umbrella Man and Shak watched from the ridge where they had first begun, and she was applying bandages to her various cuts and abrasions, sucking on a wad of blood still in her mouth.

“Well that was pointless… the facility got blown up, Wesker got away – again… and now we’re back where we started. Nothing has changed… we’re back to square one.”

“Indeed.” Umbrella Man said, his umbrella open over his head.

“So what now?” Shak asked, cracking her knuckles one handed.

“You need to pursue Wesker. We need to know where he’s headed… I have some business to take care of, but I shall catch up with you later.”

He turned and began to stride away, his coat fluttering slightly in the chill breeze.

Shak grinned and folded her arms, standing slowly.

“Better luck next time.”

She turned, and they walked their opposite ways…

Umbrella Man absent mindedly reached into his pocket and touched the red vial in his coat…

“I won’t need it.”


End