The security panel flashed green. A soft tone rang out, followed by the mechanical click-click of internal locks disengaging. The voice authentication had been accepted. The reinforced door leading into Bard's lab slid open with a hiss of compressed air.
Carlos moved first, rifle shouldered, eyes scanning the room. He raised a clenched fist—signal for Arlo to cover him.
Arlo stepped in behind him, shotgun up and tracking left, sweeping the corners in rhythm.
"Clear left," Arlo said.
Carlos moved forward slowly, checking each shadow. "Clear right."
The lab was dim but intact. Lights flickered with unreliable power. Several lab carts had been knocked over, and shattered glass littered the floor. Cabinets hung ajar. The place reeked of disinfectant and something... rotting. But no movement. No infected. Just one corpse. At the far end of the room was a man slumped in a chair. White coat. Blood dried across his chest.
"Got him," Carlos muttered. "That's Bard."
"I guess were late" Arlo whispered
He approached and crouched down, pressing two fingers to Bard's neck—standard, but unnecessary. The blood loss alone made it clear.
Carlos stared at the body for a second longer, jaw clenched, then tapped his radio. "Tyrell. Bard's dead. He's been shot."
Crackling static answered, then Tyrell's voice: "Shit. And the vaccine?"
Carlos looked around the room. "I'm looking."
While Carlos checked the nearby cabinets and drawers, Arlo walked past Bard's body and moved to the desk. The terminal was still powered on—screen dimmed but active. Luck, or Bard's paranoia about staying connected.He tapped a few keys to wake it up. A few folders were open—email, personnel reports, a draft message.
"Carlos," Arlo said. "Get over here."
Carlos stepped up beside him.
Arlo pointed to an unsent email addressed to U.S. Senate Oversight. It was clearly Bard's last attempt to reach someone—anyone—outside Umbrella's grip. "If you are reading this, I am likely dead. The T-virus outbreak in Raccoon City is not a failure of containment. It is an intentional release by the Umbrella Corporation. I created a working vaccine. Samples are in my office. The rest are stored underground. They want to destroy the evidence. They will erase everything."
Carlos exhaled slowly. "He knew it was coming." Arlo access Bard's computer for anything that might help them. He scrolled down. "Looks like there's a video file in the attachments." He double-clicked the file.
The screen went black, then flickered to life. Bard's face appeared—hollow eyes, sweating, pale. His lab coat was stained. He looked scared, desperate, but still speaking with the precision of a man used to being in control.
"This is VCR Chief Nathaniel Bard. September 29… 11 p.m. I am acutely aware… that my time is running out. And I hope—and pray—by making this recording, and bringing the truth to light, that I can restore some shred of honor to my name."
"All of Raccoon City's suffering began with the release of a biological weapon known as the T-virus. My employer, the Umbrella Corporation, engineered this virus… and they ordered my team to develop a vaccine. We succeeded."
"Now… I keep samples of this vaccine here in my office. The rest are stored underground. But the board—they want it all gone. They want to wipe it from the world. They don't want the world to know what they've done."
"So they're coming for me. I'm not a fool. I know they don't want me to—"
The screen went black. Then he clenched his fist and suddenly slammed it into the side of the terminal with a sharp metal clank.
"FUCK!" Carlos cursed. Arlo didn't even flinch. "Calm down, man."
Carlos turned to him, voice rising. "Calm down? She trusted me. I work for Umbrella, Arlo. Everything about this place—what it did—was under my company's name!"
"And yet she still trusted you," Arlo replied coolly. "That means something. You want to honor it? Help me save her."
Carlos stared at him for a beat—then nodded, breathing hard. "Yeah... yeah. You're right."
Arlo turned back to the terminal. "Lucky for you, the computer still works after your emotional outburst." He tapped into the building control interface.
Most doors were locked out, but one button glowed green: Sample Room Access. He clicked it. The door across the room hissed open.
"That's our vault," Arlo said.
Carlos wiped his face with his sleeve, pulling himself back into soldier mode.
"Is it there?" Arlo nodded. "If Bard wasn't lying, it should be."
Carlos moved toward the open door.
Arlo remained at the terminal. He quickly slotted in a blank floppy disk he'd found earlier and started copying Bard's confession video.
As Arlo finished copying Bard's video log onto the floppy disk, the soft whir of the transfer system gave way to a final beep—File Saved. Meanwhile, Carlos stepped into the cold sample room. Inside, secured in a sealed case, was a single vial—bright purple. He lifted it carefully.
"What are you doing?" Carlos asked, nodding toward the terminal.
Arlo didn't look up. "Backing up Bard's confession. This file might be the only chance the world has to convict Umbrella for this mess."
Arlo looked over. "You got the vaccine?"
Carlos nodded, almost reverent. "Yeah. The vaccine. One dose."
Arlo activated his [Observe] to see the information of the vaccine.
---
T-Virus Vaccine 1x [Rare]
Consumable, Item
Description: A bright purple substance created by Dr. Nathaniel Bard and synthesize to prevent the T-Virus.
Effect: 100% Immunity to T-Virus.
---
"Then let's move." Arlo said.
As Arlo ejected the floppy and slid it into his coat, he glanced at Bard's body one last time."You died trying to fix what you helped create," he muttered. "Too little, too late."
Carlos returned with the vial, and the two men left the room—carrying the vaccine... and the truth that could burn Umbrella to the ground.
...
Once the door shut behind him, Arlo gave the terminal one last glance, then shut it down. No point in leaving loose ends. He adjusted his gear, checked his ammo, then made his way out of the lab.
The corridor outside felt colder than before. Not in temperature, but in tension. The kind that comes after a firefight but before the next one starts.He followed the marked path back through the hospital toward the makeshift sickroom near the lobby.
As he entered, the overhead lights buzzed weakly. Jill lay on a cot, pale, unmoving. Carlos stood nearby, arms crossed, back stiff with anxiety.
Arlo stepped in. "How's she doing?"
Carlos didn't look away. "Still out. No sign she's waking up."
Arlo approached and looked her over. Skin tone slightly improved. Her breathing wasn't shallow anymore. He activated his [Analysis]
"Most of the infection's purging," Arlo said. "Cellular damage is reversing. The vaccine's working."
Carlos exhaled, tension finally loosening in his shoulders. "Thank God."
"What now?" Carlos asked, still keeping his eyes on Jill.
Arlo leaned against the wall. "Now we wait. She's not out of danger yet, but her vitals are stabilizing. That's better before."
Carlos nodded. "Right."
The room went quiet for a few minutes. Just the dull hum of the lights and Jill's breathing.
Eventually, Arlo stood and said, "I'll check for supplies. See if there's anything edible in this place."
Carlos didn't argue.
Arlo headed out and returned about ten minutes later with a handful of snacks scavenged from a vending machine down the hall—most expired, but still better than nothing. He tossed a protein bar to Carlos. "Here. Eat something. No idea when shit's going to hit the fan again."
Carlos caught it, peeled the wrapper open without protest, and took a bite. "You always this prepared?"
Arlo shrugged. "Hunger gets you killed faster than bullets. Might as well stay fueled." He opened a bar of chocolate and broke a piece off for Link, who had been lying patiently under the cot. The dog barked once, softly, and nibbled it with practiced ease.
As Arlo chewed, he glanced sideways and caught Carlos staring at Jill. It wasn't casual concern—there was something else there. Something personal.
Arlo smirked. "Keep staring like that, and she'll disappear."
Carlos blinked, then turned his head sharply. "What? No! I wasn't—" He stopped, caught in the act.
Arlo laughed once under his breath. "Relax. It's not illegal to like someone."
Carlos rubbed the back of his neck. "It's not like that."
Arlo leaned back, still watching him. "Carlos, Jill is one of a kind. There aren't many people who'd survive what she has and still keep fighting." That landed. Carlos looked up, thoughtful. Then, after a moment, he asked, "Are you… interested in her?"
Arlo shook his head. "Nah. Doesn't work like that for me."
Carlos frowned. "Why not?"
Arlo continued "Because this job doesn't leave space for relationships. And even if it did, Jill too responsible to leave anyone behind. She's committed. Me and her will not work out."
In his mind, Arlo added, Because I'm not from here. And even if I was, I'd still be the outsider.
Carlos was quiet for a second, then Arlo added with a grin, "But hey, if you're into her, I'm not getting in your way."
Carlos finally cracked a small smile. "Appreciate that."
"Just don't screw it up," Arlo said. "Women like her don't come around twice."
They sat in silence a bit longer. The sickroom stayed quiet, peaceful in a strange way.
Eventually, Arlo stood. "You should get some rest. I'll take first watch."
Carlos hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Wake me if anything changes."
Carlos settled into the chair near the far wall, weapon still in reach but eyes growing heavier. Within minutes, he was dozing.
Arlo sat near the foot of the cot, one hand resting on Link's fur as the dog lay beside him.He kept his gaze on Jill, watching her chest rise and fall.
***
A soft creak from the door caught Arlo's attention. He stood up instantly, shotgun half-raised. Carlos jolted awake from his chair, already reaching for his rifle before recognition clicked in.
A tall man stepped into the room—Tyrell, sweat on his brow, his uniform streaked with grime. The way he moved said "alive," but barely.
Carlos blinked and lowered his weapon. "Jesus, Tyrell. What the hell happened!?"
Tyrell said nothing at first. He walked over to a rusted stool near the far wall, dropped into it, and pulled out a remote. A nearby hospital TV screen flickered to life with static, then stabilized into a government emergency broadcast. Arlo and Carlos both turned to watch.
A flat, mechanical voice filled the room: "Attention all citizens. The contagion spreading throughout the city has been designated uncontainable. On October 1st, Raccoon City will be completely destroyed in a missile strike. All residents capable of rational thought are urged to evacuate immediately. This is not a test…"
Carlos stared at the screen, stunned. "Man, that's only a day away. There's still people out there."
Tyrell didn't blink. "You think Uncle Sam gives a shit? This is containment, Carlos. The fastest way to bury a mistake."
Arlo crossed his arms, his expression cold. "He's right. As ugly as it is, a clean strike is the only solution they've got. There are too many infected. Too many unknowns. If this virus hits another city, it's game over."
Carlos's jaw tightened. "So we just let all these people die?"
"No," Arlo said. "We save who we can. But we don't fool ourselves into thinking we can save everyone. That kind of idealism gets people killed."
The weight of it settled over the room. Nobody spoke. The TV kept looping the broadcast, robotic and heartless.
Then it happened. A piercing screech echoed through the corridors. Unnatural. High-pitched. Like nails dragged across steel by something that wasn't entirely human.
Carlos stood up instantly. "Shit. That's not normal."
Tyrell's eyes narrowed. "Fuck. Here they come." He reached for his pistol, checked the mag.
Carlos grabbed his rifle. "Now you sit tight," he said to Tyrell. "I got this."
Arlo stepped forward. "I'm going too. You need all the help you can get"
Carlos gave him a look, then nodded without hesitation. "Alright."
Arlo turned to Link. "Link can you do me a favor stay. Watch Jill."
Link barked once in acknowledgement and padded over to Jill's side, standing guard like a trained sentinel.
"Good boy," Arlo said quietly.
Then he turned and followed Carlos out the door.The hallway outside was darker than before. Power flickered overhead, and every shadow felt thicker. Then they heard inhumane sound screeching.
Carlos kept his rifle up. "Whatever made that sound, I don't want to meet it in a tight corridor."
"Too bad," Arlo muttered. "That's exactly what's going to happen."