Chapter 18: Mutual Disclosure

The trio passed through the garage’s open gate and walked up the small slope leading to the street level. Rick was surprised by how empty it was compared to the Police Station’s front.

He had to dodge groups of zombies and dogs coming from everywhere when he arrived hours ago. Here? He counted less than a dozen of them. The street was very wide, had few vehicles cluttering it, none on fire. It was so calm it seemed surreal.

Leon took the lead, a dozen feet, perhaps a bit more, in the front. Rick was lagging behind. Tired as hell. After being almost choked to death he chose to slow down a bit. Claire was competent, resourceful and that was why he trusted her to take care of herself and Sherry. He also needed the break but it wasn’t the only reason.

Ada was walking by his side at a considerate distance, not in a hurry either. The thought of letting her walk behind him made his stomach turn on itself. Every fiber of his being told him she was dangerous and he was listening.

“You saved my life so I didn’t say anything with Leon present but you should work on your disguise,” he said nonchalantly to her.

The tone of her answer displayed confusion. He knew better. “Excuse me?”

“You’re no FBI. You may have fooled him but he’s a goodie two shoes. I’m from the streets, I know when people lie.”

“Interesting.” The false confusion was replaced by something else. Not the cold, disciplined and a bit rude tone she had used earlier in the garage, no. It was apprehension and perhaps amusement. “And what do you think I am?”

He went straight with the truth. “A middle woman or an agent from a company competing with Umbrella. Here to make sure this fiasco is exposed and make them fall or… steal their data and research amidst the chaos. Maybe both.”

“That’s quite the imagination you have. Although,” The amusement morphed into something cold and threatening. “If you were right… Don’t you think I’ll do something about you now that you found me out?”

Rick simply chuckled. “No. For one, Leon will not support you anymore and you will lose your pawn to do your dirty work.”

Ada was listening attentively. “And for two?”

“You may not get out the fight unscathed and that would hinder you. Decrease the odds of success of your mission. You wouldn’t risk it. Not when I’m not hostile and not interested in blowing your cover.”

That was true and she knew it. While she was fairly certain she could take care of Rick with how banged up he was, there was no certainty in a fight. She could get hurt and a lucky hit would be all it took to make her mission more complicated than it already was.

“Yet you called me out.” She remarked. “You want something from me.”

“Yeah.” Rick chuckled again. “I was born here. Lived in the streets since I was twelve. I saw how ugly, how dark and how loathsome the world is. Corruption everywhere. Good guys like Leon? I can count on one hand the number I've met and have some fingers left. Don’t get him killed. That’s all I’m asking.”

She stayed silent for a moment and looked at Leon who put down a zombie coming out from behind an armored vehicle belonging to the police.

“That he is.” She whispered to herself.

“Thankfully, you’re an FBI agent.” Rick closed his argument.

Ada nodded, playing along. “That I am.”

“Only a guy working in one of the Government’s alphabetical agencies would wear sunglasses at night and inside. Douchy to the max.”

His comment actually made her laugh. “Lucky me, I’m not a ’guy’.”

“I don’t know about that. You’re Asian. Who knows if you’re not from Thailand? I heard some things about men there.”

Her laughter died down into a chuckle. “A racist joke? Really?”

“Those are the best.” He defended his opinion with a shrug. “Them and dark ones.”

“I agree. Dark humor is like food. Not everyone gets it, especially not homeless kids.”

Rick laughed aloud. “Oh that was a good one. Both dark and racist at the same time. I tip you my invisible hat, my lady.”

They fell silent afterwards. It wasn’t awkward. It was neutral with a tiny bit of tension. It stayed that way until they reached Leon who was standing in front of a gunshop Rick was very familiar with.

“It’s locked,” Leon warned. “We need t—”

Ada interjected, walking forward. “Not for me.”

She kneeled in front of the door and pulled out lockpicking tools from inside her coat. Immediately she went to work.

“Do you have spares? Broke mine yesterday.” Rick asked her while looking around. Leon was staring at what she was doing with attention.

“No, sorry.” Ada answered and turned the lock.

“Shame.” He pushed the door open as she stood up.

They walked inside the building and what awaited was a complete mess. Empty shelves in disarray, some even laid down on the floor. From the corner of his eyes he caught a shotgun part and gently elbowed Leon.

“Something for you over there.” Rick pointed with his chin.

Leon followed Rick’s line of sight and found what turned out to be a long barrel. For his part Rick went at the back of the shop toward the exit, to see if there wasn’t something to scavenge and he hadn’t been able to see from the entrance. He hadn’t expected to meet the end of a shotgun.

“Don’t mov— Kid?”

The man holding Rick at gunpoint had recognized him. The widening of his eyes was proof of the surprise at seeing him of all places and this time of the night.

“Kendo, sir.”

Movement from behind prompted the gun shop owner to aim his gun to the side. Right at Ada and Leon who had moved and gotten closer from the commotion, guns raised.

Rick moved to the side to get between everyone. “They’re with me. This is FBI agent Ada Wong and policeman Leon Kennedy, he started today. They just want to get to the other side of the shop to reach the sewers.”

Kendo’s stare shifted from one face to the other. “What for?”

“I’m investigating Umbrella Pharmaceuticals,” Ada spoke up. “I found proof they’re the one responsible for the outbreak and that there is a laboratory right under the city. Its entrance is in the sewers.”

Rick had to give it to her, she was convincing. A really good actress.

Taking a moment to make a decision, Kendo lowered his weapon. His left hand went to his vest’s side pocket and pulled out a single key he threw at her.

“Close the fence behind you and toss the key back.”

Wasting no time, Ada lowered her gun and key in hand walked towards the fenced door she could see behind Kendo. Leon did the same but gave some parting words to Rick.

“Good luck.”

“You too.” Rick answered then turned to Kendo who was looking at the pair. He then apologized. “Sorry for the scare, sir.”

Kendo turned around. “Never thought I’d see the day you’d hang with law enforcement other than her.”

“Beggars can’t be choosers." Rick shrugged. “Speaking of Jugs, have you seen her? I’ve been searching for three days,” he asked without much hope of a positive answer.

“Three nights ago.”

Rick suddenly felt like a fire had been lit inside of him. “Really?! Was she alright? Injured? Do you know where she went?”

“She looked worse for wear but not injured.” Kendo nodded. “She left for the Police Station in a hurry with Vickers."

A sigh of defeat escaped Rick. “I spent the night killing things in there. She wasn’t among them.” He shook his head.

“You know her. She’s a fighter.” Kendo’s tone was not sympathetic but contrite. A bit hurried too, as if he wanted Rick to leave.

“Thank you for the information. Do you have anything in stock or is everything gone?”

Kendo’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask?”

“Redfield’s sister arrived in the city a few hours ago. We fought for our lives to get out of the precinct. I’m on my way to catch up with her. She got out to go after Irons. Bastard kidnapped a kid and brought her to the orphanage.” Rick frowned to fake his displeasure.

“Always knew he was scum,” the shop owner grunted. “So it's all true, then? The outbreak, Umbrella? Just like they said?”

“Yeah.”

Kendo hesitated for an instant and to Rick’s shock offered him his shotgun. “Take it. I’m hole-ing down in my home, you’d need it more than I do.”

“Wha— But—”

“I’m a gunsmith, kid. Got plenty of firearms in my house.” Saying that, he pulled a S&W .44 from his belt to prove his statement.

Rick accepted the gift but it didn’t stop there. Kendo unbuckled the .12 gauge shell carrier belt around his waist and handed it out too. This time Rick didn’t protest and put it around his shoulder.

“Thanks, sir.”

“Go. I’m closing behind you.”

Rick thanked him again and walked back to the entrance in silence. Kendo locking the door behind him, he walked toward the fence to the side of the shop.

He didn’t feel any guilt about playing the man by pulling on his heartstrings. Robert Kendo had always been fair and kind with him when Jugs brought him to his shop sometimes. He hadn’t judged him for being a homeless kid living on the street. Yet Rick needed firepower. Leon had been right about that. If he encountered Mr. X again, he now had something to stop him for a bit and give himself time to run away.

After loading all the shells he had on his brand new carrier belt, Rick walked with determination toward the stairs leading to the orphanage. Along the way, he came across dead zombies. Humans and dogs alike.

‘Damn! Claire is really a great shot.’

All the bullet wounds he saw were on the heads of the undead. Nowhere else. More than that, his original partner for the night had completely cleaned the zone. There was absolutely nothing walking around. Living or unliving. That made the trip to his destination rather short and without trouble.

The one issue he encountered was the gate of the orphanage being closed. He had to improvise by getting inside a car and parking it along the wall.

‘Thanks for the driving lessons, Jugs.’

Rick climbed onto the vehicle’s trunk then roof. He turned the safety of his shotgun on and tossed it into the orphanage courtyard. From this new height he could see beyond the perimeter wall. After reaching the edge with his hands, he pulled himself up and swung a leg over it. Shifting his weight he let gravity pull him down.

Once again the pain in his shoulder flared from the effort and the impact with the grass.

‘God. I need to eat something. I’ve been running on fumes since… that bastard shot me.’

To prove him right his stomach grumbled loudly as he picked up his shotgun. Thinking of raiding the building’s pantry or fridge, Rick walked to the door and stepped inside. On the left, he saw an open door with a big hole in it.

‘Yeah, that’s trouble, alright. I’ll check that later.’

He chose instead to go up the stairs on the right and go left. After going through a door, he looked around, realizing he was in the main room for the children. Seeing a fridge in a recess at the end of the area he went there.

‘Jackpot.’

The fridge wasn’t full and a few things were expired. Some ham was still edible and so were some sausages. He took both, tore open the packages and ate everything. Then he checked the shelves, that’s where he found crackers, cookies, cereal and other high sugar pastries for children.

He didn’t leave a single crumb for ants.

Doubting there would be anything worth it for him in the children’s bedroom. Be it ammunition or clothes, he went to the bathroom to search for a first-aid kit. To his outrage he only found bandaids and an antiseptic spray, which joined the one he got in the station’s jail.

Afterwards, he went back to the first floor and ignored the right side of his waist and his left shoulder getting a bit hotter. Coming through the destroyed door, he walked down the corridor to find Irons dead on the floor, eyes still open.

‘Did something burst out from his chest? And a knife wound on his face?’

From the edges of the huge wound he was observing, he could tell that something clawed or bit its way out of Irons’ body. Thinking that such a death was awful but still too good for the monster, Rick walked on him to get to the rest of the corridor.

The next room was horror incarnate. For starters, it was a mess. Shelves on the ground, a table broken in half and the dead body of a well endowed blonde woman with a knife stuck right between her breasts. Rick recognized her as the mayor’s daughter.

‘Damn, the guy really abandoned his daughter to this hell. What an asshole.’

On the few shelves that were still standing were no elves but jars containing organs. From the look of them and his small medical knowledge, he knew they came from humans. Searching for clues about where Claire and Sherry would have gone, he found the knife he had gifted the latter with blood on it and an opened trap door.

Picking the blade up, he jumped down to arrive in some kind of tunnel. There were no bifurcations or intersections. There were turns, yes, but only one at a time. When he got to the end of it he was faced with an empty elevator shaft. Looking down he saw said elevator crashed down.

‘Goddammit! Things were complicated when the outbreak started but they only became a clusterfuck of the highest order since I met you, Claire Redfield!’

While mentally ranting at the woman, Rick jumped into the shaft and caught some power cable against the back wall. He let himself slide down gently into the abyss below.