Resident Evil Shane’s Story Chapter 5 & 6
Chapter 5: The Revelation
Present… Shane was already on his knees crying. He couldn’t stop the image in his mind, seeing Andrew reaching in for him and then the awful expression of pain and fear. Wesker only watched shaking his head in disappointment.
“Look at you, still weeping over those long dead. You’re mourning dust, boy. That’s all they are, phantoms, whispers in the wind, long since gone in a flash of heat and light. You should be forged into steel from a fire that burns that hot, yet instead you sit here crying like a weak child.Don’t you see Shane, that you’re so much stronger, more powerful than they are? Don’t you understand that you survived a hell, that precious few in this world could hope to live through? You’re made of such sterner stuff than this boy, and now it’s time that you started to act like it!”
Wesker scornfully lectured him, as Shane quickly got to his feet.
“How the hell would you know?! You weren’t even there, you fucking codger!” He snapped hitting the wall. “You have no fucking idea what hell I went through!” He growled.
“Don't I?” Wekser asked calmly as Shane made a fist.
“You weren’t even there! Look at yourself; you were probably somewhere else watching the whole damn thing on the television or some fucking thing!” Shane snapped, his anger raising more toward Wesker, no one ever questioned about that day he suffered in Raccoon City, no one.
“Oh, I was there, but I was there from the beginning Shane. You see, before you were even born, I lived in Raccoon City. I worked there, was a trusted member of the community and respected by my peers. But even before that, I was in the mountains, in the labs working for Umbrella. What you saw as nightmares come to life, I saw as some of my greatest experiments come to fruition.” Wesker said smiling lightly raising a hand proudly.
“Fuck off, old man,” Shane said flipping him off, Wesker soon streaked across the room, grabbing Shane’s middle finger and twisted Shane's arm behind his back pushing him against the wall making him shout in surprise and in pain.
“I wasn't finished, boy!” Wekser snapped at him pushing, Shane struggled to get off the wall and get Wekser off his sore arm but it was pointless. “Now keep a civil tongue in your head or else I'll rip it out.”
Shane grunted trying to get off the wall again; his arm was hurting more now. “What do you want from me?” He asked calmly trying to hide the pain in his voice.
“I want you to hear my story so that maybe you will begin to understand,” Wesker told, keeping Shane against the wall, it wasn’t much of a struggle for him.
“Then let go of my arm.” He said trying to make it stop hurting. “Please!” Shane begged to feel a sharp pain shoot through his body from his arm ready to break. Wesker calmly released Shane and backed away watching Shane hold his arm before continuing to tell his story. Shane looked at him and shook his head before leaning against the wall trying to keep his distance. “So… what? The whole thing was an accident or an experiment?” He asked rotating his arm some flinching as it hit a nerve making him curse lowly holding it again.
“Because of outside forces, incompetence or both, the experiments got loose, hikers were attacked in the mountains and I knew it was only a matter of time before they reached the city. I lead an elite unit that had no idea of my connection with Umbrella. I sent half of them into a meat grinder to gather data on what was set loose. I soon followed the other half of the team after injecting myself with another experimental virus and survived the same trials I had put them through. But with any experiment, there are X-factors, variables even the most educated scientists can’t predict. I was killed by one of my greatest creations.” He said as his mind recalled that night. “Only to be reborn, stronger than ever. The virus saved me, made me into something more than human and I escaped, just like you escaped.” Wesker told finishing seeing Shane looking at him oddly taking in every single bit of information.
“Why are you telling me all this? I mean, why me? I’m just some freak.” He said shaking his head, he was always called a freak since he was the second kid to survive the events of Raccoon City, every new school he would end up going to, he would be called a freak since he survived, that he was probably a freak of Umbrella, which wasn’t true to him, and he was just a kid with luck.
“A freak? Is that what you think this is all about? You’re not a freak boy; you’re an heir, a prince, a king in the making! Your mother, your true mother was a woman you never met Shane. The woman who raised you was only a surrogate.” Wesker told seeing Shane look at him oddly. “Your real mother was a girl named Alexia Ashford. Her genetics were of superior stock and they were mixed with another to produce a truly unique being. One genetically bred to withstand the creations of Umbrella. Didn’t you ever wonder why the virus never affected you in Raccoon City when everyone else around you succumbed?” Wesker asked looking at him sharply.
Shane just looked at him speechless he had to look away to try and think, his mother, Sofia, was a surrogate? That he couldn’t believe but that didn’t stop him from looking at his hands, he always thought he didn’t look like her and now the fact he never got infected or even sick left him shaking and he stumbled making Wesker take a small step toward him before stopping seeing Shane catching himself from falling. “No…that can’t be true.” He said looking at Wesker. “No way…” Shaking his head, “I’m not some experiment, hell no! If I was I would have known!” He snapped trying to keep calm.
“No, we’re not freaks. We’re not just experiments; we are the last of the Prydwen Project. We were made not only to resist the viruses but to absorb and manipulate them without becoming some kind of freakish monster. We are the next step in genetic evolution!” Wesker said smiling more as Shane looked at him, Wesker couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What the hell do you mean ‘we’?” He asked angrily. “Who the fuck, are you?” He asked touching the wall trying to keep his cool and to find a door, Wesker noted Shane’s legs, he was going to try and run again but he knew he wasn’t going to go anywhere.
“You haven’t put it together yet? Shane, the other genetic material that was mixed with Alexia was mine! The surrogate told you that your father had died and in a way she was right. But I was reborn, Shane, and now I’ve found you and proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are a genetic match. Now we can finally stand together as father and son.” Wesker said laughing as he looked at him with a smile.
“You’re my…you’re my…?” Shane stammered fumbling backward before hitting the wall. “No, no fucking way. What proof do you have?!” He snapped; this kid was hard to get through to. The time here in the asylum certainly tortured the youth’s mind and weakened his emotional state. Wesker produced a sheet of paper out of one of his pockets and approached him before handing it towards him.
“Take it, read the results,” Wesker said taking a step back after Shane snatched it from him and scanned the paper. “The numbers don’t lie. We’re almost a perfect genetic match. And if that doesn’t convince you, look into a mirror.” Wesker said as he removed his glasses and looked at Shane. “Haven’t you noticed how much we resemble one another? What more proof do you need?” He asked.
Shane couldn’t believe what he was reading and when he looked up at Wesker he fell to the floor shocked but couldn’t stop staring at him even when he knelt down, Shane shook his head as his body shook lightly, he couldn’t believe any of this.
“Why?” He asked. “Why now?”
Wesker soon placed his sunglasses back on. “Because you’re a lion that thinks he’s a lamb and right now I need a lion at my side. I want someone fierce and loyal and above all worthy of being my son.” He said soothingly but there was also the power behind those words.
Shane reached up and took the sunglasses back off Wesker, at first Wesker was ready to smack his hands but he saw Shane was curious to meet the man that was his father. A light smiled appeared on his face as Shane looked at him more, he soon chuckled seeing Shane tilt his head.
“What’s up with your eyes?” Shane asked looking at the strange gold and red catlike eyes, they reminded him of a tiger or a dragon he once saw in a book while at school in Raccoon City.
“What is up with my eyes’ is the virus inside me. Other than my eyes there are no physical tells to give away that I’m something…more than human. It’s a small sacrifice for perfection.” He answered as Shane handed the sunglasses back.
“Cool,” Shane said nodding. “Just a curious thought, will that happen to me?”
“It’s very likely. There may be some additional… side effects but once your body adjusts and you’re able to control them, you will be as you were before, just much better suited to the rigors of the world to come. Nothing that attacked you in Raccoon City could ever even come close to harming you again.” Wesker told him as Shane smiled thinking about it…
1998 - Raccoon City - Five Hours after Shane’s First Witnessed Infection
Shane slowly opened his blue eyes before rubbing them, withdrawing his hand he saw some blood making him rub his head flinching touching a cut; his gaze soon fell to the shotgun laying on his lap as a cold realization flowed through his body as he leaned up before crawling slowly toward the driver side window before looking out seeing the dead lioness with a massive hole in the side of her head and that’s when he saw Andrew there, his guts torn out, his left arm laying not far off, deep claw marks on his face and his clothes torn beyond any reason.
Shaking, Shane pulled back and rested against the passenger door, holding his knees close to his chest, before looking at the window again, his chin betrayed signs of his body wanting to cry, his eyes showing it now too, before he buried his head behind his legs and succumbed to the tears. The crying didn’t last long as he loaded a new shell in the chamber of the shotgun and moved back to the door before climbing out of the window slipping slightly on the blood, his hand touched the blood as he tried to keep his balance making him wipe it on his pants in response to looking at Andrew again.
“Goodbye, Andrew…” He whispered looking at the bus station, he took a breath and walked toward it, alone in the chaos around him. A helicopter flew overhead making him watch it against the dark sky before looking at the bus station, there were bodies strewn about, a few whole while most were torn to bits making him shake entering it more looking around frantically. “I wish mom was here…” He whispered looking at the ticket booth seeing blood splattered over the window, the door ajar making him peek inside seeing no one but shotgun ammo on the floor.
“Great.” He said smiling pushing the door inward but it didn’t move, he pushed again and still nothing. 'I bet I can reach it', he told himself keeping himself calm as he set the shotgun down and took off his backpack before sitting down slipping his left arm inside and reached pushing more against the door.
“Come on…” He whispered looking around some feeling the ammo case brushing against his fingertips making him smile more as he wiggled his fingers over it pulling it closer before grabbing it. “Yes!” He said withdrawing his arm soon feeling a tight hand clasping around his arm making him shout in a surprise hearing a moan. “No!” He screamed grabbing the shotgun and jerked to try and get his arm free feeling the zombie inside pulling him against the door, sticky salvia falling on his arm making him panic more as the shotgun went off hitting the door while the gun jerked out of Shane‘s hand, the grip lessened making him pull out fast and rush to the shotgun.
“Bring it,” Shane growled picking the shotgun up before looking at the saliva over his left arm making him wipe it over his shirt and pants trying to get it off as the zombie banged against the door. “I bet you’re stuck in there, a good thing too or I’ll be kicking your…” He soon looked around and then back at the door. “…ass!” He smiled proudly saying that reloading the shotgun, with haste he grabbed the ammo he pulled out and his backpack before running up the bus route following the yellow line hearing crows cawing around him.
More into the chaos, the road leading to freedom, a lone child seeking life…
Present
A buzzer sounded in the room making Shane stiffen as Wesker looked over his shoulder seeing the door open and four guards filed into the room before looking at Shane, he was already up and standing. A smile crossed Wesker’s face seeing the aggression Shane was showing as the guards drew closer.
“Time’s up Shane, time to go.” Said one as electricity crackled as one turned on the stun rod making Shane take a step back. “Sorry sir, but he needs to get his shots before going to bed.”
“Like hell I am!” Shane snapped as the other two guards got closer to him making him jump some when they tried to grab him but he didn’t count on the third that rushed up behind him wrapping his arms around Shane’s chest keeping his arms down. “Get off me!” Shane shouted trying to get free before headbutting the one holding him breaking his nose making him let go, Shane then threw a punch at the next closest guard hitting him in the face before ducking avoiding the stun rod, he tackled that man to the floor and started beating the living shit out of him as the stun rod rolled away from him.
Wesker only watched, impressed and in awe of seeing Shane’s aggression, he read about this in some of the reports the guards gave him, even the one about the arm break, but seeing it in person, he could only smile and think of Shane proudly, how much potential the boy held, and before long he heard the stun rod come to life as Shane was hit by it making him shout before falling off the man he was beating, groaning in pain as they rolled him onto his stomach forcing his arms behind his back putting his restraints on.
“Sorry, you had to see that sir.” Said the guard with the broken nose looking at the blood on his fingers and hand. “He’s been more unstable recently.”
“Go fuck yourselves….” Shane said lowly soon seeing the fourth guard drawing out a needle making Shane struggle instantly. “No!” He snapped as the man knelt.
“No apology necessary. If the patient resists you have no choice.” Wesker then directed his attention to Shane. “Remember our talk boy. You need your shots if you want to become ‘healthy’ again. Be a good patient and take your medicine, hmm?”
Shane stopped and looked away cringing as the needle was pushed into his skin, he felt it entering him, his arm started to tingle as he struggled to stay awake but what he was given made him limp allowing the guards to pick him up and drag him out of the room.
“Here’s the latest lab test.” The fourth guard said pulling it out of his large pocket on his coat as Wesker took it. “He’ll be in his room, he’ll be awake in a few hours.” He added.
Wesker studied the report. “Excellent. If there are any changes you know how to reach me.”
“Yes, sir.” The guard said soon leaving as Wesker looked at the report again; things were going just as he thought they would…
Chapter 6: Malpractice
Present (5 Hours Later). Shane sat on his bed staring at the floor; his hands resting on his legs as his mind roamed to what Wesker had told him. He was still trying to accept it, accept the fact he was engineered, the fact that he just met his blood father. He smiled lightly soon sighing before looking at the glass door hoping to see Wesker there but it was empty, he coughed and rubbed his left arm feeling the bandages. He slowly unravelled the bloodied cloths, revealing scabs, multiple scabs, and long cuts from a surgical knife. Slowly he touched them with his fingertips, feeling them gently he frowned feeling a few were still tender. He reached under his pillow pulling out a roll of fresh bandages he stole from a guard while he was fighting, the week before.
“Should be healed by next week.” He said to himself wrapping his arm, but pausing to look up at Wesker standing there, a smirk appearing across his face. “Sir.” He said going back to wrapping his arm back up.
“How’s the arm? Still healing? Very soon you won’t need to bother with those bandages anymore.” Wesker said looking at him.
“It hurts but I’ll live..” Shane replied finishing before looking at him. “What do you mean by that last bit?”
Wesker smirked slightly and zipped open his jumpsuit down to his navel and opened it showing his stomach. “Do you see any scars? No? What would you say if I told you that something once punched claws the size of your arms through my abdomen and out my back and then tossed my twitching corpse to the ground after it broke my spine?”
Shane made a painful expression and rubbed his arms some getting the feel of it before looking at him. “Ouch…was a Tyrant wasn’t it?” He asked, how Shane knew what a Tyrant was made it puzzling then again Shane survived Raccoon City, he must have seen one there.
Wesker smiled as he zipped his suit back up. “Very good, yes, it was a Tyrant. Ironically one I had helped create. But it murdering me was necessary. The severe trauma was the only thing that could activate the virus in my system. Once it healed me I awoke renewed, better than I had ever been in my previous life. This is what you can look forward to Shane. The last pain you will ever need to feel will come from your rebirth.”
“Rebirth…” Shane repeated resting his head in a hand before shaking his head, pain for a new life, that’s what he has been going through for nine years, nine years to get out to start a new life but now he wasn’t sure. Once again the headache returned, and he soon began to cough. Blood started to hit his pants and Wesker saw it clearly. “Shit.,” Shane grumbled wiping it off and looked at it in his hand, just staring at it. Wesker was puzzled and concerned.
“What’s wrong?” Wesker soon shouted down the hall, “Doctor! Get in here!” He then turned back to Shane, studying him as the doctor and a nurse rushed in. Shane just stared at the blood on his hand, as if he was mesmerized by seeing it. The door opened and the two entered, the nurse lifted Shane’s head as she checked his eyes as the doctor checked Shane over, Shane didn’t bother to fight which was really off for Wesker since he was known to fight back even against the doctors and nurses. Wesker’s face became stern, “Was he injured by the orderlies?”
“He shows no signs of it.” The doctor said looking at Shane. “What’s wrong?”
“I…I don’t know…” Shane answered holding his head again. “My chest and head hurt…” He told as the nurse left the room quickly. “They did something…in that room…”
Wesker was clearly becoming irritated, “Room, what room? Were there tests done that I wasn’t informed of?”
Shane just looked at him bitterly. “Clearly.” He said pushing the doctor away hard before getting up coughing holding his chest. “Damn…” He said trying to stay standing. “I don’t know where it is, but one of them was some fucking Russian!” He snapped collapsing to the floor. “Make it stop!” He begged.
Wesker thought, “Sergei? No, it couldn’t have been him… Nicholai… could he have done something to the boy? He vanished after Raccoon City, could he have survived? Only one person would know. Luckily I have easy access to her.” He said soon looking at the doctor. “See to him, run more tests, find out what is wrong with him and don’t fail me!” Saying that he stormed off as Shane shouted out his name but Shane knew Wesker wasn’t coming back and cringed more in pain before his mind forced him to slip into the darkness…
1998 - Raccoon City - Five and Half Hours After First Infection
Shane coughed smelling smoke again and moved away from it trying to keep as low as possible between the mass car pileup on the bus route, he couldn’t help but stare at a massive figure to his left, tall and muscular with a huge clawed hand. He had heard gunfire earlier but knew better than to stick around since it seemed to draw the monsters attention, he was fortunate to not have encountered any more zombies or monster, he was scared out of his mind and he still couldn’t find his mother. He frowned thinking she was dead or hurt, or even a zombie, that was the worst.
A sound made him duck down quickly pressing himself against a car waiting for it to stop before looking around hearing nothing, he smiled and got back up smelling something rancid now and he turned around raising a brow seeing a zombie coming up the road. He titled his head slightly and raised the shotgun, he smiled taking aim but stopped firing seeing it was Andrew.
“What…the hell…” He said watching him before backing up some. “Shoot him...shoot him.” He told himself. “He’s another zombie.” He said as Andrew drew closer. “Sorry.” He said pulling the trigger but nothing happened. “What!?” Shane snapped looking at the shotgun seeing it was jammed. “No!” He screamed soon throwing it at Andrew making him stumble allowing him a chance to run, a dumb mistake but Shane knew better than to stick around.
Present
Walking through the halls Wesker was suddenly joined by Excella Gionne. Despite her expensive Italian high heels, she kept pace with his stride, “Albert darling, what’s the matter?”
Wesker didn’t even glance toward her as he spoke and kept walking, “There’s been a complication with the boy. I need to speak to my pet project to be certain of something before I can proceed with my plans.”
Excella narrowed her eyes at him, “Don’t you mean “our” plans darling?”
Wesker glanced at her, grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently, “Of course. Slip of the tongue, nothing more. Now please make sure everything on Irving’s end is being handled. I’ll meet with you later.” With that Wesker let go of her hand and entered an elevator.
Excella pouted slightly but she knew to question Albert’s plans just wasn’t done. She spoke to him as the elevator doors closed, “As you wish dear Albert. Till later!”
Wesker entered the special lab where Jill Valentine was being kept. She slept on a bunk, her chest jewel glowing slightly as it kept her sedated. Wesker smiled slightly at the sight of one of his most hated enemies naked, enslaved and at his mercy.
“Wake up Jill.” And with that Jill’s eyes snapped open and she sat up on the bunk facing him, her blonde hair falling down around her shoulders.
“Yes?” she spoke, her voice soft and robotic sounding like someone in a trance.
Wesker spoke in even measured tones, “You were in Raccoon City when the outbreak hit. You escaped with an Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service member. Who was he?”
“Carlos Oliveira,” she said in a dreamy monotone.
“Was he the only UBCS member you met?” Wesker asked looking at her before fixing his sunglasses.
“No,” Jill replied shaking her head some.
“Who else did you meet?” Wesker asked staring at her.
“Russians… Mikhail… Nicholai…”
Wesker’s eyes flashed, “Nicholai. Tell me about Nicholai.”
Jill stared blankly, “Nicholai Ginovaef. He’s a traitor. Killed his own men… tried to kill me…”
Wesker became impatient, “What happened to him?”
Jill paused for a minute, “He stole the last rescue chopper. Tried to kill me one last time but left when I returned fire.”
Wesker became visibly irritated and clenched his fists. “Incompetent cow…you should have killed him! Punch yourself in the face, hard!” Jill clenched her fist and punched herself in the mouth, splitting her lip slightly. A small trickle of blood dripped down her chin. Wesker felt a little better. “Good girl. Now go back to sleep Jill.” Jill laid back down in the bunk; closed her eyes and the slave jewel in her chest resumed its soft glow as Wesker left heading back to check on Shane.
Meanwhile…
Shane woke up covering his eyes some from the bright light before looking to his right seeing an x-ray hanging there, he just stared at it before sitting up quickly seeing something was wrong with it, there was something else there in his chest. He got off the table and walked over to it putting his hand over where it was at, right where his heart was.
“You have a plaga inside you.” The doctor from before said walking over as Shane looked at him. “It seems that night you vanished from your cell was the night you were implanted, that explains why your chest was hurting badly that day and just a while ago.”
“Why would someone put it inside me?” He asked looking back at the x-ray. “The thing is big…” He said rubbing his chest. “And…it’s inside me..” He said shaking his head. “I don’t even feel it.”
“That’s because you don’t, plagas are not often felt once they fuse with their host.” The doctor said pointing at the x-ray. “It’s right next to or right on your heart for all we know.”
Shane coughed and soon sat on the table again looking at the x-ray while rubbing his chest through his shirt, he didn’t think that was what they were doing, he could remember them giving him the drugs and their voices but not remembering the implant made him hit the table.
“Can you get this thing out?” He asked as the doctor shook his head. “Why not?!”
“Where it is positioned, it would kill you if we tired.” The doctor replied looking at him while fixing his glasses. “You’ll have to live with it inside you.”
“That’s fucking outrageous!” Shane snapped hitting the table again. “This damn thing is a bug, a parasite, can’t you give me pills or something?”
“Nothing is working.” The doctor said shaking his head as Shane got off the table. “I’m sorry but we can’t fix it.” He said back up as Shane pressed his arm against his throat.
“You better find a way!” Shane snapped. “I don’t want this thing taking over me!” He growled pushing some as the doctor tried to get his breath.
Wesker soon entered the room seeing Shane choking the doctor, “Shane! Release him!” Before anyone can blink Wesker had grabbed Shane and pulled him off the doctor and restrained him fairly easily. The doctor gasped for air as he slumped against an examination table. Annoyed, Wesker turned his attention to the doctor, “What happened in here?”
The doctor rubbed his throat looking at Shane trying to get free before pointing at the x-ray. “It’s what we were fearing, Mr. Wesker.” He said as Wesker looked at the x-ray. “He was implanted.”
“Implanted? With what?” Wesker asked as Shane wiggled making Wesker keep a tight grip on him.
“A plaga, it’s right where his heart is.” The doctor said walking to the x-ray pointing it out. “It’s big.”
Wesker soon spoke into Shane’s ear, “Calm down, we can help you.” Shane relaxed somewhat and Wesker released his grip and studied the x-ray.
The doctor spoke more clearly, “It’s bigger than the ones we’ve seen previously, but I think we can remove it.”
Wesker looked back to the doctor, “It’s very close to the heart. This will need a more delicate hand than previous ones you’ve done. Are you absolutely sure you can remove it safely?”
Shane listened to them and rubbed his chest again before hopping onto the table making Wesker look at him. “After all this…I was looking forward to serving you… to be like you.” Shane said looking at the floor. “Now, I got some bug inside me…I lost my grace…bound to the ashes…” He said shaking his head. “Lost of perfection. Loss of a prince…” He said. “You’ll want the plaga more than me.” He said looking at Wesker. “Just make it quick.” He said pointing at his chest. “Right here when you want it.”
Wesker walked over to Shane and put his hand on his shoulder, “Don’t be a fool and don’t martyr yourself yet, boy. There is a way we can eject it from your system. There is a treatment that can kill it. I won’t lie to you, it’s going to be a painful process but it will cure you of this parasite.”
Shane sighed, “Better than having this thing take over me…” He said shaking his head. “I just don’t understand why you didn’t know about it, why none of the guards informed you.”
Wesker spoke matter of fact, “Because the last thing we thought to look for was a Plaga parasite. You were exposed to many things in Raccoon City but the Plaga was never a part of what happened there. They were isolated to an incident that happened in Spain years later.” Then he looked puzzled, “ What would the guards know about this?”
Shane looked at him. “I remember that night, two of the guards came in and did something, I couldn’t see but found myself in that room, after they were done, I was spitting and coughing up slime and blood, one of those guards brought me fruit and water, I thought it was nice that the head decided to give it to me, but once I got started that guard took it from me.” He said shaking his head. “He had a tattoo on his neck..” She said closing his eyes trying to remember. “A symbol or something…”
Wesker's eyes narrowed, “What did it look like? Describe it.”
“I think it was a Russian letter or something, like two capital R’s facing backward and forwards…” Shane said holding his head, the memory of the man playing like an old video.
Wesker's eyes narrowed slightly. “So you can recognize them fairly easily then if you were to see them again?”
Shane nodded and smirked. “I think I know how you can catch him too.” He said looking at him. “The open room.”
Wesker raised an eyebrow, intrigued, “Do tell.”
“For one thing, this thing…” He said patting his chest. “…will need to be checked on, plus the health of its host, so I see it that this guy would come calling, like a moth lured into the fire.”
Wesker nodded, “We'll play it your way then.”
“Good, cause I can’t see how you’ll be able to get him, boss.” He said with a light chuckle getting off the table. “I guess we can get started now. You’ll have to take me to the open room…”
Wesker opened the door and followed Shane as they made their way towards the Open Room. Shane was rubbing his arms now feeling really out of place, he wasn’t in any chains or restrains, not even the jacket. The elevator made him stop as Wesker went in.
“Um…can we take the stairs?” He asked.
Wesker looked puzzled, “Is there a problem?"
“You can say that….” Shane said taking a small step back while tapping his other foot on the cold floor. “I’m…not fond of elevators.” He admitted.
Wesker thought for a second and then decided not to press the issue, “Fine, we'll use the stairs. When we're all done with this trap of yours, I want to know how you got this elevator phobia.”
Shane smiled lightly and followed Wesker toward the stairs. “Yes, sir.” He said as they made their way to the first floor, course, there was a lot of stairs but neither showed signs of tiring. Shane coughed once they were out in the hallway before spitting on the floor. “I’m going to hit that guy so hard…” He grumbled seeing the blood and soon wiped it up with his shirt.
Wesker kept pace, “Once we ferret him out and I've gotten some answers from him, you can hit him all you want.”
“Really?” Shane asked looking at him excited. “No interference or anything?”
Wesker smirked slightly, “Absolutely. Once we get the information from him you can do what you please with him.”
Shane smiled a little and pounded a fist in his other hand as they neared the open room, Wesker soon filled out the paperwork and the door opened. It took Shane a moment to enter, he was excited but knew he needed to keep calm if this plan was going to work.
He entered the open room taking a slow deep breath before noticing that only the middle of the room was lit. ‘There’s nothing to worry about.’ he thought. It was late and he knew Wesker was somewhere up in the darkness of the balcony watching his every move. The first sign of trouble and dear old Dad would swoop down on the assailant like a hawk attacking a wounded rabbit.
It was a strange sensation considering what they were attempting to do, but for the first time in a long time, Shane felt safe. Shane stretched and did some warm-up exercises before he sat down in the light to do his normal workout, it was going to be a while till that man was going to show and in order for time to fly, Shane thought it wise to spend as much time as he could doing his exercises.
Wesker stood in the shadows patiently. He studied his watch and saw an hour had already passed. When he looked up Shane was stretching out on a floor mat. Laying down, his eyes stared up at the ceiling and then closed after a few minutes. As Wesker scanned the room, Shane thought of how tired he felt after that workout. It was an ache that reminded him of that night in Raccoon City, his mind slipping off into a light sleep….
1998 - Raccoon City - Six Hours After First Infection
Tiredness, Shane hated it and had to stop, the route to the highway was blocked by a fire and going around it was impossible. He had to return to the streets and followed under it. He hated it greatly since he had to weapon besides his wit. Whatever scraps of pipes he found and cables, he had taken a battery and made himself a stun rod, even though it would work for a moment, it was just enough for him to run but he was exhausted, he wanted to lay down and sleep. Every time he would stop to rest, he would catch himself nodding off, he wished someone was with him to carry him along.
“Mom…” He whispered rubbing his eyes hearing a scream up ahead of him making him run toward it even though he knew better, but his mind was screaming at him to find company. He had to stop finding the waterway, he looked at the water and then the other side seeing a man fighting some froglike creature. “What the hell is that?” He asked watching the man trying to get away as it grabbed him making Shane stiffen seeing it putting the man in its mouth. “Holy shit!” Shane gasped watching the man struggled to try and cut the frog creature but it was too late, it started to swallow him making him drop the knife. Shane looked away fast but looked back regardless seeing the man inside the creature struggling, he even saw the man pushing inside but the screams he was hearing were terrifying as he watched the struggle slowed as the belly of the frog went flat. “Oh…God….” Shane said fumbling back as the creature jumped back into the water. “It just ate him and digested him…” He said. “Holy crap…” He continued to mumble before smacking himself. “Get away from here…” He whispered looking for a way to cross the waterway in hopes that the creature won’t come after him, which would be the last thing he was wanting right now but he smiled turning the stun rod on as it snapped with life, ready to shock anything that would make contact on the end of it.
‘Recon One what is your status? Over.’ Came a voice making Shane look around quickly hearing it again making him approach a dumpster, but he was cautious and glad he was too when crows flew away when he got close revealing a dead Umbrella personal, once more the voice came from the man’s chest making Shane kneel to see a radio as a smile crept along his tiny face as he grabbed it. He had to cut it off the dead man’s uniform with a knife that laid in his hand before wiping the blood off.
“Hello?” Shane asked standing up, his voice squeaked when he spoke.
‘Who is this? Where’s Recon One?’ The voice replied making Shane smile, even more, it was indeed working and he felt happy hearing another voice.
“Recon One is dead, I just found the body…” He said looking at the man. “I’m a kid, a student, Shane, I want to get out of here.”
‘Hold still kid. What is your current position?’ The voice asked. Shane didn’t realize that he hadn’t looked at any street signs or anything that would give clue to where he was, his mind was too focused on following the highway.
“I’m not sure, I’m under the highway near a waterway, there’s a monster here in the water, it ate someone.” He told looking at the buildings. “I see a restaurant, it’s um…” Shane moved to squint his eyes at the writing in the window across the waterway. “Joe’s Bar and Grill.” He said holding the radio close hearing water sloshing, this caused him to back away from the waterway fast. “Please help, I lost my gun.”
‘Don’t worry kid, I’m sending two out to get you. Try and keep your position as long as possible, if you have no choice, continue to follow the highway until you find a Catholic church when you get there go inside.’ The man on the other end told, Shane could hear gunfire.
“Got it,” Shane replied taking off his backpack and slipped the radio into a pouch on the side of it before holding his stun rod and the knife he just acquired close, he frowned hearing an explosion in the distance, he didn’t understand how this was happening…
Present
A blunt kick to his side startled Shane awake and he cursed out loud grabbing his side automatically. He blinked the sleep away from his eyes as the glare of the bright light above him made it hard to focus on the man standing over him. He couldn’t tell if it was a guard or an orderly but it was definitely someone who needed to work on their bedside manner.
Shane winced as he sat up, “What the fuck did you do that for, man?” The man said nothing and shook a paper cup full of pills at Shane. Shane took the cup and realized the man was an orderly as he handed him another paper cup of water. The pills were dreadful tasting for the second they rested on his tongue but he took them anyway, gagging slightly on the aftertaste before the man left. It definitely wasn’t the Russian and Shane sighed with frustration, “This is harder than I thought it would be…” he said under his breath. But Shane knew he had to wait no matter how long it took.
Shane sighed again and looked up at Wesker, even though he wasn’t able to see him he knew Wesker could hear him, “You should talk to the head asshole in charge about getting me off those goddamn pills.” Shane held a hand above his brow trying to shield his eyes from the harsh light trying to see Wesker as he spoke to him, “They make me feel sleepy and like crap…”
Wesker smiled in the darkness of the balcony. He refused to answer Shane back knowing that the Russian they were looking for could arrive any moment. Shane was prone to outbursts and talking to himself so it wouldn’t be unusual to see him talking to an empty room.
Wesker took a small amount of glee in the fact that Shane didn’t know he was in charge of the asylum. There would come a time to tell Shane the truth but that was a long way away at this juncture. Wesker couldn’t help but think of Oswell Spencer when Shane complained about his pills.
Oswell was an ambitious genius but terribly behind the times. The shots he had made that sow Sofia give Shane his whole young life were easily synthesized into pill form once Wesker had obtained Oswell’s notes. The boy required them for his wellbeing and continued development. Why stop at a single shot yearly that would wear off before the next shot could be given?
Now they could be taken weekly and maintain a steady strong presence in his bloodstream year-round rather than in a single yearly booster shot. Shane’s already shown improvement since taking this pill regiment and he will continue to grow stronger. Had that senile fool Spencer done his due diligence Shane wouldn’t have developed his phobia of needles from the painful “booster shots”?
Shane coughed a bit and rubbed his chest. It felt picky and tingled a little. He knew it was from the plaga inside him and sometimes when he moved he could swear he could feel that thing inside him moving around.
The muffled clacking of shoes on the tiles outside the door drew Shane’s attention away from his chest. A man came into the room, his lab coat was briefly outlined by the light from the hallway before the door shut again and he started walking towards him. Shane let out an annoyed sigh as he stood up on the mat not looking directly at the man as he approached.
The man reached the edge of the wide circle of light surrounding Shane when he noticed the man was a doctor and that he was much taller and somewhat bulkier up close. The doctor seemed to be in way better shape than the other doctors he had seen before. The doctor checked a clipboard he was holding and said gruffly, “Need to check on you.” in a Russian accent. Shane’s neck lifted up quickly to meet the man’s gaze. The voice quickly which drew Wesker’s attention as well when the Russian accent hit his ears. The doctor seemed to study the clipboard again and said, “I need to examine your chest and check your eyes.”
Shane’s eyes narrowed as he asked, “Why?”
The doctor walked further into the light taking a stethoscope from around his neck and held it tightly in his thick hands as he spoke again, “To make sure you have no fluid in your lungs and to see if your eyes are fine.”
Shane glared at the doctor and studied the man’s features. He didn’t seem familiar but the voice nagged at him. He tried but it was hard to see any tattoo with the man’s shirt collar buttoned up. Shane knew he needed to be closer so he relented to let the doctor examine him. Shane raised his arms in mock surrender and said, “Okay doc, check me out, I’m not going to give you any problems.”
The doctor grunted and nodded as he approached Shane. Cautiously the doctor slipped the stethoscope on, lifted Shane’s shirt and pressed it against his chest making him jerk away slightly.
Shane growled, “You could have made it warm, you ass.”
The doctor ignored the insult and simply said, “Take a few deep breaths, then exhale. Good, repeat, breathe in…exhale...” The doctor listened intently as Shane slowly did so.
The doctor pulled Shane’s shirt back down and spoke, “Hmm, everything sounds good.” Looking back down at the clipboard the doctor began writing. Wesker stood at the ready in the shadows of the balcony. He could see Shane was ready to do something. The doctor set the clipboard down again and pulled out a small penlight, “Now to look at your eyes.”
Shane shifted uncomfortably and rubbed his foot on the mat, “Hey doc, what’s wrong with my foot?” Shane asked. The Doctor looked down just as Shane’s foot connected with the doctor’s crotch making him curse in what Shane assumed to be Russian.
As the doctor hunched over in pain Shane punched him in the face. He then grabbed the doctor’s back collar yanking him down on the mat before tearing the collar wide open and saw the double R tattoo he knew just had to be there. Before he could react, Shane yelped when something hit his leg causing his calf to cramp up making him let go and fall backward half out of the circle of light. When he looked down he saw a hypodermic needle sticking out of his calf.
“You damn American!” The doctor snapped holding his nose while looking at Shane.
“It’s him!” Shane shouted pulling the needle out of his leg. He scurried backward when he saw the Russian doctor coming toward him, blood trickling out of his nose while he drew a pistol out of his coat pocket.
As the Russian leveled the gun towards Shane the lights in the room snapped on and a black blur seemed to appear out of nowhere and ripped the gun out of the Russian’s hand. Before he could react Wesker tossed the startled man as if he was a rag doll against the far wall of the room. Had it not been padded the fake doctor would have broken his spine from the impact instead of having the wind knocked out of him. Shane watched in awe as Wesker raced over to the man before he even had a chance to slump to the floor and grabbed him by the neck and hoisted him up getting ready to work the Russian over for information.
“Who sent you?” Wesker said as the Russian gasped for air. He released his grip slightly to allow him to talk.
The Russian coughed and cursed at Wesker in Russian, Shane knew that the man wasn’t going to talk, as did Wesker.
“You should toss him about a bit,” Shane said rubbing his leg before looking at the needle on the floor; he picked it up looking at it. “What the hell is this?” He asked lightly.
Wesker talked over his shoulder to Shane never taking his eyes off the Russian, “No, tossing him around wouldn't yield anything, but when you do something like this..." Wesker took the man's thumb in his free hand and broke it off with an effortless jerk as the man howled in pain, “…then people tend to loosen their tongues. Now, who sent you? Tell me while you still have all your fingers and toes!”
The Russian just stared at him and growled. “I’ll never tell a filthy American.” He said. “Even if you break me.” He told.
“That’ll hurt you ass,” Shane said looking at him. “Just answer the question and he might actually let you live.” He told looking at the stuff inside the needle before looking at his leg poking it with a finger not able to feel it. “That damn fucker numbed my leg!” He snapped.
The man struggled in Wesker’s grip to no avail. Wesker smiled, “Let me explain how this works. I only want a name. One name and if there are others here helping you I want their names too. If you give me these names or even one name I will let you live. I will even have the surgeons reattach your thumb before I send you back to your masters… but if you want to do this the hard way, I will continue removing fingers, and then toes and then hands and then arms and then feet and then legs and then whatever else I feel like pulling off of you until your nothing but a head on a pike outside of my office. Do we have an understanding?”
The Russian soon spat at him making Shane stiffen seeing that. “Go to hell.” He said as Shane looked on, he wasn’t sure if Wesker would kill him or tear more limbs off; he looked away not wanting to watch.
Wesker chuckled and wiped the spit off his face, “Remember this Shane, no matter how nice you try to be to some people they simply aren’t smart enough to accept your charity.” With that Wesker wrenched the man’s arm out of its socket. Shane clasped his hands over his ears as the man’s screams echoed into the night.
For a long time Shane kept his eyes and ears shut, he didn’t know how long it was, when he felt a hand touch him he cringed instantly and also tried to hit whoever touched him but he felt the grip on his wrist and knew it was Wesker. It was silent and Shane didn’t open his eyes as he spoke. “Are you done?”
Wesker spoke in a chilling tone, “Yes, we’re done here. How’s your leg?”
“Still can’t move it,” Shane replied opening his eyes seeing blood and shook lightly before pulling Wesker into a hug which startled him. “I’m sorry…” He whispered. “I’m not as strong as you…”
Wesker tensed and froze for a second before hesitantly patting Shane on the back, “You are as strong as me, Shane. You may not believe it right now, but you are. You’ve survived Raccoon City, you share my blood, and you can withstand anything.” Wesker let his embrace slacken slightly as Shane sensed the older man was uneasy with this show of affection and released their embrace.
“You’re right,” Shane replied with a simple nod before taking a breath and looked at the room. “Damn, you painted the room.” He said shaking his head before coughing and spat on the floor. “Since this is done…I better get to sleep, to be ready for the procedure. Is there something I got to do for this?” He asked looking at Wesker.
Wesker patted him on the shoulder, “No, just rest and get your strength up. I told you, the procedure will be painful but it will be relatively quick. Once we’re done the plaga will be nothing more than harmless particles in your bloodstream.”
Shane smiled before frowning lightly. “Then I’ll be back in action sitting in my cell and enjoying the world passing me by.” He said soon rolling his eyes running a hand through his hair. “I’ll never be able to leave here.” He grumbled. “But I ain’t going to die here without hurting them first.”
Wesker became serious again, “Shane, you’re not a prisoner here and once your training with me is complete not only will you be able to leave here whenever you want, you’ll be able to do whatever you want. Nobody will be able to stop you.”
“I find that hard to believe, you know,” Shane said looking at him seriously before coughing again and tried to hold his coughs. “And what training are you talking about? Did you talk to the head about letting me out or something?”
Wesker smiled, “Something like that. I know I’m being vague now but trust me it will all make sense once the procedure is done and you’ve recovered. I promise you, you’ll never need to feel fear again.” With that Wesker extended his hand which like the rest of his outfit was miraculously clean despite the carnage around them.
Shane looked at it for a moment and then shook Wesker’s hand. With that, they left the room.