Inside the fortified heart of the RPD station, the atmosphere was growing more tense with each passing minute. Jill stood over a tactical map alongside Marvin, Leon, and Claire. The makeshift command post was alive with radio chatter and the nervous shuffling of officers and civilians alike.
"Evac routes are bottlenecked," Marvin muttered, eyes scanning the grid. "Streets are overrun. Any road big enough for a convoy to enter or leave is either blocked or crawling with infected." Claire leaned over the table. "What about the tunnels beneath the parking garage? Jasen said something about them being old maintenance shafts."
Jill nodded. " That could work but problem is... they're unstable and we don't know where half of them lead. We'd be gambling with everyone's lives." Suddenly, the sat phone inside Leon's duffle began to vibrate.
Leon frowned, pulling it out a unknown secure line. He answered. "Hello?" His eyes widened. "Wait—Jasen?!"
Everyone turned and Jill stepped forward, tension flooding her frame. "Can I... can I talk to him?" Leon didn't say a word. He just handed her the phone. She took it slowly, her breath catching. "Hello... Jasen?" His voice came through the line, rough, tired—but alive.
"Hey, Jill. Sorry I've been gone a while." Her eyes filled with tears as she covered her mouth with one hand. "You son of a bitch... I thought you were dead." He chuckled softly. "I missed you too."
Jill composed herself. "I'm glad you're alive, but you've got a lot of explaining to do." With a small tear coming from her eye.
"I know and you'll get it I promise. But right now, I need to know what's going on." Jill explained the situation: 200 people sheltered in the station, the nuking threat, the infected outside, and Tony Redgrave and his devil-may-care attitude ally who had arrived swinging his sword and cracking jokes and saving lives. Jasen wasn't surprised. "That sounds like Tony and he was worth every penny."
Jill added, "Sherry's is safe. She said she has something for you or her mom." Jasen exhaled. "Good now listen carefully: there's a convoy route out of the city. It's buried under the sewer systems west of the station, built for emergency evac during city maintenance. There's a tunnel entrance near the parking structure. It leads to a safe extraction zone. It's your best chance."
Marvin scribbled it down. "Got it."
Jasen's tone shifted, darker. "I talked to Carlos before this call. He says more Nemesis-type Tyrants have been released. They're tracking STARS members."
Then everyone went still. "A man named Nikolai Ginovaef is behind it. He's Umbrella's inside man. A Ruthless man but Carlos and the rest of the UBCS team are cleared. They're trying to help." Jill's fists clenched. "So what now?"
Jasen paused. "Wait for Tony. Then make your next move. You need to focus on getting those people out. Don't try to save the city, it's too late. If the virus spreads further, it'll get worse."
"Jasen how do you know all of this?" He hesitated. "Because I've seen it all before. And I'm on my way." There was a brief silence. "Keep Sherry safe," Jasen added. "Leon, she's depending on you and so am I."
"Understood you can count on me," Leon replied quietly. Then Jasen spoke the words Jill didn't expect. "I love you, Jill. I promise we'll make it through this night. And I'll tell you everything." Jill blinked rapidly, heart pounding. "You better. Because I love you too." The call ended and a moment of silence lingered. Jill stood frozen, phone still pressed to her ear.
Then the front gates burst open with the sound of gunfire. Tony and Carlos entered through the smoke, weapons hot, clearing a path of infected as they stepped into the lobby. "That party is a little to wild for even me" Tony called, spinning a pistol.
Claire smiled. "Glad you made it." Tony winked at Jill. "Told you I'd be back and I have some good news."
Far outside the city limits, a large matte-black truck tore down a narrow mountain road toward Raccoon City. Behind the wheel sat Jasen, dressed in reinforced tactical gear, eyes glowing faintly goldish yellow. A custom rifle sat beside him. His combat vest was fully stocked.
He held a phone to his ear. "Status update?" "We're en route," Billy's voice replied. "Annette and I have the mobile lab. We'll meet at the extraction point near the old water treatment plant." Annette's voice cut in next. "Sherry will be safe. We'll be ready to take her as soon as she's delivered."
Jasen nodded."I hope I'm not too late."