{"sf1_id":85704,"sf2_id":"GnDV6kPe","title":"Chapter 6: First Encounter, First Loss","author":"Keith Redfield","words":1615,"posted_at":"2009-04-30T17:59:00.000Z","tags":["Bad Language","Character Development","Friendship","German Shepherd","Golden Retriever","Husky","Plot Development","Road Rovers","Tragedy","Violence (Not In Yiff)"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/85704-chapter-6-first-encounter-first-loss","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/GnDV6kPe","image_url":"https://www.sofurryfiles.com/std/thumb?page=85704\u0026ext=.jpg","description":"#6 of Road Rover's Degeneration","content":"\"Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!\"  \n  \nKeith and Exile immediately untangled themselves from their own little world at the horrendous shriek.  \n  \n\"What in the hell?! Who the hell got past our system! Come on comrade! Put on your boxers and let's go!\" Exile shouted.  \n  \nKeith nodded.  \n  \nOh no....I hope they didn't track me here.  \n  \nKeith pulled on his boxers and grabbed his 45's and handed the AR-15 to Exile.  \n  \nExile seemed shocked \"Comrade.....is this really.....?\"  \n  \nKeith cut him off \"Sorry partner gotta take necessary procedures....you know how to use that right?\"  \n  \nExile smiled, unloaded and loaded the clip, threw back the sling and aimed. Keith just chuckled.  \n  \nHe's full of surprises....glad he's mine!  \n  \n\"You know how sexy you look with that gun?\" Keith asked.  \n  \n\"Not as good as you, especially with those \"ballistics\" Exile replied humorously.  \n  \nThey shared a smile and then got serious, they opened the door, and proceeded out slowly back to back.  \n  \n\"Wait Exile...let me grab something.\" Keith went back in and fished a couple of earbud headsets.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Just in case we get split up.\" Keith said.  \n  \nExile smiled and took it. The hallway was flashing with the red lights, and it seemed safe...for now.  \n  \nDamn all my equipment is still in the cargo bay....I hope this place has an armory if this thing escalates.  \n  \nThe two ran as fast as they could through the hallways to the main hall running into Hunter along the way.  \n  \n\"What's going on?!\" Hunter exclaimed. \"Were at the bottom of the ocean, how the hell could anyone get in?!\"  \n  \n\"No time Comrade! Whoever this is...they're obviously dangerous...\"  \n  \nI just hope it isn't Umbrella....  \n  \n\"What's going on?!\" Blitz and Colleen ran up.  \n  \n\"We don't know!\" Hunter said.  \n  \n\"Where's the master?!\" Blitz said.  \n  \nOh no....they're not after me....they may be after Shepherd!  \n  \n\"You guys what's Dr. Shepherd's first name?\" Keith asked.  \n  \n\"Joseph.....why?\" Hunter questioned.  \n  \nNo....it can't be.....could it? The same doctor who had part in creating the progenitor virus?! He's the only surviving member! It must be Umbrella!  \n  \nKeith immediately ran in full sprint toward the main hall, completely ignoring the Rovers.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Comrade! Come back!\" Exile shouted. Keith kept running to the main hall......then all of the sudden something came out of the ceiling!  \n  \nNo......it can't be.....  \n  \nIt was one of Umbrella's creations......the zombie model. Keith raised his 45's and fired....he missed! This thing was fast!  \n  \nThese things were slow as crap on the previous missions......only the hunter was this fast!  \n  \nThe creature lept above Keith and let out a menacing shriek when it landed. It tackled Keith to the floor and was biting at him! It took all of his strength to keep it off of him!  \n  \nWhat's with this thing! This model shouldn't be this strong!  \n  \nKeith held the things arms to keep it from clawing him, but it kept getting closer to his neck.  \n  \nIf I only had my knife.....  \n  \nSPLAT! The creatures head was blown clean off and blood poured onto Keith. Keith looked up......it was Exile and the Rovers.  \n  \n\"What in the hell?! What is this thing!?\" Exile exclaimed helping Keith up.  \n  \nI don't know my friend......this is a whole new breed I've never seen before.  \n  \nHunter was shaking \"It's one of those zombies.....isn't it Keith?\" he stammered.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Keith nodded, still a little shaken.  \n  \n\"That bloke was fast! How in the hell?! The one's you showed us weren't nearly that fast!\" Colleen exclaimed.  \n  \nBlitz was so shocked he didn't say anything.....he just fell to the floor and sobbed out of pure terror.  \n  \n\"Comrade...what is going on here?! Why are these things here?!\" Exile demanded.  \n  \nThese are just distractions so they can get to Shepherd... but we need to get to the armory or the cargo bay one.  \n  \nKeith managed \"I can't explain it all right now, but they're after Shepherd....we need to find him! First though....where's your armory?\"  \n  \n\"This way!\" Hunter shouted. \"Everyone come on!\"  \n  \nShrieeeeeeeeeeek!  \n  \n\"Fuck! More of those things are coming! Come on Colleen! Exile grab Blitz! Hunter lead the way!\" Keith ordered.  \n  \nExile scooped up Blitz and the entire group ran after Hunter. They eventually came to a large safe like door with a keypad, Hunter was already working on the code.  \n  \n\"Hurry up!\" Colleen urged.  \n  \n\"I'm trying! But my code isn't working! Somebody's locked me out!\" Hunter exclaimed.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Dammit! We need to get to the cargo bay! Hopefully all my extra equipment is still there.....I doubt they got past all my failsafes on my sub....please god!  \n  \n\"What do you mean?! Exile shouted. \"You are only one with code beside Shepherd! Who could've?!\"  \n  \n\"Were wasting time!\" Colleen said. \"There are a ton of those things coming this way!\"  \n  \n\"Hunter take me to the cargo bay.....my sub has a shit load of equipment we can use! Let's move it!\"  \n  \n\"Right!\" Hunter said.  \n  \nThey all ran after the retriever and eventually came to cargo bay doors. The doors swung open, and thank god the sub was still there!  \n  \n\"Come on!\" Keith commanded.  \n  \nThey ran across the concrete dock and jumped onto the sub. Keith input his code and the door opened...they all piled inside and took a breather.  \n  \n\"Whew! What a workout!\" Hunter said, trying to lighten the mood.  \n  \n\"Yeah if you think being frightened to death is good for your heart!\" Collen snapped.  \n  \nHunter was shocked, Colleen had never snapped at him before....his smile faded and said nothing more.  \n  \n\"My god....\" Exile muttered. \"Who? Why? How....? He was clearly shocked.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Blitz still was dead silent, he wasn't even sobbing.  \n  \nMy god....what the hell?! What has Umbrella been doing in their spare time?! Even I am unprepared for something like this! Come on Redfield....think!  \n  \n\"Keith start explaining this shit right now!\" Hunter commanded. Did fanboy just get angry?  \n  \n\"Why are those things here?! Who is after our master?! I swear if you have been lying to us......\" he trailed off.  \n  \nKeith felt so guilty.....this was just supposed to be a simple recruiting mission for search and rescue in the affected cities. Now they were now in their own personal war against Umbrella......the Rovers were now involved....and they couldn't get back out.  \n  \nKeith finally spoke up \"I was never lying to you.....this was simply supposed to be a simple search and rescue team recruitment. I never expected Umbrella to go after Shepherd......I had no idea he was the same guy! You have to believe me! I never wanted you all involved the war against Umbrella personally! But now that you're involved.....I might as well tell you everything I know.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Keith began to explain how Shepherd was tied to Umbrella and was involved in the creation of the Progenitor virus......a failed variation of the T-Virus that was far too dangerous and unstable to use., mostly due to the fact the subjects began to think with a mind of their own and gained super human abilities. He also told them about Wesker and his ties to Umbrella....and how he might still be alive. Keith explained the T-Virus infected Wesker and brought him back to life, and how he's been trying to get revenge ever since. The Rovers were in utter shock at the information they heard.....their own master.....part of the nightmare unfolding before their very eyes.  \n  \n\"I'm sorry.\" Keith said. He was at a lost for words. \"We don't have time for this though! We have to make Shepherd is safe!\" Keith shouted. \"Comrade is right.....the time has come to stand up and fight!\" Exile said. \"We have to defend our home and master!\"  \n  \n\"You're right....\" Hunter sighed. \"It's just both of my master's now....\"  \n  \nI have to do something for poor Hunter.....poor fanboy had his heart ripped out twice.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Keith went over to Hunter and sat down in front of him.  \n  \nThis wouldn't feel so awkward if we weren't both in boxers....oh well.  \n  \n\"Hunter....\" Keith said.  \n  \nHunter looked up with his hazel eyes into Keith's blue ones. \"I'm sorry I got you involved in this.....that I exposed your master's......for what it's worth....\"  \n  \nHunter immediately hugged Keith without warning and began balling his eyes out into Keith's shoulder.  \n  \nKeith was so shocked he didn't do anything.  \n  \nCrap Exile's gonna kill me.  \n  \nHe turned and Exile just smiled and winked.  \n  \nKeith hugged Hunter back until he calmed down and Hunter sobbed out \"Thank you.....let's go!\" Keith smiled and let Hunter go....but his ears perked up again.....he heard cackling.  \n  \nHe looked around the room and the Rovers were also looking for the source.  \n  \nWhere's Blitz? Oh shit....  \n  \nKeith ran through the control center to the bathroom......that's when he saw Blitz.  \n  \nMy god....no!  \n  \nBlitz had broken the mirror and was slitting his wrists.....the blood covering the floor. He looked at Keith and cackled one last time...then took the glass and slit his throat...falling to the floor with a heavy thud. Keith was so shocked at the scene he saw. He's seen hundreds of dead corpses...some decapitated....limbs missing....entrails hanging out.....but to see someone take their own life.....it was just too much.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!\" Keith shrieked.  \n  \n\"Comrade! Comrade! What is......? My god.......\" Exile walked up and saw the scene.....he couldn't believe it....weird boy....Blitz.....killed himself.  \n  \nKeith was still screaming and Exile grabbed him tightly in a bear hug. Keith continued to scream into Exile's chest.....then he started to cry.....he cried his heart out.  \n  \nMy god....my god....why?  \n  \nExile was eventually brought to tears also and began to softly sob with Keith.  \n  \n\"You guys?! What is?!\" Colleen and Hunter in unison.  \n  \nThey saw it.......Colleen fell to the floor and fainted......Hunter's knees went weak and he fell, saying \"Why....why?\" over and over. He buried his face in his paws and whimpered and began to softly cry.  \n  \nThis is it......I've had it.......Umbrella is going down. Now.....it's more personal than ever.  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Road Rover's Degeneration","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/85702-chapter-5-first-premonition-first-time.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/85706-chapter-7-farewell-to-a-friend-a-brief-respite.json"}}