Chapter 19: Initial Infiltration

Nilin had received word from Captain America that they were beginning their assault. Nilin and company had been waiting patiently for their moment to strike, and now was the top. No more waiting or brandishing claws for our heroes.

They looked out to the side entrance of the Alliance’s fortress. Several Hydra tents were set up and there was dozens of Hydra operatives led by one man. A member of the Mad Gear Gang and subordinate of Horas Belger, Rolento. Wearing a fairly striking orange uniform and red beret, Rolento was equipped with a fighting baton and hand grenades. His job. To guard the west entrance into the fortress. And he was the only who had the code to the door. The only question was… how they were going to get it out of him.

“So Chris. Any strategy for these guys?” Nilin asked.

“Well that guy in the colorful outfit likely knows the code to the door. I doubt simple subordinates would know what it was. So one of us need to restrain him while the rest of us dispatch of those soldiers with the Eldridge horror-looking symbols”

“The Hydra.”

“Yeah those guys. We’ll hit them with a surprise attack from all directions. Rocket will target the leader with his slingshot by striking a non-vital area. Then once inside we’ll play it by ear.” Chris suggested.

“Copy that! Can’t wait to show how sticks and stones can break some bones!” Rocket announced.

Nilin was hoping for a better plan, but she knew that with no prep time and the clock wearing thin that there wasn’t many other choices. “Alright. And Chris, after Rocket fires just leave the man in charge to me. Just leave the interrogating to me also.”

“I didn’t peg you for the torturing type.” X-23 stated.

Wolverine butted in. “Oh don’t worry. Her way is far smarter than any of the barbaric methods we could think of! And unlike our way of doing things. Nilin’s are 100% effective.”

“100% huh?” Chris questioned.

Nilin simply smirked.

“Well enough chatting. Let’s get into position.”

“Couldn’t have said it any better Laura!” Wolverine said as he unleashed his claws.

Moments later and with all their chess pieces exactly where they’d planned Rocket had pulled back his sling and prepared for the signal. Wolverine gave out a bird call like planned and Rocket simply un-pinched his fingers and the stone was off. Heading right for Rolento’s leg. And just as it was about to hit. *Smack!* Rolento deflected it with his Baton.

“HOW!?” Rocket furiously asked, screaming into the cloudy night.

“Men! Eyes and ears, we have company!” Rolento roared.

And with that the Hydra soldiers raised their guns. X-23 and Wolverine entered the battle first, drawing gunfire away from the others knowing it would be of little use against them and their healing factor. Between the hands of both mutants they’d only unleashed one set of claws a piece. Using it cut enemy combatants weapons in half. Once vulnerable Rocket would take a couple out with his slingshot while Chris would utilize his Stun Rod. Knocking them out.

Wolverine and X-23 would face them head to head and hand to hand. Punching them with the full might of Adamantium from behind their bruised knuckles. All this fighting with these minions was enough of a distraction for Nilin to slip in and confront Rolento. Sliding right in front of him as he was about to ambush Chris Redfield.

“…who the heck are you?” Rolento asked calmly.

“I’m whose going to beat you down and extract the code from your sorry behind.”

“Ha!” Rolento breaking the calmness of his character for only a moment. “Over my dead body.” Rolento relented. Prepared to die before betraying his superiors.

Nilin gave him a decisive glare. “That won’t be necessary.”

The two took a decisive martial arts fighting pose as they stared each other down. Boots pressing into the moist soil. Then with a powerful kickoff of their hind legs they were suddenly moving like cheetahs. In the heat of battle amidst the South American wilds. Rolento would strike with his baton as Nilin blocked using her cybernetic arm.

Tch! She’s fast! Rolento thought as Nilin was already countering.

Due to her slender figure and incredible flexibility she had already crouched lower mid attack than Rolento could have dreamed of doing. And he was pretty flexible. Moving in and under the swing of his baton she gave him a powerful punch to the gut. Rolento’s mouth opened in pain as a bit of warm saliva flew out. Nilin then went in for another punch. Electricity now pulsing from her cybernetic arm. Rolento pressed the bottom of his boot against her stomach and kicked off. Nilin flying back and landing hard on her back, while Rolento fell gently on his ass.

He saw her in the middle of standing up and he saw this as his perfect opportunity. How about a little bit of fragmentation? He then pulled a hand grenade from the strap on his chest. The pin left behind as the explosive was already active. He then calmly and coolly tossed it toward her. And as it landed at her feet she began backflipping away and further from Rolento. That’s right… gain some distance.

*BOOM*

The grenade went off as a dense shadow of dirt stood between them. Or did it? Rolento prepared to continue their fight but when the dust settled Nilin was gone. Confusion seeped from Rolento’s expression. He began combing the are in front of him with a tunnel vision as if he were a guard from Metal Gear Solid. And then with a swift jab to the spine Rolento was met with a literal electric shock that knocked him out. Chris and the others who’d just finished off the Hydra soldiers took note of this.

“What are you doing!? How’re we supposed to get the code now?”

“…” Nilin ignored him as she knelt down next to the unconscious Rolento.

“Wolverine! What’s going on!?” Chris asked as X-23 put her hand on his shoulder.

Wolverine not a care in the world had one sing Adamantium claw unsheathed from his fist. He had been using it to get something out of his teeth. Rocket seeing this he was reminded that he had something in his teeth as he did the same.

Chris had a bead of sweat sliding down his forehead and just was at a loss for words. Both furious and confused by it all.

“Maybe just have a little faith Chris. You trust me right?” X-23 said.

“Yeah…”

“Well I trust Logan. And he said that Nilin’s got this.”

“…”

“Just watch. Wait and see.” She said with a soft smile.

And so they did. They watched as Nilin’s hand began to glow. A digital aura of white & orange half rings began swirling around her wrist. And as she touched upon Rolento’s forehead she touched upon his mind. Learning the code, among other things. The light vanished from her wrists and traveled up to the nape of her neck. She stood up.

“Alright we’re in business.”

Nilin then walked through the small encampment and stepped past unconscious Hydra soldiers. Heading straight for the door. As she arrived she typed in a five digit code as a green light flickered in the keypad. The door then slid open and into the walls. She began walking inside as Wolverine, Rocket, and X-23 followed. Chris stood in place. Surprised.

“…” Nilin turned toward Chris. “Are you coming?”

“Yeah but… how?”

“There is no memory I can’t access. Which is why I now know exactly where we’re going to get to the Hydra Sentinel control room.” Nilin gloated.

“Wow! You can really read someone’s memories?” X-23 asked, giddy with excitement at how cool that sounded. “Could you read even… mine?” She said, less excited at the prospect.

Nilin shared a look with Wolverine. She then turned back to her. “I could. But I wouldn’t dare. Not after last time. Anyway let’s go. We’ve still got a few small obstacles ahead.”

As the group stepped through the door battling could be heard at the southern gates of the fortress. Nilin knew in this moment the battle between the Alliance and the ULTIMATE ALLIANCE had begun. But she paid it no mind. They had a job that needed doing. Once they walked in a ways they made it to the main compound within the walls. Appearing to be a darkly painted office building with several different insignias plastered on its walls. Surrounding it were two sets of chain link fence.

“This should be an easy enough climb. How are you guys with barbed wire?”

Chris had asked that but there was no need. Between Wolverine and X-23 they had already sliced two holes into the fences, cutting them into ribbons. Chris just sighed as they blatantly walked past a security camera.

“So… we’re walking right into view huh?” Chris said as Rocket groaned.

“Gah! Bleh! What a downer Chris!”

Nilin then chimed in with a little more logic and reason then Rocket. “It’s no matter. Rolento already pressed a button in his pocket alarming them that there were intruders. But that’s fine. Most of the enemy forces will be focused on the main attack.”

As they reached another door there was another keypad. Nilin typed in the code but before she pressed enter she looked at X-23. “There are likely two Shadaloo warriors on the other side of this door. Do you got this?”

X-23 shook her head.

Nilin pressed the enter button as the door to the compound began to slide open. But before it had even opened fully X-23 was already full sprint and squeezing through the slightly ajar doorway with her extremely slender figure. Though the Shadaloo warriors had their fists raised it wasn’t enough to prepare them for her blitzkrieg. She had jumped and in on fowl swoop performed a double kick in the air. Knocking the two out. She then scanned the wide hallway.

“Clear!”

The rest of them entered.

“This way!” Nilin ordered.

They began following her down the hall and turned corner after corner. Directions that were seemingly random, but they knew it was all up in Nilin’s head. They kept running until entering a room that had been previously empty in Rolento’s memories. But as they entered this spacious room. They were met with trouble.

“We anticipated you scum might try this!” Sigma yelled. Seth’s new female body standing like a doll beside him. But he wasn’t all. Jill and Barry stood there as well with mind control apparatuses planted on their chests. Their expressions on their faces blank. And accompanying them was a bunch of Hunters. And they were hungry. “Now prepare for our might!”

Chris looked on in horror as X-23 recognized Jill, and sympathized with Chris.

“Barry…” He said. “and Jill!”