Sienna Wolfe crouched in the flickering light of a malfunctioning fluorescent bulb, her breathing steady despite the cacophony of growls and moans echoing through the halls of the underground Umbrella facility. The air was stale, tainted with the smell of rot and chemicals, and every corner seemed to hold a secret waiting to devour her.
Her objective was clear: retrieve the encrypted data hidden in Vault Delta. But clarity didn't make it simple. The system interface glimmered in her peripheral vision, displaying the mission briefing.
Mission: Retrieve Encrypted Data from Vault Delta
Objectives: Navigate the Umbrella facility. Neutralize threats. Extract data. Bonus: Avoid alerting the B.O.W.s.
The bonus made her snort softly. Avoid alerting them? Not likely.
She adjusted the suppressor on her custom HK416, its weight reassuring in her hands. Her ammo count was dwindling, but she'd learned how to make every shot count. This wasn't about spray and pray—it was about precision, efficiency, and survival.
Descent into Hell
The hallway ahead was dimly lit, broken only by the occasional burst of sparks from exposed wires. Sienna checked her inventory, her system highlighting key items:
14 rounds of 5.56mm.3 incendiary grenades.1 combat knife, dulled but still deadly. Prototype railgun: Warning: High stamina drain.
She tucked the railgun's handle tighter against her back, knowing it was her last resort.
The first threat came quickly—a pair of Lickers clinging to the walls, their elongated tongues flicking out like grotesque whips. Sienna froze, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She adjusted her stance, slipping into the controlled breathing her assassin training had drilled into her.
Click.
The silenced rifle fired, the first round finding the nearest Licker's brain. The second snarled, its claws scraping against the metal wall as it lunged. Sienna rolled forward, her blade flashing in the dim light as she slashed at its exposed muscles. The creature screeched, writhing in agony before collapsing in a heap.
The system pinged in her vision:
Threat Neutralized. XP Gained: 200.
She exhaled, adrenaline coursing through her veins.
The facility's map was burned into her memory, thanks to the system. She reached Vault Delta without incident, but her instincts screamed at her to stay vigilant. The reinforced steel door loomed ahead, its locking mechanism flashing red.
Objective Update: Hack the security terminal to access Vault Delta.
Sienna pulled out a hacking device from her inventory—a sleek, Umbrella-grade tool scavenged from a fallen operative. The interface was annoyingly complex, and as she worked, the echoes of distant growls seemed to draw closer.
"Come on," she muttered, fingers flying over the controls.
The lock disengaged with a satisfying hiss just as the sound of heavy footsteps rumbled down the corridor. She slipped inside and sealed the door behind her, her heart hammering.
Vault Delta was more than just a data storage room. Rows of cryo-chambers lined the walls, each containing grotesque, half-formed creatures. The faint hum of machinery filled the air, punctuated by the occasional beep of status updates on the monitors.
Sienna's eyes narrowed as she approached the main console. The encrypted data glowed faintly on the screen, the system interface displaying its importance:
Umbrella File #341: Project Catalyst
Contents: Evidence of targeted experimentation on high-functioning operatives .Encryption Level: Ultra.
She inserted a data chip into the console, her system working to bypass the layers of security.
The interface pinged another warning:
Alert: Vault Security Activated.
The cryo-chambers hissed as their locks disengaged. One by one, the creatures stirred to life—mutated horrors with jagged claws, pulsating veins, and soulless eyes.
Sienna didn't panic. She stepped back, positioning herself near an overturned table for cover. Her rifle barked softly as she took down the first two creatures with precise headshots.
The remaining three charged, their grotesque forms fast despite their size. She hurled an incendiary grenade into their midst, the explosion illuminating the room in a fiery glow. The creatures shrieked, their bodies writhing as flames consumed them.
XP Gained: 600. Bonus Objective Failed.
The last one—a hulking brute with an exposed spine—surged through the fire, its claws swiping wildly. Sienna dodged, her knife flashing as she stabbed it in the neck. It roared, swinging its massive arm and sending her crashing into a console.
Dazed, she scrambled for her rifle, but the brute was already closing in. Gritting her teeth, she reached for the railgun.
The weapon hummed as it charged, draining her stamina with every second. The brute lunged just as she pulled the trigger. A beam of pure energy ripped through its chest, obliterating it in a spray of blood and tissue.
Sienna collapsed to her knees, gasping for air.
The console beeped, signaling the data transfer was complete. Sienna yanked the chip free and staggered toward the exit. Her system flashed a critical alert:
Incoming Threat: Tyrant-Class B.O.W.
She cursed under her breath, gripping her rifle tightly. The ground trembled, and the door exploded inward, revealing the towering form of a Tyrant. Its lifeless eyes locked onto her, and it began its relentless march forward.
Sienna fired, her rounds barely slowing the creature. She darted to the side, using the cryo-chambers as cover. The Tyrant's massive fist smashed through one, sending shards of glass and fluid flying.
Her system highlighted weak points on the creature: its heart and brain. But the armor-like tissue covering its chest made a direct shot nearly impossible.
She improvised.
Grabbing the last incendiary grenade, she set it to a delayed detonation and threw it at the Tyrant's feet. As it advanced, she lured it into position, then fired at a gas pipe overhead.
The explosion engulfed the room, the force hurling Sienna against the wall. When the smoke cleared, the Tyrant lay motionless, its charred body twitching sporadically.
Sienna limped out of the vault, the encrypted data chip secure in her pack. Her system displayed the mission summary:
Mission Complete: Retrieve Encrypted Data from Vault Delta.
XP Gained: 1200.New Objective: Deliver data to an Umbrella resistance cell.
She allowed herself a brief moment to breathe, her mind already racing. The encrypted files weren't just about the outbreak—they were about her.
Why did Umbrella bring me here?
The question lingered as she disappeared into the shadows, ready to face whatever horrors awaited next.