Chapter 63: Umbrella's hidden facility.

Everyone stood at the entrance of the Raccoon City Police Department.

Just ahead was the front reception area, enclosed by brown marble tiles and ancient load-bearing stone pillars. Since Malrick's freezing breath hadn't touched the interior, everything inside remained exactly as it had been before the outbreak.

The main hall had a classic, retro design. Wall-mounted lamps embedded in the stone pillars were dusted in gold leaf, casting a warm, sunlit glow across the room.

Behind the reception desk stood a familiar statue—Lady Justice.

Malrick remembered now: this police station used to be a museum. It had been converted into its current form by the chief of police, who'd used the renovations to disguise a hidden Umbrella facility beneath it.

The secret entrance was directly below the Lady Justice statue, accessible by unlocking three stone slabs.

The group moved past the reception desk.

Between the statue and the front counter stood a makeshift emergency room sectioned off with medical dividers. On a stretcher inside lay a man—pale, muscular, his short-cropped hair soaked with sweat. Despite his size, his body temperature was dangerously low.

"He's infected," Bud said immediately, recognizing the symptoms. He leaned in and examined the man's arm. "Bite wound. Still fresh. He's got maybe three hours left. There's still hope."

He glanced at the officers. "But keeping an infected person inside a police station? That's asking for trouble."

He'd seen it too often lately—people dying because they couldn't bring themselves to abandon loved ones who'd already turned.

The three officers, who had just moments ago looked hopeful, suddenly went quiet.

"He's a member of S.T.A.R.S.," Marvin explained. "Brad Vickers. He's important to us."

"We found him in an alley, unconscious. We couldn't just leave him."

"We're the only ones left," Marvin added, voice low. "If he turned... then he turns. But we weren't ready to give up hope. Not yet. And luckily... now you're here. What did you mean by 'there's still hope'?"

The officers turned toward Bud and Malrick, eyes filled with fragile optimism.

"We brought the T-virus vaccine," Malrick said. "It can cure early-stage infections."

He called over Jarvis, who opened a secured case. Inside were three vials of glowing blue virus solution and nine samples of the rose-red vaccine.

"Wait... there's a vaccine for this?" Marvin asked, stunned. "If we had that earlier… maybe our people wouldn't have died."

"Umbrella created the virus," Bud said flatly, "so of course they had a cure too."

He grabbed one of the vaccines and injected it into Brad's arm.

Within seconds, the pallor in Brad's face began to lift. A trace of color returned. The tension in the room eased, just slightly.

"You two clearly have a mission," Elliot said, the middle-aged officer stepping forward. "If you came here to help, then you must've had a reason for coming to the station. Is there anything we can do?"

Malrick walked up to the Lady Justice statue. "There's an Umbrella research facility directly beneath this building."

"I'm going down there to develop a stronger, more stable version of the vaccine."

"You mean…" Elliot's eyes widened. "You're saying the rumors are true? That there's a secret passage under the station? Officer Phillips always believed that. She was right after all... not that she'll ever hear it now."

Malrick gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "You've done your part."

He stepped forward. "Now, clear some space. I'm opening the passage."

The others backed up, watching curiously.

Without a word, Malrick crouched before the statue. Then—like lightning—he struck.

His fist shattered the slab beneath Lady Justice like it was made of plaster. Reinforced stone and steel cracked under his touch like soft clay.

No strain. No flex. Not even tension in his muscles.

He calmly reached beneath the statue's base, lifted, and hoisted the entire statue and its platform with one hand—as if lifting a foam prop.

The others just stared, jaws slack.

It wasn't just impressive. It was inhuman.

Beneath the shattered foundation was a spiral stone staircase, descending into an ornately designed secret room. Even from above, they could see glimpses of polished tile, embedded lights, and signs of advanced tech.

"Damn it," Elliot muttered, holding his head. "That was here the whole time? Right under our feet?"

Marvin's face twisted with fury. "The chief… He was working with Umbrella the whole time."

None of them said a word.

They turned to Malrick. "What now?"

Malrick didn't hesitate. "Start sweeping the surrounding area. Look for survivors. Clear out the remaining infected in the station."

"I've already frozen everything outside. Just focus on cleanup and rescue. Understood?"

Marvin nodded immediately. "You got it. We'll move now."

The three officers gathered their gear, formed up, and headed out.

Malrick turned toward Jarvis. "Clear the remaining infected inside the building."

"Understood, sir." Jarvis's armor blasted off, making its way through each hallway and office.

Twenty minutes later, the Super Mark I returned to the lobby—covered in blood.

A deep claw mark across the chest plate suggested a Licker had ambushed him.

"Mission accomplished, sir," Jarvis reported.

Around the same time, Marvin's team returned—with three survivors.

A man cradled a young girl in his arms, his body shielding hers. Behind him was a striking Asian woman in a red dress and black heels. Her long legs were wrapped in dark tights, and her cold, confident expression was impossible to ignore.

"Mr. Malrick, these are the only survivors we could find," Marvin said with regret. "We searched everything."

"It's alright," Malrick said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Once the new vaccine is ready, we'll save even more."

Elliot gestured toward the man and girl. "This is Robert Kendo—owner of the gun shop behind the station—and his daughter."

He motioned to the woman. "And she was found in an abandoned building—"

"I'm FBI," the woman interrupted, flashing her badge. "Ada Wong. I'm here to investigate Umbrella."

She turned to Malrick. "They say you're the savior. Can you prove that?"

Malrick chuckled. "I'm not here to prove anything."

He'd seen Ada earlier, watching from a rooftop when he froze the entire city block.

She wasn't asking for proof—she was gathering intel.

"I don't care if you're the savior or God himself!" Robert Kendo suddenly roared.

He stepped forward, his daughter still limp in his arms.

"They said you have the vaccine—so give it to me! I'll do whatever you ask!"

Everyone turned to look.

Bud narrowed his eyes. "She's infected."

Malrick stepped closer. "Early-stage infection. We can still save her."

Jarvis, without waiting for orders, retrieved a vial and administered the vaccine into the little girl's arm. She gasped, then slumped into her father's chest.

"Emma? Emma, speak to me…!" Kendo cried. "You—! Wait… your eyes—they're normal again…!"

The vaccine had taken effect. Color returned to her eyes, and the virus was retreating. She wasn't fully conscious yet, but she was safe.

"Good," Malrick said, satisfied. "I like seeing scenes like this. Reminds me of the happy endings they used to put in movies."

He turned and looked toward the hidden staircase.

"New mission," he said without turning back. "Marvin—one of you stays to guard the survivors. The other two are coming with us underground."

Without waiting for a response, Malrick descended the steps with purpose.

Bud and Jarvis followed—one in a lab coat, the other clad in armor—disappearing behind him into the depths of Umbrella's hidden research facility.

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