Chapter 4

Apart from the characters in the plot and Chu Ci, almost all the newcomers' breathing became rapid!

The T virus, officially named "Tyrant-Virus," is a new type of RNA virus. It has been enhanced to recombine biological genetic factors, a demonic product created by the Umbrella Corporation for the purpose of developing biological weapons. However, most organisms cannot adapt to its mutagenic properties and become terrifying monsters. Moreover, secondary infections caused by it lead to various biological mutations.

For humans, those with a constitution capable of withstanding the virus's power are extremely rare, with only one in several million.

In the movie plot, the only person who can fully carry the T virus is undoubtedly Alice. Others, including Angela and Wesker, rely on the virus serum to mitigate the effects of the T virus, essentially using it in an incomplete form.

Injecting the virus serum turns one into a superhero with abilities like rapid healing, super speed, dynamic vision, and telekinesis, and in this plot world, one would no longer fear the most dangerous T virus infection.

Various temptations attract the newcomers. If it weren't for the cautionary tale of the high school student, many would likely try to trick the STARS team into giving them the T virus and the serum.

Chu Ci, though nearsighted and without glasses, was not deaf. He could tell how excited and agitated the newcomers were when they saw the metal box.

This is a treasure! Chu Ci was certain.

If it weren't valuable, these informed individuals wouldn't be so excited.

Chu Ci is 29 years old, a middle-aged man who has seen much of the world and met many people. While he can't read minds, he can distinguish between flattery and greed.

Flattery, he observed from the high school student and others' treatment of Alice. Greed, he saw in the burning gaze when the box appeared, as if it heated the air!

"Sir, this person has also been affected by the neurotoxin and is unconscious," the medic said, parting the man's eyelids and checking with a flashlight before taking measures to revive him.

Alice stared at the unconscious man, her head throbbing with pain as fragments of memory flashed by: a wedding, flowers, blessings...

The stubbled chin, the chiseled face, Alice had to admit, this was...

"A strong and charming man, suitable for some proud women who need a sense of conquest," Chu Ci suddenly said, echoing Alice's thoughts. Ignoring her strange look, Chu Ci, under the captain's warning gaze, squatted in front of the now-awake protagonist and main antagonist, Spencer Park, and asked, "Are you okay? Do you remember your name?"

"I... I don't know, my head hurts," Spencer said, quickly frowning as his head throbbed.

"He has amnesia, like the other victims," the medic said, judging from the dilation of Spencer's pupils that his response was reflexive. He gave a safety signal to Captain James Schade that only they understood.

At this moment, Kaplan, responsible for electronic warfare, also retrieved Spencer's identity, confirming he was a security guard at the Hive base, like Alice.

"Since we have some time, please inform us of the situation, including our identities, location, and your positions and functions."

The real cycle world is not like a movie, where a 120-minute plot covers a few hours or even years. The electric train from the suburban emergency exit to the Hive base under Raccoon City, 20 kilometers away, takes at least half an hour.

Therefore, when Chu Ci, despite the other newcomers' skepticism, had settled and comforted Spencer, he then asked James a very annoying question.

"You and I are employed by the same boss—the Umbrella Corporation. We both work for it." Perhaps also bored, James did not treat Chu Ci coldly like the high school student. Instead, he waved Kaplan over and had him retrieve everyone's information.

"You are Chu Ci, the company's cybersecurity manager. The others are white-collar workers, electricians, and that brat is a spoiled second-generation leader..." James glanced strangely at the high school student and continued, "Because it was his birthday yesterday, all Chinese Americans in the Hive base were invited to celebrate, which saved you."

Chu Ci, though he had a general idea of the plot from others, was still unclear: "Saved us?"

"Yes, 5 hours ago, the Hive base activated the emergency system, turning the entire base into a dead zone," James explained, while Kaplan demonstrated on a tactical computer. The screen showed the Hive base's gates locked by electronic locks, with some areas filled in red, indicating they were sealed.

"Good heavens!" Alice gasped, incredulous.

"The place we came down to is the Hive base's emergency exit. Alice and Spencer are both security personnel for the emergency exit," James continued. "This is a simulated map of the Hive base. 'Mansion' is the code name for the villa where you were found. From there, we took the electric train to the underground facility code-named 'Hive.' The Hive is located 800 feet underground in the center of Raccoon City, a highly confidential research facility owned and operated by the Umbrella Corporation. It has over 500 technicians, scientists, and support staff who live, work, and research underground. Their research is extremely important and classified, and I don't have the clearance to view it. Our mission is to shut down the Hive's main control computer, extract its motherboard, and retrieve the valuable data inside."

Alice was bewildered. She didn't care about the gains and losses of these large entities. She stroked a wedding ring on her finger and murmured, "How do you explain this?"

Spencer, seeing this, subconsciously touched his left hand, where there was an identical ring.

James nodded and said, "It's fake. You are not married. It's a cover to protect the Hive's secrets."

Bang!

The electric train arrived at the station! The screeching brakes activated the sound-controlled lights, and the white lights illuminated the vast underground space. The platform was filled with shipping containers, like a half-abandoned construction site.

James stopped the pointless chat, no longer explaining, and quickly formed a tactical formation with the others. The medic held a pistol at the rear, controlling everyone, and the metal box containing the T virus was carried by the medic.

The other six members of the STARS team quickly crossed the container area, confirmed it was safe, and led the group to the security door.

"Kaplan, open the door," James glanced at the security door, his left hand making a defensive gesture. Kaplan approached with a handheld device and began to try to hack it.

Chu Ci stroked his chin and suggested, "I think a brute-force approach would be better."

James looked at Chu Ci in surprise but did not give an order.

"Hey, what are you trying to do? Let them handle it," Zhong Ziyun stepped forward, tugging on Chu Ci's shirt and whispering a reminder.

"I just think it's unnecessary to waste time here," Chu Ci explained. "Generally, in emergency shelters or escape routes, the security doors are rarely designed with permission codes or electronic locks."

"But wouldn't that allow anyone to enter and exit freely?"

"That's common sense. If there were a password, and the command staff were all dead, the people inside would be left to die," Chu Ci pointed at Kaplan and continued, "A purely mechanical safety door only needs a hand valve inside. It might be possible to open it from the outside, but not by entering a password."

Just as Chu Ci had forcibly explained, Kaplan cooperated perfectly.

"Sir, the core is locked, and the input keys are a trap. Only a brute-force approach will work."

James looked at Chu Ci seriously, deepening his respect. He waved his left hand, and Kaplan and Rain switched positions. The tough woman Rain picked up a welding torch and started working, taking several minutes to remove the lock.

The main door gradually opened under the airlock control. Looking inside, it was pitch black, and the group could see nothing but darkness. James gestured to a team member, "JD, be on guard! Rain, control the rear, Mei, check the air composition."

"Sir, it's secure!"

"Sir, the toxic components have dissipated, and the gas index is within the safe range."

"Sir, the elevator is damaged and cannot be repaired."

This team, the elite of the STARS, controlled the atrium in one minute, confirmed safety in three minutes, and activated the backup power supply, restoring the main floor's electricity.

The atrium was not large, and as the power was restored, it gradually brightened. The windows on the walls revealed the scenery between the city's high-rise buildings. The sun was bright, and the sky was clear, a beautiful and peaceful scene that was hard to imagine in a place 800 feet underground.

"Amazing!" The newcomers, who had only seen it in the movie, were genuinely surprised. The white-collar worker Shang Manxue and the nouveau riche were slightly more restrained, not showing too much surprise. Chu Ci glanced at the windows, recognizing the 3D technology used, and showed no surprise.

"Working in such an environment must be more comfortable," Matt couldn't help but look around and comment.

All these reactions were observed by Rain, who was at the rear of the group.

"Sir, the route has been repaired, and the new path is confirmed. We are running out of time," Kaplan reported, having redesigned the route and immediately informed James.

"It looks like we'll have to take the fire stairs," JD whistled, slinging his rifle.

"Ten minutes, we need to reach the lower level. Everyone, follow closely!" James frowned, glancing at the 'burdens' but did not change his decision.

The physical fitness of the STARS team was naturally excellent, maintaining tactical formation while advancing rapidly, protecting all sides.

Alice, after entering the Hive base, was also infected with the T virus in the air. The virus silently combined with her cells, slowly improving her constitution.

As for Spencer and Matt, they were tall, muscular Western men with some foundation, so running was not much of a problem, except for their heavy breathing.

The remaining outsiders, except for the middle-aged laborer who was used to physical work, were all out of breath, their pace varying.

Halfway through, Kaplan's tactical computer detected the monitoring signal from the Hive's main control computer and loudly warned, "Sir, we have been locked onto by Red Queen. She is monitoring us throughout."

"Who is Red Queen?"

The heroine is tough. While Chu Ci and the others were panting and struggling to keep up, she still had the energy to speak.

"The top AI, the best artificial intelligence system in the world, the master of the entire Hive," James, with a higher tolerance for beautiful women, answered.

Artificial intelligence? Is it quantum computing, cloud computing, or fuzzy computing? Is it program priority or execution priority?

If he weren't so exhausted, feeling as if his lungs were being drained, Chu Ci would have discussed the differences between artificial intelligence and simulated intelligence with James.

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