Clouds of smoke and ash billowed in torrents to the sky as the three lay in the frigid snow of the outside world. Through the obsidian haze the sun burned its visage into the eyes and skin of those below it. Their flesh prickled and reeled at the warmth of one that had gone unseen for too long.

Shielding his eyes, Sebastian bought himself up to his knees. His pale white skin ached from the unrelenting sun beating down on him resolute in its cause. Blinking away the afterimages in his vision he looked to see if he was alone in his escape. Before him two still forms lay face down in the thick snow.

Pulling his face from the frozen powder Kazama winced as his bones ached from their fall. The three had been thrown from the evacuation tunnel by the force of its collapse sending them tumbling down the frigid slopes of the harsh mountainside. Kazama’s eyes fluttered and stung as he looked towards the long absent sun.

Patches of grass breached through the iridescent snow as their fragile shoots cradled and began to wrap around Ava’s hand. The soft caress of the land rose up to meet her as longer and thicker shoots and vines began to surround and cradle her. The black in her veins began to drain away as her eyes flickered open.

With a sharp inhale Ava sat up sending the assembly of foliage retreating away from her. The noise drew the eyes of Sebastian and Kazama as they began to push themselves up from the ground. Through the ringing in his ears Sebastian heard the soft sound of approaching footfalls crunching in the snow.

Before him stood a figure shrouded in a discarded black canvass taken from an abandoned transport vehicle. Its pale bare feet stood inches from his face as Sebastian began to look up. Whilst the fabric had done much to cover the figures body its familiar fiery red pupils shone from the curtain of darkness that shrouded the figures face.

“Don't follow” two voices spoke intertwined as the figures piercing eyes stared down. its tone was not of malice but of compassion. It conveyed an aura of peace despite its intimidating presence. “Let us help you zero” Ava breathlessly spoke as she trudged through the thick snow towards them.

Snapping his head to her subject zero took off running down the slope. Its makeshift cover flapped in the wind as it approached impossible speeds in its descent. Following it with her eyes Ava saw a plume of dust thrown up by a convoy of fleeing vehicles. Heavy military vehicles tore through the mountain pass as subject zero drew closer.

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The sound of twisting metal and terrified screams echoed through the valley as subject zero leapt onto the rear vehicle. Its claws tore through the roof of the vehicle grabbing a man inside and throwing him high into the air. His screams suddenly stopped as he met the trail with a loud thud.

Screeching to a halt the remaining members of the convoy exited their vehicles as they took aim and began to open fire. With a raised hand subject zero remained unfazed as every bullet stopped and floated in the air before it. With a flick of its fingers the rounds flew back littering the vehicles and men as each fell to the floor.

Walking towards the back of a jeep the shrouded subject zero ripped the rear door from its hinges. The sound of buckling metal did little to drown out the pleas of the scientist inside. The man quivered in fear as subject zero dragged him outside. He kicked and screamed and punched at subject zero’s towering frame as he was dragged towards the edge of the trail.

The trail gave way to a sheer cliff plagued with jagged ice formed by the turbulent winds of the mountains. Held by his lab jacket the scientist hit and punched against subject zero’s arm in an attempt to get free. With his feet dangling over the edge he looked into the fiery red eyes of his captor. “Himmel” the intertwined voices spoke once more as they began to loosen their grip.

The scientist looked to his left at the visage of a gleaming city far in the distance away from the mountains. Its tall building reflected the morning sun as it rose higher into the sky. “Where?” the twin voices growled as they barked their question. With a quivering voice the scientist spoke as he gripped onto subject zero’s arm.

“Nextech has an office building in shibuya. He's there if he's anywhere. He has an office on the ground floor and there is a panic room bunker in the basement. He's gotta be there.” the unrelenting wind tore back subject zero’s makeshift hood as Sebastian, Ava and Kazama caught up to the two.

Heavily scarred and with long black crimson tipped hair flowing in the wind, subject zero held the scientist over the cliff as it turned its head to look at the group. Ava reached out a hand “zero please. We want to help you. They hurt us too, we want the sa….” Ava’s pleas were cut off by screams as subject zero released his grip.

Raising its hands it pulled back its long hair. In one swift swipe its claws passed through its hair letting it fly off in the wind. Its now shortened mane fell forward as its tips turned to deep crimson. Its burning eyes narrowed as it glared towards Ava. “do not follow.” the twin voices ordered as subject zero nodded upwards.

Ava’s body flew backwards crashing into a thick mound of snow. Subject Zero raised its makeshift hood and began walking down the trail. Rushing to help Ava, Sebastian and Kazama did not notice as it disappeared into the distance. Pulling her from the snow, Sebastian looked towards the city in the distance.

“We know where it's going.” the three stood side by side as they looked at an undamaged jeep left vacant in the road. In a flash of memory Sebastian recalled a photo he had seen in months long past. The face in the picture burned itself into his mind like hot coals on flesh.

“I know his name”