Chapter 96: The Creature That Should Have Vanished

October 14, 2000.

Kenya, Africa.

Fifty kilometers northeast of the capital Nairobi, Umbrella's African base is located here.

Local time: 11:17.

A tilt‑wing transport aircraft resembling a V‑22 Osprey, but two sizes larger, suddenly deactivated its Optical Camouflage, appearing as if from nowhere within the African base's view.

Umbrella's next‑gen transport aircraft, the Yuyou.

Wang Zhaofeng's advanced R&D team, based on the Ghost Space Carrier's nuclear engine and incorporating technology from the Mark Six, refined it and by early March 2000 had developed a new generation lightweight engine.

Umbrella had a next‑gen transport aircraft program as early as the early 1990s, but the lack of an effective solution for the "heart" engine left the project stranded.

The first prototype of the Yuyou was built by the Eastern European Manufacturing Plant and completed its maiden flight on May 30, 2000.

In July, Umbrella's Armed Division placed an initial order for twelve units with the Eastern European Manufacturing Plant, and the Yuyou entered preliminary mass production.

The crew consists of three: two pilots and a gunner.

A 25 mm chain gun with a pulsed mechanism sits beneath the nose, using 25 mm caseless pulse rounds; the wings can mount corresponding bombs and missiles.

As a transport, the cabin can carry forty fully armed troops or 170 tons of cargo.

Additionally, the Yuyou boasts excellent sealing and a complete life‑support system, theoretically capable of breaching the dispersal layer directly.

At this moment.

The Yuyou's twin rotating engines shift from flight mode to a slow state.

It lowers altitude, hovers over the base, and, guided by the tower and ground crew, descends vertically onto the base's landing pad.

The rear hatch opens, allowing passengers to exit the cabin.

The first to step out are members of the Caron Task Force, dressed in black short‑sleeve shirts and desert‑camouflage combat pants.

Familiar faces like Jill, Marini and Barry show little change.

Yet their eyes are resolute, indicating they are no longer the special police of old but elite MTF.

And Chris has changed the most…

His muscles bulge so the black short‑sleeve looks about to burst, his neck is barely visible, and his demeanor seems even more detached.

If Sui Bian were to comment, he'd say he can see at a glance that Chris has already reached his peak.

Mentioning Sui Bian.

Now he is dressed in a white polo shirt and gray casual pants, walking out of the Yuyou together with Alekxia, who wears jeans and a white lab coat, feeling the African heat and blazing sun.

Trailing the two are ten "muscle men" dressed like the Caron crew, each an astonishing 1.9 meters tall on average.

In fact, these "muscle men" are only thirteen or fourteen years old, young Astates in their growth phase.

Nine months ago they underwent G‑gland implantation, consume at least 7,000 kcal daily, and before sleep receive injections of nutrition supplements derived from super‑soldier serum.

If they continue this trajectory through growth and undergo a second enhancement before adulthood, their height will not be less than three meters.

After Sui Bian and the others depart, ground crew who have been waiting operate small forklifts, entering the cabin one by one to remove heavy equipment crates.

The young Astates walk along the airport perimeter road, curiously looking around, clearly fascinated by Africa's environment and the Kenyan base.

Although they received top‑tier education at Mother Nest, learning about global climates and characteristics, they still retain childlike hearts and clearly are eager to explore any new thing.

At this point.

Robert, walking to Sui Bian's left rear, glanced at the equipment crates being carried away by the ground crew, then turned back and asked in a low voice:

"Father, what are we here to prepare for?"

Hearing this, John, walking to Sui Bian's right rear alongside Robert, also displayed a hopeful expression that Sui Bian would clarify for them.

"You've been cooped up in Mother Nest for almost a year, only playing around Raccoon City. This time we brought you to Africa to escape Raccoon City's winter—so, a winter trip, haha."

Sui Bian chuckled.

"Hahaha! I knew Father wanted to take us out to play! I win! When we get back, each of you give me a bag of snacks!"

"You're almost out of muscle, what snacks do you need?"

"Bro, ease up on the eating."

A group of young Astates burst into a lively uproar, the atmosphere cheerful, seemingly free of the previous confusion and unease.

"."

Seeing the scene, John said nothing, but his mouth twitched upward into a faint smile.

"Father, stop joking," Robert, the oldest, said with a hint of helplessness, shaking his head.

Nine months of living, studying, training, and playing together have deepened the bonds among Robert, John and the other young Astates.

Putting aside the G‑gland's influence, the Astates sincerely call Sui Bian "father."

After finishing courses and training, whenever Sui Bian has free time, he will take them to a large mall in Raccoon City for shopping and movies, or to suburban amusement parks for rides.

As orphans, they have never experienced a "grown‑up" like a father to guide them through a proper childhood.

Even though leisure time is brief and Sui Bian seldom says caring words, they already regard him as a father.

"Hehe, fine, no more jokes," Sui Bian said with a light laugh. "Taking you out to see the world is real; soon you'll know what to do."

"Yes," Robert nodded.

Next.

The group rode in a Hummer convoy driven by security, heading into the base and straight to a two‑story Bio‑Experiment Building.

Entering the bio building, they went to the second floor, passed a decontamination corridor, and arrived at an isolation observation room.

Through the northern isolation floor‑to‑ceiling window, they saw a laboratory on the other side.

Three technicians in white one‑piece hazmat suits surrounded the central operating table, dissecting the creature lying there.

Everyone approached the isolation window, finally observing the creature's appearance clearly.

Dinosaur?

Upon seeing the creature, everyone's first impression was that it was a dinosaur.

It was under two meters long, with a lizard-like head, a slender tail, short forelimbs, and other features that very much matched the velociraptor they knew.

Chris and the Charon task force members showed little surprise, whereas Robert, John, and the Astate members were somewhat puzzled.

Dinosaurs obviously went extinct 65 million years ago; why would they suddenly appear on the African continent?

(End of chapter)