Trouble with Resident Evil: Code Veronica?

I'm in the palace, I just got shot at by this crazy dude (NOT Steve) and Steve ran off with the golden guns I need to open that one door. What do I do? Where did Steve go? How do I get the guns from him? When is Claire's brother coming, or Leon or whoever? What do the Red Herbs do? Where can I find more Green Herbs? What do I put where there's water and it says there's an octagonal hollow? Indigo plate shaped like a hexagon? Silver plate? Gold plate? If you can answer any of these, even one, please help me! I've been playing for two hours straight and I have no ink ribbons, and don't want to lose all my progress because that would suck big time. Please Help!