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Chapter Text

East Coast…..December 2012

"How long this time?"

Chris peered down at the crown of raven that was splayed across his chest. Further down a slender leg was lazily draped over his solid ones. Alex was absently running her finger in random patterns across the ripples of his torso. She did that when something weighed on her mind and Chris knew what had triggered this latest bout. The warmth of her bare skin penetrated into his as the weight of her body pressed against his side. Her tone was inquisitive, absent of melancholy. She had grown accustomed to Chris being called away to the darkest corners of the world over these past several years, fighting the fragments of Umbrella or whatever splinter group had emerged from the ashes. Alex understood what she was getting involved with when she stepped into Chris Redfield's life: Undetermined amounts of time being deployed, the gaps between calls or emails, the secrecy, and not knowing when but if Chris would return alive. But he had returned every time and that was what mattered the most. Seeing him in one piece, healthy and breathing.

I'm coming back…..I pro-

Don't say it if you can't keep it.

I wouldn't say if I didn't. I promise I will come home.

"I wish I could say," he regretted his answer but it was truth. They never knew when they would complete the mission. Sometimes it could be as little as a week to three or four months. Chris hated leaving her behind but Alex was persistent, refusing to walk away from him; from them. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and countless other occasions missed because of his absence. Alex would write it off, claiming to understand as it was merely a day on the calendar. But Chris knew better. He could see the pain in her eyes when she spoke with that unwavering tone. It was that fire in her soul that drew him to her in the first place and it was that same fire that made him love her that much more with each day.

"Figures," she sighed and lifted her chin until it was nestled at the tip of his sternum. The wide pools of Caribbean blue shimmered in the cool glow of the pathetic lamp. "Where to this time?" Her lips pressed into a tight thin line.

"Edonia," Chris whispered. His hand sought her out, caressing the lightly damp cheek. The specks of sweat pebbled against her back, a visible reminder of their fervent love making. Before he would depart on a mission, they wouldn't leave the confines of the small but comfortable bedroom for hours if not a day. His hands would greedily explore and claim her willing body, recommitting every curve, freckle, and furrow of her form. A few bruises would surface on the juts of her hips, her collarbone, neck, and inner thigh but her body would quickly recover. It was as if they were preparing for the unspoken. The scent of her skin would saturate his senses staying fresh in his mind even when they were hip deep in biohazards. Marco would sometimes tease the Captain when the vacant stare would surface in his eyes where hours before the steel glare of a hardened warrior had inhabited those same rich rings.

Hey guys! Look at the Captain! Oh look…Look he's blushing!

Chris would feel the burning in his ears and cheeks as Ben, Carl, Andy, Keaton, Piers, and Jeff chimed in followed with an uproar of laughter from all seven men. Finn would merely smile and look away, the rookie shaking his head at his fellow team's gentle jabs.There were times he swore the flights back were taking longer than necessary. He wondered if the pilots weren't in on it sometimes. But it was all in good fun and after annihilating Umbrella's creations it was warranted; even if it was at Chris's expense. Then later back at camp, behind the rigid canvas that was his temporary home, Chris would flip open the left breast pocket of his vest, retrieving the crinkled but brilliant picture of Alex. He had taken it in the fall, at the coast, at the Cape Hatteras lighthouse in North Carolina. It had been during leave and Alex had pestered him about going to the shore, clamoring to see the ocean. Chris had been hesitant but Alex had her methods of persuasion, specifically the mind blowing blow job which was followed up her fulfilling a fantasy of his which involved them, a blanket and the clearing in the park adjacent to their apartment. Chris could've died a happy man that night.

"Where the Hell is that?" She snorted humorlessly shattering his momentary drift upon memory bliss. The image of her naked breasts teased his vision as he shut his eyes and rejoined reality.

"It's some piece of shit country that broke away from Russia."

"Nice way of putting it," she quietly chuckled and snuggled tighter against him. Chris felt the pressure of her lips against the center of his chest as she pressed a light kiss to the damp patch of sandy silk. Her ear rested atop his chest now, picking up the steady rhythm of his heart. It was a song she would never tire of listening to.

"They discovered bio-weapons in the area. Someone supplied the Edonian Liberation Army with a sample."

"When will they learn?" Her tone morphed into a bitter note as she felt the invisible wounds dispatch a pang of pain.

"I wish I knew Lexi," Chris used his pet name for his lover.

"You would think after….." The words drifted off as Alex's tongue refused to move and went limp at the bottom of her mouth. Though she was outwardly strong, a fractured psyche rested beneath the façade. Her fists clenched the sheet until the tips of her knuckles matched the fabric clutched fiercely in her grip as her lips twitched closer to a hateful snarl. Heat built between her fingers and inside her palm as the pressure heightened around the thin material. Her pulse quickened as her heart pummeled her sternum. Chris instinctively draped his arms around her with a leg across hers for added security hoping it would placate her. Even now after seven years Alex couldn't be free of the horrors of the past. The icy tendrils of their demons continued to emerge from the shadows when she dared to grant herself a moment's reprieve. The world had turned a blind eye to the hot spots of biohazards, as long as it wasn't in their back yard who gave a shit? It was always some ass backwards hard to pronounce country or breakaway republic where violence and death held hands on a regular basis which didn't raise any red flags; yet. For now the civilized world simply refused to pay heed and carry on in their spheres of personal dramas and materialistic dreams. Look the other way as they said.

It had been when the epicenters of humanity and civilization shifted into hot beds of biohazard attacks that the world finally took notice; not that there were those who had seen the writing on the wall since the Mansion incident but their shouts and prophecies of the world approaching the end game. Their pleas were blocked out much like Cassandra had been shunned before the Greeks destroyed Troy.

"Come here," he nudged her gently. Alex slipped out of his hold, climbing up his side until his shoulder met her ear and cheek. She clung against him like a person clutching a life preserver in stormy seas, fearing if she let go she would be lost.

"I'm sorry," her voice couldn't climb higher than a hoarse whisper.

"Don't be," Chris tilted his chin downward so his eyes could catch hers. Tears were pricking the corners of her eyes despite her best efforts to stem them. His thumb brushed over the edge of each, sweeping away the offensive droplets. It broke his heart to see her remain in a state of perpetual fear. It wasn't right! Alex had not known peace of mind or soul or body since. But yet again none of them had. Jill continued to be a part of the B.S.A.A. but remained stateside. Leon had gone on to be an agent with the Division of Security Operations after the events in Raccoon City. It seemed he was their kind of man. Chris had been promoted to Captain within the B.S.A.A. getting a new squad including a young balls on accurate marksman by the name of Piers Nivans. Alex had commented in passing he was a lot like Chris when they had first met. Even Jill and Claire had sided with Alex noting the striking similarities between the two men.

"Will it ever end?" She sighed heavily wondering if any of them would ever have a chance to live without the looming threat of a bio-weapon attack at any moment. Chris responded by locking his solid arms harder and tighter. With every mission he was left with the exact question. Umbrella had been destroyed but its legacy continued.

Damn you Spencer…

Damn you Wesker…

His voice would curse the two who brought about the dark days. Spencer's greed and Wesker's hubris and ambitions had assured the world would never be the same. Alex had placed significant blamed the government and their hawkish agenda. It was because of them and other governments like them that Umbrella experimented and created the hellish biohazards that had risen up. The demand had been waved in front of the corporation like meat being waved in front of a hungry dog.

Just because they were able to wash their hands of the mess doesn't mean shit! The blood of thousands of victims stains their hands still. I hope they all burn in HELL!

"Someday it will Lexi but for now we have to continue fighting. A future without fear…."

"My selfless Chris….Always ready to fight another day."

"I hate it when I have to leave you."

"Chris," she reached out cupping the side of her face, guiding it towards her. Chris peered into the deep pools of turquoise which had locked with his displaying seriousness. "I understand what I was getting all the way back to the first time you talked to me. If all of this fighting and blood and tears means we will have a life without fear then it's worth it."

"But it doesn't make it any less harder on you. Men like me don't make the best husbands or boyfriends."

"You've told me that over a million times too and yet I'm still here." Her lips crept up into a sweet smile which Chris couldn't but help to mirror. "I know you're scared Chris and it's alright to be scared."

"It's not that Lexi," Chris shortly shook his head. "It's just I don't like leaving you here alone, wondering and waiting to see if I'm coming back."

"What are you saying?" She tensed up feeling her breath freeze in her lungs as they constricted inside their bony confines. Her mouth quivered and eyes welled. "Chris….please….."

She felt her heart slamming against her sternum as trepidation slithered into her mind. Alex's hands trembled as she felt her body and mind preparing for the worst. This was it.

"Lexi," Chris let out a short gasp as he saw her frightening reaction to his words. "Lexi, no, that's not what I meant! God my words came out wrong…..."

He sat up pulling her into his lap. Alex straddled his hips as his hands planted on hers. A few strands had broken away and slipped across her nose. Chris captured the loose tresses and tucked them behind her ear. His hand didn't break contact and journeyed down and along the defined break of her jaw before traveling the road that was her neck and shoulder then backtracked across the throbbing intersection of her pulse, pausing to take in the vibration that teased his fingertips. He extended his other hand, brushing off the gathering deluge.

"I'm not leaving you," he whispered. "You're right, I am scared."

"And it's alright to be afraid Chris." Chris caught the movement of her hands from the corners of his eyes as the soft attentive pair ran up the outer parts of his arms, feeling the solid waves of muscle flutter beneath her touch. She leaned in letting her lips run across the outer shell of his ear not missing the faint gasp breaking his slightly parted lips. The emotions between them charged the air with a desperate need to touch, feel, and taste one another.

"But tonight set your fears aside," she breathed into his ear. Chris just nodded and tilted his head back letting the the desire and lust that simmered in his lower body take over. Alex glided her hands over his chest then down the sharp cuts of his abs, letting her fingertips be the only part to touch. Chris groaned at the welcomed sensation, closing his eyes and offering his neck and shoulders for her to take. Alex leaned in, tasting the salt that dashed his skin. Her tongue darted from behind her lips and teeth, imprinting his skin with an invisible trail. Chris could only groan and bucked his hips sharply to hers. His rigid erection rubbing against her, smearing the beads of pre-come along her receptive flesh.

Alex felt his calloused hands curling around her hips, lifting her up then impaling her on his twitching member, pushing her down until he was balls deep inside. The hot velvet walls embraced Chris, coating his cock with the sweet essence of his lover. Another feeling he would miss: The fluttering of rubbing and milking of her body against him as she steadily rode him or when lay on top, their bodies linked in such an intimate way. Her hips thrust upward then slid back eliciting a deep lustful gasp from his lips. Alex leaned forward, bracing her arms against the solid oak headboard, angling her hips deeper still. His eyes glazed over, watching her ride him. Always a beautiful sight to behold.

"God…." He whispered as the smallest tilt sent shivers down his spine. "Lexi….please…."

"Just let go." She quickened her pace, snapping harder and faster. The bulbous head of his cock massaged the precious gathering of nerves and flesh, causing her lower body to tingle and contract. Chris looked up to see her eyes half closed with mouth forming into a circle. She was drawing close…..so so close…..

He wanted to see it when she cried out his name, the moment she would be awash in euphoria and rapture. He wanted to see and hear his name flowing from her mouth.

"Chris…." She clenched the solid frame and surrendered. Chris arched his back, pressing their intertwined bodies closer together. Fuck she felt so good! Alex continued to writhe on top of him, feeling the flood of golden honey coating him, marking him as hers. The squeezing of her body against his throbbing cock only hurled him faster to climax.

"Mmm," he hummed, never letting his eyes waver from her. She was beautiful perched on top of him. Her breasts bounced lightly against her chest with the erect buds protruding from their flush hiding places. Her skin was glowing in sweat and sex with the feral look that dominated her eyes. "So good to me…."

The coiling that had been small increased until it couldn't be ignored. Chris pounded his hips, filling the air with hard smacks of skin against skin, fingers digging into skin. Alex thrust downward, hearing his pants and moans gathering in intensity as Chris neared. A tiny grinned crossed her lips, a few sharp snaps of her hips deepening his ecstasy.

"That's it….." She growled seductively. "I love feeling you cum inside. Ngh…"

The thick heat that sprayed her body's walls was heavenly. Chris felt his body exploding, purging the tension. The hot ropes of semen rushed deeper into his lover's body, penetrating every space of flesh possible. Alex felt him spilling from the slick stretched entrance, dribbling onto the heated swollen folds and inner thighs.

Alex panted hard as the last flux left her body. Her eyes lifted open and landed on the the brunette beneath her. Chris grinned as she struggled to catch her breath. He wrestled her hands free of the headboard allowing the blood to rush back to the numb digits and joints. Alex caught the gnarled position of her hands and quickly shook them loose. She didn't notice any pain or loss of feeling but now the burning resumed.

"You okay?" Chris spied the scrunched features on her face. He chuckled as she continued flicking her wrists.

"Yeah," she turned her attention downward. "I am now."

Alex gently disconnected from Chris and stretched out beside him. The blankets had been kicked away long before but the heat they generated in their frenzied coupling removed the need for such covering. Chris felt a light pressure as Alex draped an arm around his mid section. He reciprocated with his powerful arms looping around her waist, creating a perfect circle. Alex yawned and rested her head against his shoulder; the solid deltoids and biceps flexed in response.

"Funny," she muttered sleepily against his skin.

Chris said nothing as he took in the sight alongside him. Alex wasn't supermodel thin or ripped like some women but it didn't matter; she was perfect in his eyes. She had curves along her hips, perfect for grabbing a hold of whether or not it was during sex. Her skin was soft with a few marks and scars that crossed the canvas of flesh. But one scar in particular would always send a cold chill through Chris's body. It was located on the back of her neck, at the base of her skull where the vertebrae embarked on their journey downward.

He will never give us peace…..Even in death he torments us still…

He pushed a small tuft of raven threads over the hideous raised mark, blocking it from his sight.

Alex had fallen asleep, exhausted but well sated. Chris sighed with sorrow in his breath as their time together slipped through like sands in an hourglass. Every moment spent in these few days was cherished with anxiety and trepidation. Chris was still in disbelief at Alex's will. Any other woman would've left him after the incident with Il Veltro or even before that in Antarctica. But not her...

Chris felt a stab of guilt which never failed to surface when he was about to depart on a mission. He had felt the tugging of his mind to break it off with her as she would suffer more than flourish with him. Alex wouldn't abandon him she refused to let the love she shared with Chris be destroyed by the dark hearts of men and financial greed. She had been forced to endure so much horror, trauma and death that she would joke she felt like one of the B.S.A.A.

Raccoon City had been her baptism by fire.

Raccoon City - 1 October, 1998

The Tower Chapel had been her first close encounter with any biohazard, namely Nemesis. There she had met up with Carlos Oliveira and Jill Valentine. She had fled on foot, navigating the winding alleyways and side streets to evade the growing swarm of infected. People she called friends had fallen to the decaying horde through a scratch or bite or if they were fortunate, death. Her house was no longer safe as the fires raged and infected roamed the canyons of skyscrapers and older antiquated structures. Most of the remaining humans were charging up the main street towards the barricade which crossed over the main road in and out of town. Knowing that would be ringing the dinner bell for the infected, she pursued an alternative route towards the same destination. The air was choked in thick black smoke which was intertwined with rotted flesh. Alex was reminded of a meat locker that had lost power leaving the contents to spoil. Her stomach churned as she covered her mouth and nose with her hand. The sluggish outlines of the infected ahead had forced her hand, making Alex divert her path once again. The infected were outnumbering the living, devouring anything breathing in their path.

Alex had broken from the smoky cloud finding she was in front of the St. Michael Clock Tower. The low rumbling and growling in the distance to her right had started to travel in her general direction. The tower it was. Knowing the infected could be anywhere, Alex discovered the chapel that was located inside. It was smaller, had one way in and out, and was still lit. She had used the altar as a barrier, armed only with a baseball bat she had procured from the streets. The dried blood painted the stainless steel with random splatter and spray. Alex had pressed her back against the inside of the shrine, hearing the door rattle then open. Her mind prepped her for the inevitable as her body trembled against the solid maple. She heard the shuffling of feet unsure if it was human or infected. Her hands gripped the bat tight, ready to crush bone and brain. Carlos had just stretched Jill on the bench when Alex charged out swinging the makeshift weapon.

"Whoa," Carlos caught the receiving end of the steel bat causing Alex to halt her assault. "Calm down lady! I'm no zombie!"

Alex blinked twice as her mind raced to catch up with what her eyes were absorbing. The tension was released on her end as her hands dropped and she leaned back against the altar. The reliquary jabbed her in the right side but that was the least of her worries.

"Who the Hell are you?" Alex watched as Carlos extended his free hand.

"My name's Carlos," the man introduced himself. His skin was sepia in tone with locks of dark chocolate that complimented the former. He was clad in cargo pants, a short sleeved olive shirt which was covered by a tactical vest. Scraped knee pads shielded his knees while steel toed combat boots finished the ensemble. Alex had felt his eyes cutting into hers as they stood off against one another. Carlos could see she was frightened and justifiably so. God knows what she had been witness too since this apocalypse was ignited.

Finally her own hand lifted up clasping into his. It was warm but rough with hardened skin along his palm. She released a breath of relief at seeing a living breathing person.

"The name's Alex; Alex Koch."

Time had been lost and Alex couldn't recall when she had laid eyes on the last uninfected person but damn it if the man called Carlos wasn't a sight for her sore tired eyes.

Now they were in the ear of post Umbrella, never knowing what would rear its ugly and where. Chris continued to stroke her hair, feeling the threads of raven silk interlacing with his thick fingers. They cascaded down layering on one another until a feathery halo had begun to emerge. He had told himself never to grow close to anyone much less be in any kind of relationship. Jill had been the closest thing to a relationship and he had nearly lost her to Wesker. But, Chris had ignored his own warning, daring to get to know the brunette who had put Barry to shame that cold December night in the bar. Then her hair had been rich and smooth like liquid chocolate but it had been since altered. But still she look beautiful, bordering on exotic even. When the light hit her hair just right Chris had sworn he could see a multitude of colors reflecting back. It reminded him of ravens as they had radiant feathers and displayed the same characteristic.

So many times he felt the soldier, the part of him saying to set her free, liberate her of the pain. But his humanity, his soul had triumphed. Chris would depart in 48 hours into a part of the world that was bathed in darkness and violence and the unknown. His team was ready, some of the best that the B.S.A.A. had in its North American Division. They had been through a few smaller biohazard outbreaks in Central and South America, discovering it was a rogue government attempting to eliminate political enemies or rival cartels waging war over the lucrative drug routes into the United States. But after the nightmare that was Umbrella and Albert Wesker, Chris treated each mission as if the worst case scenario awaited him and his team. It had saved their asses on more than one occasion.

"Don't worry about me," Alex yawned and readjusted against him. "I'll do what I normally do when you're on a mission."

When Chris was away, Alex would volunteer and help the B.S.A.A. catch up on paperwork and file reports that the agents couldn't or really weren't anxious to do. Her typing skills and organizational capabilities rivaled any professional assistant. In addition to keeping her mind occupied it opened up an access for Alex to hear news about Chris. She hated being the last to know and this was her way of keeping her from being that person. She also hung out with Claire when she wasn't working at Terrasave which provided support and comfort to both. It had been rough on the pair when Chris was in the line of danger but lending strength to one another softened the dull ache. Chris was grateful for his sister and Jill as they were all links in the chain that was his life. They were strongest together.

I will come back Lexi….I promise….

"I love you," he whispered then settled into the overstuffed pillow with his body shielding her from any and all unseen foes. The warmth of her body diffused across the cool surface of his torso, relaxing him further into the state of slumber. His fingers intertwined with hers, the final act before the night came to a close.

Chapter Text

"This is CNN ."

"Good Evening, tonight we start off with the escalating violence in the former Soviet republic of Edonia. The conflict between the Edonian Liberation Army, also known as the La Vita Nuova, and government forces has gone on for over 2 years but now reports of terrorist cells moving in and using biological weapons have now surfaced. Here's our foreign correspondent, Teri Morales."

Alex clenched the edge of the flimsy table as she stayed perched on the end of the equally unstable chair. The media was being hand fed what the B.S.A.A. wanted them to know but other outlets had cracked the news of J'avo which was what they didn't need or want to get out but modern social networking lifted the shroud of secrecy. But after Raccoon City it had to be known this was going on. All of civilization had to face the evils of their fellow man and woman.

"We're outside the war zone in a nearby city that is deemed safe by the B.S.A.A. According to sources within the Liberation Army and government forces, the rise of bio-organic weapons has surged in the hardest fought parts of Edonia. What we're about to show you is graphic in nature."

"Oh my god," Alex felt nauseous at the imagery unfolding on the screen. She could feel her body tremble like a leaf as her lips uttered, "It's Raccoon City all over again."

"As you can see some of the soldiers had been exposed to an unknown agent that causes instant mutation into creatures that locals have called J'avo, which is Serbian for demon. The numbers are unknown at this point in regards fatalities and exposure rates but all we know is that it's immediate in reaction once it penetrates the human body."

"Teri, do we know how this agent was introduced into the population?"

"We have received conflicting reports but the spokesman for Liberation Army is indicating it was consumed perhaps disguised as a vitamin or nutritional supplement that was distributed to the guerrilla forces."

Her cell phone went off causing Alex to jump out of the creaky seat and land hard in the center of it. The legs shifted an inch as the force of her body pressed down then out.

"Hello?" She fought to maintain a steady voice.

"Alex, it's Claire. Are you alright? You sound scared."

"No, I'm watching the news and I had shut everything else out."

"Lemme guess, they're talking about Edonia."

"Yeah," she leaned back in the chair. "They're saying it was disguised as a supplement or drug then passed it out."

"Well it's not Umbrella though its stink is all over it. I wouldn't surprise me if some faction was still around."

"Which is what I'm afraid of," Alex pinched the bridge of her nose, forcing herself to breathe.

"Why don't I come over? Jill's stuck at B.S.A.A. because of this and I'm off…"

"I-I don't know…." Alex didn't really feel like seeing anyone. She wanted to be alone.

"No, I'm coming over. I don't have to work tomorrow and you don't need to be all by yourself. Besides it's the holidays! No one should be alone during the holidays!"

"Okay," Alex conceded knowing Claire wouldn't back down. That was the trouble with the Redfields, once they made a decision no one could convince them otherwise.

"I'll be over in an hour."

Alex sighed and hit the end button. Seeing the graphic footage of the J'avo mutating and attacking anything human had been terrifying to say the least. But, she had noticed something about the infected, something that made her snatch the remote and rewind back to the point the report started. Alex slowed the pace of the action and leaned over closer to the TV. The instant the first J'avo graced her screen she hit pause. Some retained human characteristics and traits: hair, legs, arms, but a third milky orb had developed in the center of the forehead. Another one had a hard wing extremity that shielded the rest of the body from gunfire. It too had a third eye like the other one. Teeth were uneven with random edges that were jagged or flat. Alex heard the shriek of horror break her lips as another one had four eyes! Two were smaller but all had discolored irises with specks of yellow and brown. The skin wrinkled around the eyes with blood oozing from around them disfigured orbs.

If this was a horror movie she would've sworn the grotesque features and extremities were the work of a damn fine makeup artist who should get an Academy Award; only this horror flick wasn't something devised from an H.P. Lovecraft wet dream.

She pressed play but went frame by frame allowing her to learn more about these mutations. Where the new eyes had emerged blood stained the flesh, trapped within the wrinkles of decayed skin and muscle. Channels of blue and red pulsed across the temples, threatening to erupt and burst through. A couple had bandages around swelled regions which struck her as odd. Most infected didn't and couldn't comprehend basic first aid, at least not the ones she had encountered in Raccoon. This was a sign of acknowledgment and acknowledgment meant intelligence. This was nothing like Raccoon City; no this made it look like a fucking flu outbreak.

But that wasn't what frightened Alex the most.

The next frame lit up and instantly hit pause. They carried weapons ranging from knives to automatic firearms. They were organized. The lead J'avo was hollering at the others with the same mannerisms that a general would possess. It reminded her of what Chris had described seeing in Africa with Sheva: organized infected foot soldiers whose intelligence stayed intact, operated weapons, and created formations.

"No," she shook her head in self denial. "No, that can't be right! No…."

Her heart quickened as she watched the one in the tattered uniform that draped over its discolored decaying flesh throw up signals used in combat. Communicating!? Speaking!? Infected didn't do this! The only other infected that possessed any fiber of intelligence was Plaga but Plaga didn't grow moth wings or sprout random body parts when a bullet or knife shredded it apart. What sort of parasite or virus allows for spontaneous regeneration?

"Chris," she whispered with heavy sorrow and covered her face with shaking hands. The mug of tea she had prepared turned into an afterthought.

Edonia…

Chris sat on the edge of the bed, still dressed in his B.S.A.A. uniform. The wind howled beyond the rattling plane of glass as yet another clipper rolled in off the mountains. It was winter he had to remind himself. The vest and weapons sat to his right, resting after taking down nameless victims of the C-Virus. It had been a hard fought battle as he and his men were tasked with setting charges then destroying the rail cars in the center of town. The J'avo, which is what the rebels and civilians were calling the things, had proven to be harder to kill than first thought. Demon was right. They were the undead legions. Several companies had reported casualties but Chris had returned back with all of his men. He had not failed them.

He pried the pocket open, fishing the photo from its resting place, mindful as he unfolded the picture. A piece of heaven in the middle of Hell. The solitary light bulb swung lazily overhead, casting long shadows across the creases created from being pressed between his vest and chest. The wind howled through the gaps between the boards and windows, ushering frigid drafts that made Chris shiver subconsciously. The small heater oscillated and distributed the life giving warmth as best as it could but the cold was winning out.

"I'm still here," he spoke quietly as though she was sitting there alongside him. "I know it's another holiday apart but hopefully this mission will end and we can be together. God how much I miss you right now."

His breath was ragged as exhaustion settled over him. His right shoulder was growing stiff from being slammed against a solid wall of stone and mortar. The attending physician had examined upon their return, noting it would be a deep tissue bruise but it would hurt like a bitch as it healed. Piers had caught the size of the black and purple disfiguration as he was examined, knowing it looked worse than what it really was. The younger marksman had saved his ass from the Ogroman that stalked the East side of town. The damn thing had been to have been at least 30 feet tall. All it had taken was one punishing blow from the creature's fist to launch the captain midair into the inner wall of the walkway. It didn't help their situation that J'avo had caught up with the pair. Fuckers were fast, strong, organized and smart. Human smart.

"Hey Captain," Piers lightly rapped on the rotted door.

"Come in Piers," Chris didn't flinch as the younger man accepted the invitation.

"Hey I wanted to check up on you to see how you were doing."

"I'm alright. My shoulder's gonna be hurting for a while but nothing I can't work through." Chris added a humorless chuckled at the end. Piers saw his captain gazing at the photo and felt a sudden sensation of intrusion on his part.

"Oh, I didn't see….." He pointed at Alex's picture. "I can go….."

"No," Chris lifted his eyes up noticing the awkwardness in the younger man's face. "No, you're alright Piers."

Piers silently nodded with concurrence as his captain motioned for him to have a seat. The younger man pulled up the metal framed chair, spinning it around so he could rest his arms atop the back. The biohazards had fought the team with every foot of ground they gained. With each victory came loss and blood. Dodging RPG's, machine gun fire, blades slashing inches from their bodies, and the monstrosity called Ogroman. Piers had discovered it was derived from the Serbian word for large. Large didn't even begin to describe it. He had watched in horror as his captain was slung against the wall as the others had continued raining bullets on it. But they had been attacking the wrong part of it. The thing had a bulbous growth protruding from the shoulder blades which appeared to be the Achilles' heel. Chris had taken the first shot, striking the center of the growth. The creature howled and staggered back which confirmed what had been suspected.

"You miss her a lot don't you?"

It was more of an observation than a literal question.

"I do Piers," Chris closed his eyes and nodded slowly. "But this is what we do. She understands it all too well. But the separation and longing makes it harder."

"Well if it makes a difference we're making progress on containing the outbreak. The biohazards are concentrated in the central part of the town."

"Your optimism is contagious but don't get your hopes up of leaving this place so soon." Chris neatly folded the photo back up then tucked it back in his pocket. "We still have to search for any evidence of who was responsible. That can take weeks."

"Weeks?!" Piers shook his head. "But isn't there someone else to do that?"

"It's part of the job Piers. You know that."

"How do you do it Captain?" Piers tilted his head to the side, curious as to how his superior kept it all together.

"Do what?" Chris gruffly responded.

"Keep yourself from falling apart; not giving up."

"Hope," Piers got his answer. "The hope that we will put an end to this. The hope that the world will survive to see it free of the scourges of Umbrella and its factions. The hope of seeing her face again."

"You really do love her."

"Yes," a tiny smile cracked his captain's lips. "I really love her."

Piers was still young, not yet reaching that part of his life where he had found someone he was ready to commit to. The look that surfaced in his captain's tired features lightened the deep lines that creased his forehead and crow's feet that trailed the corners of his eyes. But he couldn't but help to admit he wished someday to find someone like Chris had. Having someone waiting for him to come back from missions, to welcome him home with open arms and deep loving smile. A few women could've been it but after the first time he went out on a mission the glamour of the B.S.A.A. uniform had dulled into the stark reality of what being an agent was. One by one they slipped from his life, washing their hands of him. Perhaps it had been for the best.

"You should get some rest," Chris stretched out on the flimsy mattress, tugging the itchy but warm wool blanket over him.

"Right," Piers nodded and headed for the door. He didn't turn the light off as the dark had been known to harbor death. The element of surprise was taken away if they could see the enemy approaching.

Chris exhaled and curled up into the fetal position, keeping the afflicted shoulder upright, conserving the little bit of body heat he could produce. It was still a battle to fall asleep with a light on but in war, sleep was welcome no matter where or how it was obtained. This was a luxury compared to some of the places he had been. Hardwood planks, dirt, sleeping bag, and gurney had been but a few of the many places he had called a bed. But each one was an impostor; nothing more than a means to allocate the tension from his aching bones and flesh.

Now he was in the middle of a shit hole somewhere in Eastern Europe, hoping to capture some form of rest before the next battle was upon them. He thought of Alex and the moment he would walk through the door holding her again. He could remember the scent of her shampoo and body wash, even now as the faint stench of decay seeped into the dreary quarters.

"Here," Claire slid the plate across the table in front of Alex. "You need to eat."

"I'm not feeling too hungry Claire," Alex started to push the plate aside but Claire cut her hand in front of the heaping serving of spaghetti.

"Nope," the redhead shook her head. "I'm not buying it. I know you're hungry. You can't let that news report get to you. I know it was horrible but this is my brother we're talking about. The same brother you're engaged to. So eat or I will tie you down and force feed you."

Alex raised an eyebrow at the last statement. "Seriously Claire? I think you mean the other way around."

Claire parked her hands on her hips waiting for her friend to pick up the fork. There was no way in Hell she was going to let Alex do this to herself. They weren't going to go through this again. The last time she refused to eat was right after…..

"Fine," Ales snatched the fork up and stabbed the plate of steamy noodles slathered in marinara. "But only because I don't want to see this go to waste."

"Sure," Claire added a smirk before going to make up her own plate.

"So have you heard from Leon?"

Claire turned around and joined the other woman.

"Not recently," she shook her head.

"How are you two getting along?"

"Alright I suppose," she shrugged and took in another bite. Alex knew a part of Leon was hung up on Ada Wong, the top agent for Albert Wesker when he was alive. Claire had been hurt when he withdrew from their burgeoning relationship as he was uncertain about his feelings over everything. But Alex had been sworn to secrecy when Leon called upon her one day.

"Does Claire know the real reason you two split?"

"No and it would hurt her if she knew. I mean she's still upset about me breaking things off. Please Alex, don't tell her. I wanted to talk to someone and I know Chris and Jill won't take the news well."

"Understatement there, Kennedy. Did you forget Ada worked for Albert Wesker? The word 'user' comes to mind. I mean Claire did see the great lengths you took upon yourself might I add, to protect her. I hope you know what you're getting into."

Leon placed a hand on her shoulder and affectionately squeezed it.

"I know you don't like her Alex and I don't blame you after…."

Before Leon could finish Alex shot up a hand silencing the man. The pain was prevalent in the rich Caribbean jewels even as she battled to put on a brave front.

"Just tread wisely please? Claire's my friend and she doesn't need to be hurt all over again."

"I know and I don't want to hurt her either. I don't know what I want anymore, Alex but, I know I don't want to hurt her.”

Alex had remained silent about Leon's affairs because it wasn't her business to get involved in; unless Claire was hurt then all bets were off. But then again anything that was remotely associated with Albert Wesker, human or otherwise, she instantly hated or mistrusted. Ada Wong fell under the latter.

"I wish I could hear from Chris." Alex pushed the hill of noodles around her plate. "I miss his voice. I know that sounds cheesy right?"

"No," Claire was quick to answer. "It's hard being separated. I can see it in your eyes even now."

"I knew what I was getting into Claire,” Alex shrugged, playing off her anxiety.

"That doesn't make it any easier to deal with especially with it being so close to Christmas."

Christmas was a favorite time of the year for Chris. Before the accident that killed their parents, they would decorate the entire house with lights. The tree was magnificent. Their dad would insist on a real tree as the pine scent only made the experience even brighter. They would stay up, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man in red only to fall asleep in front of the fireplace.

The tradition died with their parents.

"It won't be same decorating the apartment without him. I haven't even dragged out the decorations."

Her hand waved around at the lack of ornamentation for added effect.

"Which is why we are going to the mall then coming back here and drowning this drab place in everything Christmas!"

"Oh boy," Alex forced a smile.

Claire finally departed a few hours later, leaving Alex in solitude. She soaked in the tub for what felt like an eternity. The scorching heat enveloped her body, penetrating her chilled body before fanning out. The glass of red wine sat on the edge of tub, the perfect compliment for the end of the day. Well almost the perfect compliment.

I wish Chris was here. He loved soaking in the tub.

She lifted her arm from the watery embrace, taking the glass to her waiting lips. Alex told herself that he would be back soon and to have hope. But the images of earlier flashed in snippets making her groan and rub her temples. A headache was coming on from the compounding stress and anxiety. The time spent at the B.S.A.A. occupied her time, pushing her closer to the time this latest departure would conclude. Yet Alex chided herself for feeling selfish to a degree. Chris was putting his life on the line so that they can look at the future with eagerness and not dread.

"It's going to be alright," she drew a deep filling breath then slowly exhaled. "It's going to be okay."

Chapter Text

Alex hated large crowds. It stemmed from her trauma in Raccoon City and the subsequent PTSD that had followed. Every time she was in the presence of an impressive congregation of people, she could feel the cold panic begin to settle in, draining her veins for the adrenaline that would snake through the hollow microscopic tunnels and chambers. Her hand would subconsciously slap her right hip for a gun that didn't exist or curl into a vicious fist that cradled an imaginary bat. Her pulse would race if she ventured too close to any one group or gathering. Muscles would tense and contract in rapid response and anticipation for a fight. It had evolved into her second nature to prepare for such confrontation. Her enemy could be one of the men women or children that flashed into her line of sight. Alex would constantly shift her eyes and scan the perimeter or interior surroundings, breaking down each scenario and store like a coach breaking down a play book for the team.

Her mind would seek out all exits and doors, preferring to be seated near the closest emergency exit in a restaurant if the main exits weren't close. It was better if she could go through a drive thru, be in control of her environment if all Hell broke loose again.

"Hey Alex what do you think of this?"

Claire waved the charcoal tinted cardigan inches from her face. She dropped her arm, replacing it with her fingers. Her thumb and middle finger struck against one another creating a sharp snap loud enough for her to hear.

"Alllllllleeeeeexxxxxxx….."

Her friend blinked a few times then exhaled like she was coming out of a deep trance. In reality, Alex had fallen into a state of catatonia. Her mind slipped back to the Raccoon City disaster, disfiguring everyone around her, morphing their healthy faces and bodies into rotted, decaying shells infected with the T-Virus. Their slow methodical movements through racks and aisles had shifted to erratic cumbersome twitches of their feet and arms. Off to her right a bright swath beckoned her vision towards it. The swept back streaks of blonde paraded through the aisles, weaving through the sea of infected without a second thought or look. The black shades concealed ruby rings of fire as the sinister grin slid upward on the corners of his mouth as they landed on their prey. Alex felt her heart stammering violently as she discovered her feet and legs refused to obey her command to move.

Hello….Alexandra…..I've been waiting…..Waiting so long…

No….No you're dead!

Oh but on the contrary Dear Heart…

Chris, Sheva and Jill watched you die in Africa! YOU ARE NOT REAL!

Alexandra, you refuse to accept what is before you. I am very real…..We have much to discuss….

The specter of Wesker sidestepped the approaching infected, darting closer towards her. Alex shook as adrenaline swept in, preparing her to fight or fly. The memories of her captivity pushed on the walls she had thrown around her mind and soul, cracking the foundations that had sustained her sanity since then.

"Alex," Claire turned concerned. "Alex, are you okay?"

"Hmm?" Alex shook her head and took a deep breath. She blinked a few times and frantically scanned the racks. Wesker was gone. There were no infected. "Yeah…."

"It happened again didn't it?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"Your hands are digging into my wrist," Claire was strangely calm in what should've been a sharp painful observation. Alex caught the sight of her hands clawed around her friend's slender limb. Fortunately Claire was dressed in long sleeves or else blood would've been trickling over her fingers and pooling into the carpet below.

"Damn it," Alex released her wrist with a sharp lift of her hands like she had just touched the surface of a hot stove. "Claire, I'm so sorry."

Chagrin was the emotion she could feel at the moment. It didn't help Chris was gone. It was the stress of being apart that was causing the hallucinations to blur her vision and cruelly trick her mind she would repeat over and over like a well crafted script. But even scripts were good for so long until they evolved into truth.

Claire replaced the sweater on the rack then guided Alex by the elbow towards the nearest ladies room. Alex didn't object as her feet obediently fell in line, carrying her towards the back of the store, away from any curious glances.

Claire locked the door as it was a single stall facility. She flipped on the water, testing it with her fingers until it was pushing out hot water. Alex was slumped against the wall, mute and dazed over the latest episode. Chris had been told flashbacks and hallucinations could occur at any moment with or without a trigger. Claire had immediately volunteered to watch her when he was gone, knowing what needed to be done when it happened.

"Alright," Alex pushed off the wall, a mindless zombie following the sound of rushing water. She bent down and splashed the soothing offering over her face. How much longer could this continue? Would it be time to fall back on the bottle of blue pills that sat in the cabinet of the bathroom? Would it be enough though?

"Maybe we should go home," Claire understood they could come back another day.

"It wasn't your fault," Alex offered a shaky smile. "I thought I could do it."

"You did do it Alex. You didn't scream or try attacking anyone like what happened when the sales clerk approached us. "

"I appreciate your support, Claire," Alex sighed and patted the scratchy paper towel on her face. "I was doing fine until….." She gripped the edges of the porcelain sink, pushing hard against the resilient surface. Claire could see her fingertips were turning deep to bright pink and red.

"I saw him…..He was here." Her voice was a clipped whisper.

"Come on," Claire gathered an arm around her waist and slipped from the door and towards the rear exit. There were less shoppers through that route which was what Claire was hoping for. Alex had claimed to see Wesker back from the dead, tormenting her in her dreams and when she was awake. Chris had been in a state of panic, trying everything to help her. The meds had exorcised the demonic visions but it wasn't meant to be.

One night she had bolted upright, unleashing an inhuman shrill that it jolted Chris awake and reaching for his Beretta. It had taken a few minutes until his mind registered the source of the soul shattering wail was Alex.

Damn it…..Not again…

"He's there!" She clawed at the headboard in a furious attempt to climb up the wall putting distance between her and the imaginary phantom. Chris rushed the light switch, flipping it up to allow the bright blinding flood to illuminate the room.

"Lexi," he gently caught her wrists, coaxing her towards him. "There's nothing here."

Her pupils had dilated almost shutting out the pure crystal hues. She was having another panic attack. Her breathing went ragged as Chris felt her heart slamming against her sternum. Her head jerked around like a bird that was on edge, hoping to keep ahead of the predator that stalked it. Alex continued to fight, struggling to break free from Chris' hold. She had to run; somewhere, anywhere away from there!

"He's here Chris…..He came back! He was right there! Standing in the doorway! I could see those glowing red eyes through the dark! Please!" Tears streamed down her face, staining her cheeks.

Chris had kept the light as he succeeded and cradled her in his protective hold. He sat there, running his fingers through her damp hair, continuously reassuring her as she rode out the last vestiges of this chaotic episode. Alex didn't fall asleep, fear in control as the thought of Wesker waiting somewhere, in the dark, where Chris couldn't protect her. Chris stayed awake through the night, daring not to let his eyes close until the first glimpse of daylight peeked through the blinds.

"It's alright now," he kissed the top of her forehead. "He won't be coming back. I won't let him take you away. Never again."

"Promise?" He could hear the heaviness in her voice.

"I promise Lexi," Chris swore. "He won't come back ever again."

Alex nodded and shut her eyes as the darkness welcomed her weary mind and body. Chris maneuvered their bodies until they were stretched out in the center. His body protected her, blocking her back from any unseen foe. His arms latched across the front, creating a circle of warmth. She slept the entire day, waking after dark. Alex had awakened to find him in the same position.

“I'm sorry.” She whispered sadly.

“This is not your fault, Lexi,” the fingers carded through her hair then brushed across her forehead. “I love you.”

"Damn it fall back!"

Chris hollered at his company. Finn and Ben withdrew from their current positions, returning towards the barrier of sandbags and heavy artillery. This day brought new light and new B.O.W.s to eliminate. Piers covered his captain as he and others retreated. Shouting to his right distracted the young marksman as Ben emerged from the ruins of a medieval building. He dodged the clips of stone and rushed towards his captain.

"Sir, I found him. He's in there."

Piers was standing alongside Finn and Carl as their captain approached. Silence was their friend as the fallen comrade was attentively placed on the stretcher, careful to position his injured body.

"He was on recon…..alone." Piers spoke up for the group. How many men had they lost so far? The marksman had stopped counting at 24. Chris had warned them about separating from the unit as the J'avo were everywhere and had proven to be formidable against their bullets and firepower.

"Alright listen up," Chris stepped in the center of the huddled group. "In the BSAA, our job is to rid the world of bioterrorism and the only way we're gonna do that is by sticking together!"

"No one is expendable," Piers chimed in.

"Each and every one one of you may be ready to die for our cause, but it's my job to make sure we all get through this alive."

A light sniffling made Piers and Chris glance over at the youngest member of the group. Finn couldn't but help to be overwhelmed with emotion. He had signed up at 21 to join the BSAA and was in awe of the man that was Chris Redfield. He was what Finn dreamed of becoming: Strong, decisive, charismatic….a true leader that earned the respect of his men. A man that refused to leave anyone behind no matter the circumstances.

"Suck it up Finn," Piers ruined the moment. Finn nodded and stood up.

"Sorry sir," the rookie hastily apologized.

"No one gets left behind…..Not on my watch! Understood?"

"YES SIR!" The unit acknowledged in unison.

"Finn, give us the update," Piers went to the point.

"Yes sir," Finn snatched the device from his vest and flipped it on. Images of the J'avo raced across the small area of level ground. "It's been confirmed the rebels are using a new species of BOW. As everyone knows they are being called J'avo which is Serbian for demon. When attacked they extend a wind like appendage that's like Kevlar, ricocheting bullets away from their bodies. Unfortunately we have also seen they are extremely intelligent and possess superhuman strength. When trauma is acquired the area or areas afflicted mutate."

"Alright," Chris straightened his knees as he stood upright. "Break off into three teams and no one goes anywhere alone!"

The men splintered off into 3 teams, panning out into the war zone leaving Finn behind. The rookie was nervous even now as Chris approached. He had worked with the man for a few months now but still the glamour of working with the world's best known agent wasn't wearing off.

"Finn," the older man addressed him in a calm level tone. "I can see you're nervous. Don't worry," he clapped a hand on his right shoulder, "We have your back."

"Yes Sir," Finn nodded. Chris couldn't but help to feel responsible for the youngest member of the team. He reminded him of Claire when she was a naïve young lady. But that was all before Raccoon City had happened. Living the nightmare of Umbrella's own device had morphed the bubbly girl into a skilled fighter. Finn had potential, a diamond in the rough as the saying went. Once the green wore off he would be a great soldier and agent.

Chris shook his head as thinking of Claire led to thinking about Alex. He knew she was in good hands with his sister which was why he didn't stress over leaving her. But these missions had grown more dangerous within the last few years. He was feeling the old doubts of his ability to give Alex what she deserved needling in the back of his mind.

"Captain," Piers waved his hand up and down. "Captain are you alright?"

"Yeah," Chris dismissed his second in command's concerns. "Let's move out."

Piers watched as the backside of Chris turned the corner of the wall. He had seen that look and knew what or who was weighing on his mind. Chris didn't want to show emotion as he felt he had to be strong for the men as showing weakness would give the enemy an advantage.

He really does miss her…

At least he has someone to go back to…

The last relationship he held ended disastrously. There was screaming and accusations of infidelity between them. Piers had thought his good run of bad luck had finally ended. He had been wrong. So after moving out to a smaller place across town, Piers had sworn off women and focused on the missions. But when he saw how happy Chris was with Alex a pang of envy stabbed him in the chest. She was patient, something most women would not have for men like them. Her strong will and determination to keep the love they had from dying was hard to ignore. Her infectious laugh could brighten a room. She didn't speak of her time in Raccoon City, at least not in public or around anyone, and when the name Albert Wesker had been mentioned in certain conversations, she would turn deathly silent and the bright rings would dull into dirty orbs of stone. It was those times Chris would turn defensive and change the subject to something else. Alex would reanimate like a wind up doll, picking up where she left off moments before.

Snap out of it Nivens!

Piers scolded himself for letting his mind wander like that. They were in a damn war zone! Letting one's guard slip could cost him more than a limb.

Finn came up beside the marksman, still in awe over the whole thing.

"Is he always this awesome?"

Piers sighed and shook his head before walking away.

Rookies...

The woman in blue watched the unit patrol the congest streets. The binoculars made out the leader, Chris Redfield, followed by Piers Nivens, the marksman.

"That's it boys…..Keep right on coming….."

She lowered her arms and smirked at her own thoughts. While the BSAA had been an ever growing pain in her ass, she could see how this could work to her advantage. She was in Edonia to procure something, someone, important and these men were going to help her do just that. Now all she needed was to create a diversion…..

Her eyes spied the city hall in the distance, sensing an opportunity. As Alpha Team got caught up with a little rescue mission before crossing the bridge, the woman made her way towards the building, a little surprise for anyone unfortunate enough to be there.

Chapter Text

The snow had intensified as Alex sat with a blanket wrapped around her. Claire had brought her home refusing to leave her alone. The kettle brewed on the stove as two mugs with tea bags sat waiting.

"How ya feeling?" Alex looked up at her friend who passed a bowl of soup in her direction.

"Better now," she nodded. As she started to take the first taste a look crossed her face as she had a thought. Her hand stayed half way between her mouth and bowl while the deep lines of lament aged her features. "You know today's Christmas Eve."

"That's right!" Claire grinned. "And it's snowing!"

Alex smiled sadly and placed the bowl down. Tomorrow was Christmas Day and Chris wasn't there. The holidays were always the hardest on her as she didn't have any family and her adoptive parents had passed away when she was in college. They had raised her since she was a baby, her mom and dad had been killed in a horrific train crash when she was only weeks old. When she had gone off to college they had moved out of Raccoon City but she kept an apartment in town. But that was before the outbreak and the subsequent missile that obliterated the cosmopolitan community. God, how she hated the holidays sometimes.

"Alex," Claire wrapped an arm around her friend's waist and rested her head on her shoulder. "I know it's another holiday without Chris but you have me."

Alex let out a short laugh. Claire always seemed to find the light in the storm that was her life.

"Yeah you're right," Alex turned and took her friend in a tight hug. "I guess I'm a glutton for punishment huh?"

"No," Claire shook her head. "You're strong that's what you are. I mean all the women that threw themselves at Chris's feet were in love with the uniform and not the man who wore it. But you fell in love with the man who wears the uniform."

Alex felt the grin cracking her face and couldn't but help to smile. Claire had hit it head on: Alex peeled away the uniform and uncovered the man beneath it. Sure the allure of the B.S.A.A. was in the background but even if Chris had not been a part of the agency she wouldn't have loved him any less. She had survived the Italy deployment and his expedition into Africa where he confronted Wesker once and for all. But the strain of his obsession in finding Jill and Wesker had nearly destroyed that bond between them.

"Until you get your priorities figured out I'm staying with Claire. I can't compete with Jill and Wesker. What's gonna happen if she is gone? Are you going to continue your blind vengeance against Wesker? Chris it's not worth it! You have to decide what you want to hold on to and what has to go."

Chris had stared dumbly at her as she hurled the bag on the bed and tossed everything in her drawers and in the closet. She was leaving him.

"I've been patient and stood by you when no one else would. But damn it Chris you're losing everyone around you! Is it worth losing me too? Does this hunch hold so much control over you that you are going to risk destroying it all?"

"Lexi it's not that easy….." Chris's plea was pathetic as it fell flatly in her ears.

"Save it," she harshly cut him off. The anger bit her tongue as it stung Chris. "I don't want to hear another word."

"Lexi, wait," Chris closed the bag and pushed it aside. "Please, don't….don't go."

"And why not?" Alex felt her chest tighten as her throat began to burn. "Why should I stay? You made it quite clear you were taking the mission, everyone else be damned! This is the 23rd mission you have been on since the Mansion! I don't think you were this concerned about me when I was under Wesker's control!"

"Now that's not fair!" Chris shot up. "I searched every corner of the world for you!"

"Then why do I feel like you're more concerned with Jill? Why is it Chris? Are you in love with her?" The single tear stained her cheek as she stood there shaking.

"NO!" Chris was sick. He didn't love Jill as Alex was insinuating. She was his sister in arms! Sure he had tried to ask her out or made a pass once or twice but she wasn't interested. Jill had been one their biggest cheerleaders! "I don't love her! God, look Lex," Chris sat down but his mouth refused to move.

Alex felt her patience eroding as Chris ran his fingers through his unruly hair then wrung his hands out of anxiety.

"You know what, go! Go on your wild goose chase! But when you get back," she jerked the bag from the bed and slung it over her shoulder. The pain was evident in her eyes. "I won't be."

Chris hung his head as she stormed out leaving him behind. If this obsession, this vendetta was so much more fucking important that anything else then fine! But she wasn't going to sit in the backseat while he continued chasing ghosts.

Alex stormed down the hall towards the front door, feeling the burning heat of her tears as they stung her skin like acid. She felt her resolve crumble away with every step she took towards the door. Chris had made his decision but it burned like acid on her soul.

She paused but fought the temptation to look over her shoulder towards the only room that was lit. No, she couldn't bow as Chris had make his wishes known. Alex looked down at the ring that sat on her finger. The diamond was petite but perfect in her eyes. Its resting place was a band of silver. Her right thumb and forefinger twirled it around for a few mindless moments feeling the urge to run right back.

"No," she whispered with sorrow. "I can't do this anymore."

Her feet continued for the door with hand outstretched for the handle. Her heart pummeled her chest as she swallowed down the solid lump. With fingers clawed around the brass knob her wrist flicked to the right.

As the door pulled towards her it was suddenly slammed shut.

"No," Chris shook his head. "I'm not letting you leave."

Alex's heart froze.

"I can't let you walk out the door. I won't go on the mission. I'll let another unit take my place. Please…"

His hand grabbed the strap of her bag relieving her shoulder of the increasing ache. Her ears perked at the waves in his voice as he struggled to maintain control.

"Please," he tilted her chin upward. "Please don't go. I'm sorry."

Alex sighed and turned the rest of the way around. The bag collapsed at her feet as she brushed past Chris and into the living room. Her face was written with the strained emotion that racked her mind and soul. Her finger mindlessly toyed with the ring.

"I know Jill's important to you Chris," she began. Alex held her gaze at the carpet or the coffee table. "But there comes a point when you have to accept certain things in life. I know you want to believe she's alive. I want to think that too and so does everyone else. But Chris, it's been four years. This is eating you alive but you just don't want to acknowledge it."

Alex's words carved like a hunting knife into his heart. Chris had been globetrotting for nearly four years, taking advantage of her patience and heart. Now it was about to implode before his very eyes and one of the few people he loved was about to vanish from his life too.

They all seem to disappear from my life…

"No," Chris muttered beneath his breath.

"What?" Alex finally pointed her eyes towards him.

"No," he repeated again but louder. "I've lost too many people; too many friends and co-workers. Too much blood and death….."

Chris pivoted around, spreading his arms around Alex who gasped in surprise. Her arms were pinned to her sides as he squeezed her smaller body fiercely to his.

"You're right," he admitted. "I've let this control me for too long. I lost sight of the ones I love; you and Claire. I don't want to lose you too."

"Just this once, please….Stay. You know the B.S.A.A. won't keep you in the dark."

He closed his eyes and nodded slowly. It was agonizing to the half of him that wanted to keep looking, to continue scouring every corner and acre of land on the planet. But the other half, the part of him that wielded the voice of reason, won out.

"I'll stay….I'll stay….."

"Christ that was close!"

Chris helped Finn and Piers from the overturned Humvee. The choppers flew overhead but Alpha team was on their own. The J'avo were positioned around and along them. Some had laser guided rifles while others were armed with a hand gun or nothing at all.

"HQ this is Alpha Team! We're taking fire at the Two of Hearts!"

"Alpha team this is Echo. We're stretched thin out here! You're gonna have to take control on your own until I can get support."

"Jesus these things are everywhere!" Chris continued firing at the approaching things. "These are the new species that HQ was warning us about!"

With each one he took out three more took their fallen comrade's place.

"Captain!" Piers was taking heavy fire from a group of B.O.W.'s that had gathered in an abandoned apartment building. Chris rushed through the whizzing bullets and heavy machine fire as his partner remained frozen behind a slender stack of brick and mortar. His protection eroded away with each hit and gathered around his boots.

"Shit," the younger marksman went rigid against the icy surface. Chris charged from behind the armored vehicle while the rest of the team had secured strategic positions. A metal gate with splinters that passed as boards haphazardly plastered against it blocked their way out. Carl and the others covered Finn as he set the charges around the perimeter.

"Captain I need more time!"

"Carl, Ben, I need you to keep Finn covered!" Chris shouted into his earpiece. He couldn't pick up the response from Carl as the cracking and popping drowned out the man's voice. A bullet grazed the back of his vest, ripping the layer of synthetic material off Kevlar. His heart was pumping adrenaline into his veins, fueling his body and mind. He had to make it through this! He had to keep them alive! He had to get back to her! No one was going to die under his watch!

"About time you got here," Piers hollered as he popped the oncoming J'avo in the center of their mutated wrinkled heads. One averted to the right keeping clear of the bullet meant for it. In its hand was a long blade coated with dried blood. Chris spun around with his trigger finger continuing its barrage of gunfire. The knife slashed air missing Piers' head by millimeters before sailing back then to the soiled coat of white.

"Alpha Team this is HQ! You're sitting ducks out there! Get inside that building!"

"You okay?" Piers nodded and realized he had been holding his breath.

"Yeah Captain I'm alright," he forced the cold air into his lungs which shocked the warm spongy tissue and cells. The sharp sting reinvigorated his senses.

"Damn things just keep coming!" Chris overheard the oncoming wave of J'avo. Their tongues wagged in Croatian or whatever fucking language they spoke. To Chris they all sounded the same. Piers covered his captain as the B.O.W.'s fell to his MP-AF. Mutation or not the super hyped mutations were falling like flies. He couldn't but help to smirk as the last one fell and burned into a pile of flesh and cloth. They may be smarter than him but they couldn't out gun him.

"Piers," Chris waved his hand as he had reached the door that would get them back towards the rest of the squad. He rushed across the small walkway about to kick in the door.

As his boot smashed against solid metal, ground beneath and around their feet started to rattle. The pair halted and listened intensely. There was a low rumble that followed making Piers think of that movie Jurassic Park. It was the scene when the T-Rex was coming. Piers suspected it wasn't a T-Rex that was making that sound.

"What the Hell is that?" Chris spun around scanning the street as Piers raised his gun. The J'avo were clear of the immediate area. The buildings diagonal to their position were shaking, breaking and cracking from the hard vibrations. The shock waves forced the two men to fight for balance as the bulbous organ bounced between the buildings. The fluid sack bobbed up and down then left to right as the rest of the thing came into view.

"What the…." Piers raised his sniper rifle as the monstrosity emerged from the narrow street. Its roar was that of a bear but its grotesque physical features were not that of a bear.

"Shit…." Chris muttered. The thing let out a horrific howl when it attempted to cross a few live wires. What the fuck was that thing?!

"Alpha Team! Large bogey approaching your position!"

Piers had opened fire, pumping the B.O.W. with bullets. But it wasn't fazed and seemed to grow enraged over the thousands of stings penetrating its bod. It howled again as Chris aimed for the mouth, literally feeding it his firepower.

"Damn it!" He switched to the high powered rifle but the ammunition was as effective as his other weapon. Then he saw the throbbing appendage on the back. Suddenly he got an idea. "Piers! Cover me!"

Piers took position behind a sturdy concrete wall as Chris ducked and dodged the massive fists that hurled down to flatten the agent. More J'avo arrived as backup, taking shots at the two agents. Piers aimed for the gaping jaw of the creature, earning a deep anguished howl for his efforts. It lowered its upper body with fists crushing stone and brick. The ground quaked as Chris ran up the creature's arm.

"Alpha Team this is HQ! Echo Team is unable to land until those anti aircraft artillery are taken out."

Piers caught sight of the heavy firepower on the roof of a building a short distance away.

"Finn, we need those charges finished!"

"Almost done sir!"

Chris wrapped his thick arms around the bony pin in the center of its head, feeling a shower of crimson warmth splashing his suit and arms. The creature shook and resisted but the B.S.S.A. agent held tight. The blood rushed like a geyser from the open crater making the spongy surface even harder to navigate. Chris pinned his feet as steady as he could while driving the sharp point into the pulsing organ. The thing howled and rolled towards the street threatening to flatten Chris. Chris felt the momentum turning the other way, pushing off the opposite way and landing in a tuck roll onto the alleyway.

The thing let out a pathetic deep howl as embers sparked within the gelatinous fibers that were crushed together, spreading out of control until the towering beast was engulfed in flames.

"Finn I need your status!"

"Two more hostiles remaining! Detonating the first two now!"

The town center was rocked with a series of rolling vibrations which were instantly drowned out with the stronger sharper waves that followed. Gunpowder and flesh clogged the air as Finn's charges succeeded in their mission. The charred flesh and bone hurled down towards the group, landing around them with hard wet smacks.

"Sounds like Finn succeeded," Piers ducked his head as the arm sailed towards him.

The final two artillery pieces erupted into a pair of fiery balls.

Finn rushed from a side street along with Carl and Ben. The rookie was quite pleased with his efforts.

"Great work Finn," Chris clasped his hand on the younger man's shoulder.

"Alpha Team this is HQ. Echo Team will be arriving in several minutes. Proceed towards the City Hall."

"Fall out!" Chris took lead as the others fell in and followed their captain down a quiet street. Everyone took advantage of the lapse in fighting to gather their breath. Finn was more confident at this point, walking a little taller as they continued on. Chris was confident he would make a damn fine agent.

They scoured the buildings and stairwells, practicing restraint when approaching a corner or dark corridor. Piers rushed out taking lead as Chris searched back. The echoes of footsteps treaded across their ears. Immediately they assumed battle ready stances with guns raised at the growing shadows across the wall. One was female and the other male.

"Sherry Birkin- National Security!"

A petite slender woman with short layered hair came from the south. She was clad in a white hooded coat with fur trim and tight pants that hugged her legs. Her stride was confident and calm as her badge was flashed like it would protect her from gunfire. Her companion was a male, Caucasian with shaved red hair and a distinct scar along his left cheek. But it was the eyes that snared Chris. They looked….familiar in a way.

"What?" The man caught Chris's curious stare.

"Nothing," he shook off the sensation but it clung to his mind.

"Captain," Piers stepped forward, "That man's a wanted criminal." The insignia of the rebel group blared on his sleeve.

"Yes he's a mercenary but he's under the protection of the US Government. He's not a threat to anyone," Sherry intervened before Piers could move closer.

"Not unless someone pays me to be," the man flicked a snowflake off his jacket.

"What did you just say?" Piers went for the mercenary but Chris pulled him back.

"Piers," Chris barked his name.

"Alpha Team this is HQ! A second large bogey is headed your direction! It's over you right now!"

Everyone jerked their heads up to see the massive chopper hauling a bundle of flesh that had a metallic probe waving from its head. It beat in sync with its heart or whatever it was that kept it alive. It knocked down an old town home as the impressive frame collided with weak stone and decayed wood. The harness that held it strained and whitened from the pressure of the cumbersome weight. The beast was unceremoniously dropped in the middle of the street then rose upon its clawed feet and stocky legs. The belly protruded outward like it eaten a large boulder.

"Not again," Chris took aim. "Sherry, take cover! We'll talk later!"

"Alpha Team, there is a metallic probe on the organ that is keeping this thing alive. Take it out!"

"Ben and Finn go right! Carl and Andy to right!"

Chris, Piers, the stranger, and Sherry charged through the building behind them. Chris remembered the way the other creature reacted when it was stabbed through the protruding organ. Piers took position in front as Sherry and the stranger fell behind.

"Son of a bitch." Piers opened fire first enraging the thing. It went for the marksman, curling its constricting hold around the center of his torso.

"Piers!" Chris shot at the thing's chest and shoulders as his marksman struggled and fought for every breath.

I am not losing him! I made a promise!

Sherry and the mercenary took aim, careful not to strike the human writhing in the bone crushing grip. The bullets vanished into the bulk of flesh and skin distracting it long enough for Piers to slip from certain death and towards safety. He rolled to the right as its foot slammed down to the street missing its target.

"Not today," he muttered.

Alex dozed lightly on the couch as Claire had departed for home. She promised to be back tomorrow with her gift before dragging her out to Jill's for dinner. Alex didn't want to go anywhere as Chris could be back at base camp any time and she would miss him. Her gift for him sat on the dresser; a Saint Michael's medallion. He was the patron saint of military and law enforcement and she knew he would love it.

As she slept in the secure warmth, the scope was trained on the balcony.

"She's alone," the man relayed over the phone.

"Remain on standby. Right now the orders are to observe."

"Roger that," he pushed the button killing the connection. His partner stayed frozen along the roof, fixed on the balcony in the center of the building.

"The boss says to keep observing until orders come down."

The other one remained silent. He wondered if the man ever took the helmet and mask off. His body was masked by the uniform and bulletproof vest. His partner was a man of few words though his actions spoke more than what was necessary. His record in Raccoon City was impressive as he had procured the G-Virus from the late Dr. Birkin and now was perched across from the residence of one of their worst enemies. Known only as HUNK, the former operative now worked for the highest bidder, loyalties only got in the way. Vector, who had shockingly made it out as well, stood alongside him, recalling when he had last laid eyes on their target. HUNK stayed focused on the sleeping form in the dimly lit apartment. He knew her from Raccoon City, she had latched onto the team led by SPEC OPS Echo Team. She was different now, her hair jet black instead of chestnut brown.  He would've never fathomed she'd still be alive after the incident, yet, she did not die that day. 

Vector watched, remembering how she got away, no thanks to that interfering Jettingham and his team. Despite her luck, it appears it was about to run out.

Chapter Text

Edonia…..12/24/2012

"Not today!" Piers tucked and rolled as the massive fist smashed the spot he had landed moments before. He shimmied up the icy ladder, anxious to rejoin his comrades who were in the midst of a gun battle with the creature.

Chris knew that metallic thing was going to be a goddamn nightmare to knock off but he wasn't going to give up. The B.S.A.A.'s mission was to combat bioterrorism and Chris Redfield was going to live up to the standard.

"Piers," he hollered through the ear piece. "Can you get a shot on that thing?"

The probe waved and swayed like a flag in the wind. Piers was patient. His scope stayed still as the creature continued flailing and waving its arms.

"Come on you bastard….." He exhaled and pulled the trigger. The sniper round pinged off the surface and fractured part of the device. It growled and swatted at the team on the exposed terrace, feeling the sharp shock of electricity rush through the organ. Piers didn't move and maintained his aim, hoping to finish what the first shot had ignited.

*Bang*

The round ricochet off the opposite side of the damaged area, deepening the fracture in the target. Everyone watched as the probe parted into several compacted pieces exposing the vulnerability of the beast.

"Got it!" Chris went for the closest appendage but the B.O.W. had other ideas. It went for Piers, grabbing the marksman with its crushing grip. Piers strained and struggled to break free but the son of a bitch wasn't giving.

"Piers!" Chris climbed the arm of the thing, remembering how they defeated its predecessor.

I am not losing him! No one dies on my watch!

His body curled around the closest protrusion which was a pin or piece of bone. Piers could feel his abdomen imploding with the pressure on his body. His ribs were straining and he swore he was going to pop like a party favor. His eyes were shut keeping them from popping out as he continued his struggle. He couldn't reach the combat knife that was on his back, the handle blocked by the creature's flesh. His fists pummeled the top of the spongy skin but it was like the buzzing of a mosquito to the thing. Spots polluted his vision as his breath turned shorter and shallower. If it meant his captain was going to survive then his life wouldn't be taken in vain.

The sudden loss in pressure followed by the sensation of falling alerted Piers to his freedom. Chris was stabbing the organ repeatedly as Sherry and the stranger fired on the tendril. The thing jerked and twitched as Chris lifted the sharp point then rammed it through the thickest part of bulbous flesh. The creature tipped back and forth in the throes of death. Chris jumped off the falling form, flying through the snow capped air towards the two on the ledge. The thing shivered and ignited before melting into a pool of gelatinous ooze. The stench choked Piers as he rounded the puddle and regrouped with Chris and the others.

"Good job Alpha Team! You took that thing out! Proceed to the City Hall!"

"HQ this is Alpha Team. We need a pick up for Agent Sherry Birkin and witness."

"Copy that Alpha. Chopper en route right now."

The chopper landed in the town center which was the secondary rendezvous point.

"I told the pilot the coordinates."

"Thanks Chris," Sherry gratefully thanked the agent. The man started for the chopper without saying a word.

"Hey….Hey!" Chris hollered. The man stopped and turned around facing the older man. Those eyes….Chris couldn't shake the feeling he had seen this man somewhere before.

"Have we met?"

"No, all you jarheads look the same to me…..Sorry pal." He added a smirk and went for the waiting chopper.

"What did he just say?!" Piers went after him only to be restrained by his captain.

"No Piers," he warned him.

"Captain, did you hear what he said?" The marksman was infuriated! How could that lowlife criminal…..

Piers sulked and scrunched his face in frustration. "How many men have we lost to mercenaries like him?"

"He's not our concern Piers. We need to adhere to the B.S.A.A. mission." Chris turned and started towards the shell of the former city hall. The others fell in except for Finn who timidly approached Piers.

"The B.S.A.A.'s mission is to combat bioterrorism Sir."

"I know what the mission is rookie," he snorted harsher than he wanted. Finn fell back like a child who thought he was about to be punished. Ben and Carl patted the youngster's back as they started off; reassuring him it was all good. Ben offered a smile which erased Finn's initial apprehension.

Chris continued onward, refusing to let his mind go astray. He knew it was Christmas Eve as some of his men had brought it up before heading out earlier that day.

Another holiday…Alone…..

He couldn't but help to feel the desolation of being apart. The last time he had been home for any holiday was three years before. And that was right after Jill had come home. Everyone had gathered at the B.S.A.A. to mark her return and to celebrate the holidays. He remembered with fondness how Alex and hugged Jill so tight that the blonde had nearly passed out. Alex had been waiting at HQ for them when the chopper hand landed and they both stepped out. The tears that sprang out and down her eyes had nearly frozen into opaque pearls against her warm skin as it was snowing that night. His best friend and his lover sharing a tearful reunion had brought Chris to a few of his own. Though he wiped them aside before either could notice. For a brief moment he felt as if he was in one of those cheesy Hallmark movies where everyone was together in the end, hugging and crying with peaks of laughter in between.

"Captain," Piers' voice launched Chris from the precious memory. "Look…."

The city hall's windows were boarded up as its protective fortifications had been chipped away by artillery fire and grenade attack alike. It was quiet in the immediate vicinity but Chris had learned early on his career never to let one's guard down. The rest of the unit was continuously sweeping their path, constantly moving their weapons in sharp organized patterns.

"We go in and search for survivors but watch for B.O.W.'s. It's almost guaranteed we'll encounter them."

Chris had been wrong.

Dead wrong.

The main hall of the building was vacant, void of any life. The only hint of anything having been present was the various groupings of strange but familiar cocoons. Not a single member of the team had to be told what was the source of these pods.

"Keep moving," Chris spoke in a lower hushed tone. The air was thick, humid almost despite the bitter dry cold that wailed outside. Piers walked up to one of the hardened cases, finding them to appear like hardened caramel. The color was the right consistency and the surface was rigid but brittle. One piece between his gloved hand cracked with a little pressure, materializing into a fine dust that sprinkled the floor.

"Piers," Chris jerked his head to the second level. "Take Finn and Ben upstairs and see what you can find."

"Right," Piers waved his arm at the rookie and Ben, watching them scurrying to his side. They rushed the first flight, pausing but momentarily before reaching the landing and taking the right ledge. Fine carvings of Greek gods and goddesses lined the railings; silent witnesses to whatever horrors had been carried out in this place. The lights were dim but running despite most of the power grid having been obliterated by the rebels and government.

"I'm picking up life signals within these. Were these people…." Finn kept his eye on the monitor but the sudden slamming of a door alerted the squad.

"Wait," the rookie held up a hand, "I'm getting signals on the other side of this door."

He pointed to the only set of doors that were visible. They peered over the top of railing on the second floor of the foyer.

"HQ this is Alpha; three are splitting from the group and heading deeper into the building."

Finn spun around, propelling his foot against the ornate set of doors. The pair exploded open which revealed what awaited them on the other side.

"What the…." Blood was smeared on the walls, as though someone had taken a human sized brush and painted random strokes against the soiled side. Books and furnishings were tossed about in a careless indifferent manner. Movement ten feet ahead caught Chris's attention.

An outline of what appeared to be a woman in a dress had vanished behind the corner. The sunlight streaming through the hole in the ceiling prevented the hardened agent from getting a better glimpse of the mysterious figure.

"Wait stop!" Chris hollered out as he took off. Piers and Finn trailed behind catching up with him as more blood and tissue coated the halls and walls of the interior.

"What the Hell happened here?" Piers wondered aloud.

Chris continued on; determine to find out the identity of the woman, moved on without slowing. Piers and Finn literally ran to stay on even stride. A few J'avo jumped from their hiding places in the adjacent room but the three agents took them out with ease. Chris lifted the largest one up and over his head before slamming the mutated body against the unforgiving floor. Specks of leathery skin lathered the tip of his boot to which he scraped it along the floor. Piers and Finn obliterated the other three with a rain of gunfire.

The maze grew deeper as the blood expanded on the walls. The rumble of aircraft reverberated off the building as they turned one final corner. The door had no lock or knob or any means to grant entrance.

"I've got it," Finn showed off his power and forced the slab of iron to collapse to his will. The rookie went in first, ensuring the room was clear.

"Captain the room's clear," he hollered. Chris and Piers stepped inside with the latter spotting something in the center of the room. He knelt down plucking one of the objects off the floor.

"Captain," Piers passed it along which turned out to be some kind of syringe and chamber. It was smooth and silver in color. The floor had at least 12 scattered across it. He wondered if it had anything to do with those cocoons they passed in the main foyer and central meeting room.

"C-virus," a new voice emerged. Chris Piers and Finn pointed their weapons at the figure that stepped from the side. From the darkness came forth a woman with short dark hair, light tan skin, rich almond eyes that appeared to see right through all three of them. Her dress was a navy blue with a deep front cut that pointed into a V. A red scarf was loosely draped around her neck while stunning hoops of gold adorned her ears.

"That's what the guerillas were calling it."

She casually lifted her hands but the men didn't back down.

"Who are you?" Piers scrutinized her, narrowing his eyes at the mysterious woman.

"I work here," she was evasive. "My name's Ada Wong. They took my hostage. Nice to see the cavalry's here."

Piers had an immediate dislike towards her. Something nagged at the young agent. There was something off with this Ada Wong.

"C-virus," Chris parroted her first words. "That must be what's being used to create those J'avo."

"Yeah, I heard them saying something about it."

"What else did you hear?" Piers demanded with restrained coldness.

"Maybe you could put down your guns first?" Ada lowered her hands and began to approach the three. Chris dropped the syringe as they held Ada at gunpoint in unison.

"Not unless you give us a reason to," Chris glowered at her. Ada groaned inwardly at the macho attitudes but knew she wasn't going to achieve anything with the jarheads keeping her at gunpoint.

"Neo-Umbrella," she knew it would be a game changer; especially where Chris Redfield was concerned.

"Neo-Umbrella," Chris repeated in curiosity.

"The organization that is backing the guerillas," Ada hated explaining herself. "Well at least that is what they were calling themselves anyways."

"So the C-virus came from them," Chris relaxed his stance.

"That's all I know," Ada continued to play stupid. With these three it wasn't that hard.

"Thank you," Chris smiled shortly. "We appreciate your cooperation."

Piers continued to feel the unease simmering in his lower body. Where did this woman come from? With the J'avo that were running around and the strange cocoons in the different areas, she should've been at the very least brandishing something to defend herself with. After all she was held hostage or so she claimed anyways.

"Finn," the rookie came when called. Ada noticed how obedient he was. He couldn't have been any more than 21. "Your mission is to protect her."

"Right Captain," Finn nodded. Piers glanced at Ada, catching the hard stare she was casting at him. It wasn't a hateful stare but rather she was…..studying him? Was she observing him?

"Keep an eye on her," Chris whispered in a low tone. Piers could only nod and keep himself on alert.

"I know a shortcut to the front entrance," Ada offered.

"HQ, this is Alpha. We found a staff member and are returning to the front.”

"Copy that Alpha."

"Follow me please," Ada's heels clicked along the stone flooring, a beacon for the others to trail. The hallway met with a flight of stairs that were concealed behind a plain wooden door. As the descended the steps, the rapid progression of gunfire flooded the corridor.

"Shit," Chris rushed down the steps, nearly tumbling down the last three. Piers caught up, steadying the captain with a hand and together they kicked in the door.

"SHIT! Those things…."Chris realized they were the things residing in the cocoons. They were human….once.

"They're everywhere! We won't make it out alive!" Ben screamed in sheer terror as the rest of the squad was losing their fight against the creatures.

"Up here!" Carl waved from the top of the staircase. "They foyer's not safe anymore!"

"There's a way out on the second floor," Ada mentioned as though she was holding a casual conversation. "I suggest we take it."

The team gathered around the metal door with Piers and Chris kicking it in.

"Everyone in now!" Piers ushered the rest of the men inside as Ada slammed her palm on a control panel, closing the door behind them.

"There's a door leading the warehouse next door," Ada motioned to the door located on the other side of the storage facility. Their path was blocked by more of those cocoons that littered the other side. One by one they crackled and fractured as the newly formed being emerged like a butterfly from slumber.

"Damn it," Piers cursed and opened fire, aiming for the head. The tough outer shell secured the brain like the plate on the head of a triceratops. Piers sprayed the organic armor with bullets, finding the protective layer infallible and shatter after enough stress was administered. The softer vulnerable flesh was like a human's. The hollow rounds pierced the flesh and muscle, shredding the brain like tissue paper.

"Captain aim for the head!" He shouted as it fell at his feet then fizzled into a liquid mass.

He looked up to see Chris finishing off the other clearing their path.

"Alright let's move."

Chris took lead, kicking doors and shooting at the B.O.W.'s that dotted their path. The squad succeeded in evading some of the creatures that stirred from their stasis even though it meant leaping down as far as 10 feet to the ground below. Chris had observed some of the humanoid shells didn't erupt or even budge as they rushed by. But now wasn't the time to wonder why.

"We're almost out," he fought back his rising elation. "Stay strong men."

"Yes sir," Finn sounded relieved and didn't hold it back. Chris couldn't blame the boy.

"Down the stairs and to the left and that will take us out," Ada didn't move as fast as the others but stayed within their line of sight. She waited until they were fixated on getting out before falling back into an alcove.

Perfect…..

The squad reached the seemingly empty room with dual doorways. Chris and Piers put distance ahead of the others, treading into a narrow corridor.

"What is this?" Chris spun around.

"Where's the woman?!" He noticed someone was missing.

"Finn!" Piers barked the rookie's name sharply.

"I-I don't know what happened! She was here just a minute ago!" Finn was frantic in searching for Ada. She had been right behind him before they entered.

The sudden groan from overhead caused everyone to jerk their heads up and see spikes shooting straight down towards Piers and Chris. The pair leapt back as the wrought iron cut them off from the rest. Finn and Carl went for the other door but were cut off from escape as an identical set clanged against the floor and bounced between the walls. It was a trap.

"Ada!" Chris pointed his gun through the bars at the woman who reemerged through the bars. A cruel smile laced her lips as she produced something in her hand.

"Thanks for the escort," she purred in gratitude. "Here's something to remember me by."

Ada tossed the silver ball like a softball pitcher would: slow and underhanded. The ball opened up exposing the deadly needles and their contents to the unsuspecting men. It popped like a firework launching the needles into the necks, arms, faces, and legs of the four who were in the main room. Ada gave a look of indifference before sauntering off leaving Chris and Piers to their fates.

"NO!" Chris slammed the bars with his hands as Piers shook them with a violent fervor. The men began to cry out and collapse as the virus surged through their bodies, attacking the very cells that made them human. Their skin liquefied and dripped from their flesh as their shrill screams enraged Chris.

"NO GODDAMN IT!"

One by one their bodies exploded into flames as the virus continued manipulating and twisting their flesh bone and muscle. Finn staggered towards them with hand outstretched. The pained expression was one of sorrow and confusion. It reached into Chris's eyes and soul, tearing it open with sharp jagged blades.

"Finn hang in there!" He kicked and rushed the door with his shoulder but the door wouldn't yield. Finn continued to slip away as his skin leaked through the gloves like honey.

"Captain…." His voice gurgled as the softening matter that had been his throat drowned his larynx.

"NO!" Chris reached out with his hand, millimeters from the frozen stance that had been the rookie. His men were entrapped within their own skin, canvas for the C-virus that Ada left as a memento. He slumped down to the ground as the failure rushed over him like a tsunami. This wasn't supposed to happen! They were all supposed to make it out alive! They were going to be back at base camp awaiting orders.

I failed them…..I failed them as Captain…..

No….no this is not happening!

"Captain we have to go," Piers couldn't take his eyes off the cocoon that was hatching. The cocoon that had contained Finn but what emerged was unrecognizable. Finn was gone.

The Chyrsalid towered over the men as the door groaned and lifted up, eliminating the barrier between it and the two humans. Chris was on his feet, gun hesitantly raised at the creature. This was Finn! He was their rookie!

"Captain!" Piers snapped as Chris could only stare with sadness in his eyes. The thing that had been Finn charged ahead as the other three cocoons burst open. Chris couldn't find the will to fire on it. It was Finn damn it! Finn was in there somewhere! He couldn't kill Finn! He wouldn't kill Finn!

"Captain!" Piers opened fire but it was too late. The creature swiped its arm across its massive chest, knocking Chris and Piers to the ground. The creature went for Chris, hurling him around like a child would toss a ragdoll. His body was pinned against the wall with his head and legs bouncing off the uneven surface. The massive fists pummeled his vest, rupturing blood vessels deep inside his chest. A sharp crack followed by another signaled at least two broken ribs. Chris felt the air being robbed from his lungs as the creature continued pounding him like a schoolyard bully. His vision was going blurry as he could only see the hazy outline of his attacker.

"Chris!" Piers opened fire on it, forcing Chris to be flung around to the ground. His back and shoulders landed first followed by his head. He bounced up then down off the ground with his head smacking stone and brick along the way. Piers continued firing on the mutation which gave him coverage to fist the top of Chris's tactical vest and drag the dead weight that was his body.

Chris felt his head spinning as he slipped in and out of consciousness. The gunfire was growing distant as the tunnel of light dimmed all around him. His last thought before going under was that of Finn. The figure of his youngest member of the squad flooded his mind. He wasn't dressed in the B.S.A.A. uniform but stonewashed denim jeans with that damned Saints shirt he loved so much. A wide grin brightened his face as his dark brown hair was disheveled creating a youthful aura about him. There was no hate or anger in those sweet puppy dog eyes; only warmth dominated those dark chocolate rings.

"Finn….." The name passed between the slightly parted lips as the chopper lifted off.

Heathrow International Airport...London...3 days later

Piers paced around the terminal as he awaited the British Airways flight to arrive from New York City. He was worried about her; worried how she had taken the news about Alpha Team. His fingers wrung around themselves as he couldn't stay seated for more than a minute. Chris had been life flighted from Edonia to Berlin and then London where the largest B.S.A.A. facilities were. He had been put in a medically induced coma to alleviate the swelling off his brain.

"Agent Redfield must remain in a coma until the swelling around his brain is reduced."

"Why is he in a coma?"

"It helps his body heal. With his body in a state of slumber, the blood vessels will shrink in size allowing for the damage to be repaired…..That is the hope Agent Nivans."

"What do you mean hope!?"

"We will not know for certain if the treatment works until we do another cat-scan. From what we could determine from the initial assessment, Agent Redfield had not suffered major brain damage. But the swelling could inflict it which is why we opted to induce the coma."

"And what about his fiancé? What are you going to tell her?"

Piers gritted his teeth as the responsibility of telling Alex was on him. How could he tell her that Finn and the others were gone? Victims of Ada Wong? She had taken Finn under her wing, promising to show him how to meet women after he got back and watch hockey with him. How was he going to tell her….

"Ladies and gentlemen, British Airways flight 1973 from New York City is now arriving."

The calm British accent's announcement made Piers's stomach turn knots. It had been a 20 hour flight for her; alone. Had she cried? Had she grown cold inside to block the pain?

The first wave of passengers spilled from the gate. Piers scanned the sea of faces as business suits, casual dressers, baseball hats, and multi-colored strands blasted his sight. Damn it where was she?

Black, white and tan faces breached his line of sight but as the few passengers surfaced, one stood out.

Alex had not slept in 48 hours. Her eyes were distorted with the pencil thin trails that clouded the whites of her eyes. The normally vibrant shades of cerulean were dull and void of any life. Her hair had been hastily tied back into a messy ponytail. Her shoulders were slumped down as her carry-on bumped her back. Her focus was on the ground and not on the spiky haired brunette that stood with hands curling and uncurling into a set of fists.

Piers could feel his heart jumping into his throat, the apprehension filling his mind as she drew closer. His feet went forward carrying him towards her. His palms grew slick as they continued to fidget.

"Alex," Piers halted her movement with an arm stretched out. Alex shook her head and lifted it upward at an angle. The wet film that coated her eyes confirmed what Piers feared. She didn't speak as they stood there looking at one another in the eyes. Alex looked away, not wanting him to see her like that.

"Alex," he brought his hand across her face, forcing her to meet his worried stare. "Alex…."

Her body began to sway before collapsing against him. Piers wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on top of hers. He knew she was in a state of shock as the reality of it all had not compounded her yet.

"How is he?" She sniffled.

"He's in an artificial coma right now. There wasn't any serious damage to his brain."

"I wanna see him," she felt her chest tense up as her throat closed and burned.

Piers nodded and released his friend. He grappled the bag and slung it over his shoulder then drew her in with his arm. They walked in heavy silence towards the waiting car that sat beyond the sliding doors of Heathrow International.

"Alex."

Josh Stone leapt from the hard torturous seat. He had not seen her since Jill came back. He wished it had been better circumstances.

"Josh," she latched onto her old friend. "How could this happen?"

Her emotions now raged unchecked as grief went to rage. "Who did this to him!? I want the bastard who did this dead!"

"It wasn't a man," Piers said from behind her. "It was a woman. Her name is Ada Wong."

"Ada? THAT BITCH IS DEAD!"

"How do you know Ada?" Josh raised an eyebrow in intrigue.

"Because I'm friends with Leon remember? That's how I know her! That fucking bitch is dead! I will rip her heart out then kill her all over again! I will pump her dying body full of T-virus just so I can kill her again and again!"

"Alex!" Piers wrapped his arms around her, shutting his eyes as she kicked and pounded on his thighs. "Alex please stop." She ignored his pleas and thrashed about like a wild animal. Her hair flung from the tie slapping her face with light smacks.

"Nurse!" Josh hollered for help. "Alex if you don't stop this we will have the nurse give you something to calm you down."

The nurse rushed towards the scene ahead with a syringe full of sedative ready to go. Josh and Piers feared this would occur and alerted the staff to be ready.

"Alex please," Josh went for her legs but was rewarded with a sharp kick to the right shin. Josh fell back rubbing the growing bruise through the cargo pans. He rocked back and forth in the rigid plastic seat as the cavalry arrived. Alex wouldn't remain still so the nurse resorted to extreme methods. The needle was thrust into her thigh, sending the potent relaxant into rigid fibers and thick crimson.

"It's the strongest cocktail we have," her Cockney accent was on the slightly annoying end.

"Josh are you okay?"

"Just fine Piers," the dark skinned man shot a thumbs up. "Given I was up to my pits in Kijuju shit, this is nothing."

Piers nodded and felt the resistance in his arms decrease. Alex felt her arms and legs go heavy first, followed by her neck and shoulders. Her tongue was like a piece of meat: thick and slimy.

"Keep a hold of her Piers," Josh watched her begin to slide through his arms. "She's going down."

Piers slipped his arms under her knees and back, hoisting her up and close to his chest.

"There's a bed in the room you can put her on," Josh leaned over and pointed to the door. The plaque had the name Chris Redfield on it. Piers worried she would panic when she woke up and saw his sorry state as he slipped into the darkened room.

The monitor beeped with quiet constant peaks and valleys. The form on the bed was still but the rising and falling was the only sign of life. Piers hung his head and turned to the vacant bed setting her down in the center. He was uncertain of how long she would be out but he wouldn't leave her side. She was going to need someone.

He turned to the other occupant, gazing sadly at the tragic figure that was his captain, Chris Redfield. Piers sat in the chair resting his elbow on mattress.

"She's here Chris," he didn't call him captain. "She's pretty upset but we had to sedate her. When she wakes up I'll be here to make sure she knows she's not alone. Josh is here too. He's outside the room. You need to wake up Chris."

"Piers," Josh stood in the doorway. The awful fluorescent lighting of the hallway illuminated his powerful frame but his eyes were as bright and stern as the moon. "You need to take a break. You should head to B.S.A.A. and clean up, sleep. If Alex wakes up I'll be here. She won't be alone."

"I-I don't know Josh…."

"No," he adamantly shook his head. "You need to sleep and eat Piers. If she wakes up I'll call you."

"Fine," he relented and cast one last look at Chris then turned to Alex who was breathing deeply. His hand brushed over across the top of hers, pausing to offer a subtle but supportive squeeze. He leaned over to place a kiss on her forehead before departing.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

It had been three days…

Three agonizingly long days since Alex arrived at the B.S.A.A. Three painful days of waiting and sitting awake by Chris's bedside. Sleep had eluded her but then again she didn't expect it to grace her with is healing presence. Refusals to leave his side was the answer Josh Claire and Piers received when the simple mention of rest was addressed.

"No," she gripped the hand tighter. "I promised him I wouldn't leave his side."

"Alex," Claire scooted a chair alongside her friend. She gathered a hand within hers though Alex stayed focused on Chris. "Why don't you take a shower? I brought you some clean clothes."

"I don't want to." What part of she wasn't leaving him did they not understand?

"Just because you don't want to doesn't mean you won't get to."

"He's gonna wake up," she announced. "When he wakes up and I'm not there what's gonna happen huh?"

"Alex," Piers came around the other side. "The doctor said it will take time for him to wake up. They're withdrawing the amount gradually remember? She told us it would take time."

"I-I just want him to wake up," she started rubbing her cheek up and down the slack hand.

"And he will but we have to let the doctors do their jobs," Josh was behind Alex with his hands clasped on her shoulders. "Chris is a tough guy. He's gonna make it."

"We'll stay here so you can take a shower." Piers smiled with a strained curling of his lips.

"I'll go grab food," Josh was already taking off for the cafeteria. He knew everyone was needing a refill of food and coffee but didn't come out and say it.

"Alex, take a shower," Claire spoke in a harder tone. "You haven't moved and you'll feel better."

"Alex listen to Claire," Piers begged his friend. "Look, the bathroom is right there and you can leave the door open so you can hear everything. We won't look."

"No…." She drawled. Piers looked to Claire who nodded in kind.

"If you don't go, we'll call that nurse back in here."

"You wouldn't," she showed her lips in a nasty snarl. One that made Claire and Piers recoil.

"We will," Claire continued. "Piers, why don't you go get her?"

"Fine," Alex shot her hand up. "I'll go. But if he wakes up I want to know. I don't care if I'm showering or not."

"We promise," Claire gave a genuine warm smile. "Now get moving."

Alex's brow furrowed in part anger and part frustration. She knew they would call that fucking nurse back in here too. Her lips were pressing to the top of Chris's hand, staying firm against the dry layer of skin for several moments.

"I'll be back," she whispered. "Just keep coming back to us please?"

Alex pushed backwards then up from the chair, letting her hand hold Chris until she was far enough away that her fingers unwound from his. She sulked the entire way to the bathroom, cursing Piers and Claire for their efforts. The door swung shut but didn't close completely. Moments later the sounds of water pelting the wall could be heard.

"You really weren't going to bring that horrid woman back in here were you?" Claire raised an eyebrow to Piers whose face seemed to be crumpled in pain.

"No," the marksman shuddered. "She put me off and I can tolerate most people."

"Good, because Alex would've killed her."

Piers had a half-hearted smile at the image dancing in his head.

"Knock knock," Dr. Teague stepped in. "I wanted to see how Chris was doing."

"The machines have been pretty steady," Piers offered up.

"Good," the doctor spoke in her crisp but pleasing British accent. "The cat scan showed his body, especially his mind, is responding positively to the decrease in barbital. We reduced the dosage to 75 percent three days ago and we are looking to lighten the strength to 60 percent tomorrow. With head injuries such as the ones Chris sustained in Edonia, we can't just shock his body back."

"As long as he wakes up," Claire was holding her brother's hand.

"As long as his body continues to respond in the manner we hope for that won't be an issue."

"Thanks Doc," Piers felt a little bit better inside. He knew his captain was fierce, tough in battle. Imagining the B.S.A.A. without Captain Chris Redfield was imagining the sky without the sun. It just wasn't allowed to happen.

"I'm gonna run these in the bathroom," Claire held the neatly folded pile in her hands. "Alex will want to hear the good news."

"Right," Piers nodded and turned to the unconscious form of his leader. "Captain, you better wake up. Alex is a mess. She didn't move for three days and we had to strong arm her into taking a shower. Josh is worried but he tries to be our cheerleader in a manner of speaking. They said the memorial service will be in a week. It's ironic how they're going to have coffins that hold nothing."

Piers snorted bitterly at his remark.

"Alex wants to hunt down Ada Wong but she won't listen to us. Not even Claire can convince her to let the vendetta go. The B.S.A.A. is doing all they can to find her but she's vanished off the map."

He wanted to say more but the quiet thumping of tennis shoes halted his tongue. Claire returned with empty hands and a deep tired expression lining her eyes.

"I'm gonna go find Josh. I need to keep myself from thinking about everything."

"Sure," Piers nodded. "I'll stay here with Chris and Alex."

"Alright," she leaned over kissing her brother on the cheek. "If he wakes up call me."

"Of course," he waved the cell in his hand. "You're on the top of the speed dial."

Piers set the device back down on the table and resumed watch over his captain. It was difficult to digest the view laid out before him: Chris Redfield, weak and vulnerable in a hospital bed in London. Where the long sleeved charcoal B.S.A.A. uniform had once been now only bare skin with the flimsy gown that struggled to cover the broad shoulders and tight chest was present. The blanket was drawn to his waist as the gown went slightly higher than expected. An IV line was hooked in like a tentacle in his hand, delivering life sustaining fluids to an otherwise depleted body. A second line carried the potent medication which restrained his mind from harming itself.

"He looks so fragile."

Piers shot his head up to see Alex hovering in the doorway. Her arm held the bundle of soiled clothes as she wore the crisp olive shirt and slightly fitted jeans. Her eyes dimmed as they trailed Chris, exposing the deep running torment she fought to keep concealed.

"It's like I'm looking at a porcelain doll."

She discarded the crumpled pile on the chair and rounded the bed.

"He's always the strong one. He went through so much with Umbrella and what they did to him…..To us."

Piers slid over allowing her to reclaim her position against the bed.

"Was Umbrella part of this too?" Alex's demeanor shifted to a dark hateful manner.

"No," Piers shook his head. His feet propelled him to where she sat, taking the shaking woman in his stable arms. "It was Neo-Umbrella."

"Neo-Umbrella?" Alex repeated.

"We don't know what it is but it sounds like elements of Umbrella have reemerged."

"No rest for the weary," she laughed with bitterness.

"Don't think that," Piers gripped her chin carefully in his fingers. "Don't think that we won't have a day where bioterrorism is eradicated."

"I would like to think that," Alex admired his glints of optimism. "You sound like Finn."

"Well Finn wouldn't want you to give up."

"Well Finn's dead!" Alex tore from his hold. "He's dead!"

"But if he was standing here right now, he would tell you to keep fighting. He wouldn't let you drag yourself down into this fucked up mess you're creating for yourself! Do you want that?!"

"You have no idea the hell I have been through," Alex bristled with anger raging violently in her eyes. Her tongue froze before spilling anything more. Piers had crossed an invisible boundary but what he wasn't certain of. Alex had been evasive in regards to Umbrella and Wesker. He didn't want to intrude but his curiosity had nearly consumed him on more than one instance. The young marksman was aware of Chris's connections to Umbrella and its deceased researcher Albert Wesker but Alex wasn't so forth coming. Clearly something had occurred that she refused to address.

"Alex," Piers raised his hand in a non threatening sign as Alex felt the fibers in her shoulders and neck tense and contract in a primitive reaction. The air grew thick as Alex continued to stare down the younger man.

"Whoa," Josh cut the tension in the room with his calming presence. "Time out both of you."

Claire hurried in with a sack of sandwiches in her hand. Her eyes caught the frightened animal gleam in Alex's eyes as she stood against the wall and leapt into action.

"Alex," Claire set the bag aside. "Alex, it's alright. Whatever Piers said he didn't want to upset you."

"No, I didn't mean to upset her."

"Piers come out with me man," Josh pushed a cup of coffee in his hand and ushered him back out into the hall.

"Damn it! What the Hell is wrong with these damned lights!? This is the second set we've lost in three days!"

The sounds of the maintenance crew hollering over lighting breaking yet once again as the two stepped out into the hall.

"Alex, it's alright."

"He has no idea….." Her lip quivered triggering the stinging deluge.

"No he doesn't," Claire shook her head sympathetically.

"No idea….."

"I know," Claire was cautious in her steps as she extended her arms out. "And no one should have to go through that either."

The younger Redfield slowly closed the space between as though she was facing a scared animal. In a sad way Alex was like a caged animal: Scared, angry, and confused. She had been a prisoner of her mind and continued to fight the demons that haunted her.

"Why does this keep happening to us?" Her voice deflated to a shaky whisper.

"I don't know Alex," Claire caught her friend in a tight embrace. "I don't know."

"I didn't mean to get Alex upset," Piers was slumped over in the wretched chair. The lumbar portion stabbed his back, the opposite of its original intent.

"I know Piers," Josh could see how agitated the confrontation had made the marksman. "But she's got a lot to work through. Alex saw those guys as her brothers just like you and Chris did. For her it was losing a large part of her family."

"I just wanted her to see."

"And your intentions were honest we get that. But Alex has been through a lot. She's seen and endured about as much as any one of us in the B.S.A.A. Hell, back to when Raccoon City was was a giant clusterfuck."

"I knew she was from Raccoon City."

"Well that's how she met Jill. She was holed up in the church in the clock tower with Jill and Carlos Olivera."

"Well I knew that," Piers took a small but thoughtful sip of coffee.

"I know you care about her but she needs to weave through this shit her way."

"It's hard seeing her sitting there like that though."

"No one knows that better than Claire. If it wasn't for her, Alex would probably be in a psych ward somewhere."

"I didn't know that," Piers muttered in his cup.

"It's alright man," Josh patted the center of his back. "But now you know some of the person that is Alex. When she's ready, she'll open up more. But for now just be there for her. When she falls on your shoulder, let her."

"I already am," Piers looked sadly at the open door. Claire had succeeded in subduing Alex and now she was in the chair. The same position as before.

Alex lifted her head upward to where Piers was sitting across the way. She could feel the weight of his guilt consumed eyes, detecting the turmoil swirling in his heart and mind. It was like a Licker had barreled down on her like a linebacker for the Packers. Her entire body was set ablaze with the absorption of his emotions, pricking her body like millions of miniscule knives carving into her flesh.

She quickly averted her stare away as the nausea settled in the bottom of her stomach.

"What we have a problem with the wiring in this bloody place?!"

A doctor hollered from down the hall. Josh and Piers craned their necks around and over, noticing the lighting as it flickered then died. Maybe they did have issues with the wiring. Ever since they had arrived it had been nonstop issues with lights throughout the damned building.

I really fucked up…..I hurt her when all I wanted to do was make her understand…..

Piers glanced up at the flat screen positioned on the wall. The volume was high enough for them to hear. It was the CNN International channel that was blaring across the screen. It was the channel of choice for most of the B.S.A.A. units outside of the States. Right now the main story was the ongoing war in Edonia. Though they were gone from the area, the war had raged on without them. The B.S.A.A. had successfully contained parts of the region, exterminating the B.O.W.s that crossed their paths. The rebels were being turned back; well rather the ones not infected were being rounded up and taken out like cattle.

Bastards deserve it!

Piers silently mused as he continued sipping his coffee. Josh was checking on a call he had received from Sheva. Together they sat in a comfortable silence.

One week later….

"So how much more can they decrease it?"

Alex continued drumming her finger tips across Chris's hand. The amount he was receiving was standing at 50 percent barbital. She didn't have to be told he was fighting in the recesses of his broken but determined body. The x-rays and scans showed the damage was continuously being mended by cell and tissue alike. The good news was he was out of the danger zone and his status had been upgraded from serious to critical. While everyone was relieved at the prognosis, Alex cringed. She wanted to hear stable but swallowed back the bitter pill she had been given by the medical staff. Claire knew she was upset as she too had hoped her brother would've been upgraded to stable; but critical was better than serious in this case.

"They said if he continues to improve they'll decrease to 40 percent. At that point he may be able to hear us."

"Claire, he does hear us. He just can't respond that's all," Alex rested her chin on the metal bar. Her hand toyed with his as she hoped the stimulation would perhaps trigger a reactive response.

"Claire," Piers stepped inside the room. He rubbed his neck uncomfortably while he shuffled a foot back and forth. "Can I talk to Alex for a minute?"

"It's okay," the raven haired woman called over her shoulder. "I need to talk to him."

"Okay," she sighed. "I'll go bother Josh for a bit."

Piers waited until she was out of earshot before speaking up. "Alex, I'm sorry –"

"Don't start," Alex released Chris's hand and shot up. "It's me who needs to apologize. I lost control and I snapped at you."

"No," he shook his head. There was no way she was taking all of the blame. "I should've been more considerate."

"I know you were trying to talk sense into me," she looked everywhere but at him. Shame dictated her movements as she shoved her hands deep in her pockets. "And you didn't deserve to be treated like that. So let's just leave it as we both rattled one another's nerves and be good with it."

"Alright," Piers acquiesced. Alex lifted her head for the first time since he stepped in meeting his forgiving look. They briefly traded an awkward glance before Alex jerked around and resumed her watch.

"Hey Piers," Alex turned but kept her hand locked in Chris's, "Thanks….For everything."

"Alex," he sat alongside her. "You don't need to thank me."

He paused to rub his neck yet again. She observed this action when he was nervous but remained moot on the matter.

"When I showed up that first day, you didn't hesitate to make me feel welcome. I didn't know anyone but Chris."

"You didn't see Finn when he showed up. He looked like he was lost." Alex wiped the corner of her eye. "I called him my little brother because I didn't have any siblings."

"I know I was harsh about bringing him up."

"No, you didn't step out of line. I wouldn't have wanted Finn to see me like that. I feel like I let him down acting like that."

"No," Piers shook his head, "You didn't let him down. You're holding it together a lot better than some."

"Well it's been a long road for Chris and me. We both grew thick skins over the years; made us tougher and stronger."

"I can see it," Piers quietly admitted.

"Thanks," she dodged her head and focused back on Chris. "When Chris wakes up and we go home, I know he's going to struggle and fight to understand what happened."

"We'll be there for him – All of us."

2 weeks later…..

Alex had developed the habit of sleeping in Chris's bed now that he was improving. She always pushed up on the railing with her head on the crook of his shoulder, mindful of the tubing and pads of the monitors. Piers had slipped a blanket between the rolling rods and her body allowing her to obtain a better night's sleep. Chris was now at 30 percent barbital infusion which renewed everyone's hopes and anticipations. But Alex had been the most anxious.

With Chris recovering it would be best to put off any talks of marriage until he was 100 percent. While they had not really set a date, they both agreed after he got back from Edonia they would begin planning or just say screw it and head to the courthouse. It was alright; she could wait. Alex could wait a little longer. The important thing was to get Chris home.

They had been at the hospital for nearly three weeks now but no one took notice. The medical staff had been progressive but slow in bringing Chris out of the coma. Every so often his finger would twitch causing Alex to become elated with false hopes. When she asked Dr. Teague about it the woman was kind in letting her down.

"Alex that is an involuntary action but it can be taken as a good sign. The barbital had numbed his mind, preventing such reflexes but this is what we want to see. Think of it as his body's way of saying he's coming around."

She kept telling herself that over and over like she was teaching herself a new language. The pale clammy appearance that had been dominant across Chris's face and skin had eroded away, allowing the vigor of life to return. The stubble had grown thicker but Alex had grown to love the look on him. But of course he would shave it off once he woke up. She slipped her phone out and snapped a quick picture. The grin crept up her face as she stared lovingly at the image on her screen.

"Well, you're 80 percent of way there," she slipped the phone in her bag and climbed onto the bed. She pressed her face against the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent. The sterile specks of hospital fractured the deep musky ribbons. "The doc said your injuries were getting better."

The deep rhythmic rise and fall of his chest was the answer she received.

"Honestly, I'm hoping they wake you up soon. This waiting and watching has been so hard for all of us."

The beeping of the monitor echoed overhead as though it was sharing her sentiment. Alex stroked the top of his hand, wondering if he could feel her touch. She liked to think he could and maybe he did.

Piers watched the unfolding scene from the doorway. There had been a shift in Alex's attitude ever since they decreased the dosage to 20 percent. She was eating more and willing to spend a little more time away from the room; though it was in short bursts of 10 minutes it was better than seeing her despondent and detached from the group. The light flush had resumed in her cheeks, increasing her vigor. He couldn't but help to smile. Seeing her lifted from the wallow of despair was uplifting to his own spirit.

"I see someone's looking better," Josh whispered from behind.

"You have no idea how good it is to see her smiling."

"Piers," Josh took a deep breath, "You better be speaking for all of us."

"I am," he quipped and nodded.

"You can come in you know," Alex quietly beckoned. "Hovering in the doorway is rude."

"Oh, I uh didn't want to intrude."

"Piers," Alex sat up. "Chris is your captain. If you want to come in then do so. Josh Claire and Jill have been in and out as has Leon."

"Leon….." Piers raised an eyebrow.

"He's an old friend of mine and Chris's. He helped Claire get out of Raccoon City after the Outbreak."

"Oh right, that Leon."

"Yes that Leon," she sighed.

Piers shook off the sudden stab of envy. Why was he worried over him? Leon wasn't a threat to any of them.

The younger man took the vacant chair, deciding to stay as another day came to a long dreary close.

A week and a half later…

Everyone was crowded in Chris's room. Anxious eyes were cast upon the woman who was cutting off the flow of barbital. It had been determined it was time to let Chris wake up. The trachea tube had been removed and replaced with an oxygen mask to allow a powerful flow for his body and mind. Now they were playing the waiting game as there was no set time frame in which he would awaken. The mind was a strange animal. When it was ready it would trigger the reaction that would bring Chris back to them.

Alex was perched on the chair now, gripping Piers' hand as it had slipped over her shoulder. Claire was positioned on her other side as she held the opposite hand.

"Now when Chris awakens we will have to get another look for the extent of damage. Remember, when he was in a coma his brain was dormant which only allowed us to obtain preliminary readings."

"Will he remember us?"

Dr. Teague looked to Claire who held her eyes level with the good doctor's. The younger woman was demanding the truth with those sharp rings.

"I cannot answer that truthfully Miss Redfield. Some wake up without missing a single beat while others….." She paused before continuing knowing this was something every family loathed hearing. "While others lose parts of their memories or large tracts. Sometimes memories are regained quickly while other cases it can take weeks, months, or years."

"No," Alex sharply shook her head. "No, that will NOT happen. Chris is stronger than that. He doesn't give up."

"It's alright Alex," Claire rubbed her hand.

"Chris has a strong body which will help in metabolizing the barbital and getting it through his system."

"And he is going to wake up." Piers felt his fingers pressing into her shoulder.

72 hours laterr…..

Alex was pacing in circles. Chris had shown no sign of response….yet.

Leon had been called away which everyone understood. As much as he wanted to stay, the government was summoning him once again.

"Call me!"

Claire promised she would call Leon the moment Chris woke up. Alex had watched the pair interact, catching a small exchange between them. She hoped Leon wasn't stringing her along as she wouldn't hesitate to drop kick his ass; agent or not. But then again…..

"Anything?" Josh returned with more coffee and breakfast.

"No," Alex kept her furious stride, taking on the posture of an expectant parent then distraught fiancé.

"Alex, he'll wake up. That barbital was pretty hard shit. Doc said it could put a bull elephant out."

"Josh," she whined. "Do you really have to say that?"

"Sorry," he brushed his hand over his face. "But this hasn't been easy for any of us."

"I know," she sighed and stopped pacing. "We've been here for weeks now. But if I have to wait another several more then so be it. If it means him waking up and coming back to us then so be it."

"You have some serious patience girl," the agent grinned with affection.

"After everything we went through, it only hardened my resolve Josh."

"Mmmmmm…"

Alex froze and jerked her head towards the bed. Had she heard what she thought was…..

"Nnnnnggghhhhh…"

"Chris!" She rushed the bed, pressing his hand between hers. Josh watched as the condensation thickened on the inside of the oxygen mask. "Josh get the others!"

He nearly stumbled over his booted feet while shouting everyone's names at the top of his lungs.

"Chris," Alex repeated his name between kisses to his hand. She watched with hope as his eyelids fluttered open showing off those rich chocolate rings she longed to see. Recognition trickled in as they blinked and rolled to the right, focusing on the rich strands of midnight.

"Lllllleexxxxiiiii…"

"Yep that's right Chris," Alex couldn't keep herself restrained. She grabbed his other hand and flattened it along her cheek. His fingers stretched, remembering the soft warmth. The thundering of boots and shoes rumbled as Josh led the group back in. Doctor Teague pushed her way through catching the first glimpse of her patient coherent.

"Well," she said with a grin of relief. "This is a huge step. Christopher can you hear me?" She began recording his vitals and examining him over.

"Yes," he groaned. His throat was raw and scratchy from the ghost of the tube that had chaffed his trachea for several weeks strong. It was agony to swallow. "W-Where am I?"

His eyes scanned around the room, looking at the anxious faces of family and friends.

"You're in London," Dr. Teague was crisp in her answer. "The B.S.A.A. to be precise."

"W-W-Where's Piers…."

"I'm right here Captain," the young marksman circumvented the bed.

"Piers, what happened?"

"Chris, you were hurt. Your head smacked the concrete in the tunnel and you lost consciousness."

"How long….."

"Four weeks," Chris narrowed his eyes at his subordinate.

"Christopher, you were placed in a medically induced coma. You suffered a serious head injury. We still need to assess you."

Chris remained silent. He was struggling to recall Edonia. Bits and pieces flashed like strobe lights but nothing was clear. Faces were hazy and distorted, taunting the debilitated man.

"Chris," Alex squeezed his hand. "Chris…."

He blinked again and turned his head on the oversized pillow. He knew those jewels of ice. He knew that rich fan of raven. He knew that voice. It made him feel safe.

"Alex," he whispered and forced a feeble smile.

"Yep," she nodded with tears streaming down her cheeks and neck. "You're back…."

Chris closed his eyes. His mind started spinning out of control. Bits of color and shapes occupied his vision. He so desperately wanted to reach out and grip one of those fragment shards but they were just beyond his reach.

Despite the warmth and love surrounding him like comfortable blanket, Chris felt cold and dead on the inside.

Chapter Text

North Carolina…..

Chris was perched at the table with a cooling mug of coffee insulated with his large dry hands. The sterile smell and dry air of the hospital had finally left his senses alone. The familiar smells of home flooded his nose and mind, as though to help him remember.

"Hey," Alex took the seat opposite from him. "How'd you sleep?"

Chris absently itched the the area at the crown of his head where the hair had grown over the stark white scar. It flared up at random times to which he just dug his nails into the area until it subsided.

"Alright," he muttered.

"Claire's coming by today." Alex hoped the mention of his sister would perk him up but instead he kept his eyes down at the pool of black refreshment. He wasn't up to seeing anyone and didn't want to leave the apartment. Why couldn't anyone get that? He wanted to be left alone!

Chris felt his anger rising but fought to keep it in check thought it was growing more and more difficult to control. Two days after returning home he had dropped a plate shattering food and ceramics across the kitchen floor.

"Goddamn it!" His fists punched the cabinets closest to him.

"Chris it's okay," Alex gently assured him as she stooped down to clean up the mess.

"NO IT'S NOT ALRIGHT ALEX! I CAN'T DO ONE SINGLE FUCKING THING RIGHT!"

"Chris stop it please!" Alex placed the shards on the counter, finding her hands trembling hard. She took a couple of breaths, steadying herself in a futile attempt. "Please….Stop….."

Chris watched the liquid diamonds fall from her eyes. The guilt flooded his mind as the ramifications settled in.

"Damn it," he swore and furiously ran his hands over his face. "Lexi…..Lexi I'm sorry."

"Chris…." She felt his arms embrace her body, pressing her against his chest.

"I'm sorry," he kissed the top of her head. "God I'm so sorry Lexi…."

"Oh," he said after a moment or two.

"Chris," Alex sighed. "I know you're still upset and confused but you can't push us away."

"I just want to be alone," he got up and stormed off leaving Alex alone. She vowed to be patient with him as Dr. Teague had warned them the full extent of the injuries were not determined. The visible wounds had healed but it was the unseen ones that Alex feared.

Her appetite waned and slowly Alex shoved the plate aside. The eggs remained untouched and grew cold and hard from neglect.

"I'm not giving up," she reaffirmed before standing and heading for the bathroom.

Alex peered into the bedroom, noticing Chris was stretched out with his eyes closed. She wasn't for sure if he was asleep or just relaxing. Not wanting to risk disturbing him, Alex padded quietly into the room. She paused at the edge of the dresser, taking a minute to watch him. The Saint Michael medallion rounded his neck, never going off even when in the shower. It offered little relief to her then as she gathered jeans, shirt, bra and underwear. Should she call Claire and tell her it was a bad time to come over? It would only make the tenth time she had to do it. Piers had not been as successful either. The captain had closed him out as well.

"Finn!"

Alex dropped her clothes as Chris began to thrash.

"NO GODDAMMIT! NO!"

"Chris!" Alex grabbed his wrists as he battled against the unseen foe. "Chris wake up!"

"NO PIERS! DAMN IT LET ME GO!"

"Chris," Alex struggled against the stronger man, finding her body was losing the battle.

"CHRIS WAKE UP!"

Chris's eyes shot open at her raised voice. The room was filled with his heavy shallow panting. His body felt fatigued, as though he had just ran a triathlon or experienced basic training all over again. But why was he afraid? Why was he feeling so…..angry? It was consuming his very soul.

He looked around with wide eyes but paused when his nerves registered the pressure against him. Chris felt the small hands cuffing his wrists and trailed the slender arms all the way to Alex's face. They tumultuous rings of chocolate narrowed then widened as he struggled to form the woman's name on his lips.

"Chris," she released him and sat back on her heels. "Chris do you know where you are?"

He pressed the hell of his hand against his forehead, sensing the stinging pain gathering at the very spot.

"Go," he hissed through his teeth.

"No," Alex shook her head. "I am not leaving you alone Chris. You can't do this."

"Get….Out…." His patience was wearing. The tension under her skin amplified as Chris increased in anger.

"No," Alex firmly held her ground.

"I SAID GET THE FUCK OUT!" Chris shouted at the top of his lungs as he violently jerked his wrists free. The tendons in his neck shot out as his face turned bright red as the rage pushed to the surface. Alex frantically crawled back and fell off the edge of bed, landing on her back. The throbbing in her side went ignored as she scrambled to retrieve her clothes and race for the safety of bathroom. Chris heard the door slam followed by the clicking of the lock. The bang of wood against wood made him wince but he didn't make an attempt to get up and check on her either.

Instead, Chris decided to lie back down and shut his eyes, desiring nothing more than to block out the world around him.

Alex was slow in getting out of the shower. She wasn't sure what she could do. It had been like this ever since Chris got back. But the nightmares were getting worse and more vivid for him. The times he would talk to her he would just mumble a few words or rather incoherent statements. She debated calling Piers but hesitated for a moment. She would call Claire and have her come over, hopefully to knock sense into Chris. They were close as siblings could be which could help Chris even if he didn't want it.

She swiped a path across the foggy mirror, casting a hard stare into the woman looking back. She had not slept well nor eaten as well in the days that preceded this moment. The cobalt rings flickered in the light as she stared the other down. This is what she had become. Umbrella had delivered the first blow followed up with neo-Umbrella taunting her from across the world. No, they weren't going to win.

Alex dragged her hands across the ceramic surface, bumping the ring that rested to her left. Her fingers plucked the silver band that rested on the counter and studied it closely. A band of silver with a diamond perched atop. It wasn't a large stone but Alex had viewed such matters as selfish and arrogant. What mattered was it had come from him. It could've been a plastic toy ring from the vending machine but she would've worn it proudly. But Chris wanted her to have something precious and meaningful.

"I'm not giving up," her face hardened as she slipped it on her finger and proceeded to get dressed.

She emerged from the steamy embrace a few minutes later still debating about what to do next. Her eyes were pointed towards the carpet, failing to see the impressive wall of flesh blocking her way. Alex collided with Chris's chest, taking a step back to shake her head.

"Chris are you okay?"

Chris looked down and slowly nodded. His eyes wandered across the petite figure before him: Jeans that hugged her hips just right with a long sleeved shirt that showed off the swells of her breast and slender arms. Her hair was damp and wild, hanging around her shoulders and neck.

"Chris," Alex waved her hand up and down. "Chris do you need to sit down?"

"No," he shook his head.

Before she could ask another question, his arms shot out, pinning her against the wall.

"Chris- what the-" she was cut off by his mouth covering hers. Alex resisted at first but quickly melted in his arms, letting him lift a leg around his thigh, grinding his growing erection into her hips. He was still clad in just a pair of boxers and shirt which fueled the sexual urge within him. His hungry hands tore the zipper and button apart allowing him to slide a hand down the front of her boy shorts and jeans.

Alex cried out at the welcomed intrusion of his fingers and parted her legs as best she could.

"Damn jeans," Chris growled and snapped his hand out. The worn material surrendered with no resistance, allowing the determined hands to pull down and away. "Better…."

His mouth attacked her neck, nipping and licked the sides of the soft warm flesh. Alex moaned and slammed her hips against his hand, arching her back off the wall. Chris teased and massaged the swollen folds, sighing at the touch of the smooth heated surface. God he loved it when she did that. It was such a huge turn on for him! His cock twitched and leaked beads of pearl into the light grey shorts.

"Chris," Alex's voice strained as her eyes went wider at the set of thick digits that penetrated her. Her body slid down, fucking on the slick fingers. Her lover grinned and slipped his other hand up her shirt, forcing the dark bra to yield. The pert nipple was solid and erect against his calloused fingers.

"Do you know how hot you look right now? Look at you…."

Alex couldn't speak as her mind was hazy and body desperate to fulfill its needs. Chris grinned wickedly as he watched the contorted expressions of pleasure cross over her face. He leaned back in, running his tongue around the outer shell of her ear before whispering in a low dark seductive tone.

"I'm going to have you right here then fuck you on the bed and in the shower….."

Her acknowledgement came out as a whine as her orgasm drew closer.

"Getting close aren't you…." He slipped a third one in pushing her body to its limits. Alex smacked her head back on the wall as the extra pressure filled her. "So tight…."

Alex felt it, the convulsions raced through her lower body, pulsing around Chris's fingers and spilling onto his hand. He imagined his thick cock inside of her, the velvet heat constricting around him as he filled her with the hot thick ropes.

Chris slid his hand away, grabbing her boy shorts and forcing them down. Her hands were fixed on the elastic waistband of his boxers, pulling them down and freeing his aching cock. Chris wasted no time locking her legs around his waist and taking her in one hard thrust.

"God you're so fucking tight," he groaned in her shoulder. The sensations of wetness and heat was more than his body could handle. Chris staved off the growing urge to cum as he pounded his hips hard against hers, letting primal instinct guide him. The quiet sound of skin smacking skin filled the small hallway and bathroom followed with deep heavy grunts.

Alex dug her nails into his shoulders as the thick head continued ramming the sweet bundle inside. Her vision blurred with each strike, drawing her closer to climax. Chris could feel his balls begin to tighten as his own end was coming near. His body was winning out, refusing to be refrained for any longer.

With one final snap of his hips, Chris shuddered hard and felt the thick hot ropes be expelled into her body. Alex felt the heat invading her, amplifying the mind blowing orgasm that ravaged her. Her vision was white but gradually returned as the euphoria wore off. Her heart raced wildly as her breathing struggled to calm down. They stayed together against the wall, unable to move right away. Chris secured his hold around her waist keeping Alex flush with him. He felt the light strokes of her fingers through his damp locks as she basked in the afterglow. Thin trails of ivory raced down her thighs and onto his but neither one noticed or cared.

"Lexi," Chris's voice wavered as he hung his head. "I-I'm sorry….I didn't know…"

"Chris," she tilted his chin upward. "Don't apologize." She leaned down taking his red battered lips in a deep slow kiss. Chris eagerly reciprocated her gesture, having forgotten what it was like to feel those lips pressed so tenderly to his. God he didn't deserve her!

"Come on," he whispered and carefully pulled back. Alex started to remove the clammy shirt and bra but Chris stopped her, instead he peeled away the offensive garments followed by his white shirt. Linking her fingers in his, Chris led her towards the bed they shared.

An hour later Alex was fisting the sheets as Chris pounded her from behind. He had woken up from their first round in the hall and took one look at the curve of those hips and erect buds on her breasts and Chris was hungry. It hadn't taken much to arouse his lover: a few strokes between her legs and cupping of her breasts and she was his. He had been more aggressive this time, digging his nails into her hips to the point of pain for Alex. Chris was harder and faster; animalistic in his actions. There was no emotion or attachment as it was only empty cold feral need.

"You're still so fucking tight!"

Alex was scared to move and felt her second orgasm strike like lightning.

"Chris!" She screamed and felt her body tremble. Her head dropped between her shoulders as tears of pain and pleasure danced across her cheeks before dying in the fibers of cotton.

"Yes….." He flung his head back and spilled his seed deep inside. The tendons in his neck retreated back as his skin turned flush with post sexual bliss. Chris placed a few light kisses to her spine, feeling the anger retreating. It was as if he was projecting his anger and rage on her. Using Alex as his means to purge his emotions. But it wasn't right! She didn't do anything wrong!

Suddenly from out of nowhere it slammed him like a truck.

How can I protect her if I couldn't protect my men? Or protect her from myself?

Suddenly, Chris felt hollow inside, like he had died all over again as he did in Edonia. He couldn't save Finn and the others then how was he able to protect Alex? He couldn't…..

How can she love someone like me?

"Chris?" Alex was cradling his face in her hands drawing him close. "Chris are you okay?"

"Uh yeah," he blinked his eyes and faked a yawn. "Just tired." He forced a smile for added incentive. Alex cast a strange look before she stretched out under the sheet and beckoned Chris to join her. He slipped beneath the bedding, letting her curl up beside him. Her fingers absently raked along his hand as she stared at the window. The snow was falling again as the glints of white crossed the gap in the curtains.

"Chris," Alex rolled around facing him. "I know you're dealing with a lot but I'm not leaving you. I'm staying right here."

He could only nod in silence. Alex was so understanding and dedicated. It broke his heart even more. Alex didn't need to be tied down with him. Chris felt he wasn't the man Alex deserved to have. No, he was a broken weak shadow of his former self.

"I love you."

She squeezed his hands affectionately. Chris was touched at her declaration but it wasn't enough.

"I love you too."

Their lips met half way staying connected for a moment before breaking away. Alex nuzzled into his chest, breathing he rich aroma of sex and him. She would never tire of his scent. When he had been in Edonia she wore one of his shirts, refusing to wash it as it would destroy his precious essence.

Chris watched as she dozed off, waiting until the deep rhythmic breathing had surfaced before making his move. It was then he slipped from her loose hold and tip toed into the shower.

A few hours later Alex stirred while her eyes fluttered open. Her arm was stretched across the growing cold spot where Chris should've been.

"Chris?" Alex twisted around and sat upright. "Chris?" She called out and waited and waited.

"Chris?" She flung the sheet aside and grabbed the robe hanging off the back of the door. Alex tightened the belt as she made her way down the hall and to the living room. Chris wasn't in the living room and wasn't in the kitchen. Her stomach churned in uneasiness as she felt the bile rising in the back of her throat. Alex swallowed hard, forcing the burning fluid down to where it came from. Immediately she ran for her phone.

"Damn it where could he be?"

Piers was behind the wheel of the truck as Alex kept watch for Chris. Claire and Jill had taken off in the other direction in the hopes of intercepting the older Redfield.

"Did he say anything?" Piers glanced sideways towards the agitated woman.

"No," she shook her head and smeared the tear across her eye. Alex didn't want to exactly divulge the details about her sexual trysts. "I had fallen asleep and he was in the apartment when I dozed off then I wake up and he's gone."

"We'll find him," Piers reached out for her hand. "I won't let him do anything stupid."

"I know he's still blaming himself and he gets angry sometimes and he sleeps a lot."

"Damn it," Piers swore beneath his breath.

Watch for signs of depression or PTSD. With what you told me about Chris he has a high chance of developing one or the other.

Dr. Teague's warning sounded in his mind like fog rolling in with the tide.

"Why would he just leave? Chris never does this! He didn't even call Jill or Claire!"

Alex shrank in the seat, feeling the tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. Piers winced at her anguished expression, silently hoping they located Chris and fast. He continued to scan the other side of the street but so far no one resembling their man could be found. The B.S.A.A. had not seen the captain either which made both grow deeply worried.

They had searched every bar in their part of town with Jill and Claire scouring the opposite side of Asheville. Chris's picture had been flashed in front of every bartender and patron's face; in front of every pedestrian and by stander they met. Alex could feel her hope sinking like the sun as she and Piers returned to the truck. He slipped his phone out hoping the B.S.A.A. had a lead but nothing.

"Nothing," Alex was flat in her speech. She didn't have to ask Piers.

"I'm sorry Alex," he wished he had better news for her. She leaned her head on the freezing window as the burning tears stung her eyes and cheeks. Chris was gone. He had simply left; just like that. No explanation, no note, no fucking reason whatsoever.

"Damn her….." The sudden bang of fist against dash startled Piers in his seat. "THAT BITCH! It was because of her he's like this!"

She felt the scream of her hand against rigid surface but Alex was too angry to hurt.

Alex released a scream that rushed from the bottom of her lungs through her throat and out her mouth and into the confined space. It was her pain, her anger, her rage, her love, and her suffering. She felt her chest constrict with the shift in her psyche but Alex didn't care. Her abdomen throbbed with the sharp stabs of pain but Alex didn't care. What was the point in caring when the one person she loved more than anything had stopped caring about her?

"Alex," Piers caught her wrist before she could strike berated dashboard again. "No, no…."

Alex didn't fight and fell back into her seat. Numbness swept over, banishing the pain both physical and mental. Not feeling the pain was good. The lack of feeling was good. But the tears refused to let her be.

"He left me….." She felt reality slamming her like a two by four. Jesus it stung like a bitch. "He left me…."

"Alex look at me," Piers carefully brought her head around making her see him. The beautiful rings of topaz were distorted with the hideous scars of red that trailed the whites of her eyes. "We will find him."

"Yes," she nodded gradually. "We will find him."

Piers grew uneasy at the look that growing in her eyes.

"I am going with you Piers."

"Alex I don't know….."

" I.AM.GOING." She dug her fingers into his wrist driving her point home. "We are going together Piers. I will not let you do this alone. I can't stay here. Please just let me do this?"

The biting in his skin lightened up leaving a set of crescents imprinted in the light tan bit of skin.

"Alright," he was reluctant in letting her have her way but for as long as he had known Alex, she wasn't one to back down so easily.

"Thank you," her lips parted into a thin shaky smile. Alex wrapped herself around the unsuspecting marksman, shocking him with the sudden warmth of her body to his.

"We'll get him back Alex."

"Why did he leave me Piers? What did I do wrong?" The scared side of Alex reemerged. The frightened shaky voice muffled against his shoulder.

"You didn't do anything wrong. You did everything you could to help him."

"He was so angry with me. It scared me. It scared me so much. I didn't know what he was going to do."

She didn't tell Piers that she blamed herself for Chris's absence. Alex knew he was trying to help but she should've done more. She should've fought harder to get through him. She failed. She failed him. Piers couldn't convince her otherwise. Neither could Jill or Claire.

Claire and Jill were waiting when Piers returned Alex back home.

"Alex," Claire latched onto her friend. "We didn't find him."

"He's gone Claire," she sniffled. "Chris left."

"No," she abruptly stepped back refusing to hear the words drawing from the other's mouth.

"Now what?" Jill had clearly been crying. Her eyes were streaked with webs of red as her face was flush. A box of Kleenex was perched on the coffee table with a few waded up balls creating a strange circle around it.

"I'm going to look for him," Piers quietly announced.

"And I'm going." Alex added casting a look at the man.

"No way," Claire pursed her lips and tightly shook her head. "Alex I can't let you do this."

"Claire damn it I can't just sit here! I can't….."

Alex dropped in the recliner cradling her head in her hands. "I can't sit and do nothing."

"But you could get hurt."

"No she won't," Piers stood up feeling slightly offended by Claire's veiled mistrust. "I won't let anything happen to her."

"Piers I know you're a great agent but…." Jill stopped as Alex narrowed her eyes sending icy daggers in her direction.

"I can handle my own." Alex's voice rolled dangerously. "Did you forget?"

"No of course not Alex," Jill walked over embracing her friend. "It's just after everything and now with Chris gone, I don't want to lose anyone else."

"And you won't," she argued. "This isn't a B.S.A.A. mission. We'll avoid those areas. Look we'll stick to the safer parts of the world. I can get a hold of Josh and Sheva and they can keep me informed. Look we won't go off the grid."

"I don't like this Alex," Jill was displeased with Alex's choice but she couldn't be wavered any other way.

"Well you may not like it but I'm doing it."

The trio watched as the slender raven haired woman stormed down the hall and to the right. The sound of a duffel bag landing on the bed made a small thud as Alex began piling clothes, both hers and Chris's, into the army green bag.

Alex grabbed anything and everything, unsure of what she would encounter out there. For all they knew he could be holed up in some Thai bar with cross dressing prostitutes sloughing all over him.

I really shouldn't have thought that…..

She made a fist, pummeling her hand into the center of neatly folded material then took her aggression out with its sibling. God why did she do this to herself? Why did she torture herself? Alex dropped against the edge of the bed, hugging her knees tight to her chest. Her old friend in the form of tight pain slithered through her lungs as she gave in letting the sobs wrack her body. Alex felt the purge of everything that had bottled up since Chris had left them. She sensed a presence or really several presences surrounding her. Claire sunk down, being the first to offer comfort. Jill followed, wrapping her arms around the pair as best she could. Piers felt as if he was intruding on a family moment and left the women be.

"You're crazy you know that?" Jill huffed between sobs.

"I know," Alex sniffled. "But that's why you two love me."

Claire just cried harder as she didn't want Alex to leave. Alex slipped her arms around both of them as they sat there offering solace and comfort to each other.

Chapter Text

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Before she continued, Alex gathered the bottle into her waiting grip, tipping it over to claim the remaining bit of amber gold. Her fingers drummed lightly along her opposite knee. Nervousness, anxiety, fear......All of those danced through her mind, traveling through her veins as she struggled to form the words that kept dying on her tongue.

“As I started to say,” she found her voice, thanks to the infusion of liquid will. Now her hands were losing hold, shaking, fighting to remain in control. “It happened when I was alone. I had brought home some files to sort and put in order; as a way to stay focused.”

Piers simply watched as she sunk into the couch; the haunted look settling in, robbing the light from her eyes. His stomach churned, watching her sitting there in this pathetic state. He slid in beside her, noticing she paid no heed to how close he was seated beside her.

“Alex, you don't have to say anything.”

“No,” she shook her head. “No, I need to tell you. You deserve to know, to understand it.” The lump collected in her throat as she lifted her head, meeting his inquisitive stare. “I trust you. I know, it goes against the BSAA's mission and I would be dead if they ever found out.”

Alex finished the remaining whiskey off, knowing it would not come close to quelling the dread gathering within.

Can I REALLY do this!? Would I succeed in recalling the demons held at bay for so long only to renege on her self made promise to never speak of them? Could I keep them at bay, restrain them from taking control? What if it happens?! What if I breakdown like before!? There was only one way.......

“Might want to grab the other bottle,” her voice cracked above a whisper. “I'm gonna need it.”

Piers hurried to fetch the second bottle, his eyes darting back to her then to locating his target. There it was! Alone on the counter, beckoning him to reach out and take it. It was some Scottish import and by looking at the ornate labeling not a cheap one either.

“Thanks,” she allowed him to dole out another round then quickly downed it in two gulps. This burned more than the last but dam if it didn't feel good in the same thought. “Keep that close.”

A part of him begged, screamed to refuse her such. But against his better senses, Piers slid the bottle over, just in front of her. Instead, he remained tight to her side; waiting patiently for her to speak. Alex took a deep breath then slowly exhaled, mentally preparing herself for what she was about to recall. A hand slid up and raced over the right side of her face. She felt it in her bones: the cold which had dominated her body mind and soul beginning with that night.

“I remember it was half past eight. It was a Wednesday.” Piers heard the abrupt humorless laugh. “It's funny how you remember the little things in times of duress. My tea had grown cold. It was raining. Hard....”

Unknown Time........

The tapping and stacking of papers and folders had continued unabated for 3 hours. But to Alex it had taken on the sense of 20 minutes. The only reason she knew that much time had passed was her eyes started to burn forcing her to shift her focus from the piles neatly organized about her. It was good really; occupying her mind with menial tasks such as tidying and re-structuring forms, reports, and paperwork those in the BSAA either saw as busy work or had no time to perform such duties. So, Alex happily acquired the responsibilities and always returned the messy stacks and strewn files in perfect little piles with clear labels for quick reference.

Still, it didn't whittle away the gnawing loss of being alone. After learning that Chris's former captain, Albert Wesker, had not only survived the “Mansion Incident”, but had infected himself with the T-Virus, Chris insisted she stay with Barry until he returned from locating Claire.

No, I don't want to impose on Barry. I'm able to handle my own thank you very much!

Lexi you have no idea what Wesker can do; what he is capable of doing now that he's......

“A freak,” she muttered, finishing the silent thought. Who in the HELL would intentionally inject a bioweapon into their body?! Reminded her of a comic book villain: Cooking up half baked ideas for domination over the human species even if those visions included self infliction on every imaginable level. Could be comical had it not been for the one fact: The resurrection of the presumed dead captain signaled it was only the beginning. God knows what was being dreamed up and cooked by tainted minds and hands. The mansion had been carnage enough! Then again, it shouldn't come as any level of shock given the bottomless pockets and endless resources at their whim. But it appeared as though the tide was shifting in their favor. New reports of Congress calling for investigations into the financial behemoth.

Alex just shut her eyes then shook her head. She had grown up surrounded by the multitude of products the corporation flooded into every home. She couldn't recall one person or business that wasn't under the caress of the faceless conglomerate. As a child, she had thought of the little icon as neat, cute even. The minute swirl reminded her of a peppermint or if it was the holidays, a candy cane. But the innocence vanished after the veil was ripped away after Raccoon City. Collateral fucking damage was what the city had become. Human lives!? What human lives? All swept under the expanse of payoffs and more payoffs. She HATED them all.

The rotted stench of Umbrella saturated every paper her fingers brushed. The cherry red and virgin white, when molded into the innocent guise of an umbrella, disarmed the mindless masses. Umbrella was good! Umbrellas provided shelter and security from the unforgiving elements! Umbrellas were also weapons if wielded correctly. A means to end life as much as to protect it.

Sighing, Alex knew she should call it a night. Her neck was stiffening and she could use a hot shower to soothe the screaming burn which was forming between the plates of bones along her spine. The box of disheveled papers and folders would be patiently waiting for her return in the morning. It had been about three days since she last heard from Chris. After Antarctica, Wesker had dropped off the radar. Son of a bitch was good . Though, Alex likened him to a cockroach. When the lights flipped on a roach always sought the darkness. Pity this cockroach couldn't so easily squelched with a shoe.

“Okay, okay,” she chided herself. “Get your ass in that shower and then go to bed.” She had given her word to Barry that tomorrow night she would pull away from the oh so exciting filing and join him and the girls for dinner. It would be nice though, to get out for a few hours. Kathy was practically begging her to divulge her taste buds on the chicken Alfredo her grandmother had taught her to make. Who was she to turn down home cooked Italian?

Alex didn't want to part ways with the hot steady jets but she was starting to prune and turn red in places. But, she felt renewed and bed was beckoning. With towel tight around her, Alex padded across the hall. She went to flip the switch only to be greeted with darkness.

“You gotta be kidding me!”

A phone call to the property manager would be the first thing on her list in the morning. Huffing in frustration, her attention went to the lamp on the dresser. Click....Nothing! Her hand furiously smacked the switch despite the obvious outcome.

“What the HELL is going on here?!” Now she was pissed. No light in her bedroom leaving her to stumble and shuffle through the drawers for the tiny flashlight stashed in one of them. A short curse flew from her mouth when her knee caught the sharp corner of the furnishing. One by one she scoured, a hard slam of anger her reward.

“Looking for something?” The cold accent sliced through the air.

Alex instantly froze. Her heart stammered against her ribs as her brain dispatched adrenaline into her veins. Fight or flight.

“You must be Alexandra.”

He knew her name.

Fear should've claimed her.

Through the slats of the shades the narrow neck of the baseball bat glowed from the street light just beyond the glass and plastic. Alex had one chance.

She chose fight.

Piers caught the trembling in the corner of his eye.

“He was in there.”

“Probably watching me shower,” Alex took a hard gulp which was followed with an equally ferocious shudder. No matter how much she imbibed, it always came back with a painful clarity. Perhaps it was another effect of the virus: Higher tolerance for alcohol. Every drunk's dream.

“Bastard,” Piers spat in disgust.

“You're being too kind,” Alex rebutted bitterly. Her eyes traveled to the bottle and frowned. “Damn, half way through it. All of the alcohol in the world can't and won't erase them. I tried. God knows I tried and tried,” a tear cascaded down. “Nothing I do gives me release. I don't tell Claire or Jill this. They would panic. I never told Chris either. I keep it to myself ya know? Easier that way.”

Piers leaned across, gently taking the glass tumbler from her fingers. Alex didn't object or form a protest at his act.

“Here,” he placed it on the table. Before he could say a single word, Alex's hand shot up inches from his nose.

“If you're going to start in on how I don't need booze to cope save it. I don't want to hear it.”

Her voice had dropped to a dangerous level, one that made Piers freeze in place. Her head was slow to lift but once it had, her eyes had narrowed to slits as if warning him, no daring him to do it and find out the consequences of such foolery.

“Didn't plan on it,” he softly whispered.

Alex blinked and slowly lowered her arm along with the bristled stance.

“I'm on your side Alex; I will always be on your side.”

A half smile peeked on the corner of her mouth. The pensive shoulders went lax allowing her body to further settle in. The lines which creased the edges of her eyes lightened the deeper she relaxed. Piers was disarmed by the sweet narrow smile. The sudden though subtle pressure of her leg brushing along his snapped him from any gathering daydream and to closeness between them. The light shined on the pendant dangling from her neck. It was the one he gave her back in London. How had he not noticed it?! Did she wear it all the time? Or had she started wearing it?

“That means a lot. I don't have a lot of people I can count on. But I consider you one of those people.” Alex felt a pang of strength taking hold as Piers silently cursed himself for his mental indiscretions. “I think I'm ready to continue.”

“You sure?” Alex responded with a brief but firm squeeze of his hand. He couldn't but help to reciprocate the gesture covering her hand with his other one.

“Positive,” she nodded confidently. “I can't let him control me; even in death.”

She didn't say anything when he didn't release her hand.

Unknown Time.....

“Are you seriously contemplating going for that bat?”

Silence was her response.

Muscle contracted, soaking up every precious drop of fuel. Her pulse quickened, only hastening the currents of adrenaline.

She jumped.

Wesker jumped harder and faster.

Her back smacked against the solid wall first.

“Stupid girl!”

Then the back of her head collided violently with drywall and beige. The air in her lungs heaved up and out in a deep pained rush. Alex rolled to her hands and knees, struggling to regain control over her breathing. Wesker snickered at her, bat held loose in one hand.

“I'm sure Chris warned you about me?”

“Fuck you.” She rose on shaky feet. Wesker simply chuckled at her words.

Her pathetic human eyes didn't catch the sadistic grin or tongue rolling over and along parted lips. Oh how he was going to take pleasure in this.

“Such words coming out of your mouth. Perhaps you should be taught some manners.” His voice hissed on the last word sending an involuntary shudder down every nerve across her spine.

Alex steadied her body against the dresser, sliding her hand across the slick surface, praying something, anything would be there she could launch at Wesker.

“Sorry asshole, I make it a point not to get involved with psychotic, narcissistic douche bags like you.”

“Now that's not very nice.” Wesker feigned hurt. In the dark, she rolled her eyes as several fingers glided over jagged points of the ceramic trees that created the base of the snow globe. It had been a gift from parents before they died. They would understand what it was about to become. Compared to his sharper sense of sight, Alex was at a serious disadvantage. Human vision was rather limited in little to no light. Evolution had a twisted sense of humor.

With a deep grunt, Alex hurled the heavy memento from her hand and darted for the door. Shadows were cover for the Tyrant, masking the stealthy movements as he pursued his prey. Alex succeeded in getting five steps down before the violent blow of a gloved fist brought her down. One well placed punch in the center of her spine; enough to subdue but not kill her. Where his fist landed, skin burned as if rusted nails had been dipped in acid then dragged across her flesh. Alex couldn't scream; her body was in complete shock. Her eyes and jaw were squeezed so tight a few tears pricked the corners of her eyes.

“I didn't strike you that hard,” Alex could hear the mockery dripping off his lips.

COME ON!!! COME ON ALEX GET THE FUCK UP!!!! Jesus did he break my back!? A-Am I paralyzed!?

The clasp of warm leather along her left calf answered her silent fear.

“I haven't even begun to get rough.” Hot puffs of breath coated the right side of her neck and ear. The glove crushed down on her calf eliciting a pained cry from his victim. The other hand grappled the thick cotton, ripping it away from her body. An involuntary shiver raced down her spine as the cold air encased her damp naked skin.

Alex clawed her nails into the carpet then slapped against the bedpost; a pathetic attempt at keeping any leverage. Panic was slowly seeping in as her fingers slid along the polished wood then grasping air as the sensation of skin burning against fibers ignited along her torso, chest, and legs.

“What is it he sees in you? What is it about you that gets into every little part of him? Hmmm?” Wesker questioned aloud while dragging her down the hall. Alex continued fighting, hooking her fingertips on the corner of the wall before Wesker spun around and stomped the heel of his boot into the stubborn digits. A second shriek of pain played upon his ears but it wasn't enough. He needed more.

“FUCKER!” She roared in anger only to be rewarded with a sharp backhanded swing. Knuckles collided with the area below her eye, instantly stinging and swelling. “SON OF A BITCH!” This time the other side suffered the same fate. Molars slashed across the inner part of her cheek allowing trickles of crimson to sprinkle her tongue and gums.

“Again, you really should reign that tongue of yours in.”

Alex couldn't catch her breath before Wesker pounced. His hand tangled in her damp locks, snapping her head upright. His grip intensified, threatening to rip her hair from her scalp. Her back was bowing outward into a near perfect C. Her spine screamed wildly, begging for the agony to abate. Wesker grinned manically as he thrust his arm forward, slamming her head into the carpet beneath. Tears were distorting her vision or rather, what bit she had in the shadows. Her body refused to obey her mind; to move, crawl, anything to escape this monster. The pain was immense, stabbing her in the center of the forehead before spreading like fire across the top of her skull then traversing back down then along her neck. Everything went numb; a strange but welcoming numbing sensation which blissfully dulled her senses. Not even the blood trailing from her nose and over the swelling lips could be detected. Alex suspected her nose was probably broken on account of the impact.

Her body was in a state of shock.

Her mind had detached from reality, keeping her from hearing the belt sliding off the tactical pants then fitting around her wrists.

“N-No.....” her protests sounded strong in her ears but were feeble and meek. It was then it dawned on her.

Wesker had planned this.

He tossed out a line to Chris like chum in water. Bait, set, match. He knew Chris would pursue the “lead” like a bloodhound. Follow the scent until it lead to Wesker or another dead end. Trouble was, Wesker was there.

“Chris.....” she groaned painfully.

“Oh yes, Chris,” Wesker mused with unmasked venom.

“Please.......don't......hurt......him......”

The Tyrant dropped to his knees, cradling Alex's head in his lap. He watched her flinch at the light carding of his leather clad fingers through her tangled tresses. As digits became ensnared in a mat of chocolate, the grip tightened and viciously raked through it, uncaring if it compounded her suffering.

“My dear,” he leaned in closer, letting their noses touch at the tips. Wesker paused to lick his lips, as though he was tasting the fear radiating from his victim, “I have no intentions of hurting your precious Chris. At least, not yet.”

“Don't.....touch....me.....” He just chuckled at her pathetic demand.

“I'm going to do more than touch,” she shuddered at the veiled intent. “I haven't even arrived at the good part yet.”

Alex felt her senses returning starting with her legs. Fear kept them paralyzed but logic was also screaming at her. She couldn't clue him in. So, she stayed frozen, channeling her energy into the looming fight.

Wesker weighed his options carefully. He could 1) Kill Alex and leave her lifeless decaying corpse for Chris to discover upon his return or 2) Commence with what he had originally devised. Which would be produce the greatest gratification for him and maximum agony for his nemesis? While he could break her down in this shit hole of an apartment until her life was exterminated or he could prolong the suffering in a more secluded location; on his terms. Where the possibility of being interrupted was nonexistent.

The dark grin deepened across his lips as the plan changed but in a delightfully sinister direction.

But first......

Her head unceremoniously smacked the floor as Wesker shifted around. Through the narrow slits of light, Alex's eyes focused on the looming figure which now crowded overhead. Her eyes narrowed in a hopeless shot of focusing on what her attacker was doing. Perhaps, it was best her eyes couldn't or wouldn't grant that request.

“What is it,” he repeated acidly, “that he values in you?”

Burning fingers traced along her outer thighs.

Bare fingers!? On her legs?! SHIT!!!

Alex kicked with every spark of energy she could summon, striking Wesker in the chest with her knee. He fell back, briefly shocked at the assault. With hands still tightly bound, Alex rolled to her knees, leaping to her feet with the door in her line of sight. She didn't turn to see the molten amber cutting through the inky blackness. She didn't see Wesker whipping through the night in a blur of midnight.

Three steps.

Three steps was all she had between her and salvation.

Three steps that kept her in the embrace of the Devil.

Her body was hurled up then violently thrust into the coffee table. Her ears played the song of fragile flesh colliding with sturdy oak. Wood splintered then embedded into her lower back, missing kidney and renal artery by millimeters. Wesker cracked his knuckles one at a time as he observed his helpless captive struggle like a turtle turned on its back.

“That was foolish!”

Alex prayed someone had heard the crash and called the police. Prayed someone would come to the door and knock on it.

God wasn't listening that night.

The searing heat of his hand clamped tight around her throat, lifting up and off the scattered remains of the furnishing with ease. Alex coughed and gasp, fighting for each breath of precious air. Wesker simply squeezed more, denying her the simple biological function which was essential for her survival. Her feet were barely above the floor, cruelly brushing the soft surface with every spasm. Her arms were still bound, hampering her determined clawing at the iron grip of bone and flesh.

“Tell me Alexandra, how does it feel knowing your life is in my hands? That with one snap of my hand you'll be dead before hitting the floor? Hmmm? Come on now, don't hold back. Do speak your mind.”

Now her sight was filled with random patterns of white, red, and orange in various shapes and sizes.

Is this it? Is this the END? It IS the end.

Wesker's grin deepened further as he watched her face turn bright red to deep purple from the deprivation of oxygen. It was fun, really, hurling her to the brink like this. Her heart racing out of panic and the primitive need to remain alive.

He laughed at the involuntary reaction of her arms as they shot up, warring to liberate her body from her tormentor.

“That's it Alexandra; fight it! Fight right to the end. Hmmm......Perhaps this is part of what he sees in you.”

The raking nails were slowing in frequency as her brain slowly shut down.

“Oh we can't have you dying so soon,” his grip eased permitting air into deprived lungs and blood. The tingling and needle like sensations around her face lightened as life saving oxygen flooded her lungs. The deep cough forced more into her airway, ushering additional relief.

“Not when there is so much to do.” Chills reverberated through her soul, causing her skin to pebble not in anticipation but in absolute terror.

Alex felt her body falling, falling until it crumpled on the carpet in a weakened heap. Everything seemed to hurt. Hell, everything DID hurt. Adrenaline was waning that much was she was certain about.

Wesker took a step back, taking in the view. She wasn't emaciated but not voluptuous either. Her body possessed curves around the hips and a little in the thighs. Her upper body showed signs of definition; clearly she had been engaged in physical activity on some regular basis. Her legs were sculpted; muscle wavered hypnotically when they flexed and relaxed. Abdominal muscles were a work in process but not too bad. Glowing orbs drifted downward, committing the woman's physique to memory. Alex felt his predatory stare falling between her legs; hovering there longer than any other area.

NO! NOT GOOD! NO! NO!

Alex reached deep, calling up the reserves she didn't think existed. Her core complied and rolled her over onto her stomach, giving her leverage and hope. But it was fleeting as Wesker tackled her with lightning speed. Her face ground into the carpet a second time as his hand palmed the back of her skull. The other centered on her spine, preventing her from executing any foolhardy plan. Her head felt as though a million tiny serrated knives were being plunged then retracted with agonizingly slow movements. Alex clutched her forehead as best she could, offering little solace to herself. It hurt! Fuck it hurt! Why weren't the police coming!?

“If you are hoping those imbeciles known as the police will be arriving I hate,” she could hear the smirk in his tone, “to tell you but they won't. And as for anyone hearing your screams, no one's home.” He laughed with maniacal glee. Alex squirmed but the splinter embedded in her back cut deeper into her flesh. She did her damndest to prevent the scream building in her throat but the narrow shard pierced across the side of her right kidney.

Alex whimpered and curled into a ball, exposing the chunk as some bloodied offering. Wesker leaned over, gathering the projectile into his burning hold. His wrist snapped right then left before his bicep jerked back pulling it from it's fleshy resting place. Her shrill cry echoed off the walls, quelling the spongy slippery sounds of polished wood sliding along open skin, blood, and muscle. Now her eyes were flooded, creating anguished torrents along her cheeks and neck.

“As I said, there is so much to....do.”

Alex couldn't see his leg swing back then forward until the steel toe tip crushed her rib cage, cracking each strip of bone that was unfortunate enough to be in the line of fire. Cracking and popping saturated her ears, reminding her of her vulnerable state as her hapless form hurled across the room. Her mind couldn't catch up fast enough with the violent afflictions cast upon her body until the brass hinges were cutting into her spine. Alex felt the air being expelled from her lungs as the jagged edges of bone ripped along her lung before one snagged and stabbed the spongy organ. It burned......Wait, burning is an understatement. Dipping a rusted blade into concentrated flouric acid then stabbing her where the rib now rested was more appropriate.

“Get off me! Fucking psychotic ass bastard! Get the FUCK off me!!!!”

Her body and brain re-surged to life at the intrusion of naked flesh caressing between her legs. A fresh infusion of adrenaline numbed her nerves, channeling her will into fighting. But Wesker held the advantage, easily keeping her restrained with one hand on her wrists as the other continued stroking and fondling.

“Again with that vulgar tongue. Perhaps we should put it to some better use hmm?”

Alex spat in his face, causing him to reel back in shock but mainly anger. The hand departed her body, sweeping the disgusting glob of saliva from his face. She watched in cold terror as his eyes glowed, showing his displeasure in her defiance. She had done it. Alex had invoked the wrath of Albert Wesker.

“No more games!”

“Games!? You think this is a game?!” Alex didn't recognize her voice.

“Of course it is! You're all pawns! Pawns that I manipulate and move as I see fit.”

“Bastard!” Alex raged despite the restraints both materiel and biological.

“One by one into place until......” he closed the space between his lips and and the outer shell of her ear, tracing the inviting lobe with the tip of his tongue. Alex cringed and wrenched her head left, only inciting his arousal.

“Mmmm......that's the spirit; fight Alexandra!”

Alex used every bit of resistance that remained in her depleted broken form. Her arms lifted to the elbows before falling back to the ground. She writhed beneath his dominant silhouette, sensing the last vestiges of strength draining out. Her torso squirmed then twitched until going still. Wesker kept his grip fierce but could detect her will was finally weakening; yet her heart carried out its furious dance, acting of its own accord. The stench of copper and iron saturated the air and carpet with more being added from the gaping laceration. The walls painted in angry crimson, a “present” for Chris upon his return.

She was still alive. For now.....

“Now where were we?” He licked his lips as though he was tasting the air. “Ah yes.....”

Strong knees pressed into her inner thighs and in a show of power over her, forced them apart until his eyes fell upon the prize.

“N-n-n-n-nooooooooo,” Alex protested through the gathering tears.

“Ah begging,” Wesker cruelly snickered. “The last resort of a desperate man or should I say.....woman?”

His mouth latched to her neck, suckling on the dried blood like it was candy. He couldn't but help to moan in unbridled ecstasy as his tongue savored the stark coppery sweetness. The tiny whimpers which escaped her lips only amplified his pleasure as he lifted her hips and slammed his cock inside.

Alex could only sob uncontrollably as Wesker carried out his perverted desires on her. Her body had shut down; refused to carry on fighting. So she lay there, helpless as one had snaked between their bodies, parting her legs wider to give even more of what he wanted. The violent smacking of his hips injuring every inch of flesh they collided with. She shut her eyes, working to detach her mind from the abuses being inflicted. Anywhere would be better! But Wesker wouldn't allow it. His hand shot out, pinching her chin with thumb and index finger. The sharp pressure abruptly thrust her back to the present, to the image of Wesker naked, on top of her, and sneering as if he had achieved some great conquest. The fiery eyes brightened to blood gold, boring into her wide traumatized ones.

“I can....feel what it is that Chris likes about you. Tight, hot.......”

NO! He wasn't going to shatter the intimate memories she treasured. While Chris had used those words in love, Wesker turned them vile, invading her soul and tarnishing them. Twisting them around until her mind could only see the demonic leer burning into her vision. Alex's sobs intensified as he felt the tightening begin in his lower body. Oh no, she had to remain alive. This was just too good for one time.

“Chris.....” her voice weakly hiccuped but Chris wasn't going to save her. Her nails dug into her palms with each deep wail of agony, puncturing the skin and drawing out 10 immaculate crescents of crimson. Alex thought her body was going to be split apart with the merciless temp. Each thrust only called out a higher pained howl. She was on the road to untold sensations that Alex never though existed and Wesker was happily dragging her along the razor and thorn embedded path.

“Agh!” Her body exploded, clenching around him, coating his cock with a thick sheen. Her lower back arched then dropped in rapid fire as the orgasm tore through her. “NO!” Alex wept openly, knowing her body was reacting to the stimulation, albeit forced. But that didn't provide a grain of solace.

Wesker flung his head back victoriously as the hot viscous ropes invaded. The Tyrant was lost in a pure moment of bliss as he rode out the macabre climax. The deep guttural growls stung her hearing and burned her soul as the burning waves saturated every inch they touched, tainting her with his mark. His thrusts sped up, emptying completely into her battered body. His mind and body were awash in euphoria, unaware of the salty bitterness that streaked her face, chin, and neck. Clear trails dribbled down her nose which went ignored as Alex lay there, growing numb from inside out. She prayed, begged, beseech anyone who was listening to rescue her. Maybe this was all a nightmare; no a night terror. A nightmare so real that the mind couldn't segregate between reality and illusion.

Alex turned her head left, just as a bolt of lightning streaked across the inky blackness, casting a peculiar glow over the photo of her and Chris. Her lips quivered as the warm smile and embrace they shared seemed to be mocking both her and her predicament. She could feel the dull ache in the lower front of her body increasing turning into deep pulsations that felt like agonizing cramps, the longer she remained on the unforgiving flooring.

“That was......eventful,” Wesker whispered cruelly. “I must say Alexandra, I am highly impressed with your ahem endurance through all of this.”

She felt the contact of their bodies separating as Wesker rose to his feet. Her skin pebbled with the rushing chill across her sweat slick skin. Alex couldn't move. She was at the mercy of him now. If he wanted to step on her throat and crush her windpipe she wouldn't be able to stop him. Consciousness was dangling on the edge of the cliff which below was a vast precipice, waiting to swallow it whole.

The leathery caress returned, turning her blank stare to his searing one. Wesker was now dressed with hair slicked back into perfection; the feral aura had been recalled, leaving the calm calculating bastard persona in control.

“This is going to hurt you a lot more than it is me,” the thick sharp edge of the needle tore into her neck, creating the pathway for the potent sedative to race along the blue and red highways. Tendons and her collarbone protruded in response to the invasion; tightening of muscle which was an instinctive reaction. It burned where the cocktail was plunged into her body.

“Sleep well.....Dear Heart.” The last drops seeped through narrow steel, completing the first step in Wesker's plans.

Alex felt her world going dark and heavy. Chris's name was on her tongue but the thick muscle turned slimy and limp like meat as the cold hands of unconsciousness claimed her. Wesker continued to admire his handiwork, noting the improvements to the drab décor of this plain boring dwelling. The blood is definitely a nice touch. But, Chris just won't or can't appreciate the finesse that went into this homecoming gift.

Pity really.......

“Let the games begin,” he victoriously collected the limp form into his waiting arms and casually strolled out into the deluge.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Frustration would've been an understatement.

The Czech Republic had of course, been another goddamn dead end; if one didn't include the run in with the mutated Dynamic Duo that is. Snow, cold, snow, and more cold had compounded the misery. Alex and Piers didn't speak of the night in the hotel, but it haunted their minds, refusing to let go. It was wrong, so goddamn wrong but the tiny voice in the back of her mind screamed it was RIGHT!

It did hurt.

No, it didn't hurt.

It fucking burned!

It felt like her body was inject with sulfuric acid then doused in gasoline and set ablaze.

It felt as if a million syringes filled with cyanide were stabbing her body over and over without pause.

The same pain which radiated through her being was almost on the same level as her time as Wesker’s little guinea pig. While it was physical more so than mental, it still burned with the same ferocity.

Did he even care if they were looking for him!??

Would he even go back if they found him? What if he said no? Then what? Did she use every ounce of strength to drag him back?

She could use her strength to “persuade” him to go with them, but would it intensify any anger or resentment that resided in his being? Would he hate her? Would he shun her for the actions she carried out because she loved him?

Too many questions, no answers to silence any.

Alex paused from staring at the screen and towards the door, detecting the water exploding from the faucet. Piers was in the shower, hoping to ease the achy muscles which greeted him at first light. She didn't have such misfortune though she didn't have an easy night herself. She opted for the couch as to avoid keeping her companion awake with her incessant tossing and turning. Comfortable as it was, it couldn't give the solace her body and mind so desperately sought. But she was kidding herself in the same thought. It was also to distance herself from him.

“Damn you Chris,” she heard the words flow immaculately from her lips in a low bitter whisper. “Damn you for this.”

She ceased typing and scrubbed her hands across her face as her eyes had started to burn as her stare had been transfixed upon the screen for hour upon hour. Thankfully, the clicking of keys had not awakened Piers as 2 AM had beckoned her. So, she sat, cross legged on the love seat, sending off haphazard emails, excusing her words in the first sentence before firing off a tirade of emotions and incoherent thoughts to Claire and Jill. Alex promised to keep in contact which she remained adamant to abiding by. It was touch and go from Josh as he was deployed to another biological attack; some corner of the Dark Continent which was going through a “democratic process.” Democratic process her ass!

They were still out there, the splinters of what had been Umbrella, watching, plotting, carrying on as though Raccoon City, Harvardvile, and the other collateral damage had been nothing more than simple interruptions in the status quo.

Alex paused, folding her hands over her mouth and nose like a fleshy mask and taking a deep breath, letting her eyes gently close with the intake of air.

“Damn you Spencer; damn you Wesker.”

The two she held ultimately responsible for their current states though Ada was in a very close second. The two who were now hopefully in the 10^th Circle of Hell. Thankfully, the rest of the Wesker Children were dead; well, all but one anyways or rather unknown if dead or not.

Alex Wesker: Whereabouts unknown.

It would be their luck this one had survived somehow. Just what they fucking needed.

Her thoughts drifted to the Wind crest she had recalled on the screen.

Another one had turned up, this time in Raccoon Forest alongside train tracks. This time it was the Moon. Whoever was doing this had a seriously fucked up sense of humor because no one, especially her, was laughing. Jill wasn’t laughing either as she recanted what Josh had told her and now this latest finding so close to where it all started, and Claire wasn’t exactly finding humor with the revelations either. All it did was trigger memories all three had battled to suppress; battles waged against their own minds.

Sighing, Alex closed the laptop and fell back on the couch. One arm draped over her eyes, shielding them from the invading dawn. Faux reassurances of promise from the warmth struggling to breach the curtains; promises of a new day, a new beginning, a new chance. All Alex could think about was those damned crests! Sun had been one of them, but it would only be a matter of time before another one turned up. Alex couldn’t put her finger on it, but something told her this wasn’t over.

Hell, it never ended.

Once Piers got out of the shower, the restaurant downstairs was getting a visit. It would be a welcome distraction from the morning’s events. While she didn't require food in the sense that Piers did, meaning sustenance, Alex still had desires of the senses which needed to be fulfilled; the restaurant downstairs, would sate that urge. The minute apparition of heaping scrambled eggs with potatoes and fresh fruit made her mouth water along with rich Arabica coffee.

The abrupt rapping on the door rudely jerked her from the visions dancing in her head. Who the fuck was it? An Umbrella relic? Neo Umbrella? Some moron who forgot their key after a hard night of partying only to be knocking on the wrong door?

Alex grabbed the Samurai Beretta that sat faithfully on the coffee table, not needing to check the chamber; she kept it locked and loaded.

Walking heel to toe, Alex stalked towards the door, hearing the heartbeat of the other strumming calmly on the other side. They didn't order room service that much was certain. With hands curled around the grip, she reached the door and peered through the hole. The tension which had gathered in her shoulders, back, and biceps receded as she took a step back and exhaled.

“Son of a bitch,” Alex shook her head and unlocked the deadbolt and lock on the knob. She swung the door open and greeted the unexpected visitor with a narrow smirk. “How did you find me?”

“I'm BSAA now remember!?” Her unexpected visitor crowed with a shit eating grin.

“You bastard,” Alex laughed and let one Crispin “Dee Ay” Jettingham in. “You said you were being deployed!” As he crossed the threshold, she playfully punched him in the arm to which he feigned hurt and mockingly rubbed the spot.

“Well, like Raccoon City, we went in, kicked ass, and came home. Now come here.”

Alex fell into his open arms, feeling relieved to see his face again. While she was close to Jill and Claire, the former government ops member was her best friend. Unbreakable bonds forged in the fires of Raccoon City which had not wavered despite the separation which had expanded into years. Now part of the BSAA, Jettingham continued doing what he loved: Fighting the bad guys.

“Hey, hey,” Crispin abruptly pulled back, feeling her arms constricting tighter around his waist with tiny tremors rocking her form. He took her face in his hands, seeing the narrow trails of red fracturing the pristine white. He dropped his head and said a few choice words before meeting her watery gaze. “You haven't found him, have you?”

“No,” Alex dropped on the couch, placing the Samurai on the table. “It's been dead end after dead end. I-I don't know what to tell Claire and Jill back home. Writing 'No, we haven't found him,' or 'We hit another dead end' is getting old fast. Starting to feel like this is turning into a wild Chris chase.”

Crispin hung his head in his hands, sensing his own anger stirring. Alex had kept him abreast of the situation since she and Piers left to look for him only to hear heartbreak in each message, he received from her when they turned up empty handed.

“Son of a bitch,” he growled into his open palms, seething at the sight of Alex as she sat there, hurting.

“No, no, don't.....please,” Alex shook his shoulder, imploring him to stop. “Don't get angry. I think I've been angry for everyone.”

“No, it's not right!” She was defending him?!?! “He abandoned his friends, his family, the BSAA, and worse, he abandoned YOU!” Alex knew he was right but couldn't bring herself to say it and instead chose to let her head drop, averting the gathering swells which pricked the corers of her eyes. His words echoed Piers'.

“Which is why we're looking for him. After what happened in Edonia, Hell, further back to the Mansion, he hasn't been the same. Claire even noticed it was as though a part of his soul died after that night then a little more after Africa, and then Edonia.”

“You're making excuses for him Alex. Why are you doing this to yourself?! I HATE seeing you like this! The last time I saw you like this was when-”

“When we find him,” she spoke with dead calm which effectively silenced him, “we will get answers. I just,” she paused and took a ragged breath and grappled his hands in desperation. Crispin couldn't but help to reciprocate, only in a display of silent repose. “I just want to know why. What was it that pushed him to do this? I keep trying to answer myself, but it always turns into a mental marathon; I just go round and round, arguing with myself!”

“You're not doing this alone.”

“But I'm not,” Alex lifted her head showing off the crimson webbing which crisscross her eyes. “I haven't been doing this on my own.”

Her eyes drifted towards the bathroom door where Piers was now standing. One hand was locked in a fierce grip on the towel draped around his hips. Droplets of crystal cascaded down his exposed skin and hair. A curious stare was fixated on Crispin who was equally perplexed by this new development.

“Alex, why in the HELL is there a strange guy wearing just a towel in your room?!?!?” What in the FUCK had she gotten herself mixed up in this time?!!?

“Wait!” Alex shot up, keeping Crispin seated on the couch. “Before you say anything or attempt anything, hear me out okay? It's not what you think it is.”

“No, it's not,” Piers felt he had to intervene. “I'm helping Alex search for Chris.”

“And you are.....” The deep almond rings hardened into suspicion and followed the younger man as he approached. His free hand came up in a sort of truce to which Crispin hesitantly accepted with his larger hand, covering Piers' with ease.

“Piers Nivans, BSAA.”

“BSAA......” Crispin parroted softly.

“He was Chris' partner back in Edonia.”

“And you are?” Piers returned the favor.

“Crispin Jettingham, Captain Crispin Jettingham, BSAA; European Division.”

“Why does your name sound familiar?” Piers retracted his hand and assumed the spot to Alex's right.

“I was in Raccoon City,” Crispin straightened in his seat. “Government Ops.”

“He saved mine, Jill's and Carlos's asses back in Raccoon City; not to mention Claire and Leon.”

“And Sherry Birkin's,” the former government agent chimed in.

“Sherry Birkin?! We crossed paths in Edonia before-” Piers caught himself-before he could mention the ambush. “She's a government agent now. Some mercenary was under her protection.” Crispin's interest piqued at this little bit of information.

“She was protecting a mercenary? But why? What could some paid for hire thug have or know that the government would be willing to protect their ass? As far as I'm concerned, they're no different than the USS forces my team crossed paths with back in Raccoon; only difference is they fight for the highest bidder.”

“Exactly,” Piers shook his head with contempt. Humans and their self-serving purposes. So long as it benefited them then collateral damage was an afterthought if that. “I didn't understand why Chris allowed him to go! How many of us have died because of assholes like him?!”

“Because,” Alex released a humorless laugh, “It wasn't part of the mission. Am I right?” She looked expectantly to Piers.

“We couldn't lose sight of the BSAA's mission,” the mocking undertone was out of anger and not an insult towards his brethren.

“Sounds like him alright.” She nodded then stole a glance at Piers' state of dress, wait, undress. “Piers, you might wanna,” she flailed a hand in random chaotic patterns.

The younger BSAA agent peered down at the lone rectangle of cloth draped tightly around his torso. “Oh,” he felt the blush creeping up on his cheeks and neck, “Excuse me.”

He scurried up and for the bathroom, grabbing some clothes along the way. Alex softly laughed and shook her head. Crispin arched an eyebrow, seeing the deep longing gaze the sniper directed towards her behind her back. Piers failed to notice he had been caught.

“Sorry, he can be......” she started to apologize.

“Protective?”

“Yeah,” Alex reluctantly acquiesced. “Ever since we left the States. He’s taken it upon himself to be my ‘bodyguard’ which we know I don’t need. But still, he insists.”

“What are you not telling me Alex? And don't lie because I know when you're lying. I caught the look Piers gave you behind your back. What is going on?”

Crispin sat expectantly, waiting for her to answer. The deep almond rings bore hard into hers, demanding the truth. Alex sighed but felt her hand reaching around and rubbing the back of her neck before joining the other in a symphony of flying frustration. Her eyes squeezed shut and teeth ground together; her hands clenched into identical fists as her head shot up showing the turmoil of emotions raging within. How would she tell him? How would he react? Fuck it! Fuck it! Fuck it! FUCK IT!!!!

“Okay, so something happened.” Alex angrily twisted her fingers in her hair, refusing to cast her eyes towards her best friend. Her cheeks burned at the confession; her mind awaiting his harsh stinging words. “Please, don't be angry. We both realized our error.”

“Alex, Alex, please look at me?”

Strong chapped hands enclosed her smaller trembling ones, untangling the taut digits from her now unruly locks.

“Whatever you have to say, say it okay?” Her voice shaky, breaking every syllable that broke her quivering lips. “I probably deserve to hear it.” Shame blanketed her heart and mind while her body quietly trembled.

“Say what? Alex, who am I to judge you? And deserve what?! You're human for crying out loud! I know you love Chris. Shit, the first time you two laid eyes on one another that night at the bar I could see it. But I also know that you've been through Hell where he's concerned too. Your heart was broken; twice. I mean, shit, Lex.”

There was the big brother in Crispin. Always and ever protective.

“That I shouldn’t have feelings for someone else; I shouldn’t have almost fucked him, last night, in that bed,” Alex jerked her head back towards the bed. “Is that what someone who claims to only love ONE person does?!!?”

Crisping heavily sighed, seeing the turmoil and self-loathing. This was killing her.

“Hey,” he shielded her with his embrace, “No one said love would be easy.”

"I told another man I had feelings for him,” she started taking a deep slow breath.

“Yeah, well, it happens. I’m not going to sugar coat anything because it would be a disservice. I can’t tell you what to do next; but I’ll be there. But you do need to find Chris.”

“That’s what Piers said.”

“It's obvious he respects what you have with Chris; even if he isn’t the one.”

“And it’s killing him.”

“If there was a manual on these things, life would be so much easier; but it’s not.”

“Nothing has been easy for us since Raccoon City. I suppose we should be used to it,” she offered a humorless smile. Cripsin merely embraced her, wishing he could do something.

“Just don't do anything too crazy. You're my sister, my best friend......”

“You missed the incident where Piers found out my secret. Two J'avos found us and he saw me get injured.....”

“How did he react?”

“He didn't freak out. In fact, I told him part of the story. I haven't gotten to the good stuff yet, though.”

He only held her tighter, remembering that day they found her. He was hell bent on helping Chris. He had been adamant he was on every mission, every trip, anything that involved bringing her back home.

Piers listened with the door ajar. He wouldn't pry her for the next part but he deduced she would tell him.

Chapter Text

Umbrella Laboratory.....Location.....Far East....

Acid.

That's what she felt was coursing through her veins. Her skin was searing, sweat saturating the paper thin sheet which she lay beneath. Any brush of air caused her sensitive flesh to tense in response to the abrupt chill, muscle contracting in kind with sharp excruciating jolts. Alex commanded her arms to move, only to discover they refused her orders. Her eye lids refused to flutter open. Why couldn't she open her eyes? What the Hell was wrong with her?

The acrid stench of cleaner and other compounds which she couldn't find the word to label saturated her olfactories, sending waves of nausea through her core. A tiny groan broke past her lips, too faint for any of the people who were buzzing about her. While she couldn't see, their presences did not go undetected. How was she able to sense them? Was she dreaming? Was she dead? Was she in Purgatory?

“It's been 12 hours since it started and no signs of mutation.”

“Really?” That voice. The low baritone notes carried across her perfect hearing. Her mind was violently jolted back to that night in the apartment. The night Albert Wesker assaulted, raped and drugged her. The night everything would change.

“We're continuing to run tests, but, initial results show the virus is bonding with her DNA. The sequence provides the perfect environment for the T-Virus to integrate and thrive.”

“Interesting. This will be of great use to us.”

Alex wanted nothing more to jump from her prison and strangle Wesker, to make him pay for the pain, angst, trauma and suffering he inflicted on them all; for Jill, Claire and Chris. But she remained a prisoner in her own body; at the mercy of whatever plans Wesker had devised. He always had plans and plans within plans. It was how he stayed two steps ahead of the BSAA all these years. It was how he succeeded in keeping his B.O.W dream going, shaping its legacy through different guises and entities, shifting its shape like a demon. Eugenics. The idea of using these viruses to selectively evolve a few and let the rest die. Yeah, Alex witnessed that ideology go up in flames that night in Raccoon City.

“What else do you have for me, Doctor?”

“Her bone density has increased 20 fold, muscle structure increased with a higher number of fibers than prior to infection.”

Silence as Wesker absorbed this revelation. A tiny smile cracked the corner of his lips.

“Currently, an heavy sedative is being administered so we can study the effects of the virus.”

“Begin to awaken her.”

Time had no meaning as she lay there. All Alex knew was her body was growing lighter, the sensation of heaviness lifting off her body. Her arms and legs twitched, a good sign as feeling crept into those long sleeping extremities. She dared to wiggle a toe, finding it obeying her will and snapping back and forth. Next, her left index finger lifted partially off the bed then dropped. Whatever those bastards had drugged her with was extremely powerful as her fingertip was the only part that would listen and move the second time. Her skin coated with a rich seen of sweat, the third time that day she had soaked the pathetic gown, which was really two thin long bibs held in place by elastic snaps, leaving her body mostly exposed for anyone who walked by.

Where the fuck am I? Is Chris looking for me? Maybe Jill or Claire saw the carnage and.....

The sudden arching of her body off the flimsy mattress felt like a sledgehammer against her body. Somewhere to the side, the heart monitor screamed as her pulse ran rampant, threatening to cause the machine to fail as the spikes read off the limit. Every cell from nerve to muscle danced in a twisted tango as the technician raced to get her stabilized. He watched her eyes flew open and mouth form a perfect circle of pain but no scream escaped as she bowed up, restraints keeping her from falling out, then flattened, then arched a little higher. The restraints bit into her flesh, bending her hands back with each violent surge. The technician could not see the metamorphosis occurring deep within her. Her immune system was at the will of the virus, cutting and slicing every cell it could, allowing T to reform the battered shredded piece of living materiel to its own design. Wesker barged into the room just as her body locked in a final struggle before collapsing in a sweat soaked deluge, limp like a doll dropped to the floor. Her temperature high enough to keep a human being, though, he sensed she was no longer human. An evolutionary dead end no more.

Ontogenesis.

He peered through his sunglasses, catching movement in her left forearm, traveling up a vein like a car on the road. His hand curled around, thumb pressing down on the minute presence. To his amusement, it flattened against the strain then regrouped when he lifted up. The angry welts bit into her wrists, collateral damage in the earlier struggle.

“So, you survived the infection, Alexandra, much to my delight. It appears you and the T-Virus have mated into this beautiful form. One in a billion and it was you. Now, you're mine.”

Wesker peeled a glove away, hungering to feel the burning flesh with his. His sharp sight spied several alterations to her body. Fine lines defined the sharper tone of muscle in her arms and shoulders, where before, it had been a smooth canvas waiting to be crafted. Her thighs, poking from the top bib, curved along the top of the kneecaps before climbing up and leveling out. Grabbing a fistful of the green cover, Wesker tore it away, revealing smoother abs and pert breasts.

“Oh, Alexandra, how you will be of great use to me.”

The hand caressed the side of her face, tears trickling down the corners of her eyes.

“Now isn't this touching. Tears are for the weak.”

If Wesker couldn't have Chris, then he would take the next best thing.

“What can we do with a dog collar around that pretty neck of yours?”

She felt the fingers lazily playing around her neck before going around the shoulders, drinking in the sensations of skin to skin. They dipped lower, slower in their progression as they teased the erect nipples; a reaction to the chill in the room of course. The sedative was still coursing through her veins but Alex managed to raise a shaky fist, but the restraint kept her from striking. The man chuckled at this sad display.

“I commend you for your effort, Dear Heart, though you will quickly learn you can't beat me.”

“Fuck......Off.......” Her labored breaths taxed her ability to speak.

“Now that's rather rude,” the room echoed with the sharp hard smack across her face. Alex's head jerked left from the violent assault. His stance softened slightly as he stood back up. “But, you will come to respect me soon enough. We have much to do, you and I.”

She remained silent as he left there alone, helpless and naked. Alex could only shut her eyes to block the stares of any who entered.

Sometime during the night, Wesker returned. Alex was asleep, still tied down but covered with a blanket. Some damn technician probably. The monitor quietly beeped as her heart had steadied and temperature dropped a few degrees. He quietly released her from her imprisonment and waited.

Alex stirred and shot her eyes open, sensing Wesker hovering over the bed. She shot up, leaning against the back into the wall. Her hands and feet in a losing battle to get any distance between her and her assailant. His head cocked in amusement as the fear flooded her pores and eyes widened. Her floundering and fighting sent her off the bed and to the floor, skin smacking against the unforgiving tile.

“Oh, Dear Heart,” he patronized her plight, “I admire your resistance but,” in one movement, pinned her to the wall, slender fingers curled around the throat, “it is futile.” They constricted just a little more, earning short hard gasps in kind. The smirk grew into a cruel smile as the blue and purple fanned across her cheeks then spread over her neck and forehead. Alex furiously clawed at his grip, succeeding in prying off two of his fingers. Air! She greedily gulped every precious bit, feeling her body heal from the latest assault. Her mind distracted with survival, only too late to feel the cold metal slamming between her breasts. Wesker reveled as Alex cried in pain, fighting until the darkness engulfed her. The last sound was that of a madman's laughter echoing in her perfect hearing.

Piers covered his face with his hands, attempting to digest what he had heard. Jettingham sat mutely, having heard this tragic tale.

“I was trapped inside my body, watching everything that happened; everything I did......”

She paused and took a drink. They were gonna need more bourbon.

“Tri-Cell had stopped using P30 but, an accidental discovery created a new purpose for its use. Wesker decided I would be his little lab rat. I couldn't control anything, except what I thought. My body......my body was his to use as he pleased. And he used it. Bastard used it on Jill when he had her captive. You're awake the entire time but, you're riding in the passenger seat. You can't control what your body does. Inside I was screaming, howling, clawing at myself to wake the fuck up. But Wesker was stronger, kept a dog collar on my neck.”

Alex finished off the glass and poured herself another generous helping. She couldn't get a buzz, let alone black out drunk, thanks to the virus. It was more of the motion, a sense of normalcy in her otherwise chaotic world. A set of arms circled around her. It was Piers. Alex let herself be comforted by the young sniper, as he could sense this was difficult for her to bring up, especially in their current situation.

“You don't have to tell us anymore. You're already upset and stressed as is.”

“No,” she adamantly shook her head and took another drink, still in Piers' embrace. “I'm going to tell you, but tonight, this is a good place to stop. If I continue, we'll be up all night. Have to be somewhat rested for the next part of our search.”

“Alex, I'm sorry you had to go through that. I can't begin to imagine the pain and suffering that son of a bitch....” Piers felt himself shaking harder with each word he spat.

She shrugged and set down her drink. “It helps with getting through it, talking about it, that is. The BSAA shrink told me that talking about it and opening up with ones I trust would help. Shutting out didn't work. Chris and Jill refused to let me shut them out. Took them a few months but they cracked the wall I threw up. I still don't remember some of the details. Shrink said it was my brain protecting myself from the trauma and I may never recall those memories. Maybe it's a good thing I don't remember those times.”

“Hey,” Jettingham caught her face, bringing her watery gaze to his sympathetic one. “You're a survivor; you're one of the most resilient people I know. I saw that in Raccoon City. Most people wouldn't be able to make it through the trials you were put through after. They would break. You didn't.”

“When you find him, let me know.”

“Will do,” Alex and Jettingham shared a long hard embrace, the latter pressing a kiss to her forehead. “If you get any leads or hear ANYTHING, let us know. A rumor could be a lead.”

“Piers,” he turned towards the younger man, eyes hardening slightly, “Keep her safe.”

“I have been since she set foot in London,” he extended a hand which Jettingham clasped in a firm shake. “And will continue to do so."

“Bring him home,” Jettingham bade them farewell.

Alex dropped on the couch, picking up where she left off on her drink. It didn't have the same appeal as when she started. Now it went down with a sour tinge against her tongue. She turned her attention to the map laid out on the small coffee table, marking an X through their latest destination. Leads had dried up for the time being and Alex was unsure where to go next. With most of Europe still in the icy grip of winter, travel would be limited in some regions. Still, Chris was resourceful after years of tracking Wesker down.

“Where do we go from here, Piers,” Alex wondered aloud. She scrubbed her face with a hand, her mind refusing to function. “We have no leads or even whispers. I-I can't think.”

“Alex, you look tired. You should try to sleep. We can regroup in the morning with clear heads.”

“I guess you're right,” she sighed. “It's just frustrating we can't find him. And I know, I sound like a broken fucking record.”

“No,” he shook his head and joined her. Piers grabbed her hands as he continued, “It is frustrating. We have nothing to go on right now. All we can do is look at where we've been, see if there's a pattern or something we missed.”

“Right,” Alex nodded. “Guess I'll get ready for bed. Doubt I'll sleep much.” Piers watched as she dragged herself towards the bathroom, sleep shirt in hand. If she asked, he would crash on the couch. It wasn't bad sitting on it but a part of him hoped she'd offer a space in the bed.

“You're welcome to half the bed again,” as if she was reading his thoughts, Alex casually threw the offer out as she crawled in one side, settling in beneath the thick duvet. No sooner had she closed her eyes, the dipping in the mattress alerted her. Piers buried himself in the thick covering, relaxing in the soft layers of cotton. Too bad his own mind wouldn't grant his body peace as he lay there, wide awake, staring into the abyss.

Some point, in the depths of the night, hand sought hand until fingers were laced together.

The dreams, rather, nightmares, had started a few weeks ago.

It was always the same: A woman with hair like night and skin that was pale like the moon reaching for him. Her eyes flooded with panic as she reached her arm outward, fingers curling in desperation for his. He would reach for her, finding the same desperation and need in kind. Tears would start cascading down her cheeks, staining her face and neck.

“Chris please! He's coming!”

Chris. She called him Chris! Was that his name!? Panic strained her voice as she continued to struggle to find him. Rings of cerulean met soulful brown, cementing his determination to get her back. The moment their fingers would brush then meet, a light warmth fanned across his body, starting in his fingertips before racing though his veins and filling his entire body.

“Please, Chris! Don't let me go!” Determination fueled his movements, his hand clasping with hers.

But fate would be a cruel adversary as a gloved hand shot out, snatching her back. Chris could watch as the hand and arm began to coil around her waist as a snake would its prey, turning into an oozing tentacle. The appendage pulsated and tingled against her. The connection between them had long turned to ice. He watched, helpless, as her body snap backwards as more tendrils shot out, encasing her further. He fought to go to her only to have an invisible wall block his efforts.

“NO GODDAMNIT!!!” His took his rage out on the unseen barricade, his efforts in vain. His fists would ache, throb in protest at his command. Always fighting with his emotions and zero tact.

She struggled, warred against her captor, only to feel him tighten his hold around her. Fatigue was setting in the man felt her body start to slow, arms and legs falling limp within his dark embrace.

“Oh no, Dear Heart, I simply cannot let you go.”

The sensation of his lips and nose brushing against her neck elicited a sharp cry of protest to which he violently bit at the junction of her neck and shoulder. Blood danced across his tongue, which he greedily lapped, refusing to let any drop escape. The man licked his lips, savoring the last bit of crimson sweetness.

“She's perfect! An alabaster goddess to revere!!”

“WESKER!!!” The glass wielded to the abuse, shattering around him. Chris lunged through the shards, shutting out the sharp stings cutting through his cheeks and arms. Blood dribbled from the wounds, painting his arms in random streaks. The man, Wesker, smirked at this valiant deed. With his query secured, Wesker dispatched a parting a gift towards Chris.

The spiked tendrils launched across the abyss, targeting Chris. The instant the tips pierced his heart, lungs and abdomen the silent scream escaped his lips. The last living thought was of her....

Chris shot straight up on the filthy thin mattress. Sweat beading his forehead despite the chilled air of the dilapidated room. He could feel his heart slamming against his ribs, threatening to break the bony confines. He sat there for a few moments, his breathing erratic as if he had ran a marathon. Though the moonlight, his eyes spied trembling hands. Shaking his head, Chris retrieved the half filled bottle of cheap whiskey. Pressing his eyes shut, he finished its contents, letting the amber velvet glide down his throat, taking in the subtle warmth that enveloped his body like a blanket.

Wesker. The name Wesker....it sounded familiar yet foreign. Was it someone he knew or knew him?

And the woman. Her. She called him Chris. Chris. It sounded familiar.

The way he reached for her, as if his very life depended on it. Who was she? The man, Wesker, called her Dear Heart. No, something told him that wasn't her real name, no, it was a pet name perhaps. Chris glanced at the clock, noting it was 3:15. He had been asleep for only 3 hours. It felt like an eternity. Shaking off the nagging sinking feeling in his gut, Chris threw the bottle to the floor and turned on his side. As he turned over, he gasped in shock. It was her, laying on her side, eyes locked to his. The icy hues pleaded with him as a hand caressed the side of his face. Chris lay there frozen, letting the specter stroke his cheek and thumb play with his lips. Her raven locks fell in feathery layers, masking part of her face.

“Remember,” she whispered. “Remember, everything.”

Chris bolted awake a second time, the sun now dominating the sky. His head shot left, the space beside him vacant. She had felt real. Her touch....... Chris slapped his hand to his cheek, letting it linger where hers had the night prior. It had felt so fucking real.

No. She was some figment of an overworked imagination. He needed more whiskey to silence it.

Chapter Text

February eventually gave way to March.

Now, they were somewhere in Croatia, an improvement from Slovakia and its wintry palace. Still, the bitter icy tendrils that raced on the wind reminded the pair they weren't entirely free of Nature's frozen grip.

Alex quietly drank her coffee, checking emails from everyone. Jill had been deployed to address a potential outbreak in Canada while Claire was with TerraSave, helping in recovery from an attack in Brazil. All she could do was hope. Prayers never worked and she had long stopped believing in God. God, she snorted, what a joke. Crispin and Alpha team were looking into an attack in France as Josh and Sheva had been ass deep in B.O.W.s in Sierra Leone. Another crest had been uncovered in the ruins of Paris. Crispin had been hesitant to let Alex know but, he sent the photo which only made her blood turn cold like the River Drava. Staring back at her, was the Sun. It wasn't hard to forget regardless of her attempts: Six points of gold with a simple yet ornate etching of the celestial symbol.

“I know, it brings back bad memories but, I didn't want to hide this from you.”

Alex had dismissed his concern, appreciating his honesty. She recalled his words about her resiliency, finding strength in his faith in her capacity.

Oh Dear Heart.......

Not this shit again!

So perfect...You, Alexandra are what I've worked so hard to achieve.....You were perfect by my side.

Jerking her eyes from the screen and slamming the laptop shut, Alex decided she needed more coffee. Even dead, that bastard continued to haunt her. The shrink at the BSAA explained it was part of the trauma she experienced, the manifestations she would endure were a part of her subconscious that was trapped in the same horror movie loop. Sadly, no drug in the pharmaceutical arsenal could silence him or mute it for any duration. Her body would simply burn through it in a matter of moments. So, Alex instead tried to focus on hers and Piers' mission.

Who was behind the crests? What was their endgame? More questions than answers but then again, that was always the case. With a heavy sigh, she resolved to refreshing her cup and laying out their next move. Alex looked up over to see Piers still sleeping soundly in the bed. This had become their routine for the last three months: search, chase ghosts and regroup. Alex did have to admit, Piers didn't kick or snore but neither did Chris. Usually when she woke up, it would be her flung across his body or one of his strong arms curled around her waist. But, that wasn't the case these last few months. Alex would awaken, her mind back home, expecting to have Chris alongside her, perhaps stirring at the same time or already up and getting ready. However, it would be a cruel mirage as she found the lean form of the marksman in his place. Her heart would sink as reality reminded her that her Captain was in the wind.

“Chris, where the fuck are you,” she muttered. “I just want you home. Fuck, I miss you so goddamn much. I hope you're alright.”

Alex felt herself drifting back to the past, a time where Umbrella or Albert Wesker had not fucked with their lives.

“So.....” Chris looked anywhere but at her. His foot sweeping in an arc across the pavement. “I was wondering if you were.....I don't know......Fuck, I'm bad at these things......”

Alex fought to suppress a smirk, watching him squirm in his uncertainty and failure to compose one coherent sentence. She could let him continue like this but, being the person she was.

“Yes, Chris,” his head snapped up, almond rings growing wide.

“Y-you want to? I mean, I can't do anything great given my pay but - “ she shot up a hand effectively killing his attempt.

“I don't care about that,” Alex waved a hand, “We could do pizza and a movie and that would be fine by me. I hate that high end fancy shit anyways. I'm not some high maintenance gal who looks down on anyone not pulling six figures. I don't need shiny trinkets or pretty things to make me happy.”

Chris felt his face turn flush, unsure of how to respond. He was so glad he got the nerve to talk to her. It had been a few months ago when he first laid eyes on her. Alex had been holding her own in a drinking contest with Barry; shots was the game. Jill and Claire were of course, pulling for Alex, whom they had met just that night. Barry had been bragging about his ability to hold his liquor which the brunette sitting in the corner had challenged him to some friendly competition. The former STARRS point man could only watch with awe as this mystery woman met his old friend shot for shot.

Jill and Claire cheered her on, taking count of the rounds. Both were starting to slow though, pausing between shots to breathe. Barry stopped mid shot, feeling his insides begin to revolt. Still, he downed the shot and turned the glass upside down. Now, it was her turn. This was the last round. One more, and she would win. The whiskey was burning in her belly as she lifted the shot glass to her lips. Chris watched with bated breath as she down the final bit. But wait, she was swaying, eyes closing as the back of her hand rested against her forehead. Barry watched with a glazed over expression, hoping she would fold.

“Not today,” she declared and slammed the glass upside down on the table, greeted with an eruption of celebration. Chris had to get to know her. Her deep chocolate locks flew backward as she rose on shaky feet, fists pumping up in victory.

“You win,” Barry conceded, amazed despite his loss, “what is your name again?” His voice started to slur.

“Alex,” her hand shot out which Barry accepted and shook.

Alex. That was her name. Claire caught sight of her brother, his attention focused on their new friend. He wasn't into relationships and had casually dated of course, saying no one had really caught his attention. A few fell in love with the uniform but once the novelty wore off, it was onto the next round of solitude, cigarettes and work.

“I think I'm gonna puke,” Alex stumbled, attempting to reach the bathroom. Nausea was washing over like violent waves pounding the shore. She felt bile mixing with whiskey breaching the back of her throat. Chris bolted towards her, catching her before she collapsed. “Yep, definitely gonna puke.” The dry heaves were increasing as Chris sprinted for the door, barely making it in time.

Jill nudged Claire as they watched Chris help Alex to the bathroom. Chris held her hair back and soothingly rubbed her back as everything she ate and drank was messily hurled into the bowl.

“Thank you, random stranger,” she groaned before the next round. Her forehead rested on the rim, cool and comforting. She swore no more drinking challenges. Damn, the next morning was going to hurt.

“The name's Chris, Chris Redfield.”

“Thanks Chris, Chris Redfield,” Alex breathed out then proceeded to throw up the last bit. Oh yeah, the next morning was going to be a bitch. “Got any Ibuprofen or Tums?”

Alex hung her head, trying to fight back tears. She just wanted Chris back. The diamond nestled in the band shot a bright stab in her eyes. They hadn't set any date, not really. Her abduction and infection had wrecked any inkling of such, Chris focused on getting Alex back and on the mend.

“Alex?” Hastily wiping her eyes, Alex shot her head up, seeing Piers sitting up. His hair was disheveled, not the usual stiff spikes that dominated the crown of his head. The sleepy expression still etched his face as he rose to get out of bed. “What time is it?”

“About 6,” she took another sip of coffee. “You can go back to sleep. There's no news about Chris.” Alex omitted the part about the crest.

“No, I'm awake,” he yawned and stretched, the smell of coffee seeping into his nose. “I'm used to the strange hours, remember?”

“Right,” she nodded.

“How long have you been awake?” He sat beside her, seeing the open screen.

“Dunno,” Alex shrugged, “Maybe since 4. I didn't want to wake you so I got up.”

“Anything about Chris?”

“A lead, if you want to call it that. I mean, nothing about his confirmed whereabouts but, it's better than nothing I guess. Crispin got some kind of intel about a man who looked him being in the area. He wasn't sure how reliable it was.”

“He can only run so far. BSAA has eyes and ears to the ground. They're not going to let one of their best men slip through.”

“Maybe I'll call Quint, see if he and Keith have heard anything.” Alex hadn't heard from the Dynamic Duo since the Ja'vo attack, though they kept in contact with emails and texts.

Carla, watched the footage for the third time.

The Ja'vo experiment succeeded, showing Alexandra Koch's abilities were beyond her wildest dreams. Her antibodies kept any C-virus infection, any infection really, at bay. She could sense the presence of other B.O.W.s., her strength would put any bodybuilder to shame, and speed.....only one other could match her and that colossal imbecile was dead. Any research Albert Wesker had conducted on her had been destroyed or seized by the BSAA when she was rescued. While it was a setback, it could be overcome. Just as they had located and captured his bastard son, Jake Mueller and that obnoxious agent, Sherry Birkin. She should thank the naive girl for her blood. They wouldn't have the C-virus without it. They needed the other's blood now. The final part of the plan.

“Any word on the whereabouts of Agent Redfield?”

“No, sir. We've tapped the BSAA intel and nothing. We'll keep monitoring their channels. Our informants did relay some information to a Captain Jettingham who did relay to Alexandra and Agent Nivans. They're in Koprivnica, Croatia following up. No signs of Radames or Simmons.”

“When Agent Redfield is located, inform me at once. If you see either him or her in the area, alert me immediately.”

“Yes, Sir.”

The man leaned back in his seat, finding this update disappointing to say the least. Agent Chris Redfield was proving to be very difficult in tracking indeed. No matter, as he would be found. He had his best men on the case. The man sighed, returning his attention to the files laid out before him. Albert had conducted extensive and deeply invasive experiments on Alex after he infected her with the Tyrant Virus. With each word, his rage for the deceased amplified. Oh how he wished he could've been the one to launch that rocket in his arrogant face.

The BSAA thought they had acquired all of the data and files after the man's death. Too bad for them, they didn't possess the entire picture.

“Damn it,” Piers shook his head disgustedly. All day they went from bar to bar then any hotel, hostel or no-tell motel along the way. One patron thought they had recognized Chris, but couldn't be sure.

“Look again,” Alex thrust the photo within inches of the woman's face. “Look long and hard.”

Piers grew tense as his companion's agitation began to increase. He worried she would snap, take her frustrations out on this poor woman. Her fingertips clenched tighter around the edge of the photo, the very edges turning white. The muscles in her jaw clenched as the woman stared absently at the image.

“HAVE. YOU. SEEN. HIM. GODDAMNIT!!!!!”

“Alex,” Piers gently pulled her back, preventing Alex from tearing her apart. His peripheral vision caught movement from the right. The bouncer, who had been watching the pair since they set foot inside, started to make his way towards them. “We should go.”

He tugged on her arm, insisting she go with him. Her mind attention focused on the woman, yet, her sharp hearing picked up the footsteps of the approaching behemoth.

“DO. YOU. KNOW. WHERE......” Alex didn't get to finish her final words as Sasquatch's hand shot out, reaching for her neck. Dark rings narrowed on the prize, missing the slender hand that caught the wrist mid-strike. Alex spun around, her other hand snatching his balls in an iron grip. The agonizing howl reverberated through the tavern as he fell to his knees, scratching furiously at the source of his suffering. Piers watched in horror as her eyes devolved into hellish orbs; blood and gold swirling in anger, relishing in the torment of the one before them. He was at Alex's mercy, and mercy was not what she would be giving.

“Alex!” The marksman tightened his hold on her bicep, jerking her backwards. She shook her head, blinking, confusion written on her face. The whimpering of the bouncer caused her to snap her head down, seeing the pathetic state her unintended victim was in.

“Oh my god,” she released her hold, watching as he curled into the fetal position, still whimpering and shaking. “I-I didn't mean to....” Breaking from Piers' hold, Alex sprinted for the door, hoping to vanish before anyone called the local police. Piers raced after her, a small crowd gathering around the down man. A light snow was falling as he caught sight of her heading down a side alley. He hurried after her before anything else happened.

Alex leaned against the wall, hands on thighs as she battled the surging bile in her throat. What the fuck happened back there!? She lost it. The ineptness of that woman ignited her rage; a deadly silent rage.

“Alex,” Piers hurried to where she was, her eyes still awash in molten lava. “What happened?”

“Don't come near me!” Her hands shot out, putting distance between them. “Please, Piers, I don't want to hurt you.”

“You won't,” he refused to stop, instead closing the space between them.

“I hurt someone. I let my anger get the better of me.”

“You didn't intend to hurt anyone. That's not you.” His expression softened and eyes swelled with sympathy. “Please, Alex, let me take you back to the room. The snow's picking up and it's getting colder.”

He couldn't bear to see her like that: defeated and despondent in a narrow alley in the middle of a foreign land. Piers tossed caution aside, gently collecting the now weeping woman in his arms, a minute attempt to shield her from the growing waves of white.

“I'm so sorry,” she sniffled. His hold grew tighter, his way of saying it wasn't her fault.

“I hope he's okay. My strength, sometimes, I forget even after all these years....”

Alex was shaking when they returned. The bouncer was only doing what he was hired to do, but it didn't expunge the guilt. She could've handled the situation differently. Piers sent a message to Jettingham but omitted the incident at the bar. While he waited to hear back, Piers glanced to Alex, who was on the bed, hands cradling her face, hiding the shame.

“Alex,” he eased down beside her, slowly prying her hands from her face. The fire fading to ice.

“I hated you had to witness that, Piers. I am so sorry,” she leaned against him, head resting on his shoulder. “Chris saw it happen too. He had to take me out of the situation and talk me down like you did. He refused to leave me, worried something was going to happen to me. Kept me anchored in reality. I swear this fucking virus put my emotions on steroids. I never had this problem until I was infected. Just another damn symptom I suppose.”

Alex felt the sensation of his fingers carding through her hair was soothing, calming her frayed emotions. The tension in her body subsided, lulled into a state of ease. Her pulse shifted from erratic to rhythmic. Neither ready to separate yet, taking in the comfortable silence.

The cheap bedside clock blared 1935.

it was best to stay in the room as the police may be looking for them on account of the incident earlier in the day. The clicking of the bathroom door announced Alex's reappearance. Piers looked up, seeing color back in her face and neck; more than likely from the scalding water she was steeped in for the last 20 minutes. Her hair was damp, creating random droplets on the nightshirt. She had borrowed one of his shirts on account of her shirts needing cleaned. It was one of his old Army shirts from basic.

“How are you feeling?” She offered a tiny smile.

“Exhausted,” Alex dropped down, towel still in her hands. “Like my soul is drained exhausted. How are you holding up?”

“Tired,” he scrubbed a hand across his face.

“A shower may help. I swear I didn't use all the hot water.”

“How considerate,” Piers teased. Alex felt the smile break. After the rather shitty day they had, it was moments like these which mitigated the uncertainty and unknown.

Alex found some tea and used the tiny coffee pot to brew up some hot water. Chamomile was her favorite and even after infection, it maintained the ability to relax her. And as her body came down, her mind decided to take a journey down a dark path. She and Piers had not spoken about the incident in Slovakia. It had been stepped around, neither one daring to bring up the subject. With the priority being find Chris and bring him home, it was hard to deny the growing bond between them. The first day Chris had introduced the young sniper, Alex thought he was good looking, but what hot blooded female wouldn't have thought that? Claire thought he was cute and Jill instantly liked him.

“Alex,” Piers called out. She turned, to see him in boxer shorts and shirt.

“Want some tea?” She offered a shaky smile. Her eyes trailed as he eased his frame alongside her. The heat radiated from his skin, searing into hers where their bodies touched.

“There's something on your mind,” he noted the distance look in her eyes.

“There is,” she finally relented. This was it. Time to air this out. “We haven't talked about what happened. We've been kind of avoiding the subject.”

“I know. And I need to get something off my chest.”

His pulse was sprinting and Piers knew she could hear it.

“Damn it,” he huffed, “I do feel something for you; something that I shouldn't. But, these last few months, traveling and being together, fighting those Ja'vo, you having that episode in London, seeing the real you.....”

Piers struggled with his words.

“It's hard,” Alex nodded. “I'm struggling with being in love with one man but finding myself falling for another......Fuck......Jesus I'm messed up.”

There it was. Alex, the woman who fiercely loved his Captain, determined to bring him home, putting her life on the line to do it, was falling for his partner and Lieutenant.

“No, you're not messed up. I'm struggling with the realization I'm in love with my Captain's girl,” Piers heard his voice. He dared to close what little space there was between them. “Watching her hurt, watching her tirelessly search for the one she loves. Seeing her give everything she has, not caring about herself. The way she smiles and laughs.....Selfless, fearless......”

Piers felt his emotions taking over, guiding his movements. His heart hammering, pulse roaring in his ears. His hands collecting her face, pulling her lips to his waiting ones. She didn't resist, instead melting into his embrace. A quiet groan rumbled in his throat, hands slipping up then down her sides, pulling the edges of the shit up. She shuddered at the brief connection: fingers brushing across her sides, hungering for more. He gently pushed, letting the tip of his tongue dart in hers, pulling her closer into his hungry embrace.

Her hands rested on his hips before sliding up his sides, capturing the hem of his shirt. Piers growled then pulled away, pulling the offensive garment up and over his head. The tiny gasp escaped her lips at the sight that lay before her. Alex swallowed hard, her heart pounding violently in her chest. Piers captured a hand, bringing it to his chest. Their eyes stayed locked as she explored his offering. His body smaller but built, hours of training reflected in the beautiful form before her. Piers watched, eyes flooding with lust as he watched her lean in, lips pressing against his collarbone. The feathery caress drove him mad as Alex continued marking an invisible trail, pressing those soft delicate lips to his burning needy flesh.

“Wait,” he panted. She pulled back, confused lacing her eyes. He reached for her, cupping the side of her face. Her hand covered his before she turned to place a kiss in his palm.

“We have to stop, before we do something we both regret.”

Alex blinked, her senses returning. The realization of what just happened and what damn near happened washed over her. Her heart pounded, thundering in her ears as she slid back to the other side.

Oh fuck........

“I'm gonna take a walk,” she rose and grabbed her coat, determined to get the Hell out of there. “I have my Beretta and my phone.”

Alex was thankful he didn't see the tears streaming down her face as she made a hasty retreat.

Chapter Text

Chris counted the bills thrust in his hand. Not bad for a night of watching some rich guy's coked up kid. All he had to do was let the kid snort, drink and fuck whatever she wanted and make sure she returned home in one piece. It wasn't his hardest job but a few unwarranted advances by some would be suitors made the evening harder than what it should've been. Still, he had enough to keep the shoddy roof over his head for another month and keep the alcohol flowing when he wasn't asleep. The patrons and bartender had started to call him “the stray dog” and was always behind on paying his bar tab. Worst customer ever, the bartender would bemoan.

After paying the hotel owner, he dragged his tired body up the stairs, needing a shower and sleep. A few splatters of blood stained his coat and sweater, mementos from those assholes in the bar. Peeling away the clothing until he stood naked in the center of the room, Chris made his way to the narrow bathroom.

He stood under the water until it went turned to ice, feeling something clawing at the back of his mind. Something trying to break free from the massive wall his mind had erected. Ever since that dream with the woman, the one who called him Chris, his sleep became haunted with more of these visions. He wanted to blame it on the vodka and whiskey.

You have to remember! Remember everything, Chris. Remember me.......

Chris would awaken after, drenched in a cold sweat. How he yearned for this ghost to be gone but, a part of him refused to allow this exorcism to occur. He cursed this tiny shard of his being, wanting to be free of this torment. Shaking his head, he stepped out, wrapping the scratchy towel around his waist. Droplets beaded across his skin and hair as he swiped the steam from the mirror. The image that greeted him startled Chris: A younger man with spiked dark hair and cutting eyes. He was clad in an uniform, military perhaps. Some kind of insignia on the left arm which was blurred. His youthful features hardened as he stared back.

“You have to remember.”

“Who the fuck are you?!” He gripped the sides of the sink, knuckles turning white as his hold tightened.

The man said nothing as he vanished, Chris' reflection replacing the specter. The Saint Christopher's medallion dangling from his neck. His fingers absently toyed with it. He couldn't remember where he had gotten it or who gave it to him, but, something told him to never take it off. That it held a yet to be discovered significance. He continued this for several minutes more, subconsciously hoping it would unearth a buried memory.

He needed a drink to forget this latest incident.

“You haven't touched your food.”

“Not hungry,” Alex shrugged, pushing the plate aside. “Maybe I'll be hungry later. It happens sometimes. I'll get it to go,” she motioned for the server and asked for a box, hoping it would stop Piers from inquiring any further. The pair decided their next move would be to go to Montenegro or Serbia. Piers followed up with multiple BSAA outlets in the region, only to come up empty handed. Rumors came and went but nothing solid. Crispin stayed true to his word and kept them updated as best he could. Currently, he was dealing with the outbreak in France as it had spread to the suburbs of Paris. Goddamn C-virus was popping up. It had Ada's stench all over it.

Each report, each headline, wore them down even further. One outbreak would be extinguished, another sprouted up. Alex didn't dare let her mind trek down that dark trail. The one which lead to the unfathomable. No, she would expel the thought from her mind. Chris was still alive. If anyone asked, her response was she could just feel it.

“Hey,” Piers stretched out alongside her, taking a hand in his. Alex opened her eyes, the T-Virus suppressing the pain in the back of her skull. She rolled to her side, facing the marksman. He spied the wincing and grimacing as she rubbed her temple.

“Headache,” she sighed. “Only good thing about the T-Virus is I don't get sick and injuries heal fast, even the critical ones. Trouble is, I'm not immune to the simple afflictions like headaches.”

His other hand traced up and down her arm. Alex lay there, letting the sensations relax her. She sighed heavily, tired in her body mind and heart.

“Where do we go from here? Shit, Piers, we nearly crossed the Rubicon.”

“I don't know. The only thing I know is we keep looking.”

The light strokes continued, neither one unsure of what to say to the other. They were going into their fourth month of searching now.

The scenery changed from medieval urban landscapes to rich emerald blankets of alpine forests. Piers watched from the corner of his eye as Alex stared absently out the window. They rolled the dice and decided to try Montenegro. The air was crisp but cool as they arrived in the small mountain town. The clouds gathered, signaling snow was on the way despite it being April. Piers went to get their room, leaving her to her thoughts. Alex scanned the ancient buildings, noting how they would fit perfectly in a Bram Stoker novel. The drive had been silent, tense as Alex stared out the window, watching the scenery as they crossed into the nation of Montenegro. It was beautiful, the coast that is. It would be somewhere she could easily see her and Chris taking a trip on.

Her body abruptly tensed, senses on edge.

“Fuck,” she muttered, checking the Beretta before leaping from the car. Letting her internal instincts guide her, Alex darted down a side alley. Remembering what Chris had taught her, she stayed low, weapon pointed down but ready to strike. The snow was picking up in intensity as she paused at the corner, slowly peering around. Nothing. Only the howling of the wind and swirling ribbons of white greeted her. Her stomach churned and hands shook, whatever it was was close. Her keen hearing heard nothing, yet. She couldn't determine how many only that at least one was in the vicinity. She swept her eyes in a methodic fashion, white everywhere, hindering her vision.

Slowly, she crept away, retreating back to towards the car. She got halfway when the beating of wings caused to freeze. It was then the Mesec appeared.

“Shit,” she swore and opened fire. The flying mutation easily dodged the bullets, the ear piercing screech shattering the silence. Wings of a bird with single deadly claws curved into perfect daggers, the Mesec sized up its prey below. Alex remembered seeing these ugly fuckers during one of the newscasts from Edonia. Goddamn things could rip a full grown man to shreds. The trajectory on this thing made it difficult for Alex to get a good shot off. Its skin thick with tendons protruding along dual legs that ended in two sets of triple talon claws. Alex sprinted from the square, leading it away from any people, including Piers. Hopefully, the townspeople were smart enough to stay indoors at the first sounds of trouble. She wanted its sole attention on her.

“Come and get me, mother fucker,” she snarled and darted behind some crates, narrowly avoiding its swoop attack. The cracking the splintering of wood took the brunt, a few larger splinters smacking her back and head. Alex tucked and rolled, frantic for anything that could provide cover. The Mesec climbed higher in the air, preparing for another assault.

“Alex!”

Piers, hearing the gunfire, had raced to her location, seeing the BOW hovering above. The Mesec spotted the newcomer, its focus turning to him. The marksman took aim, squeezing a few rounds before diving for the street. Alex rushed to her feet, firing to keep it at bay, determined to reach her partner before fugly could. Three of the bullets struck a wing, angering it as several pinons exploded into minuscule fragments and floated to the earth. It dove for Alex, floundering with its one good wing, talons out, ready to strike. Piers hopped up, taking aim but was tackled with Alex taking the brunt of its rage. She screamed in agony as it sunk the razor sharp hooks into the center of her back. The ripping of flesh and the inhuman screams coming from her own lips played like a sadistic song upon her ears. The Mesec dug further in, nails brushing one another the deeper they embedded themselves.

“NO!” Piers emptied his weapon, hitting the head and chest. Alex fired wildly behind her, her vision blurring from the pain. The Mesec wasn't giving, instead its hold only intensifying, predatory instinct dictating its behavior. It tried to take off, finding the weight of its victim and injured wing kept it grounded. Still, it flopped and floundered, razor sharp beak ripping the delicate area between her shoulder blades. Alex's screams haunted Piers' hearing as he continued to shoot.

The sudden yells coming from all around caused Piers to look up. Several of the villagers assaulted the Mesec, attacking with pipes, pitchforks and guns. The BOW howled and screeched as each stab, shot and blow weakened its hold. Alex felt the pressure lightening up as the orgy of weapons, anger and blood continued. The Mesec snarled and lunged but the villagers avoided the single claws. One helped Piers to his feet, handing him a pipe. He went for the head, recalling his experiences in Edonia. Blow after blow came, crushing the head of the creature. One of the villagers pulled Alex away, the hold on her released as the mob delivered the death blow.

With a final shriek, the Mesec collapsed in the town square, spraying some with a fine mist of crimson.

“Stand back!” Piers warned as the corpse started to bubble and disintegrate. A foul stench filled the air as the black liquid mass froze in pristine white. Several villagers vomited in response as others covered their mouths and noses.

Alex fought to get to her hands and knees, feeling torn skin and muscle mending. The deep throbbing of her wounds showing no sign of relenting. That's what she hate about the healing process: She could feel every cell heal, reunite, intertwine and twist back together. She felt violently ill and vomited on the street, only bile coming up.

“Alex,” Piers rushed to her side. She was trembling but coherent. The back of her coat and shirt beneath were tattered, exposing muscle, tendon and skin to the cold. Blood streaked what bit of fabric had not been victim to the B.O.W. Peeks of bone weren't missed by his eyes.

“That fucking hurt,” she groaned and grit her teeth. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, cooling against the freezing air. Her hands balled into a set of fists, fists so tight her fingers were digging through the gloves.

“We need to get you out of here,” Piers collected his injured companion, arm securing her waist, feeling her arm curling around his. He didn't hear the sobs escaping her lips on account of the wind.

“How bad is it? Be honest, Piers.”

Piers examined the 6 perfect marks that marred her back and jagged tear where the beak had started to rip into her. The deepest injuries were the first to heal with the layers of muscle following suit. At least he couldn't see the grayish pearl peeking through anymore.

“Not like earlier. The bleeding stopped and the muscle is closing up."

Alex groaned and buried her face in the pillow. Piers had been careful in cleaning her wounds. He apologized for any pain he inflicted which she dismissed as part of the process. Piers couldn't help but to be in awe and shock at how fast her body was regenerating.

“I can get you something for the pain.”

“Won't do anything. My body would burn it up in minutes. I have to ride it out. But, I'll be fine in an hour or so. Just have to let it run its course. Could try some ice to numb everything. ”

Piers let her rest. He pulled a blanket over her body, which had only been clad in a pair of his shorts. Taking her hand, he squeezed it tight before planting a kiss in her palm. The BSAA would be arriving in a few hours to investigate this BOW assault. It had to be Ada's doing. Neo-Umbrella had its vile tentacles in every part of the world. When would this end?

It was dusk when there was a knock on the door. Piers had Alex's Beretta as he padded to the door. A quick look through the peep hole cast aside his apprehensions.

“How is she?” Jettingham rushed in, agitated by this latest development.

“Still asleep but healing.”

The BSAA operative dropped in the chair by the bed, pulling back the blanket to find seven angry scars marking Alex's back.

“The DNA from the remains confirmed it was the same type of Mesec that was used in Edonia. Damn it. Fucker did a number on her,” the older man felt his anger surface. Had she not been through enough with Wesker, Chris taking off and now this!?

“Alex put her ass on the line for me, knowing she could be severely injured or worse. She tried leading it away, to prevent anyone from getting hurt.”

Crispin looked up and shook his head. “Piers, after everything she went through, the last thing she wants to see is anyone she cares about getting hurt or killed. Look, she didn't want you going alone to look for Chris not just because she wants him home but also, she was worried about you. See, she cares about you. A LOT. I know, it's not something new to hear that. She told me what happened in Slovakia.”

The young marksman averted his eyes from the older man's, shame filling his veins. Crispin shook his head and took a seat beside him.

“I'm not going to judge, Piers, if that's what you're worried about. You two have been working closely to find Chris. Emotions surfaced. You're going to have to navigate this; both of you. And when you do find Chris -”

“She's in love with Chris. When we find him, I don't want to be in the way. But I'll be there for them. I want her to be happy, even if it's not me.”

Crispin nodded, hearing the pain in his words. “We're going to be in town for a little bit longer wrapping up our investigation. Some of the guys and I will be at the local watering hold if you want to join and you don't have to drink. I don't think Alex is going anywhere. Sounds like that Mesec really wiped her out. Besides, she's a crack shot. Chris taught her a lot after she came home from being Wesker's little toy. She's resilient.”

“Holy shit, look who it is!” Quint leapt from his seat nearly knocking it back. A wide surprised grin crossed his face as he spotted the marksman making his way through the crowd.

“Quint?” Piers extended a hand which was caught in a tight shake. “You're on his team?”

“Who, the Captain? Yeah, I got reassigned after seeing you two in Slovakia. How is Alex? Jesus Christ, I heard what that Tweety reject did to her. Any luck finding Chris?”

“Sleeping and healing. Damn Mesec took a lot out of her. Don't worry, she's going to be okay. Figured she needed a little rest after the rather eventful day. And nothing solid yet. Croatia was a total bust.”

“Shit,” Quint took a drink. “We gotta find him and not just for Alex's sake.”

“I know, Quint. Who knows if Neo-Umbrella is trying to find him too. I wouldn't put it past Ada to try and find him first.”

Crispin checked his phone, a new message from DC asking for an update on the BOW situation. They had to find out where the Mesec came from and who released it. It was definitely going to take more than a day to solve this. Before they left, he would stop to see how Alex was doing.

Piers returned to the room, expecting to see Alex on the bed but heard the shower running. At least she was awake and moving. A good sign. He sat down, pulling up the well worn and marked map. He felt they were getting closer to finding Chris. It was bittersweet feeling. Finding Chris would mean an end to this prolonged nightmare. Finding Chris would mean the closeness, the intimacy shared with her ends. No, he couldn't be selfish. She was never his to begin with.

“You okay?” Piers was snapped from his thoughts. Alex eased down beside him. She looked healthier, the deathly pale hue vanquished, replaced with a robust flush.

“Yeah,” he waved her concerns aside. “How are you doing?”

“Better after sleeping and a shower. Pretty sure everything's healed up now.”

“The BSAA are handling things. Sounds like they'll be sticking around for a bit. The Mesec was the same kind used in Edonia.”

“Has to be Ada's doing. Bitch won't stop until we're dead.” Her hand sought his, needing comfort. “So, where do we go to next?”

Before he could answer, the light rapping on the door interrupted them. Alex rose, curious as to who their unexpected guest was. Piers stood ready, weapon armed. He watched as tight, tense shoulders quickly melted to relaxed calm ones as the identity of their caller came to light.

“Stand down,” she shook her head and opened the door. “It's only Crispin.”

“Yeah, it's only Crispin,” said man flashed a grin. “Well, look at you, up and walking. What? You didn't think I wouldn't stop to see ya after the exciting day you had?”

“I wouldn't exactly call it exciting,” Alex gestured for him to enter. “Fucker destroyed my favorite shirt and coat.”

“The team's going to be sticking around a little longer as HQ wants us to try and pinpoint the source of the BOW. Intel indicates there may be facility somewhere close by. And, you two are the talk around the tavern.”

Alex and Piers traded looks.

“What do you mean?” The younger man raised an eyebrow.

“What you two did, saving the town, keeping it from becoming another Edonia. Yeah, they have internet and TV here.”

“We may be on a mission to find Chris, but taking out BOWs along the way is just a side quest,” Alex took a sip of tea, realizing it went cold. “Great way to purge the stress and anger too.”

A week later, the team found the facility.

It had been abandoned.

The only thing left were the Mesecs waiting to be deployed. All in bio containment tanks, awaiting to be awakened and dispatched to cause chaos and death. All were quickly dispatched of What documents remained were quickly collected to be analyzed. But it was what lay within that disheveled stack of printouts and data, that caught the team's attention.

Piers reviewed the map, marking the towns they visited. Looked like Serbia was next. The nations which formed the old Yugoslavia state made perfect sense. All seen conflict which were the perfect conditions for B.O.W.s to be used in, not to mention the hideaway villages with their ancient structures and medieval feel. These were excellent places to hide when not wanting to be found.

His phone went off and he saw it was Crispin calling.

“Crispin, what'd you find?”

“Whoever was there ditched the place leaving B.O.W.s in tanks and data all over. But, Piers, that's not the concerning part.”

“What do you mean?” What could be worse than finding B.O.W.s?

“Some of the files had photos; photos of you and Alex. Looks like they were taken over the last several months. The most recent photo was just......shit, this photo was earlier this week. It was when that Mesec attacked Alex.”

“Shit,” the marksman cursed. Neo-Umbrella was trailing them.

“Have you seen anyone suspicious? Anyone that didn't look like they belonged or were following either of you?”

“No, we've been careful. Been using cash where possible and using out of the way places to stay in.”

“HQ is gonna want to know about this. This isn't an official mission as you two are on your own with finding Chris but, this is still pretty damn serious. We'll continue to monitor chatter and intel will keep us posted. You two please be careful and keep your asses down.”

“Will do,” Piers ended the call. Neo-Umbrella was hoping they would lead them right to Chris. As he sat there, a horrid thought crossed his mind. What if Neo-Umbrella was after Alex? Her body had assimilated the with the T-Virus bestowing her with multiple enhanced capabilities without the mutations or disfiguration. It made perfect sense! Neo-Umbrella would want to know what made her tick, use her blood to create stronger powerful B.O.W.s and do what god knows what else with her.

“Jettingham.”

“It's Piers. Neo-Umbrella is after Alex.”

“I came up with the same conclusion. Shit. And HQ won't provide any additional backup.. Neo-Umbrella is waiting to make their move. That Mesec must've been sent to disable her so she could be captured but you and the entire village showed up. And back in London, when those Ja'vo showed up. Someone dispatched them to get her.”

“Alex isn't going to stop or let this deter her.”

“Keep communications minimal including emails and phone calls back home. Look, I know this will be hard but I can let Jill know what's going on. I wonder if there's a leak somewhere. I mean, how would they know where to find you?”

“Let DC know too. He has some connections outside BSAA that could help and get a hold of Agent Leon S. Kennedy at the DSO.”

“Got it. Piers, please look after one another out there. Alex is convinced he's still alive. She told me, she can feel it. She won't give up until she finds him alive or dead.”

Jettingham ended the call with Piers, his first call to Jill. His second call to DC.

Chapter Text

Five months.

That's how long they'd been searching. Five fucking agonizing long months.

Now, they had to worry about Neo-Umbrella on their trail. Piers had broken the news to Alex, gauging her reaction.

“Of course they are. All this because Albert Wesker had a raging hate on for Chris.”

Interesting choice of words but true. The marksman navigated the back roads, avoiding large towns or population centers. Serbia was the next stop. Dotted with Roman ruins, medieval castles, and modern structures alike, it was beautiful; nothing like back home. Alex had taken to staring out the window, mind wandering or sometimes not. A gnawing feeling in her stomach chased her the entire way. Piers wasn't sure what to say. He had tread wisely with her, at least where certain subjects were concerned, trying to stay focused on the mission.

“Hey, we're here,” Piers softly squeezed her knee. Alex looked over, seeing the rustic inn. Definitely not a major tourist draw, more geared towards the locals or those seeking travels off that beaten path.

Alex nodded, hopping out to grab the bags. She couldn't sense anything in the immediate vicinity as they walked through the door.

“I say we look in these towns,” Alex tapped her finger, pointing out a few surrounding towns on the map.

“I agree,” Piers nodded and passed the tea over. While they were in a more off the beaten place, tea and coffee were never in short supply wherever they went. “How are you holding up?”

“Okay,” she took a sip, a local brew based on what she could tell. Alex gazed into the brew before she spoke up. “Piers, look, I need to apologize.”

“For what, Alex?”

She brought his hands into hers, cerulean ice locked on his questioning gaze.

“How I've been since Montenegro. Staying at arm's length, not saying a lot, freezing you out. I shouldn't have treated you like that. I'm just.....struggling with everything. And after what nearly happened, I shut down. I'm sorry, Piers.”

Piers nodded, letting her speak.

“I just don't know anymore.”

“No, you do know. You know you're in love with Chris. You know you're going to bring him home. You know you're going to help him heal.”

“Guess that's about all I do know at this point. But, how can I look him in the eye, tell him I love him, knowing how I feel about you; knowing how you feel about me?”

“If Chris loves you as much as he says he does, he'll stay. I know, I'm probably the last person who should be dispensing any kind of advice, but, love's not easy. It hurts. It heals. It brings the best out of a person and can bring the worst out of a person. You and Chris have been to Hell and back. He's not the kind of man to turn his back on all that. And if he does, I'll kick his ass.”

“I'd like to see you try,” she laughed.

“Never know,” he shrugged. “I've held my own against him in sparring.”

“When we do find Chris, I'm not going to shut you out. Despite what's developed between us, I don't want the friendship we have to end.”

“I don't want that either,” Piers shook his head and squeezed her hands. “You made me feel welcome in the beginning, when I was the rookie. I've had more friends here, with you, Jill, Claire, Barry and everyone else. I'm going to be there for both you.”

“Thank you,” Alex hugged him tight, thankful for him being in her life.

Another fucking night of babysitting some entitled coked up rich kid.

Chris lit another cigarette, taking a long hard drag as he kept a sharp eye on his latest charge. This time, it was some damn 20 something crime boss's bastard.

“Oh come on, stud,” both scalera marked with pencil thin trails of crimson; high already. The kid ran his hand along the broad chest, “wanna have a good time? I bet you're packing a thick dick in there.”

His rented bodyguard clasped a massive hand firmly around his wrist the unceremoniously dropped it. Chris narrowed his eyes, taking another drag. Christ, this fucking little shit was annoying; couldn't keep his damn shaky hands off the older man. He definitely did not go for the immature strung out entitled brats. No, his mind went back to that woman who continued to haunt his dreams. They had changed, morphing from the dark violent first encounter to lighter, sexually based visions. Ones which he would wake up from with a smile on his face. Ones where he wasn't soaking the bedding with a thick layer of sweat. As Chris kept one eye on his ward, who was now downing shots with several others, laughing and carrying on. His mind dared to wander back to the most recent nocturnal fantasy.

Her small hands glided across his naked shoulders, taking in every sculpted valley and peak of flesh. Soft heated lips pressed to his abs, mapping an invisible trail along the center as her fingers slid lower, pausing to massage and tease the beautiful set of buds atop the sandy skin. The groan escaped his lips as she continued lower, hands sweeping down to unfasten the button. Through half lidded eyes, he watched as she dropped to her knees, drawing the zipper down.

“Please,” he panted, lightly thrusting his hips out. Flashing a brilliant smile, she curled her fingers around the waistband of denim and elastic band of his boxers. The tiny hiss didn't escape her ears once burning flesh met cool air. She buried her face between his legs, yanking the obstructive fabric lower. His scent was intoxicating. She tenderly gripped his painfully hard cock, licking her lips at the sight of the pearl drops around the tip.

His hand dug into her scalp, raking the rich midnight tresses, silently encouraging her on. She purposely missed the needy erection, going lower. The sharp cry resonated off the walls as one ball slid between her lips. Her skilled tongue worked around and slid along the bottom, a finger teasing his perineum. He continued watching, fingers carding through her hair. Her attention went to the other, showering the neglected gland with equal fervor. Fuck, she knew how to work him with that mouth. Those full lips, that velvet tongue........

“That's it,” he groaned and tilted his head back, the wet warmth finally enclosing around him. He gently rocked his hips, going to slow to let her adjust. “Gonna cum down that beautiful throat.”

His pace quickened, hips snapping as he drove deeper in her mouth. She easily took all of him, throat relaxed, tongue caressing as he continued fucking her mouth. He could feel the heaviness grow, building like a storm in his lower body. She heard him grunting and growling with groans and pants mixing in between. She lightly raked her nails across the skin, just above the base of his cock, sending waves through his being. His vision exploded into white as he felt himself going over.

“Fuck, Lex,” the dam burst. The earthy hues splashed across her tongue and down her throat. She continued suckling, catching every bit he had to give. The frantic panting and crying out turning her on. The violent snaps slowed, now slow lazy thrusts. His cock softened, spent from an amazing trip into ecstasy. He gathered his composure, tilting his head down. Her lips still attached, taking every last drop.

She rose, licking the last few bits from her lips. He leaned in, pressing his lips to hers. The hints of his cum teased the tip of his tongue as he deepened the kiss. She felt his powerful hands gripping her arms before reaching down. She leapt into his arms. With pants still around his ankles, he made it to the couch, easing her down. With another hard kiss, he undid the button and fly of her jeans, sliding them down in a teasing fashion.

“My turn,” the sexy growl sent shivers through her core.

Chris' charge was now racing for the closest bathroom, another man hot on his ass. Sensing something was off, the older man rushed across the bar, racing into the bathroom. He kicked the door open, coming upon a disturbing scene.

His ward was hunched over the sink, hands curled tight on the counter. The other man, who had to almost be his age, had pulled the younger man's pants down, fondling the semi-hard erection. A finger was between the slender ass. A glazed over expression locked on his face. It didn't take a genius to see he had been drugged. Chris stormed into the tiny space, ripping the would-be rapist away from his charge. The man was slammed against the opposite wall, shock painted across his face. A large fist slammed against his jaw then eye. Another blow to the solar plexus followed by another and another.

His victim had slid to the floor, curled into the fetal position, pants pooled around his ankles. Chris continued punching the creeper until several men hurried in, pulling the pair apart. They saw the smaller man on the floor, then at the bloodied form slumped against the wall. Chris wrestled from their hold, priority to get the unconscious party goer out of there and home. Quickly pulling his pants and boxers up, Chris hoisted the dead weight up and over his shoulder, weaving through the gather crowd and out into the warm night. Daddy was going to love hearing about this one.

After explaining to said crime boss what transpired, Chris was shocked to find the man was not surprised. The person Chris described was someone who ran with a well known crime outfit that would drug, rape, then sell young men into sexual slavery.

“He will be dealt with accordingly. Thank you for saving my son.”

The man had paid very generously, more than what was initially agreed upon. Chris returned to his cheap little dump. It reeked of cigarettes and vodka. The night's haul would mean an extra bottle of whiskey and pack of smokes. The dim lighting of the room reflected blood on his coat and shirt. A few drops smeared his cheek. Growling to himself, Chris peeled away the soiled articles but kept the St. Christopher medallion on as he let the hot jets embrace him.

As he lay down on the flimsy bed and drew up the covers, Chris closed his eyes, mind spinning as he waited for slumber's shadowy kiss. A part of him hoped she would come back to him in his dreams. He had become drawn to this mystery woman. Chris couldn't put his finger on it, but, her visits brought him comfort. When he'd sit at the bar, downing whiskey or bourbon, his mind would always drift towards her.

Somewhere in the area between consciousness and unconsciousness, a name passed his lips.

“Alexandra.....”

DC was perched at his laptop as his coffee grew cold. Between deployments to Tampa, Seattle, Fairbanks, and some tiny ass town in New Mexico, he didn't have much for his first love: reading. Still, he always had a copy of some work close by. He was hoping to hear back from some of his contacts overseas, perhaps with some good news about the whereabouts of Chris Redfield. DC didn't know the man personally, but, he was a legend within the B.S.A.A.'s ranks. Anyone who had enlisted knew the stories: good, bad and ugly. The recent events in Edonia fell under bad and ugly.

The S.O.U. operative had received an urgent call from Captain Crispin Jettingham, requesting his assistance in locating the missing captain. It had been late, and he had just fallen asleep.

“DC, it's Captain Jettingham, European Division.”

“Jettingham? Weren't you at Raccoon City?”

“Yeah. Look, I need your help. Agent Nivans is currently in the Balkans. He and Redfield's fiancee have been scouring Europe since January trying to find him. So far, they've had B.O.W.s attack them at about every turn only to meet dead ends. We also received information that Neo-Umbrella is after her.”

“Shit. I'll make the calls.”

“Thanks, DC.”

DC shook his head. The story of Alexandra Koch was no secret in the B.S.A.A. She had been held at the medical facility in the States after Chris found her. Weeks of testing, prodding and poking compounded the agony she must've suffered at the hands of Albert Wesker. A test subject for a madman, made to do his bidding, tormented, and god knows what else. Chris had fought like Hell to get her out, arguing and fighting to show she was no threat to anyone. Several members of the powers to be wanted to keep Alex locked away like an animal; never to see the light of day or be free again.

Chris refused to let her be sentenced to such a fate.

Another several months of cognitive testing and psych evaluations finally proved what Chris had been saying all along, granted she continued to check in and provide samples. The ability of the Tyrant Virus to fuse with her DNA was the talk of the research department. DC had seen some of the files, finding himself shocked by the findings. Her body didn't mutate like those who had been infected but rather, evolved her body.

His musings interrupted by his cell going off.

“Whatcha got?” DC listened, raising an eyebrow. “Son of a bitch. Thanks.”

Nothing yet.

The man flipped the listening device off and pursed his lips. His own men continued their hunt, scouring the tiny towns and mountain villages, following up on leads and chasing rumors. Now that it was known Neo-Umbrella was after her, the urgency picked up. He shouldn't have expected anything less from that bitch, Carla Radames and bastard, Derek Simmons, especially after Sherry Birkin and Jake Mueller went missing after Edonia. Simmons' and Radames' putrid stenches were all over that operation.

He sipped his wine, knowing his men worked fast. They had access to for more superior technology than the B.S.A.A., greater resources and a wide network of contacts to which a net was cast over. He refused to pray as he had stopped believing in silly superstitions years before. He used to pray, when he was young, but his words would fall upon deaf ears.

He pulled up the screens, observing the locations of his team. Pushing a button, the map zoomed in, enlarging Eastern Europe. Sharp blue eyes took it in, studying the marks where the pair had been then at the marks where his team had been to. It was then a realization was coming to surface.

“It can't be that easy or can it.”

Snatching his phone up, he hastily punched in a number.

“It's me. I think I know where Agent Redfield may be.”

“Damn it,” Piers muttered. They were at the third town that week and still no signs indicating Chris had been through. Alex thanked the bartender and patrons before replacing the photo in her pocket. They were running out of countries; well, at least the ones that weren't balls deep in some kind of violent conflict.

“Anything from Jettingham?” Piers inquired as they returned to the room.

“Not yet,” she sighed. “DC didn't have anything and Jill has nada.”

“Maybe tomorrow,” Alex sadly sighed. Piers could only nod. He noticed Alex had been more determined in the last few weeks, instead of yelling and screaming at people, her voice stayed level. She thanked everyone who would take a moment to look at Chris' picture. Alex had also been eating more in the last month. Piers wondered if that was due to the virus and not because of her mental state.

“I guess I'll shower,” she grabbed her stuff and went for the bathroom. “I know I'm asking for a lot, but maybe Crispin or DC will call with something.”

“Maybe,” the marksman nodded. He watched as she closed the door behind her then fell backwards on the bed. He draped an arm over his eyes, taking a deep breath. Their shift in tactics had hopefully kept Neo-Umbrella off their trails. While they couldn't pull it off like his captain had, Piers still knew a trick or two in counter intelligence.

As he felt himself start to fall asleep, his phone went off.

“Nivans.”

“Piers, it's DC. He's been found.”

Piers sat up, heart pounding, hands shaking. “Are we sure? Where?!”

“I'm sending you the photo. It was taken in Edonia.”

His phone pinged. Piers opened the text, mouth dropping open. It was him. It was his captain. Chris was alive. He was seated at the bar, glass in one hand, cigarette in the other. The Saint Christopher's medallion dangling from his neck.

“How long ago was this taken?”

“Within the last 24 hours. Eyes are still on him. He's alive, Piers. We received confirmation it's him.”

“Almost 6 months of searching.......” the marksman breathed.

“I know. Tell Alex the news. I'll call Jettingham. I wanted to call you first with the news.”

“Thank you, DC.”

“No problem! Now, go get his ass and bring him home.”

Piers hung up, taking in DC's words. The closure they sought had arrived. He waited for Alex to get out of the bathroom.

“Any news?” She started towel drying her hair.

“Yeah,” Piers stood, taking the towel out of her hands, “There is.”

“He's dead isn't he?” Alex felt her chest constricting and jaw clench. She tried to keep calm but inside she was terrified. This was what she feared the most: finding out Chris had died. Alone.

“No,” Piers shook his head and stroked her hands reassuringly. “They found him. Chris is alive and in Edonia.”

She felt her knees start to buckle, and hands tremble. “Edonia? I need to sit down.”

He helped her sit on the edge of the bed, keeping her hands in his. He felt them shaking in his hold.

“DC sent a photo,” he pulled out his phone, showing the image. Alex felt her breath being taken away. After all these months, she was seeing him for the first time since that day in January. He still had the medallion. Hope filled her heart.

“We have to go,” Alex started throwing her clothes in her bag.

“Alex,” Piers gently stopped her. “DC said they have eyes on him. If he goes anywhere, they're going to know.”

“But what if he slips them?”

“DC's contacts said he doesn't go anywhere. He's been drinking, smoking, and according to the locals, playing babysitter for money. He goes to some hotel.”

“Has he.....has anyone been......”

“I don't know, Alex. I don't have all the answers. Right now, you need to rest. Neither of us are in any shape to travel. DC will keep me posted if anything changes. He's already let Crispin and Jill know. Trust me, eyes are going to be trained on him until we get him home.”

“I just wanna see him, Piers.”

“So do I, Alex.”

“I can't believe he's been found,” she wrapped her arms around him, tears of joy flooding her eyes. He found himself planting a kiss to the top of her head. Piers was thrilled but couldn't help to feel some melancholy at the same time.

“Hard to fathom after nearly six months.”

Neither one could find sleep that night.

Chapter Text

And here we go......

The bar was quiet; save for the locals who frequented the little watering hole. A few new faces had taken up a nearby table, merely nodding to the patrons already there before taking their seats. The bartender wiped the warped wood down, having poured “the stray dog” another round. The air thick with cigarette smoke which surrounded him as he took a long hard drag before smashing it into the ash tray. He was indifferent towards the younger man a few seats down, dining on a steak.

“Hard to find a good steak around here,” the spiky hair brunette attempted to make conversation. “Not like back home.”

Chris grunted and downed the last bit of vodka, slamming the glass back down on the counter. He took a quick look at him: An olive green jacket of some kind with the sleeves rolled up. A plain white shirt peeking through the partially zipped front.

“Another round.”

The bartender shook her head but didn't deny him drink. However, she only gave him half, which he was less than pleased about. He looked down incredulously. What the fuck was this!?

“Filler up!” He waved the glass.

“You've had enough.” Chris didn't realize he was being watched.

“Listen, sweetheart,” he snatched the bottle and topped off the glass, “Your job is to look pretty and pour drinks. So how about you shut your mouth and pour?”

The spiky haired man continued slicing and eating, internally disgusted by the scene playing out. Before Chris could take a drink, a smaller hand snatched the glass. The abrupt splash of vodka to his face temporarily stunned him.

“How about you get the HELL out of my bar?!” She coldly demanded.

“Got nowhere to go,” Chris collected the bottle and staggered from his seat. The younger man stayed seated, fingers linked as his peripheral caught the older man heading for the door. The hurried steps of a local patron caught up to Chris who gripped his shoulder. At first, he spoke in his native tongue but realized the stray dog didn't understand him.

“The lady asked you to leave.”

Bad move by the local as Chris spun around, slamming the poor man to a table. One hand pinning him to the splintered wood as the other spun the bottle around, poised to strike. Before he could make his assault, something kept his arm mid air. Chris snarled and spun around, angered at whoever stopped him. When he was done with that bastard on the table, he was going to show whoever.......

“You,” The pressure in his arm increased. Standing before him was the woman from his dreams. Glacial blue locked with shocked chocolate.

“What the HELL is wrong with you!?” She snarled, snatching the bottle from his hand. Chris stumbled back, falling into a rickety chair.

“You.....” Was all he could say. “It's you......”

The hardened stare softened slightly. The spiky haired man soon joined her, both taking seats across from him.

“Who the Hell are you?” His eyes trained on the man.

“Piers.....Piers Nivans,” Piers hoped his name would jog the man's memory. “Do you know who I am?”

Chris shook his head. “Never heard of ya.”

“What about her?” Piers gestured to his companion. Chris looked at her, taking a long hard look. It was her . The woman who flooded his dreams. Flashes struck his mind. Images of her, causing him to wince in pain and press the heel of his hand to his forehead. Bright short visions like a movie spliced together.

“Do you know who she is?”

“Never met her either.”

“Alex,” she spoke up. “My name is Alex.” It dawned on her. The tearing in her chest felt as if a hot knife had ripped into her heart. “He doesn't remember, Piers,” Chris watched Alex fight the surging pain rushing in. Her jaw clenched and hands curled into tight fists. What the fuck was going on here?

“Well, how about this,” Piers pulled out his phone then thrust it in Chris' face. The older man studied the photo. It was from Edonia. The baffled expression answered his question.

“What is that?”

“Bioterrorism, Chris.”

“Bio.....” Another stab of searing light pierced his sight. This time, images of men in uniforms, writhing in agony, reaching out for him. “What the Hell is that?”

“Don't remember? Then how about them!?” Piers retrieved a series of photos, casting them in Chris' face. Chris blinked and tried to look away but he wasn't getting off that easy.

“DAMN IT LOOK!” This time, it was Alex. She shot up, slamming her hands on the table, causing everyone to stop and stare. “LOOK. AT. THEM!”

The patrons watched with interest. So, the stray dog had owners.

“Those were your men! They died under your command! You owe it to them to remember!Their names were Ben, Carl, Andy and Finn. Men who were loyal to you!”

The flashing images of the deceased soldiers got to Chris. He looked away, refusing to cast his eyes on them. Guilt. Guilt was rushing in. Guilt over what?!

“ENOUGH!” He shoved Piers back, refusing to the subjected to any further bullshit from these two.

“Shit,” Alex shook her head in anguish. “Six months of searching for you. Six months of dive bars and taverns. Six months of dead fucking ends. And this is what we find! A drunk sad shadow of the man we know and respect. A pathetic shell of the man I fell in love with. You're not Chris. No, you're an impostor.”

Chris shook his head, forcing himself to sit up and face them both. He spotted the ring on her finger. His head tilted, that sensation of something furiously clawing to the surface. He knew that ring.

“Chris, it's perfect! She won't care about the size. All that matters is it came from you.”

“Alexandra.....” Alex perked up. “Your name is Alexandra Meredith Koch.”

“That's right,” she nodded.

“We met at a bar......You got drunk......”

“And you helped me to the bathroom.”

“Yeah, you were......pretty hungover the next day. I took you home and stayed the night.”

“Hey, Chris, Chris Redfield, you can stay in my bed with me......”

Piers watched, seeing the familiarity returning. Chris then turned to him, seeing the patch on his sleeve. His lips spelled each letter like a child learning to sound out a word.

“B.S.A.A........”

“That's right, Captain,” the younger man nodded. “We've been waiting for you.”

“We?”

The scooting of chairs and shuffling of feet made Chris look up and behind the pair. Jettingham, DC, Marco, Jeff, and Quint created a half circle around them.

“It's time to come back, Captain,” Jettingham crossed his arms.

“You're needed,” DC spoke up.

“It's not the same without you,” Marco shook his head.

“Not that Jettingham is a bad leader or anything,” Jettingham cast a look at Jeff who played innocent. “What?” Cripsin rolled his eyes.

“Looking for you was like looking for the Holy Grail,” Quint couldn't let the movie reference be passed up.

Chris sat, unsure of what else to say. Alex rose and rounded the table. She offered a hand.

“Do you trust me?”

He reached out, taking her left hand. His finger traced the tiny silver band and meager stone. Alex watched his larger hand cover hers. Chris hung his head, shame surging through like tsunami.

“I left you,” he whispered. “I abandoned you.”

“And I searched for you. We never stopped.”

Alex knelt down, forcing him to meet her eyes. “Chris, it's time to come home.”

Her voice softer, just above a whisper. The cutting edge from her eyes gone, rounding into pools of tenderness.

He simply nodded, letting her lead him away.

The flight to Paris felt like an eternity. Chris fell asleep, using Alex to curl up against. Piers observed the fierceness in his hold. Alex couldn't sleep. She had been on the phone with Claire and Jill, keeping them updated. Claire wanted to kick her brother's ass for pulling this stunt. Jill, after getting through the initial anger and echoing Claire's sentiment, expressed elation.

“You should get some sleep,” Alex noticed the dark circles ringing Piers' normally bright eyes.

“I don't sleep great on planes,” he sighed.

“It feels strange,” she peered down, running her fingers through Chris' short dark hair. He had showered and put on some of the clothes she packed. “We spent six months searching, chasing a mirage. But now, it just feels odd not driving through some former Soviet republic or Slavic nation right now. It had been our normal for so long.”

“Does feel different,” the marksman agreed. “Was nice not sleeping alone.”

“Sorry if I kicked you.”

Piers snorted. “I guess I can forgive you.”

“I forgive him,” she admitted. “After everything that happened, everything I went through, we went through, I forgave him the day he left. I didn't know it until now. Pain is powerful. It can mask all other emotions and thoughts.”

Her fingers continued to absently card through his hair.

“At least he remembered you.”

“Somewhere, deep inside, he never forgot. It was hidden behind a veil. All those memories are just hidden. Dr. Teague told me sometimes, memories can be temporarily submerged and it just takes something: a person, word, scent, sound or even color to unearth those memories. Maybe all the drinking was his coping mechanism for what happened.”

“Piers......” Chris groaned and stirred in Alex's lap.

“Captain?”

Chris didn't respond. He was dreaming, perhaps of a better time with Alpha Team. At least, that's what Piers hoped. The marksman watched as Alex leaned back and closed her eyes, exhaustion winning over.

Chris dropped his bag as Alex locked the door. A part of her expected to turn around and see Piers standing there.

No, that's not happening anymore. Chris is back.

“You okay?” She placed her bag on the luggage rack.

“Yeah, just tired. Damn jet lag,” he turned and faced her. His chapped hands covered her face. “I can't believe you looked for me.”

“What do you mean?” She tilted her head.

“That day in January, I made the choice to leave. Yet, you still came for me. You and Piers searched for me; got DC and Jettingham to help.”

“You don't think you deserved to be found. You're wrong, Chris. You have people who love you; people who care about you.”

Alex grabbed his face, bringing him down to her waiting lips. She put everything she had behind it, all her love, pain, passion and anger.

“I love you. That never changed. It will never change.”

His hands grabbed her face, pulling them closer together until their foreheads and noses came to rest against one another. The stench of tobacco and alcohol gone. The long forgotten scents of musk and earth taking their rightful place. He felt his lips pressing over hers, sending jolts across every nerve throughout his body. Chris briefly pulled back but returned with heated fury. His burning lips consumed her, starting at her jawline. Alex tilted her head back, wielding control over to him. The hurried hungry nips and bites marked her neck but would vanish as fast as they appeared. Chris tugged at her shirt, the offensive garment had to go, craving more of the sweet heated flesh. Alex stepped back, pulling it up and over her head, offering more for him to savor. Her chest heaved as she stood there. His large hands teased and caressed, exploring more of his beautiful gift.

“So perfect,” he growled as his fingers unfastened each hook one by one. Her hand dared to cup the growing bulge in his jeans. A tiny smile ghosted across her lips at the sharp thrust of his hips into her palm.

The abrupt rush of air caught Alex off guard. She yelped at her body being spun around, encased his Chris' arms. The softness of the comforter brushed across her sensitive skin as he gently lay her on the bed. The massive wall of muscled covered her body, keeping her still.

“Mine,” the possessive whisper danced across her ears, sending shivers down her spine. Her nipples hardened in response; perfect buds for him to suckle and fondle. Chris's mouth attacked, suckling and licking each breast. Alex gasped and arched her back, hands running though his short dark hair.

“Keep going,” she groaned. “Please, Chris.....”

The invisible path of kisses and bites mapped lower down her abs, pausing at the hemline of her jeans. Alex watched, lust lighting her eyes as he unfastened the button then drew down the zipper in an excruciatingly slow manner. Jet black cotton peered between, beckoning him in. His hands gripped the waistband, tugging and guiding the form fitting material down her legs and to the floor. She shot up, grabbing at his shirt, yanking it up. Chris chuckled and peeled it away, returning his attention to the last bit of clothing on her body. His index finger massaged on the outside of the panties, feeling the dampness collecting. The pad of his finger rubbed and teased, watching her writhe on the bed.

His fingers gathered the elastic, nudging her to raise her hips. Alex obeyed, eyes never leaving his as she lay bare on the bed, unwrapped and all his. Only his. Chris dropped to knees, licking his lips at the wavering ripples of muscle in her inner thighs. Her arousal evident with the thick ribbons that tantalized his senses. He had to taste her.

He watched her legs go wider, inviting him to sample the sweet nectar. Two fingers slowly breached her body. Chris withdrew, pressing his fingertips along the receptive walls, feeling them grow slicker in response to his touch. He wanted to go slow, drink in this vision beneath him.

“Fuck, you feel amazing,” Chris breathed. “Gonna take my time with you. Take you properly.”

Her heart raced, skin ablaze as he increased his thrusts. The pad of his thumb circled around her swollen clit, pulling the spring inside tighter. Her hips rocked in sync with his hand, eyes closed as she hurled toward the edge. Chris grinned, watching her fuck herself faster on his fingers. He leaned in, letting his lips brush across the shell of her ear.

“Don't fight it, Lexi, I want you to come for me,” the tip of his tongue traced the outside of the sensitive skin.

Alex felt her muscles lock, and lower body snap. Her high pitched cries and moans were music to his ears. Chris could only groan at the crushing of soft wet flesh against his thick digits.

“So fucking beautiful,” his voice echoed in her ear. “You should see yourself.”

Alex continued to ride each crest, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. Each pulse slower than the previous, her mind returning to her body. Chris gently withdrew his fingers, her slick hole still clenched. He devoured the essence that coated his fingers, savoring each drop. Alex's eyes fluttered open, following her lover as he feasted. His tongue running around each digit, catching each precious bit. Before she could utter any word, Chris rolled to his side, taking her lips in a sweet kiss. The tangy hints of her orgasm tingled across her tongue. Her hands shot out, unfastening the button and tugging down the zipper.

“Someone wants it,” he rose, stripping the pants and boxers away. Alex watched this little show, his thick cock curled up, pearly drops crowned the tip. The image of him filling her with it only reignited her hunger. Chris dipped down on the mattress, hovering over her.

“What?” She smiled coyly.

“Nothing,” he shook his head and lowered his muscular frame. “I am going to go slow,” he breathed across her skin. Her legs instinctively locked around his waist as Chris made good on his word. More moans and gasps filled the room as he pushed inside inch by inch. Alex swore she was going to cum right then and there but held back. They lay there, bodies getting reacquainted with one another. She took him so beautifully, perfectly.

“I love you,” he whispered and started to thrust his hips. He'd pull out, leaving the head buried before sliding back in. The tip rubbing against the sensitive gathering buried deep inside. Alex couldn't form any words. Each syllable dying on her tongue as their bodies came together. It had been too long for Chris. He remembered many nights he would stroke himself, thinking of Alex after those dreams, before he remembered her. It was never enough.

He felt it. The coiling at the base of his cock, fanning into each ball. He wasn't going to last much longer. And the way his lover's body was reacting, she wasn't going to either. The wetness surrounded his cock, pulsing of her walls only milked his body to the precipice. Her quiet drawn out moans signaled her end.

“Fuck, Lexi,” Chris panted, his body acting on its own accord, rutting violently like a animal in rut.

“Need to feel you,” she gasped. The tightening now unbearable. A few most thrusts......

Alex's lips formed a perfect O, her voice gone silent as the second crest washed over her. Every muscle in her body locked, only the perfect slick walls kissing the rigid prick were moving. Chris quickly joined, the first wave spilling inside. His body wasn't done. Several waves flooded, some seeping out onto the blanket. His cock softened, withdrawing from her body. Chris caught his breath, rolling onto his side, bringing Alex with him. The couple spent several moments, basking in the afterglow. Hands mindlessly running along sweat laced skin, lips tasting sweat and salt.

“I love you too,” she whispered. Alex curled up against Chris, his arm draping over her. The deep rhythmic breathing told him she had fallen asleep. Chris took a moment to peer down, seeing how much at peace she was.

“I'm not leaving you again,” he declared.

The soothing jets cascaded over as the lovers shared a shower. Chris lathered Alex's body, running his hands across and over each bit of skin. How long had it been since they shared such an intimate act? Alex lifted her arms,, reveling in how attentive he was. His touch was gentle, mindful of the tender area between her legs.

“My turn,” she grabbed the soap. Chris couldn't but help to groan at the feathery touches. Her fingers sweeping over the massive tower of muscle; over every scar, each one she could recall where and how each one came to be. The caresses continued, dipping down the wall of ripples that made his abs, then traverse along the sculpted legs and tight ass, avoiding the semi-hard erection. The rippling planes of his back wavered against her touch. All the hard hours of training and fighting had crafted this immaculate form.

Chris spun around, the thick ribbons streaming down his body. He draped his arms around Alex's waist, drawing her in. His swollen lips eager to reclaim hers. His cock grew harder as her hips ground against him, drawing a growl for her efforts. Alex only grinned into his mouth, victorious as Chris pushed back, rubbing his rigid prick between the overstimulated folds. He carried on with this sweet torment a few moments more before spinning her around and pressing her to the cool granite wall. The welcomed intrusion drew a long groan as he steadily pushed in and up until his hips were flush with her ass.

Their fingers linked tight, bodies lost in the erotic dance. This time, Chris went harder and faster, wanting to hear those delicious screams.

“Chris!” He bit into the back of her neck, just enough to leave a mark but not draw blood. His hands slid down, curling into the meaty parts of her hips. Alex pushed her ass out, changing the angle his cock was striking the sweet spot within. Fuck, he felt amazing.

“That's it, Lexi, cum for me,” Chris threw his head back, the fluttering of her body sending him over. His body and mind tumbled into ecstasy as he claimed his lover a second time. Alex felt her legs get weak, knees start to buckle. Chris felt her start to shake and drew her backwards into his body. He held her tight, afraid she'll be lost to him again.

His arms created a protective circle as they nestled beneath the covers. Alex missed this; she missed them, these moments. Through the darkness, her hand reached out, coming to rest on the side of his face. He was there, she reassured herself. Everything that happened, had been real. Once her mind understood, Alex felt her body begin to relax and drift towards slumber's open arms. Chris wasn't far behind, his own anxieties quelled.

Chapter Text

Chris stirred, temporarily forgetting where he was. Wait, that's right, they were in London. Through the slats of the window, he saw her sleeping form. Alex as on her back, blankets drawn to just the top of her bare breasts. The soft plush embrace of the sheets against his naked skin hurled the memories of their previous night to the forefront of his mind.

Alex went slow, lifting her hips up then sliding back down, over his waiting member. She didn't want to rush this; rush anything. Chris rested his hands on her waist, guiding her in each thrust. He wanted to rut against her but his senses won out.

“Beautiful,” his voice husky, thick in need. His eyes drifted down, coming to rest where their bodies met. The small part of his cock visible before her body would claim it. He watched this intimate act, his heart racing against his ribs. Alex leaned over, taking his mouth in hers, eager to feel those hot hungry lips. Chris seized the moment, rolling them over until he was on top. The steady thrusts never slowing as he held her tight, fearful of letting her go. He groaned at the sensation of her own body meeting his, the delicious walls closing around him. She was so close.....

“Chris.....”

“I've got you, Lex,” he coaxed her through the powerful orgasm. Every crest constricting around him, drawing his own closer. Her legs went higher, locking around his waist as he quickened his pace, the heaviness swirling in his body. The soft slick sounds played a sweet tune, bringing him to the edge. He involuntarily shuddered, surrendering to the abyss. Alex went faster, milking his cock of every bit.

“You feel so amazing,” he kissed her neck and shoulder. She placed a soft kiss to his lips, eyes glazed over, leaving a haze in the sapphire rings. He sought her hand, stroking her palm and wrist before placing a chaste kiss just below the heel of her hand.

“So do you,” she whispered.

Chris gathered her in his arms, the scent of her shampoo danced across his nose. They fell asleep clasped in one another's embrace.

Every moment alone, they had been all over one another. The shower, the couch in their room; Chris had bent her over the table after they had finished in the shower. Chris was grateful he didn't take up any of those women's' offers or propositions. His heart had steered him away, preventing any folly which would've been disastrous; even if he didn't realize that.

“What time is it?” Alex didn't open her eyes but had awakened.

“It's only 6. Plenty of time. Don't have to meet Piers until 8.”

Her pulse spiked then calmed at the mention of the marksman's name. Piers. Once this bullshit was over, they were all going to have to sit down and talk. While Alex had developed something deep for the younger man, her heart belonged to Chris.

“It'll be nice to be home again,” she opened her eyes. “Claire wants to kick your ass then make dinner and Jill wants to kick your ass.”

Chris sighed. Claire had read him the Riot Act over the phone.

“I don't know what the fuck you were thinking, Christopher Redfield, but when you get back, Jill and I are going to kick your ass. Carlos wants to kick your ass for this because it stressed Jill. If you EVER pull another Houdini again.....”

It took him vanishing to realize how missed he was. How loved he was. He had a lot of amends to make when this was over, starting with the woman laying beside him.

“I don't know what I can do to rectify what I did to you, Lex. I don't know where to start.”

Alex rolled to her side, one hand propping her head up. Her other lightly running her fingers across his cheek.

“You're coming home. That's the start, Chris. I forgive you. I forgave you when you left but I didn't realize it.”

He didn't deserve her, yet, she was there, by his side. Chris slid over, taking her in his arms and carded his fingers through her hair.

Piers didn't sleep. No matter what he tried, slumber eluded him. The emptiness alongside him proved cruel as he struggled through the night. He loved her. He was in love with his captain's girl. And she had fallen in love with him. Piers didn't know how Alex could do it. How she could stay strong through all this. At some point, all three of them were going to have to have a long talk about this. The one consolation he had from everything: Alex wasn't going to shut him out of her life. Their experiences and battles had deepened the bond between them; brought closer together by tragedy.

“Piers,” the marksman snapped out of it, downing the rest of his coffee before pouring more. Chris pulled up a chair across from him with Alex soon joining. One glance answered the question which died on her tongue.

“Captain, Alex,” she forced a polite smile but there was no emotion behind it.

“HQ wants you to check in before we leave. Want you to get medical clearance. Their words.”

“Right,” the older man nodded. Another round of poking and prodding. Like they didn't do enough of that at the Paris bureau. “I suppose they'll want me back in action once I get the all clear,” Chris snorted humorlessly.

Alex felt the nausea punch her at those words. No down time or even a few days off after this. Why was she expecting anything different?

“You okay over there?” Piers waved his hand inches from her face. Alex blinked and shook her head.

“Yeah, was kind of hoping they'd give you some time off,” her face fell. Alex felt Chris's hand squeeze hers, an affectionate gesture. She should've known better than to think such. No rest for the weary as they say. Suddenly, she wasn't hungry.

Piers and Alex sat in the waiting room while the medical staff looked Chris over. It was her who spoke first.

“You look rough,” her words an observation.

“Didn't sleep well. Have to get used to sleeping alone; again.”

Alex winced, not wanting to admit it felt strange having Chris back in her bed.

“Sorry about that.”

“You shouldn't apologize. We knew we'd find Chris. Things were.....temporary.”

“Temporary situation, permanent feelings.”

“Love isn't easy.”

“Don't remind me, Piers.” The melancholy in her voice matched the heaviness lining her eyes.

He grabbed her hand, fuck what anyone said or thought. Piers couldn't stand to see her in this state of distress. A small bit of relief came over him as she reciprocated his tiny gesture. The exam room door opened and Chris strolled out. The pair jumped to their feet, hands unlocking.

“And this is why I hate doctors,” the older man snarled as he rubbed his left arm. Another fucking vaccination followed up with a healthy dose of vitamins in the same damn arm. Yep, that sounded like the Chris Alex and Piers knew. “Made me a damn pincushion.”

Chris's face brightened when he saw Alex standing there. He placed his hands on her arms, running them up and down. “Let's get out of here.” His nose crinkled at the sterile stench that permeated the air. Piers felt a pang stab his chest as Chris linked her fingers in his. He followed in silence behind them as they made their way to the exit. Outside, a vehicle waited to take the trio to Heathrow and back to the States.

The ride was silent, the air heavy with tension which Alex hoped Chris didn't pick up on. Piers would cast tiny glances at her every so often before training his eyes on the Thames. Chris sensed something was off with Alex and instinctively wrapped his arm around her as best he could, given the seat belts. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder, any emotion or thought blocked. Piers spotted the pendant hanging from her neck, bringing little consolation to him. She had never removed it during the entire time they were searching for Chris. His inner musings interrupted by the vehicle coming to a stop at the terminal.

Chris looked out the window, running his hand through Alex's tousled strands as she slept. Their flight had reached cruising altitude, allowing her to stretch out and rest her head in Chris's lap.

“Piers, you haven't said much since we took off,” Chris noted the silence coming from his Lieutenant. “Everything alright?”

“Hmmm? Yeah, I'm fine, Chris. All the traveling finally caught up.”

I'm not okay! I'm not fine! I'm in love with your girl, Chris!

“I can't keep running away, Piers. I have to face the truth, accept responsibility. That's the only way I'll remember everything. The only way I'll get my life back,” Chris peered down, his fingers continuing their slow motions, “The only way I'll get us back.”

He gathered the sleeping woman in his arms, cradling her as she continued to rest.

Maybe it's time to turn my gun in. I've been fighting so long I lost the one person that mattered the most to me once already. I can't lose her. Not again.

Piers trained his attention to the window, watching the Atlantic pass beneath them. Clouds would stream by, random puffs that dotted the endless blue sea. The sun casting a silvery glow across the surface as it began its descent. How was he going to tell Chris? When would he? How would his captain react? It wasn't like they intended for any of it to happen. They had been in close quarters for over 6 months. They had seen one another strong, weak and vulnerable. She had been his partner through the good and bad; bloody and violent. Alex had opened up to him, letting him in to a very dark period of her life.

How could he not have fallen in love?

The marksman avoided the curious gaze of his CO for the remainder of the flight; his heart heavy and mind swimming.

The first thing Claire did when she laid eyes on her brother was squeeze him as hard as she could. The second thing was sucker punch him in the solar plexus.

Chris rubbed the spot where her small but mighty fist collided with his abs, the pain temporary but the message received was loud and clear.

“You deserved that,” she jabbed her finger against the stop, driving her point home.

“Yeah,” he exhaled, “I do.”

The younger Redfield went to Alex, taking her in a protective warm embrace. “I'm so glad you found him,” she whispered in Alex's ear. “I'm so glad you made it back.”

“Me too,” Alex nodded. “It's good to be home again.”

Jill wasn't so restrained in her welcome.

Her fist met Chris's jaw. Carlos stood by, letting her deliver this long overdue greeting. When Jill was set on something, Carlos did not get in the way. He knew she was pissed over Chris disappearing and the impact it had on everyone. He wanted to kick the older Redfield's ass right then and there in front of the whole airport, but exercised restraint. No need to upset his beloved any more than what she already was.

“I deserved that,” Chris shook his head and rubbed his jaw, suspecting a bruise was going to make an appearance. A few raised eyebrows were thrown in their direction as the mini drama played out, but no one was exactly standing up to fetch the nearest security guard or cop either so long as their scheduled vacations, cruises or business trips weren't interfered with. Such matters were common these days in public settings it seemed. Entitled passengers threatening violence against airline staff or between one another stemming from trivial matters. As everyone settled down, normalcy quickly reigned as people scurried to security or check in for their flights. Had one entered the airport, they would've been clueless to what had just transpired moments before.

Chris nodded as she pulled back. Carlos stepped forward, taking his old friend in a hug. As pissed as he was, the site of the older man in one piece subdued his anger. “She wanted to kick your ass all the way back to town but I talked her out of it. Not with the baby.”

“Thanks, Carlos,” Chris did a second take, “Wait, baby?”

“We just found out,” Jill beamed as Chris's mouth dropped.

“When? How?” Chris was at a loss for words. Did he not notice her clothing was less form fitting and looser around the waist and hips?

“Well, you know how,” Jill huffed and rolled her eyes playfully.

“September,” Carlos jumped in, placing a hand over Jill's. “We don't know if little Oliveira is a boy or girl yet.”

Alex watched as everyone welcomed Chris back. Piers was standing beside her.

“Too bad Carlos talked Jill out of kicking Chris's ass all the way to town. That would've been fun to watch.”

Alex suppressed a laugh. “Not with the baby coming. Carlos has been great for her. I saw the sparks between them when we got out of Raccoon City with Barry. He risked his ass going to Raccoon General Hospital to save her. That vaccine is the reason she's still here. I think Chris was a bit hurt when he saw them together in the beginning, but then he saw how happy she was.”

“Then he met you.”

“Yep. When Wesker had her, we had to keep Carlos together. Claire, Barry and I sat on him when we found out she was still alive. He wanted to go with Chris to Africa to find her.”

“Sounds familiar,” Piers chimed in. Alex shook her head before continuing.

“Except Carlos didn't make the trip. Had to convince him to stay here. Told him, what good would it be for Jill if we had to tell her that her husband had been killed looking for her. Every day we walked that fine edge between hope and despair. Every day we waited, uncertain about what each day would bring; what fresh Hell would rain down on us. Anderson and Josh were there, saw that fucking bastard Wesker eat a rocket.”

Piers caught her body tense at mention of the former Umbrella scientist turned bio-terrorist but just as quickly as she bristled, she relaxed.

“I-I can't believe they're going to have a baby,” Chris shook his head. What else had he missed during his little pity party across Europe?

“We wanted them to tell you,” Alex kept her eyes on the road. “She told Piers and I when we were in Croatia. I'm so happy for them. They've been through literal Hell with the whole Wesker thing and her recovery. Who would've thought a former Umbrella mercenary would turn good guy and now father? Guess that cheesy pickup line about his accent did work.”

Chris recalled Alex mentioning Carlos' tacky one liner while Raccoon City was falling and Nemesis had been hot on their tails.

“I know. You want to ask me out. All the foxy ladies love my accent. It drives them crazy."

He remembered Jill recalling how Alex stayed with her as Carlos trekked through zombie infested streets and avoiding the Umbrella mercenaries. It was the start of a long beautiful relationship.

“Home sweet home,” Alex kicked the boots off and dropped the bag by the door. Everything was as it was before she left except, where snow had been, rich layers of pine flooded the windows. Summer reigned over the land.

Chris took a deep breath, a feeling of awkwardness coming over as he remembered the last time he had been there.

He hastily packed what minimal items he needed, grabbing his passport and what little cash he could scrounge up. Alex was still asleep, curled up under the sheet and blanket. A burning pang of guile took a hold of him as he looked down at her. He had been so hard, feral even with her, bruising her hips and splitting her apart like he did. The scent of her lingered on his skin. The musky ribbons tormented his senses, a reminder of the violent coupling. Shame had entrenched in his being. A part of him raged, angered at the coming betrayal.

“How the fuck am I supposed to protect her when I couldn't protect my men?” Chris muttered as he stuffed the last article of clothing in his bag and zipped it shut. The argument directed at that part of him which begged him to reconsider, that there was time to stop and stay.

The cab was waiting outside for him, an unknowing accomplice to his plan.

“Chris. Chris. Chris!” Alex waved her hand in front of his face. Chris blinked, returning to the present.

“Sorry, Lex,” he gave a weak smile, “Just taking everything in.”

“I'll admit, it feels strange being home after being gone for so long. It'll take some getting used to. I can cook us something or we can order out if you're hungry.”

Chris said nothing, rather he took Alex in his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. The familiar warmth and smells of their apartment embraced him, welcoming him back home. No more smoky bar. No more drinking. Alex had Jill and Carlos remove any alcohol from the apartment.

“I don't know about you, but I could go for a shower,” Chris offered. His back and shoulders achy from the overseas flight.

“Agreed,” Alex pulled back. Chris couldn't but help to beam.

They took turns peeling one another's clothing away. Chris lifted the olive green soft knit top off, pausing to place a tender kiss on each shoulder then slid the straps down her arms. Her porcelain skin was illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window, casting an ethereal glow about her. Her skin seared against his lips, but Chris carried on. His fingers unfastened then drew the zipper down, letting her ease out of the faded soiled denim. Alex kept her eyes locked with his, hands sliding the coal black shirt up, letting him lean over to allow her to slip it over his head. She rested her forehead against his chest, letting herself become immersed in the moment. Chris felt the tickle of her breath as Alex infused her senses with his scent, her face turning to rest the side against him. She closed her eyes at the comforting sensation of his hand sliding through her hair, content where she stood. Chris eagerly acquiesced Alex, continuing the feathery strokes until she was ready to move.

Alex leaned back into Chris's arms, feeling the powerful biceps and forearms cradle her as they lingered beneath the soothing jets. Chris peered down, catching the content expression etched on her face. Droplets sparkled like crystals as they cascaded across her shoulders and cheeks. Tiny pools collected in the crevices of her elbows and breasts, spilling over as the mini rivers continued their course over the smooth valleys. Alex heard his heart slow to a steady calm cadence. It was a soft sweet song to her ears. She melted against him when the warmth of his hand came to rest on her cheek. The light pull then pressure of her lips to his palm made Chris' heart flutter.

“You know, I'm not really hungry,” Chris buried his face against Alex's shoulder.

“Me neither. I say we curl up under the blanket on the couch.”

Chris couldn't but help to bury his face in her neck. He couldn't satisfy his need to take her in. He deeply inhaled, the body wash saturating his olfactories. Alex did love sandalwood and sage. It was an embodiment of her: strong and resilient. Chris clung to every moment since she found him. Of course the sex had been amazing; the passion which burned between them only intensified those heated interludes. Their bodies colliding in a fury of hunger and love; how vulnerable she was baring her very soul to him. But, it was also the other times. Times where they shut the world out. When it was Chris and Alex; no one to come between them. Nothing to rip them apart. What may appear as insignificant to most, for Chris, he treasured every second of those times. The first time they met, Chris wouldn't have traded it for anything; mess and all. Standing on the beach, the sun blessing them with its kiss as it rose over the Atlantic. The week in Colorado to help her with recovery. Alex had been so free, Chris privy to witnessing that part of her long hidden. He cherished every bit of it.

His fingers were feathers against her shoulder and arm, drinking in the soft warmth against his touch. Chris could've stayed like that until the end of the world.

Waiyip, Lanshiang, China.......

Carla, rather, Ada as she went by, smiled victoriously. Everything was in place. The CCTV showed several large cells with Ja'vo corralled together, ready to be unleashed on the unsuspecting city at her word. The research on the antibodies from Jake Mueller provided results that were beyond her wildest dreams and expectations. With the enhanced C-virus been manufactured and used in the fresh wave of bio-organic weapons, her vision was that much closer to reality. Her COMs device on the desk buzzed. She slid a finger across the screen, reading the message that awaited.

Target is back at home base. Waiting for next order.

Carla provided her reply.

Acquire target.

She went to the set of screens, seeing Jake and Sherry in their holding cells. The son of Albert Wesker looked incredibly bored while the daughter of William Birkin continued scanning, searching for anything that could lead to an escape. Too bad, as every possibility had been addressed and there was no way for them break out. Simmons and the Family would pay for their hubris and arrogance. There was no stopping her now. The world was going to be recreated in the image of her own design. Marhawa and Edonia were just the beginning. The data from the school and the pathetic war torn country gave sufficient information for their research.

While the C-virus had been the focus of her research, the T-virus, which started it all, remained a fascination of hers. The files Wesker had on that little insipid wretch, Alexandra Koch, only piqued her scientific intrigue further. Her DNA had successfully assimilated with the T-virus, leaving her with physical capabilities and mental capacity most military leaders would lust for in their soldiers and without the mutations.

Too bad for her.

HAOS would become king of the new world and she would be queen. Any threats would be eliminated.

Chapter Text

Lanshiang was a scene from a post-apocalyptic nightmare.

Civilians scrambled in sheer panic and terror, seeking shelter or simply trying to get as far from the Ja'vo that now flooded the streets. Multiple structures of all sizes and shapes were ablaze, courtesy of the masked B.O.W.s which roamed where they pleased. Abandoned vehicles littered the main route, hindering Alpha Team's progress.

“Fucking media. Get outta the way!”

Chris muttered as they advanced ahead. Several journalists, though Chris would use that term hesitantly, had greeted them at the rendezvous point then a second awaited them at the south end of the city. When hoping to get a sound bite for their audience, Chris harshly shoved the microphone, along with its owner, to the side. Piers remained close behind with Marco, Jeff and Keaton bringing up the rear. The random explosions roared overhead, a burnt out police vehicle launched through the air, colliding with the side of some forgotten business.

“INCOMING!” Chris and the team dove and ducked as the oversize flaming rocket sailed harmlessly through, crashing with a violent smack against the closest market building. Piers' heart raced but his exterior remained calm. He caught Chris leaping to his feet as the others rose to theirs. Smoke polluted the nighttime skies, blocking out what few stars were visible against the artificial pollution of street signs and neon lights.

“Alpha Team, this is HQ! Your mission is to continue to the Ace of Spades and rescue the UN workers being held hostage there. Recon is proceeding ahead towards location.”

The orders crackled through their earpieces. The team raced ahead, firing on hostiles who were foolish enough to challenge the well-armed men.

“Same damn things we saw in Edonia!” Piers snarled and continued firing. He didn't see the deep grimace that crossed his CO's face. The brief sharp stab entered on his right side, forcing Chris to blink and shake his head. The deeper they tread, the harder it became to navigate the chaos of smoldering debris, wrecked vehicles, and cooling bodies. They were sitting ducks for any hostiles.

“We need to find another route! Street is blocked!”

“Fuck,” Chris hastily scanned around, seeing a taller building that appeared intact and not a raging inferno. “Follow me!”

Alpha Team scurried inside, the insanity playing out on the streets behind them. The abandoned structure still had power, thankfully, as Alpha Team fell in and attempted to navigate the labyrinth of booths, corridors and rooms concealed by blind corners and turns. Ammonia clung to the air and any surface left untouched. The foul stench of rotted meat left on hooks mixed with pungent odors of other unidentified foods in the adjacent soup shop. The occupants had evacuated at some unknown time or worse, were infected with the C-virus. The elevators were out of service, perhaps to keep any Ja'vo from reaching those who chose to go up.

“First floor clear,” Keaton's voice filled their comms. Piers took point, starting up the stairs, rifle ready with Chris on his heels. The only way out was up.

Alex groaned and stirred. Her body heavy and mind swept in a thick haze. The biting steel pressed against her backside, cold and uncaring to her discomfort.

“Subject is regaining consciousness.”

Subject? What the fuck was going on?

“Where......am.......I......” her tongue was thick and fought to form a coherent sentence. The cold air brushed over her bare legs and arms. The two pathetic white capes were snapped together with elastic bands, leaving little to the imagination. Alex caught sight of several monitors including heart rate and EKG. The sterile stench overpowered her olfactories as it dawned on her she was in some kind of medical or laboratory facility.

“Welcome to China,” a female voice purred. Alex blinked. Carla stood over here, a nasty smirk etched on her lips.

“Bitch.......”

“Now that's not a proper way to thank your host. Although, you've been a very valuable guest.”

Carla watched as her “guest” took in her surroundings. Cold sterile walls created her temporary shelter as the the rigid dissection table served as her bed. Alex tried to move only to discover her wrists were secured in identical cuffs. Her ankles were restrained in similar fashion. Her neck craned around, hoping to gain some semblance of where she was at.

“Built to ensure you don't break out,” Carla patted the thick alloy. “Can't have you running to the B.S.A.A. They are such a pain, though, they make excellent test subjects, wouldn't you agree?”

Alex stayed silent as Carla carried on in her boasting.

“Your blood is so fascinating. How the T-virus embedded itself into your DNA, enhancing your body into a perfect weapon. Albert Wesker thought you were the solution to unlocking the next phase of human evolution. Had he still been alive, perhaps that would still be the case. However, my vision for the world does not include you, Alexandra. There can only be one queen to rule beside the king.”

“You're fucking crazy, you know that?”

Carla glared at her captive and snatched the syringe that was on a nearby tray.

“Wesker wanted to rule the world too but, like all comic book style villains, he failed. The good guys won. They'll win again and you'll burn in Hell.”

Carla gripped Alex's chin, forcing her to meet the angry glare of the scientist. She waved the syringe in her free hand. The soft orange hues swirled as Carla spoke causing her laugh mockingly.

“No, Alexandra. Not. This. Time. I already know your precious Chris is on his way and I have a welcoming party waiting for him. If he's lucky, he may live long enough to see the end of this precious little world he loves so much, including you.”

The sting of the thick needle caused Alex to cry out in pain. Carla pushed it deeper until it was embedded deep into the muscle, scraping against the trachea. She took her time pushing the plunger, knowing its contents would herald unimaginable agony. Alex felt the fire begin in her veins, igniting like a firestorm across her body. The fever was sudden, scorching her skin as if she was naked in the desert with the unforgiving sun cooking her exposed flesh. Her screams resonated off the walls and ceiling, only victim and perpetrator able to hear. Carla watched the tears now streaming down Alex's face, delighted in the suffering she had inflicted. Blotches of rose fanned out, covering every inch of her body. Her lungs closed off, leaving her to struggle for each precious bit of air. Carla observed with fascination as the microscopic drama played out with the stage being Alex's body.

She noted how her subject writhed and struggled to break free, banging her wrists and ankles against the unbreakable shackles. Skin shredded against sharp edges of the cuffs as blood seeped from the corners of her eyes, collecting in thick puddles which her hair brushed against, staining the ends bright crimson. The sharp snap of bone added to this gory symphony as Alex's wrists and knees twisted at inhuman angles. The macabre display carried on for several minutes. But for Alex it felt like an eternity. She silently hoped for Death to rush in and give her release. As she felt like her body could no longer take any more, she felt a shift deep within her. The T-virus was waging war against the new invader, refusing to surrender its dominance within its host. The hard violent spasms began to subside while calm began to overpower chaos. Alex felt her heart begin to slow, resuming its normal rhythm. The thick invisible ribbons of iron taunted her nose, a reminder of the upheaval that had transpired. Air flooded her tormented lungs, which Alex greedily sucked through nose and mouth. She licked her lips and shut her eyes, refusing to grant that bitch further exultation by showing the depths of her suffering which lay bare in her eyes.

“Oh no you don't,” Carla tightened her fingers in the blood stained tresses, forcing Alex to open her eyes and look at her. Cold silver shot up to angry amber. Her eyes had changed color. Where an inferno had reigned, rings of sterling dotted with cobalt glared back. What an interesting effect.

The door opened but no sound emerged. A technician in a white coat entered, holding a tray with several empty syringes. Carla tied the band around Alex's arm, finding the virus rich vein easily. Alex felt no energy to emit any sound of protest as three syringes full of her blood were extracted. No, they were stolen vials. She wasn't given consent to take it.

“Now,” Carla fetched a final syringe. “Since you were such a good little test subject, you get one more round.”

No sound escaped her lips as the sedative breached the tear in her neck, taking the same path as the enhanced C-virus had minutes before. The heaviness seeped in conquering her arms, legs and finally her mind. The last vision which filled her consciousness was Chris. His name faint across her lips as she succumbed to the powerful drug.

Alpha Team had to make a hasty retreat from the Three of Diamonds. The Ja'vo had been overwhelming, hordes coming in waves. Now they found themselves open to enemy fire as they had desperately sought cover, finding it in an empty multi-story warehouse.

“That was close.”

Jeff and Marco finished off the last of the feral Ja'vo that had been wandering the last several floors. Chris and Piers continued to scout ahead, hyper vigilant and trigger ready. These Ja'vo behaved the same as the ones in Edonia, only, they wore masks to shield their mutated disfigured faces. All had been heavily armed, matching Alpha Team bullet for bullet, despite not having as higher powered arms. Their numbers were greater which slowed the team down as they were pinned down between stairwells, hallways, vacant shops and tenements. The Ja'vo also had another advantage. Like their European counterparts, these regenerated when wounded. Wings would erupt where arms were blasted off. Thoraxes would manifest where lower torsos were blown away with wings of a wasp and stinger to match ripping through the healing flesh. Even when injured, the persistence and overly aggressive tendencies made them no less dangerous.

“What the fuck!?” Marco snarled and continued firing, feeding the mutated bastards every bullet he had. Jeff spotted movement coming up on Chris and Piers.

“CAPTAIN!”

Piers spotted the latest mutation, taking rapid aim and firing. Were those spider's legs?

“These fuckers don't know when to quit!”

“HQ, we just witnessed new Ja'vo mutations!” Piers hollered as Chris charged ahead, taking head shots then using hand to hand to bring each one down, stomping on each grotesque skull as the others continued firing. Chris felt as if he was purging residual anger, frustration which had been latent until his arrival in China. Another one rushed him, machete in hand. He spun around, slicing through the backside with his combat knife before delivering a blow against the back of the thing's head. Piers reached the landing, catching his CO fighting like a man possessed. He didn't behave like this in Edonia. Chris stopped, breathing hard as he kept his back to his Lieutenant. He wiped the blood from his blade, securing in its sheath.

“All clear.”

The rest of the team arrived, watching as the Ja'vo melted away.

“Captain?” Piers looked to Chris. “You alright?”

“I'm just trying to wrap my head around everything, that's all. I still can't remember.” He didn't tell the marksman about the brief vision he had.

A young soldier reached out for him, gloved hand just out of his reach......

“Finn,” he had muttered seconds before.

Shaking it off, he turned, facing the waiting men. “We keep moving. We need to reach the Ace of Spades and help those hostages.”

“You heard the Captain, let's fall in and keep going.”

The warehouse was seemingly abandoned. Level by level they crept, not seeing any hostiles or civilians. Chris felt unease as they reached the top floor.

“HQ to Alpha. We've lost contact with recon team. Continue to Ace of Spades with extreme caution.”

“Alpha to HQ, we are proceeding to target.”

Marco and Jeff kicked down the double door leading to the roof, to be greeted by Ja'vo armed with machine guns and machine pistols. The team split, with half ducking behind several crates to the right and the remaining half behind a small wall that was part of a squatter's shack. Piers rounded the corner, taking out the hostiles positioned across the way. Keaton finished off the remaining that were closer to their position, the walking insects lighting up like sparklers before collapsing and disintegrating. Ahead was the Ace of Spades, lit up like a Vegas casino against the background of chaos.

“We're gonna have to take the rooftops to get there. Piers, can you give us cover?”

“On it!”

Alpha Team tread cautiously, eliminating Ja'vo by firepower or as simple as pushing them over the rails of the walkways crisscrossing the skyline. Smoke choked their lungs and burned their noses but they carried on. Flames from the ongoing fires and explosions provided some light for their path. Chris downed a few herbal capsules before pressing ahead. He felt his muscles begin to ache and head pound. The planks were loose and disorganized, unstable as they leapt from roof to roof. Ja'vo spotted Alpha Team making their way towards the Ace of Spades. The floodlight from the approaching chopper temporarily blinded Chris as another Ja'vo fired an RPG at the group.

“We've been spotted! Where's Bravo Team!?!?”

Alpha was taking heavy fire. Ja'vo had them pinned down between two buildings. Bullets ricochet off walls, ladders, railing, anything that couldn't detonate, explode or splinter. The chopper which had them cornered erupted into a fireball of smoke, flames and fiery debris.

“Hey guys! You miss us?”

“About fucking time!” Jeff hollered.

“No shit,” Marco echoed the sentiment.

Bravo Team slid down the ropes and to a rather grateful Alpha Team.

“Let's roll!” Bravo's lead barked as they raced into the main entrance.

“HQ to Alpha and Bravo: Delta Team is waiting for you on the main floor. Secure the hostages the evacuate the building.”

The stench in Ace of Spades was no better than Three of Diamonds. The main floor reeked of rotten vegetables and bleach while hints of blood permeated the nearby corridors. Furniture was overturned, toppled over as lighting became hit and miss. Delta and Alpha took point, eliminated any Ja'vo that stood to slow them down. The porous squelching of some unidentified fluid met their boots as they stormed up the stairs, pooling into perfect imprints of each sole. The first hostage was located on the seventh floor, safe in the company of Delta Team.

“Delta to HQ: Hostage on seventh floor secured. I'm coming out.”

Bravo had moved up one floor with Alpha, cleaning out the crazed things that had enough intelligence to fire a weapon or use a knife. Each step was a hard earned victory. The Ja'vo on this floor had sprouted eight legs. Goddamn eight legged freaks!

“HELP! SOMEONE HELP!”

The other hostage had been located. Bravo team took care of any remaining hostiles, securing the man and making a rapid retreat.

“Eighth floor hostage secured!”

“Excellent work! Alpha Team, there is one more hostage on the first floor.”

Piers and Chris hurried towards the stairs, trying to reach the last hostage. Delta had located and secured the hostages on the fifteenth floor and were getting the Hell out of the building.

“Piers,” Chris discovered an elevator that had not been damaged from the attacks. It seemed too good to be true but, neither man was going to question this. The elevator sputtered to life, cables and metal creaking then groaning as it was forced to work. They caught their breaths, each downing a few more herbal capsules. As they neared the fifth floor, the elevator halted between floors. The sligh swing created further unease.

“Shit, now what?” Chris snarled.

“Give me a hand and I'll jump up,” Piers leapt up to the roof, offering his hand to Chris. The Captain jumped, grabbing the slender hand and wrist. The commotion from above made both men look up. Leering overhead was a Ja'vo, armed with an RPG. Its mouth rattled off a few words of Mandarin before pulling the trigger. The guys leapt up and away, landing opposite of the other. Chris opened fire, pumping the bastard until it fell.

“Piers, you alright?”

“I'm fine, Captain!”

The pair saw the next set of doors. Each man grabbed a handle, pulling their side open. No sooner the first squeak etched out, the Ja'vo quickly opened fire.

“I get the feeling we're not welcome!”

“We can take them!”

Piers pulled the pin on a grenade and lobbed it through the gap. The Ja'vo screeched in pain as the light flooded the room. Piers and Chris leapt out, overpowering the handful of enemies with ease. The closest one slashed the air with its machete, opposite arm covering its three eyes. Chris clutched the head of the struggling monstrosity, snapping the neck, nearly ripping the head clean off. His rage had taken control. The animal like snarl took Piers aback. What the fuck had gotten into him?

“Captain?” He quietly implored.

“I'm fine!” Chris snapped. Piers recoiled, thankful Alex was not able to see him like this.

“Help! Someone help!”

The rectangular opening dropped down, showing the last hostage in the clutches of Spider Ja'vo. Chris jumped through with Piers right behind him. Another Ja'vo served as lookout, opening fire on the pair. Another fugly arrived, taking shots from behind. Chris spun around, seeing Marco neutralize this new arrival. The heel of his boot crunched against bone and weathered flesh.

“Captain,” the third man huffed.

“Marco, thanks,” Chris nodded. Marco helped the man up and lead him to safety.

Carla watched from the nearby rooftop. It seemed Redfield survived and managed to get all the UN workers out. No matter. Let them revel in this minuscule victory. It wouldn't matter. HAOS would soon awaken and the world would be theirs. Redfield was never going to see his precious little girlfriend again.

“Well, well, if it isn't little Carla Radames.”

She spun around, sneering at the voice.

“I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting, though your reputation has preceded you.”

Carla grabbed her dart gun, taking aim and pulling the trigger.

The man stepped out from the shadows. He chuckled as he pulled the dart from his shoulder then stomped on it. His hair was blonde and close cut. Eyes a cutting shade of blue that held an unreadable expression. His face even with square cut jaw. His accent was British perhaps, not that it made a difference. His presence was grating on her nerves.

“Now, that was uncalled for.”

“Who the Hell are you?”

“A friendly piece of advice, Carla. Whatever you have planned, will fail. My brother, Albert, tried the same foolish scheme only to be defeated by Agent Redfield. He, too, thought he would succeed but his hubris proved to be his downfall.”

“You know nothing about me.”

“Oh?” The man raised an eyebrow in a humorous manner. “I know all about you, my dear. A gifted scientist whose talents served the pompous needs of a man whose affections were never reciprocated. You were used, forced to become a test subject and become what stands before me.”

Carla's eyes narrowed. “My name is Ada Wong.”

“It appears I have hit a raw nerve as they would say. Do you really wish to destroy this world? Is it because it's your desire? Or because you wish to spite Derek Simmons? The same man whose affections you were so desperate to have only to learn you were a mere pawn in his machinations?”

Silence.

The man snorted. “As I suspected. If you are a smart woman, as I would like to think you are, you will abort your plans. Once Simmons finds out, and he will find out you've crossed him, you will bear a target on your back. The choice is yours.”

“You never told me your name.”

“A friend,” the man turned and vanished into the darkness, leaving Carla shaken.

Chris and Piers stood at the edge of what had been the Ace of Spades. The flaming pit of twisted metal and smoldering wood being the only reminder of what had been. Reinforcements had arrived, armed with flame throwers to destroy any chrysalids that remained. Neither spoke, instead, taking in the destruction and subsequent sanitation. The humanoid pods burned like paper, filling the immediate area with the acrid stench of burning biological material. As one of the soldiers approached a particular chrysalid, Chris dropped to his knees, clutching the side of his head. The familiar pain returned with a vengeance as he grunted and squeezed his eyes shut. His teeth grit as his vision was visited by another the same scene.

“Captain?” Piers saw his CO in distress and hurried to his side.

The same young soldier in knit cap stretched out his hand, his face frozen in pain.....

“Finn.....” the name formed on his lips. Finn Macauley. The rookie.

“Piers, what happened to Ada Wong?” Chris kept his eyes ahead, weapon locked but held in a safe position.

“You remember?”

“Is that bitch in the city or not!?!?!” Chris' voice darkened turning demanding, dismissing Piers' question.

“Yeah, she's been spotted several times.”

Chris rose, picking up his rifle, not looking at his second in command. “Tell the men we're moving out.” His posture was cold as he marched past Piers. Concern filled his eyes as he trailed his CO's backside.

“Yes, Sir.”

That bitch is going to pay for what she did. Damn you, Wong.

Alpha Team fell in, following their Captain as they attempted to track down Ada. The birds had been called off, completing their mission of eradication. The streets were eerily quiet as they proceeded down the abandoned roadways, crossing the back alleys, ready to strike if attacked. The shadows were their foe, concealing any biological weapons which could reduce their numbers even more. They had to watch the skies as they learned certain Ja'vo mastered the ability to operate aircraft. Shit, what else could those fuckers do?

Alex groaned, shifting her arms and legs. She blinked, her vision blurry on account of the sedative. What the Hell had that bitch shot her up with? Her body felt like a dead weight, a mass in the center of a mattress. The lab table was gone, along with Ada and the technician. The two drapes with cords however, were still fastened around her. She shivered as the air being blasted into her holding cell was freezing. There was a flimsy sheet which provided little warmth, but it was better than nothing she supposed. The double sided mirror offered a glimpse into her wrecked appearance. Her hair was in a state of chaos from all the shaking and jerking but it was her eyes. She looked closer at the sad specter looking back. Her eyes had lost their fire, now, sterling with shards of ice.

She cried out, releasing an inhuman scream that echoed off the sound proof walls. Her head began to throb, intensity increasing as the invisible sledgehammer pummeled her skull. Alex collapsed to the tiles, fingers scratching wildly at her temples. Blood dried under her nails, darkening then from ivory to burnt brown. The soles of her feet slapped the cold flooring, the stinging of skin going ignored. Is this how she was going to die? Alone as a test subject in the cold depths of the South China Sea? If she did, Alex could only hope Chris would stop Ada.

This latest suffering ended as fast as it ended. Alex wondered if it was the T-Virus staving off some last charge by the C-Virus. For the first time in her life, she was grateful for being infected. Alex untangled her fingers from her hair, groaning at the dried blood that stained her fingertips. She pushed up, her body trembling and sweaty. Her skin reflected the thick sheen from the florescent lighting. Did she break a fever too? Felt like it. Now on her hands and knees, she spotted a small bathroom. Maybe there was a shower or at least a sink. Alex staggered towards the door, flipping on the light. She didn't question why a shower, let alone a bathroom, was there and ripped the soaked flimsy material from her body.

Hot water never felt so good.

Chapter Text

The man continued to watch Alpha Team from the shadows. They had succeeded in their mission with the elimination of the Ja'vo and rescue of the hostages. He smiled to himself, recalling how Carla was rattled by his knowledge of her true identity. Did she really think no one would know or figure out who she was? He had contacts in multiple agencies and countries, including that of the Family. Bunch of egomaniacs who sought to maintain global stability through its tentacles of financial might and influence. More like mold the world into what they say as ideal. Albert would've fit in, though his ego and aspirations were individualist focused. His musings were abruptly cut short by screaming followed by gun fire.

Chris and Alpha Team made their way through the flaming pillars and scorched cocoons as they sought their way out of the man made Hell, determined to find Ada. Revenge motivated Chris. Revenge for the Alpha Team he lost in Edonia. Revenge for the apocalypse which now reigned around them. He couldn't shake the feeling they were being watched. Someone or something was stalking them.

“We're being followed.”

The team halted, sweeping the immediate area for any Ja'vo or other B.O.W.s that could be hiding in wait. Nothing. Chris gave the signal to continue. The men stayed silent, their internal battles to keep calm waging within each. The street was void of life, living or otherwise. The only sound was that of their boots marching in cadence as they crossed the narrow alleys, ducking behind abandoned vehicles or conducting a sweep before proceeding. Chris clenched his jaw. A bead of sweat tricked down his right temple. They got though the ring of fire, pausing but for a moment.

It was a moment too long.

The explosion of concrete, re-bar and steel beams caused the team to scatter for safety. A large invisible creature breached the hole, snagging Reid by the left arm.

“Reid!” Piers screamed and opened fire. Reid shrieked in pain as the unseen foe dragged its prey away.

“FUCK!” Chris charged in with Piers hollering for Chris to wait.

“CAPTAIN WAIT!” Piers raced after him with the others falling in line. He sprinted to keep up as Chris continued his pursuit, refusing to back down. Piers fought to keep up, but forced his body forward. His legs and lungs howled in protest but it ignored it. He rounded the corner, halting as Chris swept his gun around, pointing it directly at his marksman. Anger crossed the younger man's face.

“What the Hell were you thinking pulling a kamikaze stunt like that!? You could've been killed!”

Chris snarled in frustration and turned his back, still searching for their target. “These are my men. You follow my lead or I'll find someone who will.”

“Do you even hear yourself!? What the FUCK is wrong with you?!?!” Was he losing his goddamn mind!?

“Fall in line, soldier,” he coldly commanded. Piers felt sick but obeyed.

“You heard the man, fall in and let's move.”

Alpha Team went into the bowels of the building. All they knew what their target was a new B.O.W., it was able to cloak itself for stealth and had a nasty overbite. They passed an abandoned Majong table, tiles still up as though waiting for their players to return. The lighting was piss poor, only a few overhead lights were still functional. A foul stench saturated the air as they crossed into the next space.

“What the fuck is all this?” Marco spotted the rows of shelves with what appeared to be teeth in formaldehyde.

“No time to find out,” Chris barked. “Keep going.”

A faint scream taunted their ears, echoing off the fractured walls.

“That's Reid!” Jeff recognized it. “He's still alive!”

“Jeff, wait!” Piers hollered but the soldier had taken off, determined to locate their wounded comrade. Marco took after him. Chris and Piers hurried after, determined to not lose anymore men. Their pursuit took them deeper into the labyrinth of haphazard shops and offices intermingled with squatter tenants and dilapidated apartments. Cups were kicked aside, silent witnesses to the carnage around them as children's toys lay discarded, abandoned more likely.

“Sir!” The team came upon a grisly scene.

“It's recon team,” Chris knelt down checking for signs of life. His fingers were met it stillness. Jeff stood by, silent with shoulders drooping.

“That's no way to go!” Marco shook his head.

“Alpha to HQ: Recon team found. No survivors.”

“Copy that Alpha, continue pursuit of B.O.W.s and terminate on site.”

The response was void of emotion. But, when in war, emotions could override logic and lead to death. Alpha Team moved on, leaving the fallen to be collected by another team.

“How are we supposed to drop this thing when we can event see it?”

“Shut up and keep moving!” Chris snapped at Marco. Piers shook his head, disgusted at Chris' behavior. The resentment and rage harbored towards Ada was steering him.

Jeff and Marco entered the next room, a piece of the ventilation came loose and crashed to the ground. The B.O.W appeared, with Reid dangling from its mouth, still alive, barely, and screaming for help.

“REID! Let him go you fucking son of a bitch!” Marco and Jeff opened fire, distracting the creature long enough to drop Reid from its grip. The bullets ricochet off the thing's body, an organic body armor of sorts had been activated. Still, they continued firing, determined to kill it or at least slow it down. But it was too late for Reid. Their comrade collapsed, blood flowing from the tear that crossed his shoulder, chest and side. A few quiet whimpers escaped the dying man's lips before the light in his eyes went out.

“Damn it!” Piers scrubbed his face with his hand.

“How many more do we have to lose to that bitch?!” Chris charged on, leaving the rest of the team to catch up. They reached the outside as a small explosion caught their attention. Chris spotted Sherri and Jake emerging from the sewers.

“They're alive. They went missing six months ago in Edonia. Right after they departed,” Chris didn't hear Piers, focused on the red haired insurgent standing below him.

Jake looked up, catching the older man staring down at him. Did he know the truth about his father? About him? Jake desperately hungered to know what Chris did. A large portion of his life, who he was, remained unanswered for.

“Do you think he knows Wesker was my father?”

“I don't know, but, we need to move,” Sherri grabbed his arm, tugging him towards the adjacent building, out of sight of any hostiles.

“We need to move,” Chris turned leaving Piers to cast one final glance at the duo before they departed.

Alpha Team headed into the next building, identical to the previous ones they had gone through. More squatter tenants and underground gambling parlors dotted the their path. On a nearby wall, anatomy charts and posters clung to the walls; blood drying on the one identifying various organs. Another identifying the human skeletal structure laced with offal and unidentified organic tissue. A slithering sound dragged across the floor, alerting them to the B.O.W.

“It's here,” Chris readied his weapon. The fluttering of papers and rustling of furniture betrayed its location. The hail of bullets pushed the thing back, its gaping mouth displaying the jagged uneven rows of fangs. Bits of flesh stuck between the random gaps, blood still fresh along the gums. Alpha kept firing, gaining ground until it retreated deeper into the building. They followed. Their chase lead them to a meat locker. The immediate stench of salt, blood and spoiled pork slammed their senses. Piers and Chris went left as Jeff and Marco went right. The hog carcasses suspended on the hooks slightly swayed as they weaved between them. Jeff paused, scanning the room unaware he was being tracked.

Saliva trickled from the ceiling vent, landing on the oblivious man's shoulder pad.

“CEILING!” Piers took aim, opening fire on the creature, aiming for the mouth. It dove down, tongue lashing, tentacles wiggling from the back of the throat, prepared to claim another victim.

Marco lunged, tackling Jeff out of the way just as the B.O.W reached the spot where he stood. They jumped to their feet, firing at the mouth of the beast. The skin had hardened, protecting the rest of the body from their high end arms.

“It has some kind of protective skin!” Jeff pointed straight for the throat, never relenting. His strategy worked as the creature grew weaker, its defenses lowering. It retreated into the darkness, struggling to secrete more of its camouflage. They could hear it moving somewhere around them, using the walls and metal overhangs to conceal itself.

“Where are you, you bastard?” Chris challenged it. As if it heard him, the creature reappeared. It displayed its fangs and opened wide, lunging for the captain. It swooped right, tripping Chris. His weapon flew from his hands, landing beside Piers' boots. It coiled around his left leg, dragging him into the lower ventilation system.

“It's got the Captain!” Marco raced after them.

Chris grabbed his knife, the closest thing he had. He plunged the serrated blade to the hilt, hearing it hiss but not releasing him. Chris felt the handgun in his belt, snagging it and taking aim. The thing opened its mouth revealing the sensitive pink flesh. Chris pulled the trigger, not letting up until the pressure around his leg lifted.

“Not today, asshole,” he gritted his teeth, continuing to stab at the abomination until it disappeared into the vents. He exhaled, hearing the rest of Alpha approaching.

“Captain, you alright?”

“Yeah, no injuries. Bastard had me by the leg,” he fetched the herbal tablets from his vest, downing the remaining ones. Better safe after a close encounter. Piers helped him to his feet then passed his weapon over.

“It went down there,” Jeff noticed the shaft continued further in.

“After it!”

The chase continued, leading them into the center of the building. The light reflected off its skin which was easy to see in the better lighting. The double doors which lay ahead were thrown from their hinges as the creature fled with the soldiers keeping up. They rushed through the doorway. The thing was waiting. It attacked from the right, hurling Piers and Chris into a trench littered with trash and debris. Marco and Jeff stood on the ledge.

“Piers, there's a power switch up there. Maybe we can use it to stop that thing. Our weapons are useless against it.”

Chris ran for the ladder, scurrying up the slick metal bars. Marco and Jeff fired down on the thing, hoping to slow it down as Piers rounded the corners to keep distance between him and the weapon. The light was on red. Chris gripped with both hands, every muscle in his back and shoulders firing up in unison as he tugged and strained.

“Come on,” he implored it, feeling it begin to give. The bar groaned and the high squeaks surrendered as the switch fell into on. The jolt that surged through the cable and outlet elicited a mighty spark. The energy created caused a short burst, popping the plug from the outlet. The prongs let out a small trail of smoke.

“Marco, Jeff, I need you to power this thing back up.”

“On it!” The men hoisted the plug, shoving it straight in. The surge kicked back, directed into both their bodies. It felt as if their hearts stopped as the jolt coursed through every muscle and nerve then vanished into the concrete. They felt their bodies being hurled up then back then collapsed onto the ground, dazed but alive. Marco coughed as Jeff groaned. It made him think of what happened when you stuck a knife into an outlet, only a million times worse.

“Jeff, you okay?”

“Yeah, cough, just need a moment to regroup.”

Chris watched as the thing came back around, waiting for the moment to strike.

“Come on,” he muttered, hand on the lever. His fingers twitched, wrist locked. It made the final lap around, with Piers ahead of it. The marksman leapt up, grabbing an overhead bar then curled his legs up into himself.

Chris threw the switch. As the head of the thing crossed the cable, it lit up. Thick bright bolts coursed through its body, piercing the thick protective skin. It may have been safe from bullets, electricity proved fatal. The team watched as the body convulse and jerk, the power frying mutated flesh. An acrid odor radiated from the dying weapon, smoke rising from where its eyes would have been. Smoke and burning scales wafted through the trench then rose up to where Alpha team stood. The thing gave a final breath before it flopped to the ground, its remains starting to disintegrate.

“Hah! We....got the son of a bitch,” Marco stumbled to his feet then turned to help Jeff who had managed to sit up.

“Yeah, we did it,” Jeff exhaled. “Let's get the Hell out of here.”

Piers and Chris darted across the trench, as the cord had been expelled from the outlet from the force of the voltage exuded. Marco grabbed Chris's hand as Jeff grabbed Piers', helping both up and out of that shit ditch.

“Now, let's find Ada.”

They found an open doorway, realizing it was the way out. Marco and Jeff brought up the rear as Chris and Piers took lead. The narrow corridor guided them up and to the other side of the building. There were no doors or windows to offer an alternative means of escape. No hostiles or civilians greeted them as they darted down the hall and came upon a set of double doors. Chris and Piers kicked them down with ease, opening up a vast wing. They proceeded with caution, noting the corners and stacks of crates that could mask a hostile. The oversize windows had been busted out, the light pollution flooding in. Marco peered down, noting how up they were. Chris and Piers continued sweeping, finding the three of them being the only ones there. Piers started to get a sinking sense of dread which deepened the longer they stayed.

“This is crazy. It's not safe, we need to pull out. Captain!”

At that moment, a gunshot rang out. All four spun around to see “Ada” perched in a window, her dart gun knocked from her hand and out the window. Her face twisted in anger.

“You!” Her rage pointed towards someone in the dark.

“What's the matter, Carla? Mad I took away your toy?” The man stepped from the shadows. She said nothing, instead flipping around and making a retreat.

“Ada!” Chris hollered, going for the window but she was gone. Again. “Goddamnit!” Chris slammed his fists, craning his head at the man who stood calmly several feet away. He charged, eyes burning with cold fury. The man kept his eyes on Chris as he closed the distance. Piers watched as the man pivoted with lightning speed, taking his arm and folding it up and against his back. He swept the leg, bringing Chris to his knees. Chris hissed through gritted teeth, his face written in pain.

“Captain!” Jeff started towards them but the man shot up his free hand.

“No need to retaliate. I have no intention of harming Agent Redfield,” he released Chris and stood back. “And you're welcome by the way for saving one of your men from a fate worse than death.”

“What are you talking about?” Chris had his gun drawn and cocked. The man simply shook his head.

“Had I not intervened, one of you would've been the next bioweapon. Carla was carrying a dart gun which had the C-Virus. You were about to lose another man, Agent Redfield. I doubt you want that on your conscience.”

“You called Ada Carla.”

“That was not Ada Wong. That was an impostor named Carla Radames, a scientist who researched and developed biological weapons.”

“Is she the one behind Neo-Umbrella?” Chris demanded.

“Yes, Agent Redfield, she is. Everything you see that has happened here in China, is by her hand.”

“And who the Hell are you?” Piers narrowed his eyes, rifle pointed at the man's heart.

“The name is Derek Wesker.”

The breath was ripped from Chris's lungs. Wesker? Derek caught the stunned look crossing Chris's face. A faint smirk broke the corner of his mouth.

“I see you are at a loss for words, Agent. Please, allow me to explain. Albert was not the only Wesker. Before any of you were born, Oswell Spencer looked into creating a race of super intelligent humans. Hundreds of children were used in Project W. Over the years, only 13 of us survived, including myself and Albert. We were infected with the Progenitor virus. Sadly, only myself, Albert and Alex survived the exposures to the virus.”

Chris swallowed the lump growing in his throat.

“I know this is much to take in, Agent Redfield and I am certain you do not believe anything I say. However, what I have to say next you will believe.”

Derek raised one hand then slowly pulled a phone out with the other.

“This was taken the day you departed the United States,” Derek retrieved a file and held his phone for Chris to see. He stepped closer, snatching the device. He lowered his gun and studied the image. He zoomed in, seeing a figure being carried to a waiting black van. One figure was wearing a full armored battle suit with helmet and gas mask that concealed their face. The other was clad in some kind of cloak and mask that also concealed their identity.

“Lex?” His voice barely a whisper.

“Indeed, that is Alexandra. Those two individuals are known as Vector and HUNK, former USS Operatives turned freelance operatives.”

Chris remembered Crispin telling him about the fight with Vector and HUNK when he was dispatched to Raccoon City.

“What is this!?” Alex was safe at home. Jill and Carlos were keeping an eye on her. What game was this fucker playing.

“Agent Valentine has been trying to reach you regarding the situation. At 2100 hours, HUNK and Vector broke into the apartment you share with Alexandra. Their mission was to bring her here. At the behest of Carla Radames.”

Piers fought to keep a neutral face but failed. His emotions were blasted on his sleeve.

“Why are you doing this!? Why are you telling me this!? These LIES!! You're a Wesker! I should shoot you where you stand.”

“Go ahead, Agent Redfield. But, you won't know where Alexandra is being held.”

“What does she matter to you? What's your endgame?”

“Alexandra is my daughter, Agent Redfield.”

The air in the room grew heavy as the tension thickened, teetering on the edge of choking.

“You're lying," Chris gritted his teeth, finger curled around the trigger.

“Am I, Agent Redfield?” Derek narrowed his eyes, causing Chris to take pause. The ocean blue eyes looked hard at Chris. It was as if he was looking into hers......

“It can't be,” he shook his head, refusing to believe what his eyes were showing him.

“It is,” Derek nodded. “Her mother concealed her when she learned about my past. I spent years searching for her. It wasn't until her blood profile was put into the BSAA system that I was able to locate her.”

“After I got her back from Wesker.”

“Correct. Now, I need your assistance in bringing Alexandra home.”

“Where is she?” Chris took aim again. “Tell me damn it!” Derek sighed, growing weary of Chris' demanding demeanor.

“There is an underwater facility off the coast. Alexandra is being held there.”

Chris grew impatient. Alex was being held against her will, subject to fuck knows what. And now, the guy standing in front of him was claiming to be her father! This kept getting better and better.

“Clock's ticking, Agent Redfield.”

“Captain!” Piers spotted the flash grenade flying from Derek's hand. The room quickly filled with the blinding light, causing Alpha Team to avert their eyes. Moments later, the room returned to its filthy darkness. Chris frantically scanned the room, seeing Derek was gone. His hand curled into a fist before opening up.

“Damn it!”

Piers approached, seeing the array of emotions washing over his captain.

“Do we believe him? About what he said?”

Chris felt his comms device buzzing. He pulled it out, seeing a message awaiting him. It was from an unknown sender. He swiped it open, seeing it was a video clip and pressed play. His eyes widened at the scene playing out.

Alex grabbed her head as she collapsed to the floor. Her screams flooded the tiny speaker as she writhed and rolled around on the cold unforgiving surface. Her eyes flickered silver cobalt before they closed in a pathetic attempt to block the suffering. Her body involuntarily curled into the fetal position, the shrieking dying to whimpers. His name crossed her lips as she lay there alone. Her nails were caked dark crimson as she clawed at her temples, desperate for any relief.

“Lex,” Chris's chest tightened until he swore he wouldn't be able to breathe. He saw the date and timestamp. It had been recorded hours before.

“Captain?”

“It's her, Piers.”

“Shit,” the younger man swore. “We need to move.”

Chris stared at the final image, burned into his mind. Alex's face twisting then contorting in an agony that he would never know the pleasure of being acquainted with. That bitch had to pay.

The double doors to the left were locked.

“On it,” Marco slapped his final block of C-4 on the pair. The rusted entrance gave way as the explosive ripped it wide open. Chris was quiet as he lead what was left of Alpha Team out. As they searched for a way out, Chris stopped. He released a howl that was summoned from deep within his tortured being. His fist slammed against a steel door, creating a minor dent for his action. Marco and Jeff were stunned at this display. They had never seen Chris like this. Piers stepped up.

“Chris, we need to stay calm.”

“After all she's done to us?! What she's done to Alex!? How many more have to suffer!? How many more men do I have to lose because of that BITCH?!!?”

“We're right there with you, Captain, but your personal vendetta isn't going to get us anywhere. It won't get us out of here. It won't find and save Alex. If you hadn't been so blinded by vengeance, Reid's death could've been prevented.”

“Shut up,” Chris growled. His tone warning Piers to back off.

“No. Do you care about anything other than seeing Carla dead?! Right now, Alex is somewhere alone and scared. She's depending on us to find her!”

“SHUT THE HELL UP! DON'T YOU DARE BRING HER INTO THIS!!” Chris grabbed Piers by the biceps, slamming his second in command into the wall. Piers felt his back sting as it smacked violently against it. Piers fought back, using the wall as leverage to push off and throw Chris from him. Jeff and Marco hurried to Piers' side as he continued fighting with their captain.

“Whatever happened to the legendary Chris Redfield, huh? What happened to you!? Look at you! You're blinded by revenge! Risking everyone's lives! It's a damn good thing Alex and Finn aren't here to see you like this.”

“Why are you so concerned about her Piers? She's not yours.”

“Too bad she isn't. Because I'd be scorching this shit hole city to the ground looking for her. I wouldn't stop until she was back in my arms. I would hold her, shield her from it all. I would tell her I never stopped searching, that I never gave up hope. Why? Because I loved her and that's what you do for someone you love more than life itself.”

“Son of a bitch.....” He went for Piers but Marco and Jeff were on him, pulling hard against their captain, keeping him from killing their marksman.

“Captain! You need to stop! This isn't helping anyone!” Marco pleaded with Chris to stand down. Jeff held fast, using every ounce of strength he could muster. Chris continued to resist, jerking at the weight of the two soldiers keeping him in place.

“Snap out of it Captain!”

Chris stopped but Marco and Jeff didn't release him. Piers dared to close the gap.

“I fell in love with Alex. It happened while we where looking for you." As the truth lifted from his being, Piers watched as Chris's face darkened.

The older man violently shoved his Lieutenant back then stormed off.

“What was that about?” Marco raised an eyebrow.

“Don't worry about it, Marco. Let's go before he does something else that's incredibly stupid.”

They caught up to Chris, hearing him request a lead on Carla, rather Ada as she was known by.

“I'm going after her,” he warned his men before heading up and out. “Don't stand in my way.”

“Someone has to keep an eye on you to make sure you don't cross the line again.”

The only acknowledgement was the short curt grunt.

Chapter Text

Alex examined her surroundings. There was one door leading out, which she deduced was locked from the outside. A camera was perched in the upper left corner. The red light blinking every three seconds. She flipped it the bird, hoping whoever was there saw it. A minute way to purge her deeper frustrations and anger surrounding her current situation. She caught her reflection in the mirror, quickly averting her eyes. The silvery cobalt eyed demon taunted her. The dragon with molten rings loomed in her mind.

Dear Heart......You've become something even greater......

“Leave me the Hell alone. YOU ARE NOT REAL!”

Must you continue to deny this? You were always meant to become this. Men would kill to have your strength, your power.

Alex covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut.

I am envious of you, Dear Heart.......

“Leave me alone,” Alex bemoaned. “You are not real!”

A dark chuckle resonated in her ears.

But of course I am. You know I am.

Alex grabbed the chair, twisting her upper body and with every bit of strength she possessed, hurled it at the mirror. The glass burst into a fury of shards and slivers, scattering at her feet. She looked up, seeing the Ja'vo on the other side. These biological weapons were adorned in business suits with theatrical masks to conceal their repulsive faces; mutated by the virus. One with a red white and black masks, angrily barked orders at the other two as it stabbed the air, blade directed at her. They cleared the jagged ends and sharp points to reach their target, ready to neutralize by any means. Alex snatched a large shard of glass, the only thing standing between her and three abominations.

She stood her ground as she sensed something awakening within. Alex felt the virus gathering like a violent microbial storm, starting deep in the center of her body, concentrating her might into her waiting hands. Heat penetrated her limbs, rushing from the very core of her being, flooding her with a hellish warmth. It seemed surreal, standing there with this power concentrating itself, using her as its vessel. Alex acquiesced, letting the virus control her, a passenger in her own body.

With a shattering yell, she released the energy that gathered between her hands, dispatching the destructive psionic wave. The Ja'vo didn't stand a chance as the invisible crest surged across the room. Their pathetic bodies faltered as the invisible swell shattered bone and shredded flesh. The Ja'vo dropped to the knees, clutching the sides of her heads as the vibrations penetrated their bodies. Rotted gray chunks flew in random directions as bone snapped and ripped through organ and skin alike. The room filled with the symphony of offal smacking to the floor, playing out a macabre tune. The air saturated with the thick stench of putrid organic decay. Alex stumbled back, staring absently at her handiwork. Her body was humming from the microscopic charges still coursing within her. She lifted her hands, the glass sailing to the floor, shattering into finite bits. Slowly, her wrists turned, scanning the unbroken skin, assuring herself she had been the one responsible for the carnage.

“I did this,” she whispered to herself. What had the C-virus done to her? Would she mutate into some indescribable entity that would need to be put down? Multiple eyes? Insect limbs? Would Chris and Piers have to terminate her? Her body shifted from humming to trembling at the prospect of losing her humanity, her soul. Alex's mind continued racing through the various possibilities like a Rolodex, each scenario ending with the same epilogue.

Somewhere, an alarm was screaming, no doubt because of her little display. She needed to escape and hide.

“Damn it,” Chris snarled. “Roads are all impassible. We're gonna have to cross the river.”

Alpha Team scanned the traffic jam of junks, flatboats, speedboats, and other vessels which clogged the polluted waterway. They were going to be open targets but, what other option was there? Piers searched the skyline, still shaking after his confrontation with Chris. A part of him was relieved to have aired his true feelings as the other side of the coin was pissed. They were in a goddamn war zone, emotions were high, adrenaline and testosterone flowing like the river beneath their feet and any second could be their last. Throw in an emotionally unstable leader with tunnel vision and matching vendetta, it was a recipe for disaster.

“We move out,” Chris ordered then looked directly at Piers, “You wanna follow me around, fine. But stay out of my way.”

“As long as you don't cross the line again, that won't be a problem. Carla's playing with us.”

“I won't be falling for her bullshit. You need to have a more faith in your captain.”

Marco and Jeff traded curious looks. Minutes ago, they had witnessed the marksman confessing his love for their captain's girl and now, the marksman and the captain were locking horns, nearly trading fists in the middle of a fucking war zone! Definitely not what either man was expecting when they landed in China less than 24 hours ago. Then, everyone learns that another Wesker is alive and was Alex's father. It was the makings of a twisted romance novel set against the background of a bioterror attack.

“We move fast. Move out!"

The remaining members of Alpha Team darted across the abandoned vessels and interconnected platforms, pausing when needed to conceal themselves and check for hostiles. So far, none but that didn't mean shit. Their trek through the vacant buildings and narrow trash laden alleyways proved that was the case. Ja'vo had scattered from their hiding places, opening fire or charging with machetes. Just cannon fodder to slow them down and let that bitch escape. The whole attack had been one large distraction so Carla or Ada as she claimed to be could vanish into the fiery chaos of humanity and infected.

The river was wide at the point the team chose to ford, but it also had the greatest density of boats to use as cover and makeshift bridges. Marco and Jeff kept Chris and Piers covered as they went ahead, leaping from one rocking floating dump to another. The floating armada swayed beneath them, threatening to hurl them into the inky oily depths just feet beneath them. The thin red line shot across the congested horizon, alerting the team to incoming hostiles.

“Up there,” Jeff spotted the Ja'vo with the sight. Piers took aim, one shot dead center of the skull. The weapon leapt up, a thorax and mandibles erupting from the blaring hole in its head. He took aim again, this time, the bullet completed the mission.

“Stay alert for more,” Chris leapt to the next barge, exposing him to the waiting Ja'vo. The abominations rained bullets on the team, causing all four to scatter and hide among crates and wheelhouses. Marco and Jeff rapidly took hits, both pinned down by heavy gunfire. Bullets ricochet off the steel containers, splintering wood or sailing harmlessly into the river. Chris and Piers fired at the sources of the sights above them, hearing the Ja'vo groan and grunt as they took fire of their own. Shredded flesh and bone mutated; twisting and ripping into larger deadlier appendages. Some had legs like ostriches, leaping at ridiculous heights before slamming down through the flimsy covers in hopes of finding BSAA prey. All four avoided the crisscrossing sights, mowing down any Ja'vo they crossed paths with. Orders were barked with urgency by several of the higher ranking mutations, but none of Alpha Team had to understand Mandarin to interpret the meaning and tone.

“I don't think they're too happy we're here,” Marco hollered as he battled two armed with high powered rifles. Jeff was locked in his own struggle with three wielding machetes. His muscle memory sent a roundhouse kick to the one closest to the water, leaving its buddies swinging and lunging at the agent.

Chris and Piers continued to clear a path, seeing how quickly the injured Ja'vo regenerated. Insect wings like a wasp on one, grasshopper legs on another and one that grew a head that took the visage of a giant cicada!

“Holy shit,” Marco finished off the last of the bastards on the barge. Jeff caught up with him, both rushing to assist the captain and marksman. The giant cicada rejects went into a frenzy, the only thought driving the wild assault was to kill. The hook like appendages shot out at Chris, narrowly missing his head. Marco took out the knees of the would be killer, causing it to howl in pain and stumble back, losing its footing and falling into the oil laced depths. The second one went for Jeff, who tucked and rolled, landing right at the edge of the barge. Piers helped him up, never letting his sight deviate from the creature.

“How many of these fuckers are there?”

“I'm not stopping to count, Jeff!” Marco rushed the last of the Ja'vo with Chris finishing them off.

The last wave of Ja'vo leapt from the dock onto the floating bridge, machetes raised, hungering to taste blood.

“I've had it with these mother fucking Ja'vos on this mother fucking river!” Jeff squeezed the trigger, the song of their firearms filled the nighttime air.

Alex wandered the vacant corridor, ducking around corners whenever she heard something or someone. No doubt any personnel left were aware of her prison break, now scurrying to locate her. The abrupt chill made her remember she was still clad in scrubs and nothing more. She needed clothing and more importantly, a way to reach Chris. Her time spent as guest of Ada had shut Alex out to any developments or events related to the attacks in China. Hell, she didn't even know where this place was. She could be somewhere in the Arctic for all she knew.

She darted down the corridor, avoiding the random personnel who were frantically searching for her. The faint footfalls fell upon their weak hearing, providing her cover as she continued her way through the labyrinth of halls, recalling how she wound up at Carla's little house of horrors.

The day before....

Alex decided to spend the evening alone. Jill had suggested she come over to hers and Carlos' for a few hours, but, Alex politely declined, choosing to let her thoughts be her companion. Dinner had been pizza from the local joint she and Chris frequented when he was home. A minute but comforting gesture given the last six months of chaos.

She curled up on the couch, hugging her knees to her chest, clad in one of Chris' shirts and shorts; part of the routine she had established long before as a means of comfort. He had departed several hours before, this time to China. Another outbreak but this time, Wong had upped the ante. In addition to a cornucopia of bio-organic weapons, a full scale terror attack had been launched. The parade of Dantesque visions flooded the TV. Civilians, fueled by fear, adrenaline and self preservation, shrieked in terror as they stampeded through mangled vehicles and towering infernos while navigating the smoke choked streets. Alex could smell the acrid stench through the TV, her senses on edge as she caught sight of several BSAA teams. But not Alpha Team.

It was the 10^th Circle of Hell. It was Raccoon City Part Deux.

She would've prayed, but God had abandoned her long before. Besides, prayers and thoughts were about as useful as tits on a fucking boar. She could only rely on herself.

“Where the Hell is that pizza?” She muttered.

At that instant, the apartment fell into darkness. Alex tensed but remained calm. She hurried down the hall, where in their bedroom, a spare Beretta was hidden.

Alex checked the clip then started out, padding on the balls of her feet. Her heart was racing as she hugged the wall, breath echoing in her ears as she paused. Boots. And by the sound two sets. She stayed frozen, ears perked, locked into the intruders. Her feet carried her into the spare room, concealing her from the oncoming invader. Alex pressed her body against the wall, weapon locked and ready. The heavy deliberate thud neared her hiding place. She padded backwards, putting more distance between herself and door.

HUNK lived for this. Lived for the hunt. Their target was hidden in this dismal space, armed no doubt. He wouldn't expect or hope for anything less with this one. Predator and prey. Vector had concealed himself but was stationed at the end of the hall. HUNK cut the corner, night vision illuminating the bathroom. He reached out, flinging the curtain back, showing an empty tub. No, she wouldn't be that foolish to choose an obvious hiding place. Crafty prey. He moved forward, remembering the doorway to the left.

Alex heard the commotion in the bathroom, betraying the intruder's position. Her options were limited. Through the piercing dark, she saw the window partially open.

HUNK stepped into the spare room, weapon raised. He scanned the room, then checking the side of the bed and underneath. A fluttering motion caught his attention. The curtain lifted then floated down as the summer breeze wafted in. He pulled it back, searching the expanse of tall grass and tree line beyond the building. The closet door opened soundlessly. Alex lifted the Beretta, taking aim. The silence shattered as she pulled the trigger. HUNK spun around, letting the bullet bury itself in the back of his vest. His armored form spun around with surprising speed, revealing himself to his would be assassin.

“YOU!” Alex snarled. How in the fuck is he still alive!?

“Alexandra,” HUNK returned the greeting.

“Thought you died in Raccoon City.”

“The Death doesn't die,” the raspy reply rattled through the air filter.

Alex sprinted from her hiding place, lunging at the mercenary. She went for his arm, neurons pushing her movements at inhuman speed, pinning his arm behind his back. The virus flooded her veins, ushering in a fresh wave of adrenaline, increasing her power. HUNK growled in pain, struggling which only intensified his suffering. Her foot crushed his right calf, a wail of agony escaping his throat then lips. The mask muffled his true distress as she lifted the same leg, knocking it out from beneath him. HUNK tumbled to the bed, releasing his hold on his weapon. Alex snatched it away before racing out towards the living room.

The abrupt strike caught Alex off guard. Vector shot out his arm, clothesline fashion, sending Alex backward in a violent display of limbs and body flinging in the air before landing with a powerful thud. The air rushed around her as she felt her arms and legs flying upward before gravity dragged her down to the floor. The force of Vector's attack cut off her air, causing Alex to cough and gasp desperately for air. Her chest burned as her ribs grated against both lungs and intensity of the choking and struggling in her throat. The back of her head smacked against the vinyl, her vision exploding into a bright haze. Her body burned from the impact, muscle and bone screaming as each cell made contact. A whoosh rushed from her lungs as air was expelled from its spongy confines. The Beretta was jolted from her hand, spinning across until it came to rest under HUNK's boot. Vector seized the larger firearm. It appeared Redfield had been training her.

“This is HUNK. Target acquired.”

Alex struggled to rise but Vector pressed his boot against her chest, forcing her back onto the floor. HUNK came up behind her, needle and syringe in hand. The biting sting caused her to cry out, her world rapidly growing blurred and dark. Her arms and legs went limp, refusing to obey. Her tongue turned to thick dry cotton, killing coherent words. Vector knelt down, pressing two fingers to her neck then looked up at HUNK then nodded. The larger man scooped her unconscious body up then over his shoulder. The imbecilic cops would be arriving soon.

Neo-Umbrella Facility

Alex continued down the current corridor, hoping it would lead to some kind exit. The labyrinth of empty halls, vacated rooms and labs was beginning to morph into one muddled mess. Everything was identical it seemed. The only differentiating factor was each door had numbers. This area must not be used as much or was abandoned. Clothing was a new priority as she darted from room to room, ripping open cabinets and drawers. All storage. Grunting irritably, Alex pressed on. She still couldn't believe HUNK and his little sidekick, Vector had made it out of Raccoon City. Then again, it shouldn't surprise her as they were UCBS and those slippery bastards appeared to have endless lives.

Her hand pushed against a door causing her grasp her wrist and collapse to her knees. The stabbing shot up the afflicted hand, fingers curling in response to the pain as it traveled up her arm, amplifying as it fanned from her shoulder across the collarbone down the other arm. Control left her, now she lay bare at the mercy of the virus' machinations. Alex felt her body curling into itself, her skin melting, the agony too great for even the slightest shriek, scream or cry. Organs shifting, causing her to cough up blood and bile from this latest machination. Bone easily snapped like weak twigs as muscle ripped apart then swelled as the Chrysalid encompassed her writhing burning form.

Carla watched the entire tragic drama play out. Her test subject was now in a state of suspension as the C-Virus waged another war against the T-Virus. What would she look like once she emerged from forced hibernation? The possibilities were endless at this point. Chris's men had been such prime cases along with the thousands of residents who unwillingly donated their minds and bodies for her cause. But they had been human. This one was infected with the T-Virus. The one which really kick started all of this. She grabbed her comms, placing a call.

“It's me. Yes, I saw. Take her to one of the labs further down. This could be of great potential.”

And here I was thinking she wouldn't have a place in the new world. A king and his queen did need servants.

Carla watched as the technicians, followed by one of her most loyal researchers, lifted the cocoon onto a gurney, wheeling it deeper in the bowels of the facility. They struggled, on account of the weight of the rigid glass like shell but succeeded on the third attempt.

“Goddamn Ja'vo are flying choppers,” Jeff shook his head as they reached the opposite bank. Goddamn B.O.W.'s were flying! Wasn't it bad enough they could wield high assault grade weapons!”

Alpha team made it to the medical facility.

“Looks like we're in the right place,” Chris noted the sign.

“Think they were doing research here?”

“I wouldn't doubt it one bit. Come on.”

The technicians, Bertram and Smith, placed the Chrysalid on the table. Their initial readings indicated test subject 1998 was still alive within the hardened carapace. Both were fascinated with what they were witness to. The protective layer captured her final moments before the virus commandeered her body: hugging into herself as though it would eliminate her torment. Bertram thought of the volcanic mummies found at Vesuvius: frozen at the moment of death. Only, the woman in the oily looking encasement was alive. Both could only speculate as to what cellular crafting the virus was carrying out.

Alex was drifting. Her mind clinging somewhere between life and death, better known as purgatory, her body having dissolved into the air swirling around her consciousness.

Where the Hell am I? What am I?

Hello......Dear Heart.......You're experiencing another step of your evolution. Can you feel it? Your body is changing.....

FUCK!

Oh....fear not, Alexandra. The gift I bestowed upon you will not damn you with the curse which fell upon the unworthy.

STOP! Stop with the bullshit! You're not real! You're my brain fucking with me!

Oh, Alexandra, my Dear Heart, have you not figured it out yet? I live within you.

Stop the fucking riddle talk!

That strain of the T-virus was of my blood. Through you, I live. Our blood is one.

The anguished scream echoed through the abyss. No one could hear her.

Oh now, don't despair, Dear Heart. It's time to awaken.

She felt the darkness begin to retreat as the light emerged; warm, enveloping. All around her the walls began to crack, hurling her backwards towards the blinding beam which had arisen over the horizon.

The technicians jumped back, fear and fascination taking over. Organic shards rained down upon the flooring, bare flesh coated in a thin sheen emerging from its prison. Alex shot up, taking in a deep hard breath. Her lungs burned as if the very air she needed was turning to acid with each inhale. Pain. Pain coursed through every cell as the metamorphosis reached its excruciating climax. Alex reached forward, mind foggy as she attempted to focus her eyes. Something coated her skin and up under her fingernails. Fuck, its was everywhere, in every fucking orifice. Her hair pressed against the back of her neck and shoulders, coated in the same sticky foul sludge. The last moment she could recall was every inch, every fiber, every nerve, every blood cell melting in a cacophony of agony. Every bone had snapped and cracked then knit back together. Her head throbbed unabated, making her worst migraine look docile.

Alex simply lay there, on her side, breath shallow bordering on hyperventilation. Everything ached. Muscles twitched erratically across random parts. Her skin seared as the fever held its final stand, raging against the microscopic surge sent to destroy it.

“Get her in the tank,” Bertam and Smith hoisted her writhing body up and towards the oxygen rich containment unit. Here, they would continue their observations, documenting every breath, heart beat and the moment she awakened. The life supporting fluid embraced her like a warm bath, keeping her afloat in the center. As the life giving solution swept down her trachea into the lungs, Alex's body convulsed, desperate for oxygen. Her body slammed against the chamber wall, head snapping sharply in every direction, causing Smith to fear her neck would break. Betram gently reassured his partner otherwise. The viscous liquid violently churned at the surface like swells upon a storm, dangerously close to breaching the top.

“Relax,” Bertram whispered, “Your body will remember.”

His words proved true as the sporadic twisting and kicking gradually subsided until she went limp. Her raven locks creating a halo around her head while her arms hung lifeless at her sides. Her chin dipped downward as the abyss beckoned her once again. Beautiful and docile as she slumbered in her fluid prison.

Alpha Team crept around the towers of crates as they delved deeper into the warehouse. Chris knew that bitch had more planned for them. It was radio silence as communication could betray their position. Piers knew Chris was on edge, anger dictating his movements. It had been written on his face since the encounter with Derek Wesker. Marco and Jeff balanced the team with their steel resolve and calm demeanor. Piers was silently thankful they were still with them. One thing he would give Derek credit for was destroying that damned needle gun of hers. Any one of them could've wound up the next test subject.

They approached the center of the warehouse, the overhead lighting providing enough for them not to rely on night vision. Oversize containers now greeted the team as they maintained their discreet pace. The sudden groan and shifting of a door overhead caused all to turn up with weapons aimed. Carla, rather Ada, emerged in the light spilling from the door frame. Chris felt his rage spilling over.

“CARLA!” All four opened fire but their foe ducked, the bullets lodging into the heavy steel door. She leapt up, firing her grappling gun and swinging through the air, once again slipping through Alpha Team's fingers.

“FUCK!” Chris howled in unbridled anger. The bitch got away again!

“This way,” Jeff spied the door to ahead. The others followed, the door opening to an observations room. Several stasis tanks perched to the right, some empty, some containing whatever little pet project she had been cooking up. The entire scene caused Marco to think of Frankenstein: creation of life from organic materiel into a chimera; a monster really.

“Stay alert. Who knows what traps this bitch has left for us.”

The elevator lay ahead, across the stretch of identical chambers, in the dark.

Chapter Text

The door slammed shut behind them, trapping the men in the room with the grotesque humanoid figures in the containment tubes.

“Like what I've done with the place?”

Alpha Team halted. Carla laughed as she went on.

“We've been conducting such wonderful and fascinating experiments here.”

Marco went for the computer mounted on the wall, fingers clicking furiously to unlock the door. Jeff provided cover as Chris and Piers staved off the little rotating droids that stealthily slid from hidden compartments under the stasis chambers. Each had miniature explosives attached, ready to deploy if either men slipped up. They reminded of Jeff of Roombas, the little rotating self-cleaning vacuums. Killer Roombas. Two bumped into each other, detonating the micro bombs. The room flooded with a violent flash followed by thick choking smoke.

“Marco, you almost done!?” Chris continued firing on the remaining killer Roombas, one getting dangerously close to Piers, launching one of its bombs.

“Almost there, Captain!” His fingers quickened, eyes fixed on the screen as the series of codes and sequences streamed and filled the monitor.

The door lock lighting began to shift from red to green.

“Just a few more keys!” He was grateful for all that time spent gaming as he carried out entering the commands. Fast fingers, no thinking needed.

The final bar went green, the door groaning as the hydraulics lifted the solid steel up. The team dodged the psychotic robots, leaving them to scour the lab floor for their now gone targets. Marco quickly shut the door behind them. The buzzing of the killer Roombas a faint hum to their ears. Seconds later, several booms ruptured from the other side. Alpha Team caught their breath, eyes searching through the overpowering florescent beams for their path.

“Looks like we go down,” Chris scanned around, noting the locked gates. The spaces between walkways too far to risk injury or worse. The team Took Chris' lead and leapt down, cautious in treading along the corridor. The shift in searing to struggling in illumination shocked their eyes. The pathetic translucent lighting nestled along the walls was just enough to betray any hostiles that may be lying in wait. Each man went heel toe to muffle the sounds of their steel toe boots approaching.

The rustle of blue and fluttering of red revealed their target was further ahead.

“Carla!” Chris charged harder but unsuccessful in closing the impressive gap. The rest of the team sprinted behind, hoping to catch up. Carla turned and smirked. The flash grenade flew from her hand, rolling off her fingers before dislodging its distracting load. The flash flooded everything, causing everyone to wince and yelp in pain. Smoke followed, igniting coughing fits in each.

“Fuck,” Jeff doubled over as thick white particles invaded his lungs. It was oppressive, a pressure that occupied each cell and alveoli, denying him precious oxygen. Piers was no better off as he knelt to the damp slimy concrete, clutching his chest, face scrunched in agony.

“Jeff, Lieutenant,” Marco rushed through the poisonous curtain, in each hand was a syringe. Jeff hissed at the biting sensation in his right deltoid, but soon, felt the constriction lightening, air rushing in. Piers flung his head back, devouring every precious bit he could through his mouth and nose. Whatever Marco delivered was fast acting.

“Everyone alright?” Chris called out, recovering from his own infliction.

“We're good, Captain,” Piers rose, the pain fading from his chest, pausing to bend over as his breathing wheezed. “What the Hell was that?”

“Another one of Carla's tricks,” the older man snarled. Somewhere ahead, the clicking of heels betrayed her location. “Come on,” Chris ran head.

“Lieutenant, when this is over, I'm taking a vacation,” Marco declared as he fell in line.

Chris found his path blocked by a larger, thicker door.

“Piers!” He rammed his shoulder against grated steel, earning a dull ache for his futile effort. He kicked over and over but it barely budged.

“I'm coming, Captain!” His second in command hurried to his side. Together, they kicked in the door, sending it to the ground. Ahead, Carla saw the team charging through the door and hurried down the walkway.

“Jeff, Marco go left, Piers, you're with me. Don't let her get away.”

The team split into pairs, corralling their prey, hunter now the hunted. Carla sensed the walls closing in, as she hurried around the corner, only to meet the business end of Chris' weapon. His breathing labored from the heated pursuit, sweat beading across his forehead. Piers caught up with his Captain as Jeff and Marco covered the rear. Carla felt her heart sprinting in her chest, nowhere for her to go. She glanced upward, finding no window or anything for her to grapple on. Chris readied his weapon. Prepared to end her.

“Shoot me, you won't learn where your precious little girlfriend is, Chris,” the second part of name came out as a hiss. “I gotta say, I'm impressed she's still alive being around you unlike your men.”

“Don't listen to her, Captain,” Marco snarled.

Chris' face twisted into one of unbridled rage. His finger curling around the trigger; his sight trained on her heart. It ended here.

From his peripheral, a faint shadow rushed in, growing taller as it sped towards their location. Slender arms shot out, thrusting his arms upright, his finger instinctively pulling the trigger, sending as shower of bullets through the glass and steel as the high powered weapon was hurled from his hands. Chris spun around, striking his free arm out but met with a well timed block. His fist sailed forward, as his attacker caught it in a gloved hand. He ducked to avoid the round house kick, grappling around the waist. His knee shot up, slamming into the other's torso, delivering several blows before the elbow thrown stopped his assault. He heard the air violently rush from his opponent's lungs. Chris spun around, delivering an elbow in return then rushed the other. They wrestled for dominance as the others watched. A flash of blonde struck Piers as familiar as the two grappled before the man got the upper hand, arm latched around Chris' neck. The older man peeled the limb away, lifting then hurling the man to the ground. He tucked then rolled, grabbing his pistol as both drew their firearms in tandem.

Their breathing was labored, bordering on panting as they got a better look at each other. The blonde stared incredulously at him, the blue eyes squinting until they were identical slats, as if they refused to acknowledge who was standing before him.

“Chris?”

Chris blinked. The neon daylight of the city flashed upon the all too familiar haircut that had those strands that would wisp across his right eye. The cutting orbs of ocean blue lightened as recognition filled in.

“Leon? What the Hell are you doing here?”

Helena approached from behind Piers, weapon locked and loaded. Marco and Jeff kept their focus on Carla, weapons never wavering in their grips.

“Put your gun down, Chris, we need her alive. She's a witness.”

The rage roared back as Chris refused to lower his weapon.

“A WITNESS!? She's the one who did all this!!!”

“No, Chris, it wasn't her. It was National Security Advisor Simmons. Simmons is behind all this.”

Chris refused to back down, weapon aimed straight for the woman's head.

“She's using Alex as a fucking test subject!”

Leon felt the lump in his throat and chest. But kept those cards close to the chest. His face stayed unchanged despite the devastating revelation. Helena raised an eyebrow. Who was Alex?

“I lost over 70,000 people including the President at Tall Oaks! It doesn't exist anymore!”

Marco felt his body shiver as the cold sweat broke out across his brow. His dad was at Tall Oaks. Had he survived? Was he dead? His last call was two days before they were deployed and his dad had been in high spirits. The President was scheduled to arrive and give a big speech and he had received one of the invitations from the public lottery they held.

“Did you know she's working for Neo-Umbrella? You realize what that means?”

“Yeah, I do,” he sadly acknowledged.

“And despite all that's happened you're still willing to protect her.”

“I am,” Leon's answer was void of life. It was the tone a soldier used when to answer their CO. The tension thickened until it emerged as an invisible fog, encasing both men.

Carla used their distraction to her advantage.

“Captain!” Jeff saw the flash grenade rolling from her hand, tumbling to the concrete before flooding the room in a brief painful blast. The confusion gave her cover. The whir of the grapple alerted Piers and Jeff to her escape and quickly rushed to the railing. Both men showering bullets upon her but none finding their target. Carla fled into the night.

“DAMN IT!” Piers slammed his open palm on the dirty rusted rail in unmasked frustration. Chris and Marco started for the exit but Leon stood in the Captain's path.

“Chris, look, we both want Simmons to pay for what he's done. We'll deal with Simmons. You deal with Ada. Find her. Bring her home.”

Chris simply nodded before charging off.

“Who's Alex?” Helena watched as Alpha Team stormed through the door, vanishing into the chaos.

“Chris's fiance. Damn it, Ada, what in the Hell have you gotten yourself into?”

Piers and Marco hopped in the Jeep with Marco at the helm. Jeff and Chris scurried in. Marco struggled to suppress his mind from entertaining devious notions his dad was dead. He swallowed thickly, fighting the nausea churning deep in the recesses of his stomach.

“Hey Piers,” Piers looked at Chris. “You were right.”

“Captain?” The younger man tilted his head.

“Vengeance blinded me this whole time. It was what damn near cost me the entire team,” he looked at Jeff and Marco. “It could cost me Alex. Can't lose her again. Can you catch up to Carla?”

“Damn right I can!”

Marco kept the turret steady, letting it unleash its metallic fury upon the red sports car desperately trying to shake them. It screamed across train tracks, weaving erratically between vehicle and pedestrian. This part of the city was strangely normal given the apocalypse a few miles away. Piers kept the wheel as Chris and Jeff opened fire, changing clips without so much as stopping to look. Their muscle memory and reflexes taking over with short fluid motions, finding their target. Chris wanted her to pay; wanted to see her locked up where before, he wanted her blood spilling across the ground. No, Alex wouldn't want that. She would want to see her languish in a cell for the rest of her natural life. Death would be the easy way out.

The cat and mouse screamed along the abandoned super highways leading outside of the central business district, the occasional train roaring by. The roads curved and twisted around the outer part of the city, the cheap fluorescent signs illuminating the way as the little red car stayed within sight. Carla shifted to a higher gear, hoping it she could ditch the A-Team. But the Jeep's surging headlights blinded her rear view mirror, causing her to grimace and squint her eyes.

“She's heading outside of the city,” Chris hollered, his voice drowned out by the powerful engine. Ahead, the lights of the harbor glistened, unscathed by the carnage behind them. An aircraft carrier came into view, catching their attention. The sports car increased in speed as Carla shifted into the highest gear, the kickback from the clutch visible.

“HQ to Alpha: We've identified an aircraft carrier of unknown origin in the harbor. Intel indicates it could belong to Neo-Umbrella.”

“Looks like she's heading towards that aircraft carrier.”

“Not if we can stop her!”

The Jeep surged ahead, dodging the random vehicles that seemingly in a state of ignorance as they swerved and turned down the super highways.

“Captain! Hostiles at two o'clock!” Jeff spotted the Jeeps racing up on either side, Ja'vo manning both vehicles and turrets. They were traveling in trios, raining down hellfire on Alpha Team. Chris crouched, keeping his eyes focused and body square as Jeff and Marco took care of the road blocks. The windshield fractured, obscuring Marco's sight. Chris coiled his arm like a spring, pounding the damaged glass until it yielded under the pressure of his might, sliding down the hood and onto the road.

“We're coming, Lex,” he muttered under his breath as Piers shifted higher, making the Jeep lunge ahead.

Derek watched as the vehicles careened across the sparsely populated roads, taking out any Ja'vo that even entertained the chance to eliminate them. Carla was leading them towards the military port where the aircraft carrier was docked. He turned and walked towards the waiting chopper.

“Sir?” The pilot inquired as he eased into the seat. Derek slid on the headphones.

“The military port.”

“EVERYBODY HOLD ON!!!”

Piers sped up, accelerating as they spotted the aircraft carrier. Carla had made the jump in her car, the back wheels narrowly clearing the edge of the opening into the bay. Jeff and Marco gripped whatever they could, fingers digging in, teeth gritting, heads down. Piers ducked, grabbing the side of the door as the pavement beneath them vanished. The Jeep sailed through the night air, no one looking to see if they were gonna make it. Chris held tight, the light breeze turning into a a brisk rush across his head and past his face. The salty spray moistened his lips and stung his eyes as the vehicle sailed through the night.

Front tires met steel then leapt up then bounced down. Rubber screamed as brake pads smoked then locked. Wheels froze, bouncing off the metal webbing and landing. The team was violently ejected from the vehicle, fragile bodies smashed into stoic steel. Chris tried to remember to tuck and roll the second his back scraped along the grating. His eyes squeezed shut, a tear expelled which fell to the wayside. Piers rolled to the right, fingers shielding the back of his head, knees tucked in best they could. Somewhere in the tunnel that was his hearing, several groans and moans echoed.

“Jeff, Marco,” the captain felt his body refusing to obey but he forced one hand out, then the other, pushing himself up. Jeff and Marco were to his right. Chris blinked, his vision blurred from the smack of his head against the door of the Jeep. His body trembled, limbs tingling as adrenaline flooded his veins. Pain ebbed, strength surging as he leapt to his feet in time to see Jeff tending to Marco.

“We're fine, Captain! I'll radio for evac. Marco's leg is broken. Go get those bastards!”

Marco was slouched against the wall, hands clutching his broken shin. The helmet a shattered mess several feet away. Agony was marring his usually calm features. His teeth gritting, biting back that scream lingering on the tip of his tongue. The tactical pants ripped clean around the protruding shard of white. Jeff had fashioned a tourniquet to help stem any bleeding as he wrapped the gaping break with another roll of gauze.

“It's okay, buddy, we're getting you outta here.”

Chris's head craned over, catching Piers fighting off a B.O.W. This one had a helmet with hellish eye holes and armor that protected its fragile body. But they were intelligent. Handling high powered fire arms, they understood Piers and Chris were the enemy. The captain rolled on his back, pulling a few rounds to get the mutation off his Lieutenant.

“These bastards are smarter” Chris fired on the charging Ja'vo, shattering the helmets and armor. The weapons held strong, continuing their assault as more poured out from the doors to their left and right.

“Shit, they're mutating without being shot!”

The foot soldiers willed additional appendages to erupt from their sides, engorged their limbs to terrifying lengths or heads swelled, antennae protruding from the crown. Above, several with green lens instead of hellfire red rushed the railway, thrusting their arms outward.

“Look out!” The arms shifted and mutated into tentacles. They sought Chris and Piers, spikes ripping through the sickly gray flesh, hungering to shred skin, muscle and organ. Jeff dragged Marco behind the closest cargo container until backup could arrive.

They dove in opposite directions, the throbbing missiles of bony spike and rubbery membrane ripped their fellow Ja'vo in half. Chris ducked behind a crate as Piers found refuge behind a wall. The flailing tentacles carried out their wrath, sweeping empty crates and slamming any unfortunate Ja'vo that crossed their path. Piers scouted his immediate surroundings, spying a ladder concealed in the shadows. He motioned to Chris his plan which the older agent searched for his own retreat.

Carla observed the battle raging in the main hold. Damn Redfield and Nivans were rather resourceful. Her own troops were ripping one another apart. An unanticipated effect of the strain she used. No matter as soon, they would be mere footnotes in the next chapter. The readouts continued feeding into her COMS device. Now, her little pet project was secure in a tank. Their servant awaiting the orders of her queen and king. She pulled up the image, snickering at the unconscious woman suspended in the stasis tank.

Chris continued shooting and fighting his way across the starboard side as Piers struggled along the port side. They spotted Carla in the control room. The arrogant smirk crossing her lips as she spotted both men charging towards her location. Slamming the lock button, the doors bolted shut as she sauntered out the door.

“We're gonna have to find another way.”

“On it!” Piers stormed the stairs, taking out any of Carla's foot soldiers along the way. “We need to find out where she's hiding at.”

Using the tanks and choppers as cover, they ducked and weaved, avoiding the goon squad. Chris spied the flight of stairs on the south end of the cargo hold. No hostiles were near it, though the crimson thread of the sniper rifles coming from the surviving Ja'vo proved to be a problem. Their animal grunts and clicks echoed off the steel walls, reaching a fevered pitch. Their frustration clear as Piers and Chris surged up the stairs. Bullets whizzed by their heads, ripping part of Chris's sleeve in the process. These assholes were bogging them down, keeping them busy and waste their finite ammo.

“Don't have time for this bullshit!” Chris fished a grenade from his held, lobbing it at the gathering horde. The spectacular display of arms, legs, torsos and heads illuminated in the ensuing fireball. The slight rush of air brushed their skin. They raced up the next flight of stairs, the door leading out too heavy for one man.

“Piers!” Chris started prying one side, hearing the grunts and snarls growing louder behind him. Piers slid in, leaping to his feet with urgency. Together, they opened the troublesome doors, jumping in the other side. The Ja'vo shot an arm out, the doors slammed shut on it. The howl of pain pierced the thick steel. The clawed armored limb slid along the doorway, leaving an oily streak behind. Piers kicked it, watching it sizzle and spark then disintegrate into a gelatinous puddle. It made him think of a sparkler; the kind he would play with when he was a kid.

The real Ada, meanwhile, found her way aboard the ship. It had been easy, really. While the BSAA was occupying Carla's little band of mutants, she could move about undetected. Her little doppelganger had sped off in the fast little sports car with Alpha Team in hot pursuit. The wreckage of that car told her she was going the right way.

“What the Hell have you been up to, Simmons?” The advanced Ja'vo came into the pathetic lighting of the hold. The lab had to be somewhere close. She took sauntered up the stairs, the gunfire growing distant as she made another right and down the corridor. She paused, sensing she wasn't alone. Ada spun around, peering into the inky blackness.

“Alright, I know you're there.” She crossed her arms and turned.

“Apologies, Miss Wong,” Derek appeared from the shadows. “I mean no harm or malicious intent.”

Ada remained silent, eyes narrowing as he took a step forward.

“I know you're here looking for something,” he retrieved a manila envelope from his jacket, extending it over. “I believe this is what you seek. The contents will answer the questions you have. You wish to seek vindication for crimes which are not of your making. I know of Carla Radames, the one who claims to be you. The one the BSAA has assumed is you out there creating the panic and outbreak.”

Derek watched as Ada took the offering. Her eyes never breaking from his icy stare. She knew those eyes from somewhere else, rather someone else.

“I know you don't trust me and that is of no matter to me.”

Before she could change her mind and speak, Derek retreated into the shadows once again, leaving her there with an envelope and the uncertain promise of answers within. As she turned and left, she couldn't shake off where had she seen those eyes.

Chris kicked the door down, the thick salty air stung his lips and eyes. The flash of blue and red vanished around a corner.

“Carla!” He raced ahead, leaving Piers to struggle to catch up. They had to corner her, get answers about Alex. All they knew was she had been taken and fucking experimented on with the C-Virus. His own anger seethed at this. Had she and Chris not been through enough!? When would this end?

He caught up to Chris as they cornered Carla at the edge of the deck.

“CARLA!” Both breathing hard with their weapons aimed. Through the light, she turned around, her COMS device rolling in her right hand. A smirk crept up her lips as she closed the distance between them.

“Still haven't had enough huh? After losing your men in Edonia and now China? Your precious girlfriend? I gotta say, I'd hate to be around you, Chris. Anywhere you go you bring death and misery.”

“Don't listen to her, Captain,” Piers knew she was goading him. Provoking him by inciting Europe and Alex's disappearance.

“But, I should be thanking your girlfriend for being such a good little test subject.” She continued rolling the device in her hand. Piers felt his anger surge, his finger pulling the trigger, ridding her of her little toy. Carla gave her hand a short shake and shook her head.

“I've wanted nothing more than to see you dead. But not anymore. It ends here.”

Carla shrugged. “You're right, it does end here. The missile on board is ready to launch. The virus will flood the streets and the dead will rise again. It'll be Raccoon all over again, except, this time it'll be the whole world. It'll be Raccoon all over again. Deja vu, boys.”

Carla twirled around, sweet visions of chaos and death danced in her head. Once HAOS awakened, the world would be theirs for the taking.

Her little distraction drew her attention from the chopper that quickly rose from the port side. The flood light blinding all as Carla flung a hand to her eyes. Chris and Piers squinted, their sight temporarily impaired. The blazing beam shielded the figure perched on the edge, keeping their identity concealed.

The sniper rifle didn't miss its target.

Carla felt the sting in her chest, clutching the darkening spot in the center of her dress. She stumbled around, facing the agents, shock painting her face. Blood seeped through her fingers, staining each digit then dripping to the ground. The thick stream rose in her throat as she forced the words out. A light spray penetrated space around her face with each syllable.

“You got....me....Well played......”

Chris went for her but her right heel met air, her other heel following suit. They could only watch as their target, the person they had pursued with tireless fervor, landed on the concrete. Piers and Chris could only watch as Carla tumbled through the air before meeting her unexpected end. The back of her skull split open, creating a sickening sharp splatting sound as brain matter and blood raced from fragmented bone. A macabre halo slowly formed around the short bob as her arms and legs sprawled along the surface.

“What the Hell just happened!?” Piers couldn't believe it.

Just then, Chris felt the buzzing in his pocket. He saw a file waiting for him on his phone. The number unknown. Against his best judgment, Chris tapped on it. The brightness of the screen caused for him to squint as his eyes focused on the drama playing before him.

“What the.....” Piers glanced over his shoulder.

It was Alex. She was struggling, pain killing her mobility as her flesh melted then dripped like raw honey then in a flash harden like those Chrysalids in Edonia. Her pathetic whimpers and cries ripped Chris's heart like a dull rusted blade. Her hand was reaching out for the door, a desperate shot to escape. Moments later, two technicians then appeared, fighting to get the cocoon onto a gurney. Chris snarled as they fumbled with the cocoon, the dense encasement slipping from their inept fingers and crashing to the tiles. To his relief, it didn't shatter, let alone crack or fragment, as their next attempt succeeded.

“Lex,” his voice dropped to a shaky whisper. His hand trembled as it curled tighter around the device, threatening to crush it with an involuntary jerk. Instead, he clutched like a lifeline between him and Alex. Piers felt his own soul shattering at the fucked up movie playing out. He felt the sour burn of bile rising in the back of his throat.

The clip then switched to a lab camera. To their shock and relief, she had risen from her glass like prison, not mutated like the others; not like Finn and Alpha Team, Chris sadly internalized. Her body and hair painted in opaque gray-pink; a residual from the Chrysalid phase. She lay there, robbed of her strength as the C-virus traveled unabated through her body. Alex was at the mercy of whatever twisted whim or sick discretion at any who wandered by. The same two technicians entered from the right, easing her into a containment tank. The violent spasms which quickly followed caused Chris to gasp but he could barely hear what the one, Bertram was saying. His chest tightened and breath froze as she fought in her viscous confinement. Her arms flailed, hands smacking the glass with subconscious futility Seconds felt like hours before she began to calm and finally go still. The time stamp was within the last 30 minutes.

“We need to hurry,” Chris shoved the device in his belt.

“HQ to Alpha Team. The aircraft carrier has a missile that is armed and set to launch. Destroy it before it does.”

“Come on,” Chris knew they had to stay focused on the mission. Millions of live were at risk of infection or worse.

Chris hopped in the plane with Piers behind him. It was like riding a bike; he never forgot. Despite the updated technology, the concepts and engineering remained the same.

“HQ to Alpha. We received word the missile is set to launch in 20 minutes.”

“No pressure,” Chris snorted as he navigated the jet up and into the air.

Chapter Text

The aircraft carrier steamed ahead. Destination, Tatchi.

The lights gliding along the water betrayed its location to the fighter jet screaming through the night air, determined to cut it off.

Chris spotted the vessel, increasing the speed, determined to stop Carla's final act.

“HQ to Alpha. That aircraft carrier is loaded with anti-aircraft guns.”

“One jet against an aircraft carrier? Is that even possible?!” Piers spied two of the guns on the port side. The starboard side had the other two. And all four were rotating and tilting upward to their position.

“We have 10 minutes until that missile launches, Piers. You're gonna have to go down there and stop the launch.”

“On it, Captain!”

Piers opened fire, taking out each gun in between barrel rolls and dives to avoid the incoming firepower. Chris did what he could to keep the plane steady as his partner continued to rain Hell upon the carrier. Piers' keen eye kept the gun trained, taking out their obstacles with deliberate precise strikes.

“HQ to Alpha, the anti-aircraft guns have been taken out! Proceed to stop the launch!”

“Whenever you're ready, Captain!”

Chris eased alongside the starboard side, with enough room for Piers to leap from the back and tuck and roll onto the deck. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the incoming Ja'vo from the shadows and doorways.

“We have less than 10 minutes Piers!”

“My path is blocked! Nothin' a little pyrotechnics can't take care of!”

Chris opened fire on the armored hostiles emerging in his line of fire, determined to protect Piers as he carved a path to the control launch. He could see the smaller figure of his Lieutenant hastily setting the timer on the device before scurrying away and taking cover.

Piers flipped open the case and punched the code in with ease then sprinted away, seconds before the bomb detonated. His arms and hands shielding his neck and head from the flying debris. The brief heat flash licked his back but quickly died before the deck went dark once again. Keeping his rifle ready, the marksman dodged debris and enemy fire to the next obstruction. His heart pounding with adrenaline, keeping him going even if his body had begged him to stop.

The sea lit up with a fiery ball though the residents took no real interest in the anomaly. They knew there had been an attack in other parts of the city, but their section had been spared the abject horrors that marred other neighborhoods. The light and noise pollution diluted their hearing, keeping them unaware of the battle raging a few miles out. They continued about their business, blissfully ignorant of what would soon transpire.

Piers raced towards the next cargo container, racing to get the explosive set up. The whizzing of bullets and shells ricochet from near his head and body. Chris' sharp eye eliminated any and all threats, watching the hard cased forms pop then combust under his ruthless assaults. His breathing labored but he still, he pressed on. The roar in his ears from the thunderous rhythm of his heart drowned the gunfire. His vision honed on the task before, just like in the Army. He trusted Chris to keep him covered until the mission was complete.

The second eruption of steel, fuel and plastic cleared the final hurdle for Piers. Ahead, the control room and panel to shut down the launch. He was four steps in when a low deep growl rumbled underneath the gigantic camouflage tarp mid deck. The mass beneath stirred and rose, ripping the covering away. Ropes and chain sailed through the air, singing an ominous tune.

“SHIT! Piers, you need to hurry up!”

Piers spotted the Orgoman rising to the sky. The pulsating probe glowing softly in the night as it released a long anguished howl.

“Fuck,” Piers ducked into the control room and slammed his hand on the abort button.

“HQ to Alpha. The launch has been aborted.”

“And with less than five minutes to go,” Piers muttered.

“Piers! Head to the crane and I'll pick you up.”

“On it, Captain!”

Chris continued firing down on the BOW, buying a distraction for Piers to reach that crane. The massive mutation swayed and wobbled, leaning forward in agony as the stinging bites of ammunition penetrated the wrinkly weathered flesh.

“Come on, fall on it you bastard,” Chris snarled as he watched the bulging form continue to struggle to stay upright. Piers was racing towards the crane, pushing with every drop of adrenaline he had left. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he spotted Chris waiting on him. Pushing hard from his right foot, he leapt from the metal beam and onto the wing.

“Now, let's head to that off shore rig,” Chris maneuvered the jet and started out to open sea.

The backup system buzzed to life. The red light flipped to green initiating the countdown. The red glare of the missile screaming through the air radiated the nighttime sky.

“HQ to Alpha! The missile is preparing to launch!”

“Carla knew we would try and stop her,” Chris snarled.

The jet screamed through the air, its speed nearly maxed out as desperation set in. Chris opened fire, but every shot careened by the missile, striking air. The missile gained ground as the jet grew dimmer in the distance behind it.

“DAMN IT!”

Chris and Piers could only watch as the missile reached the vibrant skyline. Its deadly load moments from unleashing Hell.

Leon and Helena stood atop the roof. Below the city carried on, seconds from the end.

“Things are about to get real bad,” the powerful burst of energy released the viral payload upon the unsuspecting populace. The canyons of steel and concrete concentrated the assault as the light winds fanned the ominous clouds down and along the ground.

They rushed to the edge, watching the streets become consumed in the swirling blackness. Silence swallowed the natural song of the city, drowning every horn, laugh, and dish clattering. Helena searched the rivers of concrete and vehicles below as the curtain lifted, letting the bloody drama play out below.

“Shit,” Leon's face twisted in horror as the erratic jerked movements of the now infected masses smashed windows, pulling survivors from their initial sanctuaries, the need for flesh driving the ripping and tearing of warm skin. The anguished screams of the dying played as the sickening soundtrack that flooded the agents' ears. Soldier and civilian were infected alike as no person caught outside was spared. Contagion spread with the speed of a wildfire, many sprinting to the safety of buildings or cars. Chaos reigned as the BSAA fought valiantly to stem the spread, the few men and women realizing they were waging a losing war.

The city burned.

The final act of a dead woman.

“I need to get through to Chris,” Leon blinked, pulling himself back from the Hell his eyes captured. Grabbing his comms device, he patched through to Hunnigan.

“Leon! Thank god you two are still alive!”

“Hunnigan, I need you to get me through to Chris Redfield with the BSAA.”

“On it.”

“This is DSO patching through Agent Leon Kennedy.”

“Leon?” Chris felt hope swelling in his chest.

“Chris, it's Leon. Helena and I are fine. But it's real bad here in the city. Listen, I have two hostages being held off the coast: Agent Sherry Birkin and Jake Mueller. Chris, Jake is Wesker's son.”

“Wesker!?” His heart froze at mention of his former captain's name.

“Chris, he has antibodies for the C-Virus.”

“It has to the be same facility Alex is being held.”

“Alex?! What the Hell is going on!? She's back in the US. Right?!”

“No, she was taken. They waited until she was alone. It was discovered she's being held in a Neo-Umbrella facility off the coast. And Leon, that wasn't Ada.”

Piers watched the microscopic red dots begin to grow as the outline of the Chinese coast dimmed behind them. His stomach knotted as his mind replayed the CCTV footage. Alex had been alone, suffering in a cold sterile lab. Helpless as the C-Virus raged through her veins, delivering god knows what microscopic assault upon her. The metamorphosis that carried out on screen forced the failed mission of Edonia to the forefront of his memory. He wanted to kill Carla for what she did to their team. He wanted her to suffer slowly for what she did to Alex. To experience what Alex had experienced. Every burning stab. Every inch of skin melting and burning from muscle and bone.

“What do you mean that wasn't Ada?”

“She was another pawn for Simmons. Not sure how he did it, but he made her in Ada's image.”

Chris didn't see the smile that shadowed Leon's lips.

“Chris, bring Alex home.”

“We're not leaving without her.”

Chris eased the jet onto the landing pad, killing the engines. Piers was already leaping out, weapon aimed, ready for hostiles. Their arrival was not silent yet, no welcoming party. The waves angrily smashed against the steel frames, as though Nature itself was attempting to destroy it.

“Let's go!” Chris pulled the lever for the elevator, never letting his guard down.

The ride was quiet. Tension nested between them as they descended deeper. Piers did a few short steps, attempting to comprehend what Leon had said.

“Well, there's irony for you. The son of the world's most wanted bioterrorist is the only one who can save the planet. The man who killed his father.”

“And here I am coming to save him,” Chris snorted.

“Like I said, irony,” Piers shook his head.

“I don't know, Piers. Maybe it's fate.”

Chris stared out the glass, watching the elevator shaft open up, ripping the mask off to reveal an entire underwater complex. Piers was in awe. Only Neo-Umbrella could have the funding and resources to build something like this. A monstrosity to bioweapon engineering. Towers ripped from the sea floor, lights blinking from the multiple offices and labs which occupied the various spaces. Alex was somewhere in there. He didn't let Piers see the anguish which briefly crossed his face.

“It's been three years since I killed Wesker. I can't let this war follow me. I can't let this war follow Alex. It's kept us apart, nearly killed her and now, she's a victim once again. This is the second time she's been a casualty in this.”

A deep breath lifted Chris' shoulders before they dropped in a sharp exhale.

“I can't watch her suffer anymore. After we rescue her, Jake and Sherry, I'm turning in my gun.”

“Now just wait-” Piers started only to be cut off by Chris raising a hand.

“No, it's time someone took my place. I would be honored if it was you, Piers. I see a lot of myself in you.”

Piers couldn't find any word or form a coherent sentence.

“And, I'm not angry; about what you said about Alex. I left her. I broke her heart. You were there for her. I can't be angry at you for feeling the way you do. I was a coward. But, now, I want to make it right. By stepping down, I get that chance. I've been fighting this war for so long, Piers. It's time.”

The marksman simply nodded.

The elevator came to a halt, doors sweeping open.

“We need to find a control room or security area. It's the only way we'll find them. And be careful. Who knows what surprises they have waiting for us.”

Chris searched the walls for a map or directory, anything that would direct them the right way.

“What the,” his device went off. Pulling it from his belt, it was another file.

“Has to be Wesker,” Piers made a face. “How the Hell does he know where we are?”

“He's a Wesker, Piers. Who knows what else he has on this place and us.”

It was a GPS link. Tapping the screen, a map materialized. It was three levels below; a secure research lab. Zooming in, a tiny blue dot lit up the screen in an area identified as cryogenic tanks.

“That's where she is,” Chris felt his heart racing.

I'm coming, Lex.

The heavy lines lifted from Chris's forehead and corners of his eyes. His own anxiety abated only to be replaced by a deep ache in his chest.

Bertram continued noting Alex's vitals. Since she had been placed in the tank, her body stayed in the same position as it had come to after settling in her new home. For now, he was observing, noting any significant changes post infection. It was fascinating to see this marriage of two viruses. Her DNA remained steadfast; adapting and assimilating this new invader. Yet, her physical attributes remained unchanged. Not like the thousands of nameless subjects that had grotesque mutations ranging from multiple eyes, appendages, insect appendages, or complete metamorphosis.

He entered the current data into the computer and leaned back in his chair. His coffee was still hot. Good. His partner had disappeared. Probably on an extended lunch break again. Rolling his eyes to himself, Bertram decided to take a break of his own. He rose, collecting his mug and started for the office. A short nap would do before the last round for the shift. He would have to check on the new arrivals, Birkin and Mueller as well. They were being housed a few levels up. At least he wouldn't have to draw their blood. That had been done at the mainland facility.

Closing the door behind him and shutting off the lights, Bertram stretched out on the shockingly comfortable couch and closed his eyes.

A loud bang from the left jolted him from his slumber.

Scurrying from his seat and to the window, Bertram spotted the BSAA agents storming the lab.

“Captain!” Piers spotted the tank first and rushed to the control panel, pausing when Chris approached from the corner of his vision. The older man cautiously approached, blinking as though he was caught in a nightmare. Or what he was seeing was an illusion.

“Lex,” A shaky gloved hand pressed to the glass, tears threatening to breach the corners of his eyes. She looked at peace despite her captivity, nestled in a cocoon of viscous warmth.

“Captain,” Piers pivoted, seeing Bertram cautiously approaching with hands up.

“Wait,” he pleaded.

“Are you the one responsible for this?!” Chris snarled, his anger attempting to best him. Bertram eyed the weapon trained on him, quick to shake his head.

“No. I didn't infect her. That was all that woman's doing. I-I just record data and observe.”

Knew I should've taken that job with the university.

“Ger her out of there,” Chris barked, eyes hard as stone. Bertram cautiously crossed the room, reaching the panel. He prayed his fingers wouldn't slip as he accessed the system. Piers listened to the buzzers and warning message as the tank began to rock, tilting back to expose the bottom lock. The humming of the hydraulics filled the air, the bottom lock clicking. The room had dimmed, the emergency backup lights flashing their ominous golden and fire. The bottom creaked open, releasing a torrent with the unconscious Alex swept with the waves of thick globular matrix.

Piers shot his arm in, catching hers, pulling her away and in the protection of his arms. Chris rushed to their side, sliding to his knees. Her head rested in his lap. Body coated in light rose from the oxygen rich medium.

“Alex,” Chris started patting her face, “Alexandra, wake up.”

Alex felt her body lurch forward, her body free from the confines of the tank. Her slick body hurled over, her lungs expelling every ounce of fluid from them. The wet splashes mixed with pained gasps and coughs compounded her plight. Piers held her hair back, keeping her upright until the last drop was purged. The deep violent retching continued even when there was nothing left to expel. She could feel her abs growing sore from the involuntary contractions. She took a hard deep inhale, eyes gummy and vision blurred. Her arms and legs trembled as muscle and nerve reawakened; reigniting after being atrophied by the virus.

“Lex,” Chris gathered her head in his hands, sweeping her eyes clean and catching the hazy expression that glossed over her eyes. It was at that instant he noticed the extreme shift in color and tone.

Lex, your eyes.......My god......

“Chris,” she shivered, slowly craning her head around then down to see Piers' arms locked around her naked body. “Piers.”

“We need to get her cleaned up, Captain.”

“Locker rooms,” Chris turned to Bertram who simply pointed a finger right.

“First door on left,” he squeaked. Collecting Alex, Chris and Piers made their way down the hall.

The hot blast flushed the viscous materiel off Alex's body and hair. The powerful jets massaged her back and shoulders while Chris gently cleansed her. She braced herself on her hands and knees, unable to stay for long as her biceps gave and elbows caved, forcing her down on her forearms. His strong arms kept her up, her pathetic state tearing at his soul. Alex felt as if she was coming out of a fever and her body robbed of all strength. God, she could feel both viruses surging through her veins, each battling to dominate the other and her body the battlefield. Her heart thundered in her ears.

“Where am I?” Her head started pounding violently in her skull.

“China,” Piers gently answered. His uniform dark and damp from the imprint of her body against him. Chris was careful in his movements, as if he was handling a fragile doll. The attentive swipes canvasing every inch of bright red skin, erasing any trace of her confinement. Satisfied with his efforts, Chris helped her onto the bench, her body slumped into itself.

“HUNK and Vector.......They ambushed me. Last I remember was feeling like I was on fire, that my body was melting.”

Piers and Chris traded looks.

“How......did.....you find me?” Residual fluid sprayed the floor as she spoke. The sharp rip tore into her abs, the floor coated with a fine mist. Piers ran his hand up and down her back, a soothing gesture which she subconsciously leaned into.

“Intelligence,” Chris quipped. “Intelligence BSAA received.”

“I feel like shit,” she moaned, grappling the sides of her head. “My head hurts. I'm freezing.”

Piers fetched all the towels he could grab and helped with drying Alex off. She hated being this way, depending on others for help. Depending on Chris and Piers. But her body was debilitated, taxed from the violent assault of the C-Virus. So, she sat there, letting her arms be lifted and body shifted as they did their best to dry her down. Chris braced her against his larger frame, allowing Piers to finish drying her down. While she didn't admit it vocally, the marksman's touch was welcoming.

She began to feel human after the shower. No evidence of her entrapment in a tube was visible. Her legs were regaining ground, able to keep her upright but not without some assistance. Chris eased her back down on the bench as Piers flung open the lockers, searching for clothing. The last locker held her clothing. What were the chances?

Alex shed the layers of cotton, accepting her clothes. Her strength returning, head not aching as hard.

“Here,” Chris fetched some herbs from his tactical belt, letting her take her time as she carefully downed the tablets. “How ya feeling?”

“It's slow going but better,” she forced a pathetic smile. Chris knew better. She was still in pain and hiding it. He had seen that look before. After he'd brought her home, the pain buried but burning in her eyes. “I thought I'd be some kind of mutation after what happened.”

“Must be the T-Virus,” Piers sat alongside her, their legs touching. “Maybe it's acting to keep the C-Virus in check.”

“Whatever it is, maybe it can be of use in finding a cure or vaccine,” Alex started dressing. “Have to find something positive in all this. What happened to Ada?”

“The woman we thought was Ada wasn't Ada. She was a woman named Carla Radames, a scientist working for Simmons. He used her as a test subject.”

“Jesus,” Alex scrubbed her hands over her face, reeling at the news. “This keeps getting better and fucking better.”

“She's dead, Alex. Someone got her before we could arrest her,” Chris watched her shoulders drop.

“So, how do we get out of this shit hole?”

“We have to rescue Sherry Birkin and Jake Mueller,” Piers recalled their mission.

“Alex, there's something you need to know about Jake,” Chris placed a hand on her shoulder and took a deep breath, “Wesker was his father.”

The color drained from her face as her heart stopped mid beat. The expression on her face unreadable at this revelation. Her eyes took a distant look. Chris saw her start to shake and instantly took her in his arms.

Oh.....well.......this is certainly new......

“He has a son? That son of a bitch has a son!?”

“It's hard to hear, I know.”

“I can't believe someone would willingly date that bastard.”

“We need to move,” Piers' voice interrupted the discussion, urgency underlying his words.

“Can you walk, Lex?”

“Yeah, I can,” she shot out her hand, “I need a firearm. This place is probably infested with B.O.Ws.”

Chris passed her his 909 which she checked the clip, loaded, locked then slid down the back of her jeans. He had taught her well. He took her in as she rose: the determination flooding his eyes as she stood tall. Her muscles twinged, expelling the last of throes of fatigue.

“Let's go,” Chris took point with Piers and Alex right behind him. Piers couldn't but help to steal side glances of her. Her eyes, no longer the deep golden amber but silver blue. She was still beautiful. Her jaw clenched in tight determination with weapon clutched in her grip. The marksman wondered what was racing through her mind. When this was over, all three of them were going to have to sit down and have a long talk. There was so much he wanted to say, to tell them both.

Chris' admission played in Alex's mind like a tape on loop. Wesker, the one who kidnapped, raped, and experimented on her, had a son. The same Wesker that Chris spent years tracking, fighting and hunting. The same Wesker who brainwashed Jill and caused Carlos untold strife for five years. She couldn't blame Jake for any of his father's sins. He had probably grown up without knowing his heritage. Maybe his mother was unaware of Wesker's true identity. Bastard was a master of deception.

The trio stumbled upon the control room. Alex didn't detect any of Carla's goons. The entire time they had scurried down corridor after corridor, her BOW senses were silent. Still, it didn't mean there weren't any inside the behemoth facility. Chris caught the tense expression.

“You alright?”

“Yeah, just keeping my feelers out for trouble.”

Piers pulled up multiple screens, so far, nothing turning up. He kept going, listening to Alex and Chris behind him.

“When this is over, I'm stepping away from the B.S.A.A. It's time, Lex. This war has already cost us too much. I lost you twice, I can't lose you again.”

The tiny smile cracked the corners of her lips.

“I want to make things right. Work to mend what I broke.”

“Okay. But we have to get out of this shit hole first.”

“Right.”

“Captain,” Piers pulled up the screen. Sherry and Jake were restrained on a platform in a research bay across from their location. “Looks like we're gonna have to cross through an airlock to reach them.”

His fingers clicked without pause, sending the command to release the pair. The screen read access granted with the system relaying the orders. The screen went to calm blue to warning read.

Warning: Unauthorized Access

“Looks like we're about to have company,” Alex locked and loaded the 909, her internal radar screaming as room flooded with flashing crimson and high pitched warning sirens. Her head began constrict, specifically around her forehead, like a third eye as her ears picked up the sounds of bay doors hissing open.

Piers scanned the room, seeing a small crawlspace to the left.

“Alex!” She spotted the exit but didn't move.

“You two think I'm gonna let you have all the fun?” Her aim true, the bullet shattered the helmet of the incoming Ja'vo. She rushed her foe, leaping up, arm taking its throat in a choke hold. The propulsion of her body brought both down to the floor, the arm curled around it snapping right, breaking the mutation's neck. Chris and Piers opened fire on the incoming horde, several falling and melting from the intense temperature of their bodies, others mutated further, limbs swelling in grotesque metamorphosis. She squeezed the trigger, taking out the knees of the BOWs Chris and Piers were engaged with, temporarily stunning them.

“I don't think so!” She went after the next wave halting several feet from the incoming assault. Her hands curled as arms lifted. The energy concentrating between them like a rapidly rising storm. The blinding flash flooded the room, a low rumble pulsing away from her.

“HOLY SHIT!” Piers was shocked as the wave struck the Ja'vo. Their bodies froze then violently shuddered as they were racked with vicious force, liquefying organs and shattering bone. The rancid stench of burning mottle flesh choked the air as smoke slithered from the melting piles of mutated corpses. Alex stood, the darkness lining her eyes, one that had been concealed until now.

“I swore I would never use that again,” she spun around, facing the agents. “Looks like I broke that promise to myself. But I don't regret it.”