"Sounds like the others are waiting for you," Dorian snickered.

"Let them wait. I need to get some clothes on, the cold air is getting to me."

"That's why I'm here." Dorian's head popped out from the open hatch; he pulled himself out and straightened his back. Alexis got out after him and joined him taking in the sight of the modest main hall.

The regal chairs in neat rows on the ground floor with a door on opposite sides, main entrance to their right. Thick double doors. The floor was polished but like everything else, it was dusty from years of neglect. The chandelier above was still on, someone was here not too long ago. The second level had a nice balcony with two doors on one side and a stained glass window right above the entrance. Left an ominous feeling to their imagination since it was closed their entire lives.

Dorian saw the other four still around the hall. A young woman. A STARS member. A burly man with tattoos. Finally was his guy Brett Benton. He didn't feel any competition or reason to be mean. Sure he was asked to play the nice guy and earn their trust but only as a means to survive.

There was wisdom in that, at least. Though, the lack of power around strangers really left him out of his element. Dorian gave off his best smile to seem as convincing as can be. How convincing could he be wearing his Umbrella uniform and partnered with a naked lizard-woman hybrid?

He couldn't use his full rank since being a general would suggest he's so far up the corporate ladder, he would seem lest trustworthy that way. Could use a fake name like Doran Miles or something but he was just going to kill everyone outside of Umbrella anyway, so that would be pointless.

Plus, his people would call him by his name eventually and those lies would just drag. Dorian decided to just water the truth down a bit. Say he's the U.S.S.'s new captain and try to seem as helpless as they are and put their needs above his own. A clever ruse.

If they question his or their intentions, a possible alibi would be that the U.S.S. is just a private security force hired by Umbrella to look into hazardous environments. That's what a good company would do. His allegiance was to his own pleasure but he couldn't let outsiders know Umbrella has their own military, or he was the one to command them. They're a pharmaceutical giant, not some sort of tyrannical regime. The master would throw a bone and they'd get paid to bring it back and to nibble on. Just business.

Dorian had to eventually integrate into the group with a smile and work with them until they expire. He sauntered up to them with Alexis, keeping his weapon slung over his shoulder to mean no harm. "I didn't think anyone was in here," Dorian said, "Were you the ones from that train down there? The survivors?" The worst part was having to dumb himself down and downplay his knowledge and abilities. Something like a human would do.

When Benton saw Dorian, he was a little surprised. He knew the general was on his way, but he figured there was going to be a little more time till his arrival. That was nearly instantaneous. Almost like he was already in the area.

Then when he saw Alexis follow closely behind. Her scaly figure and lack of clothes was in full view of everyone, leaving next to nothing to the imagination. For someone who isn't human, she certainly had the right curves but he had to also wonder what made her prefer to go with such a look. It seemed odd to him.

When the general spoke to the group, Benton was at a bit of a disadvantage. He didn't know the direction the general was taking with the rest of the group, and since he was suddenly playing dumb, he assumed it was on a more cooperative side. It seemed to him that Alexis might have convinced him after all to leave the rest of the group alive... maybe that's why she was lacking clothes. Not wanting to put the general in a precarious position, he decided to choose his words VERY carefully until he knew for certain what his intentions were.

"Yeah, it was one hell of a ride," came Benton's reply to Dorian. "Captain," he said, addressing Alexis, his eyes quickly going up and down her figure, "You're looking better…" He looked at Dorian. "I was just explaining to our friends here, that splitting up might not be a good idea. But now that there's more of us, I'm… open to the possibility of a compromise," he finished with reluctance in his tone, giving the other three a once over.

It was hard playing to his weakness, being a nice guy to humans. Not only that, trespassers. "Capital idea. I may have to find some wearable clothes for Miss Deamith here first, otherwise, she'll be a liability. Can't have her walking around naked, that's for sure." His eyes peered low at Rebecca and slowly drifted through her, Evie and ending at Billy's height. Thinking softly on how to exploit their weaknesses.

"My name's Dorian Savage," he continued, "and I'll be taking over for the time being. I would like to be the first one to say that everything's going to be just fine, but I'm afraid with the recent infestation in this facility, we're going to need to stick together. I don't like it, you don't like it, but I would rather not heave anyone hurt under my supervision."

Rebecca watched the new guy curiously, he seemed to be more professional but at the same time she didn't know if he was anymore trustworthy than Benton. As a matter of fact Rebecca didn't know who to trust anymore.

Right now Billy, who was a criminal and killed multiple men, seemed like the most trustworthy to her. Besides maybe Evie, but she didn't know anything about her. Rebecca looked at Evie unconsciously staring at her as her mind raced with thought. What if she's also a criminal mastermind?

Evie was looking over at Dorian before she caught Rebecca staring at her out the corner of her eye. Why the hell is she staring at me like that for? shethought, Is she checking me out? I'm not a lesbian, if you are, why not stare at the naked reptile chick? Tit are tits, and hers are just… wow...

Rebecca snapped out of her trance. "Sorry," she mumbled to Evie before looking back at Dorian. Rebecca wished the captain was here, he would know who to trust and who not to. "I'm Officer Chambers and this is Evie," she greeted. Evie gave a smirk and waved slightly.

Billy opened his mouth to argue some more with Benton, wanting to ferret out whatever it is that he might not about this place, when Alexis finally emerged along with someone entirely new. Alexis was going full on commando at this point, not even bothering to wear any other uniform similar to Benton's, just settling for underwear.

And the new guy was donned in an identical looking what, only with added armour. Noticing the silenced machine-gun slung over his shoulder, Billy winced internally. "Nice having an extra head in the mix..." He looked between all three of them with an even gaze. Rebecca was incredibly green when it came to combat and Evie was just a kid. Odds didn't fair well.

For the time being, it was best to play along. "Billy..." He sighed deeply, closing his eyes as he uncrossed his arms from his chest in a manner of someone who realizes they've been defeated. "Alright then, stick together an' all that." he grunted in a tone that indicated how much he disliked the idea.

Dorian gave a small two-finger salute. "Nice to meet you all. I see you're already familiar with Mr Benton and my… apprentice. It's good we're getting along, it's the sign of a healthy alliance, after all, we're in this mess together. I just wish it wasn't in here, of all places."

He looked back at the portrait at the top of the stairs and back at the girls again. "It will be pretty easy to get lost in here," he continued, "and there's no telling what horrors we may find. I won't force my leadership on you if I don't have to, but I only ask for you to play it safe."

"Naturally..." Billy sneered.

"I will scout the ground floor through the doors behind you," he said, pointing at the small double doors behind the four. "Once I find some clothes, I'll start looking for a safe way out of here. Any questions?"

Dorian's demeanour was troubling to Benton. He's never known the man to be accommodating or open minded, but he played the part for the rest. However, to Benton, the whole act seemed forced. It must have been because he knows better and was used to seeing the brutal dictatorship that came from the top brass of Umbrella. It put things in a bigger perspective of what kind of person Dorian Savage really is.

"Is this an Umbrella facility?"

"Aye, it is. Used to be a place of education but was closed twenty years ago."

"Right… so, you work for Umbrella too?"

Rebecca's comments was stirring Dorian's ire. "Well yes, but actually no. We're a private security force that Umbrella hired to put a stop to this mess."

Rebecca digested this information for later use. "That'll do for now, but I'll have some more for you to answer on a later occasion."

"If you so wish, Officer."

"So it's settled, we remain together," Benton reiterated for the group. Mainly to Billy since he got more pushback from him. Going along with the low level of professionalism and comfortability established by the general, Benton glanced over at Alexis, "Can I talk to you for a minute," he said, branching off from the rest of the group.

"Okay," said Alexis, unsure. She turned her head to Dorian and waved her hand. "Could you give us a minute? Captain..."

"If it's necessary, sure. When you're both finished, I will be checking out the room behind those doors," Dorian said, nudging his head towards the double doors behind. "Ladies and gentleman, unless you would rather wait here in the hall, I will be starting my investigation now." Dorian peeled himself away from the group and started walking away towards the double doors.

Alexis couldn't think of anything to say to strangers she barely knew, it would feel at least a bit more professional but it was a matter of general manners. She didn't care and it felt natural. She walked with Benton and followed him closely. "Shoot."

After Alexis and Benton got a good distance from the rest of the group, he gave her a quick up and down glance of her figure. There was a lot going through his head and why she decided to not wear anything practical was one of them.

"I'd ask... why," he said with a gesture of her nearly naked body, "But I'm a guy, so we'll forget it and move on," and with that, gave a glance at Dorian as the man wandered off before diverting his attention back at Alexis, "Something you're not telling me? We are hours from any form of outside life and suddenly he's already here?"

"It's a small town. It's amazing how all these roads and buildings connect, but he never did mention how he got here so quickly. Could have walked along the tracks, since the train cleared a way through the branch line. Then again, he covers ground very quickly, could have simply walked here." She folded her arms, not making eye contact. I was crying down in the basement and he just found me, that's all I know. Not even sure if it's relevant."

Benton couldn't seem to make sense of Alexis' reasoning to the general's sudden arrival. Not to mention the horrors that obviously lurk in those woods wouldn't have made it easy. Maybe they were out a little longer than he thought when the train crashed. He just felt like something was missing and then that was all cut from his thought when Alexis seemed to let something personal slip.

"I must not have heard you right," he stated, finding it odd if it was true that his captain was brought to tears by some unknown factor, "Did you say you were crying?"

Alexis breathed loudly. "I... felt an attack... caused by my anxiety. In a sharp moment, I had no idea what was true and what wasn't. I just... lost my mind and acted on impulse. I was threatened and lost my breath. I don't know what came over me but looking back at it now, I did indeed fail and... panicked."

Benton was a little thrown off at her response. He looked confused, again, trying to make sense of everything. He had questions but they only seemed relevant to her and not the mission. He was hesitant to ask but realized she already shared something pretty personal, and that was enough.

"I wouldn't say you failed, but it was a rocky start," he replied, trying to figure her out. He then inched closer to her, a little concerned his team leader was flawed in a time of need. "Are you going to be okay? You crying, anxiety attacks, not wearing any clothes, this doesn't fill me with confidence in you," he confessed.

"I'm fire-proof, my uniform wasn't and my emotions are a work-in-progress affair. I will join the general to find some appropriate clothes for me to wear and then we'll move on. I only asked for this life since being a scientist was too slow for my taste. If I have to cry and hurt myself to learn, then so be it. I only wished I could've held on a bit longer."

The topic was undoubtedly coming to the point Alexis just made. Benton instantly concluded to himself that he wasn't going to rely on her for any support throughout the mission. Openly admitting to being a liability wasn't a leadership quality. He was fine with her needing time to learn, but now really was not that time; being cut off from support with little to work with, fighting an enemy he knows very little about, there was much on the line.

"You're really not what I thought you'd be," he said to her, a little annoyed he was let down so hard, "If we make it through this, Captain, I think this might be the end of our professional relationship," he said firmly.

She really disappointed him, his cheery and over the top attitude drained to this cold, emotionless grunt. She was definitely something for a science experiment, appealing to the eyes, but she wasn't strong or fearful like he's heard about.

Her notoriety was appearing to be too hyped up; she didn't give the impression of being strong willed or a super soldier. That's what she was, technically, but lacking areas like integrating with the outside world really crippled her potential. More field work was necessary.

"Once this ordeal is over you'll most likely be assigned to Alpha Team, I'll be sure to put in a good word. I may not be the best leader but I can still have my say to our superiors. I can't give any orders now, though I would highly suggest working closely with Dorian. We won't be associated with these people for much longer, and when we need to get rid of them, I'd rather not get in the way."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves here," Benton said, actually a little interested in the possible promotion. It was a bit of an incentive now to make it out alive. "But okay. I doubt any of us will be in the way when it comes to that," he added, finding himself thinking more and more about her recommendation to their superiors. It was a long shot, but it perked him up and it truly didn't take much when it came to his needs.

"We have a new primary objective to the mission and he hasn't told me yet. I'd prefer to hear it with you by me."

"I'd like that. I just want to know what needs to be done."

Rebecca sat down in one of the chairs and began to check her ammo. She let out a sigh and stood up once the others were ready to move. Rebecca couldn't believe what was happening, this was not what she had signed up for.

Rebecca glanced over at Evie who was swinging the bat as if she was taking practice swings in a batter's box. Rebecca couldn't help but feel bad for her. She was just a civilian caught up in all this chaos and even lost her brother during all this madness.

"I don't like the situation we're in..." Alexis muttered. "We'd best peel away from these three and just stick with the general."

Benton gave Alexis a look of confusion as he then shook his head, "No, we're all suppose to stick together, remember?" He glanced over at Rebecca and Billy before bringing his gaze back on Alexis, "Look, I'm not leaving any of them alone so they can wander freely and stumble upon something that they shouldn't see. Or worse; a better gun. I'm sure we'll be filled in later."

"We can ask him when we're alone."

"I'm used to being on the need-to-know basis anyway, for now. We better get back to them, we'll finish this later," he added, with the turn of his shoulder, wandering back to the other three.

"I think the damage could already be done, but if that's how you feel then so be it. For future references, I don't think the mission changed much." Alexis walked on and brushed past Benton; she kept her head low. Not only she avoided eye contact, she never made a sound and left the main hall, followed Dorian's route.

Noticing Evie practising her swing was a good sign she was planning to fight, but he wasn't too hopeful that a bat was going to be much use to him on top of her age. He didn't like Billy and he was certain Billy didn't like him either, so there was very little for him to rely on there.

That left Rebecca. She was clearly naive but that's something he could work with. The fact she was a cop would give her a sense of duty and responsibility, and hopefully help him keep the group in line through her support. Easier to get rid of them.

Benton waved softly at Rebecca, noticing earlier that she was checking her magazines. "You good on ammo?" he asked, trying to break the ice.

"Yeah, I think so." Rebecca flashed a friendly smile at Benton. "I actually probably would have over prepared if I knew the mission was going to be this ridiculous," she admitted.