Winds of Change
2
A couple of weeks later, Lucy had settled into a comfortable routine at Wesker's house. She got up, had breakfast, showered, went to work with Wesker, filed reports, went on patrol with someone, busted a bad guy or two, socialised with her new friends, went home, showered, had dinner with Wesker, sometimes Ada, William and Annette as well, or sometimes alone. Sometimes they'd do a blood test on her, check her levels, and sometimes they just asked her how she was doing. Wesker discovered that more and more, Lucy was withdrawing to herself, and away from him. Usually she would at least talk to him, especially since he was the only one who talked to her back in the cell she was stuck in, but there was something wrong with the Diclonius, and so the tests increased to every night.
"Excuse me, Lucy babe, but Joseph and I were wondering if you were doing anything tonight after work? Perhaps we could go out for a drink, dinner maybe?" Forest asked, wriggling his eyebrows seductively at her as she worked on her report at her desk, practically slumping on top of it. She gave Forest a warning look, but it didn't phase him. Only when Jill bopped him on the head with a rolled up magazine did he back away back to his own desk. Jill sighed.
"You know you can tell him to piss off," Jill smirked, sitting down beside her. Lucy yawned and nodded her response. "Because why become an Alpha if you can't tell a Bravo to get lost? You gotta exercise your power sometime."
Lucy's eyes widened; what Jill said struck a cord in her. Jill was absolutely right. Maybe she did need to exercise her power? She hadn't used her vectors in so long, and she was getting crabby and moody because of it. She was used to instilling fear onto her prey, and now she was falling into line with these stupid humans? Diclonius's didn't sit well with this. They were above those stupid mammals. They were near God, and needed it to be known. "Your absolutely right."
"See?" Jill smirked. "Otherwise you're just wasting the perks of this job—"
"Valentine, Howe, Redfield, I have a job for you three." Wesker called as he walked into the office, Lucy's ears instantly pricking up. Finally, maybe a chance to use her vectors? The three of them got up and followed Wesker to the briefing room, Lucy balling her fists with anticipation, her vectors massaging her shoulders, ready for a fight. Entering the briefing room, which was a chalkboard with a desk, scattered green chairs and a coffee machine. Wesker stood at the podium. "R.P.D have discovered a warehouse just off Trevor street, where recent gang activity has been reported. It's assumed that it's holding drugs."
"How are we going in?" Chris asked, brown eyebrows furrowing with interest.
"Howe and I will infiltrate, going in from the back. Redfield and Valentine keep watch outside—"
"All due respect, Captain," Jill intersected. "But this is…Howe's first mission. You really think that she should be thrown amongst the action straight away?"
"Valentine, Howe made Alpha for a reason," he warned. "Anyway, get ready, we leave in five."
After the mission was over, which wasn't much, to Lucy's disappointment, she made her way home with Wesker and settled in her room after a warm shower. Her bones ached from having been pushed down a flight of stairs, by a crook, she couldn't use her vectors even if she had wanted to. Evil, purple looking bruises were appearing on her skin, especially around her ribs and her legs, when at least twenty stairs had hurt her on the way down, almost losing her hat in the process. Wesker had restrained them soon enough, and Jill and Chris kept pressing questions as she rode in the back of the car, tending her wounds. She was pretty sour about it afterward, especially when beforehand he had pulled her aside personally and warned her about funny behaviour. She hadn't talked to him since. And a knock at her door wasn't about to change anything.
After another knock, he decided to go on and let himself in anyway. She glanced at him acidly as he moved through the piles of clothes she had carelessly tossed on the floor. She was still a teenager, almost nineteen if he recalled, and despite her temperament, good company. He didn't want to…fight…with her. Sitting down in front of her, she couldn't help but avert her gaze with a small blush on her face when she realised he was shirtless.
"Lucy—"
"See anything incriminating?" she glared. "I haven't butchered anyone, or anything, since you don't trust me."
"I didn't say I didn't trust you," Wesker replied cautiously. "I merely set you boundaries, since I didn't say what was allowed and what wasn't."
"It was kind of obvious." She hissed.
He smirked and leant toward her, brushing her new hair colour away from her forehead, for once his sunglasses off. She could see his beautiful eyes now, probably a trick to calm her down. She blushed slightly, not having received this sort of attention ever since she was with….with…Kohta. It wasn't the first time Wesker had advanced on her like this—the first time happened so long ago, and since then, had happened frequently, until lately, when their time had been less and less. It was only fortunate that they lived together now. "If I said sorry, would you accept it?"
"Naturally," she smirked fiendishly, falling backward as Wesker towered over her, smirking the same way as he pressed his lips to hers.
A few days later, she found herself bored in the office with a bunch of paperwork, scribbling down reports that were due to be handed in to Irons on the case the other day with the warehouse. It wasn't that she hated the report work, but it certainly wasn't fun, and the feeling of needing to exercise her power was becoming more and more difficult to neglect. Her vectors absently hung around her, needing to be used, so she used them for mindless tasks when people weren't around; bringing food and drinks to her, bringing stationary that people had taken from her desk and left on their own, scratching, meaningless stuff, but still found that she was nearing the end on the control over her blood lust. It was late afternoon when she had finally finished, most people gone home, only those that were on night-shift remained. Walking down the creaky hallway to Irons's office on the second floor, did she meet Chris Redfield on his way to the library.
"You're working late tonight," she observed, holding the vanilla folder to her side as they walked, Chris holding a soda in his hands. "Or are you waiting for someone?"
"They put me on a double shift," he shrugged, running a hand through his slicked back chocolate brown hair. She knew he was a very handsome man, but only Wesker could catch her interest. He was kind, friendly and caring, making her feel very welcome since her arrival, and it seemed they shared a common interest with their hatred for the incompetent chief. "We're short on staff lately."
"Yeah, crime doesn't rest," Lucy chuckled, sighing dramatically. "Anyway, I better get this over to Irons before he explodes. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Sure thing." Chris waved as they went their different directions in the library. Walking along the balcony, she saw the night sky approaching, the sun setting, and people already reporting crimes. There weren't many officers wandering around, obviously they'd be called out from home if they needed. Entering the chief's office, she took a deep breath. "Evening chief."
"Lucy!" He grinned, over at one of his many projects placed on the wall. As she soon discovered, Irons was a taxidermist, which disgusted her to no end. Combined with that, Wesker filled her in on a few juicy details, like the fact he had been charged with rape some years ago in college. "Please have a seat. Would you like anything to drink?"
"Actually chief—" she started, but felt herself go frigid when he appeared behind her, pressing her shoulders down into the chair. She fell back with a frown engraved on her features, her vectors practically hissing like cobras. Luckily for her, they vibrated at such a high frequency they were silent to human ears.
"Coffee? Cola? Something a little stronger?" He grinned, signaling to a bottle of whiskey he kept hidden in his drawer. Lucy knew this was going to end badly.
"Chief, I just came to give you this report." She spoke firmly, appreciating the backing down look he gave her. He hadn't heard about what she could do, the only thing he knew was that she was dangerous. Obviously he didn't understand that since he kept pushing the friendship. "I'm going home now—"
"Lucy there was something else I needed to ask you," he started as she got up, standing in front of the door. Her eye twitched at the gesture. "I was going to ask you about taking the night shift with Redfield."
"Uh, I don't know about that chief. Wesker hasn't specified if I can do night-shifts or not."
"I've already talked to Captain Wesker," he smiled, rubbing his flabby red hands together in delight. "He said it's fine."
Lucy crossed her arms, the feeling not mutual. Somehow she didn't believe her ecstatic chief. "I'm going to run him by that myself I think."
"Officer Howe, are you refusing orders?" He suddenly frowned. "There are serious consequences for not listening to your superior."
She smirked. "There are serious consequences for pissing me off. I suggest you don't press my boundaries before you get hurt, Brian."
He backed down almost instantly. It was true, he didn't know what she could do and decided not to push it any further. Luckily, the two were interrupted when Wesker stepped in, his lips in a firm line, clearly not pleased with catching the chief of police blocking the door for Lucy to get out. What if he hadn't come sooner? Then what would Lucy had done? He caught the last part of their conversation—Lucy's threat that would be in no way empty. "What's going on in here? I was waiting for Lucy in the parking lot."
"We were just discussing the reports." Irons grinned, a film of sweat gleaming on the dim lamp light of his office. His grin hid his beady black little eyes and Lucy shivered in disgust. What if she hadn't had her powers to back her up? What then? Would she fall prey to his advances? She wondered if Jill and Rebecca had.
Lucy stayed silent, instead grabbing Wesker's arm in an attempt to pull him out. "Come on, it's not worth it. Let's go home."
"Hang on," Wesker started. "Chief, there is a formal dinner being held tonight at the Spencer Estate. Sir Spencer extends his invitation to you. It begins at 6pm sharp. Do your best to be there."
"O-of course!"
"Let's go, Lucy."
She sat in the car patiently, fiddling with the hem of her dress that Wesker had presented to her when they arrived home. It was a deep purple colour, which made her hair stand out, much to her displeasure, but allowed her to experiment with some make-up Ada brought over. The half Asian spy was donning a silken red Chinese styled dress, her almond shaped eyes accented by cat ticks. While Ada was half Chinese, Lucy was full Japanese. Ada did the same to her eyes, claiming that it made Asian eyes look more exotic. Checking herself, she couldn't help but feel that she looked terrific, never experimenting much with make-up back in Japan. Her red hair was piled up onto her head, a few curled strands hanging down, her fringe across her forehead, still shielding one of her eyes and a glossy lipstick put over her lips, eyes highlighted with charcoal eyeliner. Ada gave it her tick of approval.
"Why are you so nervous, Lucy?" Wesker asked in the car, not taking his steel gaze off the dirt hidden track. Menacing trees obscured their view of the sky as they drove further into the Raccoon Forrest. It was only 5:37pm, but the trees made it look like midnight. She felt herself unconsciously shiver.
"Why am I suddenly invited to these events?" She asked. "I'm an experiment after all."
"Experiment? No." He chuckled, the smell of his alluring cologne spreading through the car, enticing her. "You're the birth of a new race, Lucy. You should be proud of that."
"Too bad for Umbrella they can't claim they made me, hmm?" She laughed hotly. "I don't even know myself how I came to be."
Wesker chuckled also. "Don't flaunt that in front of Spencer or the Ashfords. They'll have a fit."
She grinned, placing her silk gloved hand in his. "And do what exactly?"
The two pulled into the lot, Lucy's eyes glued to the mansion that she had lived in for so long, under the front of the mansion, lay the laboratories, where fiendish experiments were conducted. Stepping up the large stone steps and into the small shelter beside the front door provided by four strong pillars, they entered the front door into the main hall. Marble floors reflected the dancing candlelight, a large, plush red carpet running from the front door and up into the large staircase occupying most of the main floor. Balconies ran overhead, with a large mural straight in front of them, candelabras hanging from the bottoms of them, paintings of important people such as the Ashfords, the Spencers and idols donning the dark walls. Everything seemed so dated, and then remembered Spencer was all about tradition. Everyone's gaze was drawn to them as they walked through; snooty men and women, all obviously Umbrella higher ups, all rich, with their designer clothes and expensive jewelery, looking at disgust at Lucy. She frowned, vectors poised.
"Albert!" He turned around to see John Howe, the Umbrella scientist dating Ada Wong walk toward them, the spy's arm linked in his. He was a handsome young man with black hair and a minor stubble, warm blue eyes. "Good to see you again."
"John," Wesker extended his hand. "You know Lucy."
"Hi." She waved. He waved back. John gave him a stern look before dragging him aside, leaving the two females looking on bewildered. Lucy frowned, straining her ears to hear them.
"You do know why Spencer invited everyone here tonight, don't you?" He whispered, sipping his champagne, voice drowned out by the classical music being played, by people talking and laughing and clinking glasses.
"No. Spencer hasn't sent me word yet. Said it was a surprise."
John cleared his throat, confidence lost. "Well it won't really bother you, but it might Lucy."
"What are you talking about?"
"Another Diclonius was found. In Japan. They shipped her over last night to display her to the people. They're going to start experimenting on her tomorrow; test her against Lucy."
"What?"
"You two are being really rude you know." Ada purred, slinking her arms around John's midsection. "Leaving two ladies alone like that."
"So what are you going to do, Albert?" John asked. "He's going to be displaying her after dinner."
Wesker ran a hand through his blonde jelled hair and sighed heavily. This was all he needed right now. He knew Lucy was sour about her race being exploited, after being hidden for so long. He knew that she was the Eve of their race, the creator. She was the first born, and only after she had infected others did they start to arise. How would she feel, seeing her other being exploited before her? Bound and shackled, and then to be pitted against her to see if the Queen of the Diclonius was really the most powerful?
The old man Spencer, donning a grey suit, grey hair combed back, weathered face crinkling into a smile at the outcome entered, standing at the top of the staircase, standing beside that idiot Sergei Vladimir. Everyone went silent as the head of Umbrella opened his mouth to speak, ancient voice echoing through the full hallway.
"Welcome to my estate," he grinned, showing the expanse of his estate by throwing his arms out in a warm gesture. "I hope that your time thus far has been pleasant. The main event of the night will be upon us straight after supper, cooked by my most talented chefs. If you please, go through the door to your left and take a seat."
After the brief encore, the guests started shuffling into the dining room, Wesker feeling rather blue after being informed of Spencer's intentions. Wasn't he aware of the possibilities of invoking Lucy's wrath? Didn't he know that she could slaughter everything and everyone in the room within a two minute radius, and not be stopped? How long would it be to get Umbrella's army out here? Everyone would be dead before they could—
"Wesker?" Lucy asked anxiously, grabbing his hand under the table as they sat at the fine piece of wood, their chairs next to Spencer, Birkin, Annette, John, Ada and Brian. The fire in the fireplace was crackling loudly, that stupid, soothing music still playing, those haunting pictures still watching him. The candles on the table shone brightly, reflected the beautiful colour of Lucy's crimson eyes, her worrying showing through. He knew she suffered a disease similar to that of Schizophrenia, after having tests run on her. Back when she was seventeen, there had been an incident of her escaping the lab she lived in previous to this one, and she was shot in the back of the head, but the blow was muted by the helmet she wore to obscure her face. She hadn't spoke a lot about it, but he knew it was very heavy security, and she had to wait some seven years before she could make her escape. After that, she developed a split personality, where she was unable to talk proper Japanese, verse her other persona who was a cold blooded killer. Since then, her friendlier half had learnt both Japanese and English and could handle her emotions a lot better than before.
"What is it?" He asked, sipping his wine that had been poured for him, as the food had been brought in on silver trays by the waitresses, unsheathing beautiful smelling foods such as roasts and such. He didn't feel hungry any more, but. He felt a nauseous feeling welling up in the pits of his stomach.
"You don't look so good," she frowned. "Did something John say bother you? Is there something I can do?"
The last of her words sounded desperate, and he knew what was being implied. She was wondering if there was anyone that needed to die. If there was one thing he had learnt about Lucy, it was her loyalty and devotion. She always wanted to know who had made him suffer when he was feeling down, and if he wanted the feeling returned tenfold. She would give her life for him if she had to, he could tell. Caressing the back of her hand with his thumb he shook his head. "No, sweetheart, but there is something you can do for me."
Her eyes lit up in anticipation. "Anything."
"Something will disturb you tonight," he warned, giving her a stern look behind his sunglasses. "Something that might make you angry. I want you to control yourself as much as possible. Please."
She gave him a confused look and nodded slowly. "Alright."
The conversation stopped as Spencer stood up to say grace, thanking God for the fortune he had stumbled upon and the luck they had been obtaining in their research and industry. After that, people indulged in the meal, compliments flying around the room but he muted all of them out. The hour of the evening was drawing nearer, and he could only feel himself growing sicker and more worried by the minute, and was half tempted to drag Lucy out of the estate and go home, but he knew, in doing so, would ruin Spencer's plans. When dinner ended, they were pulled to attention by the scientist that had come through the door and whispered in the old man's ear. Standing up, he walked to the front of the room.
"Now, you are all aware of our most recent addition to our Umbrella family, the Diclonius known as Lucy." He directed his hand toward her, and she felt somewhat shy as pairs of scrutinizing eyes were pointed her way. "Until recently, we thought that she was the only one of her kind, though, we were soon proved wrong as our tests led us to discover that Lucy is indeed the Eve to her kind, and is able to reproduce without the need of an Adam."
Her jaw dropped slightly, knowing exactly where this was going. They were discussing future plans for her kind? What was she being suckered into now, and right to her face? What, was Spencer insane? Strike that, she knew he was, but taking her help in the matter as an advantage, how did he know she'd just accept to help him?
Spencer grinned, and Lucy felt Wesker's hand tighten, the Birkin's faces grow pale and Ada shielding her mouth with her hand in shock as the door opened, an unconscious girl on the table being reeled in, shackles around her hands and her feet, the distinct horns of a Diclonius penetrating from her cranium. Everyone stood up and gasped, having realised that she was exactly like Lucy, keeping a good two meters away from her, remembering instructions from Lucy's introduction. Lucy was conscious, however when this happened, and in a safer environment—somewhere were there was nothing for her to grab and throw. Lucy recognised that bubblegum pink hair anywhere, her pixie locks falling around her plump lips, wide eyes closed. She stood up in a rage.
"Nana!"
"Look," Spencer clapped. "The Queen recognises one of her offspring. Tell us Lucy, how was she made?" He walked toward the unconscious specimen, caressing her cheek. "Lucy, your hymen was still intact. You didn't have this child through ordinary, mammal methods, did you?"
She seethed, her vectors ready, but were stopped when something instantly penetrated her leg, something being injected inside. Her crimson eyes looked down, a scientist pulling a sharp needle from her leg. Damn, how could she not sense him there? She felt herself grow dizzy, her world spinning and her senses dimming, her gaze only locked on Nana's poor, naked body as she fell to the ground in a heap.
Yeahp, as I said before, Lucy's personality will be explained a little more in detail in the later chapters, but she is pretty much Nyuu right now. Nyuu's just learnt proper English/Japanese whatever you want to read it as :D