Author: This is taking place after the Mansion incident, Raccoon City and Rockfort Island, but set before Uroboros. It's actually right at the beginning of TriCell sprouting up into place. Uroboros has not started and will not for awhile, at least. I might not include Uroboros just yet.

littlevamp: Thanks. n_n Oh jeez. Slap her? xD If only that'd work, but I don't think that's possible in this case, lol. I wonder.. will she even get her memories back? -w- It's a funny question to ask. From a point of view of reading the story, I would think Wesker had no hand because he's curious about it and questioning her constantly about her brother and all that, but we all know how clever Wesker is. From a point of view as the author, I'm not saying what happened lol. That'd be no fun. And yeah. That's the image that comes in mind when I think of Alex. Thanks again.~


[Wesker's Point of View]

'Damn that man and all whom follow his command.. Damn his interference when once we were allies.. Damn him for taking the sick and memory-less Claire.' These words skittered about his mind as he pushed past door after door until the final one opened, showing him at last the outside world. He was thinking of the ones who had invaded his domain and taken what was his.

He broke out into a run, booted feet carrying him far before a hand grabbed his shoulder, halting him. He slowed his pace to a walk, then a complete stop, turning to look at the owner of the hand. Burning red swept over cool forest green as Alex stared at him without emotion.

"We don't even know where they are heading, Albert. Why charge recklessly around? Let me search for them and once I find them we'll go after them together. Alright?" Alex reasoned, head tilted sideways so that his bangs partially covered his eyes.

Wesker said nothing, but nodded. He allowed Alex to walk him back to the facility in silence. Once back in Claire's temporary room Wesker turned on his laptop, opening a file. He scanned it, typing in a few keys. Once done, he dug through his pockets before turning to face Alex.

"Here." Alex blinked as Wesker handed him a black key.

"Huh?" Alex asked, confusion written on his youthful features.

"Black Jeep, first level. Drive carefully. I don't want to have to scrape you off the blacktop, little one." Wesker taunted, chuckling.

"Yeah, yeah. I can drive in my sleep." Alex snorted in defense.

"We'll test that when you get back." Wesker replied with a smirk.

As Alex vanished out the door.. Wesker sat down in his chair, left elbow propped up on the desk. His right arm and hand lay casually in his lap while his left handed fingers rubbed along his jaw in thought.

"This could work to my advantage. It gives me a reason to pay them a visit soon enough." He mused, mind pondering about Claire's condition.

"Time is of the essence."

-xxx-

[Alex's Point of View]

Alex was giggling like a schoolyard boy, his fits of laughter causing him to seem almost insane to those around him.

He had found the camo-clad men with ease for he knew where they were. It was only a matter of driving the distance to them. He made it his business to know people's locations, especially anyone who had connections with the now-lost Umbrella. He was a skilled tracker.

Once the Jeep was parked outside the average-appearing store, hours away, he pushed past customers to enter the back room, ignoring all present in the storage area who had tried to stop him. Opening a trap door in the floor, he climbed down the stairs to the basement.

He was greeted by warm air, though he felt only the breeze and not the temperature, a table surrounded by men and several pairs of eyes locked on him, their fingers dancing along holstered pistols of different kinds.

He held his hands up, a smile gracing his elegant features. "Calm down, boys. No need to bring out the guns. Not like they'd kill me anyways." His infection was a lot more hidden physically then Wesker's was and he also didn't care who knew. He prized it, showing it around like a trophy. Wesker's red orbs remained hidden behind those black glasses to make himself 'appear more human', but Alex considered that statement petty. They were both far beyond humanity.

Whereas Wesker's infection was permanently visible in his arch-fiend eyes, Alex's was a lot more.. interesting. Deep forest orbs would become literal golden hues to suit the mood he was in. The men flinched as gold swallowed the green for but a second before green took back over. Alex could show his infection whenever he pleased.

"Why are you here?" The way Alex cast away the guns harm seemingly annoyed this man by way of his hands clenching into threatening fists. The questioning man was tall, above average, with light grey hair, natural, a bit wavy and just below his shoulders. Cool light green orbs rested in his low lids, a color that would never rival Alex's for they never shined. His skin was slightly paler then his companions, almost Albino by the looks of it.

His left handed fingers swirled round and round, wrist rolling in circular motions. He chuckled as he then lowered his hands to rest them in his pockets. "You have the girl, Coral, and Wesker wants her back. I'm supposed to be looking for you but when I return to our blonde friend I will report a dusty trail with no tracks, understand? That should give you ample time to get far away. I'd suggest leaving the girl here. She's dying anyways so it won't matter anymore. I have what you came for."

The men were silent as they listened to his words, letting them sink in. A total of six huddled around the table, not including Alex.

"What if Wesker finds us after we leave?" One man asked, dark brown hair dangling shortly above harsh olive eyes.

Alex turned his head towards the speaker, casting his deepening pools of green onto the slender man. "I wouldn't recommend letting him find you. Erase yourself from the scanner and become a shadow, Jason. Simple as that." He replied steadily.

"Nothing is simple with Wesker involved, but alright." Jason spoke softly, nodding his head.

"You lot have always overestimated his value. With his hands full concerning TriCell, you'll be forgotten soon, but with the chance of Redfield escaping or being found should you take her I'd vouch you wouldn't get away alive. Leave her and live to fight another day. I'll deal with her." Alex ordered, a hard glare angled towards all present.

He noticed a flicker in the shadows of the corner close by him, but he ignored it. No sense in letting his imagination wander.

"As you wish. You said you have what we want. Where is it?" Another man asked, causing all eyes to turn to him. He appeared to be the youngest, a blank expression on his boyish features. Scars carved paths along his jaw, wounds that should never be on a young man's innocent face, but this man was far from innocent. He was Jazz Melsor, an ex-Umbrella Mercenary and Scientist.

"I told you I always come through with missions, now didn't I?" Just as Alex said that he pulled from within the confines of his pocket a vial. The vial contained a strange milky grey colored liquid. "I present to you.. Progenitor-A, or as the science name Ultravon Dorsa. The second vial of it, so it's rare. The first vial is too hidden even for me to uncover its location."

The men grinned and chuckled at this, Jazz stepping forward to take the vial from Alex, but just then the hairs on the back of Alex's neck rose at a sudden slow and steady clapping from behind him.

The men gasped, instantly frozen in place.

-xxx-

[Back to Wesker]

"Rare it may be, but you will never find the true versions. The one you hold is deluded and impure, a replica, but without the actual properties that accompany Progenitor." A voice drawled.

"Albert, dearest. Good of you to come." A flash of metal, a billowing of his jacket and Alex was now facing Wesker, M1911 aimed at his brother's chest, jacket settling back against his shirt.

"You surprised me Alex, so willing to assist me in retrieving Redfield, but I'm not so shocked to discover the ruse you performed, stealing away to converse with those who stole Redfield." Wesker replied, stepping from the shadows of the corner of the room, his hands held out before him, still delivering that taunting clap.

"Lower the gun Alex and I may let you live out of consideration for bringing me to my enemies." Wesker held out his hand, seemingly expecting his brother to hand over the gun in submission.

Alex never moved, eyes locked on his adversary. "To think the great Albert Wesker is making demands to his brother. Amusing."

"Why are you in this, Alex? What's in it for you? I could smell your scent along this path, but I didn't consider just how involved you may be." Wesker drawled almost lazily.

"The usual. Wealth, power, resources." His shoulders rolled in a shrug.

Wesker scowled, then asked: "Where is Redfield?" His eyes flickered over to the other men present, locking eyes with the blank faced Coral.

"Don't worry. I took real good care of her." Coral replied, a smile slipping onto his face.

Wesker stood silent for a few seconds before finally saying: "Well. You lost your only bargaining chip. Now I have no reason to keep you alive any longer."

A flash of black clothes and Wesker was gone. The group twirled in circles, trying to locate the crazed blonde. A scream came from the back of the group that signaled his presence. They turned to see Jotter Nean, a camo soldier, with a hand sticking out of his chest, his eyes wide in horror as his fingers clutched at the hand.

Wesker placed his foot on Jotter's back, tugging his hand out of the dying body while applying pressure to Jotter's spine. Once his hand was free he kicked the body away from him, head slowly turning to the other men, eyes glistening.

All hell broke loose then.