Chapter Seven
For a Pessimist I'm Pretty Optimistic
This was the desperate fact, this place was becoming hell on earth. After transmitting the data in
the abandoned hangar bay, the two partner's hope of retreating were quickly dashed The orders
to capture Irving still stood. Delta team had been dispatched to meet them at the village way
point. The last thing either one of them had wanted however, was to go back into the fray of what
the locals had become. Faced with no other choice, the pair ventured back out in the residency
area. Floods of locals hard corralled them into the center of the town, surrounding the two
partners with dirt bikes in the deadly circle. Alomar and Redfield were forced back to back,
handguns drawn, and constantly moving in order to protect themselves. Biting her lower lip,
Sheva began to wonder if their backup was really ever coming... Shots were fired next to her as
Chris downed two advancing cyclists. The dirt bikes kept moving despite the fact their riders were
now dead. Rolling out of the way, the two narrowly escaped being crushed. Whirling, Sheva
opened fire, punching a hole clear through another one of the rider's skull. Her eyes were drawn
curiously down to her weapon, a mysterious waft of smoke filtering off the muzzle. "Oh god no.."
Alomar desperately shook her jammed gun, the horror and fear of death quickly spreading
through her mind. A rider skidded to a sudden stop a few feet away, revving his engine and
cursing. Time seemed slow, the air thick as he aimed his vehicle directly for the defenseless
woman. Surrendering herself to the oncoming collision, Sheva stared ahead angrily as the man
pumped the gas pedal into life... The sound of unfamiliar gunfire broke the hazy dread. The
infect rider's skull imploded, the motorcycle spinning out to the side. Three BSAA Delta team
members jogged into view, their captain, Josh Stone, advancing and firing. Within seconds it was
all over, only corpses strewn about the ground. Breathing heavily behind her, Chris reholstered
his weapon as the second party regrouped with them. The opposite captain grinned, a thin layer
of sweat gleaming off his dark skin. Alomar pushed forward, joy and recognition overwhelming
any emotion she had beforehand. "Josh!" Turning back towards Chris, the excited woman
inclined her head towards the team captain. "This is Josh Stone. We trained together, taught me
everything I know." Smiling humbly, the man directed his piercing gaze towards Redfield. The
two men shook hands gratefully, acknowledging each other as brothers in arms. Josh smiled at
Sheva one last time before settling down for business. "We retrieved your data. Delta team is to
accompany you as backup." Holding up the familiar micro disk, he handed it to Redfield once
more. "There was some information you missed. We can use it to find Irving." Redfield began
scanned through the files calmly, after a few moments he clutched at the monitor of the PDA.
Whispering half to himself, the normally calm individual looked rattled. "Jill."
Sheva blinked slowly, trying to peak over her partner's massive bicep. Her eyes focused upon
the image that displayed upon the screen. It was the bad quality picture of a blonde woman. The
female looked passed out or dead, the skin paler than death. Alomar's eyebrows rose in
question, but before she could query, Redfield had passed onto another image. Biting her
bottom lip, Sheva looked sideways at Josh, slightly surprised. "Is that the oil field at Kijuju? That's
halfway across the marshlands." Patting down his gear, the Delta team captain nodded and
beckoned them. "Our caravan will take you there. Let's go."
She was loving the power..the responsibility. Excella Gionne was known for her beguiling ways
and sharp wit. After all that is how she became one of Tricell's prominent figures. Eyeing the
security cameras, the woman blinked and rubbed at her eyes. For a brief moment, she thought
she had seen a shadow moving Against the wall... It must have been sleep deprivation. Shaking
her head, Gionne tried clearing her thoughts. Ever since partnering with Albert Wesker, the
woman had seen more unnatural things than she could count. Grabbing a silver case that lay
next her, Excella paused before leaving her desk. She didn't want to seem too eager to see
him..that was a sign of weakness. But she was eager...more than she liked to admit. The man
was powerful, handsome...and powerful. Yes the power was a far more attractive thing to her
than anything. After all, she was a business woman. Mulling over her greedy thoughts, finally she
reached the main control room in which he normally secluded himself. Pushing open the door
quietly, the lovely Italian strode quickly over to the couch. "Albert, it's time.." Nodding silently, her
superior moved to her side, settling onto the plush seat. Flicking the side of the needle expertly,
Gionne turned gently. "The final preparations are almost complete. Then, we can leave."
Stabbing the needle almost excitedly into his arm, she watched as his flesh excepted the cocktail
welcomely. It had been over a decade since the Angel Virus had bonded with him, and yet it was
still unstable. The blood types had not matched, causing an unstable link within Wesker's DNA.
But..he had found a genetic loop hole that would serve as a temporary fix.
The man nodded approvingly as he stood, rolling down his sleeve. Excella followed smoothly
after, he sultry voice trying to entice him into conversation. "You know I had my doubts when you
first brought Las Plagas. But now...Uroborus is complete." Wesker's jaw flexed, his gaze looking
out over the facility." The you would be happy to know your position at Tricell is secure." The
woman lowered her eyes seductively, letting her fingertips graze over his leather clad shoulders
as she moved closer to his side. Excella almost seemed to chuckle, her lips parting slowly. "Oh I
have my sights on something much bigger. You'll be needing a partner, right? I believe I have
proven myself..." Intentionally, she let her hand begin to trail below his waistline.. Growling,
Wesker's gloved hand clamped about her neck. It was like an iron vice, fending her advances off
immediately. His voice lowered dangerously in a warning, face stolidly cold and close. "Perhaps
you have." Gionne jerked free as his hand pushed her away, lust turning into quieted rage. It was
as if he was mocking her...
Chris slumped next to his partner, both physically exaughsted from the last couple of days. On
the way to the outlying villages, more of the cyclists had turned up, attacking the caravan. Several
more BSAA had lost their lives, and at what cost? Finally pulling into the waypoint, they remaining
survivors were met with another one of the monsters that were parasitical spawn. Las Plagas
was running rampant amongst the remaining villagers, making a death experience a bi-minute
occurrence. A man almost larger than a two story building lay dead at the last caravan's side, the
spider like parasite that had altered the grotesque creature laying in pieces. Redfield and Alomar
had gotten separated from the rest of the Delta team, leaving the two of them trying to survive the
night. Sprinting from the abandoned vehicle, the two headed towards another that had been
overturned during the battle. Leaning down, Sheva picked up a bloodied pair of dog tags, her eyes
looked distant and frightened. "Where are you Josh..." Josh Stone was far more than a comrade
to her...
Chris looked at the wreckage, feeling hatred boil to the surface. Stiffly he started walking towards
the water, his shoulders together in stress and fury. Outraged at his emotionless state, Alomar
followed, raising her voice in heat tipped anger. "Where are you going?" Redfield looked over his
shoulder, the dark hues of his eyes were smoldering and in a dangerous state of warning.
Moments before the beast had attacked the caravan, they had been given the order to retreat. He
had no intention of following that order. Setting his jaw, her partner huskily answered his partner's
question. "I have a personal stake in this. I'm going on." Furiously, Sheva stood up to Chris, a
cocky side finally showing through her normal, sweet demeanor. "Personal stake? There's people
dying out there!" Advancing angrily, Chris' voice rose, desperation and hope finally showing
through the surface. "I'm going after Jill, Sheva." Spinning upon his heel, Redfield started walking
away, from his partner, from his life, from everything just for this one hope.. Throwing her hands
into the air, Alomar would not let the man have the last word. "You don't even know if that woman
in the picture is her.." Chris slowed, cocking his head to the side. Slowly his misted eyes looked
back, the deep sorrow he had carried for over three years finally exposed for the world to see.
Whispering slowly, the man looked Alomar directly in the eyes. "It's her, ok? I know. I have to
believe it's her. I know it is.." Alomar gripped the tags that still remained in her glove, falling silent
in sudden understanding. Jill was his Josh. something more than just a partner...something more
than just a friend. Looking up, she saw that Redfield was moving farther away. Jogging to catch
back up to the emotional man, Alomar cleared her throat. "So, where are we going, Chris?"
Turning in surprise, the man stopped in midst ride. "We? You were going to throw in the towel a
second ago." Placing a comforting hand upon his forearm, Sheva's lips curved into a defeated
smile. "Those are my people dying out there." Raising an eyebrow, Chris threw one last challenge
to his partner. "There won't be any orders from here on end, no backup. we're on our own."
Smiling wider, his challenge was only met by stone cold resolve from the small woman. "We're
partners. to the end.." Redfield's eyes softened, a smile breaking through from the man finally.
"Partners.."
She was trapped... Had been for over three years. The loathsome hate for her master masked
by forced obedience. Life's recoil was a torture that seemed never ending, suppressed memories
always trying to resurface. They were only to be quelled by the overpowering calm that was
forcibly thrust upon her. Jill Valentine was a hollow shell of the woman she once was, a glorified
puppet now replacing everything but her soul. She had been forced to become Wesker's
emissary, his forerunner of destruction. Even through all the drugs and machinery that he had
forced upon her mind, the strong willed woman could still remember the night that had brought
her into this fate.
It had been storming that night, lightning illuminating the shadowy hallways of what had been a
carbon copy of the Spencer Estate. But this was eight years after the Estate incident, and both
her and her partner, Chris Redfield, were now inducted in the BSAA. They had been dispatched
to try an apprehend Albert Wesker, but every lead had proven false and a dead end. Instead, the
pair were going to question Umbrella's founder and now only living hermit, Ozwell E. Spencer.
The night had been a nightmare, horror's still haunting those halls like they had many years ago..
Despite the trials and hardship, the two partners finally reaching the inner sanctum of Spencer's
quarters. Chris slammed his shoulder into the heavy, oak doors, swinging them wide open. Within
the crash of thunder and the flash of lightning came a view neither had come to expect. The cold,
dead body of the old man was lying upon the floor, residing in a pool of blood. Albert Wesker...the
man they had been hunting for so many years, stood above victoriously. Flaming eyes locked
onto the pair, the familiar smug superiority splaying across the man's face. Jill stood momentarily
stunned, azure eyes wide and angry. Redfield lept into action, firing a quick blast of gunfire at
their enemy. Advancing into a run, Wesker dodged the bullets, inhumanly teleporting in and out of
sight. Extending his hand, a powerful cobra strike sent Jill's body crashing into a bookcase.
Crumpling in pain, she tried to gather herself . Redfield was resorting to hand to hand combat,
throwing punches wherever an opening presented itself. Wesker seemed to be enjoying this,
almost like a cat toying with a mouse before it consumes it. Countering, he caught the younger
man off guard , quickly knocking him off balance. Grabbing the jacket firmly, Wesker slammed
Redfield onto a long table that adorned the ornate room. Dragging the man roughly, the polished
surface of the table became marred and damaged. Throwing Chris onto the stone steps, the
demon before him lorded over the broken body like tiger does it's kill. Leaning down, Wesker
wrapped his hand about Redfield's neck, lifting the man with an alien strength. Chris could only
struggle to breath, his face growing red with oxygen depletion. Growling, a deadly smile toyed at
Wesker's lips, raising his other hand for the strike. "Let's finish this." Looking up as she
crouched, Valentine's eyes grew wide with fear. He was killing Chris..
Leaping up the woman ran blindly at their enemy, arm wrapping about his waist as she surged
into his body. The stain glass window behind them did not hold their impact, breaking into many
shards of glass that pelted Redfield as he fell to the floor. Jill and Wesker plummeted from the
window, and down into the night below. The last thing she had felt was the freefall. the rain as it
slicked in her now then dark hair, and the pain...then blackness. After waking she had found
herself restrained from her own body, unable to even show the frustration that her sacrifice was
useless..
Sitting at a comm. center, Jill tilted her head slightly. There had been a noise...
The trained ears caught the sound too late. Something painful slammed into her low back, the
paralyzation caused the woman to slam upon the desk. Rising from behind Valentine's slumped
form, the dark ghost from before reached around the slumped body. The other woman gently
whispered to her quarry, throwing what looked like an epidural needle away from them. "You will
thank me later for that my friend. You will not be able to move for awhile, but it will help you fight
what he's done to you. Be strong, Jill. Know that Chris is coming for you.. When you wake. Tell
Him the BSAA are here. remember.." Jill's eyes were fluttering closed, their sight impaired as the
mysterious stranger moved close. Dark, red eyes bore into hers. the only thing she could see in
the murkiness that swam before her eyes. Slipping into unconsciousness, Valentine knew she
had to tell Wesker something...
Smiling in triumphant glee, The other woman gently pushed Jill over a little. Typing upon the
comm. monitoring keypad, she readjusted the feed system, a constant loop of white noise
crackling in the background. There wasn't much time left. everything had to be perfect otherwise
everything would fall apart. Looking to side, the fiery eyes softened. Gloved fingers smoothed back
some of the blonde hair upon the other woman head. "You were a good teacher. you will not
have suffered in vain, Jill Valentine."
Crouched low, Chris sent a sidelong glance at his partner, huffing as a spray of marsh water hit
the side of his face. After hitting the east section of the oil field, Irving had yet again evaded them.
Ironically enough though, Josh Stone had survived, and was now piloting the secondary boat
that the three had commandeered. There they had learned that the facility extended out, and
underneath half of the ancient ruins that covered the area. Irving didn't get far however, his
escape boat nearly running aground their tiny motor skiff. The idiot had injected himself with a
new strain of Playas, creating a fight all three BSAA partners had rather not had happen. But it
did teach Redfield the usefulness of turret guns.. The virus had volatile effect, eventually killing
the host, but not before his ominous warnings. The man had been nothing more than a puppet, a
forerunner to something far more sinister. Chris had felt no sympathy for his self inflicted demise.
Both Sheva and Chris felt there was a storm coming..
After parting with Josh at a sea cave entrance, the two ventured deeper into the African
countryside. The ruins Josh had spoke of before had been far more extensive than any one of
them had imagined, reaching several miles under the surface. The city looked long dead, except
for the odd plant life that covered the area. Redfield stood awestruck at the botanic garden before
him. Sheva's face displayed confusion and wonder, before her boots an unidentified species of
flower blooming virulently. "How could these survive down here?" Not answering, Redfield lept
forward. Rubbing dirt and rust from what looked like an old storage crate that was laying upon it's
side. A familiar symbol showed through the grime. "Umbrella.." The very name haunted him,
sending a shiver spiking down the man's spine. Chris ground his teeth together, eyeing the
various equipment that was strewn around the garden site. More Umbrella equipment and some
of another company's came into view.. "Some of this is Tricell... Were they working together?"
The Tricell Corporation had been a prodigy of the Umbrella Corporation, growing larger within it's
shadow. Rising from it's predecessor's ashes, the company had managed to keep it's nose clean.
Until now...
