Chapter 10

-Unforeseen Danger-

Eva had already gone back to her expressionless and businesslike demeanor. Standing next to Wesker, the two really did seem identical. Both wore black clothing, betrayed no emotions, and spoke in the same knowledgeable and assured way that was very distinguishable. The only real difference between the way they talked was Wesker's British accent, and his habit of extending every word he said as if he were savoring it. He spoke that way now.

"I did not think I saw, I did see them." Wesker corrected his daughter, sounding a bit irritated.

He peered at Chris. "You remember the Ashfords don't you, Chris? Ten years ago but still..hard to forget such a loving family."

It was easy to detect the sarcastic tone in his voice at that last sentence and Chris grimaced as he remembered them. They had been one of the families who founded Umbrella and they had been just as crazy as the others.

"Impossible since you claimed to have defeated her, hm?" Wesker asked.

Chris knew exactly who her referred to.

"I did kill her! I watched her blow up into a million pieces and that's besides the fact that the entire place self-destructed moments later!" Chris declared.

A thought struck him. "Wait, you said them."

"Yes, her brother was with her." Wesker told him.

"What is going on?!" he demanded. "I know Alfred Ashford is dead without a doubt! I saw his body myself and the amount of blood around it... There's no way you saw him."

"Fine, Chris. Maybe I saw a different pair of blue eyed, blonde haired twins wandering around."

The agent started to snap back at Wesker, tired of the older man always implying that he was an idiot. But he didn't get the chance to when Sheva interrupted. She hadn't noticed the conversation between the three of them and she strode over, smiling at Chris.

"He was telling the truth!" Sheva exclaimed. "There's even ammo for the magnum you're carrying, Chris!"

Chris felt some relief in the fact that they had some way of defending themselves again, but it didn't sit right with him that the help had come from Wesker. The tyrant claimed he was going to drop his plans for creating a new world for Eva. But could he really just change his mind after trying to achieve this goal for what had probably been a good portion of his time? He wanted to believe he had his captain back. The captain who had been something of an idol to him and who he had often looked to for guidance. A question began to nag at his mind though and it broke him from his thoughts concerning the man on his mind.

"Hey Sheva, where did you run off to before?"

She came over to him, handing him several clips for his handgun and a dozen rounds for his magnum which he promptly secured to his belt as he waited for her reply.

"What do you mean?" she asked him as she knelt down to pack some of the ammunition into her backpack.

"Before, when we ran into you. In the courtyard, remember?"

Sheva stared at him blankly.

"You told us to follow you here!" Chris's voice rose as he tried to understand why she wasn't comprehending.

The others were looking at Sheva now as well.

"We saw you," Peter told her, confirming Chris's story. "And you led us here before disappearing."

"What are you talking about?" Sheva asked them with enormous confusion. "I only just ran into you, here, when I saved you from Wesker's gun!"

Chris began to get a sinking feeling in his stomach. The feeling he got when there was an unseen danger nearby. Something that he just couldn't wrap his mind around or understand fully. He removed his eyes from Sheva, taking the time to scan the area around him with a slight frown. His eyes paused on Wesker's head. There was a red dot resting just above the blonde man's ear and Chris quickly formulated what that dot meant.

"Wesker, move!" Chris shouted.

When the tyrant chose to turn his head to look at him speculatively, Chris sprang forward to shove him out of the way. Startled by the BSAA agent's sudden actions, Wesker was unguarded enough to be knocked off his feet when Chris rammed into his midsection. The two went sprawling to the floor just as a sharp ting echoed up from where a bullet pierced the metallic floor. The laser moved to Sylar's head and shot him straight through the forehead. Sylar dropped soundlessly to the floor, a surprised look frozen on his face.

Immediate chaos ensued as the heroes tried to figure out where the shots were coming from. As soon as the first bullet was fired, Eva dropped to one knee and began to search the room for possible sniper positions. Noah grabbed Claire's hand to lead her somewhere for cover but she collapsed onto the floor when two bullets hit her in the back.

"Claire!" Bennet shouted in horror and he tried to help her but Peter quickly grabbed him by the arm.

"She'll heal, you won't. Come on!" Peter reasoned with Bennet and the two ran for shelter behind boxes stacked to the left of the doors.

Matt, Nathan, and Mohinder were already there and Danko soon joined them. Danko was clutching his left arm, his hand covered in blood.

"Barely got me," he said in response to their glances.

The six men hid behind the boxes and Bennet perched himself on the end. He searched for the source of the shooting, his handgun out and at the ready. Sheva stood with her back against the wall and gun out but she didn't want to alert the shooter by moving so she stayed still. Chris and Wesker were standing out in the open, avoiding the red light as it tried to track them down. Wesker wasn't using his speed and it was clear the overdose of the virus was still affecting him. Eva still remained in her crouched position and hadn't moved from the spot as she tried to determine the location of the sniper.

The shooter seemed too preoccupied with trying to take down Wesker and Chris, which Eva used to her advantage. Another shot rang out, missing Chris by mere centimeters as he threw himself to the ground.

Eva smiled. "Gotcha."

She took off running towards the balcony.

Bennet had also found the source and he aimed his handgun toward the balcony and fired. The shot most likely missed its target but a surprised squeal escaped the lips of the sniper and he jumped up, temporarily exposing himself. A man dressed in an old fashioned red royalty outfit jumped into view of the others. He had blonde hair combed back and a sniper rifle in his hands.

"Hey you!" Eva yelled up to him as she leaped onto the railing and literally ran across it to where he stood.

The man in red swung the rifle around to shoot at her but she got to him first and a booted foot smashed into his hands. The gun dropped from his grasp and she followed that with a thrust kick to his face. With a whimper he stumbled away from her and ran for it. Eva gave chase and Sheva followed after her, calling for Chris to follow. Chris first went to help their fallen but already, Sylar was standing and seemed as though he had never gotten shot. Bennet ran over to his daughter as she was getting to her feet. The back of her shirt was bloodstained but she insisted it had healed.

"Interesting friends, Chris. Where did you find them?" Wesker asked.

"Don't you think that discussion can wait? Sheva and your daughter just went running after a psycho who by all rights should be dead."

The others had come from their hiding spot and Chris spotted Danko's gunshot wound on his arm. Danko had made a makeshift tourniquet with a piece of his undershirt which was already stained through with his blood.

"You alright?" Chris asked him.

Danko affirmed that was indeed the case and he sighed to himself as Wesker started talking to him again.

"I don't know how it's possible for him to be running around either but at least he is a lesser Ashford. Eva and your partner will have nothing to worry about with him."

Chris checked to make sure the safety was off of his gun before glancing at Wesker.

"Alfred's not the one I'm worried about. If Alfred is here, then so is his sister. How do you think Eva will do in a fight against Alexia?"

Chris knew it was a bit harsh to make Wesker think his daughter could be dead or in serious danger right now by throwing it in his face like that but at the moment he couldn't care less. His partner had also just run off and she could be in serious trouble as well. Besides, it wasn't like Wesker was deserving of any favors.

Wesker's features darkened and he nodded to Chris. "I'm going after Eva."

Without waiting for a reply, the man turned and strode meaningfully for the stairs. Rolling his eyes, Chris glanced at the others before hurrying to catch up, the others trailing behind them.

"Yeah yeah, we're coming too."