Kenny brought a lit cigarette to his lips, inhaled the warm, satisfying fumes and exhaled them in a plume of bluish smoke so thick, it obscured his vision of the vast Novistador cavern for a brief moment. The cloud of second hand smoke was then beaten away by a harsh wind produced from the swarm of the creatures, now buzzing about around Kenny. It only took a gentle summon and the entire hive leapt out of their nests, hovering in innumerable numbers with their bug eyes focusing on him. As soon as he had their undivided attention, which took him seconds to earn, they sped off into the tunnels by which the hive could be accessed.

Patrol the sewers, he ordered them. Seek out Ashley and bring her to Lord Saddler. He didn't even need to describe Ashley to the creatures. A simple image of her face in his mind, by some amazing ability of the queen embryo in his body, projected his thoughts to the Novistadors in the form of a command. And they obeyed him as they would her. Kenny was tempted to give them another order – don't hurt Leon. But if the Las Plagas controlled creatures, for some mysterious reason, weren't killing the very target Saddler would want dead, he would surely notice and Kenny didn't want to risk that.

"I'm sorry, Leon," Kenny said out loud. He collapsed against the rock wall and sank to the ground, taking the last few drags of his cigarette before putting it out with a rock. Pulling his knees to his chest, Kenny folded his arms and buried his face in them, shivering from the cold of the cavern. His stomach turned with guilt. He felt physically sick from what he had just done. And what was all of it for? So that nobody would suspect him of siding with the enemy?

As far as Kenny was concerned, his actions spoke for themselves. He had gone so far into his pretend act in siding with Krauser and Saddler that it made no difference whether his true allegiance lay with Leon, Umbrella, or the terrorist cult. He didn't like taking Ashley to the church and straight to Krauser. He didn't like shooting at Leon or plotting with Ada and Krauser about what to do with him next, and he sure as hell didn't like sending these nasty creatures to capture Ashley and kill Leon; their only way out of this place as far as Kenny could see. But what did it matter whether he liked it or not? Terrible as those acts were, he had committed them and only realized now that he was not willing to accept responsibility if Leon was indeed killed.

"Taking a break, are we?"

Kenny didn't have to look at the newcomer, realizing it was Krauser heading towards him from the darkness of the tunnels from his heavy combat boots against the loose rock. It would have made his day if Kenny could unleash the Novistadors on him but it wouldn't be smart to attack Lord Saddler's most trusted servant – that is, if Krauser had done his job successfully. Kenny needed to clarify.

"Talked to Saddler yet?" he asked.

Krauser snorted. "He wasn't exactly eager to have me on board but I managed to convince him."

"How?"

"None of your business," he snapped. "You've been keeping busy with Ashley I see. Salazar tells me you freed her and tried running off with her while the castle monks tried stopping you both."

"Ashley's safer with me," Kenny said. "If any of the Las Plagas or Umbrella goons were to take her, I guarantee Leon would unleash hell against them to get her back. And that would put Ashley at risk of getting hurt. Since she's my friend, and Leon knows me, he's not as agitated if I were to be around her."

"I admire your confidence, kid," Krauser said. "But don't let that get to your head. Leon won't hesitate to put a bullet in you the moment he sees you as a threat to him or his mission."

"I'm not a threat," Kenny said so readily, he was verging on becoming defensive.

"You're not seriously telling yourself that, are you?" Krauser asked.

"What do you care?"

"Let me tell you this. You are in a real fucked up position right now. I don't trust you, and neither Saddler nor Salazar gives two shits about you after you've done what you need to for them, and Leon's likely to be waiting for you to put a knife in his back, so he can counter that with a shotgun round to your head. I know you're trying to play both sides and trust me, it's not earning you any brownie points from nobody!" 

"You don't have the slightest inkling what my plans are."

Krauser let out a loud, obnoxious laugh that echoes through the tunnels. "You are in no position to be making plans, you fucking idiot! What kind of control would you possibly have in this shit hole of a country swarming with possessed people and creatures?!"

"I can help get Ashley -"

"We can get her with or without your help!" Krauser interrupted. "You sound like a goddamn broken record saying that all the time. Wake the hell up. You're only here as Umbrella's tool. A very valuable tool thanks to the Shadow Technology, but still a tool nonetheless. Your connection with Ashley is a convenient coincidence."

"Stop talking about the Shadow Technology," Kenny snapped. "It's haunted me my whole life and-"

"Your whole life? You only found out about it just after you escaped Raccoon City. "

"When I was a child …"

"Your amnesia took care of those memories, along with any other childhood memories you might have had."

"How much do you know about me, Krauser?" Kenny leapt to his feet, suddenly enraged by the fact someone he'd just met was telling him about his life and all he'd been cursed with. "And how did you get all this information?!"

"Your personal files aren't exactly private property, especially when it comes to the higher-ups at Umbrella," Krauser told him. "Since I was assigned the unfortunate task of retrieving you for this mission, I was briefed on why Umbrella likes you so much.

"Your father was one of the head scientists in the development division of Shadowlaw, a global crime syndicate based in Southeast Asia. The man's brilliant work with the company produced a means of enhancing the body's natural immune system to render them practically immune to death … among other things. When he realized Shadowlaw had no plans on using his work for the betterment of humanity, he sold it to Umbrella. Out of the pan and into the fire."

"That still doesn't make me Umbrella's property," Kenny retorted tightly.

"Umbrella paid up front for the Shadow Technology but your father was killed before he could deliver it. Shadowlaw sent a hit squad after him."

"He knew," Kenny elaborated. "And he hid it inside me when I was a child to stop his employers from finding it."

"Oh, but they found out. And Umbrella did too. Umbrella paid for you. You are theirs."

"Call me what you like," Kenny snapped, "it doesn't change the fact that once this is over, Umbrella's back to being out of my life."

"And you can say whatever you like," Krauser retorted, "You're wrapped tighter around their finger than you'll ever know. Your presence in this godforsaken country proves that." 

"Fuck you, Krauser," Kenny said, pushing past the big soldier.

Under normal circumstances, Krauser would've beat Kenny to the ground for taking that kind of atone with him. But this time, he was sure that revealing the cold hard reality of Kenny's situation hurt the youth beyond repair. He'd spent so long, six years, running from Umbrella yet never knowing he had never left their reach.

XXXXX

Kenny climbed out of the tunnels quickly, driven by anger. The man was right, he was nothing but a tool, and the way he'd let himself get handled by Ada, Krauser, Salazar, doing whatever he was told, didn't alleviate that anger. He wasn't sure if that anger was directed at himself for letting things get the way they were, or at Krauser for telling Kenny what he didn't want to hear.

He realized he'd been walking through the sewers absorbed in his own thoughts without a clue as to where he was going. Kenny turned around and looked in the direction he came from and saw nothing but dirty water and brick walls. He turned back in the direction he was heading in and saw more of the same thing.

"Damn!" Kenny kicked at a wall, splashing water all over himself. He forced himself to think of a way out. He was lost in the sewer system of the castle. These tunnels had to be maintained and that's why they were built to accommodate more than waste, but human presence as well. And if that was so, then the people had to get down here somehow. And being at this size, Kenny rationalized that there had to have been more than one entryway. In fact, the place should have been littered with manholes and other entrances. Kenny looked up and saw nothing but a stone ceiling. Had the entrance through which he and Salazar entered the sewers been the only one Kenny could remember? He dug through his memory, trying to remember if he'd seen another manhole, and if so, how soon after the last. But he could remember nothing.

Kenny considered the control he had over the Novistadors, and wondered if he could summon one to get him out of here. But when he remembered Salazar mentioning that Saddler had absolute control over the creatures, Kenny decided against it. For all he knew, now that they likely had Ashley and Kenny was useless, Saddler had probably dissolved his control of the Novistadors by now, and his summons for them would only act as a target for them under Saddler's command. Kenny wasn't sure that this was the case, but it was a likely scenario and he didn't want to take any unnecessary risks.

"Fuck!" kicked the wall a second time, splashing more water on himself, but he didn't care at this point. He was going to die down here. Even if he had managed to contact Dr. H, chances of them finding him down here before he died was slim to none. And it wasn't the lack of food – it was the creatures this place was crawling with. And nobody would care. He'd gotten the Novistadors to bring Ashley to Salazar. He'd outlived his usefulness. Saddler and those allied with him likely no longer cared what happened to Kenny. But … Umbrella wouldn't just let him die, Kenny realized suddenly. He was their property, and according to Krauser, one of their prized possessions. Suddenly, Krauser words, meant to dehumanize Kenny became his beacon of hope from this stinking death trap.

Kenny sighed outwardly, silently apologizing to himself for what he had to do.

"Krauser?" he called aloud. There was no response. Kenny realized it had barely been above a whisper. Swallowing his pride, he called out louder. "Krauser?!" He listened through the silence for any sound of movement in the sewers. Expansive as they were, there was also a real lack of sound, since the water was stagnant. When he heard nothing, Kenny shouted more desperately, barely able to conceal the panic in his voice.

"KRAUSER!! Help me!!"

This time, a soft chuckle echoed through the waterway from somewhere far off. Kenny never thought he'd be so glad to hear Krauser's voice.

"You're fucking magic," the voice continued. It still sounded far away. "What do you need me for all of a sudden?"

Kenny swallowed a lump in his throat. "I just … I, um, need you to … fix my transmitter," Kenny called out into the darkness. He took his transmitter out of his pocket and prepared to bash it against the stone wall. "It's not working anymore."

"Tell me the fucking truth and I might come get you!" Krauser called back.

"I'M LOST!!" Kenny finally shouted angrily. "There are you happy?! Now come get me, damn it! I don't wanna die down here!!"

It had felt like forever, but only a minute or so would've passed before Krauser appeared in front of Kenny in all of his cocky glory, arms folded across his chest, one corner of his mouth upturned in an "I told you so" grin.

"Thanks," Kenny breathed, but was cut off when Krauser dashed at him and lifted him over his shoulder.

"We have no time to waste," Krauser said, dashing out of the tunnels. The speed with which he moved was inhuman, as Kenny watched the walls zip by him at insane speeds, feeling the still air rush ruffle through his clothes, his stomach threatening to spill whatever contents it had. How the hell did he move so quickly? Kenny had barely registered what was happening before Krauser had shouldered him. The next thing he knew, they were standing by a manhole, not the one he had entered the sewers by. Krauser dumped him roughly into the disgusting murky water with a resounding splash.

"Get up," he ordered, "we're relocating."

Kenny obliged without too much grumbling despite being covered from head to toe in the slimy muck and scaled the ladder. The manhole opened up into what looked like a dock built in a cavern. He could hear the steady ocean waves beat underneath the wet wood that spilled out over the water's surface. A leg of the dock extended out farther than the rest leading to an awaiting motorboat. A feminine figure dressed in read had her back to Kenny but she looked over her shoulder as soon as she registered his presence. A coy smile spread upon her ruby lips.

"Hey, junior," she said. "You all ready to go?"

"Where are we headed?" Kenny asked.

"I've got a meeting with Saddler," Krauser said, following Kenny up from the manhole. "They've somehow managed to reclaim Ashley from Leon."

Kenny's first instinct was to tell that that it was because of him that Ashley was now in Saddler's hands, that he was more capable than they thought. But rethinking his decision, that would only prove Krauser's point; that as much as he tried to pretend to be playing both sides, his actions revealed that he was truly on their side – especially since now he had actually managed to get the Plagas samples he had come to the island for. And Leon was about to find out what he had done sooner or later. But still, wanting to preserve any dignity he might've had left, Kenny decided to keep his mouth shut.

"What are you waiting for?" Ada asked coolly. "Forgot your purse?" Kenny grunted and trudged toward the boat, soaking wet and all, leaving behind him a trail of footprints on the wet concrete.

The boat ride lasted a few good minutes, allowing him to taste the fresh, salty ocean air. It was nice to experience something other than the castle's musty atmosphere for a change, and for those few minutes, Kenny had completely forgotten where he was, what he had done, and how much he yearned to just go home.

Ada was at the driver's wheel while Krauser occupied the passenger seat. Kenny sat at the back, looking out at the foamy trail the boat left behind on the water surface. The wind chilled him to the bone, especially since he hadn't been given time (or a towel) to dry off the water from the sewers.

"It's been hours since we last saw each other," Ada commented to him. "What do you have to report?"

"Keeping Leon busy," Kenny fibbed, still wanting to keep his encounter with Salazar to himself.

"By helping Ashley escape the clutches of the castle," Krauser replied.

Ada suddenly shut off the engine, letting the boat crawl to a complete stop. She got out of her seat and walked towards Kenny, the rockiness of the waves not affecting her in the slightest, despite wearing the tallest stiletto heel's he had ever seen. Kenny, from his seated position, looked up at her curiously wondering what she was doing, not expecting the vicious slap Ada delivered to his bruised face.

Kenny felt the sharp sting of her strike, blinking away tears from his eyes. The skin on his cheek burned to high heaven. There was no way the slap wouldn't have left a handprint as bright as Ada's lipstick on his face.

"What …" Kenny stammered, too stunned to say anything else.

"Do you think this is a game?" Ada asked, still maintaining her composure. "I don't know how many times we've tried driving it through that thick skull of yours. Ashley is Krauser's priority, not yours. You are to get the sample. "

"Start the boat," Krauser told her. "He knows what he's supposed to do if he wants to leave this place alive. Frankly, I don't care how capable he is. I've felt it from the beginning, this there are too many people assigned to this simple mission. We could afford to lose a few men."

Ada glared menacingly at Krauser. "You don't know a goddamned thing, Krauser," she spat. She took one more quick glance at Kenny, making sure they made eye contact so he could read her carefully – that she wasn't joking around. Kenny was still nursing his cheek from when she slapped him.

"I know I'm the one who earned us our way in with Saddler," Krauser sneered at Ada. "You've got some nerve throwing your weight around like this. What have you been doing this whole time? Chasing Leon around the village?"

Ada let out a raucous laugh. "Making sure neither of you jeopardize this mission with your inexperience. And going by Kenny's progress so far, it's a good thing I'm here."

"If you only knew, you arrogant bitch," Kenny mumbled under his breath. He rang his fingers gently over his stomach, knowing somewhere in there, a Queen Plagas was sitting.

"Then get in those labs and nab the sample," Krauser said. "Leon will no doubt come for Ashley. I'll tackle him. There's no way he can get to her before they complete the ceremony on her."

The words froze Kenny. Ada and Krauser continued their conversation but none of their following words registered to him. Ceremony? What ceremony was Krauser talking about? Was that why Salazar ordered Kenny to reclaim Ashley? Kenny thought he was doing it for her safety. Of course the Ganados and the Los Illuminados would go after Leon and he figured it would be safer for Ashley if she was nowhere around him. He hadn't realized Saddler had something planned for her …

"Krauser," Kenny said, standing up from his seat. He was shaking, not from the cold, not from the fact that he'd been savagely backhanded by Ada, but from fear for what might happen to Ashley, and the guilt from realizing that he was solely responsible if anything were to happen to her. "What are they planning to do to Ashley?"

Krauser smirked and gave Ada a light elbow. She didn't seemed at all pleased that he had touched her. "Still concerning yourself with the president's girl, huh, kid?"

"You've always known from the moment you nabbed me back at the university that my priority is with my friend's safety," Kenny said. "Now I want to know … what are they planning on doing to her?"

"Return her home," Krauser said so casually, Kenny thought he was joking.

"What?"

"They're not aiming to kill her," he elaborated, "not here, anyway."

"Then why bring her here in the first place?"

"You've seen the crazy villagers possessed by those Las Plagas creatures. The initial mine workers infected by the Plagas spread the infection around. And it happened so quickly, so thoroughly. And every single infected individual bends to Saddler's will."

"What does any of that have to do with Ashley?" Kenny pressed.

"She's the daughter of the United States president," Krauser continued. "Think of how many people she comes into contact with on a daily basis."

"No …" Kenny gasped. "They're not going to use her to …"

"… spread the infection around in the United States. Think about it – the most powerful country in the world bending to Saddler's iron will."

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Kenny said, positioning himself at the side of the boat. That was an understatement. His stomach was swimming with guilt. By playing along with this sick game, he was single-handedly spelling doom not only for his friend, but an entire country! And this whole time he thought ... It didn't matter what he thought – just the fact that he wasn't even THINKING to begin with in the first place. He knew at the back of his mind that neither Saddler, nor Umbrella was up to any good. But he figured he could afford to pretend to side with them while Leon handled everything but Kenny had instead worked directly against everything Leon was trying to accomplish.  Whatever it was Kenny was doing, he had to stop it … if it wasn't already too late …