Chapter Fourteen
Indestructible
"Wesker! Stop right there!"
Chris and Sheva had used the opportunity of the man's distraction to gain ground. Both had
sprinted to the top of the staircase within seconds, weapons trained on their mutual enemy.
Wesker turned towards them, annoyance splayed across his alabaster features as he shut of the
communication device. Sneering at their feeble attempt to apprehend him, he waited, biding time.
Sensitive ears had detected her before the others had even a chance to react. Jill's prominent
figure spun into view, a flurry of devastating kicks dropping the female member of the partner
duo. Redfield aimed a powerful punch towards Valentine, but swung too wide. The blonde female
caught his wrist mid air, and twisted her body into a flip whilst his member still within her grasp.
Her long legs moved with the grace and speed of a dancer, as her body sent his off balance.
Redfield crashed to the floor, her powerful boot pressing against the pressure point of his
shoulder. Launching his body into a sideways position, Valentine twisted his arm sadistically, her
teeth bared. The defenseless man cried out in pain as her move nearly dislocated his joint. The
dark man before them seemed dimly amused, a sneering smile tugging at the corners of
Wesker's mouth. "Now that your partner is here, I will leave you two to catch up.."
Jill hissed at Chris as he tried to free himself, not even attempting to answer the sadist's coy
approach to their demise. Turning as much as could within her grasp, Redfield feverishly pleaded
with his old friend. "Don't do this! It's me, Chris! Jill...ahh...Jill Valentine!"
Blinking her eyes rapidly, thoughts invaded her mind in what felt like electric flashes.
Pain...liquid...Jill...
She was Jill Valentine. A soft feminine voice filtered in from a recent memory, pushing her mind
finally over that edge, that precipice.
'Be strong, Jill. Know that Chris is coming for you..' Chris. Valentine. Wesker. Angelica. Chris.
Chris. Chris. Chris!
Backing away, Jill cradled her temples, crying out in pain and horror. The chemicals within her
body were being destroyed, replaced by something.. Her control, her soul was returning, chasing
away the darkness that Wesker had clouded her with for so long..
Her blood boiled, then ran cold.. All she knew was pain.
Stopping once more, Wesker raised a shocked eyebrow is surprise. Pulling out a personal control
pad from his pocket, the man cocked his head at the readings the machine was portraying. His
virus' had never been known to be overcome at such an advanced stage. A new biochemical was
present... Angelica..
Growling, Wesker adjusted the bloodstream intake before replacing the portable computer.
"Interesting. Resistance at such an advanced stage. Commendable, yet futile." Valentine had
been a good body guard, but with the toxin he had just released from the parasite within her
would soon overload any human function. It was time to cut losses and move on. He had a bigger
problem to deal with.. Gesturing in mock farewell, Wesker once more moved towards the
awaiting elevator lift. "Enjoy watching Jill suffer." Stepping into the lift, the man in black began to
be lost from view. Chris regained himself, bolting after him desperately. Alomar joined him, only to
have the sliding doors shut in their faces swiftly. Turning around to face Jill, both knew he had just
left them to be torn apart...
Valentine was upon her knees, clawing at the skin tight suit that encased about her neck. Ripping
the material back, a bulbous growth pulsed at her neckline unnaturally. Writhing in agony, the
woman drew herself into a crouch. Blind pain siphoned into rabid fury, her eyes flaming into pale
ire. Redfield and Alomar circled carefully, trying to ascertain the situation they had been thrust
into..
Snarling and spitting like a bristling cat, Jill stood briefly. Her enhanced legs tightened, kicking off
the ground in an earth shattering leap backwards. Surging off the top of the staircase, Jill
Valentine landed below, growling in a predatory challenge on the floor below.
….
Slipping on a pair of sunglasses, Angelica continued to scan the horizon. The sun's crimson
sheen grazed her shoulders in it's basking glow, cascading golden hair blowing in the gentle
breeze that stirred. The daylight was fading fast, it's shining rouge slipping over the water. The
left over majini milled about below like mindless ants, stock piling the bodies that had scattered
across the deck during the earlier ordeal. Crouched within the very same crows nest, the woman
watched silently from above. She dismissed all emotion from the dead below, she couldn't allow it
to plague her mind. The freedom to feel, to think about all the people destroyed by their science.
By her science..
She cast a morbid glance to the loading dock, the glint of black leather reflected within the
sunglass' stare. Angelica's lip drew back into a frown, as she crept closer to the edge of her
perch. Silently, she stepped off the ledge. The drop felt like flying, the familiar course of
adrenaline rushing through her veins. Walking down from the second solid landing, Angelica's
boots planted themselves onto the plated grate the encircled the pilot's deck. Turning back to see
the opposite's progress at the other deck, Angelica hissed between her teeth gently. Excella
Gionne's sauntering form strode next to Wesker, both too far away for the normal, human eye to
comprehend. The former hated the woman, the evil facade of businesswoman that the Tricell
operative wore irritated her to the very core. Leveling her gaze, Angelica watched Wesker draw
closer to his destination. His demeanor seemed to change as he passed under the very same
overhang that she had only half of an hour before, his eyes narrowing before passing out of sight.
Burrows smiled to herself, slipping into the outer room of the pilot's deck. She disappeared into
the halls directed towards the main room.
Time was running short..
…
He reveled in his victory, it's taste curdling pleasantly at the back of his throat. Looking sideways
at his business partner, Wesker's eyes shone bright in the disappearing light. Gionne seemed at
perfect ease next to him, satisfied that both of their plans were going accordingly. He could see
the wretched intent within her, the devious will to be his right hand creating a flawless sense of
self confidence in the woman. If she only knew.. Wesker sauntered towards his means of escape,
the giant tanker's archway looming ahead. Ruby eyes focused upon one of the upper decks in
passing, trying to focus against the blinding rays of the sun. A shadow seemed to move against
the others, flickering with a shimmering light and moving quickly. Blinking his eyes, Wesker
focused upon the spot once more. Nothing was there. Slightly unsettled, Wesker squeezed his
gloved hands into tight fists. His resolute serenity was shifting into a hunter's keen. Unfamiliar
nervousness racked him silently, knowing that as soon as he passed under the alcove, he was
cornered upon a ship with ...her.
As he and Excella passed their morbid bodyguards into the shadows, Wesker could smell the
familiar scent..of dying flowers...
…
The parasite disintegrated upon being removed from it's host, leaving nothing behind but a
sticky residue which was quickly flung to the floor. Chris held Jill within his arms, cradling the
weak woman's body to him like a precious porcelain doll. Both he and Sheva had played another
game of cat and mouse, though this time, Jill had been the rodent. Alomar had managed to
corner Valentine, and hold her by the arms until Redfield had arrived. His large hands pried the
bulbous growth off roughly, praying that the long term effects would disappear once the unnatural
thing was off her. It had taken several times of this, Jill's strength having thrown the pair off and
ran for cover. With the help of his partner, finally they freed the woman from her mental prison.
Breathing heavily from the physical strain, Valentine looked up at Chris, her eyes glazed over
with exaughstion. "Chris..."
Shakily, she sighed in relief, finally being able to acknowledge her old friend and partner with her
own thoughts, not someone else's. Redfield clutched her tightly, his eyes searching her face for
any signs of trauma or regression. She was so...real...right there , laying in his arms. Mixed
emotions misted at his dark eyes visibly. "You alright?", he queried gently. Fervent sadness
clouded at Jill's features, the strength in her voice faltering, but rising slowly. "I'm so sorry..."
Before letting her speak further, Redfield squeezed her shoulder's lovingly, his eyes exuding
forgiveness. "It's ok."
Turning her gaze to Alomar, Valentine welcomed to quiet woman into the reunion. "You're ,
Sheva. Right? I..I couldn't control my actions, but God, I was aware. Please forgive me." Sheva
smiled softly at the other woman's words, a nurturing look of mercy washing over her gentle eyes.
Forcefully, she acknowledged her, re-iterating the same words Chris had spoken seconds before.
"It's alright." Valentine nodded at the pair, finally understanding that they all were just glad that
this part of the nightmare was over. Pushing up on Chris' arm, she leaned upon him for support
for a mere moment before straightening up. Her breathing was more regular, but still heavy at
times. Chris couldn't help but chuckle under his breath. Even after all this time she was still so
strong...
"Look, you have to leave me behind. I will be alright. You need to stop Wesker before it is too
late."
Redfield was obviously adverse to the idea, stepping closer to her in disagreement. "We can't, we
have to make sure you are safe!" Jill turned, her argumentative spirit finally regained as urgency
flashed within her eyes. The blue orbs betrayed her desperation, as her cold fist balled against
itself. "If Wesker goes through with this, it could spread across the globe. Millions will die!"
Redfield stuttered, the realization he would have to go on without the woman he had fought so
hard for, finally settled into the cold part of his mind. He had waited so long to see her once more,
to feel her touch. And now, he was going to have to leave the one he cared for...again.
Silently, Chris nodded, fighting the internal urge to forget his mission and take her home. But he
would not let her suffering be in vain.. Sighing heavily, Chris moved slowly towards the lift doors.
Jill was left behind, sending a worried glance to her replacement. Alomar stayed silent, her soft,
brown eyes offering quiet comfort to the frightened gaze that met hers. Whispering slowly,
Valentine's determination creased at her brow, small lines of emotion showing upon her skin.
"Take care of him..."
Nodding in affirmation, Sheva began to walk after her partner. The woman had heard the words
that Jill had left unsaid, their haunted fear running through her mind. She knew exactly what her
mission was.. 'Take care of him...he means everything to me.'
The thought was shared in unison as the lift doors began to close upon her, Alomar never
breaking her gaze from the other female until the doors did so for her. The mental answer came
almost as easily as breathing, her silent promise felt by her newfound friend.
'I will...if it means my life.'