Resident Evil: Code Genesis
Disclaimer: For once in a while, I'm writing this for two of the greatest Albert Wesker fans I've met: Wesker's Countess and Madam Wesker of DeviantArt. All three of us wish for a sequel where Wesker returns. Honestly, is it Resident Evil without the guy? He MADE the series. I can accept his death, but I don't have to like it. So, for your reading pleasure, I create a story featuring his utter return. This is for fans, not to be taken too literally.
"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix."
-Christina Baldwin
"Life, death, and rebirth are inevitable."
-Rig Veda
By: VampireQueenAkasha
"Sure I'm not human anymore! But LOOK at the power I've obtained!"
-Albert Wesker, Code Veronica
Chapter Thirty-Five: Course Correction
Memphis, Tennessee
The river would be difficult to cross, especially with the RV, Wesker noted as they stopped as far as the road would take them. It looked to have been the only way to the other side and there were no signs of anything that could transport it safely. Wesker exhaled and looked back at Jonas as he stood on the edge of the bank, kicking rocks into the water.
"Find a ferry station nearby or a sign that will take us to one," he ordered, watching Jonas stand at attention as soon as he spoke, "If there is one and a ferry, we can make it across."
Jonas nodded and took off toward a small information booth just a few yards away, looking through small flyers that had been scattered all across the concrete. He stumbled about, trying to grab what he thought would be important. While he did that, the others carefully surveyed their surroundings with rapt attention should the undead make a surprise appearance.
"Isn't there a bridge nearby or something?" Rose wondered, looking around in the murky water for signs of danger that she felt were there. "I mean, wouldn't it make more sense to just find a bridge?"
"We do not have the proper time to run up and down the longest river in America to seek out a bridge," Wesker told her, giving her a look, "If there are other available options to us, we will take them to ensure that we get to Raccoon City."
Rose frowned at him.
Jonas suddenly jogged up to them, panting. He held out a small pamphlet to Wesker that he had opened with a map of the length of the river and symbols of attractions surrounding it.
"There's a small dock a little ways north of us," he told him, "Probably 15 minutes drive at the most."
Wesker nodded and gestured to the idling vehicle in front of them. "Alright, all of you move!"
They hurried back onto the RV and Krauser took the wheel. They rode along the length of the riverbank and Rose continued to watch the dark, muddy water, suspicious about its seemingly soundless tranquility. She really didn't know what it was, but something told her that this river was dangerous and that crossing a bridge was the best option for them to take. It was a small, quiet voice in the back of her head that warned her about something that she couldn't see.
"Wesker, I don't think that a ferry is going to be a safe way across this river," she protested, "I think that we really need to talk about this."
He sneered at her in response. "You have a problem with my plan, Rose?" he snapped, "Just save it! We cannot afford to waste precious time on your own paranoid doubts."
Rose didn't have it in her to argue, only to worry about her friends' safety. If they had to do it his way, she would work around that…for the time being. As long as her friends stayed out of harms way, she didn't care what they did. But a small part of her began to worry about the choice that she had just made and what impact that it would have on them all.
After a while, they arrived at the pier and noticed a small transport ferry sitting quietly there. As Wesker stepped out to survey the conditions of the vehicle and the size, he smiled with pleasure. It would be just enough to carry the RV down the length of the river to where there was sure to be another pier. After all, from what Jonas had told him, the pamphlet revealed this to be a a public attraction, perhaps used to study the water and the forest life around them.
"Wait!" Rose said.
Everyone looked back at her curiously. "What's wrong, Rose?" Beth asked.
"It's too easy," Rose said, frowning at them pleadingly, glancing up and down, her eyes surveying the transport with confusion and doubt, "Why would a ferry, big enough to carry our RV still be here during the zombie outbreak? Someone should have taken it to get to safety, am I right?"
They stared at one another, now beginning to wonder about this plan. Wesker looked a little fed up with her constant interruptions and arguments regarding his idea of getting them to the other side.
"Rose, we do not have time for this!" he snapped, "If your suspicions held even a glimmer of relevancy, the virus had struck without warning, so regardless of the ferry being an option for escape, they would never have made it far!"
Rose shook her head. "Guys, I just…" She paused before trying again. "Something just doesn't feel right!"
Beth began to question this as well. Rose never had a reason to steer them in the wrong direction before. With her heightened senses, she was amazed that Wesker didn't feel the same way about the whole thing. Perhaps Rose's mutations affected her in a different way in comparison to his. She looked over toward an exasperated Wesker.
"Maybe we need to discuss this as a group," she suggested, "Something might actually be wrong with this whole thing. It's not in Rose to play practical jokes, Wesker."
Wesker turned to her and his eyes flared a deep crimson, his teeth bared. He spoke in a dark, cruel voice to her. "Whether you are or are not on that ferry is up to you, but regardless, I am going." He proved his point by stepping down onto the boat and walking to the control system toward the front, willing to start it up at any second.
Krauser gave the two women an apologetic grimace while Jonas rushed passed him to get onto the ferry. "Better do what he says," he suggested, "I sure as hell don't wanna be alone in this mess, do you?" And with that, he entered the RV on the driver's side to properly drive it onto the ferry.
Rose looked at Beth miserably before she stepped down onto the ferry; coldly pushing passed Wesker as he instructed Krauser while the man began to guide the RV slowly onto the boat. The entire commuter boat groaned at the additional, supplementary weight of the vehicle and nearly sank, but after a while of adjusting, it seemed to uphold a safe and preserved symmetry in the water.
"Goddamn ... " Beth whispered, cautiously, "Is this thing going to hold us all and the RV?"
Rose gave Wesker a cold smirk with her eyebrows raised in a mocking display; she shrugged her shoulders once. "I guess we have no choice but to test that theory, don't we?"
He smirked dryly right back at her before he turned around to Krauser. "Alright, let's go!" Wesker commanded, in a loud voice to the ex - militant.
"Sure thing, boss!" Krauser acknowledged, slowly starting up the motor.
Rose still had her doubts about this whole thing. Wesker wasn't thinking very clearly because of the information that Astrid had given him and the doubts about Spencer that were on his mind. She wasn't sure what kind of trouble they would get in to on their trip down here, but she knew that it would come somewhere along this river bank.
O
The night had started to set in and strange animal sounds filled the air; the trilling chirping of reptiles and the wailing screeching sounds of birds. It was difficult to tell if they were hungry, infected sounds of T-virus victims or simply night creatures calling to one another for lesser, minor prey. Well, that last thought was merely wishful thinking to Rose.
Jonas' eyes continued to nervously wander around the woods and waters. He held his shotgun close to his chest. Krauser stood beside him and raised his brows slightly with amusement.
"What's wrong?" he teased, "You scared?"
Jonas glared at him.
Rose watched the woods around them, her eyes squinting as she peered into the darkness. So far, everything seemed to be normal. She had no reason to suspect foul play thus far. Maybe she was just feeling paranoid, given the situation and their case of bad luck that they have had during their trip across the country so far. Yeah, that was it. She was just worrying for no reason at all.
"Rose?" Beth said.
"Yeah," Rose acknowledged, glancing sidelong to her friend.
Beth placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling comfortingly. "Are you alright now?" she asked.
Rose thought for a few moments before she looked at Beth and nodded. "Yeah, I think so," she answered, "I guess I was just freaking out for no reason. Just a little bit of the shook-ups."
Beth cocked her head and considered something for a brief second before she spoke. "Rose, I have a theory," she said, "What if your sudden mood spikes are happening because of the baby?"
Rose raised a brow. "Why should that be any surprise?"
"Rose, listen," Beth argued, gently, "In my years of pediatrics, I have never seen any spikes in aggression and … well, in your case now, paranoia until further into the pregnancy. I think that your child may be growing faster than that of a normal child; that or developing at a slower rate. Either way, such a strange change in a normal developing fetal life cycle may or may not cause such volatile mood swings."
Rose furrowed her brows and stroked her abdomen with a single hand. "So, do you think that there's a possibility of … " She trailed off and considered her next words carefully before she spoke. " … Shared emotions?"
Beth blinked in surprise. "That would be impossible at such a stage!" she nearly exclaimed.
Rose shook her head. "Lately I've been feeling these … weird sparks in my head, fragments of some kind that could be emotions. I feel sad when I have no reason to be sad at all. Happy at the weirdest shit. I feel angry when I shouldn't be … "
Beth's eyes grew wide and she stared at her up and down. "But that would be completely impossible … " she whispered, haunted.
Suddenly, Rose's head snapped up and she seemed to stare beyond Beth for a brief second before she looked over her shoulder, out toward the blackened water. Just below, a shadowed, massive shape swam silently through weeds and watery clouds of smoke. When it passed over the moonlight, Rose could visibly make out jagged scales and spines. Her eyes grew wide and she looked back toward Wesker.
"Wesker … !" she whispered, and her voice came out small, terrified.
O
Wesker has stopped the ferry long enough so that he could study the waters below them. He could not pick out signs of movement that Rose had just finished describing to him. The others had started looking around the edges of the water as well.
"I don't see anything,"
Krauser nodded his head in agreement. "You must have just seen a tree or something," he told the frantic Rose, "Happens a lot in Scotland, I hear. One minute you're alone, the next minute, you see a damn tree and think it's the creature from the deep, or something."
Rose shook her head anxiously. "No! I know what I saw!"
Suddenly, the entire ferry lurched and everyone had nearly been thrown off of their feet. Wesker managed to maintain his balance, arms extended. He looked around with surprise and met Rose's angry smile.
"I fucking told you!" she whispered, lowly.
Jonas' hands scrabbled across the metal floor, desperately looking around. "R-Rose?" he stammered, "What was that?"
Krauser hurried to the edge of the ferry and peered down into the water, just as the shape covered in scales and spines passed by beneath it. His eyes grew wide in horror and disbelief before he turned to Wesker.
"I saw it!" he told him, "You won't believe this, but it almost liked like a - - "
The ferry lurched roughly to one side, cutting him off in mid sentence as he knocked into Jonas, toppling them both to the floor. They grunted sharply and looked up at the sight of a black shadow looming over them. It was a gigantic mouth filled with razor sharp teeth. Both men yelled out in terror and ducked out of the way, scrambling out of the path of snapping jaws that narrowly missed their heads. The giant shape disappeared in a heavy splash of swampy water, sending showers of it sprinkling down upon them all.
"Dude, get the lights!" Jonas shouted, as Krauser was the first onto his feet anyway.
Krauser hurried toward the main console and quickly flipped a switch, activating the massive flood lights hanging just overhead along the sides of the ferry. They bathed the entire river in a white glow as everyone cautiously stood still to await a next attack. It seemed to be quiet for a brief moment before the ferry lurched harshly and the water burst in a small explosion off to the left.
"Get moving!" Wesker commanded.
Krauser did not need to be told twice about that. He carefully activated the ferry's engines, just as something big whipped through the air. He looked up and ducked as the massive thing ripped through the top of the ferry, shredding metal from the rooftops and snapping the light posts from their flimsy metal supports, casting them into total darkness once more. Rose went to Krauser's side as he gingerly touched a small cut against the hollow of his cheek bone. His fingers had a little blood on them.
"Are you okay?" she asked, breathless, "You - - "
Krauser's eyes snapped wide and he looked up beyond her. "It's coming back!" he shouted.
Rose looked over her shoulder, just as the darkened shape reared up out of the water and grasped the side of the ferry, the weight of it causing the vessel to lean sharply to one side. Beth gave a loud yell as she was sent sliding down the slope, into a set of awaiting jaws. Her feet spread and landed onto the top and bottom, struggling to keep herself from ending up as food.
"Beth!" Rose shouted, clinging to the edge of the ferry, "Hang on!"
Beth was screaming in terror, struggling to keep her feet against the creature's jaws as it swung its head left and right, snorting hisses escaping it. She could feel its hot, foul breath against her face and arms. Rose slid down the length of the tilted ferry and grabbed Beth by the collar, tugging her away from the jaws, just as the creature reared up and roared.
"What is it?" Beth gasped, as Rose dragged her to safety, "What the fuck is it?"
"It's a goddamn croc!" Krauser shouted, watching as it released the edge of the ferry, jolting everyone in the process.
Beth's eyes grew wide and she watched the beast circling the ferry like a vulture. She could see the outlines of where its flesh had rotted away from the T - virus. Its white eyes loomed menacingly up toward her and its fleshy tendons were exposed through its cranium. "It must have escaped from the zoo ... !" she breathed, in a stunned whisper.
The crocodile turned around and it seemed to arch its back, preparing to lunge. It was an unnatural gesture for a reptile such as the crocodile; it seemed intelligent, thoughtful in its attacks, almost with an uncanny human grace. Just as it propelled forward and spread its tail, rearing to jump, Rose seemed to understand just who it was going after:
Wesker.
He was standing there, guarded yet out in the open where he could be easily picked off in one swoop. Damn him and his arrogance! He was a fresh piece of meat to this creature and Rose could hear a voice in her head begging her to save him. And it was enough to convince her to do just that, to act purely on that impulse alone. Her legs propelled forward, and then at the same time the crocodile reared up out of the water, opened its giant jaws and snatched the woman from the ferry; her left arm had been caught in between its broad set of teeth just as she was yanked down into the water.
Wesker watched this in stunned, abject horror as the crocodile carried Rose into the deep blackness of the river. He rushed to the edge and peered below to see if he could catch her in sight. He clenched his fists and shouted furiously, eyes teeming with glowing fury and shock.
"ROSE!" he bellowed. His features seemed to flicker once more with a bit of warmth for a brief second as his next words left his lips, "Not for me ... NOT FOR ME!"
The crocodile surfaced a few feet away like a thrashing dolphin, struggling with the woman in its grip. She seemed to be putting up a fight as far as Wesker could see; she kicked and punched the crocodile's eye, trying to tear its vulnerable visual organs in an attempt to blind it. Beth ran along the ferry's edge in a desperate attempt to keep Rose in sight.
"ROSE!" she shouted, desperately.
"Rose, come back here!" Jonas cried, terrified. It was a useless request, of course.
The crocodile disappeared into the water and Krauser struggled to start the ferry to keep up with the two battling revenants. Beth and Jonas rushed up to him and tried to spot Rose and the beast nearby.
" Krauser! Where is she? Can you see her?" Beth nearly shrieked.
"I'm trying! That damn thing took her down this way!" he shouted back as he gestured swiftly in front of them.
"Well fucking do something!"
The crocodile surfaced once more, screeching inhumanly and Wesker could tell that Rose had gouged its eyes out; pools of blood were oozing from both of its closed lids. Yet from what he could see, her arms was still trapped inside its teeth, gushing bright red blood as well. Her features were contorted with agony, eyes flashed bright red and yelling loudly. She may have possessed his strength and stamina, but at this rate, she could possibly go into shock from blood loss if she didn't get the upper hand soon.
Wesker quickly noticed that Beth was out over the edge of the observation platform of the ferry, her back arched in a perfect bow shape. He suddenly realized what Beth was about to do. He grabbed her by the arm inches before she was about to jump.
"WAIT!" he shouted, furiously.
Beth shouted back in terror and fury, struggling against his powerful grip. She had an excited - terrified grin on her face. "I CAN GET HER!"
"NO!"
"I KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES!"
Wesker yanked her back onto the ferry with an angry snarl. "Don't you be a fool as well!" he spat, venomously. "She can handle this! You would be no good to your dear friend should you die as well!"
Beth whined with desperation and looked back out to Rose as she struggled with every ounce of strength that she had. Finally, the crocodile sank into the river and all was silent and still. Everyone waited for Rose and the crocodile to show themselves yet again, but this time, nothing happened. It was quiet once more and Beth could bear it no longer.
"ROSE!"she screamed.
There was no signs of Rose at all. Beth could not take her eyes off of the water as she noticed the red streaks that passed the ferry. Rose's blood... She looked over to Wesker, who stood as still and silent as a statue. His features were grim, hard and his jaw set in a tight, thin line. He slowly removed his glasses and peered out into the cold, dark waters.
"We have to find her!" Jonas cried, pleadingly.
Wesker seemed to snap out of his frozen state and turned to Krauser. "Ready this piece of junk and let's press forward." he commanded.
Krauser looked a little surprised himself by Wesker's seemingly lack of interest in saving Rose. He glanced back at the river, almost as if he too was concerned for the possibly severely injured woman in the water. When he didn't do as Wesker ordered, the man scowled furiously and took a threatening step forward.
"Has this river air impeded your sense of hearing?" Wesker barked, "PRESS FORWARD!"
Krauser nodded anxiously and immediately turned to the ferry controls and began to start the motor up until a low clicking sound froze him in his tracks. He glanced over at Wesker, who's eyes flickered and he smiled with a cold snort to follow. He slowly turned and came face - to - face with Beth's hand gun barrel. She looked furious, face slightly pink and eyes misting over.
"Don't start that engine up, Krauser!" she hissed, voice shaking. Her eyes landed on Wesker and they were the hardest, most fiery orbs of anger that he had ever seen in her before. "I can't believe this! Rose has done everything in her power for you, even against her better judgement! She bled for you! She has hurt people for you and you still think so less of her?" She sniffled then, gnawing her lower lip for a brief second. "How could you just want nothing to do with her when she is out there bleeding from an attack that was MEANT FOR YOUR SORRY ASS?"
Wesker raised his brows, a low rumble filling his throat. He inhaled deeply and his voice was calm and steady. "You certainly are a presumptuous creature, Beth Underwood," he sneered, "And yet you fail to comprehend my entire plan. I was informing Krauser to hurry and move the ferry forward so that we may seek Rose out. I have faith in her, which says a lot, you realize. At the most, she is possibly in great pain, but I trust that she can handle a crocodile if she could survive being stabbed by a G mutation." He tittered at her disbeliving look and leaned his head to one side. "You accuse me of thinking so less of her and having no faith; it seems that you don't have enough faith in her."
Beth lowered her weapon and exhaled heavily. So there was some hope with this man after all. He did care about Rose, but his emotions were closed off to the rest of the world. He didn't show it too much, but he had to be with her. She knew that given the situation of him saving her, there was more to it than just his own personal agenda.
O
A full moon passed behind the clouds. Thunder quietly rumbled, and jagged bolts of lightning flickered in the distance. Krauser was still at the wheel. The river was narrower here, and cautions had be taken to avoid the banks. As the ferry began to round another bend. a familiar high - pitched sound pierced the darkness. Muffled but unmistakable, it sounded like birds. Everyone exchanged a collection of mixed expressions, expecting infected flying creatures to burst from the trees and attack them. Wesker scanned the trees with his gaze.
"Keep quiet," he commanded, holding up one hand.
Krauser cut the motor, and time seemed to stop as the four stood posed for action. The ferry finished rounding the curve, and the sound seemed to stop here. The suspense was excruciating. Wesker furrowed his brows and called out into the darkness.
"ROSE!" he shouted, as loud as he could.
Beth cupped her mouth and called for her as well. Jonas followed suit and soon, Krauser did as well. A few minutes of shouting for Rose went by and then, silence followed afterwards. They looked around their vicinity for signs of movement, but they could see nothing that would connect them to their fallen comrade. In fact, it seemed that after the attack from the crocodile, the entire world just stopped. Perhaps it was the calm before the next storm, or maybe the forest itself grieved for what had happened. An abomination had happened and it was the fault of the T - virus.
Now Rose was somewhere out there, alone and wounded.
"Rose!" Wesker shouted again.
The sound merged with the gently passing wind and carried far down the river bank to where Rose was; she climbed out of the river, staggering in her steps and soaked to the marrow. Behind Rose, the dead crocodile was floating in the river, body broken in two like a tree branch. Her body ached in pain and shuddered uncontrollably from the stinging sensation in her arms and legs. Her head was spinning and the world around her slowly blurring into a pool of blackish, grey swirls.
As she attempted to rise, her body suddenly gave out; the battle with the infected beast had finally taken its toll on her. She collapsed into the dampened grass with a sharp groan of pain, her face contacting warm earth. Rose struggled to rise again, but her limbs simply would not work for her anymore and the world around ehr continued to fade into cold, empty blackness.
Shit! ... Shit ... Get up, Rose ... Get ... up ...
Finally, after listening to her own thoughts slowly disappear into the void of her mind, she slipped into unconsciousness.
O
Note-Short. I am sorry for that. LOL. My computer had a viral breakdown and went ape shit on me, so I was stuck.