Chapter Twenty-One: Umbra

"How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also If I am to be whole."

― C.G. Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul

Claire -

"I didn't call them." I insisted as we settled in the helicopter and he hit the top of the plane to indicate 'go'. I doubted he even noticed he'd dented the metal. We hadn't had much chance to really talk as we left the safehouse and got the field to our exit ride. He'd moved Leon a safe distance...and I had to hope help would come before it was too late for him. "I wouldn't have called them, they just showed…"

"Claire." Wesker interrupted me, settling a finger over my lips. "I know."

He leaned back after stopping my comments, opening a laptop and looking through information. "Now shut up while I figure out how wide-spread the damage is."

Crossing my arms I glanced out the window, annoyed at a lot of things. The way the night had fallen apart. Weeks of being alone and quiet and just working on my bike, and even that had been swept away quite swiftly. Whirlwind Wesker sweeping back in to take apart any sense of normalcy. I knew it wasn't his fault really, I should have thought that my brother would want to get teams together. That Leon would be involved…

I grit my teeth, trying not to look at the blood still on my hands. Leon's blood. If he didn't make it, then was it my fault for coming here so carelessly? No, I told him to leave. I told Chris to leave me alone and let me make my choices. I guess since I didn't tell Chris, he couldn't have known...but if I would've tried to tell him this just would have happened sooner. He might have taken me when Wesker wasn't nearby to do something. Wesker might have killed all of them if they would have taken me against my will away from him.

I sighed, resisting the urge to rub my face as I tried to convince myself I wasn't at fault for all things in the universe. I could have probably handled a lot of things better, but they could have too. I know we were friends, but this wasn't something they'd understand or accept. If Chris couldn't, they definitely couldn't. I let out a sigh, watching the ground go by beneath us while only vaguely curious as to where we were heading. Did it matter? It wasn't like it would be some sort of permanent place. Wesker had told me years ago, there weren't any white picket fences. It was true; we didn't get to have a permanent home - not together.

"It seems limited to just a few of my places, but still damaging. I've managed to set them to self-destruct, but I can't know what was gathered beforehand." Wesker stated, as much to observe aloud to himself as to explain to me, closing the laptop with a snap. "I should have a better idea soon. Pilot, take us to the West African facility. We'll have to alter plans and go dark for a while."

"Miss Gionne won't be happy about it." The pilot answered, the woman's voice cool, collected, and strangely familiar despite its neutrality. I'd probably been on rides with her before, thus far Wesker was seemingly very equal opportunity with his staff.

"She'll be displeased, but she'll adjust." Wesker answered. "Just fly."

"Who's Miss Gionne?" I asked, looking back toward Wesker.

"A colleague in current affairs." He replied, attention turning from the pilot to me then reaching to get me some wipes, starting to clean my hands.. "My being hands on might improve the development speed. Though, you'll need to behave yourself. Our time outside the facility will be nearly non-existent."

"But, we'll be together?" I chanced the question.

"Yes. We'll need to shelter-in-place until we are ready to proceed." He returned, reaching up to push hair back from my face that had been blown out of place during our swift retreat. "Did you ever take any drama classes?"

I frowned. "Why?"

"We'll need to pretend we aren't involved. My colleague is sensitive to my relationships. I'll need to bring you in as a prisoner." I answered. "It will be the best method to keep her out of our lives."

I was scowling now, shaking my head even as he explained. "Are you serious? Have you been having a relationship with someone else?"

"With Gionne?" The disgust that infused his voice did discourage me from the thought. "I am not in any way interested in her beyond her connections. I definitely have not had a physical connection to her."

"Then why the lies?" He sounded convincing, but he was very good at lying, even to himself, whenever he wanted to be.

"She is under the impression that such a relationship is possible, or at least if it isn't that it's because I don't do that rather than her being the problem." The slight curl of his lip downward still screamed revulsion. "Allowing her to have that impression makes her ask fewer questions and better yet, give me resources without a need to justify them."

"So, you're using her and want me to help?" My nose scrunched at the idea. "I don't like that. And a prisoner? I mean, I get you have all the chains and collars, but I don't think my giving BDSM a go should start at that level of intensity."

"Did you have a level you'd like to start at?" He perked a brow, smirking slowly.

"No, that's not the point." I felt the blush. "I don't think I should show up as a prisoner. Couldn't I come with you as a researcher?"

"Not really, you're well known in these circles for what you've done with your charity." He said, perfectly reasonable. "Though I will try to find you some smaller chains to start with."

"You aren't going to let that one go, are you?" I sighed.

"I wouldn't want you to think we were being too vanilla." Wesker retorted, still looking at me and I was sure it was intense behind those glasses. Then his body tensed slightly as he raised the hand he'd been cleaning. "You're wrist, that idiot boy scout hurt you."

I followed his gaze to my wound, it had hurt when I'd stopped Leon from dragging me outside earlier. I hadn't realized that his grip had been harsh enough to cause any damage. There was an outline of circular bruises where he'd dug fingers into me. It would probably hurt later given how much the area had purpled. Nothing seemed broken though or it would have been more notable to me before now.

"I think it's just a bruise." I replied, smiling lightly at his careful inspection. These were the moments I didn't question having picked him. He could reach out and tenderly care for me, be protective of me without putting me down or making me feel lesser. This was the man beneath all the pride and pain others saw, someone that reached out to care for those he found important. This was why I knew we were more than a physical attraction.

"I think you're right...it doesn't seem sprained." He commented after moving my wrist a few directions and feeling along it. It hurt slightly, but not like a break or sprain would. "You should have let me finish him off."

Then there was also the unforgiving aspect toward anyone not important to him…

"I would have warned you if I knew they were coming. We could have left." I said seriously. "I know you wanted to hurt him, but they were trying to help me in their own way. They can't understand this, but I chose you Albert Wesker. I think I'll always choose you."

He was quiet at my comments, though I knew his eyes were on me even with the glasses. I didn't know if he'd take my admission seriously, but I supposed that was the case given he pressed me into the back of my chair with the pressure of his embrace a moment later.

Wesker -

While Claire was a delectable distraction, I should have spent less of the ride to the new facility getting her to pant my name. I had to present her as she was to Gionne, who was sure to be here, and convince the harpy that Claire was nothing more than a prisoner. Easier if I hadn't mussed her hair and clothes so notably. I knew I didn't want to have to play this game. As good as I was at double agency, I didn't really want to present Claire as something expendable. I knew she'd be safe, given the numbers there was little chance if she died she wouldn't return as a very capable tyrant. It wasn't her possible death that even bothered me, not that I wanted her harmed. It was the idea that she could ever be something less than Excella Gionne.

Even in pretend, that concept made my skin crawl like no BOW ever could.

At least she had relented to the plan, albeit hesitantly, before we touched down. Then, we were both getting our clothing and hair back from the ruffled mess our interaction had left it in. We were coming into land, Valentine had waited until a bit late to let us know we were close. I'd have to make sure to give her a dose as soon as we were settled. Then I had a lot we'd need to do, and I wasn't sure how well Claire would think of me by the time the night was out. The shocked expression on her face as I settled a gag in her mouth before binding her hands said everything she could not.

"Just play along, dear heart." I stated, reaching up to fix her hair a bit more where she'd lacked time. "I'll take them off as soon as I'm able. Look frightened, if you could."

Her scowl didn't make me too sure of this plan, but I shoved her out of the plane when we got close all the same. The pain of the scraps in the fall might help cover up any lack of immediate terror. I jumped down after her, Jill would land the helicopter nearby and then catch up to me. That was the programmed expectation, she'd gotten good at it.

"Back already, Albert?" Gionne was already approaching. "I heard there was some sort of difficulty at your safehouse here, are you all right?"

"Better than the BSAA that moved in." I retorted, harshly pulling Claire from where I'd shoved her to the ground. "I took this one alive. She'll prove useful should her brother try to get involved."

"The TerraSave member?" Gionne looked over Claire with a frown. "Want me to add her to the experimental floors?"

"No, I have a specific use for this one." I returned, shoving Claire forward when she turned a dirty look my way. I'd definitely hear about this later, but her distaste was believable enough for Gionne not to second guess her purpose. "She'll be an excellent deterrent for her brother."

"The Redfield?" Gionne rolled her eyes, waving a hand slightly. "As if he were a real threat to us. You should give up that obsession you have with him one of these days. There are more important things in life than that man."

"The BSAA is the largest possible variable and threat to our operation. You think it wise to look this gift horse in the mouth?" I shook my head at her dismissal. "While they're a tiny thorn, I prefer to have every tool available by which to pluck them out."

"Fine. I see what you mean...she is useful as a hostage." Gionne relented to my reasoning. "I take it this means you'll be here for the rest of our operation?"

"Yes, this close to dispersal it's wise for me to remain here and make certain everything remains on course." I nodded, knowing it would delight her to have me this close. "It would be pointless to spend time building more safehouses now. Was anything here disturbed?"

I had a safehouse in Kijuku, but it wasn't something she or anyone else needed to know about. Thus far, I expected it and a few others were safe specifically because anyone that had known of them was dead. I wasn't keen on burning those resources after I just lost so much either.

"No, we're on schedule here." The try-hard replied, grinning as I shoved Claire a few steps through a door so she almost fell. "It's only been a few hours. No Tricell facilities have been hit, so they aren't aware of our connection. Perhaps they were just following older leads."

"Likely." I agreed, not wanting to discourage her from having any idea my distraction was concerns of my likely swiftly deteriorating relationship with the 'prisoner'. "I plan to put her in quarter's across from mine once they're secured. I wouldn't want my old comrades to think I wasn't a perfectly polite captor. Until then she can remain in my quarters on the couch. I'll have Valentine keep an eye on her when I can't. She won't interrupt any operations here."

"Oh? You are too much the gentlemen." Gionne didn't like it, but she didn't argue. She knew me well enough to know my extreme distaste for the male Redfield, so she wasn't likely to make a connection to me humping his sister with regularity. "I understand though, if we don't keep her in good condition she's not the best bargaining chip. I'll make sure it's arranged soon."

"I'll join you in the labs when I've gotten both Valentine and she-Redfield secured. Go ahead and return to your work." I was a bit shorter than usual, but I'd hoped given the resources I'd lost she would presume it was that. She didn't seem that offended though, shrugging and walking off - probably because I'd promised to catch up to her. Then continued toward my quarters, shoving Claire inside - glad Valentine had already gotten here and sat on the bed. I closed the door before sighing and reaching over to remove her gag.

"Behave." I stated before removing it.

"You're an asshole." Claire snapped, her voice low enough that I didn't need to immediately return the gag to her mouth.

"Yes, dear heart. I thought you knew that." I returned. "I'll remove your cuffs in a moment, I need to do something."

"You said she was dead." Claire hissed, scowling at me. "You've had her here the whole time? Doing what exactly? How are you even keeping her here? Is Jill all right?"

Of course, she couldn't know for sure it was Jill on the bed, but my conversation with Gionne hadn't really hidden her presence either. I wasn't a fan of this growing trend of my plans not working out the way I'd plotted them. This wasn't quite how I'd pictured breaking the news of Jill's survival.

"She was broken after the fall from the Spencer Estate." I explained, walking away from Claire to one of my dressers, opening it to then key in a code to a small safe inside where I kept Jill's drug. "She was unlikely to survive all together without some sort of intervention. I took her with me and installed a prototype system that could inject her body with various chemicals and drugs to help her survive, regenerate. Jill, could you show Claire your scarab please."

Jill moved to open her shirt and reveal the large ruby-like object in her chest without fighting with me. Her control was still well-established. "It allows her to live, but it makes her mind foggy, uncertain. She can listen to orders, and is quite effective, but otherwise has few thoughts of her own. Her head had taken considerable trauma in the fall, she was lucky to survive even to this level."

"She...you turned her into a slave?" Claire frowned at me. "You say it nicely enough, but that's what this is, isn't it?"

"I saved her life." I pointed out, moving back over to Jill with the appropriate dose to settle it into the small valve for intake to inject her. "She'd otherwise have left more of her body than gray matter on those rocks, Claire."

Claire's disapproval transformed to surprise when I pulled off the hood of my puppet. Staring at the uncharacteristic blonde hair and somewhat sickly complexion before looking back to me.

"Side effects of the drug. It kept her alive, but it bleached out much of her body's natural melanin. She has regenerated fairly well, she might even be able to come off the drug use eventually." I remarked, needing to rekindle that bit of Claire's hope that I wasn't a completely lost cause after shoving her into here as a prisoner. Claire was at a loss for the moment though, so I turned back to Jill.

"Jill, dress yourself and remain here. Watch over Claire, don't let her leave and follow my orders, but otherwise listen to her and keep her safe. Understood?" I asked, smiling lightly when she only offered a silent nod. My previous order for her to always remain silent in Claire's presence maintained effect though it had been weeks.

I walked back over to Claire, leaning down to unlock her cuffs, frowning at the still purple wrist. "I'll find a first aid spray so we can attend to this when I get back. I'll need to go work soon though, lingering here will seem suspicious."

"I'm sure I'll be fine, mine fuhrer." Claire snapped lightly at my stare. Opposite the small smile she'd given me earlier tonight. It stung more than I expected.

"Just remember I'm in your corner, dear heart." I remarked, kissing her forehead. "I'll be back when time allows me. It may be a while. You should be more free to wander then."

"This is all sorts of not okay." Claire stated, frowning at me. "This is definitely not what we agreed to. You can't just keep me here. I can always start screaming."

"You can, but you shouldn't. I know you don't want things to be as vanilla, but I'd hate to have to leave you gagged and tied to a bed this soon." I smirked a bit at the flush that came to her face. "Behave, I'll make all this worthwhile. Just give it time."

I paused to lean near Jill and whisper another order. I hated to give it...but it was that or risk everything else. If Claire started being too unruly, I'd simply keep her in a sedated coma until the time came to awaken everyone. She'd come to understand if she ever truly understood me at all...we were too close to let this opportunity pass now. We were so close to completion, I couldn't let this sidetrack the world's ascension.

End Chapter

I didn't have as much time as I would like to edit through this, but I wasn't sure what else to do with it. Next chapter we'll have some sneaky, super spy (not really) Claire. Getting there, getting there. Only 5 more! Wesker's real close to getting Uruborus up!

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Evo-500 - That line was in regards to Claire not Jill. XD

Crystal - Yes, Wesker definitely thinks he's helping her in his own mind.