Author Note: Some of the timeline will be off for this one, but I was not planning on following the script of the Resident Evil movies, but instead using the characters you all love to create my own story line. Please, enjoy, be courteous, & review (I do take constructive criticism!)

Disclaimer: I do not own the Characters, but a girl can dream right?

Without further adieu…here comes Chapter Seven

B

Update Oct-27-2015: As I prepare to add more to Calm Before the Storm I figured I should go back and look over what I posted almost two years ago to the story that started it all. This way I can make some editorial changes while also refreshing my memory on what things I left off with in the end.

Update Dec-19-2019: I haven't created any FF in awhile, and would like to get back into it, specifically with some RE stuff. To do so, I figured I would edit some old work to try and get some ideas percolating in my head before the Christmas holidays

- 7 -

- Holding Cell -

Luther's voice echoed over the intercom, asking for the survivors to converge in the mess hall, leaving out the reason for the town meeting. They descended further into the bowels of the ship, the patter of shoes on the metal staircases sounded above from obedient passengers. Alice led the way, easily maneuvering the narrow passageways and metal doors. Claire had never been to Valentine's cell. She did not want to be reminded of what she was like eighteen months ago, and Alice respected her decision.

They crossed two narrow catwalks, opening the last few heavy doors before approaching a section of the ship called"Infirmary". Claire found it strange that Jill was being held in the medical ward of the ship. That was until she remembered what Umbrella considered a hospital. More like a lab, where they would perform tests on their latest bio weaponry.

As Alice approached the door, Claire grabbed her arm, forcing her to look at her. "Before we go in there, I need to know one thing." Claire asked.

"Okay,"

"You won't fight me if my decision is to leave Jill in here to rot." Claire asked, searching Alice's face for affirmation.

Alice cupped Claire's cheek, "You'll see, she'll recover, just like you did."

Claire swatted Alice's hand away, "Enough! You can't compare me to her, or to anyone!" Claire snapped, nostrils flaring, "The Jill you remember you haven't seen in three fucking years! God knows what else they did to her in that time."

Alice was taken aback by Claire's seething anger, never seeing her like this, "Claire, listen I-"

"Save it! You might be able to turn off your humanity, but I cannot. I love you Alice, and I refuse to loose you, but be warned that it is possible for you to loose me."

With that Claire pushed past Alice as she waited for the door to open, allowing her access to the Jill's prison. Alice followed behind, suddenly aware she had made a big mistake. Claire was right, about everything. She needed to stop comparing the two women that mean the most to her. There was no guarantee that Jill would recover, or be the same smart-ass, expert gunman she was back in Raccoon City. It was true, she could turn off her humanity, it was a survival instinct that was hard to break, but love was new, and like anything new, their was bound to be mistakes.

Alice jumped slightly as the door shut behind her, following Claire as she approached Jill's Plexiglas cube in the middle of the room. The only piece of furniture that wasn't bolted down was a chair, and it now resembled a twisted pile of metal, used as a projectile hurled towards the walls. It was understandable Jill would be frustrated with being locked in a gilded cage.

"Let me the fuck out of here!" Jill screamed, her voice raw from yelling without a response.

Claire sized up the woman who stood before her. Her eyes were hard like ice and teeth sharp like daggers. Her blonde hair was pulled back from her face, the purple jump suit was low cut and dried blood from her chest wounds were soaked into the collar. She was tall, muscular, her outfit leaving little to the imagination. Claire looked at Alice, seeing the smirk on her face.

"You were expecting this weren't you?" She said.

Alice kept her eyes on Jill, watching the woman search her Rolodex of her memory, "If I awoke in a cell with no memory of how I got there I would be pissed too."

Jill analyzed the two women who entered the room. The red head on the left was foreign. It was obvious by her eyes that the feeling was mutual. The blonde however, she seemed faintly familiar, but Jill could not place it. Her memories were fragmented, like trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle without all the pieces.

"Do you remember your name?" Alice asked catching Jill's attention.

"Why don't you tell me yours first." Jill snapped in response.

Alice wasn't biting. "Your name is Jill Valentine. You were a S.T.A.R.S. agent in Raccoon City, the epicenter of the destruction of the world three years ago. Is any of this resonating?"

"S.T.A.R.S?" Claire asked.

"Special Tactics and Rescue Squad," Jill recited from memory, surprised she was able to answer that so fluidly. "I was fired because no one believed me about the infected, and by the time they did, it was too late."

"So, you do remember something?" Alice replied with a smirk.

"Maybe."

"What exactly do you remember?" Claire asked, dismissing the sideways glances Alice and Jill were sharing with one another.

Time was of the essence. There were survivors out in Mexico that needed to be rescued and their window to go mainland before dark was quickly dwindling. Still, she wasn't going to take any chances. If there was even a glimmer of her still being under Umbrella control, she would leave her in here to rot; no questions asked and no guilty conscience. Claire recalled S.T.A.R.S. from Alice's confessional, and if they were as good as Alice said they were, Jill could be an incredible asset to the crew.

Jill looked at Claire, pressing her palms against the Plexiglas, never breaking eye contact, "What does it matter what I remember and what I don't?" Jill asked.

Alice ignored that, pressing to see what memories were still hazy, "Do you remember Angela Ashford? What about Payton?" She asked seeing the blank look on Jill's face.

"I really could use a cigarette."

"You're avoiding the question." Claire snapped.

"Who the fuck, are you?"

"Funny, you asked the exact same question in that exact same tone when we met in Raccoon City." Alice retorted, crossing her arms on her chest. "Remember? After I saved your ass in Raven's Gate Church by taking out three lickers."

Before her and Alice's conversation two days ago, Claire had no idea what a licker was. Curious, she asked Alice to describe them and she did, in horrific detail. They were mutated creatures, failed experiments by Umbrella in the early stages of the T-Virus development at The Hive. They were skinless; resembling that of raw meet stretched over a four-legged skeleton. With no eyes, the smell of fear gave their prey away. There name originated from their long, barbed tongues used to strangle and capture their prey. Claire shuddered at the image of a lickers, let alone three, all once.

Jill snorted in disbelief, turning her back to the women, "What if I don't remember these people, what does that prove? I have amnesia?" She snapped.

"More like calculated memory loss. My name is Alice, we met in Raccoon City. You, Angela, and others saved me from an Umbrella institution run by Dr. Issac's." Alice explained as Claire noticed the change in posture at the mention of Umbrella.

"Listen, it might be hard to believe, but I personally know how it feels to have your memories fragmented. To feel like a part of you is missing and to a point, always will be, but it will get better, trust me." Claire stated as Jill turned back towards them.

Jill narrowed her eyes at the redhead, resting her hand on her hip, "How the fuck do you know what I'm feeling?"

Claire gritted her teeth, it was time to play hard ball, "Do you want that fucking cigarette?" She snapped, seeing she now had Jill's undivided attention, "I can help you with that, if you help me."

"Is she serious?" Jill asked turning to Alice.

"She's serious Jill. If you cooperate, we will help you." Alice explained.

"Alright, I'm listening."

"We're on a ship called The Arcadia, about to head to inland Mexico to answer a distress call. Alice would like you to join us, I myself feel differently."

Jill nodded, pointing at Claire, "You don't trust me. I wouldn't be locked up if you thought otherwise."

"If you cooperate we can get you out of that cell, get you some food, a change of clothes, a cigarette even. But to do that, you need to prove to me you are no longer loyal to Umbrella." Claire stated.

Jill froze. "I would never, ever work for Umbrella." She spat.

Claire could tell from Jill's tone and true look of anger in her eyes that for once, she was being honest. If there was one thing that could never be wiped from anyone's memory it was Umbrella.

"Not willingly, but like myself you were drugged and commanded like a robot. Those marks on your chest? They are from a metal bug was attached to you, injecting you with some sort of memory loss drug, and allowing Umbrella to control your every move."

Jill looked at the marks in her skin through her reflection in the glass, "Wh-how?" She muttered, unable to comprehend what Claire was saying.

"Your objective was to eliminate any threat to their operation, primarily Alice and myself. Renegades of the resistance." Claire added.

"Does this make us sisters now?" Jill scoffed.

"Jill," Alice warned. "Play nice or we'll leave you in here."

Jill narrowed her eyes at Alice, "Fine, what do I need to do to get out of here?"

Alice looked at Claire, waiting for the queue that she had seen enough. It was evident by the look on Jill's face at the word Umbrella that she was suffering from the same disassociated feelings Claire herself battled for days, even weeks after the Medusa Bug was removed from her body. Claire nodded as Alice headed towards the door to Jill's cell.

Jill stood, waiting for the door to open as Alice stood in the threshold. She searched her memories, tugging at the fact that Alice looked familiar, but their first encounter was still unfamiliar. Alice stepped to the side as Claire entered, holding a piece of rope in her hand.

"I thought we were bonding?" Jill chided.

Claire walked behind Jill, hastily grabbing her wrists and wrapping the rope, pulling the knot hard as she felt Jill's body flinch.

"I believe you had no idea what Umbrella did to you, and you are no longer under their control, but you still need to earn my trust." Claire stated, nudging her out the cell door.

T.B.C

So what did you think?

Is letting Jill out a mistake or do you think she will be an asset to the team?

Please send me your ideas, I am always open to suggestions/theories on what will be happening next! :)