Wow. Double figures chapter-wise; up to chapter eleven. Wow. And to think I wasn't going to write this at all. Interesting change, isn't it? Well, this is mainly an emotional chapter, so not much is going to happen. But, it's character building, okay? If you think the characters are acting, well, out of character tell me please!

Question: Are Sena and Wesker first cousins, second cousins or first cousins once removed? At the moment I can't figure it out. Sena is Wesker's cousin's daughter. Whatever that is.

I would have Wesker Special Recipe Muffins here, but he's going on strike till Shady777 finishes Crimson Africa, so Rosanna offered to do the baking. *looks at plate of blackened cookies somewhat doubtfully* You can try them if you want….

Zarbok: Don't worry, I don't plan to. Yet. Naah, I'm just kidding, Wesker's too important to be killed off. Although it's possible I may change my mind, it's doubtful. He will probably be alive at the end of this story.

Shady777: Thanks for your review! How can you write two stories at once?! *is very impressed* I don't care if Wesker never bakes cookies again as long as I have some of your writing to read! Umm, yeah, I wrote several versions of Chap. 10 and the one where Wesker vs. Chris got cut. Let's just say Wesker has bigger fish to fry.

mmm… fish….

Jade: Righto, here's some more. Thanks for reviewing! *hug*

The cast of BS: We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas….

Sych77: And a happy new year! Yeah, go the holidays!!

*****Chapter 11: Tough Decision

There seemed to be nothing for it, Celia had to be shot. It was the humane thing to do. Call it a mercy killing, but that didn't make those around her feel any better. Especially Ben.

Whenever Ben looked at Celia's spent body, all he could see was his younger brother. All he could think about was that this poor girl could've been Shaun, that this could have happened to his whole family in Raccoon City. There but for the grace of God am I… If Shaun had been in this predicament, Ben knew he couldn't just stand by and watch his lil' bro lose his humanity. He also wouldn't have been able to pull the trigger.

This sense of weakness made Ben bitter, even though the situation was slightly less personal. Moral issues were the hard ones to solve, the 'what ifs' haunted people for the rest of their lives.

Wesker seemed the most at ease. He leaned against the dirt wall and checked his nails again. Ben narrowed his eyes at the man, blaming him for the problem. Everybody needs a scapegoat, and Wesker was the perfect candidate. Was it Ben's imagination, or was Wesker less relaxed than he appeared? No matter, this was his fault, at least according to Ben's frustration.

"When it comes down to it," Wesker said conversationally, "She's going to die either way. The only choice you have to make is whether she does it with or without suffering. Whether she dies as a human or in a great deal of pain."

Sena looked at her cousin (?) in shock. Ben guessed she hadn't been told where Wesker's loyalties truly lay. Of all the teens, Ben could easily accept that the cooking whiz who chatted cheerfully with them at dinner was really a twisted scientist. Probably because it was Shaun who was in Physio, and his house that was destroyed.

**~

Celia began wailing again, and even Wesker shifted uncomfortably. Though for him, the movement was almost unnoticeable. Chris saw it though, with grim satisfaction.

"Go," he ordered the teens, aware of what would happen next.

They didn't move, but rather stayed frozen in horror and uncertainty. Jill ushered them out, bullying them along and pulling Sena over from across the mine shaft. Barry gave an apologetic glance. "Sorry, but I think I'm gonna go too. She just reminds me of my daughters."

Chris barely nodded. He didn't think any less of Barry; the man was still courageous in his eyes. He exhaled shakily and steeled himself to shoot. I would do this to any of my friends who became infected, because I know that's what they'd want, if there was no chance of being cured. I hope they'd do the same for me. But what did Celia want? She was innocent, and had no idea what was to happen. How can I make that decision for her?

Sudden movement startled him. Wesker had backed away from the tunnel, towards the STARS. Chris could tell the traitor was readying himself for a fight, but didn't think much of it.

"What is it?" Chris demanded. Damn. It's going to take forever to get any courage again!

Wesker didn't answer at first. He didn't want Chris to think he was on the same side, as it were. A sinister sniggering echoed faintly from the tunnel, and Wesker once again could detect pine in the griminess of the sewers. Both things were subtle enough that only his senses could observe them. He straightened.

"If you're going to shoot her," he said flatly, "by all means do it. I have things to do and places, no matter how grungy, to go to. Au revior." He zoomed off in the way only Wesker can.

Au revoir? Since when did Wesker learn French?

***

The sinister laughter stopped as Wesker approached. The smell of pine was unmistakeable now, but it didn't come from these fifteen vampires, merely someone who had been with them or somewhere they had passed through. The vampires squatted ahead and watched him warily.

A dull gleam of intelligence shone in their eyes. If Wesker's hearing had been any less acute, he would've sworn the creatures were communicating with each other. Perhaps they were, he mused, just without sound.

A single gunshot rang out form the collapsing mine-shaft. Wesker's face remained impassive.

As if on cue, all fifteen vampires edged around him in single file, hugging the wall. They held their hands out in the universal gesture of 'we don' wanna fight'.

Wesker crossed his arms as they sidled sheepishly past him. Hmm, this is interesting.

***~

 Hoped you liked it! Did? Didn't? Review, please, and tell me!

Do you like my smiley face? I learnt how to do it when I put up my last chapter but I forgot to mention it. My friend taught me:

(^_^)   cool ay?

I don't know how long my next one will be coming. *sigh* Writing good, fun violence is not one of my strong points…. Well, expect it when you get it,

Tara!