Brian had warned them repeatedly. He was moments away from calling off the whole mission. They were not arguing, that was true, but the heavy dead silence was nearly more than he could handle. The atmosphere was explosive. He could imagine the energy crackling between Wesker and Rebecca. Demetrius sat to his right, and the man was actually fidgeting. The sharp shooter had probably never fidgeted before in his entire life. They could not operate under these conditions, too much room for error or misjudgment.
"Alright! I have had enough," Brian's voice hit the silence like a sledgehammer. "I want you two to hash out whatever the hell this chip is you got on your shoulders before we get to our entry point. I will not have this fucked up because you to have your heads either in your asses or in the clouds or wherever else. I want you focused on what we are here to do. I don't give flying fuck whether you are displeased with things as they stand. Ain't nothin' you can do about it now, so live with it." The last was directed at Wesker and they all knew it. Brian caught the shift of light on Wesker's glasses. The older man was watching him. He met the dark lenses straight on. "What?" He snapped.
"Tone, Lt. Donnelly. I am not one of your subordinates." Wesker moved so he was looking at the road again. Donnelly glared at the mirror image of the man.
"I am in charge, Wesker. Do not forget that!"
"I am quite certain you won't allow me the pleasure." Wesker smirked as Brian snorted. The night would prove to be very interesting.
A figure crept along the halls of the Stonelick facility. The stark white lab coat was splattered with blood and other human matter, all in various states of decomposition. The scientist had been lucky to be absent when the virus had 'leaked'. She doubted the leak was an accident. She had friends at the Spencer Estate. One was getting out of there, too, waiting on the train. Jasmine was likely lost. She had not heard anything from her or about her since the 'accident'. Only a miracle would have gotten her friend from the place before crisis struck.
A moan sounded from behind the doctor. She had to get to the Kismet chamber before it was too late. She quickened her pace, fingering the gun she had kept in her desk drawer. Only three rounds left. She had to make good of them. She had to get to Kismet. Kismet was her last chance to get out alive.
Wesker pulled the Jeep off the road and drove a small distance into the forest. Shutting the engine off, he opened his door and stepped out. He looked around. Everything seemed to be normal. The others waited. Wesker waited. He listened. After several minutes and still no noise, he knew something else was with them. Something else was in the forest. He motioned them to stay quiet but proceed. As Rebecca walked by him, he grabbed her arm. His voice was barely audible when he spoke. "Be careful and take care of yourself." She nodded and poked him in the chest to indicate he was to do the same. He smirked and leaned down to give her a soft kiss. When they broke apart, Wesker had lost the smirk and was all serious. He took off through the woods, leaving the others to follow.
Rebecca pulled out her Beretta and checked to make sure there was a bullet in the chamber. She was ready to go. Demetrius pulled out his trusty M40A1, doubling checking that he had plenty of rounds with him. Brian stuck to his MK23. He would have preferred Rebecca equipped with something a bit stronger, but Wesker seemed to think she could not handle much more than a 9mm. Brian figured Wesker was just reluctant to face the fact that she was a very capable young woman that could take care of herself in most 'normal' circumstances.
Hearing a short, sharp whine from the direction Wesker had ran, he motioned Demetrius to take point, placing Rebecca safely between them. As much as he liked to think she was capable, Brian did not know enough to let her have his back, or that of Demetrius. She was better off between them where they both could keep an eye on her. Besides, Wesker would be more at ease, he hoped.
The three followed Wesker for an hour before finally coming to the facility. Demetrius and Brian both knew they had not gone as the crow flies. Wesker had them going in zigzags and circles. Why, neither was sure, but Brian had intentions of finding out once they saw the man again. For the time being, he was going to get them inside and to the computers. He hoped he remembered all the shit Isaiah had been pounding into his brain.
Signaling Demetrius, Brian moved to the door they were closest to. According to Wesker's map, they were near the security offices. He checked his gun and slowly turned the knob on the door. Thankfully, it was unlocked. He opened it quickly and did a sweep with his gun. Nothing was in sight of the door. He motioned Demetrius through and then Rebecca. He eased the door closed behind him so as not to make too much noise. He watched as Demetrius tried first one door and then another. They were locked.
Not having a key, and the doors being old fashioned, he screwed the silencer onto his handgun and shot the lock. Rebecca looked at him and then the door. Why the hell didn't we think of that at the Spencer Estate or the Training Facility? She shook her head and followed him into the room. With them out of sight, Demetrius took the other locked knob in hand and twisted with a sharp jerk. The lock broke, allowing him entrance.
Inside the first room, Brian located only one computer with the minimum of information. He did print out a detailed map of the all the floors of the complex, however. Rebecca searched through all the medical supplies she could find and pocketed what was usable. They both searched through the remaining items and files but found nothing of use. Scanning the room one last time, Brian ushered Rebecca out after he rechecked the hall. He then moved down the hall to the other door.
He eyed the door knob, confused. How had Greer gone through? Shrugging, he had Rebecca go inside then followed. She rolled her eyes. She was quickly growing sick of the protection bit, and she was not sticking around to be coddled. As Brian went over to the filing cabinet to see what Demetrius was looking at, she slipped from the room and down the hall. She was not a baby. She was a S.T.A.R.S officer.
Brian saw Demetrius had the cabinet covered, so he moved to the computer bay nearby. He cycled through all files quickly, again finding nothing of use. He moved on to the desk, finding only office supplies and handgun parts. The parts were for a Berretta 9. He wondered if Rebecca would mind if he quickly upgraded her handgun. He froze when he looked up to ask her. "Shit!" His exclamation drew not only Demetrius' attention but Athena's as well.
"Ganesa, what's wrong?" Her voice cracked in his ear piece. He swallowed and looked to Demetrius, who had gone to the hall. The sharp shooter shook his head. "And I assume that Pitaaji has turned his radio off." He heard a muffled curse.
"I don't know. However, we have a situation."
"And that would be?" Her voice had an edge he knew well. She was contained frustration.
"Chikitsak has disappeared. We are in the second office we came across. I took all of a minute to search the computer while Yama searched some files." He held his breath. Another muffled curse, more lengthy than the other.
"Alright. Keep up your part of the mission. Pitaaji can see to Chikitsak. This changes nothing." The words were hallow. She cared. A lot was changed by Rebecca's disappearance. Brian feared his life was what was going to be changed. Wesker was going to flip, to put it lightly.
Wesker had long ago left the others. He felt Rebecca would be safer with the two Marines than with him. Besides, he could travel a lot faster without her. He had already found his way to subbasement four. He knew two more levels existed. The mission would be over soon. Especially now that he had eliminated most, if not all, of the BOWs created and stored within. He was searching for the passage he knew was hidden somewhere around the area he stood, but was having difficulty locating it, when the phone is his pocket started vibrating. He was tempted to just smash the thing and continue on his way. However, he seemed to feel Athena's worry and urgency. He jerked it from his pocket and answered.
"What?" He softly, yet sharply, snapped.
"She's run off on her own. They can't locate her." That was all she said before hanging up. Wesker did not need to hear anymore to know what was going on either. He cursed and turned his radio on for a moment.
"She better be well when I find her, or both of you will pay more dearly than I already plan." Short, simple. Like his daughter he found no need for the extra words at the time. The few he said were plain enough for the message to be very clear. Now, all he had to do was find Rebecca, which meant retracing his path.
Demetrius had taken leave to search on his own. Brian had nodded his approval. Without Rebecca needing them to guard her, they would be better off separated. They could work at their own pace and move more stealthily, not that Wesker had left much of a reason for them to. The older man had killed literally everything he had came across. Demetrius felt disappointed. He had looked forward to combating the BOWs.
He had been searching a small room off an office, when he came across a ladder that lead both up and down from the room. Knowing nothing of importance lie above him, he had chosen to go down. He went to the bottom before the ladder had an opening to get off. Checking his map, he noticed that the ladder was not on it. The scientist had a secret passage for getting to their other offices. He found the idea clever, and not surprising for an Umbrella employee. They trusted no one, least of all their coworkers.
As he entered the new office, he heard rustling. He pulled up his gun and did a quick span of the room. Near the door, rummaging through a leather briefcase, stood a woman. She was wearing a long white lab jacket and he could smell the remnants of the victims on her. She had obviously been surviving inside the complex for some time. But why is she not a zombie, too? He silently approached her until his gun hit her back. "Turn around," he ordered. She froze and did so slowly.
Around five feet six inches, the doctor wore glasses perched on her dark brown, frizzy hair that she had tied up in a bun. Her hazel eyes locked on first the gun and then him. He eyed the small scars that covered her face, most being on the left hand side. She arched her right brow in silent askance. He stepped back and lowered the weapon. She put her hands on her wide hips and stood as she waited for him to finish looking her over. He could tell the scrutiny annoyed her. He noticed that she was unconventional, wearing steel toe doc martens and farm style work clothes (faded jeans, t-shirt, and work shirt). He also recognized her, knew her.
"Dr. Rhodes, I had not realized you had transferred."
"And I had not realized you were still alive." She turned back to her bag, still searching.
"What is going on here? What is the Kismet Project?" He inched closer to her.
"None of your concern. You have no affiliation with Umbrella any longer." She pulled a small book from the bag and pocketed. He noted it had her name and a pentagram engraved in silver on the front.
"Suzanna…"
"Ains-hun, meins frijonds. This is not the time nor the place." She picked up the handgun she had placed on the shelf beside her as she searched. She checked it again. One round left. She sighed. "Kismet… I fear neither of us will make it from here alive. Besides, you have secrets that I have kept…" She pocketed the gun and crossed her arms. She leaned back against the wall and watched him. The minimal light in the room glinted on her pentagram necklace. "Kismet was designed as a psychological faculty fortification catalyst." She felt around in her pockets until she produced a cigarette, which she lit and puffed on a moment before continuing.
"Kismet, fate, destiny. Umbrella wanted to control them. They found the perfect specimen of natural ability and seized control of her, not that she gave up much of a fight. For the past twenty-five years, the Kismet Project has been in the works. Studies, analysis, experiments all the scientific stuff you can imagine and more. We've done it all. She's ready to wake up again."
"What is she? Who is she?" He stepped closer again. The doctor backed toward the door.
"She's my pride and joy. I take most of the credit for what she has become. Kismet is all her name applies. She is destiny, controls destiny." She slipped out the door before he could say another word. He growled and threw the door open but she was gone. She knew the facility better than most. He would not find her so easily, but he needed answers.
Demetrius looked over the office. He found many relics and artifacts lying about. She was an avid collector of the macabre. He also found many books on witchcraft and spells, as well as the components for the spells. In one corner actually sat an alter. He doubted many of the other employees ever entered into this sanctuary for her to so brazenly place it there. After the exterior walls, he moved to the desk. The top was a mess, a seemingly organized mess, but a mess nonetheless. He rummaged before stopping as he uncovered a logbook. She was stickler for details and cataloguing events and items. He grabbed the large binder and a smaller book within. They could prove useful.
Rebecca was busy looking over the files in an examination room over looking the main Kismet lab. She had somehow bypassed Wesker and beat him to the bottom level of the compound. She doubted he would be happy with her leaving like she had, but she was not a child that need her hand held. The files were proving very informative on the reason for the project but not on the subject. She had found no reference to Kyna Marsden anywhere. Everything was labeled Kismet. She was busy separating the last of the files when a yell and the sounds of a struggle startled her. She heard a gunshot and then more struggling. She raced from the room to see what was going on, running right into Wesker's side.
Wesker looked down at Rebecca, pleased she was well and not the one in trouble. He grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him as he quickly found the source of the commotion. Dr. Rhodes was busy fighting of an attacker.
"Get off of me!" She kicked the zombie off her and across the room. Her secretary. The zombie had been her secretary Elizabeth. They had become friends over the years. Now it was all over because of the damn t-virus. "Damn t-virus freaks!" She spat in the direction of Wesker, not the zombie. They knew each other as well, and not in a friendly way. Wesker did not bat an eye as looked into Suzanna's. He raised his gun and shot her in the center of the forehead. She fell back, blood pooling under her skull.
Rebecca stood in shock. What had Wesker just done? Her mind was quickly torn from the shooting to the zombie latching on to her leg. She yelped and fought to get away and locate her gun. Wesker swung his own gun around and delivered the same treatment to the secretary as he had her boss. Rebecca breathed in deeply before squatting to look at the woman. She was between five and a quarter to five and three quarters of a foot tall. Her hair was brownish and short and her face innocent under the pallor of death, dark dilated eyes staring blankly out. She wore a simple black shirt and dark green slacks. She seemed dressed more for comfort than for style. Her nails were well maintained but short and uneven, and now caked with blood. "E. King. I wonder who she was." She closed the corpses eyes before looking at Wesker.
"A secretary, nothing more." His voice was hard, sharp. She ignored his tone and moved on to the doctor.
"Dr. Rhodes. Who was she? What did she do?" Rebecca closed the doctor's eyes before standing.
"An annoying nuisance that headed up the Kismet Project. I don't know when she was transferred off the Skohsl Rabbe Project."
"The what?" She had never heard the words before.
"Nothing. It's not important. You running off, however," he turned to her and pulled her against him, "is very important." He kissed her before using both hands to push her back by the shoulders. "If you ever do anything like that again, the zombies won't have to kill you. Do you understand?"
Rebecca rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll be a good girl and let you hold my hand. Is that better?" She wrenched out of his hands and stalked back to the room with the files. She had found a couple boxes that would work wonderfully to carry the files they needed out in.
Wesker ground his teeth and watched her go. If she wanted to be difficult, who was he to stop her? He had his own mission to complete. He walked over the doctor's body and into the large lab, the inner sanctum. He froze as his eyes landed on the suspension tank in the middle of the room. Kyna… After all those years, there she was right before his eyes.
He stepped up to the tank. All the outer security systems had been shut down. The doctor had come down here to release her. He quickly went to the controls and shutdown the system. He released the remaining locks and drained the tank. Slowly, the liquid left the large glass tube. The figure within slumped to the floor before standing unsteadily. The tank slid open, allowing her to step from its confines. She looked around, wondering why she had been awakened. Was it time? When her eyes landed on Wesker, the light in them faded slightly. What was he doing there?
Rebecca watched unnoticed as the naked woman walked toward Wesker. Something about the look on the woman's face worried her, but when the woman kissed him, she felt her world shift. Why was she kissing Wesker? Why was he allowing her to, not fighting her off?
"You have not changed much physically, Albert." The woman ran a hand down his chest. "But inside you are different." She smiled evilly. "Much like I am now." Her eyes caught sight of Rebecca. "Who's this?" She stepped around him and toward her. As she neared, she sensed something. "You forsake me for a child, Albert?" She grabbed Rebecca by the throat and pulled her close. "A little virgin blood? Is she why you do not kiss back? Are you in love with her?" She squeezed Rebecca's throat. The medic began to turn blue.
Wesker, seeing Rebecca in danger, cared not who had a hold of her. He rushed forward and snapped Kyna's arm. The woman screamed and reeled back. Wesker put himself between Rebecca and Athena's mother. "Don't touch her," he growled dangerously. She cackled.
"You presume to stand a chance against me?" She sounded very confident. "Please! The t-virus has nothing on the Kismet catalyst." She flicked her eyes and he flew across the room. "Don't you see? I am the ultimate power. I can control all with the smallest spark of the mind."
"You are a fool!" He rushed her, swung at her, hitting nothing but some sort of force field seemingly.
"Don't toy with me, Albert. I don't like such games."
"I'm glad Athena can't see you like this. I'm glad you were never in her life." He struggled with the grip her mind had on his hand.
"Did she turn out pathetic like her father? Is she a sorry excuse for flesh? I should have killed her like I wanted." The words in his mind made him gasp and cease in his struggles.
"What?" He was startled.
"Oh, brother dearest didn't tell you, did he? He wanted to save you the knowledge. He always did care too much. His father was weak." She began to raise Wesker off the ground. His hands flew to his chest. His heart was being crushed so very slowly. Kyna cackled more as she watched him seize in pain, having forgotten Rebecca.
The medic struggled to sit up. Her breathing was weak, but she was determined. She had to help Wesker. Focus. See the target. See the bullet hitting the target. Squeeze the trigger gently. Chris's words of wisdom returned to her as she raised her Beretta and squeezed the trigger. Her aim was true. The small piece of lead slammed into Kyna's head, exploding from the other side. At seeing the mess, she dropped her gun and stared. Wesker fell to the floor with a thud and a few cracks. Kyna collapsed into a heap, dead. All that power and one small bullet ended it all. Rebecca zoned out. She was awake but gone. She was deep in shock. She had just taken someone's life.
Demetrius rushed toward the sound of the 9mm gunshot he had just heard. He was almost there when he froze at seeing the bodies in the outer lab. Suzanna and Elizabeth. He knew them both, had for several years. Wesker had killed them, and he would have too he reasoned. As he was about to find out what was going on in the other room, he remembered the book she had pocketed. He pulled it from her body along with the skull ring on her finger and the pentagram around her neck. He was all that was left to remember her.
AN: The translations will be given later in the story. I'm afraid to give something away if I post them now. However, if you are truly interested and don't wish to wait. Contact me and I'll spoil that much for you. Okies! Hope you are enjoying reading this as much as I am writing it.
Blessed Be!
Ghost-of-a-Rose