Albert Wesker had a split second decision to make. He could go after Chris
Redfield, his sister, and the second man with them - a decision that could
cost him his team, or he could go see what the fracas was with the Ashford
and Merandez.
On the other hand, there was the matter of settling a dispute with Redfield.
"Ah, Redfield, don't be so sure of your escape, there are so many factors that you result in ... disaster."
While it would be good for Wesker to finally scratch the irritating itch of the Redfields, he wanted them to suffer first.
He frowned slightly, pale lips twisting in a grimace. Either way held dangers and chances to let Redfield get away. And that could not be allowed.
Oh yes, Chris Redfield would die screaming for mercy, and his little sister would go in the same way. At that, the grimace smoothed out. He made his decision. *
Ruben Salven dashed through the halls, gun raised.
"For justice!" he howled. He had heard that from a movie once, and while he did not give a fig about justice, he figured that it was a pretty cool thing to scream while going to save one's potential ladyfriend.
"He's an idiot." Chris said bleakly.
"You just realized that?"
Salven howled on regardless, running as fast he could. He was deterred by this, however, by bumping into Hojo.
Hojo looked down on Ruben Salven, smiling. He had never had the disdain for him that the others had had. He actually thought he was a friendly guy, even if he did go a bit overboard at times.
"Hi." he greeted Salven. Then he took a deep breath, and words began to spill out "Cora's in trouble with Alexia and I think Cassandra is too but I'm not sure and if worst comes to worst will you help us?" Hojo took another breath
"What's happening to Cora?"
"Birkin's taking care of it." Hojo said worridly. Catherine gave a small nod.
"He's an accomplished scientist. I'm sure he'll be able to do something. And he has ... other qualifications." Catherine said calmly. Salven stared at her.
"He's facing a mutant antwomanbeast and the only thing he has going for him is a degree in science? We are so screwed. She might come after one of us after she's done with Cora."
"Oh. Shit." Hojo said faintly.
Meanwhile, Chris and Claire were struggling with these facts. Chris had gone the colour of chalk, while Claire had a puzzled expression on her face.
"Mutant antwomanbeast?" Claire asked. "and Birkin? Are you talking about ... Alexia Ashford and William Birkin?"
Catherine turned on them, ready to condescend, when she realized that they were on UBCS soldiers as she had first thought.
"Who the devil are you?!" she spluttered, giving off a fine impression of her uncle under stress.
"I'm Chris Redfield. This is my sister, Claire."
Catherine lived her life in the labs, and she lived her life by Umbrella's rules. And a rule by Umbrella that was very high up on the list was 'S.T.A.R.S. members are pure evil."
Hojo did not seem to have some reservations.
"Hell, I don't care if you're S.T.A.R.S. I just want to see a friendly face." and he offered a hand.
"What the bloody hell are you playing at, Hojo?!" Catherine's voice was a tone shriller than it had been before. "These cretins have been destroying some of our most important laboratories! They are *not* our friends!"
"And who are you?" Claire asked, hand on her gun.
"I am Catherine Elizabeth Spencer!" she told them. Her confusion was great when neither of them cowered or trembled, just got even more stony faced. When Catherine was a child, all she had to do was explain just who she was and she got what she want. The scientists would not let her study this and this - Catherine made it clear that her uncle would not be happy. It was bad form, but Catherine had to do it to get into the labs in the first place.
Seeing two people who actually were going to hurt her because of her family was a concept that was entirely new to her.
"Spencer." she repeated. "My uncle founded Umbrella?"
"Haha, now, guys." Hojo said placidly. "We don't want to start any trouble, now do we?"
Catherine and the Redfields glared at each other, ignoring Hojo.
*
He was about to antagonise Alexia Ashford, who posessed genetically enhanced intelligence in addition to her T-Veronica induced combat abilities. No matter how scientifically skilled Birkin was, no matter how more prudent, this was a confontation which held an unsettling likelihood of defeat on his part.
/Why did I have to come along on this unnecessary expedition? I'm a scientist!/
Needless to say, he had to act quickly before Alexia mutated. So he flung himself forward, throwing out a forearm awkwardly. It was a move he had seen Albert use before, and his lanky frame felt odd fighting. His forearm caught Alexia in the chest, pinning her against the wall.
It was hard to say who was more surprised; William or Alexia. Alexia's emotions were for once betrayed on her face. Her china blue eyes were wide, her little rosebud mouth had dropped open, and she was ashen. Just for a second though. One moment she looked as though she had seen a ghost, the next as though she was the puppet master again.
"The antidote." William demanded.
"I am surprised that you would show pity for her." Alexia said softly. "It is in the name of science."
"I don't care about her." William said. It was the truth. "But I know what you're planning. Do you still take me for an idiot after all these years? I guessed right after that first meeting with the Spencer girl and her. You want to use the UBSC as your own little army." William smirked slightly. "How quaint, Alexia. World domination, I'm guessing, is your final goal. I thought you had a little more brains than that. I just hope that you are intelligent enough to hand over the antidote."
Of course, she would have an antidote. As much as Alexia wanted an army, if there was a risk of her soldiers growing stronger than her, it would be put to a stop immediately.
In truth, Birkin did not know what he would do if she didn't comply. This newfound strength had to have been done by the Spencer sisters. What else could cause it? Again, that gas masked man floated in front of his vision. Something else. Annette, screaming and panicking.
To Birkin's shock, Alexia calmly reached into her pocket and pulled out the antidote.
"Thank you." Birkin said calmly, turning. The girl's condition was getting worse. Her skin was gray, her eyes closed, and she twitched and muttered oddly. Her eyes suddenly shot open, to reveal deep pools of blue gray eyes with no pupil.
"Hulio!" she cried out. "Amelia! Mother!" and then she lay back, panting. That pupilless fixed on Alexia and her teeth were bared in a snarl.
At least she was strapped down. Calmly, Birkin strode over and injected the antidote.
"It's pecuilar how much you do for the company that betrayed you." Alexia said calmly.
Birkin froze, needle still in Merandez.
"Betrayal?" he asked softly. His voice did not shake, but it was alarming how much effort it took for that to happen. There was a surging at the back of his head, of old buried memories being un earthed.
"You developed the G-Virus, you stablized it." Alexia said calmly. She had the upper hand, and she knew it. "Umbrella took it when you would not hand it over freely. By force."
The memories broke loose from their containment. The UBSC team, gunning him down, taking the sample. Birkin injecting the sample into himself and turning into a monster. And the deaths he had caused. The soldiers. Those casualties weren't the one that bothered him though.
He had killed his wife, Annette. Gutted her. For some reason, his knees felt weak. That was ridiculous! He had been quite fond of Annette, but ...
His world had been turned upside down. But he could not show Alexia that weakness, she would lunge at a moment's notice. He turned around, wearing a slight smile that belied his inner turmoil.
"Yes, well, I got my revenge in the end, didn't I?" he asked. "Injected myself with my own virus - and it did work, after all. And it seems that I have the advantage here. Even if that damned Redfield did kill me, I've been bought back..." Despite the calmness of his face, his hands were shaking and he found himself fidgeting and shuffling about.
/I'm not a bad person, I'm just a scientist. If Spencer hadn't done it, I wouldn't have had to kill anyone. That's all./
"Claire Redfield is alive. And she is here, in Uranium City. Inside this lab itself."
Albert had always been the one for revenge. If someone gets one up from you, get back at them tenfold. Birkin had only gotten revenge if he had the chance, if it was handed to him on a silver platter.
And it appeared that it had been in this instance.
"This does not mean that I will ally with you, Alexia." Birkin said. He wouldn't put it past her to plan that. But he would get his revenge. Alexia just smiled to herself, sweeping out past him. The simpleton Birkin did not know it, but he was just a marionette dancing on her strings. If even a trace of the G-Virus still flowed through his veins, then he could get Alexia's revenge like a good worker ant.
On the other hand, there was the matter of settling a dispute with Redfield.
"Ah, Redfield, don't be so sure of your escape, there are so many factors that you result in ... disaster."
While it would be good for Wesker to finally scratch the irritating itch of the Redfields, he wanted them to suffer first.
He frowned slightly, pale lips twisting in a grimace. Either way held dangers and chances to let Redfield get away. And that could not be allowed.
Oh yes, Chris Redfield would die screaming for mercy, and his little sister would go in the same way. At that, the grimace smoothed out. He made his decision. *
Ruben Salven dashed through the halls, gun raised.
"For justice!" he howled. He had heard that from a movie once, and while he did not give a fig about justice, he figured that it was a pretty cool thing to scream while going to save one's potential ladyfriend.
"He's an idiot." Chris said bleakly.
"You just realized that?"
Salven howled on regardless, running as fast he could. He was deterred by this, however, by bumping into Hojo.
Hojo looked down on Ruben Salven, smiling. He had never had the disdain for him that the others had had. He actually thought he was a friendly guy, even if he did go a bit overboard at times.
"Hi." he greeted Salven. Then he took a deep breath, and words began to spill out "Cora's in trouble with Alexia and I think Cassandra is too but I'm not sure and if worst comes to worst will you help us?" Hojo took another breath
"What's happening to Cora?"
"Birkin's taking care of it." Hojo said worridly. Catherine gave a small nod.
"He's an accomplished scientist. I'm sure he'll be able to do something. And he has ... other qualifications." Catherine said calmly. Salven stared at her.
"He's facing a mutant antwomanbeast and the only thing he has going for him is a degree in science? We are so screwed. She might come after one of us after she's done with Cora."
"Oh. Shit." Hojo said faintly.
Meanwhile, Chris and Claire were struggling with these facts. Chris had gone the colour of chalk, while Claire had a puzzled expression on her face.
"Mutant antwomanbeast?" Claire asked. "and Birkin? Are you talking about ... Alexia Ashford and William Birkin?"
Catherine turned on them, ready to condescend, when she realized that they were on UBCS soldiers as she had first thought.
"Who the devil are you?!" she spluttered, giving off a fine impression of her uncle under stress.
"I'm Chris Redfield. This is my sister, Claire."
Catherine lived her life in the labs, and she lived her life by Umbrella's rules. And a rule by Umbrella that was very high up on the list was 'S.T.A.R.S. members are pure evil."
Hojo did not seem to have some reservations.
"Hell, I don't care if you're S.T.A.R.S. I just want to see a friendly face." and he offered a hand.
"What the bloody hell are you playing at, Hojo?!" Catherine's voice was a tone shriller than it had been before. "These cretins have been destroying some of our most important laboratories! They are *not* our friends!"
"And who are you?" Claire asked, hand on her gun.
"I am Catherine Elizabeth Spencer!" she told them. Her confusion was great when neither of them cowered or trembled, just got even more stony faced. When Catherine was a child, all she had to do was explain just who she was and she got what she want. The scientists would not let her study this and this - Catherine made it clear that her uncle would not be happy. It was bad form, but Catherine had to do it to get into the labs in the first place.
Seeing two people who actually were going to hurt her because of her family was a concept that was entirely new to her.
"Spencer." she repeated. "My uncle founded Umbrella?"
"Haha, now, guys." Hojo said placidly. "We don't want to start any trouble, now do we?"
Catherine and the Redfields glared at each other, ignoring Hojo.
*
He was about to antagonise Alexia Ashford, who posessed genetically enhanced intelligence in addition to her T-Veronica induced combat abilities. No matter how scientifically skilled Birkin was, no matter how more prudent, this was a confontation which held an unsettling likelihood of defeat on his part.
/Why did I have to come along on this unnecessary expedition? I'm a scientist!/
Needless to say, he had to act quickly before Alexia mutated. So he flung himself forward, throwing out a forearm awkwardly. It was a move he had seen Albert use before, and his lanky frame felt odd fighting. His forearm caught Alexia in the chest, pinning her against the wall.
It was hard to say who was more surprised; William or Alexia. Alexia's emotions were for once betrayed on her face. Her china blue eyes were wide, her little rosebud mouth had dropped open, and she was ashen. Just for a second though. One moment she looked as though she had seen a ghost, the next as though she was the puppet master again.
"The antidote." William demanded.
"I am surprised that you would show pity for her." Alexia said softly. "It is in the name of science."
"I don't care about her." William said. It was the truth. "But I know what you're planning. Do you still take me for an idiot after all these years? I guessed right after that first meeting with the Spencer girl and her. You want to use the UBSC as your own little army." William smirked slightly. "How quaint, Alexia. World domination, I'm guessing, is your final goal. I thought you had a little more brains than that. I just hope that you are intelligent enough to hand over the antidote."
Of course, she would have an antidote. As much as Alexia wanted an army, if there was a risk of her soldiers growing stronger than her, it would be put to a stop immediately.
In truth, Birkin did not know what he would do if she didn't comply. This newfound strength had to have been done by the Spencer sisters. What else could cause it? Again, that gas masked man floated in front of his vision. Something else. Annette, screaming and panicking.
To Birkin's shock, Alexia calmly reached into her pocket and pulled out the antidote.
"Thank you." Birkin said calmly, turning. The girl's condition was getting worse. Her skin was gray, her eyes closed, and she twitched and muttered oddly. Her eyes suddenly shot open, to reveal deep pools of blue gray eyes with no pupil.
"Hulio!" she cried out. "Amelia! Mother!" and then she lay back, panting. That pupilless fixed on Alexia and her teeth were bared in a snarl.
At least she was strapped down. Calmly, Birkin strode over and injected the antidote.
"It's pecuilar how much you do for the company that betrayed you." Alexia said calmly.
Birkin froze, needle still in Merandez.
"Betrayal?" he asked softly. His voice did not shake, but it was alarming how much effort it took for that to happen. There was a surging at the back of his head, of old buried memories being un earthed.
"You developed the G-Virus, you stablized it." Alexia said calmly. She had the upper hand, and she knew it. "Umbrella took it when you would not hand it over freely. By force."
The memories broke loose from their containment. The UBSC team, gunning him down, taking the sample. Birkin injecting the sample into himself and turning into a monster. And the deaths he had caused. The soldiers. Those casualties weren't the one that bothered him though.
He had killed his wife, Annette. Gutted her. For some reason, his knees felt weak. That was ridiculous! He had been quite fond of Annette, but ...
His world had been turned upside down. But he could not show Alexia that weakness, she would lunge at a moment's notice. He turned around, wearing a slight smile that belied his inner turmoil.
"Yes, well, I got my revenge in the end, didn't I?" he asked. "Injected myself with my own virus - and it did work, after all. And it seems that I have the advantage here. Even if that damned Redfield did kill me, I've been bought back..." Despite the calmness of his face, his hands were shaking and he found himself fidgeting and shuffling about.
/I'm not a bad person, I'm just a scientist. If Spencer hadn't done it, I wouldn't have had to kill anyone. That's all./
"Claire Redfield is alive. And she is here, in Uranium City. Inside this lab itself."
Albert had always been the one for revenge. If someone gets one up from you, get back at them tenfold. Birkin had only gotten revenge if he had the chance, if it was handed to him on a silver platter.
And it appeared that it had been in this instance.
"This does not mean that I will ally with you, Alexia." Birkin said. He wouldn't put it past her to plan that. But he would get his revenge. Alexia just smiled to herself, sweeping out past him. The simpleton Birkin did not know it, but he was just a marionette dancing on her strings. If even a trace of the G-Virus still flowed through his veins, then he could get Alexia's revenge like a good worker ant.