Alfred sat nervously in the lab. He had not known what to do after he
infected the girl, so he simply sat by her day by night. Alexia had just
said that he couldn't kill her. Not that he couldn't infect her. That would
be okay, right? She had shown defiance to an Ashford! She had had to be
killed! It was necessary!
Somehow, Alfred knew Alexia wouldn't see it that way. He whimpered. As if in sympathy, the zombie beside him gave a groan. Of course, the zombie actually couldn't feel any emotion.
/Alexia's gonna kill you./ a nervous voice said inside his head.
"Of course she is. I deserve it." Alfred said outloud. "You made me do it though. This is your fault!" That was directed to the zombie.
"Do what, Alfred?"
He froze. Alexia was back. Just entering the lab, but when she saw ... he glanced at the zombie and began to shake. Alexia had no mercy, and when she saw what he had done... it was all his fault, of course, and Alexia would be perfectly right to hand out any punishment that he no doubt deserved. But he was still terrified.
She stormed into the lab, skirts swishing furiously about her ankles.
"I - hate - William Birkin!" she screamed.
He gave a sympathetic nod, eager to please. Anything for his Alexia. Alexander, that worthless fool, had often berated her, calling her a child at heart no matter how old she grew. Alexander had often warned her to straighten up and act straight, despite Alexia's fury at these speeches. Well, they had taken care of that worthless fool.
And while she had been been as mature as most people twice her age when she was froze, she still had missed out on some of life's lessons during those long years in the freezer, one of them being that some people were out to screw even an Ashford over. Even with the whole Redfield incident, she still had no realized that.
"That insolent cretin thinks he can just foil my carefully laid plans..." Alexia exhaled hard, her speech cutting off sharply, as she laid eyes on what was left of Alanna Turnbull. Her rage disappeared to the untrained eye, but Alfred knew her well enough to realize that she was just in control of it.
Alexia flying off the handle was terrifying enough, but not as scary as Alexia in cold blood. At least when she was in a rage you could hope that your punishment would be quick and easy.
When it came to a dangerous situation, Alfred had four choices -
1. Kill whoever caused the problem and their supporters, then kill the witnesses.
2. Rely on Alexia to cake care of it.
3. Leave the problem alone for a later time.
4. Panic.
Choice 1 would not work, neither would 2, nor 3. So Alfred resorted to choice four.
"Alexia!" he whined. "Mercy. Please. She made me do it. Please!"
She gave him a cold stare, then casually backhanded.
"Fool." she spat. "I will take care of this concern later. I have more important matters to intend to. Spencer wants an account of the Uranium City expedition from the Head Scientist." Alexia gave a sly smile. Alfred smiled as well. If his sister was up to something, then she would succeed, and that would no doubt sooth her and take her attention off Alfred's blunder.
"Good luck, 'Lexia." he said. Surprisingly, she gave him a rueful smile. She very rarely smiled, even at him. She must be very confident about this report to Spencer.
"I do not need your well wishing." she said briskly, "You just dispose of that corpse."
"Yes, Alexia."
She nodded regally, turned, and swept from the room.
When Salven had returned, they had been more than glad to return him to the position of Trainer and slap him heartily on the back a few times. So he figured that it'd probably be for the greater good if he refrained from telling them that he had met up with two of Umbrella's greatest enemies and decided to let them go.
They were picky like that, Umbrella really were. He rubbed the list of orders that he had been given between his thumb and forefinger, then turned around to face his class, a group of three or four people. Cora was standing on the far left.
"Alright." Salven said. "Everyone who has a mother, step forward. Not so fast there, Cora."
He was extremely pleased with himself for thinking up such a great way to tell someone their mother was dead. He had read it in a MAD magazine.
She stopped, staring at him.
"What the hell do you mean, Salven? I have a mother."
"Correction - you had a mother."
She stared at him for a moment, as if trying to gauge whether he was serious or not.
"Look, Cora, just because I'm wearing my 'I fuck on the first date' shirt doesn't mean I'm lying. Look, I'll go comfort you. In your room."
She was staring there, wobbling slightly on the spot.
"You're serious." she said flatly.
He nodded. For a moment, her face turned pale, and she looked very old. Then she merely walked out, face pale and drawn.
"I need a drink." Salven said. His students stared at him blankly. "Uh, don't tell Spencer, okay? Do um... jumping jacks or something."
He brushed hair out of his eyes and strode out with a sigh.
Wesker was slightly more irritated than normal as he stepped outside of the front doors to the HCF headquarters. He had just recieved results on the virus that Alexia had given him. It was useless. It wasn't much of a surprise, but it was still enough for him to wish that he could meet up with Alexia again. There would be no more deals the next time that happened.
"Ashford." he muttered under his breath. How had the woman come back from the dead, anyway? The short redhead a couple of paces behind him was watching him, green eyes slightly curious.
He wasn't surprised by this development, nor too angered by it. It was just the fact that the whole Uranium City escapade had been a big waste of time. He wanted to do something of some importance, to be able to be in his element.
Hopefully, something came along soon. He liked to be in control of things. He was aware of the weight of the Desert Eagle in it's holster. He didn't need it, but it could come in handy sometimes.
Everything would be in his control. Soon enough.
The major players of Umbrella all sat around a large mahogany table. Cassandra Spencer, sans baggy t-shirt for once, was wearing a black deep neck cardigan and looking very uncomfortable. Catherine was wearing her lab coat, a nervous smile playing on her lips.
"William's going to be here."
"William?" Cassandra stared at him. "You and Slavedriver Birkin are on a first name basis?"
"There's nothing wrong with being a competant supervisor." Catherine said haughtily.
"D'you think that Birkin will be attracted to the bits of organ on your sleeve?" Cassandra grinned, tugging at the collar of the cardigan. Catherine flushed slightly, glaring at her sister.
Birkin and Alexia sat at seperate ends of the table, and were alternating between glaring at each other and wrapping themselves in icy disdain. That surprised Cassandra, she had thought that the two would be more mature. Alfred stood behind Alexia.
Lord Spencer himself sat next to Alexia, the very picture of superiority.
"Alexia Ashford has submitted a report of the Uranium City incident..." Spencer began. Birkin snorted.
"Right, and I'm sure it's a factual account." he said. Alexia bristled.
"Alexia shouldn't be trusted!" Cassandra said, her voice not a shout, but very close. "She infected Cora!"
"I'm sorry, Cassandra." Spencer said softly. "But it's her word against yours.
Cassandra felt furious for a moment.
"She's a liar!" Her voice was high now, and angry. "You can't believe her over me, Uncle ! Please!"
"Cassandra, sit down or you will be removed." he was all steel again, eyes cold chips of eyes. Cassandra sat down. Alexia laughed, a cool uncaring chime.
"I am surprised that you allow children to attend these matters, Spencer."
"Untrue." Birkin said. Alexia frowned at him as he continued. "The Spencer girls contribute in their own ways." He glanced and Catherine, and she flushed and gave a noise suspiciously like a giggle, before turning his head back to Oswell with a triumphant smile.
Spencer did not seem to know how to react to this, so he just scowled.
"The next order of business..." Spencer began. But whatever the second order of business was, no one got to find out, as the door opened and Cora Merandez peeked in.
"Um," she said in a wobbly voice. "Am I interrupting anything?"
Alexia had a look of renewed interest in her eyes.
"What is it?" Spencer asked. He was obviously nearing the end of his rope.
"I'd just like you to know that um, I'd like to take some vacation time now." Cora said meekly. She looked like a nervous breakdown about to happen.
/Oh./ Cassandra thought. /I guess I shouldn't have given those orders to Salven./
Somehow, Alfred knew Alexia wouldn't see it that way. He whimpered. As if in sympathy, the zombie beside him gave a groan. Of course, the zombie actually couldn't feel any emotion.
/Alexia's gonna kill you./ a nervous voice said inside his head.
"Of course she is. I deserve it." Alfred said outloud. "You made me do it though. This is your fault!" That was directed to the zombie.
"Do what, Alfred?"
He froze. Alexia was back. Just entering the lab, but when she saw ... he glanced at the zombie and began to shake. Alexia had no mercy, and when she saw what he had done... it was all his fault, of course, and Alexia would be perfectly right to hand out any punishment that he no doubt deserved. But he was still terrified.
She stormed into the lab, skirts swishing furiously about her ankles.
"I - hate - William Birkin!" she screamed.
He gave a sympathetic nod, eager to please. Anything for his Alexia. Alexander, that worthless fool, had often berated her, calling her a child at heart no matter how old she grew. Alexander had often warned her to straighten up and act straight, despite Alexia's fury at these speeches. Well, they had taken care of that worthless fool.
And while she had been been as mature as most people twice her age when she was froze, she still had missed out on some of life's lessons during those long years in the freezer, one of them being that some people were out to screw even an Ashford over. Even with the whole Redfield incident, she still had no realized that.
"That insolent cretin thinks he can just foil my carefully laid plans..." Alexia exhaled hard, her speech cutting off sharply, as she laid eyes on what was left of Alanna Turnbull. Her rage disappeared to the untrained eye, but Alfred knew her well enough to realize that she was just in control of it.
Alexia flying off the handle was terrifying enough, but not as scary as Alexia in cold blood. At least when she was in a rage you could hope that your punishment would be quick and easy.
When it came to a dangerous situation, Alfred had four choices -
1. Kill whoever caused the problem and their supporters, then kill the witnesses.
2. Rely on Alexia to cake care of it.
3. Leave the problem alone for a later time.
4. Panic.
Choice 1 would not work, neither would 2, nor 3. So Alfred resorted to choice four.
"Alexia!" he whined. "Mercy. Please. She made me do it. Please!"
She gave him a cold stare, then casually backhanded.
"Fool." she spat. "I will take care of this concern later. I have more important matters to intend to. Spencer wants an account of the Uranium City expedition from the Head Scientist." Alexia gave a sly smile. Alfred smiled as well. If his sister was up to something, then she would succeed, and that would no doubt sooth her and take her attention off Alfred's blunder.
"Good luck, 'Lexia." he said. Surprisingly, she gave him a rueful smile. She very rarely smiled, even at him. She must be very confident about this report to Spencer.
"I do not need your well wishing." she said briskly, "You just dispose of that corpse."
"Yes, Alexia."
She nodded regally, turned, and swept from the room.
When Salven had returned, they had been more than glad to return him to the position of Trainer and slap him heartily on the back a few times. So he figured that it'd probably be for the greater good if he refrained from telling them that he had met up with two of Umbrella's greatest enemies and decided to let them go.
They were picky like that, Umbrella really were. He rubbed the list of orders that he had been given between his thumb and forefinger, then turned around to face his class, a group of three or four people. Cora was standing on the far left.
"Alright." Salven said. "Everyone who has a mother, step forward. Not so fast there, Cora."
He was extremely pleased with himself for thinking up such a great way to tell someone their mother was dead. He had read it in a MAD magazine.
She stopped, staring at him.
"What the hell do you mean, Salven? I have a mother."
"Correction - you had a mother."
She stared at him for a moment, as if trying to gauge whether he was serious or not.
"Look, Cora, just because I'm wearing my 'I fuck on the first date' shirt doesn't mean I'm lying. Look, I'll go comfort you. In your room."
She was staring there, wobbling slightly on the spot.
"You're serious." she said flatly.
He nodded. For a moment, her face turned pale, and she looked very old. Then she merely walked out, face pale and drawn.
"I need a drink." Salven said. His students stared at him blankly. "Uh, don't tell Spencer, okay? Do um... jumping jacks or something."
He brushed hair out of his eyes and strode out with a sigh.
Wesker was slightly more irritated than normal as he stepped outside of the front doors to the HCF headquarters. He had just recieved results on the virus that Alexia had given him. It was useless. It wasn't much of a surprise, but it was still enough for him to wish that he could meet up with Alexia again. There would be no more deals the next time that happened.
"Ashford." he muttered under his breath. How had the woman come back from the dead, anyway? The short redhead a couple of paces behind him was watching him, green eyes slightly curious.
He wasn't surprised by this development, nor too angered by it. It was just the fact that the whole Uranium City escapade had been a big waste of time. He wanted to do something of some importance, to be able to be in his element.
Hopefully, something came along soon. He liked to be in control of things. He was aware of the weight of the Desert Eagle in it's holster. He didn't need it, but it could come in handy sometimes.
Everything would be in his control. Soon enough.
The major players of Umbrella all sat around a large mahogany table. Cassandra Spencer, sans baggy t-shirt for once, was wearing a black deep neck cardigan and looking very uncomfortable. Catherine was wearing her lab coat, a nervous smile playing on her lips.
"William's going to be here."
"William?" Cassandra stared at him. "You and Slavedriver Birkin are on a first name basis?"
"There's nothing wrong with being a competant supervisor." Catherine said haughtily.
"D'you think that Birkin will be attracted to the bits of organ on your sleeve?" Cassandra grinned, tugging at the collar of the cardigan. Catherine flushed slightly, glaring at her sister.
Birkin and Alexia sat at seperate ends of the table, and were alternating between glaring at each other and wrapping themselves in icy disdain. That surprised Cassandra, she had thought that the two would be more mature. Alfred stood behind Alexia.
Lord Spencer himself sat next to Alexia, the very picture of superiority.
"Alexia Ashford has submitted a report of the Uranium City incident..." Spencer began. Birkin snorted.
"Right, and I'm sure it's a factual account." he said. Alexia bristled.
"Alexia shouldn't be trusted!" Cassandra said, her voice not a shout, but very close. "She infected Cora!"
"I'm sorry, Cassandra." Spencer said softly. "But it's her word against yours.
Cassandra felt furious for a moment.
"She's a liar!" Her voice was high now, and angry. "You can't believe her over me, Uncle ! Please!"
"Cassandra, sit down or you will be removed." he was all steel again, eyes cold chips of eyes. Cassandra sat down. Alexia laughed, a cool uncaring chime.
"I am surprised that you allow children to attend these matters, Spencer."
"Untrue." Birkin said. Alexia frowned at him as he continued. "The Spencer girls contribute in their own ways." He glanced and Catherine, and she flushed and gave a noise suspiciously like a giggle, before turning his head back to Oswell with a triumphant smile.
Spencer did not seem to know how to react to this, so he just scowled.
"The next order of business..." Spencer began. But whatever the second order of business was, no one got to find out, as the door opened and Cora Merandez peeked in.
"Um," she said in a wobbly voice. "Am I interrupting anything?"
Alexia had a look of renewed interest in her eyes.
"What is it?" Spencer asked. He was obviously nearing the end of his rope.
"I'd just like you to know that um, I'd like to take some vacation time now." Cora said meekly. She looked like a nervous breakdown about to happen.
/Oh./ Cassandra thought. /I guess I shouldn't have given those orders to Salven./