Alfred Ashford tapped several keys, staring at the computer with his usual contempt. He sighed heavily, sifting through several reports. He was supposed to have an assistant, but Kent kept sending him morons and fools. People who got just a little to nosey to have around.

He sighed again as a soft knock echoed through the his small office. His head snapped up, glaring at the door and the person beyond it who would dare to interrupt him.

"Yes!"

The door cracked open slowly, to reveal Eric Newberry. Eric was tall and incredibly thin. He quickly shut the door behind him and approached the desk with more than his usual hesitance. His eyes darted back and forth, as if he expected U.B.C.S. agents to suddenly come crawling out of the wall to drag him off to the room behind the guillotine.

Everyone knew there was something back there, but no one talked about it. No one breathed a word about what might have happened to the various assistants Mr. Ashford hadn't sent back to headquarters. Questions got you in trouble, questions got you killed.

"Well, Newberry?" Alfred snapped in his usual dry tone. "Is there a reason you are disturbing me when I gave explicit orders not to be disturbed?"

"Ye…yes sir." Eric stammered, eyes still darting here and there. "The chopper is arriving soon."

"Is that supposed to interest me?" Alfred leaned back in his chair, tone still dry and condescending. "Is there a reason that I should bother with the arrival of a chopper, which is no doubt filled with more idiot U.B.C.S. agents?"

"Ah…yes…no…I mean…" Eric cringed. "Ms. Banks is arriving on this chopper sir."

"Ah yes, the new assistant." Alfred laid his head in his hand, staring at Newberry with a penetrating gaze. "You meet her."

"Me sir?" Eric looked ready to pass out. "But…I…I…"

Alfred waved a hand at him, cutting him off in mid ramble. He had no time to listen to Newberry come up with excuses as to why he couldn't do something.

"Just do it Newberry."

Eric went white just from the sheer force in Alfred's voice. The man had the highest pitched voice Eric had ever heard in a man, but it could still have force. Especially when you knew there was an underlying threat to be afraid of.

Eric nodded quickly and scurried out the door like a frightened rabbit. Alfred grinned, letting a tittering laugh escape his mouth. Kent had sent him Newberry five months ago, it had taken less than a week for him to learn his proper place. Idly, he wondered how long it would take to get this new assistant to learn hers…

Alexandra looked out over the blackened sea, letting her mind wander. So many things to remember, how she talked, how she walked…so many things. But the pills helped, the pills helped with a great many things.

Somewhere in the back of her mind a small voice, a voice she no longer heard, was screaming at her that the pills were seriously fucking her up. But she didn't hear that voice, she only heard the voice on the tapes they'd made her listen to. She only heard Kent's voice, outlining her mission. The small voice of warning was lost and forgotten, along with a great many memories she didn't need to complete her mission. Memories of a man. No, two men. A blonde, someone close to her, and a man with brown hair…something to do with…stars…

The chopper jostled slightly as it landed on the helipad of the military facility, bringing Alexandra back to the matter at hand. The blonde and brown haired men slipped to the back of her mind to fade in with other memories she couldn't quite hold onto. The door slide open and one of the waiting U.B.C.S. agents helped her off the chopper. She ducked slightly and walked quickly to a young red haired man waiting at the edge of the helipad.

"Ms. Banks?" His voice was tight and a bit shaky.

"Yes." Alexandra's tone was clipped with a slight air about it. "And you are?"

"Eric Newberry, ma'm." Eric deferred to her without thinking. "I'm liaison between Mr. Ashford and the U.B.C.S. commander."

"How nice for you." Alexandra looked over the area with a penetrating glare. "Where is Mr. Ashford?"

"He's in his office ma'm. He asked me to meet you."

"Well then, let's get going."

Alexandra grabbed her briefcase and walked swiftly toward the roof's door. She knew the layout of the island backwards and forewords, and could find any room with minimum effort. Eric trailed behind her like an ill trained puppy.

"But Ms. Banks he said not to be disturbed."

"I'll take responsibility for it."

"But…"

Alexandra spun on her heel, turning her gaze from the door to Eric. Eric shrank back, looking positively horrified. The look on Alexandra's face was a perfect imitation of Mr. Ashford's.

"This way ma'm."

Eric pushed the door open and lead her through the training facility to the courtyard below. Alexandra took in everything as the marched, almost military like, through the door and out onto the catwalk. The Palace, as it was called, loomed in the darkness like some kind of transplanted antebellum mansion.

Alexandra wondered to herself just what kind of person would spend such extravagance on the island's center of operation. Then again the Ashfords were one of Umbrella's founders, they probably had money to spare.

Eric held the gate open for her. She stepped through, her three inch heels clicking softly on the marble of the Palace's courtyard. She walked up the steps and pushed the large oak door open. Light spilled out of the doorway, illuminating the darkness outside. She stepped in quickly, taking in the splendor of the main hall.

"Where is Mr. Ashford's office?"

Eric pointed a shaking hand toward the red carpeted stairwell. Alexandra nodded, leading the way. A girl behind the reception desk started to stop her, but one look kept her in her seat. Alexandra was new, but she was already displaying the authority needed to run this installation. It would only be a matter of time.

She climbed the stairwell and allowed Newberry to point her in the right direction. She approached the office door with little apprehension and less fear. This was what she had come to do. She ran her fingers through her waist length hair and straightened her shoulders, before knocking on the door.

"What?"

Alexandra didn't falter, she didn't shrink back from the high pitched yet forceful voice on the other side of the door. Instead she pushed it open with a lack of fear that no one had ever dared to have when preparing to enter the presence of Alfred Ashford.

Alfred's head snapped up, ready to send another person to the room behind the guillotine, when he saw the young blonde step into his office. His eyes widened slightly and his mouth went dry. The woman let the door slip shut and stepped lightly across the rug to stand before his desk.

"My name is Alexandra Banks." Her voice was cool and calm. "Mr. Kent sent me to assist you."

Alfred stared at her, stared at her with a sort of awe and wonder one usually reserved for newborn children or heroes.

His Alexia had finally come back to him, she had come home…