"Aaron, I do not understand this obsession you have about law enforcement. Why can't you just go to collage like a normal person?"

Alex grinned up at her older brother, pushing several strands of hair behind her ear. She had graduated High School just a few months ago, graduated Valedictorian and a full year early to boot, and had taken a job with the R.P.D. as a secretary. Albert constantly nagged at her about going to collage, not that he had any right to really, considering he had recently gotten a job with the R.P.D. as well.

"Oh come on Albert, I'm sick of school. Besides think of all the things I can learn around here."

Albert arched an eyebrow at his baby sister, the eyebrow in question barley peeking above the dark lenses of his sunglasses.

"At least allow me to get you a job with Umbrella. They are always looking for security personnel."

"I'll think about it…"

Alex awoke with a start, banging her head against the underside of the control console. She pulled herself out of her hiding hole, hardly able to believe she had actually fallen asleep during an outbreak. She chalked it up to the T-Virus infection, which despite normal circumstances, was still wreaking havoc with her body.

She slid her sunglasses up and rubbed at her bloodshot eyes. She vividly remembered every aspect of the dream, mostly due to the fact the conversation had actually occurred. She had graduated High School at the age of seventeen, a full year early, and gotten a job with the R.P.D. At the time she had no idea that Albert's real job with the R.P.D. had been as liaison between Umbrella and Chief Irons, nor did she realize that he was well underway to becoming the man he eventually became. At the time he was still the big brother that she remembered from her childhood, it wasn't until the Tyrant Project and the subsequent creation of S.T.A.R.S. that he had changed.

She had, of course, accepted his offer. In four short years she had become the woman that she was now and Albert had been killed. It wasn't a pretty thought to be having when the island was crawling with Umbrella created monsters.

"Must have been that asshole's voice." She muttered, examining the bite wound on her right forearm. "He sounds just like Albert at times, not to mention the whole Bunny thing."

She ripped off the other remaining sleeve. Her swim to the hanger had loosened the bandages over the Cerberus bite drastically, and the thing had started to bleed again. Throw in the fact she was still sick as a dog, sporting a huge migraine, and the arm had swelled to twice it's normal size, and it was just not a good day for Alex...not a good day at all.

She finished tying off the bandage and made a makeshift sling with some material from the bottom of her shirt. After that was done, she finally had sense enough to glance at her watch. It was 5:48 in the p.m. Meaning she had been asleep for over ten hours, something that surprised her greatly considering she had been sleeping no more than two to three over the last three months. Then again, she hadn't had a reaction to the T-Virus like this before, ten hours and she was still ill. It wasn't normal, the longest she had ever been sick was seven hours and that was the first time she had been infected.

Little did Alex know that there was a good reason she was still ill, it wasn't just the T-Virus her body was trying to fight off…there was something else as well…

Wesker watched the monitor with growing concern, his index finger tapping heavily on the console. Aaron was now awake but her physical condition did not seem to have improved. She was still pale and sweating heavily, but at least her walk was heavy and even. The injury from the Cerberus was giving her problems, he knew that as soon as she made the sling. Aaron was a strong woman and she hardly ever showed any weakness, especially with her injuries.

"Sir, Burdett is in position."

Wesker turned his attention from the monitor to the Rob Larsen standing in the doorway. Larsen was one of his unit leaders and good at following orders from the idiots in charge. But, Wesker believed he was moron who couldn't think on his own if his life depended on it.

"Position for what?"

"The girl sir." Larsen gave him and odd look. "She's already eliminated six of our men. Burdette has taken up a sniping position and is ready to eliminate her the moment she steps into the Training Facility courtyard."

"I do not believe I gave any such order." Wesker's tone was colder than usual and slightly clipped. "In fact, I am positive I gave no such order."

"Uh...well sir…" Larsen looked slightly confused. "I just assumed that you would want the situation taken care of."

"Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups." Wesker snapped. "Never assume I want anything Larsen, tell Burdett to stand down."

"But sir…"

Larsen gagged as Wesker slammed him into the wall, his hand tightening around the man's throat. He was seething, but no emotion shown on his face. It wasn't just Larsen's insubordination that was fueling his rage, it was worry for his sister as well. No one knowing Wesker well, could accuse him of not caring about the welfare of his baby sister…his only family.

"Larsen I'm only telling you this once, never presume to argue with me. When I give an order you obey." Wesker tilted his head, chin down, letting the sunglasses slip to reveal a pair of yellow cat like eyes. "Are we understood?"

Larsen nodded, still struggling to breath. Wesker released his grip and Larsen fell to the floor, coughing and gagging.

"Good." Wesker pushed the sunglasses back into place with his index finger. "Now do what I told you to do."

Burdett adjusted the scope of his rifle, waiting patiently for his target to emerge from the Training Facility. He was in the perfect position to spot her as she came out of the freight elevator, kneeling directly across the elevator on the roof of an adjacent building. He was mildly regretful of the job ahead. Not because it was a woman, she would not be the first female he had put down, no it was because of her abilities. She was good and killing someone with that much strength and skill seemed like a terrible waste to him.

The mechanical hum of the elevator drew him out of his thoughts. He flicked the cigarette across the roof and laid his cheek against the stock of the rifle. Through the crosshairs he watched as the elevator shutter slide open and the prey in question stepped out. He shifted the rifle slightly, bringing the crosshairs up over her heart. Normally he would take a headshot, but out of respect he was going to leave her face intact. His finger tightened on the trigger…

"Burdett, stand down. Orders from Commander Wesker."

Burdett relaxed his finger and lifted his head, not too surprised by the order or the gravel in Larsen's voice. Larsen had overstepped his authority, Burdett had no doubts about that, and Commander Wesker had put him in his place.

He smiled softly as the woman slipped out of the courtyard, going wherever fate was leading her.

"Perhaps we'll meet again sweet lady…"

Chris Redfield stared into the darkness, determination etched on his face. Leon had received an e-mail from Claire and had in turn contacted Chris. Now here Claire's big brother was, ready to save the day again. Except his plans had already begun to fall apart. Not only had he lost everything except his combat knife, a Glock 17, and two clips, but he was now trapped in a cave.

"Bloody Umbrella." Chris snapped quietly. "They are going to pay for this."

Chris moved slowly through the cave, finding a steel doorway directly across from his now closed off entrance. He pushed the door open, sweeping the room with the Glock. A soft moan drew his attention and Chris approached warily, keeping the gun trained in front of him.

"Who's there?"

Chris slowed to a stop, spotting a Hispanic man a few feet away. There was blood covering his right side. Chris didn't see any signs that he'd been bitten, but that didn't mean he hadn't been infected. Claire had not neglected to tell Leon about the outbreak.

"What happened to you?"

Chris kneeled next to the man, but kept his gun ready.

"I didn't get bitten if that's what you mean." The man gave Chris a strained grin. "A wall fell on me."

Chris nodded slowly, reaching out to check the man's pulse when a door slammed.

"Touch him and die." The cool clipped voice said. "I'm not feeling real hot at the moment so don't even try to push me."

Chris' eyes widened slightly, he recognized that voice. Jill had told him she was still alive, but he had no idea that Alexandra was on Rockfort Island. He stood up slowly, allowing the Glock to dangle from his index finger. The crunch of dirt and rock told him Alexandra was walking forward, as she came into the dim light of the cave Chris was shocked at her condition.

Her right arm was tied up in a makeshift sling, covered in both bandages and what appeared be part of the shirt she was wearing from the wrist to the elbow. Her pants were covered in dark brown dirt and what he thought might be blood stains. The shirt she was wearing was missing both sleeves and at least three inches of material from the bottom. She had tied it up in a knot that gave him ample view of stomach and some scars over her ribs he hadn't see before.

In fact the shirt was missing enough material that it was showing off quite a few scars Chris didn't know Alexandra had, including what looked to be a scar from a bullet wound and a few ragged scars down the outside of her upper left arm. She was carrying a Desert Eagle in her left hand, had a berretta tucked in the waistband of her pants, and an AK-47 slung over one shoulder. She was pale and there was sweat running down her face. She looked ready to keel over at any second.

"Long time no see Alex."

Alex slowed to a stop, peering through the dim light. Her eyes widened slightly as she realized who was speaking and lowered the weapon.

"Chris? How the hell did you get here?"

"Long story, involving a computer." Chris flipped his gun around and tucked it into a thigh holster. "Question is, how did you get here?"

"Long story involving an asshole and some pills." Alex gave him a strained smile. "Speaking of pills, I think that's part of my little physical issues at the moment. Also a long story."

"Seems we both have tales to tell then. Where's Claire?"

"Antarctica."

"What? How the…"

Suddenly the floor of the cave shifted. Chris and Alex both stumbled, Chris hitting the wall behind him and Alex going down to one knee. The floor shifted again and Chris thought they were in for an earthquake…until the giant worm erupted from the dirt and swallowed the Hispanic man in one gulp…