A Star's Descent: Book Two: Star Fall

By evolution-500

Disclaimer: House of the Dead and Resident Evil are properties belonging to SEGA and Capcom respectively. I do not own any of these characters.

WARNING: This story contains violence, coarse language, mature and disturbing themes and imagery. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter Four: Searching

The dining room clock thundered noisily on as the survivors crept back in. Chris took the lead while Barry and Jill covered the rear, with Rebecca and Star in the middle with Joseph and Aiken lagging behind.

Rebecca cast her eyes around nervously along with the others as they followed Chris, then glanced to Gilman's fallen form, his brains oozing out from the back of his head. Repressing a shudder, she shifted her eyes away. Even though Gilman had been a creep, he didn't deserve what happened to him. Looking to Star, she watched as the red-draped giant regarded the man for a moment, folding his hands together and looking down in silence.

"What are you doing, Junior?" Joseph asked.

"Just paying my respects to Gilman," he replied.

"I'm surprised you would," Rebecca commented.

"He was a boor," he nodded, "but it would be wrong for me to not give him at least some form of acknowledgement, even if he wasn't deserving of such."

Raising his chin up, he turned back to Chris and continued on.

"I don't suppose you know what happened to the table, do you?" Jill asked.

Rebecca smiled sheepishly. "Yeaaaah, I...accidently...broke it," she said, her voice trailing off.

Jill raised a brow. "How did you do that?" she queried curiously.

"I bumped into a statue that was next to a weak section of rail," Rebecca explained.

Joseph whistled. "Damn, rookie," he commented. "Quite a lot of damage."

The medic rubbed the back of her head nervously.

"Eyes on me," Chris ordered.

Rebecca watched as he approached the door at the end and opened it slowly.

Poking his head through, he quietly looked around, then nodded. "All clear."

As the survivors entered one by one, the Bravo medic took one final look back to the dining room, watching and listening as the clock winded down.

Once they arrived back at the foot stairs, Rebecca let out an audible gasp as she stared at Kenneth's remains.

"Oh God!" Jill exclaimed as she put a hand over her mouth.

Rebecca looked up at Star. "What happened here?" she asked.

"...I...don't know," he said, shaking his head. "One minute he was taunting me with his gun, the next he just...slammed himself against the wall."

"Slammed himself against the wall?!" the medic repeated, furrowing her brows in confusion.

"Yes!" Star nodded. "Then he started to slide along the floor and spin around like a top. For a moment I thought he was...um...what do you call that dance move where you're spinning on the floor?"

"Breakdancing?" Aiken said.

"That's the one - breakdancing! He looked absurd and it was kind of amusing for a moment, but then...he started to...levitate."

"Levitate?" Rebecca exclaimed. "You mean he hopped into the air."

"No, I mean he was flying off the ground feet first into the air screaming! He was clawing at the floor!" The albino then pointed to something on the floorboards. "Look there! He ripped a fingernail out trying to grab hold of something!"

Rebecca kneeled down at the stained floor. True to his word, she could see what looked unmistakably like nail marks and a broken finger nail.

"He was hollering and screaming for help and I was trying to help him down," Star continued, "but no matter how many times I tried reaching for him, he just jerked away, like someone was...toying with us. When I finally got hold of him, he pulled me up into the air with him and slammed us both into the wall!" He pointed to a large dent in demonstration. "That's where we struck! And then he was spinning higher and higher and-"

The boy froze as everyone stared at him. "And..." He looked around at them all, then lowered his eyes to the floor. "I...I know how insane this sounds," he said quietly, his eyes watery as he swallowed, his lower lip trembling, "but-but I swear I wasn't imagining it. I didn't do this!"

"Then who?" Rebecca asked.

The albino shifted uncomfortably. "I...I think it was the Magician," Star said. He then pointed to the railing above, "Before Officer Redfield struck me, I saw him standing right there. He was just...staring at me."

Rebecca paled.

"Whoa, time out!" Joseph said. "What's a 'Magician'?"

The medic looked around anxiously, then waved them over.

"Follow me," she said fearfully. "You have to see this."

Stepping into a room almost tucked away behind the stairs, Rebecca searched through her belongings, then picked up a large black manuscript bound in vellum. Opening it up, she quickly flipped through before stopping on a particular page. Picking it up, she then showed it to Barry and Jill.

"Was this that 'statue' you saw earlier?" Rebecca asked.

She watched as the two Alphas took hold of the manuscript.

"Yeah," the older woman nodded. "That's exactly what it looked like." Jill looked at her curiously. "Why do you look so scared, Rebecca?"

Rebecca swallowed. "...Look at the pages after."

"Why?"

"You'll see."

Jill blinked, then did as instructed. She paused, her eyes studying the details within as she flipped through.

"...What is this?" she asked.

"...You know those Arcana creatures we were telling you about?" Rebecca said.

Jill looked up from the page. "You mean-"

Rebecca shakily nodded, her whole body trembling.

Jill exchanged nervous looks with Chris, then Barry. The medic felt absolutely sick. She felt like she was going to faint.

Barry frowned. "Wait a minute. Hold your horses. Before we all jump to conclusions, let's think about this. Aren't we overreacting? How could your pasty boyfriend see it here when it was back in the art gallery with me and Jill? There's no way it can be in two places at once!"

Rebecca frowned. It was true, such a thing would be impossible.

Aiken hesitated. "Oh my God," he muttered.

"What?" Rebecca asked.

"It's just like in the factory!" he exclaimed.

Star blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"Remember how Captain Marini and I told you two about those lizard men whose heads just suddenly disappeared?" he reminded. "Before that, we saw some weird creature in a tube. One moment, it was there on camera, the next it just...vanished."

"It broke out?" Rebecca asked.

"No, it literally just vanished into thin air! The glass was still in tact! The Captain and I were completely puzzled by it and were trying to figure out how the hell it had gotten out. That was...until we found it."

"It attacked you?" Star deduced.

Aiken shook his head. "No. No, it was laid out...in pieces next to us."

Rebecca looked to see the doubtful expressions on her coworkers' faces. Some of them looked even slightly nervous. Not because of whatever haunted the halls, but rather because they seemed to think they were in the presence of crazy people.

"Chris," Aiken spoke, "you got to listen to us, man! I swear I'm not making this up!"

Chris approached him, sighing. "Guys, I know you've been through a lot," he said calmly, putting a hand on Aiken's shoulder, "but did any of you get some sleep? Have any of you eaten anything?"

"Admittedly not a lot," Star conceded, "but it still doesn't change the fact that-"

"That what, we're being hunted by the Devil? Come on!" Barry said exasperatedly. "If it was real, why did it leave me and Jill alone?"

"Who's to say it hasn't?" Rebecca said. "For all we know, it's here right now watching us. Following us."

Joseph shook his head. "This is crazy."

Chris frowned. "I think the best thing for you three is to stay here and get some rest."

"But we can't-"

The Alpha Point Man raised up a hand to silence her. "Just stay here," he ordered. "As soon as we find the rest of Bravo Team and the Captain, we'll radio you. My channel is on five."

"You're making a mistake!" Rebecca insisted. "We have to stay together!"

Jill put a hand on her shoulder.

"It won't take long," she assured. "I promise. Just stay here. If you need help, radio any one of us and we'll be there."

The Alphas nodded to the trio as they left.

"See you around, guys," Joseph waved.

As the door closed behind them, Rebecca heard the Alphas murmuring on the other side. The medic lowered her eyes to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Rebecca," Star said softly.

She looked over her shoulder. "Why?" she asked curiously.

"I made us sound like complete lunatics."

Rebecca looked back to the door. "Was what you said the truth?"

Star nodded. "Every word."

She then turned around. "In that case, we should get our things together as quickly as possible and follow after them," the medic said as she grabbed her backpack from the floor and gathered up her stuff.

The albino nodded as he gathered up his.

"...Do you suppose Alpha Team's right, though?" Aiken asked. "That we're overreacting?"

Rebecca looked up at him. "Richard, if the Magician is as dangerous as you described, then they need our help more than ever."

The communications specialist frowned. "The thing is, though," he said slowly, "is that I'm not sure if it is. I didn't actually see anything other than what I told you. I didn't see this Magician thing."

"But Captain Marini said that he saw a silhouette-"

"He saw a silhouette, Rebecca. I didn't see anything." He rubbed his eyes. "Maybe Chris and the others are right," he said tiredly. "Maybe we should get some rest."

Rebecca shook her head. "I don't feel like sleeping."

"Try. You look exhausted, Rebecca," Aiken insisted.

The medic looked around with uncertainty.

Aiken sat back into the chair. "Go ahead, Rebecca. I'll keep watch."

Rebecca considered the offer. Stuffing in the last item into her backpack, she zipped it back up, then sighed.

"Alright," she relented, climbing onto the bed. Rebecca then looked to the albino. "What about you, Star?"

Star finished closing his bag, then stood up. "I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?"

The albino said nothing as he exited the room. A few minutes later, he came back inside.

"Sorry, I just wanted to get something." Rebecca watched as he stepped toward her, handing her back her pistol and a thick wad of money. "I only took back what was mine. Nothing more, nothing less. This is just to pay you back."

Rebecca nodded. "Thank you."

The albino nodded back as she took them. Ejecting the clip, Rebecca checked her ammo. Once she was satisfied, she slipped the clip back in, then holstered her weapon. As she stuffed the money back into her wallet, Star sat with his back against the wall on the floor.

"I'll sit here," he said as he opened up his bag of apples. "These should help keep me awake."

He offered them to the Bravos. When they politely refused, he leaned back against the wall.

"Suit yourself," he shrugged as he took a bite.

"If anything happens, wake me," Rebecca said.

Aiken and Star nodded.

"We will," the former replied.

Closing her eyes, Rebecca allowed herself to drift to sleep.

Jill nervously walked alongside Chris, Barry and Joseph trailing close behind them as they navigated the F-shaped corridor.

"Something wrong, Jill?" the former asked.

She sighed. "No," she lied. "It's nothing."

The Alpha Point Man gave her a doubtful look. "Come on, Jill, be straight with me," he said. "It's obvious something is on your mind."

Jill looked around apprehensively. "It's just...Barry and I saw it for ourselves," she said. "It was just standing there in front of us."

"It's just a statue, Jill," Barry spoke up.

"Then where did it go?" she asked. "Something happened to Kenneth, Barry!"

He shrugged. "I think the kid is just confused. That zombie with the axe must have butchered Kenneth right in front of him and he's just in shock. As for the disappearing statue, maybe someone came in when we weren't looking and moved it. If it really was alive, one of Umbrella's creations, why didn't it attack us?"

Jill lowered her eyes. That was something she herself wondered about.

She frowned. 'You're thinking too much about it, girl,' she thought. It was just a statue.

And yet...she kept thinking back to the manuscript. Various diagrams had illustrated the creature's anatomy, breaking down each and every part in considerable detail. A lot of advanced technical terms were used, referring to the armored pieces on its shoulders and legs as "solar panels with crystalline silicon-celled modules", the horns as "frontal cranial antennae" and the exposed wires and tubes as "pneumatic artificial muscles". What made the drawings seem more than mere fantasy, however, was the fact that they went so far as to include weight ratios, mathematical and physics equations, chemical formulas and other stuff that all came together in such a way that made it seem possible for this thing to be built.

Repressing a shudder, Jill tried to change the subject.

"Soooo, Captain Wesker has a kid," she mused.

Chris frowned. "Don't remind me."

"A lot of the girls back at the Station are going to be heartbroken when they find out," Joseph commented.

Jill hummed in agreement. It was a known fact that Captain Wesker was the handsomest man at the RPD along with Chris. At one point Jill herself had a bit of a crush on the enigmatic blonde. With his chiseled clean good looks, lean muscled body and his black sunglasses, he was drop-dead sexy.

"Think they might become interested in Junior?"

Chris shrugged. "Who knows."

"I've always wondered why the Captain wore those sunglasses," Barry said, then shuddered. "Jesus. I wonder if there's a name for it. His condition, I mean."

"We should ask next time," Jill said, prompting a nod from the three. "What do you think of his son?"

The Alphas considered the question.

"...Strange," Chris answered. "That's the only word I can think of."

Joseph scoffed. "No kidding. I think he might be a bit nuts, too."

Jill looked over at Barry. "How about you?"

The heavy-set man pursed his lips, then shrugged. "Hard to tell. He's a hard read."

"What about you, Jill?" Chris asked.

The B&E specialist took her time answering.

"...I don't know," she said slowly. "He's handsome, but...I keep getting the feeling something is wrong with him."

"You sense it, too, eh, Jill?" Joseph said. "I tell ya, there are some people out there who you know with just one look are batshit crazy."

"No, not crazy," she shook her head, "I mean like...something is actually...wrong...with him. Like he's this...thing!"

He paused, considering her remark.

"Maybe he is a thing," the Omni Man shrugged.

The Alphas looked at him.

"Excuse me?" Jill said.

"Maybe he and Wesker are both aliens," he suggested. "Personally I think the Captain doesn't reproduce like a normal person would. I think he just secretes out a clone of himself like an amoeba or something."

Chris laughed. "There's an image!" The Point Man smiled.

"It's much more plausible than the idea of him being with a woman."

Jill smiled. "Come on, Captain Wesker is a flesh and blood human being," she waved him off.

"So you say," Joseph said, unconvinced.

Jill shook her head. "Ah, what's the use in talking to you," she said, turning her mind to another piece of news that she had trouble believing. "Hard to believe Kenneth's a spy."

"I know, right?" Chris nodded in agreement. "I thought he was a bit of a jerk, but a spy?" He shrugged slightly. "Never saw that coming."

She looked around. "Where are we going?"

"Just want to see what these other rooms are before we move to the next level," Redfield replied as he turned to his right through a door, entering what looked to be a bedroom. Beside the door to the right was what appeared to be a glass wine cabinet with various vintage bottles. Joseph stared at them, nodding in approval.

"Nice."

His hand reached out.

"Don't even think about it, Joseph," Chris warned.

Letting out a suffering sigh full of wistful longing, Joseph eyed them, then turned his head away as he and the others looked around. To the left of the door was a desk with a lamp and a bed that had a few articles of clothing on it with some hangers. At the far end of the room was a closed closet. Walking toward it, Chris grabbed hold of the handle and tried to pull it open. He shook his head.

"Locked."

Approaching the desk, Chris opened its drawers, then picked up a journal.

"What you got there, Redfield?" Joseph asked.

"Keeper's diary," he called as he opened it up and peered inside. "'May 9, 1998 - Got back from playing poker with Scott and Alias from Security and Steve from Research last night. Steve got very lucky with a full flush, but I'm sure he cheated. That's the last time I'm playing with that fucker!'"

"Sounds like the guy's a sore loser," Barry commented.

"'May 10th 1998,'" Chris continued, "'Today, the higher-ups asked me to take care of some new creatures. They kind of look like skinned gorillas. I was instructed to give them live animals. When I threw in a pig, they were playing with it... tearing off the pig's legs and pulling out the guts before they actually ate it.'"

"Oh God," Jill blanched.

"Jesus," Joseph swore.

"'May 11th 1998 - Scott came in and woke me up suddenly at five in the morning. Scared the shit out of me, too. He was wearing a protective suit that made him look like an explorer from outer space. He told me to put one on as well. Said that the basement lab had an accident. Christ, I knew something like this would happen! Those guys in Research never sleep.'"

"So Rebecca was right," Jill said. "Umbrella was developing weapons here."

"Pretty much confirms it," Chris said as he went on, "'May 12th 1998-"

The closet door flung open as a zombie pushed itself out.

"HOLY SHIT!" Joseph yelled, startled as he blasted it in the face. The body walked two feet toward them, then fell onto Jill as she screamed, pushing it off as it fell to the floor.

"You okay, Jill?" Chris asked.

"Yeah, just scared me," she said as she wiped her hands on her vest.

He sighed. "Let's get the hell out of here before something else pops up."

Jill nodded. "Good idea."

"Star? Star? Wake up, mon cher!"

Star opened his eyes, blinking.

"...Mother?" he said in surprise.

A short plump woman in her forties that was dressed in a white sweater and black pants smiled down at him, her hair short but thick, red and curly.

"About time you woke up," she said, her Cajun accent thick.

Star looked around. He was back in his house, lying in his room, a small red cube with a black carpet that had a desk to the right against the wall with a bookcase and various photographs of him and his mother, along with his high school diploma and graduate certificates. Next to his bed were two large posters of "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Big Sleep" along with a small dresser with a lamp.

Turning to his left, he stared out the window at the willow trees as they swayed in the wind.

"Something wrong, honey?" his mother asked.

He looked back to her. "Where's Rebecca?"

She raised a brow. "'Rebecca'?" she repeated. The red-haired woman pulled one corner of her mouth into an amused grin. "Why Jack Phillip Wolf, did you get yourself a girlfriend without me knowing?"

Star sat right up, looking around. "How did I get back here?" he said in confusion. "I was on my way to Raccoon City when the train..."

The albino trailed off as Eleanor gave him a saddened look.

"...You poor thing," she said as she put a hand on his shoulder, sitting on the bed beside him. "You thought you were there and that you met someone special, didn't you?"

Star said nothing.

Had everything been a dream?

On one hand, he felt a great sense of relief; there was so much horror and insanity, so much death. It felt like an unending Dantean nightmare, with one hair-raising moment followed by another and another that always left him feeling tense.

On the other hand, though...he couldn't help feeling a profound sense of...loss.

He had been so close to meeting his father at long last. Even more, he met someone that he had dearly loved. The idea that it had all been his imagination...

Lowering his chin down quietly, Star felt tears pour down his cheeks as Eleanor pulled him into a hug.

"Oh no. It's okay, mon louveteau," she said, kissing the top of his head. "It's okay, little one. It's okay."

She kissed his forehead, holding tightly onto him.

Was there really no Raccoon City? Was there really no S.T.A.R.S.? Was...was there really...no Rebecca?

"It seemed so real," he said quietly as he wiped his eyes. Taking in a deep breath, he exhaled. "God, it felt so real!"

Had he really been so miserable and lonely?

Star had never thought so. In fact, he was long used to solitude. Ever since he was eight years old. His mother had once asked him how he could tolerate such loneliness, to which the albino had answered by saying that he was secretly Baldur, the Norse god of light that felt no pain, partially out of jest.

'If only that were true,' he thought bitterly.

Pulling away slightly, Eleanor watched him with sad eyes.

"Don't worry, Wolf cub," she assured, patting his arm gently. "I'm sure some day you'll meet someone nice."

He said nothing for a long time, then sighed.

"I don't know, Eleanor," Star said doubtfully. "Maybe dreams are the only things I could hope for."

The red-haired woman leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead again, hugging him.

"There, there, mon ange, you'll meet someone yet," she promised. "Just you wait."

Eleanor then stood up. "Now, I need you to come downstairs. I have fresh chicken ready, and Freddy is waiting just outside."

Star scoffed. "He's here?"

"Don't be so surprised, Star," she replied. "He's always on time."

"Hm," he nodded.

"Maybe this will be the day he finally greets you."

"I wouldn't bet on it." He stated certainly.

She shrugged. "You never know. Come on."

Star sighed. "I will," he replied. "Just give me a second, okay?"

Eleanor nodded, giving him a comforting sad smile. "Okay, sweety."

As she left his room, Star leaned back against his headboard, letting out a despondent exhale.

So it had all been a dream after all.

The albino stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, then pushed himself off the bed.

Well, time to feed Freddy.

Star stood in the backyard holding a plate of cut-up chicken, staring out into the trees and bushes. Twenty feet away stood a fat fox.

"Here's your dinner, Freddy," the albino said as he lowered it to the ground. "It's fried chicken. I hope you like it."

Backing away toward the house, he watched as the fox slowly approached the plate, gobbling everything down.

"Look at him go!" Eleanor marveled. "He must have been starving, the poor thing!"

"I know," Star agreed.

Within three minutes, Freddy was finished, licking his chops happily. The albino gave a small smile.

"Liked that, Freddy?"

The fox gave no response.

"Well, I hope you did," Star nodded. "See you around."

Just as he was about to turn away, Eleanor put a hand on his shoulder.

"Look!" she said in a hushed voice. "He's coming toward you!"

Star looked back. True to Eleanor's word, Freddy was approaching him, looking at him.

"Well would you look at that!" he said as he kneeled down. "Hey there!"

He watched as the fox licked his hand before hopping up onto his leg, licking his face.

"What did I tell you, Star? He really likes you," Eleanor nodded.

He laughed as it licked his face happily.

In retrospect, letting a wild animal lick his face was probably the dumbest thing he could have possibly done, especially considering the risk of infection. He'd probably need to get tetanus shots, but he was just too happy to care.

It was then that the albino realized something odd; there was no odor whatsoever. Foxes tend to have a very strong musky smell, so why was Freddy different?

"I think this might be someone's pet," he said as it continued to lick his face. "It's not as musky as the others."

As he looked at its eyes, Star froze as he noticed the color of its elliptical-pupiled eyes - brilliant forest green.

Like Rebecca's.

'That's odd. I could have sworn his eyes had been orange,' Star thought.

"Richard?"

The albino looked around, startled by Rebecca's voice.

"Did you hear that?" he said.

The fox kept licking his face. Star pushed it down as he looked about, but the feeling of something wet brushing against his face continued on...

When Star opened his eyes, he found Aiken looming over him, leaning forward with his tongue brushing against his scarred cheeks.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" The former screamed as he roughly pushed the Bravo off him with every ounce of strength he had, flinging him back against the wall as the albino gave a look of horror, disgust and mortification.

Aiken shook his head, blinking in confusion. "Wha-?" he sputtered.

"What is wrong with you?!" Star yelled as he wiped his face.

"What are you talking about?!" Aiken said confusedly.

"Is this some sort of sick joke?! Why the hell would you do that to me?!" the teenager demanded angrily.

"I don't know what you're talking about, you raving lunatic!"

"I'm the lunatic?!" Star sat up. "You were licking my face while I slept and scared the shit out of me, and I'm the lunatic?!"

"Guys calm down!" Rebecca said placatingly. Turning to her coworker, she nodded. "It's true, Richard. I saw you doing that to him."

Aiken blinked several times. "I was?" he said uncertainly.

She nodded again.

Aiken sat still, then gave a look of disgust. "Ugh!" he said as he spat onto the floor. "Gross."

"Try imagining how I feel," Star grumbled.

"Will you two just make peace already?" Rebecca said impatiently. "Look, it's obvious what has happened. Richard was sleepwalking and you ended up getting...licked. I don't think any offense had been meant. It was a complete accident."

She then looked at the two. "So come on guys - kiss and make up."

Star frowned. "Very poor choice of words, Rebecca," he muttered.

She gave a cheeky grin.

Aiken sighed. "Look, I don't know what happened, but...um...sorry," he blurted uncomfortably.

The albino quietly regarded him, then gave a nod. "My apologies for my outburst."

Leaning back against the wall, Aiken massaged his temples.

"It's weird," he spoke, "I could have sworn that I had been awake this entire time."

Rebecca shrugged. "Apparently you nodded off without realizing."

He pulled his hand away. "It's funny, I've never sleepwalked in my entire life. I wonder why now."

"It could be anything," she answered. "Stress, anxiety, fatigue, lack of or interrupted sleep, certain medications, going to bed with a full bladder..." The medic looked at him curiously. "Do any of your family members sleepwalk?"

Aiken shook his head. "No. There has never been anything like that in my family."

Letting out a groan, he cracked his neck and stretched out his arms and back.

"Well, I'm fully awake now," he said. Pushing himself up to his feet, he stumbled slightly. "Whoa."

"Are you okay, Richard?" Rebecca asked.

"Y-Yeah, just a little discombobulated, I guess," he said as he pushed himself up from the wall. "Everything feels so new. I really must have been exhausted."

He edged toward the door. "I'll be right back, I need to use the men's room."

"Richard?"

Aiken paused, looking over his shoulder. "Yes Rebecca?"

"...Be careful, okay?" she said concernedly.

He smiled. "I will."

As he exited the room, Star leaned back against the wall.

"Did I wake you?" he asked.

Rebecca shook her head. "Actually, it was Richard that had," she said as she rubbed her eyes. "He was making these really weird breathing noises. And his eyes...there was something weird about his eyes..."

The albino said nothing.

"I was surprised to hear you use such colorful language. He really did scare you, didn't he?" Rebecca said.

Star stared at the ceiling. "One moment I was dreaming of being back home with Mother and Freddy, the next I wake up to find Officer Aiken licking me," he replied, shuddering.

Rebecca looked at him interestedly. "You were dreaming of Freddy?"

"I had," the albino nodded. "I dreamt that I woke up in my bed and that everything had been a dream, including you."

"That must have been disorienting."

"A little," he admitted.

Rebecca shifted on the bed. "Tell me more," she encouraged.

Star sighed. "There's not really much to tell. I had given Freddy a plate of food when he just decided to come over and..."

He trailed off, watching as the medic smiled.

"That sounds nice," she said softly.

"Hm," he replied.

"I bet you were disappointed when you realized it was just a dream."

He considered it. "...Yes and no," he said truthfully. "You may find this strange for me to say, but...I felt much more devastated when I thought everything had been a dream."

"Really? How come?"

Star considered his words. "...Because...it meant that you and Father weren't real," he replied quietly. "Even though I'd much rather Umbrella, their monsters and appalling actions be flights of fancy, I...don't regret meeting you. I'm actually glad that you are real."

Rebecca looked at him. "Awww," she gushed. "You really do like me, don't you?"

The corners of his mouth crept up slightly. "Well...yes," he admitted with a nod. "I do."

The medic blinked in surprise, then gave a gentle smile in return.

"I like you too, Star," she said softly.

The albino regarded her for a moment, then shifted uncomfortably.

"...Uh, I should get ready for Father," he said as he reached into one of his suitcases.

Rebecca frowned. "We tried the latex pieces already, Star," she said. "The glue won't stick on."

He shook his head.

"It's not them I'm reaching for," Star replied as he took out a black glasses case. Opening it up, he pulled out a pair of black sunglasses, then put them on, pulling down his hood as he looked at her.

"Well...what do you think?" he asked nervously.

She looked at him for a moment. "...I'm afraid I don't see any resemblance," the medic said regretfully.

His features fell. "...Do I look better with them on, at least?"

Rebecca nodded. "You look good."

"Does it hide the bruises and scars?"

"A little bit."

He put the sunglasses away, stuffing them into the pocket of his red coat.

"I should have put the makeup and latex pieces on before I came here," Star lamented. "I should have dyed my hair. I haven't even brushed my teeth yet!"

"You're fine, Star!" the Bravo medic assured. "You look handsome. Really. I'm sure Captain Wesker will like you just the way you are."

The albino gave a nervous exhale. "You think so?"

"Definitely," she winked. Rebecca then looked down at herself. "Ugh, I must be a mess! Can I borrow your makeup case?"

Star gave a mock look of surprise.

"Why Rebecca, getting yourself all tarted up for me? You shouldn't have!" he teased.

She rolled her eyes. "You wish," the medic dryly replied. "Can you lend it to me please?"

He nodded. "Sure," the red-clad albino said as he undid his suitcase.

Taking out a brown make-up case and some cotton pads, he carried them over to her, putting them down onto the bed beside her.

"Thanks," she nodded.

As he turned around and made his way back to the wall, Star paused in his step.

"...You don't have to worry about looking like a mess, Rebecca," he said, turning his head slightly. "You are beautiful, even without the makeup."

He heard her pause.

"...Thank you," she said quietly, her tone full of warmth.

Giving a nod, the albino sat back down on the floor, resting his back against the wall as he reached for his bag of apples.

"So," he said as he reached inside and took an apple out, "we now have winged dogs to deal with."

Rebecca shrugged. "I know, right?" she said. "It just keeps getting crazier and crazier!"

"Do you think they're actually wings, or do you think it's some sort of frill?" he asked, taking a bite.

"I don't know, I'll need to see them first." the medic replied as she applied some makeup onto her cheek. "I've actually been thinking about those zombies Chris killed. They're very different from the other ones we had encountered."

Star nodded in agreement, swallowing. "They are. I've never seen any of them spit up acid before."

Rebecca looked up thoughtfully. "Given a zombie's diet, I suppose it would make sense that they would have concentrated stomach acid."

"I'm also surprised by how durable they are - the others had never been that difficult to kill."

She nodded. "Yeah," she agreed, "especially that last one." The girl shuddered. "If it wasn't for the fact that I haven't eaten anything, I'd have thrown up," she admitted. "God, that laugh..."

Star nodded. "I know."

Once she finished, Rebecca closed the case. "Okay, all done."

Star got up and took it back, placing it inside his suitcase.

"Would you like an apple?" he asked.

Rebecca put a hand on her chin. "...Out of curiosity, do you have anything other than apples?"

He frowned. "I don't." The albino then hesitated. "Actually, I do!" Star remembered. "I have a couple cans of pâté."

"Really?" she said interestedly. "What kind?"

"Chicken," he answered.

"Do you know what brand it is?"

"Cesar."

Rebecca blinked. "Cesar?" she repeated in confusion. "Are you sure that's the name?"

"It is."

She looked down thoughtfully. "Huh. I've never heard of that one."

"Nor have I until relatively recently," Star said as he reached into one of his suitcases. "I was in a bit of a rush to catch the train, but I was hungry and saw these, so I thought why not."

Taking out some small cans, he stood up and handed them to her along with a spoon.

"Thank you," Rebecca said gratefully as she took them.

Taking one for himself, the albino opened it up and scooped it up with his own spoon, taking a bite.

Looking back to Rebecca, he watched as she lifted up a can and studied it curiously. Flipping one side over, the medic suddenly paused, staring at the lid for a couple of seconds. Putting a hand over her mouth, she covered her eyes, her whole form trembling.

'What's gotten into her?' Star wondered.

"Rebecca?" he called uncertainly.

The medic made a noise that he couldn't identify. At first, the albino thought that she was crying. Alarmed, he was just about to stand up when Rebecca pulled her hand away from her face, revealing the truth; she wasn't crying.

Not at all.

On the contrary.

She was laughing!

"Are you okay, Rebecca?" he asked, concerned and puzzled by her response.

Rebecca was laughing so hard, her whole face was flushed red.

"It's..." she stammered, "it's....dog food!"

Star blinked. "What? What are you talking about?"

The Bravo medic clutched her chest, tossing her head back, tears running down her face as she guffawed.

"It's-it's gourmet dog food!" she tried to speak. "Haven't you wondered what that tiny black silhouette represented? It's a little terrier!"

The albino frowned.

"It's a sheep," he said as he lifted up the can to inspect. "See, it's...dog food."

He stared at the label.

Rebecca's laugh filled the room as she grabbed hold of her sides, her face pressed against the ruined mattress. Tightening his hand around the can, Star whipped it angrily at the wall opposite him, causing the laughter to cease as the container crashed, spilling its contents across the floor as he sat there leaning forward, covering his eyes with one gloved hand.

"...Star?"

The albino said nothing. He didn't want to look at her, nor did he want her look at him.

"...Star, what's wrong?" she called, her voice closer.

Pulling his hand away from his face, the albino stared to the floor, averting his eyes.

"Look at me."

'Don't do it,' he told himself. 'Don't let her see you like this.'

Against his better judgement, he obeyed.

"I wasn't laughing at you," Rebecca assured. "I swear I wasn't."

Star looked away.

"I'm sorry if I upset you."

The albino shook his head.

"You haven't upset me." he replied quietly.

"Then what's wrong?"

It took a while for him to talk.

"I...I just….I just...feel...so..." he said in a low voice, trying to find the right words, "...undignified."

He stared to the floor. "...When I came here, part of me...thought it would...be...a fresh start. I wanted...so...desperately to make a good impression when it came to the day I finally met S.T.A.R.S. My father. I wanted them...you...to see a man with his head held high. Someone you could all look upon without shame and be proud of having by their...your side. To be considered...a...friend...or...son."

He shook his head slowly. "Instead, you all get to see this...thing that I am. A freak that eats dog food."

Star felt a hand on his arm.

"Look at me."

Obeying, he turned, then blinked as the medic flicked him between the eyes.

"So what if you are?" she said. "It doesn't diminish your character. You can still hold your head high. You are a good person, Star, and I'm sure Captain Wesker would be proud to have you as a son."

The albino stared to the floor, unconvinced.

"...What if he doesn't accept me?" he asked anxiously.

"He will," Rebecca said, gently squeezing his arm. "I'm sure he will. If he doesn't, though...you still have me."

Star looked up at her, surprised.

"What? Us freaks have to stick together, you know," she shrugged. "And besides...I'm not ashamed to call you my friend."

He regarded her for a moment.

"...You really are a special person, Rebecca," he said softly.

Rebecca smiled, giving him a nod.

"Just one thing, though," she said seriously. "Promise that you won't make a habit out of eating dog food, okay?"

He stared for a few seconds, then laughed.

"I assure this was the first and only time," the albino youth chuckled. Picking up one of the cans, he looked at the label. "Funny thing, though. It's not that bad."

Rebecca laughed, her voice joining with his.

Curien paced about the control room anxiously, his fingers fidgeting with the pocket watch, opening the lid with his thumb.

"Sir, we have detected more strays," his subordinate spoke, his eyes still latched onto the monitor in front of him.

The pocket watch latch snapped shut.

"Send in Chariot Type-027 and Hanged Man Type-041. I want this mess cleaned as quickly as possible."