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 Thirty-One: Recovery
Electricity crackled as Curien stared at the holographic display. Letting out a mechanical growl of displeasure, he swatted the hologram in annoyance, his hand phasing through it.
"Another unsuccessful venture, I gather?" A low but powerful, booming and droning voice echoed throughout the cave, drawing his attention.
Tilting his head slightly to the left over his shoulder at its source, Curien looked back to the hologram, his attention focused on the screen, refusing to answer.
"You should have known better, Roy," the voice chided. "You knew what would happen when you freed those people from that chamber."
Curien glanced over his mechanical shoulder.
"You always were one to gloat, Caleb," he snarled. "And for your information, yes, I was quite aware of the potential complication that would arise."
"Then why assume the risk?" Caleb queried.
The metallic being looked forward, his white eyes downcast.
"Did you believe that, by saving those people, you would make up for your sins?" the voice droned.
Clenching his mechanical hand, Curien whirled around, his eyes flashing electric blue, his body crackling with energy.
"Who are you to speak of 'sins', Goldman?!" he retorted. Turning away, he lowered his eyes. "I don't deny my part in this tragedy. I don't deny the many, MANY mistakes I have made...but at least I am willing to rectify them." Curien harrumphed in contempt. "You talk of sins! YOU, the man who orchestrated this catastrophe in the first place! I am the ONLY one trying to stop this madness in its tracks!"
"And yet, it was your efforts that have allowed it to spread to other worlds."
Curien's jaw clicked in irritation. "Again, I don't deny I have made mistakes along the way... but mark my words, Goldman - Project Euridice will be the answer to everything!"
"You only delay the inevitable," Caleb droned. "Project Euridice will end in failure, just like all of your various attempts had before. It will only be a matter of time before the Horde breaks through and lay claim to this world, just as they had countless times with the various others you had visited. It is time that you put an end to this story and stop the cycle once and for all."
Whirling around, Curien's horns flared with arcs of electricity as he faced the immense being that was chained behind him.
"You would like that, wouldn't you?" the metallic being sneered, shaking his head in disgust. "That is your problem, Caleb - you have no value for human life. You never have." He scoffed. "You, the ever-so environmentally-minded capitalist. It was easy for YOU to swagger and impress the media with your charm, boasting about your desire to "preserve the planet's 'life cycle'." You knew the right things to say to journalists, I will give you that. But you never cared for individual lives, did you?"
Curien shook his head. "No, you never cared for the individual, let alone the impact your actions had on them. That is the difference between you and me, Goldman - I have always cared. I value human life. If you had even remotely cared about this planet as you had claimed, you wouldn't have aided those madmen - you could have aided me in trying to save as many lives as possible! But you don't - you are a self-conceited bastard, after all. Just like Thornheart and that loathsome Harris. And now here you are, in this sad, sorry state. Pathetic."
The chained being remained silent as the Wheel of Fate floated freely in the air, the spiked wheel turning in a perpetual loop.
"What's wrong, Goldman? Nothing else to say? No witty repartee?"
When the entity refused to answer, Curien tilted his head in thought, then let out a deep chuckle.
"It is horribly ironic, isn't it?" the latter remarked. "You used to be the most powerful man in the world, and I had relied on your resources. And now here we are, two of the most powerful beings on this planet - perhaps in this universe - that despise one another, stuck together in this godforsaken world, with my relying on your power once again."
Curien shook his head disdainfully as his chuckle deepened.
"It is amusing how things come full circle. It almost makes me wonder if there is such a thing as karma. Thus the way of the world, I suppose." The mechanical being then narrowed its eyes. "Yes, releasing those people may have been a premature decision on my part and has resulted in a temporary setback...but I am willing to take that risk. So long as lives are saved...nothing else matters."
"So you jeopardize the lives of trillions...for the sake of three people. How noble of you."
Curien remained silent, his visage dark as he heard the clanking of chains, as if the being was shifting, contemplating.
"And yet," the being droned slowly, "...what of the countless lives that you have sacrificed in pursuit of your venture? What of the lives of the Type 0001s? Or, do they not even count nor matter?" Goldman huffed. "And you call me conceited. You are not doing this to save humanity. Only one life truly matters to you above all others, Roy...and you are no closer to saving him as you were when you came groveling to my feet all those years ago. And now here he lies, where he will continue to rot."
Clenching his clawed fists, Curien pressed a button on his forearm, watching as the cavern lit up with sparks, listening to the World groan as thousands of volts of electricity were sent through its immense translucent body, the entity struggling in its shackles as large tubes started to extract energy from it.
"That will be enough out of you." Looking ahead, the Wheel of Fate narrowed its eyes in concentration. "Time to get back to work."
Rebecca quietly sat at the desk, watching Star as he slept of the bed. Letting out a tired yawn, the girl rubbed her eyes as she struggled to stay awake.
God, she was so tired. She hoped the others were okay.
God, just what time was it even?
Lifting her arm, Rebecca checked her watch, frowning as she tapped several times on the crystal in displeasure, the dial still.
'Haven't I placed in a fresh battery before leaving home?' she wondered.
Rebecca was certain that she had; after all, since technically this was her first-day on the job, she didn't want to be late. She wanted to prove how efficient and organized she was.
Now, though...she just wanted to go home.
As she stared at the dead watch, Rebecca squirmed in discomfort.
Time sat at a complete standstill, making the night last even longer than ever before.
Rebecca wasn't a superstitious person by nature, but...something about the watch not working made her uncomfortable. It almost seemed like an ill omen of sorts. As she stared at the unmoving dial, Rebecca found herself recalling stories of clocks stopping right at the time of a person's death.
Was it...possible...that...everyone was-
Shutting her eyes closed, Rebecca swallowed anxiously as she forced herself not to think about.
"It's just a dead battery," she said to herself. "The others are okay, it's just a-just a dead battery."
Obviously she had forgotten to replace it, that's all.
And yet...that anxious feeling remained.
Part of her wanted to tell herself that she was just working herself up, that she should be rational about everything, but there was nothing rational about any of this!
It was a time for nightmares, where reason went out the window, and where the boogeymen were allowed to roam as freely as they pleased, regardless whether or not people were asleep.
Swallowing nervously again, Rebecca wiped the perspiration from her brow.
More and more she was starting to regret joining S.T.A.R.S. What was once a personal mission to save her own mother had spiraled out of control into an ever-sprawling nightmare, one that threatened to not only consume her sanity, but also her very life, if not humanity.
Staring darkly at the floor, the girl fidgeted with her hands.
How much of this had been her fault? Had she not found the train, would it have prevented all these unnecessary deaths? Had she been better prepared, could she have saved Edward? Could she have found a way to save Forest?
The last time she saw him was back at the Training Facility, when he ended up getting cut by some fish monster's scaly skin.
And Kevin...he was such a nice guy...
She couldn't forget about Billy. Especially him.
Was letting him escape into the woods the right thing to do? Or had she signed his death sentence? Should she have brought him with her?
As she thought of her fallen coworkers and the escaped convict, Rebecca's form slumped in her seat, her eyes drooping. Closing her eyes, the medic let out a sigh of regret.
"I hope you guys are in peace," she said softly. "I'm sorry for letting you all down."
Lifting her eyes up from the floor, Rebecca then slowly glanced around, trying to find something to distract herself with.
Putting her backpack onto her lap, she checked the contents of her bag, then her supplies.
Once she finished, she started to go through the evidence that she had collected, her mind trying to analyze the pieces of this very strange puzzle, trying to find some scrap of sanity to latch onto. She went through every letter and journal, trying to make sense of everything.
Two sets of creatures. One set created by Umbrella, and another set that came from a strange pink lightning.
Assuming Umbrella was responsible for the latter...how were they able to just...teleport creatures in like that?!
What kind of technology would be even remotely capable of doing anything like that?
Was there anything out there that would have allowed for such a thing?
Lifting her head up to the ceiling, Rebecca considered the various possibilities, but in the end, she wasn't able to come up with anything.
As far as she were aware, there was nothing out there that would have remotely made such a thing possible.
What were the chances of Umbrella even having access to technology so...advanced?
Rebecca folded her arms together, cupping her chin as her mind pondered over the details.
Alright, so, assuming that it wasn't Umbrella, then who- or what - was this?
Was it the military? The government? Aliens?
She frowned.
No. Rebecca was certain that she can definitely cross that off the list of possible explanations. She didn't see any flying saucers.
So what else could it be?
...Hell?
Rebecca shivered at the thought as she crossed her arms.
Was Lucifer a part of this?
The rational part of Rebecca would berate herself for even entertaining the notion of the supernatural, but...in a sick way, it would explain some things, such as the winged dogs, the Magician especially. It would explain why Umbrella was so evil.
After all, this entire place was bathed in the blood of God knew how many people. Umbrella's business was nothing but debased, so it would make sense that the Devil would be involved.
...However, Rebecca preferred to look at things based on pragmatism; part of her stubbornly refused to accept such an explanation, if only to provide her with some semblance of certainty that reality wasn't falling apart and that she wasn't going insane.
Getting up from her seat, Rebecca sifted through Star's bags. Once she found the vellum-bound manuscript, the medic quickly flipped through the pages, stopping on the page for the Magician, her eyes scanning every detail, every weight ratio and part.
Yes, this creature was definitely a being of flesh and machinery, alright.
A very strange flesh, to be sure, with numerous intricate parts.
From all appearances, this would all appear to be man-made, but again, the question arises - who the hell would want to make a thing like this?! Who in their right mind would want to make something so overtly...satanic?
Of course, it was possible that the designer of this thing deliberately sought to inspire religious and psychological terror on targets - after all, what was even more terrifying than a demon?
There was also the possibility that the designer was just insane; it was unthinkable that a rational person would want to make this look like a metallic demon, after all.
Still, there had to be more to it than that.
And how were they able to just magically summon creatures through pink lightning? Just what was the pink lightning? Was it even lightning at all?
Rebecca's eyes remained locked on the visage of the Magician, almost expecting to find an answer in its design, staring fixatedly at the strange drawing, mesmerized, like one trying to decipher a sphinx's riddle.
Closing her eyes with a sigh, she placed the journal onto the table, massaging her eyelids before raising up her radio to contact the others.
"Chris, are you there? Over."
Nothing.
She tried several more times, only to find no response. Frowning, the girl nervously flicked through the other channels, unable to find anything.
Exhaling, her frown deepened.
"I hope you guys are alright," she said softly as she placed her radio away.
Turning her head back to the sleeping albino, Rebecca watched as his chest slowly rose and fell.
'He looks so peaceful,' she thought, a small smile forming.
As the girl kept watching the sleeping albino, she suddenly felt curious.
Was it...possible that he was...?
Getting up from her seat, Rebecca quietly crept up toward him, making sure not to wake him up. Once she was close enough, Rebecca lifted a hesitating hand.
Moving her hand toward his neck, she hesitated when Star shifted in his sleep, the albino turning his head to the side as he mumbled something.
Rebecca waited a minute, then two. Once she was certain that he was fast asleep, she tried again, reaching out with her fingers.
Putting two fingers on his neck, Rebecca blinked in surprise as she felt the warmth of his skin.
It wasn't hot by any means, nor was it cold like a zombie's. The temperature was actually quite pleasant, reminding her of a comforting hearth.
But even more, she could feel Star's heartbeat - a nice, strong, steady pulse.
A strong heart.
As she felt the beat of his pulse, Rebecca smiled in spite of herself.
"Well, you're definitely no zombie," she said quietly.
It was funny how comforted she felt by the albino's presence; when they had first met, she had been absolutely terrified of him, but over time, Rebecca had come to respect, even trust Star. Despite his peculiar features, despite his questionable habits and uncertainties, Star more than made up for his quirks through his actions and determination.
Whatever could be said about him, be it good or ill, there was no denying that within his strange and horribly scarred body was a good, strong heart.
A kind heart.
As Rebecca slowly drew her hand away, she suddenly paused.
She could have sworn...was there something off about his heartbeat?
Wrinkling her brows in confusion, Rebecca was just about to check his heart rate when she heard a knock at the door.
"Anyone in there?" she heard Sergeant Burton's voice say from outside.
The medic sighed in relief. "Yeah. Hold on, I'll be right there, sir." Stepping away from Star, Rebecca made her way across the room and opened the door, giving a smile. "It's good to see you, sir."
"Likewise, rookie," Burton nodded as he entered the medical supply room, eying the albino as he lay on the torn-up bed. "How's he doing?"
Rebecca sighed as she turned to the patient. "He's pretty banged up. Some broken ribs and bruises, but I gave him some herbs, so with any luck, they'll help mend his wounds."
"Hm," Burton hummed distractedly.
Rebecca turned back to Barry. "How about Captain Wesker? Is he okay?"
He scoffed. "The Captain's fine. He's a tough son of a bitch, that's for sure."
While part of Rebecca felt relief in hearing the news about her darling, something in his tone sounded hard, almost bitter.
Resentful, even.
"Is...is something wrong?" she asked in concern.
Blinking in surprise, Barry gave a small laugh. "No, no, it's fine." He then glanced around. "Have you heard from the others?"
Rebecca shook her head. "No, not a peep, I'm afraid." She squirmed. "To be honest, I'm actually feeling worried for them. They were fighting that thing in the main hall, but I don't know what's happened. I hope they're alright."
"Hm," Barry grunted. Checking his Colt Anaconda, he rolled his shoulder. "I'll check in on them. In the mean time, Rebecca, stay here and keep an eye on the kid, alright?"
"Okay," she nodded, "but if you need any medical assistance-"
"I'll let you know," he nodded. "Don't worry. Take care, and stay safe, rookie."
"You too, Sergeant Burton."
He scoffed. "Call me Barry, kid."
Rebecca gave a nervous smile. "Sorry, sir. I'm Rebecca. If you need to contact me, my radio channel is on three."
"Okay, got it. Thanks, Rebecca."
As he gave her a small wave, Barry departed from the medical storage room, leaving Rebecca alone once more.
The main hall was quiet and still as the night, the once impressive and elaborate décor crumbling like peeling skin, the chandelier lying in broken ruin on top of a hulking armored body.
On the floor, the survivors serenely lay scattered, unconscious, and unmoving, the air filled with a thick layer of dust.
As Chris and Jill lay next to each other on the floor, one of the many doors on the ground floor started to creak and slowly bend as something pounded at it.
For several minutes, the figure behind the door banged away, his moans muffled.
Finally, the door opened, the zombie staggering awkwardly out as it shuffled on its feet, its pale eyes dead and unfocused, its mouth bloody and drooling. Turning in the survivors' direction, it stretched out its arms and lumbered toward them in a slow, shuffling gait, its head tilted back as it moaned.
Jill stirred, then shifted to one side, the B&E specialist blissfully unaware of the looming danger as it made its way toward her.
Kneeling down, the undead creature opened its slathering jaws, ready to take a bite out her exposed neck.
BANG!
Jerking violently back, the zombie's head disappeared in a cloud of crimson, its brains splattering all over the floor as its body lifelessly collapsed onto the downed police officer.
Barry stood in the main hall with his Colt Anaconda drawn, the barrel smoking.
"Christ, it's a good thing that I got here in time," he muttered, making his way over to Jill. Moving the cadaver off of her with a grunt, he gently shook her. "Jill? Jill? Come on, Jill. Please say something."
Jill remained unresponsive. Knitting his brows in concern, he checked her vitals and injuries. Despite the injury to her leg, for the most part Jill was fine, just unconscious. Sighing in relief, he then went around to check on the others.
Glancing over at the shattered chandelier and the rest of the room, Barry let out a low whistle.
"Damn, guys. You all really did a number on this place!" He murmured softly.
The whole place was a mess. What was once a grand and impressive main hall entrance with elaborate furnishings was now in complete disarray, looking looking more like a warzone than a mansion interior. Everything within was either broken or on the verge of completely falling apart.
Barry wasn't exactly learned, but in a way, it almost seemed metaphorical, if not poetic.
Since arriving here, this entire mission had been falling apart, with all of them going from one fucked-up situation to another. Everyone on the team was either dead, missing or falling apart at the seams, slowly but surely.
At least, so it seemed to him. Barry sure as hell felt like he was slowly coming part.
This whole situation was insane. He expected to go out, take out some cultists, find Bravo Team, and then get back home to his family. Now, though, it was beginning to feel more and more likely that this would perhaps be his final mission.
Taking a photograph of his family out, Barry stared at the picture in longing, tracing his fingers along their faces.
The only person on the team who doesn't seem affected was Wesker.
Staring down to the floor, Barry's hand tightened around the handle of his firearm, regretting not taking the man's head clean off his shoulders when he had the chance.
Closing his eyes for a moment, the big man heaved out a heavy sigh, then raised up his radio.
"Rebecca, are you there? Over," he spoke into the receiver.
"Rebecca here," the radio crackled. "Is everything okay?"
He frowned. "Negative. I found the others. They're all pretty badly injured and unconscious. I don't see Richard anywhere. They did manage to take that big thing out, though. I'm gonna try and haul them all down to the medical storage room."
"Roger. I'll get the supplies ready. Just be careful in handling them, okay?"
"Affirmative. Stay safe, Rebecca. Over and out." Putting his radio away, Barry grunted as he carefully picked up Jill's unconscious body. "Alright, Jill, let's get you out of here."
Sometime later...
Rebecca took off her latex gloves as she surveyed her work.
"Annnnd done!" she said, letting out a tired yawn, glancing around at the unconscious survivors.
Hearing a knock, Rebecca made her way to the door and peeked outside. Sighing in relief, she opened the door.
"It's good to see you, sir," she nodded, allowing Barry to step inside.
"You as well, rookie." Barry then looked at the rest of the team. "How are they holding up?"
The medic sighed.
"They're all in rough shape," she said honestly. "I managed to treat them as best as I could, so they should all be fine for the moment. All we can do now is just wait for them to recover. That being said, though, we should try to to avoid a repeat of that whenever possible, just because I've used up almost all the supplies in here for treating everyone." Rebecca then looked over at Barry. "Any luck in finding Richard?"
Barry frowned. "No. I have no idea where he's gone. I didn't see him anywhere in the main hall. I'll keep looking around, though - he couldn't have gotten far. In the mean time, just stay here and look after them. If you need anything, radio me."
"Alright," she nodded. "Stay safe, Barry."
"You too, rookie."
As Barry entered the main hall again, he froze.
The chandelier was lying on its side, the floor covered in broken glass. No sign of the body anywhere.
Barry raised up his radio. "Rebecca, you there? Over." The radio crackled, unresponsive. Frowning, he smacked the radio several times. "Come on, work, dammit." He pressed the receiver again, repeating her name as he flicked through the various channels, only to find nothing.
He frowned.
"Piece of shit," he muttered. "Rebecca, if you can hear me, I'm in the main hall, but the body of our jolly armored giant friend is gone. I don't know if he's still lumbering about somewhere, but I'm going to try to look for Richard. If you can hear me, stay low and on alert, okay? Over and out."
Putting the radio away, Barry raised his trusty firearm as he started looking for Richard again.
In the medical storage room, Rebecca sat at the desk, struggling to stay awake, surrounded by the still forms of her coworkers as they all lay unconscious.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, the girl let out a tired sigh.
"God, what a night."
She fought the urge to fall asleep, her eyes and head drooping in exhaustion. Shaking herself awake, she shrugged off her backpack and searched her way around for something to help her keep herself awake.
Hearing a groan, Rebecca turned to see Star as he opened his eyes, the boy wincing at the light.
"You're awake!" she smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"A bit of tired," Star admitted as he sat up, massaging his forehead. "How long was I out for?"
Rebecca shrugged. "An hour. An hour and a half?" She shook her head. "I don't know, my watch had stopped working."
"Hm," the albino hummed.
"How do your ribs feel?"
Pulling his hands away, Star glanced down to his sides, giving a look of surprise.
"I...feel...great, actually!" He said as he touched his ribs. Getting up from the bed, the albino stood tall and stretched his back, wincing slightly, causing the medic to get up from her seat and help support him.
"Easy, Star. You're not fully healed yet," Rebecca said with concern as she steadied him, holding onto his arm. She then thoughtfully looked him up and down. "I have to say, I am impressed by your recovery."
The albino nodded in agreement as he straightened himself, slowly retracting his limb from her hold. "Yeah, those herbs really did the job!"
"Just try to be careful, alright? I don't want you to overdo it."
"I'll try." Pausing, he turned to face her, then nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Rebecca. I really appreciate your helping me."
Rebecca looked aside, smiling sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her head. "I was only doing my job, Star!" she waved, feeling flustered. "You don't have to thank me! Besides, it's not like I was going to just let you lie there in pain, you know?"
Star nodded again. "I know. Still, thank you."
Looking back at him, Rebecca offered a sunny, reassuring smile, then gave the albino a thumbs up.
Blinking in surprise, the albino gave a small smile of his own, his eyes softening.
'You know, he's kind of cute in his own peculiar sort of way,' Rebecca thought absentmindedly.
As the thought crossed her mind, the girl blushed and looked away, averting her eyes.
"Look, um...why don't you just sit down for a moment and relax, alright? I have to check on the others."
"The others?" Looking back to the albino, she indicated with a slight tilt of her head her unconscious coworkers as they all lay on the floor. Looking to where she gestured, Star's smile fell, his eyes widening as he gave a look of distress.
"I can't believe I haven't noticed!" he said quietly before looking back to her, concern etched on his features. "Are-are they-?"
"They're fine, Star!" Rebecca raised a placating hand. "I tended to their injuries and have given them some medication. They'll recover in no time."
Relaxing slightly, the albino eyed the survivors all around them.
"...What of the armored giant?" he asked, his eyes remaining on their unconscious forms.
"They managed to kill it," she nodded.
Star blinked, then turned to face her. "They have?" he said with surprise.
"Yeah!"
He gave a thoughtful look, tilting his head slightly.
"Huh." Sighing in relief, the albino returned his gaze back to Rebecca. "Well, at least he won't be bothering us anymore."
"Yep. Score one for the team!" she replied, giving a wink.
His mouth twitched slightly, then reverted to a more serious demeanor. "Is...is there anything that you want me to do to help?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm alright, thanks."
His features fell. Seeing the sad look, Rebecca moved closer to him. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Star was quiet for a moment, looking as if he were trying to consider his words. Finally, he shook his head in a slow and despondent manner.
"...I just can't help feeling as if I'm responsible for what's happened to them. I..." Sighing, he swept a hand through his silver hair, "I can't help feeling like I should do or say...something."
The medic placed a hand on his arm. "It's not your fault. You have nothing to apologize for. It was not your fault they got hurt. Really."
The albino remained still, his expression doubtful. Lifting his eyes, he looked over to Chris, then Jill and Joseph before pausing.
"I only see three here," he commented.
Rebecca nodded, looking over to where he stared. "Richard was reported missing. Barry is just going back to find him." She then turned her head to look up at Star. "Could you lie back down, Star? I'm just a little worried you haven't fully recovered."
Star shook his head. "No thank you, Rebecca. I'm actually feeling much better." The albino shifted in discomfort. "That said, though, I...could use the...um...washroom."
He averted his eyes and said the last part quietly, clearing his throat, looking somewhat embarrassed by the admission.
The medic blinked. "Oh. Okay," Rebecca nodded. "Yeah, you've been holding it in this entire time, haven't you? Yes, that would be quite an uncomfortable feeling. Right, you should get that sorted."
She then watched as the albino moved toward his bags, carefully avoiding stepping on her coworkers as he then pulled out a roll of toilet paper, some bandages and wet wipes.
"Do you have any ammunition?" she asked.
Star shook his head. "No, I'm completely out, I'm afraid. I don't even know where my gun is, to be honest. Have you seen it anywhere?" Rebecca shook hers, causing the albino's shoulders to sag in dismay. "I'm guessing it's somewhere back in the main hall, then."
"Probably."
Star swept a hand through his hair. "In that case, you are going to need the ammunition more than me since you are looking after everyone here. I'll just have to mind my surroundings."
Rebecca frowned. "You shouldn't be going out there, Star. Not in your condition."
He nodded. "I appreciate your concern, Rebecca, but the fact is that I really, really need to use the washroom, so..."
The albino trailed off as she nodded back in understanding.
"Alright." She then folded her arms. "Does your radio still work?"
Giving a silent nod, Star reached into his red coat and raised his radio, pressing the receiver.
Taking out hers, Rebecca then tested the radio. Once both teenagers made sure their equipment worked, the medic exhaled.
"Okay. I'll stay and look after the others. If you need anything, though...if you find yourself in a situation where you need help, or...if you just simply want to talk...just contact me, alright?" She squirmed slightly. "I...don't want you to be alone out there for long."
Star's features softened, the youth nodding as he raised up his hood.
"I'll try to be quick as I can," he promised.
Rebecca crossed her arms as she gave a cheeky smile. "Just be aware, in the event the radio fails, or if I get the sense something is wrong when you don't answer, I will be using the dog whistle."
The albino scoffed, rolling his eyes. As he was about to turn away, the red-clad figure halted. "Rebecca?"
"Yes, Star?"
Star turned to face her directly. "Be careful, alright?"
Rebecca smiled mischievously. "Me? I'm the one who's going to be perfectly safe here in this room. It's you that I'm more worried about, especially considering how clumsy you are."
Blinking, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"'Clumsy'?" Star repeated.
Rebecca gave a playful harrumph, putting her hands on her hips.
"Well of course you are! You always get yourself into trouble somehow." She then exaggeratedly shook her head in dismay and sighed dramatically. "I swear, Star, you should wear a bell around your neck or something, for goodness' sake, that way everyone would be able to know where you are at all times!"
The medic suddenly reached up and playfully flicked the albino between the eyes.
"Shame on you," she pretended to scold the albino, her green orbs lit up with mirth.
Rebecca watched as Star stood in complete bemusement, the albino blinking. Shaking his head, he let out a soft, boyish laugh.
"You really are a strange one," the albino chuckled. Once he finished, he gave a small, gentle smile, his eyes soft and kind. "I think I might like you."
She gave a mock gasp of offense, pretending to look hurt. "'Might'?"
Star's smiled fully as he laughed, shaking his head in amusement, causing Rebecca to give pause.
"I mean I do like you," he corrected himself, dropping the smile as he winced in discomfort. "My apologies, but I need to go."
Blinking absentmindedly, the medic stirred herself from her thoughts.
"Okay."
Carefully navigating their way around the prone bodies of her unconscious coworkers, Rebecca moved toward the exit, followed by Star. Opening the door slightly, she peeked outside and carefully looked and listened. Once she was certain there was nothing there, the medic then looked back to Star.
"Okay, it looks clear out there," she said in a hushed voice. "Just do what needs to be done and come back as soon as possible, alright? I don't want you to end up becoming snack food for one of those monsters out there."
Star nodded. "Okay, I'll be quick as I can. Stay safe, Rebecca."
"You too, Star."
As she let the albino outside, Rebecca then carefully closed the door behind him, making certain that it was properly shut, leaving her alone with the unconscious forms of the other police officers.
Making her way back to the chair at the other end of the room, the medic quietly sat down, her mind lingering on Star's smile.
Once again, Rebecca found herself struck by the peculiar and contradictory feelings that the red-clad youth inspired within her.
On the one hand, the sharpness of his teeth, combined with his towering height, eyes, scars, pointed ears, pale skin and hair gave him a far more ethereal and menacing look that seemed to suggest something inhuman. The red coat and hood especially added to that sense of menace, giving him a very spectral appearance, making him somewhat terrifying to look at at times. On the other hand, though... the albino's smile allowed Rebecca to see how truly handsome he was. The way his whole face lit up...
As the image of his smile lingered, Rebecca found herself pondering to herself. What would he look like with blonde hair? Or brown? What would he look like if he hadn't been born an albino? Would her reaction have been any different? Would she have been able to perceive a likeness, a resemblance to Captain Wesker?
Looking up to the ceiling, Rebecca folded her arms together and sighed, puzzled by the red-clad enigma.
"Just who are you, Star?" she said softly to no one but herself.
He peeked around a corner, clutching the toilet paper, bandages and wet wipes in his arm. Once he was certain that he was alone, Star exhaled softly as he set out to find the washroom, climbing up the stairs. The sooner he found one, the better, otherwise he'll end up having an accident.
But as time went on, the albino found himself in a predicament. He searched one room, then another, and another, and another, and another, all the while his frustration and distress building with every step.
Clutching his stomach, Star grinded his teeth, crossing his legs as he sought to hold it all in as he stumbled down the stairs.
"Where the hell are the bathrooms?!" he cried.
Hearing a gurgle from his stomach, he doubled over, growling in frustration.
'This is absolutely ridiculous!' Star thought.
Where-
Star's eyes widened.
The bar. Of course!
Moving swiftly, the albino navigated the various corridors, looking and listening in all directions to make sure there was nothing waiting for him, let alone following him.
When he finally got to his destination, Star's face fell in dismay.
Letting out an annoyed growl, the albino fought the urge to rip his hair out.
How was it that neither Spencer nor George Trevor noticed the glaringly obvious design flaw in the architectural plans for this place?!
Granted, it was possible there may be a room somewhere that he might have missed, but still, would it have killed either of them to have designed a bathroom somewhere for the sake of convenience?!
The albino scoffed. Of course not! What was he even thinking?! This was Looney Land, home to the insane!
Using a nearby wall for support, Star's face contorted in discomfort.
If only he had a map or something - surely Spencer wasn't so despotic and cheap that in order to cut down on costs that he sought to avoid having any bathrooms installed!
There must be a goddamned toilet around here!
Reaching for his radio, Star thumbed the call button, then stopped himself.
No, he shouldn't call Rebecca - this was just too bloody humiliating to report.
Pressing his hooded head against the wall, the albino fought the urge to scream in frustration.
"What a fucking night! 'Let's go down to meet Father,' you said! 'Let's go on the train,' you said! Nothing can go wrong, nooooo! Oh, you are just full of bright ideas, aren't you, Star?" he ranted quietly to himself. "Let's go down to Colorado where you can get shot at, stabbed, punched and attacked by monsters and wander around for hours in a place that has no bathroom. Fucking brilliant, Star! Oh what a life you lead!"
Hearing the gurgle from his stomach, Star tightly held his legs and eyes shut, whimpering.
"Oh God!"
Rushing down a hallway, Star kept searching, his mind a mixture of panic and distress.
Rebecca tapped her foot against the floor as she sat there waiting.
"What's taking him so long?" she wondered.
Star felt like crying as he stood in what he called the "birdcage corridor".
"This is fucking stupid!" he exploded in rage.
Not a single fucking toilet anywhere in this goddamned wing! There wasn't anything here aside from large potted plants by a set of stairs that faced an empty birdcage.
Clutching his stomach, Star let out a pained groan as he reached this limit.
The medic saw the door open, revealing Barry.
"Hey, kiddo," Barry greeted.
"Hey Barry. Any luck finding Richard?"
Sighing, the big man shook his head from side to side.
Rebecca's eyes drooped. "I see."
"We'll find him. Don't you worry, rookie." Barry then glanced around. "Where's Wolf?"
She sighed. "He wanted to use the bathroom, but he's been gone a while." She squirmed. "I tried reaching him, but the radio has been on the fritz."
Barry scratched his nose. "Yeah, same with mine. I'll go check around for him. Take care, Rebecca."
"You too, Barry."
Barry frowned as he scanned his surroundings.
Where the hell did the kid go?
For whatever reason, this damned mansion had a penchant for causing people to disappear at random.
The S.T.A.R.S. member was quiet as he navigated the mansion halls and made his way through the tea room, his Colt Anaconda feeling heavy in his hand.
Arriving at a door, Barry paused as he heard a groan coming from the other side.
Approaching, the Weapons Specialist listened carefully. Grabbing the handle, he swiftly pushed it open, his firearm raised.
"WHAT THE-"
Barry blinked, startled by the sight before him.
The albino was squatting down on a potted plant, his long red coat draped entirely around his legs, his pants lowered to the floor.
It took a long while for the two of them to process what was even happening.
"Uhhh...whoops!" Barry smiled sheepishly.
Covering his lower half as best he could, Star pointed to the door. "GET OUT!" he indignantly yelled.
Barry scratched the back of his head. "Sorry about that, kid, I was just-"
"GET OUT!"
"I was only trying to look for you-"
"JUST GET OUT!"
Scowling, the big man ran a hand through his hair. Jiminy freaking Cricket, how the hell did he end up in this situation?
The logical thing to do would be for him to leave the albino alone so that he could do his business in peace, but he was also aware of the potential embarrassment and awkwardness that would ensue afterward. After all, he literally caught the kid with his pants down.
"DO YOU MIND?! JUST GET OUT OF HERE ALREADY!" Star yelled, his face flushed.
Closing his eyes, Barry sighed.
"I can't."
The albino blinked in confusion as he approached. "What the-? Why are you-"
Turning around, Barry moved over to the other potted plant at the side. After some dusting, the big man started to unbuckle his pants, causing Star's eyes to widen.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" the youth yelled in mortification.
"I need to take a shit!" Barry retorted.
"Do it somewhere else! I don't want company!"
"Well neither do I, but what choice do I have?! So shut up and mind your own damn business."
Once his pants were lowered, Barry sat down, his hairy legs exposed.
Sitting there awkwardly, the two survivors quietly did their business, trying to avoid either looking or acknowledge each other's presence.
Knitting his brows together, Barry glanced around the room.
"This is a nice place."
The albino kept quiet.
"...Do you have any toilet paper with you?" Barry asked.
Star gave a curt nod, clearly uncomfortable with this situation.
"Oh. Good," Barry nodded. "That's good." As the two of them fell back into awkward silence, the Alpha looked around the room again, then paused when something caught his attention.
Although the red coat covered the majority of Star's legs, a small section of the albino's upper thigh was exposed, revealing scarred flesh with black sutures.
"Those are some nasty-looking scars, son," Barry commented.
Star averted his eyes, as if trying to hide his facial features, the youth shifting on his seat in the dimly-lit room. The slight movement caused the coat to slip slightly, revealing more of his scarred hip, causing the albino to hastily cover it.
Christ almighty!
Barry had no idea what happened to the kid, but from what little he saw, he dreaded how the rest of his body looked.
"What happened, if you don't mind my asking?" Barry asked quietly.
Star refused to answer, his eyes staring squarely down at the floor, his jaw tense. Barry was certain that the youth had heard him, but he didn't try prying any further. Looking away, he shifting uncomfortably on the pot, staring up at the ceiling as he let out a sigh.
"'Down by the sea lived a lonesome oyster,'" Barry quietly sang,
"'Every day getting sadder and moister
He found his home life awf'lly wet
And longed to travel with the upper set.
Poor little oyster.'"
Star's brow twitched in annoyance.
"'Fate was kind to that oyster we know,'" Barry continued to sing,
"'When one day the chef from the Park Casino
Saw that oyster lying there
And said "I'll put you on my bill of fare."
Lucky little oyster.'"
The albino scowled. "Do you really need to sing?!" he said impatiently.
"It helps me concentrate," the police officer replied.
"Just- can you be quiet, please?"
"Just ignore me, kid," Barry waved. "Just go about your business. Pay no attention to me."
He continued, "'See him on his silver platter
Watching the queens of fashion chatter
Hearing the wives of millionaires
Discuss their marriages and their love affairs.
Thrilled little oyster.'"
Once the two were finished, they both awkwardly stood there, trying to avoid looking at each other.
Adjusting his pants, Star put on his red coat and drew up his hood before finally taking out some wet wipes, holding a cloth in offering.
"Thanks," Barry nodded as he took the item and started to wipe his hands. "Are you going to use one?"
"I'll do so when we get back," Star said as he placed the lid back on.
Barry shrugged. "Alright then." Raising his Colt Anaconda, he gestured to the door ahead. "Shall we?"
The two moved forward, heading heading back to the tea room. As Barry reached for the handle, the two heard loud chains clanking followed by a shriek, making them pause.
"The hell is that?" Barry muttered.
Star frowned. "A poor soul named Lisa Trevor. Umbrella did something to her. I encountered her earlier, but she's really strong and really, really aggressive, to me especially for some reason," he quietly commented. "I don't know if it's even possible to kill her, to be honest. I saw her break her neck from a fall, but she just got up again as if nothing had ever happened. Nothing ever stays dead around here, it seems. Not for long, anyway."
Barry scoffed. "No kidding." Looking around, he then quietly gestured to the albino toward the stairs. "Stay quiet."
Nodding, the two then silently but quickly proceeded up the stairs, doing everything possible to avoid making noise as they departed.
Rebecca tapped her foot on the ground as she sat there waiting. Grabbing the manuscript, Rebecca turned her attention to its pages, trying to distract herself from her anxiousness.
Star frowned as he stared down the hall. "Any idea where we are?"
The two of them were in a tight corridor filled with mirrors, some of them broken. Parts of the corridor were lined with what looked like spears, while another section had an archway guarded by a pair of stone cherubs.
Exhaling, Barry shook his head. "No, this looks new. I don't think I've been here."
"Hm." Turning the corner, Barry placed a hand on the albino's shoulder, then quietly pointed down. Looking to where he indicated, Star froze.
A body was lying face down on the floor, the skin a bloody red.
Star leaned into Barry's ear. "Do you think it's dead?" he whispered.
The latter shrugged.
"Dunno," he replied, taking out his lighter. "I'll just light this sucker up, just in case. Better safe than sorry, ya know."
Nodding, Star stepped back, giving the older man room as he raised up his shirt to cover his nose, bracing himself for the oncoming smell.
He watched as Barry stepped toward the body with lighter in hand, the big man bending down. Flicking his lighter, the duo were startled as the body suddenly sprung up to its feet.
"HOLY SHIT!" Barry yelled, startled.
Letting out an ungodly roar, the creature swiveled around on its feet, allowing Star to have a good look at its features. The skin hung loosely off from its face like a red bloody mask, looking ready to fall off at any moment. Snarling, the creature charged toward the big man as he raised his large weapon and fired, causing it to stumble. Regaining its balance, the zombie charged again, this time running full burst toward Star himself, who barely had time to react as he dropped the items he was holding and reached up, his hand grasping hold of its forehead, holding it back.
Gritting his teeth, Star struggled to keep the undead creature back as it flailed razor-sharp claws at him and snapped its jaws hungrily on empty air.
"Get this thing off me!" he yelled.
Raising his weapon, Barry struggled to find an opening. The damn thing just won't stop moving. If he's not careful, he could end up hurting or killing the kid.
As the creature violently struggled, part of the skin on its face started to peel off beneath Star's fingers, until finally the whole thing came right off, revealing a bloody grinning skull as the pieces fell onto the floor.
"Jesus!" Barry swore as the undead being tackled straight into the albino, nearly knocking the giant figure off his feet, much to his surprise.
Grabbing it by the wrists, Star struggled to hold the creature back as it flailed uncontrollably, shocked by how fast and strong it was. Raising up a gauntleted arm to protect himself, Star cried out as he felt the thing bite his gauntleted arm.
"KID!"
Wriggling furiously, Star struggled to get the zombie off, but the damn thing was latched onto his arm like a Rottweiler, refusing to let go. Wrenching his arm away, the albino reared his fist back and struck it square in the face, his punch breaking its nose with an audible crack, causing it to fly off its feet, its teeth shattering.
Leaping back up again, the creature charged again, its claws outstretched.
Star braced himself for the impact when there came a sudden loud explosion.
BOOM!
Recoiling at the sound, when Star looked back at the creature, the entire upper half of its head was gone, leaving only the lower jaw, its brains splattered along a broken mirror nearby.
Stumbling, the body wobbled slightly, then collapsed onto the floor.
Looking over to Barry, Star saw him holding his firearm, the barrel smoking.
"You okay, kid?"
Letting out a deep, shaky breath, the albino nodded, his shoulders sagging. "Y-yeah. Thank you."
Barry nodded back.
"Don't mention it," he said as he started to reach into his pockets. "Now, why don't we find a way to...get..."
The police officer trailed off. Looking to where he stared, Star found himself watching in horrified wonder as the body rose back up onto its feet again, even in spite of its missing head.
"OH SHIT-!"
No sooner had those words left Star's mouth when the headless creature tackled straight into him, knocking him right off his feet.
Wincing at the impact, Star clutched hold of its forearms, screaming shrilly as its tongue and lower jaw brushed against its face.
"GET OFF ME! GET IT OFF!" the albino screamed. "GET IT OFF!"
A booted foot connected with the cadaver's side, allowing the albino a chance to get back onto his feet.
As the body started to crawl onto all fours in an attempt to get back up again, the two survivors started to kick and curb-stomp the strange creature together, letting out shouts and yells for every stomp made. Bones, teeth and limbs snapped and crunched beneath their booted feet while organs burst, every sound punctuated by a yell, squelch and/or crack.
"DIE! YOU! FUCKING! BASTARD!" Barry roared.
The survivors kept on curb-stomping the headless cadaver for several minutes, even when it had ceased moving. By the time they finished, the body lay there in a bloody ruin on the floor, with various bones exposed.
Panting heavily, the two survivors exchanged looks with one another, then back at the body.
"Is it..." Star wiped his forehead, "is it dead?"
The body twitched slightly, making them jump.
"Jesus fucking Christ!" Barry swore.
The two stared at the body as it weakly moved its arms, feeling around with its broken fingers.
"The damn thing still lives?!" Star said incredulously.
"Yeah, well," Barry took out his lighter, "this should put it out of its misery."
Kneeling down, he set the creature on fire. Backing away, the two of them watched as it continued to writhe around. Once it stopped moving, they put out the flames, stamping it out.
Letting out a cough, Star waved the smoky air, wincing at the fumes.
"God, I hate that smell," he commented.
"You and me both, kid," Barry coughed. "But, at least it's dead. Let's get out of here and have you checked out. I don't wanna spend another minute here."
Nodding in agreement, Star collected his things from the floor, then followed after the Weapons Specialist down the corridors. Once they were able to find the door that they were looking for, the two survivors hastily left, eager to leave this room.
As Rebecca thumbed the pages of the manuscript, the sound of the door opening caused her to look up.
"Guys?" Upon seeing what greeted her, Rebecca gasped, her eyes widening in shock. Both Star and Barry were a complete mess; not only were their feet bloodied, but the former's clothes were also torn and stained.
"Oh my gosh, what happened to you guys?!" the medic said as she sat up from her seat, putting aside the manuscript.
"One of those fucking zombies," Barry muttered as he grabbed a cloth from the shelf and started wiping himself. "A vicious red fuck that just wouldn't die. It was missing his head and everything, and he still wouldn't go down."
"Are either of you hurt?"
"I don't know," Star said as he wiped his face and gloved hands with a wet cloth, taking off his coat as he rolled up his shirt sleeve. "The damn thing bit my arm."
"What?!"
"It's true," he nodded as he started to unbuckle his gauntleted arm. "I don't know if it pierced the skin or not, but I definitely felt it."
Rebecca worriedly approached.
"Let me see!" she insisted, taking hold of Star's arm as she started to undue the buckles one by one. Once they were all unbuckled, Rebecca removed the gauntlet, exposing his bandaged forearm. "Where did you feel it?"
Star pointed to the midsection of his left forearm.
Frowning, Rebecca looked up at Barry. "Would it be alright if you could wait outside for a moment?"
"I'm on my way out to have a look around for Richard anyway," the big man nodded. "Take care, kids."
"You too, Barry."
As Barry left, closing the door behind him, the medic resumed in her work, quickly unravelling the bandage.
Once it was off, Rebecca inspected the injury. On both sides of Star's forearm was some bruising, with slight impressions of the bite.
Upon seeing them, Rebecca let out a sigh of relief.
"It doesn't look like it has broken the skin," she assured, watching as Star's sloped shoulders sagged, his muscles noticeably untensing. "There's definitely some bruising, though. You're lucky you had that on. It seems like your gauntlet prevented the worst from happening."
Star scoffed. "Lucky me."
Grabbing a container of wet wipes, he opened the lid when Rebecca took a cloth.
"Let me help clean that."
He shook his head. "It's fine, Rebecca-"
"Please?"
Star quietly stared at her for a moment. At first, he was going to refuse her offer, but something about her green eyes made the albino reluctant to turn her down. Sighing in resignation, he quietly nodded, giving his consent.
He watched as Rebecca gave a warm smile as she then gestured to the chair by the desk. "Take a seat."
Obeying, Star moved to where she indicated, then sat quietly down.
The albino was still as Rebecca took a wet wipe and started to gently brush the cloth against the skin on his forearm, the girl brushing lightly over the bite marks.
Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Star shifted in his seat.
"...You know," he spoke up, drawing her attention, "I can do this by myself."
"I know."
The youth frowned slightly. "You don't have to do this, Rebecca."
"It's okay, Star," she assured. "It's no problem at all. None whatsoever."
Star watched the girl tenderly brush his limb, careful to avoid pressing too hard so as to break his damaged flesh. What caught his attention, however, was the sharp contrast between them both - her small gloved hands and perfect pristine arms, the smooth skin...
"So," Rebecca began, "were you able to find a washroom around here?"
Star frowned. "No, I couldn't find anything." He shook his head. "Such a huge mansion, with expensive-looking furniture, and not a single bathroom anywhere? Unbelievable."
"Hm," she nodded. "Maybe there's a bathroom in the east wing?"
His frown deepened. It never occurred to him to check the east wing. Then again, he had been too distracted at the time and had been in dire need of a washroom.
"If there is," Star said slowly, "it's bloody inconvenient."
She scoffed. "Yeah, right?"
The two exchanged short laughs, then fell quiet as she continued with her work.
"So you encountered another one of those headless zombies," she commented.
Star frowned. "We did." He shook his head. "I know that chickens are sometimes known to walk around and live for a couple months without a head due to the positioning of the brain, their smaller size and their anatomy, but this? This is just insane! What could possibly make a human body live without even a head or brain?"
The medic pursed her lips. "I don't know. Anatomically, chickens are different from human beings. The human brain can survive up to six minutes before dying, if not less. The human body wouldn't be able move, especially considering the trauma and blood loss. For a human body to continue living, even without a head...I don't know what to make of it. The only possible explanation that I can come up with is that this "T-Virus" has so fundamentally altered the physiology of its host that it makes it possible to survive up to longer periods. Then again, maybe there are other factors, like something it had eaten, its genetics or something."
She shook her head. "I have absolutely no idea."
Falling into silence, Star watched as she continued working. Once she finished cleaning the one arm, she wrapped it up with fresh bandages taken from his bag, then strapped the gauntlet back on before moving onto the next limb.
As she cleaned the other limb, Star watched in surprise as tears suddenly fell down her cheeks.
"...Why...why are you crying?" he asked uncertainly.
Rebecca wiped her eyes.
"So much pain," she said softly, her eyes lingering on his ruined forearm.
The albino said nothing at first, then gave a half shrug.
"If it brings you any comfort, Rebecca...it doesn't hurt. I'm not in any physical pain. Granted, I can't feel anything, but, still...it has to count for something, right?" Lowering his eyes, he stared down to the floor. "I do have to admit, though...there are...some things...that...I kind of long for."
"Like what?"
The albino lifted up his eyes, looking at Rebecca. "Would it surprise you to know...that...I...kind of envy you?"
Rebecca blinked, surprised by the admission.
Star gave a gloomy smile. "It's true," he said, looking at his ruined hand. "Growing up, I would often look around and see people holding hands. Parents, siblings, friends...lovers..."
Staring at his ruined hand, the albino studied his disfigured fingers, then closed his eyes, exhaling softly.
"I had often wondered what would it be like, holding a person's hand. What it would feel like." He shook his head, his eyes drooping. "I can't feeling anything. Not even my own mother's hands. I have the hands of a corpse and the body of a monster, while you are beauty incarnated in human form, perfect in body and soul."
The medic shook her head. "You overexaggerate, Star. You are not a monster, no matter how scarred you are."
"Aren't I?" Star said doubtfully.
"Absolutely." The medic shifted uncomfortably. "I'm...not that great a person, to be honest. I'm-I'm not that good a person."
She then bit her lip, looking indecisive about something, as if uncertain as to whether or not she should tell him something.
"What's wrong?" The albino asked in a concerned voice.
Closing her eyes, Rebecca sighed.
"When we were on the train," she began, "I..." She swallowed nervously, "I had been ordered by Captain Marini to keep a close eye on you. We thought you were hiding something, that-that you might have been involved with Umbrella, and-and so because of that..." The girl looked guiltily to the floor, "Captain Marini...wanted me...to...get...closer to you. And...I...I agreed to it."
Star was quiet as he processed this information. Part of him felt uncertain how to respond to the news. Should he feel...outrage? Disappointment? Betrayed?
The albino remained silent, unsure whether or not to respond.
He didn't even know whether or not he even wanted to be in the same room with her.
He watched as Rebecca's features became etched with worry and concern. He was sure that he wasn't expressing any form of emotion on his face. He was additionally certain that he wasn't giving any look to suggest what he was thinking; as far as Star were aware, he wasn't doing anything threatening, nor was he doing anything that could be construed as suggesting that he were upset.
And yet, she seemed alarmed regardless, looking very distressed.
Putting a hand on his arm, Rebecca stared up at him with her imploring green eyes, which looked ready to spill more tears.
"I-I want to let you know, Star...when I agreed to it, that-that...that was before I learned the truth at the church, alright? I wasn't-" She swallowed, a tear falling, "I wasn't lying to you when I said that I cared about you. I wasn't lying to you when I told you that you would be an awesome S.T.A.R.S. member. That I saw you as a friend...and that-that I would help you." Looking down, she exhaled. "To be honest, Star...I..."
Her shoulders slumped defeatedly, and in that moment, Star saw the tiny girl become even smaller before him, "...I think Captain Wesker made a mistake in picking me."
Star hesitated, startled by the admission. "What? Why?"
Rebecca crossed her arms as she sat on her knees, staring down at the floor. "Ever since I've joined...it has been marked with one disaster after another. I couldn't save Edward. I couldn't save Forest. I couldn't save Kevin. I wasn't...I wasn't able to find a way to save Billy. Billy is still out there, somewhere, where people are dying." As she spoke, Star heard her voice crack. "I don't know if I have saved him by letting him go, or if I have merely allowed him to die a slow, painful and lonely death. He's...he's all alone out there. All alone, with nowhere to go, with no one around to help him. For all I know, he's already dead, being...being eaten...by..."
Trailing off, the girl softly cried, causing Star to look upon her with pity as he felt an indescribable pain in his being at seeing her in this state.
Rebecca sniffled as she looked back up, her green eyes running.
"I am not a good person," she admitted as she stared at her gloved hands, her fingers clenching the fabric on her pants. "A good person just wouldn't let their own father hurt their mom! A good person wouldn't be so afraid! They would have done..." The girl struggled to find an answer, "...something! My mom is being terrorized by that-that bastard, and I'm stuck all the way out here with no way of either knowing what's happened to her, nor am I able to find a way to prevent whatever he intends on doing to her! I don't even know if my mom is even alive right now...and...I'm scared out of my mind with worry! I can't..."
Rebecca swept a hand through her brown hair, her tear-stained eyes dripping and drooping, "I can't even protect my own mother! What does that even say about me as a person? What stupid notion made me think I was even fit to be a medic?!"
Lifting her green orbs up to meet his, she shook her head. "It's strange. You say you envy me? I actually kind of envy you."
The albino wrinkled his eyes in confusion. Rebecca gave a rueful smile.
"It's true," she nodded. "You are tall. Strong. Brave. Everything..." Her smile fell, along with her gaze and her tears, "everything I am not. You should have been selected for S.T.A.R.S., Star. Not me. I'm...I'm not fit for S.T.A.R.S. I never was. I've been...I've been lying to myself in thinking that I could make a difference."
As Rebecca quietly wept, Star squirmed in his seat. Never before had the albino ever known or felt such pain in his being at seeing another cry. The more Star watched, the more distressed he became at seeing her like this.
What should he do?
Raising a gauntleted hand, the albino hesitantly curled a finger and gently brushed her tears away with the side of his finger, taking care to avoid hurting her.
Sniffling, Rebecca looked up at him in surprise, her eyes red from crying.
"...I..." he spoke slowly, "...I understand...why you did...what you did. You have done nothing wrong. And in terms of my being 'brave'..." Star shook his head, "I wasn't. I really wasn't. You were the brave one. I was ready to leave." The albino shifted anxiously. "...Would you...would you believe me if I told you that...the reason for my being brave...was because of you and Father?"
There were a great many things that Star was uncertain of - his past, his parentage, his identity and future, even at times his very sanity.
But, in that moment, none of that mattered to him; in that moment, the one thing he felt certain of, if anything, was his love for this strange girl.
How it was possible for anything to be so pure was beyond the albino.
He didn't know how it was even possible for him to love something as much as he did.
The only thing he knew with great certainty, however, was that letting this evil place claim this being, as it had various others throughout the years, would be the greatest sin, if not tragedy.
As Star carefully wiped away the medic's tears with his gloved thumb, Rebecca stared up at him with large, questioning eyes, the gauntleted, monstrously clawed hand providing a sharp contrast with her pixie-like features.
If he truly was one of Umbrella's creations, the albino silently vowed, then he would see to it that this innocence was not snuffed out, that it won't become corrupted into either a zombie or something similar to his monstrous form, his monstrous image.
If he had to sacrifice himself to protect this innocence...then so be it.
It didn't matter whether his own soul was damned to the deepest stygian pits in Dis.
If he was destined for Hell, as he suspected, then he would gladly descend for her, as long as this...Angel...was protected and allowed to escape in the end.
"...You truly are remarkable, Rebecca," he said quietly. "You really are an Angel, in every sense of the word."
Carefully extracting his gloved hand away from her cheek, Star then brought it right up to her face, gently brushing his index finger up between her eyes with a feather-light flick, carefully done to avoid hurting her, before drawing his hand away, the albino pulling his mouth into a cheeky, sharp-toothed grin.
"Albeit, a slightly silly one."
Blinking several times, as if trying to process what had just occurred, Rebecca let out a small laugh, the albino joining with her as he chuckled.
Lowering his smile, he gave an acknowledging nod, "I think you greatly underestimate yourself, Rebecca. Your mother especially."
The girl wiped her nose. "What-what makes you say that?"
"Because of the way you handle yourself," Star nodded. "Even when you were afraid, you were able to withstand so much and...persevere. You have shown remarkable resiliency and tenacity in spite of everything that has happened these past two nights. I...like to think...that...you inherited this strength of character from your mother. I mean, if she can survive for years against a man such as your father...even in spite of what he's done to her...if you can survive this long and take on fish men, zombies and giant leech monsters using nothing but your own wits, a lighter and a spray can and still care about the people around you...you can survive anything. It might be presumptuous of me to say and think such things, but still...I...feel..."
He frowned, "No, I know...that you are stronger than I am. You always were, and I admire you for that. You are more than capable, Rebecca... and...I think Father knew that when he had picked you." Star stared meaningfully at her, then gave a slight nod. "I'm sorry for the way things have turned out for you on your first day...but...that said...I...I am thankful that you were the one selected for S.T.A.R.S., otherwise, I don't think I would have made it this far. If it means anything, Rebecca...I think you have made a difference. For Billy. For everyone here. For me. If it means anything, Rebecca, I...I believe in you."
Rebecca stared at him in stunned silence.
Looking away, the albino pursed his lips, "I don't...I don't believe myself to be either as strong or as brave as you are. But...if you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed or in a dark place...if you ever feel as though either your strength or courage is waning...you are welcome to rely on what I have, be it strength, or courage, or both. Even if there's not a lot admittedly. I suspect that you don't need either from me, though, but still... whatever you need. That way, you can be brave and/or strong for the both of us and help everyone survive this night."
Wiping her eyes, Rebecca looked up at him, sniffling.
"How-" she swallowed, then spoke quietly, "how about we both be strong and brave for each other and for our Moms? That way we can help keep each other safe and out of trouble. You especially."
Star let out a small, amused snort, then shrugged, giving a small smile. "I'm alright with that proposition."
The medic nodded, wiping her eyes, and taking a deep breath.
"Good." As she finished wiping away the tears, Rebecca gave a warm smile. "That was very nice of you, Star. I really appreciate what you said. Thank you. And," she blushed, scratching the back of her head, "sorry for coming apart like that."
Star raised a hand. "You don't have to apologize. I've been coming apart as well. This place is just getting to us."
"Yeah," she agreed. "We've both been coming apart because of this place, haven't we?"
The albino nodded. "Yeah." He then scoffed, "Fucking Umbrella." Blinking, he cleared his throat. "Ah, sorry. Pardon my language."
"Oh noes, my poor delicate ears!" Rebecca faux clasped her ears in mock horror, causing Star to laugh.
Before he had time to react, the girl suddenly stood up and hugged the albino, cutting off his laughter as he froze.
"Thank you, Star," the medic murmured into his ear before planting a gentle kiss on his cheek, causing his pulse to race, his eyes widening in shock.
As she pulled away, Star stared back at her in complete shock, his mouth parted.
"...W-why," he stammered, his voice shaky, "...-w-why d-did you...?"
"Because what you said meant a lot to me. Thank you." As she kneeled back down and resumed wrapping the other arm, Rebecca looked up again. "The same applies to you, Star...okay? If you ever find yourself in a dark place...you can always call on me for help, alright?"
Staring, the albino was slow in his response, not saying or doing anything. Finally, he gave a single, quiet nod, too shaken to even speak or do much else as he watched her resume her work on his arm, the warmth of her hug and kiss still lingering.
As Star studied Rebecca's features, part of him started to wonder what it would be like to kiss another.
What would it be like to kiss an Angel?
Another part of him, however, felt wary.
Fearful, even.
He feared her reaction to his lips making contact.
Even worse, Star feared the effect his kiss would have on her.
Rebecca's kiss was one of warmth and life, but what of his own?
Were he to kiss her, would she be insulted?
Would it be considered blasphemy?
After all, the idea of something like him kissing her either on the lips or on her hand almost seemed like something that would cause outrage.
Or...was Star's kiss like Rusalka's?
A kiss of death?
Star repressed the urge to shudder, resisting the urge to picture Rebecca as a zombie.
If my kisses are fatal...then I will ensure that this Angel is protected at all costs. Even from myself if necessary.
Star wasn't certain as to whether or not he was infected... but if he was, then he would ensure that nothing would ever happen to her, no matter the consequences. Even if it cost him his own life and happiness.
The albino thoughtfully tilted to the side, watching the medic as she wrapped up his limb.
'Dante, old friend, I think I now truly understand your love for Beatrice,' he thought.
If Rebecca was his Beatrice, then he would be her Dante, if not Vergil, and help her escape this Hell.
As Rebecca finished bandaging up the arm and placed the other gauntlet on, she looked up and smiled.
"All finished!" she said in a cheerful tone. As she put the remaining bandages way, there came a loud gurgle from Star's stomach, causing her to pause and look up at him with a raised brow.
"...Hungry?"
Rebecca watched as a small blush appeared on the albino's scarred cheeks as he looked away in embarrassment, making her break out into a smile.
"You and me both," she commented. Turning her attention back to her backpack, the medic resumed her search, then paused, her eyes lighting up. "Ah! Just what I've been looking for."
"What's that?"
Reaching into the back, she pulled out a Kit Kat, waving it in the air.
"Tada!" she said victoriously before opening the wrapper, breaking off a couple pieces. At the sight of the candy bar pieces, Star stared with a look of longing, making her giggle as he gave a slight, pleading whine that almost reminded her of a dog. Like Snowball.
"Here you go."
Placing a few pieces on his lap, she watched as the albino shakily lifted one up in his gloved hand, the boy swallowing before voraciously consuming the piece of chocolate. Closing his eyes, the boy had a look of absolute bliss as he hungrily ate.
"Thank you, Rebecca," he said politely before moving quickly onto the next piece.
Rebecca winked, giving a thumbs up before raising a piece of Kit Kat to him, "Here's to us getting out alive."
Pausing, Star then raised his. "To us getting out alive."
With that, the two ate in silence, the words lingering uneasily in the air.
He watched from the shadows as the little beings scurried about like rats, his bright, featureless white eyes locked in a deep, dark, hawkish stare, not missing anything.
So many potential hosts, yet so little time. If he was not careful, he'll end up locked up back in that damned pod again.
Shaking its head in contempt, the entity remained silent and alert, concentrating its attention on the most potentially suitable hosts as its eyes scanned carefully through the mansion, its large claws flexing impatiently.
He needed to be swift, quiet, precise, but patient; the Chariot was still active, despite having sustained some damage.
Still, it should allow him some measure of freedom and opportunity to find what he was looking for.
Of course, Curien would undoubtedly try to intervene. The Tower proved a very useful distraction, one that allowed him plenty of time to do what needed to be done. He only regretted not being able to finish what he started.
Curien was undoubtedly looking for him on the various security monitors within this facility, keeping careful watch for the slightest signs of his presence.
A smirk crawled up one side of its face.
Even after all these years, Curien was still trying to catch up with him. Still continuing to be a nuisance in his desperate attempt to save the human race.
Fool.
Shaking its head in contempt, the entity remained silent and alert as it focused on its surroundings, his eyes scanning carefully the various organisms within the area.
His long ears twitching, he paused in his search, turning his head to the left, tilting its head curiously to the side without uttering a sound as it listened.
How interesting.
Pulling its mouth into a sharp-toothed sneer, his eyes flashed with a violet electric hue, his form flickering as he disappeared, leaving no trace of his presence.
Author's Note: I'm so sorry for the delay, guys. I had been busy with university projects up the whazoo and my schedule was such that it had been next to impossible to update regularly. Ugh. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, I guess. Then again, with Covid being a thing, it really has made everything that much more complicated.
For those of you wondering about the headless zombie, this is definitely a reference to "House of the Dead" where you can blow limbs and heads off creatures and they'd still attack you regardless. The headless Crimsonhead was also a feature in REmake where after blowing off their heads they can get back up and attack you again. The first time I encountered that, not gonna lie, that had scared the absolute shit out of me. O.O
Thank you all for your continued support of this story; I will try to update as soon as I can rather than have you all wait for months on end. You have all been very supportive and deserve better, and I greatly appreciate your taking the time to read my work.
Until then, take care, and stay safe and healthy, guys and gals! :D