As Cass and Billy traveled through the dense forest, Cass' mind began to wander. She had trouble focusing on the helicopter. A burning question raged through her mind as she stealthily stole glances at Billy. Suddenly, Bill stopped with a sigh and turned to her with a knowing half-smile.

"I know I'm not handsome enough for all that attention," he said with a glance at Cass' embarrassed face. "If you've got anything you want to ask or say, now's your chance."

"Why did you kill all those people?" She blurted out, and he flinched in response. Getting to the helicopter was her top priority, but she wanted to test a theory first.

Smoothing his hair back, he replied tiredly, "I didn't kill any of them… but I don't expect you to believe me. I know a guilty man would have the same story."

"I believe you," Cass said and looked away when he looked at her with shock and disbelief. "You've known where the helicopter was this entire time, haven't you?" She glanced back at him to see him give her a sheepish look in response. "Every time we started walking toward it, you would take the lead without waiting for directions. If you were the kind of person who would kill an entire village of people, then you would have left me the moment those guys showed up. You knew they were there before I did, and you didn't run. You're not that kind of person… although maybe I'm not the kind of person who should be judging anybody… considering how blindsided I just was."

Cass could feel the bitterness in the back of her throat. Wesker had seemed like a good captain. Understanding… tough but fair… a good teacher. She sighed and started walking through the forest again.

"Some people are good at hiding their true selves," Billy said softly. "My superior… he was the one who gave the order. I… I didn't fire my gun, but the others… I guess, it was easier to shift the blame to me."

Cass noticed Billy look down with sadness in his eyes. He definitely didn't seem to be a murderer. No doubt she'd be dead if he was, and maybe what he said was true. No one wanted to believe that someone they respect is lying to them. Wesker was the one responsible for this. Not them.

The guilt that had been hounding her for so long drifted from her shoulders and with its absence came a second wind. Picking up her pace, she worked her way toward the distant sound of the helicopter. Billy's footsteps behind her had turned into a small comfort.

"So those guys in black… what was that about? A job offer?"

Cass let out a small bark of laughter and asked, "Did that sound in any way voluntary to you?" Cass glanced at Billy as he gave her a shrug. "The 'captain' of S.T.A.R.S., Wesker… he was working for Umbrella. Those guys in black were probably working for some rival company. Wesker said something about making sure the other members of S.T.A.R.S. didn't survive, so I assume Umbrella or that rival company thought of them as a threat."

"But not you? Those guys really wanted to take you in alive. We'd both be dead if they didn't."

"Wesker said that I'm the only one who had a chance of surviving tonight. Because I'm less of a threat, I guess."

Billy laughed and said with a friendly smile, "That's not exactly the impression I get. You're a pretty tough cookie if I do say so myself."

"Compliments won't get you anywhere."

"We're alone in creepy infested woods… Nothing wrong with a little comradery before we escape or bite the dust."

Cass rolled her eyes and said, "Not exactly in the best mood. I've been through hell tonight. I think I get a pass for being unfriendly. Besides… even if all the S.T.A.R.S. are miraculously still alive… I really admired him. I trusted him. I thought he was the perfect leader. Caring, trustworthy, loyal… and he wasn't any of those things." Cass laughed before she continued, "What do you do when one of the people you respected most… trusted most turns out to be the person you should have trusted the least?"

Cass paused to close her eyes and take a deep breath. A hand on her shoulder startled her, and she turned to see Billy giving her an understanding look. Cass placed her hand on top of his for a moment before continuing through the woods.

"If we survive this, at least I'll have a couple new friends," Billy said thoughtfully giving her a smile. "Bonded by trauma."

A small laugh forced its way out of Cass despite her distress. They continued the rest of the way in silence. As the helicopter came into view, Cass searched for any sign of the pilot. Brad paced around the field as though in a panic before he noticed Cass. With a look of relief, he ran towards them.

"You won't BELIEVE what I've seen tonight!" Brad shouted with terror and eyed Billy warily. "Hey, wait! Why are you here, Cass? The captain said that you were going back to the academy for some paperwork mix-up."

"Wesker is a lying traitor!" Cass snapped and looked around. "Where is Chris?! Joseph? Jill? Barry? Don't tell me you just left them somewhere!"

"I had to!" Brad yelled defensively. "Those dogs… they tore Joseph apart in seconds! If I had stayed, I'd be dead too! We need to fly back to the city. Get another team sent in. There's no way I can deal with this. I wasn't trained for it! I'm just the pilot and recruiter guy!"

"So… you just left them there?" Cass asked in a suspiciously calm tone.

"I had to! I've been flying over the place, hoping to radio someone, but I haven't been able to reach anyone. Either their radios are broken or…"

"Where did you leave them?"

"Some mansion North of here."

"Well, get in the damn helicopter because that's where we're going!"

"Oh, hell no! Did you not hear me?! I can't go back there! We need to get some—"

Cass walked up to Brad and, before he could react, grabbed his vest. After slamming him into the ground, she used her weight to pin him and stared him down until he went still.

"THERE'S NO TIME FOR THAT, BRAD! WESKER sent them in there! WESKER trapped me in an enclosure with a mutated nightmare! He's going to make sure no one survives. Waiting for another team is dooming every single one of our teammates… our friends to death! Umbrella is behind this. They hired Wesker… from the beginning, and now they want to get rid of the evidence."

"How do you know it was the Captain?" Brad asked with some skepticism.

"Because he radioed me to tell me the rules of his sick game, but I decided to think outside the box."

"Why didn't he just drop you inside the mansion with everyone else? How do I know you're not on his side? Trying to get me killed to 'get rid of the evidence'?"

"Brad… if I was working with Umbrella, you'd already be dead," Cass replied with a glare and showed him her gun. "I've only got one bullet, but hey, look at that. There's only one Brad here. How convenient."

Brad seemed to believe her now and said hesitantly, "Okay then. But what are you going to do with only one bullet? Give one of those dogs a headache?"

"Well then, what do you suggest?"

"How about… I fly you and the civilian to the edge of the forest before I go back for the others," he said before catching Cass' disbelieving look. "Okay, look… I know I've been a coward, but if Wesker is behind this… then they don't have a chance of surviving without help. And we can't bring a civilian with us, and we sure can't leave him alone. I think I've got a plan now."

Cass gave him a skeptical look before she helped him up off of the ground. Brad quickly walked back to the helicopter with a scared look to Cass.

"Remind me to never get on your bad side," Billy said with an amused grin.

"If I need to remind you after that, then you deserve it," Cass said and followed Brad to the helicopter.

"That's fair."

Cass once again rolled her eyes as she climbed into the helicopter. Brad fiddled with the controls as Billy climbed inside. Cass glanced at Brad. He didn't seem to recognize Billy as he'd called Billy a civilian. Honestly, she doubted he even read the memos much less the files. She relaxed and glanced at Billy to see him still wearing that amused smile and watching her with curiosity. She looked outside the window as the helicopter slowly rose into the air. She still wanted to snap at Brad for leaving them, but she didn't want to become a source of amusement. That could wait until after Chris was safe and sound.