The Experiments
Author's Disclaimer: I do not care HOW tired people are of me saying this, I'm going to say it anyway…
I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO WARCRAFT OR RESIDENT EVIL!! NEVER HAVE!! NEVER WILL!! SO THERE!!
… Love you guys :-P
Albert Wesker hated the cold of Northrend. He hated the incompetent acolytes he was forced to work with even more. These people were primitives who knew so little of true science and biology that it made a certifiable genius such as Wesker ashamed to be working under such conditions.
However, one could not say that they weren't eager to learn, and the sheer number of acolytes at his disposal certainly made searching for test subjects a simple task of pointing his finger at one. Even if the acolytes knew they were doomed to die or suffer horribly for being selected, none of them seemed to mind. After all, this was a death cult.
A new acolyte was strapped to the long wooden table in the frozen, ice-covered room that used to be a chamber in the ancient spider-kingdom of Azjol-Nerub, not that it mattered to Wesker, of course. He stood behind the console that had been brought over and magically conditioned to be impervious to the frosty conditions of Northrend. Personally, Wesker would have preferred to work back in his world, in a remote base of his choosing. However, Arthas had said that for the time being, his research was needed in this world, so that, is where he would stay.
For the moment, anyway.
Ada Wong came in dressed in her usual black cloak, her chain mail jingled slightly as she walked over to the test subject, with a syringe filled with a glowing violet liquid in her hands. Within the vial was the ultimate culmination of science, biology, and magic. A living, breathing sample of the G-Virus injected into a sample of Las Plagas and infused with the power of the Lich King's rune blade.
Wesker watched intently as Ada rolled up one of the acolyte's sleeves and slid the needle into his pale skin. The acolyte made no sound as the vial emptied into his veins and Ada pulled the needle out. The two watched the subject intently as acolytes recorded in glowing runes the progress of the chosen acolyte.
Almost immediately, the acolyte let out a low moan and closed his shimmering green eyes, which opened suddenly as he felt a great thump in his chest. A gasp escaped his lips as his chest thumped a second time. Fire began to slowly seep into his veins at the tips of his fingers and toes, and suddenly shot through his body with the force of a thousand bullets.
The acolyte screamed in pain at the feeling of a third, more powerful thump and desperately tried to break free of the straps holding him to the table. His eyes darted from his fellow acolytes to Ada and Wesker, as if he thought watching them would give him comfort and the strength to overcome the pain.
His eyes welled with blood and the acolyte coughed violently, staining his violet scarf a deep shade of wine red. Ada and Wesker sighed and watched as lines of red made themselves apparent on the man's skin and began weaving together like strands of cotton in a spinning wheel. The G-Virus had somehow allowed the replication process of Las Plagas to quicken, and coupled with the undead magic, the creature was dying, reviving, and evolving at a terrifying pace.
Too fast… Wesker sighed as long tendrils popped out of the acolyte's veins and spines began to form along his expanding, pale chest. The acolyte's robes ripped and fell off as the virus took over and began to mutate him even faster.
Wesker gave Ada a nod, a silent indication that the experiment was over. She nodded and produced a long, curved sword from her waist and rammed it deep into the brain of the acolyte, who let out an inhuman wail as the blade met brain matter and shook violently. Ada held her grip as the acolyte slowly began to stop his twitches, and finally, fell silent.
Wesker sighed again and removed his sunglasses. "So unfortunate."
"Yes." Ada smiled softly and pulled her blade out of the corpse's skull. She wrapped the end of her cloak around the blade and wiped the blood and bone off with a single swipe. "Perhaps you injected too much of the G-Virus into this sample."
"No, the amount was correct." Wesker defended and started looking through his notes, "The problem is the host. He's already influenced by the power of the Lich King, so more of that energy being pumped into his body must have caused the overload."
"Then we need test subjects without influence from the Lich King?" Ada suggested.
Wesker sneered, "Yes. Perhaps it would be best to start searching for any local volunteers from one of the southern continents."
Just then, the Lich King walked in like a juggernaut of doom, his footsteps echoing as though he was in a great audience hall. He sneered at the remains of the mutilated victim and growled at Wesker, "You promised me better results than this."
"Results take time." Wesker said simply, keeping his nose and eyes close to the notepad.
"Time we can ill afford." Arthas glowered, "The time for my plan draws near, and all I need now are but two components. The virus, and another."
Wesker fought back the urge to roll his eyes at Arthas's statement. This was nothing that he didn't say before, and frankly, Wesker was tiring of hearing it. "Perhaps the research in Africa is proving to be more successful."
"Perhaps." The Lich King assented. He glared at Wesker and moved dangerously close to the man. "I know what thoughts dwell within your mind."
Just as the words passed his lips, Wesker felt the Lich King's presence in his mind, his voice seething and hissing as he probed Wesker's most private recesses. At an early point, Wesker had learned not to resist Arthas's probes, for fear of suffering from a stroke or worse, death. Not that Wesker was alien to death, but service to the Lich King as a ghoul or worse was not what he expected.
For the moment, Wesker would serve and play as the obedient servant. "I shall go to the Africa instillation and see how the progress goes."
Arthas considered the proposal carefully. He knew what truly lied inside of Wesker's heart and mind, and what he really intended. Perhaps that was the reason Arthas had allowed him to live as long as he has, and provide the services that so many other researchers could have: he amused Arthas. "Very well. See to the operation and report once you have your findings."
"At once, my King." Wesker bowed and departed the company, leaving Arthas and Ada standing in the room with the acolytes.
Arthas smiled coldly at Ada, who returned the grin in kind. "Leave us." He commanded the acolytes, who gratefully scurried out like rats and sealed the door tightly behind them.
The two smiled coldly and advanced on one another, meeting in an embrace and passionate kiss. A moan escaped Ada's lips as she felt his icy breath and skin on hers and plunged her tongue into his mouth, earning her the chance to hear him moan in response.
Since her coming, the two had become lovers, if only because that is the closest thing to what they truly were. It had been so long since either of them had felt the touch and fulfilled the urges of their primal instincts, and for the moment, they chose to amuse each other.
Arthas was the first to break the kiss, "While Wesker is busy… you know what to do?"
Ada nodded, smiling evilly. Arthas had confided in her that the virus and the parasite were merely distractions to keep Wesker occupied while they focused on the real goal. Wesker loved thinking that he could find power in the smallest, most unimportant of creatures, things that were never even alive.
For Arthas, the real prize was waiting.
Ada nodded again and kissed her Lich King, "I'll get right on it."
"Take your time." Arthas said and chuckled wickedly.
Ada giggled and kissed him one more time before sliding out of his arms and out the door.
Arthas sneered and licked his lips, still tasting Ada's flavor as he walked over to the acolyte and observed the bloated corpse, still covered with tendrils. Crimson icicles clung to the sides of the table like daggers. Arthas grabbed one of the frozen spikes, snapped it off, and ran it across his tongue, savoring the texture of the bloody treat.
Soon, his true plan would be in motion. And when it was, nothing would ever stop him.