Thanks to everyone who reviewed and followed my story! This chapter is somewhat close to how I originally wrote it but I put it back in its chronological location. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Chapter 3

September – October 1977

Albert flipped the page of the virology textbook he was supposed to be reading and glanced at his watch. It was just before five in the afternoon. He sighed, only one more hour till dinner was served.

He was currently sitting in the library, surrounded by the other trainees. The two hours before dinner were reserved for study hall where the trainees could catch up on their work or even pursue their own projects. Albert tended to use this time to look over virology so that he could continue his work with Marcus on his leeches and the Progenitor virus. Albert knew Dr. Marcus was looking for something specific with the Progenitor virus but he didn't know what.

Just then the doors to the library opened and everyone turned their attention to the newcomer. Marcus's assistant director Charles Logan walked in the door. He was a short, round man in his forties with brown hair that was greying and balding at the top. In truth, Albert hated him. He was always sneaking around and trying to suck up to Marcus by trading information between company administrations.

Logan's brown eyes scanned the room until they fell on Albert and he headed over. Albert frowned, not wanting to deal with the man right now but he didn't have any choice.

"Why hello there," Logan said, sounding overly cheery. "May I sit here?"

"I was actually-"

"Perfect!" Logan pulled up a chair next to Albert. "Albert, right?"

"Wesker," Albert said through gritted teeth. He really did not want to talk to this man right now.

"That's what I thought," Logan said, still sounding too nice. "How are you adjusting here?"

"Quite well," Albert said, crossing his arms over his chest. "What do you need?"

"Oh, I don't need anything," Logan said, scooting the chair closer to Albert. "I just wanted to double check on you…after what that little boy, Birkin, said."

Albert raised an eyebrow. "What did Birkin say?"

Logan looked around as if he was scared someone would over here. "Birkin said he didn't think you were up to the task…that he knew you were struggling."

Albert's eyebrow raised further up his head. "Birkin said that?"

Logan nodded his head and then looked down as if he was ashamed but Albert knew he was faking it. "I know I shouldn't have told you. It really was none of my business."

"No," Albert said, grabbing his books and leaving. "It wasn't."

"My precious virus," Marcus whispered to himself, probing the petri dish in front of him. "Look boys, look at how the virus affects the organisms."

Albert and William leaned closer to their teacher and watched as their teacher manipulated sample organisms with viruses.

"The Progenitor virus offers the host strength beyond its normal capabilities," Marcus said, adjusting the petri dish so his students could see it better. "'Stairway to the Sun,' that's what the Ndipayas called it."

Albert raised an eyebrow. He had only heard few details of the African mission that Spencer, Marcus, and Marcus's student at the time Brandon Bailey went on to acquire the virus. It fascinated him that such power could be found out in the wilderness.

"It's so marvelous…" The older man sighed, looking fondly at the experiment in front of him. A clock chimed from somewhere in the distance and Marcus looked up. "I have to make a phone call. I'll see you later boys. Continue to make notes on your observations."

"Where do you think he's off to?" William asked once Marcus was gone.

"Don't know," Albert said, still looking through some files. "Probably to go tell someone else about his precious virus."

A silence fell over them.

Albert continued looking at some files when he felt eyes on him. After a few more minutes of this feeling, he looked up to find William staring at him. "What?"

William jumped as if he had been prodded with a sharp object. "Nothing."

Albert rolled his dull blue eyes. "Don't lie. I've spent enough time with you to know when something is bothering you."

"Well," William said sheepishly, toying with a pen. "Will you be honest with me?"

"I don't see how not being honest would benefit me so I suppose so."

"It's just that…" William trailed off, looking extremely uncertain. "I think I've adjusted to life well here."

Albert stared blankly at William. What on earth was he going on about? "Alright. And?"

William shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I just wanted you to know…in case…"

"In case?"

William shrugged again. "Just in case someone says something about it."

"Are you talking about Harris?" Albert asked, highly confused now.

"No."

"Then what are you talking about?"

"Never mind," William said. He cleaned up his workstation and grabbed his book bag. "I'm going to go study for that exam tomorrow."

"Do you want me to turn in your report to Sinclair?"

William nodded and handed Albert a manila folder. "I'll see you tomorrow."

The door slammed behind him and Albert stared at it for some time. Despite getting to know his roommate and partner, the younger boy was still quiet about his troubles here at the Training Facility. Albert knew that everyone was watching William to see if he'd fail and he was beginning to wonder if the younger boy was finally starting to crack.

Albert yawned as he walked down the main stairwell to the dining hall. The clock chimed six times from somewhere in the facility, reminding him how early in the morning it was. He liked going to breakfast at this time because very few people were awake. Umbrella trainees were generally starved for sleep so it was very unlikely that they would willingly give up the little that they got to have breakfast.

He entered the brightly lit dining hall, eyes skimming over the rows of mostly empty tables. Two consultant researchers who taught students, Dr. Firpo and Dr. Morris, were talking in hushed tones, three cups of coffee each spread out on their table. A few students, Henry Sarton, Leslie Baker, and Ashton West were sitting at a table, going over piles of papers set up in front of them. Assistant Director Logan was writing book at another table. Only Logan looked up when he entered the room and the short man's eyes fixed on him for a moment before he went back to scribbling into the small black notebook he had before him.

The teen rolled his eyes and moved to the buffet table that was spread out for the research members who lived onsite. It had been a little over a week since Logan had last approached him about William's claims but he was really starting to annoy Albert. It wasn't so much that he was doing anything, it was just that he was constantly showing up and watching him and William; hovering over them as they worked, always seeming to eavesdrop on their conversations.

Once he had grabbed a plate of eggs and pancakes, Albert sat down at his usual table in the corner of the room away from the others. He liked this spot because he was able to observe the other students as they came down for their meals. Since most of them ignored him, he was able to overhear bits and pieces of information about each of the employees. It was amazing how much he learned about people when no one knew he was listening.

"Good morning, Albert," Logan said, breaking the silence of the room as he walked over to him. He flashed him a cheerful smile and sat down across the table from the teen.

"It's Wesker," corrected Albert, not trying to hide any of the distaste he had for the assistant director. It was too early in the morning for him to have to deal with him and his current level of decorum was far below normal. The teen was glad he wore his sunglasses to hide the fact that he was glaring at the man.

"Yes, yes, of course, Wesker," Logan still had a friendly smile on his face. "How is the research coming along? I looked at your lab report for Sinclair's class and it seem quite promising."

"You looked at my lab report?" Albert raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, they are very well done. You are quite an intelligent young man," Logan reached across the table and patted him on the shoulder. "It's such a shame that someone as brilliant as you is so unappreciated by everyone around here. William gets all the recognition!"

Albert opened his mouth and then closed it, turning it into a frown at the backhanded compliment. Was Logan here just to insult him?

"But in all seriousness, I have something I need to discuss with you," Logan leaned in, his face suddenly becoming very concerned. "The researchers and I were discussing your and William's-"

"Birkin," Albert interjected crossly.

"-Birkin's appointment as Marcus's personal assistants and so many of us feel like you have significantly more potential than him and yet, you are put in the position of a baby sitter. Why are you second to him?"

Albert could feel his blood starting to boil. He was very patient when it came to dealing with these cretins but he did have a limit and Logan was rapidly pushing him towards it. He let out a deep breath through his nostrils and gritted his teeth. "And what of it?"

Logan's eyes suddenly shone with a triumphant glow. "I think you need to start looking into ways to make yourself a more important asset to the company. I know Birkin already has begun considering some...unconventional...methods to make sure he continues to stay on top."

"Are you suggesting that he is planning on sabotaging my work?" Albert asked, rolling his eyes behind the lenses. If there was one person he felt like he had a legitimate alliance with, it was William Birkin.

"You catch on very quickly," Logan said in a very patronizing tone.

The doors to the dining hall opened again and William lazily walked through them. He moved, rubbing the sleep from his eyes toward them but when he saw Logan, he stopped and looked unsure whether or not to approach. Albert quickly waved him off discretely under the table, signaling him to leave them alone. Though he had a questioning look on his face, he detoured toward the buffet.

"Anyway, keep this just between you and me," Logan said, standing up and turning away from him and looking over at William who was slowly making his way towards them. "I wouldn't want Birkin to have any more advantage over you then he already has."

Albert glared daggers at Logan's retreating form. Albert knew the man wasn't telling him this information out of the kindness of his heart. No, the man wanted something but what, Albert didn't know. Everything Logan had told him had to do with William backstabbing him but Albert didn't think William actually was plotting any sort of demise for him. What was the point in filling his head with these ideas anyway?

"You look angrier than usual," William commented, dropping his tray and sitting down in the seat Logan had previously occupied.

"It is truly unfortunate that physically assaulting our superiors is frowned upon," Albert hissed, stabbing his fork into his pancakes a little harder then he meant to. He turned his head to where Logan was back at his own table, a very smug look on his face. As soon as he settled back down, he pulled out that little black book and began writing rapidly.

"What did he say?" William inquired, starting to eat his own breakfast.

"Insulted me and claimed that you are coming up with 'unconventional methods' to make sure that you get higher up the corporate ladder then I do."

William opened his mouth and food tumbled out of it. "What?"

"Classy," Albert said, making a face at the chewed food.

"I haven't done anything like that," William said quickly. "You're the only person I trust here and I swear I wouldn't do that."

Albert looked at William hard and could see the boy was genuine. Besides, he knew William was alone here and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize his tentative alliance with Albert. "I didn't think you would."

William gave a sigh of relief and began chewing. "Why is he trying to start shit between us?"

"Has he talked to you at all?"

"Yeah," William said, glancing over his shoulder at Logan. "He said that you thought I wasn't adjusting to living here well."

Albert grunted and crossed his arms, suddenly remembering his conversation with William a few days ago. "He does want us to be at each other's throats then."

"Why?" William asked around a mouth full of food.

"I have no idea," Albert replied. "Don't speak when your mouth is full."

William rolled his eyes. "Yes, mother."

Albert leaned back. "Somehow though, I feel like Logan isn't doing this for his own amusement. I think someone is putting him up to this."

"Who?"

"If I knew, I would have said something by now or done something about it," Albert dully pointed out.

"One of the other trainees?"

"Perhaps."

"That still doesn't answer why though."

"As soon as we figure out the who, the why will come soon enough," Albert resumed eating his breakfast. To be completely honest, he wasn't sure who would have any real gain in causing tensions between them. Even if one of them did off the other, one of them would still be here as Marcus's personal assistant. In order for it to be practical, the culprit would have to get rid of both of them to make any real advancement since Marcus had shown no interest in any of the other students.

The only other person he thought it could be was Spencer but that seemed both more unlikely and yet very likely at the same time. On the one hand, it seemed counter intuitive to have his two top trainees fighting because it would disrupt any advancements on the research. But on the other, perhaps having them at each other's throats would decrease results and mess up any plans Marcus had. It was a well-known fact that Marcus and Spencer no longer got along so that could be a plausible reason. Or it could just be that Spencer was bored and wanted entertainment. That was always a distinct possibility.

"Well I hope that all comes out soon," William sighed heavily. "I don't like the idea of someone trying to start all this between us."

It always seemed odd to him that William cared so much about their...partnership. It was a partnership of convenience sake, yet the other boy seemed to be taking their relationship to be that of close friends.

The two of them finished their breakfast in silence before heading to the labs. Albert didn't try to start conversation because he could tell William was still upset about Logan. Though he felt like he should try to ease his discomfort, he wasn't sure exactly how to go about it. He really did not like dealing with upset individuals. Talking about their work would make him feel better. "Have you finished your Progenitor virus papers?"

Albert's eyes were glued to the clock as its second hand moved agonizingly slow around its face. Only one more minute before class was over.

"Bored?"

Albert glanced over at William who sat in the desk directly across from him. The younger boy did not look up from the notes he was scribbling as Professor Sinclair, their virology professor, lectured in a mundane voice. "Perhaps."

William smirked but continued writing. Albert shook his head and looked down at his notepad in front of him. He had about one good page of notes in front of him while William had close to four.

"What's the point of taking notes if you can't even read them?" Albert hissed, brow furrowed as he tried to read William's notes.

William looked up for the first time since class started. He was about to speak but Professor Sinclair called the class to attention.

"I have your reports, here," Professor Sinclair said, placing a hand on the stack of manila folders on his desk. "They were much improved from the last two that you sent in and I expect this continued improvement for the rest of your time here in the Training Facility."

The class remained completely silent, eagerly awaiting their returned reports.

"When I call your name, please come forward to collect your report," Professor Sinclair told the class. "Once again, they are ordered starting with the best written."

Albert leaned back in his desk chair and glanced around at the class. Everyone already knew who the first name would be called. William's report had been called first both times while Albert's had been called second both times.

"First name I'm going to call is Wesker, Albert."

Albert blinked then stood up. He'd actually beaten William? Mechanically, he walked forward and took his report from Professor Sinclair. As he returned to his seat, he saw the envy in William's face despite the fact that the younger boy was trying to appear happy for him.

"Next, Harris, George."

William's mouth dropped open and he didn't even try to hide his shock. Albert had to admit he was surprised too. Both he and Harris beat William?

Harris jumped up from his seat and swaggered up to the front of the class to grab his report, an annoyingly smug smile on his face. "Thank you, sir."

Once he grabbed it, he pranced back to his seat, knocking William in the back of his head as he did. William gasped and his face turned bright red with embarrassment.

"Next name is Boland, Matthew."

Albert thought William's jaw was going to unhinge from his face with how it was hanging open. With each name called that wasn't William's, the younger boy's face got redder and redder till Albert was worried he would die with shame.

Finally, Sinclair ended with Morris, Tom. "I hope everyone looks at my comments and adjust your procedures accordingly. Birkin, I need to see you about your report. You are all dismissed."

Albert watched as William slowly packed up his notes, looking as if he was going to approach his executioner. "What do you think happened?"

William shook his head. "I don't know."

"Having a little trouble with work are we?" Harris asked, coming up behind William and draping his arm across the younger boy's shoulder. He was still grinning ear to ear and Albert rolled his eyes, amazed someone like Harris was so arrogant when William had already clearly demonstrated his superiority plenty of times.

"Is this really the time?" Albert sighed heavily, pulling his glasses out of his pocket and slipping them on his face. He didn't really care about Harris bothering William except for that fact that William would complain to him about it later and he hated listening to those rants. "William, go talk to Sinclair."

William moved Harris's arm off him as if the man's arm was the vilest thing he had ever touched and continued packing up his belongings.

"How sweet," Harris drawled, crossing his arms over his chest. "He fights your battles for you too? You must really be in trouble if Wesker is doing everything for you."

William glared at Harris and opened his mouth to say something but Albert cut him off. "Just go."

William looked as if he wanted to protest but after another stern look from Albert, he seemed to give in and walked to Sinclair's desk. Once he was gone, Albert focused his attention back on Harris and gave the older man the darkest look he knew how to give. "Now you may have a giant stick of jealousy stuck up your ass but listen here and listen well. William is my partner in research, thus his attitude and state of mind directly influence my work. If you do anything that eventually screws me over, you will be damn sorry."

The stupid look on Harris's face slowly fell and was replaced with a cold stare. "Fine, you chose the side you want to be on, but don't come crying to me when he fails."

Harris whirled around on his heel and marched out of the classroom.

Albert sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. As much as he hated Harris, he knew he shouldn't write him off entirely or be completely at odds. Harris was extremely intelligent and extremely well connected. Logically, he was probably the smarter choice to be allied with but something about partnering with William felt right. Despite everything, the younger boy had grown on him.

"Albert!"

Albert turned around to see William stalking towards, him looking extremely annoyed. "Sinclair said he never got my report"

"What?" Albert asked, brow furrowing. "I turned it in with mine a week ago."

"Well he said it was never there," William countered, still looking accusatory. "Where else would it have gone? It isn't like anyone else looks at the reports."

Albert tilted his head. "Son of a…"

"What?"

"Logan," Albert said, grabbing his books and angrily walking out the classroom door.

"What about him?" William jogged to keep up to him. "What did he do?"

"He mentioned to me that he read my Sinclair report," Albert explained, taking large strides toward the stairwell leading to Logan's office. "With all the shit he's being trying to start between us, I bet he took your report that as well."

William stopped and then continued forward. "Where are you going?"

"To speak to Logan."

"What are you going to say?"

"I don't really know." Albert turned sharply down the corridor and stopped at Logan's office. Without knocking, he tried the handle and the door opened immediately.

The office was roomy, close in size to Albert and William's dorm room. Logan's desk was to the left and had two chairs on either side of it, one large and plush, the other a small uncomfortable looking wooden chair. On the other side, were multiple file cabinets with a single bookcase in the middle. Other than that, the office was empty of any personal artifacts that would make the office distinctly belong to Logan other then the plaque on his desk with his name.

"Where do you think he is?"

"I don't know," Albert muttered, looking around the room. Perhaps he could find some dirt on Logan and threaten him with it.

He decided to check the bookcase first as it would be the most obvious place to keep the book. The books were all science textbooks, ones that the trainees were given when they began their two years at Marcus's Management Facility. He flipped through them, going from shelf to shelf, until he got to the bottom shelf. There he found multiple notebooks with various research proposals and early experiments on the Progenitor Virus. Highly bored, he switched focus to the desk.

"He might be at the staff meeting," William suggested, standing by the door as if keeping lookout.

"What are you looking for?"

"Something to use as leverage," Albert said, moving toward the desk. "I want to show him that trying to separate us has real consequences."

"Oh," William said, eyes wide. "That's…good."

"Indeed."

Logan's desk was cleaned off with only a day planner open and marked across the top. The page was highlighted with a meeting at Arklay that would end around midnight due to Marcus's spastic work schedule. He found it odd that there wasn't a single photograph on the desk. Besides him and William, all the rest of the trainees and employees had at least one photograph of a wife, girlfriend, or family. Finding nothing of interest there, he started picking through all the drawers.

It didn't take him much time at all to open and look through the entire left side of the desk. Once again he found nothing worth noting besides a lot of old pens that no longer worked. He opened the first drawer on the right side of the desk and paused, glancing back at the top drawer on the left side. The right one was significantly shallower in depth than the left. Albert grinned, realizing he found exactly what he needed.

Albert knocked on the bottom of the drawer and recognized the hollow sound that resounded from the false bottom. He reached to the back of the drawer and his fingers brushed against a small knob that was the size of a dime. Once he pushed it, the false bottom sprung up and he quickly removed it. Hiding beneath the small wooden plank, was Logan's diary.

"What is that?"

"That stupid book Logan is always writing in," Albert said, sounding a little excited. He might have actually found something here. He gingerly removed it from the desk and opened it, eyes eagerly searching the papers for something of value. William leaned forward and Albert shifted the book so that the shorter boy could read as well.

September 2nd

A useless bunch of employees, as always. Where does headquarters find these idiots? We did get a couple of decent ones though, so I can't complain. William and Albert. They might have a future in this facility.

September 25

Scholar Will, Practical Al. They are opposites. And they're always so competitive in everything they do. There's something ruthless and cruel about them both…

Albert looked up as William started to snicker. "What is so amusing to you?"

William tried to hide his smile but failed. "He called you, Al." Once again he failed to control himself and William started laughing.

"And this is funny because…?"

"Can I call you Al?"

"No," Albert said shortly. "You're lucky I let you even use my first name."

"Please? You seem like such an Al."

"For someone so smart you seem to lack a firm grasp on the concept of 'no.'"

That just sent William into another bout of hysterics. Albert rolled his eyes and continued reading.

October 7th

Got a sudden call from the Director. It was to tell me to encourage the rivalry between those two! It's the first time since these facilities were build that Director Marcus has ever actually shown interest in anything other than his research. Well, whatever. Orders are orders. I'm going to have them tearing at each other's throats…

Albert smiled as he continued to read the diary entries detailing Logan's failed attempts at causing trouble for him and William. This was exactly what he needed to give to Spencer in order to get Logan transferred.

They waited almost an hour before Logan finally started walking down the hall. Albert sat in Logan's chair while William stood next to him. When the door finally opened, Logan appeared and the older man jumped at seeing the two boys in his office.

"Hello Charles," Albert said, amused by the man's fright.

"Shit!" Logan gasped, clutching a hand to his chest. "Wesker, Birkin…what are you doing in my office? How did you get in here?"

"That is of no importance," Albert said, folding his hands on the desk. "We have a little matter to discuss with you."

"Really, boys," Logan chuckled, plastering a smile on his face. "It is about dinner time. Shouldn't you both be running off-?"

"Be quiet."

Albert blinked, surprised at how venomous William's words were, but thankful all the same. He placed the black book on the table. "We know that you are trying to get us to off the other."

"That's private property! You have no right to—"

"It's only private if no one can find it," countered Albert matter-of-factly. Logan reached out to take it back but Albert pulled it out of his reach. "No, no. I'll be keeping this for now."

"So? What's the point of all this?" Logan said slowly, eyes focused entirely on the journal. Albert could tell he was trying to plan his next move. "Well as you can see, it was clearly Marcus's—"

"Yes, we've read your diary," Albert said, crossing his arms over his chest. "That does not matter to us. Whether or not Marcus asked you to do something is not my concern. You creating problems for me, however, is my concern."

Logan smiled but Albert thought it looked like a grimace. "And what do you boys think you're going to do with this?"

"You see, Spencer takes great pride Umbrella," Albert said, still staring Logan down as harshly as he could. "Somehow I doubt he would appreciate anyone trying to start disturbances here."

"And, Spencer personally sought out me and Wesker," William said, piping up. "Once we take this information to him, how long do you think you're going to last here?"

Logan leaned back in his chair and didn't say anything.

"Now, Birkin and I are going to take these," Albert said, flipping to the back of the diary and ripping out the damaging pages. "However, should you continue to be an annoyance to me or Birkin here, I will take these pages, detailing your attempts at sabotage, to Mr. Spencer."

"It was Marcus's idea!" Logan exclaimed, exasperated. "He told me I had to cause problems for you both. Why don't you take those pages and show Spencer?"

Albert rolled his eyes and glanced at William. "Shall we?"

William nodded his head. Albert pushed back in the chair and stood up. He took the torn diary pages and slipped them into his pocket. "Good evening."

The two boys slid passed Logan and stepped into the hallway, making sure to shut the door behind them.

"I can't believe we just put him in his place," William said, sounding giddy as he skipped alongside Albert. "We just showed him who the boss is around here."

Albert cast a sidelong glance at his companion and smirked. Maybe having William as his partner wasn't so bad after all.

"Good morning boys," Dr. Marcus greeted them as they arrived in the lab early the next morning. "How was your evening?"

Albert and William exchanged knowing glances but didn't say anything.

"I have a surprise for you boys," Marcus said, motioning to the lab table. On it, there was a large figured covered with a plain white sheet. "Today, we will be working with human test subjects!"

Albert raised an eyebrow in surprise. It was nearly impossible to legally test on human cells, let alone an actual human body. This was really a treat indeed.

"Really?" William's eyes were so wide that Albert thought they'd fall out of his head if he wasn't careful.

"Indeed," Marcus said, grinning slightly as William's enthusiasm. The older man walked over to the lab table and pulled the sheet back with a flourish.

Albert opened his mouth and quickly closed it. Assistant Director Charles Logan's lifeless body was lying on the lab table, his eyes lifelessly staring upward. William sucked in a breath and looked as if he was about to say something but Albert silenced him with a look.

If Marcus noticed their reaction, he didn't say anything but instead motioned them closer. "Shall we begin?"

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