xxxxx

A huge crater was all that remained of the formerly war-torn Eastern European city. A glimmer of red appeared on the crater's edge, taking the form of a young girl of about ten years old. The Red Queen peered into what used to be an Umbrella facility, as footsteps approached her from behind, but she didn't turn around, already knowing who it was.

"Mr. Krauser, it appears we have a bit of a problem."

At six foot two and 225 pounds, Jack Krauser was built like a linebacker, his defining feature being a scar on his left cheek. He wore tight black T-shirt, gloves, a pair of army print cargo pants, heavy boots and a red beret, a combat knife sheathed on his belt. He had formerly been a mercenary until he was hired by the U.S. government to work in the jungles of South America. That had been before the outbreak began, after which Krauser had found employment by the Umbrella Corporation. Due to an injury he had suffered to his left arm, Krauser believed that the virus could help in restoring his former strength.

It didn't disappoint.

"To me, this is just a perfect time to test the Ustanak," Krauser said, "Hell, even the J'avo. Just say the order and I'll have a whole army to track them down."

The Red Queen turned around fully to face him.

"Yes, send the Ustanak. They have gone to Washington, where the last of humanity are residing. When you go there, Mr. Krauser, I want Project Alive brought back alive."

"Of course. Consider it done."

xxxxx

The Osprey silently made its way towards Washington, everyone on board feeling quite tense. At least they were now properly dressed, having found a stash of Umbrella combat uniforms. Although Jake hated the idea of wearing something that belonged to a company that had treated him like a guinea pig, it was better than wearing barely anything.

Chris and Claire were in the cockpit, piloting the aircraft and keeping to themselves, barely uttering a word. Jake didn't know what their story was, not that he really cared to begin with. It was the young girl sitting at the back of the Osprey that had his interest and it was her story he was wondering about. Sauntering over, he sat across from her, staring at her, as she caught his eye and quickly looked away. He had to admit, she was quite pretty and seemingly shy. Time to work on that.

"So, what's your name?" Jake asked.

"K-Mart," she replied.

"Yeah, and my mother named me McDonalds, but I prefer Jake since it sounds more real. So let's try this again. What's your name?"

K-Mart glanced at the cockpit briefly, before looking at Jake, "Fine, it's Sherry. Sherry Birkin."

"See, that wasn't so hard. Why go through all that secrecy with your name?"

"Because my father is the one responsible for this mess the world is in."

"Of course…say what?"

Another glance towards Claire, followed by a sigh and hushed talking, "My father was a head scientist of the Hive, an Umbrella Corporation facility based in Raccoon City. He was the one who helped perfect the T-virus and following the Hive incident, he ordered it to be re-opened. My mother told him it was a bad idea, but he didn't listen. The virus escaped into the city and from there, the whole world. My parents died in the incident, but I escaped. I was on my own for a while, until Claire found me in a K-Mart store."

A faint tear trickled down her cheek, "I felt so ashamed at what my father had done, how he had caused the death of the planet that I decided to discard my real name. I wanted an identity that was so different, people wouldn't know me as his daughter, so I took the name K-Mart. I felt safe again, but while I could fool others, I guess I couldn't fool Umbrella."

"Wow," Jake said finally, unsure of what else to say, "And I thought I had family issues."

K-Mart smiled briefly as she wiped the tear away, "I know, it sounds silly-"

"No, no, no, you have every right. I don't blame you at all. I guess that's one thing we have in common: having a deadbeat dad. At least you got to know yours, unfortunately."

"He may have spent all his time in the labs, but I prefer that life over this one. Wow, listen to me complain. Sorry, I didn't mean to make it all about me. Tell me about you."

For a moment, Jake was off-guard.

"There's nothing to tell," he said simply, crossing his arms over his chest, "Only that this life is not much different from before."

"Seriously?"

"Zombies, mercenaries, they're all the same. You're still hiding from them, having to pick your battles. Only I don't get paid for killing zombies."

"Oh," K-Mart said, before going silent.

"Yeah, oh," Jake repeated.

xxxxx

The terracotta targets shattered upon impact, as Jill ejected the empty clip and slammed a fresh one into her Px4 handgun, before taking aim once more. Above her, she could hear the distant echo of the anti-aircraft guns, working overtime as always. It was a constant, never-ending battle and it was only a matter of time before it came to a stop, but one in Umbrella's favour. Food, ammunition and morale were all getting low and Jill wished there was more that she could do. She wanted to make up for her time in Umbrella, even though it had been against her will, brainwashed to do the Red Queen's bidding. Regardless, Jill had been there on the frontlines, doing her best to destroy humanity. The guilt that she had to deal with every day was quite immense, as she recalled memories of slaughtering humans and enjoying it. The memories made her sick to the stomach, but they were the driving force for her to get revenge on Umbrella. Every chance she got, Jill would kill as many zombies as she could, but she didn't delude herself to the fact that it was a pointless battle. The undead kept coming, swarming around the White House. She knew for a fact that the Red Queen was throwing everything she had at humanity's last stand, desperate to eradicate every single human. Escaping from Raccoon City was nothing compared to this. While she would rather do Raccoon City all over than fight a losing battle, Jill would much prefer her life before the outbreak all began, back when she was a member of S.T.A.R.S alongside…him.

Jill lowered her gun as she thought about him, standing on the deck of the Arcadia, a mixed look of shock and surprise on his face when he saw her. So stunned he was at seeing her fight for Umbrella that he barely put up a fight himself. Because of her, he had been captured, whisked off to a distant Umbrella facility, no doubt to be experimented upon. He was probably dead or worse and Jill was blaming herself.

Her partner and best friend who had her heart without knowing it, gone because of her.

"Hey," came Alice's voice, "Couldn't sleep?"

"Every time I close my eyes, it's just death and mayhem," Jill said, "My time at Umbrella won't leave me alone. Besides, who can sleep with them constantly going?" she asked, nodding towards the anti-aircraft echoes.

"Becky can," Alice said with a small smile.

"Lucky girl. Did Wesker have you in for experiments again?"

"Not yet, but I'll see him soon. I wonder if he really is making a cure. I just can't trust this sudden change of his."

"It's just like we've discussed, Alice. We've just got to get close to him just in case he decides to start eating people again."

"Yeah, I've been trying, but the man doesn't have any weaknesses. And the whole killing him is nigh impossible."

"But you have to admit, as much as I don't want to, he's done a good job with all this. He may have worked for Umbrella, but he's a leader and that's what he's done here. Without him, I don't think this place wouldn't have lasted as long as it has," Jill said.

"You should get some sleep. You look like you really need it. I don't blame you for what you did with Umbrella. It wasn't your fault, okay?"

Alice then left the makeshift target range, as Jill sighed and watched her go, before tucking her handgun back into its holster on her right thigh.

"I wish I could believe that."

While the people who resided at the White House weren't anyone from Arcadia and therefore didn't about her past with Umbrella, it didn't stop Jill from feeling like everyone was watching her, judging her as if they knew the truth and she didn't blame them one single bit. She didn't think she could ever forgive herself for what she done. Deciding that she should try and take Alice's advice, Jill made her way towards her room, laying down to rest, but instead of dreaming about the deaths she caused or the horrors she faced, she only dreamt of him.

xxxxx