I don't own nor will I ever own any of the characters from the Resident Evil films. Any events in the proceeding fanfiction are, simply fiction and are used without any gains other than people's enjoyment of it.

This IS a femslash/lesbian fanfiction. Pairs are: K-mart & OC. And perhaps Clair & Alice depending on where the story goes.

Chapter 4: -

'Hands where I can see them,' Claire barked, jerking her gun at Alex's lowered arms.

Gulping, the young girl did as she asked, keeping her hands open and held up at chest level. 'So…hello.' She cringed. 'I already said that didn't I? Damn…'

K-mart smiled, finding the girl's sheepish behaviour amusing. What am I thinking? She'll probably end up killing us! With that thought in mind, she schooled her features and met Alex's stare with cool indifference.

Ouch. Alex sucked her lip between her teeth, not liking the hostility from any of the women. 'Uh, are you going to point the guns at me all night? Or are we going to move to somewhere with preferably more light and less ammo.'

Alice smirked and arched an eyebrow. 'Not until you tell us who you are and what you're doing here.'

'Oh.' Scratching her neck, Alex introduced herself with a wan smile. 'The name's Alexis Delaney, but I prefer Alex. I work on the ship, or did work, as an engineer, sorta fixing things that other crew members couldn't and occasionally helped out in the weapons room.'

Hearing the last part of her introduction set Claire on edge, more so than before. Her eyes narrowed, she gave the athletic teen a once over. 'You knew what was going on with everyone on here and didn't help them?'

'Uh, not exactly no. I mean I didn't know until it was too late. By then, some cannibal douche bag was eating the crew so they jumped ship and left me behind.' And I could've stopped that motherfucker but something told me that a guy sprouting tentacles from his mouth was someone I should steer clear of. She thought, her gaze dancing from one suspicious glare to the next.

Alice took the silence as a chance to really look at the girl. Barely older than twenty, her black hair fell in messy curls around her shoulders, pale skin protruding from the baggy hoody and shorts with defined muscles. Her face, though unsettling with its intensity and beauty looked back with familiar elements. Especially her eyes.

Alex ducked her head under Alice's scrutiny and scuffed a barefoot across the floor. 'I'm sorry all this happened. I would've helped, but one person against a mutant guy isn't going to win.' Her regretful murmur struck a cord in all three women.

Still wary, Claire lowered her gun and jerked her chin at the way they came. 'Come with us and don't try anything. One wrong move and you'll be dead. Got it?'

Alex saluted. 'Yes ma'am.'

K-mart stifled a grin and followed the three women. Her eyes irrevocably landed on Alex, watching the sway of the older girl's hips and hair with each step she took. It reminded her of a predator. A predator who could kill her with one blow and yet could appear like an awkward teenager the next.

Alex glanced over her shoulder and found K-mart's curious eyes upon her. Unbidden, a blush formed on her cheeks.

'I say we kill her now, who knows what kind of spy she is?' Chris stopped pacing in the captain's quarters and gave the project a cold glare. 'I mean, for all we know, she could be infected!'

Oh if only you knew Chrissy boy. Alex thought, knowing she could rip free of the chains tying her to the chair with the strength in her little finger. However, to keep up the mask of a poor, unsuspecting, crew member, she remained still and listened to the ex S.T.A.R.S operative. Albeit unwillingly.

Leaning against the doorframe with her gun cradled in her arms, K-mart felt sympathy for the girl. Sure she had lurked in the shadows and scared the crap out of her, but not once did she pull a gun and kill her, nor act like anything other than civilised.

Alex met her gaze and held it, unable to look away. Soft features harried by fear, pain and uncertainty had not lessened the blonde's beauty, enhancing it. And no matter what the raven haired project knew, she couldn't help but feel the urge to befriend her. Got to get through the gunslingers first. She mused, eyeing the redhead's Glock holstered at her hip.

Claire crossed her arms and leant against the captain's desk. 'If she's a spy, why not kill K-mart when no one was around?'

'Because she'd be led to you guys.' Chris's gaze flickered to Alice, then his sister. 'To those important to Umbrella.'

Alice heard the double meaning and frowned. 'You said someone was eating the crew members before they fled. Who was it?' She already knew the answer but wanted the girl to confirm it.

Alex swallowed and thought of the red eyed man she barely knew and yet feared the most. 'Wesker. Albert Wesker.' She couldn't help the bitterness that edged her tone. The motherfucker who's got my life in his hands.

'He's dead now,' K-mart murmured, noticing Alex's plight. 'Alice put a bomb in his helicopter and it obliterated it.' She smiled faintly. 'So no cannibal guy to come eat you.'

'You killed Wesker?' Alex repeated, eyeing the rag-tag quartet with surprise. In all her life as a project, she had never heard of anyone besting him, not even herself could get past his almost vampiric ways.

Alice smiled morbidly and leant against the desk beside Claire. 'Took a few bullets and a bomb, but the bastard isn't coming back.'

Shame he isn't the only tentacle villain. Alex refrained from blurting out the comment and licked her driy lips. She couldn't remember the last time she had properly eaten or drank anything. Probably the night before they loaded me into that tank.

Tiredness hitting the youngest Redfield, Claire ran a hand through her hair and straightened. 'We'll keep you tied up in here until we decide what to do with you. Someone will be posted outside to make sure you don't try anything stupid. Got it?'

Meeting the authoritative glare with an innocent nod, Alex said, 'Would it be possible to have a drink? Kinda forgot, what with the tentacle cannibal and you guys swanning in.'

'I'll get you something.' Before anyone could protest, K-mart was out of the door.

'I'll take first watch, you girls get some rest.' Chris's gaze lingered on his sister, a tender smile curling his lips.

'You need it just as much. I'll take watch and wake you in a few hours,' Alice murmured, her expression broaching no arguments.

He reluctantly relented and handed her his Mossberg. 'Just don't get trigger happy without me, got it?'

'I won't.' Closing the door behind the siblings, Alice turned back to Alex with a knowing smile.

'Why do I get the feeling that you guys don't like strangers much?' Alex mumbled, staring at her toes.

Alice stepped closer to the project and squatted in front of her, meeting the girl's downcast eyes. Still smiling, she cradled the gun in her lap and said, 'I know.'

'Know what?'

'What you are.' Upon seeing the girl's puzzled look, she chuckled dryly. 'I've been a lab rat for the past six years, I can tell another from a mile off.'

'That's because they're either zombies or physically mutated,' Alex retorted, turning her head aside.

'True. But you've got that look.'

'What look?'

'The fuck-the-world-and-the-one's-who-made-me-like-this look,' Alice answered, not once looking away from the teen's troubled expression.

Alex smiled half-heartedly and looked at the ex-project out of the corner of her eye. 'You know, I was told things about you. The kind where I'm supposed to hate you, want to kill you and rid this world of Umbrella's most prized but most rebellious project.'

Alice raised her eyebrows, not surprised in the least of Umbrella's bad blood against her. Hell, she had escaped so many times, burned or destroyed any projects they threw at her and even managed to best Albert Wesker himself. Who wouldn't hate the ex-project who ruined their plans the most?

'But I don't.' Seeing the ex-project's disbelief, Alex elaborated, 'Sure you killed a load of Umbrella's employees, Cain, Isaacs, even Wesker. But what have they done? Destroyed the entire human race with one virus, because some wealthy politicians and scientists with too much time on their hands wanted viral weaponry. I'd say you're more commendable than they ever will be.'

Alice agreed but couldn't help but feel that she was responsible for the first wave of the virus. She had been, after all, part of the security and had let the virus escape on her watch. But that doesn't measure up to Umbrella's fuck ups. She reminded herself. Meeting Alex's eyes, she said, 'You know kid, you're quite the sweet talker.'

'Thanks.' Flashing her a rare grin, the project asked, 'So what do you think the verdict will be? Cause I'd rather die than be sent back to Umbrella.'

Alice straightened and started towards the door. 'Get some sleep, we'll decide tomorrow.' Then with a lingering look, she left the room.

'Well that went better than I expected.' Smiling to herself, Alex couldn't help but chuckle. She had expected Alice to call her gunslinger friends back into the room and take pot-shots at her until she bled to death. Instead, it felt almost as if the older woman was sympathising with her. 'Either way I hope they'll make it quick.'

Alice shook her head, having heard the girl's conversation with herself and sat across from the door. Tonight is going to be a long night.

K-mart winced, as the door groaned in protest and shut it before Chris awoke.

'You know, you're not that skilled at being inconspicuous.'

K-mart whirled around, nearly throwing the bottle of water across the room. 'I wasn't trying to be!' She hissed, meeting Alex's eyes in the dim light.

'Right, so why wait until my guard is asleep to sneak in?'

Unable to find a suitable reply, K-mart rocked on her heels and rolled the bottle of water between her hands. Now the project had mentioned it, she didn't know why she had sneaked in when everyone was asleep. She could have come by when Alice was on watch, feel safer with the older woman watching her back, instead of a sleeping former S.T.A.R.S officer slouched against the wall with drool coating his chin.

Alex watched her with one eye narrowed and a corner of her lips tilted upwards. Nocturnal vision yet another pro from the T-virus, she could easily read the fear and uncertainty clouding the young girl's eyes. For the first time in years, she felt a small portion of sympathy. Having lived for so long as a lab rat, something to be tested until they bled, cried, killed or…died, it was surprising for her to find herself wanting to comfort the girl.

'Who are you?'

Alex jerked, surprised the blonde had broken the silence first and shrugged. 'I already told you that.'

Building her confidence, K-mart perched on the very end of the desk, closest to the door and furthest from Alex. Staring at the bottle in her hands, she said, 'I don't mean that. I mean who are you?'

'Oh.' Not entirely sure if she understood her, Alex looked at the ceiling, humming thoughtfully in the back of her throat. 'Well I like the colour…lime green and turquoise, I don't have that many hobbies other than yoga and martial arts. That sort of what you're looking for?'

K-mart nodded. 'Why yoga?'

'Keeps me flexible and in shape, working on a tanker gets you into all sorts of tiny places.' Her smile fading at the lie, she ducked her head. 'Though I haven't really been anywhere other than where you found me.'

'How long have you been, you know, hiding?'

'Just over a month.' Sucking her lip between her teeth, Alex neglected to mention that she had only been awake for five weeks, spending the time acclimatising herself with the ship and avoiding Albert Wesker whenever she sensed his presence. Like so many projects, she could tell where an infected was without having to see their location and know exactly where to go to avoid or kill it.

'Oh.' Biting her lip, K-mart stole a look at the older girl from behind a curtain of golden hair. Even bound and under guard, she couldn't help but notice the girl wasn't afraid at all, almost pleased by the human contact if anything.

'So what's your story?' Alex asked, curious to know more about the girl.

'What do you want to know?' Her tone guarded, K-mart placed the bottle onto the desk and nervously glanced at the door.

Deciding to play nice with her, Alex asked, 'What's your favourite colour?'

'Favourite colour?' She repeated, her forehead furrowed in confusion. 'Why not something more interesting?'

'Well you know my favourites so I thought it would be fair.' Alex smirked. 'Unless you want me to ask something else?'

K-mart shook her head vigorously, trying to dissuade the blush rising to her cheeks and mumbled, 'I don't really have a favourite colour anymore…' Thinking of the greeny-blue hue of Alex's eyes, she couldn't help but deem it her favourite, no matter how dangerous the owner was.

Alex froze, listening to the change in Chris's breathing pattern. 'You should go.' Eyes trained on the door, she counted the seconds until he would barge into the room.

'Why?' Taken aback, K-mart followed the project's line of sight. 'What's out there?' Sliding a knife from her boot, she positioned herself behind the desk.

'Unless you want to endure a lecture from my guard, I suggest you go.' Alex jerked her chin at the door. 'And go quietly.'

Not needing to be told twice, K-mart was at the door in a heartbeat. Creaking it open with her breath held, she peered through the crack and sighed when Chris remained asleep. He looks really young when he's asleep. Shaking the thought aside, she slipped into the hallway.

'Sweet dreams,' Alex called, as the door softly closed.

Laying a hand on the metal, K-mart smiled and whispered, 'Night Alex.' Then, turning on her heel, she darted back into the catacombs of the tanker.

Left in silence, Alex stared at the bottle, a smile curling her lips. With a flex of her pupils, the bottle flew into her lap. 'Thanks K-mart.' Then with the ease of practice, she telekinetically unscrewed the cap and drank the water in three gulps.