Chapter Four: Jill

Shizuoka Facility, Japan
Umbrella Corporation Overseas Base
1230 hrs_

"You shouldn't focus on her just yet, Dryden," Wesker said. "She will get hers in due course. Patience."

"Of course, Father. Forgive me if my anger got the best of me." Dryden looked at his father apologetically; the corner of Wesker's mouth twitched as he set his coffee cup on the table.

"For now, we must prepare for her eventual capture. I fear that the T-virus may overwhelm me soon, and I do not want to delay my plans any longer," Wesker continued. Dryden waited quietly and watched as his father pressed a button that was hidden under the meeting table.

The doors to the room opened, and a guard in full battle gear entered.

"Send her in," Wesker told the guard, who nodded and left the room. Dryden wondered who their guest would be - surely someone who proved vital to their task? - and finished the rest of his coffee.

The guard finally returned, followed by a young blonde woman in a dark blue and purple catsuit. Her hair was slicked back and tied in a severe ponytail, making her jawline seem more prominent than it was supposed to. Her catsuit had a semi-low neckline, exposing a hint of cleavage and a bright red control device. Her hands were clasped behind her back as she followed the guard further into the room. To Dryden's surprise, the woman took the seat to his father's left, so that he was right across the table from her.

"Dryden, this is Jill Valentine," Wesker said. "She is a former Special Tactics and Rescue Services operative, and a previous ally of our dear Alice. Now she is our functioning leader of the Umbrella troops and will help us in the attack against Alice; an attack where I am fully convinced we will capture and detain her for the final phase of our experiment."

Jill shifted in her seat slightly, and it was then when Dryden was able to observe the control device closely. It was shaped like a spider; the ends of its 'legs' were embedded in her flesh, and the 'body' was a hollow casing filled with red liquid.

"Blood?" Dryden asked, tilting his head in the direction of Jill's device.

Wesker shook his head. "Pentatheromene. A liquid that, when pumped directly into the heart, will induce complete obedience to whoever controls the microchip placed in their brain." Wesker paused, and then said: "A liquid of my design. I created it during my early years as a researcher for the Umbrella Corporation. I haven't used it... until now."

"And should I be surprised to learn that you control her?" Dryden smiled wryly.

"No, you shouldn't." Wesker glanced at him before turning to Jill. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, Sir," Jill replied, her eyes fixed at a point on the wall behind Dryden. "I have received the instructions and shall depart from the base on the designated time."

"Excellent." Wesker then turned from Jill to Dryden, who was still studying Jill carefully. "Is something bothering you, Dryden? You don't seem too eager to work with Jill."

Jill's eyes focused on Dryden as Wesker said her name, but she said nothing.

Dryden shook his head. "Nothing's bothering me, Father. I'm just feeling a bit apprehensive of her working with us."

"Oh? How so?"

"You said she was an ally of Alice. What makes you think she won't renege on our plans?" Dryden was skeptical of using Jill, especially in a mission that required nothing but success.

The fate of his father depended on it.

"I trust my invention fully. I am sure Jill will do her part well," Wesker said thinly.

Dryden must have realized that his doubt had upset his father, for he smiled. "Yes, I'm sure she will. If she doesn't, I will do what I must."

"Understood."

They led me along, although every cell in my body protested. I felt like a puppet on a string, one that could be used in any way that they deemed fit.

Jill sat placidly on the cool metal chair, her eyes fixed on Albert Wesker and the man named Dryden. Jill had heard stories about him from the Umbrella employees, such as how he was born shortly after the outbreak in Raccoon City, how Albert Wesker had adopted him as his own son, how he had aged twenty years in only two years, and how the T-virus raged through his veins but lent him none of its devastating side effects. Although Jill had only met him a few minutes ago, something about him felt familiar.

Jill met Dryden's eyes once more, and Jill remembered the time she first met Alice in Raccoon City. Although part of her persona was responding to Wesker's questions and Dryden's insinuations, Jill could still recall Alice's brown, slightly reddish, hair, her lithe form, and her shockingly blue eyes.

Jill mentally shook the image of Alice from her head, for she knew that it was impossible for Alice to be Dryden's mother. He was tall, with deep black hair and a strong jawline. His eyes, however...

Jill willed herself to look at Dryden again, only to see him talking to Albert Wesker, his head turned away from her.

Look at me again, Jill pleaded silently.

On cue, Dryden's eyes focused on her again, as if he had heard her in his head.

Blue.

Dryden may not have Alice's looks, but he certainly has her eyes, Jill realized. Whoever his father may be, Alice is, without a doubt, his mother.

"...kill Alice," Dryden said.

Jill's eyes would have widened at this, but since the Scarab had been placed on her, she maintained a passive expression.

"As you wish," she heard herself reply.

"Do not put any mark on her body," Dryden added. "I want to have the pleasure of that myself."

Jill nodded again. "Alice is to be my team's top priority. She shall not be killed, but instead brought to the experiment facility in Los Angeles. From there, the required procedures will be conducted."

Albert Wesker glanced at Dryden, who nodded in confirmation.

"In case she slips through your attack, you must use all means necessary to recapture her. Her presence is essential," Dryden stressed.

"Yes, Sir." Jill hoped that Alice would escape; whatever plans Albert Wesker and Dryden had in store for her, it didn't bode well.