Chapter Seven

As Jill tried to stay awake, Chris rubbed her shoulder. After finally getting into the town, Sheva had taken them to a nearby housing for visiting trappers. Informing them that they were to pose as a trapper couple, she had passed out the fake licenses and ID badges. The names had read "Landon Blake and Lisa Carver-Blake." Outfitting them with clothing and weapons, Alomar had made the two aware that they would meet in the morning to discuss business.

Now sitting in a booth at the local diner, the two of them ascertained their surroundings. It was made of dark wood, the windows dusky and yellowed from age. Various men sat about, drinking their coffee, or eating breakfast before heading out for the days' work. A tall woman was bussing tables, her longs skirt skimming the floor every once and awhile. She had dark hair, and bright eyes, and seemed to know everybody and everyone.. "Would you like to order anything, hon? Or are ya soakin up the last bit o' heat before heading for the rim traps?" Jill looked up and smiled at the woman tiredly, rubbing one eye. "Actually…can I get some coffee?" The other woman cheerily smiled, nodding as she whipped out a pad. "O' course, honey. We have black coffee….and black coffee…we've run out o' suga for now. Waiting for a new shipment to fly in next week.. I can get ya some good ole eggs too if ya like. I'll do you new folk up real good… Coffee for your husband too?" Chris nodded gently, watching as the woman rambled on. She was so at home here… so happy. He just hoped whatever Umbrella was doing out there would never touch this tiny, comforting town.

As the waitress moved off, Sheva showed up through the door, receiving many waves of friendship as she passed. Sliding into the other side of the booth, she grinned. "Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Blake…I see you've found the food without my help…" A particular trapper moved from his table, and walked near there's as he spotted Sheva. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he chuckled gently. Chris stiffened at this, placing his right hand into his coat. Fingering the cold piece of metal that resided there, he watched the young man carefully. The other man was too caught up in conversation with Sheva to notice.

"So I see you've brought some friends with you, Sally." Jill furrowed her brows as she heard the name, then remembered that this must have been Sheva's surname… Alomar nodded as she splayed her hands towards them, her smile wide. "This is Mr. and Mrs. Blake… they've recently moved here for the summer catching season, Joseph.." The man looked forwards, taking Jill's hand in his own and kissed across the knuckles. The man was maybe near his early thirties, light, long blonde hair tied back into a ratty braid. A scruffy beard engulfed his face, leaving bright blue eyes to be his most dominant feature. As Chris watched the man ingratiate his wife, the man squinted. There was something…familiar about those eyes. Both men's gazes locked before Joseph let go of Jill's hand, and seemed to pass an understanding of no harm as he let go.

Turning back to Sheva, he patted her shoulder once more. "Well, I'll see you later, Sally." Tipping his hat to Chris and Jill, the young man smiled as he retreated. "I suppose I will see you out on the trail, friends. Yall Have a good breakfast." As Joseph left the building and went out into the blistering cold, Sheva leaned over the table giggling. "He and I have shared coffee almost everyday since I arrived last month. I think he has a crush on me…prolly got jealous my attention was elsewhere when I showed today. Joe is harmless, Chris, get your finger off the trigger." Redfield relaxed and pulled his hand from his coat, chuckling gently. Jill snickered as the waitress slid her plate and coffee in front. The woman looked green as the heavenly scent wafted close, and she quickly took a sip of comforting coffee. As soon as the waitress left, Jill piled her eggs in with Chris'. He raised an eyebrow but did not complain as he began to woof down the pile.

Sheva slid out a file folder from within her jacket, handing it to Jill seeing as Chris was indisposed with his food. "This is what we are here for. The facility is not the one that you and your sister encountered here, Chris, but it was an unaffected extension that was not found. After the virus overran section A of the building, the laboratories were sealed off and sterilized. The facility was reconstructed and designed to penetrate the surface and go down several levels. This is why it has been so hard to relocate it. Section B was never on any of the files, or data we have seized, seeing as it was rebuilt in secret. All blueprints are destroyed or…"

"In Trent's possession I'm guessing." Jill finished the sentence with a look of disgust across her face, her blue eyes narrowed and piercing. Sheva nodded, continuing. "But we have found some interesting air travel across the southern border. It is about forty clicks of the town, and the armored vehicle that you saw in the satellite images came from that direction." At this Chris set down his fork, eyeing his former partner. "Are you telling me that is all we have to go on to locate this place? It's just a shot in the dark.." Alomar sighed, squaring her jaw as she looked at her friends. "Yes…It'll is a recon mission after all…we have to find the preverbal needle in the haystack…" Sullenly, Jill spoke up with anther phrase. "Or the piss in the snow…" Chris looked back and forth between the two women, shaking his head. A large grin began to spread across his face. For the last three years he had sat behind a desk and shoveled paperwork…not done any good in the war against Umbrella….now the old thrill of the hunt was beginning to entice once more…. Shoving another fork full of eggs into his mouth, Chris swallowed with the same, large smile across his mouth.

"Well…bring it on then…."

…..

Trent slid his hand over the white door, still apprehensive on whether or not to enter. The days had grown so much more complicated since their friendship had deteriorated. Watching from the view window as the woman moved within the room, he smiled gently. She had become such a good pet without even realizing it… Her work was phenomenal, and her blood samples had been freely given. And after the child had been born…she had become more and more motherly, instead of the angry young scientist she had been. Finally making his decision, Trent moved into the room. Angelica did not turn, merely keeping her attention on whatever sample she had been analyzing. There was a tinge of ice as she greeted her former mentor. "Good morning, Trent. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company.." Trent stiffened as he heard the voice, his eyes narrowing as he watched her. "Do I need a reason to visit you, Angel?"

At this Angelica finally turned, a rabid anger flashing in her crimson orbs. "Don't call me that, I haven't been called that in years and you have lost the right to." Trent took a defensive step back, holding his hands up in feigned innocence. "Alright then, Angelica. But you were right, I have come to discuss a little business with you." At this Angelica leaned against the counter, releasing her hands from the blue latex gloves. One of her eyebrows was raised, her lips pressing into a thin line. Trent could almost swear there were dark circles under her eyes.. "Then what was so important that it had to be a face to face meeting?" Trent side stepped, shoving a hand into his pocket. Angelica didn't budge as he moved closer, but merely glared. "The only remaining specimen of the Project Wesker is to be moved to the Arklay Facility. And seeing as you are the only scientist with a full knowledge of his condition, you are to be transferred as well." At this the woman halted her stare, it turning into one of surprise and hatred. "Why is he being transferred…"

Trent's lips peeled back into a smile that sent chills down Angelica's spine. When he smiled like that…he reminded her of Spencer in so many ways. And she had helped create that monster..

"He was the top security advisor in the last building, and we need someone who can have foreknowledge and idea of how to prevent what happened in the Incident. The residents of Raccoon will be busy rebuilding their legacy…and so will we. You both will be transferred Monday of next week, prepare yourself and your child for departure." If the woman's face could drain any paler, it happened then, and much to Trent's amusement. As he moved from the room, she watched Trent leave with her lips trembling. She fought every urge to plunge her hand into his insides…and rip out the black heart that was now beating there. Gathering all of her unapproved research, Angelica looked down at the sample reading that had come out. Somehow it was a derivative of her DNA that was making the serum that transformed Wesker back into his human state.

And if they had done that without her knowledge, they could do it to her as well. She would have to keep playing the game of chess just a little while longer.

….

He threw back his head, enjoying the sounds and melodies his fingers spawned. Life and enjoyment flowed through him as he poured his soul into the piece, only for his own ears to hear. The piano trembled beneath every note, moving out the Beethoven sonata in swelling and rumbling passion. Leaning closely to the instrument as he played, Wesker closed his eyes to envision the world that was played upon notes… The fierceness of his spirit, kindled and dwelt in with the music as it ran from terrible to gentle, running along the stream that was harmony and enlightenment. This is what he could get lost in…music and the passion of it…

The piano had been a fixture of the room, and for the first few months of his capture, the man had honestly thought it was a fake. But no, one day after slamming an irritating nurse across the room, as her neck had broken across the keys, the resounding notes of music had played. Ever since then he had played to hone his skills, and remember what it was like to learn and feel wonder in the universe. His fingers trailed nimbly down the keys, their notes soft and leisurely. Reopening his eyes, he found that the world was just as black as when he had closed them. Stopping his sonata midstream, Wesker stood, on edge. Why had the lights been cut…

A soft kiss moved to his ear, starling the man to swing. Without his speed the person easily dodged out of the way, placing their fingertips on his back. "This is not amusing, Angelica." A scoffing noise came from the darkness, and suddenly his senses were overwhelmed with a sickly perfume. This was not the woman he had wanted it to be. Backing his way into the piano, Wesker forced himself into a fighter's pose, his arms stiffening. A soft laughter came from the darkness as his eyes just now began to focus. He cursed the serum that had made him so weak…

"Angelica….that's gratitude for you, darling. I come searching for you and all you can think of is that ..thing. I am so much better…" As he squinted through the inky black, Wesker nearly laughed. Ada Wong had her hands on her hips, staring at him with that familiar anger. A well earned kick was aimed at his jaw, and received with only more laughter as he scooped her painfully into a pinned position.

"Oh, Ada, I knew you couldn't stay away….