{Normal P.O.V}
Once we arrived at the lodge, I had calmed down and had collected my thoughts. As much as I hated the thought of umbrellas money being used to create the Pheonix Corps as well as the lodge, at least it was now making a difference and helping humanity rather than creating weapons of mass destruction. My thoughts on the Wesker situation were less than resolved though. I had to come over that bridge when I got to it.
Archer helped us unload the car and placed the multiple attache cases and the few suitcases with clothes for Irving and Steve on a bell cart. When Irving stepped out he looked stunned. This didn't surprise me in the slightest. The grounds of the lodge were well maintained with multiple local specimens of berry bushes as well as shrubs, various flowers, and fruit trees. The natural beauty was being heightened by the moonlight and the forest sounds were making the place seem peaceful.
"This place is quite gorgeous Mr. Archer. I'm surprised a hunting lodge is this well kept." Ricardo said looking over the grounds.
"Thank you, Mr. Irving, maintenance and landscaping take a lot of pride in making sure Tabitha's gardens are well taken care of. She planted most of these herself as well as a vegetable patch past the orchard. She was always on who believed in garden-fresh quality is better tasting and more enjoyable for patrons." Archer spoke.
"Wesker's wife did this? It's incredible, to think a guy who is so good at destroying life was married to someone capable of creating a natural beauty like this." Steve said helping Archer with the bell cart.
I chuckle at the remark Steve made, "Yea, although if I remember her body count is around five hundred give or take, due to her being in the U.B.C.S. but she always had a soft spot for gardening. She told me on one of our missions to France the reason why is she got into gardening was that she didn't want to pay the forty dollars for a pound of lavender. "
"Really? Flowers were that expensive?" Irving asked holding the door open.
"Yes, it's a hit at the farmers market we host once the month we sell it at six dollars a pound and we turn a profit on the culinary lavender we grow here." Archer said smiling, "Our dessert bar is mostly comprised of Madam Tabitha recipes, her lavender macarons are often requested to be sold separately in a bakery type setting however we are unfortunately running on the lodges appeal to hunters as they are our main financial support. Unfortunately, our other activities support either the grounds or what happens three stories below leaving little financial gain for our employees. Thankfully we have roughly three thousand five hundred fifty acres of land with two hundred fifty set aside separate from the total just for our employees."
"They live on campus? The utilities must be a fortune with all the land allotments on the same stretch of land." Steve stated.
"That's one thing my teacher thought about. She had a hydroelectric dam built to supply energy due to the runoff of snow and nearby rivers. It supplies electricity to the lodge and employees but allows for a tax break as well." I started cringing remembering the cost to start everything.
Irving let the door staring in shock, "It sounds like Mrs. Wesker was one hell of a businesswoman.".
"Indeed she was Mr. Irving and with that, I welcome you and Mr. burnside to the Phoenix Core Lodge, Ms. Lancaster welcome home." Archer swung the door open and the deep wooden tones of the lobby shone ceremoniously in the light of the antique chandelier.
The smell of pine and cedar wafted out of the door completing the ambiance. The dark leather sofas surrounding a black marble mantlepiece the white streaks faintly speckling in the light created a homely feeling. The check-in desk was made of nice mahogany and an ebony top piece. The path of the entry was tiled with a red marble that let up to the desk.
"Wow, this place is gorgeous!" Steve exclaimed excitedly, "It does honestly have a slight Umbrella feel to it but safer if that makes sense?".
"Teach did say she did use some old designs Spencer had set aside for a mountainside retreat in Russia she found in the Arkley mansion. She just altered them for her gain... at least that's what I understand from what she told me." I said pushing the bell carts through the massive wood doors.
"She had a good eye for design. I would kill to have furnishings like this in our African location. Who is the lady in the painting?" Irving asked looking at the portrait that was made by Archer's brother. It depicted me sitting cross-legged wearing a black tank top and red jeans staring off to the side, my U.S. tattoo on my shoulder on full display.
"That is Lady Tabitha before she was killed. My elder brother painted it as a favor for me after she passed. It's here to help honor her memory." Archer said walking out with a guest book, "I have you and in Mr. burnside in separate suites. Even though we are a hunting lodge, we act as a hotel would mostly mainly for room documentation."
"Well, that's great in all but what about Alistar? She needs a place to sleep." Steve asked concerned.
"Hahaha, I appreciate the worry Steve but I have a permanent room here thanks to my teacher. I stayed here before tracking down Wesker. If you need me at all I will be in the room marked 748. Archer, please make sure they are well taken care of. I need a shower." with that, I quickly unloaded my gear from the cart and marched to my room.
(time skip 2 A.M.)
With a deep sigh, I stepped from the bathroom and stared in the mirror stroking a massive scar on my right shoulder. I paid one hundred and fifty bucks to get Surgeis mark on me removed however the guy botched it and the wound got infected and it scarred my shoulder badly. The picture always made me want to see if that awful tattoo was gone. It was a lovely picture but it reminded me of the past when I want to focus on the present.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
"Come in," I shouted and stood in front of my dresser in the corner of the room.
"It seems our guests are enjoying themselves," Archer said walking in the to living space of the room, "Tell me, T, when will this be over?"
"I don't understand what you mean June? The most Mr. Burnside and I will be is a week and Mr. Irving a few days." I started avoiding the question.
"Cut the bullshit, Tabitha! You know I mean your game with Vladimir and Spencer. You could've stayed here and helped the people harmed by them and your damn husband. BUT NO YOU ARE NOW AIDING A TERRORIST POSSIBLY DISTORY THE WORLD! ALL BECAUSE YOU CAN'T LET GO OF WHAT UMBRELLA DID! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FINALLY BE THE PERSON I KNOW YOU AS WHO WANTS TO HELP THE WORLD!" Arjuna stopped shouting when he saw me starting to cry, "Not to doom it. When will I have my closest friend back? The one who saved me from Umbrellas testing in India and to me of a place where those who hate Umbrella can fight. The one who puts the word Pheonix in the Pheonix core. We need a leader and the lady standing in front of me isn't her. "
"I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE! I'M A NOBODY! I am no one's leader Archer. I'm a hell of a captain and I could be a hell of a commander if needed. However, until I can look at my brother and sister in the eye and not see a monster in their eyes. I can't be considered a Pheonix, just an ember of a past I cant move on from. The Pheonix Corps deserves someone who embraces the motto, 'to embrace the past and strength from surviving adversity becoming a new person that will shine like a sun'. I'm not that June, not yet, and at this rate, I'll never be." I glared into his eyes.
"You have a funny way of showing it, your eyes are even saying you are your self, not Alistar. Your contacts are gone and all I see is a shadow of the person you truly are, Tabitha" He said pointing into the mirror.
I turned toward the mirror and saw that my contacts had dissolved again "They're gone, they were brand new not too long ago. ".
Archer came up from behind and hugged me. I went rigid and broke down. Tears just started flooding my eyes and I fell to my knees. It dawned on me I have to be more forceful in my plan or I'll never be able to accept what happened to me. I was running out of time I may have a few years but I had been infiltrated over six months and I haven't even gained his trust. I need to be more like myself. I never expected I would realize this thanks to the one person who hates who they were to.
"Arjuna..." I whispered.
"Yes T?" he dropped to his knees.
I wrapped my arm around him, "You are right, I do need to be more like myself. If I can't accept the past how will Albert? I know you don't approve of this but thank you for being here for me."
"Sigh... sometimes I swear I'm the older one of the two of us." archer smiled shaking his head.
"Ha maybe... Archer after all this we will find your brother. The connections won't be able to hide if both me and Wesker are on the case. " he wrapped his arms around mine.
"Thank you but first thing first get dressed. As much I care for you I see you more as a mother and I don't want to see the tits." he coughed turning away.
"Oh right, sorry." I quickly threw on a white T-shirt, black basketball shorts, and pulled my hair back, "I'm dressed now June."
"Good, ahem but down to business the guys who were causing a scene left into the forest shortly before you landed. They took their weapons and packed up their trucks. The leader said they are going to go past the boundaries."
"Oh no... this isn't good I heard a pack of Cerberus earlier tonight!" I shouted grabbing my I.D. badge.
"You're going!?" Archer looked shocked.
" Yes, I'm going to mobilize the Wolf Pack too. It's time they get some action." I walk over to my closet which had a hidden keypad and entered the code that brought up my elevator. "You were right this world needs me not my shell." The wall opened and stepping onto the platform, I scanned the badge.
"I'll man the desk up here T. Welcome back." He stood at attention.
"At ease, it's business as usual just keep your com on," I said as the doors closed and I put on my com necklace, "No one will die tonight. "
The elevator roared to life and started descending. I had to make this a quick mission as the mission for Wesker starts after we eat lunch tomorrow but if these idiots die we would have a major problem. I don't need negative press or worse the B.S.A.A sticking their neck in something that could destroy the Pheonix Corps. reputation.
"Welcome back Lady Tabitha." a mechanical female voice echoed in the elevator.
"Glad to be back, White Queen," I stated as the doors opened revealing a massive underground lab, "I take it everything is running smoothly."
"Yes mam, all operations are running at full capacity and your gear has been stored and sustained in your office." the AI spoke through my com.
"Good, are Lupo and Beltway en route to my office?" I asked opening a sliver door with a black emblem with a blue snake on it.
"Yes, the wolf pack is mobilizing. Lupo and her demolitions expert will be with you shortly," she said manifesting from a hologram projector in the ceiling.
"Alright," I said getting in my U.S.B.C uniform and my compound bow from storage, "I want you to activate the sirens that are near the old umbrella lab in the woods using the alternate wail option. Play a message saying they are in a quarantined area and they need to return to the lodge immediately. That way we can at least get a warning out to them and try to locate them."
"Understood." She said and faded out.
I opened my med cache on my belt and took a light green tablet. I was going to help out Wolfpack. It had been to long since I had been on a mission and I was itching for action. This is where the monster comes out. Where I am myself.
Hey everyone! Sorry this took so long the haitus came earlier that expected but im working on the rough draft. Love you all