"K" Claire drawls out the letter as K-Mart storms back towards the hummer. Claire and Alice behind her.
"He shouldn't have said that about you two," K-Mart argues turning to face them before muttering her breath. "Maledetto stronzo." (Fucking Asshole) Claire has no idea what it was K-Mart said but can tell from the tone it's an insult towards Markus.
That man can't seem to keep his mouth shut. What he thought would happen after trying to insult her and Alice in front of them she has no clue. Sometimes you can't understand stupid.
When Markus had first said the words, Claire had looked towards Alice afraid of how she would react to the vile taunts. But it wasn't Alice who reacted. It was K-Mart who unleashed all of her inner rage on the man before Claire got her to calm down. Which resulted in her storming off and her and Alice chasing after her to make sure she was alright.
It's not like K to react like that. Hateful anger isn't her go to. Which is why her reaction worries Claire. Alice on the other hand found the whole thing amusing.
A laugh escapes Alice at hearing this before to both the blonde and redhead's surprise begins speaking Italian towards K-Mart. "Non c'è da stupirsi che tu abbia detto che in italiano Claire ti ucciderebbe se ti sentisse parlare così." (No wonder you said that in Italian Claire would kill you if she heard you talk like that.) Claire has no idea what Alice said apart from her name but watches on as the two begin to converse in a foreign language.
A language both of them apparently speak.
"Tu parli italiano." (You speak Italian.) K asks losing all of her previous anger instead replacing it with her hero-like wonder towards Alice. No doubt the two of them being able to speak a different language together will only make Alice seem more awesome in K's eyes.
Sometimes Claire does wonder if Alice can do wrong in K's eyes.
Alice shrugs like knowing another language isn't that big of a deal. Alice had the tendency to do that. Downplay her intelligence and other skills. It's something Claire has come to realise leading her to wonder how much about Alice she still has to learn. She loves learning about Alice. About all the little things she knows, has done, or is capable of. "Mio nonno paterno è italiano e ho trascorso molto tempo in Italia. Sono più sorpreso che tu parli italiano." (My grandfather on my father's side is Italian and I spent a lot of time in Italy. I'm more surprised you can speak Italian.)
"My father's side was Italian too," K admits switching back to English. Something Claire is glad for. It's a bit awkward standing there when your daughter and your girlfriend have a conversation like that right in front of her. Because Alice is her girlfriend now. It's official. Everyone in her convoy knows now. They are no longer and secret. And oh boy is it so freeing to not be hiding that anymore.
Not the point. The point is that Alice and K can now speak in Italian together. And since when is K-Mart part Italian. For as long as she's known the teen she has refused to talk about her family or anything relating to them or her life before the outbreak. Every time Claire has tried to broach the subject K either talks about something else or leaves the conversation altogether.
She had assumed that the subject hurt the blonde too much and Claire eventually backed off not wanting to make K relive any horrible memories.
K-Mart's joyful enthusiasm slowly fades as her smile slips from her face. "I don't usually like thinking about my family. And the language was ingrained into me before they left. I... They..." K trips over her words fidgeting it on the spot and staring down at the ground.
The times she did push K-Mart to talk she would get like this. a little bundle of sad and nervous energy before shutting down and reading her book to avoid any conversations.
Claire looks towards Alice a silent don't push solidified on her features only for Claire to see a look of devastated understanding appear on Alices' face.
Alice moves towards the Hummer opening the door and nodding for K to sit. Which she does in an instant but keeps her gaze on the ground. Alice then kneels in the sand in front of her. "I won't push you to talk K. I know what it's like to not want to talk about things like this. How painful and terrifying it is. So, when you're ready we can talk. But until then just know you are an amazing kid. You make me smile and laugh more than anyone and I am very thankful to have you in my life Solnyshko."
Claire looks in confusion as to what is happening. It feels like she's missing something big. But she can't figure out what.
Nonetheless, that was a very sweet thing for Alice to say. She likes to pretend she's a hardened badass all the time but in reality, Alice is the softest person Claire has ever met. Unwavering in love and kindness towards those she cares about. It was a pleasant surprise to discover the more she got to know the former operative.
"Sloynko." K tries to pronounce the strange word and from the slight wince Alice gives Claire guesses K got it wrong. "What does that mean."
"Solnyshko," Alice repeats much slower for K-Mart to understand. "It's Ukrainian for my little sun. Because that is what you are to me K my little ray of sunshine."
A small but bright smile shines on K's face at hearing this and Claire can't argue with what Alice is saying. K-Mart is just a bundle of pure warmth sweetness and kindness. A little ball of sunshine wrapped in human form.
"Do... Can you teach me. Ukrainian I mean." K shyly asks biting her lip.
Alice just smiles softly at her. "Of course, I can. I'm sure Claire will too, so she doesn't feel left out during our conversations." Both blondes look towards her with hope sparkling in their eyes at the prospect.
After taking many years of Spanish she remembers nothing but the numbers. Not even in the right order but they are there. Learning a new language will be difficult but she supposes it's something the three of them can do in the hummer to kill time when driving. Besides, with the way the two of them are giving her the puppy dog eyes how can she possibly say no. "Damn right, you will. I refuse to be trapped in the hummer with you two chatting to each not understanding a thing. It would grow very annoying. Very quickly."
K-Mart cheers at this jumping out of the Hummer and hugging her tightly. If it makes her girls happy, how could she refuse. She does however have one question. How does Alice know Ukrainian.
"How can you be sure that will even work," Chrisitan asks and Alice has to stop herself before she rolls her eyes at the man. Every part of the plan she has laid out has been argued and billeted by him. At this point, she is seriously considering punching him.
From the glare, Claire and Chris are sending him she may not be the only one punching him today. Their anger and frustration at the situation and by him have only grown since finding out that not only did Dr Issacs survive but Wesker as well. So, if Chrisitan keeps running his mouth like he is someone is going to snap.
K-Mart got her hit in before so she can't join in again.
"Because I've used similar tactics before, and it worked perfectly." She argues back trying not to let anger line her voice. These people aren't very trusting of her and her display earlier with her powers didn't help to alleviate that fear.
"Would you say it went perfectly." K-Mart quips from next to her earning a small glare as the teen looks at her with a what expression.
Ok saying the last time she used a similar tactic went perfectly might not be a hundred percent true. But they didn't need to know that. "For one of our insane plans, I think it went splendidly." K-Mart seems to think over her words before nodding to herself in agreement. "Anyways. It won't last long. Not without something to keep it burning. At that point, I'll zip down and deal with any lingering enemies."
"You'll zip down." Cobalt repeats slowly her mind unable to comprehend the idea of heading down into a sea of infected.
Pointing towards the rows of cable. "I can easily create a zip line from that. From there I can dispose of any lingering undead and search the tanks." There will still be hundreds of dead roaming around no doubt about that. Which is probably why Cobalt isn't following while Chris and Claire look on in worry at her.
When she goes down to face the horde, she doesn't plan on going down alone. But that's a surprise for the tower group later. Right now, she has to keep them focused on their parts in this plan. not everything else.
"Can I come." K-mart asks her.
Which is immediately responded to with a solid, "No."
"What." Clearly, someone isn't happy with that. "That's not fair I can handle myself." She can. Both she Claire, Carlos, Jill, Leon Ada, and Sheva have made sure of that fact. K-Mart, Angie, Becky, and Rose are all being trained on how to survive in a world like this.
K automatically reaches behind her back to where Alice's old katana which Razor was nice enough to give back to her after Chrisitan took it upon himself to disarm her of her primary weapon. Alice had started to train her with Kukris back in the desert but upgraded to a katana after Russia. Ada had also been fundamentally helpful in teaching K how to wield the weapon. After all, it was Ada who trained her how to use it years ago.
Her middle child preferred to use throwing knives. Something which she and Jill have been helping Angie with. As well as helping her how to use a knife in close combat.
Assuring K this has nothing to do with her talents with a sword she is quick to reveal the next detail of her plan. "I know you can. But for this stage of the plan to work, I need someone to talk over on overwatch for me. And that will be your job."
"Oh," K says a little taken back at the reasonability. But takes it in her stride. "So, I'll be organizing." She trails off not wanting to go too deep into their plan.
"Yes." She confirms earning a nod and salute from K which does have her rolling her eyes.
Claire however doesn't have the same understanding as them and can only see the many ways this will get her killed. "You can't go out there alone. You'll be overrun, and I don't care how powerful you are not even you can fight off that many on your own." Her ex-stalks towards her no doubt about to argue why she should either stay or that both of them will head out.
"No. You Chris Doc and three other people will be at the front gate."
Halting in her steps Claire's eyes narrow at the order. "What."
"Before the fight will begin Issacs will release one of the hostages in front of the horde. I need you to keep the infected off of her and escort her inside the walls. Once they are inside the people at the front gate will pull back to the barricade." Issacs is nothing but predictable in his moves.
To her at least. The hundreds of games of chess and the battles between them have forged their connection to being one of understanding. Once she saw who he really was. What he was capable of it's become easier to guess what he will do.
He reads her just as well which always makes for an interesting matchup.
"Why pull back right away. Surely, it's best to try and hold it." Doc asks visibly confused by her plan.
Don't glare at him. Don't glare at him. Don't glare at him.
"Because Issacs isn't aware I have my powers back." Well, he might now given the spy here but again they don't need to know that. And the spy certainly doesn't need to know that. "After that, he will aim to take down the gate and let the infected in to overrun us."
Chris ever the military strategist picks up on where she's going with this. We can then hold the barricades inside the tower in order to fill the place up with infected to take as many out as we can in one hit. Being inside will also mean Umbrella can't hit us with their bullets or missiles as easy which means you aren't exhausting yourself with your powers to protect us."
"Exactly." This is why she and Chris got along so well. They just get each other's way of thinking.
Claire continues where Chris left off. "Which is why you need almost everyone at the barricades. We will still need to hold back the infected. Because we need to get as many in as possible, but some will manage to break through our defenses. Just like they did at the prison."
The three of them all share a look of understanding. Once the gate fell to the Axeman, they had nothing in terms of defensives to get by and were immediately swarmed. They had been so focused on making sure no more infected could claw their way in they didn't keep a close enough eye on the main gate.
Once the gate fell there was nothing that could have stopped the infected from heading directly to where they were all camped out. As soon as they realized the gate fell, they had tried to block the doors as best as they could but against that many, it didn't take much for them to be overwhelmed.
And in that panic, Bennett decided to take his chances with the plane and abandoned them all to die on that roof.
They can't make the same mistake again. These barricades won't be strong enough to hold back a horde of this size. So, the people here will need to be at the barricades killing as many infected as they can and reinforcing any parts that are starting to give.
"I will call out when enough have been filtered in and you can all fall back. Or either you or Chris will make the judgment that you won't be able to hold the barricades any longer and sound the retreat. Kill any infected that follow you. I'll then start the plan."
"How sure are you that this plan of yours will work," Razor asks her directly.
If they can hold out for the extra time it will take for the resistance to arrive given, that they have lost over forty minutes due to Issacs speeding up nothing should go wrong. "Ninety-two percent."
"Ninety-two percent." He repeats eyes narrowing at her.
Claire jumps in right away. "It'll work. Ignore her maths she doesn't understand when you ask that you want a simple yes or no." She sends Alice a small glare along with her words.
A glare to which she shrugs off. "You were okay with my percentages."
A glare that intensifies. "I know you." She argues.
"Fair."
Razor lets out a deep breath eyes flickering from her to Claire and back to the dust cloud. "Doc, Cobalt, Christian get everyone ready. We'll tell them the plan." He then looks back at her. "Can you figure out what groups and how many people each one will need for this to work."
"Already done."
"Good. Come and join us in a few minutes." Razor orders as he pulls away the rest of his group leaving Alice's little makeshift family alone.
Zvydky vy znayete, shcho doktor Ayzeks zvilʹnytʹ odnoho iz zaruchnykiv? (How do you know that Dr. Isaacs will release one of the hostages?) K-Mart asks switching to Ukrainian. Just because they have been left alone doesn't mean people can't hear what they are talking about. And there could be listening devices scattered around. Better safe than sorry in situations like this.
Chris looks toward K not having the slightest clue as to what she just said. Which is probably also a good thing. Alice doesn't know how much Chris knows about her past and this isn't really the time to start explaining her whole families fucked up dynamics.
"Tomu shcho vin lyubytʹ hraty z lyudʹmy. i tomu shcho vin mene znaye. vin skazav, shcho ya m'yakyy. Vin znaye, shcho yakshcho vin zvilʹnytʹ odnoho iz zaruchnykiv, ya zroblyu vse mozhlyvo, shchob vryatuvaty yikh. Vin bude chekaty do ostannʹoyi sekundy, a potim ub'ye yikh. YA ne dozvolyu tsʹomu povtorytysya" (Because he likes to play with people. And because he knows me. He said I'm soft. He knows that if he frees one of the hostages, I will do everything possible to save them. He will wait until the last second and then kill them. I won't let it happen again)
She was so close to killing him only a few hours ago. If that other tank hadn't taken aim at her she would have killed him. And maybe then the attack on the tower would have been halted giving her and the resistance more time to plan for the Hive.
Now their whole original plan is out of the window and honestly she is just making this up as she goes along.
"Ty ne povynna buty tiyeyu, khto vbyvaye yoho, Aliso." (You shouldn't be the one to kill him, Alice.) Claire argues for her. And as much as she loves Claire and loves she is just trying to protect her. This isn't something she can hide from. Not again.
"Claire."
"Vin tviy dyadʹko. tvoya rodyna. Ty vbyv yoho odnoho razu, i ya bachyv, yak ty pochuvavsya pislya tsʹoho. YA ne khochu, shchob tobi dovelosya proyty cherez tse znovu." (He is your uncle. Your family You killed him once and I saw how you felt after that. I don't want you to have to go through that again.)
She can see where Claire is coming from. And in a fucked up way she still does love him. He was the man to stand between her and her father during so many arguments. The one who encouraged her to pursue science. Who would always make her laugh as a kid by showing her some new cool science trick. Who bought her that book on the guide to the night sky. Who taught her to play chess. Who would send science reports on subjects she would be interested in. Who always interrupted men who made her feel uncomfortable at public events.
But she can't hesitate. Not again. She didn't harm him in Detroit because of her love for him. He did something awful to her, but she still loved him. She tried to rationalize why he would experiment on her like that. Argued that it wasn't him that made her and Matt fight to the death but Cain. He had no part in that.
So, when it came to it. She just knocked him out and left. After all, he must have cared for her since he brought her back to life. He saved her and protected her. So, she spared him. Her uncle.
And in return, he unleashed the T-Virus on purpose to wipe out humanity. He made that decision. Her father made that decision. Alicia made that decision. They slaughtered everyone who would have sided with her. The Umbrella purge had commandos kicking the doors down on every member of the organization who was loyal to her and executed them.
That all happened because she was too weak to kill him. She showed him mercy and in return, he sought to kill the human race apart for those he believed worthy of salvation.
"Vin perestav buty moyim dyadʹkom u tu mytʹ, koly dozvolyv vidtyahnuty mene y eksperymentuvaty. Vin ne sim'ya Kler. Vy sim'ya. Kris i K-Mart — sim'ya. Alisiya Itan, Mia ta Rouz - moya sim'ya.." (He stopped being my uncle the moment he allowed me to be dragged away and experimented with. He is not Claire's family. You are family. Chris and K-Mart are family. Alicia Ethan, Mia, and Rose are my family.)
Issacs is just somebody she used to know now. The man he is and the man she thought she knew are two very different people. Issacs once told her she should be careful who to trust Salt and Sugar look the same. At the time she had thought he was gently warning her about her father. Now she knows he was warning her about him instead.
She had trusted him. She made that mistake and people got hurt because of it. She won't ever let him hurt her family ever again.
"So have you decided what course you're going to study." Issacs asks dropping down on the kitchen bar stool next to her.
Spread across the marble island is a bunch of college prospects. Janus sighs dropping her head into her hands. "No. Not even close. But people are expecting answers from me and I have no idea what I want to do." Alicia has already got her future sorted out. John Hopkins accepted her to do a Major in Molecular and Cellular Biology while doing a minor in business to prepare her for when she comes of age and takes over as one of the CEO's of Umbrella.
She on the other hand has no idea what she wants to study. Or even where she wants to go. There are countless colleges to look at. And so many different courses. How does somebody just decide their entire future like this.
"I heard your father is pushing you to attend our own university and go through the set path in the graduate schemes." Pushing is a loose term for what he is doing. If she wasn't about to escape his clutches she would be far more worried about what he would do to her for striving from his perfect path.
All her life she has done what he wanted her to do. Played sports she hated in order to please him. Keep the perfect grades but nothing she does will make him happy. Not even what happens in those hotel rooms. He just gives her and nod when she comes back. He doesn't even pick her up anymore.
He will never see her as more than part of his legacy. And in his eyes, she will never be enough. Nor Andrea.
So, it's time for her to step out on her own. Decide what she wants from life and do things she wants to do. She has to live for herself. Not for him.
"He may want that, but this is my life. And if I am to have any power in my life, I need to make this decision on my own." Janus needs to do this for herself, but she also needs to do it for Andrea. He doesn't want to go down the Umbrella route. He has already decided on his future. What he wants to study and where he wants to go. So, she needs to be strong now. She needs to decide what she is going to do with her life.
It's no secret that her father changed after her mother's death. Issacs, Oswell, and Shade have done what they can to shield Janus and Andrea from his bursts of anger. But it's not just his anger they face. It's his disappointment, his expectations, his beliefs.
At the end of the day, it's Janus and Andrea who live with him. And the three men can't protect them all the time.
Issacs clenches his jaw eyes flickering over the different colleges. "You leave your father to me Jan. I know how to handle him."
"Promise." She can't help but ask. He's never broken a promise to her and if he can deal with her father then that's better than facing him alone.
"I promise." He swears nudging her with his shoulder. "Now what courses are you thinking of studying. If you can find a subject or course, you like it will make picking the college easier. Are we staying in America or are we looking elsewhere." Among her options are in Italy and the Ukraine. Alicia had tried to sell England to her but if she was going to go abroad, she wanted to be near to family. She had thought about other countries like Germany, Spain, China, and the Netherlands but that is do many universities to sort through. And although she knows some of the four languages her grasp of them is nowhere near close enough to take a degree in.
"I'm probably going to do a science course." Issacs relieved at hearing this a smile tugs at her lips when an idea presents itself. "I'm thinking I might study geology."
And as expected his face falls upon hearing this. "Geology." He repeats eyes narrowing and his forehead ceasing together. "Out of everything you could pick you pick Geology. At least pick a real science."
"Geology is a real science." She argues holding back her own smile as his face falls more.
"If you want to study it go and pick up a rock from outside." He then quietly scoffs to himself "Geology. So much wasted potential."
Unable to hold back her laughter anymore she assures him Geology is not her chosen path. For now, anyways. "Relax I'm kidding."
"Oh, thank God."
"I want to do something that might help save Alicia." She mutters almost afraid that saying it out loud would doom her best friend. As irrational as it is it's something everyone does. No one speaks of it. They all know it Alicia has Progeria. Knows that the only reason she is as healthy as she is now is because of all the time and effort James and Issacs put into creating a cure for her.
Although he didn't find a cure, they have found treatments that they believe will double her lifespan. So, she'll be in her mid thirties when she dies. They've managed to slow down the process but sooner than later the treatments won't be able to hold back the worst of the disease and Alicia's age growth will accelerate until her body can't handle the strain anymore and she will mostly suffer from a heart attack.
Issac's whole face softens towards her. "You know Umbrella is doing everything it can to help Alicia."
She does know. Alicia wouldn't have made it this long as well as she has without all the work put in by Umbrella scientists. Something she will always be eternally grateful for. "And surely having more help will help."
Issacs takes a moment watching her and thinking something over. Eventually, he starts talking again as softly and seriously as he is capable of. "If you want to go down this route you have to do it because you want to. Not just for Alicia. Because if you dedicate your life to this type of work it is going to be hard. Every day. Every failure and set back. There will be more losses than wins."
She is aware of that. Aware of what he is saying without saying. By the time she has finished her course and started to work. The chances are things will be too late for Alicia. That no matter what she does she won't be able to save her best friend.
"I want to help people Uncle," Janus answers. She wants to help Alicia and if she can't do that then she wants to work towards making sure no other family is torn apart because of something like this. "If working on how to cure Progeria helps people like Alicia how can I back down. If working on other diseases helps people live longer and better lives, how can I turn my back on them."
"Your mother said the same thing years ago when she started her research into Alzheimer's. Sometimes I forget how alike you too are." He's looking at her differently. As if he's seeing a ghost and seeing her for who she is for the first time. He looks away for a moment unable to keep eye contact with her before continuing the conversation. "Now if you really wish to go down this route, I have an old friend at the University of Pennsylvania. I would suggest doing your undergrad in biology and then your master's in mechanisms of diseases. Doing a biology degree will keep your options up if you wish to change your primary focus in the future."
If she also goes to Pennsylvania, she will be closer to Raccoon City and her uncle. Closer to Alicia as well. But further away from Andrea.
Searching the dozens of prospects, she finds the one on the University of Pennsylvania
After organising the tower ready for battle Alice, Claire, Chris, and K-mart all exit the tower. She had decided that the four of them would head out to find what they could in the surrounding area and start setting up traps for the thousands of infected coming.
It being just the four of them will give them the chance to talk without prying ears. Alice decided it was time to tell them about the spy and the resistance. With being so far away from the settlement no one should find out the true plan.
"Do you think we could salvage anything from the bike." K-Mart asks as they start walking down what used to be Raccoon City.
"The fuel tank yeah but we can grab that on the way back." Any extra fuel will be helpful in the plan.
Transversing down the old streets she once roamed is weird. It's weird being back here. After everything that happened. Behind her K-Mart and Chris are happily chatting away while Claire hangs a bit further back. Every time she has tried to talk to K the blonde has shut her down.
Alice can see how much her and K's actions are hurting her. And she doesn't want to hurt her. She really doesn't. But Claire is an emotional bomb that is about to go out. After the battle she reminds herself. She can deal with it after the battle.
But what if Claire doesn't survive the battle. What if she dies and these are the last moments they get to spend together. Is this how she wants to spend them.
No Claire will be fine. She won't let anything happen to Claire.
Just like you protected her in Alaska. And on the Arcadia.
Fuck.
Looking back over her shoulder she takes a deep breath before slowing in her steps so everyone can catch up with her. "I take you two want to know what happened after the Arcadia." She asks as K-Mart shifts away from Chris to be closer to her.
"If you don't mind talking about it," Claire replies not wanting to force them to talk. Given how this conversation went last time. Which is partly Alice's fault she will admit to that.
Steading herself Alice talks about the two months of torture she endured at the umbrella controlled Jill's hand. Talks about how Ada came in to rescue her and opened her cell door. The fight through the Tokyo simulation to being reunited with Ada. How they found K-Mart and Angel locked in another cell. How the four of them took on the two Axemen in New York.
K-Mart might have over-exaggerated some parts of that story.
She goes on to explain Becky and the battle with the clones. Alice sees Claire's reaction to finding out Alice has another daughter. The softening of her features. The way her lips curl up. She sees how that fades when Claire remembers their current situation.
How Luthor and Crystal came down with the extraction team. A brief journey through Moscow. The battle at the submarine pens. The battle where she freed Jill from Umbrella at the expense of Luthor.
Both Chirs and Claire stop walking when they find out Luther was dead. They take a moment to remember the man who was trapped with them in the prison.
Alice explains how the clone of Wesker organized their escape. How he reinfected her with the T-Virus.
The First Siege of Washington.
The New York Facility and how they rescued everyone in Claire's convoy and Angie.
Something Claire had to take a minute or two to take in. Everyone she had tried to protect had made it. They were all safe and sound. For months now she had felt like she failed them. That she let everyone down on top of hurting Alice and K-Mart. But to hear that she didn't fail them. That they were alive and out there still took so much weight off of her shoulders.
Her eyes seemed brighter when hearing. Alice for her part was glad to have removed some of the shadows that haunted the younger woman.
The Battle for Washington when Umbrella attacked.
Since they were outside still and they might be being listened to by a Satellite Neither K-Mart nor Alice mentioned how the attack failed. They just skip to the story of them traveling and stumbling across an Umbrella trap. Their time in Issac's prison and the run they had to do which led to their escape.
The unspoken question on the sibling's lips was kept to themselves. What happened to everyone.
When they finally reach the old storage place Umbrella used to use a hideaway Alice guides them in. Avoiding the depleted boxes already savaged, she finds the hidden panel holding the security lock. Imputing her code, it takes a second but flashes green allowing them in.
Storage units like this ran on their own internal software. If you wanted to change the password or access for anyone you have to come here in person and do that. But seeing as the city was nuked it's no surprise the place was left abandoned until now.
"We should split into pairs," Alice states as the doorways to different rooms appear. "It'll be faster that way. Grab all the guns and ammo you can. Anything that will be helpful for the fight. Things like food and medicine can wait till later but grab a little of it just in case."
"I'll take K-mart with me." Chris immediately cuts in before either of them can argue.
Alice and K-Mart share a look which translates to tell him the rest. K nods and drags the man down one hallway leaving Alice and Claire all alone.
Silently the two ex-lovers start searching their side of the storage unit.
The tension in the room is so thick it's almost suffocating. Eventually, Alice can't take it anymore. Hopping up onto one of the desks she turns to face Claire who has her back to her stuffing bullets into her backpack.
"There's an umbrella spy in the tower." Instantly Claire freezes in her actions. "Issacs gave that away by mistake and then when me and K were driving into town someone from the tower was watching us. Their scope reflected the light and gave their location away. They watched for a long time right up until we hit that trap."
"What are you saying."
"Watch your back. You know them better than I do but you can't trust them at the moment. Not with everything going on."
"There's something you're not telling me." Claire has been watching her. From the moment she woke up Claire's eyes have been on her and K-Mart. her uncanny ability to know when something is wrong is on full display right now. "Alice come on I know you. I know when you are holding something back. Please. I know things are messed up between us now but please you can trust me. I will always pick you and K over any of them."
"Even Doc." Before Claire could answer that Alice pushes on not wanting to hear that answer. "We didn't stumble upon that Umbrella trap by accident."
Claire holds her gaze not wanting to move the subject on. Alice silently implores her not to start this conversation. Because no matter what Claire says Alice is going to have her heart broken. Let them have this time together before they strike upon this subject.
They may not have long left together so it's best to keep the peace and not turn this into a hurt fest. That can come after. For now, both of them can just be grateful that the other is alive and well.
"What do you mean." Claire chokes out fighting back against pain in her heart at this.
Grateful that Claire is allowing Alice to have this time together without talking about them she starts to explain everything. "Two days ago, me and K were contacted by the Red Queen. A patch in her code meant at the time Umbrella was most vulnerable she would be able to tell me that there is a cure."
The questioning look Claire sends her while she waits for the redhead's reaction is kind of cute. It's like when you tell a puppy to do something, and it has no idea what you mean. Claire even tilts her head like a puppy would. "We know there's a cure. You used it to save Carlos once before."
"Not that kind of cure." Maybe she should have been clear in hindsight. Try number two of explaining. "Umbrella purposely released the T-Virus to recreate their own version of Noah's Ark. And once the earth was cleansed all of those deemed unworthy of saving Wesker was to release the T-Virus cure. Upon release, every infected would immediately die."
Hope reignites in Claire's eyes. A look she hasn't seen properly since the little they had on the Arcadia where they all thought they were safe. "This could all be over."
"Yes. Our clone of Wesker didn't betray us to Umbrella he betrayed Umbrella and we planned for our counterattack. Washington was destroyed but everyone was already safely hidden away. But from information from the Red Queen, we formed a new plan. And since the Red Queen has constantly tried to kill me, we couldn't take it at its word."
It's still a little hard to wrap her head around that the Red Queen went from trying to kill her to siding with her in a few months. She said it had something to do with its code but it's still hard to believe.
"Me and K-Mart didn't stumble upon that trap. We triggered it on purpose. Issacs was able to confirm the cure was real. The moment I even hinted at it he freaked out and threw me out into that road with K."
Claire's jaw clenches harshly at the reminder of how Issacs had tried to kill Alice and K-Mart. The burning desire to bullet through his eyes is as strong as it was after Las Vegas.
"The resistance plan was to use me and K to lure all of Umbrella's attention away from them. We would then attack the Hive to eliminate Umbrella operatives there and find the cure and release it before going back to fighting Umbrella."
It was a sound plan. If Issacs and Wesker were so sure she was the threat, they would have focused on resources on her allowing for her team to break into the Hive. But given the threat to the tower, she decided she wasn't going to sacrifice a group of humans just to give them a better chance.
Besides Issacs would have just brought the infected army to Hive once he was done with the tower making it infinitely harder to make sure the cure is distributed correctly.
"Only then we found out the tower was going to be attacked. So, the plan changed. The tower can't hold back the horde. Not on their own. So, we need to buy enough time for the Resistance to arrive. We alerted them to this, and it should take them a little over three hours to get here. Two hours prep and an hour and a half flying."
Jill screaming at everyone will probably get them moving a bit quicker but who knows.
The Two hours prep is to make sure there are enough ammunition and missiles on the Ospreys and are filled with the equipment they will need. Guns ammo medical supplies. Things like that. But most of those cases are spread out in the base at the different watchtowers and outposts so in case of another attack every will be ready.
The Protection of the base comes first. Besides they all thought they would have plenty of time to get everyone geared up and ready once she alerted them to whether the cure was real or not. This attack however changed all the plans they had.
This almost means the New York Facility won't be joining them for the fight. Nor the Las Vegas base. Or any other base. It's only the Washington one that can get here in time and not alert any nearby Umbrella bases about what is happening.
The last thing she needs is more umbrella soldiers, tanks or Ospreys joining the fight. Which again is why it is only Washington. They couldn't risk Umbrella picking up on their communications and calling for help. Jill and her teams will unleash the surprise attack and then they will make for the Hive before Umbrella can regroup and come at them again.
"When we planned this, we thought it would take three hours for Umbrella to get here. So, we only had to hold for thirty minutes which given our position would have been easy." Alice finishes dangling her feet off the desk. Biting back her own annoyance at not seeing this possibility.
Something Claire picks up on and quickly works out. "But they sped up. You said they would be here forty minutes early."
"Yep. So now we have to hold the tower for longer. Which isn't impossible. But it will be harder. Not to mention the spy could sabotage our barricades, our traps they could mess things up and put us in a worse position." So overall they aren't in a great position but if they are careful and take the right steps it might all work out fine.
"Fuck me," Claire mutters pinching the bridge of her nose and closing her eyes. "I never even suspected we had a traitor in the group."
It's not easy to fool Claire. She knows that from experience. But she isn't trained like operatives are. And Claire could only read her so well because Alice allowed her to see her like that in the first place. "And you wouldn't. Operatives are some of the best lairs in the world. If people would suspect them then they are really doing a shit job. I would know."
"How do you plan on dealing with them." If she knew who they were accidents can happen during a siege but since she doesn't that's not possible.
"I don't. Not really. When Ada and Wesker arrive if they know who the spy is we can deal with it then. But if they don't know then we have nothing to work off and we will need to head to Hive. That is the most important thing. We find the cure and release it." All that matters is that cure.
Once released this nightmare can finally be over. Maybe Umbrella as well.
"But what about you," Claire asks as she's only just realizing what this could mean for her. "You said it yourself your infected. What happens to you when the cure is released."
"It will either just kill the T-Virus cells in my body and leave the human ones intact stripping me of my powers." Which is possible. But what will most likely happen doesn't give her the happiness she so wishes for. "Or it will kill me."
A harsh breath escapes the younger woman as her whole body tenses at the prospect. "Alice. I can't" Can't lose you again. Let you die like that. Can't live without you.
All things she would say if the roles were reversed. But they're not and here they stand. No one can know the future but if there is even c chance this can all end. If Claire, K-Mart, Becky, Rose, and everyone else can finally stop worrying if today will be the day they die. If they will be safe from the dead and Umbrella. How can she say no.
Hoping off the table Alice makes her way over to where Claire is standing. Her whole body shaking with fear or anger she wasn't sure. "I know. I know. But we know what it will mean. And we know the risks. We all agreed to take that risk." She wants to reassure Claire. Make her know that no matter what happens she knew the risks and accepted them.
Instead of arguing more with her Claire all but launches herself into Alice's waiting arms holding on to her as if afraid she will fade from existence if she lets go for even a second. Alice herself savors the feeling of having Claire back in her arms holding onto her just as tightly never wanting to let her go again. For a few minutes, she can forget about Doc, forget about Umbrella, the war to come, and the cure. She has Claire back and safe in her arms and everything else fades away leaving nothing but the presence of Claire. A much better reality to be trapped in than the one they face.
Surrounded by Claire, her heat, touch, and scent for the first time Alice feels like she can finally breathe again. She can't help but nuzzle more into the op of Claire's head wanting to hold the younger woman closer.
Honestly, she's a little surprised Claire didn't pick up on the we in what she just said but given that she is throwing a lot of mind shattering information it's understandable. After all, she isn't the only person infected. Angie and Ethan are as well.
And she hates that. Hates that her brother and daughter are also having to pick between the chance of saving everyone else or dying just like she is. Angie. Her brave girl. Her Malo Misyats didn't hesitate before offering up her life.
At that moment she has never been more proud of her. And more rageful towards the world.
"Even Doc," Claire mutters into her neck. "I would choose you over Doc every time," Claire confesses planting a lingering kiss on her neck before burying herself back into Alice. Feeling her heart swell with her love for Claire she sinks into Claire's hold. They still need to have a conversation later. But for now, they can just be together.
Alice sits on top of the rig. The camcorder sat in front of her as she did her daily update. Claire thinks that Alice has done this video diary as a way to stay sane and freely talk. Normally she wouldn't disturb the woman, but she wants her thoughts on where to go next. She's about to announce her presence to the older woman when she hears Alice begin talking. And her curiosity over Alice wins for a moment.
"We are currently in Colorado. Feels like ages since I was last here. You remember our last trip here. Just the three of us. We turned sixteen and had just finished high school and were looking at colleges. My father wanted both of us to follow the umbrella path, but we were looking elsewhere. You wanted to go to John Hopkins while I was looking at the University of Pennsylvania. My father blew up when I said I wanted to go there. It took Uncle Issacs talking to him about how it would be better if we did our undergraduate course at an Ivy League College before doing our master's at their college so no one could argue that we got through our degrees because of who we were." Her laughter at saying this is tinged with sadness and frustration. Seems Alice and her father didn't have the greatest relationship.
But what does pique Claire's interest is just how smart Alice is. After a few talks with the woman, she knows Alice is smart. Carlos and LJ constantly talked about how their super-powered friend was the smartest person they knew. But she had just assumed they were being biased or something.
How wrong she is it seems. Alice finished High School at sixteen and went to an Ivy college. Alicia, she assumes went to John Hopkins. Just how smart were they. A desire to know more about Alice is stronger than the desire to allow the woman privacy. So, Claire doesn't say anything instead deciding to let Alice do her diary entry.
"But not the point. You me and Ethan all managed to head to Denver. We went skiing, explored the national parks, went to the Rockies, and watched Colorado Rookies play. We even got to meet the team. Which would have made your mother go mad. We took pictures with the team and got their autographs. Me and Ethan weren't as fussed about the Rookies since we both supported different teams, but you loved it. Ethan started talking about how he wanted to go to Berkeley and started having meetings with faculty members."
So, before the outbreak, Alice had the money to travel and go skiing. As a teenager. With two other people. Apparently, she wasn't a fan of the Rookies and neither was Ethan. What team did she support. It doesn't really surprise her that Alice used to explore national parks. She does strike Claire as an outdoorsy person.
"That trip was the last time the three of us were together. We moved to different states for college. Me and Ethan spent our holidays in different countries and you... You started getting worse. We all knew it was going to happen. But when it did, I didn't know what to do. The reality of you dying snuck up on me. I guess I always assumed that Uncle Issacs would find a cure for you. Or develop something better to keep you alive with us for longer."
Claire feels a pang of sadness at how Alice's almost joyful and carefree tone shifts to sad as she talks about her friend's illness. A terminal illness from the sounds of it. Claire can't even begin to imagine having to watch someone you love go through that nothing there is nothing you can do to help them.
"Our trip to Colorado was the last happy moment we all shared together. One of the only times we could act like normal teenagers. Yes, we did have our bodyguards with us who reported everything back, but they kept their distance and allowed us our freedom. It's one of my happiest memories."
Bodyguards. From talking about the ski trip, meeting baseball players, and going to some of the best colleges in the country she assumed that Alice's family must have had some money. But for them to have bodyguards means a lot of money. Well into the millions if they need constant protection. Alice never struck her as a rich girl. Then again she's never met a rich girl but Alice doesn't fit the stereotypical version you see on the news and on shows.
"It's weird to be back here. I remember how your mother would drag our two families out here for winter break. How we would all go skiing. How Andrea tried to learn snowboarding but couldn't stand up on the board. He got it in the end but those first few days where he couldn't do anything he constantly threw himself to the floor because he was going too fast and couldn't stop properly without having to fall down. How you and I would race each other. The snowball fights we would have. How we got stuck on the mountain one time and had to have one of those snow plows come and take us back down the mountain. How your mother always made the best hot chocolate and cookies."
Whose Andrea. Is that Alicia's brother or maybe someone in Alice's family. She said out two families so he must be related to one of them. Also, why is everyone in these families' names begin with an A. Andrea, Alicia, Alice Abernethy. Someone really liked the Letter A.
"I remember how my father took me on my first hunt in Colorado. Your mother had recently died. It was our first time heading to her home state without her. Everything about that trip was somber. But my father convinced my mother it would be a good idea to take me hunting. Said it was time I learned. I was ten. Nonetheless, we went hunting. Mother hadn't wanted me or Andrea to play with guns yet, so I was being taught archery. We were hunting Whitetails. I hit one but it wasn't a kill shoot. Father had to shoot it as well before it escaped. But he said was proud of me. That I had the potential to be a great hunter. I wanted him to be proud of me. Even now a part of me wants to earn his approval and respect. Which I know is fucked up. Then again, the world is fucked up so maybe I finally fit in."
Claire has seen Alice's archery skills. Whatever her father taught definitely stuck. She's seen Alice take out a group of over ten infected with ease with a bow. Both shooting arrows right through their eyes caused blunt force trauma to their skull with the edge and she's even seen Alice seen her tangle an infected in between the wire and frame of the bow twisting it snapping its neck. It's as impressive as it is intimidating.
"My archer skills have come in use. Saves the convoy bullets. I've started teaching K-Mart how to use a crossbow. It's easier than archery but a good starting point. You remember when I told you that I was teaching Angie archery. The first time K-Mart hit a can I almost called her Angie."
K-Mart was so happy when Alice agreed to teach her how to use the crossbow. When she hit that first bottle Claire had been watching and the cheer K let loose when the can went flying even made her smile. She hadn't noticed Alice didn't feel the same joy in that moment. When she did look at Alice the woman was all smiles and praise towards K-Mart.
"I miss her. I miss her and Jill so much. I have no idea where they are right now, but I pray they are safe. I'm hoping we run into them at some point. I stumbled upon LJ and Carlos, and you know how I always seem to run into people no matter where I go. Here's hoping we come across them."
Carlos and LJ were the first people to share stories about their time in Raccoon City. How Jill and Alice were the power duo who saved them and found Angie. LJ was confused when Carlos said those two shared the same chaotic energy and if he wasn't told he would have assumed Alice and Jill had been friends for years the way they acted around each other. LJ then shouted in pure shock "Wait they only met that night. I thought there were friends beforehand." Carlos had laughed and shook his head slapping LJ on the back.
Apparently, after an Umbrella attack Carlos and LJ had got separated from Jill Alice, and Angie. They couldn't find them and assumed they either escaped, died, or were captured. No matter what had happened there was no way for the two guys to locate the females in their group.
When Alice reappeared, she knows LJ and Carlos tried to get information on what happened to Jill and Angie. But Alice couldn't tell them anything only stating that after the attack Alice went her separate ways with Jill and Angie.
"I miss you and Ethan so much as well. Hell, I even miss Mia. But don't tell her I said that. I keep wondering what happened to all of you. Whether Ethan and Mia managed to get out of the country. What happened to you after it was revealed I was a traitor. I hope you are all safe somewhere bunked down. I hope we can all be together again soon, but I know it's unlikely to happen."
Alice goes silent after that looking out into the vast desert before sighing deeply.
"Sorry for the depressing talk. Just being back here brings back so many memories. Anyways Claire has been standing behind me patiently waiting for me to finish for a while now so I'm going to see what's up. Guess I'll talk again with you tomorrow. That is of course unless I get ripped apart by infected. Bye, Alicia."
After she puts the camera away Alice gestures to come and sit next to her. Claire winces at Alice calling her out on basically spying on her. Apologetically she climbs up on top of the rig taking a seat next to her. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you."
The shaggy blonde waves away her apologies without a second thought. "It's fine. What did you want to talk about."
"Since you know the area better than I do I was wondering where you thought we had the best chance to find supplies," Claire asks trying to hide her embarrassment over being caught spying. The fact Alice doesn't seem to care makes her feel even worse about the situation. If the roles were reversed, she would not be as forgiving about it. Alice deserves her privacy just as much as anyone in her convoy. Even more so given everything she has to endure from her people. Something which she has tried to stop happening but knows hasn't completely worked.
Yet Alice hasn't complained, lashed out, or got annoyed with anyone over what they say. Claire knows that Alice knows she has tried to put a stop to the hurtful comments and scared looks. The grateful smile she received right after she gave a verbal warning to a group of lads who were talking about Alice in a less than flattering manner.
"The route you set works, but I would like to follow the Colorado River into New Mexico. Most of the smaller rivers dried up but because of its size, there is a chance some of the river didn't dry up. Which means fresh water. But I like I said it's only a chance of that. The decision is up to you. We could hit the towns as we travel that away and I can sneak off to search some of the smaller cities if need be. If we get separated, I know to follow the river to find you all again."
Claire thinks over what Alice said. Although she would prefer it if they avoided cities altogether, she knows that there might come a time when they will have to risk it. But they aren't there yet. And if it was to happen then she wouldn't allow for Alice to go alone. Even with her abilities, it would be extremely dangerous, and she isn't willing to risk Alice's life like that. "That sounds like a good idea. Thank you, Alice."
"Don't mention it. Happy to help." As she got the answers she was looking for Claire goes to leave but hesitates. Her curiosity about the camcorder and who Alicia is makes her want to ask. She wants to know more about Alice. About the person underneath the warrior. The person K-Mart, LJ, and Carlos all adore.
But the way she talks to the camera as if she was talking to Alicia. Makes her hesitate. It's private. It's something so personal to Alice that she always does it away from people. Not even LJ, Carlos, or K-Mart go near her when she pulls the camera out. It's like an unspoken rule that this is Alice's private time. And hasn't she invaded enough of her privacy today already. Maybe it's a question for another time.
Alice seemingly sensing her inner struggle leans back on her arms grinning towards her. "You can ask Claire. I won't bite your head off for asking." No, but you could lift her up with your mind and throw her miles. Not that Alice would do that. She seems to avoid using her psychic abilities whenever possible.
"I know." She doesn't but won't let Alice know that. "It just seems personal to you, and I didn't want to pry." More than she already has. God what was she thinking.
"I get that. And thank you for respecting my boundaries like that." Claire once again tries not to wince when Alice talks about Claire respecting her boundaries. How does Alice not see what Claire was doing as approaching on her boundaries. "But I trust you. So, ask."
Claire tries not to look so taken aback by Alice's statement of trusting her. "Why the videos."
Alice turns her attention away from Claire looking back out to the endless seeming desert. "I started them went I first went off to college. It was just quick updates on everything that was happening and a way to show Alicia what Pennsylvania was like. Then after college was over. I went through college quickly. Finishing my course in around three years. After that, I started doing a course at the Umbrella University to make my father happy. During the summer breaks, I would work in the Peace Crop. I took the camera there as a way to share that with Alicia. She was ill and wasn't safe for her to fly or leave the country. She needed to be close to Umbrella. But she always wanted to see the world. So, the videos are like she was with me through everything. Her own chance to explore When I worked for Umbrella I worked mostly abroad, and I made sure to record all the new countries and people I met so I could share that with. Now... Now I guess it's just a way I can feel connected to her. That maybe one day we will see each other again and I can tell her about all the crazy shit I've got myself into."
"That's beautiful."
A blush starts to form on Alice's cheek which she tries to hide by looking down. Her hair coming to act as a shield around her face. But It was too late. Claire had already seen it. The fact she can make Alice blush has her smiling. "Not the way I would describe it. But thank you." Alice's voice is timid so far from the powerful woman she has seen before.
This is the softer side only Carlos, LJ, and K-Mart have seen so far. The person behind her façade. Someone who is softer and sweeter than you would assume. Claire's own heart flutters knowing she has now made the list of people Alice trusts enough to see this side of her. To expose herself like this too. "It's sweet you're doing that for Alicia. She is clearly important to you. Ethan too."
"Alicia is my best friend," Alice states with nothing but love and affection in her voice. "We were practically raised as sisters growing up. Ethan is my brother."
Claire assumed that Andrea was her brother. But if it was Ethan then who was Andrea. And why wasn't he going skiing with them. She said it was Andrea. Was Ethan not born yet. "Whose Andrea."
Alice sensing her confusion because she quickly clears things up. "Andrea is Ethan's birth name. Me and him changed them when we were both of legal age. Sometimes when I talk about the past, I use his birth name because at the time he was Andrea. And he always will be to us. But Ethan is who he is now. Just like how I'm Alice now."
Alice isn't her birth name. She and her brother both changed their names when they were old enough to. Why. "What was your name before."
Alice is silent for a long period of time and Claire starts to worry that she has overstepped. Just as she goes to apologize and reassure Alice, that she doesn't have to tell her that. Alice turns back to look at her. A vulnerable look on her face which has Claire almost jumping to try and comfort her. "Janus."
The admission of Alice's birth name swirls around them. The mood of the whole conversation shifts. The two women sitting so closely to each other all of a sudden that if they leaned forward a tad more their heads would rest against each other. "Janus." She repeats quietly not finding it as fitting to the woman she has come to know as Alice. For some reason, Claire's heart speeds up as she repeats the name. As Alice is looking at her so tenderly that she can't help but match.
Alice trusts her enough to not only allow her to hear things she hasn't shared with others, and open up to her about her life but to also reveal a deep and personal secret. It makes Claire question what she could have possibly done to earn Alice's trust like this.
Unknowingly to either woman, it's not just the mood of the conversation that changes.
"Can I ask you a personal question now." Alice asks pulling away from Claire not having noticed just how close the two of them have become.
Snapping back to reality after that moment Claire tries to act nonchalantly about the whole thing. "Well, it only seems far since I've dived into your personal life." She tries to joke. Tries to make the air around them seem lighter. And it does work. To a certain extent. The lingering of something she can't name still hangs around them.
"Did you attend College before all this happened." Seems fair given Claire listened to her talk about her time in college a little.
"Yeah." Memories of her time in college flash through her mind. She hadn't thought about those days in a long time. "I went to the University of Connecticut So not the Ivy College you went to, but it was good. I got in on a soccer scholarship."
Alice's eyes narrow at her and Claire's heart drops at the thinking she had done something to offend the woman. She repeats what she said in her mind looking for what could have upset Alice, but nothing is sticking out. Not until Alice continues. "Ok, first it's football, not soccer. Hate how you Americans call it that." A relieved laugh escapes Claire at this. Really that's what annoys Alice. The fact that soccer is called soccer. Wait she said you Americans. Isn't she American. Claire doesn't get the chance to ask as Alice lists of her other two questions. Second what position and third what did you study."
"First it is soccer football is completely different." Alice pulls a face at this making Claire laugh. Now she has something she can use to annoy Alice with whenever she wants. "I played center midfielder. And I studied mechanical engineering. My brother Chris was so proud of me. For getting my degree."
Chris had been the one to push her to go to college. He wanted her to do whatever she wanted. Even if that was to just one day open her own mechanic shop. When she first showed an interest in being a mechanic, he bought an old beat up car when she was fifteen and the two of them worked on it so that when she passed her test she could have a car of her own. She later upgraded that car to a motorbike.
"Explains how well you've done in keeping this convoy moving," Alice says sounding somewhat impressed with her and Claire finds herself wanting to do that. She wants to impress Alice.
"It comes in handy." She shrugs acting like it isn't a big deal. But now she wants to know what Alice studied. She's a soldier, Security chief. But she has a degree and a master's. What did she take at college.