CHAPTER FOUR
Once Claire was in the bathroom, Alice prepped Becky's bed for rest. Curious eyes watched her as Alice fluffed the pillows as best she could. "I think, this is the best as it is going to get kiddo" Alice said as she undid the sheets to allow Becky to climb in and get comfortable. Becky jumped into the bed and shimmied herself under the covers. She then handed her hearing-aid to Alice and signed "I love you." Alice reached over and kissed Becky on the cheek and signed I love you back. Becky smiled and turned over to go to sleep.
When Claire exited the bathroom, she found Alice sitting sharpening her knives, and Becky lightly snoring next to her. Alice looked up from her position at Claire and smiled warmly.
"Feeling better?" Alice said in a lowly whisper.
Claire nodded, not trusting her voice to be quiet enough to not disturb her new roommate. Alice stood and sheathed her knives and grabbed Becky's earpiece. "Are you ready to show me your office?" Alice asked.
"Yeah, it's this way" Claire led the way outside the room Alice shutting the door quietly behind.
-/-
"This is your office?" An amused Alice asked from outside the door. Afraid if she walked inside, she would be the one to cause the careful balancing of papers, tools, and various car parts to come crashing down. Claire huffed. "Shush, you."
She successfully found a cable that would work with Becky's hearing-aid. "Here give me that please" Claire had her hand out to grab the earpiece. After some cutting of wires and electrical tape the moment of truth arrived. Claire plugged in her spliced handiwork to the hearing-aid and saw the light glow showing it was charging. Claire handed the hearing-aid back with a smug smirk. Alice finally stepped inside the office graciously accepted, tucking the cable and aid into her cargo pocket. "Thanks, I owe you one." Claire waved it off happy to help Alice for once. They walked out of Claire's office when Claire realized how late it was. She wanted to say good night to her brother since she had not seen him since he left earlier that day. They walked together until they reached where Claire had to leave Alice.
"I am going to see Chris before curfew kicks in." Claire said as she made her way to turn in the direction of Chris room. Alice grabbed Claire and pulled her into a hug and subtle sniff of Claire, "thank you again."
Claire blushed, "I... I am glad I could help" Claire said into the taller woman's shoulder. Alice pulled away and nodded. "I will see you later."
-/-
Jill was uncomfortable. Her right side had become so numb there was no feeling, and she was unable to move her arm. Slowly blinking off sleep she found what was keeping her arm captured. She also noticed people were starting to filter in and realized she had her first class today. Trying not to panic at her current state, she tried to be casual about her approach of not drawing attention. Jill gently tried to rouse the sleepy K-mart, gently. That was until Jill heard Chris's voice enter the gym. "Dahlia get up now!" as she violently shook the blonde with her right arm panic starting to really set in.
Chris saw Jill and K-mart and started to walk towards them with a smile, "I see you are here early." Chris handed Jill files of the new recruits and took in the sight before him. "Did you sleep here?" Chris said incredulously putting his hand rubbing behind his neck. A habit he does when he is uneasy.
"It is not what it looks like" A sleepy voice came from Jill's arm. K-mart rubbed her eyes and took in her environment. Chris leaned back adjusting his posture. "Well... Claire is looking for you. Um... Yeah." Chris reached for his neck again, but then put his hand down when he looked at the two women again noticing that they have not moved from their position. This time with a sly smile peeking through, then he looked at Jill. "We have class today with new recruits" then looked at K-mart, "and Claire is looking for you." Jill slotted her eyes at Chris change in demeanor.
"Let's get on with it then." Jill removed herself K-mart's embrace and got up to stretch her polo creeped up enough to show flesh. She looked down at K-mart and saw a faint blush. Jill's usually stern features softened as looked at the blonde and put a hand on her shoulder, "Thank you for last night Dahlia."
K-mart looked up at Jill and was going to reprimand her for saying Dahlia; however, the look on Jill's face changed her mind. A warmth spread around her especially where Jill's hands lay, and she prayed to whatever deity she is not showing what she is feeling. Not trusting her own voice, she just nodded and stood up. "Good luck with class today." K-mart croaked as she briskly walked out of the gym.
-/-
Jill watched K-mart leave the gym and started to daydream of how they ended up falling asleep in the gym. "Ehem" Jill blinked away from her thoughts realizing that she was still staring where K-mart had exited. Pushing down the embarrassment at being caught, she looked at the files in hand, ignoring Chris.
All inexperienced... fucking Wesker.
Jill walked up to the recruits lined up awaiting instruction.
"Let us see what you got. anyone able to get a hand on me you will avoid having to run laps for the rest of the day. Anyone want to try first?"
The recruit, a tall shaggy brown medium built man stepped up. "I believe I can take you, sir" Chris chuckled at the fresh recruit's confidence.
Jill raised an eyebrow, looked up from the files, a faint smile playing on her lips. "What's your name recruit?"
"Jake Sokol sir," replied the recruit who seemed brimming with confidence.
She smiled devilishly as she handed Chris back the files. Chris recognized that look, "Go easy, we still need them to be able to walk out of here" Jill waved her hand dismissively.
They squared off, circling each other. Jake made the first move, lunging forward with a quick jab. Which Jill effortlessly evaded. Jake followed with a flurry of punches, but Jill parried each one with ease, her experience and skill clear in every motion.
Frustrated, Jake aimed a powerful roundhouse kick at Jill's head. Jill ducked under it and stepped in close, delivering a swift elbow strike to Jake's ribs. He staggered back, gasping for breath, but he quickly recovered.
Jake charged again, this time trying to grapple. Jill sidestepped and twisted his arm behind his back in one smooth motion, locking it in place. Jake struggled, but Jill's grip was unyielding. With a sharp twist, she dislocated his shoulder. A painful cry escaped Jake's lips as he fell to his knees.
The gym's walls bounced a mix of gasping to oohhs.
Jill released him and took a step back; her expression was calm. "Overconfidence can be a weakness," she said, her voice was firm and authoritative. "Remember that."
Jake clutched his shoulder, wincing in pain but nodding in acknowledgment. "I'll remember," he muttered, at his painful lesson.
"Go get that shoulder treated."
Jake nodded as he got up. "Next." Jill was heard saying as Jake walked out of the gym.
-/-
K-mart went back to her room that she shared with Claire and Chris. She noticed Chris's stuff was gone. She was initially confused until she saw Alice's weapons hanging off a chair near the back. Excited to be sharing a room with Alice and Becky, she was eager to find them until she realized Claire was looking for her. Which means she knows she did not check in with Claire last night, which also means she is going to have to explain where she was and who she was with. Figuring she was practically an adult she did not need to explain herself. Entirely. She grabbed a change of clothing and went into the shower. A few minutes later K-mart exited the shower with renewed confidence, K-mart squared her shoulders and went to find Claire.
-/-
Alice, Becky, and Claire were in the mess hall having breakfast when K-mart joined them. Half expecting a lecture from Claire she was surprised when she was not even mad. No wanting to push her luck she went to go grab breakfast and joined in friendly conversation. After about an hour had passed Alice got up to take Becky to where they keep the children's day care center. Claire went to follow Alice and wish K-mart good luck in her assignment. K-mart had almost forgotten it was her turn to be assigned a duty to the resistance. K-Mart gulped down the rest of her water and went to return her tray and head the assignment task force tent.
-/-
The makeshift headquarters buzzed with activity as survivors moved about, each person contributing to the resistance in their own way. K-Mart, with a determined glint in her eye, entered the assignment tent. Inside, a large board displayed the available roles: Mechanical, inventor, cook, the Militia (resistance), or work in the library with the survivors and children also known as babysitter. At a worn wooden desk sat Mike, an elderly man in his late forties, his stern demeanor and no-nonsense attitude clear in the way he scrutinized the people who came before him.
Mike glanced up as K-Mart approached. "Name?" he asked, his voice gruff.
"K-Mart," she replied, standing tall.
He studied her for a moment wondering if that was her real name, before gesturing to the board. "You know the options. What is it going to be?"
K-Mart did not hesitate. "Resistance."
A flicker of approval crossed Mike's face, quickly replaced by his usual stern expression. "Good choice. We need more fighters." He reached into a drawer and pulled out an orange sash, handing it to her. "This means you're one of us now."
K-Mart took the sash, feeling a sense of pride swell within her. As Mike began jotting down her information, he paused and looked up. "Any family with you?"
K-Mart hesitated for a moment, then answered, "I'm the sister of Chris and Claire Redfield. Adoptive, of course."
Mike's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the Redfield's, a flicker of recognition passing through his gaze. "The Redfield's, huh? Good stock. You'll do well here."
He finished writing and nodded towards her. "Welcome to the militia, recruit. You will report to your commanding officer in the gymnasium at 0600.
K-Mart nodded, fastening the orange sash around her arm. As she left the tent, she could not help but feel a renewed sense of purpose after she needed to figure out how to tell Chris and Claire.
-/-
After Alice dropped off Becky with the other kids she walked with Claire to her office until a recruit stopped Alice.
"Agent Abernathy, I am to escort you to see President Wesker. He would like to see you in his office."
Alice gave Claire an apologetic look. "I guess this is where we go our separate ways."
Claire nodded in understanding, grateful for the morning they had together. "I'll see you around Claire," Alice said with a wink causing Claire's stomach to flutter. Chancing another look she saw Alice with a knowing smirk. Claire half wondered if Alice could hear her heartbeat. Shaking off her thoughts she went ahead to the garage with fresh new mechanics waiting for her. Claire had much to do as she had delegate tasks to after their raid yesterday.
-/-
The grandeur of the Oval Office was overshadowed by the tense atmosphere as Alice and Wesker faced off. "What do you want Wesker?" Alice said with heat radiating off her body. The room was dimly lit, filled with computer screens where Wesker was able to keep up with Umbrella and its movements. Wesker's eyes gleamed with a malevolent light as he smirked at Alice. "You know, Alice, K-Mart would make an excellent personal bodyguard. Perhaps I'll take her under my wing."
Alice's eyes narrowed, but she remained silent, her body tensing as she prepared for the inevitable fight.
Without warning, Wesker lunged at her with inhuman speed. Alice sidestepped; her movements were exact. They exchanged blows, each strike reverberating through the oval office. Alice's agility and skill matched Wesker's brute strength and speed, creating a deadly dance of combat.
Alice seized an opportunity, using her telekinesis to hurl Wesker across the room as he crashed through the window behind his desk that led outside into the once presidential lawn. A small group of survivors and resistance members stood at the edges of the room, their eyes fixed on the confrontation unfolding before them.
Before he could recover, Alice focused her energy, sending a wave of telekinetic force that sent him flying crushing him against the wall.
Wesker's body went limp, seemingly lifeless. The onlookers cheered, their support for Alice echoing through the room. Wesker's smug smile widened as his body began to heal, the Las Plagas virus within him working as the sound of tissue and muscles snapping back in its place.
Alice's eyes hardened. "You won't be so lucky next time, Wesker. Never threaten me or my family again." Once the crowd figured the fight stopped, they then disbursed whispers trailing them of what they have seen.
Wesker straightened, his smile never faltering.
As the room settled, Alice and Wesker reconvened in the center of the office. The tension was palpable, but the dispute was settled for the time being.
Wesker's tone shifted to one of grim seriousness. "It seems our past is making a visit. Rain is alive, Alice. She is on her way to Washington, D.C. with the help from an old acquaintance of mine, Dania Cardoza"
Alice's eyes widened with disbelief. "That's impossible. I killed her in Russia, drowned her myself."
Wesker's expression remained unreadable. "Unless you watched her die, she's very much alive. And now, we have more pressing matters. A large group of undead and Kipepeo are heading for the wall. There will be a meeting to discuss the defenses."
Wesker made his way over to his desk to sit.
"While the commanders handle the defenses at the wall, I expect you to rendezvous with Rain. Bring her in dead or alive; I'll leave that up to you. But with your history of sentimentality and friendship, I expect it will be the latter."
Alice nodded, her mind racing with the latest information. "I would be better suited to help at the wall."
Wesker's eyes started to glow red.
"That's where you're wrong. Las Plagas grants the ability to control other Las Plagas through frequencies humans cannot hear. Think of it like being a dog whistle . Getting to Rain before her assault will be a better strategic move."