Resident Evil: Phoenix by Red Hope

Chapter 14

Claire Redfield, the leader of the Arcadia, could stay relatively calm during the most panic crazed moments. Her clear thinking during chaos was a quality sought out in a leader. And tonight was another demonstration of her ability to be a leader. Claire gripped her Glock with both hands and pointed the barrel at the mouthful of razor teeth coming at her face. She rapidly fired bullets into the infected wolf's mouth and pleasingly listened to his howl get cut off.

Then her body instinctively went into motion thanks to recent training. She spun to her left with her right boot arching up towards the wolf's head. She put all her power into the kick and sent the wolf launching towards the edge of the camp. Claire pivoted on her feet but sharply looked at the next attacking wolves.

Two infected wolves assumed their pack leader's prior spot. Their sharp white teeth glistened in the firelight. Blood coated their once beautiful fur and left them mangy. One wolf even had a gaping hole in his neck, most likely the bite that infected him some time ago. And after a good breath, their putrid smell nearly made Claire faint if it weren't for her adrenaline curving her stomach's natural reaction to death's scent.

The pack leader's renewed growl made Claire glance at him. She dropped her flashlight and tore out her left Glock from her holster. She aimed it at him while she kept her right on the other two. She grounded her teeth as the wolves worked out a silent plan of attack. She reacted when the two wolves launched at her then she realized the pack leader was coming at her side. But a loud gunshot resounded in the camp, and Claire was relieved when the pack leader went reeling further out of the camp. It gave Claire the focus to successfully kill the two wolves with precise shots to their heads.

Claire noted the pack leader had a wicked hole in his left stomach thanks to a shotgun fire. She snapped her head to the right and admired Alice's double spinning the still smoking shotgun and holstering it. She silently thanked the double's amazing skill. But she didn't think anymore as other wolves came at her, and Claire rapidly fired on them. There wasn't a second to consider why her earlier head shots didn't kill the pack leader.

Alice's double had retrieved her sais from her boots and straightened up as a wolf launched at her. She cried out and drove her right sai into the wolf's chest. She then threw the animal over her head and was hit by the stink of undead. She nearly missed being sprayed by infected blood.

Claire continued firing on the wolves that were swarming around them. She couldn't unload her bullets fast enough.

"Claire!" K-Mart screamed. She was racing out of the helicopter. She didn't see the undead wolf leaping for her, but a bullet to its head killed it. K-Mart jumped back in fright when the dead wolf fell at her feet. She sharply looked up at Jill Valentine, who had saved her.

Claire glanced over her shoulder at K-Mart and Jill. "Get back in the goddamn helicopter!" Her stark command couldn't be ignored or argued by them.

Jill wasn't sure if K-Mart would listen so she grabbed K-Mart and hauled her back into the Osprey. But she was forced to shoot another wolf that came at them. She shoved K-Mart into the aircraft then she and Leon slammed the door shut before three infected wolves stormed into the cargo bay.

Leon fell down after nearly getting mauled by several claws. He sucked in his breath and turned his wide eyes on Jill. "What the fuck was that?"

Outside, Claire and the double continued battling the onslaught of infected wolves. Claire was losing ground quickly and was almost out of bullets. She had three left and fired them at the nearest wolf. She took it out but three more came at her. Claire hit the two on the left, but her Glock fired empty on the center wolf.

Claire backed up, but she mentally prepared to go for her bowie knife. She held the wolf's bloodshot eyes and ignored the low snarl. She bent her knees and planned how to behead the undead creature.

The infected wolf growled loudly then stalked closer to the human, who smelled so good. He saw his advantage over the human and would rip her throat out before she could get her blade in his head. He snapped first at her left leg, and she stumbled back in surprise. He took his opening and jumped at her neck. But the human's flesh never made it to his starved mouth. A harsh slam to his side sent him tumbling to the ground, and his bloody fur was coated in dust.

The wolf struggled to get up, but two hands were around his mouth. A loud snap echoed in his ears then his jaw went slack. He was hungry though and had claws despite his broken mouth. He staggered on his paws until a cold blade went through his skull and put him to sleep finally.

Claire had crumbled to her knees after being nearly torn apart. For an instant, she believed she'd join her sister in the afterlife. But instead she stared in awe at her partner, who had saved her in time.

Alice spared her partner a glance to confirm she was okay. She tore her kukri out of the infected beast's head then faced the pack that surrounded them. From the corner of her eye, she assessed the stranger, who had killed her fair share of wolves. Yet she didn't think anymore about the other human, for now.

Alice was furious that the wolves had attacked her blood partner. Her veins burned at the idea of the wolves feasting and infecting her partner's beautiful blood. Her rage erupted into a savage snarl that rose about the wolves' growls.

Every undead wolf went still upon hearing the dangerous roar that cut through the din of growls. They hastily withdrew from their attack and kept their attention on the new human that'd arrived like a ghost. Each wolf smelled the human's unusual scent, and it caused them to lower their tails then inch back towards the darkness.

Alice had her bloody kukris blades point to the ground like extended claws from her hands. She had primal blue eyes that lit up her aggressive sneer for the wolf pack. Finally Alice pinpointed the pack leader that'd taken stance in front of his pack. She advanced on him one step and silently challenged him to fight her. Alice's throaty growl warred with the pack leader's snarl.

The pack leader read her predatory prowess in her dangerous stance. He continued matching the growl, but his keen senses told him that she was barely human and that a superior infection was in her blood.

Claire stood a few steps behind her partner, but she was frozen by what transitioned between Alice and the pack leader. She held her breath and waited for the battle of wills to play out. Yet her eyes briefly wandered over to Alice's double, who remained in a battle stance with sais at the ready. Claire could tell the double was just as curious and awed by what was happening.

Alice increased the strength behind her growl. She watched the pack leader's snarling lips started to weaken. Her psionic powers electrified the space between them. She raised her kukris slightly higher in final warning before she attacked and killed the pack leader.

The pack leader's weaker growl suddenly ended, and he ducked his head after the charged air made his sticky fur curl up. He tucked his tail in defeat but didn't move until the infected human gave him the silent command to leave. He understood never to come back or else the infected human would kill him and his entire pack. He twisted his head around and snipped at another wolf. He gave the signal to retreat.

The wolves snarled and snapped at each other for their failure, but they retreated with their leader. They would continue their hunt and find fresh meat someplace else. Hastily the remaining pack disappeared one by one into the dark desert.

Alice took a few more steps towards the pack, but she straightened up and lowered her blades. She kept her keen eyes trained on the pack until they were well gone from the ranch. She huffed at the weak pack, but a gentle touch on her shoulder made her relax, slightly.

"How did you..." Claire whispered in disbelief. She found blue eyes on her.

Alice allowed her rage to drain away now that Claire was safe. Her eyes faded back to their earthy green, and she drew closer to Claire. She worriedly asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yes... thanks to you." Claire was still amazed by her partner's ability to chase off the pack. She then glanced over at the stranger, who hadn't moved from her spot. "We have company too."

Alice hadn't forgotten, but for the first time she truly absorbed the fact that her double was on the other side of the campfire. Only seconds passed until the surreal moment faded, and she ruefully smiled. "Casey?" she uttered. A brief smell of the double's scent jogged her mind.

The double, Casey, gave a smirk and flipped her sais' blades under her wrists. "How are ya, Alice?"

Alice quickly crossed the camp and put her kukris away in a quick stroke. She picked up the pace then opened her arms and warmly received a strong hug from Casey. "I thought you were dead," she softly confessed.

Casey returned the hug and chuckled into Alice's shoulder. "I take after you... hard to kill." She withdrew but held onto Alice's shoulders. "You look good." However, something caught her nose and caused her to squint in natural reaction to the sour air. She pursed her lips and made every effort not to bombard Alice with twenty-one questions.

Alice caught Casey's expression, and she was grateful that Casey held off. She released Casey but touched Casey's cheek and smiled. "You look good yourself."

Casey shrugged then knelt down so she could put away her sais. When she stood up, she discovered Claire Redfield next to Alice. She offered a smile to Claire and held out her hand. "We haven't been properly introduced."

Claire had put one gun away and had to trade the other into her left hand. She considered whether to shake hands because it was so odd to her. She stepped forward and took Casey's hand.

"I'm Casey Abernathy."

Claire cleared her throat and nodded. "Claire Redfield." She released hands then narrowed her eyes up at Alice. "You didn't tell me you had a twin sister."

Casey's eyebrows hiked up, and she detected Alice's instant stress levels jump. She softly cleared her throat and mentioned, "I think I'm going to make sure those wolves cleared out of here."

Alice ticked off a molar once Casey took an escape route from explaining things to Claire. It was obvious that she hadn't told Claire a few things.

Casey barely bit back her grin, but she swung off her leather satchel. She held it out to Alice and wickedly teased, "Mind holding onto that for me... sis."

Alice could do nothing but oblige and clutched the heavy pack. She lowered it to her side and continued glaring at her escaping clone.

"I'll be back in twenty," Casey promised in a sweet voice. She spun on her heels and briskly left the camp. She was too relieved to get out of there before it became ugly between the obvious couple. Casey wasn't blind to what was between the pair.

Claire folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at Alice. "What exactly is going on, Alice?"

Alice weakly smiled at her partner then pretended to find Casey's satchel interesting. "It's complicated... actually."

Claire started bobbing her head and realized something else was going on that she didn't know about. She wasn't thrilled and ordered, "Let's hear it."

Alice sighed then peered up at the leader. She nodded at the bedroll near the campfire. "We should sit down." But she spotted K-Mart, Jill, and Leon coming over to them. She and Claire assured everything was safe now and to go back into the helicopter. Alice could tell that K-Mart was still concerned, but she promised K-Mart that everything was fine.

Claire had put her last Glock away and sat down. She crossed her legs and waited for her partner. After a minute, she calmly asked, "Who is that woman?"

Alice sat with her legs stretched out, and her arms behind her back. Next to her were Casey's belongings, which she suspected contained ammunition, some food, and maps. "She's really my clone."

Claire blinked then stared at her lover for several seconds and finally shook her head. "What?"

Alice inwardly sighed, but she sat forward after drawing her legs into her body. "Casey is a clone of me."

"I got that." Claire shot her partner a warning look. "Care to share more?" She arched her eyebrow at Alice.

Alice drummed her fingers on her right knee then picked the perfect spot to start the story. "You remember the facility in Nevada?"

"Where we separated," Claire recalled.

Alice dipped her head then continued explaining what'd happened after Claire and the other humans flew off. "There was a... trench nearby, and I was drawn to it." She noted Claire's curious features. "It was filled with dozens and dozens of clones of me... all dead."

Claire was stunned and murmured, "Why?"

"Dr. Isaacs," Alice softly replied. But her eyes shined with bitterness for the dead clones and the scientist's constant cruelty.

"That's the sick fuck that..." Claire tasted her own venom for Dr. Isaacs and what he did to her partner.

Alice let out a frustrated breath then went back to the story. "He was cloning me because my blood bonds with the T-virus. He hoped to create a serum that would increase the undeads' intelligence so they could be domesticated."

Claire shook her head but didn't say anything.

"I went down into that facility and found that Isaacs had mutated into some cross between human and T-virus." Alice wasn't totally sure what'd happened to the scientist's makeup. "We fought each other."

"You obviously beat him," Claire pointed out.

Alice gave a small grin and huskily rebuked, "Not really." She chuckled at Claire's surprised glance. "Isaacs and I were fighting in a laser room that the facility's AI controlled. The laser sliced him up first, and I thought I was next."

Claire softly hummed and waited for the rest.

"Casey shut off the laser in time," Alice revealed.

Claire leaned to her left and had a better view of her partner. She allowed Alice to tell her the finer details about what happened, especially with the clones. She was surprised to learn that Alice and the clones had attacked the headquarters in Japan. Alice had thought the clones were dead, but obviously she was wrong if Casey made it.

"So all the clones, except Casey, are dead?" Claire checked.

Alice parted her lips then slightly frowned. "Not exactly." She was going to say more, but her attention was drawn to Casey.

Casey strolled into the camp with her duster floating behind her. She looked every bit like Alice nearly a year ago, but her hair was longer and blonder.

Claire studied Casey Abernathy, who was a perfect copy of Alice before the G-virus altered Alice's body. Claire remembered her last days in Nevada when she first met Alice. She slightly tilted her head when Casey came around the campfire. She regarded Casey's light brown duster and was sure that it was the same duster that Alice had worn in the desert.

Casey sensed the air was calm between the pair. She was glad too because she didn't want to walk into an ongoing argument. "Wolves are gone."

"Thanks for checking," Alice offered. She tilted her head when Casey approached them.

"Sit with us," Claire indicated a spot in front of them.

Casey weighed the invite but accepted it and sat cross legged with the couple. She looked at Alice and tempted, "How'd it go?"

Alice grinned because she knew what her clone was asking her.

"Perfectly fine," Claire responded. She pointed at her partner and explained, "We have an open communication policy in our relationship."

Casey mirrored Alice's grin yet directed it at Claire. Her honey green eyes flicked to Alice again. "I can see why you like her."

"'Like' is a weak word for it," Claire argued.

Casey chuckled at the human's tease and was glad the leader was so easy with her after how they first met. "My mistake." However, she noted that Alice had a soft flush thanks to Claire's remark.

Claire touched her lover's hand and reminded, "You were saying about... the others."

Alice focused on the leader, but it made her furrow her features at Casey. "Did anybody else survive?"

Casey bowed her head then licked her dry lips. "No," she murmured. She peered up at Alice. "I checked... but..."

Alice brushed her raven hair back then shook her head. She regretted what happened and silently thanked the clones again for their sacrifice. She finally tackled her lover's curiosity and quietly told, "There is one other clone still alive."

Casey sadly smiled at the mention of another clone. "I was headed there to see her before continuing to Alaska."

Alice realized that Casey was planning to find her in Alaska. She softened at her clone's concerns, and the gratefulness showed in her eyes.

Casey read it, and her smile brightened.

Claire curiously watched the exchange between her partner and the clone. Alice then looked at Claire again.

"Janus is guarding the facility in Nevada," Alice revealed.

The leader's eyes narrowed after hearing about the second clone. She quickly realized something was important about the facility for Alice to leave a clone protecting it. "What's... there?"

Alice bit her bottom lip and considered how to explain it correctly to her partner. "It's... what may be there." She faltered and gathered her thoughts before explaining what was going on at the facility. "The AI there is trying to develop a serum or..." She looked at her clone for help.

"Vaccine," Casey suggested.

Alice liked that word and agreed, "A vaccine for the T-virus." Immediately she watched how hope filled Claire, and her hearts saddened at Claire's expectations. "It's not a sure thing though."

Claire couldn't believe it and prayed that it was possible. "Is it close? Or even possible?"

"It's possible," Casey answered this time.

"It's like the antivirus?" Claire looked between her lover and Casey.

Casey shook her head and touched Claire's nearest knee. "The antivirus reverses the symptoms after somebody has been infected." She removed her hand and revealed, "Carlos was given the antivirus during the Raccoon City outbreak."

Claire sadly recalled he'd also been bitten by LJ and was mutating before he sacrificed himself.

"If we can create a vaccine," Alice quietly told, "then humans will become immune to the virus."

"Like Jill," the leader concluded.

"Yes." Alice nodded and that jarred her thoughts. She muttered, "I should get a sample of her blood for the AI's testing."

"Jill Valentine?" Casey was sure that's who they were talking about. She straightened up after Alice nodded. "She's alive?"

"Yes," Alice gruffly answered. But her green eyes cut to Claire. "She's with us actually." She looked at her clone again.

Casey was visibly stirred by the news. She had clear memories of Jill Valentine that were passed to her through the cloning process. "I thought she was..."

Alice moved her head in disagreement. "Reanimation," she simply told.

Claire had carefully observed Casey's reaction and detected how shaken Casey was by it. She wondered why, other than Casey somehow knew exactly what happened between Alice and Jill. She was thrown off by it, but another aspect hit Claire and caused her to tense up.

"What?" Alice murmured to her partner.

Claire touched her forehead and tipped her brim slightly. "Jill... she's going to love seeing double."

Alice canted her head until she understood what her lover was saying to her. She then laughed at the irony, especially for Jill. Indeed Jill Valentine would be seething in the morning once she realized there were two of her, clone or not.

"Alice," Claire warned. She couldn't believe Alice was amused by Jill's pending misery. "You have a dark sense of humor."

Alice leaned towards her lover and flashed a wicked smirk. "Comes with the territory."

Claire shook her head once and sighed at her partner's evil glint. She pushed on Alice's knee and reminded, "I have enough trouble with you two... now this." She nodded at Casey.

"I take it the reunion didn't go over well?" Casey had expected as much.

"Like a lead balloon," Alice replied. "I'll tell you later sometime."

Casey made a mental note to get the details from Alice. "So..." She folded her arms. "Where are y'all headed to?" She looked between the pair.

Claire blew up some air but tugged down on her brim and got up to her feet. "All yours, Alice." She was heading to the packs. "I'm gonna get tea for this." She brushed off her pants and started across the camp.

"I'll take a mug," Alice called to her lover. She already knew Casey's response and added, "So will Casey."

Claire waved off the pair and had already planned to serve it to everybody.

"Are you hungry at all?" Alice checked.

"No." Casey smirked and joked, "I had wolf before I showed up."

Alice snorted and shook her head. "Hope it tasted better than how it smelled." She had a crinkled nose and recalled their foul stench.

Casey mimicked Alice after the gross scent was rekindled in her mind. "I've seen a lot of infected animals during my travels here."

"Not good," Alice muttered. But she shifted topics and started explaining what she and Claire were doing outside of Deming. She and Casey continued trading stories and shared a few laughs about Wesker. Casey applauded Alice for planting that damn bomb in Wesker's escape helicopter.

Claire handed over hot mugs to the pair. She quietly sat and sipped on her mug. She stole several stares of Casey Abernathy. She clearly recalled seeing Casey in her dreams many days ago in this exact scenario. It was too eerily true for it to be a random dream.

Casey was an exact duplicate of Alice before the G-virus made it's mutations to Alice. She had rich green eyes with chips of brown on the edge. She smiled brightly anytime Alice described a fight scene, particularly the one against the Executioner in the prison. Casey's earthy blue eyes shifted onto Claire Redfield when Alice animated Claire's battle against the Executioner.

Claire caught Casey's smirk and admiring eyes, and a blush caressed Claire's cheeks. Claire hid her features by sipping on her mug. She cleared her throat after lowering the mug and was relieved that Casey was focused on Alice again. She drummed her fingers twice on her mug then peered up at her lover's chiseled profile. Thanks to Casey's presence, Claire could so easily distinguish the G-virus's mutations in Alice.

Alice hadn't only grown taller, but her once lithe figure had filled out. She easily matched Chris's large stature now. She'd altered her wardrobe twice before they left on the mission. Under her black shirt, her biceps had thickened and her calves were far more toned like her stomach. Alice's once round cheeks were sharpened by the mutated bone structure and gave her aggressive lines. But her lips remained full and easily spread into a predatory smile when she spoke about attacking the Houston facility.

Casey leaned closer to Alice and carefully listened to every detail. Then after Alice told her enough, she bobbed her head and declared, "I'm in."

"No," Alice fought.

Casey raised a thin eyebrow and coolly stated, "You need me."

Claire smirked into her mug after she took the last sip. Casey was surely as stubborn and bullheaded, like her creator.

Alice sighed because their plans were getting altered thanks to K-Mart and now Casey too. She gazed at her partner in silent plea for help.

Claire set her empty mug aside and decided to handle the situation. She tilted her head to the left and smiled at her partner. "I don't see why we can't use Casey's help."

Alice slotted her eyes at her lover.

"Casey is highly trained, can shoot a gun, and we can trust her," Claire echoed her lover's arguments about K-Mart.

Casey smirked at the couple and thoroughly enjoyed their interactions. She understood why Alice was so determined to seek out Claire Redfield after the mission in Japan.

Alice groused and wanted to rebuke Claire's excellent points, but she had nothing.

"What's good for the goose is good for the gander," Claire murmured.

Casey chuckled now and grinned at Alice.

Alice sighed and shook her head at the pair ganging up on her. She drank her tea and allowed conversation to start about tomorrow. She only interjected occasionally until Claire made a huge change that Alice didn't approve of on any level.

"That wasn't our agreement," Alice hotly reminded her lover.

Claire expected her partner's displeasure, but she thought it was for the best. "Alice-"

"No," Alice cut off. "You agreed to remain in the Osprey."

"That was before K-Mart and Casey," Claire argued.

Alice set her nearly empty mug on the ground then focused on the leader. "The facility will be incredibly dangerous. There's less risk if you stay with the Osprey." She stared intensely at her lover but added, "Casey will go in."

Claire weighed their options and debated, "Casey should remain with the Osprey." She glanced at the clone, who merely carefully listened to them. "We're better off splitting you and Casey apart for this. You both have powers and the most skills."

Alice frowned at the points but still listened to the leader.

"Casey can protect our escape route, and you blow up the facility." Claire held out her hand at Alice and asked, "How many undead or soldiers do you think I can stop on my own?"

Alice chewed on her bottom lip and didn't answer despite a number popped into her head.

Claire placed her hand on her lover's leg and softly finished, "And K-Mart can stay with Casey... another set of eyes."

Casey had leaned back on her hands and now straightened up. "I'll just need some training on the rotorcraft."

Claire nodded but focused on her lover. "I'll defer to you when we're in the facility."

Alice was surprised by the leader's promise. However, there had to be only one leader once the team entered the Houston facility because there would be no time for arguments and group decisions. Every team member had to fully cooperate with the leader's orders.

Claire waited for her partner to work through it. She sensed how hard it was for Alice, but she was relieved when Alice dipped her head in agreement.

If nothing else, Alice could keep Claire close and make damn sure nothing happened to her. Alice was sure if Claire was killed then she would take revenge on Umbrella and most likely kill any human in her wake. Lately Alice felt a dark hunger crawling up her chest, and she struggled to keep it at bay. But temptations, like Leon Kennedy, often gave Alice a taste that tantalized her mind and blood. In the passing month, Alice was transforming into a creature that was only one-third human. She clung onto her last slice of humanity in hopes she wouldn't become like Wesker. He was surely Alice's inspiration for what not to change into, if nothing else.

"You can help me organize the explosives tomorrow," Alice told her clone.

Casey simply nodded but looked at Claire, who yawned.

Claire tried her best hiding it and covered her mouth. She bowed her head and blinked a few times. The warm tea was making it hard to stay up.

"It's late." Alice touched her lover's thigh.

"Mmmm." Claire toyed with the ball cap's brim. She lifted the watch hooked to her belt loop and pushed on the light button. Indeed it read nearly midnight. She couldn't believe that much time had passed since sunset.

"You both should rest," Casey suggested. "I can take care of watch tonight." She sensed that Alice was about to protest so she reminded, "I don't need any sleep."

Alice frowned slightly, yet she recalled plenty of sleepless nights when she only had the T-virus in her system. Now the G-virus was mixed in, and she needed more sleep. She estimated she needed three to four hours a night and anything more was just a gift. Before she only needed one to two hours a night and would often skip nights until she was exhausted five days later.

Claire tiredly studied her lover and muttered, "Coming or visiting longer?"

Alice considered it and softly replied, "I won't be far behind you."

The leader nodded and rose from her seat. She bent over and placed a kiss to Alice's warm lips. "See ya in a bit." She enjoyed Alice's shy reaction to their display of affection. Claire grinned but said goodnight and thanks to Casey.

Casey briefly watched the leader go then she noted how Alice's eyes stayed glued on Claire until she was safely in the Osprey. She leaned forward and put her weight against her elbows that rested on her knees. "So why do you smell... funny?"

Alice raised an eyebrow and sighed at Casey's forming grin.

"You're worse than a goddamn Sour Patch Kid," Casey informed. She then nodded towards the Osprey. "I can smell it on Claire too, whatever it is." She stiffened when Alice became incredibly tense.

"You smell it from Claire?" Alice's tone was sharp and laced with concern.

Casey was baffled why Alice didn't know that already. "Yes." She shook her head but explained, "It's incredibly mild though... nothing compared to you." She grew concerned and murmured, "What is it?"

Alice took a steady breath so her alarm and hearts' rates would calm down. She didn't want Claire coming back out thanks to their bond. "It's a virus... Wesker injected a new virus in me."

Casey straightened up and stared at the older woman. Her lips slightly parted, but she was at a loss.

"It's called the Gene Virus... G-virus." Alice lowered her stare to her lap and considered how the G-virus would have transferred into Claire. A flash painted a picture of Claire Redfield carrying Alice's bloody and burned body from the White Rooms. Alice shut her eyes and imagined her infected blood soaking through Claire's pores then merging with Claire's blood.

"Why didn't I smell it?" Alice muttered. She sharply lifted her head when Casey touched her knee.

"Because it's your blood," the clone concluded. Casey held Alice's strong gaze and squeezed Alice's knee. "It's your scent coming off her." She bit her lower lip then whispered, "It's just like humans can't really smell their own scent because they're use to it." She removed her hand and guessed, "You probably couldn't discern it since it's your own."

Alice brushed her midnight hair back then whispered, "It would explain everything."

"Is Claire mutating?" Casey was clearly worried and several fears gathered in her mind.

"She's not mutating... exactly." Alice's honey-green eyes cut to the Osprey then back to Casey. "But she has changed since my blood entered her system."

"Like what?" Casey prompted.

Alice shook her head and explained, "She's willing to forgo leading the humans to be with me."

Casey's full lips started to thin as she processed Alice's observations.

"Claire has always had a commanding fire about her, but now she's expressing it more physically." Alice immediately recalled the incident with Leon Kennedy.

"She's more aggressive," Casey suggested.

Alice agreed with her clone's assessment. She lowered her head and thought more about Claire's subtle changes. "That's what caused it," she muttered.

"Caused what?"

Alice lifted her head and debated how much to tell Casey. She completely trusted Casey, who saved her many months ago from Doctor Isaacs in the laser room. She let out a low sigh and revealed, "Claire and I have a bond... a blood bond." There were several questions in Casey's eyes, and Alice knew all of them without hearing anything. "It's like a sixth sense about each other... even better than that honestly. We know where the other is and can easily find the other. We feel each other's emotions and sometimes can discern the other's thoughts."

"Jesus," Casey murmured.

Alice took a deep breath and recalled another detail. "If I read somebody's mind then Claire sees... receives... " She wasn't sure on the right word. "She sees whatever I read from the person's mind." She shook her head and admitted, "There's much more to it that I can't really explain if you haven't experienced it."

Casey thought hard about it and whispered, "Your blood mixing with hers must have caused it."

"It's the only explanation," Alice agreed.

"But she hasn't mutated physically in any way?"

Alice negatively moved her head. "Nothing that I can see, and she hasn't had the pain."

Casey huffed and recalled the pain that Alice had gone through years ago in Raccoon City. She put away Alice's memories and focused on the present again. "If she were going to mutate, it would have happened by now."

"Yes." Alice took a long breath then slowly let it out. "Although other things could pop up."

"I wouldn't lose sleep over it," Casey argued. Yet, she realized that Alice was bonded to Claire, who became a part of Alice. That thought made Casey grin, and she whispered, "She's got a little Alice in her."

"Funny," Alice muttered.

"At least it's only a little." Casey flashed a dark smirk and teased, "I got a lot of Alice in me."

Alice rolled her eyes at the clone's amusement. "I should have kept you in that bubble."

Casey gave a hurt look and aspirated, "Harsh." She covered her heart with her right hand. "And I thought I was your favorite." She grinned at the hybrid.

Alice mirrored back the grin. "I gave you my middle name."

Casey was indeed honored when Alice had offered her middle name to Casey. Unlike the others, only Casey and Janus received names from their creator. She and Janus were the first two awaken from stasis then they worked together with Alice to animate the other clones. Despite each clone was grown from Alice's blood, they each had a small wrinkle in their DNA that made them unique from the other. But it was so remote and only the clones could discern their differences thanks to their highly innate sense of smell.

"Thank you... again," Casey sincerely whispered.

Alice reached out and hooked the back of the clone's neck. She warmly smiled and felt Casey's infected blood moving under her skin. "I'm glad you survived the explosion." She became saddened and frowned. "I wish I had known... I left you there."

Casey grabbed the older woman's forearm and gave an assuring smile. "I wasn't sure I survived it." After Alice relinquished her hold, she explained, "I barely escaped, and I was pretty banged up. It took nearly two days to heal then I found Wesker's copter." She half shrugged and laced her hands together in her lap. "I didn't find your body so I figured you survived somehow and knew you'd look for Claire."

Alice didn't forget the late night discussions with Casey about Claire Redfield after they'd spend grueling hours waking clones up. She, Casey, and Janus worked countless hours together in the Nevada facility as they put together their plans, not just for the Umbrella Headquarters but also the future.

"After Houston," Casey softly started, "We should check on Janus and the White Queen."

Alice nodded and murmured, "They may have had some luck with the vaccine."

Casey canted her head and curiously pointed out, "You've mutated." She inhaled Alice's scent, which was laced with sourness. "You're taller... bigger."

"Two hearts," Alice explained.

Casey's eyebrows hiked up at the news. "Two?" She was impressed and murmured, "I wonder why."

Alice shrugged then mentioned, "My powers have grown." She went down the list of known powers, which were longer than what Casey was capable of.

Casey let out a low breath and shook her head. "Are you done mutating?"

Alice toyed with the edge of her blanket but peered up at her clone. "I don't know." She ran her fingers through her hair. "The G-virus continuously mutates the carrier."

Casey frowned and considered the new virus's properties. She argued, "But it's mixed with the T-virus." She then gingerly touched Alice's knee. "And you don't know how much Wesker gave you."

Alice sighed and muttered, "It was enough." She released the blanket. "I feel myself changing... not just physically."

Casey curiously held the hybrid's concerned gaze.

"I think differently," Alice explained further. She worked out an example that Casey would understand better. "I don't look at humans the same now."

"You're less human," Casey granted. She could relate since she was only half human herself. She imagined Alice felt further removed from humans thanks to the G-virus being added to her chemistry.

"Before the T-virus, I was human and had everything at stake... I fought against the virus," Alice told her clone.

Casey easily recalled thanks to her genetic memory linked to Alice's past.

"Then after the T-virus, I just felt sympathy. Maybe some residual guilt because I felt I failed in the Hive. But it was the humans that made me." Alice sighed then developed a distant stare as she considered the present. "But now... I'm not sure I even care."

Casey swept back a blond strand behind her right ear. She gathered her thoughts about Alice's confession, and it was hard to swallow. Indeed Casey was at the sympathy stage and was cautious about helping humans. "And what about Claire?"

Alice lifted her head and sharply declared, "She is not like them." She glanced off to the side and allowed herself to settle down. "I care about certain humans." She focused on Casey again. "I'll do what I have to do to keep them alive."

Casey quietly drummed her fingers once on her boot then hypothesized, "It's no different than animals." She nodded off to her right and argued, "Like a wolf pack. You have yours and any wolves outside your pack are meaningless."

Alice huffed and decided it was a decent analogy to how she felt now. She whispered, "It worries me though."

"That you don't care as much about the humans?" Casey checked.

Alice actually laughed and noted how it tensed up Casey. She ruefully smiled and replied, "No. It scares me that I like this." She looked down at her hands. "It was difficult being human. Now life is simpler." She met Casey's eyes. "If I don't like somebody or the other way around then I don't care and don't help them. And if they're a threat, I will kill them without remorse." She shook her head and mentioned, "I don't struggle with overly complex relationships and human emotions."

"It's pretty black and white now," Casey concluded. She nearly related except that Casey still had shades of grey in her world. She couldn't be as cut and dry as Alice.

Alice glanced at the Osprey and considered Jill Valentine, who was somewhere in there. She murmured, "The human Alice would be distraught and upset by Jill's anger and pain. The T-virus Alice would feel some guilt." She turned her head to Casey. "But I don't give a damn."

Casey couldn't help a small laugh at Alice's honest words.

Alice traded a grin with her clone, but it slipped after a few beats. "The only remnants of my humanity is Claire," she whispered.

Casey sighed but sadly smiled and suggested, "Hang onto that."

Alice silently agreed. But the mention of Claire shifted her attention to the Osprey. She already knew Claire had fallen asleep twenty minutes ago.

"You should get some rest," Casey recommended. She could tell that Alice longed to be with her blood partner.

Alice uncrossed her legs and stretched them. "You'll be alright?" After Casey's nod, she checked, "Need any weapons?"

Casey shook her head and promised, "I have plenty of ammunition." She emphasized her point by patting her nearby satchel.

Alice accepted the reply and rose from her spot. "Nice sais, by the way." She stretched her muscle, which were stiff from sitting.

Casey glanced at her unique weapons that were hooked to the sides of her boots. "A token from Japan."

Alice grinned but squeezed the clone's nearest shoulder. "Thanks, Casey." She meant it for many things other than just taking watch tonight.

"Sleep well, Alice." Casey watched Alice go to the helicopter then sighed after Alice entered through the side door. She decided to take residence on Alice's blankets but first took care of putting more wood in the fire. She didn't feel like getting cold tonight.

Alice was headed to the Osprey, but she lowered her head as her shoulders faintly slumped. She played with her dark hair and couldn't control her mood deflating. That last of the conversation with Casey made her feel alone. Before, she had something in common with Casey and Janus; they all shared the T-virus in their blood. But now Alice carried the G-virus, and she was the only creature with both viruses. Nobody could relate to her situation or understand how she saw the world.

Alice shook her head and grabbed the sealed door. She quietly drew it open then her eyes instantly adjusted the pitch black confines of the helicopter. She pinpointed her partner, who slept soundlessly directly on the other side. After shutting the door, Alice easily slipped over and started removing her weapons.

Claire stirred once her blood partner crawled under the blankets with her. She warded off her tiredness after she sensed something amiss with Alice. She dissected what was wrong and easily drew her partner into her body.

For the first time, Alice welcomed the comfort freely given to her. She snaked her arms around her lover's smaller but strong body. She hid her face in Claire's chest and warm skin against her brow was assuring. Alice shut her eyes and tightened her arms more around her partner's waist.

Claire had her left arm under Alice, but she shifted her right hand up until her fingers threaded into raven hair. She kissed her lover's head.

Alice held back the sting behind her eyes, but she muttered, "What am I?"

Claire barely made out her lover's voice. She started a light massage under the base of Alice's head where she knew the tension rested. "You are my partner," she murmured.

Claire's response was unexpected and caused Alice's defenses to crumble. Alice felt the hot tears slip past and roll onto Claire's chest.

"Ssssh," Claire whispered to her partner. "I'm here." She delivered her support through their bond.

Alice inhaled sharply after a minute, and she regained control of her emotions. She rarely experienced them anymore, but they were most apparent when she was close to Claire. Now calmer, Alice was able to detect that another human was awake in the helicopter. After listening carefully, she discerned that it was Jill Valentine. But Alice didn't care if they were overheard.

Jill shifted her head on the rolled up blanket that she used for a pillow. She stared blankly across the black space. But she was more interested in the soft sounds coming from Claire and Alice near the cockpit. She envied their relationship, greatly. She recalled being close to Claire many, many years ago. Then Jill chose to go to the academy with Chris and the relationship had quickly unraveled. Jill became a cynical bitch on the outside, and Claire disliked it back then.

Yet in Jill's opinion, she found Alice to be rather dark and brooding, even around Claire. Jill sensed Alice's changed attitude with humans over the passing days. She seriously wondered if Alice would remain on the Arcadia if it wasn't for Claire. But she kept in mind that the G-virus was altering Alice's makeup. There weren't any facts or prior research that could tell them who Alice would be after the G-virus was done with Alice. Only Jill and Claire were aware of the G-virus in Alice's systems. Jill didn't plan to divulge it to anybody despite some bitter part of her wanted to oust Alice to the humans. Yet the other side of the coin was that Claire and Alice kept Jill's T-virus exposure a secret. She was grateful for their silence.

Jill rolled onto her back after the couple had gone quiet. She already knew what was going on between Alice and Claire. She wasn't foolish and was smart by not exposing anything. Too many humans would possibly question Claire's authority if they knew their leader was in a romantic relationship with Alice. Jill suspected it would be months before Claire made it public.

It took awhile for Jill to find sleep again. Her last thoughts were on tomorrow and how the plans would have to be adjusted for K-mart's surprised arrival. She inwardly sighed and put her wild thoughts away for tonight. All that truly mattered to her was that Angie Ashford was saved from Umbrella. It was Jill's entire focus. But right now, Jill needed a few more hours of sleep before daylight because the next days would not be pretty.

Continued.