Resident Evil: Phoenix by Red Hope

Chapter 16

K-Mart gave a heavy sigh and stretched her legs out. She was incredibly bored on the flight to Houston. She was also antsy so she couldn't fall asleep at all. But a soft nudge to her side made her look up at Casey. She was confused until she saw what Casey was holding out to her.

Casey had a playful grin and waited for K-Mart to take the Apple iPod from her.

K-Mart was surprised and gingerly took the device that she'd only seen in stores. She'd wanted one, but they were fairly costly just before the T-virus outbreak. She turned it over in her hand and carefully studied it for the first time.

"It's a third generation," Casey revealed. "I picked it up in China on my trip back here." She crossed her legs, which caused her duster to part and exposed her tan legs. "It helped pass the long hours alone."

K-Mart was impressed by the device and held it back out to Casey.

Casey shook her head then pushed K-Mart's hand away. "You can borrow it."

K-Mart sharply looked up at the older woman. "Casey, I can't..." She faltered thanks to Casey's lopsided smile.

Casey extracted a pair of headphones from her duster and gave them to K-Mart. "This may help too."

K-Mart relented but planned to return it after the flight. She plugged in the headphones after unraveling them. She easily slipped them in and briefly tried figuring out how to turn on the device.

Casey grinned at the human's attempt. She reached over and switched it on for her.

K-Mart was intrigued by the device and quickly learned it. She found quite an inventory of bands and songs she knew before the world went to Hell. She also discovered a playlist for all Eighties music. Claire would definitely love the Eighties music, K-Mart decided.

Casey relaxed in the seat and leaned her head against the wall of the airframe. She shut her eyes and crossed her arms after K-Mart became settled with the iPod. She hadn't thought about the mp3 player until she caught K-Mart shifting around in the seat a lot. But the stillness now gave Casey a chance to doze off for awhile after being up all night.

K-Mart tried not singing aloud to several good songs. She then caught how Jill Valentine was smirking at her, and she blushed. She opted to close her eyes too but so she couldn't see Jill's amused look.

"It's a shame Claire let's her stay." Leon was referring to K-Mart, his eyes locked on her.

Jill looked at Leon and gave a low shrug. "She's not going in with us."

"Still," Leon argued.

Jill shook her head. "She'll be safe with Casey."

Leon's eyes traveled over to the clone, a newcomer to their team. He had witnessed the clone's powers this morning at the airport. He hadn't expected it but summarized the clone had the T-virus in her blood.

"She's like Alice," Leon whispered.

Leon's hidden meaning took a second for Jill. She clenched her right hand and checked, "Infected?"

Leon nodded at the quiet question. He stared, hard at the clone. "How many other clones could there be... like her?" He obviously wasn't pleased by the notion.

Jill's lips pursed after she deciphered what was going through his head. "Does it really matter?"

Leon turned to Jill and explained, "We're becoming extinct, Jill."

Jill frowned then gazed across at Casey. She thought back on Alice's struggle against Major Timothy Cain in Raccoon City years ago. Her mind skipped to her own situation when Umbrella took her corpse and reanimated her then experimented on her with the T-virus, like Alice. Major Cain's words echoed back to her, and she whispered, "Maybe it's not extinction... maybe it's evolution."

Leon was jarred by Jill's statement and hotly murmured, "It's a virus. Not some gift from God."

Jill folded her arms and realized that Leon had made up his mind about the virus. She didn't dare tell him about her own history with the T-virus. She wasn't impressed by his closed mind and harsh ruling of hybrids like Casey, Alice, and even herself.

Leon didn't continue the topic, but he sensed a wall build up between him and Jill. He didn't understand why, especially when Jill disliked Alice so much. He let it go and hoped she would be more open to his views later.

Casey had heard everything between Jill and Leon while she pretended to be asleep. She was inwardly surprised by Jill's defense for the T-virus and those that have bonded with it. But Casey detected a mild amount of it in Jill's blood. Indeed Jill was on the same path as her and Alice. Once they were quiet, Casey was able to truly doze off.

K-Mart hadn't heard anything thanks to the iPod. She noticed after awhile that Casey had fallen asleep because of Casey's relaxed posture. She suspected that any small touch or irregular sound would instantly charge Casey to life. However, it was an open opportunity for K-Mart to study the clone's beautiful profile.

Casey's face was peaceful compared to her usual guarded expression. Only her full lips forming grins or smirks could break away the stoic attitude. Her blond strands were hooked behind her ear and rested neatly on her shoulders. She truly was a recreation of Alice after Umbrella had infected her.

For a moment, Casey's peaceful features reminded K-Mart of when Alice had fallen asleep in the truck with her and Carlos. K-Mart had passed out first on Carlos's shoulder, but she'd woken up twenty minutes before entering Las Vegas. K-Mart had stolen several glances at Alice sleeping against the truck's window. Despite Alice's innocent appearance, K-Mart had witnessed what rested under Alice's skin. But K-Mart had carefully kept her distance from Alice and not because of Alice's amazing powers. Instead K-Mart had recognized Claire's looks and stares at Alice for what they were back then. K-Mart's assessment had been right. Alice was just too withdrawn for K-Mart's taste. Only now K-Mart could tell that Alice was welcoming her into her life, and it greatly warmed K-Mart.

But Casey was different than Alice. That was all too obvious to K-Mart. Alice always seemed more serious than most. But Casey had a sense of humor and teasing streak a mile long. K-Mart debated whether or not Alice had once been that way before the outbreak and all the emotional deaths. Indeed it was impossible to find humor or enjoyment in life after such events. However, Casey wasn't plagued by such a past that was merely imprinted in her like old data.

K-Mart put away her thoughts and focused on the iPod. She switched to the Eights playlist, but it was short lived because the helicopter was slowing down. She caught Casey sitting up in the seat. K-Mart removed the headphones. "We can't be there yet."

Casey agreed too and guessed, "We're probably stopping for a break." She lowered her crossed leg to the floor and leaned forward as much as the harness allowed her. She studied Claire, who was obviously looking for something on the ground.

"I could totally go for a Big Mac and fries," K-Mart joked. She'd raveled the headphones up then tried giving it to Casey.

But again Casey pushed K-Mart's hand away. "Hold onto it for me." She started working her seatbelt and harness off. "The ride isn't over anyway."

K-Mart softly sighed but managed to wiggle the iPod into her front jean pocket with the headphones.

Casey popped out of the seat then made her way to the cockpit. She softly touched Alice's shoulder and squeezed it with her unspoken question.

Alice had long ago detected her clone's movements and nodded at Casey.

Casey took the hint and returned to the cargo bay. She carefully made her way to side door and held onto the handle. She felt the helicopter now descending to the ground. She waited until the landing skids hit the ground then she unlocked the door. Casey freed her shotgun from her side then shoved the door open. She immediately closed it once she stepped off the helicopter. First she did a visual scan and listened to her blood, but there was silence. At that point, Casey hurried off and started a sweep over the local area.

K-Mart disembarked the helicopter after Claire. She checked her surroundings, which took her a moment. She furrowed her eyebrows at the sagging hangars beyond the Osprey's nose. She looked at the cracked concrete under her and sadly smiled at the weeds flourishing between the crevices. She twisted her head around to her sister.

"Where are we?"

Claire shifted out of the way when Jill and Leon came out of the helicopter. She adjusted her hat and replied, "Marfa, Texas." She nodded at the outdated yet huge hangars far off the field. "It's a former military base from back in the 40s."

K-Mart folded her arms after a chill crawled down her spine. The air force base did have a creepy feel to it that had nothing to do with undead or the T-virus. There was a ghostly air that surrounded the former World War II base.

"Where's your shotgun?" the leader asked. Her tone held both worry and disapproval.

"It's in the helicopter," K-Mart softly replied.

Claire inwardly sighed but ordered, "Go get it." She broke away from her sister and joined her lover a few yards from the Osprey. "Hey," she murmured. It was obvious that her partner was searching for something.

Alice slightly twisted to her left and narrowed her eyes. "I'll be back shortly." She turned her head to the right and held her lover's curious stare. "You'll be alright?"

Claire nodded. "Go on." She realized her partner was seeking out Casey. She suspected Alice wanted that talk with Casey. She tugged on her brim then departed Alice's side.

Alice jogged off and followed her internal link to Casey. She found it easier than using GPS after she approached a hangar and clearly detected Casey's presence. But there was somebody else or something else nearby. After a strong sniff, Alice was certain it was both undead and human. She crinkled up her nose because the human's scent was tainted, badly.

Alice didn't bother getting a gun or kukri and hastily butted up against the hangar's side. She followed her instincts that brought her around the corner. She cautiously poked her head around the corner of the metal siding and noted the hangar's rusty door was slid open wide enough for somebody to get in. Without doubt, Casey was definitely inside the hangar with whatever else.

Alice's lips curled into a silent growl because of her natural need to protect her clone. A blue hue highlighted her freckled green eyes. She silently rushed to the opening after the eating sounds rang in her ears. But Alice slipped into the hangar like a ghost and instantly found her clone.

Casey tightly held a Glock, but it was aimed at the broken concrete floor. Her blond hair glowed in the firelight from in the hangar.

Alice took her twin's side and also stared at the disgusting scene in front of them. She dropped her head to one side and smelled the fresh blood that filled the hangar like a wicked perfume.

The undead creature continued feasting on the male human's stomach. He was ravenous and unaware or uncaring about his audience behind him. Only a few yards from him was a small pile of bones, most likely from animals. The bones were picked clean and perfectly white under the campfire's light.

Alice studied the hungry undead, who had been a normal human once upon a time. As her eyes traveled, she took in the shackle and chain around the undead's ankle. She followed the chain across the dirty concrete and saw it was hooked to an anchoring device in the floor. Most likely the anchor hook was used to help tie down airplanes that'd once resided in the hangar decades ago. But now it was being used to chain down the undead like a rabid dog. Obviously it hadn't bolstered well for the human owner in the long run.

Casey scanned the interior of the hangar, which had two metal shelves of food, a makeshift bed, and a few tattered clothes. In another corner there was some ammunition hanging behind a card table beside the campfire. The now dead human had been living in the makeshift home.

Casey focused on the feeding undead and whispered, "Can they ever get their fill?"

The undead lifted his dripping face from the dead human's stomach cavity. He sharply looked at the silent intruders.

Alice lifted her head and held the undead's milky eyes. "We both know that answer."

The undead snarled and climbed to his tattered feet. He quickly walked towards the intruders, and his chains rattled loudly. His beastly growl echoed in the hangar.

Casey slightly lifted her handgun, but she didn't back away when the undead came for them. She listened to the dragging chain snap in protest and halted the undead's advances a yard away from them. "How far different are we from them?" She peered up at her older twin. "Do you ever feel that hunger?"

Alice took a step closer to the shackled undead. She was almost in arms reach when he tried grabbing at her. But she grinned because she just wasn't close enough.

Casey studied Alice's dark profile then whispered, "I feel it." She pointed the barrel at the undead and added, "Maybe not like they do... but I feel it."

Alice held the undead's white eyes and tried reading if it had any thoughts. But she only saw raw hunger in them. "It's a natural part of us," she whispered. She leaned slightly closer towards the undead's face and observed his blackened, jagged teeth. She smelled the human blood that coated his lips and chin. "It's why we feel a slight ping of empathy for them."

Casey agreed with Alice's words. But she and Alice were also superior than any undead thanks to their advanced blood. "Do you think we'll be able to save them?"

Alice grinned at the hissing undead and honestly replied, "No." Her right hand shot out, and her long fingers wrapped around the undead's throat. She swiftly lifted the creature up despite he fought against her greater strength. "We can only give them peace." Her eyes lit up blue.

Casey clenched the handgun tightly and nearly had to shield her eyes when Alice started electrocuting the undead. Then a solid thud followed a brief silence, and Casey was able to see now that the brightness was gone. She stared at the unmoving dead on the floor. White steam twisted off his infected body and mingled with the already decaying corpse nearby.

Alice was disgusted by the smell in the hangar after she fried the undead. She realized roasting an undead in a closed space wasn't the best idea. Her eyes traveled to the half eaten corpse.

Casey sensed her twin's concern so she pointed the Glock at the dead human. She shot it once in the head.

"We'll come back and take the supplies," Alice stated. She quietly left the hangar. Later they would retrieve the items after the stench wore off. "He doesn't need it anymore."

Casey holstered her gun and stole a last look at the still steaming undead. She turned on her heels and followed Alice out of the hangar. She stepped into the hot sun and found Alice waiting for her.

"I feel the hunger more than you do," Alice softly admitted.

Casey saw how Alice stayed relatively calm, but she heard the tremble in Alice's voice. She shook her head and asked, "How do you fight it?"

Alice glanced back at the hangar's interior then met Casey's gaze. "Claire," she merely replied. She shifted further from the entrance and recalled why she sought out Casey in the first place. "Claire is concerned about you and K-Mart."

Casey only managed another step before she faced her twin. "Alice, you know me."

Alice inclined her head in agreement then shifted closer to Casey. "And that's why you have to be careful with her." She slightly frowned and explained, "I don't think K-Mart is the type to..."

Casey slightly smirked at how Alice became hung up on the right word selection. She folded her arms and rocked on her boots. "I got it." She went more serious and explained, "It's her blood, Alice and it's hard to..."

Alice's distant frown grew more pronounced after such news. But she had to be certain first. "You're attracted to K-Mart's blood?"

Casey sighed yet realized Alice's question hit the nail on the head. "Yes."

Alice hadn't foreseen that part because she had never been attracted to K-Mart's blood. She found K-Mart's bloodline strong and quite pleasing to her senses, but she wasn't attracted to it like she was Claire's blood. She set aside her thoughts and refocused on Casey's issue.

"Can you control it?"

Casey arched an eyebrow at her twin.

Alice huffed at the clone's nonverbal reply and shook her head. "She's human... and still young." She crossed her arms and softly added, "You can't be sure how well she can handle it."

"K-Mart doesn't seem to scare off easily," Casey joked.

Alice saw the strong undercurrent of strength in K-Mart. Not many humans survived past three years after the outbreak. Indeed it was certainly survival of the fittest now. "I can ask Claire to talk to her later."

Casey decided it would be good for one human to explain it to another since Claire had her experience with Alice. She was sure that it'd make it easier on K-Mart. "Alright," she agreed.

Alice was glad to hear it. She nodded then checked, "Can you tell if K-Mart is responding?"

Casey scratched her nose and cleared her throat. She mentally checked off several indicators that told her that K-Mart was physically responding to her. "Yeah... I can tell." Because it made it hard for Casey to not react to K-Mart's attractive blood, excited scent, or quickened heart after they brush skin.

Alice inched closer to her clone, who embodied Alice's distant past and a life she left behind thanks to Umbrella. "Be careful today."

Casey sadly smiled at Alice's open worry. She sensed that it was hard for Alice to express herself anymore. Once upon a time, Alice was exactly like Casey and greatly cherished any human life, but the G-virus had since altered Alice's emotions and perception. Now Alice simply protected her own and allowed Claire to deal with human life.

"I will," Casey promised. She stepped into Alice's space, carefully. She reached up and cautiously pressed her palms to Alice's cheeks. She was relieved when Alice allowed her, and Casey lowered her head slightly once Alice's head came down. She let out a silent breath after their foreheads met under the hot afternoon sunlight.

Alice had closed her eyes like Casey and focused on her rare link to Casey. She shared the same link with all the clones, but she found that the link strengthened overtime. Months ago, before Japan, she had concluded that it had to be same for identical twins. At first, Alice hadn't been receptive to having hundreds of clones, but it'd been Casey's constant pursuit to form a relationship that made Alice crack.

Casey wished to voice a few concerns for Alice's safety during the mission. But she withheld it all. There was nothing she could do to stop Alice, just like in Japan. Casey fought away her sadness at thoughts of losing Alice. She soothingly stroked her thumb across Alice's cheek, and it calmed her own reservations about today.

Alice pushed down her regret for how the mission worried Casey. She and Jill had to save Angie, and at least avenge her for what Umbrella did to them. Alice knew that Casey, of all people, understood why the mission had to be done.

After a low breath, Casey withdrew and murmured, "I'm going to finish the sweep." Her left hand fell away, but her right briefly brushed across Alice's chiseled features then finally lowered to her side. "See ya back at camp." She left Alice's side and her duster floated in her wake.

Alice watched her clone's receding figure until the desert made Casey seem like an illusion. She sighed and toyed with her midnight hair. She dropped her hand then finally made her way back to the helicopter.

Claire had prepared a quick lunch for anybody interested in stomaching something. She continued spooning small mouthfuls of peanut butter, more for the energy. She wasn't sure how well it'd stick in her stomach, but it certainly kept her mouth busy. She already detected her partner's return from behind and didn't bother to look. But she did note how K-Mart gave a warm greeting to Alice.

"Where's Leon?" Alice asked first thing. She didn't see him and after a sniff, she found his scent yet still didn't see him.

"In the helicopter with Jill," Claire softly informed her lover. She was leaning against the nose of the helicopter. She peered over her shoulder until she found curious green eyes on her. "They're finding something to snack on."

Alice didn't trust Leon a single millimeter and started towards the helicopter's door until a strong hand hooked her utility belt.

Claire had plunged her spoon into the jar of peanut butter and snared Alice with her right hand. She softly informed, "I trust Jill."

Alice groused at her partner.

K-Mart was seated on the runway between a few patches of grass. She wanted to go back in the helicopter where there was shade, but she didn't want to be alone with Jill and Leon. She grinned at Alice and Claire quietly talking to each other. "You two make it pretty damn obvious."

Claire glared past Alice at her sister and ordered, "Zip it." She focused back on her partner. "Here." She handed over the peanut butter. "Sit. Eat. And don't stir up trouble." She went around her partner and started to the side door.

Alice huffed at her partner's words. Then she looked at the peanut butter, which had a nice smell.

"You're lucky," K-Mart commented. "Claire would never share peanut butter with me the first year in the convoy."

Alice grinned then went over to the young woman. She sat down beside K-Mart. "Want some?" She pointed the stuck spoon's handle towards K-Mart.

K-Mart leaned to her left and eyed Claire hopping into the Osprey. She then hastily grabbed the spoon and hummed after the first spoonful. She then mentioned, "I thought Casey would be back."

Alice shrugged and replied, "She almost done." She accepted the worn spoon from K-Mart and tried the crunchy peanut butter. She blinked a few times thanks to the flavor being so strong. She then looked at the jar, but it didn't have any label on it.

"I think it's Skippy," K-Mart explained.

Alice was seated cross legged and bent forward. "I don't remember... it being that strong." She cleared her throat. She'd had the peanut butter brand several times in the past.

K-Mart was slightly concerned and canted her head. "Are you allergic or somethin'?" But Alice gave her a raised eyebrow, and she softly flushed. "Maybe we can kill undead with peanut butter."

Alice laughed, roughly a few times. She shook her head then explained, "It's stronger than how I remember it."

"Tastes same to me," K-Mart muttered. She peered into the jar. She looked up when she saw Claire and Leon coming out of the helicopter. She shyly smiled at Claire, who narrowed her eyes at K-Mart once she saw who had the peanut butter.

K-Mart hastily handed it back to Alice and instead picked up her open can of pineapple. "I'm totally busted," she murmured.

Alice had caught the exchange between the sisters. She stood up and quickly covered K-Mart's peanut butter stealing. "Peanut went down the wrong way... she was just holding it for me." She held out the jar to her partner.

Claire shifted her suspicious glare onto her lover, who was stoic. She lowered her hunting stare to K-Mart and realized she wasn't going to find out one way or the other. Instead, she yanked the jar from her partner and absently muttered, "Thanks." She reclaimed her spot by the helicopter's nose.

"You owe me one, K," Alice ordered. But she didn't look at the young woman and instead went to join Claire.

K-Mart frowned at her pineapples. She was lucky to get any peanut butter. She softly sighed and fished out another pineapple sliver from the can. She ate it quickly and didn't consider the taste. She eyed the last three slices, but wasn't in the mood for them.

"Save me any?" a husky voice tickled in K-Mart's ear.

K-Mart gave a shocked scream and tried getting onto her feet until a strong hand pushed her down. "Fuck!" she hotly yelled then shot invisible daggers at Casey's amused face. "You jerk!"

Casey was squatted behind the human but slightly to K-Mart's right. Her duster pooled around her on the pavement. She was chuckling at K-Mart's profound reaction and was enjoying it far too much.

K-Mart growled and suddenly shoved Casey to the right. She hadn't heard Casey sneak up behind her or anything.

Casey fell back but caught herself with her right hand. She wasn't laughing anymore but couldn't control her grin. "I take it you missed me," she tormented then stood up. She brushed past the still shaken human and went to the helicopter.

K-Mart was shaking her head but glanced over at Claire and Alice. She realized they didn't give her a single word of warning. She drummed her fingers once on the can then peered into it again.

Casey entered the Osprey and pulled up short upon finding Jill Valentine seated on the opposite side. Her earlier merriment died instantly, and she became passive so that Jill wouldn't read her. She said nothing and went to the supplies for some food. She hadn't eaten in three days and needed something small for now.

Jill was enjoying the solitude until the clone came onboard. She carefully watched Casey rummage through the food supplies, but she didn't comment. She was fixated on the clone, who moved just like Alice in every way. Jill parted her lips when the clone headed to the open door.

Casey nearly made it out until Jill called her name. She hesitated in the doorway and considered just ignoring Jill. All the tension in her shoulders wasn't enough to make her step out, and she instead faced the infected human.

Jill rose up and slowly neared the clone while she spoke. "I apologize for this morning." She came within a few feet of Casey. "I had no right." She didn't make any excuses or reason away why she reacted how she did this morning. She simply held out her hand in an attempt to startover with the clone.

Casey looked from Jill's stern face to the offered hand. She clenched the food can slightly harder, but she finally traded it with her left hand. She accepted the handshake and hoped it would be a real attempt from Jill to move forward.

After the shake, Casey nodded at the group outside and asked, "Are you joining us?"

Jill took a step back and replied, "I don't think so." She still wanted to be alone before the mission. "But thanks."

Casey nodded and didn't press further. She slipped out of the rotorcraft and rejoined the group. She took a spot beside K-Mart, who offered her the last pineapple slice in the can.

"Saved ya one." K-Mart smirked because she could tell Casey really didn't want it.

Casey set her sealed can down in front of her then took K-Mart's pineapple. There wasn't any way to get out of it after she teased K-Mart earlier. She sniffed the contents first and the sweet odor hit her like a Mack truck. "Wow." She looked at the human. "You can eat this?" It was sweeter than the oatmeal in her opinion.

K-Mart smirked and took Casey's can, which needed to be opened first. "You can like anything after you eat it for five years straight." She magically created a can opener in her hand.

Casey tried figuring out where K-Mart had the opener stashed on her, but she didn't catch K-Mart's fast movements.

"The food on the Arcadia is really good though." K-Mart worked the can open while Casey bared the pineapple.

Casey flinched at the sweet syrup in the can, but she managed the pineapple down. She wasn't sure that in five years she could stomach those things. "I don't recall fresh pineapple being like that."

K-Mart popped the lid off. "Because you ate a lot in the Nevada facility?" She grinned at Casey's rolling eyes. She tilted the can and smirked at the black beans. "That's aaaaall you." She only ate beans when she absolutely needed it. "I'll get you a spoon." She popped up and made a beeline for Claire.

Casey welcomed the beans over the sickly sweet fruit. She curiously watched K-Mart though and chuckled when K-Mart plucked the spoon from Claire's hand.

"Thanks, sis." K-Mart waved the clean spoon at her sister. She returned to Casey after slipping past Leon.

Claire was glad she'd wiped the spoon clean. She peered up at her partner. "We better get started." She didn't waste anymore time and went around the helicopter. She was spinning the lid on the jar.

Alice agreed and followed her partner into the helicopter.

Casey and K-Mart continued talking quietly and Casey brought up the hangar. K-Mart wondered if they were going to collect the supplies from the dead human's refuge. She was answered when Claire and Alice came out with empty bags to get the supplies. K-Mart offered to help Alice and Casey, but Claire tried getting her to stay. Claire quickly relented after K-Mart made a second attempt.

K-Mart picked up her shotgun, slung it over her back, and fell into step beside Alice. She glanced up at the westerly sun and wiped the sweat from her brow. She wished she had her old hat from her days in the convoy. Her sunglasses would also be useful. K-Mart touched her stomach, which was becoming upset. She hoped it would settle down.

Casey already smelled the stench when they were ten yards from the hangar. She considered whether it was a good idea to take the human. She and Alice could handle it if they didn't focus on the smell. But humans couldn't do that.

K-Mart vaguely smelled something rotten in the air. She ignored it despite it was intensifying as they grew closer to the side of the hangar. She bowed her head briefly and touched her damp brow. Her next steps felt heavy and when she looked at the hangar it seemed like it was so far away despite they were closer. The thin shade that peeked out on the opposite side was so inviting too.

Casey went directly around the side and approached the open mouth. She shrugged off the canvas satchel from her shoulder and entered the firelit hangar.

Alice followed and sensed K-Mart's slow movements behind them.

K-Mart blinked several times, and it helped to get rid of the bright specks in her vision. She regrettably took a deep breath after entering the hangar. Immediately she took in both the disgusting scene and the foul stench that heavily filled the air.

"Let's be quick about this," Alice ordered the pair.

Casey nodded, but her attention was drawn to K-Mart, who was extremely pale now. "K-Mart, are you..."

"Shit," K-Mart muttered. She fought the rising burn in her throat, but she was powerless. She managed to dart out of the hangar so she wouldn't be totally embarrassed in front of her friends. She only made it around the side to the waiting shade that lingered over the sand. She collapsed to her knees, and her entire body clenched in protest.

"Damn it," Alice growled. She should have made K-Mart stay with Claire. She only made it a step until Casey touched her arm.

"I got it." Casey dropped her bag on the floor then hurried after K-Mart. She easily followed the sounds of vomiting from the human. She knelt down beside the hurting human and gently touched her damp back near the shotgun's buttstock. She frowned at seeing K-Mart's lunch had come up.

K-Mart spit out the last bit of vile and shook her head. "I'm fine," she hoarsely insisted.

"You could have fooled me," Casey replied. She wasn't joking though and studied the human's profile. "You should go back to the chopper... Alice and I can take care of this."

K-Mart shook her head again, but she needed to get away from the vomit that seemed worse than what was in the hangar. She discovered her body wasn't as weak as earlier and could stand up.

Casey stayed close and followed the human, who took residence against the hangar's siding. She stood in front of K-Mart and visually assessed the human's symptoms.

K-Mart lowered her head against the hangar's cool metal siding and found a lot of relief in it. She shut her eyes and explained, "It wasn't... what was inside the hangar." She breathed heavily. "I mean it didn't help though."

Casey shifted closer then cautiously touched the human's forehead. "You're rather hot." She pulled her hand away and rubbed the slick sweat between her thumb and index finger. She raised her palm near her nose and inhaled K-Mart's scent. "And getting dehydrated." She didn't detect enough salt in the human's moisture.

K-Mart wasn't about to ask how Casey determined her current state. She instead finally looked at the older woman. "I'll be alright," she insisted and straightened up.

Casey hastily extended her right arm and blocked the human's escape. She stepped in closer.

K-Mart went still upon seeing Casey's stern features. She leaned against the metal siding again and waited for the pending lecture.

"I'll need your help tonight," Casey reminded. "I don't need you half out of it." She lowered her arm. "That's when we'll get into trouble."

K-Mart sighed and gave into Casey's honesty. She brushed away a loose strand from her damp brow. "I do feel better," she confessed. "I just need to drink some water when we get back to the helicopter."

Casey straightened up and debated whether to send the human back now. Her brown chipped emerald eyes flickered to the right after she heard Alice's movements in the hangar. "Alright." She focused back on K-Mart. "If you feel sick again, then you'll go back."

"Promise," K-Mart assured.

Casey nodded then withdrew after feeling confident in K-Mart's revived tone and improved color. Together she and K-Mart returned to the hangar's entrance.

"Damn pineapples," K-Mart complained.

Casey shot a grin but slipped into the stench filled hangar. She approached Alice, who unsheathed a short sword from a leather scarab.

"Wow," K-Mart murmured. She visually scanned over the blade that reflected in the dying firelight. "What kind of sword is that?" She noted it had a short blade, and it instantly made her think of the Gladiator movie. "Is it Roman?"

"Roman style," Alice answered. She turned the blade through her hands and studied it. The double-edge blade didn't have any rust, but it was aged and unpolished. Most likely the edge was quite dull. "But it's civil war era." She looked at K-Mart and noted the obvious confusion. "The Union and Confederate foot soldiers would have carried these... this is probably Confederate." She held out the sword to the human.

K-Mart collected it and was surprised by its heavy weight. She shook her head and found the simple hilt quite intriguing. She liked the swirl design on either end of the crossguard. It was surely a solid bronze hilt and well worn from combat.

"It's modeled after the Roman gladius," Casey told the human.

K-Mart hadn't really handled a sword until now. She was about to return it to Alice but was caught by surprise when Alice tossed her the scarab.

"That's probably an original scarab for it," Alice mentioned. "Casey can teach you how to sharpen and clean it."

Casey glanced over at Alice and held her tongue. She wondered what Alice was thinking in letting a human use a sword as a weapon around undead. But she had to admit once a gun ran out of bullets then a blade could be a lifesaver.

Alice grinned at K-Mart's shocked look. She broke away from the pair and returned to the raid. She was putting away the canned food into a canvas bag.

K-Mart sheathed the short sword and joined the twins with bagging the food. She'd put the scarab's leather strap across her chest, but the sword hung under her right arm in a tedious spot. She'd have to adjust it later.

"Why you think that guy kept that undead?" K-Mart tempted.

Alice tossed the last cans in the canvas bag. "He probably knew him... maybe his brother." She looked over at the undead and the half mutilated human, but she didn't think they were related in any way. Another thought came to mind as to why he may have kept the undead with him. Alice swallowed hard and pushed away the notion that love could make one so blind to reality.

Casey ventured over to the cot and lifted the mattress. She didn't want to miss a thing and was rewarded by pictures. She fished them out and tilted them until the fading firelight fell on the first image. She raised an eyebrow at the now dead human resting his head on another man's shoulder. They were both smiling at the camera and looked rather happy. Casey lowered the picture and gazed over at the undead. She knew then that the undead was the other male in the picture.

Casey returned the pictures after flipping through them and having a glimpse at what probably explained the dead human's need to keep the undead creature. She was saddened by what the T-virus had stolen from the two men.

"Anything else?" Alice called to the pair. "We should get back."

K-Mart took Alice's side after carefully making her way around the lifeless bodies. She nervously studied them and asked, "What about them?"

Alice understood what K-Mart wanted to do. She frowned and softly replied, "There's no time for them."

K-Mart didn't argue despite it wasn't what she wanted to hear. She glanced over at Casey, who picked up one of the heavy bags.

Alice easily held the second one loaded with cans and first aid supplies. "Let's go." She directed K-Mart out first then Casey followed Alice.

Casey stole a last glance at the former lovers. She shook her head and shifted out of the hangar, which slowly faded into darkness after the last flames died in the ashes.

Alice had a wide gait and hurried back to the helicopter. She could sense Claire's urgency to go and wasn't surprised when the rotors whined to life.

Jill was at the open door and informed, "Claire is ready to take off." She knew the roaring engines were explanation enough. But she had her orders from Claire too. "Get buckled up." She took the hefty satchel from Alice. She and Casey hurried to get the bags lashed down with the other supplies.

Casey thanked Jill for the help and made sure to grab a canteen of water. She found that K-Mart was getting situated in a seat so Casey reclaimed her earlier seat. Once she and K-Mart were settled, she handed over the canteen in reminder to their earlier agreement.

K-Mart didn't hesitate to drink, especially since she was so parched. The cool water soothed her aching throat and relieved her burning skin. She was glad to be away from the sun despite the helicopter's interior was just as warm. Soon enough they'd be higher up in the cooler atmosphere.

Casey retrieved the canteen and screwed it down. She wanted to ask K-Mart if she felt better, yet she withheld due to Jill and Leon's presence. Instead she relaxed in the seat and waited until the helicopter was moving towards Houston again.

K-Mart retrieved a hair tie from her wrist then hastily pulled her long hair off her shoulders. She quickly had her hair in a bun that kept her shoulders cooler. She was thankful that she chose to wear a white shirt before sneaking onto the Osprey. Finally content, K-Mart dropped her head against the headrest and dozed off within minutes.

Casey studied the human's exhausted features and was glad that she was resting before they arrived near Houston. She hoped K-Mart's health would bounce back by the time they landed for the mission. She leaned her head against the haul and crossed her legs. After awhile, she felt a gentle weight on her left shoulder. Casey looked down and wistfully smiled at K-Mart's head against her shoulder. She made sure not to shift around anymore and merely relaxed again. She considered what Jill and especially Leon thought of K-Mart's current position, and it simply made her smirk.

K-Mart was motionless the rest of the ride until she was jerked awake by the helicopter's suddenly decreased airspeed. She lifted her head and realized exactly where she'd been resting. She did well to hide her embarrassment and noted that Casey didn't acknowledge it either.

Casey freed herself from the seat and went directly to the supplies. She already knew exactly what had to be taken for the mission thanks to Alice. She proceeded to get the packs unstrapped from the cargo bay.

K-Mart briefly watched Casey, but she then looked towards the cockpit at her sister. She read the seriousness on Claire's face.

"Right over there," Alice instructed her partner. She straightened up in the chair. "At two o'clock."

"Got it." Claire carefully swung the Osprey around nearly a hundred eighty degrees so the tail faced the east. "Get the team ready while I land us."

Alice nodded then removed her headset. After unhooking herself, she hurried to the cargo bay and ordered the team to prepare for disembarking. She then assisted Casey with the packs and carefully distributed them to everybody but Claire.

"Get the loading ramp down," Alice called to her clone.

Casey crossed the short distance and hit the button. She listened to the gears whine then the ramp slowly opened and the setting sunlight flooded into the cargo bay. She made her way to Alice and sadly smiled. "Be careful down there."

Alice returned the smile and promised, "See you in the morning." She reached to her side and unhooked a pocket watch on a carabineer. She tossed it to her twin and reminded, "Seven thirty-five sharp."

Casey caught the watch and clenched it tightly. She wanted to hug Alice goodbye, but there wasn't time to do it. They'd already shared their goodbye earlier so she started past Alice to go to the cockpit. But to her surprise, Alice wrangled her into a one arm hug when she came by. Casey returned the quick yet fierce hug before forcing herself to go to the cockpit.

Alice peered across her shoulder at Casey, but she then went to K-Mart.

K-Mart had unbuckled herself a second ago and now stood up when Alice came to her. She didn't say anything and merely hugged her friend tightly.

Alice held the worried human and softly promised her that they'd see each other soon. She only withdrew when she sensed Claire coming to them. She touched K-Mart's cheek briefly then slipped away to Jill and Leon.

Claire sadly smiled at her sister's nearly hidden upset. She didn't expect K-Mart to jump into her arms, and she took a half step back before regaining her balance. She lowered her head closer to K-Mart's and murmured, "Stay close to Casey."

"I will," K-Mart promised. She cursed that her voice trembled. She wanted Claire to stay with her, but she held down her pleas.

"I love you, K," Claire whispered. Her body clenched when K-Mart squeezed her harder.

"I love you too." K-Mart stole one last second with her sister. But she had to let go or else she wouldn't let Claire leave. She pulled away then took a step back from Claire.

Claire gave a reassuring smile to her sister then she went over to her waiting partner. She received the black pack from Alice and promptly put it on. She buckled the straps across her waist and over her chest on her short walk towards the lowered ramp.

Jill and Leon joined Alice and Claire near the ramp and organized a few last items hooked or clasped on their body. Jill gave a nod that she was ready to go. She already knew Leon was set too.

Alice gave the signal to go because once they were outside they wouldn't hear much over the rotorcraft's engines and the spinning props. She led everybody out except for Claire, who remained on the ledge of the ramp in the V-22.

Claire took the first step onto the ramp, but she turned back to her sister. She held up her hand and gave a last confident smile.

K-Mart couldn't hold down her grin at seeing Claire's trademark smile. She waved back and sadly watched Claire continue down the ramp at a jog.

Claire removed her ball cap before the propwash from the helicopter tore it away. She brushed her red hair from her face and followed the team over to a concrete trench that once used to support Houston's vast drainage system. But she quickly noted that Jill broke from the team.

Jill jogged to the nose of the Osprey until she made out Casey in the pilot's seat. She waved at Casey and received thumbs up from the clone. She back stepped twice before rejoining the group.

Claire gazed back at the ramp door, which was sealing up. Then the helicopter rose off the ground and rocked a few times before lifting off more smoothly. She focused back on the mission and followed the team to the ledge of the huge trench that could easily allow a truck to maneuver in it.

Alice knelt next to the edge, but she didn't smell or sense any threat in the trench. She looked towards the dark mouth and still didn't sense anything. She stood up and ordered, "Jill."

Jill Valentine accepted she was to go first and carefully jumped into the trench. She landed in the small, murky stream of water that ran down in the trench's steepest incline. She faced the team and waited to see who needed help.

"Leon," Alice ordered next. After he was down, she looked at her partner and gave a questioning glance.

Claire canted her head and silently waited for any command. In her hands was her ball cap that she clenched around the brim.

"Your turn," Alice softly told. She restrained from helping Claire, who easily jumped off the concrete edge and neatly landed near Jill.

Jill kept her hands at the ready in case the leader slipped, but she peered up at Alice. She noted Alice scanning the local area, and it made Jill slightly impatient. She bit her tongue because an argument right now wasn't a good idea.

Alice saw nothing alive or undead around the area. They were in barren lands far away from the city's suburban area. But that didn't keep her from worrying about attacks or sensors. She twisted her head to the left and studied the Osprey that appeared as a speck in the red sky. She wished her clone good luck and hoped to see her by sunrise.

Claire studied her blood partner's poised figure in the soft orange and red sky. She saw everything that the humans missed in Alice. There was a dark animal that lurked under Alice's skin, but Claire learned that trusting Alice was the key. In Claire's opinion, animals had a keener sense of right and wrong than any human. Claire lost her thoughts when her partner looked down at her. She had a smile pulling at her lips.

Alice briefly returned it before she suddenly jumped, back flipped, and landed perfectly beside her partner. She received a nudge to the side.

"Show off," Claire teased.

Alice flashed a grin then hurried to the mouth of the drainage system. "It's going to be a long hike."

Claire joined her partner but was putting on her ball cap. She squeezed the brim between her hands then slipped on the hat backwards. "Five miles, right?"

"Just to the facility's system," Alice reminded.

Jill was fishing out a head lamp. "We better get started then."

Claire and Leon also retrieved their head lamps and put them on then powered up the LEDs. They gathered around the entrance and inwardly prepared to take on the challenge.

"What's the order?" Claire asked her partner.

Alice didn't bother getting a head lamp despite she had one. Her vision would adapt to the darkness and the humans' head lamps were more than adequate for her. She looked from the entrance to the group and tackled Claire's question. "I'll be first then Claire and Leon." She looked at Jill. "You cover the rear." She trusted Jill's skill and honed senses to protect the back of the team.

"Let's go." Alice turned to the dark mouth and inhaled the lingering odor that was a combination of sewage, stagnant water, growth, and god knows what else. She pushed away the odor from her mind and walked into the drainage system.

Claire followed her partner, but she couldn't see much at first. She heard her boots sloshing through the water. Slowly her eyes adjusted to the darkness and the LEDs highlighted the concrete walls and floor. She then heard a low squeak that made her clench her hands.

"I forgot to mention I hate rats," Claire revealed to the group.

Alice grinned and promised, "It was a mouse."

"Liar," Claire whispered. But she really had no idea if it was a rat or mouse.

Alice chuckled yet reminded, "As long as it's not infected then..."

Claire hummed. "I'll second that." She would take a rat any day over an infected rodent.

"I thought you hated snakes, RC," Jill brought up. She felt how the small talk was relaxing them, for now.

A chill ran down Claire's spine then another thought made her almost gag. "Can you imagine an infected snake?"

Jill smirked and recalled a time when she came to the Redfields' house and witnessed Claire killing a snake that'd invaded the home. She tormented, "You know how to swing a mean shovel."

Alice glanced back at her partner and softly asked, "You killed snakes with a shovel?"

Claire shrugged and replied, "Or whatever is handy."

Alice gave a low laugh and imagined a young Claire Redfield fighting a snake with a shovel. She actually felt sorry for the snake. She and the team went quiet again and continued the trek deeper into the system that wound its way further east towards Houston. They didn't plan on the mission being speedy, but it was stealthy compared to Alice's normal technique with an Umbrella facility. Alice just hoped they could stay under Umbrella's radar until the last possible second when they'd detonate the bombs. There was nothing more glorious than pulling the rug out from under Umbrella or in this case, the ground.

Continued.