Resident Evil: Phoenix by Red Hope

Chapter 24

Alice took another step then stared coldly at all the undead beyond the chained linked fence. She narrowed her eyes and breathed in their rank scent that wired her blood. She turned her head and looked at her partner that took her side.

Claire gave a swift pump of the shotgun then lowered it. She could do with her ball cap to keep the sun out of her eyes. "Pretty day to shoot some undead."

Alice smirked. "You're getting too use to our line of work."

Claire grinned and nodded. But the awful stench in the air caused her nose to crinkle in protest. "I'm gonna need another shower after this." She squeezed her nose briefly but studied all the mangled faces that gnawed at the fencing.

Janus and Casey had their rifles loaded and ready to go. They approached Claire and Alice from behind after shutting the dilapidated building's door.

Janus sniffed the air and checked, "You're sure Wesker is out there?"

Alice darkly smiled at Janus. "I can feel him." She looked back at the front gate that she and Casey had repaired a long time ago. She didn't have much of a plan until she had Wesker in her sights. She wasn't overly concerned with the mass of undead. Alice looked at her clones and ordered, "Let's go."

Casey had several guns on her body that were hidden within her long duster. Only the sais reflected the morning light down on her boots. She raised her rifle and followed behind Claire.

Janus stayed at Alice's back and was armed to the teeth like Casey and Claire. She was ready to waste any undead that stepped into their path. However, the fire power probably wasn't so necessary thanks to Alice.

As the team moved forward, Alice excited her powers and a dark veil fell over her mind. She narrowed her eyes at the gates and forced them open with her telekinesis.

Claire faltered some because she expected the undead to flood into the open grounds. But she was amazed by how they stayed still. Their grumbles, groans, and hot breathes became louder as the team marched forward to the gates. She aimed the shotgun at them and prepared to fire so they could get through them.

However, the undead began parting like a receding tide and opened a wide enough path for the humans to pass through. Yet they still growled and hissed for the fresh blood that called to them. How they yearned to sink their teeth into the warm skin and paint their faces in blood.

Alice continued using her powers to protect them. All her powers and strength among the undead was well respected even by their nearly mindless brains. She stared down any that considered getting near them. She would shred them with her psionic powers if need be, but she found they were smart enough to bow their heads and step away.

Claire continued scanning the undead for any attempts to attack them. She was breathing hard, but she had no fears. She was beginning to understand the creatures after so long. Her eyes cut forward once she saw advanced undead in their path.

Alice stepped in front of Claire and snapped, "Move!" She prepared to destroy the advanced creatures with a single thought.

The advanced undead were perturbed yet moved aside to finally reveal their leader. They extended their tentacles at the humans as they walked past them. Their long tentacles nearly touched them, but one of the clones slammed their buttstock into a tentacle.

Casey glared at the advanced undead that reminded her of the one that'd attacked K-Mart. She hated the damn things. She shifted to Claire's side and narrowed her eyes at the blond-haired man dressed from head to toe in black. She grunted after she realized it was Chairman Albert Wesker.

Janus sniffed the air coming off Wesker and knew the T-virus was thick in his blood. She shook her head because there was something else she couldn't place. It bothered her too.

"Why am I still not surprised," Alice coldly stated to Wesker.

Wesker's lip pulled with a grin. "Welcome back, Alice."

Alice slotted her eyes and a blue glow entered them. She approached him and commented, "You can't stay dead, can you?"

Wesker coolly smirked. "I'm not here to fight." He reached up, removed his black sunglasses, and exposed his cat-like eyes. "I came to talk."

Claire broke from the group and joined her partner's side. "We heard you resigned from Umbrella."

Wesker's attention shifted to Claire for the first time. He become curious and leaned closer to her, which gave him a better chance to smell her. But a strong hand around his throat forced him upright. He chuckled deeply and smirked at Alice. "You have a mate."

"Talk," Alice growled. She squeezed his throat for good measure then shoved him out of Claire's space. "Quickly."

Wesker hadn't lost his smug look, but he straightened out his collar. "I have a proposal."

Alice tilted her head and casually folded her arms. She waited for him to speak.

"We're not human anymore but look at the power we've gained," Wesker started.

Claire instantly didn't like where this proposal was headed already.

"It's more than Umbrella's power," Wesker insisted. "We are bigger than Umbrella or any company like them." He held Alice's blue eyes with his red ones. "We are unmatched by anybody." He shifted his predatory eyes to Claire Redfield. "Especially humans."

Alice was growing further agitated, and it shined brightly in her eyes. "What's your point, Wesker?"

Wesker quickly focused on Alice again and offered, "We destroy Umbrella together then there will be nobody left to contend with." A dark grin pulled at the corner of his lips. "We will rule this world." He held out his hand at the undead that surrounded them. "They already obey us."

Alice annoyed features suddenly cracked from an amused look then she chuckled. "Rule what?" She shook her head and argued, "Thousands of groaning, infested corpses that infect a dead Earth?"

"You are two thirds of them," Wesker sharply reminded.

Alice smirked this time and argued, "But the good two thirds." She shook her head. "No thanks." Several options started caming to mind on how to deal with Wesker.

Claire raised her shotgun when Wesker put his sunglasses back on. She didn't like how his condescending smirk was tugging at his lips. She would love to nail him in the face if he wasn't so incredibly fast and stronger.

"It's a shame we have a difference of opinions." Wesker put his hands behind his back. "I thought you would be grateful, Alice."

"Grateful?" Alice was quite amused, again. "For turning me into a monster?"

Wesker sighed, rather sadly but then he grinned and argued, "A god." He now strolled off a few steps and mentioned, "Before you were just a mere immortal." He faced the two women, but all his attention was on Alice. "I made us gods."

"You gave her the G-virus," Claire cut in. She felt his fiery eyes despite his sunglasses hid them. "You knew she could bond with the G-virus."

Wesker smirked at the human leader's ability to connect the dots. He smartly mentioned, "Alice's blood is worth a lot on the market." He shifted his features to Alice. "Umbrella isn't the only corporation capable of cloning."

Claire went slightly wide eye after she realized what this could mean. The idea that other corporations were out there, including Umbrella, still cloning Alice for experiments made her blood go cold.

Alice growled and suddenly rushed Wesker, but she wasn't fast enough. Her target was gone, and she snapped her head to the right where he moved to about ten feet away.

Wesker lifted his gloved index finger and wagged it at Alice. He noted the blue intensity rising in Alice's eyes. "If we can't join then you're competition." He continued back stepping from the group.

Alice reached behind and extracted her only weapons, her two kukris. She spun them and took only one step closer until Wesker had that grin that set off warning bells in her head.

"Alice!" Claire hollered. She actually saw Wesker blur into fast motion.

But Alice was unprepared for it and took a solid punch to her chest. She launched into the air, but she easily caught herself with her telekinesis. She floated about ten feet off the ground.

Wesker tilted his head and murmured, "Impressive."

Janus hastily elbowed her twin.

Casey took the silent hint because they were thinking the same thing. She and Janus aimed their rifles on Wesker and immediately fired on him. But their aim was already off as Wesker moved at an incredible speed. Casey stopped firing first then after Janus halted only then did she see Wesker reform several yards away.

Janus looked at Casey.

Casey assessed her twin's worried glance then looked over at Alice, who was back on the ground.

Wesker looked from the clones to Alice and coolly mentioned, "You brought a few friends again." He grinned and actually showed his teeth. "So did I."

Alice approached the clones and Claire again. She wasn't sure what to expect from Wesker, but she heard the movements from around them in the undead mass. She raised her kukris.

Claire edged closer to her partner. Her heart rate increased as a red flood marched into the semicircle that the undead crowd made around them. "Oh my god," she whispered in horror.

Alice lowered her kukris. Abruptly her ire drained away and was replaced by a thin layer of alarm. How could this be real? She stared in slight awe.

Casey was shaking her head. She parted her lips, but words were useless at what stood before them. She could feel Janus's distraught emotions too. She wondered how could this happen?

"You fucking bastard!" Claire's enraged voice cut through her partner's distraught mind. Claire scanned all the repeating faces that were marred with decomposition. There were countless bloody red dresses, darkly discolored skin, and death's scent loomed in the air.

Alice was shaken by raw anger at seeing her dead clones reawaken as half mindless undead. All eighty-seven of them were controlled by Wesker and were hungry for blood. Such deep rage filled Alice after she realized what Wesker had done to the dead clones. As if their creation, torture, and death wasn't enough, but now Wesker had stolen their peace in the afterlife.

Alice barred her teeth at Wesker and snarled, "I will kill you."

Wesker wasn't concerned about the threat and instead ordered, "Kill them all." He continued reversing while the undead clones advanced on the four women. He was inwardly excited to watch the battle that would ensue. He doubted that Alice and the humans were prepared for the clones' powers.

"Stay close together!" Alice sharply ordered her partner and the clones. She started breathing harder and warily watched several undead clones snake out their tentacle mouths.

Casey blinked away the sting in her eyes. She didn't want to do what they had to do so they could live. She never saw this coming. Like Janus and Alice, she would hurt from having to kill the undead clones.

Janus readied her rifle and was the first to initiate the onslaught. She began firing at the closest undead clones at their heads. She watched them drop like flies, one by one. Casey joined her within seconds, and Claire was rapidly firing shots into the undead clones.

Alice gritted her teeth and watched the undead clones fall, but more were still coming for them. Her senses prickled with warning, and she bent her knees. Something just wasn't right and slowly it came to light as the fallen undead started to get back up on their boots after taking multiply shots to the head.

"Don't waste your bullets!" Alice ordered the group. Once the gunfire ceased, she explained, "They're not alive simply from the T-virus." She hadn't forgotten how Wesker survived a direct shotgun hit to the head and was reanimated in minutes. But her brief thoughts were fractured by a sudden charge coming from the undead clones. "Move!" she bellowed.

Janus felt it coming too and grabbed Casey by the wrist. She hauled Casey out of the line of fire, but they were thrown in the air by the psionic explosion. A wrenched scream broke from her lips until she slammed into the ground, face first. She groaned from the rifle hitting her chest.

Casey struggled to get up, but she helped her twin and looked back towards Alice and Claire. She could tell they'd just made it in time before the psionic blast blew them apart too. "They still have their powers," she murmured in surprise.

Janus slung her rifle across her back. "But they're young... compared to us."

Casey silently agreed that their powers were more developed. Their only other edge over the undead clones was that their minds weren't half dead.

Janus reached behind and extracted her sword. "Let's see how they do without a head on their shoulders."

Casey knelt down and gripped her sais' hilts. She peered up after running boot steps echoed in her ears. She popped up and met the sudden wave of undead clones that came for her and Janus.

Janus was swift and immediately decapitated three clones with a clean swipe. She ignored how it felt to fight and kill her mirror image that she would have concerned her sister. She soaked in the heat of battle and was excited when the beheaded clones stayed dead this time.

Claire Redfield wasn't having as much luck as her partner. She only had her shotgun, which she quickly flipped around and used the buttstock. She slammed several undead clones in the face to keep them off her. But they jumped back on their feet, and it was obvious to Claire that the undead clones knew martial arts.

"Shit," Claire cursed under her breath. She continued using the shotgun like a makeshift staff. But she was losing ground quickly. "Alice!"

Alice was yards away thanks to the undead clones separating them. She cussed after she spotted an undead clone getting close to Claire's backside. She growled, beheaded the undead clone on her right, and took a wide yet twisting step to her right. She threw her kukri towards Claire but her telekinesis made it spin faster.

Claire jumped when the undead clone that'd moved behind her collapsed at her heels. She hastily ducked after another undead clone grabbed for her. She rolled over the fallen undead, dropped her shotgun, grabbed the kukri sticking out its skull, yanked it out, and jumped up. She perfectly swiped and sliced undead clone's head off. Claire brought the kukri around and decapitated the fallen undead clone's head before it was revived in time.

Alice grew sick of the game despite she was killing the undead clones with such speed. There were psionic blasts going off everywhere. She knew some were from Janus and Casey, but most were from the undead clones trying to get the upper hand. A low rumble started off to Alice's right and was headed for Claire. Panic set in, and Alice hollered for her partner.

But Claire was locked in and took a hard strike to her side from an undead clone. Then tentacles lashed around her wrist so she couldn't fight with the kukri anymore. She cried out just as the psionic blast rippled towards her. A blow to the back of her knees sent her down. Her attackers would certainly survive the psionic blast, but she wouldn't make it. Claire started standing up until a blow to her face made her fall to her knees again. Her groan barely was audible as the psionic blast roared in her ears. She began collapsing forward after the undead clone released her wrist. Claire toppled into strong arms then suddenly she was airborne just as the blast sent rocks and dust exploding in front of her.

Alice held her partner tightly as she launched straight up in the air before the blast hit them. She slowed at about two hundred feet off the ground. She hastily tilted Claire's head and saw the bleeding under her lip. She gave a low growl in promise to put the dead clones back to rest. But first she placed her hand against Claire's bruising and bleeding face.

Instantly the comforting heat started on Claire's face as the G-virus traveled up to her head and gathered wherever Alice beckoned it. Quickly the G-virus repaired the damage and restored Claire's face as if the attacks didn't take place. Alice knew where the other pains were located so she directed the G-virus down to her partner's aching stomach. Within seconds the injury and pain were gone, and Claire grasped her partner's shoulder.

Alice managed a weak smile at seeing her partner renewed. Briefly, she realized that the coded G-virus in Claire's system was a blessing for them. A blast from below made her turn her head to the right. She gritted her teeth at seeing Janus and Casey thrown back from a psionic blast then the undead clones surged on them like a wave.

Claire held onto her partner tighter when the sudden dive back to Earth began. She felt every drop of Alice's anger for what'd happened to the once dead clones. She foresaw what would happen once Alice's boots met the ground below. Claire quickly slid out of Alice's arms once they were on the ground in front of Janus and Casey.

Alice set off a blast far greater than what any clone could bring forth. She watched in satisfaction as the wave of undead clones were washed away from them.

Claire checked on Janus and Casey, who regained their footing after suffering a direct hit from a psionic blast. "Are you alright?" She looked between the pair.

"Never better," Janus remarked. She dragged her bloody sword off the ground.

Casey simply nodded and spun her sais's blades under her wrist. She gazed upon Alice, who was in front of them and confronting the undead clones. "There have to be still fifty or so moving." She scanned the beheaded bodies around them. Her stomach twisted with a nasty vile. If she survived this battle, then she'd be burying the dead clones, again.

Alice held her ground and darkly stared down the undead clones that climbed back on their feet. Once a long time ago she'd loved that red dress, but then it only reminded her of an ugly past with Umbrella. Now the red dress mocked her as she faced fifty former clones that existed because of Dr. Isaacs. Her rage boiled hotter in her blood.

Several undead clones advanced on their enemy, but they were sharply thrown back by an invisible force. Three more undead clones tempted fate and ran towards Alice. They displayed their tentacle mouths, but only briefly before they were tossed like decaying ragdolls.

Alice went on offense and approached the undead clones. She listened to their groans of desire, which encouraged the viruses in her system. She snapped her head to the right and locked her blue eyes on her lost kukris. They lifted in the air and came flying to her then were snatched out of the air. Alice gave a low cry at the undead clones, who met her challenge and came for her.

Janus stepped in front of Claire Redfield and readied her sword. She wasn't surprised that a few undead clones slipped past Alice. "Protect Claire," she snapped at Casey.

Casey flipped her blades out then took two running steps towards a nearby undead. She launched into the air, wrapped her ankles around the undead's neck, and harshly snapped it within seconds before she landed on her boots. She swung her right arm around and used the sai to tear off the dead clone's head before it could be reanimated.

Janus stabbed one undead clone in the chest, cut another's head off, and decapitated the earlier one in swift order. She moved forward to handle any approaching undead clones.

Claire stayed near Janus and Casey, but her attention was drawn to one of the beheaded clones that Janus had cut down. She knelt beside it and stared oddly at the cleanly sliced neck. She freed her dagger after she noticed the bloody yet light brown tentacles limply protruding out from the neck. Claire cautiously poked the dagger's tip into the foreign object, which abruptly whipped it's long, thin arms in the air towards Claire.

"Shit," Claire gasped and tumbled back before the tentacles got her wrists. She went wide eye when the tentacles latched onto the ground then wrenched itself free from the clone's neck. Claire had an awful flashback from the movie, Aliens, of the facehuggers. The creature's quick movements caused Claire to crawl back hastily. She could tell the tiny creature was about to pounce her. But a sai's three blades drove into it and ended its life.

Casey twisted her sai for good measure then looked up at Claire after the creature went still. "I think that's what's reanimating the clones."

Claire shook her head and replied, "It's some kind of parasite."

Casey yanked her sai out of the creature then argued, "We can let Dr. Green decided on that." She held out her other hand and helped Claire back to her feet.

Claire kept her dagger at her side, but she realized how there were barely any undead clones left standing. She was awed by Alice's ability to cut down a majority of them. She tensed after Alice used another psionic blast to keep them back.

"Come on," Casey urged. She wanted to stay close to Janus and Alice.

Alice threw one kukri and controlled it as it sliced several undead clones' necks. She took out a few others with her single blade before the second one returned to her empty hand. She sensed one undead clone behind her.

"Alice!" Janus hollered in warning, but it was too late.

Alice had a strong arm across her throat. In surprise, she laughed at the undead clone's attempt to break her neck and reached behind for its head. Her hand tangled in dirty, matted hair but as she tore the undead off, it wrapped its tentacles around her throat. Alice growled then used the kukri to get free.

The undead clone protested from the pain then it was thrown into the last remaining undead. They stumbled to get back up, but it was short lived before a blade went through their necks. They barely had a chance to react to Alice's onslaught.

The last standing undead clone kicked at Alice's head and nearly caught Alice. But it performed several hand-to-hand combat moves before a strong hand wrapped around its throat. It was lifted up into the air.

Alice smirked at the last undead clone. She couldn't feel for it, not right now. She instead drew her kukri behind and prepared to slice it's head off.

The undead clone shot out its tentacles, which crashed into an invisible shield around Alice. The parasite, deep in the clone's throat, roared in protest before it was silenced by the kukri's blade. The decaying head teetered then fell off and rolled on the ground next to another clone's body.

Alice opened her hand and let the body fall in peace. She used her telekinesis to retrieve her other kukri and promptly wiped the blades clean on the nearest red dress in her sight. She felt Claire and the two clones hurrying over, but the clapping in the distance caught her attention.

Albert Wesker continued clapping after the magnificent, bloody show. He had little faith that Alice would survive it, but he was wrong. There was a beast deep in Alice that was let loose during the fighting. He admired the beast's beauty.

Alice locked her sights on Wesker, who was gloating like normal. She started for him and used her telekinesis to toss all the heads and bodies aside. She sprinted for him then jumped only a yard away from him. She brought down her kukris at his head. Her boots hit the ground first then her blades' tips echoed against the hardened, cracked earth. Alice took a blow to her upper back and sent her down on her hands. She annoyingly recalled Wesker's super speed.

Wesker kicked Alice in the stomach and sent her flying several feet onto her back. "Always so slow to catch on," he taunted to Alice.

Alice popped onto her feet then performed a roundhouse kick that completely missed. But she expected it and threw her right kukri after she read Wesker's body language. She smirked after he went still and displayed the kurki in his stomach.

Wesker ripped the blade out then tossed it. He gave a small grin at Alice for finally getting it right. He then held up a index finger and commented, "You do realize your future hinges upon this fight." His cocky smile returned.

Alice mirrored it and replied, "Maybe not mine... but yours does." She raised her hands and shot off lightning bolts that she knew Wesker wouldn't expect from her.

Wesker hadn't calculated for it and took one directly. He hollered and went flying until he creamed into several advanced undead in the semicircle. He rolled onto his feet, stepped away from the undead, and cracked his neck back into place. He brushed off the dirt from his suit and straightened his jacket. He studied the electrical currents dancing around Alice's hands.

Alice waved him on in a silent gloat.

Wesker blurred into motion and struck Alice from different directions. He struggled not to get caught by her hands. He delivered a hard blow to Alice's back leg.

Alice went down on her right knee. Another strike to her left shoulder made her fall. She tried shooting bolts at him, but Wesker moved a second too soon.

"Alice," Claire breathed in fear. She started to her partner, but Casey tackled her.

"You'll get killed," Casey furiously insisted.

Claire shoved Casey off but then Janus snared her across the stomach. She watched in horror as Alice was repeatedly slammed in the stomach by Wesker's boot tip. Claire reacted by flipping Janus over her body.

Janus was stunned by lifted her head and watched Claire take off for Alice. "Shit!" She struggled to get up but Casey was going after Claire already.

Wesker drove another kick deeper into Alice's curled up body. He was satisfied when Alice went airborne then crashed into a few undead clones' bodies. He tilted his head when he heard Claire Redfield's running steps. "You see, Alice... I know your weakness."

Alice climbed onto her hands and knees. She coughed and recalled the last time this happened to her with Wesker. She inhaled sharply but gazed past Wesker to see Claire. "No," she muttered.

Claire had her dagger ready and prepared to drive it into Wesker's head. She lost her element of surprise when he twisted his head towards her. She then couldn't seem him and suddenly felt him behind her. Claire cried out when Wesker grabbed her hair and jerked her head around.

Casey first attacked Wesker in hopes Claire could get free. She aimed a solid punch at his face. But her knuckle crumpled under the blow because it was striking steel. She involuntarily shook her hand once until she was kicked so hard that it sent her near the undead. Casey moaned then heard Janus slam into the ground near her.

Janus whimpered after taking such a harsh kick into her stomach. She prayed the T-virus would quickly ease her pain. She hadn't suffered such a hit before, and she coughed up blood. She barely lifted her head and witnessed Wesker twisting red hair tighter. "Claire," she painfully murmured.

Claire grounded her teeth then brought the dagger around and plunged it into Wesker's side. She was freed from his grip so she hastily reversed from him, but he was already moving at fast speeds.

Wesker took Claire down in two simple blows. He prepared to crush her skull with a single punch.

Claire inhaled sharply then looked up for Wesker. She felt hot all over then her eyes brightened with a green ring. Her will to survive was enhanced by the G-virus. Time slowed before her eyes and finally Wesker was revealed to her. Claire kicked forward with all her strength and nailed her heel into Wesker's ankle. She heard him going down so she scrambled to her feet despite the ache in her foot. She raised her dagger and drove the blade into Wesker's shoulder.

Wesker gritted his teeth against the annoying burn, but he quickly moved again. He wasn't sure how Claire did what she did earlier, but it didn't matter. He moved behind her and started for her neck until an elbow collided with his face.

Claire ducked and spun around so she faced Wesker again. She grinned at his broken sunglasses that she'd hit in the process. She spun the bloody dagger through her fingertips while Wesker tossed the sunglasses. "I'm not Alice's weakness."

Wesker's lips lifted in a low sneer. He turned into a blur again, but Claire blocked his blows. He didn't know how it was possible.

Claire relied on the combat training that Alice had taught her. She could predict Wesker's every move, and she blocked each attack. But she needed an opening because soon she'd be too weak to hold her own anymore. Claire foresaw Wesker's next swing and prepared to parry it, but it was her only chance. She brought the dagger around as she pushed off his swing and plunged the blade into the side of his head.

Wesker was stunned by the blade cutting into his brain. He stood motionless then the red light faded from his eyes.

"I'm Alice's strength." Claire smirked at him. But she quickly backed out of his space then her attention flickered to her fast approaching partner. She jumped aside as Alice performed a stunning roundhouse kick.

Wesker was struck on the left temple with such force that he was launched into an airborne spin for a second. He finally slammed into the ground on the right side of his head, and the full dagger was driven into his skull.

Alice quickly went to her partner and grabbed her shoulders. "Are you alright?"

Claire grinned at Alice's concern but seriously replied, "I'm good."

Alice was relieved and nodded, yet there wasn't much time. She recalled the time she'd put a knife into Wesker's head, and he was up within a minute. She turned to him after she heard a low scrape. Damn him, Alice cursed. She made out Claire's low cry. But a direct slash to her face cut through her cheek, down her chin, and nicked her shoulder.

Wesker was at lightning speed again. He attacked Alice without slowing down until Claire Redfield nailed him in the back. He easily reciprocated and punched Claire directly in the stomach.

Claire moaned after she hit the ground on her side. She clutched her stomach and wondered if it still was there. She managed one weak hand under her body but then several hands were on her. She vaguely made out Casey's voice.

"Alice," Claire muttered. She coughed and shook her head to get her vision back. After a moment, her eyes focused again on Alice battling Wesker. She blinked twice from the flashes of light coming off Alice's hands. Once on her feet, she had to lean on Casey for support.

"Come on, Claire." Casey touched the leader's cheek. She worriedly glanced at Janus on Claire's other side.

Claire inhaled deeply despite the initial pain. Then she could actually take in the battle in front of her. She sharply sucked in her next breath and tried running to Alice. She saw Wesker's next move, and it set raw fear in her. Her second step made her go down, but she forced her shaken body back up.

"Claire," Casey hollered. She took two wide steps and helped the leader.

Wesker smirked after Alice took a blow to her mid back. He then zipped to her front again, ducked under a blade then the second kukri and brought out the downturned dagger's blade that was tightly gripped in his gloved hand. Wesker tasted his divine win as the blade impaled Alice's heart with precision and promise.

Alice stood there in pure shock then her kukris slipped from her fingers and loudly resounded against the hard ground.

"The right to be a god," Wesker softly told Alice, "That right is now mine." He smiled when Alice fell to her knees. He canted his head after Alice toppled onto her side then blood oozed from her chest onto the ground. He turned on his heels, put his hands behind his back, and casually approached Claire Redfield and the clones.

Casey was holding Claire but stared in horror at Alice. She could see the blue glow fade from Alice's eyes. Casey was shaken by Claire going for a handgun and firing at Wesker.

Wesker easily dodged the bullets then quickly tore the gun from Claire's hand.

Casey jerked Claire away from Wesker then stepped forward. "Run, Claire!" She heard Janus's running steps. She extracted her bloody sais and readied them at Wesker only a few yards in front of her.

Wesker was amused by the clones' dedication to protect Claire Redfield. He shook his head once then coolly reminded, "I'm immortal." He opened his mouth wide, which released the growling tentacles that wished to taste the clone that carried Alice's T-virus blood. Then he barely caught the slight smirk on Claire's face. Next a warm breath touched Wesker's right ear.

"Then you can spend immortality in pieces," Alice softy purred.

A hot, slick blade was rammed through the side of his neck and pierced the parasite hidden within Wesker's body. All the wild tentacles retreated back in Wesker's mouth. Wesker gurgled blood that dripped from the corner of his mouth. However, the T-virus was hastily regenerating him.

"Alice!" Casey called. She caught Alice's attention, and she took a wide step forward then tossed her sais.

Alice tore out the dagger, dropped it, and the blue glow was returned in her eyes. She wrapped her telekinesis around the flying sais. She easily took them into her hands and swiftly drove them into either side of Wesker's neck. With great force, Alice wrenched them in opposite directions.

Dark blood sprayed in every direction followed by the erratic screams from the parasite harbored in Wesker's neck. Reinforced skin gave out to the incredible thrust behind the sais hacking against bone and blood. Any light in Wesker's eyes faded out after his head was severed from his body. Once the hacked head fell off, the body crumpled and the halved parasite withered after a few weak cries.

Alice stared coldly at Wesker's beheaded body. She enjoyed the permanent shock left on Wesker's face. Only Claire's gentle touch calmed some of her anger. There had to be blood, dirt, and other gore covered over her but still Claire gave her a smile. What wasn't expected was a sudden hug that melted away Alice's heightened predatory senses.

Claire remained in her partner's arms for nearly a minute. Slowly the dark rage started to recede between them and left them both worn from the experience. For those moments, Claire kept her forehead pressed against Alice's then their lips briefly brushed before they somewhat withdrew.

An odd thought came to mind and caused Claire to lean to one side in Alice's arms. Claire gingerly touched Alice's chest where the dagger had stabbed Alice. Already the gaping hole was nearly healed under the bloody shirt.

"Two hearts," Claire murmured. She and Alice traded a knowing look before Claire shifted out of her partner's arms. Fate had an interesting way of showing why things happened the way they did.

Casey and Janus carefully approached the pair after they were confident Wesker wasn't getting back up. For a breath, Janus expected Wesker to grab his loose head and continue the battle. But she relaxed, lowered her red sword, and joined the group.

Alice swallowed hard once Casey was close to them. She lifted the sais in her right hand. "Thanks for the good timing."

Casey grinned and accepted her weapons back. There wasn't any magic to it other than knowing what Alice had needed them that moment to finish Wesker. She kept her blades in her left hand then studied Wesker.

Janus sniffed the hot, stench air and nodded at the crowd of undead audience. "What about them?"

Alice scanned the undead, which were a mix of nearly mindless undead and more advanced ones that were controlled by parasites.

"They're still not attacking us," Claire murmured.

"I thought Wesker was controlling them," Casey debated.

Alice slotted her eyes at several parasite undead that slipped away into the crowd. She parted her lips slightly as she considered what was really going on today. Now that the crowd of undead were surprisingly dispersing, she knew they were missing something.

Claire turned in a half circle and was amazed the undead were simply leaving as if the show was over.

"Wesker wasn't controlling them," Alice finally spoke up. Most likely the undead clones were under Wesker's power but not the audience of undead.

"If not him, then who?" Casey whispered.

"I don't know," Alice murmured. Nothing else tickled Alice's senses the wrong way. Whoever had control over the undead wasn't anywhere near them.

"Great," Janus muttered. She kept a careful eye on the departing flood of undead.

Alice wasn't concerned about it right now. Instead there was a promise to keep for Wesker so Alice held out her hand to Janus.

Janus sensed Alice's request, and she nodded. She gave Alice her sword then mentioned, "Casey and I will get the shovels."

Alice appreciated it but looked at her partner. "I have to..." The glowing blue faded from her eyes.

"I know." Claire touched her partner's upper arm. She wasn't keen on staying and seeing Wesker's body be disassembled. "Where will you.." She shook her head instead because she rather not know what Alice would do with Wesker's pieces. She quietly promised, "I'll be waiting in the facility."

Alice only nodded. But she was thankful for Claire's support.

Claire struggled against her natural urge for a kiss that would silence the prints that the earlier fear left in her heart. She merely squeezed her partner's arm and accepted that later they would make up for it. She tucked her Glock away then started for the facility with Janus and Casey at her side. She noted that the undead were becoming distant figures and peaceful silence crept over the desert.

Casey shrugged the rifle into place on her back. She thought she'd be empty of magazines for the rifle, but she'd barely touched them. How in Hell they went into battle without dropping more shell casings on the ground was amazing to her. However, the fact that the undead just walked off into the horizon caused a chill down her spine. There were too many questions left on Casey's mind.

Janus opened the rundown building's front door then entered after Casey and Claire. She pulled it shut and heard Casey punching in the code for the elevator.

Claire actually felt weary once she put her first foot onto the elevator. She noticed Casey's concerned glance, but she gave a slight smile.

Casey slid her hands into her duster's pockets. She felt the elevator hitch and start the ride down to the facility. She shifted on her spread legs then asked, "So, anybody missing Wesker already?"

Janus grunted and folded her arms. She stared at the negative floor numbers flashed by on the elevator screen. Casey's smart comment made her think of Spence, but that was an aged memory from Alice.

"At least now he's a piece of history," Claire joked to Casey.

Casey chuckled at the leader's pun. She nudged Claire gently and teased, "You miss him to pieces, right?"

Claire softly laughed and shook her head. There was nothing humorous about their situation earlier, but she was glad they could joke about it now.

Janus rolled her eyes at the pair carrying on about Wesker's fate. She gave a low sigh. But a sudden clap to her shoulder made Janus shoot a glare at Casey. She slotted her eyes at Casey's wicked grin.

"Thanks for the help, sis." Casey put her hand back in her duster's pocket.

Janus clicked her tongue once then quietly replied, "Anytime."

Claire grinned at the pair. It was hard to imagine what it was like to be a clone of Alice, hold the memories from a past not theirs, and find the strength to fit into it all. Claire didn't envy their life yet admired them greatly for remaining at Alice's side.

Janus was relieved once the elevator halted at the first floor of the facility. She calmly strolled off as if she was coming in from a regular walk outside. She bit the inside of her mouth when Elisa Green approached her first.

"I don't need to wheel anybody to the lab?" Dr. Green tormented. It was best to keep her hands in her lab coat's pocket, more for Janus's sake than her own.

Janus shook her head. But her gaze shifted over to Claire and K-Mart trading a warm hug.

A sense of relief filled Claire now that she was able to see K-Mart again. Earlier she wasn't sure how it'd play out against Wesker. She released K-Mart and nodded at Casey.

K-Mart muttered something quietly to her sister. Then she faced Casey, who had been curiously watching on earlier. K-Mart took a few steps then bounced into Casey's opening arms.

"I'm a mess, K," Casey murmured into her friend's ear.

K-Mart had her arms around her friend's neck. But an inhale of Casey's mixed scent had calmed her earlier worries. She brushed her cheek across Casey's blood smudged one then murmured, "Like I give a damn."

Casey smiled into K-Mart's warm neck and let out a low breath now that everybody was safe. She tightened her arms around K-Mart's waist a bit more. There was much to be thankful for despite the future was still unsure. But right now, her future wasn't bleak as it had been in Japan after the explosion nearly took her life. Life was indeed fickle.

Continued.