Copyright: Capcom owns the Resident Evil franchise, not me.
Notices: This story contains violence and sexual content. Additionally, this story will contain grammatical or other errors. If you're feverish over the errors, feel free to privately message me about what you find and help me improve.
Summary: The Earth is flourishing, happily. But humans are endangered and on the verge of extinction after the greedy corporation Umbrella knowingly releases a viral plague. Small human civilizations survive including a moving convoy led by the strong Claire Redfield. Her solitary world turns upside down when she meets an infuriating yet mysterious woman named Alice. Claire soon learns about an underground survivor camp through Alice and heads there. However, Claire begins to secretly fear losing K-Mart, who has become her only source of strength over the years.
Feedback: redhope@redhope.net
Homepage: http://www.redhope.net
Write a Review: http://www.redhope.net/residentevil/review/oneshotform.html
List: http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/redhope/
Started: November 11, 2011
Series: One Shot
Copyright: Capcom owns the Resident Evil franchise, not me.
Notices: This story contains violence and sexual content. Additionally, this story will contain grammatical or other errors. If you're feverish over the errors, feel free to privately message me about what you find and help me improve.
Summary: The Earth is flourishing, happily. But humans are endangered and on the verge of extinction after the greedy corporation Umbrella knowingly releases a viral plague. Small human civilizations survive including a moving convoy led by the strong Claire Redfield. Her solitary world turns upside down when she meets an infuriating yet mysterious woman named Alice. Claire soon learns about an underground survivor camp through Alice and heads there. However, Claire begins to secretly fear losing K-Mart, who has become her only source of strength over the years.
Feedback: redhope@redhope.net
Homepage: http://www.redhope.net
Write a Review: http://www.redhope.net/residentevil/review/oneshotform.html
List: http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/redhope/
Started: November 11, 2011
Series: One Shot
Trigon
by Red Hope
Chapter 15
The Ford F-350 was cold tonight and rather empty without Claire in it yet. Soft sobs from K-Mart was the only noise until a half an hour before midnight when the doors unlocked from the remote key. That caused an instant fright in K-Mart.
Claire entered from the passenger side for the front seats. She loaded into the truck, shut the door quietly as possible, and had been relieved when the truck's locks released earlier. An evil demon had taunted her all evening that K-Mart would stay with Alice tonight. But true to her friend's word, a slim figure was curled in the back, blond hair spread out.
Quietly the leader changed into a comfortable top and put her guns on the dash then the radio too. She considered how long K-Mart had been asleep for and decided it was best not to wake her. A bad desire to know what Alice wanted with her friend was eating at her, but it could wait until the morning.
K-Mart remained still and silent under the blankets. She didn't want to face Claire, not right now. If she stirred then Claire would undoubtedly call out to her then she'd break down before Claire. Lying had once been K-Mart's weapon against Claire, but she'd since given it up under Claire's piercing gaze. And she'd learned how much more Claire respected her as she remained honest and true. K-Mart refused to go that route again and instead just hoped she could have this night alone before her personal Hell was lit.
Claire propped up against the door with the pillow cushioning her back. She tugged her cap's brim over her face then leaned her shoulder against the bench seat. Her skin prickled from the tense air in the truck. She was certain that K-Mart was still awake. Not disturbing her friend was hard for Claire. She kept her arms folded and continued inhaling the thickness around them.
K-Mart couldn't control her silent tears for her mother, for Alice, and for what tonight may do to them all. Eventually exhaustion claimed her. She drifted into a rather dark nightmare about her mother turning into an undead and stalking her. And like Claire Redfield, she could do nothing but finally shoot her mother in the head. K-Mart snapped up in the bench seat after a terrified scream broke free. She looked to the front, and the morning sun revealed that Claire was gone already.
Falling back into the pillow, K-Mart covered her face and tears dampened her palms. She muffled a few throaty whimpers. The nightmare lingered for several minutes before it faded into K-Mart's memory. K-Mart wiped her eyes dry and started sitting up but into a hunched position.
After gathering herself, K-Mart got changed into clean clothes from the pack under the bench. She tucked her items underneath then grabbed her hat and toiletry bag. She had to face her day, her past, and her night with Alice. Every part of her was on edge as she moved through the camp carefully. K-Mart couldn't eat though and merely returned her toiletries to the truck. She usually helped Mikey get things ready to travel, but she first wanted to check on Alice. Or make sure that Alice hadn't disappeared after last night.
A grateful prayer left K-Mart's lips once she found Alice in the camp. She went over to the older woman, who sat on the blankets until K-Mart came into the camp.
Alice stood and faced the beautiful human that'd captured her feelings last night. She could tell that K-Mart had been worried that she may have left. She zipped up her jacket and held the sheathed kukris in her left hand. "Hey."
K-Mart neared Alice and entered her lover's space. "Morning." She wasn't sure what to say, and she lost her chance after Alice's eyes cut to the right. Nervously, K-Mart pivoted on her feet and color washed from her face once she saw Claire Redfield.
Claire slotted her eyes at the pair so near each other. She wore her red vest again and poking between the unzipped vest were her Beretta Cougars in the duel shoulder holster. Once she laid eyes on her friend, her suspicions had been confirmed after she learned from Mikey that K-Mart hadn't shown up.
K-Mart opened her mouth to say something. Yet nothing except a shaky breath came from her.
Claire approached the pair and smelled the incredibly tension between all of them. She couldn't read anything from Alice's face. However, once she looked at K-Mart everything was so goddamn obvious. Instantly her heart started pounding harder than earlier.
K-Mart quickly realized that the convoy leader expected her to fill in the gaps since last night. She nervously fisted her hands after Claire moved closer to her.
"What's going on, K-Mart?" Claire carefully drew out. It was a huge struggle to keep some measure of calm. Her attention jerked to Alice, who moved a step back as if dissecting herself from the group. Still there was nothing open on Alice's face, and it unnerved Claire a great deal.
"We just talked last night," K-Mart explained. She faltered from telling the rest because she imagined what would happen once she told Claire. But when fiery green eyes returned to her, K-Mart knew she would confess it all and couldn't hide it. She began shaking from head to toe and felt lightly faint. Her heartbeat was so wild and no amount of deep breathes helped her.
Alice studied K-Mart and watched how the fears took K-Mart's strength. She shook her head slightly then looked at Claire's dark profile. She remembered seeing that same anger yesterday, and Claire's control over it was very thin. It would only take a tiny push to make Claire go over the dark ledge. Alice licked her lips and lifted her chin slightly. She voiced what hurt K-Mart so much and would stab through Claire's steely skin.
"I fucked K-Mart last night."
K-Mart instantly looked at Alice and saw the cutting smirk on Alice's face that Claire Redfield absolutely loathed, passionately. Dread slammed hard into K-Mart's chest and weakened her knees. Everything exploded so fast that K-Mart gave a low scream.
Claire came directly at Alice with all her rage. Her furious cry far outmatched K-Mart's, and she drove Alice backwards until Alice harshly struck the tree a few yards behind.
Alice had released the kukris in order to protect Claire. Alice's head snapped against the tree then a strong hand latched around her throat. Memories from this same position burned behind her eyes, and again she fought not to attack Claire. She controlled the beast in her blood. But this time cold metal kissed her head. Her vision cleared, and she stared at death on Claire's face.
Claire sneered at Alice, her clenched teeth bright. All the muscles in her outstretched arms were bulged against her hot skin. She pushed the gun's barrel harder against Alice's forehead.
"No!"
Claire ignored her friend's hands on her arms then on the gun. She denied K-Mart from taking the gun and slowly gripped Alice's neck tighter. A slight pain flickered in Alice's eyes, and it felt so good to Claire. She pulled on the warm trigger that begged for it.
"Claire, please!" K-Mart cried. She latched onto the leader's left arm, but she could do nothing to break Claire's superior strength. "Oh god," she pleaded, "Please don't do this, Claire!" Hot tears coated her face. "Claire," she rasped, desperately.
Claire growled low from the passionate rage that wired her so deeply. Her index finger shook against the trigger. For the first time, Alice's emotions were an open book before Claire. That stilled Claire for another heartbeat once the truth came forward in Alice's eyes. Claire parted her lips slightly now that the anger had receded just enough. K-Mart's pleas grew more distant.
Alice let out a low breath and waited for her death that she'd sought for years. She was ready to move onto the afterlife that'd be kinder to her, even in Hell. Yet each passing second made her realized that Claire Redfield wouldn't be her savior from this life. Terror started rising in Alice once the cold metal slipped from her forehead. A barely inaudible whimper escaped from her. When strangling fingers slackened from her neck, she shut her eyes in defeat.
After two more heavy breaths, Claire jerked her hand free from Alice then lowered the gun. She darkly turned her hooded eyes onto her friend.
K-Mart stiffened at the mencing look from Claire Redfield. But she didn't shrink away and stayed rooted in her spot. Her hand slipped off Claire's arm after the gun was down.
Claire took a step away from the pair. She kept looking between them as she reversed. She suddenly turned on her heels and quickly vanished from the camp.
K-Mart shifted towards Claire yet knew not to follow. There was no way that Claire would welcome her into her space, not for awhile.
Alice was slump against the tree and started sliding down it in utter defeat. Trembling hands were soon on her and lifted her head. She read the fear in K-Mart's eyes.
"What the Hell were you thinking?" K-Mart hotly demanded. She cupped Alice's cheeks and wished she understood why Alice had done it. "Are you suicidal?" she snapped in upset.
Alice hung her head at those words. She tried pulling her face from K-Mart's comfort. She was forced to gaze up into piercing amber eyes that bore into her for the first time.
K-Mart shook her head several times and murmured, "No." She realized that was it. Alice had hoped that Claire would shoot her, had banked on Claire's anger executing her. That caused K-Mart to fall to her knees in front of Alice. "N-n-no." She couldn't believe how fucked up everything had become between them.
"K-Mart, please... go." Alice weakly attempted dislodging her lover's hands.
K-Mart shook her head then gripped Alice's shoulder. "I don't think so." She swallowed hard and ordered, "You're going to get up... and you're going to help me fix this." She frowned at Alice's smirk.
"I just tried fixing it," Alice sarcastically murmured.
Now K-Mart grabbed Alice by both shoulders. "No, you really screwed up Claire is what you did." She shook her head and softly demanded, "Don't you understand?" She watched the confusion grow on Alice's face. "Claire has feelings for you... like she does for me."
Alice dropped her head against the tree after K-Mart's words. She didn't believe it.
"What she's done for you," K-Mart quickly explained, "She's only done for me... nobody else."
Alice dragged her fingers threw her hair. She stared off to the side. "But you and Claire..."
K-Mart was shaking her head and hooked Alice's chin. She had Alice's eyes on her. "It's not just me and Claire anymore." She took a deep breath then explained what'd been on her mind for days. "It's all three of us." She watched Alice's full lips twist into a confused frown. "Just... trust me on this."
Alice toyed with her hair again and stared at the ground for a second. She peered under K-Mart's brim. "How bad did I screw up?" She relied on K-Mart's knowledge of Claire.
K-Mart swallowed hard then bowed her head, which caused the brim to hide her face. "I... don't know yet." She looked up again and emphasized, "Just don't walk away now or else... you are screwed."
Alice quirked a grin at the slight joke. Then it slipped once she realized how ugly everything turned in their tangled relationships. She could only trust K-Mart's judgment despite she was quickly learning things about Claire. However, her lessons hadn't been very good ones lately much like what K-Mart's probably had been at the start.
"Get up," K-Mart ordered the older woman. She helped Alice stand again.
Once on her feet, Alice moved closer and hesitantly spoke, "I'm... I'm sorry, K." She didn't understand what K-Mart had in mind. She could only hold onto her trust she had for K-Mart. Also her promise to stay at Claire and K-Mart's side stirred to the surface. She inwardly sighed at her earlier stupidity. Her gaze wandered over to the forgotton kukris off to the left.
K-Mart sadly smiled at the nickname that only Claire really used with her. She took Alice's hand into hers and absorbed how good it felt. She tilted her head and asked, "You won't do this again?"
Alice opened and closed her mouth twice then nodded finally. "I won't." She squeezed her lover's hand. "I just thought you and Claire..."
K-Mart touched the older woman's cheek. "I know what you're thinking." She couldn't deny that Alice wasn't half right. She took a deep breath. "Do you care about Claire?" Despite she knew the answer, she wanted to hear it too.
Alice wasn't sure the last time she'd confessed a tender emotion to anybody. She fought with her demons and clung to the new kind of strength that K-Mart offered her. "Yes."
K-Mart sighed in relief. After a brisk nod, she broke from Alice and started back towards the convoy's camp. "I'll see you soon." She pulled on the hat's brim as she hurried back to the camp. She noted the perimeter camera was gone. Her mind was faster than a jet as it tried grasping everything that'd happened in the past days. She carefully analyzed each of their actions and realized she needed to stop reacting all the time.
The convoy was nearly prepared to move out and continue south. A last few chores were being taken care of, including refueling several vehicles. K-Mart didn't seek out the leader and instead checked to make sure Mikey was ready to roll. She helped him with a few last things then she promised to see him later. K-Mart headed across the broken down camp that was merely made up of running vehicles.
The Ford F-350 wasn't running though, but it was unlocked. K-Mart didn't even consider riding with anybody else because her place was with Claire. Earlier she'd caught a glimpse of the convoy leader talking to Carlos beside the gas tanker. But K-Mart didn't linger and instead loaded into the pickup truck. She couldn't control her nervous stomach and hoped today's ride could get them out of Hell.
Claire left Carlos after the Johnny's box truck was refueled. She expected they'd make it to Bristol or at least close to it. She started across the overgrown parking lot and went to the truck. She could make out K-Mart in the front seat, and it surprised her a little. She fished out the keys but slowed upon seeing Alice Abernathy coming into the camp. Again she was startled yet quickly narrowed her eyes.
Alice had her pack slung over her shoulders and the rolled up blankets in her hand. She'd entered the parking lot and set her sights on the diesel trucker that Carlos and Chase drove all the time. She came to a slow stop once she spotted Claire Redfield on the opposite side. She clenched jaw and waited to see what this confrontation would be like.
The convoy leader came directly over to Alice once she'd made her decision. She came right into Alice's space and grabbed Alice's arm, tightly.
Alice didn't turn her head towards Claire. The wait for Claire's orders was almost painful.
"Get in the truck with us," Claire snarled. She increased her grip in silent want for a response.
Alice licked her lips then turned her head towards Claire. She gradually inclined her head in silent agreement.
Claire expected a fight and had planned to cut it off by being more aggressive first. She lost her outward fire after Alice easily gave into her orders. She released Alice then suddenly left to go to the truck.
Alice went to the rear of the truck and loaded her few items into the bed. She heard the driver's door slam, and she sighed. She needed to get in there and help K-Mart with Claire's wrath. She slammed the tailgate then went to the rear door at the driver's side.
Claire barely waited for Alice to get into the back. She wouldn't condemn the convoy for their personal drama. She jerked the truck into drive and led the convoy onto the backroad that'd get them to Route 81. Her foot was heavier than normal and matched her ugly mood.
K-Mart was butted against the passenger door and cracked open the window. She felt a little sick but a glance at Alice in the side mirror helped her. She grabbed the hat's brim and fiddled with it before she removed it.
Claire clipped an abandoned sedan as she roared up the on-ramp for Route 81 South. She wanted to get the Hell away from Rural Retreat even if the problem still sat right in the truck with her. A glance in the mirror told her that Alice was a blank mask.
Several hot flashes shook K-Mart and caused her heart rate to increase more. She took a few deep breathes once she realized it was her that had to the break new walls that were quickly forming between them all. Then a reminder popped in her head about Claire and Alice, which instead boiled K-Mart's temper. How in the world could Claire have the right to be this pissed off?
Claire jumped when K-Mart tossed her hat on the dashboard. That was a constant tell of K-Mart's mood, and she glanced over at her friend to confirm the anger.
"You know what, Claire?" K-Mart hotly started, "I'm not stupid." She turned in the seat and locked her annoyed look on Claire. "You and Alice had sex too."
Claire nearly hit a SUV on the highway because she'd been looking at K-Mart in shock. She swerved around it in time then slammed her palm into the steering wheel. "Fuck, K-Mart!"
Alice stared wide eye at K-Mart. Like Claire, she lost the air from her lungs after K-Mart brought the secret to light.
"You got up late that morning," K-Mart vented. "You never get up late... unless you're sick or obviously if you get scewed." She was actually becoming angrier as she continued her speech.
"K-Mart," Alice fairly warned, "Now isn't the time."
"No!" K-Mart bitterly brushed off. She shot a glare at Alice before she turned her ire onto Claire. Right now was absolutely perfect because Claire could only drive the truck, lead the convoy and not make any physical threats or walk away. Claire had to talk or not talk, that was it. K-Mart planned to take it to her advantage for once.
"Claire and I have been having sex too," K-Mart revealed. She looked at Alice again and added, "Since a few nights after you left actually."
"K-Mart," Claire growled. But she couldn't do anything to stop her friend.
Alice shut her eyes once the truth hit her hard. She clenched her jaw then shook her head at K-Mart's nasty attempt. "You're going to make this worse."
"How worse can it get?" K-Mart fired off. She cut her eyes to Claire. "We're not suppose to talk about this shit, right?"
Claire cringed at the thick cuss word rolling of K-Mart's tongue. It had such a bigger impact when K-Mart cussed because she rarely heard it. She glanced at K-Mart and threatened, "Just stop it."
"Or what?" K-Mart challenged. "You going to shoot me too!?"
"I wouldn't shoot you!" Claire yelled back.
K-Mart found her opening and snapped, "But you'll shoot Alice!" She felt Alice's strong hand on her shoulder. Nothing could cool her temper though.
"Because you both will leave me," Claire snarled, "For each other." This morning Alice had incurred Claire's untamed rage simply from provoking it so exact with the right words and look.
K-Mart was struck hard by Claire's open confession that told them everything. Instantly her anger drained and left her worried about Claire now. She quickly looked at Alice, who was just as stunned by Claire telling the truth.
The convoy leader hit the window button and welcomed the cold air. She refused to look at either of them and stared bitterly out the front window. She strangled the steering wheel while she waited for somebody's reaction.
"We're not leaving you, Claire." Alice was the first to say it. Each word she spoke slowly and with volume that held honesty.
Claire huffed and shook her head in disbelief. She just didn't believe it, couldn't believe it. She pushed them both aside by saying, "It doesn't matter anyway." She remembered last night that if K-Mart could find happiness with somebody then she had to let it happen, not rob K-Mart of the chance.
"It matters," K-Mart fought. Some anger laced her voice again.
"I don't give a damn!" Claire fired at her friend.
K-Mart didn't accept that, and Alice's hand on her chest did nothing to stop her mouth. "The Hell you don't or else you wouldn't be pissed at us." She grabbed the resisting hand because it was actually making her madder. She gave Alice a warning look not to touch her right now.
"Now you're pushing Claire," Alice warned K-Mart this time. Her temper was starting to cut in next, which wasn't good.
K-Mart slammed the fist into the dashboard and yelled, "Stop the goddamn truck!"
"No," Claire snapped.
K-Mart knew it was because the convoy was behind them. "It's always about the convoy!"
Claire growled and slammed her hand against the steering wheel and snarled, "It's not about the fucking convoy." She barred her teeth and angrily yelled, "It's never been about the convoy!" She glanced at K-Mart, which allowed her fiery green eyes to cut in K-Mart. "Everything I do is to protect you... even if I have to sacrifice this entire convoy to keep you alive." She was breathing hard and coldly repeated, "It has never been the convoy."
K-Mart sunk into the seat and touched her forehead. She had thought that the convoy took priority over her. She was wrong, very wrong.
Claire flexed her grip on the wheel and let out a slow breath after correcting K-Mart. They hadn't been through this type of fight in a very long time. Even today it still rattled her badly.
Alice folded her arms and rubbed her brow after a lot of things were brought into the open. "Now what?" she muttered.
K-Mart shook her head because she was trying to clear her thoughts. She stared out the passenger window.
Claire put the window up and mumbled, "I'm glad that went so well." She grumbled. "Goddamn truck."
K-Mart sighed and ignored her friend's harsh comment, but she deserved it too. She'd definitely gone about everything the wrong way. But sometimes putting Claire into a corner was the only way.
Claire considered how her friend jumped on her so quickly. She had to admire K-Mart for her fearlessness to go on attack for once. Not many people chose to verbally spar with Claire these days. In the beginning, K-Mart use to backtalk Claire every single chance. Lately it was Alice, who was under her skin and snared her temper. She just couldn't seem to win anymore.
K-Mart propped her head against the truck's window and shut her eyes. She was anything but asleep and tried putting her thoughts together. Claire was first in her mind because she understood Claire the best, or so she thought. Then there was Alice's uneasy place between them, and K-Mart frowned at the ugly idea of Alice leaving them, especially now. But a gentle touch at her shoulder made her peer up.
Alice was leaning forward and massaged the teen's tense shoulder. "Hey, get your seatbelt back on."
K-Mart blinked then peered down at herself. Somehow she had taken off her seatbelt during the heat of the fight. She nodded and reached around for it.
Alice was satisfied after she heard the click. She then looked over at Claire and suggested, "We probably should stop early today."
Claire wanted to get beyond Bristol today. However, maybe Alice had a good point because all three of them were at their wits' end. She tapped the GPS screen, which woke up and showed Marion, Virginia was just ahead. "We can make camp outside of Bristol," she agreed.
K-Mart looked over at the convoy leader. "That's near Tennessee?"
"It's half in Virginia and half in Tennessee," Alice softly explained.
K-Mart straightened up and asked, "I thought we were going to be in West Virginia by my birthday?"
Alice was intrigued, not in the destination but that K-Mart's birthday apparently wasn't far off.
"Change of plans," Claire coolly remarked.
K-Mart brushed a few strands away from her face and decided not to comment.
Claire grabbed the radio and hit the talk button. "Mikey," she called.
"What's up, Claire?"
Claire brought the radio near her mouth again. "Can you find me a safe spot outside of Bristol?" She imagined Mikey's confusion since there was a long silence.
"Sure. Give me a minute," Mikey replied.
"Maybe we'll take a couple of days off," Claire quietly debated.
Alice sighed then gave a nod. "It might be a good idea."
K-Mart merely listened to the pair. She briefly felt two sets of eyes on her. Silence was all she gave them.
Claire sensed her friend's distraught. There wasn't much that could be done about it right now. All of them were still cooling off after the hot argument. She reached for the stereo radio and notched up the volume until the mix of popular music was audible. Hopefully the music would sooth the cutting air in the truck.
K-Mart bent forward and dug out her pack that had her books and journal. She pulled out her journal, which was missing a few days in it. But curiously, K-Mart flipped back several pages until she came to the third day of October. It was the day they first met Alice, and K-Mart was surprised to calculate that twelve days had passed since then. Somehow it felt closer to a month. Fishing out a pen, she started working on the journal.
That brought some solace to Claire because she knew how much the journal helped K-Mart. She just wasn't sure how Alice got rid of her stress that was until she saw Alice tap the kukris in her lap. Claire's eyes flickered back to the highway.
Mikey's voice startled Claire, who scooped up the walkie talkie. She returned Mikey's hail.
"There's a good spot outside of Bristol... they use to host bluegrass concerts out there." Mikey paused then added, "It was called the Carter Fold."
Claire really didn't care about that part. She instead checked, "Is it pretty desolate?"
"It's down in a valley," Mikey reported, "Set away from everything."
Claire nodded. "Good." She waited a second then hit the microphone button. "Managers, you hear all that?"
"We copy, Claire," Carlos reported. "I take it we're stopping early today?"
"You got it," the leader agreed. "The extra time will give us a chance to do a hunt."
"Roger that," Carlos agreed.
"Bear burgers," Otto chimed in.
A thin smile touched Claire's lips for the first time today. "If you kill it, Otto."
Otto's laugh echoed from the radio. "I was thinking you could do it, Claire," he teased. "You did kill that Licker yourself."
Claire pursed her lips then argued, "I had help." She saw Alice's head lift up, and her eyes sparkled back at the older woman through the mirror. She hit the mic again. "Keep your eyes open once we get to Bristol."
"And fuckin' heads up," Charlie cut in. He'd grabbed the radio from L.J. after he heard Claire's orders.
Claire sighed and prayed to God that the damn BOWs didn't start flying. She tossed the radio onto the dash then refocused on the drive. But the thought of the BOWs made Claire's stomach knot up. "Alice?"
Setting her thoughts aside, Alice focused on Claire and waited for whatever was on the leader's mind.
"Those BOWs... how many do you know of exist?" Claire already knew of at least two, the Iron Maiden and Licker.
"Hundreds," Alice answered. "There are several series of them."
Claire shook her head and checked, "Series?"
K-Mart shifted in the seat and focused on the conversation. The journal was now forgotten in the wake of the new topic.
"Yes," Alice started, "The..." She faltered until she recalled what the convoy called the L-251. "The Licker is in the L-200 series and the Iron Maiden is in the T-100 series."
K-Mart turned her head sidelong and tempted, "What's the series mean?"
Alice shifted her gaze to the teen. "Anything in the T-100 series is humanoid based." She hesitated then further explained, "The L-200 series is a quadruped humanoid."
"Wait... humans are biped," K-Mart argued.
"Yes," Alice granted. "But a L-200 BOW has been modified to the extent that they're a quadruped."
Claire shook her head and reversed to her original intent. "What other BOWs exist?" She glanced over her shoulder at Alice. "Ones that could attack us."
Alice lips turned further. "There are many tyrants in the T-100 series."
"Tyrants," K-Mart repeated, concern laced her echo. "Why does that sound really bad?"
"It's Umbrella's most successful and most heavily researched series," Alice admitted.
Claire bit her lower lip then questioned, "Have you fought any of these tyrants?"
"I just killed one yesterday," Alice quipped.
K-Mart shivered at mention of the grotesque Iron Maiden. She was amazed she didn't have a damn nightmare about him last night.
Alice went more serious and explained, "I trained against several. I know their weak points. But I don't doubt that Umbrella has created better and stronger tyrants since I escaped."
"Had you fought against an Iron Maiden before?" K-Mart inquired.
Alice hesitated then replied, "No... it's new."
Claire kept going over recent events with the undead and the attacks. She drummed her fingers on the door rest. "The undead... they're getting stronger too. They're running and actually thinking."
"They're controlled," Alice reminded. "Those undead in the truck trailer were placed there."
K-Mart silently agreed that it'd been a trap setup for the convoy. "But they're still advancing," she reminded the pair. "They're not a bunch of mindless zombies."
"K-Mart is right," Claire murmured.
"I noticed their eyes are black now," Alice mentioned. "Something has changed them."
"Somebody," K-Mart debated. She looked at Alice and Claire. "Maybe Umbrella came up with a better strain of the T-virus. I mean that's probably the case considering Alice's powers."
Claire had briefly forgotten Alice's powers simply because Alice rarely exhibited them other than when there was a major threat. That further strengthened Claire's belief that Alice had allowed Claire to nearly shoot her. If Alice hadn't wanted it to happen, she could have easily disarmed Claire within seconds.
Alice lowered her head and suspected that K-Mart was definitely right. She touched the side of her neck where Doctor Isaacs had drawn her blood one too many times. "These attacks won't stop until the convoy is gone."
Claire rubbed her brim a few times, which eased her stress levels. "It just doesn't make complete sense," she whispered after a minute.
"What doesn't?" K-Mart prompted.
"The damn attacks," Claire replied. She glanced at the pair. "If they were just training or whatever then why choose us?" She remembered Alice's thoughts from the other night. "Yeah we're easy targets but there are human camps that are a Hell of a lot easier."
"They're not moving targets," Alice argued. "They're almost too easy."
Claire didn't have an argument for that one, but she still wasn't totally sure. She sighed and kept rolling it around in her head.
"Will Umbrella know you're with us?" K-Mart asked.
"Possibly," Alice answered.
"Can they track you?" the leader pressed. "What about that... mind control thing?"
"NIM," K-Mart supplied to her friend.
Alice shook her head. "It's broken. And no, they can't track me otherwise." She swept a blond lock behind her right ear. "But that's not to say they can't figure it out."
K-Mart darkened and quickly looked at Alice after twisting in the seat. "Does Umbrella want to recapture you?" She hadn't forgotten that Alice was Umbrella's prized project, from what Alice told them.
Claire peered into the rearview and saw the answer written on Alice's face. She realized she was learning how to read the older woman, finally.
"They sure would," Alice gloated. She smirked, proudly. "I'm a major thorn in those bastards' side."
K-Mart couldn't help a snicker. "Well..." She revealed a toothy smile. "Good luck if they can get past Claire."
The convoy leader raised an eyebrow at her friend and chided, "How do I figure into this one?"
K-Mart turned her devilish smile on Claire. "I'm sure you'd stand aside if they tried taking Alice, right?"
Claire shot a warning look at K-Mart. "K-Mart," she threatened.
K-Mart wasn't deterred and chuckled at the lack of denial.
"Claire, you do have to protect me," Alice playfully teased. "You are the convoy leader."
Claire was directing her glare at the front window despite she wanted to extract revenge on the pair. "I'm so happy we're all getting along now."
K-Mart chuckled then snatched her hat off the dash. She put it on then fixed a few loose strands in the way. She decided to poke the fire and looked at Alice. "Claire does think you're hot, by the way."
"K-Mart!" the leader snarled.
Alice smirked at Claire's reaction and K-Mart's not too subtle tactic. "I already knew that."
K-Mart softly laughed until she saw Claire point a finger at her. She stiffened at what that meant, but she was saved by Mikey's voice.
Claire growled and snared the Motorola radio. "What, Mikey?" She hadn't meant to chew him out and sighed at herself.
"The next exit about five miles ahead we want to take," Mikey informed.
Claire took a deep breath and had a calmer voice. "Alright. Keep me posted on the directions." She decided to ignore the pair that teamed up on her because she needed to focus on where they were going. "K, I need help."
K-Mart became serious and shifted in the seat. She knew the drill. "Here, give me the radio." She accepted it from Claire. She took care of Mikey's calls, which Claire was following along the way.
Alice had unbuckled and shifted to the center of the bench seat. She was scanning ahead much further than Claire or K-Mart could see. She briefly admired the fall foliage as they went along the back roads.
K-Mart peered out her window at the river that the road snaked alongside for several miles. She hoped the damn road was safe enough all the way. Mikey's pick was certainly backwater.
"Slow down," Mikey suggested. "We want to make a right at the fork."
Claire did so and noticed they were traveling through a thick woods. Maybe letting Mikey select tonight's camp wasn't a good idea, but she had to give it a chance.
"Just stay on this road for like a mile or two then it'll dead end in front of the facility."
Claire kept a slow speed and played it safe. "Ask Mikey if there's a lot of houses in this area or what."
K-Mart nodded then repeated the question to Mikey.
"There's probably like a dozen homes around the facility," Mikey reported over the channel.
"Tell Carlos we'll need to two teams," Claire ordered.
K-Mart pushed the mic and hailed Carlos. She told Carlos the plans for once they made it to the facility. She kind of liked the idea of commanding Carlos, who grumbled a few times at her.
Alice smirked at Carlos's complaints.
Claire slowed once she saw the bullet riddled stop sign just ahead. She looked at Alice through the rearview mirror. "Can you go with Carlos when the teams check the local area?" She caught Alice's low nod. "That last time we did a major sweep like this he missed a few things."
Alice huffed and revealed, "He wasn't the best mercenary."
"Whatever his problem is, it doesn't boast well for the convoy all the time. I can't do his job and mine too."
Alice sympathized and promised, "I'll take care of it."
Claire felt assured. She pushed the truck across the intersecting small highway and entered the facility that'd once hosted small concerts for the famous Carter family. Now it was a fading structure in the rural outskirts of Bristol, Virginia. She reached over and took the radio from K-Mart after she parked the truck off to the side in the grass.
"We got a lot to recon," Claire warned her managers. "Let's get started in this immediate area, Carlos." She heard Carlos reply, but she looked at K-Mart and Alice.
K-Mart saw Claire was in full leader role. She unbuckled from her seat.
"I'll wait with K-Mart 'til you're done, Claire."
The convoy leader nodded at Alice's offer. "Then I want you to go with Carlos and his team." She felt like she was repeating herself, but she had to be sure. She left the truck running but was on the radio with Mikey again. She needed to know how many buildings were around here.
K-Mart scooted down to the driver's seat and took her spot.
Alice maneuvered her sleek body from the back to the front seat. She sat in the middle with her kukris in her lap again. "Trust you to fix this?" she quietly prodded the teen.
K-Mart grumbled but continued staring at the recon team organizing in front of them. "We got a lot in the open at least."
Alice studied Claire Redfield in front of the pickup truck. She noticed how Carlos wasn't in her immediate space like normal. She filed that away. "She didn't kick either of us out of the goddamn truck."
K-Mart couldn't control her grin at Alice's joke. Yet the scary part was that it was true too. The grin slipped away as she continued thinking about Claire. She inwardly sighed. Just what the Hell did she have in mind?