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Optio	By : Ripsi Category: +M through R > Resident Evil Views: 8319 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Resident Evil fandom/franchise or any of their characters. I make no money from this fanfiction. It is merely a piece of fiction written by me.

Chapter List
- 1-Annus Novus
- 2-Domus
- 3-Calor
- 4-Posco
- 5-Ludus
- 6-Felix Dies Valentini
- 7-Desiderium
- 8-Dormientes
- 9-Curre
- 10-Gravatus
- 11-Vita
- 12-Vigilo
- 13-Arcanum
- 14-Phasma Phasmatis
- 15-Possessio
- 16-Mutatio
- 17-Anniversarium
- 18-Monstrum
- 19-Lues
- 20-Vita Post Mortem
- 21-Iterum
- 22-Eam
- 23-Fidelitas
- 24-Veritas
- 25-Pacisco
- 26-Mundus Novus
- 27-Febris
- 28-Chemia
- 29-In Aeternum
- 30-Frater
- 31-Historia
- 32-Familia
- 19
- 20
- 21
Disclaimer: I don’t own Resident Evil or its characters just this fic and my original characters. I make no money from this story. Also I do not own Ford and nor do I advertise for them.

Optio
Chapter 20: Vita Post Mortem
January 9, 2002 Tuesday 3:47 PM

Subject: Redfield, Claire
Location: Ubatuba, Brazil
Status: Anxious
            For the past few days Wesker had been busy, making calls in his study or looking over files packed into manila folders, which left me with very little to do. John Kessler hadn’t even been bothering me much, but I knew once our business here was done his haunting would begin. I touched the cool dog tags that hung from my neck, letting out a sigh as I tried to figure out if I should throw them away or keep wearing them around until Wesker finally asked about them. Then again he probably already knew, but since he sucked at empathy he just chose to ignore my blatant cry for attention.
            Maybe I was just being selfish though…
I think he had quite a bit on his plate already, especially since he had let his appearance drop in the previous days; I don’t think he had showered last night, nor had he been shaving but for some reason I found the latter sexy. Also, I could tell that he had been out in the sun because he possessed a tan I never knew someone so fair could have. My fear had been holding my mind captive, trying to figure out what was going on down here, and there was only one way to at least temporarily quiet the voices of suspicion in my head. Without invitation I walked into the small study, closing the door behind me, and strangely enough Wesker didn’t notice me until he heard the click of the lock. His head snapped up from previously folded papers with black, printed words filling the bodies, but I forced my eyes away in an attempt to not openly pry.
“Did you need something?” His shades lay on the cheap, black desk right next to his gloves, and I told myself not to pay attention to how militaristic his uniform appeared.
Wordlessly I took a seat on the floor in front of him, placing my head against his knee. I don’t know what I wanted right now or expected, but I knew that I didn’t want to be alone. I guess I needed to hear from him that everything was going to be fine and that he was not responsible for what was happening in Amparo. Instead though, I just sat there, closing my eyes and breathing deeply. For a moment his body tensed, until finally I felt his bare hand stroking the top of my head, and I knew that he understood what was wrong then and there. It still didn’t mean anything because he still couldn’t tell me what was happening. Rather than doubt our confusing relationship any more than I already had I just gave in and felt myself nodding off.
When I awoke maybe an hour had passed, and I immediately noticed that I was lying on the carpeted floor of Wesker’s office, my face buried in an impossibly, soft pillow, and a dark blue blanket covered my body. My search for him ended as soon as it began; he was still sitting at his desk, hunched over a file writing fervently.
Without warning I asked, “Do you trust me?” my voice raspy with sleep.
His scribbling ceased, and slowly he spun around to look down at me. “If I did not, you wouldn’t be here.” Ever difficult. For some reason men failed to understand the power of the words “yes,” and “no.” They were definitive, and Wesker keeping me here could change at any moment if I pushed the wrong buttons or stuck my nose too deep into his business. Despite this, I wouldn’t argue with him, I just didn’t believe that he was able to make such strong commitments. He’d whored himself from company to company, and even though he’d been with Umbrella for such a huge chunk of his life he double-crossed them. To me that didn’t mean he was untrustworthy, but it meant that gaining his loyalty was a challenge that so far no one had passed.
I liked to think that I was at the final stretch since he would fall asleep next to me, and let’s face it you don’t sleep around someone you don’t trust. And apparently I trusted him completely since I had just taken a voluntary nap around him.
Once more I asked a question without any lead-up, hoping he wouldn’t ask the typical male question of, “Where is this coming from?” “Where are we supposed to go after this?”
“We will go wherever we can.”
Taking another gamble I inhaled, grabbing hold of the carpet beneath me. “Why are you keeping me so close to you?” I waited for a moment, expecting for him to reconfirm his “fondness” for me, however, he only smirked and turned back to his papers. Something in that simple gesture though, it spoke volumes to me. I think it more so surprised me that he was able to smile while he was working. I remember when his smirk used to frighten me, when it haunted my dreams, but now I just saw it as his trademark expression. Just like the jaguar he was dangerous, capable of showing me my place in the chain, but he didn’t.
I’d gone from being a person in his life to being a part of it. This was made evident when I saw that he had a plan for me in every situation. He could have locked me away until he was done here, he didn’t have to give me a mini-vacation and a makeover, he didn’t have to factor me into all of his smallest of plans, but he did. And for that, I felt special.
January 14, 2002 Sunday 9:17 AM

Subject: Redfield, Claire
Location: Ubatuba, Brazil
Status: Bored
            “For a few days I won’t be here. Just stay here and anything you need will be provided by the help.”
            “Wait, where are you going?”
            “I will return as soon as I can. And Claire… Stay here.”
I heard nothing for three days since his departure, having nothing to go on except the flash of the word Amparo on the screen. A shot of the whole village showed me that it was now a ghost town, not only missing a few dozen girls but the whole population. They had just vanished, and I was left with nothing but a Portuguese to English dictionary that didn’t help because I couldn’t even spell let alone understand anything the anchorwoman said in the first place. A storm was taking place outside, and from the radar I could see that it was going to be one of those raging ones that didn’t last for more than an hour. That sucked, since I had planned on sleeping the day away with my head next to the satellite phone Wesker left me.
Gustavo stayed to himself in the guesthouse, only coming in to retrieve any list I left for him, and when I asked him about the happenings in Amparo he only pretended to have no idea what was going on and left. What a fucking help he was. Speak of the devil, I said to myself as I heard the door being unlocked.
“I brought you back some steaks just in case!” He announced, making sure he was as dry as possible before daring to step on Wesker’s wooden floor.
I craned my neck to say, “Thanks,” before turning back to soap opera that made no sense. Just from their expressions though, I could so tell that Taiz and Carolina were busted in their steamy affair. “Ai meu Deus,” I whispered to myself, a little proud that I had managed to pick something up, even if it was a phrase that broke the first commandment… or was it the second? Gustavo ended the question over my membership in the church when he excused himself, retiring to his little guest house where I was sure he would look at anything but stories.
As the commercials interrupted the drama I decided to push myself up from the couch, just barely avoiding a bout of head-rush. Barefoot, I made my way into the kitchen, peeking at the just-bought steaks in the freezer, however, my eyes managed to land on a carton of strawberry ice cream. I don’t remember telling him this was my favorite; as a matter of fact I never even touched strawberry ice cream in Red Lodge… Deciding not to over-analyze any further, I decided against an unnecessary snack. I mean, what if I gorged myself and I ended up stranded here for a while? I’d wish I had that ice cream then when the electricity was out...
I scolded the devil on my shoulder, whining to myself before shutting the freezer door. Leaning against the refrigerator, I scanned the kitchen for nothing in particular, not even needing anything from this room unless I was attacked. Just as I pushed myself off the ‘fridge my eyes settled on the counter. “Gustavo,” I mumbled, shuffling over to swipe up the keys. God, I didn’t feel like taking these to him.
You don’t have to.
I felt like Claire when I heard that voice, the Claire that was too nosey for her own good. The Claire that got me in the position of being called Illyria Wishkar in the first place. The roads may have been out but if I could just get close enough… As I slipped on the nearby hoodie on the coat-rack, I still hadn’t made a decision, but when I found myself searching for the cell phone and shoes and I knew that I had convinced myself that this was the right move. Well, maybe not the “right” move but something that I would have done long ago. At this point I was virtually indestructible seeing as whatever damage I received would heal, so what did I have to fear?
If there was a simple outbreak of T then I would be fine, and this was the least I could do for my brother. After leaving him to sort through my things and figure out what was going on, and I was certain that a part of his spirit was broken from my betrayal. This was something that I had not thought about for the longest, preoccupying my time with this mini-vacation had proven effective, but now it was over and Wesker’s departure had left my mind to wander. Still, I could not have yet another betrayal under my belt. Yes I intended to disobey Wesker’s order to stay put, but I had no intention of interfering. I just needed to know the proportion of this outbreak.
Then I would come right back and beg Gustavo to keep his mouth shut if he hadn’t already told Wesker. It was best that I go now while the rain was heavy, and Gustavo wouldn’t hear a thing. From a quick search online I found that Mixcoatl wasn’t far away, just a two hour drive, and then I would be able to get in and back out. As long as Wesker knew that I didn’t interfere everything would be fine. I was sure.
After putting a pair of shorts and a black v-neck I grabbed a pair of black boots (damn Wesker was becoming a bad influence), and I promised to myself they were only necessary for the weather, and after rummaging through Wesker’s personal closet I found a nice (wait for it), black holster just in case I swear. It had a small pouch on the back with room for a gun and knife. However, there was no sign of a gun, only a trench knife that would have to do. Damn it Wesker, what if someone had broken in? I did not expect Gustavo to be able to help me out in that situation. A bullet is faster than me running for a boat.
Now or never… Unless you’d rather play house as Illyria.
January 14, 2002 Sunday 10:23 AM

Subject: Redfield, Claire
Location: Somewhere in Brazil
Status: Anxious
I think I was lost; I must have been, so I pulled over a marketplace, waiting for someone to pass by. I didn’t have much faith in the red Ford but it had gotten me this far so I was sure I’d make it there and back as long as I had gas money. While I wandered around I looked for people who could speak even the tiniest bit of English, but none of them did, only Spanish. It wasn’t like this was a huge city, just a micro-town that was nothing more than a rest stop. Just as I was about to give up I saw a blond male in the corner of my eye about to get into the bed of a blue pickup. My heart jumped and I neared to get a better look.
With a sigh I realized that he wasn’t Wesker, but he looked military, armed with holsters of knives, guns, and the camo pants were a dead giveaway. Once I realized that he more than likely was American I sprinted over, squeezing through a crowd of people gathered by a tent filled with some crappy jewelry. Just as he was about to yell at the driver to start up the truck I yelled out, “Hey!”
This guy looked like he never smiled a day in his life, only frowned and worked out. Actually I was little intimidated by his build, and with Wesker I knew that slicked-back, blond hair equaled the attitude put on by dicks. “What? I got a specific place to be and a specific time to be there.”
I failed to stop myself from rolling my eyes at him, folding my arms over my chest. “I’m trying to figure out how to get to Mixcoatl.”
“You don’t need to get there ma’am,” he replied quickly.
“Actually I need to be at a town near there.”
With a look of interest in his blue eyes he hopped down from the bed of the truck, eyeing me closely, “You a reporter or somethin’?”
With my hands on my hips I readied myself to boldly tell this lie. “Yes I am.”
A smirk on his face he nodded to himself, “My amigo here,” he spat, jerking his head in the direction of the cab, “is trying to get me to pay him 50 bucks to take me there. Being a fellow American you wouldn’t mind giving me a lift to Amparo for free.” His statement was just as bold as my lie, and I bit my lip at his arrogance. “You are American aren’t you?”
Though it made no difference what the hell I was I said, “Technically. Born in the US.”
“Then American to American you get me there, and I let you get to the tip of the yellow tape of the town’s border?”
I felt like he and I would have an interesting time together, and I wasn’t too sure if it was because of his attitude or because of what trouble I knew would pop up. The American Government was getting involved in this, meaning it had something to do with America.
Or an American company.
“Deal.” I stuck my hand out to his, receiving a firm shake. This guy was giving me the creeps already.
After fifteen minutes of driving and directions eventually he dared to let the conversation wander. “So, where are your parents from Miss ‘Technically American’?”
For a moment I had to think, forgetting my own damned back story. Then I remembered Ada’s creativity. “My mom is Swedish and my dad is Iranian,” I supplied. Then I quickly stated, “But all I know is America.”
“I’m Jack by the way.” He allowed some time for me to reply.
“Illyria,” I said back, pretending to be checking out something in my rearview. “So what’s the American military doing here?”
He gave a single laugh and looked at the side of my face. “What’s the American Media doing here?”
“You know, just interested in a good story.” My face went from emotionless to curious once I could make out the shape of roadblocks that were keeping a crowd of people held back. Behind those roadblocks though was a disturbing sight: men with big guns and Kevlar vests.
“Ah shit,” Jack hissed. “That’s the local military. Stop up here.” I did as ordered, and without a word more to me the blond got out of the truck, but I stayed there, not trying to exacerbate my already sticky situation. As I looked on through the windshield I saw the crowd ahead raise their fists, and screams began to pick up in the crowd. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but I definitely could see one of the men lift his gun threateningly. Jack didn’t get much closer, instead he was talking into a radio, but because of the possibly deadly situation ahead I didn’t dare move from the driver’s seat.
Oh my God what did I get myself into I asked myself. As Jack spoke into the radio he seemed agitated, but I couldn’t read his lips and damn I was trying. Before I could make out a single word of his conversation though a sound like thunder pierced the air, but rather than silence following the crowd grew louder. When I looked back at the scene ahead I was witnessing what could only be called a massacre. The local military was killing their own people, and they didn’t seem to give a single fuck.
When I heard the passenger door opened I jumped in my seat, but it was only Jack. “We gotta head for the train!”
Instead of stupidly look back at him I was pushed to move by the continuance of gunshots, and I followed him into the trees. For a man of his build he moved swiftly, and I struggled to keep up as I stumbled over a tree root. The train was picking up speed and Jack managed to get onto the back car. I heard more gunshots, and the sound of Gustavo’s windshield being hit, and now I knew that I had no choice but to catch up. Just as the train kicked up its speed another notch I jumped up to grab the railing, out of breath while Jack looked at me with an impressed look on his face.
“Twenty minutes from your scoop, how does it feel?” I could tell that he didn’t really want me there, and he’d probably try to force me to stay on the train, but for the sake of temporary civility I only smiled back at him. Somehow I’d managed to get myself wrapped up in trouble again, and if Wesker was in Mixcoatl, then busted didn’t even cover what was about to be in my future.
Claire Redfield isn’t dead.

Jack must have been pressed for time, because he practically threw me off of the train, but rather than end up in town we were in the jungle. That pretty much equaled the middle of nowhere in South America. “All right, you head east and you should get to the border of the town. You may be able to talk to someone there, don’t go any further and after that… you’re on your own,” he warned. Without even so much as a thank you he started off in the other direction, yep, he was a dick. However, I knew better than anyone that the border would be shut down for as far as that roadblock, meaning that I needed a view of the town from the inside. Just a peek and I’d beg him for a damned map to get me back to the Ford.
Ugh, the Ford was so going to give away my little trip.
Pushing that aside I remembered that I needed to be following Jack, so before I lost sight of that yellow-headed son of a bitch I started to sprint just enough to keep up with him. By the time I reached him he had stopped in a clearing, spearing a snake like it was nothing before taking a drink of water. “So, you think BOW’s actually exist?” he asked tauntingly, only to snidely say, “Oh wait, you said you faced them before, huh?”
Wait, someone who had faced BOWs before? An Umbrella operative?
He neared whoever else was there, tossing the snake off of his knife before throwing the canteen to them. I couldn’t see the person though, so I edged closer, trying to remain out of sight, but unless I wanted alert them to my presence I had no choice but to remain in the dark who he rendezvoused with.
I once again heard Jack’s raspy voice, “Our guide is in the village up ahead. He’ll take us to Amparo where Javier is hiding out. Come on, let’s move.” To get an idea of the direction they were heading I took a step to my left, and as I heard something rustle through the leaves I cursed to myself.
“What was that?” Wait, I knew that voice.
“Probably another snake. Let’s get going Kennedy.”
“Leon?” I asked aloud, so loud as a matter of fact that I could only slap my forehead at my stupidity.
“Who’s there?” I heard the leaves beneath his feet, so I knew that he had drawn his weapon and took up a defensive stance. Before he began shooting into my general direction I decided to ease out from behind the trees, my hands up in the air and my eyes on the ground. “Who are you?”
Wow, the dye job was enough of a camouflage after all then.
“Aw for fuck’s sake Illyria!” The blond shouted, and I knew he had thrown his hands up in the air.
Since it was only a matter of time before he figured it out, I looked up into Jack’s eyes, not even acknowledging Leon as I said, “Good to see you again too Jack.”
For a moment I think Leon was lost for words, and his partner’s complaints faded away to background noise as I saw him lower his gun, his face holding hurt, relief, and confusion all at once. Before I could say another word he ran over to me, pulling me into a bear hug so tight that it almost rivaled Chris’. Despite my discomfort I laid my head against his shoulder, just enjoying the touch of an old friend from my old life.
“Claire what the fuck are you doing here?” he demanded, holding me away from him by my arms. “We thought… they said…”
“Leon I’m fine,” I whispered back.
“Your hair…”
“All a part of Illyria,” I explained. “Who your friend already met,” added, looking over to Jack who was no doubt even more confused than Leon.
Lowering his voice to keep his partner from hearing too much of our personal business he hissed, “Last I heard Wesker kidnapped you while you were pregnant and in CDC custody!”
My mind took me back against my will to the day, the moment I found out that I was having Wesker’s child, and I had hoped that that part had just been a nightmare that Leon could have snapped me out of. “I know.” For some reason I nodded, probably to keep myself from staying still, I just needed to move or something. Hell even blink but I didn’t want to look insane by going overboard.
“Was it true?” he asked, shaking me a little and I knew which part he was referring to.
“That doesn’t matter anymore.” Rather than interrogate me any further he only pulled me back in to him, and we rested there forehead to forehead. “Chris cannot know.” Once again he pushed me back to shoot me a glare, but my eyes narrowed at him to let him know that I meant business, and that telling my brother about me would only further complicate things. “If he finds out Leon, he will undo what Wesker has done to protect me.”
“He got you into th-”
“What the fuck is going on?” Jack nearly bellowed with his arms out to his side. “So you two know each other and your name isn’t really Illyria?” It seemed impossible to him that someone had lied about their name, imagine what more I could have gotten over him.
To let him know that this wasn’t as simple as a name switch and that this wasn’t a mild revelation I shouted back, “Yeah and black isn’t my natural hair color, and these are contacts!”
Marching closer to us he snapped back with, “Look lady, I don’t know who the hell you really are but you could be Lady Di in disguise and that still wouldn’t change the fact that we have somewhere to be.”
Looking back into Leon’s eyes I said, “As do I.”
“No! No! And no!”
I ignored Jack’s protests, only searching Leon’s face since his answer was the only one that mattered. He couldn’t leave alone here, not when the military was shooting down those who even dared to enter the town, and he couldn’t dismiss me after not seeing me for almost a year. “Claire,” he whispered, “I thought you were dead.”
Without thinking about the consequences and questions that would follow I blurted, “I was. So there is life after death.” My attempt at a joke failed, and I couldn’t even forge a smile to go with.
“Was it his?”
Silently, I plead with him not to go there, to just leave it be, but he was unwavering. I couldn’t continue to lie to him; I owed him something after all of this time of not knowing. “Yes.” To provide an excuse I quickly added, “Leon he saved me. I was dying and he saved me.”
I was so afraid that he’d ask what I was now, but I don’t think he could even be so cruel, not when I had just walked back into his life. “Why?”
“Because he’s trying to help.” Chris would have yelled. Chris would have argued. Chris would have ranted and raved until he ran out of breath and collapsed, only to wake up and start all over again. Leon only gave a single nod.
With a deep breath he asked, “Does Wesker know you’re here?”
“Not yet. But until he does I want to help.”
“I can’t talk you out of this.”
I shook my head no.
“Who the fuck is Wesker?” By now Jack was exasperated, probably doing mental flips from penning up such anxiety, but I wasn’t sure that he needed to know anything about the 21^st century’s very own Bonnie and Clyde. Well we were like them in the aspect of being a high priority and that our relationship was more than frowned upon.
“Krauser!” Leon snapped. “No one can know that she’s with us. You understand?”
“Look Kennedy,” he said, stepping even closer, “As long as I get my cut of the glory I don’t give ten elephant squats what she’s doing here. But she’s your responsibility.”
            As he turned his back on us Leon looked back at me, questioning my ability to keep up with them. All because they had on freaking camo pants, I thought in annoyance. “Trust me Leon, I can’t get hurt.”
Not getting the gist of the hint he leaned in a whispered back, “If this is Raccoon City all over again you’re damned right you can’t get hurt.”
Instead of spelling it out for him, I only said, “You’ll see.” I had the worst feeling about this, and I was sure that we would run into something that would end up exposing my secret. Missing girls, strange attacks… Leon was in for a surprise, and one that I hoped Jack Krauser could keep a secret. All I knew was that I could without a doubt withstand another outbreak thanks to the very man partially responsible for the first one, but what was killing me was that I wasn’t certain that Leon could. Once again, just like our first meeting in Raccoon he was underestimating me, and I would surprise him all over again.
Wherever Wesker he was going to be pissed to see me, and I feared seeing him. Gustavo had to wake up sometime, but my phone had yet to vibrate and I thanked God for that. The longer I went without a call meant that Gustavo had yet to find that I was gone. And the longer I was gone meant the longer I would have to endure Wesker’s scolding.
Forgive me Wesker, but you know who I am. No alias could ever change that.
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