Upon reaching the lower floor of the secret base in Antarctica, I encountered the infected: weak zombies and several spider-like monsters. However, they posed no threat. My katana easily cut a path through the crowds of creatures, among whom were moderately poor guards. What were they guarding? The guard room. That is exactly what I wanted to thoroughly inspect for clear instructions on how to get into the laboratory.
As is often the case, instead of dirt, I found gold. I stumbled upon a pile of compromising documents from the Umbrella corporation, including information about the Code Veronica project.
Alexander Ashford, who had lost his family's wealth and influence due to an intelligence deficit in economic matters comparable to a primate, tried to restore his lineage's status. He made every effort to implant the genes of the family's foundress into zygotes. Veronica's genes were introduced into the fertilized eggs, leading to the creation of her pseudo-clones. And due to a rare mutation, twins of different types were born — Alfred and Alexia.
These are only Brendan's assumptions, and he might be wrong. But let's continue…
Alfred possessed an intellect comparable to his father's, high in certain areas, but not in finance and management. Alexia, in turn, inherited the genius of Veronica, the distant ancestor whose embalmed body was stored in the family castle. This is believable. At a very young age, Alexia became a leading laboratory employee, causing envy and irritation in Birkin, who considered himself the smartest representative of the younger generation.
Scrolling through the reports, I came across decayed photographs of those nostalgic times. One of them captured a young Alexia in the company of the best scientists:
— A genius loli-blonde in a white coat with the genes of an embalmed mummy. The world can no longer be saved, — I cheerfully whispered, chuckling at an interesting finding at the end of the report.
According to the management of the Antarctic base, Alexia and Alfred got rid of their father — Alexander. Nosferatu — the virus-infected father of the evil children — is contained in the dungeon. He fell victim to his own creations. Funny.
— Alexia is a wicked daddy's girl.
How awful, not only was I not invited to the inhuman experiments to clone the foundress of the Ashford line, but they also forgot to invite me to the transformation of Alexander into Nosferatu. Due to this double ignorance, I missed two landmark events.
The news was disappointing.
The next report contained the subjective conclusions of Brendan, a fan of the little girl. His conclusions seemed justified: megalomania, misanthropy, and Alexia's love for ants, as they unquestioningly worship their queen. What's the point of all this? The answer is simple: Brendan overheard a conversation between Alexia and Alfred about crossbreeding ant genes with the Progenitor virus.
It's a pity that this useful stalker is now just another severed zombie head. He even deserved a medal for the data provided on the cause of Alexia's death, or rather, its absence.
Alexia infected herself with T-Veronica and fell into cryogenic sleep for fifteen years to allow her body to adapt to the virus. She claimed that the virus assimilates with the host under the influence of low temperatures, increasing strength and giving the ability to control the creatures.
If at least half of the report is true, then the security guard of the complex is a legendary spy. So much information was stored in plain sight… It's no wonder that Alfred Ashford is limited in intellect: under his nose, subordinates were assembling a bomb that would destroy the remnants of his lineage's influence.
Unfortunately, there are no routes here, only the dry thoughts of spies.
With a serious look, I left the room and strode down the dark corridor. Without my glasses, it might have been slightly brighter, but not by much. For about ten minutes, I crept toward the metal doors like a blind mole, due to the lack of light sources.
Striking the metal door with all my strength, I created an impressive dent. Then another, and another. This continued until the doors buckled and flew off their hinges.
— Alexander Ashford, I presume? — Adjusting my glasses, I peered at a bald man with bandaged eyes. The mutant's entire body was covered with cadaveric spots and lime, which explained his nickname Nosferatu. One of Umbrella's main faces got what he deserved. I don't like employers who didn't even bother to invite me to a project for cloning people.
I took out my pistol from the holster and emptied the magazine, aiming at the monster's chest and face. Repeating the procedure of shooting the defenseless opponent several times, I let off some steam. More accurately, I pushed the T-Veronica sample keeper toward mutation so that his virus would activate faster. The transformation process was not long in coming.
The virus gave Alexander the necessary strength, helping him break out of the trap his cloned children had imprisoned him in. He tore off the muzzle and shackles. Next to him, a halberd was stuck right into the wall, which Nosferatu armed himself with.
Roaring and releasing dozens of ant legs the size of a hand from his body, he lumbered toward me. The monster resembled an executioner trying to behead a criminal.
— I think I got the wrong door, — I smiled cheerfully, putting away my pistol and unsheathing the katana.
Using acceleration, I lightning-fast closed the distance with the opponent and cut off one of his ant legs. The T-Veronica sample was right in my hands. Further confrontation was pointless. However, towards the end, I had to hastily dodge a halberd swing without slowing down. But it wasn't worth striking back.
The katana returned to the sheath, and the virus sample remained with me.
The monster mutated again, turning into a likeness of an ant-man, in a bad way. Many ant limbs wriggled; Alexander even developed cheeks on his face. A creature with unknown abilities.
Speaking of powers, it's too early to judge them, one can only assume control over infected creatures. The ant queen does something similar, and if the girl had such strange fetishes, she could have modified the virus in this aspect. And if Alexia fancies herself a queen, she needs complete control over mutations. By the way, considering the chaotic G-virus and the costly T-Progenitor inside me, control will be very handy.
Lightly whistling, I quickly left the chamber and headed to look for other metal doors. Nosferatu, being blind, posed no threat. He crawled away on his ant legs in the opposite direction.
Strange, but I had an unusual feeling that I had forgotten something. Something related to the invisible threat posed by the release of Nosferatu. But no, I probably imagined it. After all, besides me and the frozen Alexia, no one else is here.
And Claire.
Oh right, Claire… That's what I forgot. But she's a Redfield, she'll manage.
Whistling louder, I continued searching for the cryogenic chamber. Due to the lack of a map, I had to wander a bit, but as is known, if you search long enough, you can even find a dead person.
This time I stumbled upon an automatic door with a code lock. Breaking it with my bare hands proved to be not easy. I even had to take a snack break. And I felt like a construction worker, but the thought that I was like an excavator morally encouraged me.
— Missed again, — I muttered through gritted teeth, finding myself in Alexia's private laboratory without Alexia herself. The equipment was cutting-edge, about fifteen years ago. It seems Alfred never updated the dusty instruments.
Well, the main thing is to find a few test tubes and chemicals, even if they are expired. Some components could have become dangerous in fifteen years, but that won't stop me.
Initially, I planned to get the virus from Alexia Ashford, but instead, I got her father, who underwent forced mutation. I deliberately drove him to a state where his flesh became ideal for virus synthesis. It's like finding a truck loaded with cash and stolen by criminals — all the dirty work was done for me.
Recalling the past, I remembered CRISPR-Cas9 — the revolutionary genome editing technology, based on the natural immunity system of bacteria, allowing precise changes to be made to DNA. However, my other "me" was only superficially interested in this, watching short video clips while eating. But, if I had advanced equipment and the latest methodology, I would have done so much with that ant leg…
A pity, we will act the old-fashioned way and hope for the best.
Repeating the actions I performed in NEST-1, I felt nervous and pondered the possibility of extracting the virus under more favorable conditions. However, the results might be worse. A virus not maintained by the host loses its properties over time. And also, here in Antarctica, Alexia poses a serious threat. She has been cultivating power for fifteen years! Perhaps in cryogenic sleep, she dreams of the Murim world, where people like her engage in cultivation. Alexia is a wicked cultivator. Jokes are not funny with them during a personal meeting.
What has the virus inside Alexia become?
Probably a new strain, it could be called T-Alexia.
But I have something to counteract it. If I take T-Veronica, it will combine with the Progenitor and Golgotha. The result will be T-Wesker. T-Wesker — sounds like the embodiment of perfection. T-Wesker — proud and dignified. Tyrant Wesker.
Continuing to cheer myself up because of working in unsanitary conditions, I soon received an ampoule with the virus to push aside, and another one for myself.
— Doubts, — I muttered, weighing the T-Veronica sample in my hands. Without the G-virus in me, I might have refused the idea of absorbing the viral substance.
The side effects can be irritating. However, gathering my courage, I accepted the challenge and drank the virus. It immediately reached my stomach, contacting the infected flesh. Anticipating the consequences, I settled down on the research table in advance, lay down, and closed my eyes.
My body couldn't handle the strain, and I gradually lost consciousness.
I hope I don't end up looking like my friend — Nemesis. Otherwise, my wrath and tentacles will fall upon Alexia, whom I perceive as an unpredictable and dangerous threat.
I lost consciousness… And it seems I'm already awake.
Due to the lack of a sleep phase, the process seemed ragged, as if my eyes had simply been closed for a long time. With difficulty getting up, I approached a reflective object and removed my glasses.
— Low-quality reagents and unsanitary conditions do not seem to have affected the result, — I examined myself, nodding with satisfaction. — The sensations have stabilized. All that remains is to test the powers.
Closing my eyes and putting on my sunglasses, I tried to concentrate. First, I should try to sense the presence of creatures infected with T-Veronica. I didn't find anything, so the assumption of zombie control is out. That's not so bad; that ability belongs to the female ant. As for mutation control, I clearly felt every process happening in my body.
Opening my eyes and examining my raised hands, I decided to act upon them, trying to induce changes. Feeling the heat, I winced slightly at the rapidly dwindling endurance. To turn my hands into three-pronged claws — ideal tools for cutting mutants and dismembering enemies — required a lot of effort. However, the claws turned out to be gray, and I prefer bright black. I had to spend even more energy coloring them to the desired shade.
I was hungry again.
The thought of absorbing a zombie no longer seemed disgusting, probably because I could try to absorb them through my body. Concentrating, I released several long tentacles from my hands, capable of quickly absorbing the prey's flesh.
— Perhaps I should call my company not "Wesker Corporation," but "GENTEK," — I remarked with cheerful irony, returning my hands to their usual appearance. To use the T-Wesker abilities, a lot of biomass is required. But in any case, the future belongs to T-Wesker.
My mood was simply magnificent.
I left the laboratory in search of the girl who had been cultivating a new strain for fifteen years. I was curious how much her virus differs from mine. Essentially, we were both superhumans, having reached certain heights in our respective areas: I — in speed, regeneration, and variability; and she — in something else.
Suddenly, an explosion rang out, and an exposed blonde with stunning curves and a figure emerged from the shattered metal wall. She walked with the gait of a queen, not shy about the absence of even underwear. I had to slightly lower my sunglasses to examine everything carefully. The scorching gaze of Wesker.
Besides the exposed figure, something else bothered me. So, the fifteen years of cryogenic freezing were ending today? I was increasingly indignant at the turn of events playing against me. But not as much as the burning girl. My eyes were not deceiving me — she was indeed ablaze, completely covered in flames.
The fire girl certainly grew up in fifteen years, but she was too hot. Is her ability related to flame manipulation? Definitely, this was not magic. Her wrist was cut, and blood was dripping from it, turning into fire. The process of blood combustion generated the flame. But such a discovery did not ease the situation.
Fire girls are my only weakness.
Well, besides the weaknesses I prefer not to remember.
— Morning. A great day for illegal experiments, — I cheerfully greeted the awakened Alexia, after which, with an unperturbed face, I walked past. Like a true gentleman, I left the stunned lady to burn alone.
— Wesker, — she whispered coldly.
She was fine, as her own flame didn't harm her, but she slightly singed my katana sheath. Although she didn't burn it, as soon as I lightly patted the ignited area, the fire went out. Alexia trespassed on the sacred — my titanium katana.
Revenge will be sweet… The main thing is not to slow down the pace of retreat. I have little chance of bringing anyone to their knees here. Alexia is smart, and she needs to be fought unconventionally. For example, by completely ignoring the problem to switch to a more advantageous position.
Unfortunately, the blonde responded no less unexpectedly, taking control of some creature or plant that had pierced the floor. A huge snake-like tentacle, like a kraken's, clearly had something against me. Instead of quietly allowing me to leave and setting an ambush, Alexia decided to attack.
Silently activating the acceleration, I ran toward a more spacious room. Fighting a fire woman in a confined space is not in my rules, so I decided to look for something suitable.
And why did I have the instinctive feeling that she was only… erm, ten times more dangerous than Nemesis? She controls plants, flame, and possesses the generally accepted title of Umbrella's genius.
At least Alexia doesn't know who killed her twin brother. She doesn't know, right? Alfred was definitely not killed by me. It was my evil twin brother!