CHAPTER 30! Yay~

Reading chapter 29 made me want to pull my hair out. Especially with Leon's section. But I'll just grit my teeth and trudge forward. I do plan on re-writing this story (in other words, completely overhauling it), a sentiment I believe I've expressed to you already. I just figured I'd acknowledge that most of you probably aren't up to re-reading the 'to be rewritten' sections; given that fact, I apologize that the story isn't as high quality now as I intend on making it in the future.

"Damnit; I didn't think I was still this weak. Or maybe you're just really fat," Sherry muttered to the unconscious Claire. She was hiking through a forested area only a few hundred feet from the camp. She'd heard the shouting of men, and the helicopters; it was taking her entire resolve to keep herself from dropping Claire right here and running back to Wesker.

She had to believe that he could handle this himself. What right did she have to question him?

She shrugged, adjusting the woman's weight to a more comfortable position. Throwing her head to the side, a hands-free attempt at getting her bangs out of her face, she heard an explosion which shook the ground and left ringing in her sensitive ears.

It seemed unnaturally quiet for a few seconds as Sherry recovered from the shock. When the shouting voices and humming helicopters once again reached her, she sucked in a deep breath and trudged forward.

She simply couldn't look back.

"What the hell happened! ?" Ada jumped out of the car and ran toward the rising smoke, her partner hot on her heels.

Through the double-doors, down the massive hall, through a side door and around the kitchen, they finally found an exit leading into the courtyard.

The sight they witnessed stopped them in their tracks.

Some men were dead; others were cowering under cover. Just at the far end of the courtyard Ada saw the twisted remnants of a helicopter sticking out of the side of one of the buildings. There were three aircraft remaining, hovering over the site firing gatling guns in the center of the enclosure.

Ada followed their aim, her eyes finally landing on the distorted features of Albert Wesker.

There. It's there. What was where? Wesker couldn't make sense of his own thoughts as he fought off the barrage of projectiles raining down on him. His body was pulling him toward the forest.

It's there. He ignored himself, swiping at one man and impaling another. A loud crack! sounded from above his head. He shielded himself as a rocket went off beside him. He turned to the source of the trouble; another helicopter. He shot his arm toward it, gripping it tightly and sending it to the ground.

It landed in a terrifying crash, and Ada and Nicholai quickly spun back inside and out of sight.

"We need tools," he stated, and ran off back the way they'd come. Ada merely stood, unable to remove her eyes from the black fleshy mass encasing Wesker. It was somewhat jarring; she hadn't seen uroboros in person- only pictures. Seeing someone as composed and controlling as Albert Wesker in such a state had her in a completely confused.

He roared angrily, tearing the blades of the chopper away by the mast and hurling it at any random enemy. Ada ducked down as the rotor lodged itself into the section of wall across the doorway from her. His tactics were erratic and not very well thought-out. It's possible she could find an opening and take him out.

It occurred to her suddenly that during her entire hunt, not once had she considered bringing Wesker back alive. She peeked out again, pondering this. She had been so sure that he would have been ready for them, she and Nicholai. On top of everything like he always was, if they somehow managed to catch up to him, it would only be because he'd allowed it. He'd be prepared; getting past his strength, speed,and agility alone, they would have still been met with strategic superiority and cunning. It was an uphill battle from every perspective.

But no; it looked like this was a genuine blunder. Albert Wesker had been outdone- by himself. If they could find some way to contain his bodily strength, then then the battle would be half over. He was nothing more than a ghost of who he had once been.

Ada wasn't sure how she felt about that.

Certainly, she disliked the man. He'd forced her into some dangerous and foreign situations without regard for anything apart from his goals. Of course, what else had she expected?

She could say in a nutshell that Albert Wesker represented everything that was wrong with mankind. In that light, killing him could be a metaphor for the destruction of all of man's vices.

But that was irrelevant, she realized. She'd been so engrossed in her own thoughts she found herself veering away from the problem at hand. She was an agent. He was a target. She knew what her job was.

She stood and moved swiftly down the corridor in pursuit of Nicholai.

Claire grunted uncomfortably. She'd fallen asleep on the world's lumpiest mattress, it seemed. But her hair flying madly around her head and the cold air on her skin betrayed a different story.

When she finally dared to peek her eyes open, she saw a mass of blond strands whirling about and realized her hair wasn't the only hair she'd accidentally been eating.

"Sherry?" her surprised voice came out resembling that of a frog. Sherry didn't appear to register- Claire was a little surprised to see that she was running. She seemed to be concentrating very hard on something. Claire felt a little more than awkward, bouncing on the smaller woman's shoulders like a giant sack of meat.

"Where's Wesker?" Claire asked, a little bit louder. Sherry came out of her fog and slowed to a stop, dropping Claire into the dirt. She grunted at the impact but did her best to stifle it.

"You're awake. Good; you can carry your own weight now."

"What's happen-"

"Get up. We need to move."

Sherry gave her an impatient look; Claire tried getting to her feet, but the struggle was too much and she collapsed again.

Sherry sighed, "Lovely." She hoisted her up and practically dragged her through the remaining trees and into a clearing. When she let go, however, Claire discovered that she could stand on her own.

Sherry frowned- Claire's recovery had been made in a matter of seconds. She was now focused and alert. Then she realized something- that pull. She could feel it. It was Uncle Wesker's presence!

But wait... there was something altered about it. It was Wesker, and it wasn't at the same time. She couldn't puzzle it out; it was so strong she could almost smell it, and yet, there was no one around.

Except Claire.

Sherry peered at her intently, making her nervous.

"What?"

"Let me see your hand."

"My what?"

"Hand. Now."

Claire held it out tentatively as Sherry approached. In a shocking show of speed, Sherry slipped out a knife and made a clean cut in the palm of Claire's hand.

"Ow!" Claire yelled, trying to pull her injured extremity away, but Sherry simply held tighter, smelling the blood trickling out slowly and contemplating what it meant.

"You've been infected." It wasn't a question.

The words made Claire's mind shoot back to the last time she'd been awake. Was she? No; that was impossible. There was no way. Not her.

Claire shook her head.

"Yes, you are. Don't lie to me," Sherry practically growled. "Why? Why did he infect you?"

"He didn't!" Claire shrieked back. "I'm not- I'm not..." her words faded away. She pulled her hand back and cradled it, refusing to look at Sherry or anything else.

Sherry looked for a moment, a flare of pity rising in her chest before she buried it again. "Whatever," she shrugged. She pulled out a phone and dialed Alex.

They were ready. More or less.

There had been an arsenal hidden beneath the stairs- Nicholai had bullied one of the men who worked here into telling him about it.

He had covered himself from head-to-toe in anything that would fit. Ada had to wonder how he'd accomplish anything so drowned in combat gear, but figured it was his prerogative. As for her, a semi-auto rifle would suffice. She had her knife and handgun if things got a little too close for comfort, but other than that she had every intention of keeping her distance.

Her partner felt that blitzing Wesker was the best course of action; she couldn't wait to see him try it. Her unique knowledge of their enemy made her feel slightly superior to her partner, and slightly less optimistic all at the same time. In spite of his weakened state, this would still prove a daunting task.

Ada made her way to the roof; the rounds bounced in a small pouch against her thigh, reminding her of what she was about to do.

Her plan was this- let Nicholai make a fool of himself and slowly chip away at Wesker while he was distracted. It seemed like the best way to handle the situation. She just prayed her partner could hold out that long.

Setting herself up in the best location she could find, she got to her stomach and peered through the scope. Nicholai had already started.

"Men are so impatient," Ada sighed, finding Wesker and waiting for the best moment.

Nicholai rolled out of the way as one of Wesker's massive arms came down beside him. The ground shook. He pulled out a grenade and rolled it beneath Wesker's feet. The blond adversary had noticed, however, chucked it right back.

"Shit," he spat, running out of the way. He'd avoided the small rubber balls erupting from the weapon, but the energy released from the explosion knocked him to the dirt. He pulled out a magnum and took aim as he grunted to his feet, doing his best to keep Wesker at bay.

Some of the men from the compound were collecting at one corner of the yard, propping up a javelin missile and preparing to fire.

Nicholai figured playing the role of mouse until they could get a clean shot wasn't a bad way to go, so he ran a straight line down the center of the yard, beckoning Wesker to follow.

Wesker barreled toward his opponent intent upon crushing the man beneath his hands, when a large amount of shouting met his ears. He turned to see a number of soldiers fiddling with a missile launcher. He moved to stop them, but the weapon fired and the best he could manage was to duck out of the way.

Nicholai whipped around suddenly, surprised to se that Wesker was further away then he last remembered. Then he noticed the javelin speeding his way.

He gritted his teeth and ran to the side, succeeding only in missing the brunt of the explosion as he was lifted into the air and brought down hard into the ground. He raised his head dazedly, but couldn't keep his eyes open. He was knocked out before his head touched the dirt.

Ada cursed under her breath. Without Nicholai she couldn't do this- it was impossible. Retreating silently, she backed away and out of sight as Wesker dealt with the few remaining men.

It's there. Go; now. He was thinking this to himself as the last man fell,dead. There was no point in staying here, so he decided to listen to his curious demand.

He still wasn't sure what he was referring to, but the lack of immediate danger allowed him to slowly mold to his regular form.

He could feel something inside, willing him into the forest- he figured it must be the girls. He looked down; his clothes were tattered and too revealing for his tastes. Sighing in resignation, he pulled the trousers off of one of the soldiers and fit them on. They were a little short and too large around the waist, but they served their purpose.

He then checked his body for wounds, but there were none that warranted much concern. He gazed into the forest, thinking beyond his own comprehension. Why did he feel like he had a second mind? It was slightly annoying.

He shook off the sensation and trekked forward, in search of Sherry and Claire.

Hmm... I can't help but think at this one. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Tell me what you think- maybe I'll change it up a bit.

Okay- Chris is going in the next one. And Jill. Don't ask why; just go with it. It all leads to something very important. That I possibly might not get to until the sequel.

But when I think about it the only place I can imagine it fitting would be here... Maybe if I actually figured out what I'm doing for the sequel it would help... Of course, I'm still trying to figure out what the hell I'm doing for Unhinged, so don't hold me to that.

SPEAKING OF THAT~ I finally figured out a major plot element that ties everything up a little better. I mean, I suppose I've been hinting at it thus far but I haven't exactly figured out to WHAT I'm hinting. Until now. So... yeah. YAY FOR PLOTS!

Also, if you haven't noticed I've been trying to update every Sunday. Wish me luck with that~! (It might help if I didn't wait until eleven o'clock on said Sunday to start writing...)

Oh... and I've been neglecting my experiment.

REVIEW~!