Chapter Fifteen: It Never Ends

Sunrise Towers

New York

0700 hrs_ (two days later)

"So there's no hope?" Alice repeated, her voice slightly breaking. "He will never wake up?"

Luda shook her head. "I'm sorry Alice. The brain scans weren't very positive. At this rate he'll probably remain in a coma for a long time."

"But there is still a chance that he will wake up," Alice insisted. She knew she was grabbing at straws at this point, but she refused to give up her son.

"There is," Luda admitted, "But the chances that he will be the same are very, very slim."

"I'll take whatever Dryden I can take," Alice whispered once Luda had turned towards Leon to inform him of Dryden's state. As she entered the cubicle where Dryden lay, she saw Spence sitting on a chair, his head bowed - he was sleeping. Since Spence had told her about Dryden, they had barely left their son's side.

Alice moved quietly to stand beside her son, whose heart still beat and whose lungs still drew air. The cold air blew against his body, making his skin cool to the touch.

"Dryden," Alice murmured, brushing a lock of his hair away from his forehead. "If you can hear me, please, wake up."

Nothing. Alice felt a tear slide down her cheek and she wiped it away with her hand. She wouldn't dare cry; crying meant that she felt that Dryden was lost to her, but he was still here. She could feel his heartbeat, see his chest rise and fall with every breath he took.

Dryden wouldn't die – he couldn't.

"Alice," Spence muttered sleepily, and Alice turned to see him open his eyes, sleep still etched on his expression. "How long have you been there?"

"Not long enough," Alice replied, turning back to her son. "Spence, what if…" Her voice trailed away. She dared not say her fears, in case they became her reality.

Spence rose and stood near her, his hand resting on her shoulder. Alice reached up and held his rough hand in hers, and they silently stood watching over Dryden, who remained lost in his dreams and repressed memories.

Seven hours later_

Dryden. Wake up. Wake up.

The words flowed through his mind, blocking out everything else. Dryden knew he had to wake, so that he could find his mother and father and make Wesker pay for using him.

He had so much to answer for – first, for helping Wesker enslave his father, second, for helping Wesker capture all those survivors, and third, for helping Wesker in all of his other nefarious deeds. Dryden wasn't sure he would be welcomed with open arms, but he knew he still had to try.

His parents were there, within reach. Dryden had heard his mother's urgent pleas for him to wake, which were similar to his cries for her to come and rescue him from the clutches of Umbrella when he was a baby.

Dryden's mind had become too exhausted with his previous battle with his mother and Leon Kennedy, and Dryden found it difficult to even try and lift a finger. So he simply lay there, immobile, and waited as his body slowly fixed the jumble that had become his mind.

Dryden knew that the resident doctor – Luda – had taken a brain scan, which merely showed the disarray his mind had fallen into. Unknown to her, the T-virus was slowly replacing the damaged cells, and now Dryden felt stronger than he had two days ago.

Dryden tested his fingers, which gave a slight twitch. He then opened his eyes.

At first the bright fluorescent light blinded him, but as his eyesight adjusted, he saw Alice looking down at him, her eyes wide and disbelieving.

Fearing she would call for reinforcements, Dryden reached up, clamped his hand on her wrist, and said: "Mom."

Umbrella Corporation Facility

Los Angeles

1400hrs_

"Submersion complete," the mechanical voice announced. "Body ready for reanimation procedure."

"Lay him down on the table," Wesker instructed.

As the metal stretcher was lowered down onto the surgical table, Wesker studied the still form before him. Nothing seemed out of place, and the body looked the same as it was when it was alive.

"Why have you resurrected him?" Beck hissed, coming in for a closer look. "He had gone against the corporation once, Wesker; what makes you think he will stay true to us this time?"

Wesker wordlessly held up the scarab-shaped instrument that was once planted on Spence Parks' chest. He had made a few modifications, and Wesker was assured that this device would be difficult – if not impossible – not remove.

Wesker slammed the device onto the person's chest, the red liquid immediately seeping into the veins and arteries. A few minutes later the body started twitching, and finally, the eyes snapped open.

"Reanimation sequence of Carlos Olivera: Complete," the mechanical voice finished.

Sunrise Towers

New York

1600hrs_

The past should always remain in the past.

Whatever disagreements Alice and Spence had, they mutually decided to put it behind them for the sake of their son. Leon Kennedy and the other survivors in the apartment building accepted Dryden's profuse apologies, although Ada gave Dryden a sharp punch in the face. Claire and Chris Redfield, who had successfully escaped, had been welcomed warmly into the group. Like most of the people in Sunrise Towers, they were shocked at the revelation that Dryden was actually Alice and Spence's son.

Shortly after Dryden had recovered, they all immediately sat down to hear about Wesker's plans, which Dryden and Jill knew a lot of. Even K-Mart, who seemed a bit distant for the past days, joined the meeting. It was agreed that Wesker should be stopped at all costs, and Dryden immediately made it clear that he had no qualms about striking against his foster father.

In the midst of all the plans, schemes, and discussions, Spence found time to pull Alice aside for a private talk.

"I love you Alice," he said. "And I know I can never erase what I did to you all those years ago, but for what it's worth, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was a complete arse, sorry that I caused all this."

Alice looked into his eyes. "I don't know if I can completely forgive you, Spence," she answered honestly. "But for Dryden's sake, I will do my best. I loved you too – once."

Spence nodded, as if he had expected this response from her. "I understand. I just wanted you to know, Alice. I'm not asking for anything in return."

He then reached up and caressed her face; Alice closed her eyes and leaned her cheek against his hand, which was blissfully warm. The next moment they were walking back to the conference room, their fingers brushing each others' occasionally, a comfortable silence hanging over them.

The discussions continued well into the night, and every so often Ada, Jill, and K-Mart popped into the diner to bring the rest of the group steaming mugs of coffee and plates of sandwiches and biscuits.

"Wesker is intent on acquiring Mom's DNA," Dryden said, standing. He looked very imposing, but there was a new aura of warmth about him. He no longer looked menacing, although his eyes retained the fierceness that had appeared when he moved to strike a killing blow against Alice and Leon. "She must be protected at all costs."

"Where is the safest place for her, then?" Ada piped up. "Wesker can easily infiltrate this building, since he already knows where it is."

Dryden smirked, making him look more like a younger version of Spence. "The least likely place he would think to look. An abandoned Umbrella facility."

A few murmured their assent, while Ada and Leon looked doubtful.

"How would we know which one to use?" Leon finally asked, while Ada downed the last of her black coffee.

"The nearest unused facility has an entrance at the base of the Statue of Liberty," Dryden replied. "Minimal infestation, although if I remember correctly, there are a few specimens – Lickers – that were left there. I'm not sure if they are still there. The facility, once placed under lockdown, can withstand a barrage of attacks. It would certainly give us enough time to evacuate if Wesker does breach the facility's defenses."

"If you think I'm going to stand by and watch you all fight –" Alice began, but Spence stopped her.

"Dryden is right, Alice," he told her. "If Wesker gets hold of you and your DNA, he will be able to become a Homo Superioris. Once he does, then we're as good as fucked."

Alice looked mutinous, but finally she relented after the rest of the group agreed with Spence, Dryden included.

The meeting was adjourned with the participants fully informed with the group's plans, and as Dryden joined his parents, Alice took his hand and squeezed it gently. "Promise me one thing, Dryden," she said as the three of them walked out onto the hallway.

"Anything, Mom," Dryden said, while Spence smiled at the both of them.

"Kill Wesker."

Author's Note: The story will be continued in 'Resident Evil: Vengeance', which may take some time to come out (owing to the number of fan fictions I have yet to complete). To those who have stayed with me, Dryden, and the rest of the RE characters, thank you. :D Reviews, reactions, and comments are more than welcome.