Chapter 20: New and Old Faces

Sigma stood there with a smug look on his face. His large mechanical hands twitching from excitement. And oddly human gesture to be coming from a machine. Oddly human just like his pride in his robotic brothers and sisters. Next to him a member of his mechanical “race” Seth.

“Seth! Show our guests your new agility!”

Seth stood forth in confrontation with Chris. The glare from his glowing yellow eyes made Chris feel a threatening presence that he hadn’t seen since his brush up against Wesker at one of the Spencer estates.

Seth then smiled. “ha, ha Haha, HA HAHA HA!” He then started laughing awkwardly as the crescendo of his tone ended after going from soft laughter to a maniacal cackle. “Now die!”

Seth kicked off crushing a floor tile beneath his feet. His smirk seemed like it was cutting the air around his face as his body contorted and bent unnaturally. Sigma looked onward, pleased with he and Juri’s handiwork on Seth. Though he felt a great deal of pity for Seth. A once proud leader in his own right, a mechanical improvement of the domineering power of the dictator M. Bison. Reduced to a puppet for his and Magneto’s will. All because Seth himself was too prideful to know his place amongst the Alliance.

And why shouldn’t he have felt that way? Sigma recollected. We ARE superior to the organics! Well… most of them at least. If it weren’t for that Magneto! I read a thin flimsy book on my time here in this world. A character aptly named the Man of Steel, his weakness a rock called Kryptonite. Magneto is that to us inorganics.

The muscle bound Seth, still imposing despite his new female form charged toward Chris as the BSAA agent prepared his Stun Rod. Ready to take or deliver a beating. And from the look of Seth it would seemed this would be a beating not dealt out by Chris.

But look at his incredible form! He’s flawless! Yes Magneto’s power is greatly effective against us. However he is still just a frail old man. And time will surely take him. That is when we inorganics… the superior being will have our day!

“…” X-23 clenched her fists in a silent rage. Standing tall as her eyes were fixed on an enemy unaware of her. Appearing insignificant to Seth.

Seth found himself mere feet away from the Raccoon City survivor when he leapt into the air. Spinning on his way back down as his massive looked like if standing traffic signal were twirling like a baton. Then he was stopped.

“Don’t touch him!”

X-23’s roar was blood & toe curdling. She jumped in front of Chris and crossed her forearms into the shape of an X before outright blocking Seth’s massive vertically spinning somersault. Chris feeling shame in that moment from being frozen in place. He looked at X-23 with great nostalgia. Seeing Jill in Laura’s form and flowing brunette hair. The shockwave of their limbs clashing, metal on metal echoed throughout the room as Sigma was stricken with shock.

“Is she an inorganic?” He asked aloud. Jill and Barry standing next to him not saying a word in response to his query. “I asked a question. SO YOU ANSWER!” He yelled as he threw his massive fist at Jill who was closest to him.

She hit the floor in a manner that seemed quite painful. “…” She calmly stood up, stoic and still lacking a response due to her mind controlled state.

“Hmm. I suppose it can’t be helped. You’re one of us now a mere puppet. Unfortunately for you however you won’t be joining us into the gilded future.”

Chris had little time to feel grateful for Laura past that. Angered by Sigma’s apparent disgust for organic life. And more importantly his partner and friend. He readied his Stun Rod and began charging toward the enemy forces. The electricity flowing throughout his weapon would make a fitting weapon against a robot such as Sigma. A weapon he wouldn’t get the opportunity to use it however. As Wolverine would rush to stop.

“Wait a minute bub!”

Chris screeched across the floor to a stop. “Wolverine? Why?”

“Laura told me that you’ve got friends to save right?” Wolverine bent his legs like an animal and turned to face Sigma. “That overgrown toaster is mine! You save your friends for me okay?” Wolverine said as he shared a soft smirk and squinted look.

“Yeah…” Chris said as he looked into Wolverine’s eyes. It was in that moment that Chris could tell. “You’re a soldier too aren’t you? What war did you fight to get that look in your eyes?” He asked.

Wolverine let out a chuckle that seemed almost sad. “All of them kid.”

Wolverine then rushed to face Sigma; leaving Chris behind to make sense of what he’d said. Not aware that Wolverine’s healing factor has given him the opportunity and curse of living many lives. A fate that also awaited Laura Kinney.

In the back of the group of heroes was Nilin and Rocket. She looked at him before pointing out the hulking lizards that stood behind Sigma, awaiting their orders. Without the need for an exchanging of words Rocket already knew what they were to do. Hold off the Hunters so that Wolverine, X-23, and Chris Redfield could fight their respective battles. That being said, despite the fact that words weren’t necessary; that didn’t affect Rocket. The mouthiest Raccoon on the planet short of a few Raccoon City standees.

“Oh yeah! These reptiles will be sharting flarking eggs when we’re through!”

“Can’t you be serious?” Nilin asked as the smirk disappeared from Rocket’s face.

“I don’t do the mushy stuff too often. But when it comes to my friends…” Rocket looked onward at Chris and X-23. “I’m always serious!” He said as Nilin smiled.

“Glad to hear it.”

The two then both had a serious look on their face. Rushing in to face the Hunters in combat. Sigma saw this as he motioned for the Hunters to begin their attack. Saliva falling from their eager fangs they began leaping toward the pair. Sharp reptilian-like claws ready to draw blood. But the Hunters wouldn’t have it as easy as they assumed. Because their adversary was even more athletic than they were.

Rocket jumped onto Nilin’s shoulder then leapt from it. Gaining air that the Hunters couldn’t dream of. Despite them trying. A few of them leaping into the air after him. Rocket then readied his slingshot as the slowly approaching enemies lost steam midway through the air. He then let off a few pebbles in one go each making their mark squarely between the Hunter’s eyes. Each one screamed as they fell back down toward the ground. Hitting it with a resounding thud before flailing in agony. Rocket then loaded what appeared to be a miniature, burstable satchel. Once he fired it off it the ground and exploded into a white powder that choked the monsters out.

Nilin was also facing off against the Hunters. She was sliding and spinning her way through the assailants as they swiped their claws at her, missing each time. Her cybernetic arm would then meet them literally head on, smashing skulls upon impact. And just as she was close to being overwhelmed by the sheer number of them there was Rocket. Firing more powder bombs as Nilin would cover her mouth when moving through the plume.

“Nilin! Duck!” Rocket commanded as a Hunter was swiping at her. A tactic that had decapitated many poor souls who’ve stood before them. Nilin slid away as Rocket jumped on its back and bit into its neck. Giving it a taste of its own medicine.

*Shriek!*

Nilin then punched the creature as Rocket jumped off of its back. She gave a thumbs up before saying “Thanks!” Rocket returned a thumbs up before getting back at it.

Elsewhere on the battlefield X-23 had been duking it out with Seth. Both of them punching and kicking to their hearts content. Seth upset that his powerful attacks seemed to do very little while X-23’s basic melee responses weren’t fairing much better. At the same time Wolverine confronted Sigma. Ready to wage another war.

Sigma looked at Wolverine with disdain. “Really? A meager man such as yourself is going to face me alone. Your species’ stupidity never ceases does it?” Sigma said as he pulled out a silver cylindrical handle. A green flash of light then emerged from it.

“You underestimating me?”

“Hardly! The fact that I’m using my energy sword at all to carve your flesh is likely overkill. A kitchen knife would probably do the trick.” Sigma smirked.

Wolverine gritted his teeth in an instance of controlled fury.

“Let me enlighten you then to the metal of my man!”

Wolverine unleashed all of his claws in that instance. Legs bent into his signature battle position. He growled as Sigma looked on in shock. He then heard claws sliding through human skin and bone once again. This time from a distance. X-23 had unleashed hers. This made him a little bit nervous.

“I’m going to cut into you like tin foil!” Wolverine bellowed.

Man and woman made of metal? Sigma threw his sword up, displaying confidence in the face of uncertainty. Interesting development. However simple steel won’t cut into me so easily. Sigma believed, unaware that those claws were made of one of the strongest and sharped metals known to man or machine. Adamantium.

Wolverine then charged toward Sigma winding his arm back for the swing of his claws. Sigma pleased with this was sure that his energy sword would slice right through his claws and strike Wolverine down. As Wolverine lunged the smug look on Sigma’s face grew even more. He swung with his sword as Wolverine repositioned for a block. The two powerful weapons met in a clash that threw Sigma off his guard. An outcome he wasn’t expecting.

“There’s no way!” He said. Are they clashing? That isn’t possible!

The struggle had gone on for a minute before Sigma realized his fatal error in underestimating the mutant. The X-Man still had a free hand. Therefore a free set of claws. He plunged the claws deeply into Sigma’s abdomen as sparks flew from his body. Sigma jumped away and looked down at his wound.

“You sliced into me like-”

Wolverine interrupted him.

“Tin foil?” Wolverine said while Sigma reluctantly nodded. Wolverine then held up his claws. “I know what I said earlier, but I was wrong. Feels more like slicing through toilet paper instead. Don’t worry I’ll make sure you go to use when I wipe my ass later!”

Sigma was livid. Incapable of understanding how a human was able to do so much damage so easily. Then it dawned on him. Wolverine was no human. But much like Magneto he had to be a mutant. Suddenly it all made sense to him. Mutants! Powerful like us automatons, but still stained with the hubris of man. THEY MUST BE DESTROYED!

This time throwing caution to the wind it was Sigma who was charging at Wolverine. He had his energy sword aiming directly at Wolverine; going for a stab as opposed to a slash. Hoping that this would prevent Wolverine from blocking as he slid the sword into his heart. He was mistaken. Time seemed to slow down. And Sigma’s wandering robotic eyes watched helplessly as Wolverine slid his claws around the oncoming beam of energy then twisting his arm to pin it in at an angle. With his arm immobilized Wolverine then stabbed into Sigma’s robotic knee. Limiting his ability to move around.

“Darn you mutant!”

“So you finally figured out huh?”

“Your deceit will not go unpunished mutant!”

Sigma then flipped his energy sword from ON to OFF. This unpinned his weapon and arm as he threw his arm up into the air. He switched it ON again then swung downward. Slicing all fingers off of Wolverine’s left hand apart from his thumb as Wolverine winced in pain. He jumped away from Sigma who was now laughing.

“I told you so!”

On the other side of the room another automaton wasn’t fairing as well as Sigma. Narrowly dodging X-23’s claws as she swung them. Seth still managed to retaliate here and there for he was much stronger and just as fast as she was. Punching her in the face and bloodying her lip. She stood back up and wiped the blood away from her lips. No expression on her face. Like it did no damage. Seth flew into a rage.

“WHY WON’T YOU DIE!?!?”

X-23 got into a crouching position, not dissimilar from Wolverine’s fighting stance.

“Because you tried to hurt the man who saved my life. One of the few to treat me like a human being and not like either an object or something to be feared. And for that I will not forgive you!” She said as she bit her lip to keep herself calm. Reopening a wound that would just immediately re-heal itself.

“You think I care about your human friend and your petty relationship? I COULDN’T CARE LESS IF I TRIED!” Seth howled in rage.

X-23 saw his instability. His rage blinded him. And though he was strong, that rage would be his ultimate downfall. X-23 just had to goat it out of him a little bit.

“Ha! For such a cold machine you sure have a hot temper? Sure you aren’t just like the rest of us?” She said as she entered a defensive stance.

“NOOOOOOO!!!!!”

Seth sprinted with powerful steps that shook the floor. Cracking the floor tile with each moment that the base of his feet met solid ground. When he arrived within range of X-23 he began a flurry of punches and kicks that pushed her blocking body back. She would swing with her claws as Seth still had the mind to swipe, slide, and dodge with each slash. Seeing his opportunity he began punching and kicking Laura. Beating her to a pulp.

*Punch-kick-knee-punch-kick*

He continued this assault until she was laying face first on the ground. Seth started after her while bearing an angry expression. He took the time between knocking her down and walking toward her to calm back down a little, but only a little. He saw her hand twitch and her claws along with it. Seeing that he knew it was likely she would counterattack.

“Nuh uh. I’M NOT FALLING FOR IT!” He yelled as he rushed her.

He kicked her in the stomach while she lay on the ground and her body flying and spinning through the air from the force of it. She fell to the ground again as her skull cracked against the tile. One thing was for sure; this room was going to need some serious renovations when this was through. Seth seeing her on the ground laying still, and motionless knew it was time to finish the job.

He rushed in for another kick. His oddly sexy yet muscular female figure sprinting in top form. Much like an Olympic athlete. Something he’d learned from the collected fighting data that was stored in his memory banks. It was while he was mid sprint that he saw her starting to get back up. This enraged him after thinking that he’d finally done her in. His rage grew as he ran, eliminating his cautious approach entirely yet still keeping his eyes on the claws in her hands. This had been her plan all along.

I got you now bastard!

X-23 unleashed her secret weapon, another Adamantium claw flew out of her foot and through the leather of her boot. She performed a Mortal Kombat style floor sweep with a twist. A strategy that this Street Fighter wasn’t prepared for. The blade of her sweeping leg cut through his robotic leg with ease as he fell to the floor.

“HOW!?”

She had no response to the raging robot. She then unleashed the claw from her other foot. Now all four limbs were claws out, and in in the case of Seth and his new form; balls out. He tried getting back up like X-23 had done so many times before, but unlike X-23 he wouldn’t have the ability to get back up. Swinging each limb with precision X-23 began hacking away at Seth until all of his limbs were gone and he was basically motionless. His robotic body sparking and leaking oil. The only parts of him moving being his writhing waist and neck, as well as the spinning Yin & Yang orb that made up his stomach.

“H-How wh-what, who whatwhat who how h-how-”

Seth was slurring and stuttering his words in a static shock. X-23 stood over him dominantly as he lost his sense of place and self. He continued slurring and stuttering as X-23 decided it was time to put him out of his misery. She jumped into the air and landed her claw into his head. Like the words of a doddering old mother, her claw entered one ear and out the other. Seth uttered one final word before shutting down.

“how…”

As Sigma neared Wolverine he noticed that X-23 was standing nearby. Watching the two. This confused him because Seth was… Seth was fighting her! Where is he? Sigma then looked past X-23 as he saw Seth’s even more lifeless robotic body on the ground. Sigma seemed genuinely mournful for a moment. Seth! I’m sorry. It seems you won’t be joining us in the gilded age… It was nearly impossible to repair you the first time. Sigma then looked at X-23.

“You here to try and save your friend? How noble.”

X-23 shook her head. “No. I’m just here to see the Wolverine in action.”

Sigma scoffed. “Hmph. Sure! Because he’s doing so well now seeing that he’s fingerless. Now if you’re not going to interfere that’s fine. Makes it easier for me to snuff out his already short life!”

“Really?” X-23 chuckled. “Well before you do that let me correct you on a few key points.”

“Like what?”

“Well first off the Wolverine has likely lived almost as long as you so “short life” doesn’t really describe him very well. And secondly…”

“Secondly?”

“What missing fingers are you talking about?” She said as she pointed.

Sigma was initially met with confusion. But soon it turned to panic as he swiveled back around to face Wolverine and as he did there he was. Wolverine slashed as Sigma’s robotic head was lobbed off. And as it was flying through the air Sigma watched as his body fell to its knees and noticed that Wolverine’s fingers had somehow magically returned. And the only thought he could muster at the time was this.

Damn mutants!

(MOMENTS EARLIER)

As everybody else started their battles proper, Chris Redfield was preparing for his. Jill Valentine, Barry Burton. Both Chris’ comrades and all three former members of S.T.A.R.S. But they weren’t his allies. At least not for the moment.

“Barry… Jill… I’m going to free you two from whatever Wesker has done to you!” Chris bellowed with determination.

“…” The two of them stood silently.

Chris then began talking to himself as the two slowly started approaching him. “Nilin got a transmission from this Captain America character stating that destroying that spider-like device on their chest freed him from Wesker’s control… So I know what I have to do!”

Chris then ran as they began running as well. Chris came in swing the Stun Rod as Jill evaded with incredible acrobatics. The rod then came in contact with Barry’s shoulder as the shock forced him to twitch wile standing in place. Chris recoiled from the sight. Feeling immense guilt for having done that to his friend.

Barry! I’m sorry!

Fully expecting Barry to fall to the ground, Chris was shocked when he saw that not only was Barry still standing. But the effects of the electricity had already worn off. Is he still standing? Chris asked himself but there would be little time for such thoughts. Jill with her incredible speed grappled Chris from behind. Barry then punched Chris in the stomach as he felt the sudden need to throw up. He swallowed down but the hits kept coming. This time brutalizing his face and bruising his pecks.

“Damn Barry! I don’t remember you being able to hit this hard! Or maybe you were just going easy on me back in the day…” Chris chuckled as he spoke with a shortness of breath. Jill then gripped him tighter as his muscles grew sore. “And Jill have you been hitting the gym?” He said.

She squeezed him tightly and suddenly Chris got bad flashbacks of Private Redfield wrestling with his old Navy buddies. He was hurting pretty bad. He uttered the thought Sorry Jill… before elbowing her in the face. After getting her off of him Barry punched again. Chris bent his neck, dodging a punch to the face. He then grabbed Barry’s arm and threw the large man over his shoulder. As Barry hit the ground Chris saw an opportunity and took it.

“I hope this works!”

Chris swung the Stun Rod as it shocked and short circuited the mind control device on his chest. The light disappeared from it and Barry seemed to pass out in the process. Did that do it? Is Barry okay? Chris leaned down to check on him when suddenly Jill kicked him in the face. Chris went rolling in pain.

“Jill!” Chris yelled but there was no response.

“…” She then started attacking again as Chris dodged.

“Jill its me! Your partner! Remember?”

Jill then started beating on him as he blocked punch after kick after punch. He refrained from attacking for some time before he couldn’t take it anymore and reflectively attacked out of instinct. Punching her and for a moment both S.T.A.R.S members were seeing stars.

“Jill are you okay?”

His words reaching what appeared to be a mindless puppet. She started jumping around him at a speed no normal human was capable of. Certainly not the Jill he knew. And in minor intervals she’d jump in for a quick jab or kick throwing Chris for a loop. He fell to his knees.

Man… if this keeps up I don’t think the Redfield bloodline will be very secure… Unless by some miracle that Leon guy starts showing interest for my sister Claire.

Chris then decided it was no time for Mr. Nice Redfield. Despite the disparity in speed he was still much more durable than Jill. He started fighting back while trying to pull his punches but just a little. As they traded blows he saw a bit of surprise in her eyes.

“Jill?” He asked as she stopped in her tracks for a moment.

“Chris?”

“Jill is it you?”

“Chris I…” Jill was then interrupted when the device on her chest began emitting electric pulses throughout her body for her disobedience. “AHHH!!!”

“Jill!” Chris yelled as he ran up and grabbed the device in an attempt to pry it off of her.

She recoiled as her mind control started kicking back in. She attacked his knee as Chris fell to one. She then leapt onto him; veins popping from her forehead. She was still fighting it but she was losing. Her fingers wrapped around his throat he uttered her name again.

“Jill please…”

She kept choking him.

“I kn- I know you’re in there.” He said all choked up.

A tear came from Jill’s eye as she strangled her old friend half to death. Somebody stop me! She thought, attempting to say it aloud, but she couldn’t. I’m killing him! Chris started turning blue in the face. He got to the point where he just accepted his fate. Not wanting to accidently kill his friend he couldn’t fight her any longer. Please… Jill had failed to speak yet again.

“Jill… I’m sorry!”

*Grapple*

“She knows!”

The grip around Chris’ neck had loosened as Barry grappled Jill off of him.

“Barry!” Chris yelled, elated to see his old friend bac to normal. “Barry you’re okay!”

“The device Chris!” Barry struggled to hold the thrashing Jill. “Pull it off!”

“Right!”

In that moment Chris grabbed the device and pulled as hard as he could. The device whose claws were buried into her began sliding out. Almost with a mind of its own it held on for dear life. In that moment Barry and Chris yelling as Jill yelled in anger had both begun pulling in opposite directions. And before they knew it the device had flown off. Chris caught Jill as she fell, and Barry walked over to the device.

“Jill are you okay?”

“Chris…” She smiled and placed her hand on his cheek. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

“I thought I lost you!” Chris began to tear up. “The Spencer Estate… Wesker… I failed you.” Chris said as she rested in his arms.

She looked up at him and with a soft voice she said. “You’re here now right?”

Chris smiled back as in the midst of another horrific crisis they still had each other. Barry smiled at the pair before looking back down at the device still squirming on the floor. Barry standing over it with Chris’ Stun Rod.

“Your rein over us is over.” He said calmly before destroying it.

X-23 and Wolverine who’d just finished up with Sigma noticed this. And as X-23 looked over at Chris she suddenly felt a warm fuzzy feeling in her heart.

“Way to go Chris!” She said as Wolverine smiled next to her.

In that moment Wolverine and X-23 decided to go help Rocket and Nilin finish up those Hunters. But as they went to join the fight they suddenly couldn’t move. What’s going on! X-23 thought as she and Wolverine were slowly lifted up into the air and then swiftly pinned up against the wall by seemingly nothing.

“What the flark!” Rocket yelled as he and the others looked to the other side of the room.

And there, standing between them and the Sentinel control room was Magneto. And he’d brought backup.

“Well, well. If it isn’t my old friend Logan.” Magneto said as he and Wolverine glared at each other. Chris looking onward in shock.

“So that’s Magneto!”