Chapter 12: Unwilling Spare

Wesker let out a dry chuckle. "I must decline, you're here to do me in, right?"

"That depends. "Ethan replied, poker-faced, as Wesker exited the elevator. With Jill in tow, they entered the underground lab.

Wesker raised an inquisitive brow. "Go on..."

"Keep talking," Ethan replied, a touch of suspense in his voice. "I'll make my decision after this little chat."

Jill, clearly puzzled, whispered, "What are you doing?" But Ethan silenced her with a raised hand, signaling her to hold her tongue.

"A compelling proposition," Wesker mused. "Very well. I was actually thinking of dissuading you from it, too. Considering what you're capable of, consuming my pawns, I doubt I'd last a few minutes against you. An intriguing power set, by the way, this organic manipulation. I wish I had it. But how you acquired it remains a mystery to me."

"It's still a mystery to me too," Ethan hummed. "You're interested in settling the score with HYDRA, aren't you?"

"Yes, that... abominable organization..." Wesker continued strolling, passing complex machinery. "You know what they did to me?"

Ethan nodded. "I'm quite informed. Project W."

"And how did you come by that knowledge?"

"Oh, it appears you underestimate my abilities."

"Fascinating... Can you delve into memories as well? That could be quite advantageous in the future." Wesker then approached a table stacked with files. "Here's my proposition to you two, and also to Chris and Barry. Help me dismantle HYDRA."

"Hold on, what's HYDRA?" Jill interjected. Ethan sighed, took matters into his own hands, and transmitted information about the organization called HYDRA directly into her mind. "Oh... Oh my god..."

"Another intriguing ability," Wesker murmured. "Are you up to speed now, Jill?"

"Yes... these people are..." Jill swallowed hard. "We've been working for them all this time."

"Ah, not entirely," Wesker clarified. "They're parasites, infiltrating legitimate government entities and manipulating them. Not everyone in SHIELD is HYDRA."

"And you want us to take them down?" Jill frowned.

"It's impossible," Ethan shook his head. "HYDRA isn't just an organization; it's an ideology. You can't erase an ideology so quickly."

"And you intend to do nothing?" Wesker raised an eyebrow. "You've seen their actions, the memories of William Birkin and Spencer, I presume. They're just the hands of the beast; the masterminds are still out there, working on other projects that harm innocent people."

"What sets you apart from them? You wiped out an entire town, Albert," Jill said, anger evident in her voice. "For what? Revenge against a small facility?"

"A necessary sacrifice," Wesker argued.

Ethan chuckled at the words. "Really? Isn't that just 'the end justifies the means'?"

Wesker finally frowned. "I admit, I wiped out a small town's worth of lives. But them? They've likely annihilated entire countries, attempted genocide. I am not the same as them. Is it so hard to choose between them and me?"

"That's where you're mistaken, Wesker," Ethan shook his head. "This isn't a battle of light versus dark. There's more than just two sides. Our choice isn't solely about fighting for HYDRA or for you."

A primal instinct surged within Ethan's mind: 'Evolve.' His hand shot out, tendrils extending and wrapping around Wesker.

"So, this is it, huh?" Wesker sighed. "Very well, but I won't go down without a fight."

Wesker struggled to break free, relying on his super strength to rip the tendrils away. But they kept growing, and with no infected around, his power to control others was useless.

Ethan closed his eyes as the tendrils continued to expand. First, they targeted the virus within Wesker, sapping its super strength, and then absorbing the power of control and the ability to connect to the infected. Just as he was about to absorb Wesker's biomass however, Ethan felt a hand on his shoulder.

Opening his eyes, he saw Jill, fury in her gaze.

"I'll do it," she said bluntly. "Let him go."

"Are you sure?" Ethan inquired.

Jill reluctantly nodded. "Yeah, it's okay."

Ethan sighed and released Wesker, now feeble and frail without the virus's power. Wesker chuckled weakly at the floor while Ethan walked away, heading for the elevator.

Meanwhile, Jill approached, standing over Wesker.

"Do it," Wesker chuckled. "Go ahead, Jill."

"I understand your reasoning, Albert, I really do," Jill said. "But you've gone too far. You're not the Albert I know."

"I know... I've let revenge consume me. But I genuinely believe HYDRA needs to fall. They're the scourge of the Earth," Albert sighed, closing his eyes. "Please, Jill. Pursue them. For me."

Jill closed her eyes as tendrils began to slither around Wesker. "I can't make any promises."

Wesker smiled. "That's good enough for me."

Slowly but surely, Wesker's body was absorbed into Jill's tendrils, his biomass becoming one with her.

From the elevator, Ethan watched Jill crouch down, seemingly lost in the memories of Wesker. She took a single deep breath before standing up, collecting the files placed on the desk, and handed half of them to Ethan.

"Let's go. He planted bombs everywhere," she said simply, entering the elevator. As Ethan followed, Jill quickly pressed the button for the ground floor.

The elevator descended rapidly, and on the way down, Ethan turned to her.

"How does it feel?" Ethan asked casually. "To consume human flesh?"

"It's repulsive," she choked. "But I suppose I'll have to get used to it now, won't I?"

Ethan merely hummed, and as the elevator doors opened, they hurried away from the facility. A few dozen feet from the building, the bombs detonated, and the facility was obliterated.