His Promise (part 2)

Steve dropped the lock onto the desk and grabbed the latch to the safe and opened it. Yumi quickly covered her mouth and nose the moment the safe had opened. Inside were a bunch of vial tubes that held odd-looking liquids. The vial tubes were inside of a small steel container. the container was left open and the tubes were presented to everyone.

Steve studied and examined the tubes until he saw something bigger behind the container. Steve gently held the container by the sides and placed it on the desk and looked further into the safe. It was another container. In the darkness, it was impossible to determine what was inside of it. Clyde then shined his flashlight into the safe to reveal a large parasite that floated inside the glass container. The dead creature was tan and lanky. Being nearly a for in length it was a bit terrifying to think of what it would feel like to be inside of your body. Steve's eyes widened from shock and fear.

There were several gasps behind him until Billy spoke up, "What is that?" Steve glanced behind himself to see his allies all cluttered together to try and get a better look. Steve immediately felt uncomfortable. Steve took a few steps to the right and allowed them to see closer. The only person who was not curious was Yumi.

Steve's eyes sharpened at Yumi and then answered with disappointment in his voice, "If my guess is correct... That creature is a parasite to the Plaga. It enters your body and manipulates you until you die, right?"

Everyone looked at Steve, who stared down at Yumi as she confirmed, "It's a bit of a simplified way of explaining it, but essentially, yes."

"And there's one inside of me?" Steve spoke with a disgusted look on his face.

Yumi quickly spoke up and corrected him, "No! At least, not anymore," Steve looked at her and for a second, he felt some weight leave his chest as he felt a small amount of relief. Yumi continued, "Somehow, your body broke it down and digested it, killing it before it could kill you."

Steve gave a heavy sigh as he leaned on the cold grey wall. He nodded to Yumi's words, as he tried to take everything she said to heart. James stared at the opened container that had six vials neatly placed into some sort of shock-absorbent black foam. James' expression of shock quickly filled with dread as he spoke softly, "Which one of these are inside of you, Steve?"

Steve felt that weight quickly fill his chest once again, the moment that question was in the air. He knew the answer, along with Yumi, but they did not. Steve's shameful eyes looked to Yumi to confirm if what was in that container was also in him. She saw his gaze and looked away with a soft nod. In a hushed whisper, Steve spoke in his sigh, "...All of 'em..."

Clyde, James, Jason, and Billy all glared at Steve with a look of complete shock. Not a single one of them had a word to say after something like that. James' eyes then glanced down to see the six vials. He pulled them out, one by one. The first one he pulled out was a deep neon blue liquid that had small bubbles dancing inside of it following the motion of his grip, "This is the virus that revived you. I know this one. It never got a name. From what I understand, This is a modified version of the T-Virus. The same type that revived Wesker after he had gotten impaled from his own creation. The same that gave him abilities..." James' eyes glanced at Steve as he held the vial, "...Abilities not so different from your own, Steve."

Steve looked back and gave a nod. He knew Wesker had abilities but he did not know that his abilities had a similarity. Somehow he knew that were the case, though. Somehow...

Billy looked a bit confused before he spoke up, "OK. So, what? You're a living cocktail of all of the viruses and parasites that have caused so much destruction? Yet somehow, you can bond with them just perfectly?"

Steve spoke softly as his eyes were locked to the vial that James held, "I know for a fact that it isn't perfect. Certain things about me have changed. Things about who I am and how I feel. I've always been reckless, but I don't think I was ever brave or headstrong. I'm always hungry. Always tired... I don't even know if I'm able to... Panic anymore..." His eyes left the vial and were now focused on the other vials stuffed into the case, "Certain essential emotions I don't feel, anymore, but hey! I'm still very much alive, so I don't think I should be complaining, right?"

Jason spoke up, "Does this even count as being alive?" Clyde and Billy both looked at Jason and then to Steve.

Yumi spoke up, "I gave him a physical last week, boys. I even gave him a cat scan... His brain functions in a completely different way than the undead do. He still has a proper cognitive function."

Steve gave a sigh as he stood straight and took the vial from James' hand and placed it back to the case and spoke, "I'm going to destroy all of it. Everything in this safe and more. If I ever come across a viral outbreak, I will go through thick and thin to make sure that it will never happen again and will be permanently irradicated from this world."

Jason gave a shocked and baffled glare at Steve, all the while, Clyde grinned. Yumi spoke, "Why would you ever wan-,"

Steve interrupted, "I don't want anyone other than me to deal with this! If I can prevent it, I will!" Steve was obviously determined. This was a steep and heavy promise to make, but he was seemingly committed. The look in his glowing deep orange eyes said it all. This was a promise he was going to forever hold. Until he dies again, "I may be alive, but I'm no longer a human. whether I am better or worse, I won't let anyone else become me or anything more."

There was a moment of silence from everyone except Clyde, "Well, I like what I'm hearing! I got your back, Steve. I'm uh' be by your side throughout it all if you genuinely mean what you just said."

Steve gave a soft nod, "I do..."

James gave a soft nod as he looked at the case full of vials and softly spoke, "I'm on your side, but we can't stay here any longer, can we?" he then looked at everyone else. James had looked unsure and worried as he usually did.

Yumi looked at Clyde and then to Steve, who shook his head, "No we really can't. That is if you still wish to turn yourself and all of your research in to the BSAA," Steve figured now would be a good time to see if James was the person who had been leaking information to the BSAA. Steve glared at James, and soon after, so did the rest of the gang.

James looked at steve and then saw all of the other concerned eyes look at him. he scoffed worried as he stammered to speak, "Honestly, Steve I had things packed and readied to be handed off to the BSAA simply because I'm not the fighting type! I didn't want to cause any more trouble than what was necessary. Like you did with everything upstairs!"

Steve tilted his head, unsure if he should believe what he was saying but quickly Yumi reached over and placed her hand on Steve's shoulder and spoke for James, "I was the one who had suggested it to him, Steve. He was heeding my advice."

Steve's eyes looked at Yumi and she gave a reassuring nod to Steve. Steve gave a shrug and leaned against the wall and gave a nod. "OK, then," Steve then jutted off of the wall and stood straight before he grabbed the case of viruses and closed it. as he made sure it was secure and tightly shut he spoke to, "Hey, Jason. Grab that giant parasite and its delicate glass case and follow me. We're taking all of this to the furnace of the heater and incinerating all of it."

Steve started to walk out of the room before Yumi intervened, "That won't be exactly necessary..." Steve paused again as Jason froze from reaching into the safe. Steve waited for Yumi to explain. Soon enough she did, "In simple terms, everything here has passed their expiration date. Even that Plaga has been dead for a while. it would be wiggling and shaking all creepy-like if it were still alive. Everything, in that container, had been dying since Wesker had his hands on them. Since they weren't kept in a cold area, they are probably as dead as... Wesker himself."

Steve gave a soft nod to the thought and spoke honestly in a bit of a warm and comical tone, "I mean, is he really dea-"

"YES!" everybody said to him.

Steve placed the container to the ground and grinned at everyone, "Then everything in his room is, as well," Steve giggled lightly and some other giggles were made in the room from his friends all around him. Steve took a deep breath. Another moment to soak in. New and old faces all around him, yet he feels like he could trust every single one of them. the moment was son wasted by the realization that they need to get a move on, "OK! No more sitting around! We need to say goodbye to this cold empty place."