In the Resident Evil world, somewhere on Earth, a highly classified prison held no ordinary murderers or political criminals. Instead, it housed the remaining members of the Umbrella Corporation who, due to their special status, had not yet been executed. The United Government itself lacked a unified legal system at the moment, meaning that convicting and sentencing these individuals was destined to be a protracted process.
"Alexia Ashford, someone wants to see you," a voice announced. In the previously quiet cellblock area, more than a dozen heavily armed security personnel rushed in, pulled open the cell door, and restrained Alexia, who sat calmly in the corner. Although Alexia offered no resistance, ten security personnel, armed with high-power lethal weapons and wearing special uniforms reverse-engineered by the United Government from studying the Ishimura engineer's protective suits, remained constantly vigilant of Alexia's every move. They had heard that this seemingly ordinary, frail woman had mercilessly killed dozens of soldiers during the United Government's recent capture operation.
"Who wants to see me?" Alexia asked calmly after being completely restrained and injected with a large dose of sedatives.
The team leader checked his information. After confirming there was no need to keep it secret from the prisoner, he replied, "A special review officer from the United Government, and also the captain of the Ishimura."
"Ishimura?" Upon hearing the name, Alexia paused for a moment in thought. As a descendant of the Ashford family, one of the three founders of the Umbrella Corporation, Alexia was a product of genetic engineering. She was also an undisputed child prodigy, demonstrating extraordinary research talent from a young age. Not long ago, Alexia, who had been in cryogenic sleep within the Umbrella Antarctic base while fusing with the Veronica virus, was discovered by United Government troops, leading to a fierce battle. Due to insufficient fusion time, Alexia had not become a complete entity. After killing dozens of soldiers, she was apprehended and subsequently confined to a secret cell.
Therefore, Alexia had been in a state of cryogenic freezing for the past decade or so; she was confined as soon as she woke up and had little knowledge of the outside world, meaning she didn't know what the Ishimura represented. Let alone the Ishimura, even the existence of the United Government surprised Alexia; she had only been asleep for a little over ten years, so how had the world become unified? However, she did not press the matter. Instead, led by the security team, she arrived at a blast-proof, bulletproof room constructed entirely of steel. This room was specifically designed to hold high-risk individuals like Alexia.
Alexia stood bound in the center of the room, with more than a dozen security personnel guarding her with raised weapons. Various figures appeared on the screens in front of her. On the side screens were the United Government's review officers, while the central screen displayed Marcus's face. As per procedure, a review officer read out an investigation report about Alexia and the charges that would be laid against her. On the side screens, a video recording of Alexia transforming into a monstrous form and battling dozens of soldiers was also played. In short, the seemingly frail woman before them was, in reality, a brutal beast injected with a deadly virus.
Marcus ignored the review officer's incessant chatter; he was already well-informed about Alexia's history. He got straight to the point and asked, "What is your current fusion level with the T-Veronica virus?" Although she didn't know who the person before her was, Alexia keenly noted Marcus's unusual status; even those high-ranking review officers treated him with great respect, bordering on awe.
"Without professional equipment for testing, I don't know the exact fusion level, but it's roughly around 99.5%," Alexia answered truthfully.
Marcus nodded; he wasn't interested in the T-Veronica virus's ability to create controllable armies, but rather he valued Alexia herself more. Immediately after, Marcus stated his purpose. "I will take you over from the United Government."
"What's the price?" Alexia showed no obvious emotional fluctuations.
"You will leave Earth and never return," Marcus replied. "From now on, you will live in another world and work for me until death comes."
"Oh?" Upon hearing Marcus's answer, Alexia's interest was piqued. "What will the work entail?"
Marcus, on the other end of the screen, smiled. "Didn't you want to be a ruler? Then as you wish, you will be responsible for managing a living planet with tens of billions of inhabitants, and an entire star system with three habitable planets." A casual remark, yet it dropped the jaws of everyone present. Especially the United Government officials, who immediately noted this vital information and prepared to raise Marcus's perceived importance by yet another grade. Tens of billions of people! And an entire star system! One had to remember that Earth currently only had a few billion people, and no other habitable planets existed within their solar system. Alexia clearly didn't believe the stranger before her possessed such capabilities, but recalling how the United Government personnel regarded Marcus with awe, she became uncertain.
"You only have one decision to make, and it's best to make it now," Marcus's words echoed in Alexia's ears. No matter what the man before her was truly thinking, it was at least better than rotting in a dark prison cell. With this thought, after a moment of consideration, she agreed.
Nodding, Marcus continued, "The spaceship will land in a week. Get ready." This was clearly directed at the United Government personnel.
After terminating the communication, on the Ishimura's bridge, Marcus browsed a series of names on the screen before him. He was naturally interested in more than just Alexia; the list also contained the names and information of many others: Alex Wesker, Hunk, Rebecca Chambers, Claire Redfield, Chris Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, Jack Krauser, and Ada Wong. He had also considered Silver Wolf Nikolai and Sergei Vladimir. But thinking about the former's money-grubbing, sell-out-teammate actions, and the latter's unwavering loyalty to Spencer, he decided against those two. In short, what Marcus wanted to do was to first bring all these people over to his side to help him.
"I'm really gathering the entire rooster... Marcus mumbled, then sent the list to the United Government.