Burning Up

Reunited at Last

While Alice's ability to pick up on the infected wasn't as fine-tuned or powerful as Rain's, she could feel when it was present in someone or something on a massive level, and Rain was just that: massively infected.

If creatures such as zombies or lickers were near, it was like cold water trickling down Alice's spine.

If Rain was near, it was like... being outside in a pleasantly warm breeze. The sensation sort of rolled over her.

When Alice finally felt that warm breeze again, she knew she was getting close.

TESTING ROOM 09.

She removed her baton from its holder as she scanned Baker's badge, entering and taking out the trio of researchers inside with ease.

There was a large tank up against the far wall that was filled with blue fluid. She shifted her attention to it, documents dropped by the last guy she dealt with still fluttering to the floor as she rushed over.

Behind the glass, she could see her partner. Her heart practically burst in her chest. She was relieved, happy, and angry all at once.

DESIGNATION: PROJECT RAIN || THREAT ASSESSMENT: LEVEL 0

If not for her retinal implants and virus sense, she might've briefly thought it necessary to get a closer look and make sure. Not only was more than half of Rain's face covered by a respirator, but someone had apparently thought it necessary to shave her head and give her a buzz cut.

Similar to how Alice was kept, Rain had numerous tubes sticking out of her and metal braces holding her upright. Though, unlike the braces used on Alice, Rain's seemed to be less to simply keep her in place and more to restrain her. She appeared to be asleep.

"I told you that I'd find you," Alice murmured, touching the glass. "Let me get you out of there."

She jogged around to the desk and pushed the researcher, now unconscious in his seat, out of the way of the computer so that she could get the purging process going.

An alarm started to sound. Green lights flashed above the tank as it slowly drained.

With a series of key presses, Alice shut the various feeds off. Sedatives, muscle relaxants, and a bunch of other drugs that she didn't recognize.

As the fluid got down to Rain's shoulders, she began to stir. There were a few weak attempts to lift her head. Then, she jolted hard, eyes snapping open and chest heaving. The braces rattled as she struggled against them.

"Hold on, I'm still working on getting those to release," Alice said.

Rain's gaze darted over to her and remained there, rapt. For the most part, she settled down.

The bands around her wrists opened. She yanked the tubes out by the fistful.

Her midsection was released next. She took off the respirator.

Once her legs and shoulders were freed, she collapsed against the glass.

DESIGNATION: PROJECT RAIN || THREAT ASSESSMENT: LEVEL 4

Alice unsealed the door and quickly moved to catch Rain when its absence made her keel forward further. "I've got you."

Rain's bare skin was feverishly warm against Alice, whose crop top and fitted shirt became damp down the front with the way she was pressed bonelessly against her.

"You alright? How're you feeling?" Alice lowered them both onto the metal flooring. The bony protrusions of Rain's spine stuck out more than they should have beneath her flesh, vaguely bringing to mind the thorns that ran down the backs of certain reptiles.