Resident Evil: Gemini, Part Three

Part Three

Ada Wong and Carla Radames needed to talk to each other further in the little time Carla had left.  But a growing feeling in Ada made her gently urge that they had to move their conversation somewhere more private.  Stealthily, carefully, they traveled together to an expensive apartment in the city.  Ada held a 99-year lease for it under an alias.  When they entered the gorgeous, inviting place, Carla smiled fondly as she looked at her surroundings.  For the second time, Carla even sounded exactly like Ada as she mused, "As beautiful as the last time I saw it.  I always loved Kuala Lumpur."  With a confident gait that looked uncomfortably familiar to Ada, the woman in white approached a crystal vase full of exotic flowers...her fingers traced along the expensive surface of the vase and she purred, "And I do like the finer things in life.  I...oh...!"

  Ada blurted, "Carla...!"  She moved quickly as Carla swooned, and Ada softly took hold of her mirror's shoulders.

  It seemed like Carla came out of a spell as she regained herself...her posture was steady again in a moment.  Carla managed, "I'm sorry.  You made this one of your safehouses long ago, and...I remember it.  I mean, she does -- !"  The persona she was transforming into to match her outer appearance.  In every way, she was literally changing into Ada Wong.

  Ada nodded, her expression quiet.  "I understand, and please don't apologize.  You said you only had hours left.  At this point, I can't imagine how hard it's become for you to know where you end and..."  Awkwardly, her voice trailed off...

  ...but Carla gave her mirror a rueful smile and finished for her, "...and where you begin.  It is so difficult, Ada."  She sighed deeply.  "It's like holding water in your cupped hands in the middle of an earthquake."  Her eyes lowered to gaze upon herself as one of her hands lifted to caress the knitted fabric of the scarf she wore.  "Strange to say, this scarf has helped so much in keeping my focus.  I know because of her thoughts this isn't your style at all, but there's a story behind it...would you like me to tell you?"

  Ada nodded deeply, her expression warm.  "Please."

  "This scarf was a keepsake made by my mother.  It was a gift she made for me when I graduated from college.  And that was only a few weeks before she developed a sickness and...and passed away.  I kept the scarf with me ever since to keep my mother close to me, always.  It's one of the most formative memories of my life left, one of the most important moments and experiences I have left that make me Carla Radames."

  Ada said gently, "It's hard to believe that it would take a night of sleep to lose it all."

  Carla told Ada, "And when that happens, it won't be me who will wake up in the morning light.  It'll be you."  A few beats of uncomfortable silence.  "Part of why I came to see you was because...well, you would best know what to do about the problem of there being two Ada Wongs.  I've already thought of that.  In a way."

  "What do you mean?"

  "You've undoubtedly noticed that at times I...I lapse, and your way of thinking takes over.  It isn't hard to imagine what you're thinking, because I know.  Let me show you another example..."  The transition happened with the speed of liquid mercury sliding on an incline.  Carla let herself lapse, and suddenly her stance became more graceful...her expresison full of quiet confidence, and dear god for Ada Wong more than ever before it was like she was looking into a mirror.  Carla's voice had deepened to match her own again, as well.  Ada's mirror considered herself and said casually, "So...what would I do if I found out I shared the world with a perfect twin?  Someone who was me in every way, even in their heart and soul?"

  Ada was stunned...but at the moment, she was also so afraid for the woman she stared at.  She tried to say, "Carla...?"

  But Ada's mirror image slowly began to pace around her with a purposeful, almost feline gait that was Ada's, as well.  The twin's expression of confidence never flagged as her voice coolly spoke:  "Well, first my survival instincts would be jolted into overdrive.  It wouldn't be the idea of another Ada that's so bad as the fact she would know me completely.  Just imagine that!  She would literally know what I'd do in the same instant I would.  She'd have all the experience and skill I have, and more.  My every strength would be compromised, and all of my weaknesses would be begging to be exploited."  The mirror still smiled at Ada as she said, "The thought of that would scare the hell out of me.  I had taken every precaution for my entire adult life to ensure I'd be safe, that I'd never be known by anyone.  If I didn't open myself up to another, then I wouldn't be vulnerable.  Well, I don't have to tell you, do I?  But if I did ever meet another Ada Wong, then at first I'd naturally feel like -- "

  Ada's eyes were wide as she realized she really WAS looking at herself, listening to things only she would know and think, and yes, it did scare the hell out of her at first...her survival instincts screamed threat on so many levels as she said in a loud voice, "Carla!"

  Her twin's confident steps faltered...she tried to continue to talk...  "I...I'd feel..."  But that voice fell silent as Carla Radames became unsteady on her feet again, seeming almost drunk...again, Ada moved quickly to help her mirror image.  After a moment, Carla was herself again as she breathed, "Oh...damn!  That...was almost too much.  That's what I meant, Ada.  If I let myself lose focus, then..."  Again, Carla's eyes expressed elemental weariness.  "I-I'm so tired, a part of me wants to let go.  You have no idea how tired I feel, in spite of my fear..."

  Ada bit her lower lip as she looked at Carla...she needed a moment to think of something to say as she held Carla's shoulders gently.  But she didn't have to hold Carla steady anymore, and both women seemed to realize that.  Ada softly released Carla...

  ...but the move made Ada uncomfortable.  She liked to feel Carla's warmth...she...  Ada shrugged that thought away -- reluctantly -- as she said, "You speak like...the person you'll become is already looking through your eyes."

  Carla shook her head slowly.  "Oh, she isn't aware...not yet.  The best way to describe it is, she's asleep."  Carla took a step back from Ada...she thought it would make her feel more comfortable, but it did just the opposite.  She felt awkward, and it almost distracted her as much as...as much as no longer feeling Ada's touch.  "But when Ada's persona takes me over completely, when the remaining chemical caps containing my most formative memories, identity and personality are overwritten and gone...then she'll be fully awake, in every way."

  Ada purred quietly, "Happy Birthday, Ada Wong."

  Carla felt a gentle pull from Ada that had only grown stronger...she didn't resist it, and she drew close again.  One exotic set of dark eyes looked into their mirror's.  Carla said, "Be honest with me, Ada.  You've already felt threatened.  Haven't you?"

  It was so strange to look into Carla's eyes...exactly like her own...it felt wonderful, though...but the warmth built alongside a quiet tension.  Defensively, Ada looked down at the carpet and said, almost in a whisper, "Yes."

  "It's all right.  If you can be honest with anyone..."

  Ada smiled.  "I can be honest with myself."  She looked up again and her confident eyes met Carla's.  "I...I must admit, I did think all of those things."

  Carla Radames smiled serenely, fully accepting.  She offered, "If you want to kill me before she takes over, I'll understand...and I won't do anything to stop you."

  The silence in the apartment was so loud.  Ada Wong frowned deeply, she hated every word that Carla just said.  She spoke from her heart:  "If you know me so well, you should know I'm not that cold.  Just because I have a thought doesn't mean I'll act on it."

  Carla said softly, "I do know."  The lady in white began to move, her steps so slow, so careful, around her mirror in red and black.  Carla tenderly paced around Ada as she spoke:  "Everyone you've ever met has seen you as the aloof, confident survivor who works alone, but I know better than anyone you're a warm and moral person with a passionate sense of honor.  Otherwise, you wouldn't have saved Leon so many times.  Even though you know there's no future for you together...you can't help but watch over him.  He reminds you so much of your brother and -- "

  Ada suddenly, quickly implored, "Please don't!"  Her eyes needfully looked at her mirror.  "Please...you must know I don't ever, ever talk about my family."

  Carla slowed...her eyes were so sad as she nodded.  She strayed from her circuit around Ada and moved toward an ornate mirror on one of the walls.  She gazed at the woman she was going to become.  She said, heartfelt, "I'm sorry, Ada.  You've suffered so much pain in your life, and I know you never want to feel that kind of pain again.  When those you loved so dearly betrayed you in the worst ways possible..."  Her voice trailed to nothing, inviting...

  And Ada accepted the prompt by finishing her sentence:  "...it made me want to be stronger in such a cold, harsh world.  And as I grew, I did get stronger.  I got strong enough to fight and more importantly, to win.  But I always fought other peoples' battles, and I never saw any real reward being out in the cold, so to speak."

  Carla said, "And when you didn't feel fulfilled serving your country, you decided to serve yourself."  She turned to Ada and approached her again...to an observer, the movements of the lady in white were like an apprehensive dance with her stoic partner.  "You became a spy in the corporate world.  The people who employed you were even less worthy than the likes of Simmons, but at least they paid better."

  Ada shifted in her posture gracefully, and her arms folded across her breasts.  She smiled knowingly because she knew Carla would already know what she would say.  "The money meant a lot...but I swore I'd never be like them.  I'd never compromise my honor.  Just like when I was an espionage agent, I didn't mind playing a game I didn't control.  But -- "

  "But..."  Carla smiled back.  "...if you ever had to go too far, you could always play the game by your rules."  Ada's smile brightened even further.  Carla nodded as she reached Ada again...she said, "Your last mission for Albert Wesker was to steal a Las Plagas queen from Los Illuminatos.  You knew how dangerous it would be for him to have control of such a thing, and you knew you had to defy him.  So you tricked him, and by the time Wesker realized you didn't obey his wishes, you disappeared and went underground.  I do know enough about you, Ada...enough that I can trust you to do what is right for the both of us."

  The tension built subtly between them, but so did the warmth...the quiet need that was crystallizing and would have soon ached to be expressed.  Ada examined her mirror with her dark eyes.  "And if I decide you should live as another Ada Wong...as another me...where would you go from there?"

  Carla cocked her head a bit to the side...her eyes examined Ada in turn.  "If you let me live, the better question to ask is:  where would we go from there?  Whatever would affect one Ada would have an impact on another.  And maybe...we'd be so much stronger together than we could ever be separately?"

  Ada lifted a hand and her fingers carefully touched her own chin as she considered...  "You're suggesting a partnership could be possible?"

  Carla smiled brightly then.  "Suggesting and offering, Ada.  After you considered that another you might be a threat, you thought of the alternative, didn't you?  Your thoughts within me certainly did."  She quickly, lightly cautioned, "Now be honest!"

  Ada laughed.  "I can't deny the idea is intriguing.  It would work best if the rest of the world didn't know there were two Ada Wongs."

  "I had the same thought...I should say she did, though."

  "I'm sure."

  With care, Carla said, "But it still scares you."

  Her smile faded...only a little.  "As much as it would scare...her."

  Carla gazed at her mirror solemnly.  "But there's something else you're frightened of most of all.  It's something you've feared for so long."  A gentle pause.  "You want to be safe, you take every precaution imaginable for your own security...but part of that means never, ever letting anyone into your life.  You can't let anyone know you, you can't risk the pain of betrayal again by opening your heart to another.  But being so completely safe...means you may always be completely alone.  And to live the rest of your life alone is your greatest fear."

  Elemental sadness shrouded Ada Wong's expression...god, Carla did know her so completely.  The spy felt the urge to weep as her full lips trembled...she almost whispered, "Carla..."

  The woman in white carefully moved very close.  "Don't just be honest with yourself, Ada.  Be honest with me.  Please?"

  Ada finally managed, "You must have an idea what my answer would be...if I wanted to be honest."

  Carla was so patient.  Her words were so soft.  "Say it anyway."

  Ada Wong wrapped her arms around herself.  She had never said this to anyone.  Anyone.  "I've always taken pride in being the elusive one, Carla.  It was safe, and at times it was even...fun."  Regret flooded her exotic features as she finally confessed with quiet pain:  "But I've been alone for too long.  If tomorrow is the day I die, I'll leave this world never knowing what it means to love...and to be loved."

  Carla knew.  Her smile was so kind, yet so needful at once.  "I know what it means to feel that alone, Ada.  In my case, it was because I was dominated by insecurity.  I thought I was the ugly duckling who would never be good enough for anyone.  I never knew love and always yearned to know how it felt.  Then I met Derek and I thought finally, maybe I had found someone who would love me.  Letting myself be drawn to him, living my life according to his will..."  She looked down, her expression agonized.  "It was the worst thing I ever did.  I'm still so terribly alone, a-and that's how I'm going to die."  Carla looked into Ada's eyes again, and her own were so bright and pure with her innocent, understandable need.  "That's another part of why I came to you...I needed to spend my final hours with someone.  I knew you'd understand, and I hoped to stay with you...I-I mean, until..."  She couldn't say anymore, there was so much pain in her features, too.

  Ada Wong nodded deeply, and her hands took hold of Carla's affectionately.  "I do understand, Carla, and you won't be alone.  I'm not going anywhere.  I promise."

  Carla Radames issued a sweet sigh full of relief and gratitude...she was so overwhelmed as she was comforted in that singular moment...

  ...that was why Carla couldn't help but draw very close...she closed her eyes...and her full lips kissed Ada's.

  Again, it felt like the world stopped for Ada as she was kissed by her former nemesis, her mirror image.  Overtaken by the moment, she couldn't help but close her eyes, too.  Lord, Carla's kiss was so soft, so sweet...but Ada's every instinct desperately yelled alarm, she was lowering her defenses too far -- !

  Ada Wong's gloved hands rose quickly to take hold of Carla Radames' shoulders, and as gently as she could, she broke their kiss.  She realized she was trembling, and the feeling was so pleasant.  But...but...Ada quietly, defensively managed to breathe shakily, "W-wait..."

  Carla Radames breathed deeply as her heart raced a mile a minute...she couldn't stop gazing into Ada's eyes.  "It's no wonder Derek was obsessed with possessing you, Ada."  But then her own defenses were tempted to raise, too.  Her eyes looked an apology at the spy and she said quietly, "I wouldn't blame you if you were offended..."

  Ada's instincts spoke so loudly to her to keep her distance, keep safe...but she stayed where she was.  The spy's hands still rested on Carla's shoulders.  She said honestly, "If I was offended, I would have said so.  B-but I am surprised.  I had no idea you wanted to be with me...in that way."

  Carla sighed deeply before she spoke:  "You are so beautiful and strong and confident.  All my adult life, I wanted to be different from the average, insulated, pathetic person I was...I wanted to be better, stronger and beautiful, and as I said I was completely happy when I believed I was you."  Her eyes shifted as her own barriers and reservations lowered completely.  "I've come to know you and you are so incredibly beautiful, within and without.  That's why I...I yearn to be with you, Ada.  Tell me you understand?"

  Ada smiled at her mirror warmly.  Her own overwhelming need steadily built, in spite of her own defenses.  "Honestly, Carla, I'm flattered...and more than a little intrigued.  But as vulnerable as you must be feeling, I don't want to take advantage of you -- "

  Carla quickly, emphatically said, "If you really care about my feelings, then take to heart I meant something else I said.  I don't want to die never knowing love.  That's something we have in common, isn't it?  We've both been completely alone, but for different reasons.  We both have the same overwhelming need...to end our loneliness once and for all with someone we could give all of ourselves to.  You told me not long ago that no one deserves anything.  Well, before I die, we have the chance to give something amazing to each other.  I want to feel your love, and I want you to know how that feels, as well."

  Ada's heart skipped a beat.  Her former nemesis was offering something she couldn't have expected...  "Carla..."

  Carla examined the one she desired so deeply.  "I know I must be scaring you.  I'm not asking for a commitment, Ada.  You won't have to worry about how I might affect your life, because I'll be dead by the morning...!"

  Ada flinched and stammered, "Th-that's not funny!"

  "I wasn't trying to be...but am I scaring you?"

  "I..."  Yes, Carla was scaring her...but what did Ada have to fear?  Seriously?  She was bisexual, and it seemed Carla was, too.  She had no trouble at all being with another woman.  And oh god, what she offered...what they both longed for so desperately in their lonely lives...

  To know love...to give love...to be loved.

  Ada's fears, even as they weakened, wanted to persist.  She managed, "Well, you are my mirror image.  The idea isn't scary so much as..."

  It was clear that Carla threw any concern and caution to the wind.  She gently asked, "Awkward?  Strange?  This isn't anything like incest, Ada.  It's not like I'm your twin sister..."

  Ada almost flinched again.  "I-I know that, but...!"

  "But what?"  Slowly, carefully, Carla's arms moved to hold Ada's slender midsection.  "This isn't just something we can share...I also came to you because there's one more gift I can give to you and the Ada Wong I'll become.  Let me put it this way.  How much do you trust yourself?  If you trust and care...no, if you love yourself as much as I do, then you'll both have the chance to share a perfect, unconditional love with someone you know -- and knows you -- completely.  That can come later...after I'm gone."  Carla Radames gazed into the soul she knew so well and smiled.  "For now, what's important is what the two of us can share in the time left to us both.  What's important is what we can make each other feel."  Her voice gently implored, "I need to love, Ada...just as much as you do.  Please tell me you're not just intrigued.  Please tell me it's possible...?"

  For a moment that felt like eternity, Ada Wong was silent...and then she smiled softly, needfully back as one of her hands clutched one of Carla's shoulders as the other fell and that arm wrapped around her mirror.  The spy purred, "Oh, it's more than possible."

  This time, it was Ada who pulled Carla close...and with quietly building passion, they kissed again.  The kiss sustained and became more intense.  The twins embraced fiercely as their kiss deepened, and they knew the wondrous pleasure of each other's tongues...


To be continued...

******

As you saw, this is where the love comes into this story for Ada and Carla!  What would you do if it was your last night and your life was as lonely as those of our main characters?  What would matter the most to you in the time you had left?  Coming in the next installment and the Epilogue, the art and the story feels will get quite a bit more mature, fair warning!

Giving credit where it's due!

XNALara created by Dusan Pavlicek
XPS created by Dusan and XNAaraL

Models:
RE6 Ada Wong by Adngel
Carla Radames White Dress by Captain-AlbertWesker
DOAXBV2 Bedroom by KamsonX