Self-fulfilling prophecy.

[She states simply, knowing he wouldn't be sorry but wanting him to at least hear of the other explanation. To her, it's the likely one, but they weren't going to see eye to eye on that.

Her eyebrow raises at his casual stance before she abruptly enters the building, walking with a purpose. The purpose being she wanted him to have to catch up at first for nothing more than reminding her of just how Wesker liked to get under her skin. Self-important loungers the both of them.

Only she actually liked Nikolai more of less, and she didn't want to kill him with her own bare hands.

Certain he'll catch up and then easily keep pace with her, Sheva navigates the hallways and stairs until they're outside her storage closet. It looks shabby and uninteresting, barely worth a notice save for the two locks securing it. Two separate keys unlock the door, and she turns her attention pointedly towards him before opening the door.]

I'd like to go on record requesting you refrain from making a network post or wagging your mouth to just anyone about this.

[Seriously Nikolai. She's worked long and hard, sacrificing her safety and her health to collect some of these weapons. Don't ruin this for her somehow.]

[She gives him a dismissive wave over her shoulder, glancing back only so he knows she's not sending him away, just his notion that she's lecturing him again.]

Don't worry, you've made that quite clear.

[At his promise, Sheva unlocks both locks, replacing the keys around her neck, tucking the necklace back beneath her clothes for safekeeping. Hand on the doorknob, she sends him one more meaningful look, lingering seriously on his features as if she were judging the weight of his words.

With a turn of her wrist and a push, the door pushes open, revealing wall to wall storage space. It's a mixture of scavenged furniture like bookcases and filing cabinets as well as handmade units from looted materials. Most of these units held weapons of various makes, models, time periods, and value. It's clear that she favors firearms overall, but there's a decent selection of knives and other melee weapons.

The organization seems to be by shelf and then type of weapon. Maybe if he asks, she'll explain it to him. Though he'd notice that the unit with the grenade launcher, her high powered rifles, and plasma rifles resides within arm's reach of the very small desk sitting in the back with a stool. The desk is well organized and bare essentials, including supplies to maintain and clean her library.

Sheva watches his reaction while shutting the door behind him when he enter. Eventually she clears her throat.] I used to have a middle man to move weapons to people when the threat level increased, but... They're gone. [Whether they're dead or finally returned home, Sheva is uncertain, but did it really matter? She's still missing that key person that can supply weapons relatively undetected amongst the other captive.]

I always wanted to have a supply in case they took the weapons on our persons.

I've been collecting since the Kernos with a woman named Commander Shepard. [She follows behind him, surveying her own supply with a very different sort of critical eye. Some of them have been with her for quite some time, and those weapons had memories attached to them.]

Some were donated, but most were scavenged when we docked to other worlds for changes in scenery. I few I traded for with Kernos' merchants, and sometimes Compass made weapons available on the ship. That's how they liked to tell us trouble was coming. Though they never quite armed us well enough for said troubles.

[Sheva sighs at the next set of questions.] I've been doing this long before him, but I'm not some seven foot tall super soldier with an army. It's just me now, but I'm a firm believer in not putting all my eggs in one basket.

[While she tries to hide it, it's obviously something that's weighing down on her for multiple reasons. Loss of friends and allies were an obvious weight, but it's clear Sheva knows just how much of a risk she's taking even if she won't admit it.] I used to supply the resistance leaders at the time, and they'd see to it others were armed. Or, I simply worked on the honor system and word of mouth or oblique network announcements. Now I tend to funnel through Kirk if he needs anything.

[There's a pause as she runs a finger over the scope of a particularly heavy duty rifle.] I need a better system, but I don't like blatantly advertising over the network. [She levels a serious expression, worry etched around the edges of her features.] I may have an arsenal, but in the end I'm one person.

[Her hand settles on the scope as she glances down to the familiar feel of the hardware beneath her calloused fingers.]

I'm running out of allies. [Sheva finally admits without looking at him. The more time she's spent captive, the more people she's lost. They were friends and family, squad mates and charges, and as time continued forward, so did their disappearances. Sometimes they'd return, with or without memories from this place, or even from different time periods all together.

Eventually, a numbness had settled over her, and the losses became part of the scenery and a danger to avoid. Every time she felt herself caring or getting close to anyone here, she felt as if they were already one foot in the grave or out the door.

And she hated herself for it, for losing the shreds of optimism that had managed to survive these hells. For not reaching out as actively as she once did. For not trusting in others as easily as before.

She was trying to trust now, even though she suspects it'll end poorly, as always.]

And I knew you would appreciate it.

[Plus, she didn't suspect he'd steal anything from her.]

Nothing like that. I just wanted to explain to someone I suppose.

[That's exactly what she thinks, but she won't admit such a thing to Nikolai for much the same reason.

When he speaks, Sheva finally musters up the courage to return her gaze, keeping it as neutral as possible while he spoke.]

I've had my fill of enemies to last lifetimes that I don't have, so any help would be welcomed.

[Count himself up an ally, officially.]

It's less a finally and more of a when, which will vary depending on how much of a thorn in their sides we become I'd imagine.

[She appears thoughtful, remembering the previous times the Project Head had came down to 'discipline' the captives.]

Just 'might'? It sounds more like that's always going to be your plan of action.

You have mentioned that, yes.

I never noticed. [Sarcasm all over.] I'm fairly certain it's your main goal in life.

Any other goals then? [Because she's always curious as to what's happening in that head of his.]

For you, at least.

[Sheva knows the feeling of that, or knew, rather. Most of her friends from home had supposedly returned there, or so she hopes.]

I have not met her, but I will do the same, if I see her in trouble. Do you have a picture?

[Or a feed of video from the network, she's not picky and quite serious with her offer.]

[She does as she's told, finding a sturdy surface to lean against as she watches him search through the network patiently. When he gets something, she leans forward and commits the woman to memory.]

They're good colors together. [A determined sort of nod follows.] I'll keep an eye out for her. Does she know how to use any weapons or defend herself?