Disclaimer: I do NOT own Resident Evil!........But boy I wish I did!!!! Lol!!! Prologue
Albert Wesker strolled through the labyrinth of hallways in the great underground below Raccoon City. The massive laboratory was hidden even under the sewers, and though there were many exits to the surface, the main exit was by an elevator that went up into the Umbrella Pharmacy.
William Birkin walked at his side, his lab coat swishing in the motion as he read some papers. They seemed to pass under countless fluorescent lights as they moved through the hallways.
"These are all wrong! Are there morons running the Training Facility or what? I can't believe Marcus hasn't done anything yet."
Wesker hardly glanced over at his partner. "Don't worry about it, Will. It's not our problem."
"Yeah, I know, but it's so annoying! I hope Spencer doesn't expect us to fix all of this," William heaved.
They reached the main elevator. William pushed the button, and they waited for it. William started flipping through the papers again, sighing and grumbling at the results it had printed on them. Wesker looked over at him. He snatched the papers from the young, brilliant scientist, and ripped them in half.
"Hey! What was that for?!"
"Trust me, William. The print isn't going to change. Now stop worrying about it."
"Yeah, you're right."
"I'm always right."
William gave a playful glare over at Wesker. The elevator doors swung open with a ding. The two men entered the elevator, and William hit the button for the surface. While Wesker busied himself with getting his keys ready, and cleaning his sunglasses with his shirt, William yawned and looked at his wristwatch.
"Geez, it's already almost six. I thought it was your day off today. I can't remember, what's today?"
"It's Tuesday, Will."
"Really? I need coffee."
"No, you need sleep. And yes, it's your turn to take Sherry to school today."
"Aw, crap! I forgot! I told Marcus I would be at the Spencer estate by seven. I wonder if I can con Annette into doing it."
Wesker snorted a laugh. "You tried that once before. It didn't work, remember?"
William sighed. "Fine, I'll do it. I will just deal with Marcus's speech later. If Annette wasn't busy with the pharmacy today, maybe she could go in for me."
"Oh, but she does such a good job at the confidential research in the basement of the pharmacy."
The elevator slid into place in the basement level of the Umbrella Pharmacy. Wesker and William exited, and found some researchers already at work in the early hours of the morning. They took a couple of steps before noticing Annette.
She was already heading in their direction across the room, cup of coffee in hand. The men knew better, and stopped, letting her come to them. She looked at her watch just before she reached them.
"It's almost six in the morning! I told you to be home by four! You know when I'm stationed here I have to come in at 5:30!"
"Good morning, honey!"
She heaved a sigh, though they caught her trying not to smile. "Albert, I take it you didn't tell him to go home?"
"Guilty as charged, Ann. I was caught up in my own things. We both should have left hours ago," Wesker stated, looking at his own watch. He was going to be late for the precinct.
"What do you mean, you were caught up in your own things? You slept for most of the night! Too many precinct hours, I think!" William growled. He then saw Annette's steaming coffee. "Is that coffee for me?" he asked, swallowing hard while looking at the cup in her hands. The steam just seemed to roll out of its top.
Annette gave her husband a look. "You haven't forgot, have you?"
"What? No, I'm heading home right now! I will relieve your sister of babysitting duty! Trust me! I will get Sherry to school! C'mon, honey! You know I wouldn't forget that it was my turn!"
William gave a cheesy smile. Annette's lips twitched just slightly, so they could tell she was at least amused. She took a nice drink of her hot coffee. Her eyes never left William.
"Thanks for reminding him, Albert," she said, and turned and walked away.
William's face fell, and he glared at Wesker. Wesker was unfazed by his friend's look. He nodded at Annette's back. "Sure thing, Ann." He then glanced over at William. "Now, let's go. I still have to go home before going in."
"Fine," William grumbled.
They headed for the top floor of the pharmacy, and exited. The pharmacy wasn't open yet, but all the workers were there to help everything keep in line, especially with illegal work being done downstairs.
"Oh, by the way. I hear our friend, John Howe, is being promoted to head researcher. He's joining the big boys, like Emerson and Davis! Gets his own lab and everything!" William blurted as they came to his silver Lexus. William drove Wesker only for the fact that it helped keep Wesker's profile clean of suspicion while working with the R.P.D. And he only drove when they went to the pharmacy to go to the underground laboratory. Otherwise, Wesker always drove himself.
"Fascinating," Wesker replied dully, slipping into the passenger seat.
William laughed as he started the car. "Aw, are you jealous?"
Wesker slowly turned his head to look at William. William didn't need to see Wesker's eyes behind the sunglasses to know that he was getting a very icy glare. It wasn't jealousy. The two of them were already way far ahead than the researchers below the Spencer estate. William just loved yanking Wesker's chain. He put the Lexus into gear and headed for Wesker's house.
"Well, I guess getting promoted is one good way to impress Ada."
Wesker remained silent. William took the shortest route to Wesker's house, which was a luxurious abode sitting so soundly in the high-class suburbs of Raccoon City.
"Oh yeah, and Marcus said something about a celebration party being held at the guesthouse behind the estate. I think it was for next week or something."
"Wonderful," Wesker said in the same bland tone.
William glanced over at him for a moment. He eased a mischievous smile. "Ada might be there."
"Even more wonderful," Wesker yawned, tone still dull.
"You never cease to amuse me," William snickered.
"Ditto, Will…ditto." Wesker nodded, a tiny smirk finally forming on his lips.
William's cell phone started ringing. William reached into his jacket pocket and pulled it out. He flipped it open with a snap, one hand still on the wheel.
"Birkin." There was a moment of silence. "Oh, hey honey! Missing me already, huh?"
Wesker popped his neck, and kept his eyes on the road just in case William got too distracted with his wife.
"Alright, alright! I promise! Sheesh!" Another moment of silence came as Annette was speaking on the other end. Wesker wondered what they were talking about now, but then snorted. William would tell the whole story, he was sure of it. "Don't worry! You can call Marcus and make sure, but I promise I will behave!"
Wesker glanced over at William. William was just slightly smiling, and he listened to Annette some more as he made a left turn.
"Alrighty then. Love ya dear!"
He flipped the phone shut and pocketed it. Wesker was very much relieved that was over. He didn't want to get sick before breakfast. William was already chuckling though, so he knew he was going to get another earful.
"I love that woman."
"What did she want this time?" Wesker asked.
"She called to make sure I went home after seeing Marcus this morning. She wants me to sleep all day before going to the estate tonight."
"That's good. I'm glad she wears the pants in the household," Wesker stated promptly with a nod. Before William could snap a retort from his words, Wesker was already speaking again. "Have you thought about what we talked about?"
William's face fell. He went back to focusing on the road. For a moment, the two men only listened to the Lexus's low thrumming engine as William drove.
"I…I don't know, Wesker. It's not right."
"Right?" Wesker snorted. "The only way you are going to get to the top, Will, is if you take out the obstacles in your way. Marcus is one of those obstacles."
"Was this your idea? Or Spencer's?"
"Spencer can see that Marcus's glory is coming to an end. You and I, on the other hand, can see that he is only an impediment to our progress and our research."
William heaved a long sigh. "Yeah, you're right. But do we have to kill him? Can't Spencer just retire him or something?"
Wesker twitched a smirk. "Since when did Spencer let anyone retire? You know how things are run there, Will."
"Fine…just give me some time."
"You have to get rid of all those feelings."
"I know…it's just hard. I mean, the old man has raised us like his own, ya know? We probably wouldn't be where we are now, if it wasn't for him."
"It's called business, William. I guarantee the feeling would be mutual if Marcus was in our shoes. He would kill to get to the top…and he has before."
"Okay, okay. I get it," William grumbled.
Wesker glanced over at his partner with a tiny, almost evil smirk. "Good. I'm glad we could agree, Will."
"Geez, you're terrible," William heaved, only for him to break a handsome smile.
Yaaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!!! ^_^ Finally, it is posted, lol! Okay, here is the prequel to Cat and Mouse. I'm warning you now, it's a little strange at first. You don't have to read Cat and Mouse first, though I do suggest it so at least you know the characters a little better. It should be just fine though, if you want to read it first. Anyways, I hope all of you enjoy this prequel I have worked so hard on!