AN: It's been a while, but I have returned with a new story! If you'd like more info visit my page!
Full Summary: After the incident in Spain, the Las Plagas parasites are declared a global threat; meanwhile Ada hands over the parasite sample to a new and mysterious organization, however it goes missing. Ada's mission to find the sample leads her to confront her past and the person she used to be threatens to resurface. To make things worse, her path crosses yet again with Leon who's no longer bound by the Secret Service and thus begins her struggle to keep her past and her present separate. What kind of games must they play in order to keep their relationship from teetering off balance?
Rated T: Mild Violence, Mild Language, Mature Content in later chapters
Music Insert: This time around I've decided to add music notations only when a specific song inspired a certain scene. These will be found throughout the story (they will not be very frequent) and are optional. If you're not interested in knowing what song inspired what scene then ignore! Music notations are inserted in this format ::name of song by artist name::
Disclaimer: The Games They Play is written for creative purposes and should be considered as a fan-fiction only. I do not own any of the unoriginal content used such as: names, characters, existing plots or images- that may have been used as fiction covers; all of which are aptly protected by the appropriate developers.
The Games They Play
Prologue: Part One
2004
Berlin, Germany
A CHEONGSAM DRESS EMBROIDERED WITH BUTTERFLIES lay atop a rounded white chaise, the silky crimson fabric draped over it staining it the way a splash of blood stained a white wall. Grey-green eyes stared at the silver case harmlessly placed over the plush white carpet. The more she stared at it, the more it seemed to weigh down the room's sleek modern minimalist design. The thought of what the case safely held inside almost made her laugh, who would have known that the parasitic organism that took down an entire Spanish community would sit in one of Berlin's most posh hotels. But there was nothing to laugh about, the only surviving sample was in her possession and who she decided to give it to would determine her fate.
Ada Wong released a held breath, forcing her gaze away from the case and focused on the panoramic view overlooking the Spree River lit up by the bustling city at night. She had arrived at the Melia Berlin Hotel a day behind schedule, not bad considering the short-noticed changes in her plans. Leon S. Kennedy. The name curled into her thoughts unwillingly. She hadn't planned on seeing him ever again; somehow it felt like witnessing lightning strike twice.
Once again she found herself staring at the metal case. There was a point in her life when that case would have meant a job well done, and after a few pats on the back a ridiculous amount of money would have been wired to her bank account and that's all that would have mattered. End of story. But somehow that wasn't enough anymore. She wondered if she could ever go back to who she was, before Raccoon City, before…
The cloying stench of rotting flesh clung to the stale air found within the police station's parking lot. With the sound of a gunshot echoing off the walls, she lifted her gaze. The boy with the blue eyes stared at her, his hands firmly gripping his firearm. Not R.P.D issued, she mused, though he was wearing an R.P.D uniform. Interesting. She was told that she'd have the police station all to herself. If he survived this long surely he owed it to pure dumb luck. But for the meantime might as well make use of him.
"I'm Leon S. Kennedy. And you are?"
The phone rang interrupting the soft hum of acid jazz spilling from the sound system, the sound tugging her away from her thoughts. Leaning forward on the white velvet square edged couch, she reached for the prepaid phone that had been conveniently placed over the glass coffee table when she had first arrived. She pressed the answer key,
"An operative will arrive at your door. Hand over the case. You will receive another call for further instructions."
The line went dead. So the organization wasn't ready for a personal delivery. That wasn't a good sign, though she expected as much, after all, handing over the Master Plaga sample was just the beginning. Gaining trust was a tricky business, though over the years she's learned that it was a game of patience. She stood up catching the room's aroma, fresh linens and citrus. Walking over to the metal case she curled her fingers around the cold handle and lifted it. There was no turning back now. Cherry-red pumps tapping against distressed hardwood floors, she made her way to the door unlocking it and pulled it open. She instantly caught the scent of gun oil and something else, cloves? She locked gazes with a man dressed in a two-button charcoal suit, wool she noted. She took a moment to regard him, squared jaw and bowed lips, topped with auburn colored hair cropped short- an ex mercenary then.
"Miss Wong," His squinty eyes narrowed as he said her name and then offered her a tight smile that didn't quite reach his flat grey eyes. His voice had been deceptively warm and spiced with an accent she couldn't place. His gaze dropped to stare at the object of interest. Ada lifted the case handing it to him.
"Ex mercenary?" she nudged for information as he took hold of the case. His eyes flashed back up to her,
"What gave it away?" he asked, genuinely interested, his grey eyes darkening, a hint of warning just beneath their expression. She answered his question by providing him with an example of a proper false smile, one she has crafted from years of experience. Humor lit his eyes before he nodded and turned away taking the sample with him. She watched as the ex mercenary walked down the hall disappearing around the corner. And just like that the deal had been sealed.
Ada closed the door behind her, adrenaline leaving familiar prickling chills just beneath her skin. She had made her decision crystal clear. She leaned against the door slightly allowing herself to sink into her thoughts. A smile tilted her lips; she wondered how Albert Wesker would like the Subordinate Sample. The thought was more satisfying than expected, after all he deserved it. Their relationship had started so long ago, a lifetime ago and one thing remained certain and that was that they had only one thing in common; both their lives were taken by the very same man and his twisted ambitions.
Ada's mood soured knotting her stomach instantly. She realized she hadn't eaten anything since she had arrived. Taking a proper shower and swapping her ruined red dress for a white fitted satin skirt and a black straight-cut chiffon blouse had taken priority. A light sigh escaped her lips, eating sometimes was such a chore, but she couldn't hope to infiltrate a new organization with an empty stomach. Walking over to the coffee table she lifted the hotel's service booklet and skimmed over to the food service section.
"Order from our exclusive Madrid Café serving avant-garde cuisine from Spain" she read aloud. Lifting a perfectly sculpted brow she let the booklet fall back onto the glass surface. "Spanish food it is."
1994
Raccoon City, Pennsylvania
"I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU," ADA WONG said paused in front of the worn patio seat outside of Café 21. Smoothing out the hem of her currant colored peplum dress she took a seat on the hard surface of the wooden chair immediately finding it extremely uncomfortable. Is this what passed as decent in this city?
"I am sorry to disappoint," he responded, eyeing her from beneath the cover of his dark sunglasses. Ada had never met with Albert Wesker, but the moment she saw him there, face caught in the shadow of an old dogwood tree standing decoratively on the sidewalk, the recognition alone had sent a cold chill along her spine. If anyone had ties to the people at the top of Umbrella's command, he was one of the few. Besides being important, he was also considered to be a brilliant researcher, his name mentioned almost always hand in hand with William Birkin. But unlike William, Albert was something else entirely different.
Images began to suddenly ripple against the cool surface of Ada's thoughts- scattered papers, handwritten documents spilling onto the carpeted floor from mahogany desktops, a trembling hand lifting them up, eyes scanning the pictures of children, grim faces and empty eyes staring forward. Had she looked like them?
Quickly shoving the surfaced thoughts back to the depths of her memories- where they belonged, she focused on the one question burning bright.
"So what does one of Umbrella's top researchers want with me?" Ada leaned slightly forward. If she was going to waste time and not get paid for it he had better planned to make this one quick.
"I want to make you an offer." He answered with a slight tilt of the head, a somewhat bored expression settling over his tight features almost as if he's made this offer one too many times. Her brows lifted in an oh?-expression, she had to give it to him she hadn't expected that.
"I'm listening" she responded, she saw the amusement in her eyes reflect off his sunglasses, she wondered, could she make the oh-so-stoic Albert squirm? No, she quickly shot down that idea, there was something about him that told her she had walked into a well thought out plan, and just for a moment she thought she could see it. To the untrained eye he may have seemed like just another working man in the ever-growing Raccoon City, but Ada knew better, Albert Wesker was dangerous.
"Now that I have your attention, allow me to explain a few things first." And there went her hopes for a short meeting. Ada shifted in her seat, tucking strands of long black hair behind one ear. "I was the one who requested your transfer to Raccoon City." He said, Ada narrowed her eyes but said nothing. So far after leaving Umbrella's headquarters in Europe she thought very little of this city and now she had a face to thank for her being there. "Three years ago, Umbrella began the construction of a new facility here."
"Yes I know it was the same year you transferred to the information department." Ada added. She watched Albert tense for the first time during their meeting, besides the slight pursing of his thin lips, he gave nothing away. Ada inwardly smiled; he wasn't the only one keeping close tabs on Umbrella's top-of-the-list, and she was going to make sure he knew that.
"Very good," he replied stiffly, "then you must also know that this city is owned by Umbrella, since most government officials are on Umbrella's payroll, including the chief of police Brian Irons." So the rumors were true, after building just one secret underground facility- a rather large one- Umbrella has transformed this city into their own personal playground.
"Brian Irons…" Ada repeated after a moment, "Keeping an eye on him is one of the objectives on my to-do list." She mused aloud. Her to-do list while in this city wasn't a long one, but would without a doubt keep her busy.
"Not anymore, I will be taking care of that responsibility myself. Irons and I have made an agreement; I am to become captain of a new police division within the R.P.D, a special tactics and rescue squad. This, however, might take some time to establish."
"How much time?" Ada asked. She was beginning to take this meeting seriously. Albert wouldn't be spilling this kind of information without a reason and she was going to make sure she took advantage of it.
"One to two years." He answered swiftly and brought a finger to adjust his sunglasses that had been gradually slipping down the bridge of his nose. Ada lifted an arm to rest over the tabletop, so he had planned this out, but how far had he gone? She was willing to find out.
"And William? I was to escort his research," she said carefully, "to the Arklay facility." William's work had also begun three years ago, though Ada hadn't been briefed on what his research was about, she could guess it had something to do with a variant of the T-virus. Those experiments…
"Leave Birkin to me," he said too quickly. Ada was surprised by the way Albert had said William's name, a bitter undertone that he didn't quite manage to hide. Although Ada couldn't deduct anything from his face- eyes hidden behind shades, or his stiff body language, his voice was wide open for Ada's scrutiny. Interesting, so William Birkin and Albert Wesker weren't playing nice anymore- that was good to know.
"Then why am I here?" Ada didn't bother hiding the annoyance that clung to her voice; she wasn't a fan of her given orders changing, not then, not now.
"That leads me to my offer, Miss Wong." He lifted an arm to rest over the table, his black tailored suit moving with him. "The Umbrella Pharmaceutical Corporation is on the verge of collapse. I am offering you a way out before it does."
"And you know this for certain?" Doubt laced Ada's question. As far as she knew, Umbrella was expanding not collapsing, their facilities stretching all over the globe and growing still. For once an amused look came over Albert's perfectly composed face, his flat lips twisting into something she assumed was a smirk- the look didn't quite suit him.
"Honestly you cannot see it? Spencer is the last remaining head of Umbrella. He is a man that knows no bounds to his delusions. In using Umbrella for his own fantasies he is willing to push far and beyond limitations. Mistakes are bound to be made Miss Wong; it is only a matter of time."
Ada's gaze became distant, suddenly deep in thought. Spencer, the name alone brought about a heated touch of hatred to curl around her heart, but Albert was right, he was the last founder alive but also the man she worked for and had only met once. The other two founders, Edward Ashford and James Marcus had died- or more accurately put had been eliminated- a long time ago. Speaking of James Marcus, how could she have forgotten? It had been rumored that Albert Wesker and William Birkin had been sent to assassinate the founder under the direct orders of Spencer himself. Sitting across from Albert now, she had no doubt he had been capable of it.
"And once Umbrella does fall," he continued, "I will make sure it does thoroughly."
The menace in Albert's tone pulled Ada back to reality, her gaze suddenly sharp. Albert was actually talking about betraying one of the most powerful global corporations in the world, and he was asking her to be part of it.
The thought intrigued her, Albert Wesker- Umbrella scientist, assassin, future police captain, and potential traitor? She had to admit, if not plain unsettling, Albert Wesker was surely beginning to quickly become an enigma. Ada offered him a smirk of her own, red lips tilting upwards as she realized that she had been looking for a way out of the corporation anyway, and Albert was just the person she needed to pull her out of the ever looming shadows of Umbrella- and if things went sour one could always use a scapegoat.
Ada was absolutely certain that he had anticipated her answer the moment he had considered her- arrogant as he was.
"I accept." She said lightly apparently catching him by surprise with her sudden answer. "But what are the terms?" Ada was willing to play his game for now, but the moment he proved to be inadequate there was nothing stopping her from walking away.
"The terms are simple Miss Wong. I am in the process of contacting one of Umbrella's rivals, and I need you to keep a close eye on Umbrella's research. Work for me and I will make sure you have a secured position and are very well compensated." He answered offering her power and money- he clearly knew her interests, but Ada wasn't stupid, she also knew the moment he didn't need her she'd be just as disposable as he was to her.
"If we're going to work together better get used to calling me Ada." Albert actually scoffed,
"That can be arranged." He answered with forced politeness. Ada refused the urge to roll her eyes; so this was the kind of game he wanted to play and it was the kind of game she had been preparing for her entire life.
:: Sugar Water performed by Cibo Matto ::
Water steadily fell into a pale cream colored sink as Ada stared into the squared silver framed mirror that was beginning to chip at one corner. She gazed upon herself one last time before she had to give the greatest performance of her life.
"His name is Jon Curtis. He was just transferred from the facility located in Chicago to replace Birkin as head researcher at the Arklay facility." Albert had explained. Ada hadn't become familiar with the Arklay facility that hid behind the facade of a European Mansion, but something told her that would change.
"He will undoubtedly have access to the T-virus and all its previous research. Since I have retired from my position as a researcher, I will no longer have direct access to research data." Albert had paused, "And this is when your role begins. I need you to get close to Jon in order to retrieve data corresponding not only with the T-virus but whatever Birkin is working on. Birkin's work is of up-most importance."
"And how do you expect me to access the labs?" Ada had asked. The underground facilities were difficult to get into without a high-level clearance keycard, cards that were issued exclusively to Umbrella's prized researchers.
"I will handle the first part of your mission in making sure that you are transferred to the facility as a researcher, as for the rest… use your imagination."He had answered and Ada's gaze had turned to ice.
"I'll do my best" she had said after a moment knowing how to choose her battles, and that had not been the time or place. After that, Albert had stood marking the end of their meeting, his sunglasses winking beneath the light of the sun's rays. Ada had quickly followed eager to get out of the harsh confines of the wooden patio chair.
"Good, I will leave you to it, Ada. I expect a lot out of one of Umbrella's top operatives." His voice had been smug saying her name. Without waiting for a response, he had turned around and had begun to walk away.
"Wesker" Ada had called out, his name tasting sour over her tongue. Albert had paused in his tracks, "If I had said no?" Ada waited for his answer, depending on his response she would know just how important her role really was to his plans. As he answered, green leaves had swayed in the warm summer wind.
After that meeting which had ended not that long ago- though it already felt too distant- she had arrived at the Apple Inn Hotel located in Raccoon City's uptown district. Somehow she had managed to change the entire course of her lifetime-loyalty in one warm and seemingly slow summer morning- with someone she had never met face to face no less- and now she found herself staring at her reflection in a cheap hotel bathroom pondering how she felt about watering down her years of training to play researcher.
"Jon…" she said lowly, testing the name on her tongue, but her voice overpowered by the running water. Switching the faucet off, she took hold of a pair of metal shears and held them up. Her black hair flowed passed her shoulders in long straight strands. She had kept her hair lengthy for as long as she could remember, long enough to be known for it- a trademark of sorts.
In one swift movement the sharp edge of the shears cut through the silken strands, lock after dark lock falling to settle over the porcelain sink. Red stained lips parted as she stared deeper into her reflection, already feeling like someone else- hair now framing her face and ending at her chin in uneven layers- edgy she thought but grown up.
Taking hold of a damp washcloth she had wet earlier, she rubbed it over her lips, red-red pigment quickly staining it as she washed yet another trademark away- a trademark to others yes, but a very meaningful symbol to her. She allowed herself to smile, rosy nude lips lifting at the corners. Umbrella had given her everything she could have wanted but it had all come with a rather large price- one she had learned about one year ago. HUNK, she wondered if he had gotten a little visit from Albert as well.
The thought lingered as she cleaned up, letting the remains of her hair and washcloth drop into the waste bin. She would have to become someone else for now, but it was all worth it in the end. She had realized that the moment she had learned the truth about what Umbrella had done to her. As for Albert, she would allow him to think he was the one pulling the strings; that was the only way to control a man with such an enormous ego. Once this little pretense was over, she would- without a doubt- return to the only thing she knew, and nothing would threaten her freedom ever again.
