Chapter 2
3 weeks earlier...
Ada sighed in relief as the armored biohazard case securely locked. The dials on each corner twisted until a pleasant orange light appeared on each one, ensuring that the Las Plagas sample was safe. She gripped the edges of the case and looked up into the rising sun through the helicopter's windshield. Her mission was a success. She had been up for more than 24 hours straight, facing unspeakable horrors. Her limbs were stiffening from the withdrawal of adrenaline, and the inside of her red dress felt clammy. She ran a finger underneath the deep black ribbon that ran around her slender neck and down her back, feeling moisture beneath the silken fabric.
All I want is a shower and a nice hot meal, then maybe a few hours in bed.
Unfortunately, the organization wouldn't be so gracious. Once they learned that she had the sample, they would demand it immediately. In fact, over the next few days, Ada would hardly get any sleep at all. The organization had made itself clear: Wesker was not to receive the Las Plagas parasite. He had gone on unleashed too long, and now it was time to put a stop to it. She would send him a fake sample, and then...
Speak of the devil.
Her PDA had beeped, muted over the sound of the helicopter. She held it up to her face and switched it on. There was a pause as the satellite relayed the transmission, then Wesker appeared on the small screen.
"Do you have the sample?" Wesker always skipped greetings.
"Yes," she replied.
"Good. The meeting stays as planned. Don't be late." With that, he cut the transmission. Short and sweet, as always.
Ada slid the device back into it's sleeve in the holster on her thigh. She knew where her loyalties lie. From the very start, her pairing with Wesker was an act. The organization wanted her to keep a careful eye on their newest partner. Wesker had stabbed far too many backs in the past to be trusted. Every step and action she took over the past 6 years was meticulously planned and executed, from her escape from Raccoon City, to her very situation in Spain.
Wesker believed that she was retrieving the sample for himself. However, the organization had other plans. Wesker was just a pawn in their plans, no matter how important he thought himself to be. And Ada...
More of a queen...
She doubted that this would be the end of Wesker. The man, if you could call him that anymore, didn't go down so easily. Ada smiled to herself. She was certain that they would meet again. What would he think of her from this point on, that they were both betrayed by the organization? Would he welcome her as an ally, or see her as an enemy?
He never did trust me completely from the start, but maybe he'll be feeling desperate. Heh. Not likely. I can hardly wait to play with him again.
The helicopter continued on it's eastern course, heading back to the mainland of Spain. The organization would be waiting there for her. Ada tipped her head back against the rough padding of the helicopter and closed her eyes, trying to nod off for a quick nap. It wasn't easy, the helicopter jostling her lightly around and it's rotating blades thwacking incessantly. Ada preferred to have the complete silence of her room and the comfort of her bed to sprawl out on. Unlike a lot of people, she couldn't will herself to sleep anywhere, regardless of how tired she was.
Like Leon. I'm sure he's one of those guys.
The man had performed his part well, completely oblivious to the fact. He had done his job: saving Ashley Graham, helping eliminate Jack Krauser, and destroying the Los Illuminados cult. Ada had given him a few helpful prods every so often, but they were hardly needed. He was much more competent than he was in Raccoon City, almost a brand new man.
She thought about him more, finding that it took her mind off the uncomfortable helicopter ride. She wondered when she would see him next as well, and if it could finally be away from the organization's omnipresent eyes. They had met again for the first time in about 6 years. Ada felt a little bad about sticking a gun in his back, but there was no other way around it.
In an impressive show of technique, he managed catch her off guard and disarm her. She wasn't sure how he'd react when he saw that she was still alive; she definitely hadn't expected to see the fire in his eyes when he recognized her. At first, Ada expected him to show anger, anger for toying with him in Raccoon. She also expected him to be relieved that she was still alive. However, Leon showed neither. Instead, he showed a bizarre mix of acceptance and resolve.
There was something else there too...Don't lie to yourself. She shook her head. Wishful thinking. There's no possible way he can feel the same way. How long as it been?
Ada allowed herself another smile, dismissing her girlish thinking, then upon opening her eyes, she realized that the helicopter was landing. She was amazed that she had actually dozed off on the way to the mainland. The helicopter hovered above the ground for a few seconds, then gently touched down on the concrete tarmac of a Spanish airport. Ada took the case up in her hand, then hopped out the open door while the pilot shut the machine down.
Her black high heels clicked loudly on the pavement, almost seeming to dwarf the sound of the slowing helicopter rotors in her ears. Two of the organization's private jets was waiting on the tarmac in front of her. She strolled towards the one on the left, the cool morning breeze making her dress flutter and causing the printed butterflies to dance around her goosebump covered legs. She knew who was waiting on the jet.
Ignoring the suited man at the boarding stairs, she climbed into the plane. The inside cabin was eerily quiet compared to the outside sound of various aircraft taking off. The cabin was richly decorated; dark, polished wood bordered every edge. Instead of the usual rows of seats, there was a rounded table near the side of the cabin, half encircled with a plush booth. Ada sat down on the edge of the booth, placing the metal case on the glassy wooden table.
The plane was divided into two areas, separated by a partial wall and a curtain. Only seconds after Ada sat down, a woman emerged from the divide, wearing a sleek, unmarked black flight attendant's outfit. She would have been pretty, with her long legs in dark stockings and shimmery blond hair spilling down her back had it not been for the cold look on her face. Without a word, she plucked the case off the table, then took it through the divide. There was a moments pause, then Ada heard the sound of the electronic locks being released on the other side. Another pause.
"Well done, Miss Wong," said a male voice through the curtain. "You have the organization's gratitude."
"Glad to be of service," she replied coolly.
The voice on the other side of the curtain was polished and distinguished, a light flair of British to it. Although Ada had heard it before, she never met it's owner face to face. All she could do is put an imaginary face to it. Mid-thirties, handsome (of course), short brown hair with spike gelled bangs, and perhaps some well trimmed side burns. Whatever he looked like didn't matter; the owner of the voice was one of the organization's inner circle, the one with the most pull. Ada didn't know his name, but was only told to refer to him by his code name: Crow.
Pure speculation, of course. He could be 50 or 60 for all I know and ugly as hell.
"I trust that everything went smoothly?"
Ada suppressed a smile. "As smoothly as it could have gone, I suppose." Ripping Velcro broke the quiet of the jet's cabin as she undid her holster from her thigh. It contained her sidearm, grapple gun, and PDA. She tossed it onto the polished table, then scratched at the chafing on her leg. Feeling something gritty underneath her fingernails, she retracted her hand and saw dark red flecks. Dried blood.
Back in the Los Illuminados' village, she was careless by aiding Leon. A tranq dart to the shoulder and a brief nap later, Ada awoke to an ancient battle ax aiming for her slender neck. She had somersaulted out of the way, but not before a sharp pain registered on her thigh. The look she shot the villager after assessing the damage was one for the album. It actually made him cringe. The field dressing she applied had fallen off sometime during the final fight with Saddler.
"Is something the matter?" asked Crow's pleasant voice.
"No, nothing," Ada replied, flicking the dried blood from her fingertips, then crossing her legs. "A villager just got a little too friendly with me."
Crow laughed. "I hoped you weren't too hard on him."
Ada gave a fake chuckle. She was already sick of small talk. All she wanted to do was take a shower, a nap, and get back State side. She leaned on the table and placed her hand in her cheek.
"I must apologize, Miss Wong, for not complimenting you earlier on your attire," said Crow. "Red is a most exquisite color on you. Of all the agents we have, you are definitely our most beautiful. And our most deadly."
Ada lifted her head a little, her eyes darting to the ceiling.
Idiot. Just because I can't see him doesn't mean he can't see me.
The tiny camera embedded in the aircraft was watching the table and booth intently, or rather, watching her intently. Her trained eyes saw the lens contract, zooming in on her. Crow was definitely a womanizer. The skirt on the flight attendant was a few inches short of regulation.
A little creepy, but still better than Wesker. Speaking of which...
"I assume our plans remain the same?"
Ada heard a small sigh through the curtain. "Unfortunately, there has been a change in plans while you were away." The stone faced flight attendant returned, carrying the biohazard case, then placed it on the table in front of her. "You will deliver the sample to Wesker, just as he thinks your suppose to."
Ada lifted her head completely out of her palm, then turned in the direction of the partial wall and curtain.
"What are you talking about?" Ada didn't expect him to give her a clear answer. She was just a go between.
"Certain...events occurred, and the organization must take a contingency plan. Wesker will have to wait."
Ada couldn't contain her irritable sigh.
"Deliver the sample to Wesker," Crow repeated. "You will hear from us with new orders."
"Don't you think that's a little risky?" Ada asked. "We know he's going to contact S sooner or later. Do you really want them to have a live sample of the parasite?"
"That's a risk the organization is willing to take. We can deal with S whether they have the parasite or not. Your only worry is to keep Wesker in the dark about our plans."
"And just how am I suppose to do that? He's bound to get suspicious sooner or later."
Crow chortled. "You've always been Wesker's favorite pet. I'm sure you'll do splendidly."
Ada scowled at the remark. So much for being a queen. Sometimes I wonder why I put up with this. She sighed again. Crow wasn't much better than Wesker sometimes. Like him, all Crow cared about were things, and how to use people to get more things.
Well, look on the bright side, at least I'll get that shower now.
Ada placed her hand on top of the case, letting her nails glean off the surface. The metal glinted dully, hiding the tiny monster in itself. She wondered how good of an idea it was to give Wesker the parasite sample. It was an apocalypse waiting to happen. But then Ada thought of the other things he already obtained: the T-virus and the G-virus. Each one was also an Armageddon waiting to happen. She guessed it couldn't hurt to give him another way to end the world if he had two others already.
"Alright, fine," said Ada, trying not to sound too ungrateful.
"Good," said Crow. There was a faint sound of rustling fabric, as if Crow was adjusting his position in his chair. "Your payment for this mission has already been transferred to your account. As always, a pleasure."
"And do try to keep a stiff upper lip, Miss Wong," Crow added as she stood up to leave. "It does nothing for your looks if you scowl all the time."
Pompous prick. You've been in the world of business for how many years, Ada Wong? Why are you still surprised? You earned a cool 6 digit paycheck, and you hate your bosses. Poster child for America.
Ada scooped up the biohazard case in one hand and her holster in the other, then marched off the jet, heading towards her own. It was pretty much the same: a small, sleek private plane supplied by the organization's almost limitless wealth, but this time it had no divider in the cabin; the whole plane was hers. She tossed the case and holster on one of the seats, then sat down as the plane taxied onto the runway, then took off. As soon as the plane reached cruising altitude some time later, Ada headed to the bathroom, complete with shower.
Only until she had stripped off her clammy dress and the hot water had soaked her thoroughly did Ada feel that her mission was over. A few bruises began to lift on her body, a result of her doings in Spain, but they would disappear quickly. The cut on her leg was another story. The water made the dry blood flow until the crimson streams flowed down her leg and pooled to the plastic shower floor. Ada poked it with her finger and winced. It was a long cut, but not too deep; six inches above her knee and about four or five across. It wouldn't leave a scar, and if did, a nearly invisible one. The blood on her leg washed away eventually, and no more flowed from the already scabbing cut.
She cut her shower painfully short. The plane didn't have a large water tank, and Ada hated nothing more than catching cold water in a shower. She snaked her hand out of the bathroom door and took her towel from the hook, gave herself a brief dry, then wrapped it around her body. After giving her leg wound a brief application of First Aid Spray and some bandages, she changed into a less glamorous shirt and pair of jeans.
It would be a while before the jet reached America. Ada settled herself into a seat next to the biohazard case and tried to doze off again. The gentle hum was relaxing, but Ada still found it hard to fall asleep. She was still more than a little irked that she was forced to continue her charade at Wesker's side. What could have set the organization's plans behind?
Her thoughts drifted to Leon again. He had helped her fall asleep before, and she hoped he could do it again.
