Chapter Two

The Shanghai

Monday January 13, 2003

Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska

As Leon waited for the prep work to finish on his transport, he pulled out his passport and looked at his picture. His face was pale and sickly looking as if he were diseased. He was also trying to smile and ended looking as if he smelled something really bad.

"Why do these things always make you look like an idiot?" He muttered to himself. "Then again, my driver's license isn't any better."

He made a face and placed the items back in a small pack that he bought over the weekend. He went all out and bought everything he would need for the trip. His weapons were on board just in case, but he would have even better weapons once he arrived in France. He even bought a new book, just for this trip.

Once the prep work was finished, he climbed on board. It was just him, the pilot and at least a nine hour trip.

"Goody." He mumbled as he strapped himself in.

The plane was a rather small amphibious aircraft that could be used on land or water. He supposed that it was in case something would happen while in the air as they traveled over the ocean. He hoped that the gas tank was large enough to get them Paris. Charles de Gaulle International Airport was a long way away and he didn't want the plane to drop in the middle of his trip. It was good thing he brushed up on his French before leaving.

Within moments, his pilot, Dave, arrived and started the pre-flight check. Leon yawned and stretched in his seat.

"Would you like me to demonstrate the floating device and mask before we take off?" Dave said with a smirk.

"That's okay. I think I know how to swim. It's the sharks that would worry me."

"Don't forget the cold water."

"Hypothermia is fine, just no sharks."

The pilot grinned. Leon was glad to have a pilot that had a sense of humor. Shortly afterwards, the plane jerked and started to slowly move for the runway. Leon settled in as the plane stopped and the engines kicked in for take off. They rocketed down the runway and Leon felt weightless as the plane lifted into the air. He always hated that lightness feeling in his head.

Leon took out his book and started to read once the plane had leveled out. It was very quiet in the cabin. He heard a faint hissing noise, but he just assumed it was internal pressure system. He got about halfway into the fourth chapter of the book and found it very boring. He tossed the book into the seat next to him. He felt pretty tired, so he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Seven hours later…

Leon woke to the sound of water lapping against the side of the plane. They were no longer in the air and it didn't seem they were anywhere near land. He looked outside the small window and saw something large. Very large. At first, he couldn't believe his eyes. Once his brain had accepted the fact that he was looking at a large dirigible, he unbuckled his safety belt.

"Dave?" He called out. He walked to the cockpit. "Dave?" He called again and was met with silence. Once in the cockpit, he realized why. Dave wasn't there. All that was left was the smashed control panels and blood. There was blood everywhere. It was all over the seat, the floor and the control panel.

He quickly checked the panels to see if he could take off, but it was no use. The readouts were so badly damaged that there was no way he could get it into the air. In the co-pilot's seat was a backpack with his name written on it. Curious, he opened the pack. Inside were some bandages, a radio, handgun bullets, a bottle of water and a note. Pulling out the note, he quickly read it.

Mr. Kennedy,

My name is Jules Hurst. I am an assistant of Dr. Amelie Byron, who is the head researcher for the main Umbrella lab in Paris, France. I purpose a truce on your part. I will help you if you help me. I will supply more information when you need it. I have supplied you with items that will help you until you arrive on our island. Just to let you know, it is too late for the pilot. He should be dead by this point. Take care, Mr. Kennedy. My life is now in your hands.

Sincerely,

Jules

Leon sighs. He really didn't have much choice in this matter. He shouldered the backpack and collected the rest of his items from the storage compartment. Also inside was a basic handgun that he made sure was left on board, just in case. He was glad he was prepared. Though, he didn't believe that the pilot needed to be killed, but this was Umbrella he was dealing with. He exited the small plane onto a floating platform in the middle of nowhere. There was no sight of land anywhere. On the other side of the platform was a walkway that led to the oversized blimp. The first thought that went through his mind was the Hindenburg. It was certainly as big as the Hindenburg. The sheer size of it made his stomach flip-flop. If he remembered his history correctly, the Hindenburg was at least 800 feet in length and 135 feet in diameter.

"Why in the heck would they send me a transport this big?" Then he really thought about it. Apparently these people didn't want to be found, so using a dirigible would be the last thing that people would expect Umbrella to use. Then why does this person need his help? How did he know that he was coming? There must have been some sort of leak at STRATCOM. But who was the leak?

Leon knew he would just have to be patient if he wanted answers. He took in a deep breath hoping it wasn't all a big trap. Letting out the breath, he climbed the walkway into the dirigible hoping that thing wouldn't blow up and crash like the Hindenburg. That would be a poor ending to his young life; to fall for an Umbrella trick and get burnt to a crisp. His parents would kill him.

To be continued...