Chapter 2: Consequences
Leon Kennedy stood in the mirror looking at the shell of a man. A white ghost in the dark of a small apartment bathroom where the only counter space was the top of the toilet. Looking back at him was a handsome man with cuts and healing bruises littered across a defined chest. In the dark his skin was a pale white, showing each definition of muscle and each scar he had ever sustained. Sweat slowly dripped down him because of a dream he kept having ever since he had returned from Spain.
Leon ran a hand through dark blonde hair, sighing deeply. He was tired both mentally and physically, and all he wanted was the sweet comfort of a full night's sleep. Rubbing his eyes Leon knew sleep would not come again this night, so he shouldn't try. All that lead to was tossing and turning.
He slipped off his plaid boxers and tossed them into the corner of the bathroom, to be picked up in a week or so. Leon turned on the shower, very hot, the way he always enjoyed his showers. The bathroom instantly turned into a marble sauna, the mist touching everything. Leon stepped in, the hot water burning at first. He put his head in the fast stream of water.
Thoughts started to pop up into his mind from the last mission; Las Plagas, Saddler, Krauser, the village, Ada. For some reason the thought of Ada Wong soothed the panic and pain that thundered through his mind, suddenly everything felt dream like. Her smile; taunting and seductive at the same time. Her voice; that purr like an exotic cat's. Then there was the skill and the grace that she used in every movement. The bat of an eyelash, her footsteps, the brushing of hair from her face, everything seemed pre-strategized and rehearsed. Ada was a one woman deadly theater production.
Where was she now? Did she ever think of him?
Leon stepped from his bathroom, steam rushing out from behind him as if it were gasping for air. Leon held the towel that was wrapped around his waist as he walked into his room. His phone flashed with new messages. He sat on his bed and pressed play:
"You have 3 new messages…First unheard message… 'Hey Leon, its Ashley…'"
Leon rolled his eyes.
"… 'I was just wondering if you were going to be around anytime this week. I know this really good steakhouse downtown and was wondering if you wanted to go with me there…like an uh…date thing. I guess you could call it a date, but really it's—'"
Leon Pressed erase.
"Next unheard message… 'Hello Leon, its Margaret from down the hall. Listen; I know you've been busy lately but my sink keeps leaking and I need someone to look at it for me. I would call a plumber but they always charge SO much. If you could come by later that would be fantastic, alright bye.' "
Leon pressed erase again.
"Next unheard message… 'Hiya, its Claire. Jill invited us all to her place tonight, I was wondering if you wanted to come. OH, and Chris wants his CD back, he didn't tell me which one, just he wants his CD back. He's such a loser. OK, well umm call me back. Cya!' "
Leon once again pressed erase on the machine. He put his head in his hands and sighed. His life was falling apart on the back burner he had put it on. His social life was next to nothing, family life was slowly fading, and his dating life was already dead and dry. A total flat line on his entire world.
And he didn't know CPR.
Leon thought about actually going to dinner with Ashley, but he instantly shot it down. That would be crazy. There was so much press around Ashley right now, ever since she had returned. The news speculated where she had been, and the White House said she had been on a short vacation to "Get some things straight." Leon rolled his eyes, Ashley thought herself a celebrity, and she was more annoying than ever.
Leon snorted. That girl was one he should avoid for a very long time.
Perhaps he would go to Jill's that evening. Time with friends would do him well, plus the gang never fully got the story of what happened in Spain. Leon had given them the basics; Wesker active again, new virus, and that he had run into Ada Wong. To his surprise the news of meeting Ada in Spain had greatly interested Chris Redfield. The rest of that night he had met up with the team Chris stayed very quite as if he were thinking of something perplexing.
Leon stood up and moved to his closet. He had a few errands to run before he went to Jill's. Yes, time with the others would be cleansing for him, something to take his mind of the latest drama in his life.
"The Package should be here any second now Mr. Wesker."
Wesker nodded, not looking at the grunt scientist that addressed him. The grunt was much shorter than he and wore a long white lab coat with a purple "S" on the upper arm sleeve.
All around Wesker stood other men in the same attire, all with purple that purple "S" on their sleeves. Temporary lab stations had been set up to the left of Wesker, scientists scurrying around them, preparing for the incoming Las Plagas sample.
Wesker looked at his watch. He frowned, the shipment was late, he hated when things didn't go to schedule.
Wesker took a deep breath in, straightening his sleek black tie that matched the equally sleek black suit he wore. He was very intimidating in that color, with a perfect posture and his hands gloved and folded right in front of him. He stood like a Roman warrior getting ready to site those who dare go up against the legendary city of Rome. He was a god, powerful and beautiful.
Suddenly the warehouse where they stood was stabbed with brilliant light. The shutter on the other side of the room started to raise. A black hummer glided into the warehouse as if on water, the shutter closing behind it. It made its way to the crowd of scientists and Wesker. The scientists stared intently at it, and Wesker nodded. Two men in black jumpsuits got out of the car and moved to the back. They opened up the back door and took out a glittering silver case.
Wesker stared at it, almost lovingly. Inside was the sample of Las Plagas he and Corporation S were waiting for. At last his plans would come to fruition and the new Umbrella would ride like a phoenix from the ashes. Wesker would finally have something to run, and something to bring his dreams of a better world under Umbrella to life.
Wesker grabbed the case and opened it. Inside was a vial of glowing blue liquid, inside the liquid a tiny parasite waiting for a host. He handed the case to the scientist who had spoken to him earlier. He nodded and brought it over to one of the lab stations. The scientist inserted the vial into a small round shoot and pressed a few buttons on an LCD screen. The machine whirred to life, buzzing and beeping sounds coming from it as it analyzed the specimen.
Eeerrreeerrr
"What?" the scientist said and pushed the buttons again, making the machine come to life again.
Eeerrreeerrr
The scientist pressed another button and read what was given to him on the screen, his eyes moving left to right very fast. With each sentence the scientist's face sunk in frustration and panic.
Wesker raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem?"
The scientist rubbed his eyes and forehead as if nursing a headache.
"Yes…I'm afraid so."
"What is it?" Wesker stepped closer.
"This is not…not Las Plagas."
Wesker became very quiet, seething with rage and confusion, rage and confusion which everyone could feel. It came in giant waves like an overbearing tsunami. His law muscles tightened as he starred through his black glasses at the scientist.
"It's a common tick."
Wesker clenched his fists. That BITCH! How could Ada Wong betray him like this? After all he did for her, bringing her from the brink of death, nursing her to recovery and giving her a new place in this world. Ada owed him her life, and Wesker had no choice but to take it back. She had stolen what was surely his big break, and Umbrella's current hope of rebuilding.
"Sir, I just found this in the case."
One of the men in the black jumpsuits handed him a piece of paper folded to look like a heart. Wesker unfolded it, a scowl growing on his face. He smoothed it out and read it:
You should choose your help more wisely next time big guy. Don't worry, the sample is in safe hands.
xoxo
Ada
The bottom of the letter was decorated with a crimson kiss mark.
Wesker crumpled the letter in one gloved hand, turning towards the glittering black limo behind him. The driver nodded and started up the engine, knowing Wesker was in a towering temper.
Ada would pay for her treachery, and everything she had done to him would come back to her ten fold. He would make sure she suffered and writhed in pain before he squashed her like a bug. Las Plagas was not in his hands, and he didn't know who had it, but he would get to the bottom of this little problem.
Ada Wong was one of the hardest people to find in the world, so finding her would be very difficult indeed. She has been known to use false identities for other false identities.
As Wesker's door was opened for him and he climbed in an idea struck him. Why hadn't he thought of it before? He usually was so good at coming up with these things. Smiling to himself he pulled out a phone from his jacket pocket. He pressed a few buttons on the device and put it to his ear.
"Wesker here; dig up anything you can find on a Leon S. Kennedy. I want location and any other information that can be used to find him. This is top priority, email me the results as soon as you collect them."
He hung it up and slipped back into its small pocket. With a smile he looked at the crumbled letter still in his hand. He lifted the hand the letter was in and threw the piece of paper at the window with a flick of the wrist. Small cracks erupted onto the glass as the paper hit the window.
The shutter of the warehouse opened again and the sleek black limo sped out, into the blinding sun.
Ada entered the shining glass elevator, her jet black stilettos clicking elegantly against the marble floor. Ada was dressed today in an expensive looking black dress that stopped around mid thigh. The neck line came down just right to show a full collar bone and a bit of cleavage to keep things interesting, but not too much, Ada was a classy woman. On top of this snappy number was a very feminine black leather trench coat that stopped just at her knees. A chic black and white scarf tied off this amazingly breathtaking woman. She looked like some female spy from 1920's French movie. The glasses she wore rivaled those of Albert Wesker's, and kept her eyes hidden completely. In one hand was the silver case that held the real sample of Plagas with its ever growing feeling of power.
Ada pressed "23" on the button panel and stood in the back of the elevator. She looked out at early morning New York, ever dazzling and busy. A smile came to her face as she went higher and higher. Ada had just got in town and had already informed her superiors on the incident in Paris, and investigation by the Organization on HUNK was started. According to what the Organization found HUNK was working with a group of ex-soldiers in Europe. The group called themselves 'Blitzkrieg', and ties with Corporation S had been found. Of course, HUNK had worked for Umbrella before, why wouldn't he want to be a part of its new beginning.
Ada reached her floor and stepped off. In front of her was a metallic room with a large glass desk in front of a dark wood door. Sitting at the large glass desk and typing away at a Mac computer was a pretty blonde girl. She looked up as the elevator doors closed.
"Good morning Ms. Wong."
"Morning Cindy." Ada nodded,
"Mr. Trent says to go right in."
Cindy smiled and pressed a button on the desk. The wood doors opened and Ada walked through. Stepping into this door less metallic room Ada looked to the floor. A giant eye made out of tile was on the floor, the only splash of color in the room. The pupil of the eye resembled a large "O" obviously for the Organization. Ada stepped into the middle of the eye, in the center of the large "O" and immediately a glass cylinder trapped her, Ada didn't even flinch. Tiny screens popped up in the glass, displaying a full body view of Ada. A cool feminine voice spoke:
"Full Body DNA test commencing."
There was a flash like someone took a picture and the screens appeared in the glass once again.
"DNA enzymes confirmed; Welcome Ada Wong."
Ada started to rise into the air, the pupil of the giant eye rising into the air like an elevator into the ceiling. Moments later Ada was in a large office with navy blue carpet and silver walls decorated with gothic art. The ceiling was painted to look like a battlefield, fallen soldiers lying everywhere. A lonesome angel sat in the middle of the painting nursing a dieing soldier with tears running down its face.
In the far end of the room was a man in a large wooden desk, behind him was a wall covered with flat screen TVs.
"Ah, Ada how nice to see you."
"I could say the same thing Trent." Ada smiled.
"So do you have the sample?"
"Of course."
Ada put the case on the desk and slid it over. Trent opened it, peering at the glowing small vial. A grin crept on his face, a look of victory.
"Perfect as usual Ms. Wong."
"Well, you know me. Albert must have gotten the fake already. I wonder what happened when he found my little note."
Ada smiled and stared dreamily into space, fantasying about Wesker's reaction. Did he yell? Scream? Stomp of in a rage? Better yet, did he kill someone? Oh that would tie the satin bow around the perfect present.
"Ada we must talk about something very important" Trent said to her, motioning for her to sit down.
Ada sat down on the padded wood chair across from Trent. She slid off her trench coat and hung it from the back of the chair. Ada crossed her legs and listened.
"Our Investigation into HUNK and Blitzkrieg has uncovered many interesting and disturbing things. We've learned that Blitzkrieg is working closely with Wesker and Corporation S, as you very well know. It seems that Wesker has promised them some kind of reward for helping him rebuild Umbrella. With the help of the group Wesker has built the first new Umbrella facility. This facility is known under the name NEO."
Ada's eyes narrowed.
"This new facility is somewhere in the Congo in Africa. The Organization has already received information that experiments are already under way, and some are complete."
"Shit" Ada whispered and leaned back.
"Oh, it gets better; we've found documents that the virus they've engineered there has leaked into the communities around the facility. Reports claim that the workers get infected somehow in the facility, then they go home and spread it to their families; their families spread it to relatives and friends and so on."
Trent laced his fingers in front of him, as if he was praying.
"The organization has officially classified this as an outbreak."
Ada looked down at her heels. She knew where this was leading to.
"What are the components of this virus?"
Trent took off his glasses and set them on the desk.
"This new virus was made from the T-virus, the significance of that is that this new virus holds many traits that T-virus had. The infected slowly decay, turning into a zombie like creature. Though the different thing is that the abilities of these creatures are heightened, they can run, they are strong; they can form groups and operate as a team. The need for human flesh is what drives them. Obviously this virus being used to make BOWs is something that doesn't bode well for us."
Ada bit her lip.
"We've also received that Wesker is planning to capture one Leon Kennedy for a new experiment."
Ada looked up very quickly. Did he just say what she thought? Leon was to be captured for an experiment? This was not possible, how could Wesker find him?
"Ada, I know there is history behind the two of you, but this mission you must think with a clear head. I need you to obtain a sample of this new virus and destroy the Congo facility."
Ada nodded and stood up. She grabbed her coat and took a few steps away.
"I need to help Leon."
"Ada, we need you to leave the American agent alone."
Ada stopped, her back facing Trent.
"You don't understand sir; I can't let Wesker get his hands on him. After that I swear I'll leave him alone and accomplish the mission."
"Alright then. Get him out of harms way, and that it." Trent watched her carefully as she left the room.
Ada stood in the elevator once again, going down. This time the view of New York didn't bring her comfort her. Her heart beat fast, and she didn't know why. She had never felt this way before. Leaning against the glass and looking out at the city Ada felt uneasy.
The shadow of Albert Wesker was looming over her once again, and who knows what would be in store this time.
A/N: I'm baaack! I had a very nice vacation, and liked I promised here is the new chapter of this story! I actually had a lot of fun writing it and have basically planned out the rest of the fic. I got a little ahead of myself and have already started thinking about the sequel. I have a few scenarios floating around my head on how this thing should play out.
Just to clarify a few things:
Trent is a character from the Resident Evil books by S.D. Perry. If you don't know the character go ahead and read the books, they're quite good. I thought Trent would be a perfect leader for the Organization.
And, YES that is Cindy from REO. She has more appearances in the story, but not for a while.
Remember: Be kind, REVIEW