Wesker knew Ada was angry with him. He postponed the Hill Crest mission for five days, signed the proper forms allowing her to move out of the labs, and even made sure her apartment was in the Heights, one of the most prestigious places in the city to live. Still, she avoided him whenever possible. In the situations where she had to speak with him, she was cold, brusque, and though he would never call it to her face, a bitch. Trying to be a civil gentleman, he offered to help her move. Her answer was sharp and to the point- If I had wanted or needed your help, I would have asked. Go to hell and stay out of my personal life. She was at her new residence now, no doubt keeping herself busy by unpacking. Wesker ran his hands over his face, mentally exhausted. Lab results were proving to be more and more dissatisfying, the higher ups were breathing down his neck for him to show them some sort of progress, and now Ada. Pouring himself a glass of gin, he drank the liquor regardless of the fact it wouldn't get him drunk The executives he didn't give a damn about; they would be dealt with very soon. He planned on showing them the true meaning of power, and Umbrella would be reborn as the company it should have been. There would be no more failures, no more William Birkins. He and he alone would hold the power. Wesker planned on leaving a lasting legacy to the world, one that would inspire fear, awe, and respect. "A legacy..." The word sounded so nice, but he knew deep down, there was still one very important thing he was lacking in order to achieve said goal. "A legacy..."
The shrill buzz of the phone snapped Ada out of her reverie. Looking idly over at it, she waited until it stopped ringing before once more turning her gaze out the window. Twenty stories up with a beautiful view, she felt completely relaxed staring at the snow covered city. The phone rang once more, harsh and demanding. Gritting her teeth, Ada all but stomped over to the table. "Hello?"
"It's late...why aren't you sleeping?" Wesker's voice sounded mildly concerned, but the fact he was calling at a quarter until one in the morning meant he either didn't care, or knew she'd be awake.
Or both, the bastard. "You aren't my father. What do you want?"
"I was hoping you'd like to meet me for drinks at-"
"No. Goodnight." Ada slammed the phone down, and no sooner than she turned away from it, the phone rang again. Picking it up she took a deep breath, hard pressed to keep herself from shouting at him. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"
Silence. A moment's pause before he spoke again. "I was hoping we could talk about what happened the other day."
Ada wasn't going to let herself fall for his lines. "Don't bother trying to apologize, Wesker. We both know you don't care about anyone except yourself, so why don't you just leave me the hell alone and get back to work?"
"If you don't want to talk, then fine. Tomorrow you're going to Hill Crest. Visiting hours are over at seven, so you'll have the day off. Be back here at seven thirty, or don't bother showing up at all."
The line went dead. Ada slowly placed the phone back in its cradle. Perhaps she had been wrong? He had sounded oddly sincere at first. Wesker was right; had he not taken Sherry, another organization could have. Had he not brought her to the labs, she could unknowingly spark another outbreak. The thought of little Sherry mutating into a creature like her father was horrifying.
"Yes?" His voice was cold.
"Wesker I...I just wanted-"
"Don't bother Ada...you've been sorry ever since the day I saved you in Raccoon." He hung up on her once more. Dropping the phone, Ada put a hand over her mouth and slumped to the floor. Why did he have to be so cold? She was never one to believe that there was good in everyone, but she wanted him to be different. Wesker made her feel so much pain, yet at the same time, when she was around him, she never felt more alive. He brought out a side of her she usually kept hidden. Forcing herself not to cry, Ada got up and went to bed. God only knew what Wesker had planned for her after Hill Crest, and she would need all the rest she could get.
Waking roughly around eleven the next day, Ada tried to force herself to relax before she left, but couldn't. Nothing soothed her, none of her usual comforts provided any solace. Tossing her novel aside, Ada curled up on the couch. Hell...I haven't even eaten anything today. He would just chastise me for being irresponsible. Hoping he would be in a better mood, Ada dressed in one of her favorite red dresses, the fabric slightly thicker to ward off the cold somewhat. Pulling on her parka and grabbing her keys, Ada left the apartment exactly at seven.
Of all the things he hated, human emotions were high on the list. Wesker spent the better part of the day in the lab, forcing himself of focus on his work. It worked for the most part, and it made time pass quickly. At a quarter after six, he made his way to his office and ordered a meal to be brought up. It didn't take him long to finish, and after cleaning up he looked over the mission briefing one last time, eyes drifting to his watch every few seconds. The knock on his door was so light that he doubted a normal human would have been able to hear it. "If you have business then enter and hurry it up." He looked up, eyes slanted in a glare but hidden by his sunglasses. She slipped in like a breeze, her soft features a welcome site to see. Wesker stared at Ada, noting that she wasn't looking at him. "...If you like the carpet so much, I'll have some ordered for your new residence."
She looked up at him, lips softly curving into a smile. "I didn't want to disturb you. I know I'm early. I'm sorry if I came at a bad time."
Motioning for her to have a seat, he propped his elbows in the desktop and laced his fingers together. "Ada...hearing you apologize sounds awkward. I'd much rather hear one of your witty repartees."
Her eyes almost twinkled with amusement. "Than shall I give you the layouts of my living room?"
"Perhaps later...for now, we need to get going." He stood and motioned for her to follow. "The storm is getting worse...it seems there's been even more power outages on that side of town. There are a few things you need to know about this mission. First, you go in unarmed." Ada opened her mouth to protest, but thought better of it. Noting her silence, he continued. "In the event of an emergency, there will be a strike team to fortify the main hall. They will be armed, and nothing will get past them."
"What about my target? How am I supposed to take care of him if he knows too much?"
They were in the parking garage now. Wesker reluctantly passed by his Vanquish, not wanting to take his private vehicle out in the blizzard. Instead, he picked one of the Lincolns. "You will not be the one to deal with Tice. If what he knows can damage my plans, then tomorrow he'll be given a lethal injection. Quick, simple, and to the public eye, he was nothing more than a man on death row."
Ada rolled her eyes. "Yes...real humane. I can see this is going to turn out just fine."
The blonde's lip twitched with annoyance, his previous good mood now soured. "If you don't like it, than stay here." Removing his shades, he glared at her from over the car until she was forced to look away. "You're acting weak...perhaps you should remain behind." Furiously, Ada opened the door and sat down, slamming it shut. Smirking inwardly, Wesker got in and glanced over at her. "If you continue to behave like a child, than next time I will send another agent."
Gritting her teeth, Ada was hard pressed to remain calm. "Enough...I'll do the damn mission...and whatever else you want."
Satisfied that he had won their little spat, Wesker started the car and pulled out, driving carefully across the thickly snow blanketed roads to the edge of town. The strike team was already in position. That put him in a slightly better mood, but seeing Ada sulking out of the corner of his eye instantly killed it. "Get out, and wait there." He ordered briskly, not caring that it was seven below zero.
Finding the officer in charge of the strike force, Wesker went over the last few details of the mission. Ada watched them talk, noting that he was making a point to ignore any reference to her. She shivered involuntarily, pulling her parka around her even more. When he was about to walk away with the man, Ada cleared her throat. "Wesker...I need to talk with you alone for a moment. Please?" Ada's gaze met with his, and he nodded, motioning for the soldier to leave.
"Two minutes, Miss Wong. Don't waste my time." His features were stoic, cold.
Ada opened her mouth to speak, but the right words wouldn't form. He obviously knew what was on her mind. She heard him scoff, and he turned away from her. Reaching out, she clutched the back of his blazer. "Wesker...Albert...please...I...can't stand this anymore. I don't want to keep fighting with you. Can we...talk over dinner?"
"I...have already eaten.."
It sounded so final, as if they would never have another chance to make things right. For some reason, Ada felt like crying. She forced herself not to, and let go of him. "Yeah...me too."
Wesker turned, bringing his gloved hand to the side of her face. He caressed her cheek softly, tenderly. "Ada...you're cold. You should really get inside. The sooner this mission is over...the sooner you and I can talk." He leaned in close, then softly kissed her cheek. "Go...I'll be here in case you need me. Because of the safety procedures we have to take, you won't be able to use the new PDA I got you...Instead, you'll be wearing a wire."
Ada simply nodded, following him to the car so he could hook her up. None of the others even looked their way, which was good because she felt her cheeks flush as his gloved hands gently maneuvered around her body and under her clothes to ensure the bug was in place. His finger tips just barely missed running over her breasts, and against her better judgment, she found herself almost wanting to feel his hands there.
Finishing with placing the wire, Wesker made sure Ada's two way communication earpiece was in place. "Alright...you're ready." He walked with her to the gates of the building, stopping at the stairs leading to the entrance. "Ask direct questions but remain as unobtrusive as possible. Just get him talking...try to avoid any questions he might turn back at you. Don't mention any names. Whatever you do, try to keep him calm. We don't want him screaming and making a racket." The security guard at the front door stepped out, nodding to them both. "Don't fail me Ada." Wesker's voice was a deadly whisper.
Ada watched him turn sharply on his heel and walk back to where the strike team's van and his car were. Taking a deep breath, Ada gave the guard a half smile as she stepped past him and into the warm foyer. She hardly listened as the man gave her the directions to Doctor Tice's room. Swiping his identification badge, the guard unlocked the fortified entry to the ward, closing the door once Ada was through. This place is like a maze... Taking the first corridor on the right, Ada followed the wall until it curved into a four way. White, sterile walls surrounded her. White sterile walls with solid doors lining them, each with a number and a small window. Ada forced herself to look straight ahead. Sometimes, a patient would press his face against the window and watch as she walked by, some laughing, some panting and making odd noises. Others simply watched her, the way a predator stalks its prey before making the kill. She shuddered, and forced herself to keep walking. Taking another right, and then a left, she saw the doctor waiting outside a room. That must be it... Approaching the man, she was surprised that he greeted her with a warm smile. "You're here for Tice? Don't worry...he's been given his medication already, so he should be quite agreeable. I'll be out here if ya need me. The name's Miller."
"Thank you..." Upon entering the dark cell, Ada instantly wanted to turn around and leave. It was that feeling she got whenever her intuition told her something bad was about to happen. Just like in Raccoon... The cell smelt like mildew and sewage, almost as if the place was used as a garbage dump instead of a place to keep a human being. It had only a dingy cot for a bed and a toilet Ada would rather die than use. For their meeting, someone had taken the liberty of setting up a small card table with two highly uncomfortable looking chairs. Even with his bright orange jumper, Mathew Tice's was still hard to see in the dark, slumped over the table with his hands over his face. "Doctor Tice? My name is Miranda Ying...I've come on behalf-"
"Please my dear...you'll be more comfortable if you sit down." He lifted his face to her, and everything from his sunken, bloodshot eyes to his pale skin and lips told Ada that this man was indeed crazy. "What do you want to know from me? I'm sure you haven't come here today to keep a man like me company."
Smiling somewhat, Ada sat down across from him, wary of his every move. "How are you feeling? Are you well, physically?"
The doctor gave a small laugh. "I've developed a small cough since coming here, but I don't think it matters. Miss...Ying, is that it? They should have sent someone less attractive. You'll catch your death of illness if you stay here too long."
He's not so bad after all...in a Hannibal Lector sort of way. Had he been a little cleaner and out of the institution, Ada might have found the man to be attractive. He wasn't exactly her type, but he was smart and obviously had a sense of humor. "I'll be fine doctor. I've come to ask you a few questions."
Mathew smoothed back his matted blond hair. "None of which, I'm sure, apply to me taking you to dinner, I'm sure. Now...why don't you just tell me why you're really here?"
Clearing her throat, Ada let her smile fall. "I've come because you may have the information I need to take down a few of my enemies."
Tice's eyes twitched, a strange glow illuminating them. "Ah...so they didn't send you after all?"
Ada acted mildly surprised. "Doctor...who are you talking about?"
"Umbrella...HCF...they are all the same...Ants running around, struggling to gain control of something that it well out of reach for them. Stupid men and women...greedy people who think of nothing but creating new viruses and more bio-weapons."
Now they were getting somewhere. "I agree Doctor...With your help, I may be able to take them all down. I can pull some strings and set you free from all this."
His laughter this time was highly different from the polite chuckle she heard before. It was that of a deranged man, one who was obviously out of touch with reality. "Yes...I'm sure you would. And I'd be locked right back up in another cell...one with the mask of giving me freedom. Working back in the labs...always a slave to the corporate dogs that feast on my entrails. You're one too, aren't you Miss Ying? A whore to those who flaunt their artificial power. Let me guess...you work for Martin? Caslin?...Or do you answer to that ambitious prick Wesker?"
Swallowing to keep from losing her cool, Ada shook her head. Just from the namesof themen he mentioned,he knew too much. Still, she had to keepup her facade until itwas time to go. "I work for no one, Doctor Tice. I told you, I'm a spy. I promise you I can set you free."
"Free? You want to set me free?" He cackled, and Ada knew now why the man was such a high risk. He could have caused another outbreak if- "Do you know, my dear...that I spent several years studying Japanese culture?" Ada shook her head, caught slightly off guard by the doctor's sudden change in topic. He smiled, his pale lips twitching. "Not many people do. There once was a very honorable ritual samurai preformed. It ends with providing the person with eternal freedom...To English speakers...it's called hara-kiri. Such a vulgar...vulgar term."
Ada didn't like the way things were going. "Doctor...perhaps you should drink some water and calm down." Hara-kiri...that's-
"To the Japanese, its called seppuku..." From under the table, he pulled out a long, sharp knife. Time seemed to slow down. As Ada watched, the crazed doctor thrust the knife into his stomach, making a cut wide across his belly and with the remainder of his strength, sliced upward. Ada wanted to scream at the sight of the disemboweled man, but she feared that if she opened her mouth, she might vomit. She began backing up until she hit the wall. Wesker's voice buzzed in her ear, ordering her to state the problem. "W-Wesker...he just...out of no where he- a knife!"
"Ada calm down! Are you hurt?"
"He just...he just gutted himself!" Ada couldn't look away from the horrific site, but she didn't have to endure it for much longer. The guard outside the room grabbed her and pulled her out, asking her if she was alright. Before she had the chance to steady herself and answer, the lights flickered, and died. "Don't worry miss...it'll come back in-" Down the hall, doors began slamming open, and doctors began screaming. "Oh shit...Get down and under that table. The locks on the doors are electric and-" Miller's voice was cut off, a distinct thud of something hitting the back of his skull. Insane laughter filled the halls, echoing as more and more of the wards freed themselves. Ada cursed Wesker for sending her in unarmed. Things just went from worse, to hell.
Things aren't looking too good for Ada now, are they? Oh...and this chapter and the next were inspired from the ps2 game Indigo Prophecy...only with a Resident Evil twist. R&R please.