Chapter 2: Ties that Bind

David sat up in his bed startled from the sudden sound of his phone ringing, he looked over at his window and noticed the gentle glow from the slow and steady sun rise, then looked at his alarm clock which read 5:45 am "Who the hell is calling this early in the morning, for Goodness sakes it's Saturday." He reached over for the phone on his night stand, as he picked it up he fumbled with the phone and it fell "damn it" he muttered, he picked it up and finally answered it "Hello?" David said. "David? I didn't wake you did I?" the voice on the other end said, David had to think for a moment, the mans voice was gruff and sounded like he was from the southern US "Barry? yeah you did actually, is anything wrong?" David noticed that Barry sighed "Yeah there is, bad Davie boy really bad." Barry answered. David scoured at that name Barry had so affectionately given him back in their days training at the academy but quickly dismissed the feeling "What is it Old Man?" David had one for the "elder statesmen". He heard Barry sigh again and say "Over half of my team has been taken hostage by Umbrella" David felt a lump in his throat developing from fearing for the young woman whom he had grown to love and respect "What about Rebecca?" he managed to ask, "No she's with Leon Kennedy but they got Claire, that U.B.C.S guy Carlos, and a new guy named Hunk" David felt relief, Rebecca had been the child he never had, with his career and all he never had time for a family. "Is there anything I can do?" David asked, "Yeah come to the States I've got you a ticket waiting, your flight leaves tonight at eight o'clock p.m. your time, we'll talk about the rest when you get here." **Click** Barry hung up the phone and walked over to the 4x4 truck that waited for him, Jill was driving, Barry always felt safer with her behind the wheel since Chris is a mad man regardless if he was intoxicated or not.

***

Wesker sat back in his over sized red leather chair with a glass full of brandy and reading a novel when his video phone rang, he sat up and grabbed a remote control and pressed the button pointing it at the wall over his fire place. The space above the mantel split into two sections and a screen popped out of the hole that was left, on the screen was the Bio-port insignia then quickly vanished when the face of a well dressed business man appeared the man was Sir William Scott, a genius scientist, the owner of Bio-port and a share holder of Umbrella under an assumed name "Albert" he started "Albert we are quite pleased with your recovery of the virus samples but there are more pressing matters at hand, it seems Umbrella has sent a task force to find you." Wesker's disposition didn't change he smirked and said "Let them come, they'll see that Bio-port has more than ample security" Sir Scott became very grim, his face was darkened by his fear "Albert they are sending Earnest." Wesker dropped his glass of brandy and leaped from his chair throwing his book to the floor "They wouldn't!" he exclaimed, the old man on the screen frowned "they did" he responded. "Those Bastards, every one of them, Father do something please, have to have some influence over them?" he implored, the man stood up angrily "I told you never to call me that unless we were on a secure channel, and no I don't, they are becoming suspicious, some one other than myself is betraying Umbrella only this person giving out secret information to S.T.A.RS, and I don't want them pointing at me." Wesker stood in disarray, he couldn't get help from his father, Umbrella has sent in their trump card. But Wesker had his own trump card or cards, first he had all the strengths of a B.O.W, second he had the command over Bio-port's genetically spliced foot solders, and as long as he held Leon Kennedy's team captive he would have Barry Burton at his disposal. Wesker smiled at this thought "I know what to do Sir, I have some one that will help or he'll see his friends and family suffer at my hands again." Sir Scott's expression did not change "Very well then Albert, I hope you know what you are doing, the last time you did this you nearly were blown to pieces." Wesker still kept his smirk "There's not a self-destruction sequence in my home Father." Sir Scott became irritated at his son's reference to him as "Father" he responded "See to it you don't fail this time. Scott out." with that said the screen moved back into the wall and the section that moved away moved back. Wesker walked to the desk, there he activated his intercom system to reach his butler "Gregory, would you come in here I need you to clean up this glass" a man with an English accent spoke up "Right away sir" Wesker added "Oh and bring another glass of brandy" he walked over to his fire place and waited for his butler. During that time he thought to him self "Umbrella is sending one of my greatest rivals to eliminate me, I in turn am taking an even greater measure by employing one of his greatest rivals, it's about time for a class reunion." his thoughts were cut short by some one tapping him on his shoulder, Wesker quickly turned around rather startled by this sudden interruption but it was only the small English butler Gregory "Your brandy sir" he offered to Wesker "thank you Gregory, before you leave I have one more instruction before the night is over." Wesker ordered "Yes sir?" Gregory replied "Take a letter out to Barry Burton, tell him that Umbrella willing to release his comrades if he comes to an undisclosed location, include ummmm...I think six tickets, three extra for David Trapp who I know Barry will call, Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Chambers and let him know that there will be accommodations provided to the highest measures to insure his comfort, oh and address it from Trent." Wesker dictated "will that be all sir?" Gregory inquired "Yes, good night Gregory" Wesker said. Wesker with brandy in hand thought "Soon Barry, very soon, you have no idea what there is in store for you, you don't know who has control over you. But all will be as it should when I am the last one standing." Wesker thought for a few more moments and went to his desk, he sat down in the chair and picked up his diary to write.

This is what he wrote:

"September 15, 2001 10:00pm

I just spoke with my father and what he had to say didn't please me. He told me of Umbrellas plan to get retribution upon my betrayal of the company, they are apparently sending the only man that could possibly pose a threat to me, Captain Earnest Ross. I can't believe that they would send HIM in, in a way I should have expected it, he knows me about as well as I know myself. He, Barry Burton, David Trapp, Rico Marrini, Ed Dewey and myself were rivals of some sort, we were also room mates. Barry and myself always got along, mainly because I knew he would be more easily manipulated than David or Earnest simply because he was a "Family Man" the fool, he didn't know that what he considered his strongest asset would be his down fall. In a way I pity the poor bastard, his mother died when he was young and the only person left to raise him was his father, who was an abusive alcoholic. I admire the determination he had not to become what he hated so much but it still didn't help him in the long run, he still lost his family, his friends, him home, his health, and yet some how in the darkest recesses of my mind I want to help him, maybe it's the last remnants of my humanity, I'm sure the feeling will pass soon. OK moment over.

Earnest was the one I had the biggest grudge against, he was the spoiled rich brat who was voted most likely to shoot you in the back, and the only way he got in with Umbrella is his father is a board member, like myself. The difference between him and myself is that I'm better than he would ever hope to become. I am the descendent of English royalty, I'm the richest man on Earth, and I'm more than a man...but less that a god, but soon all this will change. Soon I shall have the other half my "godhood" bestowed upon me by the very man who made me what I am, and soon the truth will be uncovered.

Barry thinks that this "mole" Trent is helping him, but all in all Trent is working for me. Any information that Barry receives from him is truly from me, any time he meets Trent he's meeting the actual Trent, but little dose he know that he's just my pawn in this game of life. It's all coming into place just as I plan. Godhood..."

Wesker stood up and walked to the oversized window that led to a balcony, the cool air brushed up against his face, the seasons were changing and it was his favorite time of year. He stared out on the lake in which he had spent many summers playing at as a child, it was the last place his family was together before his own mother died, "better times" he briefly thought to himself before dismissing the distant emotions that griped his ever changing heart. "Godhood" he thought "I must stay focused on my godhood"