Chapter II
An Empire Catastrophe
September 23rd - New York City – Early Afternoon – 2:15 PM
"The Royal Opera House," Ada thought out loud to herself, "…destroyed in a terrorist bombing; the entire Covet Garden area in shock." She looked down at the paper in front of her, reading it to herself while she looked at the pictures. It couldn't have been an international terrorist; they don't have the type of weaponry to blast a one hundred square foot hole into solid rock. Everything in the area had been disintegrated…
She was still staring down at the black and white ink when her coffee was set onto the table, "Here you go miss, and the bill is on the table." The pudgy woman looked blankly at her, confused by the fact she didn't even acknowledge her presence. What was she thinking about…the building was old anyways, abandoned and not even thought of as something important…but still, something about it made her wonder. The only people, besides the obvious government, that could produce such a devastating weapon…
"…shit, they're up to their old tricks."
The waitress stared coldly, "Well miss, I don't think the chefs here are that awful and you can march your little fanny right on out of here. There're children up in here, they don't need to hear you talk that way."
Ada stood up, not even looking at the woman. It had been awhile since she had had any contact with the outside world. The discussion with the attorney was the first time since her drop off in New York that she had spoken to anyone face to face…what a welcome back, she thought, the first time I start talking to people again and the guys a total prick. What luck…?
Quickly gathering up her things, she headed out into the street disregarding the bill that needed to be paid on the table in the restaurant. She hadn't had much luck inside a diner…her first time eating out in Capitol resulted in the deaths of over ten civilians. Umbrella sent in mercenaries to hunt her down and in the process innocent lives were lost…hell, they didn't care. Do they ever care? Made her sick…she headed down the road, her hands in her oversized sweatshirt pockets; this was what her life had turned out to, living in fear…isolation…and loneliness…
*
September 23rd – New York City – Mid Day – 4:45 PM
Ja looked up wondrously at the Empire State Building, admiring its sheer complexity and utter beauty, "…its magnificent." He said, rolling down the window of his stretch limo, "…simply glorious. Tell me, how many people are in there on an average day?"
His assistant looked at him with caring blue eyes, her slim figure shrouded in the darkness of the long car, "Fifteen thousand on a good day. Its one hundred and two floors extend one thousand four hundred and fifty four feet high, and the actual building opened on May 1st 1931. Over two million people come in and out of those doors on a yearly basis…"
"Unbelievable." He said, pressing his hand against a small wrinkle in his jacket. He had to look nice, after all this was a committee meeting. Anything less than the best wouldn't be acceptable, he had to look utterly impressive. No mistakes. Umbrella would be looking for something to keep him from this job…everything had to be perfect.
The chauffeur opened the door for Ja as he quickly hurried out, scrambling to his feet, "Come now Hillary, we mustn't be late. The appointment is at five o clock sharp…" He grabbed his briefcase from her, walking fast through the gliding doors. He was whisked away by the sheer magnificence of the three story lobby, drawn to the artsy info structure and décor, "…absolutely astonishing."
"Fifteen minutes…" Hillary said, following closely behind in her small black mini skirt and white dress shirt. Her silky brown hair was pulled neatly behind her head in a bun, with enough class for someone of high standards to notice…she gave Ja a quick push and hurried him along.
They reached the elevator quickly, being the only ones in the actual compartment when it began to move, "Isn't this place just incredible." Ja dropped the briefcase, looking at Hillary in the eyes. She seemed pale, distraught… "Hillary, what's the matter. I'm sorry I had to drag you along on this. It'd be the most important career move I'd ever make!" He laughed, "Please understand."
"That's not what I'm worried about…"
She pointed at the switches on the wall. They had begun moving but had slowed…to nearly a stop…EMERGENCY was flashing…
*
September 23rd – New York City – Mid Day – 5:00 PM
"Im sorry Miss, but you can't get inside. None of you people can get inside right now, there is a situation indoors that we cannot allow you to be involved with. I have strict orders that say no one allowed inside." The burly security guard stood tough, along with hundreds of other security guards lining the perimeter of the building. They weren't allowing a single person through the doors, the contact with the outside being cut off about ten minutes ago…
"Hey! My phone isn't working! I can't call through inside!" A woman screeched from the crowd outside, "My husband is in there!"
Ada couldn't help but think that something was seriously wrong. Since last year, security had been at its tightest ever but shutting down the Empire State Building with no real reason made no logical sense. Something had to be seriously wrong…of all the windows lining the building, not a single one was open. Everything was cut off…even the doors had metallic coverings over them, preventing anyone from getting in…what was going on?
Then it happened…something in side caught fire, maybe a gas tank. She could feel the rumbling underneath her weight, rising up and finally exploding into the lobby. Glass flew everywhere, cutting up people within reach. She ducked behind the man in front of her, realizing that a shard of glass had torn through his arm nearly severing it…
Mass chaos erupted, everyone turning frantic. The first thing she could do though was notice that the metal shutters had been blown away…but another set was already beginning to shut it off. How the hell would they have metal shutters that close when the others give way…serious security, obviously. This couldn't be right…
Dashing through the crowds towards the main lobby floor, Ada jumped through the inferno that was now the city street. Cars were overturned and bodies littered in the roads…she could smell the scent of burning flesh in the air, people obviously scalded by the flames. She rushed through, finally reaching the lowering doors. With one quick dive, she rolled through underneath the gate and was inside. The city was closed off behind her, and she was once again inside the residence of evil.
An Empire Catastrophe
September 23rd - New York City – Early Afternoon – 2:15 PM
"The Royal Opera House," Ada thought out loud to herself, "…destroyed in a terrorist bombing; the entire Covet Garden area in shock." She looked down at the paper in front of her, reading it to herself while she looked at the pictures. It couldn't have been an international terrorist; they don't have the type of weaponry to blast a one hundred square foot hole into solid rock. Everything in the area had been disintegrated…
She was still staring down at the black and white ink when her coffee was set onto the table, "Here you go miss, and the bill is on the table." The pudgy woman looked blankly at her, confused by the fact she didn't even acknowledge her presence. What was she thinking about…the building was old anyways, abandoned and not even thought of as something important…but still, something about it made her wonder. The only people, besides the obvious government, that could produce such a devastating weapon…
"…shit, they're up to their old tricks."
The waitress stared coldly, "Well miss, I don't think the chefs here are that awful and you can march your little fanny right on out of here. There're children up in here, they don't need to hear you talk that way."
Ada stood up, not even looking at the woman. It had been awhile since she had had any contact with the outside world. The discussion with the attorney was the first time since her drop off in New York that she had spoken to anyone face to face…what a welcome back, she thought, the first time I start talking to people again and the guys a total prick. What luck…?
Quickly gathering up her things, she headed out into the street disregarding the bill that needed to be paid on the table in the restaurant. She hadn't had much luck inside a diner…her first time eating out in Capitol resulted in the deaths of over ten civilians. Umbrella sent in mercenaries to hunt her down and in the process innocent lives were lost…hell, they didn't care. Do they ever care? Made her sick…she headed down the road, her hands in her oversized sweatshirt pockets; this was what her life had turned out to, living in fear…isolation…and loneliness…
*
September 23rd – New York City – Mid Day – 4:45 PM
Ja looked up wondrously at the Empire State Building, admiring its sheer complexity and utter beauty, "…its magnificent." He said, rolling down the window of his stretch limo, "…simply glorious. Tell me, how many people are in there on an average day?"
His assistant looked at him with caring blue eyes, her slim figure shrouded in the darkness of the long car, "Fifteen thousand on a good day. Its one hundred and two floors extend one thousand four hundred and fifty four feet high, and the actual building opened on May 1st 1931. Over two million people come in and out of those doors on a yearly basis…"
"Unbelievable." He said, pressing his hand against a small wrinkle in his jacket. He had to look nice, after all this was a committee meeting. Anything less than the best wouldn't be acceptable, he had to look utterly impressive. No mistakes. Umbrella would be looking for something to keep him from this job…everything had to be perfect.
The chauffeur opened the door for Ja as he quickly hurried out, scrambling to his feet, "Come now Hillary, we mustn't be late. The appointment is at five o clock sharp…" He grabbed his briefcase from her, walking fast through the gliding doors. He was whisked away by the sheer magnificence of the three story lobby, drawn to the artsy info structure and décor, "…absolutely astonishing."
"Fifteen minutes…" Hillary said, following closely behind in her small black mini skirt and white dress shirt. Her silky brown hair was pulled neatly behind her head in a bun, with enough class for someone of high standards to notice…she gave Ja a quick push and hurried him along.
They reached the elevator quickly, being the only ones in the actual compartment when it began to move, "Isn't this place just incredible." Ja dropped the briefcase, looking at Hillary in the eyes. She seemed pale, distraught… "Hillary, what's the matter. I'm sorry I had to drag you along on this. It'd be the most important career move I'd ever make!" He laughed, "Please understand."
"That's not what I'm worried about…"
She pointed at the switches on the wall. They had begun moving but had slowed…to nearly a stop…EMERGENCY was flashing…
*
September 23rd – New York City – Mid Day – 5:00 PM
"Im sorry Miss, but you can't get inside. None of you people can get inside right now, there is a situation indoors that we cannot allow you to be involved with. I have strict orders that say no one allowed inside." The burly security guard stood tough, along with hundreds of other security guards lining the perimeter of the building. They weren't allowing a single person through the doors, the contact with the outside being cut off about ten minutes ago…
"Hey! My phone isn't working! I can't call through inside!" A woman screeched from the crowd outside, "My husband is in there!"
Ada couldn't help but think that something was seriously wrong. Since last year, security had been at its tightest ever but shutting down the Empire State Building with no real reason made no logical sense. Something had to be seriously wrong…of all the windows lining the building, not a single one was open. Everything was cut off…even the doors had metallic coverings over them, preventing anyone from getting in…what was going on?
Then it happened…something in side caught fire, maybe a gas tank. She could feel the rumbling underneath her weight, rising up and finally exploding into the lobby. Glass flew everywhere, cutting up people within reach. She ducked behind the man in front of her, realizing that a shard of glass had torn through his arm nearly severing it…
Mass chaos erupted, everyone turning frantic. The first thing she could do though was notice that the metal shutters had been blown away…but another set was already beginning to shut it off. How the hell would they have metal shutters that close when the others give way…serious security, obviously. This couldn't be right…
Dashing through the crowds towards the main lobby floor, Ada jumped through the inferno that was now the city street. Cars were overturned and bodies littered in the roads…she could smell the scent of burning flesh in the air, people obviously scalded by the flames. She rushed through, finally reaching the lowering doors. With one quick dive, she rolled through underneath the gate and was inside. The city was closed off behind her, and she was once again inside the residence of evil.