"You did well, Xander. Please don't get me wrong. You got three of them," Jackson, chairman of the White Umbrella board was speaking. All around the table was the different men who were high up in the Umbrella ladder—including him. Of all of the men on the board, Trent was the one who got to Xander the most. He was so utterly creepy. Creepy didn't even come close to the right word to describe him. Trent needed his own language to describe him. He was just that different.
"I didn't get them all. I didn't complete the mission as requested," Xander was beating himself up more than the others were. He was a perfectionist by nature. Having the attitude to overachieve also kept him his job. Slackers didn't go too far in Umbrella—especially went it came to disposing of Umbrella's enemies.
"You got three of them, including one of them that has been causing us trouble from the beginning," a man whose name had slipped Xander's mind spoke. Xander felt like he was going to vomit all over the table. He had failed. There was no other way to put it. They had killed several of his men, and at least four S.T.A.R.S. members had gotten away.
"Redfield, Valentine, Burton and Chester all got away. The mission was a failure," Xander said plainly. Xander had a very interesting job in Umbrella. He was called the Gatherer. There were a few others like him in Umbrella but he was by far and some the one with the greatest renown. He knew that White Umbrella was counting on him to take care of the meddling S.T.A.R.S.
"They will be dealt with. We have a few questions for you, however," Trent asked icily.
"Yes?" Xander looked them all in the eyes, confidently.
"First, do you know who the other boy who you captured is?" Jackson asked.
"His name is Derek Michael Maynor. He's from Australia; he's seventeen. I don't know what he was doing with the S.T.A.R.S." Xander said.
"We can't figure it out either. They are on different continents. How could he have possibly been in the same place at the same time as the S.T.A.R.S.? It all seems so convenient."
"He killed three of my men," Xander pointed out. All he received was blank stares. They didn't value his men; they valued their power and their money.
"Despite the mystery behind the Maynor boy, he's being held at Torel with the rest of the S.T.A.R.S. He will also undergo the same fate," said Jackson with an evil smile. Xander knew that the prisoners faced horrible torture that was worse than death. They would eventually be nothing more than mindless killing machines for Umbrella. They would become a B.O.W. It was sublime revenge.
"Did you see Redfield's sister there at the hotel?"
"No. She either wasn't present or she managed to escape very well. My guess is that she escaped with Chester," Xander offered. They all seemed to swallow this.
"What about…" Trent paused deliberately to look at a name on a piece of paper. "Leon Kennedy?"
"I doubt seriously that he was there. If he was, he was capable of evading us as quickly and skillfully as the Redfield girl," Xander said.
"Skillfully?" beamed Jackson.
Wrong choice of words, Xander! You idiot.
"You speak as if they have on up on us," a man accused.
"They got away from us didn't they?" Xander challenged without thinking.
"They got away from you, Xander," Trent smiled.
Shut up you prick!
"That's not important right now though. You'll receive your pay for the three S.T.A.R.S. members that you did capture. I'll even throw in a bonus for the boy out of my own pocket," Trent said removing his checkbook.
Pay time.
"We do have another proposition for you before you collect your money for the S.T.A.R.S.'s capture. If you succeed we'll give you what we would've given you if you were able to apprehend all of them and double it," Jackson said.
"I'm interested," Xander said ruefully.
"We've located Mr. Kennedy and he's rendezvoused with someone of our particular interest—your particular interest too," Trent raised an eyebrow.
"Wong," Xander whispered with hatred. Ada Wong was his a real competitor for him. She was bad for business. She was the best freelance agent in her field and Umbrella loved her. She had always had successful missions. Even though she was though long ago dead in Raccoon she was still able to come in, torn to shreds and turn in an envied G-Virus sample. She got her paycheck and her bonus and retired.
"Yes, Ms. Wong has taken a certain liking to Mr. Kennedy. We'll get to the point. We want them both dead. Kennedy is a nuisance who happens to know too much and Wong has betrayed us. Both must die," Jackson said.
"Tell me when, where and how. Then, consider it done," Xander said.
"That's what you said about capturing the S.T.A.R.S.," Trent pointed out.
I'd like to hang you upside down and watch you burn, Trent.
"I won't fail," Xander hissed.
"See to it that you don't," Trent said.
"Here is all the information that you need. You don't even have to make it look like an accident. Just make sure that no one can trace it back to Umbrella," Jackson said sliding a file folder down the table.
"New York, eh?" Xander smiled. He loved that city. It was the best place to go shopping with all of his money.
"You leave tonight. That will be all, Xander," Trent said.
I'm going to take pleasure in killing you someday Trent.
As if reading his mind, Trent gave him a look that seemed to say, you couldn't kill me if you tried. Xander didn't like it. It sent a horrible chill down his spine. Xander walked away and out the door. He had to regroup and prepare for the mission. A smile crossed his face when he realized that he'd only have to kill two people and he'd be enjoying all the money that was promised to him in the first place.
Ada Wong's cell phone rang. She was in the bathroom. Leon was waiting right outside the door, sitting beside it. They hadn't gotten the chance to really talk. He'd only been at the warehouse bonus room for fifteen minutes. Most of what she'd done was to welcome him. She gave him tea and some cookies. She played some music. She was beating around the bush. She had a horrible feeling that he hated her guts and wanted to kill her. Leon wasn't like that; Ada knew better. He'd forgive her once she explained herself and asked for forgiveness. She washed her hands dried them as quickly as possible and went to snatch the cell phone.
"Telephone," Leon said plainly.
"This is Wong," she said into the receiver answering it.
"Hello, Ms. Wong," said the voice. "Do you remember me?"
"How could I forget, Trent?" she scowled over the phone. She could feel an old hatred bubbling up inside of her.
"Has Mr. Kennedy managed to find you yet?" he asked almost jovially.
"Yes, he's here now," she answered plainly.
Get to the point, Trent. This line isn't secure.
"Put me on the speaker phone. He's going to want to hear this too," Trent said.
"Okay you're on," Ada said activating the speakerphone.
"Can you hear me well enough?" Trent asked.
"Is that Trent?" Leon asked.
"You know him?" Ada's mouth was agape.
"Yeah, I've had the—pleasure of meeting him about a week and a half ago. Hello again," Leon said with disdainful spite in his voice.
He doesn't like him either—big surprise.
Trent laughed a little. It bothered him in mere nanometers that the two of them hated him. He had an agenda of his own and obviously wasn't around to make friends.
"I'll get to the point, this line is secure though," he said. Was he reading her mind now?
"I just got out of a meeting with Kelly Xander. You remember Kelly Xander don't you, Ms. Wong?" Trent asked.
"Yes, I remember him, Trent. He was a real prick. It's Ada, not Ms. Wong," she said.
"Very well, Ada. He has just received a new mission. He's on his way to New York to assassinate you and Leon," Trent said.
"What?" Leon nearly leapt from his chair.
"Yes, the entire White Umbrella board gave him the mission to assassinate the two of you. He'll be in New York in thirteen hours," Trent said.
"Well, that will give us plenty of time to get out of here," Leon said.
"That's just the thing. I want you to do me a real big favor," Trent said.
"Not interested, Trent," Leon snapped.
"Please hear me out," Trent said. It was more of a command than a plea.
"Make it quick, Trent," Ada said.
"I want you to kill him," Trent said.
"Why?" Ada asked.
"Not just Xander, but his entire assassination team," Trent said.
"How about—no!" Leon said nearly screaming into the phone. Ada could have done the same. Who the hell did Trent think that he was anyway?
"What is in it for us?" Ada said.
"For one thing, you should be grateful that I warned the two of you in the first place. As far as what is in it for you, let's just say that I have a piece of information that is very important to Leon," Trent taunted.
"Oh yeah, what would that be?" Leon growled.
"Rebecca Chambers, John Andrews and David Trapp have been captured. Claire Redfield is missing. I have a feeling that she's going to be caught soon, however," Trent said.
"Liar! They're all fine. I'll call them now!" Leon was upset. He picked up his own cell phone.
"You can check for yourself if you must. I promise that you will find what I said to be perfectly true. If you get Xander and his team out of my way I will tell you at what prison island they are being held. You may still have time to do something about their rescue," Trent said.
"Trent, you sick bastard! Just tell me where they are!" Leon said.
"Leon, don't worry. There are only three places they could have been taken and I know where they all are," Ada said.
"Don't you think that it'd be too late by then, Ada?" Trent taunted again. Ada knew it was true. She looked into Leon's eyes. She could tell he knew it was true.
"Who exactly is this guy you want dead?" Leon demanded.
"He's an Umbrella assassin. He's actually called a Gatherer because he specializes in bringing in Umbrella enemies alive. He's the one responsible for your friends' capture. His orders are to kill you however. Ada knows most of this but it won't hurt to refresh.
"He'll have as many was twelve men at his disposal, all highly trained with military background. They have snipers, marksmen, and grenadiers—the works. You need to get them all into the warehouse. Xander won't go in. He's a coward. He'll be waiting outside in a black SUV.
"He may be as clever as to try to set the building on fire and prevent your escape. He has many devises at his disposal…"
"That's great, Trent. We'll be ready for whatever he throws our way," Ada interrupted.
"There is just one more thing, Ada," Trent said with a smile that she could sense through the telephone.
"What?"
"He may bring B.O.W.s."
Jennifer and Jerry were on the flight to Paris. They had to smuggle their Glocks and other not metal firearms in their suitcases. They'd planned to do some black market shopping when they got to Paris. Trent had informed them that it would be entirely unnecessary. He'd have a warehouse full of anything they could possibly need. It was a long flight and Jennifer was getting restless. She fidgeted around in her seat. She was probably annoying Jerry.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah. I'm alright; I really don't like long flights and that is what we're in for," Jennifer said.
"That's true. I'm not much for thirteen hour flights either. I think there are bigger things to worry about. Are we really going to bust these fugitives out?" Jerry asked.
"That's the plan, Jerry," Jennifer said nonchalantly.
"What is Trent's deal?"
"He's obviously got some beef with Umbrella," Jennifer said.
"Yeah, but what?"
"Who cares?"
"I do. We're letting this guy in on our lives, and what's more he's planning our mission now. How do we know we're safe?"
"If he wanted us dead he'd have done it. He needs us to bust the S.T.A.R.S. out," Jennifer pointed out.
"Why us?"
"We're probably one of only a few good guys left high up in the FBI. Everyone else seems to be on Umbrella's payroll," Jennifer added.
"Wonder why the two of us were never approached or offered any money?" Jerry pondered.
"I guess we were the unlucky ones," Jennifer said.
"We're going to take on the biggest supplier of medical and military technology all by our lonesome, and we're not getting paid for it. Are we sure we're on the right side?" Jerry raised an eyebrow.
"That depends on what's more important to you."
"What do you mean?"
"Justice or money."
"Ah, I see. That's what I like about you, Jennifer. You would never let a sin go unpunished as long as you have breath in you."
"You make me sound so judgmental," Jennifer laughed.
"No, not judgmental, but just," he looked at her as he said this. She looked back into his eyes. She couldn't take her gaze away. She felt his hand move across her inner thigh. She shuddered.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked her.
"I'm thinking this flight is too damn long," she said. She advanced and kissed him passionately on the mouth. He returned the kiss violently.
"I was thinking we should put that first class bathroom to good use," Jerry said.
"See you there in a minute, lover boy," Jennifer winked and headed to the bathroom.
Kyle Brown sat at the table of advisors. They looked at him with anger, disappointment and resentment. He was in trouble and he knew it. He hadn't been successful in what he'd promised he'd do. Umbrella had assassinated people for that. He didn't want to die.
"You are a miserable failure, Mr. Brown," a man named Lawrence said.
"You give Umbrella a bad name. I never had faith in you from the beginning," said another man.
"I need more time," protested Kyle.
"You've had two months plus! You could have at least shown progress in two months!" The headmaster of Torel Island lab, Oscar Bennett said. Oscar was being as harsh as absolutely possible. Kyle was Oscar's recent son-in-law and he hated him for it. Kyle had married Oscar's daughter, Leah after two years of secretly dating. Oscar wanted Kyle dead, but it didn't look like the rest of the men were as bloodthirsty as Oscar.
"The G-virus is a complicated thing! It was created by a total genius! The G-virus is Birkin's life work. It can't be picked apart and analyzed so easily. It certainly cannot be duplicated—yet," Kyle said.
"You can duplicate it?" Larry asked.
"If I'm given enough time, yes. Not only will I be able to duplicate it but I also will be able to perfect its flaws. My team is the best you've got in Umbrella. If you give me more time I promise to give you a killer virus," Kyle took care in putting just the right amount of stress on the word killer. Kyle was lying. He'd had plenty of progress with the G-virus. He played the fool so that he could find a buyer that paid more than Umbrella. He'd found one too—from a place he never thought possible. He was selling the new G-virus, or Neo G-virus as Kyle called it to a man he'd met looking through the Umbrella payroll archives.
He couldn't find a name but he still remembered the meeting. He also remembered the guy was trying real hard to look and act cool. He was wearing sunglasses at nighttime—Kyle nearly laughed at him out loud. He was dressed head to toe in black and spoke in an icy, calm voice.
Kyle only needed to stall the bigwigs at Umbrella for a little while longer so that he could make his escape. His plan had completely backfired on him. He was facing suspension, expulsion or—worse.
"You've given us nothing but empty promises. How do we know you're not just saving your paycheck?" some man asked.
"Or your life," Oscar half-threatened.
"You don't. You're going to have to take a leap of faith on me. Give me twenty more days and I promise you will see astronomical progress," Kyle said. He figured the short amount of time was not too much to ask. His planned succeeded.
"You have twenty days and not a second longer!" Larry said. Oscar scowled at him. The rest of the men filed out and it left the two of them staring each other face to face.
"You'll get yours, Brown," Oscar hissed.
"Not before you, Oscar. I promise the surprise I've got in store for you will just—knock you dead," Kyle chose his words carefully.
An hour later Kyle was in he and his wife's living quarters. Leah was on the bed, in red silk looking outstanding as always. She wasn't too happy though. She had a scowl on her face.
"We're really lucky, dear," she said.
"You think I don't know that? They could have had me killed. We have to do something tonight. I can't really show them the progress in twenty days. They'll take all the samples and keep them for themselves. They'll give me my money and kick me to the side just like all of the other virologists," Kyle said.
"I have a plan. It's the only way that all this will work," Leah said.
"What's that?"
"We'll have to tear this place to shreds, Love," she said.
"You think I care?"
"I didn't. In that case, listen to me. We release all of the B.O.W.s from the security room, but not before cutting all of the communication so that no one will be able to call for backup from Rockford or HQ. We also use a scrambler to interrupt all cell phones. We hide in a safe place and let everything die down. After a while we put the scrambler down and call in for help to get rescued. Umbrella will look at it like another Raccoon City. It's sublime," Leah explained.
"It's sinister," Kyle added.
"Sorry."
"I like it."
"Now," she said, pulling off her top to reveal to firm, beautiful breasts. "Let's have some fun before we put our plan into effect."
"I like your idea of fun," he said reaching out to put his hands on her body. He squeezed her bare breasts under his sweaty hands. He licked his lips and brought himself closer to her.
"I knew you would," she said. She ran her hands over his shoulders, down his chest, purposely skipped over his crotch and continued down his legs. She tore at his belt and fought to get his pants off as he reached to dim the lights.
As they stood their naked he tossed her on the bed and jumped into it himself. As he began to make love to her he was convinced this woman was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Oscar watched his daughter and her husband have sex from his own quarters. He'd set up surveillance cameras to watch them. As much as he hated seeing that man's hands on his daughter, he had to confess he loved to watch when they made love.
Enjoy her while you can, Brown.
He sat motionless and watched them continue as he plotted ways to kill his son-in-law. He smiled at the thought of all the horrible things he'd do to him before he finally killed him. Oscar could not fight the urge to laugh out loud as he let the bluish glow of the screen wash over him.
After they'd finished Leah let her husband hold her close as he ran his hands up and down her arm. She snuggled closer to him. They had to get away from her father and away from Umbrella. If it meant killing every single person on the complex to do it—
So be it.
She hated growing up under her father's wing. She'd rebelled when she realize that he loved his work more than her. She quite ready to kill him and anyone else who would foil her and her husbands plans for a good life. With this mystery man in sunglasses buying the G-virus for such a ridiculous amount of money, they could retire on a tropical island somewhere—somewhere that wasn't rainy, damp and cold like Torel.
The more she looked around at her humble quarters that Umbrella had provided for her and her husband, the more she wanted to burn the emblem that was on wall flag. She wanted to watch the tiny pillars of black smoke rise from the debris of the entire complex. Even if she couldn't have that, she still had to get away.
"Kyle?" she said suddenly, barely realizing she'd spoken out loud.
"Yes, Love?" he asked.
"I want it to happen tonight," she said. "You have the virus sample here. Let's just forget all the stuff here, let's do it tonight. I can't bare to stay another night in this hell," she said. She looked at him with eyes that she knew would move on him to give her what she wanted.
"Tonight? Are you sure? I—I guess we could do it. We'll get dressed. You go to the roof and I'll go to the security room above the lab," he said.
"Will it be safe? There's the guards in there and then the B.O.W. will be released," Leah pointed out.
"I have the thirty-eight in the drawer. I'll kill the guards. The development team is doing a test for the advisors tonight. They are testing the Hunters' kill performance. I will take the emergency elevator and lock it behind me. They will never know what hit them," Kyle said.
"What about the other doors? There are other routes of escape," Leah said.
"That's easy. I'll set the security to go on a three-minute lockdown. I will the activation on a timer so that it gives me enough time to get out. When it goes off all the doors will be locked down for three minutes. That should be more than enough time for the B.O.W.s to do their work in the lab. After that, I'll set them loose on the rest of the complex and on the barracks. No one will no what's coming," Kyle said.
"Except us," Leah corrected.
"Except us," Kyle echoed, kissing her. They got up to get dressed and put their plan in effect. It was only twenty minutes until the test. They had to act quickly if they hoped to succeed.
Mathis had been dialing Derek's number for hours. There was no answer. It was the must frustrating and scary thing he'd had to deal with. He had a horrible feeling that Derek was in danger, or worse yet, dead. He wouldn't be able to deal with Derek dying, especially since he was doing something for Mathis before. He didn't have to do it either. He had fallen victim to Trent's manipulation.
Mathis didn't know what to do. He had a feeling that Umbrella had either killed him or taken him captive. He was tempted to give up but there was a perfect opportunity for him to find out. He got on his computer and began hacking away at the Umbrella mainframe. Everything was working perfectly. He started using the Chaos program and soon enough he was getting anywhere he wanted to go. He hadn't the slightest idea where to start looking for information about people taken captive by Umbrella.
It was a real shame that he was unable to call Trent. He didn't know the number that Trent had called him from. Trent also couldn't just show up when Mathis needed him. Mathis realized the providence of Trent giving him the RACU. He'd eventually be able to find all the information that he needed about Derek's whereabouts. Even Umbrella kept records of all the dirty work they did.
Mathis kept digging. He was going to do all that he could to help his friend. If he couldn't be there in the flesh he could certainly work his magic on the computer.
Leah cut the communication cord, powered down the radio tower and smashed the dish into pieces. She turned on the scrambler in her quarters with a remote from the roof of the lab. She pulled out her cell phone and tested to make sure it was working. Her cell phone was as useless as a paperweight. Now, it was all up to Kyle.
Kyle walked into the security room as if he owned the place. It had a huge, impenetrable glass window that overlooked everything that happened in the lab. Below him and straight across was the viewing room where Oscar and all the other bigwigs were. They were getting ready to witness a Hunter tear a goat into shreds. Then, they were going to put in a lion to see how a Hunter would suffice against the 'king of beasts'. Kyle had to act while everyone was unsafely on the floor.
He upholstered his thirty-eight, aimed the gun at the back of an innocent man's head and pulled the trigger. The sound was horrible but the sight was to Kyle's dark pleasure. The man's brains exploded from a hole in his face and splashed on the computer monitor in front of him. Kyle aimed the gun at the woman sitting next to the man. She looked at him with fear and surprise. He didn't give her time to react. He pulled the trigger and watched her face implode with a cherry red explosion. She collapsed to the floor and twitched a little.
"Wait! Please don't kill…" the second man started to protest with his hands in the air. Kyle couldn't stop himself. It was just too much to watch his chest explode with blood and water.
BAM!
The bullet went all the way through with a spray of blood against the wall. The man fell out of his chair and onto the floor with a horrible thud. Though tears from nowhere were streaming from Kyle's face he was laughing like a demon. He hit the 'all release' button, set the security to his liking, and watched the carnage begin. The Hunters, Lickers, Dacs, Scorps, and all other B.O.W.s held in containment, besides the Tyrants and Nemeses, we're released on his former coworkers.
He watched as a woman named Helen was impaled by the claws of a ruthless Hunter, and as a man named Dennis was stung countless times but innumerable Scorps. He fell on the floor, stiff with paralysis and they started to eat. The people tried to run but it was to no avail. They were caught and eating. Blood and gore was everywhere.
"Beautiful! BEAUTIFUL!" Kyle exulted. It really was the most beautiful thing he'd seen in his life. He forced himself to turn away and take the elevator. He watched as a wounded man came stumbling towards it. The man tried to get in but Kyle shot him in the ankle and watched him scream in agony as the Licker chasing him caught up with him. The doors closed and ensured Kyle's safety. He went to the roof so that he could be with is wife. It was such a shame that they couldn't enjoy Torel's undoing from a better place. They needed someplace to go while the initial wave of B.O.W.s ate. Soon, they could call for help and play dumb. They'd be rescued and Torel, burned to the ground. It was such a perfect way to get what he always wanted.
Suddenly his thoughts fell on the S.T.A.R.S. that were recently captured and brought to the containment cells. After the three-minute lockdown their cells would be automatically opened so that they could roam freely. Then again, the doors for the B.O.W.s to make themselves at home were also opening so Kyle gave them no second thought.
They all die. They'll all die and it's my doing. I'm finally powerful! I'm finally rich! I'm finally going to get what I deserve!