One Step Closer to Nowhere
Chapter II
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Sorry about the length of time it took to update but that life stuff always seems to get in the way. I should be updating fairly regularly from now on and I do plan on finishing this fic.
47 stared out of the small, oval windows of the Gulfstream IV jet as it took off, the airport fading into the distance. It was an Agency owned plane, 47 was sure. The crew didn't ask questions or barely even acknowleged that he was there. It gave 47 a chance to go over the details of the job in his head. Something wasn't right about it. He had already heard rumours that Umbrella worked on more than just healthcare, medical research and whatever else multinational corporations did. They didn't make money by killing their top scientists which meant that the virus Birkin was working must be of immense value to Ozwell. The question was why? There are some really potent viruses that Umbrella could get their hands on with no questions asked considering their corporate status.
It still didn't make sense to him so 47 concentrated on memorising the blueprints for the labs and the access codes for the secure areas. It didnt take him long. After looking over the various building plans Diana had given him he had already decided on the point of entry to the lab that he would take. He also saw several different escape routes he could take if things got messy, although that was unlikely.
The young scientest hesitated for a few moments as he reached the door to Birkin's lab. He had already changed his clothes once today and really didnt want to dodge coffee cups again. He eventually worked up the courage to go in, the electronic door sliding across before he entered.
As he expected, Birkin was still at the microscope, muttering something under his breath.
"What do you want now, Elliot?" he said, without looking up.
"Sir, Lord Spencer called again. He didn't want to talk about the virus or your work."
"Good."
"He said that you would be dealt with later. He sounded pretty angry."
"Fine. Mabye I can finish my work without all these interruptions now!" said Birkin, finally looking up from the microscope at the increasingly nervous scientist.
"B-b-but, sir. You realize what that probably means, don't you?" Elliot stammered.
"Do you think I am an fool, Elliot! Of course I know what that means. And it doesn't matter. The G-Virus is almost ready." he sai, becoming more irritated.
"But, Dr. Birkin, he could send the UBCS or even some of the T-Virus bioweapons."
"Please" Birkin mocked. "The T-virus is obsolete. Even a Tyrant is nothing compared to what my precious G-Virus can do." he said proudly.
"But we-" Elliot began.
"I don't have time for this. Get out. Now!" said Birkin.
Elliot didn't need to be told twice. He turned and practically ran out of the lab.
"Idiots." thought Birkin as the door closed behind Elliot. "Wesker was right to get out from under Umbrella's thumb when he had the chance. But soon it won't even matter."
47 stepped down from the jet onto the runway. He looked around and noticed that the small airport was nearly empty even though it was just after dawn.
"Not many people around." remarked 47 as one of the crew handed him his suitcase.
"Yeah. There's not much air travel to Raccoon City." explained the crewman. "This airfield is too small for the larger commercial jumbo jets and it's still a twenty minute drive to the city. Speaking of which, my superiors have told me that they have left you a car outside. Black, Lincoln Continental in the car park. Section 2, row B, I believe." The man handed 47 a key.
"Thanks."
"Don't worry about airport security either. They look the other way any time Umbrella brings something...questionable through here. It wasn't that hard to convince them to let one man through with no questions asked."
"I'd better get going. Tell your superiors that their business will be taken care of by this evening." said 47.
"Yes, sir. Although, if you do plan on staying here overnight I'd reccommend the Apple Inn."
"I'll keep that in mind."
47 walked over to the terminal and went in. The crew member had been right about one thing. The security guards gave him a personal escort right through the airport, out to the car park and even showed him where to find his car.
It took 47 almost thirty minutes to drive into the city as rush hour traffic began to build up. He noticed a lot of advertisements for various Umbrella products and posters about employment oppertunities with the company. It was obvious that Umbrella held a lot of influence in the city.
47 continued driving through the densely populated commercial district until he came to the industrial area. It didn't take long to find what he was looking for. He parked the Lincoln across the road and one block down from a warehouse. He reached over to the folder on the seat next to him and pulled out a picture. This was one of Umbrella's warehouses, specifically, one which held a secret entrance to William Birkin's underground lab.
47 got out of the car and began walking in the direction of the warehouse semmingly not paying much attention to it. Most of the buildings in the area were similar, warehouses and factories mostly. As he got closer, 47 saw that the Umbrella warehouse seemed more run-down than others, almost abandoned. However, the brand new chains and padlock on the gate and discreetly placed security cameras indicated otherwise. After a few more minutes of observation he decided that it would be much easier to get inside at night. He would have to wait.
"Edwards!" shouted Ozwell Spencer.
Edwards appeared at the door to Spencer's office a few short seconds later. "Y-Yes sir?"
"Have you finished the report on the missing STARS members yet?" Spencer asked.
"I'm just finishing it now, sir." replied Edwards.
"Forget about that. Just tell me what you've found out about them."
"W-Well, Lord Spencer, it seems that Mr. Redfield and Mr. Burton are somewhere in Europe. We...uh...don't know exactly where. And we haven't been able to locate Miss Chambers or their pilot Brad Vickers...but we're still looking." said Edwards, somewhat nervously.
"So..." said Spencer, softly. "You're basically saying that you have no idea where any of them are, correct?"
"Um...actually, sir, we know where one of the remaining STARS are. Jill Valentine was spotted in Raccoon City a matter of hours ago."
"Ahh. Now there is a problem that we can do something about. Get Diana on the phone. We may have some more business for her man in Raccoon to take care of." Spencer smiled.
"Right away, sir."
The room at the Apple Inn wasn't exactly luxurious. There was a fairly comfortable bed, a desk, a chair and a small TV. It also had a small, but clean, ensuite bathroom.
"Still, it's far from the worst place I've stayed in." thought 47, as he set up his laptop on the desk. He saw that there were no new messages from Agency when he switched it on. There wasn't much else to do but wait. It was something that 47 was very used to by now. The waiting was always infinitely longer than the missions themselves.
47 spent the next few hours waiting for the sun to go down. He already knew what he had to do and how he was going to do it. When the sun went down, it would begin.
"Hey! Jerry! I'm gonna take a quick look around the perimeter then I'm outta here."
"Yeah, got it." Jerry replied, without looking up from his newspaper. "Hank, you sure you don't want to pull a double shift? Jenkins called in sick again."
"Nah, I've been here all day. Jenkins can get somebody else to cover his ass." said Hank.
Hank put on his security guard's jacket, the Umbrella logo stiched on both shoulders, and stepped outside into the cool September air. He took out a cigarette and was feeling around in his jacket pockets for a lighter when he felt an intense pressure around his neck.
The unlit cigarette dropped from his hand as he struggled to gasp for air. He frantically grasped at his throat to remove whatever was wrapped around his neck. Another sharp tug almost crushed his windpipe slowing his hopeless efforts to get free. After a few more seconds his stuggling had stopped and his arms dropped to his sides.
47 loosened the fibre wire from the man's neck and quietly slid the body to the ground, still making sure the camera couldn't see either of them.
As the camera swiveled in the opposite direction, 47 drew one of his Hardballers and moved towards the door of the warehouse.