Chapter 3
"What happened to you? You look like shit." a blond man with dark circles around his eyes laughed as his tall colleague walked into the room. He was covered in cuts and scratches.
The man purposely did not respond.
Albert Wesker sat at the conference table.
"This meeting is in regards to the current developments with Raccoon City. You are all familiar with our representatives in the Information Bureau, Bio Research Development, Crisis Management, and Marketing, with us, today.
There have been several developments within the last few days that need to be addressed. Firstly, We need to address the latest concern, brought to our attention by the Information Bureau. Mr. Wesker. Would you please."
Wesker cleared his throat. "Five days ago, there was an assault on 4 men in the Arklay Mountains. The autopsy confirmed that the assailants were subject to the in-development T-virus. Luckily, no civilian casualties caused any opposing uproar with the public.. Unfortunately, however, there was an incident as of yesterday, concerning another T-virus leek within the walls of Raccoon city. The subject was found in the bathroom by the RPD and was quickly put down. The event could have turned catastrophic in minutes. We need more men in the police department who are trained to deal with BOWs. The issue that needs to be addressed is how is it being leaked? It is still unclear if the infection has spread to anyone else within the City."
A hefty woman from across the table spoke up. "Well to be perfectly honest, Mr....Wesker, that's what we pay you to do. We've suggested before, that the T-virus be set in a semi controlled environment. Mainly, this would imply the release in the Arklay mountains. It's a fairly isolated region. Without real world tests, there could be no conclusive data. We should treat the occurrence as a gift in disguise. I've heard that tracking devices were installed and closely monitored on the Arklay subjects. As for the Raccoon incident, how can we even be sure if it was an infection? I'm assuming you haven't completed the tests yet on the bodies. You can't just assume-"
"I would not mistake it."
"Mr. Wesker- I don't know if you're familiar with the molecular structure of the t-virus, but -"
"Ms Jenkins, Mr. Wesker was one of the Chief Researchers ahead of the T-virus development. He is fully schooled in the nature of the virus. He would not mistake it." the chairman breathed. "It is irrelevant to our current situation. What is most important is how it was exposed. Who authorized the release?"
"We're looking into that as we speak." The toned man in the suit said from Crisis Management. He didn't have the build or mannerisms for it. "As far as we know, it looks to be the scientist Jack Lowe who exited the premises with the virus both times. He will be terminated immediately."
"Good. Now. As for your inquiry-" the chairman began.
"And how exactly did you come across this information mr..."
"Donetsk." The awkward man in the suit finished Wesker's question, straightening his jacket.
"You know perfectly well Umbrella has fortified security, located throughout the facility. Why do you ask, Captain?"
Wesker shrugged, carelessly. "I was merely curious how he managed to escape with the sample with the Red Queen System active within the labs. I always assumed, it would have triggered an automatic shutdown before he exited. Am i wrong, Mr. Birkin?" Wesker drolled with his inquisitive frequency. Birkin looked at him and then everyone else at the table nervously.
"As far as i know, ...No."
"How Lowe achieved the smuggling is still under investigation, Mr. Wesker. I would suggest you let us worry about our own department and you, yours."
"That's enough." the chairman dictated sternly.
"I want a full investigation on Jack Lowe. If there is a problem with the Red Queen, it will be solved. I want security doubled in all the labs until then." he said clearly.
"Now. As for your Inquiry- for more personnel within the RPD, we can't supply anymore at this time, but we can give you a list of the operatives."
Wesker nodded blandly. He was not happy.
"What do you intend to say at the RPD conference, Captain?" The chairman asked. Everyone seemed interested in his response.
"It will be a routine cover up. I've already made up a report on the situation as a simple homicide case. The bodies are being sent back to the Arklay Facility for testing."
"I heard it was one of your STARS officers that were involved. I'm assuming you have them all under control, Mr. Wesker."
"No worry should be given to their situation. It's simply a matter of diplomacy. I've already spoken with the family. His relations will not cause us any trouble."
"It would seem you have all your bases covered as usual. Good work. Your orders are to be the same as the last. But be sure to keep STARS out of any further situations."-
----
Wesker sat later that morning, in a booth lit directly beside the opened shades, in a nearly empty restaurant. He had never liked this place, but had come because it was close to his old colleague's work. In front of him chomping into a pile of french toast, was an impossibly lanky man with mangey blond hair and blue eyes.
"you haven't touched your food. Is something wrong with it?" He asked quickly before cutting into another piece of his breakfast.
"No, it's fine. I'm just not that hungry."
Birkin shrugged his shoulders and gave the conversation some thought.
"Birkin, how is it getting out." he asked curtly.
"I knew it!" he suddenly said, smiling with a huge grin on his face. "I knew you wanted something. You know i have nothing to do with the Arklay facility anymore, Albert. But if i knew myself, I'd report them immediately."
Wesker looked at his coffee plainly. Birkin grabbed his water.
"In the rare times that I've seen you, I can always tell when those cogs are turning in your head, Al. "
"You and I know perfectly well, Jack Lowe neither possessed the intelligence, nor the ambition to smuggle that sample. I checked the logs and the security cameras. They all had been either fabricated or tampered with. The only way he would infect a host with a sample would be if he dropped it on accident."
Birkin snorted and then nodded. "I remember that. What a mess. He was the worst scientist in the lab. Not really a loss now that i think about it. The Queen would have killed him instantly with the sample in hand."
"I'm glad we're in agreement."
William took another bite of his food.
"So how is the eastern front?"
"Irons is causing me more trouble than I need."
William laughed. "It serves you right."
Wesker looked at him curiously.
"Well, They can't make your job TOO easy, now can they. Besides. The Police department needs to be run by a civilian to ensure congruity with the public. He's an ass, but we need him."
"I suppose you're correct. Though, occasionally, I sometimes wish i had stayed singularly in research."
Birkin grinned. "What? You enjoy spending your day more, with viruses than you do with people? Unheard of." he said, grinning wildly, while shaking down his french toast in his plate.
Wesker gave a weak smile.
"You're not missing much, don't worry about it."
There was a long pause between the two men. Both seemed to be silently enjoying the morning.
"It won't be long you know..."Birkin suddenly said in a graver tone which caught his colleague's attention acutely.
"With what's been going on... My research is almost complete. It's beautiful, I wish you could see it! Not even Alexia was capable of producing anything like it."
"Birkin, you've always been gifted. You know that. I just wish you would agree on a normal sleep cycle like the rest of us."
"There's no time for that. I'm so close....and besides. You know what the hours are like."
The STARS Captain nodded.
"Al..." he paused. "I might have something for you soon..."
Wesker was busy stabbing his uneaten eggs with a fork, until he looked up.
" It's not ready yet, I still have to take a look at it and make sure it's safe... but.. I know it would be of interest to you."
"How long?"
"Maybe a month... it's amazing. I've never seen anything like it... I found it in the archives. It was left incomplete but it has endless potential. I think we should consider it."
Wesker looked at his watch.
"Then in a month, I will contact you. In the mean time, I should be getting back to work. I have to prepare a statement." He threw a twenty down on the table. "Look around for me will you?"
"Alright, then. I'll see what i can find. Good luck with those civilians, out there. I'd say hide, but -"
"It wouldn't work." Wesker said with a sigh.
"I know." he smirked., tiredly.
The tall STARS Captain got up and strode out towards his car.