This conspiracy isn't going to take care of itself. And it's time I stop trying to run away from it. If Wesker wants to play hardball, then that's what we're going to do. I'm meeting with Viper tonight and I intend to get answers, one way or another. Because I, Piers Nivans, am a monster. It's what I do.

Status Report 17: Betrayal

When Leon sees me, his eyes go a little wide. I'm not sure if that's because I've got my war face on or if he's just genuinely surprised to see me standing in front of him—probably thinks I was going to leave him down here for the rest of eternity. Unlocking the door, I chance a glance at Alfred. He doesn't even register I'm there. He's cradling that broken doll in his arms, talking softly to it. As Leon approaches me, I ask, "Enjoy you're stay?"

He doesn't justify my words with a response, though, which is exactly how I prefer it. The quieter he is, the better it is for me. God, I can't stand this cocky son of a bitch and his still-flawless hair. He spent a night in a jail cell bunking with Crazy and Dead over there and he still looks like he walked out of a magazine cover page. What a dick.

I lead him up the stairs, pushing past the door before entering the main area. The hive buzzes even more now, the world of Insane City awake and ready for another day of violence. Leon gives me a knowing look, "Preparing for the end, Nivans?"

"It's Cole, unless you want your balls ripped off." My tone leaves no room for argument. He argues anyway.

"Right, right. You're big secret." He does little jazz hands for effect, like he's really fucking entertaining. I'm not laughing, though.

"You tell anyone anything, and I'm taking you down as an accomplice. You have no evidence to back up your statement so the only way you could logically know is if you're a turncoat, too."

"Clever. Doubt that little lie of yours would work, though."

I give him a smirk, "Doubt leaves room for possibility." That earns an eye roll from him, but he successfully shuts up. Making our way to Chris'—Red's—Throne Room, I sit Leon down at the conference tables upon arriving. Red isn't there, no surprise, so I step out and catch the attention of the first guy I see. Instructing him to bring me Red, the man gives a nod and is off. Taking a seat next to Leon, I let off a huff before leaning back.

I do a really good job not showing the extreme pain I just found myself in upon sitting down. I'd almost forgotten how hard Chris fucked me last night. As amazing as it was then, I'm regretting it now. Glancing at the throne, the entire start of the evening rushes back to me and it takes all I have to keep the heat from reaching my face.

Leon's comment instantly mellows me, "Smells like sex in here." I just give him a causal glare, which he returns with a smirk, "Silence means yes."

"And me punching you means…?"

He gives a small, humorless laugh before taking his gaze away from me and staring straight into the wall in front of us. A long moment of silence—thank god—goes between us before Kennedy takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. He glances my way before returning his look to the wall again, "So you were assigned to take down Red, I'm assuming."

"You seem to know everything already." I'm not going to validate anything he may or may not know. He's already got way too much ammunition against me. I can't be handing him anymore.

"Fair enough," is what he says, leaning back in his chair before propping his feet on the conference tables there. "So why are you sleeping with him, then?"

I keep my face neutral, not giving that bastard the satisfaction of seeing me sweat. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"But I do. It's all over your face."

I know for a fact that it isn't, so there.

Leon huffs out a laugh, looking at me with a mix of mirth and pity in his eyes, "You've fallen for him, that's why you're sweeping up his little mess."

"This conspiracy is a top priority. It poses a threat to the entire economic stability of this area."

"You keep preaching that rhetoric to yourself, Cole, maybe it'll help you believe it." I really, really, really hate this guy. "But the last agent that was sent here, her resolve shattered just the same."

Before I can stop myself, I turn to him, "Jill?"

He doesn't bother suppressing the smile that's crossing his lips. He knows he's got my interest now. "That was her name, wasn't it… Jill Valentine." His gaze returns to its neutral, unassuming self, his eyes drifting to the far side of the room, "Quiet shocking, learning that she was a CIA agent bent on killing Red. I wouldn't have guessed it from her."

I stay silent, letting him speak freely. "You should have seen her face when Chris summoned her before all of us. The dark look in his eyes," For just a second, Leon's face flashed terror, like the mere memory was traumatic enough, "He sentenced her right on the spot, called her out and threw her CIA files at her feet. She had nothing to say for it, didn't even try to convince Chris he was wrong. She just kept saying 'it all went too far, I'm so sorry." A distant look covers his face as he drops his gaze a little. He watches his hands absently as he interlocks his fingers.

"How was she supposed to defend herself against all of that intel?" She, like me, didn't even know about 3 and his all-seeing ability. The Director did a good job at keeping us in the dark about that. There's no way should could contend with all of that information thrown at her face.

"I guess it's stupid to think she could have, but…" He looks up at me then, a strange sense of honesty in his eyes, "she didn't even try. All she could say was 'I'm sorry'."

Letting out a deep breath, it's my turn to stare at the wall blankly, "Sometimes, it's easier to accept it. Going against an accusation like that…it makes things worse."

"Sounds like you've had experience with this…" Leon's probing but I'm not sure why. I decide to humor him, at least a little bit. It's not like it's anything earth shattering or life changing. It's just a simple fact from my past. One I'd rather not remember, sure, but one that exists all the same.

"My first recon mission: Kazakhstan, 2007. My mentor…his cover was blown. He tried to play them, redirect their scrutiny, but…" I can't bring myself to finish. For a brief second, I'm back in that blizzard with tall, black walls surrounding me. The camp has fires blazing but they do nothing to stop the frigid advance of winter's cold hand. Frozen to the bone, our target confronts him, outing him. My cover was still secure, though, and to this day I don't know why. Try as he might, he can't convince them that he's innocent, that someone has set this whole thing up. They stripped him down, burned him with coals. They wanted answers: who are you working for, why are you here? But he wouldn't give them up… That's when the real torture began. And all the while, he had this look in his eyes, one that told me to keep my mouth shut.

Involuntarily, I shudder, blinking back the memories before glancing over at Leon. My face says everything and Kennedy—surprisingly—huffs a sigh before leaning back in his chair, "Christ, Nivans. You almost have me feeling sorry for you."

I can't help but crack a tiny smile, more at the irony than anything. "You don't have to feel sorry for me. It's the job." A small slice of silence. "And it's Cole."

Not a moment later, the door swings open and Chris is walking in. He's dressed like he didn't just have sex with his 'pet' only a few short hours ago and he's kept like he's been up for hours slaving away on this whole conspiracy issue. "Cole, Leon." The sharpness in Leon's name makes us both flinch. "It's good to see you two."

Taking a seat on his throne, he crossed one leg over the other, "So, what's the plan?"

For the next several hours, we discuss our upcoming meeting with Viper. Try as I might, I can't convince Chris to sit this one out. He's determined to hear what she has to say for himself, like it'll validate everything or something. The more resolve he puts into his words about this particular issue, the worse I feel. Viper won't have any trouble exposing me. As soon as we put the screws to her, I'm sure that's what she'll do. She'll flip this whole thing, make Red come after me while she takes the back door. The only thing going for me is she doesn't have the files about me that I've stashed away. But suspicion is enough to get me killed. Red doesn't need proof. It's not his thing.

Hours bleed by slowly until finally, Chris glances at his watch. Taking a long, thoughtful drag of his cigarette—the last in his pack, I might add—his sapphire eyes look between us both. "It's time."

Kennedy is the first to interject this thoughts, "You sure I can't stay behind on this one?"

"She'll be expecting you to answer the door, right?" It's not so much a question from Chris as it is a statement. Pushing himself off his throne, he walks over to us as we make to stand as well. "Besides, if things go south, I'll need a human shield."

As Red walks in front of us, Kennedy mumbles something that I largely ignore it. My pulse is pounding through my veins and taking deep breaths isn't helping. I just know tonight will be the night everything falls apart. Feeling the weight of the gun in my belt, I grab Leon's arm, dragging him along. We follow after Red, the man loading up on weapons before exiting the area. Kennedy, though he asks, doesn't get a gun. Not surprising. I wouldn't trust him with one, either. I'm given an assault rifle, though I'd prefer something a little more confined. Regardless, I'll take what I can get. Swinging it on my back, we head out.

The walk to Leon's turf is quiet, his men only slightly started to see him saunter up next to a fully armed man and his bodyguard. After that, we're at the high rise, the elevator taking us to the top floor. Kennedy is relieved to see his office in much the same state as it'd been when he left. He begins picking up the mess we made in our struggle a day ago. And although he glares at me to help, I just smirk and shake my head. Sorry Leon. You pulled a gun on me.

Chris takes a seat in Leon's chair, swirling it around to look out the windows. "Quiet the view you've got, Vice."

"Just don't get too comfortable, Red. You're never sitting in that chair again after today."

The man doesn't regard Leon when he replies, "We'll see…"

I decide to busy myself with position. Putting myself next to the door, it'll swing open and cover me. It won't be until she's in the room and it's closed that I'll be visible. But it's not just about concealing myself from her. It's about ease of escape should something spark that I can't contain. My mentor comes to mind but I shake my head. I won't end up like him. I won't even bother justifying myself. I'll get the hell out of dodge, get Jill and run.

It isn't two seconds after Kennedy finishes cleaning up the room that there's a knock on the door. The frazzled and slightly chaotic look disappears from Leon instantly and he's all suave and sly again as he walks over to the door. Pulling it open, his smile can be heard in his words, "Ada, it's been too long. I missed you last night, you know."

Ada? So that's Viper's real name.

Her delicate, feminine tones grace my ears, sounding exactly like the voice that'd captured me when I first came to Vice's territory. "It's good I came to see you, then." High heels click their way in after the padded fall of Kennedy's boots. As soon as the door closes, Leon backs away and my gun raises, Chris turning in his chair to regard the woman in front of him.

If she's surprised by the ambush, she doesn't show it. She only smiles a little more coyly. "If I knew you were expecting things to be kinky, Leon, I would have brought my handcuffs."

A sensual smirk breaks across Leon's lips, "And I would have asked you to, had I been able to."

"So it's a set up." It isn't a question. Viper knows exactly what's happening here.

Kennedy gives a shrug, "They had a gun to my head. What was I supposed to do?"

The look she gives him leaves all kinds of interpretations. I'm about one hundred percent sure I don't want to know what she's thinking.

Chris levels a handgun at her, his other artillery not forgotten on his back. "I hear you work for 3."

She's all smiles, like she's one step ahead of us. "Put that together yourself, did you, big guy?"

"You're not denying it, then."

She puts her hands up in a semblance of a shrug, "Why deny the truth? Besides, it'll do you little good now, Red. Everything's already in motion and you've been such a good lap dog. So loyal and obedient."

He growls, pushing to his feet, "His name is Albert Wesker, right? Where is he?"

She sends me a quick glance over her shoulder. There's that coy little smile again; I can feel my pulse quicken. Something isn't right. "I don't think you'll like the answer to that."

Red pulls back the hammer, "I'll decide that."

Crossing her arms lightly, Viper says, "Oh, put the gun down, Chris. I know you won't shoot your only lead." A pregnant pause follows, my eyes flitting to Chris. She's got a point. As of right now, she's our only connection to the Director. If she's dead, we've got nothing. But that doesn't mean we can't bluff.

I give off a shot from the assault rifle beside her feet, Ada stepping back only slightly startled. "We don't need you in one piece to tell us where he is."

Her eyes move from Chris to me. "I'm sure you're especially eager to figure out where he is." That smile. There's something dangerous there. Far more dangerous than Chris or Kennedy. It isn't animal like them, it's refined, defined and distinctly human. Which makes it all the more terrifying.

"Where is he?" I ask again, sounding braver than I actually feel. "I doubt you have loyalty to him, only your own interests. So where is he?"

"And if my interests mingle with his?" She looks between the three of us, "Then what?"

To my surprise, she hasn't outed me yet. I'm not sure if she's holding onto that trump card or if she's decided to play fair. Whichever it is, I'm not tempted to stick around and see how long her silence lasts. Shooting off another round at her feet, I glare, "You can't possibly think he's going to keep his promises to you."

"No, you're right. I'm smarter than that. But here's the thing…" Her steps are feather light as she approaches the desk, leaning against it and staring right at Chris. "By using him, I'll get to where I want to be."

Chris's hard glare drills into her, "And where's that?"

One slender finger graces her lips, "That's for me and mine." Standing up straight, she turns and heads towards the door.

Red is quick to lodge a bullet into the door, where her head would be if she were two inches to the right. "I didn't say you could leave."

Not even bothering to turn, Viper speaks, "I'm not your biggest problem, Red. And neither is 3."

Fuck.

Chris raises an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

Giving a coy look in my direction, I return it with an ice cold glare. That smile just stays on her lips, her body turning towards Chris. "The Anaconda Plan isn't effective against a dead king."

Just like I thought. She'll use the distraction as a cover for leaving. I can't let it get to that point. I can't let any suspicion be planted. For a second, I consider shooting her here and now, ending her life before she can say a single thing. But what's more suspicious than that? Instead I speak up before Chris as the time to ask for elaboration, "Stop with the bullshit. Tell us where 3 is."

"You know where he is, so why don't you tell Chris?" There's that look again. Something is definitely wrong. And it isn't because we're this close to my exposure.

"Nice try. Now stop wasting our time and tell us."

She only shakes her head at me, like she's scolding a child. Then she turns towards Chris, "Tell me, Red. How well do you know Cole Jaden?"

Double fuck.

His face doesn't betray anything as he answers, "Well enough to call your bullshit."

"Oh, so he's told you who Albert Wesker is and his connection to him, then?"

If Chris is surprised by her statement, he isn't showing it. I'm not sure if that makes me feel better or not. "He's told me everything I need to know," he states coldly, "I'm more interested in hearing how you know him."

She chides him with a click of her tongue, "Really Chris, you're letting yourself be betrayed again? Jill wasn't enough for you?"

Jill's name is like a drug, Chris instantly faltering. He tries to recover but it's already too late. We all saw that look in his eyes. I'm so fucked. "What are you talking about?"

Before I can even make for the door, Ada's voice stops me as she brings every ounce of attention onto me. "Ask him, Chris. Ask Cole Jaden who Albert Wesker is." Instantly my eyes travel to Chris', the look of bloodlust and horror not lost in those blue pools. It's the first time I've actually seen him show that kind of emotion. Too bad it's in these circumstances.

"Chris," I state, but Red cuts me off.

"The truth, Cole. How do you know him?"

"Now isn't the time, Chris. I promise I'll tell you everything later but right now she's trying to pit us against each other."

Standing, Chris points the handgun in my direction. "The truth. Now."

There's no way I'm getting out of this room now. Ada's since backed closer to the door, no doubt waiting for her prime opportunity. Kennedy is backed against the bookshelves, his eyes trained on the situation and Chris is pointing a gun at me, slowly putting the pieces together. I'm fucked. "Chris, I need you to lower the gun."

"Not until you give me a reason to. The truth, Cole." Chris sucks in a deep breath, "Who is Albert Wesker. How do you know him?"

There's no point in fighting it anymore. Lowering the assault rifle, I take it from my back and drop it to the ground, putting my hands up slowly. "Albert Wesker is the Director of the CIA." The muted horror that slowly covers Chris' face tears my heart apart. "And I was sent in by him to take you down."

A/N: And so it's revealed! The climax has now officially begun! I don't really have a guess as far as how many more chapters there are so for now, simply know that we are getting close to the end. Thanks to everyone who's stuck with this story through all of its breaks! And a special thanks to those who took the time to review!

Until next time,

Emil Lime