Chapter Fourteen

"Ada…"

Angelica's words were forced out through grit teeth, her blue eyes barely recognizable as they seemed to turn into slivers of glass. The young woman before her didn't even flinch, but merely tightened the grip she had on her arm. A coy smile seemed to spread across the woman's lips as she shifted her hips into a defensive posture…as if she believed she was untouchable or something…. The nerve… She couldn't stand that smug grin…it felt like it was burning into the back of her mind. Rearing back, Angelica thrust her arm to the side, slamming Wong directly into the wall. The girl crumpled, falling in a sliding motion downwards. Immediately the other woman panicked, rushing to the aide of the person she had accidentally assaulted. "Ada, oh I'm sorry..are you alri…" The other female reached forwards as soon as Angelica was within range, forcing her elbow into her side. The reaction forced all air from the woman, her body doubling over. Taking advantage of this, Wong used the leverage to bound upwards, slamming Angelica into the wall face first. Twisting Angelica's arm roughly around her back, she painfully squeezed her into a sandwhiching position. Hissing into her former employer's ear, the angered female sniffed as her perfect hair fell out of place from the roughhousing.

"Just wait until Wesker hears about this…you won't be fit for mail room…much less my worthless former boss…filthy woman…" Angelica felt something snap… A rage boiled up beneath her skin and all the training she had ever procured growing up coiled in her muscles. Karate class…gymnastics…swimming…running….tactical science…hand to hand…jujitsu…. A childhood was never given her, but activities were… Slamming her head backwards, the base connected with the woman's jaw. Ada fell back, clutching her chin in agony. As Angelica's body spun, she barely managed to dodge the leg that was in a sweeping kick aimed for her head. The blow knocked into the wall, cracking the drywall in a noticeable dent. Ada began to step backwards, her feet moving in a memorized pattern. Her hands groped behind her for a drawer…

Another blow came to her, this time connecting and nearly sending her flying across the desk. The small Asian scrambled for her best trained weapon…if only she could open the drawer… Succeeding at last, the woman whirled, aiming a shining magnum at the infuriated blonde. Angelica's eyes went wide at the weapon, her hands now inching up into the air in a surrendering fashion. "Don't….Ada.." Finally Wong seemed to relax, her smirking expression returning as she regained her feet. Extending the weapon out and planting it directly until the tip of the muzzle rested against Angelica's chest, she cocked her head to the side. A shadow of a bruise was forming were she had been hit, causing her to probe it with the other hand. "You hit hard for an idiot…" Taking a sweeping step out, Angelica twisted to the side. The move was common police training, and thanks be to heavens something that one of her teachers had taught. Forcing the muzzle outwards with her side, she closed her forearm over her assailant's wrist. Bending the joint unnaturally, Ada cried out in pain as Angelica forced her weapon from her.

In one, fluid movement, Angelica pointed the weapon back at Ada, her lips frowning deeply despite the fact she now had the upper hand. "You've always been a nice girl, Ada…don't let this place corrupt you…what do you have to say for yourself…" Defiantly the girl snarled, her chocolate eyes wide with fear and rebellion. She would never betray Wesker…she couldn't ever see herself without him to guide…to teach…amongst other things. And she would never…ever…give up. "Bitch.." Angelica sighed, turning as if she was going to leave the young woman behind. Whipping back, she crashed the muzzle of the weapon against the Ada's temple, sending her into an unwilling slumber. Cradling her body all the way down to the floor, Angelica laid her neatly behind the desk. Anyone would think she had too much liquor that evening…

Tucking in the handgun to her shorts, the woman looked at the inner door above… She had no time…but she had to try….she had to find those files. Marcus was a good man, and over the last few months she had watched him grow weaker and weaker under the crushing weight of defeat… If she had known that they were firing him…. She had to try….

…

"Foolish men…what did you think I would do? Cower in fear?" Wesker sidestepped his mouthy victim, holding his weapon high. The same smirk toyed at his mouth, despite Marcus' indignance. The man was afraid…the quavering in his voice betrayed it… "On the contrary… I believed you would be in a….bargaining frame of mind." William looked at his friend, and for once saw the burning greed behind the sharp blues. Wesker had no real intention of killing James…he was using him as a tool. Hissing between his clenched teeth, Birkin shook his head as he addressed his companion. "What are you doing…" Wesker inclined his head back, rolling it as if he was doing a tired exercise. Disgust was written over his handsome face, as if looking at a complete dolt. "Justifying the ends, dear William. You honestly thought I would kill Marcus without hearing the options first?"

Marcus folded his arms, a cynical eyebrow rising at the younger man. Surely Wesker didn't think he would trade his life for his secrets… The G-virus was his and his alone…to take to its fullest potential. Only problem was…Okani had not shown up yet..

Wesker flashed his gaze back to Marcus, his arms tightening. "I suggest you start qualifying those options, James." The elderly man took a deep breath, his clear eyes wanting just to shut and sum this up to a bad dream… Clearing his throat, Marcus flickered his hand over the remaining files that lay in the half shut briefcase. "As you well know, my time here at Umbrella has ended…My option was to take my intelligence…and work somewhere else. You well know that Spencer is far from a saint… and this may be your option as well. My work included…" Birkin felt his blood stop as the words fell slowly from Marcus' lips. Was the old man offering to put their names on the findings of they merely…left Umbrella? Could they work at BioHaz and be free from this corporate constrains that was Ozwell Spencer… The offer was tempting…deceiving… Wesker moved for the files, his other hand outstretched to enter the suitcase… Something was off…William's nerves tensed as he watched Marcus slip his hand into his coat pocket…

"No, don't!" A shot rang out, then a cry of pain. James clutched his arm as it moved from the coat, a syringe needle clattering to the floor. Red flow seeped through his white lab coat and through his fingers as the old man began to back away. William's gun nozzle was smoking gently, signaling the origin of the wound giving bullet. That syringe held god knows what…and Marcus was planning on stabbing Wesker as soon as he was distracted enough… The old man laughed maniacally, his eyes wide and wild. "You fools…there is no option for the both of you. This is my work…my life..and I would rather die than share it with the likes of you backstabbing, bastards. It's my work…my life…eheahahaaha..." Running a gloved hand through his blonde locks, Wesker smoothed back the stray strand coolly. Aiming his weapon at the mad scientist before him, the assassin spoke with deadly calm. "That was a very poor choice…one I wish you hadn't made, James…"

…..

"Oh I hate you…."

"I can tell my good woman but good lord!"

Ashford was nearly doubled over from the pain in his arm. Annette was nearly crushing the appendage, her own face red with pregnancy and rage. Trent could not figure out if the reason she was hurting the man was because of labor…or sending her husband on an 'errand' in her hour of need. Lisa and Spencer were tending to the young woman, one holding onto her shoulder, the other wiping excess sweat. Annette kept shaking her head, groaning in a pitiable loudness. The various people around had either moved off respectively, or plain just been frightened by the sheer fact that William Birkin's wife was furious. Every time the woman looked at Ashford or Spencer, Lisa was partially afraid that she would forgo the birth just to murder them. Spencer seemed ambiguous where as Ashford…well the look on his face was of genuine fear. His cheeks were flushed red as he watched the woman, Trent's busy hands trying to guide her into a state of comfortableness.

It wasn't working….

"I….I don't think I can…" Tears began to stream down Annette's cheeks, her lips quivering. This was her first child…and she didn't want to do it without her husband… Trent gazed down sympathetically, his dark eyes full of empathy for the woman. Umbrella had a sort of way of doing this to people…turning them into what he called "corporate zombies". Mindless little ants all working for the corporate agenda and letting everything else of their very small lives fall by the wayside… Leaning close to her, the man shook his head, his voice calm and soothing to convince the woman before him of her strength. "You can, Annette…you can do this. You have to, for the baby. Now when I count down, I'm going to need you to push, ok?" Annette slowly nodded, the fear written clearly across her face. Everything was happening so fast…

"Ok, Annette. One…two…three…PUSH!" As Trent held her in the birthing position, Annette screamed as she did what was commanded of her. Ashford looked as if he had done the same by the mere force that she had applied to his arm in doing so. Lisa held the woman steady by the shoulder, her heart racing. Spencer had said that there was an errand he had sent Birkin and Wesker on….and Angelica hadn't come back yet…. Had she been caught? Was Annette Birkin really giving birth before her eyes? ….Why was Spencer acting so smugly…. Lisa looked up at the CEO, half expecting to see disgust…or awe at what was happening at his gathering. But neither were upon his face. A coy…sadistic grin was splayed across his mouth, as if he had discovered some beautiful secret…

….or had a horrid idea…..