Chapter 22
After a trip to London to talk with the drug runner connection that David Trapp had made to acquire air transportation, he and John found themselves in the air with Leon and the new guy Carlos, on their way to Russia, while Chris Redfield was similarly going to Italy with Jill, Barry, Rebecca, and his sister Claire. The trip to Russia had been long, and when the torrential snow storms began, they knew they were getting close.
David Trapp stood just outside of the cockpit, looking through the front glass as the new gun runner friends flew them to their destination. It didn't escape David's thoughts that they were utilizing people that they would've never dreamed of working with before everything had gone to hell within the S.T.A.R.S. due to The Umbrella Corporation, but these were desperate times as they had been on the run for quite a while now. He'd honestly lost track of how long this had been going on, but in all honestly, it had really only been a year at most since David had met with the survivors of The Spencer Estate incident.
At the still rather young age of thirty-five, David Jesse Trapp had seen a lot of action since originally joining the S.T.A.R.S. with Barry Burton back in 1983. They had a fifteen year long record within the company, but only two of those years had been them working together just after they'd left boot camp. David had gone on to the Exeter, Maine branch while Barry had gone to Raccoon City, Pennsylvania. They had both served their respective branches well, but it had never been enough because of corporate greed and undeniable corruption within.
The entire situation had made David extremely angry to no end, but he'd done his best to conceal those emotions from everyone else, choosing to only ever express how he truly felt in private. That had always been hard for him as his anger stemmed from his father, Jesse Colin Trapp, the reason for David's middle name, which he never shared with anyone. David honestly despised his father for many reasons, but one of the top five had always been because of their shared anger management issues.
His father's issues had actually landed him in an early grave as he had beat David's mother almost to death when he was only fifteen, ended up in prison, and had gotten murdered by his cellmate after a fight had ensued one night with Jesse Trapp not managing to come out on top. David would end up finding out from the warden when he had gone there to identify his father's body that the cellmate had been trying to rape his father, and having none of it, had tried to fight the cellmate off unsuccessfully.
The three years leading up to David's father dying in prison had been difficult for him, as his mother, Jennifer Trapp, had gone through a long recovery from the attack brought on by the man that had claimed to love her. David had to drop out of school to help provide for his mother, working a full-time job as a security officer by day and obtaining his GED by night, all the while in between helping his mother when the home health people and therapists weren't around.
Jennifer hadn't gone with David when he went to the prison to identify Jesse, but that had been fine. It made sense to him. David hadn't wanted to go either, but, in all honesty, he was glad that he had, because karma had come after his father, and not just for attacking his mother, but because of the reason for why he had.
David Trapp was a private man, and he kept most things to himself. The reason for that had actually been because of his father and the reaction he'd had when David's porn stash had been discovered under his bed, and it wasn't just because David was under age for having it that his father had gotten so angry. It was because it was gay porn.
Somehow, David's mother had known that her son was gay, and she'd kept it from his father, having deduced it because of little hints and context clues: the way David dressed, the extra attention he put on his hair and how he presented himself, and of course the way he talked about male friends from school. When David's father realized that his mother hadn't been forthcoming with all of this, his rage hit the fan, and that had been all it took for his family to be broken on that fateful night.
At first, David had blamed the kid in the higher grade level that gave him the porn, because if he hadn't taken it from him, his dad still wouldn't know, but in all seriousness, David knew better. If his mother already suspected, it wouldn't be too much longer before his father put two and two together as well.
Regardless, after what happened, David tried to close himself off from most emotions, having the worst time with the anger, which had gotten him into a lot of trouble when he was eighteen, nineteen, and into his twenties, but that was mainly when he was in boot camp, and he'd been very thankful to have met Barry Burton there as it had been him that had helped to get his anger under control. He didn't know where he'd be now without Barry, and he was grateful to have been working with him again during this massive nightmare they'd all been living the last year.
Was his life lonely? Sure, but David didn't want to get close to people when he knew in his heart that he'd lose them.
'Karen Driver,' he thought to himself. 'Steve Lopez.'
Those two lingered most on his mind all the time whether he showed it or not. They had been under his charge, and they'd been lost on the Caliban Cove mission. He blamed himself for it, and for a great many other things as well, but he didn't want the others to hold that guilt as well, so he took all of it, faked a smile, and kept going, knowing that he had to continue to be brave and strong for all of them.
"David!" John exclaimed from the open door as he looked back to him.
David moved away from the cockpit and strode to John, looking out the way he was pointing.
Down below, just barely seen from the falling snow, three Hunter BOWs moved in pace with the chopper.
"They've let their bioweapons lose," John stated. "Do you think the facility has been overrun?"
"Or this is their version of an attack squad," David countered. "We may not be dealing with Umbrella staff when we land. Oliveira!"
Carlos stood up. He had been sitting with Leon, getting to know him better.
"Bring over a minigun!" David ordered.
Carlos moved to a weapons wall and picked up the weapon that David asked for, going over to them. "You point, I shoot, amigo."
David pointed down to the Hunters that were trailing after them. "You see them?"
Carlos nodded. "Not for long." He opened fire.
Multiple shots riddled down around the Hunters, but all three of them went down moments later.
"That's probably just the first wave," David said. "I'm sure we'll find more the closer we get."
"I'll keep a lookout then!" Carlos excitedly said.
"Just keep hold of the safety rope," David told him. "We don't need to lose you."
"Aww, you care," Carlos teased. "I know all the foxy ladies want me, but I didn't realize that the men did too." He then winked at David.
David tried to keep his composure, knowing that Carlos was indeed very attracted, but this was neither the time nor the place, and so he rolled his eyes. "Just stay on target, Oliveira." He moved off with John. "What in the world does Valentine see in him?"
John laughed. "Probably his looks, or it might've been the accent. Who knows? Women."
Leon leaned forward as David and John approached him, taking seats on either side of him. "He doesn't seem so bad to me."
"Well, that's because you're both in The Hair of the Month club," John teased, lightly punching Leon in the shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Leon said, shaking his head. "He's apparently been through a lot. His family were involved in Columbian crime rings from what he was telling me on the trip up. His father died in a raid, and his mother apparently runs one of the biggest operations down there to this day. He and his brother got out while the getting was good, but their lives went in different directions a few years ago. Carlos spent time in South American jungles as a mercenary, which was what got Umbrella's attention."
"Where is his brother?" John asked.
"Somewhere in North Carolina," Leon replied. "He's been in and out of jail the last few years because of domestic abuse. The man's been married three times and beat all three wives. I guess he has too much of his parents in him."
David sighed lightly, hoping that the other two didn't hear it. His thoughts were dwelling back on his father, hearing about Carlos' brother. There was too much anger in the world and nothing that anyone could really do about it. At least he and Carlos seemingly had something in common, not that it mattered.
'Keep your head in the game, Trapp!' David thought to himself, doing his best to keep his frustration and anger at bay. 'He's clearly with Valentine, and he's clearly straight. Stop looking at Oliviera's ass!'
He cleared his throat, looking away from Carlos, as David had indeed been staring, but he saw that Leon and John were looking right at him, both apparently with heads tilted and eyebrows raised. "What?"
John laughed and shrugged his shoulders, looking away.
Leon pointed at David. "You alright?"
David cleared his throat. "Fine. Thank you." But David was a little concerned with the laugh John had made. The two of them had worked together for a long time now. Was it possible that John knew the truth?
"Strap in, everyone!" one of the gun runners called from the cockpit. "We're arriving now!"
Carlos, the only one standing, moved toward the others, taking a seat beside David, clearly making the captain slightly nervous. They all strapped in for their final descent.
Dr. Brandon Bailey stood in The Red Queen's server control room with Sergei Vladimir, a sneer on his face. They were looking at security feeds for the above ground abandoned oil refinery that was being used as a fake out for what the facility actually was: an entrance to Umbrella's Hive Russia Facility.
"How the hell has this facility been discovered?" Bailey asked.
Sergei cleared his throat. "I'm not sure I should make guesses, but a certain Asian female hasn't returned from Costa Rica despite calling in. You got here after Costa Rica and a trip to Italy, and yet she still isn't here."
Brandon turned away from the security feed, showing the chopper landing. "Are you seriously suggesting –"
"Ada Wong has been compromised since Raccoon City," Sergei cut him off. "You just refused to see it."
Brandon shook his head. "She did everything she was told with the Umbrella targets I asked. Why would she –"
Sergei pointed at the screen as the invaders were filing out of the chopper. "One of them is the cop she was with in Raccoon City."
"Leon Kennedy," Brandon said. "And I'm guessing the rest of these people are his known associates." He slammed his hand on the table. "Damn."
"One of them is former U.B.C.S.," Sergei said. "Carlos, I think is his name. Must've survived Raccoon City."
A door at the back of the room slid open and Professor Peter Jenkins rushed in. "The Red Queen has been blaring alarms in the facility!"
"We know," Brandon said. "We're about to be under attack. That isn't all. She's bringing Albert Wesker here."
Peter and Sergei both appeared shocked to hear this.
"She said he was on his way to the founders to attack them," Brandon finished.
Sergei sighed. "It's part of her programming to protect the founders."
Peter gritted his teeth. "She's supposed to be working for The Connections now."
"Every attempt to block her command codes to Umbrella has failed," Sergei said. "She does what we tell her to do, but that's only because she believes that Umbrella and The Connections are one in the same."
Brandon sighed. "Since Wesker has figured out where the founders are, I need to get back to Italy. The last thing I need is for him to start finding out truths that he doesn't need. Professor Jenkins, begin The Scarab Protocol."
Peter appeared shocked. "We aren't ready for that. Miss Wong still has more targets to –"
"It's highly likely she's the one that informed those people above ground of this base," Brandon said. "We can't wait any longer. Activate the scarabs and have those drones do what they're programmed to do." He then turned to Sergei. "Release all BOWs. Destroy those self-proclaimed heroes and then both of you join me in Italy so we can end Umbrella personally."
As Brandon Bailey stormed out of the control room, Sergei Vladimir moved over to the large tower housing Te Red he Red Queen AI. "Release all Bioweapons and awaken TALOS."
The Red Queen's lights blinked rapidly. "All Biohazards on the move. Initializing TALOS programming."
Professor Peter Jenkins stepped over beside Sergei and inputted information on her console display.
"Professor Jenkins, you're activating The Scarab Protocol," The Red Queen stated.
"That's right," Peter said. "Dr. Bailey has authorized, and I am giving the final authorization."
"Confirmed by myself," Sergei stated.
"Confirmed," The Red Queen said. "The Scarab Protocol has been activated."
"Can you smell it, Professor?" Sergei asked.
"Smell what?" Peter asked, turning to face Sergei.
"The fall of a legacy," Sergei replied. "We are witness to the beginning of a new era."
"Long live The Connections," Peter said, moving toward the door to leave, but when he noticed that Sergei wasn't following, he looked back. "You heard Dr. Bailey. We're to follow him to Italy."
"There are plenty of Ospreys," Sergei said. "I want to observe TALOS in action."
Peter sighed in frustration. "That isn't part of the plan."
"I am making a new one," Sergei told him, pulling out a handgun. "Go, before you give me reason to pull the trigger."
Peter shook his head and stormed out of the server room.
Sergei holstered the gun and looked back to The Red Queen tower. "Well, it's just you and me, your majesty, as it should be."
Once the chopper landed, the gun runners from London powered down and moved to the back as everyone unstrapped and grabbed weapons, shotguns, handguns, MK47s, and the list went on. They all grabbed knives to use for close combat if it came to that as well.
"Please stay with the chopper, gentlemen," David asked of the gun runners. "We may need quick evac." He then moved out of the chopper first, leading the way with Leon Scott Kennedy on one side of him and John Andrews on the other. Carlos Oliveira moved behind them but still close. "If those Hunters from earlier are any clue to what we're facing, be ready for a full-on outbreak here."
Another chopper suddenly entered the area and moved to block everyone from continuing forward any further as it sat down.
John raised his magnum. "Umbrella already knows we're here."
"That chopper gives nothing away that they're Umbrella," Carlos pointed out.
"Oh, God, it's Kevin!" Leon exclaimed, pointing forward. "I know him!"
Kevin Ryman jumped out of the new chopper, his hands raised. "It's alright, I'm friendly, and just..." He recognized Leon and smirked. "Leon Kennedy. I'll be damned."
Leon moved past everyone else and clasped his hand to Kevin's, laughing. "I was in Raccoon City, but I never saw you anywhere. I was all over the police department. I couldn't even bring myself to ask anyone I saw about you, fearing the worst."
"I wasn't in the city long after the outbreak started," Kevin explained. "I got evacuated by people that are on your side, but only one of them is with me. We're supposed to back you up on this."
Leon looked to David, John, and Carlos, all of which looked very uncertain. "Kevin and I knew each other back in high school. He was a couple years ahead of me, and he went into the police academy before I did. I guess I'm always two steps behind him."
After finishing the power down sequence in the cockpit, Rain Ocampo moved to the back and then stepped out near to where Leon and Kevin now stood. Shock crossed her face as she looked to Carlos.
"Holy hell," Rain said, shaking her head.
"Rain?" Carlos asked.
"Please tell me your brother isn't with you," Rain said.
Carlos sighed. "I haven't seen Ramon since before you two divorced. I heard about what happened. I swear I didn't know."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Is this one of the wives he abused?"
"One of?" Rain asked. "I'm not the only victim of your jackass brother?"
Carlos sighed again, clearly uncomfortable.
"Listen, this really isn't the time to be going through this kind of drama," David said. "We took down Hunter BOWs on the way here. There are probably more targets closing in. We should –"
An Umbrella style Osprey suddenly moved out of the ground, rising high up. It opened fire on everyone as they all ducked and ran for cover.
Inside the Osprey, Dr. Brandon Bailey fired off rounds, hoping to at least take out a few of these interlopers, not even taking notice that another chopper had shown up on the scene.
However, from out of nowhere, another Osprey flew out of the massive snowstorm, hitting Brandon's Osprey, sending it sailing around in circles. Another Osprey rose out of the ground, but instead of joining the madness, it took off away from the area.
Brandon lost control as he pulled on the wheel and pressed buttons. Nothing was working. He could see one of the smoke pilers getting closer by the second. It wouldn't have mercy on his craft, and so Brandon closed his eyes. "I'll see you soon, Evelyn."
As everyone got back to their feet, they saw the explosion of the first Osprey hitting the smoke piler and exploding. The second Osprey continued onward, practically ignoring them entirely as it moved through the oil refinery, and the third Osprey was already gone.
Getting back to his feet, observing the destruction caused by the Osprey that had opened fire on them, David shook his head. "See, this is why we don't need to be standing around dishing out our drama."
John scoffed. "Not that you ever dish."
David turned on a dime toward John. "You have something you want to say, Andrews?"
John grinned and shook his head. "I'm waiting on you to open up, sir."
David shook his head, trying to keep calm. 'You were right. He knows. Somehow, he knows the truth about you. He's probably known for a long time.' David sighed. "Let's move out, people. If you two are on our side, then fall in line. I'm in command here." And with that, David Trapp led the five others toward their fate.