It's easiest to get lost right under the enemy's nose, but even easier in their country house. Ozwell Spencer built a mansion near the town of Raccoon City, where enormous donations from Umbrella flowed. Not out of kindness of heart, but rather, there was a need to seize the city using money and connections. The corporation gained many advantages thanks to generous funding for the city's economy.
For example, the construction of a biological and chemical plant went smoothly. Moreover, all formalities and permits were prepared in a minimal amount of time, largely because a third of the city went to work for this company.
The city became dependent on the corporation like people are on oxygen. After all, how does the economy work in most cases? If there's a gold mine, there's much less desire to look for silver; all efforts go into finding ways to maintain that mine in good condition. Umbrella just became such a mine; if it disappeared, the city, unprepared for such a turn, would quickly become impoverished.
At least, that was how it used to be. The new mayor of the city, Michael Warren, formerly known for his contribution to the city's electrification, earned the respect and trust of citizens even before the election campaign. However, his true face is very different from his public mask. Umbrella sponsors him so well that, in essence, any resistance to their decisions was nipped in the bud. The company even managed to build an underground laboratory beneath the city, establishing a complex and shadowy supply chain. A secret underground laboratory — a place where hundreds of employees work, where thousands of items are delivered to support the workers and the complex; all this is difficult to hide from the public without connections to the city authorities. In fact, under Michael Warren, all this was built and established.
However, the more complex the scheme, the easier it is to find vulnerabilities in it. It only took two weeks to rob the equipment warehouse. It was located deep in the woods, and its existence was not a secret to me. It was much harder to delay the moment when Umbrella would guess the identity of the thief who stole from them in a place where the corporation controls everything.
For the plan to be successful, I had to work in several directions.
First, I took care of concealing my identity: a dark wig, a fake beard, dark glasses, and closed clothing with a hood. There was a risk that the first patrol would stop me for an identity check, but the city is too peaceful. The police here perform routine tasks related to domestic disputes, fights between truckers, and other minor incidents. Previously, there were attempts to do something serious in the city; however, Umbrella generously funded a special department to combat terrorism and crime – S.T.A.R.S. The city is not too large, densely populated – with a high population density, only a hundred thousand people, so there's not much point in hiding. When there's an armed police force with special government authority nearby, you shouldn't commit anything illegal.
I am the former commander of this unit, and I passed all information about crime and investigations to the other side: the pharmaceutical corporation Umbrella. Petty crime was absent; mainly, if there were criminals, they worked against the corporation. They tried to steal valuable information or sabotage to undermine trust in the company. By the way, there were special assignments from the government to check the Umbrella corporation, but only I worked on that. I looked for anything and everything, any evidence, to destroy it.
A recent example: the incident near Spencer Mansion.
The Bravo team went to the Arklay Mountains to investigate a case of cannibals. A small intervention, and this team was destroyed. I still wanted to destroy the Alpha group I led, but not everything went according to plan. Which is a bit frustrating; I hadn't made any mistakes before. I learned well how to sabotage evidence and cover my tracks. And it was this experience that came in handy in the initial stages of the plan to build my own laboratory.
I remembered a few gangs from Stoneville who were lying low to wait out the storm above. And I made them an offer they couldn't refuse: to rob a warehouse with expensive equipment – for which there is a buyer ready to pay handsomely for everything. I am the intermediary, the strategist, and the informant; they are the brute force.
Next, when a bunch of undisciplined guys stole something that usually no one steals because of the difficulty of selling it on the black market, it was time to execute the second part of the plan. I got rid of all witnesses and participants of the operation. Then, I played it safe and made a few deliveries in the city, which I knew like the back of my hand. I didn't lead the special unit for nothing. The plan worked out… I had a little time to calmly engage in T-virus research in one of the abandoned underground premises.
There are many such places in this city, and they are almost uncontrolled. They might reach my underground base if there's a planetary alignment. A low and almost impossible percentage, however, it's possible. And the chance of this immediately increased when I needed materials for research.
If laboratory equipment goes missing, you can still blame a "competing and mysterious Organization," but with components and reagents – it's different. The situation required a delicate approach. Even finding an underground area with electricity caused less inconvenience than finding something that cannot be bought.
Superhuman strength, speed, reaction, and abilities. It's not a problem for me to track trucks delivering biological samples and chemicals needed for research. And now, a small army was protecting them, and the entire building – a factory – was covered in cameras; outside and inside. Not with the best image, and my identity is hidden. However, it's still foolish to expose myself; at least, not often.
I had to look for vulnerabilities, long and hard, until I found an opportunity in the face of the deputy general director. Upon returning home, he discovered the absence of his family and a stack of printed sheets with instructions: leave the truck in a specific place in exchange for two children and a wife. It took only two lines; the rest of the sheets contained the necessary and unnecessary elements of the order for me; they were chaotic, as if the kidnapper himself didn't know what he wanted.
A small contingency that didn't come in handy.
The frightened man put his career and freedom on the line, followed the instructions with impeccable accuracy, and within twenty-four hours, he received a call from the police. I left an anonymous message about a basement in another city where his family was being held.
Everyone is alive and well; the most peaceful outcome turned out to be the most effective.
The factory deputy director put himself on the line; there's no point in complaining to management about blackmail when he's already given in to a criminal. As for the family, they didn't see the kidnapper's face; everything happened too quickly, and I was wearing a mask. On the other hand, if the family had died, the man might have surrendered and assisted the investigation against the kidnapper. And his own death would have aroused unnecessary suspicion from Umbrella. They might already be suspicious if he didn't cover his tracks well. However, "might" does not equal "will."
But it's not the methods of achieving the goal that are important, but the result, the final outcome of persistent labor.
I completely equipped my own laboratory. And for the next month, I lived in this place like a sewer rat, but it's worth noting that I differ from rodents by my intellect. I have, albeit temporary, a laboratory; the most accessible in my current state – that of a free person. And now, having bought essential supplies, I returned to my abode of experiments through the complex structure of the sewers.
The research room, bathed in the cold light of monitor screens and dim lamps, gave a slight touch of nostalgia. Once, before transferring to the military, I was a virologist and scientist, working together with Birkin. It's always easier with a partner, but now I have to work alone, but with more advanced equipment. Some devices were a revelation to me, and the analysis program slightly broke my brain.
It's a pity that not all desires come true, for example, the desire to contact my former partner remains just a desire; something is happening to him, and it's practically impossible to get in touch. Birkin literally disappeared from the radar, as if he was one step away from a breakthrough or betrayal.
— How did I not think of this? — I chuckled, spreading meat products and milk on the free table. My stomach tolerated their combination normally; in turn, greens and grains were completely removed from my diet. Besides meat, it was hard to eat anything else, most likely due to the consequences of the infection. — Birkin knows too much; and he, unlike me, has earthly attachments, a family, open ambitions. That's how it is. If my survival is known, then he will definitely want to kill him as soon as he finishes his research on the G-virus. If that's the case, then… My old friend will try to join the Organization, he will follow in my past footsteps. Only unlike me, he will be killed sooner – definitively.
For a moment, I thought William Birkin would infect himself with the virus, like me, but dismissed the idea. This is the height of stupidity, injecting oneself with a dose of the G-virus, which is uncontrollable. If you have something to compare it to, it's like a cocktail of ten dangerous poisons; if a person somehow survives, they become a vegetable for the rest of their days.
A chaotic virus doesn't turn a person into a ruler of the world, just a stupid monster like Lisa Trevor. Strong, immortal, but very vulnerable and completely devoid of intellect. We are strong only because we are intelligent. Bill is smart; he won't inject himself with the virus even if they come to kill him. With a small exception: he'll want revenge on his killers in a fit of rage. And at the same time, he'll kill his family with his own hands or claws. But about the "at the same time," my friend will think about it later. In a place suitable for him – in hell.
For now, the most stable sample is a subspecies of the T-virus flowing through my veins.
— My virus has penetrated every cell of my body, transforming not only my physiology but also my psyche, — I smiled at my own words.
The phenomenon of awakening unknown memories can drive anyone crazy, but not me. On the contrary, I have highlighted many useful things, rethought much, and become much more cautious, consequently, I will be doubly harder to kill. If only I don't get lost in the personal association of who I am – Wesker or William. But that's easy; whoever the host body belongs to, that's me. It's simple; I'm sure the strengthened nervous system from the T-virus helped me accept this fact without any problems. Otherwise, if there were crazy outbursts or fits of madness… I would have died along with the mansion.
— It's time, — I nodded to myself, approaching the table. Tools are arranged on it with surgical precision, like soldiers on a battlefield. They are my loyal soldiers against a terrible enemy called: "I don't know." Together with allied forces – "I know," instruments, and equipment, I am advancing in the study of the virus by leaps and bounds. I have already found some weaknesses and identified strengths.
Genes are very complex and mystical. In theory, my virus can adapt to others if they were introduced in small doses, and thus, I can get rid of weaknesses. Creating viral serums for enhancement… Ha, the prospect of accelerating regeneration using the G-virus looks good. Also, it might be possible to change the shape of limbs when studying this virus. And this is just one strain, being studied by my partner and derived from Lisa Trevor. I'm sure scientists will create a lot more varieties, making me stronger. Like the serum I created.
Approaching the next table, I carefully examined a test tube with pulsating blood. It is this that allows me to adapt the absorbed genes to myself, sequentially transforming the entire data structure. Creating it is difficult, but as practice has shown, the result exceeded expectations. The blood in the test tube is red and functions normally. For three days, the instruments did not detect serious deviations, and my opinion was not questioned.
— One day this virus will create ideal people. They will not fear hunger, diseases, threats from their own kind, or any ailments. Scientists will be able to live for centuries, maintaining eternal vigor to constantly invent technologies useful to humanity. We will be able to colonize space, other planets, to become not only masters of the Earth but of the entire galaxy. We are limited by death and fatigue; all that remains is to overcome these ailments, — I whispered grand plans, removing my sunglasses.
I looked closely at the amber pupils with a vertical slit, like those of reptiles. Part of the test tube was transparent, reflecting me and giving food for thought. I am a product of an experiment; my pupils should not be this color. I hope future generations will be more humane. However, I alone will be the strongest. This title belongs to only one.
With my gaze fixed on the test tube, I extended my hands towards it, taking a new opportunity into them. The lamps flickered weakly, like stars disappearing at dawn, reminding me of endless possibilities. Carefully opening the test tube, I drank the contents and felt satisfaction. There was no pain; the cell replacement process went well.
Because I only slightly improved the structure of the T-virus Prototype to remove the limitation on laboratory control of my mutations. Now I felt them myself… Excellent, the first stage of the "Perfect Human" plan has been successfully completed; I can destroy the laboratory and get to the surface. Something has started to happen there. On the way here, I even saw fires, but I didn't pay attention to it.
— September isn't that cold to start bonfires, — I grinned, beginning to systematically gather all the equipment in one place.