On the second basement level of the Arklay Research Facility, the pale lights remained eternally unchanging.
Chloe leaned against the corner of the isolation chamber, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the long-faded needle marks on her arm.
Months had passed since the last T-ε Virus outbreak.
William’s monitoring of her had become increasingly dense, and the frequency of sedatives and blood draws continued to rise.
She was like a plant kept in a glass jar, supplied with the means to survive, but also providing a continuous stream of samples.
She had long since grown accustomed to the two sounds here: the low hum of instruments and the distant roars of Lisa from the third basement level.
She had also grown accustomed to two gazes.
One was fanatical, the other cold.
But on this day, the atmosphere in the air shifted slightly.
Steady footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.
It wasn’t William’s hurried and anxious pace, but one that was rhythmic, cold, and carried an unquestionable sense of pressure.
It was Albert Wesker.
He was still wearing that black suit, his sunglasses concealing all emotion in his eyes.
He simply stood outside the glass chamber, quietly watching the little girl inside.
This time, he didn’t just give a brief assessment or a cold scan as usual; he stayed for a long time.
Chloe looked up slightly, meeting his gaze through a layer of cold glass.
She couldn’t see through this man, even though she knew everything about him, including his end.
He wasn’t obsessed with data and experiments like William, nor was he fearful and cautious like the researchers of The Ark.
Wesker looked at her as if he were looking at a weapon that could be categorized, registered, and deployed in the future—calm and completely devoid of emotion.
“William,” Wesker suddenly spoke.
William was hunched over the console checking Chloe’s blood samples.
Hearing this, he didn’t even look up: “What is it?”
“The transfer order from headquarters has arrived.” Wesker’s tone held no ripple of emotion, as if he were speaking of a trivial matter that had nothing to do with him.
“As of today, I am being transferred from the Arklay Research Facility to the company’s Intelligence Department.”
William’s movements came to a sudden halt.
He finally looked up, a rare look of bewilderment on his face: “The Intelligence Department?
Is this Mr.
Spencer’s idea?”
“I applied for it myself,” Wesker replied faintly, his tone flawlessly steady.
“Continuing to stay at Arklay would only cause unnecessary suspicion from the higher-ups.
The company’s next focus is Raccoon City.
By taking the initiative to go there and handle the undercover layout, I can put Mr.
Spencer’s mind at ease.”
He didn’t reveal a single word of his true purpose, using loyalty, avoiding suspicion, and following arrangements as reasons to lock all his real schemes firmly in his heart.
What he wanted wasn’t a transfer, but an escape; not an undercover mission, but a path to freedom prepared for himself.
William didn’t think much of it, assuming Wesker was simply catering to Umbrella’s next strategic move.
He opened the folder Wesker handed him.
The document wasn’t long.
It was formal, cold, and rigorously worded, with the Umbrella headquarters letterhead at the top, complete with serial numbers and security classifications.
He scanned it line by line, his face gradually sinking. This story is hosted at g.com.
Mr.
Albert Wesker:
Following review by headquarters and personal verification by Mr.
Oswell E.
Spencer, the following transfer order is hereby issued:
Effective immediately, you are relieved of your duties as Security Chief and Subject Supervisor at the Arklay Research Facility.
Your on-site management rights for internal research projects at Arklayare terminated.
You are transferred to the UmbrellaIntelligence Analysis Department as the Strategic Lead for the Raccoon Cityregion, to execute undercover missions for the company’s long-term layout in Raccoon City.
The security level for core subjects at the Arklay Research Facilityremains at the highest level.
Among them, Subject S01will be taken over entirely by Mr.
William Birkin for research.
Mr.
Wesker retains remote data access rights but will not participate in on-site management.Subject S01is a core material for the Project Elpis, possessing irreplaceable research value as a vessel.
Any form of irreversible damage, loss of control, or escape is strictly prohibited.
The research process must maintain complete records, to be encrypted and uploaded to headquarters periodically.
This order takes effect immediately and shall not be delayed.
Issuer: Oswell E.
Spencer