Chapter 108: Crisis at the Highest

It took a whole week for the BSAA to finish their investigation. Rebecca had catalogued everything in the underground facility and Rick and Angela killed every BOW inside the pods. Nothing was left of them. And to be sure there wasn’t anyone who had been free and hiding somewhere, like the evolved Licker Angela and Rebecca encountered, they had activated the place’s self-destruct.

Of course they had warned the police before that to clear the area.

The resulting explosion had barely been felt. It was just a small tremor. So small that Chief Campbell even asked on the radio if everything was alright because he didn’t feel anything from his location. It was all thanks to the complex being so deep under the mountain.

The joint effort of the BSAA and the police had been fruitful. In the sense that they didn’t find any wildlife infected by the T-Virus from the mutated leopard and the pack of wolves. The area around Mackenzie was clean and safe.

Before leaving the town, Rick had a last run-in with Nicole. He figured since they wouldn’t be seeing each other again he could spend a second night with her. This time she had wanted something different and went for anal sex. He obliged her even though he was skeptical about her being able to handle him. He could count on one hand the women who had been able to do so and have some fingers left. Only Rachel, and only if she was completely drunk out of her mind, went for it. As it turned out, she could. The idea of one day coming back to Mackenzie just for it became appealing then.

When the BSAA departed the next morning, nobody had been surprised that the woman wasn’t present to send them off. They all saw her drag Rick out of the bar and bring him back to her home the previous evening. Rebecca had not been happy about it because she wanted an encore herself but this time she didn’t feel jealous.

O’Brian was able to send them a plane at Prince George to get back to DC directly, instead of going to Vancouver then to the US capital. It was a godsend because between the gear the BSAA had come with, the gear they looted during the investigations and the multiple samples Rebecca took, transporting all that through commercial flight would have been a nightmare even with the proper authorization. It was proof of O’Brian’s relentless work to get the BSAA to the standards of the new status, duties and means the organization had.

The group arrived quite late in the evening and Rick crashed at Rachel’s place instead of going home. He didn’t feel like making a two hour drive. Cherry on top of the cake, his best friend was absent, probably away on a case. There wasn’t any wild night of sex in consequence and Rick was able to rest properly.

When he arrived at the office the next morning, Angela was already sitting at her desk.

“Happy to be back?”

She hummed affirmatively. “Rural towns are nice but I wouldn’t be able to live there on a permanent basis.”

“Give it time.” He chuckled. “After a few outbreaks, you’ll start seeing isolation as the best thi—”

“WALD! MY OFFICE!”

“Ugh.”

Angela held back a laugh of amusement at O’Brian’s call for her current partner. It was something she noticed ever since she started. The man only yelled that loud at Rick. For others he just shouted at a controlled volume.

Rick stood up, the urge to drag his feet strong. It was ignored. O’Brian never used that tone if it wasn’t for something important. That meant there was work to do and work could never wait.

Stepping inside the closed office, Rick saw someone he never thought he would meet again. On the spot, his body reacted. His posture straightened, his legs clapped together and his hand went to his head for a military salute.

“Ma’am.”

O’Brian, nearly dropped the unlit cigarette in his mouth when he saw Rick do that. His best agent was polite but never respectful. Not like this.

‘Whoever that Major Walker is, she knows him. It’s not a simple summon, there is more to it.”

In the room with the two men, in a perfect uniform, was Rick’s former Team Leader and mentor. Teresa Walker. “Relax, Captain.”

Rick did. He didn’t have to listen to her, he wasn’t in the army anymore but he would rather die than show any disrespect to the woman who taught him so much and whose as much the reason than Jill as to why he is the man he is today.

“It's good to see you again, Major, although I don’t believe it’s for a personal visit.”

Teresa nodded and with her usual stone cold expression explained her presence. “You’re correct, Captain. As I was telling Director O’Brain, you’re being summoned."

“Summonned?” The confusion on Rick’s face was displayed by his thick brows creasing. “I’m not in the military anymore, ma’am. I can’t be—”

“It’s an emergency, Captain. If there was another choice, I wouldn’t be sent here to pick you up.”

‘It means something very wrong happened and the President wants my help.’

“Ma’am, I’m part of the BSAA, an NGO, I can’t—”

“Go” O’Brian interjected. “If someone requested you, then they need your talents. And while I’m the director of said NGO, I’m still American. Our country needs you and far for me to say ‘no’.”

“I have check-ups to—”

“We both know you don’t.” O’Brian cut him off, having an inkling Teresa was aware of Rick’s situation. He was almost certain even.

Despite how he sounded Rick wasn’t against going. Not for Teresa but he had duties at the BSSA and he was conscientious. “I have to write my report—”

“Miller’s would be enough for now.”

“I meant about her, sir.”

O’Brian considered it for a moment. Rick could be away for who knows how long and there was no one free to take her with them. The one solo at the moment, Parker, was in Italy. “Can she handle herself?”

“Yes.” Rick didn’t even hesitate.

“Then why are you hesitating?”

“Until you clear her for solo duty, she’s my responsibility. That’s protocol, something you’ve been on my back ever since I joined, sir.”

“Cheeky bastard.” O’Brian grunted. “Your word is enough. For now. Write me that report when you come back, now go.”

Teresa thanked O’Brian and opened the march out of the office. Rick followed her in silence and didn’t spare a single glance at Angela or anyone else, not even when she was called into their boss’ office.

He ignored the look of surprise or curiosity his colleagues were giving him as he left the building and rode shotgun inside the government issued SUV, Walker was driving.

“How have you been?” He asked her, breaking the silence and tension.

“Well. You?”

Rick knew better than to ask what this was about so he went personal but even then Teresa was tightlipped. He was certain she was well aware of how he was doing but he humored her. “Oh, you know… Outbreaks, bioterrorists, investigations. Like usual.”

“I wouldn’t call fighting a G bare handed usual.”

He smirked at that. Had it been anyone else, he would have thought they had slipped a bit of information but this was Major Teresa Walker. She didn’t make mistakes like this. She was indulging him with a hint of an answer. Only Claire, Leon and Angela knew about him fighting G while utterly naked. Neither would have talked about it. Leon may have had to, to the right people who knew about his secret but otherwise he wouldn’t have.

That meant that somehow Teresa was involved with USSTRATCOM or Leon. Directly or indirectly.

“I wasn’t bare-handed.” He retorted.

“I heard. Totally bare would be more exact, right?” For the first time since the encounter, her facial expression changed from neutral to teasing. It was almost imperceptible but one corner of her mouth slightly turned up.

“What can I say?” Rick shrugged his shoulders. “Everyone wants a piece of me. G didn’t take no for an answer and I took offense.”

The conversation died here and then. The familiar sight of the White House coming to view. Soon enough, they were checked at the entrance and let inside the premises.

“I expect you to be on your best behavior, Captain.” She warned him. “I heard about your last visit from the Lieutenant-Colonel.”

Rick frowned. “I was polite, ma’am.”

“Polite but insubordinate.” She corrected him.

“... I’ll do my best. You know how I don’t like this.”

Teresa was perfectly aware but made no comment on it because she knew that at the end of the day, Rick would accept the mission given to him. He always did and without complaints.

After exiting the car then the garage, Teresa led him straight to the door of the oval office. They took a seat not far away and she sent a text, probably to warn of their arrival.

“I think I’m the most underdressed person setting foot inside the office in an official capacity.”

“... You probably are.” She replied after thinking about it for a bit.

The wait was around fifteen minutes. The door opened and quite a few people stepped out through it. High ranked military people dressed impeccably in their uniform and few in suits or skirts. From how expensive the suits looked it was clear they also were important people. The simple fact they were inside the oval office was a dead give away in the first place.

Teresa stood up and walked inside. Rick didn’t need a word or a sign from her to know he had to follow her. Once inside he wasn’t surprised to be met by the president sitting behind his desk, nor by Ethan Hunt. The surprise however was the presence of the Vice-President Adam Benford.

Graham stood up and walked around the desk, extending his hand to Rick. “It’s good to see you again, Captain Wald.”

Rick shook the hand politely but was upfront about his disagreement. “I’m sorry to say it’s not reciprocated, sir. If I’m here then you need me for something very important.” He ignored the glare Teresa sent him and Hunt exhaled in surrender.

The president didn’t seem to take offence. In truth he liked Rick’s blunt attitude. “Always straight to the point, Captain, a rarity with the people surrounding me. You’re correct however. Take a seat.”

Recognizing an order when he heard one, Rick sat down on the same sofa and same spot he did the last time, Graham facing him.

“I’ll go straight to the point too.” The president’s tone turned serious. “Two days ago, someone tried to assassinate me.”

Rick had zero reaction. The president of the United States was the leader of the free world. In consequence and because of the war against all kinds of terrorism, he was the primary target of every terrorist in the world.

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Graham continued. “What is, however, is that it may be an inside job.”

It was a serious and very relevant piece of information and Rick began to understand why he had been summoned.

“Let me guess. Officially, it’s an enemy country or terrorist group but you think it sounds way too convenient.”

Graham nodded. “I’m quite limited in trust, Captain. With the exception of Mister Kennedy and a few other agents, the people I absolutely trust are all gathered in this room.”

One of Rick’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “I’m flattered to be included, sir. Especially since it’s the second time we met.”

“Not quite. Lieutenant-Colonel Hunt and Major Walker advised me to contact you and your file and service records speak greatly for you.”

Rick took a deep breath. “You want me to investigate the matter and deal with the threat. You don’t know who to trust in the secret service and I am an outside and free agent. Loyal too.”

“Yes.”

This time, Rick sighed. Everyone in the room knew then that he was on board. The sigh was one of resignation and surrender. He didn’t make things easy for the president however.

“A promotion to Major and one year tax free.”

From the corner of his eyes, he saw the VP frown in displeasure. Hunt rolled his eyes but did nothing more. Not that he cared about those two’s opinions. The only one that mattered was Teresa’s and he could feel the disappointment exuding from her. He didn’t even have to turn his head and look at her for that.

The president didn’t even think twice. What Rick was asking didn’t cost anything at all. “Done.”

“I’ll need resources, sir.”

“Everything you need you’ll have it. Weapons, cars, any gadgets used by spies…”

“Information?”

“Unrestricited.”

The VP interjected then. “Charles! You can’t—”

Graham raised his hand. “Of course, I will have to approve it.”

“Not getting out of you who killed JFK, then.” Rick delivered the joke with his usual lack of any emotions in it when he was working. “I suppose I can make do. What do you have so far?”

From a simple glance from the chief of States, Hunt picked a dossier on the desk and handed it to Rick. It wasn’t really thick but the content made him frown. He understood then why he has been summoned to the white house and it wasn’t just because of what he could do.

“A T-virus outbreak in the White House? Well, that explains why the Major and Hunt are present.” He looked Graham dead in the eye then backed down to continue reading the report. “Hmm… The Chinese? Really? That’s the official stance?”

“The DIA’s investigation regarding the hacking of the White House led to a research facility in Shanghai.”

“Specific files stolen talking about it, Hm…” Rick stayed quiet for a moment, thinking. “What did the investigation of the facility say? I don’t,” he flipped the pages. “There is no report, is it still…”

“Yes. Kennedy and three other members are currently assigned to it.” Graham answered.

“I’ll be blunt, Mister President. It stinks. Badly. My guts are telling me that someone is framing China. Your hacker could have done anything it wanted and specifically stole files incriminating the Chinese? I don't believe it. Whoever the hacker was, they weren't working for them that’s for sure. Either they are some kind of whistleblower, which means someone high up and close to you is involved in something they shouldn’t with China or they’re working for a third party who would profit from an escalation between our country and China or they were working for said higher up who wants a war with China.”

Graham nodded. “That’s the Lieutenant-Colonel’s thoughts and I know better than to dismiss them.”

Rick spared a glance at his former superior. One full of doubt. Hunt frowned in response and neither man said anything. He took each page of the dossier and spread them on the coffee table in front of him. Leaning forward, hands against each other, he began to assess everything.

“You never found the mole?”

“No, the ones I put in charge of the investigation are the ones I sent to investigate the Chinese facility.”

“Hm… I bet the hacker is one of the victims in the outbreak. They were a loose end and needed to be tied up. Do you have the list of the victims?”

Graham gave a look at Teressa who quickly left the office. “You’ll have it shortly.”

“The Penamstan… I did report what happened there would bite us in the ass. I don’t know if you read—”

“I did.”

“So it’s also why I’m here. You think the current state of the country and the resulting tensions with China are linked to the breach and the outbreak… Hmm.” Rick massaged his temples, eyes closed. His brain was in overdrive, making connections after connections. Some ended in a dead end, some ended unresolved.

“In two days I am to make a speech during the peace talks regarding the Penamstan. If China is really involved then I have no other choice than to be provocative and aggressive and make a stand. Something that I’d rather not have to do as it could lead to war but will if must.”

“So you want me to find the truth and either make sure China is involved or catch the real culprit.” Rick sighed. “That’s such a short time. I can’t promise you to succeed, sir.”

“I know. But you never failed our country before, I have faith you won’t start now.”

Leaning back against the sofa, Rick began to make plans on how to tackle the investigation. Teresa came back in with the files he had asked for. It wasn’t just a list of names, it was a complete file about what their jobs were, what they were doing that day and their whole life back to one month.

“Something is bothering me. How could the T-virus outbreak in Penamstan be linked either to China or the outbreak here? The facility in Shanghai was opened two years ago. The outbreak in Penamstan happened in 2000. There is a connection missing here and I don’t believe the matters being related is a coincidence.”

“That’s for you to find out, Captain. And fast. The Major will give you access to everything you need. Now time is wasting.”

Rick nodded and gathered the pages back into the dossier. Giving a nod to Graham, he left the office with Teresa.

“Are you sure he can be trusted, Charles? He nearly extorted you.” Adam wondered aloud as his old friend stood up from the sofa and stretched.

“A year of no taxes and a promotion. I hardly call it extortion, Adam. Merely payment for a job done, like any agent working in the government.” Graham retorted. “As for trusting him… I trust him to do what’s right for our country and its people in the spirit of the constitution.”

That ticked the Vice President. “The constitution? Not the government?”

“Captain Wald is distrustful of organizations and governments as a whole. Anything where money and power changes hands.” Hunt explained, speaking for the first time.

Graham supported Hunt’s description of Rick. “And he has every right to. Raccoon City, Umbrella and the United States’ involvement… The leak resulting in the Greenland mission, now this… He has the right amount of paranoia, good and strong principles and is outside the spy and political game. He’s perfect for the job when you can’t trust your entourage. I’d advise you to keep in touch with him for the time you’re sitting behind this desk, Adam. There might come a day when you’d need something done and the Captain would be the only man you can be sure you can trust.”

A thought immediately crossed Adam’s mind. “Are you referring to… what he can do?”

“Yes but no. Captain Wald, even without his abilities, is one very competent agent. In the same vein as Kennedy, perhaps more.”

“Why not recruit him then?” Adam bore a frown of confusion.

Hunt answered before Graham could. “Because Captain Wald is not someone we can control by any means. Force would obviously not work. Blackmail and threats too.”

“Hostage?”

The VP got a shake of the head. “You’ll just pissed him off and he won’t stop until every single person involved is dead if we so much as touch a single hair of his loved ones.”

“Yet you commanded him for five years.”

“I didn’t.” Hunt replied firmly. “Wald humored me. You may have noticed that he called me by my name and not my rank. Sure, we have a good and cordial relationship but he’s still unhappy with me and the way I forcefully recruited him. Walker is the one he respects and obeys to.”

Graham explained himself. “This is why I sent her to get him. I knew he wouldn’t refuse her.” He began to chuckle. “I’m the head of the military and yet she was the only person in the room he had some respect for. It is both displeasing and humorous.”

“That’s because he sees you as a person before seeing you as the president, sir.” Hunt confirmed.

“Well… At least he acknowledges me.”

“I feel like he’s given more importance than he’s worth.” Adam confessed.

Hunt looked at the president knowingly but stayed silent. Graham knew what that look meant.

“I haven’t briefed Adam about that part, yet.”

Adam Benford didn’t know what this was about but he could tell it seemed bigger than Rick being a mutant who could crush every single soldier in the country and effortlessly. Considering how mind blowing Rick’s existence was, he mentally prepared himself for taking a few strong drinks tonight after getting home.