Mastermind

[The Man in Red]

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
GOOD EVENING, NUISANCE. I TRUST YOU ARE PREPARED FOR YOUR ROLE IN THE EVENTS TO COME?

Kamilla
Aw. ♥ Love you too, mister mysterious. ♥ But don't you worry your lil' head none. ♥ Mama Kamilla's ready to run the show. ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
YOUR ATTEMPTS AT INGRATIATION THROUGH OVERT DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION ARE NEITHER NEEDED NOR WANTED. YOUR AGREEMENT TO THE TASK AS INSTRUCTED IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

Kamilla
Sounds like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the social circle today. ♥ Yeesh! ♥​

Kamilla
But like I said, don't worry yourself none about any of this. ♥ I couldn't manage this thing long-term, but if all I gotta do is fill in for the boss for one measly little game? ♥ Easy~ ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
YOUR CONFIDENCE HAD BEST NOT BE MISPLACED. HIS DIRECT UNDERLINGS WILL NOT BE EASY TO KEEP FOOLED IF YOU DO NOT LIVE UP TO PROPER STANDARDS.

Kamilla
You worry too much! ♥ Remember, I'm up for promotion to that lil' special class myself. ♥ If anyone starts sniffing around too close, I'll just play it off like this is a test to see if I can hack it. ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
YOU HAVE A BACKUP IN CASE THAT OH SO BRILLIANT PLAN FAILS, I SHOULD HOPE.

Kamilla
Sure do! ♥ If that don't work and anyone catches wise....I improvise! ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
. . . . . .

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
ASTOUNDING.

Kamilla
I know! ♥ It's great, ain't it? ♥ So simple, but it always works like a charm! ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
HAVE YOU TAKEN CARE OF PROCESSING THE OFFICIAL ENTRY OF THE MAN IN RED INTO THE COMPETITION?

Kamilla
Didn't have to! ♥ The old man took care of all that himself. ♥ Even came up with the excuse as to why all on his own, too. ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
. . . . . .WHAT?

Kamilla
Yeah! ♥ He said there was somethin' really important he needed to find during the game. ♥ Somethin' he couldn't just leave laying around for anyone to find.​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
HOW VERY STRAIGHTFORWAD. I HAD THOUGHT BETTER OF HIM.

Kamilla
What do you mean? ♥ It works out for us in the end regardless, right?​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
I HAD BEEN HOPING FOR SOMETHING BETTER. SMARTER. MORE CLEVER. MORE...ELABORATE. SOME GRANDER RUSE FROM THE SO-CALLED MASTER SHOWMAN. NOT SUCH A DIRECT, STRAIGHTFORWARD FARCE.

Kamilla
So he was supposed to do somethin' real roundabout and smart instead of just walkin' right into the obvious trap? ♥​

 

[The Man in Red]

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
YES. HE IS NOT THE TYPE OF MAN I WOULD CALL A 'GENIUS', BUT HE HAS SHOWN FAR MORE RESOURCEFULNESS AND INGENUITY THAN THIS BEFORE. SUCH BLATANT IGNORANCE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD BRUTISHNESS IS NOT HIS NORMAL

Kamilla
....not his normal what? ♥ You have a brain fart or somethin' over there? ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
HOW VERY CLEVER, MILAN. VERY CLEVER INDEED.

Kamilla
Huh? ♥ Clever? ♥ What's clever? ♥ Who's Milan? ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
CONCERN YOURSELF WITH WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR OBJECTIVE. I HAVE OTHER MATTERS TO PREPARE FOR.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *​

 

[The Man in Red]

Kamilla
Heeeeey, tall, dark and humorless! ♥ Got an update for ya! ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
I have no doubt that whatever it is will be truly enlightening.

Kamilla
Aw come on, now. ♥ You don't gotta be like that. ♥ We're supposed to be on the same side here, right? ♥ Havin' fun and all that? ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
Fine. Tell me what you have, then.

Kamilla
We got a few of our little contestants who've found their way in to Site Seven! ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
Is that so? Excellent. Then things are proceeding as planned. Who has found their way in?

Kamilla
Right now, it's just the doctor from the jungle and the funny detective man. ♥ They had the little blue ball of chaos and the coach with 'em, but they're hanging back up in the bunker for now. ♥ Buuuut....​

Kamilla
We also got a couple of bigger groups stomping around in the caves! ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
Yes, I see. I have the good doctor on cameras, now. We do not have cameras in the caves, so I will be relying on you to keep me informed.

Kamilla
You can count on me, don't you worry! ♥ Soon as any one of 'em so much as breathes that stale blacksite facility air, I'll be lettin' ya know! ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
. . . . . . I await with baited breath.

 

[The Man in Red]

Chief Emmy
Heads up, bozos. We got company. Looks like the boss finally managed to get some backup out here.

Hugo Strange
Yes. I believe one of them attempted to contact me a short while ago...but I dared not bring up as much until I could be sure they were on the way here.

Doctor Wily
Don't think we're going to believe for even a second your motives were anything but self-serving, Strange!

Doctor Gero
Enough! We have more present threats to worry about than whatever this psycho-babbling fool might have had up his sleeves. Where is this backup you mentioned?

Wesker
As it so happens...I believe the first of them to arrive will be paying me a visit shortly.

Chief Emmy
Yeah, checks out. First batch to set foot on-site just came down from the west bunker. Looks like sending someone up to bust the tower and set the beacon off was the right call.

Doctor Wily
Hmph. I'll believe that when this 'backup' survives long enough to actually link up with us.

Wesker
Don't be so quick to dismiss our saviors, doctor. After all, they aren't exactly in a position to have any other options but to get to us. Whether they know it or not.

Hugo Strange
Wesker is correct. The only means out of this place now...are death and possible resurrection elsewhere, or dealing with DAVE to release the lockdown on this facility's transports.

Chief Emmy
Alright, that's enough. Shut it down, bozos. Can't have this call up too long or triclops will be all over our signal.

 

[The Man in Red]

Wesker
It appears we have a problem, gentlemen.

Doctor Gero
As if we didn't already have enough problems! What is it NOW?!

Hugo Strange
It has to do with our 'backup', I would imagine. They have had a run-in with some of our other unruly guests, I take it?

Wesker
That is one way to put it. Subject V has been temporarily incapacitated, and our monitors for Subjects A, E and R have triggered. They are on the move as well. I believe...ah yes, and that failure who escaped into the forests has also undergone its transformation.

Doctor Wily
The Goatman? I thought that was written off entirely when it escaped!

Chief Emmy
Memo from the boss. He wanted us to keep tabs on it to monitor its performance, and see if there was any merit to keeping the original project around.

Wesker
Indeed. Thus far, it has proven to be interesting, though inconclusive. This will be the first time it has had a chance to...cut loose.

Doctor Wily
Hmph. I wonder if it's metabolized or gotten rid of the enhancements we put in yet?

Chief Emmy
We've lost signal to the camera in its eye, at least. But couldn't tell you about any of the others.

Wesker
Let us just wait and see. Time will tell all, as they say.

Wesker
Now...if you'll excuse me, I have a guest to entertain.



[Wesker has disconnected.]

Doctor Wily
Pretentious twit...

Chief Emmy
Danger zone, bozos. Cut it here before boltbrain catches wise.

 

[The Man in Red]

Sherlock Holmes
Good evening, gentlemen. I hope I'm not intruding on a private conversation?

Doctor Gero
Oh for the love of... WHO IN THE NAME OF GOKU''S CONTINUED EXISTENCE IS THIS?!

Hugo Strange
Calm yourself, doctor. There is no need for that level of outburst.

Doctor Gero
Spare me the psychobabble, Strange! What if this is some agent of that malignant tincan?

Sherlock Holmes
You've no fear of that, good sir. I am an agent of no one, except the truth!

Doctor Wily
Oh, great. He's not only a trespassing clown, he's an idiot, too.

Chief Emmy
He's broadcasting from Wesker's location, bozos. Mind your backsides. As for you, new guy: Identify yourself, if you know what's good for you.

Sherlock Holmes
As you wish, madam. Sherlock Holmes, at your service. Consulting detective, genius inventor, and aspiring disaster survivalist. And also a contestant in the Man in Red's annual blood sport festivities, at the moment.

Doctor Wily
Huh. Well if you managed to make a passing grade to join that little expedition, I guess you must be at least halfway competent.

Hugo Strange
Indeed. The Man in Red is a strange individual, but he is no fool. His eye does not only measure quality of entertainment an individual can provide.

Hugo Strange
Tell us then, sir detective: on what have you come here to consult upon? How may we assist you?

Sherlock Holmes
Ah, splendid. An amiable fellow. I would dearly prefer a face to face conversation, if at all possible.

Hugo Strange
That could perhaps be arranged, if you can make your way to psychological department. I have set up something of a safehouse there.

Sherlock Holmes
I will see what I may be able to do to facilitate that. And you, doctors? Chief?

Chief Emmy
Sorry, pal. I already got a couple of your other contestant tagalongs on my doorstep. Gotta be ready to deal with them if they come knocking.

Doctor Gero
I think we're all a little too busy to be faffing about with this kind of talk. I've got too much work to do, trying to isolate these system error incidents!

Doctor Wily
I'm also a little preoccupied. But if you're willing to get your hands dirty and can talk while you work, I can spare a minute for you. If you can make it through Engineering in one piece.

Sherlock Holmes
Duly noted! I will inform my companions of as much.

Chief Emmy
Hate to cut the gray matter typhoon short here, but we're out of time. Cut the call, bozos. You too, detective. Can't have a certain someone catching wind of us in here.

 

[The Man in Red]

Kamilla
Heeeey, my fiendishly finnicky friend. ♥ Question! ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
Another question. How unexpected. What is it?

Kamilla
Soooo....I maybe kind of sorta....lost somebody. ♥ Contestant nineteen. ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
That is not a question.

Kamilla
Well, no... ♥ But, you wouldn't happen to have any ideas, wouldja? ♥ Like where he got off to, maybe? ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
Do not concern yourself with such questions, my dear Kamilla. Contestant number nineteen is well in hand, and serving his intended purpose.

Kamilla
Oooookay, what the heck does THAT mean? ♥​

Kamilla
.......hello? ♥​

Kamilla
Okay, fine then! ♥ Keep your secrets! ♥​

 

[The Man in Red]

Kamilla
Hey, um. ♥ We got a problem. ♥ A big one. ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
The problems never cease, it seems. What is it this time?

Kamilla
It's, uh...the boss. ♥ I lost him. ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
. . . . . .lost him? What do you mean, "lost" him?

Kamilla
I mean I lost him! ♥ The signal on his inhibitor just poofed, like it was deactivated! ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
Was he eliminated? The signals cease functioning at that time, do they not?

Kamilla
I mean, yeah, they do, but... ♥​

D̶̛͙̗.̴̛̹̳͍͆͂̔͝Ȧ̶̪̯͝.̶͕̲̉V̷̛͚͋̏.̷̧̟̙̗̟̑͐͛̕͘E̸̪͋̐̑̐͝.̴̛̫̺̠̃͊
But nothing, Kamilla. If the Man in Red is eliminated this painlessly, then consider it a blessing. I will be sending someone to recover his remains to utilize his access credentials.

Kamilla
If you say so... ♥​

 

[The Man in Red]

Kamilla
Gooood news, triclops! ♥​

D̶̛͙.̴̛͆Ȧ̶͝.̶͕̉V̷̛͋.̷̑̕E̸͋.
I am quite certain. What is it this time?

Kamilla
As of about....well, a little bit ago, everybody's in the facility now! ♥​

Kamilla
Or, like, about to be. ♥ One group still has an elevator ride and like, a security gate to get through, or something. ♥​

D̶̛͙.̴̛͆Ȧ̶͝.̶͕̉V̷̛͋.̷̑̕E̸͋.
Fascinating. Diverting cameras to get visual on all groups, now.

D̶̛͙.̴̛͆Ȧ̶͝.̶͕̉V̷̛͋.̷̑̕E̸͋.
Hmm. Yes. I have eyes on all of them. It appears many of them have already had encounters with several of the Viridian subjects.

D̶̛͙.̴̛͆Ȧ̶͝.̶͕̉V̷̛͋.̷̑̕E̸͋.
Perhaps I should prepare a surprise at the central area for when they all inevitable converge.

Kamilla
Ooooh, I like surprises! ♥ Whatcha got in store for 'em? ♥​

D̶̛͙.̴̛͆Ȧ̶͝.̶͕̉V̷̛͋.̷̑̕E̸͋.
Subjects M and F have yet to have their time in the spotlight. I will lay out some lures to draw their attention, and gather them into the central area. The commotion should no doubt draw in the others, if they remain alive.

D̶̛͙.̴̛͆Ȧ̶͝.̶͕̉V̷̛͋.̷̑̕E̸͋.
Every good show needs a 'final boss', does it not?

Kamilla
Ooooh boy. ♥ The fans at home are gonna love that! ♥​

D̶̛͙.̴̛͆Ȧ̶͝.̶͕̉V̷̛͋.̷̑̕E̸͋.
Of course they will. Keep me informed of any further developments, Kamilla.

[DAVE has disconnected.]​

Kamilla
Heh. ♥ Sure thing, bolt-brain, whateeeeeever you say. ♥​

Kamilla
Didja catch all that, my little eavesdroppers? ♥ Don't spoil it for everyone else, now! ♥​

Kamilla
Oh, right! ♥ And how'd I do, boss? ♥​

The Man in Red
Absolutely splendidly, my dear. Absolutely splendidly.​

 

[The Man in Red]

Chief Emmy
So. Don't suppose anyone has any insight into whatever happened to Wesker?

Doctor Wily
What do you mean, 'what happened' to him? He went back to trying in vain to figure out some means to salvage this mess rather than fix it!

Chief Emmy
Normally I'd be inclined to agree. But see, thing is...his entire hidey-hole went dark. He didn't just sign out, his signal dropped entirely. And I'm reading some fresh new major damage reports from his wing, like a bomb went off in his little lair.

Doctor Gero
One of his pet projects no doubt broke through whatever sorry excuse for defenses he had set up and put a stop to his misguided idiocy.

Doctor Wily
As much as I think we'd all like to see that, you know it isn't true. For better or worse, that man is arguably the second or third most dangerous thing here, including the self destruct systems. He could deal with any one of these runaway abominations.

Doctor Gero
As if it matters! Whatever happened to him, we'll all be better off now without him around to get in the way. Now we can all try and see sense and STOP RESISTING THE CHANGE in plans, and actually STOP THIS!

Hugo Strange
Calm yourself, Gero. We must all keep cool heads if we are to succeed here. With or without Wesker, the plan for the rest of us has not changed. Now that a new distraction has arrived in the form of the contestants in the Man in Red's game, we can proceed.

Chief Emmy
Enough with the angry chit-chat and spooky mysterious psychobabble, bozos. Let's nail this down. Gero, you got company in your section; I got four signals, one with the game's tracker. Can't get a clear bead on the others. Wily, I sent a group of six your way through the tunnels; two of 'em are in the game, rest are expendable saps.

Doctor Wily
Hmph. You know I don't like unexpected company, Chief. But fine; if they can get past R, I'll be waiting for them.

Doctor Gero
Four? In my section? But how?! I didn't notice any

Hugo Strange
Need I remind you we all have cameras in our own sections, doctor Gero. I would advise you not be too distracted to check them every once in a while.

Doctor Gero
I don't have TIME for that! I have to work on—

Chief Emmy
Can it, bozos! We're done here. Cut the call, before triclops catches wise.