“…working for your father. That is, I work for his employers.”
Mona blinked. “Huh? You work for the medical company?”
“Well, yes, kinda,” Mona sighed. “Your father’s company actually researches much more than medicine. A lot more. And a lot of it is outside of the public eye: weapons, secret technology, super-viruses.”
Jamie tried to lighten the mood with a chuckle. “Okay, I’m getting some strong Umbrella vibes here.”
“You wouldn’t be that far off,” Mei replied.
“Are you telling me my father’s company caused this epidemic!?” Mona demanded.
Mei shook her head. “No, the cause of that’s still a mystery, but they did have some warning, enough to try researching a cure. Mona’s father made a partial breakthrough at his home lab, but it had too many flaws as you’ve experienced already. He simply stuck it in a drawer and tried to think up something else at the workplace. Unfortunately, the outbreak happened far sooner than predicted, and the failure became our best bet. Dr. Grant was caught in the lockdown and his neighborhood was deemed too dangerous to send a retrieval team.”
Turning her gaze to Mona, she smiled warmly. “Nobody anticipated his daughter would smuggle the vaccine out of the danger zone. With some help, of course.”
“So, what’s your role in all this? And what were you trying to accomplish here?” Cailin asked.
“I’m a bodyguard, mostly,” Mei replied. “My whole family works for the company, and I was kind of raised for the job.”
“But we met when we were little,” Mona said.
“Both our fathers arranged it. Under the watchful eyes of the company, of course. We were always meant to be friends. And we are, Mona. Believe me.” Mei’s voice shook a little. “Job or no job, I would die protecting you.”
“And trying to kill our driver would protect her how?” Cailin cut in.
Turning back to her, Mei shrugged. “Oh, that was just orders.” She reached into her pocket and brought out a small cell phone. “I’ve been in touch with the company for a while now. Once we got outside of the danger zone, they ordered me to get us ready to be picked up by a retrieval team. They’ll be here any moment now, armed with much bigger guns than that one you’re holding. Soon, Mona and the vaccine will be reunited with her father.”
“So, you were going to kill the rest of us? Silence all witnesses?”
“No. You’re too valuable. Mona’s father will want to observe you for data, take a few samples. Don’t worry. We’ll be treated well.” Mei sighed before gesturing towards their driver. “He, on the other hand, is not worth much to the company, I’m afraid. In fact, when the retrieval team gets here, they’ll probably kill him anyway.”
“Like hell they will!” The black man spat.
“Can’t we just let him go?” Cailin offered. “He can just get in his van and drive off. We’ll stay here and wait. No one has to die.”
The Asian girl rubbed her forehead. “I hate to sound cliché, but he’s seen too much. The company won’t let him go for long.”
Cailin bit her lip. Things had certainly turned upside down really quickly.
“Whatever you decide, do it fast,” Mei added. “The team’s almost here.”
Sure enough, a distant hum of approaching helicopters could be heard. That should the group do?