Resident Evil 3.5 - Descension

1 - Forgetting Rachel

Chris tried to hastily pack his thing. Normally it wouldn't be that hard, since Raccoon City he packed light. But his head was swirling with thoughts and flashbacks. Another virus? Another outbreak? Another Raccoon City?

Barry had informed him on what little he knew. A friend of his brother who was head of the Special Response Team - an elite group similar to STARS, contacted him about a current case that not only involved some sort of viral outbreak, but one that Barry might have some expertise in. Which only meant one thing. Zombies. Apparently a local police officer picked up a supposed intoxicated man, who then bit him. And as a normal human reaction, panicked and went straight to the Hospital. Not knowing that the disorderly man - and now he, was infected with a virus that brought the dead back to life. But no one knew if the viral strain was the same one from the Arklay Mountains or a new strain.

Given what was involved, Rebecca Chambers had also been contacted prior to him. And was at the scene running tests on an infected body - someone who somehow managed to escape; turned, and tried to attack a member of the quarantine team but was shot down.

Barry couldn't get hold of Jill and asked Chris if he could contact her instead. But from what Chris knew, a week prior someone had got to Jill before they could. A guy called Carlos Riviera. From Chris' understanding, he was a member of the UBCS - Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service, who helped her out of the city and in turn, was shown Umbrella's true colours. Chris never met Carlos, but according to Jill he was a smooth talker with an attitude - but he had a good heart. Despite being from Umbrella, if he helped Jill and earned her trust, he was okay in his books. He just wished he had her to depend on during this time, but he knew she was doing good work wherever she was.

As he finished packing what little he had, another person then entered his mind. He subconsciously took his phone from his pocket and scrolled through his contacts, landing on a Lockwood, Rachel.

FLASHBACK

Chris nursed his black coffee with no sugar, his attention continuously caught every time the bell from the diner door rang. It was never someone he recognised, but every time he would look back down at the reflection in his mug he felt his heart race a little faster, his throat get a little tighter, his palms sweat a little. He felt like a young boy on his first date. He then hung on the last word. Date. Was this a date? Would she think it was a date? They had talked about it but never made any official plans. What if there was a misunderstanding? Would she get angry and storm off? Make a scene? She was good at that. But given how they left things when they last met face-to-face, he made sure to explain over the phone that it was all a lie to keep her safe, and now that Umbrella had been disbanded he could give her solid proof. Though whether he still had her trust or not, he was about to find out.

The bell rang again and heal most didn't look, but when he caught the pale skin, dark wavy hair and awkward movement, he knew who it was immediately. He stood up, like he did when a superior walked into the STARS office, like he did on a date to show respect. The young woman saw him and made a B-line for him. And before he could do or say anything else, she wrapped her arms around him. And without a second thought, he held her back tightly.
"It's so good to see you, flyboy." Spoke Rachel.
Hearing her nickname for him made him sigh in relief. "You too."
"I thought-"
"I know. You two."
After what felt like a minute go by, they broke apart and Chris went back to formalities. Gesturing the empty seat to her as she sat down, then he sat down himself and the two just gazed at each other.
"How have you been?" He asked.
"...surviving."
He wasn't sure if she was joking or not. "Uhh, can I get you a drink?"
"Rum and coke?"
"You're drinking now? Last I checked you were still 19."
"It was a joke."
He lowered his head and smiled. "Right."
"Sorta."
He looked up at her and laughed. He had said it before, seldom did people abide underage drinking laws. Including himself. He wasn't surprised that Rachel was on that list too.
"Coffee will do."
Chris nodded and hailed the waitress over. "Can I get a coffee with cream and two sugars. And a refill. "He finished with lifting his own mug.
"Of course." Smiled the waitress as the waitress topped up his mug before fetching a mug for Rachel.
"I'm shocked you remembered." She playfully quipped.
"As shocked as I am on how you managed to track me down, despite going into hiding."
She smiled back as the waitress brought her drink and left.
Chris rubbed his neck. "If I had known you were alive, I would've-"
"I know."
"I have to say, I know- STARS had nothing to do with Rac-" Responding to the rumour that was spread to cover up what really happened to his home town. From an "unknown source" who they believed to be Umbrella, the papers were told that the STARS members had a history of drugs and alcohol, on top of their delusions of grandure. And were connected to the nine cannibalistic murders, that began the investigation to begin with. And the only reason they were blaming Umbrella for the incident, was due to funding disputes. As time went on, the surviving members of STARS lost more and more support, including the RPD itself. No doubt Umbrella greasing more palms, like they had done Chief Irons, or resorting to Blackmail like they had done Barry. Eventually, STARS were disbanded. Due to the outbreak, the city was deemed untenable, and the President authorized the bombing of the city with experimental thermobaric weapons, resulting in the near-total loss of the city's population. Following the bombing, successive administrations maintained a cover-up to protect national security due to both the sensitive and defamatory nature of the US' involvement in illegal bioweapons research in the city. A CDC exclusion zone 200 miles wide was maintained for many years after, and the few survivors were left struggling in a series of lawsuits for compensation.