Prologue

It was a bit of a late ride when Chris had landed in Afghanistan. He Stepped out of the private plane and saw the bright sunlight of the golden land. He stretched his arms out as he walked down the stairs off of his ride. The first thing he noticed was the cold dry air. It reminded him of when he would go jogging in the morning. It must have been because of how tired he felt.

Chris's clothes did not agree to the sharp chilled air. He wore a dark green T-shirt that had black shoulders and black Jeans. He felt that he should have brought a jacket. Hollywood movies liked to lie about how hot Afghanistan could be.

Behind Chris, he could hear the tacky leather heels of his sister's boots follow him. Much to Chris' chagrin, Claire was not willing to wait in America for Chris to bring Steve back. Plus, after Chris hiding the fact that Steve was alive from Claire, she really did not want to have her brother hide anything else from her, "So why, exactly are we here? You told me Steve was in Chile," Claire spoke softly as she restrained her urge to yawn. She rubbed her eyes and felt the sharp cold chill and had the same situation Chris had. She hugged her shoulders as her thin red sweater did not contain her heat well. Her fitted blue jeans did not help either.

"I did..." Chris spoke up as he walked on ahead towards a basic black car, "But he won't come without a fight. As far as he knows, The BSAA want him dead."

Claire followed and gave a stern glare at her brother as she spoke honestly, "They DO want him dead, Chris."

Chris glared back and gave a sigh, "Claire, I need you to just trust me on this. This decision I'm making isn't exactly easy."

"Which is why I want to help you. You don't have to make these choices alone," Claire walked ahead and got into the passenger seat of the car. She found it slightly frustrating to know how easy it was for Chris to get his hands on a car that was not even in the same country he was in twenty-four hours ago. She buckled herself up.

Chris entered the driver's seat and looked at claire and gave up, "Fine, but I don't want to hear you argue about it. He's the only person who can take Steve in safely."

Claire peak her head into Chris's view, "You really think I can't?" she gave an annoyed tone as if she already knew what Chris might say in response to her sass.

Chris buckled his seatbelt and started the ignition of the rental car and handed her his smartphone. Claire sheepishly took the phone. Chris then adjusted the rearview mirrors and then his seat. He glanced over to Claire only to see her stare at him wide-eyed. Chris stared back in confusion, "...Mm, What?"

Claire's face relaxed into a soft smile and spoke as she looked at the smartphone, "You know... When you got kicked out of the air force, I assumed that you would head back home and visit me in college..." Chris's eyes widened to the memory of being kicked out of the air force. The thought of coming home empty-handed made Chris feel helpless. He averted his gaze from Claire and drove on ahead. Claires finger fidgeted on the glass of the smartphone as she then continued, "So, when you joined some special tactics squad in a small town nearly two states away from home... I was rightfully pissed off. You never gave me your new number, not even an email. You were avoiding me and I knew it. I was planning on visiting Raccoon City before you even told me not to. So, when you told me not to, I was pretty damn determined to know what the hell was going on with my brother."

Chris glanced over to Claire as he focused on driving, "Why are you talking about this?"

Claire gave a soft chuckle and glanced back. Her voice was now soft and gentle, "When you found me on that arctic facility, I noticed the lifelessness in your eyes. Even then, you were different. Acting all gungho already planning to detonate the island all because Wesker was on the island."

Chris protested, "That's not-"

"Yes, it is... You know it is. It just felt like my brother went into the Air Force, and someone else came back. however, when I watched you fidget with the car seat, it reminded me of when you were studying for your driver's license. I realized just now that you did come back. You're just hidden inside this militaristic character you prefer being."

Chris looked shameful as she expressed how she felt towards him. Of course, his sister would be the first to catch on. He gave a heavy sigh as he spoke honestly to Claire, "Of course I hide behind this... Facade. If the whole world knew what I was they wouldn't depend on me."

Claire looked at her older brother and asked, "And what are you?"

Chris spoke honestly as his cold and focused eyes stared into the road ahead, "Tired..."

Claire's eyes widened as she chose to not focus on him. He really is her brother, thinking the weight of the world is his burden alone. She knows damn well Leon act and felt the exact same way. God, forbid she could help them not feel so isolated. Claire looked down at the phone and she was puzzled not knowing the reason Chris handed her the phone, "So, why am I holding your phone?"

Chris glanced over to her and scoffed lightly, "Oh, uh... You see. I gave you the phone because the person we are meeting is not keen on liking me so I hoped you would open the phone and read everything about him so you could help me do that talking. Actually, it's a little too late for that."

Claire glanced at him as he turned and parked the car at an abandoned warehouse in the middle of the cold desert, "Huh? Why's that?"

"Cus, we're here," Chris boldly said as he turned the ignition off.

Sarcastically, Claire spoke as she unbuckled herself from the seat, "Gee, thanks for the heads up."

TAP TAP TAP

The window was being gently tapped by the stock of a pistol. Claire nearly shrieked from the sudden noise but she suppressed her cry as she covered her mouth. Chris and Claire both look to Claire's window and a man with golden-red hair that was slicked back stared into the window with a dumb grin. His sharp chin was lightly pressed to the window as he waved his gloved hand and spoke. His voice was charismatic, sarcastic, and faintly deep for a young man like him, "Hi-ya, neighbor!" The man's sharp blue eyes stared at Claire and gave a kind smile but the moment he looked at the driver's seat his grin shifted to a deeply annoyed glare, "Ahhh... King Jarhead returns," The man then backed off from the window.

The moment Claire could calm down she glared at Chris, "You want help from JAKE?!"

Chris looked back and gave a shrug, "I was expecting you to have read the phone by now," Chris then unbuckled himself and exited the vehicle. Claire then did the same.

Chris glanced around. It was almost as if jake had disappeared out of sight. He then noticed the door of the warehouse slowly closing. Chris walked to the door and Claire followed as she spoke softly, "Are we going to need our guns?"

Chris spoke honestly, "I don't think so, but for the sake of safety, keep the holster unbuckled."

Claire and Chris both unbuckle the latch to their holsters as claire spoke, "Copy. I'll watch you Six," implied to keep an eye out and to watch his back.

Chris nearly froze. The moment she had said "copy" Chris no longer heard his younger sister but a strong and powerful agent. Chris nearly had to hold in the tears as he entered the dark echoey vastness, inside the cold warehouse.

Inside his pocket, Chris pulled out a small strong LED flashlight. With a click, it illuminated what was ahead of them. Chris walked at a bit of a quicker pace now that he could see better.

Upon closer inspection, this warehouse was a fabric warehouse, designed to make basic carpets and blankets. in the center of the warehouse, there was a slight bit of warmth as Jake sat on an army cot. His eyes stared into the gas-powered flame of his portable oven. Next to him was an S&M 909 pistol. Jake spoke as he stayed focus on the small flame, "So is this a whole "Get to know thy enemy" shit, or did you actually have a reason to visit me?"

Chris walked over and stood a few feet away but at the opposite side of the flame. Claire stood next to her brother as she studied the man. As Chris turned off his flashlight, Jakes glanced up to them. Jake wore all black his long sleeves were tucked up to his elbows and his black jeans looked to be covered a layer of dust. The belt that kept his pants on was the only thing that was brown.

The silence was a bit potent as Chris tried to find the words that would not upset Jake. Claire had lost patience and chose to be forthright with Jake, "We have a situation and we know that you are the only one who can help us."

Jake's eyes sharpened on Claire and he spoke to Chris, "Who's the hot stuff in boots?"

Chris gave Jake a glare but Claire tugged faintly at Chris's wrist to calm him down. Before she could respond to him, Jake spoke up again, "Sorry, Fire Head, but I don't care what kind of soldier you are either, so why should I listen to you?"

Claire relaxed and spoke up, "Because, I'm not a soldier like my brother. I'm an agent... Like Sherry," She knew mentioning Sherry would make Jake relax a bit. Sherry told Claire about that whole mission and how it made her feel only a few months back.

Jake's sharp eyes immediately softened as he spoke calmly, "Holy shit, you're Claire Redfield. You're the one who saved Sherry back in Raccoon City."

Claire gave a bright smile and nodded to his statement. Chris gave a soft smile, glad to see that everyone had relaxed.

Jake stood and spoke with confidence, "Alright then, Claire. What can I do for ya?"

Claire gave a soft sigh and looked into Jake's eyes, "I have a friend who needs help, and we think you are the only one who can help him."