March 9, 2009.

The harsh sound of helicopter blades churning the warm West African air was all that broke the silence- it wasn't awkward, but instead, a still moment. Directing the chopper was Josh Stone, Delta squad leader and faithful friend to the heroic BSAA agents aboard. Chris Redfield, Sheva Alomar, and Jill Valentine had survived the terrifying ordeal of the Uroboros threat, with none other than the infamous Albert Wesker at the root of it all. The final showdown took place not long ago, inside an active volcano after Wesker's bomber plane had crash landed, being infiltrated and deactivated by the duo. After seemingly defeating the transformed Wesker, having infected himself with the Uroboros virus, they finished him off with two rocket propelled grenades and made their escape. The nightmare, it appeared, was over.

At least this nightmare…at least for now.

The fatigued soldiers of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA) hovered peacefully above the Atlantic, letting the minutes pass by as they stared out at the vastness of the sea, the fleeting sunset sitting on the horizon. Leaving the volcanic island behind, it seemed their journey was finally over. But inner turmoil erupted in two former partners- Jill Valentine was weak in body, but her mind was strong and racing with thoughts and memories she only hoped to escape. She was far more tired than she let on- but she didn't want to worry anyone, and naturally, Jill thought of herself last. She hadn't been fighting Wesker, but she was drained from her earlier encounter. She kept a faint smile on her pink lips as she let her mind wander, trying to take it all in. But her thoughts seemed to meld together sloppily, and she soon found herself nodding off. As she struggled to stay conscious, she looked to the handsome man across from her. Her eyes traveled over Chris- it was all she could do to keep awake. With a sigh, she had unzipped her battle suit to let her injuries breathe- her exposed chest was covered in deep, raw wounds that burned and ached painfully, but she made an effort to block out the sensation. The inferno eventually turned to a potent tingling, and she found herself thankful for the physical relief. When Chris had forcefully ripped the P30 device out of her, it was the worst feeling she had ever experienced- the chords ran far into the cavity of her upper body, mercilessly weaved through cartilage, muscle and bone. Even now, she could feel the warm, wet blood oozing from the gashes- the strong breeze from the helicopter certainly didn't help as it rapidly chilled the thick liquid on its way downward, making her shiver. But she needed to wait- she knew how to deal with pain, ignoring the stinging and tenderness until she was numb- and she utilized her skills the best she could to keep going. She wanted to talk, to say more…she had a million things to tell, but her throat was dry and scratchy. Patience would be her companion for now, but she would look forward to filling Chris in on everything when she could- if it were simply the two of them, at first. She wasn't ready to share what had happened with everyone else, but eventually, she knew it would be inevitable.

Jill wasn't aware of it, but Chris had had his eyes fixed on her for most of the ride, and they kept there as he analyzed her facial expressions, her gleaming cerulean eyes that he knew sealed away all of her emotions. He wanted to scoop her up and hold her in his arms again, but instead he swallowed and averted his gaze. His jaw clenched as he longed to be closer to her, but work came first, and for the time being, so did recovery. He watched as Jill finally fell asleep, her head back against the cold interior of the aircraft. Chris himself knew some downtime would do him well, but he felt a compulsion to watch over Jill. Sheva, picking up on this, smiled softly at him.

"She'll be alright…"

She told him calmly, and he forced a smile back at her, not quite believing her words. Sheva didn't push on to comfort him- she knew how much he cared for the woman, and that he'd always be worried about her safety. As she stared at Chris, his sights elsewhere, she could feel the familiar twinge of sadness. The feeling surprised her, and she ran her fingers through her dark hair. Had she grown too attached…? She had to admit that Mr. Redfield had a certain charm about him, but she had become fond of him, emotionally involved- it was a careless mistake. But how could she not become close to him after having been through so much and fighting together…? They were partners and friends, and a strong bond of trust had formed between them. So why did it scare her that he would have to leave? Perhaps she wasn't professional enough, but the damage had been done. She bit down on her bottom lip as her brow furrowed delicately- she would certainly miss him when he returned to the States. He was someone she would never forget.

Deciding to focus on something else, Sheva directed her attention to Josh. She was worn out, but managed to keep upright and alert- and she wanted to stay that way.

"Josh, what's our first stop…?"

The pilot didn't look back, focused on the chopper's controls as they made a turn, changing direction to drift above Africa's familiar western region.

"I think it best we rest up and take care of the basics first. There's a small facility by HQ, they should have provisions there so the three of you can get cleaned up, fed and treated for your injuries."

Sheva raised an eyebrow in question.

"And what about you…?"

Josh finally turned, smiling warmly at his subordinate.

"I'll be taken care of. I have to report back to Headquarters before I can get comfortable."

Sheva frowned; she was unhappy with his task, but knew it had to be done.

"In that case I hope you get out quickly. You might not have been with us through everything, but I know the hell you and the rest of the team had to go through."

Her eyes were downcast sadly as she remembered her fallen comrades.

"Delta and Alpha Team…they gave their lives for us- may they rest in peace."

Captain Stone nodded solemnly, going back to his duty of navigation while Sheva sighed and lowered her head.

Maybe now wasn't the time to talk, but the somber atmosphere didn't seem to fit. They had just defeated Wesker, who by the sounds of it had been a perpetual danger to Chris, his teammates, and humankind since long ago. She remembered Chris promising to tell her his history with him- how it all began. But telling by his appearance, he wasn't in the mood to tell stories. However, she was able to recall the Chris she had worked with, her partner throughout this terrorizing experience. Never before had she met a man so brave- he was truly deserving of the title "Hero." And beneath it all, as hard as Chris tried to hide it, he had a soft and gentle heart. Without question, he was the most caring person she had ever met- and she knew that would remain a truth for the entirety of her life. Bits and pieces of his true self had been revealed throughout their journey, but it was undeniable as she watched him finally reunite with the person he had been searching for- and it had amazed her. How lucky Jill was, she thought. Their relationship wasn't quite clear to her, but she knew certain lines had been blurred- she could tell by the look in Chris' eyes, how his entire being seemed at ease whenever she was near.

This wasn't absent in Jill either- she seemed to feel the same, as if she were the safest person in the world within Chris's arms. It was odd, but she knew it had to be love. If she remembered correctly, Jill had been missing for about two years- but one would never guess that any separation of the two had taken place. Time appeared to have done nothing but strengthen their relationship. It was remarkable. And now, Sheva wanted to know not only of Chris's history with Wesker, but of his with Jill as well. It was impossible not to sense it.

-

Sheva's mental observations were interrupted however as Josh informed the crew that they had finally reached the base. Once they had cautiously landed within the perimeter, she wasted no time getting out of the helicopter to stretch. Josh followed shortly, but Jill and Chris weren't as lively- seizing the opportunity, he rushed to carry Jill in his strong arms, cradling her small frame. Josh offered to take her, but Chris politely declined.

"Let me have a look at her then."

Chris was reluctant, but he allowed Josh to examine her- after removing his gloves, the captain took her pulse and felt her forehead with the back of his calloused hand.

"She has a bit of an abnormal pulse and may be running a fever, but other than that I believe she just needs some sleep. Take her to the medical wing in the facility; they will take care of her there."

"Alright."

Chris replied, somewhat relieved. He was unsure of what to expect. It would be best if he handed her over to trained doctors and nurses- he knew that- but his overprotective nature kept him from easily letting go. He had lost her once, and it wasn't about to happen again.

"Strong girl."

Josh slid his hands back into his thick gloves, and Chris lowered his eyes, the side of his mouth pulling up in a reminiscent smile. She was a strong woman, and Chris knew this best. Independent and self-assured, Jill was always confident in her every decision. Even in danger, as others fell apart it was Jill who was able to make a vital choice. She was smart, perceptive, and dedicated, using her keen intuition to keep moving forward. She never faltered and she never gave up.

She even held him together. Chris laughed to himself, looking down at the serenity that seemed to emanate from Jill's form. She was something else- that was for sure.

Regrouping, he and Sheva made their way to the facility, Jill still in Chris's unyielding embrace.

As they neared the building, a military staff member stationed nearby was there to show them inside- pushing through the heavy metal doors, they had finally reached their refuge. The tour was short- it wasn't much, but they had showers, a small cafeteria, bathrooms, and bunks to sleep in. That was more than enough for them.

"Thanks."

Sheva's words of gratitude were fully appreciated, and within only minutes of walking inside they were on a soft, clean bed inside their bunk, another assembled sturdily above them. Almost as a welcoming touch, it appeared an oil lamp on the table had been recently lit. It added a homey feeling to the room- it was much needed, helping the soldiers to unwind.

Sheva's head hit the pillow exuberantly before anything more could be said, and a sigh of contentment escaped her.

"Finally…we can get some rest."

Chris nodded thankfully; his eyes were bright as he stared at nothing in particular.

"Guess that means I'm on top."

Sheva scolded herself as she blushed childishly, but she was comforted by her caramel skin and propped her head up in a cheerful manner.

"It really doesn't matter to me, as long as I can get a few hours of sleep."

Sheva sat up and began removing her gear, and Chris nodded before looking down at Jill, who he had now positioned on his lap.

"Yeah…too bad these beds aren't any bigger. Realistically, I think I'm stuck on the floor."

Chris wasn't upset- the circumstances more than called for it, and he would happily give up a bed for both Jill and Sheva. He smiled faintly, and the room was quiet for a few minutes. Sheva let her equipment drop to the floor, and she glanced at Jill's body, motionless in Chris' hold.

"Here."

Sheva stood, kindly offering her previous spot. It was easier to get to than the top bunk- and she knew she didn't need that comfort as nearly as much as Jill did.

"I'll be in the washroom. We can finally get comfortable, so I'd think about removing your kneepads and such. Trust me, it feels a lot better."

She gave Chris a quick smile and began to head out, but stopped briefly as Chris struggled for words.

"Sheva…thanks."

She nodded and walked off, leaving him and Jill together in the dimly lit room. There were no windows, and there wasn't much space, but Chris didn't mind. Anything was better than 'camping out' for short hours around nightfall in the African heat, Kijuju stretching far with parasite-infected enemies and numerous B.O.W.'s lurking around the corner. His knife was practically glued to his hand, ready to attack or defend himself at any given moment, and naturally, sleep had hardly graced him.

-

The Kijuju Autonomous Zone (KAZ) otherwise referred to as Kijuju, had been a new breed of hell, and there had been no time for breaks. Chris was relieved to be away from the chaos, yet he was far from an untroubled mind.

Umbrella's abandoned base in Africa had been taken over by Tricell, who added their own research facilities even deeper beneath the ruins of an ancient civilization. It had been an alarming discovery, and their revealed plans continued to plague him. However, the evidence against Tricell was unmistakable. If they hadn't already, they would get what was coming to them. He very well might become a crucial part in their downfall. Just like Umbrella, he thought. But, as Umbrella had, he assumed Tricell had most likely scattered by now, leaving bio-weapons in the hands of even more people. It was bad enough that Umbrella's twisted products were in wrong hands and still being sold and distributed- but now Tricell's creations were out there as well.

As for the company itself, Chris knew the allegations would destroy them completely, even if parts of Tricell had no involvement with the projects in Africa. A wild goose chase for Tricell employees and bio-weaponry was set. Uroboros had been produced in great quantities, and other hazardous Progenitor Virus experiments had been conducted, thus resulting in destructive Bio Organic Weapons (AKA B.O.W.'s) and formulas for their production and development. On top of that, it was clear that Wesker was in cahoots with not only Excella- but unknown subjects as well, possibly other officials, who may have aided him in his work. Perhaps they were a part of Tricell, perhaps not, but that meant that Wesker had possibly shared his secrets, allowing bio-weaponry knowledge to spread.

This meant a shipload of problems. More and more problems. Great.

Chris wondered what this meant for the world and the Global Pharmaceutical Consortium (GPC) - it could very well lead to anarchy; the importance of medicine, shipping, and development of natural resources immeasurable for not only civilians, but government as well.

With the threat of Tricell, the GPC was more than likely to become involved. And trouble with the Consortium meant fewer funds for the BSAA- with Tricell's incrimination, financial support for the BSAA would already be limited. He couldn't be sure if they would survive.

But all of that would thankfully come later; and he would make sure of it. The job would get done, he'd see to that, but he knew he shouldn't afflict himself now. As soon as he could, he planned to take swift action against those following treacherously in Umbrella's footsteps. But first, their immediate concerns were themselves. Still, he hoped that military forces would make infiltrating Tricell's research facility a top priority, and take proper action. And he hoped they did it soon.

He knew the images of shriveled corpses tumbling into the dark wouldn't go until they did.