Just a Reminder
(Present Day)
Leon picked up his phone, even before hearing her voice he already knew who it was, "Kennedy speaking?"
"It's Hunnigan, what's your 20?"
"I'm on my way to meet the objective. What's up?"
"Just a reminder, the agency will be contacting you periodically to check on your status."
"10-4" Leon replied.
"Sooo, are you going to tell me who this person is you're assigned to protect?" Ingrid found it strange that her superiors would not divulge any details regarding Leon's assignment to her.
"Let's just say she's a blast from my past."
There was a slight pause before Hunnigan answered again. "It's not Ada Wong is it?" asked Ingrid suspiciously.
She had to bring up Ada didn't she? It was funny that Ingrid would bring up Ada considering that it had been about 3 years since he last saw her. He wondered how much she knew about her.
"What do you know about Ada?" Leon asked
"Not much, that information is classified. But Ashley did mention that you said she was a part of you that you couldn't let go."
Leon released a sigh, "She told you that?" Dammit Ashley!
"Uh, huh"
It was true that Ada was a part of him that he could not let go. He respected and was attracted to her the moment he saw her; she was mysterious, intelligent, confident, lovely and in control. Even though he barely knew her, he held on to the guilt that he couldn't save her from Umbrella, from The Organization, from Wesker, Krauser and from herself. It took him awhile to get over her; it was a pain that he suffered alone. He couldn't share those feelings with Claire. However His perception of her changed long before he was reacquainted with her in Spain, beginning shortly after Leon and Sherry Birkin were rescued by the U.S. Government.
"Since you're my favorite secret service contact, I'll tell you a story." Leon replied
As part of the agreement he had between himself and the U.S. government that if he cooperated and he would be given information regarding Ada Wong. The government kept their promise; a file was given to him, by a woman known only as Sonya. They sat in a cold room, divided only by the steel table in front of them.
"We believe she originated from an orphanage located somewhere in the Chinese countryside. No known family relatives. She is in her late twenties or early thirties. History of her childhood is unknown but we do know that she was adopted around the age of thirteen and was trained as a mercenary for an operation known only as "The Organization". She has been linked to several assassinations, espionage and kidnapping attempts in 6 different countries over the past five years.
Leon looked up at her in disbelief. Sonya continued. "We do know that her last assignment was to infiltrate the Umbrella laboratories to steal the T-Virus in which she did succeed. Satellite pictures show another survivor emerging from Raccoon City before the bomb detonated and destroyed the laboratory. However, it looks like you and Claire unknowingly thwarted her other assignment, which was to kidnap Sherry Birkin"
The woman got up to leave then stopped and turned to Leon, "You said that Claire Redfield had come into contact with Sherry's mother. She described a woman who infiltrated Umbrella to get access to the T virus. The description given to Claire matched Ada Wong's description precisely. You didn't think there was anything odd about that?"
It was then that Leon realized that the Ada Wong he knew in Raccoon City died that night along with the old Leon Kennedy. He regretted putting so much faith into someone he thought he knew. He had promised himself to no longer let his feelings affect his better judgment. He was reminded of those feelings when he saw her again in Spain, but that was all; just a reminder of a memory, nothing more.
"Wow... interesting" replied Ingrid.
"Yup" Leon was thinking of something quick to end the conversation until…
"But you never answered my question. "Said Ingrid
Darn, "No, it's not Ada. Her name is Claire Redfield. She's the sister of BSAA agent Chris Redfield."
"The Claire Redfield?" Leon could tell from the tone of her voice that she was familiar with the name, no doubt from media coverage of the Harvardville incident.
"Heard of her?"
"Only just from what it says in her government file. She was one of the few civilians that survived Raccoon City, Rockford Island and the Harvardville outbreaks. She worked as an agent in the Anti-Umbrella Operative doing reconnaissance and is currently a member of Terra Save."
Leon forgot that the government kept updated records and files of all survivors of Raccoon City incidents.
"That's her."
"Did you know that the agency wanted to recruit her?"
"Yeah, I know. She turned it down. I was there when she did it." Leon tried not to sound disappointed, "It was for the best. She didn't choose her path; she kind of just fell into it. She deserves a better life." When Leon realized his feelings had started to develop into something more it was already too late; Claire had chosen to return and finish college. He was given an amazing opportunity. He chose the latter, albeit, it was not by choice.
That's another story
"You have to introduce me to her one of these days…. and her brother" Ingrid added
Oh Jeeez…what would Jill say? "I will. I think you would like Claire. She's….an amazing woman." She really is Leon thought himself.
Leon could hear the smile in Ingrid's voice "Sounds like you know her pretty well."
"Yeah… I do." From working together in numerous assignments, hanging out during the weekends, watching movies, Friday night dinners—they did spend a lot of time together—but that was some time ago…
"Does she know you have to protect her?"
"No, are you kidding me? She would never just allow me to protect her. " Leon debated whether or not he should tell Claire the real circumstances of the reunion. But he decided against it. What would he tell her? That Wesker might be after her and the president asked him personally to be her bodyguard for an indefinite amount of time?
"So what are you going to do?" replied Ingrid
"Don't worry, I'll figure something out."