Author's notes: Back again, and here to hopefully expand upon the kind of 'prologue' that my first chapter was, and as for chapter length, this one will (hopefully) be longer, cause the first chapter was only an introduction. Thanx, and keep reviewin'

-Dd-

The bullet ripped through the target dead centre, passing through the flimsy cardboard circle to lodge itself deeply within the thick wooden block beyond. Chris smirked, silently congratulating himself as he lowered his gun, re-adjusting his protective muffs as the target automatically reset, replaced by a fresh circle free of bullet holes.

Well, that'll soon change…

Grinning at the notion, Chris pulled the spent cartridge from his custom target handgun, before replacing it with a fresh one. Chris had always been an excellent shot, even through the events at the Spencer Mansion, where that extra degree of accuracy had most likely saved his life. The memory of that night, over two years ago, still haunted every waking moment, like a shadow hanging over him, stunting the beauty of everything he touched.

When he closed his eyes even for a second he could smell that unmistakable stench of rotting, decaying flesh, mixed with the tang of freshly spilled blood, dirt trapped under his fingernails as a shaking hand reached for the next door handle, dreading what was on the other side…

That was in the past. Ancient history to be buried and forgotten. Like the bodies of my friends, buried and forgotten…

Thoughts turning darker, Chris pulled the trigger with a little more malice than was intended, the bullet straying inches from the centre point, once-perfect aim off.

Joseph, Brad, Forest, Enrico, even Claire's friend Steve. All because of Umbrella…

There hadn't been a funeral for any of the deceased STARS members, with events happening so quickly that people didn't give much thought to the bodies of those who had been claimed by the corporation, many of them lying in the places that they had been brutally cut down in. Brutality, a key word when it comes to Umbrella…

Umbrella…

Umbrella was history. After Racoon City, Umbrella's credibility plummeted, with shareholders withdrawing their investments and stock prices plummeting, the corporation was soon declared bankrupt. Too bad soon wasn't soon enough…

Umbrella had done their damage, and by the time the company had finally disbanded hundreds of thousands had been ruthlessly slaughtered by a company that lived and worked in the shadows, killing from the dark. But some good had come of it…

Chris was now second-in-command to Barry, who captained a special branch of SWAT that specialised in stealth operations, called into situations where the army or civilian equivalent were simply too conspicuous. Each one of the ex-STARS team members were given a post, as well as places issued to those select few who had helped along the way. My little sis Claire, my brother-in-law to be Leon, Sherry, training as a recruit, Billy, Becky's other half…

Names. Names of people who were all family to him, people he had come to rely upon, to trust with his life and so much more. Then there was him…

Everyone who new Chris knew who him was. Or as I sometimes call him that piece of shit over there…

Carlos.

Carlos was one member of the team that was not a welcome recruit. In Chris' eyes he was a cocky big head, an arrogant kid, with too much spewing from his mouth that didn't mean shit. A waste of space that could be filled by someone more than worthless. I don't care if he saved her life; he'll never deserve her…

Chris' heart skipped a beat at the mere thought of Jill, bullet once again missing its target as his mind wondered to other things. After Racoon, and the collapse of Umbrella, Carlos had been assigned the position of heavy weapons specialist on the new SWAT team, under the direct command of Chris himself, put there by the recommendations of the very same women in question, having praised Carlos highly for his skill and composure in Racoon City.

That very same 'skill and composure' your pissed at him having, right Redfield?

The truth was that Chris resented Carlos being there for Jill when he wasn't; helping her along the way, providing covering fire, watching her back, lending her ammo, innocently brushing something out of her hair just to touch her, happening to look up when she was climbing a ladder, huddling up…

A sound tore Chris away form his musings, turning around so that the bullet he fired veered off at an angle, this time missing the target completely, embedding itself within the brick wall and causing some of the plaster to crumble to the floor.

"Doesn't look like you're such a hot shot bro, you're losing your touch." Said Claire simply from the doorway, stretching a little higher so she could get a good look at the target in question.

A smile graced Chris' lips as he looked at his sister, her familiar appearance reminding him of the happy times he'd had before Umbrella had infected their world. Appearance wise she hadn't changed; chestnut hair still pulled into its trademark ponytail, grey eyes still wide and innocent, still clothed in that cut-off pink shirt with the words 'let me live' emblazoned on the back. In that aspect she was still the same as she was two years ago, but Chris knew her better than that. He knew that deep down his kid sister had been deeply affected by the disturbing events that had unfolded in Racoon City, emotionally scarred by everything that had happened to her in that short space of time.

To be honest, who isn't scarred?

A glint caught his eye in the artificial light, instantly drawing his eyes to the source.

Well, if she is scarred at least something good came out of it.

Claire insisted that meeting Leon was the best thing that ever could've happened to her, and although Chris was a little 'pissed' at the rookie cop for dating, and later proposing to his sister, he eventually saw how happy Leon made Claire and accepted their relationship. If rather grudgingly.

"Chris," Claire stated, snapping her finger to draw back him back to reality.

"I'm ashamed at you. No snappy retort? No quick joke or insult? God you really must be losing your touch…"

Folding her arms across her chest, Claire raised her eyebrows expectantly, patiently waiting for a suitable witty response that would spark another infamous 'Redfield Debate.' Far form wanting to start one of their bickering sessions, Chris chose to answer her statement seriously, discarding his earmuffs as he set his gun down on the table.

"Well little sis, I guess I really am losing my touch,"

Claire laughed at his response, unfolding her arms and walking a few paces towards him, casually leaning against the protective glass that separated the firing range form the viewing gallery. She shook her head slightly as she looked at him, smile never disappearing form her lips.

"Anyway, I didn't come here to just insult you,"

That'll be a first…

"Ol' Captain Barry wants you in the briefing room ASAP. He needs to see all of us."

Claire paused slightly, a slight cough escaping her throat as if unsure how to word what she was going to say. Chris didn't like the look on her face, the childish smirk long gone.

Can't be that bad surely? If its all of then its gotta be a new mission, maybe a hostage situation. But if that was all she wouldn't have that fucking look on her face cause we've done that type of shit before, no problem. It's probably…

"Jill gone. She's not at home and half of her equipment's been cleared from the locker room."

Chris's guts suddenly felt like lead weights, a knot rising to the back of his throat as he visibly swallowed, the words not completely registering, his legs visibly weakening as he tried to hold himself up.

Jill gone. How can she just fucking go…? How can a person just evade all detection and leave…?

Chris felt stupid even a second after thinking it, almost hitting himself at the idiocy of his thoughts, reminding himself of who he was talking about. This is Jill. You remember now, the ex-thief Jill? The master of unlocking, the one-person you could never hear creeping up on you. She used to live in the shadows. Of course she could escape un-detected, you dumb bastard…

"Her eagle was also taken form the armoury," Claire continued, avoiding Chris' eyes.

"So we can pretty much guess where she's gone…"

Chris absently nodded, instinctively knowing where Claire was talking about. I will fucking kill that piece of shit if her touches her, if he even lays one finger on her he dies. End of story. And as for her, what the fuck is she doing, she knows how dangerous he is…

Chris knew too, and for all of his apparently selfless concern at Jill's well being, his motives weren't entirely selfless. He was concerned as much with his own life.

Baby, please, just come back to me. If you die I'll physically have to lie down on your grave and die with you. It's that bad…

And the worst part was that Chris knew he wasn't joking…

-Dd-

Chapter notes: Ok, I'm working on the length, as that was longer that the prologue, and hopefully the next one will be even longer if I' feeling up to it. Sorry if its also a bit 'crud' at this stage but once all the setting up's done then the story will get better. Promise. Please keep reviewing, Thanx again, and see you in chapter three…