This one follows my ficlets for Day 4, "pink," and Day 18, "Valkyrie." -Akumu
CLAIREMBER 2022
Day 29 - Rockfort Island
"Yesterday, the Raccoon City Incident Committee continued its interviews with the Raccoon City survivors," the show host, a suited man with slicked-back hair, was saying. "Things got a bit heated when one of the survivors, Claire Redfield, claimed that Umbrella is also responsible for not one but two additional outbreaks that happened just months after the Raccoon City disaster."
Claire slipped on the charcoal dress blazer that went with her dress pants and turned to the hotel TV.
"Tom, what's your take on this new development?" the host said.
Tom looked like a clone of the host, only he wore a blue tie instead of a red-striped one. He said, "It certainly is an interesting development, Chad. Last week, we heard from these people – these survivors, of whom there's only a handful – that the pharmaceutical company Umbrella created the virus that caused the outbreak that ultimately destroyed Raccoon City. Led to Congress voting to just out-and-out blow it off the map to prevent the virus from spreading. That was incredible enough but not totally unbelievable. We all know Raccoon City happened, and Umbrella had a big presence in the city. Those are confirmed facts. Plus, the accusations came from multiple witnesses."
Claire grabbed her brush and began running it through her hair.
"Now enter this girl – this young lady, Claire Redfield," said Tom. "Says she was there, in Raccoon City, to find her brother, Christopher Redfield, who wasn't in the city but claims he knew what was going on and had flown off to Europe, to Umbrella's headquarters outside of Paris, to investigate further. As soon as she survives this disaster, she follows his trail to Europe. Here's where it gets bonkers. She claims Umbrella took her prisoner – like they're Saddam Hussein or someone – and cart her off to a base on an island they secretly run somewhere in the South Pacific. She isn't sure where. There, another outbreak occurs, the island explodes, then she somehow gets transported to Antarctica of all places, where Umbrella run another secret base, another outbreak occurs, and then her brother – whom she was trying to find – finds her, and they both get out as that base also explodes."
Chad laughed. "It's a pretty wild story."
"I've heard stories about UFOs and ghosts that aren't half as wild as this girl's story," said Tom. "What's more is there isn't a shred of evidence to back up any of it."
"Well, there is the boy," said Chad. "The boy she says she escaped with. Steve something."
"Steve Burnside. Seventeen-year-old kid from northern Vermont. Mid-summer 1998, his mom was found murdered and he and his dad, who was a researcher at the Umbrella lab in Burlington, went missing. Haven't been heard from since. Ms. Redfield says she met them both on the island, which she says is called Rockfort Island. Nowhere in any of the documents that the Committee subpoenaed from Umbrella is this island even mentioned."
"So how do you account for her knowing about this boy and his dad?"
"Simple. She's a college student. She has access to who knows how many years of newspapers across the country. She could have read about them and incorporated them into her story."
Claire paused mid-brush, gripping the handle so hard her nails dug into her skin.
"Her brother backs up her claims, though," said Chad. "He's ex-military and ex-STARS."
Tom shook his head. "Listen, he got discharged from the Air Force for disorderly conduct. The month before Raccoon happened, he and the rest of his STARS unit were put on administrative leave for botching their final mission together, which led to most of their teammates' deaths. Their superior, Chief Brian Irons, who unfortunately perished in Raccoon City, suspected they were all on drugs. His testimony, which, by the way, is the only 'evidence' she has, can't be trusted."
"What about those of the STARS who were in Raccoon City, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton?"
"Also suspicious. Basically, by coming forward with this tale, these two people, Claire and Christopher Redfield, have thrown an extra blanket of unbelievability over this whole story, which was quite unbelievable to begin with."
Claire resumed brushing, then pulled her brown hair into a tight ponytail.
"Alright, well, thank you for your insight as always, Tom. Now let's see what our viewers have to say." Chad indicated the camera. "First up, we have Karen from Vermont. Karen? What are your thoughts on yesterday's testimony?"
"Hi Chad, hi Tom! Long time viewer, first time caller," a woman said. "I just wanted to say that I'm from near where the Burnside woman was murdered and the son and husband went missing, and I think the way that girl has exploited that tragedy and the one in Raccoon City is sick. She's sick and needs help. Her brother and his teammates too. It's a shame their employee records from the Raccoon City Police Department aren't available because I think we'd be getting a whole different story if we could read them."
"Okay, thanks for calling. Next up is Simon from New Mexico. Simon, what's your take on all this?"
"Drugs are definitely involved," said a man. "My sister worked at one of the police stations out here, and there was a group of cops that took some cocaine from the evidence locker, got high, and started talking all this crazy nonsense about their chief being in league with aliens."
Tom and Chad laughed.
"I ain't making this up," Simon said. "Cops do drugs same as dopeheads"
"Okay, so the cops and Claire Redfield aside – what about the guy who says he was hired by Umbrella to go into Raccoon City and help clean up the mess, Carlos Oliveira?" Chad asked. "And the girl who's being identified only as SB?"
"He was with one of the cops, and she was with another cop and Claire Redfield, so I'm guessing they gave them access to the drugs –"
"Why are you watching this shit?" said Chris. He stood beside her, hair freshly gelled, as he did his green tie.
"I want to know what people are saying. See where the public sits on all this," Claire said.
He straightened the tie's knot. "Doesn't sound like they're on our side. Big surprise."
"Thanks for calling," Chad was saying. "Next up, we have Cecilia from Colorado. Cecilia, what does Colorado think about all this?"
"Hi Chad and Tom!" said Cecilia.
Claire's heart sank. "Oh no, Cecilia."
"I'm not sure what Colorado thinks, but I do know what I think," Cecilia continued. "And what I think is I grew up just down the street from Claire and Chris outside Raccoon City, and I believe every word they've said."
"Huh," said Chad. "Do you think maybe you have a bias that's affecting your opinion?"
"I suppose that's possible, but considering Chris and Claire are the two bravest, most reliable and capable people I've ever met, I strongly doubt it. They both always do what's right, no matter how hard it is. Just look at them coming forward with all this information publicly – they had to have known how people would react to it. But they still came forward. They wouldn't just make this all up. That's how I know they're telling the truth."
Tom rolled his eyes. "Be that as it may, the fact of the matter is they have no evidence to prove any of their story, especially the parts about Rockfort Island and Antarctica."
"That is a fact," replied Cecilia, "but it's also a fact that the founder of Umbrella, Ozwell Spencer, is a majority stockholder in your media company. That was announced in a press release when he bought you guys right after the Raccoon City Incident last year."
Chad's smile fell. "I'm not sure what you're getting at, miss, but we're dedicated to representing all the stories that we cover fairly and accurately."
"How can a news outlet that's half-owned by the company at the center of six different parties' testimonies fairly and accurately present news about that company?"
"Alright, well, thanks for calling, Cecilia, and presenting us with your viewpoint. Next caller – we have Elza, also from Colorado. Elza, what are your thoughts concerning Claire and Christopher Redfield's testimonies yesterday?"
"I just wanted to follow up on what Cecilia was saying," said Elza.
Claire and Chris looked at each other.
"Claire is my best friend and roommate at CU Denver, and the way you two are going on, insinuating she and Chris are lying and on drugs, makes me sick," Elza said. "It's clear neither of you knows them because if you did, you would be listening to them instead of laughing at them. If anything, we should hold you guys under a microscope since you're in Umbrella's pocket –"
"Okay, thank you, Elza. Next, we have Todd, also from Colorado. We got a lot of people calling from Colorado this morning. Todd, you have the floor."
"Yeah, I dated Claire our senior year of high school," said Todd.
"Who's he?" Chris asked.
"Tall guy. Blond hair. Lots of freckles, " Claire said.
"Oh, right. That guy."
"We split not on the best of terms," Todd was saying.
Tom and Chad relaxed.
"Oh?" said Chad. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that. What do you think about her testimony?"
"I agree with Cecilia and the other girl – Elsa, Eliza, whatever her name was. Claire and her brother aren't junkies, and they wouldn't make this stuff up. They're telling the truth."
"Okay, well, that wraps up all the time we have for call-ins today," said Chad. "The next round of testimonies will start at ten eastern today, and we're anxious to hear what else the Raccoon City survivors have to say. We'll review today's testimonies in depth tonight at seven –"
Chris turned off the TV. "We should head out now so we can get there early enough to sneak in through the side like the guards suggested."
They exited their hotel room.
