Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Resident Evil.

RE8IDENT EVIL: RISING

Chapter 01:

The Arrival

"Hey Hannigan," Leon made his way down the pier to the small boat. "Can you tell me more about this island?" He asked as he carried his luggage to the docks.

"TerraSave said that you're partner would inform you of the details. I can relay what I told you at the mission briefing. The information should be in those files I sent you." She explained. Right, the files he had checked several times but he didn't quite understand them fully. The real question was who was his partner? He had no background information or anything about this person yet he was expected to work alongside them on a mission like this one. He hoped they were skilled. It didn't take a genius to know this mission wasn't going to be easy.

"What can you tell me about my so called partner can we trust them?" He asked as he boarded the ship.

"Leon," He looked at the blast from the past staring at him greeting him onto the boat. The brunette from Raccoon City; this caught him by complete surprise. It had been ages since he heard from her. She seemed to be doing well. Ironic that he would be working with her skilled without question and did he trust her? More than anyone he had worked with in the past.

"Never mind," Leon hung up. "Claire is that really you?" He still couldn't believe that he was getting the chance to work with her again or that she was here for that matter.

"I guess from that look on your face. You weren't expecting me." Claire grabbed his luggage. "I'll show you to the room." He followed as she set the luggage on the bed they would be sharing. "There is only one bed but I hope that's okay." She added as she placed his luggage on his side of the bed.

"Its fine," He opened his luggage and started unpacking.

"How have you been aside from dying?" Claire asked setting the newspaper with a headline reading "Leon S. Kennedy and Helena Harper Killed in an Explosion." "You had me really worried. Sherry called me telling me that you were alive and that she saw you. What exactly happened in China?"

"Chris didn't tell you,"

"My brother rarely tells me anything," She answered. "After we met up in Rockfort Island; He told me he didn't want me getting involved." Claire understood why he wouldn't want her getting involved with Umbrella or any bio threat for that matter. He was scared she'd get hurt or worse. After what had taken place in Raccoon City. She couldn't just stay out of it that incident changed her life forever. This is her life now.

"That's right," Leon nodded taking his shoes off to relax. "I do recall you mentioning something like that to me in our last phone conversation. Why TerraSave? Chris is only trying to protect you and as much we don't get along. I agree with him."

"That's the thing about siblings Leon," She looked back at him. "He tells me not to go looking for him. I do it anyway. He tells me not to get involved,"

"You get involved." He finished setting his handgun somewhere safe underneath the bed.

"He's my brother. I can't just sit by and let him do everything on his own. He worries about me getting hurt but whose stopping me from worrying?" She asked. "Besides there are bio threats everywhere and I don't want what happened in Raccoon city to happen again. So that's why I chose to join TerraSave." She sat on the bed. "What happened in China?"

Leon started realize that maybe they both were wrong about her. Claire wasn't someone who needed to be protected. Chris would like to believe she couldn't handle herself but she's more than proved she could. He explained everything that happened with Simmons and everything that went down in China that he knew of. He even caught her up to speed about his mission with Ashley Graham so she'd understand the connection he had with the president.

"That's everything," He finished. "I hate to bring up business but I could really use more information about this island." Claire took a deep breath still not over what happened in her last visit. Part of her never wanted to go back to that island. The fact remained she was the only one to survive that island aside from Barry. Nobody in TerraSave knew more about that island than her, it had to be her. She had the best chance of succeeding in the mission.

Claire informed him about everything that happened on the island. She told him about Phobos virus that reacted on fear. The behaviors of the infected and types that she encountered; everything Leon needed to know before setting foot on the island. "There's more," She looked at Leon as he was about to check outside to see how far away they were from the island. "According to Barry's report,"

"I already know about that," He informed her. "Alex has taken the form of a child. We are to bring that child to headquarters."

"I have met the child," She added. "Moira and I crossed paths with her once. Her name is Natalia and at the time we met she didn't seem like a bad kid. One of the main reasons for them choosing me is because they hope that if she sees me. It may give Natalia the strength to fight off Alex long enough for us to capture her. I'm not sure it will work considering my connection with her wasn't what you would call a strong one. Another thing that hinders the plan is Alex doesn't like me that much."

"She has a grudge against a Redfield. She must defiantly be related to Wesker." Leon teased; Claire laughed. "Is there anything else?"

"Just one more," Claire bit her lip not wanting to keep any secrets from Leon. She had to tell him her reason for accepting the mission even though TerraSave made her promise not to go near the subject. It was the only way they'd agree to let her considering the therapy she went through after it. "I'm not just coming back to the island for Natalia." She explained. "It's a little bit more complicated than that."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't think Moira died on that island. The report may suggest it but I'm not leaving until I know for sure. I know it's crazy but if she's alive. I'm not leaving her, not again." Claire explained she owed it to Barry to look into it. He tried to find her once now it was her turn.

"It's a good thing we like complications," He added. "If you think she's alive then we'll find her." Claire hugged him glad that he wasn't going to talk her out of it like so many others have saying she was crazy. For Leon, he was just glad he could help out a friend figuring it was okay to go off record if it was for Claire. "I'll be outside,"

"Okay, I'll be in here trying to clear my head." Claire smiled telling him about the island wasn't something she looked forward to doing. It brought up everything she was trying not to think about. It had her medical leave which was something she just got back from. Losing Moira, really took a toll on her. Leon left the room taking this time to fill in Hannigan in on the details of the island leaving Moira out of it seeing if he told her she'd advise him against looking for her.

The second Leon came back from making his report. Claire was wearing a black tank top and track pants watching a self defense course taught by her brother. She was really getting into it. "Leon," She turned it off. "You weren't supposed to see that." She blushed hiding her face in embarrassment. Leon was going to tease the hell out of her now. What could she do but brace herself for the hurt?

"At least I know where you learned to fight from," He turned it back on; Claire unplugged the television. "If I was to take a guess here, I'd say you're doing this because you feel like if you were stronger. Moira wouldn't have died or disappeared." Leon looked at her realizing that wasn't quite it. "It's not Moira; you're worried it might happen to me aren't you?" He couldn't help but find her need to protect him a little endearing. Though there was no need for her to worry about it.

"Or maybe I was just working out." Claire grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler. "Okay you're right." She took a drink. "I was making a few preparations before setting foot into the place that nearly killed me. I know with you it's different, it's just I don't want to want to have to go through something like that ever again."

"Okay," Leon took the water bottle from her. "Let's see what you've got." Claire laughed as he put up fists wanting to practice with her.

"Aren't you a little too old for games like this?" She teased.

"This coming from a woman whose only two years younger than myself," He countered. Claire glared at him upset that he would bring up her age. She went to punch him he grabbed her arm only to be pushed back when she quickly kicked him. He grabbed her foot spinning and restraining the Redfield in his arms. While he held her; he tilted her neck to side and acted like he was going to bite her. "If I was infected; you would have been infected just now." She lifted her leg over her head kicking him in the face then rolling him over her shoulder. The moment he was on the ground she climbed on top of him pretending to a hold a knife to his throat.

"If you were infected; you would have been dead just now." Claire informed him; he stared into her eyes being drawn in by them. He found this scenario with Claire very tasteful for some reason. Maybe it was the nostalgia of working with her again or maybe there was side of him that sort of had a thing for the Redfield. It was hard to tell with this one. They were always a complicated fix.

"I'll be the shower," She plugged the television back in and grabbed a towel out her luggage. "Like I said, I need to clear my head." Claire draped the towel on her shoulder entering the bathroom.

This left him to think for a few moments on what he wanted to do next. Leon rested on the floor where she left him. His eyes motioned towards the television where he would finish Chris' self defense training video the advanced edition if only to see the Redfield act like a fool. The other option was to follow Claire's lead and spend quality time with her before they arrived at the island. It could help with their teamwork and as his partner he couldn't have her operating with a cluttered mind. She needed a clear head; he knew one way to accomplish that if she cared to try it. He'd figured he would at least offer his solution to her and if she said no, it was the video.

Leon made his way to the bathroom; the door wasn't locked in fact it had no lock. He stepped inside making the naked Claire cover herself. "Leon," Her eyes traced him as if she were wondering what made him think this was okay. In truth, he wasn't sure he just wanted to help her with her cluttered mind. Though there was no violence or anything coming from her. This meant she wasn't too offended by his intrusion.

"You said you needed to clear your head," He leaned against the bathroom sink. "I have a solution. If you'd like to hear it," Leon confessed; Claire nodded as if she knew exactly where he was going with this. "Well," He waited for her response.

"You're serious," Claire retorted. "Sex, that's your solution." He could tell she was considering it. He just needed to show her he was serious about his desire to offer himself as a solution to her problem. Leon started by unbuttoning his dark blue silk shirt revealing his toned chest to her. She was still unconvinced so he entered the tub with her letting the water touch his skin and drench his clothes. He brought his body close to her, his lips as well. Claire thought only for a moment but then proceeded to kiss him. Her kiss was so intense it made his heart race and it was only getting better.

He brought her in for more as she tugged his shirt out his pants removing it for him. He heard a fire hot moan escape her lips as her mouth granted his tongue access. Leon eagerly took that entry taking hold of her neck. He shrugged his shirt off leaving his upper body exposed to her. She was taken in by it touching every crevice of his now wet skin. However thought seemed to kick in and their kiss was broken.

"We shouldn't," Claire spoke feeling bad that she had even considered it. "We're partners and this could complicate things. Furthermore, it's unprofessional." Her eyes motioned towards the exit wishing him to leave her in peace.

"You're right," He agreed. "This was a momentary elapse in judgment on my part. I'll be in the room." He grabbed his shirt off the floor leaving her to her shower. Leon began changing out of his wet clothes into something more comfortable.

"What was I thinking," Claire grabbed her body wash cleansing her body. She could not believe for a moment there; she considered having sex with Leon. Sure, she found him attractive and among other things. It was just they were always partners never anything more than that aside from friends.

Figures, she'd do something like this. Not like she never dated someone she worked with before but it still wasn't something she wanted to get into the habit of doing. Leon was different though, she normally went for the guys that would eventually harm her always the wrong choices. He was the right one; she wasn't used to making the right choices with men. This experience was new to her and more so if they did it. It was just sex, that's it. Nothing else would become of it. That's how they both wanted it but it never played out the way they wanted it to.

Claire finished her shower; taking a peak through the door watch as he undressed. Still it would help her and right now she needed help. Her mind was still stuck on the island, still cluttered and she knew if she didn't do something about it. It would affect her on the field; just sex. She allowed; she could manage that. She went to approach him but he took her by storm as if he too were struggling with the decision.

Leon had the Chris training video on watching it hoping to ignore her or his need to help her but it was no use, He couldn't sit there while his partner was in distress. Claire needed this as much as she hated to admit it and perhaps he needed it too. It was just one good stress relief before returning to the chaos of their lives. That was all it was, no commitments, nothing, just casual sex.

He brought his lips to hers retaking that entry she denied him earlier. Claire let out moan as he removed the towel from her body. He whipped it off throwing on the floor as the Chris video continued to play. Leon held her against his body letting her take in his bare upper body. He stood there in his briefs that were soaked from the shower earlier. Claire let another moan as his firm hand gripped her breast lightly at first but then a little tighter teasing them with his thumb and index finger. He felt her back arch in his hand as he held her close to him. He laid her on the bed pushing his body roughly against her getting louder moans from the Redfield as he did this he reached for his luggage for the condom he kept for emergencies. Once it was found, he started to remove his briefs.

Their lips crushed together as Claire began to fight back her tongue pushing his back allowing her to enter his cavern. Leon moaned accepting more of her tongue as he dropped his briefs to the floor. Her body was aching for the connection between man and woman longing for him take her. She tucked her hand underneath the pillow bracing for him. Leon caught this reaction and took the invitation.

Claire let out loud moan as he made his presence known to her. Her back arching more and more as he forced every inch of him inside her pushing it in deep with every thrust he made. "Oh Leon," She cried as he held onto her body tightly vigorously giving her his masculinity shaking the bed as he did. She called to him over and over again beckoning his thrusts fueling them with strength. Leon grunted as his thrusts increased pace her arch remained under his hand as he plunged himself into her craving that release.

"Claire," He managed as a moan started to flee his lips. Leon's heart was racing his whole body enveloped in hers. That warm hot Redfield body underneath him calling his name. "So close," He whispered under his breath. Claire screamed his name not just his first name either the last one too. Her whole back arched underneath his hand so inclined. "Claire," Leon cried out as his great flood emerged granting only a couple more thrusts before he plummeted. "Well that was," Leon panted worn out due to the aftermath. "Unprofessional." Claire nodded barely able to breathe.

"Very," She agreed as he removed the condom tossing it in the trash. "I needed that," Claire wiped her brow then noticed her brother on the television just now realizing it. Leon shrugged figuring at least this made for a good story to tell the office he had sex with Claire while Chris was sort of in the room. Not that he would share it but still it was sort of funny. Even Claire laughed a little bit; it was easy to tell that her mind was now clear. "This stays between us right?"

"I won't say anything if you won't," Leon wrapped up in the blankets weary, Claire shut the television off covering up getting some much needed rest.

The next morning, Claire dressed up for the mission. She wore a black leather jacket, a silk white shirt with a bullet proof/ protective vest over it. She wore khaki pants and square heeled boots. She armed herself with a standard handgun, grenade launcher w/assorted rounds, and her trusty combat knife.

Claire went outside looking through binoculars at the familiar island. The events ran through her mind playing over and over again. Her eyes were locked on the island prepared to face the terror once more. It didn't matter if she was ready or not; she had to go back but with Leon at her side. She felt more confident that she could do this. This time, nobody was going to die.

Leon groaned being woken up the sound of his phone ringing. Reluctantly, he answered it appearing in a face time chat with Sherry Birkin. "Hey," He rubbed his eyes trying to wake up.

"I ugh," Sherry's cheeks turned bright red. Leon was in her screen not wearing a shirt though if she had a full view of him it was worse than that. She had caught wind of his mission with Claire and was instructed to help out anyway she could. "I'll call back later," She hung up on him.

"Great," Leon groaned wanting to sleep a bit longer. It wasn't everyday a guy like him got a chance to really sleep. It was always more of a nap than anything else. He tried to go back to bed but there was no point to it. They would reach the island the second he actually fell asleep. Instead he forced himself out of bed getting dressed for the mission.

He dressed up in black formal pants, a dark blue silk shirt with a bulletproof/protective vest over it. He tucked the shirt in and proceeded to put on his leather jacket. He wore standard black dress shoes. He unpacked his weapons arming himself with two handguns, an assault rifle, a shotgun, and his survival knife for close quarters. He yawned walking outside to check on his partner. "You're up early," Leon spoke leaning against the bar on the boat as it neared the island.

"We're here," Claire handed over the binoculars. Leon observed the island as Claire stopped the boat. It didn't seem like much nothing really caught his eye. To be expected to find one girl on an island so bland; this wasn't going to be easy. "We should get moving," Claire loaded her handgun eager to find Alex. Leon loaded his handgun and followed her seeing as she knew the island's layout.

They walked along the shoreline drawing closer to the island's entrance. Claire's eyes wandered the island this was nothing like she remembered. It was if the entire island had changed while she was away. Leon handed her the binoculars so she could take a closer look. "I don't remember any of this being here when I was here." Claire noticed the entire island was fenced off and Umbrella troops were guarding it. "Leon, take a look," She handed them to him hoping he had some answers.

"Umbrella huh," Leon spoke taking notice of the uniform and insignia on their supply trucks. "I guess they are trying to make a comeback. To do that they need Alex, it takes a Wesker to rebuild an organization like that." He handed them over to Claire. "I don't think they found her yet. That means it's our job to find her first."

"My thoughts exactly," Claire and Leon split up to find an alternate route to get inside the island. They met up discovering there was no other way to get inside. The front gate was the only way to get inside.

"Hold it," Three Umbrella troops aimed their assault rifles at them. Claire and Leon froze in place holding their hands up in surrender. They began taking in the scenario they were faced with.

There were three in front armed with assault rifles and a few grenades. There another three scattered on the watch towers built wielding sniper rifles. Two more in hiding wielding shotguns and flash grenades; this made a total of eight against two. These odds weren't fair at least for them.

Leon and Claire exchanged glances both of them noticing by every watch tower was an inconveniently placed set of fuel canisters. A fuel truck rested in the center for a combined explosion that would take them all out leaving only the three in front.

"Drop your weapons," They commanded prepared to fire; Claire and Leon exchanged glances one more time as they released their handguns. They never learn; the troops watched the guns aiming at it as it slowly fell. Claire and Leon quickly grabbed their guns. Claire dropped to her side shooting all three troops in the head. Leon dropped to the other side of her shooting the fuel truck directly. The explosion set off multiple ones that tore down every watch tower leaving the area in roaring flames. However this was bad thing for the explosion was a lot bigger than they planned. Leon gasped as the electric fence was tore down falling directly on top of them. He grabbed Claire's arm sprinting to get out of the way before being electrocuted by it. Pieces of the towers started flying at them in a wild fury; Leon ran faster hoping to avoid them.

Leon and Claire continued to distance themselves from the many pieces that were flying at them. Once it stopped; they started panting. Suddenly a piece of debris from the fuel truck flew directly at Claire; she braced herself for the deadly blow to the face having no time to dodge it. Leon quickly tackled her making it miss her barely. "You okay," He asked still out of breath from all the sprinting they had to do to get away.

"I'll live," Claire replied panting heavily; she got back on her feet. "That was a close one," Leon nodded.

"A little too close for my taste," Claire held her hand out to him. Leon took it as she helped to his feet. Claire stared back at the debris that would have fatally injured her maybe even killed her if not for Leon. "We should go," Leon reminded her; she nodded as they proceeded with caution.

From here on they were in enemy terrain. They had ammo now but figured it was best to conserve it for later. They avoided the flames hiding in the areas surrounding it as other troops investigated the damage. They ignored them seeing as one of them was heavily armed with a rocket launcher. The rest had machine guns with grenade attachments. The team continued further into the camp grounds for the troops.

Claire and Leon divided up into the tall grass sneaking around the lightly guarded camp site. Claire immediately took notice of the tent with herb a logo on it. While Leon took notice of the weapon shack filled with ammunition. "Cover me," Claire whispered; Leon nodded taking out his knife. He watched as the Redfield silently snuck towards the tent holding her knife. A guard went to take notice Leon grabbed from behind muffling his mouth pulling him into the tall grass slitting his throat. Leon moved positions keeping watch over her.

Claire looked into the tent seeing a guard walking back and forth guarding their herbs. One guard; she could handle it. The second his back turned she threw her knife at the back of his head. Once he was down, she pulled the knife out and stabbed him in the throat releasing him. Claire collected the herbs noticing there were a couple that weren't herbs. She walked out of the tent; Leon came out of the weapon shack having killed the rest of the guards in stealth. They exchanged supplies and moved on.

Once they were out the camp site, they stumbled across a vast plain covered in tall grass. They hid behind a huge rock taking notice of several troops walking towards the fenced off area ahead that was closely guarded. "I don't recall this being here," Claire pulled out the binoculars checking the area. The troops were protecting a stairway as other heavily armed troops walked down the stairway to the huge elevator they had hacked into. The elevator took them beneath the island in well organized teams. "Natalia, she must be down there." She handed Leon the binoculars.

"There is no way we are getting in through there," Leon counted their foes there had to be at least twenty of them guarding that elevator. Each one carrying multiple weapons, there were at least four them that had a rocket launcher with them. The one guarding the stairs was armed with a Gatling gun probably given orders to kill on sight. As skilled as they were, it was going to be hard to walk out alive during that fight. "We might have to split up and find another way in."

"I'll search the left side of the field," Claire offered. "I'm leaving to right side to you. I'll call you if I find a way in." Leon nodded and they parted ways. Claire cautiously walked around the vast field staying near the fenced area but out of sight. She stopped coming across a sign left as warning to their fellow troops. This drawing on the yellow sign was that of a vicious dog. Cerberus; she acknowledged realizing a couple of corpses lying in the grass having bite marks on their bodies. One of those bodies rested against the sign, his throat ripped out by these animals. She walked beyond the sign wondering why the creatures only guarded this part of the field why restrict themselves. What bothered her more than that was the fact they were smart enough to know when they were outgunned. She heard a growl in the bushes from behind her; she turned to face it but it was no longer there.

They were cornering her, like a pack of wolves. Claire readied her handgun walking steadily forward another growl. She aimed at it but again nothing. The growls started getting closer together. Claire calmed herself frightened by the simple fact they weren't showing themselves to her at all. It was like they knew if they did she'd shoot them. Finally one jumped at her from behind moving so fast. Claire fired her bullets at it but the dog outran the shots going back into the tall grass unscathed. Another appeared beside her. Claire dodged it trying to shoot it but again it was too fast. What were they doing? Why weren't they actually coming for her?

Claire gasped figuring it out; counting, they were counting her shots. She gulped as another jumped at her; she tried to shoot it but all she heard was a click. Claire quickly kicked it out the air before he could get her. After the attack; the Cerberus started to change. Its body ripped apart right before her eyes dividing itself into three separate Cerberus. They could multiply now; the three of them jumped at her all at once. Claire reached for grenade launcher hoping to stop them dead in their tracks. Leon rushed in with his assault rifle hitting all three of them with a head shot. "Nice timing,"

"I saw the sign figured splitting up wasn't such a good idea," Leon explained. "Unfortunately," He motioned towards the Cerberus that chased him. "They thought the same thing." They gathered as unit surrounding them like a pack of wolves. Claire reloaded getting back to back with Leon.

"They multiply Leon," Claire informed him. "Not only that they count bullets, my guess is we have to shoot their head otherwise they'll only multiply."

"These dogs and their tricks," Leon pulled out two handguns as they charged at them. They started shooting at the beasts keeping them away from them. That was until the Cerberus got smarter and began throwing their bodies into the bullets on purpose in order to multiply. The eight they were fighting had now turned into a total of twenty four. "New plan, run," Leon ordered Claire nodded running as fast as she could in order to search for an escape route on the go. He covered her using his assault rifle taking out as many as he could while fleeing.

Claire noticed one of them was about to get Leon with a surprise side attack. She quickly loaded her handgun taking it down before it managed to sink his canines into him. Leon nodded as sign of thanks intending to strike it with his machine gun that he needed to reload. Claire continued on as Leon switched to his handguns having no time reload his guns. As she was running searching in a panic for a way in, she slipped on slick terrain tumbling down a hill hitting the ground hard. She picked herself up off the muddy terrain that ruined her clothes. She looked ahead of her seeing a huge metal gate wide open for them. It was their way inside; the fence guarding it was even ripped open for them by the Cerberus.

"Found it," She got on her feet sprinting towards it. Leon nodded following needing to reload his weapons an opportunity he wasn't allowed to have. Instead, he made a run for it as the Cerberus pursued him. Claire increased her speed as the gate was starting to close on them. She dropped to her knees breathing heavy the second she was clear. "Leon, hurry," She yelled; Leon picked up the pace as the dogs were right on his tail eager to kill him before he got there. He took advantage of the mud using it to perform a baseball slide as a Cerberus jumped at him. Leon closed his eyes not sure if he was going to make it there before becoming dog chow. By the time, he opened his eyes the door was closed; the dogs that had chased him were crushed by gate. "You made it," Claire held her hand out to him. Leon took her hand out of breath as she helped him to his feet.

"That was a close call," Leon's heart raced as he stared at the closed gate covered in blood that could easily have been his blood. He watched as Cerberus' blood ran down to the floor creating a puddle that only seemed to grow. He had survived but now they were trapped. He just knew this was only going to get worse; the horror had only just begun…