Chapter Seven-Los Angeles HQ (Claire's P.O.V)

My high-top's heels clicked against the linoleum floor with my ponytail bobbing back and forth. I thumbed through the papers that I held in the document folder as I reached the elevator doors. Glancing up I saw Leon turn the corner and head for the opposite elevator as he laughed at a joke that Carlos Olivera told him; I smiled softly to myself as my mind wandered back to the old team.

Chris Redfield: alive.

Rebecca Chambers: alive.

Leon S. Kennedy: alive.

Carlos Olivera: alive.

Barry Irons: retired.

Jill Valentine: hospitalized.

I sighed to myself as I stepped through to the elevator and leaned against the back wall. It's not that I didn't like our new assemble of team mates just you could never replace the originals.

My brother was occasionally spotted around the headquarters but mainly in the break floor, his head stuck in an Italian word dictionary. He scribbled down notes and deciphered random sentences keeping himself tucked away at a table in the back corner.

On the other hand his partner, Luciana, wasn't anywhere to be seen. I had talked to her cousin, Azura, to see where she was. All I got was she is at home then something else would pop up for Azura to deal with. It has been a week since the incident and tomorrow was the debriefing with Miguel.

The door reopened to the break floor as I walked over to where Chris was sitting, cup of coffee in hand. I soon noticed that he had heavy bags weighing underneath his eyes as he kept flipping through a books pages. I looked down at the printing to find it in a different language.

"You know they have programs to where they teach you how to speak and stuff with no need for those," I squeaked, standing in front of him.

Chris jumped a little then sighed softly, mustering up a smile as he looked up at me.

"Hey sis, how you holding up," Chris asked, the stubble on his chin starting to grow into a scruffy beard.

"Appears better than you," I chuckled darkly.

I placed my document folder near the empty space on the table. I looked back to my brother and caught him gazing off with a glazed look in his eyes. I followed his eyes and saw that they had hit Luciana. My jaw dropped and my eyes bugged.

She sported a grey hoodie with the BSAA emblem stamped in black on the back. Wearing charcoal black skinny jeans and her hair longer than it was the last I saw her, new solid black high-tops tucked away in her jeans. She was pouring herself a cup of coffee, a somber look on her face as if she wasn't all there. I furrowed my eyebrows then looked over at Chris giving Luciana a double take.

"What in," I breathed, before Chris cut me off with a wave of his hand.

Chris looked at me then the chair that was sitting across from him, secretly telling me to sit down and that he would explain. I slowly shrank into the chair as I kept my eyes on Chris' with my eyebrows still furrowed. I heard Luciana exit behind us as Chris slowly exhaled and watched her leave.

"Human hair… does not grow that fast Chris," I stated, as I kept my eyes level with my brothers and never backing down.

"Luciana's parents were scientists that played small roles in developing the t-virus. Luciana's mother tested her with every virus that Umbrella had created up to '98. Building her immunities for them that includes the t-virus, g-virus, and a couple others. She is even immune to the "Licker" virus," Chris stated.

My brother opened his mouth to continue but a throat cleared to our left. We both looked to find Luciana's cousin, Azura, take a seat in between us. She looked down at her coffee then straight ahead out of a window.

"Luciana's moods contribute to her appearance. If she is happy, her hair is a bright black and shiny sometimes it grows but she can decide whether it does or not. When she is moderate nothing happens. But if she is like she is now then her hair grows dark and dull, growing uncontrollably. Same thing goes for her eyes, bright to dark pits that you couldn't find the bottoms to," Azura added dryly.

She then shifted her gaze over to my brother with nothing but pleading in her eyes.

"Luciana is like my sister, always has been and always will be. The act you pulled last week tore her apart on the inside she never wanted for you to hate her or to hurt you in any way possible. Now if you are going to go to Australia to help her deal with the problem, you have two options.

"One you can go as her partner and her partner only, then when you return leave her alone unless it's BSAA related. Two you can go as her partner but as well as her friend and upon returning you are her friend. There for her no matter what but be careful of the choice you choose Redfield because it will affect you in the long run. Another thing before I go, hurt Luciana in any way possible and I will personally kick your ass," Azura growled, as she slid out from her chair and strode out the door.

I stared after her in complete shock as I turned to face my brother who sat there, calm and collected as ever. I blinked several times then looked at my files then back at Chris.

"If all of that about Luciana is true then why doesn't it say so in her file," I whispered.

Chris looked at the side of my face, "Because the BSAA doesn't know if they did she would be a lab rat at their convenience. If they meddled with her immunity she would be screwed. It's like trying to play with a nuclear atom without it going off."

Chris returned to his translation book as a thought soon plagued me.

Wesker's virus was also created in the '90's… is Luciana carrying that as well?

I looked up at my brother to ask but kept my mouth shut. Knowing that even if she was a carrier she wouldn't be off her rocker like Wesker. Would she? I shook my head at the idea and soon rose up from my seat and began to walk away. I hate debriefs.

Part Two: Los Angeles HQ (Carlos' P.O.V)

I sat back in the conference room, leaning back against the black leather seat as it squealed underneath my weight. I bounced back and forth against the cushions as I noted Rebecca thumbing through medical records of all the BSAA agents and history records as well. She threw down all the history records, leaving them unguarded and vulnerable to prying eyes. I cocked my head as my brain worked back to when I first talked to Azura Sanchez.

I exited the elevator to third floor dormitories to be greeted by a friendly sparring match. I heard whoops and hollers as I heard names being thrown around.
"Come on Azura! Kick his ass," yelled a deep, thickly accented voice.
I cocked my eyebrow as I hoisted my back pack over on my shoulder to prevent it from falling as I began to approach the made up ring. I noted a small, wry built woman dodging Leon Kennedy's blows and kicks.
Her face was heavily flushed and her sports bra soaked in sweat with strands of her ponytail clinging at her back. The black cargo pants she wore didn't hamper her movements or nothing and she moved with grace and poise. Her hazel eyes were alert to the situation that surrounded her as one purple piece of hair fell in front of her face. Leon huffed as he gave one last final punch, throwing all his weight into it. The woman twisted to the side, grabbing his wrist and twisting his elbow outward making Leon flip over onto his back with a loud thud. Everyone surrounding the ring stood up in applause as the woman exited as she grabbed a towel and the money that was being shoved into her hands from the apparent lost bet. She chuckled at what someone said as she thumbed through the money. Finally Leon walked up to her and shook her hand, congratulating her on the win of the match.
As soon as the ring was cleared, the only people left were me and her with a distance of fifteen feet. Yet she hadn't noticed that I was standing there.
"That was impressive," I said, my voice echoing slightly.
The woman jumped slightly and squeaked in surprise.
"Porca putanna," she hissed as she turned and faced me.
I chuckled slightly then said, "Mi dispiace, non volevo spaventarti."
She cocked her eye at me and gave me a amazingly beautiful smirk.
"You must be one of the new guys. I'm Azura and welcome to Los Angeles."
****

Ever since then we have had small run ins with one another and have gotten to know one another well enough to be known as comrades. From day one I was attracted to her yet something with her personality and spirit made her even more alluring. I eyed her folder and finally my curiosity got the best of me. I reached for it and opened it up.

NAME: AZURA RAVENNA SANCHEZ

B.O.D: MARCH 8, 1990 AGE:20

HEIGHT: 5' 8" WEIGHT: 157.5

PHOTO SLOT: NOT AVALIABLE

OCCUPATION: BSSA OPERATIVE, SQUAD LEADER

SURVIVING RELATIVES: MIGUEL SANCHEZ AND LUCIANNA SANCHEZ (FATHER AND COUSIN)

HISTORY: BORN AND RAISED IN LOS ANGELES, MOTHER MURDERED IN MIDDLE OF GANG WAR. A HONOR ROLL STUDENT, GRADUATED YEAR EARLY FROM HIGHSCHOOL; WENT STRAIGHT INTO MILITARY TRAINING, EVENTUALLY TRANSFERRED TO BSAA RECRUITMENT AT PERSONAL REQUEST.

I raised my eyebrows as I closed her portfolio and sighed silently. Suddenly the realization dawned on me, today was March 8th. I face palmed myself as I realized that today she was turning twenty-one and to make it worse I had asked her out this morning.
Smooth move, Olivera… just smooth.