Chapter 2

Meetings and Coffee

DSO Level 16

Chris enters the big room. The room has dull brown walls and hard wood floors. In the middle of the room their is a light brown wood table with black metallic legs. There is 8 comfy looking chairs, 4 chairs on each side. 7 people sit at the table. Chris awkwardly sits at the table next to a young woman with purple hair and a older man in his fifties. Chris recognizes one of the mysterious strangers to be Agent Leon S. Kennedy. He's pretty easy to spot actually, he's light blonde hair is pretty much the most memorable thing about him. Chris remembers how he first came to meet Leon.

Chris was wanted by Umbrella, a pharmaceutical company responsible for the first B.O.W's. The company that started it all. Chris was off the grid but, Umbrella had found him but, his sister Claire had been captured by Umbrella and escaped. Claire had looked up Chris in one of the Umbrella databases in the facility she was held in. She called her friend Leon to find Chris, because she believed he was in trouble. Well he was but, she was in more.

Him and Leon have been friends since Leon went out of his way to save Claire. Now, Leon had asked for Chris specifically. Leon stood up and glanced at one of the men at the table. Chris knew the other man was Mr. Francis. Leon had travelled to the front of the room. Chris noticed Leon had a remote control in his hand.

"Now, that everyone is here I'd like to start this briefing." Chris looked around the room to all the unique characters in the room. Most of them were men, Chris could only see 2 women siting in the room. One was young and has short black hair with some of it dyed purple. The other was a tall, brunette with pale skin and was very thin. The man sitting next to him was old with white hair and was butch-looking and had many scars across his face. They're was also a very slight man across from Chris, he looked shifty and clever. Unlike the man sitting next to him, who although Chris didn't like to make quick judgements looked quite dim-witted. Chris thought about what the others possibly thought about him. He looked down a his arms and thought that he was most likely the muscle.

Leon pulled down what looked to be a sheet of paper used to project images onto. It was only then Chris had realized that on the opposite side of the room there was projector. Leon held the remote up and clicked a button. And Mr. Francis stood and turned off the lights as Leon presented the first image.

It was a picture of a African tribe doing some sort of cultural event with food and dancing. Leon starts the briefing. "This is the Kiunguza, they are a tribe situated on the borders of Mali and Guinea in West Africa. They are not well known, even in their own area. And they don't usually socialize outside of there tribe. No selling or trading. They are very solitary. These pictures I took while I was checking the borders for B.O.W's."

The next picture Leon presents is the same area as the last picture but, all the building are destroyed and they're are no people anywhere to be seen. "This is the picture I took 3 days after I left." The brunette woman raises her long arm to ask a question. Leon notices and says "Dr. Weissman." The woman lowers her arm and clears her throat before speaking.

"This tribe could have simply moved." She stated. Leon shook his head.

"The tribe hasn't moved in 600 years. And there this." Leon changes the picture. The new picture is of a dusty old table with a shiny new briefcase on it, next to 3 vials each containing a different color serum. "This was found in the home of the chief." The room grew silent. Then the sneaky looking man spoke aloud.

"Are they viruses."

"Agent Kennedy believes so but, unfortunately the transportation vehicle caring it has gone awol." Mr. Francis tells the group. Leon changes the image and crosses his arms as he awaits the reactions of the group. The picture clearly shows the briefcase now closed exposing the very clear logo on it. Chris slams his fist against the table and grits his teeth as he mutters the name of the company that has been haunting him for 11 years.

"Umbrella." There clear as day was the trademarked symbol of the dead company. Leon nods as he notices Chris's reaction to the photo. The woman siting next to Chris shakes her head in disbelief then exclaims.

"But, Umbrella went bankrupt years ago."

Leon looks at the picture then at the woman. " I think that the briefcase is cause enough to investigate this further."

"And that is why I've given you the freedom to gather this team, Agent Kennedy." Mr. Francis declares. Leon changes the picture to a factory.

"This factory has been abandoned for 19 years and also has been destroyed. Until 3 months ago, it belonged to the country but, it has been brought by a someone using a untraceable bank account. This person has repaired the facility and started something. I believe, they are producing B.O.W's. The facility used to be owned by Umbrella."

"So, you believe that someone is trying to restart Umbrella." The grey haired man sitting next to Chris says. Leon nods his head and continues the briefing.

"I do which is why..." Leon turns of the Projector and turns the light back on. " I need your help. I have picked you all to help me infiltrate the facility and determine where the Kiunguza tribe went. So, I would like to know who, would like to be apart of the team." Leon asks looking around the room for volunteers.

The older man stands up and approaches Leon. He grabs Leon's hand and shakes it. Leon smiles and says "I knew I could count on you, Gillette." The man smiles then stands with Leon. The next person to stand is Dr. Weissman.

"I admit, I'm interested in the possibility of studying new B.O.W's." Dr. Weissman

"How much does it pay?" The shady looking man asked.

"10,000$." Leon responds the man and the man sitting next to him stand along with the rest.

"When do we leave?" Chris says standing up. Leon smiles brightly then looks to the last person sitting at the table. The young woman with the purple hair. She looks down then stands up.

"I guess we're a team." The woman stands and smiles at Leon, Chris and the rest of the team. Chris looks around at his new comrades and thinks that, it would have to be a hell of a monster to take them down.

Claire Redfield's Home

Chris thought that since he only had a short time in the city before he'd leave for Africa, so he decided to visit his sister. Wouldn't want a repeat of what happened last time he left for an mission without telling her. She lives outside the city, so he went right to her house in the morning. Her house was a 2 floor Victorian Style house in a live community outside the city. He pulled into her driveway and walked to the front door. He knocked on the door, and waited for his sister to answer.

Claire opened the door to see her brother Chris. She smiled a pulled her big brother into a big hug. He was wearing a simple white t-shirt and jeans. Claire had her hair down from her usual ponytail and was wearing a light blue tank top with some black slacks. She quickly invited him inside. She took him to the kitchen. Her kitchen was clean and white for the most part. The countertops, handles, faucets and appliances, all had light blue incorporated in it. It was one of the few things She and Jill had in common. Always making sure everything matches, it stumped Chris why they put so much effort into it. Claire ushered Chris to sit at her dining table.

"Do you want Tea? Coffee?" Claire asks as she moved to the Coffee maker to make her morning coffee.

"Sure, Coffee, Black." Claire put the coffee on and sat across from Chris. She smiled as the questions began to pop into her head. Chris saw the look on her face, and realized that his devilish sister was planning something. "So... Chris, How is Jill?" Claire asked.

"She's good, she's bored as hell but, we're making progress. She's going to therapy and were talking about it more." Chris told his sister as she looked at him sadly.

"What about you, Chris?" She asked, Chris was very confused at this question. He was fine, he passed his psychological exam.

"What do you mean?" Chris asked his sister as she got up to get his coffee and putting hers on. She sighs.

"I worry about you sometimes, Chris." Chris knew this, she had expressed many times how dangerous his life was and that she didn't approve. "I know you and Jill have been together for a long time and I understand but..."

"Claire." Chris stated earning a stare from Claire. One that could burn through diamonds.

"Chris, your just not happy anymore and if you say you are your lying to yourself and to me." Claire says while sitting down across from Chris once again with her coffee. "Chris, why are you here?"

"What I can't come and visit my little sister." Chris says making a point.

"You only come here after a fight with Jill or if you're going on a mission, so which is it?" Claire asks. Chris looks down guiltily, knowing this time it was both. Claire had always been good at deciphering her brother's emotions and she knew right away it was different this time. "Chris..."

"I'm going on a mission later on today." Chris said as he looked up at his sister.

"Where are you going?"

"Africa." Chris said taking a sip of his coffee. Claire's eyes widen as she hears it.

"Are you sure that's a good idea."

"I'm not a emotional wreck, Claire."

"A lot happened down there. It could bring back bad memories." Claire sipped her coffee.

"Its going to be fine." He reassured her. " I'm going with a strong team, its led by Leon." Claire smiled and looked at her brother.

"Oh Chris. Leon's just as bad when it comes to getting into trouble." Claire chuckles and continues " How's that supposed to reassure me. One of you is bad enough."

"Laugh it up Claire, just remember I never woke up in a prison on some island on the other side of the equator." Chris mocked. Claire reached over the table and slapped his arm.

"Looking for you, I might add." Claire declared.

"I think we're both troublemakers then..." Chris said as he and Claire tapped their cups together and continued the nice morning coffee together. Even, though they didn't know what would happen on the mission and how it would effect Chris's life. For the better or the worst.