Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the below piece of fiction, Capcom does.
Warning: Nothing
Authors Note: I am back! Did you miss me? Well I missed talking to you guys, and I also missed updating the story. Although when I was supposed to be taking a break I ended up writing you guys some other mini-stories. Check them out if you're so inclined. Anyways, I have some IMPORTANT INFORMATION SO PLEASE READ: I was speaking to a few friends of mine about the size of SoF, and we all agreed that it is getting far too big. So what I plan on doing it splitting this story up into two different stories - There will be SoF which will go up to chapter 45, and then there will be it's sequel which will go from where SoF ended, all the way up to the events of RE5. So SoF will be broken up into two parts. This does NOT mean the story is done at chapter 45 when I put the 'complete' sticker next to the story. This just means that this part of the story is done and the sequel will begin shortly. Think of it like Lord of the Rings or something. Hopefully this makes sense!
Chapter 39- Waiting
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. ~Joseph Campbell
"We are to wait twenty-four hours."
"What?" Jumping up from his chair, Chris stared down Wesker, his mouth open in shock at what he had just said. "Twenty-four hours?"
"Yes, that is what I just said."
"That's not right," Barry said, shaking his head slowly, lips pursed in a tight hold as he stared at his desk.
Sighing, Wesker stuffed his hands in his pants pockets, eyebrows furrowed. "I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do."
"No, no, we are not waiting twenty-four fucking hours to go in and find Bravo team. That is absolutely fucking stupid!" Chris cried out, his voice loud and overbearing in the small office. After Wesker had been alerted about the loss of contact with Bravo team, he left for a short moment to discuss matters with Chief Irons, who had stayed late alongside them. Chris was sure— hell, everyone was sure—Wesker would get them out and in full operation moments after he spoke to Irons.
Bravo team could be in trouble, and if that was the case, then they would need all the help they could get. But instead, Wesker returned and casually told them they would leave in a day. No explanation as to why, just that that was the way things were going.
"And may I remind you that you are not in a position to make orders and criticise your superiors, Chris," Wesker said, his mouth tight, thin lips drawn close against his teeth as he reined in his temper.
Shaking his head, Chris let out a frustrated sigh, and was about to say something before shaking his head again. "You know this is wrong," he said, pointing at Wesker before bouncing his hand. "You know damn well this is wrong."
"Maybe we should wait," Brad mumbled, his shoulders hunched over as he leaned his torso on top of his desk.
"Wait, what?" Turning, everyone stared at Brad, making him look up from his desk.
"I said maybe we should wait. We don't know what's out there… Besides, we all know radio contact in Raccoon Forest is shifty at best. We lose contact and reception out there all the time, and just because this was an important mission doesn't mean they've fallen victim to some accident." What Brad had to say made a little sense to Chris, but it didn't take away from the anxiety and slight panic he was feeling. Bravo team was missing, and nothing would ease his mind until he could see them safe and all right. He got the impression everyone felt the same.
"For once, I agree with you Chickenheart," Joseph said, taking his bandana off to toss onto Chris' desk. "I mean… I don't like waiting, but we don't know what's going on down there, and rushing into a situation is going to get us nowhere."
"Good," Wesker stated, his voice tense despite his seemingly relaxed posture. "I expect there will no longer be an argument about this? There is nothing we can do at this time, so I suggest you all get some rest and come back here at nine. From there we will try and get all the information we can gather and set out in search of them if we have not heard back."
Nodding, there were a few 'yes Captain's mixed in for good measure before Wesker removed his hand from his pocket and curled his finger to indicate Chris should come with him. Deciding to follow Wesker, he left the office and shut the door, the click of the latch loud in the abandoned hallway. Despite the RPD being open every day and at all hours, it felt eerily quiet tonight.
"What's up?" he asked, stuffing his hands deep in his pockets as Wesker went to stand near the window, his gaze once again leaving Chris.
"You seemed upset in there. I need to make sure you're completely with me and the team. This could be important and I need unity." Turning his attention to Chris, Wesker removed his sunglasses and locked eyes with him. "I need you to have my back."
"Of course," Chris said without really thinking about it. Despite the sudden crisis with STARS, he still had what he told Wesker up on the roof in the back of his mind. Wesker still hadn't said anything, but he didn't expect him to; there were more pressing matters at hand. But if Wesker asked for his trust, then he was going to give it to him. This wasn't just for him, either—this was for Bravo team.
"Good, I am glad to hear it," he said, placing his sunglasses back on the bridge of his nose. "You all should go home and rest—try not to worry too much."
Nodding, Chris let Wesker walk a little ways away before reaching out to grab him, stumbling a little as he did so. Wrapping his fingers around his arm, Chris tugged him back, preventing him from leaving.
"Where are you going?" he asked, a little too quickly.
"I have matters to attend to."
"Didn't you just say we needed rest?"
"Yes, I did, but I do not have the luxury of such rest as your captain." Gently prying Chris off of him, Wesker rolled his shoulder back and turned his attention to the end of the hallway before continuing on his way.
"Will you come to my place later tonight?" he called, realizing he sounded desperate but not really caring. God damn, was this day ever stressful.
"No, I won't be done for some time. Goodnight, Christopher."
Leaving Chris by the STARS office, Wesker left at a brisk, purposeful pace, and Chris couldn't help but want to punch himself for his desperate, slightly laughable behaviour. His friends could be in trouble, and here he was freaking out that Wesker didn't like him anymore. Shaking his head to clear such frivolous thoughts, he returned to the office to see his teammates with all of their stuff ready to go, but no one looking particularly inclined to leave.
"I don't know how he expects us to just relax and sleep tonight," Jill said, hands in her lap as she sat in her chair. It appeared as if she had run her hands through her hair multiple times.
"We're going to have to. It's not like we can do anything," Barry said, his attention turning to Chris as he walked back into the room, shutting the door behind him. "What did Wesker want?"
"Just to make sure I would calm down. Guess my run-ins with authority have finally scared him," Chris said, trying to joke with them. No one laughed, though, and they continued to sit together in the office for some time, none of them wishing to leave just yet. Even they could begin to feel the cracks in the framework.
**XX**
Chris and the rest of Alpha team ended up staying together for some time at the office, trying to convince themselves everything was going to be all right. They tried a few more times to see if they could make contact, but decided they really needed to rest and left for the evening. Unfortunately for Chris, he was part of the unlucky majority who got little sleep—his mind too caught up with negative thoughts about what was going on to get a good night's rest. It probably wasn't anything serious and perhaps Bravo team would show up in the morning… But he knew he was lying to himself. He could feel it in his gut.
The more he thought it over and played with certain scenarios, the more and more the prospect of Bravo team being fine seemed unlikely. He kept getting images of a burnt-out helicopter with the bodies of Bravo team littered around like rag dolls inside his head every time he closed his eyes, and a few times had to get up and wash his face to dispel the horrific images that haunted him throughout the night. But in the morning when he returned to the office, he pushed past all of the negative ideas and thoughts he had, and went to work. He had to be professional about this (despite being scared shitless) and worked on keeping himself cool, calm, and collected. It helped that everyone else seemed to have the same outlook… everyone except for Brad, of course.
"T-this is not good," Brad mumbled, his face deathly pale as they stood in the gun locker room, their weapons being checked over a few times as they prepared to take off. There was still no sign of Bravo team in the morning, and Wesker finally had permission to order them out in an active search for them. They had done as much research into the matter as they possibly could, finding when contact was lost, what area they would most likely be in, and if the area had a tendency to lose radio contact. Chris had heard that the forests surrounding Mount Fuji in Japan had a certain kind of rock in it that prevented radio devices from being heard. Maybe that's what was going on? If that was the case, he was going to personally destroy every single radio-disrupting rock on the planet for giving him such a heart attack.
Of course Wesker was staying calm throughout the entire ordeal, and Chris began to wonder what he was thinking. Was he just as worried as everyone else, or did he have more confidence in Bravo team than the rest of his teammates did? He was being unusually quiet the entire time, and often let Barry take over when it came to planning the possible rescue procedure they would employ. Perhaps Wesker really was thinking about giving Barry control of Bravo team? Chris didn't have time to dwell on such thoughts, though, for Brad was stumbling down the hallway as they went back to the office to pick up the last few items they needed, his shoulder sliding against the wall as he sagged downwards.
"Are you all right, Brad?" Jill asked, touching his shoulder gently as he let out a soft moan, arms clutching his stomach.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine… j-just a little nervous. M-maybe I ate something bad," he mumbled, face suddenly turning green.
Barry was standing beside Chris, and he could see the concern mixed with displeasure on his face as he watched Brad suddenly dry heave.
"Go to the washroom—now," Wesker barked out, pushing Brad down the hallway towards the men's restroom. The jolt seemed to have knocked something in Brad, and Chris hoped he made it to the toilet in time as the sudden sound of vomit could be heard behind the door.
"Gross," Joseph mumbled under his breath, eyebrows furrowed.
"Is he going to be all right to fly?" Jill asked, her fingers twitching near her gun. Chris knew what she was thinking—he was going to bolt.
"Fucking chicken," Joseph grumbled, and Chris had to agree.
Scuffing his boot against the floor, Chris pinched the bridge of his nose. "He's going to bolt."
"Don't say that," Jill said sharply, her tone harsh and quick. "He's not going to bolt, and if you say that he will."
"You all need to have faith in Vickers," Wesker drawled out, his attention leaving the wall behind Chris as Brad returned from the washroom, a wet paper towel in his hands as he pressed it against his forehead.
"Will you be all right?" Wesker asked.
"Y-yeah, sorry about that," he said, nodding to Wesker before he turned and continued on their journey through the RPD.
"They're probably fine," Joseph said, trying to lighten the mood. "We keep imagining a helicopter crash, but they probably got caught up in the case and found themselves out of range for the radio systems. They're probably waiting for us to show up and help them arrest those fuckers."
While he explained all of this, they finally made it back to the office, the florescent lights making everyone look a little too pale. "Will you be quiet?" Chris asked, his voice tired as he looked over his shoulder at Joseph.
"Hey, I'm just trying to keep everyone fucking calm," he said, completely ruining any sense of 'peace' they had before.
"Stop it—it's not fucking working," Chris said, suddenly getting angry at the situation. What the fuck was going on? How come Bravo team hadn't contacted them at all? Why wouldn't Joseph just shut up?
"I think you need to calm the fuck down, Chris," Joseph said, moving closer into Chris' personal space.
Puffing himself up a little, Chris stared Joseph down, the tension from everything getting the better of him as he prepared to let out all his frustration on the first person who got in his way. "You kept talking and when I told you to shut the fuck up, you got defensive. I don't give a shit if they're all right, what I give a shit about is if they're going to be all right!"
So much for being professional.
"What the hell is your fucking problem, Chris?" Joseph yelled, eyes wide. "I think you need to get that giant dick up your ass out and once again calm the fuck down."
Going red in the face, Chris thought he heard Jill telling them both to calm down in the background, but didn't listen as he moved to strike Joseph, his frustration and anger finally taking over, ruling his emotions and actions once again. But just as he was about to strike, he felt a strong hand grasp his shoulder, pulling him back roughly. Slamming into a hard chest, Chris stumbled a little and glanced over his shoulder to see Wesker standing there, nostrils flared. "Christopher… calm down. Remember what I asked of you yesterday?"
Pulling away from Wesker roughly, Chris cracked his neck to the side, the anger leaving him as quickly as it came. Suddenly he felt foolish and brash. He acted on gut feelings and with little filter between what he wanted to do and what he should do. Wesker has asked him last night to keep it together, and here he was trying to further break open those cracks. "Sorry," he said, the tips of his ears going pink as he turned his attention back to Joseph.
Waving his hand, Joseph shrugged. "Don't worry… Guess we're all a little tense."
Nodding, Chris figured Joseph could say that again as Wesker went to the front of the office, his back to the STARS emblem as he addressed his team.
"As you all know, Bravo team has been unaccounted for, for the past twenty-three hours. They were dispatched to investigate a specific area deep inside Raccoon Forest; an area that, unfortunately, is incredibly easy to find oneself lost in. Once again, I would like to reiterate the importance of sticking together. While searching for our lost compatriots, I urge you all to push aside the fear and anxiety you feel, and treat this case as any other—do not let your emotions get in the way," Wesker stated, his arms crossed over his chest, legs spread wide to give him a confident, almost serene manner about him. Chris found himself relaxing just watching Wesker speak so confidently, so assured. Wesker was going to be his rock for this mission, Chris could feel it.
"Brad will be manning the helicopter, and Chris, you'll be in charge of most of the scout work. See if you can find any signs of a helicopter landing or a crash site. We'll be following the route that Bravo team was assigned; near the railroad tracks that snake through the forest. Stay alert, stay sharp, and don't panic no matter what you see. Prepare for the worst, and hopefully things will work out for the best."
Chris couldn't help but smile softly, suddenly feeling so much better about everything. He had nothing to worry about. No matter what happened, he had Alpha team with him, and they were all going to support each other in the worst case scenario. And Wesker's strangely encouraging words made him feel a little… secure. Safe and stable.
Unfortunately, Wesker had to ruin it. "If one of you dies, I am not dragging your body back to the helicopter. Now, move out."
Giving Wesker a lazy salute, Chris waited for everyone else to march out and head up to the roof before he made move to leave himself, Wesker trailing behind before he was stopped by his voice. "Chris, come here."
Turning around, he spared one last glance at the door to see Barry pause, an eyebrow raised before Wesker waved him off. Heading off with the rest of Alpha team, Barry left him and Wesker alone for a time.
"What is it?" he asked, getting antsy just waiting around. Wesker's pep talk made him ready for action.
Moving to stand behind his desk, Wesker's delicate fingers locked around the brown leather knife sheath, running along the length of it before picking it up. "You almost forgot this."
Snapping out of the trance he'd been put under, Chris realized that it was indeed his knife sheath—his knife sheath that was currently holding his combat knife. Laughing softly, he moved to claim it, and was about to thank Wesker before he was pulled forward, lips pressing against his quickly, preventing him from forming any sort of intelligent response.
Caught a little off guard, Chris stiffened for a second, and only started to move with Wesker when Wesker cupped his cheek with his hand, his thumb pressed against his cheekbone. Enjoying the kiss, he tilted his head a little and let himself get lost. They would go in, find Bravo team, come back, and then sleep. In the morning, Chris and Wesker would go out for breakfast (his treat) and they would work things out. Despite the heavy weight on his shoulders, Chris found everything looking up as they kissed in front of the large STARS emblem.
Pulling away after a time, Chris let their lips brush gently before he spoke. "Thanks for the knife."
He could feel Wesker smirk against his lips, and wanted to go in for another kiss before Wesker pulled away, the sudden warmth they'd been sharing leaving Chris. "We should go before the rest of them come looking for us." Nodding, Chris took the knife sheath from Wesker and strapped it onto his vest before following Wesker out, their hands brushing occasionally as they headed for the roof. Once they arrived, the helicopter was already up and running and the two of them had to hurry on board.
"It's show time," Joseph said over the sound of the chopper, and Chris gave him a thumbs up response. It certainly was.
**XX**
"See anything, Chris?" Wesker asked after a time. They had been flying around the forest in search of their missing compatriots for quite a while now, and they were all starting to lose hope of any sign of them. They followed the path Bravo team had marked out beforehand, but hadn't seen any sign of them as they traveled along it. A few times Brad circled around the area hoping to see a clue of sorts, but nothing popped up. And so they decided to just go to the mansion's area in hopes of seeing something… anything.
Trying to hold back the increasingly dark mood that had taken over all of them, Chris kept his attention out the side of the helicopter, letting nothing distract him while his eyes began to sting as the cool wind from outside glided across them. He tried his hardest not to blink in fear that if he did, he would miss something crucial. But he didn't have to look too hard as they grew closer to the mansion. Feeling Jill shake his shoulder, Chris shrugged her off as she said something about looking ahead.
There, in the middle of a clearing, was a pitiful but still visible trail of smoke coming up from what appeared to be a helicopter—a helicopter that did not have a very good landing.
"There, over there," Chris said, fumbling with his compass to give Brad the direction of the smoke trail. Brad seemed to have seen it despite not being able to see his frantic pointing, though, and circled around the crash site, a spot light being shined around it to give them all a better look.
"Can you see any life?" Barry called out, and Chris had to shake his head. There was nothing down there… no life at all.
He didn't know what was going on, but the next thing he knew they were descending, Wesker obviously having told Brad to find a place to land. Taking his time, Brad looked for a clearing nearby, and Chris wished he could push all the trees aside himself so they could stop and get the hell down there. When they finally did land a little ways away, Chris was the first to jump out, his feet hitting the uneven ground, twigs snapping under his weight. Everyone else waited until the helicopter had been turned off before leaving the aircraft. He pulled his gun out, senses heightened in the now deadly silent woods.
"Chris and Barry, you come with me and we'll secure the area. Brad, stay with the helicopter, and Joseph and Jill—head in the direction of the other helicopter, but be vigilant," Wesker ordered, his head jerking to the side in the direction of the helicopter.
"Right, Captain," Jill said, giving him a brisk salute as she and Joseph moved forward, the light on Joseph's shotgun illuminating a small distance ahead of them. There was a thick fog that ran along the ground, snaking through the trees and clinging to everything, giving the forest a soft, muted appearance. A thunderstorm was also rolling in, and Chris could smell the ozone in the air. Ozone and… another smell; a dangerous, pungent smell that stuck to the back of his tongue like a dead weight. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. Something was terribly wrong.
A rumble off in the distance seemed to have snapped everyone away from watching Jill and Joseph disappear into the shadows, and Wesker began moving forward, the three of them making a protective circle as they covered each other's backs, guns drawn. Chris didn't know what they were looking for, but something told him not to put his gun down for even a second. Bracing his left hand above his right, he flicked on his flashlight, seeing that Wesker and Barry had done the same.
"What are we looking for?" Chris asked after a time, the rumble of thunder getting closer.
"Signs…" Wesker said, voice low and soft.
Of life or death?
The only sound that could be heard in the forest was that of the twigs snapping under their feet, and the occasionally stone as it rolled along the ground and the bottom of a combat boot. Chris' own breathing was the loudest thing in the almost suffocating silence, and he concentrated on the sound of his slow exhales and inhales.
But that was before the blood-curdling scream rang through the forest, bouncing off the trees and landing on all three of them like a shock to the system.
And then the gunshots started… and stopped. As quickly as it had come, the sound was once again enveloped by deadly silence.
Alright... I'll be the first to admit that this chapter was filler and kind of lame. Unfortunately I could not add this to the next chapter because it would be too long, but at the same time this chapter needed to be included in order to have a proper transition between chapter 37 and 39. So I'm sorry this one was so short and kind of lame, but like I said I couldn't see a viable way around it! But I promise you guys next update will be the mansion incident- I promise! Please stick around for that! Anyways, once again sorry for the short, filler chapter, but I think I make up for it in the next couple of chapters!