The Captain's Report

New York Cty, USA.

It's been four days since the assault to the TerraSave headquarters happened, in which eight people were kidnapped by a professional armed group, most likely a terrorist one. One of the victims was Claire Redfield, my long time friend, who I shared life-and-death bioterrorism experiences with. There is no clue about who might have been behind this, we've only got the names of the missing workers.

As one of the main prime chief of the Division of Security Operations created by the American government, I was sent to New York to investigate more about the situation. The news went viral across the country, it was outrageous, so much that even president Adam had to release a statement via national broadcast to assure the people that the government would collaborate in the case.

He, being the only one who knows about my link and friendship with Claire Redfield, left me in charge of this task. The Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (B.S.A.A.) was also doing its part of the job, checking all the files of potentials bioterrorist groups that could be responsible of the mess caused. In spite not having that much of interaction between us (alliance and government) due to orders from high officers, we were coordinating really well in the search of the hijacked people.

I have not contacted Chris Redfield, Claire's older brother. It was weird, he would've been the first one to search the grounds,the sky and the sea to find his sister. Maybe he was not in the country at the moment. If it was true, he will be shocked to death when he learns about this incident.

Instead, I was informed that consultant Barry Burton was leading the investigation in B.S.A.A side. I have not been able to meet him personally, but I expected that, he must be so devastated by the news of his daughter being kidnapped in her very first day at job that he had no room in his head for any other thoughts.

While the alliance worked on the profiles of possible suspects, our job as D.S.O. was to interview the remaining members of TerraSave. All of them. The ones who were present at the moment and the ones that were not there by some reason. This task might look senseless, but we were secretly investigating all the background of each worker in the organization. Family, previous jobs, bank accounts, properties, etc.

The president suspects someone inside TerraSave itself was involved in the assault,somehow. They were very specific in their actions, no kills, only hijacked certain people. According to witnesses' reports, the armed men knew the victims' names. It was all planned beforehand and they kept an eye on those members.

I was staying at a five star hotel in The Big Apple, all-inclusive sponsored by the government (another benefit of working for them), checking the reporst sent by my team of agents who had been interviewing the people these past four days. They were like a hundred of reports with personal information of each worker. But I was more interested in the conclusions: potential suspect or person with no relevant background.

Til that moment, no one seemed to have any link with criminal groups. I wanted to slam my head against something hard, this was going nowhere. We've checked up almost every member of the headquarters in that city. I knew TerraSave had offices in several parts of the country, even worldwide. But it was less likely that someone from outside was involved,and even if someone was, it would have to be a complicity with a resident in New York.

But nothing. Not a single clue. Everyone was clean. All the witnesses had been investigated.

Another thing I could not understand was why they had to take those specific eight people away. Did they have valuable information for bioterrorist? If they did, then why did they take a recently joined member and an nine year-old orphan girl?

If it was not information, what do these victims have that caught the interest of criminals?

I even checked the files of the missing members. They were the first files we got in order to set a proper search. Not one of them seemed out of normal.

The only thing they had in common was their experiences related to Fisher, Gina Foley and Natalia Korda were survivors of Terragrigia Panic. Gabriel Chavez, Pedro Fernandez and Edward Thompson were in Kijuju, even though their job there was to relocate victims, they had to deal with the remainings of Uroboros.

And Claire survived Raccoon City incident, the outbreak in the prison of Rockford Island and Harvardville Airport.

How that could be of any use? I laid down on the large luxurious sofa I was sitting on. I closed my eyes, I was tired of reading and thinking of possibilities. Sleep was taking over me, it was almost midnight, maybe I could get a bit of sleep...

Bottom line is...you have the experience we're looking for. If you really want to end this peacefully, you have only one option. Work for us.

...the experience we're looking for...

I abruptly opened my eyes, realizing I was dreaming, reviving the moment when I was, technically, forced to work for the United States government due to my recently experience in Raccoon City. The agents though I could be useful because of that.

What if that experience with bioterrorism was what the kidnapper group wanted from the TerraSave members? Was that the thing that could be useful to them? Would they force them to work for them? It kind of made sense. Besides,the only ones who knew about the background of the missing members were the people in TerraSave.

But, if people with experience was what they need, why would they take a new member? There are no records of her having experiences with BOW's. Natalia Korda might had go through one, but she was still a kid.

Unless they planned to use those two to make the rest accept to do the dirty jobs. Just like when I was forced to make the choice I made so Sherry could be protected.

God, no. I couldn't imagine the torture they might be put through. Claire was very sensible in that aspect, though her sense of justice was very strong.

I looked at her file on the desk I had in front of me. I set my eyes in her profile photo.

Claire, where the hell have the taken you to? What are they doing to you?

Before my mind began answering my questions with terrible scenarios, my cellphone rang. I took it out of my pocket and check the screen. It was Ingrid Hunnigan.

I pressed the videocall option.

—Kennedy here. What's up? — I tried to always pick up job calls as the professional I was.

—Leon, we have some important news regarding the case you're assigned to— my heart beat faster—. Few hours ago we received a report from the United States of America Embassy in Rusia. President Benford contacted directly with them. A Russian Marine ship found a castaway old boat with a woman on it, in the Baltic Sea, near the border of the Gulf of Finland. The mariners rescued her, they though it was a survivor of a plane crash or a shipwrecking, since they saw her weak, with several wounds, burns and she complained about a pain on the ribs. When she was asked about her identity, she said her name was Claire Redfield and that she was kidnapped in New York.

What. The. Fuck. Did I hear correctly? Claire in the Baltic Sea? In Europe? How and why the hell did she get there? I was in the neighbor country a few days ago.

—Is that true Hunnigan?! — my anger was not because of Hunnigan, it was because that mess was getting worse than I thought—. Why wasn't I informed of this before?

—The president wanted to confirm the news, so we sent a copy of Claire Redfiled's files to the embassy so they could corroborate personal data and physical appearance. We received the confirmation just moments ago. President Benford ordered me directly not to tell you anything until we got the answer.

I got that, Adam was very aware of my close friendship with Claire, If I learnt the news without getting confirmation, I would probably be on my way to Russia, just like that.

—Understood. What did they do with Claire Redfield? Where is she now? —I asked.

—She is still staying on the ship. However, they are planning to transfer her by helicopter to the Diagnosis and Consultation Polyclinic in St. Petersburg, which are the nearest city and hospital to the harbor. The mariners think it's better to treat her on land. Leon— the president wants you to go there. He will notify the appropriate authorities about your arrival.

—Got it. Please, book me a ticket for the next flight to Moscow from JFK Airport. And if it's possible, book another for St. Petersburg when I arrived at Russia— I asked her while getting up from my seat and headed towards my room to pack my stuff—. What about the B.S.A.A? Do they know this too?

—The president told them directly, and he also asked them to wait 'til further confirmation. However, we were reported that the consultant in charge of the investigation departed to Moscow just after they learnt the news.

—Did Barry Burton leave already? —I saw Hunnigan nod—.Well, it doesn't surprise me actually. He is close to Claire, and she's the only one who can tell him the whereabouts of his daughter. Allright Hunnigan, I'll wait for the flight schedule confirmation. Tell the agents of my team to come and pick all the files in my room— I saw her nod once more before hanging up.

I put my cellphone in my pocket again and started to pack my stuff as fast as I could. Regardless the time of the flight, I was heading to the airport after my team came and collected the files.

Claire, I'm on my way.

o-o-o-o-o

17 hours later.

St. Petersburg, Russia.

My flight from New York left really early, so I could get some sleep on the way. As soon as I arrived in Moscow, I took the next flight to St. Petersburg, so another hour of traveling. I did sleep well, but still my head was spinning. There is nothing one can do against jet lag.

The US Consulate in St. Petersburg was aware of my arrival, so they sent the consul himself to pick me up at the airport. He would take me to the hospital where Claire would be moved, then he would take my stuff to the place I'd stay in.

I've never visited this place before, it looked very nice and comfy in spite of the weather. It seemed it rained cats and dogs a few hours ago.

I wish I had come under better circumstances.

Next time we bump into each other, let's hope it's some place, a little bit more normal.

I remembered the words I told Claire when we last met some years ago, after the Harvardville incident. I really hoped our next meeting to be in a more normal place, under better circumstances. It looked like this time wouldn't be that one.

I wondered if our fate was to meet always due to reasons related to bioterrorism.

Well, with both of us working to erase this evil threat from Earth, I supposed yes. But c'mon, the exception of the rule will always be welcome.

—So, is there anything new about the rescued woman? —I asked the man driving by my side.

—As far as we know, there isn't. But we have now the report the captain of the ship sent from the sea. It's weird, though—he said.

—May I read it? —I was interested to know what the rescuers had to say about the issue.

—Of course, it's in a blue envelope, inside the glove compartment in front of you — he pointer at said compartment. I opened it.

There were few papers inside, which was odd since it's a vehicle property of the consulate. It wasn't hard to spot the blue envelope. I took it and opened it.

Captain's Report

We rescued a woman sinking in an old boat. She was unconscious, soaked to the bones in blood. However, her wounds weren't that deep to be the cause of such loss of blood.

We thought she might be a survivor of a plane crash or a shipwrecking. She had some burns. We noticed a holster on her right leg, but there was no weapon in it nor in the boat. The woman opened her eyes briefly, she saw us and started whispering about an overseer, an island, experiments. Then she passed out again.

We took her to the infirmary of our ship, medical personnel treated her wounds. She did not wake up until hours later.

When the woman had enough strength to talk, I visited her room to ask for more information. She said her name was Claire Redfield, she was kidnapped from New York few days ago, along with some fellow workers of an organization called TerraSave. She told us they all woke up on the same island, but in different locations. She said she escaped a prison full of people infected with an odd virus; they all were the outcome of the experiments carried by a woman who called herself The Overseer.

I noticed a strange bracelet on her right wrist, I asked what was it and she said it was a device that registered physiological responses of the subject, if the person felt an uncontrollable feeling of fear, it would trigger the virus inside. I look closely at it, it had a digital screen that seemed broke down.

The woman felt sick again, saying she had a pain in the ribs, chest and head. I let her rest again.

To be honest, her story seemed to be the product of hallucination. She said the people in the island were Russian-speaking people, but we have no records of any island near the coordinates we found her. Let alone an island with a prison. Nevertheless, there were these comments between the mariners about an outrageous hijacking in New York City some days ago, so I thought it might had something to do with the woman we rescued, as creepy as it could sound.

But to be sure, I send this information to the government of my country so they can contact the United States of America Embassy in Russia and help us confirm the relation between the two facts.

I wait patiently for your response in order for us to proceed with our plans. We want to move her to land so she can receive a better treatment.

Captain Mihail Zhukovski

I put the paper inside the envelope again. The Overseer? Virus and experiments? So that was what it was about. Claire went through something similar in Rockford Island. A bracelet that measured physiological responses? Fear triggered the virus? God, bioterrorist kept coming up with creepier ideas every time.

And Claire had to be their guinea pig.

The reason behind the assault was a lot clearer to me now, but still I didn't understand why eight people out of everyone else at the event. We all felt fear sometime in our lives. What was the purpose of their experiments? I hoped Claire could tell me more about what she found out there. This was a serious matter, it meant a new biological threat to the world.

—It's weird, isn't it? —the question took me out of my thoughts. I raised an eyebrow—. I mean, I'm very aware of BOW's, and what pharmaceutical corporations are able to do in order to create the most powerful biological weapon. What seems strange to me it's the fact she said she was on an island. The captain said it in his report, there is no record of an island near the coordinates where she was found.

—Maybe it's a forgotten place. Easter Slave Republic went through the same when the Soviet Union disappeared—I said. My recent experience at the civil war in that country taught me that forgotten nations can be very rancorous.

—It's a possibility we should take in consideration. We would have to ask the Russian government to send aircraft fleet for a search. I doubt they accept, they say if it's not on a map, then it doesn't exist — he said sarcastically—. We've reached or destination Mr. Kennedy. Authorities of the hospital are aware of your visit, personnel must know it too.

I look out the window and I saw a building that seemed to be raised two centuries ago. Very similar to the hospitals in the US.

—Thank you Mr. Consul. I'll report to the US president as soon as I get current information— I told him and he made a goodbye gesture with his hand. I took my hand luggage and got out the car.

It was a long way to the lobby. There were green areas around the place, nurses accompanying the patients on wheelchair for a walk, even if it was on the asphalt, since the gardens were flooded. When I got in, I thought I'd get lost with so many Russian signs. Fortunately, there were signs in English too.

The lobby was almost empty, only a fifty-ish bearded man was sitting on one of the large couches. He looked a bit depressed.

I headed to the receptionist.

—Good evening ma'am— I greeted the woman in charge. Lucky, she seemed to understand me—. My name is Leon S. Kennedy, I came from the US commissioned by the government — I took my agent badge out the pocket of my jacket—. I want to know about the situation of a patient named Claire Redfield. When is she arriving?

—We were waiting for you Mr. Kennedy —I was surprised by how well she spoke English—. Miss Claire Redfield arrived two hours earlier than expected, she had to undergo surgery.

What? What happened to her?

—Why did she have to undergo surgery? — I questioned, trying to stay calm.

—Miss Redfield had a rib fracture that eventually pierced one of her lungs causing collapse. We don't know the severity of her condition; she was taken to the operating room as soon as she arrived.

I clenched my fist to that statement.

So that was the reason of her pain on the ribs. First she escaped from maniacs of virus, now she has to get out in one piece from the surgery.

—Excuse me, do you know Claire? — I heard a voice behind me. I turned around and saw the bearded man who was sitting on the couch few minutes ago. He didn't look like a Russian resident. Did he know Claire too?

—Yes, I am Leon Kennedy, a close friend of hers— I answered.

—Leon Kennedy! — he exclaimed—I know who you are. Claire has told me a lot about out you these years. Let me introduce myself: I am Barry Burton, consultant for the B.S.A.A. — he reached out his hand.

What a place, time and way to meet the legendary Barry Burton.

o-o-o-o-o

And here's chapter two! Thanks to those who have started following this story,I hope I can take it where I want. Remember I first write in Spanish and translate it to English.

I tried to be close to the game events, even though we know Capcom doesn't give details about anything xD. I tried to be logical, something that Capcom sometimes lacks, lol. I chose St. Petersburg since it's the closest to the Baltic Sea.

If you remember the Barry-Claire scene in the game, it was raining outside.

Next chapter we'll have a very deep conversation between Barry and Leon and we'll know about Claire's condition!

If you could leave me your opinions, it'll help me a lot!