Phase 34: Ring of Commitment
Rachel is soundly asleep in the bed with Jack first awake to have something brewing in his hand. "I want to marry Rachel; she is everything to me. I need to show her how serious I am. I saw a jewelry store within the city, I can go there. Pick out the best ring and give it to her showing how much I love her," he thought as he got out of the bed to reach over to kiss her on the lips. "I will be right back babe, no time like the present," Jack said as he went to grab his gear and outfit to go into the armory.
He got his Glock 40 and Honey Badger carbine to put on his back. "Elza, tell Rachel when she wakes up I am going outside to scout the area," he said.
"Okay, what you doing?" Elza asked.
"Oh, I wanted to fetch her a ring and ask her to marry me," Jack said.
"Now of all times?" she asked.
"Of course, I don't want to have regret if something happens," Jack said.
'I see, keep going and don't get killed or Rachel will cry all day," Elza said lightly.
"Thanks, Elza, I will keep in touch via radio," Jack said.
"Good luck, I am rooting for you guys," Elza said as she wanted to tie the knot and get it over soon.
He nods his head to head out onto the streets to head for the jewelry store to grab Rachel something very special.
Then on the rooftops, Jessica is talking with her boss Dan Fang about her mission. "So, what is the status of the Valkyrie Serum?" he asked.
"Pretty good, I meet some people who can help with this. The keys are needed to unlock the main lab underground," Jessica said.
"Come on Jessica, you should get moving. Our program is needed to perfect our bioweapons division. The big guys from the CCP are getting restless, they want results for their plans to take over assists within Asia and Africa. Better not disappoint me," Dan said.
"Yes sir," she said to turn off the radio to sigh at this. "I have been busting my ass for 12 years working for his company. He should be a bit more respectful," she thought as she put a lot of time and energy into serving the boss of China's biggest pharmaceutical company Shen Ya who is secretly making bioweapons and viruses for the Chinese government along with their purposes.
Jessica looks downward to see Rachel's boyfriend rushing through the streets. "Interesting, Rachel's main squeeze. I will be friendly and lend them a hand," Jessica said as she had her ACR SPR 6.8 marksman rifle to follow his trail. "Hey big guy, what are you doing?" she asked on the radio.
"Oh, Rachel's little birdie. I am getting my favorite girl in the world, a nice ring," he said as Jessica was caught off guard by this.
"Oh my, I didn't expect that. That is very sweet of you to do. What is the occasion?" she asked.
"I am going to ask her to marry me and set things straight," Jack said.
"I see, very sweet indeed. Willing to go out of here to seek something like that," Jessica said.
"Yep, I will do anything for Sunshine. I want to spend the rest of my life with her and make her life as happy as possible," Jack said as Jessica felt heart-struck by this.
"Goodness, he is like my father. Sweet and loving," she thought as she checked her DMR's scope to adjust it to her needs. "Okay, I will help you," she said.
"Oh, okay cool. You helped Rachel before, so you can't be that bad despite what Peter says," Jack said.
"What did he say?" she asked.
"You are a Chinese spy of Shen Ya, Chinese's Umbrella. Can't be trusted," Jack said.
"Oh, what a hypocrite. He doesn't know a damn thing about me, I just do my job. Nothing more just like he did with the Connections before he went rouge," Jessica said.
"Fair enough, why are you helping me anyway?" he asked.
"You remind me of someone who made me feel special a long ago but his woman didn't respect him as much sadly," Jessica said.
"Cool, so do you have someone special?" he asked curiously.
"Oh yeah, I have a boyfriend who is an agent like me but he is on a mission with our mutual friend," Jessica said.
"I see, well cover my back," he said as Jack and Jessica moved towards the jewelry store.
Back with Elza to see the tall blond letting out a big yawn. "Oh, morning E," Rachel said with a big smile.
"What's up? Had a good nap?" she asked.
"I was dreaming like a baby," she said as she spread out her arms with her boobs bouncing in her blue sports bra barely containing them.
"You are looking cute in that," Elza said.
"I know right, I knew I made a good choice choosing these undies," she said to put on an apron to begin to cook some breakfast. "Oh, where is Jack at?" she asked.
"Oh, he went to scout the area. He will be right soon," Elza said to cover for Jack to not ruin the surprise.
"Oh, I see, he is such a good boy. Always goes out of his way to keep us safe. It's so sweet," Rachel coos at his kindness and thoughtfulness.
"Yep, he will be a better boy soon when he gets back. You will be very happy to see him," Elza said.
"I am always happy to see him," Rachel said as she pulled out a stack of pancakes to place them on the pan to turn on the oven.
"Man, you guys have been dating for over 2 years and still going strong," Elza said.
"Yes, it is, time truly flies huh? I have found the man of my dreams and I want to marry him shortly," she said as Elza had a sly smile.
"Well, you will be able to see that soon for sure," Elza said.
"Right," Rachel said getting excited. "Gee, it reminds me of one of our dates. He is such a gentleman, took me to the zoo and it was a faithful day," she said as she recalled the memories.
-Flashback Begins-
On a bright spring day, Jack is sitting on a bench to wait for Rachel to get out of her bathroom to go on a date to the Miami Zoo. "Girl is taking her time but it is worth it," he said as he heard the door opening to see his lovely girlfriend coming to greet him.
"Sorry baby, big line to the stalls," she said as he looked upon her outfit which consisted of a yellow tank top not hiding her deep cleavage, a pair of blue jeans fitting her curves like her big booty, wide hips, and curvy thighs and white sneakers. She also has her long golden hair tied in a side ponytail.
"Damn you look so good," he said to stare into her deep blue eyes with her sporting a big blush on her face.
"Oh, thank you, sweetheart. Only the best for you, come on. Let's see the animals," Rachel said as she took his hand to guide him towards the reptile house to see a bunch of snake statues on top of the building. "I hope the snakes look that colorful," she said.
"Me too, they come in all sorts of colors," he said as they went inside to see it was quite dark with glass displays showing nice looking snakes including a bright blue viper within the case.
"Wow, it's so pretty," she said.
"These things came from the UWAR (United West African Republic) hiding in the bushes and seeking out their prey with their powerful venom," Jack said looking at a digital panel on the side of the case.
"Beautiful animals in that nation. I heard it's been doing well despite all the terrorists trying to take its government down," she said. After the events of Wesker and Tricell being defeated in 2009, the Northwestern African nations united to become the UWAR allowing them to become the most powerful and enriched African nation by 2020 having a strong alliance with the West like the EU, the US, and NATO.
"Yeah, they have crazy success with their energy, material, and farming. Breathing new life into Africa, something good came out of Wesker getting his shit kicked in by the BSAA," Jack said as they move to another display to see a large monitor lizard inside.
"Oh, look at him. He is so cute," she said as the lizard is chilling side to rest on the side showing its slender forked tongue.
"Yep, just a leathery dog. But seriously lizards are so underrated as pets," Jack said.
"I wanted a frilled lizard as a pet but Gina didn't like it. She got us a cat instead. The sweet little thing was called Troubles," she said.
"Oh, what happened to it?" he asked.
"Oh, he ate a mouse who was poisoned and died. Very sad to see him go like that," Rachel said.
"Yeah that sucks," he said.
"Oh, let's see more animals," she said as they went to another display to see a chameleon changing colors with the wood branch it was standing on. "So cute," she said.
"Yeah it's just chilling there," he said as Rachel nodded her head.
"Perfect pet material," she said as Jack looked at the panel on the idea.
"Seems like this guy came from Macan. The armpit of Central Europe," Jack said as Macan is a small nation landlocked in the middle of Europe. It's mostly made of forest and covered old buildings from its golden age over 500 years ago.
"There was a nasty civil war over a decade ago. That shifted to current bioterrorism trying to ruin the nation," Rachel said.
"All due to the Connections dealings with these evil groups. Only proxies to the Connections to spread chaos," Jack said.
"Just like New Dawn, always trying to ruin the fun. Oh, baby, we should be having fun watching the animals," Rachel said.
"Yeah you are right," he said as they finished their time in the Reptile house to head for the mammal section.
"I want to see the elephants," she said pressing her hands together looking excited.
"Very popular here," he said as they walked down the road with guys checking her out.
"Damn that lady is quite fine," one guy said as they stare at her huge breasts in her tank top lightly bouncing.
"I know right but that ass looks amazing," the second guy said to check out her big bottom filling out her jeans.
"Gee, keep your eyes on the animals," he said as Rachel grabbed his arm to shove her chest onto it.
"They get to look while you get to touch me," she whispered into his ear.
"I know and I am quite lucky," he said showing off a smile with Rachel finds so adorable.
"Yes, you are, come on. The elephants await us," she said with a big silly girl to see the elephant pen nearby. "Goodness, they are so cute. A family of elephants," she said as Jack looked over to a panel to see what they were all about.
"Oh, they were a family from UWAR. The mother, two sons, a daughter, and an aunt. There were victims of poaching for their ivory," he said as Rachel felt sorry for the elephants.
"Poor sweethearts, they should be happy not be hunted for some bullshit fake medicine," Rachel said.
"Yeah, good thing that is getting banned anymore. Greed ruins everything," Jack said as the reason why the world is a mess is because of greedy people like in Umbrella who pushed the wrong buttons for too long.
"I heard from files about an infected elephant in Raccoon City that went on a rampage within the city but it got taken down by survivors," Rachel said as the thought of fighting a zombie elephant is beyond insane.
"Yeah, that would be a big bad case," Jack said as they went around the pen to see an area where people were allowed to pet the elephants.
"We need to take a picture of us petting the elephants," Rachel said hopping for joy at this to sport a big smile.
"Don't worry people, they are harmless. Give them proper respect and it will be returned in kind," the zookeeper said as the two sister elephants approached Rachel allowing her to touch them.
"Oh, how cute. Oh boy, you smell," she said despite their cuteness they have a strong odor being in the mud and heat all day. She goes up to the younger sister elephant to pet her on the forehead. "Wrinkly," Rachel said as the older sister elephant was watching both of them to make sure Rachel wasn't doing something weird to her younger sister.
Jack pulls up his phone to take a picture of Rachel looking cute and happy petting an elephant.
"Thank you so much," she said as the younger elephant touched her hand with her trunk to go away with her older sister. "So adorable, I was under the watchful eye of that big sis elephant," Rachel said.
"Yeah that seems familiar," Jack said as Rachel giggled at this.
"Oh yeah, Gina is just like that big sis elephant. Always watchful of her baby sister," she said.
"Lucky, they are happy and alive," Jack said.
"Yeah, I hope so too," Rachel said as they finished with the elephant pen to head for the birdhouse. They see a large building to enter inside to see they are in an open space with birds flying around them covered in the glass dome keeping the birds from hitting the visitors.
"Well, this is impressive," Jack said as Rachel marveled at all the lush fauna blending with the greenery.
"I love all the chirping here," she said as she pulled out her phone to take pictures of the colorful birds flying all over the place.
"Lots of tropical birds here, going on a vacation to an island would be nice," Jack said.
"Oh, like the Bahamas. That would be great, just the two of us," Rachel said.
"That would be lovely," Jack said as he heard his stomach growling. "I am hungry," he said as Rachel could hear her stomach groaning too.
"Yeah, let's go to the café and grab something to eat," she said as they went towards the café for the smells hit Rachel's nose. "Oh boy, that smells amazing," she said.
"I know right, let's get our food," Rachel said as they took their time to get their meal.
Jack came to a table outside to have some corndogs, sweet potato fries, and fruit juice. Rachel got herself a chicken sandwich, garlic fries, and citrus punch. They are digging into their lunch with Rachel enjoying herself.
"Damn, this hot sweet sauce is killer on this crispy chicken sandwich," she said as she is biting into it with her smile across her face.
"Rachel, I have been going out for over a year now. I wanted to ask you something?" he asked.
"Shoot, I am all ears baby," she said to focus those pretty blue eyes onto his face.
"Well, I wanted to ask if you want to live together?" he asked as Rachel's eyes widened by this.
"You want to live with me?" she asked.
'Yeah, we can have a nice apartment together. We will split the bill and take care of it as a couple. Do you think it is a good idea?" he asked.
"I think it is a wonderful idea. I would love to live with you baby," Rachel said to be very happy.
"Thank goodness. I wanted to say something sooner," he said as she reached out to place her hand on his cheek.
"No worries, I am so excited for this. We need to set up a place and get things rolling. I need to tell Elza and Gina about this," she said as she was on her smartphone to tell them about this news and was very happy about this. The rest of the day was beyond a good day.
-Flashback Ends-
Rachel thinks fondly of their dates which led her to believe Jack Smith is husband material while they have been living in Miami together ever since that day. "I am so lucky," she said.
"You will be lucky soon," Elza said as Jack and Jessica were near the jewelry shop to see Aqua Lickers around.
"Well shit," he said as he raises his Honey Badger to put rounds into the Aqua Licker to put it down.
"I got you covered," Jessica said as she looked through the scope of her ACR SPR 6.8 to put several shots into the bioweapons' heads to kill them off.
Jessica is on the roof overlooking the shop to set up the bipod to get into the sniping position. Jack gets behind something to dodge a lunging Aqua Licker as he fires his thick rounds to slice into the bioweapon's body.
Jack rolls away to fire at the monster to put holes in it to kill it off. "I don't see any more Lickers here. Now go get yourself a nice ring for your girl," Jessica said as Jack entered the shop to see more Aqua Lickers inside.
"Well, more of the bastards inside," Jack said as Jessica looked through her scope to shoot the window to get the Lickers' attention. He unloads his rounds to take down the Lickers as he rolls away from the rushing slash. He drives his knife into it craving it out and killing it instantly.
Jessica can look through the windows to snipe the Aqua Lickers around Jack to drop them to the floor. "Nice shooting," Jack said.
"No big deal, I am using my training," Jessica said.
"Seem to have an interest In Rachel," Jack said.
"She reminds me of myself and it's nice to see she is happy," Jessica said as she looked through the scope to see if there were any more Lickers nearby.
"She is quite friendly, you don't need to be shy," Jack said.
"Are you mocking me?" she pouted as Jack laughed at this.
"I don't get why Peter was bothered by you. You are not bad. The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Jack said.
"Seems like you are reasonable. I still need to get to the lab to grab that data," Jessica said.
"Why do you need to collect this? Why have loyalty to a faceless corporation?" he asked.
"Less loyal to the corporation but to the CEO. Dan Fang, he saved me and I owe him my life and my service. I don't matter what I am getting, I want to please him," Jessica said as Jack nodded his head.
"Understandable. He is your father figure but knowing his type. I doubt it not without strings attached," Jack said as he heard her groaning on the radio.
"Still my feelings are not relevant. I need to do my job and you are great aids to that," Jessica said trying to cover up her feelings with Jack smiling at this.
"I see, there is a good person in there. Driving her away would be useful. Getting another agent for the DSO is a net positive," Jack said as he looked around to find a bunch of jewelry to look through the rings. He finds one which is a silver ring with a small diamond on the top. "Perfect," he said to grab the box holding it and place it in his bag.
"Got your prize?" she asked.
"Yep, thanks for your help," Jack said.
"No problem, tell Rachel I said hey," Jessica said.
"Maybe you can say hey to her in person. She doesn't bite," he teased her.
"Shut up, good luck," she said to hide a small smile as she disappeared into the rooftops.
Jack heads back to the hideout to slip through the window as he is greeted by a big hug from Rachel. "Baby, you are back. Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I am. I have gotten something special for you," Jack pulls out a little black box Rachel being surprised by this.
"Oh, a ring for me, why?" Rachel asked as her heart was racing fast.
"I think you know why," he said to bend the knee as Rachel looked on with a big dumb smile.
"Goodness," she said as he showed the ring to her and held her right hand.
"Rachel Foley, time is pretty short and I want to make my feelings clear. You are the best woman I have ever known and I want to make you my forever. Will you marry me?" Jack asked to look into her big blue eyes being very serious.
"Goodness, I can't believe this. I have dreamed of this since I was little. This sweet handsome man picked me of all women to be his future wife," she thought as she began to cry tears of happiness. "Yes, Yes, yes, yes. A thousand times yes, I wanted this for so long," Rachel overcome with happiness giving him a warm embrace to give him a deep kiss.
"It's about time you two tied the knot. You were always into each other," Elza said.
"You knew about this did you?" Rachel smiled at her best friend.
"Yep, seems like you are happy with it," Elza said.
"Of course, I am. I am going to marry the man of my dreams once this mission is over," Rachel said as Jessica went outside to look through the window via binoculars to be happy about this.
"Good blondie, at least you will not take your man for granted as my deadbeat mother did," Jessica said as she moved away in the shadows.