A New Destiny - Chapter 2

Chicago, 3 years later.



It was a new day empty of meaning that just ended for Leon Scott Kennedy. It has been several weeks since he was in "vacations time really deserved" according from the words of President Graham. But for Leon, it was the worst thing who could happened to him.
Since his mission in Spain, Leon had continued with small missions on the US territory, under the authority of the Director of Homeland Security, Adam Benford. Adam was not only his superior, he was also his friend. After the events in Raccoon City, it was Adam who convinced the leaders of national security to make him a special agent attached to the internal security of the country. Ashley Graham kidnapping was a special event. The president wanted the best agents for an secret operation, and once again, Adam did not hesitate to recommend Leon.
And while Leon owed him much, he could not help but feel frustrated. Because of their friendship, Adam asked Graham to give him a direct order to take rest. Without this, Leon would never have obeyed.

Leon was in his car near the bar which he got used to come almost every night. He did not know if it was the right thing to do. Drinking, sleeping with women he will never see again the next day, this was not how he see his future, but at least it was a real moment of relaxation ...
At the time he was about to go out of his car, his phone rang.

"Unknown number ... what if it was Adam? »

He did not waste a second, and replied. But at the same time the person hung up, and a "knock" sounded at the window on the passenger side. Leon immediately understood who was that person and felt frustrated once again it was not his job, but he also felt happy to have some company. He opened the door, allowing the girl to sit next to him.

"Hi Claire. I did not know you were in Chicago. »

She looked at him intently, almost as if she wanted to slap him.
"Obviously you did not know you refuse all my calls! And I caught you this time, right in the fact. It is annoying you know ... I really need to talk to you sometimes and I’m sure you need that too even if you are too proud to admit it! "

Leon felt bad. Claire was her best friend in some way, but he rarely gave her any news only to focus on his job.

"I'm sorry Claire, I really have no excuses ... So you know about my job, right? And how did you know that I would be here?
"
"Of course I know. Ashley was worried about you. I met her a few days ago at a conference Terrasave. The President came to congratulate us as he does that every year, but this time he came with his daughter. We talked about you, and since you chose to ignore my calls, I decided to come myself with the address that Ashley gave me. I had just arrived at your home, when you left in your car..the funny thing is that even without knowing,  you keep try to avoid me! So I followed you, and I found you there alone in your car near of a bar. "

"Look, I'm not sure a normal life is compatible with me. I need action, I need to know that I protect the world somehow with each of my actions. I agree for resting a few days, but not for a vacation of several weeks. That just does not make sense to me. But since I do not have a choice, I guess I must find a way to relax. "Leon replied naturally.

"So you relax in a bar! What a good idea, and original! You're like Chris you think only on your well-being, without thinking of those who care about you ... "
Claire's voice trembled slightly, Leon turned to her and saw her eyes moist.

"What do you mean? "

"Oh Leon if you had not been so selfish, ignoring my calls, you would know ... you would know that Chris has tried to kill himself ! "

The shock of this news made him feel worse than he already was. She was right, he was selfish ... how could he have forgotten his friends from long time, and think only of his own well being and his job? It is true that their friendship came from a tragedy they all lived, but this tragedy also created a strong bond between them ... And Leon gave up on them somehow.
He put his hand on her shoulder, Claire got used to be strong in all situations, but know she just exploded and showed him her fragility for the first time since he know her.

"How did this happen? "

"Three years ago, Jill sacrificed her life to save him. He needed so much time to recover. I stayed at his side to help him and support him, he had nightmares every night for several months, but then he felt better. He smiled again, he was happy and even fell in love with one of his friend inBSAA during a mission in Africa. Her name was Sheva. But recently the nightmares came again. And he made himself think that Jill was still alive somewhere. Nobody believed, but Sheva investigated by her own, making Chris promised to not to interfere. "

"She found something? " Leon asked as he gave her a handkerchief to wipe her tears
.
"Sheva came to me to Terrasave. She discovered some unusual activities and many people disappeared in a strange way in Africa. Activities and experimentations that strangely seemed like how Wesker proceeded. "

"If I remember correctly, confidential reports from the Government of said that Wesker is dead three years go..." Leon added.

"Yes ... but what the report probably does not say is that my brother and Jill were on a mission to capture him. Jill caught Wesker and sacrificed herself  by jumping with him through a window from an altitude that no one could have survived, but ... "

"... yeah the coincidences are strange, indeed. »

"The evidence gathered by Sheva were not enought for an official investigation. She came to me knowing that Terrasave regularly sends humanitarian convoys in Africa. I managed to make her to board in one of these, and she never came back. The Embassy informed me that she had disappeared, probably died after so long without news from her. Then I was forced to tell everything to Chris ... he was furious against me at first, then he talked to the director of the BSAA, who was forced to suspend him,  so that he won’t continue the illegal Sheva’s investigations. Some days later, the hospital called me to inform me that Chris was in a coma after a suicide attempt ... "  She started to cry again.

"It's not your fault Claire. "Comforted Leon.

Claire forced a smile despite her grief, but Leon was at least relieved to support her this time, even if he still had the bitterness for ignored her lately. But he planned to be more at her side in the future.

What is more, there were many things that were strange in this story. The BSAA ignoring the death and investigations ofSheva, and the government that had forgotten important details about the involvement of the BSAA in the death of Wesker. Wesker could have some links with events in Africa, where Sheva has disappeared ...Leon knew what he had to do. He would see Adam for more explanation on this case. For his friends, Chris and Claire, they had that right. After a few minutes to comfort Claire, he found that a drink at the bar near to them would be good for them both. She hesitated for a moment and then accepted with the  condition that they only take one drink and that she won’t drink alcohol.

Somewhere in Africa ....

Wesker was on his knee completely breathless. Nobody ever put him in such a state. Head down, staring at the boots of his opponent who approached slowly. He looked up at her, with a mischievous smile on his face.

"You're stronger than I thought Jill. You are the best fighter that ever existed so far. I'm proud of my work. "

Jill's face showed no reaction, no feelings, just acting like a robot obeying orders without question. When there were no orders, she was listening, probably waiting for the next task.
Wesker stood up, pleased with himself. It was not the first time that Jill was in his company, but it was the first time he felt strong enough to test her in a fight.

"And this .... "He said, putting his hand on the metal spider attached to her chest," ... .is most beautiful  jewel I created for you, the P30. Go back to Excella now I will have other tasks for you later "

Jill obeyed, although that  in truth it she didn’t want to. For a brief moment during their training, she had even hoped to kill him. This probably would not released her from the grip of Excella, but at least it would have relieved her to know that the world wouldn’t  suffer anymore from Wesker. But obviously, he had certainly taken precautions to physically withstand the force of her blows.

The complex was huge, located underground and like an endless maze, but Jill knew exactly where to go. Like an animal knew where to find his master ...
Jill felt nothing human in her ... she never get used to it, causing her indescribable mental suffering, wondering when her mind would go crazy, and if her brain was not going to explode. Sometimes she was sent to some villages to capture people, hidden behind a mask and a cape, for some experiments. Excella  made sure that Jill was at her side to watch these people suffer and cry out in pain, to death. Those horrible moments were accompanied by a malicious smile from Excella to Jill, reminding her all her helplessness and submission to Excella’s most cruel wishes.

After a few minutes of walking, Jill reached a door located on the upper floor of the complex. She paused a moment, eyes opening wide, allowing a horizontal blue laser to control her identity. The door opened on a luxurious room, totally contrasting with the lower complex. A large bed almost “royal” in the center with Excella lying on it, reading a book.
She paused while Jill entered.

"You're finally here. »

Excella closed her book and walked to Jill visibly irritated.

"I warn you that if Wesker is injure, you will be punished like the time you do not give me back what I wanted. "

Jill remembered very well that time when Excella ordered her to bring an object  belonging to Wesker, and she did not found ... Probably Wesker had with him at that time or he just changed the location of the object but could do anything about that ... She only obeyes orders, but Excella was mad with rage, using an electric stick to hit Jill putting her to the ground, until she was unable to move a finger,  lying at the feet of Excella.
Jill's heart began to beat faster ... a read light appeared on the P30, which made Excella understood that Jill was afraid, afraid to be punished again.

"Well ... anyway for now you need to rest for 2 hours. "

It was not an act of kindness on the part of Excella, but an act of prudence. Jill was under her control, but her condition let her most vulnerable to heart attacks ... And it is important to keep her alive. Wesker  regularly needed her blood. But even without that, Excella wanted her alive just for herself. Jill was very helpful nonetheless.
There were a door in the corner of the room which gave access to a very small narrow room, just the place for a tank in human size for Jill. The place where she could sleep in when she was allowed to
Jill took off her combat gear and went inside the tank. This was perhaps the only time to Jill in which she could rest in peace, the only time she was waiting impatiently in a day. Maybe this was why she had not become crazy, she kept hope and waiting for a free time. This was everything for Jill.
Excella closed the tank and went out locking the door.