Chapter 1: Once Again

Colonel Eden Throne watched every single movement in the blonde that continued past him. Upon his excellent memory, an unidentified individual in army territory was to be deemed an "alien of the base". Once sighted, they were to be ultimately surveyed from the spot before or until any affirmative action were to take place. Like a new found prime law of religion, the rule was so deeply drilled into the committee members heads, his men were still following his gaze despite being ordered to remain completely still and in lined position.

They couldn't help it. They all looked at the stranger with a hundred thoughts spiraling in each of their minds and through the silent spotlight the interloper still hadn't noticed the attention on him or even where they looked. At most, twenty one pairs of eyes led a direct line to the squads' post target, a much more vague term for an execution stand. Every one of them continued to watch ahead, yet only Blondie was under a spell by the three wooden poles, he stared particularly at the one in the center that was occupied.

Eden's jaw tightened, empathy grew on his frown as he reluctantly followed all other eyes to the middle post. He began to twinge his eye lids closer for a better view but eased them open with a sigh. Arguably, it was a sad affair in the eyes of humanity but justice could never go undone in this case. Far over and tied down, that blindfolded criminal dressed in tattered clothes and bandages, was to die promptly at noon for a good reason.

--That's when precisely after, Blondie stepped in front of the squad and cleared his throat over the dry and dead summer heat--

Or so he thought.

"All of you." Blondie began to address. Eden nearly twisted his shoulder bone when he spun to face him, suddenly wary. Questions spurred in his head but didn't know where to begin at the mouth. "Drop your weapons, now." Blondie declared. "I have my orders." He added.

Thick clunks of metal in the sand surrounded them. Eden grunted, uncouthly but weak. He didn't plan on hearing that so soon.

"W...Wait." He gritted his teeth. The straw was drawn and all he could get out was a simple wait? "Just wait a damn minute." Eden awkwardly hissed. "You have orders from…?"

"Why, from the chief, colonel." The smug blonde replied, not even baring a glance his way.

Eden swallowed slow from the lack of fresh air. Rules and regulations, regardless of their high meaning and value...he felt a strange pint of uneasiness. After all the meetings, the debates and the brewing controversies that plagued his camp, he was certain this was not how it would turn out. "And suddenly. right before I announce my men to let loose their rounds, a man, clad in a black coat and pants strides out from the quietest corner of the desert. He gives the order to cease fire and dismiss the operation and we had no choice but to obey. Yes, my very first mission as colonel...ended as quickly as it started."

What utter bullshit!

Eden snapped on the inside and bit his tongue. He knew this operation had been planned months prior and now they were just going to pull the plug by a anonymous suit he'd never seen before that was sent by the "chief"!?--And for what kind of reason was this happening anyway, was this some kind of sick joke? It had to be a joke. Or esle, he'd love to hear whats to come later from his peers--better yet his superiors once they find out. What would they think? ...What would they say? Oh boy could he guess...

But then slowly--and by that it took at least a ful minutes time--Eden pushed back a groan in the back of his throat and dismissed his doubt for the time being. Crazy interferences and all he still had to think rationally. The Federal Bureau of Investigation did exist and it wasn't a lie nor a fairy tale, which, made all the more sense why they were not common to the human eye. Eden also had to remember that this guy was one of the FBI, right now, standing less than a foot away from him, waiting for his to answer.

He looked at the agent again, his mind a little more open this time. The mans' coat was heavily dark just as the rest of his clothes but a glimmer from the sun allowed Eden to get a look at his eyes. They were a deep hue of brown and beneath that was what looked like a mix of lazy muse and fair reason. The rest of his face was vague but Eden wouldn't argue that calm demeanor he held.

From what he gathered from his superiors, it was people like Blondie that never cut to the chase and preferred long draw out explanations instead. The young colonel sighed. It boggled his mind why such a top notch secret organization would follow those types of rules.

In the end, he decided to give up and play along for the sake of any answers he could possibly get.

"So.." Eden begun, uncertain for a moment where to continue from there. "You...you mean the head chief..."the agent finally rolled his head to him and he quickly added on. "--You're his agent right?"

Blondie grinned and Eden had never been proven so wrong the minute he began to speak.

"The president himself sir and yes, I do happen to work for the government." In a swift motion from underneath his coat, he supplied a lengthy document signed with all the appropriate names. The header of the page read "Grant for Pardoning" and Eden couldn't resist a double take as he read all the velvet coated titles and text.

So this really was happening after all…

First, he put a hand to his forehead, pretending he was wiping sweat when he really was hiding his laughing face, then, he shook his head dramatically. He just couldn't believe it. Of all the dumb, stupid, rotten and unfortunate luck..

Eden turned on his heel and away to his men."Just what is this, dirty work...!?" He proclaimed in a slightly low voice.

Behind, the agent frowned as he watched the colonels back retreat. It didn't matter how many badges or ribbons a man had on his chest, point was, the military knew nothing and wasn't in the position to know any more than they pried. Watching the young army leader wave a hand and dismiss his men, watching all of their young yet arrogant faces as they passed him by and then left toward the barrack tenants in the back--

--It drew him back, made him think just how vulnerable he was and how much rookie cop, Leon S. Kennedy could relate six years back.

But all he could do now, however, was muster the best smile and keep it right. It was unethical and uncalled for but by some weird mix of emotion he felt the need to explain himself more than just that, even if it wasn't going to help him.

"Let's keep it simple," Leon proposed from afar and stepped closer. "I'll promise to tell you as much as I can... but with only one question." He whispered.

Eden turned away from the camps and faced him, slightly less uncomfortable, the look on his face gave the impression that he thought their conversation was over. Hesitantly he crossed his arms but eventually let them fall to his sides. This certainly was a change.

"I uh...I only have one question."

"Well that's a relief." Leon seemed visibly relaxed as he flexed his shoulders in and out.

Eden raised an eyebrow at the other mans' suddenly expressible attitude. "It is?" He asked doubtfully.

Leon finished stretching and looked in the same direction."Yes really." The government agent nodded. "For once, I'm not playing twenty questions."

Slightly annoyed Eden ignored whatever facade or airs this guy was putting on or putting him on. He looked him square in the eye for a moment and leaned his bald head over to the execution post where the prisoner still lay bound liked a stalk.

"But why him?"

"…I can't say, really. He's a survivor and we've been searching for him."

Eden blinked awkwardly. "A survivor? And by that you mean…"

"Ah, ah. One question, remember?"

"…It's not much of an answer for what you promised." Eden muttered back.

"Sorry, but I'm afraid that's all I can answer." Leon rehearsed a too well known line and felt a soft jab for talking like that to a slightly jaded reflection of himself .The young colonel gave him the very last quizzical look and he shrugged innocently. "It's policy, what can you do."

His expression slowly eased and their one sided stare down had officially ended. With slight regard, Eden turned on his heel and walked away before nodding him off.

Leon watched him leave, the unusual bald head of the young rook had gleamed a small gleam of light until he reached proper shade.

"Really...it's the truth." He found himself still staring afterwords for a short while, almost forgetting what it felt like to have no idea whats going on in the world outside and just living for the sake of life. It was a glorious day dream but as soon as impossible joys started to influence vivacious scenes in his mind, he hastily denied them all with a slow shake of his head.

Running over his objective in his head once, and then twice to keep him anchored, Leon ventured over to the trio of posts. His picture of the prisoner became all the more clear as he quickened his pace. Once he was in distance he withdrew a short knife from under his right sleeve and surmised a quick pattern before lifting his arm back.

With three swipes, Leon slashed the ropes on each side and the man fell fast to his knees with a thick thud in the uneven dirt. Leon watched him struggle on his arms, barely getting a chance to help the tattered man as the man in rags suddenly lunged himself to his knees and teared off his blinded bandanna with a loud groan of frustration. Startled in the elbows, Leon stepped back, his knife unexpectedly ready but put it aside as he watched the man struggle and breathe with slight difficulty.

Before he could step back and give proper aid like he intended, the prisoner heaved his head up at him, stunning Leon again. He stared at him through his cold blue eyes and finally spoke.

"..Know how much I want to throttle your damn neck?" The lack of hydration was evident in his rasping voice.

"Excuse me?" Leon inquired. He was briefly taken aback by a harsh coughing fit that followed. He knew that from the state of his clothes...

"…A lot" he chocked out.

"I'm a afraid I--"

Leon was caught off guard immediately as the man clutched the collar of his shirt and dragged him down, face to face. He looked straight into the convict's eyes. They certainly hadn't lost their gaze; the lovely pair of icy blue daggers.

"You…You damn prick…!" He spat, and without warning, threw his head down and began coughing again, it was deep and harsh, possibly an infection that was boiling in his throat from lack of nutrition. Leon frowned.

"Now wait a minute…" The agent reasoned, but in a few, the convict had his eyes back up at him again, glaring with hatred all the more.

"I was planning on dieing for your information--What the hell do you want from me!?"

Well he's a nice one. Leon warily removed himself from his grasp, thankful the man was too tired to keep a grip.

"...Santos. Rodriguez Santos, right? I'm special agent Leon Kennedy. I've been sent to escort you to the Caribbean under orders from the government." He waited for some kind of response but there was none. "There's something we're not sure of and we need you to confirm it."

"Confirm what?" Billy snapped. His back was turned to him as he stretched his arms and legs. Leon seemed almost reluctant to ask him.

"…Are you familiar with Umbrella?"

Billy hesitated for a moment, a slight twitch in his shoulder. He looked up, then at Leon and then, as if it were nothing, he continued stretching again.

"And if I am?"

Good enough. Leon thought irritably before continuing.

"We need information from you regarding something."He could see the con scowl a row of teeth. His entire body was probably burning with pain from both the narcotics and then doubled by the heat of the sun. He felt a little touch of sympathy for pressing a question on someone who was near being delusional but such were the objectives of his mission.

Billy sighed shakily and rubbed his eyes. Leon smirked ironically. What a day this was turning out to be for the both of them.

"Can't you just tell me now?" He asked with irritation. Leon shook his head.

"Nope. Can't trust anybody these days..." The agent said, trying a small smile. He looked around the empty camp and then back at Billy who had one hand over his eyes in a small effort to block the sun. "Not even the military." Leon added.

"Pfft." Billy would have said more if he had just a little more air in him. Why, ex lieutenant Coen would have told him the story of a life time but judging from what happened in the past twenty minutes the guy had to have had some sort of idea on what he'd been through...maybe.

Feeling some strength, the freed man sat up in the dirt and gave Leon a once over. Blondie simply raised his eyebrow.

"Uh?"

Billy frowned slightly but didn't make any comment back, or at least he didn't look liked he wasn't going to say anything for the time being. His expression was something Leon wasn't too fond of as a small skeptical grin weaved it's way.

"Yeah." Billy mused as if he was reasoning with his conscious. Which, he was. "You're definitely a corporate kind of guy." He said.

Leon's smile wavered as he helped his new ally to his feet.

"You have no idea."

END.

It's such an interesting combination I just had to try it out! Ah, anyway, I hoped this turned out good because I really can't tell...(Been reading it over so many times.) Originally, I had planned this on being just a one-shot, but I decided to expand it further now that I have some interesting ideas... But first I'd like some feedback please, so tell me what you think!

Oh, and this is my first stab at RE fiction, so please keep that in mind while reviewing!

PS: I'll try to keep the OC amount low but don't worry, they won't be a major focus on the story. (Sorry Eden...I actually liked you.)