Four humanoids stood in a quiet field as the bright summer sun warmed them. A slight breeze ran through, their clothing ruffling. Two humans stood next together, another leaned against a nearby tree. One held a pulse rifle.

"Oh come on Leon, it's not that hard." The solider leaning against the tree, Chris, said.

"And this is coming from the guy that can hit anything within two hundred meters." I muttered.

Chris laughed. "True. How about this; if you beat it, I'll buy you a beer."

I looked at him skeptically. "You know I don't drink."

He smiled. "So?"

I shook my head. "I swear you're going to be the death of me." I said as I looked down the iron sights of the pulse rifle. I took a few breaths to steady my nerves.

"Come on; you graduated top of your class for precision. Christ on crutches, I'm going to die of old age." Chris moaned, leaning against the tree.

"Baxton shut the hell up." The third solider said. Chris held his hands up in mock surrender and shook his head.

I looked at him and smiled. "Thanks Tom." I whispered.

"No problem, never say no for a chance to bust Chris's balls." Tom whispered back with a slight smile.

I laughed and looked down the sights again. The fourth humanoid was a target dummy and stood on two legs. It was fitted in the standard USCM outfit, a loose navy green shirt and cameo pants. It wore thick brown boots that made a rather annoying squishing noise whenever it walked. The target dummy was basically a non-humanistic version of an android, with highly sophisticated planning and super speed.

I flexed my right hand and lightly placed a finger on the trigger. "Ok, I'm ready."

Tom nodded and pulled out a remote as he walked over to Chris and hit one of the buttons. The target dummy came to life and pulled out a standard issued M4 pistol, the metal shining. It held it shoulder height and started to fire, the non-lethal paintballs launching at around three hundred meters a second.

I dived to out of the way as the first paintballs whizzed by my head and waited for the second wave. As more paintballs flew towards me, I dived again, avoiding a near hit to the shoulder. I dove behind a nearby rock as the last three bullets splattered against it.

After all fifteen were fired, the droid stopped and dropped the mag out. He reached into one of his utility pouches and grabbed another mag. He smacked it in and cocked the gun, ready for another round.

"How you doing Leon, do you want to stop?" Tom asked.

"Pssh, this is nothing. Take it to level five." I told him.

Tom raised an eyebrow but did as he was asked. The droid put the pistol away and walked over to the backpack and picked out a pulse rifle. He turned the safety off and ran over to a nearby tree for cover.

It was quiet in the field, the breeze rustling the grass and leaves. I poked my head out briefly and quickly ducked down as a red paintball splattered on top of the rock. Well…shit; this is a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. I readied the pulse rifle in my hand, finally flicking the safety off. I looked around for more cover, spotting a tree a few meters to the left. I pointed the barrel on the right side of the rock and fired three rounds blindly and dashed for the tree. As I fell into the tree, I heard three splats and saw the red paint right next to me. Too close.

I reached into a utility pouch and pulled out my small mirror that I usually carried. I slowly put it around the tree, trying to see where the droid was, but the mirror was quickly covered in red paint. "Damn it!" I hissed as I put the mirror away.

I closed my eyes and tried to listen for the gears. I thought I heard it faintly about 5 meters away. Still with my eyes closed, I jumped from behind the tree and pulled the trigger three times. I felt pain blossom on my arm as I heard the splatter of paint. I opened my eyes to see my left arm completely covered in paint. I looked around for the droid and saw his head and upper chest sporting red splotches.

"See I told you he'd do fine." Chris said, slapping Tom on the back. Tom glared at him and powered the droid down.

"Congrats Leon you have the fastest time, minute and a half."

I smiled. "Woo!"

"Alright round of beer on Leon!" Chris yelled as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and we started walking out of the field towards the jeep.

As we got in the jeep, we heard a crackle as someone spoke on the radio. "HQ to Rogue, HQ to Rouge, come in Rogue."

Tom grabbed the receiver. "This is Rogue Two."

"What's your twenty?"

Tom looked at us. "About three miles away from home; what's up?"

There was silence. "I want you three back here double time. We got a mission."

All three of us looked at each other and smiled as we high fived. "Alright HQ, we'll be there in twenty." Tom put the receiver back on its clip.

"Bout damn time." Chris muttered.

Tom took the jeep out of park and we floored it towards the base.

[….]

"Alright ladies, listen up 'cause I'm only going to say this once." Horst said. Standing at 6'4 with short silver hair and piercing gray eyes, General Albert Horst had been in the marines for over forty years, serving in the front lines during the Space War of 2140. Having retired in 2150, he's spent the last twenty-nine years training new recruits.

He clicked a button on the remote he was holding and the projector in the room came to life, showing a desolate planet. "This is Acheron or LV-426 as WY is calling it. Three months ago, we sent a battalion of marines and two civies to investigate the human colony Hadley's Hope and as of now, we've had no contact with them for over three weeks. Forty eight hours ago, command sent in a search and rescue team." He leaned against the desk in the front of the room. "We, on the other hand, are to go search for and rescue one Doctor Michael Curtis." He said, pushing another button on the remote and the slide switched to the doctor.

The doctor had poufy curly black hair. He wore bifocal glasses and had a thin scar running along his nose. He looked like your stereotypical mad scientist, except a lot younger than you'd expect.

Horst grabbed some papers from the desk. "One Michael Curtis, age forty five, height 5'8, weight one hundred and seventy five pounds. Last known location is on the southern hemisphere of Acheron. What he was researching is 'classified' by command. Also traveling with him was his daughter, a doctor-in-training Winry Curtis." He said, pushing the button again and the slide changed to the daughter.

It looked like her college graduation picture as she wore a flowing black gown with a golden tassel. She was of average height, just shy of Chris actually. She was smiling brightly her blue eyes sparkling. It looked like she had long brown hair but most was hidden behind the tassel. Horst shuffled through more papers. "Winry Curtis, age 22, height 5'5, weight a hundred and ten. She graduated the top of her field of biochemical theories at Yale before leaving with her father to Acheron."

My mouth hung open as Chris whistled and leaned in close to me. "What I wouldn't do to that…" He whispered as he noticed my face and smiled. "Well, someone have a crush?"

My face turned red. "I do not." I whispered back.

"Captains Baxton and Redfield, would you two like to add anything?" Horst asked, his eyebrow raised.

"No sir." We both said at the same time. As Horst looked at the papers, I elbowed Chris in the gut.

"Thought so." He said as he looked at us. "Any questions?"

"When do we leave?"

"Two hours."

Tom got up and stretched. "Then we better get ready."

Horst nodded. "Shower and get your shit ready. Meet in Hangar 94. Dismissed." Tom, Chris, and I got up and saluted to Horst as we left the room. "Redfield, could you hold on a minute?" Horst said as I walked past him. The others looked at me.

"Go on guys, I'll catch up." I said as they left the room.

"Shut the door." Horst commanded. I shut the door and sat in front of his desk as he massaged his temples.

"Permission to speak freely, sir?" I asked.

"Go ahead." He said.

"What's wrong?"

He sighed. "Your sister Emily was on a research mission with a group from her university is that correct?"

I didn't like where this was going. "Yes she was."

"Have you talked to her lately?"

"Not in about two weeks- wait you aren't saying?" I asked horrified at what he was implying.

He nodded. "I'm sorry son but your sister is on Acheron with Dr. Curtis."

I sat there stunned. "What the hell was she doing there?"

"Like I said earlier, I don't know." He frowned. "I'm sorry."

I buried my head in my hands. "It's ok sir; it's not like it can get any worse."

"Don't be too sure."

"What do you mean?"

"I hate to be the bearer of even more bad news but your parents are dead. They died in an explosion."

I quickly looked up. "WHAT?"

"I don't have all the details but from what I hear, they were messing with chemicals they shouldn't have. If it's any consolation, they didn't suffer."

I hung my head, afraid to show Horst my tears. He walked around the desk and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry son; if there was anything I can do…"

"Thanks but its ok." I said, trying to smile.

"You don't have to go on the mission son, I can find a replacement."

"I can't do that, we've been training for months and it's our first mission, I can't let us down." I said, standing up. "Is there anything else?"

"That's all Captain; just be ready in two hours if you plan on joining us."

"Will do sir." I saluted before leaving.

I headed towards my quarters, ignoring everyone else that I passed. I shut the door and locked it, walking towards the shower. I quickly disrobed and hopped in, the cold water stinging my flesh. As it hit me, the water slowly began to warm up. Finally the tears that I held in with Horst burst to the surface, mixing with the water streaming down my face. I couldn't believe my parents were gone, memories rushing through my mind. My dad helping me fire a gun or ride a bike; my mom teaching me how to cook and basic first aid. Because of my parents, I learned how to survive on my own and now they were gone, their happiness and influence nothing but memories.

After my silent mourning, I got out of the shower and looked at the man in the mirror. He stood at six foot even, had light green eyes, short brown hair and some 5 o'clock shadow. He was well muscled, having spent hours in the gym, roped into some workout competition with Chris.

"I'll deal with those feelings later." I told myself as I wrapped a towel around my body and went to my dresser. I grabbed some civie clothes, a black shirt with the marine logo and dark blue jeans. I decided to wander to the mess hall and eat some breakfast, slipping on my shoes.

I made it to the mess hall and saw Tom and Chris already there, eating what looked like beef stew. I grabbed myself a plate and sat next to Tom, silently eating my food.

Tom and Chris looked at each other. "You ok?" Chris asked, his usual goofiness gone.

I told them what happened and they both gave me their sympathy, Tom reassuringly patting my shoulder.

"It's alright guys; there's nothing I can do now." I said, staring vacantly into my beef stew.

They shared another look. "So…what do you think of the doctor's daughter?" Chris asked, trying to distract me. It worked.

"What?" I asked as I felt my face get red.

He smiled. "So what do you think of Winry?"

"Well, I think it's good that we were called to rescue them."

"You know what I mean."

"…I think she's pretty yes."

Chris smiled. "I knew it; you got a crush on her don't cha?"

"No you crazy bastard. I've never met the girl."

"Whatever you say lover boy." He said, waving his hand indifferently.

I sighed. "You know I hate you right?"

"Of course but I gotta get you laid somehow."

"Aye aye aye you two; enough." Tom said, shaking his head.

"I do have a question though."

"What?"

"Why do you think we were called in? What's so bad that they had to call the marines in?"

"I don't know but I have a feeling we're going to find out one way or the other."

"So I'm not the only one getting that feeling?" I asked with both of them shaking their heads yes. "That's great."

Tom looked at his watch. "Come on guys; we can catch some shut eye before we leave."

"You two go ahead, I'm gonna go relax." I said, getting up and grabbing my plate and throwing it away.

They looked at me. "Ok, if you say so." Chris said as Chris and Tom headed towards their quarters.

I headed towards my quarters and fell onto my bed. I stared at the ceiling, thinking about Emily and my parents. "I hope you're ok Emily… I'm coming to get you." I mumbled as I fell asleep.

[….]

Huh, I guess I fell asleep, didn't I? I yawned and stretched, looking at the clock at the clock; I had about 20 minutes before they left. I yawned again and quickly got changed into the standard black jumpsuit and grabbed my pack. I threw it over my shoulder and ran down the corridor, heading towards the hangar.

I met Chris and Tom along the way, both looking like they just woke up. Chris's black hair stood up like he spiked his hair. Tom's blond hair was messy as he ran a hand through it.

"You ready?" He asked and we both nodded.

We ran to the hangar and saw Horst already standing on the boarding ramp. "About time you lazy asses, I was about to leave without you." He said as he smiled.

"Yeah, yeah we know but would we still get paid?" Chris asked as they stowed their belongings.

Horst shook his head, mumbling something. "So who else is coming?" Tom asked, looking around.

"Just us four of us."

"Fun." Chris said as he headed towards the sleeping pods.

Tom, Horst and I headed towards the cockpit and sat down; Horst in the pilot seat, Tom in the copilot.

We strapped the safety harnesses on and put the headsets on. "Mission control, this is Phoenix One requesting permission to leave."

"Phoenix One, this is Mission Control, you got the sky. Good hunting out there."

"Thanks, we'll bring back some souvenirs." Horst said as he powered the engines up. He lifted us off the ground and we blasted through the atmosphere.

He put in the coordinates of LV 426 before we did one final check of the systems. When everything came back green, he put us on autopilot and we headed into the sleeping pod room. Chris was already asleep, his pod shut.

"Alright it'll take about a week to get there, so if you have to pee now, hop to it." Horst said as he stripped to his boxers.

"Will do sir." Tom said as he lied in his pod.

"Emily, please be ok." I whispered as I lay down and shut the lid. I felt the sleeping gas enter the pod and I fell asleep.