Three Days Off

Follow-Up Report: Disturbing Findings

Night had fallen over the military outpost. Leon had been up for a few hours already, he couldn’t rest… he wanted to go over this rather personal mission again and again until it was etched into his brain, along with every possible problem that might stand in their way.  He was tired, yes, he was exhausted… yes, but that was a state he was so used to that it didn’t throw him off balance in the slightest. After stowing the bag with the weapons and gadgets in his black Porsche SUV… it wasn’t him who had chosen this car.. the government simply did business with this company, he returned to the sleeping container, knocked twice on the steel door, and greeted Shun with a raised eyebrow.

“So you’re already ready, very good. I hope you were able to rest a little? Because I reckon the next few days will be exhausting. And yes, I’m counting in days, not hours....that makes it more realistic.”

He tossed the young Omega a protein bar and handed him a thermos of matcha tea for a final boost. Matcha wasn’t often available at bases like this, but sometimes the soldiers were rewarded, and maybe Shun would like this green stuff. After all, he didn’t drink coffee, and matcha was supposed to have a slightly stimulating effect. He led Shun across the grounds. There was bustling activity all around them. Some troops were being dispatched to handle various underground labs. Labs… labs everywhere and all the time, as if this world consisted solely of caves and hidden places where mad scientists were at work using nefarious methods. It was frustrating... Leon had been in the business for so long that it almost hurt him to see remnants of Umbrella still popping up all over the world, and even new, modern organizations had been founded that were turning old, decommissioned labs into new ones and using the data left behind there.

Humanity would never learn from its mistakes, and they didn’t want to either, amen. 

Leon could only hope he wouldn’t have to deal with biochemical AI wars as well. The Red Queen had been enough for him, and she’d been active decades ago when humanity only encountered such things in science fiction movies. All of that could now get worse…

Once they reached the car, he motioned for Shun to get in, he remained silent until the passenger door had closed as well. 

“Let me do the talking. Just act… calm, try not to show your nervousness. If you don’t know what to do, just take a sip of your tea, keep something in your mouth, that way I can step in verbally.”

He advised him and patted him on the shoulder, as he usually did in such situations. The exit was blocked by a large steel door that had to be manually slid to the side. Several armed soldiers were waiting for them there, the guards. Leon slowed down, rolled down his window, but initially looked straight ahead. 

“Good evening, Agent Kennedy.”

The metallic screech of the steel door echoed through the checkpoint, while one of the soldiers was already glancing at the passenger window. His focus immediately settled on Shun.

“I don’t know him.”

Leon slowly raised his gaze to him, expressionless. It was precisely that cold, jaded look that eventually became automatic when you’d worked in this line of work for so long. He didn’t even pull out his ID.

“You don’t have to.”

The soldier’s mouth twisted slightly, trying to mask the tension with professionalism.

“Sir, regulations require.. ”

“My personal medical advisor.”

Leon simply cut him off. He leaned an arm out the open window while the engine continued to run quietly.

“He’s accompanying me permanently from now on.”

The second guard stepped closer to the car.

“Medical advisor?”

Only now did Leon look directly at him.

“I’m 49.”

He said simply.

“My body has been pumped full of biological weapons, nerve agents, and experimental pathogens more times than your entire unit has read files. The BSAA wants me to be monitored regularly. Blood tests… neurological check... heart rate, the usual routine.”

He pointed briefly at Shun with two fingers.

“This is part of it.”

The guard nodded slowly, but Leon didn’t give him time to press further.

“Besides, I have three days off.”

His voice remained flat.

“I’m taking care of personal matters.”

The soldier exchanged a glance with his colleague.

“Sir, we’d still have to register the name and... ”

“Then register it.”

Leon’s eyes grew a touch colder.

“Or call headquarters directly and explain to them personally why you’re detaining a man who’s been doing your dirty work for over twenty years.”

Leon had already turned his gaze forward again, as if the conversation were over.

“Anything else?”

The guards fell silent. One finally stepped back and gave a brief signal to open the gate. The heavy steel door began to move slowly, creaking as it did so. Leon didn’t even nod in farewell and drove past them.

“Good… that buys us time. Those idiots will surely ask questions and file a report anyway; they’re young and new… they can use that to suck up.”

He muttered dryly to himself.

“I used to be like that, too.”

He pulled out the map Shun had drawn and handed it to him, it featured several route options.

“We’ll try Route A first.. if we can’t get any further there, we’ll switch to B… and if all else fails, we’ll go on foot from Route C. I know there are areas there that haven’t been cleared yet, but I’m confident we’ll survive it. Guide me… clear instructions, I hope you’re better at this than that damn stubborn GPS.”

@Shun Miyamoto.