Beach Front

Blue waves crash upon a caramel sandy beach. Gulls call in the distance, and emerging from the waves is a well endowed and fit Asian-American woman in an exotic white bikini. She pushes back her short black hair and slowly in an almost model like fashion advances onto the beach. This woman was also the owner of the Island in which she walked upon; as well as funded the nearby village filled with her comrades from the past. A skilled, and resourceful woman who went publicly by the name of 'Catherine Cécile Miller'. Though, in the 'Underworld', she is more famously known by another moniker: that being her codename of 'DRAKE'. Cat walks up to a lounge chair and grabs a draped towel before she proceeds to dry herself off, when she's done drying her head, she wraps it around her bikini bottom like a sarong and quickly slips into a yellow Jeep that awaited her. She puts the vehicle into drive and rides into the jungle behind her, bypassing the village in order to get to her 'mansion' quicker.

With her shades draped over her eyes, and the sun now to her back, her unique brown eyes glanced up into the trees above, watching monkeys and other wildlife pass her by in this beautiful day...it was almost a shame to have left the beach so soon....but there are things that must wait. She would always have the ocean waiting for her when she returned from her business at home; afterall, this Island is home.

On the sands alongside the road, Catherine would catch a glimpse of a man in a black armored duster, wearing a black wide brimmed hat, with a long black ponytail slipping bitween the collar and the hat.

the man seemed to turn towards her from the sea, but then faded like a mirage...

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

On the sands alongside the road, Catherine would catch a glimpse of a man in a black armored duster, wearing a black wide brimmed hat, with a long black ponytail slipping bitween the collar and the hat.

the man seemed to turn towards her from the sea, but then faded like a mirage...

Cat's eyes widen from under the thick black shades and she pounds her foot on the break, forcing the jeep to a stop. She pulls up out of her seat and looks back to where she saw the familiar tall man in black. She lifts her sunglasses off her nose and holds them in her left hand lightly. Her central heterochromatic eyes glanced about for the man who was no longer in sight. "Ed...?" she called out softly. She cocks her eye brow and turns her head to the right. After a few moments passed and no answer, she slips back into the seat and snaps her seat belt on again. "Huh...perhaps nothing more than a ghost of the past.." she says before placing a foot on the pedal again.

Directly ahead of the Jeep and heading fast towards him, stood Edgar, with his head down, the brim of the hat covering his face. but as Catherine's vehicle approached, Ed's face seemed to rise, and the expression revealed under that hat was not one of shock, but forlorn melancholy.

"Have you too forgotten the real me....?" je seemed to speak, but nary a whisper of the wind.

"Shit!-" Catherine's eyelids widened again and her brown eyes contracted. She forced her foot painfully onto the break again, this time the vehicle shook and half turned to the left when it lurched forward. If not for her seat belt, she would have been launched into the windshield, but likely not out of it. Gasping for air, she ejects the belt from it's cache and looks up again at the tall brooding form that could be no one else but the Ed. She blinks wiping her wide shocked eyes for good measure to believe she was not dreaming. "Ed...what the hell? You could have killed me." she sighs, slipping into her seat and closes her eyes. "Thirteen years pass, and you don't even have the courtesy to arrive in your real form. I say Edgar, I find that quite rude." she finishes with a mock pout before reopening her eyes to glance at the 'ghost of a man' who stood no more than a foot away from the front of her vehicle.

Ed frowned slightly...

"I'm supprsied you can see me for more than a few seconds... You seemed to have inhereted a talent from them...." Edgar surmised, then his face returned to that melancholy look as he removed his shades, that vanished again like a mirage.

"And it seems your memories have.... not been displaced like that of the rest of the planet... Still... I don't suppose you know what is happening back in the States?"

She chuckles under her breath. The same as always...yup that's Ed alright. She cocks her head to the left and smirks. "As much as anyone of my caliber knows. Almost everything; I hear the President is presenting to the public the truth behind the Raccoon City incident; proving what actually happened behind the protective veil of the Government. The truth that the United States had nuked a city that could have been prevented from an outbreak years in advance." She says with a yawn, then smiles, leaning forwards with her elbows propped up on the dash and with her head resting in her palms. "Why you ask?"

Edgar's expression turned dark.

"The very town where the president is set to make that speech... Tall Oaks... is where the next bio terrorist attack is going to take place... I already located an underground bio weapons lab... an active one... They had The Black Queen in there, and that is the only reason why I've found it... And..." Edgar turned away.

"And I cannot help them... They beleive me to be a terrorist worse than any other... I cannot even warn them... The heads of more than half the worlds military, law enfocement, and government will be there... I'm just hoping that the Horde do not take advantage...."

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

Edgar's expression turned dark.

"The very town where the president is set to make that speech... Tall Oaks... is where the next bio terrorist attack is going to take place... I already located an underground bio weapons lab... an active one... They had The Black Queen in there, and that is the only reason why I've found it... And..." Edgar turned away.

"And I cannot help them... They beleive me to be a terrorist worse than any other... I cannot even warn them... The heads of more than half the worlds military, law enfocement, and government will be there... I'm just hoping that the Horde do not take advantage...."

She furrowed her brow, dropping her act. "Well, I can't quite say I can help them either Ed. I've stopped my Mercenary days in 2006...A country that acknowledges me as only a killer for hire. By a Boss who's business was having me steel viruses from other corporations so they could be stored in his bunker in New York. I'm done fighting corrupt Politicians and Business people. Tired of having to be torn between two sides of a conflict in which either side has no moral. I've finally earned this...my retirement. While I'm still young enough to live it out." she says in a melancholic tone. She leans back, and rolls her eyes. "I can't see how those human-eating freaks would find their way into this world again...the portals have been destroyed and they would need even a greater sacrifice than just one city." She looks him in the eyes. "And again, back to the President's speech, my word has no value to the American government. If I state anything of this nature, it could land me into your shoes...no offense." she says, stating that last bit with a genuine frown. "What exactly do expect me to do? I'm no superhero."

The ghostly visage seemed to heave a sigh.

"No..... I guess you are not..... But, be warned Catherine, The Dead Sea portal has not been destroyed, only hidden where human interferance cannot find them... Azazel's sacrifice brought us more time than I ever would have expectedn, but I can still feel the pull of Hell, they are still here... 'She' is still here..."

Ed then turned back towards Catherine. "And I somehow doubt you will be safe here, isolated on this island... Even if the Horde won't play their hand yet, Umbrella never forgets or forgives it's foes, and this "Neo-Umbrella" is their progeny... Be careful...."

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

The ghostly visage seemed to heave a sigh.

"No..... I guess you are not..... But, be warned Catherine, The Dead Sea portal has not been destroyed, only hidden where human interferance cannot find them... Azazel's sacrifice brought us more time than I ever would have expectedn, but I can still feel the pull of Hell, they are still here... 'She' is still here..."

Ed then turned back towards Catherine. "And I somehow doubt you will be safe here, isolated on this island... Even if the Horde won't play their hand yet, Umbrella never forgets or forgives it's foes, and this "Neo-Umbrella" is their progeny... Be careful...."

She cringed at the thought. Really now? The temple still exists? Huh...I'll might have to have someone investigate-gah what am I thinking? I'm retired. She shakes her head at that last bit and smiles. "You have to remember who your talking to Edgar; this Island's inhabitants and myself have had our 'fair share' of violence. And we're quite equipped to handle whipped dogs. To be honest, it's a little overkill here." she says with a slight chuckle, but as it dies down she grins more genuinely too. "But hey...don't worry. I'll be fine. Speaking of such, why don't you just live here on the Island with me?" she says and after the words sink in a little she quickly adds: "With us. We know your not what the world claims you to be. And you are deserving of a splash of paradise for the shit you've gone through. We'll be sure to provide such for you." she finishes with another smile.

The ghostly visage smiled sadly.

"As much as I want to... as much as I need to.... I cannot give up the fight until I complete my mission... If I fail, or abandon the mission... The entire planet will fall... Maybe one day, when I am free of this curse... I will be able to settle down here... with you..."

The the smile faded.

"However... I sense that what is comming won't be merely old war dregs and mook soldiers... I've intercepted certain encrypted transmissions bitween Outer Heaven, and Neo-Umbrella... It seems out two mutual problems may have decided to join forces... With umbrella pocketing an entire battalion of FROGs... Ocelots elite HAVEN troopers..."

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

The ghostly visage smiled sadly.

"As much as I want to... as much as I need to.... I cannot give up the fight until I complete my mission... If I fail, or abandon the mission... The entire planet will fall... Maybe one day, when I am free of this curse... I will be able to settle down here... with you..."

The the smile faded.

"However... I sense that what is comming won't be merely old war dooks and mook soldiers... I've intercepted certain encrypted transmissions bitween Outer Heaven, and Neo-Umbrella... It seems out two mutual problems may have decided to join forces... With umbrella pocketing an entire battalion of FROGs... Ocelots elite HAVEN troopers..."

She blushed at his words, but then her eyelids lowered in anger to the mention of Outer Heaven; a creation that her father had helped build from the ground up. Then there was the man who ran it, the man who somehow cheated death, but still ordered the hit upon her father. "Yes...I've heard of this. But I am nothing too crucial for Umbrella to snuff out. But regardless I'll take your warning to heart and I'll keep my guard up." she says nodding confidently.

Edgar frowned as he realised the memory he accidentally re-dredged up for Catherine.

"I'm sorry... I heard about what happened to Kazuhira... I didn't mean to bring up his memory... But I doubt he would want his daughter to die fighting the same organisation that claimed his life..."

With that said, he suddenly pointed to the Mansion Catherien was heading to.

"I must go now.... In your home, you will find a chest next to your bed... Within, you will find all you will need... Till we meet again..."

With those words, Edgar began to shimmer and fade, just like a mirage, bit with a less forlorn expression than what he arrived with.

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

Edgar frowned as he realised the memory he accidentally re-dredged up for Catherine.

"I'm sorry... I heard about what happened to Kazuhira... I didn't mean to bring up his memory... But I doubt he would want his daughter to die fighting the same organisation that claimed his life..."

With that said, he suddenly pointed to the Mansion Catherien was heading to.

"I must go now.... In your hime, you will find a chest next to your bed... Within, you will find all you will need... Till we meet again..."

With those words, Edgar began to shimmer and fade, just like a mirage, bit with a less forlorn expression than what he arrived with.

She chuckled closing her eyes. "Good bye Ed." She then reopens her eyes and slips her seat belt on again. "Like I said...still the same old Ed." she whispers to herself and smirks, putting the vehicle into drive again and continues her way through the path ahead of her in this diversified jungle.

A man steps off an amphibious vehicle and is escorted onto the island by two Haven Troopers. The man is tall, fair skinned, with graying brown hair and has two different colored eyes: One blue-grey, the other brown. He appears to be in his early forties and looks about the island in an inspecting manner. The sky has become dull grey and flat now; a storm was brewing sure enough-both in weather and in tensions between the Havens and Catherine's forces.

Catherine's army approached with weapons casually drawn. They got within lethal firing range when the Humvee carrying Cat Miller herself, paused in the dunes of the beach with a loud and abrupt halt. She steps out from the vehicle and proceeds to meet with the new arrivals, the FAMAS Type C hung around her neck and was also held casually when she approached. "Your trespassing on private property. I'll kindly ask you to leave now." she commanded. Her body leaned partially towards her right, her eyes glaring at the man with heterochromia before glancing towards the other two intruders.

Catherine Miller wrote:

Catherine's army approached with weapons casually drawn. They got within lethal firing range when the Humvee carrying Cat Miller herself, paused in the dunes of the beach with a loud and abrupt halt. She steps out from the vehicle and proceeds to meet with the new arrivals, the FAMAS Type C hung around her neck and was also held casually when she approached. "Your trespassing on private property. I'll kindly ask you to leave now." she commanded. Her body leaned partially towards her right, her eyes glaring at the man with heterochromia before glancing towards the other two intruders.

The man smiled and the two Haven Troops raised their weapons. He raises his arms and forces the guns down from both women, chuckling as he did so. "Now-Now hold on darlin', I'm just here as a mediator between both parties. My benefactors would rather not have this turn out into an all out blood bath." he says taking a few steps closer to the beautiful Asian woman. He looked up into her eyes and grinned. "Ah, we share a trait you and 'eye'." he says pointing at his left eye before laughing at his own petty joke.

He grunts, adjusting his tie straight and held out his hand firmly. "I'm Dr. Owen Clark, like I said I specialize in negotiating problems. You must be the lovely Catherine Miller that my benefactors have talked my ear off about." he says keeping his arm held out. "I assure you, no harm will be done as long as we're civil." he says grinning again.

Catherine draws her pistol, almost immediately, the supressor's tip hovering mere meters from his forehead. "This is as civil as I'll make this. You're trespassing upon my property. I don't care if your the Queen of England. Get out and never return...or would you like to have one less trait that we share? Hmm?" she asked, now pointing the barrel at his left eye. Her mercenaries followed suit, ready to fire if necessary. "Tell your benefactors the same. If you don't leave now you won't be returning to a ship. We have various ways of dealing with threats Doctor." she says with a menacing tone.

He blankly stares at the pistol and shook his head. "You're really throwing away an opportunity here. I'll send my regards to Ivan Belmont then." he says turning around, his back to her. "And just to be frank, your plastic surgery doesn't fool anyone Miss Miller." he then continues to the boat, knowing when he was not wanted. "Just to be clear, I cannot guarantee your safety if you don't hear me out...but that's your choice after all."

Catherine's eyes narrow slightly at the name Ivan Belmont, raising her Assault Rifle with her free arm. "Just keep moving." She aimed at the Haven Troopers as well. "I'm sure my safety isn't what's being threatened here." she explained, the laser light shining on the head.

Catherine Miller wrote:

Catherine's eyes narrow slightly at the name Ivan Belmont, raising her Assault Rifle with her free arm. "Just keep moving." She aimed at the Haven Troopers as well. "I'm sure my safety isn't what's being threatened here." she explained, the laser light shining on the head.

Owen chuckled heartily at this. "If you can't see that you're outnumbered, then Miss Miller...I'm quite sure that you're either very blind, or very dumb. Besides, you get nothing out of killing me. I'm only a hired negotiator and a good one at that. And I can guarantee that no harm will befall any of you if you only hear us out. I'm not so sure if you know why we are here..." he says adjusting his tie slightly, pulling out a cigar and lit it up. "I mean, you could at least listen to our proposal, can't you?" he says with a grin.

Catherine kept her aim steady. "Insulting the person you're trying to negotiate with isn't very smart Mr. Clark. Even a novice Negotiator knows that is a big 'no-no'." she lowers her aim a bit. "It's the Templars. They want me back so I can do some dirty work for them. They don't like to be turned down it seems. I never got details from the job in question, so there is no reason to try and offer me a second chance, this time with the force of a more elite unit...unless it's something rather dire on the line. But even then, what we have is a conflict of interest. I don't work for either Templars or Assassins. The war they fight is a fight I am not interested in joining or taking sides with. I've told that many times before, to countless Templars and Assassins. Trust me, Doctor; this isn't a place to negotiate. Simply put, if Belmont attacks...he's going to get one hell of a fight." she says taking a step closer. Her eyes shifted into anger. "I'm not someone who's worth trifling with, and I have more people at my disposal than you think. Unlike the man you work for, I don't flash my cards to everyone in the game." she says raising her weapon again.

"And you're wrong Doctor. I'd get the satisfaction of killing you, and wiping away that ridiculous mug you've got. If you know what's best for you, you and all these 'henchwomen' might as well turn back now... while you still can." she says pulling her handgun to a hair trigger.

Just as Cat finishes her speech, a bullet clips Clark's Cigar's tip, snuffing it out. The bullet was suppressed, and the location was hard to determine, but half a mile inland, Leon Tamer pulls back the bolt of his DSR-1 Sniper Rifle. "Don't worry, I'm your eye in the sky baby." Leon smirks, readjusting his aim, leveling it upon the Doctor's head.

Clark is slightly shaken by these events, and spits his cigar into the waves. He looks disgruntled and snarls. "Fine then. But don't cry to me when the fires of Hell itself purge you and your precious land." he waves to the two Haven Troopers at his sides. "C'mon now, we're moving out." he says walking into the combat ready amphibious carrier. He turns back and waves to Catherine with a smile. "Don't say I didn't warn you!" he chuckles as the carrier's doors close by folding inward. Soon the vehicle was drifting it's way back to the Naval ship off the coast.