The diner on 7th Avenue sat quietly amid the chaos of Raccoon City, its weathered exterior bearing witness to years of history. Now, it was a beacon of significance, chosen as the meeting place where Ryan would bring together two key players in his evolving plans—Terri Morales, the ambitious reporter, and Jill Valentine, the disgraced yet determined STARS officer.
The morning hours ticked away as Ryan finalized his preparations. With Rain and Olga occupied on their mission to rescue Angie and secure supplies, Ryan had the time and focus to put this phase of his plan into motion.
Terri's POV:
Terri Morales sat at her desk, staring at the now blank screen of her laptop. The video she'd received earlier still played in her mind on a loop. The Hive, the outbreak, the undead—images so vivid and damning they seemed almost impossible. Yet there it was, clear as day, delivered by an anonymous caller who claimed to hold the key to unraveling the truth behind Umbrella Corporation.
Terri took a deep breath, shutting her laptop and grabbing her coat. She didn't trust easily, but this was different. Whoever had sent that video wasn't just some conspiracy theorist. They had real evidence, and if she didn't take the risk to meet them, someone else would.
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Jill's POV:
Across town, Jill Valentine nursed her drink at a dingy bar, the whiskey burning a trail down her throat. Suspended, discredited, and pushed to the margins of the chaos she'd warned everyone about, Jill had hit a wall. Her contacts had gone silent, and her attempts to gather evidence against Umbrella were going nowhere.
The message she'd received earlier in the day still echoed in her mind. The video had been undeniable proof—more solid than anything she'd managed to dig up in months. The voice on the other end of the line had promised more, and while Jill wasn't one to trust easily, the chance to expose Umbrella was too good to pass up.
With a final swig of her drink, Jill grabbed her jacket and weapon, securing her holster with practiced ease. If this was a trap, she wasn't going down without a fight.
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The Diner
Noon arrived, and the diner stood as a quiet refuge amid the chaos. Inside, the hum of an old jukebox played a scratchy tune, and the smell of stale coffee lingered in the air. Terri arrived first, her eyes darting nervously as she scanned the room. She slid into a corner booth, clutching her bag tightly as though it held all the security she needed.
Moments later, the door opened, and Jill Valentine stepped inside. Her sharp gaze took in the surroundings in an instant before landing on Terri. Ryan's instructions had been clear—they were to meet here, and Jill was to protect Terri's safety.
"You're Terri?" Jill asked, approaching the booth with measured steps.
Terri looked up, wary but relieved. "You're Jill Valentine."
"That depends," Jill said, sliding into the seat across from her. "You're here because of the same person who contacted me, I'm guessing?"
Terri nodded. "He sent me… a video. Proof of what Umbrella's done. If it's real—and I think it is—it's everything I've been looking for."
Jill leaned back, studying the younger woman. "It's real, alright. I saw the same thing. But don't trust too easily. Whoever this guy is, he's playing his cards close to the chest. That could mean he's smart—or dangerous."
Meanwhile, I stood on the edge of the rooftop opposite the diner, observing Terri and Jill's interaction. With my super hearing, I could tell they were going to get along well. I wasn't there to meet them; it seemed pointless to do so now. Instead, I planned to swoop in later during a moment of crisis, which would allow me to save them and capture their interest, all while showcasing my charm and the Harem function of my System will take care of the rest to make them fall in love with me.
It was already 12:30 PM, and they were growing impatient due to my delay. The city was spiraling into chaos. The infected numbers had swelled to uncontrollable levels, and Umbrella had started sealing off the city's exits. The only open route left was Raven's Bridge—and even that wouldn't last long.
I pulled up Jill's communicator with my Technopathy. The signal locked instantly, allowing me to transmit my message directly.
Jill's POV
Jill's communicator buzzed against her wrist, the sudden noise drawing Terri's attention. Jill frowned, tapping the device to answer.
"Valentine," she said curtly.
"It's me," the voice on the other end said, calm and commanding. The voice from earlier.
"You're late," Jill shot back. "If this is your idea of building trust, you're failing."
"I don't have the luxury of prioritizing your schedule," the man replied, his tone sharp but measured. "The situation in the city is worse than expected. Umbrella's forces are closing off all exits except Raven's Bridge. If you want out, that's the only path left."
Terri leaned in, catching snippets of the conversation. "What's going on?"
Jill held up a finger to silence her, her focus on the voice. "And where are you in all this? Hiding behind your tech? What's stopping me from walking out of here right now?"
The man chuckled softly. "I'm not hiding, Jill. I'm watching. And if I were you, I wouldn't walk anywhere alone right now. The infected are swarming, and Umbrella isn't above using live targets to test their experiments."
Jill's grip tightened on the communicator. "So you're just going to leave us here waiting while the city burns?"
"Hardly," the man replied. "I'm moving pieces into place. And you, Jill Valentine, are one of those pieces. Keep Terri safe and get her to Raven's Bridge. I'll meet you both when the time is right."
Jill opened her mouth to retort, but the line went dead before she could.
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Terri's POV
"What did he say?" Terri asked, her voice shaky.
Jill exhaled slowly, her expression dark. "He's not coming. Says it's too dangerous and that we need to get to Raven's Bridge if we want out of the city."
Terri's stomach twisted. The sense of safety she'd felt earlier evaporated like morning dew under a scorching sun.
"And you're okay with that?" Terri asked, her voice rising slightly. "He sent us that video, got us to meet here, and now he's bailing? What if this was all a setup?"
Jill shook her head, her instincts telling her otherwise. "No, this wasn't a setup. He's playing a game—his game. But if what he said about the bridge is true, we don't have time to sit around questioning his motives."
Terri bit her lip, uncertainty etched across her face. "So… what do we do now?"
Jill leaned forward, her tone firm. "We get moving. Stick with me, and we'll make it to the bridge. But stay sharp—this city's not safe, and if he's right about Umbrella's experiments…" She trailed off, letting the unspoken threat linger in the air.
Terri nodded, grateful for the protection clutching her bag as they rose from the booth and headed toward the door.
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Ryan's POV
From my vantage point, I watched as the two women exited the diner and began making their way toward Raven's Bridge. Jill led the way, her movements precise and deliberate, while Terri followed closely, her unease evident in every step.
Perfect.
The chaos in the city would push them closer together, forcing Jill into a protective role and Terri into a position of reliance. When the time came for me to intervene, they'd be primed to view me as their savior.
And if Umbrella's forces made their move before then? Even better.
I activated the system's tracking function, marking their location on the map. With a satisfied smirk, I leaped from the rooftop, landing silently on the next one as I continued toward the Raccoon City Hospital. That is where Umbrella is currently keeping Alice.
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