After a few tense minutes, Lester, Jason, and Williams arrived at the graveyard where Ali and Jackson were stationed. The darkened sky cast eerie shadows over the gravestones, but their focus was on the old church in the distance.
Lester signaled the team to hold position and activated his comms. "Ali, report. Where is she?"
Ali's voice came through quietly. "She entered the church about five minutes ago. Neither Jackson nor I have seen her since. No signs of movement from inside."
Lester surveyed the building. The church loomed ahead, its large doors slightly ajar, revealing nothing but darkness within. "You're sure she hasn't left?"
"Positive," Ali confirmed. "Jackson and I have eyes on all exits. If she's still inside, she's laying low."
Jason, crouching next to Lester, kept his gaze on the church. "This could be a trap. We don't know what's in there."
Lester nodded, his mind racing through the possibilities. "We're going in. Stay sharp."
Lester quickly formed the team into an engagement formation, his usual calm demeanor masking the rising tension. He led the way, stepping into the dimly lit church first. The interior was stunning, with high vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows casting muted colors across the floor. Yet, the beauty of the place did little to ease the pressure they felt.
Moving cautiously, the team spread out, scanning the pews and alcoves for any sign of her. Every step they took echoed in the quiet space. The air inside was thick with an uneasy stillness.
As they neared the center of the church, everything happened in an instant. From the shadows above, the woman dropped down, moving with fluid precision. Before anyone could react, she was behind Lester, her arm wrapped tightly around his neck, a gun pressed firmly against his head.
"Don't move!" she ordered sharply, her voice low and dangerous. The rest of the team froze, their weapons raised but unsure of their next move.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her grip on Lester unyielding. "And what do you want from me?"
Lester held his hands up, signaling for his team to stay calm. He could feel her steady, controlled breathing behind him. This wasn't someone who made mistakes under pressure. Just as Ray had hinted, she was trained—skilled.
"We're not your enemies," Lester said slowly, keeping his voice measured. "We're looking for the same thing you are."
"How do you know what I'm after?" she shot back, tightening her hold. "Speak, or I pull the trigger."
Jason and Williams exchanged glances, their fingers twitching on their triggers, but Lester signaled them to stand down. "We know you're after Nemesis. We've been tracking the files, just like you."
The woman's eyes narrowed, her grip unwavering. "And you think you're going to stop me?"
Lester exhaled slowly, knowing the situation was a hair-trigger away from disaster. "We don't want a fight. We're here for answers, just like you."
The tension hung in the air, thick and suffocating, as they waited for her next move.
Lester took a slow, measured breath before speaking. "My name is Lester. I'm a military veteran, now working with the BSAA. We were sent here to gather information on Nemesis."
The woman held him for a moment longer, her gaze intense. Then, with a sharp exhale, she released him, lowering her weapon. "Camila," she said, stepping back. "Camila Kennedy."
Lester's eyes widened at the last name. "Kennedy? As in Leon S. Kennedy?"
She gave a small, sharp nod, a flicker of pride in her eyes. "Yeah, he's my father."
Lester exchanged a glance with his team, the realization sinking in. "Leon Kennedy... I know who he is. He was a legend, one of the best during the Raccoon City outbreak."
Camila's expression softened slightly, though she remained guarded. "Yeah, well, I'm not here to talk about my dad. I've got my own mission, and it's Nemesis I'm after."
Lester stepped back, nodding in understanding as the tension between them eased. "Then it looks like we're both after the same thing."
Camila's eyes narrowed as she responded coldly, "I'm not giving you the files. Not even if my father asked for them."
Lester raised his hands slowly, trying to diffuse the tension. "We don't want to take them from you. All I need is to scan them for my operator to see if they're useful. That's it."
She stared at him, clearly weighing his words. After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice laced with warning. "Alright, fine. But let me make one thing clear—if you or any of your team tries anything, there will be no hesitation. I won't think twice about killing you."
Lester gave a slow nod. "Understood."
Lester picked up his glass phone and called Ray, his fingers moving quickly as he scanned the files with the device. "Ray, I've got the files. We met her—Camila Kennedy," Lester explained, keeping his voice steady, though he could feel the weight of the moment. Camila stood nearby, arms crossed, watching him with an unreadable expression.
Ray's voice came through, confused and urgent. "Wait, Camila Kennedy? You mean Leon's daughter? What happened, Lester?"
Lester nodded, glancing at Camila before continuing. "Yeah, Ray. We found her, and she's got the files, but she's not handing them over without a fight."
Camila stepped forward, calmly taking the phone from Lester's hand. She stared at it for a moment, then spoke, her voice direct but controlled. "Ray," she said. "Leon says hi to Hunnigan."
There was a long pause on the other end, and Ray's voice softened with surprise. "Camila? It's been years... I didn't expect to hear from you."
She didn't show much emotion, but her words carried weight. "My mom retired from the job a while ago, but she never forgot about you, or about Dad."
Ray sounded taken aback. "I didn't realize your parents stayed in touch with me through all this. Your father... he made quite an impression on all of us back in the day."
Camila handed the phone back to Lester, her gaze thoughtful, as if she were caught between her duty and her past. "Ray, these files—if you're planning to use them, you'd better be careful. I'm not letting anyone take them lightly."
Lester took the phone, giving Camila a long look before addressing Ray again. "Ray, we're not here to steal the files. We just need to scan them to see if they're useful. That's all."
Ray responded cautiously, "Understood. Make sure everything is uploaded. If these files are as crucial as we think, we'll need every detail."
Camila stood by silently, her eyes still locked on the phone. There was an edge to her stance, as though she was ready to spring into action at any sign of betrayal. "If you try anything," she said firmly, "there'll be no hesitation. I won't let anyone get between me and my mission. Not even you."
Lester nodded, keeping his voice calm. "We're not your enemies, Camila. We just need what's in those files to figure out the bigger picture."
She gave a short nod, contemplating her next move. Finally, she relented. "Fine. But I'm watching you. One wrong move, and it's over."
Lester glanced back at his team, then activated the scanning sequence on his phone. As the files were being uploaded, he turned to Ray again. "It's done. Scanning now."
Ray's voice was steady but curious. "Good work, Lester. And... Camila, if you're still listening, Leon would be proud of you. Hunnigan always said you'd grow up to be just like him."
Camila's expression softened just slightly at Ray's words, but she kept her resolve. "Tell Hunnigan I said hello. And Ray... don't mess this up."
With that, she stepped back, waiting for the scan to finish, her eyes constantly moving between Lester and his team.
Lester finished scanning the documents and furrowed his brow as he went over the details. He looked up from his glass phone, glancing at his team before speaking to Ray over the comm. "Ray, the files... there's nothing immediately useful here about Nemesis," he said, his voice carrying a tone of frustration. "But there's something else. These documents mention labs—hidden facilities in Spain, in some remote village. It's a lead, but it's vague."
Ray's voice crackled through the comm, contemplative. "Spain? A village, you say? That could be something. Labs like that wouldn't just show up in random files unless they're tied to something big. We need to check it out."
Lester nodded, looking to his team as they stood alert, awaiting orders. "What's the next move, Ray? We can't exactly walk into Spain unprepared."
Ray hesitated for a moment, thinking. "You need to get back to base. Stay there for a couple of days while I figure out our next steps. I'll find a way to get you to Spain and arrange some support once you're there. We'll need transportation and a secure place for you to regroup."
Lester turned toward Camila, who had been silently observing him and the conversation with Ray. He gave her a brief nod. "Looks like we're heading back for now. The files don't give us what we need on Nemesis directly, but we've got a new lead."
Camila crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Spain, huh? That's a long way to go for just a hint of information. You sure it's worth it?"
Lester met her gaze, his voice firm. "If there's even a chance these labs have something to do with the virus, it's worth it. We've come too far to let this slip away."
Camila seemed to consider his words for a moment before finally nodding. "Fine. But don't forget what I said—try anything, and it won't end well for you."
Lester's eyes hardened. "We're on the same side, Camila. Let's hope it stays that way."
Ray interrupted their tense exchange. "Alright, I'll be in touch as soon as I have your transportation sorted out. For now, head back, regroup, and wait for my signal. We'll get this figured out."
Lester ended the call, exhaling slowly. "Alright, team, you heard Ray. We're heading back to base. Gather your gear, and let's move out."
As they prepared to leave the church, the weight of their next mission settled on all of them. Spain, a remote village, hidden labs... the path ahead was uncertain, but they knew they had to follow the lead, no matter where it took them.