Camila watched as Lester and his team exited the church. As their footsteps faded, she turned her gaze toward the pillar, where a familiar figure stepped out from the shadows—her father, Leon Kennedy. His presence had been subtle, hidden throughout the confrontation.
"You didn't show yourself," she said softly. "Why?"
Leon's expression was calm, knowing. "You'll understand when the time comes, Camila."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, pushing her curiosity further. "And what about Mom? Where is she?"
Leon leaned against the pillar, sighing. "She's in the city. She's tracking down a lead on a doctor—someone the government suspects might've worked with Umbrella. She's gathering information, knows more about this than we do."
Camila took a breath, absorbing the information. She had always admired her mother's skills, but the constant secrecy gnawed at her. Still, she didn't ask anything more about it. Instead, she turned her focus to the question that had been bothering her since "Why did you help them with the snipers?" Her voice had a hard edge. "You could've stayed out of it."
Leon's eyes softened slightly as he looked at his daughter. "Because they're not the enemy. Lester and his team... they're just like I was back in the day. Caught in the middle of something bigger than they know, trying to do the right thing in the face of overwhelming odds. They deserved a chance to survive."
Camila's gaze flickered, a hint of understanding in her eyes, but she stayed silent for a moment longer. Finally, she nodded. "Alright. But I'm not letting my guard down around them. You taught me that."
Leon chuckled softly, a rare sound in their world. "That's my girl. Just... keep your wits about you. This isn't over, not by a long shot."
Camila turned, glancing back at the door where Lester and his team had exited. "Yeah. I know."
With that, the father and daughter stood in the quiet of the church, both knowing that the road ahead was full of dangerous uncertainties. But for now, they had their roles to play—separate but undeniably intertwined.
The night was quiet except for the occasional distant growls of infected roaming Raccoon City. The streets were eerily empty, shrouded in the kind of silence that spoke of danger lurking in every shadow. Lester and his team moved with caution, eyes scanning their surroundings as they approached their war car parked safely 100 meters away from the Raccoon Police Station.
Ali was the first to break the silence. "Think we'll run into her again?" he asked, referring to Camila Kennedy.
Lester shook his head, his mind preoccupied with recent events. "I don't know, but something tells me we haven't seen the last of her."
As they neared the car, Lester's phone buzzed in his pocket. The sudden vibration made him stop in his tracks for a moment. He pulled the phone out and glanced at the caller ID. A familiar name flashed on the screen—Zack.
"Give me a minute," Lester said to the team before answering the call.
"Hey, Lester, my friend. How are you doing?" came the familiar, lighthearted voice of Zack. Despite the circumstances, there was something comforting in hearing from an old friend.
Lester allowed himself a small smile, a rare luxury these days. "Zack… I'm hanging in there. How about you?"
"Same old, same old," Zack replied. "Things are pretty calm here for now. Dad's doing alright, too. He's home with me."
Lester felt a wave of relief. "That's good to hear. How's he holding up?"
Before Zack could answer, there was a bit of rustling on the other end. "Here, talk to him yourself," Zack said, passing the phone over.
"Lester?" The older, rougher voice filled the line. It was unmistakably his father.
A flood of emotions rushed through Lester, memories of their last conversation flashing in his mind. He hadn't heard from his dad in what felt like an eternity. Relief, concern, and a strange sense of longing all mixed together.
"Dad… it's good to hear your voice," Lester said quietly, allowing the tension in his chest to ease slightly.
"You too, son," his father replied, his voice steady but tired. "I've been keeping an eye on things from here, following the news. You holding up out there?"
"Yeah, doing my best," Lester answered, glancing at the team who stood a few steps away, giving him some space. "It's been rough, but we're managing. You… you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," his father reassured him. "Zack's been helping me out, and we're staying out of trouble. Don't worry about me, Lester. You've got enough on your plate."
Lester's grip on the phone tightened. Despite his father's words, he couldn't shake the worry. His father had been through a lot over the years, and the idea of him being in danger, even far away from the chaos in Raccoon City, weighed heavily on his mind.
"I worry because you're still my dad," Lester said softly.
His father chuckled, the sound familiar and warm despite the distance between them. "And you're still my son. But don't forget… you're a soldier now. You've got people depending on you out there. Focus on the mission, Lester. We'll be alright."
There was a brief silence, both of them just appreciating the moment, even over the phone. After a pause, his father spoke again, this time more serious. "Listen… don't lose yourself in this. Don't forget your humanity. You'll need it, son, more than you think. There's a lot out there that can mess with your head, make you lose sight of who you are."
Lester stood still, his father's words hitting deeper than he expected. He knew what his dad meant. In a world like this, it was easy to lose yourself in the chaos, to become something unrecognizable, hardened by the endless battles and constant danger.
"I won't," Lester promised. "I've got a good team with me. We're in this together."
His father sighed, though it was more of a satisfied sound than a weary one. "Good. And Lester… there's something else I wanted to ask. You haven't run into anyone we know, have you?"
Lester hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell him. "Actually, Dad… I met someone today. Camila Kennedy. Leon's daughter."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and when his father spoke again, there was a hint of surprise in his voice. "Leon's daughter? Camila?"
"Yeah," Lester confirmed. "She's here, but Leon wasn't with her. Just her. It seems like she's after the same thing we are—information about Nemesis."
His father chuckled softly. "Leon… always the lone wolf. Guess he hasn't changed much after all these years."
Lester smiled slightly, though there was an underlying tension. He hadn't told his father everything about Camila, about the way she had caught them off guard in the church and nearly taken him hostage before learning who they were. But that was something he'd save for another time.
"I didn't see Leon," Lester added. "Just Camila."
His father's voice grew thoughtful. "Well, if Leon's daughter is out there, you can bet he's not far behind. Keep your eyes open, Lester. He's a good man, but he's got his own way of doing things."
Lester nodded to himself, even though his father couldn't see it. "I will. Thanks, Dad."
There was another pause, and then his father spoke again, this time with finality. "Don't worry about me, son. I can handle myself. You take care of your team and yourself out there. We'll meet again soon. Be good, and stay sharp."
"I will," Lester said, feeling a sense of reassurance. "Take care of yourself, Dad."
After a few more brief words, they ended the call, and Lester stood there for a moment, letting the conversation settle in his mind. His father's voice, his words of advice, lingered with him as he pocketed his phone and turned back to his team.
Ali looked over at him, a knowing expression on his face. "Everything alright?"
Lester nodded. "Yeah… everything's fine. Let's get moving."
As they got back into the war car and started the engine, Lester couldn't help but think about the future, the uncertain road ahead, and the familiar faces—both old and new—that would cross his path. But for now, he had his team, and that was enough.
After returning to the base, Lester and his team barely had time to rest. The mission had already taken its toll on everyone, but there was no sign of slowing down. As they regrouped and prepared for the next phase, Lester received word that Jackson, the "angered one," was demanding a meeting. This wasn't surprising; Jackson had always been unpredictable, his temper notorious even within the military ranks. But right now, his input, even if laced with anger, could offer insights they needed.
The atmosphere in the base was thick with tension as Lester gathered his team. Jason, Ali, Williams, and Frederick exchanged weary glances, each knowing that meeting Jackson wasn't going to be an easy task. His volatile nature had caused friction before, and now, with everything on the line, they couldn't afford any further disruptions.
Lester adjusted his gear, motioning for the team to follow him. "Let's get this over with," he muttered, leading the way toward the small outpost where Jackson had been stationed.
The base was modest, a temporary setup used by BSAA operatives while they coordinated their missions. As they approached Jackson's quarters, Lester couldn't help but feel the weight of everything that had happened. The encounter with Camila still lingered in his mind, and Leon's mysterious absence only added to the complexity of the situation. Now, meeting Jackson—who had been isolated for weeks—was yet another challenge in an already convoluted mission.
Jackson was waiting for them in the makeshift meeting room. His presence was as intense as ever, his broad frame tense with barely contained frustration. His expression, dark and brooding, indicated that he was ready for a confrontation.
"You're late," Jackson barked as soon as they entered, his voice echoing in the cramped space. "I've been sitting here, waiting, while you've been playing house with God-knows-who."
Lester held up a hand to calm him. "Jackson, we've had our hands full. I'm sure you've been briefed about what's been happening."
Jackson leaned forward, his fists clenched on the table in front of him. "Briefed? All I know is that I've been kept in the dark while you and your team chase shadows. We're supposed to be working together, but it feels like you've forgotten that."
Lester sighed, motioning for the team to sit. "We haven't forgotten. Things have been complicated. We encountered—"
Jackson cut him off. "Complicated? That's your excuse? This mission is falling apart, Lester. We're supposed to be focused on Nemesis, but I hear you've been chasing some woman through the city. What the hell is going on?"
Lester exchanged a glance with Williams before responding. "She's not just some woman. She's connected to Leon Kennedy, and she might be the key to getting the Nemesis intel we need. We've had to make some judgment calls out there, and I'm not going to apologize for that."
Jackson scoffed. "Leon Kennedy? That's ancient history. What does his kid have to do with any of this? We're wasting time, and every minute we lose puts us further behind."
Frederick, unable to stay silent any longer, leaned forward. "You weren't out there, Jackson. You didn't see what we saw. She's dangerous, skilled, and she knows more than we do about what's happening. We're following the leads we have, and if you think you can do better, then by all means—"
Jackson slammed a fist on the table, cutting Frederick off mid-sentence. "Enough! You think I'm the problem here? I've been ready to move since day one, but I keep getting sidelined because of this crap. We need to focus on the Nemesis files, not babysitting some legacy agent."
Lester leaned back, trying to maintain control of the situation. "Look, Jackson, we understand your frustration. But right now, we don't have the luxury of ignoring potential allies—or threats. Camila is both. We need to stay sharp and adapt as the situation unfolds."
Ali, who had remained quiet until now, spoke up. "We're not ignoring the mission. We're closer to the Nemesis intel than we've ever been. But we have to play smart. If Camila is after the same thing we are, she might lead us to it. That's why we need to be cautious."
Jackson glared at Ali but didn't interrupt. Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned back, visibly trying to rein in his temper. "Fine. But we're running out of time. The longer we stay here, the more we risk losing everything."
Lester nodded, sensing that Jackson was starting to come around, even if reluctantly. "Agreed. We'll need to move fast. Camila mentioned something about labs in Spain. Ray's working on securing transportation for us. In the meantime, we're gathering what intel we can."
Jackson raised an eyebrow. "Spain? What the hell is in Spain?"
Lester shrugged. "We're not sure yet. But the files hinted at some labs, possibly Umbrella-related. It's our next lead."
Jackson leaned forward again, his expression softening slightly. "Alright. I'm in. But don't think for a second that I'm going to sit on the sidelines anymore. If this mission's going down, I'm taking point."
Lester exchanged a glance with the rest of the team before nodding. "Fair enough. We'll need everyone at full capacity for what's coming. But remember, we're a team. We can't afford any more division."
Jackson smirked. "I'm not the one you need to worry about dividing the team, Lester. Just make sure we're not wasting time on side missions."
Lester stood, motioning for the rest of the team to follow him. "Let's get ready. We've got a lot of ground to cover, and we're not going to get any closer to Nemesis by standing around."
As they exited Jackson's quarters, Lester couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of urgency. The mission was spiraling into uncharted territory, and now, with Jackson back in the fold, things were bound to get even more complicated. But they had no choice—they had to keep moving forward.
The clock was ticking, and whatever awaited them in Spain could either be their salvation or their undoing.