Chapter Text
I grew up in California.
The heat never bothered me, I enjoyed the sun, the water, the salty air, all the stereotypical beach stuff. I moved to Raccoon City when i was 15 years old in 1992. I missed the beach a lot, but we visited.
I never liked winter. The way the cold bit into your skin and somehow seemed to seep its way into every layer of clothing you put on… How could anyone find it enjoyable? Seriously?
And yet, here I was. Dropping off of a helicopter in one of the coldest places imaginable. Ilulissat was a lovely little waterfront city. You could look out on the coast and see icecaps and glaciers in the distance. Im sure even most passionate of winter haters would stop to marvel at the ice sparkling in the sunlight.
It was October, so the day-less winters hadn’t begun yet, but snow had begun to blanket the ground. I turned to look at the helicopter as it began to rise and fly off into the distance, gazing longingly at my one last chance to escape the bitter cold.
This is what I’m paid to do. A little snow isn’t going to hurt.
I pulled the fur-lined hood up off of my shoulders, my ears already turning red in the cold. I really should’ve bought some earmuffs too. Perhaps i could get some in the city ahead.
My clothes were waterproof, the boots and pants created specially for walking through snow. While cinched pants aren’t really my style, getting my socks wet isn’t either.
There was still some grass poking up through the snow. It was admirable, the way they pushed on despite the fact that they would likely be drowned out with a few more inches. I avoided stepping on them, out of respect. If the grass could persist through the cold, so could I.
“Control? Hey?” I clicked on the C.E.D.A.C communicator. I continued without waiting for a response. “The Helicopter landed down safely near Ilulissat, it’s heading back right now.”
“I’m aware.” Said Wesker, with little emotion. More annoyance than anything. Im pretty sure thats just how he sounds all the time, though.
“Well, just wanted to make sure and check in.” I rolled my eyes. “Heading to the city now, I’ll meet up with Iaaku there.”
Weskers voice rang through the communicator again. “Dont draw attention to yourself. It’s a tourist destination, and there’s a possibility that people working for the V.R.S.F might be in town.” VRSF - Viral Infection Research and Synthesis Foundation. There was really no reason to split the word “virus” into two other words. They probably just wanted to sound more scientific.
The VRSF is a company that researched and created viral infections. Sounds really illegal, right? The reason everyone lets it slide is because they say they’re doing it all to create viruses for testing vaccines on, and to figure out how they work in a controlled environment.
Recently, they’ve dug up a parasitic worm in a glacier in west Greenland. Ive gone on enough missions to know how that goes.
I am so excited to go shoot more zombies!
“Copy that.” The communicator beeped before Wesker ended the communication. I sighed.
But it was to be expected, I was pretty sure he always hated me. I suppose I could understand how I may come off as annoying to people like Wesker who think it’s cool to never smile and do nothing but sigh and order you around.
I shook it off and made my way towards Ilulissat.
—
When i was 19, I asked my mom, how these people were always able to find us.
She told me it was because they had lots of money and lots of resources that average people, like us, didn’t have.
I told her, “We’re not average.”
She smiled and told me, “I suppose you’re right.”
—
A few weeks ago, I had been wandering the streets of Los Angeles, looking for something to get up to.
I found myself wandering down an alleyway, where a hooded person walked beside me, and I saw their hand momentarily stray near my pant pockets. I continued walking like nothing happened, and checked my pockets to see if anything had been stolen.
Instead, there was a card, with a time and place, and some other details. New mission. Isn’t that great.
I wondered why Wesker always had to do it like this. Why could he ever just send an email?
Im joking. I know why. But it would be nicer than, “Shoot! Did i just get pickpocketed?”
The meetings with Umbrella, and now whatever Wesker’s doing after they blew it, are always the same. Sometimes its Wesker himself. Sometimes he’s off somewhere and sends someone else.
I dont go on big heists like this often, usually I’m sent to clear out or take some notes on a locally saturated area, or steal small things. Of course, those still have some big dangers too.
The meeting with Wesker went as normal, he gives me paperwork, I skim and sign the important ones and trash the rest.
Suffice to say my reaction when i saw the destination was Greenland, instead of somewhere, i dont know, with a tolerable climate, but no, no, we’re going to Greenland, a place named by a bunch of liar vikings.
This mission was a little different though. Umbrella was giving me a partner. At first i felt a little insulted. Did they not think i could do this on my own? I tried to look on the bright side though. A partner would be nice again. It’s been 4 years since i had one.
Me and my mom made a great team. Hopefully it would be the same for the new guy. Just not.. too great.
—
Looking at the city of Ilulissat, i understood now why the country was named after a color, because wow, those houses sure are colorful.
I have two objectives in this city.
1. Find Iaaku. We know where to meet up.
2. Look around for any information that might be hanging around. It’s unlikely, but it doesn’t hurt to check!
The streets of the city were wide and generally barren save for a few folks walking around. They didn’t pay much attention to me except for a few curious glances. Ilulissat was a popular tourist destination, they were likely used to strangers.
Farther towards the ships docks, the area was more populated. Grocery stores, restaurants, your other average city stuff. Even a prison nearby.
I made my way down the long, building lined road that led to the cities port. Hundreds of boats, big and small, crowded the wood and concrete lanes. A large rocky hill resided right by the docks, patches of grass and snow growing on the outcrops.
A small boat was tied to one of the docks farther down the port. A man dressed in a white jacket and fur-lined hood sat inside, tending to it. I approached him and crouched down, holding my hand out. “Adrian Reed, sir!”
He turned to look at me. The mans face was tan, and he looked to be in his early to mid 40s. He a short cut of black, straight hair and some stubble beneath his nose. “Iaaku Andersen. Nice to meet you.” He shook my hand with a smile.
I grinned back at him and lowered myself into the boat. Right on time, the communicator beeped on, with Wesker shortly after, “Have you met up with Iaaku yet?”
“Yes, i believe he’s just finishing setting the boat up right now.”
“Good. Inform me when you reach the next destination.” And then he ended the communication.
I studied the small vessel. It had a new engine and was painted white, both inside and out. It was the average size of a speedboat, with two seats and glass window to block the wind.
“Almost done, we’ll be moving partway by sea, but eventually it will be too blocked by ice. After that, we’ll move on foot through different towns. We wont be far from civilization.” Said Iaaku, and I nodded back at him.
I leaned back in one of the seats, not really sure what to say, as I waited for him to finish. We both knew the mission and how it would go, so there wasn’t much to discuss there. I was still a little uncomfortable with the idea of having a partner again. After my mom..
“We’re ready to go.” Iaaku climbed into the drivers seat and unlocked the boat. I hadn’t even noticed we’d been untied.
He looked at me. I noticed his eyes were such a dark brown they looked nearly black. “Ready?”
I nodded at him. “Ready.”
He turned on the vehicle and started out into the cold, wine dark waters. I suddenly realized the fact that if I could get hypothermia from just falling in that water. I shuddered, and not just from the cold wind. Id face far more horrifying and dangerous things than some cold, and yet, my skin still prickled at the thought of an endless field of snow, with no people in sight.
I glanced back at the city one last time and imagined a warm fireplace.