Chapter 3: Apparently, We're Teammates Now.
Rebecca stands up, letting the sheet fall completely to the floor. Richard doesn't say a word. He watches her.
She's facing away from him, completely naked, rummaging through her backpack. She leans forward slightly, revealing the perfect curve of her body, with no shame and no hurry. She picks up a black lace thong and slides it on slowly, then a tight-fitting tank top that outlines her nipples beneath. She knows he's watching. She doesn't stop him. She lets him look.
"I have to report to the helipad in two hours. They want to deploy a recon squad. They say we can't afford to act late this time."
Richard gets up, wraps his arms around her from behind, and presses his lips to her neck.
"I want to tell you not to go… but that wouldn't be fair."
"Then I wouldn't be me," she whispers.
"Then promise me you'll come back."
Rebecca turns around. She kisses him slowly, as if every second needs to be etched into their skin.
"Only if you promise to still be here when I do."
He nods.
"Even if the world comes crashing down, Rebecca Chambers."
She finishes dressing in silence—methodical, focused. He watches her, devouring her with his eyes.
And then, just as she's about to open the door, she stops.
"Richard… thank you for last night."
"Thank you," he replies, smiling sideways. "Though… I don't think last night is entirely over."
She smiles with that mix of mischief and tenderness only she can pull off… and disappears through the door, leaving behind the scent of her perfume and the silent promise of a reunion.
*Helipad*
The wind at the helipad was colder than she remembered.
Rebecca tightened her jacket, walking with steady steps as the already running helicopter rotors howled like a warning in the air. The dawn painted the low clouds a steel hue, and the concrete beneath her boots seemed to drain all color from the world.
She wasn't expecting to see anyone familiar there.
Least of all… him.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him.
"Richard Aiken."
Standing tall, serious, his face partially hidden beneath the shadow of his cap's visor. He held a rifle with familiarity, like he'd been part of the unit all his life. His uniform was spotless, the S.T.A.R.S. patch on his shoulder, and a freshly pressed name tag on his chest: "Aiken, R.".
Rebecca froze.
Her heart pounded—not out of surprise to see him there, but because she couldn't fathom how he'd arrived before her… or why no one had told her he was part of the BRAVO team.
And it's in that moment that the sound of the helicopter fades away…
*Unknown Hotel*
Richard was still in the room, sitting on the messy bed. Rebecca's scent lingered in the air, and his fingers still trembled from what they'd just lived. He tried to make sense of what was happening to him, how he had ended up there, who he was in this new reality.
The phone he found in his jacket vibrated. A metallic tone, unfamiliar.
He answered, hesitantly.
"Richard Aiken?" asked an automated voice.
"...Yes."
"You are hereby activated under emergency protocol. As the newest member of the S.T.A.R.S. BRAVO team, you must report to the East District helipad by 05:30. Details will be provided in flight."
Richard blinked. He looked at the tag hanging from his neck—it gleamed with the name: "Richard Aiken – BRAVO TEAM".
His throat tightened.
"Excuse me… am I… part of the team?"
"You've been transferred from the External Tactical Squad, approved by Captain Enrico Marini. We have records on file. Is there a problem, officer?"
He swallowed hard.
"No… no problem."
The call ended. Richard stared at his reflection in the room's mirror. He didn't recognize the resolute gaze looking back at him. He couldn't remember anything from that life… but he was wearing it.
And for now, he had to pretend he knew who he was.
*Helipad*
The roar of the helicopter softened slightly as the engines shifted to standby. Rebecca quickened her pace, still processing what she was seeing.
Richard, wearing a snug tactical vest, gleaming boots, and a rifle slung across his chest, turned when he sensed her nearby. Their eyes met for the first time since the bedroom, and though neither of them spoke, the silence said everything.
"You…?" she muttered, barely audible.
He looked at her with a mix of confusion and relief. A part of him—that part that didn't know how he got there or why the uniform felt so natural—felt at peace just seeing her.
"Seems like it," he replied, with a half-smile.
A whistle came from behind them.
"Well, well! Looks like the new guy managed to charm the little tigress!" quipped Forest Speyer, casting a playful glance at them both.
"Shut up, Forest," Enrico grumbled, not looking up from the map.
"Tigress?" Kenneth chimed in, feigning innocence. "I thought she was a bookworm…"
Rebecca closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath.
"Are the high school rumors over, or do you all need a crash course in professional ethics?"
"Oof!" Forest laughed, raising his hands. "Confirmed. She bites."
"What bites is the edge of my scalpel if you don't shut it," she shot back, a sparkle of restrained amusement in her eyes.
Some laughed. Others tried to hide it. Richard said nothing, but the curl on his lips betrayed him. Even without memories, he recognized the warmth of a team… and the sense of belonging that only a shared past can offer, even if he didn't remember it.
Rebecca turned to him, more serious now.
"Since when are you part of BRAVO team?"
Richard hesitated. He didn't know what to say. The truth was a maze he hadn't yet mapped.
"They called me early this morning," he answered. "Said I was already on file. That I had a record, a history… everything. But I didn't…"
"Didn't know?"
"Didn't remember."
She looked at him carefully. She didn't judge. She didn't pry. She simply nodded.
"We'll talk later," she said gently, and stepped away to take her place in the boarding line.
He watched her walk away. Her silhouette was now a blend of military precision and fierce beauty. That "little tigress" who, just hours ago, had lain between sheets, now moved like a soldier ready to walk into hell.
From the cockpit, the pilot signaled. Enrico raised his voice.
"Let's go, BRAVO TEAM! We take off in five minutes. Destination: Cedar Creek mountain zone. Objective: investigate disappearances and reports of violent attacks."
Rebecca took her seat in the rear corner of the helicopter. Richard sat across from her. They didn't speak… but their eyes said everything.
He felt this wasn't going to be as simple as they imagined.
It felt like the very definition of 'from heaven to hell in less than a night.'
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