Jasen stirred quietly, eyes blinking open in the dim light of early morning. The room was still, the sky outside tinted with the faintest shades of blue and gray. Jill lay beside him, her bare back rising and falling gently beneath the covers. One arm draped across his chest, her breathing steady and peaceful.
He smiled faintly, brushing a hand across her hair before slipping out from under her arm and pulling the covers over her shoulder. A glance at the clock on the nightstand told him it was just past 5:52 a.m.
Padding quietly into the hallway, Jasen tugged on a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved tee. The air in the apartment was still warm from the heat, and the scent of last night's dinner still lingered faintly in the air.
He stepped into the kitchen and began the familiar ritual of brewing coffee, setting the water to boil and prepping the filter with his favorite grounds. The cabinets creaked slightly as he pulled out two mugs. As he moved to tidy up the mess from the night before—dishes in the sink, bottles still on the
table—he froze.
On the couch, sitting with one leg crossed over the other, was Ada Wong.
She held one of his coffee mugs in her hands, her red coat folded neatly beside her, sunglasses pushed up on her head. Her eyes met his over the rim of the cup.
"Morning," she said smoothly, like she belonged there.
Jasen exhaled slowly, not even bothering to reach for a weapon. "Of course you're here."
Ada smirked. "You always leave your balcony window cracked when it's 30 degrees outside?"
Jasen stepped into the kitchen, giving her a dry look as he resumed pouring water into the coffee pot. "Didn't expect company before sunrise."
"I don't like waiting. You paid for results. I figured you'd appreciate efficiency."
He poured a second mug, handed it to her, then started prepping a quick breakfast—eggs, toast, and whatever was left of the jerk chicken. He kept one eye on her the entire time.
"So?" he asked. "What did you find?"
Ada sipped, savoring the coffee. "First, I'm impressed. I didn't expect to find much. But you were right. Irons is more than corrupt—he's actively laundering money through community redevelopment programs. And he has off-the-record ties to at least two shell companies that Umbrella backs. I found a connection to a private estate west of the Arklay Mountains."
"The Spencer Mansion?"
She nodded. "Rumors. Missing people. Unexplained asset transfers. The pieces are moving. Wesker's name is absent from any direct Umbrella logs, but he's mentioned in personnel notes and encrypted internal memos. My guess? He's been brought in to oversee something specific. Something big."
Jasen finished plating breakfast and handed her a small plate. She took it without hesitation, balancing it on her lap.
"And the Birkins?"
Ada's expression grew more serious. "William Birkin is leading something called the G-Virus project, separate from the standard T-Virus strains we've heard rumors about. He's working directly under a higher chain at Umbrella HQ. Security's increased around the lab, which is hidden beneath the city. Annette is his assistant. She's more dangerous than she looks. Loyal to the project."
Jasen sat down across from her, processing the information.
"What else?"
"That's all I could dig up without tripping alarms," she replied. "But there's chatter. The next few months? Something's coming. Big. And soon."
Jasen looked past her, eyes distant.
"You okay?" Ada asked, more serious now.
"Yeah," he muttered. "Just tired of counting down the clock."
Ada stood, finishing her coffee. "Well, the timer's still ticking. Just make sure you're on the right side of the blast when it goes off."
"You sticking around?"
"No," she said with a small smirk. "Your girlfriend wouldn't like that."
Jasen looked toward the hallway where Jill still slept. "She's not..."
Ada raised a brow, unconvinced. "Right."
She pulled on her coat and adjusted her sunglasses.
"We still on for the next phase?" Jasen asked.
Ada nodded. "When I reach out again, I'll have the files for Bertolucci and a location to dump the next round of intel. Until then, stay smart. And stay alive."
With that, she stepped out the front door without a sound.
Jasen stood in the silence, sipping his coffee.
He mulled over everything Ada had just laid on the table. William Birkin was even deeper in than he expected. And Annette—she had always been one of the brightest minds in the Umbrella hierarchy, sharp and methodical, but still human. Still someone who loved her daughter.
In the original timeline, she was loyal to a fault, but Jasen couldn't help wondering: could she be turned? Could she be recruited?
If he could get to her before the chaos, maybe there was a chance. The thought sparked a different idea: the G-Virus. Dangerous, yes. But a double-edged sword. If Annette could be convinced, even partially, she might help him develop defenses. Better vaccines. Enhanced resistance. Hell, maybe something even stronger.
Jasen rubbed his chin, his mind racing. And if I get a sample of Dante's blood...
He remembered the stories—what Dante really was. That kind of raw power could push the limits of science and mutation beyond Umbrella's twisted reach. If someone like Annette worked with him, not against him, they might stand a chance at surviving what came after Raccoon City.
His thoughts were interrupted by soft footsteps from the hallway.
Jill appeared in the doorway, stretching her arms with a lazy smile. She was wearing one of his long black shirts, barely reaching mid-thigh, and nothing but laced black panties underneath. Her hair was tousled, lips still faintly curved from sleep.
"Morning," she said, voice rough and warm. Then her eyes drifted to the table. "You made breakfast?"
Jasen chuckled. Figured I'd get ahead of the day."
She stepped over and leaned against the counter, grabbing her coffee as she gave him a curious look. "You okay?"
He nodded slowly, studying her. Jill Valentine: tough as hell, stubborn, brilliant, and somehow—still full of surprises.
Jasen took a long sip of his own coffee and smiled faintly. Yeah... it was time to reflect more. If women could keep surprising him like this, he better be just as prepared for zombies and bio-weapons to do the same.
Because the real monsters were coming—and he needed to be ready for all of it.