Eridanus II was a terrestrial planet with a size and mass similar to Earth, located in the second orbit of its system. It had a gravity of 1.01G, and temperatures ranged from -18°C to 38°C, making it suitable for colonization without significant terraforming.
With its blue skies, green landscapes, and vast oceans and lakes, Eridanus II was very much like Earth. However, before Atlas took over, the planet had a history of unrest against UNSC and UEG rule. Despite being colonized for nearly a century, Eridanus II had received little support from the UEG. Instead, it was forced to supply resources to the UNSC fleet, with only scattered villages and small towns rather than any urban centers for half a million residents.
Atlas's takeover marked a change. The company implemented policies that prioritized the planet's development, including tax exemptions and financial support, giving its citizens the freedom to focus on rebuilding and growth.
As Leon piloted their vessel, he found himself lost in thought, muttering, "It's so beautiful…" though his gaze was distant, not entirely focused on Eridanus II. For someone who had been with the company for over a decade and completed close to two hundred missions, he was far from easily impressed.
Leon looked rather worn, with noticeable dark circles under his eyes, and his lips pale and dry, possibly from some kind of illness—or perhaps the result of recent "intense activity." Meanwhile, Ada, seated above him, looked fresh and composed, her vibrant complexion contrasting with Leon's exhaustion.
"Ahem," Ada interrupted, giving him a quick reminder. "Rookie, focus on the mission. Let's not get distracted."
"Ah, yes, Director," Leon responded quickly, snapping back to the task. He activated the control console's communication link and introduced himself, "This is Special Agent Leon, employee ID A-00153, and Senior Director, employee ID A-00002, from the Investigation Department. Our company prototype ship has just exited warp space. Requesting landing clearance."
After a brief pause, a reply came: "This is Military Base 2 on Eridanus II, verifying your identities. Please hold…"
After a moment, the voice returned, "Identities and travel logs confirmed. Please proceed to the designated landing area. Eridanus II welcomes you both."
"Thank you," Leon replied, ending the call before inputting the coordinates into the AI's navigation system.
The AI-guided "Archer" craft smoothly descended through Eridanus II's atmosphere and carried them toward the planet's northern hemisphere, ultimately arriving at a medium-sized military base and landing on a VTOL platform on the northern side.
Once the main engine powered down and the hatch opened, Leon and Ada, now wearing bulletproof vests over their civilian clothes, stepped out onto solid ground. Leon took a deep breath, savoring the crisp air, and noticed two Warthogs pulling up nearby. Armed guards, dressed in olive-green fatigues and wielding AMWS firearms, disembarked. A captain with a black beret stepped forward and saluted Ada and Leon.
"Welcome to Eridanus II. May I ask the purpose of your visit?" Though respectful, the captain appeared visibly tense. For lower-ranking personnel like himself, Leon and Ada were seasoned veterans within the company. More importantly, as members of the Investigation Department, their presence often hinted at potential threats or the detection of hostile forces. If the investigators encountered any danger, the entire planet's development could be jeopardized.
Recognizing the captain's concern, Ada offered a reassuring smile and said, "We're only here to meet a few local children and speak with their families. No need for worry, Captain."
Relieved, the captain replied, "Understood. Is there anything we can assist you with?"
"Actually…" Leon cut in before Ada could respond. "If you could arrange a civilian hover vehicle, that would be helpful. Driving our prototype craft into a residential area might cause unnecessary alarm."
The captain nodded. "Of course. Please, come with us."
Not long after, Leon and Ada were driving a civilian hovercraft shaped like a beetle, heading toward a city called Galactic City. This time, Ada took the wheel. She was well aware of Leon's odd luck with vehicles and the accidents that seemed to accompany his driving.
Following the flight path, they reached the city outskirts, where Galactic City, a metropolis capable of housing up to a million people, lay nestled among three surrounding mountains, with a plain to the south. Ada guided the hovercraft out of the flight path and landed on the edge of the bustling commercial district.
To Leon's surprise, Ada looped her arm around his.
"Wha…?" Leon stammered, caught off guard.
"What's wrong, rookie?" Ada smirked and tightened her hold on his arm. "We've posed as couples plenty of times before. What's got you so stiff this time?"
"So, it was all an act?" he blurted out.
Ada couldn't help but chuckle at his endearing cluelessness. She had taken an interest in Leon long before now.
Growing up an orphan, Ada's earliest memories were in the turbulent regions of South America, where her parents—likely involved in foreign trade—had built a reasonably affluent life. This prosperity, however, had attracted the attention of local gangs, resulting in a brutal attack in which her parents were killed. Fortunately, neighbors her parents had helped in the past took her in temporarily, allowing her to escape that initial onslaught.
However, in the 1980s, South America was plagued by cartels, gangs, and mercenaries, and it wasn't long before the cartels seized her city and forced its residents into drug cultivation. At just ten years old, Ada was captured by mercenaries and nearly trafficked as a servant to wealthy patrons. Life was cheap in that part of the world, and human lives were often valued less than a box of ammunition.
But Ada's fate changed when Atlas's Rapid Response Squad (ARS) launched a swift strike against the cartel, decimating its leadership and securing control of the area. It was during Atlas's expansion in South America that Ada first came under the watchful eye of her future guardian, Samuel Young. Deeply opposed to the narcotics trade, Samuel had ARS eliminate poppy and coca fields wherever Atlas gained influence. Ada was soon adopted and trained alongside other orphans rescued by ARS, all of whom were groomed to excel in various fields.
Many were strategically placed in North and South American governments or military positions, waiting patiently to assist in Atlas's covert efforts to unite Earth. Others, like Ada, became the first generation of investigators, with Ada herself soon recognized as one of the best.
Years later, a phenomenon known as the "God's Flower" emerged in the Congo, and Samuel personally dispatched Ada with a specific directive: investigate the anomaly and evaluate a promising recruit, Leon Scott Kennedy, who was also being sent to the Congo.
Leon, by sheer luck, stumbled across the phenomenon Ada was investigating, prompting her to take an interest in him. She watched as he narrowly escaped certain death with her help from a distance and eventually joined the Investigation Department as a fully qualified investigator.
As she continued to observe him, she saw that he indeed had unique qualities. Leon's luck was a paradox—unpredictable yet unwaveringly resilient. Regardless of the strength of his enemies, he always emerged victorious, which drew Ada's attention. As Leon gained experience and recognition, more newcomers, especially female recruits, began taking an interest in him as well. For Ada, this was unacceptable. After all, she had "claimed" Leon first, and she had no intention of letting anyone else interfere.
Samuel, her adoptive father, seemed to support the idea of a connection between her and Leon. After all, he had specifically assigned her to watch over him. Ada trusted Samuel's intuition, even suspecting he might have some kind of prophetic foresight. This, combined with her growing feelings for Leon, was something she had accepted wholeheartedly. Although she did enjoy teasing him at every opportunity.
With a straight face, she warned, "What do you mean, 'all an act'? Get your head out of the gutter, rookie. Even if the company hasn't required us to go undercover for this mission, remember—"
She leaned close to his ear, whispering just for him, "The kids we're meeting today are part of a high-level project. Until the company makes this public, we need to uphold our professional standards."
She quickly pulled back and continued, "Alright, rookie, first stop: shopping! Let's pick up some things the kids might like. After that, we'll head to Elementary School No. 119, just a few blocks from here."
"Alright then," Leon agreed, temporarily setting aside the memories of their encounter on the "Archer" cruiser.
The two made a stop in the shopping district, purchasing realistic toy guns, action figures, and dolls, all manufactured by the company itself. They stashed most of the items in the hovercraft, taking only the packaged toy guns with them as they walked toward Elementary School No. 119.
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