(Nda : Hello everyone, I used an AI to translate instead of google translate, tell me if it's better and I will continue this way)
We waited another half-hour before the armored vehicle arrived, accompanied by several police cars and a bus full of officers. The noise of engines and sirens echoed through the calm forest air, briefly shattering the silence.
Team Bravo quickly emerged from the armored vehicle, their faces tense and ready for action. They advanced in formation, their weapons pointed forward, but stopped abruptly when they saw us all outside, safe and sound.
Rebecca, recognizing my figure among the others, quickly shifted her worried gaze and ran towards me. Her face went from tension to pure relief as she hurried across the rough terrain.
"Gerald!" she shouted as she reached me, wrapping her arms around me in a warm embrace. Her body trembles slightly, but her hug is firm and reassuring.
Lisa, who had been standing near Jill, watched the scene with childlike curiosity. "Daddy, do I have another mommy?" she asked innocently, her big eyes moving from me to Rebecca, causing Rebecca to blush deeply.
Rebecca, pulling away slightly, glanced at Lisa, her cheeks turning crimson. "No, sweetheart," I said with a smile, "She's just a very dear friend who was worried about Daddy."
I let Rebecca stand up before approaching Lisa to lift her onto my shoulders, making the child smile.
"Rebecca, let me introduce you to my little princess, Lisa," I said as I headed towards the vehicles.
The members of Team Bravo are stunned, their gazes shifting between Lisa and me, but I simply smile before getting into a car with Lisa to have a bit of peace. I settle comfortably, and Lisa uses my thigh as a pillow. I feel her tiny hands gently gripping my pants as her eyes close, and I finally give in to fatigue, dozing off beside her.
Outside, discussions intensify among the Bravo and Alpha teams.
"We need to find a way to cover this up," Enrico murmurs. "People will never believe what we saw here."
"We could say it was a variant of rabies, which also affects humans," Barry suggests. "That would explain the creatures and the erratic behavior of the victims."
Chris, still marked by his injuries, nods. "That's a good idea. We need to minimize media attention and let Umbrella believe we didn't find any solid evidence."
"And the reports?" Kenneth asks. "We need to synchronize our stories."
"We can do that," Wesker responds, still playing his role of authority. "But we also need to be careful about what we say to our loved ones. Any inconsistency could raise suspicions."
Rebecca and Jill, slightly withdrawn, observe the scene. Jill glances at the car where I am sleeping with Lisa.
"You know, Rebecca, I never imagined Gerald as a father. But seeing him with Lisa, it feels so natural," Jill says with a soft smile.
Rebecca nods. "Yes, it seems he's gained maturity. Lisa has surely awakened his paternal instincts; I think he will ask for adoption given his closeness to her."
A Few Hours Later
When I wake up, we are entering the underground parking lot of the police station. The familiar city noises remind me that we are finally back in familiar territory.
I get out of the car carrying Lisa, who is peacefully sleeping against me. Jill and Chris follow closely, exchanging knowing glances. Chris is now fully recovered from his injury, his regeneration having worked wonders.
"I'm going to put her down in the S.T.A.R.S. office," I say as we enter the building. We head up together to our office. There, I place Lisa on the couch, making sure she is well covered. Jill and Chris sit nearby, ready to keep watch over her.
"Keep an eye on her, I'll be back," I say before leaving the room. They nod, exchanging tender smiles as they look at the little girl.
I head to Commissioner Irons' office, a man I know to be corrupt to the core. Not only is he involved in various shady affairs, but he is also responsible for the Raccoon City orphanage where atrocities have been committed. I enter his office quickly without knocking, determined to put an end to his actions once and for all.
Irons looks up, surprised to see me burst in like that. Before he can say a word, I step forward and grab him by the collar. "Commissioner, your incompetence ends today."
"Wait, Gerald, you don't understand..." he stammers, his voice trembling with fear.
Without responding, I quickly bite him, injecting the G-virus into his system. His body spasms and then relaxes as the virus begins to take effect. I release him, letting him slump back into his chair, and watch as he transforms into a docile servant.
Irons struggles for a moment before his eyes glaze over. "I will do whatever you ask," he says in a monotone voice.
I've noticed that if I don't wish harm on the person I transform, they retain almost all of their free will, except when I give a direct order. But for someone like Irons, whom I deeply despise, he simply becomes a living puppet. He will maintain his normal behavior to avoid arousing suspicion, but he will follow my orders fanatically.
"Good, you will use your connections and privileges to expedite my adoption request for my daughter Lisa," I ordered Commissioner Irons. "Then, you will continue your little service for Birkin, but if you discover any spies or leaks of information, you will call me immediately so I can handle it. Lastly, you will state that the S.T.A.R.S. found nothing compromising in the mansion thanks to Wesker's efforts."
"Yes, Sir, it will be done," Irons replied in a monotone voice, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
"One last thing: behave as usual in public, unless I am alone with you," I added as I left his office, satisfied with my control over him.
As I walked down the hallway, I began to make plans for the future of Lisa and me. Lost in thought, I ran into Marvin, who was holding a casting poster for a TV series called "Detective Racoon."
"Hey Marvin, congratulations on being named Officer of the Month," I said with a smile, patting him on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Gerald. It's a nice surprise," Marvin replied with a modest smile.
"What's this poster? A new series in town?" I asked curiously.
"Yeah, it looks like they're looking for kids to play young detectives. It's an interesting opportunity for the kids in the city," Marvin explained, showing me the poster.
I glanced at the poster and thought about Lisa. "This could be a good experience for my daughter," I said thoughtfully. "She could have fun while learning useful things."
Marvin nodded before freezing and asking a question. "Wait, a daughter? Since when do you have a daughter, Gerald?"
I chuckled lightly. "It's a long story, Marvin. Let's just say I recently adopted a little princess. Her name is Lisa."
"Wow, I wasn't expecting that," Marvin replied, surprised but intrigued. "Is she with you at the station?"
"Yes, she's with the others in the S.T.A.R.S. office," I said with a smile. "I'm going to see her now. Thanks for the info about the show; I think she might like it."
"I'm sure she will. Good luck, Gerald. And congratulations again on your new life as a dad," Marvin said with a sincere smile, handing me the poster.
"Thanks, Marvin. See you later," I replied as I headed towards the S.T.A.R.S. office.
I quickly returned to the office, entering quietly to avoid waking Lisa. Jill and Chris were watching over her, their gazes turning towards me as I approached.
"How did it go with Irons?" Chris asked.
"Everything's sorted," I said with a smile. "I spoke with Marvin, and he showed me a poster for a TV show looking for child actors. It could be a good opportunity for Lisa."
Jill smiled, intrigued. "A TV show? Interesting. Lisa might enjoy that."
"Yes, I think so too. But for now, I'll let her sleep a bit. She needs rest," I said, gently stroking Lisa's hair.
Chris nodded, watching Lisa sleep peacefully. "It's nice to see you taking care of her, Gerald."
"She's my priority now," I said seriously.
I sat in the S.T.A.R.S. office, reading carefully through the details on the acting offer for "Detective Racoon". Lisa slept peacefully on the couch beside me, her tiny hands gently clutching a Mr. Racoon stuffed toy I had found earlier.
The office door opened quietly, and I looked up to see Barry enter first. He gave me a silent nod before approaching on tiptoe. Right behind him, Rebecca and Edward followed, both trying their best to be quiet.
Rebecca approached Lisa with a tender smile on her face. She crouched next to the couch, making sure not to wake her. Edward stood beside her, watching the scene with a protective gaze.
Enrico and Forest arrived next, both casting a glance around the room before approaching me. Enrico whispered something to Forest, who nodded in response. They positioned themselves near the door, keeping watch.
Finally, Kenneth and Richard entered, their movements calculated to avoid making noise. They settled near the windows, casting furtive glances at Lisa.
I continued reading the poster, occasionally glancing at the team members. Barry approached me, giving me a gentle pat on the shoulder.
"So, Gerald, any interesting news about the offer?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, it could be a good opportunity for Lisa. It's a TV show looking for child actors," I replied, keeping my voice as low as possible.
Rebecca stood up gently, coming closer to us. "That could really appeal to her. She's so adorable; she could melt viewers' hearts," she murmured with a smile.
Edward agreed, adding softly, "And it would be a good way for her to fit in and thrive."
Enrico and Forest also moved closer, listening to our conversation in silence. Kenneth and Richard continued to monitor the surroundings, their presence reassuring.
"I agree," Enrico whispered. "We should do everything we can to give her a normal and happy life."
I nodded, touched by their support. "Thank you, everyone. I'm glad to have you all here; it feels like I have a new family."
Unconsciously, I begin to reconsider my choices. Maybe I can continue being a member of S.T.A.R.S., even though I would request to be called upon less often. Now that Irons is under my control, I can make him make an exception for me since I am single and Lisa is still young. Yes, I will do that.
"Barry, can you check how the interrogations of the civilians are going? They helped me before you arrived, and I'd like them not to be bothered," I asked as he nodded and left.
As Barry left, Lisa shifted slightly in her sleep, making a small noise. Everyone in the room held their breath, fearing she might wake up. But after a moment, she simply turned to the other side, clutching her stuffed toy a little tighter. A collective sigh of relief filled the room.
"Lisa will be happy to have such a protective family," I said, smiling as I looked tenderly at my little girl asleep.
The smiles on the faces of my teammates suggest that they also see themselves as one big family.
Barry exited the room to handle the civilians, and soon after, the rest of the S.T.A.R.S. team arrived at the door. Forest stood up and went to inform them. "Be quiet, Lisa is sleeping," he whispered as he gently opened the door.
Brad, true to his legendary clumsiness, stumbled slightly on a corner of the rug as he entered, making a small noise.
Jill, Rebecca, and Forest exchanged exasperated glances. Before Brad could cause more trouble, Forest grabbed him by the ear. "What did I tell you, Brad?" he whispered furiously. "Be quiet!"
Brad was dragged by the ear outside.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Brad said loudly as he was dragged away by the ear.
Lisa opened her eyes, alerted by the noise, and looked around at everyone, clinging to her stuffed toy, a bit intimidated by the number of strangers in the room.
Rebecca approached gently and knelt beside her. "Hello, Lisa," she said with a reassuring smile. "Do you remember me?"
Lisa nodded timidly. "Yes, you're Daddy's friend."
"Exactly," Rebecca replied, stroking Lisa's head gently. "And these are also Daddy's friends. We're all here to protect you."
Lisa looked around, reassured by Rebecca's words but still a bit hesitant.
Rebecca left the office with Jill to have a friendly talk with Brad.
(Author's Note: I'm not too fond of Brad in the games, so consider this his punishment, muahahaha.)
Outside, I hear little cries suggesting that Brad is getting a mild scolding, although I know it's not violent. Jill and Forest drag him back inside, reminding him of the importance of discretion. "Seriously, Brad, you need to be more careful!" Jill says.
Rebecca just laughs behind the three as Brad holds his stomach with a slight grimace.
"Yeah, we need you, but we also need you not to wake up the kids," Forest adds jokingly.
Back in the office, Lisa relaxes a bit more and clutches her stuffed toy. "Daddy," she says softly, "they are nice, your friends."
"Yes, sweetheart," I replied, smiling at her.
"In fact, regarding friends, you can consider them as your family too because for me, they are like brothers..." I immediately notice Jill and Rebecca's piercing looks, and I clear my throat, quickly continuing, "and sisters." My smile widens as I observe the smiles of the two women, satisfied with my timely correction.
Lisa bursts into laughter, her face glowing with the joy of this new discovery. "That's great, Daddy. I'll have lots of aunts and uncles then!"
I nod, a bit embarrassed by the situation but happy to see Lisa so happy. "Yes, exactly, sweetheart."
The team members laugh at my quick reaction to include Jill and Rebecca. "Looks like he learned his lesson," Enrico jokes, giving me a friendly pat on the shoulder.
Chris smiles as well. "Well, at least he knows how to avoid trouble."
I join in the laughter, relieved to see that everyone is relaxed and in a good mood. Jill and Rebecca exchange a knowing look before returning to me with satisfied smiles.
Lisa looks at everyone, her face beaming with happiness. "I'm glad to have such a big family," she says softly, hugging her stuffed toy even tighter.
I gently stroke her head, touched by her words. "We're all here for you, Lisa. You have nothing to fear."
The room fills with low conversations, each person making sure Lisa feels safe and well surrounded. This big family formed by the S.T.A.R.S. proves once again to be up to the task, united by an unbreakable bond.
(Author's Note: A little slice-of-life chapter as someone requested. I might mix chapters with slice-of-life elements and more active parts for Gerald's development. In any case, thank you for your support ^^)