I summon a G-Tyrant before turning to Jill, a smirk playing on my lips despite the gravity of the situation.
"Go to the police station, Jill, see if you can help out there," I say firmly, but before I can continue, Jill steps closer, giving me a provocative look.
"Don't worry, Gérald," she says, casting me a sultry glance. "We'll pick up right where we left off… once this city is cleaned up." She winks, an amused smile on her face, and then runs off.
I shake my head, amused despite everything. "We'll see, Jill… we'll see," I murmur before focusing on the task at hand.
I leap out of the window, landing effortlessly in the street below, the impact of my landing kicking up a cloud of dust. Around me, chaos reigns. Pascal's clones are already at work, as planned, reinforcing the police lines. I had anticipated everything, but the situation worsened with the presence of Umbrella troops, shooting anything that moves.
There's no time to waste. A squad of four armed men blocks my path, but they don't know who they're dealing with. In mere seconds, they're eliminated, their weapons useless against my power. I then release 10,000 V4 leeches, watching as they divide into a swarm of creatures until they reach a total of 40,000. The leeches disperse, slithering into alleys, methodically tracking down anyone wearing Umbrella's red and white logo.
The streets of the city are steeped in terror. Buildings are on fire, corpses are scattered, and the screams of panicked civilians fill the heavy air. Zombies roam the alleys, but they're not the real threat—it's Umbrella's influence that's spreading the fear.
I continue releasing my creatures into the infested areas, where only zombies linger. My Tyrants, leeches, and other creatures swarm over the enemies, efficiently clearing the streets. Everywhere I go, the chaos retreats.
I encounter groups of survivors, terrified people desperately trying to escape this nightmare. Pascal's reinforced clones do their job, protecting strategic locations and assisting civilians. I personally check each group of survivors, healing those who show early signs of infection.
The fact that I'm in uniform, coupled with my recent fame from Detective Raccoon, makes many call me "Commissioner King" without hesitation. The civilians follow my directives without question, and it makes me smile. It's almost tempting to put on my Raccoon costume and fully embrace this unexpected role as the local hero.
"Come on, don't dawdle, head to the police station! We're cleaning up the city, but you, stay safe there," I ordered in a firm yet reassuring tone.
The civilians, relieved to see me, quickly follow my instructions.
"Thank you, Commissioner King! You're saving us!" exclaimed a woman holding her child. She threw me a grateful look before joining the group organizing for evacuation.
An elderly man, visibly exhausted but grateful, patted me on the shoulder as he passed by: "God bless you, Commissioner!"
I smiled slightly, amused by the situation. "Thank you, go get to safety."
I continued my advance, each step accompanied by the eerie sounds of zombies lurking. One got too close, and I swiftly pushed it back, crushing its skull without a second thought. The group of survivors looked on in horror, but also with renewed confidence.
A few Pascal clones approached, their faces calm, though the urgency of the situation was clear in their voices. "Chief! What's the next directive? Do we secure the sector or continue toward the northern district?"
I thought for a moment, looking at the crowd of civilians in the background and the chaos continuing further away.
"Send some of the clones to escort the civilians to the police station. The rest of you, keep clearing the area and securing sensitive zones. Don't leave anything behind, understood?"
"Understood, Chief!" they replied in unison, immediately dispersing to carry out the orders.
I resumed my march, leaving behind a path of destruction and newly restored safety. I headed for the laboratory, where Lisa, Oscar, Wesker, Marcus, and the Jordans were waiting for me. On my way, I methodically cleared a fifth of the city, moving in a straight line, ensuring each street was cleared of enemies before moving to the next.
When I entered the lab, I didn't have time to say a word before Lisa literally jumped into my arms.
"Daddy!" she exclaimed, wrapping her little arms around my neck. "I've been really good, just like Uncle Wesker told me to be!"
I held her close, smiling, happy to see her safe and sound. "That's my girl, always the best."
Wesker, standing nearby with a slight smile, crossed his arms. "She followed my instructions to the letter. A real model."
Lisa looked up at me, her eyes sparkling. "Are you proud of me, Daddy?"
I nodded. "Always, sweetheart. Always."
At that moment, Marcus approached, wearing a smug but reassuring smile. "Gérald, good news. Despite the chaos in the city, all critical points are secure. The police station, the hospital, and even the evacuation route we prepared—everything's under control."
The Jordans, each standing off to the side, added their own details. "Our guys did an impeccable job, boss. Pascal's clones provide perfect coverage. No civilians are in danger for now."
I sighed in relief. "Excellent work. Let's keep it up."
I then looked over at Oscar, the giant elephant standing proudly in a corner, and an idea formed in my mind. "Oscar," I said with a sly grin, "I think it's time to put your strength to good use."
Lisa looked up at me excitedly. "Are we going to ride Oscar?!"
I gently set her down before approaching Oscar, stroking his enormous side. "You ready, old friend?" Oscar waved his trunk as if to say yes.
I lifted Lisa, placing her on Oscar's broad head before climbing up behind her. "Hold on tight, princess. We're going to clear the roads."
Oscar moved forward with power, pushing abandoned cars and debris that blocked the streets out of the way. With Lisa proudly perched on his head, she became a reassuring figure for the civilians, who came out of their hiding places as they saw us approach. Some waved, others approached with a mix of relief and disbelief.
"Look, it's the little Detective Raccoon!" exclaimed a woman, holding her child's hand.
"Commissioner King is with us; everything will be fine!" shouted another as Oscar cleared the path.
Pascal's clones, deployed to escort the civilians, saluted as they passed. I gestured for Lisa to smile and wave to the people, and she enthusiastically obliged.
"Hi, everyone! Stay behind us, we'll protect you!" she said cheerfully, her words restoring hope to the crowd.
With Oscar as our heavy hitter and Lisa as a symbol of hope, we paved a direct path to the police station, helping Pascal's clones escort the civilians safely.
Upon arriving at the police station, I saw it had become a true fortress. Every window was carefully barricaded, snipers monitored the streets from the upper floors, and Pascal's clones patrolled the building's perimeter. Chaos still reigned outside, but here, a sense of order had been established.
I entered with Lisa, leaving Oscar behind with Pascal's clones who returned to patrolling the city, continuing to rescue civilians. In the hall, groups of civilians were gathered, panicked but relieved to be safe.
Jill quickly approached, looking serious. "Gérald, the police station is packed. At this rate, we won't be able to take in many more people." She crossed her arms, glancing at the crowd that continued to arrive. "We need to find another solution, or this will get out of hand."
Marvin, ever calm and composed, nodded in agreement. "People are terrified, and we're starting to run out of space and resources to keep them here."
I looked at them for a moment before smiling gently. "Don't worry, I've already set up an evacuation route. My men have secured strategic points in the city, and they're ready to guide the civilians to safer areas."
Marvin raised an eyebrow. "Your men? Who are you talking about?"
"No time for a detailed explanation. Let's just say they're people I trust completely. And no, they're not with Umbrella, if that's what you're wondering," I replied, avoiding directly mentioning Wesker to prevent confusion.
Jill seemed relieved to hear that. "So, you've really thought this through. I hope it works because the situation is getting worse by the minute."
I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Make sure the civilians follow the directions of my men. They know what to do to protect and evacuate them. I need to get back out there to continue clearing the city."
Jill looked at me with a hint of concern in her eyes. "Take care, Gérald."
I nodded, smiling. "Always."
"Lisa, stay with your uncle and Aunt Jill, help evacuate the civilians like the little heroine you are," I said with a smile as Wesker, Marcus, and the Jordan triplets coordinated with Jill and Marvin to prepare the evacuation.
I stood before the crowd, on the steps of the police station, overlooking the mass of gathered civilians. My gaze swept across the assembly, capturing the tense, anxious faces, some on the verge of panic. I took a deep breath before speaking, my voice strong, resonating through the hall.
"Listen to me carefully," I said firmly but reassuringly. "You will be escorted out of the city to allow the police station to continue receiving those in need. Do not fear. The path you will take is already secured, and a refuge has been built outside the city. This refuge can accommodate up to 100,000 people, and it has been specially designed for emergencies like this."
Murmurs spread through the crowd, but my words seemed to ease the palpable tension in the air. I made sure my words instilled confidence, that my calm demeanor in the face of this exceptional situation gave strength to those listening.
I continued, my tone still as assured: "You won't be alone. The men accompanying you are the best, and my daughter, Lisa, will be with you. If I'm letting my own daughter go with this group, it's because I know it's safe."
At these words, I felt a wave of relief wash over the crowd. Faces softened, shoulders relaxed. In the front row, Lisa began clapping timidly. A moment later, some police officers joined in, followed by the civilians. The sound of applause filled the room, and a glimmer of hope began to shine in their eyes.
I descended the steps with a sincere smile, letting my words linger in their minds. As I reached the entrance to a passage at the back, I positioned myself to shake hands with each person passing by. It wasn't just a symbolic gesture; I used every handshake to ensure, through my power, that they were all healthy and uninfected.
As the flow of people moved on, I heard murmurs in the crowd: "If he's sending his daughter with us, it must really be safe." These words, whispered among the civilians, reinforced the trust I had instilled in them.
Methodically, I took the time to shake hands with each civilian, checking their health one by one. My power allowed me to sense their well-being, and I ensured that none were infected. What could have been a tedious task took me only twenty minutes. With each handshake, I offered a small smile, reassuring those passing by, letting them know they were safe.
As the last group left the police station through the parking lot, I took a deep breath. Everything was going according to plan, but I couldn't help but notice a significant absence: Sherry Birkins. She hadn't been among the evacuated civilians, which, for now, would prevent her father from targeting them. But it left me with a feeling of unease. If she was still somewhere in the city, that meant the danger was still looming.
"One thing done for now," I murmured, watching the group disappear on the horizon.
I then released several thousand V4 wasps into the city. They quickly dispersed, descending on the roaming zombies. Their stingers, as powerful as spikes capable of piercing stone, wreaked havoc. The creatures fell one by one, skulls shattered, relieving the evacuation forces securing the roads. The streets cleared, and the buzzing of the wasps resonated like a breath of relief through the ruins.
"Alright, now where can I find Nemesis..." I muttered aloud, my gaze turning toward the sky.
Summoning one of my giant bats modified by the G-virus, a massive and powerful creature, I prepare to cover the ground. Its wings beat the air with a deep force as it lands heavily in front of me. I grab onto a metal bar that it carries between its powerful claws, lifting me from the ground with supernatural ease.
The sensation of flying offers me an unparalleled view of the chaos unfolding below. From the air, I can see the devastated city, the streets filled with zombies, fires, and hastily erected barricades by the survivors. My eyes scan the area, searching for the clay colossus, Nemesis.
The shadow of the bat glides over the ruined neighborhoods, marking the beginning of a new hunt.
(Author's note: Short chapter to show that Gérald is still a policeman ^^. The next chapters will be more action-oriented… or so I think. To be sure, you'll have to read them ^^)