"Hyaaa!" A piercing scream echoes through the corridor, a desperate cry from a little girl. My heart races, and without hesitation, I sprint toward the sound. I instantly regret the speed I used to have—every second feels like an eternity—but I push forward, testing my limits.
When I finally arrive, I find a little girl sobbing, trembling, and surrounded by my own leeches, which are crawling in tight, pulsating circles around her, forming a living barrier.
"Stop!" My voice cuts through the air, sharp and commanding. The leeches freeze in place, like a wave suddenly halted mid-motion, sensitive to my authority. I raise both hands and motion for them to disperse. Obediently, they retreat, parting gently to open a path toward the girl.
She looks up, her eyes wide with fear, and without hesitation, she runs straight into my arms, her small frame colliding with me in a desperate embrace. Surprised by her reaction, I hold her close, feeling her tiny body shaking with sobs.
"Commissioner King... you came!" she whispers between sobs, her voice filled with relief and a trust that seems absolute.
I gently pat her back to calm her, then signal the leeches to move further away, sending them back to their hunt for William. They scatter silently into the darkness of the underground.
"What happened, little one? What are you doing in the station's basement?" I ask softly once her sobs have subsided.
She casts a last nervous glance around, her face relaxing slightly as the writhing creatures disappear from view. Taking a deep breath, her eyes lock onto mine, calmer now but tinged with embarrassment. It's then I realize—too late—that my shirt has been entirely dissolved by acid, leaving my torso exposed. My pants, though intact, are riddled with worrying holes. Thankfully, nothing too revealing, but I doubt my appearance is very reassuring.
"I... my name is Sherry Birkin, Commissioner King," she says in a small voice, gradually gaining confidence as she speaks. "When I saw all the chaos outside, I ran from home and came here... I thought it would be safer. But..." Her gaze drops, and she squeezes my hand a little tighter. "A monster that... kind of looked like my dad started chasing me everywhere. I asked my mom for help, but... she ignored me," she murmurs, her voice breaking with disappointment.
I look at her with sympathy and gently squeeze her hand in return. "Sherry, you were incredibly brave to make it here all by yourself."
She looks up, a little more confident now, offering me a small smile. "I knew Commissioner King would come to save me. I saw you fighting the monster with your men... but I was too scared to stay. So, I hid as soon as I heard the roars and screams."
I nod, impressed by her courage. "You did the right thing, Sherry. Now, I'll have my men escort you to the other civilians. I'll take care of that monster," I say with a reassuring smile to boost her spirits.
"Thank you, Commissioner King," she whispers, looking up at me with eyes full of gratitude.
I straighten up and raise my fist in the air. "Raccoon Force!" I shout with a grin, calling for the Pascal clones. They arrive promptly, though I can sense their confusion, even behind their masked faces, at my choice of rallying cry.
"You will escort young Sherry here to the library where the other civilians are gathered," I say, entrusting her to their care. But suddenly, a thought strikes me—the bomb intended to wipe out the city.
I pause and fix my gaze on my men. "Change of plans. You're going to gather everyone in the parking lot and secure the area with Marvin and the other officers. If anyone asks, tell them I'm preparing the final evacuation convoy for Raccoon City." The clones nod, taking Sherry under their protection.
Before leaving, Sherry gives my hand one last squeeze. "Thank you again, Commissioner King. You really are the best."
I quickly make my way through the parking lot, picking up a few Cerberus specimens for my factory, and then I stumble upon the last outfit left in my inventory: the Mr. Raccoon mascot costume. I stare at it—both ridiculous and oversized—then shrug. "Guess this will have to do," I mutter with a sigh before pulling the giant raccoon head over mine and slipping into the costume's bulky body, transforming myself into an odd hybrid of mascot and authority figure.
Just as I'm about to move forward, I feel a pressure tighten around my neck. Suddenly, I'm grabbed and lifted into the air by a slimy, coiling tongue! I flail helplessly inside the costume, struggling for air, but my panic causes me to unintentionally summon a Tyrant. With a single, brutal motion, the Tyrant grabs the Licker's tongue, slamming it into the ground like a ragdoll and raising its massive foot to crush it.
Through the muffled voice of the Mr. Raccoon mask, I yell, "Stop! Wait, that one—we're capturing it!"
The Tyrant stops just in time, while I summon Zombie Plants to restrain the Licker, which writhes under their tightening grip. Once secured, I signal the Tyrant to remain in the parking lot. Its imposing size and intimidating presence should keep the civilians calm, with the Pascals serving as intermediaries to reassure them.
After issuing brief instructions to the Hunters I summoned to clear any remaining threats in the area, I take a detour to the prison. It's deserted—no sign of the journalist or other prisoners, which makes sense since Irons has been under my control for a while now.
On my way back up, I spot an Umbrella helicopter dangerously circling the area. It drops a capsule over the police station, but the pilot botches the maneuver, and the aircraft crashes into the building's rooftop in a cacophony of screeching metal.
"Dammit, this never ends," I mutter, adjusting the Mr. Raccoon headpiece, which keeps sliding awkwardly over my nose. I summon Blood, my giant bat, which grabs me by the mascot costume to help lift me to the crash site.
As we reach the roof, an explosion erupts below me, and flames begin spreading rapidly. I glance around, spotting the water tower atop the station. "Alright, plan B."
I release a G Tyrant, which, with a few heavy punches, topples the water tower. The massive structure spills a torrent of water that extinguishes the flames in an instant.
Descending through the upper hall to rejoin the civilians, I stop dead in my tracks when I come face to face with… Mister X. The surprise is mutual—except I'm wearing a grinning raccoon costume.
As Mister X appears, Leon, incredulous, points his weapon toward the hulking figure.
"What the hell is that thing?!" he asks, tightening his grip on his gun, eyes wide with alarm.
The police officers and Pascal clones around him take up defensive positions, while the civilians scramble for cover behind benches and furniture in the hall. The atmosphere is tense, and the air feels heavy with unease.
Mister X, unflinching, stares me down from head to toe, his cold, calculating gaze lingering on my Mr. Raccoon costume. I adjust the oversized mascot head, trying to see clearly through the comically large eye holes, and take a deep breath. In an exaggerated theatrical voice, I announce:
"Welcome to the precinct, big guy! You've entered a safe zone!"
A collective groan rises from the police officers below, and Marvin casts a bewildered look at his colleagues. But a group of children, captivated by the dramatic scene, can't contain their excitement. They begin chanting enthusiastically:
"Go, Mr. Raccoon! Kick the bad guy's butt!"
Their energy is infectious, and a few officers exchange nervous smiles. However, the cheering also catches Mister X's attention. Slowly and deliberately, he turns his head toward the children, his icy gaze locking onto them.
A surge of anger wells up in me as I see him focus on them with his cold, threatening eyes. Without dropping my character, I wave my hand authoritatively.
"Alright, brave kids! Time to evacuate the area! Let's move!"
Marvin takes charge, firmly guiding the civilians and children toward the secure exit.
"You heard Mr. Raccoon! Let's go!" he says with a reassuring smile for the kids.
"Thank you, Mr. Raccoon!" one of the children shouts, beaming, followed by a chorus of encouragement.
"We believe in you, Mr. Raccoon!" Sherry calls out, her eyes sparkling with hope. She glances at Mister X with defiance before adding, "You've got this, Commissioner King!"
Mister X, seemingly provoked by the wave of enthusiasm, refocuses on me. His heavy footsteps echo through the marble floor, each one amplifying his intimidating presence. Suddenly inspired, I offer the civilians one last playful nod and, pointing my Magnum at Mister X, fire a single shot that sends his hat flying, revealing his smooth, bald head.
I remove the Mr. Raccoon mascot head, revealing a determined expression. The humor vanishes, replaced by a stern resolve. My voice drops, cold and serious:
"You're dealing with me now, monster."
Across the hall, Leon exchanges a stunned glance with Claire, who murmurs in awe, "This guy's afraid of nothing..."
I take a moment to ensure everyone's safety. A Pascal clone nods, signaling that all the civilians and children have been evacuated. Just as I lower my guard, Mister X charges, heavy and fast, seizing the opportunity. I pivot in time and raise my hand, catching his iron fist with my own.
"Game over, meat sack."
In one swift motion, I store him in my factory. Barely have I made him disappear when pain hits me like a wave: the impact broke my wrist. I grit my teeth, realign my hand, and let my regeneration take over.
I head back to the terrace, where Blood waits, and use the giant bat to descend quickly to the parking lot. Fifteen minutes later, the group finally arrives. I've had enough time to store the Hunters I released earlier, making the area safer. As soon as the group enters the parking lot, the children recognize me and rush toward me, brimming with excitement.
"Commissioner King! You beat the big monster!" shouts a young boy, his eyes sparkling with joy.
"Yeah! You knocked him out!" adds a little girl, clapping her hands.
The kids swarm around me, tugging at my sleeve, some reaching up for me to hold them, while others look at me with awe, as if I were a real-life superhero.
"You're the best, Commissioner King!" another child exclaims, applauding enthusiastically.
Nearby, Leon and Claire stare at me, their jaws practically on the floor. Leon looks from the children surrounding me to the ceiling of the parking lot, utterly baffled.
"Wait, no way... How... How did you get here so fast?" he asks, still in shock.
Claire nods, caught between admiration and disbelief. "Seriously, you were fighting that monster up there like, what, ten minutes ago? Are you even… human?"
I smile, glancing down at the kids still cheering around me. "Let's just say... I'm a bit more than that. But don't worry—it's all part of the job."
The children burst into laughter, carefree, and begin chanting enthusiastically:
"Commissioner King is the strongest! Commissioner King is invincible!"
I shoot an amused look at Leon and Claire, shrugging. "See? Even the experts confirm it."
As we move forward with the group, Marvin throws a teasing glance at Leon.
"Come on, rookie, stop doubting your superior. King's part of the STARS."
Leon opens his mouth to retort but closes it again, nodding instead. Behind us, Fred, the two-meter-tall Tyrant G, follows closely, his posture almost protective. Thankfully, his calmer demeanor and less threatening appearance compared to Mr. X reassure the children, who seem unbothered by his imposing presence.
As we approach Kendo's Gun Shop, I signal for everyone to stop.
"Marvin, you're with me. Let's check on Kendo and see if there's anything useful to grab," I say, gesturing for the rest of the group to take cover in the passageway to the right of the shop.
We enter the store cautiously, weapons at the ready.
"Kendo, it's Gerald! You in here?" I call out loudly.
A relieved sigh is followed by quick footsteps, and Kendo appears, visibly tense, his shotgun in hand. Upon seeing us, he lowers his weapon, letting out a nervous laugh.
"It's you… Damn, you scared the hell out of me! I thought you were looters," he says, eyeing me before squinting at my costume. "But what the hell are you wearing, Gerald? You switch careers to mascot duty or something?"
I grin, shrugging. "It's a long story… Listen, are you coming with us? We're the last group evacuating."
Marvin steps forward, giving his old friend a knowing look. "Come on, Kendo. Your place is with us."
Kendo hesitates, his expression clouded with pain. "I... I can't. My daughter... Emma, she's sick. I have to stay with her."
At that moment, I notice the anxiety in his eyes—the fear of a father staring down the inevitable.
I place a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Kendo, listen to me. If she's infected... I can help her. There's a cure."
His eyes widen, a mix of hope and disbelief crossing his face. "Gerald… are you serious? You're not messing with me, right?" His voice trembles as he grips my arm tightly, clinging to this glimmer of hope.
"I promise you," I reply firmly.
Without hesitation, he leads me to the back of the shop, where the small living quarters are located. In a cramped room, Emma lies on a bed, her complexion pale and her eyes half-closed.
"Daddy…" she murmurs weakly upon seeing Kendo.
I approach her, offering a gentle smile. Removing my hand from the costume, I discreetly pull out a vial containing a drop of my blood, presenting it as a simple remedy for her to drink.
Seconds pass, and the effect takes hold. Emma's eyes widen, their sparkle returning as she begins to sit up, her youthful energy and innocent smile lighting up her face.
"Daddy! I feel better!" she exclaims, grabbing her father's hand.
Kendo collapses to his knees beside her, tears streaming down his face as his trembling hand caresses his daughter's cheek. He turns to me, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"Gerald... I... I don't even know how to thank you. You've given me my daughter back," he whispers, overcome with emotion.
I smile, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You haven't forgotten our motto, have you, Kendo?" I say with a grin. "To protect and serve. Now, we're all getting out of this together."
(Author's Note: Last stretch, as they say! I'd estimate 3 or 4 more chapters to wrap up RE2 before diving into the unknown ^^)