As we flew over Raccoon City, a smile spread across my face. The view was simply breathtaking. Where ruins and dilapidated buildings once stood, now stretched a vibrant metropolis teeming with life and diversity. The glass skyscrapers shimmered under the setting sun, and the streets below buzzed with activity. This city, rebuilt with my own hands, was a symbol of rebirth and resilience.
The helicopter landed smoothly on the rooftop of my main building, while the rest of the fleet headed towards King Pharmaceuticals' base to unload the new recruits, data, and equipment recovered during our mission. I stepped out slowly, savoring the cool breeze that swept across the rooftop. The familiarity of the place was comforting after the intense events of the past few days.
As I walked through the doors of my office, I barely had time to set down my bag before being literally tackled to the ground. Two balls of energy, Lisa and Sherry, had just pounced on me with all the force of their enthusiasm. I fell with a light "oof," caught off guard but happy.
"Dad!" Lisa exclaimed, sitting on my chest and pointing a finger at me like a strict judge. "You said you'd be gone for two days, but it's been four! We were super worried! Do you know we counted every hour?" Her eyes sparkled with reproach, but her tone was more adorable than accusatory.
Sherry, standing next to us, smiled softly, crossing her arms. She added teasingly, "Yeah, and Lisa kept pacing around, listing all the reasons why you might have forgotten to come back."
"I did not pace!" Lisa protested, blushing slightly before turning back to me, her gaze determined. "But you owe us an explanation!"
I chuckled, placing one hand on Lisa's head and the other on Sherry's. "Alright, alright, you're right. I owe you an explanation." I gently lifted Lisa off me to sit up. Sherry helped me to my feet, her amused smile never fading.
Once standing, I knelt to their level. "Listen, my little princesses, I'm sorry for worrying you. Someone was very sick and needed urgent care, and I couldn't leave until I had taken care of everything."
Lisa crossed her arms, still pouting, but I could see she was starting to soften. "But you could have at least told us!"
"You're right, sweetheart. I promise to let you know next time if I have to stay longer," I said with a sincere smile. I opened my arms, and as I hoped, Lisa immediately jumped in for a hug. Sherry, always more reserved, also stepped forward, and I wrapped them both in an embrace, cherishing this precious moment after several days apart.
"We forgive you, but only if you spend the evening with us," Lisa declared, looking up at me with her big, shining eyes.
"Deal," I replied, hugging them a little tighter. "So, what adventures do you have planned for tonight?"
"It's gonna be four of us tonight! Aunt Jill is joining!" Lisa exclaimed excitedly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She was practically bouncing with joy, but her excitement was quickly interrupted by an urgent shake from Sherry.
"Lisa, stop daydreaming! We have a shoot at Studio 4 in half an hour! We're going to be late!" Sherry shouted, her face pale with worry.
Lisa froze, her eyes widening in horror. "Oh no… Mr. Lee is going to kill us!" she stammered, panic quickly rising.
As I rolled my eyes, I pulled out my phone, trying to calm the storm. "Breathe, my little tornadoes. I'll take care of it."
I quickly dialed my pilot's number, who had barely taken off after dropping me off. "Hey, turn around and drop my girls off at Studio 4 before heading to the base. Consider this a top priority."
"Understood, Mr. King. I'll be there in ten minutes," the pilot responded, as professional as ever.
I put my phone away and turned to my daughters, giving them a reassuring smile. "Problem solved. Your ride is on the way. Go grab your things and be ready to leave."
"Thanks, Dad!" they exclaimed in unison before dashing off to their rooms to collect their belongings. I sighed, amused by their boundless energy, and watched them go. Those two were a hurricane, but they made my life so much more vibrant.
With the girls gone and a bit of calm finally returning, I called Delphine, my ever-reliable assistant. Her clear and composed voice answered almost immediately.
"Yes, Mr. King?"
"Delphine, quick briefing. What does my schedule look like for the coming week?" I asked as I settled into my chair, savoring the rare moment of serenity.
"You have a quiet week, sir. No major appointments scheduled. However, next week will be much busier. You have meetings with several politicians, an audience with the U.S. president, and a presentation before the Health Council. All of it will take place in New York."
I let out a slight groan. "New York, huh? Alright. Make sure everything is prepared for the trip and all necessary documents are in order."
"Consider it done, sir. Any other requests before I finalize the schedule?" she asked, as efficient as ever.
"No, that will be all. Thanks, Delphine," I replied with a smile. Her reliability was invaluable.
I took the elevator down to the basement of my building, where the main laboratory was located. The doors opened onto a vast, pristine space filled with sophisticated machines and flashing screens. The atmosphere was studious, almost austere, but buzzing with activity.
I discreetly released the individuals from my Factory, making it appear as though they had accompanied me in the elevator.
Marcus and Wesker Jr. were already there, engaging Alexia in an animated discussion about research methodologies.
"If you want to understand our standards, you'll first need to revisit your basics. Here, we don't conduct unnecessary or sacrificial experiments. Efficiency comes first," Marcus explained, his tone almost fatherly.
Wesker added with a smirk, "And don't try to set anything on fire for fun. Gerald hates pyrotechnic surprises."
Alexia seemed slightly annoyed but eventually nodded. "Fine, I'll adapt." She turned to me, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. "And if I want to propose an idea...?"
"You go through them," I replied, nodding toward Marcus and Wesker. "They'll guide you."
Meanwhile, the Jordan triplets, as inseparable as ever, had wandered over to the treatment unit to greet the other researchers. I could hear their playful banter from a distance.
"So, who's going to win the contest for the biggest brain here? You, Marcus, or you, Wesker?" one of the Jordans asked.
"Stop causing trouble. We all know Marcus has a slight edge… for now," another quipped, prompting laughter.
I shook my head, amused, and led Alfred to an adjacent office where Delphine was already waiting to set up his position and responsibilities.
"Alfred, I'll leave you with Delphine. She'll explain everything and get you properly settled in Raccoon City. She's an expert, so listen to her advice."
Alfred nodded, though he seemed a bit nervous. "Thank you, Mr. King. I'll do my best."
I returned to my personal workspace to retrieve a cage containing several mutated rodents. These small creatures, docile since their integration into the Factory, had allowed me to isolate a blood sample with a high concentration of the T-Veronica virus, thanks to Marcus.
After dropping off a few specimens in the main lab for Marcus and the other researchers to continue their work, I headed to my private laboratory. The thought of betrayal or an accident didn't even cross my mind. My researchers, completely loyal thanks to the enhancements made by the G-virus, were dedicated to my cause, and the security measures in the Factory made an outbreak almost impossible.
I carefully locked the reinforced door of my laboratory and moved toward a large steel capsule, a space specifically designed for high-risk experiments like this one. Inside, every surface was lined with fireproof and acid-resistant materials. The sterile white light illuminated every detail.
I placed the syringe containing the T-Veronica virus on a small table in front of me. My fingers hesitated for a moment over the needle. I knew that what I was about to do was extremely risky, even with my current abilities. But if it worked, I could push past my own limits, regain part of my lost power, and maybe even more.
"Come on, Gérald. We've survived far worse than this," I murmured to myself before plunging the needle into a vein in my left arm. I pressed the plunger slowly, injecting the scarlet liquid into my system. Immediately, a wave of heat spread through my body.
Within five seconds, the pain struck like a hurricane. An unbearable heat surged through my veins, burning every inch of my body from the inside out. I collapsed onto one knee, gasping, as my veins darkened to a deep violet, grotesquely bulging beneath my skin. My epidermis quickly turned red, as if I were being cooked alive. Then, suddenly, my skin briefly ignited, flames dancing across my arms and torso.
The pain was indescribable, but it was immediately followed by a strange sensation of regeneration. My burnt skin reformed within seconds, every cell seeming to be reborn stronger. But it wasn't over. The cycle repeated: burning, regeneration, burning. I was trapped in an infernal loop, each moment intensifying the agony and renewal.
This torment lasted almost an hour. Every minute felt like an eternity, but I held on, gritting my teeth, refusing to succumb to the pain. Finally, the internal fire subsided, replaced by a surge of power I couldn't ignore. My hands trembled slightly as I stood up, feeling the changes in my body.
Observing my reflection in the capsule's glass, I immediately noticed differences. My skin had taken on a slightly more vibrant tone, as if infused with life. My dorsal vines extended on their own, giving me a clear view of them.
I reached for one of my vines, which appeared thicker and more resilient than before. Testing their texture, I realized they had become fire-resistant, their surface resembling tempered steel.
With a simple motion, I released a cloud of pollen from my body. To my surprise, the pollen, which was once merely an irritant, ignited instantly upon contact with the air, creating an intense burst of heat. I smirked.
"Incendiary, huh? Interesting."
Experimenting further, I discovered a new ability—my dorsal spines could now inject my own blood upon impact. This opened up near-limitless possibilities for both offensive attacks and support capabilities.
(Author's note: A short enhancement chapter to power up my MC a bit. Next chapter will be a reunion with Leon, Claire, and Ada to plan the next phase of operations. And don't miss the next episode of Detective Raccoon! ^^)