Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Commitment and Mission
After taking the time to consolidate my new abilities, I retract my plant-based attributes, feeling my vines and spines seamlessly merge back into my skin as if they had never existed. My body adapts more fluidly to the mutations, and this newfound harmony gives me a deep sense of satisfaction.
With a confident motion, I put on a perfectly tailored tuxedo, one I had carefully prepared in anticipation of this day. The fabric fits my form elegantly, sharply contrasting with the sterile, metallic atmosphere of the laboratory. Adjusting my silver cufflinks, I take one final glance around.
Through the glass of the adjacent laboratory, I spot Alexia, deeply engaged in an intense discussion with Marcus and Wesker Jr. The atmosphere is studious, their concentration almost tangible. Despite her natural arrogance, Alexia seems at ease among them, attentively listening to their analyses while offering her own insights.
A smirk tugs at the corner of my lips. She's in good hands. With Marcus and Wesker guiding her, she will learn far more than she ever could at Umbrella. More importantly, she will learn that science can progress without the sacrifice of human lives.
Satisfied, I turn on my heels and head toward the main elevator. The ascent is smooth and swift, and within moments, I arrive at my office. Walking calmly but with purpose, I cross the room and make my way toward the private helipad atop the building.
As soon as I step into the open air, I let out a sharp whistle, a piercing sound that echoes across the open space.
Seconds later, a massive shadow darkens the sky above me.
Aquila the First.
With a powerful flap of his wings, the colossal eagle I raised and continually improved descends majestically, sending a gust of wind that ruffles my tuxedo and tousles my hair. His size dwarfs that of Blood, his rival bat, and every beat of his wings seems to make the very air vibrate. His imposing wingspan stretches wide, each feather catching the light with a faint glimmer.
Unlike Blood, who specializes in hovering and precise aerial maneuvers, Aquila is raw power incarnate, an aerial predator built for dominance. His talons can tear a vehicle off the ground, and his diving speed is unmatched. However, he struggles with maintaining a stationary hover, making him slightly less maneuverable for certain missions.
As he lands with practiced grace, his massive talons clash against the ground, sending a faint tremor through the helipad. He lowers his head slightly toward me, his piercing gaze locking onto mine as if seeking confirmation that he answered my call correctly.
I step forward slowly, extending my hand toward his beak, reinforced with a light layer of hardened bone plating. He lets out a deep, guttural cry, a sound that carries both respect and acknowledgment.
"Still as impressive as ever, my big guy," I murmured, running my hand along his sturdy feathers.
Without wasting any more time, I hoisted myself onto his back, gripping tightly onto the straps I had installed for better support. The wind picked up. He spread his wings once more, and with a powerful thrust, we soared into the sky.
One might think that seeing a giant eagle flying over the city would be terrifying for the population, but that was no longer the case. Ever since the heartfelt news report on the late Oscar, the heroic elephant of Raccoon City, Gerald King and his daughter Lisa had earned a public nickname: the Beast Tamers.
Their ability to ride and control titanic creatures had become a familiar image—a symbol of protection rather than a threat. The beasts of the King family, whether it was Aquila, Blood, or even the genetically enhanced rhinos and big cats, were perceived as guardians of the city. Some children even drew them in their school notebooks, imagining them as modern-day protectors of Raccoon City.
As Aquila cut through the air at an impressive speed, I took the time to observe the vastness of my empire below. Raccoon City, rebuilt with my own hands, gleamed under the sun, a fusion of modern infrastructure and reinforced security.
But my destination wasn't here. We soon reached the training base, a fortress built on the outskirts of the city to house my elite commando unit.
As Aquila began his descent, I spotted my former S.T.A.R.S. colleagues, returning from an intense training session. Since the restructuring of the organization under King Security, they had formed the Special Commando Unit, under the command of Wesker Senior, who remained the team captain, with Enrico Marini as his second-in-command.
Some of my former teammates had stayed within the Raccoon City Police Department, ensuring the city's continued stability:
Jill Valentine – Liaison officer between the police and the commando, guardian of the city.Barry Burton – Head of the police armory and one of the instructors for new recruits.Rebecca Chambers – Lead medical officer, overseeing biomedical research and medical protocols within the department's medical unit.
But my private intervention forces were equally impressive:
Brad Vickers, Forest Speyer, Richard Aiken, Kenneth Sullivan, Edward Dewey, and Kevin Dooley had all joined the elite unit, refining their training under the watchful eyes of Wesker and Enrico.
Chris Redfield and Joseph Frost were part of the commando elite. Joseph was currently on Rockfort Island, overseeing the new installations.
However, three new recruits had recently joined the group—and they were far from ordinary.
Claire Redfield – The Student Turned Soldier
Initially a law student, Claire had chosen to join the commando to be closer to her brother, Chris. With excellent marksmanship and unwavering determination, she had quickly proven herself as an expert in infiltration. Her lockpicking skills allowed her to sneak into almost any location undetected.
Leon S. Kennedy – From Rookie to Elite Soldier
Leon's fate had taken a drastic turn. Instead of becoming a rookie officer at the R.P.D., he had transformed into an elite soldier for a multinational force. Through intensive training and some genetic enhancements, he had become an exceptional fighter, combining inhuman reflexes with unmatched shooting precision. He was only a step below Chris, preferring technique over brute strength.
Ada Wong – From Independent Mercenary to Major Asset
Ada had transitioned from being a lone mercenary to becoming a valuable strategic asset for the commando.
As I dismounted Aquila, several soldiers gathered to salute me. Chris and Sophie, who had returned earlier, were joking around with Leon and Claire, while Ada, true to herself, remained slightly in the background, arms crossed, analyzing the situation with her piercing gaze.
I walked past them, a smirk forming on my lips, resisting the temptation to tease Chris in front of his sister and Sophie.
"So, having fun while I was away?" I said, directing my remark toward Wesker and Enrico, who were standing among the others.
Wesker Sr., ever methodical, adjusted his sunglasses before responding in his usual dryly sarcastic tone:
"We're keeping the house in order, Mr. King."
I raised an eyebrow before bumping my fist against his.
"Captain, let's drop the formalities."
Wesker gave a small smile and nodded.
"Alright, Gérald. We're all operational."
I scanned the group, and the confident smirks and determined expressions from the commando confirmed his words.
Placing my hands on my hips, I took a deep breath before announcing the next mission.
"Alright, I have a recon mission for you."
Instantly, all chatter ceased, postures straightened, and a focused silence settled over the team. The S.T.A.R.S. Commando never took missions lightly.
"You're going to Spain to gather intelligence on a noble family called Salazar. No direct intervention, no contact, and most importantly—do not get detected. This is strictly an observation and reconnaissance mission."
Wesker, who had begun stroking his chin in thought, quickly took over.
"Leon, Claire!" he called out firmly, locking eyes with them. "You'll be posing as tourists. Enrico will accompany you as your guide since he knows the language. Keep your cover solid."
Leon crossed his arms, a smirk forming on his face. "So, I take it we're not just lounging on the beaches of Barcelona, huh?"
Claire nudged his shoulder playfully, smirking. "You better do your job, Kennedy. Otherwise, I'll leave you struggling with your awful Spanish accent all by yourself."
Enrico, who had been listening to the conversation, laughed and added:
"Keep that spirit up, you two already look like tourists."
Leon and Claire nodded, exchanging a knowing glance.
Wesker immediately continued, turning to Brad.
"Brad, you will act as a patron for King Pharmaceuticals and propose the construction of several hospitals in the country. You'll be accompanied by Forest and Richard. Your goal is simple: gather information directly from politicians and high-ranking officials. Make sure to earn their trust."
Brad nodded slowly, already considering the diplomatic angles.
"Understood. We'll make sure our 'good intentions' open a few well-placed doors."
Forest, standing beside him, smirked slightly.
"So we'll be putting on our best suits and shaking hands, huh? Quite a change from handling weapons."
Richard, however, joked:
"You mean I have to smile at old men for hours instead of shooting things? Fantastic."
The general laughter slightly lightened the atmosphere, but Wesker quickly brought them back to order with a sharp look.
"You're not here to play high society diplomats. You're here to listen and learn. Stay sharp."
They immediately straightened up and responded in unison.
"Understood, Captain!"
Wesker continued, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Kenneth, Edward, and I will go directly to the U.S. consulate in Spain to search the official archives. We'll likely find traces of the Salazar family, whether in land records, historical documents, or judicial files."
Edward raised an eyebrow, a curious expression on his face.
"Are we really going to have access to those archives that easily?"
Wesker shrugged slightly.
"We have our methods."
Kenneth smirked.
"Translation: He has a plan he doesn't want to tell us about just yet."
Wesker didn't respond, but the small smirk that formed on his lips was confirmation enough.
Finally, Wesker turned his gaze to Ada, who was waiting patiently with her arms crossed.
"Ada, you'll investigate in your own way. I'm not going to tell you how to do your job—you're the best in this field. But be careful not to attract too much attention."
Ada raised an amused eyebrow.
"Oh, Captain, you almost make me think you're worried about me."
Wesker remained unmoved.
"I just want to avoid unnecessary problems."
She chuckled, her eyes gleaming with a mysterious light.
"As if I ever caused trouble."
Wesker finally turned to Kevin and Chris, adopting his usual cold and professional tone.
"Kevin, you'll replace Joseph as Gerald's bodyguard alongside Chris for the next week. You'll ensure his safety during his travels and keep an eye on him."
Chris smirked, crossing his arms.
"Oh great. So that means I have to put up with him all week?"
Kevin chuckled, giving Chris a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Could be worse. Other than making sure he doesn't get ambushed by a horde of overzealous journalists, the job seems pretty easy."
I flashed them an innocent smile.
"Come on, you both know you love spending time with me."
Claire, who had been watching the entire exchange with her arms crossed, seized the opportunity to tease Chris.
"Oh, wait a second… Does this mean Chris will have to cancel his date with a certain red-haired scientist?" she asked with a mischievous grin.
Kevin, sensing an opportunity to have some fun, immediately jumped in.
"Yeah, real shame. He was just starting to break the ice."
Chris's head snapped toward them, his cheeks turning slightly red.
"Shut up, both of you!" he grumbled, clearly caught off guard.
Their exchange instantly drew Sophie's attention. She tensed slightly at the mention of a "date," her eyes instinctively shifting toward Chris before she quickly looked down, trying in vain to hide the faint blush that crept onto her cheeks.
Claire noticed her discomfort and nudged her playfully with a knowing smile.
"Don't worry, Sophie. We'll make sure Mr. Muscles here doesn't forget about you after his little trip."
Sophie opened her mouth to reply but ended up simply looking away, too shy to say anything.
Chris ran a hand over his neck, visibly uncomfortable, then tried to regain his composure by changing the subject.
Wesker, ever the professional, sighed and clapped his hands to refocus everyone.
"Now that everything is clear—move out."
Everyone nodded immediately before dispersing, ready to carry out their mission.
Chris, still slightly red with embarrassment after Claire and Kevin's teasing, turned to me while Kevin and Sophie remained by our side.
"So… where are we going now, boss?" he asked, clearly hoping for a change of subject.
I gave him a smirk, savoring his discomfort.
"Nowhere. You have this week off to rest… or do something else." I paused, glancing at Sophie, who was listening attentively. "By the way, Sophie, if you'd like, you can join us in New York next week. It could be fun, and… you'll just need an evening dress."
The moment I finished speaking, Sophie turned violently red, quickly looking away. But before she could escape, she discreetly pinched Chris's side, making him jolt slightly.
Chris, not immediately understanding, shot her a surprised look.
"Hey! What was that for?" he exclaimed, watching as Sophie looked away with a falsely innocent expression.
Kevin, having understood everything in a fraction of a second, stifled a laugh and, in an act of pure survival instinct, vanished as quickly as a ninja—slipping away before Chris could decide to take out his frustration on someone more accessible.
Chris, still clueless about his misfortune, rubbed his side while muttering.
"Seriously, what was that about?"
But Sophie didn't answer; she just kept looking elsewhere, her cheeks still flushed.
I shrugged, trying to maintain a serious expression, though my grin betrayed my amusement.
"Well then… have fun." I said, making my way toward Aquila, who was patiently waiting.
With a single leap, I climbed onto his back before taking off, soaring back toward my office.
And just before disappearing into the sky, I heard Kevin, now safely out of reach, shouting from afar:
"Chris, you're screwed, man! That smells like a forced date!"
The laughter I had been holding in finally burst out, carried by the wind as I left my friend to deal with his new romantic complication.
(Author's note: And there you have it, a little briefing chapter ^^)