Chris Redfield barely flinched as the next strike went straight to his solar plexus. He had slung his rifle over his shoulder to demonstrate that he meant no harm. He had taken the slap to his face in stride, and was slugging off the punch. He's been through worse; he could take it. When the next punch came, he simply held out his own hand, palm extended, and caught the swinging fist before locking it with his fingers.

The teary-eyed, red-faced girl huffed and snarled, but she did not wind up for another punch with her remaining arm, and simply pushed against the one who had fired the bullets...the rounds that had not just felled Nemesis, but taken the life of the boy who was lying on his back.

Hisashi...Takashi thought.

As the other survivors watched in stunned silence, Takashi stepped forth behind Rei. Not knowing what else to do, he put a hand on each of the girl's shoulders. For a minute everything seemed still. Then, Chris released the fist. Rei shook herself out from under Takashi's touch and marched back to Hisashi. And then Saya, Saeko, Shizuka, and Hirano began to tentatively walk forward, both to join the impromptu vigil and to avoid the interloper.

Now that they were somewhat alone, Takashi and Chris faced each other. Despite everything, the latter could not help but feel the tang of pride in his heart. His boy seemed to overshadow him, he a grown man of six feet. Takashi seemed to have put on more weight in muscle, with the ridges of his body showing through his black school uniform. Chris's brow furrowed suddenly as he saw Takashi shake his head.

"Of course." The boy said finally. "Of course you're only around when things really go to hell. And when you do show up..." He jerked a thumb backward. "That happens."

Chris shook his head. "I know it won't mean much, but I am sorry. And I am here for you now." Takashi shuffled his feet a little, huffed. Then he swung with a punch of his own.

Chris had to admit, the boy's form was good. He turned his hips expertly, and barely a split-second after he took the first half-step forward to launch the attack. His arm jabbed forward, the elbow easing to send the forearm going out in a snapping motion. And of course, the thumb was outside the fist, not in.

But it was still nothing his years of expertise had not shown him.

A single sidestep, a deflection, and a punch of Chris' own to the stomach was enough to stop his son's half-hearted attack. Takashi staggered back, let out a wheeze, and did his best to recover.

"As it is," Chris continued. "I've got a signal. I can get us a helicopter and take us to a safer place." He pivoted. "Mina-san!" He knew his attempts to speak Japanese would sound as if he were gargling marbles, but he had to press forward.

"I have a helicopter! We can all go!"

Rei, who had been squatting beside Hisashi and mustered the strength to close his eyelids, looked up to glare. Saya waved a finger.

"Are you kidding!? You just shot one of us, you maniac! How can we trust you!?"

Chris stood silently. The girl beside the shouting one held the bokken in her hands a little more tightly. The older woman hesitated. The other boy in group fidgeted with his glasse and swept his shoulder-length hair out of his face.

At length Chris nodded. Slowly and carefully, he pulled the rifle off his back, holding the barrel upwards with one hand and making it very clear his other would not go for the trigger. He disengaged the magazine and plucked the remaining rounds from the underbarrel shotgun. He walked slowly, one step at a time, keeping his arms extended and to the side.

"If it pleases you any, one of you can take these."

The boy with the glasses hesitated, then stepped forward. He went from arm to arm, taking hold of the rifle and sticking the ammunition into his jacket pocket. He gulped. And to think...military otaku he was, he would have been so pumped if he could have gotten his hands on actual weapons a week before.

He stood as straight as he could. "I, Kohta Hirano, will take charge of your possessions from now on."


Souichiro Takagi delicately held the oiled paper between his fingers as he took a last inspection at the freshly powdered blade of his sword. With a clean sweep from the hilt to the tip, the weapon was pristine once more. He gave one of his few tight grins. He had never had to use it for anything more than display, but he had never doubted that it would not fail him in a serious fight. Dozens of severed monster heads attested to that, and he was grateful for the craftsmanship of the weapon.

He was also grateful to that he had some time to plan alone in his study. His wife and the staff were doing all they could do to keep the survivors in the compound calm and ready to follow what orders would have to be issued. That everyone was scared beyond belief could not be helped, but what was fear, really, but something that had to be constantly overcome?

And he was especially grateful that his daughter would be coming home safely. The transmission had come through clear as crystal. The nationalist chuckled. Who could have predicted that, decades after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he would owe a debt of gratitude to Americans, of all people?

Gripping the mouth of his scabbard, Souichiro angled the tip of his sword and sheathed the weapon with one smooth motion. He had to prepare for the meeting with Ichiro Shido, another honored guest.


The aircraft had a big enough storage area, but Takashi sat cross-leggged. in the cockpit behind the pilot's seat. He did not feel like seeing anyone. The pilot had left him alone and was staying on course. But of course, things did not go his way, again.

The door swung open. Takashi did not move or say anything as Chris walked through and let the entrance slide close again. The older man took a few steps and took a knee in front of the boy.

Takashi shook his head, cursing under his breath. He fiddled his fingers. And then he gave in.

Chris held his arms out a split-second before his son wrapped his own around his frame. He began to pat Takashi on the back.

"It's good to see you again, boy."

Next up; the helicopter ride runs into a problem...