A solemn silence fell across the Dragonfly's passenger compartment as the aircraft lurched upwards and away from the bloodied villa and its hibernating occupants.
Even though the survivors managed to escape the so-called Safehouse with their lives, nobody was in the mood for joyous celebrations, as the price they had paid for their daring escape was high. Too high.
All ten brave men of Leon's military escort were dead - their first line of defense - cut down in minutes, yet it was their sacrifice that had bought enough time for the rest to escape.
The Hound Wolf Squad - the elite team of B.O.W. hunters - will never be the same, not without being cut in half by the emotionless masked troopers. Charlie 'Night Howl' Graham, Emily 'Tundra' Berkhoff and John 'Lobo' Perlman had all perished in the line of duty, fighting against this newest generation of bioweapons. The fallen operatives were loyal to the end to their captain and the cause itself, and it would be a heavy burden for the survivors of their squad to carry on the legacy. Harder yet for Chris himself, who will be the one to deliver the news of their tragic passing to their families - were he to survive the coming days himself, that is.
Even the Connection's defector - the man for whom the moldy gang gone for no short amount of trouble, was dead - the first victim of the bloodiest night of their journey. James Sallow, also known as Nightcrawler, was no saint - the man would've claimed as much himself. Yet even this selfish and greedy man took a step forward to expose the labyrinthine conspiracy unfolding before him, in the end - even if it took a little push for him to do so. And a beam of destructive energy to the chest was his reward for his final act of courage.
These were the fallen, but even the survivors would carry the scars of this day for as long as they still drew breath - some mental and some physical.
Alcina, Bela, Cassandra, Daniela, Ethan and Karl all took quite a beating during the chaotic night, yet their moldy bodies would regenerate most injuries sustained within days, leaving them primed and ready for the next fight. The mental trauma was a different kind of beast and it would not be denied its chance to gnaw on their minds in the years to come, yet they would surely be able to find solace in the arms of their loved ones. Bela and Ethan in particular, suffered greatly from the knowledge that they could've potentially stopped the infiltrator, if only they investigated her further.
Dion, Tom, Leon and Rose likely got out with the least amount of physical injuries, even if the ghosts of the dead would haunt them whenever they would close their eyes. Rose - being such a young girl, would be traumatized by the events of the violent night - that no child should ever be allowed to witness, much less take part in.
Jill, Rolando and Millie got hit the hardest by the powerful weaponry of their foes. The stalwart woman and life-long partner to Chris had lost her entire left arm by the elbow. Without the benefit of enhanced regeneration, that loss would stick to her for the rest of her life - even if she had several options available to her… Likewise, Rolando's leg - while still there - would never be able to support his own weight again, not without a drastic augmentation. As for Millie, the young woman has suffered from a brief but damaging brain hemorrhage - induced by a severe overuse of her own unnatural power. While her condition had stabilized, it was a big question mark if she would be able to regain consciousness at all… and whether she would remain the same person, even if she did.
As for the man piloting the Dragonfly now, Chris Redfield could only go on. Even as his body suffered a trio of penetrating gunshot injuries, he could only go on and trust that the lack of arterial/organ damage and a BU-injection would see him through the day. The true injury was a mental one - the crushing knowledge that he had failed to bring the people - who put their trust in him - back home, again. The strangling revelation about Anna being the infiltrator - and the fact that he was the one who had let her in. Everything was his fault. All the brave people dying; Jill's horrific, crippling injury; Cassandra's near-death experience; Rosie being likely traumatized for life - it was all his fault.
But Chris still kept going, if only for the fact that he was the only one who knew how to pilot the Dragonfly now that Charlie has passed away. If only to see justice befall upon the people who were behind it all. The captain's tension was easily visible, evoking a word of comfort from the man in the co-pilot's seat.
"It's alright, Chris… the worst is behind us… I've just transferred all the data we had to the Attorney General. Even without the defector's full testimony, we've got enough to bury these fuckers for good."
Chris just scoffed at Leon's naive assumption that some suits would be able to bring down the true heads behind this disaster. Just like always, the small fish would take the blame, while the real villains would walk scot free.
No… these snakes will bribe their way out of any death sentence… scurry away from any prison… There is only one kind of Justice that will keep them down for good. And I'll deliver it myself, if I have to. Damn the consequences.
"There's our jet."
"Right."
Directing the Dragonfly to land on a small strip of airfield next to two larger private jets, Chris felt unwelcome wetness trailing down his cheeks. Even a hardened man like him could only take so much before finally cracking. This will be his last rodeo as a commanding officer. He simply could not do it all again. Bond with brave, amazing men and women… only to lose them all.
Getting out of the Dragonfly hovercraft, Chris did not forget to pat the metal beast itself in a fond farewell. The vehicle had served them well over the years, allowing the Hound Wolf Squad to move around with swiftness and stealth, but it was simply not built for transoceanic flights. That's where Uncle Sam came in. While disillusioned with the U.S. Government himself - and for good reasons, Chris trusted Leon, and Leon trusted these people. They would get them to New York, and after that…
Well, after that, there will be blood.
Gripping his holster tightly, the captain swept his gaze across the shapes surrounding him on this dark airstrip. Many were lying on gurneys and stretchers - still in unconsciousness. The others were standing and staring back at him. There was pain, fear and uncertainty in their gazes. But there was also resolve and determination. The desire for vengeance… Chris could relate the most to that last sentiment.
Still, he had to give voice to this fateful question.
Moving away from the huddled group a couple of steps, with Leon walking by his side, Chris cleared his throat in a bid to address this gang of misfits that has already been through so much, while not missing the humongous shape of the Duke that climbed out from the second jet.
"Leon here assures me that our part is done. That the U.S. government will lead the international community in finding and punishing those who are guilty of so many crimes - the last but not least of which were the attacks on your families."
Ethan and Bela glared back at Chris; the intensity of their stares was quite telling of what they thought about someone else supposedly finishing this fight for them. Chris still continued, pretending to ignore their scalding glares.
"I am sure that our mutual associate Duke will happily provide safe havens for anyone who wishes to return to peaceful lives, right now."
The merchant only nodded, indicating his willingness to assist anyone present, in whatever way he could. Chris was still far from done, however.
"However, I, for one, will not rest on my laurels and let the others finish this fight, not after everything. As never before, I am determined to put my own life on the line to make sure that these people do not escape justice - not again. Whoever boards this plane with me, know that you will endanger not only yourself - but your loved ones."
"Cut the crap, Chris."
Shocking everyone, it was Ethan who interrupted the large captain. Folding his arms, the Dulvey survivor stepped forward before saying what everyone else was thinking.
"Endanger our loved ones? Really? It's a bit too fucking late for that, isn't it?"
Bela only nodded, before taking her place side by side with Ethan, while squeezing his palm and speaking, with that same fierceness the man himself showed.
"Indeed. How can we ever feel safe or secure until we make sure that these people will never be able to come after us again?"
"We must destroy these cocksuckers, before they destroy us. Simple as that." crudely offered Heisenberg, even as he glanced with undisguised dismay at the still form of Millie - who was lying on a medical cot.
Alcina scoffed, before taking a single step forward, while trying to hide her disfigured hand behind her back. "I can't believe I am in accord with that fool Heisenberg, but for once - he is right. If they could find us in Cuba… they could find us anywhere." The countess's gaze hardened, showing a century of bloodshed she had lived through, "And I believe I have a personal debt to pay…"
The others had added their consents as they murmured among each other.
Chris could not suppress a small smile from breaking through his blood-soaked grimace. Even if they could not bring down the Connections' entire Board of Directors in New York… they could put a bullet in between the eyes of their primary client - the U.N. Secretary General. Without their main benefactor and with the international community on their ass, even that formidable biomanufacturing organization would crumble eventually - just like Umbrella and Tricell did. That would not win the War on Bioterror, but it would give them the breathing room they so desperately needed.
Before they could depart, however, there was an issue of their wounded. Jill, Rolando and Millie simply could not continue the fight in their current shapes. As much as he knew Jill and Rolando would hate to be left behind, it would be for the best... With a particularly long sigh, Chris turned to address the Duke, while motioning at a trio of medical stretchers nearby.
"Can I trust you to take care of them?"
The Duke gave a heartfelt nod, while responding in a somber voice.
"You can, Mr. Redfield. Ms. Valentine, in particular, could benefit from meeting a colleague from Japan, I think."
Responding with a grim nod, the captain shook the merchant's hand, before approaching the trio of stretchers and kneeling next to the middle one.
Even with her body missing a hand, Jill's face appeared to be fully at peace as she experienced a dreamless, drug-induced slumber.
"You're gonna hate me for making you miss this fight, aren't you?" Chris knew his partner well, so her predictable lack of answer to his rhetorical question was not really needed. Clasping her remaining palm, Chris found himself more determined than ever to put an end to the Connections and their benefactors. Too long had he hunted down bioweapons in the middle of nowhere - the products. Now, he will hunt down those responsible for their creation in the first place - in their shiny glass skyscrapers and on their private islands. Now that he had their names - thanks to James Sallow - he will come after them himself and he will not be dissuaded by their lack of military training or expensive Armani suits. Kindness was not going to save this world, no matter how much Chris wished otherwise.
Some people just had to die.
"Get better, partner. I'll see you soon." Giving one more reassuring squeeze to Jill's palm, Chris stood up, only to repeat the procedure with Rolando, while listening in to Heisenberg's, Tom's and Duke's conversation, taking place next to Millie's stretcher.
"Never knew I even had a fucking daughter… you better make sure I won't lose her, you hear me?"
"Naturally, Lord Heisenberg… Millicent… Millie is akin to a daughter I never had, as well. I'll spare no expense to see her recover from this trauma…"
"Mills' tough. She will pull through."
Giving one last glance to their seriously-injured comrades, Chris stood up and approached Ethan next - the father was holding his sleeping daughter with tender care, even as he gazed at the full moon, which shined bright down on them on this cloudless night.
"Are you sure this is what you want, Ethan? At least consider leaving Rose with the Duke."
The father returned the captain a grim look, before responding in a sour tone.
"Mia was right after all - nowhere is safe, Chris. Not as long as these people walk the earth. We will not be separated again."
Bela was quick to pitch in, "We will keep her safe, Ethan. Together."
"Together." nodded the father, smiling at the blonde vampire with enough affection to truly surprise Chris. While a certain cynic in him wanted the captain to note that their romance was a silly thing and that it would never work out in the long-term, Chris was quite aware of how hypocritical that would sound. Instead of admonishing them for their peculiar relationship, Chris only smirked at the moldy lovebirds, before inquiring about the rest of the Dimitrescu siblings.
"Perhaps we should leave Cassandra and Daniela with the Duke, after all?"
Bela just glared at him with disbelief at that, before scoffing and responding, "Really, Chris? Do you want Cassandra to murder you? Coz, that's what's gonna happen if she wakes up and finds out she was left behind. And Daniela would eagerly help her."
"Pretty sure both of them would be up and running before we even cross the ocean." Added his own two cents Ethan, even though privately he wanted to keep Daniela out of harm's way. The ditzy girl was almost like a little sister to him, at this point...
The captain produced an exasperated sigh before motioning towards the U.S. jet.
"All aboard, then."
Letting out a large yawn, Ethan opened his weary eyes, only to find himself seated in the plane's comfortable seat.
Glancing to his right, the man was immediately confronted with cascading locks of blonde hair - radiant from the rising sun's glow on them that reached all the way through the plane's open illuminator. It took a moment further for the man's sleepy eyes to focus and discover the source of the blonde hair as the head that was resting on his own shoulder.
Bela…
Ethan was swift to achieve a sense of elevation upon realization that it was Bela Dimitrescu's head that was resting on his shoulder. Some would consider it a peculiar reaction, especially since this very woman had once driven a sickle through his calf, yet today Ethan wanted no one by his side as much as this dangerous, vampiric creature.
Bela appeared to be peacefully snoozing, with her body moving in accordance with her calm breathing. Ethan's own hand was wrapped around her shoulder, putting them in a comfortable, warm embrace. While the man found incredible solace in this simple act of their bodies being entangled like this and the desire to simply remain in this exact position burned strong in his soul, the call of nature was not something a mere mortal like himself could ignore…
Carefully disentangling himself from the cuddly embrace, Ethan made sure to not disturb Bela while he replaced her impromptu pillow with an actual one - that was helpfully lying nearby.
Standing up from his seat and maneuvering out of their row without waking up his blonde companion, Ethan proceeded to find a lavatory to do his business in, before making his way back to their seats. Feeling a certain spring in his step, the man decided to explore this jet for a bit before returning to his seat, but not before taking a moment to just gaze at Bela's face - only to be struck speechless by how beautiful she appeared in her sleep. Unmarred by creases of their daily worry and utterly relaxed in her hopefully peaceful dreamscape, Bela seemed almost inhuman in her ethereal beauty - but not a monster as her unnatural origins would imply, but an angel - sent to this sinful Earth to save his lost, wandering soul.
Giving the bug-woman he had come to love a genuine smile and placing a tender, featherlight kiss on her forehead, Ethan still couldn't miss the fact that the seat to the left of his own was empty.
"Rosie?" tried the father with a whisper, only to immediately receive a response from the next row.
"I am here, daddy."
Smiling at the sound of his daughter's lovely voice, Ethan took a couple of steps through the aisle to find himself staring at the peculiar sight that greeted him on that row of seats.
Rose was there, alright, as was Alcina and the phantasmic image of Eveline. Lacking the words to describe what was going on, exactly, Ethan took a moment to simply gape at the way his daughter clutched Alcina's disfigured hand with its nails elongated into wickedly sharp blades - still red from the blood they had spilled. Whatever Rosie was doing, both Alcina and Eveline appeared to observe it with tense expressions, while the latter was also providing some kind of instructions.
"Draw the mold back, Rosie. Order it to return where it belongs - into her arms and the empty veins waiting for it."
To Ethan's shock, Rose simply nodded, before closing her eyes - even as her tiny hands coiled around Alcina's wrist. A beat of tense silence followed, as his daughter continued the silent process, with visible exertion making itself plain on her tiny face. Before Ethan could tell her to cease whatever it was she was doing, Alcina's nail-blades slowly but surely started to retract, with the countess herself hissing in pain from the obviously painful process.
"Sorry…" mumbled out Rose, as she opened her eyes and gazed at the countess' agonized visage, only for the older woman to lightly shake her head and grace the girl with a warm… almost parental smile.
"You have nothing to apologize for, precious Rose. You've done something my feeble body was incapable of doing on its own… Thank you, child."
Carefully inspecting her now normal-looking limb, Alcina addressed the father next.
"Your child is a true miracle, Mr. Winters…"
"That she is…" was the only amazement-filled response Ethan could come up with, after seeing Rosemary's display of powers for the first time.
"This is nothing. You should've seen what we did for Dani, daddy." offered Eveline, without turning her gaze from Rosie.
"So sleepy…" mumbled out Rosie herself, before letting out a cute yawn and comfortably cuddling on Alcina's lap; the older woman taking the cue to start caressing the girl's back with tender hands.
"Her body is still unused to manipulating the mold - she gets tired fast…" offered Eveline, before finally turning to gaze at Ethan and noting, "Oh, you should probably tell Captain Hardass that Anna herself is innocent, before he decides to toss her out."
Anna… At the mention of the name of the traitor who had led the Replica right into their safehouse, Ethan felt his hands tighten into fists. While he did not like to consider himself a particularly violent or unreasonable man, he felt nothing but the desire to pummel those who tried to hurt his family and friends into the ground upon hearing the bitch's name. Not that he was any better himself… Eveline knew right from the start that something was off with that Russian girl… yet Ethan did nothing - allowing this tragedy to play out in the first place.
Still, now Eveline claimed that their prisoner was innocent? How did that make any sense? At his questioning gaze, Eveline just shrugged her ghostly shoulders, before providing a vague response, "It's hard to explain, daddy. She was not in control of her actions - someone else was… a very, very bad man. He is gone now, though."
That definitely merited further investigation, as Ethan would hate to see Anna subject to whatever enhanced interrogation techniques that awaited her in New York, if she truly was just a victim of circumstances. Before he could head off, however, Alcina addressed the lone father, with a particularly solemn tone.
"When my dearest Bela helped you escape our castle, Mr. Winters, I wanted to rip and tear. I wanted to punish my dearest daughter for taking your side - an outsider's - over her own family. It took me far too long to realize that everything she did - she did for her family. Just like you did, Mr. Winters… Ethan…"
Giving the countess an even glance, Ethan couldn't help but note that he felt completely at ease at the fact that she was now cuddling his daughter. Despite all their differences, in some ways, they all were remarkably similar…
"Forgive me for presuming, but if that's the case - I think that we are all quite alike, Lady Dimitrescu."
Alcina's lips curled into a calm smile, at that, before she whispered out, "Perhaps we are…"
Seeing the countess turning her head away from him, even as she tenderly ruffled Rose's hair, Ethan felt a strange satisfaction. It felt good to find common ground with your former enemies… to have them turned into stalwart allies… friends, even… family, perhaps?
With a particular spring to his step, the father headed towards the tail of the plane, with Eveline jogging along. On their way, the man did not forget to properly thank the intangible ghost that had saved their collective asses - more than once.
"Thank you, Evie, for everything you did back there."
"Thank me for what, precisely?" The girl grinned wide at her adopted father, as her playful voice implied her desire for further praise. Knowing well that she more than deserved it, Ethan happily played along and listed her impressive achievements during that calamitous night, while theatrically bending his fingers, one by one.
"Well, let's see, honey."
The girl visibly flushed at the endearing term of address, but listened to Ethan with apt attention.
"You've helped me see these invisible freaks… that's one." Extending his index finger, Ethan continued, unsure - basing his next guess on Eveline's own words, "You girls helped Daniela?"
Eveline nodded happily, but was swift to amend, "Dani was wounded badly… mortally even. But Rose healed her - I just helped to direct her powers."
Incredulous, Ethan just nodded along. To think that his three-year old daughter just saved a life… Daniela's life! The ditzy redheaded vampire was a precious person to many aboard this plane - her survival meant the world to both her family, and to Ethan himself. The man had to override the feeling that this childish gesture would somehow devalue this miraculous salvation, but he still extended his second finger, keeping up the count.
"I don't even know what to say, Evie… and that's before you helped stop Anna?"
"Uh-huh. The baddie didn't even notice me infecting Anna, so when he tried to make his final move, boy was he surprised when I paralyzed her body! Hah! What a loser!"
Ethan could clearly see the fright in the girl's eyes - with her bravado serving as nothing but a mask to conceal the fear she felt when recalling whoever was controlling Anna. Still, the father was amazed at the fact that Eveline had helped them so much in that bloodsoaked night.
"Jesus, Evie… I am so sorry for doubting you in the first place... if only we apprehended Anna…"
"Nah, it's alright, daddy, it made sense then… I had nothing but a bad feeling about that gal-slash-guy, and it would've been silly to go all nuts on her just based on that…"
Extending his sole ring finger, Ethan stopped and turned away to gaze at the teenage ghost. Opening his arms in a bid to invite her for a hug, the man waited for her to respond, as he knew that she was the one who had to initiate physical contact, due to her unique… condition.
"Come here, honey… you've been through so much tonight… more than any of us, probably…"
Eveline smiled softly up at her adopted father, before eagerly jumping into his warm embrace. Much like a ghost, the contact with her felt eerily chilly, yet Ethan coiled his arms around the suddenly tangible girl with gusto, before lifting her up and spinning around with carefree mirth - much like a father would, with his own beloved daughter. In turn, Eveline shrieked in unbridled joy at the unexpected but welcome gesture, so Ethan continued to spin, while letting out genuinely happy laughter. They were all supposed to die in that villa, but against all odds - they made it out.
"The hell are you doing..?"
Cassandra's disbelieving voice brought them down back to earth, however. Stopping his silly spinning and taking a moment to recover from the onset of vertigo, Ethan glanced to the left of the aisle to witness the fiery middle daughter of Dimitrescu.
The brunette was gazing back at him with her mouth pulled under her nose and right eye narrowed, with the left one open wide. It was a pretty comical grimace, all in all, and suddenly Ethan found himself bursting into loud laughter - only unnerving Cassandra further.
"...are you high, or something?"
Wiping the excess mirth from his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt, Ethan placed his hands in calming motion, before giving Cassandra another glance. The rough woman had clearly seen better days, with both of her arms covered in bandages, but otherwise she appeared to be fine. Seeing the man calm down from his onset of unexplainable mirth, the brunette just shrugged her shoulders - before wincing in pain from the gesture - and lit up a cigarette.
"Hey, no smoking on the plane!" Ethan immediately attempted to protest the motion, with the vicious woman puffing a smoke ring at him in response, before offering a single phrase.
"Bite me."
Feeling mischievous under her playful amber orbs, Ethan was quick with his own wit.
"I would be happy to, but I think both Bela and Chris would attempt to kill me, if I did that."
Now it was Cassandra's turn to crane her head backwards as she let out a booming laughter, before calming down and showing the man two rows of her pearly white teeth. Ethan was somehow no longer unnerved by the display of her natural weaponry - something he knew took more than a single life.
"You're welcome, by the way. Was a good shot, am I right?"
Upon hearing Cassandra's boastful question, Ethan instantly recalled the assassin that had been imperiling him and that she had vaporized with that energy weapon; Ethan did not hesitate in responding.
"It was a great shot, Cass. I owe you one."
Surprising the father, instead of boasting further about him owing her a favor, the vicious sibling merely shook her head, before taking a deep drag of her cigarette. Letting the smoke out, the brunette mumbled out a sentence that was more than a little shocking for the father to hear.
"You don't owe me shit, Ethan. I am fully aware that I come across as a massive bitch most of the time, but I just want you to know that I appreciate everything you have done for my family… especially after everything I..." Cassandra suddenly grew quiet, as if chewing on the rest of the unsaid sentence. Clearly, these were not the kind of things that were often heard leaving her mouth.
"Cass…", tried Ethan, even though he just had no further words himself - he had never expected this tough-as-nails and crass woman to convey her gratitude to him that openly, but she was clearly not done.
"I am not finished." Giving her cigarette another puff, Cassandra visibly struggled with her next words, almost as if they brought her physical discomfort.
"I want… I am sor… I want to apologize for what I put you through, back then…" The brief but unforgettable torture session from two years ago was quick to flash across Ethan's mind at her words. There had been nothing but sadism in her amber orbs as she mutilated his shoulder with her dagger or when her sharp teeth violated his hand, back then.
Yet now, Ethan could see plainly the genuine remorse and gratitude that sparked in her eyes. Even this fiercest of Dimitrescu had capacity for these most human of emotions behind her veneer of brutality and scorn, it appeared. And while he could not truly forget the suffering she had put him through, Ethan was ready to move past it.
"No hard feelings, Cass. It's all in the past."
Offering his hand for a shake, Ethan was still surprised when the vicious brunette eagerly stifled her cigarette against her own denim shorts, before flinging it away and accepting his hand with her unbandaged left palm.
Exchanging this gesture of forgiveness, Ethan didn't miss Cassandra's lips morphing into a warm smile - with no hint of malice or cruelty in it, for once. The man smiled back - returning the affection in kind.
If someone had told him that he would be exchanging heartfelt smiles with Cassandra Dimitrescu a month ago, he would've undoubtedly called such a person batshit crazy… yet here he was, doing just that.
Funny how fickle the future can be…
Eveline herself just watched the unfolding scene with sparks in her eyes. Witnessing this unique moment of forgiveness was especially valuable for this ghostly girl, who could still not let go of her own haunting and blood-soaked past. The lives she had taken were a heavy burden upon her soul and she wanted to do nothing more but to return to the past to fix the horrific mistakes she committed in Louisiana - if only that was possible. While she could do nothing for the Bakers or her other victim, beholding this heartwarming scene made her more resolute than ever to do her best to ensure that no other young girl or boy would follow in her bloodied footsteps. The Connections had to be dismantled… and she had just the plan to do exactly that… thanks to Paxton Fettel. For once in her unnatural existence, Eveline was determined to spare the world from suffering, instead of adding to it.
Unaware of Eveline's thought processes, Ethan proceeded towards the plane's tail, leaving Cassandra with another of her cigarettes. There - at the last, spacious row - was quite a gathering. Leon, Chris, Dion, Tom, Karl and Daniela were all seated or standing around the bound and gagged form of Anna. While Heisenberg was apparently engaged in a heated exchange with Redfield and Kennedy, the other trio stood aside and enjoyed a much calmer discussion. Ethan didn't miss a peculiar scene of Tom and Dion exchanging competitive glances among themselves with apparently oblivious Daniela in between. If the ditzy redheaded Dimitrescu was aware of the looks of affection the two men were shooting at her, she made a splendid job of masking it by making casual conversation and easy jokes.
"... and then, Cassandra walked right in and a whole bucket of pig's blood got dumped on her! That was so fun! You should've seen her face! She was soooooo mad! She chased me around the castle for hours!"
To Ethan, that sounded like a pretty damn mean prank to play on somebody - even if that somebody was Cassandra - and apparently neither Tom or Dion were much in the mood for jokes at the moment, as the harrowing events of the night were still fresh in their memories, yet they still let out an awkward chuckle at Daniela's story. The Dimitrescu girl, seeing their subdued reaction, let out an awkward giggle of her own, followed by a heavy sigh, which was then succeeded by tense silence. Clearly, in her typical fashion, the joyous sibling attempted to lighten the loaded mood with humor, even if she herself was tormented by the horrendous events of this bloodsoaked night.
Upon seeing Ethan, however, the redhead bolted like a loaded spring in her unadulterated desire to engulf the father in a bone-crushing hug.
"Whoa, easy there, Red!", mumbled the shocked man, even as he returned the affection to the emotive woman. For a couple of seconds, they just stood there in the aisle, with Ethan drawing gentle circles on Daniela's back.
"I am so glad that you're alright, Ethan!"
"Likewise, Red."
The emotive encounter turned brief, as Ethan was quite aware of all the attention he was receiving. Giving the girl's back one more hearty pat, Ethan broke the embrace before addressing the company at large.
"You're having a war council here or something?"
"Something like that, Ethan. We have an opportunity here - to crush both the Connection's benefactors and facilities in one fell swoop." offered Chris, before motioning at several stacks of documents and electronic maps lying all over the seats. Leon was quick to add his own two cents upon seeing Ethan's eyes slightly widening from all the available information.
"Thanks to our late friend James Sallow, we know exactly where every major Connections' existing facility is… but the problem is, we also know their standing protocols…"
"Meaning?" inquired Ethan, with Chris responding, while pointing at large blue dots on a global map, that each likely indicated a major facility.
"We attack any one of these with a lightning-raid, and the rest will be promptly evacuated - with the personnel and material going to the ground. Else, we start amassing forces next to them in preparation for a coordinated assault, and the moles the Connections have everywhere will achieve a similar result in their favor. It's gonna be a tricky thing to eliminate them once and for all, even with all the resources and information at our disposal… so we are considering our next move carefully."
Before Ethan could note that all this strategic planning was a bit out of his depth, Eveline dramatically cleared her throat, attracting his attention. Glancing at the ghostly girl, the father was surprised to see a particularly mischievous look in her green eyes.
"It's your lucky day, daddy! I have just the plan for this!"
Author's Note:
I apologize for the long delay, I admit my writing has been all over the place, lately.
Firstly, I've finally finished 'Haunted by the Past' miniseries, and if you're curious to know how Alcina came to be the first of Four Lords under Miranda, the first chapter will narrate just that! :)
Secondly, in another AU that takes place six months before RE8, I wrote the first part of 'Obsession' and it follows Cassandra Dimitrescu as she makes her way across the still-populated village and her castle. This will be an eventual Chris/Cass, but it will also put a lot of focus on Cassandra's interactions with her family, their staff and even the villagers.
Finally, in yet another AU, I've decided to revisit the original concept for this story, with one difference. What if not Bela but Daniela helped our moldy boy during his escapade into their castle? This story will be remarkably more fast-burn (but still hopefully not character-breaking) in terms of budding romance, compared to my other stories. I've called it 'Hello Neighbor!'
Ultimately, despite all that, I am still determined to finish this story in a timely manner, however! If you have any feedback for any of my stories, never hesitate to leave a comment! I'd love to hear any suggestions, thoughts or critique you might have! :) Have a great week!