Redfield sat down on the ledge of his desk opposite David; he slumped back and listened to a more neutral opinion. "What's on your mind, son?"

"He's an imposter. House is Master Romanov in disguise!"

"That's a pretty big accusation, but Romanov's been dead for quite a long time."

"I wouldn't say so if I was unsure."

Redfield shook his head. "Simply can't be true."

"The man in the penthouse is a fake; he told me himself."

"You were the one in the Lucky 38? You've met-"

Redfield silenced Moore with a wave of his hand. "Like me, he must've changed his name after the War." He chuckled. "This is perfect! We can kill two birds with one stone and be rid of that bastard once and for all!"

"General, are you alright?"

Redfield spontaneously threw everything off his desk, scaring David and Moore. Papers, files and even his terminal were all heaved off his desk without care. "No, I'm not alright! That fat, old commie bastard was one of the fuckheads that caused the bloody War in the first place!" Then, finally, his tone and voice calmed. "He... took so much from me, and now I have a chance to make him pay for it!"

Never seen him so angry before, David thought.

"David, you're coming with me; we're gonna put this bastard down."

"Isn't Vegas on the other side of the Mojave?"

"We can take my vertibird; we can be there and back within ten minutes."

"Let me get my friends."

"Where are they?"

"I asked them to wait in the visitor centre, Redfield."

"So that was Miss Cassidy and Mr Boone I saw when I came in?"

"You know them?"

"Their names pop up around N.C.R. communities; they're handy citizens." Redfield turned to Moore and placed his hand softly on her shoulder. "Would you kindly get someone to clean my office, please?"

"Will do," she said almost with a scared tone. Redfield noticed she felt uncomfortable under his hand; he may have scared her slightly.

"Please forgive my sudden outburst, Moore; the situation with House just became a little... more personal. I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

"It's quite alright."

Redfield nodded. "Please inform Mr Boone and Miss Cassidy that David and I are on a personal mission and will be back momentarily."

"No problem, Redfield. And don't worry about the outburst; I've seen you at your worst times."

"Thanks, you're a diamond." Redfield let go of Moore and walked toward the door. "We got a tyrant to kill. I'll see to it that Mr House dies within the hour. David, come."

"Right behind ya, dad." David walked after Redfield and followed him closely.

Redfield led David to the helipad at the very top of the Visitor Centre, parked dead in the middle of the yellow H, a large fixed-wing copter of sorts. It was a vertibird. The dual rotor blades were nearly similar to a pre-war military chinook, only rotated to the sides and were a beautiful, flawless orange colour with the N.C.R. flag jutting from the rotors.

It wasn't built for an offensive role; it looked sleek and mobile, not unlike the VB-02. Now it's limited to being a personnel carrier. As a young man, Redfield was a skilled pilot who personally learned from his uncle Chris Redfield, who had unparalleled experience from his days in the air force.

Inside was not cosy, quite cramped, and still enough room for a small squad. General Redfield operated the controls, with David acting as copilot; he was still technically learning. David watched and learned at first, though he could still enjoy the music.

Once they peaked at five hundred feet, Vegas was just a minute's trip of soaring through the air like a child's imagination. David had the opportunity to turn down the music and properly talk father to son; it was a metal band from '04. It's rather exciting to have music on a holotape nowadays, even if it was from hundreds of years ago.

"No surprise you've dabbled in holotape technology to replicate a music album from 2004."

Redfield shrugged. "You didn't think all music was all that 60's crap, did you? Rock and metal was life! Couldn't live in a world without music."

"I arrived in the Mojave over a week ago..." David grumbled. "Since then, I hate the world already."

"You pick up very fast, son; I'm so proud of you for making it this long. It's tough to adjust to this… harsh world we live in now." Redfield sighed. "Wasn't any easier for me, once upon a time."

"If you've been here all this time, why haven't things played out differently? Humanity shouldn't have to survive like this."

"There's something you must know about me, son. I haven't been entirely honest about my affairs back in the day, and if I don't tell you about them now, I may never get the chance to."

"What do you mean back in the day? Like, when I was growing up?"

Zaac nodded. "Haven't you found it weird that I was always healthy, no matter how much I got hurt or... fatally wounded? Superior genes don't do all the work to keep me going; it's something supernatural."

David shrugged. "More than once, what of it?"

"When I died on Rockfort Island, something came for me. I thought I was going insane from the tremendous stress leading up to December that year. There was the mansion, dying back home, and even when it was over, I was imprisoned by the military..." Redfield sighed. "The sweet suffering never stopped; I wasn't sure what was real or not... everything leading up to that second demise was absolute torture…"

"You saw something? Like how people see a bright light before they die?"

"Everything was just cold the first time, but it was something like that the second time around. I didn't get any bright lights taking me to the other side; instead, I had the honour of having someone revealing themselves and speaking to me while my body was dead. Jesus Christ…"

"Wait… You mean the… son of God? Like… the Messiah?"

"It sounds weird, and it does… always will no matter how I spin it. This 'Jebediah Christoff' spoke to me in ways I couldn't possibly imagine; he made my pain go away and cleared my head of distractions... He gave me a choice, a purpose. To take my chances with judgement or be reborn again as his apprentice; literal death or rebirth. I didn't want to leave the world so early at the time, so I chose to be resurrected, to come back to save your mother. I had so much left to give..."

David couldn't believe what he was hearing; his mouth refused to close from the weird things he heard. From his father of all people, someone he trusted unconditionally. "Demigod? This sounds like a massive crock-"

"I swear on my mother, David."

"But… you? Of all the people in the world?!"

"What can I say… I was a devout Christian, baptised once in water and again in blood. I ate my vegetables. Respected my elders. Did my homework-"

"Hilarious…"

"You get what I mean; I was a generous man with a good soul. Why not me? I was a devout follower of peace and honour. When I made my decision, I understood the risks and accepted the consequences. Sure, I was only a secondary candidate, but the timing was crucial for each of us... If I declined the offer, I would be dead, and so would your mother and uncle."

"But wait, so… Jesus made you a… Demigod? Like the ones with superpowers and shit?"

"That's one way of putting it, but not anymore. Sarkis used his powers when he was on the job. Battling demons, Gods, and searching for artefacts, mostly. Only under extreme situations, I've tapped into some of that power myself."

"For real? What was it like?"

"Felt… real good. Having the tiniest amount of power in my hands felt intoxicating."

David nodded. "Bet it did. So… the times you weren't a police chief, you were out doing shit like that?"

"Sarkis was, not me. Sounds fun when you say it like that, but it really wasn't. Bloody unpaid part-time labour if anything else."

"Sure, sure, flying through the air casting spells and shit. How can't that be fun for you?"

"The experiences felt like a dream to me, only with consequences. The unpaid work was hardly worth the life-threatening situations we put up with-"

"You're exaggerating..."

Redfield sighed. "I'm telling you this in confidence, David..."

David shrank his head. "Sorry."

"The pay wasn't the best, but the stories were. Now this burden is lifted; I can tell you some."

"I'd like that, dad, just when we have more time."

"Maybe over a roaring fire, maybe."

David smacked his lips, trying to contribute to the gripping conversation further. "You were away quite a lot; I could never pin you down. When I'd ask mom, she'd say you were out on a job. I had no idea what your job was sometimes."

"Ehhh… I drift in and out."

"How did it… work?"

"Sorry?"

"Like, how does all this jargon typically start?"

"Well, a person with the aptitude to use magic has a true name, the literal source of their potential. Ideally, no person should ever discover this source of magic, but I did after I died in 1998. So to protect myself, I used the taken name Zachariah; that's why I changed from my given name Zachary."

David exclaimed as if it was an answer to a question on the tip of his tongue. "Was wondering why that happened." He tilted his head. "Do I have a true name?"

Redfield lowered his head. "Can't say. The book that documented every true name has long since been lost; I couldn't find it, and it should stay hidden."

David flickered his eyes. "Bruh moment."

"Even if using magic felt completely natural, I wouldn't want it to spread; not everyone deserves to use it. Too much responsibility when there was already too much."

"Still, if it happened to you, the same could easily happen to me."

"It's possible."

"I'll believe it then."

Redfield sighed. "It's not a life I would suggest. The part of me that was the all-powerful Sarkis was just a different personality; I had lived a double life ever since I died. It's rude. Selfish. Ungrateful."

"Wow... just like Batman to Bruce Wayne."

Redfield chuckled. "That's… kinda how it worked; I just changed and rolled out without any notice. I bloody hated it, though; I felt like a side character in my own life."

"What was… the reason behind it all? The… Demigod business?"

"Sarkis' entire purpose was to preserve our planet and protect humanity. Jesus Christ trusted him completely, as he did in return… as his master."

"You were to succeed him?"

"What?! No! Never! Sarkis was only to earn his place at Jesus' side. As his friend or trusted..."

"Lapdog?"

"Perhaps… He was never to take his place. Sarkis was to learn from him until he was ready to be his own God. To help shape the building blocks of the universe."

"To create things like life or planets?"

"Big things like that."

David brushed his hair. "It's no surprise you know the meaning of life; it seems so trivial now. How long would that take? To earn the power to shape things in the universe?"

"No idea. After I naturally die of old age, Sarkis would live on in my image, slowly forgetting I ever existed."

David went to say something, but he just shook his head. To think someone masquerading in his father's body for thousands of years while slowly forgetting him, his family and the man he used to be… It felt just… wrong.

David sighed. "Just to be forgotten… that's… quite the price to pay…"

"I get buyer's remorse sometimes, but that's my life, and I have no one to blame but myself…" Redfield looked at his closed hand. He sighed. "Lots of people make sacrifices chasing the things they want most… To protect your mother and her brother was the only thing on my mind at the time. I only chose this path to cheat death and come back to life; only then I could save your mother."

David found more to say and said, "Been that way since 1998, right? When you died?"

"Correct. As I said, I'm telling you this in confidence, David; this doesn't change the fact that I'm still your father."

"Well, I'm glad you could still make time for me, even when you were out doing... weird shit half the time."

Redfield hid his shame once he looked away, knowing that his reflection took his place many times as a father. If David knew the truth, he would learn to despise his father, to which Redfield wouldn't blame him. But unfortunately, there were some lies he could never reveal, even to family, and that guilt would haunt him forever. "Let's be glad that there are no secrets between us, and we're together..."

"I would love to hear more about what I missed, but... wow, I... I just need to sit down for a while... like... a couple of years..."

"You are sat down, son."

"Not. Helping. I'm here... a grown man hearing that his father was... a Demigod, like... It's gonna take a whole for it all to just... sink in."

"So... no more stories?"

"Not now... I'm just... emotionally drained; my head's just... light."

"If you ever get bored and feel like brushing up on some personal history, I have an archive you can read; it documented everything ever since the Nexus Incident. You missed quite a lot, son; we're talking historical shit."

"That would be tight; I'll skim through them when I can... Ugh!" David held his head painfully. "Ah, fuck!"

"You okay, son?"

"A damn migraine! Feeling like shit since yesterday."

"You shouldn't be getting migraines. Feel free to take a stimpak from the locker back there; I'll check on you later if you want. 'Kay?"

"Yeah, sure, thanks, dad." David walked to a locker at the back and used one of the stimpaks. The sudden rush got rid of a migraine almost instantly, felt like he downed four cans of Red Bull and was ready to rock 'n' roll. Mawkish rush and an immediate hit of ecstasy. Felt terrible at first; David probably shouldn't have taken it all in one go. "Damn, that felt like... a good cleansing..." He sat back down in the cockpit.

"Stimpaks are made from natural sources; your body isn't used to them yet."

"Cool. Are we at the Strip yet?"

"Yes, we're at the north gate. So how should we handle this? I'm open to a second opinion."

Storm the casino or wing it? "Bit too open for a firefight; we should talk our way inside."

Redfield nodded. "Good answer; too much negative attention isn't good for our reputation." Redfield flicked a few switches and pulled a lever back.

The vertibird descended in front of the north gate with grace and agility. The sudden landing aroused many of Freeside's residents. They stared, pointed and spoke quietly amongst themselves, hoping to witness the fabled General Redfield in the flesh as soon as he would leave the decorated aircraft.

Before leaving the vertibird Redfield went to a nearby steel locker for some custom ordinance. Inside the locker, Redfield took out a long-barrelled automatic rifle from the rack, .308 calibre and was of the World War II era, plus a block of C-4 explosive. The bomb fit snugly in one of his satchels on his waist.

"That's a bit old, dad. Not using Red Hare or Sally anymore?"

"I still use 'em." Redfield turned his back and showed a double-sided longsword sheathed over his back. As flawless and sharp as ever, Sally still gleamed in the light. "I downgraded Red Hare to use .45-70 Gov't since .475 magnum is a pain in the ass to make from scratch."

"Fairs."

Redfield loaded his automatic rifle and felt it with joy; it was almost childish. "Some vintage weapons made a comeback after the bombs fell, and .308 is pretty generous. Now, are you ready for this, son?"

"Lead the way, dad."

Redfield made eye contact with everyone along the way to 38, the Securitrons and the gamblers, eyeing up all the defences and outcomes of his choices. It was odd for Mr House to welcome General Redfield and David without a single word; there was no speculation about why the Securitrons were so easy to let them walk through.

To the very top floor, the elevator played uncomfortable music for the occasion, smooth jazz. Wasn't as bad as country, but it was still awkward. It soothed the eardrums with a false sense of a calm feeling like everything was going to be okay. Only it wasn't.

"Could go for some more music right about now."

David quickly glanced at Redfield and looked back away. "You listen to System of a Down too much."

Redfield scoffed. "Everyone's a critic."

"Shame this asshole's taste in music is almost worse than his crimes." Redfield places a C-4 on the ceiling of the elevator and primes it. The little red light was pulsing silently.

"What are you doing?"

"Plan B."

"Okay. What's plan B?"

"A surprise tool for any... distractions." Redfield unslung his BAR. "I'll be going in guns blazing; I hope you don't have a problem with that."

"Wouldn't have it any other way," said David, agreeing with the move.

"Stay behind me, son; I'd rather you not get hurt."

When the elevator's doors opened, Redfield sped out and began his fire immediately, catching the first two Securitrons upstairs off guard. Even when the Securitrons by House armed their Gatling lasers and gunned Redfield down, his armour absorbed the damage and walked it off instantly. Laser and plasma weapons had zero penetration, apparently best against light armour. Redfield wasn't fleshy nor lightly armoured; he soaked the energy damage and gunned them down.

House watched Redfield and David trot down the stairs because that's all he could do; they secured the floor and stood by House's monitor screen. "General Redfield, what is the meaning of this?! I kindly invite you in, and this is the gesture I get?" he roared, just enough to vent his anger.

"I think you knew this was coming," Redfield said like he didn't even care. He slung the BAR over his shoulder. "And please don't bother calling for backup; I rigged the elevator. No one comes or goes without my say-so."

"I know; I have cameras everywhere on the Strip. Would you kindly explain why this man is here?"

"A member of our secret service. You like?"

"I should have known. Betrayed. Again..."

"Now, let's cut to the chase. For a start, you can give up the act, Romanov; I know it's you."

House changed his screen to his natural Russian face and accent. "Very clever, General Redfield. Or would you prefer Zachariah? Or how about Sarkis, Demigod of Tranquillity... oh wait… ex-Demigod. I had my suspicions about you, but you knowing my identity really sealed the deal."

"Something tells me you were never that much good at hide 'n' seek..."

"Is that your spin on humour, Zachariah? The N.C.R. Council will not tolerate this breach in our contract, Demigod or not."

He knows... David thought to himself.

Redfield ignored David. "Get stuffed! Our Intel suggests you were spying on our forces and the Legion's. Explain how that little trick works."

"Damned robots! They do everything half-assed! This is the exact reason I needed a human protégé and not these God-damned machines. Robots have unforeseen technical difficulties; people are much easier to command."

David gulped. "I shouldn't be here…"

"No, you shouldn't... I extended my helping hand to you, David, and this is the thanks I get in return?"

"Come on, don't bullshit me; David wouldn't give you the time of day, not after everything that happened." Redfield faced David. "Right, son?" David shrugged in silence, leaving Redfield disappointed. "You didn't…"

"Just once, for answers and a private suite. I wasn't going to work for him, I swear!"

"You were, and you knew it. So I took the liberty of performing a bio-scan on you just as you left; you had considered my offer on more than one occasion."

"This is why no one likes you!"

"We'll discuss this later, David." Redfield faced Victor and paced around the room. "As much as I love hearing you talk, I have my orders to kill you; your-" Suddenly, he clutched his chest and dropped to his knees in agony. "Motherfucker..." After a quick readjustment of a valve on his chest, he stood back on his feet firmly and let out a sharp howl of pain.

"Dad!?"

"It seems like I'm not the only one running on borrowed time."

"I have more time than you; that's for sure."

"Do you honestly believe it will be that easy to get rid of me? Please, Zachariah. I am the most rational being in the entire country; killing me will end in chaos. Who will be the protagonist to keep humanity from tearing itself apart?"

"Humanity doesn't need any more heroes; they're strong enough to survive on their terms. To be free from the judgements and guidance of old men like us."

"The last time that was decided, humans condemned themselves with centuries of conflict and chaos."

"That comes down to lies fed from bitter assholes like you," Redfield snapped abruptly. "You were once a good man, Romanov, but the monster you've become overshadows the humanity you once had. Protecting the planet is noble, but your execution is just one of the reasons why no one likes communism."

"Humanity, humanity, humanity-"

"That's the attitude this world doesn't need! This meeting of our real identities has been a long time coming, hasn't it?!" Redfield paced around the room in front of Victor's monitor. His image stayed still. "The road to evil is paved with good intentions, and yours were the by far the most warped-"

"Don't be so melodramatic, Mr Wesker. War is hell, we all know that, but sometimes it's necessary to mould the future. Mankind needs to be kept in line; we should be ruling over them so they don't doom each of us."

Christ, is every Tyrant a Malevolent wannabe...? "You don't get to decide that."

"Someone has to."

"That is not the way Third Earth is supposed to work-"

"Third?"

"You don't need Soldats to take over the world, just an army, like the few extra Securitrons we know you secretly have. There is no reason to spy on the N.C.R. or our interests. If anyone breached the contract, you cast the first stone, and that was your last mistake." Redfield ceased pacing and walked over to a nearby wall to his left. There was a wall terminal in sleep mode.

Victor Laughed. "Zachariah, you make me laugh. You are a fool thinking you can just do as you please; I'll see that you regret this for the short remainder of your life..." Redfield had trouble hacking the terminal he only just found. There was so much code to bypass with little chance to break through - too many buttons and firewalls. "Stop embarrassing yourself; you're sullying your good name."

"True, true. That's why I brought this with me," Redfield said, disclosing a small PDA; it fit in the palm of his hand.

"Where did you get that?"

"I'm surprised you remembered. It's just a little device Scott cobbled together in his free time; it's all I have to remember him by, thanks to you and Ashford." Zaac used the PDA to translate the mass of code on the terminal correctly. When he found the correct passwords, he opened the door to a secret room behind the wall in front of him.

The device worked by connecting to almost every signal all types of machinery gave off while active; anything was fair game. The PDA allowed access that rivalled the original user or admin through that connection. It was like having admin privileges on almost every machine your heart desired, almost hacking; the biggest problem was all the tiny parts that made the old tech work.

"Don't you dare-" David shot Victor's monitor with the shotgun holstered over his back. Glass fragments scattered on the ground, leaving the monitor with an error message, silencing Victor's voice completely.

"Boring conversation anyway," David muttered.

"You and me both."

There was a loud pulsing beeping in the penthouse once the latent wall stopped sliding. Behind it was a small room with another elevator, guarded by two Securitrons that shot at Redfield and David on sight.

None of them landed a single shot on either of them with their combined brutality and speed. Instead, they both took the elevator the machines were guarding down the last stop at the bottom - basement level thirteen.