Regeneration

Chapter 8: December Hits

All medals, ribbons, and awards mentioned are real. Whether applicable to a distinguished branch of the military like the B.S.A.A. Is, is debatable, though I'm pretty sure they are.

Leon S. Kennedy

"Is that all of them?"

"Yes sir." I said, having just finished listing the late soldiers from Chris Refield's Edonia and Lanshiang mission off of a sheet of paper.

"Now tell me how they died again?" the President said.

"Ben, Andy, Finn, and Alfonso were all attacked by Neo-Umbrella agent Carla Radames, mutated by the Chrysalid virus, and forced to be put down by officers Redfield and Nivans. Jeff, Keaton, Marco, and Reid were all attacked and killed by the Iluzija in Lanshiang, China, a massive snake infected by the C-Virus, also due to Carla Radames' actions."

"Carla Radames, she's the one who manufactured the C-Virus, right?"

"That's correct, sir." I replied.

"Damn." he said. "It's a shame that woman existed. So that's four more Purple Hearts we need for Alpha Team. I'll get a line to them, you can go now."

"Thank you, Mr. President." I said, walking out. Once I was outside the building, I dialed Helena's number. She picked up on the fourth ring. "Hello? Oh hey Leon."

"Hey Helena. Did you get those computers?"

"Yeah, yesterday, why?"

"Then why aren't you back yet?"

"It's December and I'm in Canada. Ever heard of that thing called 'snow'?"

"It's only December 1st..." I grumbled quietly.

"What did you need, anyway?"

"Are you going with us to Colorado for the award ceremony?"

"Uh, it's in about three weeks, right?"

"Right. You know the date."

"I'll be back long before then, but am I invited? I mean, they might want a private moment for..."

"The Purple Hearts, yeah."

"Say, lemme ask something."

"Hmm?"

"How many soldiers are getting Purple Hearts at this ceremony?"

"The B.S.A.A. Alpha Team's deceased. Four of them."

"So what about the other B.S.A.A. soldiers that died? Back in Edonia? I know there were more than that."

"They were recognized previously. We didn't have a chance to recognize the Alpha Team's deceased because..."

"Tall Oaks."

"Yeah...the president and all that."

Silence. "Okay...so, uh, how is Piers Nivans coming along?"

"How should I know?"

"He's the only cured victim of the C-Virus. You work for the president, dammit, maybe you should check into these things?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll look in a minute." I said, stung.

"You're being pretty callous." Helena said, the tone in her voice that she adopted when a somber subject was on hand.

"Sorry." I apologized. "Just been kinda slow lately."

"I'm sure."

"But hey, guess who I ran into last week?"

"Who?"

"Ashley Graham."

"Former President Graham's daughter, right? The one you rescued from those psychotic Plaga people in Spain?"

"That's the one. She wants to come to the ceremony."

"You sure you want that to happen? Lemme just give you a reminder-"

"Very funny, I can go without." I said sarcastically. "She psyched me out enough. And even if I didn't want her to come, we have to. As a former President's relative, she's entitled to more than most, and of course we work in the executive detail, so we have to."

"If you say so." Helena sighed.

"President says so."

"So you just wanted to ask me if I was coming?" she asked.

"Pretty much."

"Dull." Helena commented. "Well, see you in a few days, Leon."

"Ciao." I said, closing the phone. Then I dialed Ashley's number, with the feeling of going to a family reunion where more attention was slathered all over you than needed.

"Hello?" I heard.

"Ashley, it's me. Leon Kennedy."

"Oh, hey Leon. Is there something I can help you with?"

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"No, the office is closed." I heard the sound of something being sipped. "So?"

"There are four purple hearts to be awarded, a Silver Star each to Redfield and Nivans, a Distinguished Service Medal each, a Legion of Merit each, a Meritorious Service Medal each, a Soldier's Medal for Nivans, and a Distinguished Marksman Medal for Nivans."

"That's a lot of medals." Ashley commented simply.

"Yeah, can't say they don't deserve it." I said.

"You gotten any medals lately?"

"Back in November." I said, trying not to let my pride show through. "A Distinguished Service Medal and a Soldier's Medal."

"Very nice. Are you on a break? I don't want to interrupt you either?"

"The President just dismissed me." I said.

"Great! Than you can come over to my place for a while! And you have to come this time because you just said you've been dismissed!" Ashley said, laughing. Inside, I was groaning. "Actually—"

"I live on Sandler Street, big white house with the rose garden. You can't miss it. See you in twenty!" She giggled. Then she hung up.

"Dammit..." I murmured. I inboxed Hunnigan telling her I would be occupied for tonight unless called into action. Then I set off to revisit 2004.

Piers Nivans

I got called into the laboratory early today. I didn't know why, so I assumed it was to tell me something about the C-Virus or my arm. Since late November, the disinfection had slowed down a little, as my arm was still big and grey. The bioelectric properties were all but gone now. On the other hand, the little claw things on the ends of my fingers were also gone, so working machinery and coffee cups was a lot easier now. Guns, still no go, and not for lack of trying.

I walked down to the Infirm Lab. I went and sat on the little green table like they usually have me do. I wasn't required to take off my shirt today, which I was thankful for. The doctors came over and started checking me out, then giving me injections. After about three shots of the Anti-C, as they called it, they said that was all the work they needed to do on me today.

"What? So why did you call me over here so early?"

"Because we wanted to discuss your virus and how you are recuperating." Ciara said. "How would you say you're coming along?"

"Great!" I said brightly. "I feel like I'll be back to normal by around January."

"Which is excellent progress." The two said.

"So what about it? Are they going to let me back into the field soon?"

"As a matter of fact," Dr. Sellers said, "Yes. Your mandatory leave, in light of your miraculous recovery, has been reduced from six months to three."

"Yes! Are you serious?!" I asked.

"We are very serious." Ciara said with a wry smile. "You should be able to get back into action under Captain Redfield within those three months. However, you're required to ramp up your exercise considerably—at least double, in order to make up for lost time and be ready for field training in conjunction."

"I'll do it! Whatever it takes!" I said excitedly. Dr. Sellers smiled. "Merry Christmas. Just don't let us down. And don't go getting injured the way you did again. It wouldn't be helpful."

"Cross my heart." I promised. "Good. Than if you're sure about your status, you can go tell everyone the news."

"Thanks docs." I said, grabbing them both in one-armed hugs and making my way back to my room to start excercising and calling everyone.