Chapter 115: Welcome Party (Patreon)

Billy understood what Ivan meant, and anger flashed across his face.

"Damn Umbrella, they're not even human!"

Then he sighed.

"Ugh. Poor girl."

"Don't worry, the past is the past. From now on, no one can bully you anymore.

Makima nodded "obediently."

Then, at Ivan's signal,

she stepped forward, hands folded in front of her, and bowed slightly, the motion precise and graceful.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Makima."

"I only recently left Umbrella, so there's still a lot I don't understand about how S.T.A.R.S. works."

"I hope to fit in with the team quickly and contribute what I can."

Her tone was gentle, her voice even, her smile pitched just right.

Brad was the first to set down his sandwich, clapping his hands.

"Welcome, welcome! It's been a while since S.T.A.R.S. got a new recruit — and a knockout, too!"

Billy's voice turned warm as well.

"Welcome aboard, Makima."

Daisy took off her glasses and said gently,

"Welcome, welcome!"

Lisa, in the corner, said nothing.

She simply lifted her head, her dark brown eyes fixed on Makima, a trace of wariness in her gaze.

She stared at Makima for a full five seconds, then lowered her head and went back to sipping her black coffee.

Rebecca set down what she'd been holding, walked over to Makima, and offered her hand.

"Hi, I'm Rebecca Chambers. Welcome to S.T.A.R.S."

Makima reached out and shook her hand,

her palm warm, her grip measured, releasing after two seconds.

Looking into Rebecca's eyes, Makima kept that same professional smile.

"Thank you, Senior Rebecca."

Under the gaze of those golden eyes, a strange feeling suddenly welled up in Rebecca. It wasn't quite discomfort, but she couldn't shake the sense that something was hidden behind them.

The feeling passed as quickly as it came, though, and she didn't dwell on it. She turned to Ivan instead.

"It's not every day S.T.A.R.S. gets a new member."

"How about we throw Makima a welcome lunch, like tradition says we should?"

Ivan thought it over, then nodded with a smile.

"Sure. I'll leave it to you, Rebecca."

"You got it!" Rebecca clapped her hands and picked up the intercom phone to call the cafeteria.

Once Makima's desk was sorted out, Ivan headed back to the captain's private cubicle.

He'd barely warmed the seat of his office chair,

when Lisa walked in, handing him a fresh cup of black coffee while leaning in to whisper in his ear.

"Ivan, be careful. That woman isn't simple."

"It's not about her abilities — she just gives off a very strong sense of threat."

Ivan nodded seriously.

"Don't worry, Lisa. I will."

"Did you get this coffee for me?"

Lisa withdrew her hand and nodded obediently.

"Mm-hm. Drink it while it's hot. I picked it up from a new coffee shop this morning — it's really good."

At that, Ivan lifted the cup and took a careful sip.

Then, facing Lisa's expectant look, he smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.

Lisa's eyes narrowed involuntarily, and she practically skipped out of the cubicle, clearly delighted by Ivan's praise.

At noon, the entire S.T.A.R.S. team gathered in the small private room on the third floor of the cafeteria.

The room wasn't large — a single long table seated twelve — and through the window you could see the back parking lot of the Raccoon City Police Department.

The table was loaded with food. The cafeteria staff had specially arranged several hearty dishes to Ivan's taste — braised pork ribs, steamed sea bass, garlic oysters, roast beef, and a big steaming pot of tomato and egg drop soup.

Ivan raised his teacup, using tea in place of wine.

No drinking during work hours — as captain, he had to set the example.

"Come on, brothers and sisters, let's raise our cups together and welcome our new family member, Makima!"

Everyone cheerfully raised their cups at his words and drank together.

Makima then lifted the teacup in front of her, stood up, and bowed slightly to the room once more.

"Thank you, Captain Ivan."

"And thank you all for preparing this for me."

Her voice was soft and clear, carrying a natural, easy warmth.

"Back at Umbrella's labs, I never felt an atmosphere like this. I'm grateful to be here, and to have met all of you."

Brad was the first to respond, his booming voice nearly rattling the ceiling.

"Well said, girl! We're family now! Whatever trouble comes up, just say the word — if there's one thing S.T.A.R.S. people do, it's stick up for their own!"

Brad didn't keep talking about Umbrella, steering the conversation elsewhere instead, worried it might upset Makima.

Daisy, sitting at the far end of the table, said little, picking at her food at an unhurried pace.

Every so often she glanced up at Makima, showing no hostility but making no effort to grow closer either — just quietly observing.

Noticing her gaze, Makima returned a polite smile.

Rebecca sat at Ivan's left, chatting with Makima now and then.

The two of them shared a burst of pleasant laughter.

Feeling the lively atmosphere, Billy looked around at everyone with a softened expression, especially when his thoughts turned to how he'd first met Ivan and Rebecca.

A faint smile crept onto his face.

Lisa ate quietly, every so often putting a few pieces of food onto Ivan's plate.

Jill sat at Ivan's right, quieter than everyone else at the table.

She ate while glancing at Makima now and then, her mouth opening slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing.

Makima, for her part, handled the whole meal without a single misstep.

When someone spoke to her, she smiled back.

When someone put food on her plate, she thanked them politely.

When Rebecca told her stories from S.T.A.R.S.'s past, she showed surprise or curiosity right on cue.

Everything about her seemed natural, proper, ordinary.

But anyone who looked closely into her eyes... would notice that as her gaze swept over Brad and the others, deep in those golden irises lay a stillness without a single ripple.

The kind of stillness a human might show looking down at an ant crawling along the roadside.

The conversation and laughter continued, the mood warm and lively.

Nearly an hour later, Brad sprawled back in his chair, patting his stomach and declaring how satisfying the meal had been. Kevin checked his watch and stood, calling Brad over to prep for the afternoon's first patrol flight.

Daisy and Lisa had already left ahead of the others, heading back to the office.

Jill walked out last, pausing at the doorway to glance back at Ivan and Rebecca.

It seemed like she wanted to say something, but in the end the words wouldn't come.

She simply left, resigned.

Rebecca, having seen all of this, quietly made up her mind.

After giving Ivan a reassuring look, she hurried after Jill.

Ivan had of course noticed Jill's behavior, though he had no idea what surprise Rebecca was about to bring him next.

Beside him, Makima watched the direction Jill and the others had gone, then glanced at Ivan, looking thoughtful.

The office that afternoon felt a little emptier than before.