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BIOHAZARD to the Liberty (バイオハザード トゥ・ザ リバティ baiohazādo tu za ribati?) is a "light novel" written by Suiren Kimura. It was published by Capcom after being selected in a competition called BIOHAZARD Grand Novel Prize under the working title "BIOHAZARD Statue of Liberty".[2] It was released alongside BIOHAZARD Rose Blank on March 25, 2002. While no official English translation has been published yet, a German translation, "Resident Evil: Tödliche Freiheit" was published in 2006. The story is centrally focused on an outbreak within New York City, in a cruiser of the Umbrella Corporation appropriately named Liberty.

Plot[]

Chapter 1[]

When American Jack Tramp is accused of being "Jack the Ripper", U.S. Marshall José Lopez is called over to the United Kingdom to take custody of him and transfer him back to the United States for trial. Things start out bad for Lopez. Jet-lagged and not having had time to read the case files, he is forced to commandeer a taxi while armed in search for the suspect who he knows nothing on. In the search, Lopez forces the driver to speed though the city of Liverpool towards the dockside, followed by the police. Breaking the car at some gates, Lopez finally steps out of the car. Though he explains he is a Marshall, the police find his defence to be irrelevant and prepare to arrest him. Soon, however, it becomes clear to the officers that Lopez must be here to catch the Ripper, and are angered that Lopez must be here to take him back to the United States. The driver, now calmed from the ordeal, asks Lopez about himself, having already confused him for a Mexican - Lopez confirms he is not an FBI agent and quickly apologises for not actually having any money for the fare.

Lopez goes on to investigate the dockyard. Encountering a guard, he is explained the situation - daily news reports of young women being slashed led to the press declaring the return of the Victorian serial killer, "Jack the Ripper". Jack Tramp was identified as the killer when he was discovered holding a bloody knife next to a horrendously mutilated corpse, hardly identifiable as female. When it was confirmed the killer was an American citizen, the US government quickly demanded his extradition. Wanting justice for the deaths of their women, the British press and police quickly became critical of the US government for their interference (culminating in Lopez's arrival).

Chapter 2[]

Inside a building, Tramp comes to in a dark room, waking up next to the corpse of a woman and holding a knife. He has no memory of the events that led to the woman's death, and can only think of a girl called Silvia who he knew in New York. Scotland Yard finally takes over from the guards and arrests him. He is placed in a straitjacket to prevent suicide while put into a prisoner transport van.  Jack leans against the side of the van and receives an electric shock when his jacket rubs against the metal; he is forced to sit straight as he is questioned. Jack considers escaping, only to be mocked by the officers. Jack imagines New York life - buying a New York Knicks ticket at Madison Square Garden. He considers his fate upon arriving there: he'd either be put under 24-hour psychiatric care for the rest of his life or be executed by lethal injection. Jack is taken to the docks, where he is introduced to José Lopez and another US marshal, Ivan Kulik. The two marshals take Tramp on board the cargo ship, Liberty, a steamship which will take them to New York.

Chapter 3[]

The Liberty is a nearly 100-year old liner. It was originally designed with the intention of competing with the RMS Titanic, but with the sinking of Titanic in 1912, Liberty failed to be launched due to the changing conditions of the industry. Rather than be launched, it served as a floating hotel and museum for its Edwardian-era design. With interest dropping, its owners decided Liberty would be sold for scrap. At this point, Mark Chan, founder of Hong Kong's Chan Industries, purchased the ship with the intention of repairing it for service; his death from a sudden heart attack and the company's sale to Umbrella Pharmaceuticals instead saw it become a cargo ship for company products. However, in the years leading up to its centenary, plans were put underway for it to admit passengers and, finally, it is taking its maiden voyage as a liner.

Tramp and the Marshall board the ship while it prepares for its voyage. It is still primarily a cargo ship, and they are among only a small cluster of passengers. Swapping guard duty with Kulik, the seasick José moves to the side of the ship to vomit. He is introduced to a journalist for the English newspaper, City Times, who claims to be writing a piece covering the ship's maiden voyage. The reporter offers to clean José up, and he has to explain he is a federal agent when he is alarmed by the gun in his pocket.

Going back to the cabin, José notices a dark-skinned woman in khaki trousers, who he suspects was spying on them. José returns to his cabin to discuss the issue of Tramp to Kulik. José has not read the case file, and learns that Tramp has been accused of serious, highly classified offences in the United States, which is why the US put diplomatic pressure on the UK to hand him over. Tramp is reportedly claustrophobic and the government has placed him on the ship due to concern he'll have a heart attack on a plane journey. José takes out medication for his seasickness, which he notices has the same symbol he saw on the reporter's ID card - the Umbrella Pharmaceuticals logo.

Chapter 4[]

Deep within Liberty, Umbrella researchers sit at a conference table watching film footage of their latest experiment. A rat has been trained to open a cage and, after two days infection, is placed back to determine if it can remember how to escape. The rat passes the test and, when met with a new challenge in the form of a mesh over the lid, mutates its front paws to have greater power, now taking the form of a praying mantis. Dr. Robert Chan, who is chairing the conference, answers questions on it. The researchers believe Dr. Chan's mutagen, is a derivative of the t-Virus line, and doubt it has as much impact on bio-weapons development as the G-Virus. Dr. Chan is irritated by their disinterest, and points out the rate of mutation and the coordinated nature; the researchers do not see it as particularly remarkable as a bio-weapon or even a medicine as they have only seen one study on a rat. Chan insists the virus is in fact complete, and can surpass the achievements of the Tyrant Project.

Chan takes out a test tube containing what he has provisionally dubbed "Red Light", which is a deactivated version of the virus he dubs "Chimera Virus" or "C-Virus". He explains how a human can coordinate their own mutation through the virus in a theatrical manner, breaking the glass and sending everyone into a panic. However, as it is deactivated he will only deal with a fever over the next few days. The deputy director is appalled by Chan's display, and demands he show the Umbrella staff respect due to their noble heritage. Chan takes out another vial, containing "Green Light". He is angry with Umbrella for its orthodox approach to bio-weapons research, which failed in Raccoon City. "Green Light" is a second virus which is designed to work alongside "Red Light"; it changes the human genome to allow mutation. Finally, he demands Umbrella finance his C-Virus research, or he will infected himself with "Green Light" and kill the entire board. The board gives in to his threat and agrees to finance it. Rather than stay in the room full of outspoken aristocrats, Chan leaves the conference entirely.

Chapter 5[]

Ten days into the journey, the Liberty is now halfway across the Atlantic Ocean, based on Lopez's GPS. At least one person must be in the room with Tramp at all times and, as Kulik must make regular reports in the radio room, the duty falls mainly on Lopez. The marshal finds the ordeal tedious and boring, wishing he had taken a job as an accounted in his hometown of Chicago instead. With Umbrella's anti-nausea medication working well, Lopez no longer has seasickness as an excuse to leave the cabin, and food is sent to them as well. When feeding Tramp, Lopez is disappointed that when pealing the mask away the suspected serial killer appears as an ordinary man rather than some monster.

While doing stretches to maintain his fitness, Lopez hears a sound outside and suspects someone has been spying on them. Lopez draws his Beretta and goes to the door to investigate. Opening the door, he finds a small girl with a doll. Interrogating her, she tells him her father mentioned there were other passengers on the ship and she hoped they brought children with them. The girl introduces herself and her doll as Silvia and Lilly, respectively, and Lopez changes to a softer demeanour, feeling guilty for scaring her with his gun. Silvia is the daughter of an Umbrella employee, and is taking the transatlantic journey to seek medical attention for a disease. Silvia asks about Tramp, but Lopez urges her to never tell anyone she saw him. When Sivlia leaves, Tramp begins begins talking, mentioning that he used to go to Knicks games at Madison Square Garden with a woman called Silvia. Lopez responds he is a Chicago Bulls fan, himself. This conversation is quietly being monitored by the woman Lopez met on the Liberty earlier; she is Lieutenant Louise Kah of the UBCS.

Chapter 6[]

It is a stormy night. Dr. Chan is sitting at his desk reading interim reports when the deputy director enters. After Chan left the board meeting the other day, it was agreed he be removed from it. Initially kept on as the head of the C-Virus Project, the deputy director has come to notify him he has been dismissed from the project and his research confiscated. Noting irregularities in his reports, the deputy director suspects Dr. Chan took samples out of the lab to give over to a rival company. Dr. Chan reveals he has a sample of the C-Virus with him, and injects it into the man's body. The deputy director resists the virus and, as it mutates by willpower, he begins to suffer in his mental battle, blooding out of his eyes and nose. His lips swell as his teeth are elongated. Finally, his body ruptures and he is town to pieces, having failed endure the mutation. Dr. Chan wipes himself with a handkerchief, not wanting to risk his own violent mutation.

Dr. Chan gets back to the reports, and telephones Lieutenant Kah. From her it is confirmed Jack Tramp is on board. Dr Chan is furious at Umbrella for not telling him what is going on on Liberty. Dr. Chan is secretly working with Lieutenant Kah to smuggle the C-Virus out of Liberty in New York, and warns her that fellow UBCS mercenaries may confront her. They agree to meet up at a skyscraper where she will hand over the samples

Chapter 7[]

Liberty is now most of the way through its transatlantic crossing. Lopez has had the chance to be outside the cabin again, but small talk with passersby is limited and tedious. The passengers are not American; disinterested in talk of sports, and do not know what a Marshal is. The only thing interesting Lopez can say to people is that he is transporting a suspected serial killer, but he has orders not to disclose that information. Lopez is greeted by the Reporter he met on the first day, who suspects he is harbouring the Ripper and wants the scoop. They are interrupted by Silvia who introduces Lopez to her father. When Silvia walks away, the man understands she told Lopez about her trip to the clinic. Unfortunately, it is all a lie; Silvia was diagnosed with a terminal blood disorder in Europe that only affects one person in a million. He has quit his job with Umbrella to take her to New York where her deceased mother grew up so she can die in peace with him. After the conversation, Silvia and her father return to their quarters.

Lopez starts to reminiscent about his time in university with an basketball match between Chicago and Illinois teams and ends with his right leg's tendon getting torn which ends his childhood dream of becoming an professional basketball player.

Chapter 8[]

Chapter 9[]

Chapter 10[]

Chapter 11[]

Chapter 12[]

Chapter 13[]

Chapter 14[]

Chapter 15[]

Chapter 16[]

Chapter 17[]

Chapter 18[]

Chapter 19[]

Chapter 20[]

Chapter 21[]

Chapter 22[]

Chapter 23[]

Chapter 24[]

Chapter 25[]

Chapter 26[]

Chapter 27[]

Chapter 28[]

Chapter 29[]

Sort[]

Shortly after arriving on the ship, Lopez befiends a young girl, Silvia, who he understands is suffering from a serious illness. After alternating shifts of interrogating the apathetic accused, who can only vaguely remember the past few days when having clear moments, Lopez becomes to doubt he is transporting the murder. Soon after this, Lopez discovers the identity of the ship's owners, and their connection with the events in Raccoon City.

Umbrella researcher Dr. Robert Chan has developed a new mutagen in secret, the C-Virus, which is capable of transforming the host into whatever they wish. He plans, alongside his lover and colleagie Louise, to unleash the virus upon their arrival in New York.

After learning of Jack, Dr. Chan considers his iron will to make him the perfect test subject for the new virus, and aims to infect the man with "C". Louise is tasked with infecting Jack, but initially fails in a botched attempt to get past the Marshals.

When the Times 'Pressman' 'snaps', the virus is unleashed. Lopez fights for survival alongside Kulik and Louise, trying to protect the young Silvia from the ongoing disaster. Kulik is killed, and a military submarine emerges. Jack snaps out of his trance and offers help to the survivors, which forces Lopez to consider whether or not to trust Silvia in his care.

At the end, it is revealed that the Pressman was the real serial killer, having used Jack as a scapegoat. Now infected with the C-Virus, he seeks only perfection.

Characters[]

  • Jack Tramp (ジャック・トランプ) - The protagonist, and the alleged serial killer.
  • Jose Lopez (ホセ・ロペス) - U.S. Marshall charge of transporting Jack to the U.S. aboard of the To the Liberty.
  • Ivan Kulik (イワン・クーリック) - A middle-aged U.S. Marshall and Lopez' superior officer. The physical appearance of this character suggests that he has been inspired in Brian Irons.
  • "Pressman" (新聞記者) - An unnamed journalist for City Times; this reporter claimed that Jack had been seen committing the murders.
  • Robert Chan, PhD (ロバート・チャン) - A senior researcher working for the Umbrella Corporation, Robert was part of a project to replace the t-Virus with a more powerful mutagen. He is later infected by this mutagen.
  • Louise Kah (ルイーズ・カー) - A retired Army officer-turned mercenary.
  • Silvia (シルビア) - A young girl who was traveling with her father, is now one of the few survivors. However, as story progresses she demonstrates have more involvement with this case than first thought. This character seems to have been inspired in Lucia of the game Resident Evil Gaiden.

Gallery[]

Bibliography[]

Sources[]

  1. Kimura, BIOHAZARD to the Liberty, p.260.
  2. Kimura, BIOHAZARD to the Liberty, p.260.
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