A/N: So...this is going to be my first time adventuring into the Resident Evil fanfiction. I am going to say straight off, I'm addicted to – and a huge supporter of – Chris and Piers. If that isn't what you want, then I would suggest going back now. I adore reviews, so if you have a moment, I'd love to hear some feedback. :3

First bit is short, more of a story set-up prologue if you will.

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

memento vivere

July 1st, 2013

Piers Nivans held no delusions. He was a soldier, through and through. He knew the score. He knew what would become of him the moment he made his choice. He wasn't coming back from this, but he had no other option; his captain, his friend, would have died if he hadn't injected himself with the C-Virus. Chris wasn't having any of it. The captain thought they were both going to make it out of Neo Umbrella's underwater facility alive, but Piers knew better. Even if he did get out of here, there was no telling what he would do once the two of them were in an enclosed space. The C-Virus was unpredictable with its mutations and soon he would lose himself and become the very monsters they had fought all this time.

If it meant saving Chris...well, he could die a monster.

Piers sighed and closed his eyes, as best as he could given the mutation had spread up into his face. He ripped his B.S.A.A. patch from his sleeve and climbed up with Chris's help. Piers opened his eyes and pressed his lips together in determination, to steel himself. He ripped his hand free from Chris and shook his head.

"Piers?"

The captain's features were set with uncertainty. It hurt Piers to do this to him, knowing how much guilt Chris carried on his shoulders, but he knew it had to be done. He reared back his good arm and shoved the larger man into the escape pod. The doors shut even as Chris screamed at him. Their eyes met and it felt like his heart was tearing in two.

I told him I did it for the B.S.A.A. For the future. But it was for him...I couldn't let him die. Piers limped over toward the lever that would release the pod.

"Open this pod right now, Piers! That's an order! Goddamnit, Piers!" Chris beat his fists against the pod as he screamed and Piers knew it was hard enough to draw blood. "We can still get out of here! Both of us! Don't do this! Piers!"

He wanted to believe that. He wanted to go back to his captain and leave with him, maybe explore whatever it was that he felt between them. That was no longer an option. He was not going to risk the captain's life, even for that.

"I'm sorry, captain." He hit the lever and stepped back as it prepared to launch. Red lights flashed all around him as the facility shook. He mouthed the words he couldn't say – I love you – as Chris slammed his hands against the glass. Then the pod launched and Chris was gone, the escape pod shooting through the water toward the surface.

He collapsed back onto his ass and hung his head, grimacing as pain lanced through his body. The virus was spreading, he could feel as it moved through every bit of his body – bones, muscle, tissue, organs; it was only a matter of time now.

A roar caught his attention and his head snapped up, muscles protesting. Through the chute, he could see Ada's ultimate creation racing its way toward Chris's escape pod.

No, no. I got him out. He can't die.

Piers groaned as he pushed himself to his feet. He raised his arm, the mutated weapon, and aimed it up the chute. One last fuck you. He held it as long as he could, the weapon draining him with each pulse, and then with a yell, he released it up the chute and into the water. It hit the monster and did its job, prying it free and electrocuting it, so that Chris's pod could reach the surface. Once he was sure Chris was safe, he allowed himself to fall back once more, except this time he landed flat on his back as his chest heaved.

How long before I lose my mind? He closed his eyes and grit his teeth. I could end it before I become one of them...He patted himself down for a weapon, but found nothing. Great, probably lost them all in that bitch of a fight. He sighed soundlessly and let his eyes open as the facility became more unstable around him in its shudders. Fuck this hurts.

Wonder how long I have left. At least Chris is safe...

His vision swam and he wanted to let go, but for some reason, he couldn't. Hadn't that agent, Leon Kennedy, said something about an anti-bodies for a vaccine? Could it change him back, or was it just to prevent the uninfected from becoming infected?

God, he didn't want to let Chris go like that. Even now he wanted to go to him, knowing nothing good would come out of it. He had chosen to follow his captain when it seemed like his control was slipping, when he wasn't certain if they would be safe. How was that different from now? It wouldn't be really, except that their positions had become reversed. Would Chris trust him like this?

Chris...

He rolled himself over and hefted himself onto his feet. With a grunt, he hit the lever of a nearby pod and jumped inside before it sealed shut. He lost himself as it shot toward the surface, vision swimming in black and breaths labored. He breathed his captain's name one last time like a prayer and then saw nothing but an infinite space of black.

Chris screamed and fought, swinging blindly, as B.S.A.A. soldiers hefted him free of the escape pod where it had landed on the beach. He kept screaming Piers' name, even knowing it would change nothing. Piers was gone and it was his fault. Just as all the others that had died before him had been.

"Calm down, captain! You're safe now." One of the men reassured, clasping at his heaving shoulder.

"Piers – " he shook his head and stumbled away from the man toward the water.

"It's too late captain," he said solemnly as he followed Chris down the beach. "The facility is gone." He dropped his eyes to the sand. "I'm sorry for your loss, Redfield."

Chris snapped around and grabbed the man by the straps of his vest, growling loud. "He's not dead!" The agent remained calm in the force of Chris's unequaled grief. Chris let him go and stepped back, dragging his fingers through his short hair. "He's not dead," he repeated, much quieter this time as if the denial wasn't as fierce as before.

"The vaccine is well on its way to being produced, captain. Nivans's actions will not be forgotten, I assure you. I won't let them forget," the agent promised.

"Thanks," Chris mumbled.

"Sir!" Another soldier came running toward them, clearly out of breath. He quickly saluted the two of them, before he went on. "There's reports for Foxtrot that there is another pod washing up further down the beach!"

"Another pod?" The agent looked pointedly at Chris.

Oh god...Piers! Hang on Piers, I'm coming! It's my turn to save you. Unknowing of how the B.S.A.A. agents would react to Piers' appearance, Chris turned and ran down the beach in the direction the soldier had come from.

He had to reach Piers first.