Chapter 1:
He was in so much pain Chris could see it even though piers tried to hide it. The fight they had just been in had all but destroyed Piers. The room was dark visibility limited. The only light coming from the constant flashing of the warning lights, signalling the structure integrity failing.
"Get up we have to move, the place is coming down" Chris grunted as he lifted piers suffering body, the extra weight from the infected right arm made such a simple lift become a struggle as if he was trying to lift a child around 8 years old as well as his lieutenant. Lifting just the weight of piers was a feat in itself due to the damaged ribs of which Haos had inflicted upon the captain of alpha team (what's left of it anyway).
Piers' head remains hanging towards the metal flooring as his Captain pretty much carries him.
"Y-yes Captain" even in pain the lieutenant clings to the formalities like its the only thing keeping him from giving into the virus... His last bit of humanity.
He can't take the pain much more the burning travelling through the entire right side above his waist line and face, Piers just allows his captain to help even though he can't understand and his head swimming with doubts.
'How does the Captain not see me as a monster, he doesn't even hesitate to touch me...'
Piers looks at the arm, only for a moment any longer it would destroy what little will he had left to go on, unfortunately his vision in his left eye was able to see what stage the virus he had injected himself with had progressed to.
The arm was badly disfigured, exposed discolored muscles twisted and extended larger than his old arm should have been, it was almost touching then floor, he hasn't seen the extent of his body but by the pain he could tell it was bad.
Chris managed to get his lieutenant to the door which led to the escape pods. As luck would have it a small pack of BOWs had managed to keep on their tail and now had the advantage of Chris being the only one who was healthy enough to at least defend them, while the is so close he can't risk them charging he can't open a door, protect Piers and take on the BOWs
Piers pulls himself up with what remains of an already destroyed piece of what he assumes to be a generator of some kind. He can feel it now, that sensation like he can feel every fibre of the grotesque arm start to throb and pulse.
"Th-that's... g-g-good" piers almost chokes on a sudden rush of blood making a quick escape from his mouth. The Captain whips his head around to face his partner, concern clearly showing.
The lieutenant raises his arm though he has to fight every urge to not let it fall back down. Its so heavy he needs to rest... Just one push...one big push and the Captain will be safe again. The claws which have replaced the fingers of his right hand are pointed in the direction of the BOWs he let's go, at first a crackling sound fills the air, not a moment later the room became so bright both Chris and Piers had to cover their eyes.
After a few seconds the bolts of bioelectricity subside, it worked the room is clear, the captain is safe he can rest and with that everything goes black for Piers.
"PIERS!?" Chris roard as he lifted his lieutenant. He presses into his neck just under his jaw to find a pulse... No pulse.
"Piers, Come on don't do this, wake up please" his hand still in place hoping to prove himself wrong.
'He can't be dead. No. No. No we have been through to much, I have lost too much. I WILL NOT LOSE PIERS. Why did you do it, ruin your life for me, I am not worth it, you were suppose to take over for me become captain of alpha, I was suppose to retire.'
"Please come back, I need you, your the one who saved me after Edonia brought me back. If you die... I can't... I can't do that again, Piers I can't forget you again." Chris' heart pounding in his chest so hard it physically hurts, his eyes stinging like he has sand in them. Panic sets in he is losing him the one man to survive both events in Edonia and Lanshiang with the Captain, both times all other members of Alpha team were KIA. Chris can't bear it. The pain it's so much worse this time, the other men were painful to lose but not like this.
Struggling to breath the room where the pods are... Where freedom is just mere feet away. He can't leave... He doesn't want to leave, looks like this is the end for the original members of alpha team, no more missions... No more BSAA. Chris brings piers into his arms and cradles him, Chris' chin resting on piers' hair line, his hand gently stoking the back of his lieutenant's head. The tears come now, Chris doesn't stop them. The facility is beginning to really struggle with the pressure the ocean is putting on it.
'How far down are we?... Who cares...'
Chris sits back so he can look at piers, eyes closed, looks peaceful, his hair no longer up in his usual flick, the water they swam through a while ago has washed out his gel, it feels a lot drier than Chris had expected, had it really been that long since this started. Chris starts to take in the details of Piers' face his lips so full, he always thought Piers had nice lips, but until now he just noticed how much he really liked them.
He pushes away such thoughts, it feels wrong so he glances at the flashing warning light, but the urge to look back is too strong he knew for months that he had liked piers but he is straight, he thinks back... No recollection of anyone being mentioned in the time they worked together.
'Come on, get a grip no point doing this. Its just gonna make this harder, its over, you had your chance to tell him how you felt.
He finally calms down and looks back to the body of his ex-lieutenent...
"HOLY FUCK!" Chris almost throws Piers' body across the room, those hazel orbs looking up at Chris' face bright red.
"Captain?" The only word Piers said before Chris exploded.
"YOUR NOT FUCKING DEAD!? YOU HAD ME FUCKING WORRIED" then it hits Chris they are both alive, but for how long the facility is still falling apart around them.
The Captain struggled to his feet and then grabbed Piers and lifts again. He has his second wind, they both do.
As the pair make it to the escape pods water starts to break in at the far end of the room. Chris places Piers beside the only working escape pod and begins to open the pod door, this only takes a few seconds to do. He reaches down and pulls the lieutenant up again and helps him to the pod.
Piers reaches out and grabs Chris' hand.
"Promise me you will stay in the BSAA, the world needs you Captain" his voice raw he has to force each syllable.
"What... Why" Chris is puzzled at first then it dawns on him, he means to stay.
" I'm sorry Captain, I did it for the BSAA" he looks down not able to meet his Captain's gaze.
'Just push him in, launch the pod.'
Piers moves so quick using his full force to knock the giant man that is his captain into the pod, unfortunately Chris saw this coming and side stepped, a chuckle left the Captain's lips as he saw the sprawled, shocked lieutenant on the pod floor after he closed the doors and initiated the launch sequence. He took a seat next to piers and rested his head against the coushining along the pod walls, a huge sigh of relief let out they can rest while they wait for evac.