Chapter 2

April 26th, 2013

For two months the group of seven operatives of the B.S.A.A, had searched for Chris Redfield. Mostly made up of members of the North American branch, including Piers Nivans, a man dedicated to finding Chris no matter how long it takes. Lending her assistance to them is Miriallia Shiga, from the Far East branch. A skilled soldier in her own right, and though she's aiding in the search for Chris, she also has ties to 'The Family.' A group shrouded in mystery that secretly manipulates the course of humanity through it's various connections around the world. Under orders to aide in finding Chris and keep an eye on the actions of the B.S.A.A. With the guise of being a loyal agent of the organization, but is that all just an act.

Picking up Chris's trail in the town of Karlovo in Bulgaria. As part of the Eastern Slav Republic, parts of the country were filled with conflict. Due to a case of the rich ruling over the poor. Initially one of the "Republics of the Soviet Union", Eastern Slav obtained independence and was declared a sovereign nation after the collapse of the Soviet social system in 1991. No longer under the hold of communism, capitalism rapidly advanced through the country and private conglomerates gained influence in political circles. As a result, a class known as "oligarchs" came into power. The country was on-track to joining the United Nations and becoming a respected member of the international community, but as the divide between rich and poor gradually widened, a new rebellion erupted in the form of protests and eventually rioting from the citizens.

In 2006, citizens armed themselves as freedom fighters and became an anti-government force fighting in the name of separatism, and the nation erupted into civil war. During this time, the nation's military prospered. Under the guidance of Ivan Judanovich, a prominent member of the Republic's "elders", the rebels moved their base of operations to a hidden location better suited for launching their guerrilla war against the government. A cease-fire between the government and the rebels was offered after many years by the nation's first female President, Svetlana Belikova.

However, in November 2010, the government discovered that the rebels land contained valuable natural resources, including large supplies of oil. So the military was ordered to continue their attacks on the rebels under the pretence of fighting terrorism. As one base was lost after another to the military, the rebels began to radicalize their tactics while the military conducted regular search and capture operations.

By February 2011, rumours had circulated among the citizens that "monsters" had joined the civil war. The use of B.O.W.s by the rebels had become apparent. Unable to fight the president evenly and fairly, they felt they had little choice but to turn to the usage of B.O.W.s in warfare. Around this time, surveillance footage of a warehouse showed signs of B.O.W. activity, in the form of a "Licker" corpse. Named for their long tongues these B.O.W's were first encountered during the Raccoon City incident in 1998. In reality the corpse was planted by Ada Wong as an invitation to Leon S. Kennedy. Knowing with certainty that his experience with B.O.W.s would lead to him being deployed to the country. At which point she would use him to help fulfill her own objective.

With confirmation that bio-weapons were being used, the U.S. government dispatched Kennedy and a CIA agent to investigate. But when Kennedy arrived, the U.S. government severed relations with the Eastern Slav government and backed out of the country ordering the deportation of all Americans. When Kennedy was also told of this, he refused to leave. Feeling certain that B.O.W.s were being used in the civil war, all too familiar with how that can turn out. Without the support of the U.S. government, Kennedy began to act alone.

The U.S. secretly kept watch over Kennedy and learned of the government's cultivation of a new form of the "Plagas" parasite and use of B.O.W.s. Plagas are a species of parasitic organisms, typically force feed to it's victim. Unlike the t-Virus, which turns its victims into mindless zombies, the victims of Plagas become stronger and highly resistant to pain, while working collectively to pursue their targets. Once this was known the U.S. and Russia formed a coalition and attacked the country, successfully overthrowing the government and military. President Svetlana Belikova was forced to resign, while a temporary government led by the U.S. and Russia was installed to maintain peace. All of the companies which supported Belikova and the former government were thrown out of the country and dismantled.

Even now, more then a year later there are still pockets of resistance. The Republic still repairing the damage done by it's former President and clashes still break out between those who agree with the current regime and those who do not. Piers and the rest of the B.S.A.A group have been privy to this struggle during their search for Chris Redfield.

The instability within the Eastern Slav Republic also lead to the destabilization of a similar situation in the Edonia Republic, leading to the Edonian Civil War. Which the B.S.A.A sent operatives into to resolve the threat of B.O.W's. With the confirmation of bio-weaponry present in the war zone, the international and UN-regulated Bio-terrorism Security Assessment Alliance (B.S.A.A) participated in the conflict as early as December 2012 in a joint branch force consisting of both North American and European operatives. Virologist and bio-terrorist Carla Radames was also sent to Edonia, but by National Security Adviser and leader of 'The Family', Derek C. Simmons. Stemming from an obsession with Ada Wong who formerly worked for him, Simmons had made Carla look just like Ada. Her mission was to confirm that a mercenary by the name of Jake Muller, had antibodies to the newly-developed C-Virus and to make sure that Simmons' agent, DSO (Division of Security Operations) agent Sherry Birkin, escaped the country safely with Jake. Simmons intentions were to prevent the possibility of a vaccine being created with Jake's blood, as well as possibly using it to amplify the effects of the C-Virus.

However unknown to Simmons, Carla had secretly formed her bio-terrorist organization called Neo-Umbrella. While in Edonia, she utilized the C-Virus by providing it to the soldiers and mercenaries in the Edonian Liberation Army, claiming it to be an energy booster. Through these means, almost the entirety of the group were mutated into creatures which became known as J'avo.

The one survivor was Jake, whose blood had provided him with an immunity to the virus, leaving him unaffected. While in the Edonia City Hall, Carla became confronted by B.S.A.A. operatives Chris Redfield, Piers Nivans, and Finn Macauley. Claiming no involvement with the B.O.W outbreak, Carla told them her name was Ada Wong and gained their protection. Making it to the exit of the City Hall before using a needle bomb to infect several other members of Chris' team, causing them to instantly transition into a Chrysalid state. Although government agent Sherry Birkin attempted to carry out her mission in the hostile war-torn country, the specially-designed B.O.W., Ustanak, was eventually able to capture her and Jake both just shy of her established rendezvous point. Carla had them both transported to China for experimentation.

The events of the civil war after this point are unknown, except that B.S.A.A. support troops were dispatched to Edonia to aid the present operatives and participated in disposing of the B.O.W.s present, including the former operatives that had become infected. As far as the B.S.A.A knew Jake and Sherry had gone missing in the mountains west of Edonia after Chris and Piers had found them in the city and sent them off on a helicopter. They are unaware that Carla Radames was made to look like Ada Wong by Derek Simmons. Believing that she is Ada and that she is leading Neo-Umbrella.

From the information Piers and the B.S.A.A had gathered prier to Miriallia joining them. Chris had made his way to Karlovo after going missing from his hospital room. Where he had been receiving medical treatment after the incident in Edonia four months earlier, that he and Piers were the only ones to escape from. The rest of their team being wiped out when they were fooled by Carla Radames. It was because of her that everyone but Piers and Chris were infected with the C-Virus. The strongest bioterriost virus that has been created so far. Made by an organization with an all too familiar name, Neo-Umbrella. It seemed someone was trying to pick up where Umbrella had left off. Making monstrousities to test their viruses ability to create the perfect tools for war. To this day Chris and Piers think it was Ada Wong that caused the death of Finn and the rest of their squad. With the full intentions of Carla Radames remaining a mystery.
_

From leads they had dug up in Karlovo, Piers, Miriallia and the others with them, found themselves in Moreni. A town in Romania, located about one hundred kilometers northwest of Bucharest. Following Chris's trail had been more difficult then she expected. Able to see now why they had been looking for him for two months before she started helping them. It was an aimless trail that seemed to have no purpose. Finding rumors about him and some that remembered seeing him through towns that dotted the European countryside. "Is he searching for something..." she thought maybe it could have been possible that he was looking for something, but had no idea where to look. He never seemed to stay in the same place for more then a few days at a time. Leaving few people behind who even remembered him. It didn't help any that though this was a priority for the B.S.A.A there were still other missions to attend to. Occasionally causing members of there team to be taken off the search to go fight B.O.W's somewhere else in the world.

Sitting at a table she stared down at the PDA in her hand, going over every inch of information they had so far. Trying to find some kind of pattern or purpose in what Chris was doing. The team had taken time to stop at a restaurant to eat and rest before they'd sleep for the night and continue to chase after Chris in the morning. Everyone dressed in casual clothes, with a B.S.A.A emblem stitched somewhere on something they were wearing. Most of the group were sitting at a couple of tables that had been pushed together for them. All of them eatting and a few of them drinking as well. Miriallia sat by herself at a table by the window on the opposite side of the room. Quietly working while she ate, listening to the laughter from the others that rang out over the chatter of noises from the other people in the restaurant besides them. Unable to have her katana at her side in places like this, she felt uneasy without it, often looking at their SUV outside where she had to stash it in the trunk.
_

Sitting with his elbows on the table, hands folded and chin resting on them, Piers listened to the stories of his companions. Some of them obviously embelished, a fact which was often pointed out by someone else. The ensuing debate over the facts of the story often ending with everyone laughing heartilly as they drink and eat together.

Pushing his empty plate away from him as he listened to another of these many stories he glanced over at Miriallia on the other side of the room. This was common place for her during the two months that they had been working together. "Does she ever take a break..." with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, even from across the room he could see the focused look on her face as she stared at the device in her hand. She never talked about herself with anyone, always working on finding Chris. Leaving the other operatives to whisper about her among themselves. The fact that there wasn't anything in her file about her training prior to joining the B.S.A.A made him curious as well as everyone else. Some of them having come up with a few theories about her past, but that's all they were.

"I know she's the only women in our little group, but why does she always sit alone?" noticing Piers looking at Miriallia, the deep voice of the African-American operative sitting across the table from him posed the question to the group.

"I don't know Jeff, maybe she doesn't like your jokes," the reply came from the bald man in the seat to his right. Leaning back in his chair with a grin, taking a long drink of the beer in his hand. Jeff responded by laughing mockingly, obviously not finding his joke very funny.

"What do ya gotta be like that for Keaton. He's got a valid question. Two months working with this women and what do we know about her other then what we were told when we were introduced to her..." taking a sip of the brown liquid in his cup, another member of the group voiced his thoughts. Smirking as he set down his glass, "Other then that she can take Piers to the mat in close combat," he chuckled. The Director had shared video results of the match up between them with the rest of the group prior to them leaving. Laughing with them as they watched Piers end up flat on his back.

Even as everyone joined in the laughter at his expense, Piers held his gaze on Miriallia across the room. Picking up his beer with his right hand, "And you wouldn't last two seconds against her Marco," he smirked as he took a long drink of his cold beer. That was at least one thing they had in Romania that was better then back home. It was refreshing after the steak he ate had left a bad taste in his mouth.

Marco was just about to make his rebuttle when Piers got up from the table. "Where are you off to?" he asked with a slightly raised brow.

"Instead of speculating about who she is, I'm just going to go ask her," after two months Piers was the first one to get intrigued enough about her to ask her about herself. Everyone had been reluctant up to this point because of how she always seemed to keep everyone at a distance, by spending as much time away from them as possible. Only interacting with them when they were investigating a lead on Chris Redfield.
_

As he approached he noticed her look out the window at their SUV outside. Walking over to Miriallia's table, beer in hand, he took a seat in the chair across the table from her. "Have you been able to track down any new leads on Chris?" opening with a mission related topic, he thought this was probably the best way to ease into other questions.

There was a moment of silence before she looked up from the PDA in her hand, "Not yet," she sighed. Setting down the device she picked up her cup of coffee, gazing at the steam rising from it. Blowing on it briefly to cool it off, "His trails been extremely erratic. I can't find a purpose in what he's doing." Putting the edge of the cup to her lips, she took a drink before focusing her eyes on Piers again. "But from the information I've read no one had a chance to speak with Chris before he disappeared from the hospital. He was unconcious when he was admitted and no one even knew he had regained consciousness before he was discovered missing. So, with that in mind and the extent of his injuries, I'd say it's most likely that Chris has amnesia. Probably having no idea where he was or what had happened to him when he woke up," she shrugged, "And if that's the case, it's hard to know what his reasons were for leaving the hospital on his own." There was a moments pause before she added one more thing, "However, we are catching up to him. The span of time that's passed between when he leaves a location and we arrive is shortening. Will catch up to him soon enough. The one constant is that he's gradually been making his way north through Eastern Europe." Finished with what she had to say she sipped her coffee. The explanation of what she speculated Chris was doing, showed at least some medical knowledge of what injuries to the body could inflict. The extent of how much she knew about this was varied. As a tracker she made it a point to know at least a little about a lot of things.

Listening intently to her, Piers was glad to hear that they were catching up to Chris. Though the thought of him having amnesia was a bit disconcerting. If that was the case, who knows how much of himself he had forgotton. However, it would explain why he hadn't come back to the B.S.A.A. "All we can do then is keep chasing down leads on him and hope we get lucky," taking a sip of his beer, he set it down on the table leaving his hand loosely around it. As he watched her sip her coffee again he noticed an earring in her right ear of a silver stud that had a blue, white and grey feather dangling from it. Upon inspecting her other ear he saw only a silver stud. He thought it seemed odd, but he was no judge of how women liked to dress and brushed the thought aside quickly.

Responding to him with a simple nod of her head, not really a talkative person, she offered no verbal reponse to his comment. Cradling her cup of coffee in both hands, giving a glance out the window at the SUV they were all travelling in together. Lifting her cup from the table, she crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair.

This was the second time he had seen her look out the window. Able to only assume that she was keeping a close eye on what she had to leave in the trunk. "You don't like to be without that sword do you. In fact the only time I see you without it is times like this when you can't have it with you. Why is that?" the question was asked out of curiosity, though he wondered if she would answer it.

Contemplating her answer to his question for a moment before she turned her gaze back on him. Studying him for a second as he took another drink from his beer. "It was a gift from someone I haven't seen in a long time," giving him a vague reply, she sipped her coffee. Obviously not easily going to talk about her personal history. "Because of that, I don't like to let it out of my sight," with the secrets she had to keep, there were many things that she couldn't discuss with him for fear of giving him any clues that could divulge those secrets. This was why Miriallia preferred not to spend time with the groups she was a part of. At some point personal questions came up and she'd rather avoid that altogether then have to lie about something. Which were more trouble to keep track of then they were worth. "I'm not here to make friends..." she thought as she peered across the table at Piers from over her cup.

The enigmatic answer she gave him didn't shed much light on the mystery that was Miriallia Shiga. Leaving him with more questions then answers. He wondered how she would react if he tried to pry further, "Your file says your pretty skilled with your sword, but I've never seen you use it. Not even when we faced off against each other." Leaning forward, he placed his elbows and forearms on the table. "I don't have any experience defending myself against a sword. You probably could have beaten me if you had used it," looking at her calm expression he couldn't tell if his attempt at having a casual conversation with her was going very well.

"A sword is a tool for killing people, same as any gun. I don't use it for anything but it's intended purpose. If I had wanted to kill you, I would have used it against you," having seen plenty of death in her two years with the B.S.A.A and prior to it, she talked about it casually. To her it was just a part of life she had come to terms with a long time ago. "Now I have a question for you," taking a sip of coffee, she continued, "Why the sudden interest in asking me these things?" It was a blunt question as she stared across the table at him.

Taking notice of the way she talked about death, it was obvious that she had seen just as much of it as he had. Piers wasn't surprised by her question, after all it had taken two months for this conversation to take place. "You never talk about yourself. And it's got us all a little curious about who were working with. That's all," he spun his almost empty beer bottle around on the table with both hands. Looking into her eyes as he replied to her, "Some of the others have made up some crazy theories about you." Unlike everyone else in the group she never received other missions to go on. Her main focus and only task was finding Chris.

Finishing her coffee, Miriallia set her empty cup down on the table. "With all do respect Sir, I'm not here to make friends. Once we find Chris I'll be going back to the Far East Branch. So I don't really see the point in getting to know any of you personally." With a calm but serious tone she stated her dislike for what he was trying to do. Picking up her PDA she got up from her seat and bowed her head to him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to the hotel," not waiting for a remark from him before she lifted her head and turned to walk away. A Far East Branch B.S.A.A patch on the right arm of the brown waist length jacket she wore.

Leaving Piers at the table, raising his beer to take the last drink of it. Shaking his head as he watched her walk away. "So that's how it is..." from the conversation they did have he gathered that she was a person who preferred not to have close bonds with others. "That way if they die, she won't have to grieve for them...is that it?" he posed this question to himself. Though he doubted he would ever get an answer to it. After watching Miriallia leave he got up from the table, leaving his empty beer bottle behind as he went back to the table to join the others.

"It didn't go very well did it?" Keaton commented with a smirk, "She's a cold one," he faked a shiver and chuckled. "It's to bad too, cause she's quite easy on the eyes," some of the others agreed with this comment while Piers sighed as he sat down at the table. He agreed with what he said, though he didn't show it. As the Captain of the newly reformed Alpha Team and a soldier, he refrained from making such comments. Simply raising his hand to flag down the waitress and order another beer.

Walking out of the restaurant Miriallia tucked her PDA into a coat pocket. Going to the SUV to retrieve her katana before heading back to the hotel.
_

The next morning the group gathered in the lobby of the hotel and spilt into pairs to ask people in the town if they had seen Chris Redfield recently. With seven members, Miriallia ended up being the odd person out. Which was fine with her since she preferred to work alone anyway. After a few hours they gathered back together at their SUV parked outside the hotel. Giving all the information they had to Miriallia, who compared it with what they knew of Chris's movements so far. From what they found out he seemed to still be heading north. Examining a map on her PDA and using it's connection to the B.S.A.A's information database to search through details about the towns and cities north of Moreni.

The others all looked at her in silence waiting for her assesment of what their next move should be. And after a few minutes she looked up, glancing at all of them briefly as she gave them there answer. "As I see it, Captain Redfield is still moving north. With the last sighting of him being along this highway," holding the PDA out for everyone to see she showed them the highway east of Moreni. "With a lead of at least a day or two on us, I think it's likely that he will pass through, if not be in this city," sliding the view of the map on her PDA north with her finger, she stopped it on the city of Piatra Neamt. Her explanation was to the point and told them little about how she had come to her conclusion.

What she said caused the others to take pause, "Is she saying we could catch up to Chris in that city..." Piers wondered if the search could finally be coming to an end. Though he pondered what made her so sure of her conclusion, he had come to trust her skills in tracking Chris so far. "So, your saying if we move quickly we could catch up to Chris at the next stop?" he had to know for sure that that was what she was telling them. Not wanting to just assume it and get his hopes up as well as everyone else. When she nodded in response, though he didn't smile as the others all did, you could see a look in his eyes that told you he was smiling on the inside. Thinking it best to keep his composure around the others and act like the leader he was supposed to be. Not feeling particularly comfortable with the role he had been thrust into after Chris went missing, but they were his orders.

"What are we waiting for then?" Keaton commented with a grin, moving to the door of the SUV, "If we take to long will fall behind again," he got into the back seat and was quickly joined by everyone else. All obviously excited to be so close to finding Chris. Miriallia took the role of navigator in the passenger seat, next to Piers who was driving. Having already loaded there things into the vehicle before they went to the townspeople that morning. They were able to leave as soon as the plan of action had been established.
_

There were few words exchanged between Miriallia and the rest of the operatives. Speaking the most to Piers, but only to give him directions. Keaton, Jeff, Marco and the others in the back all talked amongst themselves, while it was mostly silence up front. After his failed attempt at having a conversation with her the night before, Piers was hesitant to try to start another one. Thinking that it wouldn't have any better results then the first time.

Miriallia however was enjoying the silence. It was easier for him not to ask her anything about herself then it was for her to have to lie to him. Not that she couldn't, it was just troublesome to do so and have to keep all the lies straight. There would be no problem if she only had to keep the deciet up for a few days, a week, even a month. But it was still unknown how long she would have to remain with them. "And As I said to Nivans, I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to do a job...and a job is a job," the indifferent blue gaze of her eyes held on the passing roadside out her open window. She had taken to calling him by his last name or 'Sir' as a sign of respect for his position as leader. Since he didn't care much for being called 'Captain', something she had learned the day she meet him.

They had been driving for almost an hour like this when Piers decided he'd had enough of the silence. Sitting relaxed with one hand on the wheel and his other leaning against the frame of his open window. Arm bending at the elbow as he lifted it to run his fingers through short brown hair that was spiky in the front. "So..." he was about to ask what made her think Chris would be in Piatra Neamt when she cut him off. Calling for him to stop the vehicle, tapping the top of the dashboard a couple times while never taking her gaze away from the field outside her window. He was confused as to why she wanted to stop but he brought the SUV to a halt anyway. Looking at her with a puzzled expression, "What is it?"

Glancing at him as she turned slightly to unbuckle her seatbelt, "Look closely at that field and you'll see why." The belt clicked as it came undone and she looked back to Jeff in the seat behind her. "Pass me a pair of binoculars from the trunk," though he didn't know her reasons for them Jeff quickly passed them to her. As she waited the few minutes for them Piers looked out into the field to try and see what she saw out there. After a minute he noticed what looked like a lone figure of a person a few hundred yards from there position, standing in a field that was just behind a line of trees along the road. Admittedly a curious thing to see in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere. But he didn't see the cause for alarm until he watched how it moved. If it was a person the way they moved, dragging a foot slightly behind them, made them appear injured in some way.

They all watched Miriallia as she used the binoculors to get a closer look at the figure. Even she was surprised by what she saw through them. Saying nothing as she passed the binoculors to Piers next to her. Whose disbelief was apparent in the look on his face when he lowered the binoculors and looked at her. He handed them to the others seated behind them so they could take a look at what all the fuse was about. Once everyone was aware that what had come to be called a J'avo was standing out there, they all looked to Piers for his decision on what to do about it.

A J'avo was a person who had been mutated by being injected with what's known as the C-Virus, that the B.S.A.A had encountered four months ago in Edonia. In appearance, the J'avo are mostly human, at a distance though upon inspection their faces are horribly mutated. Their skin tones are often heavily discolored and faint blue-violet veins can be seen coursing through their faces. Their teeth often appear uneven, jagged and discolored. The most notable mutation are their large, rounded eyes with small pupils. The irises are filled with tiny specks and range from an off-white or pale yellow, to a darker yellow or brown. The J'avo have more than two eyes, usually scattered along their face and forehead. These eyes appear in different patterns, positions and sizes such as large vertical eyes or clusters of four smaller eyes. The newly-formed eye-sockets from their mutation cause the skin around the area to appear ruptured and even bleed profusely. Some J'avo found in Edonia covered up parts of their faces with bandages. For all intents and purposes, the J'avo are fully-thinking and organized. They are able to communicate with each other through speech, signal to each other to retreat or move in for an attack, and even taunt their enemies. They are able to utilize close-range weapons such as combat knives or machetes as well as use firearms such as sub-machine guns, sniper rifles, and even rocket launchers.

Although this one appeared injured there was no way of knowing if the J'avo was out here alone. Which made Piers cautious in making a decision. Seeing this hesitation from him Miriallia took matters into her own hands. Getting out of the SUV she left the door open behind her and went to the trunk to find the AR-15 assault rifle and PSE TAC-15 tactical crossbow mount she knew she had packed in her stuff. Knowing they were going into a conflict area, they had been permitted to bring along a few weapons in case the need arose for them. When he saw her attaching the mount to the assault rifle Piers got out as well. Moving to stand in front of her as she started to step away from the vehicle. "What are you doing Miriallia?" he questioned, with some authority in his usually calm tone. He knew what he thought she was doing, and knew that if she took out the J'avo and there were others around it, she'd be putting all their lives at risk. Which wasn't something he was about to let happen.

Having thought he would have been too shocked by what it looked like she was going to do, it caused her to take pause as he stood in front of her. But that didn't mean she didn't have an answer to his enquiry, "I'm doing what we should do. We can't leave it out here to infect people or worse. And if there are more of them shouldn't we find out. I know that finding Chris is important, but can you in good conscious leave that J'avo here around innocent people." What she said made it seem like she genuinely cared about the people who could be affected in this situation. Though really she was just curious about what it was doing out here and wondered if her father and 'The Family' would be as well. Not that she was about to let the others know that. Thinking that it would be easiest to get Piers interested in checking out the situation by playing to feelings of guilt he may have about leaving the J'avo alone out here.

The concern she showed seemed genuine enough for Piers and the others to believe it. Only she knew that she was only pretending and had her own agenda. Stepping to the side he turned to look at the J'avo in the distance. "So, what do you suggest?" a calmly asked question, showing a bit of trust at least in her opinion. Even if he knew little about her personally, from the two months he had spent around her so far, he knew she was a good soldier. "If were doing this, it's as a group. No ones taking any chances and going off alone," his eyes scanned the area around the J'avo. This wasn't the first time that he had stated to the group that they should never do anything solo at the sign of a threat. Having faced conflict in places all over Eastern Europe in their quest for Chris Redfield. Working together as a group was one thing that Chris always stressed in his role as a Captain, and something that had stuck with Piers. For him his team is his family.

Everyone looked to Miriallia for her suggestion, something that would have made most people feel nervous in some way. But she had no concern for such feelings because she didn't truly feel anything at all. Operating as if she had flipped some kind of switch and just turned her emotions off. The things she seemed to feel were just pretended for the sake of those around her. Only the loss of her parents pushed past the detachment she had toward everything else. And that wasn't something she spoke about to anyone.

Without giving the others a glance her gaze remained on Piers, "I'm simply going to shoot the target from here with this crossbow and see what happens. If there are more around and it draws there attention then we'll handle it. If not then we can handle that too." Not a well thought out plan, she had to admit, but she saw little option for anything else. With only a few kilometers to the next town it seemed odd for it to be alone.

Shaking his head from side to side Piers looked at Miriallia, "That's a terrible plan..." taking a second he sighed and moved to the trunk of the SUV. "But it might be the only option we have. We've got a pretty good view of the field and forest around it from here," lifting a high powered Anti-Material Rifle from a case, he turned and headed to the edge of the road facing the field. Lying on his stomach on the pavement he rested the rifle in front of him. "Take your shot Miriallia, I'll keep an eye on the J'avo and the area around it when you do. This way if there are more of them, will know about them sooner," placing his eye to the scope as he finished speaking. There was no time to linger on making a decision and as Captain this was his to make, whether he wanted to or not.

The ease at which he agreed with her plan of action caused her to pause for a moment. Thinking she would at least have to exchange a few convincing arguments before he'd be telling her to shot. Having even already thought up a couple. "Perhaps I have more of his trust then I thought..." the thought stayed with her for a moment before she stepped to the road's edge, standing a few feet to the left of Piers. Raising the rifle, crossbow combination up, she braced the butt of the rifle against her right shoulder. Lowering her head to look down the scope that was mounted on the assault rifle that the crossbow mount was attached to. She took aim on the J'avo in the distance. Breathing slowly and steadily for accuracy sake as her left hand came up under forearm. "Firing..." a single word said calmly before exhaling deeply, letting loose the arrow. It soared through the air and there was a moment of silence from everyone. Piers had the best view from his scope as the arrow struck the target in the head. Penetrating deeply into it's skull, a mist of blood in the air as he watched the J'avo go down and not get back up.

Immediately after the target was taken down all of them scanned the area for any sign of movement. When there was none Piers stood up and placed the Anti-Material rifle back in it's case. Miriallia followed suit by returning the assault rifle and crossbow mount to the trunk as well. Everyone thinking that it seemed more then a little strange for there to only be one of them. As they got back into the SUV she scanned the field once more before getting into the passenger seat and closing the door. The engine started as Piers got ready to get back on the road.

As they got moving again she pulled her PDA from the pocket of her jacket. Bringing up a map of the area, unable to shake the thought that there had to be more then just the one B.O.W. The town of Sinaia was just a few kilometers from where they were now, "Nivans, do you find it as strange as I do that there was only the one B.O.W?" Her question drew the attention of not only Piers but the other five operatives as well.

"Of course I do, but what are you suggesting?" answering her, he posed a question of his own. Driving with both hands on the wheel, consistently checking his mirrors for movement.

"I'm suggesting that we take caution as we get close to the town up ahead," holding the PDA up she showed him a map which he glanced at momentarily before putting his attention back on the road. "It's supposed to be some kind of mountain resort town, but who knows what we could be stepping into," everyone was put a little on edge by what she said but they all knew she could be right.

Piers grip on the wheel tightened slightly when they turned a corner a short time later and signs of the town finally came into view. Knowing they wouldn't be having a peaceful trip through when they saw the half destroyed blockade at the entrance to the town of Sinaia. For a town in ruins it was quiet, with no gun fire, only the sound of smouldering flames and the smell of smoke and death. After squeezing through the blockade their SUV made it's way down the main street that ran through town. All of them cautiously watching out the windows as Piers drove them through a street cluttered with overturned and abandoned vehicles.

"Looks like we know where that J'avo came from," there was a sound of worry in Jeff's voice as he made the comment. Lifting his dark skinned hand, it shook slightly as he fumbled with the clip for his pistol.

Marco put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Hey, no worries. No matter how many there are there not good enough to kill any of us." He brimmed with confidence that Miriallia was sure was for his own sake as well as his companion.

"With a little luck we can pass straight through on this road and contact B.S.A.A headquarters to send another squad to look into this town," Piers tried to encourage a sense of hope that they could pass through without incident.

"As vacant as this place is, it has to at least have been evacuated already. Right?" the question came from Keaton, rubbing his bald head with his hand. Eyes held on the windows of the buildings they were driving past.

"If there was anyone left to evacuate," her comment was so calm that it gave an unsettled feeling to the others around her. Sure they knew what she said could be true, but was there really any need to state it out loud.

Not much was said after that and they were thankful when they saw an intact blockade ahead of them. It appeared that the infection had been contained to the southern portion of the town. They were a few hundred yards away when shots were fired followed by the sound of a tire blowing. The SUV swerved a bit before Piers regained control and brought the vehicle to a stop. Between them and the blockade a half dozen J'avo made there presence known on the rooftops of nearby buildings. With more coming out from behind destroyed cars and other debris as well.

They were sitting ducks in the SUV so the group didn't hesitate in jumping out. Leaving the doors open to provide some cover from shots fired at them as Piers, Keaton and Marco went to the trunk for guns. While the others, including Miriallia moved up a bit into nearby cover to protect the others with pistols that they all carried on them at all times. She of course had her katana for an additional weapon which she grabbed from beside her seat before getting out of the SUV. None of them had to be told to do this. It was how they were trained to deal with situations like this.

Once everyone was armed, under Piers direction they fired at the J'avo while Jeff went to work on fixing the blown tire. Piers stayed at the rear taking out the J'avo on the rooftops with his Anti-Material rifle. Working as a unit they were able to take them out one at a time. When the last of them went down they breathed a sigh of relief and moved to gather back at the SUV.

Miriallia was at the rear of the group, as they walked back she slipped her pistol into the holster on her thigh. Her attention drawn to the building on her right when she heard what sounded like the whirring of a chainsaw. Within moments the wall came crashing down as a B.O.W none of them had seen before came rushing into the street behind her. It was a human-shaped monster with a circular shaped thing beating and pulsating in its arm, powering a fused organic chainsaw made of flesh, bone, and muscle tissue.

The grotesque mutation rushed at Miriallia as everyone tried to line up shots at it. Unable to find a clear shot past the blonde operative as she drew her katana to defend herself with. Cinching the katana in between the chainsaw blades as it was brought down upon her. It's gears grating together as it pushed to break through her defence. Piers had a clear view of the scene through the scope of his rifle. Seeing how much physical strength she had for the first time as the muscles in her arms revealed themselves in great definition as she tried to fend off the B.O.W. Even he struggled to find a clear shot until she thrust her katana upward with everything she had. The creatures chainsaw like arm flying upwards as it took a stumbling step backward revealing an unobstructed shot at it's head, which Piers didn't hesitate to take.

A precision shot as it flew over her shoulder and pierced the mutants head causing it to stagger backward. But it wasn't finished yet as it recovered a moment later, the damaged portion of it's head quickly regenerating. Giving Miriallia barely enough time to get a few steps away from it. Being the closest person to it, the B.O.W came after her again with nothing but the intent to kill her as it swung it's chainsaw around. Everyone fired away at it a few times until it had moved to close to Miriallia to get a shot at it again.

With the knowledge of the amount of skill Piers had with the rifle she griped the hilt of her katana in both hands. Jamming it in the chainsaw blades again as it was brought down upon her once more. This time taking a closer look at the pulsating orb within the same arm as the chainsaw. It wasn't easy for her to fend off the foul smelling mutation, "When I push it back again shot the pulsing orb in it's arm!" she took the time to shout a suggestion to Piers. From her experience with B.O.W's anything that glows like that had to be a weak spot. Especially since the bullet to it's head didn't seem to even slow it down.

Mustering her strength she gave a powerful push upward with her katana. It's blade clashing against the blades of the chainsaw as it was thrown upward again. A second later a bullet pierced the beating object in it's arm causing the brute to howl in what sounded like pain. Miriallia didn't waste time in distancing herself from it this time. Letting the others lay into it with their guns while she pulled an incendiary grenade from a pouch on the back of her belt, at her hip. It went up in flames quickly, screaming violently at them as they peppered it with bullets.

After a few moments they stopped and the fiery corpse fell to the ground. "Were ready to go," Jeff called to them, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. He gave the replaced tire a kick before giving the thumbs up to everyone.

Piers called for everybody to get back in the SUV. Once they were all in he drove with haste for the blockade ahead. Greeted there by men in Eastern European military uniforms and carrying guns. Congratulated on making it through the hot zone and after making a brief call to headquarters to get them to send another squad to check out the J'avo infested area, they were back on there way to Piatra Neamt to find Chris Redfield.

"That was something else back there with that B.O.W. You've got some balls getting that close to it Miriallia," Keaton commented from the seat behind Piers.

"It's not like it gave me much choice," she retorted as she pulled a cloth from a vest pocket to clean the blade of her katana.

Jeff leaned forward in the seat behind her, placing his hands on the shoulders of her seat, "Seriously though, you must have been at least a little scared with that thing baring down on you like that."

"I didn't really think about it. I did what I knew I was capable of at the time. Nivans was the one who actually put the bullets in it," humble in her response, taking no credit for the kill at all.

"But..." Jeff began, only to be cut off by Piers. "It's dead, and that's really all that matters isn't it," he asserted with a calm tone. The conversation about it pretty much ceased there. Though Piers was left wondering just how strong Miriallia was physically, to have faced off with the thing the way she did. "She can certainly handle herself in a pinch..." glancing over at her the thought crossed his mind. The way she blocked the chainsaw with her katana had left an impression upon all of them. But there was silence between them as they settled in for the remaining hours of driving before they reached their next destination, Piatra Neamt. A city in the northeastern section of Romania. Could they catch up to Chris there or had this delayed them enough to miss him once again.