June 2013
Chris stares down at the BSAA patch he accidentally tore from Piers' uniform with a strong sense of mortification and grief. He has felt so much grief as of late, he feels like he's going to burst from it. But never before has he felt this helpless to fix things, to take back what was taken from him. He squeezes the patch in his hand. Piers.
Damn Piers and his blind ambition and loyalty for him. Chris didn't think for a second that he deserved so much of it and yet his partner had been beyond devoted - not only to the mission and the BSAA but to him. Piers' fierce determination to stand by his captain despite Chris' mistakes and insecurities, even despite the hard time Chris had given him was one of a kind and thus unforgettable. How was Chris expected to return to his life as though nothing had happened now? After everything he and the kid had gone through, with the plan he had to have Piers take his position as captain of the team. Was he supposed to just pretend that he hadn't lost the best partner he'd ever had? He owed Piers his life - the life that carried meaning and a purpose, the only life worth living. And now he owed Piers his existence too.
Chris growls, vision going blurry from the reaction he is trying to keep at bay. He grits his teeth together as the escape pod finally opens. It is barely a minute of trying to compose himself before he hears and then sees the helicopter coming to his rescue.
They're here so soon. Piers is still down there, his mutation may be allowing him to survive somehow. Chris' thoughts start to rush along with his heartbeat - this may be foolish hope that he is feeling, or it might be just enough of luck that he is mixing with reasoning. He waves for the helicopter, almost erratically.
"Come on, come on!" He growls under his teeth, wary of time, wary of the water underneatth the escape pod, wary of Piers stuck in the facility, probably torn between life and death.
Someone finally manages to get through and he hears a voice he can't recognise into his earpiece. "Captain? We are here to rescue you, captain. We are throwing you the ladder in less than 60." Chris shakes his head firmly at that, without having to think of it twice.
"No" he says, firm and resolute. "I am not going anywhere until men are sent down to retrieve my partner, soldier." The young man on the other line starts to protest but Chris cuts him off "I don't want to hear it, kid!" He almost yells "Piers Nivans, my second in command, is stuck down there. Now tell me there is a team equipped to go down there and get him or I'll swim there myself." Chris is glaring up at the helicopter as he says this and he sees the soldiers on it shuffle around some, for what seems to him to be ages, before there is finally an answer on the other side.
"We... we can't, sir. We don't have the equipment for it and- and before another team arrives, it will be too late. Sorry, sir." the soldier adds quickly, dread, fear and even pity evident in his voice. Chris' heart sinks at his words and he barely contains himself from screaming out in agony that has nothing to do on the wounds he currently has on his body and face.
And that's when it happens. At first, it's a faint sound that almost can't be distinguished due to the emotional state Chris is in, but then it's more clear. The water moves more than the usual and then splashes loud and high as another escape pod springs out of it and up in the air before landing back in the water.
Chris' heart hammers in his chest as he stares at the escape pod, which is a little far from him but close enough to see who's inside when the door opens. But who else could be inside..
"Piers?" Chris mumbles, staring, disbelieving yet hopeful as the escape pod's door opens slowly. "Piers!" Chris yells out, even before he can see him. But then there he is.
Piers is leaning on one of the walls heavily, his body curved to one side in an awkward, inhuman angle, the mutated arm elongated and throbbing visibly, sparking with electricity from time to time. The mutation has also spread more on Piers' face and neck but Chris thinks he sees Piers look straight at him and say something. Chris stares at his face, trying to make out the words but he can't, even as he is already leaning half out of his own escape pod in the effort to get closer to his partner. Piers keeps talking and Chris feels momentarily delirious with hope before it's ripped from him again to be replaced with more fear.
Piers curls in on himself, letting out a scream that Chris can distinctly hear, before straightening up, shaky on his feet. He looks in Chris' direction again, electicity shooting from his arm in a random direction outside the scape pod and then loses consciousness, collapsing. Chris stares, not knowing what to do, not knowing what to think, his stomach clenched in worry.
"Piers!" he calls out again, but his partner doesn't move. Chris looks back up in direction of the helicopter, panicked. "What are you waiting for, soldier?!" he demands.
There is a pause before a hesitant voice answers. "Awaiting orders from HQ, sir."
"What orders?" Chris snaps, eyes darting swiftly from Piers' unconscious mutated body and back to the helicopter.
"Orders on .. the possible termination of the subject, sir."
Chris feels his blood boil and wants to start shooting left and right. "There are going to be no such orders, kid" he hisses "And there is no subject. This is my partner and he will taken back to BSAA's medical facility immediately." He makes sure to use the most firm tone he has. "Am I clear?" he snaps.
Another moment of silence. Then:
"This is HQ. Captain, what is the situation?"
Chris gathers his breath and uses the same firm business tone. "My partner risked his life to stop Ada Wong's plan and saved my life in the process. He has been infected in a way I haven't seen yet and seems to be in control of the mutation. I need him taken to medical immediately and cared for. I need him alive and well." The words leave his lips without Chris having to even think about it. There are no questions here. Piers has to live. No one is terminating anyone.
"How dire is his condition?" comes the next question from HQ.
Chris scowls, jaw set firm. "I will be there to help you determine this in Medical." he says shortly.
"Copy that." is the response from the other end before the line goes silent. The team from the helicopter is finally moving about with the rescue procedure. Chris clearly motions for them to take Piers up to the helicopter first, determined not to give them an opportunity to trick him by taking him and leaving Piers behind. He watches paying close attention as they pull his partner up to the helicopter before the ladder is pushed down. He grabs onto it and climbs it with his heart resuming to beat abnormally fast in his chest.
Once up in the hellicopter, Chris glues himself to Piers' side, examining him carefully. The younger man is unconscious, the mutation is still dominating his arm and features but he is breathing and that's all that Chris really needs to know right now. He barely remembers to greet the rescue team surrounding them, his attention focused on Piers. His eyes scan Piers' face, still so handsome even with the virus trying to take over as well as his form. Chris' heart clenches as he stares at his partner's mutated arm. Piers did that for him, he knows as much. And it's now more Chris' duty to keep him safe in turn than ever. The BSAA will have to do everything in their power. He won't let Piers die.
