Chapter 11: The Scythe becomes whole

"If you do not think about your future, you cannot have one." – John Galsworth

It took about a week for Piers to get better. He was alive, thanks to V, but there were limitations that nobody could have been able to see just by him lying in a bed and talking to people all day. The days were slow and uneventful, nothing new came about concerning the abomination they had faced on the road. Piers slowly regained his normal strength, when he woke up and tried walking on the second day he almost passed out. If Chris had not woken up just then he probably would have unceremoniously hit the ground with a thud leaving Chris to worry about him once again.

Chris had sat Piers back down in the cot and alerted Mars as to what was going on. She came running in looking weary and annoyed at Piers all too much. She reiterated again that they would get him whatever he needed and that he needed to be resting himself. Mars had Chris make sure he stayed put where he was and went to get him some form of breakfast. Chris didn't mind this in the least bit but it was obvious that Piers hated being under constant watch and on bedrest until he recovered.

The third day after he had woken up, their small little group held a memorial service for V. Piers, Natalia, Chris, Mars, and Athena showed up, even though Athena was still recovering from some broken ribs.

They could not do very much for V sadly, just a small wooden market and a few kind words, thanking him for saving Piers. Officially, he had been labeled Killed In Action, or K.I.A. Unofficially, he was actually a "strange" form of a B.O.W. that had complete control of himself; one that had given a life to save a life. Nobody said anything to the higher ups, even though Jill knew; if anyone else did they would try to wipe him from recorded existence. None of them wanted to let that happen, especially after all they had been through together and everything he had helped to make possible.

Over the next few days Piers gradually got all of his normal strength and endurance back and even seemed to be stronger than usual. Piers was now running faster, longer, and even doing more than what Chris himself could do in terms of weight lifting. After about a week of recovering, the team heard a development about the abomination from before.

It had been spotted again, and there seemed to be a new influx of J'avo into the abominations "domain" of a city. Jill had called again, asking, this time actually asking them if they could take the beast out. The reports suggested that the abomination might now be extremely vulnerable, it had a lot less armor than the last time and they were told that it now looked somewhat necrotic, which was a horrifying piece of information but yet it was somehow hopeful.

The entirety of Alpha Team agreed to take the creature on, everyone had a fire for vengeance in their hearts that burned brighter and brighter with every piece of news they heard about this thing. The exception of Alpha Team's roster, Mars, was no exception to the fire for vengeance. When they headed down to the armory to get suited up Piers had noticed Mars was working with something he had never before seen her use. Piers approached her cautiously because he could feel hatred emanating off of her in waves as she looked at it.

Mars didn't even seem to notice Piers was he walked up behind her slowly, "Hey… Mars, um, what is that exactly?"

Mars took a second before she decided to look at Piers, but ultimately not actually looking him in the eyes but more of staring off into nowhere, "This… it's um… insurance."

Piers wasn't sure what to make of that claim of it being for "insurance" and decided to leave Mars alone and not try to push the subject at all. Before Piers could step completely away from Mars she grabbed his arm abruptly. Piers stopped in his tracks and turned around, raising a questioning eyebrow at Mars who seemed to be looking for the right words to say.

Mars was hesitant and almost stumbling over the first few words she said, "When… if the time comes, and you see someone worth having another chance, do everything you can to make sure they get it, OK? There are still people worth saving in this worth, and I know that V saw you were one of the people worth saving, Piers."

Piers took those words to heart, it seemed as time went on that Mars would become more open to Piers about things she and V thought. He may not have shown it to Mars but every little new piece of information he was given as to why he was saved he couldn't help but feel happier and happier that he had even one more second of time in him after what had happened. Piers nodded back to Mars after a tense second of silence, hoping that it seemed sincere enough for her. It must have seemed sincere because after he nodded to her Mars released her grip on his arm and allowed him to walk away.

After about five minutes all of Alpha Team was geared up and ready to go on the mission. Nobody talked on the way there as they loaded up into the helicopter and flew over, but Chris and Piers did make it a point to walk closer together and sit down next to each other in the helicopter.

It took them about an hour to get to the city, it was eerily quiet and there wasn't a single sign of B.O.W.s or any form of life in general from the light of the sinking maroon red sun in the distance. The wind was blowing dust and small pieces of debris over the place, and every once in a while some of the dust would kick up into someone's face making them have a light sneeze or coughing fit. Still, looking at the city the entire team couldn't help but feel on edge, last time Piers had been here he had seen so many infected that he couldn't keep count and now it just looked like a damn ghost town with zero signs of life anywhere.

Alpha reached the city limits and got about thirty seconds into the city when they came under heavy fire from dozens, maybe even hundreds of J'avo. They were forced to separate, much to the dismay of Chris and Piers specifically. Mars and Piers broke off to the western direction while Chris, Andy, and Marco went to the east towards the evacuation point in case they came under an intense ambush. Mars and Piers worked their way down an alley they had rushed into and it opened back up onto another street.

The gunfire had stopped following them the second they had entered the alley, but the moment they came out seemed more tense than it had before they entered it. Mars and Piers proceeded along slowly, both extremely aware of their surroundings and sticking to the overhangs and walls jutting out further into the streets from buildings on the sidewalk. While they were moving along they spotted moving shadows further down the street and in many of the windows on the buildings but couldn't make out what they were long enough to get an accurate picture of them, although they only thought of two possibilities. J'avo or just a trick of their mind, but both of them figured the former rather than the latter of the two possibilities.

Crackling started coming over the radio, they couldn't make out what was being said, just intermittent static and sparse pieces of words were floating through, but the voice was easily identifiable as Chris'. In the distance they started hearing the sounds of a firefight between dozens of guns. Piers tried his own comms and cursed when all he received from them was a sharp burst of static.

Piers then looked to Mars, frightened for Chris' safety, "What do you think is happening over there?"

Before Mars could answer Piers' question they heard a roar over the sounds of the firefight and then they too came under fire from what seemed like the buildings themselves. The entire street seemed to come alive with gunfire, all aimed at the two lone soldiers trying to stay alive. They both ducked behind the nearest pillars for cover, Piers and Mars both sweating form the heat and sudden firefight but Piers looked absolutely wracked with worry over Chris. Piers looked for Mars to try and get some idea of what to do and Mars looked back, thinking for a moment on what to say to him.

Before she could say anything there was another savage and animalistic roar about the sounds of guns firing. Mars cursed again, "On three you run your ass off towards that fight and don't ever look back. Do you understand me Piers?"

Piers nodded and Mars began counting, "One… Two… THREE!"

OoOoOoOoOo

They had been split off for several minutes now, and Chris' mind was going insane over the possibilities of what might have happened. They had gotten no call or indication from Piers and Mars that they were ok and Chris wanted to go search for them but he was bound to make sure that no more of his team was put into harm's way unnecessarily. Chris ordered his men to keep moving and they obliged, although they too wanted to go back and search for the missing members of their team. They had to reach the evacuation point quickly before they got overwhelmed by the sheer amount of J'avo. They moved along as quickly as they could, still under extremely heavy fire from behind. One person was always ahead of the rest, ready to turn around and provide covering fire at a moment's notice.

They moved like this for as long as they could, almost the entire way to the evacuation point. Chris was the first of their group to provide covering fire, being that he could run faster than Andy or Marco and so had been ahead of them both. Chris turned around and let loose a few quick bursts of fire from his MP-AF and managed to down a couple J'avo before Andy and Marco rushed passed him. Marco was the next to provide covering fire, blowing the brains out of a J'avo who had the sights of his sniper rifle set on Chris' head. Andy was the third to provide cover, and all he managed to do was throw a grenade before having to duck for cover, vaporizing almost a dozen J'avo that were clustered in a group but then having to turn around and sprint off after Chris and Marco just as quickly.

They kept on running, ducking behind anything they could use for momentary cover down the street. After about another tent seconds of sprinting Chris turned around to fire back at the encroaching J'avo. Chris managed to take out two more before he heard a loud gunshot and the clothing on his left arm started turning red. Chris grunted and turned around, sprinting off to follow Andy and Marco.

They reached point Delta and radioed for extraction. Unfortunately, they were a few minutes out. Three soldiers, unsure of what had happened to their two missing comrades, would have to face off against a seemingly endless wave of J'avo in hopes that the rescue chopper would get to them before they were overrun.

Suddenly, the incoming fire stopped and they heard a primal like roar from deeper in the city, Chris' face paling at the sound and he became even more worried about the two missing soldiers. The moment muted gunfire didn't last long whoever, the second the sound died off the gunfire started up again, peppering the ground and buildings in a wild spray of ammunition. They took cover for what seemed like the thousandth time that day and began firing back at the J'avo with every quiet moment that they got. Chris wasn't much use for long however, the adrenaline was slowly wearing off but he was losing feeling in his left arm as time went on.

Chris set about using his pistol, dropping his MP-AF to the ground and shooting at anything that came closer to them and lobbing grenades at clusters of J'avo. Chris could still be useful with grenades even if he wasn't with a gun, because even with a slowly deadened arm he could still throw grenades further than Andy or Marco were able to.

Andy cursed when his gun clicked empty and he had no more ammo left. Chris slid his MP-AF over to him along with his remaining ammo. Then another roar came, a little closer this time causing a momentary silence that silenced slightly longer. Andy took that moment to reload his gun, while Marco tossed Chris all the remaining grenades they had.

Chris suddenly heard some crackling over the radio in the quiet air. The words were extremely hard to make out because he could only hear bits and pieces of what was being said. One word he was able to make out clearly was *Captain* and it sounded like Piers was the one who said it. Chris couldn't dwell long on this fact however because less than a second later the gunfire started up again, but at least Chris knew that Piers was still alive out there somewhere.

Another roar shook the city, this time gunfire stopped but they could all hear more distance shots as they crouched behind the walls and pillars littering the area that they had commandeered for cover. Chris could hear Mars screaming over the roar and picked out the sound of their rescue chopper closing in on them. They all had a minute or maybe less before they had to hightail it out of there like there was no tomorrow and well really, if they didn't there probably wouldn't be a tomorrow, for any of them. The trio defending the evacuation point peered out from where they had been taking cover and saw Piers running ahead of Mars away from a… Chris had to do a double take for a moment.

*Is that a fucking mutant rubber chicken?!* Chris' jaw almost dropped staring at the thing following Mars and Piers.

Chris watched as it barreled forward after the duo of soldiers they had all but thought were dead, it looked the same shape of the thing they had seen before, and it certainly sounded like it. But for whatever strange reason it looked like its skin was almost rubber now, and Chris watched as the bullets fired into it just simply bounced off of it and fell to the ground. The only thing that seemed to stop it was when it was hit with an incendiary grenade or some kind of flame inducing objects.

The helicopter touched down behind them with its blades slowing down but not completely stopping as Mars and Piers kept on running forward. The creature was able to get closer and closer to the two but every time it did Mars just set it on fire sending it staggering back a few steps until it could stop the flames lapping over its scarred and burnt body. Piers and Mars were about twenty yards from the helicopter, and then things started to take a turn for the worst. Chris, Andy, and Marco were loading up in the chopper when they heard a loud cracking sound ripping through the air.

Chris' head whipped around to look behind him and his heart almost fell through the world at what he saw. Mars was throwing another incendiary grenade at the creature and Piers was on the ground some maybe ten yards behind her back. Piers had a nasty bullet wound in his leg and there was a small pool of blood trying to form below him on the ground. Chris remained in the chopper frozen in utter fear, he had no clue what he should do, he was just standing there hoping some kind of miracle would happen at this point. His eyes followed his would be miracle as she turned around hauling an injured and limping Piers to his feet. The flames on the creature were almost gone when Piers was hoisted into the chopper.

Mars remained outside and stared at Chris until he finally relented and looked at her. They had a quick and silent conversation and Chis nodded at her in understanding. Piers' breathing was slightly ragged at this point and he looked at mars with widened eyes.

"W-what are you doing, Mars?"

Mars didn't even turn around, she just kept looking ahead at the creature coming towards them, "I'm finishing what should have been done a long time ago."

Piers was bewildered at her words and made a move to try and grab for her, and Chris had to hold him back with his one good arm. Mars readied her MP-AF and dashed off towards the creature. Chris and Piers watched silently as she started shooting bursts of bullets into its face, leading it deeper and deeper into the city.

The helicopter pilot radioed to them that he couldn't wait any longer and he took off without even waiting for a response from his passengers. Everyone took the ride in silence, Piers' and Chris' eyes never leaving the city that they could still hear roars coming from. Suddenly, their vision was lit up by a blue flare, and not even a minute later the city went up in flames. Piers finally tore his vision away and was gawking at Chris, tears brimming at the corners of his eyes and threatening to spill out. Marco and Andy were equally as shocked, staring at the rising fires in the city with nothing but cold faces filled with shock and recognition of what had just happened.

"W-what just happened, Captain…?"

Chris was silent for a moment, still watching the flame rise into the sky and wondering if he should actually voice it out loud for Piers or not, "I…" Chris' words caught in his throat for a moment, "… don't know…"

The helicopter ride was taken in near silence from then on. Chris and Piers just watched the raging inferno slowly fade to nothing more than a spark in the distance. Marco and Andy were the only two who really did anything; they went about patching everybody's wounds. Chris was the first one to be patched up and he offered the two soldiers no resistances when they tried to help him. Piers was another story however, he was still staring out the chopper when they decided to try and fix up his leg. When Marco and Andy got close to try to patch him up Piers tried to push them away, grumbling about how he didn't need to be babysat anymore. Chris helped Andy and Marco out by holding Piers back with one arm, pulling him in closer to his chest. When Piers looked at him questioningly Chris just nodded at him, trying to tell him that now was not the time to be doing this. Piers sighed and just let them get it all over with and it looked like he might have to deal with being babysat all over again.

They touched down back at base later that night in a state of shock. They had all seen people die, natural causes, disease, war, but that doesn't mean you ever really get used to what happened or actually get over it all together. Every death in this war was unique in its own horrifically unique way; nobody ever died the exact same way.

The days passed slowly and silently. Mars herself was given a good funeral by the B.S.A.A., she was thanked and commended as a true hero who gave her life to ensure the survival of the rest of her team. Drex, the leader of the Del Mar team, even said words about how medics made it their duty to ensure the survival of their comrades and that Mars went above and beyond her call of duty, carrying that oath out to the letter and then some. Piers and Chris took these words with a grain of salt, although Piers did more so than Chris, Piers still felt something else could have been done so that she didn't have to die, could have survived with Piers, and Chris, and everyone else.

Mars was also given an assortment of medals to show the B.S.A.A.'s recognition of her heroic actions and they were proudly presented to Drex, although he didn't seem completely happy at being the one to receive them. Late that day, Alpha was sitting in the mess hall together, eating in a somewhat companionable silence and trying to make some kind of small talk, to show that they weren't that deeply affected by it, by they all knew that would have been a lie. Drex came up to their table along with two other members from his team and tapped Chris on the shoulder.

Andy, Marco, and Piers watched Drex approach and tap Chris on the shoulder, although Chris made no move to say anything or even acknowledge him. Piers sighed, realizing that Chris didn't want anything to do with anyone right now that wasn't a part of Alpha Team. Piers tapped him on the shoulder and when Chris looked at him Piers pointed towards Drex, which forced Chris to swing around to give him a cold stare that said he definitely did not want to be disturbed right now.

Drex pulled out an ornately carved box, and set it down next to Chris. Everyone stared at it for a moment, not wanting to see what was inside even though they all knew perfectly well what it was. Drex explained to them why he was giving them the box, that the medals should have gone to the team Mars had devoted her life and her entire being to, not to her "official" team that for the Del Mars seemed to be nothing more than a stamp to show that they were medics. After that Drex left in an awkward silence, even though he had received approving nods from the rest of the Alpha Team Chris was still as despondent as ever, even the others who had nodded didn't seem too interested in doing it.

Later that week they all went out to V's grave marker; the sting of not being able to give him a proper funeral still as present as ever. They made another wooden marker to bring out and dedicated this one to Mars. They draped the medals around both markers; they should be left with the two people who had given their lives. The medals would have only served as a bittersweet reminder to the living, bringing to light the good times and the sacrifices that were made.

At times in the future, these markers would serve as memorials to the current, former, and future members of Alpha Team that would serve under Chris Redfield. Chris and Piers would visit before they headed off to Edonia, Marco would also visit these markers only a few weeks after placing them. Piers would often visit them alone to remember Mars' words, to give someone who deserved a second chance the opportunity when he could, and to thank V for giving him and his little sister a second chance to be alive.

Chris never told Piers but he would always watch him go out to the markers. Sometimes he would go with his little sister and sometimes not, but he would watch as Piers would try to seem like he is talking to people who are no longer there. Piers would sit there and talk about things that were happening, things that had happened, always smiling and laughing when he seemed to be trying to tell them about Chris' latest screw ups, things such as tripping up the stairs or other little things that were funny on life's day to day things.

A week after the markers at been placed and the medals draped around them, Alpha made it a special night to go out and visit them all as a group, Athena and Natalia accompanied them as well. Once they got there they all sat around chatting, remembering things, good and bad, that had happened while Mars and V were with them. They had all tried to come up with ways to make it memorable, but all they really did was try to tell some jokes to lighten the mood and things they would be doing in the future. Piers was the only one who came up with a real idea to make it memorable, and everyone there had agreed it to be a good idea. Piers had come to them and explained that there was a song that he thought would make it a memorable place for all of them and after everyone agreed he began leading them, a couple even chiming in because they knew the words.

*….Hello world
How've you been?
Good to see you, my old friend
Sometimes I feel cold as steel
Broken like I'm never gonna heal
I see a light, a little hope…*

After the singing they slowly began to break off and go back to rest. Eventually, Chris, Piers, and Marco were the only ones left there and Marco decided that it was time to break the news. He had motioned to Chris who looked at him questioningly and that is when he brought out the orders he had received the other day.

"Captain… I have orders to be transferred to another team in the European branch as a demolitionist. I've been told that my replacement should be here soon and that his name is Finn McCauley. So… I guess I'll see you guys around after tonight… take care OK?"

Chris nodded at him, not taking his eyes of the paper requesting Marco's transfer. Piers walked over and embraced Marco, saying that he was proud to have served with him on Alpha Team. Chris nodded in agreement, and clasped Marco on his shoulder, wishing him luck with his new team.

The next day Piers walked out to the markers and Chris watched him as he went. Chris hadn't broken the news to anyone yet but they were to be shipping out to help fight a war that was erupting in Edonia. Chris was surprised today at how little time Piers had spent out there before coming back. Chris would never know this but Piers had found a small paper by the markers, under a medal that did not belong there while the others seemed to be missing.

*Don't ever back down. When you need it most, the Shattered Scythe will become whole. When the time comes that you see someone who deserves a second chance give it to them Piers.*

~Signed: The Reaper

Piers had been bewildered at those words written on this odd piece of paper. It seemed older than something that could ever have had his name written on it, it had looked to be a few hundred years old, like the slightest movement could rip it into shreds. Piers took it and folded it up, being surprised at how sturdy it seemed to be, and stuck it in a pocket on his chest, as near to his badge as he could get it. Once he got back and walked up to Chris, the news had been broken about them needing to head out to Edonia. Piers nodded in grim affirmation, wishing that all of them could make it back alive. Throughout Edonia and China however, Piers never forgot the words he heard so long ago, and even while the underwater facility exploded around them and Chris begged Piers to keep going with him, those words constantly replayed in his head, deciding that then and there would be the one person he would find who deserved a second chance.

So, Piers sent him off on his way, with Chris still banging and pleading for him to come along even though Piers had decided himself that it would be the second chance that he would be willing to give. Although, even though he thought he had accepted his fate, Piers had felt something ebb away and seem to burn itself out of him as the place collapsed around him. In his head though, Piers could hear the words in the sounds of voices he had almost forgotten, *The Scythe is becoming whole.* and after hearing the words is when Piers blacked out, all but resigning himself to whatever fate awaited him.