A/N: I don't own anyone but Alex (But she'll tell ya she owns Chris and Piers)…..Capcom owns the rest damn it!

So instead of the guys fighting all those Chyrsalid that are in the city hall, we're going to get straight to the point – No pun intended.

And since I am sitting in a hotel room in Jefferson City MO, I had time to finish this up. Very long chapter so I wanna hear from you guys

Edonia…..12/24/2012

"Not today!" Piers tucked and rolled as the massive fist smashed the spot he had landed moments before. He shimmied up the icy ladder, anxious to rejoin his comrades who were in the midst of a gun battle with the creature.

Chris knew that metallic thing was going to be a goddamn nightmare to knock off but he wasn't going to give up. The B.S.A.A.'s mission was to combat bioterrorism and Chris Redfield was going to live up to the standard.

"Piers," he hollered through the ear piece. "Can you get a shot on that thing?"

The probe waved and swayed like a flag in the wind. Piers was patient. His scope stayed still as the creature continued flailing and waving its arms.

"Come on you bastard….." He exhaled and pulled the trigger. The sniper round pinged off the surface and fractured part of the device. It growled and swatted at the team on the exposed terrace, feeling the sharp shock of electricity rush through the organ. Piers didn't move and maintained his aim, hoping to finish what the first shot had ignited.

*Bang*

The round ricochet off the opposite side of the damaged area, deepening the fracture in the target. Everyone watched as the probe parted into several compacted pieces exposing the vulnerability of the beast.

"Got it!" Chris went for the closest appendage but the B.O.W. had other ideas. It went for Piers, grabbing the marksman with its crushing grip. Piers strained and struggled to break free but the son of a bitch wasn't giving.

"Piers!" Chris climbed the arm of the thing, remembering how they defeated its predecessor.

I am not losing him! No one dies on my watch!

His body curled around the closest protrusion which was a pin or piece of bone. Piers could feel his abdomen imploding with the pressure on his body. His ribs were straining and he swore he was going to pop like a party favor. His eyes were shut keeping them from popping out as he continued his struggle. He couldn't reach the combat knife that was on his back, the handle blocked by the creature's flesh. His fists pummeled the top of the spongy skin but it was like the buzzing of a mosquito to the thing. Spots polluted his vision as his breath turned shorter and shallower. If it meant his captain was going to survive then his life wouldn't be taken in vain.

The sudden loss in pressure followed by the sensation of falling alerted Piers to his freedom. Chris was stabbing the organ repeatedly as Sherry and the stranger fired on the tendril. The thing jerked and twitched as Chris lifted the sharp point then rammed it through the thickest part of bulbous flesh. The creature tipped back and forth in the throes of death. Chris jumped off the falling form, flying through the snow capped air towards the two on the ledge. The thing shivered and ignited before melting into a pool of gelatinous ooze. The stench choked Piers as he rounded the puddle and regrouped with Chris and the others.

"Good job Alpha Team! You took that thing out! Proceed to the City Hall!"

"HQ this is Alpha Team. We need a pick up for Agent Sherry Birkin and witness."

"Copy that Alpha. Chopper en route right now."

The chopper landed in the town center which was the secondary rendezvous point.

"I told the pilot the coordinates."

"Thanks Chris," Sherry gratefully thanked the agent. The man started for the chopper without saying a word.

"Hey….Hey!" Chris hollered. The man stopped and turned around facing the older man. Those eyes….Chris couldn't shake the feeling he had seen this man somewhere before.

"Have we met?"

"No, all you jarheads look the same to me…..Sorry pal." He added a smirk and went for the waiting chopper.

"What did he just say?!" Piers went after him only to be restrained by his captain.

"No Piers," he warned him.

"Captain, did you hear what he said?" The marksman was infuriated! How could that lowlife criminal…..

Piers sulked and scrunched his face in frustration. "How many men have we lost to mercenaries like him?"

"He's not our concern Piers. We need to adhere to the B.S.A.A. mission." Chris turned and started towards the shell of the former city hall. The others fell in except for Finn who timidly approached Piers.

"The B.S.A.A.'s mission is to combat bioterrorism Sir."

"I know what the mission is rookie," he snorted harsher than he wanted. Finn fell back like a child who thought he was about to be punished. Ben and Carl patted the youngster's back as they started off; reassuring him it was all good. Ben offered a smile which erased Finn's initial apprehension.

Chris continued onward, refusing to let his mind go astray. He knew it was Christmas Eve as some of his men had brought it up before heading out earlier that day.

Another holiday…Alone…..

He couldn't but help to feel the desolation of being apart. The last time he had been home for any holiday was three years before. And that was right after Jill had come home. Everyone had gathered at the B.S.A.A. to mark her return and to celebrate the holidays. He remembered with fondness how Alex and hugged Jill so tight that the blonde had nearly passed out. Alex had been waiting at HQ for them when the chopper hand landed and they both stepped out. The tears that sprang out and down her eyes had nearly frozen into opaque pearls against her warm skin as it was snowing that night. His best friend and his lover sharing a tearful reunion had brought Chris to a few of his own. Though he wiped them aside before either could notice. For a brief moment he felt as if he was in one of those cheesy Hallmark movies where everyone was together in the end, hugging and crying with peaks of laughter in between.

"Captain," Piers's voice launched Chris from the precious memory. "Look…."

The city hall's windows were boarded up as its protective fortifications had been chipped away by artillery fire and grenade attack alike. It was quiet in the immediate vicinity but Chris had learned early on his career never to let one's guard down. The rest of the unit was continuously sweeping their path, constantly moving their weapons in sharp organized patterns.

"We go in and search for survivors but watch for B.O.W.'s. It's almost guaranteed we'll encounter them."


Chris had been wrong.

Dead wrong.

The main hall of the building was vacant, void of any life. The only hint of anything having been present was the various groupings of strange but familiar cocoons. Not a single member of the team had to be told what was the source of these pods.

"Keep moving," Chris spoke in a lower hushed tone. The air was thick, humid almost despite the bitter dry cold that wailed outside. Piers walked up to one of the hardened cases, finding them to appear like hardened caramel. The color was the right consistency and the surface was rigid but brittle. One piece between his gloved hand cracked with a little pressure, materializing into a fine dust that sprinkled the floor.

"Piers," Chris jerked his head to the second level. "Take Finn and Ben upstairs and see what you can find."

"Right," Piers waved his arm at the rookie and Ben, watching them scurrying to his side. They rushed the first flight, pausing but momentarily before reaching the landing and taking the right ledge. Fine carvings of Greek gods and goddesses lined the railings; silent witnesses to whatever horrors had been carried out in this place. The lights were dim but running despite most of the power grid having been obliterated by the rebels and government.

"I'm picking up life signals within these. Were these people…." Finn kept his eye on the monitor but the sudden slamming of a door alerted the squad.

"Wait," the rookie held up a hand, "I'm getting signals on the other side of this door."

He pointed to the only set of doors that were visible. They peered over the top of railing on the second floor of the foyer.

"HQ this is Alpha; three are splitting from the group and heading deeper into the building."

Finn spun around, propelling his foot against the ornate set of doors. The pair exploded open which revealed what awaited them on the other side.

"What the…." Blood was smeared on the walls, as though someone had taken a human sized brush and painted random strokes against the soiled side. Books and furnishings were tossed about in a careless indifferent manner. Movement ten feet ahead caught Chris's attention.

An outline of what appeared to be a woman in a dress had vanished behind the corner. The sunlight streaming through the hole in the ceiling prevented the hardened agent from getting a better glimpse of the mysterious figure.

"Wait stop!" Chris hollered out as he took off. Piers and Finn trailed behind catching up with him as more blood and tissue coated the halls and walls of the interior.

"What the Hell happened here?" Piers wondered aloud.

Chris continued on; determine to find out the identity of the woman, moved on without slowing. Piers and Finn literally ran to stay on even stride. A few J'avo jumped from their hiding places in the adjacent room but the three agents took them out with ease. Chris lifted the largest one up and over his head before slamming the mutated body against the unforgiving floor. Specks of leathery skin lathered the tip of his boot to which he scraped it along the floor. Piers and Finn obliterated the other three with a rain of gunfire.

The maze grew deeper as the blood expanded on the walls. The rumble of aircraft reverberated off the building as they turned one final corner. The door had no lock or knob or any means to grant entrance.

"I've got it," Finn showed off his power and forced the slab of iron to collapse to his will. The rookie went in first, ensuring the room was clear.

"Captain the room's clear," he hollered. Chris and Piers stepped inside with the latter spotting something in the center of the room. He knelt down plucking one of the objects off the floor.

"Captain," Piers passed it along which turned out to be some kind of syringe and chamber. It was smooth and silver in color. The floor had at least 12 scattered across it. He wondered if it had anything to do with those cocoons they passed in the main foyer and central meeting room.

"C-virus," a new voice emerged. Chris Piers and Finn pointed their weapons at the figure that stepped from the side. From the darkness came forth a woman with short dark hair, light tan skin, rich almond eyes that appeared to see right through all three of them. Her dress was a navy blue with a deep front cut that pointed into a V. A red scarf was loosely draped around her neck while stunning hoops of gold adorned her ears.

"That's what the guerillas were calling it."

She casually lifted her hands but the men didn't back down.

"Who are you?" Piers scrutinized her, narrowing his eyes at the mysterious woman.

"I work here," she was evasive. "My name's Ada Wong. They took my hostage. Nice to see the cavalry's here."

Piers had an immediate dislike towards her. Something nagged at the young agent. There was something off with this Ada Wong.

"C-virus," Chris parroted her first words. "That must be what's being used to create those J'avo."

"Yeah, I heard them saying something about it."

"What else did you hear?" Piers demanded with restrained coldness.

"Maybe you could put down your guns first?" Ada lowered her hands and began to approach the three. Chris dropped the syringe as they held Ada at gunpoint in unison.

"Not unless you give us a reason to," Chris glowered at her. Ada groaned inwardly at the macho attitudes but knew she wasn't going to achieve anything with the jarheads keeping her at gunpoint.

"Neo-Umbrella," she knew it would be a game changer; especially where Chris Redfield was concerned.

"Neo-Umbrella," Chris repeated in curiosity.

"The organization that is backing the guerillas," Ada hated explaining herself. "Well at least that is what they were calling themselves anyways."

"So the C-virus came from them," Chris relaxed his stance.

"That's all I know," Ada continued to play stupid. With these three it wasn't that hard.

"Thank you," Chris smiled shortly. "We appreciate your cooperation."

Piers continued to feel the unease simmering in his lower body. Where did this woman come from? With the J'avo that were running around and the strange cocoons in the different areas, she should've been at the very least brandishing something to defend herself with. After all she was held hostage or so she claimed anyways.

"Finn," the rookie came when called. Ada noticed how obedient he was. He couldn't have been any more than 21. "Your mission is to protect her."

"Right Captain," Finn nodded. Piers glanced at Ada, catching the hard stare she was casting at him. It wasn't a hateful stare but rather she was…..studying him? Was she observing him?

"Keep an eye on her," Chris whispered in a low tone. Piers could only nod and keep himself on alert.

"I know a shortcut to the front entrance," Ada offered.

"HQ, this is Alpha. We found a staff member and are returning to the front.

"Copy that Alpha."

"Follow me please," Ada's heels clicked along the stone flooring, a beacon for the others to trail. The hallway met with a flight of stairs that were concealed behind a plain wooden door. As the descended the steps, the rapid progression of gunfire flooded the corridor.

"Shit," Chris rushed down the steps, nearly tumbling down the last three. Piers caught up, steadying the captain with a hand and together they kicked in the door.

"SHIT! Those things…."Chris realized they were the things residing in the cocoons. They were human….once.

"They're everywhere! We won't make it out alive!" Ben screamed in sheer terror as the rest of the squad was losing their fight against the creatures.

"Up here!" Carl waved from the top of the staircase. "They foyer's not safe anymore!"

"There's a way out on the second floor," Ada mentioned as though she was holding a casual conversation. "I suggest we take it."

The team gathered around the metal door with Piers and Chris kicking it in.

"Everyone in now!" Piers ushered the rest of the men inside as Ada slammed her palm on a control panel, closing the door behind them.

"There's a door leading the warehouse next door," Ada motioned to the door located on the other side of the storage facility. Their path was blocked by more of those cocoons that littered the other side. One by one they crackled and fractured as the newly formed being emerged like a butterfly from slumber.

"Damn it," Piers cursed and opened fire, aiming for the head. The tough outer shell secured the brain like the plate on the head of a triceratops. Piers sprayed the organic armor with bullets, finding the protective layer infallible and shatter after enough stress was administered. The softer vulnerable flesh was like a human's. The hollow rounds pierced the flesh and muscle, shredding the brain like tissue paper.

"Captain aim for the head!" He shouted as it fell at his feet then fizzled into a liquid mass.

He looked up to see Chris finishing off the other clearing their path.

"Alright let's move."

Chris took lead, kicking doors and shooting at the B.O.W.'s that dotted their path. The squad succeeded in evading some of the creatures that stirred from their stasis even though it meant leaping down as far as 10 feet to the ground below. Chris had observed some of the humanoid shells didn't erupt or even budge as they rushed by. But now wasn't the time to wonder why.

"We're almost out," he fought back his rising elation. "Stay strong men."

"Yes sir," Finn sounded relieved and didn't hold it back. Chris couldn't blame the boy.

"Down the stairs and to the left and that will take us out," Ada didn't move as fast as the others but stayed within their line of sight. She waited until they were fixated on getting out before falling back into an alcove.

Perfect…..

The squad reached the seemingly empty room with dual doorways. Chris and Piers put distance ahead of the others, treading into a narrow corridor.

"What is this?" Chris spun around.

"Where's the woman?!" He noticed someone was missing.

"Finn!" Piers barked the rookie's name sharply.

"I-I don't know what happened! She was here just a minute ago!" Finn was frantic in searching for Ada. She had been right behind him before they entered.

The sudden groan from overhead caused everyone to jerk their heads up and see spikes shooting straight down towards Piers and Chris. The pair leapt back as the wrought iron cut them off from the rest. Finn and Carl went for the other door but were cut off from escape as an identical set clanged against the floor and bounced between the walls. It was a trap.

"Ada!" Chris pointed his gun through the bars at the woman who reemerged through the bars. A cruel smile laced her lips as she produced something in her hand.

"Thanks for the escort," she purred in gratitude. "Here's something to remember me by."

Ada tossed the silver ball like a softball pitcher would: slow and underhanded. The ball opened up exposing the deadly needles and their contents to the unsuspecting men. It popped like a firework launching the needles into the necks, arms, faces, and legs of the four who were in the main room. Ada gave a look of indifference before sauntering off leaving Chris and Piers to their fates.

"NO!" Chris slammed the bars with his hands as Piers shook them with a violent fervor. The men began to cry out and collapse as the virus surged through their bodies, attacking the very cells that made them human. Their skin liquefied and dripped from their flesh as their shrill screams enraged Chris.

"NO GODDAMN IT!"

One by one their bodies exploded into flames as the virus continued manipulating and twisting their flesh bone and muscle. Finn staggered towards them with hand outstretched. The pained expression was one of sorrow and confusion. It reached into Chris's eyes and soul, tearing it open with sharp jagged blades.

"Finn hang in there!" He kicked and rushed the door with his shoulder but the door wouldn't yield. Finn continued to slip away as his skin leaked through the gloves like honey.

"Captain…." His voice gurgled as the softening matter that had been his throat drowned his larynx.

"NO!" Chris reached out with his hand, millimeters from the frozen stance that had been the rookie. His men were entrapped within their own skin, canvas for the C-virus that Ada left as a memento. He slumped down to the ground as the failure rushed over him like a tsunami. This wasn't supposed to happen! They were all supposed to make it out alive! They were going to be back at base camp awaiting orders.

I failed them…..I failed them as Captain…..

No….no this is not happening!

"Captain we have to go," Piers couldn't take his eyes off the cocoon that was hatching. The cocoon that had contained Finn but what emerged was unrecognizable. Finn was gone.

The Chyrsalid towered over the men as the door groaned and lifted up, eliminating the barrier between it and the two humans. Chris was on his feet, gun hesitantly raised at the creature. This was Finn! He was their rookie!

"Captain!" Piers snapped as Chris could only stare with sadness in his eyes. The thing that had been Finn charged ahead as the other three cocoons burst open. Chris couldn't find the will to fire on it. It was Finn damn it! Finn was in there somewhere! He couldn't kill Finn! He wouldn't kill Finn!

"Captain!" Piers opened fire but it was too late. The creature swiped its arm across its massive chest, knocking Chris and Piers to the ground. The creature went for Chris, hurling him around like a child would toss a ragdoll. His body was pinned against the wall with his head and legs bouncing off the uneven surface. The massive fists pummeled his vest, rupturing blood vessels deep inside his chest. A sharp crack followed by another signaled at least two broken ribs. Chris felt the air being robbed from his lungs as the creature continued pounding him like a schoolyard bully. His vision was going blurry as he could only see the hazy outline of his attacker.

"Chris!" Piers opened fire on it, forcing Chris to be flung around to the ground. His back and shoulders landed first followed by his head. He bounced up then down off the ground with his head smacking stone and brick along the way. Piers continued firing on the mutation which gave him coverage to fist the top of Chris's tactical vest and drag the dead weight that was his body.

Chris felt his head spinning as he slipped in and out of consciousness. The gunfire was growing distant as the tunnel of light dimmed all around him. His last thought before going under was that of Finn. The figure of his youngest member of the squad flooded his mind. He wasn't dressed in the B.S.A.A. uniform but stonewashed denim jeans with that damned Saints shirt he loved so much. A wide grin brightened his face as his dark brown hair was disheveled creating a youthful aura about him. There was no hate or anger in those sweet puppy dog eyes; only warmth dominated those dark chocolate rings.

"Finn….." The name passed between the slightly parted lips as the chopper lifted off.


Heathrow International Aiprort...London...3 days later

Piers paced around the terminal as he awaited the British Airways flight to arrive from New York City. He was worried about her; worried how she had taken the news about Alpha Team. His fingers wrung around themselves as he couldn't stay seated for more than a minute. Chris had been life flighted from Edonia to Berlin and then London where the largest B.S.A.A. facilities were. He had been put in a medically induced coma to alleviate the swelling off his brain.

"Agent Redfield must remain in a coma until the swelling around his brain is reduced."

"Why is he in a coma?"

"It helps his body heal. With his body in a state of slumber, the blood vessels will shrink in size allowing for the damage to be repaired…..That is the hope Agent Nivans."

"What do you mean hope!?"

"We will not know for certain if the treatment works until we do another cat-scan. From what we could determine from the initial assessment, Agent Redfield had not suffered major brain damage. But the swelling could inflict it which is why we opted to induce the coma."

"And what about his fiancé? What are you going to tell her?"

Piers gritted his teeth as the responsibility of telling Alex was on him. How could he tell her that Finn and the others were gone? Victims of Ada Wong? She had taken Finn under her wing, promising to show him how to meet women after he got back and watch hockey on NBC. How was he going to tell her….

"Ladies and gentlemen, British Airways flight 1973 from New York City is now arriving."

The calm British accent's announcement made Piers's stomach turn knots. It had been a 20 hour flight for her; alone. Had she cried? Had she grown cold inside to block the pain?

The first wave of passengers spilled from the gate. Piers scanned the sea of faces as business suits, casual dressers, baseball hats, and multi-colored strands blasted his sight. Damn it where was she?

Black, white and tan faces breached his line of sight but as the few passengers surfaced, one stood out.

Alex had not slept in 48 hours. Her eyes were distorted with the pencil thin trails that clouded the whites of her eyes. The normally vibrant shades of cerulean were dull and void of any life. Her hair had been hastily tied back into a messy ponytail. Her shoulders were slumped down as her carryon bumped her back. Her focus was on the ground and not on the spiky haired brunette that stood with hands curling and uncurling into a set of fists.

Piers could feel his heart jumping into his throat, the apprehension filling his mind as she drew closer. His feet went forward carrying him towards her. His palms grew slick as they continued to fidget.

"Alex," Piers halted her movement with an arm stretched out. Alex shook her head and lifted it upward at an angle. The wet film that coated her eyes confirmed what Piers feared. She didn't speak as they stood there looking at one another in the eyes. Alex looked away, not wanting him to see her like that.

"Alex," he brought his hand across her face, forcing her to meet his worried stare. "Alex…."

Her body began to sway before collapsing against him. Piers wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on top of hers. He knew she was in a state of shock as the reality of it all had not compounded her yet.

"How is he?" She sniffled.

"He's in an artificial coma right now. There wasn't any serious damage to his brain."

"I wanna see him," she felt her chest tense up as her throat closed and burned.

Piers nodded and released his friend. He grappled the bag and slung it over his shoulder then drew her in with his arm. They walked in heavy silence towards the waiting car that sat beyond the sliding doors of Heathrow International.


"Alex."

Josh Stone leapt from the hard torturous seat. He had not seen her since Jill came back. He wished it had been better circumstances.

"Josh," she latched onto her old friend. "How could this happen?"

Her emotions now raged unchecked as grief went to rage. "Who did this to him!? I want the bastard who did this dead!"

"It wasn't a man," Piers said from behind her. "It was a woman. Her name is Ada Wong."

"Ada? THAT BITCH IS DEAD!"

"How do you know Ada?" Josh raised an eyebrow in intrigue.

"Because I'm friends with Leon remember? That's how I know her! That fucking bitch is dead! I will rip her heart out then kill her all over again! I will pump her dying body full of T-virus just so I can kill her again and again!"

"Alex!" Piers wrapped his arms around her, shutting his eyes as she kicked and pounded on his thighs. "Alex please stop." She ignored his pleas and thrashed about like a wild animal. Her hair flung from the tie slapping her face with light smacks.

"Nurse!" Josh hollered for help. "Alex if you don't stop this we will have the nurse give you something to calm you down."

The nurse rushed towards the scene ahead with a syringe full of sedative ready to go. Josh and Piers feared this would occur and alerted the staff to be ready.

"Alex please," Josh went for her legs but was rewarded with a sharp kick to the right shin. Josh fell back rubbing the growing bruise through the cargo pans. He rocked back and forth in the rigid plastic seat as the cavalry arrived. Alex wouldn't remain still so the nurse resorted to extreme methods. The needle was thrust into her thigh, sending the potent relaxant into rigid fibers and thick crimson.

"It's the strongest cocktail we have," her Cockney accent was on the slightly annoying end.

"Josh are you okay?"

"Just fine Piers," the dark skinned man shot a thumbs up. "Given I was up to my pits in Kijuju shit, this is nothing."

Piers nodded and felt the resistance in his arms decrease. Alex felt her arms and legs go heavy first, followed by her neck and shoulders. Her tongue was like a piece of meat: thick and slimy.

"Keep a hold of her Piers," Josh watched her begin to slide through his arms. "She's going down."

Piers slipped his arms under her knees and back, hoisting her up and close to his chest.

"There's a bed in the room you can put her on," Josh leaned over and pointed to the door. The plaque had the name Chris Redfield on it. Piers worried she would panic when she woke up and saw his sorry state as he slipped into the darkened room.

The monitor beeped with quiet constant peaks and valleys. The form on the bed was still but the rising and falling was the only sign of life. Piers hung his head and turned to the vacant bed setting her down in the center. He was uncertain of how long she would be out but he wouldn't leave her side. She was going to need someone.

He turned to the other occupant, gazing sadly at the tragic figure that was his captain, Chris Redfield. Piers sat in the chair resting his elbow on mattress.

"She's here Chris," he didn't call him captain. "She's pretty upset but we had to sedate her. When she wakes up I'll be here to make sure she knows she's not alone. Josh is here too. He's outside the room. You need to wake up Chris."

"Piers," Josh stood in the doorway. The awful fluorescent lighting of the hallway illuminated his powerful frame but his eyes were as bright and stern as the moon. "You need to take a break. You should head to B.S.A.A. and clean up, sleep. If Alex wakes up I'll be here. She won't be alone."

"I-I don't know Josh…."

"No," he adamantly shook his head. "You need to sleep and eat Piers. If she wakes up I'll call you."

"Fine," he relented and cast one last look at Chris then turned to Alex who was breathing deeply. His hand brushed over across the top of hers, pausing to offer a subtle but supportive squeeze. He leaned over to place a kiss on her forehead before departing.

Ah Josh...