Summary: It should have just been a regular morning for Chris Redfield. He should have been just heading out for his usual every day job. So why did he wake up to find a certain puppy eared male in his bed?

Pairing: Nivanfield

Author's note: Sorry this took a fairly long time to update. DX Besides revamping an old fic of mine that I'm still working on, regular life stuff kept getting into the way. And by the time I'd get time to work on the thing, it was time to go to bed. Working can be a tiring thing. But I hope everyone enjoys the update.

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My Pet Peeve 17

How long had Chris been sitting inside this cell for? How much time had passed since the weird hooded men had started staring at him through the bars like wild animals? How long before help would arrive? How long before Piers completed his reprogramming? That was what bothered him the most about this. Reprogramming. They treated him as if he were a robot, something completely nonhuman. Well technically he was only part human, hence the name Semi. Still, that didn't change the fact that he shouldn't be treated like he was just a thing.

What exactly did reprogramming mean? Exactly how did it work? Were the other Semi that wandered around the premises programmed as well? Irving had mentioned that Piers was this Spencer guy's favorite. What did he mean by that? Why? Just how did Piers turn out the way he was? Was it the reason why he couldn't remember anything? Could the reprogramming have messed with his head? Maybe that's why these hooded guys looked so weird too. They were regular humans and yet they seemed almost zombie like. Just what the hell was going on around here?

His ears picked up the sound of footsteps approaching. He swore if he were a Semi they'd have flickered at the sound as he lifted his head slowly from his prone position looking up to see two new figures with hoodies on. Were they here to relieve the others? He must have been here for a pretty long time for a shift change to happen.

He couldn't see their faces, not that it would have made a difference. The two standing watch seemed confused by the appearance of the new figures, glancing at each other as the recent arrival appeared in front of them. Then things suddenly escalated as if a switch had been flipped as one of the new members latched out grabbing hold of a hooded man around the neck squeezing it tightly. The man didn't make a sound besides a gargling attempt to breath.

His comrade had no chance to respond as the second new comer lifted his long leg so quick that Chris had barely pushed to his feet before the guy was sent flying across the room. The man that kicked him lowered his leg walking over to the hooded fellow on the floor before he crouched over the man holding him down and punching a fist into his face repeatedly until he passed out.

The one the other hooded male held up dropped to the floor in an unmoving lump before they seemed to turn as one to focus their attention on the inside of the cage. Chris had his back pressed against the wall behind him, the low light hovering over the two figures not helping him a bit in identifying them. Did he know them? Were they foes or allies? Whether they were here to help him or kill him, he wasn't sure. He wasn't about to stake his life on it without a fight though. He was sure backup was probably on the way. Whether they could make this far or not was a whole different thing altogether. After all, the forest hadn't been the safest for Piers and him when they came. But he was almost sure BSAA was on their way regardless. It was well past the time he was supposed to contact Claire.

The man with the long legs stopped down over the hooded guy he'd punched into unconsciously searching the body before he stood walking over to the cage door. Well, Chris assumed it to be a man. The two mysterious figures seemed tall enough to be men.

"Don't worry, we'll get you out of there," the man with the long legs said. Chris blinked in surprised before he relaxed finding himself smiling at hearing such a familiar, welcoming voice.

"…Leon?" Damn, he didn't realize how good it was to hear his best friend talk. It just reassured him that the other was doing just fine.

The cage door opened before Leon reached up pulling the hood back with a cocky smirk on his lips. He looked as happy as Chris felt, though he looked a little fatigued. How long had he been running around this place for?

"The one and only." Chris turned around on reflex as Leon walked over releasing him from the cuffs. He whistled as he dropped them to the ground with a clatter before working at the knotted rope tied around Chris's wrists. "What was one of these not enough for them? Chris Redfield a little too strong for them that they had to use ropes AND cuffs? Tsk." Once he was freed from the ropes, Chris rubbed around his wrist feeling the rawness of where they'd been chafed from the ropes roughness. It felt good to move them around again. "Amateurs."

"What are you doing here?" Chris asked still rubbing his wrist as he turned looking at Leon. He looked completely different with the hoodie on, like he was some cultist or something.

"Got rescued by an unlikely hero," Leon said pointing his thumb back at the other hooded figure coming to join them. Somehow he'd managed to drag both the unconscious men into the cell by himself leaving them lying side by side. Whoever he was, he was pretty strong. He didn't even like look like he was out of breath from all the hard work. "Well…more like I rescued him but close enough."

"It's only because they went past my expectations," the man said as he pulled his hood off. Chris's eyes went wide recognizing the man even if was wearing a pair of really dark shades. Of course he'd recognized him. He'd only been pining after him for many years before he was betrayed by him.

"W…Wesker?" Chris felt a surge weakness from being in his presence before the anger took over as he glared at him. "What are you doing here?! Where have they taken Piers?!" He advanced on the man not caring that the other didn't even try to move when Chris grabbed him by the front of the shirt pulling him close as he bared his teeth at him. "Traitor! Showing up in front of me again after you betrayed us. You must be asking for me to kill you."

"Chris, stop!" Leon got between them pushing Chris back by his shoulders as he looked up at him with a face that stayed fairly neutral. Definitely the most serious Chris had ever seen the pretty boy in a long time. The last time had been at Wesker's funeral when Chris had pretty much about died inside. A shame Wesker didn't just stay dead. At least then Chris could have gone on oblivious of the other's treachery. "This isn't the time to be fighting. You'll have plenty of time to bite Wesker's head off later. Right now we need to stay focused on getting out of here."

"I'm not leaving until we save Piers," he said pulling back roughly and turning his back on Leon as he looked at the two unconscious figures on the ground before walking over to them. With his back to them, Chris missed the glance Leon gave to Wesker before the former BSAA agent seemed to take the hint and sighed walking over to Chris.

"Chris, it's too late," Wesker said stopping behind him. Chris ignored him as he worked on freeing both of the hoodies from the guys on the floor. He was a big bulkier than them both. But he was just going to have to work with what he had. With their eyes closed, they looked just like normal humans. Completely different from how they had looked moments before like tigers waiting for dinner to be served. He was surprised to see they were both alive somehow feeling that someone like Wesker would have killed them. Maybe it was just memories of a time in the past that made him think that. Or maybe it was how ruthless Wesker had seemed in their last meeting. "Reprogramming takes about an hour to happen. You've been here for at least an hour and a half. Probably even longer than that. It's too late."

"I'm not leaving without him." He stood to his feet once more ignoring the two of them behind him as he slipped into the bigger of the two hoodies before slipping the other one underneath. He'd need it if he planned on sneaking Piers out of here. The hoodie looked just as small as he thought it would on his large form, especially since he had to force the zipper up. Of course it didn't help having the extra hoodie underneath, but he wasn't going to leave it behind. Besides, it was better than nothing. Hell, the other hoodie guys could just think that he put on some weight or something.

"No man left behind." He turned staring right into Wesker's shades as he said it. Even if he couldn't see the weird red eyes beneath, he knew Wesker was looking at him. "You're the one that taught me that." Despite not being able to see Wesker's eyes, it still took everything Chris had not to look away, somehow feeling intimidated in his presence even though he tried to fight it. "You two can leave if you want to. But I'm not leaving Piers behind."

Wesker stared at him for a moment longer before he turned away pulling his hood up to cover his face again. "…Thirty minutes," Wesker said walking over to join Leon also pulled his hood up over his head. "If we don't find him in thirty minutes, we're leaving." Chris nodded following after him even though inside his head he didn't agree to uphold that promise. He wouldn't leave out of here without Piers regardless of what they said. Still, it was better to let them believe it than to tell them flat out and be forced to leave. But he had a feeling Wesker had the strength to make him leave, by force if necessary.

"We need to get moving," Leon said frowning as he stared at Chris. He must have picked up on what he was thinking. "The longer we stay here, the more time we waste." Chris looked away from the disapproving eyes, pulling his hood on as well as he walked out of the cell prepared to become one of the masses of hoods roaming the facility. With him being the first one to walk out, he didn't even realize that Wesker was watching him from behind his shades as he followed him out of the cell.

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The three of them travelled through the building disguised as the Illium. Chris learned from Wesker that it was the name the hooded men went by. None of the other Illium seemed to question their presence or the fact that his own hoodie was bulkier than everyone else's. He followed after Wesker who seemed to know exactly where he was going. It made sense of he'd been working for Umbrella all this time. How often had he been visiting this place while pretending to be a friend to Chris back in his BSAA days? Leon followed beside him keeping a visible eye on him as the three of them moved quietly through the hallways, obviously wanting to say something.

It wasn't until they were in a pretty abandoned part of the labs that Wesker finally spoke up indicating that it was safe to talk here. "We're almost there," he said walking a little faster now that they were out of the watchful eyes of both the Illium and the Semi.

"Why is Piers considered a favorite to Spencer?" Chris asked quietly though it was loud enough to be heard in the large, empty room. He'd been thinking about this ever sense that weasel Irving mentioned it. What was so special about Piers? Some of the things that came to mind weren't pleasant images, especially when he thought about how Irving called him a toy. Just what did Spencer want with him?

Wesker stopped walking as he stayed quiet, tilting his head down as if contemplating answering him. He didn't even respond to the heated stare watching him. Just how much could Chris really trust the man he once called his leader? "He's…unique," Wesker said slowly, his head turning so he was looking over his shoulder at Chris. "Are you sure you really want to know?" As Wesker tilted his head down to look at him over the rim of his shade, the look in his unnatural red eyes were enough to make Chris hesitate. But if he expected to safe Piers, to protect him, he needed to know everything he could about him. That meant the good…and the bad. At his nod, Wesker seemed to hesitate again before he turned his eyes away looking down at his watch instead.

"Seven minutes," Wesker said looking at the door in front of him. "Seven minutes is all I can spare for this explanation." He turned around facing Chris and Leon both as he prepared himself for his explanation. Seven minutes would be more than enough for the major details. "How much do you really know about the Semi?"

Leon frowned slightly as he moved up standing beside Chris focusing his attention on Wesker too now. Strange. With the time Leon had spent with him, he would have thought Wesker had told him more about what happened. But maybe it was one of those, "you never asked," situations. After all, he figured Leon saving Wesker from confinement was the reason they were acting so chummy with each other. Though Chris wouldn't say they were friends, he could also say they weren't enemies either.

"Semi started showing up a little over a hundred years ago, right?" Leon glanced over at Chris as he wracked his brain for more answers. "No one really knew where they came from. People just seemed to accept them because the extra parts made them look…cute." He grinned suddenly staring at Chris. "Reminds me of someone I know." Chris grunted in response at the joke, his eyes staying focused on Wesker.

"We honestly don't know a lot about them," Chris said thinking back to how different Piers was compared to what the public said they were like. He was more human than he would have expected aside from the little things like needing body heat to stay warm. "In fact, I'm only just now learning about him." He learned that Piers liked his steaks medium well. He also learned that neither heaters nor extra blankets kept the Semi from finding out where he was and sleeping with him. He learned that one of Piers's eyebrows would lift up when he was in a cocky mood. That he liked apples a lot. That Chris had fallen pretty hard for the Semi.

"Semi are a hybrid of humans and animals. Their genetic code, their DNA, their very being, is artificially created with science to bring them to life." Chris's hairs stood on edge as he stared back at the serious look staring back at him. He was telling the truth about this. Maybe it was something he'd learned from being in this place for so long. "They were created by humans. They are not a natural born creature. In the beginning, they looked more like beast than humans. Over the years, evolution has made them into what they are …crossbreeds with human features and the abilities of the animals they were originally created from.

"And because they are in part animals, they are dangerous. They could easily be used as weapons thanks to their innate instincts. Avoiding danger is not a problem for them either. They can run faster, hear better, see further, and smell with more intenseness. They are also fighters with more deadly accuracy. They are in a sense, the bioweapons the BSAA are meant to right."

Chris swallowed slightly glancing at Leon who was looking at him with the same blank expression he knew was on his face. But he knew the other was thinking about the same question as him. "Why hasn't the BSAA done anything yet?" Because if that was the case, why were the Semi still around? Hell, why had both Ada and Piers been allowed to join? Though he didn't want to think of it like that. Piers wasn't dangerous…at least, not to him and his friends anyway. He really didn't know enough about the Semi to judge to know, did he?

"Because…even though they're part animal…they are also part human. And with the attributes of being a human, BSAA will not destroy something that isn't hostile." Though that didn't necessarily mean that the BSAA didn't have alternative plans already prepared for such a case. If Semi were stronger than humans, than that meant they needed something that could be even stronger than them. Which brought up another question in Chris's mind. How could the Semi here be controlled? Who had the power to control a creature that could literally bite their neck out?

Wesker glanced down at his watch, frowning slightly but he made no indication that he would stop now as he continued his explanation. "The problem lies with those here in Umbrella territory. They go through a process called Dehumanization which essentially removes all human emotions from their thoughts. They become nothing more than killing machines trained to destroy their targets no matter the consequences such as their own deaths. This process starts from the day they are born." Well that explained the control part of it. "Illium go through the same process though it is a lot quicker to break a human's mind."

"Is that what Piers is going through now? Dehumanization?"

"…Yes." Chris almost missed the short moment of hesitation as Wesker looked down the hall. He was hiding something. There was more to Piers than Wesker was letting on. When he thought about it, Wesker hadn't really answered Chris's first question. Why was Piers Spencer's favorite? It bothered him, that and Wesker's words saying that Piers was unique. What was it about Piers that made him special to these people? It made him a little more suspicious of Piers's motives.

"Let's get going," Wesker said glancing at the both of them again before he turned heading down the hallway once more. "We've wasted enough time." Chris nodded. Wesker was right, they needed to keep moving. The sounds of footsteps were approaching them from behind. He could feel Leon's eyes glancing over at him as the two walked side by side. He knew the other was worried. Hell, they'd been friends a long time. It wasn't a surprise that he'd be protective of him.

But Chris didn't look his way as his jaws tightened. His mind was plagued with fear of what Piers might be going through right now. He didn't know how Dehumanization worked, but he was reminded of Piers when he'd first seen him. The bruises around his neck along with two puncture wounds from what obviously had to have been needles. There had been more bruises around his wrists and ankles. Captivity. He'd obviously been kept here. He remembered taking quick glances at the other Semi with the collars around their necks when he'd been escorted to his cell earlier.

They were all slaves to this system but they were free to move around. They'd even been in the forest where it would have been easy for them to escape so…why didn't they? Brainwashing? Fear? Drugs? What was it that was keeping them here? There hadn't been evidence of bruises on the other Semi wrists. So why was Piers's case so different, so special? The wound Piers had the first time he saw him. Though bleeding badly, it hadn't been to kill. They must have been trying to weaken him then capture him. If that was the case, why was it that Piers was the only one with the will to escape? What was his connection to Wesker? What was their history together?

He shook his head. What was the point on dwelling on it when the man in front of him wouldn't give him the answers? He frowned staring at the back of Wesker's hooded head, eyes narrowing to small slits. Piers couldn't remember Wesker at first…but then he'd started to slowly remember him ever since he saw his picture. Why? Could Wesker have had something to do with that? No, he shouldn't be thinking about this right now. They had to save Piers. If they didn't save Piers, Chris would never find the answers to his questions.

He'd never get to see that smile again or that curious look Piers sometimes gave to him. He'd never get to see his cheeks turn red when he got embarrassed or the cocky look that radiated confidence when he knew what he was talking about. He wouldn't see the anger that appeared when he got mad or the gentle look when something was worrying him. Emotionless. Dehumanization. He didn't want Piers's emotions to be wiped away like specks of dirt.

"It's straight up ahead," Wesker said talking quietly as he kept walking moving slower. "There's no turning back. Are you ready?" He glanced back but the hood blocked the view of the side of his face.

Chris nodded his head staring straight ahead seeing the door with two Semi standing guard beside it. "Yeah. I'm ready." Beside him he saw a glimpse of Leon nodding his head as well. Beyond those doors, Piers was waiting for him. He was going to rescue him from this mad house. Then once he got him away safely, he was going to come back and completely destroy this corrupt place, BSAA or not.

"Alright…let's hurry up and get this over with," Wesker turned his head looking forward again as he picked up speed, the other two kept up right behind him as he rushed towards the two guards and the room with the label, "Dehumanization room." It was time to take Piers back from these monsters. It was time to take him home.

TBC….