After we all got ready, we moved out. A few minutes later we walked into the city hall. The soldiers had their weapons ready in case of an attack.
- Sherry Birkin – National Security! – I turned my head and saw a blonde girl run towards us with an ID in her hand. We all stopped and Chris walked towards her. *Birkin? I know her. She's the daughter of the researcher that Claire had told me about. Doesn't look that tough to me.* But what caught my attention was the guy she was with. He was huge compared to her; all dressed in black. Only his sky blue eyes would tell you that he is human just like us because he looked like a damn war machine. The strange thing was that he reminded me of someone very much. *It's as if I've met him before.*
- Sherry Birkin? – Chris said when he was in front of her. – You were in Raccoon City.
- How do you know that? – She asked suspiciously.
- Claire. – Chris answered curtly.
- Wait… Are you Chris?
- My sister's told me all about you. – At that moment the guy that came with Sherry notice me staring at him. He smirked and winked at me.
- Oh, please. – I mumbled and rolled my eyes as I walked up to stand next to Chris and Piers who was eyeing the newcomer with anger.
- Chris, that man is a wanted insurgent. – Piers spoke up motioning to the black dressed man. I looked more closely and saw a sign of the mercenaries on the left sleeve of his coat. He just turned his head away after Piers' words.
- Yes, he is a mercenary. – Sherry said. – But right now he's under the protection of the US government. He's no threat to the BSAA.
- Unless someone pays me to be. – The guy said nonchalantly. Even his voice sounded familiar. *I definitely know him from somewhere.* Piers was boiling with anger before, but after what he said the soldier became furious.
- What did you just say? – Piers asked as he took a step forward. I grabbed his arm and yanked him back a bit.
- Don't. – I said. – It's not worth it. You wouldn't want to get into trouble with the government. – The guy took a few steps towards us.
- What? – He asked looking at Chris. Chris was staring at him just like I did.
- Nothing. – Chris answered.
- Although, I didn't mind you looking at me, doll. – He told me. *Seriously?* Now was neither the time nor the place for this. I saw how Chris clenched his fists and Piers stiffened up.
- Jake! – Sherry yelled at him.
- No, I mean it. – Jake said smiling a smug smile. *What the fuck?! Is he trying to get himself killed?!*. – I didn't know the BSAA hired hot chicks to work for them.
- That's it! – Chris and Piers said in unison as they moved towards him.
- Jake, shut up! – Sherry yelled at him. I jumped in front of the two BSAA soldiers. Even Finn came closer.
- Woah, guys! You don't want to mess with the government. – And that's when I understood it. *He's willingly trying to make them furious. It's like a game to him. He probably just hates soldiers.* But I wouldn't let him jeopardize my mission, whatever the hell it might be. So before he could say anything else I spoke up.
- I have one thing to say to you, punk. – I told Jake.
- What is it, babe? – I heard Chris and Piers start yelling something at him.
- Shut it, both of you! – I yelled at them and when they got silent I looked at Jake. – If you say anything of the kind again and keep us from finishing our mission, I will personally rip out your eyes and shove them down your throat so you can see how I will be tearing your carcass open! (Alpha and Omega reference ^_^) – Everyone was shocked and looked at me with wide eyes. That's what you get for making me lose my patience. Jake was shocked at first, but then he laughed a bit.
- You heard Sherry. I'm under the protection of the US government; you won't do anything to me.
- Oh, yeah? Well, so am I. – I said taking out my knife. – So which one will it be, punk? – But before anyone could say anything I heard a familiar voice come through the earpiece.
- HQ to Alpha. Reinforcements are unable to land due to anti-aircraft artillery. Take 'em out!
- Alpha Team, copy. – Chris said.
- What the… - the voice continued. – We're picking up a large bogey on radar. It's heading for you! – Right after that I heard something that sounded like a huge helicopter. Everyone looked up and I saw the same huge B.O.W. that we've dealt with right after entering the town, being flown in with a military chopper. Once it was above us, the chopper released the giant and it fell down on the ground.
- We'll talk later. – Chris said as he ran in front of Sherry. – Right now, you need to find cover. – The huge monster roared at us. – Everyone, spread out! – Chris ordered and we did as we were told.
While running away from that creature I've noticed a body of a soldier lying on the ground. He was dead but he still had his weapon with him. I'm not very picky in situations like this. My Uzi somehow disappeared after the whole incident on the bridge, so I was left with my knife and a handgun. And they won't be much of help when dealing with this giant. I started taking off the Assault Rifle when I heard a voice come through the earpiece.
- Alpha Team, come in. This is Echo. Those thee anti-aircraft turrets are holding us at bay.
- Roger that, Echo. – Chris said. – We'll take care of them for you.
I started looking around to see where those turrets are. I saw one on the second floor of a building.
- Our first target's over here! – Finn said and I saw as he ran towards the turret I've seen earlier. When I finally retrieved the weapon I went after him.
- Chris! – Sherry yelled. – We'll give you a hand!
- Out of the question! – Chris replied. – You need to get to safety!
- Don't worry about me! I can handle myself, and you need the help!
- Watch it! – I yelled as I pushed Sherry away from under a crumbling building. – Yeah, sure, you can handle yourself. – I said sarcastically as I stood up and helped her up.
- Thanks. – She said. – I owe you.
- Meh, you're not the first one today.
- Christ… My chances of survival were higher when I was a soldier of fortune. – Jake remarked as he shot a J'avo that was about to attack me and Sherry.
- Oh, just stop whining, punk! – I said as I started shooting at other J'avos.
- I'm setting charges on the anti-aircraft gun, now, but it's gonna take a while. – Finn reported through the earpiece. – See if you can buy me some time! I need you to distract that giant B.O.W.! I can't work with it around!
- Minnie! – Chris' voice appeared. – I need you to get here and cover Finn from the J'avos!
- Copy that! – I replied. – It's time for me to go. Stay alive, would you? I wouldn't want to be the one to tell Claire the bad news.
Sherry wanted to ask me about it but I just ran to the turret that I saw before to get into position.
- Chris! – I heard her yell. – We'll take care of one of those big ones!
- Thanks for volunteering me for the job, babe. – Was Jake's only reply.
- OK. We'll help you. – Chris said.
We met each other on the stairs of the building that the first turret was on. I was running up to reach Finn, he was running down to distract the giant. Once I got to Finn, he started setting the charges. I did my best to keep the J'avos away from him, but that giant mutant was no help at all.
- You could do a better job at keeping him busy. – I mumbled as the thing tried to hit me and Finn. Luckily someone's shot hit him in the head and he missed us.
- Just need a little more time! – Finn reported.
- If it's not too difficult, could hurry up a bit, Finn? – I asked killing the J'avos.
- The charges are set! – Finn yelled. – Everyone, get back!
We looked for cover, but a J'avo caught Finn's leg and he fell down. I smashed the B.O.W.'s head with my new weapon and dragged Finn behind a wall just in time, because right after we were behind cover the charges exploded.
- Jesus, Finn. – I said exhaling deeply. – We need you alive, man.
- Sorry. – He said lowering his head.
- No time to be crest-fallen. Come on, we've got a job to do.
- Only two guns left! – The same Echo guy said through the earpiece.
- OK, let's head to the next target! – Finn yelled and ran out, with me not too far behind.
The giant B.O.W. was busy chasing Sherry with Jake and other BSAA soldiers, but I had all these J'avos on my hands. There were too much of them. I wasn't capable of seeing all of them, let alone shoot all of them.
- Chris! – I said though the earpiece. – There's too many of them. If you want those turrets destroyed, you need to send me some help! – I turned around and saw a J'avo standing behind Finn, ready to hit him with a knife. – Finn, get down! – I yelled. Luckily this time he didn't question my orders and did what he was told. I killed the J'avo behind him but failed to notice the one behind me and received a hit from behind myself. I fell down and gripped my head. I saw the J'avo ready to land a final blow to my heart, but instead of doing so, it just screamed and burst into flame.
- Your reinforcements have arrived. – I looked up to see Piers holding his hand out to help me get up. I accepted it and he pulled me up. Now, the both of us were covering Finn from the J'avos.
- Never thought I'd be glad to see your face, Nivans. – I said as I shot down a couple of J'avos.
- Glad to be of service, Sledge. – He mimicked me.
It wasn't a really long run to the next turret but there were plenty of J'avos in our way. Finn finally started setting the charges while Piers and I did our best to kill off all the J'avos that were coming our way. I saw the giant starting move towards us. The soldiers were shooting at it, but the creature was targeting us.
- Chris, do something with that creature! – I yelled.
And he did. He threw a grenade at it and that was enough of a distraction to let Finn complete his task.
- The charges are set! – Finn yelled. – Everyone, get back! – We did as we were told. After a few seconds the charges went off.
- Good job, Alpha! – Echo said. – One gun left! – As we were ready to head to the third turret, HQ contacted us again.
- There's another giant B.O.W. closing in on your location!
- What the fuck? – I murmured as I saw another huge creature appear in the horizon. It took just a few seconds for it to reach us.
- It's the one we lost at Two of Hearts! – Piers yelled. We started running towards our next target.
- Only one to go! – Finn said. – Come on, move into that underground passage!
We did what he told us and followed him. I'm not quite sure what the main purpose of this passage was, but it took us safely to the third turret. We were out of sight of the giants and the J'avos for some time. When we got out of the passage, Finn one last time started setting the charges while Piers and I covered him. When the last turret was destroyed, HQ contacted us once again.
- All anti-aircraft guns have been silenced. Nice work, Alpha. But you're not out of the woods, yet. Echo Team can't land until you take care of that other B.O.W. We'll try to hit it from the air. See if it has any weaknesses.
*The other B.O.W.? There were two of them. What happened? Maybe they took it out while we were underground.*
- Alpha, this is Echo! Take a look at that thing's back! That device is directly attached to the organs that are keeping it alive! I don't know how, but see if you can pull it out!
- Great! – I said. – They only gave us the most impossible thing to do at the moment. Maybe they'd like some tea to go with it?!
- Careful what you wish for, you might just get it! – Chris answered me. – Go on the top and see if you can find a solution.
- Roger! – I said as I got onto the roof of a building.
The bullets made the giant kneel, making his back right at my level. I took a few steps back and jumped on its back, grabbing onto the device. My both arms barely came around it. Nonetheless, I tried to pull it out. It took me a lot of effort to do that. *Too bad I can't use my super strength whenever I need it.* I thought as that thing threw me off his back and I landed on my ass right next to its feet. Once the organs were out, Echo fired missiles at them.
- Good work out there, Alpha! – HQ said. – Echo Team will be landing shortly.
I saw the huge creature begin to melt, so I moved not to get touched by the liquid. A few moments later Echo landed. I joined everyone by the helicopter.
- Nice work up there, kid. – The pilot of Echo told me. – You know, you're like a legend here. Everyone's been talking about the kid that got transferred to Alpha.
- Yes, well, unfortunately I'm not staying. – I answered him.
- Awww, really? That's a loss. I was thinking of asking for your transfer to Echo. It would be a huge help to have someone as capable as you. Not to mention cute, too.
At his last words my eyes widened and I started blushing. I wasn't used to hearing compliments. Especially in situations like this. The pilot started laughing when he saw my reaction.
- Hey, Minnie! – Piers yelled as he came to me. – Let's go, we're… What's so funny? – He asked when the pilot didn't stop laughing.
- Oh, nothing. – The pilot answered. – I was just telling her how your team got lucky to get such a cute girl transferred to them.
- Let's go where, Piers? – I tried to get away from the pilot because as minutes passed I got redder and redder. Piers just smiled at what the pilot said (not a very common view), then looked at me.
- Apparently you do know my name. – He laughed a bit.
- Come on, let's go. You said we have to go. – I kept urging him.
- Yeah, Captain wants us to move out as soon as those two are in the helicopter. – He said as he started moving slowly away from Echo. – See ya, man.
- Hey, Piers? – Echo said. Piers looked at him, showing that he's listening. – You should ask her out on a date when you get out of this hellhole. – At this point I was as red as… I don't even know what to compare myself to. Piers laughed a bit and we walked towards Chris, but the Echo guy didn't give up. – I mean it, Piers! She's a cutie!
- Jesus Christ! – I said as I speeded towards Chris. Behind me I heard Piers laugh out.
- I already gave the pilot the coordinates. – Chris told Sherry when I reached him.
- Thank you so much for your help. – Sherry said shaking Chris' hand.
- Hey! – Jake was talking to me. – No offense for what I said earlier.
- None taken. – I replied nonchalantly. Jake and Sherry started moving towards the helicopter when Chris spoke up.
- Hey… Hey! – He wanted to catch Jake's attention. Jake stopped and turned around. Only then I noticed a scar on his left cheek. – Have we met? – Chris asked.
- You jarheads all look the same to me, pal, sorry. – He answered. *So, Chris noticed it, too.*
- You got to be kidding me! – Piers wanted to run after him, but Chris stopped him.
- My mistake! – Chris told Jake, but he probably wasn't listening to him.
- Settle down, pup. – I said quietly that only Piers would hear it. He did and he shot me a glare that could probably kill someone.
- Have a safe flight. – Chris smiled at Sherry.
- Captain, we're crazy for letting him walk away! – Piers said when both Sherry and Jake boarded the helicopter. – How many men have we lost to mercenaries like him!
- He's not our problem. – Chris answered calmly. – We don't lose sight of the BSAA's mission.
I could see that Piers didn't agree with Chris, but he did his best not to show it, so he just nodded his head. He was hiding his disapproval well, but yet, I still could see through him. He was boiling up inside. And what Finn said afterwards, didn't help.
- To fight bioterrorism, sir. – He actually answered a question that Chris didn't even ask. This made me snicker. And it made Piers furious.
- I know what we're here for, rookie. – He said coldly and followed Chris. I putt a hand on Finn's shoulder.
- Come on, Finn. Let's go. – I said still snickering and we followed the rest of the Team.
Hi, guys. I know it's been awhile since my last update and I am sorry for that T_T I'll try to upload the next chapter as soon as I can and hopefully sooner than this one ^_^ Once again, thank you all for reading and reviewing. Please enjoy, review and talk to you soon ^_^