Disclaimer: Resident Evil and its trademark are rightfully owned by Capcom.

Chapter 7 – Encounter

"Oh my God," Sherry gasped in horror as she watched the giant BOW gave a deafening roar as it swung its arms madly in front of it. She heard the mercenary swore under his breath beside her.

As if on cue the monster turned and spotted the pair. Still roaring, it swung a huge trunk like arm and obliterated the old library building two blocks away from them.

"I'm going to go out on a limb and say we should get the hell out of here," muttered Jake. She nodded. The duo turned around and began to run on the opposite direction from the monster. She knew they were no match against it. They will need heavier firepower and more manpower in the hopes taking it down. With only a standard pistol and her electrified stun rod equipped, she is under prepared for a situation like this.

Her male companion ran ahead of her in a surprisingly good speed. He glanced back at her and called out. "Come on, hurry up!"

She breathed hard as she tried to close the distance between them. She began to fall back a couple of feet away. He is a pretty fast runner and although she is pretty fit herself, her stamina doesn't quite match the mercenary's.

"Stop dragging your feet!"

"I know! I heard you ok?" she retorted back. Pumping her legs as fast as she could, she forced herself to run faster. Judging by the ground as it shook stronger and stronger, the monster is closing in on them. This is bad, she thought to herself. Swallowing the lump forming in her throat, she sneaked a look behind her. Her eyes widened at what she saw.

The grotesque BOW was holding a huge bus in its left clawed hand. It lifted it like it weighed like paper. It opened a cavernous mouth as it let out another roar, ready to attack and kill. It drew back its hand and prepared to throw the vehicle towards them.

She turned back towards the mercenary but only saw his back as he continued to run. By now he has a bit of a distance from her. She opened her mouth to warn him. "Jake - !"

She was interrupted by loud gunfire aimed towards the monster. She halted and watched as blood oozed out of a gunshot would from the monster's shoulder. Another shot hit it in its torso. The monster lost its attention towards them as it angrily looked around for the source of gunfire directed at it.

"Move in!"

Sherry watched as two BSAA agents ran closer to the monster, rifles aimed and ready to fire. One of the agents was an older man carrying an assault rifle. He was shouting orders to a microphone radio pack connected from his ear to his shoulder blade. The other agent is a younger man, also carrying an assault rifle.

"Let's take this asshole down!" the older man ordered.

"Roger!"

Together they started unleashing bullets to the monsters. The monster gave an angry roar and took a step towards them. She felt Jake stand beside her as they both watched the BSAA fight against the hulking creature.

"It's those two again. Guess they're back to finish off the dirty jobs my squad couldn't take care of," he said. She glanced at him.

"You know them?"

"Met them earlier today. We were at the town square fighting off against the infected. But there's a whole lot more to them than those two. I wonder what happened to the rest of their squad," he wondered as they continued to watch them fight. The monster was getting hit by a series of bullets but due to its size and strength, it doesn't seem to do a lot of damage.

"We should help them," she said quietly.

He snorted. "Are you mental? This is their problem now. We should get the hell out of here while they got that walking piece of shit distracted." He crossed his arms as he glared at her at the corner of his eye. He couldn't understand why she would want to help them. It's not their job to assist the BSAA. Plus the further they are away from danger the better.

"No, this is our problem too. Think about it. If the BSAA aren't successful in getting rid of that thing it'll continue to pursue us. It'll just create more problems for us in the long run. Then delay our mission to get out of the country. We should try and help them while we have more manpower. This is our chance to get take it out more successfully." She said as she looked pointedly at him. "Besides, more BOW kills means more money for you, right?" She figured out that his main motivation is money. Why not use it as a reason for this situation?

He had to admit it but she has a point. Damn it, why does she always have to be logical all the time? He groaned inwardly. "Alright then. We help the BSAA kill off this thing. But after this we're out."

She smiled to herself. It worked. "Let's go and get him!"

The duo ran towards the agents and took out their pistols. Alongside the two soldiers they began firing at the monster. The older man turned beside him to the blonde woman. "Who are you?"

"I'm a US government agent. Saw you guys fighting this thing, thought we should help out," she replied. She emptied out her pistol and dropped the empty magazine on the ground. She quickly jammed a fresh magazine in her pistol.

"Much appreciated." Replied the soldier.

His partner turned towards Jake and frowned. "Hey, it's you again. Heard your mercenary faction got disbanded. Why are you still here? Couldn't get enough action in the side-lines?"

He gritted his teeth as he kept firing. "We're the ones helping you out this time. So shut up and keep firing!"

The younger BSAA soldier glared at him. "Don't tell me to shut up! Stop being such an ass-"

He wasn't able to finish his sentence. The next thing they knew the monster hurled the bus towards them. "Everybody, get the hell out of the way!" yelled the captain. All four dove towards the ground away from the hurling bus. It flew above their heads and crashed further behind them, a screech and squeal of metals skidding and crashing against the concrete floor.

"Damn it! I need to get to higher ground to get a better aim towards this asshole." Grunted the younger soldier as he rolled out of the way and got up. He looked around his surroundings. He saw an abandoned office building just beside the now destroyed library building. It was three stories high and the top open floor gave a wide view of their surroundings. "Over there! I'm going up." He said as he ran towards the building taking out his sniper rifle. The rest ran after him.

"Does he know what the hell he's doing?" Jake muttered under his breath. Sherry who was running beside him elbowed him at his side. "Ow! Fuck! What was that for?" he asked irritated. She rolled her eyes at him in response. The foursome reached the top floor and immediately, the sniper ran at the edge of the building and positioned his sniper on the ledge. Adjusting the lens of his scope, he focused on the monster's head and fired. A loud firing sound echoed in the place followed by a roar of anger and pain. Judging by the sound the monster was making, it was a clean hit.

"Keep firing, Piers! Aim for its head or try to shoot its vital organs," ordered his captain. He reloaded his assault rifle and began to fire. Sherry and Jake followed suit.

"It's gonna take a whole lot more than bullets to take this asshole down! We need a tank to take him out!" Jake said. He looked around for anything he could find useful like an explosive barrel or a military tank to use against the BOW. "Where's the rest of your squad anyway? Don't you guys have a tank?"

"We got separated from them. Right now it's just us," replied the captain. He reached into his ammo pack and retrieved a grenade. "Piers, can you draw him closer to us? We could use a grenade to take him out."

His partner nodded. He fired again and made another clean hit on the monster's shoulder. "Looks like I got his attention now."

"Ok, keep at it. Draw him closer. I've got a plan. Anyone got a detonator bomb?" Jake asked as he gave a nod to the captain. He tossed a grenade to the mercenary which he caught with ease.

"What are you planning on doing now?" Sherry asked as she put her hands on her hips. She looked at her partner suspiciously having a feeling that she's not going to like what he's about to plan.

He flashed her a grin which she supposed to ease her feelings but it made her feel more suspicious at his thoughts. "Don't worry your pretty little head off. I've got this."

"Jake, don't do anything reckless."

"Yes, mom," replied the mercenary sarcastically. She sighed and threw up her hands in the air. The sniper kept firing at the monster as it drew closer and closer to the ledge of the building they were on. The captain took out a detonator bomb fiddling with the buttons to set it off which he also tossed to Jake. He also took out more rifle magazines for his rifle.

"Alright, listen up. Keep getting his attention. I'm gonna blow his brains out," he said has he clutched the grenades in his hands.

Sherry looked at her partner as if he was crazy. "Are you sure that this is a good idea?"

The mercenary merely shrugged. "Only one way to find out."

She looked back at the monster and gasped. It was nearly upon them. It could reach out crush them if it wanted to. It had several bullet holes throughout its head and torso. Most of them bleeding as they unleashed their bullets to him. No matter how much they fired, it doesn't seem to slow it down. She kept her pistol at it and fired a few more shots. She bit her lip in anxiety. She's going to run out of ammo soon if they don't put this BOW down. She glanced at her partner. Concentration was marred his features, brows furrowed together and fingers white as he clutched the detonator bomb. Suddenly the monster raised a clawed hand and took a swipe across the four of them. It all happened so fast, she didn't have time to react. The twisted clawed limb was going to hit her, going to push her off the edge –

She opened her mouth to cry out but it's going to be too late. She closed her eyes and prepared for the impact. Almost immediately she felt a pair of hands grab her shoulders and push her on the ground. She felt the swoosh of air above her as its hand missed her by inches. She opened her eyes to see her partner above her, his face inches away from hers. He had pushed her on the ground, saving her from being tossed aside like a rag doll. Their eyes met, steel blue eyes against her crystal blue ones. She could feel his warm breath against her cold skin. His upper torso was on top of her, hands pressed on the ground at either side of her head. Her hands were pressed up against his chest. He blinked and his eyes showed an emotion which she tried to comprehend. Worry? Concern? In a flash it was gone and his hard gaze returned. Getting off on top of her, he stood up and dusted off himself. Sherry still having her breath knocked off her got up slowly. She opened her mouth to thank him but was interrupted.

A cry came out. Both of them turned to see the monster had taken a hold of the sniper. He lifted him off the ground as he weighed like a feather. The monster's hand was wrapped around his waist constricting his movements. His hands were free and clutched at his sniper rifle.

"Piers!" cried the captain. He was on the ground clutching his arm. The monster had managed to hit him in the arm, his uniform torn and a bloody gash on his forearm. Sherry cried out in alarm as she rushed towards the captain and checked his injury. The gash wasn't deep but it needs to be treated and bandaged. She grabbed a herbal ointment from her medic pack and rubbed it across the wound.

"Hang in there. I'm just going to patch you up." She said as she took out a fresh bandage from her pack. She unrolled the bandage and with skills and expertise like a medic, she carefully wrapped the captain's arm with it securing it with a medical staple and tape. "This is the best I can do for now. You will have to change your bandage in a couple of hours, ok?"

The captain gave a brief nod. His hardened gaze never left his subordinate as he watched him being handled as he was nothing by the monster.

On the other hand, the sniper aimed his rifle and took a couple of shots at the monsters face. He grunted as he tried to focus his aim. This just seemed to aggravate the monster who tightened its grip on the soldier squeezing him. He cried out in pain as his lungs was being squeezed the air out of it. He struggled to breathe as he grimaced in pain. The mercenary was firing shots at the monster trying to distract it.

"Fuck, this isn't going to work! We need a new tactic!" he cried as he put his gun back in its holster. Sherry looked at her partner, worry written all over her face. This isn't looking good for all of them.

"What do you have in mind?"

The mercenary didn't answer. Instead he rushed forward and took a suicidal leap off the ledge and latched himself on the arm of the monster. Sherry cried out in alarm. Both she and the captain were on their feet now watching in disbelief and awe as they watched the scene unfold before their eyes.

Jake grunted as he pulled himself to his feet trying to balance his weight on the monster. He ran up to the monster's face and rammed a fist to the side of its face. Grabbing his gun, he fired a few shots at its face point blank. This seemed to do a bit more damage up close. Moving to the back of its head, he grabbed hold of a huge spike that was impaled on its neck he pulled with all his might trying to take it out. He grimaced as he kept pulling it, taking it out slowly. Inch by inch it moved and after a while he managed to take out exposing a large gaping wound in its neck.

"Take this, asshole," he snarled as he brought his fist down on the exposed wound, hitting it over and over again. The giant monster screamed out in pain and shook its head trying to throw the mercenary off him. Unfortunately he has a tight grip on the monster with his other hand as he continued to punch it. Both the captain and his partner took his to account and started firing again at the monster. The sniper raised his rifle and took aim pulling the trigger and hitting the monster straight in the eye. This seemed to do the trick as it released him and dropped him to the ground below and covered its eye with its hand. Jake moved swiftly with ease in front of the monster and took out the grenade and detonator bomb. Pulling the pin from the grenade, he tossed it inside the monster's mouth as it cried in pain along with the detonator bomb.

"Get down!" he ordered the two still standing on the ledge firing. They both got down on the floor covering their heads.

"Go and get him!" the captain called out.

Leaping off the monster into the ledge on the top of the building, he turned back to the monster and smirked. "Buen appetito bastard." He pushed the button off the detonator and ducked as it exploded. He covered his head as blood, brain matter and bits of flesh rained upon them.

Sherry opened her eyes and got up. Looking around in disgust she went to the ledge and looked down. The monster, or what's left of it was lying on the ground, its body still and unmoving. Its head was blown clean off and bright red blood was beginning to pool above its neck. The two men joined her on the ledge and they studied the BOW.

"Good work, Jake," she said as relief washed over her. "Let's get out of here."

The trio dusted off any bloody flesh clinging to their clothes and hair and made their way down. They were met with the sniper on the ground.

"Good to see you made it back. You alright?" the captain asked as they approached him. He nodded still a little out of breath. He is still clutching his sides as a result of the monster squeezing his lungs out. Dirt and dust clung to his hair and skin. Beads of perspiration trailed down his face. Asides from a few scratch and bruises, he seemed fine. He turned to the blonde woman beside him.

"Thanks for the help. Sorry I didn't catch your name."

"Sherry Birkin. Thanks as well for giving us the grenades and bomb." She replied as she gave the two BSAA agents a genuine smile. "How is your arm? Try not to move it too much and remember to change the dressing."

"Will do. I'm Chris Redfield by the way. This is Piers." He gestured to his partner as he spoke. Her ears perked up as she heard his name.

"Redfield? You don't happen to be Claire Redfield's brother are you?" she asked in surprise. She remembered Claire mentioning to her that she was looking for her brother years ago back in Racoon City.

"As a matter of fact, I am. You know Claire?" Chris asked equally surprised.

"Yeah. She helped me out back in Raccoon City. She's the reason I'm still alive. If she didn't find me back then I wouldn't be here," she replied. "Have you heard from her recently?"

Chris nodded. "Spoke to her a couple of months ago. She's still an active member of Terrasave. She's been involved in activities last I spoke to her. She and the other members are seeking out survivors of this whole outbreak and providing support and help for them. They're also providing info for the BSAA of the virus trends and where it's going to crop up next. She wants to make sure no one goes through what you had to go through back in Raccoon City."

She smiled and nodded. Claire has always been kind, supportive and caring of the people she met. They stayed in touch after the events of Raccoon City. She hasn't heard from Claire in a while though. Due to her rise in her career being a government agent, it kept her busy most of the time and her job prevented her from divulging in too much information with non-members of the US government. It seemed that Claire has her hands full as well helping out people get through world crisis.

"That's good to hear. I missed her a lot. Give her my regards if you speak to her again, will you?"

Chris nodded. "No problem. What are you and your partner up to now?"

Speaking of her partner she turned around and looked for him. Spotting him several yards away she noticed he had managed to find a motorcycle by the side of the road. He was checking it out and working out the parts of it.

"Looks like your partner found himself a nice bike," Piers said as he watched him work out the handles. "That guy has a serious attitude problem. And he's a bigger smart ass as well. How the hell are you two partners?"

She rubbed her face tiredly. "It's a long story. Yes, it's true he's a bit hard to work with at times. But I have no choice but to. Besides he can be useful too. He's a pretty good fighter." She didn't want to let out too much information on her mission and why she and Jake are working together. She knows she can trust the BSAA but her orders are to strictly avoid contact with anyone.

"Yeah, gotta say I have to give him credit for his stunt with that BOW. That takes a lot of guts and skill," he commented, studying the mercenary as he expertly fixed the bike by arranging the parts. Although he doesn't like the guy much, Piers has to acknowledge that he's got good skills in combat.

"Hey!"

Sherry turned back to her partner who seemed to get the bike moving. He gestured for her that the bike is ready. Turning back to Chris and Piers she knows they had to get moving along soon. "It was nice meeting both of you. Sorry we have to run along now. There's some place we have to be."

Chris nodded. "If you happen to be in the same area again and needed help, just let us know." He gave her a pat on the shoulder.

She smiled up at him gratefully. "Thanks. I will." Giving them a wave, she hurried towards her partner. They still have a long road ahead of them.