Chapter Two: Hearts and Minds

Not too long after his return to, well, wherever he was, Piers began to grow tired again. Fighting it off for awhile, he took the time to lean each of his guns on the wall, and took stock. 30 12.7mm rounds, 150 9mm rounds, 30 7.62 rounds, 40 12-gauge shells, He could hold his own for awhile but not forever. The task of counting his rounds only increased Piers's fatigue, and before he knew it he was laying down again and dozing off.

"Piers!"

A shout woke him, or at least so Piers thought. When he looked around, he found himself back in Edonia. Looking forward, he saw Captain Redfield and Finn waiting for him, but there was a third figure as well. Standing there, was a woman in B.S.A.A uniform, her hair was long, and non-regulation at that, and she held an Assault Rifle for Special Tactics. She had tattoos, like those the other Goddesses had, and she was smiling at Piers. Piers jogged forward and, even though he was essentially certain this was a dream, asked

"Captain, who is she?"

Chris smiled, somewhat sadly, and said

"Figure it out already, huh Piers? You always were really observant. This is Luna, she says she's a Goddess, I didn't believe it but she set all this up, so I guess she really is. She...she told me about where you are, Piers, why you're there. I suppose I'm just happy your alive and...still yourself."

"Captain...so..that's really you?"

"Yeah, Piers, it's really me. Finn...well, It's really Finn too, apparently these Goddesses can accomplish anything they want."

Finn smiled and tapped his gun, before saying

"Hello Lieutenant! I uhh...like I was telling the Captain, I don't blame either of you for...what happened. You can't have known what was gonna happen."

Piers felt a smile come to his face then, and it almost felt as if a weight was lifted off his chest, and then he heard a smooth voice, belonging to Luna, say

"It's good to meet you Piers, and it'll be better to meet you in person when you awake. For now, however, we have a job to do."

Chris's face turned serious and he nodded, saying

"We're going to link up with the team, and then kill the BOW that represents the taint within you Piers. The travel to that universe, at least so I'm told, has left you rather exposed to, and I can't believe I'm saying this, demons, and if left un-checked they'll turn you into their weapon."

"Woah...alright Captain, I trust you, but who is the rest of the team?"

Chris just smiled, and began to walk down the street, followed by Finn and Luna, as he replied

"You'll see!"

Piers frowned but followed after them. Soon, the group arrived at a building, causing Piers and Chris to grimace and Finn to flinch and stagger back a step, with Luna quickly re-assuring them all that it was just a facade. Before them, was the town hall in Edonia where Finn had met his end. Outside of it, however, were a large number of figures in uniform. Some, wore the uniform of the United States Marines, and Piers recognized them as some of his friends in the Marine Corps. Many more, however, wore the BSAA uniform, and Piers recognized them all. Reid, Marco, Jeff, and many more, all the members of BSAA Alpha Team were there. All the soldiers saluted him, and moved to pre-assigned positions to breach the building. Chris, Finn, Piers, Luna and Marco all went to the front door, and kicked it down.

Inside lay a sight that made Piers want to vomit in revulsion. Standing in the center of the room, was Piers himself, but as he was when he had been infected with the C-Virus. C-Piers was surrounded by J'avo and Napads, each J'avo held an Ammo Box 50 as per normal. As all the teams of BSAA soldiers, and one team of Marines, surrounded C-Piers and the BOWs, C-Piers turned to Piers and smiled a horrible, gut-renching smile, as it said in Piers's voice

"I am everything you could be, Piers Nivans. You need not embrace this form again, only the power that went with it. You can be what you always wanted to be, the ultimate sniper, and all you have to do is embrace me. I can send you back home, to your Captain and your family. Embrace me, and we can strike down the Gods and Goddesses who brought you here against your will."

Piers saw the BOWs clear a path for him, and he began to seriously consider this. He could re-join the BSAA and his Captain, he wouldn't have to deal with whatever these Goddesses had planned, he could truly be the best. He began to take quick strides towards C-Piers, even as everyone began to shout at him not to do it. It was Luna's voice, surprisingly enough, that registered with him though

"I know you, Mr. Nivans! I know you don't truly want that power, you don't truly want to kill me or any deity. We all have faith in you Piers, we know you'll do what is RIGHT! Because that is who you ARE, Piers Nivans. You are not just the BSAA, you are not just Captain Redfield's second in command, you are Piers Nivans, and you are a man."

Piers stopped, right in front of C-Piers, who held out it's human hand for a hand-shake. Piers looked at C-Piers, cringing inwardly as he had once looked like that. His mind screamed at him to shake the thing's hand, to return home to his last friend and his family, but his heart wouldn't allow it, whispering.

"That isn't you, Piers. You are more than just what waits for you in that universe, and you know they need you here. Be true, Piers, and you will make the right decision."

Piers stared at C-Piers, standing in front of him, and felt a question bubble up.

"Are you TRULY a part of me? Have you been around since I was born."

"No, Piers. I am the small part of you that was changed by your years of war, I am the part that stopped caring about other people, because I realized that you need to care for yourself, Piers. However, I was not always this strong, it was the coming of the demon who fused with me, that made me strong."

This, however, was all Piers needed to know. He delivered a powerful round-house kick to C-Piers, and a cheer went up from the assembled soldiers before they opened fire. Piers himself, however, was in a war with C-Piers. Piers held his trademark anti-materiel rifle, while C-Piers readied it's electric arm.

C-Piers got the first blow with a powerful electric shock, driving Piers to his knees with a loud yell of pain. Distantly, he heard the sound of a female voice beginning to sing, and when he glanced back he saw it was Luna, with covering fire from Chris, Finn and Marco. This gave Piers strength as he hefted his rifle and took aim, firing a round that ripped through C-Piers's infected shoulder. Piers smiled in satisfaction when the arm in question was torn off by the trauma and, unlike real life, no fresh, horrifying mutated limb took it's place.

C-Piers pulled a 909 from the right side of it's badly mutilated BSAA uniform, and fired on Piers. Most of the bullets hit his vest and, therefore, didn't do any damage. However, one struck his thigh and drove a deep grunt of pain from Piers. Aiming down his rifle's scope again, he fired another shot, and could almost feel himself becoming...more free when the round ripped the head off of C-Piers. The J'avo and Napads faded away now, and Piers turned to see Luna, Chris, and Finn approaching him while the other soldiers faded away as well, with the Marines giving a thumbs-up, and the fallen BSAA soldiers saluting. Luna smiled and said

"I knew you wouldn't join with him. Your heart is too pure Mr. Nivans, and I can't wait to speak with you when you awake."

She turned and left, to leave Piers to say his good-byes with Finn and Chris. It was Finn who spoke first, saying

"It's been an honor and a pleasure fighting with you again, sir! Don't worry about me, the afterlife is really a nice place. When you get here, I'll show you both around."

Finn gave a perfect military salute, and then he faded away. Piers looked to Chris and said

"So..this is it, isn't it Captain?"

"Naw, we'll meet plenty of times, I'm sure of it Piers. Your a good soldier, and a good man, so good luck with your new war. I'll help you out whenever I'm able...and good luck with Luna."

Piers cocked his head and asked

"What do you mean by that, Captain?"

Chris just gave a knowing smile and he faded away like the others. Luna re-approached and said

"It's time for you to awaken, Mr. Nivans. I'll be waiting, as will the Goddess Belldandy. I'm truly glad you've won here, Mr. Nivans."

So, before Piers had the chance to speak, Luna faded away, and Piers could feel himself being pulled from the dream back to the real, although equally confusing, world.

A/N: Ken here, I hope your enjoying this story. While the idea isn't myan, I'm certainly enjoying writing it! So, I know Luna's name is sorta stereotypical, and I apologize but I was sort of lost for good names. We got Chris into the story, too! I know the BSAA's presence was a bit strange, but I've always found it weird that Piers never seemed the least bit affected by Finn's death. So I decided to provide a resolution so that I could still hold to Piers's basic personality, but also eliminate one of the contradictions about it. Sorry this one took so long, but I've got other requests too!