Regeneration

Chapter 11: Resolve

Piers Nivans

After I mailed the letter, I headed out of headquarters and into town. I couldn't belive that I was doing this. I waited until December 17th to finally think of an idea, and this is what comes to me? There was no way, no fucking way, that Chris would ever like a Christmas present like this one. There was no excuse for it. He'd never want to celebrate the holiday with me again. And yet, I was still walking. Still heading around the stores and shops, seeing which ones were open, wondering if being a B.S.A.A. member would buy me into some of the closed ones. I had a feeling I knew which one I wanted, but for the life of me, I couldn't imagine entering it normal, much less in the condition I was in.

Hefting my right arm onto where my pocket was half-heartedly, I thought about the attacks I'd been having since the first. They'd lessened considerably in the past week, so whatever the doctors were pumping into me was working. While I wasn't having nearly as many, and they weren't quite so sever, they could still cripple me. And it would be just typical if this virus kicked my ass while I was out in public. Much less...the place where I was going.

Well, there was maybe just one excuse for what I wanted to get Chris—it was, if only barely, less sappy and romantic than the fantasy that had been playing out in my mind for a while, which had sort of been what had come to me when Chris had said I'd have to "surprise him" all that time ago. I was still sure he wouldn't like it. Even getting it ready was going to be embarassing as hell, because I had no idea how to do it. Or how much more of a challenge it would be the way I was.

Finally, I came to the store I wanted, and gulped. It was open, but there were virtually no people here. I guess that was something good. I walked over to the front entrance, wondering if I should just go in. Before I could decide, a nice-looking old woman came around one of the shelves and gawked at me. She looked ready to call the police. I gulped again—if this woman dialed 911, and the headquarters, or anyone for that matter, knew I was here, I'd never be able to get out from under it. I hastily flashed my B.S.A.A. badge and waved at her with my left hand to show her I wasn't rogue. She looked at me curiously, walking up to the entrance doors, and almost pressing her nose against the glass.

"I'm a soldier for the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance. It's okay, I won't infect you. Please let me in."

She stared at me for a couple more seconds. "How do I know that for sure?" she said in a soft voice.

"I'm Piers Nivans, and I still don't have a Christmas present for—" but I was spared the trouble of making up someone to buy for, because she opened the door at that moment. "Piers Nivans?" she said. "Yes, I've heard of you. You come right on in here and get what you need." she said, allowing me in. "Thank you." I said gratefully.

"So what are you looking to get for this person?" she asked.

"Aahh..."

Ada Wong

I was sitting in my cell, finally in the United Kingdom, bored, listening to my guards. They had tried to put me in a cell with some other women first, then some men, and finally decided that a cell by myself was best, due to...disagreements. Right now I was sitting, fidgeting with a small rip on the hem of my suit, when I realized my guards seemed to be having a very heated discussion.

"There's no way."

"Seven different signatures are there. It has to be legit."

"Or a forgery. She probably planned this."

"We can't just ignore it."

"Of course we can. She's an evil psycho."

"We'd better at least make some calls, check if it's for real."

"That'll take way too long."

"Don't be lazy."

After that, I heard them dialing numbers into phones and speaking in very official tones. They would use "The Accused" occasionally. It's not like I didn't know they weren't talking about me, it was a rather silly way to disguise it. The phone calls dragged on an on and on, they must have called people from a dozen different nations. Eventually I heard them faxing things a lot. I got tired of listening to the sounds, so I just laid down on my bunk and let it drift me off to sleep.

A few hours later, or maybe a few minutes later, I couldn't really tell, I was woken up by my cell door opening. I sat up, and the guard handed me an official-looking typed paper. I looked over it quickly. The seal of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance was printed there, ridged upward to it couldn't have been faked. There were also seven signatures at the bottom. I read through the letter, my eyes growing wider and wider by the second. I really couldn't believe what I was laying my eyes on.

At the bottom, I looked at the signatures:

Chris Redfield

Jill Valentine

Castor Williams

Jade Serenek

Camille Coren

Brandon Dgaref

...And finally:

Piers Nivans

"Well, boys. It looks like you owe me an escort back to the United States of America."

If looks could kill, I'd be dead three times over. I grinned.

Piers Nivans

"Is it good to go?" The lady asked me. "Yes, I think so, thanks."

I stared down at the thing in my arms. It was...good. Complete, at least. I still knew Captain Redfield wasn't going to like it, even if he could pretend to. I closed my eyes. "Thank you for your help, really." I said, placing it snugly in a wrapped bag.

"My pleasure, sir." she said. "Have a very merry Christmas!"

"You too." I said, smiling as I walked out of the store. I walked down through the streets, holding the package close to my arms, making sure it wouldn't fall or get snow on it. I hurried back to headquarters. I almost bumped right into Chris.

"Hey Piers." he said, grinning. "That my present?" he said, trying to peek.

"No it is not." I said, and hurried past him.

"Merry Christmas!" he called.

"Merry Christmas!" I called back over my shoulder. Now where was I supposed to put this?

I went back to my quarters with the bag, hiding it under my bed. Then, I sat down and thought about how Christmas was going to be. Maybe I wouldn't have the best Christmas. But no, nothing could ruin it.