[ The word comes out almost flat. There's a shift in his demeanor as he looks down remembering how it all panned out. Time went on but it never got easier remembering it -- never healed what it already took away. He straightened his posture consciously trying to push back the emotions that came up at the back of his throat. It was a simple movement that felt like there was more unseen weight holding him down than any physical weight that could have fallen on his shoulders. ]
Don't think that's something that I'll ever be able to make up for. [ His head lifts back up but his eyes aren't able to connect with hers. ] I owe you the same in return. [ His life. All of it.
Going "out with a bang" couldn't have been more fitting for the current situation. He's lucky that he didn't actually hear that. There were a lot of things that kept him up at night; The guilt that kept piling on no matter how close he thought that he was to redemption, to loosen the hold just a little bit more. For every step closer was another two to push back at him. ]
We've been in it together from the beginning. I'm not ready to throw all of that away. Don't think that I ever will be no matter what ever this... whatever that turns out to be. I won't accept it as the end.
[ --Of us, of any of it. For all the sacrifices made along the way, for how far they've come. ]
[ There really wasn't any use in mourning him twice. He knew that his words were true. The not so subtle way that Chris turned his head from him may have given away a sense of denial -- an attempt at trying to fight against what was logical. ]
It was supposed to be you who made it out. I lost myself, Piers, but you never gave up on me. Coming all the way to drag my ass back to the team and believing in the man that I once was. There was no one else who I wanted more to take my place as captain.
[ Now it was his turn to pause. It was an emotional conversation that often haunted him. Facing him now and saying the things that he didn't get to before made it hard to keep up appearances that this was just a casual talk between partners, between friends. It was anything but. ]
Easy to think that, but I was never you Chris. Maybe I would have done well, maybe not, but they needed you.
[ In some way, he had too, but he doesn't get into that. It would only make the guilt that much more, and looking back, Piers had little regret. He had done what he intended to, for better or worse. ]
I mean, you being back in your prime, leading again. That's what I wanted, and got. I got to play hero a little bit too, it's not so bad...
It might be easy, but it's not something that I say lightly. Those men looked to you too. When I wasn't able to lead, you were able to get a team to follow you to take me back. It isn't hard to recognize talent when it's exceptional. You impressed me from the beginning. Don't think it took long before I knew then that when the time came... when I was going to retire...
You saved my life. You're more than a hero, Piers. For guys like Finn, like Marco... It's more than what I could do for any of them. It's because of you that I can be that man again... for as long as it's worth. I don't ever want what you did for me to be in vain.
I know it won't be, Captain. That's why it was so easy to do. [ A small, complicated but no less warm smile. There was a lot to it. But maybe it was easier to think about objectively when it had already happened when he was looking back on the choices he made. On how Chris had turned things back around, though it'd be a lie to say Piers hadn't always believed he would, or perhaps he needed him to. ]
We all made the choices we thought were best, and I knew inside you were the same guy I looked up to as a recruit, sometimes we just have to shake everything else loose and go back to our roots.
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[ Goodbyes were the last thing that he wanted even if things did look grim for the future. ]
You know where to find me.
[ At Plan B. ]
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[ They've had a good run, but she knew they couldn't keep going forever. Maybe now is as good a time as any to go out with a bang. ]
Wouldn't have it any other way, partner.
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[ If he could punch his way through boulders to get to Wesker and Sheva, he could have at least put a crack through that escape pod window. ]
You deserved better.
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[ The word comes out almost flat. There's a shift in his demeanor as he looks down remembering how it all panned out. Time went on but it never got easier remembering it -- never healed what it already took away. He straightened his posture consciously trying to push back the emotions that came up at the back of his throat. It was a simple movement that felt like there was more unseen weight holding him down than any physical weight that could have fallen on his shoulders. ]
Don't think that's something that I'll ever be able to make up for. [ His head lifts back up but his eyes aren't able to connect with hers. ] I owe you the same in return. [ His life. All of it.
Going "out with a bang" couldn't have been more fitting for the current situation. He's lucky that he didn't actually hear that. There were a lot of things that kept him up at night; The guilt that kept piling on no matter how close he thought that he was to redemption, to loosen the hold just a little bit more. For every step closer was another two to push back at him. ]
We've been in it together from the beginning. I'm not ready to throw all of that away. Don't think that I ever will be no matter what ever this... whatever that turns out to be. I won't accept it as the end.
[ --Of us, of any of it. For all the sacrifices made along the way, for how far they've come. ]
I want all of it to matter.
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[ A pause, like he's looking for the right words. ]
Besides, if anyone could go on and lead, it had to be you.
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It was supposed to be you who made it out. I lost myself, Piers, but you never gave up on me. Coming all the way to drag my ass back to the team and believing in the man that I once was. There was no one else who I wanted more to take my place as captain.
[ Now it was his turn to pause. It was an emotional conversation that often haunted him. Facing him now and saying the things that he didn't get to before made it hard to keep up appearances that this was just a casual talk between partners, between friends. It was anything but. ]
Alpha Team was supposed to be yours.
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[ In some way, he had too, but he doesn't get into that. It would only make the guilt that much more, and looking back, Piers had little regret. He had done what he intended to, for better or worse. ]
I mean, you being back in your prime, leading again. That's what I wanted, and got. I got to play hero a little bit too, it's not so bad...
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You saved my life. You're more than a hero, Piers. For guys like Finn, like Marco... It's more than what I could do for any of them. It's because of you that I can be that man again... for as long as it's worth. I don't ever want what you did for me to be in vain.
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We all made the choices we thought were best, and I knew inside you were the same guy I looked up to as a recruit, sometimes we just have to shake everything else loose and go back to our roots.