Convincing I

Calian POV

"I'm sorry doc, but what are you talking about?" Mikhail calmly interjected and asked with a fake smile plastered on his lips, his grips on the rifle tightening up. "It's is what I mean, we must let the military destroy the city," the doctor has his thinking face on and continued contemplating in his mind, meanwhile Mikhail's fake smile dropped into a thin line.

"If you could develop a vaccine for the T-virus, shouldn't you be able to develop another for this, Golgotha Virus?" Carlos asked while leaning on a nearby pillar. "It's not that simple, I could create the vaccine for the T-virus because the vaccine research department are provided with a sample of the virus itself."

"But with the G-virus, the latest news I've heard of its successful advancement is a week ago. Which means that the G-virus has only just recently completed its maturity and in that period of time, our department is already scrambling to prepare a large amount of vaccine for the recent outbreak. You should know what happened, Umbrella came in and destroyed all the vaccines."

"Just to develop the T-virus vaccine, I need a few weeks. And even if I somehow got the sample for the G-virus, I probably need more than a month to complete the vaccine mainly because the G-virus is much more complicated than the T-virus. G-virus strands allow infections to every living being including plants while the T-virus only infects animals and humans."

"If we don't destroy the city, then the G-virus will spread at a much larger rate and if you wish for the destruction of the United States of America, then it's wiser to annihilate this city, sacrifice a few lives for the sake of the country! So, what says everybody?!" the doctor finally finished as everyone fell into the state of scrutiny.

"Country and its citizens or the people of a city in the country," Mikhail muttered inaudibly but not inaudible enough for no one to hear, especially when the room has turned silent. "Fine, we destroy the city but after we make it out with the vaccine," Mikhail finally decided and threw the bomb, even I had to agree that the destruction of Raccoon City is inevitable and needs to be done, although Jill looked a bit sullen.

"That isn't so hard, the problem is... Umbrella facilities are built to withstand even a nuclear strike and I can't initiate NEST's self destruct system from NEST-2. The facilities must be destroyed and so, after we got our vaccine, I will be initiating the self destruct countdown for NEST-2. In the end, looks like we have to rely on the military to sweep NEST clean."

You're wrong doctor, anyone whom played Resident Evil 2 would know that NEST would be destroyed by a self destruct system either way, so I've got no worries for that. "Everyone clear?" The doctor asked everyone for the last time. "None, good, all we need to do now is to grab the adjuvant and the vaccine and we can get the hell out of here," the doctor sighed and nodded.

The doctor walked to the elevator at the end of the room and gestured for everybody to get in. Looks like this is the perfect time to break the news to Jill, this will be a hard convincing. Jill is a woman of integrity, willing to sacrifice her life for the safety of citizens and a stubborn rock to kick. "Jill, can we have a word please," I whispered beside her and put the palm of my hand on her shoulder.

"How about you guys proceed first, we'll follow after," I smiled at everyone who has entered the elevator, the doctor nodded and pressed a button allowing the elevator to ascend up. So now, how am I going to convince her because I'm definitely panicking. Okay, remember 5 clever steps to convince someone.

One, ask them to share their thoughts. Two, Match their type of reasoning, if they're being emotional, appeal to their emotions and if they're relying on logic, be logical. Three, Get them to lower their guard with a genuine compliment. Four, pose a counter-argument without making them defensive. Five, be clear and direct. You can do this!

"So, what do you think of the state of the world," I start of by giving Jill a moment to give out her views, always the right start. "Why are you suddenly asking me that and what are we doing anyway?" Jill squinted her eyes in suspicion, this is not going the way I'd like it to go. "Just answer first," be direct, has a psychologist ever be this nervous in a conversation, I don't think so.

"Hmph, the world is messed up, the crime rates are increasing, war is happening and Umbrella just destroyed a city. I'd say the state in which the world is currently in is a massive jumble of disarray. No constant, if the world is pictured in a line graph, it would rise and fall and ris and fall without end," that's a good explanation now let's move on.

"Yes, I also perceive the world today as such and th-" Jill cut me off immediately and her stern eyes surveyed me all over. "What's truly the point of this conversation Calian, you're spouting useless jargon when we should be going after the vaccine right now!" Crap, this is not supposed to go in this direction very fast!

"Jill, as we know, you're a very brave woman, with utmost discipline. You're strong, you've got humor, you have a valorous sense and you're willing to help the people who needs the help most. What if I say I could help you to get stronger. What if I could help you in destroying Umbrella. What if, together we could go right up and completely take out Umbrella's higherups, the Family? Will you take the choice?"

I feel like a motivator crossbreed with a salesman, that's a very convincing streak right there, if that couldn't put in a reaction in Jill, then I might as well fail the mission. I took a good look at the macro and micro-expressions in Jill's face faltering, she slowly opened her lips and a determined sentence that really made me want to clap my hands freely came from her mouth.

"Yes, I'll take the choice."