Previously on Life Is Strange: Eternity War…

"Don't be surprised, Max, if one day, I'm just out of here," said Alex.

"Reliable sources suggest a ConDef raid in Cambridge, Massachusetts," said David. "Kidnapping of students, technicians, professors, and a heist of an unknown device. "We also have trouble in the state of Idaho. The state's secretary informed Chrysalis intelligence of possible ConDef activity taking over a Christian community in Caldwell for reasons unknown."

"Okay, so we know we're not the first ones here," said Alex.

"As long as Joanna, Alkaline and Ares think we're dead," said Max. "We've got the element of surprise. Let's not waste it."

"Suzy said she was putting out an SOS!" Warren laughed. "I had no idea the king of the Blackwell cops would show up!"

"Warren Graham," I said with a smile. "You were always the likable of the Blackwell bunch."

"Rumors around the lab were that ConDef plans to use it as a basis for a massive terrorist attack," said Brainer. "I heard talk of something called 'Ares'. It may be the name for the superweapon."

"The Reality Shard is not in this crypt," said Atropos. "For those who believed the Reality Shard to be here soon discovered the fortress of Castle Camelot to be a decoy when in competition."

We climb up the top of the tower through a hatch up the stairs and the only we were getting off the roof was a jump over to a plank of wood built on some construction work. Alex, Frank, Rachel, and Kristen jumped on first. Fernando and I were the last ones to go as Fernan shut the hatch behind me and I raced off the edge of the room and safely jump onto the plank. But as soon as my feet are on the woodwork, half the construction comes crashing down below me. I run over to where Alex and the others stand before I come crashing down with it.

"Oh, Fernando," said Joanna. "I had such high hopes for you. As if it were in the cards all along."

And just as I predicted, senior Humpty Dumpty made his great fall that immediately paralleled to Kate's. I think fast and thrust my hand towards Fernando's decent to prevent his reminiscent fate with my time stop power.

The five of us race down off the construction to help Fernando. As soon as his stasis bubble wore out, he hit the floor and landed on his left leg that snapped his bones and maimed his muscles. The Spanish kid was severely and injured and we all raced towards him lying on the ground with his crippled leg. At least my powers were an effort to prevent his death over an injury. This would've been Kate if I had stopped her the same way.

"Oh my god, Fernando!" Kristen cried. "Why would you do that?!"

"Don't move!" I warned. "Don't move!"

"Jesus, my leg!" Fernando hollered. "Don't fucking touch it!"

"David?" Kate said in surprise. "Is – is that really you?"

Kate approached me slowly. I approached her slowly. Should I be nervous to see her or ecstatic to be? Either way, our jaws are dropped and Kate unreluctantly hugs me like we were lifelong soul mates. Then she smiles. Proud of an ex-Blackwell cop who once misjudged her whereabouts for coming for her and family. I send back a light smile for her as her head compacts against my chest and our arms caress one another.

"Good to see you too, Kate," I said. "Didn't think I'd be saying this, but it's good to see you too. Alive and well."

"David, there's something I have to tell you," said Kristine. "I'm one of them."

"She's one of them, Commander!" Cayce yelled. "We can't let this traitorous bitch walk scot-free!"

"Keep your voice down, Corporal!" I snapped. "That's an order!"

"I have searched your capabilities. They exceed my expectations. And my sisters'. The Reality Shard shall be yours."

"It seems your loyalty isn't as firm as you like to think it is," said Joanna.

"What about hers?"

"I know what you're trying to do," said Max.

"Trust me. Alex is only ever in it for Alex. It's a cold hard fact."

"I know a lot of things about you since we last met in San Francisco," said Ares. "The Mind Shard read your memories when I had you in my grasp. What I want is that script you've found in that church. I understand you have some kind of relationship with the traveler as the Mind Shards tells."

The cannon fires again and blasts down everyone on the U-shaped building roof in the village like skyrockets. Even crumbling the building to the ground like a house of Legos. This war won't be known for its discretion. Especially with public property. The gunship continues firing on other hostiles in the village. From residential households to grain mills to tanks camped out in the trees to everywhere else. Eventually, our convoy makes it to the civilian evacuation landing zone in the junkyard of Canyon Springs. This mission was close to accomplishment.

And before we knew it, the dragon leaped onto the gunship and grasp it with its bare claws. Hanging onto it like a monkey bar.

"What the fuck is that thing!" An FCO screamed.

The dragon breathed fire on the gunship. Right from the cockpit and across the whole interior of the aircraft. Causing it to descend from its altitude as the dragon fled and left the gunship to crash land into flaming metal.

Rachel sped her bike up like a hotrod to catch up with the convoy. I kept up with her driving as fast as I could on the 4x4 vehicle as well. The mohawked ConDef soldier driving the Truck caught the four of us with his rearview mirror. Tie signaled the jeep behind him to order the gunner to engage on us. Rachel pulled out her pistol and drove close enough to the jeep to get a decent range for shooting. Once she fired her pistol at the jeep, the gunner aimed the turret in Rachel's direction and lit up the juice.

The turret fire caused Rachel to drive out of control in an attempt to avoid the bullets. Only for her drift off the road and roll out of the bike. I drive right past her to where she crashed the bike. I would go after her, but there was no time. Assuming Rachel could quickly get back behind the wheel, I sped up and kept on the convoy's tailing. The gunner on the jeep returns fire and starts spraying the bullets on the three of us. Tie watches us from the truck with his mirror attempting to dodge the bullets the way Rachel did.

Then suddenly, another massive hull breach blows away the cockpit of the plane. Causing a vacuum of air to sucking Alex and me out with the remaining cargo left onboard. I hang onto something with all my muscles. I grab Alex's hand to keep from flying out. Inevitably, I release ourselves out of the plane and through the hull right into the open air where the vacuum sends us astray five thousand feet in the sky. The of us scream ourselves to death when it happens.

As two of hold hands and fly like Superman and Lois Lane, the cargo plane that was nothing else but burning metal comes crashing land past us. I spot a cargo crate flying in the air without its parachute open. I guide our descent towards the crate and the two of us grab onto the leather ties to hang on. Then I pull the parachute open and we're now gradually descending to the nature preserve. We hear and see the plane hitting the ground with a big boom. Safe at last.

"The look on your face when you walked into this room, I knew you hadn't changed since Triple 4. If you're done lying to me, then you should stop lying to yourself," said Chloe. "You do what you have to do."

Chapter 1 Tillamook

Max
July 22nd, 2017
11: 52 AM
Mediterranean Sea
1 Mile to Meridian Prime

Thunder roaring in the air, lightning blasting through the grey clouds, and enormous waves rocking our boat up and down on the stormy seas. These were not the waters I've come to drive our boat on.

"Ah, shit," I said with my instincts panicking. "This is really not good."

I had the windshield wipes on to see through the rain sprinkling our wet skins off. Alex and I made it off Chronos's island just in time as soon as ConDef arrived. Alex was hanging on by the rear of the boat keeping watch for ConDef boats on our tail while I drove the boat as cautiously as I could and held onto my Time Shard necklace I was holding around my neck as tight as I could.

"Protect it with your life," Chronos says. "Never let Ares get his hand on it," he says. Says the genocidal maniac who tried to end the world the way Ares is about to back in Portland. Going to have to trust him with my life regardless.

We were coming across some big waves racing our way to Meridian Prime and as Captain Caulfield, it was my job to steer the boat to maneuver properly and tell my passenger to hang on.

"Hold on!" I alarmed Alex.

The boat goes up and down the wave and goes down with a splash. Which is when our company arrives.

"Max! They're gaining on us!" Alex warned.

"Yeah, I know!" I responded. "I know!"

Alex had spotted ConDef rafts pursuing us on the wavy waters in the middle of the storm and I turned my head around to confirm she was right. Had to give this boat more speed.

"Well, crank it!" Alex demanded.

"Alex, I'm going as fast as I can!" I muttered.

"Well, shit."

Alex got out her pistol to hold of the resistance. I drove the boat as quick as I could towards the island that was now silhouetting across the mist of the storm. Land ho, Captain Caulfield. Land ho.

I used to wonder how it was like for boatmen sailing to Arcadia Bay during the tornado disaster. Now I know how it felt for them. I used to think of playing pirate ship on a swing set with Chloe was all fun and game. Now I know the reality of how it feels when not pretending our ship was sailing across a storm.

"Keep heading towards the island," said Alex. "I'll try to hold them off. Ah, shit. Here they come!"

Alex fired her gun at the rafts paralleling our position. She suggested that I improvised using the boat.

"They got smaller boats," said Alex. "Ram 'em!"

"Got it," I said.

"Hey, assholes! Tell Ares to find another damn universe to balance!"

I jerked the boat toward the position of one ConDef raft and send it and its passengers flying off the water and down the bottom of the ocean. I jerk the boat in another direction and bust another raft off its floating with ConDef soldiers being left to drown. Alex did whatever could with all the ammo she could carry for her pistol, but couldn't do as much as I.

"I'm not doing much damage here," said Alex.

"Just keep them at bay!" I ordered.

I see a raft driving in front of us and I speed the boat up to ram it down and cause the raft to bounce off the water like a spring and send soldiers flying over us. Hilarious.

"Ha! You took them out!" Alex laughed.

I do the same to another raft and its down for the count. Caulfields: 4. ConDef 0.

"Down you go!" I gloated.

"Uh…big boat," said Alex. "Big boat!"

All of sudden, a bigger boat that was bigger than ours collided next to ours and tore the roof above me in half.

"Ah, shit!" I squealed.

I try and shake off the larger ConDef boat off of us as it scrapped the side of our boat and drove ahead of us. This was no ordinary boat, however. It was a demolition boat shooting mortar mines in the water. One mortar was fired and nearing blew us off the sea if I hadn't dodged it in time.

"Goddammit!" Alex hollered. "They're dropping mines!"

"I see 'em!" I shouted.

"Just keep heading towards the island! Don't let 'em get in front of you!"
I could see the mortar firing above us like shooting stars and hitting the water like cannon balls. I took evasive action as reflexive as I was until a mortar plummeted in front of us and sent my flying overboard and landing into the salty sea.

I could feel my skin moister into the wetness under the waves and my tongue and nostrils taste the salt water. I was floating one foot under the water and had to swim back to the surface before Alex believes I've drowned to death.

I hold my breath, kick my legs, and circle my arms to swim up as fast as I could until my head is over the waves and I gasp for air. Catching breath, coughing out the disgusting salt water, and floating over the surface. My hair clothes were drenched from taking a dive.

Then I see a light in front of me that belongs to one of the mortar boats that was about run me over. I take a breath in and dive back under and swim under the boat below as its engine propellers causing me to spin around under the water and nearly grazes me to death as it passes.
Once the boat passes, I swim back up to the surface and see my boat again with Alex still onboard. Calling my name.

"Max!" She screamed. "Hey!"

"I'm okay!" I said. Swimming back to the boat. "I'm okay…"

Then I climb back in and find the engine damage from the crash we had with the mortar.

"Shit, the engine's out," said Alex.

"What?!" I panic.

"I can…I can fix it. Just…just cover me!"

"Goddammit."

"C'mon…c'mon…"

I take cover behind the railing of the boat and unholster my pistol for battle. Alex does what she can to repair the engine as I hold ConDef back until the engine's fixed. A mortar boat had stopped next to us and the soldiers onboard fired their weapons on us. I fire back with my pistol and shoot a guy with a grenade launcher. Causing him to shoot his grenade directly at the bridge of the boat and blow it away into flames. Doing great damage to the boat and sending it underwater.

"Holy shit," I said.

"Ha, ha," laughed Alex. "Karma's a bitch."

"Dammit! More coming!"

"Well shit."

Rafts with turrets drifted next to us and open fired on our boat. We had two turrets against two pistols. The odds weren't too much in our favor if we're going to keep ConDef from shooting holes in our boat and sinking our ship. Then I remembered the Time Shard hanging around my neck. The shard Chronos said that can enhance my power. Perhaps it's now a good time as any to put to use.

I stand out of cover and take control of the shard in my power. A green essence from the shard luminates my body and use the shard's power to time shield the bullets from the turrets and freeze frame them in mid-air like Neo in The Matrix Reloaded or Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens. Then rewind the bullets back to the rafts to deflect the fire and take out the boats with a single explosion.

"Damn, Max!" Alex exclaimed. "That shard sure has it's uses."

"Alex, how's the engine?" I asked.

"Almost got it. I think I got. There! There, I got it!"

"It's working?"

"Yeah, c'mon. Get us outta here!"

I get back to the wheel and hit the peddle with the engine running again. Driving back on course with ConDef still after us.

"Head straight to the island," said Alex.

The boat took some extreme damage from the bullet holes and crashed it took from other boats. Hopefully, she could stay with us until we have sand on our feet again.

We were also now approaching an obstacle course of rocking water the closer we were to the island. I could see them through the mist in the storm while driving.

"Max! Rocks, dead ahead!" Alex warned.

"I can barely see out there," I said.

ConDef was driving their boats past the rocks as well. Some even crashing into them by accident. Alex still had her pistol and it was her turn now to defend the boat.

"Shit," I said. "Get them off of us!"

"I'm doing the best I can here," said Alex. "Max, hurry!"

"Just hang on!"

"On your right!"

I turn my head around rightwards and see a mortar boat speeding next to us and prepared to ram us off the ocean. We were doomed.

"Watch it, watch it!" Alex alarmed.

"Oh, shit!" I yell.

Then the boat hits us through the side, totals our boat, and sends us flying overboard. Right into the water.

"Max!" Alex cried.

Max – Age 10 (POV)
Chloe – Age 11
Alex – Age 14
June 10th, 2006
10:11 AM
Tillamook State Forest
Tillamook Camping Grounds

11 years earlier…

"Max?" Dad said in William's car. "Max, you awake?"

I open my eyes and see my dad patting me on the arm to wake me up in the front passenger seat next to William driving the car. Chloe was sitting next to me in the back seat of her dad's car passed out as well. Guess we took a nap for the ride.

"You two, wake up," said Dad. "We're almost there."

Chloe opened her eyes to wake up as she was told. I could see from out the window that we were still driving through the woods of Oregon miles away from Arcadia Bay. The Tillamook woods now it would seem since we were almost to the campgrounds.

"You two sleepyheads awake?" William asked. "We've now entered
Tillamook and we should be there in less three minutes now."

"Four more minutes, Dad," said Chloe. "Please?"

"Nice try, Chloe. But I'm pretty sure I was clear enough we had three minutes. Not four."

"Maybe if you spent more time getting some sleep than playing your Playbox," said Dad. "You wouldn't be napping in here, now would you?"

"Is Alex and Uncle Bryan still coming, Dad?" I asked.

"They'll be here when they are, Max. Now quit asking and sit tight. We're almost there."

We drive near a sign that reads: Tillamook Camping Grounds and William parks the car off-road. The four of hop out, get out our camping out of the trunk and wait for Bryan and Alex to arrive.

"Ah, the great outdoors," said William.

"What's so great about the outdoors?" I asked.

"There are many wonders out there exploring the outdoors, Max. Animal nature, environmental wilderness, whatever it'd be. Adventure is out there."

"So where are we going, Dad?" Chloe asked. "Where do we set up the tent?"

"Well, first, Chloe, we got to take a hike through the woods first. Brought a map with us so we're not lost. We'll be setting up camp near the Wilson River. We'll go there as soon as Bryan and Alex are here."

"My brother and niece should be here by now," said Dad. "Or at least I thought they'd get here first since they've done more camping then we have."

"Give them time, Ryan," said William. "Let's get our things out of the car while we wait."

"Look, it's them," I said.

I pointed out another car that belonged to my uncle and the vehicle pulled over by ours. Then my Uncle Bryan and Cousin Alex hopped and I was happy to see them both.

"Alex, you're here!" I shouted.

"Max, you're here!" Alex shouted.

I run up to my big cousin and give a big hug and smile. Unfortunately, Alex is the tighter hugger.

"Oh, you're so adorable!" Alex squeaked. "I could squeeze you so much!"

"Ah, not so tight, Alex," I gasped. "Not so tight…"

Alex releases me and then I owed Bryan a hug next.

"Max, look at you," said Bryan. "Aren't you a big girl now."

"Uncle Bryan," I said.

I hug my uncle and caress my arms around his big waist to give him all my loving. Then he lets me go to greet Dad next.

"How's it going, Bryan?" Dad asked.

"Good to see you too, Ryan," said Bryan.

The two brothers hugged and Bryan greeted William and Chloe next. Dad made sure to hug Alex too. I also had to introduce Chloe to Alex as well.

"Alex, this is my best friend Chloe from Arcadia Bay," I said introducing one another. "Chloe, this is my cousin Alex from Seattle."

"So your Chloe," said Alex. Shaking her hand. "Good to meet you."

"And you must be Max's distant relative," said Chloe. Shaking hands back.

"I say, what's with the getup? Wait a minute, are you…?"

I noticed from the second Alex stepped out of the car that she was wearing a brown leather jacket and a fedora hat. I knew exactly who she was dressed as. She cleared her throat to explain.

"I, Chloe," began Alex. "Am Professor Henry Jones, Jr. Archeologist and action hero. AKA, Indiana Jones."

"Alex, what are you wearing?" Dad wondered.

"Forgive me, Ryan," said Bryan. "But Alex insisted she'd wear her Indiana Jones costume to the trip. You know how she is."

"You still obsessed with those movies, Alex?" Dad asked.

"Oh, Uncle R," said Alex. "You've got no sense of drama. You all could really use some of that right about now."

"As long as the three them have a good time," said William. "We'll need all the drama we can get."

"And you are?"

"Oh, forgive my manners, dear. I'm William. Chloe's father. You call me Mr. Price if you will. Or Bill as Joyce calls me."

"Right. And Joyce is Chloe's mother. The one from the diner. Max told me everything now that I remember."

"Let's gear up, everybody. It's a long hike to the Wilson and daylight's burning."

Chloe, Alex, and I got out our camping gear out of the trunks of our cars and carried them behind our back using backpacks. The load was heavier than the school supplies we carry with our school backpacks, but it should be that far to the Wilson River when carrying our gear. At least, I hope.

William and Bryan had maps with them and the two lead the way in front of Dad, Chloe, Alex, and I. The two dads made great tour guides for the Tillamook grounds.

"How far do we have to walk, Daddy?" Chloe asked. "This load is heavy."

"It's not far, Chloe," said William. "Just a few miles walk is all we need."

While our fathers lead the path in front of us, my best friend, my cousin, and I followed behind them and started talking adventure. Knowing how my cousin is like, I know she has much to discuss.

"So, Max," said Alex. "How's school?"

"Pretty good, I guess," I replied. "I've just managed to get through fourth grade going on fifth and barely survived math if it weren't for Chloe and her dad helping me all the time."

"Oh, you know you love math, Max," said Chloe. "We both do, don't we?"

"We both not."

"We both too."

"We both not."

"We both too."

"Okay, children," said Alex. "How about we change the subject. Shall we?"

"What subject, Alex?" I asked. "An Indiana Jones subject?"

"Not entirely in a manner of speaking but even better. Look what Dad got me for my birthday. Check it out."

Alex pulled out a strange looking rectangular object out of her pocket and showed it to Chloe and I. I've seen many strange artificial objects from Alex but not this one.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's a replica of the Eon Codex. Inscribed with King Arthur's motto 'No sacrifice, no victory'."

"King Arthur?" Chloe thought. "Wasn't he the king of England during the fifth or sixth century?"

"Well, he was the king of the Britain defense, yes. But there's more to it than that, Chloe. What you don't know about King Arthur is that he was also the leader of a secret cult known as the Order of Saint Loomis. Run by him and his fellow knights of the round table. This codex was used as a device to activate what Arthur called the Ark of Genesis."

"The Ark of Genesis?" I wondered. "What's that?"

"Maybe Dad could tell you the rest of the story tonight when we get the fire started. How's that sound?"

"Well, I'd sure love a good ghost story about King Arthur," said Chloe. "I'm in."

"It's not so much a ghost story as it is a legend. Max, are you in?"

"I think we're all in, Alex," I replied. "We're all in."

Max – Age 21 (POV)
Alex – Age 25
July 22nd, 2017
9:52 AM
Mediterranean Sea
50 miles from the Italian Coast

Present day…
Two hours earlier…

Alex and I had left Rome over an hour ago on our way to Meridian Prime and the Mediterranean Islands where the Time Shard was in place. I sat back near the rear of the boat while Alex was driving it across the Mediterranean Sea. I've never traveled on the water this far out away from land. Not even out in the infinite Pacific away from the shores of Arcadia Bay. Though I've always imagined where I'd go from that far out every time, I gazed the shore by the lighthouse. It was so peaceful and empty driving on the vastness of the open water. Like playing pirate ship on a swing set with Chloe only in the real world.

As I sat back gazing at infinity and beyond the emptiness of the sea with the engine rumbling in my ears, I couldn't stop thinking about last night. Chloe must be tearing herself out on Bryan's plane right now betrayed by my promise. I could see Mom and Dad right now on the refugee ship they're on heartbroken about my lie as well if Chloe had already sent word to them. Which she had. I look at the text messages on my phone arguing with my parents about how I lied to them too. Texting them all the excuse I could make for them and all the nonsense about my mission with Alex helping Chrysalis. As well as the questioning of how Alex is alive on the phone too.

I put my phone away to drop my dwellings and shift attention to the mission that still stands. Get that Time Shard, go to Meridian Prime, find the Ark of Genesis, and stop Ares from destroying half the population once and for all. That's if I survive the journey and live to tell the tale. Which I may not.

"Hey, Max!" Alex called.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"Land Ho!"

I walk to Alex behind the wheel and stand next to her to see a small glimpse of land through the windshield. Land ho indeed.

"What do you think 'bout that, huh?" Alex asked.

"That's pretty cool," I answered.

"Take the wheel for a second."

I take the steering wheel for Alex as I'm told to and she walks to the back of the boat to get out some beers for us to drink. I may be twenty-one, but I've at least drank a few times to get used to alcohol now.

"You know," said Alex. "All this running around, surviving by the skin of our teeth…I don't think we've actually taken a moment…to step back and appreciate…just how far we've come. Huh?"

Alex lends me a bottle of beer to drink and has one for herself to drink too.

We open the bottles and toast to how far we've come.

"No sacrifice, no victory," said Alex.

"No sacrifice, no victory," I repeated.

We hit our bottles and drink up. I shouldn't probably drink while driving either. At least I'm not on land doing it. Don't know what's worse. Alex knew I was still concerned about Chloe and my parents and how they attacked me with text messages all night. As my big cousin, she supported me all she could.

"Listen, little cousin," said Alex. "She will get over it. I mean we help Chrysalis finish a war like this, anyone would. And your parents, it won't be easy for them to accept either. But they'll grow out of it as well. Eventually."

"I don't know," I said. "You really don't know Chloe as I do. Since the day William died, she really hasn't been the person to take tragedy lightly. She and I may have been at peace from what we'd gone through in Arcadia Bay, but now I've probably only made it worse for her. And don't get me started with my parents. We both know how they've felt about you dragging me into things like this."

"When a bridge burns, another one is rebuilt. It all began the day Chloe's father was killed. The same occurred during your reunion in Arcadia Bay, it happened in Portland, and it'll happen now."

Note: Welcome back to Eternity War, readers and followers! It's been a long four months since and I can assure you all after the hiatus writing the finale to The Lost Daughter, it'll be well worth the wait! That's if college is easy on me and so is everything else, I do in my life as well. Be advised, this is the episode where the stakes will grow deeper in my concluding story and we may start to lose characters along the way. For spoiler's sake, can't say who, but no one will be safe. Not even Max and Alex. Nor David and Cayce.

I'm also wanting to flesh out Ares more in the backstory to come and yes, I'm finally writing the backstory I've been waiting to write for a long time coming. Which is the camping trip Max, Alex, and Chloe went on during their youth when William was still around two years before the events of Farewell and has been mentioned a few times in this story now. Which is where I may tell the backstory of Ares in one of the flashback chapters to come.

Until next time, stay tuned and golden! And Happy Valentine's Day!