Chapter 2 The Offer

Chloe

April 14th, 2014

9:19 AM

Arcadia Bay, Oregon

Price Residence

Arcadia News

"Forty Five Task Force soldiers confirmed dead during Chrysalis operation set in motion from Blackwell Academy to Arcadia Bay Shipping Docks while fifteen remain injured" stated Brock Kent the news anchor. "As a result of the event caused by fugitive Maxine Caulfield, who now remains under Chrysalis custody, martial law is now at large in Arcadia Bay under the authority of Republican Sean Prescott."

While watching the news on my living room television, the camera recorded shots of Blackwell with soldiers on stretchers or in body bags being escorted to Ambulances and students being questioned by the Press for comments.

"During the aftermath of the assault on Blackwell, many students and staff are left shocked to see their campus become a battlefield."

"We all saw those soldiers taking over the school and the next thing we see Max zig-zagging around like an x-man," said Zachary being interviewed on camera.

"Just when I thought this school year couldn't get any worse, we now had to listen to gunfire and explosions as if seeing Kate almost jumping off the roof wasn't scary enough," said Taylor who had also been interviewed.

"One minute I was teaching my students in my classroom, the next these soldiers came forcing us out of the building with guns pointing at ourselves," said Ms. Grant on camera.

"I made sure every staff and student was prepared for this incident," said Principal Wells on camera. "But if I had know it would go this far, I could've done so much more."

The screen cut back to the news anchor.

"No further comment was added regarding the Blackwell shooting. While Arcadia Bay remains under martial Chrysalis units have been posted all over town guarding every vicinity. Ensuring Arcadia's safety from Quantum Terrorism. Reminder for all current residents of Arcadia Bay that everyone is under mandatory curfew and to be indoors by nine PM. In other news; although Max Caulfield has been placed behind bars, another fugitive from Chrysalis Rachel Amber, thought to have died shortly after disappearance is still large. The manhunt for Rachel herself is still in operation. If you have any information regarding the active fugitive, please contact this number for authorities. This is Brock Kent. Arcadia News."

I turn off the TV and mope about what I just heard. I could've believe Max would have the balls to bail on me after all these months of optimism. After all those years split apart. And after everything she sacrificed for me and her. Because of what she sacrificed for me and her, Arcadia Bay is once again a militarized zone for another crisis at hand. That is how I'm rewarded. What would they do to her now? Would they somehow dispose of her powers so she would never use them again? Or worse, execute her? I had cried myself to sleep over night think about this. It was happening to me again. Just when me and my hippy thought we were safe from our troubles. We were wrong.

My mother Joyce makes me breakfast and lays my food on the table. She make me eggs and bacon, but I refuse to eat it. I instead slouch my head on my fist leaning my elbow against the table and mope. My Mom then comes over and coddles me when she sees me depressed.

"Chloe, sweetie, why haven't you touched your food," she asks. "You should start eating."

"I just got myself into a suicidal car with Max and get in trouble for it, Max is now in prison, Rachel comes back to me as a wanted fugitive, and now you're asking me why I haven't touched my food. I'm more worried if you're still upset about what happened."

"Chloe, listen to me. Upset or not, I understand how hard it is for you to live without her again. But whatever those two gentlemen who walked into our house were talking about yesterday, they did not sound like they were clowning around. We both know how it feels for me and David to live through your shenanigans and we both know you can't afford to be in more trouble than you've ever been in. As long as you can avoid all of that, you'll be just fine."

"As of right now, Mom, I'm anything but fine. And I'm anything but hungry. I just need some time alone."

One second later, the doorbell rang. Joyce had to respond to it. We both wondered who it could've been. I had hoped it wasn't more soldier coming to scold me and my parents about the incident Max got me involved with. When my Mother opened the door, our visitor was revealed to be a bald man in a suit. The man introduced himself to Joyce and walked into the house. When he had seen me, I had no clue who he was until he introduced himself to me.

"Chloe Price, pleasure to meet you. Derrick Crosby. President and CEO of Chrysalis Corp. You must be Max's partner in time."

"So your Crosby, huh," I say shaking his hand. "Max told me all about you. I would assume your the person running show and telling Max about how she's pure and how I'm damaged?"

The man cleared his throat.

"Ms. Price, we have a lot to discuss. Your friend Max speaks highly of you. I have come here to make an offer. Mrs. Price or should I say Mrs. Madsen, I would like to speak with your daughter in private."

"What for?" she asked. "What has my daughter done this time? Hasn't she been through enough trouble?"

"I am aware of her troubles, Mrs. Madsen. I only wish to speak with her alone. And then we discuss what me and her discussed."

Joyce sighed.

"Very well," she replied. "Do what you must."

I walk upstairs to my room with the man named Crosby and begin our conversation. He didn't sound like he was here to talk trouble. He sounded more like he wanted to talk business.

"Ms. Price, I spoke with your girlfriend in custody earlier this morning. What she had to say to her parents and the DA was less then tolerable. What she had to say to me was a little more friendly."

"Why are you here? You said you came here to make an offer. What is it?"

"Patience, Chloe. I'm getting there. But I should warn it's going to be complicated."

"Psff. Besides Max becoming a war criminal and bailing on me for the second time, how much more complicated can it be?"

"Chloe, Max had told me everything. She had told me all about that one week six months ago of the two of you searching for Rachel, Jefferson's dark room, and all the deaths she cheated for you because of how much you mean to each other. I can understand how crazy it was for you both. I know it."

"What hasn't she told you?"

"Just let me cut to the chase. Has Max told anything about the history of the Quantum Crisis and the conspiracies that fought against it?"

"As far as my knowledge goes, Mr. Crosby, she has told me everything you told her. For a CEO, sounds to me you know so much more about this time travel stuff than me and my girl do."

"Then let me tell you this. For the past decades the Criminal Justice System has struggled bring Quantum Terrorism to justice. Only because people like Max have been easily misunderstood with their endeavor. What I am offering is your help to defend Max against her crimes. There's going to be a trial for her on Wednesday and I would want you to be a key witness in court to testify for her."

I scoff.

"Look Mr. Crosby, I appreciate your sympathy and all but your asking some young adult punk rebel to speak for her hippy in front of a judge and jury in court? Exactly what would they know about Max's powers or anyone else's powers alike."

"Chloe, I understand your a bit emotional right now. But if you want to see your friend again, I'm gonna need your help."

"You're gonna need my help? Last I checked I'm the victim of abandonment here who once again has live through more bullshit that I've been avoiding for the past six months. And you're asking for my help?"

"Maybe you would like to see your girlfriend given the death sentence and be executed at Quantum Prospekt?"

I sigh.

"Fine, on one condition. Now that your here, I hope you wouldn't mind if I have questions myself that you could answer."

Crosby chuckled.

"Ask away, Chloe. I'm all ears."

I clear my throat.

"First of all, what is that makes me a damaged person that makes Max purified. Second, if your the leader of Chrysalis, how could you let Prescott and your soldiers try and kill Max let alone have your men take control of Arcadia?"

"I won't lie to you, Chloe. Both those questions are pretty complicated as they are classified. But I will answer them both under my authority. As I've explained before, there are people in this world that take something called risk. Risks can involve wars and crimes, for instance. People die in wars as they would from crimes called murder. Time and space can foresee the potential consequences of the matter. Such as death. People die not only by the risk they take, but also the vibes people carry for themselves or to one another."

I begin to remember what Max told me about how I really constantly got myself killed that week. It had not been destiny, it was rather a different word that starts with an 'r'.

"Let me guess, retribution. Isn't it? Max already explained to me about this, but I'm only asking this again because I still don't get how it's retribution Max had been fighting. Exactly what risks would I have taken to get myself killed?"

"I don't know, Chloe. You tell me?"

It was a dumb question. I knew damn straight what risk I had taken. Whether it'd be Nathan holding the gun to my stomach during my fight with him in the restroom or getting caught on the train tracks almost getting run over or even taking the bait for Jefferson's trap to kidnap Max and shoot me in the head beside Rachel's fake body. We smile at each other vaguely.

"So your telling me that all because of my bad vibes I carry, I had to do die," I chuckle. "And what about, Max?"

"Max is more purified because of her better karma. The greater atmosphere she communicates towards others and better choices she makes that makes her have greater vibes. Which is what earned her the power to begin with."

I didn't even want to go further with this answer. As ridiculous as it may have sounded to mean, I just wanted to forget about and move forward.

"Okay, I suppose that's answers the first question. Just what about Prescott on your Chrysalis army?"

"Mr. Prescott has been an extremely paranoid man these days since his son's death. When we caught Max and Rachel both under our radar, Prescott was beginning to feel more and more suspicious with the two of them and wanted to do away with them both. That is why he wants Arcadia Bay under Chrysalis management and why he went after them both. That's all I can answer for you."

"Oh, dammit, Rachel. Why are you helping me, Mr. Crosby? Really? You talk to me like your on my side and Max's, too. What is it that you really care so much about us that make you want to defend her?"

"Chloe, the two of you are a miracle to me. You outlived so many deaths because of Max and shared such a great bond together because of her power. She even saved a girl from suicide and helped you crack the mystery behind Rachel's disappearance. Max had done the impossible with her power. In the past, many people like her have lost Quantum Terrorism cases due to having no particular good reason to have time dueling abilities. But if there's a chance Max is to win such a case, you can easily prove to her how much of a better person she is."

"Don't you think it might take more than just saying how much she means to me on the stand? Wouldn't there have to be evidence or what not to prove Max is innocent or something?"

"I would suggest leaving that to me. Now that I've answered your questions, do we have a deal, Ms. Price?"

X/SQUARE/LM - MAKE THE DEAL

B/CIRCLE/RM - ASK MORE QUESTIONS

"You got yourself a deal, Mr. Crosby," I say shaking his hand.

"Excellent, I suppose I'll be talking with your mother now about agreement."

"Wait, Mr. Crosby...just one more. What if it just so happens that Max loses this case? What's going to happen to her?"

"She's either executed...or we neuter her powers," he answers.

As soon as Crosby leaves my room to talk to Joyce, I'm touched about what he said. Executed? Neuter her powers? Which one was worse? If they execute her, it'll be the last I see of my partner in time. If they neuter her powers, she won't be able to save me or anyone else again. Unless Rachel had something on Max, me and her had to take action quick or I'll never be able to wake up next to my Doe ever again. I knew Rachel hadn't been the best friend to me, but she was the only person I had left to count on.

My phone bleeped a text message from Warren. I pick it out of my pocket to answer it.

Warren: Chloe, I heard what happened to Max. I just wanted to say I'm sorry.

Warren: Do u want to stop by at Blackwell before class starts for a talk?

Chloe: Sure, I guess. I'll c u there.

Warren: Be careful. There's guards on campus securing the school. They're checking every student that walks in and out.

Chloe: OK. I'll be careful.

Note: Sorry if this chapter took longer than usual. I've been busy with school this past week and took some video game breaks writing this chapter.

So as you've read in this chapter, Crosby has offered Chloe's assistance to defend Max. In case you're confused about what he had been saying, the whole pure and damaged thing can be explained more in chapter 4 of episode 2. Crosby also has a desire for Max and Chloe's bond together has well as what Max's power has done to keep people like Chloe or Kate alive. As well as the search for Rachel and how Max and Chloe were able to find her. All which Crosby believes to be the impossible. That's my best explanation I can give you readers.

Until next time, stay tuned!