Chapter 4 An Evil Empire
April 3rd, 2014
12:37 PM
Achachi Qala, Bolivia
Achachi Qala Desert
Lynch had dropped us halfway through the Achachi Qala Desert in the drylands of Bolivia since she couldn't fly the VTOL near enemy territory. As soon as she dropped Cage, Cayce, and I off and took off without us, we left alone and on our own to get back the Eternity Forge, finish the mission, end the war, and stop Alvarez. Right in the middle of this humid as hell desert. I miss the lushness of the Pilon Lajas rainforest already. It was still humid back where the ruins were, but at least the trees and rain cooled it down a notch.
"Everyone good?" Cayce asked.
"Little steamed from the humidity," I said.
"Going great," said Cage while coughing. "Humidity aside. I got to quit smoking."
We hear propeller from behind us. And it didn't come from Lynch's VTOL. It came from an enemy helicopter.
"Get down!" Cayce warned.
The three of us hit the deck and dropped to the dirt. Lying on the desert floor to play dead as the insurgency chopper flew above us undetected. Hope it didn't spot the VTOL. But if it did, it wouldn't have flown past us. The chopper had to have belonged to Alvarez since it was heading in the direction of that peak. We got off the dirt as soon as we gave it enough distance.
"Think they saw us?" Cayce asked.
"Let's hope not," I said.
"That's gotta be Alvarez's ride. That helicopter didn't look it belonged to the insurgents. It had an insignia on it that didn't match El Eterno's."
"Maybe it belongs to their allies," said Cage.
"Allies?"
"Back when I was held captive, I overheard Alvarez talking about his partnership with Ranikov's army. Neo-Chrysalis."
"Neo-Chrysalis?" Cayce thought. "Here? In Bolivia?"
"If my recall doesn't fail me," said Cage. "I think he's taking that chopper for the arm's deal he spoke of. Taking place at some railyard that has to be at the mountain peak."
"So much for bringing the afterlife to our world," I said. "However the hell we're getting to that railyard, we're not getting there in time on foot."
I pull out my binoculars for a way to get their quicker and out of nowhere, I spotted a convoy traveling through the desert and a jeep parked in a random spot of the desert we could hijack to the peak. Only that it was guarded by more rebels.
"If we hurry," I said. "We can intercept them before they make the deal. And there's our ride."
Once we stole our 4x4 vehicle, I drove the jeep across the desert terrain all the way down to the trainyard Alvarez was located. Cayce rode shotgun. Cage rode in the back and found a pair of shades to wear for the road. He put them on to keep the sun from blinding him.
"These are nice," he said.
"There," said Cayce. "Railroad tracks."
"We'll stop here," I said.
I hit the breaks and put the 4x4 in park. The three of us get out of the car and walk towards a cliffside where we could see train cars parked on the railroad bridge between the narrow ravine in the middle of Achachi Qala Peak.
"Alvarez will have lookouts throughout the area," said Cayce. "Best we're on the side of caution."
"Right, right, right," said Cage. "And then we get the forge. Just remember, Corporal. I'm still the captain of this crew. I'll be the calls here."
"With respect, Captain," I said. "Less talking, more walking."
"So all that time with Alvarez," said Cayce. "And you couldn't get any intel on Neo-Chrysalis?"
"I tried, Foley," said Cage. "Alvarez's a cagey one. Almost never talked shop in front of me."
"Can't imagine why."
"Hey, he trusted me enough to believe I was an expert in all this In-za bullshit."
"In-ca."
"Yeah, that too."
"For the record, Cage," I said. "Thanks for keeping him busy."
"Yeah, no prob, Amber. The idea was that Mason, Mendoza, and I draw them away from the ruins for the two of you which got me captured in the first place."
"Of course, it was."
"Your welcome, by the way."
"I didn't even say thank you. You sound just like my dad or James or whatever the fuck I call him these days."
Cage took point and the three of us enter a small into the mountainside of the peak. Where we overhear enemies inside. We all take cover behind some crates to stay hidden. Eavesdropping of the voices inside.
"What is this pla-", I said before cut off.
"Shh," said Cage.
We took a peek at who the voices belonged to and there two guards posted inside. And they didn't look like any of Alvarez's rebels. They were wearing different uniforms and speaking in a different accent in a different language.
"Those aren't any of Alvarez's men," said Cayce. "Those are Neo-Chrysalis mercenaries. Ranikov's band."
"Quiet!" Cage hissed.
The captain wanted to listen to the conversation the mercenaries who belonged to Neo-Chrysalis were having. Hearing something that could be important and related to Alvarez's plan.
"That Alvarez guy doesn't do things halfway," said one of the mercs. "It's going to be quite the show."
"I hear he's gonna drop that bomb onto Copacabana and bring Elysium to remake our world," said the other merc.
Cage sighed.
"Son of a bitch," he said.
"A bomb?" I thought. "What would he want with a bomb?"
"Theoretically speaking," said Cayce. "It must be why Alvarez needs the forge. We just got to get to those trains to confirm that theory."
I was done waiting around to be left for dead in this godforsaken country. I would love to take my time taking those guards out together, but something in me wanted to take them on single-handed. I made an anxious frown next to Cayce for him to notice.
"Hey," he said. "You cool?"
"Yeah," I lied. "I'm cool."
"Cause, I need you to be cool."
"I'm cool."
Cayce looked as if he knew I wasn't cool, but I didn't care. It was time for lady's work to begin.
"Alright, ladies," said Cage. "Here's what we're going to do. I'll take the guy on the right. You two go on and-"
"Shit!" Cayce snapped.
I insubordinately take off without Cage and Cayce, run behind the Neo-Chrysalis guards, and knock them out with my fist of fury and kick to the face. After knocking down the first guard, the other was carrying an RPG and I kick him in the face causing him to accidentally press the trigger of his weapon and launch the rocket towards the ceiling. Causing the exit out of the cave to be blocked by rocks and debris from the RPG fire.
The guards were down. And so was our exit. Thanks to my insubordinate behavior.
"She said she was cool!" Cayce shouted.
"Amber!" Cage barked. "What the fuck are you doing?!"
"Getting myself out of this fucking country!" I barked back.
"Stand down, Amber! Or there will be consequences!"
"I'm down. But not out."
"Gold star for her, I guess."
"Gold star for barricading our exit, Foley. Jesus."
I walk over to the barricade that trashed the exit from the RPG fire and I see a small spacing we could use to lift up and squeeze through. Two golden stars for Amber. Kid of the week. Supposedly.
"Hm, I think we could squeeze through here," I said.
"Oh, you think so, princess?" Cage asked.
"Gimme a hand?"
"Coming," I said.
Cayce squatted next to me to lift up a lumber of wood from the debris to clear the spacing. We heaved it out of the way with our muscle and Cayce suggested I go first while he holds the log of wood. I thanked him and shimmied across the tight space. I could see railroad tracks in front of me as I make it out.
"How are you doing in there?" Cage asked from the other side.
"Good," I answered. "We're near the railyard. Shouldn't be long now."
Cayce and Cage make it through the space after me and we continue onward. I could see the bridge where the train cars are parked closer than before. The trainyard is just dead ahead of us now. I'm ready.
"Let's get there while we still can," said Cage. "Every mercenary from a click away probably heard that RPG fire. No thanks to Amber."
I ignored Cage's patronizing and moved along with him and Cayce. The two were still worried about my behavior and my lack of subordination. Just relax Rachel. Trust these people with your gut and you could still make it through this alive. I don't care what Mr. J says in your fucked-up mind, this is your instinct. Not his.
"Hey, Rachel," said Cayce.
"What?" I replied.
"Are you cool now?"
"I'm cool when I'm cool. Now quit asking."
"Right."
The three of us enter an abandoned office entering the trainyard and hide behind a wall to get a glance through a gaping hole that gives us a visual of an abandoned train yard in the middle of Achachi Qala desert. Clear as day. Guarded by dozens of Neo-Chrysalis mercenaries and El Eterno insurgents. Posted by totaled and rusted train cars, an old transit station, and other defunct office buildings. Cayce pulled out his binoculars to scan the area.
"Well, this just keeps getting better and better," said Cage. "Between Alvarez's men and Neo-Chrys, there must be at least a couple dozen guys in there."
"Hang on," said Cayce. "What's in that crate?"
Cayce spotted a crane loading a large crate onto one of the train's cars. The one parked on the tracks.
"Guns," said Cage. "Ammo. Maybe?"
"Maybe," said Cayce.
"And here I thought Neo-Chrys didn't do arms deals."
"Not that we've noticed of."
"Never mind the crate," I said. "Where's the forge?"
"Holy crap," said Cayce. "Look down there."
Cayce spotted a couple of Neo-Chrys mercs chatting with rebels next to equipment they were giving them. Equipment the mercs were trading the rebels for their insurgency.
"Looks like the mercs are handing over thruster packs to the insurgents," said Cayce. "That's striker tech their giving them. That will be the day."
"Focus on the forge, Corporal," said Cage. "What do you see?"
Cayce spotted with lens two helicopters on a helipad. Where Alvarez himself was located talking to Ranikov to make their deal. With the forge still in his hands since the execution attempt.
"Well, there's Alvarez with Ranikov," he said.
Cage spotted the two extremist leaders with his own binoculars and chuckled.
"Yeah," he said. "There he is. The comrade flatfoot with the beret himself."
I see the two of them with my own binoculars as well. Ranikov appeared to be leaving on one chopper. Another one of Alvarez's lieutenants was leaving on the other. Alvarez alone had left the helipad and must be leaving for the train if I had to guess. I recognized the one lieutenant from back in Copacabana, but couldn't recall his name.
"Who's the other guy in the beret?" I asked. "The one taking off on the left chopper?"
"That's Almagro," said Cage. "Colonel Almagro. He's a feisty one too. Saw him back when I was captured as well. Hitting me in the face with Ranikov."
"Okay," I said. "Well, the deal's done. Alvarez still has the forge."
"Let's go relieve him of it," said Cayce.
"Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait," said Cage. "Let's do this strategically this time, alright? As I said, there's over a couple dozen guys in there. Now's not the time for recklessness like Amber just did before."
"At ease, Captain. You'll live longer."
"I am so proud," I said. Knowing he got that line from me.
"Yeah, I'll be so proud," said Cage. "And 'we'll' live longer if the two of you fall in line on my orders. Amber, you could use that sniper rifle on that table in case things get ugly. Do not engage unless told to. Foley, I brought some explosives with me that we could set off down there for diversions. Follow me and we'll set them off on my go. Amber, do not fuck this up. That's an order."
"Yes, sir," I replied.
As I pick up the rifle off the table and my two companions drop down to the old train yard, I mount the sniper rifle over the wall we hid behind to scope out the yard Cayce and Cage were stealthily entering. I could see them crawling through tall grass where guards are posted on the rusted train cars right on top of them. I didn't want to open fire on anyone until Cage ordered me to.
The two helicopters were now flying off the helipad. One them flying away from the train yard, the other hovering around the vicinity of the trainyard. Patrolling the place for intruders. Meaning Cage and Cayce were gonna need a good eye keeping themselves out of sight from the eye in the sky. Meanwhile, a voice had spoken behind me that was once again another one of the figments of my imaginations I've had since. And I'm sure you know what. More imperatively, you know who.
"It hurts doesn't it?" Mark asked. Imaginatively glancing behind my neck while my one eye was marked on my crosshair. "Being played into a fly caught in a spider's web. A hen caught in a Fox's meadow. A sheep caught in a wolf's den and it all comes down to this. What will it take for you to learn the harshness of reality opposed to the illusion of fantasy?"
"There's something you're not telling me, Mark," I said. "Something that you're hoping I would figure out on my own. If you're making this the opportunity to actually confess one harsh reality I'm not yet aware of, don't miss it."
"Au contraire, I was hoping you'd have the maturity to admit it yourself. Or at least come up with a theoretical conclusion about it. But pardon my naivety, and I'll make this confession myself. Are you ready? You may not like what you hear."
"Tempt me."
"My confession is, I didn't set up that dark room for my own personal gain. I set it up because I was hired to do so. A friend of mine came to me asked 'Would kindly set up this dark room for any viable subjects available?' There was more to my capturing than beauty, innocence, and insomnia. It was to capture the reactions of how my subjects slept through the special sedatives I gave them such as yourself. And the reactions I was looking for were the ones only a girl with special abilities could act out to them. I will admit that I was beginning to suspect you to be one. I even suspected Max to be one too. At first, I felt like I was being used. But then one day I decided to thrive and endure the moment of every young woman I had on my screen. Including yourself."
"So who was it that hired you? The Prescotts?"
"Well, it was the Prescotts who funded me but didn't hire me. You really want to know who hired me?"
"Tell me if you must."
"I really hate to be a spoiler tag, but the answer is someone in Chrysalis. That is the final word."
Someone in Chrysalis? Am I actually listening to my wild hallucinations right now? I turn my head behind me away from my scope and see no one there. Mark Jefferson has vanished once again. Sounds like there's a mole in Chrysalis somewhere who hired Jefferson to kidnap Blackwell girls under that bunker. But who?
I turn my eye back on my scope to see Cayce and Cage having already dealt with a few mercs and rebels already. Wish I had a silencer on this thing so I could help them from here. All the more reason my captain told me not to engage the enemy unless provoked by him and the corporal. Although the two have stealthily managed to take on a couple of normal guards from behind, they had to deal with strikers as well. The two of them were able to take one on by Cage sticking a knife through the thruster pack damaging it and Cayce finishing him with a knife to the throat. A fellow striker approached the two and Cayce instantly put three rounds in him with his suppressed pistol as soon as he caught eyes on them.
After killing the two strikers, the two soldiers planted their first C4 explosive. Cage spoke on his comm that they had three other explosives to plant to take out most of the guard posts. I'd like to go down there and offer all the assistance they could, but I had to stay put at my post as ordered. No matter how anxious I was to get back to Arcadia Bay.
Cage and Cayce had put their first explosive under a train car. The captain wanted to put two more explosives under two more cars. And the last one under a catwalk. When they got to the catwalk, there were sniper guards on the platform they had to talk out which they did as I watched through my sights. Would've loved to take them out myself. Once the last C4 is in check, the two had cleared out and were ready to set them off to give our enemigos a surprise party they'll never forget.
"Time to send our enemigos to orbit," said Cage on comm. "Weapons free on my go, Amber. As soon as the C4 goes, open fire on any leftovers."
"Affirmative," I replied.
Then boom, boom, boom! The train cars and the catwalk explode into scrap metal killing everybody at their post. I pull the trigger on my rifle sniper everyone leftover who were now advancing and engaging on Cayce and Cage. Even sniped a few strikers by their thruster packs that blew them away when aiming for their packs. Unfortunately, ground forces weren't the only forces alerted to our presences. There was Almagro's chopper in the air that had been patrolling the zone. Which was now firing it's mini-gun on the guys that Almagro had been operating himself. It would take more than sharp bullets of a sniper rifle to take down an armored chopper. Especially one armed with a turret.
"Amber, we got Almagro trying to nail us to the coffin!" Cage alerted. "We need that asshole out of commission pronto!"
"Rachel, I saw an RPG in that building next to you that you can use to shoot the helicopter down," said Cayce. "Arm yourself with that launcher and blow that bastard sky high!"
Oh, boy. An RPG, huh? And here I thought I'd only have to fire one as an actress.
"You do realize I've never fired an RPG in my life, right?!" I remind them.
"That's an order, Rachel!"
Well, I did just make a guy fire his RPG inadvertently. First, I'm their marksman and now I have to be their demolition girl. Fair enough.
I let go of my rifle, run to the building next to me that was the abandoned train station, and find the rocket launcher stored in a demolition crate inside. The weapon itself was utterly heavy to carry for a nineteen-year-old Chrysalis agent, but I held it with as much muscle and as much caution as I could. It had a should strap on it for me to carry around my back. I climbed up a ladder to the roof of the building hulling the heavyweight weapon behind me. Once I was up on the roof standing on my own shoes, I had an open shot for the chopper to aim at.
I quickly position myself on the roof and bend my knee for better aiming. Almagro's chopper spotted me and my target was sighted.
"Now, Rachel!" Cayce ordered. "Eighty-six him to death!"
I launch the rocket like a firework and it fires away. Hitting it directly near the tailfin of the bird damaging it from the rear. The chopper was damaged from the hit but was still flying with fire and smoke exposed from the hit. This helicopter must have strong enough armor to resist at least one hit or two.
"Son of a bitch!" Cage yelled. "How are they still flying?!"
"Hold on," said Cayce. "The armor's holding!"
"Well, I don't see any sign of any explosive weapons lying around! If anyone's got a plan b, I'm open to recommendations!"
Then I see something roll out of the chopper. A rope ladder that accidentally dropped from the exterior cause by the RPG fire the helicopter took that was now dangling below out in the open. Exposed enough for me to use that ladder to jump onto maybe climb up the ladder so I could terminate the enemy bird by hand. A crazy and suicidal idea for the most part, but I've been full of them before and I had to show my team what I was made of for open recommendations.
"I have an idea!" I shout to them on comm. "Here goes nothing!"
When the ladder dangling close enough to me on my ground, I jump off the roof and hold onto the handles. Making a climb for the passenger hold where Almagro is commandeering his mini-gun.
"Hooooly shit!" I hollered. Keeping my grip on the rope ladder. "Ha, ha!"
"Amber, you crazy little shit," said Cage.
"Rachel, get to the door!" Cayce shouted.
I climb up the ladder flawlessly with the helicopter still airborne. As soon as I reach the top, I open the door of the hold with a handle and slide it open. Surprising the Spanish colonel from behind. Using the turret in the opening of the other door turned his head around to see me infiltrating inside with shock.
"Hey!" Almagro shouted.
"Oh, hi!" I taunted.
As I'm mantling my way indoors, Almagro seizes me by my shirt and slams me against the wall of the hold. I wrestle him by his arms as he does to mine. I hit my fist against his ribs to shake him. Then I try swinging my fist across his eyes until he instantly ducks under and throws me against the other wall of the hold. Then the colonel takes his pistol to try and shoot me until I wrestle his gun left and right against his move.
"Hey, asshole!" A voice shouted out of nowhere. It would seem, my partner, Cayce has climbed on in for the action as well. The man himself seizes Almagro by his neck that causes him to shoot the pilot in the cockpit that allows the helicopter to now spin out of control.
Now that the three of us including Almagro were still inside the crashing chopper, Cayce and I push him towards the cockpit to get him out of our way as we attempt to make a jump off the chopper. When we were closer to the ground, we timed our jump and threw ourselves out of the hold and land our arms and legs on the desert dirt while the helicopter itself tumbles on the surface and totals itself into a downed bird.
Cayce and I cough out the dust flared by the helicopter crash and get up off the dirt. Cage approaches with a rifle in hand to check on us. When the dust settles, Almagro busted the door of the dilapidated chopper open and crawled right out with barely any life left in him. As soon as the El Eterno colonel was out belly crawling away like a snail with cuts, bruises, and rubble stained on him, Almagro attempted to reach for his pistol he dropped from the crash that was lying on the dirt. Until Cage aimed his rifle to stop him.
"Don't!" He snapped. Holding his rifle between Almagro's eyes.
Almagro froze where he looked at Cage in the eye with the barrel trained on him. Cayce and I walk between our captain to deal with the situation together. Having our guns trained on him as well. Almagro gradually lifted himself off the ground laid down on his back against the metal of his chopper. With an amusing grin.
"Capitan Cage," said Almagro. "Well, you're looking well."
Cage kicked the pistol away from our hostage. I begin to recall the first time meeting this man someplace back in Copacabana.
"I know who you are," I admitted. "You yelled in my ear when you had your man do a rain check on me back in Copacabana."
"Rings a bell," said Almagro.
"What the hell does Alvarez want with that forge?" Cage questioned.
"What he's been obsessed about for months now."
"I think that's a rhetorical question, Captain," I said.
"I should've shot you back in those godforsaken ruins," said Cage.
"I wish you had," said Almagro. "Would've sparred me the job of tormenting you to death with Ranikov."
"Why did you get Neo-Chrysalis involved in your rebellion?" Cayce asked.
"Where's Ranikov going off to? And where is Alvarez taking that train?"
Almagro scoffed.
"Don't you see ese?" He asked. "We're in the endgame of our revolution now. While General Ranikov is out on a mission of his own out of the country, Alvarez is on that train ready to end the fight of his dream."
"Let me guess," I said. "Elysium?"
"Correcta. Unlike you, Capitan, she's a quick learner."
"At least she's not the one getting his eye beat out by ragtag insurgents like yourself," said Cage.
"Ah, there it is, eh? There it is. For a Capitan, you're always thinking too small. Do you really think it would take a simple sacrifice in that plaza to fulfill Senior Alvarez's dream?"
"I don't give a shit what it'd take. Where's Alvarez going with that forge?!"
"Hell's bells. You're gonna miss the fireworks, cabron."
I turn my head to where Almagro points out and see the train already moving on the tracks and leaving. Wherever it was going, we had to stop Alvarez before it was too late.
"I won't ask twice," said Cage.
"Fine," said Almagro. "The answer is on that blue sheet of paper. I'll see you in hell."
Almagro grabbed an extra gun he had in his other holster and before he could shoot with it, Cage pressed the trigger of his gun and stuck a bullet across Almagro's forehead. Making him a corpse with a bleeding hole in his skull. Killing him painlessly.
When we were finished with Almagro, his last words were that our answer would be on a blue sheet of paper. And I spotted one right next to me and picked it up myself to investigate. I unfolded the paper. Revealing it to be blueprints to a weapon Neo-Chys had just sold to Alvarez's army. And it wasn't good.
"It's a bomb," I said.
"What?" Cage asked.
"Oh my god. Ranikov just sold a bomb to Alvarez. And not just any bomb. But a bomb compatible with the Elysium for whatever that means."
I hand the blueprints to Cage so he could take a look at it himself.
"Fireworks," said Cayce.
"Well, well, Amber," said Cage. "This is big."
"Yeah. Those tracks run right through Copacabana. Through the market. Alvarez is gonna use that bomb to unleash Elysium straight into the city."
"So, we'll find the nearest town," said Cayce. "Notify HQ."
"It'll be too late. If that goes off, it'll kill thousands."
"She's right," said Cage. "We can inform HQ, but we sure as hell aren't poking around the nearest checkpoint to stop Alvarez's endgame."
"What?" Cayce thought.
I pick up a rifle off the ground and lock and load to prep myself to get on that train and take the fight to Alvarez. Even if it means suicide, it also means freedom from my cahoots with Chrysalis and my golden ticket back to Arcadia Bay.
"You are not seriously going after that train," said Cayce. "I don't believe your actually vouching for her to do so, Captain. Okay, fine. Fine, you have a plan?"
"Doesn't seem to be much of a requirement in this organization," replied Cage.
"Are you really gonna let her do this?"
"Last I checked, Corporal, our mission stands. So, yeah, I am letting her do this. And not because she has a valid point, but because our mission isn't over until Alvarez and his plan to unleash the afterlife is. Plus, she gets to go home assuming she survives this. Don't forget about that."
"I haven't."
Cayce turned to me to start pointing fingers at me.
"This is not our fight," said Cayce. "You said so yourself. Even you catch that train, what happens? Disarming the bomb is impossible."
"You're right."
"Good. Good, so we'll…we call HQ and-"
"This isn't our fight. It's my fight. That bomb detonates in the city, it'll spark a civil war. It'll spark Elysium. An evil empire Alvarez's always wanted. I can't walk away. I'm tired of walking away. More imperatively, I'm tired of my dreams of fantasy I had of LA. This is where I accept the reality for what's to come and let go of everything I dreamed of."
"You'll die. Again."
"I can live with that. So can my parents. So can Frank. So can Chloe."
Without further or do, I hop inside the 4x4 parked by the downed chopper and get in the driver's seat to take the wheel. Then Cage sets inside the passenger's seat next to me to drop in.
"You didn't think you would do this alone now, did you?" Cage thought.
"Permission to call shotgun, Captain," said Cayce.
"Permission granted, Corporal," said Cage. "I'll sit in the back."
Cage moved himself to the back seats and Cayce hopped in next to me. He turned his head down with a look of concern on his face that wasn't surprising to me at all. Then he turned his head to my face. Wondering why we haven't started catching up to Alvarez's train yet.
"What?" He wondered.
I left Cayce unanswered and gave him a bright smile of no regrets for an answer instead. Then I start the engine, shift the gear, and hit the gas towards the train. And the chase was on.
Note: If there's anything to blame for my delay, its finals of course as I've warned you guys about before. I also watched the Dawn (Before the Storm) fan film and it's the best LIS fan film I've see yet! Your patience is much appreciated as always and as always, until next time, stay tuned and golden!
