Chapter 2 Grieving
David
July 23rd, 2017
11:58 AM
USCC Oregon
Mediterranean Sea
I sit down in the locker room holding the dog tags of Lieutenant Jeb Mason and Private Flint Wheeler. The two who had surrendered their lives on the homefront of Beirut. Two brave soldiers in Valor who have now left behind families from Beaver Creek and Portland.
The longer I stare at their tags, the longer I see their bodies succumbed to their deaths. One who was ripped in half like a butchered pig and the other impaled to rebar and eventually the spear held by one of Ares's thugs. As if Alkaline and Kristine's aunt weren't enough pressure on team Ares, we're now faced with more boogiemen who have awoken out of Ares's closet.
And now I have Chloe and Max to worry about whose lives may be on my conscience as well. I clench my fingers squeezing the tags in place, bite my lip, and tighten my eyes shut knowing what's worse to come. Why couldn't Joyce talk Chloe out of helping Max harder? Same reason she couldn't be talked out of her delinquency phase? Has my step-daughter really changed on any fronts whatsoever?
Then I hear someone come in. It was Joyce and Cayce checking up on me. Knowing I haven't spoken a word since I came back to the Oregon. They both came inside the locker room with a saddened and worried frown.
"If you came here to coddle me," I said. "Just leave me be."
"He speaks," said Cayce.
"David, please," said Joyce.
"I said! – Just. Leave. Me. Be."
"Penske wants us in CIC in ten," said Cayce. "Whenever you're done moping, don't be late."
Cayce left the room. Joyce stayed to comfort me. As much as I wanted her out, I at least had company with my wife and no one else.
"You sent her off this ship, didn't you?" I asked her. "When I one-hundred percent told her not to."
"I tried to talk her out of it," she replied. "But you know how she is."
"I don't care how she is! Either she hasn't changed or you haven't."
"What's that mean?"
"It means – it doesn't matter what it means. I lost a good lieutenant today, Joyce. I lost the kid of all people. Both who are now leaving behind families. God, Flint…if – he's was no younger or older than Chloe. If that actually had been Chloe -"
"David, don't you dare! Chloe is not going out like that!"
"She might as well if she's out there alone on some stupid ass island Max is on."
"She's not alone, David. She has Rachel, her former drug dealer Frank, and Max's uncle with her. You know how much Max means to Chloe and I can't even blame her. Only because Max is someone special to me too. I've loved Max like my secondary daughter and I'd do precisely what Chloe is doing now if I had the strength to do so. Chloe is strong, David. It's how William and I raised her."
"I didn't raise her to be a soldier out there in the field."
"She's a soldier now in my book. She may have done unforgivable things to us in the past but seeing her now, she's making up for all of that. I'll be back in the sanctuary. You should go see your admiral before it's too late."
Kristine
July 23rd, 2017
12:01 PM
USCC Oregon
Mediterranean Sea
I lie down on my bed. Still confined to my quarters as punishment for my HOW mark. I lay there thinking of what the team and I went through in Beirut. For the first time in a long while, I actually laid eyes on the monster who turned my family into monsters, broke everyone I cared about bad, and painted my family's name black. And now I was breaking bad myself.
I sit upon my bunk bed grieving. Thinking about how horrifying it was to witness Flint and Mason brutally killed by Ares's goons like that. I was also thinking about what they'd do to Mom if they ever discovered her role in the herd. It felt like the Prescott name was dying with the two of us.
"It's a sad, sad, world out there, isn't it?" A voice asked next to me.
It was none other than the voice of my late brother Nathan Prescott. Sitting next to me in my hallucinating state of mind. Talking to me through my subconsciousness.
"How does it feel, Krissy?" Nathan asked. "To be hated, shunned, detested, and persecuted when you're all alone without your best sibling to be there for you. It's how I felt when I was alone in Blackwell. It's how I felt when my friends turned against me. I really thought anything with Prescott on it, nothing can go wrong for me. And now it seems you've learned the hard way as I have. Just where were you when I needed my big sister's love and support the most?"
"Wherever I was Nathan was not my choice," I replied. "I'd do anything for my little brother if I was ever there for you. Anything."
"And yet here we are. I'm dead in an Arcadian grave while your sitting moping and doping in your stank ass quarters. Reminds me of the prison I used to live in back in our family's dormitory."
"Maybe Cayce is right. Maybe this isn't my fault. Even if I was there for you, I couldn't have stopped what was coming to you. Nevertheless, I would die for you, Nathan. I'd take a bullet for you if I could. I'd stop Dad from cracking his belt at you and I'd stop Jefferson from poisoning your mind with his insanity and I'd stop Crosby from having you killed and I'd stop Joanna from the evil Ares manipulated her on."
"Well you couldn't stop all that from happening now, could you?" An older voice said to me whom I knew belonged to. I didn't even want to turn my head around to confirm that.
"Dad," I hissed.
"So, you're calling me that now I see," my disgraced father said in my hallucination. I make sure to stare at the floor and never look him in the eye.
"I also see that not only have you gotten yourself involved in Chrysalis of all places," he continued. "But you've also revealed your mark to Chrysalis as well. I used to believe you were the smartest child of mine. Smarter than Nathan perhaps. And yet you've proven me wrong. The two of you are one of a kind. Dumbass sister of the year. Nice. Whew. What now? You really fucked yourself over this time. If not your own mother too."
"You and Joan are the only reasons I'm forced to wear this stupid ass mark that makes me more of an outsider beyond Chrysalis," I said. "All because -"
"Because of what, Kristine?! Don't even give me the cry baby story about how I destroyed this family. We were blackmailed into selling weapons to quantum terrorists in order to keep the family rich enough for Arcadia Bay to grow and help the good people of the town. What choice did we have?"
"What choice did we have?! You allowed a psychotic photographer into Blackwell with open arms while I was sent away to some shithole in Brazil with the Peace Corps. And for what? Just to prove to myself how good I was to you? To prove that I'm the future prodigy of the Prescotts? Everything I've ever hated about myself comes from you! Nathan knew it, Mom knew it, and I knew it! Did you ever stop to think that maybe Nathan actually needed treatment? Did you ever consider feeding the homeless or finding cures for cancer? No! Instead, you get worked up into letting Nathan go unhinged, build a hideous darkroom for Jefferson, run Neo-Chrys for Crosby, and let Joanna get manipulated into her evil cult. Congratulations! You're the world's greatest dad! I'll give you a mug for everything our family has been shat on for!"
"You know what, Kristine? Nathan and I may be dead, but it's not too late to make this right for yourself. Or perhaps make it right for me. I used to tell your brother that in order for him to deal with his problems, it was to never show weakness that would make him look bad. Otherwise, he was only making himself look bad. I may have destroyed our own family beyond repair but you're destroying it even more by uncovering that mark of yours. So, if you wish to make it right all you have to do is look me in the eye."
At first, I resist looking at that monster in the eyes. Even tighten my eyelids as my head is turned downwards like a kindergartner.
"Kristine," said Dad. "Look. At. Me. Right now."
"Go. To. Hell," I hiss.
"I'd look at him if I were you, Kris," said Nathan. "You know Dad doesn't take insubordination lightly."
"Kristine, look at me right now or you will be sorry."
"Come one, Krissy. You're daddy's little girl. You're my big sister. And your Dad's favorite child who's made him prouder than I could ever make him."
"Look at me now, Kris. Look at me now."
"Look at him now, Kristine. Look at him now."
"Look at me now!"
"Look at him now!"
"Look at me now!"
"Look at him now!"
"LOOK AT ME NOW!"
"LOOK AT HIM NOW!"
I instantly jump out of my bunk bed and explode with all my rage.
"Shut up!" I screamed. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"
And then my father and brother disappear. My hallucinogenic state of mind ended with my rage quit. It was all over. I could no longer take the pain of my dad and brother's annoying ass voices and it broke me so much that I break down crying and weeping down on my knees.
Then I hear someone unlocking the door to my quarters. I turn my head to the door and immediately wipe my tears and sniff my breakdown out. The door opens and Cayce comes inside.
"Hey, there," he said. "Penske wants us in CIC right now."
"Why would he want me there?" I wondered. Still drying my tears.
"Penske is letting you out of here."
Then I'm intrigued.
"They finished reviewing you're account and have picked up any evidence suggesting you should be tried," continued Cayce. "You're charges are being dropped."
I try smiling about this suddenly great news but I'm still getting over my hallucinations.
"You feeling alright?" Cayce asked.
"I'm okay," I replied. Wiping a tear. "Just still getting over everything that happened back there in Beirut. Surely everyone isn't taking what they did to Mason and Flint lightly."
"It's nobody's fault, Kris. C'mon. The admiral wants us in five."
David
July 23rd, 2017
12:11 PM
USCC Oregon
Mediterranean Sea
Cayce, Kristine, as well as the rest of Valor, and I are at the CIC room on the bridge where Captain Harvest and Admiral Penske wait for us. The admiral and captain were monitoring Beirut through projection on the CIC status board. Projecting the sandstorm merging into the ruins of the city. What remained of the resistance and Chrysalis had been evacuated in time before the storm hit and had been taken back to the first fleet safely.
"Resistance forces are in full retreat," said Harvest. "It is no longer safe for us to remain near the coastline."
"Lucky for us," said Penske. "We all made it out of there in the nick of time before things went to hell. And the resistance is taking shelter on this ship the others in the fleet. A shame Dhaled was captured before he could get out of there. Now it seems that Valor has suffered two tragic casualties today."
Everyone around the table was saddened by the loss of Mason and Flint. Their deaths will not go unpaid.
"Nobody could've predicted Ares and his Dark Order thugs would overcome us the way they did," said Kristine.
"To hell with predictions," I said. "Beirut's lost, Dhaled is captured, Chloe is out there with her friends finding Max, and now Flint and Jeb are gone. That's all on me. I'm sick of ConDef beating us to the punch."
"Let's kick them in the balls first for a change," said Logos. "Make them pay for the rookie and LT Mason."
"I'm with Logos," said Cage. "We all knew the stakes going into those capital towers, but nothing like this Ares figure has orchestrated. Does anyone know where he could be hiding? Anyone?"
"I never thought I'd say this," I said. "But I think I may have something."
"Let's hear it, Madsen."
I touch the CIC tablet on the table and point us towards the location Chloe mentioned Max had gone to earlier back before the fighting at the capital towers. The island called Meridian Prime located in the sea the fleet was sailing.
"Earlier today," I begin. "Chloe informed me where Max was going. A remote island miles from our coordinates in the Mediterranean. Allow me to confirm the Max Caulfield is Ares's primary target. I can't get into the details but Ares said that he'd be going after her. If Max is on that island, that's where he'll be going next. That's where Chloe could be too."
"Now hold on a second," said Cayce. "How do we know for sure Ares is coming after this Max girl and on this island specifically?"
"Because you and I are the only two eyes and ears who witnessed Ares say it to himself on that roof. We have to take that chance. Admiral, permission to make this personal and that I only take Kristine and Cayce with me to Meridian Prime. I don't wish to lose any more people on my team than I have to over two people I care for."
"Permission granted, Madsen," said Penske. "Perhaps I owe it to the girls as well."
"Let's cool our jets for a minute," said Cage. "Just remember that this is my team and not yours, David. Whoever on this team is not yours to lose."
"As your superior, Cage, I'm allowing Madsen to voluntarily find Max and his step-daughter with Foley and Prescott. Unless anyone else holds whatever vital intel related to Ares, consider this meeting adjourned. A word for the three of you, before you go."
As the rest of Valor Squad left CIC, my closest comrades and I hear out what Penske says to us.
"Lieutenant Prescott," he begins. "That will be the final time you'll be addressed, lieutenant. I'm sure Foley has informed you of the deal. I'll be dropping the charges and canceling your court-martial but you're never to be an officer of Chrysalis again as punishment for your secrecy."
"Sounds like the fairest penalty you have to offer, sir," said Kristine.
"As for you, Madsen, good luck finding those two. I'd also like to say that we have Dr. Hendricks on this ship right now researching that Eternium you found at MIT and deciphering the language of that book you found in Canyon Springs. The doctor may have something as soon as you return."
"Just what the doctor ordered, Admiral," I said.
"Foley, keep an eye on these two. I may be letting Kristine out of the woods but I'm still taking precautions necessary."
"Maybe I was wrong about her too, Admiral," said Cayce. "But I'll still keep an eye out."
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to inform the families of Lieutenant Mason and Private Wheeler that they were killed in Beirut."
Penske left us on our own as he exited CIC.
"I'll go ask Lynch for a ride and give her the coordinates," I said to Cayce and Kristine. "I know our last mission was far less than trouble-free, but now's not the time for grieving. We get to that island, find Max and Chloe, and bring them back to the Oregon. Sound fair?"
"Fair's fair, Commander," said Cayce. "I won't insubordinate you this time."
"Penske may have demoted me," said Kristine. "But people like Max and you're step-daughter Chloe deserve my kindness. Unlike what Dad tried to do to them years ago."
Note: Just a head up, it's that time of year for me in college where I'm doing mid-terms and have to get them done earlier this year. I also like to note that I'm making an attempt where Kristine will be dealing with her insecurities due to her trauma from Beirut in this episode. And where she'll have another hallucination or two by her two most hated family members.
Until next time, stay tuned and golden!