Chapter 8 Animosities

David

July 23rd, 2017

12:35 PM

Meridian Prime, Meridian Prime

Commercial District

The three of us now enter a strange town that looked abandoned and war-torn. Where it looked like no one's lived here in a century or two. The buildings and streets felt like something seen in the eighteen or nineteen hundreds given the architecture. People definitely lived on this island once but haven't since. This island was getting more interesting the further we progressed our search for the two gay lovebirds.

"It does look like people lived here alright," said Cayce. "A century or two ago is a likely assumption. You think Chloe and Max came through here?"

"Bryan said he didn't drop off Chloe till she found Max washed and unconscious near a river," I said. "It was probably Max and said cousin who came through here."

"I don't believe it," said Kristine. "I know what this place is."

"How?" Cayce wondered.

"This is the colony of Meridian Prime. The home of my great, great grandfather Ezra Prescott. Look!"

Kristine pointed a statue in the middle of the town's district. A statue of a man in a trench coat, beard, scarf, and fedora hat. Kristine seemed to know the man and it must be the one she Ezra Prescott. Her so-called great, great grandfather.

"Who's he?" Cayce asked.

"Ezra Prescott," replied Kristine. "From the stories my aunt Joanna used to tell Nathan and I. I never thought actually be standing here on the colony he built himself. It all confirms the legends of my family's legacy to be true."

"Your family's history has turned out to be more interesting than I once knew Kristine," I said. "I assume he had things to do with HOW as well?"

"He's the man who founded HOW, yes. Succeeding the order of Saint Loomis where my family tree comes from too."

"He who deserts Meridian Prime in time of battle shall be punished by death," said Cayce reading a plaque on the statue. "Story of your family's life. Don't get me wrong."

"You're not."

"Whatever's got Max and her cousin interesting in a place like the colony of Kristine's great, great granddaddy," I said. "We should find out by pushing forward."

My group and I leave the commercial district of the colony into another part of Meridian. Where the buildings look more formal and where we see a tower of some sort totaled down like a stack of mega blocks. Whatever destroyed the tower did a real number on it. The three of us get a view of the deconstructed tower from a cliffside. I use my binoculars for a closer look from our distance.

"Damn, someone must've really hated that tower," said Cayce.

"Aunt Joan used to say that a war broke out on this island," said Kristine. "Either that came from the war that happened here years ago or maybe ConDef did that."

"I doubt whatever war broke out here that happened a century ago did that. The damage looks too recent. I can see some smoke spewing out of the remains."

"Ah, shit," I said.

"What is it?" Cayce asked.

"Look down there."

I point in the direction where I see ConDef vehicles and guard patrols circling the district around the tower. Guess that answers how the tower was leveled.

"ConDef," I said. "Figured we'd be running into them eventually. Looks like they got the whole district under their control. Setting it up as their base on this island maybe."

"Well, I guess that explains the tower then," said Kristine.

"Should we try finding a way around them?" Cayce thought. "I don't like the idea of just the three of us taking on an entire ConDef base. Unless Lynch brought in some guns for air support."

"No, it's too dangerous for that as well," I said. "She'll be shot down with just her only bird. Let's find a way down to that district first and maybe we can go around them somehow. If Max made it past them with just my step-daughter and her cousin, we can maneuver past them too."

"David, look over there," pointed Kristine.

My demoted lieutenant pointed at some kind of lift with a sign next to it. A lift built from, wood, ropes, and gears. The sign read: SERVICE TUNNELS. A shortcut way down?

"This elevator thingy looks like it can go underground," said Kristine. "Maybe it can be a shortcut down past that base? If there's no ConDef down there, they'll never see us coming."

"So, we're going underground now?" Cayce wondered. "That's convenient."

"I think it's a chance we'll have to take, for now, Corporal," I said. "It wouldn't surprise me if Max had to do some underground travel as well. Let's get down there."

There was a switch or lever of some kind that looked like it was used to either lower or raise the elevator built by hand. I give it a pull once we're all on and the elevator does as I predicted. Lower us underground to the said service tunnels. It was gonna get dark down here so we had our flashlights on.

The lift was lowering us gradually down a dark shaft taking us to the tunnels. We had our flashlights attached to our rifles to light the way. It made me curious how much Kristine actually knows about this place through bedtime stories and folktale.

"So, what other things do you know about this place, Kristine?" I asked. "From these stories your aunt Joanna used to tell you?"

"Meridian Prime used to be a sanctuary for the Herd of Whales for generations," said Kristine. "Which began way back during the dark ages of King Arthur's reign. When the Herd of Whales was once known as the Order of Saint Loomis. The man who founded the order with his knights of the round table."

"Damn, your shady society is that old?" Cayce thought.

"It all goes from when Arthur fought against the Saxons led by Ares and the Dark Order on this very island. It was Ezra Prescott and Jeremiah Blackwell who founded the colony of Meridian on the island centuries later. Right before the first world war."

"Jeremiah Blackwell? The founder of Blackwell Academy?"

"Yep. Along with Martin Prescott, Ezekiel Blackwell, Christoff Carter, Anna Laurie, and so many others in their day. They all united together on this land to build a civilization for themselves and create a safe haven for those who believed in the mantle of possibility. Knowing they were the most wanted people around the world."

"And exactly how does a safe haven like this one end up abandoned for over a century?" I wondered.

"The night the last battle ended on Meridian Prime, Ezra did something to end the war efforts that happened a hundred years ago during World War I. Something that wiped out the German forces they were fighting against who were also led by Ares and his Dark Order. The same Dark Order we witnessed back in Beirut if I stand correct. The ones who killed Jeb and Flint. Since then, no else has ever set foot on this island."

"Except for us," I said.

"No one else who mattered, Commander."

"Okay, that's interesting enough and all," said Cayce. "But here's what rubs me the wrong way. You say this was a sanctuary for your HOW ancestors and no one of importance have laid a toe on this land ever since. Now that we have Max Caulfield snooping about on this island, could it be any coincidence she's connected to the herd in any way probable?"

"I don't know, Cayce," I said. "Once actually find her and look her in the eye, then we'll know for sure. If she is, either we've made a new ally or new enemy. I've known Max since her year at Blackwell so we won't rush to conclusions this time."

The elevator finally comes to a stop and we're in the tunnels. Our lights catch wind of some tables and shelves stored in little rooms set up in here. My light catches a map nailed to the wall. A map of the tunnel network it seemed.

"Look at this," I said. "It could be a map of the network."

"Well that makes things more helpful," said Cayce. "Which way do we go?"

I observe the map carefully. The was one spot on the make that marked our location with "YOU ARE HERE" written on it. Another that marked the tower we had seen aboveground. Other spots that marked other districts of the colony and another that marked the location of a neighboring colony not far from here.

"Looks like a network of tunnels," said Kristine. "A maze of some kind used to take shortcuts around places under the dirt."

"Let's hope getting around here doesn't end up like a maze," said Cayce.

"I think Kristine is right. From my military knowledge, a lot of people would use tunnels like these to get an advantage of opposing forces in wars such as the first world war. I'm looking places mapped out called Commercial District where we're at, Watchtower, High Rent District, Administration, and New Exodus. Which is one the other side of this colony."

"Maybe we should go there then. If it's on the opposite side, we'll be well out of range from ConDef."

"New Exodus," said Kristine. "That's where Ezra used to live when he was running the colony."

"Then Exodus it is then," I said. "Bryan said Max and Chloe were heading north which is where the next colony is mapped here. If they're there, that's our next stop."

"Didn't Bryan also say ConDef were traveling north?" Cayce asked. "He also said this Alex girl, his daughter who's also Max's cousin was captured by ConDef. What they're over at this New Exodus as well?"

"Then we best lose no time catching up to Max before they do. Let's move it, Valor. The tunnel we should be taking is…that one. I'll take point."

"Yes, Commander," said Kristine.

Max

July 23rd, 2017

12:50 PM

New Exodus, Meridian Prime

Ezra's Estate

Chloe and I found ourselves a raft we ride on to get across the waters towards Ezra's house. One built from logs and run by the same machinery the elevators on this island were powered by. Rope and gears. The raft had a line running from where we scoped out Alex and her captors to all the way across the canal taking us to the estate built on the other side. If that home was Ezra's, then New Exodus was indeed where he was the showrunner for Meridian Prime.

"You don't suppose this canal is what flooded the place, do you?" Chloe asked.

"I don't know," I answered. "It could just be those floodgates that were opened and were never sealed since. They must've been opened to drown all the rebels who fought here."

"Ezra would flood his own front lawn to save his skin. Extreme but chaotic."

As soon as we were both across the canal, the raft made a complete stop and our feet were standing by Ezra doorstep. I can already tell the estate had seen greater days now that it was covered in moss and flora. Just like the rest of the ruins of Meridian Prime. I've also noticed canons placed between the stairsteps to the front door. As well as recent footprints that spread to the doors. Even footprints that were big as the prints of an elephant. No shit where they came from.

"These canons look like they were retrofitted," I said.

"Yeah, improvised defenses," said Chloe. "Guess they didn't expect they'd be fighting each other."

"Guess not. Look at these tracks. It's definitely there's. One of the prints is as big as a mammoth's."

"What could've made that print?"

"Probably the big guy with the big hammer in chains which I don't look forward to meeting. The front door is probably barricaded or wedged shut. At least we go through those broken windows."

The two of us vault over the broken windows and break into the dilapidated estate. We walk across an old hallway and find a familiar sigil mounted on the wall. One of a bigfoot head which I knew who it belonged to.

"Hey, look," I pointed. "That's Jeremiah Blackwell's sigil."

"So, we're in his mansion," said Chloe.

"Second in command. Going up the herd hierarchy."

Then Chloe and I stepped into a room passed two doors. A room with a long table with even more skeletal remains sitting down around it. This time the remains were clothed and were limped down on the table or slouched on their chairs as if they were napping. Only two chairs were vacant of corpses.

"Hella lord," said Chloe.

"Looks like we found the party," I said.

"Looks like we're a little late."

Somehow the clothes the corpses rang a bell. Chloe found something on the dinner table while we were observing the room. A card of some kind as Chloe picked it up blew off the dust with her breath. She flipped the card so I would see it.

"Hey, Max," she said holding card. "Check it out."

The card had a sigil of a Pegasus. Another herd sigil.

"It's another sigil," I admit.

I look down at the table myself and see two more sigils next to the silverware and dinner plates. The monkey and the two skeletons.

"Oh my God," I said.

"What?" Chloe wondered.

"It's them. Chloe, these are the HOW members that founded Meridian Prime. What the fuck happened here?"

Chloe analyzed one of the corpses holding a chalice with his skeletal fingers. Giving her clues about their causes of death.

"Well, I'm no forensics expert," she said. "But I'd say…bad drinks?"

"Apparently," I assumed.

"So, what was this? Some kind of…wealthy HOW suicide cult?"

I chuckle.

"Yeah, not likely," I said. "Not these guys."

Then Chloe found a note on the table covered in dust that she picked up and brushed off. And then began reading.

"On behalf of Lord Ezra," she read. "I invite you to my manor at sundown tomorrow. The time has come to abandon our animosities…and reunite the banner of the herd that will guide us all. Signed Jeremiah Blackwell."

Now I was putting two and two together thanks to the note. There were two empty chairs at the front of the table. A whale and a bigfoot sigil next to their plates as well. I knew who the poisoners were.

"What do you bet," I said holding up the sigil cards. "Jeremiah Blackwell. Ezra Prescott. Looks like our host didn't stick around to clean up their mess."

"Well that wasn't very gracious of them," said Chloe.

"Okay, so…so these guys sparked a full-scale revolt when they claimed the ark for themselves. Now, they took care of the colonists, but then they had to deal with each other. And I'm guessing things got pretty messy. So, Prescott and Blackwell invite them up here. To umm…ah, what was it, uh-?

"Abandon our animosities."

"Abandon the animosities."

I hold onto Ezra's chalice to act out how the scene went down. How it started.

"Ezra makes a grand toast," I said holding Ezra's cup. "'May the herd guide us all.'"

Chloe giggled at my acting.

"And they all take a swig," I continued. Setting the cup down. "Except these two. And just like that, the Ark of Genesis becomes the sole possession of two men. These are some of history's greatest members of the herd – and they all perished…in an instant. At this very table."

"It's incredible."

"Yeah. I'm – I'm sorry. I uh…I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

I've never heard Chloe sound this forgiving in tone before but I know she's forgiven me for the fibs. That's what truly matters.

"So, since our missing hosts aren't here at Blackwell's manor," she said.

"We should head over to Prescott's," I said.

"Yeah. Let's go."

Note: It's been a busy couple of weeks this past Holiday season but I've managed to get this chapter done in the nick of time for the new year begins for me. Saw The Rise Of Skywalker and no matter how harsh some people are already on the film, there are others who are more forgiving of the film and enjoyed it for what it was like myself. The ending to the Skywalker Saga may be no ending to Marvel's Infinity Saga but it's no ending to Game Of Thrones either if you get my sentiments. That's only me.

I also watched the finale to The Mandalorian which ended on a pretty badass note and left me wanting more for when season 2 premieres next fall! The show thus far has been the closest to Disney material that has gotten the most amount of appraisal from the fanbase and I respect that. Jedi: Fallen Order has also been the first Star Wars game by EA to get the respect it deserves from the fans as well and I too honor that.

So, this is my last chapter of 2019 as well as my last chapter of the entire decade! I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, you name it and I hope you all have an excellent New Year indeed! Until next time, stay tuned and golden!