Chapter 24 Lights Out

Max

April 22, 2014

7:15 PM

Portland, Oregon

Chrysalis HQ

"Max, do you hear that?!" asked Chloe in alert. "More PMCs outside the door!"

I log off of the time broker and we race our way to the exit before the PMCs could get inside.

"Rachel, we have enemies right outside," I said. "No way round. Open the CRC room door."

The two of us stand in between the exit of the server as Rachel opens the door for us via her hacking tools on her laptop. When a man with a rifle enters, I grab hold of the mercenary by the arms and his rifle, pin him against the wall, take the knife out of his sheath and gut him in the neck. Killing the man we lured in. There were more mercs incoming as the both of us ran out of the server room and took cover in the half built room.

As we hid behind cover with something, mercenaries were sliding down tightropes and crashed their way through the windows in the room. Ready to kill us on sight. We hold off as many as we can as they start shooting at us. We needed to call the calvary.

"Rachel, we can really use your sniper skills right now!" shouted Chloe on comms. "We've got mercs on the thirty-fifth floor!"

"Not a problem," said Rachel. "I've got them in my sights."

A sniper bullet flicked through the windows killing a PMC instantly with one shot and one kill. More sniper fire kept clipping and cutting more mercs down. Rachel's sniper skills were on par with a Call of Duty player's. Rachel eventually cut down all the mercs with a single shot and the house was clean.

"Nice shooting text," said Rachel. "Where'd you learn to shoot a bunch of bad guys with a sniper like that?"

"I've been practicing since our time in the junkyard shooting bottles," replied Rachel. "I'm glad Frank was able to teach me how to shoot like that."

"Your sniper skills are nothing like I've taught you," said Frank. "Those skills are on par with Lee Harvey Oswald."

"Don't you think someone would've heard all that sniper fire?" I ask. "Those shots would rang out from miles."

"It has a suppressor, Max," said Rachel. "So no one could hear all those bullets. Now get going. We still have an ESR to retrieve."

"Warren, David, we know how the time fracture is going to occur," I say to them on comms. "It's not just when the time continuum ends. It's a full scare terrorist attack. Neo-Chrysalis is gonna attack Portland and everywhere else across globe with the machine they built for the project. We have a mole in this company working for those terrorist who we think modified the project to initiate their attack."

"Who we think?" asked Warren. "That sounds reassuring."

"What exactly are the two of you talking about?" asked David. "You're gonna have to be more specific. And make it quick. I think Joyce is starting to wonder what we're up to."

"Rachel, can you send a picture uplink of that data we found on David's phone?" I ask. "Also Warren's too?"

"Right away," she said.

We give a Rachel a second until the uplink was sent to David and Warren. When David's voice was back on comms, that's when he received it.

"Whoa, Max, what am I looking at here?" asked David.

"That's everywhere they're going to attack," I reply. "We've gotta warn someone about this. Before it's too late."

"Okay, Max," said Warren. "I say this is some fucked up shit your showing us, but looking on the bright side, we making some progress here. More than I thought we would."

"By the way, Warren," said Chloe. "We kind of broke drone. Or at least the mercenaries did. Sorry, bud."

"You what?!" shouted Warren.

"Never mind that," I say. "We're on our way to the ESR room right now so we can stop the project from being used for the attack. Wish us luck."

"Just you two watch yourselves," said David. "What this is you've sent me, I'm not liking this. Not one bit of it."

The unveiling had now begun. All the guest in the lobby, including the Blackwell guest and Chloe's parents along with Kristine Prescott all gathered by the podium for the major announcement. The man himself, Derrick Crosby stood there on the podium behind the desk with the microphone prepared and ready for the big announcement of the Chrysalis project. The crowd applauded before Crosby could speak. Then the applause calmed and the man of the corporation himself spoke.

"Thank you, thank you all for coming here tonight," said Crosby on the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is a special night tonight here at Chrysalis. We are not only gathered here tonight to view all the hard work our top scientist have accomplished for this event, but also for the main event we had invited you all for tonight's expo. Before I make the announcement, I must ask you all one question. Have you ever felt you were lost without the one person so dearest to you? So dear to you, you could no longer have anyone to live for when he or she was no longer inhaling the atmosphere on this planet? If the answer is yes, then what if I told you that even in death, you could see them again? Without further or do, I announce to you all, Project Elysium."

A big curved screen projected behind Crosby immediately revealed Project Elysium to the audience. Showing the project logo and it's design. The audience applauded again for this big announcement, but were still left in mystery of what this project was and how it would let people speak to their dead beloved.

"For all the details you all want to know about this much ambitious project we've worked on for decades to come," continued Crosby. "Please welcome our CSO of Chrysalis and project curator, Dr. Sebian Sorenson."

The audience applauded again as Crosby walked off stage and Dr. Sorenson walked on with his coat and tie on. The doctor himself stood behind the podium desk and spoke on the microphone.

"Thank you all, ladies and gentlemen," said Dr. Sorenson on mic with the crowd's applause lowered. "I will say it is indeed an honor to be on this stage here tonight at our Quantic Solutions Expo. Here at Chrysalis, we have astoundingly worked extra hard into the countless years of research and development into Project Elysium itself. By now you all must be asking yourselves, what is the project and how will it lest us see our dead beloved again? Over the past decade, we have studied the existence of the mythical phenomenon of the world of Elysium. For those unfamiliar with the term, Elysium is the heaven and afterlife for the dead in Greek mythology. Where the dead are chosen and welcomed by the gods for their gift of greatness and fortitude. With our state of art and revolutionary sim technology, we can allow any consumer interested in our project to enter this existing world of Elysium today. The best therapeutic technology mankind will ever knoe. A little demo to showcase our project's capabilities."

The screen was now projecting the demo of Project Elysium. The demo started off with calm and subdued music, a person entering the Elysium sim via VR device, and digital speech to go along with it.

"Listen only to the sound of my voice. Let your mind relax. Let your thoughts drift. Let the bad memories fade. Let piece be upon you. Surrender yourself to your dreams. Let them wash over you like the gentle waves of the bluest ocean. Let them envelop you. Comfort you."

The video demo was now showing the person entering a forest with tall trees, a white ground, and flakes descending in the air. The man in the vid was now seeing a woman walk up to him. The man stares at the woman as if he hadn't seen her in a long time and is now seeing her again for this first time in forever.

"Imagine somewhere calm. Imagine somewhere safe. Imagine yourself in a frozen forest. You're standing in a clearing. Trees all around you so tall they touch the sky. Pure white snowflakes fall all around. You can feel them melt on your skin. You are not cold. Imagine yourself in an autumn orchard. You stand in a row of leaves toppled on the grass. Tress decorated in a colorful haven. Colorful leaves fall of the trees. You can see them slowly descending to the ground. Imagine yourself on a tropical island. You sit on the nice warm sand. The water drifting back and forth on the sand amidst the bright blue sky. Seagulls flying in the air chirping and singing to themselves. It cannot overcome the warmth of your beating heart. Can you hear it? You only have to listen."

The video transitioned the imaginary places with the couple reunited with each other. The audience was beginning to understand what project was all about. Some of them were even hyped and excited for the project actually getting release. In fact, this demo being presented got some of the guest provoked to see some close friends and family they had lost in their lives. The project was becoming a success already.

"You hear it slowing? You are slowing it. You are now reunited with male or female you have sincerely lost for so long, you wished he or she was still alive. But he or she doesn't have to. Because you are together again. The paragon of affection. The serenity of optimism. The harmony of redemption. You are in control. Calm. At peace. In Elysium."

We continue fighting our way through more PMCs and over to the ESR room. While shooting our way down the halls fighting more and more goons, we eventually make to the ESR room where the project is being held.

"Rachel, we're just right outside the ESR," I said. "We'll have that countermeasure in our hands in no time."

"Understood," said Rachel.

The two of us enter the project room to retrieve the ESR countermeasure. The decagon shaped device that powered the project. The one Crosby had showed me himself when I was being toured through the building. When we enter the big room with big project, something felt off. We two walk over to the project's core field regulator and the ESR device was gone. Someone had gotten here first and taken it.

"Oh no," I say. "It's gone. The ESR device is gone! It's not here!"

"What do you mean it's not here!" muttered Chloe. "I thought it was supposed to be!"

"Rachel, we've got a problem," I said. "Someone's taken already taken the countermeasure. Those PMCs might've taken it."

"Speaking of which, Max," said Rachel. "They have taken it. I've just spotted them on cams with the device. I also see Ranikov taking the device with them. They're just down the halls taking the elevators back to the lobby! You gals have to hurry!"

"Ranikov? Isn't he that Neo-Chrysalis leader who helped Prescott set up my alibi?"

"No time to explain. You two have to hurry! I think they're going to up to no good down there. Oh shit."

"What Rachel?" asked Chloe. "What's 'oh shit' about?"

"I see the mercenaries cutting power on camera. They're powering down the whole building!"

Back down at the lobby, the project was still be showcased. This time, Dr. Sorenson set up a chair on the podium with VR goggles attached. So he would be able to show off how consumers would use it.

"To demonstrate the succession of our product," said Sorenson on mic. "We will need ourselves a volunteer. Three volunteers at a minimum if anyone's in liberty. Everyone is always welcome to try. Going once, going twice..."

And just like that, the lighting in the room flickered off. The lobby was pitch dark. The crowd had gasped and hollered. Startled by the blackout.

"Everyone, please remain calm," said Sorenson on the podium. "The backup power will be on shortly."

A few lights had came on for the festivities as soon as the backup power was on. The crowd returned calm and the show went on. Sorenson resumed to calling out for a few volunteers to try out the project on stage.

"Max, Chloe, what the hell just happened?" David asked on comms. "What's going on up there? The power just went off. You two okay up there?"

"No, we're not okay up here, actually," I say. "Those PMCs cut the power. There headed down to lobby right now! We're coming back down there to regroup with you and Warren right away!"

"Hey, if the powers out, wouldn't the elevator be out too?" asked Chloe, making our way back to the elevators.

"Chloe, Max, they just turned on the backup power," said Rachel. "You should still be able to get back down there via the elevators if your gonna catch Ranikov."

"Understood," I reply. "Max out."

We get across the hall with no goons in sight and make it to the elevator. The elevators are still functional thanks to the back up power. We step inside and our way back down.

"I don't like this, Max," said Chloe. "This is not going to end well for us. I just know it's not. Before we know, before we could even get out hand on that ESR thing, it'll all start with a bang and end with a boom."

"I don't like this either, Chloe," I said. "But we knew thing might go south from the start. And it has. Just be ready for anything when we're down there. I'll be sure to use my rewind whenever it gets ugly."

"Somehow it can't be a coincidence these mercs are here too. What if they knew we were coming. What if they're after for more than just the countermeasure they just stole?"

"What else could they be after?"

"Us? You? Maybe?"

We step out of the elevator and we're back down in the lobby. We could see everyone gathered around at the podium as Project Elysium is being presented. We needed to get back to David fast. The mercs could be down here in any minute to start a ruckus.

The two of us hurdle through the crowd and hustle our way towards David. I also hoped Warren would be prepared for what was about to happen. We could see Dr. Sorenson presenting project on stage through the crowd. There was someone volunteering to attempt to enter the world of Elysium via virtual reality. The screen on stage projected what the person was seeing through the VR.

We were getting closer and closer to David standing by Joyce and Kristine. Watching what the volunteer was seeing on stage in the crowd. When we reached the three of them, Chloe touched her step-father's arm to get attention.

"David, we gotta get out of here now!" hissed Chloe.

"Jesus, Chloe," snapped David. "You startled me!"

"David, we have to go, now!" I hiss.

"Max, Chloe, they're in the lobby!" shouted Rachel. "Ranikov and the PMCs are taking hostages!"

Not a second too soon, we hear the bang of gunshot fire across the area. Erupting the crowd into a panic with screams and hollers. It was the commie bastard named Ranikov standing in the middle of the crowd with a gun in his hand aimed where Sorenson was standing. Before he was shot to death by the baddie himself.

My chest was beginning to race. My ass cringed in fear and nervousness. There were armed mercs in the room with rifles in their hands forcing everyone down on the ground. Chloe and I, as well as David, Joyce, and Kris, all bent down on the ground as these merciless terrorist train a dozen or two guns on the whole crowd. We see Sorenson lye down dead on the stage with blood draining out of his bullet hole in his heart. Ranikov and few mercs force the volunteer out of the chair and hold him hostage.

I even catch a glimpse of the Blackwell crowd on the their knees. Shrieking in fear as guns are pointed at them. I catch sight Warren who glances at me across from us. I even Kate holding Warren tightly while holding her Crucifix necklace praying for dear life. Brooke cuddles next to Warren in fear too. I also see Victoria and her friends retreat. Dana and Juliet hold each other on the floor panicking. This was not the field they wished to experience.

Ranikov was now standing up front on the stage holding the man who volunteered hostage with a pistol leaned against his head. What the fuck were these monsters doing? What more would they want other than a stupid countermeasure? Was it really worth the leverage?

"Max, what do we do?!" shouted Chloe panicking.

"Max Caulfield!" shouted the Russian terrorist holding the man hostage.

Did I hear that right? Did he just call for my name? The psychos wanted me as well? This is why they were holding hostages? Without waiting another second, the terrorist shot the man dead in the head and pushed his corpse off the podium. The crowd hollered again. Now I know what this was all about. They actually wanted me sell myself to them so they would stop hurting people.

No. I couldn't do this. I couldn't just show myself to them before they could kill anyone else right? Wrong. Next thing I know, they'll kill me if I decide to reveal myself from the crowd. But matters only get even worse. A merc pulls someone out of the Blackwell crowd to be the next victim killed in this hostage crisis. It was Alyssa. No, not her! Not Alyssa!

Of all the people they could select in this crowd, they chose an innocent Blackwell teenager with purple hair to be their next hostage. This was getting crazier by the second. It goes from rewinding all the time to save this girl from being bullied to now perhaps saving her from taking a bullet to the fucking skull?!

A merc drags the young girl by the arm and hands her over to Ranikov. Alyssa cries for mercy. Pleads me for help. Ranikov seizes her by her dress and his gun barrel touches the back of her head. Alyssa has her hands behind her head and sheds tears for her life.

"Max, I would rewind or something if I were you!" snapped Chloe. "Do something!"

"Five seconds, Max!" thundered Ranikov. "Now!"

X/SQUARE/LM - SHOW YOURSELF

B/CIRCLE/RM - REWIND TIME

"No! Stop!" I holler.

I stand up revealing myself out of the crowd. Before Alyssa could bite the dust. Then Ranikov pushes her off the stage and aims his pistol in my direction.

"Open fire!" he shouts

I instantaneously shield ourselves from the bullets with my time shield. Protecting Chloe, David, Joyce, and Kris from the bullets. Now the whole squad begin fire on the guest as they all ran for the exit. Some of them getting out alive, others getting caught in the crossfire. Then explosions erupt from above the building. They must of have set off all the explosives the planted on the upper floors. The explosions caused some debris to collapse. I couldn't hold on to my shield forever. David forces Joyce and Kris to get out of building immediately.

"Go! Now!" he shouts to them.

Without question, they both ran off. Leaving us to deal with the PMCs firing on us. I deactivate my shield and Chloe, David, and I make a break for a bar counter and hide behind cover. It was now us against a dozen mercenaries with rifles shooting at us. We hid behind cover holding our guns. David pulled a gun out of his tux pocket ready to defend himself. Glad he just so managed to come prepared.

While bullets kept flick firing over the counter we hid behind, a merc hovered over where Chloe was crouching down. The girl herself boldly grabbed him by his gun and hit his head with a glass cup. Knocking him out. Then she grabbed his gun. Ready kill some bad guys.

"Let's kill those sick fucks!" she snarled.

The three of us stand up unload on the bastard shooting at us. David fires his pistols, killing the mercs in front of him. Chloe fires the rifle she stole, killing more mercs in front of her. I made out like Rambo and fired my SMG and killed every last PMC mother fucker tempting to kill the ultimate Super Max.

More enemies were being enforced to kill us. We run out of our cover and made out like Neo and Trinity from the Matrix shooting the terrorist whilst running up to the podium. I shield ourselves with my time shield again to protect us from fire. We may have been badasses shooting a bunch of baddies, but we were no kamikazes.

When we're up front on the stage kicking more ass, it was time to be rid of these fuckers for good. I absorb my time shield into a ball of energy and thrust it towards the remaining mercs one in a million. Taking out the last remainder of them once and for all. After all the PMCs were disposed of with my time blast, one last merc was crawling on the floor wounded. David shot him dead in the head. Killing the mercenary terrorist on sight. We all catch our breaths and I wipe more blood our of my nose after a firefight at an expo. Plus, explosions that caused debris to fall down in the room.

Bodies of guest and terrorist lye down on the floor in the aftermath of this bloodbath. The good news was, I never saw anybodies that belonged to Blackwell. Not even Alyssa's. Not even Warren's. And so I assumed they all made it out alive.

"Max, Chloe, David, are you alright?!" shouted Rachel. "Frank and I just saw the explosion combust out of the building. The tower is now lighting up like the fourth of July. What the fuck happened down there?!"

"We got ourselves caught in the middle of a hostage crisis and barely survived a firefight," exclaimed Chloe. "And that Ranikov asshole got away with that countermeasure of ours. That's what the fuck happened down here."

"Shit! Shit!"

"Rachel, we're getting out of here," I say. "Tell Warren and Frank we failed. I've had enough of this fucking party to last a nighittime."

Note: Fucked up shit wasn't it? Perhaps it goes without saying, but I'm a man of my word. And I always will. Don't say it. When shit hit the fan, Max and Chloe were badass kicking ass at the end of this chapter. Right they were.

Prepare yourselves readers. There are only two chapters left until this episode's over. The shit that just hit the fan is far from over. In a couple chapters from now, this one is going to look like child's play.

Until next time, stay golden!

P.S. Dontnod has officially announced LIS2 to be in the works. And we should be seeing a release date in a year or two from now. It should be good.