Chapter 6 Kicking It Old School

David

July 20th, 2017

7:49 PM

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I still took point ahead of the team on Cage's orders. We all left the security office on my go as Nelson opened the security gate for us so we could proceed with caution to Bush Hall and rescue the hostages being abducted. We should've turned the power back on so we wouldn't have to use any flashlights or night vision, but that'd only raise one-hundred percent suspicion with the ConDef guards inside. We had to play cat and mouse if we were to play it safe and smart.

On my and Cage's command, the five of us stick to cover when incoming ConDef patrolling the halls with lights on came around our corners. We take them out with one suppressed bullet from our rifles at time until the were neutralized. Keeping up the same drill until we got closer to bush hall where the students were being held.

There was a voice on the campus's intercom that belonged to one of the ConDef operators. Speaking to everyone not ConDef to surrender to them immediately with no harm done. Promising protection when taken in. As if anyone still alive in this building were that gullible enough to trust the front after all that they've done starting this war from Seattle until now. Just music to Alkaline's ears for his sake. If he were the main threat that is. Reminding myself of Ares.

"Commander, I just got an emergency message from one of the students in Bush Hall," said Nelson on her radio. "They're orientees who attended and they can't hold out much longer."

"We're almost there," I responded. "Tell them to hang on. We're not going anywhere without them."

We could see signs on the walls that read "Bush Hall". The entrance had to be the door in front of us. Nelson's voice was heard on the intercom. Letting everyone know she was still alive and help was on the way and giving herself away to ConDef. At least she didn't give up her location.

"Is that Nelson on the intercom?" Cayce asked. "What does she think she's doing? She's gonna give herself away!"

"At ease, Corporal," said Cage. "People still alive in here deserve to know. Let's get inside that hall and kick some ass."

My team and I walk through the entrance into the hall and see ConDef troops rounding up students down on the floor. Catching one of them with a radio in her hand. Had to be the orientees Nelson referred them as. They all begged for mercy with their hands in the air and guns trained down on them. The institute's security who were protecting the students had been shot and killed. Leaving the students defenseless from the ConDef assailants.

As soon as we caught a perfect glimpse of the enemies and hostages with enough light, there were two hostages in the room I instantly recognized from Blackwell. A geeky girl with glasses and a ponytail with a strip of hair dye colored and a boy with brown hair and a dorky face. Lo and behold, more old friends from Arcadia Bay. Warren Graham and Brooke Scott.

"Warren!" I shouted out.

"David?!" He shouted back. Turning his head to me with recognition.

"Weapons free!" Cage ordered.

We all shot down the enemy troops round up Warren and the others avoiding friendly fire. But the enemies we shot down weren't alone. More ConDef were reinforcing around the hall and we had to keep them at bay away from the students.

"All civilians, clear the hall!" Cage instructed to the students. "Valor, keep them away from the students at all cost!"

The students including Warren and Brooke found some cover and shelter away from the speeding bullets as we laid down fire on the ConDef resistance. Cayce, Flint, and I take cover on one side of the hall. Kristine and Cage take cover on the other. Killing all the enemy infantry inbound. Too bad the fight was going to get uglier with stronger foes aside.

Tangos with thruster packs skidding across the room like lightning were advancing past the standard infantry. What was worse than fighter strikers alone was fighting them in dark corners. Luckily, our flashlights weren't the only light source. There were some lamps ConDef laid across the hall to light the area. Making it easier to pinpoint both striker and infanty. We were getting a little used to fighting deadlier foes like strikers, we knew where to hit them before zooming next to our cover with the best shooting reflexes possible.

As soon as the room was culled of hostiles making every infantry and striker a corpse, I make the finishing shot on the last hostile to secure the hall and give the students the all clear. They came out of their covering shelter once we signaled them out. It would appear the world couldn't keep me apart from Blackwell with this war undergoing.

"Suzy said she was putting out an SOS!" Warren laughed. "I had no idea the king of the Blackwell cops would show up!"

"Unbelievable," said Brooke. "First David Madsen confiscates all the drones I fly around the school and now he brings the Calvary at our service. Such a small world we live in, don't we?"

"You know these guys?" A boy asked Brooke and Warren.

"We know one of them," said Warren. "The guy in the stash. He used to be our chief of security at our old high school."

"Better make that two of them," said Brooke. "Since one of them looks to be the sister of Nathan Prescott."

Kristine blushed at Brooke's recognition. I couldn't imagine someone like Brooke would know Kris so well, but probably knew of her when her brother was still around.

My team and I approach Warren and Brooke with a happy grin on my face. Delighted to save more Blackwell lives since Victoria Chase and friends in San Francisco.

"Warren Graham," I said with a smile. "You were always the likeable of the Blackwell bunch."

"Oh, come on, David," said Warren. "A punched the living fuck out of Nathan Prescott the day he died after being attacked by him in a parking lot. I can't be that likeable."

"I wouldn't say that out loud to his sister," said Kristine. Almost offended by Warren's story.

"I know what you did, son," I said. "But I've laid aside my differences with the Prescott name since serving with one. It'd be time you'd do the same."

"I recognize you," said Cage. Referring to Warren. "You are from Blackwell. I've seen you before with David's step-daughter Chloe. Back during that foundry incident with Sean Prescott three years ago. The same week during Max Caulfield's trial and after the shooting."

"Ya had to bring that up," said Brooke.

"I was a Blackwell kid before too, you know," said Cayce. "It would appear this war inevitably can't keep us apart from Blackwell. Just kicking it old school."

"I guess saving Blackwell lives is the best part about this war," said Flint. "Because those are the lives that must matter the most, right?"

"So, what's your angle in wearing a Chrysalis uniform?" Warren asked. "You gonna lead troops into battle? Check the perimeter?"

"We're here to rescue you," I said. "We also have a little mission of our own as well, but as of right, what's important is that we get you to safety."

"Lynch to Valor Team, I've got ConDef aircraft inbound."

"How long have we got?" I asked.

"Two minutes tops, Commander. After that, there's no way we'll get past them."

"Get the chopper away from here. We'll find another way off this campus."

"Roger that, sir. Good luck."

"Madsen to Nelson. The students are safe, but the choppers are a no-go."

"Understood," said Nelson on her comm. "I might know a safe place for them to land, but I need campus wide camera access. Can you disable the ConDef security override? I believe it's placed in one of our server rooms across the labs."

"How does camera access get us off this campus?"

"There's a courtyard on the rear of this facility. If I can get proper access, I should get a visual on the activity going on there to make sure it's safe for helicopters. Give me back the cameras and I'll find a path to the courtyard that'll keep ConDef from boxing you in."

Before my team and I could move forward into the facility to get to the server room, I came to check on the students for safety. We couldn't just leave them here. They were going to need protect. Perhaps I could send in Captain Desean's men in to help?

"Hey, let me know when we got a new way off this station," said Warren.

"How did you and Brooke end up in this mess?" I asked.

"How do you think? We were just a bunch of young adults sitting down in the assembly room for orientation one moment. The next soldiers with auto-rifles were shooting up the place and rounding up hostages including us. They were saying something earlier about taking us in to do their dirty work. Like any of us know how to do that. We're new here."

"How did you end up before the raid? What brings you here?"

"Brooke and I thought about transferring to the MIT for a better future and this is how we're rewarded. I initially came here for the new Rare Earth Element classes they've been setting up. I promised Brooke it'd be a better place for her too. I think we might've overheard those ConDef bozos bringing up subject related to what I came here to major in. A lot talk about the Eternium project. Maybe that's why they're here?"

"Eternium project? You know about that?"

"Sure do. Brooke and I were just sitting down in the assembly room almost six hours ago where it was being presented before ConDef shot up the place. I believe Dr. Brainer was the name of the project's curator. He's also the instructor of Rare Earth Elements. I can't tell if he's still alive in this building or not."

"Where have you, Brooke, and the others been from when it started until now?"

"As soon as the goons with guns came shooting at everyone, we ran out of the assembly room as fast as we could. Not a lot of people got out of there without being shot and killed. When the panic crowds died down, we got caught by soldiers with guns were gonna ruse us up and take us to a room to hold us hostage. Not gonna lie, I was pissing my pants the whole time. And Brooke was screaming for mercy. We were stuck with those crazy fucks for hours.

"And how did you end up in this hall?"

"We got rescued the institute's security. They helped make a break for it until ConDef killed them in this hall and recaptured us. You probably saw them get shot on the way in here. You and your team kick ass defending us. Especially with those guys in the jetpacks zooming across the hall."

"I'm glad we got a chance to talk."

"Yeah, yeah. Whenever you got a way out of here, my guys and gals will get ready to move."

I picked up my comm to radio Desean for backup.

"Madsen to Desean," I said. "We found the students taken hostage, but they're gonna need protection if we're gonna proceed with the mission. Can you send backup?"

"That's a negative, Madsen," replied Desean. "We're still being kept away from the snipers. And we've got reports of enemy helos making a patrol around the building. Unless the way you came inside is safe."

"If it wasn't safe, Captain, we wouldn't have accomplished our first task. Just take the sewer access west of the facility. No one should catch your team there."

"Wilco, Commander. I'll send a team in right away for civilian escort. Desean out."

Note: So not only is Captain Spirit coming out in three days, but Life Is Strange 2 has been officially announced with the first episode releasing this September! I look forward to playing the prelude to LIS2 in a few days from now as I do playing the second season as I do keep writing the story that will finish Max's story the way it was meant to. I'm also seeing Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom tonight which as been receiving some mixed reviews as of late compared to Incredibles 2. I'll see how I feel about the movie when I see it.

Until next time, stay tuned and golden!