Chapter 23 Dirty Little Secret
David
July 21st, 2017
3:57 AM
Canyon Springs, Idaho
Canyon Springs Christian Church
After my team and I left with Kate and family, we had arrived at the church on an APC truck where we rode with the Marsh family. When we all got off the truck, there were already dozens of Chrysalis troops gathered at the church with civilians inside standing by for evacuation. As soon as my team and I separate from the family, we see Cage and the other half of the team gathered with soldiers surrounding a body of a deceased Chrysalis trooper mounted on a stretcher. Everyone seemed to be in mourning about it.
When I stepped into the crowd next to Cage, I could see two men mounting the body and lifting it on both sides of the stretcher to carry the body and take it away. I could see a woman crying in the distance next to another soldier comforting her. Must be related to the dead man in uniform perhaps.
"He was running recon," said Cage. "Alone."
"Who's that woman over there?" Cayce asked. "The one crying?"
"A wife," said Mason. "The man you saw being carried out just became a father no less than a month ago. He was a good veteran to her."
"Listen up!" Cage called out. "In Chrysalis, our job is to defend the innocent from quantum terrorism and the only way we're gonna do that is by sticking together."
"Nobody's expendable," I said.
"Exactly. Now each and every one of you may be ready to die for our cause, but it is my job to make sure we all get through this alive. No one gets left behind. Not on my watch. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" Everyone replied.
"Heard, give us the update," asked Cage.
"Yes, sir," she complied. Heard pulled out her projector and projected a map screen on the ground of ConDef's offensive on the church. "ConDef is using guerrilla tactics to cut off our evac. RPGs, snipers, strikers, you name 'em. And soon they'll be infantry advancing on the church with ground vehicles as well. We won't have the combat capacity to fend off either. So we'll need our little AC-130 up in the air to clean up the town when ready."
"Alright, you know the drill. We split into the three teams. Move out!"
"You got it!" A soldier said.
"Yes, sir!" Another soldier said.
Everyone disbanded and marched to their post. Including Mason, Heard, and Newblood. Except for Cage, my team, and I to have a few words.
"I don't like this Captain," said Flint. "These poor people are defenseless and we don't have the numbers to protect them."
"I know your nervous, Greenhorn," said Cage. "But the team's got everyone's back. Capecchi?"
"Yes, sir. I'll give this everything I've got."
Cage smiled and gave the private a pat on the back and left. When Kristine, Logos, and I are out of the way, Flint looked at Cayce asked him a rhetorical question.
"Is he always this awesome?" Flint asked.
There was no answer from Cayce. He only shook his head and walked off with us while Flint kept up behind him.
Outside the church, there were defenses set up in front. Turrets mounted, sandbags stacked, barbwire built around, and friendly infantry standing guard. I was still worried about Kristine and her secret I was keeping from everyone for her. Knowing we'd all be court-martialed for secrecy, I had to trust my gut and do this for the only Prescott I ever called a friend in my life. For better or for worse.
Inside the church, there were people taking refuge sitting down with families in the sanctuary and soldiers at guard. I tell Kristine and Cayce to find something that could help us find that secret script hidden in the church somewhere. I tell Logos and Flint to group up with Cage and the other half of Valor Team to help with the refugees. When walking around the chapel for clues to get to the script, I run into people my team and I helped along the way. Such as the old man Kristine helped when he was shot by the ConDef squad.
"It's you," said the old man as I approached him in his seat in the sanctuary. "I know you. You were with that team who found me at my home. That young lady of yours is a life saver. I never correctly thanked you for getting me here safely."
"Its how my team works, sir," I said. "I don't believe we've properly introduced ourselves when we first met. Commander Madsen. Fireteam Valor. You can call me David. The woman who helped you was Lieutenant Prescott. You can call her Kristine."
"Name's Aris. And tell Kristine she's the reason I can now rest easy and pray to the lord for my security. I love coming to this church every Sunday. Its peaceful and it gives me hope to see my late wife someday."
"It's my pleasure, Aris. I've got a wife and step-child I'm fighting for back home that I hope to see again. I hope you find peace here."
"As you were, David."
Sooner or later, I may no longer be addressing Kristine as Lieutenant if her secret was ever exposed. As long as my lips were sealed tight enough, that should keep me and the team out of trouble long enough. I spot Ben and Ida in the church somewhere and approach them to talk to them. Glad the team we sent could get them here too.
"I can't thank you enough for getting us here safely," said Ida. "I don't know how we could've done it without you."
"We wouldn't have," said Ben. "Next thing I know if it weren't for you, ConDef would've discovered us and killed us like wild animals."
"I'm glad the rescue team could get you here," I said. "I did tell you two you'd be safe here and I proved myself right."
"And you've proved myself wrong. Guess this rumor wasn't so much of a rumor after all. And we've got Father Richard with us now. I don't you've correctly introduced yourself back in our basement."
"Commander Madsen. Fireteam Valor. But you can call me David if you please."
"God bless you, David," said Ida. "And thank you for getting Father Richard and his family here too. His daughter Kate is a sweet girl here at the church. His other daughters too. And his wife Mary I talk to a lot too."
"I've got a history with Kate," I said. "I've only just met the family. I hope Chrysalis takes good care of you two."
"Certainly, David," said Ben.
I spot Kate Marsh and her sisters sitting down between one another by the podium in front of the chapel's sanctuary. I bet an old Blackwell attendee could sure use some comfort from a man who used to stalk her and take photos of her around campus. In fact, this is my greatest opportunity to sincerely apologize for the way I acted around her. I take a breath and approach the three Marsh sisters to talk.
"I never thanked you, David," said Kate. "For saving our lives back in the basement. We were stuck down there for hours with almost no sleep, my dad almost shoots you, and now our prayers are answered."
"Isn't this the guy who stalked you at Blackwell?" The sister named Lynn blunted.
"Lynn, you're talking to a Chrysalis soldier," the sister named Laura reminded her younger sister. "Show some respect!"
"Sorry," apologized Lynn.
"In fact, Kate," I said. "After all these years, I never even publicly apologized for how I acted out on you during my duties on campus. Consider this my sincerest apologies."
"David, I don't blame you for how you acted in front of me years ago," admitted Kate. "But I once told Max I believed in forgiveness and redemption. I could say the same for you."
"I had my suspicions for you getting into dirty Vortex Club activities and I was wrong to. Every day feels like yesterday since I ran inside the dorms past that crowd watching you about to drop fifty feet on top until I saw Max with you. All because of me."
"Shut up. None of what I did that day is on you. It's on Nathan who drugged me and Jefferson who kidnapped me. In a Chrysalis uniform, you're my everyday hero now."
"I'm a poor judge of character is who I am. But I'm also a good commander in the corps too. So, what's your story in all this misery? And what brings a kid like you all the way from Arcadia to Canyon?"
"My family and I moved here three years ago for our pilgrimage after I graduated. We decided we belonged to the Canyon Church Community and we took it. As for how we got into this mess, it wasn't pretty. I honestly got that same feeling I had when Chrysalis raided Blackwell. We were eating super until we found our neighbors being rounded up outside by those ConDef animals. Dad hid us all in the basement until help came. Our parents woke us up when they heard gunfire outside the house. They knew someone was shooting at someone. And it didn't sound like executions. It sounded like fighting. Then we heard the noise of a helicopter crashing and exploding. Got to assume it was you and your team. What's your story now? And how did you get into Chrysalis?"
"After Arcadia Bay was under martial law and volunteering during Triple 4, it made me interesting in joining the Chrysalis Marines. Though I swore to myself I'd never return to the army, I made agreements with Joyce and Chloe for a more ambitious career than Blackwell Security or the ABPD. And so here I am. Boots on the ground again. As I've always said, once a soldier, always a soldier."
"Isn't that an understatement?"
"I knew you and your family were living in that house from the second I found your room, Kate. You all deserve a better world than this. I'm gonna have a few words with your mother and father now. Take care."
"You too, David. God bless you."
Kate and her family deserved to be as far away from a war zone as the eye could see. I'll be fucked if I have to watch more families die of suffering. Just like Seattle. I approach Richard and Mary posted by the podium with their children to speak.
"Thank God in heaven you brought me and my family here when you could," said Richard. "These people have suffered more than they could."
"And we're glad Chrysalis made the refuge for everyone before we could," said Mary. "I think people feel safer now with their pastor here to run the show. Something you need?"
"My team and I are looking for a hidden script we were told could be here," said David. "ConDef is after it too and we're not leaving here without it. Would you happen to know any secrets hidden here?"
"Secrets?" Richard thought. "There are no secrets here in this church. Not kept from us, no. But I think I heard a rumor about this place of a hidden altar that one's been in for ages. That's the best knowledge I have to offer."
"We'll be observant. Keep these people safe here, Richard. Have them start praying if you have to."
"Lord be with you, Commander Madsen."
"David, you still with us?" Cayce asked on his radio. "I think we found something in this church."
"What is it?" I responded. "What you find?"
"Kristine, Cage, and I found some kind of hidden door in the office of this church. It could take us to what we need. The rear of the sanctuary. You can't miss it."
"On my way."
I marched to the little office in the rear of the sanctuary and found Cayce, Kristine, and Cage standing next to what appeared to be a hidden entrance next to the desk. Covered by some plywood and went underground. I stepped between to look for myself.
"What do we got?" I asked.
"What we got is a little door hidden in here that must be hiding our objective," said Cage. "But there's a keyhole locking it. Any ideas?"
"Richard said there was a hidden altar here. Maybe that door takes us to it."
"Well," said Cayce. "We're not getting inside until we find the key. Unless someone's wanting to bust the lock open, we can't get in."
"I can try using my lockpicks if it helps," said Kristine. "Allow me."
Unfortunately, Kristine's lockpicking skills weren't as exemplary as she figured and we didn't have time to wait for Ms. MacGyver. The key was either hidden in here or with the owner. Having no time to find out, Cayce pulled out his pistol, shoved Kristine aside, and shot the lock open. Then Cayce lifted the secret hatch open revealing the secret passage to the possible hidden altar Richard spoke of that was a rumor here. Here's hoping the rumors are true.
"Who wants to go first?" Cayce asked.
My lieutenant, captain, and I frowned at him. Giving him the stink eye for the kind of question he asked. Making him go first.
"Fair enough," said Cayce.
As Cayce and Kristine went before me, Cage decided to stay behind and leave it to us.
"I'll go babysit the locals with the others," said Cage. "You princesses enjoy yourselves down that rabbit hole and find that script. Where that altar has to be too. That's an order."
"Yes, sir," I complied.
While Cage left to join the rest of Valor Team, I shut the hatch behind us and we turn on our flashlights in the dark underground passage. As soon as we do, Cayce reaches for his gun and aims it at Kristine. Jumping the two of us and halting in our tracks. With a menacing frown.
"The fuck is your problem?" Kristine muttered.
"The fuck is my problem?!" Cayce blunted. "Did you two think I didn't overhear your private discussion in that basement? Did you really think you could keep secrets from us?!"
"Son of a bitch," I hissed and scratched my head.
"That's right! You Prescott shits still like to get your hands dirty using Chrysalis, don't you?"
"Cayce, put that gun down," begged Kristine. "Now!"
"She's one of them, Commander! One of those – those…"
"Herd of Whales members."
"Exactly! We can't let this traitorous bitch walk scot-free!"
"Keep your voice down, Corporal!" I snapped. "That's an order!"
"Pull up your sleeve," demanded Cayce.
"What?" Kristine thought.
"Pull – up – your – sleeve."
Kristine did what Cayce asked and exposed her dirty little secret. My corporal was not impressed.
"I fucking knew it," he said. "David, we need to tell them."
"No, Cayce," I said. "We don't."
"Commander, the team has to know. Betrayal doesn't go unpunished in Chrysalis."
"We are keeping this to ourselves. End of story."
"The hell it is."
"David, don't," warned Kristine. "We agreed not to tell them. You know what will happen to me if word gets out."
"Why should we trust her? Next thing I know she'll be standing in ConDef's shoes the second we walk out of this passage."
"This is bigger than ConDef, Cayce," said Kristine. "This is my family's heritage. Long before they started crapping ConDef's diapers."
"Yeah, but it's your heritage to take over the world too. Like when your dad turned on Max Caulfield and turned Arcadia Bay into a civil war between Chrysalis and activist. Or when we worked with Neo-Chrysalis and Derrick Crosby to-"
"Don't you ever bring up my dad again! Everything people have spat on my family for comes from him! Mark Jefferson, Nathan getting killed, Neo-Chrysalis, everything. My mom and I decided to help Chrysalis after the government defunct my family's foundation over everything my dad did all for the good of what the Prescotts once stood for. What the Herd of Whales once stood for. Long before the dark times in Arcadia Bay. You expose me to everyone, what's left of the family will once again be disgraced from its absolution."
"Well, that's just too bad, princess. You'll just have to live with that."
"Goddammit, Cayce!"
"Both of you, can it!" I barked. "I'm your commander. I get a say in this and I live with the consequences."
"What's it gonna be then, David?" Cayce asked. "We expose her or we risk this team's reputation for trial and dereliction?"
"You know what's the right thing to do, David," said Kristine. "Don't let my disloyalty of this team get in the way of your judgment. The choice is yours."
X/SQUARE/LM – EXPOSE KRISTINE
B/CIRCLE/RM – COVER KRISTINE
"We're keeping this silent, Cayce," I decided. "That is the final word."
"You won't regret this, David," said Kristine.
"Oh, we'll regret it sooner or later, Commander," said Cayce. "And when we do, we'll be holding you accountable."
"Noted, Corporal," I said. "Our mission stands. Let's get on with it and stand down. You had your orders."
Note: So it's been a busy couple of weeks for me in college, replaying all of LIS before the second season is out, and recovering from my mourning of Telltale's demise over the weekend. There may be hope for TWD's final season to be complete yet, though. Apologies for the week's long hiatus. I did warn you all it'll be slower, but I trust I've got my schedule straight as I always do. This episode of Eternity War should be complete in the coming weeks sometime in October before Halloween approximately. So just sit tight and thank you for your patience. I'll be playing the first episode of LIS2 tomorrow when I can! Enjoy the premiere, everyone!
Until next time, stay tuned and golden!