Chapter 25 Search and Rescue
Cayce
July 21st, 2017
4:15 AM
Canyon Springs, Idaho
Canyon Springs Christian Church
To think a Prescott could actually be trusted in Chrysalis. To think someone would be idiotic enough to put her mom as the CEO of Chrysalis too. And to think I was starting to grow on Kristine a little as well. Now since David had the final say to put a zipper on Kristine's secret from here on, who knows what will happen to her and us if word got out to anyone else? My money says a court-martial and fifty-year sentence in Quantum Prospekt. Leaving Valor Team defunct from duty and existence. On David's orders, I never brought up the secret again.
After threatening Kristine with my own pistol for her to be exposed to the team of her secret, the three of us reach down towards something strange in the dark tunnel under the church. A small room lit with candles and a strange statue in front. As well as a pedestal holding an old book. Must be an altar of some kind. Like I haven't seen one of these before.
"What is this place?" Kristine asked. Entering the room with us.
"I don't know," I said. "But I hope it's the place where we can find what we came here for."
David took a peek at the old book on the pedestal and according to the cover, it wasn't some half-priced family bible. The cover had a strange symbol on it shaped like a whale. The same symbol that was marked on Kristine's arm. Speak of the devil.
"I know that symbol," said Kristine. "The Herd of Whales. Like the one marked on my arm."
"Yeah," I said. "Like the one marked on your arm."
David opened the cover to the book and there laid on old note hidden on the rear of the cover. He picked it up and read the note himself.
"For those in the conflict of the same one my father failed to resolve years ago," he began reading. "Page 1,859 is the key to winning the next Eternity War against Ares. EPJ."
"EPJ?" Kristine thought. "I know those initials."
"How?"
"Those are Ezra Prescott, Jr.'s initials. An ancestor of mine from you-know-what."
"And what does your ancestor have to do with this?"
"Never mind her ancestor," I said. "What does page one-thousand-something say?"
David turned to the right page of the book to where the note said to turn. When he was at the right page, the text was written in a foreign language. The was another note on the page that read: "The text of this book is written in Greek. Find a translator to decipher. – EPJ".
"Great," I said. "We're supposed to speak Greek now. What do we do now?"
"Unless you want to spend thousands of hours on Google Translate deciphering this, Cayce," said Kristine. "We take this back to the Oregon and find someone who can."
"Cage to Madsen! Cage to Madsen! What's your location! Tell me you found what we're looking for!"
"We're in some kind of altar under the church," responded David. "We also found some strange book in here that may be our McGuffin out of here. It might take a little deciphering back on the Oregon to understand what it really is. What's your status?"
"SOS is our status! We got ConDef outdoors and we don't have the combat efficiency here to take them all on! We got our AC-130 supporting us, but they won't be online forever!"
"Are the refugees still safe inside?"
"Not in here they won't! We need you, Foley, and Prescott back here on the double! Orders are orders!"
"Just give us your location."
"Front of the church, second story! Topside! Hurry!"
Max
July 21st, 2017
3:02 PM
Rome, Italy
Rome Airstrip
I sneak my way past armed ConDef thugs and knock a few out to find where they were holding my cousin, uncle, and friends. And hope they haven't captured Chloe or anyone else absent from this trip too. Either way, I still owe Chloe a lot after this.
I come across another storage building in the middle of this airstrip to find who I'm looking for. I climb on top of some boxes to reach a window and get a look inside the building. When looking through the glass, I see Bryan, Rachel, and Frank tied up on the floor. But no Alex. At least no Chloe either. I open the window to call out for them.
"Bryan, Rachel, Frank!" I hissed. "Is that you?!"
"Max?!" Rachel hissed back. "You're alive!"
"Max!" Bryan hissed back. "Oh, thank heavens you're alright."
"Well, holy shit," said Frank. "Someone's still breathing."
"Stay there!" I ordered. "I'm coming down."
I climb through the window to help my friends and family. I carefully climb down a shelf as my stepping stone until I'm at the bottom. Then I approach the captives and untie them one by one.
"How did you find us?" Rachel asked. "We thought you were dead. What happened to you back there in the streets?"
"After I was drugged to death," I start explaining while untying Rachel. "I got holed up with Joanna and Alkaline. Then I was taken here to another storage room to be interrogated by Tie. I broke out and here I am finding you guys."
"Well, aren't you a fucking sight for sore eyes then," said Frank. "Maxine Caulfield, ever the survivor."
"Where's Alex?" I asked untying Bryan.
"They took her to a cargo plane headed for Beirut that'll be ready to take off here in any minute," answered Bryan. "And they've got the codex and the shard you found with them too. We have to hurry."
"How did you all end up here anyway?"
"Bryan and I were looking everywhere for you in those markets until Alkaline's men discovered us and captured us," said Rachel.
"And as soon as Alex and I were ambushed at the Ludus Magnus," said Frank. "They eventually caught us in their net."
"Did they hurt any of you?"
"A little," said Rachel. "Since we wouldn't talk, they said that they might find you more cooperative."
"That's what Tie told me back there in my warehouse. Guess I called his bluff. Asshole knocked me out flat."
"Who's Tie?" Frank wondered.
"One of Alkaline's right-hand men," said Bryan. "I think that was the same man who interrogated us too."
"Where's that cargo plane you said," I asked Bryan. "If Alex is there, we got no time to lose."
"Agreed. The plane should be docked on the runway not too far from. We have to move."
As soon as everyone was untied, we left the warehouse to find Alex and rescue her. During our search and rescue, we proceeded with caution past the guards and eventually found our way to the runway with cargo plane docked exactly where Bryan said it would be. The four of us climb over some containers to get a bird's eye view of the scene.
Bryan had binoculars with him to use to get a closer view. Scanning the runway until he spotted something that would peak our interest.
"What do you see, Bryan?" I asked.
"There," he pointed out. "See for yourself."
I take Bryan's binoculars and see what he sees. A convoy in the road to the runway where I see two jeeps and a truck, Tie and the other Lieutenant holding Alex captive with her hands tied, and Joanna and Alkaline confronting her. If they hurt her, I'll hurt them.
"It's Alex," I said. "They're loading her onto that convoy. And they've got the Eon Codex and Reality Shard acquired in they're fingers as well. Just like you said. Who's the other right-hand man with Tie?"
"Beluga," said Bryan. "Alkaline's other closest Lieutenant with Tie. I know Alkaline himself as well as Joanna are down there with Alex too."
"The real question is, how do we get to them? Any ideas?"
"I was hoping you'd have some ideas, Caulfield," said Rachel. "You're the one with the binoculars."
I take a better look around with the binoculars to find a way to rescue Alex. As soon as the convoy takes off, my plan was to steal one of the vehicles and chase after the convoy to get to Alex before they could reach the runway and cargo plane. There were also motorbikes parked nearby that could be useful too. Not the most stable vehicles to use, but they were faster.
"Okay," I said. "Here's a plan that might work. What do say one of us takes those jeeps and use them to chase after the truck they're carrying Alex in. There are also bikes parked to the side that one of us can drive too."
"Okay then," said Frank. "So who's driving what and what are our final options here? If you've got a plan, plan, Caulfield, spit it out and let's get on with it."
X/SQUARE/LM – DRIVE THE JEEP
B/CIRCLE/RM – DRIVE THE BIKE
"Alrighty," I said. "Rachel, I know you can drive a bike. Take one of those for a little back. I'll drive the jeep and Bryan and Frank can ride with me. Let's 'get' on with it."
"Amen," said Frank.
"Your plan may not be the greatest, Max," said Bryan. "But I know how you use your noggin. Sometimes better than Alex. Just as long as we're not reckless. I've put you and everyone else on this journey in enough danger as I already have."
"Be sure to tell my mom and dad that when they found out I lied to them about my new job," I said. "And my girlfriend Chloe, too."
As soon as Bryan and Frank move out, I stop Rachel for a moment to borrow her for a brief apology. Knowing Chloe was already in town looking for me, I know it was time for some sincerity with Rachel too.
"About earlier," I said. "I know you and Frank didn't ask for this, but neither did I. What matters now is that we save Alex and do this for her. If and when Chloe discovers this, you let me do the talking."
"I know you will, Max," said Rachel. "They only reason Frank and I are here is to look out for you when Chloe can't."
"Thank you."
Note: So if my calculations are correct, there are only three more chapters left to conclude this episode and then we're done! I'll be keeping this chapter short since the last three will be even bigger. Its been a difficult and busy time for me this year in college, but I'll take all the time I need for everyone's convenience including my own.
Until next time, stay tuned and golden!