Chapter 28 Hearts Still Broken
Max
July 21st, 2017
5:03 PM
Rome, Italy
Rome Times Hotel
Bryan had driven us back to our Hotel on the jeep. It took the five of us over an hour to drive from the crash site all the way back to the Hotel we were staying at. Uncle Bryan parks the 4x4 on the curb and we all hop on out. Returning to our room through the lobby and up on the elevator. But before we stepped inside, we all needed to discuss what happened, what we've found, what we've learned, and our next move.
"Alright," said Alex. "I think the coast is clear."
"I just texted Kristen," said Rachel. "Said Fernando's gonna make a full recovery sooner than expected."
"Yeah," I said. "Alright."
I pulled out my journal to review what Bryan, Rachel, and I discovered back at the Colosseum. Showing Alex the sketch drawing of the Herd of Whales motto in Latin.
"Sit autem omnis grex dirigendos pedes nostros," I read. "This looks like a simple cipher."
"May the herd guide us all," said Alex. " It's their damn motto. All the herd references. I can't believe we missed it."
"It's a great thing the two of you made it out okay," said Bryan.
"Way better than okay. We found Meridian Prime."
Alex laughed.
"Mer – Meridian what?" Frank asked.
"Meridian Prime," I said. "Seems Ezra discovered Arthur's holy island and founded the legendary herd colony there."
"It's more of a herd utopia really," said Alex.
"Okay," said Frank. "But what about the shards?"
"See, as the story goes, this place provided a safe haven for hundreds maybe even thousands of herd descendants. Even used as refugee base when World War I broke out. And they shared everything. Property, resources-"
"Money?"
"And they kept it all one common herd building."
"Okay," said Rachel. "So, where is this…commie herd sanctuary?"
"Right here," I said.
I pointed the place out on the map we had that would be our next stop and showed it to everyone when we entered the lobby.
"That island," I pointed. "Just southeast of Rome."
We all exit the lobby and take the discussion in the elevator.
"And Joanna has a copy of this," said Rachel.
"Yeah," I said. "Well, by the time Joanna figures it out, we'll be well on our way to Meridian Prime."
We take the elevator up the floor of our room, get out, walk down the hall, and enter our room with the room key in my fingers. Upon entry, an uninvited guest had already arrived in time to discover the truth I've hidden from her for two weeks. My feet are frozen. My guts are tickling. My heart is racing. My face is paling. And everyone else freezes behind me too.
"Those shards and that ark is as good ours – shit," I said entering the room and hearing the door close behind me.
And there she is. Snooping at all our gear, maps, books, journals, weapons, and everything else we left behind lying around the room's desks and beds.
"How's the Vancouver job going, Max?" Chloe asked. "Seems like you're a hair off course."
And you've just won the Dumbest-Decision-Of-Your-Life of the Year award Max. Encore, Caulfield. Encore. Now you've done it. Now there's finally hell to pay for the lies you've told her all this time. No sign of my parents to scold me about this, though. Every sign of your girlfriend ready to spank you across the cheek for whatever bullshit excuse is the meaning of this.
"Chloe," I said. "Its…its not what it looks like."
"Really," hummed Chloe. "Because what it looks like is that your searching for King Arthur's Ark of Genesis. And the Eternity Shards that balance the universe. Using Ezra Prescott notes of his travels. And given the circumstances of the ConDef soldiers all over the city, I'd bet your not the only ones looking for them. So you're gonna have to be a better liar than that if you think you can outsmart me again."
"Alright, well, I…I guess its kinda what it looks like. But – but I can explain. Look, its gonna sound crazy."
"Try me."
"Well, for starters, um…this is Alex. Alex Caulfield. My cousin."
"Hi," said Alex.
"And this my uncle," I said. "Brian. Bryan Caulfield."
"Evening," said Bryan.
"I don't know if you recall," I said. "But we have shared paths with the two of them before. Back during that camping trip to the Tillamook we had when we were kids. Back when your dad was alive."
Chloe's face looked like it was about to meltdown. She then caught sight of Rachel and Frank standing behind me. With apologetic frowns. Now Chloe's learned they were in on this too.
"I'm sorry," said Rachel.
"I – I thought Alex had died back in Seattle," I continued. "Before I moved back to Arcadia Bay."
"I need to-" Chloe spoke before I cut her. Stepping back to the desk.
"But I was obviously very wrong. She's been trying to find me for five years and its because of me. And now we're helping Chrysalis with their war efforts by finding those shards and that ark to turn the tide around. But that's the good news. We found them. Or at least knew where they were before and now we just have to get to the ark. It's on an island just off the coast."
"Okay," said Chloe. "Just stop. Was there…ever…a Vancouver job?"
"I-"
I don't even know what to say anymore to Chloe. My words have run dry. And now the former punk herself is about to water her ears out. All because of me. And this is where Chloe marches away from me and towards the door of my room. With a tear ready to roll down.
"Okay," she hissed.
"C'mon," I said. "C'mon, wait. Chloe, wait!"
"None of you fucking learn, do you?"
"Look, I wanted to tell you-"
"Shut the fuck up, Max!"
"No, I wanted to! Just don't say that!"
"Don't say what, Max?! Haven't we been through enough in our lives to let shit like this happen? Have we?"
"The question is how do I tell you about this shit that has already happened?"
"I don't know, Max? Maybe just say it?!"
"I had to protect you!"
"That's a fucking lie, Max! As usual, no one including yourself has the audacity to keep me from being let down. Again. This is getting so old with all of you."
"I knew you would react like this."
Chloe opened her jaw, raised her brows, and gasped.
"Do you know how much I get tired of people saying that to me?! You lied to me! For weeks! If you were killed, I – I wouldn't have even known about it! And now you have a cousin. And an uncle."
Chloe's eyes are now puffed and soaked with tears. I know now that she's been more hurt than she's ever been in. Thanks to me.
"Who are you?" She whispered. "What are you? I'm not even sure if I know you anymore."
"Come on," I said. "I'm me. C'mon, it's me. You of all people should note that I've been a complicated person since Arcadia Bay. And I still am. But it's different this time. More different than it's ever been."
"Oh, my god."
"I'm Chrysalis's only hope to winning this war. I don't even care about the shards. Nor the ark. Just that I help everyone the way I did back during Triple 4."
"The look on your face when you walked into this room, I knew you hadn't changed since Triple 4. If you're done lying to me, then you should stop lying to yourself. I got a plane to catch. You do what you have to do. And good luck explaining this to your parents when they know too."
Chloe steps out of the room and leaves me to do my thing. I cover my eyes with a sigh of shame. Then I walk to the desk with our stuff to get back to work. Now I still have my parents to confess to. Maybe Chloe will confess for me.
"Hey," said Rachel. "Hey, what are you doing? Go after her."
"We're not done here," I said.
"Well, maybe we should be. I tried to tell you, Max. You knew this would happen. You knew she was gonna find out one way or another and look where the two of you are at now."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying maybe there's a smarter way to help with this war."
"Such as?"
"Such as we give Chrysalis intel on what ConDef is really doing for their cause of this war. I still have contacts in Chrysalis and we can-"
"Chrysalis doesn't even know that half of what ConDef really wants. We haven't even done the half of what we're supposed to do and you want Chrysalis to hold our hands now?"
"Okay, fine. You go after your girlfriend. Alex, Frank, Bryan, and I will head off for Meridian Prime."
"Without me? Come on, you'll get all of you killed."
"Really? Max, I've had more experience with this kind of thing more than you've had. I think I might be able to handle-"
"Hey, you want to be helpful, Rachel? Go keep on eye your ex-girlfriend. If not my ex-girlfriend."
Rachel didn't say anything else. I go through more of our stuff to keep my attention fixed on our next move. Then Rachel decided to respect my wishes and leave with Frank.
"Whatever you say," replied Rachel. "Come on, Frank. We got an old reprobate to look after."
Frank shook his and walked with his girlfriend. The two of them leave the room, shut the door on the way out, and knock themselves out to check up on Chloe. Bryan felt bad for making his niece go through this and wanted to make up for it in any way possible.
"I really don't think you girls should do this on your own," said Bryan. "Its best we stick together on this."
"If you'd like to make up for making me and Chloe go through this," I said. "Maybe you should give her a ride home. On the plane."
"Exactly how are you going to get to Meridian Prime without the plane? It's too dangerous for you and Alex to be traveling out there alone."
"We'll take a boat to the island. And I'll be one-hundred and ten percent sure not to get Alex killed, Uncle Bryan. The two of us just survived worse."
Before Bryan left the room, I paused him for a discussion he still yet owed me.
"By the way," I said. "You still owe me that discussion about our descendence to the Herd of Whales."
Bryan glanced at me in silence. And before we walked out, this was his answer.
"The next time we see ourselves eye to eye," he begins. "I will tell you every last detail. That is my final word. Be careful out there, Max. Same goes for Alex. I will be sure you friend Chloe is returned home."
As soon as Bryan leaves, it's just me and Alex who are left in the room. Surely, Alex must feel like shit blaming herself for dragging me down here, but I couldn't blame her. It was a terrible choice I made keeping this from Chloe and have to live with the consequences for it. I knew this was all coming and now I have to prepare my confession for Mom and Dad when the time was right.
"Need a hand with anything?" Alex asked.
"I got it," I replied. "Just pack your bags. We leave first thing in the morning."
Alex walks out of the room through the patio door and decides to take a smoke out there. I stay indoors and glace over the map pinned on the wall. With my relationship I may have just torn for this, I could think less about our next task and more about hearts still broken.
I'm Max Caulfield and tomorrow I set sail for Meridian Prime and help my world win this war. As both time traveler and time warrior. That indeed.
Unsteady – X Ambassadors
Back on the Oregon, David was in the men's locker room and took the photo of him, Joyce, and Chloe in it that was stashed in his locker. The one that was taken years ago in the backyard of his old home in Arcadia Bay. Thinking about his wife on the refugee deck and his step-daughter back in Portland. Unaware of Chloe's whereabouts in Rome looking for Max. Almost aware of Max's possible involvement in the war.
David had sat down by his locker staring at the picture and thinking about the terrible revelation of his Lieutenant he had learned today. Hoping he wouldn't regret his decision to keep it from Valor team and Admiral Penske. Cayce was in the locker room with David searching through his locker too. As well as thinking about his CO's decision to hide Kristine's truth and still resenting upon it.
Kristine was in the women's locker room ready to hit the showers. But as soon as she was taking her gear, clothes, and bikini off, she stopped and noticed her Herd of Whales mark exposed on her arm. Glancing at it in the mirror. Fearing for her privacy and secrecy to be hidden in a cleverer manner. She had considered covering it with makeup if she had any. Before anyone else discovered it. Valor Team and Admiral Penske especially.
Joyce, the Amber couple, and Caulfield couple were in their triage tent socializing with one another. James received a text on his phone from his daughter that read:
Rachel: I'm coming to the Oregon with Frank. See you there.
Ryan received a text message on his phone from Chloe that read:
Chloe: Max lied about the job.
Chloe: She's helping Chrysalis with the war.
Chloe: And she's got a cousin and uncle.
Ryan was shocked and lit with a pale face at the message he received. Even more shocked to see the words cousin and uncle on the third text box. His niece had had thought to be long dead since and his brother he had not seen in ages. Ryan showed the text to his wife Vanessa to break it to her as well.
As the Marsh family were lined up in the security terminals for refugee checks, Kate turned her head towards old and familiar friends of hers she used to know at Blackwell academy who were already stationed in the sanctuary and socializing with each other. Warren, Brooke, Steph, and not to mention Victoria and her Vortex gang all banded together. Warren was the first to catch sight of Kate in line with her family. Warren made sure all eyes were on Kate and they all smiled and waved at her to welcome her. Hoping she would join them. Kate put her smile on and returned the wave. Surprised to see some old faces roll out her red carpet.
Captain Cage sat in the Mess Hall with Lieutenant Major Heard for a drink after a long night in Canyon County. The two of them sat at a bar counter to drink for a date. Since Cage's loss of his family to the storm in Arcadia Bay, he had been dating Heard every once in a while. When the opportunity was right. A romantic relationship that made Cage cope with his loss easier over the years. The soldier couple smiled face to face, had a toast for the mission, and drank up their shots liquor.
Admiral Penske stood outside on the flight deck of his aircraft carrier. Gazing at the sun rising above the edge of the world that was the Pacific Ocean. Dean Nelson from the MIT approached her old High School friend turned Admiral outside to join him. The two gave each other smiles and Nelson leaned against Penske's arm for comfort. As Penske took his hat off and enjoyed the heart-warming moment with Nelson together.
Back in Rome, Chloe sat down near a bench at the Rome Ciampino Airport where Bryan's plane was allowed to dock. Covering her face and breaking down in tears about the awful truth Max had hidden from her for the past two weeks since she left Portland. Rachel sat down next to her for comfort. Chloe rejected her and snapped at her with a menacing face. Feeling betrayed for the last time by Rachel who had been covering for Max the whole time. Frank and Bryan stepped in to see them butting heads. Feeling sorrowful for the two of them.
Fernando was lying down in his hospital bed at the Rome American Hospital. Where his leg was wrapped around in a cast and hooked upward. And where his girlfriend Kristen sat in his room next to his hospital bed. Comforting him and supporting him till he was recovered enough to exit the hospital. Kristen had informed Fernando that Rachel and the others were prepared to leave Rome with a new companion by the name of Chloe. And that Max and Alex will be on their own to help with the war efforts from here forward.
General Alkaline sent in a search party towards the cargo plane's crash site. Alkaline himself with the party investigated the crash with flashlights and weapons at their disposal. Scanning the area through fires, dumped cargo, and totaled vehicles. Upon the search, Alkaline and his men could only find two survivors they dragged out of a totaled truck. Which her his two closest Lieutenants. Tie and Beluga.
At the Colosseum, as soon as the tours were closed for the damage done, Joanna snuck in and stepped inside the bell tower. Seeing the fallen bell that had collapsed right on top of the secret stairwell. She turned her head upward to where the bell had collapsed from. Frustrated that her adversaries had gotten away with the Eon Codex. But not with the Reality Shard.
Ares was now glancing down towards the city of Rome with his dragon. Upon a hillside where he could overlook the entire city itself. He stared down at his Eternity Gauntlet. Pleased to see the Reality Shard now in its slot. Four down, two to go. Then he could balance the universe in half. And then Ares's dragon let out an enormous roar over the hillside where the people of Rome could hear Ares. And the world as we know it could fear Ares.
The Eternity War was far from over. But today, Ares is closer to winning. And only the traveler herself Max Caulfield could stop that.
End of Episode 3!
Note: Will Max and Alex stop Ares from achieving his goal? Will David and Cayce win through their struggle against ConDef? Tune in next time for Episode 4: Paradise Lost to find out!
Well, guys, it's been a long five months writing the hell out of this long episode and I hope it was worth the patience. With college now in the way of things, my schedule with writing will no longer be as frequent. As explained before from the beginning of my Junior year in art school. But with mid-terms out of the way, let's just hope for the best.
Before I dive into episode 4 of Eternity War, I still have some other loose ends to tie with the final episode of The Lost Daughter mini-series for those following me. Be sure to tune into that episode as I will begin writing The Lost Daughter's finale that's been long overdue since. And even though it's become the weakest story of my fiction, it'll be a stronger episode than the last. I make no promises. Only obligations.
Until next time readers, stay tuned and golden! Piece! ;)
P.S. Wanted "Youth" by Daughter for the ending song, but chose a different good song by X Ambassadors instead. And I actually used that song for the ending to episode 1 of After the Storm and it was also used for the ending song to episode 2 of Before the Storm. Guess you can't use the same song three times? Oh, well.
Life Is Strange: Eternity War
Episode 3: The Great Journey
Voice Cast
Max Caulfield… …Hannah Telle
Alex Caulfield… …Fryda Wolff
Chloe Price… …Ashly Burch
Rachel Amber… …Erin Yvette
David Madsen… …Don McManus
Cayce Foley… …Christopher Emerson
Kristine Prescott… …Laura Bailey
Joyce Price… …Cissy Jones
Frank Bowers… …Daniel Bonjour
Fernando Rojas… …Freddy Prinze, Jr.
Kristen West… …Kelley Crowder
Bryan Caulfield… …Brandon Keener
Ryan Caulfield… …Adam Harrington
Vanessa Caulfield… …Misty Lee
Warren Graham… …Carlos Luna
Victoria Chase… …Dani Knights
Kate Marsh… …Dayeanne Hutton
Steph Gingrich… …Katy Bentz
Freddy Mayne… …Daniel Kendrick
Gus Anthony... ...Bryce Papenbrook
Cpt. Clayton Cage… …Chris Fries
Lt. Jeb Mason… …Charles Parnell
Sgt. Andrew Newblood… …Nick Boulton
Sgt. Carlos Logos… …Alex Hernandez
Lt. Maj. Cheryl Heard… …Cindy Robinson
Lt. Amanda Lynch… …Emily O'Brien
Pvt. Flint Wheeler… …Jeff Schine
James Amber… …Patrick Finnerty
Rose Amber… …Kelly Handcock
Dean Suzy Nelson… …Lori Holt
Dr. Ethan Brainer... ...Joe Ochman
Richard Marsh… …Robert Clotworthy
Mary Marsh… …Rebecca Schweitzer
Lynn Marsh… …Louisa Mackintosh
Laura Marsh… …Brett Pels
Tie… …Gideon Emery
Elias Alkaline… …Simon Templeman
Adm. Gavin Penske… …Ron Perlman
Joanna Prescott… …Jennifer Hale
Atropos… …Marina Sirtis
Clotho… …Shohreh Aghdashloo
Ares… …Neil Kaplan
Written and Edited by
WickDaLine
Based on the characters by
Christian Divine
Zak Gariss
Music by
Henry Jackman
Jonathan Morali
Daughter
Soundtrack
Birch Tree – Foals
Unsteady – X Ambassadors
Special Thanks
Dontnod
Deck Nine
Square Enix
Christian Devine
Zak Gariss
Michel Koch
Luc Baghadoust
Raoul Barbet
Chris Floyd
Hannah Telle
Ashly Burch
Jonathan Morali
Daughter
tur1823
Xemtlenc
Stargazing Writer
and you!
Disclaimer
I do not own anything! This is a fan-written work of fiction and non-profitable. All rights belong to Dontnod, Deck Nine, and Square Enix. Thank you.
Next time on Life Is Strange: Eternity War…
Max and Alex drive their boat in the middle of a thunderstorm. Floating over huge waves of water picked up by the storm while ConDef boats were in pursuit of them.
David smokes a cigarette while sitting down in the trunk of a truck. Carrying his team and a bunch of resistance fighters who were fighting the war against ConDef in Beirut, Lebanon. As the truck was driving them all to the resistance base.