Chapter XXX: An Echoed Refrain

AN:

Hey there, Fan-fic-folks!

Another two-chapter update today. This is the first of two. Penultimate chapter. Enjoy.

Thanks for reading and, as always, please review.

The seas were hard. Luckily it wasn't monsoon season, but still: Choppy and rough were the order of the next few days as we sailed across to Purgatory. I thought I'd be scared. Angry, maybe. But even without the Hunter, I felt nothing but a sort of feral delight. The promise of a Just Prey.

We were just coming up on the start of the second week of travel when we finally came upon land. The Island seemed almost small on the horizon. I couldn't even make out the dozen or so smaller islands that were part of the Lian Yu chain. Chloe, because of course it would be Chloe, called out, "Land ho!"

Nathan, Brooke, and Stan came up from below deck and joined us by the wheel.

I pointed off to the right, where a few smaller islands sprawled out from the main chain. "We'll land on one of the North-most Islands. I have a place there. We can set up and start going through the plan."

Purgatory had never had much in the way of external defences. They liked the ease of having new test subjects wash up on shore, after all. But I guess after a boat made it to shore and took me home, that had changed.

Several long-gun emplacements swung slowly around to point in our direction, and I heard the distant crack of firing. "Fuck."

I really should've planned for this.

I don't really remember much of what happened next. Just vague flashes of fire and the rhythmic beat of distant shots. Then the boat going down and my desperate sprint for the storage downstairs.

Then nothing.

I awoke with a start, gasping and coughing, both arms wrapped around my box. Seeing the green wood and hearing the chirping from inside was a relief. I had no idea how they'd survived - or really, how I'd survived - but that was nothing new.

I pulled open the box and equipped myself to survive. None of the others had landed near me. The beach was eerily empty, besides myself.

I hopped to my feet and hoisted the box over my shoulder. I quickly hid it nearby and headed off. I had a team to find. And likely some more equipment to collect. Some of which really shouldn't be getting wet, so I really hoped the boxes had remained sealed.

I trotted along the beach for a while, looking for any obvious signs. I found a few more of our containers and took anything immediately useful while hiding the rest. It was oddly peaceful.

Brooke looked almost dead when I found her - she was breathing, but unconscious. I did my best to make sure she was okay before concealing her, too. I was no doctor, but there didn't seem to be anything wrong with her. Hopefully she'd wake up soon. We were closer to the Northwest of the chain - driven off course - so we'd have to walk a while to get to my safe place.

Or hell, maybe even there isn't safe anymore. I certainly didn't expect them to have actual cannons on the shore - anything could've happened.

It was still our best option, but I had to remember to be careful. Always important to take care, Max.

It took a while to find Stan. The man was - somehow - halfway up a damn tree, dozing lightly in the branches. I called up to him. He didn't respond, so I climbed up and called again, several inches from his face.

I caught him before he fully fell out of the tree. He looked at me, upside down. "Hi Stranger."

I nodded. "Stan. You're up a tree."

He blinked. "I guess I am."

I tilted my head. "Any idea how that happened?"

He thought for a minute, then shrugged. "Rising tide?"

It was oddly comical, upside down. I snorted and lowered him to the ground. "Brooke is in the bushes a little further that way. She's unconscious. Try move her and everything you can to one of the caves," I gave him quick directions to a spot along the route to Artemis' island. "I've recovered what I can, but I need to find Chloe and Caliban. We'll rejoin up there and move to my safe place when we're all recovered."

He nodded and started off back down the beach. I got back to my search.

It wasn't too long before I saw them - Prescott troopers, combing the beach. I took them out without too much bother, but the real stress came from finding their radio. Someone was reporting in, a successful capture and retrieval of a blue-haired suspect who was angry and belligerent enough to be sedated. They'd returned her to the mountain and were on their way back to help find the rest of us.

Fucking shit.

I never did find Nathan. I wasn't sure if he'd been captured like Chloe or just abandoned us or just drowned. I had to give up when the third platoon arrived to search - I went and reunited with Brooke and Stan and headed off to Artemis' island. We could rest and make our next moves from there.

The plan was fucked, but we were here. Step one. I wasn't sure how I felt about being back. Determined to finish this, but something else too. Another big change, after my months in Oregon. As I jogged along, lugging our few remaining resources and keeping watch on the forest, I thought back to those earlier moments.

*Flashback Begins*

Every part of me ached. That last battle had taken it out of me, and the days after without food were enough to make me weak. In the end, the boat had been a stroke of luck. It felt oddly right, that my plan would start off with it all nearly failing. But I was here. I'd made it. And now, I could get the lay of the land and establish my next moves.

Once I had a base, of course - a safe place for myself and my... passengers. I could feel the wriggling in my stomach lining. They'd need feeding soon. I couldn't keep them alive forever on myself alone.

The hospital lights were weird. I'd forgotten what fluorescents felt like. Ratigan didn't believe in them, said they harshed his work. The light was... purifying.

The room was just a little too cold, the ambient chill of machines. Oregon would take some getting used to again. The Indian Ocean was very, very different.

It was the window that grabbed my attention most though. Big open thing. Metaphorically open - the actual openable part was a tiny slice up at the top. It was locked. I was under observation.

But the outside. Trees and wilderness. It was a comfort I needed. So much of this plan was a risk, even moreso than the start. I stood up from the bed - too much - and walked over, laid my hand gently on the window.

And then she walked in. "Max?"

I turned to look at her. Wow. Her hair was... so blue. But it was her. Of course it was her. "Chloe?"

She strode forward and pulled me into a hug.

*Flashback Ends*

"Seriously?" I blinked away the black spots and glared at the over-fucking-done lab they'd tied me up in. I was even down on a metal slab-thing, at a weird angle from the wall. "Could you be more of a fucking bond villain?"

One of the goons guarding actually smirked at me. Fucker.

"When beginning an interrogation, Miss Price, it is important to... observe the formalities." A voice, strong and amused, breezed out from behind me. A man strode into view. The room changed - definitely the boss here. He was an older guy, but the kind who acted and moved like they were twenty years younger than they were.

"Interrogation?" I asked.

"Of course." He smiled. It was oddly... kindly? "You are a trespasser in our isolated island home. It's important to find out exactly what brings you to our shore."

"What do you think I'm doing here, dude?" I blurted, just a hint of trademark sarcasm and sass flooding through.

The man laughed. "I'm sure I don't know. But it is important for me to find out."

"Who are you, anyway? Only polite to tell people your name - you know mine."

"Ah." He almost seemed abashed. "Quite right, my apologies. I am Doctor Ratigan Moreau, head scientist and researcher of the Prescott Foundation."

Oh. This was Moreau? Dude was... not what I'd expected, from Max's stories.

"You're fucked."

A single eyebrow raise, and the man looked almost intrigued, "Oh?"

Just interest. No worry at all. Asshole.

I couldn't hold it in, the urge to bust this guy's smarmy shit in just... took over. The words came out before I could really think about them. "My friend is on the island, The Stranger, and she's gonna kick your ass. She already tore all you Prescott Fuckfaces a new one back in America and now she's gonna end you all here too."

Moreau immediately perked up. "Oh? Max is on the island?"

What?

He smiled. "How is she? Is she eating well? I was ever so worried about the metabolic demands of those last few upgrades."

"She's fucking great." I growled. "Stronger than ever, and ready to wreck your shit!"

"That is very good news. I'm so thrilled for her." The man leaned in, like a fucking anxious teen sharing a secret. "She always was my very best creation, you know? The M-series was so hard to perfect, but of course finding Max was... fated. An M for the M series, yes?"

He stepped back, and gave a polite nod, like an old guy thanking a waitress for bringing him some fucking tea. "I do appreciate your candor, Ms Price." He turned his head and spoke back to one of the goons. "Please send someone out to greet our Prodigal Daughter. I'm sure she'll be up at the old grove."

As the footsteps disappeared and the door closed, I swore to myself. Max would be able to beat any of these fuckers, right? Right?

Shit, my arms were starting to ache.

We settled quickly back into Artemis' grove. The complex system of treehouses and walkways was still in disrepair, leaving only the ramshackle shelters dotted around the floor of the grove. I dumped my green box onto a nearby stump and started unpacking my ammo-creatures, placing them into enclosures and collecting more from the grove around us.

Stan and Brooke were some help, but mostly sat quietly. It had been a lot closer a brush with death than either of them were used to, I think. I tried to ask, but Brooke told me to fuck off and Stan's stare never broke.

We'd been there a few hours now, and I was ready. I stepped out of my 'command centre' and went to find the others. We'd need to replan.

As I stepped out, two shapes met me. It was not Brooke, and it was not Stan. I hadn't seen either of them in a while, but I couldn't forget the two who'd hunted me so long. The Hound and his Mistress.

Both stood tall and armoured. Brent had an assault rifle clutched in his hands, pointed vaguely in my direction. Marianne had a sword at her side, but it was sheathed and she rested her hand loosely on the pommel.

"Max." She nodded.

"Marianne." I responded, simply. I nodded a greeting to the Hound. He just growled. The assault rifle stayed down though. "So, how've you been?"

She scowled. "The Island has been in uproar ever since your escape. It's been quite the headache for the both of us." The Hound nodded obediently.

"Sorry. I didn't mean for my destruction of the entire Prescott regime to cause any trouble." I smirked, just a little bit of Chloe and Rachel leaking into the smile.

Marianne scowled at me. "They've been fortifying the island ever since your escape. Anything to ward you off. It's been miserable."

I hmmed. "They're scared of me?"

"Old Man Prescott's been fraying at the edges, I'm sure you'll be glad to know." She gave me an accusatory glare. If nothing else, The Mistress had always been loyal. "He and Ratigan haven't spoken in months - the Doctor is always talking about his prodigal daughter. Everything is falling apart and it's your fucking fault."

I let myself smile, just a little too wide. "Good." I crooned. A few moments of silence passed as The Mistress and The Hound stared at me with mounting rage. Then I braced myself. "Right. Shall we do this then?"

"I suppose so."

There was a quiet pause, then the Hound started shooting. I dashed left, diving behind the cover of one of Artemis' prize trees. I breathed deep, feeling the adrenaline rush over me as my body morphed to battle.

Then the tree behind me began to creak. I leant low and dashed out again. I threw out one of the local ammo I hadn't been able to take with me - this thing was not something I could contain inside myself. A stunkz, with golden fur and a crackling black void behind its eyes. It burst into a cloud of gas that covered the centre of the grove. Both Marianne and the Hound started coughing - a break in the bullets.

A break I could take advantage of.

I sprinted forward, my leaner legs and powerful muscles built for closing the fucking distance. I whirled, punching the Mistress in the side just in time to hear her blade slip from its sheath. I dodged back, feeling more than hearing it woosh past me.

The Mistress said nothing, just swung again, this time cutting a thin line along my bicep. I winced, but pain conditioning was no small thing.

I ducked under another swing of her sword and got right in under her guard, throwing a few hefty punches into her side. She squawked, and a moment later the bulkier form of the Hound muscled into the fray, grabbing me and hurling me away from Marianne.

I rolled with the landing and back up into an immediate sprint, taking the chance to... manoeuvre. The Hound stumbled out of the cloud, dragging Marianne with him. I hit them from the side, knocking her to the ground and sending him to one knee. Which I then stamped on with all my might.

Something snapped loudly and the Hound roared, turning to sock me in the stomach. I let it hit and went with the blow, throwing me back. The Hound left his Mistress and charged at me, whatever damage I'd done to his leg barely slowing him.

I turned his momentum to my advantage, grabbing him and turning his charge into a whirl as I hurled him off into the bushes.

There was a quiet beat as everything in the area shut up for a blissful, violently-still second, and then I heard the telltale growl of fuzzles and the wet, squelching noise of a feast. The Hound began to scream.

I turned back - Marianne had stumbled to her feet and made it clear of the Stunkz cloud, shakily holding her sword. Her eyes were a little unfocused, and she was swaying gently. Seemed like maybe I'd hit her head, somewhere in the fracas?

I sighed, and pointedly raised the crossbow. For a moment, Marianne's eyes refocussed and stared at it. Dog, that woman was tough. I stepped back, wordlessly making the point of the distance between us.

"Drop the sword."

She scowled, but tossed the blade to the ground. Tough, and smart.

"Where is she?"

Marianne snorted. "Where do you think she is? Ratigan knows what you feel for the girl. He has her."

"What I feel for her?"

"You don't remember? Some get all the luck." She sighed. "Before his initial modifications, you would have gone through a full interrogation and check, to ensure your psychology was accounted for in the process."

"My psychology..?"

She scowled at me. For a moment, she almost reminded me of Victoria. "Mind over Matter, Max. What's in your head matters when they're manipulating your genome. Haven't you had Ratigan's talk about epigenetic stressors?"

"The 'life turns your genes on and off' thing?"

She rolled her eyes, wincing as the motion apparently hurt her head. "A simplistic explanation, but essentially, yes. Your experiences, your traumas, your thoughts and schemas, they all have an impact on the process. They needed to be accounted for. And Ratigan is never one to miss details."

"So, what? I told him in a delirium that I liked Chloe and now he's taken her to..."

"To lure you into a trap, recapture, and reprogram you, yes." She finished. Another scowl. "You really are slower on the uptake than you used to be, Max."

"I really am. Cool. Thanks, Marianne." I sighed. I knew what came next.

I pulled up my crossbow, two sharp stingbees loaded in. The Mistress stood, arms spread, not moving. I hesitated. Then I fired.

Afterwards, I stared at the two bodies for a long time. Then I went to go find a shovel.

Stan came up to stand beside me as I looked down at the two simple graves I'd dug. I put them together - though on the opposite side of the grove from Hol and Artemis. Something felt right about it. Resolved.

"Did you send out the signal I asked?"

He nodded. "Before... they turned up. It should be any time now, right?"

"Right."

So of course, as I say that, it's another two hours. Then, a half dozen people turned up at the grove. None of them had been there before. But I knew them all. As they gathered, I stood in front of them and held my hands together. Come on Max. Time for some real good words.

"Welcome. You know me. You know I'm no Saardari Valli. I have a plan to finish this, once and for all. Who's with me?"

Okay, so maybe they weren't the best words, but all my guests agreed. So we started work on my plan, adapting it to match their intelligence. Many things had changed since I left, and the details needed to be accounted for.

The Mountain still loomed. Towering peaks were an ever-present sight across the whole archipelago. A valuable psychological weapon that both Prescott and Ratigan had spoken fondly of. It wasn't about fear. It was about making sure that when you were frightened, they were the first thing that came to mind.

I stared up at the thing, eyes focused on the sprawling windows of Prescott's boardroom up at the peak. They'd gotten it repaired since last time. I couldn't make out any details and honestly they probably couldn't see me either, but part of me hoped Prescott could. That he would know what was coming for him.

Probably for the best he couldn't. Things would be more... explosive that way.

To my left, my new team stood beside me - what remained of them. Stan seemed more confident, standing taller. Brooke was hunched over her laptop, typing something in a furious sprint.

To my right, my old team stood beside me - what remained of them. Shad, Tarry, and Jane. All of them seemed united in our goal.

"Did everything go well?"

Tarry shared a look with Stan, nodding. "Everything is in place. The City is ready."

Shad and Brooke both nodded as well. "I can set it all up from here."

"Jane, you good?"

"Ready to smash."

I grinned. "That's the spirit. I guess this is it, huh?"

Stan snorted. "What, does it feel anti-climactic or something?"

I chuckled. "Definitely not that. Brooke, detonate the charges."

She tapped a button, and the three dozen explosives we'd layered into the Abattoir exploded, taking out a side of the mountain and filling the rest with avalanches.

Then the cries came up from the city, and more explosions, gunshots, and screams. The ground had been prepared well, and the citizenry rose up with glee.

I quickly checked over my equipment. "Lets get moving everyone. The Prescotts end, today."