Chapter 11: Sister's Keeper

Max

July 25th, 2017

12:10 PM

Meridian Prime Warzone

Mount Genesis Gateway

We rode safely aboard our APC. David, Chloe, Alex, Rachel, Bryan, Cayce, and Kristine rode inside. Cage and Heard rode on a different APC with ours at capacity. Both our transports were nearing our destination, the portal gateway to High Providence at Mount Genesis. The end of our journey was in sight, and with it, the end of the war.

David: From here on in, it's a straight shot to the portal.

Cayce: A straight shot with Fallen trying to crush us along the way.

David: We just need to get a handful of troops through.

Rachel: That's all?

David: We knew this was going to be a gamble at best.

Max: Can't think of anyone else I'd rather do this with.

Chloe: I'm honored to be part of this team.

Alex: You know, I can't believe I'm bringing this up just now, but on this day today, was the day King Arthur and his army fought the Saxons on this island. The day he lost the war to Ares as well.

Bryan: That is correct, Alex. You still know your history.

Alex: That's what I get for spending my whole life searching for the Ark of Genesis. Hopefully, on this day in history, it'll be the day we win this war against Ares. Pure irony.

Cage: (comms) Madsen, we're in sight of the target.

David: Alright, everyone. This is it.

Suddenly, the APC came to a screeching halt. Causing all of us inside to shake. We stepped out of the APC to see the vehicle had crashed into a shallow hole in the ground and could no longer move further. I, David, Chloe, Alex, Rachel, Cayce, and Kristine are out of the vehicle to view the damage. Cage and Heard's APC stopped as well when we did. The two of them saw us out of our damaged vehicle.

David: Shit.

Luckily for us, our vehicles had just stopped one mile away from the portal to High Providence. We had reached our destination at Mount Genesis, but it wouldn't be fortunate footing to get to the portal. Ares's Chronos Dragon had flown above our position with Ares himself riding. Safeguarding the portal away from us and other Chrysalis forces. Ares was in the sky on his dragon like the Great Khaleesi. Staring at us from their altitude menacingly. Ready to barbeque anyone who tried entering through the portal. Mainly me.

David: We gotta move!

Max: Come on!

Cage: All squads, go, go, go!

Our entire team makes a run across the field toward the High Providence portal. My team and I are dashing along with other squadrons, platoons, and battalions of Chrysalis soldiers. As well as ground vehicles like tanks, APCs, and armored trucks with mounted turrets manned by gunners. Attack choppers flew by us for air support as well.

In the meantime, Ares and his Chrono Dragon flew around and across us. Burning down everything in its path. Its fiery breath devastated all the ground troops and ground vehicles into blazing ashes. Even shooting down our air support, too. Ground troops flickered in peril, ground vehicles exploded and flipped off their wheels or conveyor belts, and choppers came spinning out of control and hitting the ground or exploding the second they were on fire. I ran for the portal as well as for my life while my footing fumbled each time a vehicle or aircraft was struck down. But no matter what, I kept sprinting with my team. With my rifle and gauntlet still in my two hands.

An APC ground vehicle exploded and flipped in front of me as it was hit by the dragon fire. I instantly slide under the rolling vehicle right before it hits the ground upside down. I look behind me to Chloe, Rachel, Alex, and Kristine running towards me. Then another ground vehicle flips in front of them. The four dodge out of the way before the APC hits the dirt totaled by the Chrono Dragon. I take a look at them all and Chloe and Kristine appear to be the ones disabled by the crash. I run towards them. David, Cayce, and Bryan join me. Chloe and Kristine appear badly bruised and covered in dirt. I knew I couldn't drag Chloe into this fight any longer and Cayce felt the same way about Kristine. David called for help.

David: HQ, do you copy? We need an evac right now!

HQ: Copy. Help is on the way.

A tandem rotor helicopter arrives near us. Landing in the field for us to help the wounded. Rachel and I help carry Chloe on her feet with Alex and Bryan following us. David and Cayce walk Kristine over to the chopper as well.

Max: Come on!

Chrysalis troops hop out of the helicopter from the rear hatch with rifles to cover us. Some medics took Chloe and Kristine in their hands as Rachel and I handed over Chloe and David and Cayce handed over Kristine. Rachel decides to go with Chloe on the evac chopper. Bryan, Alex, David, and Cayce would be staying behind with me to finish the fight. Chloe begged not to be left behind while Rachel and a medic held her.

Max: (handing Chloe over) Here, take her.

Chloe: Max…

Max: You gotta get out of here.

Chloe: I'm alright, Max…

Max: Don't argue with me, Chloe.

Chloe: You're not leaving me behind…

Kristine was no easier to let go. She pleaded for Cayce and David to stay with her as a medic held her.

Kristine: Don't you leave me here, Cayce…

Cayce: I have to, Kristine. Even a medic needs medical aid sometimes.

Kristine: Cayce, please. You mean everything to me…

I say my potential last words to Chloe. Knowing I may not see her again and knowing she'll be safe even if I'm gone. Holding her cheek as I speak.

Max: If you can't dodge the charging bull, don't wave the red cape it. That's what William said. No matter what happens, you mean everything to me, Chloe. You always will.

Chloe: Max…it – it's not fair. Taking turns, washing dishes, don't even think about not coming back.

Cayce says his goodbyes to Kristine as well.

Cayce: Whatever happens to me, you mean everything to me, too. More than I'd like to admit.

I turn around to see the Chrono Dragon making another go on the field. Time was short and I had to let Chloe go now.

Max: Go!

Chloe stretches her hand out to me right before I leave with Alex and Bryan. David and Cayce then, too, leave Kristine on the chopper. I take one last glance at Chloe's face in distress right before the hatch closes. The evac chopper raises itself from the ground and departs. Chloe, Rachel, and Kristine were out but I, Alex, Bryan, David, and Cayce were still. We all continue running back toward the portal while attempting to avoid the Chrono Dragon.

Bryan splits from Alex and me and goes off running with David and Cayce. Cage and Heard were nowhere to be seen and we assumed they ran without us when we dropped off Chloe, Rachel, and Kristine. A crashing gunship comes colliding to the ground in from of Alex and me slowing us both down. Then the Chrono Dragon landed on the ground in front of the two of us. We both stare at the menacing beast ready to turn us into burning charcoal. And that's when Ares's dragon opens its mouth, ignites its breath, and rains its fire on us both.

Max

September 1st, 2013

11:50 AM

Highway 5

State Bus-lines

Washington/Oregon Border

I wake up in my bus seat to being jerked awake by the sudden stop of my bus. I peek out the window to see if I've returned to Arcadia Bay, but it's just another stop with more people hopping in. Thank god I didn't fall asleep on the bus past my destination. As more people board the bus, some man takes a seat next to mine. A bearded obese man with glasses holding a satchel in his hand with his belongings inside. Once he takes his seat, the bus departs and I'm on my way back to my first home in Oregon.

The man next to me gets comfy as the bus starts driving again and the man himself pulls out a laptop to play with. Browsing through the web whether the bus had wi-fi or not. The man turns his head to talk to me.

Man: Hey, there. How's going it?

Max: Good, I guess.

Man: You guess, huh? What's the matter? Not looking forward to your destination? Where are you from?

Max: I'm from Seattle. My parents are sending me to school in Arcadia Bay. Where I used to live.

Man: What are you going to school there for?

Max: They have a photography program, I'm into. Mark Jefferson is teaching it.

Man: Mark Jefferson. The famous photo artist? Well, that should be a treat. But why travel away from home just to receive your education?

Max: Let's just say I kinda got expelled from my last school in Seattle. I won't say why. But I think this school will be better for me given my lifelong dream of being a photo artist.

Man: Well, that should be fun then. So why the long face? What troubles ya?

I stop and think back to the troubled long past I've endured for five years of my life. Between leaving Chloe, losing her dad, and now losing Alex, too, it's a lot to discuss.

Max: Five years ago, when I moved to Seattle, I lost two of the closest people in my life. My best friend Chloe and her dad William. Chloe's dad died in a car crash and I left Chloe behind at the funeral without even saying goodbye. All I had was a tape recorder I left in her room to say my farewells and I never spoke to her again since. But after I came home to Seattle, I had my cousin Alex looking after me. We were close as well. But ten months ago, Alex and I did something we shouldn't have done and it cost Alex her life as well. After that, my parents and I had a falling out with my uncle and that's when my parents decided to send me to Blackwell Academy where I'm going. (sigh) I've been through so much. Losing my cousin. Losing Chloe's dad. I don't even know what I'm going to tell Chloe when I see her again. If I see her again.

Man: What's your name, miss? If you don't mind?

Max: Max. Max Caulfield. Yours?

Brody: Brody. Brody Holloway. I'm sorry to hear what you've been through all these years, but hey, you should never let your troubled past define your greater future. The future is a funny thing. You never know what's ahead of you. Nor what's written. And the future never is. The future is what you write down for yourself. There's no fate but what you make for yourself.

Max: You get that line from Terminator?

Brody: (chuckles) I'm sure I did. But seriously, though, tragedy can be both the worst and the best teacher in life. It's what you have to go through to grow up into maturity. That's the burden of all tragedy.

Max: Do you happen to have a tragic backstory, too? Or should I not ask?

Brody: Me? Well, to tell you the truth, I don't often see my family well enough to know what they've been through. But I for one have witnessed tragedy itself and have seen what it's done to people. That's the closest experience to it I've ever gotten. Right now, we may have just met, but I can already see great things in your future. Great things. If you wanna become a photo-artist, go out and be a photo artist. If you really wanna see your best friend back home again, don't hesitate to say hello and make amends. That's what you should look forward to the most.

I lean my head against my window on the bus. Taking in all the words Brody said to me and believing he wasn't wrong. The question is, how am I going to fulfill my dreams as a photographer and say hello to Chloe again?

Max

July 25th, 2017

12:16 PM

Meridian Prime Warzone

Mount Genesis Gateway

Cage: (comms) Oh, my God…they're all gone.

Heard: (comms) Did we get anyone to the portal?

Cage: (comms) Negative, our entire force was decimated.

Bryan: (comms) My niece and daughter are still out there! We have to go back for them!

Cage: (comms) It's too much! We have to regroup through the portal and push forward!

David: (comms) Cage, we can't just leave them out there!

Cage: (comms) I gave you an order, Madsen! Now let's move it!

Cayce: (comms) We gotta push forward for them, David! Whether they made it or not! It's what they'd want!

A bright light stings my eyeballs as my eyelids lift open. I feel the anguish of burning intoxicating my skin. I come to and hear echoes of comm chatter with David, Cayce, Cage, and Heard's voice crackling through the speakers. I also hear Alex screaming my name and see Chronos shielding the Chrono Dragon's flame with his time shield. Protecting the two of us from the dragon's infernal wrath.

Alex: Max! Max, wake up! Wake up!

I turn my head to Alex as my sight unblurs. My sister/cousin begging for my life.

Alex: Oh, thank goodness! Come on, Max! Get up! Get up!

Alex helps me up and carries me with my arm over her shoulder. My right cheek and right arm reek with burns from the dragon's flame. Grazing me before Chronos could shield us. The Chronos Dragon itself exhausts all its flames ceasing its pyro breath. Chronos deactivates his shield and turns to us.

Chronos: Get Maxine to the portal! I'll draw him away!

Chronos takes flight and flees back into the skies to lure Ares and his Chrono Dragon away from us. They take the bait and fly away from our path inside the portal. The portal was just a quarter mile away from us. A blue light from the portal through Mount Genesis illuminates our incoming gateway to High Providence and we proceed to trudge our way through.

We caress our arms around our shoulders for Alex to carry me. I hold a sidearm in my bloody fingers as our last line of defense from ConDef or Fallen who might interrupt our path. The pain of the burning tissue that scarred my skin grew more agonizing as we trudged forward. My eyesight is littered with veins of red from the internal bleeding coming out of my wounds. The two of us walked past bodies of fallen Chrysalis troops flatlined on the dirt with one trooper crawling and clinging to life before dropping dead. I was practically in no condition to continue this fight. Entering through the portal gateway was going to be no easy feat. I was almost glad I didn't drag Chloe through the mud any further than I had to.

Suddenly. Fallen Revenants coming running towards us. Three of them running and screaming in our path out of nowhere. I raise my pistol and shoot down the three Revenants with a single bullet. I then falter to my knees with the pain getting worse. Alex picks up again and we keep pushing forward.

Next, a ConDef trooper hidden behind cover aims his rifle at us to stop us. Shooting a grazing Alex across her left arm. I raise my pistol again and shoot the enemy troop three times before he drops dead. With my last shot forcing the chamber backward. Signifying my clip was out of bullets. We were liquid from here onwards.

Finally, Alex and I are just inches away from the portal. Then the two of us walk right through. Entering inside Mount Genesis at last. We had made it. But only barely that we did. That was my sister's keeper.

Note: Life Is Strange: Double Exposure is just a few weeks away. I pre-ordered it and I get to play the first two chapters early but I don't think I'll be able to play in time since I'm currently replaying the other LIS games before then and I'm still on LIS1. Whenever I get to play, I'll be sure to tell you all what I thought in the next chapter or two I post. Stay tuned and golden!