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KadenEpisode One

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In a flashback, a television in a City Seventeen apartment has its screen broken with a gunshot hole. A nearby window is broken, with bloody shards of glass all around. Someone is lying on the ground, with shards of glass embedded in their bleeding hand. A narration states that a memory from long ago returns to the narrator, which hasn't crossed their mind in years, but they see it, hear it, feel it as if it happened just a moment ago. The sound of raindrops on a windowpane, broken glass and blood, lots of blood. A man lying on a mattress gets up holding their head as a woman watches. The narrator continues, describing a voice calling out to them, calling them Joseph and telling them to go to sleep and wake up tomorrow. Joseph asked wake up for what and the woman's voice tells him to wake up for anything, anything at all.

The narrator, Joseph Kaden, thinks to himself she is just a memory now. In the present, Kaden, accompanied by four other men carrying a crate, is crossing the tunnels of the Victory Mines, in the outskirts of City Seventeen. One of the men, an older man named Oleksi, is singing an old Ukranian folk song. Another man, Hayes, tells him to do them all a favor and shut up, he's not helping. Oleksi tells him to relax and explains that his mother used to sing that song to him when he was a child and it calms his nerves.

Hayes turns to Oleksi and tells him he doubts the antlions will find it quite so amusing, then asks if he's trying to get them all killed. Oleksi complains that Joseph said, but Hayes cuts him off by saying he doesn't care what Joseph said and tells him to keep it to himself until they get back to the safehouse. Another man, Vincent Faulk, tells Hayes that there are no antlion nests in this shaft and that Hayes knows that. Kaden lifts his hand and tells the men to hold up, then calls for Vincent to come up front. Vincent, holding a sniper rifle, tells Kaden he's right behind him.

Kaden turns a corner carefully. Behind him, Vincent asks what he sees. Kaden tells him it looks like the welcoming committee has arrived. Vincent asks if he means Mendoza's outfit and is surprised they're actually on schedule for once. Kaden tells him not exactly and to take a look for himself. Vincent sets up his sniper rifle's scope.

Vincent uses his sniper rifle to see who they are approaching. He sees a bearded man he doesn't recognize, wearing an ushanka and holding a golden Deseart Eagle handgun. Vincent asks who the hell he his and Kaden explains his name is Gretchenkov, describing him as one of Cubbage's lapdogs who was probably sent out here to get some field experience. Vincent says that Kaden surely can't be serious, Kaden jokes that he's seriously and not to call him Shirley, then Vincent asks him what's the plan. Kaden tells him they'll go introduce themselves.

One of Gretchenkov's men spots four men coming down the tunnel. Gretchenkov lifts his handgun, cocks it and tells him he sees them and to trust no one. The man shouts at Kaden's group to stop and identify themselves.

Kaden lifts a hand and tells Gretchenkov and his men they are friendlies and suggests they all put their guns down, while one of Kaden's guys, Weiss, asks under his breath who put these assholes in charge. Gretchenkov says to Kaden he must be Sergeant Kaden and complains that he's late. Kaden asks where Mendoza is and Gretchenkov replies that Mendoza has fallen ill with pneumonia and he was ordered to conduct the exchange in his absence. Kaden sarcastically says he didn't get the memo and Gretchenkov reiterates that Colonel Cubbage was adamant that the meeting not be postponed. Hayes calls Gretchenkov an arrogant bastard and tells him to get one thing straight, that they report to White Forest and not New Little Odessa, so they don't take orders from thugs like Odessa Cubbage.

One of Gretchenkov's men turns to Hayes and tells him they are just following orders and to take it up with Cubbage if they have an issue with him. Kaden tells them to just get this over with. He opens the crate his men carried and shows off the contents, Soviet-era rocket-propelled grenade launchers with standard-issue optical sights straight out of the armory at White Forest.

Gretchenkov grabs one of the rockets to inspect it and Kaden tells him to be careful, as the safety caps wore out years ago. Kaden describes the rocket as high-explosive anti-tank warheads, highly effective against Combine armor, then states those should help fend off the gunships attacking their convoys. Above them, a murder of crows flies over cawing, making Oleksi look up and ask what it was.

Gretchenkov's man tells Oleksi it was just some crows in the catwalks and tells him to relax, then asks if they are about done here. Overhead, a buzzing sound is heard as small machines descend on them. Gretchenkov smiles and states that yes, he thinks they are done.

Up on the catwalks, Vincent is doing surveillance when he realizes something's not right and looks overhead. He spots the buzzing machines and screams to the others that they are Combine manhacks.

Kaden aims his automatic rifle at Gretchenkov and screams at him what the hell has he done. Vincent shouts at them that they are burned and to fall back as he starts firing on the manhacks. The manhacks continue to descend, baring razor-sharp sawblades. One of Gretchenkov's men screams that it's too late to fall back as he starts firing at the manhacks above.

Hayes and Oleksi start firing at the manhacks as Hayes shouts that Gretchenkov's men have killed them all. Kaden screams at his men to not shoot and conserve their ammo. Gretchenkov tells his own men to fall back to the tunnel. Weiss shouts at them to stop and not go that way.

Heavily-armed Combine soldiers suddenly pop out of the tunnel and start firing on Gretchenkov's men, one of which is immediately killed. Gretchenkov screams that they're trapped as his other man tries to run away, shouting that he doesn't want to die.

Kaden starts firing at the Combine while on the move, telling his men to get to cover. From cover, Hayes shouts at Weiss, who's running, to get over there. Weiss gets to cover and tells Hayes they're definitely not getting out that way.

One of Gretchenkov's men fires a heavy machine gun at the manhacks, hitting one, but another uses its sawblade to cut through the man's neck.

Hayes notes that the manhacks are driving them into a crossfire. Kaden tells him they need to push through together. Weiss knocks away a manhack with the butt of his rifle. Hayes gets impatient and starts running, as Kaden screams at him to wait.

From behind, a manhack hits Hayes in the head, cutting him. He shouts in pain and falls to his knees, but is still alive. Kaden screams at the rest of his men that Hayes is down and rushes over to him, telling him to get on his feet as two manhacks approach them from behind. The manhacks are shot down before they reach them.

Vincent is covering them from above, telling them now would be an excellent time to run. Kaden drags Hayes to the tunnel as Oleksi tells him he'll cover them. Four manhacks approach them rapidly.

Kaden tells Hayes to stay with him and not pass out. Behind them, Oleksi throws a grenade towards the rockets. It falls in the middle of the warheads and detonates, causing a massive explosion.

Running together, Kaden tells Weiss to get the generator up ahead running. Weiss tells him he's on it. Behind them, Oleksi begs at them to wait for him. A manhack approaches him rapidly, forcing Oleksi to stop and shoot at it, screaming for help. Over Hayes' shoulder, Kaden looks at him and screams Oleksi's name.

The manhack cuts Oleksi in the chest, forcing him to the ground coughing blood. Up ahead, Kaden tells Weiss to close the gate. Weiss replies that they can't just leave Oleksi there, but Kaden stares at him and repeats his order to close the gate.

As the manhacks approach, Weiss shouts God damn it but shuts the gate, over Oleksi's screams. The gate slams down, leaving Oleksi behind to a grim fate.

Later, a Combine Hunter-Chopper is flying over a Combine squad that has captured Vincent and one of Gretchenkov's men and dragged them outside.

Gretchenkov, surrounded by Combine soldiers and one elite guard, approaches Vincent. He tells Vincent he'd like to help him, to which Vincent replies he doesn't need his help. Gretchenkov starts asking questions about Vincent but he sees through it, telling him not to pretend like he cares. Gretchenkov tells him he doesn't have to die here and if he cooperates, Gretchenkov can guarantee his safety. Vincent tells him he's ready to die, and asks Gretchenkov if he is. Gretchenkov asks what he's talking about and Vincent tells him to look around, he's served his purpose.

Vincent explains that Kaden and the others escaped, so Gretchenkov's cover is blown and therefore he is useless to the Combine now. He tells him the soldiers are going to kill them both now without a second thought, because to them, they are exactly the same, loose ends. Vincent tells Gretchenkov they should stop kidding themselves and get this over with already.

The Combine elite soldier approaches Gretchenkov and tells him to surrender his weapon in accordance to mission protocol. Gretchenkov protests but the soldier tells him it is necessary. Vincent tells Gretchenkov it's his last chance to put up a fight, but Gretchenkov tells him nice try as he hands over his handgun. The soldier immediately aims it at Gretchenkov, who begs that they had a deal. The elite soldier ignores his pleas and shoots him.

Crows nearby are startled by the gunshot and flee, as the elite soldier declares the final verdict administered and gives orders to prepare for dust-off. A Combine soldier asks what about the prisoners and the leader, tossing Gretchenkov's gun aside, tells them to shoot one and send the other to Nova Prospekt.

The soldiers aim their weapons at Gretchenkov's man, who shouts no, but to no avail as the soldiers kill him, then send a message to assemble for extraction. As the soldiers prepare to move out, Kaden watches from a safe distance through binoculars.

Back at their safehouse, Kaden drags Hayes in and tells the rest they all know what to do, to grab what they can from weapons, ammo and first aid only.

Weiss comments they shouldn't have come back to the safehouse and that it was a mistake, but Kaden tells him there's no time to argue and to get busy. He helps Hayes sit down, telling him they're going to get him fixed up. As he sits down, Hayes mutters that there were so many of them, too many to shoot.

Kaden puts his hand on Hayes' shoulder as the latter says he can still hear Oleksi and the others crying out. Kaden tells him it's not his fault and he did his best, they all did, but Hayes retorts they just left them there. Weiss checks the windows and tells them Hunter-Choppers are inbound from the North and will be on top of them any minute now, telling them also that the clock's ticking. Hayes contemplates his gun as Weiss covers the place with gasoline from a canister and complains they've been there for two years without an incident and this is how it all ends.

Kaden replies it's ending not with a bang but a whimper as he reloads. The sound of a gun cocking is then heard, Weiss turns around to see it's Hayes aiming his gun at his own head. Hayes tells them fire and blood, that's how it all ends, as Kaden reaches out to him in shock.

Kaden tells Hayes to slow down for a minute and that it's not his fault Oleksi died. Hayes tells him it should've been himself. Kaden starts to tell him Oleksi knew he would have done the same for him, but Hayes protests that no, he wouldn't. Still aiming his gun at his head, Hayes tells them to just tell him he's a coward. Weiss protests but Kaden defuses the situation, telling him he's been there and knows how it feels, but also knows that Hayes owes it to himself to make it through this. He tells Hayes to take a deep breath and ease his finger off the trigger. Hayes, crying, slowly lowers his gun as Kaden calls him by his first name, Liam, and begs him to give him the gun, and that Oleksi wouldn't want this for him.

Hayes hands Kaden his gun and apologizes, but Kaden tells him it's all right and that enough people have died today. Crying, Hayes tells him he doesn't know how to live with all these regrets anymore. Kaden tells him it's very simple, he just goes to sleep and wakes up tomorrow. Hayes asks him what for. Kaden stares at him and replies, for anything.

An inhuman scream is heard from outside and Weiss comments they've sent out the Combine Hunters and they need to leave now. Kaden lifts a lighter, turns the flame on and replies that they'll go out with a bang.

The lighter falls to the floor, causing a fire to spread through the gasoline. The entire safehouse is set alight, including a picture of Kaden, Hayes, Weiss, Oleksi and Vincent. Kaden's narration states that years pass, we grow old but our memories remain. All our mistakes, all our regrets, it's a part of who we are. He states he has seen so many things that he wishes he could forget and he has more regrets than he could ever count.

Outside, from a safe distance, Kaden, Hayes and Weiss watch as the Hunter-Choppers approach their burning safehouse. Kaden's narration concludes by stating he wishes he could take back the things he's done, but he can't, and he has to find a way to live with that somehow. End of Episode One.

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