"Are we going home now, Big Sister?"

The small, timid voice was enough to break Eleanor Lamb out of her reverie. She hadn't moved in hours, hadn't dared tear her gaze away from the horizon, as though afraid it might disappear if she took her eyes off of it."

She sat on the side of the lifeboat, staring out across the inky black expanse of ocean. The only light came from the piercing beam of the lighthouse, reaching into the distance beyond the edge of the horizon. The sun had long since dipped over the horizon, the last rays of its light a memory Eleanor wasn't sure she could believe.

The sun. After so long in the darkness of Rapture, kept blinded by the fathoms of ocean above and the delusions of her twisted mother, the sight of it had been enough to leave Eleanor breathless. How should one react to the sight of something so glorious, so beyond imagining as to make even the wonders and nightmares of Rapture's most brilliant minds pale in comparison? For all her genius, Eleanor had been unable to do anything other than gaze at it, lost for words.

Now though, sitting in the familiar darkness, surrounded by the little sisters she had freed, Eleanor's thoughts returned to her father. Father, I'm sorry. I wanted to be strong, but... I still need you. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she had tear tracks staining her cheeks. She had allowed herself to cry, for the first time since she had become a Little Sister, but it hadn't helped. Instead of feeling better, she just felt... hollow. Empty.

A part of her mind, the part that had been conditioned since the day she was born to soak up all the brilliance of Rapture, reasoned that it was only natural; she had, after all, just fought her way through hordes of nightmarish monsters and lost the father she had so desperately been trying to save. It was only natural that she would feel drained. She rejected these thoughts. Nothing more than the clinical thinking her mother had so praised. Looking at the still form of Subject Delta, Father, she couldn't bring herself to rationalize away what she was feeling now. It was too... cold.

A tug at the sleeve of her Big Sister suit turned her attention back to the Little Sister, now looking up at her with timid, curious eyes.

"Yes," Eleanor said, forcing a smile and gently caressing the young girl's head, "I think it's time we went home. Wait here for a moment. Big sister has one more thing she has to do."

Leaving the curious sisters out on the deck, Eleanor stepped into the cockpit of the lifeboat, still wet from its earlier flooding. Eleanor stood in the doorway for what felt like an eternity, staring down at the lifeless body of Sofia Lamb. There was a dull ache in her chest, a feeling she couldn't identify. Stepping closer to the body, Eleanor knelt down next to her mother, brushing a wet strand of hair out of the woman's face.

"Mother..." she began, her voice trembling, "I... I'm leaving. Leaving Rapture, and everything you intended for me. I know it's not what you wanted, but I..." Eleanor stopped, letting the thought go unfinished.

It was several minutes before she spoke again, her voice quiet and unsteady, "I always loved you. I hated what you put me through, what you believed. What you tried to do to me. What you did to me. You tried to teach me, but in the end I learned so little. Only what you thought I needed to become Rapture's messiah. But even through all that there was a part of me that loved you as much as I loved Father."

Eleanor took a ragged breath, fresh tears leaking from her eyes as she gripped her mother's cold hand in hers. "I wanted you to see me as something other than another social experiment. I tried so hard, but you never wanted a daughter. You had my fate decided before you chose my name. Maybe that's why I... why I had to..." she stopped, wiping tears from her eyes and shaking her head.

"I am sorry, Mother, for what it's worth. I hope... I hope someday I can be someone you would have been proud of, even if it isn't what you imagined."

Several moments passed in silence, the only sound the gentle lapping of small waves against the side of the lifeboat. Eventually, Eleanor rose, carrying her mother in her arms. The Little Sisters parted wordlessly as Eleanor carried her mother out onto the deck. For a moment, she lingered by the edge, before gently letting Sofia Lamb slide from her hands into the water. With another shaky breath, she pulled the still form of her father to the edge as well, gently caressing the glass window of his helmet. They had already said their goodbyes, and he would be with her always. It was time to let go.

The two bodies sank out of sight as Eleanor watched, back down to madhouse that had created them both. From the outside, even in its crumbling state, Rapture had looked serene and beautiful. Eleanor hoped that some of that peace would reach them when they returned.

"Goodbye, Father, Mother," Eleanor said softly, finally tearing her gaze away from the mirrored surface of the water. "Watch over me."

The cockpit of the lifeboat was large enough for all of them, though Eleanor had no idea how long they were going to need to stay in it. To be honest, she hadn't planned much farther than 'escape from Rapture with Father'. Now that she was here, with ten little girls in her care, she found herself at a loss. This was a first.

There wasn't time for her to be indecisive though. There was only so long they could stay out at sea, unless they intended to return to Rapture. Eleanor shuddered. She never wanted to set foot in that city again.

Unfortunately, she didn't have any idea where to go. She did, however, have an idea of where she could start looking. Before selecting their escape route, Eleanor had gone over the schematics of Sinclair's lifeboat. She looked around, trying to find the hatch to the rooms she knew were below the cockpit. It didn't take her long to find it, and when she pulled it open she was pleasantly surprised. Below her were shelves full of canned food and bottled water, as well as some other necessities. Sinclair was always one to be prepared.

The lights were still working, fortunately enough, and it looked as though the room had avoided the flooding of the cockpit. Eleanor noticed that the hatch she had crawled down was lined with rubber, effectively sealing it when closed. A wise decision, she thought, looking around. If water got down here, it would be much harder to drain out, and not everything was as waterproof as the cans and bottles.

Peeking through another hatch beneath her feet, Eleanor was pleased to discover the engines. She knew enough about machines to keep them running and patch them up, but she was far from a mechanical genius. Her brilliance lay in other fields: biology, sociology, chemistry, psychology, even music. All things here mother had thought were required to make Eleanor the perfect utopian. Apparently she had not considered mechanics to be a worthy pursuit. Still, a cursory glance confirmed that the engines were in stable enough condition to get her wherever they needed to go.

Eleanor did some quick calculations as she examined the stock of food and water. With her and the ten Little Sisters, they would be going through a lot of food and water. Fortunately, it looked like they would have enough to last them a little more than two weeks, so long as they didn't gorge themselves or use the water carelessly. Eleanor wrinkled her nose in disgust; there wasn't going to be much bathing going on for awhile.

Which brought her back to their biggest problem: she didn't know where to go. Mother was dead, and with her the last real threat to Eleanor. With no one to organize them, the splicers stood no chance against her even if they were to somehow follow her, so that wasn't a concern. And without Sofia Lamb and the mutated Gil Alexander, there would be no more kidnappings. At least, she hoped not. There were still Big Sisters down there, and they were more than capable of making it to the surface should they become inclined to do so.

Eleanor shook her head with a sigh. There was no point in dwelling on that now. Rapture was behind her, and no good could come of letting her mind drift back to those depths.

After some digging, she managed to find a map of the Atlantic Ocean and its surrounding land masses. She noticed that there was no convenient dot or marker that indicated where Rapture was. That was probably wise. Sinclair might have been a bit money-hungry, but deep down Eleanor knew he was a good man, and a map with rapture's exact coordinates pinpointed would spell disaster if it fell into the wrong hands... or a business competitor, she supposed.

Not being able to figure out their exact location was a bit of a problem though. She was confident that they had enough supplies to make it to whichever destination she chose, as long as they weren't directly in the middle of the Atlantic (something she wouldn't have put past Ryan, massive egoist that he had been). But if she chose wrong, then they would be stranded. Eleanor wasn't terribly worried about herself; she was a genius of unrivaled intellect, and she had enough ADAM running through her veins to power half of Rapture, but the little ones were less equipped. Their time as Little sisters had left them changed; they would never truly be normal again. The fact that even after being rescued they had been able to help her boil the water beneath the lifeboat was proof enough of that, but they were still children, in the end, and Eleanor would not let them be harmed.

She smiled, remembering what it had been like to watch her father save each of the sisters, to feel their gratitude and affection. It had been such a pleasant surprise that Father had been so gentle with them, so caring even as he tore splicers apart without mercy. It made her wonder if the instinct she felt to protect these Little Sisters was her own, or his. It was comforting to think it was him, guiding her, just as she had hoped.

With all that in mind, she needed to choose carefully. To the north was Greenland. From what she remembered, it was a large and sparsely populated island. It would be a good place for them to hide, but getting supplies might be a challenge. If it was the sort of place with villages where everybody knew everybody, then people were bound to start asking questions sooner or later. Eleanor briefly entertained the notion of finding some secluded spot in the wilderness and living off the land, like she had read about in books, but dismissed it almost immediately as foolish. Taking care of the sisters would be challenging enough already, and she really had no idea how to survive in the wilderness of the surface.

The British Isles and Europe lay to the East. They were a reasonable enough option. Plenty of people, and from what Eleanor had been told she spoke with an accent not unlike that of the English, though she wouldn't know. She hadn't gotten out much as a child.

Finally, to the west was North America; Canada and the United States. She supposed it wouldn't be difficult for her and the girls to blend in in either of those countries. Of course, she mused with a small smile, a teenage girl with ten little girls in tow was likely to arouse suspicion anywhere they went.

Eleanor let out a sigh. She was tired, and the pain of burying her father, and to a lesser extent her mother as well, was still a fresh wound in her heart. But she needed to make a decision. All those sisters were counting on her to take care of them now, and she had no intention of discarding the lessons she had learned from her father.

A sudden sound caught her attention, and she turned quickly, looking up through the hatch. The scratching of the radio drifted down into the room, and Eleanor's heart leapt into her throat as she raced up the ladder. Who would be trying to contact her? Had they been spotted? Her keen eyes scanned the horizon, trying to pick up any sign of a ship, but she couldn't see anything. Even following the light cast by the lighthouse revealed nothing but the endless expanse of black water.

"...Herr Delta...are y...saw the explo...picked up...signal..." Eleanor nearly collapsed in relief as the voice of Doctor Brigid Tenenbaum faded in and out through a haze of static. She ran to the console, tweaking the controls until most of the static disappeared.

"Doctor!"

"Eleanor, is that you?" There was a pause. "Thank God. I thought you were dead. I saw Persephone fall into the trench on the monitors. Is Herr Delta with you?"

Eleanor had to choke back a sudden sob. "He... no. Father and Mother went back to Rapture to rest."

There was silence for a moment before Eleanor heard the doctor sigh. "I see. I am so sorry, Eleanor. I know how much he meant to you, how much you went through to free him and yourself from your mother's madness."

Eleanor simply nodded, realizing after a moment that Tenenbaum wasn't able to see her. "Yes, I... I miss him. It hasn't even been a day and I already miss him so much it hurts." A Little Sister grasped Eleanor's hand, looking up at her with a small smile. Turning around, Eleanor noticed that all of the girls had come in the cockpit. She wondered if they had heard Tenenbaum's voice.

"It seems even Herr Delta could not escape Rapture, in the end," she cursed, bitterness dripping from her voice. "This city is a blight upon the sea floor. It consumes everything it touches. But it gives me some hope, to hear that you escaped."

Eleanor couldn't help but smile as she looked over the group of young girls. She had looked through their eyes, seen Rapture through the cloud of roses and satin that they had all lived in, herself included.

"I didn't escape alone. I managed to save all the Little Sisters in Persephone. Just like father taught me," she said, the last barely more than a whisper.

"You did?" Tenenbaum exclaimed, her voice equal parts elation and relief. "How many? Are they alright? Oh, thank you, Eleanor. I feared the worst when Persephone fell. I knew there were still so many little ones left in that terrible place."

"They are fine, just a little tired, I think. They helped us escape. There were ten of them down there still, and I managed to get them all onto the lifeboat before Persephone fell."

"Ten?" Eleanor could hear Tenenbaum as she turned away from the radio and called out something. A moment, later, the doctor's voice returned. "Then we have saved nearly all of the girls that your mother kidnapped from the surface. There are only a few left that need rescue. I will find my way out with the rest once I manage to retrieve them."

Eleanor felt a weight she hadn't known was there leave her chest. Doctor Tenenbaum still had a plan of escape. She hadn't realized it until that moment, but she had been worried about the doctor and the rest of the girls.

"I thought Mother destroyed your sub after you arrived," Eleanor said. "How do you intend to get out?" She bit her lip, her face a mask of indecision. "I... I should come back for you."

The doctor gave a humorless chuckle. "My dear, I spent the best years of my life in this place, working with Fontaine on these little ones and countless other abominations. If there is one thing I have learned, it is how to make do with the scraps of this dying city. Please, do not risk yourself and those little ones you have already saved by coming back here. We will be fine. But, I must ask, what do you intend to do now?"

"I don't know," Eleanor replied, watching the sisters behind her. "I have to make a choice, but I don't even know which direction to go or where we are."

"I see," Tenenbaum was silent for a moment. "Perhaps... yes, I think it is for the best."

"Do you have an idea?" Eleanor asked, hopeful. She would take any guidance she could get right now.

"The last time I was in Rapture, I managed to save many little ones. With the help of some... friends, I managed to sneak them into New York City, in America. I was living there when I heard of the kidnappings," Tenenbaum sighed, and Eleanor thought she sounded incredibly old and tired in that moment. "I tried to ignore it, but I knew what was happening. So I returned."

The sisters were beginning to crowd in around Eleanor; some of them clearly recognized Tenenbaum's voice, while others looked up at her, confused. She did her best to reassure them while the doctor spoke.

"It has been some time since I left. I did not intend to be gone for so long, but your mother made things rather more difficult than I had hoped. Still, everything should be there. My home should be a good place for you and the little ones, at least until I can return." The clicking and beeping of instruments drew Eleanor's attention as a nearby screen flickered into life, displaying an address and a name: Lewis McIntyre.

"That man, Lewis, he should help you," Tenenbaum said. "I have not seen him in months, but he should still be there. He does not know of Rapture, but he is... sympathetic, to my cause. He will help you hide the little ones."

Eleanor felt relief wash over her as she looked at the screen. They had a destination, a place to get started. She hadn't realized until that moment how lost she had felt. It was the first time in her life she could remember being without a plan, without a concrete goal and a meticulously planned course of action. It was not a pleasant feeling.

"Thank you, Doctor," Eleanor said, smiling. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

"That is a surprise, coming from you, Eleanor," Tenenbaum said, a hint of humor in her voice. "I thought you were always two steps ahead of everyone. You even managed to outmaneuver your mother."

"I usually am," Eleanor said with a chuckle, "but it seems I found myself on the edge of a precipice this time, with no more steps to be taken. I have you to thank for the path that lies before me now."

"It is the least I can do. The rescue of Herr Delta was entirely your plan, and I never would have been able to save this many little ones without his help. I am still in debt to you and your father."

Eleanor paused, considering something, "Well... if you really feel that way, then perhaps there is something you can do for me, Doctor."

"What might that be?" Tenenbaum replied, curiosity evident in her voice.

"Do you know of Grace Holloway?"

"I believe I remember that name. As I recall, she was once a singer down in Pauper's Drop. Why do you ask?" Tenenbaum asked, clearly confused.

"Before I became a Little Sister, Grace was the one that took care of me, at Mother's behest," Eleanor said, remembering the kind woman. She had never shown Eleanor anything other than kindness and affection, and before Father she had been the most positive influence in Eleanor's life. The thought of her, trapped beneath the sea in the crumbling mausoleum that Rapture had become, made Eleanor feel sick to her stomach.

"If you can find her, please take her with you."

Tenenbaum was silent, and Eleanor could practically hear the doctor considering her request.

"Very well. If I can find her, I will offer to take her back to the surface with me. But I will not risk the little ones," Tenenbaum said, her voice hard as steel. "They are still my top priority, but I will do my best to help Ms. Holloway."

"Thank you," Eleanor said, sighing in relief. "That's all that I ask."

A sudden thought occurred to Eleanor, "What of your friends? The ones that helped you into the city. Will they be able to help me?"

The other end of the radio was silent for so long that Eleanor thought Tenenbaum must have disconnected, but after a long moment of silence, the doctor spoke, "Perhaps, but that may have to wait until I return. I'm afraid you will be on your own until you can make it to Lewis. Follow the directions I gave you, and you should not have much trouble getting there."

"Alright," Eleanor said, her hands flying across the lifeboat's control boards, preparing for their journey. Now that she had a destination, she couldn't leave fast enough. "Please be careful, Doctor. I know you don't need me to tell you this, but even with Mother gone Rapture is far from safe."

"I am aware," Tenenbaum said with a dry chuckle. "It is a hell of my own making, after all. But I'm more concerned about you. The surface is not like Rapture, at least not the Rapture you grew up in. They will not be prepared for someone like you. The best thing you can do is not draw any attention to yourself, and try to blend in. Your safety on the surface relies on your ability to stay out of sight. Remember that above all else."

"I will, and I appreciate the advice."

"I am sure you will be fine. You are a resourceful young woman. Perhaps in you, Rapture can finally bring something good to the world," Tenenbaum said, her voice wistful. Eleanor didn't respond. She had her doubts about that. "I must go. The little ones need looking after, and you should be on your way. Good luck, Eleanor."

"Thank you, Doctor," Eleanor said. "I hope we'll be seeing you before long."

The gentle static of the radio faded, signaling the end of the transmission. Once again, Eleanor was left alone with the Little Sisters. Now though, she felt a sense of purpose. She flicked a switch, and the engines revved to life.

Eleanor's heart pounded in her chest. She had been dreaming of this moment for as long as she could remember. After so long, she was finally free of Rapture. In the few private moments she had growing up, she had fantasized about what the surface was like, what her escape from the city that had consumed her life would be like. In the end, it wasn't what she had hoped. Father was gone, and she had the Little Sisters to care for. But still, she had made it this far. Thanks to you, Father.

She watched the lighthouse as it turned, the inviting light little more than a siren's call. Eventually, she tore her gaze away, giving the sisters a reassuring smile. The lifeboat began to move, and soon the lighthouse was nothing more than a speck on the distant horizon. Eleanor couldn't help but spare it one last glance before it winked out of existence.

A/N: Does anyone still read Bioshock fanfiction? Probably not, but if you are then thanks for stopping in. I just finished playing the second game and loved the ending. Eleanor is a very interesting character, and I really wanted to write something with her in it, so here we go. It's a little cliche, but the end of the game is a really good jumping off point (and there honestly aren't a huge number of Eleanor-centric fics anyway). I took a few liberties with the ending, namely that the sisters are there and Lamb is dead. No real reason other than that was the ending I wanted, and it makes Eleanor more fun to write. If anyone does read this, let me know what you think.