Chapter 2:

Welcoming Center

Booker had closed his eyes as what he now realized was some sort of flying pod shot towards the clouds. He only opened them when light hit his eyes, forcing them open to a spectacular sight.

"Hallelujah." the mechanical voice said.

Hallelujah indeed. thought Booker.

Floating outside the window was a massive city, floating among the clouds. As they were above the clouds, the storm was nonexistent. The buildings were large and very American, and they all floated on platforms made of what seemed to be gold to Booker. In the distance was a gigantic statue of what seemed to be some sort of angel. As he began to gently float back down, he passed a poster of an old man with the words "Father Comstock, our prophet." He saw out the window that the pod then began to descend into a building that seemed to be some sort of church, and as he descended he passed by several panels upon which inscriptions were written:

"Why would he send his savior unto us."
"If we will not raise a finger for our own salvation?"
"And though we deserve not his mercy."
"He has led us to this new Eden."
"A last chance for redemption."

Further he went down, finally coming to a large lit chamber. There were hundreds of lit prayer candles and offertory gifts in the alcoves of the chamber, and the entire floor was covered by a thin layer of shallow water. In front of him was a gigantic stained glass window depicting Father Comstock pointing up towards the clouds at a floating Columbia while many people gathered around him.

"And the Prophet shall lead the people to the New Eden."

And waiting for him was a familiar man.

"There you are!" John Smith exclaimed as the pod door opened and the clamps on the chair unlocked, allowing Booker to get out. "I've been waiting for you!"

"John?" Booker asked in surprise as he rubbed his wrists. "How...?"

"The long version is pretty complicated, but in short, I have a box."

Booker raised an eyebrow. "You... have a box?"

"Again, pretty complicated, but it doesn't matter right now. What does matter is the job, right?"

"Right." said Booker, nodding. "Alright, John, lead the way."

"Oh, and please, call me the Doctor." said John. "That's what most people call me."

"Alright, Doctor. Lead the way."

The Doctor led Booker through the chapel, past two other stained glass windows , the first depicting a beautiful woman in a blue dress.

"And in my womb shall grow the Seed of the Prophet."

"Seed of the Prophet?" Booker asked with a chuckle. "I wonder what that could mean."

"Tell me about it." said the Doctor. "But don't say that around the priests here. They get... religious, to say the least."

"I see." said Booker, nodding in understanding. "Thanks for the warning."

The other stained glass window depicted the woman from before alongside Father Comstock, who was carrying a baby in his arms.

"The Lamb. The future of our city."

"See that baby there?" asked the Doctor, pointing up at the baby.

"Yeah?" replied Booker.

"That's the girl we're here for."

"Really? Well, it seems people may get all religious on us."

The Doctor chuckled. "Indeed, my friend."

They further walked into the chapel, down a set of spiral stairs, passing by three smaller stained glass windows, depicting a sword, a key, and a scroll. Finally they came to the largest room in the church, angel statues passing above them as they walked and priests in white robes walking towards a preacher at the head of the room, giving a religious speech of sorts. He wore black robes and his eyes were pale grey, revealing him to be blind.

"Is it someone new?" the preacher asked as Booker and the Doctor pushed their way through the crowd of priests.

"You could say that." said the Doctor. "We're looking for a way into the city." As the preacher gave his response, he turned to Booker and whispered, "He's gonna say something confusing. Here's the simple version. We have to be baptized if we are to be allowed to enter the city."

"A dunk in the river won't change the things people have done." said Booker.

"My thoughts exactly." said the Doctor. "And I don't really want to get my hair wet."

"So what do we do?"

"This." said the doctor, holding up a piece of paper in a sort of wallet. To Booker, the paper seemed to be blank. "Actually, guys, we've been here before. We're just on a return trip. I'm doctor John Smith and this is... Jim."

Several of the priests looked at the paper before whispering in the preacher's ear.

"My apologies." said the preacher. "I had no idea."

"No apology needed. Please just let us in."

"Of course, Mister Smith." said the preacher, stepping aside to allow Booker and the Doctor into the tunnel.

"How the hell did you do that?" asked Booker.

"Psychic paper." replied the Doctor, showing him the piece of paper. "Anything I want shows up on it."

"Now that's just bull-"

Booker was cut off as a picture of the two people who brought him to the lighthouse suddenly appeared on the paper before his very eyes. It then dissapeared and was replaced with the words "Cool, huh?"

"How...?"

"I would be lying if I said it was magic." said the Doctor, pocketing his psychic paper. "Stick around with me a bit more, Booker, and you'll see a LOT more interesting things."

"For some reason, I just don't doubt that." said Booker with a disbelieving shake of his head.

The Doctor smiled. "I think this will be a beautiful partnership."

Booker smiled back and shook his hand. "I don't doubt that either, Doctor."

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