(a/n: Enjoy and please review!)
Ch. 7: Arcadia
Batman studied the holographic globe that floated in the middle of the room in the Watchtower.
For almost twelve hours, Artemis and Wally have been missing. Their flight never arrived in New York.
At first everyone thought it was a delay but as the hours dragged on, everyone began to suspect that something went wrong.
The League tried to use satellites to find the plane but so far no results.
Aqualad, the Team and the League tried to search the ocean themselves but found nothing thus far.
Batman frowned and muttered, "Where are they?"
Jack, Artemis and Wally trudged down the narrow tunnel.
The tunnel was long, narrow and had seawater leaking in. Finally, the three got to the end where the tunnel deposited them into a large, half flooded cave.
Atlas spoke urgently "I'm right outside the submarine bay but I can't get in. I need you lot for that. My family can't be more than a couple hundred yards away. Please hurry!"
"We're on our way" said Wally. The three quickened their pace.
They waded through the flooded cave and followed a path that snaked around a collapsed section of the cave. Eventually they reached a steep incline.
Jack, Artemis and Wally hurried up the incline and they saw that they had reached the submarine bay. It was a spacious cavern, faintly illuminated by a set of lights hanging from the ceiling.
The group saw that it had a single submarine waiting by a dock.
Wally told Atlas "We're here" "Good" said Atlas "Now, hit the switch on the console in the control booth. I think its time to shake hands and get acquainted".
The three teenagers started climbing towards the control booth that sat behind a mountain of rubble.
As they made their way to the booth, a new voice came on the radio "You've had your fun, but enough is enough" growled the voice.
Jack and the others looked at the radio in shock. It was Andrew Ryan.
Andrew Ryan continued in a threatening tone, "If you press that button, you'll learn what it means to truly be my enemy". The radio went silent.
Jack, Artemis and Wally looked at each other nervously. From the sound of Ryan's voice, he wasn't making an idle threat. He sounded like he was willing to do anything to them.
But they continued on despite Andrew Ryan's threat. They had to help Atlas and get out of Rapture.
Jack entered the control booth and he found the control panel by the window over looking the submarine bay.
He glanced at Artemis and Wally saying, "Here goes nothing" he flipped the switch.
Suddenly the lights in the control booth went out and the lights in the submarine bay began to flicker.
They heard a beeping and a loud rumbling. Artemis looked out the window and saw a man standing on the docks by the submarine. It was Atlas.
He looked up at the control booth and waved and said on the radio "Did you blow a fuse up there? I can't see a damn thing in the control booth"
"I don't know" said Artemis.
Atlas scratched his head and held up a hand "Give me a tick, I'll get you out of there. But first I have to get to my family".
Atlas turned and he quickly sprinted down the dock to get around the Submarine.
As he ran, Artemis and the others heard Atlas shouting over the radio "Moira! Can you hear me in there darlin'?"
Suddenly Andrew Ryan's voice cut in. He said sarcastically "So dark in there, if only your friend could see what is happening" Jack looked up and saw a Splicer drop down onto the sub from the ceiling.
Andrew Ryan continued, "If only you could help, but I'm afraid all you can do is sit and watch"
Suddenly a large pipe dropped down in front of the control booth's window followed by other debris. Suddenly a cloud of smoke began to flood the submarine bay.
There were gunshots and Atlas shouted over the radio "Splicers! They're everywhere! I can't hold them back. Get my family out of here and we'll regroup!"
The radio went silent. More gunshots rang out and there were shouts coming from the submarine bay.
Wally found a second door that led out of the control booth and the three quickly left the booth.
A few Splicers tried to intercept them but Wally knocked them out at super speed and Jack zapped them with his lightning.
The three hurried down a long flight of stairs. Up ahead they saw the submarine. "We're almost there!" said Wally.
Suddenly there was a loud scream and an object dropped down onto the submarine and the submarine exploded with a loud boom. The force of the explosion knocked Artemis, Wally and Jack backwards a few feet.
Artemis heard Atlas scream over the radio "the sub! NO!"
Artemis, Wally and Jack stared in horror at the burning, twisted remains of the submarine.
As they stared at the obliterated submarine, Andrew Ryan said accusingly "You three drop into my city like Assassins but try to flee like thieves. You're not CIA spooks, Who are you children? And why did you come here?"
Jack, Artemis and Wally said nothing.
Ryan growled, "Well there are two ways to deal with a mystery. Uncover it or eliminate it"
The three sat there for a few moments, staring at the ruined submarine. Everything they had went through to escape and rescue Atlas's family went up in flames before their very eyes.
After a few moments of silence, Atlas came on the radio sounding very distraught "Get out! Get out now! Get to Arcadia!" they heard him sobbing "Oh Christ…oh God".
Artemis managed to force herself to concentrate.
She got to her feet and helped Wally up. The archer turned to Jack and saw that he looked horrified.
Artemis tapped Jack's shoulder "Jack?" "I did it," breathed Jack in horror "I caused this"
"What are you talking about?" asked Artemis looking confused.
Jack looked up at her, his eyes were watering a little "I killed them. Andrew Ryan said not to do it but I didn't listen and now Atlas's wife and child are dead" he buried his face in his hands "I should've listened!"
"It's not your fault" said Artemis, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder.
"Yeah" said Wally in agreement "It was Andrew Ryan who killed them, not you". They heard shouts in the distance that were growing closer.
Artemis helped Jack to his feet "Come on, we've got to go".
Wally, Jack and Artemis fled. They ran down a tunnel till they reached a bulkhead door.
Artemis and Wally opened the bulkhead and the three scrambled through.
Jack, Wally and Artemis scrambled through another narrow tunnel that was packed with crates.
Atlas sobbed "Moira…Patrick…Ain't that just like Ryan. Wait's until we're almost out and he pulls the string"
"I'm sorry" mumbled Jack.
Atlas sniffed "It's not your fault lad. It's Ryan, it's always Ryan's fault. I should've expected this but I was just too caught up with getting out of this damn city"
"What do we do?" asked Wally.
Atlas growled, "We'll find the bastard, we'll find him and tear his heart out!"
After ascending a narrow set of stairs, they found another bulkhead. Jack opened it and they found themselves in a lush green forest.
It was vast. It stretched on as far as they could see. A sweet scent of exotic flowers drifted through the air. Grass, flowers and other plant life grew freely. There was a large stone fountain that was overgrown with vines and grass.
A cobble stoned path snaked through the garden from one end to the other, illuminated by small lanterns. Fireflies and other insects fluttered about the gardens, paying no attention to the three teenagers.
Artemis breathed, "Beautiful" "Nice change of scenery" said Wally.
The radio crackled and Andrew Ryan's voice spoke "I came to this place to build the impossible, you came to rob what you could never build like the Huns gaping at the gates of Rome. Even the air you breathe sponged from my account"
"We're not here to rob anything!" said Wally
"We just want to go home, you nutcase" added Artemis.
Andrew Ryan said nothing. After a moment he said "A likely story. Well breathe deep children, so that you might remember the taste".
Once Ryan went quiet, Artemis muttered "What a creep"
"I just wanna punch his lights out" said Wally.
Jack glanced around at the vast, green gardens and wondered aloud "Where to now?"
Atlas spoke "Get to the bathysphere in the Rolling Hills, it will take you straight to the devil himself" Atlas's voice became more venomous "and then…all debts will be paid in full".
Jack looked around and he saw some signs that pointed towards a door at the far end of the garden that read "Rapture Metro, Arcadia Glens"
"That way" said Jack pointing towards the door.
Artemis, Wally and Jack approached the door. They walked past a fresh water waterfall and crossed a bridge that ran across a stream.
On the other side of the door, there were several hallways branching off in several different directions. Artemis pointed to one saying, "Lets go this way".
They trudged down the hall. Jack looked around them as they journeyed along. The floor was completely overtaken by grass and the doorways were covered with ivy and vines. As they continued down the hall, Artemis heard soft laughter echoing down the hall.
She frowned and her grip tightened around her weapon. They reached a dead end.
Jack suggested, "Lets go back". They doubled back and they found a set of stairs that led to an upper floor.
On the upper floor they were in an empty room where the floor was wood and had fallen support beams.
They followed a set of signs and arrows through a series of doors and walkways until they came to a set of doors marked "Arcadia Glens" .
Artemis, Jack and Wally entered the glens and began searching for a sign that might point them in the direction of the Rapture Metro.
As they searched, Artemis noticed a Gatherers Garden vending machine and saw a large teddy bear sitting at the foot of the machine.
The archer approached the stuffed bear and noticed an envelope attached to it, addressed to Jack.
She waved Jack over and he picked up the envelope. In the envelope was a note.
Jack read aloud "Even in the gathering dark, you chose to light a candle. You have saved the little ones when you might have shown cruelty. Here is something to show you my thanks, Sincerely, Bridgid Tenenbaum".
Wally frowned "Why did she give you a bear?"
"She said she was going to reward me if I saved those girls" said Jack. He turned the bear over in his hands saying, "Uh, it's a nice bear but how is this gone to help?"
He noticed a zipper on the back of the bear. Jack unzipped it and reached inside the bear then withdrew a bottle filled with red liquid marked "ADAM".
Jack smiled "Now that's what I'm talking about".
Wally glanced over his shoulder and saw a sign pointing towards a thick wall of bushes and vines saying "Rolling Hills".
The speedster nudged Artemis and said, "I'm going to scout up ahead"
"Ok, just be careful" said Artemis. Wally took off at super speed.
Artemis glanced back at Jack who was staring at the bear intently.
The archer frowned "Jack?" "Hmm?" said Jack
"Are you ok?" asked Artemis.
Jack nodded slowly. He stared at the bear for a few moments. Jack had seen the bear before, a long time ago.
Suddenly a bright light blinded Jack and he found himself standing in the middle of a tiny, cramped apartment. He looked around and saw that it had a couch, a table and a door leading to another room.
A voice spoke to him "Ok, open your eyes"
Jack spun around and he saw a man in a sharp business suit holding out a teddy bear to him.
The teddy bear is exactly the same as the one Jack was holding; only it was cleaner and newer.
Jack looked up at the man. The man was bald and had a thin mustache.
Jack accepted the bear and the man said happily "Happy birthday champ" felt a warm sensation spread through his body. The same sensation when he was at Dandy Dentist and when he saw Tenenbaum.
The man smiled and he tousled Jack's hair "Since your ma' is busy at work, I thought you would like to spend some time with your Uncle Frank".
There was silence and the man named Frank grinned "Great, and since its your birthday you decide where we're going" more silence.
Frank nodded "Arcadia it is and then maybe we can swing by Fort Frolic on the way back" the man winked at Jack "Don't tell your ma' we went to Fort Frolic or else she'll kill me".
Light blinded Jack once more and he found himself back in the middle of Arcadia Glens.
Artemis tapped Jack on the back "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I-I'm fine" stuttered Jack.
Wally returned and he said, "All clear, lets go". Artemis and Wally turned and made their way towards Rolling Hills.
Jack pocketed the ADAM and carefully placed the teddy bear back on the ground in front of the vending machine and he jogged after the two.
The three pushed their way through thick foliage until they stumbled into a clearing.
There were several doorways leading to other areas of Arcadia. Ahead of them was one marked "Rolling Hills".
Atlas said, "Rolling Hills is just over yonder and so is the bathysphere station. After that, it's a straight shot to Ryan".
Artemis, Jack and Wally entered Rolling Hills and they began following a steep slope downwards. The three passed through a quiet glen that had a small waterfall.
They passed through a doorway at the far end of the glen and they saw the Rapture Metro sign glowing in the distance. Before they could get there, there was a loud metallic groan and a bulkhead slammed shut in front of the Metro's door.
There was another slam, the three turned and saw that another bulkhead sealed off the way they came in. There was a loud hiss and green smoke began to drift down from the ceiling.
Andrew Ryan spoke in a thoughtful tone "On the surface I once bought a forest. The parasites claimed that it belonged to God and that it should become a park, so the rabble can rest slack jawed under the canopy and pretend that it was Paradise on earth. Congress moved to nationalize but I burnt the entire forest to the ground. God didn't plant the seeds of Arcaida, I did." and then there was silence.
Over the hissing of the green smoke, Atlas breathed, "That's not good"
"What is it?" asked Wally
"I need you to listen to me carefully" said Atlas "I'm no botanist but I think Ryans trying to kill Arcadia."
"You're right" muttered Jack. He pointed towards a nearby tree and they saw all the leaves turn brown, shrivel up and fall to the ground.
Atlas continued "All the oxygen in Rapture comes from these trees. No trees, no oxygen."
"What do we do?" said Artemis as she looked around for an exit.
Atlas sighed, "Give me a second to think". The room was slowly flooding with green poison gas and the plants started to shrivel up and die. Atlas exclaimed, "I got it!" he told the three teenagers in an urgent tone "Ryan has a woman running Arcadia, an old biddy named Langford. An nice woman but she's not above doing a dirty job for a dollar"
"What's she got to do with this?" asked Jack.
Atlas coughed and said, "If she's still kickin' I'm sure she'll want to save her trees, after all she planted the damn things. She should be in the research labs"
"Over there!" said Wally. On the other side of the glen, they saw a door that had a sign saying "Langford Research labs".
The three took off running towards the research lab, trying not to breathe in the poisonous gas.
An automated voice droned loudly "Oxygen Levels critical, initiate lockdown"
Jack, Wally and Artemis burst through the door and hurried down a corridor until they came to a lock door with a television screen hanging by it.
The screen flickered and the image of a dark haired woman appeared.
She scowled at the three teenagers and she gasped "My trees!" she looked to Jack, Artemis and Wally "It wasn't you was it?"
They shook their heads "It was Andrew Ryan," said Wally.
The woman's eyes widened and she snarled "Ryan!"
"You must be Mrs. Langford" said Jack.
Langford nodded "I am" "Can you help us?" asked Artemis.
Langford nodded again "I can. I believe I have something that can stop all this. But I need a sample of a Rosa Gallica from the Grotto and please hurry, there's not much time!"
"I'm on it!" said Wally. He turned and he zipped off.
The speedster sped through the thick poisonous gas could, weaving past Splicers who were accusing one another for the poison gas, making his way back towards the glen.
He paused in front of a sign that pointed to several different areas in Arcadia. Wally spotted one that said "The Waterfall Grotto".
The speedster hurried to the Grotto, ducking electrified traps, racing past automated turrets and avoiding a mob of Splicers attacking each other.
Wally waded through the water and he plucked as many of the roses he could.
As he raced back to the research laboratory, he heard a girl coughing and he made a quick detour.
Jack and Artemis finally arriving, carrying a few roses in one hand and a Little Sister in one arm.
Jack frowned "Why'd you bring her?"
"She was choking out there" explained Wally "The Big Daddy was being attacked by Splicers on all sides. I had to save her before the Splicers got to her"
"Good thinking" said Artemis.
Jack cured the Little Sister and he escorted her to a vent that was back down the corridor. Once the Little Sister was safely in the vent, Jack returned to Wally and Artemis.
Langford eyed the roses in Wally's hand "You brought the Rosa Gallica?"
"Yep" said Wally holding up the roses. Langford said impatiently "What are you waiting for, an engraved invitation? Put the roses in the Pneumo and get in here".
Wally put the roses into the metal bin that stood by the door and the door slid open. Artemis, Jack and Wally entered.
As they walked into the office, they heard Langford mutter, "Yes, this is perfect. I've got just the thing to put the green back in this forest. Quick, meet me in my office."
The three passed through the abandoned office and walked through a messy laboratory.
Jack, Wally and Artemis hurried up a set of stairs till they reached a dimly lit lab that was isolated by a bulkhead door and a thick, shatter proof window.
Langford was by her desk analyzing the roses Wally retrieved. Jack tried to open the door but the door was locked.
Suddenly, Andrew Ryan spoke singsong on the loudspeaker, "Julie, you made a business deal you and I, did we not?"
"That doesn't sound good" muttered Jack. Julie Langford looked up in fear.
Andrew Ryan continued "Money changed hands. Let me read to you from the agreement. Section 3 sub section 4"
"Mr. Ryan" began Langford but Ryan cut her off "Ryan Industries maintains exclusive rights to the creation, use and exploitation of the Lazarus vector formula. Ownership is now mine. Goodbye Julie".
Green gas began to flood the lab. Julie Langford began coughing and she ran for the door.
Jack tried to help her open it but neither of them could get the door to budge. Langford's coughing intensified as the window began to fog up from the gas.
Artemis tried to smash the window but she didn't even scratch the glass. The three tried in vain to help Langford but their efforts failed.
Jack noticed that Langford was writing something on the fogged up window. At first he didn't know what it was than when she finished, Jack realized that she was writing numbers.
They saw Langford's handprint appear on the glass and it slid down to the floor, followed by a thud.
The bulkhead swung open and the gas quickly vented out of the lab through the air vents.
Atlas groaned, "Every time we get a yard ahead, Ryan comes along and moves the goal line".
Jack, Artemis and Wally rushed inside and they found Langford lying on the floor by the window. Artemis knelt down and checked her pulse.
Julie Langford was dead.
Jack scowled "Ryan is starting to get on my nerves" "Same here" said Wally.
Artemis noticed a painting on the wall that was crooked. She went over and she moved the painting aside, revealing a safe. Artemis glanced over her shoulder and saw the numbers on the window.
The archer used the combination and the safe opened.
Inside the safe were several items, including a audio tape and a key.
Jack put the tape into the tape player he found in the Medical Pavilion and pressed play.
Julie Langford's voice spoke, sounding annoyed "What's the point of being a damn genius if the only ones around to appreciate are a bunch of spliced up morons."
She sighed "I cracked the Vector or at least I'm ninety nine percent sure I am. I just need a bud of Rosa Gallica to confirm my analysis. Some distilled water, a bit of chlorophyll and enzymes extracted from Apis Mellifera. That's right, sweethearts: honeybee spit."
Wally scratched his head "Where are we going to get Honeybee spit?"
"The Market" said Jack. The speedster looked at Jack dubiously "How do you know?"
"Says right here" said Jack, nodding to a slip of paper on the table. On the table there was a slip of paper that had a list of the ingredients and where Langford acquired them.
Most were in the lab but the Honeybee spit was at the Market.
Wally nodded "Ok, now what?"
"We mix this thing ourselves" said Jack "You go get the spit since you're the fastest one"
"Got it" said Wally. Jack handed him the key from the safe and the speedster took off.
Jack turned to Artemis "Come on, lets go get the Lazarus Vector ready".
The two returned to the labs in the lower level and quickly gathered the ingredients for the Lazarus Vector.
Jack pulled on a pair of gloves and goggles then quickly got to work mixing what components they had.
Artemis scurried around the lab gathering the ingredients that Langford had collected and passed them to Jack.
He mixed them and followed Langford's recording.
Within a few minutes, Wally returned covered in honey and cuts.
He handed Jack the bottle of honeybee spit saying "Nasty bees, kept stinging and buzzing" the speedster breathed deeply and said "Sorry for taking so long, the market was crawling with Splicers, I had to take a few detours"
"It's ok" said Artemis "As long as your alive, that's all that matters".
Jack emptied the contents of the bottle into the mix and he mixed it.
Atlas asked "Have you got all the components for the Lazarus Vector?"
"Yeah" said Jack
"Good, now take the whole witch's brew and put it in the central misting control, that should clear the fog right up" instructed Atlas.
Carefully, Jack poured the complete Lazarus Vector into a beaker and he carried it up to Langford's office. Artemis and Wally followed.
Once they reached the office, Jack went to the large console that sat in front a window that overlooked Arcadia.
There was a small slot on the consol and Jack poured the Lazarus Vector into it. He punched a button on the consol and the Lazarus Vector drained from the slot. The machine sputtered loudly and rumbled, trying to process the liquid.
Atlas groaned, "Listen to the damn thing, how long is this going to take?"
Andrew Ryan cut in "It seems Julie's death didn't provide a clear enough lesson to you. Perhaps this will".
The office began to quake and there were some muffled explosions.
Artemis frowned "What was that?" "Ryan's got your number" said Atlas "You better seal up the entrance before you receive company".
Wally quickly went down to the front entrance and he threw the switch that controlled the doors. The doors slid shut and the locks clicked into place. A few moments after the doors were sealed, there were shouts coming from outside and thuds against the door.
Atlas sighed in relief "Good work. That'll buy you some time".
Wally began to relax a little but he tensed up when he saw that the Splicers were trying to cut their way through the door with a blowtorch.
The speedster raced back to Langford's office. "They're coming!" said Wally.
Jack cocked his gun and said, "We got to hold them off until the Lazarus Vector takes effect"
"How?" asked Artemis.
Jack looked at her than he held up his gun "With these?" "You want to…kill them?" said Wally in shock. Jack frowned "In a situation like this, its kill or be killed".
For the duration of their stay in Rapture, Wally and Artemis did their best to only wound or incapacitate their foes but now they were backed into a corner.
Artemis shook her head "This isn't right"
"I didn't say it was" said Jack.
In the distance they heard Splicers shouting complaints. After a few moments, they heard a loud metallic thud and the Splicers cheering.
Jack gulped "Here they come".
After they took up positions, Artemis, Jack and Wally saw the first few Splicers appear in the doorway. Jack knocked them over with his lightning.
Once they fell, more Splicers arrived.
Wally used his speed to knocked them back a bit. One Splicer almost attacked Wally from behind but Jack managed to shoot it in the arm.
More and more Splicers kept coming while Wally and Jack kept them at bay with their powers and weapons.
For several mintues, they managed to hold their own but pretty soon, Jack was running low on bullets and energy.
Suddenly, there was a loud beep and Artemis turned to the consol. The Lazarus Vector was complete.
The archer flipped the switch to deploy the Lazarus Vector. Before her very eyes, the trees, the grass and the flowers of Arcadia began to grow again.
The poisonous gas slowly vanished and the browned grass began to turn green.
Everyone stopped and saw the plants of Arcadia regenerate.
The Splicers suddenly began to retreat and head down to Arcadia, leaving behind the stunned and wounded Splicers.
Atlas cheered and said "You did it! Well done lass. Take a deep breath and enjoy it, then stop by Rolling Hills. Once there, it's a straight shot to Ryan's house".
Artemis sighed in relief and stared out at the green gardens.
As the three made their way through the abandoned Rapture Metro station, the radio crackled and Andrew Ryan growled "Why are you so resistant to the traditional methods of separating a man from his soul? You're not CIA are you? You belong to Atlas"
"You could say that" said Wally "Why, do you know him?"
Ryan grunted, "The one roach I can't seem to exterminate"
"You won't be getting rid of us or him that easily" said Artemis.
Ryan hissed "Don't worry, I just need time to find the proper poison".
The radio went silent. Wally smiled "I think he likes us".
The three descended down a long flight of stairs till they reached the bathysphere. Jack, Artemis and Wally climbed in and Jack hit the switch.
The bathysphere closed and the sphere sank into the sea, carrying them to their next destination.
End of chapter.
(a/n: I hoped you enjoyed that. Please review)
