I'm back and again I'm sorry. I warned you but I feel bad chapter are taking me so much time. I try my best to write fast when I have some free time but with some much work to do every week, it's almost impossible *sigh*

Anyway here you have a new chapter and this one is a long one. Hope you enjoy it!

Passing the door, we entered at the control room of the airship. Nothing had changed: the captain's chair, the coordinate controls, the voxphone with the last words of "me"... suddenly there was a strong quake, as if an explosion had occurred somewhere.

'Vox Populi. We seem to have arrived right in the middle of the siege.'- I mumbled feeling a little nervous.

'That means that other you and I are probably inside the factory... in our way up to the First Lady.'

'Hey, what happens if we met our other "yos"?'

'We won't.'

'Really?' – said a little surprised.

'Of course. If we didn't meet ourselves before, how are we going to meet them now?'- that made sense.

'Right. Let's look for that lab.'

We walked through the long corridor that was leading to the factory and couldn't help remembering everything that happened after Daisy's death. When Elizabeth ran down that same hallway and tried to escape from me, calling herself monster... I never told this to Elizabeth but I'll never forgive myself for allowing her to suffer that experience.

When we reached the end, we found the doors closed.

'These doors lead to the Fink's office...'

'Yes but maybe there's another way to reach the outside. I don't want to waste a pick having other options.'

'Well, the only alternative I see right now is that vent.' - I said pointing to the hole in the wall.

'Hmm... it's big enough so we can pass through there.'

'Then let's go.' – I helped Elizabeth to enter to the holes and followed her. The tbe was a little tight for me but at least I could move. We moved slowly and heard voices in the background.

'I've taken your counsel, and you done me a good service. But I will NOT hurt the boy…'- Whait a minute... that was Daisy's voice.

We continued moving and we turned, saw a grating in which we could see a room. There were Fink's son, Daisy... and Lutece. Elizabeth looked at me confused, as asking if I knew something about it but I shook my head. I didn't understand what was going on.

'I will see Fink and Comstock burn, but I will not hold the son to account for the deeds of his father.' - added Diasy.

'You've misunderstood us.' – said then Rosalind with insistent voice.

'We neither asked you to harm the child…' '…nor did we promise that yours would be the hand that would set Comstock's would afire.' 'A famous man once said...' 'And a famous man shall say...' 'I may reach the mountaintop...' '…but I fear I shall never visit the valley below.' - again with their confusing chats.

'But... you mean I won't live to see the... no...' – muttered Daisy.

'It's up to you what matters more.' 'Your part in the play...' '…or the play itself.' 'Someone is coming.' 'She'll arrive a girl.' 'She must leave a woman.' - Wait... are they talking about...? No, they can't...

'And what makes the difference between a girl and a woman?'

'Blood.' – replied Daisy. I paled when I understood what was happening. I saw how Elizabeth began to move quickly through the vent and followed while still listening.

'Your part in the play.' 'Or the play itself.'

'Turn her into a killer, how?'

'Give the girl no choice.' 'And she will be forced to make one.'

All the appreciation I had for the Lutece disappeared. Daisy never had the intention to hurt the child but they convinced her to do something so that would cause what I wanted to avoid at all costs: Elizabeth committing kill. And for what? Make her more mature? I was furious but now I was only thinking with Elizabeth. She was moving fast and I had to make a great effort to follow her.

'Elizabeth!' - I called her with low voice to avoid any attention but she ignored me. I couldn't imagine how she was feeling. After passing underneath the room and going down, I finally got to the end of the vent and saw Elizabeth away. On the ground, I saw how she clenched her fists and was shaking.

'Elizabeth...'

'Daisy had never intended to hurt the child... and I killed her. These Lutece... '- said mentioning the name with contempt. - '… made sure that I killed her. And all for what?! Kill Comstock?!'

'Elizabeth, I know you're angry-'

'Angry?!' - said looking at me this time and saw she was crying. I hate seeing her like this. - 'I'm not angry, Marc. I'm FURIOUS. I killed for nothing.'

'But she also wanted in that way.'- I said trying to reason with her but she shook her head. I sighed and walked to her. - 'Though I'll never forgive them for what they caused… maybe if it hadn't happened in that way, probably we wouldn't have stopped Comstock.'

'Perhaps... but what I suffered when I did it... I... I wasn't ready.'- said with broken voice and cried. I approached from behind and hugged her her.

'I know but you got over it.'- I said kissing her head. I turned her and wiped her tears as she tried to calm down but it was still too nervous to do it. I sighed and hugged her again. - 'I don't like seeing you like this.'

'Sorry...'

'You should already know that you shouldn't apologize.' - I joked trying to cher her and stroked her back. She pouted and I smiled. Then I heard footsteps and looked behind. I saw a Vox pointing me with his weapon. He looked at me closely and when he recognized me, his eyes widened and lowered his weapon.

'You... you're Marc Clark! The hero of the Vox!'

'Huh... yes?' - Then I remembered that Daisy still claimed us as her enemies. I put Elizabeth behind me and I focused on the Vox. Maybe he could be helpful... - 'Hey, we are looking after Fink's lab. You know, just in case he's hiding something big that can be helpful for the cause. You know where it is?'

'Of course, sir. You have to go through those doors and then go to another entrance to the right. There you will enter to the private quarters of Fink. From there you can access the lab.'

'Fine thanks.'

'It is a pleasure to serve you, Mr. Clark.'- maid making a salute and ran.

'That was easy.' - said Elizabeth as she watched the Vox leave.

'We'd better go to the lab before Daisy make things more difficult.'

Both followed what the Vox said and tried to avoid at all costs someone could see us. If I was recognized, probably they were going to go to the lab. When we arrived at the private quarters, besides the luxury of the room, I couldn't help noticing a great detail: a huge clock on the ground.

'Impressive...' - I muttered fascinated as we descended. The handle was moving as the time passed and I could see the wheels spinning. There were 4 doors around the clock. Elizabeth approached to the center of the clock and examined it.

'Here's a slot, as if it could fit a piece. I think the doors are opened depending on Fink's activities and this clock is what controls them. If we could find a way to make the time advance, we could open the door of the lab.'

'Do you have any idea where the key or whatever might be?'

'In Fink's most personal room. And only can think with…'- said pointing to a door with a sign that said "Sleep".

Both went down to the room and... well, I thought Fink was crazy. But after seeing the room, I think he was really mad. The room only had a single bed facing several screens showing different parts of the factory. It seems that the man was too obsessed about control everything.

'I think Fink had a serious mental problem. This room looks like something out of a horror film.'- I said looking around and I felt chills.

'In Columbia few people are good mentally.'- Elizabeth saw a vitrine on a corner and took a crank. - 'I think that this is what allows change the time of the clock.'

We came back up and went to the center of the clock. After fixing the handle, I turned the crank to move the huge handle to the door of "Job" and I was surprised by the big shake I had when I turned it.

'Isn't this a lot of work to open a simple door?' - I said, rubbing my hands.

'Yeah, well, Fink liked to give a lot of work.'

'Well said.' - said with a smile. Both went through the door and stepped into an elevator. While this went down, I heard voices and looked at Elizabeth. - 'Have you heard that?'

'Yeah. I think someone's close.'

'Fitzroy. Listen, I got you your guns. Now give me back my airship... - wait, that sounds familiar... The elevator went down and through the window saw another elevator with a very familiar couple.

'They are... us.' - said Elizabeth softly. I saw our young "selves" and memories invaded me. We have experienced so much together in such a short time... I saw the other "Marc" trying to convince Daisy but I already knew how the story ended. I sighed and looked at Elizabeth. I saw her sad expression and took her hand.

'Hey, you okay?' - I asked as I approached to her.

'When I pushed you to that tear... I was about to fall apart. I still remember all the times I tried to reach you and couldn't find you... I missed you so much.'- she muttered and put my arm around her.

'But now we are together. And that's all that matters.' - I said trying to cheer her up but she pulled away from me.

'You don't understand...' - she said and looked at her little pinky crestfallen. - 'When the big daddy hit you... when I saw you on the floor with that horrible wound and the blood... I was terrified. I wanted to avoid at all costs lose you and even if I tried to keep you alive, I couldn't do anything. All the books I've read in my life and my own power were useless...'

'Elizabeth...' - I approached to her and then she looked me in the eyes.

'You're the only friend I ever had in my entire life, Marc. And I won't lose you again.' - Said with determination in her eyes but saw she was going to cry at any moment. Without hesitation I stood in front of her and hugged her tightly.

'As I said, we are now together. And that's all that matters.'

Then I moved away and kissed her. She hugged my neck as if he never wanted to leave me and I felt his pain. When we stopped to get our air, she buried her head in my neck. I wanted to comfort her, wanted to say that everything was fine but I couldn't do it until we weren't out of Columbia... out of Rapture. But I wouldn't let that mad of Atlas put a hand on her.

The elevator doors opened but we didn't move. I wanted us to be in that way much longer but we had to keep moving.

'We must continue. Booker is waiting for us and we have yet to find that sample.'- I said with a sigh but didn't let Elizabeth go.

'You're right... Let's go.' - She said, this time walking away but holding my hand. We went and entered to a large room with Vox banners hanging from the ceiling and waving by the breeze coming from a large broken window. I saw several Vox watching around and noticed they seemed a little nervous.

'I think they won't recognize me this time. Be careful and don't separate from me.'- I told to Elizabeth. She nodded and both moved silently across the room.

We saw a man smoking quietly and took the opportunity to approach from behind and knock him out. After that, I saw another approaching and hurried to hide in a nearby pillar. When he came near and saw the body, he was going to alarm the others but I took him and I knocked him out before he could. With this area cleaned, we passed a few doors and got to another room where the great golden statue of Fink was. Thanks to a sign, I knew how to get to the lab.

'We're close.'

'I see a lot of enemies.' - said Elizabeth as she used her vigor. – 'There are many rooms and Vox are everywhere. We must be careful. '

'All right. Come on.'

We walked silently going down thorough a stairs and saw the bodies of the scientists who were killed by the Vox. When we reached the second floor, we saw several enemies patrolling the balcony and rushed into a room. While we were moving, I was keeping an eye on our enemies but they didn't see us.

'I think we lost them.'

We decided to go around the area and noticed that it was the operating room of the Handyman. When we entered to the main room, I felt chills. A handyman was lying on a huge litter with high voltage wires connected around. It looked like something out of a Frankenstein movie... we kept moving in search of an alternate exit and all we found were parts of arms and legs of handymen, hearts inside spheres ready to be used and many other disturbing things.

'This is starting to scare me.' – muttered Elizabeth.

'Now we are two.'

After hanging around, finally we found another exit and both relieved sigh. Note to self: never to go in there again. We kept going down and, after seeing that no one was following us, we entered to the quarantined zone. In the reception, I saw a turret and hurried to dodge and then get behind it and turn it off. After that, I noticed that the entrance to the laboratory was completely blocked by the emergency system.

'These fences are quite sturdy and will be impossible to force them. To enter we should almost use a RPG to open them.'

'From this window we can access to a flying boat of the Vox. From there we may find another way forward '. – pointed Elizabeth and went there. Looking around, I saw a hook that allowed us to get to other windows from the building. After going through them, I noticed a great showcase and inside there were two very familiar prototypes.

'Wait, doesn't that look like a big daddy?' - I said approaching.

'And the other seems like Songbird.'

'Oh, definitely Suchong and Fink and shared their research.'

'As Luteces. Cross-reality collaboration.' – we entered to a recording studio and I turned on a camera. On the screen of the wall appeared a tear that showed a big daddy. - 'It all makes a kind of sense. The Little Sisters and the Big Daddies. Songbird and me.'

'Constants and variables. It seems that everything is connected in one way or another.'- We spent to the next room which was filled with cages stacked in rows. Elizabeth wrinkled her nose and covered it with her hand.

'Uggh... This smell…'

'I think here they kept animals.'

'For what?'

'I'm not sure but I guess to experiment with them.' - We went to the back door and went down some stairs. - 'The atmosphere is highly charged.'

'This place has been well guarded and hidden.'

When we reach the end of the stairs and opened the door, we saw something inside that as really disturbing: in an observation chamber there was a gorilla, completely immobilized and with a kind of helmet that was connected to a machine. Seeing the condition of the animal, I had a feeling it was dead but not for a long time.

'What the hell...'

'Definitely they were experimenting with them.' - said Elizabeth with a sigh. I saw a lever and activated it. Next to the gorilla, a trapdoor opened and appeared a kind of doll.

'What is all this?'

'Imprinting. That's a wire mother. If you separate a gorilla from its mother, it will imprint on almost anything, even with this kind of doll.'

'Which interest would have Fink by doing that?'

'Songbird. He wanted him to imprint on me.'- I saw her face as she watched the poor gorilla and took her hand.

'C'mon. Let's get that sample and get out of here quickly.'- We went to the next room and if the showcase with the gorilla was disturbing, what was in that room horrified us. In a long, wide corridor there were numerous booths with some kind of dirty liquid inside and dead animals floating in them.

'Good God...'- muttered in disgust.

'These poor things… Fink couldn't get them to imprint… so he left them to die.'

Keeping close to each other, we left that room quickly and went to the next part of the lab. We saw a desk with a chalkboard and saw different notes with supposedly a drawing of Elizabeth and Songbird. What caught my attention is that all entries had been crossed out and said "Imprinting failed".

"Imprinting failed"... That can't be right. Clearly they formed a connection between Songbird and me.'

'By the way, how did you meet him?' - I asked curiously.

'I don't know... I was very young and don't remember very well how it happened. I just remember him there.'- said with a shrug.

We went into the next room and noticed how my level of confusion increased. From a observation window I saw a kind of mechanical skeleton that was shaped like the head of Songbird and moved as a projector was showing different pictures.

'Wait... that's not Songbird?' - I said taking my gun.

'It must be a prototype or something. Don't think it's dangerous.' - Carefully I walked past the bird and actually it wasn't dangerous. It didn't even notice me.

'They tried hypnotherapy.' - said Elizabeth with surprise after reading a document about Songbird.

'What happened?'

'What had to happen.'- Said with a sigh.

After going through another vent as the only way to move forward, we entered to a dark room. All I could see through a small light was a camera. I turned it and this began to project a video with the title "Songbird imprinting on the subject." Then appeared the bird lying on the ground without moving and the tube that gave him oxygen squirming around. Then a little girl appeared and approached to him hesitantly.

'Marc...the little girl, it's me.' - she said approaching without taking her eyes off the screen. I stood beside her and had to make an effort to not smile at how cute she was. Then she gasped, as if suddenly remembered everything.

'My God... I re-remember... He... he was... had crashed into the tower... I guess he was in some sort of fight...' - said sadly as we watched the girl approaching to Songbird to get the oxygen tube and connecting again to his head. - 'I waited there, thinking... thinking that, I don't know, that something would happen... but... but he was just lay there... moaning. I could just...'

After connecting the tube, Songbird made an effort to get up but failed and fell back. The girl took one of his big fingers and tried to help him up but got nothing. When she saw he didn't react, little Elizabeth walked away but then the bird opened his hand to her. Realizing that, she ran to him and snuggled into his large hand as he drew her protectively. After that the projector turned off. After several seconds of silence, Elizabeth shook her head and her expression hardened.

'I should have left him there to die. I should have just... Maybe I would have stopped all this. Me, you. Comstock, Sally. It's like a wheel of blood that spins round and round.'- said bitterly. I put a hand on her shoulder and stood in front of her.

'Elizabeth, this will not last forever. We stopped Comstock once and... well, you stopped the others. We will get over this, as we've always done. As Sally... well, she's just another victim who has been caught in this circle but we will save her.'- I said with determination.

'I know. It's just... I'm tired of all this.' - said running a hand over her face and sighed. Then she looked into a room that was next and pointed to a table. - 'Look. There is the sample.'

I walked over the table and saw a jar with a sample of hair inside. I took it but then I noticed the other things that were there: stuffed animals, books, drawings of Songbird... I cursed as I realized.

'Shit, shit and shit. Simply… shit.'- said giving a long sigh of exasperation.

'What's wrong?' - asked Elizabeth as she approached.

'The hair sample that Suchong wanted was yours.'- Said passing her the jar. After examining it and assimilating the situation, her face became expressionless.

'Do you mind if I get out everything I'm feeling right now?' - asked strangely calmed as she returned me the sample.

'No. Of course not.'- I said shrugging. She turned away and suddenly caught her breath and let out the greatest curse I had heard in my entire life. Damn... that would have been able to scare the devil himself. After seeing that she had relaxed a bit and was trying to regain her composure, I approached somewhat intimidated.

'Huh... better?' - I asked still shocked.

'Yes. Better... yeah... Let's go before it decide to destroy the entire lab.'- said as she headed to the control room and followed her without question. Rule # 1: obey Elizabeth when she's angry or she will kill you. I saw the control panel and turned the lever that opened all the security doors. Then I saw the Vox enter.

'At this point the Vox should want us dead.'

'Avoiding them will be very difficult and we shouldn't waste ammo...' - she said a little nervous.

'Well, then will have to do this in the hard way.' - I saw a salts bottle close and drank it. Then I set my sky hook and looked at Elizabeth. - 'Search for useful tears. I'll try to beat them with blows.'

'Are you sure?' – seeing her doubts, I smiled.

'They won't beat me.'

After that I ran out the door and went to the Vox. I saw two guarding the stairs and hurried to get close to them. I hit the first's neck with the hook and then stomped the other against the wall before he could react. With these two KO, I quickly went upstairs and saw another Vox. This tried to raise his gun but I threw myself on him and threw him over the railing to sent him down.

I noticed as my shield repelled gunshots and saw a vox to one side and another a little further. I reacted quickly and sent an ice beam to freeze the closer one. I ran to him and hit him hard enough with my hook to break him into pieces. After that, I focused on the other enemy and once again ran toward him. I let my shield absorb the attacks and before it could broke, I pushed him to take him down. Already on the floor, we wrestled and he tried to hit me but I reacted quickly and gave him several blows on the head until he was unconscious. With that floor clear, I took a long breath and stood up as I gasped slightly.

'Okay, I think everything is-' - suddenly I heard more shots and before I could react, my shield broke and one of the bullets hit my shoulder. - 'FUCK!'

I saw three Vox below and rushed to go against the wall to try to avoid their attacks but it was difficult to escape unharmed, especially with my shield broken. Then there was a flash and saw a motorized patriot coming from the control room and began to attack the Vox. After it eliminated all them, Elizabeth appeared and went upstairs to reach me.

'Are you okay?' – she asked as she knelt next to me.

'Yes. I think the bullet just touched my shoulder.'- said as I took off my jacket and rose up the sleeve of my t-shirt to examine it. Then I heard footsteps and saw a Vox approaching from the side. I was too busy examining my wound and the patriot was down so we couldn't attack. When I went to pick up Elizabeth and protect her with my body, suddenly she pulled her crossbow and beat him only with one shot. While she kept the gun and went back to focus on my wound, I looked at her surprised.

'That was awesome.'- She smiled as she tied a cloth around my wound.

'I learned from the best.' - said looking at me a few seconds and I couldn't help laughing. I love this girl.

After going through all the lab again besides trying to avoid enemies, we climbed to the elevator to return to Fink's office.

'Do you think she really even had choice?' - asked Elizabeth thoughtfully.

'You mean Daisy?' - She nodded.

'Right about now I'm behind her with a pair of scissors, stabbing her in her back to protect a child she was never going to harm.' - said in a sad tone. - 'She chose to die for her revolution. And what about me? For all the endless worlds, all the infinite possibilities, did you and I ever even have a choice?'

'I could have given up or not go to Columbia and find a way back to home on my own. Instead I decided to stay for you and I don't regret for having done that.'- I said with a smile as I stroked her cheek. She shyly smiled and put her hand on mine. - 'Although it has become to almost an endless cycle, there is no rule that dictates what we have to do. We and the rest of the people who are involved are the one who decide this story ends.'

'Yeah... yeah, you're right.' – she nodded after assimilating my words and then smiled. - 'Then let's try this story has a good end.'

'Well said.' - I said patting her head gently. When the elevator doors opened, we went out of the office to meet outside of the clock tower full of dead enemies.

'It's clear that our other "yos" have already been here.'

'And good to know they already have cleared the way.'

We climbed up and when went through the glass doors of the tower, saw Daisy's body on the floor. Seeing as Elizabeth paled a little, I made her go and walked the long hallway to the boarding area. Then we saw the First Lady going away and the tear appeared at the end of the corridor.

'And again, the story continues.' - I mumbled as I watched the airship far and remembered everything that happened next.

'Hey, Marc.' – I looked at her and saw how she approached me. - 'About when you died...'

'You know I'm right. And I know how much you have suffered and- '

'Let me finish. Please.'- she asked me instantly. I nodded and she took a deep breath. - 'Well, when you died and then came back to life, I realized that anything could happen at any time and I might not get another chance... well, I don't like to call this "good bye" but...'

'But?' - Said when she didn't continue. She took my hands and looked me in the eyes.

'I want you to know that I love you and always will. And whatever happens, I'll always be with you.'- said as I saw her eyes showing me she meant it. I looked at her in awe and I went to say something but then I smiled funnily.

'I already knew it.' - Hearing that, she blinked several times and her expression changed to show anger.

'I'm trying to tell you something that I really feel about and you simply… arggh!' – she tried to get away but caught her and pulled her towards me to kiss her. She protested at first but then gave up in and responded to my kiss. When I pulled away to look at her, I saw that she was still angry despite the kiss.

'It was a joke, silly.'- said mockingly and she snorted.

'You're bad. Very bad. Even evil. Sometimes you show a really evil mind.'- said crossing her arms and avoided to look at me. I chuckled and grabbed her chin to force her to look at me.

'Going back to what you said, I also feel what you said. And you can be sure that I will do everything in my power to prevent it ends as a "good bye".'- I said with determination. She looked deeply at me and stroked my face. Then she smiled.

'Let's go. We have to give that sample and for sure Booker is worried about us.' - said bringing me to the tear. When we were in front, the size increased slightly. We saw how Booker realized our presence and the screen with the picture of Suchong turned on.

'You have the hair?'

'Yes.' - I said showing him the jar. - 'And if you want it, open the tear right now.'

After a few seconds, the tear's size increased and finally Elizabeth and I were able to leave Columbia. Booker approached to us and looked worried.

'How are you? I was really worried…'

'Fine. It wasn't so serious but sorry it took so much time.'

'Fool boy put hair sample in tube. Then business is finished.' – I got annoyed after he called me that.

'If you ever call me fool again, I assure you that the business won't be finished.'- I said angrily. I walked to the tube that was in front of the screen but then I noticed a strong earthquake. We looked around and I had a bad feeling.

'What's happening out there?' - I asked to Suchong while frowning.

'Bloodshed. Violence. But not relevant for our agreement.'- I gave a sigh and put the bottle into the tube. After that, the tube disappeared as the screen the lights turned off.

'What the hell...'

'I don't like this.'- muttered Booker and listened as he prepared his weapon.

'Suchong. Suchong! Stop you stupid games and open-' - suddenly the lights came back on and numerous screens were activated. After several seconds in which they were charging, the portrait of a man appeared and also a name: Ryan.

'Do you know what they call someone who enters a man's home uninvited? A thief.'

'Andrew Ryan.'- said Booker very nervous. Definitely we were in serious trouble.

And here ends. Tried my best to put some entertaining moments and made a good effort on the emotional scenes. Hope you enjoyed it and as always, I'll try to post the next one as soon as I can (things are getting in the interesting part so that should help me).

'Remember to write reviews and share your thoughts. Have a great day people!