"It's been an absolute pleasure workin' with a man like Dr. Gilbert Alexander. He's a real genius. Sometimes I find myself so happy to work I don't wanna go home. Even now... in these... difficult times... as long as my life is like this I can continue to look forward to tomorrow!"

-Rose Hampton

Rose took a long sip of her coffee and leaned back. She had been working for hours and was so exhausted. But she didn't mind. She enjoyed being useful, especially for someone she admired. Rose had been working for Gil Alexander for four years now. She thought he was a real genius. She was also especially proud of herself. She had helped Dr. Alexander create the new Little Sisters, and jump start the Rapture economy. Lead by Sofia Lamb, they would unite all of Rapture.

"Rose. How are you feeling?" Dr. Alexander.

"Fine sir, just a bit tired is all."

"That's fine, take your time. I just wanted to tell you that I just received word that Sofia will be coming in to check in on our progress."

"Alright, sir. I'll be there in a minute."

Dr. Alexander left, and Rose relaxed for a few more minutes then finished her drink and headed back to the lab, and she couldn't help but feel excited. They were testing ADAM, they were going to create the first Utopian! By combining the thoughts and memories of all the greatest minds of Rapture into one person the perfect human would be created. He would see everyone as equal, he would treat everyone fairly and allow all of his people to live as such. She could scarcely imagine it.

Before she reached the lab she could hear Sofia Lamb and Dr. Alexander inside.

That was fast...

Rose knew she shouldn't eavesdrop... but... she carefully took a spot close to the door and listened.

"Are you sure you're willing to do this?" Lamb.

"I am. It's the least I can do for the family... for you."

"Then we'll begin immediately. Tomorrow morning."

"Yes. I- I will use tonight to prepare. Good night."

Rose heard footsteps coming to the door so she ran back and started walking to the lab like she had just gotten there. Lamb walked past her, smiling at her, and walking away. Rose continued into the lab where Dr. Alexander sat.

"She's leaving already?"

He looked up. "Yes. She's very pleased with what we've accomplished."

"That's good. You've been working so hard, you deserve the recognition."

He smiled. "Thank you, Rose."

She smiled. "Well, I was thinking, tomorrow we might want to check on the Little Sisters progress on the-"

"Actually... uh Rose... I don't need you here tomorrow. In fact, I want you to take the week off."

"What?"

"You've been working so hard, I want you to take some time off to relax."

"Oh..."

He seemed to perk up. "But come Monday I expect to see you here bright and early."

"Yes sir!"

Rose smiled; she really did love Dr. Alexander. There was something about him she couldn't help but admire...

"Alright then, I'll see you Monday..." She wanted to say it... so desperately…

"See you then."

But she couldn't...

Rose spent the next few days in anticipation. She couldn't help but wonder what Dr. Lamb and Dr. Alexander were talking about. She finally decided to ask him on Monday. But a few days before she got a call in the middle of the night. She rolled around in her sleep for a moment, but was too tired to answer the phone, the next morning she noticed she had a message.

"Rose? This is Dr. Alexander... I uh... I don't have long to talk... but I need to tell you do not return to the office on Monday. Do NOT come back... something's happened and I... it's far too dangerous for you to come back... ever! Rose, I'm sorry things had to turn out this way... thank you for all your hard work over these past few years... thank you for everything... goodbye Rose. I'm so sorry."

Rose was shocked she didn't know what to think. Why would he do this? Why now? Did he really expect her to just... not come back? With no explanation? But he sounded so... urgent... and there was something off with his voice... something wrong, but she couldn't place it... she spent the next few days thinking about it, and decided to respect his wishes...

Then, a few weeks later, when she had returned home after finding some food she saw she had another message.

"Miss Hampton! This is Dr. Alexander! WHO do you think you ARE? You haven't been to work for WEEKS! You are in VERY big trouble young lady! I expect to see you tomorrow morning BRIGHT and EARLY! Otherwise your employment here at Fontaine Futuristics will be... terminated... DO YOU HEAR ME!"

She stood in awe for a moment...

THAT was Gilbert! It kind of sounded like him but... it was so wrong! My God! What happened to him!

That morning she ran to Fontaine Futuristics, despite Dr. Alexander's former warnings. She couldn't help herself... She had to find out what had happened to Dr. Alexander...

Rose entered the building timidly... on a normal day she'd run into the back and begin her experiments with the doctor... but today...

Alexander's voiced boomed over the intercom. "Well it's about time! We have lots to do and very little time to do it, so get moving Miss Hampton! Chop chop!"

"Mr. Alexander? Where are you?"

"I can't hear you over the intercom you twit! Get to your desk and you'll find your new assignments! MOVE IT!"

Rose ran to her desk to find a security bot and a few override panels. "What are these...?"

"Well! Go on! Don't stand there like a fool!"

Rose sat down and spent the rest of the day modifying the security bot. While it wasn't out of her reach it was still very difficult for her. She wanted to find Dr. Alexander... she desperately wanted to talk to him and find out what was wrong... but every time she tried to get up, even just to use the restroom he would shriek at her and threaten her. At the end of the day she stood up, ready to leave.

"And WHERE do you think YOU'RE going! You've wasted enough time already! You're not leaving until I say you can!"

"But- you- you can't!"

"That's enough backtalk from you! You can have a five minute break... but then it's BACK TO WORK!"

Rose got up to run to the bathroom but her foot was caught on something and she fell. When she looked back she saw an audio log... she was probably so busy she hadn't noticed. She grabbed it and ran to the bathroom. She rushed into the open stall and turned it on.

"Rose, if you're hearing this, then for some reason you must have returned to the office..." It was him! She was so relieved to hear his voice... even if it was prerecorded."By now you've probably have... run in to... me... I'm afraid I'm in a terrible mess now... I can't be sure how far off I am now but you need to know the truth..."

Truth..? Oh Gilbert... what's happened?

"For the past few years we have been working on the Utopian project... the night Sofia came to see us... I volunteered to become the first. It was a success at first... but then... the changes began... not only physically... but mentally. I'm afraid I'm no longer safe to be around. And I'm also afraid I must ask something of you; I have set up a few bio scanners and security cameras to... aid anyone who might come here after you. But before I could finish it... well... I can't finish it. I'm afraid, if you're listening to this I'll have to ask you to do it for me. I've set them up, and they should work fine, but I'll need you to activate them. You'll need to get into the security booth. The old code should still work..."

"Miss Hampton! Your time is up!"

"...all you need to do is take the genetic key I placed under your desk and put it into the control panel. That will activate it, and then I want you to leave the office. Do not come back! No matter what happens. Please forget about me..."

"MISS HAMPTON!"

"Please try not to do anything to aggravate me in my... state of mind... please hurry. And Rose... be very careful."

Rose stashed the audio log in the stall and stepped out of the bathroom, and quickly returned to her desk.

"It's about time! Now get to work! We don't have all day!"

Rose went back to working on the security bot. She just finished connecting the screen to it, now it just needed to be welded on.

"Dr. Alexander... I can't weld this!"

"What? Why are you just standing there?"

She sighed and sat back down, looking down under her desk. She could see the genetic key. Careful not to attract too much attention she grabbed the key. She slipped it into her pocket.

"Oh I see... very well... I'll just have to hire some able-bodied workers... yes... But in the meantime finish those transmitters!"

Rose didn't want to know exactly who he was planning to find, but she figured she'd better do what he said. So she got back to work. She worked through the night, and during her work she couldn't help but think of the first time she'd met him. He'd been so proper, and kind. He had done awful things but he had always tried to make up for his mistakes. She had always thought he was handsome... and as she worked through the night she wondered what she could do for him... if there was anything she could do... by morning had finished. She didn't realize she had fallen asleep until she had woken up. The transmitters and security bot were gone, and she was alone...

Had Dr. Alexander come and taken them while she was asleep?

Suddenly she saw the security bot fly into the room. It circled around then hovered over her head. On the screen she could see something... it sort of resembled a face pressed too close to the screen...

"Good morning Rosie! You've done a wonderful job on you new assignment! Keep this up and you may just be employee of the month!"

The bot flew away, leaving Rose alone... so she went to the bathroom; cleaned herself off then as nonchalantly as possible she headed for the security booth. But on the way she saw... splicers!

At first she panicked, frightened about what they might do. But then saw they wore butterfly masks... they were with Sophia Lamb... they wouldn't attack her... as long as she stayed out of their way. So she carefully went around them, making sure not to attract their attention.

Now I know what Gilbert meant by 'able-bodied workers'... but it's so unlike him... he never liked having splicers around, he always believed they were too... unpredictable. In the end they were still splicers... they'd do anything for ADAM they were violent and wild... insane... and now Gilbert is... too...

She shook away the thought, she had work to do. When she reached the security booth she could see the bio scanners, and other machinery Dr. Alexander had told her about. After she activated them they would only open on voice command. She slipped in and slid in the key. After a few moments the light turned green. And on the screen she saw a picture of Dr. Alexander.

"Hello Rose. Well done. Now please leave the office and do not return... I cannot ask anymore of you. And I can't secure your safety. Thank you for everything. Goodbye Rose."

The tape ended... that was all... and she was just supposed to leave...?

I have to find Gilbert... I can't just... LEAVE him here... like that...

She left the security booth and began to search the compound, but there was no sign of him anywhere, so he had to be in the labs. The main way was blocked off, however when you lived in Rapture long enough you know that there's more than one way to get where you're going. Rose could use the old maintenance shaft. It was dark and cramped, and it was a little longer then the beaten path but it was more convenient then going for a swim.

When she reached the lab she couldn't see anything... it was pitch black inside the labs...

"Dr... Alexander...?"

"Miss Hampton! What are you doing here!"

"I... I wanted to talk to you... to see if I could maybe help..."

"Help? HELP! Are you insinuating that I need HELP!" His voice boomed threw the labs, causing her to tremble.

"No! I mean... I just wanted to..."

"GET OUT! GET OUT NOW!"

Rose tripped over something, stumbling around in the dark. Then she found a lever. She flipped it, nothing happened. Still blind she walked through the labs, looking for the other light switch. When she found it she flipped it and in a few seconds when the lights turned on she saw... in the tank... a monster!

She screamed and fell back, and the thing in the tank screamed as well.

It was Dr. Alexander.

"Oh god... oh... GOD! What have you done!"

"INSUBORDINATION! INSUBORDINATION! Do you know what that means Miss Hampton! I warned you! You're fired! FIRED!"

Before she could move splicers descended on her from the ceiling, she tried to run but she was tripped, and they dragged her away.

She was pulled into the back by two splicers; one of them entered a code into the door with his malformed, flabby fingers: 5254...

They dragged in a chair and tied her down to it. She struggled, desperately trying to free herself.

"I'm afraid this is the end Rosie... you had a promising future ahead of you. But all good things must come to an end."

"Gilbert... please! Don't do this! I love you please!"

"ENOUGH! I am no longer 'Gilbert'! Or 'Dr. Alexander'... no I need a new name! A new persona! I am a conqueror! I am... ALEX THE GREAT! I AM ALEX THE GREAT! HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAA!"

The security bot flew away, and the splicers left her there, locking the door.

For the next few days she desperately tried to get out of the ropes, her throat raw from screaming, trying to get someone's help... but now she was so thirsty... she could barely move. Then she freed her hand... it was raw and bloody from struggling against the rope. She was too weak to continue, so she wrote the code on the wall behind her and reached down below her, she was able to get some water into her hand and drink some to sooth her throat.

She closed her eyes... and she prayed for someone to save her... if only someone would come and save her...