Chapter 2: Welcome to the Family
The halls of Persephone were old and adorned with rust, grime and unimaginable water damage. This building, once serving as a detention facility was now the main hub for the "Rapture Family" Sofia Lamb found it suitable to turn her old prison into her new home. This was, of course, due to how hidden the facility was along with the fact it unintentionally inspired her. After being seized by Andrew Ryan, Lamb amassed a large group of followers that consisted of the fellow inmates of the prison. She had used her powers of persuasion along with her semi-religious views that contradicted Ryan, the very man who had sent them there in the first place.
Twice a day, for one hour per session, Lamb sat in a sort of throne room; it was a small room with a large window on the back wall which revealed the dark blue, peaceful sight of the Atlantic. The walls had been sprawled with Family propaganda to make them seem nicer than their grimy, water damaged former appearance and a makeshift throne, if it could be called that, was placed in the middle of the 25metre, by 25 metre room. It was a massive chair, made from smooth metals and fabrics that were available to the Splicers in Persephone. It was about two metres wide and four metres tall with a complete backboard and arm rests. Lamb did this because if you couldn't come to your "Mother" with your problems, then she wasn't a very good mother. She would listen to what the Splicers had to say and any problems they might have; she would then try to ease their mind as best as she could, plus it takes her mind off of the boring office work she does all day, every day. Starting a new Utopia wasn't easy.
Outside the room, a small, thin Splicer was pacing back and forth, muttering to himself as if he were trying to find words to say. He was interrupted when a Colossal Brute Splicer adorned in a ripped, red sweater, an old pair of jeans, partially destroyed black formal shoes and a small bowler's hat stepped into the door way and with a gruff grunt, said: "Doctor Lamb will see you, now" before going back inside the room.
The far smaller Splicer followed, taking deep breaths as he entered. He was scared in truth; he knew what powers Lamb had and if he disappointed her, he would probably end up like everyone else who disappointed her...and he didn't plan on having that happen, well, at least not yet. Much to the man's surprise, his luck actually got worse. There, right next to Lamb, were two Big Sisters. One was on her knees, resting her head on Lamb's right knee, which Lamb stroked rythimaticly while the other sister was perched above Lamb's left shoulder, on the very top of the glorified chair. The one on the floor paid the Splicer no attention but the other continued to trace his every movement. It was like she was a caged animal, waiting to be unleashed on her prey. This caused the Splicer to swallow, hard.
The awkward silence was broken when Lamb spoke up and said:
-"Come forward, my child; do not be afraid" her tone was smooth and welcoming. The Splicer complied and took small, timid steps twards Lamb before stopping a few feet away from her. No amount of words could describe the fear this man was feeling but the piss running down his leg gave a good idea. "Now, what is it you've come to speak to me about?" Lamb asked.
-"Well, uh, you see, Dr. Lamb, I was down by the Market you see, over in the north west of the city and uh, there was a shootout so uh, I got closer to see if I could pick off any and you know, do my job to The Family see." The Splicer was jittering and stumbling to find his words as he told Lamb the story...even if he was lying about his Family duties. He didn't give a rats ass. " Well anyways, it was hard to hear, you know, cus off all the guns and shouting going on but, I'm pretty damn sure I heard someone say the word 'Sister'" Lamb's eyes widened at the word mentioned. "It could either be one of yours held captive by some schmucks or they could have a girl that you could, you know, like, use or something" The man had hoped his words had been enough to convince Dr. Lamb to hopefully reward him in some shape or form or at the very least, not kill him! He had noticed that the Big Sister on the chair hadn't taken her 'eye' off of him since he entered the room. She was eyeing him up, like a lion sizes up its prey. The feeling was killing him!
-"You're sure about this, I need to know every detail!" Lamb demanded, her voice slightly elevated although, not in a bad way.
-"Yeah, I waited until the fight was over you see and tried to separate them so they'd be easy to follow. Turns out one fell off the bridge and the other two disappeared without a sound. I did try Dr. But I lost them. They'll have to come out to scavenge again so if you give me another chance, I could.." Lamb cut him off.
-"I appreciate the offer but I have others who will tend to this. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, you shall be rewarded well. Beta, see to it this man gets his just deserves" Lamb said as she turned her head to the Big Sister perched above her who crooked her head to the right, eyed up the Splicer and leapt off of the chair, landing with a thud in front of him.
This caused the Splicer to step back slowly. He wanted to run and hide; he knew that this was the end, and the fear in his eyes made anyone see that! Especially when the Sister raised her left arm with the modified Harvester on it and grabbed his right arm.
-"Look, Dr. Lamb you ain't gotta.." Lamb cut him off again
-"Don't think of me as a Doctor...think of me as Mother" Lamb said as the Big Sister grabbed his arm and slowly inserted the needle into the Splicer's right elbow joint, injecting a miniscule amount of ADAM inside him.
He opened his eyes in surprise that he was still alive; better than alive, he felt great. He looked at his palm and saw a small ball of ice spinning in a circular motion as his arm turned drastically pale up to the elbow and spouted small studs of ice on his knuckles. He chuckled to himself and smiled a little. His weak timid attitude had disappeared completely, even his shy voice.
-"Gee, thanks Ma', you got anything else you need old Boggs to do for ya before I go?" Boggs, the Splicer asked in a very enthusiastical tone.
-"go back to where you came and see if you can find these defilers but do not engage. Merely spy on them and report back to my...representatives there" Lamb said in response.
Boggs smiled smugly, bowed and turned around and strolled out the way he had come in. He had entered the room one man, and left a completely different one. Maybe he was wrong about Lamb and The Family, this could be a good gig after all.
After he left, the two Big Sisters that were with Lamb paid attention as she addressed them. Beta turning 'round and the one on her knee, raising her head and standing up so that both Sisters were next to each other and facing a still sitting down Lamb.
-"I need you two to go to this area and find the girl this man talks of. I would have others do it but they are busy preparing Eleanor. So go; contact your sister in that area and have her report her findings to you then send her home. You two need to handle this personally. Just be careful my little doves and remember, Mummy loves you" Lamb said as the two Big sisters turned around and walked out of the room leaving Lamb in seclusion once more
The two big Sisters were the first two to have been created. Retriever Beta-B/S-01 who was so kindly introduced to Boggs and Retriever Alpha-B/S-01. They were Lamb's most trusted Big Sisters as well as her last line of defence and now, she had cast them out to do a job that held great importance to the Rapture family. Just what had Peter gotten himself into...
