After that, Delta and Atlas stuck together closely, not giving so much as an inch to any potential threats to part the two of them again.
They found the third of the relay devices and Atlas felt a twinge of anger knowing Alex had probably organised this whole thing in advance knowing that the relay device was practically on the other side of the theatre. Delta was eager to leave the area at the very least so he jammed his drill into the device so violently he nearly took the wall out with it.
Atlas found this to be a healthy way to work out some of the frustration and anxiety Delta was likely feeling. Better a wall than his face.
Finding the fourth was a bit harder.
They searched all over the first floor but with every dead end it became yet more time they had wasted.
Although, when Atlas did finally admit that the signal relay they were looking for was likely above them, it did prove to be a bit difficult to manage, more so than the they'd initially expected.
The floor simply was not reliable and the negotiation of movement became extremely perilous. Atlas went out ahead of Delta and would test how stable each patch of ground was. Which consisted of slamming his boot down on every patch just to be sure. From an outsider's perspective looking in, even Atlas had to admit it was a pretty amusing process.
And, unfortunately, it was also a slow process.
They were running short on time and both men knew it, as did their guides back on the train, but not one of them spoke out loud about it. Unwilling to force another divide after the one that had left both of them rather worse for wear the last time.
Not that Atlas was forthcoming with his own experience.
As Delta navigated through a flood section of the upper levels that had become flooded, apparently not particularly bothered by the electric shocks - a tonic upgrade he was informed, Tenenbaum came a calling,
Atlas stood back, well out of the range of the flooded area and watched Delta closely as he made his way towards the relay inside. Listening as Tenenbaum lied to him.
"Herr Atlas?" Came her tentative voice. Guarded, Atlas had to admit, for good reason. "The signal relay at Fontaine's office was destroyed, yes? We were unable to contact you."
"Yeah, I noticed. Nothing but a bunch o' static." He replied dryly, but at least he was honest at first. "Might 'ave something to do with getting hurled through time and space."
She was probing, looking for cracks in his facade - Atlas gave her nothing.
He'd played this game once before and fooled her well enough in the past, though now it left him on edge and being more careful with each step he took. She knew more of his cards this time around after all.
Before the conversation could progress into dangerous territory, Atlas heard the telltale sound of Delta breaking something with his drill and let a relieved smile cross his face.
The last relay was down.
So it was unsurprising that Alex came flying out of his hidey-hole at that exact moment, already screaming.
"Remember your station, Delta! This is my facility and I am your superior in command!"
God he was still just as grating as ever and now Atlas had another axe to grind with him.
Perhaps it was against his better judgement that Atlas attempted to bat at the machine. It wouldn't have done any good, maybe knock it off path slightly and that was a best case scenario. But Alex took it rather poorly all the same.
"Keep your paws off company goods you good for nothing rabble rouser!" Alex screeched.
And if Alex told him what to do then Atlas was inclined to do the exact opposite, if only to spite him.
So, despite the futility of it, Atlas raised his pistol and fired off a round into Alex's bot. Ever so pleased when it caught up in the rotors. Sending the bot and Alex screaming off to the side and crashing to the ground. He'd just be back with another one in no time - but it was satisfaction all the same.
Alex was cursing and spitting at him still when Delta came meandering out of the flooded room, sparing a glance for the downed bot before giving Atlas a thumbs up.
Relay destroyed. Success.
Though Delta had something in his other hand and Atlas looked down at the audio diary he'd brought back with him.
Tossing Delta a quizzical look, Atlas decided this was probably not all that unusual. He had no doubt Delta listened to many of the audio diaries he found scattered around. If it was morbid curiosity or a search for possible answers, Atlas couldn't say.
Maybe he just didn't fear the ghosts like Atlas did.
Regardless, Delta was holding this one out to him and so Atlas decided to listen to it as well.
Once the diary was taken, Delta turned and began to carefully make his way back through the path they'd carved out to get here. Atlas frowned after him, wondering if his quick departure was because he did not want to listen to the diary a second time.
With one glance made towards the broken security bot, Atlas noted that Alex was gone from it. Likely in a hurry to organise a new bot and Atlas gave himself a pick me up by thinking he'd get the joy of destroying that one as well.
Only for that pick me up to die as the diary in his hands started up and Alex's voice, in his sanest state, came across it.
"Anyone in the plasmid business ultimately requires the use of human test 's our dirty little secret, and to be frank, Rapture doesn't really want to know. Provided the end produce is sound." Alex confessed and Atlas groaned in dismay.
Fuck, he already knew this.
Delta no doubt did as well to some extent, but to hear it directly from the horse's mouth must have stung.
There was more to come from that proverbial horse as they reached the security booth. Now open to them to plunder as they saw fit and oh boy, did Atlas see fit.
He went straight for the assortment of supplies and ammunition while Delta went about listening to Alexander prattle on about his desire to get put down like the mad dog he'd become. For the first time in a while, Atlas was more than happy to lend a helping hand on that front.
Though, part of him squirmed in discomfort at the thought of Alexander's requests. Wanting to die in those memories of the man he had been, but no doubt willing to fight tooth and nail to live as he was now. It left him feeling on edge.
Maybe that was why he jumped when the slot on the wall opened up and spat out a security bot.
Stumbling back Atlas prepared to shoot the damn thing down like the last one because he hadn't been paying attention to the part where Alexander's recording said it was a friendly gift of sorts. Just as well Delta was there to place a steady hand atop his gun and lower it. Giving him a side glance that had Atlas grumbling irritably. Okay, perhaps he should have been paying more attention.
Now that he was paying attention, he cringed when Alexander told them they'd have to access the real labs, he knew that was where he'd been spat out of the Vita Chamber initially and it was no place anyone would want to go. But, at the very least, he'd know his way around.
He also knew exactly where they'd find Alexander's remains. Alright. He'd just need to lead without making it clear he was leading.
No problem. He was an accomplished liar it seemed.
Delta, ever the focused one, went for the switch while Atlas turned to the little collection of supplies left for them on the far wall. Only to frown when he found the old bastard had stashed away a plasmid bottle.
"God, when it rains, it pours." Atlas muttered, plucking up the bottle and turning it over in his hands. At least this one did not toss him across Rapture the moment he so much as grazed it with his fingers.
Sonic Boom, Atlas had seen this in use only a few times in the past and for the most part it was snubbed as a plasmid.
When there were more showy ones like incinerate or things as destructive as gravity well - who would need a soft shove like this?
Presenting the bottle to Delta, Atlas waited for his thoughts on the matter. The big daddy flicked the switch and freed up the path to the secret labs before taking a moment to consider the plasmid left to them. Delta stared at it for quite a long time, thinking more deeply about it than Atlas expected he would.
Then slowly Delta looked to his own hands and Atlas could see him taking stock of the plasmid he already had. Figuring out if he needed this addition, if it was worth shuffling through more abilities.
Atlas thought he'd take the plasmid, so it was a shock to him when Delta shook his head and pushed the plasmid back towards Atlas.
Alarmed, Atlas understood immediately what Delta was implying.
Delta was a walking tank and he had plenty of tools and tricks to fall back upon - Atlas did not. He had his incinerate and pistol - that was about it. No doubt this was a great source of stress for Delta and this plasmid might help to ease that.
He doubted Delta would suggest such a thing if Tenenbaum had not told them he seemed to be handling ADAM just fine. So loathe to put anyone in harm's way when it could be helped.
And the working theory was that Atlas was able to handle ADAM well enough not to lose his mind and mutate. They didn't know why.
Well, they pretended not to know why. No doubt Tenenbaum had some idea and now, so did Atlas.
It was because he'd cheated in a way. Because when Fontaine had first flooded his veins with the stuff - it was plasmids that other just weren't offered.
Special to him from that old crackpot Suchong.
That higher quality meant that he was able to remain a bit more in control and a bit less like a splicer. At least until they'd gone completely overboard and taken on almost all the ADAM within Rapture. Now that he was drained of a majority of it, he could be relatively normal again.
But Atlas wasn't sure what it would do to him long term, given his scarring and how those scars reacted to him continuing to use ADAM - it was all uncharted territory to him and not likely to lead anywhere good.
Hesitantly Atlas looked back down at the plasmid glowing away in his hands. He really did need the extra punch. Something to protect himself a little more than an old pistol and some flames.
Still…
"Think this is a good idea, tinman?" Atlas asked, looking to Delta for some form of reassurance.
Delta seemed just as hesitant as himself. Rather than give him a straight forward yes or no, Delta turned his palms up towards Atlas in a gesture that Atlas took to mean - 'up to you'.
Honestly, Atlas would have preferred Delta pushed him one way or the other.
As it was, Atlas knew he needed the boost and there was no way in fucking hell he was putting that teleport into his system. It wasn't even remotely stable and he was, admittedly, still a fair bit sore over what it had put him through.
With a deep breath Atlas nodded and went to open up one of the first aid kits Alexander had left them with. Every single one came with syringes after all - typically full of EVE which he would also need in order to replenish his reserves enough to use either of the plasmids he'd now have.
To be honest, Atlas wondered if any of the other old plasmids he'd had a handle on as Fontaine would reappear at some point.
In part he recognised that possibility as one that could keep them all a bit safer, but on the other he didn't want anything else to connect him further to the past. So for now he was left with what he found for himself.
Mercifully, Delta remained silent as Atlas went about organising himself.
They both knew he was no great fan of this, but the necessity of it was lost on neither of them. It would give Delta some peace of mind to know Atlas had another way to defend himself if he were unable to do it for him.
And, in some small way, it was nice to know Delta trusted him not to become a splicer when in the past even the big daddy had been unsure of what to make of him and ADAM.
Regarding the needle in his hand, Atlas cringed. He always did hate this part.
"Well, bottoms up, lads." Atlas remarked dryly, if only to comfort himself, and jammed the needle right into his arm.
There was a sting as his skin was punctured, but it did not really hurt all that much. Not until he applied pressure and forced the drug into his system, that is. Then the pain really hit him.
A ragged growl ripped out of him, better that than a scream. But he remained determined. Atlas struggled to force every drop into his veins. Despite the pain of it.
Spare none and waste none.
From the corner of his eye, Atlas could see Delta stepping towards him with his hand out, likely trying to steady him before he dropped. The attempt was appreciated and for a second Atlas thought that it might just help him but then the plasmid seemed to click into place and cement itself with a small outward display.
Both Delta and Atlas cried out when the abrupt force that exploded from the freshly injected plasmid struck them.
Delta was hit head on by the sonic boom while Atlas was pushed back purely by the unexpected force of it. Delta's helmet smashed into the monitor that had only minutes earlier been holding Alexander's image. It shattered and broke down to the terminal below.
Worst of all was the poor security bot they'd only just gotten. Hit with the blast, the bot went flying out of control, smashing into the floor and bouncing once or twice before skidding to a halt. Jerking and flashing as it gradually lost its power. Ruined.
Anything not tied down went ahead and got blasted away as well.
Leaving the small security room a proper mess.
After a moment everything settled again and Delta began to rub his his helmet as if that might somehow help, despite being completely incapable of touching his head through that metal shell.
"Ah shi-" Atlas began cursing but gave up halfway as he rushed to help Delta get out of the broken shards of the television screen.
Only for that first step he took to show him how dizzy and off balance he was. Atlas had to brace himself against the doorframe just to stop from collapsing.
"You okay?" He asked Delta instead, while waiting for his head to stop spinning. It didn't.
What he got back was a thumbs up and judging by the shaking of Delta's shoulders - the guy thought it was hilarious.
"Oh yeah, laugh it up you big lug." Atlas groused, ears still ringing. "God- Fuckin' hate plasmids. Urgh…" His ears just wouldn't stop ringing.
Sounded like static.
Slowly Delta righted himself, glass crunching under his boots as he shook off the little spill they'd just had. Sonic boom clearly wasn't deadly then. That or Atlas was going to have to focus a bit more when aiming it.
Well, not unless you were a security bot he thought with a glance over to the busted machine. Groaning Atlas opted not to comment on how quickly he'd ruined their 'gift' from Alexander.
This was why they couldn't have nice things.
Finally he felt able to join Delta, standing upright and shaking his skull to try and dislodge that sound.
It was painful.
"Right...after that wonderful little experience, let's get out of here. The whole place is getting under my skin now."
Atlas stepped away from the doorframe, allowing Delta to move on past him and begin making his way back towards the 'employee only' door on the far side of the building.
While Delta meandered on off, Atlas spent a few seconds flexing his hands, looking for signs of further mutation. He knew that some plasmids only showed physical variations when in use, and many others would form permanent mutations over time - all had an effect of some kind.
But his hands didn't look much different.
Still scarred and calloused, but there were no unusual holes or spikes in his skin. For now, that had to be good enough for him.
Still disorientated, Atlas trailed after Delta, occasionally cuffing his ear to try and get his head back on straight. This plasmid better be god damn worth it or he was going to be livid. He'd be lucky to get out of this with just a headache.
Fontaine Futuristics was quiet now.
There was probably some splicers somewhere, lurking about. But any that had even half a brain left after all that splicing, would know to stay away after hearing how Delta had been bellowing.
Now it was just them wandering through the remains of what had, once upon a time, been such an achievement of his.
No, of Fontaine's. Not his.
Briefly Atlas tossed a look back towards the entrance way, though he couldn't make a direct line of sight with the hall, it hardly mattered. Just knowing it was down there was enough. The memory he'd seen while standing before that large globe centrepiece was no longer some long lost memory from someone else.
He remembered that day so clearly.
The pride he'd felt. The excitement he'd shared with the few he kept close to him. Even if they hadn't really felt that same excitement - indulging him all the same.
Sighing Atlas forced himself to look away and continue inwards, once again trying to shake his head and clear it of all sound and thoughts as he walked forwards.
Towards the parts of Fontaine Futuristics where his pride and joy became twisted and horrible. Where Rapture's life's blood had been developed.
Returning to the labs was the last thing he wanted to do. It was like he was stepping back into a closet he knew was filled with skeletons, practically begging to get dragged down into hell with the rest of the dead.
But to get away, he first had to step into those darker memories. It was the only way to get to a light on the other side. If there was anything like that waiting out there for him.
However, as he stepped away Atlas's gait paused.
The uncomfortable ringing in his ears breaking for a moment as he thought he heard someone. He expected to hear a splicer's rantings somewhere, the usual mad chatterings that became white noise in Rapture now days.
And yet, the voice he heard was too steady. Too sane. Too familiar.
Someone calling out to him.
He'd chased ghosts in the past, a morbid sort of curiosity, a need even, driving him to do so. But now he knew if he went looking for ghosts it would only hurt all the more.
"Go away." Atlas whispered dispassionately into the air. "You're dead."
Atlas could feel something cold catching at his wrists, like little fingers were reaching out to try and snare him. To pull him back, into what he didn't know.
Where he'd be dragged he might not know, but he knew this cold and it brought with it the need to run away.
To run far enough that he'd find no more memories and no more ghosts. Because the options were running away or turning to face them all.
Chasing ghosts hurt but running from them was a different sort of pain all together. Regardless, he steeled himself for that sting and opted to escape again. Just a little longer.
Ripping his arm away from that self made cold, Atlas took to escaping yet again.
Rushing to catch back up to Delta's side, Atlas felt the cold drop away.
Just being closer to someone that was alive seemed to push the dead back away from him. It was not a permanent fix, but it would keep them at bay for a little longer.
Atlas wasn't even sure how long that charm would save him.
Granted, when he did meet back up with Delta and found the man already standing in the now open 'employees only' doorway, he remembered exactly what had been tucked away.
The way down to the secret labs. Though civilian means, in other words, sneaking in rather than walking in. That required some underhanded methods, to find a back door entrance and those entrances were usually well hidden. Which meant...
Atlas cringed.
An airlock. Of course it was an airlock.
"Delta...what did I tell you about the ocean? And about me not getting back into it?"
There was no way to confirm without a shadow that Delta was smirking at him when the behemoth turned slightly to look at him - but to put it mildly - Atlas would have bet every dime he'd ever owned on it.
This shitty little brat…
As he reluctantly started to gather up yet another diving suit, Atlas had one comforting thought.
At least the ringing in his ears had stopped.