A Protector's Wrath.

In the following days after Anna, Iota, and Omega sent their warning to Minerva's Den, everyone was in an uproar. Splicers sent by Wahl to attack and finish off the Survivors were met with the steel resolve of the Protectors. They had effectively turned the district into a fortress, doing so with traps. If the deadly traps they set didn't get you, ambushes by the Siblings would, but one thing deterred the Enemy above all... fear. It was fear that they commanded now that all of the Protectors had been reunited, and fear was their most powerful weapon. If any Splicers came through the main tunnel, they had to look upon the flayed and impaled Corpses of their Allies, and as more attacks came, the more bodies were added to the horrifying display. Every attack had been repelled, and every plan had been foiled. They were not content to sit idly by while the Splicers found some new way to kill them however. The Siblings had also laid traps within the lit maintenance tunnels and sewer system beneath the District. Spike traps, auto turrets, and mines were all used to deter anyone who might think it wise to turn off their power once again. They even went as far as flipping the direction arrows in the tunnels, even if the Splicers did make it past all of the traps, they would never be able to navigate the maze of hallways and pipes in order to find the District's electrical power station control. Only the Protectors, and their Human Allies had a correct Map of the tunnels, and they weren't keen on sharing with anyone, especially those who would do them harm.

. . .

During the 1959 New Year's eve riots, it was hard for anyone to survive alone, there were many deaths, thousands. Both Men and Women fought for one side or the other, Ryan, Fontaine, Ryan, Fontaine. It didn't matter what side you fought for, not really, all that mattered was what side you believed righteous... and which side promised ADAM. Both Ryan and Fontaine rewarded their Soldiers with the super drug, and eventually, it was all that mattered. A Splicer would charge a firing line if he were high from the crimson glowing liquid. He would kill his best Friends, loved ones, and Family all for another dose of the fuel that kept Rapture alive, and killed it at the same time. It made you fearless, confident... insane.

Anna stared down at the boil covered Man beneath her boot with an un-sympathetic expression, the crimson light from her helmet's porthole bathing him in an ethereal glow. His wild eyes were darting about the room as he snarled and gritted his yellowing teeth at her, bloody saliva leaking from the corners of his blemished mouth to trail down his cheeks. She had him pinned to the floor by his throat, simply observing him. It was funny, she thought. The tables had turned so quickly thanks to her Brother and Sister, and she played no small part either, she did do all of the talking, and taunting after all. She scanned the room looking for her Siblings and found them, each handling their own assailants. All three Siblings had split up to handle different groups of Enemies that had formed Squads. Her Brother and Sister had killed all of their Prey first, with the deadly efficiency they were known for, but she wanted to have a little fun with hers. Iota was searching the dead Splicer's pockets, retrieving anything worth keeping. When she had finished, she would toss them onto a pile, where Omega would take them, and use them to decorate their Fortress of horrors.

"Amazing..." Anna whispered to herself as she watched them work, she held nothing but admiration for them. This is what it took to survive in such a Hellish place for so long, to be the last of their kind respectively. Every movement they made had purpose, every motion was geared toward reaching a goal. They moved like Predators, every step they took, every glance they would make. They were completely and utterly focused on both killing, and surviving. It always amazed her to watch them, how they moved, how they thought, how they worked. She could do it for hours, she had done it for hours. She watched her Brother pick up the severed head of a Splicer Iota had decapitated in the battle, he tilted his head as he stared at it, then placed it on a piece of rebar and strapped it to the base of another impaling pole with duct tape, adding to the multitude of other heads they had collected in the first few days after their message was sent to Reed Wahl and his Men.

Anna's attention snapped back to the Man she had been holding down as he grasped at her armored leg for mercy, begging, pleading for her to let him live now that his rage and defiance had died. She gave a small chuckle, wondering what he would give for his own life. She leaned over him and tilted her head curiously at his suffering.

"Didn't we tell you? Didn't we tell Reed Wahl? Anyone that comes after us, won't come back." She said, her voice muffled by her armored helmet as she pressed the rest of her weight down, the Man's neck giving a loud crack as his arms fell limp to his sides. She picked the Man up by his collar and dragged him over to Omega's pile of Corpses, tossing him onto it with ease before joining in to help get the job done quicker. Once they had finished, they made their way back to the Clinic, making sure to take their time in admiring the horrific artwork they had all played a part in creating together.

As the Three Protectors stepped back inside the old medical building, they were greeted by Lizzy.

"You're back! Did you stop the Monsters?" She asked as she ran up to them, choosing not to hug any of them for how much blood they wore, and the smell of death that clung to them.

"You bet! They won't be bothering us anytime soon!" Anna returned her enthusiasm, noticing the disapproving stare Tenenbaum was giving her. When she had learned of their forest of impaled Corpses, and the decorations they continued to add to it. She gave them an earful. She didn't like demonstration of power one bit, saying she had seen what those in power did when they ruled by fear. Anna, and even Mark had tried to convince her that the Splicers deserved it, and she had agreed, but she still didn't like it one bit. Mark was far more accepting of their new hobby, going so far as to offer to help them next time, of course Joe and Tenenbaum wouldn't let him. They had explained how Seline might think less of him for taking part in something so Sadistic, that was all it took for him to back down, though he supported them in doing what needed to be done.

As far as Sigma was concerned... well... they couldn't really tell where he stood on the whole thing. It's not like he could speak to them, and most of the time he chose to clean out the maintenance tunnels and sewers of any Splicers that were lost or dying down there, replacing, and resetting traps as needed. It made Anna smile to think about it, the thought of a Splicer, alone and scared in the dimly lit tunnels, only to come face to face with a Big Daddy.

Seline was doing much better, Doctor Tenenbaum had made sure of that, tending her wounds, and all other manner of treatment that it took to keep someone in a coma alive. She had done a pretty good job on Anna when she had been trapped in her own nightmares, it was no wonder Seline had survived. Mark helped in any way he could, even if it was something as small as handing the older Woman a new bandage, or syringe. Without proper medical knowledge, it was all he could do, but he was more than willing to do it if it meant Seline would live. They still had no idea when she might wake up, but they were all hopeful

"Looks like you guys really did a number on em, again." Joe said to them as he monitored the small TV screens he had hastily rigged up as a security system to spy on the entrance to the District. He had made the Protectors put the cameras up with clear instructions that he didn't want to see whatever they were going to do in the main street of the District on them. Anna had taken the liberty of placing the cameras after Omega and Iota simply stared at the devices questioningly.

"I don't like what you all are doing out there... but even I have to admit, it's getting results. I've seen whole groups of Splicers avoid the tunnel. Whatever your stance is on their methods Doc, you can't argue with the results." Joe stated as he glanced back at the grey haired Woman. She shot him a frown and shook her head.

"I have seen horrible things done in the name of results, I have done horrible things in the name of results... That is exactly why we must question the methods being used." She said. Joe nodded in agreement but Anna shook her head in annoyance, her temper beginning to rise at the Doctor's disapproving tone.

"We tried it your way!" She growled, causing everyone to look at her, she felt her embarrassment grow from the outburst and bit her lip with one of her fangs.

"Hiding and waiting for the next attack doesn't work... It's never worked, now we're the Hunters... and they're the Prey." She said lowly, annoyance still clear in her words as she stomped through the rooms toward the showers. Once she had left the room, Joe and Tenenbaum exchanged sorrowful looks before turning back to what they had been doing. Iota and Omega began dumping all of the supplies they had found on their dead Enemies in bins Mark had set up for them, he organized them so they could use them later if needed. When they had finished, they made their way to the showers as well, ready to wash both their bodies, and their blood soaked suits.

. . .

The Clinic's shower room was a far cry from the Athena's Glory bathrooms Anna had enjoyed before it's fall. Large private bathrooms were replaced with a single wall, showerheads lining it with drains underneath. Shining marble floors gave way to stained and dirty tiles, cracked and chipped from years of use. Bright metal and gold faucets and pipes gave way to oxidized copper and brass. Crisp, crystal clear mirrors as tall as she was gave way to small wall mounted mirrors, most of which were broken, leaving glass strewn across the old floor. She sighed as she turned one of the brownish green faucet knobs, water flowing out as the ancient pipes shook and groaned, creaking to life once more in who knew how long. The young Protector took a few steps backward and watched brown, rust filled water begin to pour out of the showerhead above, clearing up the more it flowed. She watched as steam began rising from the water as it impacted the floor below, washing decades old dirt and grime away as it did.

"At least there's hot water..." She said, her voice muffled by her helmet.

Anna stepped under the showerhead and let the hot water flow over her suit and armor, she looked down at the floor as the caked blood and chunks of flesh slid off of her and swirled below, disappearing into the black holes of the drain. Once she had finished washing off her suit she stepped out of the shower and began removing her armor. Now free of her suit she folded it neatly and placed it on one of the sinks, her armor pieces laying on the floor. Anna pulled the hair tie she used to keep her long hair neatly in place and let it flow down over her shoulders. When she stepped underneath the showerhead again she pulled her hair back behind her and let the warm water run over her face. The young Protector closed her eyes and listened to the sound of the flowing water as it trickled onto her body and the floor, she imagined it was what rain felt like. She had never felt rain, but she always wanted to. It was something she couldn't quite understand, water simply falling from the sky, as if by magic. She wondered what the sky looked like, what the sun felt like, and what wind felt like. She held her eyes closed as she tried to picture it, but it was too difficult, like someone trying to paint a picture of something they had been told about, but never seen for themselves. She opened her eyes and gave a slight sigh as she stared ahead at the dirty shower room wall in front of her, choosing to let her own memories dominate the silence of the room.

She remembered when she had first been woken by Iota in the Athena's Glory, she remembered her training, her Friends. She remembered the Hotel collapsing in a massive eruption of flame and ash, her Brother and Sister still trapped inside. She remembered many things. She remembered the deaths of her Friends, the feeling of utter defeat when she thought Lizzy and Omega had died, and the screams of her Enemies as she tore them apart, both NeoSplicer and Splicer alike.

As Anna stood there, her mind flip flopping through memories, the sound of the bathroom door opening jarred her out of her daydreams. Iota and Omega walked in, their armored boots echoing on the cold tile floor, thunderous and proud. She looked in their direction but they were already standing in their own shower streams, cold, brownish water washing the blood and grime from their own suits. It didn't surprise her that they didn't care about the water's temperature, or color. They didn't have the same mindsets as Humans did, where she had a little of both Protector and Human mindset in her. Perhaps it was why she admired them, maybe it was because they didn't worry about the same things Humans did. They weren't on both sides of the fence like she was, one foot in both doors. It always made her feel like an outcast in a way, like she didn't truly fit in with either Humans or Protectors, though it was clear her Siblings regarded her as a Protector, the Humans also treated her like a Human. It was all so frustrating.

She watched as they began removing their armor pieces, and finally the bodysuits themselves, folding them neatly just as they had taught her, and placing them on the sinks just opposite of the shower wall. Anna regarded their muscular bodies with envy, they had been fighting all their lives and it showed in their frames. Omega was the biggest among them, and the strongest, his physique was enough to make even her blush. Iota too had her fair share of muscle, tight arms, powerful legs, and firm abs. It made Anna look down at her own stomach in return, she had gained quite a bit of muscle as well, though nothing compared to the two of them. Protectors were naturally gifted when it came to most things, but muscle took time to build, and the years of fighting for survival showed in both of her older Siblings. Their porcelain skin shining as they stepped underneath the now steaming water of the showerheads.

The three Protectors washed the dirt off of their bodies and enjoyed the hot water, it had become a favored routine of theirs. They didn't get many showers, but when they finally had a free moment to take one, they relished it. Feeling the hot water wash over them relieved their fatigue and gave them time to think, to plan. Anna was having a hard time doing either of those things though. She had been stealing glances at her Siblings the whole time, admiring their impressive bodies. When Omega had caught her staring he turned to face her with a questioning look, her face reddened as she tried to keep her eyes above his waist. She had only ever seen one Man naked before, and it had been him, before she had made the transition to a full fledged Protector. She hadn't thought much of it in the past, but recently she had realized her body reacted to him in different ways, any time she caught his scent and the pheromones he gave off, it made her feel powerful, invincible on some occasions. She wondered if it was the same for all Big Sisters, Iota seemed to drink it in like a drug and it made Anna curious to say the least. She thought for a moment as he starred at her, wondering why she was looking at him in the first place.

"Uhm… Omega... Could you turn around for a moment... please?" She asked, her voice was timid and low. The Brother furrowed his brow in confusion before doing as she asked. Iota watched curiously as well, wondering what the two were up to. Anna approached his back slowly, afraid of what she was about to do. She reached out hesitantly, placing her hand on his broad back, feeling him tense up at the unexpected contact before relaxing. She was shaking, questioning what she was doing, and feeling. The youngest Protector placed both of her hands on his shoulders, leaning in to hug him from behind, feeling the heat his body gave off as she lay against him. Omega looked to Iota for any answer she could provide, but she was as confused as he was with the sudden request. Anna felt her face heat up, following the rest of her body, she inhaled deeply, his pheromones causing her head to spin. She felt his powerful muscles as she put one ear to his back, listening to equally powerful lungs breath slowly. All other sound seemed to die, the sound of his breathing reminded her of a collapsed Tunnel, similar to the roaring sound the water made as it rushed into Rapture. She changed her focus, listening to the rhythmic thumping of his heart, strong and fierce. It made her body heat up, giving her even more adrenaline, and she wished she could stay there forever.

When she pulled away, she did so reluctantly, savoring the sense of power and safety he made her feel.

"Thank you..." She whispered softly, giving a small embarrassed smile at him as he looked over his shoulder, he simply nodded in return. The younger Sister turned her shower off and began drying off with her towel, remaining silent. Omega looked to Iota again, only to see her shrug, it was clear she didn't know what to make of the interaction either.

When all three Protectors had dried themselves off and replaced their suits and armor, they exited the shower hall to see Tenenbaum, Mark, Joe, and Lizzy all crowded around the security monitors. They displayed footage from the camera's Anna had set up.

"What's going on?" Anna asked as she continued drying her hair with her damp towel.

"Splicers in the Tunnels again, trying to shut off the power. The dumbasses got lost and we're watching Sigma take care of em." Mark answered, his eyes glued to the screens like everyone else. The black and white footage was nowhere near crystal clear, but they could see well enough. They watched five Splicers run down the Tunnel away from Sigma, the Big Daddy lumbering after them.

"They're completely lost, Sigma's already killed four, they don't know which passages loop back around, he's using that against them." Joe commented as he studied the screens. They watched as the Big Daddy lunged out of a tunnel as they ran by, somehow using a shortcut to get ahead of them. His Drill caught one of the Men in his side, pinning him to the pipes on the wall as it spun, blood showering the walls, floor, and Sigma. The four lost Splicers kept running, letting out panicked screams as Sigma turned to chase after them once more. Another Splicer, a middle aged Woman, stepped on a mine Sigma had placed in the ankle deep sludge, when it exploded it blew dust and debris into the confined space, killing the Man that was running close behind her as well. The last two Splicers tried to run on, but one tripped, landing on his stomach in the muck, Sigma's giant form hurdling through the smoke didn't give the Man any time to get to his feet. The Alpha series Protector simply trampled over him, his immense weight crushing the Maniac under foot like a bug. When the last Splicer ran into a dead end, Sigma cornered him, watching him, wondering if he would choose to fight, or try to escape. The Splicer chose neither option, he whimpered as he raised his revolver to the side of his head and pulled the trigger, showering the wall in crimson as his body fell limp. The Big Daddy searched the Man, and moved on to the others he had killed, careful to avoid the traps he had set.

"These Vermin don't learn do they? What part of this is our City do they not understand?" Anna growled in annoyance, quoting her own words from the video they broadcasted to Minerva's Den. It was infuriating to say the least, they had done horrible things to the Splicers, things that would make anyone give anything to avoid such a fate... and yet they persisted. Anna glanced at her older Siblings, studying their expressions, trying to get a read on their thoughts, but it was useless. They held the same expressions they always did, a mixture of stoicism, boredom, and annoyance. She sighed, they really were perfect for one another, even as Iota held onto her Mate's arm she displayed no outward emotion, they simply watched the screens carefully, as if they were looking for something, though Anna didn't know what.

"They're Splicers, Anna. The only thing they understand is their fucking addiction." Mark growled as he watched the screens, it caused the Sister to glance back at Seline's unconscious form, her own anger rising at the sight of her Friend in such a state. Her attention was brought back to Omega when his finger shot forward at one of the Monitors, pointing to a dark spot on one of the Tunnel walls, boards with heavy bolts and chains. He looked to Iota, the Sister tilted her head in thought before looking back at him and shrugging. Everyone stared at them, as if they were communicating with each other without the use of words. They often seemed like they did so, but now it was different, they were communicating without using words, but Anna didn't know to what extent.

"That's a lightless passage that runs deeper into the Tunnels, Sigma thought it best to barricade it, since it was a likely place NeoSplicers could come from." Tenenbaum said as Omega removed his finger from the Monitor. Iota walked over to a table they had the District Map laid out on, looking for the passageway under the Streets. When she couldn't find it, she looked back to her Mate shaking her head. Omega put his hand on his chin in thought before pointing to another barricaded spot on the wall, a separate Tunnel leading to who knows where. He kept his eyes on the screen as he continued to scan the footage, Iota shaking her head each time he would point to a new location. Tenenbaum saw this and her brow furrowed.

"Herr Omega... How... are you doing this?" The German Woman asked in utter confusion at the level of communication they showed. The Brother looked to her and raised an eyebrow, clearly not understanding what she was referring to. The older Woman looked back and forth between him and Iota, his Mate simply watching her as she thought. They had clearly been talking to each other, well, maybe not talking, but they had been effectively communicating. Tenenbaum placed her own hand on her chin in contemplation.

"I have an idea." She said, everyone looking at her curiously.

"Omega, could you put this over your eyes, please?" She asked, holding out a small bandage bundle she had made from some clean sheets they had scavenged. Omega shrugged and took the white bundle.

"Doc, what are you-" Joe began.

"They are communicating Joe, did you not see?" She asked, her voice questioning and full of wonder.

"No... actually, I didn't. I was watching the Monitors to make sure we aren't all killed by Splicers." He answered as he gestured to the Monitors with a deft hand.

"They are not using words, but... something else. I am going to have them take a test." Tenenbaum said as Omega wrapped his eyes up with the bandage she provided.

The Brother stood there, arms at his sides, a small annoyed frown on his lips as he gave up one of his senses for the Doctor's little test.

"Okay, now turn around and face the wall please." She said, he sighed and did so. Everyone watched curiously, even Lizzy, who had been pulled out of playing with her toys to watch the spectacle quietly. Tenenbaum walked to his left side and looked at him, she stood on her toes as she reached up to wave her hand in front of his face.

"Can you see my hand, Omega?" She asked. He shook his head.

"Very good. Now Iota, could you hold up your hand as well?" She asked, looking to the Sister who had been leaning her arms against the map table. Iota stood up and gave a questioning look. She rolled her eyes and did as she was asked.

"Now, Iota I want you to hold up any number of fingers, between one and five." The Doctor instructed her. Iota held up two fingers in response.

"Now Omega... Show us with your hand... How many fingers Iota is holding up." She said, narrowing her eyes as she watched, hoping her suspicions were correct. The Brother sighed as if he were bored and held up two fingers on his right hand, the same hand Iota was holding up. Everyone furrowed their brows except for Tenenbaum, they looked at each other but soon turned back to the Protectors and their test.

"Now hold up a different number, Iota." She instructed the Sister. Iota held up four fingers, Omega held up four fingers. Tenenbaum's eyes went wide in awe, as did everyone else's.

"What the Hell? You mean they can talk to each other?!" Mark asked in shock.

"I do not know..." Tenenbaum answered him as she thought, she had never seen such a thing in Protectors, or anyone for that matter.

"They're not talking... They're feeling." Anna said, causing the room to look to her. Omega removed his blindfold and turned back to the Monitors, continuing to point as Iota answered him in whatever they were looking for.

"They've always been connected, but now... It's something more." The youngest Protector explained.

"What could've caused that?" Mark asked, his eyes flitting back and forth between the two Guardians in question.

"ADAM, it has to be ADAM." Tenenbaum answered him.

"ADAM holds memories within it, DNA, and many other genetic wonders that should not be possible. Perhaps being exposed to such a massive amount of the substance all of their lives has given them the ability to communicate on some level." The Doctor pondered.

"No, that's no right. If that were the case, both Lizzy and I would be able to communicate with them too, or Sigma. This is something new." Anna added.

"Sister, back when Brother was dying... You ran into the bathroom and took my Harvester when Lizzy and I were bathing... I never knew why, does this have something to do with that time?" Anna asked her eldest Sister, Iota quirked an eyebrow as she thought, finally nodding.

"Tell me Iota, what did you do? Can you show us what you did exactly?" The Doctor asked, determined to solve the mystery. Iota tilted her head and shrugged, She walked over to her Mate, placing a hand on his stomach and looking up at him with concern. Omega nodded confidently, causing the Sister to offer a silent apology as everyone watched their interaction. She wouldn't need Anna's Harvester now that Omega had repaired the ADAM container on his own weapon. The Sister pointed her large Needle at Omega's stomach and pushed the razor sharp utensil through his suit and into his flesh.

"I didn't mean you had to actually sho-" Tenenbaum started before Anna silenced her.

"Shhh! Watch..." She said.

Iota pulled Omega's arm up and slid his own Harvesting Needle into her stomach with a small grunt, once both tools were in place she opened the intake valves on both weapons and began the same ADAM transfusion she had done before. They traded the ADAM in their bodies again, feeling the ecstasy filled burning as the drug entered each other's bodies. Feeling as if they were taking a little piece of each other as they did so. The sensation was the same as before, stronger even, now that Omega's ADAM wasn't diluted with his blood. They felt the crimson liquid rushing through them, carrying fire and pleasure throughout their veins. Both Protectors swayed slightly as they stood there, starring into each other's glowing yellow eyes as they panted. Reliving each other's memories just as they had done before, seeing things through the other's eyes, and all of the emotions that came with it. Iota's eyes went wide as she lived Omega's past through her own mind, tears streaming down her face as she stared into nothingness. The Brother wore a similar expression of pain and anguish as he leaned forward and pulled his Mate into an embrace, remembering the utter lonliness she had felt when she had returned to Rapture, and couldn't find any of her Sisters or Mother. He laid her head on his shoulder as she sobbed, clutching to him as he pulled the Harvesters out their stomachs. They hated seeing each other in pain, and reliving each other's painful memories was heartbreaking for them. The two Protectors held each other for some time, holding each other to ensure they were both alright.

"My God..." Tenenbaum whispered after watching the situation unfold, her eyes wide.

"What is it, Doc? What just happened?" Joe asked, still not understanding what was happening to them. Tenenbaum shook her head in disbelief.

"This should not be possible." She said, still dumbfounded.

"What? What is it?" Mark asked.

"ADAM carries memories taken from someone's DNA if it passes to another Person's body. That is why Splicers hear voices, see Ghosts. These two have evolved to absorb that DNA and all of a Person's Plasmids, and Gene Tonics, giving them whatever traits were strong enough to be passed to them when they injested ADAM as Children. It is why Big Sisters, and Omega never had to inject a Plasmid or Gene Tonic directly in order to gain their abilities, but the memories and experiences... This kind of bond should not be possible, Splicers go mad because of this, because they absorb the memories of those they take ADAM from, but of all the Splicers I have treated that tell me they hear the voices of the Dead... It is not nearly as strong as what Iota and Omega go through when sharing ADAM." Tenenbaum explained.

"So what are you saying? Omega and Iota have... somehow traded memories without going insane? Like some kind of mental bonding?" Joe asked, still confused about the technical side of the super Drug.

"Yes, precisely! They have evolved to ignore the memories and negative effects of taking ADAM from Splicers, but they have the ability to trade their own memories and consciousness with each other! This is a miracle! This could be the very key to developing a cure for the Splicers! A cure to ADAM sickness!" Tenenbaum nearly shouted in amazement.

"I will need to run more tests, and observe the interaction between the ADAM and their own DNA in order to-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up Doc, let's focus on getting out of here before you start running tests on my Brother and Sister shall we?" Anna spoke, not wanting to lose sight of their overall objection, the escape of the City itself.

"Yes... Yes, you are right. We need to focus on getting out of here first." She agreed as she wrote down several notes on a clipboard, looking to Joe in concern. They had discussed having to leave the two Protectors behind, and no matter how much she hated the idea of leaving them in the City as they escaped, they were concerned with the risk they might pose to themselves, and others on the surface. Seeing this new development, and the possibilities it could bring, that was no longer an option. They had to get to the surface, all of them, together. Tenenbaum actually breathed a sigh of relief at this, she had never wanted to leave Omega and Iota behind, betraying them for the sake of the people on the surface, and now she was glad they would need to escape with them. Joe looked at her with a skeptical look, they were his Friends and Allies as well, but he was worried about how they would act on the surface... if they could make it that far.

When the two Protectors in question were done comforting each other, they pulled away, nuzzling their foreheads together before parting. Omega wiped his Mate's tears away and she gave him a gentle smile as she turned back to the map table, and what they had been looking for in the Tunnels before Tenenbaum's test. They continued their routine just as they had been doing, Omega watching the monitors, and Iota searching the map. When one of the monitors flashed yet another boarded up passageway, the Brother's finger shot out to point at it. He looked to Iota who nodded with a Predatory grin, her K9's shining brightly in the light.

"What... are you looking for?" The Doctor asked, though she knew neither of them could answer her. She looked to Anna, hoping she might be able to answer her question, but the Youngest Protector simply shrugged and shook her head.

"Don't look at me, I have no idea what they're looking for." Anna said.

"You understand them far better than we ever will, I was only hoping you might be able to elaborate?" Tenenbaum asked, curious to see what the Sister thought. Anna put her hand on her chin as she watched Omega walk over to the map and lean against the table like Iota was. They were looking for something, but she didn't know what. That's when Tenenbaum's statement hit her, she understands them better than the Humans ever could, because she was a Protector too. Anna narrowed her eyes and began thinking like a Protector, trying to put herself inside her Brother and Sister's boots. What would they be looking for, what would they be trying to do? She gasped when the answer dawned on her.

"They were looking for a maintenance Tunnel into Minerva's Den! They found one!" She half shouted in amazement, looking back to Tenenbaum, Joe, and Mark. The three Humans ran over to the map table and watched as Iota showed them a see through map of the City's surface. It was clear, but buildings, streets, and windows were black lines. Iota placed the City map on top of the map they had found to the maintenance Tunnels, the sewage and maintenance tunnels were lined in red. When the two overlapped, you could see where the Tunnels and sewage system ran underneath their very feet. It looked like a labyrinth of routes, passageways, and Tunnels, all spreading throughout the District like a mechanical Spider's web. Omega traced a line with his finger that followed one of the red Tunnels straight to Minerva's Den, the District next to theirs, though they were separated by the Ocean, and quite a few collapsed bridges.

"Amazing!" Joe bellowed as he stroked his beard. "That's our ticket in!" Mark commented, but Tenenbaum wasn't so excited.

"I know what you are thinking... but that would be a death trap." She stated, causing everyone to look to her, Iota and Omega never taking their eyes from the maps, studying them, almost as if they already knew what she was going to say.

"According to the maps we have, those tunnels are dark... without power, I am sure you all know what that means, yes?" She asked rhetorically.
"We should find a new route, something safer, that should only be used as a last resort." She explained, thinking back to their less than graceful escape from the Athena's Glory as well as the surrounding district. Anna watched her Brother and Sister shrug the Doctor off, like her statement didn't matter, though, she supposed to them it didn't matter. They would do whatever they wanted, just like they always did, and while Anna trusted the older Doctor with her life, she trusted her Siblings far more. They had been the ones to not only survive in Rapture for so many years, but they had also been at the top of the food chain as well. Tenenbaum had not. She admired her Human Allies, respected them, but they only knew how to think like Prey... and her Siblings were Predators, like her.

While the Humans went over their map and made plans, discussing alternate routes, Omega pulled Mark aside.

"What's up big guy?" Mark asked curiously, looking up into Omega's Helmet. The Brother gave a low screeching noise and made a squeezing motion with his hand, as if he were squeezing a handle. The young man's eyes went wide with realization. "Ah! That's right!" He said, running over to a makeshift work bench. He moved the clutter of various gears, parts, and wires until he found what the Brother was asking for. He held up a hand held detonator toward the brother he had fashioned from various appliances they had scavenged.

"Just flick this switch when you want it armed, and squeeze the trigger, just make sure you turn the receiver on the explosives on as well, or the signal won't be received. Got it? If you don't see a green light on the explosives, and the detonator, no explosion, okay?" He stated, handing the device over to the Brother. Omega nodded thankfully and turned the detonator off, sliding it inside one of his belt pouches for later use.

"What the Hell do you need explosives and a detonator for anyway?" Mark asked yet again, but Omega ignored him. The young man simply shrugged and put it out of his mind, he probably just wanted them for another horrifying trap, or to collapse a tunnel or something, as long as Splicers suffered and died in the process... he didn't care what the Protector did with it.

Omega walked over to Anna and handed her an armful of explosives, everything from C-4 to dynamite and grenades. Anna nodded and smiled deviously.

"This will surprise them won't it Brother?" She asked with a sadistic glee, her Brother nodded and gestured her to go set them in place. As Anna began walking to her objective, they heard the motion alarm begin to blare. Everyone's eyes shot toward the security monitors, and when they saw them, they froze, everyone but Anna and her Siblings.

"My God... Look at them all..." Tenenbaum said, her eyes wide with shock.

"They really didn't like the message you guys sent." Mark said looking to Anna, he tilted his head in confusion when he saw the expression she was wearing... She was grinning, her fangs shining in the dim light as she chuckled, she turned to look at him and he instinctively recoiled.
"This is what we've been waiting for..." She told him before darting away, she was gone in the blink of an eye. He turned back to Omega who was inspecting the monitors. He too was... smiling, or smirking? Mark couldn't decide, whatever the three were up to, they were expecting this. He looked back to the security cameras, and the countless Splicers amassing outside of the District's entrance, there had to be at least a hundred of them, everything from Houdini Splicers, to Spider Splicers, and even Brutes. Reed Wahl had sent an Army after them, it would be the biggest attack yet... and the Protectors were happy about it. He couldn't stop sweating, or shaking. He had never seen so many Splicers before, not even at the height of the Family's power, Reed Wahl must have promised them an ocean of ADAM to get them there. Mark snapped out of his panicking when Omega snapped his fingers loud enough to get everyone's attention, they sounded like mini gunshots with his enhanced strength. He pointed to Seline's unconscious form and signed for them to head to the tunnels beneath the clinic. Tenenbaum and Joe tried to protest going into the dark but he wouldn't have it, he grabbed Mark by the collar of his shirt and practically threw him toward Seline's bed, snapping his fingers toward her, telling them to move her now. Joe and Tenenbaum looked to each other nervously but agreed to follow his orders, they began lifting Seline onto a clinic gurney. As they strapped her in and took all of the neccecary medical supplies they would need, they looked to the Brother, and Iota.

"What are you going to do?" Tenenbaum asked, Omega turned back to look at her, his helmet lights turning crimson, he replied by extending his massive Harvesting Needle with a growl.

Omega and Iota walked out of the Clinic, down the Alleyway, and into the street. Their horrifying forest of steel beams and Corpse decorations stretching even to the entrance of their temporary safe Haven, they marveled at their work for just a moment, taking in the scent of the decaying artwork they had so masterfully erected. It was a monument, a monument to the Fools that thought they were Rapture's Apex Predators, but there could be only one Apex Predator in any ecosystem... and that title belonged to the Protectors... and the Protectors alone held it. They would show the Army of Vermin outside their gates the difference between them. They would show them why Protectors were, and would always be at the top of the food chain. Omega looked to his right to his Mate, and she looked up at him. She gave a loving screech from beneath her battle helm and took his arm to nuzzle it against the front of her helmet, her way of saying: no matter what, I will always be by your side.

Omega nodded to her, and she to him. Both Guardians made their way down the nightmarish street they had created toward the center of the District, the forest of impaled corpses thickening as they neared the District's main shopping center. It too was a maze, just like they had created in the maintenance tunnels, they had erected the stakes and corpses in such a way that it resembled a large maze, no doorway was accessible that the Protectors didn't want you to enter, and if you could enter a doorway to seek safety or shelter... it was riddled with traps. The entire District was their chess board, their playground, and they would suffer no trespasses here.

The two Protectors reached the center of the District where they had left a large opening, almost like a large courtyard leading to the first Apartment building in the District, it resembled a Mansion in that regard, if a Mansion could be so demonic. The Brother nodded to Iota, and she darted swiftly away to complete whatever task he had assigned her, she did so happily. Omega took one bounding leap onto the second story balcony of the Apartment building and overlooked the Forest of Corpses arranged into a maze... all paths leading straight to the courtyard bellow him, he gave a small, wicked smile, and stepped back into the shadows of the doorway... it was time for more vengeance.

. . .

The Army of Splicers that gathered just outside the entrance to their Enemies District were nervous, on edge, even with as many of them as there were. Edward had never seen so many Splicers gathered in one place before, but when Reed Wahl had promised a bounty of a barrels worth of ADAM to the Man or Woman that killed the Protectors and their Human Allies... who could resist that calling. Edward was armed with a six cylinder revolver, pearl handled grips, and even a few modifications he had managed to purchase from Power to the People machines he had come across. It wasn't as big and flashy as other weapons in their ranks... but it packed one hell of a punch. He was a lanky Man, only thirty-six years old, but with all of the gene tonics he had injected, he felt like a walking tank, and by normal Human standards he was. Sure the gene tonics and Plasmids had altered his body and mind, but then again, so had the delicious ADAM. Oh how he craved more, he was drooling just thinking about all of the pleasure he would get from an entire barrels worth of the super drug. He licked his decaying teeth and chapped lips, scratching a puss-filled boil on the side of his neck, the side he liked to inject his ADAM on. His boils and sagging flesh craved more of the substance, and he was ready to charge directly into the gates of Hell to get it... at least that's what he thought before actually arriving there...

He, like the others that had joined the hunt for Lamb's Abominations, had been fired up only minutes before when the bounty went out. They had all gathered at the entrance to the District their targets occupied... but none of them were particularly excited to go inside, especially not when they saw exactly what was inside. The flayed, dismembered, disemboweled, and decapitated corpses of their forebears hung like bloody decorations from every place imaginable. It was enough to make him recoil at the sight, some even vomited on the spot. From their position they could only see the very beginning of the horrors that awaited them, but it didn't matter. What they could see made them all second guess their decision. Some in their number ranted insane mumblings of biblical sayings, or passages from the bible. Others twitched and jerked under ADAM withdrawal, their eyes frantically darting around the inside of the District's tunnel. Even they weren't insane enough to rush in yet, at least not without thinking about what exactly was waiting for them. Edward sneered, he had formed a plan ahead of time. They would all be going after Protectors, Gen II Protectors at that, he was planning on staying back, letting the more insanity stricken Splicers rush in first, and once the Protectors were weak, he would deal the killing blow... at least to one of them. Now that everyone had gathered though... it seemed everyone had the same idea as him, either that, or they were all too scared to go forward. Even he didn't know which one it was.

Above the District's Tunnel bridge, the word: "Hell" was painted in red. Edward didn't know who had painted it, Splicer or Protector, and he didn't know whether it was blood or actual paint... but it looked too dark to be paint. None of the Splicers really cared for whoever they saw hanging up as decorations, they didn't know them, and if they did, they didn't care, not while ADAM was at stake. They had no problem dismissing the Protector's Victims... they just didn't want to join the Legion of corpse decorations, hung up on display for the next group of Splicers too stupid or insane to heed the warning signs. Edward unconsciously clamped his jaw tight, so tight his cheek muscles ached. He looked around at the number of Splicers Reed Wahl had recruited to aid in the hunt, there had to be at least two hundred of them... so why was everyone standing there, scared shitless out of their minds? They had the numbers, they had the firepower, hell, they even had them trapped inside the District itself. All they had to do was go in, and kill them... so why couldn't they?

Edward's twisted mind thought back to Lamb's time of reign, the stories he had heard of the Big Sisters, and their terrifying power... he gulped, that was why no one wanted to go in. If Reed Wahl was telling the truth, then there were not one... but two of those Monsters inside, along with an Alpha series Big Daddy... and something else he had never seen... or heard of. "Big Brother" The words sent a shockwave of chills down his spine. He had seen how terrifying a Big Daddy could be in combat. He had heard stories of the Big Sisters, and their horrifyingly powerful control over plasmids, supposedly a Big Brother was a dreadful mix of the two. Wahl had told them he had the Plasmid control, speed, and agility of the Big Sisters... and the strength, endurance, and armor of a Tin Daddy. If that were true... it was the stuff of nightmares.

Edward looked around the Plaza they had all gathered in... and two hundred Splicers didn't seem like a large enough number anymore...

Somewhere in the back, a loud crackling sound could be heard, the sound of a Radio turning on. Edward looked back toward the sound but couldn't see anything over the sea of hungry Splicer faces.

"What are you Mongrels waiting for?!" A voice shouted over the amplified radio transmission. It was unmistakably Reed Wahl's voice, filled with annoyance.

"Do I need to remind you that I am paying you all quite the large sum of ADAM for this?! Get in there... and Kill those People!" He roared. Edward scoffed at the word "People" Those weren't People in there, they were Monsters, pure and simple. He looked around to the closest faces, and they all held a hesitant look, shrinking slightly as if to avoid Reed Wahl's commands. No one moved, they hardly even breathed. Edward heard the Man sigh heavily into the microphone, he could almost see him rubbing his brow with frustration and anxiety, after all, the Protectors had named him Personally in their threat message to Minerva's Den. He shook his head as another chill ran up his spine, they had basically named all of them personally. The Protector that spoke during the message had told them any Splicer that came into their territory would be slaughtered without mercy... and so far... they had been true to their word. Everyone they sent into the District had been killed and put on display, their blood barely able to dry before another group was sent in. Eventually there were no Volunteers stupid enough to go, only with the coaxing of large amounts of ADAM would they even consider it.

"...Fine! I will give two barrels worth of ADAM to the first Man or Woman through that door!" Reed Wahl announced. That actually got a favorable response, the Splicer Army looked around to each other, wide, hungry eyes observing their competition. Two whole barrels worth for simply going inside? That was a cake walk. Even Edward forgot his earlier fears... for a moment, and considered the risk. He could see the contemplation on other's faces, they new what was at stake, ADAM was no good to a dead man, but that didn't stop others from charging in. A large number of more insane, drug addled fiends began sprinting toward the tunnel, ignoring the warnings before them. This caused Edward to shake his head, he wasn't stupid, even if his entire body was yelling at him, screaming at him to be the first one through the Tunnel, he held back. He knew the first ones into that place would be the first ones to die... but they could also be the first ones to kill a Protector. At that realization, he began running as fast as his blemished legs would carry him, the others he had seen contemplating the charge joined, and soon, the entire Army, two hundred Splicers strong, were sprinting into the very gates of perdition.

It didn't take long for them to stall, the realization of just what exactly they were charging into catching up with their ADAM focused minds. The tunnel acted as a funnel, and they were pressed hard against each other as they all struggled to push their way through the opening, some weaker Splicers even falling, the lack of ADAM in their bodies weakening them, they were trampled under dozens of others without a single care spared, crushed by dirty feet and decaying shoe leather... they were the lucky ones. Edward found himself pressed against stinking, sweaty flesh as he too shoved and pushed forward through the sea of deformed Soldiers, eager for his own slice of ADAM pie Wahl had promised. When he had cleared the Tunnels entrance, another Plaza met them, it was the same size as the one they had just been standing in... but this one was noticeably different.
There were impaled corpses everywhere. some were skinned, others headless... and a number of corpses that had recieved both punishments. Corpses hung from hooks on the Ceiling, so many hooks. Some were even hooked multiple times through various parts of their bodies and strung up like puppets with string, but instead of string, it was bloody chain links. It was a scene straight from Hell, and Edward himself retched onto the blood soaked floor. There wasn't a single inch of blood free surface anywhere in the District it seemed, and the smell was almost too much to bear.

He pushed on, the large numbers of Splicers now spreading out to search, going in different directions in search of their Prey. It wasn't long before he heard screaming, he turned toward one of the shopping strips to see a Man caught in something. It resembled a Bear trap, latched around his leg, the bone snapped almost completely as he screamed in agony, it didn't last long. When he tried to move forward, he snagged a tripwire, and a wooden board flew down from the ceiling, the large metal spike stuck through the end catching him in the face and hanging him there like so many others. Edward began to sweat as more screams echoed in the distance. Had the Protectors joined the Frey? Were they the cause of some of those screams, or was it simply their deadly traps at play? Every trap seemed to cause a great amount of suffering before death, all of them small messages to those who witnessed it, promises of pain, agony, and finally death. He made a mental note to stay away from the buildings in the District. God only knew how many traps lie in wait, and how many different ones they had set. He lost more and more confidence as the minutes ticked on, and found himself wanting to turn back. He looked back at the empty Tunnel behind him and realized he had somehow been passed by everyone. As the screams of his Comrades rose up from the forest of corpses... he panicked.

"Fuck... Fuck this!" He muttered in fear, he turned toward the Tunnel he had come from and decided no amount of ADAM was worth being in this sadistic nightmare. Others had reached the same conclusion and walked with him, sparing quick glances back, almost as if they expected the Protectors to be following them. When they reached the door, Edward felt a sigh leave him, he would soon be free of this place, and the gruesome death that awaited him and everyone else.

An alarm blared loudly... and the massive airlock door slammed shut, just feet before he and the others could make it through. They stood there a moment frozen with fear and confusion, they were trapped. Edward's first instinct was aligned with other Splicers, they ran forward and pounded on the door, screaming to be let out.

That's when it got dark. the main lights went out, and the emergency lights kicked on, bathing the District in a deep red glow. Edward felt his heart racing as he turned around, the Horrifying display of corpses seeming more terrifying than anything he had ever witnessed before in his life. The crimson light shining off of the blood soaked floor, and onto the corpses that seemed to reach for him, beckoning him to join them in their suffering. Screams echoed louder as unknown traps were discovered, he heard crashing and screaming coming from the surrounding buildings, followed by gunfire and... clicking.

He turned toward one of the shop buildings, his eyes wide with fear. Muzzle flashes illuminated the interior just enough for him to make out shapes, inhuman shapes, with tails and claws and teeth, clicking and chittering happily as they silenced whoever had been shooting at them. It sounded like a sea of claws and teeth inside, he stepped away from the large airlock door, closer to the brightest red light in the District. It was bright, and seemed to be coming from the center of the Area itself, casting disturbing shadows on the impaled bodies, their own shadows stretching out like fingers, ready to snatch up the living.

Edward didn't know why, but he felt an overwhelming need to reach the source of light, light meant safety, it meant protection from... from whatever was lurking in the black void of the powerless shops. The other Splicers seemed to have the same idea, the large numbers funneling into the maze of steel and meat, trying desperately to reach the bright red light in the District's center. From there they could regroup, catch their wits, form some kind of escape plan. That's when it hit him... there was no escape... there wouldn't be any escape, in a matter of seconds, the Protectors had turned two hundred plus Splicers... hunters... into Prey...

He made his way through the steel bars, passing severed heads with fearful expressions, almost as if they were warning him to turn back, and keep moving forward at the same time. He chose to move forward, toward the light, ominous as it was it made him feel safer, farther away from whatever he had seen in the Shop windows before. He heard a chorus of hissing from beyond the forest, it made his skin crawl, forced him to move faster toward the bright red light, the closer he got, the higher the light became.

He came to a large opening, there were so many Splicers crammed into the square opening, he felt like a Sardine in a can. Everyone was looking frantically and whispering, trying to figure out what was going on, trying to see if anyone at all had answers to what was happening. It was clear to Edward that no one knew what kind of situation they were in... no one but him. He found a large chunk of concrete in the crowd and climbed up onto it, it wasn't high enough to see over the massive number of steel beams and corpses that decorated the Plaza, but it let him see over the other Splicers, he could clearly see all of their terrified expressions from up there, and it didn't help his own shaking limbs.

All of a sudden two more crimson spotlights sparked to life on the top two corners, the largest one being in the middle as it dimmed out to darkness. The surrounding area outside of the maze grew dark, and he heard the hissing getting closer. He heard the screams of those he had left at the Airlock door, too frightened to move towards the light and it's safety.

Edward heard something else over the hissing, something that caused the Splicer Army to go silent, thudding... Heavy thudding...

His mind raced, and soon he recognized the thuds as footsteps... massive footsteps...

The heavy walking echoed from the dark Apartment building surrounded by crimson light, something was coming, and everyone knew it, something that even seemed to push the massive sound of hissing back into the darkness.

With each heavy foot fall, the sound grew louder, closer, more terrifying. An eternity in fear and anguish overcame the Army. They all stared up at the second story, so impossibly high up it seemed now, and into the crimson light... stepped a Demon.

"...Big Brother..." Edward whispered in horror, afraid to move, to even breath.

Black armor glinted in the crimson light, two brightly lit V slits shone even brighter and angrier than the lights on the building as they observed the Army in silence, like an angry God ready to smite them.

A distorted growl rose from the Monster's helmet, causing the entire Splicer force to step back. It was as if they had forgotten their mission, their weapons, even the promise of ADAM was the farthest thing from their minds in that moment... only he existed. A Crimson King overlooking his Kingdom... the Kingdom they had invaded.

A moment later a second figure dropped from the shadows to stand next to him, the loud impact of her landing betraying her feminine figure. She was wearing matching black armor, and held onto his side, wrapping a leg around his, laying her crimson ported helm on his chest.

An evil chuckle echoed from her throat, the sound of fear itself. When the Splicers heard it, every one of them felt a ping of fear in their hearts, as if she had already judged them... and found them wanting.

The larger of the two Demons reached into his belt painfully slow, and pulled out a device, he flicked a switch with his thumb, and a green light appeared, almost drowned out completely by all of the red. The crackle of electricity could be heard, and the intercom system clicked to life.

"You are all Vermin..." The young Woman's voice rang out, surrounding the area completely with her disdainful tone, her words echoing over the darkness.

"No matter how many times you try, and no matter how many of you there are, you never learn... but we do..." She said with a dark whisper, an undertone of sadistic glee hinting from beneath her attitude.

"We are Rapture's Elite... We are Rapture's greatest creations... and we are it's most dangerous weapons..." She hissed at the terrified Lunatics, her voice as sharp as a knife, and as cold as the black Sea outside the City windows.

"You are only Vermin...and this is the price of your sins... This is the price we demand." The young female voice said lowly... and the intercom system clicked off again.

The Army looked up toward the two Demons sitting in judgement of them.

The Male tilted his head ever so slightly as a dreadful howling screech left his throat, more of a growl than actual words.

"DIIIIIIIIEEEEEE!"

He squeezed the device... and the lights went out. The screeching chuckle of his Queen echoing through their ears.

Darkness.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, let me know what you think with a review! Thank you for sticking with the story thus far, and as always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts!