"Hop hop, Mr. B. No time to waste. Angels are waiting for our kisses."
Tristina and Jack froze at the voice as the haunting, metallic groan followed it.
'Little Sister.' Tristina mouthed, looking back towards the expanse corridor next to the counter the two had passed earlier. As Atlas' voice came from the walkie once again, Jack turned down the volume so he wouldnt be heard.
"You and the lass are ready now." Atlas instructed. "Time to take on one of them Big Daddies. it wont be easy, but its the only way to get to the Little Sisters...and the Adam they carry."
"Trish, you have any Anti-Personell rounds?" said Jack, pulling his Tommy Gun off his back and removing the round case near the trigger.
"Er," Tristina replied, opening her bag and digging through the contents. "Yeah. Here." said Tristina, pulling out a round case similar to the one Jack had removed.
"Trade." said Jack, holding out his. Tristina took his ammunition as Jack took the one Tristina was holding, and Tristina stowed the canister as Jack locked the new rounds into place.
Next was the shotgun, and the manuver was repeated.
Finally came the revolver, and Jack ended the exchange with a few practice swings with his Wrench.
"How are we on Med and Eve Hypos?" Jack asked, sliding the wrench back into his belt.
"Six Med hypos, and six eve hypos, as well as three pep bars, one raw fish, and two bags of chips." said Tristina, shifting the contents around as they took count of what they had.
Jack let out a nervous sigh and looked to far end of the hall as the Big Daddies rattling footsteps drew closer. "You ready?" Jack asked, taking his Tommy gun into his hands and priming it.
Tristina took a deep, steadying breath as she bounced the bag to her back instead of her side. Letting it out, Tristina pointed her palm at a nearby wall. the small blast exploded from her hand and dug into the wall, scorching it.
"Lets do this." Tristina muttered to Jack, engulfing both hands with Ki and sliding one foot back.
"I dont like him!" The Little Sister shouted as Jack and Tristina ran towards them.
"Ha!" Tristina yelled, slashing her hand infront of her as she dodged to the left. the small yellow balls covering the Big Daddies helmet switched from yellow to red and the beast let out a rumbling roar of fury. The Little Sister yelped as the Big Daddy snagged her by the back of the dress with his only hand and placed her behind him.
Tristina pointed both palms at the creature and fired as Jack's body vibrated from the recoil from his Tommy Gun.
"Watch out!" Tristina cried as the guardian lurched forward with surprising swiftness. "Shit!" Jack swore, barely dodging the beasts spinning drill.
Rushing towards the Big Daddy, Tristina tucked and rolled to avoid the creatures drill while forming a Ki bomb near her stomach.
She cried out as the Big Daddy's free hand pinned her to the tile floor and her Ki bomb flew off to one side.
winded, Tristina looked up as the Big Daddy pulled back the drill towards her. "
Shoot it, Jack!" Tristina cried with all the air that remained in her lungs. "Shoot it! Shoot it now!"
Three loud 'Boom's, a heavy clicking noise, and three more 'Boom's answered Tristina's plea.
The pressure from the Big Daddy's hand on Tristina's chest released and the creature let out one final haunting groan before falling on its side.
Panting, Tristina pushed herself away from the Big Daddy as its yellow eyes faded to black. "Trish, you oka-" Jack was cut off as two white furred arms wrapped around his neck and a white furry muzzle buried into his neck.
"Its okay." Jack whispered, awkwardly patting the trembling wolf on her back. "Its okay." He repeated, unsure of what else to say.
"Sorry." Tristina appologized when she finally released him.
"Its alright. To be honest, I was scared too." Jack said with a small smile. Tristina returned his smile, but then looked up as a quiet sobbing soon came to them.
"Why wont you move, Mister Bubbles?" a semi demonic voice sobbed.
A small pang of pity twinged in Tristina's chest for the Little Sister, but it soon faded as Jack easily picked up the child.
"No! No!" The Little sister cried, struggling against Jack's arms as strange white lines began to cover them. "No, NO!" The Little sister finished as Jack gently caressed her head, and the white lines spread from Jacks hands to the childs face, neck, arms, and legs. The little sister gave out one final ragged moan before the glowing white aura overtook both of them.
When the Light faded, Jack stood infront of the Little sister, back to normal.
The Little sister's eyes were now a deep brown with black irises, and her skin was a healthy tone as well.
"Thank you." she said softly, her face looking into Jacks. "Thank you." with that, the child looked around her and took off around the corner. Tristina peered around the corner to watch the little one climb into a nearby vent.
"So what do we do now?" Tristina asked, looking back at Jack to find him walking back towards the entrance to the Medical Pavilion.
Sighing, Tristina took one last look at the Little Sister vent, then ran past the fallen Big Daddy after Jack.
"Are you almost back to Emergency Access?" Tristina heard Atlas ask as she caught up to Jack. Jack had the walkie in his hand, and was listening intently as he walked.
"Come through as soon as you get there. You've got Ryan's eye now. You won't hear him coming, but he'll be there before you know it." "Wonderful." Tristina muttered, and Jack glanced at her with a weak amusement as they walked.
"Hold up, Trish." said Jack as they arrived on the platform across from Emergency Access.
"What do you see?" Jack asked, squinting into the darkness amidst the red light. Tristina squinted as well, then her eyes widened as she made out the thin outline of a splicer in the control booth.
"I thought so." said Jack when she told him this. "Do you think he's sabotaging the controls?" Tristina asked as the doors opened then closed.
"No. I doubt they have enough sanity left to flip a switch." said Jack. "I think I saw something bulky under his arm. It might be another one of those bomb tossers." said Tristina, squinting at the booth again.
"Better let me handle this, then." said Jack, holding up his hand and walking towards the hall.
"Keep away from my patient!" a voice shouted as a small canister with a lit fuse bounced towards them. Jack thrust his hand towards it and it hovered just before his palm. Rushing back towards the Emergency Access, Jack dissapeared around the corner with sizzling fuse. Tristina gasped as explosion rocked the room.
"Jack!" Tristina cried, her heart leaping into her throat.
"I'm okay, Trish!" Jack called, raising his hands to calm her as she ran to him. "I'm alright...but that bastards not." Jack added, nodding above them. Tristina looked up to see a small plume of smoke rising from where she recognized Emergency Access to be.
"You dont think you damaged the controls, do you?" Tristina asked as they raced up the steps to the Emergency Access platform. "No." said Jack, sounding almost relieved as he approached the unharmed and pristine switch. a loud 'clank' sounded, and the red light faded.
"Security Alert deactivated. Thank you for your patience" a friendly female voice announced cheerfully.
Tristina let out a sigh of relief as Atlas's voice chimed through the walkie. "I don't know how you and the lass managed it, but you did." Atlas said, sounding grateful. "Come through to Port Neptune now. I'm looking forward to shaking your hand."
Tristina and Jack wasted no time jogging back down the steps and through the newly opened exit. As they sloshed through the water, another bathosphere sat waiting for them. "Well, at least we'll be a bit more secure tonight." said Jack as they climbed inside and he pulled the lever.
Tristina only nodded as the submersible began to sink.