When I step into the sunlight, I see several blue-clad Columbia Soldiers milling about the area.
There are about sixteen of them, standing about. One soldier whistles the tune "wild prairie roses" in his rough voice and proceeds to miss several notes, another soldier teats some peanuts out of a burlap bag in his hand.
A third soldier complains about me, presumably without knowing I am here. "Can believe it? First the False Shepherd char-broils a bunch of Founders at The Raffle, then a soldier patrolling the rooftops decides he'd rather be a Vox and opens fire on his men without warning! What next, a plague of toads?"
"You'll do well not to treat our duty so lightly. Most would give anything for a chance to take down The False Shepherd", replied another soldier. But her own voice betrays nervousness.
Standing away from the other soldiers is another Fireman. I can hear him scream; his voice is so pained it is a wonder he does not wear out his throat. "It burns! It burns so much! Let me out! PLEASE!"
Even if Tenenbaum was here, I doubt even she could help these poor Firemen. She couldn't fix the Big Daddies, and at least trying to help them wouldn't burn her shin off. Who the ever-loving fuck puts a man in a suit of fire?! This is worse than a Big Daddy; at least Big Daddies are brain washed not to be in constant torment! Why are people so evil?
Focus on the mission Jack; it's beyond your control ...
Sighing with resignation, I make my way over to the man who I suspect is in charge of these officers.
"Sir ..."
Before I can continue, the man interrupts me. "Who are you? You're not in my patrol."
"Uhh ... yes I am." Very convincing Jack. You're a regular Culpepper ...
"And you sat through the whole ride over from the barracks without anyone noticing ... damn your quiet. There's blending with the woodwork and then there's you."
At least it worked.
"Sir, I'm actually not feeling well. I think I need a ride back." If I can just reach Monument Island ...
The officer snorts. "Hah. Trying to get out of work are we? I think you're someone who needs to work double shifts- Good God! What in Comstock's name is that? That looks like something out of the Seven Plagues of Egypt!"
It's a good thing I have Insect Swarm 3; just wielding it causes my hands to become puffy and porous. All I needed to do was activate the Plasmid and take my gloves off.
"Sir, I really need to go back to the barracks before it gets worse."
"How did this happen?!" I injected myself with strange needles!
"I guess it was just like this when I woke up."
"Well, you're clearly not fit to ride a Sky-Line back. I'll have Kerel take you back on the gunship. Kerel! Get over here!"
Another Columbia Soldier, one with an odd accent, runs up to the senior officer and salutes him. "Sir!"
"You're to take Private ... what's your name?"
"Atlas, Sir!" Fontaine is too dead to mind me borrowing his fake name.
The senior officer continues, "Take Private Atlas on the gunship back to the barracks. I don't know what's happened to his hands, but he needs to see a medic urgently."
Kerel takes one look at my Insect Swarm 3! hands, and strait away struggles against the urge to vomit. He then nods, and starts leading me towards the gunship. We climb aboard, he pulls the ramp up, and he begins steering it up and away.
First we fly over the rooftop of a sinister-looking mansion. A statue of Comstock fighting a three-headed snake in front, a giant stone bust of an eye above the entrance, blackened walls ... and a roof covered with ravens. Literally a thousand nests filled with eggs, ravens, bones, and other foulness. I have no idea what is inside, but I am glad I do not have to go in there.
Kerel grimaces at the structure before speaking. "That's the Fraternal Order. I know the Raven Zealots protect Columbia, and that they're supposed to be the elite of the elite ... but they still give me the creeps. No thank you; a Bird's Eye Rifle is enough for me."
Comstock Zealots, Raven-Based Plasmids ... now I am REALLY glad I do not have to go in there.
"You don't sound like other Columbians."
Kerel nods, "Aye, I ascended here after the Boer War. My forefathers were Voortrekkers, but after Queen Vicky crushed The Orange Free State I had to leave to avoid being sent to Camp Bethulie."
"Did you also ride a rocket in a light-house?"
Kerel laughs, "Hah! That really gave me the jitters! It's been ten years and I remember that rocket!"
I watch Kerel, observing how he flies the Gunship. "So did you hear about what happened in the Raffle?"
"Some Voxer tried blowing it up, but they're no match for us. We'll put those Kaffirs in their place!"
Something tells me Kerel didn't listen to Paster Atkin's sermons ...
"So will we reach the barracks soon?"
"Oh yeah; just past Monument Island and then a left to Emporia." He is right; I can see that we are in the very shadow of Monument Island. The statue holds it's hand out, as though to beckon me towards it.
I sigh with a sort of sadness, knowing what I must do ...
"I am sorry ..."
"No worry; It's no trouble taking you to the barracks. Though it's too bad the Captain still has to use a pre-automation gunship-"
Kerel never finished this thought, because while he was steering I swung my wrench at him with all my might. This time there is no ambiguity as to whether or not he is dead; as soon as my wrench connects to his head I head an audible CRACK! and his neck bends in a way that no man can survive.
I am sorry it had to end like this ...
Pragmatically, I fish through the corpse's pockets. I feel something that might be a picture, but I leave it inside out of fear that I might see this man with a loved one. In the other pockets I find bullets, peanuts, chewing tobacco, and silver coins. Once I have these, I take the body to the edge of the gunship and throw it over the side. It plummets into the clouds and vanishes from view; I am sure on the ground someone will find it and wonder about the oddly dressed man who fell out of the sky.
I take the steering wheel, and fly over to the entrance of Monument Island itself. I notice that there are several checkpoints I am passing, and I can only suspect that they are guarded to the hilt. Boy would it have been a pain in the ass if I tried to fight my way through those!
Gently, delicately, I glide the Gunship in position to land at the base of Monument Island.