Years had passed and Moema had done as she said she would. Rapture was rebuilt and cleaned up. It was also recognized as its own Nation. This drew in many people, willing to work and experience the unique idea of living under the sea. There was some surface land that had been installed for the landing of planes and arrival of ships. As technology boomed, Rapture took part… In fact, many of the smart minds came to Rapture. It would always be a hotspot for culture and intelligence and art.
Moema built upon the core of what Rapture meant… Like a lack of censorship, and an abundance of freedoms. Though, there was some form of order. Laws and regulations… A minimum and even a maximum wage scale. She ensured that everything, everyone was covered. She also set up a sort of council. The last thing she wanted was absolute power.
She'd also found a friend in Brigid Tenenbaum. The two discussed much and Moema had Brigid become a sort of Aunt figure to her daughter, who she did name Moira, and her son, Patrick. Twins. They were a handful for Moema.
But this day, now that the twins were seven, Moema and Brigid had heard word from Jack that he wanted the five girls he took with him to know of their origin. They were landing now and when they rushed from the plane, the 14-16-year-old girls seemed confounded and Jack couldn't help but hug Moema and shake Brigid's hand. Moema had kept in touch with Jack periodically.
"Welcome back." Moema grins, patting Jacks face. He grinned back.
"How are the Mothers of Rapture?" he asked as the group made their way inside.
"Mothers of Rapture!" scoffs Brigid. "Why would you tell him that?" she asked Moema.
Chuckling, Moema shrugged, "Why wouldn't I? I find it fascinating."
"Because it is a ridiculous notion!" laughed Brigid. "We are fine, by the way. How about you?"
"As well as can be." Admits Jack. "So, I've been told of the changes and expansions… But I'm curious to see them for myself…"
"In good time, son." States Moema as the Bathysphere opens for them. The group steps on and Moema, Brigid, Patrick, and Moira sit on the right side while Jack and his girls take the other side.
Jack points to the new type of Bathysphere, "This is a curious change…" It was longer and had an actual driver.
"Well, when we became a known entity, we had a growth of population and the system that was in place before was just inefficient. So, I brought this concern to some people better suited to design and create what was needed. They made it longer and so that it could be driven… That way it's more efficient. This also created a few new jobs, which was a great bonus." Grinned the darker woman.
"She is so proud." Brigid teases lightly, earning a nudge from Moema.
"Why shouldn't she be? I dread to think of what rapture would have become without the guidance of you two." He states. "So, to Kashmir first or what?"
The two women chuckled, "We'll set you up with us, first."
"'Us'?" he asked, looking at Moema curiously. "You never said you both lived together."
"I didn't?" Moema asks with faux curiosity. "Must have slipped my mind!"
He gives a suspicious look to the two women who share a knowing smile. "Why does it feel like there is more to this?"
Both women shrugged lightly before the driver cleared his throat, "I thought it was all over the papers everywhere?" At the curious look from Jack, the driver continued, "These two are married."
Jack went wide eyed as he looked at the grinning women. "Really?"
"We respect one another and we understand one another… Over the years, it became…" Moema looked to Brigid who nodded, "More. We're happy. It's nice to have someone who I can talk to and not become frustrated with or feel that I'm being told half-truths or lies."
"Like Fontaine and Atlas." Nods Jack. "I see, now. Good for you both. I'm very happy for you."
The couple nodded and thanked Jack. "You should have read some of the articles that were sent to us from other countries." Brigid sighs, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. "Some people are so closed minded… It is sad, really."
Moema nodded. "We've even received some threats."
The three, Jack, Brigid, and Moema, chuckled and scoffed. That left the quiet children to share shrugs.
Brigid, Moema, and Jack were comparing their tales of Rapture and piecing the history together from memories. It was most enlightening until one of the girls, one of the former Little Sisters, came up to Brigid, "I apologize for intruding, but I think I remember you, ma'am."
"Oh, you think so?" Brigid asks, leaning forwards.
"Yes… You were there…" the young girl frowned as the memory seemed foggy and almost unobtainable. "You were… Behind a window…" she glanced to Jack who nodded, encouraging her to continue. "There were bunk beds… And there was this man…" her head shook. "That's all I can remember."
"That is probably for the best." Brigid nods. "So, what do you plan on doing with your future?"
The girl smiled faintly, "I want to be a Doctor."
"Ooh." Brigid teases, looking to Moema who chuckles.
"I want to help people." She continues.
"How would you like to help people?" asks Moema.
"I don't know… I guess heal them… Cure them of things…"
"Ah. I see. Do you have any books to determine if you can even understand what would be required of you?" continues Moema.
"Uhm, no… I wasn't sure where to start."
"Perhaps when the time comes, you'll come back to Rapture and I'll mentor you? If you want, that is..? Rapture isn't for everyone… Your father can attest to this." Moema motions to Jack who shakes his head with a scoff.
"Uhm, yeah, sure. I think it's really neat in Rapture. It's different. I like it." She nods. "Ah, I've been curious… Daddy says you two are like family to him… Sort of like mothers…" the two women shared a look, "Would that make you two our grandmothers?"
Moema tilted her head as Brigid shrugged lightly. "I suppose." Both say together. The girl smiled widely before turning to her sisters and telling them.
Looking towards Jack, Moema chuckles, "What a curious turn of the conversation."
Jack shook his head a shrugged, "I was making observations on the way over here… I guess Sarah over-heard."
"Clever girl." Responds Brigid before the phone rings. "I suppose I shall get that." She stands from the table and answers the phone.
"It must be difficult raising five girls on your own, Jack." Moema begin, earning a partial shrug from the man. "If you ever need time, you send those girls here. Brigid and I will keep an eye on them. Without question."
Jack smiled, "I might just have to. It's really difficult… I find that they're asking questions I don't have the know-how to answer!"
"Oh, I think I understand. Next time, have them call with their questions." She chuckles lightly at the next thought, "I mean, between Brigid and I, I'm sure we've more than enough experience!"
"Moe. They need you down at the Pavilion." Brigid says, sitting back down. "Jamison got injured and can't continue the operation."
Moema sighs, "Sometimes, I wonder why I let him become a Doctor…" she then stands, "Alright. I guess I am needed." Leaning down, she pecks Brigid, "I will be back soon."
"You want me to follow the itinerary?" Brigid asks.
"Might as well." Shrugs Moema. "I know it well enough to know approximately where you all will be." She pecks her son and daughter, "Behave you two."
"Alright. Be safe." Brigid responds.
"You know I always am." Moema states, smiling, and putting on her shoes. Once done with that, she said goodbye once more to everyone before finally leaving.
Moema greeted some citizens and tourists before reaching Brigid, Jack, and the children. "Enjoying the brand new Museum Biosphere?"
Jack chuckles, "It is very informative… A touch of world history, and a bit of Raptures…"
"We have not gone to the section of Raptures Dark Moments…" responds Brigid, reaching out to squeeze Moema's hand in greeting before releasing.
"Ah, I see. Then let me know when everyone is rea-"
"Jesus will smite you for your blatant Sins and tainting of young minds!" A woman with long dark hair shouts, approaching the group. "You'll make these innocents go to Hell with you!"
Moema looked at the woman, "Are you aware of exactly whom you are spewing your Religious intolerance at, ma'am?"
"Are you even aware that such verbal assaults are against the law?" Brigid chimes in.
"God and Jesus will protect me!" hisses the woman as a young man rushes up to latch onto her, "Let me go, Jimmy!"
"You gotta shut yer mouth, now, Ruth…" Jimmy says, tugging on Ruth. Despite him seeming stronger than the petite woman, she tugged her person free of his grasp.
"I ain't gotta do a damned thing!" she silences when Moema sets one hand upon her shoulder and grips tightly. "OW!"
"Security!" Moema shouts out, drawing the attention of the curious Museum Security over.
"No, please, Doctor Suero? She didn't mean nuthin' by it! She's just a little stupid, that's all…" Jimmy begs.
With Security very close, Moema eyes Ruth, who is now pale at the mention of Moema's name. "Do you realize now, Ruth, whom you have just attacked?"
"All I did was say the truth…" she squeaks out.
"Here in Rapture, you are certainly free to believe what you will and practice your faith… In private. In public settings and other peoples' private homes, any unwelcome Religious Propaganda and the Incontinent spewing of hatred is a crime. Your Religion is important, yes… But only to you and those who believe as you do. Under no circumstance are you or anyone else to publically speak about your Religion without the proper permit and at the proper venue. Even then, there are stipulations as to what you may say in public." The guards were now just behind Ruth. "Now, these laws are in place to ensure peace and happiness for every citizen and visitor. You, Ruth, are creating a vile disrespecting environment in a place of knowledge and learning. You, Ruth, are attempting to assault my wife and I, as well as our children and grandchildren." She sighs and nods to the two Security men, letting them latch onto Ruth. "Now, I will not stand for such a transgression and blatant disrespect to me, mine, and my home. Given that this is most likely your first time here, I will inquire for leniency from the Council."
"Wait! I'm goin' to jail?" Ruth cries out, "Just for believin' in God?"
"No." hisses Moema, becoming angry. "You are going to jail because you broke the law. Get this cretin out of my sight before I regret offering my word on leniency."
The guards nod and as Ruth goes to cause more of a disturbance, Jimmy slaps a hand over her mouth, "Shut up, Cousin." He then turned and nodded to Moema, "Thank you, Doctor Suero."
Moema nods once as the group watches Ruth get carted away. "Nothing makes my skin crawl as much as ignorance." A small huff escapes her as Brigid rubs at her back.
"Chances are, that was how she was raised, Moe." Brigid sooths softly.
A small nod comes from Moema, "I suppose. I just hope she learns her lesson…" Turning to the group, she clapped her hands, mentally shoving the issue away, "So! Raptures Dark Moments…"
Jack looks to his girls before looking back at Moema and nodding. "Let's go."
The group moves to the section which is separated from everything else and wander through, looking at the panels and pictures and tools and propaganda. They finally come across Gatherer's Garden machine and a few things from the Little Sister and Big Daddy sets. The five girls seem to stare a little longer than they should at this section and the adults share a few looks.
"This was us… Wasn't it?" asks Sarah. She looks to Jack who looks to Brigid and Moema. Following his gaze, Sarah looks at the two women.
"It was." Nods Brigid. "It was a… Dark time for all of us… We were all fairly different back then." She looks downwards, "I was a different person…"
"So… Then who are our biological parents? Where are they?" presses the girl.
"Without your original DNA and without the proper documentation of where you came from, we have no way of telling." Moema says as Brigid steps away for a moment. "The most likely scenario is that your parents were killed in the Civil War. That, or they've gone mad from Splicing." That made her chuckle dryly at a sudden realization. "You were either sent to or forcibly taken to Fontaine's Little sister Orphanage. Seems almost poetic that you are quite literally now, Orphans… Or, were." Her head shakes, "Damn you Frank." She murmurs.
Sarah approaches Moema before hugging the woman tightly. "So, you knew Frank Fontaine?"
"I did. I knew him as Frank, I knew Atlas before he disappeared, I knew Frank when he took up Atlas' identity." Moema seems to let her mind wander as her eyes dart to and fro. "It was a… difficult time."
"If you don't mind my asking, Grandma, why was it difficult?" presses Sarah.
"Well… I'd become a Doctor and Frank began months of pestering me. After a time, he introduced me to Atlas. Atlas wanted Medical check-ups for him and the others who couldn't afford the Pavilion at the time… I was instantly attracted to Atlas. He was an honest man… But he had a wife and son. Moira and Patrick… I suppose, if I am to believe Frank's admissions of love for me, that he became jealous of my infatuation for Atlas. Who knows? Anyways. I tried to keep to myself and keep Frank at a Distance. I also respected the loving family Atlas had. Moira was an absolute peach of a woman and Patrick was the first baby I enjoyed being around." She wraps her arm around Sarah's shoulders, "Obviously, I loved Moira and Patrick to such an extent that I would name my children after them!"
The group chuckles and Brigid returns, clearly having shed some tears.
"Work seemed to dwindle as Rapture made a hasty descent into madness and chaos… I told Frank I needed time away from him and his… Self-entitlement. Around then is when Atlas and his family disappeared. There was nothing I could do… Either Frank had them killed, or Ryan… Though, there is no reason for Ryan to have done so. He may have been a tyrannical selfish bastard, but he never really did anything without reason… That's when I met with Anna Culpepper. A wonderful woman. We had a fledgling friendship before she was killed and my life was almost taken from me at the same time… Andrew Ryan had put his Head of Security to it. Sent Sullivan to kill us both. He set up a turret in my apartment and I would have been dead if Frank had not snatched me out of the way so quickly. I suppose his hatred for Ryan was a gift in disguise that night… That was when I realized that Anna might be in danger, so I rushed back to her place only to find Sullivan stumbling away and Anna dead in her tub…"
A long pause from Moema as her eyes watered caused Brigid to place a soft kiss to Moema's cheek. "It's alright love." Moema's eyes focused on Brigid before she nodded. "Go on."
"Well, I couldn't very well stay in my own home anymore… I went to Hestia and lived out of my make-shift office. I tended to the poor. When the majority of men were gone and those left were unaccustomed to gun use, I was left to defend Hestia and her residents. It happened often enough, I suppose. After a time, Frank and Atlas walk in and I can feel that something isn't quite right… Then Frank calls me 'Doc' and I knew it wasn't him. I knew that the Atlas in front of me was Frank and the Frank was some poor sap who most likely didn't fully know what he'd gotten into. I was so livid… I felt that the disappearance of Atlas and his family was somehow my fault and to have Fontaine wearing his face… It was heart breaking. He tried seducing me as Atlas and I am ashamed to say that it worked. Before long, I realized that I was pregnant… That was when Jack came. I knew that there was something to Jack… I'd worked on enough faces and studied them enough to recognize that he resembled Ryan ever-so-slightly. I left Hestia and made my way to the core to reach just before Ryan's hide-out. Jack came in and we had a small conversation. I didn't see him again until I had to shoot a Spliced Frank off of him. Before that was when I finally met Brigid."
The two women share a small smile and peck. "We spoke about the terrible things that had happened and decided that if we could, we'd fix it. I went off, found the plans Anna Culpepper and I came up with the night she died, and then returned in time to shoot Frank. I revealed that I was pregnant and done with Frank's nonsense. After that, you girls popped out and helped defeat Frank by draining the abundance of ADAM from his system. Then Jack took you top-side and Brigid and I gathered who was left and cleaned the city…"
"What happened to the Frank imposter?" asked one of the girls.
"He was shot multiple time by Sullivan and his men. The real Frank and I went to see… Felt like I owed it to the poor man, and when Sullivan saw both of us, his sanity broke. I suppose he suspected both of us to be dead… He ended up knocking the faux Frank from the arms of his men, making the body fall and the eyes to snap open… I haven't seen Sullivan since. He ran screaming." Her left shoulder shrugged.
"Did you come to Rapture with someone?" asked another.
"Yes. I came with my mother." Nodded Moema.
"What happened to her?" asks Sarah.
"I suppose she got mixed up with Fontaine for some reason and to protect me, she said that we were no longer related… That we did not know one another. That was just after I became a Doctor. I didn't see her again until she found me in Hestia and told me to go Top-side to escape. Turns out, she'd spliced and wanted me to leave before she lost herself to the ADAM. I found her dead during the CURe."
"That had to be the worst part of Clean Up and Rebuild…" Brigid begins, "Finding the dead…" a nod comes from Moema.
"How come dad didn't turn out like the other Splicers?" questions Sarah, still leaning on Moema.
"Suchong and I ensured that Jack would have a clear advantage… Did you know he is roughly a few years younger than you girls and a couple older than the twins?" chuckles Brigid.