"Rapture is dead. It's not a place for the soft or merciful. Not a place for decent people, or children. But it's the perfect place for someone like me. A... killer... I want out! But I don't deserve it. One day, when I die, I'll probably be left here... left to rot in this place forever... after all this is really as close to hell as you can get."
-Jennifer Tapely
Jennifer could have leaped for joy when she saw a health station that is if she hadn't had a whole in her side. She searched her pockets and purse for any spare change. When she had scraped together the right amount she felt instant relief. Almost all the pain in her side was gone. She wouldn't be doing much heavy lifting for a while, but she was better off than a few minutes ago.
Landon was staring at her again. She would have told him to stop gawking at her but then she remembered that, if it wasn't for him she'd have bleed out thirty minutes ago. She still couldn't believe it. Now she really couldn't kill him.
When she had walked out to check the room a head she was contemplating how to kill him, a quick shot to the back of the head, or maybe just leave him to the splicers... she cursed herself and her weak will.
Fontaine is going to kill you.
She shook her head.
God, he's just a boy, why should Fontaine care?
Fontaine said he wanted them all out of the picture, that includes HIM.
"Uh Jennifer?"
She turned back to him. "What?"
"Do you know where we're going?"
She looked around. "Not really but there has to be an exit sooner or later."
He didn't look too encouraged by that.
"Cool it kid, we'll be out of here in no time. Trust me."
He nodded, and smiled.
She looked away from him not feeling well.
You should kill him now...
She sat down on a bench rubbing her temples.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"I need a drink..."
Landon looked around. "I'll get you something!"
"Hey, what, no!" She called as he ran off. "Damn."
Silly, stupid kid.
"This way Mr. B!"
Jennifer looked up to see another Big Daddy, and with him, a Little Sister.
She scowled, and looked away from them; feeling worse then she had a few moments before.
It was strange; she really couldn't stand the sight of them. The Little Sisters. Just thinking about them always made her feel sick, and uncomfortable. She could hear the sickening noise of the Little Sisters needle piercing the skin of a dead body. She could see it in her head. After they had sucked out the blood from the corpse she would... drink it, then the scientists... or rather, SCIENTIST would make them puke it up and just like that ADAM. The Little Sisters could do this because of slugs implanted into their stomachs. Disgusting.
Of all the things Fontaine had built up, or created that was the thing she always HATED most...
"Jennifer!"
The Big Daddy, who hadn't noticed her until now suddenly jumped in front of the Little Sister, pointing it's gun at her, a warning telling her to stay away. Landon froze in his tracks when he saw the brute. She stood up avoiding the pair and headed for Landon. "Let's go."
Landon nodded looking back nervously to the Big Daddy, who was still pointing a gun their way.
Jennifer looked and saw Landon had a cheap wine brand in his hands. "That mine?"
He blinked then handed it to her. "Yeah!"
She sniffed it and took a long swig, it was awful. She was used to the expensive stuff, but this junk had enough kick to clear her head. "Thanks kid." She smiled then leaned the bottle back to him. "Want some?"
His face turned pinkish. "I- I'm not allowed to..."
"Not allowed?"
He looked away. "My dad says..."
"Your dad isn't here kid, and I won't tell him. Sure you don't want some?"
Landon stared at her, and then took the bottle. He took a deep breath and took a sip; his face was priceless when he spit it out. Jennifer started laughing, and Landon's face turned a deep shade of red.
She apologized and cleaned him off, then, her head now clear continued to search.
It's too quite... where's Ryan? There's no way he'd let us out of here...So why hasn't he tried to pull anything yet?
She was on edge, no noises, it was so quiet, she could hear water dripping from the ceiling and even Rapture itself, groaning under the weight of the ocean. She could see dim fluorescent lights threw the water outside, and beyond the lights was darkness.
The room they entered was huge, from what Jennifer could see it was a cafeteria. She could see desks and chairs scattered around and knocked over. Food was still rotting on the floor; it almost made her loose her appetite.
Damn, we need to find something to eat. Where's a vending machine when you need one?
Suddenly she heard something like an explosion; she shook and almost fell over from the violent shaking. She looked up and could see through the glass, a tunnel, it was hit, it was falling. Right on top of them.
With no time to think she grabbed Landon and ran, she jammed a electro bolt plasmid into her arm and shot out a bolt of lightning to open the door, she threw Landon into the tunnel and jumped, as she flew through the air she grabbed her pistol and when she landed on the ground she shot the controls to the tunnel when it closed. A second later she heard the ceiling collapse and a huge amount of force hit the door almost popping it open, but now water was leaking into the tunnel. The force of the water was so strong it caused the glass of the tunnel to crack.
"Shit!" She stood up and as quick as she could manage she reached the next room.
Landon was shaking. "What happened!"
She shook her head. "I have no idea... looked like something hit the tunnel that collapsed on us, but I've never seen anything like it before... it might have been something from... the surface."
Landon looked uncomfortable. "Do you think they've found out about Rapture, and they've come to steal..."
She cut him off with laugh. "Please, like there's anything here WORTH stealing! You've been paying too much at attention to Ryan." She pulled out a cigarette and lit it. "Aren't you supposed to be a rebel?"
He looked down. "My dad's a rebel... I've never really done anything to be worth anything to him or Atlas."
She flinched. Atlas.
"So where is your dad?"
He looked up at her. "He was hurt on a raid, so he's back at base."
So she hadn't killed him. Now she felt a little better. "Wait here for a while okay?"
"Where are you going?"
She didn't look back. "To find some food."
When she was a good distance from Landon she pulled out the radio.
"Hey 'Atlas'."
She heard a laugh from the other side. "What is it?"
"How many rebels are with you at your hideout?"
"What?"
She shook her head. "I mean, that can't have been all of them..."
After a pause he replied. "About ten."
"That many?"
"Yeah, they're unfinished business, but now that Jack's back I don't need them anymore."
"Wait, he's here? Already!"
"Yeah, he's just makin' his way in."
Shit.
"You're almost back right?"
She looked around. "I think so."
"Then I got a job for ya'. Before we meet at my flat, I need you to go to the Krauts house and pick up somethin' for me."
She nodded. "What?"
"A sample she stole, thought I didn't notice, I need you to grab it."
She rubbed her neck. "Why not get her to bring it back?"
"Turns out mother goose don't wanna play ball no more. So, I'm droppin' her."
She nodded. "Okay, I'll find... whatever it is for you."
"Great, great. See ya then."
She shook her head. Another thing to add to her to do list. Then with a sigh she started looking around for some food.
Landon yawned and closed his eyes, he was so tired... but he was too scared to sleep. He had no idea of what could sneak up on him while he was sleeping.
The thought of something attacking him in his sleep was battling with how much he wanted to sleep.
He stood up and started walking around the area.
He pulled out his radio and turned it on. "..."
Nothing, he walked around for a while. "...plas-...bodies... -andle it..."
Atlas!
"Atlas! Can you hear me?"
He shook his head; Atlas must not be able to hear him. He sighed and sat down listening to the jumbled messages.
He wondered if they knew what happened... if his dad thought he was... He had to get back soon.
He sighed and turned off the radio, and looked up, staring into the darkness.
Jennifer was walking back when she saw Landon sleeping on the floor. She let out an irritated sigh. She didn't have time for this!
But...I need to rest too. It'll take him a while before he can reach Ryan anyway...
She sat down and closed her eyes, it was hard to find a comfortable spot on the floor but when you're tired enough you can manage.
"HELP!"
Jennifer jerked awake, for a moment she didn't know where she was.
"JENNIFER!"
She looked around, Landon was gone!
"Landon! Where are you? LANDON!"
She heard some movement over to her right, and ran after it.
She couldn't see Landon, but she could see movement on the ceiling and a few figures moving in the shadows up ahead.
She ran into the room a head, Landon was running, but tripped and fell. He backed away from the splicer, cowering against a wall.
She pulled out her pistol and shot him, until he fell.
She ran to Landon. "You all right?"
"I-I was just looking around, then... they were everywhere... I-I was..."
She put her hand on his shoulder. "It's okay calm down, can you stand?"
He nodded, and then stood up.
As he stood all the doors in the room slammed shut.
"What!" Jennifer ran over to the doors and tried to get them open. "Dammit!"
She heard a strange noise and looked up to see a green gas pouring into the room.
"What! ….Ryan!"
"I've had enough of you. It's time to end this, parasite. The gas should fill the room in a few minutes, and once you are dead and gone, I will deal with the rest of you."
"Fucking Ryan!" She ran to Landon. "Hold your breath when I say!"
She pulled out her radio. "Hey! I need help! Ryan's locked me in; he's pumping some kind of chemical into the room! I don't have much time!"
"What! Where are you?"
She looked around started naming off the numbers on the wall, names, anything she could think of.
She ripped off some of her shirt and covered her mouth. "Hold your breath! Close your eyes! Hold on as long as you can!"
Landon did so, clinging to her. She could see the gas getting closer. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
It seemed to go on forever...
When she heard Landon gasps for air.
SHIT!
She heard him immediately start to cough and hack. She covered his mouth and nose with the cloth. Her lungs were on fire, she couldn't hold on any longer.
She took in a breath and felt the chemicals burn her throat and nostrils, she could barely stand when hit with the wave of pain.
She didn't even notice when the fans turned on.
Before she knew what was happening she was on the floor, twitching, breathing...
The air was clear again. She rolled on to her stomach and pushed herself up, then puked.
I'm alive...!
She looked to her right and saw Landon... He wasn't moving...
She crawled to him and rolled him over, then put her ear to his mouth, nothing.
No! Fuck how do you do this?
She opened his mouth and pushed on his chest.
One, two, three
She breathed in air into his mouth.
Nothing, she tried it again. Nothing.
She quickly shot up an electro bolt plasmid and placed her still twitching hand over his heart.
Landon jerked to life, coughing and gasping, he leaned to his side and threw up.
She could have cried.
"Hey! Can you hear me? You still alive down there!"
She grabbed the radio. "Yes... yes... thank you... thank you..."
"Fuck, you really aren't worth all this hassle. Anyway, there's an exit close by, I'll open the doors for ya."
"R-right..."
She leaned her head back, still taking long, deep breaths.
She heard Landon coughing. "Who... who was that?"
She froze for a moment. "A friend of mine. Don't worry about it..." She sat up. "You all right? You hurting?"
"My chest is still burning... but I think I'm okay."
"G-good..."
She stood up, and almost fell over again.
Her legs felt like they were asleep. Shaking it off she walked over and grabbed Landon's hand and pulled him up when the doors to their right opened.
"Thank god!"
She and Landon quickly ran from the building, just in case Ryan wanted to try something else.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"Olympus Heights." She replied.
"Why?"
"Got to pick something up."
Landon looked uneasy. "I-I have to go to Apollo Square."
"Then go."
"But-"
"Your a big boy, you can handle it." She handed him the pistol. "See ya kid."
She left him there... she was surprised how much it hurt. But she couldn't... when he went back to 'Atlas'... she didn't want to think about it.
She headed up to Tenenbaum's apartment, but it was locked, so with some effort she was able to get in threw a hole in the wall.
She headed upstairs, and took out her radio. "So what's this chemical look like?"
"Hell I can't remember, just look around."
She scanned the place looking for it, but when that turned up no results she started tearing up the place.
That's when she noticed it, a small flask of a strange looking chemical. "I think I've got it."
"All right, oh yeah I got another job for ya."
"Yes?"
"Head over to Apollo Square, and finish things up for me there would you?"
She was quiet for a long time... she didn't want to! She couldn't! She...
"...okay..."
"Meet me in my flat when you're done..."
Jennifer made her way to Apollo Square. She easily slipped into Atlas' Headquarters.
She had been in such a daze on the way she had forgotten, so she loaded her shot gun, and when a man walked up to her shot him point blank. He fell to the floor, a bloody mess; his eyes were still open...
"Alex!"
"You bitch!"
She shot the other two up on the top floor, reloaded, then headed downstairs. She shot the girl lying in the bed, and shot another man who had just gotten up.
One of Atlas' rebels ran to a pile of weapons, and grabbed a gun. Jennifer shot him before he could even turn around. There must have been some explosives in the pile because it blew up leaving a gaping hole in the floor.
She dropped her shotgun, and with a cold empty feeling in her gut, walked back to Olympus Heights.
Landon wasn't there... where...?
She shook her head, it didn't matter anymore... she was leaving this place... she's never have to think about it again.
She kept telling herself that as she went up the elevator to Fontaine's flat.
When she entered his home she could hear 'Danny Boy' playing softly in the background. The place smelled like his cigars.
She walked up the stairs past the gaudy stuffed... whatever it was. Fontaine called it a bear, didn't really matter, they didn't have bears in Rapture.
Fontaine was sitting at the bar, pouring himself a drink.
"Finally made it, I guess it went well?"
"Killed everyone who was there."
He nodded. "Good, got the chemical?"
She nodded and handed it over.
He inspected it and nodded; Fontaine stood up and went into his office. He placed the chemical on his desk, and then set up a few trap bolts. "Good."
"What now?"
"Well haven't heard from Jack in a while, not since he got to Fort Frolic."
"Is he dead?"
"No... I don't think so."
She looked over to the chemical. "So what was that for?"
He laughed. "Just in case things go sour."
Fontaine talked over to one of the many shelves of books. "You've done good."
"..."
"It's too bad you had to fuck things up."
She blinked, registering what he said. "What?"
She hit the floor before she felt the pain, her whole body shuddered, and she felt like she was on fire. She was moaning in pain, he'd shot her in the stomach.
"Wh-why!"
"Do you think I'm stupid? I don't like being lied to."
In her fevered state she was having trouble understanding when he was saying.
"The boy."
She shook her head. "Why should it matter! He's just a-" He kicked her.
"It isn't, not really. I just don't like being lied to, I can't trust you kid, looks like you're staying in Rapture."
She swallowed trying to keep herself from screaming. "Like you ever planned to take me with you!"
The look on his face told her she was right.
She knew, she had known all along, deep inside. She knew he was lying...
"Don't worry; I won't let ya suffer for long." He came closer, grabbing her collar and pulling her off the floor.
"ATLAS! STOP!"
She felt herself fall again, and then heard Fontaine laughing.
Jennifer looked up; Fontaine had Landon by the hair, twisting it. "Well, ain't that sweet?"
Fontaine kicked him to the ground, ripping the pistol from his hand.
Fontaine started kicking Landon. "STOP IT!" She screamed, she tried to stand, but was too lightheaded from blood loss and fell.
Fontaine looked at her for a moment. "All right, I got better things to do."
Suddenly Fontaine started walking out the door; she didn't know what to do.
He stopped as he reached the stairs and called back. "Oh yeah Jen, I got a job for you."
Is he trying to be funny?
"Do me a favor, and kill the kid all right."
The next few moments were a blur. She heard Fontaine laughing, then all of a sudden she was walking to Landon, on top of him.
Her hands locked around his neck, she squeezed, she was choking him.
She was killing him.
No... no, no, no, NO, NO, NO, NO!
"Je... sto..." Landon's face was turning blue... his hands were clawing at her...
She could see the trap bolts in the corner of her eye, she couldn't get herself to let go...
She jerked her body, and her head hit a trap bolt, electrocuting her.
She wasn't sure what happened next, but when she snapped back to reality, Landon was gone.
Landon...
Why? Why did I do that! I didn't want to!
She stood up. Whatever Fontaine had done, she would make him pay for it... she leaned back, pulling out a health pack, taking care of her stomach, she WOULD make him pay... but first she had to make a quick stop at Fontaine Futuristics...
"How dare you come here!"
"Let me in Ryan, you want to hear me out!"
Ryan let out a mocking laugh. "And why is that."
"It's about your son with Jasmine Jolene."
There was a long silence, and then the doors opened.
She limped inside and to Ryan's office. It was the first time she'd seen the man in person.
"What would you know about... that...?"
"Your son... is alive, and he's here in Rapture. He's the one who's on his way to kill you."
Ryan stared at her, his expression was... unreadable. "That's not possible."
"Yes it is, all the proof is in here." She lifted up a large bag she'd filled with papers, diaries, anything about Jack. "Fontaine had the scientists do experiments on him, I was never let in on the details, but I know that's him."
Ryan walked away from her. "Why tell me this? Why now?"
"…for my own satisfaction." She dropped the bag on the floor, and stared at Ryan, for a moment.
"Get out..."
She backed away from him and walked out of the door.
She could only hope that, now that Ryan knew the truth, it would make some sort of difference... but now... now...
"You're still alive huh?" Fontaine's voice mocked from the radio.
"You son-of-bitch!"
She heard him laughing.
"When did you do it?"
"Do what?"
She took a deep breath then spat out. ".!"
"Jennifer, Jennifer, you was always under my thumb. Since the day you were born."
"What are you talking about?"
"We had to test on somebody, I wasn't about to screw up with Ryan's kid! So I went over to the Kraut, and picked up a sad little brat from the Little Sisters orphanage to try them out on."
She wasn't sure what to think. "That's not true, My parents-"
"You still don't get it? Everything you remember is a lie. Your mother died when you was born, and your dad... well never heard what happened to him, after he 'killed Fontaine', the drugs we used on Jack, we tested them on you first."
"Good thing too, it was a mess, the only reason you're still here, is cause the ol' Kraut was too attached to you brats. A few more days and you'd have wasted away to nothin'."
She was silent for a long time. "Then why did you let me live?"
"I figured as long as you were there I could use you, turns out you do good work. A regular pro at snappin' a few necks, and all it took was a few bogus memories to get you killin' for me. But now that the cat's outta the bag I guess it's time to put you to bed. Sa plus belle dame."
Jennifer's chest heaved, she could hear her heart pounding. "What-?"
"Just lay back Jen. And it'll be over before ya know it."
She threw the radio, gasping for breath. "FUCK!"
What do I do now!
...Whatever they did to me, there must be some sort of cure at Fontaine Futuristics...
She stood up and headed back to Fontaine Futuristics.
It was even harder getting there this time, cursing the world, she finally made it.
Whatever was happening to her, it happened again, she fell to the floor.
Shaking she pushed herself up again, and made her way to the labs.
She quickly learned of lot 192, the cure for the mind control plasmid. She searched the files and found a list of all the components to make it.
She had to move quickly.
She was able to gather most of the components when suddenly the hear heart felt like it was in a vise grip, she couldn't breathe, and she fell to the floor and couldn't move...
It was over...
When Jennifer woke up she was in a place she'd never seen before... or at least she thought she had never seen before... but she couldn't shake the feeling of nostalgia.
She could see bunk beds to her right and in them...
Little Sisters, sleeping.
She felt it again, the hate, and disgust... and finally understood why. Because that was almost what she was. It was only by chase that she wasn't the same.
"You are awake."
She looked to someone she hadn't seen in years. "Tenenbaum..?"
"How are you feeling?"
She looked away. "Fine... what happened?"
"It is because of him that you are saved, he finished what you started and administered lot 192 to you, then I let him bring you here."
Jennifer saw Landon, lying on a bunk bed. Sleeping peacefully. She could see the bruises on his neck. "Why? What do you want?"
Tenenbaum looked away. " I have committed many sins, to them, and to you. You who were once like them... I am taking the few I have left from Rapture, I am offering you to leave Rapture with us."
She walked over to Landon, and sat by his side.
Leave... for real this time...
"What happened to Fontaine?"
"He is dead, killed by the man who was also like you. After he killed Ryan he freed himself and destroyed him. And then he left Rapture with many of my little ones..."
She nodded thinking over everything that had happened. "Thank you, but I... I'm staying here..."
"What?"
"When we all came down to Rapture, we believed that the world we were leaving behind was doomed, so we abandoned it, and the people there to come here. I... can't do that."
She brushed some of the hair from Landon's face. "There are still people in Rapture who need help... and I can't leave them... no Ryan, no Fontaine... no Atlas... no one to lead them or give them hope."
"So you will stay?"
She nodded. "Yes."
"If that is what you want."
"But... please take him with you..." Jennifer looked back at Tenenbaum, who gave her a thoughtful nod.
Jennifer smiled at Landon. "After all Rapture is the perfect place for someone like me." She leaned down and kissed his forehead.
Jennifer didn't stick around to watch them go... she wasn't nearly as confident as she had sounded in the bunk house. If she had watched, she may have lost her nerve and went with them.
She took a deep breath and stretched, she still had do much to do.
"Jennifer...?"
She stopped at the familiar voice and almost screamed when she saw him. "Landon!"
Landon stood awkwardly, staring at his feet.
"What are you doing here! You were supposed to go with Tenenbaum!"
He shook his head. "I'm staying here, with... you..."
She stared at him as he shifted from one foot to another.
"I love you!"
For a moment they were both completely still then she burst out laughing.
Landon's face turned to a deep shade of red. "What!"
"Kid I am WAY too old for you."
He looked down, and then swallowed. "I'm still staying with you!"
She stopped laughing and shook her head. "All right, you win, you can stay with me."
He smiled, and ran to her. "I won't always be a kid you know."
She shook her head. "And I will still be too old for you."
She smiled, and for a moment she felt light, and new. They had so much hardship yet to face, but this was her home, it was everyone's home.
She knew they would die there, she probably wouldn't live to see old age, she'd die in a horrible way too, but this is what she wanted. This was what she chose.
She chose Rapture.