Becky fastened the pack firmly across her back, tightening the leather straps on her shoulders and waist until it hurt. Discomfort was a small price to pay for security, and she really didn't want to loose this bag. It contained all the essentials she would need for her journey: A warm yet slim blanket, several med kits, small boxes of rationed food, a couple of EVE hypos, a flask of clean water and tool kit filled with all the necessary components for her mission. Weapons hung from wherever she could store them: her shotgun was strapped to the bag in a custom made sheath in such a way that she could reach over her right shoulder and draw it without a moment's hesitation. Her fully loaded pistol was clipped onto her belt whilst her backup was taped to her left thigh, just as a failsafe should a Splicer separate her from her other arsenal. A knife was concealed in her boot, the handle visibly protruding. She had also secured a case of trap rivets, which she concealed within her underwear to be used as a last last resort.
Rapture. Where you begin a scientist and end a survivor.
Becky strode over to her desk and input the code to her safe with her thumb. It opened automatically, the hinges groaning with the weight of the reinforced door. She hastily grabbed a few dollars and shoved them into her right pocket, the left already occupied by assorted ammo. Closing her safe, Becky took one last look around her office. She suspected that she wouldn't return to this place in a while, and savored each last second of being there. Shutting her eyes so that she wouldn't accidently stay too long, Becky forced herself to exit the room and lock it behind her. She trudged through the Research Centre, slightly dragging her feet as she did so.
In truth, Becky didn't want to go. She wanted to stay right there in Arcadia surrounded by trees. Stay where her mother was, continuing her work for the good of Rapture. But then again, she needed to go. For the good of Rapture.
She collected things as she went. A spring here, a vial of enzymes there, anything that she may need. She didn't know what she was going to find there or what resources would be available to her, so it was best to go prepared, shoving what she could into the limited pockets of her backpack.
She finally reached the threshold of the Research Centre, stopping directly at the line. Once she crossed it, there would be no turning back. She had set automatic locks to ensure the protection of her property, and that meant that no once could get in. Her included. The only way in now was to get The Thinker to override the door, but Becky had already forced him to agree that the door would only be opened should she complete her task and opened by her only.
With a final step, Becky left the Research Center, the sound of locks clunking into place resounding through her and leaving her feeling empty. She couldn't let her emotions get to her though; her task was very important, and emotion would cloud her objectives. In and out, that was it.
There was only one thing left to do.
This time, Becky didn't cower with fright as she entered one of the Saturnine's assorted hideouts. On the contrary, she felt empowered. She and she alone had bartered with them. She had fought them off for years, and had she died yet? Of course not! SHE had survived, and now she had put them to work.
If anything, she was the leader of the Saturnine. They just didn't realize it.
This time only two Saturnine teleported in, and she didn't even have to light a figurine. The first was Belladonna, her expression one of genuine content, reminding Becky of those fat cats who were practically waited on. The other was Frond. He, on the other hand, looked troubled. He was frowning slightly, his lips pursed with concern for something she knew nothing of.
"Becky," Belladonna purred, "To what do we owe this, pleasant visit?"
It was evident that it wasn't a pleasant visit; Belladonna may have been in a good mood, but she and Becky were still far from friends.
"I've come to say good bye."
Belladonna's smile widened ever so slightly.
"We expected as much. It was only a matter of time before someone addressed the problem. Well, farewell for now Becky. Rest assured that in your absence, we will uphold your work in Arcadia and continue to sweep Rapture's dust under the rug," Belladonna smirked, though her smile could only be compared to that of a shark that'd just been given the all clear to move into the nearby swimming lake full of humans.
"Don't worry Becky, we'll all make sure she doesn't go wild," Frond said. Belladonna disappeared, her laughter echoing throughout the chamber.
"Thanks Frond. 'Preciate it," Becky murmured, suspecting that Belladonna may have more planned than she let on. She'd probably return to find Arcadia overrun by man eating plants or Killer Daisies. She turned to leave.
"I'm going with you."
Becky whirled around to face Frond.
"What?!" she demanded.
"I'm going with you Becky," Frond repeated.
"Oh no you're not. You've got to stay here and make sure this place doesn't become Donnacadia…"
"When I said we, I meant they. They will keep her in line. I couldn't say in front of her, as she'd never let me go. But now she's gone I'm free to do as I please."
"Frond, you aren't coming."
"Oh yeah? So where are you going?"
"Ceres Green. Alone," Becky said defiantly.
"Ah, I see! You mean the place that's been blocked from Rapture for three years now?" Frond raised an eyebrow.
Silence.
"Well…uh, I suppose um, blocked? Well I guess I uh…shit," Becky groaned. How had she been so careless? Of course she'd studied maps, and knew exactly where Ceres Green was in relation to Arcadia. She knew it was reachable by Bathysphere, but they hadn't been operational in ages. Plus Ceres Green wasn't really a public attraction so the option wasn't available on normal models; a special Bathysphere would have to be sent from Ceres Green to collect visitors. She'd planned to wing it, getting The Thinker to hack a Bathysphere for her and send it the preprogrammed course for Ceres Green. But now she knew it was blocked off?
She'd never accounted for that.
"Therefore, I'm coming with you," Frond concluded, his face serious.
"How could you help? If it's blocked off how could you possibly help me?"
Frond teleported out of the room, only to return a few seconds later, his face a few centimeters from hers. She shrieked and jumped back, resisting the instinctual urge to slap him across the face.
"That answer your question?" he asked, his face grave.
"Why don't you just teleport me strait there then?"
"It's short range teleport, you know that. I can get us past the entrance once we arrive," Frond responded, "Anyway, what do you expect to do there?"
"What I can. I don't know what I'm gonna find there. I asked The Thinker…"
"Who?"
"Oh, he's the guy, er, robot that runs the life support of Rapture. Anyway, there aren't any cameras in Ceres Green. Apparently, they've either been removed or the powers out. Either way, I've got to go and find out personally. I'll do what I can to repair machinery, plant produce, anything to get food back into the city. We can't live off cream filled cakes and potato chips forever."
"What about meeting hostility? The Green's been cut off from Rapture for a while. I'm guessing that includes the workers. Who knows what kinda splicer evolved there? You heard about the scientists at Minerva's Den, right? People who were about as aggressive as a turnip tearing each other to shreds. And you're marching into a place where the workers were used to manual labor and dealing with animals."
"What?"
"I'm just saying. If there are any splicers trapped in Ceres Green, they're gonna be ten times worse than the ones that were in Minerva's Den..."
"Is that why you looked so determined earlier? Ready to spring this on me?" Becky fumed, angry at her assumption that something in Rapture could ever be goddamn easy. Frond shuffled uncomfortably.
"No, actually. I've got other things I need to do to, but I'm choosing to help you out. I think you should be a bit more grateful. You would have arrived to Ceres and discovered that it would have all been for nothing if I hadn't told you. For the record, all of the other Saturnine would have let you go and fail because they think you're a joke and…"
"WOAH, COOL IT FROND!" Becky yelled. Frond fell silent, but his cheeks were flushed and he appeared to be sweating slightly, "Are you okay? Is there something, bothering you?"
"I'm fine," he snapped, "Just having to ration my ADAM supply, that's all."
"Why?" Becky asked confusedly, "Can't you just get some more?"
Frond shook his head wearily and sat down in the water. He was breathing heavily.
"A few days ago, we were clearing up bodies in The Seven Muses. We found a Little Sister there, named Holly," he laughed frantically, as though he found this hilarious but didn't have the breath to laugh, "Holly the Little Sister! I took her to the Medical Pavilion, as we've started using the retirement homes to story the bodies. She's stayed there ever since…"
"Where are you goin' with this Frond?" Becky said, suddenly feeling anxious. Frond had been reduced from a level headed guy prepared to help her on her quest to a gibbering wreck in a matter of seconds. Something was wrong, very wrong.
"Haven't you noticed? You were a Little Sister yourself once weren't you?"
"How did you…?"
Frond waved the question away.
"Listen Becky. Can't you hear it? The Silence. Yet the voices. They're everywhere!" Frond had begun to rock on the floor, hugging his knees.
"Frond, stay with me here!"
"Only ADAM can calm them, but the talk and talk and TALK AND TALK AND TALKANDTALKANDTALK…!"
"Frond, what the hell's the matter with you!?"
"There are no more Little Sisters! Holly's the last one!"
A/N: Ooooohhh, what does this mean for Rapture!? All in good time guys, all in good time.
Just wanted to give you a warning. (Uh, spoiler alert i think?) I have NO idea how long this thing will be. It could end up 20 chapters, it could end up 50 (unlikely, but who knows?) I kinda want a storyline in Ceres Green like the Minerva's Den DLC, but thats gonna take ages. And whats gonna happen to the other characters in that time?
See my pain?
Anyway, please review. It's just such a great feeling to see people appreciating my work (then again, i got excited when i broke 1'000 views. I'm pretty easy to excite. Take that any way you will :P) So PLEEEEEEEESE review, give me ideas. LET ME KNOW YOU EXIST!