Author's note: I'm so sorry for the long wait in between chapters. For these past few months a lot of things have been happening so I've had hardly any time to write anything to do with Phoenix Rising. I haven't given up on it though which is why I would love to hear what you think of this chapter. Action scenes aren't my strong point so please, if you have some constructive criticism about this chapter I'd love to hear from you.
"Daddy!"
A small shadow dodged through the trees, stumbling on the uneven ground as she ran. Holding a small doll in her arms she screamed as something grasped her ankle. Falling to the ground she slid back and cried as a large mutilated male lifted her up into the air.
Sinclair looked out the porthole at the luminescent ocean. The occasional fish swam past and he sighed, wondering just what they must think of the intrusion into their dark a hand along his greying hairline he turned back to the inside of the cabin, looking at the contents within. Containing nothing but two benches riveted to the walls, a worn table holding the current research into Eleanor and Sophia, a worn old security bot and finally, the unresponsive body of a big sister slumped against the wall. The lights on its helmet were blank and for all he knew, she appeared to be dead. The older man knelt down beside her and touched her shoulder, shaking her gently.
"Hey Kid, you awake in there?" He asked and jumped when she fell to her side, the helmet clanging on the floor with a painful thud. Sinclair stepped back when he saw the lights flicker and turn on. The Big Sister's helmet turned slightly and within it he heard Alessa groan before sitting up properly. Two small hands reached up and unclasped the restraints upon it and Sinclair gasped as light yellow eyes looked up at him. Alessa ran a hand through her messy red hair and chirped softly at the man, smiling at him. Though she still had very little comprehension of just what he wanted her simple mind felt a deep attachment to him. Not like her Daddy; no, but maybe a friend who could help her find Daddy.
As he moved about in the small cabin she watched curiously before getting up and looking out the same porthole Sinclair had been staring through only a few minutes ago. Looking at the world outside she felt a childlike wonder rise through her. The world seemed to shine at her, beckoning her to come and play. Shaking her head she chirped softly and Sinclair looked up just in time to see her staring rapturously out the window. Smiling to himself he walked over to her and placed a hand on her armoured shoulder as they looked outside. "Sure is beautiful out there, ain't it kid." He murmured and she looked curiously at him.
"That's your world out there Kid, not this hellhole called Rapture. Yours and your Daddy's-once we get him out of course. You think on that Kid, you and your Daddy swimming through that blue water all the way to the surface…hope you'll take me and ol'Tenebaum along for the ride." He trailed off and turned away to look back at his research. Alessa followed him and watched him go through several torn and weathered sheets of paper. He beckoned her closer and she chirped curiously at him. "I know you're gonna want to find your Daddy Kid, but first things first we gotta get you ready to go out in Rapture. You saw those Splicers there; well there are worse things in Rapture than that." He held out a picture of a large chamber connected to several wires and cables. Alessa took it and tilted her head to one side as she examined the paper from all angles.
"This is a Vita-Chamber Kid. It's gonna give you the…competitive edge over those Splicers and whatever else the Lambs can throw at you. All we gotta do it get a sample of your DNA into a Vita-Chamber. Then I'll do some work on my end and you'll have the ultimate safety net." Sinclair finished and saw Alessa frown. Her red eyes flicked up at him and he gently took the picture from her gloved hands. Suddenly the train ground to a halt and the older man left Alessa to go to the Engine cabin.
The Sister let her hands run over the papers. Purring softly to herself she picked up a handful and threw it in the air, chirping in delight as the papers fell around her. She did it again and shrieked as one fell on her head. Picking it off she looked at the paper and instantly she sobered. When Sinclair came back into the main cabin he saw the Sister sitting on the ground and staring at a worn poster of the Big Daddies. Holding it up to the light she tilted her head one side, then the other before trailing one gloved hand against the picture. A soft, dejected sound came from her and despite himself Sinclair knelt down by her side. "Hey there, we'll get your Daddy back." She looked up at him and he patted her shoulder reassuringly.
They stayed there for a moment, merely enjoying the comfort another being nearby can bring. Sinclair was the first to move, standing up and looking out the window of the cabin. It pulled into a station and Alessa stood up to join him, her eyes curiously looking at the new environment. "This is the Medical Pavilion Kid. I've been looking through all Rapture and this is gonna be the best place to get you hooked up to that Vita-Chamber I was talking about. It's been abandoned ever since ol'Jack cleared it out so I'm willing to bet that we shouldn't find many Splicers willing to give us a hard time. All in all perfect place for you to settle into this little enterprise." He finished and Alessa nodded enthusiastically.
The cabin doors opened and the two looked out at the abandoned station. A few luggage items were scattered about and in the distance a couple of lights still flickered on the walls, highlighting the control cabin. As they walked out Alessa tilted her head to one side and frowned. Placing the helmet back on she sealed it shut and turned to look at the older man. "Well, this is where we part. Out there I wouldn't last a day, what with all those Splicers roaming about." He said and Alessa cooed softly to him. Sinclair turned away from her, back to the cabin and knelt down beside the security bot. With a splutter it came to life and whirled above the two. "I'm not abandoning you Kid. This security bot's going to be my eyes and ears out there, keeping you safe. It'll be going with you out into the Pavilion. Now, you got the radio still?"
Alessa tilted her helmet to one side and Sinclair rolled his eyes. "The box I was talking to you though earlier Kid." Once he said that Alessa started and reached behind her with one hand. The Radio floated out of the basket and she tensed when Sinclair plucked it out the air and fastened it onto her waist. "There ya go. Now you've got some back up in my little whirly-bird and I can keep you in the loop. All you gotta do is head out into the Pavilion and we can get this show on the road." Alessa nodded and walked out into the station, jumping when the doors of the train cabin shut behind her. Only the buzzing of the security bot was her companion as she walked out into the darkened Medical Pavilion.
As she walked into the Pavilion an amber light flickered into life above her head. The small headlight complimented the shimmering light of the security bot above her, the two heading slowly deeper into the complex. Much of the place was flooded with more water pouring in. It was clear it would not be long until the sea reclaimed the entire complex once more. Luggage cases and crates floated past as the Sister waded through the dank water until she paused. Ahead of her a flickering sign proudly proclaimed Medical Pavilion at the top of a flight of stairs. Following the bot upwards she paused as it hovered next to the door. As she watched curiously a small dart shot out of the bot and hit the door controls. After a moment it turned green and the door opened for the duo.
"There you go Kid, now let's get moving. Your Daddy awaits." Sinclair said through the radio and Alessa scampered inside to get her first look at the Medical Pavilion. Most of it was wrecked. Alessa crushed fragments of camera and machinery under her feet as she slowly began to explore. There was little need to be silent in her mind; the nice man had said not many people were down there with her. Skipping along the hallways she ducked into a side room and trilled in excitement as she saw a brightly coloured machine sitting on its side. Rushing up to it she pushed at it before seeing the broken machine had already spewed out a first aid kit for her.
Alessa trilled softly to herself as she continued to explore the main foyer of the Medical Pavilion, peeking into rooms and rifling curiously through luggage. Not many items were left but everything she found she kept close as Sinclair instructed. Finding some green sheaves of paper in one such side room she tilted her head to one side before tucking them into her basket and standing up to turn around. She turned straight into a brick wall. A heavy fist slammed into her helmet and she was flung against the wall. Instinct kicked in and she flipped back up to stare at a grotesque beast charging towards her.
"Watch out there Kid!" Sinclair's crackling voice came through the radio but Alessa ignored it, focusing instead on dodging the rogue Splicer. Flames came to her left hand and she flung them at the beast. It screamed in the inferno and the Sister smiled grimly beneath her helmet. In the battle between Brute and Sister there could only be one victor. The Brute was strong, true but he was slow to react. Distracted as he was by the flames he almost didn't see the long syringe plunging down into his neck. Barely moving out the way the needle skimmed his chest and slammed down into the floor. He swung wildly at her and the Sister stepped back, this time with lightning cupped in her hands. Her head tilted to one side and with a curious trill she shot the electric blue lightning at the splicer.
With the Splicer momentarily stunned the Sister took the chance to go in for the kill. Alessa flipped backwards and used the wall behind her to propel her ADAM-enhanced body forward towards the Brute. Her syringe plunged deeply into the chest of the Splicer and drained off a deep crimson liquid. Withdrawing the needle from him the Splicer collapsed to the ground and looked up at the crimson helmet of his conqueror. Alessa stood to her full height and reached to her waist to unhook the crossbow there. Desperation fueled the Splicer and he struggled to his feet. "You wanna kill me?" He taunted Alessa. Rushing at her she dodged his fists and stood behind him, all tension gone from her body. She could sense that this fight was over even if he couldn't.
He roared and picked up a bed. Throwing it at her he prayed that it caused enough damage but that hope was quashed when an invisible hand caught the bed and threw it back. It slammed into the Splicer's head and he collapsed to the ground, dead before he reached the floor. "Okay…that was something else Kid. I swear, I've never seen a Brute go down that fast…but then, what was it doing here in the first place?" Sinclair commented from the Radio. Alessa trilled softly and knelt by his side. Rifling through his clothes she found a small gun and some bullets that shone in the dim light. Alessa cooed softly to herself as she placed both sets of items in the pockets hanging from her belt and stood up again. She looked up at the bot before unclipping the front of her helmet and delicately drinking down the ADAM she had extracted from the Brute. The glowing liquid flowed quickly through her and she shivered as it healed her bruises and rejuvenated her. With a smile on her unmasked face she held a hand to the security bot as it flew back down into the complex.
"Okay Kid, old specs of the building show a Vita-chamber located down in the ol' Eternal Flame Crematorium…I know, why have a vita-chamber there of all places? Regardless, it's the best place for us to head. You don't worry that pretty little head of yours though, your friend Sinclair will get you there. Just follow the bot and you'll be hooked up to that Vita-Chamber in no time."