After our little incident in the elevator, the doors opened and we got a room with robots which proved to be replica of George Washington (if he wasn't mistaken)... and creepy.

'There's another locked office.' - Elizabeth informed addressing to one of the side s.

'Let's see what's inside.' - As he opened the lock, the door did too.

'For now everything is fine.' - When we entered, we crossed a corner. Quickly I grabbed Elizabeth and take us to a desk for cover before the bullets from a turret reached us. - 'Forget what I said before...'

'Give me a minute.' - I looked carefully and threw a grenade to the machine to make it explode. With the way clear, we walked inside and found more money and ammunition for the carbine.

'Here, a salts bottle.' - I turned and grabbed the bottle in the air. I took a sip and I almost spit out the liquid. She tried to not laugh. - 'I think you don't like this drink very much.'

'I'll never get used to it.' - I replied with a grimace. I had drunk a couple of bottles like this and was frankly disgusting. It was like drinking a lot of water with a lot of bad aromatic salts inside. Sea water tasted better than this.

After our visit to the office, we continued our way and found a box with a bottle of a vigor I didn't know. When I picked up the bottle, I saw that the top was shaped like a horse and a cowboy riding on it.

'Bucking Bronco...'

'Is it okay to drink this? I don't think it's good to drink so many vigors.' - . Elizabeth said feeling insecure.

'For now, it hasn't happened nothing to me with the ones I've already taken and have helped me when I was in trouble.' – I removed the lid and drank the liquid. It tasted like bad hot whiskey, and was a bit dense. Then I felt a strong tremor and I looked at my hands. My palms cracked and I heard the sound of a horse in my head. Cracks produced sparks energy and they widened until showing the flesh. I blinked and then everything went back to normal. I looked at my hands and I taught the Elizabeth who looked at me with eyes open. - ' As you can see, I'm fine. And at least it tastes better than the salts bottle.'

'Okay, you win.'

When we passed the wall, we went outside and saw an officer giving a speech to a few soldiers. Quickly, both approached to a few boxes that were close and covered there.

'Elizabeth, this time I want you to stay here.'

'What?! No way!'

'This time there's no discussion. These men aren't like the police, they are more dangerous and I want you to stay here until the area is cleared.'

'But- !'

'NO.' - . I didn't like to leave her alone but this time was the best choice to keep her safe. She looked at my eyes a few seconds and sighed.

'Be careful... okay?' - Asked me very worried. I smiled and winked.

'Before you notice, I'll be back.' – I pulled out my carbine and I prepared to use my new vigor. Then I ran and the soldiers realized my presence.

'It's him! Kill him!' - they took their guns but I was faster and send bucking bronco at them. From my hand came a surge of energy and men were thrown up, levitating a few seconds. I quickly sent a grenade to them and there was a loud explosion. From a few buildings appeared more soldiers but I was waiting for them and finished them with the carbine. Everything was silent now...

'Crow!' - Elizabeth shouted from the cover. Of course it wouldn't be that easy. I quickly put a trap of bucking bronco behind my feet and changed the carbine for the shotgun. He wouldn't catch me by surprise... I saw the crow from afar and smiled.

'See if you have the balls to come and fight!' - I yelled trying to provoke him.

'DIE FALSE SHEPERD!' – he disappeared and materialized in front of me. I quickly ducked to dodge before his sword flew where my head was and tried to hit him with my hook. Then he disappeared and I smiled again.

'Big mistake...' - he materialized behind me and the trap was activated, causing him to fly. He kicked the air and before he could do anything, I shot him. He went driven by the force of the shotgun and finally fell dead to the ground. I looked around and saw no movement. - 'Clear zone!' - Elizabeth came out of the cover and walked to my position, trying to not to look at the corpses. The truth is that had caused a real carnage...

'Thank god it's over...' – she said while looking around uncomfortable.

'What if we seek for supplies?' - I asked trying to cheer her up. She nodded and went first to a building of selling tickets. The location was big but it was strangely empty. Just found some coins and food.

'Look.' - I turned and saw Elizabeth tiptoe to catch something from inside a barrel that was a monument.

'Have you found anything?'

'It's a code book for a cypher. A secret message from the Vox Populi. '- Elizabeth said while leafing through the pages.'

'Secret Codes?'

'Yes, there may be a cypher around somewhere.'

'Maybe it is in the other building.'

We went to another building called "The Fellow Traveler", a bar -restaurant. When we walked in, I changed my opinion about what I said that I had caused a real carnage. In that place had been a massacre. There were soldiers and dead men with scarves and red marks all over the place and it was all bloody. I looked and saw Elizabeth pale. Instinctively I grabbed her hand. - 'Stay close to me.'

She nodded and took my hand tightly. We entered the kitchen and saw an officer lying on a table with a knife stuck in his chest. Both avoided to look and watched around for something useful. Then I found a military-style backpack.

'This will help us to save the provisions.'

We took everything that could help us and went to the baths. Elizabeth stepped forward and told me to come over me.

'Marc, look! That's what the code book deciphers. I'm sure of it!'- She took the book and read the pages while analyzing the code. - 'Let's see... Tip the hat to the Vox.'

'Is that all?'

'Yes...' - Elizabeth replied with a frown. We went to the other bath and saw a rack with a top-hat.

'That rack is out of place...' – I approached and gave a poke. Then heard a click and part of the wall was opened, showing a hallway. - ' There it is.' - When we walked in, I realized that it was a secret refuge of the Vox. There were red fabrics scattered on the floor, a table with some posters and a strongbox. While I was searching in the box, Elizabeth looked curiously at the posters.

'Daisy Fitzroy. I've read about her. Books say she's out to tear Columbia from the sky.'

'Everyone's got a dream.'

We picked up everything we could and went outside. We met several soldiers who had come as reinforcement but I beat them easily. We approached to the skylines that were leading to the Hall of Heroes and I looked at the controls.

'They've shut down gondola access to the Hall of Heroes. Must be because of what's going on with that man, Slate.'- Said Elizabeth thoughtfully.

'Well, I suppose we can take those skylines above us. We just need to find a way to clear off that cargo first.'- I approached to the controls and activated the lever. Cargo boxes began to move and saw a toolbox very close to us. I looked inside and saw a sky-hook. - 'Here. So you can go through them.' - Elizabeth took it and grinned.

'This is going to be fantastic!' - Said as he swung the hook.

'Do you know how to use it?' – the cargos finished going away and the lines were clear. Elizabeth gave me a funny look and jumped onto the rails to go through them with the sky-hook. I laughed and followed her. - 'Wait!'

When we got off from the rails, we stopped at a gondola station. I saw several signs of "Wanted" with the name and face of Cornelius Slate.

'Who's that Slate?'

'I don't know but sure he isn't Comstock's friend.'

'That's good for us, isn't it?'

'Yeah… If we can find an ally on him, everything can be a bit easier.'

We walked down the station and I noticed the huge statue of the prophet who was above the Hall of Heroes. The guy has an ego... At last we arrived at the building's plaza and looked around.

'This is so quiet…' - Suddenly I heard a shot and quickly ran to Elizabeth for cover in a small wall. I looked to see where the enemy was but I had to go into hiding to avoid the bullet. - 'Shit! There's a sniper.'

'Have you seen him?'

'More or less but it is far away. From here I can't shot him and it's hard to move forward.'- Tried to peek over the other side and finally saw him. He was in the upper balconies and there were other men with machine guns on the sides.

'Marc, catch!' - I turned and saw Elizabeth, who was a little away from me, throwing me a long object. When I saw it close, I realized it was a sniper rifle.

'Where did you get it?' - I asked surprised. It was just what I needed at that time.

'I was next to a corpse...' - said crestfallen. Oh...

'Okay, stay here and don't leave until I say so.' - She nodded and I checked the rifle's ammunition. It wasn't complete but had enough to eliminate the enemies from above. Cautiously I looked and looked through the scope of the rifle. First I shot at the sniper and quickly finished the other enemies to clear that area.

'Next to you!' – after hearing Elizabeth, I turned and saw an enemy. He was wearing military clothes but, with the blue, there was red and white. I didn't know for who were fighting but it was clear they weren't Comstock soldiers. I tried to shoot but he fired before and the rifle fell from my hands. I quickly pulled out my pistol and finished him. Elizabeth came to my side and looked at me worried. - 'Are you okay? I've seen how he fired.'

'Yes but I can't say the same form the rifle.' - replied as I examined the weapon that was broken in half. At least it gave me time to beat my enemies... - 'Okay, let's get that Shock Jockey.'

When we entered the Hall of Heroes, my assumption that the last enemies weren't Comstock soldiers was confirmed. At the entrance, under an automaton were two soldiers of the prophet dead. On the other hand, the whole place was destroyed and there was graffiti all over the place. Elizabeth took a small light and both went to wards. I saw two men like the others patrolling and I eliminated them quickly. After that, we entered a large room with a lighted statue of Comstock armed with a sword.

'Our prophet, Father Comstock, Commander of the 7th Cavalry.'

'So Comstock was a soldier... But now he has become into someone much worse than that. His sense of honor is awful.'

'Long time I didn't hear as great truth as that.' - A voice suddenly sounded from a speaker.

'Who are you? Are you one of Comstock soldiers?'

'I was, until I said a few big truths about him and marked med as a traitor. '

'Wait... Slate?'

'I waited for your arrival, Clark. I really wanted you to come.'

'Do I know you? ' - I asked confused.

'You don't, but I know you. I know what you are, Clark. You're a soldier!'

'I'm not a soldier. I'm just a normal guy who has been forced to fight for survival.'

'And that's what makes you a real soldier! You're not like those tin men Comstock, no... You are one who fights to survive and kills when necessary.'

'What the hell are you talking about?' - I asked confused. This man was a little mad...

'That tin soldier, Comstock, wants my boys dead. We won't die at his hands! But we will do with a real one!'- the speaker turned off along with the lights and heard footsteps near a door on one side.

'Elizabeth, turn off the light. There's going to be trouble'- Ordered to her and she nodded nervously. After that I approached the statue and covered there. In the darkness, the door opened and several soldiers started shooting at all sides. I quickly sent crows followed by a grenade and finished the rest with my carbine. After that, the lights came back on along with the speakers.

'You see? You see?! You're a killer, Clark! Just what my men need!'

'Look, I just want the Shock Jockey.'

'If you want the vigor, Clark, you will give my men a soldier's death. They wait you in Wounded Knee and Peking.'- . After that, the speakers turned off again. I approached to the men that I had killed and sighed.

'Why things have to turn so difficult?' – said feeling tired. The last thing I needed is another band of crazy men attacking me.

'Now that these men are coming for us... We have to- ?'

'Nothing will change. We take the Shock Jockey and go for the First Lady. I don't want to comply with the wishes Slate wishes.'- Said with determination. She nodded moving restless and went to the next room where there were two entries.

'What is this place?'

'I don't know. It's related with to two major events in America's history but right now I don't remember quite well my history lessons.'

'Where do we start?'

'I think the Boxers Rebellion.' - We approached and saw a building decorated with Chinese elements and fake snow. As we approached, figures of Chinese characters appeared and they had a grotesque appearance. They clearly marked them as enemies and in a racist way.

'What has happened there?' - Elizabeth asked as we walked. The speakers sounded again.

'In Peking? It was my hand that put the city to the torch. Of course, that's not how Comstock tells it...'- I started to understand why Slate was against Comstock. For a soldier of war, not be recognized his "achievements" must be very hard. A small double doors opened and another figure appeared by surprise. Elizabeth jumped scared and I punched it annoyed to remove it. We moved and saw a figure of a Chinese soldier cutting the head of a woman. I glanced at the figure and I entered a room that was for employees. Inside there was an infusion, money and ammunition for the carbine. After that, we went out and met one of Slate's soldiers who was waiting for us. Before he could move, I fired my rifle and the bullet hit the head.

'Oh- oh... That was...' - Elizabeth muttered.

'At least he didn't suffer.' - said with a sad tone.

'I have to agree with that.' - We kept moving forward and came to a large room with fake snow, different platforms and decoration of Chinese armed soldiers everywhere. Up on the wall was an angel escorting Columbia City and illuminated the figure of a fallen Comstock. - 'Oh, I read about this... Comstock led the Columbian troops to Peking and-'

'COMSTOCK WASN'T THERE!' - Slate shouted from the speakers. - 'The boxers took my eye and thirty of my friends! Is there even a stone to mark that sacrifice?!'

After that, the doors opened and I heard numerous steps. The first enemy I saw was a fireman that was on the top of a platform. I quickly pulled out my machine gun and shot him. Then I felt my shield break and I turned to see a soldier at my side with a club. I blocked the next attack and hit him with sky-hook, decapitating him in the process. After that I went to turn around saw the fireman who was going to throw me a grenade. Quickly I sent possession and he sent a fireball at a group of soldiers who was approaching to me. While he was attacking the group, I kept shooting with the carbine and put trap just in case the possession effect finished. I went to one of the platforms and covered there reload my gun. Then I heard the trap was activated. I looked out and saw the fireman flying. Before he could do anything, I shot several times and he kicked the air. Suddenly he threw a grenade and jumped back but couldn't avoid the explosion. I tried to get up but I saw my pants burning.

'Shit!' - I patted the fabric repeatedly to douse the flames. Then I got up and went back to shoot my enemy until I finished him. After his body exploded, I fell on the ground and tried to catch my breath. Then Elizabeth came to me.

'Are you ok?' - she asked me worried as she examined my leg.

'Yes, luckily my leg hasn't come to burn. Where have you been?'

'I hide behind one of the decorations.' – I nodded and sighed.

'You see, young miss?' - Slate said from the speakers. – 'You see the man that Comstock wanted he was? A real soldier!'

'I don't want to do this, Slate! Just give me what I need!' - I shouted to the speaker. I was getting tired of that mad man.

'I will. After you do the same for me. Come and look for me amongst the Ghost Dancers.'

'Who are the Ghost Dancers?' - Elizabeth asked.

'I don't know, I guess he refers to the other exposure. Let's go.'- . I said as we walked out of that place. I didn't want to kill that man but I was starting to have no more options...

'Can you hear Comstock's tin soldiers coming to silence us? But we are the true patriots! The history that does not fit in their books.' – with that, Slate turned off the speakers.

If I thought that they were racist in the boxers display, in the exposure of the Wounded Knee there were no words to describe it. Elizabeth watched in horror the decorations showing the natives killing and decapitating women and children. I just didn't say anything.

'Why would they do this?'

'They mark the natives as the main enemies but they forget to mention white men's atrocities...'- . When we entered at the final room, there was another statue of Comstock, marking him again as leader of the 7th Cavalry.

'The tin soldier has taken credit for the deeds of the real ones. My comrades and I covered ourselves in glory on December 29, 1890.'

'What do you mean?'

'We strode that battlefield like the heroes of Sparta! I still hear the screams... Does Comstock?'- Listening to the words of this man, it was clear that he was delirious. Soldiers came from all over and pointed their guns at me. – Here's the soldier I spoke of! The kind of man Comstock pretends to be! See if I told you truth!'

They shot me directly and covered Elizabeth with my body. After that I took her to a safe place.

'Stay here!' - I ordered to here and took my shotgun. I started shooting all the soldiers that I was seeing and moved fast. Suddenly I felt a blow on my back and fell on my knees. Over my shoulder I saw a man with a spiked club. I rolled to the side to avoid another attacks and I shot when I had chance. After that, I realized I had run out of ammunition and pulled out the gun to get the pistol.

'Get down!' - Cried Elizabeth. Without hesitation, I did and a flock of crows went through my head. Far from my position, the crow man appeared and drew his sword. While he was traveling with his ravens, I reload ammunition. I calculated the times and I shot when was going to appear in front of me. But to my surprise, he was faster and disappeared. Before I could do anything, he knocked me down from behind and the pistol fell away from me. When I turned, I saw him raising his sword and rolled on the floor. He tried to hit me with the blade and moved so fast that I was starting to have serious problems. In the last attack couldn't dodge in time and blocked it with the sky-hook. I tried to tussle with him but the sword was going too close to my face. I tried to kneeing him but he kept in the same position. The blade was approaching my neck and struggled with all my might. Suddenly there was a knock and the crow fell unconscious beside me.

'Marc!' – Elizabeth appeared with her sky-hook equipped and helped me to get up.

'Thanks... I owe you big one.' - The truth is that I had been in serious trouble. She wanted to say something but the speakers sounded again.

'You did them a favor, Clark. You let them die like men.' - I did them a favor?! He can't be serious...

'I didn't ask for this! I have no quarrel with these men!'

'Heroes never ask…'

'I'm not a hero. I told you, I'm just a normal guy who is trying to survive.'

'A survivor, huh? If you take away all the parts you claim to be, then what's left?' - I didn't understand anything about what he said. And I wasn't in the mood to do so. - 'Com back to the rotunda ... It's almost done.'

'I hope that's true.' - Otherwise, I would have to kill Slate and I didn't want to fulfill his desire... We returned to the main room and Slate spoke again.

'I've got what you need, Clark. You will find me past the First Lady's memorial.'

I saw a door with a large sign showing where the memorial was and approached. Suddenly the doors opened and appeared 3 soldiers but beat them with a grenade.

'Let's end this.' - I said in determination and Elizabeth walked beside me.

Hope you enjoyed this one! The new chapters are taking me more timethan I expected but I'm enjoying writing them. I'll try to post the next one soon!

PS: Sometimes I'm worried that I can make some mistakes with my writing or about history/ event things. If you see anything wrong, just tell me. It would help me a lot!