Disclaimer: All of these characters are borrowed from the game Bioshock Infinite, and I do not own or have any rights to them. Oh, and there are major spoilers in this story. Don't read unless you've finished the game.
Second Run - A Bioshock Infinite Fanfiction
Chapter 2: A Realization
By ck-pasta
Booker looked at his hand and stared at the ball. I'm only here for Elizabet - Anna. I have to throw this at the couple. I can't be made, Booker thought. "Looks like we got a shy one here folks!" Fink exclaimed. Booker shook his head back into reality and looked at the interracial couple. He drew his arm back and prepared to throw. "Here we go folks! The first throw!" Fink remarked.
Booker threw the ball and it hit the white man straight in the face. Once it made contact, baseballs nearly blocked out the sun as they were hurled at the couple. Booker stared at them. Bruises and welts forming all throughout their bodies. The man attempted to get in front of the woman to shield her from the baseballs, but it was to no avail.
Booker couldn't stand the sight anymore and walked away from the stage. He made his way up the stairs, his head down with a pang of guilt in his mouth. This is where I killed all of those guards last time. Well, last time I tried to throw the ball at Fink and they saw my hand. I can't do this anymore. I've lived in regret for the past 20 years, I can't handle it. I can't be the man I used to be, Booker said to himself.
Booker looked up and saw Monument Island gleaming in front of him. The island was connected to the current platform, so he made his way over to it. As soon as he stepped on the platform, he heard a distinctive couple bickering behind him.
"I told you this was different," Robert claimed.
"What are you on about? Booker was still picked to throw the ball," Rosalind replied.
"Yes, but last time, like all the others, Booker was stopped. This one wasn't. New deck. New playing field."
"Hush now, we came here to talk to Booker, not each other. We have the rest of eternity to do that."
"I suppose you're right," Robert turned away from Rosalind and faced Booker. "Booker, it has come to our attention that the variables in this universe are vastly different than others. We warn you, some things might not be to your pleasure."
"I could care less what the variables are. I just want to get Anna and get out of here." Booker pointed out.
"You might find it a bit more difficult to rescue Elizabeth this time around, Booker."
"Okay, two things. One, her name is not Elizabeth, it's Anna. Two, I don't care if I have to climb down to the pits of hell and back, I'm getting my daughter back. Besides, what's the worst Comstock could do? Put some guards around her?"
"We figured we would leave that to you," Robert said.
"Of course you did," Booker responded. He turned around, knowing the Luteces would just vanish anyways. He continued to make his way toward Monument Island and began to think. Wait a minute, what if Comstock did put more guards on Anna? I don't have any vigors other than Possession, and I can't even posses humans yet. The only weapon I have is my pistol, and I don't even have a fucking Skyhook yet, he thought.
He looked around to see if he could scavenge anything. Even just ammo would help at this point. He kept searching, but the crowd of people kept blocking his way. Wait, crowd of people? Here? At Monument Island? Booker thought. He pushed his way through the crowd and got in the front.
"Get you tickets here folks! Only fifteen silver eagles! Come see the famous Monument Island!" said the salesman. Why is Monument Island open? More importantly, where am I going to get fifteen silver eagles? Booker contemplated. He looked around and saw a nice, fat wallet in the back pocket of a rather bulky man.
He moved behind him and quickly pulled it out. The man felt the tug, but was late to turn around. Booker had already dissolved into the crowd of people. He looked into the wallet and counted 154 silver eagles. Nice, he thought.
Once again, Booker made his way up to the front, fifteen silver eagles already in his hand. "Hey pal, give me one ticket to the Island please," he asked. "Sure thing! Here's your ticket, just hop aboard the lift behind me and you're on your way!" explained the salesman.
Booker looked around the salesman and saw the lift. He made his way over to the lift, stepped in, and proceeded to punch the push button. Why do I always punch buttons? Guess all those years working for the Pinkertons got me used to it. Intimidation I suppose, he thought as the lift brought him up.
Once the lift stopped, Booker took a step out and recognized the area. The only difference was the amount of people walking around. Kids were playing in the garden, adults were talking near the fountain, overall it looked like a tourist attraction. What the hell happened here? he questioned. He continued to make his way to inside of the statue. People crowded the room, and there was a guide walking around. He was teaching people the history of Columbia, and how Monument Island was to keep the Lamb safe.
Booker continued on within the building, eventually reaching the room in which the Siphon was placed on his first run through here. Why isn't the Siphon here? How's Comstock controlling Elizabeth? he thought. He moved on to the narrow hallway right before the elevator to Anna's prison. He came close and was about to push the up button, when he heard a familiar voice.
"Love the Prophet, because he loves the sinner," said the voice.
"Anna?" Booker said as he backtracked to a side room that showed clips of Anna doing various things the first time he came here.
"Love the sinner, because he is you," continued the familiar voice. Booker stepped inside of the room and his face drained of all emotion.
In front of him was his Anna, except it wasn't. She was still dressed in the recognizable blue skirt and white shirt combo, but she was indeed different. In front of her was a small crowd of children, listening intently to what she offered to say.
"Without a sinner, what need is there for a redeemer? Without sin, what grace has forgiven? Lady Comstock teaches this to us, kids. Our Prophet is a kind man, and all he wants to see you all in the heaven above with him. That's why he created Columbia, so that we might be separated from the evil people from below."
To the children, Anna's face glowed with holiness. She was a symbol of near perfection. She was the Lamb, and she fully accepted it. To Booker, Anna's face glowed with Comstock. No, no, no, no, no. Anna would never say these things. This isn't Anna, this is a brainwashed Elizabeth, He thought.
Elizabeth stood up and gestured the kids to follow her. "Ms. Elizabeth, how do you stay so perfect?" asked one of the children. Elizabeth gave a slight chuckle and smiled at the child. "Don't worry, as long as you follow what Father Comstock teaches, you'll be on your way to a righteous path in no time." She then made her way to door and looked at Booker for a brief second and then continued her way out of the room.
Booker followed Elizabeth for quite a time. She was mingling with the guests, talking to them about how Comstock was such a great man. Many of the Columbians questioned Elizabeth and asked her how she stayed so perfect. She usually gave a slight chuckle, and answered the same way she did to the child. Follow Comstock.
After following Elizabeth for a while, Booker decided to leave. No use in spending my time here. She's obviously as much of a fanatic, if not more, as all the rest of these people, he thought. Booker took the lift off of Monument Island, and looked for a place to stay that night.
He found an inn not far from Monument Island and decided to stay there. He paid fifty silver eagles for three nights and then proceeded to make his way up to his room. He opened the door, and fell on top of his bed. He started to doze off, but was interrupted by the Luteces.
"You don't think he's given up, do you?" Rosalind said.
"Jesus! Don't you people know how to give a warning?!" Booker said as he jumped up from surprise.
"Oh I certainly hope not. There isn't much satisfaction when he just gives up," Robert pointed out.
"Okay, let me tell you guys something. That girl in there? That is not my daughter. Anna would never believe a single lie that Comstock would tell her," Booker remarked.
"But she is indeed your daughter. The same one that was taken away from you 20 years ago," Robert explained.
"No, that is definitely not my daughter. Can't you guys just take me back to the first universe you brought me to? That Elizabeth seems much easier to rescue."
"Unfortunately, that universe no longer exists. It collapsed when you were drowned." Rosalind said.
"Then take me back to when Comstock took Anna. I'll stop him this time."
Robert shook his head and said "That's not how it works Booker. The Lutece field cannot travel through time, merely universes. Some universes may be farther ahead in their timeline than others, but that's as close as to time travel we'll ever do. If we were to take you back to that moment, it would be in another universe. Another Booker's universe. You'd be no better than Comstock if you took that Elizabeth."
"Her name is Anna. And why put me here then? My Anna didn't get brainwashed by Comstock. She was healthy. Well, lacking a pinkie finger."
"Robert, he's never going to understand," Rosalind said.
"But I must try. It's our fault for him being here in the first place," Robert turned away from Rosalind and faced Booker. "This IS your daughter. She's different this time because you two changed the time in which your counterpart of Comstock was baptized. Booker, you have to save this one, else you're going home by yourself."
Booker sat back down on the bed and put his hands on his face. "Okay, so how do I go from her -" Booker looked up and saw that the Luteces were gone. "Come the fuck on!" Booker screamed. He laid down on his bed and closed his eyes. How the hell am I going to convince her to come with me? "Oh hey, I'm actually your father and Comstock's been lying to you this whole time." This is stupid, he thought. Booker drifted off to sleep considering how he was going to convince Anna.
Hope you guys still enjoyed the second chapter. It was going to be longer, but then I realized that this would be a better stopping point. Chapter 3 will definitely be up before the week is done, so be expecting that!
And remember that any and all criticism is appreciated! I WILL look at them, and I do try to make sure to clean up my errors. (This is to you Excelion and Anon, thanks for the suggestions!)