(a/n: Please enjoy and review!)
Ch. 4: Ryan Amusements
Delta fired the last shot and the last Splicer fell to the floor with a large rivet in his head.
Jack sighed in relief and rubbed his sore hand. Artemis, Jack, Wally and Delta managed to hold their own against the onslaught of Splicers. Exhausted, Jack sat down on a nearby bench, breathing heavily. Delta approached Jack and droned, as if he were asking if Jack was all right.
Jack nodded slowly "I'm fine…I just need some ADAM".
The Big Daddy handed Jack an Eve hypo. Jack looked up at Delta in surprise and accepted it "T-thanks". Delta patted Jack on the head then walked away and began searching the corpses for rivets.
Wally and Artemis checked their weapons. Wally was almost out and Artemis had only a few shots left.
Tenenbaum spoke to them "Thank you. Now I must leave you and I am very sorry for this"
"Leave?" said Wally "Where are you going?"
"There are others in this city I must save before Rapture drowns" explained Tenenbaum.
Jack frowned "What about us? We need help"
"Don't worry, there is someone who can help you" said Tenenbaum "This man-Sinclair…he is an ally. He will guide you to Eleanor and to Lamb. Goodbye, Herr Delta. Goodbye Jack, I will find you again…I hope"
"Bye…mom" said Jack, quietly.
The radio suddenly became filled with static and a new voice came on. The voice was male and it had a thick southern accent "Well look it y'all, a real bona fide knight in armor and two surface dwellers. The name's Augustus Sinclair, esquire."
Sinclair chuckled a little "Oh my stars. Jackie, is that you? Well I haven't seen you since you were a little bean sprout"
"I'm sorry but my memories are a little fuzzy when it comes to Rapture" said Jack.
Sinclair said "I used to bring thanksgiving dinner to you and your mama every year when you were still with us. You used to call me Uncle Sinclair"
Jack's eyes widened a little "Oh, now I remember" he smiled a little "How are you?"
"Fine" said Sinclair "Just fightin' the good fight". Wally cut in to the conversation "Hate to interrupt, but shouldn't we get going?"
"Right you are son" said Sinclair "Y'all better skedaddle before more of Sofia's puppets arrive".
Sinclair directed them to a nearby train car waiting for them in the middle of the tracks. When they boarded the train, Delta flipped a switch and the doors slid shut. Artemis noticed that the windows and doors were made specifically to be airtight. The doors and windows were sealed tightly to keep out water.
As the train slowly began to move, Artemis asked, "So what's the plan?"
"For starters, we stop Sofia Lamb" said Sinclair "To do that, we must find her base of operations and rescue Eleanor"
"Where is her base of operations?" asked Wally.
Sinclair explained "From what Ol' Tenenbaum and I were able to gather, Eleanor is being held in the basement of Fontaine's old building. It is most likely heavily guarded. But Sofia's whereabouts, it's still a mystery."
"Great" said Jack dryly.
The train car moved down the track and it slowly sank into the dark sea. Artemis, Wally and Jack looked out the window and watched as the train carried them through a train tunnel that was filled to the brim with ocean water.
Schools of fish swam past the train and seaweed bushed lightly against the windows.
A few minutes later, the train ascended out of the water and it continued down a set of tracks above the water.
Sinclair warned them "Whoa there. Better apply the breaks. Unless you're aiming to dash yourself against that glacier up ahead"
Artemis and Wally looked up ahead and saw that a wall of ice blocked the rest of the tunnel up. Delta pulled on the breaks and the train came to a screeching halt. The doors slid open, revealing a platform.
Jack, Wally, Artemis and Delta disembarked the train and stepped onto the platform. The platform was connected to a small station that led to another part of the city.
Sinclair said calmly "As you can see folks, the station's iced over. To reach Eleanor Lamb at Fontaine headquarters, you must melt that ice. You'll need a plasmid like a handful o' hellfire"
"Easy, Jack can melt that ice" said Wally.
Jack held up a hand "I don't think so"
"Why not?" asked Artemis.
Jack explained, "I'm exhausted. I used up whatever ADAM I had left in my system on those Splicers back there. It's gonna take me a little while to recharge".
Artemis glanced at Delta who gave her a thumbs down, indicating that he didn't have the plasmid. Artemis sighed "Great"
"Don't worry about a thing" said Sinclair "We used to sell a fine old product called 'incinerate' at the amusement park up yonder. Go on an' find a way in. I already been on all the rides" the radio went silent.
Wally glanced around and he saw at the far end of the platform a doorway with a large neon sign above it.
The sign read "Ryan Amusements".
The speedster frowned "I wonder what a theme park built by Andrew Ryan is like" "Psychotic" guessed Jack "Twisted"
"Probably" said Artemis.
The four passed through the doorway and climbed a long flight of stairs. They went through another door. On the other side, they saw a painting on the wall with a small shrine of candles sitting on the floor beneath the painting. The painting depicted a young woman in white, her face covered by a glowing blue morpho butterfly standing on small patch of land in the middle of a stormy sea. An inscription was made beneath in white letters saying, "She is our savior".
Jack and Delta stared at it for a moment then continued on. Artemis and Wally followed.
The four entered a spacious entrance lobby. Benches and trashcans were scattered about, a large mound of rubble sat in the center of the entrance area. Artemis saw that it was the remains of a large clock. Wally walked over to the front doors of the park and he tried to open them but they wouldn't budge.
Wally frowned "It's locked"
"You need a ticket for the park sport" said Sinclair "You'll probably find one in the manager's office or around the park's entrance"
"On it" said Jack. Delta and Jack went in search of a ticket for the theme park's entrance.
Once the two where gone, Artemis and Wally searched around for any tickets.
As they searched, Artemis found another shrine with a painting. Instead of a young woman, it was a young man. He was dressed in a white suit and black tie. The young man in the painting was standing in the shallows of a grey sea, slowly walking towards the observer of the painting while a violent storm raged on behind him. He was cradling an orb of golden light in the palms of his hands. His face was hidden behind a white, porcelain bird mask.
Inscribed beneath the painting were the words "He is our light and he shall return".
The archer frowned and studied the painting for a few moments. Something about the young man in the painting seems familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it. Artemis was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard Jack announce, "Got it!"
The archer and the speedster turned and they saw Jack and Delta returning from their search. Jack held up a ticket, made from aged paper.
Sinclair spoke "Jim Dandy, that'll getcha into the park. But the incinerate plasmid will cost ADAM" "which we don't have" said Wally.
Sinclair chuckled a little "Don't worry, I might know where you could find some. I heard whispering of a Little Sister down by the El Dorado lounge. Go see for yourselves."
Artemis, Jack, Wally and Delta approached the front doors of the park. Jack slipped the ticket into the machine and the doors swung open.
The four entered and they found themselves in a dark room. Suddenly, a spotlight flickered on, followed by some fanfare and some confetti raining down on them. The spotlight shone down on a bronze model of Rapture. In front of the model was a table with a blue bottle.
A recording of Andrew Ryan's voice spoke "I am Andrew Ryan and welcome to Ryan Amusements. Please, enjoy the park".
Jack scooped up the blue bottle and inspected it. He read aloud "Gene Tonic"
He shrugged "might be useful" Jack pocketed the gene glanced around and saw two different ways through the park.
Wally chose one way and they moved on.
As they walked down the corridor, the group passed displays showing how Rapture was founded and built. Some displays also showed some of Rapture's early history. The group left the displays behind and found themselves in a spacious park.
The park had stairs and halls leading to different attractions and shops. Some dim light filtered through from the glass ceiling above. Scattered around the park were some vending machines, trashcans and posters for different products sold by Ryan Industries.
Jack saw a map of the park pinned to a board and he went over.
He studied the map for a moment and he pointed off to the edge of the enclosed park "The El Dorado lounge is this way".
Artemis, Wally, Jack and Delta entered through the lounge's front entrance and passed through a set of doors. On the other side, they found another red wagon with a Gene tonic bottle.
Delta froze and remained frozen for a few moments then went back to normal. The Big Daddy took the Gene Tonic and moved on.
Artemis frowned "What was that about?"
Jack shrugged "I don't know". He glanced down and saw a drawing of Delta holding hands with a girl in white.
The girl looked familiar but Jack couldn't remember where he had seen her. Jack shook his head and carried on.
The four entered the main lounge. The lounge was a mess. Seawater dripped down from the ceiling, the wood paneled floors were dark and had large holes in them. Light bulbs flickered on and off. Lining the windows were round tables and booths for patrons.
In the distance, they heard a Little Sister talking. The four approached the sounds.
They found the Little Sister and the Big Daddy in the heart of the lounge, by an ornate water fountain that fed clean water into a large pool.
Wally and Artemis recognized that the Little Sister was one of the children that were taken from the surface, only she was dressed in a tattered dress like the rest of the Little Sisters.
Wally whispered at the radio "What's the plan?"
"That Big Daddy won't bite unless you do" explained Sinclair "But to get Lil' Sis, your gotta put the ol' boy down for good".
Artemis nodded "Ok" she turned to Jack and Wally "Here's what we do-" but before she could explain her plan, Delta charged the Big Daddy and tackled him.
The Little Sister yelped in surprise and jumped away as the two behemoths wrestled each other. Delta shoved the Big Daddy into a wall and he fired a few rivets into his opponent's chest.
The Big Daddy roared and fired back. Delta took the shots and he hurled lightning at the Big Daddy. Once the Big Daddy was stunned, Delta withdrew a large drill and he rammed it into the Big Daddy's chest. The Big Daddy struggled but within seconds, he died.
Artemis, Jack and Wally stared at Delta in surprise. Jack muttered, "Well that works".
The Little Sister sobbed "Mr. B!" she rushed over to the dead Big Daddy and cried.
Sinclair whistled "Good work. Now take a deep breath and relax."
"Now what?" asked Artemis.
"Now let the little one ride Delta's shoulders, she'll trust him like her own daddy" replied Sinclair.
Delta approached the weeping Little Sister. She looked up at him with teary eyes and she perked up a little "M-Mister Bubbles?" Delta droned and he picked up the little girl then placed her on his shoulder. She giggled and hugged Delta's head saying "I love you ".
Wally frowned "Ok, that's kinda messed up"
"Never mind that" said Sinclair "We're in business now. There are corpses all over Rapture and Lil' Dimples there can sniff out the ADAM on em, find one and collect the ADAM".
Artemis shivered "This is so wrong" "But we have to do this" said Wally "Once we're done, Jack can cure her and we can send her to Tenenbaum"
"Exactly" said Jack. Jack turned to Delta and asked "Which way?"
Delta droned and the Little Sister pointed towards a door saying "This way Daddy".
Delta lumbered towards the door with Artemis, Jack and Wally following behind.
The four returned to the main park area where a corpse laid by a Circus of Values vending machine.
The Little Sister smiled "That one" pointing at the corpse.
Sinclair whistled a little "She's found a juicy one! But once she starts draining out the ADAM, Splicers will come runnin' get ready for anything".
Jack used his Hack Tool on the vending machine and got some free ammunition for himself, Wally and Artemis. Delta readied his rivet gun. Once they were ready, Delta set the Little Sister down.
The little girl inserted her needle into the corpse and began drawing out ADAM.
Suddenly, Sofia Lamb's voice came on the radio.
She spoke to Delta, Wally and Artemis scornfully "Those two are children of the family, not some toys for you to exploit and discard. I think it is fitting for you to expire here, Delta and company—a few more forgotten curios for Ryan's shrine to the self."
Once the radio went silent, Artemis frowned in confusion "Children of the family?"
"I think she means the little sister and Jack" said Wally.
Before they could think over what Sofia was talking about, Sinclair spoke urgently "Here they come! Keep them away from the lil' sis or they'll never give up the hunt".
Artemis cocked her weapon and said "Don't worry, we will".
Within seconds, a swarm of Splicers charged in through the nearest door and flooded into the park.
When the last splicer fell, Delta scooped up the Little Sister and placed her back on his shoulder.
Sinclair sighed in relief and said "Good work, but I'm afraid that its still not enough" "Aw man" groaned Wally.
The Little sister pointed towards a door and the group moved out. Through the door, they descended down a long flight of steps. At the bottom was what looked like a ride. There were several carts shaped like bathyspheres all lined up on a single track.
The track leads to a pair of doors with a sign above it saying "Journey to the Surface".
Wally cocked an eyebrow "That's interesting". Delta forced open the doors and they climbed up a steep incline.
A female splicer fired a few shots at Delta but the bullets just bounced off of his helmet. He fired a single shot at the Splicer's head and she crumpled to the floor.
Jack patted Delta on the arm "Good shot".
As they followed the track, they passed different displays showing what life on the surface looked like during the 1940's. The first scene showed an automaton of a farmer tilling a field.
A recording of Andrew Ryan narrated "On the surface, the farmer tills the soil, trading the strength of his arm for a home and lands of his own. But the parasites say "NO! What is yours is ours! We are the state, we are God, and We demand our share." A giant automaton hand reached down as if it were going to take the farmers crops for its own.
Jack snorted, "The movie was better".
The four continued on down the track and the Little Sister pointed them towards a large hole in one of the scenes.
Delta marched through it, followed by the others. On the other side of the opening, they found themselves in a cart repair station. The Little Sister pointed to the corpse of a man dressed in overalls. Delta set her down and she got to work.
"Still alive I see?" said Sofia.
Artemis scowled at the radio "What is up with you lady? Do you hate us or something?"
"I do not hate you" replied Sofia "Not you, your friend nor Delta. I care for you in equal measure to any other sentient creature. But I will not sacrifice my children for a broken automaton and two invaders. So here is my offer. Give me the little one and Jack, then I will let you return to the surface unharmed"
"Not a chance lady" growled Wally "Whatever it is you are planning, we're going to stop you and we're going to save those kids you've taken".
There was silence for a few moments then Sofia said icily "Whatever come next, just remember you impudent child, I offered you both a way out." The radio went silent.
Jack heard some voices in the distance. He went to the opening and he heard more splicers heading their way. Jack muttered, "Here we go again".
After the Little Sister finished gathering, Sinclair told Delta and the others to find a Little Sister vent down by the workshops.
The group left the repair station and continued down the Journey to the Surface ride. They passed several more displays of the surface with Andrew Ryan narrating each one.
In one, Artemis could've sworn she saw one that had superheroes from a group that was around before Justice League, called the Justice Society. Andrew Ryan scoffed at the so-called heroes and called them puppets to the government's ideals and said that they usually force their idea of justice upon those who couldn't fight back.
They found a narrow hall beneath a cardboard scene and they followed it to the end. Sinclair said "Good job. Now cure her like Tenenbaum wants and you'll get just enough ADAM. Or, you could go the other route..."
"No" said Jack firmly "We're not doing that"
Sinclair sighed "Don't worry, I was only putting all your options on the table. Besides, I'm an honest businessman, not a killer. I would never do something to harm a child, unlike Fontaine or Ryan"
The group descended down some more stairs to a basement where they found a vent. Jack went to cure the little girl but Delta stopped him. The Big Daddy knelt down and he cured the little sister. The girl thanked Delta and she crawled into the vent.
Sinclair chuckled a little "It seems our tin man has a heart. Now that you have enough ADAM, you can get Incinerate from Hall of the future. After that, we can finally resume our journey"
Artemis sighed "Finally, I'm getting sick of this amusement park"
"You aren't the first person to say that" said Sinclair "Nor are you the last".
In the Hall of the Future, the group walked past some displays of future construction plans for Rapture.
They passed some manniquens standing by a window and they finally reached a Gatherer's Garden vending machine. Delta selected the Incinerate plasmid and he injected himself with it. He flexed his fingers and he growled deeply.
The radio came to life and Sofia Lamb spoke softly "So you would drain the people of their life's blood. Rapture is a body, Delta. I am the voice…and Big Sister is the hand. When Rapture speaks of you three marauders, it says only this. Sleep now, your day is done". The radio went dead.
Jack chuckled a little. Artemis looked at him curiously "What's so funny?"
"I can't believe I'm going to say this" said Jack "But I'm starting to feel left out".
Wally frowned and wondered aloud "What did she mean Big Sister is the hand?" Before anyone could speak, a familiar high-pitched shriek echoed through the halls of the Hall of the Future. Glass picture frames shattered, television screens exploded and light bulbs popped.
Jack, Wally and Artemis covered their ears until the shriek finally died down.
The speedster mumbled "Oh, right. Her"
"Lets get out of here" said Artemis. The four rushed back towards the door that led to the main park entrance but before they could open the door, the door was flung out of its place and crumpled into a ball by an invisible force.
Standing several yards away was the Big Sister. She snarled and gestured. The crumpled door was flung aside like nothing.
Jack, Artemis, Wally and Delta came to an abrupt halt.
Wally breathed, "That's bad" the Big Sister let out a loud shriek and attacked.
Delta pushed past Artemis, Wally and Jack and engaged the Big Sister.
Delta unleashed a barrage of rivets; the Big Sister cart wheeled aside and scurried up a pillar. She crawled up along the roof like a spider and hurled fireballs at Delta. Delta swatted a few aside with his hand and caught the rest with telekinesis. He chucked them back at the Big Sister who just leapt away.
The Big Sister landed on a bench and growled at Delta. She stretched out her hand and used her telekinesis.
Suddenly, Jack felt himself pulled off his feet and he found himself in the Big Sister's grasp.
The Big Sister wrapped her arms around Jack and she launched herself into the air. Jack kicked and he tried to break free using his lightning but the Big Sister wouldn't let go.
Delta roared and chased after them. Artemis and Wally hurried after Delta.
The Big Sister landed on a vending machine, crushing it like soda can. She then took off running for a nearby exit with Jack.
Before they reached the exit, there was a loud bang and the Big Sister dropped Jack.
Jack tumbled and he looked up. He saw Delta rushing after them and he saw that Delta fired a shot that struck the Big Sister in the shoulder. The Big Sister hissed in pain and tried to go back for Jack but Delta roared and threw up a wall of fire between her and Jack.
Jack watched as the Big Sister look from him then to Delta. She screamed at Delta then retreated through the exit.
Once she was gone, Delta extinguished the fire and he helped Jack to his feet. Jack thanked Delta and looked towards the door where the Big Sister escaped through. Artemis and Wally finally caught up. Artemis asked, sounding a little winded "Are you ok?"
"Yeah" said Jack, nodding slowly.
Sinclair spoke, sounding surprise "Holy Moses son, that was close. Good thing you got Delta with ya, not even a Big Sister can keep him down. Well, come on back and melt the ice, an' then we can say goodbye to this two bit corny ride".
Jack sighed in exhaustion saying "Just a typical day in Rapture".
The four scavenged for ammunition then departed Ryan Amusements.
Back at the station, Delta melted the ice and Sinclair told Delta to open the doors from security booth.
Delta complied and they heard footsteps approaching the platform. Artemis, Wally, Jack and Delta saw a dark haired man in his late forties approach them.
The man wore white shirt, grey pants with suspenders shiny black shoes and a red necktie. The man smiled "Good work, I think we're going to be going places".
He extended a hand "Augustus Sinclair, nice to finally meet you all in person". Artemis and Wally shook the businessman's hand.
When Sinclair got to Jack he pulled him into a hug saying "Good to see ya again kid". He broke off the embrace and smiled "You've sure grown since the last time I've seen you"
"Thanks" said Jack.
Sinclair looked up to Delta and said "Nice to meet you" Delta droned and Sinclair clapped his hands together "Right, now lets get moving"
But before they could board the train, Sofia's voice spoke over the radio "I had thought you some golem of Sinclair's brought here to hold Rapture's arms while he rifles through her pockets. But no…you are aware of your plight. Who, I wonder, would be so cruel? To force a mirror on a man with no face…"
A pair of Splicers dropped down from the ceiling and landed on top of the train.
Sinclair's eyes widened "Lamb was waiting for us" he turned to the others "Hold them off while I start the train"
"Got it" said Artemis.
Artemis, Wally, Jack and Delta engaged the Splicers. Delta shot down the two Splicers from the top of the train car. Several more Splicers emerged from Ryan Amusements and tried to attack Delta from behind but Jack knocked them back with telekinesis.
Wally and Artemis managed to drive back a few with a few shots but more and more Splicers began to arrive.
Sinclair poked his head out of the train car and shouted "Come on!"
Artemis, Wally, Jack and Delta rushed onto the train. Sinclair flipped the switch and the doors sealed up before the Splicers could reach them. The train car moved and it sank beneath the dark, murky seawater, carrying them away.
Jack collapsed in one of the seats panting "That was close"
"You're telling me" said Wally.
Sinclair turned to the four and grinned "Nice shootin' kids" his grin slowly faded "But I'm afraid from here on out, things will get a little dicey".
Meanwhile, the Big Sister entered Sofia's Lambs office, her shoulder was bleeding and she was furious.
Sofia approached the Big Sister asking, "What's wrong my child?"
The Big Sister snarled and made sounds. Sofia frowned "I see. So it was Delta again"
She placed a comforting hand on the Big Sister's uninjured shoulder saying soothingly "Don't worry, you will have your chance. When you do, your big brother will finally join our family. He will be the light that will bring our family together and your big sister will lead the family to Utopia".
End of chapter
(a/n: So what do you think? Please review!)