(a/n: Please enjoy and review!)
Ch.8: A Walk in Dionysus Park
The train came to a slow halt in the station. The doors slid open, letting in a salty, fishy stench into the train car.
Artemis, Wally, Delta and Sinclair disembarked from the train.
The condition of the train station was similar to the Adonis Spa and Resort. Coral and barnacles clung to the walls. Dunes of sand filled the halls and luminous sea plants flourished. Flickering lights illuminated the area, assisted by the luminous plants.
Wally pinched his nose, trying to block out the stench of the sea. Artemis glanced around the station and asked, "So what's the story on this place?"
"Dionysus Park was owned by Sofia Lamb" explained Sinclair as he fished through his pockets for a cigarette "It was a sorta private retreat for her social experiments."
Sinclair found a cigarette and he lit it with a match. He took a long drag and said softly "One night it mysteriously flooded, killing all of the guests. The papers said it was 'cult related'"
"What really happened?" asked Wally.
Sinclair shrugged "Beats me".
Artemis shivered a little and asked Sinclair "Now what?"
"There's another station on the other side of Dionysus Park" said Sinclair "We need to get there and hop on a new train, it should lead us straight to Lamb's HQ".
Delta droned and he started marching towards the exit. Wally, Artemis and Sinclair followed. The four passed through a door and followed a dank, moss-covered hall. Artemis saw old paintings hanging on the walls, some were damaged from flooding, others were good as new, which was strange but the archer just shrugged and continued on. They turned a corner and headed through a big common area. Wally saw a door slide shut.
The speedster nudged Sinclair, asking, "Did you see that?"
"Yep" said Sinclair "It seems like we're not alone. Stay on your toes and keep a sharp eye out"
Wally nodded. The group passed through the common area, past a large marble statue of a woman with wings and they reached a door that led further into Dionysus Park. Delta, Sinclair, Artemis and Wally passed through the door.
Suddenly, Sofia Lamb's voice boomed over a loudspeaker "Attention, Subject Delta and his cohorts have infiltrated Dionysus Park. Their deaths will be our rebirth! The lives of the People's Daughter and the People's Guiding Light are in your hands!"
Sinclair glanced back at Artemis and Wally saying, "We better pick up the pace" they nodded.
Delta and the others picked up speed. They hurried down another hall until they came to a gallery of sorts. Before they could pass through, they found a male and female Splicer bickering about something.
The Splicers noticed Delta. They quite bickering and screamed at Delta "Die monster!" "For the family!" They attacked Delta and the others.
After a few minutes of avoiding bullets and fireballs, Sinclair finished off the man as Delta defeated the woman.
Once the two splicers were out of the way, Artemis and Wally moved to open the only set of doors leading out but they paused. They heard a man shouting from the other side of the door "No…she's my little girl!" they heard gunshots and screeching. Artemis and Wally opened the doors.
When the doors finally opened, they found only an empty atrium.
In the middle of the atrium was a large, rusted carousal. Around the atrium were several doors leading to different sections of Dionysus Park. Wally frowned and looked around the atrium for any sign of a struggle but found nothing.
Sinclair and Delta entered the atrium.
Sinclair looked at the carousal and sighed "I remember bringing Jack here once, with his mama." He muttered softly "Brigid…I still don't see what she saw in that snake Fontaine"
"Huh?" said Wally, glancing back at Sinclair. Sinclair's cheeks turned pink and he said quickly "Nothing".
Artemis glanced around the atrium and asked, "Where do we go?" Sinclair pointed to a door and they went through it.
As they traveled towards the train station, Artemis noticed that Sinclair looked a little worried. She asked, "What's wrong?"
Sinclair shook his head slowly "I got this feeling, it's like we're not alone. Its like I'm forgettin' something but I don't know what".
Artemis frowned and asked, "What do you think it is?" "That's probably me" said a new voice.
Everyone looked to the radio that hung from Artemis's belt. Artemis picked up the radio and asked, "Who is this?"
"Hello folks" said the voice warmly "The name's Stan Poole—Rapture Tribune, quality paper-before the locals stopped readin' and, uh, findin' other uses for the paper. Anyway, I'm lookin' to cut a deal with you fine fellas."
"What do you want?" asked Wally.
Stan didn't answer. He only said "Come by the train station, I'm in the booth"
Artemis and Wally looked at each other then to Sinclair "What do you think?" asked Wally.
Sinclair frowned and said, "I don't know. Stanley Poole is a rather slippery man. But it seems that we have no choice". The three agreed to hear Stan's proposal.
On the way to the station, Sofia growled at them on the radio "Dionysus Park was my home. An experiment in social unity cut short by human folly. You all dishonor its memory with each step"
"You have our friend" said Wally "We're coming for him and for you. So I suggest you stop worrying about some rundown old park and start worrying about what happens when we get you".
Sofia said nothing. There was a hiss of static then Stanley spoke nervously "Now that—see. Lamb knows you're here but I'm incognito. Thing is, since you drained out the park, Little Sisters are startin' to sniff around for ADAM. I can't have that".
Artemis frowned "What do you want us to do?"
Stanley didn't answer.
The archer sighed in annoyance "What is with people and not giving us a straight answer?"
Delta, Artemis, Wally and Sinclair trudged through a cave and into another corridor where they found a small red wagon that held a small grenade launcher.
Delta picked it up and he heard Eleanor speak softly to him "Take this father…Mother can't hear this but…she knows that I am helping you. I can feel her watching Jack and me. Jack is fine for the moment but she is accelerating his treatments. We don't have much time. Please, hurry".
Delta cocked the grenade launcher and growled angrily, then picked up the pace.
Artemis, Wally and Sinclair hurried after him. Finally, they reached the second station where only a trio of Splicers and a broken turret waited.
Delta mowed through them with his drill. Once they were dealt with, Delta growled something to Artemis.
Artemis heard Stanley speak "Ah, you made it"
"What do you want from us?" asked Wally.
Stanley spoke plainly "Ok, So dead men tell no tales right? Wrong. See, with ADAM involved, every stiff's got a story—and Lamb knows how to read it. If that stuff makes it back to her, I'm an obituary."
Stanley coughed and continued, "So I want you to take the story of Dionysus Park and bury it. Get rid of the Little sisters for me… in your own way. Do that and I'll unlock the station for you. Scout's honor" the radio went silent.
Artemis glanced to Sinclair and asked, "What do you think?"
Sinclair sighed, "Well I'd say 'he's hiding something'- But he sorta took the fun out of that one. He's locked himself in the security booth. So we'll have to play along and find those sisters".
Delta growled something and Sinclair nodded slowly "I know that you want to get to Eleanor but we must find those Little Sisters first"
Delta grunted and then stomped off. Sinclair, Wally and Artemis followed after him.
The group left the station and entered the Gallery Entrance. The room was enormous and it had several different doors that led to different areas of Dionysus Park. The entrance displayed several large paintings and was opulently decorated.
In the center of the room were two shallow pools, surroundings two dramatic statues that were flanked by pillars. To the rear of the gallery, a large waterfall depicting a landscape completed the room.
Wally looked around the spacious gallery and saw signs pointing to different doors. The speedster inspected the signs and asked aloud "Where to first?"
Delta lumbered past Wally and marched through the nearest door, which led to Triton Cinema.
The speedster shrugged "Ok then, cinemas it is". Wally, Sinclair and Artemis hurried after Delta.
At Triton Cinema, Delta and the others passed through the empty lobby and entered the theater.
At the far end of the theater, near the screen were a Little Sister and a Big Daddy. Delta growled and cocked his weapon.
Wally took a deep breath and muttered "Here we go".
Delta attacked and Wally and Artemis provided cover fire.
Delta finished off the Big Daddy with his drill. Once the Big Daddy fell, Delta cured the Little Sister. The little girl crawled through the vent out in the lobby and was free.
Stanley commented, "Smart. She's cured, you get the ADAM and the little girl goes free. Since you're a silent partner, its tops with me". Delta just grumbled.
Artemis, Wally and Sinclair searched through the theater for ammunition and supplies.
Meanwhile, Delta searched the balcony where images flashed through his mind. It showed Sofia being dragged out of Dionysus Park by several men in matching uniforms.
Another showed Stanley standing in front of a crowd, making a speech. He pointed to himself and asked a question. The crowd nodded in agreement.
The final image showed a wild party raging in Dionysus Park. People drank heavily, gambled and in the last image, it showed Stanley with a pair of scantily dressed women, drinking vodka.
Stanley raised his glass and shouted "Another round, compliments of Sofia Lamb!" the partygoers cheered and the images faded.
Delta pondered the images he saw. From the images, he saw Sofia being arrested and Stanley assuming control of Dionysus. What puzzled him were Stanley's actions. Why would he throw wild parties in Dionysus Park and claim that Sofia was responsible?
The Big Daddy shrugged and he went out to meet the others in the lobby.
Artemis pointed down a corridor and suggested searching down that way. Everyone agreed and they began trudging down the hall.
As they journeyed down the corridor, Stanley spoke to Delta over the radio "You know, Subject Delta is just a serial number amigo. I did some digging on you for a feature back in the day. They used to call you Johnny Topside—found the city on your own in a diving bell. Real shame about what they did to ya".
Artemis looked at Delta in surprise. She then looked to Sinclair "Did you know about this?"
"I remember reading something about it in the papers" said Sinclair "It must've slipped my mind"
"So, Delta used to be a guy from the surface?" asked Wally. Sinclair nodded "It appears so".
The speedster asked, "What exactly did they do to him?"
Sinclair shrugged "I don't know. Big Daddy creation wasn't my department, that would've been Suchong and Gil Alexander's".
The group passed through the Gallery Entrance and followed another sign to another door, which led to the Promenade.
The Promenade boasted a piano bar, two small rooms and a doorway leading to another area. The flood heavily damaged the entire area and the floor was blanketed by sand and rocks.
Delta, Sinclair, Artemis and Wally spread out through the Promenade to search for a Little Sister and some supplies. They encountered some Splicers.
Delta shot any Splicer who entered his line of sight. One tried to attack Sinclair from behind but Delta shot the Splicer in the head with a spear gun. The Splicer's body went flying and was pinned to a wall by a spear in his head.
Sinclair thanked Delta and he resumed his search. Wally and Artemis saw a door being cut open with a blowtorch. The doors opened, revealing more Splicers.
Once those Splicers were dealt with, Artemis investigated the way they came in and saw that it led back to the Carousal. The archer went back and told Sinclair. Sinclair pointed to a doorway on the other side of the Promenade. Delta, Sinclair, Artemis and Wally went to the door.
On the other side of the door was the J. Fischer Gallery.
The inside of the gallery was spacious. A variety of paintings hung on the walls and in the middle of the gallery was a large, stone statue of a bear.
In the gallery they saw a Big Daddy and a Little Sister. Delta wasted no time. He marched in and attacked the Big Daddy.
Wally whispered to Artemis "I think he's mad"
"No kidding" said Artemis.
Delta helped the cured Little Sister into the vent.
Once she disappeared, more images began to flash through his mind. The images showed Stanley talking with Eleanor when she was a child.
She was scolding him about something and Stanley tried to talk his way out of it but Eleanor was adamant. The image changed and it showed Stanley handing Eleanor to a pair of men in suits. Eleanor kicked and fought but she couldn't escape.
Delta saw Stanley waved goodbye to Eleanor as the two men carried her into a Little Sister's Orphanage.
The images ended and Delta found himself back in the J. Fischer Gallery.
Delta remembered that Fontaine used children from his orphanage in the Little Sister experiments. The Big Daddy began to feel rage boiling inside. Stanley was responsible for turning Eleanor into a Little Sister.
Artemis saw Delta clench his fist in anger and she watched him stomp out of the gallery.
The archer heard Stanley talk "The name Johnny Topside, the people gave him that. Ryan thought that he was a spook from the surface. So Ryan's men locked him up and erased his name. Goodbye Johnny Topside, hello Subject Delta".
Artemis frowned and felt her dislike for Andrew Ryan grow a little more. Wally, Sinclair and Artemis followed after Delta.
As they hurried to catch up with the Big Daddy, Sinclair muttered, "When all this is over, I'm goin' to buy myself a private island, where I'll be kicking back and sippin' on a nice cold drink"
"That sounds nice" said Wally.
The businessman smiled a little "You, Jack and your girlfriend can come visit me sometime, if we live through this"
"Deal" said the speedster.
Delta passed through the Gallery Entrance, crossed over to the other side, and they entered a corridor.
They traveled down the corridor and entered Cohen's Collection.
Artemis looked at the sign above the door and asked Sinclair "Did Sander Cohen run this place?"
Sinclair nodded. The archer also asked, "Wasn't he a supporter of Andrew Ryan? And weren't Ryan and Lamb enemies?"
Sinclair nodded again and explained, "Even though Cohen supported Ryan, Lamb held no grudge against him. In fact, she admired his work. She gave him a place here in Dionysus where he could display some of his latest pieces at a very low price."
Wally mused, "I wonder what that nutcase is doing now?"
Delta opened a door and they entered a spacious lounge but they froze. They all stood there, staring in shock at a single figure sitting alone at a table at the far end of the lounge.
It was Sander Cohen. The deranged artist looked exactly as he did when Artemis and Wally last saw him in Fort Frolic. Cohen still wore a black tuxedo with a red flower poking out of his breast pocket. His face was covered in white makeup and his lips were still red as blood.
Sander held a glass of wine in one hand and held a small, tattered novel in the other.
The artist looked up from his novel. When he saw Artemis, Wally and Sinclair, Sander grinned broadly and said happily "Hello again my disciples"
He put his book down and he got up. The artist motioned over to some chairs and told them "Sit, please, sit. I haven't had a visitor in these parts in ages"
Artemis, Wally and Sinclair sat down in the nearest seats so they don't invoke the wrath of the deranged artist.
Sander looked up at Delta and smiled "Ah, Mr. Delta. I heard so much about you from Sofia". He patted the Big Daddy gently on the arm saying softly "I am sorry about your daughter".
As Sander talked with Delta, Artemis glanced around the empty lounge. She saw a stuffed bunny sitting on the counter, staring at her with black, lifeless button eyes. The archer felt a little creeped out by the stuffed bunny.
Sander finished talking with Delta. He spun around to face Artemis and Wally. The artist pulled up a chair and sat down beside them.
Sander snapped his fingers and barked something in French. He turned his attention back to his guests and asked "What brings you down to Dionysus Park?"
"We're here to save Jack and Eleanor" said Artemis.
Sander nodded a little "Oh yes. I heard about that. Sofia's really kicking it into high gear"
"What do you mean?" asked Wally.
The artist tilted his head a little and said "Sofia has been working on a top secret project for years and she had been missing a key component. Andrew Ryan's prodigal son, Jack. And now that she has him in her clutches, Sofia is accelerating her plans."
Artemis and Wally frowned "What does she need him for?" asked Artemis.
Sander shrugged "Something about him being Eleanor's guide and protector who will take her to the surface"
"The surface?" said Wally, his eyes narrowing.
The artist nodded "Yes. I recall Sofia prattling on about a massive flood and Eleanor and Jack sculpting a new world together, using the minds of Rapture's brightest and the combined power of Rapture's citizens. After that, Eleanor will then lead the inhabitants of the new world, her so-called children of the sea, into a bright and prosperous future. One where neither I, or anyone else will live to see. Well, maybe Jack but everyone else is good as dead."
Sander rolled his eyes "Honestly, in my opinion, it's just a load of rubbish".
Sinclair nodded slowly "Couldn't agree more".
Wally frowned a little and he said "Let me get this straight, Sofia wants to destroy the surface world and then have Eleanor create a new one in its place?"
Sander nodded "That's the gist of it". The artist scowled and he glanced around the lounge muttering curses in French. He snapped his fingers and suddenly a female splicer rushed into the lounge carrying a tray that held a bottle of vintage wine and a few glasses.
The Splicer placed the tray on the table and scurried away.
Sander poured himself, Artemis, Wally and Sinclair a glass. Sander raised his glass saying "To better days" he sipped from his glass but stopped.
Artemis, Wally and Sinclair didn't touch their glasses. The artist growled, "Drink".
Without being told twice, Artemis, Wally and Sinclair grabbed their glasses and drank.
Sander smiled a little and asked Wally "You didn't really answer my question. What brings you to my part of Dionysus?"
Wally explained about the Little Sisters and Stanley Poole. At the mention of Stanley's name, Sander frowned and said disdainfully "Oh, that dreadful little worm. He's still alive?"
"You know him?" asked Artemis.
The deranged artist nodded "Yes. He was Ryan's spy in Sofia's camp. Stan was the one who had Sofia locked up and he put Eleanor in Fontaine's Orphanage." He then tilted his head a little "He also threw a number of mad parties and pretty much flooded Dionysus Park"
Sander scowled a little "His low browed friends damaged my new carpets among other things." the artist began muttering things under his breath and he suddenly crushed his wine glass in his hand. The artist looked at the crushed glass that were now embedded into his hand and shrugged muttering "Waste of good wine".
Artemis and Wally stared at Sander in surprise. The archer muttered, "So that's what he's hiding"
"Understandable" said Sinclair. The archer and the speedster looked at Sinclair.
The businessman shrugged "Think about it, if Sofia found out that one of her followers was responsible for her imprisonment and her daughter's disappearance, heads will be rollin'"
"Indeed" muttered Sander, pouring himself more wine in a new glass "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, or in this case, betrayed and locked away".
Sander sipped his wine and asked Wally "Did you see my paintings in Siren Alley?"
"Yeah, I did" said Wally
The artist smiled "Did you like them?" "Y-yeah" said Wally nervously trying not to upset the mad artist.
Sander bowed his head a little "Thank you".
Artemis glanced at Sander and asked, "Why did you do those paintings?"
"Sofia commissioned me to paint some works of art to inspire the dull folks of Rapture" explained Sander "I accepted, relishing the challenge. I left Fort Frolic because of the constant noise from the big sisters and I moved here to my old studio. I worked day and night and once I finished my art, Sofia rewarded me with some good food and good company".
Artemis froze and said nervously "C-company?"
Sander nodded "Yes, my assistant Lisa" he gestured to the door the female splicer entered and exited "And subjects for my new statues" added Sander, gesturing to a trio of white, plaster statues sitting in a corner booth playing poker.
The familiar stench of rot and formaldehyde reached the archer's nose and she grimaced.
It seems that Sander Cohen was still pursuing his grotesque art form.
After several minutes of drinking and some small polite conversations, Sander clapped his hands together and his Splicer assistant Lisa rushed into the lounge.
The deranged artist drawled "Lisa, be a dear and show these good folks out. They bore me and I need to resume my work on my new masterpiece"
Lisa nodded. She led them to the front door and once they were outside, they heard an unfamiliar voice screaming in agony. Sander started screaming about something and there was a crash of glass. There was silence for a moment then Sander called out "Lisa, come here! And bring a mop!"
Lisa the Splicer shivered and hurried back to the lounge.
Once the door closed behind Lisa, everyone sighed a breath of relief.
Delta droned about something and he started marching down the corridor that led to the next gallery, Lamb's Garden.
The group dealt with the last Big Daddy and rescued the last Little Sister.
When they got back to the station, Delta pounded on the security booth's door.
The door slid open, revealing a thin, scrawny man with curly hair. Stanley smiled nervously at Delta and stammered "H-hey big guy…h-how's it going?"
"You did it" said Sinclair coldly "You were the one who slaughtered all those people, you were the one who turned Eleanor into a Little Sister"
"H-how d-did you-?" stuttered Stanley. He paused and he thought for a moment then his eyes widened in realization "You talked to Cohen?"
"Yeah" said Wally "And he seems pretty pissed with you. Not as pissed as Sofia Lamb will be when she finds out that you were the one who put her in jail"
Stanley stammered "It wasn't me. The girl was gonna rat me out and I had no choice. Besides, it was Gil who did it, not me".
Delta and the others said nothing and they just gave Stanley a cold look. The reporter shook his head and pleaded, "Please, you can't tell her. Do you have any idea what she'll do to me?"
Artemis shook her head "Nope but I'm sure she has every right to do so, considering you massacred her followers, locked her away and sold her daughter to Fontaine's orphanage".
The reporter dropped to his knees and begged "I'll do anything just please, please don't tell Lamb".
Sinclair, Wally and Artemis glanced at each other, and then they looked to Delta. Delta growled and he grabbed Stanley by the collar of his shirt. The Big Daddy dragged the scrawny man to the security booth and shoved him inside the booth.
Delta jabbed a finger at the control panel, indicating that Stanley should hold up his end of the bargain.
Stanley nodded quickly and he got to work on the controls. A train car slid into the station and the doors opened.
Sinclair, Artemis and Wally boarded the train. Delta glared at Stanley who shrank back in terror.
The Big Daddy jabbed a finger at Stanley and he growled something that sounded like a threat.
Stanley nodded and he held up his hands stammering "Y-y-yeah, sure. Anything you want boss"
Delta grunted and he lumbered out of the security booth. Delta boarded the train.
Once the train was sealed up, the train lurched forward and took off, carrying the group to their next destination, Fontaine Futuristics.
End of chapter
(a/n: Well, there you go. In this story, i changed Sofia's plan around a little. I hoped you enjoyed this, please review!)