Chapter II: Cold Metal Crush
Subject Delta stood there, easily a good seven feet tall, offering his massive hand encased in steel and metal to the marred, mentally disturbed teenager. The Big Sister was downed and wounded, be that as it may, the Alpha Daddy was still one edge. The last Big Sister that he engaged in battle with nearly killed him, the thing saving him from death being a couple of well placed trapped rivets. Delta's rational mind was telling him to kill the Big Sister, but his heart was saying otherwise. Though the Sister was now grown she was at one time a Little Sister.
The lithe teenager bound in an assortment of leather and metal didn't seem to understand what he was doing, she took his outstretched hand as him preparing to strike her with his open palm. She clenched her hollow vermillion eyes, preparing for the pain in her cheek that was no doubt about to come. Delta stared at the girl, the dimly lit street light of Pauper's Drop: Town Square barley illuminating her pale flesh. The blackish crimson red strands of her hair cascaded down her face, the scars that littered her face that were barely noticeably in light emitting a faint orange glow.
Delta averted his gaze from the strange sight and did a quick sweep of their surroundings, the psychotic ramblings of Rapture's spliced up population could be heard echoing down it's decaying corridors and the faint groan of a Big Daddy sounded through the city's sunken hallways. The coast was clear, for now, but they couldn't stay here for long. Delta turned his gaze back to the metal encompassed teenager who was just sitting there, patiently awaiting her eminent death… He wasn't going to kill her or leave her here to die, he was going take her with him. He could not in good conscience leave the girl here to die, the girl had something that, that other Big Sister didn't…
A mind.
This Big Sister, for whatever reason, had a mind and will of her own. She could be reasoned with, which meant that she could also be saved. Delta kneeled to the metallic teen's level and gently clutched her right shoulder in his left hand. A screech of pain and fear escaped the girl's lips, her entire body was aching, even the slightest touch was painful to her. Delta began to gently rake the massive fingers of his right hand through the strands of her oily blood colored hair, he loved the color of the girl's hair…blood red and…scarlet.
That's what he was going to refer to the Big Sister as. Scarlet.
'Scarlet' was so confused, what was the Alpha Daddy doing? His touch was not harsh and abusive but gentle and warm. His touch sent a tingly sensation through her flesh which traveled to every nerve in her body. Scarlet opened her ruby orbs, curiousness shining apparently within their hellish depths.
Delta mentally sighed in exasperation, his Sister Savior Plasmid had no effect on the girl whatsoever. The damned parasite lodged within her stomach was probably in there for to long, Delta wouldn't be surprised if it had fused with her entirely. The hollow man let out a long, exasperated Big Daddy groan and gently placed his left hand over the wound in Scarlet's side. He began to heal the wound with a couple of his first aid kits, the gooey red substance spurted from the openings in his glove and sunk into the deep gash in the Sister's side. The substance quickly increased her cell regeneration. The wound was gone within seconds. Delta stood up and offered his hand to the teenage girl turned monster once more.
Scarlet stared at him with a facial expression that was to put it simple, comical.
She stared at him with her wide glowing vermillion eyes, her face contorted into a look of disbelief. Her mouth was completely agape, if Delta could talk he would've told her to close it before she caught flies. She couldn't believe that this rogue Alpha, this hollow man that she had seen cut down his own brothers with no remorse or sympathy, was sparing her life. Scarlet tilted her head to the right and quirked a rust colored brow. Her lips were pursued in a cute little pout as she stared at the tarnished leather that encompassed Delta's hand. What if the rogue Daddy was planning to trick her? What if he was just waiting for her to let her guard down? Scarlet thought this over in her head but quickly dismissed it, she was to weak to defend herself, the Alpha could kill her right now if he wanted to. Scarlet stared at his outstretched hand once more before taking it. Delta helped her get to her feet, leaned over to grab her helmet from off of the ground, and put it gently onto her head. Delta gestured Scarlet to follow him, which she obliged. Delta lead her to a Vita-Chamber, it's clear glass doors quickly swung open. At the moment Delta was the only thing in Rapture who could be revived by a Vita-Chamber, but anyone could use the device's secondary function. Delta gently pushed Scarlet towards the chamber, telling her with hand gestures to get into the chamber. Scarlet eyed the chamber warily, her knees bent inwards. She cautiously stepped into the chamber, the doors slammed shut and an electric blue light swirled around her. She was frightened beyond all belief…but she trusted…Mr. Bubbles wouldn't hurt her. His rage and distrust for her seemed to be gone…
He now radiated kindness and warmth.
The Vita-Chamber 'DINGED', signaling that the process was over. When Scarlet stepped out of the chamber, her suit had returned to it previous state, her porthole now shining a clam yellow. Any person could use the Vita-Chambers to mend torn fabric and such, it wouldn't heal them though. Delta watched as Scarlet looked herself over, she emitted a surprised yet joyful screech and before he could react, she pounced onto him, her helmet visor now shining an emerald green. She had her arms wrapped around his metal encased head and her long shapely legs straddled his waist.
"Umm…kid, what exactly are you doing?" The southern drawl that escaped from the radio in Delta's helmet was unmistakable. Delta felt his face heat up from behind the cover of his visor, he had forgotten that the camera attached to his helmet allowed Sinclair to see through his eyes. Scarlet yelped at the sound, the voice came out of nowhere! She swiveled her now helmeted head all which way, bobbing her head in a similar fashion to that of a frightened bird. A deep sigh escaped from the fourth father of the protector program, Delta gave Sinclair a curt grunt, which the businessman responded to with rather loud laughter.
"HAH, HAH, HAH! Whoa, I-I'm sorry there kid, but I-I c-can't believe t-that you actually gone out and found yourself a girlfriend! Well, I guess love can exist anywhere, even in this hellhole. Heh, heh, (Ahem) if you and your girlfriend are done doing the metal grind on each other, could you be so kindly as to head to the Sinclair Deluxe? We need that key off of Gracey to proceed any further."
Delta blushed in embarrassment at the implication of Sinclair's words, the vermillion haired Scarlet just continued to straddle him. She had no idea what the funny sounding voice was talking about but as along as it didn't hurt her or Mr. Bubbles then she didn't really care what it said. Delta held Scarlet in his hands from under her arms and gently placed her on the ground, he then gestured for her to stay close to him, he didn't want her wandering off. Scarlet nodded her helmet encompassed head, remembering all the hand gestures that her Big Daddy protectors had used to convey words to her. The gruesome pair made their way to the Sinclair Deluxe, the only thing giving away their presence being Delta's heavy footsteps…and Sinclair's laughter.
"Wow, I'm sorry kid, my mind is just still having trouble wrapping around the fact that you found yourself a Misses Delta. Bet you had to knock some sense into her, eh? Those Big Sisters are definitely not the shy, gentle, caring or all around pleasant to be around type."
Delta just replied with a grunt, he did have to agree with Sinclair on that. He still had scars from his first Big Sister fight to prove it.
"Heh, heh, kid I wish you could've seen my face when I saw that Big Sister jump onto you! I had just jumped back onto the train after gathering some supplies when I saw her rushing towards you! Judging from the look I saw in her 'eye', I thought that she was going to start doing lewd and terrible things to your person. HAH, HAH, HAH, HAH, with all those cartwheels and acrobatics that she no doubt performs I bet she is MONSTROUS in bed! HAH, HAH, HAH, HAH, HAH! Oh, next thing you know you two are going to have VERY Little Sisters following you all over the place, HAH, HAH, HAH, HAH!"
Delta groaned in exasperation, was he going to have Sinclair teasing him the WHOLE way there?
"I-I'm sorry kid, whoa. Well, I got that out of my system, looks like you're finally there."
Indeed they were. Delta and Scarlet stood at the entrance of the Sinclair Deluxe, a Brute Splicer had thrown an explosive canister at the hotel's sign, making the huge structure collapse and block the entrance. Delta took out his frost covered Drill and revved it up, the action making Scarlet who was standing beside him jump a little. The Alpha Daddy sent himself dashing towards the pile of debris, impacting it with enough force to send the huge pile of cement and steel flying everywhere.
Scarlet watched as the Splicers on the other side of the huge pile of granite and metal were crushed by the flying pieces of sign and building. Her morbid fascination with watching the Splicers scream in outrage and agony soon turned to horror when one of the pieces of building impacted the back of a wandering Rosie. Delta realized this as well and just as the Rosie turned to face him, it's massive Rivet Gun raised and it's Porthole a hellish red, he had his Machine Gun clutched tightly in his right hand and ambers dancing in his left.
Delta quickly set the Rosie ablaze with Incinerate and unloaded heavy machine gun rounds into it's armored hide. The Big Daddy retaliated by rampaging towards Delta, firing it's massive Rivet Gun and trampling any Splicer foolish enough to get in it's way. The searing white hot metal projectiles pierced through Delta's armor, making the Alpha Daddy grunt in pain. Delta set the Rosie ablaze once more before running back towards the entrance of the Sinclair Deluxe. He waved Scarlet away, she nodded and headed further back into the Drop. Delta turned around and unloaded more rounds into the metal behemoth. The Rosie groaned in pain but it did not stop it's charge. Delta let the flames in his left hand die down, they were soon replaced by a pinkish hazy mist. Delta extended his hand and set a Decoy of himself to distract the Rosie. Delta was running low on Rivet Gun and Machine Gun ammo, he had to restock quickly before engaging his massive enemy.
Delta was now entering the Pauper's Drop: Fishbowl Diner area, his Big Sister companion waiting for him at the automatic door. Delta quickly gestured for her to follow him as he ran up to a Circus Of Value's Vending Machine. He maxed out on all possible ammo, first aid kits, and EVE hypos. A distinct whistling sound met both Delta's and Scarlet's ears. Delta pushed his companion aside and grabbed the proximity mine that was lobbed at them by the hyper violent Rosie with his telekinesis. Subject Delta smirked as he propelled the explosive right back at it's sender. The Rosie side stepped to it's left, the explosive missing by inches, and a pained maddened roar suddenly echoed throughout the area like the blow horn of a ship.
The slightly burnt Elite Rosie, which was on it's way to repair a leak, laid it's blood red gaze on Subject Delta. The behemoth roared in primal furry before firing it's Rivet Gun at the Demo Daddy, it's lesser counterpart doing the same. Delta cursed mentally as he lit the behemoths up with Incinerate and fired his Machine Gun at the duo.
Scarlet, who was standing a ways behind him, was in turmoil. She didn't want to hurt the two Big Daddies but she couldn't let them hurt Mr. Bubbles! Her porthole looked as if it were malfunctioning as it rapidly flashed between red and yellow.
Delta had the two Big Daddies firing at a decoy of himself as he quickly load some trap rivets onto a trash can. He hurled the booby trapped tin can at the metallic behemoths, the traps firing secondary rivets into their armored hides. The Elite Rosie gave a frightening roar before charging towards Delta, firing it's massive Rivet Gun. Delta howled in pain as a rivet pierced his chest plate, he was forced to kneel when a rivet ripped through his armored knee. Delta was forced to his hands, desperately trying to catch his breath, he then looked up from his position to find the end of a smoking Rivet Gun pointed at his visor. Delta glared defiantly at his adversary as it prepared to pull the trigger of it's gun.
'NO! MR. BUBBLES!'
Scarlet's porthole shinned a hellish red and she threw her head back and screeched, stunning the Elite Rosie momentarily. Scarlet launched herself at the behemoth with pure blinding speed, how dare he try to take Mr. Bubbles away from her! Scarlet leapt into the air and performed a flying kick to the Elite Rosie's head, making the behemoth stumble. She then perched onto a wall to her left and kicked off of it, sending herself diving towards the Elite Daddy once more. Her ADAM Syringe pierced through the Elite's toughened body armor, causing him to grunt in agony and fury. Scarlet jumped onto the behemoth and stabbed her ADAM Syringe into it's chest plate but before she could kick off of the giant, the Elite Rosie retaliated by smashing it's Rivet Gun over her helmet encased head. Scarlet crashed into the ground and skid to a stop by some explosive tanks. Scarlet quickly got to her feet, she commanded the tanks to rise into the air with the power of her mind and the vermillion eyed girl hurled them at the Elite Big Daddy. The beast was forced a couple feet backwards and knocked onto it back. As it struggled to get to it's feet, it's lesser counterpart charged Scarlet, rivets whistled towards the Big Sister, piercing her armored form.
Delta felt his wounds quickly seal as first aid kits flooded his system. The Demo Daddy raised his own Rivet Gun, loaded it with heavy rivets and fired at the charging Big Daddy. Rivets slammed into the charging behemoth, piercing it's porthole, but the attack did not deter it's advancements. Once the Daddy was near enough to Scarlet, it slammed it's foot into the ground, causing a shockwave powerful enough to knock Scarlet off balance. The Rosie raised it's Rivet Gun in preparation to bash it over Scarlet's head…only to be launched a couple of feet into the air by a well placed cyclone trap. Scarlet raised her right hand and with a screech of primal rage, fired off a barrage of fireballs. The Big Daddy howled as the fireballs impacted it's massive form, causing it to combust and slowly cook from within it's suit. Delta let the winds that encompassed his left hind die down and once again let flames flicker in his left hand and grabbed the handle of his Machine Gun in his right. Delta intensified the flames the air born Daddy was already smothered in and unloaded on it with machine gun fire while Scarlet continued to send fireball, after fireball at the metal behemoth. The Rosie crashed into the ground with enough force to create a crater, it let out a long pain filled moan as it's porthole slowly dimmed to black.
A piping hot rivet impacted Delta's shoulder before he had a chance to even remotely celebrate. Delta roared over to Scarlet to follow him as he sprinted around the corner of the Fish Bowl Dinner. Delta sent some EVE streaming into his system and quickly put down four Cyclone traps and a couple of trap rivets as he waited for the metallic behemoth to round the next corner. Scarlet had her wicked serrated weapon poised to strike as she waited for the Elite Rosie. The thundering footsteps of a Big Daddy reverberated through the ground and the blood red gaze of the ferocious Elite Rosie spotted them as it rounded the corner. Delta fired his Machine Gun as soon as he spotted the Daddy and set it ablaze with Incinerate. Scarlet unleashed a storm of fireballs from her right hand, screeching like a bat out of hell as she did so. The Elite Rosie stumbled forwards as it tried to push through their assault and it's armor was promptly pierced by the secondary rivets released from Delta's trap rivest and it was launched high into the air by the swirling tornado like winds of the Cyclone Traps. Delta and Scarlet continued to fire on the Elite Daddy as it traveled upwards.
Scarlet was seething mad, she was furious that these Daddies almost killed her Mr. Bubbles! She had to make sure that this one stayed down…for good. Scarlet stopped her fire barrage and disappeared in a swirling storm of purple haze, she reappeared above the still air born Elite Rosie. As the Big Daddy descended, so did she, her ADAM Syringe was poised for a killing strike. She slammed her Syringe into the Elite Daddy's chest mid air, increasing their acceleration towards the ground. The Elite Rosie slammed into the ground with enough force to crush the life support systems attached to it's back, causing blood to fly everywhere.
The Elite Rosie had died the moment it hit the floor.
Scarlet stood above the fallen behemoth, frantically trying to catch her breath. She walked shakily over to where her Mr. Bubbles stood, she stumbled…but her knight had caught her before she hit the floor.
OOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOO
AN: I was thinking splitting this into two chapters…but then I realized the chapter after this is probably going to be just as long...'probably'.