Same disclaimers as before

Chapter 10: Sleeping Through Secrets

Elizabeth, Silas, and Melody stood by the side of the paved road. The beach was behind them and the setting sun was illuminating the road, showing it ran north to south. As one, the three travelers looked to the north and, after a few seconds, looked to the south. As far as they could see, there were no cars coming in either direction.

"What do we do now?" asked Silas.

Elizabeth shrugged. "We wait for Booker, I guess." She sat down cross-legged on the dirt at the side of the road.

"Your skirt will get dirty," Silas pointed out, "Here, stand up." Elizabeth complied, dusting herself off as Silas took off his cloak. He lay it down upon the dirt and sat on one side off it, patting the space next to him.

Elizabeth smiled and sat down. "Thanks,"

"The least I could do." For a moment, they sat in silence, staring at the last vestiges of light falling under the horizon.

"Mmm," hummed Elizabeth. She leaned her head against Silas's shoulder. "No matter where I go or what world I'm in, the sunset is always so beautiful."

"I'm still getting used to it," said Silas, "All of this is so new to me." He slowly wrapped his arm around Elizabeth, pulling her body close to him. Her heart began to beat faster and heavier. "The sunset is beautiful," he continued, "But I have seen prettier things."

Elizabeth sat up and Silas quickly dropped his hand from her side. She shook her head a bit to clear it. She was a 28 year-old woman damnit! She wasn't some hormone-driven, naive teenage girl anymore. Silas glanced at her. "Elizabeth?"

"Yes?" she forced a cold edge into her voice to even out the affection she had shown only a few moments ago.

"You've killed Booker before, right? Alternate versions of him I mean." Elizabeth nodded. "What's it feel like to get that revenge?"

Elizabeth closed her eyes and thought for a moment. "It's…hard to put into words," she said slowly, "At that moment of the kill, there's a flash that goes through your body. I don't know what it is, maybe satisfaction or justification, maybe righteousness, I don't know. But it's glorious, like all the bad things that have happened to you were almost worth it. But it only lasts a few seconds. Then, it goes away and you have to look for it again." She opened her eyes and glared at the road before them.

"If you kill Comstock here," asked Silas, "Do you think that feeling will last longer?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "I don't know. But if Booker is right, and killing Comstock in the first world will rid him from the entire multiverse, then it will be worth it anyway." Silas looked at her in confusion. "Think of all the Elizabeths I'll save," She explained, "Without Comstock, Booker can't give me away and I can't be hurt by Columbia."

Silas nodded in understanding. "Do you think it'll feel like that when I kill the woman who killed my family?"

Elizabeth hesitated. She wondered if she should tell Silas about her dream. After a moment's thought, she decided that she couldn't trust the assassin. Of course a killer would lie to protect herself. "I don't know," she said, "We'll have to find out."

Silas grinned at her and she returned the smile. Besides them, Melody ruffled her metal wings uncomfortably. Silas looked up. "He's coming," he said as he stood. Elizabeth got off his cloak and Silas picked it up and dusted it off as Booker approached from the beach.

"What were you doing?" asked Elizabeth.

Booker shot her a glare. "I've been looking for this place for years," he said, "Let me celebrate in solitude."

"Where do we go from here?" asked Silas, slipping into his cloak.

"Washington," said Booker, "The government keeps records of every American citizen. If we can gain access to the National Registry, we can find out where Comstock lives."

Elizabeth frowned. "Shouldn't we just look in Columbia?"

Booker shrugged. "Maybe Comstock didn't create Columbia in this world. Maybe he lives in Portland, or Boston, or Colorado Springs. Maybe he doesn't even live in America."

Elizabeth sighed and rubbed her temples. "This is going to be more difficult than I thought, isn't it?"

"You didn't think that erasing somebody from existence was going to be easy, did you?" asked Booker with a grin.

Silas patted Melody's neck. "So, which way to Washington?" Booker shrugged.

Elizabeth groaned and rubbed her shoulder. "Let's just look for the nearest town; someone there can point us in the right direction."

Silas nodded. "Do you think it's safe to ride Melody here?"

"Are you kidding?" asked Booker with a grin, "You heard those people on the beach. In this world, Songbirds're as common as cars." Together, they climbed onto Melody. The bird shrieked excitedly as she spread her wings and jumped into the air. As she did so, Elizabeth felt the tape that Robert had given her jump in her pocket. She quickly put a hand to her thigh to keep it in place. She glanced behind her and saw Booker giving her a strange look. "You're entitled to your secrets," she shouted over the rushing wind, "I'm entitled to mine."

Booker narrowed his eyes but shrugged. "Fair enough." Melody flew just under the clouds. Unlike the Songbird she'd ridden in the battle at Jack Ryan's city, Melody's flight was smooth and fluid, like she was born, not built, to work in the skies. She didn't bounce and rumble with turbulence, she flowed with it, bending through wind like a dart. Each beat of her wings sent a soft, pleasant vibration through her body, a soothing sensation to her passengers.

Elizabeth looked over the side of the steed and gasped. Below them, grassy plains stretched far into the distance. Dirt roads formed a perfect grid, each square several miles across. There were occasional farm houses, but for the most part, the world was devoid of civilization. She felt queasy and pulled her head back onto Melody, squeezing her eyes tightly.

"There!" shouted Silas. Elizabeth cracked open one eye and looked in the direction Silas pointed. On the horizon, a city of bright lights sparkled against the night sky. Melody squawked and twisted to the side. Elizabeth clutched onto the metal plates on her back, desperate to stay on. There was a rush of wind as a second Songbird, hidden by the night, flew by.

"Hey! Watch it!" shouted the Songbird's male rider as he vanished into the night sky once more.

"Silas!" shouted Booker as Melody righted herself, "Get us lower!" Silas kicked Melody's neck and she fell into a shallow dive. The city was now in full sight. It covered the entire skyline, as big as any city Elizabeth had ever seen. It seemed to pop up from nowhere, the grass fields suddenly giving way to towering skyscrapers. The noise from the city, honking cars, screeching tires, and angry voices, drowned out the wind.

"There!" shouted Silas once more. He pointed to a large tower on the edge of the city. It was a tall building with a wide hangar at the top. Inside, Elizabeth could see a coup of Songbirds. Silas steered Melody into the hangar and she landed with a thump.

The hangar was dark, but Elizabeth could see the walls lined with giant cupboards, each holding a Songbird, sleeping with its head tucked under a wing.

"Hello?" called Booker, slipping off Melody's back, "Anyone here?"

A light switched on and a door on the far end of the room opened. In walked a woman in trousers and a blouse. She rubbed her eyes and regarded the odd trio before her. "It's a little late to be docking," she said as she approached them, "But we are victims of circumstance. Welcome to the Sleeping Songbird of New York, our rates are-"

"We're just here for directions," interrupted Booker, "Which way to Washington? Do you know?"

"Washington?" the woman yawned, "It's a three hour flight due South." Booker nodded. He reached into his bag and drew out a gold coin and flipped it to the woman who stared at it. "Is…is this gold?"

Booker smiled and gave a tipped an invisible hat to the woman. "Much obliged, ma'am." He climbed back onto Melody and Silas steered her out of the coup. They flew away from the city towards the South. "Keep us low, Silas," said Booker.

Elizabeth glanced back at her father. "I've been meaning to ask," she said, "What was that stuff you used back at the battle at Jack's city?"

Booker grinned and reached into his bag. He pulled out two vials of black liquid. "This is CAIN," he said, shaking the vial on the left, "It amplifies any vigor or plasmid a thousandfold. It's also made from the Sprigs virus combined with equal measure ADAM and EVE. If you're not immune, it'll turn you into a super-powered corpse. That's what we fought back there; they cover themselves in black to hide their disfigurement. Even if you're immune to Sprigs, this stuff is highly addictive. It'll turn you into a vicious monster, but lord does it make you powerful. This on the other hand," he shook the vial on the right, "Is ABEL. Mix ADAM, EVE, and a few secret ingredients and you get this stuff. It enhances the muscles, makes you faster, stronger, more durable. It turns you into a god among warriors."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "I'm sensing a 'but' coming."

Booker nodded. "But it only lasts about five minutes. You could shoot yourself up with ten litters of the stuff or half a teaspoon, but your body can only handle the effects for so long."

"Cool stuff."

Booker grinned. "You're old pal Fink made 'em."

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "What?"

"Yeah, after he got his hands on some ADAM from Rapture, he went crazy, churned out an entire line of the stuff before he died."

Elizabeth hesitated. "How did he die in your world?"

Booker smirked. "You killed him." Elizabeth shuddered and turned away. "Oh, what?" sneered Booker, "You take pride in killing me over and over, but you can't handle killing anyone else?"

"Shut up," she muttered.

"We've got a few hours till we get to Washington," said Silas with a yawn, "Elizabeth, think you can steer Melody?" Elizabeth gulped. She had absolutely no idea how to direct the massive metal bird, but she knew Silas hadn't gotten rest since they left Kiln City almost three days ago. He deserved some sleep.

"I'll give it a try." She shimmied up the bird's back and Silas scooted backwards for them to change places. Elizabeth shook and licked her lips. Her legs were clenched tightly around Melody's neck as she stared out over the expansive skyline.

She felt Silas resting his head on her back and she inhaled sharply. For some time, they flew in silence. Elizabeth found that she didn't really have to steer Melody, the bird remained fairly level and flew straight. Eventually, she felt Silas's breath on her back become slow and rhythmic, signaling that he had finally fallen asleep.

Elizabeth took the opportunity to reflect. She glanced up at the night sky expecting to see the multitudes of lighthouses stretching outwards. Her eyes widened and she let out a short gasp that caused Silas to grumble in his sleep. Above her were thousands of twinkling, sparkling stars, but not one lighthouse. She couldn't see the billions of doorways into other worlds like she usually could; instead she saw only pinpricks of light etched against the night sky.

"Booker!" she whispered so as not to wake Silas, "Booker, I can't see the lighthouses."

Behind her, Booker gulped audibly. "It must be something to do with this being the first world, the same way you couldn't open tears in my world." he reasoned. Elizabeth nodded, but her distress was not assuaged. She felt naked and defenseless without access to her powers. Sure Booker had forbidden her from opening tears, but to find herself physically without her abilities made her nervous.

"Does this mean I can't open tears here either?"

Booker shrugged. "I wouldn't risk it." Elizabeth tore her eyes away from the sky, trying to deny the loss of her powers in this world.

They flew for awhile in utter silence. Neither wanted to talk to other and they thought Silas deserved to sleep undisturbed. Elizabeth would occasionally brave a glance over Melody's head to peer at the ground below. To the East, the Atlantic Ocean rolled in and out rhythmically. The entire eastern seaboard seemed to be covered by a lattice grid of fields, interrupted by the occasional village and hamlet. A few times, they came across cities, jutting up like daggers from the Earth. Elizabeth managed to direct Melody to fly around the cities, although their noise would make Silas stir occasionally. The cities stretched for miles, but always cut off abruptly, giving way to an expanse of fields.

After a few hours of flight, Elizabeth risked a comment. "It's so empty," she whispered.

Booker grunted. "You should have seen Kiln City before the quarantine," he said, "Before everyone was forced into the various quarters, we had room to move around. It wasn't this vast obviously, but at least you had some personal space."

Elizabeth hesitated. "Aren't you 18?"

"Almost 19, why?"

"Silas said the quarantine went into effect before he was born, and he's older than you." Booker remained quiet and Elizabeth carefully turned to look at him over her shoulder. "You've been lying to me since the start, haven't you?"

Booker gave a small smile. "Would you expect any less of me?"

Elizabeth turned back. "I thought I could trust you," she said, "I agreed to put my faith in you and, in exchange, I expected the same."

"No," Booker replied harshly, "You put your faith in me and in return you expected Comstock's head on a platter. I'll give you what you want, but you've killed thousands of me. If there's something I feel you need to know, I'll tell you, but anything unimportant? I keep those facts to myself. Besides, you said it yourself; we're both entitled to our private secrets."

Elizabeth closed her eyes and gnashed her teeth. "Can you at least tell me this?"

"What?"

"Why did we need a Ryan? Why do we need Silas?"

Booker smirked. "You want to know why we brought your boyfriend into harm's way. That's cute."

"He's not my boyfriend." Elizabeth hissed softly.

Booker chuckled. "Give it time. We need a Ryan because a while before I went looking for you, Silas Ryan came to be through a tear and told me we would need a Ryan to kill Comstock."

Elizabeth turned and cocked an eyebrow. "Silas? Came through a tear?"

Booker shrugged. "Believe it or not, I don't care."

Elizabeth grunted and turned back. "We're here." In the distance, a city shot up just like the others. But the buildings were smaller, one towering above the rest. A pale obelisk overlooked the entire city like a watchful rook in a game of chess.

Elizabeth had been in Washington before. One version of Booker had been a U.S. senator who had given her away to cover up the fact that he had an illegitimate child before an election. It had taken forever to kill him, so much security. Anyhow, one of Elizabeth's most prominent memories of Washington were of the famous city law that no building may be taller than the Washington Monument. It made the obelisk seem like the biggest thing in the world. Here, it really was the biggest thing in the world. It towered a hundred times taller than the one she had seen before, reaching so far into the clouds, she couldn't see the tip.

"And that," said Booker, "Is what we call an inadequacy issue."

Elizabeth gently shifted backwards, waking Silas with a groan. "Silas, we're here." Silas blinked and rubbed his eyes.

He saw the massive Washington Monument, his face unchanging. "At this point, you could show me a dime the size of a state and it wouldn't surprise me," he grunted, "Where're we going?" They flew over the low buildings of the city. Below them, cars honked and Songbirds screeched from their garages.

Booker scooted forward. "Just go down, we'll ask directions to the National Registry." Silas quickly traded places with Elizabeth. As they passed each other, Silas gave her a sidelong glance. Elizabeth set her jaw, ignoring the look. With her true master back in control, Melody squawked happily and dove on command. She pulled up harshly over a crowded city street.

"Hey!" shouted Booker. The pedestrians on the sidewalk looked up at him with mild interest. "Anyone know how to get to the National Registry from here?"

"The Registry?" cried a man, "That's in the Treasury in Columbia."

Booker blinked in confusion. "Columbia?"

"Did I stutter?" snorted the man as he walked off, "Tourists. Just take the Monument. Or your Songbird, either way'll get you there."

Elizabeth turned to look at Booker. "You don't think…"

Booker paled. "Silas, get us above the clouds." Silas complied and Melody beat her wings quickly. Within minutes, they were soaring through wet clouds, breaching the top and entering a sunny paradise.

Silas gasped in surprise. "Oh! It's beautiful!"

"You've gotta be kidding me," groaned Booker.

"Here we go again," muttered Elizabeth, looking out over the floating city of Columbia, "Just like old times, eh Booker?"

. . .

Thanks for the reviews! Be sure to write more!

Sorry this chapter took me a while to get out. When I started this, I knew how I was going to begin and end it, but now that we're entering the middle I'm struggling. Don't worry, I'll keep this going until it's over, but know that the next few chapters might take a while.