Same disclaimers as before

Chapter 11: Assault on Columbia

Elizabeth tried to keep her head down as they walked through Columbia. They had left Melody in a luxurious coup and she, Silas, and Booker were currently wandering down the city streets. Booker was keeping his eyes peeled for large and important looking buildings so they could have a base point to begin their search for the Treasury. Silas was shaking his head back and forth so fast, Elizabeth was concerned he might hurt himself. His eyes drank in the floating city like a sponge, trying to absorb as much of magnificent wonder as he could. Elizabeth was just trying to get through this.

The city, as far as she could see, was physically identical to the one she had grown up in. The people and the atmosphere, however, were different. For one thing, a diverse crowd pushed past them. Smiling minorities grinned at the trio as they rushed off, swinging their briefcases behind them. Another difference was the lack of propaganda. There were no posters glorifying a prophet or vilifying anyone with 'AD' branded on their hand. American flags still waved and banners were draped everywhere, but it appeared that Columbia was a secondary capitol of the country in this world, so the excessive patriotism seemed justified. The streets were still cobbled and the buildings made of shining marble. The city stretched for miles in every direction.

Elizabeth risked a glance upwards and immediately averted her eyes. In the distance was a massive statue of an angel, an exact copy of the monument where she had been imprisoned for most of her life. Booker noticed her unrest. "Let's head this way," he said, "I think I saw a dome over there. All government buildings have domes." Elizabeth silently thanked Booker as she was steered in the opposite direction.

"What's that?" asked Silas, pointing.

"The Hall of Heroes, I think." Elizabeth looked up and cocked her head to the side. The building certainly looked like the Hall of Heroes she and Booker had fought in and eventually destroyed when they had first me. Instead of an angel statue in the plaza, there was a statue of a woman with a blindfold over her face, holding a golden scale. There was also a small park with several benches and bushes scattered about. "Looks like it's a justice building of some kind. We'll start here," said Booker firmly, "You two go take a break. I'll ask for directions."

Silas took Elizabeth by the arm and lead her over to a bench where she carefully sat down. "You must hate it here."

"You have no idea," she sighed.

"Actually, I kind of do. Don't forget, I spent my whole life in the quarantine zone." Silas sat down next to her, reclining on the bench. Elizabeth said nothing. She wanted to snidely tell Silas off for comparing his upbringing to hers, but ultimately, she could find only one true difference; he had grown up with friends and family to support him whereas all she had was the Songbird.

"What are you going to do after all this is over?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"After we kill Comstock, after you kill the assassin. What do you want to do after all that?"

Silas looked into the sunny sky above and took a deep breath. "I don't know. I guess I'll settle down somewhere. Maybe I'll go back to Kiln City and try to regroup my family." He closed his eyes and Elizabeth watched as he let the sun's rays drip over his skin like honey. "Personally," he said, "I like this place. Maybe I'll come back here."

Elizabeth snorted. "You'd come back alone."

Silas smiled softly. "Well then, it would hardly be worth it, wouldn't it?"

Elizabeth looked at her feet as a soft blush spread across her face. "I need you to stop that, Silas."

"Stop what?"

"You know what."

"No, I really don't."

"I need to be focused on the mission right now," said Elizabeth grimly, "I can't be distracted." Silas was quite for a moment. He gently placed his arm around Elizabeth's shoulder and she stiffened. He rubbed her arm and she relaxed, turning to glare at him. "What did I just say?"

"You said you wanted no distractions," Silas grinned at her, "A massage is wonderful for concentration." Elizabeth clenched her fists, but Silas's fingers played over her shoulders and she became putty in his hands. She did her best not to moan as his rough, calloused hands gently rubbed out the tight knots in her back. She turned away from him so he could have better access. "You're very stressed out," said Silas softly, "I can help you with that."

Elizabeth's eyes widened as he wrapped his arms around her chest. Before she could protest, he had unbuttoned to top of her tight blouse. "Wait," she said nervously, "Stop! I-"

"Shhh," said Silas, "Relax. I'm not going to try anything." He retracted his hands and pulled on her collar. Elizabeth shuddered as he snuck his hands behind her neck and his fingers played over her bare back. His breath was hot on the nape of her neck and she closed her eyes as she felt the past few frantic days lift off of her.

"That's nice," she said after a while.

"Thank you," whispered Silas in her ear, "I've had a lot of practice."

Elizabeth's smile grew slightly smaller. "I imagine a lot of other girls asked you for your services, Mr. Masseuse."

Silas laughed aloud. "Not exactly. My Aunt Miriam had a bad back."

"Oh," Elizabeth's eyes sparkled, "I see." It felt like they sat there forever, Silas carefully relaxing Elizabeth's muscles in the very-nearly empty plaza. In reality, it was only a few minutes before Booker walked up to them.

"Having fun?" he smirked. Silas quickly retracted his hands from Elizabeth's back and Elizabeth fumbled with the top buttons of her shirt as Booker chuckled. Her blush, she was sure, could light a candle at ten feet. "I got directions to the Treasury. Let's go." Elizabeth stood and dusted off her skirt. She followed close behind Booker as he led the way through the winding streets. She wanted to turn and talk to Silas, but she couldn't look at him, not now.

They walked for about ten minutes, Booker occasionally muttering to himself to remember the directions he'd received. Finally, he pointed in to the distance. "There, the building with the golden dome." Elizabeth cocked an eyebrow when she saw the structure in question.

It hadn't been in her world. It was a relatively small building made of traditional white marble. It floated on a hill a few islands over and had a stream of tiny people rushing in and out of it. It's most prominent feature was a gilded rotunda that took the golden light of the sun and reflected it on the surrounding city. Elizabeth had to shield her eyes from its brilliance, and still it left floating spots in her eyes.

She followed Booker towards the building. As they drew closer, the crowds became thicker and rougher. She was almost separated by a group of fast talking men who pushed her back with them. She panicked for a moment before Silas grabbed her wrist and yanked her forwards. She quickly got back in step and refused to allow herself to look at him.

Booker sighed and pushed through the crowd. "Anyway we could speed up this process?" he muttered.

Elizabeth leaned back and cupper her hands around her mouth. "Hey everybody!" she yelled, "They're giving away free vigors a block over! Hurry!" Activity stopped abruptly as people stared at them.

One woman in a dress suit stepped forward. "Did you say 'Vigors', ma'am?"

"Elizabeth," whispered Booker.

"Yes," said Elizabeth, "Hurry or they'll be gone!" Silence reigned on the street as all eyes were locked on Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth," murmured Silas, "I'm not sure that was such a good-" His voice was suddenly cut off. Elizabeth turned and her eyes widened. Behind her, Booker and Silas were gagged and bound in the hands of two men with blue, official looking uniforms. Each wore a shinning silver badge with the words 'Fink Security' emblazoned on it. Elizabeth reached for her gun, but closed her eyes in despair when she didn't feel it.

"Put your hands on your head and turn around." Said a gruff voice. She slowly obeyed and turned to face a mustachioed little man who twirled her gun between his fingers and a set of handcuffs in his other hand. He quickly pulled her arms behind her and snapped the cuffs around her wrists, tightening them painfully. Silas cried out behind his gag. The man who had cuffed Elizabeth turned her around and fixed a gag around her mouth as well. "You are under arrest for possession of artificial evolution drugs. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." He pushed Elizabeth forwards and she stumbled into a slow gait behind Booker, Silas, and their respective arresting officers.

As they were marched through the crowds, Elizabeth kept her head down. People stared and gave the group a wide berth as they were forced towards the building they had been heading for anyway. Booker turned his head and shot a glare at her before the officer behind him gave him a shove, forcing him to turn back.

After a few minutes, they were marching up the stone steps to the building. "Officers Jenkins, Plinkman, and Karkaroff with three prisoners!" shouted one of the guards. As he yelled, the large, wooden doors to the building swung open. Elizabeth was forced into the cool interior.

The lobby was wide and large with wooden walls, flooring, and a painted ceiling. She was pushed past an empty receptionist desk into a hallway at the far end of the room. Doors lined the hall, all with gilded plaques on them. Elizabeth's eyes shot back and forth as she was shoved down the hall. Mint Offices, Office of the Interior, Office of Trade and Finance, Census Offices, Federal Office of – Census Offices! The National Registry must be in there! Elizabeth's eyes widened as she was pushed around a corner. A door opened and a woman in a blue uniform peeked out.

"Get Mr. Fink!" said one of the officer.

"These three know about a drug ring in the city." Said another. The woman's eyes widened and she backed into the room she came from before slamming the door. Elizabeth was pushed a few more yards before she was yanked to a stop. The officer marching her opened a door and tossed her inside. She landed in a dark room with cement walls. She glanced back up in time to see the officer slam the door with a clang.

Elizabeth sighed behind her gag and rolled onto her back. She tried to push herself up with her fingers, but it was impossible with the full weight of her body on them. After a moment, she relaxed and let herself fall to the floor.

"Quite the pickle, hmm?" She rolled her eyes and glanced into the dark corner of the room. Robert brushed off his emerald lapel as he strut forwards. He waved his hand and Elizabeth felt her gag vanish.

"What are you doing here, Lutece?" she growled.

Robert shrugged. "I like it here. Everything is so simple."

Elizabeth blinked in confusion before she stared at the ceiling in disappointment. "You knew where to find the first world," she said to herself, "I should have known."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, my dear," said Robert as he checked his nails, "Even if you had figured out that I knew where to look, I would never have told you."

"Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"I'm on my side, Elizabeth."

"And what does your side want?"

"The continued existence of the universe."

Elizabeth stared at him. "What?"

Robert checked his watch. "Oh dear, look at the time. I'm behind schedule." He bowed to Elizabeth before he slowly drifted from reality, fading into light. Just as he vanished, the door opened. Elizabeth stared with wide eyes at the man who stepped into her cell.

"I see you got your gag off," said a scowling Jeremiah Fink, "How resourceful." His grey business suit she had seen him die in was now replaced by a blue army uniform with multiple decorations and medals hanging from the shoulder. His top hat was now a peaked cap with a large star on it. "Do you know who I am?" he asked as he knelt down to her level.

Elizabeth nodded. "You're Fink."

"Good. I don't care what your name is ma'am, so I think we can consider the introductions over." He grabbed a cylinder from his back pocket, a flashlight. He flicked it on and the bright light shone directly in her eyes. Elizabeth winced. "Where are the drugs?"

Elizabeth grunted. "I don't know. I only said that to get the crowd to move." Fink slapped her. It was so fast and sudden, she actually wasn't entirely sure it happened. But the stinging in her cheek was insistent that it had. She glanced at Fink. "You like hurting women, Jeremiah?"

Fink cracked his neck violently, making Elizabeth cringe. "I do what I must for my country. Where are the drugs?"

"There are no drugs." Fink grabbed Elizabeth by the temples and shoved her head hard against the solid wall behind her. Elizabeth screamed as her head rang with pain.

"Where are the drugs?"

"There are no drugs!" Fink snarled and grabbed her hair. He pulled hard and Elizabeth screeched as her head was pulled up. She felt like her neck was stretching out. Tears of anger and agony streamed down her cheeks.

Fink grabbed her head and pulled her close to him. "Artificial evolution substances haven't been in America for the last fifty years. If there is a secret drug ring here in the capital, then this country will be an international laughingstock. I. Will. Not. Let. That. Happen." He leaned in even closer, his eyes burning in rage. His hands dropped from Elizabeth's head and sloped up to her cheeks. Slowly, his thumbs settled over her eyelids. "Don't look," he whispered as he brushed them down and let his fingers put mild pressure over her covered eyes, "Where are the drugs?"

Elizabeth quivered and shook in fear. "I'm telling you the truth!" she sobbed. She had little doubt that she had endured worse pain in her life than Fink was delivering to her, but she didn't know if she could survive without her eyes.

Fink put more pressure on her eyelids and Elizabeth shrieked. "Where are the drugs?"

"Please!" Elizabeth yelled, "I don't know anything!"

The door swung open so hard, it made the cement walls rattle. "CAPTAIN JEREMIAH FINK!" Fink removed his hands from Elizabeth's face and she peeked open her eyes. Silhouetted against the light of the hall stood a tall, black woman in a pantsuit.

Fink was standing against the wall, his hand raised in a hasty salute. "M-madam President!" he exclaimed, "W-what are you doing here?" The woman walked into the room, her heels clacking against the hard floor. Elizabeth gasped as her features became more prominent.

"F-Fitzroy?" she whispered.

The woman snapped her neck to glare at Elizabeth. "That's President Fitzroy to you, prisoner! And you!" she swiveled her head back to Fink, "Why was I not informed of a potential drug ring in my country?"

Fink gulped audibly. "Well, ma'am, you've been talking a dinner about how you've been so busy lately, so I thought-"

"I'm the president, Jerry!" Daisy Fitzroy yelled, "I manage a country! Oh course I'm busy! But I think we can agree that the threat of artificial evolution substances in our borders is more important than the propose bill on expanding the standard size of freeways!"

Fink hung his head sheepishly. "Sorry, honey."

Daisy sighed. "It's alright. No real harm done." She leaned down and glared at Elizabeth. "Has she said anything?"

"No, I was about to get started really."

Daisy grunted. "Then it's a good thing I came when I did. You always go overboard."

Elizabeth stared. "So…you two are together?" She was met with twin hard stares. Daisy straightened up and grabbed her by the throat. Elizabeth struggled to breathe as Daisy raised her up against the wall.

The black woman fixed her with a deathly gaze. "Do you know where we can find drugs in Columbia?"

"No!" gasped Elizabeth, "I swear to God there aren't any drugs!"

Daisy smirked. "Well, we'll soon find out, won't we?" Elizabeth clenched her eyes tight. She heard three knocks through the concrete and her eyes shot open. With a grunt of pain, she wrenched her neck free of Daisy's grip just as a massive drill tore through the wall, jutting through the space her head had occupied less than a second ago.

Daisy fell back in surprise and landed in Fink's arms. "What the hell?" The drill spiraled violently and carved a large hole through the wall. As the cement crumbled, a familiar Big Daddy forced his way through the rubble; a black clad figure crouched on his head.

"Boo," said the assassin in total monotone. Fink quickly pushed Daisy behind him and drew a firearm. He had barely raised it to eyelevel when the assassin threw a knife, which embedded itself in his hand. He cried out in pain and dropped his weapon. Using his non-drill hand, the Big Daddy slapped Daisy and Fink across the room, knocking them both out painfully. The assassin hopped off her partner and drew a knife as she approached Elizabeth. With a quick slice, she sheered the metal cuffs of both her wrists without leaving so much as a scratch on Elizabeth's skin. "You alright?"

Elizabeth stood up and rubbed her wrists. "Been better, been worse. How did you find us?"

"A little bird told me."

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. "Lutece!" she hissed, "Damn him."

"Thank him," corrected the assassin, "If I hadn't found you, who knows what would have happened."

Elizabeth sighed and glared at her rescuer. "Why did you save me? In my visions, you killed an alternate version of me, and I'm not entirely sure I believe you when you say you didn't kill the Ryans."

The assassin shrugged. "It doesn't matter if you believe me or not. Just know that I speak the truth."

"I'm really tired of people telling me that," grumbled Elizabeth, "Look, Silas would kill me for asking you this, but can you help me?"

The assassin hesitated before sighing. "I can't refuse you. What do you need?"

Elizabeth cocked her eyebrow, but decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. "I need your Big Daddy to find my friends while you and I break into the Census Offices."

The assassin quickly undid the black wrappings she wore over the top half of her face, revealing her piercing blue eyes. "You sure that's what you want?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "A minute ago, I thought I was going to lose my eyes. I don't know what I want anymore, but this is the closest thing I have to stability right now."

The assassin nodded and turned to her companion. "You heard her, Father, go!" The Big Daddy nodded its massive head and crouched down. With a mechanical grunt, he dashed forward, smashing through the wall and into the hallway where he disappeared around the bend.

The assassin leapt out through the hole he made. "This way," she said as Elizabeth clambered out behind her.

"So, your father?" asked Elizabeth as she ran after the assassin.

"Yeah, long story."

"Same here."

"At least your story's interesting, mine's pretty boring." Two soldiers with big guns and blue uniforms skidded around the corner. The assassin flipped over them and kicked them in the back of their knees. Before they could get up, a long needle shot out of the assassin's sleeve and she plunged it through one of their skulls. The other one rolled over and raised his gun at the assassin. She did a back flip and landed in a crouch as a hail of bullets sprayed over her head.

Elizabeth kicked the second soldier in the head. The assassin glared at her as the soldier groaned in unconsciousness. "I had him."

Elizabeth smirked. "Right."

The assassin stood up, her needle retracting into her sleeve. "There it is," she pointed to a door behind Elizabeth. Indeed, it was the Census Offices door she had passed before. "You go. I'll keep a lookout." Elizabeth nodded. She swooped down and grabbed one of the soldier's guns as she kicked open the door. Inside was a small, nearly bare room. All that was in there was an old man with a desk and a strange, beige cube. For a moment, the old man and Elizabeth stared at each other.

Finally, the old man chuckled. "So a woman with a gun breaks into the Census Department. It sounds like the start of a bad joke."

Elizabeth raised her gun. "Is this where they keep the National Registry?"

The old man patted the cube. "Right here, ma'am."

"Can you make that thing work?"

"It's my job, isn't it?"

Elizabeth shut the door behind her and walked around the desk. On the side facing the old man was a shining screen. "Can you look for somebody's records for me?"

The old man shrugged. "Technically if I helped you, it would brand me a traitor to the country."

Elizabeth glanced at him. "But?"

"But they haven't given me a raise in thirty years. Who're you looking for?"

Elizabeth grinned. "Zachary Hale Comstock."

The old man began typing on a strange pad in front of the cube. Images flashed on the screen too fast for Elizabeth to follow. "Okay, here we go. Zachary Hale Comstock, 32 years old at last census, address is 54 Clay Street, Kiln City, Wyoming. Anything else you need?"

Elizabeth blinked in surprise. "That was fast. Um, are you sure he's 32?"

The old man shrugged. "As of two years ago."

Elizabeth nodded. "Thanks for your help."

The old man tipped a mock hat to her. "My pleasure. This'll make a great story to tell the missus." Elizabeth grinned and ran out of the room.

Outside, the assassin was leaning against the wall, a fresh pile of soldiers moaning on the floor. "What took you so long?" she asked.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "C'mon, let's go find your…Big Daddy." Elizabeth turned to walk away, but the assassin grabbed her shoulder.

"Wait," she said, turning Elizabeth around, "We need to talk." Elizabeth's eyes widened as the assassin started to unwrap her mask from around the rest of her face. She had gaunt, but beautiful cheeks and thin, red lips. Combined with her short black hair and blue eyes, she was a lovely woman. "My name is Eleanor Lamb," said the assassin, "And I'm your mother."

Elizabeth stared at her. "What?" An explosion rocked the hall and Elizabeth was thrown back. She rolled to her feet as the air was filled with dust and debris. Eleanor was hidden from view as the ceiling began to collapse.

Something grabbed Elizabeth and she turned to see a dirty and dusty Silas looking at her concerned. "Are you okay? I heard you screaming!"

Elizabeth turned back try and see Eleanor again. Everything was covered in dust and rubble, but she could have sworn that she saw a hulking shape move through the wreckage. "I-I'm fine," she lied, "What happened?"

"A Big Daddy freed Booker and I and we stole some grenades from some guards," Silas said, "We need to find the Census Offices before the guards get the situation under control." Another explosion made both of them fall down.

"What was that?"

Silas grimaced. "Booker's venting some anger. You know what he can be like when he gets in a fight."

Elizabeth grunted and pushed herself up. "I already found out where Comstock lives. We need to get out of here." Silas nodded and grabbed her hand. He pulled her onto his back and leaned forwards. "This is humiliating," she grumbled.

"I'm faster." Silas took off, dodging around rubble and debris as more of it fell from the ceiling. "Hold on and close your eyes!" he panted. Elizabeth complied and she felt Silas pick up speed. There was a rush of wind in her ear and the unmistakable sound of breaking glass. Elizabeth gasped as she felt a sting in her cheek along with the wind in her face. Her hair streamed out behind her as she opened her eyes.

Silas was sliding down the grass hill surrounding the building with her legs wrapped around his chest. Looking back, Elizabeth saw the entire thing was in flames and was falling in on itself. Elizabeth glanced down and grimaced as she saw multiple glass shards poking out of Silas's arms and legs. Every few feet he winced in pain. The hill became more and more steep the further away from the building they slid.

"Silas?"

"Yeah?"

"We should probably stop now." Silas grunted and clawed at the ground. He roared in pain as he retracted his hands. They were red from the friction and his nails were bleeding. Elizabeth looked around desperately before she found what she was looking for. "Silas, hang onto me!" Silas grabbed her by the waist as they approached the edge of the floating platform. Elizabeth shoved her feet down and launched her into the air, Silas clinging to her. She reached out and grinned as grabbed the skyline she'd seen. Silas grunted as she swung him around and over the bars. He landed on all fours on the steel cables. He quickly pulled her up and she knelt on the line.

"To the coop," said Silas, "Booker'll look for us there." Elizabeth nodded and started to crawl along the top of the skyline. She glanced back at the burning building. The golden dome had caved in and the surrounding area was unnaturally dark.

"Mother?"

. . .

Sorry for taking so long with this one guys. Anyone who reads my other stories knows that the last few weeks have been weird to say the least. But at least I made up for it by doing a longer chapter, giving Silas and Elizabeth an intimate moment, writing a hardcore torture scene, and making a big reveal. Anyway, please review!