I probably should have clarified that it was chapter 10 'The art of making friends' that I was debating rewriting. Sorry if that confused anybody.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bioshock or any of the characters associated with it (I'm also trying to think of a clever way to include this without having to type it every time. Too bad I'm not all that clever.)
Joseph had always enjoyed keeping an eye on the cameras. Sure, watching the screens wasn't the most exciting job available in the colony. In fact, it was one of the dullest, but there was just something peaceful about being around so much technology.
"Hey Joey! I got a question for you."
Peaceful until someone decided to interrupt, that was. With a bit of regret, he turned away from the camera monitors to face the person sitting next to him.
"Yea Archer?" He asked.
His older brother was currently swiveling from side to side in his chair, having much less patience for watching video feeds. His emergency radio was currently being tossed from hand to hand.
"Who do you think would win in a fight?" He questioned. "Subject Delta or Jack Ryan?"
Joseph stared back incredulously.
"Why are you asking me this?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "What does that have to do with watching the cameras?"
Archer just rolled his eyes. "It has nothing to do with your precious cameras." He said. "But it might have something to do with my personal finances."
At the questioning look Joseph gave him, he continued.
"Let's say theoretically I may have made a bet with someone over who would win in a fight to the death. And theoretically I said that you could be the one to decide the winner of the bet."
"Why do you have to do this to me?" Joseph groaned. "Can't you just play cards like a normal person, and not get me involved in your bets?"
"Come ooooooon!" Archer goaded, shoving his shoulder. "Don't be a wuss, just say who you think would win."
Seeing no alternative, Joey closed his eyes and raised a hand to his forehead. He would have loved to not think about either of Rapture's giants for the rest of his life, but it seemed lady luck wasn't with him.
"I don't know… Jack I guess?"
"Wha- JACK!?" Archer spluttered. "But- but he's just a normal person! Delta is an eight foot tall metal killing machine! He took on Lamb's super-sisters, surely he could bring down one guy, right!?"
Joseph sighed, not really wanting to turn this into an argument.
"Yea, but Jack killed off Fontaine." He explained. "Did you see the security recordings? That guy was a monster. I don't think Delta would have been able to stand against him the way Jack did. He was something else."
Archer pointed an accusing finger at his little brother; undoubtedly about to start a tirade about how Delta would have wiped the floor with Fontaine, when something caught his eye.
"What's that?" He asked suddenly, pointing at an image on one of the cameras.
Joseph turned to the screen, frowning as he tried to see the commotion. As he watched, a figure edged out past a pile of debris. It looked to be a young man, either in his late teens or early twenties, but he only held their attention for a moment. The person beside him cut a far more impressive figure. Covered from head to toe in metal, she was an image straight out of some deranged nightmare.
It was a big sister.
The two of them slowly moved into full view of the camera, the strangeness of their image leaving Joseph and Archer in stunned silence. Suddenly, the man got too far out in the open, causing the built in alarm system to go off. Instantly, he whipped around and hurled a blast of flame directly at the camera.
The mash up of metal and wiring never stood a chance.
For a second, both of them simply stared at the static filling the screen that had been showing the two figures moments ago.
"Joey…" Archer began, his voice taking on a far more serious tone than it had previously. "Where was that camera?"
Joseph gripped the sides of his chair, fighting down panic.
"T-t-that camera… uh… I-I think it was the one out front, by the entrance." His voice shook badly, unable to stay calm with such an imminent threat so close by.
Archer was already up and moving, halfway across the room with a radio up to his ear.
"Tom? It's Archer. I need you to get your security team out front, NOW! We have a problem." A muffled voice followed his demand. "There's a splicer out front, he has- no wait a- WAIT a minute! I'm not bothering you for one measly splicer! Listen, he has a big sister with him!"
He stopped momentarily at the door to pick up his crossbow which had been left there earlier. The pause gave his younger brother time to catch up, watching him with worried eyes.
"Yes. I'm serious. I don't know how, all I know is he just took out the camera in the main entrance. If this is one of Benjamin's thugs…"
He didn't need to finish that sentence. They all knew how big a threat the splicers under Benjamin's command were. If they had a big sister working for them now, life was going to become a lot more dangerous.
"Call the doc up if you can reach her, we'll meet you downstairs."
With that, he hooked the radio back onto his belt and hoisted the crossbow into a ready position. He spared a shaky smile at Joseph.
"You ready?"
Ready? Ready!? No! He wasn't ready! He couldn't be more not ready if he tried! They were under attack, by a big sister of all things! How could anyone possibly be ready for that!?
"Yea…" He replied, trying in vain to hide just how frayed his nerves were. The pistol at his side seemed woefully inadequate all of a sudden.
Together, they made their way down to the ground floor (a term to be used loosely in Rapture) where ten armed men were waiting for them. Despite his initial misgivings, Tomas had done as they asked and seemed to be conversing with the good doctor over the radio.
"Yes, I damn well know about their 'condition' but right now- No! I am not waiting around for that thing to make the first move! Either you tell me how to kill it, or we go out there guns blazing. We can't afford to let it get anywhere near the settlement."
The radio remained silent for several seconds before the voice on the other end seemed to relent. Tomas listened carefully as it spoke. When it finished, he heaved a sigh.
"I can't promise anything doc, my only concern is for the well-being of the people inside. If it wants to fight, I'm putting it down understand? Good. We'll be back with news in a bit."
Stowing the radio, he turned to the assorted militia force.
"Listen up! We got a big sister and a splicer knocking on our front door. Now I don't know how much you boys have heard about those screaming freaks, but rest assured that they can die just like everything else. If it comes to a fight, aim for the head, heart, or stomach. Anywhere else might not be enough to finish it off."
One of the men in back raised a trembling hand.
"Uh, sir?" He started. "What do you mean if it comes to a fight? Aren't they headed right for us?"
Tomas didn't respond immediately, instead taking this as a chance to check his shotgun. Eventually he turned back to the man.
"Doctor's orders." He said. "She wants to know what's going on before we start shooting the place up. As it so happens, the sisters don't typically get all buddy-buddy with splicers."
Joseph felt himself pale at the news. If this was going where he thought it was going…
"So what's the plan?" The man asked, obviously uncomfortable as well. "Are we just supposed to sit back and watch?"
"No." Tomas replied. "We're going to be setting up an ambush. When our guests walk by, we spring the trap. Then they get to decide whether they want to play nice…" He hoisted up his shotgun to emphasize his point. "Or opt for a bit of roughhousing."
Joey felt his knees start to give way beneath him. If it wasn't for Archer's quickly-offered arm, he probably would have fallen to the ground.
This couldn't be happening.
Go out. Against a protector. And meet it in close quarters? Did nobody else see the problem with this plan!?
"Easy." Archer cautioned him, trying to prevent an all-out panic attack. "It'll be fine. Tom knows what he's doing, don't you Tom?"
The large man just grunted in return, earning a grumble from several of the group members.
"Just stay behind me Joey. We can get through this. Just think of it like that time we had to bring down the pissed off rumbler."
Joseph was tempted to point out that the fight with the rumbler had included entrenched positions, auto-turrets, and over two dozen security bots. It probably wouldn't have been so messy if one of them had the telekinesis plasmid, but nobody wanted to risk the Adam side-effects.
"Form up and move out!" Came the order from Tomas. Some followed readily, others reluctantly, but they all fell in behind him.
Joseph tried to take his mind off the fear that threatened to bring him down by focusing on his brother. Even at a time like this, Archer seemed at ease. His crossbow was slung lazily over one shoulder while he strolled behind the train of humanity. Seeing Joey watching, he gave a smirk and a thumb's up.
Joseph didn't know if he should be impressed by his confidence, or highly disturbed.
He didn't have long to ponder the question. When their group approached the main entrance, a hand signal from Tomas sent them scattering into the side rooms. It was a maneuver they had practiced well, and it served them admirably in the past.
Hopefully it would continue that success.
The two siblings hid in a room near the back. Archer's crossbow was deadly accurate at any range, but from this distance he would have plenty of time to line up the shot. Joseph heard the radio crackle at his brother's side.
"Everyone quiet, wait for my signal." Tom ordered, his voice being received by almost all members of the squad. Those who weren't fortunate enough to have a radio would just have to wait for their companions to initiate first.
Now it was a waiting game. Almost as bad as the actual engagement. Joseph tried his best to keep his breathing steady, ignoring the scores of horrific scenes that played out in his head. He couldn't afford to hesitate now.
That was when he heard it. Softly at first, but soon growing louder.
Footsteps. The pattering of their enemies drawing closer.
He strained his ear against the closed doorframe to try catching wind of just what they were up against. Much to his dismay, it sounded like more than just two pairs of legs. There were at least three people, possibly more, heading down the hallway.
Suddenly, the sound stopped. Nothing but silence greeted him now.
What had happened? Were the intruders onto them? Had something given them away? What was he supposed to do if they knew?
A voice caught his attention. Not the voice of his brother, or someone from their group. It was coming from the hallway.
"I don't see anything. Do you think-"
"Now!" Tomas's command shot through the radio.
There was no time to think after that. The moment the signal was given; Archer was kicking the door open and dashing into the hallway. Joseph followed behind him quickly, bringing his pistol up in a white-knuckled grip. It wasn't until they were standing face to face with the enemy that the wave of fear hit him full on.
It was one thing to see a protector from far away. Getting up close and personal however… It took every ounce of willpower he had to keep the gun in his hands steady.
There were indeed three people in the group. For whatever reason, the splicer seemed to be the one in charge with the sister directly behind him. Carrying up the back was a man who bore no signs of Adam addiction. He was currently trying his best to hide behind the big sister.
Before either group could make a move, Tomas stepped forward.
"Hands in the air." He demanded, leveling his shotgun at the leading splicer. "One wrong move and you're dead."
It took a moment for his words to sink in, but when they did Lamb's super-soldier was the first to react. Much to Joseph's mounting horror, she crouched into a battle stance and prepared to leap forward. Before things hit the fan however, the splicer of all people stepped in.
"Amelia, don't!" He half-pleaded half-ordered, never taking his eyes off Tom's shotgun. "There's very little room to move around in here, and some of us can't afford to get shot!"
It looked like she was going to attack anyway, leaving her companions to their fate. But after several tense seconds, her body relaxed into a more defensive position. Joseph couldn't help but stare at the massive needle attached to her arm, and wonder how many people had been killed by it.
"Smart boy." Tomas said, backing down slightly but keeping his weapon at the ready. "Would you care to explain what such a…" He paused, looking for the right word. "Unique group like your own is doing in our territory?"
Before the splicer could respond, the man in the back ran forward.
"You guys gotta help me!" He said. "They've been keeping me hostage! Please, do something!"
It was hard to tell which group was more surprised by this outburst.
"You son of a- you're selling us out!?" The splicer yelled, turning to him in a rage.
"You're the one who kidnapped me! I'm not taking a bullet for you buddy!"
"You tried to kill us!"
"You busted into my home, I was just defending myself!"
"Busted in!? You had a pair of turrets waiting to greet us at the door! 'Busting in' was the only way to get through!"
"You-"
"Shut the hell up!" Tomas shouted, pointing the shotgun at both of the bickering men. "You have till the count of five to tell me just what in god's name is going on or you'll be eating lead as your last meal!"
Both of them immediately quieted down, suddenly seeming to remember the danger they were in.
"One…"
"Hold on, hold on!" The splicer said, not-so-subtly giving the other man a shove as he stepped forward. "We're not here to cause trouble. I was under the impression that the Drop was vacant property. The four of us have been looking for a place to move into. Well, not Stanley so much, he's kind of just along until I'm sure he's not going to shoot us when our backs are turned." He said, gesturing to his companion.
"Four?" Tomas asked, confused. "What do you mean four?"
He didn't need to explain. As soon as she was mentioned, the fourth member of their group poked her head curiously over her older sister's shoulder.
The entire area went silent as the militia men stared in total shock. Fidgeting under the sudden attention, the girl turned to the splicer.
"Mister M?" She asked. "Who are those people?"
Joseph couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was simply impossible, and yet his eyes told him the truth. Carried on the back of one of Rapture's gatekeepers was a relic of ages past.
A little sister.
There hadn't been a gatherer sighting in ages. Ever since Delta took the majority of the girl's with him, the few left behind had become prime targets for the surviving splicers. After a while, they simply seemed to disappear.
"Is that what I think it is?" Tomas asked, a hint of awe in his voice.
"Yes she is." The splicer responded, his eyes narrowing. "Her name is Wren, and she's a little sister who I happen to be quite fond of. That means keep your distance, and quit eying her like that or else."
Everyone was still too entranced by the girl's unexpected appearance to notice the absurdity of him threatening them.
"My name is Davian." The splicer said. "That's Amelia, and that's Stanley. Would you mind telling me who you lot are? I'm not too fond of having strangers point guns at me." He paused, before adding on another thought. "I suppose I'm not fond of anyone pointing guns at me, but it's slightly less nerve-wracking when they're not strangers."
Silence returned as all eyes remained fixed on the girl. Eventually, Tomas brought his attention back to Davian's question.
"The name's Tomas and I'll tell you right now, the Drop is not vacant. Normally I'd tell you to turn around and go straight back the way you came, but you put me in a slightly awkward position."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Davian asked suspiciously.
"You said you were looking for a place to stay didn't you?" Tom said, dodging the question. "We might just be able to work something out. You see one of our people is very interested in the gatherers, and up until now she assumed they were all dead or gone."
He stepped back somewhat, lowering his gun into an at ease position. It could still be brought up at a moment's notice, but it was no longer threatening to end anyone's life.
"Come with me. Tenenbaum is going to have a lot of questions for you."