Disclaimer: I don't own Bioshock or any of the characters
The sound of shattering wood echoed throughout the dining area as the table Epsilon had sent flying towards Gamma was smashed to pieces by a well-timed kick. Before the splinters had even touched the ground, the unstable protector was already halfway across the room.
Epsilon reacted quickly, stepping to the side in order to avoid being run through by her foe's harvester. Her own weapon was up in an instant. The deadly tool lunged forwards, narrowly avoiding Gamma's throat as she twisted backwards. Hitting the floor with her free hand to catch herself as she fell, the sister vaulted away from Epsilon's reach.
The two stood in mirrored stances, eyes boring into each other as they prepared for the next attack. For Epsilon, it was more than just a fight for survival.
She had changed. For better or for worse, she couldn't tell. Cain had offered her the chance to recreate what had been stolen from her. An opportunity to build the family back up, even stronger than before. It was a seemingly perfect offering. Everything she'd ever wanted.
And she'd turned him down.
A little over a month ago, this whole thing wouldn't have even been a question. She'd have gladly cut Davian open for the sake of what Cain proposed. Now though, she'd seen too much to simply obey.
Wren, or rather Gwen, had shown her that there was more buried beneath the empty features of a normal girl than just a husk. She was a person, a child, and she had been happy when Davian had removed the tampering that the scientists had instilled upon her. Even though she was no longer a little sister, Epsilon still found herself growing fonder of the young girl. Gwen was still Wren. Despite not sharing the same mental conditioning, or perhaps because of it, she held a kind of sincerity and care that her sister-counterpart hadn't had. To see that erased even for the benefit of the family wasn't a sacrifice Epsilon was willing to make.
That wasn't the only reason either. If she was fully honest with herself, she couldn't say she that she'd have been willing to kill Davian. Despite all the hardships his interference in her life had caused, she couldn't deny that she enjoyed his presence. She felt protective of the young splicer in a way that wasn't like the normal bond of a big sister and her charge. He could take care of himself, and at times even her, but she still felt the need to watch over him just for the sake of his well-being.
She cared about him. Enough to see the world from his view. Enough to give those like him a chance.
Epsilon was fighting for more than just herself. She was fighting for them. Davian, Gwen, even the colonists, both living and dead. She didn't know what would happen in the next few minutes, but she knew that if she was going to die she'd die swinging.
Sensing the mounting tension, Gamma twitched in anticipation. She could see the way Epsilon's resolve was growing and it added fuel to her own battle-lust. Both of them stood rigid, waiting for the inevitable storm.
It came quickly.
Responding to an unconscious signal, both sisters sprang into action. Gamma leapt high into the air, flipping through the air and bringing her foot down in a descending strike. Reacting purely on muscle memory from the times she'd sparred with other protectors, Epsilon reached up to block the blow by crossing her arms over her head. She caught her attacker's ankle mid-strike and twisted the trap in an attempt to throw her off balance. This had the unfortunate side effect of leaving her midsection open.
Letting gravity pull her upper body downwards, Gamma took a swipe at her exposed stomach. The strike merely tore some of her leather fittings and scratching the armor, but the threat of it was enough to cause Epsilon to jerk back and lose her grip. The crazed sister tumbled to the floor in a roll and was back upright instantly. She charged forwards, slamming her shoulder into Epsilon's chest.
Caught off guard by the rapid follow up attack, she was destabilized and felt herself start to fall. She attempted to spin the two of them around so that Gamma would be the one landing beneath her, but her assailant was running on copious amounts of adrenaline now that she felt the blooming advantage.
Unable to overpower her, Epsilon was smashed into the floor and pinned beneath her opponent. Gamma acted quickly in also fixing her right arm, and subsequently her harvester, to the ground in an unyielding grip with her left hand. She could practically taste her victory.
Epsilon's eyes widened as she saw her sister's harvester rise above her head. She knew that at this range Gamma couldn't miss anything vital even if she tried. Mind racing, she did the only thing she could think of to halt its descent.
Balling her free hand into a fist, she punched Gamma as hard as she could in the throat.
The big sister was so accustomed to having her helmet absorb most of the impact when something was headed that direction that her reactions were slower than they needed to be. The hit connected right beneath her chin, causing her to reflexively reach for her neck with both hands.
Choking on her own strangled cry, she realized her mistake too late.
Epsilon's muscles tensed as she put her full weight into an upwards thrust with her newly freed harvester. The needle shot forwards, punching through Gamma's armor just above her stomach. It hit with enough force that it pierced her back, distorting the metal on the other side.
A mind-shatteringly loud scream of pain blasted Epsilon's ears as her weapon sank into its target. After a moment, the wail petered off into a whimpering cry. She made to pull out her needle when Gamma's hand latched onto her arm and kept it firmly buried in her middle.
The deranged protector violently swung her body around before Epsilon could discern what her intentions were. For an instant, she felt as though Gamma was going to tear her arm right out of its socket. That thought vanished as the tension was suddenly released and the sound of snapping metal echoed throughout the room.
Epsilon was thrown several feet by the motion and landed heavily on her back. She darted to her feet, pausing when she heard Gamma's hacking groans. The renegade sister was still hunched over, hands firmly planted over her stab wound. Stepping back, Epsilon drew up her arm in preparation for the next attack. It wasn't until her opponent stood back up entirely that she realized something was wrong.
With an expression that was equal parts anger and suffering, Gamma's glare cut across the room with enough force to halt an entire army of splicers in their tracks. Her hands fell away to reveal something that elicited a sharp gasp from her foe.
Still embedded deep in Gamma's abdomen was the top portion of Epsilon's harvester. A quick glance down at her wrist confirmed that her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. The needle had broken off near the base, leaving her essentially unarmed.
Gamma for her part was standing with no small amount of difficulty. The wound itself, while not fatal to something like a big sister, was no doubt brutally painful. With each tiny movement a fresh wave of anguish flashed across her features only to be replaced by a steadily growing rage. Her left hand gripped the protruding end of the needle and, much to Epsilon's horror, began to pull it free. The shaft left her body with a sickening squelch, trailing blood and causing her to stumble before catching herself. Once she'd recovered enough to look up again, the expression on her face turned Epsilon's blood to ice.
She was smiling. Not the kind of pleasant expression that conveyed happiness or comfort, but the feral, gruesome, and near-maniacal one that gave a promise of agony to come. Though she was battered and bleeding, she now held a very distinct advantage. She held two weapons to her opponent's zero.
Epsilon backed away slowly, causing her demented grin to widen. She began working her way forwards, limping on every second step as the movements caused fresh drops of blood to spurt from the injury. All at once she shot off the spot wielding both lethal objects in either hand.
Epsilon was instantly forced onto the defensive as the twin needles flashed past her in a blur of silver death. Unable to follow the rapid attacks with her eyes, she had to rely almost entirely on her reflexes and predictions. Gamma didn't make it easy on her. Seeing that she was reading her movements ahead of time, she showed a surprisingly well disciplined flow of ambidextrous swings. Neither side of her body was favored and no pattern was established. Each strike melded into the next in a seemingly random assortment, making it nearly impossible to keep up. In the span of a few moments, over a dozen new wounds ranging from shallow cuts to deep gashes had opened up all over her victim's body.
Twisting over and using her palms to handspring backwards, Epsilon desperately tried to put distance between the two of them. She nearly lost a finger for her trouble as Gamma slashed at her wrists. The rouge sister was practically attached to her, never allowing her to get outside the reach of her wicked armaments.
Out of the corner of her eye, Epsilon spotted several discarded chairs lying against one of the walls. She waited until Gamma took her next attack before sidestepping out of the way and yanking the pieces of furniture through the air with a quick telekinetic pull. The wooden projectiles hurled towards the back of Gamma's head, prompting her to spin around and smash the lot of them with a contemptuous swipe from her stolen harvester. The brief opening was all Epsilon needed.
The leech in her stomach released a large burst of Adam in response to the adrenaline that flooded her system. Closing the half-step distance between the two of them in the blink of an eye, her chemical-fueled fist connected with Gamma's chin in a crushing uppercut right as she finished turning full circle. The blow snapped her head up and sent her hurtling backwards. She lost her grip on Epsilon's needle, causing the device to be thrown into the air as her upper body was jerked backwards.
It flew in a small arc before landing back in its original owner's waiting hands.
Epsilon wasted no time. Before her target had reached the ground, she was stabbing downwards with all her might. For the second time that day, her harvester pierced Gamma's armor plating. It crashed down through her ribcage, piercing through the net of major arteries just above her heart and skewering her into the floorboards.
A wet gasp was the only noise that came out from Gamma's throat as she stared in disbelief at the metal device pinning her down. Her entire body shook with spasms as her leech flooded her system with Adam in an attempt to numb the trauma and repair the damage. This time however, there was simply too much to fix.
Epsilon watched silently as her former sibling wrestled against the inevitable for all she was worth. Her hands repeatedly reached up with the intent of yanking the needle out again, but could never coordinate enough to actually grip it. She growled and hissed, glaring unfocused at all corners of the room. Very gradually, her struggles slowed and eventually ceased. The grimace on her face gave way to a slack expression as the last of her vicious energy left her. She gave a final shudder before her entire body simply collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
Silence descended as Epsilon remained watching Gamma's motionless form. She'd won. She'd done exactly what she'd had to, but there was no satisfaction or sense of victory in this. Even though she'd been terribly unstable and dangerous, the sister had likely been the last member of the family other than herself. Seeing her like this left a hollow feeling in the middle of her chest.
Reaching forwards slowly, she worked the now ruined length of metal free from Gamma's body. She threw the rod away and leaned forwards, ignoring the burning protests of her own wounds, to lift up her fallen sister. Epsilon slung one of the sister's limp arms over her shoulder and began walking the both of them towards the exit.
She'd find somewhere quiet and out of the way where she could lay Gamma down as she headed back to Davian. That way her body wouldn't be picked apart by the city's scavengers. It wasn't much, but she felt the need to at least offer this small gesture for one of her former allies.
Davian's vision blurred in and out of focus, growing increasingly hazy around the edges. Each breath felt like he was trying to push the air through a solid steel wall. Every bit of him clung to the thin strand of consciousness that was still left in his body. He couldn't pass out. If he did, he knew for certain that he'd never wake up.
Stop being dense. You're only going to get yourself killed if you keep trying to block me out.
It would be so easy to just let it happen. Sit back, let the voice take control again, and maybe even survive. Each time the thought occurred to him, he'd see Amelia's bandaged hands and destroyed helmet. He'd given in once and she'd suffered for it. He wouldn't make that mistake again.
Cain was getting closer, making his way over to Davian's form in a leisurely fashion now that his opponent was so clearly helpless. His image seemed to waver, getting blurrier with each passing moment. It wasn't just him either. Everything was fading.
Damn it! Are you just going to let yourself die out of spite!? This isn't the time for stupid pride!
The world span as Cain prodded him onto his back. Looking down on him with a satisfied smirk, he crouched beside Davian and placed his palm on the haft of his knife.
"You know… I suppose the simple thing to do right now would be to kill you." He mused, slowly rotating his hand so that the blade scraped against his victim's insides. Each touch sent a flaring wave of suffering throughout Davian's body that was quickly overridden by the chilling numbness that continued to grow stronger. He was helpless to do anything other than twitch in pain.
"…But you've been such an irritant…" Cain continued, putting heavy emphasis on the last word as his expression darkened significantly. "…Costing me the gatherer. Costing me Epsilon. Interfering with my goals and making my life infuriatingly complicated. No… I don't think an ordinary death would fit for one as… persistent… as you. I'll make you into an example. One that will ensure EVERYONE in this damnable city knows just how unforgiving I can be."
With sadistic slowness, his fingers wrapped around the handle of the knife and began to pull it out. Davian's lungs were on fire as he gasped past the newest torment. His body bucked involuntarily as the blade was freed from his chest, crashing back down afterwards with a heavy thud.
Sound ceased to exist. He could see Cain's mouth moving, but no noise other than the horrible ringing in his ears reached him. He was going to black out. He could feel the tendrils of unconsciousness dragging him down into the empty void. Despite his best efforts to hang on, his body was starting to fail.
Don't you dare! You're a splicer damn it, stop acting like a corpse! Let! Me! In!
His awareness was suddenly forced back as a hand was placed around his right eye, forcing his eyelid open. The point of the knife and Cain's grinning features dominated his vision. As the image came into view, he began to pick up some of his words as well.
"-start here shall we?" The man offered, taking obvious pleasure in the lack of resistance. "I've always been fond of working the eyes."
"Hey fucker!"
Cain looked up from his work just in time to have a sizable wrench slam full force into his face. Reeling back from the unexpected impact, he nearly fell over his own feet.
"You think it's funny to use me as a fucking meat puppet!? Well how damn funny was that huh!?"
Davian was hallucinating. He had to be. Seeing his imminent end, his mind must have come up with a new illusion to hide behind. There was simply no way that Stanley Poole of all people was standing over him right now, brandishing a construction tool like it was some kind of sword.
The sound of several more sets of footsteps sounded from over his shoulder. With great effort, he managed to turn his head a fraction of a degree to see the colonists that had been with Tomas rushing in with weapons drawn.
"It's over!" One of them shouted. A sizable man with a scar over his left eye and dark brown hair that matched his clothing. "Hawthorn and Cohen are both dead. Drop the knife or you'll be joining them!"
Cain stared silently, his free hand resting lightly on the cheek that had nearly been caved in by Stanley's attack. After a brief moment, his face began to twist into a snarl.
"More resistance…?" He spat, standing tall despite the arrangement of firearms pointed his way. "More insolence? More people standing in my way? How is it any of you are still alive!? Don't you idiots know when to DIE!?"
He launched off the spot, hurtling towards the group as gunfire erupted in the confined train station. Several shots impacted his chest and extremities mid-rush, but he was upon them before they could concentrate fire and deal more damage than his drug-enhanced body could turn aside. A swarm of hornets poured forth from his free hand as he lashed out in all directions with his blade.
"Imbeciles! Worthless insects! Can no one even follow basic instruction!? This is MY city! I'll kill every last one of you myself if I have to! Nobody will stand in my way now that I've come this far!"
He swung his weapon in deadly arcs, forcing those nearest to him to scatter as they dodged away from the knife and the mass of buzzing death. A woman with her hair in a ponytail managed to line up a shot, but Cain saw it coming and yanked another colonist into the way. The bullet hit his thigh, causing him to scream out before being forcibly shoved into the woman and toppling both of them to the ground.
What are you waiting for? Now's our chance! Let me take over! His back is turned. He won't stand a chance.
They were going to die if he did nothing. Davian could see that clearly. Even though there were five of them, Cain was like lightning. He darted between opponents, keeping the whole group off balance and ensuring that none of them had a chance to use their superior weaponry. Already, two people were downed. The man who'd been shot was clutching his thigh and writhing while another man was struggling on the floor against the insects that were trying to tear him apart.
He couldn't do nothing. He had to help.
Using every ounce of resolve left in his tortured body, Davian managed to flip himself over onto his stomach. It was like setting off a bomb in his gut. A blinding wave of pain rocketed throughout his body, nearly causing him to be sick right then and there.
What are you doing? Just let me take control so we can end this!
Gritting his teeth, he half-reached half-threw his right arm forwards. He gripped the floor with as much strength as he could, pulling himself forwards while his left hung uselessly at his side.
I… don't… need… you…
He repeated the motion again, striving to move towards the battle. He ignored everything other than his goal. The way his system was rapidly fluctuating between agony and unfeeling emptiness, the way the walls seemed to warp and distort at the edges of his vision, none of it mattered. He drove himself towards the blur of movement that was Cain.
I don't… need you…
The voice was battering against the confines of his mind, yelling words he could no longer hear. Warnings. Threats. Anything and everything to try and make him see reason. It all fell on deaf ears.
I don't need you…
Maybe the voice could save him. Maybe it would keep him alive despite the crippling damage he'd already endured. Maybe it would… but he couldn't bring himself to care. It was a part of him that he no longer could stand to call his own. Selfish. Heartless. It had hurt those closest to him and nearly dragged him down the path of damnation. He wouldn't let it rule over him any longer. He'd fight on his own terms.
Even if it killed him.
With energy born from pure willpower, Davian's hand flung forwards and gripped one of Cain's ankles. The man turned sharply with his blade prepared to lash out at whatever colonist had grabbed him. The look of shock on his face when he saw the identity of his assailant was priceless.
"I hope you're ready you son of a bitch…" Davian rasped. "Because this is gonna hurt!"
Reality tore itself open as the young Houdini dragged his prey into the twisting non-space. Cain struggled in his grasp, but his hand was locked around the man's ankle in a death grip. He wasn't letting go, and he wasn't altering his course in the slightest. Every ounce of his being was wholly dedicated towards this one jump. He held together as the vast emptiness threatened to shred his pitiful form.
As he reached the end, the two of them were thrown back into the world in a jarring retch. A deafening gong echoed throughout the room, shaking this part of Rapture as though it had been a scream of the city itself.
Panting, vision fading, consciousness slipping, Davian took in the sight in front of him. His hand was still wrapped around Cain's foot. That foot was connected to a leg which continued upwards until it reached a knee. There it bent slightly, leading towards the upper leg. That stretched for a short distance before meeting a solid wall.
Like some sort of horror show monster, the limb extended outwards from the metal in a macabre display. Cain had materialized inside the structure. Exactly where Davian had aimed him.
That was an indescribably stupid stunt. You could have torn yourself apart jumping in your current state.
"I know." Davian chuckled, head dropping to the floor as the last of his waking mind fled and darkness claimed him.