Webb360: Hey, thanks for support. I also read you other review from my older story.

A Reverse Weeb:Thanks, I always love games that wears its inspiration on the past and makes them interesting.

While I'll only answer a few since most border on spoilers: Yes, his skills transfer over to him when he wakes up, his knowledge in his experiences in his dreams are remembered clearly in the real world.

Also added package of the trauma and ptsd that comes along in a literal metal grave under the sea filled with drugged-up killers that goes along. It's still the same Jaune Arc, just tired and bitter about his situation.

While not yet mention, only very subtlety at least , it's not his first dream being in Rapture.

Yeah, Jaune is suffering from memory loss, there are some holes and gaps in his head. Only thing he knows when he dreams is his fight or flight response flares up the moment he awoken somewhere that's not his bed.

He'll eventually need to add more to his weaponry than his usual sword, but that is to be seen soon. About the revolver being his only weapon while the whole bioshock 1 story took place, there were parts cut from chapter 2 that made references about him suffering from back pain from carrying all his weaponry, but I felt it wasn't needed and took that part out.

Even the whole fight sequence with Fontaine I felt had to be shortened out due to how unnecessary they will be in the story as a whole and just remade it shorter, several splicers and turret drones scenes were cut and along with several plasmids Jaune had I originally planned to show. some from the in the game, the multiplayer-specific plasmids and the cut-plasmids from the beta.

They'll have their time in the spotlight soon.

Phantom117a: :)

Again, thanks for staying, here's a "short" side-chapter just to give a bit of character for Jaune and his new partner.

Next chapter: 3.5 A glass of cold brew before the storm

What was it exactly? Dahlia's advice before tomorrow's test…? It was important, yet it somehow went over his head. Jaune was certain there definitely was something she emphasized several times; he heard of it, but fairly, listening was another different thing.

As he searched for the answer, it seemed to be just beyond his grasp. He took a few deep breaths and tried to focus his mind. Memories began to resurface, but they were fragmented and fading quickly. He was almost there, but the pieces slipped away from him; remained just out of reach, like a tantalizing mirage.

Disappears only once you get close.

He gave up pursuing it further by this time, with a sigh after realizing that it was going nowhere. The headaches were getting worse, particularly today, after going all out against Fontaine. A reward for his bravery; and hurts like hell.

"So… Tall, blond, uncooked spaghetti noodle for a physique in a black jacket. Yeah, that's you. Well, at least I'm not the only one here looking like they're not auditioning a spot on the Valean Fashion show. I mean, you'd think if you're going into combat you could at least wear something that has function, let alone doesn't scream for attention for all the wrong reason." So, an uncooked spaghetti noodle, him? Not sure what to make of it, he'll be taking that as a compliment. Jaune decided it would be best to hold off on it for now. He can deal with it whenever it comes up again. Probably.

As he looked up, his gaze landed on the figure standing in front of him - his partner, apparently. The air was thick with an uncomfortable silence, as if Jaune knew exactly what to say; stutter like an idiot, perhaps?

But Jaune couldn't help but notice the girl's stunning appearance as his eyes observed her back. Her hair resembled a glow of the Vacouan sunset, a short and vibrant orange cascade that fell onto her shoulders. The smooth, olive skin on her face and neck he could see glowed against the bright hue of her hair, creating a stunning contrast. Even though she stood a few inches shorter than him, her piercing gaze locked onto him, keenly observing every detail. Her chestnut brown eyes watch him intently, making it impossible for Jaune to look away.

From what little knowledge he knows how to understand what's happening, the least his head could do was to nod in acknowledgement of her presence.

She wore a pristine silver bomber jacket with black trims and cuffs, and on the back of it was a logo of a golden scorpion, just what Dahlia described him earlier about his partner. Her leather chest-harness was strapped with various pouches and small sheaths that held a stick-like metal contraption firmly in place on the upper-left side of her back. As Jaune observed the straps hugging her chest a bit too well, he couldn't help but notice that the outfit seemed a bit too tight in certain areas, showing some curves even under her jacket. The entire ensemble came together seamlessly as black cargo pants hugged the legs and sturdy brown.

To complete her look, she incorporated some roughness to her attire with worn metal armor plates, such as the shoulder and arm guards that were fastened to her jacket with sturdy straps to secure it. The arm guards covered her forearms tightly and had sharp edges.

Among the people signing up in the lobby, her exotic outfit that stood out. It almost stands as utilitarian or all functionality and less on style besides that white jacket of hers.

"Hmm… Deceptively toned under your jacket… Good trick, makes your enemies caught off guard with your baggy clothes to underestimate you."

In a flash, the girl tacitly shifted to his side and lifted one of his arms, wrapping her hands around it and giving a subtle squeeze without him even noticing. Only after did he realize what was happening, and then pulled away from her; fairly weirded out.

While Jaune looked on, he saw her shrug with a smug smile as she asserted, "Either way, I kinda dig it." Her small comment was enough to elicit a small burst of redness to his cheeks. Real straightforward she is. He furrowed his brow, taking note of her actions.

As they were going to be stuck together for almost a week, he knew he would have to learn to tolerate her. Wanting to be polite, he offered a hand to his partner and introduced himself. "Jaune Arc," he said with a smile. "I've heard it's short and sweet, rolls right off the tongue."

The girl ignored the offer, but raised an eyebrow and kept grinning. "Oh, really?" she said. "Says who?"

"I…" Her response caught Jaune off guard, leaving him dumbfounded. He blankly mumbles. "There uh… were some farmers told me after helping them"

"How noble. Though, nice try, as if I'm some of your village bumpkins. Try a little harder next time." Was that supposed to be an invitation? Jaune couldn't possibly know. The girl was a mystery, like a book written in an ancient and unrecorded language.

To make it easier to understand, to his embarrassment, he's not great at interacting with them and has difficulty grasping their ideas. So, what chance could he possibly even know what she meant by that?

"S-sorry…" Jaune blinked at the girl for her to chuckle.

"Eh, don't be. I did say you could try again next time." She reached out her hand to clasp Jaune's. "and the name's Alex Certas. Don't you forget." And forget he didn't this time.

Jaune, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He finally made a friend in this concrete jungle, after what felt like six months of nothing but work day-and-night. He nods back in response to her.

Alex spoke up again and said, "I went to Signal academy with some friends before coming here, listening to stories about my mom, I grew to wanting to become…" Uh oh. Jaune noticed Alex's pause and saw her face tense up as she struggled to continue.

The next words were already clear to the blond. That painful word. He fairly nodded as he said.

"Did they reject you as well?" He didn't really ask, but stated it like a matter of fact. Just by the sheer uncomfortable look on her as she raised her eyes to him. Not a clue what to say to him. But he knows.

Jaune rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I also didn't take it well. I admit it wasn't a great look."

As much as that letter tried to be as respectful as possible, the various apologies and reasons littered the paragraphs why they can't. It's not easy to reject someone, no matter how hard you try to lighten the blow and expect them to be okay with it.

"I wanted to throw a fit, but I knew it wouldn't really help my problem," he said. "I had rent to pay. Day and night I work to secure for next week to keep a roof over my head while I do jobs and train myself before the next school year started, and I was hoping being accepted at Beacon would change all this money problem on its head." Despite this practical mindset, his chivalrous side urged him to offer a comforting hand on her shoulders.

Jaune sighed as he said. "But I suppose all of it was in vain." Why the reason they're both here, along with the rest of the rejects.

As he let go of her shoulder, she placed her warm hands over his and chuckled. "Gods, what a gentleman you are, you know that?" she said with appreciation.

"Well, I try."

After a moment of silence, Alex continued to speak up.

"So, yeah, I wanted to become a huntress like my mom, when she lived in Vacou before meeting my dad. After a while, they hit it off, and she became a professor at Shade after their second date. After a while, they decided to move to Vale. Said mom won't let my grow up in a place that gives her eyesore from the sandstorms. Or the bandits."

"After that, I met people who also liked to become a huntsman as well and some of them passed, some failed and went back home. Me? Well, here I am. I stayed here regardless." A wasted effort she put out. Alex concluded with a forlorn sigh.

Was it fear from her family returning a failure caused her to stay and face the fact? It was her yearning for a sense of purpose that brought her here; she'd sooner take an alternate path rather than to return home without one.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, you're more qualified than me." Jaune tried to lighten the mood as he commented.

With pure fascination, Alex looked at Jaune, her strange partner, whom she was paired up with. She attempted to make a move on Jaune, intrigued by their peculiar ways. Just what is up with him and his optimism?

Following a brief conversation, the two of them hit it off. They were getting along so well that they decided to leave the headquarter to continue in a more lax place than the lobby. Jaune didn't mind the suggestion. He preferred having someone to talk to rather than voicing his opposing opinion.

So he followed Alex.

….

Ending up underneath a neon sign after a brisk walk outside as he his partner found their way to a cozy bar just around the corner. The sound of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air, mingling with the smell of alcohol as Alex leads her partner inside while he witnesses the happy times kept pouring into glass mugs and small shot glasses.

They chose to seat on the sleek bar stool. Jaune's gaze fixated on the bartender as he placed a tall pint of the frothing drinks in front of him. The sound of the carbonation fizzing and popping intermingled with the low chatter of the patrons. As he lifted the glass, the aroma of hops and yeast wafted towards him. Jaune stole a quick glance at Alex, who had already raised her glass and was downing hers like a champ, leaving Jaune in shock.

The clinking of glasses and the chatter of the other patrons filled his ears, making him feel more self-conscious. As the sharp scent of alcohol wafted up to his nose, he wrinkled it in distaste. In reaction, he narrowed his eyes.

He knew he had never tasted alcohol before. If it wasn't already clear and worst, he felt this importance with his dignity was at stake. Probably.

He furrowed his brow and looked uncertain, his mind racing as he weighed his options. His fingers trembled as he grasped the glass.

Maybe it won't be so bad. He took a small sip, testing the waters, hoping it wouldn't be too much for him.

Boy, was he so wrong.

The very same cheap beer apparently was enough to send him cringing under the punch from the taste that made his face scrunched up for a moment. As he took a sip, the sound of his throat gulping the bitter liquid down. Followed with his throat feeling like it was on fire, the sheer bitterness was overwhelming his tongue and the sensation lingered.

It was a good thing Alex was more busy emptying hers to notice, though, a small heckle from across the counter as his head snapped to the source he saw the bartender with a grin clear on his face as he worked to serve to the other patrons.

"So, what was it like?" When Jaune turned back to his partner, praying she wasn't referring to the embarrassing show he just put on, she set her glass down and gave a deep, contented sigh before she added. "On the road, traveling. What was it like?"

A dry cough. "Eh, it was fairly uneventful," Jaune replied while scratching the back of his head.

He wouldn't use the word "boring" to describe his trip. The sights he saw were beautiful. However, he had to be cautious of any rustling or howling. Above all that, fairly normal, as all things considered.

He answered. "I wasn't completely alone, though. I crossed paths with a few other travelers who were also heading from one village to another, so I decided to join them to reach closer to Vale." Jaune was curious about where the question came from. Despite being under the influence of alcohol, she sounded genuinely interested.

"Ooh, that's boring." Well, that lasted fast. Another mug slid to Alex as she happily accepted with no qualms and while Jaune watched her downed it fast. Jaune joined in and took another sip of his before saying with a huff.

"Well, sorry to bore you. I know somebody here might have more amazing experience than mine." Alex's ears picked up the sound of Jaune's grunting voice as he spoke and turning to be met with a playful pout from her partner.

Alex couldn't help but let out a soft whine, her lips curving into a playful, drunk smile. "Nooo, I wanna hear it from Jaune Arc. My partner."

As she moved closer to him, she even dragged her own stool along to his side and began rubbing shoulders against the blond.

All the while, Jaune was trying to keep it together, but his lack of experience with women made him more flushed with red, especially with the alcohol.

"Why do you ask, anyway?" Jaune's words were slurred after downing his own mug as he looked at his partner a bit long with drunken dizziness.

It was at this point he actually started to wonder if Alex was actually hitting on him or if it was just in his head. As he looked into Alex's eyes, he couldn't help but feel a strange warmth spreading through his body, wondering if the attraction was mutual or just a figment of his imagination.

Or was it perhaps the alcohol has something to do with it. He heard it made people do stupid things.

But then again, it seems likely. After all, he's way out of her league and wouldn't even consider him a chance. Her sheer confidence was felt by Jaune, as seen through her outfit, a badass rebel against what he can discern, is a stark contrast to his cutesy rabbit logo hoodie.

So, that's a no. That idea is so stupid, he'd just laugh it off - he's lucky to have someone to talk to and he won't ruin it and dropped the notion.

"Patch was great and all, but after living there for all of my life became boring, eventually. There wasn't much to do on an island." She pauses for a swig from her mug before, with a loud sigh, she continues.

"I remembered the only exciting thing I ever did there. I went to the forest to meet some friends who lived there. Their uncle was cool, though, showed us some tricks with his scythe. Actually, he ended up being our combat school instructor, though I barely remember anything he taught because I mostly recalled him blacked drunk out in a middle of his lectures. Hahaha!" She laughed and slammed her drink down on the counter, reminiscing about those days long passed with joy.

After Alex kept prodding Jaune a few more times to share his stories, he finally gave in and relented.

"Alright, fine." Finally, waving off Alex's pestering. Jaune paused for a moment as he took a swig before telling his story. Might as well get drunk and forget all about it tomorrow.

"On the road, I came across a farming village, Everglade. The place was normal as the others I came across. I went to a nearby bakery, and this woman came up to me and she had this glint in her eyes, looking down at my sword. I was a bit hesitant to ignore her till she brought up if I could lend a hand of a lone beowolf harassing some of the farmer nearby, making them afraid to go out on the field. I ask if there was any huntsman in the area, but the one that was near felt it being too trivial that he just ignored it."

Jaune shrugs his shoulders.

"So, I accepted the job and quickly found its trail of broken crops and paw prints to a hill near, I slowly tried to sneak up on it, quietly crawling until I just happen to step on a pebble with a smooth surface as the next thing I remembered was rolling down a steep hill and there was roaring in my ears. I yelled as much as I can before I finally hit leveled ground. I tried to get my bearings before the beowolves did, but the thing thrashed its legs, getting a few good hits on my armor as I crawled away. It wasn't until it finally stood up and I was getting pushed back by its claws and I knew I messed up that killing blow up in the hill. Greatest regret in my life." For a moment, Jaune let out a grave sigh.

"Apparently, the villagers showed up with rocks and pitchforks after they heard my scream and started to throw rocks and that was enough to distract the beowolf for me to plunge my sword in its neck and as I did so, a nearby pitchfork was thrown for my to deal the final strike at the head." So much for his heroics in that one.

While Jaune was simmering from his shame, Alex, on the other hand, was thoroughly entertained by the story, finding herself getting a kick out of them. She seemed to be enjoying every moment of it.

Sure, she might have been enjoying herself as she laughs, but Jaune was proud of that moment, the first kill on his way to be something. Not a huntsman now, but something. So, laugh all she wants. It's his first kill, and it's going to be a well-remembered moment for him.

As the alcohol kept flowing, the conversation carried on, likely accumulating a hefty bill.

"I'm sure those country bumpkins of yours would've been really impressed by your display of strength." Joking, Alex chimed in with her comment, coyly pressing his arm with her index finger.

Nonetheless, it was enjoyable.

Ironic, I drank so much liquor and boozes to numb away the trauma and horrors in Rapture, yet I felt so innocent when I took my first sip here on land. It was like it was my first time drinking this stuff...

Time felt like it had just gone by without them as the afternoon sun finally set.

…

"Due to the nature of your test, I would highly suggest both of you to turn in early for tonight. Your train leaves at exactly 9 in the morning. In any case, I wish you both good luck."