LAMB

Candles burned along a stretch of red carpet. Men and women clad in red robes knelt, chanting in Latin as the fires flickered and the smoke rose in a swirling haze. Sato and the other 1-A students gathered just out of sight, watching the crowd warily.

"Are you sure we need to go this way?" Sato asked.

"It's the only way to the security room. We just need to distract them somehow."

A hush fell over the cultists as the candles dimmed. Lights from overhead swiveled onto a single point in front of them. Into that light strode a little black lamb, wearing a tattered red cloak and an ebony crown.

"Baa!" the lamb bleated. "Baa! Baa!"

Koda knelt next to the lamb, nodding as the lamb bleated. He wore red robes of his own, and he held a stone bowl in one hand. Koda rose and said, "Before, you were all wolves, powerful, mighty, but alone! There never was a pack, but a snarling mob of beasts that would rip and tear into each other the moment anyone showed weakness! But here? Here, you are all lost lambs, frightened and weak! But fear not! For the Almighty Lamb is merciful and welcomes you into their Flock!"

"Praise be!" the cultists chanted.

Tokoyami shuddered as Koda continued his macabre sermon. "He's gone native. What terrible madness."

"Maybe he could distract them for us?" Ochako asked. "Let's see if we can get his attention."

Everyone turned towards Hagakure. She crossed her arms, the gesture invisible to everyone else, and huffed. "Fine, I'll waltz naked through a cult. I'm sure nothing could go wrong!"

"Now, let us graze upon the bounty of the deep!" Koda called out. He held up the bowl, and it overflowed with leafy greens. "The Lamb provides!"

"The Lamb provides!"

As cultists came forward and munched on handfuls of greens, Hagakure came forward and tapped Koda on the shoulder. Koda froze and nervously looked towards Hagakure.

"Psst, Koda. We need to sneak past. Mind helping us out?"

"Run," hissed Koda. "Get out."

Hagakure scowled at him. "Are you really threatening us?"

"It can see you."

For a while, Hagakure didn't know what he meant. Then her eyes drifted over to the Lamb. Its shining yellow eyes stared right at her, unblinking.

"What, that? Why would I be scared of a cute little lamb?"

The Lamb's eyes narrowed. It shrieked, "BAA!"

Koda gulped. The cultists turned towards him as one. Voice shaking, Koda said, "The Lamb demands… uh… more praise! Praise be unto the Lamb!"

"Praise be!"

"BAA!"

"Louder!" Koda cried shrilly!

As the praise escalated, shadows coalesced around the lamb. It rose on two legs, its eyes glowed red, and a black sword rose from the crown. The Lamb sliced at Koda, nearly cutting him in half.

Then a hole opened under the Lamb. A tentacle wrapped around it, and the Lamb vanished with a confused "Baa?"

Shoji said, "Thanks mom," and got off the phone.

498

It's clear to me that Bioshock wasn't meant to have a sequel, but I like the QOL changes Bioshock 2 brought, and the story was still good.

This originally started as a pun on Dr. Lamb's name. Then I went – gee, this sure reminds me of another game!