//------------------------------// // Nobody goes back to Rapture // Story: Life of a Nobody // by Xinrick //------------------------------// “Be warned, however. Among the new terrors, there’s a new threat made by both Lamb and Kexez.” As Brigid spke, this unholy, high pitched roar echoed throughout the whole area. “Shit! One is coming. If you two can buy me time to get the little ones and myself out of here, I’ll radio you as fast as possible on a safe pathway.” She said, closing the metal currents as the Big Daddy, Delta, if I remember, began to spin his drill. I cracked my knuckles, Thorns wrapping around my arms and legs as I made both gauntlets and grieves out of them. “Whatever this thing is, it's not gonna have a good time.” I growled, hoping it won't die too quic-”Whoa, calm down there bloodlust. I think to myself, knowing I'm beyond pissed but still. There was a moment of total silence, no sound other than the ocean outside. It was then that I heard something like light metal clanking against itself. “Okay then...wonder where that was…” I muttered, looking around carefully as my eyes flashed green to help ‘see’ where the thing is. It kept going till it stopped. Delta and I exchanged looks, before looking up. There, what looked like a female Big Daddy, wearing a thin, almost skin tight cloth looking suit with small bits of metal, one of those needle the little sisters used on some sort of arm gauntlet, and they wore this old school looking helmet, a dark blue light hid their face. They screamed that, maddening scream then jumped down at us. It dropped down, spin kicking both Delta and I across the opposite sides of the room before giving another whale as it landed. I lashed my hand out, thorns shooting out towards the thing. “The hell is that!?” ”Big Sisters!” I heard Bridgid talk through my radio. ”Lamb turned fully grown little sisters into Adam hopped killing machines. Don’t let that thin frame fool you, they are easily twice as strong as any Big Daddy and much, much more agile. They’ll drain you of any adam or whatever till you’re nothing but a husk. That blue lamped one was one of the first, and she’s the deadliest.” Delta got back up, tanking that Big Sister’s hits as I wrapped it around in Nothingness thorns and yanked it off As she was coming at me I raised my foot to kick it away, only for it to stab that long ass needle machine into my foot. “OW!” I barked, nothingness wrapping around the needle and trying to crush or break the thing. It jumped back, yanking the needle out in time before I could break it. I saw it’s needle thing grow a metallic thing and place it atop the red jar where it stored what must be adam and other… I then saw Nothingness thorns wrapped around its arm, over it’s chest, around it’s other arm, then raise it’s hand and fired some at me. I dodged, the wall behind me crumbling as that attack missed me. ”Shit, how much of that power did it get from that short amount of time?” I think, trying to figure out a means to deal with this thing. Fast. “Wait…” I frowned, thinking about what she's using now. “You use my power…” I growled, raising a hand and an authoritative force pushed onto the Big Sister. “Obey!” I barked at the thing As it was charging at me, it halted, looking like it was fighting that command.. It looked at the thorns around it, then me, then roared again, the high pitched scream making me lose concentration as it shot thorns into the ground, breaking the floor wide open as it fell into it, escaping. “Shit.” I growled. “But...at least I can maybe control it…” I said, worried about that thing getting into Kexez’s hands. “You Okay?” I asked Delta. Delta nodded, Bridgid coming in on his radio now. ”Alright you two, were safe. Thank you for that. The good news is, that thing is already far away, likely returning to Lamb. As promised, I have already found a means of getting you to where Ryan’s office was/is. That hole the Big Sister made seems to go down ten floors. Drop down two of them and there’s a walkway leading to a building that connects to Ryan's office. From there I’ll guide you. Just remember, save as many little ones as you can. I’ll have one of them drop off a special Plasmid, it cures the little sisters, well, makes them normal enough, that parasite will just be dormant within them. In return you’ll also receive some Adam. Please be careful, when Kexez and Lamb took over they disabled all but a few hidden Vita chambers so no second chances. Unless you’re lucky.” She explained as it cut off. “Okay then...can't be as simple as it could be.” I frowned, using the thorns to make a rope so I could just climb down the two floors instead of jumping. Once I was down Delta used it and slid himself down, and from there is was just fighting Splicers, heartless and Unversed til we arrived at the walkway. As we got to the end the doors opened and we were greeted by a little sister, a cured one, who walked up to us and gave us each a red vile. “Mama says these are for you.” She said with a smile. “Thank you.” I said with a warm smile, taking the red vile and gently patting her head. ”When i get home...I better spend some time with my daughter's.” I think to myself honestly. She giggled, Delta injecting himself with it as I reluctantly did the same. My whole body felt like needles where in every square inch of it as the Adam did it’s crazy job. Delta and I both fell to our knees for a moment. “Hm?” She hummed, looking to see if we were alright. Before she could get closer a Big Sister ran passed us, grabbed her and ran off FAST! That little sister screaming till she was too far gone to be heard. I tried to jump to chase, but the Adam was still working, and the pain kept me from moving. “No…” I groaned, anger rising with fear as I thought that abominable bitch stole one of my daughter's. “Get...back here...asshole!” I barked. Th adam finally stopped, the pain vanished and I managed to get up but Delta held me back. “Too. Late. Long. Gone.” He grunted as he stood up. “Payback. Later.” “That bitch kidnapped my daughter damn it!” I barked, before taking a deep breath and shaking my head. “Damn these different reflections…” I grumbled, knowing she's not my daughter but feeling like she was. “Come on...we have work to do.” I frowned, looking around to see which was the correct way. As we came across a Splicer that...was yelling at some large gun. We killed it and Delta took the gun, which apparently was some semi automatic rivet gun. Surprisingly, his drill came off, revealing another gloved hand and he grabbed the Rivet gun and loaded it with some rivets laying around. When we came across some Unversed, that gun had distance, and Delta has AIM! He shot a running flood from across the room right in the head, and downed a bruiser in three shots to the head with it. Needless to say, Delta can fight with more than just that drill. “Nice shot.” I said, honestly surprised at how good his aim was. “Programed. Whatever. It. Takes. Must. Protect. Eleanor.” He said, finishing them all off as he dumped the empty rivet mag and loaded up a new one. “I understand.” I nodded. “I need to protect my family…” We found the other walkway to the other side of the building and once we opened the door the one building of Ryans… Immediately Splicers and Heartless, and amalgamations of the two flooded out. “Of course…” I muttered, throwing out thorns towards the enemies flooding out at us. Delta unleashed many rivets into the horde and when they ran out he switched to his drill and began whaling on them. Still though, it was becoming too much as they began to completely cover him. I wasn’t fairing much better either. “God damn it.” I growled, slamming my foot down as Nothingness hands lashed out from the ground and grabbed onto the rushing enemies. “If I had one of my weapons this would be a little easier…” I grumbled, hating this so much as I tried to help Delta. I wasn’t going to stopped by this. No. Not here, not now. “I- GRAH!” My body began popping, I felt my bones, skin and muscles began to grow and my form change. What the hell?! When it was over, I looked in the reflection of some nearby glass I had to be ten feet tall, on all fours! Six feet wide across, and my mouth was long enough to bite a person's head, upper and lower torso off their arms and legs… This is like what Den did when she fought that Psychopath me. “Awesome…” I growled before fighting off the enemies in my new dire wolf form. My claws tore through armored bruisers. My teeth chomped Splicers to gore, which, oddly...tasted not bad...disturbing… and my body when I’d slam into them either killed them on impact or knocked them into the walls. This. Is. Amazing! “Wonder what my wives and kids would think of this?” I wondered, enjoying this quite a bit. Eventually with less and less of them being around Delta managed to get back up and helped clear out the last of them. Once they were all gone I shifted back to normal. Sadly my clothes where all torn up… shit… My Assistant flashed. Final Form Unlocked. Level Rank: 1/6 “Cool.” I said, checking to see how to level final form as I also tried to find some clothes that were fine to wear and wasn't ripped to shreds or worse. Luckily I had some spare clothes stored inside the assistant for emergencies. After putting them on we headed up an elevator, that, once we were up it, we were greeted with a skeleton, Andrew Ryan, and someone on the other side of his glass barrier at his desk...with MY Sharpshooters. “So you made it? Impressive.” This person said. He was in a cloak, Organization 13 cloak. He sounds...familiar. “And who are you if I may ask? Cause you sound familiar.” I said, preparing to fight this new person. “Awh. If I knew you’d I’d be hurt. Haehehehehe.” He said, taking off his hoo- Braig?! “Excuse me but how the fuck are you here?” I frowned. “But do you go by Braig or Xigbar?” “Well, Xigbar is the name I was given as a Nobody, but as is, technically I’m Braig. The you, you knew, is ten years younger than I am, twelve actually. You see, I’m from that little Reality Kexez made, he thought it fitting we each guard your weapons that we’ve used and mastered. Frankly I love the irony.” “Are you a Nobody at the moment?” I asked him simply, a bit pissed he decided to do that. “Not at the moment, part of Xehanort’s heart is within mine.” “And there's no way for me to get my weapons back without beating you all?” I asked, ready to beat the crap out of this Braig. “That’s right, though...good luck trying. Haheheheh.” He said, bringing up both as everything went grey/white and back to normal. The room got a bit larger, it was more like an arena now. He loaded both and jumped up and upside down. Hanging in the air and taking shots. I made a shield out of Twilight Thorns and blocked the shots, sending them back at Braig. “You sure you want to do this?” He side stepped upside down, taking another shot at me that Delta deflected with his drill. “Yeah, let’s see what you got little wolf.” “If you say so.” I said, dashing towards Braig, swinging a thorn whip at him hoping to grab one of his arms. He teleported out of the way. When he reappeared above Delta he took shots, the big daddy roared in pain as each shot made impact. He thrusted his drill up, hitting a bolt right as it fired and the ricochet knocked that one Sharpshooter out of Braig’s hand. “Owe! You little shit!” I jumped, grabbing the dropped Sharpshooter. It glowed, recognizing me as I took aim at Braig. I took a deep breath as Nothingness charged into the bolt. “Note to self...spend some time with baby Braig…” I muttered to myself, firing a powered up shot at Braig insanely fast. He teleported, but so did the bolt, and when he reappeared, so did the bolt, and it shot clear through his chest. “Gah!” He coughed, blood pouring from his mouth as he fell down, dropping the other Sharpshooter. “Heh...heheh-Blaugh!” He coughed out more blood. I walked over and grabbed my other Sharpshooter. “Good.” I muttered, pointing Sharpshooters at Braig. “Where's Jenny?” I asked him, knowing he doesn't have much time. “Heh...heh...sorry kid, I got here a week ago. I don’t know any J--jenny.” He said, his eyes closing as the floor became covered in blood. I checked his health real quick, just to know if he's actually dead. There was nothing. He’s dead, and honestly I got some flashbacks. Damn it… “Well...I got my first of fourteen weapons…” I muttered. “Brigid? Know anywhere we can go from here?” I asked, hoping she was hearing me. She came onto the radio, as if on cue. ”Yes. I don’t know if this is anything, but in one of the markets there’s some creature that looks almost out of pure fire. I’m not sure if this has what you are looking for, but it is best if you deal with it anyway. Would rather not have the city burn under water. That’s just irony.” “That might actually be one of my weapons.” I said honestly. “What direction is it in?” I asked curiously. “Just head back to the previous building, and go to the bottom floor. Also, there’s two little sisters with guardians watching them. Please uphold your part of the deal.” “I know.” I said. “I'm gonna save the kids...let's just hope they aren't too far gone…” I muttered worriedly, making my way back to the previous building and then going down. “But I'm gonna have to fight all the Organization here if I want my weapons back...hmm…” I hummed, thinking about what some of the bosses might do all things considered. Delta and I headed off, and not long back into the building we came across one of the little sisters. Her big daddy was part Invisible...that will be an issue. I attacked it first, the thing roared as it’s helmet lights turned red and ran. They are fast when they are angry. It has the sword in one hand and a rivet gun like Delta. “Well shit…” I muttered, putting Sharpshooters together and firing a charged shot at the thing, the arrow bouncing towards it. Delta managed to charge it, staggering it as the charged shot hit right into it’s helmet. It stood there for a moment before grabbing the bolt, and ripping it out. It’s mask broke clean off, and… It’s human head was half muscle, part skin, and the rest bone, metallic needles and small tunes where like vines under it’s flesh parts, it’s second head, the Invisible’s head, was the one hit by the bolt… two heads... “That is very not good…” I muttered, aiming for the second head. “This is so wrong…” I muttered, hating the damned experiments done to innocent people. It roared, charging again. Delta stepped forward, his drill spinning fast as he thrusted it into the other big daddy’s incoming skull. The drill ran through it’s head and into it’s neck, the thing falling limp quick as Delta shook it off his drill. “Okay then…” I said, moving over to the little sister hoping she was okay. “You okay?” I asked the little sister gently. She pushed my hand away, yelling “No!” And kept crying. Delta walked up to her, and she seems more drawn to him. Probably given what she is at the moment. He picked her up, distracting her as I activated the plasmid and cured her. Her body glowed a bright white as her skin turned less pale, becoming a healthy shade of pink, her eyes going from yellow to normal with blue irises. “Hello?” I asked the girl gently, not knowing if she's okay or will immediately pass out. “Hello! Who are you? I’m Cassidy.” She said as Delta put her down. “Names Ben.” I said gently, kneeling down for the little girl. “Do you know where you are?” “I’m in Rapture silly! Little Sister Subject C3498YTV7, fifteenth generation!” “I'm rather concerned.” I frowned. “But do you know where a girl named Jenny is?” I asked, hoping she knew where my daughter was. “Which? In my generation, there were twelve Jenny’s.” “Was there a girl with ears like mine, a tail, and wings?” I asked her, moving my wolf ears around for the little girl. “Hm… I’ve seen one like that before. Little Sister Jenny, Subject Trinity, eighth generation. Last I saw her she was going back to Lamb’s workshop because she was growing up.” “Do you know where Lamb’s workshop is?” I asked, hoping Jenny was okay. “Hm… Not really. Sorry, but maybe she knows.” She said, pointing behind us. We turned around and...that blue light Big Sister was back. I pointed Sharpshooters at the Big Sister, standing in front of Cassidy to protect her. “Stay close to me.” I said to Cassidy, not wanting her to get kidnapped. “So, why did you come back?” I asked the Big Sister, knowing it probably wouldn't work because of what she is. She backed up, almost hissing at us as she looked like she was trying to find an angle of attack. “Obey!” I barked my command, the same commanding force rushing towards the Big Sister. She twitched, trying to force herself to move, but I didn’t have any distractions. My powers even felt stronger now that I have Sharpshooters. “Not gonna scream now.” I growled. “Kneel.” I ordered it, thinking if I can get enough control over her then I might be able to either reverse some of the horrors done to her or have a good ally for the adventure. She was fighting it, but kneeled down before me, resting on both knees. “What happened to you?” I asked, hoping this things mind wasn't shattered to the point where it could only think of murder. Carefully, I managed to unlock her helmet, and when I took it off...I dropped it… She was older, scared, and half shaved. “J-Jenny…” Her eyes where that Little sister yellow. I gently put my hand on her head, tearing up as I tried to help her get better. I used that curing plasmid to try and help her. When it was over I about threw up red...that’s not blood...Adam? Crap, she’s got too much Adam inside her. That’s why she’s so fucked up. I...can’t take it all out. Least not all at once. “Jenny?” I asked, hoping she at least had some of her mind back. She didn’t hiss, or move much. I think she calmed down some now. She couldn’t talk though. “Brigid...I found my daughter…” I said shakily. “How...how long would it take to cure her?” I asked, tears filling my eyes as I stared at Jenny, sadness at not being able to protect her from whatever they did to her, and such unbridled fury that Kexez, Lamb, and whoever got in my way will wish they were never born. ”Curing a big sister? That would be a lot of Adam to remove… Hmm… Maybe… If you can get her to an old adam bank and rewire the deposit needles to run at max power you can drain her of enough excess Adam for the cure plasmide to work. You’d have to find one with a still intact tank, and Splicers from all over would smell the adam being drained from all of Rapture’s remaining buildings. It would be a war.” She replied from the radio. “I don't care...if it means saving my little girl…” I said. “Is there any working Adam banks around?” I asked, hoping there was so I could help her. ”Let me ask the little ones.” There was a few moments of silence before she came back on. ”Alright, one of them says there’s a working Adam bank nearby. A floor down with two tanks intact and empty. Best be careful, who knows what’s there.” “Thanks Brigid, I'll make sure no Little Sister gets hurt if they appear.” I told her, looking at Jenny. “Rise.” I told Jenny. She rose, fighting to no avail as she moved and followed us. “Don't worry Jenny...your gonna get better…” I muttered, heading off to the Adam bank and ready to fight anything coming against me. There where splicers, and two Big Daddies, one normal and the other… crawled on all fours like a dog… what was creepy was that it’s legs and arms were clearly massively deformed. They were all dealt with and the little sisters freed from their...mutations. The Adam bank had automated security, but thankfully Delta had this tool that hacked them to be on our side. Once in, Delta helped hook Jenny to both tanks extractors, and he drained all the adam I had from curing little sisters and my failed attempt to cure Jenny. “Alright…” I nodded, turning to face the doorway as Sharpshooters gained a blue glow. “Alright, time to see how many of these fucks I can kill.” I muttered, knowing the bastards are on their way. Delta started up the machine, and the machine seems to have a counter on it. One hour. I could hear them coming, rushing in. The automatic turrets started up and began opening fire. Several got through as I shot them dead. Delta fired when needed, but kept watch over Jenny to make sure nothing went wrong. Several of those bizarre oversized muscular ones tried entering, but with the automated turrets and a few charged shots they were downed fast. The timer was at half an hour now, but the tanks were already one full, the other half way. “Can't that thing go any faster?” I growled, continuing to fire at anyone that got past the automated guns. “Fuck this…” I growled, Sharpshooters glowing blue as I shoved them both into portals as thousands of portals opened up around the hoard and basically all the bullets rained down on them. It was like a hail of magical arrows, they littered the floor and turned anything in its way into swiss cheese or a pin cushion. “None of you will touch my daughter!” I barked angrily. When it ended I looked behind me. The timer still had ten minutes but both tanks were full now. Red flashes and a warning alert began to ring out as the tanks pressure built up. “Fuck…” I groaned. “Do you have any idea how to not make this thing blow up?” I asked Delta worriedly. He looked around, quickly taking on of the injection needles and injecting it into himself. The tanks pressure dropped as Adam was sent right into Delta. The timer rang as Jenny was ejected from the depositor and I used the cure plasmid. She glowed a bright, almost holy white. It faded, and when it did, she was out cold. I checked her pulse and made sure she was still breathing, hoping it was just because of the Adam she was out cold. “Please be okay…” I said worriedly. She began to stir some, and opened her eyes. “Agh...my head.” She groaned. Her eyes were normal. “Oh thank god.” I sighed out thankfully. “Glad to see your awake Jenny. How you feeling?” “Umm...Okay, I think… who are you?” My heart dropped into my stomach. “It's me...your father.” I said, scared shitless of the thought of her no longer knowing who I am. “I...Sorry, nothing’s coming to mind. Hey, you called me Jenny...that’s my name then?” “Your names Jenny…” I said, tearing up as I tried my best not to shake or cry. “You...sure you don't remember anything?” I asked gently. “Uhh...All I remember is waking up here. I literally remember nothing else.” “Brigid...explain.” I frowned, looking at my Assistant hoping Brigid could answer. ”Hmm. I’m sorry but this is alien to me. Curing little ones is one thing, but a big sister is new and unhear-” Her audio cut out...and Kexez came on.”I see you found Jenny. Impressed? No, you’d likely feel a mix of anger and despair.” “When I get my hands on you your going to wish you were in the deepest pit in hell.” I growler. “But what did you do to her?” ”It’s a side effect of what I turned her into. I can tell you they may or may not come back on their own. The only sure fire way they can return is a little visit to a place called Castle Oblivion.” “And I don't know where Core took it.” I frowned. ”And I do. I just require a little...favor of you, and I’ll take all this away from you, you’ll have your daughter, the Crystal Empire will be fine, and I’ll take you to Castle Oblivion to fix your daughter. So, what's more important to you? Her, or this world, or, illusion of, I should say.” “That depends on what the favor is considering you did a massive universal no no.” I said, really hating this so much. ”It’s simple really. I need a sample. A single strand of hair, skin or blood will do.” “Of mine?” I asked. “Cause last time this happened a super assassin wanted to have a kid.” I said, remembering that whole debacle and how she's now a bit stupid. ”No, not of you. I need a sample of your world’s Cadence.” “Why?” I asked. “Hasn't she suffered enough?” ”I just need a single strand of hair. I don’t require the whole mare. Just a sliver of DNA is all I ask. Or is that not worth her memories?” “And what are you going to do? Make a clone of her so it'll kill Cadence, and then you can basically do what the Changelings tried to do on one reflection or another?” I growled, hating how the only definite way of getting Jenny’s memories back was in...wait…”Well I'm fucking stupid, completely forgot Zeke made damn well sure he studied Castle Oblivion and memory stuff, I'll just ask him for help...I hope.” I think to myself, really hoping that’s how it works instead of doing what this bastard told me to do. ”So, what's your answer.” “Go to hell. I can get Jenny’s memories back without your help.” I told him. “So, are you going to give me the directions for my next weapon cause I’m pretty sure this was your idea.” ”Awh. Now why make it so easy for you now that you've backed out.” “Because your that kind of guy who believes he’s still better even if he tells his opponent where his stuff is?” I ask, thinking he would buy that explanation considering he’s a massive narcissist. ”You clearly don't know me.” He laughed as the world around us began… evaporating. ”To be continued another time then, I’ll be sure to take care of your weapons til I'm done studying them.” “How about you give me back my weapons and then I’ll beat your ass with them.” I frowned. ”And shorten the game? Nah. Besi- huh? This...this can't be right.” “Oh, something that isn’t right to you huh? I wonder what it is.” I roll my eyes, thinking this fucker is just doing some bull here. “Mind telling me what it is?” ”I still hold connections to Kingdom Hearts. Seems the father of Keyblades made one. A very powerful one.” “Maybe it’s because your absolute garbage and it wanted to do something to help stop you and your bullshit.” I said, not understanding what he just talked about but still. Kexes paused for a while… then laughed madly. ”A second! A second X-blade has been crafted and is wielded! If this is my doing… time to stop taking things slow…” The audio cut, and the world around us began fading. Delta too. “Goodbye. Friend.” He said, vanishing along with everything else here. I frowned, holding Jenny as the world around us faded. “Well...that’s not good…” I muttered worriedly. As everything vanished, the crystal empire began returning. Soon only Jenny, myself, and the empire where left...till Squirrel fell from the sky. “Gah! Shit! Landed on my keys…” He...didn’t age a day? “Okay so how the hell did me and Jenny just age ten years but you didn’t age a single day?” I asked. “You really should read the family abilities manual.” Squirrel said, getting himself back up. “We can control our physical age once we turn eighteen.” “Ah-” I was about to say before feeling the world shake. “Oh...that would probably be my clone...training with Lunatic...going absolutely fucking berserk…” I frowned, not liking that whole thing. “A galactic quake? Nice. Feels like a 4.3. Not bad.” “Not bad?” I asked, the sound of something really strong shattering like glass could be surprisingly heard. “Yeah...that would probably be that pure vibranium slab “Huh. Again, impressive. Well that vanished so… looks like I’m free.” “So Kexez is freaking out about there being a second X blade…” I said worriedly. “And I need to get Jenny to Daybreak to get her memories back.” “Mind if I tag along? I got nothing better to do.” Squirrel asked. “Sure.” I said, summoning Reunion thankfully and opening a DTL. “Want your memories back Jenny?” “Well, considering I can't remember you and have no idea what's going on. Might as well.” She said, walking into the DTL “Thank you.” I said while entering the DTL as well, hoping Zeke was there so we can solve this whole thing. “And that's a wrap. Til next chapter folks.” Squirrel said, following behind as the DTL closed. To be continued...