Advanced Genetics and Expository Speaking(2/2)
Title: Advanced Genetics and Expository Speaking(2/2)
Author: Christmas Pterodactyl
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 6,332 words
Disclaimer: The author makes no claims of ownership to any material that may be recognized by the public. Basically, you recognize it? Not mine.
Spoilers: Through the end of Season 2
Summary: The Battle with the Black Rider awakened something within Annie Edison. Something unnatural, something remarkable, something life-altering. It’s time to find out why.
Author’s Notes:. The second and final chapter in this bridge story. Special guest star Hank Lawson from Royal Pains as well as the Time Desk, with Supercapo’s blessing. If you’re following along at home, I appreciate it. It’s been a long ride, and the fun will begin again real soon, with a full recap for those just tuning in. Yes, this is a crossover story with the 2K video game Bioshock. Yes, it has a more serious tone, but there is some funny. And I like serious stuff with some good comedy.
Part 1: God Bless the Child
The weapon came down with a whoosh and he rolled into a mass of blankets. The object jabbed into the bed where he lay. Jeff felt around for Annie’s solid mass, feeling only blankets where she was supposed to be laying. He heard a sing song voice from the stranger, who he determined was female, and what she said he tried to comprehend to no avail.
“Time for a nap, sweet angel….” The woman’s sing-song voice was beginning to concern more than the weapon in her hands. She stabbed again, again right where Jeff had been, had he not somersaulted off the mattress to the floor. He was up in an interest, and watching the glowing orbs. He grabbed the curtain from the window, and flung them open, letting the moonlight illuminate his attacker.
“Christ Annie! What the hell!” She lifted the weapon from the bed, looking at him with a dead gaze. Her skin had always been pale, but it was more pronounced with perhaps a slight grayish pallor. Annie had a bright smile on her face, oblivious to her actions; she was humming as she slowly walked around the bed
“Who looks after angels? I do…I do….” Annie raised the needle again, approaching her boyfriend. He was running out of options. He grabbed the first thing he could find, the blanket, and lunged at her with arms wide open. She slashed down too soon, and was wrapped completely with Jeff’s arms around her covered form in a bear hug. She struggled to get out of his grasp, out of the blanket; but he held tight. “No! No no! Save me Mister Bubbles! Please!”
Annie wasn’t a wallflower, like many people assumed. He’d seen her in her Self Defense class, and even felt her fist of fury. But she wasn’t supposed to be that strong, surprising Jeff when she thrashed about, attempting to escape. She was yelling now. Something about a bubble bath character or a person, he wasn’t sure.
“Dammit! Calm down!” She toppled him, and both fell to the ground, him on his back, her on top of his chest. He thought about how the position they were in was going to be much sexier, more intimate, and less psychotic. He rolled over on to her, he resistance unending. Straddling her, legs clamping her arms to her side, he searched frantically for his phone in order to call for help.
“Was ist racket! “ Brigid Tenenbaum barged in and gasped at the sight in front of her.
Jeff looked up. “This isn’t what it looks like Doc.”
“What is going on!”
“She’s crazy, tried to stab me with a needle.”
“NO! NO! MISTER B!” Brigid paled at Annie’s exclamations.
“Nien, this cannot happen.”
“It’s happening! Get something to calm her down!” Winger yelled back. Tenenbaum rushed as quickly out of the room as she could. Annie continued struggling, and Jeff was becoming more and more concerned. The girl would not stop, despite writhing and wriggling constantly for the last five minutes. “C’mon honey, knock it off. God this is embarrassing.” Tenenbaum was taking her sweet damn time, he thought. It was painful to him, seeing her struggle like this. But she had to be restrained so she wouldn’t hurt him, or herself.
Brigid was back in less than two minutes, a syringe in her hand. “Unwrap one of her arms and hold it still.” The Doctor flicked the syringe, lightly tapping the plunger to expel any air bubbles while Jeff did his best to get an arm loose for Tenenbaum to find a vein in. She found one quickly, and then injected a sedative into the younger woman. Annie thrashed, whining about Mr. Bubbles protecting her, but slowly calmed down. Her eyes, still glowing yellow, flickered closed. The struggle over, Jeff got off Annie and sat back against the mattress.
“What the fucking hell was that!” Tenenbaum had already pulled out the syringe, capped it with the cap from she’d held in her mouth, and set it to the side. She was smoothing the brunette’s hair, sniffling and almost crying.
“That was my sin laid bare, Herr Winger. That is something I never wanted to see again.”
“Rapture stuff?” Tenenbaum nodded then whispered.
“Little Sister.”
______________
Hank Lawson was stunned at what he saw. The day before, less than twenty four hours, he’d given a clean bill of health to the young woman in front of him. Now, he was wide eyed with disbelief in what he saw. In the light, her skin was almost gray. Her breathing and heart rate were regular, but opening her eyes, he saw amber iris’ where once was a bright blue. He’d never seen anything like this. He hoped he never would again. But Annie Edison needed help and when Brigid Tenenbaum calls you, you come running.
“Please remember Dr. Lawson that you are under disclosure agreement.”
“I’m more worried about her. Your notes said that with the other children, nothing like this manifested. Do you really think it’s the Adderall? That would have flushed from her system years ago.
Tenenbaum nodded her head. “It did not need to stay in her system. It may have activated dormant DNA.”
“That’s not possible.”
“Anything was possible…is possible with ADAM.” Annie lie on an exam table, with Brigid monitoring the machines while Hank took her vitals. “ADAM was essentially stem cells. In Rapture, we did not know what we play with.”
“There’s not much I can do, the only thing I can think of is giving her a dose of it, but the mental conditioning will be harder to break.”
“ADAM would destroy conditioning. I have success with that when I help Porter years ago.”
Hank took the stethoscope out of his ears and hung it around his neck. “Would it be worth it to draw more blood?”
“Nien, I have plenty. I must ask you to keep this private, even from Herr Winger.” She went to small safe, entered a sixteen digit code, then pulled out a refrigerated blue jar with a large needle. Hank was taken aback by the age of the container and size of the needle. “This is EVE, it will temporarily relieve effects.”
“And the secrecy behind this?”
Brigid stared directly at Hank, and he saw her age twenty years in her eyes alone. “I have three vials left. After that, she will return to Little Sister conditioning.”
“This is stuff you can’t synthesize, isn’t it.” She shook her head.
“I do not have sea slug as base. I could only take so much with me when I left that horrid place. You must keep this secret from Herr Winger. He will not take news well.” She placed her hand on Annie’s head, feeling the coolness of the pale gray skin. Smoothing some hair back, Brigid kissed the young woman’s forehead. “I am so sorry my dear. But we will give you as much time as we can.” She whispered to Annie, then a silent prayer in a deity she chose not to believe in. “Use the vial. Inject into vein in wrist.”
______________
He was making a habit of brooding on the expansive deck overlooking the ocean. Had Jeff been on an actual vacation, he’d be on the beach catching a tan or jogging to attract any bikini clad blueblood rich girls. But his mind kept going back to the night before, Annie viciously attacking him. Both their lives were messed up enough, this didn’t need to happen. He was too busy thinking that he never heard the soft padding footsteps behind him.
“I’m sorry.” Her pained voice snapped him out of his reverie. Jeff jerked out of the chair, and grabbed a normal, albeit pale Annie.
“Are you okay!” He was crushing her to him, but she wasn’t struggling. In fact, her embrace was just as strong.
“I’m so sorry, I don’t remember what happened, but I didn’t mean to and I promise I won’t do it again and I hope you’re okay and can forgive me-”
“Annie, I’m fine. Calm down.” She pulled back, looking up with her Disney eyes reddened with tears. Jeff let go of his hold a little, still holding her smaller frame. “Did Hank or Tenenbaum say what was wrong?”
She shook her head. “Grandmother didn’t say anything. She told me that I’d be okay for now.”
“For now?” Jeff repeated. She nodded her head. He finally took a good look at her, a modest bikini and a see-through wraparound.
“I want to lie on the beach for a while. Can we do that?” Annie had an expectant look on her face. He had no problems with that, for rather obvious reasons. At this point, he’d give her the world.
______________
Tenenbaum was angry. With herself, with the current events, with anything she could legitimately be mad at. But the anger was brought on by a fear that her sins and mistakes had once again caught up with her. For so long, she had watched each of the little ones grow up and create new lives and new life. She’d been there for as many graduations as she could, including a few doctorates and several masters degrees. She’d actually delivered several children of her daughters. Each of the girls, who were now thriving women were precious to her. So to see her lost granddaughter returned in such circumstances brought back too many bad memories and not enough good memories.
She had failed Annie Edison though. Brigid told herself she should have been more aggressive in dealing with the wayward Eileen, who had always been troublesome. She should have pressured Pierce to follow up on Annie’s living conditions. So many regrets, so many broken lives because of her; she swept the papers off the desk in rage, reports and monitoring floating quickly to the ground. And she sobbed. Brigid did not cry anymore, ever. Never had she done so in Rapture, or on the mainland. She hadn’t cried since her father had been shot in front of her in the concentration camp in Germany.
“How long does she have.” She looked up with a tear stained face to see Jeff Winger looming over her. His voice was filled with venom and anger. He had every right to feel that way. She looked back down, hiding her face in her hands.
“I do not know.”
“Why is this happening now?”
“Dr. Lawson and I have a working theory that it was both mental abuse by her mother and chemical reaction with medicine she took in high school. We are unsure at this time.”
“Unsure? You’re unsure about this now!?” He roared, pounding a fist down on the desk, immediately regretting the action when he felt how solid it was.
Tenenbaum shrank back in her chair, but Jeff held the elderly woman with a stone cold stare. “Three weeks. I can’t promise more.”
“You’re a monster.”
“I am well aware of this state of being. If I had proper equipment and material, I would be able to cure her.” Brigid looked up and focused on the tall man. “But material is unavailable.” Jeff only nodded waiting for more. “I am sorry, Herr Winger. If I had the power…”
“Doctor, you had the power. If I believed in God, I’d hope he would damn you to Hell.”
“Love her Jeffrey. She needs you now more than ever.”
“You’re preaching to the choir lady.” He stomped out.
______________
They went out to dinner, they went dancing. Later that week, she was awed by a fireworks display over the coastline, snuggled up to Jeff on a beach blanket. One day they went boating by themselves. Jeff had learned the day before how to work the watercraft, so when they were far enough out, she sunbathed with her top off. He couldn’t help by ogle her, she didn’t mind the ogling.
Toward the end of the week, she ambushed him and they made love for the first time. She was uncomfortable at first, but he took her to heights she never imagined. She melted, fireworks and lights exploded behind her eyes, the experience indescribable. She jumped him again in the shower. And on the beach one night, he fulfilled her dream of sex on the beach with two drinks of the same name. It was tender at times, it was rough at times. They enjoyed every minute of it.
By the end of the first week, Tenenbaum and Hank Lawson injected her with the second vial of blue, viscous liquid. She’d not felt any symptoms, no impulses to stab her lover (he was more than a boyfriend now) or cry out for protection from whoever Mr. Bubbles was. She felt no anger towards her grandmother, only acceptance of her condition. When not spending time with Jeff or sleeping, she devoured the expansive library, reading texts and journals that would never see the light of day. She read everything she could on what had been discovered by the mysterious sea slug. At one point, seeing the application of and byproduct of the animal, Annie cried, and ran off to find Jeff. He held her tightly, soothing her sobs with as much reassurance as he could.
He asked her at one point if she wanted to see the group before ‘it’ happened, and she had shaken her head vigorously in denial.
“I love my friends, but I don’t want them to see me like this.”
“Hon, that’s kinda cruel when you think about it.”
Annie bit her lip knowing he was right; he had an annoying habit of being right on occasions. Practicality was always his strong suit. “I can call them….” She always looked to him expectantly for support. Jeff was happy to help.
______________
The weather in the Hamptons had cooperated during their visit, up until the last two days. It was the middle of their second week when a storm blew in, disrupting their day plans for a ride down to the city in a convertible on loan from Hank Lawson. It was a cool rain, causing them to wear jeans, but not deterring them from swinging in the large hammock they’d purchased and set up. Her fingers were interlaced with his, their legs tangled together. His eyes were drowsy, she reading a paperback (Milton’s Paradise Lost), they enjoyed the lazy day.
He was barely awake, or barely asleep, he never really could tell. Jeff could feel the sway, feel her curled up against him, feel her small hand in his. He could hear her soft breathing, hear the tunes of the ever so wonderful, seminal Canadian alt-rock band Barenaked Ladies (he was conceding a lot of things to her but he wasn’t going to complain)from the radio nearby, and a grinding noise that was getting louder and louder from around the corner of the house. His eyes fluttered open, looking over at the woman sharing the hammock.
“You hear that?” He was groggy, but the sound was loud enough to block out the chorus of that horrid band.
“Hm?” She continued reading. She got like this sometimes, and he chuckled out how oblivious she became to the outside world. The grinding stopped with a loud clang of a bell. He jerked, almost flipping the hammock over. “Jeff, stay still.”
“You didn’t just hear that?”
“Go back to sleep, we can order dinner from that Chinese place later.” The grogginess overtook him again, and he slumped his head back against the netting. Just a dream, probably some rich kids figuring out the manual transmission on their expensive new toy, he told himself. But the clomping feet on the wraparound deck told him that these kids had gotten out of the car and were going to ask for help. He really didn’t want to get up. Annie’s warm body was helping him stay warm as well. Jeff wanted privacy, in case they wanted to play reindeer games later. They were going to have Christmas tomorrow, and tonight she was going to put up some decorations.
“Jeffrey, Annie!” Jeff heard the voice, one he was familiar with. One he really didn’t want to hear right now, but he was conditioned after two years to reply to.
“Buddy.”
“Hey Abed.” Annie muttered, turning the page. Jeff jerked up again, almost flipping them over in the hammock. He saw the younger man looking at them with his head cocked to the side, then looking at his watch. But instead of the pop culture shirts he always wore, he was in a leather jacket with black pants. His hair was trimmed short, and he looked slightly older then when they’d last see him.
“Uh, what are you doing here?”
“I came to help.” Annie squeaked when she looked up from her book.
“Abed what are you doing here?!” Her movement did it, and they both spilled to the wooden deck below. He landed on his back, her on top of him. He thought to himself that this was becoming too much of a constant in their relationship.
“Ow.”
“Sorry!” Abed chuckled at the antics of the two, and then held out one hand to the brunette and the other to the taller man. Jeff was surprised at the gawky kid’s strength when he pulled them up, but brushed himself off and made sure Annie was tended to. “You look different.”
“I am different Annie, I feel so alive, it’s like I can feel the Earth moving through the universe.”
“Okay... Is this one of those My Dinner With Andre things?”
“No, I’m here to help Annie. I know she’s sick, and I know how to help her.” More feet were heard walking on the deck, and unsurprisingly, Britta and Troy walked in. She in her standard leather jacket as well, Troy in a hoodie. As soon as the blonde woman saw Annie, she rushed forward and enveloped the younger woman in a hug. “As you see,” Abed shrugged, “I have some traveling companions.”
“Hey, where are the singing Christmas flowers, man? Oh, hey Jeff! What are you doing here?” Troy was meandering around the deck, then saw the hammock and dropped into it. Within a moment, he was snoozing. Jeff shot a look of disdain at Nadir, than pointed at him.
“Both of you, inside, right now.” He hit one of the wooden bars that stretched the hammock, knocking Troy out of the netting.
“Ow!”
______________
Annie wiggled out of Britta’s hug after a few seconds, then stepped back and looked at her. Her hair was up, there was a smile on her face and she looked happy. There was no pinched look, no accusatory stare, none of the harshness of the crusading woman she knew.
“When Abed said you two needed help, I wasn’t sure what we could do. But Annie, I’ve seen so much that I know there is something to cure you.”
“Wait a second, who told you about…how do you know what’s going on?”
______________
“Because we’re from the future!” Troy gulped down a glass of water while Abed searched the refrigerator.
“Tweedledum, Tweedledummer, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about but I can assure you that-”
Abed turned around and pierced Jeff with the hard stare he was so well known for. “She’s sick Jeff, stop denying it. She needs help, and we’re the only ones who can help you two. So sit down and listen to what we have to say.”
______________
“Abed found something in Jeff’s office. Something really awesome.” The two were on the deck chairs, watching the rain fall to the ground. “This is a great view, what’s it like when it’s sunny?”
“Stay on track Britta.”
“Right. He found a time machine.” Annie guffawed. “For realsie, just hear me out. Abed found it and the end of the semester, two years from now. He tried it out, went a few places, picked up a bitchin’ leather jacket, and then told Troy and I.”
Annie’s brow crinkled. “I’m not sure where you’re going with this.”
“After paintball two years ago, you and Jeff disappeared. No one knew what happened to you. Troy went to your apartment in August, and someone else was living there. I went to Jeff’s, same thing.” Annie stayed calm, stayed neutral, she didn’t like where this was going. “Around September, when school started, the Study Group met and it was a disaster, we broke apart a week later. You and Jeff were literally the glue that held us together. Shirley graduated early and opened her brownie business. Pierce occasionally said hello. But Troy, Abed and I started research on where you two were. We didn’t find anything. Your mom, by the way, is a colossal bitch.”
“I know.”
“So the last two years pretty much sucked. Abed took over the newspaper, I went into the psychology program, and Troy actually put Greendale on the map with football. But it still wasn’t the same. When we graduated, Abed was doing a pop culture marathon of series finales, when he noticed something about Jeff’s old office.”
¬______________
“The desk wasn’t just desk. I was hoping the couch did something too, but it wasn’t that cool.”
“Guys, you’re wasting my time.”
“It was a Time Desk.” Abed said matter-of-factly. Jeff froze.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard him. The Dean just didn’t know which desk it was.” Troy shrugged, as if nothing was wrong with the scenario presented. He was now munching on a bagel. “Jeff, it was pretty crappy when you two disappeared.”
“What do you mean ‘disappeared’?”
Abed nodded in agreement to Troy’s revelation. “Simply put, we never saw you again after paintball. Britta’s talking to Annie about it now, we’ll compare notes later. But I found a Time Desk. After exploring a little, I decided it was time to find you two. Troy and Britta stumbled on to my plan, and well, here we are.”
______________
Britta took out a cigarette, and lit up. “I thought you quit smoking.”
“I thought I did too. But the stress got to me. I’m trying to quite again, but you and the tall doofus weren’t around to suggest Pierce ‘hypnotize’ me again. I’m actually back down to two a day.” Perry shrugged her shoulders. “Annie, I can’t pretend to know what’s happening to you. But we’re here to help you get to Rapture.” Edison squeaked again. “Pierce told us before we left. He says hi, and apologizes for everything. He wasn’t the same when he came back in the fall. Anyway, we can get you help Annie.”
______________
“So you know about this underwater city?”
“Pierce was pretty forthcoming. The Time Desk can get us there, but it’s up to you two”
Jeff was sitting in a chair, hand to his forehead, exasperated. “I swear to God, you people are killing me. Okay, say what you’re telling me is true-”
“Which it is.”
“Right.” He drew that out, another notch on the long abandoned table. “You’re saying that you can drop us off in an underwater city, where I have to help Annie find her pseudo-grandmother who caused the whole problem, cure her, then get back to said Desk before a civil war erupts.”
“Well, when you put it that way….” Troy shrugged his shoulders.
“You, shut it.”
“It’s not an easy trip. We’re talking dark, harrowing trip that could hurt or kill both of you. But you’re going to go. I know you will.”
Winger shook his head. “Even if we did, even if we did cure Annie, what then? We just go back to Greendale?”
“The choice is up to you my friend.”
“Stop being meta, Abed.”
“I’m serious Jeff. I don’t play around with this kind of stuff. You know me better than that.”
“You came in a Time Desk!”
The younger man snarled back. “And Annie can move stuff with her mind, and has a week left before she’s a vegetable. I’m trying to save two lives. Two of my friends are in trouble, and I can’t stand it. You think you two are not important? You don’t return, you ruin five lives, so get it through your large forehead and thick skull that what I’m doing is real, and we’re saving your lives.” Troy froze, Jeff froze. Neither had ever seen this type of behavior, this much emotion. The room was silent for minutes, save for Troy’s munching on a plate of cookies and saltine crackers.
Winger was giving Abed a hard stare. “You can help save her?”
“I can get you where you need to go. The rest is up to you.”
“When?”
“When you’re ready.” Jeff got out of the chair, looked at both men who despite time travel were still younger, then left the room.
“That went well.” Troy finished another cookie, Abed nodding in ascent.
______________
The couple found each other in Tenenbaum’s library. Annie was shaking; Jeff embraced her, hugging the shorter woman to his chest. This was another constant in their relationship. He was starting to hate the negative constants.
“What do we do?”
“You’re asking me?”
“Annie, they time traveled in a desk.”
“And my mother was a maladjusted, brainwashed little girl in an underwater city. I think we can officially suspend disbelief.” Annie stepped back and looked up at him. “I have to do this Jeff. I don’t want to die.”
“You’re not going to die.”
“You know what I mean. I don’t want to be a Little Sister, or a mindless shell. There’s no choice.”
“I’m going with you, you know. You can’t do this alone.” She nodded. “Do you think it’ll work?”
“It’s the best chance I have. Jeff, I want to be normal. I just found you. I’m keeping you as long as I can. After how much we danced around each other, I’m going to be selfish and say I deserve you, and you deserve me.”
Jeff smiled. “I love it when you get formidable with me.”
“Well, with me, you have to break a light sweat. I’m a precocious little b-”
He shushed her with his lips, for a quite a bit. “Not my best moment. But then, the results were starting to get fun.”
“Your grammar sucks.” He was still smirking.
“Study up on the genetics stuff. I’ll see what I can pry out of Tenenbaum.” He was halfway out the room when Annie piped up.
“Jeff?” He turned. “Thank you.” Winger nodded then left the room.
______________
“You cannot be serious.” Brigid looked at her granddaughter at the tall man with wide eyes. The old woman, to Jeff’s amusement, could still be startled. At this point, after everything they’d seen and heard over the past month, he didn’t care about here. She had inadvertently caused Annie harm. That was the line which she shouldn’t have crossed. “This is madness.”
“It’s the only way.” He replied flippantly. “Look, you did plenty of crazy shit down in Rapture. If that place exists, and I can’t believe I’m saying THIS with a straight face, than time travel can happen.” Brigid closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I am getting stress headache. Herr Winger, since I met you, I have had three. Why is this? Why do you do this?”
“He does it to me Grandmother. I don’t know why I let him get away with it.”
“Because I’m just that awesome.”
“Mein Gott, you two children will put me in early grave. I do this against my better judgment. Annie, there is a large wooden box with chain carved into it. Please bring it to me.” Edison nodded and left the study, leaving Jeff and Tenenbaum. “You know not what you will encounter, Herr Winger. Rapture is dangerous place.” She took a deep breath, and shook her head. “Have you ever killed a man, Jeffrey? Have you ever pulled trigger, pushed button, pulled lever? Nein, you know nothing of this in your office of law books. You talk and talk in front of idiot judge and stupid jury. You have never had man’s life in your hand.”
“Are you going somewhere with this?”
“Ja. If you go to Rapture, you must be prepared to take a life. It is completely different from anything you have ever seen, ever experienced. Men and women there will not hesitate to destroy you, be it mentally or physically. They will test you in every fashion, and you will need to be strong, for my Annie, and for yourself. You must not try plasmids or ADAM. Your body and mind cannot handle mutation. And if you do, you will be dead.”
“What about Annie?”
“She shares her mother’s DNA, and subsequently her ability to convert ADAM is leading to her ability to use plasmids that may have resided in junk DNA from her idiot mother. This will be boon to you both, as Rapture requires ability to defend yourself.”
Jeff nodded, assimilating the information he was being given. “What else?”
“Perceptive, gut. There are certain people in Rapture you must stay away from. These people have ideological issues that lead to downfall of city. Most dangerous of all is Frank Fontaine. He is cutthroat murderer. Keep Annie away from him and Dr. Suchong. Both will want to study her, make her experiment. Also look out for Sophia Lamb. This woman is reason Annie is way she is.”
“Sounds like she’s in more danger than I am.”
“In turn, you must stay away from Andrew Ryan. This man is charismatic, but will ultimately lose control of city. When civil war breaks, you must stay away from Kashmir Restaurant on New Year’s Eve, 1958. There will be attack that starts true war. I only hope…I hope nothing will happen to you.”
“Jeffrey, you must, above all else, protect Annie. She is vulnerable at this time. She must have EVE injection once a week in order to prevent reversion. I cannot predict what happens, and when you come to Rapture, you will be on your own.”
Winger looked at the old woman, who was looking down at the top of her desk, as if speaking to it instead of him. Jeff didn’t want to care about Tenenbaum’s guilt. He wanted to believe she deserved it. He had wanted to rage against everything she had done. But in a sense, she was paying for her crimes everyday with the massive amount of guilt that was consuming her, and that was the only worldly penance that she was able to work for until her last day on this world.
“We’re starting from scratch you know.”
“I will give you resources.” At that moment, Annie returned to the room carrying a large box with a carved chain on top. “Bitte, my dear.” Brigid opened the lid of the box, and pulled out three large stacks of currency. “There is at least fifteen thousand dollars here. As you will see, it has the face of Andrew Ryan printed on it. This will help you buy EVE and find place to stay until you can establish yourself. Do stay away from Apollo Square or Pauper’s Drop. This money won’t buy you luxury, but you will have decent accommodations. Food will be fish mostly. Enjoy steak dinner before you leave.” She handed him a stack of papers in a manila envelope. “This is research regarding plasmid to help cure Annie. You must deliver this to me as soon as possible, so I may produce cure. It will take time, I am sorry, but I have made instructions to myself that will make it as efficient and quickly as possible. Follow instructions in this packet.”
The couple was already engrossed in their duties, Annie taking inventory of what she was given and making a list of what they needed to do before leaving, Jeff counting out the money and putting into smaller piles as well as adding ideas to his own mental checklist.
“I would recommend renting room at Fighting McDonagh in Neptune’s Bounty. I did not have much contact with man, but I always heard Herr McDonagh was fair man who helps where he can. From there, you may also contact me to meet at tavern. I have left instructions on this in packet of information Annie is going through now.” Tenenbaum pulled open a drawer in her desk, and brought out a pack of cigarettes. She lit one with a match then slowly inhaled the lit cigarette. With the nicotine running through her blood stream, she seemed to calm down.
“This is a LOT of information Grandmother.” Edison leafed through the papers, glancing at the occasional page and she understood a few of the terms. Annie looked at Jeff, who’d started his own list and frowning at it.
Raising an eyebrow, Jeff looked across the desk. “What year was EVE available?”
“1956.”
“How easy is it to get?”
She shrugged. “You can find it in any vending machine. You cannot miss them, obnoxious things.”
“Those cutter…people, when do they start appearing?
“Splicers will start showing up a year later. The most obvious and dangerous were called spider splicers. They crawl on wall and have clicking metal hooks. Ach, why must you two do this?” Annie perked up, looking at Tenenbaum. Edison had been more timid as of late, owing to the threat of imminent death.
“Because she’s a fighter.” Jeff said in her stead. “Because Annie Edison doesn’t throw in the towel; never has, never will.” That gained him a smile.
“Jeff’s right Grandmother, I’ve worked too hard to become what I am.” Annie grabbed for his hand, giving it a soft squeeze. The room was silent again for several minutes as the younger woman went back to her list.
Brigid Tenenbaum nodded in understanding. “Come, it is late. You need to spend time with friends.” She was proud of her granddaughter.
______________
“Hold on, this may get bumpy.” Abed was standing at a circular console with a large green pillar in the middle. Prior to their entrance into the Time Desk, Jeff and Annie had found a couple Army surplus duffel bags of the era that Abed and Tenenbaum both approved of. Annie, in her research capacity, had researched clothing styles of the late 1940’s; Brigid had stated that they should be as inconspicuous as possible. Jeff, in his style capacity, groused about the choice of color of suit he was wearing.
“Seriously, who wears a suit that isn’t black?”
“People in the fifties, duh.” Was the response by Britta.
“So why does Annie get to wear her normal clothes?”
Brigid answered quickly. “My granddaughter has good taste. Pencil skirt and sweaters were normal for time period in Rapture. She can get new clothes later, preferably longer skirt. So can you Jeffrey.”
Troy snickered. “Jeff in a skirt? I would totally pay to see that.”
“Ditto.” Britta quickly agreed, despite the look on Jeff’s face. Brigid even smirked.
Tenenbaum was saddened by their departure, hugging her granddaughter to her frail frame, holding the girl tightly. She didn’t want Annie to leave, but knew that there was no other choice. They had been planning together for days while Jeff prepared the supply bags with everything they’d need. His pop-culture maniac of a friend had actually been handy in finding what they needed, going through various surplus stores and thrift shops. Troy and Britta were of no help, they just walked around the village, enjoying the weather.
Abed was circling the console, making adjustments to knobs and levers, calling out for the occasional hand of Troy or Annie to take care of the occasional button press. Before ‘launch’, Britta had been summarily banned from touching the controls, and Jeff was already deep in thought about their cover story.
His reverie was broken when the floor below him rattled and shook, followed by a final shudder that caused everyone but Abed to fall to the ground. Various expletives and ouches later, everyone was on their own feet, and Nadir announced the two words they were both hopeful yet apprehensive to hear.
“We’re here.”
______________
Epilogue
Eileen Edison looked at the man on her doorstep with disgust. She despised everything about him. And none of this was deserved. She was angry enough at her ex-husband who apparently was happy without here in Denver. She was furious that her daughter had the tenacity to make her problems public and go to rehab for a simple problem like taking prescription medicine. Had her daughter the self control, she could have avoided the problem. But Annie was like her father. Pig-headed, arrogant, selfish; she’d disowned the girl, banishing her from her house, dissolving the trust fund her ‘mother’ had set up for the child.
“What do you want you son of bitch.”
“Brigid sent me to talk to you.”
“I have nothing to say to my mother, she is the cause of all my problems.” She would have slammed the door, but it stopped with Pierce’s between the frame and the door. “How dare you!”
“No Eileen, how dare you. You cut Annie off, let her float in the wind after she nearly dies? Then you have the temerity to act outraged? You don’t get to be. Brigid is angry, and Elena would have been ashamed of your actions. I would have spoken with your other sisters, but I’m not dragging them into your stupidity.”
“You have no right. You don’t know what happened to me. What I experienced in that hell.”
“You can’t seriously believe that’s why you did that to your daughter. You know what, never mind. Brigid sent a message. Your family has excommunicated you.”
“You can’t do that!”
“It’s already done. I’ve had hopes for you. But you abused Annie. It’s a miracle she came out like she did. She’s stronger then you’ll ever be. Good day.” Pierce nodded at the woman, then took his foot out of the door and walked away.
Jeff and Annie will return in Marine Engineering and Partisan Conflict
Author: Christmas Pterodactyl
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 6,332 words
Disclaimer: The author makes no claims of ownership to any material that may be recognized by the public. Basically, you recognize it? Not mine.
Spoilers: Through the end of Season 2
Summary: The Battle with the Black Rider awakened something within Annie Edison. Something unnatural, something remarkable, something life-altering. It’s time to find out why.
Author’s Notes:. The second and final chapter in this bridge story. Special guest star Hank Lawson from Royal Pains as well as the Time Desk, with Supercapo’s blessing. If you’re following along at home, I appreciate it. It’s been a long ride, and the fun will begin again real soon, with a full recap for those just tuning in. Yes, this is a crossover story with the 2K video game Bioshock. Yes, it has a more serious tone, but there is some funny. And I like serious stuff with some good comedy.
Part 1: God Bless the Child
The weapon came down with a whoosh and he rolled into a mass of blankets. The object jabbed into the bed where he lay. Jeff felt around for Annie’s solid mass, feeling only blankets where she was supposed to be laying. He heard a sing song voice from the stranger, who he determined was female, and what she said he tried to comprehend to no avail.
“Time for a nap, sweet angel….” The woman’s sing-song voice was beginning to concern more than the weapon in her hands. She stabbed again, again right where Jeff had been, had he not somersaulted off the mattress to the floor. He was up in an interest, and watching the glowing orbs. He grabbed the curtain from the window, and flung them open, letting the moonlight illuminate his attacker.
“Christ Annie! What the hell!” She lifted the weapon from the bed, looking at him with a dead gaze. Her skin had always been pale, but it was more pronounced with perhaps a slight grayish pallor. Annie had a bright smile on her face, oblivious to her actions; she was humming as she slowly walked around the bed
“Who looks after angels? I do…I do….” Annie raised the needle again, approaching her boyfriend. He was running out of options. He grabbed the first thing he could find, the blanket, and lunged at her with arms wide open. She slashed down too soon, and was wrapped completely with Jeff’s arms around her covered form in a bear hug. She struggled to get out of his grasp, out of the blanket; but he held tight. “No! No no! Save me Mister Bubbles! Please!”
Annie wasn’t a wallflower, like many people assumed. He’d seen her in her Self Defense class, and even felt her fist of fury. But she wasn’t supposed to be that strong, surprising Jeff when she thrashed about, attempting to escape. She was yelling now. Something about a bubble bath character or a person, he wasn’t sure.
“Dammit! Calm down!” She toppled him, and both fell to the ground, him on his back, her on top of his chest. He thought about how the position they were in was going to be much sexier, more intimate, and less psychotic. He rolled over on to her, he resistance unending. Straddling her, legs clamping her arms to her side, he searched frantically for his phone in order to call for help.
“Was ist racket! “ Brigid Tenenbaum barged in and gasped at the sight in front of her.
Jeff looked up. “This isn’t what it looks like Doc.”
“What is going on!”
“She’s crazy, tried to stab me with a needle.”
“NO! NO! MISTER B!” Brigid paled at Annie’s exclamations.
“Nien, this cannot happen.”
“It’s happening! Get something to calm her down!” Winger yelled back. Tenenbaum rushed as quickly out of the room as she could. Annie continued struggling, and Jeff was becoming more and more concerned. The girl would not stop, despite writhing and wriggling constantly for the last five minutes. “C’mon honey, knock it off. God this is embarrassing.” Tenenbaum was taking her sweet damn time, he thought. It was painful to him, seeing her struggle like this. But she had to be restrained so she wouldn’t hurt him, or herself.
Brigid was back in less than two minutes, a syringe in her hand. “Unwrap one of her arms and hold it still.” The Doctor flicked the syringe, lightly tapping the plunger to expel any air bubbles while Jeff did his best to get an arm loose for Tenenbaum to find a vein in. She found one quickly, and then injected a sedative into the younger woman. Annie thrashed, whining about Mr. Bubbles protecting her, but slowly calmed down. Her eyes, still glowing yellow, flickered closed. The struggle over, Jeff got off Annie and sat back against the mattress.
“What the fucking hell was that!” Tenenbaum had already pulled out the syringe, capped it with the cap from she’d held in her mouth, and set it to the side. She was smoothing the brunette’s hair, sniffling and almost crying.
“That was my sin laid bare, Herr Winger. That is something I never wanted to see again.”
“Rapture stuff?” Tenenbaum nodded then whispered.
“Little Sister.”
______________
Hank Lawson was stunned at what he saw. The day before, less than twenty four hours, he’d given a clean bill of health to the young woman in front of him. Now, he was wide eyed with disbelief in what he saw. In the light, her skin was almost gray. Her breathing and heart rate were regular, but opening her eyes, he saw amber iris’ where once was a bright blue. He’d never seen anything like this. He hoped he never would again. But Annie Edison needed help and when Brigid Tenenbaum calls you, you come running.
“Please remember Dr. Lawson that you are under disclosure agreement.”
“I’m more worried about her. Your notes said that with the other children, nothing like this manifested. Do you really think it’s the Adderall? That would have flushed from her system years ago.
Tenenbaum nodded her head. “It did not need to stay in her system. It may have activated dormant DNA.”
“That’s not possible.”
“Anything was possible…is possible with ADAM.” Annie lie on an exam table, with Brigid monitoring the machines while Hank took her vitals. “ADAM was essentially stem cells. In Rapture, we did not know what we play with.”
“There’s not much I can do, the only thing I can think of is giving her a dose of it, but the mental conditioning will be harder to break.”
“ADAM would destroy conditioning. I have success with that when I help Porter years ago.”
Hank took the stethoscope out of his ears and hung it around his neck. “Would it be worth it to draw more blood?”
“Nien, I have plenty. I must ask you to keep this private, even from Herr Winger.” She went to small safe, entered a sixteen digit code, then pulled out a refrigerated blue jar with a large needle. Hank was taken aback by the age of the container and size of the needle. “This is EVE, it will temporarily relieve effects.”
“And the secrecy behind this?”
Brigid stared directly at Hank, and he saw her age twenty years in her eyes alone. “I have three vials left. After that, she will return to Little Sister conditioning.”
“This is stuff you can’t synthesize, isn’t it.” She shook her head.
“I do not have sea slug as base. I could only take so much with me when I left that horrid place. You must keep this secret from Herr Winger. He will not take news well.” She placed her hand on Annie’s head, feeling the coolness of the pale gray skin. Smoothing some hair back, Brigid kissed the young woman’s forehead. “I am so sorry my dear. But we will give you as much time as we can.” She whispered to Annie, then a silent prayer in a deity she chose not to believe in. “Use the vial. Inject into vein in wrist.”
______________
He was making a habit of brooding on the expansive deck overlooking the ocean. Had Jeff been on an actual vacation, he’d be on the beach catching a tan or jogging to attract any bikini clad blueblood rich girls. But his mind kept going back to the night before, Annie viciously attacking him. Both their lives were messed up enough, this didn’t need to happen. He was too busy thinking that he never heard the soft padding footsteps behind him.
“I’m sorry.” Her pained voice snapped him out of his reverie. Jeff jerked out of the chair, and grabbed a normal, albeit pale Annie.
“Are you okay!” He was crushing her to him, but she wasn’t struggling. In fact, her embrace was just as strong.
“I’m so sorry, I don’t remember what happened, but I didn’t mean to and I promise I won’t do it again and I hope you’re okay and can forgive me-”
“Annie, I’m fine. Calm down.” She pulled back, looking up with her Disney eyes reddened with tears. Jeff let go of his hold a little, still holding her smaller frame. “Did Hank or Tenenbaum say what was wrong?”
She shook her head. “Grandmother didn’t say anything. She told me that I’d be okay for now.”
“For now?” Jeff repeated. She nodded her head. He finally took a good look at her, a modest bikini and a see-through wraparound.
“I want to lie on the beach for a while. Can we do that?” Annie had an expectant look on her face. He had no problems with that, for rather obvious reasons. At this point, he’d give her the world.
______________
Tenenbaum was angry. With herself, with the current events, with anything she could legitimately be mad at. But the anger was brought on by a fear that her sins and mistakes had once again caught up with her. For so long, she had watched each of the little ones grow up and create new lives and new life. She’d been there for as many graduations as she could, including a few doctorates and several masters degrees. She’d actually delivered several children of her daughters. Each of the girls, who were now thriving women were precious to her. So to see her lost granddaughter returned in such circumstances brought back too many bad memories and not enough good memories.
She had failed Annie Edison though. Brigid told herself she should have been more aggressive in dealing with the wayward Eileen, who had always been troublesome. She should have pressured Pierce to follow up on Annie’s living conditions. So many regrets, so many broken lives because of her; she swept the papers off the desk in rage, reports and monitoring floating quickly to the ground. And she sobbed. Brigid did not cry anymore, ever. Never had she done so in Rapture, or on the mainland. She hadn’t cried since her father had been shot in front of her in the concentration camp in Germany.
“How long does she have.” She looked up with a tear stained face to see Jeff Winger looming over her. His voice was filled with venom and anger. He had every right to feel that way. She looked back down, hiding her face in her hands.
“I do not know.”
“Why is this happening now?”
“Dr. Lawson and I have a working theory that it was both mental abuse by her mother and chemical reaction with medicine she took in high school. We are unsure at this time.”
“Unsure? You’re unsure about this now!?” He roared, pounding a fist down on the desk, immediately regretting the action when he felt how solid it was.
Tenenbaum shrank back in her chair, but Jeff held the elderly woman with a stone cold stare. “Three weeks. I can’t promise more.”
“You’re a monster.”
“I am well aware of this state of being. If I had proper equipment and material, I would be able to cure her.” Brigid looked up and focused on the tall man. “But material is unavailable.” Jeff only nodded waiting for more. “I am sorry, Herr Winger. If I had the power…”
“Doctor, you had the power. If I believed in God, I’d hope he would damn you to Hell.”
“Love her Jeffrey. She needs you now more than ever.”
“You’re preaching to the choir lady.” He stomped out.
______________
They went out to dinner, they went dancing. Later that week, she was awed by a fireworks display over the coastline, snuggled up to Jeff on a beach blanket. One day they went boating by themselves. Jeff had learned the day before how to work the watercraft, so when they were far enough out, she sunbathed with her top off. He couldn’t help by ogle her, she didn’t mind the ogling.
Toward the end of the week, she ambushed him and they made love for the first time. She was uncomfortable at first, but he took her to heights she never imagined. She melted, fireworks and lights exploded behind her eyes, the experience indescribable. She jumped him again in the shower. And on the beach one night, he fulfilled her dream of sex on the beach with two drinks of the same name. It was tender at times, it was rough at times. They enjoyed every minute of it.
By the end of the first week, Tenenbaum and Hank Lawson injected her with the second vial of blue, viscous liquid. She’d not felt any symptoms, no impulses to stab her lover (he was more than a boyfriend now) or cry out for protection from whoever Mr. Bubbles was. She felt no anger towards her grandmother, only acceptance of her condition. When not spending time with Jeff or sleeping, she devoured the expansive library, reading texts and journals that would never see the light of day. She read everything she could on what had been discovered by the mysterious sea slug. At one point, seeing the application of and byproduct of the animal, Annie cried, and ran off to find Jeff. He held her tightly, soothing her sobs with as much reassurance as he could.
He asked her at one point if she wanted to see the group before ‘it’ happened, and she had shaken her head vigorously in denial.
“I love my friends, but I don’t want them to see me like this.”
“Hon, that’s kinda cruel when you think about it.”
Annie bit her lip knowing he was right; he had an annoying habit of being right on occasions. Practicality was always his strong suit. “I can call them….” She always looked to him expectantly for support. Jeff was happy to help.
______________
The weather in the Hamptons had cooperated during their visit, up until the last two days. It was the middle of their second week when a storm blew in, disrupting their day plans for a ride down to the city in a convertible on loan from Hank Lawson. It was a cool rain, causing them to wear jeans, but not deterring them from swinging in the large hammock they’d purchased and set up. Her fingers were interlaced with his, their legs tangled together. His eyes were drowsy, she reading a paperback (Milton’s Paradise Lost), they enjoyed the lazy day.
He was barely awake, or barely asleep, he never really could tell. Jeff could feel the sway, feel her curled up against him, feel her small hand in his. He could hear her soft breathing, hear the tunes of the ever so wonderful, seminal Canadian alt-rock band Barenaked Ladies (he was conceding a lot of things to her but he wasn’t going to complain)from the radio nearby, and a grinding noise that was getting louder and louder from around the corner of the house. His eyes fluttered open, looking over at the woman sharing the hammock.
“You hear that?” He was groggy, but the sound was loud enough to block out the chorus of that horrid band.
“Hm?” She continued reading. She got like this sometimes, and he chuckled out how oblivious she became to the outside world. The grinding stopped with a loud clang of a bell. He jerked, almost flipping the hammock over. “Jeff, stay still.”
“You didn’t just hear that?”
“Go back to sleep, we can order dinner from that Chinese place later.” The grogginess overtook him again, and he slumped his head back against the netting. Just a dream, probably some rich kids figuring out the manual transmission on their expensive new toy, he told himself. But the clomping feet on the wraparound deck told him that these kids had gotten out of the car and were going to ask for help. He really didn’t want to get up. Annie’s warm body was helping him stay warm as well. Jeff wanted privacy, in case they wanted to play reindeer games later. They were going to have Christmas tomorrow, and tonight she was going to put up some decorations.
“Jeffrey, Annie!” Jeff heard the voice, one he was familiar with. One he really didn’t want to hear right now, but he was conditioned after two years to reply to.
“Buddy.”
“Hey Abed.” Annie muttered, turning the page. Jeff jerked up again, almost flipping them over in the hammock. He saw the younger man looking at them with his head cocked to the side, then looking at his watch. But instead of the pop culture shirts he always wore, he was in a leather jacket with black pants. His hair was trimmed short, and he looked slightly older then when they’d last see him.
“Uh, what are you doing here?”
“I came to help.” Annie squeaked when she looked up from her book.
“Abed what are you doing here?!” Her movement did it, and they both spilled to the wooden deck below. He landed on his back, her on top of him. He thought to himself that this was becoming too much of a constant in their relationship.
“Ow.”
“Sorry!” Abed chuckled at the antics of the two, and then held out one hand to the brunette and the other to the taller man. Jeff was surprised at the gawky kid’s strength when he pulled them up, but brushed himself off and made sure Annie was tended to. “You look different.”
“I am different Annie, I feel so alive, it’s like I can feel the Earth moving through the universe.”
“Okay... Is this one of those My Dinner With Andre things?”
“No, I’m here to help Annie. I know she’s sick, and I know how to help her.” More feet were heard walking on the deck, and unsurprisingly, Britta and Troy walked in. She in her standard leather jacket as well, Troy in a hoodie. As soon as the blonde woman saw Annie, she rushed forward and enveloped the younger woman in a hug. “As you see,” Abed shrugged, “I have some traveling companions.”
“Hey, where are the singing Christmas flowers, man? Oh, hey Jeff! What are you doing here?” Troy was meandering around the deck, then saw the hammock and dropped into it. Within a moment, he was snoozing. Jeff shot a look of disdain at Nadir, than pointed at him.
“Both of you, inside, right now.” He hit one of the wooden bars that stretched the hammock, knocking Troy out of the netting.
“Ow!”
______________
Annie wiggled out of Britta’s hug after a few seconds, then stepped back and looked at her. Her hair was up, there was a smile on her face and she looked happy. There was no pinched look, no accusatory stare, none of the harshness of the crusading woman she knew.
“When Abed said you two needed help, I wasn’t sure what we could do. But Annie, I’ve seen so much that I know there is something to cure you.”
“Wait a second, who told you about…how do you know what’s going on?”
______________
“Because we’re from the future!” Troy gulped down a glass of water while Abed searched the refrigerator.
“Tweedledum, Tweedledummer, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about but I can assure you that-”
Abed turned around and pierced Jeff with the hard stare he was so well known for. “She’s sick Jeff, stop denying it. She needs help, and we’re the only ones who can help you two. So sit down and listen to what we have to say.”
______________
“Abed found something in Jeff’s office. Something really awesome.” The two were on the deck chairs, watching the rain fall to the ground. “This is a great view, what’s it like when it’s sunny?”
“Stay on track Britta.”
“Right. He found a time machine.” Annie guffawed. “For realsie, just hear me out. Abed found it and the end of the semester, two years from now. He tried it out, went a few places, picked up a bitchin’ leather jacket, and then told Troy and I.”
Annie’s brow crinkled. “I’m not sure where you’re going with this.”
“After paintball two years ago, you and Jeff disappeared. No one knew what happened to you. Troy went to your apartment in August, and someone else was living there. I went to Jeff’s, same thing.” Annie stayed calm, stayed neutral, she didn’t like where this was going. “Around September, when school started, the Study Group met and it was a disaster, we broke apart a week later. You and Jeff were literally the glue that held us together. Shirley graduated early and opened her brownie business. Pierce occasionally said hello. But Troy, Abed and I started research on where you two were. We didn’t find anything. Your mom, by the way, is a colossal bitch.”
“I know.”
“So the last two years pretty much sucked. Abed took over the newspaper, I went into the psychology program, and Troy actually put Greendale on the map with football. But it still wasn’t the same. When we graduated, Abed was doing a pop culture marathon of series finales, when he noticed something about Jeff’s old office.”
¬______________
“The desk wasn’t just desk. I was hoping the couch did something too, but it wasn’t that cool.”
“Guys, you’re wasting my time.”
“It was a Time Desk.” Abed said matter-of-factly. Jeff froze.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard him. The Dean just didn’t know which desk it was.” Troy shrugged, as if nothing was wrong with the scenario presented. He was now munching on a bagel. “Jeff, it was pretty crappy when you two disappeared.”
“What do you mean ‘disappeared’?”
Abed nodded in agreement to Troy’s revelation. “Simply put, we never saw you again after paintball. Britta’s talking to Annie about it now, we’ll compare notes later. But I found a Time Desk. After exploring a little, I decided it was time to find you two. Troy and Britta stumbled on to my plan, and well, here we are.”
______________
Britta took out a cigarette, and lit up. “I thought you quit smoking.”
“I thought I did too. But the stress got to me. I’m trying to quite again, but you and the tall doofus weren’t around to suggest Pierce ‘hypnotize’ me again. I’m actually back down to two a day.” Perry shrugged her shoulders. “Annie, I can’t pretend to know what’s happening to you. But we’re here to help you get to Rapture.” Edison squeaked again. “Pierce told us before we left. He says hi, and apologizes for everything. He wasn’t the same when he came back in the fall. Anyway, we can get you help Annie.”
______________
“So you know about this underwater city?”
“Pierce was pretty forthcoming. The Time Desk can get us there, but it’s up to you two”
Jeff was sitting in a chair, hand to his forehead, exasperated. “I swear to God, you people are killing me. Okay, say what you’re telling me is true-”
“Which it is.”
“Right.” He drew that out, another notch on the long abandoned table. “You’re saying that you can drop us off in an underwater city, where I have to help Annie find her pseudo-grandmother who caused the whole problem, cure her, then get back to said Desk before a civil war erupts.”
“Well, when you put it that way….” Troy shrugged his shoulders.
“You, shut it.”
“It’s not an easy trip. We’re talking dark, harrowing trip that could hurt or kill both of you. But you’re going to go. I know you will.”
Winger shook his head. “Even if we did, even if we did cure Annie, what then? We just go back to Greendale?”
“The choice is up to you my friend.”
“Stop being meta, Abed.”
“I’m serious Jeff. I don’t play around with this kind of stuff. You know me better than that.”
“You came in a Time Desk!”
The younger man snarled back. “And Annie can move stuff with her mind, and has a week left before she’s a vegetable. I’m trying to save two lives. Two of my friends are in trouble, and I can’t stand it. You think you two are not important? You don’t return, you ruin five lives, so get it through your large forehead and thick skull that what I’m doing is real, and we’re saving your lives.” Troy froze, Jeff froze. Neither had ever seen this type of behavior, this much emotion. The room was silent for minutes, save for Troy’s munching on a plate of cookies and saltine crackers.
Winger was giving Abed a hard stare. “You can help save her?”
“I can get you where you need to go. The rest is up to you.”
“When?”
“When you’re ready.” Jeff got out of the chair, looked at both men who despite time travel were still younger, then left the room.
“That went well.” Troy finished another cookie, Abed nodding in ascent.
______________
The couple found each other in Tenenbaum’s library. Annie was shaking; Jeff embraced her, hugging the shorter woman to his chest. This was another constant in their relationship. He was starting to hate the negative constants.
“What do we do?”
“You’re asking me?”
“Annie, they time traveled in a desk.”
“And my mother was a maladjusted, brainwashed little girl in an underwater city. I think we can officially suspend disbelief.” Annie stepped back and looked up at him. “I have to do this Jeff. I don’t want to die.”
“You’re not going to die.”
“You know what I mean. I don’t want to be a Little Sister, or a mindless shell. There’s no choice.”
“I’m going with you, you know. You can’t do this alone.” She nodded. “Do you think it’ll work?”
“It’s the best chance I have. Jeff, I want to be normal. I just found you. I’m keeping you as long as I can. After how much we danced around each other, I’m going to be selfish and say I deserve you, and you deserve me.”
Jeff smiled. “I love it when you get formidable with me.”
“Well, with me, you have to break a light sweat. I’m a precocious little b-”
He shushed her with his lips, for a quite a bit. “Not my best moment. But then, the results were starting to get fun.”
“Your grammar sucks.” He was still smirking.
“Study up on the genetics stuff. I’ll see what I can pry out of Tenenbaum.” He was halfway out the room when Annie piped up.
“Jeff?” He turned. “Thank you.” Winger nodded then left the room.
______________
“You cannot be serious.” Brigid looked at her granddaughter at the tall man with wide eyes. The old woman, to Jeff’s amusement, could still be startled. At this point, after everything they’d seen and heard over the past month, he didn’t care about here. She had inadvertently caused Annie harm. That was the line which she shouldn’t have crossed. “This is madness.”
“It’s the only way.” He replied flippantly. “Look, you did plenty of crazy shit down in Rapture. If that place exists, and I can’t believe I’m saying THIS with a straight face, than time travel can happen.” Brigid closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I am getting stress headache. Herr Winger, since I met you, I have had three. Why is this? Why do you do this?”
“He does it to me Grandmother. I don’t know why I let him get away with it.”
“Because I’m just that awesome.”
“Mein Gott, you two children will put me in early grave. I do this against my better judgment. Annie, there is a large wooden box with chain carved into it. Please bring it to me.” Edison nodded and left the study, leaving Jeff and Tenenbaum. “You know not what you will encounter, Herr Winger. Rapture is dangerous place.” She took a deep breath, and shook her head. “Have you ever killed a man, Jeffrey? Have you ever pulled trigger, pushed button, pulled lever? Nein, you know nothing of this in your office of law books. You talk and talk in front of idiot judge and stupid jury. You have never had man’s life in your hand.”
“Are you going somewhere with this?”
“Ja. If you go to Rapture, you must be prepared to take a life. It is completely different from anything you have ever seen, ever experienced. Men and women there will not hesitate to destroy you, be it mentally or physically. They will test you in every fashion, and you will need to be strong, for my Annie, and for yourself. You must not try plasmids or ADAM. Your body and mind cannot handle mutation. And if you do, you will be dead.”
“What about Annie?”
“She shares her mother’s DNA, and subsequently her ability to convert ADAM is leading to her ability to use plasmids that may have resided in junk DNA from her idiot mother. This will be boon to you both, as Rapture requires ability to defend yourself.”
Jeff nodded, assimilating the information he was being given. “What else?”
“Perceptive, gut. There are certain people in Rapture you must stay away from. These people have ideological issues that lead to downfall of city. Most dangerous of all is Frank Fontaine. He is cutthroat murderer. Keep Annie away from him and Dr. Suchong. Both will want to study her, make her experiment. Also look out for Sophia Lamb. This woman is reason Annie is way she is.”
“Sounds like she’s in more danger than I am.”
“In turn, you must stay away from Andrew Ryan. This man is charismatic, but will ultimately lose control of city. When civil war breaks, you must stay away from Kashmir Restaurant on New Year’s Eve, 1958. There will be attack that starts true war. I only hope…I hope nothing will happen to you.”
“Jeffrey, you must, above all else, protect Annie. She is vulnerable at this time. She must have EVE injection once a week in order to prevent reversion. I cannot predict what happens, and when you come to Rapture, you will be on your own.”
Winger looked at the old woman, who was looking down at the top of her desk, as if speaking to it instead of him. Jeff didn’t want to care about Tenenbaum’s guilt. He wanted to believe she deserved it. He had wanted to rage against everything she had done. But in a sense, she was paying for her crimes everyday with the massive amount of guilt that was consuming her, and that was the only worldly penance that she was able to work for until her last day on this world.
“We’re starting from scratch you know.”
“I will give you resources.” At that moment, Annie returned to the room carrying a large box with a carved chain on top. “Bitte, my dear.” Brigid opened the lid of the box, and pulled out three large stacks of currency. “There is at least fifteen thousand dollars here. As you will see, it has the face of Andrew Ryan printed on it. This will help you buy EVE and find place to stay until you can establish yourself. Do stay away from Apollo Square or Pauper’s Drop. This money won’t buy you luxury, but you will have decent accommodations. Food will be fish mostly. Enjoy steak dinner before you leave.” She handed him a stack of papers in a manila envelope. “This is research regarding plasmid to help cure Annie. You must deliver this to me as soon as possible, so I may produce cure. It will take time, I am sorry, but I have made instructions to myself that will make it as efficient and quickly as possible. Follow instructions in this packet.”
The couple was already engrossed in their duties, Annie taking inventory of what she was given and making a list of what they needed to do before leaving, Jeff counting out the money and putting into smaller piles as well as adding ideas to his own mental checklist.
“I would recommend renting room at Fighting McDonagh in Neptune’s Bounty. I did not have much contact with man, but I always heard Herr McDonagh was fair man who helps where he can. From there, you may also contact me to meet at tavern. I have left instructions on this in packet of information Annie is going through now.” Tenenbaum pulled open a drawer in her desk, and brought out a pack of cigarettes. She lit one with a match then slowly inhaled the lit cigarette. With the nicotine running through her blood stream, she seemed to calm down.
“This is a LOT of information Grandmother.” Edison leafed through the papers, glancing at the occasional page and she understood a few of the terms. Annie looked at Jeff, who’d started his own list and frowning at it.
Raising an eyebrow, Jeff looked across the desk. “What year was EVE available?”
“1956.”
“How easy is it to get?”
She shrugged. “You can find it in any vending machine. You cannot miss them, obnoxious things.”
“Those cutter…people, when do they start appearing?
“Splicers will start showing up a year later. The most obvious and dangerous were called spider splicers. They crawl on wall and have clicking metal hooks. Ach, why must you two do this?” Annie perked up, looking at Tenenbaum. Edison had been more timid as of late, owing to the threat of imminent death.
“Because she’s a fighter.” Jeff said in her stead. “Because Annie Edison doesn’t throw in the towel; never has, never will.” That gained him a smile.
“Jeff’s right Grandmother, I’ve worked too hard to become what I am.” Annie grabbed for his hand, giving it a soft squeeze. The room was silent again for several minutes as the younger woman went back to her list.
Brigid Tenenbaum nodded in understanding. “Come, it is late. You need to spend time with friends.” She was proud of her granddaughter.
______________
“Hold on, this may get bumpy.” Abed was standing at a circular console with a large green pillar in the middle. Prior to their entrance into the Time Desk, Jeff and Annie had found a couple Army surplus duffel bags of the era that Abed and Tenenbaum both approved of. Annie, in her research capacity, had researched clothing styles of the late 1940’s; Brigid had stated that they should be as inconspicuous as possible. Jeff, in his style capacity, groused about the choice of color of suit he was wearing.
“Seriously, who wears a suit that isn’t black?”
“People in the fifties, duh.” Was the response by Britta.
“So why does Annie get to wear her normal clothes?”
Brigid answered quickly. “My granddaughter has good taste. Pencil skirt and sweaters were normal for time period in Rapture. She can get new clothes later, preferably longer skirt. So can you Jeffrey.”
Troy snickered. “Jeff in a skirt? I would totally pay to see that.”
“Ditto.” Britta quickly agreed, despite the look on Jeff’s face. Brigid even smirked.
Tenenbaum was saddened by their departure, hugging her granddaughter to her frail frame, holding the girl tightly. She didn’t want Annie to leave, but knew that there was no other choice. They had been planning together for days while Jeff prepared the supply bags with everything they’d need. His pop-culture maniac of a friend had actually been handy in finding what they needed, going through various surplus stores and thrift shops. Troy and Britta were of no help, they just walked around the village, enjoying the weather.
Abed was circling the console, making adjustments to knobs and levers, calling out for the occasional hand of Troy or Annie to take care of the occasional button press. Before ‘launch’, Britta had been summarily banned from touching the controls, and Jeff was already deep in thought about their cover story.
His reverie was broken when the floor below him rattled and shook, followed by a final shudder that caused everyone but Abed to fall to the ground. Various expletives and ouches later, everyone was on their own feet, and Nadir announced the two words they were both hopeful yet apprehensive to hear.
“We’re here.”
______________
Epilogue
Eileen Edison looked at the man on her doorstep with disgust. She despised everything about him. And none of this was deserved. She was angry enough at her ex-husband who apparently was happy without here in Denver. She was furious that her daughter had the tenacity to make her problems public and go to rehab for a simple problem like taking prescription medicine. Had her daughter the self control, she could have avoided the problem. But Annie was like her father. Pig-headed, arrogant, selfish; she’d disowned the girl, banishing her from her house, dissolving the trust fund her ‘mother’ had set up for the child.
“What do you want you son of bitch.”
“Brigid sent me to talk to you.”
“I have nothing to say to my mother, she is the cause of all my problems.” She would have slammed the door, but it stopped with Pierce’s between the frame and the door. “How dare you!”
“No Eileen, how dare you. You cut Annie off, let her float in the wind after she nearly dies? Then you have the temerity to act outraged? You don’t get to be. Brigid is angry, and Elena would have been ashamed of your actions. I would have spoken with your other sisters, but I’m not dragging them into your stupidity.”
“You have no right. You don’t know what happened to me. What I experienced in that hell.”
“You can’t seriously believe that’s why you did that to your daughter. You know what, never mind. Brigid sent a message. Your family has excommunicated you.”
“You can’t do that!”
“It’s already done. I’ve had hopes for you. But you abused Annie. It’s a miracle she came out like she did. She’s stronger then you’ll ever be. Good day.” Pierce nodded at the woman, then took his foot out of the door and walked away.
Jeff and Annie will return in Marine Engineering and Partisan Conflict