_ _ _Sofia Lamb Pov_ _ _
I was watching through the monitors, watching as the little sisters came in like obedient little bees bringing nectar back to the hive. Those that arrived were ushered into medical areas where the recycled adam stored within their bodies was harvested and extracted by my scientists for later use. And then, once the adam they had stored was removed and stored, they would be sent out once again to find even more.
Watching my dear flock work so diligently to gather the necessary materials, to extract the adam that we would need moving forward to achieve our true paradise, caused a smile of approval to cross my face. They all had a part to play after all, and when it was all done, when Eleanor was finally really to become the vessel for our ascension, our salvation would be complete.
My observations were interrupted, however, when a knock on my office door pulled my attention away. "Enter."
"Mother Lamb, we have news you may wish to hear." A female voice came a second later, followed by a male one as two figures walked inside.
"News has come from the forces we sent to engage in a preemptive strike against the unclean vermin who so blatantly invaded our home."
"Report then. How's the situation?" I hummed, finally turning to look at them properly.
The two who had entered were familiar to me. The one on the right was my personal assistant; she was a devoted member of the family who had proven her worth time and time again. The one on the left was a male researcher, one whom I had put in charge of monitoring the invaders and their movements up until this point.
The male researcher was the one who spoke up first. "The situation is going exactly as you foresaw it, ma'am."
"The members of the family that we sent were having some initial success but are now being pushed back rapidly." He explained as he placed several detailed reports on my desk
"It would appear that the invaders are retaliating with overwhelming force," my assistant added calmly as I looked over the papers. "Thankfully, our main goal has been fulfilled as we had hoped."
She didn't stop there, quickly continuing with further details of the events. "While we did suffer losses, most of the splicers we sent were those who were suspected of not being fully faithful to the cause. In return, we managed to capture several of the enemy along with some of their technology."
"Good." I nodded, sinking into thought for a moment.
I had set all of this in motion for several reasons, primarily to get my hands on the astonishingly advanced equipment that these newcomers to Rapture apparently had access to. It was unfortunate that so many of my pawns were lost; however, it was clear that these invaders were hostile. Of course, such losses were entirely expected, after all I had no delusions that the deformed residents of Rapture stood much of a chance of actually winning.
"And are the containment areas ready?" I asked as my attention returned to the two in front of me.
"Yes, Mother Lamb," they both said in unison.
The researcher then added, "Everything has been prepared as you instructed."
"Excellent work." I nodded slowly.
(While I don't know who or what these newcomers truly are, their technology will serve me well either way.) I thought, inwardly anticipating how such things would advance my plans.
(As for the creatures they seem to command...) I mused to myself. (Well, I'm sure the captives will be more than willing to explain what they know about them after they have been thoroughly "persuaded" to do so.)
"There is, however, something else you should be aware of." My assistant mused hesitantly, piquing my interest.
"And that is?"
"As you had instructed, we had sent several Big Sisters to act as support during the attack," she said, folding her arms behind her back. "When it became clear that our forces were beginning to be pushed back, we sent out the command for them to retreat. Most have returned; however..."
"Some of them are missing, and we can only assume they were either killed or captured," the male researcher hummed, finishing the explanation.
"I see..."
That was indeed quite a loss, a loss made even worse if they had been captured instead of killed. Of course, I had suspected something like this might happen when I set all of this in motion; still, it was quite the inconvenience. The Big Sisters were not simply disposable tools that could easily be replaced; I had only a limited number of them after all.
So why then? Why did I send them along if they were so valuable? That was relatively simple: the splicers and big daddies would never have been enough on their own. While I didn't know the full extent of the invaders' might, it was obvious that they'd overwhelm any force that I sent against them given enough time. As such, I had to take a gamble and use my more valuable assets to support the cannon fodder.
"For now, we will assume they are dead as capturing them alive would be immensely difficult," I breathed, crossing my arms under my chest as I continued speaking. "We can't waste any more resources dealing with these ignorant fools after all."
"Focus on preparing the research sites for our new arrivals for now. I'll be expecting constant updates."
"Yes, ma'am. We will do as you say." They both nodded at my words.
Thinking for a second, I quickly gave one final instruction. "Oh, and destroy the bridges."
"W-what?" My assistant muttered, confusion flashing across her face.
"The bridges, the connection pathways that link the wider whole of Rapture to the areas that they have managed to take control of." I elaborated, explaining exactly what I meant. "Have the family destroy them the moment the specimens are secured."
"As for the members of the family who will be cut off, well, the path to absolution cannot be paved without sacrifice." As I spoke, my voice was firm; I felt no guilt for leaving those who would be trapped with the invaders to their fate.
"And then?" The researcher asked curiously. "The intruders got down here somehow; they might have a way to travel between Rapture even without the connection pathways."
I smiled at that, and the answer I gave was simple. "We're unable to access the systems in that section of the city thanks to their tampering; however, there are still ways to cleanse our home of this invasive taint."
_ _ _3rd Person Pov_ _ _
Unbeknownst to Lamb or those she was speaking to, a small figure had been listening in on their conversation. Hidden from sight within a nearby ventilation shaft, two glowing yellow eyes lingered for a moment until the conversation between the three finally ended. A second later the small figure began quietly moving away and deeper into the network of metal shafts.
Elsewhere, lying upon silk sheets in a room that was her prison, Eleanor thought over what she had heard. (This could end badly... really badly...)
(And yet... yet it might be just the chance I needed to get in contact with the outsiders.) She thought to herself while remaining perfectly still so as not to draw suspicion from those monitoring her.
(I'll have to be careful, but I should be able to turn this to my advantage, so long as I play this correctly that is...)