a soviet defector and a test tube baby walk into a bar

[did_unkindly]

Jack is really looking forward to getting out of here.

Maybe he'll visit his parents. The farm seems like a beautiful dream compared to the broken, bloody awfulness of Medical Pavilion. He's pretty sure he never walked around in fear of drowning any second back in Kansas. Nobody tried to put hooks in his liver at all. It was nice!

He sits behind a reception desk, shaking. He knows he's got to push forward, he's going to keep pushing forward, but... give him a moment, okay? He's just been swarmed by splicers; he's found out that he has to detour around and find some kind of mad doctor just to reach Atlas's submarine. Boy. That's going to be... great. He's going to die, isn't he.

So he's regrouping behind this reception desk -- the receptionist's still here, give or take some of her head -- with the wrench in one hand and a creme cake in the other.

Munch. Munch. Munch.

Breathe, Jack. It's aaaaall gonna be okay.

Probably. Maybe.

Index, Why Not?
Scene One: He Blinded Me With Science ~or~ Stop Giving Yourself Brain Damage, Asshole
Scene Two: Telekinosis ~or~ Been Around Rapture And I, I, I, I Can't Find My Baby
Scene Three: All I Wanna Do Is [Bang Bang Bang Bang] And [Big Daddy Noise] And Take Your ADAM

Comments

[spliced_irish]

Okay, this has gone on long enough. Fontaine has a plan in mind, and it doesn't involve the kid getting waylaid by some well-meaning chump advising him to Just Say No. What's worse, it looks like Jack might even be thinking about going with him.

Nope. If you're undermining Atlas's authority, you get shut down. If you're waylaying the kid on his way to win Fontaine a city, you get shut down. If you're a real screwy character and try to do both at the same time...

The radio crackles, interrupting Jack before he can get a word out.

"We're wasting precious time here, boyo," he says, all Irish and reasonable but understandably impatient, Jack, you get him? "Wouldya kindly disregard this trash and get a move on?"

[did_unkindly]

Jack closes his mouth and the doubt vanishes.

God, it's a relief to hear from Atlas. Of course he would've said something if there was a danger that Jack might... you know. This guy's obviously making a mistake.

"Sorry," he tells Kostya, as he adjusts the radio's strap on his shoulder. Bounces the pistol in his other hand. Moves a foot, ready to leave.

"I've gotta go."

[krasotamozga]

Kostya turns on his own heel and melts back into the shadows. There's a volume he could say about what he's just observed, but for now... well...

... Now's not the time.

"Well... if you wish to follow Atlas..." he leaves as a parting shot - "... as you wish."

[did_unkindly]

Okay, now there is something he wants to say and it's -- this guy knows Atlas? He opens his mouth to say it and everything, his face registers surprise.

But that would continue the conversation. And he has to get moving. Atlas's family is out there, the sub is out there, the sooner Jack escapes from this horrible leaking battlezone the better.

So he shuts his mouth again with just barely a shake of his head, and sets off up a grand staircase.