A/N: I hope you all enjoy this new chapter! I also hope you liked the drawing. It wasn't super detailed (I would have added more seams in the leather shoulder pads if I knew how to make it look good) but I think it got the job done. Anyways, enjoy!

Johann: Yeah, sorry I didn't look more into that. I'm just kinda going off of the excuse that Rosalind is a genius and somehow made it work. I will try to do more fact checks next time!

archangel: Yeah, I usually don't put the full name in my responses. I figure if I put part of it, the person who I'm responding to knows its them. I'm glad you liked my little twist though!

CJ: Yep, this is war!

Laengruk: Yeah, I always wanted to make a songbird armor

MF71: Lets keep our fingers crossed! (Except for me cause I'm the writer)

Amaras: Yeah, I'm trying to put kind of a different atmosphere around part two, just like they did in the game (that one big turning point in Finktown where you're helping the Vox Populi)

Redneck: Just saying, love your name! Cain is not Jack from Bioshock one, though. His origin will become clear soon though...

IsaacClark: No problem man, just glad you got around to reading it. As for the turn, like I said earlier, I was trying to replicate the change in atmosphere that happened mid game in Bioshock infinite.

Zach: Yep, Booker's gonna start hunting those bastards down!

Heyoo: Steve? Is that you man? I'm your biggest fan! (You'll get that if you got your name from where I think you did)

Chapter Thirteen: The Songbird Begins

Case Name: The Brotherhood of the Crow

February 16, 1913

Client(s): Elizabeth Anne Longworth, Lt. James Arthur Roland, Dr. Rosalind Lutece

Case Update: The Brotherhood of the Crow has captured Elizabeth and has been extorting her to gain political power. They have managed to already put 32 of their members into high positions in the United States government. I have found Dr. Rosalind Lutece, an expert physicist and inventor who knows more about the Crows than many. She has contracted me with eliminating the highest level of authority within the cult, the Court of Ravens. This Court of Ravens is apparently composed of twenty people, all senior members of the cult. Their will is carried out by a group of highly trained assassins led by a man named Cain. The only two known members of the court are Zachary and Anne Longworth, Elizabeth Longworth's parents. To find the others, I must initiate contact and possible rescue Elizabeth, in hopes that she has been entrusted with the identities of every member of the court.

Personal Thoughts: Have you ever realized that everything you knew wasn't real? And if you have, do you wish that you could have stayed ignorant? The crows are everywhere, always have been. They watch us with their beady red eyes, controlling our every move as if we were puppets. I thought once that I knew a dark and terrifying world, but the truth is I was just as blind as everyone else. Even though the world has changed, my code still stays the same. Trust no one but yourself. Seeing as what happened at the Longworth's estate, that lesson should now be obvious. Watch your back, because there is always someone out to get you. That rings true now more than ever. They have people everywhere. The poor, the rich, the powerful, the Crows are in on it all. This is unlike any war I have ever fought in. In Wounded Knee, the enemy was right in front of me, clear as day. But now, the enemy is all around. Fear he who strikes from the unknown, as well as the unexpected. And I will be unexpected. They think me dead, but they'll quickly find just how alive I am. I am the Songbird. They will know fear. They will know fear.

"DeWitt, stop writing in your diary and prepare yourself! We're almost over the drop zone," Rosalind yelled, snatching Booker's case file out of his hand. Booker sighed and stood up, beginning to mentally prepare himself. He pulled out each of his guns and checked them, making sure they were full of ammunition. Then, Booker made sure his bandoliers were full; he was going to need every shot. As he prepared, he felt someone's hand cup his shoulder. Booker turned around and saw Abel standing behind him in his bowler hat and suit.

"Just remember what I told you, Booker."

Hours earlier

Booker walked into the war room in the full Songbird armor, guns strapped to his back and sword sheathed. The minute he stepped inside, his presence was known. The armor definitely had the effect Rosalind was going for when making it: fear. The red eyes of the mask were emotionless, cold, and intimidating. The combat boots and shoulder pads added a couple inches on his height. Overall, he looked like a killing machine.

"My God Booker," Mary gasped when she saw him, shocked that the creature standing in front of her was her brother, "you look…"

"-Terrifying," Eleanor finished, smirking mischievously, "They won't know what hit him."

Slate stood up and clapped Booker on the back, letting out a deep chuckle, "Those bastards will be too busy pissing themselves to fight!"

"Yes, yes, Mr. DeWitt looks very intimidating indeed, now let's get back on topic," Rosalind snapped, nodding towards an open seat for Booker.

Booker sat down next to Johnny and Mary, who was still looking at him, trying to figure out where under that armor was her little brother. Rosalind pulled a chalk board into the room and began drawing something on it while everyone waited patiently and quietly. Once the mad scientist was finished she stepped away, revealing a carefully thought out battle plan.

"As you all know, now is the time to strike back at the Crows," she began, pulling out a pointer and thwacking the board with it, "And the first step to our attack is finding out who they actually are. Now, we know that Elizabeth Longworth is being held somewhere in the city. The bad news is that we have no idea where. New York is a quite large city, and scouring it would take much to long, so we will need someone to point us in the right direction."

"Hold on, I thought the whole reason we want to find Elizabeth was so that she could tell us who is in the Crows?" Eleanor interrupted

Rosalind shot her an annoyed glare and answered, "Yes, we need Elizabeth to find the members of the court, but not to find any old member. In fact, I'm sure Booker knows exactly where we can find one."

Booker thought for a couple seconds and then realized what she was talking about. The man who ran the counter at the pin store, the one who stabbed him in the hand, had gotten away before Booker could shoot him. For all he knew, the man may have gone right back to that same store.

"Yeah, I think I know where I could find one," Booker confirmed, "and I would very much appreciate a chance to get back at him."

"Then it's settled, we send Booker in to hunt down and find the man," Rosalind announced

"What about the rest of us?" Mary asked, "We want to help too. I'm not standing by and letting my brother take this on alone!"

Abel stood up slowly and responded in a clam and soothing voice, "You will be helping. In Manhattan, there is a group of people that have been forced into hiding because of the Crows. While Booker is keeping the cult's attention, you, Johnny, and Eleanor will be helping them evacuate out of the city."

Mary nodded, content, and sat back down. Johnny, though, suddenly let out a throaty growl, catching everyone's attention.

"Um, what does he want," Rosalind asked, looking at Johnny as if he was some sort of gorilla

"He doesn't want me going," Eleanor quickly answered, as if Johnny had just spoken perfect English.

"Why?"

"Because he's overprotective and thinks that I'm a child still," Eleanor retorted angrily, glaring at her father, "but I'm still going anyways."

Johnny let out another angry growl, slamming his fist down on the table.

"Father, I am not sitting by and doing nothing!"

"Alright, that's enough," Booker intervened, trying to clear the air between the feuding family, "You two discuss this privately. Rosalind, what do we do about the new governor? He's probably got the whole police force on high alert."

"Don't worry," Rosalind chuckled, "Commissioner James has made no attempt to further pursue you. For all they know, you're dead, remember?"

"Oh, right…"

Rosalind nodded curtly and then turned back to the rest of the group, "Now that that's settled, we can get moving. I will lead you all to the hanger where we can use my airship to take us east. Gather any equipment you need before we leave, whether it be weaponry or anything of personal value. We're going to be there for a while."

With that, the meeting was adjourned. Everybody filed out of the room except for Booker, Mary, and Abel, who stayed in their seats, watching everyone leave them behind. After they all left, Mary stood up and walked over to Booker and grabbed hold of the bottom of his mask. With a powerful tug, she yanked the face piece off, revealing Booker's true features.

"Booker, are you sure you should do this?" she asked in a concerned tone of voice

"What do you mean?" Booker responded as he grabbed the face piece back from her and began to clamp it back on, "Of course I should do this."

Mary sighed and sat down on the table in front of him, looking into his eyes with a caring face that only a sibling could conjure. "Booker, this job may require you to kill a lot of people. Now I know you may not even see this as a problem, but it can do things to your health."

Booker looked up at her confusedly, "My health?"
Mary nodded, "Yes Booker, your mental health. Think what war has done to you! You were never the same after you left with the cavalry. When you came back, it was like you were a completely different person, with the drinking and the gambling. I just don't want to see you end up killing yourself."

"What happens to me doesn't matter anymore," Booker told her sternly as he stood up from his seat, "Elizabeth gave up her freedom for me, her own freedom Mary. I owe this to her."

Booker was caught of guard when Mary smiled at what he said. Wasn't she upset that he was taking up the mantle of the Songbird?

"You really care for her, don't you," Mary asked with a sullen happiness

Booker realized that there was no way around it now that Mary had thrown that question at him. There was no convincing himself otherwise, there was no deciding against it. If he was going to dive into the real world, the harsh and even more twisted reality; he was going to have to be truthful with himself. He did care for Elizabeth, at least to the point where he'd endanger his own life to save hers. And Booker was all right with this, because what was about to happen, what he was about to do. This mission wasn't just a mere contract; it wasn't professional. It was personal.

"Yes, I do," Booker answered, "and I'm not going to let her down. Not again."

Mary patted him on the shoulder and said in an encouraging tone, "Go get 'em Booker."

After she left, Abel stepped up to Booker, holding a strange bottle with him. Booker eyed him and the bottle suspiciously, "What is that?"

"This," Abel responded, holding the cobalt blue bottle up to the light, "is the final thing you need to become the Songbird."

He handed Booker the bottle, who weighed it in his hand and began inspecting it carefully. It was made of glass and had a pleasing geometric shape, a bit similar to a whisky bottle. Booker flicked it on the side lightly and created a small, high pitched, ring.

"Go ahead, drink it down," Abel encouraged him

Booker removed his mask, uncapped the bottle, took a deep breath, and then downed the liquid as fast as he could. After chugging the whole thing, he didn't feel anything different. The drink had tasted pretty awful, but aside from that nothing was really out of place.

Booker looked questioningly at Abel, who seemed to just be smiling and waiting for something. "So what exactly is this supposed to d-"

Suddenly, it felt like the liquid had just turned into lava in his stomach, burning a whole right through him. Booker screamed out in agony and fell to his knees as the burning sensation grew, dropping the bottle with a loud shatter on the ground. He began to feel dizzy as the pain increased, his vision growing blurry and doubling. Booker felt like he was going to throw up, but for some reason couldn't purge the God forsaken concoction. Suddenly, he felt something weigh down on his shoulder, like an animal had landed on top of it. When he looked up, he saw a black and brown bird on his shoulder, cocking his head and staring at him as if he was crazy. Then, as quickly as it came, the pain left his body, leaving him panting, gasping for air.

Once Booker had regained his strength, he quickly drew his knife and grabbed Abel by the throat, holding him up threateningly. "What the hell was that?! Were you trying to kill me?!"

"Please… let go… will… explain," Abel choked out as Booker grappled his throat. Deciding to give the man some mercy, Booker dropped him, but kept his knife out just in case.

Abel eventually got to his feet, rubbing his throat painfully, and began to explain. "What you just took is a modified version of the drug the court's assassins use to gain their telepathic power over crows. Do you remember a large bird that was always around when you saw me?"

Booker nodded, thinking back on the big white bird that was perched next to Abel when he saw him in Elizabeth's hometown, "Yeah, I think I do."

"Well this drug allows you to summon a flock of predatory birds. It's an essential power to have when dealing with them."

"So why isn't mine white?" Booker asked curiously, looking over to the bird perched on his shoulder.

"I don't know," Abel answered with a soft laugh, "I guess it's different for each Songbird."

Just as Booker was about to leave, Abel called back to him, "Hold on, I've got one more thing for you."

"This isn't going to make me feel like my insides are burning, is it?" Booker groaned, preparing himself for another painful and traumatic experience

"No, no," Abel assured him, "It's just a story, along with some advice."

"Alright," Booker said warily

"Do you know what it means to be the Songbird?" Abel asked him as he began to pace back and forth in front of Booker.

"I have no idea," Booker answered truthfully, "I assume it has something to do with fighting the Ravens?"

Abel nodded, "Yes, it does. You see, the Crows have been around for hundreds of years, infecting and bending the inner most workings of society to their will. But, for as long as the Crows have been around, the order of the Songbird has been present as well, making sure that the Crows were never left unchecked. There used to be as many Songbirds as there were Crows, in fact, hundreds of members ready to fight off those animals tooth and nail."

"Wait, if there are so many others, why haven't they done anything about this!" Booker exclaimed in an annoyed tone of voice, "This whole situation has gotten wildly out of control!"

"Booker, you must understand that there are none left. All were killed off except for us two."

"Killed off?" Booker said, a bit surprised that a whole society the size of the Crows just disappeared so quickly, "How so?"

"They were all murdered by one of the most dangerous and evil man that has ever lived. He called himself the Crow Father," Abel answered

"The Crow Father?"

Able nodded and continued, "The Crow Father was the first to develop the concoction that you see the Brotherhood of the Crow use today. He came closer to wiping out most of the human race than anyone before."

"How so?" Booker asked, almost sweating, anticipating the terrible act that almost brought on apocalyptic consequences.

"That is a story for another time," Abel told him sternly, obviously trying to avoid the subject of what exactly this man did, "Right now you must mentally prepare yourself for the mission. Take it from someone who knows, this job can get to you. You're about to see a completely different side of the world that may not be all that pretty. But what ever you do, keep your wits about you. Have something to hold on to, something to keep in you mind while you descend down the rabbit hole. Make it something that you can hold on to no matter what, and is close enough that not even the most trying times will drive you away from it."

Present…

"I remember," Booker answered as he approached the door leading to the outside of the aircraft

As Booker approached the exit, Rosalind yelled to him, "Now make sure you deploy your wings as early as possible! Gain too much speed and they'll tear open faster than you can say quantum mechanics!"

"Alright," Booker called back nervously, reminding himself to open the wings as soon as possible

"We will be hovering above the cloud line as to not bring any unnecessary attention," she told him as he opened the door, causing cold wind to whip inside the blimp, "If you are planning to return, do so during night and make sure you are not seen!"

With one final nod of confirmation Booker took a deep breath and looked out into the black abyss that was the sky. This was stupid. How was he even sure the wings were going to work? What if they didn't work? What if they ripped anyways?

"Well, nothing ventured nothing gained," Booker told himself as he took a couple steps back. Then, after a seemingly silent pause, he took a running start and jumped from the aircraft.

A/N: Booker's putting it all on the line now! It's time to strike back against the cult! No more running!