Fontaine's Plasmid Research and Development

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Fontaine's Plasmid Research and Development (also known as the ADAM Research Laboratory, Fontaine Futuristics Plasmid Research Laboratory, Plasmid Research Laboratory or Plasmid Laboratory) is the hidden Fontaine Futuristics research laboratory, where the actual ADAM and Plasmid research took place, located outside the Fontaine Futuristics main building in Rapture. Subject Delta must enter the facility to get Alex the Great's Genetic Key, to open the path to Persephone where Eleanor Lamb is held.

History

While the headquarters of Fontaine Futuristics includes "Plasmid Laboratories", its only purpose was to show potential investors that the ADAM/Plasmid research was ethical and safe, which couldn't have been further from the truth.

After Sofia Lamb's take over of the city, Scientist Gilbert "Gil" Alexander, who now had control of the Fontaine Futuristics headquarters, was tried out to become the first "utopian", which failed. The experiment made Alexander into a giant grotesque ADAM addicted creature, which was abandoned in a ginormous sea life tank, from which "Alex the Great" (Gilbert Alexander new alias, made-up through insanity) still held control of the facility.

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Destroying all the Signal Relays in the main building is required to access the security office. The security office opens the airlock to the real laboratories. A short seafloor walk from the main building, leads Subject Delta to an airlock to a more secluded, less eye-catching building. Augustus Sinclair informs Delta that the Oxy-Fill station outside is a "front" for activating the secret entrance to Persephone. but a Genetic Key is required, so Subject Delta enters the airlock to a dark area and sets on a quest to retrieve the Genetic Key from Alex the Great. He finds himself in the Specimen Containment area.

Specimen Containment

As soon as Delta enters, a pre-recorded message from Gil Alexander will play on the master control panel in front of Delta. Alexander explains that the area is dark as the light hurts his eyes and instructs Delta to find the circuit breakers and power up the lights. After finding the two circuit breakers on each side of the room (one of them is near the Audio Diary: Solving for X), Delta returns to the Master Control and activates the lights, giving him the first glimpse at the full area and Alex the Great.

The centerpiece of the room is a large "sea life tank", filled with liquid and housing the former Gil Alexander, now Alex the Great: all spliced-up and mutated. As soon as the lights turn on, Alex the Great will scream and hide in a more secluded place in his tank. A message from Alexander will activate, informing Delta that he wishes to be killed, as the creature in the tank is no longer him, and that in order to lure his former self out, Delta must find four ADAM-infused plants, which is the only thing Alex the Great craves in his current state. A sample of the plant has been left by the master control, leaving only three to be collected. As soon as Delta picks the plant, Alex the Great will inform him that he is aware of Delta's intentions and sends two Alpha Series Big Daddies after Delta. Augustus Sinclair chimes in after the battle via the Radio, stating that following Gil Alexander's advice is their best shot to lure and pin Alex the Great down, in order to get the Genetic Key, and urges Delta to find the plants. Subject Delta can chose where to look first, either the Live Test Facility or the Test Subject Pacification Chamber.

After dealing with the two Alpha Series, the player can scout out the area in peace, for the time being. The purpose of the semicircle-shaped Specimen Containment was to uphold the function of the sea life tank, with the area consisting of machinery, control panels and large pipes. The area also contains a Vita-Chamber, an El Ammo Bandito, a Circus of Values, a Gene Bank, a Little Sister Vent and three Health Stations. A Gatherer's Garden is placed right under the master control in front of the sea life tank. Next to the Gatherer's Garden is the Audio Diary: Gil's Place in the Plan and in front of it is an ADAM Corpse. Supplies can be found scattered around the place, including rare ammo types like Heat-Seeking Rockets and a Mini-Turret.

After returning with the first (and/or second) plant from the first area Delta searches, there will be a Rumbler Big Daddy escorting a Little Sister near the tank, as well as a Houdini Splicer.

Later on, when all the plants have been gathered, Subject delta returns to the Master Control to lure out Alex the Great. Activating the "Sample Injection Controls", the plant bait will be released into Alex the Great's tank. The creature within the tank realizes Delta's plan, and informs all the "emplyees" that Subject Delta has been dismissed and should be escorted out of the premises, causing a hoard of enemies to do just so, with the interpretated task of killing him. During the battle, Alex the Great's to attempts to resist the plant bait can be heard. When the "emplyees" are dealth with, Alex the Great's resistance was futaile, as his giant shape can be seen in the tank, enjoying the bait, now in an euphoric daze but still disgruntled. Delta uses the "Genetic Sample Extraction" button on the Master Control panel, and a robotic arm can be seen in the tank, plucking a genetic sample from Alex the Great, which he uncontrollably laughs to. In no time, Gil's Genetic Key is printed from the Master Control. Delta now has the tools to enter Persephone, but as he grabs the key, a message from Gil Alexander plays, urging to be killed and not to be dissuade by the creature which is his present self. Alex the Great, hearing the message begs for forgiveness and his life, stating that he wants to live and will head out into the ocean. The faith of Alex the Great is in the player's hands. The player can either listen to Gil Alexander's wishes and press the "Sample Disposal Controls", killing his present self, or comply to the pled of Alex the Great to not follow the instructions of his former self and simply exit Fontaine's Plasmid Research and Development.

Live Test Facility

The Test Subject Surgery.

The Live Test Facility is where Big Daddy test subjects were held, experimented on and bonded with Little Sisters. Two ADAM Plants are located here. The area consists of the Main Entrance, a Surveillance Office, the Test Subject Surgery and the Test Subject Holding Cells. The area happens to be where Subject Delta and Eleanor Lamb were bonded. Inside, the fate of Mark Meltzer is witnessed, being attacked by Splicers while protecting his daughter Cindy, now a Little Sister and he a Rumbler Big Daddy.

Test Subject Pacification Chamber

The preparation area of the Pacification Chamber.

The Test Subject Pacification Chamber (also known as the Pacification Chamber, Pacification Showers or Showers) was where failed Big Daddies, particularly the Alpha Series, came to die. The facility features a preparation room, subject observation/control room and the main pacification chamber. When Delta enters in search of an ADAM-infused plant, two Splicers can be seen accidentally triggering a hypnotic polyp, causing them to fight each other. The preparation room features a Security Camera, ADAM Corpse, a control panel and some supplies. A Splicer has been pinned to a glass tank and the subject observation room features the Audio Diary: Outlived Usefulness.

The pacification chamber itself is in poor condition, with water leaks, grime, sand and plant life covering the floor. Here Delta finds another ADAM-infused plant. When approaching the exit, Alex the Great locks Delta in and activates the showers, causing Delta's view to be obstructed. Delta can make out two enraged Alpha Series before the steam clears, where he is assaulted by the protectors and some Splicers. After clearing out the enemies, Sinclair comments on the tragedy of the Alpha Series and Delta can leave the now unlocked area.

New Discoveries

Single Use Events

• ADAM-Infused Plant - Specimen Containment, on the master control panel.
• ADAM-Infused Plant - Test Subject Pacification Chamber, in the pacification chamber.
• ADAM-Infused Plant - Live Test Facility, in the chairs located Subject Surgery.
• ADAM-Infused Plant - Live Test Facility, in Cell number 2.
• There is a Power to the People vending machine in Live Test Facility.

Audio Diaries

1. Gilbert Alexander - Solving for X - Specimen Containment, just under the circuit breaker on the left of the area.
2. Sofia Lamb - Gil's Place in the Plan - Specimen Containment, by the Gatherer's Garden on a box, just under the control panel/switch.
3. Sofia Lamb - Meltzer's Choice - Search the roving Rumbler named Mark Meltzer, primarily found in Live Test Facility. 
4. Gilbert Alexander - Outlived Usefulness - Test Subject Pacification Chamber, on the control panel in subject observation.
5. Eleanor Lamb - Goodbye, Dr. Alexander - Live Test Facility, Test Subject Surgery, next to the Little Sister Vent.
6. Andrew Ryan - Betrayal - Live Test Facility, Test Subject Holding Cells, the northwestern frozen cell.
7. Gilbert Alexander - Big Sister - Live Test Facility, next to the Power to the People weapon upgrade station in the locked Surveillance Office.

Gallery

Concept art of Alexander's tank.

Concept art of Alexander's tank in a sphere shape.

Another sphere tank concept.

Surveillance Office sign.

Subject Observation sign.

Alex the Great's tank if the player chooses to execute him.

Behind the Scenes

• Subject Delta doesn't actually place the gathered ADAM-plants anywhere, he simply presses "Sample Injection Controls" and the plant bait are released into the tank.
• Despite the name, there is little evidence of Plasmid "development and research", but the area seems to be primarily focused on the Big Daddies and Little Sisters.
• The "Surveillance Office" sign is misspelled as "surveilance".