Chapter Text
Sebastian heaved as his head finally breached the surface. His bleeding, raw gills struggled as they pushed oxygen into his failing body. His lungs did their best to assist while rain and wind smashed into his face and shoulders. This was one of the few times he accepted his tail could be useful, though the fresh bruises from his rapid assent didn’t make using it any easier.
The last 30 minutes had been nothing but a disorienting hell.
He ducked back below to waves with a wince, quick to get out of the raging storm above. The pressure somehow eased his blinding migraine just enough for his esca to begin glowing again.
After a moment to collect himself, Sebastian was reminded of the cargo he hastily brought up with him. Most of the bags along the length of his tail remained mostly closed and intact. He was fast to inspect the storage box strapped to his front with one too many ropes and harnesses, containing a dear friend of his. All three arms came around and held it carefully.
The Saboteur let himself drift as he recalled the events that lead to him and pAInter rushing to leave the Hadal Blacksite.
Sure, they both already had another plan to leave. A rival company was reached with pAInters help and they made a deal with Sebastian; his and pAInter’s evacuation for 12 crates full of classified Urbanshade data from the site. But thanks to a particularly difficult flock of expendables that plan was abandoned. Only an hour ago, Sebastian guessed, pAInter warned him that they had reach the crystal. He dropped everything and reached the AI’s room in record time.
The whole facility had already started to malfunction with the main energy source removed. It forced the mutant to break open almost every door he arrived at. The kid had already shut down when he reached his room, not a complete shock but something Sebastian hated at a time like that. Groans and creaks from the structure destroying itself from the inside pushed Sebastian to do the stupidest thing he had ever willingly done. He searched the room as he yanked all of pAInter’s wires from the wall with hasty apologies. He emptied the closest storage crate to him and put pAInter inside. A few harnesses from his tail were repurposed to fasten the crate to his body. The expendables had already left the docks when he reached the floor with pAInter, leaving him only one completely selfish option.
If he stayed, he and painter would just become collateral damage to either the failing facility itself or one of the measures Urbanshade will take to eradicate the facility and its contents. But the last choice didn’t look that great for either of them too.
The Let-Vand Zone hosts a special phenomenon where the water pressure shifts from that of the deep ocean, to that of a swimming pool. The Veil of the Let-Vand Zone is the point at which the pressure shifts from dangerous to safe levels.
Sebastian heard from may expendables over the years that the pressure past the veil would instantly crush any living thing that entered it. Not exactly promising for him right now. The container he sealed pAInter within should be able to handle it… He was less certain of himself though. He knew he could withstand absurd pressures thanks to the ridiculous torture that the scientists had done to him. And he noticed just how quickly he healed after the last few experiments too. It was stupid. And selfish. And careless of him. But he couldn’t just stay and wait for their execution. Not to mention what would become of pAInter if he just up and left him here.
This plan was certain suicide, and he doubted he’d ever get to show the kid those mountains that he had spoken so fondly about. Maybe this was better. He would rather die to his own decisions then to those good for nothing, rotten men.
He couldn’t even recall what had happened after he entered the veil. From where he and pAInter drifted now, he guessed it was a success. From how his whole body ached, there was very likely broken bones and internal bleeding. Plus, external bleeding, from the way red drifted from his scales and blurred into the black around him.
Sebastian yawned, his tail slowing down.
The waves above him didn’t help him stay awake. The harsh but calming pattens and lights had become a great way for him to ignore the agony coursing through his veins.
Eventually his eyes glued themselves shut.
For the first time in 12 years, Sebastian Solace fell asleep on the surface of the world.
…
“…what the fuckk-?” I rasped while groaning as bright light bleached into my eyes.
‘Whoever is shining that at me is so FUCKING DEAD-‘
I tried to twist away and shield my face until my hands dug into- sand? I tried to crack my eyes open to get some kind of look at the alien texture. There was so much sand, this grey stuff with small rocks and all sorts of colours, and shells… seaweed!?
“Alright- what the FUCK.”
I looked around myself more, keeping my back to the very nice and warm shitty bright light. I noticed the crate on my chest and eyed it wearily. ‘Clearly, I put it there for something? What ever happened at least I have some stock still’ I thought looking through the bags along my tail that I had curled towards myself. ‘Hmm… I should get another 6 files for this- hold on.’
“I don’t need any more files.” Came out of my mouth subconsciously.
I’m on a beach. The sun… I’m in the sun? A strange feeling passed over me as I smile.
Ahh, that’s right. That’s how joy feels. A small, strangled laugh comes from me as I hug the crate. I decide to look inside, what could I possibly need all this for…
I cut it free quickly with a few nicks from my claws. I set it down into the sand and popped the latches.
“Oh shit!?” ‘How the actual fuck did I forget?’
“Hey kid? Damn it, I’m so sorry, I forgot you’re there.” pAInter rested dormant in the container, screen black. “I’m not in the best shape, but I promise I’ll find some power for you.”
Grabbing the crate and closing it again, I spotted a treeline and did my best to reach cover. I have no idea where I am or who might be wondering around here so it’s best just to get out of view. From what I saw when checking through the bags on me, most of my tail, much like the rest of me, was covered in huge angry bruises and scabbing cuts. ‘How close was I to my limit to end up like this!?’
The sand changed into mud and bark before growing into metre tall grass. It was easy enough to move through, but the plants remained soaked from the past storm. ‘At least it helped to brush off most of the mud and sand from my tail.’
Sebastian continued to travel forward from where he woke from. Eventually running into a small river that ran down fast from the hills above. He tailed it from the cover of the woods, taking short breaks every 30 minutes or so to try and rest his body and catch his breath. It didn’t take too long for his hunger to get the better of him though, leading him to stash pAInter away to better stalk the deer he had his eyes on. Deer were surprisingly easy animals to prey on with his new body. They just stare at him as he stalks over with his esca at full light. Giving him a whole buck to himself. The rest scatted when he lunged and bit into its throat, but he didn’t think he could eat more anyway. Seb dragged his lunch over to pAInter as he chewed on a chunk of it.
“Damn this tastes so good…”, blood drooled down his mouth and hands as he hunched over the corpse.
Most of the vending machines had already been raided by the time he and pAInter had left. The only true food source he had was other entities or… well, the expendables and soldiers. Only one of those ever tasted like rot incarnate. He hated to think about those days when he starved so bad the last of his humanity just took a back seat. He could never quite decide if it was cannibalism or not. Not after what he had been cursed into. Those assholes had it coming for them, but it didn’t take away the strange disgust he had towards himself.
At least killing was easier when it came to mindless, instinct driven creatures like his current lunch.
‘Maybe I could find a house or something around and eat something cooked for once? I could find power for pAInter there too, hmm.’ The Saboteur thought as he crunched through the bones and flesh in his latest bite. He kept speaking idly to painter between bites, unaware of the one watching him amongst the darkest parts of the forest.
Sebastian moved on when he got bored of his food, having eaten most of the deer and leaving the rest in the blood sprayed grass. At the river, he rinsed most of the blood from his scales and clothes before moving on upstream with pAInter held close. He stuck to the dark best he could. Even with the sun at its peak, the thickening tree cover made it seem like is was turning night already.
“I really need to find a place to stay the night… maybe a strong enough tree could be good for us yeh? I could keep us out of sight from wanderers while I sleep. These arms make climbing way easier…” Sebastian thought. He still had faint memories of playing in the trees at his old home with his brother. He had been the one to teach him.
Sebastian traced the bridge of his flattened nose where a thick scar used to be. It was from one of those times he was hanging out with his brother. He’s pretty sure it was from one of the few times he fell, scratching his face on a broken branch. It had missed his eyes, but he didn’t climb trees for years after that. At least he should be able to still do that kind of stuff, with how good he is with scaling walls to reach vents and all. Won’t be the same with all the extra weight but ehh… “killers” can’t be choosers! His eyes blackened in dull anger, claws grinding on the metal box. ‘Stupid asshole scientists.’
The figure from before still stalked along behind him. Only its white featureless face visible in the black backdrop of shadows. It continued until Sebastian took himself and pAInter up a large oak as the sun set. Leaving as they got settled high amongst the leaves.
“…”
Artwork!
