The crystal.

Finally, you had got it.

It sat heavy in your palm as a group of men all clad in black diving gear stared at you, guns raised. Not at you, but at the creature behind you. Z-13.

No. He wasn't just a creature anymore.

Sebastian Solace, the mutated fish merchant, was curled up against the wall behind you, bleeding heavily. He had been at the docks before you got there, but when the armed personnel had come in, they had shot him on sight as instructed. The room was silent save for the groans of sea creatures outside the facility and Sebastian's pained noises.

"Hand over the crystal, EXR-P and you can go free," said one of the personnel. You were about to hand it to them, the promise of freedom tempting, but a voice stopped you.

"W-Wait." It was Sebastian. As you turned around, you saw that he had managed to push himself into an upright position, one of three hands clamped tightly over his bleeding wound. "Don't do it.. Please -" A warning shot from one of the guards was fired next to Sebastian, and he flinched, but he didn't give up.

"They'll l-leave me here to die," he said, sounding genuinely afraid. "After everything I've done for you.. Please, don't give them the crystal." A shuffling made you turn back around, and you saw each and every gun was now trained on you.

"Give us the crystal," the guard repeated, "and you go free. Z-13 is only trying to trick you, like he always has."