Chapter Text
Time goes by slowly, it drags and it moves but it does indeed go by. Sebastian only knew due to his friend, the man making sure to tell him every day, every month every year.
Ten years to be exact.
Ten years he had been stuck here. Ten years as the site grew. Bringing more people, allowing more things. He was a part of Urbanshade, and Urbanshade was a part of him.
He had a routine, a life, if you would even call it that. He lived and he would die here. There were so many chances he could escape but none were provided that would allow them all to reach the surface.
He would not leave them alone. Eve, Painter, the Squiddles, even the Angler and it’s weird counterparts. He refused to leave them down here while he escaped.
That’s why it was taking so long. He needed a perfect chance, and one would not just flop into his lap.
And now he was faced with something else.
Takahide had came into the room looking solemn, his eyes downcast and Sebastian didn’t know it at first. He just beamed at the scientist and began to ramble.
“Takahide! My man, you know I was thinking-“
“Sebastian.”
“We could definitely do with more-“
“Sebastian!”
The fish man stops, his ears flicking upwards as he stares at his friend. For a decade this man helped him, got him things, allowed him to wander the site. He proved time and time again that he was a good ally to Sebastian.
“What? What’s wrong?” He can feel the panic starting to bubble up when he sees Takahide’s face. “I do something wrong again? I swear that door was broken when I got there.”
Takahide shakes his head, stepping closer to the creature before him. “I’m being transferred.”
Sebastian blinks, once, twice. The words roll around in his mind. “What?” He whispers, a chill traveling down his spine. He had to make sure. It was a joke, a prank even.
But the look on his face said it all. This wasn’t some trick.
“I’m being transferred. Tomorrow.” His voice is solemn, trembling at the end of it.
“What?! Why? Why now? It’s been ten years! I’ve been good!”
Takahide shrugs, “It seems I’ve gotten soft on you, new people have gotten on the council and they deem it necessary to use you. I argued and now they’re moving me far away from you.”
“No…you can't, you can’t leave me.” Sebastian feels his world starting to crumble around him. Without Takahide he would be back in that white room. Back on the table, poked and prodded.
Takahide looks at him, pain and agony clearly written on his face. “They’re going to hurt my family if I don’t. I have to go Sebastian. I can’t…I’m not brave like you.”
He looks at him astonished, him? Brave? He didn’t think so. Ten years and he was still here. Stuck in this horrible place. And now the one safety net he had was going to be ripped away.
He felt like a child being sent on time out, having his toy taken.
But Sebastian understood why Takahide didn’t want to fight. The threat of family would be enough for him as well. He would never want them to get hurt. How dare they use his family against him? Threatening to hurt them just so he can get far away from Sebastian?
He felt the pit in his stomach grow larger, writhing like snakes.
“I…I understand. Those bastards, those fucking bastards!” He snarls, tossing a chair across the room, his fins sticking straight up in his distress. He’s panting heavily, anger heating his very soul.
Takahide flinches at the sound, reaching up and touching his cool arm. Sebastian doesn’t flinch at the touch, looking down at him.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Sebastian digs his claws into his own palms, trying his best not to cry. He didn’t want Takahide to leave.
Takahide was supposed to be with him when he escaped. Help him to the surface.
“Don’t be. You have no choice. Your family is important. I wouldn’t dare beg you to stay.” He whispers and Takahide looks like he’s been shot in the heart.
He grips Sebastian’s arm and the creature reaches down and does the impossible. He gives Takahide a hug. Something he hasn’t done in some time.
Takahide is warm, his hands wrapped around Sebastian’s waist, face buried into his chest. He smells like cigarettes and iron, with a bit of coffee in the mix.
They stay embraced for a bit, Takahide was leaving and now he would have to deal with another caretaker, one that would no doubt be just as cruel as Brahams.
“Stay safe.” Sebastian whispers as he pulls away, his eyes sad.
Takahide nods, digging into his pocket and holds out a device for Sebastian.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a communicator. For you. You can speak to Painter through it. And…there’s another button. If you push it you better be absolutely ready. Ready to leave. It allows Painter full access to the site. He already knows I’ve done it. It’s…my gift to you.”
Sebastian swallows, holding the small device in his hands. “Takahide…” he doesn’t know what to say, the man may have given him the key to escaping. With Painter in control, it meant doors, turrets…everything.
He would be able to allow Eve to leave, allow the others to escape. Then he could search for the truth, find his file, find those bastards and take them down one by one. Until this company meets it’s doom by his hands.
“Just be ready. And please…don’t make it end in endless slaughter. There are some good people here, and they don’t deserve to be caught in the crossfire. I know you’ll do what’s right in the end.” Takahide reaches for Sebastian's smaller hand and gives it a squeeze.
“The guards will be coming for me, to escort me out. Make sure I didn’t, or don’t, do anything stupid.” He whispers and Sebastian nods, holding the device in his hand.
“I don’t know how to thank you Takahide. You’ve…you’ve made this place bearable at best. I don’t think I would’ve survived here had it not been for you. Please…take care of yourself.” He feels like he’s about to break down. He can see the sorrow in Takahide’s face, wet brown eyes looking into his own.
“You do as well. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry you’ve gone through so much, and I don’t know what is in store for you after. You’re a survivor and if you do make it to the surface. Look for me. I want to help any way I can.”
Sebastian nods, he wouldn’t dare cry right now but damn it he was pretty close. Takahide puts a box of cigarettes in his small hand, the claws tightening on instinct.
“For one last time.”
“Thanks…Sadao.” The first name of his friend is foreign to his tongue. He never used it, and it felt right to say it. No longer his caretaker…but a true friend.
“Don’t ever lose hope. Don’t ever give up. Light will shine on you all. I can feel it.” Takahide, no, Sadao whispers with a smile on his lips. “This isn’t a goodbye.”
“But a see you later. And I will…see you later.”
Sadao looks at him, a determined nod. “Good. And when you do go through with it, ask Painter for the package. He’ll know what to do.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure to.”
Sadao gives one final look before the doors open and guards are already there. They stare down the scientist who immediately puts his hands up in surrender. Sebastian stays put knowing if he did anything it would not go well for the two of them.
“Goodbye, Sadao.” Sebastian whispers as the doors close shut leaving him alone.
Once again he’s left with no one. A ghost, a monster and he lost the one person who did everything he could to keep Sebastian from hurting any more.
He looks down at the device in his hand, it looks like some sort of remote, but has a screen on it. Maybe a phone? Or some sort of new device he didn’t know.
But he did see the button on the bottom of the device. The one that Sadao had mentioned not to press unless he was ready.
He grips it, holding it tightly to his chest. He would make sure he did this right. Completely and utterly.
***
When Sadao Takahide left it was like the world had tilted on his axis. He felt like he was back to that first day, when Brahams came in and told him he was chosen for a special project.
The new scientists, he didn't care for their names. He didn’t bother to interact with them. They were blank faces to him.
New routines came into his life. He was unable to interact with others, unable to do any of the work he normally did.
He was now back to being the experiment, back to being property of Urbanshade.
They took him every day, drugged him and he woke up in that white room. They did tests, gathered blood, poked and prodded him.
It made him realize how much Sadao had done to keep him away from such things. How much the man had prevented.
And what was worse, he realized it was happening to every other creature as well. He could hear the shouts and screams from the projects. His mind was constantly assaulted with fear and anger that wasn’t his own.
Eve was back to being in a smaller tank, and she was not happy. He didn’t blame her, the poor thing was treated horribly, and couldn’t do anything unless it meant killing people.
He had been thrown back into his cell, thankfully he kept his room and didn’t go back to the smaller one he had.
His body ached from all the tests, mind still hazy from the drugs.
One month of this and he was already sick of it.
Sebastian.
He hears Eve’s voice echo in his mind, lifting his head as he dips into the pool. He could see his scales flaking from the misuse, parts of them broken off and sent to be studied. His hair, his scales, his teeth…
All were taken from him.
The unfortunate part was they would grow right back, uncomfortably so. They would itch and sometimes he would scratch himself raw because of it.
But he learned thanks to the mantis shrimp DNA he had regenerative abilities.
Yippee.
These new scientists marveled at him, but not as a person, but as a thing. As this scientific achievement. Something Urbanshade created.
Sebastian?
He blinks out of his thoughts, feeling the water lap at his face as he fully submerged himself. He just wanted some peace, the water soothing his skin. Bubbles pop as he sighs.
“Sorry Eve, it was rough today.”
There’s silence and he winces, no doubt she had it worse. He at least could move about. She could not.
Sebastian, they're going to kill me.
What.
His mind stops, lifting himself up from the water. “W..what? Kill you? What do you mean?” He suddenly is aware of how fast his heart was beating.
They spoke of termination. Death. Two days. Say I’m a liability. Not worth the trouble.
“No, no they can’t do that. You can’t…they can’t kill you.”
She’s frightened, he can feel her fear. Her worry as it tumbles like heavy rocks into his mind. He feels his own chest rise and fall, his heart ramming against his ribcage.
They will kill me.
“No they won’t. They will not kill you. I won’t let them.”
How? What can you do?
He pulled himself up, slithering to his hammock and grabbed the hollowed out book that held the pack of cigarettes that Sadao had given him, and the device.
“We break out. It’s finally time, Eve. I won’t let you die. I should’ve done this sooner. And I’m sorry I didn’t.”
We didn’t have an opportunity. Would of been worse if we got caught. Are we…really going to do this?
“We are. The day they go to terminate you, is the day we escape this place. I have a plan. I can fill Painter in. He will help, big time.” Sebastian starts to slither back and forth, pacing in his room.
Thank you, pup.
“Of course. I can’t let you die. Not after I promised you. And you’ve been waiting for so long.” Sebastian still feels terrible for how long it's been. He’s tried a few times, but it never turned out well. Sadao often had to fall on the sword and thankfully wouldn’t get in too much trouble.
I will inform the others. We escape. Freedom.
“And we burn this place to the ground. Urbanshade will never see it coming. They’ll never recover.”
A thrum of encouragement and determination hits him, making him feel stronger at the idea. He just had to map everything out. Make sure the plan is solid. They had a few days to iron out any mistakes.
He turns on the device and begins to text Painter.
“You ready?”
“Ready for what :0??”
“Escape.”
“Born ready!!! >:D”
“Good. Now here’s what we are going to do...”
***
One thing scientists didn’t realize is the more you stabbed someone with tranquilizers the more they became resistant to said tranquilizers. Especially if they didn’t up the dosage every time.
It also didn’t help that he was a terrible cocktail of sea creatures and at least one of them had really good adaptability.
Yeah, he wasn’t stupid. He listened to all the reports as they wrote them down in his file. Or he assumed he did. They always did the same thing that Brahams did, muttering into a recording device as if he wasn’t there.
They called him intelligent but they also thought he was stupid enough to pay attention.
For the brightest scientists of this age, they sure were a bunch of dumbasses.
They lowered the guard to only one person that would administer the shot and have him be carried in a sort of gurney. Another stupid mistake.
“Alright Z-13, you know the drill.” The man states gesturing for him to get on the large device that would roll him into the testing site.
Honestly, did he need a check up every day? It seemed redundant, did they expect him to mutate further? Check his body to see if anything was evolving. His insides probably were a lot different but he didn’t see anything new from the outside.
“Yeah don’t get your undies in a twist Sunshine.” Sebastian snarks, slithering over to the gurney. Just follow orders, and then pretend to sleep. He knows he’s going to be a bit groggy but this was the only way to get the keycard.
Once on, he takes a breath and watches the man administer the serum.
He looks away as soon as the needle hits his scales, his chest aching. Clenching his eyes he tried to think of anything but the memories of all those years ago.
You know what was even funnier. It was ten years ago to this day.
His mutation birthday.
What a time to escape, it seemed ironic at best.
Once he hears the needle free itself from his flesh, he pretends to blink slowly. His chest rising slower and longer, and his body goes slack.
The guard didn’t know how many times he had practiced with Eve. How he would slow his own heart rate and make it look like he was passed out.
He hears the guard confirm that he was knocked out, starting to strap Sebastian in. The door opens and they move to transport, entering the large elevator that would lead him back down to Eve and the others.
When feeling the elevator jerk, he knows it’s time.
He can do this. He has to do this.
Then he strikes.
He slams his tail right on the guard, hitting the man knocking his radio to the ground. He tumbles from the sheer force of Sebastian’s hand, while the creature breaks the restraint with ease.
He rises with a roll of his shoulders.
“Nothing personal sunshine. I have a date with the surface.” He grins, as the guard shouts rushing for the radio but Sebastian is faster.
Ten years of being in this body, ten years of learning, of working hard. His moves are quick, agile as he slithers to the radio, slamming his large tail right on it and watching it shatter to pieces.
“Now we can play the easy way, or the hard way. Your choice. You give me your keycard, and I get out of here, and you can run off with your little life. Or…I can take the keycard by any means necessary.”
The guard gulps, reaching into his belt with shaking hands.
“Good boy.” Sebastian croons.
But instead of the card, he’s hit with a flash beacon. The light blinded him and caused him to shout. He feels something slice at his arm, making him stagger back holding his face, his smaller arm having two larger knife wounds from the guard attempting to fight back.
He sees stars, but the scent of the guard is still there thanks to the shark DNA.
He swipes at the man, lifting him up by his shirt, his feet dangling as he attempts to try and stop Sebastian.
“Wrong move.” He snarls as the man watching the poor guard scramble.
Opening his mouth fangs flick forward with a swift click and he bites down. Hard. Tearing through the heavy gear and padding. Hitting flesh and bone.
He feels his venom glands swell as the venom pumps through the fangs.
Then he tosses the man to the floor, watching him writhe in agony. The venom would kill him in a bit, after all they had taken some of that as well. Horrible experience and he felt bad for any snake having to go through that.
“Nothing personal. Actually it is. I’m done being some pin cushion for you.” He hisses, looking at his injured hand. Damn the bastard really got him, two large gashes on his smaller arm. Even with the hard shell, it still broke through showing bits of the red flesh underneath. Blood dripping from the wound.
”I’ll have to bandage that later, I don’t have time to mess around!”
He reaches down and picks up the keycard. The guard was an elite guardsman judging by the uniform. He clicks his teeth, shaking his head as he looks at the keycard. “Idiots. Only one guard and it’s the one that has what? A high clearance keycard? It’s my lucky day.”
He stops the elevator at the correct floor, humming quietly. Stepping out he reaches for the first door, grinning from ear to ear.
“Wakey wakey.” He purrs, sliding the keycard against every door he can. They open with a large hiss and he can hear the voices in his head. It’s all happening at once and he holds his head to avoid a large migraine coming along.
Out?
Out?!
Move bite move!!
Kill kill kill!!
Destroy!!!
“That’s it my friends. Play to your heart's content. Rip and tear.”
He watches as creatures of all shapes and sizes rush out, lights flickering and watching havoc break through. Oh yeah, this was a containment breach alright.
Sensing guards ahead, he rushes down the hall heading straight for Eve. She was next on the list. Only probably he had a small time before the scientist and guards gave her the lethal injection.
I’m coming Eve!
Just about sliding down the hall he can hear screams behind him. The Angler and his little counterparts were doing their job well, and he knew the others would as well.
He gathered quite the arsenal after all.
“Stop right there!” He hears a guard down the hall, the many footsteps traveling down. He hissed, slithering in the shadows.
“Fire at will!”
Gunshots can be heard, he feels some whizzing by as he rushes to try and get to Eve’s room. Shit! Shit!!
He trips on his own tail slamming forward and hitting his face on the floor. With a growl he scrambled up, his nose and lip bleeding from the fall. Focus Sebastian!
The tumble doesn’t deter him from running even faster, slithering down the halls at speeds he didn’t think he could reach.
Then he encounters more guards all coming from each direction. Snarling he moves to the only available hall, knowing he’s going to be cornered at some point.
His plan to turn on Painter would be later, he couldn’t risk it with Eve.
Sebastian! I am trying to break free!
“Eve! I am nearly there, break the glass and get the hell out of there!”
He slides to a stop when a whole cluster of guards enter the large room, it’s a hall with couches and other things, alarms blaring.
“Well well. If it isn’t the creature that’s been costing this company so much money.”
Sebastian freezes, backing into a corner, his back hitting the glass. Murky black water is the view from here, and he’s trapped with guards on all sides.
“And who are you supposed to be?” Sebastian snarls, trying to look for an opening, an exit, anything.
“I’m the one who owns this place. You can call me Mr. Shade.”
Mr. Shade. What a great name for a villain. It just screamed original, like he was destined to be some sort of maniacal boss.
“You’re the one who did this to me.”
“Approved, yes. Are you done with this little charade?”
Sebastian growls, “I’ll kill you.”
“Oh yes I’m sure. Just like you did with the other doctor. A shame. I enjoyed Noir’s methods.”
She was a psychopath and it seemed so was he.
“Seems I might have to just terminate you right here and now Z-13. You’ve become ever so troublesome the moment we brought you here. I should have done so earlier.”
“Yeah but you didn’t. Dumb move on your part.” He mutters, gripping his injured arm and hunches over. This was it. He was going to die. He was trapped between people and he couldn’t get away.
Not if he wanted bullets covering his entire body.
“I am done with your smart mouth. Shred your mags until your trigger fingers bleed boys.”
He hears the cocking of guns and closes his eyes, expecting death.
Instead he’s greeted by neon green glow.
LOOK AT ME!
“Mr. Shade look out!”
He can see the guards trying to usher the man out and this is his chance as Eve stares them all down. He watches as heads pop from the pressure of her gaze and pushes the button for Painter to take over.
There’s a noise as the lights turn off and panels fly open. He glances up to see turrets aimed at the rest of the group that hadn't looked at Eve yet. The man who had threatened him got away but he doesn’t care.
“Say hello to my little friends! Hehe!!”
Bullets fly and stray ones hit the glass. Sebastian looks at Eve and watches her bash her head into the glass breaking it with one slam of her mighty body.
He feels pressure release as water breaks through and he nearly gets whiplash from it. His gills fly open as cold water hits him, dragging him into the sea.
Shouting, he isn't used to this open water, and Eve is there grabbing him by the nape of his neck, like one would pick up a little kitten.
He’s dazed by the sudden pressure, his body adjusting as Eve swims away.
“Wait wait! We can’t leave yet!” His voice is muffled by the water
Why? We did it! We are free!
“Painter! I promised! We have to go back! Please just drop me-“
He flinches when the parts of the site explode, and he gestures to the open area.
“There! Just take me there and you can go, Eve! You can be free! I have to finish this! I promised him.” Sebastian begs trying to get out of Eve’s hold.
But she doesn’t let go, instead she swims towards the new breach pressing her snout into the open space. Her jaws open and he crawls through the broken pipes and crumbling walls finding himself in another part of the area.
He gulps for air, despite not needing to, holding his injured hand wincing at the stinging pain. He would have to get that bandaged up.
Crawling out of the hole he looks up at the ceiling.
“Painter!”
“ Here! You okay?”
“I’ll live, you keep going with the plan. Oh! I need the…package! The package that Sadao Takahide left me!”
“Ohh gotcha! I’ll lead you to it! This way!”
Painter’s voice echoes through the intercom and a door opens. Sebastian looks down hoping that Eve was far, far away from here.
He travels down the halls, Painter opening one door after another.
This area of the site seemed to be cleared out, he doesn't look at the bodies on the floor, or the blood splattering and claw marks.
The smell of blood is harder to ignore but he keeps pressing on.
“ Here!”
Sebastian watches the door open, it’s…the engineering bay. The break room to be more specific.
Entering he sees the chairs and the fridge, along with some lockers. It was meant for the engineers to take their breaks and enjoy their free time.
He slithered about looking for the package Sadao said he had for him.
But then he hears breathing, panicked breaths coming from the lockers. His ears flick, and he moves towards it, opening it to find Noah and Jason huddled in one large locker.
“Oh God, oh God. Please…”
Sebastian frowns, “Get out.” He says quickly and they look up at him horrified.
“There’s escape pods not too far from here. Get out now. Before they get you.” He warns glancing up to the camera that is in the corner of the room.
“Painter can you make sure these two make it safely to the escape pods?”
“ Yessir !”
Jason and Noah tumble out of the lockers, frantically bowing and holding their hands out in thank you. “Thank you Handy man, thank you!” Jason cries as they just about scramble to the door and Sebastian can hear Painter opening and closing doors.
He shakes his head, “Let those idiots live please.”
“Painter…do you know where the package would be?”
“He said it’s somewhere inconspicuous.”
Great.
He sees a supple closet and opens it up, seeing quite a large crate on the top shelf. Anyone would think it was some sort of engineering box but he saw a familiar symbol painted on the lid.
o.:}
The emoticons that Painter made for him. This was it.
With a grunt he lifts the thing, finding it to be surprisingly heavy.
He pulls it into the middle of the room, knocking over chairs and tables in the process. Opening the box he blinks in surprise.
Firstly, it’s the scrambler. This large heavy machinery is what was making the box so hefty.
He could see it was made with straps, as if he was meant to put it on his back.
“Oh Sadao…you clever bastard.” He grins reaching for it only to stop when seeing there was more.
Inside was an outfit. An outfit tailored just for him. Along with supplies and other things he could use. This man literally made him a care package.
He lifts up the clothes, finding them to be a bit odd. Paper falls from it, and he looks down.
It’s a note.
Sebastian,
I hope these help. This is one of things that got me transferred. I stole it for you, and I also had my cousin custom make this outfit for you. It's the best I could do with your…stature. Good luck and Godspeed friend.
-Sadao Takahide
He grips the fabric and smiles.
“Thanks man.”
He begins to put on the shirt, having been bare chested from them not providing him anymore clothes. The outfit is a bit cozy and warm, with a nice jacket, a shirt with a caveat, and a scarf.
He nods in approval, and quietly begins to bandage his injured arm before hoisting the scrambler onto his back.
His dorsal fin isn’t too happy but he doesn’t care. He needed this, it would keep him hidden while he worked on getting what he needed.
Slithering forward he heads out of the engineering department and glances at the glass seeing a familiar eye infested shark.
“Eve? I told you to swim! To be free!” He calls out hand to the glass.
I won’t leave until you do. That was my promise.
He’s taken aback by this. “But…you’re free! You can leave! Swim! Be at peace!”
I will remain here. Help. Get rid of humans who try. I know they will keep bringing more. They need the crystal.
Right, he had Painter currently making sure no one got even close to it. Delaying all retrievals and what not.
“I have to find it. I have to get all the information I can. Then I can use it. Be it to get me out of here, or to ruin this place entirely. And I have to help Painter. I have to find a way to get him out of here without damaging him.”
A computer had no place in the sea after all. Water would immediately ruin him.
He couldn’t go back on his promise.
You’ll be hurt if humans find you. Hunted down.
“I don’t care. I don’t care if I’m damned, or whatever they want to call it. I’ll break every rule, I’ll tear apart reality, and I will get my happy ending.” He says solemnly and she gives a thrum of agreement.
You’re an admiral soul pup. I will be close. Whatever you need. But for now…I have humans to play with.
Sick glee rattles his senses as she takes off like a bullet, ready to get her revenge.
“Hoo boy, I won’t be able to stop her. She’s got her mind set on that…”
Hopefully she knew the difference between good people and bad ones. Hopefully.
He glances down the hall, his light shining through the darkness. He had plans, he knew they would send expendables down here to get their dirty work. Grab all their files, try to get their data all fixed.
Perhaps he could make a deal with them. Scrounge up supplies and work with these poor bastards.
He looks at the vent down the hall, a perfect spot then.
Sebastian will set up shop, and work on getting him and his people out of here.
Urbanshade be damned.
“This place will be ashes by the time I'm done with it. Just you wait.”
***
