At the brink of dawn, a sudden hail of gunfire and shattering glass snaps Phin awake. Without time to think, he bolts out of his capsule-home, assessing the situation with wide, frantic eyes.
What the hell is going on? It can't be -
Suddenly, a burly figure grabs him and pulls him behind a wall.
'The Black Market somehow caught on. They've likely been suspicious for a while now,' he whispers. Even in the shadows, his features are undeniable - a rugged, almost beastly face bearing countless scars and aged wounds. Tarnin Vesk.
'Vesk?? What's going on?' Phin stares back in shock.
'You heard me the first time, idiot. This place isn't safe anymore.' He shoves a pistol into Phin's chest. 'We're evacuating you.'
Phin fumbles with the foreign firearm, running after Vesk. They stealthily traverse the Arboretum's web-like infrastructure. All around them, Botanists are locked in active combat with Black Market soldiers. He wonders where his training mentors are. It's so early that the scientists probably haven't arrived yet... thank goodness. He and Vesk cut into a dimly lit, winding corridor tucked behind a cluster of capsule-buildings.
'This passageway leads to the other buildings on SciDep campus,' Vesk explains. 'It was built exactly for this purpose, though we've never had to use it before.' He briefly glances behind, a look of disgust passing on his face. 'We had no clue those madmen would actually try some shit like this.'
Phin gulps. And they're all targeting me... people are killing and dying for my ability. Damn it - what's it all worth?
His worries are cut short as deafening gunfire floods the cramped tunnel. Footsteps and yelling are intermingled with the relentless blasting, approaching closer with every second.
'Shit - they're here. Stay behind me.' Vesk turns, a wall of pure muscle. He reaches into his coat and produces a draco pistol - that seems disproportionately small compared to his build. As the Black Market soldiers turn the corner, Vesk immediately begins spraying, painting the jagged concrete walls slick with blood.
Enemy bullets appear to be harmless - with a clink, they simply ricochet off Vesk's body. How the hell...? Is he wearing a bulletproof vest? Phin, hand trembling, clutches his own gun as he watches from afar. He's decimating them...
'Quit standing around, dumbass!' Vesk bellows as he runs back in Phin's direction. Numerous bullet holes dot his black jacket, but he moves without the slightest hint of weakness. The two burst outside into the chilly morning breeze. As the sirens wail, countless helicopters dot the sky, circling laps around the Arboretum.
'FREEZE THERE!'
Phin glances around anxiously and sees a swarm of Black Market mercenaries closing in on all sides. Each has an automatic rifle trained on him, and they synchronously collapse on him and Vesk.
'Hand over the boy or we'll shoot!' demands one of the cloaked figures, presumably the lead.
I'm 18... why are they calling me a boy? Phin feels a rush of blood to his face as he laments his inability to defend himself.
'Screw you.' Vesk laughs, removing his jacket. As he proceeds to rip off his tank top, Phin realizes this is the first time he's seen Vesk's bare body. Underneath, he wore nothing - his sculpted golden frame basks in the faint light of dawn.
Phin frowns. How was he able to tank point-blank gunfire...? No physique, no matter how strong, is able to do that, he ponders. I originally assumed he had Regal-caliber bulletproof gear on, but... I never expected this.
Vesk performs his signature flex, proudly flaunting his giant muscles. 'Come at me, you weaklings!' he roars, sending shivers down Phin's spine.
The mercenaries shift their aim to Vesk, a slight but noticeable adjustment. They don't want to kill me for whatever purpose they have for me... Phin thinks. As the bullets sail in, Vesk stands his ground, unwavering. To Phin's shock, his body begins to shift - scaly silver plates surface on his skin, forming a protective exoskeleton.
Immune to the enemy gunfire, he charges forward without hesitation. Even as the Black Market soldiers scatter in confusion, Vesk mercilessly picks them off one-by-one with his bare hands, moving at superhuman speeds.
In seconds, the SciDep plaza is unrecognizable: manicured grass soaked in blood, sleek walls streaked with viscera, and shattered bodies strewn across the marble paths. Phin stares aghast. W-what just happened... he shudders. Vesk casually strolls back, putting a massive, gore-stained hand on Phin' shoulder. 'Not bad, eh?' he grins. 'Bet they didn't see that coming.'
Phin instinctively flinches, leaping backwards. 'Y-you're a killer...' he mumbles. 'How could you do this?'
Vesk rolls his eyes. 'So you'd rather spend the rest of your days as the Black Market's slave? And it's not like they were saints or anything - you'd be even more terrified if I told you what those mercenaries do on a daily basis.'
Phin goes silent. Images of the bloodbath replay in his head, and - wait! What the hell? - momentarily, sheer intrigue overpowers his fear. 'Your armor - that was Squamaspira ferrea, or Ironlock: a Grade III Flora!'
'Good eye, young Appraiser,' Vesk smiles. 'You have been granted a firsthand exhibition of the power of Floral Alchemy.'
No way Floral Alchemy's real - but my eyes couldn't have been deceiving me... Phin blanches. 'Are the Botanists all hybrids too?' he asks. Images of a monstrous Willow invade his head.
'No. This is confidential, but I hate secrets, so I'll tell you. Floral Alchemy - as it is - is not perfected, and out of dozens of candidates, I was one of the few who survived the genetic transfusion process.'
'So - are you even stronger than the Botanists?'
Vesk laughs, wiping blood off his face. 'A good bunch of them, yes - but not the elite. Shirasagi would still beat my ass if we were to ever clash. See, due to our technological limitations, we were only able to transfuse Grade IIIs or less. For Botanists who can slay Grade IVs or Vs with ease, even us mutants are weaklings.'
Wow... I've never truly seen Shirasagi, Dietrich, or the other high-ranking Botanists in combat, but if a powerhouse like Vesk respects them... Phin wonders.
Vesk grabs him forcefully by the shoulders, shaking him out of the daydream. 'That's where YOU come in, boyo. Your findings have already given the SciDep and Regals a massive push towards breakthrough in Floral Alchemy. Now do you see why you're so valuable? Just think about what can be accomplished!' he grins.
Phin nods quietly.
...
Quiet down.
In the background, the powerful thump of helicopter blades grows louder. As the aircraft descends, its side doors slide open. Inside sits Regal agent Umbriel Arpharos III, another familiar face.
'Greetings, Appraiser Phin. We're moving you to the Regal Castle for maximum security until your mission tomorrow. As you already know, your location has been compromised to the Black Market. Despite being the residence of the Botanists, SciDep campus lacks proper defenses,' Umbriel explains.
He offers a smile and holds out a hand. 'No time to waste - get in.'