The group made their way out of the ruined submarine bay and headed into a connective tunnel that led to Arcadia. On top of their mission requested by Tida to investigate and destroy rapture, the killing of Atlas's family gave them a third objective…kill Andrew Ryan, and put an end to his madness…
The group was silent with anger and sadness as they marched with purpose through the tunnel until they reached a door with a lock on it. Ethox ignored the lock and, with a yell of frustration, summoned his Keyblade and slashed the door to pieces, opening the way to a lush area with bushes and a mausoleum-like structure in the center. In front of the structure, they found Atlas, his face buried in his hands as he cried.
"Moira…Patrick…" Atlas croaked. "Ain't that just. Like. Ryan. Waits till we're almost out and he pulls the string."
"I'm sorry, Atlas. I wish we could've saved them. But we all know one thing now. It's that Ryan needs to pay for what he's done." Ethox said.
"You're right… We'll find the bastard. We'll find him, and we'll tear his heart out!" Atlas growled, getting up. "There's a Bathysphere in the Rollin' Hills that'll take us to where he hides out, in Hephaestus. Then all debts will be paid in full."
"If you're planning on coming with us, you'll need extra protection." Seiya said.
"Seiya's right. Take this Security Bullseye Plasmid we found." Michiru said, pulling it out of the ammo bag and handing it over.
"Mighty kind 'o ya." Atlas said.
"Careful, it'll hurt." Lily cautioned.
"Lass, I just lost me family. There's no pain out there that'll come close." Atlas said, injecting himself with Plasmid, gritting his teeth as it entered his DNA. "Gah, I can feel me brain gettin' rewired…! Okay, there we go."
"Very well, no time to waste." Le Kraken said. "We must journey to the Rolling Hills."
"I'll lead the way. I know m'way around Arcadia seein' as how I came through here and all that." Atlas said. "We're in the Tea Garden right now, so we gotta pass through here and the Lower Concourse ta get there. Keep your eyes open, there's a particularly nasty group of Splicers 'round here."
"He's right. From here on out, we're gonna be seeing the Houdini Splicers." Johnny said.
"Houdini Splicers?" Michiru asked.
"Crazy sons of bitches, most of 'em belong to a cult based here in Arcadia." Peach said. "They managed to get their hands of Plasmids that let 'em disappear in thin air. They're still there, but you can't see 'em."
"Well, we'll be sure to keep on our toes." Tanya said. "Invisible enemies…keep your ears open for footsteps."
The group moved carefully across the Tea Garden, only for some of the members to see something once they reached a door.
"What're you waiting for, silly? It's beautiful!" an apparition of a girl giggled as she twirled through the door.
"Wh-What the heck?!" Nemo exclaimed.
"Something wrong, Nemo?" Molotok asked.
"I-I think I just saw a ghost or something…" Nemo said.
"You too?" Johnny asked. "I saw a ghost in the Medical Pavillion.
"Christ… guess you two are sufferin' from Plasmid side effects. They say injectin' yourself with em causes ya to see spectral images or somethin'." Atlas said. "Memories of a past life, they call it."
"Hmm, guess all us Plasmid users are gonna be seeing them, soon enough." Ultra said.
"Hey, is someone there?!" A normal voice asked. "Someone help me! Jesus, god, they're everywhere!"
"Hey, sounds like there's actually a normal survivor in this city for a change." Koenig said.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Atlas said.
"Hey, if there's even a chance there's one guy in this place who hasn't turned into a crazy ADAM addicted psycho, we've gotta take it." Ethox said.
The group followed the yelling through a small door into an enclosed, double-floored area.
"Come on, over here!" the voice called out, coming from the back of the room.
They searched around for the survivor, picking up supplies and ammo along the way. They then came to a spot in the back with a weird mask. As they collected everything there, all of a sudden, a red mist appeared around them, and everyone wheeled around to see a Splicer with the same mask on.
"Hello, gang!" the Splicer taunted the group as he disappeared before their eyes. "Welcome to the rat trap!"
"Well…it was worth a shot." Legolia said. "Let's get this guy."
"Sally, keep your eyes open for him. Peach, get the camera ready." Ethox said.
The group crept through the maze-like halls, hearing for any sign of the Houdini Splicer. They climbed up to the second floor, and that's why Sally noticed the Splicer reappearing behind them.
"He's sneaking around! He's behind us!" Sally announced as the Splicer conjured up a fireball and hurled it at the group.
"I got it!" Nemo said, catching the fireball with telekinesis and throwing it right back at the lobber, hitting him square in the mask, setting it aflame. The Splicer screamed as he quickly threw the mask off, panting in relief…right until he saw Mr. B charging at him.
"Gotta say, it's bizarre to see one of these behemoths on our side." Peach said as Mr. B going to town on the Houdini. "How the heck did you guys manage that?"
"Well… we're not sure, actually." Ethox admitted. "My best guess is that he's still protecting Sally, and since she's calm around us, he doesn't register us as a threat."
"Never thought in a million years anythin' like this would happen. Y'sure are a unique punch of people." Atlas said.
"You should see the rest of the Mythos Hearts guild." Kazuma said. "Trust me, when it comes to unique, we've got nothing on our guildmates."
After dealing with the Splicer, the group made their way forward, dealing with a Rosie and saving a Little Sister along the way. Thankfully, DSD wasn't around to try and capture this one.
They were also close to a Gatherer's Garden Machine, as well.
"Anyone up for a new Plasmid to purchase?" Johnny asked. "I've got lots of ADAM stored up. Fight's are getting harder, so I'm up for buying two this time."
"Hmm…Let's get Enrage and Winter Blast, since we skipped out on them last time." Weiss suggested.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea." Kazuma said, subtly pulling out his Adventurer's Card while no one was looking. "(I'm dead if I don't get this skill before I take my chance with that…)"
"Okay then, here goes." Johnny said, buying the two Plasmids and holding them up. "Who wants 'em?"
"Give me Enrage. Useful for directing stronger enemies to me, ya dumaiu." Molotok sad.
Johnny tossed the Enrage plasmid to Molotok, as he looked it over.
Enrage
Plasmid by Ryan Industries
"Developed for use in today's uncertain environment, ENRAGE! will make your victim forget what side he's on, and attack anyone nearby. Just make sure 'anyone' isn't you!"
"Da. This will work." Molotok said, injecting himself with it. "AAAAGH!"
"Geez, not even you can handle one of these things?" Neumann asked.
"Wait…what is happening?!" Le Kraken exclaimed as Molotok started to grow, muscles expanding and eyes turning red as he roared, before he suddenly changed back.
"Ahhh…izvinite, comrades. It seems Plasmid has unusual effect on me." Molotok said.
"I'll say! You almost looked like you were gonna go all Origin Beast Mode on us!" Nemo said.
"Origin Beast?" Molotok repeated, before humming in wonder. "I remember, comrade Dark Water mentioned Mako having something similar. Perhaps Enrage Plasmid unlocked potential for me, da?"
"Probably." Ethox said. "Anyway, who wants Winter Blast?"
"Dibs!" Kazuma said as he took the Plasmid from Johnny and quickly injected himself.
"Kazuma, hold on!" Ultra said, too late as the adventure screamed and collapsed to the group, his body spasming.
"AAAAHHHH! COLD, COLD, COLD!" Kazuma screamed as he sprawled out on the ground.
"What's wrong with him? He shouldn't be reactin' this violently!" Atlas said.
"Kazuma's kinda on the frail side…. He's a shut-in." Ethox said.
"This is terrible! If Kazuma dies here, there's no way I'll be able to defeat the Devil King and get back to the Unified Divine Realm!" Aqua said. "Don't you dare die on me, Kazuma!"
Kazuma continued to scream for half a minute before he finally stopped, gasping for air and sweating profusely, his body shivering.
"Oh me lord, he survived." Atlas said in surprise.
"I was half expecting him to die of cold." Seiya said.
"Yeah, s-screw you t-to, S-Seiya." Kazuma mumbled as the cold effects finally passed. "But, the reason I didn't die was because I got myself a skill on my Adventurer's Card."
"While we weren't looking? Which one?" Ethox asked.
"The Freeze skill." Kazuma said, showing his card. "It lets you project a small burst of cold from your fingers. Not really that effective against monsters, but I figured if Seiya has his Fire Magic mixed with the Incinerate Plasmid, then the same would happen with the skill."
"But why would you take that risk?" Mirror Match asked. "If you had been wrong, you would've died, possibly without any way for Aqua to receive you out of Axel."
"Yeah, I know, I just…" Kazuma sighed.
"You wanted to be stronger so you could keep up with us." Ethox said.
"That, and… well, I wanted to be more like David." Kazuma admitted, looking embarrassed. "He's just so amazing, y'know? I just want to be a little like him. With Winter Blast, it'll help."
"Really?" Michiru asked, picking the empty plasmid up and reading the advertisement label. "Don't get caught without this powerful self-defense tool at the ready. Give your foes the cold shoulder with Winter Blast!"
"Self-defense?" Kazuma realized. "I almost died to a Plasmid designed for defense? I was hoping I could make icicles from freezing the air or something!"
"...Y'know Plasmids aren't magic, right?" Johnny asked.
"Hey, don't knock it yet, Kazuma." Ethox said. "Maybe your skill changed the Plasmid in some way. You'll just have to see."
"Yeah, yeah…" Kazuma said. "Come on, let's get a move on to that Bathysphere…and our next cramped voyage."
The group continued on, trudging past Splicer encounters and posters of Atlas.
"Hey, Atlas… why'd you come down here in the first place?" Megumin asked.
"Well, I believed in what Ryan was sayin' at first, 'bout this bein' a land for free men." Atlas said. "Me family… we didn't have it easy back on the surface, bein' Irish in the States'n all. Thought we could make somethin' better here." he said, letting out a humorless laugh. "Can you believe somethin' so foolish?"
"Hey, you didn't know things would turn out so bad." Viktoriya comrted the man.
"Maybe, but there were signs." Atlas said. "Ryan bringin' in the death penalty, cops torturin' folks accused of smugglin'... then Ryan went and privitized Fontaine Futuristics, company that made Plasmids. That's when I realized that things were only gettin' worse. That someone had to do somethin'. So… I did."
"Wait, what did you do?" Ethox asked.
"Started up a resistance 'gainst Ryan." Atlas said. "Got quite a few folks to sign up, includin' Johnny here. People who'd had enough of Ryan's little dictatorship. We…well, we did a few things, got people hurt. We were tryin' to save Rapture, but in the end, we ended up just sendin' it to Hell faster than it already was goin'. I was plannin' on jumpin' ship with Johnny and me family, but…"
"We understand." Necroapache said. "Ryan forsook his honor for the sake of power. There is no greater shame in any world."
"What about you, Johnny?" Grantz asked Johnny. "What's your story?"
"Not much to it, really." Johnny said. "My parents were killed by Splicer early on in Rapture's fall, so Atlas here took me in. He's practically raised me."
"Really? How old are you?" Michiru asked.
"Around 24." Johnny said. "I was still a baby when Atlas adopted me."
"As much as I enjoyed this trip down memory lane, Rollin' Hills is over yonder." Atlas said, pointing to a sign that displayed the name. "Once we get to the Bathysphere, it's straight on to Ryan."
"It's not gonna be that easy. Now that Ryan knows we're here to destroy his city and possibly knows we're here for his head, he wouldn't exactly give us free reign over transportation around here." Seiya said.
"Good point, he's probably going to try and pull something in here." Ultra said.
At that moment, a sort of green gas was expelled through the air vents, immediately having an effect on the trees.
"Like that?" Kazuma asked.
"Yeah…like that." Ultra said.
"Oh no… I think that gas is a plant killer!" Michiru said.
"Ah, bollocks… He's killin' Arcadia so he can cut off the air!" Atlas said.
"That's right! Plants disperse oxygen by absorbing Carbon Dioxide!" Darkness said.
"And we're at the bottom of the ocean." Atlas said. "No trees, no oxygen."
"We need to get outta here before we run outta air. You got any ideas, Atlas?" Ethox asked.
"Oh, we'll be fine for a long while, boyo." Atlas said. "It's the lockdown that's the real problem. Damn city's built not to let anyone out in this kind of emergency. But fortune's on our side yet: Ryan's head of Arcadia is an old betty named Langford. An okay sort, but not afraid of doin' a dirty job for a dollar."
"You think she'll be willing to help us?" Legolia asked.
"'Course she will. After all, she planted the damn things." Atlas assured the group. "Her research lab is right over there, actually." he said, pointing to a nearby opening with a sign denoting it is Julie Langford's Research Lab.
"Alright, then we'll go over and ask her for help." Koeing said.
"Just have to get past her security. Luckily, me new Plasmid should make that easier." Atlas said.
With Security Bullseye, Atlas was able to divert all the Security Cameras' attention, allowing the group to stroll on inside.
They approached a door to Langstrom's office where screens went on, showing the woman's face.
"My trees! It wasn't you, was it?" Langstrom communicated.
"No, Ms. Langstrom, I assure you that this was not our doing." Necroapache assured. "It is the wrongdoing of your employer, Andrew Ryan."
"We're looking for a way out of Arcadia so we can take a Bathysphere to Hephaestus and confront him. Is there any way you can help us out?" Ethox asked.
"As a matter of fact, there just might." Langstrom said. "It's a genetic vector that…oh, you wouldn't understand. Look, could you find a sample of Rosa Gallica for me? There should be specimens in the Waterfall Grotto. I've got to keep working while there's still time…"
"On it!" Ethox said. "Be back soon!"
Making their way back to the main hub of Arcadia, the group followed the signs pointing the way to the Waterfall Grotto, entering and walking past a pile of dead Splicers, heading down some short stairs to reach a walkway which overlooked a flooded ground floor, a waterfall being the cause of the water. In the middle of the room, a growth of roses was seen, a lone Splicer standing in front of it.
"Those must be the Gallica she wanted." Grantz said, looking down the walkway. "Lots of security on these walkways…"
"We could get through the security, but that would take too much time." Mirror Match noted. "Thus, we'll avoid going through."
Mirror Match turned into shadow and gathered up everyone, floating down to the bottom of the grotto, the Splicer turning around at hearing the splashes.
"Hey, you ain't supposed to be-" the Splicer started before getting put down with a headshot from Johnny's pistol.
"Alright, let's get these roses back to Langstrom." Ultra said, taking one of the roses. Just then, the group heard the upstairs door open, and footsteps walking towards their location.
Looking up, the group saw multiple Houdini Splicers with the same kinds of masks the Splicer from the Tea Garden was wearing. One of them looked down on them and hissed.
"Oi! Get away from those flowers! They are our offerings to the Goddess of Nature!" the Splicer yelled. "We are the Saturnine, and Arcadia is under her protection, and we are her weapons!"
"...Somehow, I doubt that." Tanya said.
"Silence!" the Splicer roared. "Now, you die!"
The Splicers started to conjure fireballs and hurled them at the group, Ethox stepping in front of the group, Keyblade at hand.
"Bull Tide!" Ethox called as a large stream of water emerged from his Keyblade in the shape of a bellowing bull, putting out the fireballs and hitting the Saturnine members, the Splicers being swept out and away from the Grotto.
"Don't think this is over…!" one of the cultisis declared over the rushing water.
"Sure feels like it's over." DJ replied. "C'mon, let's get this rose back to the good botanist."
Making their way back to Langstrom's lab (rescuing a Little Sister on the way), the group entered the front door and knocked on the door.
"Ms. Langstorm, we have the rose you asked for." Lily said.
"Excellent! Quickly, send it through the Pneumo." Langstrom ordered, Ultra doing so. "Yes, this is perfect. Come up to my office, and we can start trying to put the green back in this forest."
The door to the inner lab opened up, allowing the group to walk in. The took notice of the numerous turrets and security systems in the room, becoming apprehensive at them.
"Don't worry about the security, I've got it all hacked." Langstrom's voice assured the group. "Come up to my office, and be careful about the Rosie walking about."
The group did as instructed, walking past the Big Daddy patrolling the lower floor and walking to the back of the large office, passing through a glass tube. They then walked through a door that opened to a small room with glass adorned with the words "Dr. Julie Langstrom, Botanist". Past the glass, the group could see a middle-aged woman with blonde hair and glasses working with chemicals.
"Hey, we're here!" Ethox waved. "Nice to meet you in person!"
The woman heard the group and looked their way.
"Oh, you're here. Alright, come on-" Langstrom started before the door into her side of the office shut and locked. "...in?"
"Julie, we made a business deal, you and I, did we not?" the voice of Andrew Ryan came out over the intercom.
"Ryan!" Atlas realized. "The door, break the damn door!"
He and Johnny raced over to the door and tried to break it down, to no avail.
"Mr. Ryan?" Langstrom asked, suddenly very worried.
"Let me read to you from the agreement… here we go, Section 3, Subsection 4: "Ryan Industries maintains EXCLUSIVE rights to the creation, use, and exploitation of the Lazarus Vector". Ownership is civilization, Julie. Without it, we're back in the swamp…"
Suddenly, poisonous gas started to fill Langstrom's lab, causing her to start choking.
"Wait… No! Please! MR. RYAN!" the botanist pleaded as the view from the outside started to be blocked off.
"No, no more kills for Ryan!" Ethox said, acting fast and equipping his oxygen tank and breathing mask, and activating Tiger Booster. "Goblin Slayer, charcoal for the Rapture residents, NOW! Everyone else, either put on your tanks or hold your breath!"
The Nobody then swung his Keyblade with all his might at the window, shattering it and jumping through the hole as the gas filled their side of the room as well. Within moments, Ethox came back out, holding Langstrom in his arms as he raced out of the room until he was out of range of the gas.
"Come on, breathe! You're away from the gas!" Ethox pleaded to Langstrom.
"9…4…5…7…" Langstrom gasped before she fell limp.
"No, no, no…" Ethox repeated in mounting despair before DJ walked over and checked the woman's pulse. "Is… is she…?"
"No." DJ said. "She's alive, but the amount of gas she inhaled… she's gonna be out for a couple hours at least."
"Goddamnit, every time we get a yard ahead, Ryan goes'n moves the goal line down to the other side of the field!" Atlas complained. "We ain't got time to wait 'round for her to wake up, and she's the only bat who knows how to bring the trees back!"
"Do not be so quick to assume all is lost." Necroapache said. "Surely something within the doctor's office may aid us in restoring Arcadia."
"Check to see if there's a combination safe or something." Ethox told the group. "The code's probably 9457."
The group entered the now gas-free room, searching its contents.
"Oh, what do we have here?" Neumann said, picking up a chemical thrower. "Hey Jack, you can use this, right?"
"Yeah, thanks Neumann." Johnny said, taking the large weapon. "Heh, if I keep getting weapons like this, I'm gonna need to get me an ammon bag like you guys have."
"Hey, I found a safe!" Aqua called out from the back of the room. "Alrighty then, 9457."
The goddess punched in the code, unlocking the safe and revealing two things: a tape recorder and a key.
"Perhaps this tape will reveal a clue." Weiss proposed, playing the tape for everyone:
"What's the point of being a damn genius if the only ones around to appreciate it are a bunch of spliced-up morons? I've cracked the Vector, or at least I'm 99% certain I have. I just need a bud of Rosa Gallicato to confirm my analysis. Distilled water, a bit of chlorophyll, and enzymes extracted from Apis Mellifera. That's right, sweethearts: honey bee spit. I've got chlorophyll as long as those Santurnine idiots don't try and steal it again. As for the last two ingredients, I'll need to make a trip to the Farmer's Market to get them. That barkeep in Worldly Winery will be easy enough to convince to part with some of his water, and if Tasha does start charging me to visit her apiary, it'll be worth every penny. About seven samples each should do it…"
"Okay, seven samples of distilled water, chlorophyll, and bee enzymes." Tanya recited, writing them down on a piece of paper. "If what she says is true, then we already have chlorophyll here in the lab. That only leaves the items to be found in this Farmer's Market area."
"Personally, I think only a few of us should go." Darkness spoke up. "We have been traveling non-stop since we've arrived. You all may rest, while I retrieve these items."
"With all due respect, mon cher, letting you go anywhere by yourself is a bad idea." Le Kraken said. "Cependant, the idea is sound. Those of us who wish to stay and rest may do so."
"Oh, thank God!" Kazuma sighed. "It's about time we got a break in this hellhole!"
"I'm going to stay and watch over Langstrom." Ethox said. "Maybe she'll wake up by the time you get back. Who wants to go?"
"I'd rather have somethin' to do 'stead of standin' around." Atlas said. "Johnny lad, would you kindly come along and watch me back?"
"Sure thing, Atlas. It'll give me a chance to try this new chemical thrower out anyway." Johnny agreed.
"Mr. B and I are going where our guardian angel goes." Sally spoke up.
"I'll go too." Michiru spoke up. "I'm still fine."
"You'll need quick feet and good hearing to find those items." Legolia said. "I'll go."
"Major, permission to join the group going to the Farmer's Market?" Viktoriya requested.
"Granted, Lieutenant." Tanya agreed before she turned to the rest of her soldiers. "The rest of you, come with me and help me set up a proper defensive line for the lab. If what that tape said was true, those Santurine bastards may try to launch an attack."
"Yes, ma'am." the soldiers obeyed.
"Right, the rest of us will…probably try and get some sleep." Ultra said, yawning. "It's been a long…wait, how long have we been down here?"
"About five to six hours, by my guess." Goblin Slayer answered.
"Okay, yeah, it's been a long five to six hours." Ultra said. "I'm getting some shut eye for when we start moving again."
"I think I'll join you." Peach said. "Can't remember the last time I got some shut-eye. Probably part of the reason I was off my rocker, come to think of it…"
"Alright, good luck, guys!" Ethox waved at the Farmer's Market group as they exited the office, starting their trip to the market.