In which someone gains a new ally!

With the gun trained on Troy, Gordon acted fast. Pulling out a small gas canister from his diving suit, the aquanaut lobbed it in the direction of Anath, a gas explosion lighting up in the man's face.

"Run for it, guys!" Gordon yelled, running down the nearest corridor to him. Troy and Phones bolted down the other corridors they agreed to canvass when they split up, and once the gas cleared, Anath let out a primal cry.

"They're escaping!" he yelled, but nobody heard his call.

Down the end of the right corridor, Gordon panted as he came to a stop by a stack of marble bookshelves, pressing himself against the wall to hide from any aquaphibians guarding the passageways. As he stood and got his breath back, his eyes met the opposing wall to find a massive fish tank embedded in the wall. Gasping at its colossal size, Gordon slowly made his way over to it, pressing his hands against the thick glass. It took him a few seconds to realize that what he was watching was not actually a fish tank.

It was a window to the ocean.

Gordon gasped louder this time and took a step back, admiring the ocean from where he was stood. Thousands of tropical fish could be seen swimming about, their bright colours bringing light to this deep corner of the sea. Different varities of seaweed and corals graced the golden sandy floor and Gordon just stared dumbly for a few moments, completely taken aback by the display before him.

"Incredible, isn't it?"

Gordon jumped and pressed his back against the glass window, preparing to make a run for it. Instead of Anath standing there, it was another Sargassian, wearing a regal brown robe with blue sequins embedded into the silk. He had a kind face and wise eyes, silver scaly skin with a trimmed beard to boot. "I apologize, I didn't mean to frighten you."

"W-Who-" Gordon started, not being able to take his eyes off the alluring man.

"My name's, Sequalibra, and I'm the librarian of this place," the creature introduced himself. "And you must be one of the prisoners His Royal Highness has been talking about. Prince Aquanas was especially proud to have captured the one known as Tempest, another member of your party."

"Huh? Oh, yeah, right." Gordon snapped himself back together, eyes darting the length of the corridor for any signs of Anath and the guards.

"Do you have a name, terrainean?" the man asked inquisitively. He seemed as interested in Gordon as the aquanaut had been with him.

Gordon hesitated for a moment before deciding this man probably wasn't going to harm him - he'd have probably done so by now if he intended to. "My name's Gordon. Please, do you happen to know a way out of here? I think your boss man intends to kill us." he ran a hand through his auburn locks, the events of the day finally catching up with him. "Boss man. A fish man. Fish people... Mermaidens! Aquaphibians! Sargassians! What have I gotten myself into?" he let out a manic chuckle as he held onto his head. "All I was supposed to do was rescue the crew of some submarine, but now?" he laughed harder. "I'm being chased down by- by fish aliens!"

A steady hand came down on Gordon's shoulder and watched and waited as the aquanaut calmed himself down. After a few moments, the aquanaut muttered out a meagre thanks.

"It is alright, young one. I am an empath and can therefore read emotions. Your heightened state of hysteria suggested you were beginning to experience a panic attack after everything you have been through up to this point."

"A... panic attack?" Gordon inwardly groaned. He hadn't had one of those since he was recovering from his accident.

"You need not be worried any more. I will assist you."

"You... will?" Gordon replied slowly, sounding much younger than he was.

"Yes. Although I am not physically caged like you and your friends have been, I am still trapped here. Once you become a resident of Sargasso, you can never leave. The Prince... does not let you."

"You can't rebel?"

"It serves no purpose to anger the Prince. He executes anyone deemed traitors to his kingdom, including those who wish to seek freedom elsewhere."

"We'll help you." Gordon replied honestly. "We'll get you out of here. If you help me now I'll explain your situation to the Captain. He'll help you. We both will."

"That is much appreciated. Thank you, terrainean."

"You're welcome. Um, do you happen to know if this palace has a communications room of some kind?"

"There is one on the fourth floor of the palace, but I have never been allowed to have access."

"I need to send a message to my chums."

"The other aquanauts?"

"No, um..." Gordon bit his tongue, forgetting himself for a moment. "The people I work with. They don't know I'm here. I was sent to rescue Troy and his crew, but I was captured. I think Aquanas thinks I'm one of them, but I'm not. I was sent here to do a job."

"Your brothers..." Sequalibra murmured, causing Gordon's eyes to widen. "Your thoughts betray you. You are worried for them."

Gordon lowered his head. "Y-Yeah. We're real close."

"I understand. I will take you to the radio room."

"Thanks, Sequalibra."

"It is no problem, Gordon of the Land."

The aquanaut smirked. "Just call me Gordon of Tracy."