A Quiet Embrace

Chapter 19 : Wrong Side of the Coin

Damien's POV

"So you're meaning to tell me that Wesker is after me?" Sarya asked as I nodded.

"Yeah...but there's more. Wesker is after an ancient artifact called the Necrosis Gem. This gem can apparently bring someone back to life that was once gone but the drawbacks are...heavy."

"Explain..."

"Basically, the user's soul gets sucked inside, meaning that their semblance and aura gets ripped away from them completely. The powers that the user wields...disappear forever. He wants to bring back someone from my past. Someone that should stay gone for good." I said as Sarya looked confused but her eyes widened as if she figured it all out.

"He wants to bring back Khloe...doesn't he?" She asked.

"Yep and if my guess is to be correct, he wants to use you as a guinea pig for the gem. Meaning he will get what we wants at your expense."

"Like hell he will."

You should also explain to her that we need to get to Atlas.

"Right...sorry Neo. Anyways, we need you to get in touch with an old contact."

"Who?" Sarya asked as I looked at Neo who nodded.

"Ace. We need to get to Atlas immediately."

"Ace? I haven't spoke to him in forever. Last I heard, he's retired now and has a family."

"Do you think you could get in contact with him?"

"I mean yeah probably but I don't think it's right to drag him into this. What if the Black Legion comes after him?" Sarya asked.

"Then we'll be there to stop them."

"Oh yeah like that's worked out well for you in the past. What happened in Desolo after I left? I heard the place got attacked and I immediately assumed you got caught up in that entire situation."

"The Black Legion attacked the town hall, killing a lot of civilians. They ended up capturing Neo and I and we spent a few days with them. Wesker told me everything about their plan. What they wanted, who they wanted to bring back, and some other stuff that isn't important. I...took Dr. Zera up on her offer on upgrading my augments and thankfully, it worked. I feel much stronger than I was before. If she wasn't lying to me, then these should be permanent."

"Would you still have complications if they were to be removed or shut down?"

"I would assume so."

"Okay so you using the gem is out of the question." Sarya said.

"None of us are. Once we get that gem, we have to seal it away. That way, no one can ever get their hands on it. It's way too powerful and if it falls into the wrong hands like Wesker's, it's not gonna end well for anyone."

"What if it fell into...oh I don't know...my hands?" Sarya asked as Neo and I looked at her with confusion.

"Sarya...what are you saying?"

"I'm gonna propose an offer to you. If I help you in this fight, I get the gem when we're done." Sarya said.

"Absolutely not. Did you not hear anything that I just said? That gem is way too dangerous. It needs to be sealed away."

"I heard you alright and I don't care."

"Why do you need...oh..."

She wants to use it to bring back her girlfriend...

"Sarya, you don't even know for sure if she's dead."

"Well where is she then? There's no reason for her to disappear all of a sudden other than her being dead."