<P>Jerrod pressed the barrel of his assault rifle against the face of the sea cow, in the hollow under the creature's right eye. It tried to move, but its suffocating body only shuddered, its horned head flopping feebly about.
<P>
<P>Every disease has its cure. You cannot kill us all.
<P>
<P>Jerrod pulled the trigger.
<P>
<P>The animal jerked violently, and then was still, the hum of Guardian's presence melting away.
<P>
<P>A loud shearing sound caused Jerrod to whip his eyes up to the giant carcass of the whale, plugging the hole in the bottom of Omega's sea. The jets of bloody water that were shooting out from around the whale were faster now, the pressure of the ocean slowly rending its flesh and pushing it with more force into the observation area. Cracks were beginning to spread around the beast, as if the entire ceiling was about to smash apart, letting loose a torrential flood.
<P>
<P>"Iris? Kat? Are you there? How do I get out of here?"