Phase 02
David's Perspective
I ventured into the adjacent room, exuding confidence as I knocked on the door. After a few minutes, the door creaked open, revealing a pair of eyes that appeared to be Taiwanese or Chinese. I furrowed my brow and studied the person's face, noting their perfect nose, fair complexion, rosy lips, and numerous moles—overall, an attractive appearance. It was clear to me that this wasn't Frans, given the absence of disheveled features. Feeling awkward, I averted my gaze and slowly turned away to avoid what could have been the most embarrassing moment of my life.
"Is there something you need?" a soothing voice asked, interrupting my thoughts. I turned back around, facing the person, and mustered an awkward smile.
"Wrong door," I replied, stating the obvious.
"There's an identification card beside each room door. Just look at it so you won't mistakenly knock on a random door like a child asking for Halloween treats," the person retorted, making me feel even more foolish.
"Sorry for disturbing you," I muttered, almost wanting to retreat to my room and wallow in my embarrassment.
"It's okay. You're new here, so it's not a big deal," the person replied.
After that mortifying moment, I left and returned to my room. I couldn't help but complain to Unknown, my holographic companion.
"Why didn't you inform me that there's an identification card on each door? I could have avoided embarrassing myself," I grumbled, plopping down in front of the hologram.
"You didn't ask," Unknown retorted.
"You should have provided that information since you knew I was new here," I argued, my tone resembling that of a tantrum-throwing child.
"Well, lucky for you, that person is Cyaniall Huang Vincentious, the most humble and kind marine scientist on this station. He's one of your superiors, by the way," Unknown informed me.
"Thanks for the belated information, Unknown. How am I going to face him in the lab now?" I sighed, feeling apprehensive.
"Forget about that moment. He's not the type to embarrass you further. He'll understand your situation, so cheer up," Unknown reassured me.
"Cheer up? Yeah, right. Can you please ask someone to send me food? I'm starving," I requested, feeling a gnawing hunger.
"Sure, don't stress yourself too much. Your day hasn't even begun yet," Unknown replied.
I retreated to my bed in silence, allowing the weight of the embarrassment to settle. I had volunteered for this mission to explore my abilities, not to continually embarrass myself. After digesting the humiliation, I peacefully ate my meal when it arrived. I wore a face mask before venturing outside to check on Frans. It was already 5:00 in the afternoon, the time for me to exercise. I examined the identification card on the opposite side from before, confirming that it was Frans's room. With certainty, I knocked on his door.
"Yes, Zhan?" Frans called out, causing me to bite my lip at the nickname he used, unaware of my altered appearance without his thick eyeglasses.
"Frans, it's me—Thunder," I announced, revealing myself to him. His eyes widened in surprise.
"Thunder," he stammered, and I responded with a smile.
"Have you eaten already?" I inquired, pushing him inside his room so I could fit through the door.
"Y-yes," he answered hurriedly, putting on his eyeglasses.
"Are you feeling any discomfort in your body?" I asked, concerned by his pale appearance.
"Nothing," he replied, and I quickly concluded that he was telling the truth. I surveyed his room, noticing the presence of used condoms on his bed.
"What's your relationship with Zhan?" I squinted, suspecting a connection.
"Nothing—" Frans began, but I interrupted him by pointing at the evidence on his bed.
He slowly turned his head in the direction I indicated, and his face turned red with embarrassment.
"Tell me the truth, Frans," I teased, staring at him.
"I-it's not what you think," he replied, panicking.
"Don't worry, I'm not homophobic. The truth is—I'm bisexual," I casually revealed, realizing that hiding wouldn't change people's perception of me in the world where I belonged. He just stared at me, looking cute in his confusion.
To continue our conversation, I stood up and sat next to him. I understood how it felt to find acceptance, having experienced the fear of judgment and the discomfort and awkwardness that comes with hiding.
"What is the nature of your relationship, Frans?" I demanded, locking eyes with him.
"Well—discussing our connection makes me uncomfortable since I'm accustomed to keeping it hidden. But since I know you won't judge us, to answer your question, we're a married couple," he confessed, growing more comfortable.
"So, how many years have you been married?" I inquired, showing genuine interest.
"Five years," he replied, more at ease.
"And how long has Zhan been working here?"
"Three years. He's the reason I applied for this mission."
We continued talking until 8:00 in the evening, creating a comfortable space for conversation and deepening our understanding of each other. I returned to my room, and just as I settled onto my bed, dinner arrived. I ate and cleaned up before finally lying down, preparing myself for the activities of the next day.
I set an alarm on my phone since the absence of surface noises would no longer wake me. I observed that the environment in the underwater station was not as light and comfortable as on the surface. My whole body felt as though it was burning and freezing simultaneously, a sensation that accompanied the fluctuating ocean temperatures. Despite the training's warnings about these changes, I was still taken aback by the feeling of my body being stretched, particularly when at rest.
"Feeling uncomfortable?" Unknown interjected as I began doing push-ups.
"Yes," I replied simply.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Your body is just adjusting to the new conditions," Unknown reassured me.
Before I could respond, my surroundings started spinning, weakening my body. I felt short of breath, and then I collapsed, my body convulsing as if I had been submerged in ice for hours. I was aware of what was happening, but I had no control over my body. I attempted to get up, but my head felt as though it was being compressed by an immense force. This was the same effect I had experienced when I first underwent training with the company. Minutes passed, and I began vomiting, my nose bleeding uncontrollably.
I had forgotten that in the evening, the depths of the ocean experienced a sudden rise in temperature, causing a disorienting mix of hot and cold that confused my body. The sensation was overwhelming, leaving me numb, until everything faded to black, swallowing my consciousness.
_______THE NEXT DAY________
I regained consciousness when I felt a heavy weight on my chest. I slowly opened my eyes, adjusting to the light, and saw a feminine figure beside me, watching me intently. I lacked the strength to move my body, and my throat felt raw, so all I could manage was a weak gaze. The woman smiled at me before leaving.
I waited for her to return, but instead, another woman entered the room. She checked on me, and then without warning, she pierced a syringe into my neck.
I let out a feeble moan as the unfamiliar pain coursed through my body, as if I were being electrified. Suddenly, I regained full sensation, and the weight on my chest eased, allowing me to breathe more comfortably. I attempted to sit up, but the woman gently pushed me back onto the bed.
"Take it easy, lad. Let the pain serve as a testament to your resilience," she said, seemingly unfazed by my suffering.
"Is he awake?" another person entered, a portly man clad in a lab coat.
"Let him rest for another hour. He's still adjusting," the woman replied.
"Why did his body react like this? The other new recruit is fine. How could he not be?" The man's tone indicated that he was referring to the company's health protocols.
"And why are you so interested in his medical clearance?" the woman retorted.
"We're not arguing," they both replied in unison.
"It certainly sounded like it. Anyway, hi, lad. I'm Brianna, one of your senior scientists. And this is Flair," the feminine woman introduced herself and her companion.
"Nice to meet you," Flair greeted, offering a friendly smile.
"Please, don't become a burden to us, Thunder," Theo, the corpulent man, added, his words laced with a hint of disdain.
"Stop being a brat, Theo," a voice chimed in, and another woman who looked identical to Brianna joined the conversation.
"She's Dianna, my twin," Brianna clarified.
The commotion continued for over thirty minutes, causing my head to throb even more. I hadn't had a chance to rest, as they bombarded me with questions and conversation, leaving me no room to interject. Finally, the chaos subsided as my designated resting time came to an end. Frans guided me back to my room, which was situated in the medical section of the facility.
"Why did you come so late?" I rasped, my voice hoarse.
"They wouldn't let me in until your one-hour rest period had ended," Frans explained.
"One hour of rest, but I didn't have a chance to rest," I replied sarcastically, entering my room to change.
After preparing myself, I emerged wearing my lab coat. We embarked on a journey to a location unknown to me, traversing hallway after hallway. Eventually, we arrived at an office labeled "Engineer's Office." It wasn't a glass office, but a secure metal one, preventing outsiders from peeking inside. We pressed on, walking for meters until we reached a metal bar door. It was even more secure than the engineer's office, bearing the label "Scientists' Office." Frans used his ID card to open the door, and we entered.
The moment I stepped inside, I was struck by the sheer vastness of the place. My frustration and headache vanished, replaced by awe, as I observed the strange creatures housed in enormous aquariums. People in white lab coats bustled about, engrossed in their work. We approached Brianna and Dianna, who were engaged in a lively conversation, and my excitement turned back into embarrassment when I noticed the presence of the person I had inadvertently disturbed the day before. However, this time, he was smiling alongside the twins.