Phase 03

David's Perspective

"The two of you are integral members of our group, tasked with the exploration and investigation of the enigmatic depths of the dark seafloor," Vincent, the esteemed leader of our group, proclaimed while bestowing upon us the exclusive radio that connected only our distinguished cohort.

Our office is comprised of 215 marine scientists, organized into 43 distinct groups, each consisting of five members. Additionally, we have five esteemed head officers, including Vincent and Brianna. These 43 groups are categorized based on their research scope: some conduct studies solely within the confines of our office, others venture outside the office, some focus on the main area exclusively, while our group delves into research spanning all domains. Although it may seem arduous, the abundance of work carries with it a sense of exhilaration.

"Trick-or-treater, accompany me," I wryly retorted to Vincent, concealing the radio in my pocket.

"Will you desist from employing that appellation?" I politely interjected, forcing a smile tinged with displeasure.

"Never!" I rolled my eyes in response to his retort.

I was inclined to retort, but he turned his back and sauntered away. Grudgingly, I trailed behind him, restraining myself from displaying any disrespect. You may be wondering why this individual had taken to labeling me a trick-or-treater. Well, it stemmed from an incident earlier when he observed my blunder of knocking on the wrong door. I had not anticipated that he would seize upon that mistake to tease me, given his innocent and composed demeanor.

"Here, for the next month, you shall be my assistant," he lamented, leaving me disheartened. I opted not to voice my disappointment and merely accepted the black folder he proffered.

"What does this contain?" I queried, perusing the documents within the folder, my confusion mounting.

"A map."

"For what purpose?"

"To delineate the regions we shall be responsible for outside the ocean. The darker the color of the lines, the more perilous the locale. Therefore, be prepared."

"M-May I pose a query?" I sought his permission, as the underlying objective of this mission sprang to mind.

"Proceed," he acquiesced, proceeding on a path that I dutifully followed.

"Has the laboratory managed to discover any of the depicted creatures?" I carefully chose my words, aware of the controversial nature of the subject matter. A slight misstep in articulation could have dire consequences.

"Yes, but for now, allow me to acquaint you with the fundamentals of this mission before delving into weightier and more contentious matters," I nodded in agreement, offering a tacit affirmation.

We departed the office, traversing a labyrinth of hallways that led us to our designated office corridor. As we progressed, the illumination gradually waned, each door and turn adding to my unfamiliarity with the surroundings. I had yet to become acquainted with the entirety of this labyrinthine structure as we hurried along, akin to individuals in the midst of an emergency.

"Where are we headed?" I could no longer suppress my curiosity.

"These are the workspaces of other scientists. We find ourselves at the farthest reaches of the area's right-wing, while the engineers' spaces reside in the left wing," he elucidated, dispelling my confusion.

It would likely take months to familiarize myself with the twists and turns of this expansive locale. After several minutes of traversing, we arrived at the bottommost extremity of the area, where an open lobby beckoned. The front wall and upper ceiling of the lobby consisted of transparent material, affording me a captivating view of the tranquil ocean within. Countless hallways interconnected with the lobby, teeming with scientists in white lab coats, each occupied with various tasks.

"Behold," my sightseeing was interrupted as Vincent tapped my shoulder, directing my gaze outward.

"Pardon?" I responded, unable to discern what he was pointing at or comprehending his intention.

"Focus on the crimson luminescence amidst the darkness, and you shall perceive what I wish to reveal," he explained, prompting me to comply.

With unwavering focus, I fixated upon the red light, and after several minutes, an image gradually materialized before my eyes—a colossal jellyfish, possessing a bell-shaped head comparable in size to an aged male elephant, with tentacles stretching as tall as a three-story building. Not merely one, but a multitude of these behemoths roamed the depths, while divers engaged in their activities nearby.

"H-How is this—" I was unable to complete my sentence as one of the creatures suddenly emitted an electrifying glow, and in a fraction of a second, one of the divers was cleaved in two by the creature's tentacles. The shock rendered me momentarily speechless.

"That is not unusual," I nearly choked on my saliva upon hearing Vincent's nonchalant tone.

I stared at him, still grappling with the events that had unfolded, astounded by his composure in the face of such violence. I had not fathomed that this place harbored such murderous occurrences. My initial perception of this environment proved to be starkly different from the grim reality. I had assumed the creatures under investigation by the lab were as innocuous as the information and images depicted in the papers. They had concealed the true nature of the lethal events transpiring here, and the company was only informed that the deceased individuals had met with accidents, with their bodies being unaccounted for. Darker motives lay concealed beneath the surface.

"How can you remain so composed when someone has just perished before your very eyes?" I inquired, struggling to process what I had witnessed.

"Upon embarking on this mission, one must come to terms with the notion that such violent occurrences are commonplace, as the ocean and its denizens are not of our making. These surroundings are indifferent to our presence, as we are mere trespassers in their realm," Vincent elucidated, his explanation leaving me dumbfounded.

I continued to gaze at him, trying to absorb the magnitude of his words and reconcile them with the scene before me. I realized that there might be more treacherous and deadly creatures lurking beyond, awaiting my confrontation.

"Do you know where the largest cemetery in the world lies?" Kevin suddenly interjected, materializing at my side. I stared at him in bewilderment, as he, too, fixated his gaze outside, mirroring Vincent's demeanor.

"The ocean is the largest burial ground on Earth, with countless bodies laid to rest within its depths. This unfamiliar place, to which we do not belong, harbors the potential to extinguish us all. We have unwittingly disrupted their silent existence, and should we perish here, it would not be their fault but ours," Kevin imparted, his intention clear. However, I struggled to find the appropriate words to respond, my attention drawn back to the ocean, attempting to disregard the fact that these creatures could snuff out our lives.

"Do these creatures populate our surroundings extensively?" I inquired, preparing myself for the imminent dive into this perilous realm.

"No, they are confined solely to this remote section of the laboratory. They cannot endure extreme temperatures, and this particular area maintains a warmer climate, thus limiting their presence. Meters away from our current location lies a precipice, marking their boundary, as well as ours," Kevin explained.

"Do not dwell excessively on these thoughts, trick-or-treater. These creatures are rare, with a population of only a thousand individuals. Out of that number, only fifty reside here due to the laboratory's research. The rest of their families have been dispersed to other stations for further study. These creatures have been carefully nurtured and monitored within these confines for forty years. Rest assured, they pose no threat unless provoked. The diver unfortunate enough to meet his demise likely inadvertently touched the creature's most sensitive region, triggering its defensive response. Merely embracing their tentacles or coming into contact with non-sensitive areas would not elicit harm. However, it is crucial to exercise caution and refrain from engaging their vulnerable points, as their tentacles possess the capability to slice through anything within their reach, even themselves," Vincent clarified, his words attempting to assuage my concerns.

"Do you possess knowledge of the various creatures the laboratory has been studying?" I queried, seeking a deeper understanding.

"Yes, indeed. Among the thousand creatures under our purview, we have encountered only one of the five key species we are investigating. Alas, our progress in securing the remaining four has been limited. Nevertheless, it is vital to note that the board's office has been meticulously nurturing every offspring of these creatures for eventual release, thereby ensuring the continuity of their species once our mission concludes," Vincent informed me, shedding light on the laboratory's conservation efforts.

"Considering the vast number of creatures utilized for research, how many casualties have occurred among the staff?" I inquired, my mind grappling with the staggering potential toll.

"Over the course of fifty years, nearly a hundred thousand individuals have perished or been interred in these depths," Vincent nonchalantly disclosed, his detached manner sending chills down my spine. He spoke of the casualties as if they were mere statistical figures, devoid of the weight they carried.

Bewildered and overwhelmed by the revelation of this overwhelming information, I found myself struggling to find the appropriate words to respond. The weight of the mission and the inherent dangers it entailed bore down upon me, akin to my experiences as a castaway during my high school years—an unsettling feeling of belonging and yet being ostracized from the group.

"By the way, the higher-ups are scheduled to visit our station next week. We must prepare the lightsaber specimen you discovered last month," Kevin interjected, diverting the conversation to a different topic.

"We will journey there tomorrow to procure a sample," he added.

As they continued discussing the lightsaber creature, I stood between them, with Kevin's weight leaning partially against me. Unfamiliar with the subject matter, I remained silent, yearning for them to acknowledge my presence and alleviate the lingering awkwardness. Yet, until we halted at a metallic door, they maintained their silence.