Half Way

Isaac turned away from the abyss. Pressing a button, metal grates rolled down from behind the wall and covered the window, and as it did, LED lights came on from the ceiling. Isaac looked at his watch after finishing his notes so far.

^7:16 AM^

^Oct 8th, 2317^

Isaac plumped himself down on the small sofa, staring up at the ceiling. 'My mission started on May 8, 2317. It ends on May 8 2318. I'm half way there. But even then… what do even I have to return to?' He was silent. 'Nothing.'

All he had was his research. That was it. He was part of the ocean, he felt that it had taken his soul. And now he was no more than some empty, hollow husk. How many times had he stared into that ocean and though of just letting it consume him? He'd lost count.

"BEEP, BEEP"

The coffee pot began, letting Isaac know it was done. He stood from the sofa, grabbing a coffee cup as he walked past his desk. He didn't even bother cleaning it, he just poured black coffee into the cup, then raised the steaming black liquid to his lips. The hot liquid was bitter and made his mouth dry as he swallowed it, but he really didn't care.

Isaac reached down to one of the shelves and grabbed a bottle of pills. He looked at the white bottle sadly for a long moment, then opened it and poured two pills into his hand. He hated the fact he had to take antidepressants, they made him so numb. But he didn't have a choice. If he didn't take them he'd get fired due to the mental stress his depression took on him. He popped the pills into his mouth and gulped them down with a chug of coffee.

With a heavy sigh, he walked over to his desk and plumped down in his seat. He opened his computer and put through a call to his boss. The computer rang for a moment, and then it picked up.

"Isaac, you're up I see. How's work going down there?" Came his boss.

"Fine. Saw a Megamouth shark, and some Whisker Worms. So far that's it though. You think you could change the system with the lights? Thirty minutes seems like a bit much. I won't be able to observe anything with them." Isaac spoke.

"Isaac, we've been over this. The facility isn't where you do your research from, that's what the Beetle is for." His boss said.

Isaac already knew that. He just hated leaving the facility… it was his only safe place. He hated going out into that void, even in the world famous Beetle submarine. A small compact submarine made completely from thick metal. It has air contained in the walls and has a huge air container for breathable air attached to the back of it, while the actual chamber the operator sits in has visual panels depicting everything outside the vessel. It is almost like being in a glass container. Made him feel like an insect, fitting considering it's name.

"Well, either way. Even if we wanted to make the facility lights work more, it would use up too much power, and the facility would go out and you'd be on auxiliary which would only last you maybe a week. Less. That is not a risk I nor anyone is willing to take." His boss said.

"I know, I know." Isaac sighed. "I'll just use the Beetle. I'm gonna go, I sent the report files from last week to you." He clicked and then switched screens to the call screen, hovering over hang up.

"Isaac."

"Yeah."

"Don't do anything that'll get yourself killed. Take those meds every day, and be safe. I know it's hard, but get that shit out of your head. Alright? You still got a life to lead, I don't think that your daughter would want-"

*Clack*

Isaac hung up before his boss could finish. Why did everyone treat him like a ticking time bomb? It was so annoying. Everyone was so careful with him, acting like he could blow at any moment. He was fine. He was fine. He just kept telling himself that. He was fine.

Although, if his boss were to find out that he'd been seeing things, most likely, he'd be pulled out from the mission early. And in all reality, no matter how much Isaac despised the dark void of the endless sea, no matter how much he feared it and hated it for what it stole from him, he hated the world above even more. And he couldn't get away from the ocean. No matter how fast he would ever run, it always managed to pull him back into the depths.

He was like a sea shell being washed up on shore, only to be pulled back into the abyss by a rising tide. And by being in the ocean… he couldn't help but feel closer to that which he'd lost. Even if… his heart was always cold. Even when he shivered with uncontrollable fear.

Isaac stood and walked over to the back of the facility building. There was a large metal door. He leaned down and held his eye to the security scanner.

'Why did they feel the need to install this? Honestly. What is the point of having this security system if I'm the only one here?' He though as it scanned his eye.

A second later, he stood back up as the door clicked and hissed, swinging open. It led into a small box of a room with white metal walls. On one side of the room was a depth suit, and at the center of the room was a ladder leading up to a port hole.

Isaac walked to the ladder and clasped the cold metal bar, which rung as his hand clapped onto it and he lifted his feet to the first bars. He ascended it and up to the hatch above his head.

^WARNING^

^DO NOT LEAVE FACILITY OR ENTER BEETLE WITHOUT DEPTH SUIT^

^RISK OF DEATH^

'Whatever. It's not like the sub is gonna break. There's nothing down here that could do that kind of damage.' Isaac thought.

With a hiss, he opened the hatch… and entered the Beetle. Without a depth suit.