Spawn Of The Deep
Page 8
“When we reach the bottom, I’ll get you some claustrophobia pills. This is quite normal for someone unused to situations like this.”
“I’m fine. It’s just hot in here. Give me a second and I’ll be fine.”
Decker turned to the others, giving Rainwater the time he wanted to compose himself. “If you look at the gauge on the wall there, it shows you the current depth. The pressures here as you can imagine are quite substantial. Fortunately, the core is the strongest part of the entire structure. It is built to withstand pressures up to four times its current load, so is quite safe.”
Decker turned to Rainwater, flashing his white smile. “You might want to see this, Mr. Rainwater. It really is quite spectacular.”
“What is it?” Jade asked.
“As I said, the entire core of this structure is designed to withstand great pressures, which enabled us to install certain luxuries to improve the experience.”
Before he could say any more, it happened. It was like an illusion. The steel walls disappeared, replaced by a stunning vista of the ocean.
“Glass,” Jade gasped.
“Not quite,” Decker said, enjoying the wonder in their faces. “The elevator and this particular section of the core are constructed from Lexan, which is five inches thick.”
“Lexan? I’ve never heard of it.”
“It’s a wonderful material. Strong and durable and offers excellent transparency. This entire section of the core is comprised of it, as is the elevator. As you can see below, the bottom section of the spire is much larger than above.”
They looked out at the series of interconnected domes and corridors sprawling into the dark.
“It looks more like space than underwater,” Jade said, staring out at the structure.
“I always think so too. It’s because of how dark it is down here. The spotlights on the superstructure only add to that effect. Beyond the structure, the waters here are completely devoid of light.”
They watched until the stunning panorama was gone, once again replaced by cold steel as the elevator dropped beyond the viewing area.
“Here we are,” Decker said, pointing to the depth gauge on the elevator control panel. “We are almost one thousand six hundred feet beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean.” He glanced over at Rainwater as he said it, the faintest of smile on his lips. Rainwater ignored it, content to try and keep himself under control and fight the urge to panic and demand to be taken back to the surface.
The elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. The lower levels of the Triton Spire were different to the airy, spacious upper areas. Cold steel walls and floors made of mesh grids greeted them, lit by harsh fluorescent lights set back into the ceilings. There were no windows, no luxurious design features. This was clearly a functional space, designed for distraction-free working.
“I take it this is more of what you expected to see when you started to look into me?” Decker said, grinning at Jade.
She nodded, mouth slightly agape. “It is,” was all she could manage as she tried to take everything in.
“Follow me. I’ll show you all what you came here to see.” Decker led them deeper, the trio losing their bearings in the identical corridors. They passed pristine laboratories, the staff within working diligently as Decker gave them the tour. Eventually, they reached a steel double door at the end of a short corridor. Decker stopped and turned to them.“Beyond this door is the nursery. I had hoped to take you in there directly, but the trainers are working with the creatures right now, and they prefer to work without distraction.”
“Surprise surprise,” Rainwater muttered.
“However,” Decker said, ignoring the interruption. “I’m happy to take you to the observation area so you can see the creatures at a safe distance.”
Decker moved to a second door recessed in the side wall. Like the rest of the doors in the facility, it was fitted with a keypad. Decker punched in a number and waited as the door slid open.
“Why all the security?” Rainwater asked as he followed Decker into the room. He was starting to feel a little better now, and more able to give Decker a hard time.
“It’s not security as such, but safety. All the doors in the lower level are fitted with a failsafe to automatically seal in case of a flood or structural breach. Safety, not secrecy, Mr. Rainwater. It’s a very different thing.”
The corridor beyond the door was narrow and angled upwards, then doubled back on itself, where another door waited. Once again, Decker punched in his access code and showed them inside. The room beyond looked down over the lagoon, and was positioned directly on top of the control room at the lagoon edge. The immense Lexan dome looked spectacular from the viewing area, and even Rainwater couldn’t help but appreciate it. Below, just as Decker had said, trainers worked with the three creatures, going through the process of trying to get them to comply. Even though they were nowhere near the scale of the adult he had seen, Rainwater still felt waves of nausea when he saw them in the water. Jade and Ross acted as he would have expected. Wide-eyed and full of wonder and disbelief. They hadn’t had to experience the horror usually associated with the creatures. For them, it was still exciting.
“Wonderful, aren’t they?” Decker said, standing beside them and looking down and watching the trainers work. “As you can see, our behavioral specialists are quite safe in the water with the animals. They have built up personal relationships with them since birth.”
“Is that dome made of Lexan too?” Rainwater asked, trying to will away the panic which still lingered in his gut.
“It is,” Decker replied. “It’s a slightly indulgent design feature on my behalf I’m afraid. I wanted the staff to know that there was a world out there. I wanted them to be able to see outside and remember that they were working on something magnificent, a project that will be remembered through the ages.”
“How big are they?” Jade asked, still gawping at the creatures.
“The largest of the three, at the back there, was just shy of twenty two feet at last measurement. He’s the most dominant of the three. His two brothers are close to fifteen feet each I believe.”
“They don’t attack each other?” Rainwater asked, for the moment forgetting his anger.
“No. There seems to be a very strong social bond between them.”
“At least until you split them up for profit,” Rainwater said, turning to face Decker head on.
“That’s not how it is, Mr. Rainwater.”
“Then go ahead. Enlighten me. You brought me here after all against my will. Tell me what’s so great about what you’re doing out here, because frankly, I still don’t understand.”
Decker smiled, keeping his cool, showing no sign of being rattled. “I appreciate you have a history with these creatures. I also appreciate that you suffered something very traumatic resulting in great personal loss. However, this is totally different. The creature you encountered, the one that had been slumbering in that ice cave was driven by instinct, a prehistoric need to feast and kill, to devour and dominate.”
“Those will be the same if the ever escaped. Surely you know that. Don’t be fooled just because they’re in a pool.”
“No, they won’t. Part of the cloning process gave us a very unique opportunity. It allowed us to make key changes to the genetic makeup of the creatures prior to birth.”
“What kind of changes?” Jade asked, now paying more attention to Decker and Rainwater than the creatures.
“We had the ability to reshape the genetic code. We were able to remove much of the aggression present in the original species.”
“That’s impossible,” Rainwater said.
“No, actually it isn’t. Genetics have come a long way in the last few years, especially with the generous budget I have allocated to it. The actual modification in principle is easy, it was the growing of the embryo that proved difficult. Either way my creatures are much less violent than their predecessors.”
“And what
about those? The ones that are out there somewhere in the wild. The ones who don’t have this modification of yours. What’s to stop them finding these softer, more docile creatures of yours and making a whole new breed that don’t have those traits?”
Decker smiled, a little smugness shining through. “Impossible, these creatures are all male.”
“And you and I both know that doesn’t matter. These creatures don’t need a mate to reproduce. They’re asexual.”
Decker’s smile faltered, a gesture which pleased Rainwater immensely. “How do you know that?”
“I know more than you think. Clara knew everything about these things and I picked up a lot during the time we spent together. Even though she knew all there was to know, it still wasn’t enough to save her life.”
“With all due respect, what she knew in life has already been surpassed by my staff. Our knowledge of the physiology and behavior of these creatures is second to none. Soon enough, you will have to learn to trust that.”
“No, I don’t. For the record, I don’t doubt that you believe in what you say. The problem is you look at those animals down there, and see something small you can control. I wonder if you see further down the line, and that when they are fully grown, nobody will be able to stop them from doing what they want to do.”
“Look down there,” Decker said, pointing through the window. “As much as I can appreciate what you say, you need to give me the due credit. I know how big these creatures can become. How dangerous. By modifying them in the way we do, we retain control. Us. The humans. They become docile. They obey our commands, think of it as retaining the current balance of nature.”
“That still doesn’t answer my question. What about the ones out in the wild?”
Decker hesitated, wringing his hands. “Alright, look. I wasn’t supposed to mention this but I promised you transparency and so that’s what you’ll get. One of my buyers is coming in on behalf of a subdivision of the United States government.”
“Don’t you dare say Project Blue?” Rainwater said, balling his fists.
“No, not that. Project Blue is done. Closed down. It burned a seven hundred million dollar hole in Uncle Sam’s pocket and he didn’t react too well. This is something else. This buyer specified a keen interest in purchase of the largest and strongest of the three. Their plan is to have us train it to hunt down its siblings in the wild and destroy them so that there are no more. After that, only my design will exist. A safe alternative to nature’s aggressive creation.”
“Jesus, Decker, just listen to yourself. Talking about ‘your design.’ These are creatures. Nature’s design. You can’t control them or change them, you said so yourself, these are lesser creatures. You can’t just play god and expect to get away with it. Even you with all your money can’t buy that”
“No,” Decker said, pointing a finger at Rainwater, the frustration starting to show. “I never said lesser. Changed, yes, but still magnificent. Still pure as nature intended.”
“But not primal. Not like the ones that are already out there. Those still have that ingrained killer instinct, that outright trigger to react, be it to feed or kill. You said so yourself, yours are changed. Made more docile. If one of these creatures of yours goes after one of them, it will be destroyed, surely you must see that.” Rainwater was angry now, and was jabbing a finger towards Decker. “I think you know that. I also think you don’t give a shit because once you have your money for it, the whole thing becomes somebody else’s problem and you can wash your hands of it and move on to the next thing.”
“Look, maybe we should all calm down,” Jade said, stepping between them “It’s been a long day and we could all do with a little rest.”
“Yes, perhaps that would be for the best before things get any more heated,” Decker agreed, stepping back and smoothing his suit. “I’ve arranged sleeping quarters for you all as well as a change of clothes. Only staff issued polo shirts I’m afraid, as our options are limited out here, but still something clean to change into.”
“Thanks,” Jade said, playing the role of peacekeeper. “We could all use some sleep I think.”
Decker nodded, keeping a close eye on Rainwater who was still glaring at him. “I’ll take you back topside and show you to your rooms. You are welcome to join us for breakfast in the morning and we can discuss this some more, hopefully in a more civilized manner.”
“I don’t need to know anymore. I’ve seen everything I need to. I’ve tried to warn you, I’ve tried to convince you and I think it’s obvious by now none of it is going to make a damn bit of difference. If you want to go on and do this, then that’s up to you. As for me I’m getting back to dry land as soon as I can because if you do this, then you’re going to have to live with the consequences, and believe me, there will be plenty.”
Decker took it, face stony and neutral. “I have listened to everything you’ve said and taken all of it on board. Perhaps sleeping on it will be good for all of us. How about we talk tomorrow over breakfast?”
“Fine,” Rainwater said, walking towards the exit.
Jade looked at Decker, giving an apologetic shrug.
“I’ll show you to your rooms,” he said, following Rainwater out of the observation area.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
He was back on the Red Gold, squinting against the rain which drove down with fury as the oceans churned and thundered, throwing the vessel around at will, the lurching, bucking ride making him feel nauseous. He was on the deck, surrounded by those who were dead. His father. His uncle. Morales. Mackay. He wanted to call out to them and warn them what was coming, but he couldn’t move or speak, and realized that he was simply an observer, watching from above and behind his dream self. He watched as the wake came, an immense wall of water crashing broadside towards the vessel. Before he could scream, his dream self-beat him to it, pointing at the danger as it came. Unlike in reality when all he had seen was an arched, greenish back break the waves, this time the creature breached, its massive head emerging like a leviathan from the water. It opened its jaws, each near thirty-inch tooth glimmering in the moonlight. In the creatures mouth was the shark tube containing Clara.He watched as the creature bit down, shattering the tube and Clara with it. The disembodied Rainwater tried to look away, but as it always was in dreams, he was a passenger, unable to do anything but experience it. The creatures head dipped back beneath the waves, and then re-emerged, crushing the Red Gold from beneath in a devastating show of power, killing instantly all on board, its jaws closing over Rainwater who was desperate to scream or do anything to escape.
II
He woke, squinting at the sun which blazed through the window and sending golden bars across his bed. The sheets were tangled around him and for a moment he forgot where he was.He sat up and looked out of the window at the Pacific Ocean, then put his head in his hands and rubbed his temples, trying to shoo away the ghost of his nightmare. There was a knock at his cabin door, and before he could say anything, Jade and Ross entered. They were dressed and wearing their Decker Industries polo shirts.
“Thinking of a career change?” Rainwater asked as he pulled the sheets around his waist.
“Hardly,” Jade said as she closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed.
“It seemed that way yesterday. You were all over Decker, swooning and gushing at how brilliant a job he’d done.”
“I was working him. Trying to get information. Relax; I know what I’m doing.”
Rainwater turned to Ross, who was staring out of the window at the ocean. “Don’t tell me you’re all caught up in the shit Decker’s selling too?”
Ross shrugged. “I take people as they come. He seems alright to me so far.”
“I don’t believe this.”
“Look lad, say what you will, but he’s been straight wi’ us so far. I don’t see anythin’ that would worry me if I’m honest.”
“I told you about Russo, right?” Rainwater asked.
“Aye.”
Jade got up and stood beside Ross. “I get that you’re on edge about this, but since we’re here why not just let it play out, at least for a couple of hours then we can go back to civilization. You have to admit this is a once in a lifetime deal.”
Rainwater looked at Ross, feeling very much the odd man out. “What about you? Do you feel the same way?”
“I’ll admit, I’m curious. Ye’ talk about this Russo fella and Decker like they’re the same, but ye’ have to consider that Decker is different. He’s in the public eye, he has more to lose than to gain. I reckon we should see what happens then set aboot getting on with our lives.”
“I don’t like it,” Rainwater said as he stood up, tying the sheet around his waist. “But I suppose I’ll go along with it. What do we do next?”
“We go eat and then see what else Decker will tell us,” Jade said, walking towards the door. “You hurry up and get dressed. We’ll see you in there.”
The pair left, the silence allowing Rainwater’s thoughts to bleed through. He wondered if perhaps they were right and that he was basing his concerns on recent history. For as much as he didn’t like to admit it, Decker had accommodated them and their queries with apparent openness and honesty. For as much as the situation didn’t sit right with him, especially the method in which they had arrived against their will, he was actually curious, and was prepared to maybe give Decker the benefit of the doubt and see how things played out before putting him in the same category as Russo. His stomach growled and he realized that he was hungry. A little breakfast would go down well.
III
The kitchen was at the furthest edge of the facility, and was dominated by a huge floor to ceiling window which gave a spectacular view of the gorgeous Pacific Ocean. A single table had been set up in the middle of the room and was already full of people. Freshly showered and changed into his blue Decker Industries polo shirt, Rainwater surveyed the scene. Scientists chatted with engineers over plates of bacon and eggs, sausages and tomatoes. Engineers talked with trainers as they drank coffee and ate toast. The mingled scents of the feast were incredible, Rainwater’s empty stomach rumbling in anticipation. He saw Jade and Ross sitting at the end of the table, a seat for him reserved in the middle. Jade waved, grinning broadly. He nodded and half-heartedly returned the gesture, then went to the service counter, grabbing a tray and choosing his breakfast from the incredible selection, each station manned by a white smocked chef. A few minutes later, he took his place in the seat his friends had reserved for him, his bacon, eggs, sausage and toast looking every bit as tasty as it smelled.