Sea's Guide
The idea for this story started off as a dream I had almost 5 years, it was so vivid and interesting that I penned it down when I woke up, subsequently I got pretty enamored with this idea that I wrote the whole outline of the story (But I was a eat-shit-bad writer in the past so I didn't dare to take on this story) This story talks about humanoid sea creatures, and tbh I remembered the creature looking kind of scary in my dream, though there's this certain kind of unknown charm just drawing you to it. After a year or two, Guillermo del toro's The Shape of Water came out, and I remember saying: did I just have a precognitive dream?
Anyway, just to reassure/not reassure you, it's absolutely nothing like the shape of water.
The starting is kind of boring but... I still hope you will enjoy it. As always, thank you to whoever is reading.
**Ps: I try not to use any Hetalia chars for villains, especially villains I hate and also for roles that are too insignificant so that's why this is really just pure rochu, and nobody else.
The sea saw the beginning of the world, and the sea knows the end of the world.
"Ivan. Come over here." his professor called out to him, beckoning him to come to her. The lady stood there with a hand on her waist, her greyish bob hair is tinted with silvery white streaks. In a fitting, light pink sweater clothes with beige pants paired with a long, white lab coat, slightly above the left breast pocket sits a name tag in silver with black words: Constance H. Hansley.
Ivan stop what he is doing immediately and walk with big steps over to her side. "Yes, professor Hansley?" he said, hunching a little over by her so that she does not have to shout.
"I want you pause all research and publications on your hands right now." Constance stated, her hands agitatedly flaring in the air while walking in big steps. The crow's feet extending from under her eye deepen and lighten with each words she spoke.
"But- "
"You will have no more 'Buts' once you see what kind of project we are undertaking. I want you to take over the research aspect of this project on behalf of our team, got it? It will be a delightful chance for you." She interjected.
"What about you then professor?"
"There's a sudden issue happening back home. I will need to be gone for at least a few months, this project that our facility is handling is time sensitive. You're the best candidate amongst the rest to handle this currently. Don't you worry, I will request an extension for your research and publication that you are holding off." Constance continued.
"You will be gone too? That means I'll be the only one left in the team?"
"Yeah."
"So, what kind of project are we undertaking this time? And why are we going down?" Ivan asked, face bewildered. He is currently working as a research fellow in the largest, and most advance global marine research center under Constance's team.
"You will know once we reach tower E."
"Tower E?" Ivan blurted out in surprise, for throughout the time that he was studying and subsequently employed here in this facility, there are only a few times when projects are significant enough to have been undertaken at Tower E, and indeed are the project significant, for whether or not the project succeed or failed, it always changes the world a little, even for that tiny bit. The reverberation, he personally believe, will eventually shake the world.
"Yes. Tower E. Now you know why I said you will have no more 'Buts'." Constance added.
The drive from tower E from D is a long one even though it's one tower apart, each towers are made up of a cluster of a few buildings of which the main one is five level high, except for tower D whose main building is made up of seven levels. Tower A and B are the only ones opened to public, an aquarium with an oceanarium boasting a 4.8million gallons of water situated in tower A, while tower B contains lecture halls, conventions, and exhibition centre. Ivan used to study in tower B. And now that he is formally employed, he is almost always situated in tower D and occasionally C, but never once have he stepped into E before.
"Are you sure it's alright for me to take over you to undertake this project? I mean… I'm just a research fellow…" Ivan asked tentatively with a little doubt.
Constance let out a sigh, her wide footsteps shorten. After a short moment of thinking she replied: "Ivan. I want you to get certain things right. You are an incredibly talented young man; you have a keen sense of observation which more than make up for your lack of experience. You are supposed to learn so much more from me, and from your senior colleagues. You are supposed to be so much more. But we all lost. Our passion for the ocean is not enough to withstand the politics of this facility. If I can, I would love to undertake this project personally Ivan, please make no mistake about that. But I can't." Constance lamented. "Help us fulfill this dream. This is an opportunity that will only come once in a lifetime."
The human population sharply decrease when they enter the vicinity of tower E, and from here on he could only follow after Constance. She brought him into the main building which open through to a massive hallway, the same windowpanes overlook the never ending seas just like the other towers. Then followed by an equally impressive oceanarium that look exactly the same as the one in tower A.
"I didn't know there's one here." Ivan commented as he look, surprise that there's a great white shark in it.
"Yeah. It's mostly used for experimentation purposes. Look, one of the zoological team have managed to keep that shark in for quite a period of time."
"That's quite a feat. Considering how the white sharks die so easily in captivity."
As the elevator door opens up to the dimly lit fourth floor, loud commotions can be heard echoing through the corridors and hallway, the two of them walk with quick steps towards it. The double door at the end of the corridor to the room was ajar and glaring white lights peeks out from them. "Leave this much in. We can't have it running away or something." Somebody instructed, the rest of the people in the room agreed. Constance push the door open, and the bright lights temporarily blinded Ivan, but his eyes soon adjusted, and he saw people from other teams all gathered around a massive portable tank on wheels. There must be at least fifteen people in here, Ivan thought, walking into the room.
The research lab is rather large, filled with office tables and chairs. A large majority of the stations and equipment are covered with plastic to keep the dust out. Beyond the crowd, Ivan's eyes widen as he caught sight of two humanoid creature squeezed into the tank. Ghostly white and semi translucent skin, blueish veins visible on certain parts of their skin. On the head are waist length long, thin strands of what can only be describe as hair-like sensory whiskers. The hands pressed against the glass are webbed with thin films of stretchy skin, it clutches and open as though in pain or distress. Their eye socket is round, and its fully black. Their thin lips snarling reveals a row of thin, sharp teeth, overlap by another set.
A helper is draining water from a tap by the side of the tank into a bucket, the slow decrease of the water cause extreme reaction from the humanoids as they squirm and splash about the remaining sustenance.
"A bit more." The same voice called out.
Ivan look over to that voice and realise that it's William, the director's son. His obnoxious attitude and way of talking have ruffled the feathers of quite a few people, furthermore, his lack of empathy over handlings projects have garnered more than just pure disdain from his own professor and his team.
"Why is Beckett here? I don't recall this project involved his department?" Constance asked out loud, looking at the two in charge in the face. The two man was caught in the spot, and they stutter out for words.
"You have a problem with me Constance?" William look over at her.
"Sir-"
"Shut up." William held up a hand to stop the helper behind him.
With another smirk, he positioned his body towards her. "Well, last I heard, somebody was due for a long vacation isn't it? Huh? Professor Hansley?"
Constance's face darken and her knuckles turns white from the strength of her clutched fist by her side. Ivan held onto her arms before there is any chance for her do anything. William seems to take some thrill over angering Constance, and her smirk widen into a snort. Turning his attention to Ivan, the smile quickly faded into contempt. "You're Ivan aren't you? Up and coming star of the facility. Well, a friendly advice from your very caring senior, an award or two won't get you anywhere, much less the title of an 'up and coming star of the world's largest marine facility'. Better get this straight in your head before the disappointment gets too much to bear." William's face turn into a taunting smug and he started laughing like just said the funniest joke.
"Beckett-!" Constance gritted her teeth, held back by Ivan.
Ivan could feel his face twitch and a vein popping out of his temple, but within a single breath he manage to hold himself back. "It's okay Professor. It's not worth it." He whisper just loud enough for her.
Turning back towards William, Ivan smile and said: "I'll be sure to take note of your kind words Mr Beckett."
"Ah, ah, ah." William corrected; a fore finger held up annoying in the air. "It's Dr. Beckett for you."
"Sure, thank you for your kind correction. Dr. Beckett."
A series of violent, loud thud and water splashing distracted all the people in the room from the episode back to the tank. William turns around and noticed that all the water is drained from the tank and the humanoids are splashing about, struggling, and gasping from the lack of water, their expression snarled into a face of ill will and agony.
"Are you a numb nut or a nincompoop!?" William shouted across to the helper. "I've told you to let a little more water out, but you went ahead and drain it all? How much more fucking stupid can you get? You will be bane of humanity if this two things dies."
"W-What should I do!?" the helper whimper in fear.
"OPEN THE FUCKING LID AND POUR THE WATER BACK! Oh God!"
"Yes. Yes I'm so sorry." The helper mumbled, bowing, and bringing a stool ladder to stand. The helper struggle to open the lid, it is a tank that was mostly used for huge, powerful creatures or octopus, the reputed escape artist, the lid are designed to be shut tightly to prevent the creatures from bursting through. It takes a certain kind of way to open it up and the helper is certainly not experienced with this.
"Who brought this idiot in?" William complain, moving forward to push the helper away. He proceeded to pull up the lid by pressing the not so obvious mechanics at the side of the lid. He pull up the lid sealed snugly by the rubber. Before long, a loud, audible pop of the detachment can be heard, one of the humanoid barge against the lid. The force knock William to step back a little on the tiny surface, he fell backwards but was held back by one of the researcher. Another barge and the humanoid jumped onto William, the weight of the unexpected force and the fright from the sudden movement weaken the arms holding onto William, and William, the researcher, and the humanoid all crashes onto the floor with a violent thud. The researcher hit his head onto the chair and subsequently the floor, William's impact was cushion by the researcher while he was the humanoid's cushion. The humanoid bare his sharp teeth at William's as it clutch on tightly onto his coat.
All of sudden, as with the flow of event, the humanoid clamp its teeth forward in the direction of William's neck, but with fast thinking, William block the attack by slamming his arm into its teeth. The humanoid gag on his arm, flailing its own arm all around, scraping its fingers against William's skin. Amidst the noisy commotion, the humanoid started twitching and trembling, it let everything go and crawls away from William and the researchers surrounding it.
A hand reaches out and grabbed the humanoid by its hair, another hand grab onto it's wrist and another pin the struggling humanoid down onto the floor. The previous savage vigor are gone from the humanoid, replaced by violent twitches and weak snarling. It took only a mere blink of an eye, highly viscous, transparent substance resembling crushed jell-o and liquid ooze out from in between the researchers fingers and out from the skin of the humanoid.
"Get a damn specimen now!" Constance shouted.
Desperate, pitiful whining sound reverberate throughout the lab, the process is fast, and within another blink of an eye, the whining stop. A set of transparent skin is left behind, and it too, was quickly dissolved by the jellied substance, leaving only a puddle of clear water behind.
Ivan glance over to the other humanoid in the tank. It is pressing its face and hands against the glass, staring intently at the puddle of water with it's dark, black eyes. Then its eyes move, switching the stare at the Ivan who is looking back.
It is hard to tell which direction it is looking at as its eyes are fully black, but Ivan got a hunch that it is staring at him.
"Great!" Constance taunted out loud in anger. "What a fucking crying shame."
A silence looms over heavily in the air as the last syllabus of Constance's words dragged on antagonizing in the air, the researchers have lost a valuable specimen and gotten nothing in return. No specimen of any sort for detailed DNA testing, no observational report, nothing.
"There's no need for sarcasm, Professor Hansley." One of the head of this project finally said. He let out a sigh and quickly adds on: "Everybody. It seems that we have all underestimate how fragile these creatures could be. We will need to hold another meeting soon to discuss on the best way to approach these creatures so that we will be able get the maximum amount of research materials out of this. Uhh… Jens, anything to add on?" he asked the next head standing right beside him.
"Right. Right… Right…. I think we will also need a person to take care of this thing as of now. I was actually hoping for somebody who can stay and observe throughout, so that if anything fails, we will at least be able to get some behavioral or observation materials out of this project."
The rest of the researchers all mumbled and nodded in agreement.
"William, are you alright?" Jens continued, noticing the scratches, and pouring blood out of William. "And Lukas? Is Lukas alright?" his voice heightened, noticing that the researcher behind William is not moving at all. "Somebody call the medic team and an ambulance."
The medic team from another tower soon arrived. They settled the researchers and reported that it would be the best to bring Lukas and William to the hospital. "There's no need. These are just scratches, and the nearest hospital is 5 hours away." William complains.
"It's for the best." Jens said. "I can't afford any casualties under our charge."
William snorted, rolling his eyes.
The other head then announced: "In view of the long holiday of the coming week, and that this project will be put on temporary hold, the remaining researchers that are not involved in the discussion process will be able to go home. In the meantime, however, I would like a volunteer to look after this creature during the process. Any recommendation or volunteers?"
Everybody became silent in an instant. Every single one of them knows that this is a death trap, that if somehow the creature they are ordered to look after died under their care, it would look bad. Especially after seeing how it died so easily and disappear right under their nose.
"How bout our up and coming star of the facility?" William piped up, letting out a calculated concerned smile.
"No!" Constance let out immediately.
"Professor. I'm pretty sure Ivan is up for it. Or….. Are you trying to say that he. is. not.?" William challenged.
"I think Ivan would make a good choice." Jens added.
"Jens!" Constance eyes darted to him with indignation.
The rest of the researchers in the room that managed to hear the suggestions promptly agreed.
"I guess that's settled. You'll be good, right?" Jens continued, giving a heavy pat on Ivan's arms.
There was no place for Ivan to agree or disagree, and he could only nod. Jens quickly addressed the rest of the researchers again: "I need another person with Ivan."
"I could." William raised his hands.
"No William, we need another person with Ivan."
"You mean the up and coming star is unable to take care of something like this for a few days while I'm at the hospital?"
"William…" Jens let out.
"It's okay, professor. A few days is fine." Ivan finally said to Jens. It doesn't take a genius to know what kind of tricks William is trying to pull, and everybody in this lab knows that they can't get away from it, perhaps just glad that they are not his target.
"Right... Okay, you stay here then. Somebody will pass you the documents on this project later, you can read up about it. There will be a series of meetings and discussion on our end at tower A and D, plus the holidays, so we will not be checking in on you as often as we would like. You are however, required to write a daily report on it. And uhhh….. I guess that would be all. Goodluck sonny." Jens explains, patting on Ivan's arm again before heading off.
"You'll be okay right?" Constance sigh, giving an apologetic look at Ivan.
"Yeah I'll be fine." Ivan nodded.
"Good to hear. I have to go now, it's getting late."
"Sure. Thank you Professor Hansley." Ivan called after her. "For everything."
The whole team of researchers and helpers finally dispersed from the lab, leaving only Ivan with his documents behind. He push his coat sleeve up and look at the time on his watch. "Four-thirty in the afternoon." He look up at the humanoid in the tank, it is no longer looking at him anymore, instead it is hiding its face in between his knees and arms. Then he glance out at the window, the glaring sunlight does feel a little jarring. Ivan went over and close the thick curtains, and the only lights left are the artificial ones in the room. He look over at the humanoid, still it did not move.
Ivan move over to the huge table where his documents are with the tank within his sight. He could simply look up and see the humanoid. Time flew by as Ivan read up on the documents, it was until a message lit up on his phone did Ivan notice the time.
"Eight-twenty!?" Ivan blurted in surprise as he reach out for his phone. It was a farewell message from Professor Hansley dated at 5 o'clock. He replied quickly, but a dull thudding sound tore his attention away from the phone to the tank. The humanoid started whining and banging on the glass with its fist at Ivan, clear water pour out from its skin, small bits and pieces of jellied substance leaked out occasionally.
It send Ivan into a panic mode. He started looking around. "Water… It needs water… But.. It's an ocean creature." He turn his attention towards the humanoid, it is pointing towards the water dispenser and Ivan said: "You came from the ocean, you need salt water, not some water from the water dispenser. I'll be quick." Ivan move towards the station at the corner of the lab and dug out the equipment: Aquarium salt mix, hydrometer, container.
"I'm going to open the tank now, don't come out. Be good." Ivan warned, pointing a finger at the humanoid that is now staring a tad bit pitiful at him. Ivan plug out the top of the tank and pour the saline mixture and subsequently a copious amount of water in it. The humanoid, true to his warning, did not attempt anything.
Ivan push the lid back, but his attention is distracted to the lit phone from the table afar. He climb down and pick up his phone. "Ah. Notifications. That being said, it's getting late though, I should eat." Ivan mumbled to himself. And so quickly, he went to the vending machines located at the corner, outside of the lab, he do silently admire the efficiency of the administration in this facility, for there was never once did he notice anything particularly out of order or the vending machines running out of food throughout his time in this facility.
"Even though this is Tower E." Ivan mutter out as he waits for the hot coffee to be disperse. "Hmm… Do I need to stay here the whole night? Professor Jens and the other heads didn't explicitly say that I need to. And it's kind of creepy here, right? There's nobody in this whole tower. Even though….. "
Ivan walks back to the lab with his sandwich and coffee, still lost in thoughts.
The same empty lab, perhaps save the only other living thing in the room, the humanoid. Ivan walk towards the tank and observe the humanoid for few second before saying: "Maybe I should give you a name. Calypso is a nice name." Sipping off the cup, Ivan move back to the table to continue his report on today's observation and the pathetic meal he called dinner.
Ivan remember finishing the dinner, he remember the words blurring on his report, he remember staring at the tank, at the humanoid as he laid down on the more comfortable chair. He remember a vague sound but was too sleepy to be startled by it. But the click of the closing door is obviously sharp and out of place enough that Ivan briefly open his eyes, and before him is an empty tank.
"What?" Ivan mumbled, shaking his head to take a second look. Then, he stood up and look around, no sight of the humanoid. But a trail of water and small traces of jellied substance lead out of the door. Ivan gave chase.
From down the corridor, he saw the humanoid running. He gave chase till the end, only to see the humanoid in the lift and the lift's door closing in on his face. Looking at the level it last stop, Ivan is surprised that it stop at level 2.
He quickly rush down the stairs to level 2. Trails of water and pieces of jellies guided Ivan's path. Water dispenser along the route was destroyed and emptied. A thought strike through Ivan's head, he stop in his path and quickly run down the stairs to the first level. A short jog out and he came out to where the oceanarium is, stretched out from end to end of the whole hall. The strong lights cast into the water for illumination divide and refract out in an awe-inspiring softness. Slowly walking to the middle of the hall, Ivan walk down the steps, eyes scanning through the blue for a sight.
Soon enough, a plunge of bubbles from afar and Ivan knew that he was right, for reasons unknown, the humanoid decided to pay a visit to the oceanarium. The humanoid is not obvious in the water, almost as though he is transparent inside these waters, but the slight bubbles emitted from the movement of water reveal its tracks, it immediately alerted the resident white shark of the imminent danger. The shark swim at great speed within the limited confines of the oceanarium, chase by the humanoid, sometimes briefly turning the game around, but the struggle did not last too long. The fast twist and turns, violent snapping jaws and powerful slams did not win against the humanoid, in fact, the humanoid displayed intelligence far exceeded that of the shark. The humanoid is merely taunting the shark, for within a split second, it found an opening and it's sharp webbed hands push through the shark's large, bulky body through its belly and tore it into apart. The blood and organs poured out and stained the waters into a reddish haze, momentarily, Ivan lost sight of the humanoid, but as it clears a little the humanoid is feasting on the flesh of the shark, with actions that look surprisingly human.
There, in the waters, he just saw the humanoid in its fully glory.
Taking a few step down, Ivan started to notice something strange going on: where the blood of the shark touches the humanoid's skin, its colour changed from the translucent white into a more solid grey. The change is obvious enough that Ivan could even see it from where he is.
Eyes still glued on the humanoid, Ivan touched his left pocket, then his right. With quick recollection, he realise that he have left his phone back in the lab. "Guess you're on your own, Mr Braginsky." He muttered to himself.
At the end of the stairs is a short distance to the glass, and the humanoid seem to have noticed Ivan. It stopped eating and swim to the glass right in front of Ivan. The observer have now become the observed.
"What are you, exactly?" Ivan mumbled to himself, slowly moving closer to the glass, afraid that any sudden movement will just scare the humanoid away. "You're an amazing thing, aren't you, little Calypso?" Ivan smile, now close enough to notice the details of the humanoid's skin. The texture of its skin is unmistakably shark-like, it's baring, jagged teeth reveals a second row at the back, five slit on its neck flaps as it bop up and down in the waters.
It's black eyes, dark as abyss are eerily calm, they continue to stare into Ivan's admiring ones.
All of the sudden, it swam up, back towards the entrance of the oceanarium with incredible speed. It caught Ivan off guard, and he rushes back to the stairs again.
"I won't let you run away this time." Ivan decided, his eyes lit up as a grin spread across his face.