The Compound
The roar of the helicopter blades finally faded, but the chill from the flight clung to my skin, deep and biting. My clothes were soaked through from the journey, heavy with dampness that seemed to settle into my bones. As the metal net binding us finally loosened, I stumbled, nearly slipping on the slick pavement as I hit the ground, still shivering from the hours spent in the wind and rain.
This wasn’t the coastline I’d once known. We’d landed in an isolated compound, enclosed by high walls that blocked out the horizon. Soldiers in combat gear moved with brisk efficiency, ignoring the fact that I was drenched, disheveled, and barely holding myself together. Their eyes were impassive, shadows of machinery against the cold, unwelcoming landscape.
Beside me, the creature—tangled in my original netting, his scaled body gleaming under the harsh, fluorescent lights—stood tense but composed, though he too was drenched from head to toe. The water pooled around his feet, glinting under the lights in a metallic sheen. His eyes flicked around the compound, taking in everything with a sharp, wary expression.
As we stood, shivering and surrounded by faceless soldiers, a new figure approached. Colonel Slate Drayton—tall, broad-shouldered, his face set in an expression of unyielding authority—descended from the helicopter. He looked at me briefly, his gaze as cold as the water seeping through my clothes.
Mustering all the composure I could, I took a step forward, teeth chattering slightly as I tried to speak. “Colonel Drayton,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the chill that gnawed at me. “I’m Dr. River Adams, lead researcher from the marine expedition. This creature belongs in a secure lab—somewhere he can be studied under humane, ethical conditions. You can’t possibly understand what we’ve discovered here.”
Drayton’s face remained unreadable, his gaze fixed on the soldiers who were now securing even heavier restraints around the creature’s wrists and ankles. He raised an eyebrow at my words, a flicker of irritation crossing his face.
“And who told you this was an ‘ethical’ mission, Dr. Adams?” His voice was cold, unfeeling. “Aetheris Biotech owns exclusive rights to this asset now. They’ll decide what’s necessary for research—and I assure you, we don’t have time for philosophical concerns.”
His words struck like a physical blow, leaving me momentarily stunned. Aetheris Biotech—the organization I’d trusted, that promised to revolutionize science and protect life—had called in military personnel to secure a sentient being. All under the guise of research.
I swallowed, my throat dry despite the cold water still clinging to my skin. “Colonel Drayton, this isn’t what I signed up for. This creature is intelligent; he’s capable of communication. I can’t just stand by and watch him be treated this way. There are protocols, standards—”
The colonel gave me a dismissive wave. “This isn’t some academic pet project, Dr. Adams. Aetheris doesn’t pay you to have opinions.” His voice held a trace of amusement. “You’d be wise to remember that.”
I clenched my fists, biting back my frustration as the chill continued to numb my skin. Around me, soldiers moved with seamless precision, leading the creature into a reinforced cell. I watched as they dragged him away, his gaze fixed on me as he disappeared behind the compound’s metal walls.
The wind picked up, cutting through my soaked clothes and setting my teeth chattering once more. But even as the chill worsened, a new kind of heat simmered beneath it—a growing, fierce defiance. I hadn’t come this far to be used as a pawn in someone else’s game.
I glanced at the men in uniform—faces blank, eyes focused solely on their orders. A flicker of doubt gnawed at the edges of my resolve. Had I underestimated the reach of Aetheris Biotech? The colonel’s indifference was a stark reminder of the stakes at play.
“Dr. Adams!” a voice barked, snapping me back to the present. It was Lieutenant Moore, one of Drayton’s aides, approaching with an expression that was somewhere between concern and annoyance. “You need to come with us. The briefing starts now.”
“Briefing?” I echoed, incredulous. “What briefing? You’re taking that creature away without any regard for its well-being! I won’t let you—”
“Now!” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I shot a desperate glance toward the reinforced cell where they had taken him. The creature—who I had come to know as Kael—had looked to me for support, a silent plea for solidarity amidst the chaos. The soldiers secured the door with a loud clank, sealing him away from the world. I could only imagine what awaited him inside those cold, sterile walls.
“Dr. Adams, move,” Moore insisted, his voice strained with impatience. I clenched my jaw, frustration boiling beneath the surface as I weighed my options. Confronting them might get me nowhere, but sitting in silence would feel like complicity.
“Fine,” I spat, shoving past him. “Lead the way. But don’t expect me to keep quiet about this.”
As we walked, the stark fluorescent lights of the compound illuminated the path ahead, casting harsh shadows that seemed to reach out and taunt me. My mind raced, plotting a course through the labyrinth of bureaucracy and military protocols that suffocated the very essence of research and discovery.
The briefing room was a sterile, windowless chamber, walls lined with screens flickering with images of Kael’s containment. As the door sealed behind me, the tension in the air thickened, a palpable mix of authority and fear. Colonel Drayton stood at the head of the table, flanked by scientists I recognized from Aetheris—some familiar faces twisted by corporate ambition.
“Sit,” Drayton commanded, his gaze piercing as he surveyed the room. I hesitated, but the lieutenant's sharp gesture urged me forward. I settled into a chair, my heart racing as I prepared for the onslaught of information that would shape the fate of the creature I had come to protect.
“Let’s get straight to the point,” Drayton began, his voice steady and unwavering. “This is a significant find, one that could change the course of our research, but it also poses risks we can’t afford to underestimate.”
I clenched my fists under the table, my pulse quickening. “What do you mean by risks?” I interjected. “The Creature is not just an asset; he’s a sentient being with emotions, thoughts, and intelligence.”
The colonel turned to me, eyes narrowing. “You’re here to provide scientific input, not ethical commentary. The bottom line is that we need to extract data, and your emotional attachment could compromise the mission.”
The words hung in the air, a damning indictment of everything I had believed in. “Compromise?” I repeated, my voice rising. “You’re willing to sacrifice his welfare for profit? This isn’t science, it’s exploitation!”
A flicker of irritation crossed Drayton’s features, and he leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ve been brought into this for your expertise, not your morals. You have the chance to be part of something groundbreaking, Dr. Adams. But I suggest you remember who calls the shots here.”
I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to remain steady. “I will not participate in any project that endangers the creature. If you want my research, you’ll have to convince me this is in his best interest.”
The room fell silent, the air thick with unspoken tension. I could feel the eyes of the other scientists boring into me, some in disbelief, others with a flicker of admiration. Drayton’s gaze hardened, and I knew I had crossed a line. But for the first time, I felt a spark of resolve. If I was going to fight this battle, I needed allies, and perhaps even within this room, there were those who shared my concerns.
“Very well,” Drayton said, straightening his posture. “Let’s see how this plays out. But understand, Dr. Adams, in this world, it’s survival of the fittest—and right now, you’re treading on thin ice.”