King Triton

Seth directed his gaze towards the biome constructed to house the mysterious creatures Trask Bio Corp had brought into existence. Ceiling lights bathed the hallway in a harsh sodium glow, revealing the humongous triangular fiberglass tank nestled amidst banks of humming computer screens. Taking up half of the research facility’s space, the enclosure contained no less than five thousand gallons of seawater that had been treated to resemble the conditions of the ocean.

For the past couple of years, the team had been studying the biome’s residents to develop stem cell clusters that could be transplanted into human patients with terminal illnesses. The management of Trask had been thrilled by the discoveries the researchers had made while working on this clandestine project.

The aquatic dwellers residing here possessed amazingly resilient cellular structures, capable of regenerating from the aberrant cancer cells injected into them during the advanced stages of the trial. There had been plenty of hearty backslapping as the scientists congratulated themselves for possibly saving the lives of millions in the future.

As for himself, Seth had only been too happy to volunteer his services when he’d been promised the opportunity to study the behavioral patterns of a previously unknown species unlike anything the world had seen before. But after interacting with these test subjects, he had come to learn that they were so much more than mere animals.

Streamlined shapes flitted through the aquamarine expanse, the elongated but muscular limbs of the tank’s residents slicing through the water. One of them turned around to catch Seth’s eye. The creature’s enormous green pupils sparkled, and its webbed hand slapped against the glass in a greeting while the pointed crest on its head dipped down.

The churning in Seth’s belly eased a little, and a smile tugged at his mouth. He raised his hand, indicating to Triton that he’d seen him. He’d named this particular individual after the kindly undersea ruler in The Little Mermaid, that Disney classic. A rapport had been quick to form between the two of them after Triton had turned out to be the only one who’d bothered to pick up rudimentary sign language when Seth had tried to teach it to the whole group.

And although it was just a hunch, Seth had a strong feeling that it was Triton who kept the rest of his fellows from attacking him whenever he dove into the enclosure to observe the behavior of its occupants. The hostility of these aquatic dwellers was palpable, their flat, adamantine stares sending a cold tingle across Seth’s spine whenever they circled him in the water.

Not that they could have actually hurt him, thanks to the electrodes that had been implanted in their brains. After getting zapped a couple of times with powerful electric shocks, they’d learned the hard way to leave their human handlers alone.

Men and women dressed in spotless white lab coats shuffled past Seth. Some of the other staff nodded at him, but most of them ignored Seth, their gaze glued to the tablets clutched in their hands.

As the only animal behaviorist working in a place that was otherwise staffed entirely by biologists and neurologists, it wasn’t lost on Seth that he stood pretty low in the hierarchy. During his first week of work here, one of the scientists had actually called him a glorified zookeeper to his face. That was the problem with the eggheads. They only cared about cold, hard data that could be processed into suitable material for some hypothesis or other, oblivious to everything else or dismissing it as sentimental nonsense. Like ethics, for example.

How else could he explain the fact that the rest of the researchers refused to consider the possibility that their captives were self-aware beings who couldn’t simply be used as lab rats? Seth had seen enough to know beyond a shadow of doubt that Triton and the others weren’t so different from humans. And just like humans, they hated being imprisoned in an alien prison so far away from their home.

Taking a deep swallow of the icy, air-conditioned air, Seth steeled himself and walked up to the rotund, balding man in a rumpled lab coat who was swiping at his smartphone. Clearing his throat, Seth called out to the man who was responsible for overseeing this whole undertaking. "Erm, Dr. Harris, I booked an appointment with you for today.

"Huh? Oh, right.’’ Dr. Harris squinted at him and rubbed at his bleary eyes. "I almost forgot. Well, let’s get it over with. I’ve got a busy day ahead of me.’’ Shifting around, he trudged down a corridor that veered off to the right, heading for his office.

Following his boss into the small cubicle, Seth rolled the screen shut behind them. Squaring his shoulders, he met Dr. Harris’ impatient gaze. "Dr. Harris, I’m sorry for being so blunt, but continuing this project would be a clear breach of our ethical obligations.’’

Dr. Harris’ mouth twisted into a smirk. "On what grounds? Please do enlighten us, Mr. Robinson.’’

His stomach twisted, but Seth launched into the speech he’d spent hours rehearsing last night in his apartment. "With all due respect, sir, I’ve spent enough time with our test subjects to know that they possess some level of intelligence and self-awareness." Seth paused and took a shallow breath to calm his racing heart before jumping back into it.

You got this." One of them has even managed to master sign language and can communicate with me. We can’t just keep them here to make some company’s shareholders happy. They’re autonomous beings with the right to live their own lives and pursue their own goals away from this prison we’ve created for them.’’

"Oh, really?" Dr. Harris’ belly jiggled as he let out a loud snigger. "So, what do you propose we do, Mr. Robinson?" Start a union for them? Maybe even give them the right to vote?’’

Searing heat rushed through Seth’s face. He was sick of this smug, condescending bastard’s attitude. Didn’t he see that what they were doing was a monstrous injustice?

"We give them whatever they need so that they can live their lives the way they want. They might even be able to contribute to human society if they wanted to. Just give them a chance. We owe them that much.’’

"Listen to me." The smirk slipped off Dr. Harris’ face, and his eyes narrowed. "We don’t owe these slimy critters a damn thing. They wouldn’t even exist without our intervention. My intervention. I was the one who proposed to the board that we buy the corpse of the wild specimen killed by those undersea miners and clone it, just to see what we could do with its DNA.’’

Seth’s boss glared at him, the fat man’s jowls jiggling. "The sole purpose of these things is to advance the course of medical research. Just be grateful that you got the chance to play a role in this momentous undertaking.’’

Guess I’m going to have to do this the hard way then. He had tried to appeal to the chief scientist’s moral conscience, only to discover that this obnoxious asshole didn’t have one. Now it was time to resort to blackmail. Seth jerked his head up and looked Harris in the eye, his gut clenching.

"I wonder how the public will feel about your treatment of rational agents whose intelligence rivals that of our own. I guess that most of them won’t like it. And imagine what all that bad press would do to the company’s stocks. The shareholders wouldn’t like that one bit, I imagine.’’

"You've raised a valid point, Mr. Robinson." Splotches of red still danced in Harris' drooping cheeks, but his tone had become calm.

"Which is why I’ve decided to euthanize all our test subjects tomorrow. We’ve already harvested enough genetic material and no longer need these things. And as you so astutely pointed out, their continued survival could become a costly liability for us.’’ Hariss’ lips curled into a cold smile. ‘‘I really ought to be thanking you.’’

Seth’s knees buckled, and his throat went dry. "You can’t do it!" he croaked in a voice so weak that he could barely hear himself.

"Oh, but I can. I possess the authority to make that call.’’ A meaty hand shot forward and closed over the keycard trailing from the lanyard draped around Seth’s neck. ‘Your services are no longer required, Mr. Robinson. Please see yourself out. And remember that the consequences for you will be dire if you violate our non-disclosure agreement.’’

His chest tightening, Seth removed the lanyard and dumped it onto Hariss’ table. He had been praying that it wouldn’t come to this, but now he didn’t have a choice if he wanted to save Triton and the others. It was time to launch Plan C.

***

Seth raised his torchlight, aiming the slender yellow beam at the sturdy steel door that led inside the research facility. He dug inside his jacket pocket and retrieved the duplicate keycard he had created a month ago, using a card skimmer that he’d bought off the dark web.

All employees were required to turn in their keycards at the end of their shift, but Seth had managed to smuggle the illicitly purchased card skimmer into the lab during work hours. It had been easy enough to hide it by tucking away the minuscule scanning device under his tongue. And a couple of minutes in a restroom stall had given Seth sufficient time to swipe the details off the original keycard and transfer them to the blank card he’d brought along with him.

Seth swiped his keycard against the panel inset in the middle of the door. It released a low hum, and then the door slid aside, revealing the dimly lit, cavernous interior of the lab. Seth glanced at his wristwatch, the numbers shining a luminous green. It was two a.m. Twenty more minutes before the next patrol of guards would show up to see if everything was okay. He’d have to be quick.

Sprinting inside, Seth made a beeline for the enclosure, picking his way past the computer banks. The shaft of light from his torch shone against the side of the tank, revealing furtive shapes in the water that retreated as Seth approached closer. Skidding to a stop, he slapped his palm against a glowing red button that surmounted the nearby instrument panel. A clanking groan shattered the silence, and a shining gangplank descended the side of the enclosure.

Almost every day he’d scrambled up this ramp to observe Triton and the others. But tonight, Seth needed the tank’s occupants to scoot down and escape from this place. His van was parked a couple of minutes away from the lab entrance. Once he’d gotten them all inside, he’d burn rubber and get Triton and the rest of his species to the beach where they could make their way back to their ancestral oceanic home.

Triton swam towards Seth, his shining eyes going wide. A bright purple tongue shot out of his mouth, indicating his surprise at Seth’s unexpected nocturnal visit.

I’m here to break you out, buddy. Seth signaled to Triton with his fingers. "Go up, get out. We’re leaving. Follow me. Get your friends.’’

Triton’s nostril slits flared, affirming that he’d understood Seth’s message. The creature’s wide mouth split open, exposing rows of needle-sharp white teeth that gleamed in the beam from the torchlight. Triton’s chest heaved, and a stream of bubbles erupted out of his mouth. Darting through the water, the rest of the group gathered around him.

With a sinuous movement, Triton rocketed up, heading for the surface. Launching himself out of the water, Triton shot down the ramp, the feeble glow from the ceiling lights sparkling against his scales.

Remaining in the tank, the others hesitated for a moment before slithering out, their bodies squeaking against the metal surface of the ramp. Water cascaded down the sides of the creatures when they landed on the floor, forming small pools that glittered in the subdued yellow glow of Seth’s torchlight.

‘‘Hey!’’ Loud footsteps thundered across the hallway.

Seth whipped around, and his heart skipped a beat.

Harris was charging at him like a runaway truck, a pistol clenched in his hand. The gun jerked up, sweeping towards Seth.

A gunshot exploded in Seth’s eardrums, and he toppled to the floor, pain searing through his right arm like a red-hot poker. A tide of viscous warmth trickled down Seth’s sleeve, the coppery odor of blood filling his nostrils.

‘‘You really think I wasn’t expecting this?’’Harris glowered down at Seth with blazing eyes as he brandished the pistol, a trail of smoke wreathing out of its muzzle. The scientist reached into his coat pocket with his other hand and wrenched out a small black control.

‘‘How could you betray your own species like this! Just to save these disgusting creatures! Our cure has the potential to save so many lives!’’ The muzzle of the gun swung towards Seth’s face, engulfing him like a yawning chasm. ‘‘Die, traitor!’’

Seth’s pulse froze. Shit!

Claws skittered against the linoleum, and a throaty bellow rocketed through the lab. Triton hurtled into the corner of Seth’s vision, his clawed fingers lashing out while he leapt at Harris.

Recoiling, Harris squeezed his control device, and Triton sank to the floor in a quaking heap. An ear-rending screech rattled against the walls of the lab, and Triton began to writhe in agony.

Harris’ triumphant roar rang out. "I'll kill you, you ugly beast! Let the rest of your vile kind watch and learn what happens when you try to hurt a human!’’

Got to do something! Sucking air into his screaming lungs, Seth lurched upwards and snatched at Harris’ control with his left hand, wringing it out of the scientist’s plump fingers. The device fell to the floor with a resounding clunk.

A feral snarl rasped in Seth’s ears, and he swung his head to the side, his gaze hurtling towards Triton. Slicing through the gloom like a greenish streak of lightning, Triton barreled towards Harris.

‘‘Fuck you!’’ His eyes bulging out, Harris fired at his creation, the bright flash from the muzzle lighting up the scientist’s face that had become deathly pale.

His spine twisting at an angle that would have been fatal for a human, Triton leapt to the side, and the bullet slammed into a nearby computer bank, sending shards of glittering glass spraying over the floor. A furious hiss filled the silence, and Triton pounced on Harris, slamming the big man down onto the floor.

Gleaming in the hazy yellow glow, Triton’s claws ripped into the scientist’s belly, slashing it open. A steaming gout of blood spurted out, splattering both Triton and the nearby wall. Thick coils of intestines spilled out of the gaping bloody hole in Harris’ stomach.

This genocidal asshole did this to himself by playing Dr. Frankenstein. Now let’s get the hell out of here. Seth stumbled to his feet and rolled up his blood-soaked sleeve to examine his wound. Relief swelled up in his chest. The bullet had scooped out a small chunk of flesh but had missed hitting any vital arteries. He’d still be able to drive. Pivoting back to face Triton, Seth flashed a hand signal to his friend to gather the rest of his kind and then follow him out of the facility.

Triton sidled up beside Seth and dipped his crest, indicating that he understood the message. The bullet had scooped out a small chunk of flesh but had missed hitting any vital arteries. He’d still be able to drive. Pivoting back to face Triton, Seth flashed a hand signal to his friend to gather the rest of his kind and then follow him out of the facility.

Triton sidled up beside Seth and dipped his crest, indicating that he understood the message. Puffing his chest out, he let out a shrill howl. Like a well-organized army, the others fell in behind their leader in neat ranks, awaiting his next command.

Inhaling a shaky breath, Seth lurched towards the door, leading Triton and his people to the spot where the van was parked. Another quick exchange of hand gestures and Triton herded the others into the back of the van before joining Seth in the front seat.

The screech of rubber burning against asphalt filled Seth’s ears as the van shot out of the parking lot and raced down a deserted highway. The pounding of his heart only ceased when his nose caught the unmistakable tang of the sea.

Bringing the van to a shuddering stop, Seth sprung out and made his way to the back of the van, accompanied by Triton. He yanked open the back door, and the van’s occupants met Seth’s gaze; their eyes were no longer filled with silent menace.

One of them leaned toward Seth and a soft lavender glow suffused his pupils, burning brightly in the darkness, expressing his bewilderment.

He doesn’t understand why I risked my own life to save them. But someday they’ll know that all humans aren’t the same. Seth stepped back, and Harris’ former prisoners filed out, plunging into the foaming surf of the ocean.

Triton was the last to go. He lingered for a moment, his bright eyes burning into those of Set while scarlet motes flitted across his hide. Then, his chest expanding, Triton turned his back toward his human friend and disappeared into the sea, the surface parting with barely a ripple.

Seth’s eyes misted with tears while his breath caught in his throat. He hoped that Triton and his kind would come back someday to the surface world and let humans know that they had an obligation to share the planet with others.