Control was their goal, justification for this desire was the survival of the human race. Most of their resources were spent on The Project, but there were a number of other projects smaller in scale but no less important, at least to those who ran them. The Board never really cared for anything other than The Project, but sometimes one of these smaller ones would catch their eye; and she, became one of them.
Could humans be made to breathe underwater? Much of earth’s surface was contaminated with radiation, and large volumes of water shield against it. If the decision were to be made, could humanity become water dwellers? This was the answer this project aimed to find.
The worms were an obvious choice, they were the source of control after all, and in near endless supply. Perhaps they could be used to modify the human genome for this project as well. The first bodies were brought in, and the worms were introduced to their new hosts. Once the worms were comfortably inside each body, their hosts were dropped into the pool. The bodies flailed about and the worms felt their hosts suffocate. After a few minutes of thrashing about, they went limp, hanging in the open water.
A day had passed, and new observations were made. The worms had broken through the skin and out into the open water. At first the project lead was perplexed, but not at all disinterested or put off; no, he was enthralled. They were monitoring the vital signs of each host, and they had indeed drowned; but the worms, possessing a natural ability to breathe underwater, used their entire bodies as gills to provide oxygen for their host. The entire staff celebrated at this discovery, grins overcame every face, they could now proceed with next steps.
Weeks went by, observations were made and recorded, and a name for the project finally arose, Project Siren. Modifying the human genome was already becoming a normality among the entire operation, but for this team, it was about to play a key role. Their initial hopes were to have the worms do all the work for them, and once they had modified the DNA of their hosts to the project lead’s liking, they would attempt to clone the body of the most promising specimen. Up until this point, the worms had still been using the same tactic as before, using their own bodies as gills. When weeks turned into months with no further changes occurring, something had to be done.
“We need them to rely on the host body to feed them oxygen, not the other way around, ” Said the project lead. “How can we encourage them to do so?” His team was silent, and as most employees do, he had been bringing his daughter to work every day, to teach and educate her for the future. It was his own daughter that, after observing and learning all she could after years of simply watching her father work, offered a solution. She raised her hand, and while surprised at this turn of events, the project lead smiled and welcomed the fact his own daughter was now participating, not just observing. He was proud, delighted, and so he said, “Yes, Anna?”
Without hesitation did Anna voice her solution, “The Board knows how to control bodies, what if they could control how the worms change bodies? We could change bodies however we want! You want to be able to fly? Now you can! Breathe underwater? Now you can!”
Anna’s father sat in his chair, stared at his daughter, and in her he saw himself. He sighed, and then spoke with care, “That’s a great idea sweetie, thank you for sharing. I’ll think about it.”
Anna politely answered, “Okay dad.”
Once a week every project lead met with the Board to present their progress and offer their insights. When it was time for Anna’s father, he took to the stage in front of the Board. “Progress is being made. We have successfully encouraged the endoparasitic organisms to keep their hosts alive while submerged in water. Our goal to explore the possibility of human survivability in a subaqueous environment continues to yield results. However, if we are to truly realize the possibilities I must humbly ask for your help. It is, of course, the board’s decision to consider this research to be any more important than it already has been determined. The assistance I ask for, comes from none other than those who so nobly work on The Project. Here is why.” He went on to relay what Anna had suggested to him in his office a week prior, but in a more eloquent fashion. Once his appeal finished, he exited the stage and returned to his seat, as is the proper way of making such appeals. He would receive the board’s decision a few days later, expressing their particular interest in this plan. So they equipped him with the proper tools and resources to carry out Anna’s secondary solution. The Project possessed special technologies that it did not share with lesser project leads. This was so no other project took precedence, unless the Board said otherwise. So when Anna’s father received special technologies he was overwhelmed with awe and joy. So much more was now possible with what he was given. Other scientists were transferred from The Project to assist him with his own, this not only contributed to his joy, but also his fear. With extreme precision did they carry out Anna’s plan, but they did not know it was her who inspired such a solution.
They connected a single large wire to each host body, they only explained to Anna’s father that they transferred information directly into the cells of the body it was connected to, and to any other organisms living inside. As more weeks passed, Anna saw her father’s project advance further than she ever dreamed. They were so close, while connected to the large wires, the bodies changed to their liking, and became capable of extracting oxygen from the water naturally through their skin. One of the scientists who had been reassigned to help Anna’s father provided him with next steps.
“So long as we keep these bodies under our direct control they will survive, but if we detach them, let the endoparasites retake control, we can’t guarantee their survival. However, we have successfully made a copy of their modified genetic structure. We are ready to try and produce clones to test the validity of these changes. Do you approve this decision?”
Anna’s father expressed his disappointment, “Clones? That’s going to take nearly a year, we need results much sooner to retain The Board’s interest.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
“Can we infuse a body free of endoparasites with this data?”
“In order for that to be possible we need a fresh, unmodified body, free of The Project’s control, and there aren’t many available to spare. The Board won’t be too keen on using such limited resources.”
Anna’s father weighed their options in his head before he finally spoke. “I will present this situation before the Board, and let them make the choice for us.”
Once the time had come, Anna’s father took to the stage once more. He cleared his throat and began his report. “I would first like to express my thanks for the assistance provided by the Board. With our new resources we were successful in the creation of a human body capable of breathing underwater. Unfortunately these specimens are still reliant on the endoparasites and the classified technology you lent us. After discussing our next steps with my new assistants, we have determined we are able to replicate these results without the need of such life forms and technologies. To do this, we will create a clone using the modified genetic data we collected, or if we want immediate results, a fresh body without any previous modifications that may be incompatible with the modified genetic data. Which step we take next I leave to you, thank you.”
He left the stage trembling. When he took his seat in the audience his breaths were deep, never had he been so bold before the Board. Once the weekly reports had all been made, he exited the auditorium a nervous wreck. While on his way back to his lab, an arm grabbed his shoulder. He turned to a man in formal attire much like his own. “The Board would like a word with you in private.”
“Yes, yes of course.”
“Follow me.”
The man led him into a large dark room. The walls were velvet red with only a few lights illuminating them. At the far end of this large room is a single massive table, with the Board seated on the other side facing him as he meagerly approached them.
A Board member, a woman who sat in the middle of them all, addressed him with the most sophisticated voice he’s ever heard. “Mr. Petros, your progress of late is impressive.”
“T-thank you,” He stuttered. “None of it would have been possible without your assistance and foresight.”
She smiled, “Indeed. We must unfortunately deny your request for an unmodified body. Our supplies are catostrophically low at the moment, but we have an alternative for you.”
Mr. Petros let out a small chuckle, “As you always do, your wisdom has got us this far. What is it you would have me do instead?”
“We understand you’ve been including your daughter in your research? As expected of course.”
Mr. Pretros put on a beaming smile, “Yes, that’s correct. She’s been learning so much, she’ll be a valuable researcher in the future.”
The woman stared into his eyes when she answered him with an intense but quiet, “Yes, yes she will.” Mr. Pretros continued to wear and uneasy smile, shifted in place. “Mr. Petros, may I use your first name?”
“Of course! Of course.” Sweat had begun to well up on his skin.
“Eugene, we ask you to consider something for us.”
“Yes, of course, always.”
“If you wish to continue your research, we’ve concluded your daughter would make an excellent candidate to undergo the final procedure.”
Eugene cleared his throat and continued to smile when he said, “E-excuse me?”
“The Board has made its decision, we eagerly await for the results of your final test. Good luck.”
The same man that led him into the room escorted a speechless Eugene back to his lab. Eugene wasted no time. He knew the longer he put this off the more likely he would consider the impossible, disobeying the Board. It was late, most of the entire staff were soon to be in their beds. As he hoped, his daughter was already fast asleep. He looked on her for a few minutes. Admiring her long black hair, her cute small nose, she was so perfect. A perfect test subject, the perfect experiment. He found a powerful sedative, the same ones they used on previous bodies. He lifted her up into his arms, so small, and yet so full of potential. He carried her over to the pool and, like a bright full moon, a large white spotlight shone over the dark waters below. The light reflected off of her long dark hair like a mirror. He placed her limp body upon the cold concrete, while the water lapped upon the edge of the pool. Eugene grabbed ahold of the large wire they had once attached to their previous experiments. He pulled it from the water, until the plug on the end rose above the surface.
Without remorse or hesitation, he pulled up the back of Anna’s shirt, and placed the large plug onto her back. It instantly bound itself to her skin, and then he hoisted her up into the air. Eugene stared into her sleeping face, and no longer saw his daughter, but the pinnacle of his life’s work. With one heave did he throw her into the water, and watched her sink deeper and deeper into the pool. He returned to the lab control center and initiated the data transfer. He looked up into the glass wall that separated him and his test subject. The girl’s body jolted as the plug’s yellow lights became lit, signaling the transfer had begun. Rays from the white spotlight shown down upon her, and danced through her ribbons of hair as they gracefully waved through the water. Her head was slumped over, her limbs hung like ornaments on a tree, and Eugene watched with anticipation. His hopes suddenly fled as her skin turned to grey as her body jolted once more. She then awoke with a scream, an endless stream of bubbles left her mouth and nostrils. She writhed, she struggled, and tore her clothes from her body as the plug detached itself from her back. Filled with a primal rage, she swam with inhuman speed and ferocity, impacting the walls and glass in a fit of fury. Eventually she calmed and began to observe her surroundings with a maddened look in her eyes. She took notice of Eugene and swam up to him, placing her hands upon the glass. Her face relaxed and her unblinking eyes focused on Eugene’s, and it was then, in that moment, he knew she would forever remain, INSIDE.
