Changed: Deep

Chapter 3: Fall

[Scott's Pov]

It has only been days, and I document that I have made a significant amount of progress inventing this Protogen. Every parts I needed are all in the Botany department. Doctor K, my very first friend after four years of being locked away from the outside world, went into my large room filled with robotic components I now call my own room yesterday to visit me. He occasionally delivers boxes of canned foods and a gallon of water, then he watches over me as I build the Protogen. I know I only have a month left, so why not use it to build something else?

The disc that one of my coworkers found is unknown as to how it existed in the first place. They claimed that they found it compiled in the cabinet, in between the rows of discs. One of my coworkers asked our management about the disc being there, but they were as confused as us. We had a meeting one day regarding the disc, and that we should only take look what's inside once all of our projects are done. We never got to that part. Alarms went off, and the next thing I know we were being escorted down into a nearby bunker.

It's such a shame that we aren't able to do this as a team, but this project shall be finished to commemorate my fallen workmates. A few days had passed, and I was looking back and forth from the computer monitor and the project I am working on. Despite being sick, I carried on. Using the tools and components available within my disposal, I was able to complete a fraction of the project. The Protogen visor, finally complete. I held it close with my arms. It is heavy, and carrying it on my arms are making me tired.

I carefully placed it back on the workbench table before looking through the computer. I browsed through the images shown on the screen about the Protogen, and soon I stumbled upon a list of requirements for the project to successfully work. There is one detail in the image that is circled out, the image appeared to be edited. Reading through the circled details, I realized one major flaw with this project that will lead into it's failure. It requires a genetically modified beast as it's main component.

I lay back on my office chair, letting out a sigh as I stare at the ceiling. I made it this far, and I can't hold back now, but sadly I encountered a dead end. What should I do? I coughed as my chest tightens, feeling a sudden sharp pain. The phone attached to the wall began to rang, and I slowly reached it with my hand. I forgot about the new phone that Doctor K told me to put on the wall. Through the phone, I can reach him whenever something and happens to me, or he can reach me whenever he has something for me.

I hovered the phone close to my ear, and the voice of the white wolf spoke to me. "How are you doing in there? I left a box of canned foods for you by the giant metal door. It seems that the doors are malfunctioning, and won't close. I advise you to be careful when approaching the giant metal door. I am currently working on to fill up the hole in the subway station in between the tunnels. I came back up to the tower to grab a few number of tools that I have forgotten to take with me. I will be returning down to the tunnels. I also advise you to not approach me while I work. I don't want you to be harmed."

He hung up the call. I returned the phone and I stood up, stretching my joints before walking out of my office. Walking through the hallways, I walked pass a window to my right. I took a peek through the glass and saw a green house with trees planted on fields. The bark of the trees are healthy colored, and the leaves are in lively shades of green. I noticed the blue fruits that the trees bear.

It's the Blue Apples. I made my way to the giant metal door, and found the door wide open with a cardboard box sitting in front of it. I carefully opened the box, and it contains the canned foods Doctor K is talking about. I lifted the box and placed it next to the door. Out of curiosity, I stepped inside the tunnels. Walking through the tunnels, an audible noise echoes through the tunnels. A sound similar to cement being pasted and spread through red bricks in construction.

From the distance, I noticed a figure of a beast on the subway station where I first entered this place. Upon closer inspection, it is Doctor K, and he is applying what appears to be a latex paste on the hole. On his right paw is a blowtorch, and on his left is a wad of latex paste. I took a step closer, and his right ear perked up into my direction before turning around to look at me. I raised my hand and waved at him, and he tilted his head in response.

"I told you to not approach me in the tunnels, or to not even step in the tunnels while I work. Now that you are here, I might as well explain what I'm doing, and the risk of coming down here. First, I am using a latex paste to cover up the hole. It hardens when heated by flame. Second, you are putting yourself at risk for being out in the open, in the dark for the latex beasts. The giant metal doors can't close and are remained open as we speak. A latex beast may have slipped through the tunnels throughout the duration of the doors malfunctioning."

I tilted my head and hopped on the subway station, walking closer to Doctor K. "What's a latex beast?" I asked, curious as to what they are. "I must have forgotten to explain to you what they are. They are the failure of the experiments we have conducted in formulating the cure for the virus. A riot broke through the facility, and the casings of the latex beasts were shattered. They wandered around the facility, and are still wandering through this day. They hunt for a human host to assimilate. They can't survive very long, and require a human host in order to live..."

"Now get back to the Botany department. I'm almost done with the hole in the wall."

Then I found myself back in my office, laid back on my office chair as I stare on the ceiling. Latex beasts. They hunt for human hosts. As bad as it sounds, they are apparently the lock for the cure. The syringe is the key, and the latex beast is the lock. Doctor K mentioned that the cure only works if administered in minutes before being assimilated by one, or administering while being in the process of assimilation. It is a double edge sword.

I reached into my lab coat as I sat up right and held the syringe on my right hand. I only noticed now that the syringe look different from the traditional ones. It resembles an epinephrine pen, a device prefilled with a drug to treat an life threatening allergic reaction. With the syringe held on my right hand, I held the Protogen visor using the special handle I engineered so I can easily hold the visor with only one hand. I held it up close, admiring my work. I turned the visor around to look at the interior before noticing a white sludge stuck inside.

Within seconds, the white sludge spread through the rest of the interior before latching it's tentacles over my face. I panicked as I try to pull it away from me using my left hand, but I failed as I feel the sludge spread on my left hand. This is one of the latex beasts! With the white latex spreading all over my fingers and wrists, my grip slipped and the Protogen visor immediately slapped itself onto my face, strapping on my head within seconds. I panicked as I find myself unable to breath.

I gripped my right hand and realized I have the syringe all this time. Without hesitation, I pressed my thumb on the top of the syringe before pressing the syringe onto my leg. I felt the needle puncture my skin as I feel the white latex continue it's assimilation through my shoulders and arm.

Unable to breath, I pass out.