The Sea's of Blood. [Merformers]

Chapter 3: Mannerly Meeting

Eryin (Alysia) POV:

Driving past farms and shops, I waved to farmers working in the fields, hustling to gather the last food supply before winter set in. Massive trackers harvested corn, wheat, and other crops, while some individuals engaged in manual labor, carrying baskets to collect overlooked crops. The focus was solely on securing enough food before the winter season arrived.

Continuing my journey, I drove through hills and a tunnel until I reached the Oceanarium. Approaching the Oceanarium, I noticed a massive laboratory with a white exterior and a glass dome providing natural light. Artistic depictions of sea animals adorned some of the walls. Positioned next to the ocean, submarines and boats were visible at the nearby dock. Employees were loading gear onto some vessels.

Choosing not to observe the area further, I parked in a visitor slot, grabbed my bags, and stepped out of the car. The car beeped as I locked it with a click of my keys, and I headed toward the large glass doors. Above them, a trident logo caught my attention briefly.

Once inside, I looked up to see a tall Caucasian man engrossed in a clipboard, flipping through papers with precision as if amid a crucial business discussion. He wore a sharp black business suit that exuded a professional demeanor. He stood near what looked to be a reception desk, where a woman was working behind the counter.

The glass doors swished open, and Mr. Fowler looked up, acknowledging my arrival. "Ah, Mrs. Eryin, you've arrived here in time." He approached me, extending his hand. Recognizing him, I shook it with a firm grip. "It's good to see you, Mr. Fowler. I was right on schedule, sir."

He chuckled at my response, and his eyes briefly flickered to the mask I wore. Wisely, he refrained from questioning it, and he dropped his hand to his side. "I'm fortunate to hire someone of your caliber. You already sound like a professional just from your tone. Please follow me, and I'll show you around the place."

"Of course, sir," I replied with a chuckle, falling into step behind him. He guided me through different areas, showcasing tanks with fish labeled with small tags along a hallway lit by illuminating lights. We observed healthy whales in large tanks, though Fowler mentioned that one named Sally was currently undergoing treatment for an ailment.

As we continued our tour, he led me to various intriguing sections. Eventually, Fowler guided me to two massive doors. One had a red design adorned with a peculiar symbol and decorated with roses and red tulips as art. The other door, in contrast, featured a purple design adorned with lilacs and Wisteria flowers.

"These are our species that have yet to be revealed to the public eye, the Merformer species," Fowler explained, gesturing towards the two doors. My curiosity intensified, and I looked at him with wide-eyed fascination. "I've never heard of these marine life. What exactly are they?"

"They are a Mech-type Mer species, and their tails are quite extraordinary. They are made of metal but somehow can breathe underwater. We discovered them near the Pacific Ocean, close to the shore some time ago. Unfortunately, other humans tried hunting them for their high prices, as they are rare to find," he elaborated, glancing down at his clipboard. "We don't know much about them, but we're still working on learning more from the ones we have right now.

Puzzled, I inquired, "Why are they separated?" My question caught Fowler's attention. 

"Currently from what we have gathered, there are two factions at war with each other: the Deceptimers and the Automers. The red door leads to the Automers, while the purple door leads to the Deceptimers."

Fowler pointed at the respective doors. "No one enters the Deceptimers section because they are extremely hostile towards humans. They typically throw seaweed balls at anyone who enters for a split second, but just a week ago, they dragged a human into the waters and nearly drowned them."

He continued, "For now, nobody is willing to go in there, let alone take any job whatsoever. It's restricted even for our employees."

Fowler's words held a cautionary tone, reminiscent of a warning for those venturing into ancient lands. My gaze shifted between the imposing doors and Fowler, who produced a key and two files—one red and one purple.

"These files contain information on the Deceptimers and Automers. They should help you learn more about them, as you'll be working with the Merformer species in the Automer lagoon. Also, here are the keys for your uniform," he explained, extending his hand toward me.

I took the keys and glanced at the tag attached to it which had the number 14 on it. I pocketed them with a nod of gratitude, as well as both files that contained information on the Merformers. "Thank you, Mr. Fowler," I said, offering a smile through my mask. "You're welcome. The employee changing room is down the hallway, and take a right," he directed. I nodded and began to walk away, but his voice reached me again before I got too far. "And, Mrs. Eryin, welcome to the team."

I turned back, a smile evident behind my mask. Making my way to the employee's room, I entered the changing area. Lockers lined the walls, reminiscent of a school gym locker room. Retrieving my key, I located locker number 14 and unlocked it.

Inside, a black bag awaited me. Unzipping it, I pulled out a light grey wetsuit adorned with white stripes around the wrists. Digging further, I discovered the uniform—a black shirt featuring the trident logo on the left side of the chest and white shorts with the logo on the right leg. 

I glanced around the empty locker room, ensuring no one was nearby, and decided to shed my mask. Swiftly, I adorned the prescribed uniform and slipped into a wetsuit over it. Pulling out my phone, I examined my reflection through the camera, allowing a grin to escape. "Not bad... perhaps this will turn into a lifelong gig," I mumbled.

Efficiently, I replaced my mask and tossed the black bag into the locker before hanging my bag on the hook above and stowing my phone inside. With a firm close of the locker door, I secured the two files and opened the red folder. A card tumbled out onto the tile floor, matching the color of the red file. "Must be the access card to the Automers," I mumbled, slipping it back into place.

Putting the locker key into my wetsuit, I gripped the files, heading out of the changing room.

"Hey, Jack! I heard there's a new employee today. Maybe she's in the changing room!" A girl's voice yelled. A boy's voice echoed, sounding breathless from the chase. "Slow down, Miko! Quit running through the hallway!"

I turned to see a girl with vibrant pink hair and a boy with brown locks rushing toward me. Both appeared to be around my age, with youthful features. The girl seemed to be dressed in a rock aesthetic with the uniform on. While the boy dressed like any other white boy I've seen. 

"Whoa! Are you the new employee?" the girl exclaimed, practically bouncing in excitement. "Will you be joining us? How knowledgeable are you about the sea? What's with the mask? Do you know about Mers?"

The barrage of questions made my head spin, but fortunately, the boy intervened, placing a calming hand on the girl's shoulder. "Easy there, Tiger Miko. Don't overwhelm her with questions on her first day."

I chuckled, feeling relieved. "It's alright," I reassured them, extending my right hand while my left held the files. "I'm Eryin, and yes, it's my first day on the job." Jack shook my hand with a welcoming smile.

"Call me Jack, and this is Miko. We're thrilled to welcome you to the Oceanarium team."