Hybrids In Captivity

1-Discovery-

"Mission Log, #89, the date is December 15th 3031

We're outside again trying to find a new discovery. Dr. Marcus might be happy if we come back with something this time, it's been weeks since we last found something. My team and I are hiking through the forests currently, no destination in mind. Were a couple miles out from the lab, further than we should be maybe. Claire and I were assigned leaders for this mission, isn't that exciting!"

     Holding a tape recorder under mitted hands, I rambled on and on about the mission's details. Snow coating brown curls upon my head, freezing my eyelashes and turning my nose red. Being in this chill was nothing new, but it was an experience to get used to every time we came out here. We only had to come out so far today because we needed a new asset to turn in. Truthfully the last subject we found was a whole year ago, and they had willingly come to the lab. Which was strange at the time, Marcus Institute buildings are usually hidden from bystanders. We wouldn't want society getting nosy about the work. Plus, Dr.Marcus is a very isolated man.
     "Stephan please, we don't need a mission Log this time, we've been walking for an hour now! Nothing! We've found nothing," Claire's familiar voice rumbled in my ears. Her voice didn't annoy me, it was just very aggressive all the time. I can understand why Dr.Marcus set her as a leader too. She was a strong woman, assertive, dominant. Her hair was shorter than mine and she had these amber eyes that I hated to keep contact with. Even so, I was a leader in this too.
     "It's one of my protocols! Besides, you never know, a mission can change quickly," I countered. Be positive, I've always told myself. Be positive, I said when I saw the ship nearing our planet. Be positive, I repeated when I caught the virus. I was alive though so the positivity worked! I just wasn't the same.
     My tracks came to a stop and I signalled the team to quiet their movement. I swear... I heard something.
     "Everyone spread out, Claire come with me," I ordered as I peeled off my mittens and slung the beam rifle over my chest. We always had to be prepared in these situations. One time I came face to face with a ginormous butterfly. It was too cold in this area for any insects to be out here though, I couldn't say the same for mammals. I was prepared as me and Claire crept forward. The other members of the team could look after themselves. Whatever it was ahead, they'd be surrounded by the time we neared. My boots squashed the snow into compact prints, the noise it created made me want to do it endlessly. Focus. Stephan focus. Stay positive and focus. Just repeat that and get the mission done.
     I couldn't see anything just yet, but I could sense a presence. When the virus changed me, it changed my sense too. Heightened them. My eyes and ears sharper, my smell exact. I didn't consider myself a human, I didn't look like one anymore. Focus Stephan!
     Just slowly, approach whatever is ahead.
     "What do you think it is," I heard Claire's voice, the noise softer than usual. Oh, right. I had never actually been on a mission with her before, this was new to me.
     "I can't tell. It smells almost like a human, but, to see one out here and. . .normal too? Chances would be slim, it could be something tricking us"
     "Maybe, sometimes the mammals out here be messing with my senses. I can't sense whatever you're picking up though."
     Good to know. What if I'm just going crazy. What if I'm luring us to something dangerous.
     "It's just up ahead, do you want to check it out?"
     A quiet plead she was braver than me. Stay positive, and brave.
     She nodded. Thank the stars.
     Hiding behind a girl, Stephan? What a man. I couldn't bring myself to look at whatever was there though, it was unfamiliar. Usually I can pick up on the scents of what we were coming up on. I've been a searcher for Marcus Institutes for a few years now, I've taught myself to recognize the smells of different beings. Whether that be a hybrid, one of the virus affected animals, or just anything in general. That's how I stayed safe. You keep your wit, you keep your life.
    "Stephan come look at this. . ." Her voice got quieter as she pushed through the bushes. Snow fluffed like stuffing as she disappeared into a small clearing. What could possibly be there that she would GO TOWARDS IT? Hesitantly, very hesitantly, I lowered my rifle and followed in her footsteps. A very quiet noise reached my ears, the flow of water. My eyes dropped to gaze on the crystal clear of the liquid. How strange.
      Ever since the Titans disappeared such clear water was rare, could this mean something about them? The water led to a frozen pond. . . with, a large hole in the middle. It just dropped there in the middle. The pond didn't look all that deep, was it an illusion?
     "Do you think it's something notable for Dr.Marcus?" Claire's voice brought my attention back to her. She was asking the right question but. . . we needed to know more first.
      "Call the others over, whatever I was sensing is towards the pond, it must have fallen into the hole."