Many Mini-Adventures

What Am I Good For?

His eyes shot open. Bubbles floated in front of him as he felt the water all around her. His ears were clogged with a rustling sound. Panic filled him as he held his mouth and nose. After a few seconds, he slowly lowered his hands from his face as a faint glint sparkled from his arm. He raised his arm again, noticing a black scaly sleeve. He then looked down at the rest of his body and saw he was covered from the neck down in a black scaly swimsuit. How long could he stay like this? He reached out as far as his arms could reach and felt a smooth surface. Glass. He had to escape somehow. He couldn't see anything outside the glass but knew something was beyond it.

"Ah, you're finally awake," a feminine voice said. "Took you long enough."

He turned around trying to find the source of the voice.

"Look as hard as you want. You won't find me, Trebian."

Trebian. That's his name. Yet, he couldn't recall it seconds ago. He shook his head. He had plenty of questions and not enough answers regarding his predicament.

"You can breathe in there. No need to die trying to hold your breath."

He raised an eyebrow. He debated if that was true, and didn't really want to test the waters, literally. He opened his mouth and then closed it quickly. This was ridiculous. Even more so since he couldn't remember what he was doing prior to being kept here. If anything, he knew the swimsuit he had on was not by choice. He actually hated swimming despite being an excellent swimmer. He only learnt because his parents forced him to many years ago.

He lowered his head. The voice was right about one thing: if he was trapped, he could die simply holding his breath for too long. He opened his mouth and breathed. He hesitated as he felt...normal. The water felt like cool air to his throat. "Whoa."

"Fascinating, isn't it? This is a culmination of research that goes back to my great, great grandfather. The suit allows you to breathe underwater and swim faster than any fish alive."

Trebian looked to and fro. "Okay, but what does this have to do with me?"

"Dear boy, you'll see. You have been a pain in my side for far too long."

Trebian tilted his head. He was? The voice didn't sound familiar. It was mature and delicate, reminding him of how rich bureaucrats carried themselves. There was an air of superiority that made him itch. If he was such a pain, he'd rather be somewhere much further away. But who's to say he wasn't? Though the voice sounded near, there was the chance that she was speaking to him through a communicator of sorts. He rubbed his forehead. "So, you kidnap me and hold me hostage for some enhanced swimsuit study. How long have I been here?"

"That's confidential. Though, you can't blame me for having you here. You were brought here by someone else."

"Yet, you kept me even though you hate me."

"Hmph. As they say 'beggars can't be choosers'. I needed a test subject and you were sent at the perfect time. My superiors will be quite pleased with the results. Yet, they truly have no idea how special you are to our company's cause."

Trebian's head began to throb from the questions forming in his mind. The more he prodded her the more gaps in information appeared. Was she simply toying with him? There was a lot he didn't know about his situation. So, he decided to keep focused on the more immediate matter. He folded his arms. "What happens to me now?"

"More testing. I'm sure you could've guessed that."

He shrugged. He could've but it wouldn't have changed a thing. "Regardless, count me out. This company of yours can do this without me."

The voice laughed. "Foolish boy. This company you know all too well. You mean to tell me that you would decline helping the Retalen Coalition as we're defending our homeland against the aquatic horde?"