Page 46 of Kryxis

“Subject is stabilized,” one man said. “All vitals working. No clear side-effects.”

“Percent of DNA splicing sequence is at ninety-two percent,” said a voice overhead.

“That’s the closest we’ve gotten. Let’s get him out.”

They opened the pod, and whisps of a chemical cloud billowed out. When the cloud dispersed, Dani saw who was lying within.

Kryxis was there, unconscious, with his red and blue arms at his sides.

She watched the scientists poke and prod him, making statements. The images cut out for a second then reappeared, this time with Kryxis on a table beside the pod, his red arms and legs chained down while they messed with his blue arms, testing their strength and flexibility.

He looked drugged, his eyes half-lidded while staring up at the light. The scientists jabbed pointed rods into his arms and watched him jerk in response, and she knew she couldn’t watch another second.

She found another file, not on Kryxis but one calledBruiser Fungus Journey 001 - Dr. Vartisand opened it.

It was a set of voice recordings. A log meant for one of the heads of Marityne, Ryle Marityne CO. She listened to some of it quickly, her blood going colder the more she heard.

“We’d found the bruiser fungus in the caves while mining,” said a low male voice. “I’d been working with it for a long time and learned it had incredible growth and re-growth effects. So, we went to work on using the DNA of the fungus on various subjects. We saw a lot of exciting and promising effects. The company heads here on X110 gave us full funding to start testing. We had plenty of human subjects and some otherkin, but we needed more variety, so scouts were hired. What they found was more than we could have ever hoped. Various species including a vrisha fledgling they had bought from outer-system traders.”

The recording stopped there, and she went to the next.

“Some have died, unable to withstand the splicing. Others had harsh side effects. Those that survived have promising growths but are unstable. Hard to control. More testing needed.”

She went to the third, the twisting in her stomach worsening.

“The fungi have spread. It’s hard to control. But there was some success. A few subjects have completely functional parts. Limbs that work just like the ones they were born with. Some have also grown extra pairs of eyes and mouths. It works…it works.”

One last recording and she almost didn’t want to hear, but she forced herself to click it.

“Their growths have made them perfect.” The voice sounded distant, strange. “But our most successful subjects are dangerous. Monstrous. I fear for the safety of the others. If they were to ever get out, they would destroy this city. We must cull them before that happens.”

She sank into a chair, feeling cold, almost numb.

With a trembling hand, she closed down the computer then took out the datachip from its port and placed it in her pocket.

It was company policy to not ask questions. She and her team were supposed to collect then move on to the next world. This time she couldn’t do that. She was going to speak to the heads about this. This was beyond illegal. This washorrible.

She rose and glared one last time at the pod.

Even if it wasn’t her fault, guilt slithered into her heart. And she felt more pity than she’d ever felt for the one who now waited for her at the door. The one she had called a monster.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Dani

Kryxis was there when she returned, pacing in front of the door. He must have sensed her because he turned her way when she approached.

“Sivaras nocta vishar, Dani?”

She patted the pocket where she put the datachip. “I got what I came for…”

His eyes flicked up to the doors and she could still see the tension in him. “Go now.”

She thought about what to say, how to tell him how sorry she felt. She opened her mouth then closed it, trying to find the words.

It had to have been awful. And she wondered how much he remembered or if it was something he didn’t want to speak of. She couldn’t blame him either way, and she wasn’t sure if it was the right place or time.

“Kryxis, I…”

---