Chapter Text
“Did you hear? There was another accident.”
“Seriously? Didn’t something happen last week?”
“I heard from Takada that it was serious this time. Someone ended up being rushed to the ER.”
“That’s the eighth person so far! What is the Commission doing? You think they might be doing this on purpose?”
The voices of your colleagues were mere whispers but you heard every word clearly. Another so-called ‘accident’ had happened. This was now the eighth one that was associated with that room in the four months you’ve been working for the HPSC. But you knew that there had been way more before you’d arrived.
You hadn’t heard much, just whispers and rumors about the infamous room S-42. The higher-ups kept tight-lipped about the happenings in that specific room. Though that didn’t stop people from gossiping and speculating. The most popular amongst the rumor mill was the theory of some kind of deep sea predator— perhaps a shark of some kind— but nothing concrete has ever been confirmed.
One thing that has been constant in the rumors regarding S-42, was that the ‘accidents’ are a relatively new development. It was said that the Commission had brought in a new asset nine months ago, and that’s when everything started. Before that, room S-42 had another asset inside that was ‘well-behaved’. There were no rumors or stories about the elusive room before the new asset was brought in. Or so you’ve heard.
You’d arrived five months after the incidents started happening, knowing nothing but the rumors and chaos that surrounded S-42. But the one thing you knew for absolute certainty was that anyone who worked inside room S-42 was kept separate from the rest of the researchers hired by the Commision.
The only people who know anything are those chosen by the President of the HPSC. And now that the last person drafted into the mysterious S-42 had been injured, a new attendant will have to be appointed.
“Wonder what poor soul Madam President will choose to work in S-42 next.” you heard Mumei mutter under his breath.
He was a lab tech like you who had also started around the same time you did. From what you gathered of the man, he was a gossiper and the source of some of the craziest rumors regarding S-42. You noticed he was always the first to comment about the workings of the Commission; making up some of the wildest conspiracies you’d ever heard. At one point, he’d even told you point blank that the sole reason he’d joined the HPSC was to expose them.
As far as you knew, the Commission was an organization focused on research and the preservation of marine animals and habitats. The HPSC was by far the largest name in marine conservation and they even funded smaller organizations to help continue to preserve and research.
Did you actually believe that they were 100% clean? No, not at all. But from your own research, they were a lot cleaner than most other organizations. Or perhaps they were just really good about hiding their skeletons. Either way, it didn’t matter. Your focus was on completing your internship then resuming your studies. You needed this to get a leg up in your career. So you’d leave the gossiping to Mumei while you did your job.
Before long, there’s another commotion and you start to hear more whispers about the accident. You decided to keep your head down and focus on the task in front of you. But it doesn’t stop you from overhearing some more details about what happened.
“I spoke to Mei who was working across the hall from S-42. She confirmed that it was Shinra who got hurt.”
“Wasn’t he just transferred to S-42?”
“I think so, but get this! Mei said that Shinra’s hand was absolutely mangled! Looked like he’d stuck it inside of the garbage disposal.”
“What on earth could do that? And why won’t the higher-ups just get rid of whatever is inside S-42? It’s brought nothing but trouble.”
Biting your lip, you glance outside the door towards the hallway where room S-42 was located. The lights had been dimmed and you swear you can see droplets on the floor. Dark blotches that can easily pass as blood.
A shiver runs down your spine as you return your focus back to your work. You want absolutely nothing to do with that accursed room.
A few hours tick by and you hear footsteps pass by your lab and work station. You take a quick peek, curious as to who was on their way over but half expecting it to be Mumei with some more gossip. But you were wrong.
Madam President was on her way over with some beneficiaries. The most notable one being Enji Todoroki. A towering man known for both his ruthlessness and unrelenting drive. A man who has accomplished many great feats and made some of the most unparalleled discoveries in modern time.
As they pass, you can’t help but overhear their hushed whispers.
“...too volatile, unlike the other…”
“Still making progress… perhaps if we change…”
“...won’t work…still too aggressive…will just maim the next…”
“What if…”
“...won’t work…put it down…”
“...invested too much…perhaps…try other solutions…”
As they pass your open door, you quickly move away and go back to checking over your water samples. You try your hardest to look thoroughly interested in your work; skimming your finger over some numbers and jotting down some random notes that you’ll probably forget about.
When you hear the footsteps pass, you let out a breath thinking that they won’t stop by or come inside. Yet just as you think you’re in the clear, a grunt lets you know that you are most definitely not in the clear. For in the doorway stands Enji Todoroki. His piercing eyes trained on you and your work.
You jump from your seat and bow in greeting, introducing yourself to the living legend before you.
Enji stares at you, saying nothing. So you start panicking a bit.
Why was he here? And what could he want with you? As far as you know, you haven’t done anything truly remarkable to garner such attention. You’ve deliberately kept your head down and did as you were told.
A few more tense moments pass before Enji finally speaks
“Your supervisor has given you some high praise. Said your work ethic and attention to detail are second to none. I want to see this for myself and see what you’re capable of. There are samples that I want you to run tests on, you think you can handle that?”
It wasn’t a request, moreso an order. One you couldn’t refuse and knew better than to protest.
“If it’s not too much to ask, what kind of samples will they be?” You wince, hoping that Enji would be receptive to this kind of questioning.
A small smile curled at the edge of his mouth that made your insides twist uncomfortably, “It’s just some water and blood samples. I need you to compare them and note down any and all differences between them.”
You blink at his answer. That seems normal enough, you guess.
“I’m guessing that the water samples will be from two different tanks, as for the blood…is it from the same specimen taken at different times or is it from two separate specimens? Are they the same species? Or are they—”
“Same species but they currently reside in two separate tanks. Other than that, you may not know anything else regarding the samples I give you. You’re not privy to this information unless we decide otherwise. Understand?”
His tone made your blood run cold but you nodded in understanding.
You had an inkling as to where the samples were coming from but you don’t dare ask outright for confirmation. If your hunch was right, these samples would be from S-42. And if there was one thing you knew, it was that trouble always followed anything related to that room.
“The samples will be here tomorrow when you arrive.”
“Yes sir.”
“And I hope you know it goes without saying that this will take priority over any other projects you’ve been working on previously. This takes precedence and whatever findings you have will be reported directly to only me and the President. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal, sir.”
Enji gives you one last look before heading out.
You let out a shaky breath before you collapse onto your chair.
Never in your life have you been so scared or intimidated by one man in your whole life. For a moment, you’d actually thought you were about to lose this internship. Hell, that was still a probability if you didn't live up to Enji’s expectations of you.
But you had a feeling that you’d lose more than just your internship should anything happen to the samples that Enji didn’t approve of.
Just don’t think too hard about this… if you do your job then there’s nothing to worry about. Right?
Your gut screamed at you to run.