Stella: Seal Agent

3 p.m. EST, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA

Dr. Marino’s evil cackle fills the air as they point a gun at the prone female. “You have failed agents! Now, I will be able to take credit for the All-Animal Translator but also alter it so I can control any animal! I will be powerful!”

As my enemy monologues, I concentrate on getting myself out of the last of my bindings. I then launch my body forward to slam into the deranged doctor with my blubberous body.

Hold on! What?!

I should introduce myself. I am Stella, an undercover animal agent extraordinaire for the Protection and Investigative Division (P.A.I.D.). My recent cover places me–.

Since when does any government facility have animal agents?

Don’t interrupt me. Ugh, humans can be so rude.

Anyways, my recent cover places me in the Georgia Aquarium as a temporary show seal. P.A.I.D. received word of renowned animal-human liaison Dr. Cindy Wescott, creating an instantaneous animal translator that would change how humans and animals communicate. If she is successful, it will revolutionize human, and animal relationships to a level never heard of before. Plus, P.A.I.D. can get a significant upgrade from our tablet translators.

7 a.m. EST, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA (8 hours prior)

“Dr. Wescott, this is Agent Rodney and her partner, Agent Stella. They are P.A.I.D. undercover agents sent to keep an eye on you while you are finishing up marine beta testing for your project.” Director Andrews always makes a point of introducing agents in secret to the necessary people. We can’t have just anyone know our mission parameters.

Dr. Wescott smiles at us both and reaches her hand out in introduction. “It is a pleasure to meet you both, although I wish it was under better circumstances.” I’m surprised by her nonchalance at a seal just out and about, similar to a human. But of course, as a seal, I can’t morph my face into expressions as humans can. And right now, the tablet we animals type in to talk to humans is not available to me. Have to maintain our cover as temporary show seal Stella and trainer Abby.

While Director Andrews finishes speaking to the humans, come over here. Yeah, you. We are being very picky about what information we are giving the aquarium staff, Dr. Wescott, and the other three members of her team. The typical ‘don’t want to cause panic over what could be potentially nothing’ line. But really, we heard from specific hush-hush channels that a long-time adversary of P.A.I.D. had their eyes on Dr. Wescott’s work. So Rodney and I are here to ensure they can’t get their hands on it.

Long scientific explanation short, Dr. Wescott’s animal translator is up for a Scientific Achievement Award. Getting one of these is equivalent to receiving a Nobel Peace Prize. But like almost anything electronic-based, it could be turned into a weapon. Specifically, the translator can be easily re-coded to control animals. Yeah, nasty stuff.

Got it. Do you have a name for this adversary?

Be patient.

After Andrews excuses himself from the small group, he approaches Rodney and me, probably to remind us of our true mission. “Agent Rodney. Stella. I want to remind you to be on the lookout for anything that could link to Dr. Marino.” Told you.

Dr. Marino came on the scene about two years ago; they are aggressive, crafty, and callous. They have been able to get away from our agents on every occasion, and we have nothing on them. Not even a description or gender. It seems wrong and icky, but Dr. Marino is almost admirable. Hopefully, we will be able to at least get something to put in our records other than ‘unable to capture’.

12:27 p.m. EST, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA (2 hours 33 min prior)

If anyone tells you that undercover work is the coolest thing ever, they are only talking about the action, adrenaline-rushing part of it. The keeping of the cover part is quite comparable to stakeout work.

Rodney and I blend in with the rest of the staff, touring the facility and putting on improv shows by the massive shark tank all morning. Dr. Wescott and her team are able to carry on with their testing without mishaps. Maybe Dr. Marino –

Beep! Beep! Beep! “Please exit the aquarium promptly! There has been a situation in one of our labs, and we need you to evacuate for your safety!”

I spoke too soon.

Rodney and I make our way to the labs, looking out for Dr. Wescott or any of her team. We reach the lab hallway quickly and find a wisp of smoke escaping from the farthest lab.

Running or wobbling, bouncing, whatever seals do, to the lab, we find all of Dr. Wescott's team knocked unconscious. Sparks are flying from the destroyed electronics, and Dr. Wescott is missing, along with the translator.

Dr. Marino. We lost our chance to identify them. I gruffly bark my disappointment.

Gruffly bark? Haven’t you been talking to us in English this whole time?

The humans in this story don’t understand me because I don’t have a translator. Seriously, that’s what you're taking away from this section. Not the break-in or the missing doctor.

Okay! Fine. Whatever.

Continuing.

After voicing my disappointment, I pressed a button to call in support and medical for the injured scientists. Organized chaos ensues; clean-up crews, medical, and other agents work around each other.

Director Andrews is pissed that we lost Dr. Marino. No, it’s not directed at us; everyone is frustrated that this person keeps slipping through our fingers, flippers, and paws.

One of the agents updates us: “All of them are saying the same thing, Director. They were all working, and suddenly, the equipment started to spark. They all went to leave, but the door was locked tight. That is the last thing they remember until Agents Rodney and Stella busted in.”

“Which means they couldn’t have seen who did this to them.” The robotic voice of my tablet translator cuts in. A thought crosses my mind. I type it out, opting to turn off the audio. “What if it’s someone on the staff, Wescott’s team, or even Wescott herself?”

Rodney taps her chin and whispers: “But wouldn’t something have popped up on their backgrounds?”

Director Andrews cuts in. “Not exactly. We don’t have any information on Dr. Marino, so we don’t know what to look for.”

My flippers tap on my tablet quickly. “What if we look at past missions involving them? Maybe we can get an idea of what we’re looking for. A profile of sorts.”

“You think you can get that done in,” Andrews looks at his watch, “an hour and a half?” How convenient that I just happen to be looking at old Marino missions to figure out something about them.

“Definitely.”

1:57 p.m. EST, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA (1 hour 3 min prior)

We now have a working profile for Dr. Marino: white male, 30-35 years old, extremely intelligent, specializes in coding and animal behavior, sees himself as undervalued, and works a job below his education. Now we need to go back through everyone's backgrounds again.

“Okay, so we’ve got it down to these two,” Rodney states. “John Williams, the lab technician, and Dr. Michael Lake, a member of Dr. Wescott’s team.”

Williams has worked with Cindy Wescott before, but there wasn’t any indication of animosity between them. It doesn’t mean anything; people can hide their true natures under their facades. Lake hasn’t shied away from vocalizing his jealousy of Dr. Wescott’s work. He hasn’t shown anything that could lead us to believe he would go this far, but again, it doesn’t mean he’s incapable of doing this.

My money’s on Williams.

Let me guess. Because Lake was conveniently knocked unconscious earlier during the lab incident?

Uhh…

Do you know the golden rule of spy or detective shows?

There’s a golden rule?

Of course. Almost always suspect either the ‘dead’ guy or, in this case, the unconscious guy.

I thought it would be 'innocent until proven guilty.' (moment of silence) So you’re saying it’s Lake?

I’m saying that I’ll tell you soon. No spoilers!

After a bit of back and forth, we send agents to keep an eye on our suspects to see if they’ll lead us to Dr. Wescott, the translator, or both. Security is searching the building, hoping to find something. Rodney and I are sent to check out the security tapes to see if we can come across anything we could have missed earlier. My anxiety rises as the thought of running out of time pops into my head.

2:49 p.m. EST, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA (11 minutes prior)

Rodney and I are scanning through security tapes when Director Andrews’ voice crackles through our earpieces. “...lost…agents…Lake has…and translator.”

Rodney presses on her earpiece to respond. “Director, can you repeat that? You’re cutting in and out.”

“Lake has…translator…Wescott…sharks.”

My mind fills in the missing information as I scan the camera footage in front of the shark tank. Rodney catches on, especially with the cameras spotting Dr. Lake dragging Wescott to the door that allows staff to enter near the shark tank. We both react quickly, bolting out of the room to the shark tank.

How fast can you guys actually be going? You’re a seal!

(Sarcastically) I have super speed.

Ha, ha! Seriously. How are y—

Kind of busy trying to save someone.

Okay! But I expect an answer as soon as you get a chance.

Humans!

Rodney and I reach the door to the shark tank’s entrance, opening it up to see Dr. Lake struggling to drag a fighting Cindy Wescott to the stairs going up to the tank’s opening. One of the sharks seems excited about the prospect of an early dinner, bumping against the tank aggressively.

“Stop, Dr. Lake. Or should I call you Dr. Marino?” Agent Rodney shouts.

Our newly revealed Dr. Marino halts in his retreat, turning towards us while holding Dr. Wescott close to him. “Finally, it is a pleasure to meet two of P.A.I.D’s top agents face to face. Although, to call you two top agents would be an overstatement, considering I have avoided this personal meeting for the last two years.”

God, he sounds like a cheesy Saturday cartoon villain.

Stella! Where did you go?

While you and Dr. Marino were distracted, I hid behind the villainous scientist. For once, it feels like we are two steps ahead of Marino until…

“Stella! Watch out!” Ropes from seemingly nowhere wrap around my body, limiting my movement. As I fight myself out of the trap, I can only look helplessly while knocking out Wescott and attacking Rodney. After Rodney is subdued, Dr. Marino brushes off invisible dirt from his clothes. He reaches behind him and grabs a gun.

Dr. Marino’s evil cackle fills the air as he points a gun at the prone doctor. “You have failed agents! Now, I will be able to take credit for the All-Animal Translator but also alter it so I can control any animal! I will be powerful!”

As my enemy monologues, I concentrate on getting myself out of the last of my bindings. I then launch my body forward to slam into the deranged doctor with my blubberous body before Marino can pull the trigger.

3:10 p.m. EST, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA (10 minutes later)

“Great job, Agent Stella. If it wasn’t for your quick thinking, Dr. Marino would have gotten away from us again,” Director Andrews states, his congratulatory words shooing away any negative thoughts. I had been beating myself up about falling into the trap, but Andrews was right. We got Dr. Marino despite the hurdles.

I suddenly remember the cutting in-and-out issue we had earlier with our earpieces. The robotic voice from my translator voices my typed concern. “What happened with our earpieces? Rodney and I only heard a few words when you contacted us.”

Andrews points his thumb over his shoulder, pointing to our newly arrested adversary. As the agents pull Marino away, he struggles and screams out. “What is going on!?! I didn’t do anything!! I didn’t do anything!!”

The Director shakes his head in a bit of disbelief. “We never found anything certain, but we’re assuming it was the good doctor here. Whatever he did to screw with our communication stopped as soon as Lake, Marino was taken down.” I hate a loose end like that; it’ll nag at me for a while. Knowing something like that could help us create preventions or countermeasures.

Rodney and Wescott stroll over to the Director and me, sporting bandages on their foreheads from the attacks. Dr. Wescott holds the minimally damaged animal translator in her hands.

“Thank you, Agents Stella and Rodney, for saving my life and the safe return of the translator. The slight damage is easy to fix and won’t hold us up with testing.”

It will be with great pride to mark this mission as a success in P.A.I.D’s history books. The mission where we finally captured the notorious and manipulative Marino.

So?

So what?

How are you able to move around so quickly?

Because I was written that way.

That’s rude.

You asked. Now, I am going to go celebrate.

5 p.m. EST, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA (2 hours later)

Wait, I thought the story was over.

All is quiet at the Georgia Aquarium. The only people still here are caretakers working on their evening routines. One is feeding the sharks like it is any other day. But one shark doesn’t seem interested in the usual meal. Actually, it seems far more interested in…

Why is this shark staring at me like I’m dinner? It looks pretty familiar. Isn’t this the one who kept bumping against the tank earlier?

Hello. I don’t think I’ve introduced myself. My name is Misty, but you can call me Dr. Marino.

You’ve got to be kidding me.