The Tragedy of Triskelion

MARK

Mark looks in awe as the men in hazmat suits approach the cryotube. After several years of testing and growing inside the tube, test subject SC-143 is ready for DNA sampling. It will finally confirm whether or not it is a definitive hybrid between scorpion and human.

Dr. Davis has a stern look on his face which contrasts the other 30 scientists residing in the lounge. Can’t really blame him for not being excited. All these late nights dedicated to a life of research and testing must drain the life out of you. The room stands still in anticipation. The sounds of the control panels deafen and what once was the overwhelming smell of morning coffee thins out in the air. Dr.Davis commences the test:

"Alright, you’re good to go. Approach with caution”

The hazmat team enters a code on the side panel on the glass of the cryotube which results in a slow and suspenseful opening. A green light emanates from it. The other scientists have smiles on their faces as they see a tail of a scorpion peering out of the tube. Everything seems to be going well as they finally may be in queue to receive a Nobel Prize. The student scientist, Rachel giggles cheekily in joy. Everyone excitedly eyes the cryotube.

Two hands grab the edges of the tube as the creature attempts to get up.

What was supposed to be a breakthrough in scientific advancement becomes a tragedy.

NAOMI

Naomi stretches in her seat. The chaotic noises made in the office do not disturb her from the video game on her phone. She taps away on a quest to achieve level 45 and unlock the Blue Wizard - The Ultimate Sorcerer. Naomi is greeted by a hand slamming onto her desk.

“Naomi, for the last time, get off your phone”

“You're no fun, Angela. I’m just taking a break”

Angela rolls her eyes and continues walking down the narrow corridor on the edge of all the office compartments.

Naomi sighs and places her phone on the desk. She continues analysing the financial data of Triskelion corporations. Her eyes scan through the files to analyse why the company revenue and stock has increased at an exceptional rate. She gasps at a discovery that’s been biting at her for the last few weeks. It turns out a private military company has been transferring billions of dollars to Triskelion. But for what reason?

She continues typing in an effort to find this mystery organisation’s name before alarms start blaring. Naomi peeps her head out of the cubicle to look at her colleagues.

“This is just a drill right” She shouts trying to overpower the alarm.

Her colleague shrugs. Naomi walks out of her cubicle and onto the walkway corridor that leads to her manager’s office. She opens the door in frustration.

“Bob, what is going on”.

Bob quickly chows down his sandwich to talk.

“I think it's a drill. But just in case we should bring all the employees downstairs. “

Naomi nods in agreement and walks back to her cubicle and stands on her table, knocking over her paperwork and computer mouse.

“Alright everybody listen up. I’m not sure whether or not this is a drill but we all have to go to the lobby anyway.”

The employees collectively groan.

“I’m sorry, it's not my choice. Everyone gets in a single file and calmly walks downstairs. “

Naomi hops off the table and heads down to the fire exit behind about 50 employees on this floor. Her friend, Angela walks behind her. They walk slowly through the door; patiently waiting for those in front of them. Angela whispers to Naomi

“What do you think all this is about?”

“Probably a fire. We should be fine, Naomi smiles.

Abruptly a blood-curdling scream sends shockwaves through the air. Then another. Then another. Angela stops dead in shock while Naomi rushes through the line of people to reach the stairs of the fire escape and look down to the bottom. Two of her colleagues lie dead while others rush back upstairs. She squints her eyes to try and get a close look at what caused this but is pushed over by the dozens of people running back into the large office complex. Men and women scream in terror as they run and trample over each other to hide. Naomi, now on the floor crawls underneath her office desk as she hears a screech coming from a creature that she cannot recognise. She hears the heavy footsteps of people scrambling around her trying to hide.

One man screams “‘Run to the medical wing” before he is impaled by a long tail from what appears to be a cross-breed between human and scorpion. The creature walks on two legs but has a scorpion tail that protrudes out of its tailbone. Oddly, its face looks somewhat masculine and reminds her of someone she knows. Naomi sits still and listens to the roar of the creature at the running employees. The creature follows them into the medical wing.

After what seems like an eternity of silence, she realises that the fire exit is open. She peeps her head to the left of the building and sees no one in sight. Naomi looks back at the employees hiding behind her and ushers them to follow her. They tactically crouch run to the fire escape in groups of two until all six are in front of the staircase.

Another monstrous scream jolts Naomi adrenaline as the group bolts down the staircase intending to get to the lobby. Naomi leads the pack and is only motivated to move faster as she hears the screams of the men and women behind her getting snatched and killed. She looks back and sees Angela being impaled and collapsing to the floor. As she places her first foot on the marble tiles of the lobby she is grabbed with immense force into the bathroom stall on her right.

Her eyes are closed and her mouth is covered. She can still hear the creature roaring in the background and finishing off the rest of her friends. Instinctively, she continues thrashing at the figure keeping her captive to no avail. After a minute of silence, the palm covering her eyes are lifted and is revealed to belong to Mark Coldwell - Associate Researcher in the Science sector who happened to also be her boyfriend while studying in University.

MARK

10 minutes ago...

Mark doesn’t know what to do. The sheer unexpectedness of what’s happening catches him with his pants down. He looks at Dr. Davis who is now in a state of shock. Luckily one of the scientists manages to close the plexiglass gate separating them from this monster.

Mark shouts at Dr.Davis, “What do we do?”

Dr.Davis just stares at the creature. “It’s beautiful. I never expected it to be this perfect.”

Mark power walks to Dr.Davis and grabs him by the collar. “Doc, snap out of it. Some of our men just died. Do you understand? They're dead, and we’ll be too if we don’t find a way to stop this.” Mark points at the test subject who is now puncturing holes in the plexiglass with its tail.

As if to add fuel to the flames, gunfire shoots from behind them and all the scientists get down evasively. Mark grits his teeth, as if it’ll help evading the bullets.

What looks like 20 men, pour hell on the remaining scientists and tear them apart with their high-calibre rounds. Mark closes his ears to deafen the screams of his dying comrades. After seconds of silence, a man donning a black mask and uniform looks down into his hiding spot.

“Is that test subject SC-143?”

Mark wasn’t expecting a metallic voice but realises it was a voice muffler in the mask. He nods nervously and looks down at the badge on his chest. It's military but definitely not theirs. The mystery man walks to the creature who is now in a crouch pose, patiently observing. The man looks back facing away from the test subject and clears his voice.

“Alright boys, let's get him in chains. Prepare fo-”

Mystery man gets impaled through the chest and dragged through the plexi-glass. The rest of the military start shooting at the creature who is now climbing on the walls with its serrated claws. Mark eyes the fire exit leading up to the lobby and bolts for dear life. Once up the stairs, he barges his way into one of the bathroom stalls, before pulling the fire alarm.

NAOMI

It's hard to believe Mark made it out alive considering the fact that the creature spawned from the underground science facility. Naomi and Mark make eye-contact for the first time. She’s glad he’s alive.

“Mark, what happens when the building goes into lockdown?”

Mark sighs in disappointment.

“I’m pretty sure all the doors and windows get covered by large metallic panels.” Mark stops for a moment to think. “I think the only way out...” He stops for a moment to question the absurdity of the idea. “Is to get to the helipad on the roof.”

He looks into Naomi’s eyes wondering if it's the last time he’ll see them. “If we’re lucky there should be an evacuation helicopter looking for survivors.”

They both nod in unison and creep out the exit of the bathroom stall. Mark grabs a fire axe he finds on the floor. They cautiously climb the stairs and make it to the second floor before a thud comes from underneath them. Naomi looks down and widens her eyes.

“Run.” she mumbles.

The pair dart up the stairs and don’t look back. Mark lags behind to make sure Naomi is safe and grips the axe tighter in his hands. He isn’t sure whether to fight or flight but stands his ground decisively. He can’t have Naomi die.

Naomi looks back and screams Mark’s name. The creature thrusts himself toward Mark but he dodges at the last second. Mark chants a war-cry before he heaves the axe through the creature's leg and slices it. The creature groans in agony and lies on the floor. It isn’t dead but is incapacitated for now. Mark drops the axe and continues running with Naomi.

Upon reaching the sixth and final floor they barge through the door to see a helicopter on the edge of the building. A wave of relief washes over them as they are helped on board by two men in military uniforms. Mark looks down to realise that his shirt is covered in blood from a wound. The men tighten a tourniquet around his chest and assure him they will get them to a hospital.

As the pair settle down in the passenger seats of the helicopter, Mark’s ability to think comes back to him. His brain starts firing adrenaline back into his body as he realises that the pilot is wearing the same badge as the soldiers in the research facility.