Safety is for Suckers - Chapter 1

“Alright, team!” Dr. Reed clapped his hands together. “We have a new species of octopus to analyze. I want to make sure we cover all bases.”

Calvin leaned in. “What makes this one special?”

Dr. Reed grinned at the question. “We need to document its behavior and morphology. Silvia, can you handle the initial observations? And keep a detailed log of its color changes.”

Silvia nodded, her heart racing. “Should I run any other tests while observing it?”

“Definitely. Once you’ve established a baseline, we can compare it with the other species.” Dr. Reed gestured toward a sterile tank. “Calvin, prepare the water samples for a chemical analysis. I want to know if its environment affects its color transformation, then can you join me in the moon pool prep the ROV?”

Silvia couldn’t suppress a smile as she made her way to the testing station. Adjusting the zipper of her wet suit she sat across from Calvin at the small table in the underwater laboratory. The walls of the Pontus Research Station were a mosaic of panels and dials, cabinets and equipment but in the back a large porthole offered a captivating view of the aquatic world beyond. Fish flitted by like flashes, glimmers of color, their movements surprisingly graceful against the gentle sway of the currents outside the sealab.

Silvia leaned over her workstation, adjusting the microscope. The fluorescent lights above cast a soft glow on the sleek, silvery specimen before her, a rare deep-sea octopus collected during the morning dive. She carefully reached into the tank, her heart pounding with anticipation. The octopus immediately began to investigate her, its tentacles tickling and gripping her hand with surprising force and care.

Biting her lip she watched the way the tentacles would writhe and curl, each movement expressive and undeniably captivating. She could feel her pulse quickening.

But now is not the time for that, Silvia thought as she took a small sample of the octopus’s sucker into a dish for the machine.

“Calvin! You won’t believe this!” she exclaimed, booting up the analyzer monitor and reading its output.

Calvin looked up from the water tank, a mildly amused grin etched on his face. “What’s got you all hyped up this time? Did you find a hidden treasure in the form of another squid?”

“Better!” Silvia leaned closer to the screen. “This octopus demonstrates gene patterns that haven’t been documented before. And look at this!” She gestured for him to join her and excitedly pointed at the video recording of the capture.

Calvin rolled his chair across the lab floor. “Alright, alright. Should I be taking notes for the monthly ‘Silvia’s Excitement Report’?” he joked, raising an eyebrow.

“Very funny,” she shot back with a playful shove. “Look at the video feed for its chromatophores. I swear they’re almost rhythmic! It’s like they’re dancing.”

Calvin peered at the small video screen, adjusting his glasses. “Wow, you’re right. I’ve never seen anything shift color so easily like that. What do you think it means?”

Silvia’s passion was barely contained as she replied, “It could be a mating display or a communication method we’ve yet to understand. We need to run some tests ASAP!”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “And here I thought we’d just be cataloging another specimen. So, what’s first on the agenda?”

“Genetic analysis, but I’ll need your help with the gene probe. Can you get the equipment?” 

As she waited on Calvin, Silvia's mind drifted to her secret, her real reason for being here. She had always been drawn to octopi, squid, scylla and things with tentacles. Their slimy, undulating movements and their many appendages. She couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to be entwined with them. Caressing her body and filling herself…

Calvin returned with the device snapping Silvia from her thoughts. “So why are you so keen on all this octopus stuff?” he asked. “I mean you didn’t get this worked up over the isopods we recovered last week.”

"I’ve always been fascinated with cephalopods," she replied, suppressing a smirk. "Their intelligence and adaptability are unparalleled." It was true to an extent and it was the same line she’d used to get on this team. Her practiced response reminded her how she had lied during the interview. She had carefully crafted her narrative, painting a picture that showcased her as the ideal candidate—a hardworking scientist and she played up a passion for oceanography, all in the hopes of securing a spot at the lab. A calculated gamble and it had worked. A few short months later and she finally had the two things she wanted… access to a genetic manipulation laboratory and all the octopus, squid, and cuttlefish she could want. 

Dr. Reed's voice crackled over the intercom, "Calvin have you finished yet? Can you come to the moon pool? There’s been a change in plans, we need to prepare the submersible for tomorrow."

Calvin closed the equipment closet door holding the gene probe's power cord, “There you go, looks like someone else is in a hurry.” he said, plugging in the device for her. "Be right there, doc," he replied, as he hurried down the narrow corridor towards the moon pool. He left Silvia transferring a sample of the octopus’s genetic material into the lab equipment. 

She glanced around, ensuring that no one was watching, and slipped on another pipette tip. Taking a second sample and slipping it into a vial she quietly went to the crew quarters. Sneaking to her locker Silvia grabbed a black flash drive and a small lancing device. She pricked her finger with the lancet and added a couple drops into the sample vial. Sucking the blood from the tip of her finger she put the thumbdrive and the vial into her pocket. Then carefully closing the locker door, making sure it didn't make a sound, she started her way back.      

"We need to make sure everything is working properly," Dr. Reed said, his voice carrying into the crew quarters. "We're going to the surface tomorrow." Silvia needed to slip through the moon pool to get back into the lab. Trying not to be seen, she quietly hugged the wall and had just entered the hallway when Dr. Reed looked up at her. “Silvia, do you need something?”

“Is there anything I can do to help?" She quickly asked. 

Dr. Reed shook his head, "No, we're all set here.

She gave them a thumbs up and went back to the lab. “Whew!” She sighed sitting at the computer station. She booted up the genetic analysis computer and inserted the vial. her fingers trembling slightly. She had been experimenting for months, testing merging her genes with that of the different cephalopods the team returned. 

Several combinations had shown promise in tests—partial compatibility that sent excitement racing through her veins. She cast a glance at the door as if expecting Dr. Reed to walk in. But this was her secret. It was why she was here. 

Silvia moved swiftly, mixing the reagent with her blood and octopus-derived compound. Bright colors swirled together, creating a shimmering liquid, She fed her sample to the testing device and waited for what felt like an eternity. “Full Compatibility confirmed,” she read on the computer screen.

“Yes!” she said with a fist pump and a triumphant smile. 

Without missing a beat she brought up the synthesizer dialog on the machine. the computer flashed a warning on screen.

*****MIXED HUMAN SAMPLE DETECTED***** 

***SYNTHESIZE DISABLED***

A safety protocol enabled on all genetic research equipment. Several accidents, and some not really accidents, had shown there was no real way to control how combined gene serums affected humans. So manufacturers included lock outs on all machines when they encountered mixed samples. Security measures that Silvia was more than prepared for. Inserting the flash drive from her locker into the computer she opened a simple file converter program.She’d read about this workaround on a bodymod subreddit that she often visited. In the comments others said that the ‘reupload trick’ only worked on older models. Silvia remembered when she arrived on site that Dr. Reed had apologized for the old equipment and told her that they were applying to get a new system next season. She had downloaded the converter as fast as she could that first night. Now she took the analysis log file and ran it through the converter. Then all she had to do was upload the new converted file.  

*****ANALYZED SAMPLE UPLOAD COMPLETE*****

***** SYNTHESIZE*****

***[EXECUTE]****[CANCEL]***

Silvia happily pushed execute. A blue liquid began to fill an ampule on the side of the machine. Then grabbing a syringe from the equipment drawer, she filled it with the mixture. “Just a small test,” she told herself, hoping her nerves would settle. It was all so exciting that Silvia didnt consider the risks. She unzipped her wet suit and exposed her thigh.

With one deep breath, Silvia plunged the needle into her leg and pressed the plunger down. A sharp pain coursed through her leg, accompanied by a wave of dizzying heat.

Next a strong saltwater taste assaulted her mouth, the lights and colors burst into vibrancy, their patterns danced across her vision. “NO pain, no Gain” she muttered grimacing. Silvia slowly headed back to her bunk, trying to look nonchalant. Dr. Reed looked up again, noticing her flushed face. "Everything alright, Silvia?" he asked. 

“Just got a little hot that’s all, I’m going to lay down a minute” She said, not stopping her walk. Once in the crew quarters again she peeled off her wet suit and lay down in her bunk, hoping for the heat to subside. But as she closed her eyes, she started to feel a strange sensation coursing through her body. It was a mix of excitement and arousal, unlike she had felt before.

She tried to ignore it and drift off to sleep for a nap, but the feeling only grew stronger. She tossed and turned, her mind filled with thoughts of everything. Was she crazy? What was the sample doing to her, did it work or did she just make herself sick? Eventually, she gave up on sleeping and decided to get a drink of water from the galley. 

As she sat in the galley area, the sensations became even more intense. She noticed something that felt like a soft muscle cramp in her thighs and when she looked down under the table, she saw that she had strange, raised circles on her inner thighs. She watched in amazement as they began to move and shift, opening and closing like….. suckers. She felt a sudden surge of pleasure as the suction cups gripped and began to work around and feel the chair on their own. She leaned back in her chair, moaning softly she had never felt anything so intense, so all-consuming, so alien as the new sensations the suc…. No, HER suction cups were giving her. All the anxiety from the injection faded from her mind… this was why she was here. And now it was happening! 

Just then, Dr. Reed walked in. "Silvia, I have some news," he said, seeing her suddenly shift in her seat. Startled by the doctor, Silvia felt all her suckers contract defensively securing her thighs tightly to the chair. "Calvin and I will be gone all day tomorrow.”

Silvia stifled a gasp, her face flushed from the sudden contraction of each sucker as he continued ”I'll be returning to the surface to load up some supplies to fix the ROV and meet some colleagues, we’ll be back with the rest of the consumables the next day." She quickly put the pieces together from what Dr. Reed just said. This meant that she would be left alone in the research facility for the next 48 hours. She felt a surge of excitement and anxiety, she just got so excited at the match she should've waited! Dr. Reed noticed Silvia’s odd expression. "Don't worry, Silvia," he said. "We've trained you well, and you know what to do in an emergency. Just sit tight and we'll be back before you know it."

Silvia nodded, trying to hide her joy, and the arousal from her hips, “Radio 126 if I need anything right? No sweat!” she said as Dr. Reed nodded and left the room. She would have to be extra careful to avoid any accidents or mishaps until she was alone, but she soon would have the lab and the gene sequencer to herself. Waiting for him to be out of earshot Silvia relaxed and stood up with a gentle moan and a series of sequential pops, her suction cups releasing.