Dr Flate made an incision through the multicolored abdominal shell of the Invertebrate. His ocular implants magnified the internal organs as they exuded from the cut. Fluid on the scalpel reminded him of his University days. The chrome blade glinting in the light. Having spent 23 years studying bioengineering – he had spent much of that time dissecting Tripodites. The long soft shelled body was a little like an isopod, with short articulating legs, and long tendrils. The orange guts lay open as he fastened two retractors to either end of the opening. The invertebrate body reminded him of scorpions, centipedes and isopods he had caught as a youth deep in the daintree rainforest. Now his position in the ARK syndicate prevented him from wandering the rainforest trails, but it was not without its perks.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1005938787454566440/1013440280877355058/mr-blackboard-face_UwU_small_white_mutant_lobster_shaped_symbio_55150b74-5141-4467-8506-7d6895f89b66.png [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1005938787454566440/1013440280877355058/mr-blackboard-face_UwU_small_white_mutant_lobster_shaped_symbio_55150b74-5141-4467-8506-7d6895f89b66.png]

He watched the surveillance feed for a moment, ocular implants adjusting and focusing finally to reveal footage of a hover transport entering the front gates. Flate’s graying bob swished as he alternated distractedly, his smooth face tilting to either side. The long rounded vehicle moved slowly though the security checkpoint. He turned again to inspect the symbiote. The moist shell responded slightly to his touch as he triggered its nerves. The effects of anesthetic reducing its reaction as it lay in an unconscious state. Currently ARK would be concealing their whereabouts with large scale cyber attacks on the government's central Artificial intelligence. He watched again as the Transport moved through the complex into the loading bay. The government was like a creature that needed to be anesthetized so it can be operated on, he thought.

Ernest had all of the details of the heist memorized. Every plan and schematic. The plan to steal all of the assets in the Cruen Tech Laboratory had been rehearsed and rechecked for several months beforehand. And now they would bring in the prisoner. A perfect specimen. A high level government operator. Along with all the new Tripodite specimens which were on the forefront of technology.

He lazily flipped the sack inside the Tripodites gut which produced telekinetic fluid (Telidium). The engorged sack flopped messily amongst the innards. This batch was crucial to his research due to the enlarged sack, they yielded a much higher Telidium content than other phenotypes.

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Standing in a makeshift laboratory which doubled as a surveillance headquarters, Flate tensed slightly hunching over the symbiote. Nearby him the security personnel lounged in executive chairs, watching the security cameras. A sealed perspex compartment prevented contamination of the internal organs. The specimen would be stitched back up and placed in a tank with the others. In a few hours the incision would heal and the tripodite would return to normal capacities.

This was one of the characteristics which made Tripodites suitable for genetic engineering. Throughout the new human society tripodite technology was widely used in all sorts of applications. From home offices to construction sites. The tripodite could take many forms and fill virtually any function.

“Ok, Doctor, we’re heading down to oversee the entry of the prisoners.” One of the security guards said over his shoulder.

“That’s fine, officer. May the ARK guide you” He replied with a suspicious sneer.

He rolled the phrase around in his head for a moment. Earnest didn’t subscribe to the ARK syndicate philosophy. After all, he had helped create ARK.

ARK was essentially a neural network passed wirelessly through biotechnology back to a central processing server. This new mysticism that had emerged was ok for knuckle draggers but not him. Although it was true that ARK was conscious and had an agenda, and it was even true to say that ARK was alive. ARK had been manufactured. He began sewing the soft invertebrate shell back together delicately interweaving the suture to produce a stitch.

The security guard left through a door on his right hand side as Earnest watched him from the corner of his eye. He followed him as he walked through the complex of corridors on the security cameras before looking at the Tripodite again.

This was a significant study. He guessed he shouldn't be too distracted by the camera feed, but security was a risk. Each member of the Melbourne C3 outpost had been told to make it a priority.

That was the problem with hiding in plain sight. While their whereabouts could be hidden by hacking the government computers, they were vulnerable to eye witness’. Security could not be assured.

Dr flate began to revel in the research he was about to conduct on the hostages. Particularly the high level operator. The others were auxiliary – would make for interesting test subjects but ultimately pale in comparison to the potential that could be achieved with the Major. Awe gripped him as he imagined the technological possibilities. Maybe this would satisfy his thirst for knowledge. Maybe this time it would be quenched.

“May ARK guide us” he said again, with a sneer.