Ossification

Short Story — A researcher's pet project grows out of control in a hidden undersea lab

My research worked too well, God forgive me. The last three years down here in the Hab were the culmination of decades of research, from some of the brightest minds in marine biology and genetic engineering.

My team endeavored to create more resilient coral, capable of reproducing faster, and standing up to more extreme ocean temperatures. Im sure you’ve seen the news articles about bleaching, dying reefs.

In 2020, we achieved the lab results we were looking for. My employer set up the Hab — a glorified tin can — at the bottom of a deep trench in the straight of Florida. Shallow enough that you didn’t need special gear to reach us. Deep enough that no rec diver would ever try.