He pressed the tool into the flesh.
At first, nothing happened.
Then the blade struggled.
"It's dense," he said. "Very dense."
He applied more pressure, and finally the tool cut through. Thick black fluid oozed from the incision, staining the surface of the tentacle.
"Sample collected."
Another crewman scanned the fluid with a handheld biological analyzer.
"Reading abnormal cellular activity."
The marine beside him looked over.
"What does that mean?"
"It means I don't like it."
The sample team collected more tissue from the outer layer, inner muscle, suction hook structure, and black blood residue before sealing everything into reinforced containers.
The recovery officer transmitted back to the destroyer.
"Initial samples collected. Creature tissue is extremely dense. Possible infection activity still present at the cellular level."
Inside the destroyer's Combat Information Center, that report was immediately relayed to Subic.
