The trip
The morning sun hung low over the Caribbean horizon, casting a warm golden glow upon the pristine beaches of Saint Lucia. Maya, a 22-year-old woman with long brunette hair that cascaded in gentle waves down her slender shoulders, stood at the water's edge, the grains of sand shifting beneath her bare feet. Her eyes reflected a mix of excitement and escape, the prospect of a holiday acting as a welcomed distraction from the monotony of her life as an HR manager.
Maya had grown weary of the predictable routine of her daily grind--the endless meetings, the clattering keyboards, the humdrum of office life that seemed to stretch on forever. The allure of a tropical getaway, a respite from the mundane, had led her to this paradise with a close friend, a companion on this journey of sun-soaked liberation.
Her friend, Dawn, joined her by the water, the two of them exchanging glances that spoke volumes of shared anticipation. As the gentle breeze played with strands of Maya's chestnut hair, she closed her eyes, inhaling the salty air that carried promises of adventure. The resort they had chosen, nestled between swaying palm trees and overlooking the azure sea, beckoned with the allure of luxurious escape.
Maya's mind raced with visions of lazy afternoons by the pool, exotic cocktails adorned with paper umbrellas, and the soft cadence of the Caribbean waves lulling her into a state of blissful relaxation. It was a stark contrast to the stringent world of HR policies and employee evaluations that she left behind, temporarily forgotten in the wake of this tropical reverie.
The vibrant colours of the island seemed to breathe life into Maya's spirit. The turquoise sea stretched infinitely before her, inviting her to dive into the unknown, to let go of the familiar and embrace the exhilarating unknown. The rustle of palm leaves overhead echoed the whispers of change, a promise that this vacation held the key to unlocking a new chapter in her life.
As the day unfolded, Maya and Dawn explored the island, immersing themselves in the local culture, indulging in delectable cuisine, and allowing the rhythmic beats of Caribbean music to guide their steps. Yet, beneath the sun-kissed facade of paradise, there lingered a sense of mystery--an unspoken narrative that hinted at untold stories, secrets veiled by the lush foliage and crystalline waters.
Little did Maya know, the adventure awaiting her on this idyllic island would not only redefine her understanding of escape but would also lead her on a journey of self-discovery, where the boundaries of reality and fantasy blurred into an unexpected odyssey of love, intrigue, and the magic that only the Caribbean could conjure.
Xylokra
Far beneath the surface of the Sargasso Sea, where the inky blackness swallowed even the faintest hint of sunlight, a weapon named Xylokra dwelled in the silent depths. It should not have been there, a rogue solar flare had caused the computers to reboot and in those precious seconds, during entry into Earth's atmosphere disaster had struck and damaging the craft and destroying all but one of the weapons. Xylokra alone had survived and sank to the great depths which would hide it and provide it's needs, however, with the loss of the craft meant the loss of the primary AI which would provide the Xylokra with mission profiles.
Xylokra, extra-terrestrial design and a purpose far removed from the serenity of the Earth's oceans, a technical marvel crafted for destruction, had arrived on Earth centuries ago as a living weapon, a biological creation with an intelligence that transcended human comprehension. His amorphous form, suspended in the cold, dark abyss, was a testament to the otherworldly engineering that had designed it.
The Sargasso Sea, with its labyrinthine network of seaweed and swirling currents, concealed the secret of Xylokra's existence. His body, a gelatinous mass that pulsated with an ethereal glow, defied the crushing pressure that pervaded the fathomless depths. The very essence of Xylokra's being, a viscous jelly-like substance, served as both armour and sanctuary, protecting him from the hostile environment that would have annihilated any ordinary life form.
Xylokra's consciousness, intricately entwined with the advanced technology that comprised his existence, observed the years passing by. The Sargasso Sea became his fortress, a sanctuary where time moved in slow, deliberate cadence. From the vantage point of the abyss, he watched the evolution of human civilization unfold on the surface, a spectacle both fascinating and perplexing.
Though lacking it's prime mission profiles, Xylokra's purpose core objectives remained. Isolation in the depths of the Sargasso Sea had tempered the destructive intent embedded within his creation, though one prime protocol remained, to subjugate and reproduce.
In reality the alien race who created Xylokra had observed Earth's rapid progress from afar and not wishing to have competition had dispatched suitable adaptable bioweapons to the planet to stop or at worse slow technological development. However the accident meant this had not gone entirely to plan and a replacement mission was some decades off from arriving.
Yet, the shadows of his origin lingered--a reminder that the cosmos held secrets that transcended the understanding of even the most advanced civilizations. As Xylokra drifted in the timeless embrace of the Sargasso Sea, a subtle yearning emerged within the depths of his consciousness, hinting at a destiny entwined with the world above--a destiny that, unbeknownst to him, would soon surface and intertwine with the destiny of an unsuspecting woman named Maya.
Every few years Xylokra would come to the surface and seek out a suitable victim to carry and distribute his spawn. The urge to breed caused him to leave the deep and come close to the surface from where he could locate an suitable spot for his attack, he had been to St Lucia a number of times before and was familiar with the underwater geography of the east of the island and this is where he surfaced to reconnoitre the shore.
After 3 days he located a suitable spot, some distance from any towns and resorts, the shoals made it unattractive for local fisherman, the soft volcanic sand presented him no problems it was ideal for his purpose. Xylokra had chosen a beach he had detected was not often used and had positioned himself at the far end of the beach near a discrete inlet, leading to a lagoon, which was hidden from the rest of the beach by trees. Semi isolated it would give him the privacy it required.
Xylokra arranged the trap carefully, long experience had shown all manner of creatures were attracted to bioluminescence and Xylokra's iridescent appendage would acts as the bait. Moving to shallow water close enough to the beach his translucent blue body and tentacles were near enough invisible from above the water, it now proceeded to stretch the tentacles to their fullest extent, creating a horseshoe shaped curve, in which his body sat in the middle and a short tentacle jutted out of the water ready to lure in a suitable victim. Xylokra waited with robotic patience.
The Beach
After having a suitably late breakfast together, Maya and Dawn discussed what they would do that day. Having spent the flight and the last 3 days together the two friends were ready for a break from each other company.