Batch 145

Precautions when mentioned, just in case:

• Spit on ground
• Salt over shoulder (if possible)
• Spritz air with holy water, also sign of cross
• Clap three times
• Check any local life signs indicators
  — Field notes, Ruby Gray

I happen to be allergic to shellfish. This bothered me a great deal, and so I put my assorted scientific knowledge to the test of creating a hypoallergenic shrimp species so that I could enjoy them the same as anyone. Despite my successes in a number of other areas (see phoenix and dragon), I was unable to perfect the genetic recipe, so to speak. They either didn't turn out shrimp-like enough, or else I still broke out in hives when I ate them.

And as does happen, at one point I got distracted and ended up on something of a tangent, genetically speaking. What resulted at the end of this particular route, 145 attempts into my search, was an abomination.

A/n: Ruby doesn't throw around terms like that easily. She'll create things that can best be described as monstrous and coo over them like they're her babies. The weird part is that they tend to respond in kind. They'll cooperate with her, at least, even if everyone else has good reason to stay well away. Her admitting Batch 145 to be such a complete failure should be extremely telling. As in, telling you to run away very quickly.

The term "eldritch horror" got thrown around a few times while my lab assistant and I dealt with this particular experiment.

A/n: Horror is an understatement. These things might have consumed the world if we hadn't gotten them under control. And by control I mean eliminate entirely, which is another thing that Ruby usually doesn't bother to do because somehow she manages to find a place in the ecosystem for her creations to live.