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Arriving at the Ocean's Cradle Aquarium to his shift early gave new employee Edward “Eddie" Nicholson time to wonder if he overdressed. He'd worn the same dress shirt, khakis, and dressy sneakers he'd worn to his winning interview. Despite changing his tie, Eddie realized they might think he only owned the one outfit- and at least two ties

The former trucker knew there would be growing pains like this when he decided that he wanted a different direction in his life. Eddie wasn't directionless in where he wanted to go with his life as he aimed to fulfill his childhood dream. He wanted to be a marine biologist since a trip to the aquarium when he was four. On long drives he listened to tons of audio books on the subject and was currently taking online courses for a degree.

So he was caught off guard by the request for an interview with so little actual experience. Eddie had been in a daze since he'd got the actual job offer. Which is why he'd not even realized his fashion faux pas until sat in his car and there wasn't a thing he could do about it.

“I hope they don't think I'm not taking this seriously. I washed everything and used the unscented deodorant they suggested. That should be enough, right?" Eddie nervously asked himself while waiting to see someone else enter the building first. He saw at least seven possible entrances so Eddie didn't want to look like an idiot by trying the wrong door.

The thirty-nine year old man was prone to overthinking as a high functioning autistic person. He'd earned a good wage as a punctual driver. Driving for all that time had the five foot eight at a stocky three hundred pounds. He'd be mistaken for a former football linebacker with his build but Eddie had spent his formative years reading and watching scifi and helping tuneup his uncle's car.

His hobbies amused him and the trucking paid the bills but Eddie came to realize over the years that it wasn't enough for him. Anytime he could visit an aquarium, go on a whale watching cruise, or slip away to the back of his cab to study marine life, Eddie came closer to finally making the big change in his life.

The big step came when the previously private Ocean's Cradle Aquarium opened itself up to research and for educational purposes. While not public, they would entertain school trips, college groups, private parties, and other exclusive events. Their facilities were cutting edge, their methods pushing the boundaries of what's possible with science, and the structure itself was stunning. He applied on a hope and a prayer that he'd get to interact with the animals in some capacity. He said as much in his in-person interview.

“... and after seeing the wide variety of species we care for here, which one speaks to you the most?" a teal hailed Assistant Director of the Aquarium, Kay Kurio, asked as the interview wrapped up.

“Out of all of them? That's not easy to narrow down. You've got so many happy, wonderful specimens here. If I had to narrow it down I would have to say the harbor seals. Their whole enclosure, with the pool and slides and rocks and all those happy sea puppy faces. So the seals for sure. I have a few others that are a close second too if you want more," Eddie answered. His face swooning for the friendly and happy seals he'd met in the walk-and-talk part of the interview around the aquarium.

“I don't doubt that you could provide a whole list with breakdowns on the pluses and minuses of each, Mr. Nicholson. You have the sort of heart and earnest honesty that we seek in workers here at Ocean's Cradle. I thank you for that honest answer, Mr Nicholson. We do have openings with our harbor seals currently. I think you would make a great fit for the group," boasted Miss Curio from across her sparsely covered glass desk.

Eddie left the interview feeling great about his chances. Miss Curio, who was also the Personal Director for the Aquarium, was the first and only person he interviewed with. She took a real shine to him by the end of the interview. Then as she walked him out of the building she made sure to introduce Eddie to someone important. Aquarium Director Winona Rothe- a fit older woman in her sixties with long black hair, toned build, platinum blonde hair, and a disarming softness to her cherubic features- shook Eddie's hand and said if Curio said he was in, that would be enough. Then wished him good luck and went back to work.

“So Director Rothe is in charge of everything?" Eddie asked Curio as he was shown the door.

“Day-to-day, yes, that's the Director's job. There's one that's above her: the owner. Stewart Cradle. But he's often off on different adventures around the world and leaves the place to us. Meaning you'll hear back from us one way or another in a couple days, Mr. Nicholson," Curio promised as she shook the man's hand with a smile.

“That's great to hear. Thank you so much, Miss. Curio. You've been great. It's been a pleasure to even be invited here. Thank you, thank you, thank you," Eddie implored while shaking the woman's hand vigorously.

“My pleasure, Mr. Nicholson. I love to see this sort of passion in our colleagues. You have a safe drive home!"

It took two days for Eddie to hear back with the job offer. He was about to leave on a long haul across several states when they suggested he could start that Friday if he wished. Eddie quit his job on the spot and accepted the position that paid far less than his old job. He felt like the luckiest man in the world. The next few days passed in a daze as she filled out paperwork and emailed it back to the Aquarium. It meant that on the first day he could spend getting on-hands training.

“I overdressed. I am totally overdressed. Ughhhh," Eddie groaned in his car as he spotted a janitor approaching the one side door. Eddie took off his tie, unbuttoned his collar, and mussed up his hair to appear more casual. “You've got this. They want you here. Remember that," Eddie reassured himself.

Eddie got out of his car doing the rhythmic breathing he'd learned in therapy to calm him down during moments like this. The closer he got to the door the breathing technique became. His deep, rhythmic breathing is a technique he'd learned to lessen his stress. As he neared the side door that breathing wavered with his anxiety spiking.

Ocean's Cradle Aquarium was located in the perfect position between two natural inlets off the coast of Maine. A forest of pines served as a natural windbreak for the thirty acre site. The exterior of which was heavy with natural woods, rock, and glass. It stood ten stories at the top but the many different areas were spread out over a sprawling estate.

It still had that air of private property when Eddie saw the mild mannered side door had several security protocols. He fumbled for his temporary ID that they'd mailed him from his wallet as a blue camera above the door shimmered a blue light over his face. The light dimmed and a second later the door unsealed and opened for Eddie. So he took a deep breath and headed in for the first day of his new life.

Kurio was there to greet Eddie and show him where he'd clock-in, his locker, where he could change, showers, pool tables, short order grill, and other cushy amenities. She allowed him to switch into his uniform while at work which erased his anxiety about clothing, a light blue khaki jumpsuit with the Ocean Cradle logo on the breast above Eddie's preferred nickname. He also got a pair of non-slip rubber shoes and a pair of goggles. It was comfy and seeing his own name on it already really helped him feel like he belonged.

Next came the big tour around the inside and outside of the facility. For that, Kurio passed him off to Mrs. Eva Duvale. Who was both the head of the veterinary department, but also was Project Lead for numerous ongoing experiments at Ocean's Cradle. A shorter, younger, spry, and an infectious energy to her personality. She and Eddie were fast friends.

With care to leave the best for last, Duvale took Eddie to every tank, tide pool, and open water enclosure they had on sight. The facilities for every animal- be they fish, mammal, crustation, or sponge- had plenty of space that was perfectly acclimated to them. They were the largest animals they had among the seals and walruses. A pair of rescue narwals had the largest space with several pools on multiple levels so they had all the room they could need.

The interiors were all more wood, glass, and the occasional super alloy keeping the takes and everything held together in a perfect harmony.

The last stop for the pair was the harbor seal's enclosure. Where the six harbor seals were getting their breakfast and morning swim in.

“In there with them is our seal curator, Pinky Grace. She'll show you the behind the scenes portion of the aquarium that you will need to get familiar with. She'll also introduce you to the whole troupe of seals personally. Be sure to make a good first impression, Eddie! You only get one chance at those!"

“Heh, you don't have to remind me," Eddie said quietly in response while Kurio got the curator's attention.

Pinky was a petite one who met Eddie in a moist wetsuit. She embraced the man in an affectionate hug as she whispered, “Welcome aboard, Eddie!" into his ear.

“Glad to be here. I've always wanted a job like this," Eddie remarked despite being left dripping.

“This isn't a job, it's a lifestyle, Eddie! And that's just juiced up corporate speech either. We are a special family at the aquarium and that goes triple for here in harbor seal land. We're happy to have you, Eddie! Let me introduce you to the troop!"

“You're in safe flippers here," Kurio chuckled as she departed.

Pinky led Eddie by the arm through one of the backdoors to the front facade of the harbor seal enclosure. The door was just tall enough for Eddie to not have to squat to get through. The sounds of splashing, arfing, the smells of fresh water and decomposing fish greeted Eddie's senses. His head swiveled around as he caught sight of one seal and then another.

The enclosure was half 17,000 gallon pool, a quarter open desk space, and the rest were faux rock faces. Large, flat ones that were perfect for laying on. Slithering through the rocks were four seal sized water slides of varied lengths. When seeing the slides for the first time, the part of Eddie that loved waterparks was jealous that those slides weren't meant for him.

“Darlings! Gather up for a big announcement!" cheered Pinky. The younger blonde woman had a spring her step that mirrored the energy of every other employee Eddie met.

All six harbor seals promptly slid or flopped into line. All but one were sitting up on their front flippers. The seal on the far right end flopped on their belly looking tired.

“Everyone, this is Edward Nicholson! He prefers Eddie and will be my new assistant! Currently he's just a trainee but the bosses have high hopes for him. Let's give a warm welcome, y'all!" Pinky cheered to the seals. All of whom were wiggling their whiskered noses at Eddie to judge his scent.

There was brief sharing of looks between the seals. Then they happily barked and arfed their approval. Three of the seals shimmied over for Eddie for him to pet them. They were all slick, slightly oily to the touch and seemed to like scratched behind their ear holes like any animal would. The others came closer to sniff and prod the newcomer until Eddie was surrounded by nuzzling seal noses.

“They sure are friendly. And well-trained," Eddie noted while trying to show them all equal attention.

“You get to see how well-trained they are when they do tricks for the school kids later today. This is just my group's polite and well-mannered nature. Except for you, Bradley. You didn't eat too many fish, did you?" Pinky questioned the lone seal still on their belly.

The biggest of the group, Bradley had wiggled his snout nearer Eddie without moving much. The portly seal made a sad bark that curator Pinky could interrupt.

“You've still got plenty of time, Bradley. And that's no reason not to give Eddie an Ocean's Cradle howdy!" Pinky urged the portly seal.

Bradley let out a long honk and bark at Pinky as he sat up. Then properly nuzzled and arfed at Eddie to show how happy he was another was joining their big family.

“Nice to meet you all too. So many adorable faces. Such lively eyes," Eddie remarked kindly of the many adoring seals gazing up at him. “And that… smell. It's very pungent," he added, making a slightly sour face.

“You'll get used to that fragrance of dead fish, usually either herring or salmon, oily, wet fur, and stagnant water. They're good enough to use the wet room as a bathroom to keep the stink down at least. The rest you'll acclimate too in a few weeks, I promise. For now," Pinky slapped Eddie on the back hard, causing him to cough while she continued, “try to mostly breath through your mouth, okay?"

“Way ahead of you. It's definitely an… acquired aroma," Eddie said carefully.

“That's a great way of putting it, Eddie! Some of the seals are," the curator lowered her voice and whispered into the man's ear, “sensitive about how they smell. So try not to draw too much attention to it."

Eddie winked back at Pinky. “I'll try to use discretion. It helps that they can't understand us, right?" he laughed.

“I find it's better to act like they can understand you. That way you treat them the same as you would a trusted family member. Really builds honest rapport between us and the ones we're lucky enough to care for," explained Pinky in a positive light.

“Got it. I'll watch what I say and put out good vibes. I really do feel lucky for this opportunity," Eddie admitted.

“It's not luck that landed you here, Eddie! If Kurio saw something in you then this is where you're supposed to be," assured Pinky with a friendly smile. “So let me do everyone's introductions! Starting with the frisky girly on your left hand, Talisa. Then going clockwise from her it's Gwen, Felecia, Floyd, Joyce, and that lumpiest of boys, Bradley. Don't worry if you can't quite remember who's who. In a week you'll be able to identify them by their different hunger barks!"

“I can't wait to have that sort of familiarity with them. They're all so amazing. This is like a dream come true already," Eddie gleefully remarked. Wishing he had more hands.

Eddie's morning continued with a nearly exhaustive tour of the entire exhibit by Pinky and a cadre of seals. Pinky went over the daily schedule, responsibilities, how things were to be cleaned, maintained, and Eddie's new duties. As they went along Pinky would regale him with stories about each seal.

Like how Gwen howls every time she goes down the slide. Or how Talisa likes her head pet while she's hand fed salmon chunks. Felecia's need to be held like a baby for an hour a day while watching cooking shows would be a new duty of Eddie. Another duty would be keeping Floyd from pranking his siblings and Joyce from bossing everyone around.

When Pinky referred or told a story about any particular seal they would respond with a distinct howl, grunt, or huff. Eddie's untrained ear could almost translate their animated replies. He understood enough to laugh and an early quick sense of each seal's idiosyncrasies. They were a fun and varied group that had Eddie going into lunch wishing his new water puppy friends could join him.

After a lunch at the chef staffed cafeteria where Eddie met other curators, their assistants, researchers, and other employees. They were all happy to welcome another lover of marine life. He was shown equal respect by security guards or holders of multiple PhDs. There was a shared, unspoken sense of comradery that Eddie picked up on. Leaving him proud for the chance to be a part of it all.

The early afternoon was spent in HR signing papers and tax forms. Then he was retrieved by Pinky to continue bringing Eddie up to speed with how things were done to keep Ocean Harbor's six harbor seals cared for. There were lots of storage crates of different fish, snacks, toys, care items, cleaning supplies, tools, and enough to make Eddie's head spin.

Pinky was an excited, knowledgeable teacher who was prone to going on tangents. Those tangents are always being a wacky story about her or one of the seals. Eddie loved to hear it all. Even if it did make it hard to remember it all.

“Don't worry, there's never gonna be a test!" Pinky would promise frequently. And reminded Eddie of the Ocean's Cradle motto, “If you have to ask a question, ask! We're an ocean of answers after all!"

Time flew by. Eddie saw he had ten minutes until his shift ended and didn't believe it. Sure enough Pinky wrapped up their talk about water temperatures with the promise to pick up where they left off the next day.

“Tomorrow you'll be helping me through my usual routine and getting real hands on. So get a good night's rest and a big breakfast! Before we go, any burning questions I can douse, Eddie?" Pinky asked as they stood in the hallway behind the enclosure.

“Gosh, thousands of questions probably," Eddie admitted as he took stock of the whirlwind day. “One thing that I've wondered about. The wet room, I see the door to it here and the ones out there, and you've mentioned it once or twice, but not sure what it's for entirely. Does that come tomorrow?"

Pinky smirked. “You picked up on that, huh? Well, for this stage of your training, just know it's kind of a private room for the seals that only I'm allowed to grace. But chin up, Eddie! Stay with us and in a few months, I'm sure they'll grant you access," she reassured the man.

“You mean the higher ups? Or the seals?" the man asked, half in jest.

“Around here, there's not much difference," admitted Pinky candidly as she patted her new assistant on the back.

Eddie went home tired in a wholly different way than driving all day. A far more satisfying exhaustion that he didn't mind pushing through to study for his upcoming mid-terms. As well as reviewing the information packets from the aquarium. The hours of sleep Eddie managed to get were filled with aquatic imagery and the barking of harbor seals.

For all of his first day on the job's ups, Eddie's second day was a cavalcade of often hilarious downs. Hilarious for everyone but Eddie. In the span of a minute he dented his car while parking, ripped his pants tripping on the curb on the way in, and split his lip opening the door to building too fast. It set the tone for the day where he fell into the enclosure pool multiple times, misheard Pinky's instructions, bumping into everyone and everything, and never getting a seal's name right. Pinky never got mad and the seals were usually entertained by Eddie's fumbling around, but the man himself was shaken.

That second day Eddie went home with doubts that he could actually cut it at the aquarium. He fell asleep on his couch stinking of dead fish and having done none of the studying he wanted. Another series of pleasant aquatic dreams reinvigorated Eddie enough to stick with it when his alarm buzzed him away before dawn. Didn't stop him going to work questioning his whether this life was for him.

Flash forward to Eddie's five month anniversary and those early doubts were a distant memory. Eddie grew past his early stumbles within the first two weeks. His natural affinity and passion for the animals had him excelling under Pinky's hands-off, ears open approach to managing. He developed trust and formed relationships with each of the seals. They were closer to co-workers and good friends in a matter of months. Best friends in the cases of Talisa and Felecia, whom Eddie had grown closest.

Earning the aquarium's employee of the month honor in only his fourth month, Eddie was seen as a rising star and got a bump in pay. He also earned a bonus for completing his first semester of online classes with perfect marks. It's why he assumed he was being treated to a private dinner hosted by Director Rothe and attended by Seal Curator Pinky, Assistant Director Kurio, Dr. Duvale, and two higher ups from HR. A seventh guest, Brad Perry, Eddie hadn't met before as he'd been on a six month 'DME' and only recently returned.

“And what's a DME?" Eddie had asked when Pinky brought it up during the seal's morning exercises the day of the dinner.

“It stands for 'Deep Marine Experience'. A special sort of… hands-on biological excursion the aquarium funds to enrich our approach to conservation and education," she disclosed with unusual care to her words.

Eddie sighed. “Well that just raises more questions than the one I asked you."

Proudly patting her assistant on the back, Pink was candid as ever. “You don't know how great it is to hear that, Eddie. But hold all those questions for when you meet Brad tonight. He's looking forward to talking with you and I know he'll be happy to share."

“Sounds like a good guy. We'll bond while I pick his brain. Hopefully he's less cryptic than you," Eddie remarked before the subject changed.

The late dinner was a formal affair that outwardly celebrated Eddie's outstanding contributions to Ocean's Cradle in his short time. They all ate at the same circular table with only Eddie unaware of the evening's ulterior motive as a showcase and ultimately, as the offer of a lifetime. The sort of thing Eddie wouldn't believe was real if he'd not heard it straight from the mouths of the people he respected most in the world.

Eddie was predictably shy and humble in accepting their praise and accolades over appetizers and dinner. Pinky, Dr. Duvale, and Director Rothe lavished about his work ethic, and future career options while they ate.

Then during dessert Brad Perry, a man alike to Eddie in looks and affection for seals, who he'd never laid eyes on before that night, gave a personal, heartfelt speech. He spoke to Eddie's empathetic treatment of the seals, to the relationships he built with the animals, and cited examples from his own interactions while under Eddie's care. Examples such as Eddie knowing his favorite way to be brushed. Or how Eddie happily cut and lined up the herring so he could eat it while basking on his belly. The most recent example being from that day, when Eddie snuck Brad extra squid while no one was looking.

Improbable and unbelievable as seemed, and confirmed by the rest of the table, Brad's unique perspective wasn't colorful language. For the last six months and up until three hours prior, he'd been the portly Bradley the harbor seal. A fact confirmed by everyone else at the table. All of whom had enjoyed watching Eddie realize there was much more to how Ocean's Cradle Aquarium operated.

They used an exclusive proprietary technology shared between a select few marine life facilities like Ocean's Cradle that can physically transform a human subject into a range of aquatic species. Doing so with minimal pain, limited impact on human cognition or memory, and was entirely reversible. They allowed for the 'Deep Marine Experience' that unlocked whole new levels of understanding for the participant. Something which Brad, Pinky, Dr. Duvale, Kurio, both HR reps, and the Director knew well from their own personal DMEs. Which they shared with Eddie late into the night.

It was Pinky who disclosed the real who's who of the harbor seal enclosure. Only Joyce and Floyd were born into their bodies. Like Brad, Gwen, Felecia, and Talisa were aquarium employees living on extended DMEs as seals. In retrospect, there were clues to those four being smarter and cleverer than they should have been. To anyone in passing they'd be indiscernible from their animal counterparts. A fact that Eddie turned over in his head for hours as he wondered how amazing that would be to experience for himself.

At two in the morning Director Rothe came to her offer.

Eddie would agree to be transformed into a male harbor seal for a period of no longer than six months as part of his first Deep Marine Experience. During that time he would stay at the aquarium under the care of Curator Pinky and her returning Assistant Brad. He would use his time in the enclosure with the other seals to explore his body's new instincts, capabilities, urges, and connect with nature in a wholly new way. They'd still pay his salary, took care of covering his bills, maintaining his car, and went the extra mile by pulling strings to have his college excuse his absence. With a bonus of earning Eddie several credits towards his major.

There were more details but Eddie interrupted the Director to accept the offer with a hearty, “Yes! How soon can I start?"

“Monday," Rothe answered without missing a beat.

It was a hectic weekend getting his entire life in order put Eddie in a strange daze going into Monday. Explaining to friends and family that he'd been selected for an overseas research assignment to gain experience at other facilities. HR at the aquarium took care of a lot of the details and had a whole checklist ready. Which included not eating for 24 hours beforehand, no liquids for 12, and taking medicine to flush his system completely. Even still he was so wired and excited through it all that he'd hardly slept when his alarm woke him up at three in the morning on the big day.

After arriving at the aquarium at half past three and handing his car keys over to security Eddie entered through his usual door. Waiting for him were Kurio, Pinky, Brad, Dr. Duvale and several of her team. Everyone was in good spirits and Eddie was given the chance to postpone or back out if he wished. Eddie admitted being nervous and butterflies in his stomach but not enough to outweigh how excited he was for this unique opportunity.

Eddie was put in the hands of Dr. Duvale and her team for much of the prep, with Kurio overseeing. His clothes and belongings were stored away, every measurement possible was taken, logged, along with samples of blood, hair, and otherly bodily fluids. Next Eddie had his entire body shaved bare- head and eyebrows too- and several oils and creams applied to ready his skin for the coming transformation. Eddie was allowed a final bathroom before being walked in a harbor seal patterned bathrobe to stage two.

Taken in a wheelchair down the elevator to a part of the aquarium he'd never seen. Down a hallway and in a room already buzzing with activity were three specially built chambers. One of which was ready and waiting for Eddie. Shaped like large, metallic eggs when closed, the top was raised open with hydraulics to allow Eddie to lay down in the padded, human-shaped interior with arms at his sides. The bottom of the pod was covered heavily in a myriad of pipes, tubes, wires, and cables that connected to canisters, computers, and lots of beeping monitors.

IVs were run in both of Eddie's arms as he was strapped into the pod. Kurio kindly explained to Eddie what each step entailed. He maintained eye contact with her and nodded along as the series of injections started.

“I found the shots hurt more than the transformation itself," Kurio recalled when Eddie winced from the prick of the larger needles.

“Promise?" Eddie asked in a shaky voice.

“Promise!" assured Kurio. A sentiment echoed by the rest of the staff in the room.

As the top of the capsule was lowered Eddie had to swallow an inky black table tennis ball-sized pill with rubbery membrane. Eddie got it down with some trouble and an aching throat. Dangling from the lowering lid was a heavily modified rebreather mask with blacked out goggles. He wasn't looking forward to the five minutes in darkness he'd have to spend while masked. They gave him a minute to mentally prepare and then on his signal, the mask went on.

Things kicked into high gear with the chamber sealing shut. First Eddie was treated to a cheery anesthetizing gas and a rush of hot air over his bare skin. Next he felt a viscous warm liquid pour in around his shoulders and ankles. In twenty seconds Eddie's body was completely submerged. It quickly adhered to the man's skin. From there permeating to a degree that made it hard for Eddie to tell where his skin ended and the substance began.

At the minute mark the gas changed into a briny tasting, lung moistening mixture. Then came a brief period Eddie had been warned about, where the wetness in his lungs solidified and it felt like he was breathing through goo. Eddie's body jolted a few times trying to breath but calmed quickly as his body adapted and could take a full breath regardless.

Two minutes in and the same liquid surrounding the body is piped into the mask. Everything but his covered mouth and nostrils was doused in the same viscous cocktail the rest of his body. To Eddie, it was like his whole body was being melted into clay. All while breathing seawater.

At the five minute mark, with screens showing green for saturation and transfusion complete, the liquid in the tank drained out faster than it came in. The chamber unsealed and the next things Eddie knew the mask was off and he was being helped out of the pod.

“You're doing great, Eddie. Your body accepted the transfusion without issue. Focus on breathing and slowly getting your eyes open. You don't have to speak. We're taking care of everything," Kurio told Eddie as he was lifted from the pod back into a wheelchair.

His skin was puffy, flush had an odd, gray shine with veins showing up pronounced dark purple. Kurio was there with a towel to clean away the excess fluids coming from Eddie's nose and mouth. Being ever courteous as they wheeled him towards the exit.

“Next stop is upstairs to be with your friends while your catalyst is administered. You'll be there before you know it!" promised Kurio.

A dull, painless soreness pervaded Eddie's every muscle and bone. Organs from lungs to stomach to eyes throbbed at different intervals. While his cold sweat drenched skin didn't feel real until Eddie got his eyes open. Which came as his airways cleared and he could breathe. Seeing himself at least eased Eddie's sense that his body wasn't melting.

Lifting his head in slow motion, Eddie's heart fluttered to see they were already behind the seal enclosure. His excitement rose when he saw the always locked, dark blue door to the private wet room open and Pinky leaning in the doorway. Poking their bobbing heads out around her knees were harbor seals Gwen and Talisa. Both were very keen to welcome Eddie back.

Eddie was wheeled to the threshold to the wet room. He was lifted out of the chair and his bathrobe with help from Pinky and Dr. Duvale. Then walked into the octangal shaped room tiled in black and white. The walls were covered in mosaics of black and white depicting a rocky beachfront. Sixteen different seals were also in the mosaic. Each with unique coloring and names under them. Some being very familiar to Eddie. Half the room slanted into a shallow pool of water where seals Gwen and Talisa flopped to. He sat down on a teak wood bench that lined the dry side of the room alongside Pinky.

Each of the assisting staff wished Eddie well on their way out once he'd completed a final check. Kurio was the last to leave. On the way out she handed Pinky a single use puff inhaler that delivered the spark that would trigger Eddie's transformation.

Things settled down for Eddie once the wet room was secured. Eddie regained most of his motor skills, was breathing normally, his vision was clearer, and he might just be able to speak. His movements were sluggish and his buzzing brain was dealing with a lot of static. Through it all Eddie's spirits were high and like his body, he was poised to take the plunge.

“So what do you think of the wet room? Nice, huh?" Pinky remarked as she knelt down in front of Eddie.

Eddie nodded and agreed with a husky, shallow voice, “Really nice. Thank you for, for letting me in." Followed by a short coughing fit.

Gwen and Talisa honked and slapped their right fins against their sides to show their approval.

“We're happy to be able to share this special place with you, Eddie. You have no idea how totally thrilled I am for you! I'm more than a little jealous, not gonna lie. But only because your first time is always so special. But here I am blabbering on your big day. Are you ready to join Cradle's harbor seal family, bud?" Pinky inquired affectionately.

Sore and smiling, Eddie nodded modestly in reply.

“Great! But we have a little DME tradition here in the harbor seal wet room. When I ask if you're ready, say 'yes' like we trained the seals to. Sound good?" She waited for him to nod again and then formally asked, “Are you ready to join the Cradle harbor seal team, Eddie?"

“Arf arf!" Eddie barked in the affirmative in the best seal could. All while slapping his right hand against his chest.

“Haha, you got it! Good boy! That's what we love to see! Just hold still. I'll count down once I'm ready and that's when you take the deepest breath you can. Got it, Eddie?" she asked while moving to sit beside him.

“Arf arf!" he answered again. Eddie refrained from slapping his chest to give Pinky room to set his back straight and chest out.

“Such a good boy, Eddie. You're a natural!" Pinky gloated as she moved the inhaler to the man's moist lips. With a hand bracing the back of his neck and head up straight, “I'm ready. Are you, bud? Just nod if you are."

Eddie nodded again. His heart fluttered madly as he prepared for the deepest breath of his life.

“Okay! Three, two, one, and breeeeeeeathe in! Sorry-about-the-funky-waxy-taste-but-it's-worth-it!" she apologized in one breath while administering the trigger for the man's change.

The vaporized catalyst filled Eddie's without issue aside from the polished floor flavor. A lingering weirdness around his lips and a tender nasal cavity seemed unassuming side effects.

“Good boy, Eddie! You can breathe normally again. You'll be feeling good real, real soon, bud. Oh boy, will you be feeling it!" Pinky playfully warned. She'd moved down the bench to give him room. Subtly trading the spent inhaler for a large hand mirror.

Eddie waited for what felt like a couple minutes to say something. It had barely been thirty seconds. “Where wills I feels it firsts?" Eddie said with difficulty. His lips rubbery and tongue sluggish.

“Heh, oh bud," Pinky giggled, shaking her head at the man.

Talisa and Gwen gleefully galumped closer to Eddie for a better look. He felt their eyes on him but wasn't sure why they were staring.

“Wha is it? Whys everyones startings at mesh? Do I haves somethings on my face?" asked Eddie with copious spittle and a smirk. The numb swelling of his wrinkling nose did not register to the man.

Pinky held back giggles while holding up the mirror to Eddie's face. “I'm, we're, laughing with you, hun. Promise!" she insisted.

Waiting in the mirror was a pleasant surprise for Eddie. His upper lip had actually shrunk as it made room for the swollen, plumping of the flesh above it. Small, black pockmarks developed over the expanding area that sprouted budding, sensitive whiskers. This amid light streaks of blue-grey shading his skin. Eddie's nose changed to get stubbier with a canine resemblance and flared nostrils.

Any traces of doubt Eddie harbored about the promised changes disappeared when he saw his transforming visage. He let out a gasp and then another when he spied the deforming upper teeth. The front in the early stages of sharpening while the molars reshaped to the same sort Gwen and Talisa sported. Just more for Eddie to swoon over in the mirror.

“Ish happenings!" Eddie touted as his shaky hands groped the new angles of his face. Feeling the parts of his skin had changed color led to the discovery of fur around the edges of his nose and cheeks. That got Eddie especially excited since he'd always wanted to know what fur was like. Now his own unique spotted seal coat was coming in and two hands wasn't enough. “Oh yeahs, I likes this!" he blurted out joyfully.

“You're not the only one who does by the sounds of it," Pinky joked. Her words are hard to make out between Gwen and Talisa's ardent barks and grunts. “Try not to crowd him too much, ladies. You know how disorientating the next stages can be," she warned while keeping the mirror steady.

Talisa backed off while Gwen just politely flopped over to Eddie's left side with her big doe eyes fixated on him. His ears shrank and the fur spread out from his protruding snout delighted Gwen, who wanted to be that close support to the man she remembered Talisa being for her during her own transformation the year prior.

“Looks like Gwen nominated herself to be your support seal, Eddie. Lean on her when you need it," Pinky informed the man with a sideways glance at the seal on his left. “That goes for today and the months ahead, doesn't it, Gwen?"

The always vocal Gwen honked and slapped her chest before nuzzling Eddie's shivering arm.

Eddie saw Gwen making dreamy eyes at him in the mirror. It got him to look away from his reflection for the first time so he could pet her while still able. “Such a goods girl," he grunted while shakily stroking her neck. Doing so with elongating fingers and nails elongated fingers being gradually webbed together.

Gwen leaned into pets knowing they wouldn't last.

Sure enough a stiff, forceful cramping yanked Eddie's arm back with the other to his bosom. Born out of the transformation going past the ten minute mark and affecting every bone, inch of flesh, organ, vein, and pound of meat that constituted Eddie. Ripples and chubby folds of skin were massing around his neck and upper body. At the opposite end his clawed feet were stretching out like his hands. Far too much to take sitting down.

“Needs helps with… moves," Eddie requested when he felt himself sliding off the bench.

Pinky reacted swiftly to get her arm around the transforming man. “I've got ya, Eddie. Such a lovely coat of fur you've got coming in! Now let's get you safely onto the floor. Lean on Gwen for help," Pinky whispered into what little remained of the man's human ears.

Unable to nod, Eddie grunted that he understood. He wiggled himself off the bench with Pinky's assistance and Gwen's blubbery belly serving as a landing pad. From there rolling onto the damp floor belly first. Within a few seconds Eddie's entire body seized up just to fully relax immediately after. With every successive spasm his human frame added deposits of blubber while his pelvis fused uncomfortably. Limiting his range of motion more and more.

Gwen and Talisa loosely circled the transforming man through coming important stages. Eddie's torso bloated with layers of blubber that gave him the impression to be absorbing his arms and legs. A feeling furthered by his arms and legs losing getting shorter, losing their mass and human shape at a brisk pace.

During this time a pointed, hairless tail appeared only to arc down between merging ass cheeks. That signaled Pinky to step in and help Eddie off his belly.

“Going to make you a little more comfortable, Eddie. Ready to make your first harbor seal banana?" a perky Pinky joked as she prepared to roll him. “What side would you like to be on? If it's hard to speak, just wiggle the fin on that side."

Eddie let a fluttering of heart pass hearing his hands called fins. Then shook his right his misshapen right arm the best he could. Having chosen that side because that's where Gwen was, Pinky had her help brace him up with her snout. Nudging around his midsection and distended, lightly furred belly while Eddie found a wobbly balance.

“Thranks yous," Eddie grunted roughly as he craned his head to Gwen.

“Course, bud. This part of the transition is always a clumsy affair," Pinky noted from the nearby bench. “You're doing a better job keeping still than I was during my first time. I flopped around like a fish for thirty minutes. I know Talisa remembers me making a fool out of myself that day."

Talisa agreed by slapped her right fin to her belly and flicking her tail. Adding a brisk series of honks that caused Pinky to laugh.

“Not my proudest moment, but a memorable one!" touted Pinky.

Pinky continued to reminisce with Talisa about the transformations they had in the wet room. Eddie found it hard to pay attention to what was being said. He was distracted trying to balance himself during the active merging of his hips, ass, tail, and upper thighs into a blubbery, grey, more seal-like midsection. And then there was Gwen. Whose helpful touch drifted not-so-innocently close to his disappearing crotch.

The pleasure of changes so far had Eddie's human cock oozing cum by this point without having reached orgasm. His shrinking testicles were emptying themselves as they were slowly absorbed into the folds merging down into his thighs. This left his penis and belly button to stick out on Eddie's expanding underside. Gwen's nose sniffed carefully close to the transfiguring shaft of his pinking, tipped cock.

Eddie's feelings began at embarrassed shyness at seeing Gwen the harbor seal so near his manhood. Then as his cock and testicles transformed, it felt more like flattery and animal courtesy. With the painless growth of a bone, a baculum, within his new seal penis came rigidity and a host of new instinctual urges- and desires.

Gwen's affection and body language hit differently with a male harbor seal's hormones dripping into his brain. While Edide had always adored Gwen, this new attraction had him enamored with her in a deeper, carnal way. Eddie had been warned about this portion of the mental side of transformation and of the clandestine manner his new instincts weaved themselves into his psyche. The natural attraction he felt for Gwen would be just another thing Eddie was happy to have to get accustomed to. In the meantime, he let Gwen nuzzle around his sensitive seal cock as she liked.

Behind Eddie, Pinky and Talisa had stopped to quietly observe the budding romance.

“You were right. They do make a cute couple," Pinky whispered under her breath to Talisa.

Talisa wiggled her whiskers and let out two muted snorts.

“I know, I didn't forget our bet. Double fish at dinner for a month," Pinky chirped back at the seal.

Unsatisfied, Talisa slapped her tail twice and snorted again.

“I was hoping you'd forget that part. Sigh, and for movie night this week we'll watch Titanic. Again. What's this, like the 50th time? Can't we-"

Talisa huffed loudly.

“Fine, fine. We'll watch the stupid ship sink. Again," Pinky conceded to the smug seal at her feet.

A half hour since the catalyst and Eddie's limbs had receded, shrunk, or been consumed by his new blubbery girth. Hands and feet were seal fins in shape and function. Fur and dark grey seal skin only needing to finish spreading in full. His legs he'd watched and felt everything from his thighs down to his ankles stitched together. Yet as he lost his human mobility, Eddie reveled in what his new body could do in the water.

The sounds of cracking, popping, and transforming bones died down as Eddie's skeleton approached completion. Gone were Eddie's arms, legs, face, head, neck, and all those human trappings. Replaced with the fins, tail, oily fur, whiskers, snout, and bearing of a male harbor seal. A process that added a mere inch to Eddie's previous height of six feet. Eddie would have to wait for the blubber to stop amassing and his organs to settle to know his weight. But he had a hunch he'd packed on a few pounds or fifty.

“How are you feeling, Eddie? Can you try to talk for me, bud? If you're able," Pinky asked as she stood back up.

Eddie craned his head up at Pinky and tried his best. “Nh-Ny-NaaAARF! ARF!"

“So that's a no, hehe. Shows you're getting close to finished! I really do love this silver-grey coat with all the cute spots you've got filling out," Pinky remarked while knelt down petting his back. “And speaking of filling out, how about this belly, huh?" she teased lightly with her hand patting his gut.

Flustered, Eddie was discovering how much he liked being pet and rubbed. He didn't know if it was instinct or the fur doing it but it felt so good he leaned into the hands of the woman who was now his caretaker. The feeling was so pleasant that Eddie closed his eyes and got lost in a delectable haze.

To Eddie's eternal relief, his new seal form didn't feel like a costume or fleshy prison. His fins, fur, tail, and budding seal instincts were as fundamental to Eddie as his hands, feet, two legs, and human intellect. The line being blurred between the two identities had let Eddie seamlessly adapt and accept his new aquatic lifestyle.

With the transformation nearing its end, Pinky had Eddie's chin in her hand for rubs. His eyes still shut, Pinky had to poke his nose repeatedly for him to open them. Eddie's large, dark eyeballs retained the twinkle of human awareness. Seeing a world in blacks and whites was jarring until his brain adjusted after a few hard blinks. Eddie adjusted to his new sense of smell, center of gravity, having fins, and a hunger for fish.

Eddie thought he was coming to accept his new form better. Then Pinky retrieved her mirror. When Eddie saw his new seal face and head it brought on a short but powerful spell of dissocialization. It is a willful acquiescence to the obvious: Eddie was a harbor seal now. He'd remain so for the next six months in this enclosure with his friends and colleagues.

So with his body's changes complete, Eddie committed the occasion to memory. He didn't want to forget a thing from his first time. Such as being sandwiched between the extremely overjoyed Gwen and Talisa. Their grunts, honks, and coarse barks ringing in Eddie's ear holes as cheers for Cradle's newest harbor seal. The mixture of humid, hot, air of the wet room and an overwhelming aroma of seal. Pinky's smell and the faintest hints of what he used to stink of were burned into his brain.

While Eddie savored his newly gained seal shape Pinky grabbed a camera and snapped a few pictures of the new harbor seal for posterity. When Eddie got back to reality and was nuzzling the girl's noses with his own in thanks for their support they heard Pinky call out, “Say Salmon Chunks!"

The three seals grinned in their own unique, goofy way that showed a lot of teeth and whiskers.

“Perfect! Okay, you two help Eddie over the wading pool. I'll take some measurements, assure all is well, a quick pair of injections, pills, and then it's Eddie's big debut!" Pinky trumpeted. An excitement echoed by Gwen and Talisa in grunts and barks.

Eddie the seal retained the man's shyness as he cautiously shuffled forward. Moving as a harbor seal of full size was anything but easy going. Slips and stumbles were mitigated by Gwen or Talisa being there to cushion his fall while the other helped him up. For the short distance Eddie floundered quite a lot. But persisted with friend's aid to the cool water of the pool.

With a nudge from Gwen, Eddie slid on his belly into the cool water of the shallow side of the room. He went from nervous excitement to elation once more in his aquatic element. The water was deep enough to cover Eddie's belly and that was enough to trigger happy flipper splashing. Soon he was rolling over, dipping his head in, and loving it. Talisa splashed around with him while Gwen stayed close to dote on him. Eddie let himself get lost in the simple joy of being wet with his fellow seals

Pinky ran her tests, drew blood, gave shots, fed Eddie some pills, and took more pictures for the records. She confirmed his six foot one inch height and a weight of three-hundred and fifty two pounds, doing it all without getting in the way of the seal's fun. She sent emails out to announce Eddie's successful transformation to other staff. Who responded with resounding cheers and congratulations.

“All right, bud, show time! Me and Talisa will go out to the enclosure first from the normal way. Then, once Gwen has you… settled, she can help you through the hatch for your aquarium debut!" Pinky explained as she knelt in the pool petting Eddie's back. “You belong here, Eddie. I'm so stoked for you! I wish I could stay but I've got to film you coming out so off I go! Come on, Talisa. Let's give them some privacy."

Talisa nuzzled and licked Eddie then followed Pinky out of the back door.

Left alone with Gwen, lots of innuendo, and certain urges that didn't let his erection ever fully subside, the two seals cozied up close in the other's flippered embrace. Lots of friendly neck biting, growling, and other mating rituals that Eddie acted unconsciously out of his budding relationship with Gwen. It came naturally to him to want to mate with the gorgeous female who had eyes only for him.

The urge to mate and breed would have to wait until they had a proper pool to swim in. For now, Gwen's licking and nuzzling was enough to get Eddie over the edge for his first orgasm as a seal. He let out a low, hot moan as his whole body quivered and flippers slapped his own sides.

Doing his best to recall the seal gesture lexicon, Eddie barked and wiggled both his forefins to indicate he was very happy. Gwen signaled back 'duh'. Then charged Eddie for one last private embrace. He hugged right back the best he could while catching his breath. It also gave his penis time to retract back into his fur covered prepuce.

Gwen was the one to break them apart and signal for them to head out to the enclosure to meet everyone. Eddie's human anxiety made an appearance that required him to remember how to signal 'I need five minutes'.

After five minutes, Eddie signaled for another five. Gwen gave him those too.

When he asked a fifth time, Gwen bonked her snout with his to stop him. Signalling, 'I'm here' while nose-to-nose.

'Okay. Need you,' Eddie gestured with a modest honk.

'Need you,' Gwen replied as they got lost in each other's eyes.

Gwen waddled out into the bright lights of the enclosure first. Already Eddie could hear everyone waiting for him but didn't expect what he saw once he wiggled out of the door.

“And here he is, folks! Hailing from Hooksett, New Hampshire, and on a six month stay, in what is his first DME, let's all put our hands and fins together for Eddie the harbor seal!" Pinky announced over the intercom as Eddie waddled out into the spotlight. His fellow harbor seals were joined by sea lions, walruses, and several penguins. Outside the enclosure almost the entire staff of the aquarium, including the Director Rother, Kurio, Dr. Duvale, and a rare sighting of the owner of it, Stewart Cradle.

A short round of speeches from Pinky, Kurio, and finally Cradle spoke to Eddie's stellar performance up to that point. They touted the success of the DMEs and hoped to expand the program. Eddie listened to it all while Gwen, Talisa, Felecia, Floyd, and Joyce bonded with their new roommate. It helped it bear the attention until everyone went back to work or their own enclosures.

At noon feeding time it was back to just Curator Pinky, her assistant Bradley, and their six seals. Eddie ate with the others, played, did a refresher course on signaling, and finally got in the water. His body's need to swim overpowered Eddie's anxiety about drowning attempting to move like a seal. The second he was submerged and saw Gwen, Joyce, and Talisa, Eddie's instincts had him swimming and maneuvering almost as well as them.

The hours of the afternoon flew by for an Eddie energized by his intrinsic connection to his seal form. Every seal but Gwen needed a nap on the way to supper time.

Custom for first days like Eddie's was to treat all the harbor seals to the really good fish. Talisa got her extra food for winning her bet with Pinky and there were groans and unkind honks when the Friday movie was announced to be Titanic.

The normal evening exercise time was cut short when Pinky saw how tired most of the seals were. Pinky had had a long day of her own and was eager, like Bradley, to head home and rest. All but two seals headed into the wet room for the night when Pinky locked up for the night.

As Pinky was leaving, she sauntered up to the front of the exhibit and tapped the portion of the glass under the pool. The two straggler seals, Gwen and Eddie, darted from one end of the pool to where Pinky was. Bobbing and weaving around each other as they did. Their happy, goofy smiles are too good for Pinky to pass up taking another picture.

“You two are such a cute couple!" Pinky giggled as she took a few pictures of the pair with her phone. “Gwen had the biggest crush on you from that first day, did you know that, Eddie? Huge crush! Gushed about you a lot. Seeing you two together makes me think true love is possible… Anyway, I'll see you two lovebirds tomorrow! Don't stay up too late!"

The last thing Pinky did was lower the shutters in front of the enclosure to give the lovers some privacy.

Now alone with each other, the pair of seals returned to their underwater mating ritual. Lots of nuzzling bubbles, flipper-waving, and ultimately copulating together. Over a few hours they mated four times. Their skill at the dance and connection getting easier with each success. Eddie had never been with someone where he felt such a deep, intimate, personal passion to be with them. And when the passions subsided, her company and closeness in and out of the water touched his heart. A feeling that Gwen made clear was mutual.

Their love sealed (in more ways than one), Eddie and Gwen left the water for the wet room. Inside the other seals were dozing in a group. They woke up enough to give the two room to snuggle into the middle of the pile. Eddie's bigger size made him the ideal pillow or bed. A role he rather enjoyed as it was nice to feel accepted by the seal pod. His new family.

Eddie had never slept so soundly as he did that night. He had his new family nestled around him. His girlfriend, his mate, Gwen, had her head resting beside him with their whiskers mingled. The only thing puzzling him when he woke up the next day, still in a sea puppy cuddle puddle, was how he could get his six month stay extended. This was just too much fun.