Cyborg Bat Ray

Overview

Cyborg bat rays, found in Lake Merritt and the Oakland-Alameda estuary, appear to be common bat rays (Myliobatis californica) with implanted electronic components. As yet, no explanation has been given for their origin or purpose.

Theories of Origin

It is generally agreed that bat rays, cyborg or otherwise, do not reproduce in Lake Merritt, but instead enter it through the waterway under the 12th Street Dam.

Many hypotheses have been put forth regarding the bat rays' electronic components. Subscribers to the "siliconspiracy theory" suggest a mad scientist living off-shore in an underwater habitat is responsible for inventing the electronics and implanting them in bat rays. Many local activists believe the cyborg bat rays are a secret government surveillance tool, and refuse to hold organizing meetings near any body of water.

Studying Cyborg Bat Rays

Cyborg bat rays are extremely difficult to study. Wary of humans, they shun scuba divers and snorkelers and cannot be studied in their natural watery environment. All attempts to catch cyborg bat rays for study have been fruitless, as the creatures die immediately upon capture. At the moment of death (it is surmised), a powerful electrochemical pulse travels through the animal's system, fusing the electronic components into slag. Scientists hypothesize that the electrochemical pulse also ruptures cell walls, flooding the tissues with decay enzymes. Within a space of minutes, the dead cyborg bat ray decays into a rank-smelling puddle of goo surrounding a smoking lump of fused electronics.

The only way to study cyborg bat rays is to entice them to approach the researchers or observation equipment of their own accord. Fortunately for local scientists, cyborg bat rays are strongly attracted to opera. All successful research on cyborg bat rays has been accomplished with the assistance and cooperation of the Lake Merritt gondoliers.

Category:Mystical Oakland

Published under the terms of the CC BY 3.0 license.