From the Depths

by S. J. Sanders

  “What?” Jackson answered shortly.

  “Uh, hi. It’s Betsy,” I started hesitantly.

  “And?”

  “Well, I was just wondering if anyone has ever reported anything weird out here?” Silence followed my words. Worriedly I wondered if he thought I was crazy.

  “Weird like what?” He asked finally.

  “Weird like seashells showing up in places other than the beach?”

  “Drexian otters.” He answered sharply.

  “What?”

  “Drexian otters. They’re weird little mammals that live in the jungle, but swim and hunt in the sea. They form a symbiotic bond with a rare sea slug called a tama. It lets them breathe underwater for long periods of time and they provide the tama with nutrients they can’t get underwater. The otters collect shells and other colorful shit and leave them piled up wherever they like. No one knows why,” he explained irritably.

  “Oh, okay. Thank you, Dr. Jackson. I just thought it was kind of odd, when I found them.” I commented.

  “Anything else?” His tone suggested there better not be. Erring on the side of caution, I decided not to say anything about the rest of the things left for me.

  “No, that was all,” I answered. Jackson grunted and hung up.

  Sighing, I glanced at the door and rubbed at my arms nervously. The comm beeped suddenly, startling me.

  “Sector eight, this is Betsy,” I answered.

  “Keep an eye on your sensors today. There’s a big storm rolling in just after noon. I want as much data as possible on it,” Jackson ordered before hanging up again.

  “Sir, yes, sir,” I mumbled, rolling my eyes. Would it hurt the man to be even a little polite?

  Grabbing the manual, I skimmed through the list of storm prep procedures. The sensors were automated of course, but there were a few things that had to be tied down.

  Gathering my nerves, I headed back outside to start locking everything down. After another quick but nervous perusal of the beach and jungle, I forced myself to concentrate on my duties. At the last minute, I decided to gather up the fruit and flowers, taking them inside rather than allowing them to go to waste in the storm. I also brought the shells inside and set them on the table.

  The sky darkened with every minute that passed and the wind grew worse as I worked. Trees flailed about, throwing leaves and limbs into the air. The waves slammed into the beach and poured themselves over the arms of the cove. I was just finishing when the first deluge of rain hit. Ducking my head against the stinging, pelting cold, I ran inside and quickly yanked all the windows shut.

  Kano

  She didn’t like my gift. Raising up out of the water to see better, I watched as she retreated from the beach without inspecting my offering. What was wrong with it? Perhaps the wind had disturbed the arrangement and made it less attractive? Time passed as I waited. Impatiently, I started to climb the beach, intending to check the gift for whatever could be wrong with it, but her den opened suddenly and I ducked back down.

  The little female scurried about the island. What she was doing I wasn’t certain, but she struggled against the rising wind as she hurried from one thing to another. The weather worsened and I was forced to take shelter near the rocks that lined one side of the cove. I could still see my female as she moved and gathered things around her home. Pausing, her distracted expression turned decisive and she crossed the sand and scooped up the leaf that held my present. My heart soared as I watched her carry it into her dwelling. It wasn’t my gift that was the problem, she was simply worried about the coming storm. She even moved my previous gift into her home.

  The rain arrived, swelling the waves further. I retreated into an alcove between the stones after I was sure she was safely enclosed in her den. My shelter was below the water line, but the back and forth surge of the current tried to drag me out into the open water. I wedged myself in place with my tail and let myself rock in place. I would wait out the storm and then go looking for a new gift for my female.

  Chapter Five

  Betsy

  The storm was unreal. I’d never been in such a bad storm before. Thunder crashed, shaking the windows and walls. Lightning flashed, striking nearby trees and blinding me with its intensity. The main power cut out an hour into the typhoon, despite the supposedly infallible generator. Thankfully the secondary generator that kept the sensors running was still working, so I sat in the dark monitoring room watching storm data scroll across the screens.

  Two hours later, I was starting to drowse when an alert went off. The harsh beeping jolted me awake and I nearly fell out of my chair. Sitting up to check the problem, I silenced the alarm and typed in a command. A sensor was malfunctioning out by the landing pad. I could have ignored it, but it was a main sensor. If it didn’t read correctly, it could affect all of the others in its chain. Swearing, I pulled on my neon yellow rain gear and boots, not looking forward to fighting my way through the storm.

  The wind was hard and fast, slamming into me as soon as I pushed the door open. I fought with it, straining to pull the door shut behind me. Shielding my face, I made my way out to the landing pad, searching for the sensor on the far side. The dark, stinging rain forced me to squint. The wind sent me sliding cross the water slick plas-crete, arms pinwheeling as I struggled to stay on my feet.

  The sensor was located on the far side of the pad, just above the rocks that circled the edge of the cove. Waves crashed against those rocks, spewing water up onto the pad, before dragging back out to sea. Crouching under the unit, I pulled the case open. Peering at the wiring inside told me nothing of the problem. I reached for my scanner and cursed. I’d left it in the station.

  Standing, I turned to make my way back to the station and failed to see the massive swell coming up from my left. It slammed over the top of the pad, sweeping me off my feet. The breath rushed out of my lungs as I smacked into the hard surface. The water rushing back into the ocean pulled me across the ground, dragging me with it. A second wave followed the first, shoving me back several feet, before lifting me off the pad and yanking me into the rocks.

  Stars burst in front of my eyes when my head connected with one of them. I sucked in a lungful of seawater and coughed violently. Bouncing off another rock, I suddenly cleared the last of them and open ocean closed over my head. The sky disappeared and all I could see was darkness as the current swept me away from the island. I rolled, scraping along the sandy bottom as I fought the pull of the undertow. My lungs and eyes burned, I had to get to the surface, but my rain gear weighed me down. I couldn’t get untangled enough to shed it and swim. Just as I thought I wasn’t going to make it, hard arms closed around me and my body shot forcefully upwards.

  Kano

  The storm raged, battering the little island that sat alone in the ocean. My female was safely ensconced in the little dwelling that the other strangers had used securely for seasons upon seasons. Knowing she was out of harm’s way, I allowed myself to drift languidly in the current that swirled through the cave. Nearly asleep, I smiled as my female’s taste reached me, reminding me of the lovely, soft stranger I’d set my sights on.

  I jolted awake. Her scent should not be in the water! Bolting out of my cave, I searched the murky water. The storm had stirred up the sand on the ocean floor, making it hard to see. A flash of yellow startled me and I swam over to investigate. Something bulky and brightly colored rolled along the ocean floor. My female’s scent grew stronger as I got closer, but I wasn’t sure what it was. Then it turned and I spied a pale little hand sticking out of the strange object.

  Darting forward, I wrapped my arms around her and sped to the surface. The bright coverings she wore were heavy and awkward. Using my free hands to strip the strange thick material from her as I swam, I let it drift away on the current. We broke through, right into the eye of the storm. The water was calmer, sky clear and blue. There was a stillness in the air that only comes from being in the center of so much chaos. Coughing, she sucked in a desp
erate breath. Her hands clung to me as she gagged up the water she’d swallowed. Finally, her breathing calmed and she sagged tiredly against me. It was amazing to hold her at last. She was warm in spite of the chilly water. The odd material she still wore was thick and bulky from the water it absorbed, but did little to hide the soft contours of her small frame.

  Stiffening slightly, she slowly raised her head and looked up at me. Green. Her wide, luminous eyes were the most vibrant green. Staring warily at me, her lips parted on the tiniest little gasp of surprise. Pushing back a little, she scanned what she could see of me. I smiled softly, reaching out to brush her disheveled mane away from her face. She twitched, eyeing my hand nervously. Moving slowly, I shifted the dark mass back, then lightly trailed my fingers down her cheek.

  Chapter Six

  Betsy

  My rescuer was an alien species I’d never seen or heard of before. I wasn’t even sure there was any record of his species anywhere. Not sure just why I thought it, but I was fairly certain the being that held me was a male.

  He had large golden eyes with crescent-shaped, black pupils above an almost smooth face. With only a slight nasal ridge, he had almost no nose. His lips were nearly normal in appearance, except for the fact they were gray. Slightly darker than his blue-gray skin, they were almost pretty. Soft and supple-looking, they curved in a sweet little smile as he stared at me. One hand reached for my face and I flinched, but, moving ever so slowly, he gently pushed my hair back and traced his fingers down my cheek.

  He had five fingers, with a small amount of webbing between them. Short, dark claws tipped each finger and I decided they must be sharp, because he made certain to curl them away from my skin. A slight movement on the side of his neck drew my gaze. Small gills fluttered softly with each brush of water against them. The arm around my waist tightened, pulling me closer into his embrace and the hand under my legs tickled as he shifted his fingers. He still stroked my face with the first hand. I almost jerked out of his arms when I realized he had more than two.

  His expression turned concerned as he resettled me in his grasp. A slight splash revealed a fourth arm, treading the water to keep us upright. Then he surprised me by leaning in and sniffing me. He smiled again, eyes glowing warmly. A clear membrane blinked over his eyes, then receded again. All through his perusal of me and mine of him, he’d said nothing, but perhaps he was waiting on me to speak first.

  “Uh…hi,” I said quietly. His head tilted slightly as he watched my mouth move. “Thanks…thanks for the rescue.” His head dipped again and he pressed his forehead to mine.

  You are most welcome little female. A voice, his voice I suppose, spoke inside my head. I gasped, startled at the unexpected form of communication and jerking back from him. A tiny, hurt frown tilted the edge of his mouth down.

  “Sorry,” I apologized. “You surprised me.” His smile returned and his eyes crinkled at the edges.

  Apologies, my beauty. I have no wish to frighten you. How did you come to be in the water during such a storm? The question had me looking around, suddenly wondering how it could be so quiet in such a short time. The sky around us was dark and ugly still, but directly overhead was a brilliant blue. The waves that rocked us were oddly calm, but further out I could see the roiling swells.

  “Where are we?” I asked, feeling a tremor of uneasiness.

  In the eye, he answered simply, looking up at the circle of clear sky. The storm rages around us, but here it is peaceful. The island is not far, though you cannot see it at the moment. We surfaced here by coincidence, but it was no less fortuitous for us.

  “The waves washed me off the landing pad and pulled me into the ocean. You saved me. How did you know I needed help? Were you watching me?”

  I tasted your scent in the current and came searching for you.

  “My scent? You can taste me in the water?”

  Yes, you have a most wonderful scent, feminine and sweet. It stands out from the other flavors of the sea. It called to me from the very first time your skin touched the water.

  “Touched the…you mean when I went swimming a couple days ago?”

  I mean the day you stood in the cove and let the waves carry your scent away with the tide. I was there that day and every day since.

  “Was that you pushing me back to shore when I fell?”

  Yes.

  “And the shells by my door? The driftwood and the flowers? The fruit on the beach?”

  Courting gifts. To attract your attentions and indicate my interest.

  “What do you mean your interest?”

  I wish to present myself as a possible mate.

  “Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up. No. No, no, no, no, no. We can’t be mates. I have no idea what you are. We’re not the same species and interspecies breeding is extremely rare.” I protested, pushing away from him. I succeeded in freeing myself only to start sinking from the weight of my clothes. He scooped me up again and I clung to his shoulders once more. He chuckled gently, gladly resuming his hold on me.

  Species matters not. We are compatible. My mating glands responded to your scent. I wish to court you.

  “But I’m not aquatic like you are. This could never work!”

  I can walk the land with you. There is no need for you to live in the water, though it could be arranged if you wanted. You need not make a decision now. Merely let me show my worth as a mate. I will help you, provide for you, even comfort you should you wish it. That last comment was said with an intensity that sent a thrill of heat curling through me.

  “I just want to go back to the station before someone calls looking for me,” I stated timidly, trying to ignore the sudden clench of sensation between my legs.

  You taste of need, little one. Do you wish to mate now?

  “What? No! For one thing, we just met! For another, we’re in the middle of the ocean!” My face burned with embarrassment. Of course he could tell when my hormones suddenly decided to perk up and pay attention.

  It matters not that we are in the sea. I can easily mate you wherever we may be. His grin was a little too cocky for my liking and I scowled at him. Another chuckle burbled from his chest. I enjoy your spirit, my female.

  “I am not your anything,” I replied tartly. “Can you please just take me home?”

  Of course, dear one. The journey will be rough once we leave the eye of the storm. You must hold tightly to me, listen, and be prepared to go under the waves on my warning.

  “Okay,” I agreed, hating that my voice trembled as I looked out at the tempest around us.

  Fear not, my heart. I will see you safely to your den.

  With that, he shifted me around to his back and set off into the chaos. His lower arms wrapped around behind his back, holding me to him. The upper ones stroked through the water. I felt his feet kicking under me, as well as a strange motion that rocked us side to side as he powered into the waves. We moved much faster than I expected and it was thrilling to crest with the swell of the water and almost sail through the storm.

  Every so often, he would warn me to hold my breath and we would dive under the waves, shooting even faster through the calmer current underneath. A tap on his shoulder and he’d rocket us back to the surface, bursting into the air. The first few times were scary, but after that I found myself whooping and laughing with every leap.

  The storm was calmer by the time we reached the island. It was still windy, but the gusts were weaker. The rain was heavy, but no longer a stinging deluge. The thunder and lightning had moved off over the ocean. There were a few limbs scattered about the beach and my driftwood had shifted, but the station looked good.

  My rescuer swam straight to the beach, easily walking out of the water with me on his back. Just above the tide line, he bent and let me slide off to his side. A flicker of movement behind him caught my eye and I looked back. A small gasp escaped me at the sight of a thick tail and the wide fin on the end of it. The fin flexed, opening and closing languidly as I watched.


  Stepping back, I examined him from the feet up. He had four wide-set toes, webbed between each of them and tipped with wicked looking claws. Short, sharply ribbed finlets ran along the lower half of his legs. His legs were muscular, as was the rest of him. Naked, he had a simple slit in his groin area, rather than exposed genitals.

  Muscles upon muscles stretched down his torso, with a double set of pectorals to handle the strain of four arms. The upper set was bulkier, stronger, with more webbing between the fingers, perhaps for swimming and fighting. While the lower set appeared slightly smaller and more dexterous. A familiar red band circled one wrist. I tugged it gently and he gave a playful grin, gently pulling it from my fingers and covering it with a free hand.

  A belly button centered his lower torso, flat nipples, and thick dark hair that hung down to his shoulders pointed towards his species possibly being mammalian. Pointed, fin-like ears peeked through the waves of his hair. When I reached his face again, he smiled and spread his arms slightly, inviting me to look my fill.

  Ignoring the steady beat of the rain, I circled behind him. I knew his skin was thick and almost rubbery like a dolphin’s. The front of his body was a lighter shade of gray. His backside was a darker blue gray. A large dorsal fin extended off his back, making me wonder how in the world I’d missed it when I’d been holding on to him. The spines twitched as it opened fully, then lay flat once more. Glancing at the side of his face, I caught the tiny smirk at the corner of his mouth and realized he was showing off.

  Kano

  The female circled, inspecting my appearance. I stretched my fins to their fullest extension, flexing my muscles and opening my mating glands to allow my pheromones to saturate the air. Her tiny nostrils flared just a little, reacting to my scent. Fingers twitching slightly, she reached out and very gently stroked the edge of my dorsal fin. Shuddering at the heat of her skin on the sensitive membrane, I groaned under my breath. She immediately retracted her hand and I regretted my outburst. Turning towards her, I realized she was shivering.