Fallen from the Stars

by Tiffany Roberts

  Kane grumbled. “You left yourself so wide open, but…argh, I can’t be that mean to you!”

  “Good,” Vasil said, “because if you are mean to her, I will find a way to take you out of her body so I can throw you into the sea.”

  Theo snickered; she enjoyed what she felt in response to Vasil’s protectiveness, and she knew he’d never do anything to Kane. Vasil was aware of how much the AI meant to her — not that there was much chance of Kane’s systems being removed without killing her. The IDC used extremely sophisticated equipment to install and de-pair AIs.

  She pushed her arms into the diving suit’s sleeves and brushed her covered fingers over the round device on the chest. The suit immediately sealed, molding to her body like a second skin. “You can turn around now, kraken. Your innocence is safe.”

  Vasil turned to face her again, dipping his gaze down her body. She followed it with her own. The suit hugged her every curve, and yet somehow wasn’t overly revealing.

  The smooth wrist piece attached to the suit’s arm glowed, and Theo raised her arm.

  Kane’s voice projected through the wrist piece. “The systems in this suit are almost obnoxiously primitive, but beggars can’t be choosers. There should be an accompanying mask. It’s required to seal the suit and make it fully operational.”

  “It is in the container,” Vasil said. He stooped down and opened the lid, revealing a curved piece of glass inside.

  Theo crouched and picked up the mask. Kane scanned it like it had the suit, displaying a series of connections within the glass that were invisible to her naked eye. Kane considered it primitive, but Theo found the device fascinating. Though it would be little more than a piece of glass to anyone else, she admired the intricacy of its inner workings — even if this sort of tech was outside her area of expertise.

  “Is that glow in your eyes because of Kane?” Vasil asked.

  “Yeah,” she said, setting the mask on the seat. “He can overlay information in my vision.”

  Vasil’s brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”

  “Um…well, I guess it’s like… He adds images to what I already see. Sometimes it’s to point out something I didn’t notice, sometimes to give me information on what I’m looking at. With this suit, he’s showing me all the internal components that make it work.”

  “Interesting. I think the masks—”

  Several heavy thumps on the outside of the pod interrupted Vasil. He glanced over his shoulder. “We are trying his patience.”

  Theo chuckled. “I’m sure it’s safe to open the hatch now. My naughty bits are covered.”

  Vasil looked at her again, his eyes roving over her body slowly, down and up, until they met her gaze. “I do not want to share you with anyone.”

  Theo flattened her hand on his chest. Despite the suit covering her hand, she felt the rapid beating of his three hearts beneath her palm. “You’re it for me, kraken.”

  He covered her hand with his own and held it for several moments, stroking her lightly with his fingers. Only when Dracchus banged on the pod again did Vasil release her and open the hatch.

  “I know what it is like to desire your mate, Vasil, but we are wasting light,” Dracchus said.

  Vasil straightened. “We did not—”

  “We’re packing up,” Theo said, placing a hand on Vasil’s arm as she stepped forward to look down at Dracchus. “Shouldn’t take very long. I want to make sure we bring as much as we can because I don’t think we’re going to find any replacements on this planet.”

  Vasil retrieved the other container and worked beside her to fill them with as many supplies as possible — the first aid kit, rations, blanket, clothing, blaster, water filtration containers, and, finally, her toolbox. Only a ration pack and a water-gel pouch remained.

  “They’re waterproof, right? Airtight?” she asked as they closed and sealed the chests.

  “Yes,” Vasil replied. “We use them often to transport items between The Watch and the Facility.”

  “I’d ask how you could haul these things over long distances,” Theo said, flicking her gaze toward Dracchus, “but that’d be a dumb question.”

  “It is not enjoyable, especially on long journeys, but we will manage.” Vasil lifted the first container onto the lip of the opening and passed it to Dracchus, who set it down on the sand. The second container followed a few moments later.

  At Vasil’s insistence, she ate the ration pack — it was a bit more flavorful than the bar, but not by much — and swallowed the water-gel. When she finished, it was time to leave. Theo picked up the diving glass mask and cast one last look around the pod. The memory of them sitting side-by-side with the storm raging outside rose to the forefront of her mind. They’d grown so close since that night — closer than she’d been to anyone. It had been the best night of her life.

  She turned to Vasil and smiled. “I’m ready.”

  They made their way to the water, with Vasil remaining nearby Theo. The tide came in, sweeping past her calves, but she felt none of its chill. After tugging the diving suit’s hood into place and tucking her hair inside, she lifted the mask to her face. She heard — and felt — a faint hum as the mask attached, sealing with the material of the hood. The hum spread across her skin, creating the odd sensation that the suit wasn’t actually touching her anymore.

  “Hi!” said a cheerful, unfamiliar voice. “I’m Sam, your System—”

  “Shut up,” Kane muttered. His voice seemed to come from an audio system within the suit. “Sorry, Theodora. I was a bit slow in establishing control of the suit’s systems.”

  “So that’s the Sam Vasil was talking about,” Theo said.

  “Yes, the system assistant and monitor. An artificial intelligence so primitive and undeveloped that I cannot rightly attribute any intelligence to it.”

  “Come on, Kane, no need to be so rude. He’s pretty much your great-great-great grandpa, isn’t he?” Her eyes flicked to Vasil, who was staring at her with mild confusion on his face. “What?”

  “Nothing,” he replied, shaking his head. “I am sure if I ask what the two of you are talking about I will only become further confused.”

  Theo frowned. “You can’t hear him in this?”

  “It projects your voice while you are in the air, but he is not projecting his.”

  “Oh.”

  “See. Primitive,” Kane remarked.

  “You just spoke through the wrist piece a few minutes ago, Kane. I know you can do it again if you wanted,” Theo said.

  “Why go through unnecessary trouble?”

  “I imagine Kane is simply being…Kane?” Vasil asked.

  “You got that right,” Theo said.

  A faint smile touched his lips, but it faded a moment later. He brushed a tentacle against her leg. “We will not be able to speak to one another when we are in the water. Dracchus will swim at the lead, and I will swim behind you. Watch for any signals from him.”

  Theo nodded. “Okay.”

  “It will be a long journey. If you tire, I will carry you so you may rest. Just signal to me.”

  Theo smiled and caressed his cheek. “I got this, kraken.”

  Chapter 13

  “I so do not got this,” Theo rasped as she pushed onward. Sweat trickled down her face, and every muscle in her body screamed in absolute agony. Everything was dark and distorted; all she could do was focus on the soft glow around Dracchus, who swam ahead of her, and force her arms and legs to move. She was flagging, and she knew he’d slowed his pace so she could keep up, but she couldn’t allow herself to even consider stopping.

  If she stopped, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to move ever again.

  “You’re in peak physical condition, Theo. You can do this. I believe in you.” Kane’s total lack of enthusiasm was not lost on Theo.

  “You suck at encouragement,” she spat. “Peak physical condition? The most exercise I’ve had before this was carrying around my toolbox and crawling through access duct
s.”

  “But you were great at those things. Shouldn’t that apply to this, too?”

  “Says the one who doesn’t have a body.”

  “Attacking me over things I can’t control, are you? You’ve stooped to a new low, Theodora Velenti.”

  “If I had the extra strength, I’d roll my eyes at you right—Ow! Ow!”

  Sharp pain shot down the back of her right leg her hamstring and calf seized simultaneously. Tears stung her eyes as she reached down to grasp her thigh, halting her forward momentum.

  “Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck! Fuck!” She sucked in rapid breaths as though they could alleviate the agony.

  “I could be wrong, but my analysis indicates you may be suffering from a leg cramp,” Kane said.

  She dug her fingers into her leg. “No shit, you jerk.”

  Vasil was suddenly there with her, his stripes creating an aura of light around him in the dark water. He passed the container to his tentacles and moved his hands to her thigh. His strong fingers massaged her hamstring, gradually fighting back the stiffness and pain. He worked his hands lower and lower, frowning all the while, and when he reached her ankle, his fingers trailed back up again.

  The pain wasn’t completely gone, but it was far more tolerable thanks to his attention. She met his concerned gaze and thanked him; he nodded as though he’d understood, though she knew her voice hadn’t been projected out of the suit.

  Shifting the container back to his hands, he wrapped two of his tentacles around her waist and guided her behind him. She looped her arms around his neck and her legs around his middle gratefully, pressing herself against his back. Even after wriggling to find a position that didn’t threaten to cause another cramp, the muscles of her left leg continued to throb and ache, refusing to relax.

  Vasil removed his tentacles from her waist and dipped his chin to place a kiss on her arm before propelling himself forward. Theo tightened her hold; he was like a space ship taking off, moving with a burst of speed she hadn’t thought possible from an organic being under water. Each time his momentum faltered, he flared out his tentacles and snapped them together again, creating a fresh surge. The rhythm of it was odd but steady. That predictability gave her something to focus on besides her pain.

  Theo rested her head against the back of Vasil’s neck. The journey had been exciting when it started, even pleasant. If swimming in the stream had been enjoyable, swimming in the ocean — being able to stay below indefinitely and see everything — was on a whole new level. She’d never imagined there could be so many different creatures in the water, or that the sea floor could be so varied and interesting.

  But time had chugged on, and Theo’s body, unaccustomed to the motions of swimming, had protested the exertion with increasing vehemence. She wasn’t sure now how long they’d been at it — hours and hours, at least, as the sun had gone down some time ago. Kane could have told her, but Theo didn’t want to know; she guessed the information would only make her more tired.

  Stopping had already made her more tired; once her muscles had received a taste of rest, they’d decided to rebel. They were on strike — no more swimming until they’d been compensated with at least a week of bedrest. She wasn’t sure how she was maintaining her hold on Vasil, and that uncertainty was the only thing keeping her weary eyes open; she could imagine falling asleep, losing her grip, and drifting into the darkness to be swallowed up by the sea forevermore.

  She realized that the light ahead had intensified. She lifted her head to look forward, and her eyes widened. Dark shapes lurked in the gloom — buildings on the sea floor. She could see two of them clearly, but there were more beyond, all connected by tube-like tunnels. Light glowed from some of the windows, and light fixtures on the exterior walls created cones of illumination at regular intervals.

  “You seeing this, Kane?” she asked.

  “Yes, I am.”

  Dracchus swam toward the nearest building, and Vasil followed. All Theo could do was hold on and stare in wonder — not because these structures were marvels of engineering, but because they existed. If she’d harbored any doubts about Vasil’s story, this place would’ve crushed them. Humans had been to this planet, and they’d been serious about it. The IDC didn’t build places like this for no reason.

  They swam between a pair of light posts that stood on the ocean floor; in Theo’s imagination, they were the end — or perhaps the beginning — of a long pathway of lights that led all the way back to land. This was the finish line of the race she hadn’t realized she was running — or rather, swimming.

  Dracchus led them to a door on the side of the building over which glowed a single red light. He shifted his container to one arm, supporting it from beneath with a tentacle.

  “The transmission range of this place’s systems is extremely limited, but I can access them from here, if you’d like,” Kane said.

  “Go ahead,” Theo replied.

  “Access granted.”

  Just as Dracchus was reaching for the keypad beside the doorframe, the red light turned green, and the door slid open. He pulled his arm back and turned his head toward Theo, frowning.

  She shrugged and winced at the ache in her shoulders.

  The trio entered the chamber beyond the doorway together, with Theo still clinging to Vasil’s back. She felt his muscles tense once they were fully inside. She smoothed her hand over his chest, letting him know without words that she was there. The brush of a tentacle on her knee told her he understood.

  “He’s going to push the button to close the door,” Kane said, calling Theo’s attention to Dracchus, who was now behind them. “Should I beat him to it?”

  Theo grinned. “Do it.”

  Dracchus extended his arm, moving his hand toward a button on the wall, but the door slid shut before he pressed the button. His hand stilled. Slowly, he turned his head to glare at Theo over his shoulder.

  She barely held in her laughter as she mouthed what? to him.

  A strange pulse swept through the water, and the entire room seemed to vibrate gently. It took Theo a few moments to realize that the water was draining. Her body felt a little heavier with each passing moment, steadily increasing the ache in her limbs.

  When the water level dipped below Theo’s chin, Vasil spread his tentacles over the floor, anchoring himself in place, and stooped to set down the container. He rose and took hold of her wrists, gently breaking her hold on his neck.

  Her arms fell to her sides, dangling like clubs she was too weak to swing. Fortunately, she was still buoyant enough in the water that she didn’t have to put weight on her aching legs. Vasil turned to face her and looped a steadying tentacle around her waist.

  She patted his tentacle, smiled, and sagged toward him. “Thanks.”

  He caught her upper arms in his hands and stiffened the tentacle at her waist to stop her fall. Once she was stable, he cupped the back of her head with one hand. “Are you all right, Theo? Have you been injured?”

  “Just completely exhausted. I don’t even know if I can stand upright.”

  “I will help you. There are rooms inside with beds where you may rest.”

  Theo smirked. “Oh, I’ll be crashing, that’s for sure.”

  “Do you want me to release the seal on the mask?” Kane asked.

  “God, yes. I am so ready to be out of this thing.”

  The faint tingling that had coursed over her skin for the entire trip subsided as the mask hissed softly and sagged away from the hood. Vasil removed his hand from the back of her head and caught the mask as it fell.

  Theo took in several long, deep breaths. The air wasn’t much better in here than it had been in the suit, but it was almost familiar to her, calling to mind the recycled air she’d breathed for more than half her life on board various interstellar ships.

  Vasil carefully pulled back her hood, lightly combing the tips of his claws through her hair. The gesture soothed her, and she leaned her cheek against his chest, relishing the feel of his sk
in despite it being wet.

  “Mmm, that feels good,” she said, closing her eyes.

  “Pressurization normalized,” a feminine voice said once the water was completely drained. It was followed by the sound of a lock disengaging and the slide of a metal door.

  “Who’s that?” Theo asked, lifting her head and opening her eyes.

  “The AI of this facility,” Kane said through the suit’s wrist piece. “A step up from Sam, but not by much.”

  Vasil followed Theo’s gaze toward the ceiling with his own as his hand smoothed down her back. “Computer is the only name we have for her. She holds all the information in this place. She is the main reason our people have continued to speak your language.”

  “Interesting…” Theo said. Her mind raced, battling her weariness; how much information did this computer contain? How many files could Theo and Kane uncover about the IDC’s operation here, about their goals, about the kraken?

  “Come,” Vasil said softly, moving to her side. He bent down and opened the container, tossing the mask inside. After sealing the lid, he picked the container up, holding it against his middle, and guided Theo toward the interior doorway.

  His tentacle remained around her waist — it was the only thing keeping her on her feet. Her legs moved only out of muscle memory, powered by a reserve of strength she hadn’t known she possessed.

  They entered a long corridor. Some of the overhead lights along the hall flickered, but the place was in surprisingly good shape considering its age. Though it was somewhat dated aesthetically, this could be the interior of any ship in space, and there was something comforting about that. The only thing throwing off that feel was the slight curvature of the floor, which undoubtedly had been designed to allow any excess water to flow to the drainage grooves running on either side of the main walkway.

  The strange, soft slithering sound of tentacles on the floor behind Theo signaled that Dracchus followed as they moved down the hall, but her neck was too sore for her to bother looking back.

  “The accommodations here are quite luxurious, compared to a typical military base,” Kane said through an unseen overhead speaker, his voice carrying through the hallway.