From the Past

Chapter One: At the Bottom of the Ocean

It was a peaceful morning in the South Pacific ocean. It was around 6:30, and the Nektons had planned to get up for an early dive.

Kaiko dragged Ant out of bed. First he hissed like a vampire when she hit the light switch. Then he moaned and groaned as Kaiko literally grabbed his foot and pulled him out of bed. "Don't complain, you agreed to this!"

Finally, he was awake enough to be excited for the dive, Kaiko went to get Fontaine while he changed from Nekton pjs to his wetsuit.

Fontaine was already up and ready to go by the time Kaiko was at her room, and had woken Will up by splashing him in the face with water and jumping around on their bed.

Around 6:45 the Nektons were all suited up and in the moon pool. Fontaine grabbed the Rover just in case. The Nektons moved out into the water.

After a few minutes Ant had gone off on his own with Jeffrey, swimming wherever caught his eye and playing. Kaiko meticulously counted fish with her app, Will collected a coral sample to take to the lab, and Fontaine followed a Lazarus species she saw.

Suddenly the Nektons stopped. Ant in his playing had stumbled into a metal object. "What is that?" Fontaine said as she swam toward the thing "I don't know" admitted Kaiko. "It looks like a sub!" said Ant "No," said Kaiko, pushing away the sand around the object, "It doesn't have a propulsion system, it looks more like a metal egg" Fontaine pulled the Rover around and used the Blower to clean around it.

"This craftsmanship," Will said, looking off dramatically into the distance, "Definitely Lemurian."

"Nektons!" cried Kaiko. "Get clear! This thing's gonna blow!"

The Nektons knew the drill and swam for it. They had just gotten clear when the metal egg exploded. The sea was filled with a bright light, and when the Nekton's vision was restored they could see that nothing had broken but the egg. It had swung open, and there was something lurking back there. Ant shuffled back a few steps. Kaiko swam forward all the way to the back of the egg.

"Mom..." said Ant nervously. "It's okay Ant, it's empty, oh!" Kaiko gasped. " What is it?" said Fontaine "There's a kid in here!" Three kids came floating out, wrapped in some sort of giant bubble. The oldest girl was talking animatedly, but it was clear they couldn't hear each other. They brought the kids aboard the Arronax, still in shock and confused.

Kaiko reached her hand out kindly. "I'm Kaiko, and we're here to help you. What are your names?"

"I'm Ala, and these are my brothers Oli and Inu." said the oldest girl. She had light tan skin and dark, curly hair cut at her shoulders. Oli looked like his sister, but with a messy bowl cut and straight hair, he was smaller than her. Inu was the littlest, he was barely walking. He had curly hair like his sister, but a shade lighter. They all wore robes with strange symbols on them, and piercing teal eyes.

"We're the children of Queen Doreus."