Hidden in the Depths

Chapter 18

"There are a few things we can add, but a lot of things are still not available until we scan objects or acquire blueprint schematics." They had huddled together around Pac, sharing the freshly caught and cooked fish as they looked at all the options the habitat builder provides for them. An empty room makes for a depressing base of operation, after all. And an uncomfortable one. Techno really had hoped for some beds, but sadly there weren't any available.

Currently, it was mostly Fit and Tubbo scrolling through the list of possible structures while the other three just watched and gave occasional opinions. The screen was too small to get a proper view for everyone. So far it has mostly been structural base components, like hallways and rooms, hatches and tools. "We can get a radio and a fabricator down here, so technically we don't even need to keep the pod close. It can just drift off after we take the signal beacon and our stuff."

The pod certainly won't be missed. Cellbit and Pac hated it anyways and the others saw no real use in it anymore. It's not like it can fly anywhere, it's only use being the radio. Once they moved that down here, there is no value in it anymore. "I'm pretty sure this thing has a deconstruct option... so we can get the materials of the fabricator and then rebuild it in here." Techno hummed, biting off another piece of fried fish. "I'd rather try that when we have the materials to build one ourselves. Just in case that doesn't work and we're stuck without a fabricator."

Being stuck without one would be horrible, having grown so used to using it for cooking and filtering water. And getting useful tools and materials. Living without it would cause so much trouble.

"Speaking about the fabricator, did you manage to figure out how we can make more masks and equipment for Pac?" "Right! That's what I forgot to do!" Fit pushed himself up and wandered over to where they had all their diving equipment stashed in one corner. One by one, he scanned all the items, waiting for the system to create blueprints and material lists. Tubbo, who had the PDA, quickly scrolled through the new list of items. "Oh that doesn't look too hard. Mostly titanium and quartz, some silicone we can make from kelp vines... We should be able to make a new set of equipment for Pac in no time."

"After he heals," Cellbit added, playing with the empty water bottle he had just finished. "Of course, he won't go outside until his wounds have healed over and he has regained a little balance." Fit and Cellbit, despite knowing each other for only a little while, have quickly bonded over the fact that they were protective over Pac. Maybe a bit overprotective at certain points, but he was currently heavily injured and recovering from the blood-loss and trauma of losing a limb.

Which brings them to another point of discussion.

"I think one of our next steps should be checking out the ship. See if we find any important machines or resources we can take." Techno sighs, slumping forward a little. He hated the idea, ever since Fit first brought it up. He was just getting comfortable around here, familiar with the fish and creatures and even their big leviathan friends outside. The ship was a long way away, bringing a new environment and new creatures. Possibly even more massive ones like Foolish.

Or the entire area by the crash site is one big wasteland. It was probably demolished and poisoned by the ship when it landed, not to mention all the animals that have been killed. What if radiation from the core is leaking into the water? They have no protection against that, it could kill them in minutes. Or the ship explodes while they are inside it. There were still fires raging and melting away at the structure.

"Techno, I can see your brain melting. What kind of doom scenario are you thinking about now?" Tubbo nudged his shoulder, putting the PDA down. The older just huffed, not meeting his eyes. Instead, he stared out through the singular window they had. The water was starting to grow darker, showing that nighttime was approaching. "The different ways the ship can kill us." Tubbo groaned, rolling his eyes so hard he got worried they might get stuck. "Of course, you always think about everything that could go wrong."