Hidden in the Depths

Chapter 27

Techno was dazed, confused, lost.

His thoughts wild and uncoordinated as he stared out at the dark waters, at where the burning remains of their rescue had disappeared. Shot out of the sky, ripped into a thousand pieces before it could escape the weapon. More lives falling victim to this godforsaken planet at the edge of the galaxy. Why did this have to keep happening? Why do they have to keep suffering like this? What had they done to deserve this torture?

His throat hurts from screaming, his eyes sting, exhaustion and numbness pulling at his limbs. His ears were still ringing, muffling all other sound that was trying to reach him. He can still hear it... still see bright green and feel electricity in the air.

How long has it been? The horizon was starting to light up...

The water seemed cold now, lazy waves pushing against his torso where he had fallen to his knees in the shallows. Waves so small and calm, giving no hint at what had just happened. At what they were hiding beneath the innocent blue. Monsters five times as big as the largest animals on earth, wreckages of ships that had done nothing but fly a little too close.

What will they do now... knowing they can't escape. There will be no rescue, they will all be shot down. And escaping without a functioning ship won't be possible either. Even if they built one, that ship will be shot down as well. Infected organisms are prohibited from deactivating the weapon...

They are stuck... hopeless, alone, infected and cut off from any communication outside this planet. He won't even be able to say goodbye to his family...

Someone was tugging at his arm, trying to pull him up. They had to leave now. Return to the safety of their base, away from the island and it's dangers. But what's the point? They can't escape. They won't get home. They'll die here- "Techno, come on. We have to go." He blinked, suddenly aware of how dry his eyes were. Tubbo?

The teen knelt in front of him now, water up to his chest. There were still holes in it, they never made him a new one. His skin is so scarred, he has suffered so much, he doesn't deserve this, he will die here. Both of Tubbo's hands were on Techno's shoulders, holding tight, but not shaking. Steadying. Grounding. Helping. "We have to go back. It's not safe here. Please." Techno didn't have the energy to protest, or even answer. He just let himself be guided along as Tubbo tugged him up and towards Foolish. He didn't even look at the others, not wanting to see their faces of pain and hopelessness. It's worse enough he is trapped... but there are others he had so foolishly given hope, only to destroy it again.

What will they do now...?

Foolish didn't make any noise either, sensing the distress of the humans and choosing to stay quiet. Whatever the bright light and loud noises had meant, it clearly upset the small creatures he had taken in. They weren't even talking to each other anymore. Roier did try, nudging Pac and Cellbit with his hand, since they were closest to him. And while Pac did lean into the contact a little, he didn't speak. Or looked at the leviathan. Neither did Cellbit. None of them did, really. After a questioning look towards his father, he silently allowed the humans to climb on. The best option was taking them back to the nest. Back to where it was safe.

There were distant roars in the water, they need to get away from here... too close, too loud.

Techno silently stared ahead, eyes focusing on nothing as they made their way back to their base, away from the island. The sun rose higher and higher, painting the sky in colours he would call beautiful, if the circumstances were different. Now it only reminded him of fire.

It took a second for all of them to remember that Quackity had no mask of his own. Only when he sputtered, and seconds later hurriedly swam to the surface, were they reminded that they needed to watch out for him. So now they were swimming along the surface so Quackity could breathe, giving them full view of the burning wreckage of the Q.S.M.P the entire way. Just another cruel reminder of their situation.