Hidden in the Depths

Chapter 35

Techno didn't sleep.

Or rather, his body desperately tried to, but his mind refused to follow.

He laid on his back and stared up at the dim curve of the ceiling while the base hummed softly around him. Every vibration felt louder in the quiet, every shift of metal a reminder of how close they'd come to being crushed in that wreck. Against his will his brain replayed it over and over, the screeching, the blood clouding the water, the way Roier's scales had looked so dulled and sick... his earlier determination completely gone.

Now that he was alone, everyone else either asleep or in a similar state to his own, he allowed himself to shed the mock bravery and calmness. Allowed himself to shiver when recalling the furious roars that had echoed around him, to have tears prick at the corner of his eyes at the thought of Roier's injury. Even if no one would judge him for his fears, it felt safer letting it out in private.

Today had just been too close.

They'd been seconds away from losing someone. Maybe more than one. If Roier had died, who knows what would have happened with Foolish. Losing his son would have put him into a rage that would have shredded the two aggressive leviathans. But what would come after? Maybe he would have turned on the humans, blaming them for his death. Or he would have just left, abandoned them to fend for themselves. It wasn't the first time the leviathans nearly died because of the humans, after all.

He rolled onto his side, dragging a hand over his face. Stop it... everything is fine. Roier will recover and Foolish will be protective, but he doesn't hate any of them. Remember how happy he had been seeing the humans unharmed. Trying to ignore the now countless 'what ifs', he simply stared at the sleeping form of Quackity, sprawled across his bed and snoring softly. Sleep pressed at the edges of his vision, heavy and insistent, but every time he closed his eyes, he saw yellow blood drifting through the dark. Felt the weight of the rifle in his hands. Heard Foolish roar in fury.

Techno got up instead.

The common area was empty, lights dimmed to their lowest setting to make sure it doesn't keep anyone from sleeping. Despite having doors for each of their rooms, none of them have actually closed them yet. At least not for sleep. Oxygen tanks sat neatly lined against the wall, still slightly warm from refilling. They finished probably hours ago, but Techno checked them anyway. Again. Just to be sure. Once that was done, he cleaned the stasis rifle with slow, methodical movements, despite them not even being dirty. Just giving his hands something to do, his mind something to focus on. Slowly picking a few grains of dried salt off the white plating, left behind by the ocean water. He made sure that the battery packs were recharged properly and made a mental list of everything they still needed.

Stronger batteries. More weapons. Better plans.

No more close calls.

Once there was nothing more to do inside the base, he drifted towards the window. Foolish and Roier were curled together like always, although unlike most nights, Foolish kept his son tightly wrapped in his arms, who had his head nestled under Foolish's chin. As if he could protect Roier from the dangers of the world by hiding him in his arms, covering him in golden scales of safety and love. Seeing them like this made guilt creep into his chest once more, squeezing his heart painfully tight. They shouldn't pay for the humans' mistakes like this. Not with blood, not with their life. They deserve so much better than this.

He turned away from the window abruptly, as if not looking at the wound they caused would make every dark thought disappear. Replaying the same guilty mantra won't solve anything. At this point he had gone down this exact line of thought countless time. He pushed down each painful thought one by one, burying them beneath plans and to-do lists to ensure their continued survival. Once they figure out the stasis rifle batteries, protecting them will be easier. Helping them fight back will be easier. Just a little while longer. And then they can start looking for this guide towards the dream leviathan.