Deep Sea

Chapter 24: Mad Dash

Chapter 24: Mad Dash

“The sub is...offline.” one of the sub room workers said, his voice slumping with his shoulders.

Not that Ilia needed him to tell her that. She saw the blinking dot of the sub go out.

Josh was there, patting her arm comfortingly. “I'm sorry, Ilia.”

“How deep were they?” she asked anyone who had the information to answer.

“Just under 8000 feet.” a man shook his head. “Kai might live. But...”

He didn't finish the sentence, but then he really didn't have to.

“Oh, Joe.” Josh lowered his head.

“Doc.” Ilia said, the name coming to her in a flash.

She turned on her heel and ran out of the room, Josh calling out to her but she ignored him.

A moment later, she heard him running after her. However, she was in a better shape then him and he never caught up.

Ilia reached the sickbay first and burst into the room.

The sailor with a large cut on his forearm and the doctor both jumped when she slammed the door open.

“Ilia, wha-”

“Doc, Joe took that CBI, right?” she asked desperately.

“What?” the sailor asked just before Josh who stopped behind her, bent over and panting.

“Ilia, I don't-”

“Did she or not?” Ilia snapped.

“Of course.” he answered, clearly picking up on her distress. “I gave her another dose just yesterday.”

“And what will it do?” she asked.

“Wait, back up.” Josh stood up straight. “What did Joe take?”

“Well,” the doctor took a moment to organize his thoughts as the sailor looked between them silently, “it wont affect her nearly as much as it would affect a mythic. However, it will give her slightly mermish qualities.”

“Huh?” Josh looked stunned.

“Like what?” Ilia demanded to know. “Can she breath underwater?”

“No, her lungs aren't built like that.” he shook his head. “I wish I could help you Ilia, but the DCBI's are largely untested and what has been tested runs the gamut from minimal to incredible. There's no way to tell.”

“What if she was, oh, I don't know, subjected to the intense pressure of the bottom of the ocean?” Ilia asked.

“Joe what?” the doctor looked shocked.

“Would she survive it?” Ilia pressed.

“There's no way to be sure.” Doc thought about it. “It just depends on how she reacts to the drug and how long she's down there.”

“But there's a chance?” Ilia grasped onto the small hope like it was a precious life line.

“A small one.” he admitted. “Astronomically small.”

“That's all I need.” Ilia nodded. She could live with a little bit of hope.

“Ilia.” Doc snapped. “Go to the decompression chamber and get it warmed up.”

“The decompression chamber?” Ilia blinked in confusion.

“Even with CBI's, Joe is still human.” he explained. “If Kai gets her up in time the quick transition from such a high level of pressure to low could be too traumatic for her body to bear. No go, quickly!”