Deep Sea

Chapter 25: Awakening

Chapter 25: Awakening

 “No more secrets, Jack.” Mr. Ozera said firmly. “This habit of yours of keeping things from me is going to get someone killed some day.”

“Is that a threat?” Jack asked calmly.

“It's a threat that your carelessness is going to hurt our people.”

Jack tried not to sigh. “I'm not trying to keep secrets from you.” Lie. “I'm doing my job without-”

“-without telling me about what you're doing! Jack, I'm begging you, just once, tell me what's going on.”

Jack did sigh this time. “Fine. I got a report from Ilia Redreak, a fairy who works as a technician for us, that the manned sub was taken out by a kraken. The creature was confirmed by Brooklyn Meyers, our mythic expert. Two of our people were down there when it was taken out.”

“Did they...” Mr. Ozera started.

“No, sir.” Jack assured him. “One was a merman, the other human was on DCBI's. They've both been confined to a decompression chamber. I've been assured by the doctor on board that they would both live.”

It was silent for a moment. Finally, Mr. Ozera said, “Thank you, Jack. That will be all.”

Jack hung up without saying good-bye, glad Mr. Ozera hadn't pressed. That, of course wasn't all.

Krakens, Brook assured him, were gentle creatures. Much like pit bulls, when left to their own devices, they were as sweet and kind as any other. It was only when they were trained to be mean that they became so.

That meant that some one had trained that kraken to be vicious then set it on the sub. His people had come under attack for getting close to that base one too many times.

And a direct, obvious attack on his people meant that Jack could act without worry. That base was going down. He had already sent two more ships after the first three. They were bringing the back up the first three needed to take that base out.

XXXXXXXXXX

Crispin was shackled, the shock collar on full strength around his neck. Even being able to whisper was a privilege taken from him.

He was alone but for only one of the girls he was brought here with.

The changer had been taken away first, then the more obvious of the pregnant humans.

The other human, also pregnant though not showing yet, was still with him.

Again, they weren't bound but, again, they didn't need to be.

The room had no windows like the one they had first come into, there was only one low light. It illuminated a small space that was terrifyingly empty.

Crispin had sat against the wall opposite the door, as from the people who put him here as possible. The human girl, who told him was named Ashley, was curled into his side. They took comfort in each others warmth, presence, and solidity. The only point of comfort in a dark, cold room so many leagues from any person with an ounce of sympathy for them.

Ashley and Crispin passed the time by him teaching her sign language. She spoke of her husband, an elf who had been her high school sweetheart, and the joy both of them had had at learning she was pregnant.

Crispin wished he could comfort her, tell her that they would be fine, that they would definitely be saved.

But he just couldn't bring his hands to form the words.