The Key of Astrea

Spelunking

Bubbles sped past Jack's helmet. The depth meter on his heads-up display climbed as the underside of the Endeavor shrank. He hit the ocean floor with a sudden jolt. The Tumlare suit absorbed most of the impact, but his teeth still rattled in his head.

I never thought I'd die like this, Jack thought as he tipped forward into a cloud of sand.

"Kick your legs," Mazu said over the suit's comm. She clutched the Locator to her chest and used her fins to hover near Jack.

"My legs?" They're useless in a space suit, Jack thought.

"You weren't lying, were you?" Mazu asked. "You really don't have any diving experience."

Jack's heart thundered, and his breathing was short and rapid. Does she know who I am, and that I've been lying to her this whole time?

"Can't you swim?" Marcel asked.

"No," Jack replied. "I don't know how."

"Maybe there's something wrong with your suit?" Marcel asked.

Jack's head jerked around. There was solid ground below him and turquoise water all around. Mazu kicked a set of flippers that extended from her legs.

These big Tumlare suits are surprisingly graceful in the water, Jack thought.

Marcel swam closer to Jack. "Both feet together, like a dolphin."

"We can't wait here," Mazu said. "Either he figures it out, or he doesn't. We can pick him up on the way back." She turned and swam away. The backwash swirled sand behind her.

Marcel hovered near Jack and shrugged by raising his hands. Then, he turned and joined Mazu.

Okay, I can do this. Jack tipped himself forward and kicked with both legs. Something clicked inside his suit. He felt a vibration in his feet. He kicked again, and this time he lurched upward, but sank back to the sea floor. Jack churned the water with his arms and legs until his legs ached from the effort, and still the distance between his comrades grew.

Jack recalled his first time in a space suit. Every movement had been countered by an equal and opposite force. Even subtle shifts had significant effects in space. He had to be aware of every action. I need to work with the Tumlare suit, not against it.

Jack studied Mazu and Marcel and copied their movements. First, he flattened his arms against his sides, then he kicked. This time, he paid attention to the feedback from his suit. Soon he found a natural rhythm between machine and sea. Jack stopped fighting against the water and flowed through it.

Overhead, the Selkans' island homes passed overhead like dark clouds. Sunlight lanced from the sky to the ocean floor. Mazu and Marcel were mere dots against the rippling water's surface. Cursing himself for his lost time and energy, Jack increased his intensity and gained on them.

"Welcome back," Marcel said. Mazu grunted.

Jack felt his face grow hot. This mission isn't off to a good start. He stayed in their wake and focused on his technique. After a minute, he relaxed and enjoyed himself. The weightlessness reminded him of space, but it was better somehow.

They swam toward a sizeable dark mass. Turquoise water stretched endlessly out to either side. Crabs, turtles, jellyfish, and other marine life accompanied them on the journey. Nearby, a large gray fish broke through a school of yellow-blue fish.

After some time, they came to a stop at a rock wall. A crack marked a cave opening. The twin headlights on the sides of their helmets pierced the veil of darkness. Inside, small animals clung to the walls, extracting minerals and filtering food.