The Miserable Planet 3: Across The Waters by Jacob Lindaman
This book or the parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise – without prior written permission of the author except as provided by United States of America copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarities to actual people, organizations, and/or events are purely coincidental.
He lay on his back staring into the darkness above. No light percolated through. The only thing he saw was the occasional fish reflecting the neon glow from the mushroom shaped bubble he was in.
He rubbed his fingers against the transparent wall. It was solid, but gave to the pressure of his hand. A ripple circulated from where he touched. He heard a splash from the other side of the room. He turned to look. She had gone under the water, but soon emerged before him resting her arms on his ledge leaving the rest of her, whatever she was, submerged.
“Tell me, young man, why one such as you would come here?”
Tuck thought for a moment. Then looked up into the abyss.
“Instinct, I guess. We were fleeing. I saw the wreckage of their ship…”
“No, that’s not what I asked.”
He looked at her again. The pale glow from outside left only shadows and beneath the water he could see almost nothing. He could not see her face. Only the silhouette above her shoulders.
“What do you mean?”
“How does a man, and a woman for that matter, come from Amazonia dressed as you?”
His eyes hovered to another dry surface across the room. His mecha suit sat empty. It had not been disturbed. He paid careful attention to that.
“Let me ask another way. Who are you?” She rose up and pushed off. A sudden flurry of water and glowing fins and tentacles splashed before him. Then when the commotion ended Citra floated on her back slowly moving away. “Well, are you going to tell me or should I tell you what your friend said?”
“Who?”
Still floating away she said, “Therah, your friend. She said she can’t remember.”
“Do you suspect us of something?”
“I believe her.” She paddled gently with one arm. “To be fair I didn’t ask her exactly the same question I asked you. Nonetheless, she said she has always been a soldier. Has always been a major too. Beyond this…nothing.”
“Do you mean us harm?”
At this she said nothing, but the lights dangling from her tentacles pulsed. Just as soon as he saw them they faded. He laid back down.
“I’m not certain either. I can’t recall much beyond…beyond the military.” Was that even true? What was his earliest memory? “Everything beyond my training is black.”
She made another splash. He turned to rest on his arm and watch her.
Silence.
A moment later he saw a little yellow light deep beneath the water. Something was in her hands.
When she emerged she presented a glass vial. Now, he saw it was yellow and red. It looked like molten iron in her hands.
“Would you like to know?”
“Know what?” He accepted the potion staring at it.
“Therah drank.”
“Avers?”
“Her memories were stirred up, but you’ll have to ask her. You don’t have to trust me. I understand. If you like you may keep it. Save it for later.”
Tuck looked over at Avers’ bubble. She and Pepla were in a room with a mermaid too. They were talking. Avers was rubbing her head. Pepla had her arm around her.
“I’ll save it.”
“Very well then. I think we should all meet to discuss your situation.”