I picked my old copy of TTLUTS, which I hadn't read since high school, and I've really been enjoying reading some of my childhood favourites lately. I wrote this fic to celebrate the friendship between Professor Aronnax and Ned Land, because I couldn't find any fics centered around these two and I love how different their personalities are and yet they find common ground in each other during the novel.

Also, Ned Land is the only sane person in the book in my opinion. ;)

This is a short fic but I have another, longer fic in mind for this fandom. If you enjoy this story please let me in the comments. Non-slash, just lots of friendship and character study.

Katabasis

"But if the destinies refuse my vow…know, I'm determin'd to return no more; so both retain, or both to life restore." – Ovid, Metamorphoses, Book X

Ned Land had liked the professor from the first moment they had met. The man was unabashedly enthusiastic about the voyage and his air of boyish excitement almost made him seem younger than his forty years.

He certainly wasn't what Ned had been expecting when he had first learned that a French biologist and his assistant would be joining them on the expedition. Ned had fully expected some old, stuffy academic that would only get in the way and complain constantly about anything and everything.

Instead, he had found a Frenchman that was not only comfortable on a ship, but also knew well enough how to stay out of the sailors' ways while still managing to take notes. It became a common sight in the early days of the expedition to find Aronnax awake with the dawn, sitting on a crate, jotting down notes, auburn hair tousled by the sea breeze and green eyes squinting against the bright sunlight.

That man was now gone. In its stead was a wraith-like creature with almost fever-bright eyes in a face that had grown paler and thinner with each day that they spent aboard this cursed ship. It was almost as if Aronnax was becoming a ghost of himself; a mere shade that was less likely to return the longer they were held here.

It reminded Ned of an old story he had once heard – some sort of Greek tragedy about a man going into the underworld to steal his lost love back.

Well, he was no love struck fool, and he was rescuing a friend instead of a lover, but the villain was a far worse one than the Lord of the Dead in the old story.

Captain Nemo, Ned had decided with his steely resolve that was the core of his character, is a madman.

The Canadian cannot fathom how such an honest and brilliant man as the professor is so taken in by Nemo. Conseil is just as intrigued by the captain but as the days turn into weeks and then into months Conseil's common sense resurfaces. The Belgian eventually agrees with Ned that they must escape.

Convincing Aronnax of that is another matter entirely. It takes all of Ned's control (which isn't much, he admits) not to crack the fool over the head and haul him bodily from the Nautilus.

But where would they go? As Ned's desperation grows so does Aronnax's blindness to their situation as well as his friends' despair. It was like the man was under some sort of spell, Ned thinks bitterly.

After the sinking of the warship Ned knows what must be done. He would either escape or die trying. This was not living; this strange, bizarre existence between two worlds was worse than death.

Good lord, Ned thinks as he searches for the professor, he's starting to sound like one of those blasted Greek writers, all doom and gloom.

Maybe he's going a bit mad too.

He finds Aronnax in one of the Nautilus' dark corridors, the harsh fluorescent light catching on his face. Ned noted with some alarm that Aronnax was starting to look almost gaunt – his face was deathly pale and Ned was certain that his cheeks hadn't been quite so sunken in as they were now.

This place was draining the very life from them.

"Ned…" Aronnax says when he spots the Canadian, his once bright green eyes now dulled with shock and horror. But beneath those emotions Ned can spot something else – something that gives him fresh hope.

Resolve. Aronnax has finally, finally seen Nemo for what he truly is.

"We must escape, Professor," he said gruffly, gripping Aronnax's thin shoulder (he had lost muscle mass that he really couldn't spare, the Canadian noted with some alarm).

"Yes, you're right. You've been right from the start," said Aronnax, lifting his face and looking at Ned, and the harpooner thinks he sees a bit of life begin to creep back into Aronnax's haunted expression.

Nodding, Ned turns to go but Aronnax's cold hand on his arm stops him.

"Ned, I…" Aronnax pauses, swallowing hard. There are too many emotions in the professor's eyes – guilt, horror, despair, hope – and Ned suddenly wonders how the blazes they'll go back to life once they've made good their escape.

Ned doesn't think about "if"; he swears that he'll get Aronnax and Conseil away from Nemo or die in the attempt. If he lingers on the alternative – of being trapped aboard this vessel for the rest of their lives – Ned is certain that he will go mad.

The Canadian shakes his head and briefly clasps Aronnax's freezing hand with his own larger, warmer one. "There's no time, Professor," he says firmly. "It's now or never."

"You are truly the best of us, Ned," said Aronnax, a small smile finally tugging at his mouth.

The Canadian nodded and gripped Aronnax's shoulders. "We're getting out of here," he said firmly. "Trust me."

"I do trust you, Ned. Please be careful, my friend."

Ned nods resolutely before making his way to the dinghy. For the first time since this accursed voyage had started, Ned could see a light leading up and away from this dark underworld.