A/N: Another chapter I've been waiting ages for! :D

This is taking place in the Islanders arc, but the Dark Orca is still laying low, so there isn't any sub-racing shenanigans.

"We'll be arriving at the site soon," Will reported around noon.

"Everyone, stay on guard," Kaiko warned.

Fontaine cocked her head. "Why? It's just an artifact recovery mission."

"That we discovered thanks to a map Dolos had," Will said. "And I know Dolos' methods too well to hope that we're the only ones he sold a map to."

"You mean, pirates?" Fontaine asked nervously.

"It's been over a month since we've heard anything about the Dark Orca," Kaiko said. "I don't know why Hammerhead's been so quiet, but he's going to show up soon, I'm sure."

Fontaine shifted and looked at her console. She really, really didn't want to see Hammerhead. She didn't know why Hammerhead hadn't come along demanding to get Finn back, and she was grateful that he was apparently not going to be the one to bring it up. But even if Hammerhead didn't confront the Nektons about "stealing" Finn, her family might notice Finn's absence.

"Any ideas about the inscriptions?" Fontaine asked, changing the conversation.

"The 'withering, extinction, and starvation' part?" Ant asked. "Nope, nothing."

"If something else tries to eat us, I'm leaving," Fontaine put out.

"With that wording, I think it's more likely that we'll get infected by an ancient sickness," Ant said.

Fontaine gave Ant a deadpan look. "Well, that's really helping convince me. But I meant the peeling the fruit part."

"Might be a puzzle we'll have to solve to get to the treasure," Will said. "And the warning could just be to scare off thieves."

"You say that about every warning we find," Fontaine said. She had to grin. "And there's always something real about it."

"If you want to stay and watch the Aronnax…" Kaiko offered, matching Fontaine's grin.

Fontaine shook her head. "No way! Let's go bust that curse!"

Will laughed. "That's right!"

"Nekton family, set sail!" Ant said, pointing dramatically ahead.

"We are going, Ant," Fontaine said.

Ant pouted. "Just go with it, okay?"

"Not if you're going to point at the treasure like that."

Ant dropped his arm. "Aw, come on, Fontaine!"

"No way!"

Less than an hour later, Kaiko spotted underwater formations similar to the ones on the map.

"The treasure should be right behind those mountains," Will said, consulting the map.

Kaiko stopped the Aronnax. "We'll take the Knights closer, just in case. They're more maneuverable than the Aronnax."

Everyone hurried to the Moon Pool and got into a Knight. Fontaine took the White Knight, Will used the Mag Knight, Kaiko was in the Swamp Knight, and Ant was in the Shadow Knight as usual. Even Jeffrey got a ride, as Ant had added an internal tank for Jeffrey in the chest of the Shadow Knight after almost losing Jeffrey in the sea worm.

"Everyone ready?" Kaiko asked. Once she got confirmation, she said, "Okay, dive."

The Knights all dove and sped toward the mountains. Fontaine drifted to the back and switched her comm to Finn's tablet.

"You there?" Fontaine asked.

"Of course!" Finn said. "Think there's really treasure?"

"There's probably something."

"I'm surprised no pirates have shown up yet," Finn said.

Fontaine hesitated, then asked, "Are you thinking of the Dark Orca?"

"Have been since Will got the map. Dolos isn't exactly subtle, and this is just the sort of thing the Cap'n would go after."

"What if he shows up?" Fontaine asked.

"Let Will and Kaiko talk. They don't know I'm on board."

"Good plan."

Fontaine and Finn fell silent. It was on the tip of Fontaine's tongue to suggest telling her family about Finn if Hammerhead did show up, but she shook off the thought. It wasn't time yet.

"We're close," Fontaine said after a minute. "I'm switching back."

"I'll await your return, m'lady," Finn said.

Fontaine grinned. "Okay, you dork."

Fontaine switched lines, cutting off Finn's offended yelp.

"Any luck so far?" Fontaine asked, rejoining her family.

"It has to be just ahead," Will said. He had an image of the map on his Knight's dome.

Ant zipped ahead. After a moment, he said, "Woah! Here it is!"

"Well, that was easy," Will said.

"Careful!" Kaiko warned.

Fontaine, Will, and Kaiko found Ant floating at the edge of the mountains. Ahead was a sort of bowl formed by the underwater mountains. The floor of the bowl was flat and sandy, with a circle of Easter island-isque statues around a stone pedestal. Sitting on the pedestal was a tall, ceramic urn with a face carved into the lid's handle.

"It's really the treasure!" Ant said. "That was easy."

"Something could activate when we touch it," Kaiko said. "Proceed with caution."

"And watch for pirates," Will added. "We can't be alone here."

"I think we are, Dad," Fontaine said, scanning the mountains. "There's nobody- wait, did you see that?"

"See what?" Kaiko asked.

Fontaine pointed across the bowl, where she thought she'd seen a shape move in the shadows. As she did, a single diver moved into the light.

"There is someone there!" Kaiko said, moving protectively forward.

The diver was too far away to make out any details, but they raised a hand in a friendly wave. Kaiko slowly raised a hand in response. The diver tapped their helmet, asking to be let onto the line. Kaiko glanced at Will, then opened their line.

"Hello!" said a cheerful male voice. "I didn't think I'd see anyone else out here. Those are some fancy diving suits you've got there."

"We're the Nektons," Kaiko said. "This is a research site, so I'm going to have to ask you to stay back."

The diver stopped swimming. "Research, huh? Oh, I've heard of the Nektons!"

A light on Fontaine's dome flashed, telling her that Finn was wanting to open their line.

"I'm Pete," the diver went on.

Fontaine blinked. She switched lines. "What are the chances-"

"It's Pete!" Finn crowed. "I haven't seen him in over a year!"

"This is great!" Fontaine said. She watched Will smile at something Pete must have said.

"Yeah, I can't believe he-" Finn cut himself off with a gasp. "Fontaine, get everyone away from Pete."

Fontaine blinked. "Huh? It's just Pete. You guys are friends."

"Yeah, maybe I am, but Pete was still raised by pirates! Do you really think he just happens to be diving-"

The rest of Finn's warning was cut off by a shriek of metal. Fontaine screamed as her Knight was yanked backward, slamming into the mountain wall.

"Fontaine!" Finn yelled.

Fontaine jerked, but one of the Knight's arms was stuck. When she turned her head, she saw an oversized harpoon pinning the right arm to the mountain!

"I'm fine, talk later!" Fontaine told Finn, then switched lines.

Kaiko was shouting at Pete to get back, her Knight advancing threateningly. Will's Knight grabbed the harpoon while he told Ant to get back. Ant, yelling angrily at Pete, didn't seem to hear the warning.

Pete's voice, now smooth and eerily calm, somehow cut through the chaos. "Do I have your attention now?"

A/N: ...Hee. XD This is the very first scene I planned for Pete. Before he had a name or place on the Dark Orca, I just had this image in my head, and this is what I've built upon to make Pete.