Verdurous Seas, Cerulean Skies
Aria II
"You ready for this?"
Ledo nodded curtly to his superior as he climbed up his assigned Yunboro. This would be his fourth expedition, and after the last three, greenhorn Ledo had become less green. His initial fears of piloting these amphibious machines had all but dissipated after his first voyage, but aside from whalesquid, there were still many things in the sea that he'd yet to come upon. The chances of completely avoiding the cephalopods themselves was extremely slim, but his fingers stayed crossed.
"I think after this you'll finally be ready to pilot one of these babies without supervision," Bellows said.
"Really? Are you sure?"
The young excavator nodded confidently and gave him one of her brightest smiles. "You're making waves, soldier boy. I've never seen progress as impressive as yours. You think you'll stay with us in the long run?"
"I'm not sure, but I can't imagine doing anything else at the moment. My options are limited."
"Well, there's always the courier route." Bellows smirked seeing the young man blush, clearly thinking about a certain brunette. "But you're always welcome to stay with us."
"Thank you, Bellows. You don't know how much I appreciate this."
"Don't mention it. Now go find me something good." She winked at him, causing his blush to intensify.
As soon as he was nestled inside, Bellows tapped the arm of the Yunboro, indicating for the operator to release the former ensign into the water.
Ledo never thought much about superstition or even the naïve concept of luck, but ever since he started bringing his communicator with him during these expeditions, he found all sorts of treasures, from outdated computer hard drives to rusty time capsules and even some antiquated toys. Most of his bounty consisted of ancient texts and other things that were useful to Bebel, the amateur residential anthropologist of Gargantia. Ledo felt a sort of obligation towards Bebel after everything he'd done for him, not to mention the enthusiastic smile on the younger boy's face whenever he brought back some prehistoric trinket served as further motivation on these expeditions. Everyday his goal was not to disappoint, and a part of him believed the presence of the communicator helped accomplish that.
This time, along with the communicator, Ledo brought Aria, who was currently hiding in his shirt pocket. Usually on work days, Aria would stay at home or with Bebel, more often than not flying around the fleet with Grace and exploring every nook and cranny she could squeeze herself into. But the other day Bebel reported how the small-eared flying squirrel was becoming lethargic as of late, not even so much as leaving the apartment unless he took her to class with him. Only when Ledo returned home did she spring back into her normal, chipper self. Ledo wasn't sure how she would feel cooped up in a Yunboro, but if it possibly made her happier, then he saw no reason not to at least see how she would handle it.
After his Yunboro was released, Ledo waited patiently for his partner. Once everyone was in the water, Bellows began shipping out her orders:
"Alright, guys. Standard procedure. These waters are calm and the area is wide, so I'm sure at least one of you will find something—and hopefully something expensive. Good luck."
Standard procedure usually entailed the expeditors to split up into designated sectors according to Bellows's map of the area. Only two divers were allowed in the water at a time, and each dive lasted one hour before the two-man squads were switched. A lookout was always assigned to monitor the surface for any trouble. During each shift change, the rest of the excavation team, along with the two divers that weren't currently in the water, would go through all the items they found, but rarely did anyone resurface without so much as a scrap of shrapnel after an hour of scouring the ocean floor.
Ledo's partner was Joe's younger brother, Haru. He was Bellows's age, but he had only been a part of the team for a year, having joined the year before Ledo came to Earth. As the previous excavation team rookie, Haru was put in charge of Ledo's training and he did not take it lightly. After all the hubbub with the cult and the fact that there was not only one but two alien soldiers flying around their planet killing whalesquid and people alike, the older boy was extremely skeptical of Ledo, walking on eggshells whenever he saw him outside of Bellows's ship.
At the time, Ledo was still insecure about how the people of Gargantia perceived him, and he was unfortunately paired with one of the many who were still intimidated by him. Even though Bellows emphasized equality among her fellow crew members, there was no way she could change how they felt about him.
"Give him time," the lead excavator encouraged, having noticed Haru's attitude a week after Ledo started training. "If it makes you feel any better, he's not afraid of you. He's just… curious. Joe told me he wouldn't stop asking questions about you when you and Chamber started working in the cargo hold. He's actually a lot friendlier once you get to know him, and a lot chattier. You might regret trying to make nice once he finally opens up."
After several weeks of training exercises, as Bellows predicted, Haru's attitude did a complete 180 and he started treating Ledo as if he were a lifelong buddy. Although Amy's swimming lessons helped him immensely when it came to maneuvering his body in the water, under Haru's tutelage, Ledo was able to perform his assigned tasks with flying colors, and handling the intricate mechanizations of the Yunboros became child's play. And, honestly, it felt really nice making a friend on his own.
"You ready, Ledo?" Though he couldn't see his face, Ledo imagined Haru giving him a face-splitting grin along with a thumbs-up.
"I'm always ready."
"I'd expect nothing less from you. Let's see if we can find something impressive for Boss-Lady."
The two were assigned to the sector closest to Gargantia, which was always deemed safe. The more experienced pilots, once it was their turn, would go to the other side of the excavation ship.
Before they did any excavating, Haru and Ledo scoped the area, making sure no lingering predators or predatory habitats were around. Ledo moved the levers so he could submerge in place and observed how Aria was holding up. Naturally, she was very curious of her new surroundings. Ledo watched in amusement as the little ball of fur began crawling around the cockpit, trying to find new nooks and hidden crannies that were too small even for her. Finally, she found a spot to her liking, resting soundly next to the only thing that was familiar, the communicator.
"I heard what Boss-Lady said about you going solo. I didn't think you were you planning on leaving me so soon."
Ledo looked back at the reef they were approaching. It looked lifeless, but looks could be deceiving. "I'm not leaving anyone. And I think Bellows was joking." No one was allowed to dive solo due to the potential threats hidden under the sea. Bellows took the safety of her crew seriously, and she'd rather lose a day's worth of treasure than the lose one of them due to her negligence.
"I figured as much, but I'm still kind of jealous. I think you're her favorite."
Ledo moved aside as a snake-like creature slithered out of a hole in the coral. "I'm no one's favorite."
"Not true, lover-boy. I see the way you and Amy look at each other, and I know you're blushing." Ledo felt his cheeks warm up again, and he was slightly miffed that he was so predictable. "You two are so in love it's gross."
Ledo didn't respond as he spotted something glowing next to the reef, and he was immensely grateful for the distraction. "Haru, I think I've found something." The glowing object was coming from some wreckage. A rotting fleet ship that had been decomposing long enough to sink in on itself laid precariously next to the lip of an ocean floor cliff. Below it was nothing but darkness and a possible deathtrap for some poor, unfortunate souls.
This was the sort of place for the experienced divers, but that did not deter the vivacious Haru. "There's bound to be something in there!"
"I think we should have Greg and Menma investigate it," Ledo advised, referring to their more expert compatriots. "We are not proficient enough to inspect this area. It's too dangerous." And though he didn't voice it, the glow was ominously familiar to him.
"What are you talking about? We're just as capable as Greg and Menma! We can totally handle this on our own!"
"Haru…"
"Okay, okay. If it makes you feel better, we'll just look, not touch. If we see anything of value, we'll call it in."
"… Fine." As reluctant as he was, Ledo's curiosity was getting the better of him.
As the two young pilots swam over the abyss to the wreckage, Ledo noticed that the rotten parts of the ship had bonded to the ocean floor, making it very secure despite its hazardous position. The ominous glow acted like a beacon, guiding them closer and closer to unknown goods, or perhaps they were just being optimistic. They found a giant gash at the bow of the ship, but it was only big enough for one of them to slip inside. Ledo immediately volunteered to go in, and Haru humored his caution, monitoring the exterior of the ship as Ledo did a once over of the interior.
As soon as he was inside, Aria became fidgety. This would've concerned him if he didn't already have a growing suspicion about this place. The little ball of agitation began to scurry about the cockpit as if looking for the closest exit. Ledo quickly snatched her up so he could concentrate on piloting the Yunboro. He deposited her in his pocket and caressed her cheek, but he doubted the action would placate her for long.
After observing some of the domestic animals that resided on the fleet (mostly Grace and Aria), he quickly learned that they were more sensitive to the unpredictable conditions of this planet, making their instincts much sharper than humans. So either Aria had suddenly become extremely uncomfortable with the confined space, or she was sensing danger, which warranted her discomfort. Either way, the last thing he needed was for the wily squirrel to accidentally knock over the wrong lever and send their aquatic vessel into the ground.
The glowing from earlier was nearly blinding now, and as he swam closer to it, his growing suspicion slowly transformed into fearful apprehension. The fluorescent light pulsated, like a heart. Nothing like this glowed so fervently. Not unless it was organic…
Organic… pulsating… like a heartbeat… oh no…
"Haru, we need to retreat!"
"Why? What did you find?"
"Never mind that! We have to go—!"
His warning was heeded too late as the ship began to tremble, causing debris to fall from what was left of the wreckage. In a scenario like this, the normally levelheaded Ledo would have acted and evacuated as he should have. In fact, if the former ensign was still around, he would have adhered to his instincts—not to mention Chamber's analytical danger protocols—and done what any Galactic soldier would have in this very situation. But the Ledo of today, the Ledo who was so focused on what he should have done—what he could have done several months ago—was too paralyzed by the fact that his inner demons had come to life.
"Le—get—I—help—!"
The connection between him and Haru grew fuzzy, but the static between them was white noise compared to his erratic heartbeat pounding in his ears. His breath hitched as alabaster tentacles tore the ship further apart. The rotting metal, as corrosively brittle as it was, was still difficult for the beast to rip away, so it gave him time, time he needed to make up for due to his petrification.
Switching gears, Ledo did a quick survey of the area to find the closest exit. Unfortunately, the only way out of this jam was the same way he had been heading. Quelling his anxiety, the young pilot headed out of the frying pan and into a cerulean flame.
~VSCS~
Going through the whalesquid nest was like swimming through one of his post-traumatic nightmares, each one more vivid than the last. This one was the absolute worst.
He found himself back in Chamber's cockpit, watching as the Machine Caliber destroyed every last Hideauze. He couldn't help noticing the luminescent forms of the Hideauze larvae and how they resembled human fetuses as opposed to the monstrous blobs he'd seen at first glance. As Chamber plowed through their numbers, Ledo cried for him to stop, but the Machine Caliber did not break protocol, running his laser through them until they were bits of organic debris. The metallic smell of blood permeated the cockpit, and he felt sick to his stomach. Then the human-sized juvenile appeared and smiled at him, looking so innocent, so naïve. It made his heart ache, and his stomach churned in anticipation. As usual, the night terror ended with the decimation of the Hideauze child, but instead of seeing Chamber's laser beams, he saw his own hands drenched with the blood of millions of Hideauze children. At the realization of what he'd done, he cried.
Somewhere between the visions of gore and his cries of anguish, he found himself back in the Yunboro, sweaty and tearstained. Seeing nothing but utter darkness, he cried again.
He was a damn fool to think that something as pointlessly superstitious as Chamber's communicator would be enough to scare away his innermost demons. Now they were out there, waiting to kill him, and he was here, quite literally stuck between a rock and a hard place. There was no way he would make it out of this alive, and even if he did somehow summon enough courage to face that whalesquid, he doubted he would do anything to defend himself. Not if it brought him penance.
This moment was the most human Ledo had ever felt, and it absolutely terrified him.
Prickly little paws clawed at his chest, reminding him that he was not the only one stuck in the Yunboro. After wiping his tears away, Ledo carefully took Aria out of his breast pocket and cradled her shivering form against his.
Spotting the communicator in his periphery, Ledo's thoughts once again went back to Chamber and he immediately scolded himself for using the Machine Caliber as an emotional shield. He needed to stop thinking like that—like a soldier. Chamber was gone and he was no longer a part of the Galactic Alliance. He had new friends, a new team with whom he worked and got along very well, a group of lively characters that would always remind him that he would never be alone…
Amy…
That's right. He had people he needed to get back to.
Amy, Bebel, Melty, Saaya, Pinion, Bellows, Haru… Haru!
Hopefully, the older boy had gotten away before the whalesquid attacked and went to get some help.
Hopefully.
It was the only sentiment Ledo couldn't afford to lose.
The cramped space of the Yunboro allowed very little room for comfort, and it was starting to affect both its occupants. Ledo shifted his legs away from the mechanisms so he could huddle into his seat and relieve some of the tension coming off of his companion. Unfortunately, this only served to make Aria more agitated, and she scrambled out of his hands soon after he moved. "Aria!" Before he could reach her, the little ball of fur found her way into the left pocket of his shorts. His patience was wearing thin, and he was starting to regret bringing an antsy flying squirrel into an aquatic vessel several leagues under the sea. He reached into his pocket, expecting to find his furry companion, but instead of feeling Aria's mousy pelt, he felt something solid and cold brush against his fingers. It was hard to reach in his new position, his left side jammed against the back of the seat, and Aria was no help at all, wriggling through the pocket and throwing his hand off its path. After a moment of struggling, he was finally able to grasp the item, and he was shocked when he felt the familiar holes and smooth texture of his flute.
He didn't remember bringing the instrument with him, but as soon as he brought it out of his pocket, he felt a real sense of relief, as if a tremendous weight was lifted from his shoulders, allowing him to finally breathe. Aria found her way out of his pocket shortly after, her twitchy whiskers brushing against his skin. He made to grab for her again, but he stopped himself when he realized something:
Bringing his first haul back to the surface was the first time he'd seen that excitement on Bebel's face. After that moment, Ledo wanted nothing more than to continue to make the boy smile and exceed his expectations. Bebel reminded him so much of his little brother in that aspect, and he didn't want that latent memory of his brief time with the long-lost sibling to slip away again. That was when he started bringing the flute with him on his expeditions, and around the same time Aria became lethargic.
Ledo almost laughed at this, despite their dire predicament. Now he had another reason to thank Bebel.
Without a second thought, he brought the handmade instrument to his lips and played. The soothing tones of the lullaby immediately put Aria at ease, and she snuggled into his lap as she fell into a deep slumber. Ledo was nearing the end of the melody when the Yunboro began to quake.
Setting the flute aside, Ledo rearranged himself back in front of the controls, steeling himself for the worst. Just like before, pale, shiny tentacles tore at the rotting walls that had trapped the vessel, and once again the young excavator was faced with a living nightmare. But the whalesquid made no move to attack the young pilot. Instead, the multiple eyes of the cephalopod merely glared at him, as if daring him to move. That didn't stop Aria, who was stirred from sleep as soon as Ledo moved back into position.
The short-eared squirrel scrambled to find her primary source of comfort, plummeting right next to the instrument as Ledo moved the Yunboro away from the beast. After landing, she inadvertently squeaked into the flute, which released a sharp whistle. Ledo used one hand to grab both the squirrel and the instrument, and he waited with bated breath to see how the whalesquid would react. This time, a guttural hum resonated from it. Glancing between the flute and the beast, Ledo grew suspicious. He brought the flute back up to his lips, making a quiet, soothing note. The hum grew, and the tentacles that held taut to the metal relaxed.
Unbelievable.
Once again, Ledo played, and the whalesquid advanced, but not to attack. Its multi-eyed gaze found the almost imperceptible window that allowed Ledo to see. The moment was brief, but as he stared back into those visceral eyes, Ledo saw something he'd never thought he'd witness.
Understanding.
"… edo! Ledo! ... is Bellows! Greg and Men… coming! ... Hold on!"
The signal of the radio was still weak, but it was loud enough to disturb the whalesquid, and it swam off, the Yunboro pilot completely forgotten. Ledo slumped back against his seat, relieved, exhausted, but mostly astounded by his new discovery. He barely registered the Yunboros coming to his rescue.
"Ledo! Thank goodness!" Haru was the first to reach him. "You okay? I'm sorry I didn't listen to you before! We should have retreated like you said!"
"Was that a whalesquid that just passed by?" The older, gruffer voice belonged to Greg. He and Menma were hanging back, most likely watching the retreating form of the mature whalesquid.
"It's leaving. It didn't even take notice of us," the soft-spoken Menma observed. "Why isn't it protecting its nest?"
"Because it knows we're not a threat."
The three Yunboro pilots turned to their fellow rookie curiously. "How does it know that?" Haru asked.
Ledo brought the flute up, reinvigorated with newfound resolve. "Because I told it so."
A/N: This is right before the epilogue of the last episode. I wanted to emphasize the humanity of the Hideauze and show how Ledo discovered how to communicate with them. I love writing about Aria; her little antics lead to great discoveries, not to mention she's just so darn cute!
R&R!
