Meditation and Water
Part 2

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Damn damn damn! Should've been more alert. Should've known he was being too friendly. Should've bloody seen this coming!

They marched down the hall and past the diving area. Their hands were free but the guards kept their guns trained on them. They stopped at an office door.

"Take him in there," said Kteeran, handing Malcolm's phase pistol to a guard, "don't talk to him." The guard took Malcolm's arm and shoved him in the door. "Be gentle with him," said Kteeran, "he is our guest!" He leaned closer, out of Hoshi's hearing and added, glancing nervously, "but if he tries anything, you may kill him."

The guard's chest swelled. "Right," he said.

Kteeran and the other guard walked Hoshi down the hall out of Malcolm's view.

"Sit," said the guard, waving at a chair opposite where he sat on the edge of a low desk examining the phase pistol.

Malcolm sat. He gripped the arms of his chair tightly.

"What kind of gun is this?" the guard asked.

Malcolm said nothing.

The guard held the pistol out, pretending to shoot something across the room. "I bet it wouldn't stand a chance at taking down a Stha'nak or even a little Kri'nak," he said.

Malcolm said nothing.

The guard set his gun down on the desk beside him and grasped the pistol with both hands, tripping the switch from stun to kill. "Two settings, hm? Seems a bit much. If you aren't going to kill something you shouldn't be pointing a pistol at it." As he said this the complex suddenly shuddered. A loud metallic sound filled the room. The guard looked around, startled.

Malcolm kicked out quickly. Down, then up. His foot slammed against the guard's knees and hands in succession, knocking the phase pistol onto the floor. He grabbed for the gun on the desk and fired.

"My thoughts precisely," he said, scooping up his phase pistol from the floor near the guard's lifeless body.

He was opening the door when he heard the explosion.

The entire complex groaned. He could smell smoke in the distance. He stepped out the door trying not to think about the many meters of water between him and the open air. He needed to find Hoshi. Concentrate. Don't think about the water. Find Hoshi.

~~~

Kteeran took Hoshi back to his office where he had demonstrated the Stha'nak rifle. He told the second Yi'sthan guard to bring them some drinks.

"Please take a seat," he said.

"I'd rather stand."

"If you wish. I do apologize for this unfortunate situation. I think if you hear me out you might find yourself agreeing with our side of the matter."

"I doubt that." She walked towards the observation window.

"You see, we have discovered some very interesting artifacts here. Things that will change Yi'sthan and I'stiiri society profoundly. But we have been silenced! The Governor will not even listen to us in private quarters!" He pounded his fist on the edge of the desk in frustration.

Hoshi turned to look at him. The rifle! He hadn't noticed! She was so close.

"What sort of artifacts?" She stepped closer to the desk.

"We have discovered a vital link between the Yi'sthan and the I'stiiri that goes back thousands of years," he said, "and they will listen to us now. Your Captain will make them listen. He must. If he values you, he will make them listen."

"What is the link?" She stepped once more.

"It's a-- what was that?" Kteeran stopped in mid sentence. They heard the explosion. Hoshi trained the Stha'nak rifle on him.

"Please don't make me use this," she said, "I've barely gotten the phase pistol down." She stepped closer, thinking. If I leave he'll call more guards. Can I shoot him? I have to get to Malcolm. Find Malcolm. She swung the butt-end of the rifle around and hit Kteeran on the side of his head.

~~~

Malcolm walked through the hallway he'd seen them take Hoshi down. Smoke was filling the corridor and a blaring alarm filled his ears. He saw a figure coming towards him, carrying a Stha'nak rifle. He raised his phase pistol.

"Malcolm!"

"Hoshi!"

They spoke at the same time.

"What are you--"

"How did you--"

"I'm rescuing you!"

"I'm bloody rescuing you!"

They looked at each other and laughed. Silently they exchanged weaponry, Stha'nak rifle for phase pistol.

"What was that explosion?" he asked.

"I'm not sure, but the elevator to the top deck is completely blocked. Water is coming in through that end. It's coming pretty fast," said Hoshi. He looked down and saw water pooling around his ankles.

"Is there another way up?" Don't. Think. About. The Water.

"The stairs are at that end too. I think that end is gone. I... I have a plan," she said.

"By all means, suggest away," he said.

"Follow me." She walked back down the corridor until they came to the diving area. The room smelled of smoke. The alarm was quieter in the room. There were two Yi'sthan scientists, dead at the opposite end. The object they had been studying was gone. She grabbed a pair of diving masks from an equipment locker.

"What sort of plan is this?" Diving masks. That can't be good.

"A good one." I hope. I hope. I hope.

She kicked off her boots. "You should take off your boots, they'll weigh us down."

Definitely not good.

"Hoshi..."

She stood up. "The water is warm, we should take these off too. That's a little less weight." She unzipped her uniform.

Not good, but interesting.

"Come on Malcolm, we've got the water and whoever's crazy enough to blow this place up to deal with."

The complex shuddered again and somewhere a large piece of metal twisted loudly.

He just stood there, looking at her, not looking at the water.

She went over and knelt down, removing his boots. She stood and unzipped his uniform.

Now he stood there, in his underwear, looking at her, not looking at the water.

"Malcolm? Malcolm, please. You're scaring me. We can do this. It's only a few meters." What do I do? How can I make him listen?

She grasped his face forcefully, making him look at her eye to eye. "Come on," she whispered, and touched her lips to his in a soft peck. She only planned a quick kiss to startle him--she'd try a slap if it didn't work--but he leaned into the kiss and she felt his hand go to her waist. She softened her grip on his face and caressed his cheek as she opened mouth to his. His arms embraced her tightly. He broke the kiss to bury his face in her neck. She stroked his hair.

She only planned it to startle him, she thought. That was a lie. She wanted it. Had wanted it for months. Now she wanted at least something before they...

"I won't let you drown," she said, "I won't. Trust me." She tried to believe it herself.

He met her eyes. "I do. I'm just..."

"I know."

She helped him put his diving mask on. Got to be strong like he always is. Sound like I know what I'm talking about.

"Listen to me, do as I say and we'll make it. Take a big breath before we go under and breathe it out slowly as we ascend. Don't hold your breath, exhale slowly--do you understand?"

He nodded.

"Don't let go of me," she continued, "let me lead us. Kick when I kick."

He tucked the phase pistol into his waistband. He picked up the Stha'nak rifle. "I think we should take this. In case there's anyone waiting for us up there."

She looked at it. It would add some weight, but he was right. If they made it they might need the weapon. If she said to leave it he'd think she didn't think they'd make it. "All right. Can you strap it to your back?"

They pulled their diving masks over their eyes and walked down the three steps to the diving pool. He gripped her hand tightly. She touched his face one more time. "Look in my eyes," she said, "focus on me. Don't look at anything else. Look in my eyes and know that we're going to make it."

They stepped into the pool. He took a deep breath and they submerged.