Chapter Six: Fathom


The four Gems sat in the middle of the control room, silenced by a somber atmosphere. It wasn't said aloud, but it was as though they were each slated for execution–and in a way, they were, with no way to protect their tower from the storms. It was only a matter of time until a particularly strong one rolled around, and the thread holding the generator together snapped. After a while had passed, Emerald, faced with death after less than a week of life, broke the silence.

"We need to do something," she declared. "Even if it doesn't work, we at least owe it to Homeworld to try. Just sitting here waiting for the end is the same as throwing our lives away. The least we can do is fight for it."

Surprisingly, it was Tanzanite who took exception to this. "Homeworld does not even know we exist," she said bitterly. "We are simply a few more in a handful of casualties caused by an unsuccessful endeavor. An anomaly, one that will soon be righted." Emerald wanted to respond, but seeing the normally calm and logical Tanzanite so dour caused her words to catch in her throat.

"I do get where you're coming from," said Yooperlite. "I do, really. You're young and optimistic, but you're also new here. We've been trying to come up with something for years now, and trust me when I say we've come up empty each time. There's literally nothing we can do."

She got to her feet, staring out the window. "There's no way that's true," Emerald said. "I refuse to believe that on this entire planet, there's absolutely nothing to help us. No materials, no ships, no other stations?"

Sighing, Lefty activated the holographic display in the center of the table. A glowing dot representing their tower was in the very middle, surrounded by water on all sides. "It's not that there's none of that, it's just that getting to it isn't an option." The display panned out over the sea, where it showed a second site. "There's a communications hub not far from here, but we have no way to reach it without a boat. We could swim, but…"

"...we'd run into the thalassaraptors," Yooperlite finished gravely.

The other station couldn't have been more than a few miles. Remembering the moment of her emergence, Emerald knew what they had to do. "Then we don't swim," she said. "We walk. Across the sea floor. If we can see these thalassa-things coming, we might at least stand a chance."

Tanzanite shot her a quizzical look. "This plan is highly flawed," she said. "None of us have any combat experience. In their element, the thalassaraptors will tear us apart before we can even get close to the hub. And that is–"

"That was before you had me," interrupted Emerald, summoning her malformed halberd. A misshapen weapon was better than no weapon after all. "I'm a Beryl. I don't care how fierce they are, I'd like to see an organic take on one of us."

"Your confidence is admirable," said Lefty, rolling her eyes. "But as my friend here was about to say, even if we can get past the thalassaraptors–and that's the biggest 'if' in the galaxy–there's no guarantee the hub is still in working condition. For all we know, it could be completely flooded by now, or overgrown by organics. Void, for all we know, it could have collapsed at this point!"

Emerald looked at the hologram. "Does this signal mean it's still active?"

"Well, yeah, but–"

"Then there's no doubt in my mind you can fix whatever's broken," she continued. "I mean, you've been keeping this place up and running for how long now? And Tanzanite, once she fixes it, I'm sure you can get it working and contact someone who can help us. Yooperlite? You're…really strong. That size is really going to help us when we face the thalassaraptors. So, who's in?"

Despite her pep talk, none of them seemed all that enthused at her idea. Everyone looked away from her, either biting their tongue or not having anything to add. She slumped down, defeated, trying one last time to rally them.

"Come on, it isn't like we're doing anything important here! And we're probably going to die either way, so what's worse? Being torn apart by a freak weather phenomenon, or being torn apart by sea monsters? They don't sound all that different to me. Besides, at least there's a chance we can pull this off if we try."

Yooperlite gave a small, humorless laugh. "You really think we can do this, don't you?"

Emerald nodded. "I do. I truly believe we can make it."

She shrugged. "Okay then. I'm in." Yooperlite tapped the table with her fist. "I've been living in fear of those swimming abominations for too long. It's time I gave them something to be afraid of for a change!"

"You can't be serious!" shouted Lefty. "We're gonna get ourselves killed if we go in there!"

"...It is logical," Tanzanite pointed out. "Death is certain if we stay here, but only mostly certain if we venture out. It is not like we have anything to lose."

Everyone looked expectantly at the Peridot. "So, Lefty? How 'bout it?" asked Yooperlite.

She looked at the three of them for a moment, before letting out a defeated moan. "Ah, what the void? Suppose getting eaten's a pretty cool way to go."


One of the advantages of having nothing is that you can travel light. The group had next to nothing to carry with them, only a small sack full of tools and data drives that Tanzanite could have carried herself if Yooperlite hadn't insisted. With that taken care of, all that was left to mentally prepare themselves to essentially walk into the ocean to their deaths.

Ankle-deep in the sea, Lefty stared into the precipice she would soon be jumping over. "...Are we really doing this?" she asked.

"Sure looks that way," said Yooperlite. She walked over, joined by the others. "You aren't thinkin' of backing out now, are ya?"

"Can it really be called 'backing out' if you were never planning on doing it in the first place?" Despite her hesitation, Lefty shrugged. "Well, no point in stepping down now. I'd just be waiting here alone."

Yooperlite clapped her on the back. "That's the spirit!" Her aggressive gesture had the unintended effect of sending her friend hurtling down towards the water, where she landed with a splash. "...Oops…"

Seeing as Lefty had (inadvertently) started things off, Emerald decided it was time for them to set out. She leapt next, splashing down into the ocean and descending to the seafloor. Her landing was a bit more graceful than Lefty's, who was getting to her feet. Yooperlite and Tanzanite came down moments later, the former wearing a sheepish smile.

"That's one way to do it, I guess," Lefty said. Their voices still carried underwater, but it would be a bit harder to hear at a distance. All the more reason to stay close.

"The communications hub is approximately three-point-seven-two kilokliks to the northeast of our current locations," Tanzanite reported. "It should take us no time at all to get there if we start walking now, without interruptions."

Emerald began leading the way. "Somehow, I doubt we'll be that lucky. Everybody stay together; the last thing we want is to get separated out here."

The ocean was far from clear: visibility was reduced to just a few meters, with anything beyond that obscured by cloudy water. Occasionally, they would see movement on the edge of their vision in the form of a sea creature darting just out of view. They continued to walk in relative silence, but every little noise had them on edge, especially Yooperlite.

The seabed was not as barren as Emerald had expected it to be. The sand along their path was littered with colorful natural formations, likely organic in nature. They walked through entire jungles of kelp and coral, where tiny organics darted in and out of holes in rocks. Small ones with many legs crawled across the seafloor, while larger ones lazily drifted by overhead. If she didn't know better, she would have guessed she was in the center of a miniature, entirely-organic city.

Lefty noticed Emerald's fascination. "Beautiful down here, isn't it?"

"It really is," Emerald replied. "And it's like this on every planet we colonize?"

She nodded solemnly. "No two ecosystems are exactly the same, but each one is gorgeous in its own way. Gorgeous, unique, and both hardy and fragile. Wiped away in years once we arrive." She gingerly brushed her hand across a moss-covered rock as they passed by.

Emerald took in the sight once again as they trudged along. "It's a shame," she said, unable to think of anything else. "It really is a shame."

From in front of them, a chuckle came from Yooperlite. "The two of you cookin' up some poetry back there?" She turned to face them with a good-natured smile. "Haven't seen you this nostalgic in a while, Lefty."

The Peridot smirked bashfully. "I suppose it has been a while since I've been so far beyond the tower," she said. "All cooped up in there, I don't get much of a chance to be around my–our–passion anymore. Righty…she really loved this planet."

There was a brief moment of silence for Lefty's fallen sister. It was finally broken by Emerald: "So, Tanzanite, how much farther?"

"I estimate we are nearing the halfway point," she said. "Beyond that, we should remain vigilant from attacks from any direction."

More silence followed, this time more out of trepidation than respect. As though the sea itself was being changed by the team's aura, the traces of life and color were soon replaced by a foreboding emptiness as they walked further into the open ocean. As the surface grew further and further above them, visibility grew even lower. The four turned on their lights, each only offering a narrow beam of sight.

Right now, paranoia was their worst enemy. There had been no sign of the threatening creatures yet, but every noise, every movement just at the edge of their vision, was enough to cause a brief pang of panic. These predators could be anywhere, so it was only natural to be afraid at the slightest hint of their presence.

Even the normally reserved Tanzanite seemed wary. So when she held up her hand, the entire group stopped in their tracks. "Something's here," she said, barely audible.

Yooperlite shined her light ahead. "Where is–"

"Shht!" interrupted Lefty. She took a few steps forward, crouching down into the sand. After a few moments of observing the distant surface, she did the unthinkable. "Lights out."

"'Lights out!?'" hissed Emerald, as the Peridot extinguished hers. "Why lights out?"

"Because they're sensitive to light!" Lefty hissed back. "Now everybody go dark!" Tanzanite and Yooperlite obliged, as did Emerald, reluctantly. They sat there in the darkness for some time, with nothing but silence surrounding them. There was the occasional flicker of movement, but they were sure they were just their minds playing tricks on them.

Emerald was getting impatient. "How much longer?"

"I think we can get moving now," said Lefty. "Slowly. Everybody stay huddled together and inch your way to the hub. Do your best to look like a rock."

"Shouldn't be too much of an issue…" said Yooperlite.

A sudden current passed by them as something sped by just out of sight. The water around them became ever slightly choppier as something, likely a group of somethings, circled around them. Tanzanite was right: they weren't alone.

Emerald knew the only way they were getting out of here was if they attacked first. She attempted to summon her weapon, but Lefty took issue with that, pulling her back down. "What are you doing!?" she said, as loud as still counted as a whisper. "Do you want them to find us!?"

After some struggling, Emerald's halberd had finally emerged from her gem. The glow it emitted was dull, but Lefty wasn't willing to take any chances, to the Beryl's chagrin. "I'm not sitting around waiting for them to get the drop on us! We have to strike now before they–"

"Look out!" Before Emerald knew what was happening, she was suddenly shoved back by Yooperlite, falling to the sand. A large, dark shape lunged out from the murk, sinking its fangs into Yooperlite's arm. She was dragged away a distance, eventually managing to wrench her limb free from the beast's jaws. She propped herself up with her good arm, the other leaking light through her wounds.

The attack had begun. The entire pack of thalassaraptors abandoned any attempt at stealth, continuing to circle their prey in a far more visible manner. They moved surprisingly fast despite their bulky bodies, racing through the water with their powerful tails and stubby webbed limbs. They continued to swim around the Gems, tightening their formation to keep them in place.

Yooperlite managed to get to her feet, hurrying over to the others. Emerald immediately bolted in her direction, her own safety taking a backseat. Seeing her as the weaker target, one of the thalassaraptors struck, seizing her in its horizontal jaws and carrying her away. "Emerald!" shouted Yooperlite.

Dozens of fangs dug into her form as she was shaken back and forth. Emerald lifted up her halberd, driving it repeatedly through the creature's thick skin. A dark liquid billowed out from its wounds, but it was too dark to see its color. Eventually, the beast had enough, relinquishing its hold on her. She sprang up and pointed her weapon outward, watching for attacks from any angle. "Go!" she cried. "Get to the tower! I'll be right behind you!"

While Yooperlite tried to go back for her, Tanzanite pulled her forward. "We cannot delay any longer!" she said. "Every second we stay here, they grow more aggressive!" The thalassaraptors were indeed proving her point, the water around them churning like they were caught in a whirlpool. She was forced to dive down into the sand as one of them narrowly missed her, its jaws snapping with incredible force. Four beady eyes–two on top, two on the bottom–glared at her for a brief moment before it joined the others.

Because she was separated from the group, Emerald had become the weak link. The majority of the beasts were focused on her, swarming around the Gem as they hoped to overwhelm her. Two or three had fallen, their bodies having drifted to the seafloor–though this did little to deter their fellows. Emerald continued to swing her halberd, hacking and slashing at any that tried to strike.

She inched onward towards the others, but the constant attacks made making any progress difficult. None of the others had a weapon, and Tanzanite didn't even have a power that could help in this moment: Lefty was using the tools they had brought to keep the thalassaraptors at bay, while Yooperlite's physical strength allowed her to at least hold her own.

The creatures were now becoming focused on the latter, recognizing her as the current largest threat. They tore into her flesh, causing more and more light to seep out, but she kept on fighting, a manic look in her eyes. More fearful than angry, but desperate above all. The water around her started to froth and bubble as she began to heat up, her skin beginning to glow orange. Even though she was almost literally red-hot, the thalassaraptors continued to attack her, so caught up in their feeding frenzy that they didn't care one way or another that she was boiling them with every bite.

A splash from behind her alerted Emerald to one of them charging at her. She whipped around, hurling her polearm…which then curved to the left, coming to rest in the sand. She was so taken aback by this utter failure of an attack that she neglected to resist when the thalassaraptor grabbed her in its jaws. She came to her senses at the last moment, gripping onto its maw with both hands as the force of its approach pushed her back.

The monster thrashed as it struggled to bite down, threatening to break free of her grasp. As it rocked Emerald up and down, back and forth, her grip slipped, allowing it to bite down on her arm–her right arm, which held her gemstone. "No!" she yelled instinctively as it carried her away, threatening to sever the limb, and swallow her gem. She tried to pry its mouth open again, but it held firm, unlike her arm, which it was close to biting through. Emerald hammered its side with her other fist, kicked at it, jabbed at its eyes, even tried biting it, but it continued onward. And then, after one particularly painful gnash, Emerald lashed out.

Hundreds of volts surged through the water from her body, lighting up the thalassaraptor carrying her. Its grip on her arm loosened, giving her just enough room to re-summon her weapon. As soon as the blade of the halberd emerged, she pulled downward with all the force she could muster, freeing herself from its jaws. Surrounded by an inky cloud, Emerald drifted back down to the seafloor, as did both halves of the thalassaraptor.

The moment she touched down, she whirled around to face the others. The beasts' circle was growing tighter, and it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed, even with Yooperlite heating up the water. Emerald sprinted towards the column of steam, thalassaraptors all around her. All around them all.

One of them struck from the side. She dug her weapon into the sand, halting just in time for it to miss her–but not for her to miss it. She leapt onto its back, piercing it with the halberd. Then, using her polearm like a lever, she guided it in the direction of the others. She propelled herself off once she was close enough, rocketing towards them like a torpedo. "Everybody brace!" she shouted.

They did so, despite having little warning. An enormous surge of electricity filled the water, emanating from Emerald. Oppressive darkness was momentarily replaced by blinding light, forcing the other Gems to shield their eyes–for a moment, as it was soon replaced by a sharp stinging sensation as they were shocked as well. Thankfully, the Gems were far sturdier than the thalassaraptors, which were fried en masse. Emerald touched down once again, exhausted after having suspended so much energy.

Holding her wounded arm, Yooperlite shook off the attack as sparks danced across her form. "Hoo! That'll wake you up! That was some quick thinking, Emerald!"

Panting, Emerald simply offered a thumbs-up.

As she was smaller, Lefty had been affected a bit more by Emerald's lightning, but her job made her used to taking shocks now and then. She smoothed down her frizzed-up hair before recomposing herself. "Alright, everyone okay? No missing limbs or cracked gems? Yoop, Emerald, all good? How 'bout you, Tanz? Tanz?" When the blue Gem failed to respond, she became worried. She looked around worriedly for a moment, before seeing her fallen body some feet away. "Tanz!"

Lefty ran over, soon joined by the other two. "Is she alright?" asked Yooperlite.

"She's fine," Lefty said, picking her up. "Just unconscious. She's not as used to taking her lumps as we are–honestly, it's a wonder she didn't poof!" She was making light of the situation, but it was clear from her tone she was worried and relieved.

"I'm…so sorry," said Emerald, hanging her head. "I saw an opportunity and I took it. I didn't mean to put you in harm's way."

Yooperlite silently pat her on the back. "It's alright," said Lefty, though it didn't quite sound like she thought it was. "You did save us, after all." She gestured to the scattered thalassaraptor bodies. "She'll be fine. Come on, we need to get to the hub before more of them arrive. You know how they get with blood in the water…"

Yooperlite shuddered knowingly as the three of them, plus their unconscious companion, carried on. They were indeed close: it only took a few more minutes of walking before they reached the communications hub. A single ladder led from the ocean floor up to the station: Yooperlite went first, with Tanzanite slung over her shoulder. Lefty followed her carrying the bag of tools and drives. And Emerald brought up the rear, giving one last glance at the foreboding depths before breaching the surface and climbing above the waves.


Far above Moridius' surface, a single Talu battleship hung in orbit. From this craft, a smaller shuttle disengaged, entering the planet's atmosphere. Its pilot and lone occupant checked the readings as he descended, only pausing when a voice came over the radio.

"Are you sure you can handle this on your own?" asked the voice. "It's been a while since you've seen actual combat."

"Worried I've gotten rusty, Captain?" replied Kiloq. "Don't be so scared: it's only four Gems, how tough could they possibly be?"