A/N: I'm starting a new thing called #hugfinn2020. To be honest, I'll probably forget it in a week, but Finn could use the love.

Couple notes. Finn wears his diving gloves constantly after the squid incident. Finn does use Kaiko and Will's first name, as pirates aren't much on last names. I do skip entire scenes where nothing changes, because this thing is already 4,500 words!

Response to Random Fan: Me, too! Finn gave me the perfect outlet to use different languages! 0w0 Theories are allowed and accepted.


"Finn!"

Fontaine pulled herself into the hideout, landing in a roll. She dropped the backpack, then went to Finn.

He wasn't in bed, but sitting upright in a corner. Fontaine briefly wondered if he'd woken earlier and was waiting, but it was so strange for Finn to fall asleep so late in the morning. She wasn't even sure he was asleep, really.

"Finn?" Fontaine said, reaching out. "Finn, are you awake?"

"Mater," Finn whispered. "Mater."

Hand inches from Finn's shoulder, Fontaine froze. She couldn't move as a tear squeezed out of one of Finn's clenched eyes and streaked down his cheek.

This was… this was very bad. Finn was crying, apparently asleep, and obviously dreaming. What was she supposed to do? Would she startle him by waking him up? She knew it was a bad idea to wake sleepwalkers, but did that apply to nightmares?

"Mater…"

Fontaine shook her head. She couldn't leave Finn in his nightmare. She'd just have to wake him up, and deal with whatever his reaction might be.

"Finn," Fontaine said firmly. "Come on, wake up."

Finn jumped slightly when Fontaine touched his shoulder, but didn't wake up. When he continued to whimper and another tear ran down his cheek, Fontaine gave him a light shake.

Finn's eyes shot open. He jerked forward while reaching out. Fontaine twisted mostly out of the way, only her and Finn's shoulders hitting.

"Mater, non est me! Niteo!" Finn cried as he fell on his hands and knees. "Mater, commodo, don't… I can't…"

Fontaine watched cautiously as Finn's voice trailed off. He blinked his eyes into focus, then startled and looked around.

"What- where-" Finn touched his wet cheek, then grimaced. "Sorry."

Fontaine didn't realize Finn was talking to her until he glanced sideways at her.

"Don't apologize," Fontaine hurriedly said. "That must have been some dream, though."

Finn grimaced. "Not a dream…"

"A…" Fontaine hesitated. "A memory?"

Finn nodded. His face scrunched up like he was going to cry again, but then he rubbed his face dry and took a deep breath.

"I'll be fine," Finn murmured. "I just need to wake up."

"Finn… What's the matter?"

"It was a nightmare. I have it every year on this day," Finn said.

Fontaine didn't want to press, but Finn had been crying. She tried for a neutral question.

"Was that Latin again?"

Finn's face scrunched. "What did I say?"

"Mater and niko?"

"Mater and Niteo," Finn recited. "Mater is 'Mother'. And mea Niteo, 'my shine,' was my mom's pet name for me when I was little."

Fontaine hadn't heard anything about Finn's mother. She wondered why Finn acted so sad. "Where is your mom?"

Finn raised his eyebrows, then glanced away. He said quietly, almost to himself, "No, I suppose nobody else would know."

Fontaine waited, afraid Finn wouldn't go on. But, after a moment, Finn sighed and turned his gaze to the wall.

"My mom died six years ago today."

Of all the things Finn could have said, nothing compared to this revelation. It was a good thing Fontaine was on her knees, because she sat hard at the statement.

"Oh, Finn, I'm sorry," Fontaine said.

"Thanks. It's better now." Finn turned his head further away. "It's been years."

"Do you… want to talk about it?"

Finn shoulders drooped. "Pete and I always told stories about Mom. Don't want to forget her, you know?"

"I never met your mom," Fontaine prompted hesitantly.

"You'd have loved her," Finn said, turning his head a bit so Fontaine could see his smile. "She was cunning and bold, but she was also calm. She could calm Dad down in a few words. Sometimes, I think she was the only level-headed person on the Dark Orca."

"And she was passionate. Being around her, you couldn't help but want to be a part of whatever she was doing."

Finn looked fully at Fontaine. "You remind me of her."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Once Mom set her mind to something, nothing could stop her." Finn's eyes briefly turned distant. "Mom's the one who decided to raise Pete when Dad found him as a kid." Finn smiled at Fontaine. "And you decided to hide a pirate in the ducts."

"There's a bit of a difference," Fontaine teased lightly. She added slowly, "I wish I could have met her."

"Mom knew being a pirate was dangerous," Finn said. "She wanted to raise Maddie and me someplace safer. So, I spent my first ten years at one of our bases with Mom."

"Did you get lonely?"

Finn shrugged. "Pete came along when I was five, then Maddie, so, no. Plus, it was hard to be lonely around Mom."

"No?"

"She could make anything exciting," Finn said. "She taught us about machines -well, me and Pete; Maddie never cared- and how to survive. Even fighting. She taught Pete how to use a sword. She promised to teach me, but…"

Finn cleared his throat. "And the stories! Mom had so many stories. Some were legends or real. My favorites were the real stories, but sometimes she mixed her and Dad's adventures with legends. Like the time when she and Dad got stranded on this island and were saved by a glowing dolphin…"


"Fontaine."

Fontaine and Finn jumped. Finn clapped his hands over his mouth mid-sentence before realizing Will's voice had come from Fontaine's comm.

"Uh, yeah, Dad?" Fontaine said. How long had Finn been talking?

"Where are you? We're all waiting in the Moon Pool room."

Fontaine checked the time, then her eyes widened. It had been three hours! She glanced at Finn, who nodded and made a shooing motion.

"Sorry, I… I got caught up in a story," Fontaine said. "I'll be right down." Fontaine turned off her comms, then asked Finn, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Finn grinned. "I feel a lot better now, thanks. And I'm curious about what you're going to find."

"Me, too," Fontaine said, standing. "You watch things from this end. You might notice something we don't."

Finn gave an over-the-top salute. "Aye-yi, Captain!"

Fontaine shoved the brim of Finn's hat down, then turned before he could see her grin.


Fontaine knew the venture was going to go wrong when Will outlined his plan. Sure, the new Mag Knight had huge spikes on its feet and was heavy, but standing on the top of a waterfall still sounded like a bad idea.

"You three will help hold me," Will said while the family got into their Knights.

"Dad, the Mag Knight is bigger than the three other Knights combined," Fontaine pointed out as she climbed into the Swamp Knight. "If you fall, we won't be able to stop it."

"We're just going to help steady your dad," Kaiko said from inside the White Knight. "But, Will, do be careful."

"I will," Will said, then walked the massive knight to the Moon Pool.

Ant, in the Shadow Knight, popped to the surface. Ant had added a holder for the Jorange in the front of his Knight, much to Jeffrey's seeming excitement.

"Come on! You have to see this!" Ant said, swimming in an impatient circle.

"We're coming, Ant," Fontaine said.

Fontaine closed the Swamp Knight's dome, then jumped into the Moon Pool. Ant yelped as his Knight was sucked after Fontaine's.

"Oops," Fontaine said unrepentantly, then sped into the open. "Woah."

Fontaine had seen the waterfall a few times in the past, but it never ceased to amaze her. Water rushed over the edge of the underwater cliff and vanished into the distance. A dull roar of water could be heard, even inside the Knights.

"There's a tunnel behind all this?" Fontaine asked.

"I hope so," Will said, pulling up beside Fontaine. "Come on, let's get into position."

Will attached magnetic cables from the Mag Knight to the other Knights. With the other Knights to steady him, Will marched as close to the waterfall's edge as he dared to measure the flow of water. Behind him, Ant launched pingers into the waterfall to scan the stone walls behind it.

Though everything was going to plan, Fontaine was cautious. Moving one hand slightly, Fontaine opened her and Finn's channel.

"Can you hear me, Finn?"

Fontaine smiled when a yelp came over the line.

"Uh, yeah, I'm here. Miss me already?"

"Sure, ghost boy. Hey, what do you think of Dad's plan?"

"Like a recipe for disaster, which is about normal for your family."

Fontaine had to admit that Finn had a point. If the plan fell apart, it would just be another day in the Nektons' life.

Finn went on, "Just don't fall. There's probably rocks in the waterfall that could smash your Knight."

"Great thoughts," Fontaine said, shifting her feet for a steadier stance. "But I don't plan on falling."

"Good pl-" Finn broke off. "Uh…"

Fontaine closed her eyes. "Don't tell me."

"The Aronnax sensors are picking up something big falling into the water!"

"I told you to not tell me!" Fontaine opened her eyes to check above her. "Where's it headed?"

"Kaiko and Ant!"

Fontaine switched back to the family channel and yelled, "Mum, Ant, look out!"

Kaiko turned toward Fontaine, who pointed up. Kaiko looked up, then inhaled sharply.

"Ant, move!" Kaiko ordered.

The White and Shadow Knights shot forward. Seconds later, a huge chunk of ice crashed into the water.

Fontaine swayed as the push of water briefly strengthened, but she was enough out of the way to avoid getting dislodged. She looked quickly toward her family.

The White Knight struggled against the current, halfway between Fontaine and Will. The Shadow Knight had been able to move swiftly out of the way, and Ant took up position across from Fontaine.

Worse, though, was the Mag Knight. Will had turned halfway to see the danger and had been caught by the unexpected push. One foot was still grounded, but the other barely clung to the ice.

"Ant!" Fontaine yelled. "I'll steady Dad, you help Mum! If the White Knight goes over the edge, it'll pull the Mag Knight!"

"Wait, no!" Kaiko said. "Hold your positions. I'll grab the ice until your dad is steady."

"Okay." Fontaine grabbed the cable and pulled out the slack. "Mum, go!"

"Hurry!" Will grunted, one foot raising marginally.

Kaiko angled the White Knight into the current, then dropped. But the current must have been stronger than she thought, because it swept her Knight backward. Her hands missed a lip in the ice, then she bounced higher into the current.

"Ant, down!" Fontaine yelled.

Fontaine twisted and dove, firing her thrusters to the max. The Knight's hands clamped onto protruding ice and the feet gripped the ice.

Seconds later, a jerk on the cable nearly dislodged her. Fontaine tightened her grip, and sighed when she remained in place. Her relief vanished, though, when Will spoke in a tight voice.

"Oh, no."

A second, powerful pull on the cable ripped Fontaine from her spot. She yelped and flailed for a hold, but she was whipped away. She slammed against the edge of the ice, knocking the breath out of her, then she was in the waterfall.

"Well," thought an oddly calm part of Fontaine's mind, "I guess if there's a tunnel down here, we'll find it."


"Fontaine!"

Finn jerked up onto his elbows, slamming the back of his head against the duct ceiling. He sprawled on his stomach, regretting his moving into the ducts in a fit of boredom.

Shaking his head, Finn snatched his tablet. He quickly switched from the camera on the Swamp Knight, which was angled up, to the White Knight, the first to fall.

For the brief second of darkness between cameras, Finn caught a glimpse of his reflection. More specifically, of the glow in his eyes.

Finn yelled and threw his tablet. It clattered against the nearby grate. A second later, he scrambled after it. He picked up the darkened tablet and stared at his reflection.

His eyes were normal once again.

Finn shook his head. "I'm seeing things. I need to focus on Fontaine-"

In his reflection, his eyes flared.


"We've fallen a kilometer already!"

Fontaine's eyes snapped open at Will's voice. She looked around, disoriented. Why were they-

Right. World's largest waterfall, and they just fell over it.

Fontaine twisted to face down. The Shadow Knight, which was upside-down, was just below her. At the end of the cable, the Mag Knight flailed. Furthest away was the White Knight.

"Full thrusters!" Kaiko said. "Try to get out!"

Fontaine tried, but the force of the waterfall was too great for her to angle herself right to get out. She paused when she became aware of an odd sound.

"Is that… sucking?" Ant asked.

"Woah, brace yourselves!" Kaiko said, then the White Knight was jerked out of sight. A second later, Kaiko grunted.

"Kaiko!" Will called.

The Mag Knight was suddenly pulled into the wall. The sucking sound became louder, then Fontaine felt herself pulled backward and into a tunnel hidden behind the waterfall.

The Mag Knight crashed against the floor, feet-first. Fontaine was swept past him, then jerked to a halt at the end of the cable.

Fontaine clutched the cable, afraid of getting pulled further into the unknown tunnel. A second later, though, the current stopped and the cable went slack.

"And the current just stops?" Will said, confused. "Why?"

Any theories were ignored when a groan came over the comms. Fontaine spun to the White Knight and saw it crouching on the ground.

"Kaiko!" The Mag Knight released the cables, then kicked off the floor to the White Knight. "Kaiko, say something."

Kaiko grunted, then the White Knight stood. "I want a better holiday."

Fontaine smiled at Kaiko's disgruntled words, but her mom was moving more slowly than normal. Will silently began scans.

"Vitals seem okay," Will said after a moment. "How are you feeling?"

"Kind of like I fell down the world's largest waterfall," Kaiko said. She grunted and stiffly moved one arm. "And landed on rocks."

Fontaine turned to the stalactites and stalagmites lining the tunnel entrance. She winced at the thought of hitting one of those.

"Dad!" Ant chirped. "Lemurian symbol alert!"

Leave it to Ant to be completely thrilled with being trapped behind a giant waterfall. Fontaine turned to see the Shadow Knight floating over a giant Lemurian rune carved into the floor.

"Uh… isn't that the 'danger' rune?" Fontaine asked.

The Mag Knight turned to her. "What? No, this was the… name?"

"Well, which is it?" Ant asked. "Danger or a name?"

"The name of a danger?" Fontaine said wryly. "Dad, you said you translated this."

"Well, I got the 'tunnel' and 'great curtain of water.' Plus the name."

Fontaine briefly wished Finn wasn't still hiding. He'd put together more Lemurian than her dad!

"What?" Will asked, misinterpreting Fontaine's expression. "Lemurian is hard."

"Do we keep going?" Ant asked, already edging further into the tunnel.

"No," Will said firmly. "Our priority is to get your mom back to the Aronnax."

"As long as we're here…" Kaiko ventured, even though she was grimacing.

"The tunnel can wait until we're in the Rover and properly equipped for exploration," Will said.

Fontaine was slightly worried by Will's answer. When was the last time her family stood so close to a mystery and turned back?

Never.

Fontaine eyed the White Knight. Was her mom really okay?

Movement caught her eyes. Jeffrey was darting in circles inside the Jorange. If a fish could look panicked, he was pulling it off very well.

"Jeffrey's acting weird," Fontaine said. "Weirder than normal, that is."

"Jeffrey doesn't act weird," Ant said. He pulled the Jorange from his Knight and turned it. "Jeffrey? Why are you acting weird?"

Fontaine felt a slight pull on the Knight. She turned, groaning when she saw the kelp in the tunnel start to bend toward the tunnel.

"The current's coming up again!" Will said. "Everyone, grab onto me!"

Fontaine twisted toward the Mag Knight, accidentally dropping near the floor. She grabbed the Mag Knight's leg and held tight. The Shadow Knight latched onto the Mag Knight's arm, and the White Knight… drifted past.

The White Knight was unsteady, and Kaiko didn't seem to realize until she was past the Mag Knight. The Knight suddenly jerked straight, thrusters firing and one arm reaching out.

"Kaiko!" Will said.

Fontaine felt the Mag Knight shift. She turned to see the White Knight, just out of the Mag Knight's reach, pushing hard against the current.

"Grab my hand, now!" Will ordered.

"I can't…" the White Knight hummed loudly, "Reach!"

"Yes, you can! Try!" Will yelled.

"Come on, Mum," Fontaine urged.

Kaiko sighed, then the White Knight just… stopped. Without Kaiko's efforts, the White Knight tumbled head-over-heels away from the rest of the Nektons.

Will shot one of the magnetic cables. The current was too strong, though. Kaiko was already out of reach!

"I'll get her!" Ant said.

Before anyone could protest or plan, the Shadow Knight launched from the safety of the Mag Knight and raced after the White Knight.

"No!" Will yelled, reaching out in vain.

"No!" Fontaine cried.

In seconds, both Knights were out of sight.

"Ant!" Fontaine screamed. "Mum!"


"Mum!"

Clang!

Finn glared at the tablet he'd dropped yet again. He'd gotten distracted in rechecking the runes when Ant had noticed the carving, then Fontaine's yell had startled him.

Finn picked up the tablet, reflexively checking his eyes in his reflection. His eyes had stopped glowing when the Nektons had been sucked into the tunnel, and hadn't resumed.

"I leave you guys for two minutes, and what happens?" Finn asked.

Finn opened the camera feeds, but nothing made sense. Fontaine and Will were still at the entrance, fighting the current. Kaiko careened from wall-to-wall in the tunnel, while Ant appeared to be trying to grab her.

Finn opened up comms. "Fontaine?"

It took a minute, but Fontaine connected. "Yeah?"

"What's going on?"

"Mum's not responding. She got hit when we first were sucked inside so her comms might just be damaged, but I'm worried something's really wrong. The Swamp Knight isn't set up to check inside cameras or vitals in the other Knights. Can you check?"

"On it!" Finn opened a new screen, then sucked in a breath. "This is bad. Kaiko is unconscious."

"What?!"

Again, the reflection of Finn's eyes glowed.

"Her eyes are closed." Finn shook his head. "That's all I can see."

"The current's easing," Fontaine said hurriedly. "I have to switch back."

"Okay, be careful."

Finn opened the internal camera of the Knights, preferring to see the Nektons' faces over the blank tunnels. He gasped when he saw Fontaine's worried face. Her eyes were glowing as well!

"What does this mean?" Finn asked nobody. "Oh!"

Kaiko stirred in the Swamp Knight. She blinked blearily around, then began to speak. Finn turned the speakers back on.

"I'm a bit woozy," Kaiko was saying. "Otherwise, I couldn't be better."

"Liar," Finn huffed. "You don't just pass out for no reason."

"Can you tell us where you are?" Will asked.

Kaiko looked around, then said, "Well… it's not any kind of holiday destination I'd choose."

"What's it with you and a holiday?" Finn shook his head. "At least she's coherent enough to joke."

"No position data, either," Kaiko added. "Not surprising down here.

Finn checked his tablet. Sure enough, the White Knight's tracker was off-line. Not that it would do much good in the unmapped tunnels, anyway.

"Alright," Will said. "Fontaine and I are coming for you both."

Fontaine nodded. Finn returned to the external cameras as the Swamp and Mag Knights moved forward.

A second later, an unfamiliar voice yelled over the comms, "Stop!"

The Swamp and Mag Knights spun. Someone in an ancient diving suit marched closer. The large helmet obscured most of the person's features, but there was no mistaking the beard.

"Nereus?!" Finn exclaimed with Fontaine and Will.


Nereus knew about the tunnel. He knew about a niche to hide in when the current started again. Because of course he did.

And it wasn't a tunnel, but some sort of giant creature.

The entire family had been eaten because her dad didn't know the difference between a warning and family pet in Lemurian. Some days, Fontaine wondered how they were all still alive.

When the current subsided, Fontaine, Will, and Nereus pushed onward. Fontaine worried for Kaiko, who was stuck injured furthest in the sea worm. She opened up her and Finn's line, guessing he was keeping an eye on Kaiko.

"How's it looking?" Fontaine asked.

"As well as can be expected. Ant's nearly reached Kaiko, I think."

"Ant was supposed to stay put," Fontaine groaned.

"The Jorange got knocked off, and Ant chased it," Finn said.

"How's Mum?"

"I don't know. I thought she passed out a couple times, but I think she's just resting. Something got her attention a minute ago. I didn't see anything but isopods, but she's been trying to free herself since. Oh, Ant just reached her. You'd better switch back."

Fontaine returned to the family's channel. As she did, she noticed Nereus staring from his perch on the back of the Mag Knight. Fontaine mentally kicked herself for letting him see her talk, but didn't say anything to him. Hopefully, Nereus would think she was talking to herself.

Focusing on Kaiko and Ant again, Fontaine tried to not panic when Kaiko revealed her air scrubbers were damaged. They still had time to get Kaiko out.

After a brief discussion, Kaiko decided she needed to get out of the goo holding her in place. It was somehow eating away at the Knight's feet, putting her in even greater danger.

Fontaine wasn't sure what to expect when Kaiko activated her laser, but a dull, shaking roar wasn't it.


"Woah."

Finn pressed his hand against the duct wall. The giant sea worm wasn't too happy with Kaiko lasering her way free. The creature's roar shook even the Aronnax!

Unfortunately, Kaiko didn't have any choice but to continue. With everyone else nervously urging her on, Kaiko softened the goo enough to pull free with Ant's help.

The sea worm continued to growled again, then quieted. Neither Nekton dared leave, fearful of taking the wrong path, but Finn could hear Kaiko panting.

"Sounds like…" Finn mused. The thought finished on it's own, more memory than thought, really. "Mae Niteo."

Finn blinked, then shook his head at the unexpected thought.

"It's fine," Finn told himself. "The Nektons have been in worse -and weirder- situations. They're practiced at this by now."

It was a little harder to think positive when the isopods attacked.

"Is the whole ocean against you guys?!"


"Finn, what's going on?" Fontaine asked.

"It's not good." Finn sounded strained. "They got rid of the isopods, but Kaiko's really low on air now."

"We're going to be there soon," Fontaine said.

There was a brief pause, then Finn said in a distant voice, "She's getting worse."

"Finn?"

"I'm okay," Finn whispered.

"You don't sound okay, Finn." Fontaine waited. "Finn?"


Finn dropped his head on the cool metal. After a minute, Fontaine stopped trying to get him to respond. Finn was grateful, as his mind had become an unpleasant turmoil of memories. The same memories he'd relived that morning.

The uncertain rasp of the breath, the pants between words, and brave smile had Finn flashing back to that day six years ago.

The day he stood at his mom's bedside, tears on his cheeks as he begged his mom to stay with him. The day he listened to the gaps between breaths grow longer and longer. The day the fever took her.

Finn squeezed his hands into fists. "No! It's not… it's not the same. Kaiko's not sick."

Finn opened the Nektons' connection, just in time for Fontaine to say, "Her air is so low, she's never going to make it out against the current."

"No…" Finn whispered.


Fontaine didn't realize that listening to someone breathe could be so painful. Despite Kaiko's brave words, Fontaine knew her mom was doing badly.

She opened Finn's line, wondering if he would have an idea. He was experienced in low-oxygen situations, after all. She just hoped he was listening.

As soon as Fontaine opened the line, though, she knew something was really wrong. Finn breathed in ragged pants, occasionally muttering… in Latin?

"Hoc non potest non esse vale."

"Finn!" Fontaine said. "Finn, what's wrong?"

"Not again," Finn moaned.

"Finn! Finn, it's okay. We're going to get Mum out."

Finn didn't seem to hear her. Fontaine groaned, wishing they'd never left the Aronnax in the first place!

Rapid gesturing from Ant and Will prompted Fontaine to switch back to the family line. She sighed in relief when she understood Will's excitement. Using the remote controls on his Mag Knight, he was going to bring the Rover to Kaiko so she would have enough air to get outside.

It was a great plan until the isopods returned.

Kaiko was already struggling, so it was up to Fontaine and Ant to keep the isopods at bay. It wasn't easy, though. The Swamp Knight was the only Knight strong enough to pull the isopods free once they latched on, so Fontaine was busy helping Kaiko while trying to keep her own Knight free.

"Hang in there, Mum!" Fontaine said, glancing to the side.

Kaiko's eyes were clenched shut. Her breath rasped over the comms.

Desperate to get the sound out of her ears, Fontaine returned to Finn. He'd reverted to muttering in Latin again, breathing in harsh gasps.

Fontaine's own breath hitched. She'd never felt so useless.


Finn pressed his hands against his ears, but the harsh breathing continued to grate on his ears.

In his mind's eye, he could still see his mom. Hair stringy and limp, eyes cloudy, face flushed red, chest heaving for breath. Still, she had smiled for him, being brave while Finn had begged her to stay.

"Ergo haec haud vale. Iterem autem videbo vos rursus, mea Niteo," Finn whispered, repeating his mom's last words to him.

Her eyes had closed then. She hadn't woken up again, no matter how much Finn yelled and cried. And then she'd stopped breathing-

"Stop, stop!" Finn pounded a fist on the floor. "I can't…"

Finn opened blurry eyes. On his tablet, he could see Kaiko struggling for breath. Fontaine and Ant's Knights hovered around hers, hands out and unable to help. Everyone was so far away, how could he even…

Finn's eyes fell on Will struggling to control the Rover. The isopods made it impossible for Will to see where the Rover was going. Somebody else needed to take control, but none of the other Knights could.

But… there were controls in the Moon Pool room. The Nektons were always taking remote control of their tech. If someone was in the Moon Pool room, they could get the Rover to Kaiko!

"Ergo haec haud vale," Finn muttered. "No. No, this is not good-bye!"

Heart racing, Finn wiped his eyes. He dropped the tablet, swiveled, and drew his knees to his chest. He kicked out hard, feet jarring against the grate and throwing it into the hall with a clang. He clambered out, landing awkwardly on his knees, but he was on his feet and sprinting down the hall in a second.

Finn hadn't been able to help his mom, but he could help Kaiko.


"Come on!" Fontaine yelled. "My brother's room is scarier than you!"

Fontaine shoved down the fear tightening her throat. She couldn't give Kaiko air or be with Finn when he needed her, but she could keep the isopods away from Kaiko.

And hope her help would buy Kaiko some time, at least.

Fontaine snagged an isopod headed for the White Knight and threw it away. To the side, Ant grunted while he struggled to pull an isopod from his Knight's dome. Ahead, Will shoved isopods from his controls.

Even with all their efforts, they were being overrun by isopods! Fontaine kicked an isopod away, then turned to check on Kaiko.

The White Knight was still clear, except for a single isopod on the back. Nereus tried to pry the giant creature free, only for another isopod nearly as big as his body to attach to him!

A frustrated grunt from Will made Fontaine spin.

The Rover controls had been covered by an isopod! Will tried to reach the joystick, but the slimy creature writhed on the controls. The view from the Rover jerked and spun against the walls.

A rumbling roar made everyone flinch. The walls shook as the disturbed sea worm protested the out-of-control Rover careening down it's throat. The isopods twitched, and some of them fled to the walls.

"I can't control the Rover!" Will yelled, pushing at the stubborn isopod on the controls.

"The creature, it's…" Nereus glanced at the ice breaking free from the creature. "It's waking it up!"

The roar repeated. More isopods released the Knights, prompting a triumphant cry from Ant.

Fontaine shook off the last of the isopods and turned to her mom. She found Kaiko, still unsteady but oddly calm, staring at her.

"Fontaine?" Kaiko murmured. "Your eyes…"

"My eyes?"

Ant looked at her, then his eyes shot wide open. "Woah! Fontaine, your eyes are glowing!"

"What are you talking about?" Fontaine asked. "Are you getting enough air, Ant?"

A soft "oh" from Nereus stopped Ant from answering. The kids turned to the old man, who had become as rigid as Kaiko. But while Kaiko watched with curiosity, Nereus' eyes were only full of horror.

"No!" Will yelled, grabbing everyone's attention. "I've lost control of the Rover!"

Nereus' attention snapped to Will. "If you can't stop it, the sea worm will awaken!"

Will flung his arm out. "I don't mean it like that. I mean someone else is driving the Rover!"


A/N: Sometimes, I love messing with canon. I've been waiting for the scene where Finn kicks out the grate since probably the beginning of Interning! 0w0

Translations:

Mater, non est me! Niteo - Mother, it is me! Shine! (Not a perfect translation, unfortunately.)

Commodo - please

Hoc non potest non esse vale. -This can not be good-bye.

Ergo haec haud vale. Iterem autem videbo vos rursus, mea Niteo. - Therefore this is not good-bye. I will see you again, my Shine.

I spent half an hour getting the last line sorted, but it translates perfectly over! (In Google Translate. If there's any Latin experts out there... I tried.) To anyone wondering, Maddie's pet name is Syreni (Mermaid) and Pete is Gladius (Sword).