Story updated on: - 29/01/2011
Chapter beta read by: akiqueen

Chapter 2 (The Sanity Of It All)

Hayami stared at him with a questionable look that was clearly etched on his face. He could tell from Jake's body language that he was hiding something, but what was another question that he really didn't care about.

Still, the awkward silence of the room nudged Jake into knowing that everyone was staring, and his little conversation with Hayami was something he wanted to keep private. "It was a dream. A strange one and something I would prefer to keep private."

"Yeah, whatever." Hayami offered a dismissive wave and prepared to leave the room. But deep down in the back of his mind, he knew Jake had some kind of 'fling' with the hybrid and he often wondered what it would be like to be involved, or have a 'sexual encounter,' with Mutio. It was a highly tabooed subject and Hayami knew why Jake was hush hush about it.

Suddenly the silent and stale atmosphere was blown away by the sudden interruption from a few crewmembers that wandered in, starting their duties.

-o-

Mutio swam outside the submarine and glided in the blue sea, doing her best to keep out of sight and enjoy her freedom. Her sister swam behind her, being cheerful and playful at the same time, like two fish in harmony against the onset of sunbeams that managed to penetrate through the dark ocean.

Mutio felt a change in her sister and she eventually worked out that she'd mated with a human. Mutio didn't have thoughts about if it's right or wrong; she wasn't taught such things. But she could clearly understand that her sister was confused and didn't know what to do. She tried to ask for help and after all, Mutio showed her how different humans were in the first place; now she had the chance to return the favour.

The more she communicated her experience and feelings to Mutio, the more thoughts and images flashed in Mutio's mind, images about being rescued and rescuing Hayami. It was all conflicting, but pleasing none the less. Still, they knew someone was connected to their minds and the two decided to sing to the young mind that was eavesdropping.

Huang sat in the Lorenziny System with her eyes closed, feeling the joy and happiness of Mutio and her sister. "Their songs are so happy," she said, sitting still holing her toy bear even though she was older.

-o-

It was a common occurrence for the team in the sonar room to hang around doing nothing. A few men would watch and guide the incoming traffic while the rest sat around reading newspapers or playing chess. This day was no exception until a violent explosion deep within the sea shook the very foundation of the new facility.

"Explosion dead ahead!" One operator shouted as he stared through the huge, panoramic, shatterproof windows that allowed the crew to view the wide-open ocean.

"Sonar has detected two Musucas heading for us!" another operator said from the corner of the room. He held his headphones tightly and recognised the clicking wave patterns. It was an eerie experience knowing that something deadly was gunning for them…again.

"Defence lines have engaged and one sub already lost, sir!"

The defence platforms that were still under construction began firing shells at the approaching Musucas with little effect as their tube-like shields protected the huge beast.

Watching from the sonar screen, the commander of the sonar tower spotted five small blips that could only mean one thing. Umigumos.

With nothing to stop them, the five Umigumos rushed past what little defences there were and headed straight for the facility.

-o-

Battling it out in some kind of pissing off contest, Jake and Hayami had their difficult conversation interrupted by the red alert signals that boomed throughout the vessel.

"Captain, we are under attack. We have detected several Umigumos on approach, and they should be on top of us soon," announced the second in command.

"Why the hell are they attacking?" said Jake, rushing through the corridors, noticing the sudden rush of people that appeared out of nowhere. "I thought they stopped the war?"

"I think the enemy knows about this mission and I have sneaky suspicions that they misunderstood it. If this is who I think it is," Hayami rolled his eyes, "he's got the mind of a child and is completely thick!"

Jake nodded and issued orders while he approached the command centre. "Control, get the repair team in and deploy the armour along the valuable parts of the ship."

Right on queue, metal plates began to cover the entrances and exits of the massive vessel, and windows and valuable areas were also encased in hardened steal. But this prevented Mutio and her sister from re-entering and left them stranded within the sea.

Unaware of the danger he just placed upon Mutio and her sister, Jake walked up to the LCD monitors and ordered for a complete view of the facility and the hostile targets. A diagram appeared on the screen and Jake studied its display.

"Look!" Jake said to his second in command. "We are currently in the way of the enemies' attack."

Jake faced his crew and with a pointed finger at the screen, he continued. "They'll need to go through us to get to the base and it looks like that is exactly what they intend to do."

"This vessel is designed to take sixteen direct hits before the hull destabilises," Jake announced while he stepped away from the view screen. "It's equipped with defensive and offensive weapons and I intend to use them."

Jake had his own doubts about the total number of hits his own vessel could take. Even if his father did design this vessel during the war, nothing has warranted that kind of test. Still, every situation warranted a chance.

"Four torpedoes in the water, all heading this way," shouted the sonar operator, with panic layered over his voice.

"Firing control, load stingers into tubes one, three, six and nine, and fire." Jake ordered, snappish. "Fire the countermeasures and activate the interceptors on the incoming torpedoes."

The countermeasures were fired into the water and they began to sway around, attracting the missiles. The stinger torpedoes detonated beside the Musucas. However, their effect was very little, due to their shields.

Six massive side guns appeared out of the hull on the Deep Sea Six as it deployed its interceptors. The cannons turned into the remaining torpedoes and they began firing rapidly at them. Some of the shells destroyed the approaching Umigumos before destroying the torpedo.

"Torpedo room, load hammerhead torpedoes into tubes five and one, then fire," said Jake, changing his tactic; using the hammerheads might remove the shielding and then they could use the stingers.

"Load stingers into tubes two and four! Then fire after ten seconds from the hammerheads."

With the fight well underway, paths of bubbles trailed back and forth between the two warring factions. Explosions erupted as small disturbances in the sea and the massive Deep Sea Six stood its ground. Like a submarine battle during World War Two, the fighting parties continued relentlessly.

Shells bounced of the hull leaving them looking pointless and confused at what to do; the firing missiles did some damage but nothing to stop the interceptors from shooting at the remaining Umigumos.

Then a voice boomed over the COM unit: "This is Iga, do you need any help?" A proud and boyish tone was clearly detected.

Suddenly the entire ship shock with a direct hit from one of the missiles the Musuca fired. The countermeasures missed one of the missiles and it blew a huge hole in the side of Jake's vessel.

The massive boat hovered steadily in one place. Chemicals and atmosphere bubbled to the surface and the Deep Sea Six looked mortally damaged.

"Damage to deck three, sectors seven through to twelve," relayed an automatic computer voice, informing everyone of the ship's critical systems.

"Are the emergency doors activated?" asked Jake.

"Yes, the flooding is sealed and repair crews are on their way. The outer skin has sealed the hole. However, the inside hull is ruptured," said the second in command. "Hammerheads are on their way," said firing control. "Stingers have fired, and on their way."

The sudden explosions from the depths of the sea followed by a massive screech informed James that the Musucas had run off and radar confirmed the readings.

"Why didn't you kill them?" asked Iga.

Jake looked at Iga on the view screen with a small look of contempt. Why must everybody kill everything that threatens them? he questioned himself.

He then prepared his answer and said, "I didn't kill them because I hope that something can be done to prevent another war."

"I don't think they will listen, but they have gone for now. You should have destroyed them!" Iga finally said.

"Remove the armour and deploy rescue pods for any survivors - I am sure there are pilots inside those machines. Let's find out what the hell all this is about," said Jake, feeling slightly relaxed over the situation.

-o-

Jake and Hayami watched as they pulled the damaged, Umigumo pods out of the water. Some seem to have been empty with no pilots inside.

"I wonder that they look like?" asked Jake. "I heard reports about humanoid hybrid life forms inside, but I have never seen any except for that female in the waterways, and they seem harmless."

Hayami replied, knowing all to well what's inside, "Remember that image you drew…they're the pilots."

"No!…It can't be!"

And sure enough, as soon as the casing was cracked on one of the pods, a small young female hybrid fell to the floor in a pool of slime.

She looked dead until Jake touched her fragile body and brought her to life.

"Shit! Close the moon pool, do not let her gain access to the waterways," Jake said, remembering that they were perfect swimmers and if she decided to, she could disappear into the ship.

The creature turned and looked at Jake and Hayami. She then looked around at everyone in the room. Everyone stood in shock and fascination at this creature, someone they have never seen before, something so beautiful.

Soon another one came out of her machine pod and plopped to the ground going trough the same motions.

However, falling to the metal floor and being exposed to the air caused the female creatures pain. They began to panic, causing irregular breathing after being inside the control pod with the liquid.

"You might want to place them in the water. I encountered one before and placing them in water would help," said Hayami, speaking from experience.

Jake proceeded to pick one of the female up and placed her into the water. Hayami remembered the exact same thing when he carried Mutio into the water on his first encounter with the creatures; it was an eerie feeling, something he wished he could do again, hold Mutio in his arms.

Jake dropped her into the water and turned, escaping. He had some nagging feeling that they might eat him, like Prania on a feeding frenzy. But somehow that was only a silly thought brought on by long hours.

But as Jake almost made it back onto the metal plating, the hybrid girl then pulled Jake into the water, dragging him under in a fit of rage.

Jake tried to fight her off before Hayami jumped in and forced her off. They both leapt out of the water pool, watching the other females jump in and head out to the open sea.

Jake laid on the metallic floor looking at the ceiling. "Man, I am getting too old for this crap!"

Hayami also looked at Jake and almost gave a slight smile at the comment. However, the moment would not last too long, because a faint drop was heard in the distance with another creature falling to the floor.

This one was different, she did not move and it appeared she was not breathing. Jake turned and looked at her. He saw no movement and it looked like she had died.

He got up and walked closer to the fragile creature laid out on the floor with her arms and legs stretched and her lifeless face showed no signs of movement. Jake placed his hands on her wrist in order to feel her pulse. "Quick, get the first aid box in the hallway, fast!" he demanded after feeling a faint pulse in her wrist.

Hayami paused in a mode of questions, before rushing off to get the box.

Jake then decided to take matters in his own hands and perform CPR on the creature. She was not breathing and letting something so beautiful die was a waste of life. He placed his hand in her mouth to clear any blockages, then pinched her small nose and breathed air into her lungs.

The sudden burst of fluid came out of her mouth as the liquid she was breathing inside the pod came out of her lungs.

"Jake, I do not think that will help," said Hayami, rushing back, slightly shocked seeing Jake doing an old style CPR on the creature.

"Get me the air mask!" Jake said. "I have a pulse and just need to get her breathing again."

Hayami passed the mask to Jake and he began using the mask to pump air into her lungs. After a few tries she started to cough and sputter. The young female took deep breaths and struggled around.

Hiding in the water, Mutio and her sister looked in utter shock as they saw Jake bringing back one of their sisters from the brink of death. They knew about death and didn't know that anyone could give life, except for their papa.

Mutio's sister, who was swimming next to her, looked in fascination as Jake tried his best to bring her sister to life. She was deeply touched at his compassion and ability. He could have left her sister to die, but he chose to bring her back to life.

The creature was not out of the woods yet; she started to have trouble breathing and began to spasm on the deck. Jake and Hayami placed her into the water, allowing the creature to breath freely. She floated for a few seconds before springing to life.

The creature gave Jake a wary look that puzzled them, they didn't know if they should take it as a thank you or a… Jake decided not to think about such things.

Still, the young female knew she has been deeply touched by this human and could feel his breath deep in her lungs. This would cause problems when she went home. But she alone knew what her master had said, "all humans are deadly," was not the truth. Humans could give life too.

And as for good measure, the creature hissed and snarled at her saviour before jumping into the deep water, swimming out to sea. Jake got out of the water with Hayami and he said, "I'm definitely getting too old for this!"

Hayami turned around and said, without thinking. "What did she taste like? Fish?"

Jake stared at Hayami. His question was typical for that type of man, but his mind still flashed back to the moment he had that intermit night with the creature. The taste was the same, not like fish like everyone would expect, but a creamy silk that was fresh like a warm, summer's day. But again, the texture, taste and experience only refreshed his old memories about that intimate relationship he had in his quarters. It must have been real.