Chapter Thirty

New Home

The weekend finally arrives. The boys waste no time in getting ready to leave for the day. They've bundled their money together and realized that they have a couple hundred dollars saved up. Hopefully that will be enough. If not, they will have to wait until after the next payday to go out again.

Richard wanders around in the home, making sure all of his friends are ready to go for the day. Last one to check on is Ace. He steps up to Ace's room and knocks on the door frame since the door is already open.

"We leave in five minutes," he says.

Ace is sitting on his bed, tying up his shoe laces. "One minute." He stands and walks over to the dresser. From there he grabs a small bottled filled with pills. Ace takes one out and swallows it with a bit of water. He looks over at Richard and answers the unasked question. "Anti-depression meds."

"Oh," is all that Richard says. "How long?"

"Since Seablite. I never really got better once we got out." He pushes the cap back on top of the bottle and turns to the door, offering a smile they both know is fake. "Let's get going. Gotta busy day ahead of us."

They leave the room and head upstairs to the boat that is waiting for them. They settle themselves on the last remaining seats before the boat turns out to open water. It picks up speed and begins to cut through the water with ease. It's a cloudy day and darker clouds loom in the west. At least it won't be hot and bright out on the Trade Station. Nothing is worse than a hot and sunny day.

Two hours later they arrive at the Trade Station. All of the boys take one look at the Trade Station and realize that they are way in over their heads. The crowd is huge. People rub shoulders against one another and the voices of hundreds of people fill the air. A crowd. Just what they don't want to deal with. Already the boys are making sure that their scars are covered up. Peter has a scarf tied around his neck so it hides most of the scar. Not all of it, but still it makes him feel a little more comfortable.

They step out onto the dock and look out into the crowd. There's a lot of people out there, meaning there will be lots of stuff being sold as well.

"Break up into groups," Richard says. "We'll meet back here in two hours and talk about what we've found, is that clear?" They all nod and break into groups. Kyle, Henry and Trevor in one, Eli and Peter in the second, and Ace with Richard in the third. They walk off in separate directions, letting the crowds swallow them up.

"You think we'll find one?" Ace asks as they dodge the people around them.

"I hope so," Richard says. "If we can only find them."

That indeed does pose a problem for them. Richard can only see fish being sold today. He's seen enough gutted fish to last at least ten life times. He tries to ask people where he can find a place where they sell used subs, but most people seem too busy and rudely brush past Richard without a care in the world. It isn't until they come across a young teen, a little younger than Trevor, that they get their heading.

"Hey, kid," Ace says. "I'm wondering if you could help us."

The teen turns around and looks up at Ace. Judging from the dive skin and mantaboard, the kid was probably about to leave the Trade Station. He looks at both Ace and Richard quickly, green eyes calculating to see if their worth helping out.

"What do you need?"

"Do you know if they sell used subs around here?"

The kid thinks this over for a bit before responding. He raises a gloved hand. "Over there's your best bet," he says. "If you're looking for some higher quality subs, you might want to check the sales over there." He points in the opposite direction.

"Thanks, kid," Ace says.

"No problem." The teen pulls on his helmet and jumps down into the water before disappearing under the waves on the mantaboard.

"Strange kid," Ace says.

"Pioneer's kid," Richard corrects. "They live under the water."

"Right. Well, we've got some subs to check out."

They walk off in the direction the boy directed them too. The first spot is a huge letdown. The subs are basically rust buckets that will fall apart if a minnow bumped it. They are also too small. They can probably hold two or four people at the most. Not what they need. They move onto the next part.

The next place with used subs for sale holds better promises. The subs here are in a somewhat better condition that the ones they saw before. So far this spot seems hopeful. They look around for a bit, inspecting the subs to see if there is a potential buy. These subs are larger, holding up to six and even eight people along with enough supplies to not have to surface for days even weeks at a time.

"We should get back and meet the others," Ace suggests. "We can look at these subs later when we're all together."

Richard nods. "Good idea."

Together they walk back to the meeting spot and wait. Fifteen minutes later everyone is assembled for. They begin to share their discoveries over the past two hours. There are two good spots for used subs. They head off to the first one, eagerly hoping that they can find what they need and move on with their plans. They are all eager to get away from the home and finally move on with their lives.

The first place is promising. The subs are large enough to hold them all along with enough space to hold their gear. They inspect all the promising subs from top to bottom, checking to see if the subs are in fixable condition. Fixable to them means that they are able to fix it themselves without any outsider help. They don't want anyone to get involved.

After inspecting all the hopefuls, they all realize that they have the same thoughts. None of them feel anything towards the subs. They just don't feel right. They decide to move onto the next spot.

The next place is much like the same. The subs are large enough to suit their needs and they have a better vibe than the last bunch of subs. They come upon one of the last ones and look at it. Despite the rust, the sub looks to be in good condition. The inside of the sub could use some general cleaning but it has what they are looking for, bunk space up top and gear space down below. Trevor is already seeing if they can convert it into a stealth sub.

"What do you think, Trevor?" Richard asks. "Do you think it'll work?"

Trevor steps into the back of the sub where the engine rests. He glances around the room quickly. And measure things using his arm span. He then looks at the engine carefully and into detail, making sure that engine is working properly.

"It should," the boy says. "What we can do is tear down the back siding and extend it to make the tail. We can use rebar to create the structure and place the metal sheeting over the structure."

"What about the vibration method?"

"Shouldn't be a problem. This sub is already built for stealth we just need to improve it. Once I get the prototype up and running, I'll figure out how it can work. Which by the way, I've thought of an extra system that can give us some extra speed."

"Which is?" Richard asks.

Trevor goes into detail about how the extra system will be a sort of backup system if the artificial muscles break down. Inside the gills of the shark will be a type of fan that forces air out to push itself faster through the water. This extra propulsion system will give them an extra boost if they are being chased.

"It's all doable," Trevor says. "It's just a matter of tearing things apart and rebuilding them."

"You're sure you can do this?" Richard asks.

"It'll take time, but we've got all the stuff we need. The engine is in good shape, the framework is sturdy. We just need the tools and supplies to make it what we want."

Richard nods. It seems like they finally have a winner.

Back on the dock, the boys discuss the sub into detail. It has everything they need, everything they hoped for. Now all they have to do is to buy it. Since Richard is the oldest, they send him to the owner. The owner is happy to see a potential buyer for his sub. Richard asks for the price. The owner provides him with one that is outrageously too high. Knowing what to do, Richard barters with the man, offering him a price that is outrageously low. And so the price goes back and forth between the two men. Finally they settle on a price that Richard can afford and the owner is satisfied with.

"Can you deliver this?" Richard asks as he pulls out the wad of money and prepares to hand it to the man.

"Where do you want it?"

"There's a smaller Trade Station 'bout two hours west of here. You know Karen?"

"The one that owns that fishery?" the man asks. Richard nods. "Everyone knows Karen. She makes herself known to the world. You live there?"

"Yes."

The man nods. "I'll drop it off tomorrow morning. It'll cost you extra though."

"I'll pay you the rest once you bring the sub."

The man smiles. "Deal." They shake on it and Richard hands him the money.

He turns back to his friends and nods. The deal has been struck. They are now the proud owners of a used sub. It may not be a big deal, but to them this is the beginning of a new life.