Suyin hit the emergency stop, halting everything. Finally, all was still. After a moment's breath, they rested their weight on the back wall. Jonas could hear the snarling and scratching of the unrelenting lizards. He checked the magazine of his firearm before nodding to Suyin's. "Are you alright?"

"Your ears are bleeding." was her answer.

"Were." Jonas looked up and was stopped by her look- shattered and vulnerable against her disheveled clothing. He felt a rush of guilt for what she'd been through these past hours. He pushed her magazine back in. "Meiying's fine."

"I talked with her." Suyin acknowledged, face unchanged. Growing Jonas' guilt. "Should've brought her up the second-"

Moving both guns aside, Suyin suddenly kissed him. With an intent he hadn't felt in a long time! In surprise, Jonas held off. "What's that?"

"I'm sorry." Suyin kept close and he felt the weariness over her body. It matched his. Suyin pushed her hair away, only for it to fall again. She didn't correct it. "I've been... so sad."

The word felt inadequate.

"...been doing everything I can not to dwell on it."

"But it's everywhere." Jonas understood, thumbing the barrel of his gun. "No matter which direction you turn."

Those seemed the right words as Suyin's expression flushed into relief, eyes filling with tears. The ones for Hào Yáng which she- they- should've shed long ago. Jonas eased closer to her, feeling her soft hand, only interrupted by her ring finger. She squeezed back after a moment. "I didn't want it to define me. And I end up letting you and Meiying feel less important."

Jonas watched her, bearing a burden that covered them both. He had scowled at her charging ahead, like nothing had happened. When you're only too eager to forget.

Those moments of darkness in the trench- the baby crying to his subconsciousness. It made it all as real as yesterday. He eyed the severed lizard, a preferable sight to any within his mind. Yet, no amount of prehistoric monsters could bury it.

"You must be so disappointed in me." Suyin was going on, knees drawn up to rest her elbows.

"Stop." Jonas grunted, sick of the blame. The Suyin he knew... he looked her over. "You can't believe that."

Suyin's whole body jerked, giving him an edgy glare. "It was my body, Jonas. I couldn't carry him- now I- can't carry out my duties!"

"I never blamed anybody for being human." Jonas gestured absently into the air. "You know where I was before you and Meiying? I was gonna drink myself to death in Thailand and didn't care."

She stared at him, stunned. Jonas remained aware of how dry his throat was, remembering those blurry days. How he had stayed away from the bottle was beyond him. "I care now. Enough to try and keep us from drifting. So, if it seemed too much... if I was pushy or selfish-"

"Realistic." Suyin told him, finally meeting eye to eye. "Which is what you are. You're capable of..." Her breath hitched and she clutched her stomach. "Of... accepting-"

Jonas covered her hand, so she'd feel his trembling. He lowered the gun completely, needing a minute. "I haven't accepted it, Suyin."

He couldn't maintain eye contact with her puzzled look, watching the corners of the elevator. They were literally barricaded from the distractions outside. That he had let pile up. Just say it.

"I dream 'bout him." Jonas forgot to swallow. "He's cryin'... I can't find him..."

He shrugged with the helplessness he loathed. On the one hand, he couldn't share it with anyone but her. On the other, he was ashamed to admit it. Like I might be less strong for you.

Suyin eventually leaned her head into his neck. "So we're both making our way back."

His chin moved against her hair, feeling her hand and arm. He loved the feel of her cool skin; had missed it. "It's not all on you."

She nodded, but the belief wasn't quite there. Still, one thing at a time. Jonas passed the gun back. "Options other than the rafts?"

"The DSV is operational." Suyin straightened, stripping her jacket off. "Two exosuits at our disposal-"

"How'd we launch?" Jonas narrowed his eyes. Suyin sighed. "Jaxx was injured."

Her tone filled in the blanks. Jonas righted, every nerve alert. Suyin shook her head, tightening her fingers around his. "She's decided, Jonas."

"We'll change her mind."

"With what time?" Suyin stood with him, purposely blocking the panel. "The megalodons have surfaced. The longer we're here, the farther away they get with no one to warn them."

"We're wasting time now." Jonas stared at her, watching her eyes plead. "We'll fit on the rafts. Paddle out far enough, power the rest of the way to land."

Suyin wet her lips, showing her own doubt. "Leaving Jaxx here doesn't seal her fate. But the DSV has countermeasures, mechanical arms, spear hooks..."

It will be used to fight. Jonas blew out his breath, closing his eyes. They had to chose who drove the DSV, and who took the rafts... either way, Jaxx stayed. Jonas pressed his fingers to his eyelids, using the sensation to push his instincts down. People called him out on being reckless, but how many lives had that saved in the past? That wasn't the question now though... it was who did he need to keep alive? Everyone! I owe them that!

It was what caused someone to dive; whether underwater, into a fire, or across a war zone. The need to allow people to keep living their dreams, trying their best... convincing them they were worth the risk. Jonas could hardly put the need into words. He sighed out heavily, wishing for better odds. "You and Mac have a plan?"

"Bring the megs to us." Suyin's body eased, grateful for the topic change. Jonas' eyes narrowed. "Where?"

Suyin almost smiled. "Fun Island, one of the resorts in the gulf. It's closest and once they hear our engines-"

"Might not be as persuasive as whale calls."

"We have to try." she insisted and he knew she was right. They couldn't risk these things being alive for one day. Jonas reached over her shoulder, getting the elevator to take them down. It jolted, but Suyin didn't shy away from resting on his chest. "Also... I'll man the sub. With Mac and Jiuming."

Jonas blinked; did he fight this or not? She looked terrified. And she was letting him see that. The doubt, the dread, everything... it was refreshing. Suyin pulled a breath in. "If not now, when?"

"You need me there?" Jonas asked, seeing floor lights change overhead. Tell me what to do, I'll do it.

"Jiuming's the expert with the suits." Suyin straightened her shoulders, logistics giving her confidence. Her eyes shined on him as she readied her weapon at the door. "Besides, I need you looking after our daughter."

Jonas accepted this, a warmth in his chest returning. It didn't replace the fear, but could at least bat it back. He instituted the kiss this time, feeling the breath through her neck, before they shouldered their weapons. Suyin stepped wide, as Jonas covered the front. The metal doors whirred open... he heard the snarl, saw teeth, and fired!

}{}{}{}{

"There you are." Jess gapped in disbelief; not surprising with their last communication being two days ago.

Too long apart from that body. Montes caught her waist and answered her with a hard lip lock. She pushed away, eyes wide. "Are you... okay?"

Was she referring to the kiss or his bleeding forearms? Making it to the command center hadn't been easy. His glimpse of the hard-scarred megalodon circling them stated that it wasn't over. Montes growled. "Jonas and the others made it to Mana One."

Jess blew out a long, frustrated breath. Commanding attention to the few men standing guard, she worked over her keyboard, wrestling with some system or other. "Locate Jonas, Rigas, DJ, and Mac and KILL them! Come across any of those annoying animals, do the same."

Her posture left no room for debate. Montes turned with the others, but she held him back. "Not you."

"Taylor's mine." Montes warned. Jess sighed. "Stay focused, alright. We're at the head of this thing. Sooner the Zhangs realize that the better."

"We're keeping them alive?"

"For now." Driscoll's voice broke in from Jess' tablet. "Be smart, Montes. The public's been watching them make all the discoveries of the unknown. Too many questions if they all died."

Montes followed Jess closer to the window, the ocean mirroring in her quick, snappy eyes. "They're not going to change their minds."

"Nooo..." Jess moved her fingers, tapping one to the glass. That thin, evil smile came out. "But they will want to take a step back. After Haiqi's escape, the breach, Jonas' death... everyone knew he was reckless, anyone close knows Suyin's emotional struggle-"

Montes liked watching her enjoyment as she spelled out the plan spinning in her mind. She wiggled a brow, going on with Driscoll. "Suyin will realize it's time to stop, focus on family; something warm and fuzzy like that. Jiuming can be kept in the wings. If either try going to court, we'd bury them within the first week."

Montes moved back up the stairs, exploring one of their duffels, as Driscoll agreed. "Little lengthy, but doable. And when Suyin retires as director... she'll happily approve your promotion, Jess, as director of the institute."

Jess beamed, turning from the glass wall. "I appreciate your confidence. And Singer?"

There was barely a pause. "He'll be on a need-to-know basis. Not as vital, but we need him."

"I'll let you know when it's all wrapped up here." Jess assured her before hanging up. She stretched her arms as Montes rose with the Kimber 1911 he found. Lighter than he preferred, but it was enough to take care of Taylor. "Everything's looking up, yeah?"

Jess laughed. "At least I can talk about you at work now."

He loaded a round in the chamber, beckoning. She made the first step, only for a shadow to overcome the rest. Montes was blown back as a cascade of ocean and glass sprayed throughout the room, past the bulging megalodon head.

}{}{}{}{

"C'mon guys, c'mon," Jaxx prompted, all her concentration between the lazy screens covering the DSV and the surrounding deck. The gray hues blurred and it was a struggle to keep the Glock covering the door. It was fading... she was fading. Her leg burned, while everything else shivered. What color was her thigh now? She wouldn't bother eyeing it anymore. She needed to- to-

"Mac!" Jaxx shouted through the walkie talkie. "3'o'clock."

A couple of whams and the mercs were down! Okay, that had been fun.

Suyin ducked back into the DSV and Jaxx felt the urgency as Jiuming slid the paneling back into place. This was it...

Jaxx dropped the gun to grip the counter as the entire room rocked. She lost her seat and screamed as she landed on her injured leg. And I thought it had gone numb!

The impact had come from below and against the floor, Jaxx heard the mass rush of water. Filling the command center, weakening Mana One's structure. "My poor baby."

She let the tears creep out, knowing her 3 minutes were dwindling. Jaxx pushed up and used her upper body to crawl back into the chair. For a panting moment, she eyed her many tattoos running up both arms. Had she ever explained all of them? DJ and Lance had asked plenty of times. I always figured there was time to answer them.

One minute.

Jaxx turned a key for the override to launch. The DSV rose, then stretched out from the deck of Mana One. Jaxx ordered her arms to grip the dual levers. "Pull back... they drop..."

She breathed a sigh of acceptance when she did. Unwillingly lying her cheek on the counter. Just for a moment. She absently glimpsed about the small room; one of the smallest aboard the largest offshore marine research facility... Dr. Zhang had personally commended her from the first eye on her designs.

I was a part of this.

Jaxx could smile at that.