Saddest part of the movie was no Suyin. (Nothing against Li Bingbing. It takes courage to place self-care first and put aside things you care about. I hope she continues to be well.) Still, her character is MASSIVE in the books and I really liked her in the first movie. So, the Suyin version of THE TRENCH.

If this chapter feels like exposition dump, I had to tackle retconning.

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Music, lights, and a tie that was too tight. Not the first way he pictured spending an evening. Jonas Taylor moved his eyes from the over-bloated party to Meiying, showing his utter annoyance. "If you choke me to death, I won't blame you."

The pre-teen, taller in heels, rolled her eyes. "You say you're a team player. Tonight is a team event. Now leave it. You look great!"

"A miracle by the tailor." Mac moseyed into the conversation, wearing his own monkey suit. Him, and Zhang Jiuming, both basking in confidence. They seemed to equally enjoy attention and pandering. Jonas smirked back at his friend. "I motivated him with your credit card."

Mac started, right before the lights changed. Everyone's attention was drawn to the stage. The Oceanic logo and theme song- was there another word for it?- played out, images of the submersibles they all rode like taxis on a weekly basis. Jonas looked over to see Jiuming humming along. Before drifting his gaze to spot Suyin. Hair swept up to show off long silver earrings, she spoke with Hillary Driscoll; Oceanic's primary backer. She held that gentle, yet professional smile.

"I'm going to film your speeches from the back." Meiying already had her phone out.

"Get my good side." Jiuming spruced his hair for the millionth time. A top-notch scientist and diver, but the spotlight was where his brother-in-law liked to shine.

"Don't forget that special wave to Curtis." Mac mentioned as they watched Driscoll mount the stage to obligatory applause. He lowered his voice. "Still hasn't asked her out yet."

"We're co-workers." Jiuming protested. Jonas lifted a brow. "Tonight she's your plus one."

"She's a professional." Jiuming checked the bottom of his microphone. He called softly to Suyin, realizing it wasn't working. Mac scoffed. "Terrible excuse."

"Good thing you never have to use it." Jonas muttered. His focus quickly returned to Suyin as she stepped further back, shuffling through index cards... and looking exquisite doing so in a light-blue silk dress that flowed over her body. Jonas adjusted his posture while thinking up a good compliment. Mac leaned in. "Save me a dance for later?"

"All booked chum." Jonas left him flat, catching Suyin's eye as he approached. She lowered the cards in relief. "You're cutting it close. I thought I'd see you before this."

"I promised I'd be here." Jonas reminded her, even while she'd already been gone when he got back from the barge. Either way, he maintained focus on her dress. Suyin on the other hand, gazed nervously past him at the hushed hall. "How's it look to you?"

"Jīngrén." Jonas stated.

Suyin started at his tone, then blushed... making her even more stunning. The woman did not have a bad angle on her. How did I convince her to marry me?

Jonas kissed her delicately, which she accepted with an arm at his hip. He chanced a whisper. "This' the part where we sneak out the back."

Suyin stifled a grin, regaining composure. "I have a speech. And you," she dusted off his shoulders. "promised Mac a dance."

Jiuming's voice replaced Driscoll's and Suyin turned on her own microphone. Jonas squeezed her hand. "You're thinkin' about it."

She held out her fingers in their just a little bit gesture. Yet, as usual, business pulled her away. Arguably, the institute's tenth anniversary warranted being a big deal. Ever since they'd merged with Driscoll's tech company however, work had become showier than Jonas- and Suyin- were comfortable with. Suyin just had the patience and grace to bear it.

"Sooo," Mac clapped with Jonas as Suyin's voice filled the room. "about that dance."

"Shove off, Mac." Jonas went searching for Meiying, watching Suyin proudly explain the leaps and bounds her father's company continued to make. That had always been the drive; as well as the distraction. Especially as their mapping of the trench floor gained more and more attention in the scientific community. Jonas watched the lab guys drool over every latest flora, fauna, or mineral they brought back up. While he made sure the people came back. Meiying's phone turned on him, but Jonas quickly pushed it back onto the stage. Saying stepped aside as Juicing gestured grandly to the 1.6 million gallon tank that started behind them. The crowded quieted- until a pale, massive fin broke the surface. Breaking the same unease throughout Jonas' stomach.

"Nursed back to health, Haiqi has become the window to a prehistoric past." Juicing exclaimed proudly.

"Way with words, hey."

Jonas glimpsed beside him at Benjamin Singer. Another self-made investor with blond curly hair and wire-rimmed glasses. Also a wealthy subsidiary who'd established Oceanic's connection to Driscoll- while never letting anyone forget it. Jonas kept his face neutral. "Completely makes people ignore being a glass wall from death."

Singer chuckled, patting Jonas' shoulder. "That's why he's up there instead of you."

Rather swim with the meg. Jonas' organs cringed, taking another look at Singer. He'd heard the name a dozen times in the last year, already hating the glory hound. Yet another rich guy that didn't think beyond the dollar sign, while failing to realize the world didn't obey him. His stare clearly communicated this animosity as Singer awkwardly removed his hand. "After awhile, the negativity gets old, Jonas."

"Nothing negative about being prepared or the voice of reason." Jonas' gaze trailed Haiqi's fin as she came back around. "Comfort leads to complacency. Then we're in trouble."

No surprise, Singer was tuning him out. "Meiying, tell your old man to lighten up-"

All were blinded as a spotlight switched to them, confusing Jonas. Mac's voice rose up enthusiastically. "For those of you eager to meet the man himself..."

Unable to see Mac, Jonas glared at Meiying. "This was your idea."

"Smile!" Meting leaned in, angling for a selfie.

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"Mini fridge successfully raided." Sal approved, making room on the table for the cold brews. Lance pointed upward before popping his beer. "Can't understand why rich people act like they can't bother with a six-pack."

Like moths to the flame, Hadley and Collin abandoned their posts to partake in the gourging of good old snack food. Collin hit the volume on his remote and a pop song completed the atmosphere. A preferable one, everyone agreed, to the stiff-collared one upstairs.

"Dressing up once in a while is nice." Hadley defended, giving her shoulder length hair a moment's play. "The pain to my feet is worth how good my calves look."

"Okay, but they don't do anything with it." Sal parried. "Except stand over hor-d'ourves and debate which country club activities to fill their week with."

"No dancing," Collin shook his own scruffy black head. "deal-breaker for me."

"Plus, you pretend to like everybody." Lance took the helm next. He gestured about the table. "Here, we can state how much we hate each other with no-"

Sal punched his arm, snagging some chips. There were the few opening minutes of munching, passing, or calling dibs, until Hadley had the cards set up. "Big guns tonight gents; seven-card stud."

"Scoot away from Sal, she cheats." Collin advised Lance as his phone buzzed. He clicked the link on in his ear. "This DJ or Jaxx?"

"Let the sultry baritone tell you."

"Hey Jaxx," Collin popped a few Milk Duds. "You fax over Mana's specs for this week?"

DJ cried out. "Man, it's not nice to mess with people's self-esteem like that."

"Easy Collin," Jaxx's smirk joined the call, prompting Collin to place them on speaker. "He's fragile."

"Sure," DJ snorted back. "I'm the fragile one."

Everyone exchanged looks knowingly, but it was Sal who asked. "You and Jess playing nice?"

"As long as they stay in their separate corners." Lance snickered. Collin had yet to witness it, but it was apparently fun to watch their newest anaylst get under Jaxx's skin. By doing absolutely nothing.

"Make this quick!" Sal called out. "You're interrupting-"

A mighty whoosh stalled his words, making them start back, eyes on the great oval window into Haiqi's tank. Only a few of the lights were on, but Collin spotted the shadow of her tail as she swam away. He paused, then swallowed to get himself breathing again.

"She's never gotten that close before." Hadley stood up, rushing to check the meg's vitals. They continued to watch, unsure of their own frozen state- until Haiqi's figure brushed the glass again. Collin had to remind himself it was a twelve-inch pane. His throat staled as the fish slowed... parallel to them.

"It's like..." Hadley moved her voice above a whisper.

"She'd watching us." Lance finished, drawing all gazes to Haiqi's coal-black eyes.

"She's what!?" DJ burst into the phone. Jaxx however, broke them out of their trance. "There a disturbance in the tank?"

"No..." Collin trailed off, finding his own computer. Several keystrokes and he was given the same diagnostic as an hour ago. "Structure is sound, vents continue to circulate..."

"They're hosting a party beside the tank." Sal suggested.

"Maybe she feels left out." Lance tried joking. DJ was quick to refute. "Or maybe she doesn't like being looked down on by entrees."

Collin rubbed at his glasses, peering back into the mindless void of water. Unable to tell what might be looking back at him. He didn't recall it unnerving him before.