There's a light at the end of the physical tunnel. And if she squints Marina can just make out Stingray's propeller as she turns up ahead, already in the tank.

"It's gonna be a tight squeeze" Troy remarked, as he slows the fish down.

"Fifteen pens just counting the ones facing out to sea," Phones agrees, "and you think they could have let us borrow another one."

"Here we go. Let's try not to crash into our own ship!"

"Mechanical fish, entering Marineville."

They come out of the launch tunnel opposite Stingray, ready and poised on her docking bay. Stingray seems quite frightening here. It's odd to see it from this angle, face to face with her but delightful all the same. Marina can't see into the cabin to wave but does so anyway. It seems to Marina that Stingray is staring down her long nose at the fish disapprovingly and the idea amused her. No wonder some thought Stingray was so scary!

The terror fish banked, and rose in an awkward wide, drifting arch as Troy pulled the ship around as best he could. He had to take it full circle even with the steep climb. Marina could hear him muttering under his breath. And slowly bobbing to the surface, the fish lurched up to the side of the pen. It didn't stop so much as stall.

Through its eyes the dock was busy. Technicians and engineers buzzed about them like real wasps. There was a thud as ropes were thrown over the fish and hauled her to secure her to the side-moorings. An automatic gangplank was deployed. Rather than the injector tubes, Phones opened the very small and sub-standard submarine airlock on the side of the fish.

And Marina took her first breath of air above the surface. Well below ground above surface. But the stale filtered pumped mechanically air felt good. Even if it smelt of oil, metal, and salt water. Anything but sweat, soap and seaweed tea…

Marina shuddered and clambered out of the ship. Troy and Phones even helped her step ashore taking a hand each, like real gentlemen in moving pictures. There was some clapping and cheering and victorious yells. Marina recognised a few faces but none she could really put names to at this distance.

Reflections on the water broke up the bright artificial light as she looked about. Troy let go of her hand and was talking to a steward in grey overalls. Phones was saying something too, something to her. But Marina missed it as some other announcement over the big speakers.

Then there was a clanging above their heads, above all the chatter and protocol even. Marina looked to the source and saw Fisher. He came flying down the metal fire escape stairs. Despite the "no running" signs.

"He must have broken a land speed record to get from the control so quick-!" Troy laughed and waved. Fisher saw him and weaved through the space to get to them.

"Congratulations captain, Phones. Mission accomplished!" Fisher grinned, panting. Then seized Marina's hand in that way she'd seen men normally used as first greeting. All up and down as if she was too bobbing on the tide. "and hey you! Welcome back stranger!"

Marina laughed as he let her go. His smile was contagious, even if her face hurt.

"Ain't you meant to be up in the tower?" Phones asked. Not accusing so but defiantly baffled.

"I had permission to get cover. For training purposes." Fisher said. He was very almost hopping foot to foot. "Tech-captain Avon said it's not often Stingray has to follow land docking afterall-!"

"Speaking of which," Troy interrupted and pointed out. "Look!"

Marina turned. Another claxon was going off, one that inside Stingray's hull, was quiet. Marina gripped her necklace against its volume, hovering between wrong feelings and awe. It wasn't a view she usually saw. Loud and industrial Stingray surfaced. Sometimes Stingray seemed so compact inside, even for a roomy spacious sub, that Marina forgot how big the ship was. Beautifully sleek and shiny colours and powerful as she rose. And kept rising until she was well above the water level.

"Here they come!" Phones said. Only, when Marina watched, the injector tubes went down okay. But the seats went up empty. Troy hurried the troupe over to the other side of the dock. This harbour was quite empty leaving just them and a few operators who gave them space. Another automatic gangplank was deployed as they pressed against the safety barriers. The gang plank extended out over Stingray's bow. The front airlock hatch opened. There was a whir of the commander's chair, complete with extra thruster pack to blost him upwards.

"Ahoy there, commander!" Troy shouted.

The commander shouted something back to them. It sounded like "Well ain't you three a sight for sore eyes!" But Marina wasn't sure what that meant.

Then commander Shore turned in his seat back to the hatch. And then following him, out climbed,

Atlanta?!

Marina blinked but no mistake. It was indeed lieutenant Shore, hydro-headphone equipment around her neck. This was a surprise. Marina waved and was so glad to see her friend, as well as commander Shore. But then hesitated. After all, she'd snuck off out from under Atlanta and Phones' care, betraying her friend's trust. Would they be terribly angry with her? Would they see it as an insult to their hospitality.

Phones hadn't? Troy didn't? But still… Maria shook herself, feeling silly. But still nervous.

The automatic gangplank retracted, bringing a hurrying Atlanta to land. The commander right behind her.

"Troy! Oh I am so glad to see you!" Atlanta said. She all but ran to them to hug the captain. Troy hugged her back just as tight.

"What are we, chop liver?" Phones joked to Marina with a nudge and a cheeky wink.

"Alright, put him down, Atlanta." Sam said. Not without a chuckle. Atlanta blushed.

"Yes sir."

"I hear you made a great co-pilot?" Troy grinned, "A father daughter dream team."

"I think I did alright." Atlanta said although her blush remained.

"You're too modest!"

"Watch it, Phones you've competition!" Fisher teased.

"I know, better up my game, huh?" Phones laughed. The commander rolled his eyes, hovered his chair down the steps and parked it.

"Yeah, she did beautifully. Well done you fellas too." He agreed, "and Neptune's beard, Marina!" He said, swinging about in his seat to face her, and clapping her on the (thankfully unscratched) arm. "I don't know if I should have you court marshalled or given a medal!"

"I am sure am glad you're alright though. Good to have you back." He added quietly, squeezing it.

Marina smiled back nodding. Glad to be back.

"You had me worried, sir." Phones said.

"Worried?"

"Yeah! For a minute back there i didn't think you were gonna make it!"

"Yeah well, Tempest isn't the only one who can keep everyone on the seat of their pants." The commander scoffed.

Atlanta meanwhile laughed at something Troy had said.
"What, and let you fellas and Marina have all the fun?

Marina hovered, feeling like she was intruding in the middle of this strange reunion party. As well as feeling overwhelmed and overjoyed all at once. The banter and comradery. The smiling. The cross talk.

"They really fall for your bubble trick?" Atlanta was asking. Troy confirmed it. Whatever it was.

"I wish I could have seen Titan's face-!" Fisher whistled.

Phones disagreed. "I did and it's as ugly as ever."

"Past your final exams first before you go that deep, Fisher." Troy said. "Although I'd rather you don't get into as much trouble as we seem to do."

The commander agreed. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you getting hours on the catfish."

"Thank you, sir." Fisher said at attention, "I wasn't angling but-?"

"Was that a PUN lieutenant?!" Shore complained, while his other lieutenants conversed.

"You ever fancy switching out communications to re-join the aquanaut side of things, Atlanta I've got some leave I need to use up!" Phones said taking back the hydrophone gear Atlanta passed him.

Atlanta laughed again but shook her head.

"Forget it Phones! I'm much happier on a radio that doesn't move, thanks."

"And as for you-!" Atlanta started turning to Marina and even pushing past the boys to get to her. They parted, letting her by. Marina gasped and shrank back, bracing herself for more yelling-! It was a telling off. Of sorts.

"Don't you EVER Dare go off like that again, Marina! Of all the foolhardy-!"

If Marina could speak, she might have squeaked in surprise. Instead, Marina saw red.

Well, auburn. Atlanta's hair mostly filled her vision, as Marina was suddenly swept up into a fierce hug from Atlanta of her own.