"Mate, you look like shit!" Brett commented his state as Jason sat up on the bench he had been lying on the last couple of minutes. Neri stood next to him, watching him concerned.
"I wanna see you after you got frozen for five days," Jason replied. His limbs still felt cold and stiff. But at least he had been fully conscious twenty minutes after they had woken him up – which was definitely an improvement.
"Oh, you will," Brett promised. "There's no way you're going back up without me."
"I'd love for you to come with us next time," Mera said with a smile.
Neri suddenly straightened up, listening to something Jason wasn't able to hear.
"Charly," Mera explained. "He's singing to us since we arrived."
Jason touched Neri's arm. "Go ahead," he encouraged her. "I know you wanna go for a swim and say hello to him."
"Are you sure?"
Jason nodded and stroked her arm. "I see you girls later on ORCA."
"They're all eager to see you," Brett added. "Don't be alarmed by the security measures. The patrol boats are just for keeping out nosy strangers. They won't bother you."
His light tone suddenly sounded endeavoured. The sisters exchanged a look.
"What has happened, Brett?" Neri wanted to know.
Brett shook his head. "Really: it can wait," he ensured them. "You can just go. Anyway, I am not supposed –"
"Brett," Neri and Mera cut in.
"Spill," Jason demanded.
Brett hesitated, then sighed. "Well, that is – kinda – the problem," he said. "Someone did."