Page 71 of Fallen from the Stars

But time had chugged on, and Theo’s body, unaccustomed to the motions of swimming, had protested the exertion with increasing vehemence. She wasn’t sure now how long they’d been at it — hours and hours, at least, as the sun had gone down some time ago. Kane could have told her, but Theo didn’t want to know; she guessed the information would only make hermoretired.

Stopping hadalreadymade her more tired; once her muscles had received a taste of rest, they’d decided to rebel. They were on strike — no more swimming until they’d been compensated with at least a week of bedrest. She wasn’t sure how she was maintaining her hold on Vasil, and that uncertainty was the only thing keeping her weary eyes open; she could imagine falling asleep, losing her grip, and drifting into the darkness to be swallowed up by the sea forevermore.

She realized that the light ahead had intensified. She lifted her head to look forward, and her eyes widened. Dark shapes lurked in the gloom — buildings on the sea floor. She could see two of them clearly, but there were more beyond, all connected by tube-like tunnels. Light glowed from some of the windows, and light fixtures on the exterior walls created cones of illumination at regular intervals.

“You seeing this, Kane?” she asked.

“Yes, I am.”

Dracchus swam toward the nearest building, and Vasil followed. All Theo could do was hold on and stare in wonder — not because these structures were marvels of engineering, but because theyexisted. If she’d harbored any doubts about Vasil’s story, this place would’ve crushed them. Humans had been to this planet, and they’d been serious about it. The IDC didn’t build places like this for no reason.

They swam between a pair of light posts that stood on the ocean floor; in Theo’s imagination, they were the end — or perhaps the beginning — of a long pathway of lights that led all the way back to land. This was the finish line of the race she hadn’t realized she was running — or rather,swimming.

Dracchus led them to a door on the side of the building over which glowed a single red light. He shifted his container to one arm, supporting it from beneath with a tentacle.

“The transmission range of this place’s systems is extremely limited, but I can access them from here, if you’d like,” Kane said.

“Go ahead,” Theo replied.

“Access granted.”

Just as Dracchus was reaching for the keypad beside the doorframe, the red light turned green, and the door slid open. He pulled his arm back and turned his head toward Theo, frowning.

She shrugged and winced at the ache in her shoulders.

The trio entered the chamber beyond the doorway together, with Theo still clinging to Vasil’s back. She felt his muscles tense once they were fully inside. She smoothed her hand over his chest, letting him know without words that she was there. The brush of a tentacle on her knee told her he understood.

“He’s going to push the button to close the door,” Kane said, calling Theo’s attention to Dracchus, who was now behind them. “Should I beat him to it?”

Theo grinned. “Do it.”

Dracchus extended his arm, moving his hand toward a button on the wall, but the door slid shut before he pressed the button. His hand stilled. Slowly, he turned his head to glare at Theo over his shoulder.

She barely held in her laughter as she mouthedwhat?to him.

A strange pulse swept through the water, and the entire room seemed to vibrate gently. It took Theo a few moments to realize that the water was draining. Her body felt a little heavier with each passing moment, steadily increasing the ache in her limbs.

When the water level dipped below Theo’s chin, Vasil spread his tentacles over the floor, anchoring himself in place, and stooped to set down the container. He rose and took hold of her wrists, gently breaking her hold on his neck.

Her arms fell to her sides, dangling like clubs she was too weak to swing. Fortunately, she was still buoyant enough in the water that she didn’t have to put weight on her aching legs. Vasil turned to face her and looped a steadying tentacle around her waist.

She patted his tentacle, smiled, and sagged toward him. “Thanks.”

He caught her upper arms in his hands and stiffened the tentacle at her waist to stop her fall. Once she was stable, he cupped the back of her head with one hand. “Are you all right, Theo? Have you been injured?”

“Just completely exhausted. I don’t even know if I can stand upright.”

“I will help you. There are rooms inside with beds where you may rest.”

Theo smirked. “Oh, I’ll be crashing, that’s for sure.”

“Do you want me to release the seal on the mask?” Kane asked.

“God, yes. I am so ready to be out of this thing.”

The faint tingling that had coursed over her skin for the entire trip subsided as the mask hissed softly and sagged away from the hood. Vasil removed his hand from the back of her head and caught the mask as it fell.

Theo took in several long, deep breaths. The air wasn’t much better in here than it had been in the suit, but it was almostfamiliarto her, calling to mind the recycled air she’d breathed for more than half her life on board various interstellar ships.

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