Chapter 13 – Sea of Sorrow

Briefly as I enter the water in the submersion mode Computer contacts me.
“Master integrity of the containment area has reached 8.8% and will fail before you reach it.”
“Understood. Have you analyzed what the attackers may be?”
“There are five red aquatic creatures resembling those of Terran creatures called sharks.”
“Understood. Keep me appraised of any casualties they may be sustained once the containment is breeched.”
“Command confirmed, Master.”
I continue to descend at maximum speed.
As I pass the halfway mark in the ocean I receive a message from computer.
“Master, the containment’s barrier has been breached and there are currently two casualties.”
“Understood. What is the status of the remaining Desuigons?”
“Master, the remaining Desuigons are fleeing the best that they can but the attackers are able to fire their shots to wound some of the Desuigons.”
“Understood.”
I am almost within viewing distance of the encampment and see movement in multiple directions.
Once I am close enough to see the attackers, I see only four of these Red Sharks pursuing the Desuigons.
Suddenly, a shot hits the rear of the submersion mode.
It appears I have found the missing red shark or rather they have found me.
I take evasive maneuvers to try to find the pursuing attacker.
Another shot hits the submersion mode again.
I decide to stop my forward thrust and immediately reverse my thrust.
The reverse movement causes the submersion mode to collide with the attacker.
With the attacker, a red shark, stunned, I change to underwater exosuit mode, reach out and grab the sides of its front behind the end of its mouth.
The attacker is no longer stunned and opens its mouth and light starts to form inside.
I move my arms to the front and have each hand grasp the top and bottom of the mouth.
Using as much force as I can, I force the mouth closed just before the shot goes off.
The shot goes off and blows the front of the attacker off and also lands on me causing minimal impact to the exosuit mode.
Post impact observation of the attacker shows a mixture of organic matter and mechanical enhancements.
A cyborg aquatic creature?
That would explain the ability to fire laser projectiles.
Even with the front of the attacker missing it still tries to resume its attack on me.
I ready my main weapon and fire it into the frontal cavity,
The attacker is blown apart in a cloud of organic matter and mechanical parts.
I don’t detect any masses expelled or spectral anomalies.
With that attacker terminated I turn my attention to the remaining four Red Sharks.
I convert the underwater exosuit mode back to submersion mode and lock in on the nearest one that is pursuing a Desuigon.
Closing the distance, I fire a shot almost missing but, landing on the tail fin, blowing it off.
The Desuigon escapes as the Red Shark loses momentum until it comes to a stop.
I fire two shots to terminate the easy target and begin tracking the next target.
One comes into my view and I accelerate to meet the Red Shark pursuing its prey.
I come up on its flank and fire a shot, creating a through and through hole in its side.
The Red Shark turns and opens its mouth to prepare to fore a shot at me I preemptively fire my shot into its mouth and it impacts, disabling the laser canon.
With the laser canon disabled the Red Shark moves to try to attack me using its massive teeth in its mouth.
I fire two follow up shots terminating the Red Shark in a cloud of organic and mechanical part like the others.
With three Red Sharks terminated the two remaining Red Sharks stop their pursuits of their targets and decide I am the more important target.
The Red Sharks may think they are hunting me but I have already accounted for their aggression.
I take the submersion mode and increase the speed as they both follow behind me and begin firing at me.
Although I evade most of the shots a few shots land on the submersible mode as I work on my decent.
“Submersible mode hull integrity is down to 65%, master.”
The hull integrity will hold plenty before I reach my destination.
Continuing my decent the submersion mode has two more shots impact on its hull as I reach my destination, the ocean’s floor, more specifically the rock formation I used in my fight with Kraken.
“Submersible mode hull integrity is down to 55%, master.”
“Computer, reverse pressure in the submersion mode while repairs finish and I convert to underwater exosuit mode.”
“Command confirmed, master.”
I reach the rock formation and wait briefly to allow the Vitran Particles to repair some of the damage before I convert the submersible mode into underwater exosuit mode.
Once conversion is complete, the pursuers arrive and I ready my main weapon and fire a shot landing on the front of the head of one of the pursuers terminating it in a cloud of organic matter and mechanical parts.
The final Red Shark forgoes using its laser canon and closes in to use its massive jaws and teeth to clamp down on my left arm.
I drop my main weapon and try to remove my arm from the jaws by pulling it and hitting it with my right arm but the pressure is too great.
The Red Shark with my arm pinned in its jaw fires off a shot small enough to breech its mouth and blow through my arm.
My black blood shoots out and clouds the space between us.
“Warning! Underwater exosuit mode integrity breeched, master.”
I back as far away from the Red Shark as I can.
“Computer seal the breech while creating reverse pressure to purge the infiltrated water.”
“Command confirmed, master.”
I continue backing away as much as I can while my arm is sealed off.
The Red Shark opens its mouth again as the remnants of my arm falls to the sea floor.
With its mouth empty it lunges for me but, I have planned for its aggression.
I quickly convert back into submersion mode and continue my progress backward as the Red Shark continues pursuing me.
My main weapon now beyond my proximity reappears at its proper position on the submersion mode.
The Red Shark finally closes the distance and readies a shot as I divert all directionality to propel myself upward to evade the shot.
The shot fires harmlessly away from me as the Red Shark changes direction to line up for another shot.
My upward launch allows me to maneuver to line up my own shot which I fire off and it lands destroying the Red Shark’s laser canon and blowing a hole in the sides of its jaw hinges.
Despite the laser canon being destroyed, the Red Shark is only momentarily stunned and seems to be healing its organic matter quickly as it begins to resume its pursuit of me.
My theory is this Red Shark used souls from the Desuigons to fuel itself and recovery.
Regardless, I must overcome its ability to repair itself even if it may be limited.
I ready another shot as it tries to attack me with its massive jaws.
Three shots are fired from my main weapon and they all land on the Red Shark.
The first shot goes into its mouth, the second sears the left side of its body and the third lands above its snout piercing what should be its brain.
Once the third shot lands the Red Shark loses all momentum and begins to float seemingly lifeless.
I decide to take no chances that it may recover and convert back to into underwater exosuit mode.
Even without my left arm I should be able to accomplish my task.
I open its mouth and lift up while using my legs to push down ripping the jaw off.
With no obstruction I ready my main weapon and fire three shots down its body and it like the four before it becomes a cloud of organic matter and mechanical parts.
Now that the threat has been taken care of, I retrieve my arm from the ocean floor and look for the remaining Desuigons.
“Computer, locate Desuigon Agnanri.”
“Desuigon Agnanri is taking shelter in a rocky formation to the northwest of your position.”
I approach the rocky formation Desuigon Agnanri is supposed to be hiding behind and I see him cowering.
I offer Desuigon Agnanri my right hand as a sign of nonaggression and comfort.
“Computer reconfigure underwater exosuit mode to provide external sonar capabilities.”
“Command confirmed, master.”
“You are unharmed I assume.”
“Yes, I am unharmed. I cannot say the same for some of my comrades.”
“Indeed. I must offer my deepest condolences and apologies for not providing suitable security.”
“What you provided us for protection was good but, the attackers were very persistent.”
“Again, I offer my apologies and will relocate you and your remaining comrades closer to Continent Midheim so the barrier there will encompass your new living space.”
“We thank you again for what you have done for us. We will need to mourn our fallen comrades.”
“I would join you if you would have me.”
“We would be honored to have you.”
“Please gather your injured and I will provide repairs to them.”
“Thank you. I will call them over.”
Desuigon Agnanri goes off to gather the remaining Desuigons over to me.
“Computer, prepare a transport pod to relocate the remining Desuigons to the location I have sent you. Also, the underwater settlement is to be created at that location.”
“Command Confirmed. Transport pod is prepared and on its way. Underwater settlement is being dissolved and relocated under the Continent Midheim protective barrier, master.”
I watch as the settlement that was nearing completion is dissolved and the transport pod arrives.
Desuigon Agnanri returns to me with the remaining Desuigons trailing behind.
“Our remaining numbers have been schooled.”
I am assuming Desuigon Agnanri means that they are all gathered and accounted for.
“Please let me repair any of you that are damaged.”
“Thank you.”
I see to the most damaged Desuigons first as per proper protocol and then continue on to the less damaged Desuigons.”
Before I finish the last Desuigon, there are two remains that are brought before me.
“I am sorry.” I tell the Desuigons, “I cannot save them, they are beyond repair as they have had their spectral forms destroyed.”
A Desuigon, one of the humanoid versions of the creature that Kraken was based off of, bows and places its tendrils on one of the remains.
“I assume this Desuigon was close to you.”
“Yes, this was my husband. We were to raise a school together thanks to your freeing us.”
“I see. I am sorry for your loss.”
“I will have a reminder of him for as long as I live.”
The Desuigon puts two of her tendrils on her abdomen in an obvious reveal that she is with children.
“I am sorry to interrupt.” Desuigon Agnanri says as she comes up to us.
“Is there a problem?”
“There is no problem just that we are ready for the sending.”
“I see. I will leave you to perform your ceremony.”
“If I may, could you please join us?”
“It would be an honor if you would have me. Let me convert into something more appropriate for the situation.”
I go over to the awaiting transport pod and shed the majority of the exosuit’s mass so as to reconfigure it as a minimal suit around my armor so that I can withstand the aquatic environment.
Once the appropriate modifications are completed, I return to the “school” of Desuigons.
“Your arm is missing. Are you alright?” Desuigon Agnanri inquires.
“I had it sealed off when I took damage during the battle. I will have it reattached once I return to the encampment I have on land.”
“That’s good to hear that you will be able to regrow your limb.”
“A query before you begin the ceremony. What would you like done with the remains of your comrades?”
“Ah, yes that is a situation I had slip my mind as I was more focused on the ceremony. Normally we would place the bodies in a large area of coral and vegetation so that they can give nutrients back to the ocean life. Sadly, none of that is here now. Do you have a suggestion?”
“I see. As there happens to be one of each I can convert them to statues to serve as a reminder for all of your people.”
“That is possible?”
“It is. They still will not be alive and molecularly they would be stone. I can have them brought to your new settlement.”
“I would be happy to have my mate be immortalized as a reminder of our sacrifices.” The female I spoke to earlier interjects.
“Then it is decided. I will prepare them after the ceremony.”
“I think we can begin now.” Desuigon Agnanri states.
The Desuigons gather in a circle and proceed in a clockwise direction and then split into four wavy rows and begin chanting in unison as they move in a wavy motion mimicking the waves of the ocean.
“The flow of the oceans and the flow of the rivers go on until the end of time. They will carry our lives for as long as we live. When our lives are fulfilled, we give our souls to the flow to bring us to the great ocean beyond”
The lines come back into a circle and then each Desuigon floats off away in their own direction.
Desuigon Agnanri comes up to me afterwards.
“Thank you very much for helping us send our comrades off.”
“It was an honor to do so.”
“Now I think we can be off to our new living space.”
“Understood. I will have computer extract the remains and convert them for us. Please this way to the transport pod.”
“You will be joining us I hope.”
“Indeed, I will.”
“That is comforting.”
We make our way inside the transport pod and I seal it in preparation for transport.
“Computer, transport pod is ready to be placed at the settlement destination. Also, I need the Desuigon remains extracted and converted to statues in the design I have forwarded. The remnants of the underwater exosuit mode need to be extracted and placed at the settlement destination as well.”
“Command confirmed, master. Transport pod is being recovered and placed at stated location as well as underwater exosuit mode remnants, Desuigon remains have been reclaimed and placed as statues per your design at the designated location, master.”
The transport pod moves swiftly through the ocean’s water arriving at the relocated settlement.
I open the transport pod and step out to make sure there are no issues.
The settlement has already been moved but, is still not completed.
“It is safe to disembark.”
With my assurance that the area is safe, the Desuigons exit the transport pod.
“Sadly, it will take a little more time to complete but these eight domiciles closest to the transport pod are habitable and should support you until the remainder are complete.”
“Thank you very much again.” Desuigon Agnanri tells me.
“It is the least I can do but I will need to provide you a means to defend yourselves. I am bound not provide weapons to other planetary lifeforms per Central Command’s directive.”
“I see. What can we do if we are attacked again? I fear the barrier you have provided will not withstand similar attacks if you are not available.”
“That was my thinking as well. Does any of the Desuigons here have any military background? I would like to discuss the weapons that you had used on Planet Desuigo.”
“I believe Bugashu was in the Aqueous Guard and would have the knowledge you seek.”
“That would be very helpful. Could you direct me to them.”
“I will get him for you.”
“I will await your return.”
I take the remains of the exosuit that were transported with us and convert it into an encampment mode.
After a brief wait Desuigon Agnanri returns with another Desuigon of the same race as her.
“Here is Bugashu.”
“I hear I can be of help to you?”
“To be more precise you will be of help to your fellow Desuigons. I would need information on weapons that you used to provide defense to yourselves and settlements on Planet Desuigo.”
“That is not too difficult a task.”
“I have provided a list of known weapon designs here on my encampment mode. If you could show me similar ones that we can use to modify to recreate your known weapons.”
“Alright.”
We collaborate for a short while until we are able to complete the designs.
“So, you will be making these for us?”
“As I mentioned to Desuigon Agnanri, I am bound not provide weapons to other planetary lifeforms per Central Command’s directive. However, I can have the other natives here on Planet Midengard here provide them for you.?”
“Are you sure they will do this for us even though they don’t know us.”
“They will need to provide for their own defense as well. Whether they know you or not, you are now fellow denizens of Planet Midengard. Now I must be off.”
“Yes, you are right. Agnanri come quick! Ninety is departing.”
Desuigon Agnanri finishes her conversation with her comrades and floats over to see me off.
“Oh! I hope Bugashi was able to provide you with what you needed.”
“Indeed, he did. Now I must return to my previous encampment to prepare my next steps.”
“Thank you for everything and we will await your return.” Desuigon Agnanri and Bugashi say to me as I combine the encampment mode to reform the exosuit mode and depart.