Chapter 2 – Sail On

We arrive at the beachhead and I pause to await Ástríðr and Fenris’ arrival.
I begin to place my repair assistance vehicle at the edge of the water as Ástríðr and Fenris finally arrive.
“We’re here, Mr. Ninety.”
“Bring your repair assistance vehicle next to mine.”
“Okay.”
“Computer, merge the two repair assistance vehicles and convert them into the vehicle according to the specifications I have uploaded to you.”
“Command confirmed, master.”
The two repair assistance vehicles merge and quickly take the form of the amphibious aquatic vessel’s design I uploaded to computer.
“A hovercraft?”
“You said you would prefer not to row. Have you changed your decision? If so, I can make alterations.”
“No way! I just didn’t expect to see one in real life.”
“Is there any other life to see one?”
Fenris tugs Ástríðr’s leggings.
“What’s a hovercraft do?”
“It’s something that takes us over the land and water.”
“Humans make many strange things. Why not just run and swim?”
I respond, “The distance we would have to traverse is too great to cover in a timely manner.”
“The world and oceans are much bigger than the forest you grew up in.” Ástríðr adds.
“Yeah, everything is so much different than anything in the forest.”
We board the amphibious aquatic vessel and depart toward Svartálfheim.
“I feel you will be experiencing more of the world than any of your previous kin have.”
“I’m a little nervous to see what is out there but, I’ve already seen many things I would never have known about.”
“I hope we can go fishing from the hovercraft. I have been craving fresh fish.”
“I regret that the aquatic life is still under repair so there are very few fish now and those that are restored will need time to replenish their numbers.”
“Oh pooh. I guess I’ll have to just have to settle for the matter converter for now.”
“There is little variance in the difference between the meat of a fish from the matter converter and the meat from a live fish.”
“Yeah, probably but it just feels different to me.”
“I remember the fish from the rivers mother would get sometimes. They were very tasty.”
“Oh, I bet they were. You’re making me hungry just thinking about it.”
“I want some too.”
“I am sorry to interrupt your reminiscence of aquatic lifeform meat substances, but we will need to make a slight diversion from our current course.”
“What’s wrong? Is it another Kaijuu? Or is it more Red Sharks?”
“It is neither of those things. I merely need to assess the situation with the Desuigons as we will be in the vicinity of their settlement.”
“What are Desuigons? I remember hearing about the large humans and the short humans with the long pointy ears but I never heard of Desuigons. Are they who we are going to see?”
“I’ve never seen them but Mr. Ninety said they were people from another world that live underwater.”
“There are more places like this world?”
“There are many such worlds. I am from a world that is the fourth planet in the Altair System originally and while Ástríðr is mostly from here a part of her is from a world the natives call Earth but is listed as Terra by central command.”
“Wait you’re from Altair? Is there an Orihime System as well?”
“Your strange reference eludes me.”
“It’s just an off handed Japanese reference.”
“I see.”
I bring the amphibious aquatic vessel to a stop as I notice a shadow below the surface of the water.
“What’s wrong?”
“There is something just below the surface.”
“Is it a shark?”
“The probability is low there would be a Red Shark as we are still within the Desuigon’s protective barrier’s range.”
The darkness begins to become lighter until the dome of the Desuigon comes into view.
“Oh! It is you, Vitan Ninety.”
“くらげだ! I mean it’s a Jellyfish… uh…person.”
“You must forgive her this is her first time interacting with your species.”
“That is understandable. Your school is different than the land dwellers of our previous home of Desuigo.”
“What are they saying Ástríðr?”
“I don’t know either little one. It’s a language I never heard before.”
“This is one of the Desuigon’s I mentioned previously. His name is Bugashu and he was a member of their defensive force.”
“Nice to meet you Bugashu.”
“Nice to meet you.” Fenris copies Ástríðr.
I relay their greeting to Bugashu.
“It is a pleasure to meet you as well.”
After I relay Bugashu’s reply I let him know what I had discussed with Hákonr in regards to the Desuigon’s petition to remain on Planet Midengardian.
“I see. It seems we are closer to being accepted as members of this world. I will have to relay this to Agnanri. Is there anything else I will need to relay to her?”
“Indeed, there is a secondary reason I came to your area. I have completed a design for you and Agnanri to don so you can meet the current leaders on land and communicate with them.”
“That is great news. When might this be ready to use?”
“The design is ready and the construction will take very little time to make but we are currently on our way to Continent Svartálfheim. Going there I will hopefully meet with those that could produce the design you provided me.”
“I see. That is excellent news. I will leave you and your school to your journey. I must tell Agnanri the current development.”
He dives back under the water completely with his trajectory set toward the settlement.
Fenris is leaning over watching Bugashu leaving as Ástríðr inquires to me.
“So, what was the conversation about?”
“I was just relaying our progress to him so that he can in turn provide that to their leader.”
“Everything went well I hope.”
“It did and as such we can now continue on to Svartálfheim.”
“Yes, let’s set sail onward!”
“There are no sails. The propulsion is -”
“I know. I mean let’s go!”
I engage the propulsion unit and return our course to Continent Svartálfheim.