Page 73 of Through Uncharted Space

Dare shared a look with Dakota. He saw no fear on her face.

“We’re sure,” he said.

“For extra, I can also offer you aglia injections.”

“Aglia?”

Olok sniffed. “It’s a substance we harvest from a fish that lives at some of the greatest depths of Maro. Aglia helps us withstand the pressure. Coats your air-filled cavities and makes dealing with the pressure easier.”

“I’d like my brother to scan this aglia first. If it’s compatible with our biology, we’ll take it.”

The next hour was a whirlwind of preparation. Olok and his workers prepared the two submersibles. The Maronians swam out of the small circular exit, quickly and easily traveling to and from the craft with their webbed feet.

Olok hadn’t been lying about the subs not being pretty. They were shaped almost like a fish, with a large glass bubble at the front that functioned as a bridge, and an extendable antenna-like light that arched out overhead. The rear of the submersible was shaped like a fish tail, and attached on the back of each sub—like a parasite—was a smaller, two-man submersible, about the size of an escape pod.

“For when you need something smaller and more maneuverable,” Olok had told them with a grunt.

One of Olok’s men gave Rynan a quick lesson on using the submersible. Ry and Justyn would take the second sub, while Dare and Dakota would go in the lead craft with Olok.

Soon, they all received aglia injections and then climbed into the specially-designed, deep-water envirosuits that Olok provided. The sleek suits each had a clear helmet, with a compact breathing system built into them.

“You exit the sub, these are the only things that’ll keep you alive down there,” the seafarer warned them.

They swam out of the dome exit toward their subs. Dare kicked through the water, watching Dakota’s progress. Apparently, she liked the water, because she glided through it easily.

They climbed into the subs, and, after taking off their helmets, sat in the seats behind the large pilot’s chair, situated in the center of the glass bubble at the front.

Olok dropped his bulk into the chair, and started touching the controls. There was a quiet whine of an engine and lights on the control panel attached to his chair flickered to life.

“Need the location,” he said.

Dakota approached and tapped on his comp screen. On the small screen, the location appeared as a glowing dot.

Olok grunted. “That’s pretty deep. Lucky my ships have extra shielding.”

“Why is that?” she asked.

“Because down that low, there are all kinds of nasty creatures. And they’re always hungry.”

Dare didn’t like the sound of this, but the quicker they got down there, hopefully the quicker they found what they were looking for.

Soon, the submersible tilted forward a little, and they were off. As they skirted the city domes, fish and marine life danced around outside. Dare spotted a creature he thought was a Maronian out for a swim at first, but then realized it was some sort of sleek sea creature with flippers and a whiskery nose.

Dare watched as Dakota laughed at the creature’s antics. She had such an innocent, charmed look on her face. One he knew she rarely wore.

The first part of the trip was easy, just propelling through the water. But then, up ahead, he saw the dark gash of a shadow on the sea floor.

“That’s it?” he asked.

“That’s it,” Olok replied. “The Tortuga Abyss.”

The Maronian guided them in closer. They paused at the edge of the huge trench. It was so wide that Dare couldn’t see across it. Looking down, he only saw darkness.

The light dangling over the front of the bubble flicked on, piercing the darkness ahead with a strong, white-blue beam.

“Hold on,” Olok said. “Here we go.”

The sub moved over the edge, and they started descending.