《Technoquatics Series》 Solaria Rising - Chapter 1: Coming of Age The trading post hummed with energy, crowds of school-agers eagerly browsing all the coming-of-age deals. Off to one side, against a moldy wall dripping from disrepair, Calistya traced the sleek lines of the full-gill, open-ocean enhancement set. Her pretty reflection along the shimmering edges spoke to its quality, adding contrast to the discount district vibe. ¡°There¡¯s probably something wrong with it. Must be fake,¡± she whispered to herself. But despite her surroundings, the merchandise itself was top-of-the-line, unaffordably so, and she knew it. She felt a knot of anxiety as she thought about what it would take to get her hands on it. To have it installed, and to experience the fullness of life it promised. Everything would change, if she dared make the decision¡ªthe most monumental choice any Technoquatic would ever make. No longer could she spend any time in the dry zones, which encompassed some thirty-percent of their city, including all the youth habitats. She¡¯d never be able to walk again, which meant giving up one of her favorite hobbies¡ªjogging along the merchant¡¯s promenade. But the tradeoffs¡­the tradeoffs were more than worth the struggle. To be able to glide through the open ocean for as long as she wanted. No oxy-tanks to encumber her, no flippers or quasi-gillslats forcing what should be so natural. No more swim instructors¡ªtheir own flippers full and strong and marvelous¡ªtelling her how she needed to take it slow, stop trying to race the full-ones, and remember that she wasn¡¯t a mermaid yet. Calistya wished her parents could be alive to see it. She¡¯d never known them. They had passed on during the great dying, at a time when nearly half the population had perished. She¡¯d been at school when she received the word, and before she knew it she¡¯d been placed in a care-community with thirty-four others of various ages and backgrounds. It wasn¡¯t a horrid place, but it wasn¡¯t home, and it wasn¡¯t family. Techno-mers weren¡¯t known for having large extended families, so there simply hadn¡¯t been any place else for her to go. She often wondered if things might¡¯ve been different up on the surface. There were stories and legends about extended human families up there. Grandparents, aunts and uncles. Hundreds of dancing, running cousins to play with¡ªif the children of the care-community could be believed. Calistya often wondered, since they were so adept at spinning tall tales. But it sounded wonderful. As life settled down, the great dying passing into memory, then history, some of the children began to get picked up. From well-to-do families looking to be charitable, or couples who¡¯d dreamt of having a child but could not. Offers came from proper homes almost daily. But Calistya, being one of the oldest, was almost always passed over. She had met with a couple or two, awkward exchanges where she would eagerly tell them about her top marks in school, her dreams about going full-gill so she could ¡®help save the seas¡¯ (a vague aspiration she hadn''t quite figured out yet), hypervigilantly feeling them out and trying in vain to impress. Then came the realization that she was getting nowhere, plunging her into an anxious silence. She would float there at a loss, not knowing what to say to save things. Her hopeful dream, that they¡¯d suddenly exclaim, ¡®You¡¯re perfect. Let¡¯s go!¡¯, would fade into despair as the minutes passed, and they would finally excuse themselves without saying much. Her best friend in the community, and the one she most counted on when times got tough, was a girl named Khrystal. Not much for school life, this girl was a troublemaker and then some. Always teasing about what she¡¯s going to do with her undersea unicorn once she finds it and catches it and tames it for her own. How that was going to be her ticket to get out of here. Far, far from the school and all it¡¯s rules. Not that there really was such a thing as a unicorn, not in all the seven seas as far as anyone knew. But that didn¡¯t stop her from dreaming of an ethereal creature with a technicolor mane and a flowing tail, ready to carry her away to a safe place. Calistya asked her once if she¡¯d been talking about a Narwhal ¡ª not native to their part of the world, but at least a for-real creature that might actually, you know, exist. But Khrystal was adamant that she wasn¡¯t talking about a fish. That a unicorn was known to inhabit the warm waters of the south, and yes it had gills and could swim and everything else. And it would take her away from here. Then they spent an hour or so making up stories about what they¡¯d do with such a fine steed. Khrystal was fun that way, and good at keeping Calistya¡¯s mind off of sad things. Things like thinking about her parents, or how much she wanted to escape. Not that it was a terrible, or even a bad place. It was just the loneliness that came with it. Especially at night. When the waters went dark and they had to close up the place from predators, that was when reality really started to sink in. Luckily she and Khrystal shared a common room between their bedrooms, and on non-school nights they could stay up late. So they often shared unicorn stories and whatever other fun topics they could come up with.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°What¡¯d you wanna do with your life when you¡¯re a fully-grown?¡± Khrystal asked suddenly one night. She snapped Calistya right out of her sad reverie with that question, and the mergirl had to think for a minute. Khrystal, being a year older, had obviously given the matter some thought. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought so much about that, really,¡± Calistya had to admit, ¡°but I guess I¡¯d like to be a teacher. Help other mergirls with their math and oceanography, that kind of thing.¡± Khrystal wrinkled her nose. She wasn¡¯t the finest student. ¡°Well, what about you? What do you want to do when you get out of here?¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know,¡± Khrystal said with a sigh, ¡°lots of things, I guess.¡± ¡°Oh, come on,¡± Calistya prodded, ¡°there¡¯s got to be something that really excites you. Something special.¡± ¡°It¡¯s stupid really,¡± said her friend, ¡°and impossible anyway, so¡­¡± Calistya moved closer, intrigued. Khrystal¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned closer to Calistya and said, ¡°What I really want to be is a sentry.¡± Calistya recoiled at the very idea of a mergirl sentry. It wasn¡¯t exactly forbidden for females to fight. But it wasn¡¯t in their nature, generally, and it was so dangerous. Merfolk were a peaceful lot, by and large, but there was cause for keeping an army. What with all the dangers in the seas, and above, how could they not. But it was usually the boys¡ªonce they grew into strong mermen, of course¡ªwho went off to fight. But even for them it was a burden, not a pleasure. And Khrystal wanted that? ¡°Are you serious?¡± Calistya said, taking in a deep breath and reaching down to blow bubbles into the common pool. ¡°You¡¯d really want to do that?¡± Khrystal backed off, looking fairly stricken by her friend¡¯s response. ¡°I didn¡¯t say it was a smart idea. Just a dream is all.¡± ¡°A dream to get yourself killed,¡± Calistya said, ¡°or kill someone else.¡± ¡°Oh, come on,¡± Khrystal replied, ¡°you know perfectly well it¡¯s mostly shark-defense and border protection. That sort of thing. The sentries hardly ever fight head-on any more. It¡¯s just a way to protect the community is all. I think it¡¯s brave.¡± ¡°It is brave,¡± Calistya admitted. ¡°I just never thought you. I mean, what are you going to do, ride in on your unicorn and kill all our enemies?¡± The two mergirls laughed. ¡°Maybe,¡± Khrystal said. ¡°A sentry¡¯s got to have some kind of steed after all. Not everyone can ride dolphins into battle.¡± They started laughing harder, picturing the picture books they¡¯d been given in first year, those old tales of mermen (and women, to be fair) riding off to fight the sea-devils and humans and killer whales with two tamed dolphins underfin. It was a fantasy from start to finish, but it¡¯d been more impressive when they were little, and they¡¯d almost believed those tall tales. * * * The two girls discussed full-gill enhancements a number of times. There were pros and cons to either choice, and not every Technoquatic opted for it even if they did quality. There were serious limitations, after all. It was one thing to put on the gear and enjoy the sea, but a whole other matter to have to stay there for the rest of your life. Little things changed forever. Like how you slept or how you ate. The way you cleaned and groomed yourself. Even bathroom breaks, gross as that sounded. It was just different. You could say it was like becoming another person, really. From a groundwalker to a seaswimmer was no small transition. ¡°Cali, it¡¯s not all that,¡± Khrystal would say. ¡°First, you can¡¯t afford it, besides which you have to give up your socializing. You really want to miss out on clubbing with me, when we¡¯re old enough?¡± ¡°They have events on the seafloor, Khrys,¡± Calistya would argue, though she knew her friend had a point. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s what we were meant to be.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just a fairy tale,¡± Khrystal said, ¡°we were meant to be right where we¡¯re at. And it¡¯s dangerous, too.¡± ¡°Not that dangerous,¡± Calistya said weakly, feeling she was losing the argument. ¡°I thought you wanted it, too.¡± ¡°I did, but¡­¡± Her friend didn¡¯t have to finish the sentiment. They both knew the reality, and it was just as true for the both of them. It was crazy expensive, and an indulgence neither could afford. Not as orphans, at any rate. Who was going to pay for some pathetic kids to get the enhancements, when people with actual money were willing to shell out for them? Solaria Rising - Chapter 2: Questions and Consequences ¡°Mr. Albi?¡± Khrystal had one hand raised, elbow propped atop her other wrist¡ªa pose which reflected a pre-planned obstinacy. The teacher peered out over unstylish glasses, pausing his lecture mid-sentence, then nodded permission. ¡°How come none of us ever moved out to the open sea? How come we¡¯re stuck here by the shelf? How come there¡¯re so few techno cities along the old coast? Why haven¡¯t we gone places like the history books say we did before?¡± Her teacher absorbed the rapid-fire grilling without expression. A patient sort, with an affinity for hard-luck cases, he¡¯d always listen willingly, though he was less likely to actually take the bait. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what, Ms. Khrystal, what¡¯s say you and I meet up after class and have a good long search for those answers. Okay?¡± Khrystal deflated. After class? Seriously? Her disruption technique had failed so thoroughly. She tapped her fingers on the desk, scowling as Mr. Albi moved on. Fine, she thought. Be boring about it. Calistya¡¯s hand shot up. ¡°I¡¯ll join you guys, if it¡¯s okay.¡± A ripple of relief gave Khrystal a calming feeling. It was just like her best bestie to volunteer for extra duty. She knew Khrys needed her. She had a passing thought, I¡¯d do the same in Cali¡¯s shoes, but the rise of yuck in her throat told her otherwise. She kept quiet for the rest of the class, making sure not to get any additional punishments tacked on. When the last chime sounded and everyone else filtered out, she went straight to the teacher¡¯s desk and sat down. Mr. Albi waved at her to move it, and took the seat for himself, rubbing his legs and wincing. ¡°Mr. Albi, why didn¡¯t you ever get the full works?¡± Khrystal asked. ¡°You didn¡¯t wanna be whole?¡± Coming from another, it might¡¯ve been seen as offensive¡ªbut Khrystal was nothing if not curious. She wasn¡¯t purposefully offensive. Knowing that, he smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve just always liked my legs right where they were, I suppose. I mean, we can always suit up, can¡¯t we? I suppose I just found the limitations outweighed the benefits.¡± The limitations were real. Full technoquatic ¡®merfolk¡¯ couldn¡¯t move about in neighborhoods with lots of dry space, for instance. Pools and tanks had had to be installed to accommodate them in the early days, something Mr. Albi himself had taught them. Their school for the orphaned had several full-mers on staff, in fact, and a few classrooms featured a teaching tank for just that reason. As those were the nicest rooms, the teachers sometimes complained about unfairness when they thought the students weren¡¯t listening. ¡®mer privilege¡¯ and the like. ¡®Maybe that¡¯s why Mr. Albi stays half-tech¡¯, Khrystal thought. ¡®To have something to complain about¡¯. She laughed inwardly. But the tanks were unobtrusive, built right into the rooms. When no one was swimming them, they made for nice decorations. Like fishtanks with no fish. Most places were like that. And there were amazing benefits: the cool factor, for one. It really was prestigious to be a mer. Plus all the fully aquatic zones that were supposedly all-access, but being geared up wasn¡¯t practical. Most of all, the ability to live a fully 3D lifestyle, embracing their environment like an ocean dweller should. Khrystal couldn¡¯t see much downside. "When they let me, I¡¯m getting the full treatment," Khrystal announced, though her confidence wavered inside. Visions of the gold and shiny treasures it would take sank her spirits, but she pushed them down and raised her voice. "I will be a mermaid, you just watch me." The words felt as much for herself as for the room. ¡°And that¡¯ll be very good for you, my dear. It¡¯s just not for everybody. Now, let¡¯s turn to our chronology text. Who can tell me about the time expansion effect of the pelagic calendar? Not a one of you? Right, well, the resurgence of migratory patterns following the restoration of ecosystems in the southern¡­¡± * * * The headmaster and Mr. Albi spoke often about what to do with Khrystal. Her marks were extraordinary. Extraordinarily bad. History class was the only course she was passing at all, and that had something to do with Albi¡¯s rather generous grading curve. Her other courses were abysmal, and it seemed likely that she¡¯d fail out of school altogether. As it stood, her skillset pointed to a custodial role. Nothing to be ashamed of, but hardly an aspirational position. More a position to take for a period of time, before higher education for instance, rather than the end result of a scholastic career.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. But there it was. She was in trouble. ¡°Is there any¡­I don¡¯t know. Any extra-curricular interests that might suit our girl?¡± the headmaster asked. Mr. Albi chuckled. ¡°Is sea-unicorn riding an extra-curricular activity we might consider starting up?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just thinking aloud. No, I think our Ms. Khrystal will just have to work things out for herself. I fear her path lies elsewhere from academics. Perhaps one of the trades?¡± * * * The headmaster met with all the primary teachers for all the students periodically, and as vexing as the Khrystal situation was, he had other pupils to attend to. Today he was meeting with Calistya¡¯s primary, Ms. Terri, which proved to be a far more uplifting conference. Calistya was one of the school¡¯s most promising students, with high marks in just about every subject, save literature. Given the fact that Ms. Terri was her literature teacher as well as primary, it would give them a good chance to discuss how to get Calistya¡¯s marks in literature in line with everything else. Calistya held so much promise, it was possible she could become the school¡¯s only higher-education candidate. Higher-education was normally a field reserved for wealthy merfolk and their offspring. With a degree from the higher learning center, one could find themselves working as a city planner, a healer perhaps, or even mayor one day. For an orphan such as Calistya, these opportunities were a phenomenal break from the usual merchant-class lifestyle such youngsters generally settled into. Ms. Terri was expressing concern for Calistya¡¯s budding relationship with the one-year-older Khrystal. ¡°Ah, Khrystal. Yes, that certainly is a worry,¡± said the headmaster, ¡°wouldn¡¯t want any bad influences to gum up the works. That poor girl is going nowhere, and the last thing we want is for our Calistya to follow her down.¡± ¡°They¡¯re very close,¡± Ms. Terri said, ¡°and I¡¯d hate to break them apart without good reason. They don¡¯t have many friends outside of each other.¡± ¡°Be that as it may, Calistya should be encouraged to spend time with other high achievers. Like herself.¡± Ms. Terri nodded, but she knew that was easier said than done. Calistya was flighty, and didn¡¯t take to others so easily. She¡¯d been distant from all the merkids until she and Khrystal had grown close. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I can,¡± Ms. Terri promised, ¡°see if I can¡¯t get Khrystal to start following Calistya¡¯s lead, rather than the other way ¡®round.¡± * * * ¡°Saw Ms. Terri going into Headmaster Oliver¡¯s office,¡± Khrystal said. ¡°Becha they¡¯re talkin¡¯ about us.¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± Calistya said. ¡°There¡¯s a million students they need to deal with. We¡¯re quiet and keep to ourselves. What¡¯s to talk about?¡± ¡°Speak for yourself,¡± Khrystal said, laughing, ¡°I¡¯m not quiet, and I make everybody¡¯s business mine.¡± She laughed harder, kicking up her feet. ¡°Watch it!¡± said Calistya. ¡°You¡¯ve got sand.¡± ¡°Do not.¡± ¡°Do too. You went swimming at lunch, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Who didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°So, you¡¯ve got sand.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t go anywheres near sand,¡± Khrystal retorted, examining her feet. ¡°And besides, I wore a fin. Where would the sand go?¡± ¡°It gets everywhere. I hate it.¡± ¡°Well,¡± she sputtered, on the defensive, ¡°who doesn¡¯t?¡° Calistya¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Actually, I read somewhere about beach sand. It¡¯s supposed to be nice. Fine. Pure white sometimes.¡± ¡°Yeah, well we¡¯ve got no beaches down here. And what there is is all wet and soppy. And I didn¡¯t get any on myself, thank you much.¡± Whatever,¡± Calistya said, her voice growing distracted. ¡°So you think the headmaster¡¯s talking about us, do you?¡± ¡°Maybe not us. Just me. He hates me you know. Wants to expel me. He¡¯s got it all worked out.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not true. They want you to do better, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Tell you what, I¡¯ll get him first though.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I set him up. Wrote a letter to the city, saying he,¡±¡ªshe started giggling mock-maniacally¡ª¡±he beats us and tortures us and we can¡¯t get away!¡± ¡°You did not!¡± ¡°Did.¡± She smirked, holding out a notebook. Across the top, in her messy scrawl, were the words: ¡®Dear Magistrate of the City,¡¯. It felt ridiculous, even to her¡ªbut she loved the way it sounded, and the sense of control it promised, even if it was just a fantasy. ¡°You¡¯re not going to send it, are you?¡± ¡°I dunno. Maybe if he ticks me off enough,¡± Khrystal answered, pensive now. ¡°That¡¯s awful,¡± Calistya said. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Yeah, maybe.¡± Khrystal made as if tired of the conversation, though the emotional sinking feeling she had was of a friend¡¯s disapproval. Calistya had a way of making her feel small, without meaning to. ¡°I¡¯m serious. Tear it up.¡± ¡°Yeah, maybe.¡± ¡°Good. Feel like a swim tomorrow after class?¡± Calistya asked, trying to ease Khrystal¡¯s discomfort by changing the subject. ¡°A real swim, head to the aquacenter and stretch our fins.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not real, you know. We don¡¯t actually have fins.¡± The condescension was uncalled for, and Cali felt a wave of shame hit her for daring to entertain the fantasy, nevermind that Khrystal went along with it most days. She was just in a mood, they both said ¡®fins¡¯ all the time, dreaming of a time they could truly say it. Lots of young people did. ¡°Fine, we don¡¯t. Do you want to swim anyways, or not?¡± Khrystal shrugged. ¡°Sure, I guess. Why not.¡± Calistya sighed, rolling away from her friend. ¡°Would it kill you to show a little enthusiasm?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Khrys replied. ¡°I¡¯ll try it sometime. See if I drop dead.¡± Her laughter filled the room as she kicked sand over onto Cali¡¯s kelp-frond woven bedding. Solaria Rising - Chapter 3: Currents and Crossroads No school, thanks to the latest blackout. Citywide outages weren¡¯t so rare, but this time the hydrogrid was down bad enough to send kids home early, curtail market hours, and leave the city eerily silent under the emergency lights. Khrystal was thrilled¡ªa day off was worth any disruption¡ªbut Calistya couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. So, into the city or out to sea? Their argument was already stewing before the school doors shut behind them. Khrystal, the material girl, pushed for a downtown hangout. But Cali wanted open waters, somewhere the day¡¯s stress couldn¡¯t reach. ¡®Is everything always going to break down? It¡¯s worse than ever,¡¯ she thought, her eyes drifting towards the gates like they always did when things went wrong. They took their full gear along. Just because they were in the city didn¡¯t mean there weren¡¯t a million ways to be a technoquatic. There were certain sections of the waterways and pools that were, generally speaking, full-gill exclusive, but the majority of the channels and lakes¨Cand the entire midtown aquacenter¨Cwere open to everyone. Sometimes one would swim while the other ran, a popular mix. Since the roadside channels were designed so that a swimmer and a walker could move along together, there was rarely a spot of pavement that wasn¡¯t complimenting a channel, or a park that didn¡¯t boast a meandering moat. Everything in the city was designed to be the best of both worlds. ¡°Nope, hang on,¡± Khrystal said, looking at her route scanner, ¡°midtown¡¯s on hiatus already. Damn, I thought they wouldn¡¯t shut it ¡®til 3. Stupid. Guess they¡¯re even running low on reserve hydro. Why¡¯d they make us do that stupid conservation initiative crap if it wasn¡¯t even going to keep the boutiques open!¡± Calistya sighed. ¡°Well, yeah, but I get it. They can only do so much.¡± She kept her stronger opinions to herself, those involving her fondness for the initiative Khrystal was insulting, and her hope that it might make things better someday. Khrystal shrugged. ¡°They can¡¯t even keep the stores open, and you think that¡¯s enough? Maybe I should be running the city.¡± ¡°Oh yeah? Maybe I could,¡± Calistya shot back, laughing. ¡°Doubt it. I could run the city better than you.¡± ¡°Right. You can¡¯t even run your classes, nevermind the city.¡± Khrystal frowned, crossing her arms. ¡°Supportive.¡± Calistya, feigning the sarcastic bravado of her friend, grinned. ¡°Come on, race you to the central gardens. At least they won¡¯t be closed.¡± The pair did a quick rock/seaweed/shard to determine who got which position, and Khrystal suited up as the swimmer. When she was ready and in the channel, Calystya hopped on her back, and they were off. * * * The gardens were, as predicted, operational¡ªthough ¡®barely holding together¡¯ might have been a better way to put it. The crisis was evident at every turn. The waterjets were on intermittently, and parts of the facility were in blackout. They took turns swimming the waterways that flowed well enough, not enough to really stretch their limbs properly, then resorted to walking where the channels ran dry. But it wasn¡¯t as pretty as it used to be, either, because there were bold, official-looking signs posted all around. Your Energy! Your Future! Early to Sleep and Early to Risin, No More Blackouts on the Horizin! Did you reduce your flow today? ¡°Early to risin?¡± Khrystal snorted, her voice dripping with distain. She made a stick-finger-down-throat motion, then added, ¡°What kind of idiot wrote this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for little kids, I guess,¡± Calistya retorted, though she was cringing too. They were as eco-friendly as the next techno¡¯s, but tired of hearing about all the woes of their city. The situation had deteriorated since the drop in sea-levels had rendered the huge plants useless. Everyone knew that. But there wasn¡¯t much they could do, and besides, their school for orphaned technoquatics was about as eco-friendly as it could be.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. They tried ignoring the signage, but then there were city workers, walkers and swimmers both, coming up to hand over informational pamphlets. The day was becoming a bore, and Cali regretted not speaking up more about the open sea option. There was plenty enough to do out there, and no intrusive-minded park workers to contend with. ¡°You know what?¡± Calistya said. ¡°This isn¡¯t working. Let¡¯s head out.¡± ¡°Out? To sea? All the way from here? But we came all this way¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we came all this way to have fun, not to get lectured to,¡± she said, knowing that her friend would take to that argument. A lump of shame rose in her throat. She hated how easily she¡¯d betrayed her own beliefs¡ªand her friend¡ªin the same breath. Yet she continued. ¡°We might as well¡¯ve just stayed in school. You¡¯re right, Krys, this whole city¡¯s a joke. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± And then, without giving her friend any say in the matter, Calistya suited up and got ready for a long swim. This required a certain amount of stretching, and a lot of fin-fanning if you did it the right way, which Calistya always did. Khrystal shrugged and started gearing-up herself, mouthing ¡®show off¡¯ under her breath as she watched her friend preen. She didn¡¯t mind a long haul, not really, but she did prefer the city. But she didn¡¯t feel like starting a fight, so she stayed quiet as they got themselves ready. Properly prepared, they headed for the nearest channel and dipped their fins. ¡°You want to check the route?¡± Calistya asked, trying to be nice now that she¡¯d gotten her way. ¡°No, whatever. We can just detour if we have to.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Calistya said, slipping into the channel. The channel outflow, built to streamline commuter traffic, flowed at a steady but throttled-back pace during the day, giving the girls a welcome boost. Although they were stuck with detours three times along the way, all thanks to hydroelectric power outages ¡®impossible to avoid¡¯, they got themselves out of the city in less than an hour. * * * Adult technos could leave the gates freely, but for youngsters, check-in with the sentries was mandatory. Each pair had to prove they were traveling with a buddy, and provide parental permission. This proved a hassle for Calistya and Khrystal, being orphans. They had to show their school ID¡¯s, and the school would have to be notified. However, there was one sentry, Marla, who¡¯d grown fond of her frequent adventurers. After checking in with the school a number of times, always with an all clear, she¡¯d taken to registering them without the formalities. Marla being on duty, they got through to the open sea hassle-free. Past the city limits, there were no more conservation warnings, no more detours. Nothing to stop them from having a good time. As they swam out, the city¡¯s din gave way to the calming rippling of water¡ªwaves rolling above, the faint crackle of distant breakers, and the blubs and bloops of a basin full of sea-stuff, as if the whole of it were breathing in and out. Although Khrystal had been reluctant, she was as pleased as Calistya to be out in the open, enjoying the currents and overwaves, and seeing all the sealife. They headed out a ways, since they had the whole day, and dared to deep dive perilously close to the dark. ¡®The Dark¡¯ marked the boundary between sunlight and the abyss of eternal night¡ªa foreboding, uncharted expanse. Even the strongest swimmers were advised against venturing down there, and for the children, it was strictly forbidden. ¡®No plunging into the dark, and no surfacing.¡¯ Those two extremes were disallowed, and for good reason. The girls knew the rules, but skirted the boundaries all the same, reveling in the thrill of defiance. The sunlight above dimmed as they dove deeper, the edge of The Dark looming like a heavy curtain. Calistya¡¯s pulse intensified, but she indicated nothing, unwilling to break the fragile spell. They spent hours trading swim-off techniques, practicing underwater calisthenics, and sampling the sparse plants sprouting just below the contamination zone. Most were rubbery and bitter¡ªfar from the delicacies they¡¯d imagined. They also spent time relaxing, floating and watching sea creatures, allowing their cares to dissolve into the expanse all around. Exhausted but satisfied, they began their slow journey back, the rhythmic flick of their fins echoing into the endless ripples. By the time the sentry gate came into view, the dusky hues of twilight had electrified the water in shimmering sparkles. Calistya paused, suspended in the open sea, weightless and free. The constraints of life back home loomed again, the rules, the sentry gates, the endless noise. Out here, it was just easier. She wasn¡¯t ready to go back. But Khrystal gave her arm a tug, uneasy about being caught out once nightfall came, another of the myriad restrictions they had to live with. It was funny, sometimes she was the one worried about the rules, sometimes her friend. They¡¯d be in trouble if they both decided they didn¡¯t care at the same time. Following her friend¡¯s lead, she headed back, noticing that Marla¡¯s smiling face was no longer at the checkpoint. Instead, a surly guard with sharp eyes watched their approach. The last flickers of sundown saved them from a reprimand¡ªthis time. Calistya glanced at Khrystal, who rolled her eyes. Back to the grind, Cali thought, her mind¡¯s eye lingering on the inky curtain that spoke to her that day. Solaria Rising - Chapter 4: The Breaking Point Following their forbidden swim to the edge of The Deep, a fragile quiet had settled over Calistya and Khrystal¡¯s world. The pair talked often about their amazing day off, dreaming of another escape, but the normal run of lessons and report-ins didn¡¯t allow for it. At any rate they needn¡¯t have worried, for the stillness didn¡¯t last long¡ªand this time, it wasn¡¯t the grid. The alert system was color-coordinated, designed to be visible even to swimmers moving through the city. Audible alerts were impractical underwater, so the system relied heavily on shifting hues¡ªminor alerts, such as power grid watches, changed the calming, oceanic blues to a more yellowish hue, subtle enough to blend with the natural light. The cascading alert system then followed a predictable pattern¡ªthe more they intensified, the more serious, though still incremental, keeping the population on an even keel. The riots of Pelagic Year 104, the participants of which had inadvertently caused a breach, led to major shifts in crisis management. As the last of the floodwaters were pumped back out to sea, city leadership voted to overhaul the system ¡®from stem to stern¡¯, intent on preserving societal equilibrium at all costs. The calming escalation of alert hues was just one tangible result of their efforts. The shock of the classroom flaring a fiery red didn''t set off immediate panic. Instead, there was an excited buzz¡ªit felt like something out of the history books. But Mr. Albi¡¯s frozen expression, radiating concern of the utmost gravity, shifted the mood more effectively than emergency lights ever could. Then, shaking his head to clear it, he sprang for the door, far faster than his usual, deliberate pace, and yelled for them to get moving. Chairs scraped against the floor as the entire class complied without hesitation. The Shallows was on red alert. * * * Red alerts were so rare that the electrodes buzzed with neglect, dust filtering down off the suddenly hot bulbs. No gentle transition here, the soft hues of various conditions were integrated and fine-tuned, but these were a riot of antiquity. They were rumored to signal breaches, catastrophic air system failures, or worse¡ªthreats from the outside. Though the wartimes were long past, other settlements and societies were still a concern, theoretically. The students, drilled but never tested, streamed out of the building, teachers barked orders as they went: ¡°Single file! Single file! Stay calm!¡± They were ushered out the doors and towards the air shelter. ¡°Down the corridor out the doors! Out the doors! Out the doors!¡± The unified voices of well-trained teachers rang out, all of them looking stern as steel, but there were hints that they were just trying to keep it together themselves. Ms. Terri, usually such a calming presence, voiced her commands in a raspy, shaky voice, while Mr. Albi moved with the intensity of someone who¡¯d dealt with this kind of chaos before. The oxy-shelters were placed strategically throughout the city, and the one nearest the school was just a few minutes'' walk¡ªor swim. The students walked calmly, though it quickly became noticeable that other citizens were heading in the same direction, the younger ones looking rather more excited about it, the elders moving faster with each step. This prompted everyone around them to step up the pace as well, and the crowds grew. People were filtering out of work buildings and homes, the crowds growing larger, the single-file order quickly dissolving.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. When they reached the oxy-shelter, audible sirens had welled up, adding to the confused, heightened sense of tension all the redness was producing. Someone from high up must¡¯ve ordered that, the screeching sirens of old. It was as if the whole place had been slammed into survival mode. Aquasentinels were already positioned in front, clipboards in hand, looking stern and questioning the people who were reaching for proof of local residency. Only locals were allowed in, normally, though they were supposed to allow everyone through in an emergency. This was not happening. People were coughing, body to body now. The stench of fright and sweat mixed with an acrid, sickly sweet smell like burning rubber, filling the air and adding to the sense of imminent danger. A baby screeched somewhere in the crowd, and people started jostling one another, their movements becoming less organized by the second. With the students mixed in now, the trickle of people being allowed through included a few of them as well, though the teachers yelled for them to wait. Corralling the students before it was too late, they pushed them to the side. Twenty per class, six classes. A good number of them were already inside, but the rest were being told to wait. The students, of course, carried no IDs, but the teachers had their validation, and all of them were entitled to enter. At that point, the smell was beginning to nauseate people, and the panic grew. As the throngs intensified and the shelter filled up, Mr. Albi stepped forward and demanded that the students be allowed to in. ¡°¡­it being their local sector, of course.¡± He leaned in and listened, nodding. ¡°Yes, we''re from the Shallows Orphanage.¡±¡ªhis indignation grew, rising up against the curt replies he was receiving¡ª¡°These are the students. We need to get them inside!¡± ¡°Just hold on,¡± the sentinel barked. ¡°There''s too many of you at once. I can''t ID every student. Let me get the others inside first.¡± Albi¡¯s eyes widened and he balled his fists, raising his voice in protest. ¡°These children are residents of this district. They have the right to be sheltered immediately!¡± He matched the intensity of his words with a defiant posture, which the sentinel took for aggression. They both moved at once, and in the confusion Albi never saw the other sentinel, moving fast, until he cried out in pain as a stun-baton was thrust into his side, dropping the older man in a heartbeat. The sight of Mr. Albi crumpling to the ground froze the students in place, the momentary shock then giving way to frightened murmurs. Some cried, while others clutched their classmates, unsure whether to move or stay rooted where they were. The sight of more sentinels moving in made their decision for them. They scattered in all directions, running on instinct and adrenaline, any ideas of getting into the shelter abandoned. Khrystal grabbed Calistya¡¯s arm, her heart pounding. ¡°Out the gates,¡± she whispered. ¡°Now!¡± * * * Weaving through the streets, one leading the other, grasping each other''s hands tightly, they made their way through the crowds, working against the flow until they got away from the air shelter. The air grew clearer as they ran, the sharp, acrid fumes giving way to the familiar, salty-briny normalcy they were used to. It wasn''t the whole city that was affected, at least. They ran full-on, all the way to the checkpoint, stopping only to gear up. Calistya was shaking, unable to work the seams in her confusion. But Khrystal got her suit on in record time, then helped her friend. Martha¡¯s familiar greeted them at the gate, though her expression wasn¡¯t jovial this time. ¡°What are you two up to?¡± Martha¡¯s voice was calm, but her brow furrowed as she peered at the red lights. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be out here. The shelters¡ª¡± ¡°They¡¯re full,¡± Khrystal cut her off. ¡°We¡¯ll be fine. Just please let us through.¡± Martha hesitated, her eyes examining their faces. ¡°You girls stay out of trouble, understand? Stay in range, and come right back at the all-clear.¡± Still hesitating as she lifted the barrier, the girls mumbled thanks and reassurances, then plunged through and out of her sight. They swam hard, faster than they¡¯d been running thanks to their gear enhancements. In an effort to put some distance between themselves and the chaos, they dispensed with any of the usual semi-vertical stream-flowing and instead relied on their mechanicals to push them at top velocity. This was a strain on the environmentals, but they weren¡¯t thinking ahead. Solaria Rising - Chapter 5: Legacies Unearthed Pelagic 91 - Three Generations prior Danelia attended a prestigious school in the capital city of the western shelf. The future mayor of Shelfton¡¯s Deep excelled in school, outshining her peer group and even stumping the teachers now and again. She had a knack for the ¡®old continentals¡¯¡ªher treatise on the dark times untangled a web of half-truths and political machinations which predated the great ecological collapse by decades. But her true academic passion lay beneath the waves. In particular, her own culture of techno-mers. Though she¡¯d opted out of the full-gill treatment, she loved the seas as much as any techno could, and spent her precious free time outside, surfing the big waves. Unlike in eastern regions, the west coast surface was safe to swim, and she enjoyed the ups and downs, not to mention the thrill of deep dives, from the surface to the abyss. There were moments, floating in silence, when she could almost sense something out there. Not dangerous. Just¡­watching. There were concerns about such primitives, so she and her friends had to stay a ways out. She never caught sight of them, though she¡¯d heard plenty of ghost-stories. How they¡¯d come crashing into the sea to take a young mergirl straight out of the water, never to be seen again. But most of the students realized that was little more than tall tales. Though she saw no such monsters, she did catch sight of ancient technology she wished she could¡¯ve gotten a closer look at. Power stations, thought to generate enough juice to drive entire ancient cities, stood rotting along the shores in many a popular surfing region. Beyond the simple work of her treatise, Danelia was considering a more intensive study. This involved the feasibility of getting some of those power stations up and running again. It had been many decades since the last of their kind had retreated back beneath the waves. It seemed logical to consider alternative power sources. The geo and hydrothermal power they now relied on was good enough, to a point, but their civilization was on the rise, and these limited sources wouldn¡¯t last forever. They had a hard and fast rule against fossil energy, given how the demise of civilization had played out around their misuse. But wind and solar were safe, well documented, and available to anyone willing to fund an expedition. That plus these mysterious, ancient stations that lined the shores, these behemoths that may have been nuclear, or some sort of sophisticated hybrid¡ªbut at any rate might be of great use for any sea dwelllers willing to make a go of it. Despite her efforts, Danelia was the only one truly interested in those antiquated technologies. There was still a great deal of fear. Society had ¡®advanced¡¯, their way was the best and only way. All else was deemed excessive and dangerous. But Dalelia had heard different stories, of a method of merging the old with the new, ancient wisdom that seemed to come from the sea, wisdom which had saved them, then slipped back beneath the waves. In that sense, these ways were all part of a continuum, with it¡¯s own place and purpose. There were reasons to revisit these resources, too. They had enough to get by now, yes, but down the road they¡¯d be looking at shortages, and finally collapse. So she persisted. She even proposed a shore excursion, so that the engineers could get a look at the old technologies. Perhaps even attempt to integrate some of it into their usual facilities. When she got no response from the department head of her school, she took matters into her own hands. With a handful of fellow students along for the ride, Danelia petitioned for shore access, a difficult to obtain privilege few merfolk took advantage of. In fact, only the department of anthropology even accepted such requests, so that was who they went through. The anthropology people were an interesting lot. They occasionally made near-shore excursions, so they were familiar enough with the ancient power stations in question. They¡¯d not explored them yet, but they knew how to find them. So she¡¯d be heading up with a few of their scholars along with her own friends. One big happy shore-leaving party, and all for the benefit of a technology most everyone refused to have any part in. Danelia was growing accustomed to being on the fringes of society, and she wasn¡¯t yet twenty years old.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. * * * The shore-excursion party numbered eight souls. Five in Danelia¡¯s group, and three others courtesy of the anthropology school. Allowing those bone-collectors into the fold was the only way to compose a full complement, so Danelia had reluctantly allowed them in. They had little use for technology, but were more than willing to explore the structures. They hoped to come across some glove or article of clothing, something worthy of being stuck in a museum. Or a book, even better. There were ancient-text libraries that would kill for a fresh copy of something or other to put on display. The trip to shore was uneventful, almost tediously so. Strict orders required them to scrub at the first sign of danger¡ªwhether it be natives, wildlife, or worst of all blackened vegetation or soil discoloration. Radiation remained the gravest concern, even after so many years. None of their fears came to pass. The shoreline was barren and cold, and still as a tomb. Any hints of vegetation were far distant, and hardly noteworthy. A solitary tree, a stripped clump of shrubbery. No hint of vibrancy along the entire shore. The anthropologists were busy at work, scouring the dunes for any sign of human relics. Their excitement was contagious, though Danelia felt an urge to order them back. Struggling to catch a decent breath, she tugged at her wetsuit collar. It was one thing to discuss an excursion in the abstract, but a whole other experience to abandon the safety of home. Then to find a place both familiar and alien at the same time, it was unnerving. Once the group composed itself and made ready to explore the structure, they first made a survey of the perimeter. There were barriers around the whole of the edifice, though fractured and broken in several spots. Getting inside wouldn¡¯t pose any problem. Danelia¡¯s group had little to do while they looked over the place, though the anthros had a field day picking off bits of metal and material from the fencing. Finally, they approached the entrance closest to the shore, allowing for a quick escape if needed. Danelia¡¯s colleagues all held light sources, as did Danelia herself, and they lit them up before venturing into the gaping hole in the side of the structure. It looked as though a bomb had gone off, though there was no significant radiation signatures to indicate that was so. It was likely just a symptom of age, though they¡¯d learn more once they got inside. The place dripped with water damage everywhere one turned, and the dank smell was at once musty and ocean-like. It might almost have felt like a power station at home, if not for the lack of creak-heavy ocean sounds that all true cities had. In place of that, there was an almost lighter-than-air clink-clank sound of wind against the outer walls, vastly more noticeable than what they were accustomed to. The corridors themselves were dull and utilitarian, offering little in the way of souvenirs for the anthros. As for Danelia¡¯s group, they were there for one reason alone, to get a look at the control center. From there they would determine if further study was warranted, or if the place was so far gone it was beyond any notion of repair. When they finally got to the large chamber that surely represented the heart of the place, Danelia¡¯s three halted, taking in the measurements and configuration for their report. The anthros had no such compunction to hold back. This place was a virtual treasure-trove of man-made junk. Random tools, clipboards, and personal items were strewn about, occupying just about every workstation. It was so much that they couldn¡¯t handle it all, and set about creating a triage system so they could determine what was essential, and what could be left behind. None of that mattered to Danelia, who set eyes on exactly what she was after straight away¡ªthe main control station. From there the vital functions of this power station were monitored and adjusted, and it was there that she would find the answers to her deepest questions. The blare of an alarm shocked the eight of them motionless. Overhead, lights flickered and fizzled, casting ghostly shadows in the cavernous space. Later, they would realize that one of the anthros must have tripped the alarm while trying to pry a wedged spanner loose from an emergency-stop mechanism. At the time, though, none of them understood what had gone wrong. Then came a grinding, frightful screeching noise, and the place lit up with flashing reds and whites that blinded them. Panic set in. Danelia later regretted not ordering them to stay put, at least until she could get a handle on what they were dealing with¡ªand maybe even how to make use of it. But that was hindsight. In the moment, she was just as scared as the others. They didn¡¯t stop running until they were out of the facility, past the fences, across the beach, and safely beneath the sea. Solaria Rising - Chapter 6: Fault Lines With the shock of their escape still fresh, Calistya and Khrystal flirted with danger like never before. This time, they weren¡¯t careful when they got to The Deep. Feigning boldness, each daring the other to swim closer, they goaded each other to go first. They wanted in. Or out. Just.. away, really. Away from the violence, away from the harsh environs. Away to someplace calm. For ones who¡¯d lost parents, nothing could be more appealing. It wasn¡¯t as if there was anything for them in there. Not really. But as a surface runaway might feel a taste of freedom in crossing city boundaries, so they believed, beyond reason, that there was salvation down there¡ªif they could only gather the courage. There wasn¡¯t a lot of marine life this far down, the region being rather barren compared to a little closer to the sun. It was also cold down there, though their slipsuits took up most of the work in keeping the technos warm. As inhospitable as their sudden change in pressure might be, they enjoyed it. Their hearts pounded as they closed in on that looming shadowy beyond that promised adventure, and escape. ¡°Hey, you down there!¡± The authoritative voice was so commanding, the girls immediately stopped, arms by their sides in a reticent floating motion. Moments ago, they¡¯d believed they were in the right. Now they realized they¡¯d gone too far. And in doing so, had caught the attention of some border patrol sentinels. ¡°You girls want us to call your parents?¡± an imposing second guard transmitted, swimming up to join the first. ¡°We don¡¯t have parents,¡± Khrystal said, her tone sharper than it should have been. ¡°Oh?¡± said the first guard, ¡°from the school, are you? Which one of you is Calistya?¡± Cal raised her hand, a sheepish gesture, and hard to execute while treading. ¡°That¡¯d make you Khrystal,¡± said another, pointing with a neoprene-gloved finger. ¡°Yep, these are the ones.¡± The girls looked at each other with confused expressions, quickly turning fearful as the gravity of the situation grew clear. They¡¯d gone from escaping trouble to becoming the cause of it in quick succession. Still another of the authoritarian-looking aquasentinels descended in a cascade of bubbles, joining the first two to form a semi-circle. It smacked of confinement. The girls¡¯ breath fogged the inside of their glassplates as fear took hold. ¡°Your orphanage reported you missing an hour ago,¡± said the new arrival, ¡°as if we didn¡¯t have enough problems today. Drag us all the way to The Deep when half the city¡¯s on alert¡ªI¡¯ve half a mind to site you both for vagrancy.¡± He didn¡¯t sound angry. Just irritated. He looked over at his fellow guards. ¡°Orphans, huh?¡± the first guard one, his tone softening. ¡°Not worth the paperwork, I guess. Let¡¯s get you back before you cause more trouble.¡± * * * The girls were cast as runaways, rather than escapees of a near-riot. And they were forced to go along with it, compliant and quiet in the face of authority. What else was an orphan girl to do? It wasn¡¯t as if they had any real power. Scapegoats were required, and the Aquasentinels treated them as such, marching them in with a flourish of authority and faux concern. A calm had fallen across The Shallows in their absence, as if nothing had happened at all. But whispers in the dorms suggested otherwise. Things had calmed down after Mr. Albi was struck down. Hospitalized rather than arrested, the authorities had scrambled to de-escalate, sidestepping blame as much as possible. The ventilation system had been restored in record time, and a desperate ¡®all is well¡¯ facade was quickly enacted. The rest of the students had stood around a while, forced to wait for the Aquasentinels to take statements. All but the ones involved in the altercation, Khrystal overheard. They¡¯d been taken away for their own debrief. The incident was being treated with some seriousness, at least, though there was no indication that they were going to be making any sweeping changes, either. They all just wanted to quietly put things back the way they were, no questions asked. * * * Calistya didn¡¯t see much of Khrystal the rest of the week. Both had lost privileges for having left the scene without permission and had been grilled separately, leaving no chance to compare notes. Calistya was warned against following friends blindly. Khrystal, she imagined, got a talking to for overly influencing a younger girl.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Since she¡¯d lost swim privileges, there wasn¡¯t much else to do besides schoolwork. Literature class was her favorite, thanks to Ms. Terri, a young, milky-skinned woman with a love for her subject. She was so sweet, too, prompting the students put out something extra so as not to disappoint her. Even Khrystal had remarked that it¡¯d been her favorite go-around the year before, giving Calistya something to look forward to. Most of Khrystal¡¯s other reviews weren¡¯t so glowing. Calistya sat and poured over the stories, Ms. Terri explaining complex passages from an obscure writer a hundred years gone. Although Ms. Terri¡¯s explanations made sense, Calistya sensed that others couldn¡¯t see the point. It just seemed like so many hard words and long phrases to most of them, but she loved it. ¡°Imagine this, class,¡± Ms. Terri said, her voice turning wistful, ¡°the author is talking about the old times, before the submersion, when we walked heavy on the land and had to bear the burden of farming the endless plains. He¡¯s explaining how coming down here was a liberation, that we¡¯d found our true calling. That we were meant to return from whence we came.¡± ¡°Lest we travail no more, to the depths and sweet surround, and through the bounty not of loam nor firmament, thus spake the truthseeker¡­¡± The words, resonant in her ears, swam in front of her eyes as her teardrops hit the page. Calistya slammed the book shut, horrified that she might¡¯ve ruined it. Ms. Terri looked hurt, misunderstanding Cali¡¯s reaction. ¡°Alright Cali, that¡¯s enough for today. I hope I¡¯ve made some sense of things, anyway.¡± As the others filed out, Calistya stepped forward, head bowed in shame. ¡°You made sense, Ms. Terri,¡± Calistya said, ¡°it¡¯s just a tough read is all.¡± She looked down at the book, now clutched to her chest, embarrassed that she¡¯d slammed it. But she didn¡¯t want to admit that the story of liberation had rung so false. The sea might well be their place of liberation, but not this school. And not The Shallows, either. No place but the open sea would do for her anymore¡ªhe¡¯d had too great a taste of it. * * * It wasn¡¯t until the end of the week that she caught up with Khrystal. By that time her worries about her outburst in literature class had been superseded by a wanderlust, making her all the more disappointed when Khrystal announced that she wouldn¡¯t be swimming a while. ¡°What are you talking about? The curfew was only a week. We can swim at next light.¡± ¡°Not me. I¡¯ve got things to do,¡± Khrystal replied, her tone clipped. ¡°What things?¡± Calistya pressed. Khrystal paused a moment, then said, ¡°Just things, that¡¯s all. Stuff I have to do. You should get busy with your schoolwork anyway. You¡¯re doing terrible in oceanography, aren¡¯t you?¡± Calistya had almost forgotten about that annoying rocks and seaweed class, so she bristled at the mention of it. ¡°I¡¯m not that bad. I went for tutoring.¡± ¡°Good. You need it. Now leave me alone a while. I¡¯ve got stuff to do.¡± Calistya felt a hot rush fill up her cheeks. Her friend had never talked to her like this before. She wondered if she¡¯d done something. But other than their mistaken swim¡ªsomething they¡¯d both agreed upon¡ªshe had nothing else. ¡°Did they say something to you? About us? You mad?¡± Khrystal shook her head, then rolled her eyes. ¡°Look, Cal, you wouldn¡¯t understand okay. It¡¯s something for older technos. Mermaids really.¡± Khrystal paused, glancing at her friend as if she wanted to say more. But then her face hardened, and she shook her head. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t get it, okay? Just¡­ go do your homework or something.¡± Calistya felt on the verge of tears all over again. She fought to keep the quiver from her lips as she said, ¡°Okay, fine. That¡¯s the way you want it¡­fine.¡± It wasn¡¯t fine. Not for Calistya. But what could she say? If her friend didn¡¯t want to be around her anymore, what could she do about it? She suspected it had something to do with the headmaster¡¯s comments, but she couldn¡¯t know for sure. Khrystal stormed off, just as upset as Calistya, though it¡¯d been all Khrys¡¯ fault. Cali had no idea what the cruelty was all about, but she wasn¡¯t about to go running after her. Khrystal wanted her friend to swim without her, fine. Calistya would swim alone. But as she sliced through the water, the reality of isolation robbed her of any enjoyment, the motions felt like work, the head-down silence, a solitary expanse. She felt both trapped and outcast at the same time. She finished quickly and climbed back onto land, her oh-so-human shivering and those chubby legs reminding her of all she was not. Just a lonely girl, hardly a maid of the sea, just trying to cope with rejection. * * * Calistya went out for her swim in the late afternoon, Khrystal watching her go. She¡¯d been watching all day, from the viewport in the headmaster¡¯s office where she¡¯d been ordered to report daily. She¡¯d kept quiet about her past troubles, for the same reason. For going to the breach, and for diving too close to the darkness. That it wasn¡¯t her first encounter with the border patrol, and that her punishment was far harsher than Calistya knew. Worse, she¡¯d been accused of being a bad influence. She couldn¡¯t admit that to her friend, it was too risky. She¡¯d hoped they¡¯d let it go, since the girls had so few friends to begin with. But this breach had proved the last straw. They were threatening to kick her out. And for an orphan, that meant very few options. She could forget about recreational swimming, for one thing. Disgraced technos had to go to work, cleaning up the city or some other menial chore. There wasn¡¯t much on offer, that was for sure. And if she didn¡¯t want that to happen, she¡¯d have to mind herself, and stay away from that precocious friend of hers who was always getting herself into trouble.