Bianca and Alistair stood in front of another monitor, their fingers tracing the schematics displayed across its surface. The Pluton and Dreadnought Thalassa appeared side by side, their internal systems laid bare in glowing blue lines and yellow markers.
Galit stood beside Bianca, his long neck arched in that constant S-curve, his emerald eyes tracking the schematics with analytical assessment. Bepo stood beside Alistair Reginald Finch, his ears perked with interest, his white fur ruffling in the air currents.
Behind them, the rest of the group gathered—Emmet Pascal, Zola Newton, Jean Bart, Ikkaku, Uni, Clione, Hakugan, and the team of Consortium engineers. Their voices overlapped in a low murmur of technical discussion.
Bianca pointed at the screen. "So like, both AI systems are like down. They were like totally taken offline, but it like appears they were like backed up and stuff. Like they can like help with repairs."
Ikkaku crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "Yeah, and we have major power distribution issues. I think we blew a conduit."
Bianca nodded, her magnifying goggles bouncing against her forehead. "Like cool." She looked at Alistair. "Did you like bring parts and stuff?"
Alistair nodded, stroking his chin with theatrical contemplation. "We did. But we may need to do some retrofitting to adapt them to these systems."
Galit leaned forward, his neck curving to get a better view. "Is that possible?"
Alistair's smirk was infuriatingly confident. "My boy, I know these appear to be advanced systems to you, but trust me when I tell you not everyone was stuck in the past." He clapped Galit on the shoulder with enough force to make the younger man stagger. "I assure you, this team will be more than capable of getting these vessels back up and running to one hundred percent."
Emmet stepped forward, his sharp green eyes locked on the schematics. "We may need to take a look at making some adjustments. Based on the math—" He gestured, and the image on the monitor shifted, showing the internal power conduits in new detail. "—these cylinders won't align."
Zola nodded, her pink hair a chaotic nest of mechanical pencils and loose strands. "Yes. Look here." She pointed at a section of the schematic. "This appears to be a common design for both vessels. We will need to—"
Jean Bart groaned, his massive hand rubbing the back of his neck. "One hundred percent? This thing hasn't been one hundred percent in at least seven hundred years."
Alistair chuckled, his voice dripping with confidence. "Well, that is about to change!"
Bepo's ears perked up, his expression hopeful. "Really? I wonder what the captain will think?"
Uni shrugged, his voice matter-of-fact. "What is there to think about?"
Clione nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! And maybe we won't have to take cold showers anymore too."
Hakugan chimed in. "And maybe the refrigerator will actually keep the food cold."
Bepo jolted, his ears flattening. "Oh yeah, right." His ears drooped. "Sorry."
Ikkaku snapped, her voice sharp. "There is nothing to be sorry about!"
Bepo's ears perked up slightly, his voice uncertain. "Oh right. Sorry."
Ikkaku opened her mouth to snap again—
Bianca cut her off. "Okay, so like we know what we like need to work on and stuff, and we like have already assigned our teams, so like let's get started."
Everyone turned when Eliane burst through the group, a tray of sandwiches held over her head. Her silver hair frazzled was wild. Ember followed on her heels, her mismatched eyes gleaming with manic hunger.
"I made lunch!" Eliane announced, her voice carrying across the dock. "Hurry up and take one before Ember eats them all!"
Uni was the first to move. "Great! I was starving." He reached in and grabbed a sandwich.
Jean Bart followed, his massive hand reaching for the tray. "Me too. Don't want to work on an empty stomach."
Everyone grabbed a sandwich in quick succession. Ember arrived just as the tray was emptied, her face falling into a pout.
Eliane gloated, her grin wide. "Too slow!" She scampers off, her voice echoing behind her. "Maybe next time!"
Ember stood in the middle of the dock, her hands empty, her expression shifting from pout to something darker.
"Josiah," she muttered, her voice low. "They took all the sandwiches."
---
Vesta stood at the edge of the dock, her rainbow hair swaying in the air currents. Mikasi hung across her back, its strings humming with a faint resonance. She watched as the groups divided and paired up, dispersing into the facility's depths.
Everyone was busy. Everyone had a purpose.
She muttered to herself, her voice low. "Everyone is busy. I wonder what I can do to help."
She wandered toward Bianca, Galit, and Alistair, who were still clustered around the monitor, making assessments and gesturing at the schematics.
"I can help too," she announced, her voice bright with enthusiasm.
Bianca paused, blinking. Her mouth opened, then closed. She clearly searching for the right words.
"So like, that's cool and all, but like we are like all good and stuff."
Vesta opened her mouth to list her qualifications—her musical talents, her performance experience, her ability to—Galit cut her off.
"Maybe the guardians could use some help."
Alistair coughed, attempting to hide his laugh. It wasn't very successful.
Vesta nodded enthusiastically, turning her attention to where Aurélie and Master Gaius stood. Gaius was crouched down, watching Sanza swing his practice sword at a bouncing Jelly, who dodged each strike with gelatinous grace.
Vesta walked over, her platform boots clicking against the metal grating. "I can help too!"
Aurélie paused from pressing buttons, her silver hair swaying as she looked over her shoulder. Vesta stood there with an eager grin, her rainbow hair glowing in the dim light.
Aurélie's lips pressed together. "We are sufficiently covered." She glanced toward the archaeologists beginning to form their group. "They may be in need of support."
Vesta turned her head, following Aurélie's gaze. She nodded. "Right!"
---
Charlie stood in front of the team of archaeologists, his pith helmet perfectly positioned, his khaki shirt and shorts crisp despite the humidity. Annabell Ellis stood beside him, her oversized glasses glinting, her satchel across her shoulder. Emily Aoi Zoku hovered at the edge of the group, her notebook clutched to her chest, her dark brown eyes fixed on Charlie with laser intensity.
Charlie cleared his throat, his voice carrying that familiar academic authority.
"I would like to start off by saying thank you and welcome." He paused, his eyes sweeping the assembled group. "Before we begin, I must stress the importance of safety while we are here. This is an unexplored facility, and we are unaware of what is automated and has been reactivated, and what is dormant or malfunctioning. It will be up to us to aid our fellow departments in making those determinations."
Emily Aoi Zoku nodded vigorously, her pen scratching across her notebook as she transcribed his every word. Her lips moved in a low mumble, repeating his speech like a prayer.
Charlie continued. "Just earlier today, I was called to assist with just such a task. And if it were not for my expertise, this facility may have very well succumbed to its final fate."
Emily's head snapped up, her eyes going wide. "Really!"
Everyone's head turned toward her. The sudden outburst had broken the rhythm of the briefing.
Emily's face burned crimson. She shrank back, suddenly sheepish, as Annabell glared at her with the intensity of a disappointed teacher.
Charlie cleared his throat. "Yes. If I may—"
Annabell clapped her hands, cutting him off. Her voice was bright and professional, but there was an edge to it. "That is great, Charlie. Thank you so much. We all look forward to reading your report."
Charlie nodded, about to say something further—
Annabell turned to the group. "Everyone is to break up into pairs with the guardians. No one is to venture off on their own. You heard Charlie—this facility was automated, and we don't know what its full capabilities are, nor are we aware of what is on or disabled. Be sure to stay in communication and document everything."
The archaeologists began to murmur, their voices rising with questions and concerns.
Annabell clapped her hands again. "We are establishing a permanent base camp here, but there is only a small window of time for those of you wanting to study the submarines. You know your assignments!"
The archaeologists dispersed, moving toward their assigned partners and locations. Emily Aoi Zoku hesitated for just a moment, then rushed up to Charlie, her face flushed, her ears red.
"I would love to hear the rest of your story," she said, her voice slightly breathless.
Charlie beamed, his pith helmet slipping slightly. "By all means, allow me to—"
Vesta's voice cut through the moment. "I can help!"
Annabell perked up, her hazel eyes brightening. "Really! What is your expertise? Ancient languages? Excavations? Analysis of ancient history?"
Vesta's head cocked, her expression confused. She blinked at Annabell, clearly not understanding the question.
Annabell blinked back.
After a beat of silence, Vesta's face lit up. "I can play a song!"
Annabell's expression shifted from anticipation to polite confusion. "Oh. Well, that is very nice, but we are sufficiently staffed at this time."
Vesta stood, dumbfounded, her rainbow hair drooping slightly.
Annabell turned her attention back to Emily and Charlie, dismissing Vesta entirely.
Vesta's shoulders dropped—
Eliane's voice cut through the dock. "Vesta!"
Vesta looked up. Eliane was running past, her empty tray held aloft, Ember chasing her with outstretched hands.
Eliane called out again. "Play a song to distract her!"
Vesta's face lit up. She grinned, her rainbow hair flaring with color. "Yeah. I can do that."
She strode to the center of the dock, striking a dramatic pose. Mikasi slid into her hands, its strings humming with anticipation.
"What do you say, Mikasi?" she asked, her voice carrying that performer's confidence. "To an impromptu concert?"
Mikasi wiggled in her hands, its strings vibrating with excitement.
Vesta strummed the strings with dramatic flair, a chord ringing out across the dock.
"OK, EVERYBODY! LET'S PLAY!"
If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider giving Dracule Marya Zaleska a Power Stone! It helps the novel climb the rankings and get more eyes on our story!
Thank you for sailing with us! 🏴☠️ Your support means so much!
Want to see the Dreadnought Thalassa blueprints? Or unlock the true power of Goddess Achlys?
Join the Dracule Marya Zaleska crew on Patreon to get exclusive concept art, deep-dive lore notes, and access to our private Discord community! You make the New World adventure possible.
Become a Crewmate and Unlock the Lore:
https://patreon.com/An1m3N3rd?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
Thanks so much for your support and loving this story as much as I do!