As the inner door scissored aside, the shuttle airlock filled with salted air. Rocking on her hooves, Suuk'o waited for the outer blastguard ramp to settle; trotting out smartly when it was done. Placing her holdall onto the coral-crete pad, she looked about while adjusting her utility belt and hip satchel. Li'Por, Wild Water, the first true waterworld the Tau had lain claim on during the third phase era, greeted her in all it's aqua-phobia inducing glory. Ocean was all that could be seen in every direction, the only land sat solemn and glittering before her in the late rotaa sun, even still it was an unremarkable island. Letting out a small exhale, Suuk'o accepted that finally, she was at last bereft of any teachers and 'advisers' from the Sa'cean biodomes. She began to cross the lengthy pier, which joined the landing pad to the island, idly watching a flotilla of vesa flock past her to pluck cargo from the shuttle's hold.

The pier floated gently over the inner shallows of a reef that rung about the island, the only greenery being a sparse forest of fronded trees and shrubs, however it failed to conceal a structure at it’s centre, which dominated everything on the island. A Gue'la built edifice; thick, robust and very functional. The purpose of which had been deduced the day it was discovered; vast cooking vats and processing machinery left within had provided even the most limited of imagination enough information to realise it was a harvesting factory. There certainly was plenty of wildlife to catch on this world, she had pondered, having avidly read about it enroute. Food, it was one of those few times when no matter how different your views and goals were, it was a common thread which gave avenue to considering an opponent in new light.

Several tau'cyr since the Shas'Ar'Tol had forced out the gue'la, the resident fio resources mission had arrived. Over time various gue'la embellishments had been replaced by the symbols of her people. The alien factory had become a storage bunker and communication hub with habitat domes arrayed to one side. On the other, a cleared space over which a coral-crete quadrangle had been laid, spread a top that was an array of sea worthy equipment being serviced by fio'vesa and several tau techs. Each wore three quarter length aquaskins peeled down to the waist, marked in various Sept colours. Ahead of her a handful of erected sunshades had been setup not far from where the pier meet the island, under which two half dressed fio fussed over an open air project. One of them idly turned, spied her and waved.

Heralding the shuttle's departure, small breakers created by the jet wash caused the walkway to undulate beneath her. Pausing to watch the shuttle go, she observed it until the craft was a small speck in azure skies. The world's soft sun warming her salted face as her tension followed after it.
"Suuk'o I guess?" a male voice spoke up behind her.
She looked about and saw no one facing her, then realised the voice had come from lower down. Sure enough he was at the pier edge looking up, a water slicked, athletically built fio'la in only aquaskin trunks, carefully treading water with modfins.
"Fio'El'Kasuan?"
He chuckled at her error, sliding his wet scalp lock back casually, while eyeing her freshly issued utility coverall for a moment,
"No no, she's out on a project at one of the equatorial archipelagos. Don't expect her back for several rotaa"
"Oh, I need her to.."
"Log you in? Don't fret, just head over to the further most dome and speak with the vior'lan, Baku, he'll sort you out. Can't miss him"
"Ah," she looked over her shoulder and got an idea where to go, "I'm sorry, and you are?"
"Yu'siln, Fio'vre Yu'Siln from Dal'yth" he corrected with more official tone, but theatrical eyes, "most call me Ukos here"
Regarding the senior's casual air a moment, she couldn't help but ask,
"Ukos?"
"All I do is eat apparently, speaking of which, between rotaa serve is in a dec or so" he pushed off the pier's inflated underside, a few kicks sending him out into the shallows, "good time to meet the team" he smiled as they exchanged a wave.
The friendly fio'vre rolled over, as if born to swim, effecting a clean freestyle toward the research site on the beach.
Gathering up her holdall anew, Suuk'o prepared to move on.
"A fine specimen, shall I catalog it?" enquired a familiar voice.
"Shut up"
The small vesa, no broader than her hand, rotated within it's belt clasp,
"I meant the crawler you're about to step on"
Halting, she spied the small crustacean with surprise. Already claws had be drawn at her approach. Stepping over the crawler, she proceeded onward.
"I knew that"
A small blip emitted from her hip and the vesa resumed scanning the surrounds.

Baku was big, more so because he proudly wore an imposingly red aquaskin. A broadly built tau with a smile to match, he wielded a hatchet in one large hand as if it were a small pocket knife, quickly dissecting the corpse of a particularly over sized fish, held in place under the other.
"You're what the shuttle dropped off?" he paused his ministrations, drawing on a memory, "Sa'cean right?"
"Yes, Fio'la Suu'ko" she replied carefully, aware of the vior'lan penchant for preciseness, particularly with him being a Shas'vre.
"Mmm, hold this" he offered up the tail.
Pinching the fins at the end, she waited while he filleted morsels, flicking the pieces onto the flattened dome of an awaiting servant vesa that hovered nearby the shade cloth they stood under, just outside the vior'lan's habitat dome.
"Southern Maki-fin, your arrival was well timed" he grinned, trimming the last piece off.
She nodded, still eyeing the slick tail dangling in the air between them and her fingers.
"Ah, thanks" he noted the tail.
Taking the remains away and flushing it with the rest into a catch-all bucket at the end of the preparation counter, he washed his hands then proffered a hand wipe in exchange for her reader. A citrus scent from the wipe tinged against her nasal slit while she readily used it. Meanwhile the Shas'vre reviewed her file, holding her reader close as if to inspect even the surface for flaws.
"Sa'cea biodomes even? Hmph, you'll do well here I guess" he tilted the pad in his hand, drew out a small skim card from his wet-belt and touched the screen with it. Offering it back, he holstered his pulse pistol and gathered up several other dishes of prepped food, then smiled again,
"Welcome to Al'Shi".

The end of rotaa feed was bountiful. Various fruits from other islands, wafer pressed and spiced, they were served up as side order to the recently seared maki-fin. In all it provided a jovial meal amongst strangers newly acquainted. She had spoken with Baku for a few raik'or while he prepared the fish, the warrior appeared surprisingly adept at cooking. They set out the feast on a lengthy eating bench hewn from local lumber, again another hidden talent of the vior'lan. After a small comm announcement, everyone on the island had gathered with surprising speed, more tau appearing than she had first observed. There was an initial clamour of eating slates, utensils and general discussion as everyone met up, then they sat down atop the sandy ground about the table, eating with gusto. Eventually the Vior'lan cleared his throat and back handed his lips to remove any offal, rising onto his knees to address the team,
"Right you stunted lot, we have a new arrival. Rare I know, the Empire tends to forget about Li'Por. Fittingly ironic that we are on an island in the middle of nowhere on said planet"
A few chuckled, but most kept picking at their food. Without a doubt, everyone had hearty appetites.
"La'Suuk'o if you would" he encouraged her to address those gathered.
Arrayed down both sides of the table were fourteen team members. All in various states of undress, most in aquaskins or trunks, with piping and patches that indicated Sept origin. Their skin was uniformly deep shades of blue-grey, scalps and shoulders decorated by even darker freckles. Each looked at her with alert eyes and in general, curious expressions.
"Hi all, I've just transferred in from a series of aquatic study programs in the Sa'cea biodomes, I'll be performing some exploratory oceanography and a review of Li'Por's larger sealife for possible-"
"Aun save us" grunted someone, theatrically dying of boredom.
The rest chuckled.
Yu'Siln waved for the chatter to settle and regarded the younger fio'la's admonished look,
"We're quite well informed about you actually la'Suuk'o, anything new on the data core is readily reviewed. Not much else besides our projects to keep us busy"
Someone snorted.
"Well, that and using the wave runners sure" he acquiesced to the interjection.
Another snort, this time from Baku himself.
"Okay, alright.. and the speargun fishing"
"Thank you, and don't you forget who gets your food slipweed"
The two eyed each other then grinned.
"As you can probably see we're pretty well knit around here. I don't think we've had a single member rotate out in what? Four tau'cyr?" he ventured for agreement, several nodded idly.
"Most of us are Vre rank, those not are just waiting on the next messenger boat to officiate promotions. We had hoped more than just supplies and project briefs would have come with you, but as the brute at the other end of the table mentioned, we tend to be forgotten about out here"
Suuk'o nodded quietly, having already sat back down from politely kneeling up to address everyone. Her initial sense of freedom was slowly being intimidated by a feeling she had been sent to this backwater planet by vindictive tutors.
"Is your work much regarded?" she ventured.
"Not to worry fio'la, you've been sent to a good first posting" a sardonic reply met her query.
One of four older females at the table gave her an overly consoling look. The rest seemed amused enough.
The fio'vre she first met came to the rescue again,
"Ignore Ji'sun, we all thought that at first. You'll have to wait for El'Kasuan to return for the full rousing brief on our work here, but suffice to say, once we understand the undersea flora and fauna and how this planet behaves, it will be the biggest single food producer in the third sphere"
"Lucky posting for you too then Ukos" someone jibed.
The fio'vre pouted as the team laughed and resumed eating and talking amongst themselves. The greet was over and the more important matter of finishing their meal had clearly taken precedent.
"Never you mind youngling, ol B'saal Baku will show you around later" he gave her a soft pat on the shoulder and a kind eye, then resumed dipping a bunch of wafers into seaweed sauce and munched down.

Inspecting the non de script habitat, a ground level study and living space with bunk quarters in the upper part of the dome, it appeared well suited for two persons. Overall it was austere and the furnishing functional.
"Anyone sharing with me?"
Baku gave a polite sign in the negative and carried her holdall in,
"Unfortunately, we lost Vre'Hiaun two seasons ago"
"What happened?" she spun a look at him.
"Some of the islands are only coral projections at low tide, His wave runner hit something under the surface when he had left his departure too late and we couldn't get to him in time before he was washed away."
"Did you find his body?"
Sitting down one one of the austere furnishings, Baku sighed slightly.
"There are bigger fish than a T'pel out there, by the time we arrived I realised we were tracking an apex predator below the surface by way of his commbead"
The shock on her face caused him to raise his brow,
"Never you mind Suuk'o, just stick to my three rules and you will never have such a fate here"
He rose, politely leaving her to unpack, but by the doorway she stopped him,
"Three?"
He grunted, like some of her tutors did before unleashing a rehearsed nugget of knowledge,
"One" he said, the back of his hand in her face, he extended an index finger snappily, "don't ride out without two charged fuel cells"
"Two" another finger smartly arrayed next to it's neighbour, "don't ride out without two comm beads"
"Three.." he paused for effect, the last digit flicking into place, "don't do anything without commin' me or a team leader first" the emphasis fell on him being the priority.
"Thats it?"
"Thats it"
"What about saftey gear, utility belts and so on?"
"You were briefed on the basics before you got out here?"
"Yes"
"Then, that's it" he made to leave, but paused at the door frame, "I am working on a fourth however" he smirked.
She encouraged him with a likewise glance,
"If it is bigger than you, get out of the water"
"Seriously?"
"Mmm, the food chain is better described as an inverted triangle around here. Bigger you are, the more of everyone else you eat"
"Seems apt, considering the fish you speared for our 'feast' earlier"
"Ahhh, the sa'cean is catching on fast, you'll do well for sure" he rapped the door frame then left with a polite wave.
Still amused by her concierge, she turned back to look about the space, Suuk'o spied lab screen projectors and several other tech items on a semi-circle bench along the far curve of the wall.
"Could you prep those for us?" she asked aloud.
"Certainly"
The vesa detached from it's clasp and floated over to the bench, remotely activating the devices and beginning various checks.
"Wow, last gen gear. This might take time" it admitted, "did I say that out loud?"
Smirking to herself, Suuk'o organised her own personal items, ignoring the al'vesa as it fussed away.

Around sunset, late in the rotaa, a light rap at her doorway announced a new guest.
"la'Suuk'o?"
It was Ui'Ji'sun, waving as she spied the new team member come down from her bunk,
"I've come to fetch you for the technical tour before Baku fills you with his war stories tomorrow"
"Let me get my things" Suuk'o delayed, aiming to collect the top to her utility gear.
"What you've got on is fine, you'll be wearing your aquaskin each and every rotaa soon enough"
Ji'sun herself was sporting a black calf length aquaskin with dal'yth markings.
"Right, lets go then" Suuk'o chirped as she collected an inactive ellipsoid disc off her work bench and added it to a belt clasp.
Crossing the small distance from the habitat village to the large factory, they worked their way through long shadows cast by the tall fronds as Li'Por's sun began to disappear. The structure spread across the girth of the island in such a manner, it seemed to be all there was in that direction. Ji'sun led the fio'la to a secure entrance, touching a panel for entry, then encouraged Suuk'o inside. The interior was just as austere as the habitats, but defunct piping and odd devices filled the corridors. Soon they walked down the middle of the factory floor, various tau storage units were arranged about them, creating an inner corridor made totally of supply containers.
"We need all this?" she questioned.
"Might not see a messenger boat for a tau'cyr, best have anything required on hand, yes?"
Suuk'o nodded while she followed on. Eventually they stopped near a particularly large container.
"Here we are, the main communication hub" announced her guide, activating the automatic door hatch.
Stepping inside, it was as spacious as a large room, she recognised it as a modular exploration comm suite. Air drop or merely freighted in, they were a boon to the research teams the Fio caste had sent out across new worlds during the third phase expansion. She waved at the only other person in there, recognising him from the meal earlier, but not sure of his name. Ji'sun however, had already crossed the small space to the wall of screens and projected interfaces.
"Orbiting ships, satellites, marker buoys, aquatic vesa tracking and all communication among the teams spread about Li'Por," clearly enjoying her role here, the fio'ui proudly turned about, "our most sophisticated effort on world"
Suuk'o was impressed, she had expected more limited means, but this confirmed what had been said at the table earlier. This world was important enough to warrant a complete study to ensure any future operations went smoothly and efficiently.
"So who is where?" she ventured.
The dal'yth operator quickly took up a nearby stool and retasked the interface before her,
"The Fio'El is here," Ji'sun indicated a string of islands along the equator, the nearest plotter projection displaying the visual "while another team is far north near the polar ice flow"
Soft cyan dots subtly animated on the flat line map of Li'Por at each of these locations.
"Do you have any deep scan imagery?" Suuk'o asked, her own professional interest piqued.
Ji'sun's eyes lit up,
"One raik'an"
After a few moments the projected map revealed the world's topography. It was a smooth sphere above the waves, but the scans revealed deep trenches scarring the tectonic plates, islands sat atop the peaks of huge conical coral projections from the sea floor. Every type of aquatic geography was represented in some form or another. Suuk'o ran her eyes all over the image.
"Can I have a copy of this to study?"
"Sure, the one on your own lab screen is quite old" she typed in some commands and finished with a smile, "should be on your habitat core, enjoy working out where first to go"
"Not an easy decision" Suuk'o admitted.
"Never is for anyone"
They exchanged farewells and Suuk'o left through the myriad of storage shapes. By the time she was outside, night had fallen and the sky was a hemisphere of stars. Completely unhindered by the lights of conurbation, it was spectacular. Feeling the weight of her travels and the influx of new faces and information, she headed to her habitat. During a quick look about she saw Baku, pulse rifle at the ready doing a check of the island. He spied her and gave a sign for her to rest well. Inside Suuk'o barely made it to the bunk before passing out. Her al'vesa however rose up from the hip clasp and began reviewing the imagery they had been sent via the newly restored screens downstairs. It busily marked out sites of interest for her based on various preferences, so that come morning, the first route about Al'Shi was plotted and awaiting her approval.


---

She stood before the somewhat sleek, solidly shaped mass, that sported a swept nose rising over top a deep ventral hull. Grips like a gravcycle, padded dorsal benchseat and tapered kickboard along the sides and off the back. Underneath it got interesting, nestled against the water vanes which ran the length of the hull, was a pair of broadly swept fins with nodules at intervals along the leading edge and a tear shaped thruster where they met up.
"Ah yes, the trick piece" Ui'Esau moved in to explain, "once you're up to speed, the fins are extended downward on an aquablade, much like a hydro foil but fantastically stable. It's all through vesa control, just get on, point and hold on"
He eyed out to the ocean beyond,
"Easily get you about that route you plotted last night, great work by the way"
She smiled lightly, then inspected the seat to avoid that conversation,
"Storage?"
A quick nod and he unclipped the cover to reveal substantial space under the dorsal seating, with a secondary cell holder against the cell connector slot after that.
"Baku's doing" she looked up.
The fio nodded with a smirk,
"Rule One" they chimed.
"Correct my little fio'saals"
They turned to find Baku approach with a brace of fuel cells and slim fit survival vests for both himself and Suuk'o. He offered her the issued kit and nodded to a pair of Wave Runners out in the shallows.
"We'll take those Esau, judging by her route we'll be back before second rotaa"
The fio tech nodded and made a note on his reader then pressed it back against his wetbelt. A quick fuss about a nearby shaded work bench, he returned with a fob each,
"Enjoy Suuk'o, it's a proximity activator. Fall off and the Runner will come about and home in on you"
She nodded then quickly followed after the Shas'vre who was already across the beach nearby. Baku turned about and looked up and down, as if inspecting her on parade. A beige, water proof research satchel hung across her mottled dark grey three quarter aquaskin, aesthetically placed patches and piping finished in Sa'cean orange.
"Bit loud for my tastes" he critiqued, then proceeded to wade out while scanning the shallows, barging onward to their Wave Runners.
Suuk'o scoffed at his red hide, then followed behind.

"Right," he said, "the key is too power on easy, then when you feel the rise, really give it"
The vior'lan sat smugly atop his Wave Runner, one hand on the thrust toggle handle, the other resting across his thigh as he leaned down to speak with Suuk'o.The sa'cean was treading water and holding his kickboard while they puttered over to her own Runner as it sought her out nearby after another nasty spill.
She swam over to the transport with a few kicks of her modfins, hauled herself aboard over the rear kickboard, then slid along the benchseat while the modfins decompiled into protective reef boots,
"Right, really give it" she growled, flicking her head to slap a wet scalp lock aside.
The Wave Runner idled forward, bobbing against the open ocean chop. Easing on the power, she throttled it the moment the hull vibrated slightly, a sure sign the aquablade was deploying. A taut wrench on the handle and the Wave Runner rose tall above the waves and vaulted ahead, sea spray whisking upward about her as salty air pressed against her face.
"Brilliant, now hold up and I'll draw alongside" Baku commed.
"Sorry, currently really giving it, you'd best try and keep up"
She heard the snort over the comm feed, but was too busy enjoying the sheer speed as the ocean whipped under her and the early morning sun gleamed off the chop. In the near distance, the first islet on her waypoint chart appeared. Checking the onboard navscreen confirmed her assumption. Suuk'o could hear the bass whine of another Wave Runner behind her, without turning to acknowledge him, she piled on the acceleration and would be damned if that smug Shas'vre passed her before they arrived.

"Baku"
"Mmm?" he hummed, eyeing out to sea while Suuk'o fossicked along the breakers.
"This morning when we toured Al'shi after breakfast, I noted there was only you as island security"
He turned slightly to face her, but his pulse rifle remained at the ready,
"Well my team is split between the Fio'El and the polar expedition. Either way the vesa's have rudimentary defense protocols and everyone has some idea how to defend themselves; if they've been paying attention when I offer some tips"
"Usual crisis training?"
"Yes, pretty much. So really, it's just me and the vesa to be honest"
She smirked without turning his way.
"Well, the vesa are more an ablative exercise really" he paused in his wandering behind her, "Yeah your right, there is only me" his mock realisation got a spray of sand at his hooves.
"Hey now, a little respect goes a long way to gaining portion favours when I cook"
She laughed aloud for the first time in a tau'cyr, then shook her head and noted down some observations and a reading she had been waiting on to compile.
"Done here, fourth island if you're ready?"
The Shas'vre gave the area a final scan, then tilted his head slightly. Suuk'o got a competitive vibe from him and soon enough they were vaulting through the shallows to their Wave Runners. Baku got underway first and quickly built on his lead, but shortly after idled back and came around behind his pursuer,
"Would have had you that time" he grinned at her pout, then fell in to one side and kept regulation pace as they sped on.

Continuing on the circuit of islands, Baku kept watch while she "dug her hooves in" as the saying went in Fio circles. Whilst most of what she was doing had already been documented, getting a feel for the geology and seeing exposed sedimentation gave her a real connectedness to the data she would have to go over for the next few rotaa. By the time the warm yellow star was nearing Li'Por's midday, Suuk'o admitted she was done and exceptionally hungry, to which Baku winked and indicated they stop at the island's reef edge.
"Fishing?" she enquired as he balanced himself against the handles of his Runner.
The Shas'vrre was looking rearward into the benchseat storage, pausing to answer when he looked up,
"Something like that" he gruffed, brandishing a two pronged poker and a mesh dive satchel, "give me ten raik'an"
"If you're not back, do I wait to observe what ate you so I can add another layer to your triangle chart?"
He grinned, then covered his face with a full mask rebreather, falling over the nose with modfins flicking into shape behind him.
Bobbing just outside the shallows, Suuk'o reviewed her navscreen initially, then spent a while looking out over the horizon. She eyed the beach they had left then turned back to check on Baku's Runner. A sudden start in her gut caused her too snap around. Whatever she had seen was already making out into the shallows, a small wake line dissipating into the light surf. She struggled to recall what she had seen, a crustacean of some kind, bigger than usual. Either way there was now a trail parallel to their own hoof prints near the breakers but other than that, she had nothing to go on.
"Did you see that?" she questioned quietly.
"I'm currently monitoring one thousand twenty eight life forms about us, and one large red aquaskin wrapped shas'vre, you might need to be more specific"
"It was on the beach, near the breakers behind us, I think it may be getting closer"
"Too much bio overlap in the shallows Suuk'o, but nothing is approaching us directly so far"
Mildly reassured by the al'vesa, she kept a rearward vigil anyhow.
"I'll warn you if something comes at us" the vesa blipped and rotated slightly in the clasp.
"Thanks" she replied genuinely, studying the point at which the creature had wandered up the beach, joined their trail and then left for the breakers.
A burst of water and Baku appeared between their Wave Runners, a broad grin flashed, ringed by a residual crease from the mask he whipped off,
"Let's get back, these guys get nasty when they wake up" he activated the electro-poker to accentuate the point.

The meal was very welcome, Suuk'o understood acutely why everyone ate like a one tau la'rua. The continual exercise, elements and concentration built up one's appetite mightily. The small crawlers Baku had steamed were being decimated with the vigour of a Kroot kindred. Wiping her mouth, Suuk'o looked to Esau who had sat next to her,
"You ever seen a large crawler behaving oddly along the beach here?"
"All of them do with Baku around Suuk'o" he retorted whilst breaking a leg piece.
She smiled, but pressed the question,
"I imagine, but something much larger, quick"
Esau stopped fussing with the resistant morsel,
"Yeah, we've seen them about, they're like a local sauropod, primate, that sort of thing"
"You talking about those large crawlers?" queried UI'Lais, one of the other maintenance techs.
The duo nodded.
"I sometimes catch one picking through our spares, they can really move when you spook them."
"Ever been aggressive?" Suuk'o asked.
Several of the team made negative motions while they ate.
"Inquisitive if anything fio'la" offered Yu'Siln, dipping his hands in one of Baku's citrus solutions, "we tried to study them for a time with vesa monitors, nothing more than clever scavengers"
"Things are everywhere we go though" Esau considered aloud, "always when we are fussing about near the breaker line"
A few nodded in agreement, being drawn into the discussion.
"Probably the gue'la left scraps after eating" the Shas'vre added his thoughts while tipping broken crawler shells into a bucket next to him, "I always see them picking through my dump point"
Yu'Siln took a drink of his chilled grain juice, then spoke up,
"Seems plausible, most high level scavengers tend toward a pseudo-symbiotic relationship within the feeding grounds of a prominent predator"
"The gue'la were here for nearly forty tau'cyr" added Ji'sun, "plenty of time for them to get used to one another"
Taking in the opinions, Suuk'o nodded politely, but had already decided to catch and tag one of these elusive crawlers.
"You're going after one arn't you" the shas observed rather than questioned her from his end of the table, everyone looked at her.
"I ah.."
"I can see a hunter like I can see myself, you've got that conniving gleam all of a sudden"
"Well can't hurt if the newly arrived saal tries to upstage the old herders?" she defended jovially.
Everyone chuckled, a few hypothesis on sophisticated traps and automated capture techniques was put forward, but soon enough they tired of the think tank, clearing the table, they broke up and began to return to their projects.

The second rotaa dragged on like a limp kroot ox. Suuk'o had already read through her predecessor's notes, aligned them to the newer topographical chart and pulled up some further related materials, which she felt remarkably disinterested over. Her mind was distracted by a more interesting project. Several rough concepts glowed on her screen, but nothing looked like it would do the job. After a pause she leaned in with her light pen and drew a simple shape, then looked to the al'vesa hovering nearby,
"You have got to be kidding"
She kept looking at the small minion.
"I have no say in this do I?"

Quietly meandering out toward the nearest section of beach well after general lights out, Suuk'o carefully edged out onto the sand and sat down for a few raik'an, observing the shoreline in the starlight. Li'Por's two moons were barely shining, just slivered crescents at this cycle of their orbits. Satisfied she had fulfilled the appearance of 'fussing' on the beach as Esau put it, she unclasped the al'vesa, pushed it under the sand and left a handful of dried fruit wafers a top it.
"Good luck" she farewelled the al'vesa.
The small disc had been quiet ever since they left the habitat, clearly objectionable to being used as part of staked out bait for something from the salty deeps.
Having effected a circuitous path back to a hideout near the buried vesa, Suuk'o waited quietly, imager in hand to record the approach and grab a few picts should they be successful. Time dragged on and soon she wondered if the magic come hither formula had been false. Feeling the onset of her day begin to siren call, she half considered doing this another night if need be. Still, her fascination at finally seeing what she had glimpsed earlier during the morning motivated her through the doubtful moment.
"Aun's light" she breathed out quietly.
Sure enough, two of them! They both approached the marred sand where she had sat many raik'an ago. One hung back while it's companion ventured forward. The creatures were classically shaped crawlers, except their centre mass was more vertical than splayed out. Their eye stalks were lined up vertically along with their feelers, mandibles and feeder claws. Suuk;o couldn't exactly determine their colouration, but she guessed it was a mottle of sand brown and blue, not unlike the more predominant coral she had seen in the shallows about Al'Shi.

The al'vesa however, had long been spying these would be thieves. They had been in the breakers for some time after Suuk'o had departed. No doubt building up the gumption to investigate what she had left behind. Though the advanced vesa wouldn't openly admit it, there was some entertainment in this, objectively hoping the crustacean touched the wafers so it could effect the final phase of this venture. Already fore claws were scratching above and the crawler seeming to find the wafers agreeable,
"Hello" the vesa greeted.
A pair of eye stalks darted downward to observe the up swell of sand under it's meal. The reaction was spectacular. Wafer's went flying, the partner scampered into the breakers, getting knocked over by a incoming wave. The vesa held onto the crawler above it with a manipulator field, while observing the other finally flail beyond the shore break. Digging into the sand with effort, the captive tried to move away from the vesa, confused as to why it remained in place. The struggle increased as Suuk'o burst forth from a nearby shrub line and produced a small container to cover the specimen.
"Gotcha!" she grinned jubilantly.
Lining up the struggling creature the fio'la hefted the container. Just then she spied a ring about one of the thicker legs, ornate and crafted. It was completely out of place. She stayed her capturing swoop, long enough to see a fine semi-translucent line lead away from the ring across the beach toward a dark shadow bobbing in the surf. It was similarly shaped to her prize but little else could be discerned. Suddenly she felt an impact against her shoulder, burning deeply almost immediately. Yelping in surprise and alarm she dropped the container on the al'vesa. Promptly it let the crawler go which immediately fled beyond the breakers in terror. Suuk'o felt a nausea suddenly well up, her every step away from the beach more hapless. Finally her legs gave way and the last thing she recalled was the sand rasping her scalp, a hovering specimen container floating nearby and red wrapped legs appearing either side of her.


---

"Hi"
Suuk'o tried to stretch but her body was stiff all over. Regarding the figure atop a stool next to her bunk, she saw Yu'Siln wave with Baku standing stoically on the other side of the room.
"Mmnnff" she grunted, then looked for her al'vesa.
"Your vesa is downstairs, still reviewing the footage you took. Remarkably adept unit I have to say"
She eyed Yu'Siln again, he was finishing off a small piece of fruit in between talking.
"How long?" she finally summed up.
"Three rotaa, you missed nothing food wise, Baku's been watching over you like a creche vesa so we all missed out. In other news, none of us have seen one of those crawlers since your attempt the other night, it's been well, odd."
The Shas'vre grunted, apparently visiting time was over.
"Right, well I have to keep on top of a couple of experiments, so I'll check in with you later on, glad you came through okay" Yu'Siln smiled, tapped the end of her bunk and rose up. A nod to Baku, then he trotted down the steps and left her habitat.
Suuk'o barely moved to say farewell, eventually she motioned for some water that Baku quickly brought to her,
"Smart plan, even smarter vesa to help you" he commented, proffering the vessel to her lips, "I was watching you the whole time, even saw you get stung"
"There was a shadow, in the.. the surf"
The vior'lan seemed to consider the comment, then tilted the water vessel for her again.
"Didn't see that, but I do have something"
Taking the water away he put it on a small bunk side shelf, a test tube container was drawn from his wetbelt. Within it rattled a small spine, porous and white, with a tinge of dark cyan. Her blood.
"This was taken out of your shoulder by the medi vesa, I've kept it and had a good look myself" he rattled it in the light so she could see it better as he drew it closer for her, "Everyone thinks it's a spine from the crawler you tried to box, that news should keep them from going near one"
He snorted, then put it back in the same wetbelt pocket.
"There was a venom, which was easily countered, we've dealt with a few nasty creatures on Li'Por before so don't worry"
"Venom? I wasn't bitten, I was attacked!" she tried to rise up but a big hand easily pushed her down at her torso.
"Easy now Sa'cea" he chided her for exerting herself, "Thing is, the venom had an unnaturally refined makeup, and this spine? It's highly fashioned coral, with an aerodynamic rifling. Almost force grown for the purpose. It's a porous, accurate and sturdy delivery module and if I didn't know better, it makes a great toxin dart."
Her eyes widened, but she kept quiet due to his growing belief she had indeed seen something. The Shas'vre moved toward the stair and regarded her with a kind gaze,
"Rest up Suuk'o, the Fio'El arrives next morning rotaa, I think we will have a talk with her and see about your shadow in the shallows"
At that he dipped out of view and left her struggling to remember what she had seen in the water watching her. The island of Al'shi somehow grew smaller about her while the ocean became harbour to a gnawing worry in her mind.

---
Continued..

You're really pumping out the short fiction pieces recently Tael!
While all your recent stuff has been characteristically awesome, I think this is my favourite. The abundant dialogue really helped me immerse myself in the storyline, and gave you a great platform for character development. Baku is my favourite so far, but I also liked the al'vesa's sarcastic resignation at being used as a crustacean trap.

This story wouldn't have anything to do with the Mato would it??

Thanks for an absorbing and interesting diversion to real life Tael!

Fi'rios Shi'ur

Thanks Fi'Rios, glad the focus of the piece is resonating with you. Just as with the Redacted, I've been browsing my old files and working on pieces which were basically a synopsis waiting to be written up. This definitely has gone beyond my initial idea and into a more fully fledged short.

Mato? I have no idea what you are talking about.

- Tael.

Love it Tael! Looking forward to the next installment for sure. For now, time to go read redacted I guess

Another enjoyable read Tael! I especially enjoy 40K pieces that are not about fighting; so this was an engaging piece.

I will admit though, that I found the advanced AI Vesa a little confusing at times. It was like a character suddenly came out of nowhere! When it started talking in the story, I was like, "Who is that? Where is it coming from? Why does it talk like a person and not a drone? Why does she have it?" Perhaps these questions will be answered, but I felt like the nature of the AI needs to be addressed a bit sooner.

Looking forward to more! Oh and I must admit to finding parts of this story to be terrifying. You see, I have a fear of the ocean. Not because of drowning, but because of the horrifying creatures that are everywhere! I have had my feet pinched by way too many crabs that I get super freaked out going in. So when you mention predators in the ocean and creatures suddenly bursting from the depths, my stomach turns. I guess that's good writing, huh?

So I'm guessing this is why you live in the land locked Pennsylvania then Wolf? Also, don't visit Australia, we have enough deadly creatures that will maul you and eat (assuming they aren't of the many a varied that kill for the simple pleasure of killing) on land without even thinking about venturing into our coastal waters

You raise a good point about Suuk'o's drone though, personally I just accepted the character of the drone as I read the story but it really would be interesting to hear the story behind it too. The interactions between the two of them though reminded me instantly of Cortana and John (Master Chief). I'm not sure that it would fit within this story though, there is enough going on with the introductions to the Mato etc.

I also want to say that I reckon I have it figured out what twist comes next, but I don't want to spoil it.

Thanks for your feedback Wolf, bit precognitive of me to induce some pseudo aquaphobia within the first paragraph Sorry chief



As I would have it, possibly a bit in your face, but I don't want the Al'vesa to get lost among all the other characters, worse even relegated as a mere fun tool. The idea of having a voice 'appear' was an attempt developing a disembodied character, no moving parts, just emitted sound. Through these snippet introductions so far you can deduce it is indeed advanced, capable, has an actual relationship with Suuk'o and is protective of her and they only initially interact when others are absent (did you note she picked up the 'inactive' disc when led to the comm container?). Baku observing her rather simple trap using advanced means has somewhat let the cat out of the bag. Senior team members are now aware she has an intriguing al'vesa with her; so it [the al'vesa] openly chose to examine the imager video, rather than be inert and arouse further questions.

I like that these appearances caused you so many questions, leaving you intrigued about a character who is less open than a majority so far.

cheeky sod.


- Tael

Great work again Tael,

When I read it I thoroughly enjoyed the character development, and SO MUCH detail!

After the second read I had a firm picture from the emphasis you put into description. The reader has a definite fear of what lurks beneath the waves...
I think this must be a common phobia, as I still have a hard time passing under a stone bridge in a canoe without subconsciously conjuring up mental images of a giant octopus lying in wait.

I can't wait to see what the r/c shrimps do next!

modelglue.

---

Lost in thought, Suuk'o slowly rubbed the vesa prescribed synth-heal gel over her wound. Already the lighter patch of skin was regaining colour, the scar virtually gone. Finished with the application, Suuk'o cleaned her hand and adjusted the aquaskin back over her upper torso. Regarding the face reflected by the mirror wall, she was witness to her own resolve hardening. The event had to be brought up before the Fio'El, she saw something and it had attacked her. Putting the gel tub back in the hygiene cubicle locker, Suuk'o trotted down from the bunk level into the living space; gathering her utility jacket to head out. The vesa on seeing her leaving, flitted toward her, aiming for the utility belt about her waist as she passed,
"Not this time, my attempt is causing enough queries without inviting questions about you just yet"
The slim ellipse, tipped upward slightly,
"Understandable, though can I offer you what I've been working on?"
A skim card slid out from a recess it used for such peripherals. The fio'la took it, flicking it over in her hand,
"The crawler and the figure in the surf?"
"Yes, with some ideas on what it may have been, based on the hub core zoological files"
"You don't believe me either?" her gaze sceptical.
"I didn't imply that, but as I told you, the living coral in the shallows creates such bio density I can't track anything there with certainty beyond the shore break"
She gave a slight chuff, resigning herself that even her most capable aide was stymied.
"Well, thanks I'll present this to her" she flared the card like a ha'kachi player,
"Good luck" the vesa mimicked Suuk'o on the night of the capture attempt.
Pouting, she gave the small disc a dirty glare, then left.

Only a few paces beyond the village domes, she looked out toward the pier from under the morning shade of a nearby frond. Tethered to the far side of the landing pad, well beyond the reef barrier, floated a large white survey Runabout. It was a dynamically shaped water craft with a thin prow, thick side wall flanks and an open deck, only the rounded dorsal command cabin rose higher than the side walls, the latter bluntly swept with a sensor dome nestled atop. The part of her mind, thrilled by the Wave Runners, piqued slightly at the thought of how fast it could go. She watched a lone fio'ui busily directing service vesa from the edge of the landing pad, conductor to a swarm of insects, completing various maintenance tasks about the vessel since it's arrival a dec before.
"Ah you're up, great" the ever trunk wearing Yu'Siln greeted her while she stood observing the distant choreography, "the Fio'el is expecting you. With all the general debriefing since she got back, you're adventure has captured her interest most"
"That's a good thing I hope" Suuk'o said under her breath.
"Don't worry you'll be fine. I broke an aquablade clean off a Wave Runner first few rotaa I was here"
She smiled, turning her gaze on him,
"You coming along?"
"No actually, I already gave my progress report on a project she wanted me to cover in her absence. I might grab a pack of wafers and visit my coral collections along the beach with morning tide out"
"Exciting" she teased.
He raised his brow in mock enthusiasm, gave a wave and headed toward Baku's prep area.
Turning about, Suuk'o realised she had no idea where the Fio'El would be, Yu'Siln was already to far to ask. A quick query with Baku on the commbead discovered the answer; he was with her right now, presenting his case inside the communication suite.


---

"Fio'El'Kasuan" she greeted with deference and a soft bow.
The project leader was a wiry faced Dal'yth native, her aquaskin coloured appropriately. Overall she was leaner and more aged than Suuk'o. Effecting a suitably assessing regard, El'Kasaun finally acknowledged the entrance of the fio'la into the communication suite.
"The Shas'vre has been informing me of your first few rotaa on Li'Por. You made quite a splashdown it appears"
The young tau shuffled slightly, this Fio'El's more officious attitude was quite at odds with everyone she had met so far.
"And now, you claim an attack occurred?"
The real topic was opened up. Looking to Baku, Suuk'o saw him encourage her to speak,
"That would be my claim, despite the current belief that I was struck by a spine on the crawler, I believe something in the shallows fired upon me to prevent it's capture."
"Indeed, I've seen this.. dart" her voice somewhat disregarding Baku's evidence, "there are a few molluscs about Al'shi which fire internally created calcium darts biomechanically in defense, I was one of the first to be injured before we received sturdier modfins"
Suuk'o pinched her face slightly at the growing dismissal,
"Fio'El, I was up on the beach, not in the water"
The older tau paused at the interruption, continuing when Suuk'o went quiet,
"Which makes this event certainly all the more curious," then surprisingly given the tone she had set, the older fio relented, "Look la'Suuk'o, I can't have our team members chasing an unidentified creature in the vast ocean about us, we have dozens of projects in progress and a timetable to keep, with further requests that arrived with you in addition. If you could provide me better evidence without sacrificing your own work, I am willing to review any findings. Right now I see a fresh faced young fio'la, a few rotaa on a foreign world and barely any experience with the local wildlife. Most of us have been here more than a few tau'cyr and nothing like this has happened before"
"But Fio'El, with respect, no one has come as close as I have to capturing one of the large crawlers, I even have imagery showing I was prev-"
Baku touched her uninjured shoulder with a light grip, causing her to keep the skim card in her belt. Moving deftly for his size, he came between the two fio,
"El'Kasuan, I may have jumped to conclusions with my findings, but the spine? Well it is as odd as the event itself. Allow me watch over la'Suuk'o, assess what she finds. Since two of my shas'la have returned with you, they can take up my general duties. It may even speed up her familiarity with local fauna and prevent," he paused to look at Suuk'o, "further incidents during her excursions"
El'Kasuan eyed the broad Sha'vre,
"Baku, I know you well enough. If it's not unsolicited spear fishing, tree felling or sanctioning further redundancy modifications on base equipment without asking me, you always end up with another curious project of your own making"
He seemed to shrug in acknowledgement at the arrayed accusations without offering a rebuttal. The project leader began to walk toward the projection wall, observing the work of an operator nearby, the only other tau in the suite,
"I will admit, each time you have been right. We use less stores, the between rotaa meal has bonded a team drawn from several Septs, and I will never forget Ui'Esau's face when you suggested such pragmatic range extender to his beloved Wave Runners"
She turned about to regard the odd pair before her,
"You watch over this one, your instinct has served you and I well enough" her audience buoyed slightly, "but I still want reports on the work you were sent here to do fio'la, in that there are no exceptions, so I suggest you be about it"
The directive barely scratched Suuk'o's rebounding enthusiasm. Bowing politely, she left the suite to wait for Baku outside.

"Well, not what I had hoped, but we didn't get shut down either" she commiserated with the big tau as they walked through the factory floor, "Any ideas?"
The Shas'vre was slow coming in reply.
"Baku?"
They stopped, then he turned to her,
"I apologise for halting you presenting that skim card, sometimes you must realise that committing more resources to a lost fight rarely brings it back in your favour. I have known El'Kasuan a long time and her answer would have remained the same, we need to learn from this and gather a better position to convince her next time"
"But it showed me standing over the crawler, well away from any of it's appendages when I was attacked"
"Maybe so, though I would like to see it for myself, your al'vesa has been remarkably reticent in sharing. Your 'research' was 'authorised access' only"
She smirked at the common vesa vocalisation; the little companion was ever protecting her interests,
"I'll show you personally, I don't like others revising my initial work"
He nodded, each to their own,
"Okay, though first I must reorganise the roster with my shas'la, I will comm you when I finish"
Agreed, they proceeded out and parted ways with a renewed purpose.


---

Seperated from a stack of toughened field entry readers and Suuk'o's own view; a solitary colour tagged skim card, filled with the bare minimum required for a progress report now lay ignored. It was an overview of her first excursion, reasoning and intent to focus on the region about Al'Shi first. A primer for further ventures later, beyond Wave Runner range. The prose had been smart, professional and word tagged possibly to excess. Either way the al'vesa seemed proud of it's work.
"You going to submit this?"
Suuk'o looked away from her predecessor's notes on screen,
"Mmm?" then realised what the vesa meant, "oh, no.. not yet. Have to make it look like I spent at least a rotaa on that"
The vesa tilted,
"Fair point"
Despite the various habitats having their data cores tied to each other, and ultimately the communication suite hub. Submitting a copy of reports on solid state format, despite centuries of electronic means, had been standard among fio researchers. The practice preventing a singular wipe of all data. Each card was wafer thin and almost weightless despite being remarkably robust, allowing thousands to be sealed in a protective case and delivered via Messenger boat to centres of learning on a variety of Sept worlds. Once they reached their destination, it was easier to disseminate the skim cards to departments and specialities without using a core, maintaining a measure of passive security if the data was sensitive.
The vesa hovered forward slightly,
"How goes your research?"
"Well, it's clear Vre'Hiaun built a massive library of the regional species," Suuk'o considered the screen projection before her, then stretched for the ceiling atop her stool, "though nothing you selected causes me pause, even when I see the silhouettes you modified"
"An artist does at times rely on his tools"
She gave the hovering disc a wiry glance, then gathered up the arrayed skim cards she had reviewed. Shuffling them into a stack, the fio'la put them into an organiser case. Vre'Hiaun had been overly protective of his collection, barely half his findings were on the hub core, so by default not on the habitat's core either. The extensive collection accessible by skims only.
"Did he cover any of these in his progress reports?" she pondered aloud.
"From what I scanned through, he wasn't forthcoming"
It was strange, but then, the fio'vre was likely compiling an ecosystem's worth of linked fauna to present a complete working model at some point; which never came, she considered darkly.
"Could you pass the other case near that old screen emitter?"
The vesa stayed in place.
"Sure," grunted Baku as he entered, "surprised you heard me"
The warrior gathered up the small container on passing the other lab bench, offering it to her when he got closer.
"Hi, thought you would comm me?" she smiled, clearly surprised as she rotated around on her stool to take it.
Suuk'o switched the containers and held the other in front of her vesa while the warrior rolled a stool underneath himself at the other end of the lab bench,
"Ended up nearby when I was done, figured I'd just come over" he made a small gesture, a sign of fate.
The soft hum of a simple manipulator field interrupted them, taking up the object in the fio's hand, the vesa hovering away to where her lightpen designated.
"Haven't tagged everything here yet?" Baku chuckled.
"I've been horizontal for four rotaa, out cold for three, in case you forgot. I'll spend some time assigning items for the vesa soon enough"

He smiled, picking up one of Vre'Hiaun's readers, not really taking in the content on screen,
"I liked him. Quiet, but dedicated. A lot of fio are talkative, mostly about the wrong things."
"You two got along?"
Nodding, he put the reader down, diminished somehow.
"Aun's grace.. first and only assigned team member I've lost under my care" he said with a guarded admission of regret.
"That dedication you mentioned, made him forget his surroundings Baku," she reminded him, "even as a new member to this mission even I can see that"
He nodded, sliding a hand forward over his scalp, as if closing an ancient helm,
"True, it happened and he was careless. Best you and I can do is honour him and possibly add an unknown species to his work"
Suuk'o saw the Shas'vre's emphatic comment seal over a half glimpsed sense of failure. Meanwhile she kindly nodded at his words politely, drawing attention to the screen projected in front of her when he finished,
"I've been looking at his research actually, even in silhouette, so far nothing stood out as a suspect"
"Not even a larger version of the crawler you tried to capture?"
"No, I tried an exaggerated model, it was similar but lacked the mass I saw"
Perplexed, Baku rolled himself closer,
"Can I see the recording?"
"Sure"
A few touches on the screen, she placed a skim card against the display and it populated with a still from the imager.
"My imager is probably not the grade your Shas are used to for night work"
"Clearly" he squinted as if to gain more detail, "there is still an appreciable night mode selector on your equipment though" he took pleasure in stating the obvious.
"Give me credit, I was excited"
He grunted at her sideways glance, concentrating when the footage settled down and auto focussed on the pair of the large crawlers working their way up the beach. Everything happened as he remembered, albeit from a different angle, but this time he definitely saw that Suuk'o was distracted, just before she flinched, dropping the container. Feeling her tension at seeing the incident again, the warrior gripped her arm lightly then let go as he leaned back,
"Mmm, certainly appears like you were shot. That crawler was intent on escape and a good tor'lek from you. The way the spine was orientated in your shoulder when the medi vesa removed it, certainly wasn't released from such a low angle"
"You sure?"
"Quite, it was embedded almost upright. The real problem we have now is this. Let's say it was one of these molluscs or something of a similar ability, then it would have had to fire at you at range, toward a poorly illuminated target whilst suffering the effects of wave motion. It would require an evolutionary familiarity with a whole new kind of ballistics. Gas based atmospheres are quite different to fluid resistance underwater with regard the affect on a projectile's path when fired or released."
"As in a trajectory? Like this?"
Baku showed some professional surprise at what he saw appear from another file she selected among those drawn from the skim card.
"Mmm, if this was fired from beyond the breakers like you indicated here, it needs to be.. yes, pass through the azimuth referenced.." he looked at her, "Really, your workings are flawless, it would take me at least a rotaa to map the site with a few vesa to get this modelled. I was actually going to suggest that as an exercise next rotaa, before it got dark"
"Thanks, I've been busy" she smiled.
Baku looked at her, then the al'vesa hovering quietly above the container it had placed.

"Did that vesa record real time?" he tilted his head in the device's direction.
"Ah, yes. I just had to.."
"Impressive," he cut her off, "I have seen diligent fio vesa's before, but it was here in the lab the whole time you were unconscious you know? Working away of it's own volition" he began to consider the disc in a new light only he seemed to see.
"Are they issuing a new generation of support vesa for you fio'la lately?" he asked, getting up and wandering toward it.
"No, well yes. It was a project I inherited from a mentor"
The warrior eyed the small disc, it had a slight but elegant ellipse with deeply hued alloys.
"Reminds me, I'll have to list this one on the central hub for crises duty and general materiel manifest"
"Surely it would be too small?" she questioned his intent.
"I saw it hold down a creature twenty times it's mass, with just a manipulator field" he turned from his inspection, "speaking of which, it knew what to grab, yet you had no idea where the Crawler would come from. You didn't even mark it with a lightpen"
Suuk'o looked at the screen quickly,
"Simply uploaded an image and.."
"Really, a utility vesa? Just like that, despite being under the sand?" he suddenly tried to swot the floating device, it flicked aside just enough to avoid the blow.
Baku rounded on the vesa,
"Stay in position" he ordered.
[Acknowledged]
He aimed another blow; it backed away just when tau expected to feel contact.
"Baku! Stop this! It's not designed-"
"Seems agile enough fio'la, this thing is full of surprises"
The Shas'vre collected up a field reader for another attempt just as Suuk'o lunged for his arm. He felt her grip, twisted out of it instinctively; the move resulted in her falling across the other bench and striking the floor with a startled yelp.
"Suuk'O!" realising his error he reached for her, but a pressure thumped his chest.
He staggered back from the phantom, only to see the vesa dart forward, squaring off between Suuk'o and him with precision. Before he considered the unnerving manoeuvre he was shunted backward, over the habitat's low table, crashing against the door frame.
"Please. Do not get up."
The voice, the tonality, even the menacing angle at which the edge of the vesa's disc glinted in his direction caused the warrior pause. Baku raised a hand in surrender.
"Sorral!" propping herself against the bench, Suuk'o appeared to command it by name.
The vesa relented, assuming a level attitude,
"Are you okay?" it enquired.
"Yes, just leave Baku alone"
"Fine"
The vesa hovered closer to the crumpled Shas'vre,
"My apologies, she is and always will be my priority"
The warrior felt a tug about his wrist, then pulled against the invisible resistance to haul himself up. Regarding the vesa cautiously, Baku looked at the fio'la nursing her side, but ultimately she couldn't hold his gaze,
"Don't lie to me again Suuk'o" he stated calmly.
She nodded solemnly, resuming her place at the screen. The Shas'vre moved slowly across the living space to the curved lab wall, pushing the table back into position as he passed, keeping an eye on the vesa while it rotated in relation to him.

They sat quietly for several raik'an. The Shas'vre watching the young fio'la pick at the edge of a skim card, head bowed, clearly embarrassed and upset over the sudden events, which made an honest disclosure, required listening for Baku.
"I'm good at games of patience you know" he finally broke the silence, a genuine smile reappearing.
She looked up toward the vesa hovering nearby,
"It really is my only secret here Baku"
The big tau leaned on the end of the bench,
"Quite a secret to inherit" he admitted honestly about her possession of such a vesa. The warrior was still uneasy over how capable it proved to be.
Suuk'o flicked another look at Sorral, then regarded Baku for a drawn out moment before finally speaking,
"A gifted Fio, my mentor, was given the honour of progenitor. Myself and several others were the result"
"You all have one of these?" Baku interjected, glancing at Sorral warily, incidentally assuring himself of the vesa's position.
"No, just me. The others are" she bit her lower lip and nearly snapped the skim card by curving it too far.
Baku made to console her but thought better of it with the vesa apparently on edge,
"It's okay, we're level over this. I just want to-"
"We were an experiment of his peers," she confessed abruptly, the admission causing the big shas'vre to pause "aimed at increasing our intuition and other aptitudes, nothing amazing, they only wanted to bring about a less sequential state of mind to a cutting edge future sciences team. What they got was, sub par"
Her eyes and nasal folds went taut,
"All my creche brothers and sisters went mad early in their lives and by the fourth tau'cyr I was the only one progressing in any measurable way. Even then, I find it hard to focus my attention before I leap onto a new distraction within a few decs. Sorral compiles my notes for me, keeps everything in order. In essence keeps me focussed, now and throughout my studies"
Leaning back, his face stoic, Baku quietly tried to accept what he was being told by this small, young fio.
"I'm pretty switched on to what's sloshing around up there when I do though" she forced a smile, unsure how he was taking her revelations.
"I have to say," Baku finally spoke, "I'm not sure if their idea fulfilled the ethos of the Greater Good, or our people Suuk'o"
She smiled at his nature, a warrior's perception of the what was honourable and right coming through,
"Nor did they in the end," she agreed with his insight.
Shifting slightly, she continued,
"My progen father died at his screen prematurely, little over a tau'cyr ago, having just completed his master work," she looked at the vesa like regarding a pict of times past, "Recently I have come to believe gifting me this vesa was an attempt to assuage his guilt for my condition and the fate of my siblings. Sorral has helped me get this far after my progen father could not, my little caretaker. Though I'm not surprised in the end I got sent somewhere, out of the way. The tutors and leading fio scientists who watched my progress through the research academy are a powerful group on Sa'cea, they don't like their failures to be known."
Baku's voice darkened slightly, in an effort not to be misunderstood,
"You are not in one of their biodomes any more. Their opinions and disagreeable ways stopped at the end of the pier when you arrived, remember that" he looked at the al'vesa hovering quietly nearby, "as for your vesa? I think 'caretaker' is the wrong description for, Sorral" he stumbled on the notion of naming a vesa.
She smiled slightly, her demeanour relaxing.
"Mmm," he grunted, observing her for a moment then rose up, "Let's go hunting"
"But.."
"No but, hand in your report, I've a feeling it's exceptional" he looked at the disc, beginning to accept and understand it's role with her.
"I think it's passable" Sorral confessed.
"Settled then, I think some of those bite size crawlers I collected along the reef of that fourth island a few rotaa back would be good"
She saw that conniving gleam he had once spoken of,
"I should bring my survey kit shouldn't I?"
"Ahh, there's my sa'cea" he smiled lightly, "Meet me at Esau's work site in half a dec, we both need some fresh air. Well over half a rotaa left still"
Suuk'o nodded, and Baku made his way out with a wave. Rubbing her face, she calmed herself then grabbed the wet proof satchel and began gathering her gear.
"I think he's wary of me" Sorral commented.
"You tossed him across the habitat and into a doorframe, what do you expect?"
Ducking under the vesa she picked up a reader on the other bench while it rotated to follow her,
"True, I was actually aiming for outside, he's surprisingly big"
"At some point you're going to have to make it up too him" she warned.
"Fine"
Abruptly Suuk'o stopped fussing; survival vest on, filled satchel braced across herself with modfins in hand.
"Ready?" she questioned the vesa.
Drifting down, Sorral embedded into the belt clasp; rotating to lock in. Suuk'o forced herself to relax, to just move forward after the last few raik'an. She breathed in slowly, then stepped outside.


---

Fob in hand after thanking Ui'Esau and Lais for their concern and relief at seeing her up and about, Suuk'o waded out toward Baku. The sun was rising higher now, the solar warmth and salt water refreshing her spirits with every raik'an, just as strongly as the acknowledgement by fellow team members returning from their early morning rounds. Each glad she appeared well on seeing her up and about, greeting Suuk'o while she had headed toward the quadrangle. Nearing the Wave Runners, Suuk'o watched the Shas'vre grunt in frustration while solving a packing puzzle with several awkwardly shaped cases.
"You actually going after bigger fish instead?" she ventured, enjoying the feeling of a smile after her demeanour earlier.
"Hrm?" he looked up, then at the objects bundled along the kickboard and within the bench seat storage, "Oh these? Just some fun tools a Shas gets to use while you Fio pick at rocks with yours"
Baku followed that with a grin, his gaze clearly happy she seemed better since their conversation.
"Or throw them at a smug Shas" she countered, whilst tossing her survey satchel into the second Runner's storage.
Baku chuckled.

He was in fact quite relieved, her admission was obviously something the fio'la sought to keep private as much as those who intended to keep Suuk'o unknown. Seeing her get stuck in after such a tough conversation rose the fio'la up a level in his eyes. Suddenly he realised he might just have a breakthrough with his packing. Within a few moments Baku nestled everything away except an elongated sling case. This he placed over his back, tightening the strap about his torso.
Seeing Suuk'o patiently waiting atop her Wave Runner, Baku quickly mounted up and signalled to deactivate her commbead,
"Sa'cea, not a word about what's in here, otherwise I’ll tell everyone about your ves- I mean Sorral"
The mock threat, with an added wink, eased her concern. Even though she was sure his discretion was as engrained as his sense of honour.
"Agreed." she replied with a slight smile.
He nodded; double tapped his bead to active, then throttled forward. Picking up speed in the deeper water beyond the reef, their wake veered toward fourth island Suuk'o had explored a few rotaa before.


---

"You sure this is the beach?" Baku queried a good dec later, rocking atop his idle Runner at the mercy of passing waves.
A water proof maglense held across her face, Suuk'o reviewed the sandy strip from beyond the reef line of the uninhabited island, an internal whirr emitting from the optics within enhancing whatever her eyes desired. The fio'la soon spied a formation of rocks which corroborated the accuracy of her memory.
"Yes, though we departed left of those rocks last time"
Baku squinted, then nodded. His Wave Runner already thrusting over the shallow reef head. They soon waded ashore after anchoring their Runners, the Shas'vre somehow hauling the entirety of his lovingly packed gear. Continuing to walk up the beach, Baku headed into the interior of the island. Before Suuk'o could follow, he indicated for her to stay. A few raik'an later he re-emerged to find her kneeling down, scribing on a field reader,
"Everything ok?" he questioned as he came closer.
"Oh yes, just noting the colour of the coral here. It's quite different to Al'shi."
Baku grunted,
"Best speak to Yu'Siln about that stuff, he's fawning over these sea twigs all the time"
Smiling at him, Suuk'o noticed he had returned with nothing but the long case across his back and a smaller rectangular hold all,
"Where's..?"
He motioned for her not to worry, all the while twisting the elongated case off his back and unpacking it on the beach, revealing a tripod system. Taking a boxy recorder from the other, he put it atop the legs. Suuk'o then realised he had brought along an imaging sentinel. Boring three holes in the upper part of the beach, Baku worked the splayed tripod into the deeper sand and adjusted the sensor face to look down the beach.
"If this works, they shouldn't be upset seeing one of these. We used them before all over these islands"
"First study of the big crawlers?"
He nodded, then produced a small packet from one of his wetbelt pockets. After opening it, Baku sat down next to her, offering Suuk'o a pick at the wafers within.
"Sweet" she gave a pleased appraisal after finishing one.
"Very, this particular fruit comes from an equatorial island, they all seem to have evolved differing nuances in isolation, based on latitude and regional climate, but yet they all remain under the same genus"
She recoiled from him slightly,
"You sound like me"
He laughed dismissively.
"Just a cook who likes to know why his ingredients taste the way they do. Like a hunter knowing where his prey will graze"
"Really?"
"Okay, it was something Vre'Hiaun pointed out to me. One of the agriculturalists, I think Vre'Faai'lun had mentioned it early on and it grabbed Hiaun's interest. I used to accompany him when his studies took him here and there, collecting the fruit. I enjoyed those trips, you two share similar qualities actually"
He smiled while regarding her, a bit flattered at the admission she turned away. The warrior looked back out over the breakers, quietly finishing another fruit wafer. A little later, he offered her the open end of the packet but she declined another.
"Oops" Baku flashed a comically horrified look, tipping the contents in theatrical mishap, "let's see if they like my wafers here" he explained himself.

Getting up he led her into the denser fronds and bushes of the island, until they found a non-descript site he had obviously cleared during his absence. Two soft ground covers and a small gathering of field screens sat either side of a dome shaped emitter.
"Lie down on that one, close your eyes when I say so" he warned her.
They lay down on their stomachs, facing the screens set up to one end.
"Okay, now" Baku announced.
A slight static buzz, then every movement and sound about them had a slight echo to it,
"My favourite" he smiled as she opened her eyes to look upon a coalescing energy dome about them.
"We have these Baku" the fio'la muttered clearly unimpressed. Mobile hide emitters were common place.
"Mmm, but we could stage a war in here and no one would know," he activated the screen before him, "or activate your gear, not mention knock you back if you ran into it"
Suuk'o paused, not quite sure how to belittle those enhancements, a common variant only disguised optical and thermal wavelengths.
"Okay, it is pretty clever"
The Shas'vre nodded as if hearing the correct answer, though his eyes were on the activated screen floating before him. Suuk'o activated hers and discovered military grade spectral and thermal ranges fluctuating across the beach and amidst the breakers. That was more than just an imager atop the tripod on the beach.
"Not a word" the big tau reminded Suuk'o.

After a dec of inactivity, the patient pair quickly became bored, resorting to taking turns pushing leaves and shell fragments through the field. Observing how far they could be ejected by the energies closing behind the offending object. It took some practice to get right, allow too much mass outside and the event horizon snatched the piece away unceremoniously. Just enough and one could control the point at which you let the energy field take a hold and catapult the offending object away. Suuk'o got some good distance with a mollusc shell, much to Baku's frustration as he attempted to best it from then on. After awhile they ran out of munitions within the field. The rotaa dragged on further without so much as an insect bothering the sun baked wafers. With only a dec and a half to go before Li'Por's first rotaa ended, Baku grunted, signalling they had to go. Suuk'o had fallen asleep in that time, so he nudged her while reaching around to deactivate the hide.
"We have to head back Sa'cea" he admitted, his disappointment matching her expression.
"Are you going to leave this here?" she asked while stretching out.
Baku nodded, rising to one knee and looking about.
"Okay, lets go" he said, reactivating the field with a remote, "I've left the set up on record, we can come back the rotaa after next"
She nodded quietly and moved on ahead.

They moved out onto the beach cautiously at first, half expecting their quarry to be frozen still. Eye stalks looking back at them in surprise, with mandibles and claws stuffed with fruity wafers. It was not to be. However, wading out to the Wave Runners in the cool water cheered their overall frustrated disappointment. The tide had risen slightly, but nothing that required their modfins to activate. Once outside the reef head, Baku went about kitting up like before, grinned then dove backward off the Runner's nose. He left Suuk'o alone, maglense affixed to her face watching the beach behind them.
"Did you see anything?" she asked Sorral, who had been quiet as usual.
"No, as I have said-"
"the bio-density, okay okay" she answered herself somewhat annoyed.
A small bleat and the disc rotated.
"Though your friend Baku is discovering there's not much to find below us"
Suuk'o paused, lowering the maglense.
"Is he okay?"
"Mmm, though his heart rate suggests he's annoyed"
"Hungry you mean"
"That too I imagine" Sorral rotated in it's clasp, "he's swimming further south around the shelf"
Suuk'o nodded, manoeuvring her craft closer to Baku's, she tethered it with a tow cord and piloted both in pursuit of the Shas'vre below.

Kicking hard Baku rounded a big coral head, the carefully crafted lens plates of his mask offering him an undistorted view ahead without the usual refraction effects. The soft cyan glow of his blood oxygen monitor, misted to the lower left of his vision, was gaining a deeper hue. He knew through experience he had another fifteen or so raik'an of recycled air with the simple rebreather filter that was nestled along his nasal fold, splitting the full face mask down the middle to also cover his mouth. He grunted in his throat on spying the small splayed out crawlers he had stunned a few rotaa back. They were some way down the lower part of this shelf, a bit deeper than he preferred to go, grazing on outgrowths of sea moss. Not one to let down the team, he strove onward. A couple of raik'an later he flared up the sand that had built up on the lower ledge with his modfins, one side deep ocean the other an upward thrusting mass of reef. Looking up along it, he could just make out the silhouettes of two Wave Runner hulls, striations of light flickering about them from the first rotaa's mid cycle sun above.

He almost snorted the mask off when he looked back toward the roaming mass of crawlers. They were now fleeing through an open section of coral, deep into a reef cave. But that wasn't what surprised the tau warrior. Chasing them were a group of the large upwardly elongated crawlers, even bigger than the one he had seen Suuk'o try to trap. They had ample chance to snatch up and devour the lesser crustaceans, but actively sought to out flank and guide the mass of creatures down the cave mouth. They were herding them. Baku blinked in his amazement, floating off the shelf while he observed the behaviour. Suddenly one of the group turned about waving it's fore legs in an agitated fashion out toward the deep water, the rest paused, then suddenly ushered the herded mass onwards with urgency. Baku even heard strong clicks above the usual underwater din as they increased their efforts. Only when he saw what the crawler had gotten excited about, did he understand.

Suuk'o kept her vigil on the beach, but without the maglense, having stowed them a while ago. Baku was still under, longer than before, however Sorral kept her appraised.
"He's coming up now Suuk'o, ..awfully fast though"
The fio'la got a start at the sudden update.
"What?"
"Baku, he's.. Oh."
"Oh?"
"Rule four" Sorral quoted.
Baku's Wave Runner thrummed into life just as the Shas'vre burst into sight ahead of them, a frothing circle of water bubbled about his surfacing. A sure sign he had activated the modfin compressed air thrusters, an emergency single charge speciality. The unmanned Wave Runner surged toward him, without hesitation the warrior grasped the passing kickboard edge and hauled himself aboard the self possessed craft. When he sat up, it was clear he was surprised no one was at the controls. Finally he realised the fio'la was opposite on her own, already shouting at him to grab the handles. The burly tau took control and vaulted the craft onto it's aquablade fins, accelerating away in a wide turn out to the open ocean alongside Suuk'o. Just short of the point at which they had accelerated away, the sun gleamed off a sleek skinned mass arcing through their Wave Runner wake, two dorsal fins slicing back into the water, the first larger than the last. The massive predator returned into the depths, denied.

A few hundred tor'lek later, suitably calmed down, the tau explorers eased back on the controls and the Wave Runners settled into the water up to their kickboards.
"You okay?" Suuk'o questioned, stammering slightly from her natural rush of flight.
The warrior nodded, taking his mask off. He pressed a hand over his nasal fold, swallowing a couple of times, then rolled his jaw slightly to ease a slight reverse pressure in his ears from the rapid ascent. Afterward Baku looked at her with watery eyes, then laughed.
The fio'la wanted to throw something at him, but his relieved laugh was infectious.
"Remind him we're square now"
Suuk'o patted the vesa on her hip and smiled at Baku as they floated closer.
"Whats for the between rotaa meal now?"
"Well not me any more, thank Aun" Baku grinned, putting the mask back under the benchseat, "I'll have to get something about Al'Shi, lost my stun prod and mesh net back there" he didn't explain further, that conversation he would have in private with the fio'la later.
She nodded, orientating the Runner in the direction shown on the Navscreen. Still somewhat giddy from the sudden danger filled excitement, she wondered how Baku had seemingly shrugged it off already.
A quick nod at each other, they headed for Al'Shi.

---

Continued..

Yay! More Wake!

Pleasure to read as always and I am glad you found a way to work the back story of the Sorral and Suuk'o into the story without taking the story off track. Back to waiting impatiently for another installment now I guess

Another great update Tael! I enjoyed reading the backstory of our two characters here and the explanation of the vesa. I am, however, having a hard time picturing what it looks like. I'm seeing a palm sized Version of a Drone, but with no antenna and more enclosed, meaning that there are no visible optics. Am I on track or am I missing some vital description?

I'm also glad folks are taking such a delight in my oceanic discomfort. The scene with Baku's discovery freaked me out. I kept thinking, "get out, get out, get out!" I guess your story is working!

Thanks guys,

The Suuk'o and Sorral story line has been set up from the beginning really. Her relief at leaving Sa'cea biodomes, the lifting of tension on seeing the Shuttle finally leave and in general the "her eyes only" when Sorral talks.

Additionally you see her ponder if her "vindictive tutors" finally did send her somewhere out of the way during the first between rotaa 'lunch', then later when she is out 'digging her hooves in', she laughs out loud for the first time in a tau'cyr. (Since her progen-father died and gave her Sorral, which you found out later)

As for that al'vesa? It's a simple seeming vesa, ellipsoid, alloy and yes, about palm sized. The lack of features is a pendulum which swings both ways. It can appear a simple rudimentary vesa or (in actuality) a highly advanced original, whom uses sensors rather than an iris or similar extraneous features. The idea being it can appear, curious but innocuous. There will be mystery around Sorral, he's meant to unsettle you and leave you asking questions about the vesa. Give you a connection, an in road into Baku's wariness of it.

Oh and for the Tau nerds among us, Fio'Sorral is the term to describe art within structures, devices and objects. Hence, Sorral, state of the art.

best,
Tael.

---

Baku leaned against the door frame, observing the small gathering inside. Yu'Siln and Suuk'o sat atop the stools in the lab at the back, while Faai'lun knelt on the floor next to the dome's table. She was idly plaiting her lengthy D'yanoi hue scalp lock; eternally refreshing the intricacy during conversations.
"Hello"
The trio finally realised he was there, waving in unison. The warrior chose to kneel down at the table, off to the side of Faai'lun, when Suuk'o invited him in. A moment later, Sorral floated over, stopping short then correcting it's approach slightly like any other menial vesa. It offered a plate of wafers and rolls suspended in midair, a short reach from the newly arrived guest; Baku made an effort not to smirk at the well played ruse. However, still sated from the steamed rockshells he had prepared earlier for the team, after he and Suuk'o had returned, Baku politely declined.
"Quite a little gathering" he admitted once the deceiving little vesa let him be.
Suuk'o smiled, it had been nearly a dec since the usual end of rotaa feast ans since then Baku had been busying himself with his duties,
"I had a curiosity about the coral and the fruits after we ate," she began to explain, "Before I went much further, I was directed to off-core research of Vre'Hiaun's. Not long afterwards, I commed Yu'Siln and Faai'lun for their opinions"
Committed to his rounds, Baku didn't show any hint of being slighted by the lack of an invite.
"You two clearly haven't something more pressing to do?" the Shas'vre joked at their ease of availability.
Yu'Siln signed a measure of resignation,
"My projects take many rotaa to show changes"
"Much the same," Faai'lun commiserated, "however the discussion before you arrived has been enlightening"
Baku nodded acceptance, but his eyes were on Suuk'o. The fio'la knew he wanted a private word, but replied with a look of patience; what she had discovered was worth listening too first.
"Enlightening? Well that changes everything" Baku grunted, accepting Suuk'o's quiet defiance.
The fio'la looked toward her opposite on the other lab stool,
"Yu'Siln, if you could explain again for the Shas'Vre?"
The fio'vre nodded, snatching a wafer as the service vesa passed,
"Mmm.." taking a nibble, he gathered his thoughts, "Suuk'o was right to be curious about the varieties of corals about Li'Por. She has quickly picked up the distinct differences, just between the groups of islands she visited. Much like I did within a few rotaa when I arrived"
"Yes, I've seen her taking notes"
Yu'Siln took a fuller bite of his wafer,
"The peculiarity is one my main studies, however just as interesting, Faai'lun has encountered something similar"
The quiet female fio'vre nodded then spoke while entwining several strands of hair,
"I've seen an oddity in the plants and fruit across a majority of the largest islands. Invariably we find a rare plant that is synonymous to an archipelago or a single island. Then as you know, almost every fruit we eat, is either sourced from a single region or at times only one island. Yet the vast majority share a similar genetic heritage, despite being scattered across so many remote islands"
Well aware of the latter, everyone nodded slightly. Faai'lun continued,
"It is not unheard of to have animals and plants separated from a mainland through various events, evolving new traits and appearances; yet still share a common genus with their long separated mainland kin."
The Shas'vre listened politely, despite knowing this already. Fio were prone to building their case when deliberating.
"I understand that, Vre'Hiaun used to talk about it during our trips, that and there is no mainland on Li'Por"
"Exactly" grinned Yu'Siln, agreeing with Baku while the team's botanist spoke.
Faai'lun nodded slightly,
"Therein lies the problem," she paused weaving her scalp lock, "Suuk'o?"

The fio'la adjusted the iris of her projector, mostly for Baku's benefit, yet the new angle allowed everyone to see the screen,
"As I mentioned, I had been thinking about the coral," she ran a small imager program, flicking through geological survey scans, "checking each island and listing off the different types according to Yu'Siln's research on the Hub core"
She smiled as the fio'vre sitting atop the other lab stool did a light bow.
"Interestingly my predecessor, Vre'Hiuan, had already completed such an exercise. Unwittingly I was using parameters he used before, resulting in his old screen offering me a common search result and a skim card reference once I started"
"I imagine this included the plants too?" Baku suggested, beginning to see where this was going.
"And you would be right again"
The fio'la tapped the screen, causing the survey image to fill the screen, populated with various icons.
"As Vre'Faai'lun pointed out what we all know, these showed the odd parallels in evolution"
"Everything has a connecting source" Faai'lun interjected, "but none of us can find that origination strain in either of our research"
Baku eyed the faces of the gathered fio,
"I suspect you have now?"
"Not in quite they way we expected," Suuk'o answered.
She manipulated a scattered array of icons,
"In reviewing Vre'Hiaun's stored survey collection, it looks like he was working on the geological age of the islands to offer an answer to Yu'Siln and Faai'lun in seeking the oldest and quite possibly, the one everything originated from"
"Which is why he and I travelled so much? Understandable but odd I admit, the survey vesa are as thorough as their Shas variants"
"True, however he was confirming what the survey satellites had discovered; most of the islands above water are bizarrely, only a few hundred tau'cyr old."
"He never mentioned this at all" Baku was taken aback.
"Or too us" Yu'siln added, inferring Faai'lun as well.
Baku quickly became perplexed at the behaviour of the late fio'vre,
"Why didn't Hiaun reveal this?"
"I think, just like his other work, he was trying to find a complete answer but never lived to reveal it"
Suuk'o returned to navigating the files on screen with deft touches, bringing up another survey,
"In addition he worked out a commonality. Each island is atop an ancient volcanic fluve, like a deep-sea vent. This is why initial readings of the islands were seen as oceanic mesas to untrained eyes. They are in fact masses of coral atop these formations, in effect using the fluves like a foundation column; in some cases even plugging them."
Baku joined Yu'Siln in taking a wafer from the vesa and having a bite. The warrior quietly ate while contemplating what Vre'Hiaun had taken to the deeps when he was washed away.
"Since he found how to date the islands, you're suggesting he found the original source?"
The fio'la smiled at him, then pointed to a temperate region above the equatorial line.
"Hiaun had been pouring over oceanographic images ever since he figured out the islands were essentially fake, looking for any formations that once lay above the water line, there's about twenty skims of ocean floor scans. Vre'Hiaun found a site, about a kai'rotaa before he died. It was the remains of an archipelago atop a thin shelf, along one of the regional tectonic plates."
Suuk'O's screen presented an image of the ocean floor in the region,
"This is an initial guess, but looking here, there was once a very large land mass above water. The whole region has a different floor aspect to others. I wouldn't have found it if not for following Vre'Hiaun's work as he extensively marked and plotted the area. Hiaun was coming to realise and I agree with him, that a catastrophic event occurred here, which caused the region to submerge and leave the archipelago in place before it too went under some time later. Possibly through a related, but much delayed seismic event when the regional plates finally settled. We would have to do a full sample survey out there with deep vesas to be more accurate"
Everyone could see the realisation that had passed over their own faces earlier, now cover Baku's.
"If that small archipelago remained, just when the coral caps appeared..then how did they spread?"
"Now isn't that a curious thing" commented Yu'siln, having waited for Baku's education to evolve this far.
Faai'lun spoke up quietly, administering a finishing clasp to her scalp lock,
"What remained there after this upheaval; plant, insect or animal, is most likely the original strain for everything we find on the islands today; each diversified in some way, adapting to the differing regions. The archipelago's disappearance is why we lacked a connector or pointer to their origins" she looked up, eyeing everyone in the dome, "Hiaun's death and reserved manner as a researcher has kept this sealed for two seasons, until now; thanks to Suuk'o"

Baku leaned back; perplexed at the level of reticence Vre'Hiaun had shown in keeping this information to himself. The fio'vre had been so dedicated in finding 'The Answer', every revelation was merely a stepping stone on the pathway to the truth.
"Something had to transfer everything, none of these islands are connected by reefs or tidal sandbars" Baku muttered.
No one disagreed, such coincidental formations appearing, in fact growing, at just the right time left few rational options.
"As if to be life reserves" Faai'lun added, "Why else disperse the flora and fauna across several dozen islands?"
Suuk'o looked at Baku, the exchange was unspoken, but each knew this was likely connected to the shadows that had attacked her. If one could form islands, then you already understood an above water environment. A tau as smart as Vre'Hiaun would have deduced a similar answer even without such a dramatic event; quite possibly, they weren't alone on Li'Por.
"I think Vre'Hiaun came to a certain conclusion," Baku admitted for everyone, then looked at Suuk'O, "where is the youngest island formation of coral that Vre'Hiaun located?"
The fio'la scanned a listed database for a few raik'an, finally locating a large satellite image of the westward ocean.
"Here"
It was familiar to everyone but Suuk'o.
"As I thought" grunted Baku darkly.

Her companions suddenly becoming quiet and introspective, Suuk'o soon realised where she had pointed. Vre'Hiaun had concluded whatever was forming the islands would possibly be working on the youngest formation. He had been fatally wrong.
It was Yu'Siln who broke the solemn atmosphere first,
"Finally getting some closure on the origins issue has given me an answer for something else"
"To do with your coral studies?" Suuk'o concluded quickly.
Yu'Siln nodded in his casual manner,
"When our first deep vesa took images at various levels down the shelves of the coral wall, it appeared that the Gue'la had smashed whole reefs through various bulk fishing methods, not much was deduced beyond that till I arrived a couple of tau'cyr ago. Between projects I became fascinated with the remains of huge fan coral formations smashed about the wall. Only after modelling the pieces together on my screen did I find they were actually interconnected fans, making vast coral spheres. Not unlike holding pens for fish that we utilise on aquaculture colonies"
Baku took a sudden interest,
"Farmed fish?"
"Yeah, there is no reason for the formation, it's inefficient for the coral to develop in such a way. I've never been able to replicate it without interfering in the process; speeding up their growth rate and guiding the branches. Though my work is on a much smaller scale"
"You think something was guiding the coral, like you would guide vines through a lattice?"
Yu'Siln nodded at Faai'lun's analogy,
"Considering we're atop an island grown over a geographical feature, with flora and fauna that should really be lost to the sea hundreds of tau'cyr ago; I think my hypothesis has some merit" joking slightly, Yu'Siln still seemed to position himself in defence of the theory.
Baku looked toward the fio'vre for a time then grunted to himself slightly,
"I had come here to have a private word with the fio'la, but considering how keeping information from others has left us in the dark so far, I think I will back up your idea Yu'Siln"
The fio'vre regarded the warrior with a careful gaze,
"And you would do so how?"
Baku flicked a look at Suuk'o then replied,
"I was escorting Suuk'o back to the fourth island of her initial excursion. Where she had first seen one of the large crawlers we have all come to mostly ignore. I set up a hide to see if any appeared to collect bait I laid out, but none came. As has been the case the last few rotaa here"
The way the fio leaned in, the Shas'Vre had their interest sealed.
"Frustrated we left, but not before I decided to dive for those small crawlers I served up last time"
"They were delicious" Yu'siln reflected without realising.
"Certainly are," the warrior smirked, "Anyhow I have been doubting my interpretation of what I saw when I found them, until your observation of another plausible farming technique. It has left me thinking I'm right" he rocked slightly, then looked at Suuk'o.
"I spied four of the elongated crawlers. They were even larger and herding a swarm of the flat shelled kind I was after. One of these 'herders' spied a predator out in the deep water, which caused them to urge the swarm to safety. Myself? I almost didn't make it back today if not for my modfins and some clever piloting by Suuk'o" he smiled at the young fio'la, seeing her face furrowed with concern.
"You did see something other than the crawler you went after didn't you Suuk'o?" Yu'Siln questioned on noticing her reaction.
She darted a thinly veiled look at the fio'vre, then Baku. The warrior nodded his approval, causing her to relax noticeably,
"There was something else, out in the breakers, Baku and I believe it shot a coral dart at me. We concluded as much after doing a quick study on my wound and the distances involved. It was a similar shape to the crustacean I tried to trap, but much larger in mass. If what Baku says is right, then these wily scavengers just grow bigger; smarter even?"
The others considered the implications.
"Shas'Vre?"
Baku looked at Faai'lun, motioning her not to worry.
"When Suuk'o and I discussed the event I tend to agree with her view, that it was fired defensively, to allow the one being trapped a chance to escape"
Nodding slowly, Faai'lun seemed to mull over an idea,
"Young islands, diversified wildlife spread across this world and the likeliest suspect are a species of wily farming scavengers?"
Baku leaned forward slightly,
"I've trained against a few types of alien, and my gut told me I was watching a coordinated effort when they herded those flat shelled crawlers, that's why it bothered me, because I had so readily discounted them beforehand"
"Do you think the Gue'la, did the same?" Suuk'o ventured.
"They could have killed several curious onlookers when arriving and as we have seen they tend to hide after an altercation. No doubt the gue'la began harvesting anything and everything after that"
Faai'lun covered her mouth in shock, realising what that could mean.
"We're residing on the biggest island in this region," Yu'Siln considered aloud, "If the columns housed any number of the scavengers, they would have been part of the first harvest"
The warrior quietly pondered such an operation,
"Depth charges most likely, it would easily explain the shattered sphere formations you found along the coral wall, amongst all the other ruin" he looked up to his fellows, "I am beginning to think they never even paused to consider if their food source was sentient. Ultimately these wily scavengers, as you put them Faai'lun, could be all that remains of an obliterated culture, reduced to subsistence hunter-gatherers during and since the occupation of the gue'la"
Faai'lun stood suddenly,
"This should be brought before the Fio'El, investigate it, we have to find out"
Not distracted by the will of the Fio'vre, Suuk'o kept her gaze on the warrior, waiting for his response,
"Baku?"
He smiled lightly, standing up also,
"I think now is the time for your recording," he looked at her screen, "Bring Vre'Hiaun's skims also, if we're right, he realised this before anyone else"
Suuk'o nodded, gathering up various cards into her satchel and moving toward the door. Yu'Siln smiled as he drew up next to her on their way out,
"Been getting quite exciting around here since you arrived, looking forward to what we find out"
She gave him a wary glance,
"I don't intend to get shot again Ukos, so expect to be disappointed with regard that thrill ever occurring again"
He grinned as they caught up with Baku and Faai'lun, the older pair already nearing the Factory. In the shadows of the setting sun, the structure seemed all the more ominous.


---

To be continued..



Possibly one of the toughest conversation set pieces I've written. Ties in a lot of hooks from the previous parts. Additionally, added some Book Cover art to the original post in preparation for the PDF book I'll release on the final concluding parts for Wake.

As always, comments and critique welcome

- Tael.

EDIT : Cleaned up some orphaned words, and a few grammatical mistakes. I write on an open page program, then word then transfer here to ATT. Amazing how you miss so much until it's presented differently.

Lovely read, Tael. I especially like the extensive inclusion of non-codex tech, along with the subtle character development of Sorral, the 'Vesa; a character that wouldn't normally be given much... character?

Looking forward to the next installment

Thanks Fraggle,

I tend to follow there must be some low-tech gadgets used by the Fio that are probably extension of the wondrous devices they give the Shas to blow things up with. That and incidental tech taken for granted like we do our mobile phones etc.

On a story note, edited out some mistakes. I work with an open page editor then word, finally posting onto ATT. It makes me chuckle how each step let's me spot a mistake I missed earlier due to being laid out differently by each program

- Tael.