Keyah flinched as she felt something bounce off her head, her ears flatting as it clattered onto the table and rolled to a halt in front of David's hands. He picked the offending object up, revealing it to be an oversized bolt, shook his head and threw it back over her shoulder to where it had originated. "Be more careful." He chirped to the engineer working through an open tile, and he got an obliging grumble in return.

Keyah grinned at him sheepishly, rubbing her head. "Dooo... you thiiink we should mo... move, and l-l-let the e-enn.. engineers work?" Her verbal command of their language was still limited, but she knew all the words. Around them, three engineers worked busily on damaged lights and ceiling tiles. She was sure the above-water lounge, whatever purpose it had served, had been even more hospitable when it was new, but right now, it was a bit... busy.

"That might be wise, Escort. I could take you to one of the air-lounges on the mid-level, if you do not mind going back into the water." David smiled at her, standing and waddling over towards the edge of the water. Up here, she was far more graceful than any of them. They weren't exactly clumsy, but far less optimized for the environment.

"An air-lounge?" She perked her ears.

"Yes. A place to relax under the water, with air ports to breathe through. The water is warmer there as well."

"Oh! Of course. That sounds lovely, David." Of course, she had her ways of compensating. She pulled on her fins again, tucking the towel she had draped over her shoulders back into her duffel and re-sealing it, pulling on her rebreather once again before stepping up to the edge next to him. Together, they dove in. Bubbles streamed off of the fish-scale like pattern of her wetsuit as she twisted down to follow him, one hand extended out in front of her as she undulated her body, remembering her long-ago athletic training at last. Her fins snapped at the water, and she felt her heart rate quicken as she started to sprint after him.

'You seem far more confident now, Escort. May I ask what changed?' He was still moving slower than he would otherwise, but not as much as he had before.

'Nothing. I... suppose I have started to enjoy myself. I did not get a chance to swim on Raemou before I left.' The fennec smiled, her eyes glancing to the air gauge projected on the lower right. She was already burning through more than she expected, but she felt no trouble keeping up the pace, even though her breath was coming a bit quicker as she raced alongside her.

David nodded, as they swam through the square corridor leading its way through the partially-lit corridors of what she supposed was the mid-decks, following him through a turn, and then another. She tried to keep track of their route, but did not have much confidence in it. She trusted him, at least, and felt little concern as they worked their way deeper.

'Our captain may be indisposed, Escort, but our computer has expressed a wish to meet you.' David thought, midway through, breaking her concentration. He slowed down for a moment, looking back at her.

'Your computer?' She tilted her head as she came up alongside him, slowing her pace. '... An AI?'

'Of a sort. The Blessed One is an organic mind melded with a computer. She was one part of our cargo on this Remembrance Voyage, and we are honored to have her as an adjunct to our systems.' He smiled at her. 'She has taken an interest in you. I will take you to meet her after you have had a chance to relax and speak with me, if you wish. It is a ways, but you should be able to recharge your air supplies where we are going.'

Keyah furrowed her brow. Well, this was unexpected... and something in her gut twisted at the thought of the implications of how this would impact the situation outside. A being that valuable on a ship like this would make the Lizard armada stop at little to acquire it. 'I would love to, David. I am sure we would have much to discuss.'

'She is psionic. She will speak to you when you are ready, at a distance... and then in person, if you still desire it.' David sped up again, his body bending around another curve.

Keyah did her best to follow. 'Of course. How much further is it?'

'Not far, Ambassador.'

Keyah nodded, and blinked as she suddenly realized the corridor in front of them was filled with something new. Fish. Fish and plants. Soft, white lights replaced the blue ones here, seemingly nourishing some of the plants. Tiny, multicolored fish swam towards them. To her surprise, they did not flee at her presence, instead swimming about her, poking at her curiously.

'Even the fish have taken an interest in you, Escort.' She heard David chuckle, and slow down to let her appreciate the sight. 'You are quite popular today.'

'An aquaculture deck?' She tilted her head, poking at one fish, slowing along with them.

'In a sense. Here, it is mostly for asthetics. This is a well traversed corridor when the ship is more full. This is a passenger liner, after all.' David nodded. 'We keep the fish around for aesthetics too...' His muzzle snapped out as he curved his body, fast as lightning, and a fish vanished. '... and as a light snack, of course.' He grinned, showing off sharp teeth.

"Hm." Keyah considered aloud, slowing to a stop, treading water horizontally. She took a deep breath, and then she reached up to take off her mask, feeling water rush in as the seal was broken, the cold water caressing her face. She blinked a few times to clear her vision. She smiled and floated there as a fish swam up to her, hovering inches from her nose, holding herself perfectly still, and then she snapped forward, imagining herself grabbing a bug from the air, and felt her jaws close around it.

David stared at her, seemingly surprised, and she grinned back at him. 'I was not expecting you to try that.'

Keyah exhaled contentedly from her nose. The fish was delicious. Whatever toxins in it, her enhanced kidneys and liver could take, she hoped. And after all this activity, the taste was so very much worth the risk... 'Yummy. Let's go.'

'As you wish, Escort.' David swam off, and, pulling on her mask and slowly clearing it, the Ambassador followed.

--

Another image, this one by the inspired Genniidrominda! She's suffering some debt issues at the moment, so if you commission her, you have my heartfelt thanks. I was quite impressed at how she drew sci-fi Keyah's wetsuit - in fact, I think this will become the standard way I think of it from now on.

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Artwork by  genniidrominda