1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,560 Speaker 1: Hullo. I'm welcomed stories all the time. Glad you are here. 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:12,919 Let's get into it. My name is Well. I had 3 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,560 recently graduated with a degree in marine biology and was 4 00:00:15,599 --> 00:00:18,239 looking to start my career. I had always thought the 5 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,000 only underwater research lab had been off the coast of Florida, 6 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,079 the Aquarius Reef Base. But here I was staring at 7 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,519 an application of WHEREK on another sea lab across the world. 8 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:28,879 I choked my lack of knowledge up to my own 9 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,920 incompetence and applied for the job. It was long before 10 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,920 I got a reply. A sophisticated man with a German 11 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,079 accent spoke with me about my education and all the 12 00:00:37,119 --> 00:00:39,399 other regular things that you would hear on a job interview. 13 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,119 But at the end of the conversation things started to 14 00:00:42,119 --> 00:00:44,640 get a little weird. Are you in any way afraid 15 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,840 of an easy life like sharks? For example? Aspertram the 16 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,520 German interviewer, I'd say I have a healthy fear of 17 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,840 ocean predators, I said, but I don't mind swimming with them. 18 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,479 They mostly uninterested in humans. Good to hear, he said, 19 00:00:57,079 --> 00:00:59,399 I completely agree. The job will include some diving in 20 00:00:59,439 --> 00:01:02,039 some deep way, and this can make some people uneasy. 21 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,280 To my surprise, I was hired. I bordered a plain 22 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,400 and ended up in Rostock, a medium sized Cherman port city. 23 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:10,920 I made my way over to the port itself, where 24 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:12,439 I was to meet with the team and start traveling 25 00:01:12,439 --> 00:01:14,640 to my new home under the sea. I had read 26 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:16,920 the documents they had sent over to familiarize myself with 27 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,480 the underwater environment. I had noticed, however, that there were 28 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,640 no bathrooms, and this seemed a little strange. I assumed 29 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,200 that I probably would just go in the ocean. I 30 00:01:26,239 --> 00:01:28,040 had been peeing in the ocean since I was a kid, 31 00:01:28,079 --> 00:01:30,599 but I had never gone number two. I laughed to 32 00:01:30,599 --> 00:01:32,200 myself as I thought of how silly it was that 33 00:01:32,239 --> 00:01:35,159 I was dwelling on such a triviality. When I arrived 34 00:01:35,159 --> 00:01:38,159 on the dark there was Bertram. I recognized him from 35 00:01:38,159 --> 00:01:40,920 the video conference we did before. He was taller than 36 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,799 I had expected. Then next to him stood another tall, 37 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,799 skinny man. If speak of the devil, Bertram said as 38 00:01:46,799 --> 00:01:49,840 I approached. His accent made me chuckle to myself, but 39 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:51,879 his grammar and diction were very good. None the less, 40 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,879 Bell I would like you to meet Derrek. Our colleague 41 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,200 Derec also seemed very polite, and his English was excellent. 42 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,200 We have a tea of French, German and English speakers. 43 00:02:01,239 --> 00:02:03,439 We mostly speak English, but you will have to forgive 44 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,079 us if occasionally we start rounding in our native tongues together, 45 00:02:06,159 --> 00:02:09,479 said Bertram. At that Derek mumbled something in German and 46 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,240 they both laughed. We hitched a ride on another vessel 47 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,039 out towards the east. After about an eye, I saw 48 00:02:15,039 --> 00:02:18,400 a little ship, that is the Hoffman, said Bertram, A 49 00:02:18,479 --> 00:02:22,240 humble ship. The ship was small and rusty. It looked 50 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:25,840 like I had seen better days. Something seemed off. The 51 00:02:25,879 --> 00:02:28,280 facility under water was much too advanced to be paid 52 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,639 with such a beat up looking ship. We geared up 53 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,280 for the dive. As far as depth is concerned, the 54 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,039 Baltic is pretty shallow. Yet I was surprised to hear 55 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:37,639 that we would be diving down to a depth of 56 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,560 sixty five meters. The deepest I had ever gone was 57 00:02:40,599 --> 00:02:43,280 thirty and going sixty five didn't help my growing anxiety. 58 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:45,800 Don't worry. It is a one way tripe, so it 59 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,400 isn't very dangerous. You don't have to worry about the bends. 60 00:02:49,159 --> 00:02:51,520 I remembered how cool it was that The underwater facility 61 00:02:51,599 --> 00:02:54,840 used ambient pressure and the moon pool. The entire facility 62 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,840 was pressurized. It was still too deep for humans to 63 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,840 live at that pressure between seven and eight atmospheres. Though 64 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,159 humans can freedom quite deep, they cannot live in such 65 00:03:03,159 --> 00:03:07,680 crushing pressures for extended periods of time. Time three atmospheres 66 00:03:07,719 --> 00:03:10,520 was what the facility was pressured to. Still, the time 67 00:03:10,599 --> 00:03:12,639 saved not having to go back and fall between sea 68 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,599 level and seven atmospheres made this facility useful for studying 69 00:03:15,599 --> 00:03:17,719 this e bit. We have all heard how we know 70 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,560 less about our oceans and outer space. This was what 71 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,400 fascinated me so much about the sea. The beginning of 72 00:03:23,439 --> 00:03:26,560 the descent was uneventful. Things started to become dacca as 73 00:03:26,599 --> 00:03:29,199 less light was able to penetrate the depths. When we 74 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,039 reached forty meters, it was like I was entering another world. 75 00:03:32,719 --> 00:03:35,479 It was surreal. I had never been the steep before, 76 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,599 and I remembered my driving instructor mentioning how dangerous it was. 77 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,840 People were said to fall into a trance. As we 78 00:03:41,879 --> 00:03:44,639 continued to descend into the misty depths, a building appeared. 79 00:03:45,159 --> 00:03:47,159 It was taller than I had expected, spanning at least 80 00:03:47,199 --> 00:03:50,439 three stores upward. Certainly this was not the facility that 81 00:03:50,479 --> 00:03:53,560 I had read about. Soon enough, however, I saw the 82 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:56,280 moon pool. It was a peculiar thing to emerge from 83 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:58,400 the ocean into an indoor swimming pool, and we all 84 00:03:58,439 --> 00:04:01,360 treaded water for a minute. Bertram and Derec turned and 85 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,319 smiled at me. I couldn't help but smile back. It 86 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:06,919 was just so bad ass. I felt like I was 87 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,400 in some kind of sap fi movie. The room we 88 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,759 were in was pressurized higher than the rest of the facility, 89 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,479 and we made our way into a depressurization chamber after 90 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:17,439 removing our gear. Watch your arm, said Derec, as I 91 00:04:17,439 --> 00:04:20,360 clumsily walked into a loose panel. It graved my skin 92 00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:23,879 a little. Sorry, said Bertram. I should have mentioned the 93 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,399 loose panel. The facility is much larger than I read, 94 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,759 I said, inquiring about the large structure I had seen. Yes, 95 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,920 said Bertram. Sad document is out of date. The facility 96 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,839 has expanded in several areas, so welowly scientists are to 97 00:04:35,879 --> 00:04:39,600 remain in our humble quarters. He and Derreck laughed. I 98 00:04:39,639 --> 00:04:42,639 thought this facility was entirely run by scientists, I said. 99 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,680 The job application had been from the website of JOMAH, 100 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,399 a prestigious research institution in Germany. It started that way, 101 00:04:49,439 --> 00:04:51,560 but after funding was cut back, it looked like we 102 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,160 were going to have to abandon the facility, said Bertram. 103 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,160 But then they discovered the or deposits down the hall 104 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,399 the hole, I asked, We entered the ha habitat I 105 00:05:00,439 --> 00:05:03,240 had familiarized myself with from the manual. There was a 106 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,160 bunk house, a mess hall, and a couple of other 107 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,000 rooms for science and storage. Is this the new bloke? 108 00:05:08,079 --> 00:05:10,600 Asked a voice from around the corner, and walked a 109 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,399 short man with a smile on his face. He had 110 00:05:13,439 --> 00:05:16,800 instant charisma. Don't let the crowd scare you may things 111 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,000 are peachy down here. He shook my hand with a 112 00:05:19,079 --> 00:05:21,480 vigor that left my arm nudeline. He was a middle 113 00:05:21,519 --> 00:05:23,639 aged man, a little older than the rest of them. 114 00:05:24,199 --> 00:05:28,360 Names dog, I'm from Newcastle. I nodded. This whole croup thing, 115 00:05:28,399 --> 00:05:31,160 said Bertram. I just don't understand why you all think 116 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,040 it's offensive. It just means cabbage. Your people's wilfer too. 117 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,480 Pottowns weren't very good. I couldn't help but chuckle at 118 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:41,199 their relationship. When suddenly a loud explosion rang out. They 119 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,399 all grabbed for something to brace themselves with it. Everybody 120 00:05:44,439 --> 00:05:47,279 all right, came a shrill, worried voice from deeper into 121 00:05:47,319 --> 00:05:50,959 the facility. Amidst the flickering buttons and endless redoubts. A 122 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,439 Frenchman cautiously came into the room, hugging the wall, and 123 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,120 despite the fear the crash moments ago had instilled, she 124 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:59,319 smiled politely to me Vilkemmeville is good to see you, 125 00:05:59,439 --> 00:06:02,839 she said, some what nervously ay, I said, smiling back. 126 00:06:03,519 --> 00:06:05,759 She was wearing a cap and bulky croom and coveralls, 127 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,319 yet I could tell that she was really beautiful. Those 128 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,319 bastards are really pushing our lock with those explosions, said Doug. 129 00:06:11,879 --> 00:06:13,600 They are going to get us all killed. Why are 130 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,439 their explosions, I asked. We didn't have a funding to 131 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,560 keep this place running. We were forced to entice some 132 00:06:19,639 --> 00:06:21,639 other parties. I said, it then an essay it now. 133 00:06:21,759 --> 00:06:25,120 It was a short sighted decision, said Doug. Yes, But 134 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,680 what choice did we have, asked Bertram. The rest of 135 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:31,160 the day was spent familiarizing myself with the facility. Everything 136 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,079 was just like it had said in the manual, except 137 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,879 for an ominous looking door just after the pressurization chamber 138 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:38,839 that was new. Though the whole place looked like a 139 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,160 futuristic space, this door seemed to be even more so. 140 00:06:41,959 --> 00:06:45,240 It looked strong. At first there was constant traffickin an out, 141 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,920 but after they completed their submarine docking station as all 142 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,199 hasn't passed through the door in months. We occasionally speak 143 00:06:51,199 --> 00:06:53,040 with one of them on the radio, but we have 144 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:55,079 less and less contact as they need us less. It 145 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:56,879 is a little strange, but it is better than being 146 00:06:56,879 --> 00:06:59,279 shut down, said Bertram as he noticed me looking at 147 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:03,839 the door. Who exactly are they? I asked, Well, at 148 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,720 first it was underwater welders and construction workers who work 149 00:07:06,759 --> 00:07:09,319 for a German mining company, all the usual staff. But 150 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,319 after several months the miner's left and apparently ownership of 151 00:07:12,319 --> 00:07:15,240 the facility changed hands again. So I've heard nothing about him. 152 00:07:15,279 --> 00:07:17,120 S Armor has been vague about it all. No doubt 153 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,240 they are up to some kind of exploitive act, probably 154 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,560 attempting to weaponize something beautiful. That is why I get 155 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:23,240 the feeling that we are no longer welcome in our 156 00:07:23,279 --> 00:07:25,759 own facility. They wouldn't want the secret exposed by us, 157 00:07:25,759 --> 00:07:29,519 persky good intention scientists, said Bertram, laughing. Eventually I had 158 00:07:29,519 --> 00:07:31,680 to go to the little boy's room, and I finally 159 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:33,800 inquired as to how this was done. They all laughed. 160 00:07:33,839 --> 00:07:35,800 It's a pleasure going number two during the day. Them 161 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,879 fish can get quite frisky, said Doug. Man unrolled her eyes, smiling. 162 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:41,079 The fish sometimes eat your waist, she said. Don't let 163 00:07:41,079 --> 00:07:43,040 Douglas gay you. They are just fish. There is a 164 00:07:43,079 --> 00:07:45,000 dome several meters out from the moon pool where you 165 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:46,839 can hang out and do your business, but you won't 166 00:07:46,879 --> 00:07:48,959 catch me going out there in the dark. Hall. Yeah, 167 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:50,959 I can imagine the fish are much more frightening in 168 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,439 the dark, I said. Actually that as a weir part, 169 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,160 said Bertram. There are no fish at night. Man On 170 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,800 last the shirt she was holding at Bertram's arm punishingly 171 00:07:59,079 --> 00:08:01,600 yet in a soft mindingly. Wait, but I'm just saying 172 00:08:01,639 --> 00:08:04,920 I don't go number two at night either, said Bertramp. Right. Well, 173 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,160 if it's an emergency, I dropped the log right in 174 00:08:07,199 --> 00:08:09,360 the moon pool, and YU shuld too, said duck floaters 175 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,560 be damned. That is disgusting, said Manon. Why do the 176 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:16,199 fish only come at night? I asked? At first, there 177 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,639 was constant traffic in an out, But after they completed 178 00:08:18,639 --> 00:08:21,120 their submarine docking station, a soul hasn't passed through that 179 00:08:21,199 --> 00:08:25,480 door in months. With At first there was constant traffic 180 00:08:25,519 --> 00:08:28,120 in and out, but after they completed the submarine docking station, 181 00:08:28,279 --> 00:08:30,079 not the soul had passed through the door in months. 182 00:08:30,759 --> 00:08:34,279 The scatter in all directions, explained manon all except towards 183 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,799 the hall, said Deryck. What is this hole? I asked. 184 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,399 It is the twenty meter wide hole in the bottom 185 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,159 of the ocean at the moonpoll to the east. It 186 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,399 is hard to miss. We stay away from there, said Deryck. 187 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:46,720 I made a point to do my business during the 188 00:08:46,759 --> 00:08:48,720 daylight and was alarmed and amused by the amount of 189 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:51,519 fish it attracted. I swam out to the doorman. Soon 190 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,039 several fish began to investigate me. I looked around in 191 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,120 the area and saw the massive hall to the east. 192 00:08:56,759 --> 00:08:58,720 I could see that the facility must have been built 193 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:00,919 to study the hole. It was starting to get a 194 00:09:00,919 --> 00:09:02,639 little darker, and I was ready to swim back to 195 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:04,919 the moon pool when I noticed a small submersible ascending 196 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,840 out of the hole. The submersible propelled itself towards a 197 00:09:07,919 --> 00:09:11,240 large tree story complex attached to our habitat. A hatch 198 00:09:11,279 --> 00:09:14,440 opened and the submersible ascended up into the hatch. My 199 00:09:14,519 --> 00:09:17,120 imagination ran wildst to what this mysterious? So the faction 200 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,720 was up to behind the hatch. As weird as it 201 00:09:19,759 --> 00:09:21,720 all was. After several days, I had fallen into a 202 00:09:21,759 --> 00:09:24,960 rhythm and everything became normal. I would gather samples and 203 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,440 document the wildlife by day in studying my findings, as 204 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,279 well as talked to my colleagues at night. Occasionally there 205 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,080 would be an explosion and like clockwork, a submersible or 206 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,159 two would ascend from the hole at sunset. Sunset became 207 00:09:36,159 --> 00:09:39,120 a time of caution. I noticed the fish would remain 208 00:09:39,159 --> 00:09:41,759 until it was dark, but almost in a flash, they 209 00:09:41,759 --> 00:09:43,879 all knew to disappear as the last sun rays left. 210 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,120 It was part of a fascinating cycle. I had seen 211 00:09:47,159 --> 00:09:49,240 things like this in nature before, like when bats all 212 00:09:49,279 --> 00:09:50,960 fly out of a cave at the same time, or 213 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:54,039 bows migrating for winter, but this was different. There was 214 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:57,039 a desperation about it. For the fish. It was more 215 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,480 of a desperate tremble. I quickly understood why wouldn't go 216 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,000 number twur at the door? After duck I found out 217 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,519 that none of them did. Every day I would walk 218 00:10:05,519 --> 00:10:07,759 by the mysterious door leading to the other facility, but 219 00:10:07,759 --> 00:10:09,840 the hallway beyond was always dark and I could never 220 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:13,200 see that far. It was unnerving. On top of that, 221 00:10:13,279 --> 00:10:15,279 there were no portholes or windows of any kind to 222 00:10:15,279 --> 00:10:17,799 look into it from the outside. Only the submersibles had 223 00:10:17,799 --> 00:10:20,840 summers in a sunset. One day, I joked, maybe one 224 00:10:20,879 --> 00:10:22,679 of us should try to swim up the hatch. One time, 225 00:10:22,759 --> 00:10:25,600 I said. The mood in the room became very tense, 226 00:10:25,759 --> 00:10:28,720 and it wasn't long before Man unburst into tears. I 227 00:10:28,759 --> 00:10:33,240 didn't understand. I'm sorried. I said, It's okay, mate, it 228 00:10:33,279 --> 00:10:35,639 isn't your fault, said Doug, as he went to consolmanon. 229 00:10:36,519 --> 00:10:38,840 I tried to look at Bertram, who usually explained things 230 00:10:38,879 --> 00:10:41,039 to me when I was baffled, but his eyes remained 231 00:10:41,039 --> 00:10:44,519 fixed on his breakfast. I looked at Deryck. It is 232 00:10:44,519 --> 00:10:48,240 time will know about Javier, said Deryck. Nobody said a word. 233 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,799 All that could be heard was man unsolving. Who is Javir? 234 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:56,360 I asked, Javier? Was the marine biologist you replace, said Deryck, 235 00:10:56,519 --> 00:10:58,440 And he also had the idea to swim up the hatch. 236 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:00,000 We were informed that he was dead over a week 237 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,759 clayed at the bastards, said Duck. We began searching desperately, 238 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:05,600 but after a couple of hours we knew that the 239 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,080 air would have run out. We started searching for his body. 240 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,279 Apparently the whole time he was in the other facility. 241 00:11:10,399 --> 00:11:13,600 What I asked, mortified, I. This is that there had 242 00:11:13,639 --> 00:11:15,600 been an accident and they were unable to save him, 243 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,440 said Duck. And they waited to tell you, I asked. 244 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:20,080 He nodded. I never looked at the hatch the same 245 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:21,879 way that Javiaben dropped in there and run out of 246 00:11:21,879 --> 00:11:23,679 their Surely there must have been some way he could 247 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:25,919 have entered the facility, as it is how the submersibles 248 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:27,799 went in and out. Over the coming days, things went 249 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:29,720 back to normal, or at least as normal as living 250 00:11:29,759 --> 00:11:32,159 sixty metres in a water could be. I didn'tdare approach 251 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,399 the subject of Javi. I just kept my head down 252 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,440 and did my work. There was plenty of plant live 253 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:38,600 to catalog, and not to mention all of the different 254 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,279 species of fish and jellyfish. Occasionally part of sea mammals 255 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:43,919 would pass through as I was performing my nutty bathroom Rachel. 256 00:11:43,919 --> 00:11:45,879 Before the dark set in one night, I noticed the 257 00:11:45,879 --> 00:11:48,639 submersible ascending from the hall as always, only this time 258 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,559 it seemed to be having trouble moving through the water. 259 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:52,919 It almost seemed to be stuttering. As I looked closer, 260 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:54,759 I saw what looked like markings on the side of 261 00:11:54,799 --> 00:11:56,440 the vessel, as if it had been in some kind 262 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,440 of accident done there I shaddowed to think what would 263 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,399 have happened if the craft had been damaged. More there, 264 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,799 I tread in the outhouse dome, wondering what I just saw. 265 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:04,799 It made me feel uneasy, but nothing like what I 266 00:12:04,799 --> 00:12:07,000 felt after what I saw next. My gaze fell back, 267 00:12:07,039 --> 00:12:09,039 and the giant sinkhole dead at the very edge, I 268 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:10,799 saw something that will horrify me for the rest of 269 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,000 my life. I saw my head looking back. The rest 270 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,039 of the body was hidden down the hole, just the head, 271 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:16,720 as if it was purring at me. Even with the 272 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,919 water cloud in the distance between us, I felt his 273 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,559 stir burn into my soul. Here, sixty meters below, in 274 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,279 the middle of the ocean, was a face completely unencumbered 275 00:12:24,279 --> 00:12:26,679 by gear, no air tanks. What was he breathing? I 276 00:12:26,759 --> 00:12:28,919 must have been hallucinating, but the moment lusted for what 277 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,159 seemed like a lifetime up until then. It was the 278 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,320 longest moment of my life. His as locked on mine, 279 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,279 just his head. As it got dark, I came out 280 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,200 of my confused trance. I made a mad dash for 281 00:12:37,279 --> 00:12:39,320 the moon pole. I didn't dare look back. I leapt 282 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:41,559 out of the moon poland into the decompression chamber, and 283 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,600 I was terrified. I stared at the moon pole through 284 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,000 the window, half expecting the head to emerge from the water. 285 00:12:46,159 --> 00:12:47,559 How could it man have been in the hole. He 286 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:49,360 would have to have held his breath for at least 287 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:51,320 five minutes, as I hadn't seen anyone else as I 288 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:53,440 swam to the domes. Although we're training, the human being 289 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:55,600 can hold their breath that long. Something was just off. 290 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:57,600 I had goosepum soul over my body. I towd of 291 00:12:57,639 --> 00:13:00,480 pressurized their playing tricks on people's minds. Perhaps I nitrogen 292 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,399 the cross. I quickly went in and told the others. 293 00:13:02,399 --> 00:13:05,120 Elevated levels of nitrogen effect all of us in different ways. 294 00:13:05,159 --> 00:13:06,679 Save Man. On a she sum in me, that is 295 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,279 possible that you hallucinated? Yeah, I must have, I said, 296 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:11,879 if anything like this happens again. Come tell us right away, 297 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,120 she said. I noticed Derek looking at me from across 298 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,759 the habitat. He quickly looked away when I made our contact. 299 00:13:16,799 --> 00:13:18,559 There was something about it that made me feel like 300 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:20,559 he knew more. I decided to sleep it off, but 301 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:22,639 had wild dreams about what I saw. I woke in 302 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:25,080 a cold sweat. I felt even more exhausted than before. 303 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:27,200 The crew, for the most part, hadn't noticed that I 304 00:13:27,279 --> 00:13:29,360 was a little off. I'll except Derek. He approached me 305 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,879 that night. You must be feeling a little rattled, he said. 306 00:13:31,919 --> 00:13:34,679 I was good friends with Javia. When he died, I 307 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,200 sort of lost it a little bit. I couldn't sleep 308 00:13:37,279 --> 00:13:41,200 or eat. I even saw things too. He became very serious. 309 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,960 This place is dangerous, more so than the others, understand, 310 00:13:44,039 --> 00:13:46,000 said Derek. He brought me over to the laptop and 311 00:13:46,039 --> 00:13:48,120 opened up a folder with images. He then brought up 312 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,279 a picture of the crew, all happily posing barely. All 313 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:53,279 were Doug Manon, Derek, and Bertram. Then my eyes came 314 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,360 to rest on the fifth person, and when they did, 315 00:13:55,519 --> 00:13:57,879 eletrisity run through my body. All at one's horror weld 316 00:13:57,919 --> 00:13:59,519 up from the depths of my soul into my throat, 317 00:13:59,519 --> 00:14:01,480 though stood the very same face that had stared at 318 00:14:01,519 --> 00:14:03,080 me from the hole, and all at once I knew 319 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:05,720 who it was, what Derec had seen, and what it meant. 320 00:14:05,759 --> 00:14:07,879 I could barely speak. I just muttered, that was the 321 00:14:07,879 --> 00:14:09,399 man I saw. I said, we have to tell the 322 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:10,960 others that they are not going to believe it or 323 00:14:11,159 --> 00:14:13,279 like it. He said. We headed into the common room, 324 00:14:13,279 --> 00:14:15,480 where the others were gathered. Derek led bluntly in a 325 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:17,840 die tone. We both saw Javier alive in the water, 326 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:19,919 he said. Doug almost drop what he was doing and 327 00:14:19,919 --> 00:14:22,120 turned around to look at us, then looked at Bertram, 328 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,240 who was as beweathered as him. Then they broke into laughter. 329 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:27,840 Man unloked, very upset, that's not funny, Derek. And well, 330 00:14:28,559 --> 00:14:30,519 I didn't think you were like this, she said. Derek 331 00:14:30,559 --> 00:14:32,480 showed me a picture of Javier and it was, without 332 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,559 a doubt, the same face that looked at me. I said, 333 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,679 I didn't care about impressing man On any more. Something 334 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:40,360 was horribly wrong. I thought it was my mind playing 335 00:14:40,399 --> 00:14:43,279 tricks on me, because Javia had just died. I heard 336 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,480 you could see people sometimes who have just died, said Derek. 337 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,399 So I didn't think much of it, but one thing 338 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:50,399 is very clear. We need to leave, he said. It 339 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,039 was empowering to be next to him. I would have 340 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:53,960 never had the courage to say these things. There was 341 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:55,879 a moment of silence. Bouquet. I will put in a 342 00:14:55,879 --> 00:14:57,600 call for the ship to come pick up whoever wants 343 00:14:57,639 --> 00:15:00,720 to leave. All right, mate, but this is my life's work. 344 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,360 I can just leave because you think he saw ghost, 345 00:15:03,679 --> 00:15:07,039 you understand, said Doug respectfully. I strongly urge you to reconsider, 346 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,240 said Derek. And we can't wait for the ship to 347 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:13,039 get us. We need to take the Halfman now. Suddenly 348 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,279 this wasn't sounding like such a good idea. The halfving 349 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,799 had seen better days. But from started to argue with Derek, 350 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,120 and German Mannon and Duck started jumping in, and I 351 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,360 had no idea what was going on. At last, however, 352 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,000 Derek went out with a loud exclamation that silence the rest. 353 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:26,960 He then turned to me, I know it seems like 354 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,480 the Huffman isn't sea with thee but she is. She 355 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,000 passed the required inspection that was five years ago of 356 00:15:32,039 --> 00:15:35,200 Derek really, said Doug, mate, there's a reason we don't 357 00:15:35,279 --> 00:15:38,840 use her any more. She's a floating platform, just in 358 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,720 case something happens down here. Really, what is another day 359 00:15:42,759 --> 00:15:45,039 to wait for the ship? He said? If you had 360 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,720 seen what we had seen, you would understand, said Derek, 361 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:49,840 I wasn't sure what to do. On the one hand, 362 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:51,960 waiting another day for proper ship to take us back 363 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,240 seem reasonable. Yet what if that thing in the water 364 00:15:54,279 --> 00:15:56,039 came into the moon pool to night? What if it 365 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:59,559 came into the decompression chamber? Very well, I'm going to 366 00:15:59,559 --> 00:16:01,440 make the call to be picked up, said Derrick. He 367 00:16:01,559 --> 00:16:03,919 left and came back moments later. There's a storm coming. 368 00:16:04,519 --> 00:16:06,399 They can't make it here for two days, he said. 369 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,720 My stomach started to turn. That rusty old boat was 370 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:11,000 starting to look more and more enticing. I was starting 371 00:16:11,039 --> 00:16:13,159 to feel better about everything there wittest to be run 372 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,120 and for it to be catalog Manon even helped me, 373 00:16:15,279 --> 00:16:17,200 which put me at ease. During the day, she started 374 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:19,039 asking me questions. So you are sure that it was 375 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,080 javiad that you saw, she asked, Yes, he must still 376 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,799 be alive. But we watched each other for minutes. I 377 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:26,639 don't know anyone who could hold the breath that long. 378 00:16:27,279 --> 00:16:29,679 Menon looked at me horrified. He was a good swimmer. 379 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:32,879 But five minutes I know, I said. After I finally 380 00:16:32,919 --> 00:16:35,440 started to feel normal again, I started to feel tired, 381 00:16:35,559 --> 00:16:37,600 even though it was just the afternoon. Something about the 382 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:39,480 pressure or being cooped up. That was why I went 383 00:16:39,519 --> 00:16:41,480 to sleep early that night, and going to sleep early 384 00:16:41,519 --> 00:16:43,360 turned out to be a giant mistake. I woke up 385 00:16:43,399 --> 00:16:44,960 in a late evening a round ten. I had to 386 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,159 prooved something fierce. I instinctively went over to the decompression chamber. 387 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:49,960 When I entered the moon pool for the first time, 388 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:52,759 I saw pitch black water. I stood there watching it ripple. 389 00:16:52,799 --> 00:16:55,080 Beyond was just the murky black depths. I remembered of 390 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,240 admitting he wouldn't go to the bathroom at night, and 391 00:16:57,279 --> 00:16:59,120 now I understood. I walked up to the edge and 392 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:01,240 locked down. There was absolutely no way I was going 393 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:03,759 to swim into the outhouse dome with little options let 394 00:17:03,799 --> 00:17:05,960 I pulled down my trousers and attempted to squat right 395 00:17:06,039 --> 00:17:08,400 over the moonpool. Still squatting there, I couldn't help but 396 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:10,480 look back every couple of seconds to make sure something 397 00:17:10,559 --> 00:17:12,599 wasn't coming up to grab me. It felt silly, but 398 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:14,759 it was a very vulnerable position to be, and after 399 00:17:14,759 --> 00:17:16,880 trying for a couple of minutes, I stood back up. 400 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:18,960 It is amazing what kinds of things the body will 401 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:20,920 do when it knows that it's not safe. I suddenly 402 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:22,680 felt no urge to go into the bathroom at all. 403 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:24,480 I slowly backed away from the edge of the moon pole, 404 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:26,799 keeping my eyes on its dark rubbling the depths. I 405 00:17:26,799 --> 00:17:29,039 thought I saw something move, and I felt deep fear. 406 00:17:29,079 --> 00:17:30,440 I had to get out of there. I went for 407 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,720 the decompression chamber, and to my horror, I saw out 408 00:17:32,759 --> 00:17:34,880 of my peripheral mass cresting out of the water. I 409 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,079 threw myself into the chamber, and as fast as I 410 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:39,720 could have tried to throw the door closed, a monstrous, dark, 411 00:17:39,839 --> 00:17:42,400 grayish green tentacle moved with startling speed, and just as 412 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,759 I was shutting the door wrapped around my leg, sinking 413 00:17:44,799 --> 00:17:46,720 several spines into me. I cried with pain as the 414 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:48,640 creature began to drag me out of the chamber. I 415 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:50,519 slammed the door on the tentaclet, but it was thick 416 00:17:50,519 --> 00:17:53,319 and strong and continued to drag me. A second tent cult, 417 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,440 just like the first, was starting to crest out of 418 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,599 the moon pole. Just then I looked up. It was 419 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,559 the same sheet metal panel that had grazed me when 420 00:17:59,559 --> 00:18:01,440 I first w I ripped it off the wall with 421 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,240 surprising ease, and with all my might for my life, 422 00:18:04,319 --> 00:18:06,480 I cleaved the tentacle. It didn't sever it, but I 423 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,599 cut it deeper and it released me. Before the second 424 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:10,799 tentacle could reach the chamber, I saw MMed the door 425 00:18:10,839 --> 00:18:12,720 with all my might. I looked at the tentacles prodding 426 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:15,079 and probing at the sealed door. It was absolutely horrifying. 427 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,039 I knew they had every intent on dragging me done 428 00:18:17,079 --> 00:18:19,519 into the depths. They were terrifying, like a giant octopus 429 00:18:19,519 --> 00:18:22,119 with spiny thorn's attached to hook its prey, no doubt. 430 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,079 After what seemed like iris the decompression finish, I had 431 00:18:25,079 --> 00:18:27,279 already been screaming, and the others had gathered at the door. 432 00:18:27,319 --> 00:18:29,160 I axed it the chamber and turned to the others. 433 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:30,680 We have to get the hell out of here now, 434 00:18:31,319 --> 00:18:34,440 I scream. Calm down, said manon that happened. There is 435 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:36,880 some kind of I stopped. I didn't know what to say. Look, 436 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,680 I know this sounds crazy, but a massive predatory in 437 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:42,920 vertebrate grabbed me in the mean poll like a Pacific octopus, 438 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,319 to gast curiously. They were not understanding the gravity of 439 00:18:46,319 --> 00:18:48,880 the situation. The tentacles went visible from this angle, and 440 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,039 I dared not open the door to show them. Instead, 441 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:53,720 I showed them my leg. He was bleeding, though not profusely. 442 00:18:53,759 --> 00:18:56,279 The puncture wounds were still clearly visible. The others began 443 00:18:56,319 --> 00:18:58,440 to inspect his leg. Direc went into another room and 444 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:00,480 came back with a couple of knives. Were the only 445 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:02,880 weapons we had available that first light. All of us 446 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:04,960 should make a break for the halfnaan, said Deryck. But 447 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,279 this about the storm, said Bertramp. I would rather take 448 00:19:07,319 --> 00:19:10,200 my chances with the storm than be done here. At least, 449 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,559 oh we die in natural death, said Deryck. I don't 450 00:19:12,559 --> 00:19:15,000 think the others understood, but I knew exactly what he meant. 451 00:19:15,039 --> 00:19:17,160 The idea of drowning in the open water somehow seemed 452 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,359 like a tolerable alternative. It suddenly made sense, the explosions, 453 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:22,960 the beating up submersible. This animal was being studded by 454 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:25,720 the other facility. One thing is certain, said Deryck. The 455 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:27,759 creature only seems to be around at night, and we 456 00:19:27,799 --> 00:19:30,319 seem to be safe in here. I'm swimming for the 457 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:33,039 Hoffn in the morning. I strongly urged the rest of 458 00:19:33,039 --> 00:19:36,000 you to come. I nodded. The others looked among themselves, 459 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:37,839 not knowing what to think. We all went to our 460 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:40,079 bunks and tried to sleep. After ires of tossing and 461 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:42,680 turning and staring at the entrance, half expecting a duck 462 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,359 gray tentacle to slither around the corner, I fell asleep. 463 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:47,799 When I awoke, I started my daily routine. I even 464 00:19:47,839 --> 00:19:49,680 got ready to go out and swent to the bathroom. 465 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:51,680 When I stopped dead in my tracks. I felt a 466 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:53,920 deep sense of horror, as if I was just remembering 467 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:55,559 what had happened to me in a moon poll just 468 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:57,920 iurs before. I suddenly felt no urge to go to 469 00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:59,759 the bathroom at all. I just did the gazing at 470 00:19:59,759 --> 00:20:01,720 the pres rusher chamber. All of the others had risen 471 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,440 and were mulling about. Have either of you Sindhak, said Manon. 472 00:20:04,519 --> 00:20:07,400 I'm waiting for his data, but I haven't seen him. 473 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,599 Maybe he hasn't woken up. I said, he's in his bunk, 474 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,759 said Manon. I'm starting to get worried. He probably just 475 00:20:13,799 --> 00:20:16,359 went out for some samples, said Berfram. You're probably right, 476 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,880 said Manan, and she started busying herself at her work. 477 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:20,640 I finally worked up the courage to go out to 478 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,119 the bathroom dome. The water was moving faster than usual, 479 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,039 but nothing I couldn't swim against. I could see how 480 00:20:25,079 --> 00:20:27,559 being a pushwoman would be very hazardous and understood why 481 00:20:27,559 --> 00:20:30,000 they insisted on strong swimmers in the afflication. Out at 482 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:31,960 the dome, I looked around and realized that there wasn't 483 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:34,039 a fish in site. Usually during this time of dayed 484 00:20:34,039 --> 00:20:35,920 ocean was full of them, but now it was barren. 485 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,240 It was unnerving. I looked around the eerie depths, trying 486 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,000 to make out what I could through the missy sea water. 487 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:42,200 I noticed something strange. The hatch to the other part 488 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,519 of the facility was open, the same hatch that Javia 489 00:20:44,559 --> 00:20:47,079 had swam up. Upon thinking about Javia, my eyes darted 490 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:48,599 back to the place where I had seen his eyes 491 00:20:48,599 --> 00:20:50,720 stirring at me from the hole. I shuddered and suddenly 492 00:20:50,759 --> 00:20:53,079 started to feel very vulnerable. I got done with my 493 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:55,200 business and started back towards the moon pall. When I 494 00:20:55,319 --> 00:20:57,440 entered the habitat, I saw that Manon was coming my 495 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:59,680 way with Bertham and Derek that year. She said, were 496 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:02,039 going out to look for dog. You should have been 497 00:21:02,079 --> 00:21:04,799 back by now. The hatch is open, I said. They 498 00:21:04,839 --> 00:21:06,519 all looked at one another. We will have to think 499 00:21:06,519 --> 00:21:09,359 about that later, she said, Everyone suit up and make 500 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,200 sure you're full of oxygen. The water was still moving 501 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,480 fast due to the stormy conditions. It was difficult to 502 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:16,480 fight against a current. But Doug should have come back 503 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:18,240 by now, and there was a chance he was stuck 504 00:21:18,279 --> 00:21:20,039 and running low on air. We had to look for him. 505 00:21:20,079 --> 00:21:22,079 We checked down the slope in the opposite direction of 506 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,119 the hole. There was no sign of dog. We finally 507 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,160 came to the hole. We shined our lights down into 508 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:29,119 the depths, nothing but darkness. After a while, our oxygen 509 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,319 levels were getting lower and we returned to the habitat. 510 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:33,480 On our way back, we all saw the opened hatch. 511 00:21:33,599 --> 00:21:35,559 No doubt we were all thinking the same thing. Doug 512 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,240 might have gone up the hatch for some reason. When 513 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:38,960 we had shed our gear in the moon pool. Dereck 514 00:21:39,039 --> 00:21:40,680 was the first to mention this. We need to get 515 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:42,680 in touch with the other part of the habitat. He said, 516 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,240 I will try to radio them again. As I walked 517 00:21:45,279 --> 00:21:47,480 past the door to connected the two habitats, I peered 518 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:49,920 down its corridor. Surely we could just override the locks 519 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:51,599 and walk in there. It seemed like the right thing 520 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,000 to do given the circumstances. I shined my light down 521 00:21:54,039 --> 00:21:56,240 the corridor through the glass. That was strange. Something at 522 00:21:56,279 --> 00:21:58,119 the very end of the corridor seemed to be floating. 523 00:21:58,119 --> 00:21:59,720 I squinted and tried to discern what it was. I 524 00:21:59,759 --> 00:22:02,079 was loft looking at hey, guys, I said, I think 525 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:04,599 something is moving in there. We all gathered at the 526 00:22:04,599 --> 00:22:06,519 glass of the door and peered into the darkness. There 527 00:22:06,559 --> 00:22:08,319 was something that seemed to be hovering, and it was 528 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:10,359 drifting closer. I know what it was before my mind 529 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,880 could register what I was seeing. It was a strange feeling. 530 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:14,559 And the one hand, there was a pen, but on 531 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:16,440 nail there it was drifting right in the middle of 532 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:18,359 the air. The pen was floating because the chamber had 533 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:21,039 filled with water. It won't break through, said Deryck. The 534 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:24,119 store is designed to withstand pressureus far beyond this. It 535 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,440 was always a possibility that one of the habitats would 536 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,480 be compromised. His words did little to reassure me. I 537 00:22:29,559 --> 00:22:32,039 kept stirring at that pen as it seemed to drift inlessly. 538 00:22:32,079 --> 00:22:34,359 The ricocheted off one of the walls gently. What happened 539 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,839 to all the people, asked Bertram. There was nothing but 540 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:39,119 silence for a moment. Then Mannon spoke. They have to 541 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,519 go in there, said Manon. That must be where dog is. 542 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,799 Maybe he strapped. Derek and Bertram exchanged glances and started 543 00:22:45,799 --> 00:22:48,400 speaking in German. Manon interrupted them, and they all started 544 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,440 yelling at each other. I stood there, puzzled until they 545 00:22:50,519 --> 00:22:52,960 finally switched back to English. I can't believe you, too, 546 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:55,519 said Manon. Doug would have done it to save you. 547 00:22:55,799 --> 00:22:59,880 Doug is dead, said Derek. Or worse? What do you mean? 548 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,039 Or worse? Said Manon. He has been out of air 549 00:23:02,079 --> 00:23:04,200 fir while now, and we all know it, said Derrec. 550 00:23:04,319 --> 00:23:06,839 Bertram and I are going for the Hoffum. We aren't 551 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:09,720 waiting for the ship. Bertram stood there, looking as guilty 552 00:23:09,759 --> 00:23:12,519 as he was terrified. Finally they were starting to understand 553 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:14,000 we are to get the hell out of here. I 554 00:23:14,039 --> 00:23:16,799 opened my mouth agree adamantly, but Manon spoke first. I 555 00:23:16,799 --> 00:23:18,920 am going over there, she said defiantly. She looked at 556 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,119 Meat and waited for me to speak. Okay, I said, 557 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:23,279 I will go with you to look for Doug. This 558 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:25,480 is crazy, said Deryck. I don't want to be on 559 00:23:25,519 --> 00:23:27,519 the sinking boat in a storm any minute longer than 560 00:23:27,519 --> 00:23:30,640 I have to. We can't wait for you one hour, 561 00:23:30,759 --> 00:23:34,279 said Manon. That's all we need. Derrec and Bertram started 562 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:36,440 arguing in German again. If I will wait one eyre, 563 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:38,799 said Bertram. Send. We will head to the surface together, 564 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:41,599 suiting up when fast, we did our final checks and 565 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:43,480 dove back into the moon poll. The hatch seemed to 566 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:45,400 beckon me. I thought of Javior and how I had 567 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:47,559 seen his head staring at me. Even now. It gave 568 00:23:47,599 --> 00:23:49,319 me the chills, but I put it in the back 569 00:23:49,319 --> 00:23:51,839 of my mind. Soon we could almost see up the shaft. 570 00:23:51,839 --> 00:23:53,519 I thought of how much had happened in my life 571 00:23:53,519 --> 00:23:55,480 since I had taken this job, how much I had 572 00:23:55,559 --> 00:23:57,359 learned and seen. It was hard to remember what my 573 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,640 life used to be like. It seemed like so lonigo 574 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:01,440 that I'd been sleeping in a nice bird and heating 575 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,519 all the food I wanted. Mostly, I thought about how 576 00:24:03,599 --> 00:24:05,799 much I had taken for granted, you don't realize how 577 00:24:05,799 --> 00:24:07,880 important it is to feel safe until you don't. We 578 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:10,519 reached the entrance of the shaft and it became dark fast. 579 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:12,759 Manon turned on her light, and my heart sank. That 580 00:24:12,839 --> 00:24:14,480 the end of the shaft was a metal door, but 581 00:24:14,519 --> 00:24:16,200 it looked as though it had been What could have 582 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:19,200 done this? Luckily our diver's masks had radio communication built in. 583 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:21,240 Who could have done this? Said man On. She looked 584 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:23,200 over at me. She knew what I was thinking already. 585 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,359 There is no creature ever discovered like the one you hallucinated. Well, 586 00:24:27,039 --> 00:24:29,160 I went to retort, but stopped. There was no point 587 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:31,359 in arguing. I wanted to live, not to be right. 588 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:33,880 Let's hope not, I said. It took everything I had, 589 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:35,920 but I managed to start kicking and swam up into 590 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:38,160 the shaft. Man and soon followed after me. We traced 591 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:40,440 the dark room without lights, and it seemed to have 592 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,720 been some kind of submersible docking room. What once was 593 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:45,079 a moon pool had been overtaken by water. All manner 594 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:47,000 of clout floated about. There was a nerving to be 595 00:24:47,079 --> 00:24:49,559 there in the darkness, sixty meters beneath the surface of 596 00:24:49,599 --> 00:24:51,799 the water, in a breached habitat that had gonsilent. I 597 00:24:51,799 --> 00:24:53,920 swatted a tablet away from my head. As we continued 598 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:56,519 on the decompression chamber, it was wide open and both 599 00:24:56,519 --> 00:24:58,319 of the large doors stood and sealed. I knew what 600 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:00,240 had happened to the creature that had tried to grasp me. 601 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:03,160 That giant Octfor's creature had gotten through the decompression chamber. 602 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,599 I couldn't stop thinking about those tentacles that had grubbed me. 603 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:07,160 It looked like they were as thick as a tree 604 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:09,480 trunk as they disappeared into the black water. I will 605 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:11,640 never forget. The next room was large and quite long. 606 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:14,000 It was full of all types of computers and lib equipment. 607 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:15,599 But in the center of the room, and to my horror, 608 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:17,440 there it was that same dark gray It must have 609 00:25:17,519 --> 00:25:20,240 been fifty feet long. I instinctively swum away. This was 610 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,279 horror movie one hundred one. I had done everything I 611 00:25:22,279 --> 00:25:24,440 could to convince Mannon that my story was true. If 612 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:26,279 she didn't believe me, now it was on her. To 613 00:25:26,319 --> 00:25:28,759 my relief, I saw a swimming fast behind me. She 614 00:25:28,799 --> 00:25:31,160 now understood that our lives were in imminent danger. As 615 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:32,720 we rounded the corner in the room with the hatch, 616 00:25:32,799 --> 00:25:34,920 we saw Doug. It seemed like a miracle. There. He 617 00:25:35,039 --> 00:25:37,039 was floating there in his diving gear. We made it 618 00:25:37,039 --> 00:25:38,759 towards the moon poll and started to get out of 619 00:25:38,759 --> 00:25:40,480 our gear. That's when I caught out of the corner 620 00:25:40,519 --> 00:25:42,960 of my eye Doug's oxygen meter had been empty. Still, 621 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:44,720 I didn't think much about it. As we made our 622 00:25:44,759 --> 00:25:47,000 way to the decompression chain. I wish I had suck. 623 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:48,960 I have to say, it's good to see your stupid face, 624 00:25:49,079 --> 00:25:52,160 sad Manon. Why didn't you respond to my radio? Doug 625 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:54,920 gave a slight smile. We looked everywhere for you, I said. 626 00:25:55,039 --> 00:25:56,880 He looked at me. He looked like he had some 627 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,279 kind of debris in his eye, and still he said nothing. 628 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:01,319 He just stared at me. That's when I realized that 629 00:26:01,319 --> 00:26:05,200 Bertram and Derek were nowhere to be found. Derek, Bertram, 630 00:26:05,279 --> 00:26:07,160 I cried out. You don't think they would have left 631 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:09,720 without us? To you ask a Manon. Suddenly I heard 632 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:11,640 a love crash at distance from the habitat. It was 633 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:13,759 as loud as the explosions, but it was different, I 634 00:26:13,759 --> 00:26:15,440 could tell. Man And thought the same thing. As we 635 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:17,359 looked at each other in horror, putting it out of 636 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:20,319 our mind. Manon and I desperately scrambled around the habitat. 637 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,759 When we returned, we noticed Dog standing by the decompression chamber. 638 00:26:23,839 --> 00:26:26,119 He seemed to be examining it. You okay there, Doug, 639 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:28,680 I asked. He turned to me and gave me that 640 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:31,400 same hollow stare. I'd seen that stare before somewhere I 641 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,680 couldn't quite put my finger on it. He soon turned 642 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:35,960 back to the decompression interface and just stared at it. 643 00:26:36,039 --> 00:26:39,680 Any ideas onward, Derek and Bertram are Doug, I asked, 644 00:26:39,759 --> 00:26:42,160 more to make conversation than anything else. We stood there 645 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,279 in silence for a moment. I dared not walk away. 646 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:46,440 Manon had made her way over to us after searching 647 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:48,160 for Derek. By the look on my face, she could 648 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:50,359 tell that there was something wrong Doug, she asked. After 649 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,720 a moment of silence. Doug's hand rose and pressed one 650 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:54,839 of the buttons. He pressed another button. He was starting 651 00:26:54,839 --> 00:26:56,799 to figure it out. I tried to block the panel, 652 00:26:56,839 --> 00:26:58,519 but he squatted me away with a speed that was 653 00:26:58,599 --> 00:27:01,759 uncharacteristic of Doug was trying to open the decompression chamber. 654 00:27:01,799 --> 00:27:03,440 I tried to push him away from the panel, but 655 00:27:03,519 --> 00:27:05,559 he had buttered me hard. I fell to the ground. 656 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:07,920 I felt woozy. I tried to stand up, but fell 657 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:11,000 over again. Mannon, I cried out, don't let him open 658 00:27:11,039 --> 00:27:14,160 the chamber. Manon stood there horrified as I finally got 659 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,119 to my feet, but it was too late to DoD 660 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:18,440 managed to open the decompression chamber. Still, there was a 661 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:21,000 fail safe mechanism. Both doors couldn't be opened the ponce 662 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:23,599 unless over ridden in an emergency. I had read about 663 00:27:23,599 --> 00:27:25,319 it in the manual before I came aboard. There was 664 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:27,680 a way, but if it was done and underwater at depth, 665 00:27:27,759 --> 00:27:30,039 the moonball's integrity would fail and the water would rush 666 00:27:30,039 --> 00:27:32,480 into the habitat. Dick stood that once more, thinking, thinking, 667 00:27:32,519 --> 00:27:35,000 with the horrifying hollow stere My head was still spinning, 668 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:36,880 but I managed to grab a hold of his arm 669 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:38,960 and we both went tumbling over. I managed to dodge 670 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:41,480 some swings at my head and scrambled backward, double focused 671 00:27:41,519 --> 00:27:44,119 his attention back on the panel. Suddenly, a loud alarm sounded. 672 00:27:44,519 --> 00:27:47,359 It was over. The moonpul integrity had been compromised, and 673 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,599 water immediately began to rush in. Manon and I looked 674 00:27:49,599 --> 00:27:51,759 at each other in horror. She rushed over to a cabinet. 675 00:27:51,799 --> 00:27:54,200 The water was already up to our knees and rising fast. 676 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:56,400 Doug simply stared at his void of emotion. The water 677 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:58,319 poured forth and the seconds I had taken a deep 678 00:27:58,319 --> 00:27:59,839 breath from the air at the top. I tried to 679 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:03,400 of something, anything, but before I could, Manu grabbed my hand. 680 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:05,400 She had found the life raft. We swam for it. 681 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,319 We both started towards the moon pool when all of 682 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:09,200 a sudden, I felt a strong hand grip my leg. 683 00:28:09,279 --> 00:28:11,400 It was Dug. I thrushed and gift, but no avail. 684 00:28:11,559 --> 00:28:13,240 I tried to fight him with all I had left, 685 00:28:13,319 --> 00:28:15,000 but he was just too strong, and I was running 686 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:17,000 out of oxygen. Theaters of my eyes were starting to 687 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,119 turn black, and my lungs were crying out. This was it. 688 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:21,960 Suddenly Manon drove a fixed blade deep in a Dug's stomach. 689 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,039 He momentarily let go and we scrambled out of the 690 00:28:24,039 --> 00:28:26,160 moon pool, with Dug right behind us. To my horror, 691 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:28,319 I saw him swimming down after us, blood pouring out. 692 00:28:28,359 --> 00:28:30,759 Manon screened and pointed towards the hull. That was Jivia, 693 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:34,079 Bertam and Derek swimming for us, all with it. Hollow 694 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:35,839 life was look in their eyes. All we had to 695 00:28:35,839 --> 00:28:37,480 do was clear the building above us, and we could 696 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:39,240 pull the red cord. We were so close and that 697 00:28:39,359 --> 00:28:41,079 when I saw the Hoffman it was the ship that 698 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,119 was supposed to be above us, but there it was. 699 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:44,960 I could barely make it out through the murky water, 700 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:47,079 but it was hard to miss something so big. The 701 00:28:47,119 --> 00:28:49,359 storm or maybe the others had sunk it. That was 702 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:51,400 what the crushing sound had been. We cleared the structure, 703 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:53,480 and just as the creatures were closing in on us, 704 00:28:53,599 --> 00:28:56,319 Man unroted the cord. Holding on, we started to scend fast. 705 00:28:56,359 --> 00:28:58,559 I watched as we left the horrible place behind, and 706 00:28:58,559 --> 00:29:00,880 it disappeared into the misty ocean underneath my feet. We 707 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,799 hung there, blind and helpless, all the while thinking to ourselves. 708 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,680 What if the others swam up after us? How long 709 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:09,480 would it take them to reach us. My joints were hurting, 710 00:29:09,519 --> 00:29:13,559 and I knew why. Decompression sickness was setting in. Still, 711 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:16,359 we were alive for now. The more I strained to look, 712 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,000 the more asserted to make out several shadows. They were 713 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:22,079 getting closer. I could start to make out the human bodies. 714 00:29:22,119 --> 00:29:24,759 Now there were no more than several meters way swimming 715 00:29:24,759 --> 00:29:27,480 for us. My joints were in agony, and I felt 716 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:32,039 so tired. I felt so tired I needed to sleep. Still, 717 00:29:32,079 --> 00:29:34,599 the sight of the surface was so close, its glimmering, majesty, 718 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,799 just a little father. We broke the surface, gasping for air. 719 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:41,440 The live raft was so close. We scrambled into it 720 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:43,039 as I felt the fear of having my lost leg 721 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:46,519 grat But it wasn't. We had made it. We quickly 722 00:29:46,519 --> 00:29:49,160 looked over the sight. A chill ran down my spine 723 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,720 as I saw right beneath the surface the faces of Jaevir, Derrick, Doug, 724 00:29:52,799 --> 00:29:56,400 and Bertram, all of their eyes fixed on us. There 725 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,359 they remained as if unable to break the surface. Doug 726 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:01,640 was still bleed profusely from his stomach, and a cloud 727 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,000 of red was gathering. We collapsed in the bed of 728 00:30:04,039 --> 00:30:07,680 the life raft, exhausted. We had made it. We could 729 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:09,720 feel the hands scratching at us through the raft, and 730 00:30:09,799 --> 00:30:11,960 it was unnerving, but the raft seemed to be holding. 731 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:14,440 The sun was setting and the sky was a beautiful 732 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:17,079 pink color that brings us all the way up to now. 733 00:30:17,599 --> 00:30:20,200 The last light has gone away. The others are still 734 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:22,680 scrouching at the bottom of the raft. The Sun is 735 00:30:22,759 --> 00:30:25,640 no longer holding it Bah. The creature will surely come 736 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:29,359 for us to night and that is the end. Thank 737 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:30,960 you for listening and I will see you in the 738 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:39,519 next one.