The salt wind whipped across the deck of the submarine, carrying the distant rumble of thunder and the sharp tang of the sea. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the metal hull.
Atlas Acuta stood at the railing, his rust-red fur with leopard-like black spots ruffling in the wind. He took a final, massive bite from the leg of lamb he had been devouring, grease dripping down his chin. His blue sapphire eyes scanned the horizon with the lazy contentment of a predator who had just enjoyed a good meal.
Jelly Squish bounced beside him, his translucent blue body wobbling with each cheerful leap. His massive, starry-eyed pupils sparkled as he looked off into the distance. His tiny red bandana flapped in the breeze, and his seaweed belt swung with each bounce.
"Eww," Jelly said, his voice carrying that perpetual, bubbling enthusiasm. "Pretty lightning."
Atlas tossed the lamb bone aside, the clatter echoing across the deck. Jelly's eyes followed. Licking his lips, her bounces after the discarded appendage with devouring intentions. Atlas, jerked his head toward the distant flashes of light that illuminated the sky above the foothills. The clashes were growing more intense, streaks of color and force carving through the air like a storm come to life.
"Think I know where she went," Atlas said, he smirked, pointing a thumb over his shoulder as he glanced at the others.
Everyone turned their attention to the clashing light show in the distance. The flashes were violent and erratic, bursts of energy that painted the clouds in shades of white and gold and crimson. The ground trembled faintly beneath their feet, a distant shudder that spoke of forces colliding with devastating power.
Jannali Bandler let out a sharp curse, her twang thickening with frustration. "Bloody hell," she said, her hand flying to the headscarf that covered her third eye. "What is going on over there?"
Vesta Lavana bridged her eyes with her hand, leaning forward as if she could somehow see through the distance. Her rainbow hair shimmered with a cascade of color, shifting to deeper, more intense hues as her curiosity grew. Her violet eyes widened.
"Whoa," she breathed in genuine wonder. "That looks crazy intense. Like, concert-level intensity. But with more... explosions."
Sanza Kaplan Figarland and Eliane Anđel rushed to the railing, their small bodies pressing against the metal as they stood on their tiptoes, peering over the edge. Sanza's red hair was an uncombed mess, and his heavy Gallagher eyebrows were lowered in concentration. His armored Gundam-style space suit graphic t-shirt was rumpled.
Eliane's silver hair was tied back in a practical braid, and her blue eyes a calm, watchful quality that always made her seem older than her twelve years. She gripped the railing with both hands, her expression unreadable.
Sanza's posh words came out clipped and precise. "Are we going to investigate? I have a vested interest in understanding what is happening out there. It could be a opportunity."
Jannali opened her mouth to reply, her lips already forming the words.
Then the flash came.
A blinding, white-hot light erupted from the distant foothills, an explosion of radiance that washed across the deck like a tidal wave. Everyone shielded their faces, their hands flying up to protect their eyes. Jelly let out a surprised squeak, his gelatinous body wobbling violently as he struggled to finish swallowing the discarded bone. Atlas grunted, turning his head away. Vesta cried out, her rainbow hair flaring with a burst of color. Eliane ducked behind the railing, her eyes squeezed shut. Sanza let out a sharp curse, his hand flying to his face.
The light dimmed as quickly as it had come, leaving behind dancing spots and a ringing silence that pressed against their ears.
Jannali blinked away the burn from her eyes, her vision swimming with afterimages. She rubbed her face with the heel of her palm, trying to clear the spots that danced across her vision.
Galit Varuna's voice crackled over the coms, tinny and distorted through the speaker. "Anything going on up there?"
Exasperated, Jannali pressed the button on the coms, "Yeah, mate. This mad white light just blinded us and then buggered off."
A beat of silence stretched across the deck. Jannali's brow furrowed, her hand still resting on the coms button. "What do you reckon?"
Galit's voice crackled back through the speaker. "Is Marya with you?"
Jannali let out a sharp, humorless laugh, "Nah, mate. She'd already racked off before we even got here."
Another beat of silence. Galit's relpied, "I assume that means she was already gone."
Jannali snapped, her frustration bleeding into her words. "Bloody hell, mate, that is what I said."
Galit's voice cut through her irritation, sharp and commanding. "All of you come to the bridge. It looks like we have a development."
Jannali's hand fell from the coms button. She turned to face the others, her expression shifting from frustration to focused attention.
"You heard him," she said, with grim determination. "Let's move."
Atlas straightened, his muscles tensing. Vesta smoothed her rainbow hair, her expression shifting from wonder to concern. Eliane released the railing, her small hands falling to her sides. Sanza adjusted his t-shirt with the imperious authority of an eight-year-old trying to look authoritative. Jelly let out an excited squeak after a glutinous burp, his gelatinous body wobbling with anticipation.
They moved as a group, their footsteps echoing against the metal deck as they headed toward the hatch.
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