The outside hand pulled Elara's breathing line too far.
The dark airway mark crossed the red ring.
Elara's back arched. Her left hand struck the copper chip.
Stop.
Pela released her side of the cable.
The pale hand kept pulling from inside the black water.
Kikaru caught Elara under the shoulders. Rina put the external breathing bag over her mouth and waited for an object choice.
Elara found the printer gear.
Bag after shoulder.
Kikaru moved her shoulder once. Rina squeezed.
Air entered while the outside hand dragged the black line another quarter inch.
Skin grew over its wrist from five different directions. Pela's burn scar appeared on the thumb. Kikaru's sword callus formed under the first finger. Rina's ink stain spread along the middle. Sefa's old center puncture opened on the fourth.
The smallest finger tapped once.
The sample had learned yes.
"No," Sefa said. "That tap belongs to the hand making it."
The pale fingers closed harder.
Pela raised her fire axe.
